The second stop on my disc golf week in Northern Michigan.
After kicking off my disc golf week in Petoskey, Michigan, it was time to head to my second course: Camp Pet-O-Se-Ga. And what a course it turned out to be.
This isn’t a mountainous course with dramatic elevation changes. Instead, it’s long, drawn out, and full of challenges that make you think your way through every hole. Playing the blue tees, I walked somewhere between three and four miles, and by the time I finished, I knew I’d gotten my workout in. The blue tees are no joke, offering a tough but interesting round that rewards smart decisions as much as big throws.
A Beautiful Drive to a Beautiful Course
Even from downtown Petoskey, Camp Pet-O-Se-Ga is about a 25-minute drive. But don’t let that discourage you. The ride itself is gorgeous, with trees, farmhouses, and little produce stands lining the way. It’s the kind of Northern Michigan scenery that makes you slow down, look around, and appreciate where you are.
Once you arrive, there’s ample parking and a really nice practice area with a basket to get warmed up. The course itself was in fantastic shape. The pathways were mowed, the baskets looked new, and each one had a bright yellow flag on top. Even better, plastic arrows attached to the bottom of the baskets pointed toward the next hole. It’s a simple touch, but those little details make a big difference when you’re navigating an unfamiliar course.
Camp Pet-O-Se-Ga offers three different tee positions, giving players options depending on their experience and appetite for a challenge. I chose the blue tees, and I was glad I did. They gave me plenty to think about without making the round feel impossible.
Lay Up, Play Smart, and Live to Throw Again
One thing you’ll learn quickly at Camp Pet-O-Se-Ga is that you can’t just grip it and rip it on every hole. The basket placements can be downright nasty, and some of the hazards are positioned so that there’s just no easy way around them. You have to respect the course, pick your lines, and know when to lay up instead of trying to pull off a hero shot.
And that’s part of what makes this place so much fun. It’s not always about throwing the farthest or trying to park every basket. Sometimes the best shot is the one that keeps you out of trouble and gives you a chance to save par.
The wooded holes on the back nine get especially compact and challenging. You’ll find yourself working through tight lines and figuring out which sidearm or forehand shot might give you the best chance. If you don’t have a reliable forehand in your bag, there are holes here that might make you wish you did.
Mother Nature Had Other Plans
The day started out overcast, with a high around 54 degrees and a serious wind blowing through the course. I came prepared with HotHands hand warmers, and I used them for much of the front nine just to keep my fingers warm enough to grip the disc comfortably. Then, somewhere around the turn, the sun came out.
Suddenly, I was peeling off layers and enjoying a completely different round. That’s Northern Michigan for you. Dress for the weather you have, but be ready for the weather you’re about to get.
One thing I really appreciated was the ability to stop after the first nine holes. With the parking lot nearby, you can head back to your car, grab a snack or a beverage, change layers, and regroup before heading out for the back nine.
I took advantage of that myself. I tossed my vest into the SUV, swapped out a few discs that weren’t working particularly well for the course, topped off my water, and made my way to Hole 10. Sometimes a little mid-round reset is all you need.
The Kind of Place That Reminds You Why You Play
There wasn’t another soul on the course that day. Just me, my discs, the trees, and the occasional gust of wind reminding me that I wasn’t going to get away with anything too ambitious. But as I walked those wooded fairways, I couldn’t help thinking about how much fun this course would be with friends or family. There are enough challenges to make you laugh, enough difficult shots to keep things interesting, and enough beautiful scenery to make you forget about your score for a while.
Out here, surrounded by the dense Michigan woods, you get back to the heart of the game. No crowds. No distractions. Just you, the course, and the next shot.
That’s what I love about disc golf. You can spend an entire afternoon chasing a little piece of plastic through the woods and somehow come away feeling like you’ve done something good for your mind and body.
Camp Pet-O-Se-Ga was a fantastic second stop on my Petoskey disc golf trip. It’s beautiful, well-maintained, challenging, and absolutely worth the drive. Bring a few different shots, respect the hazards, dress for the weather, and don’t be afraid to lay up when the course tells you to.
And if you get the chance to play it with friends or family? Even better.
Go throw!
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