Mahwah, NJ

Campgaw Reservation - Blue/Black

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3.415(based on 16 reviews)
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Campgaw Reservation - Blue/Black reviews

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14 1
Ryal
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 7.4 years 240 played 202 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Those Summertime Campgaw Blues 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 20, 2022 Played the course:once

Pros:

+ The course plays far from any busy roads. Players will enjoy the peaceful and shady woods of the front9 and tree-speckled or open fairways of the back.
+ Baskets have guiding arrows for players to follow.
+ Rakes, brooms and benches scattered amongst many of the tees.
+ Much appreciated nav signs after "nexus holes."
+ The tee pads that do exist are flat and sturdy of either poured concrete or concrete pavers. But...

Cons:

- ...The teepads vanish after hole6, leaving just dirt, rocks or grass in their place.
-/+ The tee signs are pretty basic but present.
- The baskets are aged or damaged. For example, the cages of holes2, 6 and 10 are visibly tilted.
- After hole10, the fairways turn into nothing but waist-high grasses!

Other Thoughts:

Hole7 was my favorite to look at because I liked its 'untapped wilderness' look and feel. Hole9 was my favorite to play because of its grand downhill tee-off. My least favorite was hole12 because its fairway was nothing but tall grasses.

Campgaw Blue/Black isn't where it ought to be yet. A lot of the tee pads aren't installed yet. The tee signs could benefit from an upgrade to make them more clearly understandable. Many of the baskets need attention. The holes that it shares with Campgaw Green are good enough with quiet dark tunnels, rocky hillsides and tricky tree puzzles, but once it separates from Green and emerges from the woods, the quality takes a nosedive because of the massively overgrown fairways.

In the interest of full disclosure, I will admit that I stopped playing after 13 because I was sick of looking for my disc every time. This is a direct result of playing in the summertime. After an adventurous and interesting front9, that was more than a little disappointing. Unless course maintenance starts to happen more often, I don't see many people enjoying this course. Plus, I was disappointed that I didn't get to play the grand wide open downhill finale of hole18. So, with about half of the course nigh unplayable, I knew that I couldn't award the rating that I believe this course is capable of.

It's not all bad news. If you love playing in the woods, then this course has you covered. Trees and large rocks are your constant companions during the front9. It doesn't go easy on the player. But, since most of Blue/Black uses the same exact holes as Green, it might actually make more sense to just play the green layout instead...? Still, if I imagine that the grasses are mowed, I can see this course being well-balanced and enjoyable with a roughly equal presence of open and wooded fairways.

I walked the grassy fairway of hole14. The view was nice from up there at the tippy top of the skislope. Scenery is not this course's problem. Upkeep is.

So, in closing, Campgaw Blue/Black has some glaring issues that need resolving. Once it attains its full potential, this course could dazzle players. As things are right now, I recommend playing the Green layout instead.
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3 0
HyooMac
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 7.3 years 447 played 414 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Excellent Overall, But Time Your Visits

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Apr 5, 2023 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Campgaw is a well-kept set of courses in a county park. The layouts wrap around a public ski facility (up one side, across the top, across some wide ski slopes, down the other side). Rocky ground and steep elevations mean it's not cart-friendly. The Blue/Black layout requires several trips up to the top - it's a real cardio workout

+ Concrete tees have been installed steadily over recent years. There are brooms, benches, and very good hand-painted signs with maps. Navigation aids from basket to tee have been improved. Some of the tees and baskets are shared by all three layouts (Black, Blue, Green) so they can be a little confusing. But signs are color-coded and shaped to match the layout. All three layouts use DisCatchers (and they're not numbered) - so be careful about throwing to the right basket. The upkeep is first rate, and improvements are ongoing - so many of the infrastructure issues cited in earlier reviews have been addressed


+ Even if you still come across a natural tee or a fading sign, the holes are what makes this place so good. Yes, the elevation: up, down, off a skill hill and watching the disc glide forever. But also lots of wooded holes with tight lines, and great use of natural features like rock formations. Good balance of doglegs in each direction. Pretty much everything you could ask for, except a water carry


Cons:

The only real Cons have to do with timing your play:


- The open ski slopes are "vertical meadows" and the grass grows in as the season goes on. It becomes knee-deep and troublesome on three or four holes. Because of the long grass on these Blue/Black holes, don't even try to play during the summer - unless you're there to get rid of discs you don't like


- Avoid playing the course after heavy rains. There are a lot of wet areas as water makes it's way downhill.


- Blue/Black isn't fully available during ski season

Other Thoughts:

~ Don't count out the Green layout. It's a par 27, and quite a bit shorter, but it's got the woods and the elevation


~ Playing up, down and across a ski hill makes for great stories; especially the 1500' closing hole with an island green (not a typo. I think #18 Campgaw Black is still the longest existing permanent hole in disc golf). From the top to the bottom - 1500' - but hey, it's a par 5. And I understand Brinster tees with an overstable mid.


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3 2
coyotisdog
Experience: 9.6 years 54 played 2 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Way Over-rated 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 23, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

Some fun holes. Nice views.

Cons:

Horrible signage. Difficult to navigate. Little to no maintenance. Play here if you enjoy losing discs.

Other Thoughts:

A few years ago, this place was rated the best course in NJ. Not true anymore. Not even close. Greystone, Field of Dreams, Tecumseh, And Thompson Park are all way better.

A friend and I had been wanting to play this course for years based on the reputation. We finally took a trip up there, and what a disappointment!

When we got to the first tee, we met a local who advised us not to play the "black tees" unless we wanted to lose discs. He happily told us about the green tees which were all a bunch of par 3"s. We had driven over an hour to get here, and we wanted to experience the best that the "Mighty Gaw" had to offer, so we went with the black tees. What a mistake.

First off, most holes had no next tee signs. Second, none of the baskets had a number on it. One hole had a hole map drawn on a piece of plastic that was laying on the ground, held down by a rock in waist-high weeds. I found this by accident. And speaking of waist high weeds, that's what you play the last 3 or 4 holes in. Hole 18 could be an epic 1500' hole, if only someone knew how to operate a lawnmower. We lost 3 discs on this hole and gave up.

If anyone reading this has any influence whatsoever in maintaining this course, for the love of God, please fix your signs and cut your grass! With a little effort you could have a great course.
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3 0
BigAl724
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.2 years 179 played 144 reviews
4.00 star(s)

By far the best ski resort course I've played 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 3, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

The Campgaw Reservation courses offer a great variety of challenge. This is set in a beautiful property, and I probably experienced the height of this playing in the peak of the fall colors. What adds to the experience is that as long as you're not playing while skiing is in session, you will most likely have this entire property to yourself (save for a few hikers) since this part of the property is dedicated to disc golf in the offseason.

The Black/Blue course is the bigger brother to the Green course. Although they play through much of the same area, the Blue - and more so the Black - layouts offer a very challenging round with long throw after long throw. To the credit of the design, however, these holes greatly differ throughout. There are a great mix of pars, with the Black layout having four par 5's. Variety is divided between long, tightly wooded holes, more moderately wooded, and a few wide open bombs. Hole 18 is of course the feature hole here, a 1,500' downhill ski hill bomber's delight. It doesn't get better than this if you crave these kind of shots.

The course's best feature is combining tree lines with constant elevation changes. There are seemingly endless uphill, downhill, and valley shots - some more dramatic than others. There are a couple of fun blind pin placements as well that are near ridges and steep inclines. With so many trees, you can form many different lines on most holes. I think that I would enjoy these courses the more I played them because of this.

Even though you're deep in the woods for much of the round, there is an impressively minimal risk of even having to search for discs.

Much-needed directional signage is in place throughout the course. Without this, it'd be rough for first-timers.

Cons:

There is some confusion because the two courses overlap each other throughout the same property, with three total layouts. I'm never a fan of seeing multiple pins or tees in view and not sure which plays to which. This won't cause you to pull the hair out of your head, but there are definitely moments of searching and wandering because of this. It doesn't help that the baskets aren't all numbered either.

The course travels far away from the parking lot and never winds back close to it. This normally doesn't bother me, but this is a longer than average hike with a +9,000 feet course. Since there is a lot of winding back and forth around these ski hills, I lost my sense of direction mid-round. A map is recommended if you want to make a pit stop at some point.

While the Green layout is permanent, Blue/Black is seasonal because it uses the ski hill. Open April-November for this part, although you could get away with playing most of this layout no problem even in the winter.

Other Thoughts:

Campgaw offers a tremendous variety of disc golf with three different layouts. This is a really awesome place to play if you like courses set deep in the woods, but at the same time, it is easily accessible in a lot of ways. More so than the other ski hill courses I've played. In fact, Campgaw blows any of those other ones out of the water.

Word of advice: call ahead to make sure it's available to play. You never know what is going on at these ski resorts. As we drove up the hill to the lodge, a policeman ran down and said we couldn't access the property because of police academy training. Luckily, we got ahold of someone from the lodge who explained to him why we were there and that the course wouldn't interfere with their training.
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3 0
forehandfranz
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 32.4 years 226 played 128 reviews
3.50 star(s)

The Mighty Gaw sounds so much better than "Black and Blue" 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 27, 2014 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

This course is the big boss version of the smaller green course. Located on the Camp Gaw ski hill, you have crazy elevation challenges on most every hole. You will go up the hill in thick forest, then down the hill in thick forest. Then you will go up, down, up down on the grassy ski slopes that still have many trees to contend with. If you like throwing down big hills and seeing your disc fly a long way - you will get your wish on holes 15 & 18 (the latter goes from the top all the way to the base of the hill).

You will need your A- game, endurance, and plenty of water to complete the 9000' + course. The holes early on combine pins from the Green course. (For example, you tee from Green #1 and play to Green pin #2 for your first hole). Later, this course completely breaks away from Green by going up and down the ski slope. I HIGHLY recommend playing the Green course first, as you will be doing a lot of hiking to find pins that are unnumbered, but are more easily spotted if you have played the Green course. Also, you should take a picture of the maps on the kiosk.

That said, getting around is much easier due to the upgraded signage being quite nice, which guide you to the correct tee pads and also have signs at the tees which tell you distances, etc.

Cons:

As I just mentioned, navigation is much trickier if you play this course before trying Green - many of the pins are very far away, invisible from the tee, and have no numbers.....

Though I thank Skylands for their hard work so far, it surprises me that they can't complete the deal with reasonable tee pads. These are rutty and just inadequate for any run up that such long holes require. This is a rare exception where my score is less due to poor tee pads.

Other Thoughts:

Quick Tip: You will get a really nice view once you reach #15, but if you aren't patient, you can cut over on the right side of fairway #6 and get a sneak preview of 15 - OR if you're plain tired or losing daylight, you can play the loop of 15-18 once you finish 5 or 6.
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3 2
DEG III
Experience: 16.8 years 179 played 6 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Needs more local support 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 27, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

I agree with all previously commented positives about the course. Also, signage has improved significantly, which greatly improved overall playing experience.

Cons:

- poorly maintained tee pads, the majority of the are full of rocks and roots and are just dirt (often mud except summer).

*with tee pads this place would easily be a 4+ star course, but without them it's a 3 for sure.

Other Thoughts:

There would be nothing wrong with this course and I would love to rate it higher but the lack of a consistent and safe throwing surface for tee pads, more than anything else, is a major issue.

The signage has improved significantly especially since their are 3 layouts in place during the summer (black/blue & green), however, unless they do a bit more I would still recommend a map until your a regular. Even with a map it can be a fun but frustrating experience, this course will push you to your limits in every area of your game, I don't care who you are.

One important piece of information I've learned recently is that this course is maintained by the Skylands Disc Golf Club, whom are also responsible for the lovely courses in Warwick, NY and West Milford, NJ. Most of their club is based in and around the Warwick, NY area, and they have much less club membership and active participation from Northern NJ area around Campgaw Reservation. It has made it very difficult to divide their time on all of these courses and they have chosen to focus more on the courses closer to their home.

It's my opinion, that Northern NJ resident members of the club should really form their own off shoot club and focus on increasing participation and awareness of disc golf and the course/courses @ Campgaw. I grew up in Oakland NJ, it's a 5 minute drive, and this course existed the whole time I lived there, but I never even heard of the sport till I was in the army and was taught by a guy from Iowa. The whole region would benefit from an expansion of the sport here.

In fact, there is a large tract of land between the Shoprite in Oakland, NJ and Indian Rd in Wayne, NJ that should really be looked into for another course in the region. It's a virtually undeveloped public park with a small amount of walking trails, that would be perfect, except there is no way that the Skylands club have the resources to take on another course, especially one so far from there home base.
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5 3
Sketto
Experience: 13 years 147 played 10 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Needs More Signage And Mowing 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 24, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

- A good physical challenge since you're climbing a mountain while you play and doing lots of scaling of rocks and trees.
- Decent mixture of looks on most of the holes
- Heaving it down the hill at the end of the round was fun.

Cons:

- Impossible not to get lost several times. Signage was spare, to say the least. Really, really needs more indicators of where to go next. It's a heavily wooded mountain with hiking trails all over, so I found myself often guessing at where the next tee was.
- Because there are several courses overlapping each other (Black/Blue/Green) but not consistently, it's always a guess as to if you're on the right course. I tried to play Black, which has uses the Blue/Green teepads sometimes and sometimes has its own, but there's no way to tell when. Also, you could be on Hole 8 Black, but the teepad says Hole 16 Green. Yes, this could work and other courses do it too, but there is so little consistency and so little signage, it really took away from the enjoyment of the round.
- I played in June, which should have been "summer course", but playing the Black tees sucked after about the 10th hole because all the upper slope fairways were covered with waist high tallgrass, making even clean, simple drives into the center of the fairway a game of "find the disc". It was more of a slog through the high grass and mud than a disc golf round.
-Really wasn't worth the drive for me (3 hours).

Other Thoughts:

- This may have once been a cool course when first created, but it really doesn't seem cared for and eventually that feeling made me just want to enjoy the strenuous hike and skip the constant disc-hunting that I had to do.
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4 0
Magiken
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.3 years 74 played 74 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Blue/Black = Heart Attack 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 22, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

• Tremendous shot variety
• Interesting forest scenery
• Interesting wildlife here and there
• A bold set of courses

Cons:

• Tees are mostly dirt
• A little tricky to navigate in spots
• No restrooms/water that I could see
• Lotsa bugs (could be seasonal)
• The ski run area has high grass that is VERY WET (again, likely seasonal)

Other Thoughts:

Tips:
• Bring a map
• When you arrive, park and head towards the ski lifts. When you see buildings, walk in front of them and go all the way to the left into the forest to find tee #1. This wasn't totally clear to me on the map(s).

Random Thoughts:
So obviously you need to read both the Green and Blue/Black reviews to know what you're getting out here although this is one case where the three courses really are quite different. To start, this was my first 'ski lift' course and I was really looking forward to seeing what that would be like. Overall I was not disappointed. Fortunately, this was a small ski lift so it was more attainable from a physical exertion standpoint. Having said that though, be prepared. This is a good 2-3 hour hike, and I said 'hike' back there, not walk. It's pretty steep and pretty rocky in places, so wear proper foot wear and take care where you step. As for the course, my first bit of advice would be, don't think you're going to play more than one course at a time. Despite the sharing of some fairways and baskets, it's really not realistic considering the distances involved with the Blue/Black courses. Just stick to one and play another round if you have time, and I mean a lot of time. Like play a round, have a lunch, and come back for another, kind of time. The Blue/Black courses are truly epic in scale. I've played some long holes before but these are long COURSES. I started off playing the Green and immediately started noticing how long the Blues and Blacks were and how I'd be on #4 or 5 Green but only #3 Blue/Black. I mean DAYUM these holes are long. The baskets are nowhere in sight, and you better have 2-3 good/great shots in your bag per hole. These are the not f-ing around holes. That means 'beginners' stay on the Green. You're having no fun here. But for the above average set, I really think you'll like what you've got here. Just the pure ambition of setting up a multi-shot strategic course is pretty cool to me. Intimidating, but cool. I also liked that they were fair about par. They're not asking you to throw a 600' double-S shot in 3. It's a par 4 or 5. What's also nice about these courses is that you can see the 'fairways' pretty well, even though you can't see the baskets. It's well scouted out. Now, full disclosure, I did not play every hole. I ran out of time and had to pick and choose, but I did my best to at least look and walk each hole so I could see what was asked of the player. Of course, I did finish by playing the top of the world/ski lift shot which just makes you chuckle. You bomb the snot out of it and......you're not even halfway down the hill. So you bomb it again....and then one more shot to get within range of the basket. Funny good times.

Bottom Line:
Ambitious as all hell. Bring your A game, lotsa water, lunch, and some sort of emergency beacon should the course consume you. Even though the amenities are missing, I really feel like this sort of design should be encouraged and rewarded. Good job folks!
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8 0
mashnut
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.7 years 831 played 777 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Fun but unkempt 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 26, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course begins in the woods surrounding the ski hill and finishes on the more open slopes of the ski runs. The first 10 holes follow the 18 hole green layout, and are technical shots through fairly thick forest. There are enough trees and brush to punish errant shots, and the rocky hilly ground makes for tricky roll aways and tough greens. The wooded portion of the course offers longer and more challenging shots than the green layout, with several holes that require two good shots to get into putting range for most players. There is nice elevation throughout the course, and the mix of tough uphills and fun downhills offers a lot of excitement and variety. There is a good balance of hole shapes with left and right turning holes and a couple that call for s curves to have a chance at the birdie.

The final 8 holes use the open ski hill with some baskets and tees tucked into the edge of the woods. A few steep uphills and a huge downhill bomber finish the course with nice views and epic shots. It's always a bonus to finish the round with a top of the world shot, and this one doesn't disappoint. There is a kiosk at the first tee with maps for both layouts, and the baskets were fairly new and in great shape.

Cons:

The tees are gravel for the most part, and are in pretty poor shape. Most are eroded and rutted out, and all are fairly small. I don't remember a single tee that offered a solid tee surface and that gets frustrating on the longer holes. This layout was more difficult to follow than the green, especially with two sets of tees. Some are shared with the green course, but that isn't always clear on the tee signs. It's also difficult to find some of the tees on the last 8 holes, they're not nearly as well marked or worn in as the earlier part of the course.

Some of the holes were pretty eroded and muddy, making the steeper hills difficult to traverse at times, not a huge deal to me but people with mobility issues should be aware if they play after a recent rain. The wooded holes were mostly well cleared, but the open holes were very overgrown when I played. It's not all that much fun to spend a while searching for your disc that landed in the middle of the fairway.

Other Thoughts:

Beginners will find the course fairly long and tough, the green layout is much more beginner friendly. More experienced players will enjoy the variety and challenge, and the great use of elevation makes this course a lot of fun if a bit tiring for anyone not in good shape. Make sure to print the maps available here or have them pulled up on your smartphone, it would be a long day trying to find your way around this layout without them.
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9 0
Tim Red Beard
Experience: 15.6 years 2 played 2 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Mighty Gaw & Campgaw = Super fun! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 16, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-Great Parking Area
-Well Labeled Tee Signs
-Good course to get a workout in.
-Good Baskets (Including the new Mighty Baskets)
-Both courses offer an outstanding mixtures of challenging holes.
-Mighty Gaw is the toughest layout I've played, some just amazing views and just cool holes.
-Great help of locals to keep the course up to date, and are always willing to provide info on the course, that's choice.

Cons:

-Teepads are gravel. There is one that is concrete. If they were all concrete this course would be 4.5.
-Some of the holes are super steep, some guide ropes to provide more safety would be good.

Other Thoughts:

Overall these two courses are awesome, some of the best holes I've played. I personally judge a course by the memorability of the holes played, do I remember the cool & tough holes and did I enjoy playing them, I can say that both layouts provide great holes to remember which will make me come back year after year or anytime I'm in the area.
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11 0
toothyfish
Experience: 15.3 years 31 played 9 reviews
3.50 star(s)

WOW! The Ultimate Challenge 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Oct 14, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Pros and Cons of this course could be very subjective as this is not a typical DG course. Depending on what you like you may love or hate this course. So I will review this course, assuming you are an experienced player that wants a true test

* a PREMIUM on accuracy
* short/long tees on nearly every hole
* will require a large variety of shots and the ability to get out of trouble
* baskets are in great shape
* some spectacular views and amazing use of topography
* plenty of parking and the row closest to the woods is designated specifically for the disc golfers.

Cons:

Some cons:
* tees are worn in some areas
* signage is not permanent, and has been known to be missing or damaged
* navigation is definately challenging, despite Next Tee signs
* rough is very heavy in some areas, finding discs can be very difficult on several holes

Other Thoughts:

I find myself loving and hating this course throughout any given round. There is minimal reward for good drives, but serious punishment for bad drives. Most of the fairways are very rugged so prepare for alot of standing shots. And being off the fairway may mean settling for bogey to get back on to avoid triple bogey.

This course is NOT for beginners. The Mighty Gaw layout goes up and down the ski hill 2 1/2 times, so plan on double the amount of time to play a full round, especially from the long tees. Prepare for rugged terrain and dress appropriately. Wear hiking boots and be careful!

Because this is a course that is superimposed on a rugged landscape, clear definition of fairways and nest tees isn't always obvious, so print out the map. There are "Next Tee" signs, but it's easy to get disoriented. There are several hiking trails that are utilized, but some of these trails are not part of the course and can lead you the wrong way.

There is plenty of parking. Walk from the lot, past the ski lodges at the bottom of the hill to the first tee. There will be a large sign on your way that will have the current layout posted, as the layout changes from the long Mighty Gaw (spring and fall) to the shorter Camp Gaw (up-over-down layout)

Both Campgaw (short) and Mighty Gaw layouts (long) are in place. Tee signs are shared, but holes numbers differ in many cases so check both sides of the sign, depending on which layout you are playing.
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1 5
FrankieDG
Experience: 3 played 3 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Mighty Gaw only for the Mighty 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:May 21, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This challenging, physically exhausting and at times intimidating 18 hole course is fun for the casual gamer and pro.

Great variations from hole to hole with doglegs, straight shots, uphill, downhill and an awesome 18th.

Cons:

Don't be too attached to your discs as they are easy to lose on certain holes and in the high grass of the ski slope.

Other Thoughts:

Check for tics after you play and don't litter the course.
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5 0
RamsFan1
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.1 years 92 played 92 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Best Course In New Jersey 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 26, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Uniquely featured on and around a ski slope, Campgaw Reservation DG course is a challenging exercise in disc golf. Most of the 18 holes are densely wooded, yet fair. No real copycat holes; a wide variety of shots needed for success here. Many signature holes- a nice uphill hyzer (hole 4), a tight tunnel shot from a 30 foot elevation (hole 9), a nice hole with the basket behind a mammoth boulder (hole 6) and of course the two bombs from the top of the ski slope (holes 15 and 18). Has two different layouts depending on the season. Nice baskets and multiple tee pads at most holes. Navigation is pretty easy with helpful 'next tee' signs spread throughout the course. Signage with distance and projected disc flight path posted. As with most top flight facilities, Campgaw has a loyal following and local club actively involved with year round maintenance and ventures.

Cons:

The absence of cement tee pads and professional grade signs- two elements essential for any 4.5 or 5.0 rated DG course- is a bit disappointing and really the only things to complain about. Dirt tee off areas and terrain is brutal to travel after heavy rains.

Other Thoughts:

Campgaw is the best course in New Jersey- a state devoid of many good disc golf facilities. Picturesque views, a unique layout and the novelty of throwing multiple times off a mountain all add to the allure of playing here. That said, this is not your casual afternoon round of disc golf. Rocky terrain, heavy repetitive climbing and steep shots are all part of the experience here and are not ideal for the novice player. There is no doubt, however, this course will help your game. A great experience which is totally worth your while.
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5 0
gregorvn
Experience: 15.6 years 42 played 10 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Mighty! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 21, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

--Two teepads for each hole.
--Lots of different types of shots required.
--Woods are difficult but not usually punishing.

Cons:

--Teepads are often in bad shape. They're working on getting cement teepads, but it's been a long process.
--The Mighty layout is only available to play in the Spring and Fall. There isn't really anything that can be done about that: in the winter, there are people skiing, in the summer the parks department won't mow the grass because of nesting animals.

Other Thoughts:

The course has two layouts: Winter & Summer is the Campgaw layout and Spring and Fall is the Mighty Layout.

They call it mighty for a reason: You'll climb up and down this ski hill almost three times during the course of one round. Lots of trees and rocks to beat you (and your discs) up. Lots of elevation change. This course will really test your abilities.

It is very likely that you will lose a disc at some point on this course. Be prepared with extras.
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7 0
optidiscic
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.4 years 156 played 149 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Jersey Mountain Golf! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 10, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course provides a workout as well as a challenging round of disc golf. There is the obligatory 800+ foot drive over the ski hill to the base to finish your day. That is to be expected on most ski hill courses but there is actually some quality disc golf here as well. The woods holes are pretty cool. I epecially liked the sheer uphill epic of hole 4! The down below the boulder green for hole 6. The fun drive to a fast boulder green on hole 8. The amazing parachute dive of hole 9 through the trees and down there. Many think this is the best hole on course, I agree. 12 is a fun uphill challenge. 16 is a grueling hole playing big up the ski hill and of course hole 18 finishing by throwing off the top of the mountain to the base. There is a lot to look forward to here. Nice that there is both a winter and summer layout to ensure year round play.

Cons:

I am not much of a fan of Ski Hill disc golf in general. usually the tees are lacking and this is definetely the case here. The course was wet around the base holes. I mean really soggy to the point of making me want to quit. I am sure due to topography the base holes are always a soggy mess. I got really confused a few times, particularly at hole 5? and then again at hole 13 I actually threw down hill to basket 15 rather than uphill. Yeah I played it completely backwards. Bring a map! For all the glory of throwing off the top of the mountain...It really isn't my cup of tea. basically the hill is just too big to warrant a disc golf shot....no matter who you are you will fade spike back into the mountain and not glide prettily down the hill. It's just so steep and long. The ski lifts are ugly and break up the hill and the basket for 18 is across a gravel parking lot...So it's not a real scenic hole despite the dramatic view from up above!

Other Thoughts:

If you like ski hill disc golf you might enjoy all the climbing for one big drive! The better holes are off the ski hill IMO. The overall wetness and poor conditions kept my rating down a bit. If you can look past these you can feel free to upgrade this course a bit in your own mind.
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StringPeachIncident
Experience: 19.3 years 26 played 23 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Campgaw OR Mighty Gaw you cant go wrong! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 19, 2009 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

*Prime-time Executive parking
*Awesome hike and key break spots
*Nice views
*Good Distance
*creative tightly knit woods aswel as some upper deck fields
*Huge downhills and helpful locals

Cons:

*If your trying to play 36holes you better be ready for a hike
*Im not playin it right now

Other Thoughts:

To me this is currently the best course in New Jersey right in front of Great Meadows, which only falls short due to its Ode To Dunham "which is classic! haha" and 1000 foot blast that doesnt compare to the stretches of ski trails and woods that are to be explored.. Enjoy Jerseys Finest
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