Uploaded By: zapplayer12
Hole #5 (Taken 10/2009)
3 / 346ft. 3 / 426ft.
Par / Distance:
Hole #5 Tee
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Reviews: 16
Avg. Rating:
Details
Avg. Rating:
Details
Not For Weekend Warriors
1 
5/27/2012 
5/27/2012
Pros: 18 hole grueling and challenging course which starts at the top of Blue Mountain Ski Resort in the Poconos. Oversized concrete tee pads and benches at every hole. Each hole has either two tee pads and a single basket or single tee pads with a short (white) and long (blue) basket. Colored, laminated signs at each hole give you distance and preferred flight path. Tremendous elevation changes and good distance variety. Though mostly open, a few technical holes are thrown in for good measure, with holes 5, 8, 9, 13, and 14 particularly memorable. Picturesque views of Danielsville from the top of the mountain. Friendly staff accomodating to disc golfers. As this is a ski resort, amenities like bathrooms, vending machines and restaurants are on the premises.
Cons: Disc loss- even on what you think are good drives- a very distinct possibility. Treacherous hiking over rocky surfaces involved throughout the course. High grass present on many fairways. Permanent signage and bag poles unavailable because of the type of course it is. "Next tee" arrows would assist with navigation. Pay to play and limited ski lift availability/playing time will turn away some players.
Other Thoughts: With three courses- Skyline, Valley and the 9-hole Slope Side available to players, Blue Mountain provides an excellent disc golfing experience. Not for the faint of heart, The Blue Mountain Skyline course is intimidating to say the least and presents a tremendous challenge to even seasoned pros, much less the recreational/intermediate player. The frustration factor here is extremely high without a sensible, pinpoint approach to drives off the tee, and heat, wind, bugs and other variables all come into play throughout your round. Staff is available to give you a ride to the top in the absence of a working ski lift. Though many reviewers speak of the course being well groomed, I found the grass ridiculously high when I played and was a bit disappointed. Hydration, good footwear and being in shape are all critical elements of playing here. Overall, a good, if humbling experience.
8 of 9 people found this review helpful.
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Black Diamond Disc Golf not for Beginners 
Pros: Where else on the east coast can you play over 1000 feet of elevation drop over 18 holes. Has 2 perfect concrete tees or 2 baskets per hole so this one caters to experts as well as average players.(note:I didn't say beginners) Just like skiing the lift whets your appetite with views of the course and glorious PA mountainsides and valleys. Once your at tee #1 there are hiking poles provided...do yourself a favor and grab one. I used mine the entire round as the walks are steep and rocky and they make good disc grabbers when your searching for your disc. (the hiking poles saved my ass and I am in decent condition..can't stress the importance of utilizing these) The holes employ massive elevation drops of over 100 feet on 5 of the holes (3,7,8,9, and 14) and a slew of semi technical holes requiring you to throw across valleys, dips, slopes through tight windows of treelines where the hills provide danger rather than thrill. Some really good pro caliber multi-shot holes where placememnt of succeeding shots lead to par in particular on 12,13,17 and 18. The other 9 provide par if you hit the gaps properly or avoid error with baskets tucked up on hillsides or hiiden away in nooks of woods along the slopes. Notable moments for me were the anhyzer downhill of hole 8....100+ feet of downill bending hard right to the basket below...throw it tight to the ground and hope it doesn't fight to fade left. Hole 14 was a putter drop over 100 feet and provides the steepest drop. Just a fun and very memorable hole.....it's also the last beat up your legs downhill walk and you will be relieved it's over. Hole 12 is probably the toughest shot of the tee a tight gap through woods that if you hit the gap your disc will be thrust into the open with a hillclimb across a valley. Most will not make the gap, make the gap but then fade down the valley and be left with a massive uphill, and the truly special player will have the arm and the precision to hit the gap just right and then land in ideal position for the second shot. Special Hole here. This is a course that will test your knowledge as much as your skills as you must know how to play wind (upward gusts and intense headwinds/tailwinds prevailing throughout from peak to base, you must know how to throw elevation as your disc will perform full flight paths...most don't realize that with over 100 feet of drop on many holes your disc will have room and time to perform the latter stages of it's flight... Due to wind and elevation drops your discs will do things they don't do on other courses....you also will be standing off balance and be required to be agile and perform shots from difficult positions. The toughest part for me was focusing as I was often both mentally and physically struggling and this would challenge my focus. It's fun and interesting. It's a workout but the scenery and unique disc golf will inspire you. Water and bathrooms provided a few times throughout and is crucial.
Cons: Disc loss is a strong possibility if you insist on throwing drivers recklessly. (hint:rows of evergreens hide steep cliffs on the other side) Difficult terrain, often dangerous to traverse with steep hillsides, thick brush, rockslides, and the ever present fear of a mountain biker coming around the corner from nowhere. Many holes start under the ski lifts which keeps the lifts out of the shot but requires focus as there's the distraction of passing chairs (one guy even noonaned me as I drive on hole 3.....stupid ignorant mountain biker....I might have pushed him off the mountain as he zipped by...my partner calmed me down LOL) For those fans of a true disc golf experience this is not for you.....this is more of an adventure. Definetely not beginner friendly due to skills required, length required, knowledge required, and punishing design. Being forced to play during summer and only during the day makes this a particularly brutal experience as your exposed in the heat....too bad you can't play later in the day or earlier in the morning.
Other Thoughts: Many of the downhills are steep but gradual in the sense that you can throw the disc 5 feet off the ground WITH the grade and it will travel 400+ easily just a few feet off the ground. No need to throw hard to generate wind speed here...it comes with the mountain for free. This is not my type of disc golf I personally don't enjoy ski hill golf but this one is probably one of the better ski hill designs I have played. It's worth playing a few times a year but the cost $10, difficult hike, lack of availability (weekends only early and only daytime during summer) and chance for disc loss will ensure I won't play it too frequently.
13 of 13 people found this review helpful.
Further thoughts from a decent amateur player
Pros: Benches on many holes on the front nine. Concrete tees everywhere. Lots of big downhill shots. Very good signage. Well groomed and fair fairways. Love being able to take the chairlift up the mountain. Disc rentals available.
Cons: Poison ivy and poison sumac everywhere. If you leave the fairway, the deep, poisonous and thorny rough means your disc is likely gone. Rugged terrain. Benches disappear around hole 10.
Other Thoughts: Scoring well here shouldn't be a problem, especially from the amateur tees. The par 5s in particular are ridiculously easy to reach in 3. The tough part is if you hit the rough, the course suddenly becomes unfair. So, the course is either too easy or too hard. I do like the design and would like to come back, but my more casual friends felt beat up by the end of the round and will not be returning.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.
A "Big Boy" Course 
Pros: Skyline Park at Blue Mountain is a rugged course with beautiful panoramic views located at the base of the Poconos. Skyline Park plays down a ski slope and is not for the feint of heart, players not in good physical condition, players with nose angle issues, or anyone that doesn't want a challenge. The course itself requires both distance and technique, two concepts that are usually independent of each other at many other courses. Spoiler alert: the word "challenge" is going to appear frequently.
The ski lift ride to the top provides you with a nice, picturesque view of the surrounding hills and countryside just before a challenging descent down the course.
The layout of the course plays into the hillside and makes ample use of the changes in elevation. Most holes are longer than average for the area and require accurate throws or risk a punishing recovery IF you can even find your disc. Numerous holes require a drive downhill to/over a valley followed by an uphill approach shot, making the most of the natural landscape. The course features a pretty solid mix of left-to-right and right-to-left holes.
All the holes at Skyline Park feature either dual tees or dual baskets, making the course available for Am or Pro play. The concrete tees are in great shape and are a plus. Additionally, the DISCatcher baskets (spared the ravages of winter) are also in fantastic shape.
The fourth hole is one of the shorter holes on the course but is a stand out. The tee shot requires a throw over the top of a hill/mound through a tree-lined gap onto the fairway beyond. From here, the Am tee is located to the left and sits atop a rocky slope, creating difficult approaches and putts. The Pro basket is located to the right and slightly downhill. Both baskets are positioned in a way that would be challenging to all levels of play.
For the most part, the signage at Skyline Park is good. Numerous holes feature signs directing players to the tees and/or baskets. The laminated tee signs are quite detailed and show the layout of the fairway, both tees/baskets, distance, expected flight path, and par.
The ski lift ride to the top provides you with a nice, picturesque view of the surrounding hills and countryside just before a challenging descent down the course.
The layout of the course plays into the hillside and makes ample use of the changes in elevation. Most holes are longer than average for the area and require accurate throws or risk a punishing recovery IF you can even find your disc. Numerous holes require a drive downhill to/over a valley followed by an uphill approach shot, making the most of the natural landscape. The course features a pretty solid mix of left-to-right and right-to-left holes.
All the holes at Skyline Park feature either dual tees or dual baskets, making the course available for Am or Pro play. The concrete tees are in great shape and are a plus. Additionally, the DISCatcher baskets (spared the ravages of winter) are also in fantastic shape.
The fourth hole is one of the shorter holes on the course but is a stand out. The tee shot requires a throw over the top of a hill/mound through a tree-lined gap onto the fairway beyond. From here, the Am tee is located to the left and sits atop a rocky slope, creating difficult approaches and putts. The Pro basket is located to the right and slightly downhill. Both baskets are positioned in a way that would be challenging to all levels of play.
For the most part, the signage at Skyline Park is good. Numerous holes feature signs directing players to the tees and/or baskets. The laminated tee signs are quite detailed and show the layout of the fairway, both tees/baskets, distance, expected flight path, and par.
Cons: For courses like Skyline Park that inherit so many positives from their natural surroundings, these attributes are typically their cons as well. The dramatic changes in elevation force players to be accurate. While this in itself is not a con, errant throws are punished severely if the discs are even able to be found.
The steep hillsides are rocky and can be quite dangerous to traverse. Any kind of fatigue poses a safety risk to the player, and this course has plenty of opportunity for fatigue.
The course is shared by many mountain bike paths. This causes both a distraction and a safety risk for bikers that cross the fairway.
While the tee signs were fairly detailed, there were a few holes were navigating from the basket to the next tee was a little convoluted and confusing.
On several of the longer holes, the baskets were not visible from the tee and required a hike to be seen. There were quite a few times when a spotter was necessary to ensure that a tee shot or an approach throw could be located.
Being bordered heavily by woods, tall grass and beefy pricker bushes make finding discs a hairy (and sometimes painful) experience.
Hole 18, IMO, stands out as an odd layout. The tee shot requires a 250-300' throw through a 4' gap or (more likely) over 20-25' tall pines that border a chain link fence. From here, the fairway takes a solid left and a downhill approach over more rough and onto another fairway, downhill again to the base of a rocky mound and an uphill putt and it seems that too many features are trying to be merged into a single hole.
The steep hillsides are rocky and can be quite dangerous to traverse. Any kind of fatigue poses a safety risk to the player, and this course has plenty of opportunity for fatigue.
The course is shared by many mountain bike paths. This causes both a distraction and a safety risk for bikers that cross the fairway.
While the tee signs were fairly detailed, there were a few holes were navigating from the basket to the next tee was a little convoluted and confusing.
On several of the longer holes, the baskets were not visible from the tee and required a hike to be seen. There were quite a few times when a spotter was necessary to ensure that a tee shot or an approach throw could be located.
Being bordered heavily by woods, tall grass and beefy pricker bushes make finding discs a hairy (and sometimes painful) experience.
Hole 18, IMO, stands out as an odd layout. The tee shot requires a 250-300' throw through a 4' gap or (more likely) over 20-25' tall pines that border a chain link fence. From here, the fairway takes a solid left and a downhill approach over more rough and onto another fairway, downhill again to the base of a rocky mound and an uphill putt and it seems that too many features are trying to be merged into a single hole.
Other Thoughts: I would strongly recommend hiking boots or footwear with a lot of support as your feet will take a pounding and you'll be required to stand on many different types of terrain at many different angles. I would just as strongly recommend bringing ample water to stay hydrated. Having foot support and and staying hydrated will help keep you safe as you make your way down this course.
Everything about this course is challenging, from the downhill hikes, to the layout of the holes. In the same breath, it's challenging but fair. It's not the course's fault if you don't play well here.
This course is like nothing else in the area and is off to a good start. I'd recommend giving Skyline Park a try, but bring your A-game and put on your big boy hat...you'll need both.
Everything about this course is challenging, from the downhill hikes, to the layout of the holes. In the same breath, it's challenging but fair. It's not the course's fault if you don't play well here.
This course is like nothing else in the area and is off to a good start. I'd recommend giving Skyline Park a try, but bring your A-game and put on your big boy hat...you'll need both.
16 of 16 people found this review helpful.
Fun Course
Pros: Very scenic, a great variety of holes, lots of fun downhill drives, excellent tees and brand new baskets, all fairways freshly mowed, fun lift ride up to the top. Completely unique from any other course I've played, and it was a joy to play.
Cons: Lost discs are the major con here. Nobody in my group really knew how a disc would react after dropping off a cliff, so a lot of drives were ending in extremely rough terrain. Many of the holes are bordered by steep loose rocks, so it may be dangerous to even look for your disc in some spots. Three discs lost from our card of four, and I overheard other groups losing even more than that.
Other Thoughts: Bring sunscreen with you. You are very seldom in the shade, and it's a monster of a course that plays slow, around three+ hours.
Next time I go back, I'll bring with more DX/ProD discs that I wouldn't mind losing, especially for the big downhill drives.
Good hiking shoes are a must as well - no sandals!
Bottom line, it's a seriously fun course that I'll be looking for an excuse to play again in the near future. If you can lose a disc or two without it ruining your day, you'll have a lot of fun.
Next time I go back, I'll bring with more DX/ProD discs that I wouldn't mind losing, especially for the big downhill drives.
Good hiking shoes are a must as well - no sandals!
Bottom line, it's a seriously fun course that I'll be looking for an excuse to play again in the near future. If you can lose a disc or two without it ruining your day, you'll have a lot of fun.
6 of 7 people found this review helpful.
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