Jeff
LaGrassa’s Review Page of Disc Golf Courses
If you’ve
just found my page by clicking over from the PDGA website, welcome! This is a
guide page, intended to describe some of the disc golf courses that I have
played in the Mid-Atlantic Region and around the country. Obligatory disc-claimer:
I have tried to keep any negative comments to a minimum, since I am sure
countless hours of blood, sweat and tears went into these courses, and having
not contributed at all, I'm not going to rip on anyone's efforts. For the
record, I've been playing disc golf for more than ten years, and play in the
Open division in tournaments. I personally prefer longer holes and courses that
feature pro par 4 and pro par 5 holes. I am sick of pitch-and-putt courses! I
think my opinions are going to be therefore biased, so for novice players your
mileage may vary. Although I’ve played over 175 different disc golf
courses, I think that there are still many more I need to visit, and some I
need to revisit, so If you have any questions, comments or can provide course
updates please feel free to e-mail me at LUNG@ENTER.NET
If you are
traveling from out of town and are visiting Reading,
PA or the Lehigh Valley
and would like to get together for a round, please e-mail me. I would be more
than happy to show you one or more of the area courses: Roland Park, Jordan Creek,
Little Lehigh Parkway, or Nockamixon
State Park. These courses
unfortunately aren’t marked the best and finding your way around if you are not
familiar with the courses can be a little tedious. I’m usually available for a
round just about anytime on the weekends and most afternoons and evenings after
work during daylight savings time: April – October.
-Jeff
LaGrassa PDGA #12616
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Last
updated: Tuesday September 16, 2008; added the Victory Park and world class par
66 Timber Ridge Pro/Am Worlds 2008 courses in Michigan.
Coming
soon: Seven Springs Mountain Resort in western PA and Idlewild
in Burlington, KY!!!
Pennsylvania
Moraine State Park, Portersville,
PA – This is the best course in Pennsylvania, and the
blue tees and C pin positions play as tough as Nockamixon. Located on the shores of Lake
Arthur, the course is an
awesome mix of open fairways with sparse cover and some wooded gauntlet holes.
Think Codorus Park with its open holes and lake views,
and throw in some devlish Paw Paw
or Pawtapsco wooded holes and that's the kind of
course you can expect. The signature hole 15 plays about 850 feet downhill to
the polehole situated in front of the lake. Lining the left-hand side is an OB road, and lining the right-hand side is a steep drop-off
with heavy schule. A strong headwind may blow off the
lake, which makes disc selection critical. Crush a drive to the landing zone,
and then another crush down to the polehole and make your putt for a birdie
three you’ll remember for the rest of your disc golfing career. After "The
Beauty" comes "The Beast," an evil par five that drives uphill,
through a narrow pine grove, then another 300 or so feet from the top of the
hill. The par five sixth hole is 934 feet long, and there
are many other beautiful par fours through the woods and some tough par threes
that don’t offer easy deuces. Three cheers to Pittsburgh Flying Disc Society
and all the hard working volunteers, as well as all the polehole sponsors.
They’ve got an unbelievable world class course there in Western
Pennsylvania!
Nockamixon State Park, Quakertown,
PA – Brian Fredrick, Kevin Laboksi
and some generous volunteers have burrowed their way through thick brush and
woods to create honest fairways, long holes, and a world-class disc course
halfway between Allentown and Philadelphia. Though temporarily only 14
holes due to a bird nesting area, this is one of the toughest courses you’ll
ever play but you’ll love every frustrating minute of it! Pretty ponds,
waterfalls, and views of the marina and sailboats out on the lake make this
course also one of the most scenic in the state. The par five hole in front of
the bathroom plays about 300 feet downhill to a landing area, where it takes a
ninety degree left hand turn – and the target is now another 500 feet through
narrow woods! In a course filled with signature holes, it’s tough to pick a
favorite, but the waterfall hole is delightful; from an elevated tee, you shoot
down a powerline, over a water hazard, and to a
basket precariously perched in front of a small stream with a waterfall. A
boulder field and a steep hill lines the fairway, and
it takes a perfect shot to clear the water and land on the green. What a hole!
Deer Lakes Park, Pittsburgh, PA – This course is finally
completed, and is easily one of the top twenty I've ever played in both the United States and Canada. It is every bit as good as Moraine State Park
and Knob Hill Park,
so that is really saying something! Groomed as nicely as the Pittsburgh Flying
Disc Society typically keeps their courses, the city will soon be known
nationwide as a disc golf destination for those looking to experience world
class caliber disc golf courses within an hour of a major metropolitan center. Barring
heavy traffic, Deer
Lakes Park
is the closest one of the three to the downtown – only about a 25-30 minute
drive.
This course has a superb blend of open holes & wooded holes with serious
elevation changes throughout, and a downhill shot over water. The terrain and
play of the course, as well as beauty and aesthetics, are similar to that of at
Moraine, Knob Hill, and Paw Paw. The course alternates
between "pipeline" holes that have a wide open fairway and heavy
rough to the side, holes cut through less dense woods with only light rough off
the fairway, and open grassy holes typical of a public park setting. Pro par
four and par five holes that require fairway placement alternate with par
threes that offer deuce opportunities. With few exceptions, there are no "gimme" holes, especially when playing from the more
challenging blue tees and when the alternate pin placements eventually get
utilized. The pro par of 66 is quite realistic!
My hat is
tipped to the enormous amount of grunt work that local PFDS volunteers endured
to make this course a reality, and to their continued efforts at getting new
world class disc golf courses installed in the Pittsburgh area. The new courses
they are putting in are shining examples of how to make challenging, yet fair
and most importantly fun layouts that require actual GOLF skills and knowledge,
and reflect today's advances in disc technology and course design.
Pymatuning State Park, Jamestown,
PA –
While this course is still a work in progress, course designer Rich Givens has
a world class layout in the rural northeast region of the state that when
completed, from the gold layout will challenge disc golfers like no other!
Scheduled to clock in at nearly 9500’ in length, this layout will play over
gently rolling hills with a superb balance of sparse woods and open shots to
test one’s entire golf game.
With
gorgeous views of the lake inlet throughout, this course is quite the scenic
one. The first truly memorable hole is the par five 4th, which features both
open and corridor shots. A birdie four on this nearly 810’ hole is something to
get excited about! Hole#7 plays as a long pro par
four, where after hitting the landing area, a narrow band of woods and brush
must be negotiated to reach the polehole. Hole #8 is arguably the most exciting par three at the
course, with the polehole resting on an elevated
ridge with drop-offs on all sides, including the lake directly behind it. This
is one fast green! A monster roller coaster pro par five 9th hole closes out
the front. The back nine starts out with the most open shot on the course, but
it’s quickly followed by more wooded, undulating terrain and challenging holes.
The 13th hole is arguably the signature on the course and plays across a field,
over a hilltop, down through what appears to be a natural wooded corridor and
up the hill on the other side. It is quickly followed by another gorgeous pro
par four with a 90-degree dogleg that sets up a beautiful approach to a basket
framed by the lake. Interesting, the only true gauntlet wood hole at the course
comes next, followed by three mostly open holes to finish the course. The 18th
hole is as worthy as a closing hole as you’ll find at any disc golf course in
existence. It plays some 675’ with the water lining the entire left-hand side
and the polehole lying precariously close to the
water’s edge.
As much a
joy as the disc golf course is to play, reading the tee signs and another signs
posted throughout the course are a delight. Course designer Rich Givens has an
interesting sense of humor and some of the poetry and witticisms he has printed
are a treat, and certainly unique in the world of disc golf.
Whispering
Falls Disc Golf Course at Antrim Township Community
Park, Greencastle, PA
- When
a new course pops up in an area of the country that previously had no
established disc golf scene, one usually expects a pitch-n-putt with many
common course design flaws. But it's obvious the designers of this course did
their homework and took the suggestions of all those who recommended making for
a challenging course with excellent length, elevation changes and bonafide pro par four holes. I was seriously impressed!
With all
pins in 'B' positions, the course makes for arguably seven pro par holes, I
estimate that SSA (Scratch Scoring Average) for this layout to be about 58,
which would make it instantly one of the toughest permanent 18-hole courses in
the state along with Moraine, Deer Lakes, IUP College Lodge, the long layout at
Knob Hill, and 18-hole configurations at Nockamixon, Codorus, and Tyler State Parks. The course starts off with
possibly the most memorable opening hole in the state, other than the opener at
Prompton
Dam State Park.
To the B pin, hole#1 at Whispering Falls
course plays 717' to a well protected basket. The drive flies over a small
valley and will optimally negotiate a landing area between scattered trees. The
approach is another considerably long shot through sparse trees with heavy
rough to the left and behind the basket. Only with length and accurate
placement does one have a chance at scoring a birdie three. Hole#3 plays down a
Columbia Gas Line cut, and after executing a placement drive on the narrow
fairway, the approach is down one of the sickest and awe-inspiring drop-offs I've ever seen at a disc
golf course. Just walking down this elevation change is nerve wracking. At 520
feet, this isn't a long hole, but only the most accurate of golfers has any
shot at the birdie 3. Holes 5 and 6 play near an OB
protected area, and staying out of this terrain is paramount. Executing a safe
shot instead of going for a heroic one is the recommendation here! Hole 8 and 9 play similarly down a walking trail with
doglegs and heavy rough on both sides. While the fairway is ample, any shot
that does not find fairway placement usually leaves nothing but a pitch-out
back to the fairway. You are enthused to escape both these holes with a score
of par 4. Hole#10 is one of the most exciting par
three holes I've seen in disc golf in years. It plays sharply downhill through
a narrow gorge with high walls on each side. The pin positions are tricky in
that even at 310 and 410 feet, drives can fly well past them and leave tough
comebackers. Hole#11 plays next to the Conococheague Creek, with views of the Martin's Mill Covered
Bridge. Built in 1849, Martin's Mill Covered Bridge
is reportedly Pennsylvania's
second longest covered bridge. Hole#11 is is 755' long through scattered trees, and with the water
hazard lining the entire left-hand side. Don't hyzer
left! Being almost pancake flat, if the ground is dry this is an excellent
opportunity to throw a long backhand or forehand roller. Watch for the ditch at
about 425' though. ]After all the pro par four holes,
some shorter shots through heavy woods round out the rest of the course. (thank goodness!) None of these are easy deuces however, and
bogies can still be had should one encounter early foilage.
The most interesting of the remaining holes is #17, which is 370' downhill but
with an OB marsh that one can choose to lay-up
in front of, or attempt to carry.
In general
there is excellent use of the almost too-good-to-be-true elevation changes
available in the park, and there is an excellent balance between shots that
alternatively favor southpaws and rightys, or
forehand and backhand shots. Some holes, such as #9, might require executing
both within the same hole. As the course
has only been in the ground for less than 6 months, there are the usual areas
for improvement which the local club is already well aware of and will address
in the coming year. There are directional signs needed, steps on some of the
downhill and uphill paths, foot bridges to be built, leveling of tee boxes,
etc. Additionally, there seems to be heavy pedestrian and equestrian traffic in
the park and signs to alert both golfers and non-golfers of the presence of
each other are needed. Knowing how impatient recreational disc golfers can be,
I usually cringe when I see disc golf courses laid out
partly on walking trails but hopefully the interference will be minimal and no
serious safety incidents will ensue. Kudos to the volunteers who worked
tirelessly with the local parks department to make this course happen! This is truly
a gem in the making and one that any disc golfer within a few hours drive
should eventually make a pilgrimage to visit and play. Allow yourself plenty of
time to play the layout, as negotiating
the challenging course and the hilly terrain
(especially the Whispering Falls Trail walk between holes#12 &13)
will be taxing but oh so worth it!
IUP College Lodge, Indiana, PA - Thanks to the efforts of Michael
Dropcho and the Indiana Disc Links Association, a world class 18-hole disc golf
course was installed in October of 2001. With several huge downhill chucks
including the signature 18th-hole which plays over 700 feet, this
course features elevation changes galore. But before you get to the ski slope
you must first negotiate a few holes by the pond. Hole
4 plays straight up the ski slope and has an extremely fast green. Try to catch
your breath and get your deuces on holes 5 and 6, because hole 7 is a pro par four
from the long tee. It plays down a very narrow path between heavy woods on
either side, and placement on the fairway along with a pinpoint approach is
critical to getting a birdie three on this hole. The fun really begins on hole 8 which shoots down the most narrow of the ski trails.
The basket is only about halfway down the hill and you’ll find that avoiding
the woods on either side or avoiding blowing 100’ or more past the polehole is
quite a challenge. Hole 9 plays down the remainder of the slope to the base,
and is quite the thrilling drive and whets your appetite for hole
18. The back nine plays through similar extreme elevation changes but is much
more heavily wooded. From the tee, the 18th polehole is visible 722 feet in
distance and several hundred feet below you. With purple and white wildflowers
surrounding the polehole, along with views of the distant college lodge with
its big stone fireplace, an allusion to “The Sound of Music” is not out of
place here. Taking in the scenery is a lot easier than executing on this hole
however because there’s often a strong headwind. Making birdie three here to
finish your round is something you’ll cherish for weeks afterwards.
Little
Lehigh Parkway, Allentown, PA
– Installed as a temporary course for Pro Worlds 2005, this
course was the ‘jewel’ of the tournament, and has since been given the green
light to remain in the ground year round. This park is the most popular and
perhaps most beautiful in the city, with an old limestone kiln, a covered
bridge, a variety of species of trees and a meandering river, the Little
Lehigh, which bisects the park and comes into play on many holes. Several holes
have a steep wooded hillside running the entire length of one side, and the
water hazard running the entire length of the other side. These hazards combine
to make for a USDGC-style challenge, but without artificial and ugly yellow
rope. While the course has been shortened a bit from the Pro Worlds layout for
recreational use, it still features several par four holes mixed in with some
runs at deuce to break up what is considered by most standards to be a long layout.
The true joy of playing this course comes in that nearly the entire course
plays fairly wide open and away from the deep rough that can be found at other
courses. With pro caliber length, rolling hills, and OB hazards combining to
make for a world class challenge, along with beautiful scenery and new rubber Flypad teepads, this is the signature course in the Lehigh Valley
and a must-play if you’re in the region.
Jordan Creek Park, Allentown, PA – This is a course
that has seen several different incarnations but the 2005 Pro Worlds layout was
the best of them all. The current recreational layout features the water hazard
on several holes, and many holes have a number of picturesque views. From the minehole shot on #7, the view from the tee on hole#9, looking
back from the #10 basket on top of "Cardiac Arrest Hill," the scenic
walk down the fairway of hole #11, the view from the elevated tee of the
signature hole#13, and the elevated tee of hole 18 are just a few interesting
features. The course itself is a wonderful mix of par threes and par fours with
a course SSA over 54, as the layout features pro par fours on holes number nine,
ten, eighteen and occasionally hole#5. The tenth hole
plays up one of the most severe elevation changes you'll ever play. Conservative
shots on the fairway can net a birdie, but aggressive play that results in
shots off the fairway can easily balloon into a high score on this hole.
Beautiful scenery and a cornucopia of water hazards will definitely challenge
you at Jordan Creek, and with new concrete teepads,
the course is a joy to play.
Knob
Hill, Warrendale, PA – This course one of
Pennsylvania’s best original courses, and with the addition of cement tee pads
on all the red tees and flypads to the blue tees to
every hole, it’s only gotten better over the years. The course is a wonderful
mix of wooded holes and shots over rolling terrain with large elevation
changes. Knob Hill is quite flexible, offering three pin positions and two sets
of tee pads per hole. The shorter red tees have possibly the nicest concrete
tee pads I’ve ever played on, and the long tees play very tough, almost enough
to rival the long layouts at other world class courses. When this course was
installed in the mid 1990s, it was initially one of the toughest I had ever
played and was for a long time in my top 10. However, newer courses have since
pushed it off my list of favorites. Also, perennial issues with poor drainage
often make this course a sloppy mess and not very enjoyable to traverse.
Tinicum
Park, Erwinna, PA –. The pin locations
can vary, but when most of the pins are set in the C positions, this course is
one of the longest you’ll play on the East coast. There are a few short wooded
holes with well-defined lanes, but most holes are set in a large flat field
next to a canal, which comes into play on several holes. Because of the length
of the course, Tinicum plays like a ball golf course
in that several holes require a drive, then a long approach shot, then a putt,
instead of the usual drive/putt, drive/putt required at most shorter disc golf
courses. Hole #18 is almost 800 feet long, to a
protected basket! Restroom facilities and water are available, back by the
campground. Be alert for cross-country skiers in the park during the winter
months.
Tyler
State Park, Newtown, PA (27 holes) – My interest and opinion on this course
tends to wax and wane along with the course conditions and polehole positions.
When the course is in good condition and the pin positions are in par four and
par five locations, this course is one of the best in the country. However,
there are times in the late spring and summer when heavy growth can make this
course a jungle and the park service (understaffed from budget constraints, I’m
sure) will get lax with the grass mowing on the open holes. Most of the course
is set in a very lovely and pristine forest with only a few holes out in the
open, and the course does play over some hefty elevation changes. There are
cement tee pads on all tees and three pin positions on most of its 27 holes, as
well as excellent course markage with tee signs and
next tee signs pointing the way. Recently, elevated terraces were added to the
pin position of a few holes which are very aesthetically pleasing and
challenging as well. Some of the C pin positions make for awesome par four and
five holes - you’ll be ecstatic to score a birdie three on many of these longer
holes. Restrooms and water are available.
Private
Course, Chester County, PA – I was contacted during the summer of 2007
by a youth pastor to evaluate the course he designed on the grounds of his
church camp & retreat center. With only a few years background playing recreational
disc golf and no design course experience, the minister created a fantastic pro
par 60 course that makes excellent use of the awesome terrain. After giving a
primer on designing a course for an intended skill level and keeping score
separation in mind, as well as adjusting a few of the tees which were too close
to the previous basket, the course has evolved into a masterpiece with each
hole playing as a different chapter of a book. The course has a little bit of
everything – open shots, wooded holes, several water hazards, elevated
off-the-cliff drives, a gauntlet tree-lined hole, real pro par four holes that
demand both distance and accuracy, roller opportunities, and even a hole
reminiscent of USDGC #7, with a wooded wall that surrounds the polehole. The recent addition of a pro par four 18th
hole is spectacular, with the approach playing severely downhill to a protected
polehole on a natural green area with an OB road just behind it to punish errant shots. Even
better, the minister and the camp go to great lengths to keep the rough trimmed
back and the course is always in pristine shape when I have had the great fortune
to play it.
Unfortunately,
as with most camps where kids are present, liability issues prevent the course
from being open to the public and playing the course is available by
appointment only. I have kept the name and specific location of the course confidential
for this reason.
Quaker’s
Challenge, Gifford Pinchot State Park, Lewisberry, PA - Still a work in progress, when
finished, the Quaker's Challenge course will be a par 63 Nockamixon-like
gem that features elevated lake views, pro-caliber length, steep elevation
changes, gauntlet wooded holes, multiple pin positions, real pro par four and
pro par five holes, and the toughest disc golf challenge in the central portion
of the state.
While the recreational Boulder Woods course serves novice golfers well, it is
somewhat limited by flat terrain, holes that run too close together, tees too
close to the basket of the previous hole, and awkward mandatories.
So a few years ago some of the stronger local players got permission to begin
building a premier golf course on the other side of lake. Many dedicated
volunteers burrowed through some impossibly thick terrain,
and sometimes gruesome briar patches, to create challenging but fair disc golf
holes. While still a work in progress, the course is only some tee pad work and
a little tender love and care away from being a fully functional disc golf
course. Some of the more notable holes, including #1 which is is listed at only 242 feet, but plays some 30 feet of
vertical drop straight uphill. With an effective length of over 330 feet, don't
feel bad if you don't reach this basket on your first throw out of the car. The
A pin on hole#3 is a 550-ft. pro par four, but the B and C pin stretch this
hole out to 795' and 935' and make it a tough pro par 5 to very protected pin
positions. Holes #6-7 play down wide walking paths, but fairway management is a
must. A mid-range off the tee is not a bad idea on these 600+ pro par four
holes. Hole#10 is an uphill pro par four which slopes
heavily from right to left towards an OB
drainage ditch. Staying high right on the hill is critical to set up the
approach shot. Hole#11 plays directly up a powerline cut. It's listed at 444' but plays more like 600+
because of the steep elevation gain. The polehole is
tucked deep into trees left off the fairway, and I can’t see anyone scoring a
birdie 3 on this. Hole#15 is the shortest hole on the
course is by no means the easiest. At 200 feet and slightly downhill, it's a
putter shot at most but down a fairway no more than 6 or 7' wide. A thumber shot up and over everything is there if you're
crazy enough to try it. The last pro par four on the course is hole #16, and it offers a chance to chuck a long, slightly
downhill drive to set up a very tight approach shot. Hole#17
is possibly the signature par 3 at Quaker's Challenge; it's 375' but severely
downhill towards the lake. This one's a beaut and
just a ton of fun to throw.
Codorus State Park, Hanover,
PA (54 holes) –
There are, I’m told, 54 holes now at Codorus
including the uber-challenging “Cross Country” holes.
The course is a wonderful mix of a few tight wooded holes and mostly open ones,
with the exception of a few disc-eating cedar trees, but with FANTASTIC views
of Lake Marburg. Being on a ridge overlooking
the lake, it can get quite windy, so take care. There are several signature
holes with elevated tees that will take your breath away. The wooded holes are
shorter, although with some low ceiling shots, rollers might be the preferred
shot. The course is very well marked, with tee signs at every hole, and a few
holes featured small benches. Restrooms and water are available.
Prompton Dam, Honesdale, PA – After years of
construction, the Dam is back and reportedly better than ever. While the course
still plays mostly in the open, some wooded holes have been added which was one
of the only drawbacks to the course before – it was too open. There are now two sets of permanent poleholes,
one shorter yellow set and one longer red set, to make for two different
layouts playable at any time. While the 11th hole next to the entrance road has
unfortunately been shortened from the awesome 900’ pro par four it used to play
as, some other changes have been made to make the back nine better – especially
the 15th-18th holes. With awesome elevation changes,
serious length, challenging wind play, and fantastic views of the lake, the
course is well worth the commute to the remote area in which the course is
located. The signature hole #1 is one of the best opening holes in disc golf -
it drives 400 feet from the parking lot down to the pin situated on a peninsula
that juts out into the lake.
Hickory Run State Park,
Lake Harmony, PA – The Pocono guys have done a bang-up job
getting a great course installed in this park. There’s a lot of difficult par threes
and some heavy foliage that make this course play tougher than it looks. The
front nine wind through a mostly open section of the park with rolling hills
and fantastic views of the lake. Rollers work well on a lot of these holes. The
back nine are mostly flat and play through a much tighter wooded area. A lot of
golfers disparage this back nine, but that viewpoint is unjust, in my opinion.
These are classic Pennsylvania/New England woods holes, and golfers with
moderate skill should be able to regularly thread these fairways. The alternate
holes #3A and #3B play through a very pretty woods section and over a water
hazard.
Roland
Park, Akron, PA (21 holes) - A rolling, scenic course set in the heart of
Amish country. The first two holes play in the open, while the rest of the
front nine play mostly short, tight and in the woods. Nearly all of these woods
holes are very interesting in that they feature fast greens, with most baskets
on steep hills. The back nine play as long open field shots, so watch out for
the wind! The course features cement tee pads on all the holes, and benches on
the front nine. Hole #18 drives over a pretty pond
with a fountain, although it isn’t too tough to clear the water. Restroom
facilities are available.
Belmont
Plateau, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, PA (temp course) – This
was a temporary course set up for the Philadelphia Open a few years ago; it was
awesome! The front nine played in a mostly open area on a hillside with views
of the Philadelphia
skyline. The tee of the 5th hole looked directly at Philly and the
hole was about 450 feet downhill and easily reachable. It was followed by a
roughly 600-foot par 4 hole to a protected green. The back nine played through
a wooded section with more elevation changes and low ceilings that, on a few
occasions, demanded rollers. The combination of elevation, length, trees, and
challenge made for quite a memorable course, and one I’d love to be able to
play again someday.
Camp
Horseshoe, Orefield, PA (private)
– This course was closed
for several years when it was shut down by the Boys and Girls Club of
Allentown. A few years ago it was bought by an organization called Valley Youth
House and renamed Camp
Fowler. Since I used to
be “course pro” at Camp
Horseshoe I got a call at
that time from Bob Robertson of the Valley Youth House organization about
bringing the course back. I thought I was doing “the right thing” by handing
this off to Lehigh Valley Disc Club officers. Unfortunately, it looks like the
opportunity to have the course available to LVDC members or the general public
has been squandered. It’s a real shame because apparently new tee boxes and
three new footbridges were built on the course. I don’t know what the current
layout plays like, but the old one played up and over and down some of the most
severe terrain you’ve ever seen. Almost every basket was on an angled slope,
which made for the fastest greens I’ve ever played. Getting ’Shoed was
equivalent to suffering a severe rollaway, usually into an OB
creek. The signature hole #17 drove off a ridge over 375 feet across and down a
valley underneath a zip line, and it was awesome!
D. F. Buchmiller Park, Lancaster,
PA – This course plays up
and down over some beautiful rolling hills. From what I’ve heard the course is
set on what used to be a ball golf course. Buchmiller
is well marked with tees signs on every hole and signs pointing the way to the
next tee. With all the pins in the normal positions, the course plays fairly
short overall with many a birdie opportunity. But with the pins in the
alternate positions, the course plays longer and much more difficult. Most of
the holes play in the open around a few scattered large trees, but when the
pins are in the alternate positions, on some holes you’re playing to a pin
which is set some 40-50 feet back into the woods. They’ve added 18 concrete tee
pads to the course, which was a much needed improvement and is greatly
appreciated. Water and Port-o-Lets are available.
Long Trout Winery, Auburn, PA (private; see website for operating hours) – Where the wine is
cool and the hippie chicks rule! The
course is set on the property behind the house of the winery owners, and the
first tee launches from the patio of their house. The course looks a bit South Mountain
did when it was installed in 1997, long before the masses opened everything up.
There are some steep hills, a few rocks, but certainly very narrow fairways.
The fairways on the tightest holes are only six or seven feet wide, and as with
all new courses, there's a lot of little stuff if you get off the fairway. With
a perfect throw, however, you can reach the basket of all the holes, as most
are in the 200-300 foot range and the longest is about 350 feet. The first five
holes wind their way up through the woods, and hole six plays directly
downhill. Holes seven and eight are anhyzers / lefty hyzers that play in an
open field, and hole nine throws through a tight gauntlet and then over the koi pond behind the house.
The back nine plays similarly, with the holes tick-tacking
their way up the hill until holes 15 and 16 play severely downhill and back to
the open. Hole#17 is an instant classic - it's only
200 feet long, but you must throw through a mando of
two large trees spaced only about ten feet apart, about halfway to the
polehole. The aforementioned polehole hangs from the barn, and its an awesome ace run. Hole#18
ends with a polehole position perched precariously above the pond, and any ace
run that misses will certainly result in "fish food."
While the course is not a championship caliber layout, the
hospitality is certainly world class. If you get the chance to talk to the
owner, Tom, you will likely spend hours enjoying swapping stories. You should also not
miss the opportunity to sample the fantastic wine and purchase a bottle to bring
home with you.
South Mountain Park,
Bethlehem, PA – Laid out on the side of a mountain, this
course plays in the woods over serious elevation changes. Designed for accuracy
rather than power, most holes are short, but fairly tight. The course was also
designed to feature an even mix of straight holes, doglegs to the left, and
doglegs to the right. The first five holes are very rocky, so I would recommend
using older discs due to the fact that the rocks will chip the edge of your
discs up. The signature hole#14 shoots almost 400 feet downhill underneath a powerline, and an alternate pin position has been added
that extends the hole another 150 feet! Although set in a
forest, there is no thick brush or undergrowth to speak of, probably due to the
many deer that I've seen wandering through. Noteworthy is that because
of the mountain setting, the course is temperate and quite pleasant in the
summer. During these summer months, the restrooms are usually open, and water
is available from spigots found on the course.
F.E.
Walter Dam, Lake Harmony, PA – Like a phoenix rising
from the ashes, thanks to some amazing efforts from members of the local club,
this course has been reborn into a well manicured course that is a great test
of golfing skills. New tee boxes, tee signs, and baskets, some of which are
elevated, have been added, and along with some rock-lined paths and trimmed
grass, the course is looking better than ever. Playing among a lot of pine
trees, most holes are blind and you usually need to "scout ahead" to
find the baskets. If the local club can win approval, the permanent inclusion
of the 1,000-foot pro par five hole would be a sweet addition. Port-o-lets are
available on site.
Anson B. Nixon Park, Kennett
Square, PA – There are cement
tee pads on the amateur tees of all 18 holes. The first third of the course
play very short and in a tightly wooded area, while the next third play long
and in the open. The 12th hole is a delightful par four and the best
on the course but suffers from two abominable design flaws: the entire
left-hand side borders a very busy expressway, and you must retrace the entire
hole to get to the next tee. The final four holes play back in the woods next
to water but these holes are usually under water year round.
Creekside Disc Golf Course @
Ridley Park, East Pennsboro, PA – With 18 holes and
cement teepads, this course offers Harrisburg area golfers the chance to bang
chains locally, something that has been sorely needed in the Capital City
region. The course builders have done a bang-up job, with really nice
hand-painted tee signs, tee boxes, a bulletin board at the parking lot, and a
lost disc retrieval box. The course is laid out on mostly flat and open land amongst
scattered mature trees along the banks of the Conodoquinet
Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna river.
The creek comes into play on many holes, with OB
backyards coming into play on others, but thankfully during most of the year
the water is typically shallow enough to retrieve errant shots. They did the
best they could with the land available to them, and while a few mandatories and OB lines
attempt to separate holes, much of the course basically consists of holes that
run parallel to each other in an area that is barely wide enough to contain one
hole. However, what is lacking in course design is easily made up for by the
hospitality of course pro Jeff Mannatt, who lives
next to the ninth hole. When Jeff opens up his basement to disc golfers with
keg beer on tap, food, music, pool, etc. the hospitality offered at this course
may be the finest I’ve ever encountered in this sport.
Sedgley Woods in Fairmount
Park, Philadelphia, PA (24 holes) – This is the great-granddaddy of courses in
the Mid-Atlantic region. One of the first polehole courses in the world, Sedgley has a distinguished group of dedicated folks who
maintain the course. With over a hundred "tag-holders," there’s
always competition to be found at at Sedgeley, with tag matches held on Thursdays and Saturdays
throughout the year. For camaraderie and friendliness of the locals, there’s no
better place in the world! The course plays through a majestic stand of
old-growth trees and is actually quite lovely; however, with the advent of
beveled-edge disc technology and the ever-increasing popularity of disc golf,
it is unfortunately one of the most dangerous. Many of the yellow tees are
located within 20 feet of a neighboring polehole, and rarely is there an
occasion when I play the course and am not nearly struck by an errant disc. I
truly fear for my safety when playing this course on a crowded day. No restroom
facilities are available.
Boulder Woods, Gifford Pinchot
State Park, Lewisberry, PA
– This
course was established in 2000 and planted the seed for disc golf in the
central PA region. Much credit should be given to Ken Lemkelde
for getting disc golf started in an area that was previously devoid. The course
plays in an area of the park near the lake and in the woods beside it and is
geared towards recreational players. Unfortunately, despite multiple re-designs
the course still has far too many holes with fairways that run too close
together, where errant shots or tree deflections often end up in the fairway of
another hole. Additionally, many tees are located too close to the polehole of
other holes. And while there are several holes with mandatories,
many of these mandos are poorly placed and worse yet,
the drop zones are located in some really strange locations. Combined with
recreational facilities such a pavilion, picnic tables and hiking trails coming
into play, all of the aforementioned result in some very serious safety
concerns, perhaps as bad as at Sedgley and some other
courses I’ve seen. The new Quaker Challenge course installed across the lake
will offer a course geared towards more advanced golfers, and without the
design flaws and dangerous safety concerns of the original course.
Valley
View Park, Altoona, PA (9 holes) – This nine-holer plays on the side of a hill and features some open
areas along with some very heavy woods, and most holes boast scenic views of
the Altoona valley; hence the name! The woods holes are oh-so-tight and feature
some heavy rough off the fairway – accuracy is critical. Fighting your way
through the woods is rewarded by the beautiful seventh and ninth holes which traverse
an open area with a huge elevation change. The signature ninth hole plays from
an elevated tee about 350 feet downhill to the polehole,
with an elevation of drop of some 35-40 feet. A nice seasoned Roc is a good
choice here, but avoid the heavy woods on the right
side!
Schenley
Park, Pittsburgh, PA
–. This course reminds
me a lot of Sedgley Woods in Philadelphia. It’s got three sets of tee
pads, consisting of concrete tee pads for the short and advanced tees, and
railroad ties marking the pro tees. Form the reds, the
course is suitable for novice, junior or lid throwers: most holes play in the
150-200 foot range. Advanced players will want to play from the white or blue
tees. With the exception of the first several holes which play in an open hilly
area, the course plays mostly in some tight woods; the signature hole #2 offers
a beautiful 450 foot downhill shot with the Pittsburgh skyline visible over
your shoulder. Unfortunately, like its sister course in Philly, Schenley suffers from an old design with the woods holes
crowded into a very tight space - overlap is common and errant discs are a real
hazard. Also watch out for sun worshippers in the open field (on the first few
holes) during warm days.
French Creek State Park,
Birdsboro, PA – As of 7/13/08, Doggy Woods has been
permanently removed. Pleasure
Mountain is still in the
ground in its original configuration which plays through the woods on the front
nine, while the back nine features several field shots at protected pins. This
course seems to favor the left-hander, with a gaggle of right-turning holes,
including at one point a stretch of four in a row. Sometime later in 2008, a
new par 64 world class layout will be installed at French Creek with two sets
of tees AND two permanent sets of poleholes – I can’t
wait!!!
DeSales University, Center
Valley, PA – This course plays
around the college campus. The first nine play right through the heart of the
school, while the back nine play around the edges of the property. The course
designers did about as well as they could, given the land available, but with
mostly open spaces and very few trees, almost every hole is entirely in the
open, and there is very little potential to move tees or baskets to make them
more interesting. One section of holes, 10-12, plays through a corn field, with
one basket curiously stuck right in the middle of it. With the open setting,
golfers will often encounter high winds at this course. I guarantee that the
course will get some great exposure for disc golf, as every student who attends
the school will certainly see it played. But this is not a course that any
regular disc golfer would ever want to travel to play, in my opinion,
especially with Nockamixon and Tinicum
not too far away.
Glasbern Inn, Fogelsville, PA
– (private – NOT open to public) This is a nine-holer on the grounds of a bed & breakfast just outside
of the Lehigh Valley. This was originally slated to be
a championship 18-hole layout available for play to general public, but the
crotchety owner of the B&B abandoned plans for the back nine, shortened the 9-hole pro layout to a rather
pedestrian track, and access to the course was restricted to registered guests
only. The former layout featured several pro par four holes which had some
challenging OB and water hazards, but the
current holes play mostly as 200 – 250 foot holes geared for novice golfers.
While the inn looks nice, I wouldn’t recommend staying a night just to play the
course, especially considering that despite reportedly owning a million-dollar
air-conditioned tractor, the owner rarely mows the grass and the tall grass and
playing conditions can be quite rough out on the course. Finding the tees,
marked by railroad ties set flush into the ground, is especially difficult, and
would be next to impossible without a course map.
Upper Macungie Park, Fogelsville, PA – This 9-hole layout has a few holes that play in the
woods, with the remainder out on a wide open ridge that overlooks Allentown. The 4th
hole is a pro par four that spans the gap between the two – you need an
accurate shot out of the woods, and then a long approach to a “buttonhook”
polehole that is tucked around the edge of a treeline.
The remainder of the course plays as nice long open shots that allow you to see
the full flight of the disc. Unfortunately, this course suffers from some
serious safety issues. The 1st and 9th holes
plays dangerously close to the parking lot, where errant shots could
strike cars or people. The 2nd hole throws over the entrance road
and any shot that fades left or deflects left off a tree risks carrying a fence
and into a quarry with a 100-ft. drop. It would not be a stretch to imagine a
disc golfer climbing over the fence to retrieve an errant shot and accidentally
falling to his death.
Muhlenburg College object course, Allentown, PA – This course plays
to wooden posts around the campus, and both the tee and the target are well
marked with the hole number. As with most college courses, the hazards of
buildings, cars, and students are prevalent, and the course is best played when
school is not in session. For the most part, the front nine is very short and
plays closer to the buildings. I recommend using an Omega SuperSoft
or a Frisbee lid on most of these holes. The back nine is much much longer and actually features at least three or four
pro par four holes of 500 feet or more; golf discs are needed to reach these
holes. The course is very well maintained with short grass perfect for rollers
and the beauty of the trees, campus buildings, and college-age females on this
course make the experience worth it.
New
Hanover Park, New Hanover, PA –This 9-hole course plays almost entirely in
the woods, but over some elevation changes, next to a creek, and along some
out-of-bounds areas. Each hole features advanced and novice concrete tee pads,
and a sign at each tee. Even from the advanced tees, the course plays VERY
short, and you’ll want to hold up on most of your shots and concentrate on
accuracy. No restroom facilities are available.
Earl Township Park,
Shanesville,
PA – The course is best
described as a mini-Brandywine, in that it reminded me exactly of short hole 4,
"The Cutie." The course is set on a completely open hillside, with
knee-high grass everywhere. 20 foot wide fairways have been mowed into the grass,
and the holes range in length from 150 feet to 339 feet, although the latter is
downhill and easily reachable. There's even a rock wall, although it doesn't
come into play. The tee signs for each hole are located within, no lying, 15-20
feet of the basket of the previous hole. With the exception of hole 8 which runs along the park boundary, there are exactly
5 trees on this course and they are all on hole 3. Off the fairway was brutal,
I was lucky in that I lost only one disc on a mulligan shot. I was also fortunate
to pick only one tick off me. WCP is probably around 20 for these nine holes.
Every single hole can be deuced, although hole 7 is 250 and straight uphill,
and without a flat tee area, plays more like 350. This course makes Dunham look
like Paw Paw. It's obvious that whoever put the
course in consulted absolutely no one who knows anything about disc golf. If
they were to use the woods, combine some holes, and use the entire hillside
down to the road, this could be a really nice 9-holer. As it stands, all I got
out of it was some putting practice and some major tick paranoia. If you drive
out of your way to play this course, you are foolish.
Wehr’s Dam/Covered Bridges
Park, Allentown, PA – This course has the ignominious distinction
as one of the bottom three I’ve ever played. It’s a nine-hole Boy Scout
project, and again, it's obvious that whoever put the course in consulted
absolutely no one who knows anything about disc golf. The tees are unmarked
4x4s and the baskets are also unnumbered, and with the exception of hole 2, the entire course is best played with an Omega SuperSoft putter. Hole 2 is wide open, slightly uphill, and
about 350 feet long, but the rest of the holes are each no more than about 150
feet long and play through a steep wooded incline too close to a baseball
field, with the last two holes playing directly and dangerously down walking
paths.
Windlestrae Park, Montgomery
Township, PA –
This course had a fantastic 18-hole layout and the potential to be a world
class course, but due to pushback from selfish neighbors who don’t want to
share “their” park and township residents who are totally ignorant to the sport
of disc golf and think that it’s their duty to micromanage the decision of
their parks commission, the course has since been removed. The current word is
that it may possibly come back at a later date as a recreational layout, but I
wouldn’t hold my breath.
Elizabethtown
College, Elizabethtown, PA (about 5 playable holes) – I made the mistake of
playing this course in August of 2003, and I’m not sure whether the students or
the school or both maintain the course, but it would seem that the responsible
parties were off for the summer - nearly ¾ of the course was overgrown and
completely unplayable. The first couple of holes near the
residence hall are maintained and are actually quite nice, but after
that the course traverses into a wooded area with downed trees everywhere and
then an open field with chest-high grass. If the course ever gets fixed, please
let me know.
New
Jersey
Campgaw Reservation, Mahwah, NJ
– Dan
Doyle’s creation has his signature design elements all over this ski hill
course. The front nine of the Mighty Gaw layout is
pure genius, with a nice mix of pro par fives and par fours that work their way
through the woods up and around the top of the mountain. Some exciting downhill
par threes bring you back down to the base area. The
back nine follow a similar progression but stays closer to the ski trails. The
thrill factor is off the charts on hole# 15, which
plays down the hill and across the snowboard halfpipe,
and discs that land inside the snowboard halfpipe
encounter a truly unique hazard there. Back on top of the mountain once again
on hole#18, you are confronted with a downhill pro par
five of over 1100+ feet to the bottom of the mountain. In my estimate, if you
can reach even with the blue shack in the middle of the fairway, that's a
nearly 700-foot throw. An added challenge is that the entrance road which runs
in front of the basket is OB and competitors
must decide whether to go for the pin or lay up before the polehole.
With several
climbs up the headwall over the course of an 18-hole round, this course will
challenge your physical fitness almost as much as your disc-throwing ability.
Hiking boots are a must, as is plenty of water. If you play a round from the
blue tees, with a pro par of about 70, I would plan on a full 3 hours, and it may likely take even longer. The white tees are not quite as
brutal of a slog. Easily New Jersey’s greatest course, and unlike any other
disc golf course on the East Coast, the Mighty Gaw
layout is a monster that will test every aspect of your game.
When the
back nine is removed for the season for winter activities, the local golfers have designed a Winter layout. With 18 par three holes, it’s the perfect
setup for novices and golfers looking for a more casual experience. The layout
only climbs the hill once, and is a course that is much more beginner friendly.
Environmental Education Center,
Princeton, NJ – This course is set on the land of an
environmental education center for kids and not really open to the public. The
course designer has made for a delightful layout that uses shared baskets on
the beautiful property. There are some nice elevation changes, pretty water
hazards, cut fairways and a mixture of baskets. (even
a hanging one) There’s a nice balance between open holes down wide walking
trails and gauntlet holes through thick woods.
Landis Park, Vineland,
NJ – This flat course
plays through a nice public park and lends itself to rollers. Although it plays
through some big trees, they are spaced far enough apart to provide a fairway
but close enough to keep your drives honest. Recently I have noticed the
addition of new alternate pin positions and blue "rec"
tees which makes this great course even better. The VDGA has done a great job
in getting a sublime course installed in southern New Jersey, and continues to support the
sport with tourneys throughout the year.
Buzzy's Creek, West Milford, NJ
- Buzzy’s plays mainly in a tight wooded section with the
exception of a few open holes. Most of these woodsy holes are short and tight,
while the field shots play a little longer and more in the open. The course
does play up and down some elevation changes and Greenwood Lake
comes into play on a number of holes. No restroom facilities are available.
Bunker
Hill, Cranbury, NJ (9 holes, private) - This is Robert Zurfluh’s
private course that utilizes his property and neighbor’s yards in Cranbury, NJ.
There have been several different incarnations of the course over the last few
years but this layout is the best one yet. The nine holes occupy a total of
about 4.5 acres and play to a few shared baskets, and even though the land is
relatively flat, the layout makes the best use of the limited elevation changes
and land available. The first three holes are very short (less than 200 feet
each) and beginner friendly, and deuce is expected on every one of these.
You’ll need them for the longer holes that come later! The 4th hole
is an interesting dogleg which sets up nicely for a backhand roller for a
right-hander. An air shot may be the safe play but leaves a tougher approach to
a well protected basket. The signature par four 710-foot 6th hole
plays into the corner of the field which is entirely lined by disc-eating trees
on the right and an OB farmer’s field on the
left. With a low ceiling drive and a headwind often blowing, a birdie three is
usually out of the question and the goal is to avoid taking a five or six.
You’ll have the advantage of the tailwind coming back on the 435-foot 7th
hole, but the OB field looms dangerously on
the right, and the approach to the polehole is quite
tight. The last two holes are deuce runs to get some strokes back that you
might have lost on the field holes, with the final hole demanding a low ceiling
shot and is another excellent opportunity for a roller.
Robert is an
amazingly friendly guy; not only will you thoroughly enjoy playing a round of
disc golf with him, but the Gemütlichkeit (hospitality)
at the Bunker Hill course is unparalled!
Chimney Rock Park, Chimney Rock, NJ (9
holes) –
What a nice setting for disc golf! The local Boy Scouts have installed a lovely
nine-hole course in central NJ that rivals its neighbor to the north, Dunham Park. After a few open holes, the course traverses
a lovely wooded area with tight fairways, a meandering stream, and a
picturesque bridge. After exiting the woods, the remainder of the course plays
in an open area with links-style fairways, where off the mowed paths can leave
you in waist-high grass and a possible lost disc. While hole#2 is long enough
(~470 feet) to approach par 4 status, most other holes at this course are
extremely short – in fact, stepping off the front of the teepad could be
considering a falling putt on two of the woods holes! Despite the lack of
challenge, (-8 is quite attainable) this family course features a number of
memorable holes and is a pleasure to play.
Dunham
Park, Liberty Corner, NJ (9 holes) - Nine holes play around the perimeter of
this family park, and while the course is pretty flat, it’s all in the open.
The hole lengths range from very short to not very
long, however from the few times I’ve played there I’ve found that it’s always
windy at Dunham, which adds for somewhat of a challenge. There are two sets of
tee pads on each hole, which allows for 18 different holes of golf, and with
stroller paths circumventing the course, it makes for
one the nicest family courses I’ve seen.
Rutgers, Douglass College, New
Brunswick, NJ - This course, set on a college campus,
plays both in a pretty section of woods with scattered large trees and also
around some of the buildings. Watch out for students who might be crossing
through on the pathways. The tees are well marked, with brand new tee signs on
each hole. These "A" tees play extremely short, with the total length
clocking in at a silly 3400 feet - you could throw a putter from the tee on
most holes. From the B tees, which are marked with orange paint, the course
plays longer (4380’) but some of these B tees are somewhat difficult to find
unless you know them. During tournaments, extended ‘C’ tees, Field holes, and
‘Passion Puddle’ holes are used which make for some par four holes and stretch
this course out nicely into a real disc golf course.
Cape May
County Park,
Cape May County Courthouse,
NJ –
This 9 holer plays through a public park. I received
an e-mail in May of 2004 from Dominic Rosselli,
Director, Cape May County Parks, that 9 new Innova targets were installed on
this course, woo-hoo! However, because most of the
baskets are very close to picnic tables and shelters, it is next to impossible
to play the course unless it is in the evening when the park is devoid of
people. There are no tees at the course, so you pretty much have to make up
your own. There are some really neat holes through the pretty woods, with some
featuring nice length. And although there are only nine baskets, you can play
the course backwards to make for 18 holes.
Alexandria
Town Park,
Milford, NJ
– This new 9 holer has two sets
of tees and plays mostly in the woods counterclockwise around a large open
hillside. The layout is geared towards recreational players with many short
pitch-n-putt holes. The 9th hole however has an extended polehole position which lengthens the hole out to 575 feet
and makes for a true pro par four hole and is really the one true gem of the
course.
Some
major pet peeves with this course include trees right at the front of the tee
area, making for some possible hand-breakers on a hard follow through after
release, especially for a lefty from the long tee of hole#3.
Also, the colors change on the tees about halfway through the course – from
hole#1-4 the red tees are the shorter, easier tees. From hole#5-hole#9,
the blue tees are the shorter ones. WTF? Also, this
course was tick city – we were constantly pulling them off and I even had one
crawl out of my sleeve about 10 minutes down the road after leaving. For some
variety and to play some elevation changes, this course offers locals some
contrast to the Tinicum course. But with Tinicum’s 18-hole world class layout (which can play to a pro
par of 60 when all the pins are in the ‘C’ position) and being only 15 minutes
down the road, I personally won’t be bothering with the Milford course again.
The Sand
Trap (North Wildwood Beach),
Wildwood, NJ –
This course no longer exists. Just as the name implied, this course was set
amongst the dunes between the end of the boardwalk and the ocean and played
completely on the sand. The course was tougher than it would seem, because
although most holes were open shots it’s usually quite windy. Some holes played
up and over the dunes, which was interesting because there are signs everywhere
warning people to stay off the dunes. It also proved very difficult to play the
course during the summer months due to the heavy traffic of half-naked
beachgoers crossing through the holes, but having the ocean right there to jump
into after a round made it all worth it!
Delaware - Note: Most Delaware courses are located in State Parks,
which charge a $6 admission fee for out-of-state vehicles. The in-state fee is
$3.00. This fee is usually charged only during Daylight Savings time, and not
after ~ 6 PM.
Iron
Hill Park,
Newark, DE
- Paw Paw. Warwick.
Nockamixon.
Moraine State Park. Patapsco. Tyler. The list of world class par 66+ courses in
the Mid-Atlantic Region just grew by one with the addition of the Iron Hill
course outside of Newark, DE. Playing on a rugged hilltop through
scattered open areas, thick woods, and serious elevation changes, this brand
new course is a par 68 gem that will challenge almost every aspect of your golf
game. It will teach you discipline, as fairway placement is an absolute must
and critical to scoring well on this course. While I’ll always have a special place in my heart for
the awesome elevation changes, wind hazards, water hazards, and picturesque
vistas at the Brandywine Creek disc golf course, the Diamond State’s newest
course is now the toughest, and best, course in the state, in my opinion. The
pro-style layout at Iron
Hill Park
features tough par threes, true pro par four and pro par five holes, and the
best golfing challenge the state has to offer!
Hole#1 gives you a pretty
good taste of what will follow: a 500-ft. hole left-to-right turning pro par
four hole with an ample fairway but heavy rough off to the side, making fairway
placement almost mandatory. I had to walk the entire length of hole#3 to appreciate it fully, and the thought of
"signature hole" immediately came to mind. (That would last for one
hole) With a low ceiling off the tee and somewhat downhill, this one screamed
righty backhand roller. The green location is just tremendous on this hole,
with a stream and beautiful little bridges - simply stunning. Hole#4 almost brought tears to my eyes it was so beautiful.
Playing slightly downhill and with an extremely generous fairway, it's just an
incredibly gorgeous disc golf hole and looks like it's straight from of a
country club. It reminds me a little of hole#17 at Wellspring, NC only without
the pond on the right. It's about 505 feet to the long pin, but an elite player
could probably reach it with a backhand roller. Hole#5:
Holy cow! If the last two holes didn't make people realize that this was a
serious golf course, this hole surely will. Fairly placement is absolutely
essential. To the long pin this hole is a bonafide
pro par five and should banish the notion from any of those who still
stubbornly maintain that all holes in disc golf are par 3s. I threw for fairway
placement, then another, and then my third hit the trees next to the short pin
but I was able to get up and down to the elevated pin to save my five. This
elevated pin area amongst the boulders was very pretty and I would be sad if I
came out to the course and the basket wasn't in the long position. (It would
also make the hole 'only' a pro par four) There are a lot of pole hole positions at this course that I think will be better in
the long and this one is certainly one of them. Hole#12
reminded me of the eighth hole to the 'C' pin at Tyler State Park,
complete with the 90 degree dogleg left and the requisite road if you go long.
If the road around this basket is OB, there is
going to be some very high scores on this hole. Hole#14
is prominently placed right at the park entrance which will give the sport some
nice exposure to people driving in and out of the park. The short pin will
certainly get deuced on this one, and because of the wide fairway I think this
one is just a tough par 3. At 899 feet and with some 40 feet in elevation gain,
hole#17 is one of the longest & toughest holes
I've ever played. But you know, I loved ever frustrating minute of it! This is a hole that
should (again) finally open the eyes of those stubborn "all holes are par
3 in disc golf" yahoos. If anyone ever scores an (eagle) 3 on this hole,
they should win the ace pot!
The Iron
Hill course lived up to the hype and then some - it was a course that taught
discipline and you instantly paid the penalty for errant shots. Conservative
shots were rewarded, and it struck me after the round was over that I didn't
use a single long-distance driver the whole round - my Destroyers, Wraiths,
Sidewinders, etc. all stayed in the bag the entire time. I loved the "U.S. Open"
feel to the rough and hope that no attempt is ever made to widen the fairways
of these holes - they
are perfect just as they are. It's a course that will separate the wheat from
the chaff - golfers just below 1000 and up are going to score a lot of birdie
3s on this course and those "mullet pros" like myself are gonna shoot at least 4 and maybe worst on many of them.
It's a disc golf course for the 21st century, and considering how fast the
course was designed and installed the results are nothing short of spectacular.
In fact, it's tough to find a single drawback to this course. The location is
so convenient right off I-95, it's close to restaurants and bars, its elevated
exposure and shaded trees means it will play a few degrees cooler than most
courses and as opposed to nearly every other course in the state, it's FREE to
play! Kudos to all who
contributed to this cause and for making the number 1 disc golf course in the Diamond State. It's easily one of my top
10 ever played lifetime, and it's only going to get better with age!
Trap Pond State Park,
Laurel, DE – Until Iron Hill Park came along, this was the toughest course in Delaware. A ‘gauntlet’
par three through narrow woods starts off the course and sets the tone for what
is to come. A large field comes into play on the next few holes, although the
majority of the course plays through the woods. In the long pin positions,
holes 3 and 4 play as true par four holes, where 300+ placement drives are
required to set up tight approach shots of almost that length. While these
holes are long, the fairways are ample and the landing areas fairly generous.
While considerably shorter, the par three holes are usually much tighter and
some play as the toughest holes on the course. Towards the end of the front
nine, you find yourself back out into the field again for some open crushers,
one of which comes from an elevated cement tee pad. The back nine features more
pro par four holes and staying on the fairway is critical. As indicated in the
PDGA course directory listing, course management is a must. In some cases, a
250-foot Roc shot down the middle is vastly preferable to a 350 foot drive that
hyzers well off the fairway at the end of its flight. Knowing your game and
what you’re capable of throwing is crucial, and overly aggressive shots can be
punished badly. Golfers that attempt high risk recovery shots from the schul instead of chipping out to the fairway may see some
very high scores on their scorecard!
Brandywine Creek State Park,
Wilmington, DE - Most holes at Brandywine are wide open and play very long over BIG
rolling hills with lots of elevation changes, providing for VERY fast greens. Home of
"Beauty and the Beast," the signature hole #4 (the Beauty) requires a
turnover shot off a ridge some 460 feet down across a stream to the pin. The
next hole (the #5 Beast) plays back up the hill over
666 feet (!) to a protected pin. Most of the back nine plays similar to these
holes, either off the top of the ridge down to the valley below and or back up
the hill. If you like tight, wooded courses then this course is not for you,
but if you like airing out huge, downhill shots then you’ll love it. The course
is well marked, with cement tee pads and tee signs at each tee. As with most
open courses, the sun and heat can get brutal during the summer months. And
because the course is located on one of the highest points in Delaware, the wind can be stronger than
anywhere you’ll ever play, watch out for 25+ mph gusts! Make sure you factor
the wind into your shots, because off the mown fairways the high rough can
easily make for lost discs. Restrooms and water available at
the park office.
Killens Pond State Park,
Felton, DE – This course only
gets better with age, as both red amateur tees and long pro tees have been
added. From the pro tees, this course plays TOUGH! Most of the holes are very
tight and wooded, and only a few play out in the open but to protected pins. A
lot of Killens’ holes play long, and the shorter
holes feature some big doglegs. You’ve got to have pinpoint accuracy of your
disc, as the rough here can be thick off the fairway. Simply put, keep your
disc on the fairway or the thorns and brambles will pay you a painful penalty.
As with all Delaware
courses, the course is well marked with tee signs at every hole denoting the
layout of the hole and distances. Holes 8 and 9 are somewhat unusual in that
they require you to throw your disc very high up in the air over some huge
bushes. Restrooms/water available.
White Clay State Park , Newark, DE
–
White Clay’s renaissance has been completed. Cement tee pads and computer
generated tee box signs have been added to every hole, wow! Most
of the holes at White Clay play fairly short but over some nice elevation
changes. Although some of the alternate pin locations are awkward to
shoot to, they really extend the course nicely and make par 54 tough to break.
I would say that the course plays mostly in the open, however some holes play
next to some really heavy rough that can be quite painful if your disc should
find it, watch for the thorns and brambles in these locations. The signature
hole #17 tees off from an elevated tee pad across a field to a protected pin. Restrooms/water available.
Cape
Henlopen State Park, Lewes,
DE
– Golfers either love or hate this course, and I’m one of the former, it’s one
of the most unique courses you’ll ever play! Most holes play as blind shots up
and over the scrub pines. Distance-wise most holes are fairly short but play
much longer due to having to throw high into ocean winds. Use of a spotter is
mandatory: you’ll lose plenty of discs otherwise. The wooded boardwalk tees are
very well marked with tee signs and little yellow signs guide you in between
holes. I’ll admit that Cape
Henlopen
is not really a course for tournaments but playing on the sand dunes amongst
the deer and having the beach just yards away make the course one of the most
fun I’ve ever played.
Lums Pond State Park,
Kirkwood, DE – Trees, trees,
trees. Man, does Lums have trees! This course plays
almost entirely through some thick woods. The only field shots are from tees
set back in the woods across the field to baskets set back in the trees. There
are definitely fairways at Lums, but on some holes
they are as little as four or five feet wide. You’ve got to have pinpoint
accuracy on many of these holes, as an errant throw will send you flying off
the fairway into thorns, brambles and/or numerous patches of poison ivy.
Bellevue
State Park, Wilmington, DE – The first half of the course plays around the outside
of a large oval jogging track, while the remainder of the course plays inside
it. These first 9 holes play fairly short and mostly in the open along the edge
of some woods. The back nine play much longer, but COMPLETELY in the open, so
wind can be a huge factor. Course pro Ted Sammons is continually sprucing up
the course and from what I hear, the course is much improved. Way to go Ted!
West
Virginia
The Woodshed/Whipping Post,
Paw Paw, WV (36 holes; pay-to-play) – Up until August 2007 when I made the trek out to Highbridge,
WI, the two courses at Paw Paw were the best courses
I had ever played. Paw Paw has got everything: tight
woods, wide open fairways, huge uphill monster holes, big downhill crushes,
fast greens, par 3s, par 4s, par 5s, spectacular views, and many water hazards.
Spencer Thurman has created 36 holes of disc golf heaven on his private land in
the northern panhandle of West
Virginia, and you haven’t played a world-class course
until you’ve done the Woodshed and the Whipping Post. Most of the holes at the
course are wide open and over 400 feet, which provide for very tough deuces and
easy bogeys if you tank your approach. There are so many great holes at Paw Paw that it’s tough to mention only a few. Although the
majority of the course plays in the open, there are several wooded holes and they’re
the longest and tightest you’ll ever play. A (par) 5 is a great score on Woodshed
#3, aptly named "The Gauntlet." Thre’s a
hole on the Whipping Post that is 846 feet long and possibly one of
the most awesome holes I’ve ever played. It’s mostly wide open and slightly
downhill the whole way until the polehole, which is tucked up into a protected
green. Whipping Post#18 is disc golf’s version of "Tin Cup:" 402’
directly to the hole and with a pond reaching from 300' to the 390th
foot. Do yourself a favor and make the pilgrimage to Paw Paw,
the holy