TITLE: Bill Mackenzie and His Disc Golf Course: From Home Experiment to World Fame

DESCRIPTION: An overview of Bill McKenzie's famous course: how his idea changed the course of disc golf in the US and abroad. Why the Flip City experience is not only useful for golf course owners

Legacy of a Lab-Built Course: Bill McKenzie's Vision from 1980 to Disc Golf Icon

The story of Flip City is not just another story about a sports venue in Michigan. It is proof that passion, perseverance and a little creativity can turn a small private project into one of the most recognised disc golf destinations in the world. It all started in the late 1970s when Bill McKenzie decided to organise a game for friends on his property. Back then it was an improvised course on the hills of a farm, with no official equipment and with artisanal targets. Today flipcitygolf.com is one of the top 25 disc golf courses in the world according to UDisc and is considered a benchmark of community design.

The Beginning of the Journey: An Idea That Grew Out of a Passion

Mackenzie's inspiration came not from sport, but from a desire to create a space for recreation and experimentation. In 1980, he began by marking out the first holes in his backyard, using everything from tree branches to scrap metal, and the game cost $1. It was an outdoor laboratory where each hole was put to the test by players. The homey approach didn't stop the influx of visitors. In the 1990s, players from Grand Rapids' state-run courses started coming here. At some point, the idea stopped being just entertainment - it became a mission. Gradually, the project grew in infrastructure: first there were clearer trails, then the first official baskets were installed, and a little later, concrete courts for throwing.

It's important to note that Mackenzie did all of this on his own. No investment, no sponsor support, no marketing campaigns. He created the field for and with the players.

How Flip City Became the National Pride of Disc Golf

The turning point came in 1998, when official Mach V baskets appeared on the track (the baskets were advised by one of the regular players). This allowed Flip City to become accessible not only to friends and acquaintances, but also to a wider audience. Mackenzie retained the core values of his project: the entrance fee remained symbolic and the atmosphere extremely friendly.

In the following years, the course became a venue for tournaments and a pilgrimage for enthusiasts from all over the country. In the 2020s, Flip City was already regularly featured in international rankings. In 2025, it was ranked 21st on the global UDisc list and became the best disc golf course in the US according to player feedback.

What Makes Flip City Unique

Flip City makes a special combination of simplicity, design logic and respect for nature. The Disc golf course has 24 holes, each differing in terrain, distance and difficulty level. Players consistently comment that the course is perfectly balanced: open areas alternate with wooded areas, short shots are replaced by long arcs of terrain.

But it's not just the physics of the game. There is almost no visual noise in Flip City. It's not an amusement park, but a space where you feel part of the landscape. Even the upgrade of the baskets in 2020 (to the Chainstar Pro model) was done without too much ostentation, just as a step towards a better gaming experience.

A nice bonus is still the price: to this day, admission is $5, and that makes the course affordable for just about everyone.

Why the Players are Coming Back

Many people who have played Flip City at least once say one thing: it feels like home. There is something wonderfully warm about the way the disc golf course has been conceived and realised. It's not overloaded with visual effects, there are no excessive logistics, but every detail is clearly calibrated.

In the reviews, players emphasise:

• Excellent navigation and cleanliness;

• A natural but logically constructed route;

• No commercial pressures - no adverts, merch or pay zones;

• Friendly atmosphere - both from the owner and other players.

It's a kind of place of strength. It provides an experience that is difficult to replicate in large commercial clubs.

What Can Be Learnt from Flip City's Experience

Flip City has become an example of how sports infrastructure can be done not for profit, but for community. It's a course that grew out of a desire to create rather than sell. This is an important message for designers and field owners: sometimes the best design is born not in the office, but in dialogue with the players.

Here are a few of the principles that Flip City translates to the global disc golf community:

• It doesn't have to be a major project to be the best;

• Authenticity is more important than commercialism;

• Regular updating is not just about the baskets, but also about the approach to the layout;

• Player comfort starts with respect for space.

Conclusion

Flip City is not just another set of holes and baskets. It is a philosophy expressed in space, the story of one man who was able to turn a farm plot into an international symbol of community design. And it is a reminder that sometimes it is in simplicity and sincerity that the strongest ideas are born.

For players from around the world, Flip City remains an example of what the perfect course should be: honest, organic, warm and, most importantly, lively.

If you're not just looking for a track, but a place you want to come back to, Flip City is one of the best spots on the map.