Leicester, MA

Maple Hill DGC

4.715(based on 110 reviews)
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19 5
reposado
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.3 years 278 played 276 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Choose Your Own Adventure 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 25, 2014 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Gold 3. What a magnificent beast. I don't even have to throw it. I just want to watch that hole parade around. A tee overlooking the same area that 1 traversed but it throws into the woods, down and then up a hill that climbs to the left and away from you to a high pin that you can see from the tee.
Maple Hill is a true destination course. I'm not breaking any news by telling you that there are four layouts here but I have two things to mention about the layouts. First, it's impossible to tell from the course maps just how different these layouts are from each other. Vastly different. Tees, baskets and fairways are everywhere. What makes it all work is the professionalism of the complex. Tees and baskets are marked with large colored flags indicating which layout or layouts use that particular feature. Playing whites, look for the basket with a white flag. Finish the hole, follow the white arrows until you see a tee with a big white flag over it. Additionally, the different layouts do an amazing job of providing opportunities for players of all different skills. Personally, I found the whites fun and the blues challenging. The reds looked very boring at times and the golds were a bit too daunting for me but both clearly appeal to a different player. Very impressive since the difference between layouts is often not just a harder tee. It's a completely different hole that happens to use the same plot of land.
A ton of variety. I'm not going to detail all the incredible holes here. They all bring it. Wooded holes, open holes. All the water you can handle and tough carries on the longer layouts. Elevation changes on most of them. It all mixes together in an incredible package. The factor that lessens some destination courses in my mind is that they aren't everyday-playable. That isn't an issue here, largely because of the different layouts. If I lived here, I would save the golds for special occasions. The blues and whites, I could play those all the time. Do you want an epic experience or a solid round that gets you home in time for dinner? You can get either here.
The picture is made clear as soon as you survey the terrain that the first hole covers. The white tee is midway up a hill. You will need to throw over the hillside and then a picturesque pond with the basket perched on the edge of the far shore. Awesome throw. One of my favorite on the white course. The gold tees off from the top of the hill, with well over 300 feet to cross the water in one. From there it's almost as long again to the basket which hides behind a rock wall. Choose your own adventure.

Cons:

I have to say, I don't love the carry-a-bunch-of-low-scrub holes. Challenge-wise, they are no different than water-carries. Experience-wise, they bore me quickly. One is a change-up. More than two? I want real obstacles. Not a test of how far I can throw. And it's not really like water. If you land in water, you lose the disc, go to a drop zone and have to take a stroke. That's what makes a successful throw so rewarding. If you land somewhere in the scrub, you find your disk and likely have a simple approach shot, as long as you have an idea where the pin is. Much less risk. Much less reward. Over the Christmas trees is awesome on the first hole but not interesting after that. And 16, man, that belongs on a much worse course than this.

Other Thoughts:

I think each of the layouts here on their own would merit a 4.0. (Except red) Probably. Being generous to white. All four together, with potential for repeated play, and the almost unparalleled capability to accommodate different skill levels, the whole thing is a 4.5 for me. If Maple Hill isn't my all-time favorite destination, it is certainly close.
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12 3
Parsaver
Experience: 5 played 5 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Disc Golf Mecca 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 12, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-Gorgeous property with rolling hills, woods, lakes and open fields filled with christmas trees.
-4 course layouts. Beginners will enjoy the red course, while the gold course can challenge touring pros. The whites and blues fill in everything in between.
-Baskets, tees and signs are impeccable, and the maintenance is the best I've seen.
-Great variety and design. Uphill and downhill shots, left and right doglegs, wooded hallways and open bombers this course has them all, plus a few thrillers over water to test your nerves. Plenty of risk/reward decisions as well.
-Wooded holes have tight gaps but they are fair, no "throw and pray" holes.
-Proshop, practice baskets, disc lost and found, scorecards, and water coolers out on the course are nice amenities.
-Only $10 to play all day. I know some people don't like pay-to-play but for this course 10 bucks is a bargain.

Cons:

-No real cons
-Heard it can get crowded on weekends.
-Groups playing different layouts could have the problem of throwing into one another on the wooded holes.

Other Thoughts:

This is disc golf at its finest. You will not forget your day at Maple HIll.

Also, Bushel and Peck, the deli in town a mile or two away, is a good place to grab grub between rounds.
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17 2
chikago12
Experience: 11.3 years 49 played 7 reviews
5.00 star(s)

A National Treasure 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 12, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- Located on a beautiful piece of property. Lakes, trails, and Christmas trees make up the landscape, and it's just an amazing place to experience visually.
-Pro shop right on the property, so if you lose a disc in one of the many water shots, you can easily get a replacement. Marshall Street is right next door too if they don't have exactly what you're looking for.
- 4 distinct layouts for every type of player. Very cool to visit this place different times, play different courses, and see yourself improve. Even beginners have the Reds available to them.
- A teaching course. You need to be able to hit your lines and throw a variety of shots, and it forces you to learn how to shoot those shots or it'll be difficult to make par.
- Every hole requires a different unique shot. Each hole is memorable too - you'll be talking about the shot you had weeks later.
- Excellent use of elevation change.
- Mix of open and tight wooded holes. Even on the open holes if you miss your spots you can find yourself in the Christmas trees, but everything is very fair. You never hit a tree you didn't see.
- Lines on the wooded courses are very well established, so you always know where to shoot. There are no unlucky bounces here. If you hit a tree, it was user error.
- Incredible lost and found. They have a scuba diver that finds discs and returns them to the pro shop, where for a very reasonable dollar fee you can get your disc back.
- Incredibly maintained. Everything is manicured to perfection, and a hardworking staff works to keep it that way.
- Really cool scorecards which you can keep as souvenirs of your trip.
- #1, over a lake, is probably the best opening hole in disc golf. You need to throw about 330 to carry the lake, but some elevation helps.
- #11 on the whites and the blues is an awesome hole. Big bomb over the Christmas trees.
- #13 is extremely challenging, but very rewarding downhill shot to a pin tucked just behind a dried out river.
- #18 is an epic finish to an island green, and is always a very fitting way to finish a round.
- Mach X baskets are brand new and in great shape. Flags on the baskets, as well as their bright orange color, make them easy to spot, even in the woods.
- Color flags direct you to where you need to go next and to where you're throwing, so there's never any doubt of what you're aiming for.
- The $10 day is an absolute bargain for how much work these guys put into this course. The $10 fee keeps out people who you wouldn't otherwise want on your course.

Cons:

- Never was a problem for me, but I could see it getting crowded on weekends and having to wait in between holes.

Other Thoughts:

- Bushel and Peck, an awesome sandwich place, is right down the street. Great for taking a break in between rounds, because lets be honest, you're playing like 4 or 5 rounds when you're here.
- If you live within a half hour of Maple Hill, you should definitely get a membership, which pays for itself after 15 trips, in addition to other member benefits.
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14 1
swatso
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 16.3 years 776 played 417 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Discovered My (Non-Blueberry) Thrill 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 14, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Has, in abundance, the two core features I like in a course - options, and variety. With multiple tees and multiple baskets per hole, everyone from beginners to professionals can find a challenge appropriate for their level of play. A great mix of open space, scattered trees, woods, water, and various types of elevation changes are blended together to create a wide variety of hole-types, requiring a well-stocked arsenal of throws to overcome.

Maps, scorecards, tee areas, signage - all top-notch.

The on-site store - hard to imagine any better.

Cons:

The options come at a potential negative cost - some tees are blind from other tees playing the same hole, a few fairways cross, a couple baskets are located near next tees - so there's an increases chance of players, especially when following/followed by players playing a different configuration, accidently throwing on somebody/being thrown on. The day I played, I was both thrown upon, and threw upon! Karma, I guess. :)

Basket-18's location is too close to the main path from the parking lot to the store's entrance. Meandering pets, straying children, roaming non-players and landloping players all conspired to delay my approach shot for an inordinate amount of time!

Other Thoughts:

As stated in the "Pros" section, this course has options (I played two rounds - red/white), and variety. From the Reds, this course averages ~255', and only quite errant throws have the possibility of finding water. From the Whites, this course averages ~335', and the two water carries were just right for my level, as I barely made them!

The site has a great blend of openness (~1/3rd of the holes), and wooded challengers (~2/3rds). The open-oriented holes are not bland, as they usually include some combination of elevation change (up or down), parallel treelines, slopes, water, scattered trees, or protected baskets. The wooded holes avoid pinball, but require you to throw a variety (early/middle/late, sharp/middling/subtle, left/right) of turning-shots, while also dealing with elevation changes.

Speaking of elevation, you will face not only steep/gradual gains or losses, but also valley-crossing and up-and-over - the entire spectrum.

Find an excuse - any excuse - to be in the vicinity of this course, and come play the course - multiple times. You will find a wide-variety of challenges to exercise your entire game.
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15 0
jtreadwell
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.3 years 92 played 28 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Versatility and beauty 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Nov 1, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- Huge variety! Distance bombs, tight, technical woods shots, water carries, and everything else in between. You won't be bored or miss out on throwing your favorite shots.
- 4 distinct layouts to challenge every skill level. Even those who dislike throwing over water have at least one layout to cater to their tastes.
- Meticulously maintained. The course is kept in wonderful condition, and there are obvious efforts put in to keeping it not only functional, but also aesthetically appealing.
- Signage is fantastic and highly descriptive. In addition, there are few if any areas where navigation is an issue.
- Amenities are plentiful, with a full pro shop on site (to replace all that waterlogged plastic) and Marshall St. Disc Golf Shop (and another decent course) less than a mile down the road.

Cons:

-While there's a lost and found log kept, don't expect much in the way of returned plastic. Between my buddy and I we've lost 8 discs there, and the only one I ever got a call back on was found in Connecticut...
- Personally I found hole 18 to be a bit of a letdown and a gimmicky way to end the course. To each their own however.

Other Thoughts:

The pinnacle of Disc Golf in New England. I held off on reviewing Maple Hill until I had a chance to play all 4 layouts, and I'm glad I did. Don't think that just because you're an open level player that you won't enjoy the easier layouts. Every setup has a unique perspective and challenge. From the Gold layout designed to humble all but the best, to the red layout set up to avoid all the water hazards, each has something to offer. The $20 fee (high for disc golf) feels like a steal when you consider the amount of effort and thought that has gone into designing and maintaining the course. While personal preferences may keep some from loving EVERY hole, the course is so varied that there's no way to not enjoy it as a whole, even for the pickiest discers around. There are likely better courses out there, but with 31 courses in 6 states under my belt I have yet to find one myself, and until that day comes, this will hold my sole 5 disc review. UPDATE - Up to 92 courses in 15 states and it's still a 5! Truly a course on which to model others after and one that has fully earned its current top ten placement on DGCR.
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2 17
Riords
Experience: 24 played 5 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Best Course in the Area 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Sep 19, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Straight up beautiful views. Best of the best. Four course lay out for all different levels. Water, distance, shorties, midrange shots. Pro shop with drinks, snacks, and all disc stuff. Super friendly staff, and over feel there. Plenty of baskets for practice putting.

Cons:

none really.

Other Thoughts:

plenty of awesome courses in central massachusetts...but this is the must play in the area.
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19 1
Countchunkula
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 18.3 years 224 played 75 reviews
5.00 star(s)

#1 in My Book 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 14, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Maple Hill has it all; for all skill levels. Using 2 tees and 2 baskets per hole, along with excellent signage; Maple Hill has 4 different, skill level appropriate, layouts (red, white, blue, and gold) overlaid upon one another. Even though there are 4 layouts, it is always clear where to go, and which basket to play to, due to the color-coded flags on both the tee signs and the baskets. I played the white layout, but scouted many of the other tees, as we somehow were one of only a handful of groups on the course on a beautiful day in May. This course had everything that I look for: Variety in terrain and shot type; elevation change; adequately sized, level tees with good footing; excellent signage; multi-throw holes; water carries; "Appalachian beauty;" challenging, technical greens; and bonus points (as if they were needed) for the proshop onsite. This is a great, wooded course that forces you to hit lines, and punishes you when you miss them. The shots are fair, but challenging for the intended skill level. The water carries are age appropriate (red has none, white is playable for someone who drives 260, and so on.)

Cons:

There really isn't anything that this course is lacking. While I prefer concrete tees to the rubber mats used at Maple Hill; I did not have any issues with the tees when I played.

Other Thoughts:

This is my #1 course out of 101 played and counting. I will be revaluating my previous course rankings to adjust for what I feel is the closest to disc golf perfection that I have seen. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Maple Hill and need to invent an excuse to return.

Pay to Play -$10/person/day - I'm don't really consider this a pro or a con. I unfortunately only had time for one round, but was fully satisfied with the money spent.

I can still remember almost all of my drives, more than three months later. Don't miss this course.
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1 11
PulsarExistence
Experience: 84 played 2 reviews
5.00 star(s)

White course with mild wind. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 5, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course has multiple tee and basket positions with
Easy to identify flags. Very challenging but has excellent variety in terrain.

Cons:

Costs 10 dollars to play all day but no format to pay per round. So water hazards are difficult to avoid, but the red tees look like they avoided most of it.

Other Thoughts:

Best course ive played. Good pro shop.
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1 17
sega
Experience: 5 played 5 reviews
4.50 star(s)

First time playing disc golf! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 6, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Staff was great - patient and helpful! Course was well marked and had challenges at every level.

Cons:

Only course I have seen listed that has a fee ($10). It's not a lot, so really hard to call it a 'Con' but maybe only charge the fee during peak hours?

Other Thoughts:

Only drawback possibly is the parking lot was small, dusty and full of holes.
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11 2
TBabb
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 19.3 years 65 played 56 reviews
4.50 star(s)

A Disc Golf Destination! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 7, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Maple Hill is on a beautiful property used as a farm for Christmas trees. The course features four layouts that range from a short par 3 course geared toward beginners and the championship level course played by the top pros at the Vibram Open, which Maple Hill hosts. The Chainstar baskets are in great shape and they have colored flags that correspond to the layout to which they belong. The tee signs are are big, easy to spot and also adorned with these colored flags. The grounds are meticulously maintained: the course is clean, well landscaped and beautiful. Navigating the course is also stress-free because maps are available and stones with colored arrows navigate players to the next tee. There are benches or tree stumps at almost every tee and trash bins throughout the course as well. The shots are well varied: uphill, downhill, left, right, straight, wooded, open and just about any other variation you could imagine. Several water holes add to challenge, but the Red course is beginner friendly and has no holes that throw directly over water, though it is in play. The challenging courses are HARD and they will test the limits of your game. There is a lot of variety in distance here too. The course hosts several events, including the Vibram Open and other smaller tournaments. It's $10 to play all day or $150 for an annual membership and it's worth the money. If I lived a lot closer, I'd buy a membership and if I was made of money I'd buy a membership anyway just to support the place even though I wouldn't get my money's worth. Since you'll want to stay all day, there are port-a-potties at the head of the course. I also found the course easy to find. A great pro shop is on site and they sell a wide variety of discs (though they have less selection of European brands like Latitude, Westside, etc.), snacks, drinks, disc golf accessories, and Maple Hill swag. The groundskeepers also run a lost & found system on the course website so if you lose a disc on the course it's likely that it will be found and listed online with the last four digits of your phone number on your disc, so mark 'em! There's also a lunch room above the pro shop where you can hang out, eat lunch, and take in the view from the deck. This place is awesome!

Cons:

No major cons, but a few small quibbles and things to be aware of. They are not open during Christmas Tree season. Parking could be an issue on a crowded day as it is not abundant. Make sure you bring plenty of water, as it appeared to me that there is not running water or indoor restrooms on the grounds (if I'm wrong, send me a message and correct me). I wasn't crazy about some of the teepads here. Most were fine, but some were a little small for my tastes. Multiple layouts overlap and several holes share the same tees/baskets. Not a problem, but it should be made clear that this is one course with four layouts rather than four separate courses. The terrain can also be pretty rough here, so wear good shoes and watch your step. Also, be mindful that you are in tick country.

Other Thoughts:

You gotta go. This course should be on every disc golfer's bucket list. I'm not against pay-to-play courses if they're worth it, and this one is worth every penny. The only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars was the lack of running water and indoor restrooms. Still an amazing course. It's open from dawn till dusk and you'll want to play all day. Pack enough food, plenty of water and all the other essentials because you won't want to go home.
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8 2
AaronMonier18
Experience: 13 played 7 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Everything You Could Ask For 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 28, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This really is the Pebble Beach of disc golf courses. There is something for everyone and it's without a doubt a destination course. A day at Maple Hill can really be anything you want it to be. If you want to crush drives all day it can accommodate you. If your game is technical it's got you covered. Nothing replicates high stakes disc golf like throwing a beloved disc over a pond. However, if you miss there is a good chance you'll get it back. Dave, Steve, and co. are CONSTANTLY out working on the course. I personally really enjoy the White course. It's most similar to what I understand was the old "Elements" course. It shaves off some distance and time to the round but it's less frustrating for Ams and I prefer the layout on most holes. It's easier to play 3-4 rounds on Whites than the bigger courses. I have also heard from other disc golfers it's "the worst course at Maple Hill". To each his own. I've played Blues and it was apparent I need to work on distance. The teepads/signs/trashcans/amenities are well documented to be pristine. The property is beautiful and it makes the most of the water, tree farm, woods. It blows my mind everytime that this place is literally 10 minutes outside of Worcester. I have nothing against the Pyramids but I often wonder why anybody would play there when this facility is literally a minutes drive down the road.

Cons:

I hate snakes.

Other Thoughts:

I honestly never really enjoyed/understood why this place was so great until I played the White tees. It's important to put aside any ego and play a course that's appropriate for your level. Being +8 is no fun. Throwing a perfect drive only to have to execute another perfect drive was minimal fun for me. I have been playing disc golf for 2+ years on the tight wooded courses of New Hampshire. Maple Hill is a great opportunity to grow as a player/challenge yourself/have fun.
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14 9
Jmano33
Experience: 12.5 years 17 played 5 reviews
2.00 star(s)

An Update to a previous review 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 3, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Multiple courses to play making this an all day adventure

Cons:

1) The MASSIVE price increase... Their site won't say it but you now have to pay a $20 green fee - which means you better be in for multiple rounds to get your money's worth. The kid working said "Yeah it stinks its more, but look its not busy!" (I Wonder Why!!)

2) Whoever was working today (6/3/2017) needs to be talked to... Talk about just abysmal customer service... Asked if they carried a disc that I lost and he told me to go to Pyramids for it... Then when my buddy asked for a loaner disc (they advertise it on their site!) the kid gave him crap saying "this disc is like new but I guess I can".... Don't say you give loaners and then have your employee's give sass about it...

3) We were told the online PDF isn't viewable because their computer is old? They also got rid of their phone so if you lose a disc you better be ready to drive down... Hope you don't live too far away

Other Thoughts:

This course is really starting to look worse.. Don't get me wrong, its still a day trip with several layouts...But I mean between the massive raise in price and basically being told my lost disc was going to be sold off as used - I won't be coming back for some time...
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9 0
lcra0825
Silver level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 18.2 years 156 played 41 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Accessible to Everyone 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 9, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

- Tee pads and descriptive signs at every hole
- Scorecards with map for each of the tees are available at sign in
- Lots of color coded arrows to direct you to the right tee spots for each hole making navigation pretty easy without a map
- Lots of risk vs reward opportunities dealing with water for those who can make the shots. However with drop zones provided no one has to risk their disc if they don't want to.
- Great use of elevation both up and down hill.
- Good mix of wide open fairways where you can unleash your discs and fairways that require complete control of your throw
- This course requires every kind of throw in your arsenal, including hyzer shots, anyhyzer shots, complately straight shots through woods and uphill and downhill
- Good variety of nature consisting of several ponds,some big, some small; woods and a Christmas tree farm to play through
- Four tees and separate baskets for each hole that don't just add distance but provide almost four completely different ways to play the course. Their are different color flags to designate which tee you to throw from and which basket to throw to depending on which tee you are playing from
- Camping on site which I believe is free with $10 payment for all day use of the course
- Decent pro shop on sight to replace the discs you throw in the water or to add something new to your bag
- The course owners do their best to collect all lost discs and return them to their owners

Cons:

- Some of the tee signs have pictures of the wrong hole on them
- The multiple tees can result in two people playing on the same hole and not knowing it, or someone walking down the fairway and another group is throwing on the same fairway from a different location.
- I know every hole can't be perfect but there were one or two fairways that were not anything special

Other Thoughts:

The best part of this course is that the course could be challenging for pro disc golfers and at the same time be accessible to beginners depending on the tee you play. However all the tees have different looks at the basket so even the red tees (the shorter tees) are enjoyable to advanced players. The red tees provide a less stressful round by not involving the water, yet you still get to play through the same awesome piece of property. Control is still necessary around the water because an errant shot can still end up in the water. The $10 dollar course fee seems steep (at least for Rochestarians where all the courses in the area are free) but it is for all day and there are four different ways to play the course. If you live in the area and plan to play the course alot you can become a member for $150 a year. The money does't seem to deter Massachusettsians because it was packed the Sunday we played.
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4 1
the_ox
Experience: 24.2 years 75 played 3 reviews
5.00 star(s)

An absolute must play 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 18, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-4 different layouts in 1 location
-Pro shop onsite with a great selection of discs
-Incredible variety of shots and different looks from the tee pads
-Excellent use of land with no connector holes. Every hole has a purpose
-Signage is very good, Next tees are marked well
-Great scenery and views abound

Cons:

-Hole 8 Blue teepad should be lengthened
-Hole 8 Red teepad should be leveled

Thats it!

Other Thoughts:

Played as part of a 4 day disc golf road trip to Massachusetts. We liked it so much we canceled our plans to play other courses so we could play the Golds the next day.

After playing 3 of the 4 layouts (Red, Blue, Gold) I have to add Maple Hill to my top 3 courses, to be joined with Hawk Hollow and Renny Gold.

Believe the hype when people talk about this course and make sure to plan a trip to visit if you're serious about the sport.

Finally, Dave is awesome and makes the entire experience even better!

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1 8
Xnrbl
Experience: 12.2 years 1 played 1 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Great course at any ability 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 21, 2012 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Great upkeep, friendly and helpful staff (and patrons), great signage, superb course layout, high level of visual interest to courses, reasonable pro-shop prices, excellent disc-return system and ethic among users.

Cons:

Hole 18 impact hazard for milling throngs near practice tees and pro shop.

Other Thoughts:

Spend a whole day there, it's worth it.
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6 1
JC AceHole
Experience: 23.5 years 545 played 6 reviews
5.00 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 16, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Excellent course. 4 different layouts with several tees and baskets on numberous holes. The plus with this is a high level top pro and a true novice could both find a layout here that they could play and enjoy. This makes it a fun place for everyone and gives the course much variety as alot of these looks are completly different.

Water water water. When playing the upper level tee/pins, you better have a cannon. There are some holes where you have to throw a long ways to clear the ponds. The views from these water holes are amazing. There is a good mix of elevation, wooded and open holes with holes that west test every shot in your bag. Be prepared.

Club house on site with discs and such but I'd recommend going across the road to Marshall street as that place is outstanding. Very well kept course and home to the Vibram open.

Cons:

Closed during the Christmas season to sell trees. Can't really fault them for closing then to make more money but I prefer courses that are open all year.

Other Thoughts:

This course is worthy of being #1 on DGCR. It's in my personal top 3 and on some days if you ask me I would say its my favorite. It just has such variety and shots that make you say wow when you get up to the tee. I think most course designers would hope for this reaction and maple hill accomplishes this over and over again.
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26 0
DSCJNKY
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 23.2 years 709 played 132 reviews
5.00 star(s)

As Good as it Looks on Video 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 10, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

- All that I Hoped it Would Be. I have seen enough video of the Vibram Open to have been set up for a huge disappointment... however, Maple Hill was all that I hoped it would be. All the memorable holes from the videos (1, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18) lived up to expectation.
- 4 Options. With each hole having two tee-pads (sometimes more) and two pins, Maple Hill had 4 options for play: red, white, blue and gold. Every tee-pad and pin had two color-coded flags designating the tee/pin for that hole. The system of flags - in combination with the tee-signs - worked really well, and I never had any trouble identifying what was what.
- Championship Level. Maple Hill has it all when it comes to "what a championship level course is supposed to be": long, extremely demanding golf with opportunities for punishment, multiple water holes, several other OB features, numerous Par 4's, and fantastic amenities.
- Pro-Shop. There was a huge pro-shop stocked with nearly everything you could probably ever want. They had a great selection of plastic from all the brands (Innova, Discraft, Lat64, MVP, Gateway, Legacy, DiscMania, etc...), and had bags, straps, towels and anything else DG related. They also had snacks and drinks for sale.
- Pyramids is Down the Street. It's nice to be able to bag two courses in a new state and not have to drive very far to do it. Pyramids DGC is just down the street (apparently the cousin to the owner of Maple Hill). It's a fun course and worth bagging since you're going to be so close to it anyway.

Cons:

- Par 61. My only complaint about Maple Hill was the seemingly low Par as compared to other "championship level" courses I've played and love: Harmon Hills, Idlewild, Iron Hill, Nevin, Renny Gold, Fly Boy and all 3 at the IDGC. I would have loved to have seen three or four more Par 4's, and a few Par 5's out there.

Other Thoughts:

- I was the First Person to Play the New Hole 16. As I was playing the course, I could hear some chainsaw work going on. When I finished Hole 15, I was unable to find the tee-pad of 16. I walked up to the person with the chainsaw (Dave) and asked where the Gold tee-pad was... he told me they had to remove the tee-pad and redesign the Hole... which was a bummer because the hole had a fairly demanding water crossing off the tee. However, he also told me that he had just finished cutting the new fairway and I would be the first person to play the new Hole - Bonus! I went back and played the old hole too... crushed both drives and had birdie looks at both.
- Overall... With all the hype I've heard, and all the video I've seen, I could have easily been disappointed in Maple Hill... but I wasn't. Maple Hill was definitely worth the hype of being one of the best courses in the country. When you combine an amazing piece of private property, with championship level golf, famous holes that live up to the hype, multiple water holes, massive bombers over Christmas trees, old rock wall OB features, a complete package of amenities, beautiful scenery, and more... you get a disc golf destination like no other. Any serious disc golf course bagger would be foolish to be anywhere within 200 miles of this course and not go out of their way to bag it.
My Score: a very proud 63 from the Golds
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9 3
JAKE master
Experience: 16.1 years 77 played 11 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Perfection 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 23, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This course offers absolutely everything. From newbie to touring pro, everybody will fall in love with this course. Multiple layouts provide endless entertainment for your $10 a day fee. Seating and trash very abundant. Grippy tee pads, full photo color t signs, colored flags marking your particular layout choice. Owners are really great people. Pro shop available on site and in the off chance it is closed you have Marshall st practically in walking distance. Beautiful New England landscape with tons of risk reward water hazards. Course is great in terms of retrieving discs and there lost and found. Lunch options not far. Cant say enough positive things regarding maple hill.

Cons:

I was intimidated by this course my first year of serious play. after i played i realized there is no need. Only one porter john and its near parking the lot.

Other Thoughts:

Maple hill is a complete, disc golf destination. A paradise among paradise's. I played the white and blue and another round of white because we were camping there and they had league night. the following morning we played gold and finished later that day when my GF showed up to play red. she too fell in love. its so nice up there I might just drive the hour to buy a Xmas tree despite the fact i live next to one of the biggest Xmas tree farms in New England. Cheers Maple Hill to course done right.
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8 2
gassal01
Experience: 17.4 years 23 played 7 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Amazing Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 5, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Most profesional disc golf course I have played. I really enjoyed the beauty of this course and the difficulty. I played from the blue tees and found it fun and challenging. Wonderful signs that tell you what tee and basket to go to. Flowers planted by some of the baskets and tees made it feel very welcoming. Like a course I would build if I had land like that. The guy who was working in the pro shop was very friendly and helped me pick out a few new discs. Even encouraged me to play more! Well worth the $10 to know that your money is going back into the course.

Cons:

Got kind of lost towards 15-16 but I tend to be an idiot sometimes. Also, concrete pads are always nice. Although this gives them the option of changing. Other than that this course has NO cons.

Other Thoughts:

This course can be played from red,white,blue or gold tees and baskets. You could literally play all day and not play the same course. Make the trip! It is well worth it.

Lots of water holes! If you are not an advanced player. Bring a few used discs you don't mind losing in the water.
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14 1
Menacewarf
Experience: 16.1 years 60 played 13 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Center of New England Disc Golf Universe 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 13, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

All four layouts provide appropriate and awesome disc golf. The red is fun and there for the taking score wise and is a nice way to experience the course with minimal frustration. The gold is a spectacular challenge with a slew of memorable holes. White and blue incrementally add additional challenges. The overall layout is a unique and creative way of constructing a full array of disc golf experience. The tee pads and baskets for each layout are marked with colored flags making navigation fairly self explanatory.

The fairways are well defined, varied, interesting, and highlight the land. The use of water is exciting and appropriate to the skill leval for each layout. The par four's on the gold course are almost all very challenging and memorable. I like the way OB is used and none of it seems contrived. Teepads are spacious, flat and grippy rubber. Elevation comes into play on every hole except perhaps the over water route on hole 5.

Maple Hill has it all. Amazing disc golf for all skills, great course equipment, and beautiful land.

Other Thoughts:

Pro Shop, adequate facilities, and friendly staff complete the package. There is a great deli down the street in Worcester. Ask the staff for directions, go eat, and then come back and play another round!
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