Uploaded By: De Hermit
Hole #8 (Taken 8/2012)
4 / 300ft. 5 / 450ft. 4 / 455ft. 5 / 605ft.
Par / Distance:
Hole #8 Gold Tee
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Reviews: 49
Avg. Rating:
Details
Avg. Rating:
Details
Big Boy
1 
8/29/2012 
9/9/2012
Review By: iHitTree Played: 23 Reviewed: 19 Exp: 11 Years
This review was updated on 9/16/2012
Pros: This is a long and challenging course from long tee to gold long baskets. They make it nice an easy by using DISCatcher baskets having the plastic yellow band around the top, while short baskets are standard looking and all gray/silver. The signs are fantastic and are my first experience with signs that give you the elevation changes in addition to what we hope and expect: hole map, obstacles, distances, and pars. The course is mostly wooded with varying open and tighter throws, straighten and narrow tree tunnel fairways, bootlegs, big elevation changes and often, high canopy allowing use of higher lines to hit certain gaps and maintain distance.
There is great variety in the front 9. The first hole is a big bender to the right in the woods but with a wider fairway that gives you a good chance if you make it through the initial large tree obstacles. Great way to start the course. Hole 2 is a narrow woods play that encourages a variety of lines and throws, with a snaking tight fairway with a bunch of smaller trees complicating things. Hole 3 mixes it up with a tree gap about 75 feet away from tee pad that opens up to a wide field fairway that leads to a narrow woods approach to the basket. That was an unexpected surprise as I thought to expect a long woods course here initially (somewhat accurate though blunt). I'm not one to support the practice of giving a play by play of every hole to make an honest attempt at writing a helful review. There is the first 3. You should at this point know whether or not the course is worth your time or not.
Though you can't always see the basket from the tee--after all it is a course intended for A tier tournament play from long tee to gold baskets--the visibility to track throws and spot your next shot is very good. Unless you get unlucky in the fall with leaves, you shouldn't lose discs here barring the rare circumstances where the disc really hides on its landing which can happen anywhere. Trees prevent your errant throws from going too much off course. The concrete tee pads on long tees are nice and grip well. I didn't play shorter tees yet, so I apologize for lack of comment there.
The par expectations here are in the league of Nockamixon...aka if you don't take rethrows, you will doubtfully shoot par unless you're an accomplished player. I reside somewhere in the upper end of intermediate and lower end of advanced amateur skill level (300-375 from tee, solid approach game, average putter), and I shot 10 over par first round. A challenging world class course should be as difficult as it gets, and this is pretty much that.
The design and layout here is great. I don't think I encountered one hole that conflicted with another hole--everything is nice and spread out with pretty clear direction to next hole. On longer holes, there are some aid markers in fairways to help you create your line when the basket is out of view.
There is great variety in the front 9. The first hole is a big bender to the right in the woods but with a wider fairway that gives you a good chance if you make it through the initial large tree obstacles. Great way to start the course. Hole 2 is a narrow woods play that encourages a variety of lines and throws, with a snaking tight fairway with a bunch of smaller trees complicating things. Hole 3 mixes it up with a tree gap about 75 feet away from tee pad that opens up to a wide field fairway that leads to a narrow woods approach to the basket. That was an unexpected surprise as I thought to expect a long woods course here initially (somewhat accurate though blunt). I'm not one to support the practice of giving a play by play of every hole to make an honest attempt at writing a helful review. There is the first 3. You should at this point know whether or not the course is worth your time or not.
Though you can't always see the basket from the tee--after all it is a course intended for A tier tournament play from long tee to gold baskets--the visibility to track throws and spot your next shot is very good. Unless you get unlucky in the fall with leaves, you shouldn't lose discs here barring the rare circumstances where the disc really hides on its landing which can happen anywhere. Trees prevent your errant throws from going too much off course. The concrete tee pads on long tees are nice and grip well. I didn't play shorter tees yet, so I apologize for lack of comment there.
The par expectations here are in the league of Nockamixon...aka if you don't take rethrows, you will doubtfully shoot par unless you're an accomplished player. I reside somewhere in the upper end of intermediate and lower end of advanced amateur skill level (300-375 from tee, solid approach game, average putter), and I shot 10 over par first round. A challenging world class course should be as difficult as it gets, and this is pretty much that.
The design and layout here is great. I don't think I encountered one hole that conflicted with another hole--everything is nice and spread out with pretty clear direction to next hole. On longer holes, there are some aid markers in fairways to help you create your line when the basket is out of view.
Cons: Spiders and webs everywhere during the summer...cuts down on the mosquitoes, but when you leave the fairways, some big intimidating looking spiders were seen a few times, so bring or find a stick!
The natural landscape makes it tough to make the back 9 memorable as it currently plays...most holes are long and narrow woods holes with bootlegs and elevation changes. Hole 17 is the only hole with the "IT" factor on the back 9--a long and narrow fairway though tight woods that ends with a basket up on a large mound-like hill with rock stairs leading up to the basket. The course strays from the seemingly experimental front 9 that keeps it mixed up well.
No pro shop or scorecards: this isn't common to the courses in the mid-Atlantic area, though, but i wish it was. This is because a lot of courses here are in state parks as opposed to privately owned. I played a bunch in Maine this summer that were all $4-6 pay to plays courses (Bennett (BAP), Pleasant Hill, Woodland Valley both courses), but they had pro shops with great disc selection and gear and the courses were immaculately maintained.
The natural landscape makes it tough to make the back 9 memorable as it currently plays...most holes are long and narrow woods holes with bootlegs and elevation changes. Hole 17 is the only hole with the "IT" factor on the back 9--a long and narrow fairway though tight woods that ends with a basket up on a large mound-like hill with rock stairs leading up to the basket. The course strays from the seemingly experimental front 9 that keeps it mixed up well.
No pro shop or scorecards: this isn't common to the courses in the mid-Atlantic area, though, but i wish it was. This is because a lot of courses here are in state parks as opposed to privately owned. I played a bunch in Maine this summer that were all $4-6 pay to plays courses (Bennett (BAP), Pleasant Hill, Woodland Valley both courses), but they had pro shops with great disc selection and gear and the courses were immaculately maintained.
Other Thoughts: NOTE: I REMOVED A MISCONTRUED COMMENT THAT I PREVIOUSLY HAD HERE THAT I MORE APPROPRIATELY WORD BELOW. Apologies to any it previously offended.
I write course reviews meant for the out of towner who has never played the course and is wondering if it is worth scheduling in their agenda when passing through, not for the home crowd who's played the given course a ton of times. I am well aware that there are nuances I've missed, but this is an honest and pretty accurate attempt to describe a "loss of virginity" experience at Iron Hill.
Is this worth a one-off if you reside outside of 2 hours away? Arguable.
Is this course a MUST if you are touring through the area with an appetite for touring the best in the mid-Atlantic? YES!
I write course reviews meant for the out of towner who has never played the course and is wondering if it is worth scheduling in their agenda when passing through, not for the home crowd who's played the given course a ton of times. I am well aware that there are nuances I've missed, but this is an honest and pretty accurate attempt to describe a "loss of virginity" experience at Iron Hill.
Is this worth a one-off if you reside outside of 2 hours away? Arguable.
Is this course a MUST if you are touring through the area with an appetite for touring the best in the mid-Atlantic? YES!
15 of 36 people found this review helpful.
Report this Review Good, but hard doesn't equal great.
Pros: This course is challenging from drive to putt. There are no gimme shots anywhere, and it forces you to be on top of your physical and mental game. Signage is outstanding, both with hole descriptions and with next tee signs. The course is well maintained.
Cons: From the long tees,iIt's almost as if some of the holes are designed to have players throw a roc/midrange and the 2nd shot is reserved for the long range driver. Until you're familiar with the course, you basically need to walk each hole before you throw.
Other Thoughts: I live in Baltimore, I'd drive the extra hour to play PawPaw before I came back to Iron Hill.
4 of 20 people found this review helpful.
Very Challenging
Pros: This course is very well maintained and very well marked. It has concrete tees (for the pro/gold tees, some other tees are not done or not there on some holes, see below) and new baskets. It is well designed in a loose figure 8 with holes 1 10 and 18 all near the parking lot/portapoties. Some benches and trashcans throughout.
Cons: Not finished yet. Missing or incomplete tees on some holes, misssing alt/silver basket on some holes.
Other Thoughts: I did not find this course to be very fun. It consists almost exclusively of long tight wooded lanes. This is a great place to improve your game, but not a good course for a day out with the crew. Getting through this course felt like a real workout.
2 of 11 people found this review helpful.
Will mature into greatness one day...... 2-4 11/5/2009 8/26/2009
Review By: forehandfranz 
Played: 162 Reviewed: 91 Exp: 21 Years
This review was updated on 11/12/2009
Pros: I'm glad I was forewarned of the length and percieved par of this course, as it helped put me get a proper frame of mind for tackling it's challenges. There were a few par 5's and many par 4's. Anybody who can't count above 3 needs to go back to school. Also, having a variety of pars makes it more fun and won't discourage those who think that these holes should play as all 3's. As for the course, I am thrilled! This is really a challenging and pretty course. It plays different than most, as many fairways are very narrow, and a few others don't seem like fairways at all (a reasonably open drive followed by thick trees that requires a lot of luck in addition to skill). Some light elevation changes on several holes adds to the variety. No water. Nice pro (gold) tee pads with great traction. The signs are excellent which show the footage and hole layout. There are multiple pin placements that (I hope) will all become permanent so that one has a choice to play a variety of layouts - 6 total with the 3 tee pads!!
Cons: I would recommend a map to get around as there are a few confusing points. There are a few "next tee" signs, but there could be more. I played in the fall with leaf litter and many paths were nearly invisible.
I am a little mixed emotionally about the gold to gold layout. I scored about 5 over the posted par my first time and much worse my second time. It is a quite difficult affair for an advanced player like me, but I know this is designed for pros. Keep this in mind. I plan on playing the shorter tees next time, and think it will be more fun. The main frustration is that you should be using fairway drivers or mid-ranges on most of the holes because the fairways are SO NARROW, you need to set up for good approaches, and if you stray from the fairways, you often have to chip out of the (mostly) thick rough, and will likely bogey.
What I'm trying to say is that when you're new to the course, the hardest thing to predict is the landing zones (on longer holes) that will set you up for the next shot, so you can tend to overshoot everything and end in trouble- making it a frustrating round. Compare this course to the WR Jackson course in GA, which has similar long holes, but much wider fairways.
Another suggestion - for variety , I thought there should be at least 2 or 3 holes from 250-300 that are aceable (from all tees). This is part of the game of golf that has always existed and a major part of the games fun factor. They don't have to be easy aces- but should be there.
I am a little mixed emotionally about the gold to gold layout. I scored about 5 over the posted par my first time and much worse my second time. It is a quite difficult affair for an advanced player like me, but I know this is designed for pros. Keep this in mind. I plan on playing the shorter tees next time, and think it will be more fun. The main frustration is that you should be using fairway drivers or mid-ranges on most of the holes because the fairways are SO NARROW, you need to set up for good approaches, and if you stray from the fairways, you often have to chip out of the (mostly) thick rough, and will likely bogey.
What I'm trying to say is that when you're new to the course, the hardest thing to predict is the landing zones (on longer holes) that will set you up for the next shot, so you can tend to overshoot everything and end in trouble- making it a frustrating round. Compare this course to the WR Jackson course in GA, which has similar long holes, but much wider fairways.
Another suggestion - for variety , I thought there should be at least 2 or 3 holes from 250-300 that are aceable (from all tees). This is part of the game of golf that has always existed and a major part of the games fun factor. They don't have to be easy aces- but should be there.
Other Thoughts: I think that this course, having multiple pins could follow the wonderful idea that Tyler St. Park in PA has shown. They have a rotating dial below the hole map on the tee that rotates to indicate what the current pin placement is. It's much easier than walking down the fairway to investigate.
I have not played the blue tees yet, so can't say if this is suited for beginners, but I think this course is a great place to hone your skills and will only get better with time. Stay in the fairway with controlled shots, and you will find you will score better.
I have not played the blue tees yet, so can't say if this is suited for beginners, but I think this course is a great place to hone your skills and will only get better with time. Stay in the fairway with controlled shots, and you will find you will score better.
10 of 11 people found this review helpful.
Epic battle
Pros: Multiple tees and basket locations make this course very playable for all skill levels. Extreme challenge Gold to Long. This is a very nice park setting with many other things to do. Perfect concrete tees.
Cons: This course should have a Bethpage Black sign "Extreme Golf, only for professional disc golfers". Way too many good drives that land in the "fairway" are directly behind trees with no chance at reaching green for a birdie. Very narrow dirving lanes. All holes seem the same.
Other Thoughts: This course will make you a better disc golfer on any other course......you have to see it to believe it.
4 of 9 people found this review helpful.
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