Mad Mountain Adventure reviews
9
0
Everett Evans
Experience:
30.9 years
116 played
14 reviews
Worst course in Maine? 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jun 27, 2015
Played the course:once
Pros:
Technically this WAS a complete disc golf course, with 18 tees and 18 holes, and was able to be played to completion, eventually.
The tee signs gave a general indication of the hole layout.
The terrain would be great if the course was designed to fit it.
Very convincing web site, which was the primary reason we went to the course.
Clean parking lot.
No trash on the course, probably because there was no evidence that anyone had played the course.
The tee signs gave a general indication of the hole layout.
The terrain would be great if the course was designed to fit it.
Very convincing web site, which was the primary reason we went to the course.
Clean parking lot.
No trash on the course, probably because there was no evidence that anyone had played the course.
Cons:
Where to begin??
Tees: upside-down carpet remnants in various sizes and conditions, all very small, not attached to the ground in any way, seemingly randomly scattered throughout the course. Some were placed on rocks, logs, in swampy areas, right behind groups of saplings, wherever. I could probably write a 500 word review just on the tees at this place. They forced me to practice driving without a run-up, which maybe could be considered a Pro?
Homemade baskets which simulated the look of single-chain baskets, but were rarely level, and were so heavily painted that the chains barely moved. A solid putt in the middle of the chains responded with an unsatisfying 'click'. Anything not directly in the middle of the chains bounced out. A couple of the baskets were on side-hills and looked like they were well on their way to falling completely down the hill.
The course layout itself was the biggest problem. When you look at the course map or scorecard, you assume the pars are generous and you will finish well under par. But that assumes there are fairways, or any thought to hole layout. All of the holes needed to be scouted to figure out where the baskets were hiding. And most of them had no legit fairway, just a narrow, overgrown logging road, with 90 deg turns. When a hole reads 270', and is a Par 5, it literally means you should drive 80', turn left, throw 60', turn left, throw 80', turn right, throw 50', turn left, putt. That is just as much fun as it sounds.
Even though the course is relatively new, it is already completely neglected. Nothing was trimmed, cut down, cut back, leveled, etc. One basket was surrounded by a 20' radius of thick ferns that had no signs of travel, or care, or anything, only ticks. Some of the baskets and fairways had thin saplings that had bent over to block the fairway. One was literally hanging in front of a basket, blocking half of it.
Horse flies, hornets, mosquitos, ticks, spiderwebs, you name it. We didn't even make it to the first tee before being chased back to the car to slather on more spray. But alas, bug spray had little effect on the demons roaming the mountain.
Tees: upside-down carpet remnants in various sizes and conditions, all very small, not attached to the ground in any way, seemingly randomly scattered throughout the course. Some were placed on rocks, logs, in swampy areas, right behind groups of saplings, wherever. I could probably write a 500 word review just on the tees at this place. They forced me to practice driving without a run-up, which maybe could be considered a Pro?
Homemade baskets which simulated the look of single-chain baskets, but were rarely level, and were so heavily painted that the chains barely moved. A solid putt in the middle of the chains responded with an unsatisfying 'click'. Anything not directly in the middle of the chains bounced out. A couple of the baskets were on side-hills and looked like they were well on their way to falling completely down the hill.
The course layout itself was the biggest problem. When you look at the course map or scorecard, you assume the pars are generous and you will finish well under par. But that assumes there are fairways, or any thought to hole layout. All of the holes needed to be scouted to figure out where the baskets were hiding. And most of them had no legit fairway, just a narrow, overgrown logging road, with 90 deg turns. When a hole reads 270', and is a Par 5, it literally means you should drive 80', turn left, throw 60', turn left, throw 80', turn right, throw 50', turn left, putt. That is just as much fun as it sounds.
Even though the course is relatively new, it is already completely neglected. Nothing was trimmed, cut down, cut back, leveled, etc. One basket was surrounded by a 20' radius of thick ferns that had no signs of travel, or care, or anything, only ticks. Some of the baskets and fairways had thin saplings that had bent over to block the fairway. One was literally hanging in front of a basket, blocking half of it.
Horse flies, hornets, mosquitos, ticks, spiderwebs, you name it. We didn't even make it to the first tee before being chased back to the car to slather on more spray. But alas, bug spray had little effect on the demons roaming the mountain.
Other Thoughts:
My biggest complaint about this course is how deceptive the web site is. Other than the big Mad Mountain sign, nothing about this course matches the descriptions of a fun, family adventure presented on their site. It almost seems like the owners had an idea to generate income by getting in on the disc golf scene in Maine, but didn't realize that making a course involves more than just marking tees and dragging baskets into the woods and calling it a day.
On a gorgeous Sat in June no one else was on the course, the "pro shop" shack was closed, and I would swear we were the first ones to play the course this year, although I know that can't be true.
I know this review is extremely critical, but honestly I don't think anyone should attempt this course until the owners put some effort into a redesign and major maintenance and cleanup. It was not fun and can't be recommended to anyone. I fear families looking for a fun outing will be suckered into playing this course as their first disc golf outing, leave in disgust after a couple of holes, and will tell their friends to stay away from disc golf in general.
On a gorgeous Sat in June no one else was on the course, the "pro shop" shack was closed, and I would swear we were the first ones to play the course this year, although I know that can't be true.
I know this review is extremely critical, but honestly I don't think anyone should attempt this course until the owners put some effort into a redesign and major maintenance and cleanup. It was not fun and can't be recommended to anyone. I fear families looking for a fun outing will be suckered into playing this course as their first disc golf outing, leave in disgust after a couple of holes, and will tell their friends to stay away from disc golf in general.
2
0
WraithMaster
Experience:
14 years
3 played
2 reviews
Needs Some Serious Work 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jun 27, 2015
Played the course:once
Pros:
The maps at the holes were decent.
It's a nice hike in the woods, they aren't kidding about the mountain part.
It's a nice hike in the woods, they aren't kidding about the mountain part.
Cons:
Poor sign markage. I had to search for tees a few times.
Bad homemade baskets. The chains are so stiff they reject the disc.
The holes are all tight shots. The hole's are kind of repetitive in that way.
Several holes had trees less than 5 feet from the tee pad in the direction you're driving.
Bad homemade baskets. The chains are so stiff they reject the disc.
The holes are all tight shots. The hole's are kind of repetitive in that way.
Several holes had trees less than 5 feet from the tee pad in the direction you're driving.
Other Thoughts:
This course could be nice if they work on cutting down some trees and making an effort to make a little signage. I don't mind tough courses, but I like to know where I'm going.
New tee pads instead of upside down carpet would be nice.
I know baskets are expensive, but I think most players expect real baskets.
I would not currently recommend this course to a friend.
New tee pads instead of upside down carpet would be nice.
I know baskets are expensive, but I think most players expect real baskets.
I would not currently recommend this course to a friend.
