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Laurelain Park reviews
10
0
Very good park course with a dose of woods 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Feb 17, 2020
Played the course:once
Pros:
+ Great concrete tees, very good signage, basket selection indicators on the tee posts
+ Multiple baskets on some holes
+ Hole #4 is the first really good hole at Laurelain. There's OB water along much of the left, and the fairway narrows and climbs up a chute at the end. A good, difficult birdie and a rewarding par if you stay out of trouble
+ Hole #5 has woods left off the tee, and the short basket is tucked among trees on a rise on the right (ignore the fact that the basket has a #7 on it!). The long basket is straight out
+ Hole #6 is open, but challenges you in a couple of ways. It's a healthy 300+ par 3, and features an elevated basket
+ Holes #7 - #9 are largely open, making the most of the scattered trees and rolling hillside. The real fun of Laurelain starts after this stretch...
+ Hole #10 takes you into the woods with a big drop in elevation, with one basket location slightly left in a clearing, and the other across the creek to the right. Good hole because it challenges your ability to "steer" the disc compensating for the dramatic change in elevation
+ Holes #11 and #12 are short back-and-forth with an OB line dividing them. You're playing in the flats where the stream overflows, so there's lots of scrubby trees (and the stream) to avoid. Note the interesting piece of artwork hanging on one of the trees approaching #11(an old mirror frame?), and avoid the stream running behind the 12th green
+ Holes #13 and #14 continue in the same area of the course - down in the river flats. They're not long (though the far basket on #14 is a bit of a pump), but the trees make for narrow lines
+ Hole #15 is a complete change of pace: wide open hyzer, lengthened with an optional long tee and a possible long basket placement. Feels good to air it out after poking so carefully around in the woods for the previous five holes
+ The finishing holes are open and truth be told, a little dull. The course designer spices up the 300ish #16 with an island green (marked by a circle of bricks buried at ground level). Missing the island is treated as hazard and not OB - so it's loss of stroke played from where it lands
+ Playing the long basket on #18 adds challenge and length. The short position is guarded by a stand of small trees (it almost looks like you're throwing into somebody's garden), but the back basket is up across the road
+ Multiple baskets on some holes
+ Hole #4 is the first really good hole at Laurelain. There's OB water along much of the left, and the fairway narrows and climbs up a chute at the end. A good, difficult birdie and a rewarding par if you stay out of trouble
+ Hole #5 has woods left off the tee, and the short basket is tucked among trees on a rise on the right (ignore the fact that the basket has a #7 on it!). The long basket is straight out
+ Hole #6 is open, but challenges you in a couple of ways. It's a healthy 300+ par 3, and features an elevated basket
+ Holes #7 - #9 are largely open, making the most of the scattered trees and rolling hillside. The real fun of Laurelain starts after this stretch...
+ Hole #10 takes you into the woods with a big drop in elevation, with one basket location slightly left in a clearing, and the other across the creek to the right. Good hole because it challenges your ability to "steer" the disc compensating for the dramatic change in elevation
+ Holes #11 and #12 are short back-and-forth with an OB line dividing them. You're playing in the flats where the stream overflows, so there's lots of scrubby trees (and the stream) to avoid. Note the interesting piece of artwork hanging on one of the trees approaching #11(an old mirror frame?), and avoid the stream running behind the 12th green
+ Holes #13 and #14 continue in the same area of the course - down in the river flats. They're not long (though the far basket on #14 is a bit of a pump), but the trees make for narrow lines
+ Hole #15 is a complete change of pace: wide open hyzer, lengthened with an optional long tee and a possible long basket placement. Feels good to air it out after poking so carefully around in the woods for the previous five holes
+ The finishing holes are open and truth be told, a little dull. The course designer spices up the 300ish #16 with an island green (marked by a circle of bricks buried at ground level). Missing the island is treated as hazard and not OB - so it's loss of stroke played from where it lands
+ Playing the long basket on #18 adds challenge and length. The short position is guarded by a stand of small trees (it almost looks like you're throwing into somebody's garden), but the back basket is up across the road
Cons:
- There are a fair number of forgettable holes in an otherwise very good course (#2, #3, #7, #8)
- Navigation is a little tricky. There are a few spots where the next tee isn't obvious, and there are a few misnumbered baskets. Nothing awful though, and once you've played the course it becomes easy
- Hole #1 is a par 4 that uses a double mando to make you consider where you're going to place your drive. There are three different basket positions, but I don't know that they really change the hole all that much - because the hole is all about making the mando
+ Hole #17 is close to 400' par 3, but it's really open. The only danger is the stream if you go too far left, or long. The hole doesn't really thrill though, because you have so much room to the right to work with
- Navigation is a little tricky. There are a few spots where the next tee isn't obvious, and there are a few misnumbered baskets. Nothing awful though, and once you've played the course it becomes easy
- Hole #1 is a par 4 that uses a double mando to make you consider where you're going to place your drive. There are three different basket positions, but I don't know that they really change the hole all that much - because the hole is all about making the mando
+ Hole #17 is close to 400' par 3, but it's really open. The only danger is the stream if you go too far left, or long. The hole doesn't really thrill though, because you have so much room to the right to work with
Other Thoughts:
~ I understand the 18 hole layout is relatively new - the course started out as a 9 and has gone through a redesign. The designer(s) and the Berks Disc Golf Club deserve a lot of credit - I feel like they're halfway to an excellent course. They've brought water into play on a third of the holes. They've designed improvements into otherwise dull holes by adding things like multiple basket positions, raised baskets, an extra long tee and an island green. When I finished my round, I wanted to play the course again.
5
0
Stevewolfinger
Experience:
9 years
1 played
1 reviews
2020 Update 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Feb 17, 2020
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
This course is nearing completion. All 18 holes have cement tees and quality signs. Multiple baskets are located on numbers: 1,2,4,5,9,10,11,and 15. Number 9 has three baskets ... the longest being for a 460 foot par 4. These multiple baskets were purchased to keep beginners, intermediated and Advanced challenged and the Berks Disc Club is proud to help promote the sport to all levels of golfers. The club usually has league play Sunday mornings at 10 am. See us on Facebook. Laurelain's course offers wooded holes, water hazards, raised baskets and mando routes. 16 is short but the hazard is an " island " circle and a stroke penalty to those who don't hit it. Hole 18 long basket is a par four that is located over the parking lot. Use of 18 is only for tournament or league play.
Cons:
Holes 11 and 12 have water drainage issues that should be corrected this Spring. The course is located in a Park and please respect walkers .... They have the right of way.
Other Thoughts:
Berks Disc Golf Club maintains this course. There are trash cans on number 10, on the walkway going toward 18 tee and in the parking lot. Feel free to help us keep our course clean and leave nothing but footprints. Please place found discs in the box located under the bulletin board at the parking lot. Thanks.
4
2
Pappy64
Experience:
17 played
2 reviews
The Wait Is Over 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Dec 3, 2018
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
Great changes to this course appear almost complete. 18 holes with some fun challenges. Many of the hole are right in front of you but provide low ceilings, double Mando's, and elevated baskets among other hurdles making it an enjoyable round.
Cons:
Only downfall is a long walk from 17 to 18 to finish up the round.
Other Thoughts:
With a few final touches still happening around the course this is becoming a favorite of mine.
8
0
Premium Community Course 2+ years
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Dec 4, 2017
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
Over a short amount of time, I've seen this grow from a good niner to a premium community course. The layout has been modified several times and holes have morphed in improvement. There's an involved player community behind it and that's what it takes to elevate even well-planned courses from good to something special. Otherwise they tend to just sit there and accumulate problems or never get needed adjustments. Nothing's perfect right out the gate.
Laurelain has no real special topography or scenery, is mostly flat and open with several forest or stream holes, but what it does have, it exploits to fullest extent possible.
Without a doubt, #10 is its signature hole. Teeing off from a cliff down into a circular valley bisected by a stream. There's a choice of two baskets left and right, the one across the water and vegetation nastiness, during the summer. The four forest holes that follow are my favorite section too.
It's good for beginners and intermediates alike, has mostly concrete pads, is generally easy to navigate.
This is a good template for what a community course should be.
Laurelain has no real special topography or scenery, is mostly flat and open with several forest or stream holes, but what it does have, it exploits to fullest extent possible.
Without a doubt, #10 is its signature hole. Teeing off from a cliff down into a circular valley bisected by a stream. There's a choice of two baskets left and right, the one across the water and vegetation nastiness, during the summer. The four forest holes that follow are my favorite section too.
It's good for beginners and intermediates alike, has mostly concrete pads, is generally easy to navigate.
This is a good template for what a community course should be.
Cons:
About the biggest con for Laurelain is me having to update my review to reflect changes every time I visit, heh. I wish I got to go here more. Beyond that, it's picking nits.
The signs, still seeming temporary, often show two baskets, when there is only one. Perhaps they're waiting to finalize. Perhaps it's a tournament/league thing. If it's the latter with several possible pin positions but only one basket at a time, I suggest they look at how Tyler State Park does it. Each possible pin has a letter number (A1 for instance) and a dial on the post indicating which is current at the moment.
A lot of the fairways cross the winding park path for the first nine. Especially the tee off at #5, with bushes blocking the view on the right and the path 50 feet ahead seems like it could be dangerous.
Last summer, the field holes for #15-17 were somewhat unmowed. Will that change?
#18 seems subbar and boring, a hole thrown in to make the course technically loop back to the parking lot and cut down the walk from #17. I wish they did something by the stream instead.
Having an involved DG community making it so good also means it will be busy and you will encounter other players, especially on weekends. Other Park Crowd itself wasn't bad though.
The signs, still seeming temporary, often show two baskets, when there is only one. Perhaps they're waiting to finalize. Perhaps it's a tournament/league thing. If it's the latter with several possible pin positions but only one basket at a time, I suggest they look at how Tyler State Park does it. Each possible pin has a letter number (A1 for instance) and a dial on the post indicating which is current at the moment.
A lot of the fairways cross the winding park path for the first nine. Especially the tee off at #5, with bushes blocking the view on the right and the path 50 feet ahead seems like it could be dangerous.
Last summer, the field holes for #15-17 were somewhat unmowed. Will that change?
#18 seems subbar and boring, a hole thrown in to make the course technically loop back to the parking lot and cut down the walk from #17. I wish they did something by the stream instead.
Having an involved DG community making it so good also means it will be busy and you will encounter other players, especially on weekends. Other Park Crowd itself wasn't bad though.
Other Thoughts:
Starting Point: First tee is uphill on the right side of the middle point of the parking lot as you drive in, about 40.386289, -75.945855 on Google Maps.
Amenities: I see a Portapotty at the end of the parking lot most of the year, sometimes nothing.
Layout: The course loops back around. It plays towards the trees (going over the path) and then back again. It goes downhill for #3 and reverses back into the forest near the stream. #5-9 play in the fields south west of the parking lot before going into the forest again for #10 and crosses the stream. #11-14 are forest. From there it follows the stream into the empty fields east of the parking lot going north until #17. For #18, you have to cross the concrete bridge on Hain Avenue back to the main park, and immediately go left onto the path. Take the first right and the last tee is by the trees on the right near the curve. Last basket near the park sign.
Amenities: I see a Portapotty at the end of the parking lot most of the year, sometimes nothing.
Layout: The course loops back around. It plays towards the trees (going over the path) and then back again. It goes downhill for #3 and reverses back into the forest near the stream. #5-9 play in the fields south west of the parking lot before going into the forest again for #10 and crosses the stream. #11-14 are forest. From there it follows the stream into the empty fields east of the parking lot going north until #17. For #18, you have to cross the concrete bridge on Hain Avenue back to the main park, and immediately go left onto the path. Take the first right and the last tee is by the trees on the right near the curve. Last basket near the park sign.
0
1
SkyDaddy161
Experience:
1 played
1 reviews
New Course 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jul 15, 2015
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
Easy navigation, next tee signs under the baskets and on the tee signs.
Cons:
Completely re-trace steps when moving from basket-4 to tee-5.
Other Thoughts:
This is a really cool park to go to for practice. It is a small course and has alternate holes. I think it would be really cool to have a tournament come in and play the white baskets for the first round. And then play the blue baskets for the second round.
Also, the course was fully finished on July 13th.
Other than that, this is an excellent course to play on.
Also, the course was fully finished on July 13th.
Other than that, this is an excellent course to play on.
