Alpine Valley: Ski Resort Disc Golf
Last weekend we saw some of the finest golf this season as the DGPT came to The Kensington Toboggan DGC in Milford Charter Township, Michigan for the Discraft Great Lakes Open, affectionately known as ‘DGLO’. Ohn Scoggins shocked the world with a decisive victory on what many call a ‘thrower’s course’. Her ability to stay in the fairways and sink putts from everywhere showed that a balanced game can win on any track, and she was able to secure her first Elite Series win. Simon Lizotte bested a field chock full of the best players in contention for the end of season tour championships. Calvin eagled twice in one round and still couldn’t muster the win as Simon showed the world that his new partnership with MVP was a wise choice, and his disc golf acumen allowed him to ‘break’ hole 16 in the final round.
All of this took place on a course that has some of the most elevation on tour, on a course that is only open for a small part of the year. Which leads me to this question; “Are ski resort style courses the best?” Maybe, and this week we’re going to explore the latest course like this, the Alpine Valley in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. This is a pay-to-play, 18-hole course (DD Veteran Baskets) with ample facilities, parking, and amazing views. Fees are $5 for a day pass and $75 for the season. The course is currently open from April to November
First, let’s talk about the man who helped bring this course into existence. Jeremiah Neuwirth is 37 years old and has been playing disc golf for over 20 years. Like so many of us, he discovered the sport when he was with a group of friends, “Looking for something to do.” For the last decade, he’s been working at Alpine Valley, and he says, “It was always a dream to be able to play on this ski hill.” He was able to leverage his position as an employee and convinced the powers that be agreeing to letting him design and install a course on the hill. I think for many of us, we have the dream of creating our own course, and Jeremiah was lucky enough to make this dream come true.
The course opened in the summer of 2023, and while it’s still very new and needs time to settle, it has huge potential. Jeremiah says, “The first thing you see as you pull down our driveway is the ski hill. The views of fairways placed under lifts and snow guns are astonishing. Just the overall experience of being on a ski hill in the summer is exciting.”
Unlike the Rockies or Appalachians, there isn’t much elevation in the Midwest, but there is still plenty of hills and topography. In this first phase, “This course was built for the average person to come and enjoy, whether you are an amateur or a pro, we just want you to make the day of it and have fun”, he says. “We also have amazing mountain bike trails, food, drinks, and restrooms all on site. Some uphill shots, some down, and a few narrow tunnel shots.” As it currently stands the general feedback has been positive, with a 4.2 rating and 160 reviews on Udisc.com. User @jcporter81 says, “Very fun mix of short and long holes across moderate elevation, that require technical shots or the ability to hit tight gaps. Certainly, going to be a course I come back to as it continues to improve.”
In the next phase, Jeremiah wants to bring more holes and more distance to the property. “My long-term plan is to have multiple courses. Each just a little hard than the other. Trying to match our 27 holes of regular (ball) golf with (eventually) 27 holes of disc golf. I would also love to have a winter course”, he says. He launched a Thursday night league and has plans to expand to offer tournaments soon.
Wisconsin is already known for having amazing disc golf, and it’s great to see another course rise to the quality and standards we expect here in the Midwest. In closing, Jeremiah says, “I just want everyone to come enjoy this experience. Only a few ski hills in the Midwest offer this opportunity. Thank you to all the AV crew and those around me who have helped me through this journey on creating this course and make this dream of mine come to light. I also wanted to thank all the public for their support and for coming to play, giving advice, and giving AV a chance.” So, if you’re looking for some wonderful views, fun golf, and a ski hill style experience, then put Alpine Valley on your wish list and get yourself up that hill! Thanks for reading, see you next time.
