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Martin Family DGC reviews
9
0
Never Go Against the Family 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Mar 5, 2022
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
Obviously the biggest pro is that it's a private course so all the public course hang-ups of no alcohol, random weirdos (non-disc golfing variety) and other assorted issues are griplocked out of contention. Plus, you get all the fun quirks of things like chickens and a nicely stocked clubhouse to enjoy.
The course itself is solidly balanced, most of the holes being fairly short and technical, woods golf with some open field holes sprinkled in to keep it from being mundane. The open holes have good length and clever use of OB to keep them from being braindead bomber holes. The shorter holes in the woods can be quite short, but most of those have either a high degree of technicality or elevation change (or both) to keep them too "deuce or die." The red Prodigy baskets are nice and the alternate baskets that are on many holes looked like a fun way to switch it up.
Good use of elevated baskets occasionally.
All of the holes had tees and the course was fairly easy to get around without getting lost.
The course itself is solidly balanced, most of the holes being fairly short and technical, woods golf with some open field holes sprinkled in to keep it from being mundane. The open holes have good length and clever use of OB to keep them from being braindead bomber holes. The shorter holes in the woods can be quite short, but most of those have either a high degree of technicality or elevation change (or both) to keep them too "deuce or die." The red Prodigy baskets are nice and the alternate baskets that are on many holes looked like a fun way to switch it up.
Good use of elevated baskets occasionally.
All of the holes had tees and the course was fairly easy to get around without getting lost.
Cons:
The tees are often simple rubber mats but it's not awful. Some of the hillier parts of the course aren't very cart friendly if you're a cart 4 lyfe kind of feller.
Prodigy baskets are not some people's favorites but I don't mind them.
Uh, lack of brown ales, stouts, or porters in the beer fridge?
Prodigy baskets are not some people's favorites but I don't mind them.
Uh, lack of brown ales, stouts, or porters in the beer fridge?
Other Thoughts:
Just a really fun, laid back course. It's obviously designed by a disc golfer and all the little amenities and such is reflective of that. If you're a big Prodigy or Gateway guy, the clubhouse will tackle your wallet. I love all the little farm animals running around and the countryside is nice and rural. The laidback vibe made me feel like I had transported back in time to well before the Covid boom days we're in now. Great place to hang out all day with some buddies.
13
0
MFDG - The Martin Family loves this sport! 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Dec 28, 2021
Played the course:once
Pros:
Good mix of open, wooded and heavily wooded holes in a natural, farm like atmosphere.
Tee pads on every hole, some are turf, some are rubber mats. Multiple tees available on most holes, some with just natural tees.
Tee signs are simple, yet informative with distance, the layout and OB on the hole.
New Prodigy baskets that look great, they have red bands and baskets, so stand out very well, especially on the wooded holes.
Nicely stocked shop in the basement of their house. Discs, bags, carts, clothing and more, I could not resist picking up a MFDG hat.
Tee pads on every hole, some are turf, some are rubber mats. Multiple tees available on most holes, some with just natural tees.
Tee signs are simple, yet informative with distance, the layout and OB on the hole.
New Prodigy baskets that look great, they have red bands and baskets, so stand out very well, especially on the wooded holes.
Nicely stocked shop in the basement of their house. Discs, bags, carts, clothing and more, I could not resist picking up a MFDG hat.
Cons:
Not a fan of the rubber mat tees, they get slick really easy. There is usually area to tee next to these, if they are slick.
There is an old bridge crossing the creek for holes 11-16, pretty shaky and would be tough with a cart. I understand they do have a replacement bridge in the works, this will be a great addition, especially if they eliminate some of the backtracking necessary to use the current bridge.
The stairs up to #11 tee are pretty small and uneven, especially when covered in leaves. A handrail wouldn't make sense, so maybe just a rope (strung between trees) would mark the path and provide some assistance.
There is an old bridge crossing the creek for holes 11-16, pretty shaky and would be tough with a cart. I understand they do have a replacement bridge in the works, this will be a great addition, especially if they eliminate some of the backtracking necessary to use the current bridge.
The stairs up to #11 tee are pretty small and uneven, especially when covered in leaves. A handrail wouldn't make sense, so maybe just a rope (strung between trees) would mark the path and provide some assistance.
Other Thoughts:
You can tell the Martin Family really loves Disc Golf. They've opened their property to any outsiders to come enjoy their course (prior notice and a small donation is a good idea), they've invested in inventory to stock their shop, they hold regular events (tournaments, glow nights, leagues) and have led charity fundraisers. It seems to be working, it looks like they have a great following.
After #1 crosses past the shop and main parking area (?) to a guarded basket position, the next 7 holes are in a wooded area that is essentially their backyard. While most of the holes are short (150'-250') they actually laid out two 300'+ holes, #5 is right to left and #7 is left to right. #9,#10,#17 and #18 play across flat, farmland, but there are just enough obstacles to make these interesting. #11-#14 are up on a heavily wooded hillside. Then #15 and #16 play along the creek, 15 finishes left and 16 finishes to the right.
Not much of a chance of losing a disc on the first 8 holes, they are all pretty well beaten in. Really the only chances are on the heavily wooded holes, there are clear fairways to the basket, but not sure what the roughs are like in the summer months.
The holes I liked the most were across the open farmland, #9 tees right near the parking of the course, right behind a small building. Slightly elevated turf tee, across the farm fields, then across a small creek to the basket in the open. A lot of fun to see if you clear the creek, then see how close you get.
#10 has some brush and trees off the tee to keep you honest, then opens up for the rest of its 600', there is even a longer basket for some events. This area is also used for long drive competitions (complete with distance markers) and glow rounds.
#17 is another multi-shot bomber hole, tee in one open area, widely bordered by trees, then the fairway turns right, 45 degrees, into a similar bordered field, then on to the basket. If your tee shot lands before the turn in the fairway, you have to decide how much of the turn in the fairway to cut off. A fun risk/reward decision to make!
#14 is the most interesting hole and maybe the only one that I have played like this, it plays at 199', the first 100'-125' are slightly downhill, then the fairway drops 20-30' staight down and the basket is about 90 degrees left. A blind fairway where a path takes you the long way down, to avoid the steep hillside, then see where your tee shot ended up.
These descriptions are based on the main course layout on UDisc that I played. The Martin's do have several other holes and multiple layouts available. If those holes are as well laid out and varied as this 18, then there is plenty of fun for future visits.
I've played only about a dozen private courses, normally preferring public, park courses. Public courses traditionally have plenty of public money available for the equipment, maintenance and (hopefully) design of the course. Most private courses probably don't have those type of funds available, but put their course together for love of the game and wanting to share that with others. They are putting in what they can afford at the time, or over time, and improving as the course gains popularity. With that in mind, I tend to rate private courses a little higher then I would a public course. I really appreciate all those private course owners and their hard work.
After #1 crosses past the shop and main parking area (?) to a guarded basket position, the next 7 holes are in a wooded area that is essentially their backyard. While most of the holes are short (150'-250') they actually laid out two 300'+ holes, #5 is right to left and #7 is left to right. #9,#10,#17 and #18 play across flat, farmland, but there are just enough obstacles to make these interesting. #11-#14 are up on a heavily wooded hillside. Then #15 and #16 play along the creek, 15 finishes left and 16 finishes to the right.
Not much of a chance of losing a disc on the first 8 holes, they are all pretty well beaten in. Really the only chances are on the heavily wooded holes, there are clear fairways to the basket, but not sure what the roughs are like in the summer months.
The holes I liked the most were across the open farmland, #9 tees right near the parking of the course, right behind a small building. Slightly elevated turf tee, across the farm fields, then across a small creek to the basket in the open. A lot of fun to see if you clear the creek, then see how close you get.
#10 has some brush and trees off the tee to keep you honest, then opens up for the rest of its 600', there is even a longer basket for some events. This area is also used for long drive competitions (complete with distance markers) and glow rounds.
#17 is another multi-shot bomber hole, tee in one open area, widely bordered by trees, then the fairway turns right, 45 degrees, into a similar bordered field, then on to the basket. If your tee shot lands before the turn in the fairway, you have to decide how much of the turn in the fairway to cut off. A fun risk/reward decision to make!
#14 is the most interesting hole and maybe the only one that I have played like this, it plays at 199', the first 100'-125' are slightly downhill, then the fairway drops 20-30' staight down and the basket is about 90 degrees left. A blind fairway where a path takes you the long way down, to avoid the steep hillside, then see where your tee shot ended up.
These descriptions are based on the main course layout on UDisc that I played. The Martin's do have several other holes and multiple layouts available. If those holes are as well laid out and varied as this 18, then there is plenty of fun for future visits.
I've played only about a dozen private courses, normally preferring public, park courses. Public courses traditionally have plenty of public money available for the equipment, maintenance and (hopefully) design of the course. Most private courses probably don't have those type of funds available, but put their course together for love of the game and wanting to share that with others. They are putting in what they can afford at the time, or over time, and improving as the course gains popularity. With that in mind, I tend to rate private courses a little higher then I would a public course. I really appreciate all those private course owners and their hard work.
