Nichols Field is an 18-hole course located in what felt like a rural part of Connecticut. The namesake field has other park amenities, but the first hole of the DGC plays into the woods behind it and you won't see the field again until the end of your round.

These woods are far from normal too. The forest is frequently broken up by exposed rock faces, some of which are used to create fairways and greens with extreme elevation changes. The fairways are often covered in smaller rocks and roots as well, which was aesthetically beautiful and also created a unique unpredictability about how your disc would finish. I don't think I have ever played a course this rocky before, and the rocks are what sticks out most in my mind now (writing this review two weeks later).

The course plays on the technical side throughout, with a great variety of left turns, right turns, and "other shape" fairways. Hole 11 has a fairway shaped kind of like a question mark. There is quite a bit of distance to contend with too - five par 4's ranging from 434' to 658', plus hole 17's 822' par 5 challenge. The challenge presented by the trees, elevation changes, distances, and unique rocky terrain here will be enough to interest most disc golfers.

Some noteworthy holes in my book:
- Hole 3 plays 280' down a rocky slope. The fairway curls to the left, and there is water lurking to the right of and behind the pin. This is the only water hole on the course.
- Hole 10 is a very picturesque 250' throw uphill through a rock "valley" that curls to the right as viewed from the tee.
- Hole 13 is the most memorable of three short but especially rocky throws in the middle of the course. It's a steep downhill off the tee, with a few trees to make you think about your line. The basket is straight ahead 200' away - but the entire approach up to it is on a single continuous rock face that slopes away from the tee. The basket is installed near the end of the rock face, and there is a significant drop off behind it. This could be one of the most memorable putter aces you ever earn - or a tough scramble just to make par.

The baskets are red Chainstar Pros in like-new condition. These are beautiful and easily visible in the woods. Many baskets are mounted directly on rocks and some elevated on the rock, creating risk/reward situations. One per hole.

The tees are decent. The pads are rubber mats, but they are large and mounted in wood frames. Some are even elevated on decks to ensure that they are level. I saw brooms at a few tees too, although I didn't need them. There is one pad per hole. The tee signs are simple but high quality, showing a rough layout in addition to the hole number/distance/par. Benches are installed at many tees.

The course layout is basically an "out and back" style, but there are established paths available to create cutoffs for DG'ers who don't have time to play a full 18.

There is a kiosk at the front of the course that includes a course map and even a lost disc locker! A practice basket is near the kiosk, and there is a porta potty at the parking lot.

Navigation is a bit tricky in a couple places. There was tape on the bottom of some baskets, and a few arrows on trees, but overall I felt like a few more aids were needed. There is one spot where paths cross between holes and you could easily play the wrong hole if not paying attention.

Concrete tee pads would be a nice, although not critical, improvement. I was wishing for a little bit more detail on some of the tee signs too.

Although some wooded fairways were wider than others, there were not any holes that I would call even "semi-open". Even on the longer holes, the fairways are narrow so you can't really just "grip it and rip it" off the tee. Those who prefer that style of golf might get a little frustrated.

Seriously, there are so many rocks on the fairways. It's almost inevitable that you'll have a couple throws during the round that would be good, but they kick off the rocks in unexpected directions and you end up with a tough lie. I can see others getting irritated with this "luck" factor, although I enjoyed it myself.

I did not have cell service on this course. Plan accordingly.

There are no trash cans on the course, but signs tell you to pack out what you pack in.

With all of the uneven terrain, I recommend wearing grippy shoes or boots.

I played this course as part of what I'll remember as my "Maple Hill Run", in which I had a Friday afternoon and Saturday to make my way from the New York City area up to Maple Hill in central Massachusetts, play, and drive back down in time to catch a 9 PM flight home. This course added Connecticut to my states played list, but I mainly chose to play here because it looked solid and was only a half hour or so detour. It's a testament to this course that even after playing Maple Hill twice the next morning, I still vividly remember some of the holes here.

I agree with HyooMac's comment that the terrain here feels similar to Leonard Park in Mt. Kisco, NY - but in my opinion this course took that theme and pushed it up another notch. I think it is accurately valued at the current ~4.2 average rating here. I decided to round down to 4.0, but with some of the small Cons above addressed this is an easy 4.5. If you're anywhere near the area, come "rock out" at Nichols Field!

A genuinely beautiful setting for disc golf. While it doesn't have the iconic ponds or Christmas Tree farm of Maple Hill in Massachusetts, or the long sweeping wooded fairways of Rockwell or Page in Connecticut, Nichols delivers with woods, incorporating elevation and exposed rock formations in the layout. It felt like a cousin to Veteran's Park in Bridgeport and Leonard Park in Mt. Kisko, which are both at the same relative latitude.


Baskets are red Chainstars with heavy galvanized chains; tees are rubber surrounded by timbers or mounted on platforms - flat, level and in excellent shape. Some tees have brooms. Signage at every tee, and directional arrows from basket to next tee. Nice trails connecting the holes, some with wood chips


Deep New England woods golf means that being off the fairway really hurts you. Most often you're left with no play other than a short pitchout to the fairway


When you're a 100' - 150' out, there are trees everywhere. Multiple (but precise) lines have been created. There's always something blocking you, making you have to think of something other than a straight line to the basket. And even though there are a lot of trees in the fairways, you can see that they've taken a huge number of little spindly things out of the way too.


A few highlights:

+ Hole #3 is a blind downhill left dogleg with a hidden pond sneaking up on the right side. Because it's a blind shot, it's worth walking ahead to the edge of the hill to calibrate your shot. Very satisfying birdie, because you're braving the water to go for it


+ Hole #5 is the second of two back-to-back par 4's on the front 9, an uphill dogleg right with a green that's tucked to the left. It's only 434', but throwing uphill and around two corners makes for a challenging hole


+ Hole #8 is only 158', but the basket is perched on an outcrop about a third of the way up an imposing hillside that invites rollaways. #8 is also one of several very good RHFH holes mixed into the layout


+ Holes #13 and #14 are cliff dives: #13 is a shorty, high above a basket with another cliff behind it, and #14 is a par 4, downhill all the way, rewarding a high teeshot that can glide left-to-right

- The signs are clean and simple, but on holes where you can't see the basket from the tee, they are surprisingly inadequate at giving you any sense of how much turn or distance to expect. The best (worst) example is #11, a 700' par four that turns twice as it goes downhill. I played the first half of the hole throwing at the wrong basket, and the second half blindly following the fairway wondering when I might see the right one. Obviously this is less of a problem when you're familiar with the course, so it's only a "con" for first-timers

~ The terrain is very rocky; not cart-friendly


~ There are two Mandos (#7 and #9), marked with large wooden signs - but they seem to be there only to take away some lines. They don't appear to protect you or other players from danger - they just artificially narrow your options from the tee. This is just my opinion, but in cases like these, I think the better solution is to leave the lines open to throw, but penalize with O.B. that tightens the landing area. You're allowed to take the shot, but you have to make it pay off. The nearby Killingworth Park uses O.B. this way, and I think it makes for more challenge than simply closing off lines with mandos


~ The red Chainstars are hard to spot (flags might help). A few of them have tape to indicate the direction of the next tee, but this isn't used consistently. There are wooden signs with arrows to aid navigation, but there are spots on the back nine where it becomes guesswork, especially because the course navigation includes using some existing hiking trails. Just a half dozen more signs would make all the difference helping first timers find their way


~ This is a beautiful setting and I would play this course again and again and again if I didn't live three hours away. Nichols is unusually inviting for multiple plays: it's a course that remains challenging even with a single set of tees and baskets

For a wooded course fairways are very fair. Teepads large & level. Baskets caught well & in great condition. Navigation is easy except for 2 holes but not difficult to retrace steps to next hole. Elevation changes & pin placements make the course special! Loved some of the baskets embedded in rocks although my putters didn't. Par 61 seemed a stretch the 1st round I played (shot 58). 2nd round (62) it played to the pars. Beginners luck on round 1 I guess?? Aced #9 during Rnd2!

I'm pressed to find any negatives about this course. If any, the tee signs are pretty basic. With the elevation changes & length a flag or some color on the baskets would be nice for locating pins.

If you are near this course I strongly recommend playing it. Played in early fall with perfect weather but can imagine it being just as enjoyable in any season.

Basic tee signs yet very informative showing the intended flight path along with the distances. Large flat rubber tee pads with brooms available at times. Very clean park/course, I didn't see any litter to pick up. Tons of elevation which I love in DG, this is definitely a 'hike'. Some parts are STEEP both up and down hill.

After 3 holes, I was wondering why this course was so highly rated, but the rest of the course presented a great challenge with many pars 4's and two par 5's. My notes show I really liked holes 4, 5 ,6 ,7 and 11. Some of the shorter par 3's had 2 very distinct paths which is very good design.

Bugs very annoying but not terrible. A few muddy spots, some had wooden bridges/planks to help keep you out of the muck. A colorful flag on the baskets would certainly help with seeing the basket from the tees.

This course isn't easy, I'm sure beginners would feel frustrated, maybe this is a pro for experienced players like myself.

Not located very near an interstate while driving in CT like Cranberry and Wickham are.

I played here the day after 501 in MA and kinda got tired of walking/hiking over rocks/boulders, such is the terrain in the region.

Don't let the name "Field" mislead you, every hole is in the woods.

Excellent course design integrating an aesthetically pleasing and unique nature hike while playing through winding fairways of heavy woods, decent elevation changes, some huge rock outcroppings/cliffs, and wildlife.

Course mixes up the holes very well with some short fun and dangerous ace runs and some beastly par 4s and a par 5. Downhill shots, flat shots, uphill shots, straight shots, left shots, rights shots, snaking fairway shots, you better believe it's all in there like Prego Traditional Italian Sauce.

Nice rubber tees and decent tee signs and baskets. Easy navigation. Underbrush was fairly well kept considering the newness of the course and the extensiveness of the woods, except in a few places with ferns and downed trees.

IIRC there is a port-a-potty and trash can in the parking lot.

Only one big loop of 18 holes back to parking lot, although you can easily play a shorter loop of 9 or 14 holes. Only one set of tees and basket position set for intermediate-advanced skill level. Rank beginners may struggle, but not impossible.

If you have an aversion to woods golf there is nothing anything remotely close to resembling an open hole although the fairways are generally fair.

Thirsty skeeters. Possible hiking trail interference on a couple holes.

Ain't no open field holes at Nichols Field DGC! This gem of a course is all tucked into the heavy woods and rock outcroppings. Nichols is by far my favorite course in CT although I've only played 2 with Rockwell being the other. I feel like the current rating of 4.20 before this review is spot on, and I was really close to giving Nichols a 4.5 rating.

Nichols was my last, but not least course played on another epic New England disc golf road trip, so I was already beat up and ready to go home before I got here, but I really enjoyed playing this course and wanted to stay longer and play it again! Highly recommend this course to any traveling players!

Perhaps it's my love of rock outcrops, but Nichols is a beauty of a course. Lots of elevation changes. Benches, brooms and great teepads. Easy to follow without a map and no long walks between holes.

Swampy throughout the course which I'm sure will be mosquito infested areas in the warm months. Baskets are hard to spot, could use some high-visibility tape on the pole or number plate. It's a new course, so some more tree removal may be necessary to make one or two of the fairways actually fair.

-Beautiful tee boxes, all are leveled off with good gripy rubber mats.

-Greens and Fairways are very well cleared out of loose brush and undergrowth.

-Shot selection varies widely throughout the course. The added elevation on many of the holes makes for some challenging decisions right off the tee.

-Signage shows the general shape of each hole as well as distances.

-Only 1 set of tees. Although the current layout might play as an "Advanced" course, I hope that novices dont get discouraged and that more skilled players dont get bored.

-Signage indicates hiking trails throughout the course, however it wasnt immediately clear to me where I was supposed to be looking for hikers when I was throwing. A couple times I had to HOPE that I wasn't hitting anyone around a blind corner. Perhaps some clear flagging ON the fairways to indicate the path of the trails more clearly?

-Grey baskets tended to disappear against grey rocks and tree trunks. Perhaps flags on top to make baskets more visible?

-Rocks. Not much can be changed about this one,but my discs got CHEWED UP after playing 2 rounds through the many ledges and boulders on the course.

This was my first time visiting this course when i was home for Thanksgiving. I cant wait to play at Christmas time, and will look for tournaments next summer!

The cons that I listed are not really cons as much as suggestions for improvements, I feel like I must stress that I LOVED the course and cant wait to come back.

A lot of work has gone into this course and you can tell. Entirely in the woods, but every hole has been sufficiently cleared, with well-defined and more than fair fairways. The rough isn't even too bad if you find yourself straying from the fairway. The course flows well and it was very easy to find the next hole, with very obvious paths leading away from every basket area. The tee boxes are great, with nice wooden frames and rubber tee pads. Signage at every hole shows distances and there are nice benches at every tee if you need a rest. The course uses elevation well and doesn't fall into the trap of making every hole as difficult as possible. There are many sub-300 ft holes to offer birdie chances, as well as a few really long ones to really challenge you. The kiosk at the start of the course has pencils and is stocked with high-quality scorecards. Overall, another very well done course only increases the options for a round of golf in central CT.

There's not much to dislike about this course, unless you really hate playing in the woods. Some open holes would improve the variety, but as a course designer, you've got to make due with the land you're given and there really isn't any open land available in this park.

There are 2 entrances/parking areas in this park. Go to the eastern-most entrance and head to the far end of the dirt lot, by the playscape. There are some trails that come into play throughout the course, so be careful of hikers. Although I was there on a nice weekend day and didn't encounter anyone, so they might not be widely used.