The first thing I usually notice about any course is the natural aspect and this course doesn't let you down. The moment you pull up to the parking lot you're greeted by a vista of lake and mountain. It never stops giving you gorgeous views from there. You meander around the lake and up and down hills and every few holes you pop out to an expansive view of what feels like half the state. Along the way, there is some prime PA forest that is full of wildlife.
The course is every you would hope it to be. There is a great variety of holes here, for both forehand and backhand, up and down hill. I played Gold layout first and it kicked my tail but I appreciated most every hole. You absolutely have to think about where every shot is going to land so you are set up for that next one. The 6th Hole is the postcard, a 1000 foot launch down probably 15 floors of elevation. That isn't the only hole with that much elevation change either. What I particularly liked about the course, as opposed to some others I have played, is that you slowly work your way up and then get rewarding down shots. There aren't many uphill crushes. Many holes require you to make calculated choices of whether to try the water carry or to cut a corner and risk disc loss, or go the long way and take an assured bogey. Another great hole is the 8th. A big booming drive either around a corner or over danger, dropping down into a plateau with a tight shot that goes right then left. All of that sets up a tunnel through tight trees to a downhill green siting on the lake edge. Just risk after risk, but rewarding when you pull a shot off.
The parking lot is nicely sized. The day we played there was pretty much nobody there (Thurs afternoon). They have two sets of concrete pads, with two sets of baskets - setting up four different configurations. I noticed a few garbage cans and benches along he way, especially around the lake. There were multiple opportunities to stop and rest and enjoy the view.
Cons:
There are a few things that I felt kept this course from being every it could be. End of the day, it's missing some character that a course like Maple Hill has. With a course like Maple I remember every hole uniquely. There are 9 or 10 incredible holes here, mixed with a handful that blend together.
Many of my other concerns are splitting hairs, just for the sake of comparing to the other elite courses. There are a lot of lowland areas that were fairly wet, to the point of smelly, stagnant water that was not surprisingly full of bugs. They followed you around all the lower elevation holes. That isn't 100% within the course's control.
What is in the course's control that could be better is amenities. There is no bathroom here. For us guys that might not be an issue. For my wife, that's a bigger challenge, especially when the course is in the middle of nowhere so there isn't even a convenient gas station stop right outside. The lack of tee signs is unforgivable. What they have is decaying paper signs, some of which are even inaccurate. Even using an app, I played to the wrong baskets twice. That's a bit frustrating for what is supposed to be a "destination course".
My last gripe is the steps. You have to have steps here because you walk down a considerable elevation drop twice, with steep grading. The stairs are actually pretty well done except that the wood they used is bleeding creosote. My expensive disc golf shoes are now stained in several places by creosote tar from walking 100s of these steps on a...
Read more
Learn more insights from Wanderboat AI.
