5th Element is a neighborhood course with two distinct and separate parts. The first 7 holes are short, mostly playing along a paved path / nature walk. Several of the holes make clever use of a winding creek. The rest of the layout is across several roads, in a largely unused park that has a skatepark and some old ballfields.


When I played in early May, the grass was already knee deep, and the side with holes 8 -18 seemed like it had been abandoned long ago. Maybe the effort to install the course in 2017 was in hopes of bringing some use back to the property.


Tee signs are just low numbered posts (with hole lengths marked by Sharpie). A few of the tees on the "front 7" are shared by multiple holes. The baskets are white DD Veterans in great shape. The property is flat enough for a cart, but you'll be dragging it through tall grass - so it's really not "cart-friendly".


Someone had the energy to get this course installed in 2017, and the design skill to put in some good holes. I understand the enthusiasm of the early reviews, but the town's commitment apparently did not include tees, proper signage or regular maintenance - and the course doesn't look much like it did in those early photos. If you're a bagger, put this on your winter list so you can play it before the grass is high. It's "passable" or "reasonable" then...maybe even "decent." But by early May, expect to lose discs and pick up ticks.

Pros include - good variety of shots needed, excellent Veteran baskets, water in play on many holes which forces you to concentrate on your shot placement.

Cons include - it's a backtracking, navigational nightmare without a map, no distances or maps of any kind, completely unkept grounds. The grass was shin high everywhere. Your perfect drive can be difficult to find until you trip over it.

I have played the front 7 several times, it's leisurely as only a putter is needed even for beginners. There's only a wood post with hole number at the tee "box". Tee area would probably be a better term. #4 and #7 use the same tee post, throwing in opposite directions. Onto the back 11 which I found and played for the first time today. WATCH FOR FALLING FRUITS! I seriously almost got bonked on the head by one of those green things. If you're anything like me, you'll skip #8 and #11 (more later). #8 you'll either be in the extreme rough to the right, or on the road or into a parked car to the left. The fairway is very narrow. #9 you have a very good chance to land your disc in a completely fenced off area (like I did). #10 you absolutely need a map, you'll see the baskets for #12 and #16 before you see #10 - deep creek definitely in play here, you have to go over it and the trees around it are just waiting to knock your disc down into the creek. #11 and #12 are goofy. Both use the same tee post, one goes left, one goes right. There seems to be such an easy solution to this, but whatever. Anyway, I skipped #11. #15, you've made a great tee shot if you land where home plate used to be on the abandoned baseball diamond, but then you're throwing a hammer over the backstop. The three deer hanging around #18 basket was a nice finish for me. With some TLC, or even if the town shows this course any attention, this would be a really nice course.

-Good new baskets with a variety of RHFH and RHBH shots.
-Water Hazards in the form of a creek throughout.
-Can be a good course to perfect shot shaping for beginners/intermediate players

-Natural tees in a marshy area
-Multi-use park prevents discing when fields are in use
-Flow issues with a lot of backtracking
-No map on the course

This is a good local course, but probably not worth an out of the way drive. There are issues in the park probably not understanding the disc golf part of the park as there was a port-a-potty directly in line with the tee off of hole 10. If I hadn't brought a map, I would have had issues navigating the course, especially with the backtracking. The arrows on the baskets helped, but aren't a panacea. I'm a beginner/mid-level amateur and shot 4 down, with 2 bogeys (a lost disc and a 30-minute hunt for a favorite disc in the extra-deep creek).

Awesome Veteran Baskets!
Decent use of property
Hole were more technical than the usual park layouts

Tee box/pads just unmarked posts
Can be a little sloppy

Played this course while on Vacation, My relatives live 5 minutes from the parking lot. Shot 8 over first time and wasn't able to play again, maybe next year. The sports field do not seem to be getting a lot of use so there should be very little interference.

Glad to see a course in Carroll County! The creek keeps this course fun and is a hazard in play for around 7 holes. A few short "flick" holes that allow you to practice on your short-approach game (RHFH or LHBH). Many obstacles like fencing, creeks, trees and other brush. New baskets with arrows attached, pointing to the next tee.

Overall course is not well-marked. Natural tees will be VERY muddy on days following a little rain or snow. Signage on each post along the way would be nice, but honestly, just a sign post with map at hole 1 for players to snap a picture with their phone to assist along the way would be a great help! You could park in the initial lot (5 car lot), but you'll end up across the street from 8 to 18, so just park over there and walk over to holes 1 through 7. I know that concrete tees is asking waaaay too much for a new course, but railroad ties with mulch tees would be a great improvement!

If it wasn't for Crooow's review with walk-through, I would have been lost. Read his "Other Thoughts" portion for a guide as it is VERY helpful.

18 holes; new baskets with numbers; front 7 is short but has plenty of trees and a creek to keep it interesting; other 11 are longer with fewer trees (but other obstacles - see below). Each basket has bright red arrow pointing to the next tee - mostly easy to navigate (see below). Some fun to be had. Provides a course in an area otherwise lacking.

Parking lot holds 5 cars (but you could probably park on the street). Natural tees. Holes #11 and #12 share a tee which means walking back down 11's fairway after you play it. Several of the holes (about 4) are unplayable if the baseball fields are in use (see below). Many of the first 5 throw right along the walking path so you might need to wait on strollers.

First tee is at the beginning of the walking path. Hole #1 is very short but has a nice scattering of skinny trees to negotiate.

Hole #2 is similar to #1. Hole #3 follows the path and curves slightly to the right with the creek behind the putting area.

Hole #4 is straight with trees on both sides and the basket is on a peninsula.

Hole #5 curves more sharply to the right and again is near the creek.

Hole #6's tee is back near #5's and points in the opposite direction back toward the parking lot. The basket is up on the right around a few bushes/trees.

Hole #7 is straight but the basket is behind some bushes.

Then you leave Atlee Ridge Road and cross Old New Windsor Road to Meadow Lane.

Tee #8 is on the right hand side and throws to a basket directly in front of a fenced area - don't overthrow.

Hole #9 throws over baseball field #1 (the basket is behind the right field fence). You can easily bail to the right if the field is in use.

Now comes the part you might need to scout out on your first trip. There is a bridge across the stream with two baskets near it on the other side - neither of them is #10, they are #12 and #16. Basket #10 is farther to the right (and also on the other side of the stream). The tee is back near Meadow Lane and the stream is tree-lined which can knock down your drive (the basket is close to the stream). Probably easier to walk down the road to get across rather than using the bridge near #9's basket.

Holes #11 - #16 play on this other side of the stream. Tee #11 is in the back corner of the property near #10's basket. It's basket is to the right of the utility building in a few trees. Then you walk back to the same tee to throw to basket #12 which is on the left along the creek (it's the "middle" basket as #10 is nearby and farther on the left and #16 is farther way and slightly to #12's right.

Hole #13 plays to a basket behind baseball field #2's right field fence. Again you can easily avoid the baseball field on this one.

The walk to #14's tee was swampy (no way around it). This hole is very disappointing - short and straightforward with no obstacle (except any easily avoided telephone pole).

Now the trouble starts. Number 15 plays across field #2 to a basket behind the backstop. There is no other path unless you want to try a spike hyzer along/over the tree lined stream. #16 plays along the right field line of field #2. Then you cross a different bridge that comes out behind field #1's backstop. Hole #17 plays over field #1 to a basket behind the center field fence. There is no way to go except over the field.

Hole #18 plays back along Meadow Lane toward Old New Windsor Road with the skate park on the left (but not really in danger) and the basket tucked to the right. Not a bad hole.

So overall this is fine to play when the baseball fields are not in use. Most of the back 11 is wide open with the various OBs providing the "challenge". Everything is par 3; holes 1, 2 and 14 should be played as par 2 (although at least #1 & #2 give you some trees to avoid). Overall some fun but not much challenge to be had. Enjoy a relaxing round.

Photos added. What's with the course name? Did Bruce Willis sponsor it? Can we hope to see Leeloo on it? I hope not because someone thought it was boron.