To another incredible disc golf resort, of course. Justin Trails Resort, located only 3.5 hours from Sandy Point, is a 200-acre parcel in the Driftless Area of western Wisconsin.
The property has been in the Justin family for generations. Donna Justin is currently at the helm of this first-class disc golf destination. She and her husband, Don, acquired the operation in 1970 and transformed it from a working farm to a bed and breakfast and Nordic skiing facility, to a disc golf mecca. The big red barn, built in 1919 and refurbished into an “elegant barn” in 2013, has sizable event space and is a popular wedding venue.
Donna now works with her daughter, Dawn, as our community lost Don in July of 2024 to Parkinson’s disease. Donna claims he has graduated to a new level after doing his best. She, too, is doing her best. Donna made us feel welcome and comfortable, and she was exceptionally gracious with her time, proudly showing us everything she and Don had built and developed. I’m still thinking about her specialty pineapple French toast breakfast dish!
Classic / Big Brother
Two outstanding disc golf courses wind through the hills and offer a challenge for players of all levels. During our two-night, three-day stay, we played the Classic course twice. The first time Mike beat me by three. The second time, he went a little nuts and beat me by eight.
Our Sandy Point teammate, pro golfer Michael Holton, warned us that the Big Brother course would be the hike of our lives. It was. And Mike bested me by only two. Tips for this course? Good footwear. The terrain is steep and can be muddy. And also, take your time and enjoy the views from atop the world. This place reminds us of how lucky we are to be a part of the Disc Golf Family.
After our Big Brother round, we retreated to The Cottage, propped up the adjustable King-size bed, and watched the film, Decoding the Driftless by Jonas Stenstrom. We had seen a poster for it in The Lodge during breakfast, and after that hike of a lifetime, I was interested in learning more about the local geography. And I did! Justin Trails Resort is credited as a sponsor, and we were excited to see at least three shots of this jewel within the film. If geography and baby falcons turn you on, take an hour to watch this film.
Llama Llama
Two llamas live on property. Their names are Porter and Stout. Donna claims they are “an attraction,” and it was easy to understand why. They’re beautiful. They’re friendly. And they produce fleece that she has made into rugs. I couldn’t resist and had to purchase one. The rugs are for sale along with a small array of souvenirs including cool coffee mugs, shirts, and, of course, golf discs.
Donna donated a wooden disc commemorating the Friends of Don Justin PDGA-C tier event held on July 27, 2024, to the Wisconsin Disc Golf Hall of Fame, housed here at Sandy Point. We’ll have it on display when the 2025 season gets underway. Fun fact: Don and Donna visited Sandy Point in the late ‘90s when they first considered installing a course on their property. And we’re so glad they did. We apologized to Donna for taking so many years to visit, but this year it was Mike’s birthday request. It turned out to be a gift for both of us.
Justin Trails gives disc golf resorts an excellent name. We give it our highest recommendation.