Written by Andrew Snippen
(This article was featured in Disc Golfer Magazine – Summer 2020 issue)
Everybody loves a good comeback story. They stir up our deepest emotions and fuel our belief that with enough hard work and a passionate vision, anything is possible. In an era where feel good stories are in short supply, the saga developing at Highbridge Hills demonstrates how any struggling disc golf course can rise from the ashes when a community bands together behind great leadership.
Highbridge Hills is a 5-course disc golf mecca, nestled high in the peaceful Northwoods of Wisconsin. It offers fairways of all varieties; long and short, open and technical, all taking unique advantage of the hill scape. The feeling of seclusion is a major draw for players traveling from near and far. Each course has something special to offer— stretches of wildflowers, stark-white birch, stunning red granite and stellar tee-side views overlooking rolling hills of maple and oak forest… You’ll need more than just a weekend to experience all that Highbridge has to offer.
However, the road to success has been a rocky one. Highbridge Hills went from hosting the Pro Disc Golf World Championships to being shut down completely. But it’s not really about the past—it’s about the future. Once you have an understanding of the history, you will have to come and experience the magic first-hand, as Highbridge is resurfacing as an international disc golf destination. Careful not to blink though, or you are sure to miss out on history in the making.
The Early Years (The Rise)
Going back to the early 2000’s, the original plan for the 260-acre property on which Highbridge Hills Disc Golf Complex now sits, was to create a ball golf course. Due to unexpected circumstances, that plan was abandoned before completion. Rather than walk away from the fairways that had already been carved out, the idea to use the land for disc golf was presented. Once that seed was planted, the first step was to hire the right course designer to give this immaculate piece of property the treatment it deserved.
Undoubtedly, Chuck Kennedy was the man for the job. With his 15 years of experience and significant contributions to 30+ courses, his keen sense of course-design allowed him to transform the hills in a way that was beyond the abilities of any amateur designer.
“I think we were successful in creating a feeling where each course had its own personality,” Kennedy reflects. “Of all the accomplishments, I think that is what I am most proud of.” Anyone who has thrown a round at Highbridge Hills knows just how true this statement is. Regardless of skill level, there is a course layout to satisfy whatever experience you seek.
Kennedy and his crew began designing the courses in the early months of 2004, while the ground was covered in snow. Construction began right away in the spring, and by fall, the first tournament on the hill was played on the iconic Blueberry Hill course. Just one year later in 2005, Highbridge Hills was hosting the U.S. Mid-Nationals Championships—the first year for this this ratings-based event. Not only was this significant as a complementary event to the USDGC for non-gold level players, but this served as a successful test-run for the Pro Disc Golf World Championships, set to be held there in 2007.
2007 Pro Worlds came and went— And what an event it was. The courses were in prime form. Spirits were high. There was a lot of positive energy flowing from players and spectators alike. The final round was as exciting as any, as Nate Doss and Markus Källström took their battle for the title down to the very end. Many people left that weekend feeling optimistic about the future for Highbridge Hills. They knew there was something special about this place and it was sure to become a regular destination for years to come. However, there were things that went on behind the scenes that soured many relationships, causing key partners to turn their backs and walk away from Highbridge for a long time. But we needn’t go into those details here.
The Dark Days (The Fall)
For the next decade, the property as a disc golf mecca went into a steady decline. The fairways were mowed—sometimes, but that was about the extent of the maintenance. Pruning branches, trimming brush on fairway edges, and any other typical course upkeep had been left untended. Visitors never knew what conditions or accommodations they could expect when making the trip. There was always something “in the works” and although the intentions appeared to come from a good place… we all know where that road can lead. Unfinished projects and random junk accumulated on the property. Disc golfers inevitably started to question the direction the hills were headed.
Summer of 2016 was a seemingly pivotal point in the Highbridge Hills saga when extreme weather, subpar planning, and the unfulfilled promises of property management left the courses a twisted disaster in the aftermath of a music festival. Waves of frustration, disbelief, and sadness spread quickly across the internet as images and stories of the recent destruction surfaced. Tire tracks tore up the muddied fairways. Abandoned tents and camp gear littered the property. Many holes bore the remnants of impromptu campfire pits. As you looked out over the once iconic courses, it was hard to imagine that the Pro Disc Golf World Championships had been held there less than a decade prior.
Now, don’t get me wrong, disc golf and music go together like putters on chains. Properly executed events can provide much-needed funding for necessary course maintenance and improvements. Festival organizers learned from those first year mistakes and invested money and time to ensure history did not repeat itself. Subsequent festivals were successful in avoiding such drastic impacts to the disc golf experience. Looking toward the future, Highbridge strives to be an example of how disc golf and music events can coexist harmoniously through careful planning and cooperation.
Nature has an uncanny ability to heal her wounds rather quickly, but this particular scenario in 2016 was about more than the physical damage to the property. It was a symbol of the future and showed where disc golf ranked on the hill.Despite the efforts of a concerned few, the clean-up process was not managed properly and in early 2018, Highbridge was forced to shut down until several issues could be addressed. All hope of the place ever returning to its original glory was just about diminished. That is, until last year.
The Resurrection
It was January 4, 2019 when I got the text from Tom Wincse (aka Mountain Man) that he was going to be the new owner/operator of Highbridge Hills. It instantly gave me goosebumps, because anyone who knows Tom could feel what this meant for disc golf. Tom is a man that you believe when he tells you his vision, because he always backs it up with action. It is never a matter of “if”, but rather “when”. His love for the sport is unmatched, and when he took over the reins, people knew this shift in management was monumental.
As expected, Mountain Man moved quickly. April 27th, 2019 marked a milestone as Highbridge Hills held their first PDGA-sanctioned event since the 2007 Pro Worlds. The air was electric as players from all around made the trip to compete in the aptly named “Resurrection of Highbridge Hills” tournament. Things went smoothly, but the real work was just beginning.
As soon as the snow fully melted, Tom was out grooming the long-neglected fairways, with nothing but a walk-behind DR brush-hog and a copious amount of drive. Regular updates and photos of progress were posted on social media, resulting in an increasingly large outflow of excitement and support. Hope was being restored, and the gravity of it all could be felt across the disc golf community, in all corners of the country.
Tom knew he could not do it alone. He assembled an experienced crew of knowledgeable, hardworking, passionate individuals to aid in the so-called resurrection of Highbridge Hills. For advice relating to the property, he leaned heavily on the expertise of Chuck Kennedy and Don Ticknor (independent lot owner since Highbridge Hills was formed). Bryan Lagergren of Northern Lights Disc Golf stepped up big as tournament director and ran multiple events. The Chesterfields crew and I were put in charge of non-disc golf related events and helped coordinate with music festival staff to ensure a smooth-running event that did not interfere with disc golf on the property. Tom’s grounds crew, (Brandon Lynch et al.), worked alongside him with the rising and setting sun each day, knowing they were a part of something special. Many other volunteers made trips up to lend a hand as well. One hole at a time, they manicured areas that had grown undisturbed since they were originally cut back in 2004, and reminders of the past were eradicated as loads of garbage and unfinished projects were removed from the property.
In addition to aiding in the cleanup process, the disc golf community was generous with their donations. Financial contributions came in through donation buckets at tournaments and a Go Fund Me account, as well as extra money raised through the sale of a special run of Highbridge Hills hooded sweatshirts. Northern Lights Disc Golf donated 18 brand new baskets to the Woodland Greens course and 9 baskets were donated by the Stevens Point Area Flying Disc Association and Chesterfields DGC to eventually go in on the Chestnut Grove course. Important maintenance equipment donations were made as well in the form of a riding lawn mower and a gas-powered pole saw. The list of contributions and contributors is much too long for this article, but let’s just say that the generosity was over whelming.
When players returned in August for the Highbridge Hills Open (presented by Northern Lights Disc Golf), they were treated to quite the experience. The transformation that occurred that summer seemed like an act of magic, as the courses were now in pristine condition. This was another monumental event, as it was a B-Tier Wisconsin tour stop that also marked the return of Chuck Kennedy to his magnum opus— for the first time in 12 years. All the pieces were falling back into place, and the momentum of progress reached an unstoppable level.
By the end of year 1, all five courses on the hill were not only playable, but they were playing up to their original reputation as world class courses. Eventually the snow started falling, and course work was forced to slow to a stop. The hill had come a long way in this first year, leaving people hopeful and eager for what the next year had in store.
Forever Forward
The plans for Highbridge Hills are big and there is still a lot of work ahead. But the progress that was seen in just one year far surpassed everyone’s expectations. 2020 was looking to be a breakout year with six scheduled tournaments, including the Wisconsin Tour finale. Looking ahead even further, don’t be surprised to see an Elite Tour stop pop up. And you better believe that eyes are on the prize to bring another Disc Golf World Championship back to the hills. It’s just a matter of time.
The rejuvenation of this hallowed piece of property in the Northwoods of Wisconsin is truly an inspiring story. This comeback is greater than one man’s dream of returning a disc golf sanctuary to the vibrant hub that it once was. It’s a crew of passionate individuals pouring their hearts and souls toward a shared vision of disc golf grandeur. It’s a community of believers banding together, offering support through words, donations, physical labor, and so much more. It’s what happens when all the pieces come together, not by accident, but through the passion and love that the disc golf community has for one another and for the sport itself. The comeback of Highbridge Hills Disc Golf Mecca shows that anything is possible in disc golf.
It just wouldn’t be right to conclude this article without mentioning the true heroes of this story… Roger and Ann Juaire, actual owners of the property for 15+ years. Keeping out of the spotlight, they were the financial backbone from the start and always kept the best interest of the disc golf community in mind. During this transition period, they wanted to make sure that the property remained in the hands of disc golfers, even though they themselves have never thrown a disc. It’s safe to say that without Roger and Ann, Highbridge Hills Disc Golf Complex would not exist as it is today.
I am forever grateful to be a part of this community and to witness this movement first-hand; a movement that is at the top of the list of inspirational stories in disc golf history. There is no telling where this ride will takes us, but I can promise you one thing, if you have a love for the sport, you will not want to miss what lies ahead for the future of Highbridge Hills.
Forever forward.