this course is world class. With the ICE STORM they had THIS WINTER (2009) they have come a long way from the damage. this course makes you think about every shot, great risk reward course.

Closed from Thanksgiving to Christmas while they sell Christmas trees.

This is one of the most complete courses I've seen.

1. Configurations. There are four configurations, newly revised in the past year. The red course no longer requires any shots over water, so you can finally bring a true beginner to the course. The newly installed gold course is similar to the old blue course but with some new kinks, and the new blue course is only slightly less challenging. There is really a course for everyone. Every hole has 2-3 tee pads and 2-3 baskets to accommodate.
2. Variety. It's rare to find a course with this sort of elevation, shots over water, open holes, and wooded holes...and Christmas trees!
3. Fairways. I've never thought of this as a pro, but the course creators have done a great job with fairways. A lot of the holes look fairly straightforward, and if you can throw 300 feet with accuracy, they are. Holes 3, 4, 6, and 7 are good examples. You really need to focus on the succession of your shots, and if you end up off the fairway, you probably won't be looking at par. The open holes, like 1 and 11, force you to hit the landing zones. If you end up in the Christmas trees, you'll need a creative escape shot. There are some serious distance holes, but you may be better off discing down to make sure you have a good second shot.
4. Signage. The signs clearly show birds-eye views of every tee and basket location and the paths to the basket. Not the best I've seen, but close.
5. Manicuring. There is some obvious love that went into this course, from the bridges over the swampy areas to the impressive"castle hole" on #10.
6. Risk/reward. Can I make it over the pond on #1 or do I bail out? Do I trust my forehand/anhyzer on #5, or should I just take the safe route through the woods for the bogey? Can I really hit the island green on #18, or do I need to lay up? Lots of this sort of thing. I don't think you can have a great course without it.

1. The ponds. The risk of losing a disk is very real, especially if you are really testing the risk/reward on holes 1, 5, or 8. I lost two, one on a poor shot in the wind, another on an unlucky shot that clipped a tree and splashed into the cold shallows. The ponds can get in your head, which I think adds to the game (you know you can throw 250 feet straight on dry land, but do you trust yourself over water?). The good news is they send divers down periodically to retrieve discs, and if you order something from Prime Discs, they'll send you back your lost discs. I've gotten back several.
2. It's in the middle of nowhere. This is also a pro, since the course is never crowded. I was there on a Sunday, and I only saw three other groups. It does take some effort to get to.

This is the most well thought-out course I have played. The four configurations play pretty seamlessly, and it's cool to see how the fairways intersect and give completely different looks to the same hole.

There is a new sap house just off of the 18th hole where you can buy discs or equipment and pay for your round (yeah, it's $5) and chat with Steve Dodge.

This course was devastated by the ice storm in late 2008. It's cleaned up now and is a testament to the volunteers that care about this course. But it was a mess for some of 2009, so bear that in mind when reading reviews from that period.

There is a real sense of serenity here when you have the place to yourself. The ponds are placid, and there is something pretty special as you stare out over a valley of Christmas trees on #11 and think, "Huh. Well this is different than my local course." Don't miss the chance to play here.

Update:
I played the course again on the busiest day I've seen on the course (maybe 5-6 groups out there). I will say that the various configurations can get confusing around holes 10-16. We played through one group that was on the reds (we were on the whites) and then had to play through them again around 16 and couldn't figure out when it was fine to tee off since the red 15 and 16 overlay the white 16. Not a big deal at all, but it could be rough if the course ever gets really busy.

That said, I have played dozens more courses since I first reviewed Maple Hill, and it is still the best I have played.

What I personally like and how this course stacks up:
1) Holes with good risk/reward -- A-
2) Holes that have rewarding birdie opportunities -- C+
3) More wooded than open - lots of variety of shots required caused by hole shape and topography -- A-
4) Natural beauty (Appalachian beauty preferred) and seclusion -- A+
5) Multi-shot holes with defined landing zones, good risk/reward and multiple options to play them -- B+

7/3/14 - updated rating. Might update review verbiage later.

I ranked this course subjectively based on my own personal enjoyment factor...more accurately my "personal addiction factor". Since I have played a decent number of courses (115 18-hole, 50 9-hole as of early 2009), my hope is that players/explorers who have similar tastes will find my ratings list helpful as they chose courses to play and explore.

Over time, I expect to fill some of my reviews in with more descriptive verbiage...if what I say adds anything to what has already been written. For now, my list is more important to me than the verbiage of my reviews.

I fully expect others with different tastes/philosophies to disagree with me. See my profile for my rating philosophy.

Very beautiful course. All different types of holes. Good for beginners and experts. You have to play smart like another person said in there in there comment. So it is a nice place to help you advice your game.

There are none!

You have to play it!!

So many good things to choose from.
Excellent scenery, excellent use of both elevation and water on the course. Nice mix of distance and technical shots. And a number of unique obstacles and variety offered by multiple tees and pins. Not so much a test of physical endurance (even though it is a pretty hefty walk) but definietly a test of mental endurance and of your course management skills. There are rewards to be had by going for it in a number of locations - but the punishment is equally available for errant shots.

Hard to find much in the way of cons for this course. Other than being 500+ miles away from my house. I guess the only peeve I have is that in the couple of locations where boardwalks have been built for tees - they are a little short (I'm thinking holes 12 and 13, the one on 18 is awesome)

This is a place that draws you back, time and again. Once you've played Maple Hill, it's hard to imagine how you get a better piece of property for a DGC.

Maple Hill has got everything you look for in a championship calibur course. Ponds, lakes, streams, elevation variation... and big 'ol trees along with rock wall ob's nicely define fairways. 3 different layouts also provide whatever level of challenge you're ready for. You really must play smart on the Blue's and to a certain extent, also on the Whites. You may get away with going for it a couple times, but unless you're cashing at the Vibram Open, the course finds a way to punish you, and punish you big. There are no gimmies, and no "deuce or die" type holes on the blues as well, unless you're amazing. So, if you disagree, congratulations for being awesome, I still need alot of practice. I may have not played 100's of courses, someday... but I have a hard time believing this course (and I've said this for years now) isn't in the top ten in the country. You come here, and you'll agree, it is a five star course all the way.

What I also like about it is that because it is so big, the course can be fairly busy, and you feel like you have the whole place to yourself.

Water hazards can be tricky for some. Dropzones provided.

This is one of those courses that makes you better, because you must throw that shot just right in order to nail the gap or fairway, or tricky putt, and so on. Get your Hill on.

Good variety of wooded and open holes as well as short technical shots and long bombs.. Well designed and very well maintained. A very challenging course for a neophyte such as myself!

Easy to lose discs on a few holes.

maple hill cannot be explained in words. it should be in the top 5 if not number 1. it can be a really tough course. also very rewarding when you have a good round. i've played many course's and its a better course than warwick.

you can lose a couple disc's to the pond's during a round, but they have an great lost and found and swim for disc's from the pond's .

come play it, you will want to move here.

Excellent piece of property, and very well used. Great variety, open holes, tight holes, big bombs, short technical shots, elevation, lots of water, lots of OB. The tee pads are second to none, allowing lots of run up room and nice and flat.
Three separate layouts to cater to all skill levels. Red course is the most beginner friendly, the white course is excellent and challenging, though not as vicious as the blues. The blue course will challenge even the best of the best to make smart shots on every hole, or pay with strokes.
The people are very friendly and seemingly always working on the course. You can even pick up some plastic while there.
The course always leaves you wanting to go back for more fun and punishment.

Closed for a few weeks in the late fall/early winter to sell Christmas trees. Only a con because the course is so good!

Just go play it and become a better golfer.

Love the various types of shots. This course makes you have to play smart golf. You have to plan out what you want to do for each hole. I love the varying terrain. Having 3 different courses is nice. What isn't to like about Maple Hill.

nothing that i can think of

There are too many pros to list, I will keep to the best pros.
Excellent Condition: Occasionally when playing a round I will see one of the many people who devout time to this course out there taking care of it mowing, trimming or raking. One of the best kept courses I have ever played.
Challenge: This course offers a broad challenge for practice beginners to touring pros. The level of difficulty can wear you down mentally if you let it.
Opinions: If you happen to find Steve Dodge out doing work on the course he will probably stop to talk with you and ask you about the course. He takes suggestions seriously and is always working to improve the course or make it that much more refined.
Paying to Play: While others consider this a con I find it a pro. On almost every course I have payed to play on, a lost disc will come back unless you lost it 'good'. The course is well kept in all ways. You pay for what you get.

None in my eyes...

except maybe that island green on 18 that says you can make it!

One of the best courses I have ever played.

The best of the best. Seriously. It is the best place to play disc golf in the world. Amazing water, amazing piece of property. Each hole is spectacular. It is just amazing in every possible way. Make the trip, play this course. OH MY GOD!!!!!! And I thought I had played some nice courses, but this is the ONE

NONE

I find it funny I have 49 dislikes for this review. Guess you didn't like playing there? I know there are other great courses out there. This is just one of my favorites. And in 2008 when I reviewed it after the first Vibram Open, it was in absolutely beautiful shape.

Just get there as soon as possible.

Great variety of holes. Best tee signs, tees, and directions to holes imaginable. Well worth paying for the professional layout. Shorter and longer holes all played very well. Demands all sorts of shots. A lot of effort made to clear out tough but fair landing areas. Favorite stretch was 13-15. Played both blues and whites from 14 and it's an entirely different hole, with a good setup, both options.

A couple holes had almost no option except to challenge the water. Only a con for weaker players like us. There were times when the rows of Xmas trees made it hard to track where shots landed. #8 could use a barrier to keep rolling downhill shots out of the water. OOB around hole at #18 seemed a bit contrived.

I'm hopeless at disc golf, but love it. Played the whites while my daughter played the reds, and this is by far the best course we've ever seen. Just visiting - don't know when we'd ever be back. If we ever are around we'd make a stop.

[Repeat earlier praise] and they do a stellar job of returning your lost-in-the-drink discs. Beautiful, challenging course.

Not for the hydrophobic.

All I can add to what others have said is more courses should have water and Maple Hill certainly has plenty of that! Also, I think more Xmas tree farms should look to add disc golf. It works extremely well here.

great course, compliments to everyone involved in the design/maintenance/appearance. country club feel with beautiful tee signs, they set the standard for all tee signs, this is what disc golf needs to get to in the future, very dedicated course staff, i'm sure it will only get better. also try the pyramids course only a 30 sec drive up the road and then browse in the fully stocked pro shop, soothing yourself with new plastic for the drive home.

threat of ticks evidenced by the tick mortuary in the sign in shack

excellent test of a disc golfer's abilities, the course asks for good shots not impossible ones, if you execute generally you are rewarded

This course is designed to challenge all of a disc golfers skills, and it delivers. Big open drives, OB lined fairways, over and around ponds, through fields and woods and great use of elevation.

It is on a Christmas tree farm and is closed from Thanksgiving to Christmas while they sell Christmas trees.