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Emmitsburg Community Park DGC reviews
12
0
A Tale of Two Nines
Reviewed:
Played on:May 6, 2023
Played the course:once
Pros:
A layout that's mostly open on the front 9, and more tightly wooded on the back 9. A handful of standout holes, but the overall experience includes some dull open park holes, poor signage and unfinished tees
+ Two tees on every hole. About half of the long tees feature very little differentiation, and you may wonder why they bothered with them at all. But the occasional hole will provide a very different look, including a water carry on #6, and some interesting additional gaps and angles elsewhere
+ The wooded holes have wide, well-defined grass fairways. Good use of trees to create specific lines. The most open hole (#4) has a raised basket (and watch out for sneaky OB water behind the basket. It's hidden by the woodline, but it's well inside C1)
+ DisCatchers, tape on spokes to indicate direction to the next hole. The metal posts holding the teesigns have color-coded electrical tape (blue for Longs, and red for Shorts - the teesigns themselves have no indication). Minimal navigation (some wooden arrows on trees), and you might find yourself questioning if you're headed in the right direction (uDisc comes in handy)
+ Two tees on every hole. About half of the long tees feature very little differentiation, and you may wonder why they bothered with them at all. But the occasional hole will provide a very different look, including a water carry on #6, and some interesting additional gaps and angles elsewhere
+ The wooded holes have wide, well-defined grass fairways. Good use of trees to create specific lines. The most open hole (#4) has a raised basket (and watch out for sneaky OB water behind the basket. It's hidden by the woodline, but it's well inside C1)
+ DisCatchers, tape on spokes to indicate direction to the next hole. The metal posts holding the teesigns have color-coded electrical tape (blue for Longs, and red for Shorts - the teesigns themselves have no indication). Minimal navigation (some wooden arrows on trees), and you might find yourself questioning if you're headed in the right direction (uDisc comes in handy)
Cons:
- Signage is old style DGA fiberglass, the kind with the stickers to indicate trees. Compared to newer signage found at many public park courses, these leave a lot to be desired (for example, there's a large pond hidden behind a tall treeline on #8. If you play the high hyzer line and come up short, you'll have an unhappy surprise..trust me on this)
- Most of the tees are very serviceable mats made from reused turf, but the half of the short tees on the back 9 are still rutted gravel or dirt
- The shorts feature a lot of 180' - 200' straight holes on the first third of the course. This is by far the weakest section - but holes get much more challenging as the woods come into play later
- Most of the tees are very serviceable mats made from reused turf, but the half of the short tees on the back 9 are still rutted gravel or dirt
- The shorts feature a lot of 180' - 200' straight holes on the first third of the course. This is by far the weakest section - but holes get much more challenging as the woods come into play later
Other Thoughts:
~ Mostly flat property, with low areas that stay wet after a rain
~ Other than the water carry on #6, all the action is on the back 9. There are a few really good holes: #10 is long and narrow, #11 is a short downhill featuring the only elevation change on the course. #15 starts with a wide open fairway, then turns left with big trees guarding the green. #18 is longer and straighter, with a ton of trees guarding the approach. A very good finishing hole
~ With the exception of using the walking path to connect a few holes, the course does a very good job of staying away from other park activities. This is especially true with the back 9, which seems to be off in a world by itself. This becomes obvious on the fairly long walk back to the parking lot from 18
~ Other than the water carry on #6, all the action is on the back 9. There are a few really good holes: #10 is long and narrow, #11 is a short downhill featuring the only elevation change on the course. #15 starts with a wide open fairway, then turns left with big trees guarding the green. #18 is longer and straighter, with a ton of trees guarding the approach. A very good finishing hole
~ With the exception of using the walking path to connect a few holes, the course does a very good job of staying away from other park activities. This is especially true with the back 9, which seems to be off in a world by itself. This becomes obvious on the fairly long walk back to the parking lot from 18
22
0
Woodsy fun in a swamp 2+ years
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Mar 14, 2021
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
I enjoy playing this course. It is a fun, challenging, and technical wooded course. With short and long tees on every hole, Emmitsburg is suitable for players of varying skill levels.
May 2022 update: Most teepads are now constructed of turf over boxed-in fill of crushed gravel and stone dust. These teepads are very nice, and it looks like the club plans to finish installing them on all short and long tees. Other teepads are boxed-in gravel and stone dust. These tees are well packed down and serviceable.
Level, white-banded baskets caught well. White arrows on baskets and trees direct you to the next hole. Tee signs show hole number, distance, and basket direction.
Except for a few open or semi-open holes, this is a predominantly wooded course. Holes feature a variety of lines and distances, and each hole feels unique. This variety is a testament to the designers, who carved an interesting course from a relatively featureless landscape.
Ponds add challenge on several holes. Hole 6 is 217', slightly uphill, with less than 200' of water carry and the basket tucked behind young pine trees. Hole 8 invites a 240' righty sidearm, but finishing right of the basket risks skipping into the pond. On hole 4 the pond is located at circle's edge if you throw long past the raised basket.
Practice basket near the parking lot and first tee. There is enough open space around the practice basket to work on your approach game when the course is not crowded (and I have never seen the course crowded).
Ample parking with plenty of trashcans and a dog-waste station located near the parking lots. No port-a-pot in the winter, but I think one was available in the (non-pandemic) summer months.
The course is located in a pleasant community park with a variety of fitness activities and lovely views of the Catoctin Mountains.
May 2022 update: Most teepads are now constructed of turf over boxed-in fill of crushed gravel and stone dust. These teepads are very nice, and it looks like the club plans to finish installing them on all short and long tees. Other teepads are boxed-in gravel and stone dust. These tees are well packed down and serviceable.
Level, white-banded baskets caught well. White arrows on baskets and trees direct you to the next hole. Tee signs show hole number, distance, and basket direction.
Except for a few open or semi-open holes, this is a predominantly wooded course. Holes feature a variety of lines and distances, and each hole feels unique. This variety is a testament to the designers, who carved an interesting course from a relatively featureless landscape.
Ponds add challenge on several holes. Hole 6 is 217', slightly uphill, with less than 200' of water carry and the basket tucked behind young pine trees. Hole 8 invites a 240' righty sidearm, but finishing right of the basket risks skipping into the pond. On hole 4 the pond is located at circle's edge if you throw long past the raised basket.
Practice basket near the parking lot and first tee. There is enough open space around the practice basket to work on your approach game when the course is not crowded (and I have never seen the course crowded).
Ample parking with plenty of trashcans and a dog-waste station located near the parking lots. No port-a-pot in the winter, but I think one was available in the (non-pandemic) summer months.
The course is located in a pleasant community park with a variety of fitness activities and lovely views of the Catoctin Mountains.
Cons:
The local club has obviously made heroic efforts to dig drainage channels and mulch wet spots, but the land is quite swampy and may remain wet for many days after a rain.
Despite mild elevation changes on a few holes, this course is mostly flat. A few holes lacked a clear line, and might benefit from judicious removal of trees in the fairway.
On a few holes, walking paths can come into play on bad tee shots. There are signs warning of flying discs at appropriate places, but walkers, dog walkers, and joggers are probably not thinking about dodging flying plastic so the onus is on disc golfers to ensure their safety.
Fairways can get a bit shaggy during the growing season. More frequent mowing would enhance the playing experience.
Navigation is tricky in a couple of places. Hole 9 is the most visible tee after playing hole 6. Similarly, the hole 13 tee is most visible after playing hole 10. Fairly long walk back to the parking lot after finishing hole 18.
Despite mild elevation changes on a few holes, this course is mostly flat. A few holes lacked a clear line, and might benefit from judicious removal of trees in the fairway.
On a few holes, walking paths can come into play on bad tee shots. There are signs warning of flying discs at appropriate places, but walkers, dog walkers, and joggers are probably not thinking about dodging flying plastic so the onus is on disc golfers to ensure their safety.
Fairways can get a bit shaggy during the growing season. More frequent mowing would enhance the playing experience.
Navigation is tricky in a couple of places. Hole 9 is the most visible tee after playing hole 6. Similarly, the hole 13 tee is most visible after playing hole 10. Fairly long walk back to the parking lot after finishing hole 18.
Other Thoughts:
This challenge of this course is more technical than distance. Those who prefer throwing big open bombs will probably not appreciate this course, but those (including me) who appreciate the challenge of hitting lines in the woods will probably enjoy playing here. If they can keep their feet dry.
This is not a long course, but the long tees on two holes reward controlled distance: hole 10 is a long, straight tunnel; and hole 18 is long and slightly uphill with a reasonably wide but obstructed fairway and unforgiving rough. These were two of my favorite holes.
The local club has obviously done a ton of work to redirect standing water away from fairways and walking paths. Even so, this course is built on a swamp and much of the course will be wet and mucky at times. If you play here after heavy rain or during spring mud season, wear appropriate shoes.
This course is still new, so typical new-course issues are present such as toe-stubbing stumps in the fairway and unforgiving rough. I will continue to follow the course's progress and may update this review as improvements are made.
Wildlife abounds, including a chorus of spring peepers and a resident barred owl that I have encountered several times while playing.
Emmitsburg is a pretty town of 3,000 souls, just south of the Mason-Dixon line and about 15 minutes from the Gettysburg National Military Park. On the road to the course you will pass the Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the National Emergency Training Center, and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial.
As I gaze from this flat, swampy course towards the Catoctin Mountains I cannot help thinking wistfully about how the forested Appalachian foothills would provide optimal land for an absolutely epic disc golf course. Oh well, the designers made the most of the land they had available.
This is not a long course, but the long tees on two holes reward controlled distance: hole 10 is a long, straight tunnel; and hole 18 is long and slightly uphill with a reasonably wide but obstructed fairway and unforgiving rough. These were two of my favorite holes.
The local club has obviously done a ton of work to redirect standing water away from fairways and walking paths. Even so, this course is built on a swamp and much of the course will be wet and mucky at times. If you play here after heavy rain or during spring mud season, wear appropriate shoes.
This course is still new, so typical new-course issues are present such as toe-stubbing stumps in the fairway and unforgiving rough. I will continue to follow the course's progress and may update this review as improvements are made.
Wildlife abounds, including a chorus of spring peepers and a resident barred owl that I have encountered several times while playing.
Emmitsburg is a pretty town of 3,000 souls, just south of the Mason-Dixon line and about 15 minutes from the Gettysburg National Military Park. On the road to the course you will pass the Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the National Emergency Training Center, and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial.
As I gaze from this flat, swampy course towards the Catoctin Mountains I cannot help thinking wistfully about how the forested Appalachian foothills would provide optimal land for an absolutely epic disc golf course. Oh well, the designers made the most of the land they had available.
