Course Spotlight: Estabrook Park
It is true: disc golfers are a proud people. No matter where I go in my travels, every community is convinced that their courses are the best in the world. And from their perspective, they’re not wrong. Every course has its unique features and designs that help it stand out, but there is one particular course in Milwaukee that really sets it apart. Estabrook Park sits near the Milwaukee River and boasts 20 holes of sprawling golf that winds through the narrow park property. Part of the Milwaukee County Parks group, this course is pay to play, and it is clear those funds go to good use as the property is always in great shape, with plenty of trash cans, port a potty, and other amenities.
The bank of the Milwaukee River
But the reason this track is on the ‘must play’ list isn’t the challenge of the course, it is the fact that after your round, you can walk across the parking lot to the Estabrook Beer Garden and grab yourself a tasty beverage and a bratwurst. Hailed as ‘America’s Beer Garden’, this property was the first beer garden to open in the USA since prohibition, Featuring Beer Brewed in Germany by the Staatliches Hofbräuhaus. According to their website, the property, “represents a return to an era that disappeared from our landscape with the start of Prohibition. It is the first truly public beer garden in America in nearly 100 years. Inspirations came from Milwaukee’s brewing legacy and the operation is modeled after beer gardens found in modern day Munich, Germany. The Estabrook Beer Garden is a place for all people to come together enjoy nature, a great beer and make new friends.” They open each day at noon, “weather permitting”.
Obviously, this is reason enough to check out this park, but let’s talk about the course itself. While many might consider this track easy, the multiple pin placements on every hole provides a wide variety of design, and when in the longs, it makes for a challenging round. The course is immaculately maintained, and the pins change often, so you never know what you’ll get until you arrive. Designed to wind up one side of the park and then back down along the Milwaukee River, the course is both disc golf and nature walk. Many tee shots will require finesse and accuracy to get on the green. Pins are placed in very tight locations so that even when you get on the green, you still may be looking at an obstructed putt. The track is certainly scoreable, but bogeys are always hiding around the corner.
Udisc ranks Estabrook Park at 4.2 stars, and for good reason. The course is always clean, and while the course is often very busy, the pace of play flows consistently. There are a lot of options when you’re in the Milwaukee area, but if you find yourself in the city, you need to play a round and have a pint at one of the coolest courses in the country. Beer, brats, and disc golf, a wonderful combination of awesome!
Photo credits:
@truevibe
@kolpek
@DonSifu
