Talon Trails reviews
4
0
enragedmullet
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience:
12.5 years
115 played
79 reviews
Humpty UMPI 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Jun 15, 2019
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
+ Discatcher baskets catch well, despite some being a little crooked and others having some rusty chains.
+ Navigation is reasonably easy. There's a map near the parking at Tee #1, plus one on DGCR. The tee signs that are present show layout, par & distance
+ Layout plays a figure 8, so if you are parked at the tennis courts you can stop at your car between the front 9 and back 9
+ Elevation in play - nothing too dramatic, but enough to make some holes interesting, like #'s 5, 12, 14 & 15
+ Variety in shots needed, and some variety in open bombers vs tighter, more technical holes
+ In summer when school's out you can get this place to yourself, making it a nice, scenic round
+ Would be a decent course to bring a beginner
+ Navigation is reasonably easy. There's a map near the parking at Tee #1, plus one on DGCR. The tee signs that are present show layout, par & distance
+ Layout plays a figure 8, so if you are parked at the tennis courts you can stop at your car between the front 9 and back 9
+ Elevation in play - nothing too dramatic, but enough to make some holes interesting, like #'s 5, 12, 14 & 15
+ Variety in shots needed, and some variety in open bombers vs tighter, more technical holes
+ In summer when school's out you can get this place to yourself, making it a nice, scenic round
+ Would be a decent course to bring a beginner
Cons:
- Some baskets are crooked, others have rusty chains
- Tee pads are two rubber pads - on some holes they're OK, reasonably flat; on others they've become uneven and a little humpty. Still others have weeds/grass growing between the pads, right in the middle of the tee which can definitely affect a drive (see pics)
- Sign for 15 is missing, others (like 6 and 18) are lying on the ground next to the tee
- There is a lot of very high grass just off the narrow fairways on several holes, seriously punishing even slightly errant shots. I lost no discs but I also spent quite a while searching for a few.
- No trash cans or benches at any tees, no public restroom nearby that I'm aware of
- Despite the variety in shots required, you may be left wishing you'd gotten more of a challenge
- Several holes are too close to other feature of the campus, like tennis courts, soccer fields, roads etc. If school is in session or games are being played, several holes would be unplayable (I'm looking at you, back 9)
- Tee pads are two rubber pads - on some holes they're OK, reasonably flat; on others they've become uneven and a little humpty. Still others have weeds/grass growing between the pads, right in the middle of the tee which can definitely affect a drive (see pics)
- Sign for 15 is missing, others (like 6 and 18) are lying on the ground next to the tee
- There is a lot of very high grass just off the narrow fairways on several holes, seriously punishing even slightly errant shots. I lost no discs but I also spent quite a while searching for a few.
- No trash cans or benches at any tees, no public restroom nearby that I'm aware of
- Despite the variety in shots required, you may be left wishing you'd gotten more of a challenge
- Several holes are too close to other feature of the campus, like tennis courts, soccer fields, roads etc. If school is in session or games are being played, several holes would be unplayable (I'm looking at you, back 9)
Other Thoughts:
Personally I found Humpty UMPI, where no two tees are exactly the same, to be a fun round.*
Several holes have little to no long grass/rough that you have to deal with (though those end up being the one-dimensional across-the-field bombers). Others have very narrow fairways mowed, with looooong grass on either side that'll force you to really think about your shot and still say a prayer.
I did find some cool holes here. #2 plays in between a row of trees and the tennis courts, creating a needle you have to thread in order to birdie or par. #3 shoots over some high grass into a stand of trees, another thread-the-needle shot, only the needle is much further away, and if you get that drive right, you'll feel really good about yourself. Another hole that comes to mind is #14, with the tee behind bleachers near the ball field - a nice long hole shooting slightly downhill. #17 and 18 have the novelty of playing near the base of a wind turbine (though the top portion has been removed so it looks more like a giant steam pipe).
Most months of the year though, I would imagine there would be something or another preventing at least one hole from being playable. Like MaineDave said in the previous review, if tennis is being played you might as well write off like three holes. The middle of summer seems to be the best time (especially a day with a slight breeze, to keep those Maine mosquitoes and black flies at bay to a degree). It's not a destination course by any means, but with a dearth of options in the area, it's reasonable*.
*Again, when school is out and no sports are being played, you can find that you have the place to yourself, eliminating a lot of issues with the course, and opening up the possibility of a great time. Otherwise, good luck.
Several holes have little to no long grass/rough that you have to deal with (though those end up being the one-dimensional across-the-field bombers). Others have very narrow fairways mowed, with looooong grass on either side that'll force you to really think about your shot and still say a prayer.
I did find some cool holes here. #2 plays in between a row of trees and the tennis courts, creating a needle you have to thread in order to birdie or par. #3 shoots over some high grass into a stand of trees, another thread-the-needle shot, only the needle is much further away, and if you get that drive right, you'll feel really good about yourself. Another hole that comes to mind is #14, with the tee behind bleachers near the ball field - a nice long hole shooting slightly downhill. #17 and 18 have the novelty of playing near the base of a wind turbine (though the top portion has been removed so it looks more like a giant steam pipe).
Most months of the year though, I would imagine there would be something or another preventing at least one hole from being playable. Like MaineDave said in the previous review, if tennis is being played you might as well write off like three holes. The middle of summer seems to be the best time (especially a day with a slight breeze, to keep those Maine mosquitoes and black flies at bay to a degree). It's not a destination course by any means, but with a dearth of options in the area, it's reasonable*.
*Again, when school is out and no sports are being played, you can find that you have the place to yourself, eliminating a lot of issues with the course, and opening up the possibility of a great time. Otherwise, good luck.
9
0
MaineDave
Experience:
7 played
1 reviews
Only Choice in town. 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Aug 18, 2013
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
Only course within 150 miles!
Cons:
Four holes have almost no fairway, just weeds that are waist high - many lost discs and threat of ticks. Most of the back nine is across wide open soccer fields. Three holes are unplayable if a tennis match is being played. Several holes are unplayable when school activities (soccer camp, etc.) are being held. No smoking allowed on campus.
