Bayville Park reviews
7
0
My First Course
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Oct 31, 2019
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
-An 18-hole course originally designed by Ed Headrick, and likely the second course designed on the east coast. The course is moderately wooded, 1/3rd of the course plays on a gentle slope, and fairways are compact. A canal comes into play on hole 16.
-Each hole has two baskets, two concrete tee's, and three toe boards. A family/beginner toe board, Intermediate toe board, and an advanced/pro toe board.
-The advanced/pro toe board at Bayview, out of the three courses I frequent with the additional same tee's. I rank Bayview 2nd in difficulty and scenery. The other two courses are Bennett's Creek, and Newport News Park.
-Since the course's installation of 1977, there have been several realignments. If you haven't played the course in several years, major changes have been made or trees have fallen changing the shape of fairways.
-Out of the courses I've played, I rank Bayville No. 1 for all levels of play. There is a local club with weekly's that call the course home. Also, a lady's group will meet several times a year.
-With the 10 tee/basket combinations per hole, wooded gap play, and guardian baskets. I rank Bayville #1 for any player to improve their game. If you rotate tee's and baskets each round, you're likely to use the majority of your bag, if not all discs.
-Just about all of the fairways are compact sand offering long skip shots. When there's heavy rain or several days of rain, the water will seep into the sand, standing water soaks in quickly.
-Each hole has two baskets, two concrete tee's, and three toe boards. A family/beginner toe board, Intermediate toe board, and an advanced/pro toe board.
-The advanced/pro toe board at Bayview, out of the three courses I frequent with the additional same tee's. I rank Bayview 2nd in difficulty and scenery. The other two courses are Bennett's Creek, and Newport News Park.
-Since the course's installation of 1977, there have been several realignments. If you haven't played the course in several years, major changes have been made or trees have fallen changing the shape of fairways.
-Out of the courses I've played, I rank Bayville No. 1 for all levels of play. There is a local club with weekly's that call the course home. Also, a lady's group will meet several times a year.
-With the 10 tee/basket combinations per hole, wooded gap play, and guardian baskets. I rank Bayville #1 for any player to improve their game. If you rotate tee's and baskets each round, you're likely to use the majority of your bag, if not all discs.
-Just about all of the fairways are compact sand offering long skip shots. When there's heavy rain or several days of rain, the water will seep into the sand, standing water soaks in quickly.
Cons:
-If you're looking to play the course thinking it may be close to the original layout, you're going to be disappointed. Only hole 16 short to short is an original hole without the basket sitting on a mound.
-The course is repeative with tee gaps, fairway gaps, and guardian trees protecting baskets. Very few open baskets or an open tee. For a first visit some holes not memorable, took a handful of visits to remember the layout.
-The Discatcher Baskets are old, some are leaning over slightly. But broken baskets have been fixed quickly.
-It's a compact course with close fairways on top of each other. Beware of wayward shots, several players have been hit by a disc with bruising, and some stitches.
-The "Bayville Shuffle" heavy leaves during the fall months will find yourself kicking leaves trying to find your disc. I've lost a total of three disc on the course, two the past two falls, and one in the canal protecting #16 long basket in the summer when the Catskills are at their tallest. In the warmer months, disc is easier to find, the rough is sparse and leaves have blown away.
-With warm weather, the course can get crowded with a lot of waiting, I tend to only play at first light to avoid it. There can be dog walkers, and joggers using the course as well.
-The course is repeative with tee gaps, fairway gaps, and guardian trees protecting baskets. Very few open baskets or an open tee. For a first visit some holes not memorable, took a handful of visits to remember the layout.
-The Discatcher Baskets are old, some are leaning over slightly. But broken baskets have been fixed quickly.
-It's a compact course with close fairways on top of each other. Beware of wayward shots, several players have been hit by a disc with bruising, and some stitches.
-The "Bayville Shuffle" heavy leaves during the fall months will find yourself kicking leaves trying to find your disc. I've lost a total of three disc on the course, two the past two falls, and one in the canal protecting #16 long basket in the summer when the Catskills are at their tallest. In the warmer months, disc is easier to find, the rough is sparse and leaves have blown away.
-With warm weather, the course can get crowded with a lot of waiting, I tend to only play at first light to avoid it. There can be dog walkers, and joggers using the course as well.
Other Thoughts:
Bayville is my first course played, first birdie made on #18, and at the time of this rewrite I have played 463 rounds rotating tee's and baskets. I've been able to develop my game from a newb, to what I now think is a decent Disc Golfer. The moderately wooded course also provides development in gap play whether off the tee, down fairway, or trying to make a birdie between the V shape guardian trees protecting #1 short basket in C1. The course is home to local top Pro's and Amateurs in the area, so you may find yourself playing a round with them. My biggest personnel con is the slow play with a heavy crowd from about mid-morning during the rest of the day. I make sure I'm teeing off shortly after sunup to avoid it.
My overall rating is anchored on a 5.0 based on all skill levels can play the course and with repeat play can develop there game, and course history. The time to play short to short averages about 50 minutes, Advanced/Pro tee to long basket 80 minutes.
Course History:
-What I call the "Old Timers" bench by parking, you may find a group of guys in the morning a few times a week when its warm. Some of them play a partial round. I like to say hello and hear their disc golf stories from years past. Say hello, there likely to ask you questions about your disc golf experiences.
-The course installed in 1977, per one installer Bayville was supposed to be the first course on the East Coast, but the baskets were diverted to Sedgley Woods in Philadelphia. I know of one who has played the course since 1980, and she tells me concrete tees were in play then.
-"Course relics" from several realignments, I like seeing the history. There are several concrete tee's not in use. To the left of #1 long concrete tee is a disengrating concrete tee from years past. There are other tee's still in good shape, but smaller and not used, and a few used on #12, and #13 in place of the intermediate blue toe boards. I've come across three basket anchors no longer used and likely not stable enough for today's baskets on #1 about 100 feet before long basket, #8 about C2 short basket, and #9 about 75 feet from short basket. They would be hard to find, all three center right fairway. #17 long concrete looks to have been used several decades, maybe 1980?
The only Original Hole remaining:
No. 16 Par 3 at 245 feet short to short without the mound the basket is currently placed on. Dead straight ahead thru a tunnel of pines with overhang, fairway about 30-feet wide. Basket in open, mound is a roller green when mowed.
My Favorite Hole:
No. 7 Par 3 Long Concrete Tee to any basket at 286/350-feet. Tee from top of the slope dogleg left with the slope right to left all the way to short basket, and levels out at long basket. From the tee on right a wall of cedar trees, on the left about 100 feet out a wide mid-size tree protecting the dogleg. At 225 feet out a wall of Pines with plenty of gap space to get thru. Short basket a guardian tree, long basket open in C1. Beautiful line for a LHBH turnover flip, and for whatever reason for I can execute it more than half the time. Just recently putted in a birdie in long basket for the first time.
Featured Advanced/Pro Hole:
No. 2 Par 3 at 459 feet to long basket, the toe board is placed about 3 feet lower than the flat fairway, to reach the level fairway about 40-feet. This is a LHBH or RHFH favored hole with tree blockage on the right off the tee, your line is over the short tee pad with a lazy dog leg right before tree blockage on the left. Best to be at least No. 1 long basket high at about 250 feet or longer for best results right side of fairway for approach. A few large oak trees next to short basket act as a guardian for long basket from right center fairway all the way left, basket about 50 feet past guardian trees. The idea from tee is a sweeping left to right center fairway, approach either skip under guardian trees or sweeping right to left too reach basket. I'm normally blocked on my approach and likely to hit a guardian tree, normally finish with a bogey.
Featured Basket Placement:
No. 1 Short Basket is protected by a "V" shape duel pine trees 3 feet wide, basket just 5-feet past. If you don't get it basket high, you may be two-putting, I've had plenty. Plenty of birdies clean thru the V if short, I've had birdies deflecting off one of the trees, and also being swatted down by one of the trees. Fun way to start your round.
Signature Hole:
No. 16 Par 3 Long at 285 feet the basket sits in the open on the other side of canal 10-feet past it. Go long past the basket at 25-feet bushes. The canal is 50-feet across, in the summer cattails tall enough to block basket from some angles, a scenic look, in the winter dreary. Lost disc potential in the summer. There is a dry landing area to the left of the canal about 25-feet from the line to the basket over the canal, the canal is piped under the short 16 basket fairway. From the tee it looks like a poke and hope with a narrow gap of about 10-feet in front of you 25-feet away, after that it does open up some with a few routes to take. In the winter the canal when dry easy to find a disc. I like to play dead straight ahead into the canal, seeing if I can avoid trees about 200 feet out, from the canal is C1 for an up hill birdie putt. In the summer is an unseen LHBH/RHFH line to the dry area C1 if your long enough. I've picked up a handful of birdies both ways, most recently after hitting a tree 119-feet out skimming over the cattails.
Trouble Hole:
No. 13 Long Tee Par 4 at 489 feet straight ahead right center of fairway to basket, this hole will make you think about it. The hole is a poke and hope, with an OB busy road all along the left with some tree protection to keep your disc in play. The tee angles slightly right to help line up away from the road, you have some open space before the first tree line 175 feet away, with gaps no more than 12 feet wide. To make it harder there is a bushy tree just 5 feet off the right front corner tee pad to force you in play with a possible tree kick onto the road, and to the narrowest of gaps. Past the first line of gaps its all poke and hope with dozens of gaps to reach the basket, depending on where your disc lies, you're likely going to have to use your imagination to continue down fairway. If you can make it to the short tee fairway off to the right at about 200 feet, the lines are more open there. Short tee fairway runs at a left angle to the basket from short tee, its closer to you from long tee if you can get some good distance. If I'm throwing good during the round, I'll throw straight down the middle to the narrowist of gaps, if not feeling it I'll fade skip a disc to the short fairway. Regardless its a fun hole, on any approach I may be looking at a different angle to the basket from round to round and have likely used every disc out of my bag at one time or another whether on approach or 3rd shot after a tree hit. The basket has guardians within C1 but is open at a 20-foot circle. I've had my share of doubles after kicking to the road, and clean pars never making C1 because of awkward lines. In the summer a very scenic hole with the canopy, in the winter layer of leaves doing a lot of "Bayville Shuffle" kicking and having one disc lost in the four years I've played here. I have hit more trees on this hole, than any other hole on courses I've frequent.
My overall rating is anchored on a 5.0 based on all skill levels can play the course and with repeat play can develop there game, and course history. The time to play short to short averages about 50 minutes, Advanced/Pro tee to long basket 80 minutes.
Course History:
-What I call the "Old Timers" bench by parking, you may find a group of guys in the morning a few times a week when its warm. Some of them play a partial round. I like to say hello and hear their disc golf stories from years past. Say hello, there likely to ask you questions about your disc golf experiences.
-The course installed in 1977, per one installer Bayville was supposed to be the first course on the East Coast, but the baskets were diverted to Sedgley Woods in Philadelphia. I know of one who has played the course since 1980, and she tells me concrete tees were in play then.
-"Course relics" from several realignments, I like seeing the history. There are several concrete tee's not in use. To the left of #1 long concrete tee is a disengrating concrete tee from years past. There are other tee's still in good shape, but smaller and not used, and a few used on #12, and #13 in place of the intermediate blue toe boards. I've come across three basket anchors no longer used and likely not stable enough for today's baskets on #1 about 100 feet before long basket, #8 about C2 short basket, and #9 about 75 feet from short basket. They would be hard to find, all three center right fairway. #17 long concrete looks to have been used several decades, maybe 1980?
The only Original Hole remaining:
No. 16 Par 3 at 245 feet short to short without the mound the basket is currently placed on. Dead straight ahead thru a tunnel of pines with overhang, fairway about 30-feet wide. Basket in open, mound is a roller green when mowed.
My Favorite Hole:
No. 7 Par 3 Long Concrete Tee to any basket at 286/350-feet. Tee from top of the slope dogleg left with the slope right to left all the way to short basket, and levels out at long basket. From the tee on right a wall of cedar trees, on the left about 100 feet out a wide mid-size tree protecting the dogleg. At 225 feet out a wall of Pines with plenty of gap space to get thru. Short basket a guardian tree, long basket open in C1. Beautiful line for a LHBH turnover flip, and for whatever reason for I can execute it more than half the time. Just recently putted in a birdie in long basket for the first time.
Featured Advanced/Pro Hole:
No. 2 Par 3 at 459 feet to long basket, the toe board is placed about 3 feet lower than the flat fairway, to reach the level fairway about 40-feet. This is a LHBH or RHFH favored hole with tree blockage on the right off the tee, your line is over the short tee pad with a lazy dog leg right before tree blockage on the left. Best to be at least No. 1 long basket high at about 250 feet or longer for best results right side of fairway for approach. A few large oak trees next to short basket act as a guardian for long basket from right center fairway all the way left, basket about 50 feet past guardian trees. The idea from tee is a sweeping left to right center fairway, approach either skip under guardian trees or sweeping right to left too reach basket. I'm normally blocked on my approach and likely to hit a guardian tree, normally finish with a bogey.
Featured Basket Placement:
No. 1 Short Basket is protected by a "V" shape duel pine trees 3 feet wide, basket just 5-feet past. If you don't get it basket high, you may be two-putting, I've had plenty. Plenty of birdies clean thru the V if short, I've had birdies deflecting off one of the trees, and also being swatted down by one of the trees. Fun way to start your round.
Signature Hole:
No. 16 Par 3 Long at 285 feet the basket sits in the open on the other side of canal 10-feet past it. Go long past the basket at 25-feet bushes. The canal is 50-feet across, in the summer cattails tall enough to block basket from some angles, a scenic look, in the winter dreary. Lost disc potential in the summer. There is a dry landing area to the left of the canal about 25-feet from the line to the basket over the canal, the canal is piped under the short 16 basket fairway. From the tee it looks like a poke and hope with a narrow gap of about 10-feet in front of you 25-feet away, after that it does open up some with a few routes to take. In the winter the canal when dry easy to find a disc. I like to play dead straight ahead into the canal, seeing if I can avoid trees about 200 feet out, from the canal is C1 for an up hill birdie putt. In the summer is an unseen LHBH/RHFH line to the dry area C1 if your long enough. I've picked up a handful of birdies both ways, most recently after hitting a tree 119-feet out skimming over the cattails.
Trouble Hole:
No. 13 Long Tee Par 4 at 489 feet straight ahead right center of fairway to basket, this hole will make you think about it. The hole is a poke and hope, with an OB busy road all along the left with some tree protection to keep your disc in play. The tee angles slightly right to help line up away from the road, you have some open space before the first tree line 175 feet away, with gaps no more than 12 feet wide. To make it harder there is a bushy tree just 5 feet off the right front corner tee pad to force you in play with a possible tree kick onto the road, and to the narrowest of gaps. Past the first line of gaps its all poke and hope with dozens of gaps to reach the basket, depending on where your disc lies, you're likely going to have to use your imagination to continue down fairway. If you can make it to the short tee fairway off to the right at about 200 feet, the lines are more open there. Short tee fairway runs at a left angle to the basket from short tee, its closer to you from long tee if you can get some good distance. If I'm throwing good during the round, I'll throw straight down the middle to the narrowist of gaps, if not feeling it I'll fade skip a disc to the short fairway. Regardless its a fun hole, on any approach I may be looking at a different angle to the basket from round to round and have likely used every disc out of my bag at one time or another whether on approach or 3rd shot after a tree hit. The basket has guardians within C1 but is open at a 20-foot circle. I've had my share of doubles after kicking to the road, and clean pars never making C1 because of awkward lines. In the summer a very scenic hole with the canopy, in the winter layer of leaves doing a lot of "Bayville Shuffle" kicking and having one disc lost in the four years I've played here. I have hit more trees on this hole, than any other hole on courses I've frequent.
4
0
thirtydirtybirds
Experience:
9 years
15 played
10 reviews
Great place to play on that beach vacation 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Aug 15, 2016
Played the course:once
Pros:
Well marked tee pads with good signs.
2 tees, 2 baskets per hole, for 4 looks.
Plenty of benches and trash cans throughout the course, clean park.
A good variety of shots through some thin woods. You gotta bring out most of your shots here.
Hard packed sandy greens, makes approach accuracy important
2 tees, 2 baskets per hole, for 4 looks.
Plenty of benches and trash cans throughout the course, clean park.
A good variety of shots through some thin woods. You gotta bring out most of your shots here.
Hard packed sandy greens, makes approach accuracy important
Cons:
Not many, it's pretty flat, but it's right on the coast so that is to be expected. It's really hot and humid in August, but again that's to be expected. There were some downed trees and branches that need to be cleaned up, but I'm sure that's not normal.
Other Thoughts:
If you are going on vacation in Virginia Beach, or a local getting into the game this course is worth a visit. Every hole has at least a couple different lines to take. The trees are not thick like I'm used to in western Maryland, they are more spaced out, but the course is well designed in this environment. This course rewards a good gameplan and well placed shots. You can get skips for days on this hard sand.
Overall, I think it's a fun course. Clean, well maintained and well marked. Worth playing if you are in the area.
Overall, I think it's a fun course. Clean, well maintained and well marked. Worth playing if you are in the area.
1
3
xred54x
Experience:
8.2 years
6 played
4 reviews
A great fun place to play 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jun 20, 2016
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
Great layout, flat course without major hazzards. A great place to practice and develop your shots.
Cons:
Crowded on weekends.
Other Thoughts:
Just wish I had this park close to my home. I would play here all the time if I lived closer. Park envy all the way from Connecticut.
2
3
DgDamon
Experience:
3 played
3 reviews
Better than 3 stars 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Dec 17, 2015
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
I started at Bayville nearly 15 years ago and after moving out of the area played it 5 times this week while visiting the area. The new layout is great and allows you to play 4 different courses.
Tees: Concrete, all in great shape
Signage: Excellent, easy to understand
Baskets: Also great
The holes are challenging but not impossible. The two practice baskets plus benches and trashcans on every hole help this smaller course bat above it's length.
Tees: Concrete, all in great shape
Signage: Excellent, easy to understand
Baskets: Also great
The holes are challenging but not impossible. The two practice baskets plus benches and trashcans on every hole help this smaller course bat above it's length.
Cons:
It can get crowded on weekends. The primary crowd is a little rougher around the edges than other courses I've played. The leaves are an issue in the Fall but there could be snow so leaves are a small price to pay.
Other Thoughts:
While there's not a huge grassy bomb on this course it has everything else you'd want, even a guy selling discs in the parking lot.
1
4
Bensontbjj
Experience:
18.9 years
27 played
5 reviews
Excellent Course 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Nov 10, 2012
Played the course:once
Pros:
Great signs
Shaded nearly the whole way
Great parking
Shaded nearly the whole way
Great parking
Cons:
Some holes are close to one another, I heard four yelled a couple of times 
Other Thoughts:
Really had a good time on this course. Will be fun for advanced and novice both.
2
1
Zootaroonee
Experience:
15.7 years
114 played
3 reviews
love this course 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jan 3, 2011
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
concrete tees. multiple tees. there are either multiple tees or baskets for each hole. there are also some dirt tees marked with sunken posts that are kinda hard to find but it makes for a possible 4 courses in one depending on which baskets you are shooting at and from what tee. Not much elevation change so its easy to walk. They change the basket placements fairly often so it keeps you on your toes if you play there regularly. Tees 1 and 9 are almost right next to each other and between them are the 9 and 18 baskets so you can play either 1-9 or 10-18 or both and end up right back at your car. Plenty of trees to challenge any play style. Trash cans, benches, and well manicured grounds.
Cons:
the course intertwines so sometimes you might throw at someone 3-5 holes ahead of you by accident. Keep your head on a swivel here if you see more than one group as discs will come by you. The whole park in general is wicked fun but they only have porta-potties. Seems a shame considering how nice the rest of the place is.
Other Thoughts:
the two extra holes are at the far end of the park. they are marked as 13b and c ( i think its 13 anyway). They are easy enough to find tho~ they are at the other end of the course from where you start Most certainly if you are in Va Beach for any length of time you'll want to stop thru. There are on occasion big storms that go thru va beach and knock down trees. Sadly last year a couple *charlie brown kite eater* trees were knocked down and made the course different. The multiple basket placements were brought in to save the day.
Most certainly if you are in Va Beach for any length of time you'll want to stop thru. There are on occasion big storms that go thru va beach and knock down trees. Sadly last year a couple *charlie brown kite eater* trees were knocked down and made the course different. The multiple basket placements were brought in to save the day.
3
4
movieguy84
Experience:
16 years
28 played
21 reviews
A nice trip to VA 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jul 6, 2010
Played the course:once
Pros:
Everything is very well marked and it is easy to find your way around. There are multiple tees on some holes and multiple pins on others. the course is nice and open for all its shots. no areas were your disc can get lost.
Cons:
They say it is a 20 hole course i played all the yellow baskets and it was only 18 so i think you might have to play a combo of red and yellow to hit 20. all the holes are simple and range from 200 to at most 318 feet so not a very big distace challenge for how open the course is.
Other Thoughts:
This was my first course i played outside of new york and it was well worth the time to stop by and play it.
2
3
xxxvictimizerxxx
Experience:
20.9 years
12 played
9 reviews
Bayville - Virginia Beach DG 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:May 2, 2004
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
Love this course. The first course I have ever played and still love coming back home to play it.
If you are just getting going this is a great course to do it at. Most of the holes are fairly short. There are holes of all variety. Left and right hooking. Center placed tree obstacles. Short finesse shots.
And its really hard to lose a disc here! Not a lot of thick anything to get lost in.
If you are just getting going this is a great course to do it at. Most of the holes are fairly short. There are holes of all variety. Left and right hooking. Center placed tree obstacles. Short finesse shots.
And its really hard to lose a disc here! Not a lot of thick anything to get lost in.
Cons:
The only con I would really say Bayville has is its lack of distance. Being a short course overall, there are no real chances to test your arm. I have not been back yet since the additional two holes were put in though.
Other Thoughts:
If you are in VB and you have your discs...this is the place to play.
1
1
robz85
Experience:
1 played
1 reviews
home course 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Apr 11, 2010
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
this is a great course to start playing on. the short tees to the short baskets are great for beginers. this course has 3 tee positions and 2 basket positions on most holes so it can be played in many different ways
Cons:
on the weekends the course can be very crouded, but most of the people are good about letting faster smaller groups play thru
Other Thoughts:
i have been playing this course for almost 15 years and it never seems to get old. they are always working on adding new basket locations to change the design
1
3
Dooley
Experience:
30.9 years
102 played
12 reviews
Great VIrginia Course 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Aug 7, 2009
Played the course:2-4 times
Pros:
Benches and Bag Holders near every cement tee pad.. Great signs with several holes offering dual tees. All holes also feature a second longer red basket to play to as well , making this really two courses in one.
Cons:
Some holes are pretty tight, so some luck is needed to drive the basket. All hole are similar in that the terrain and tree density is consistent, No water and no elevation to consider.
Other Thoughts:
There are friendly locals who play here, and the park itself is pretty good for picnics.
2
7
Riley
Experience:
16.2 years
11 played
3 reviews
Great Local Course. 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Aug 23, 2008
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
Great fun playing here. Technical shots are a must on some holes which makes this course what it is. Great people and fun holes. Play this course for a while and your putting will be tops.
Cons:
No real crusher holes.
Other Thoughts:
It's my home course and i love it. Great place just to chill with other golfers. Paul is usually there selling discs out of his van and has a great inventory for a mobile disc golf supplier.
