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Tylersport, PA

Bootlegger's Cave

3.355(based on 23 reviews)
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13 0
Ryal
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 7 years 222 played 187 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Speak Easy For Bootlegger's 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 16, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

+ The course takes place in an adventurous forest with plenty of trees, more than enough boulders, several noticeable hills and even a pretty pond in play.
+ All holes have two baskets in play. One is the easier and permanent 'tire' basket. The other basket would seem to change locations every now and again.
+ About half of the tee areas are either concrete or flat bouldertop.
+ The metal tee signs have holes in them by each pin position for the 'current basket' system. To denote which position the basket is in, a zip tie is fed through the respective hole.
+ Friendly locals.
+ The practice pin is open and noticeable, but...

Cons:

- ...that's because the practice pin is on a curb-less island in the middle of the parking lot.
- Some tee signs have no distances on them at all!
- The 'next hole' signage is almost non-existent. Yes, there is a map available, but we are not meant to review the map. This is about the course.
- The other half of the tee areas are dirt and pebbles.
- Since this is a majorly forested hole, there is little to differentiate one hole from another.

Other Thoughts:

My favorite hole to look at was hole 13. That peaceful pond on the left, the nice open fairway and the quaint OB mini gazebo all pulled together to make a peaceful image. My favorite hole to play was hole 4. Even though I completely screwed up my drive, I always love a good downhill glide. My least favorite hole is hole 1 because it was the plainest of the wooded holes.

All of this course is one big obstacle. If you are the kind of player that loves to air out your throws and watch it glide for scores of yards, then this course may not be for you. There are three holes that can be described as 'open,' but the majority of this course is full of tunnels, tree dodging and rocky hills. That's a good thing for those players who prefer placement and accuracy but not so good for those players who prefer courses to have variety and changing scenery.

Simply put, this course can get repetitive. The giant rocks are cool, the huge trees are fun to dodge, and the hills are a challenge to deal with, but sometimes it all feels like one long continuous hole in how not much distinguishes one hole from the next. It does give some room to stretch your legs in hole 9 and then 13 & 14 with that nice pond in play, but everywhere else is constant woods navigation. Again, many people may prefer that and many might not. These reviews are mostly subjective, anyway.

I didn't like the fact that there were almost no 'next hole' signs. That's always a major factor for me. I was lucky enough to arrive at the same time as the local club holding a tag match. A few times, I had to ask them where the next tee pad was, and they graciously helped me out. For the times when I was on my own, it was an unpleasant time trying to guess for myself exactly where to go next.

Also, let me quickly bring up that practice pin one more time. Why is it positioned among where the cars park? That seems avoidably dangerous. Why put players in the one spot where a bunch of vehicles are coming and going? Is there really no other place to put it?

Despite these criticisms, I enjoyed my time at Bootlegger's Cave DGC. The terrain and obstacles are just the kind of thing that I like in a disc golf course. It's just a shame that there wasn't much else and that the tee pads were half good, half clumpy dirt. Considering the property they are working with, I am not sure what else there can be, though. So, their use of the available land is pretty good and makes for an overall satisfying layout.

In closing, I strongly recommend Bootlegger's Cave for its rugged adventure forest-type disc golf. Just be sure to bring sturdy footwear. Leave the cart at home, and maybe leave the big gliders in the car. Oh, and there was no cave here. That was a bummer...
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8 1
The Valkyrie Kid
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 46 years 1562 played 1507 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Bootlegger’s Cave Is An Unique Experience And Is Betting Better And Better! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 2, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

Bootlegger's Cave Disc Golf Course is located at Boulderwoods Campground. There is no charge to play. The 19 hole course plays through an area strewn with boulders of all shapes and sizes. These boulders and the elevation gives this course a unique terrain for a course.

The course has only been open for three years and has been an ever evolving work in progress. They started with a nine hole course with re-tire baskets and have continued to add to the course ever since then. Currently there is a nice course sign and map at the beginning, out close to the road. The tee pads are natural. The signs, as of now, are old hand written ones. New metal signs are in and awaiting the posts to be set. There are now two sets of baskets, the old re-tire ones and the brand new "still with the new basket smell" Discatchers. Seriously, I could smell them before I spotted them. The Discatchers are generally 30' to 75' longer than the old re-tire models.

Understand that this is a semi-wilderness course. Although parts of the course are less than a block from the highway and the traffic noise is loud, the course is extremely rugged and treacherous to walk on. It seems as though you are always climbing or going down. The rough is rough between the boulders and the downed trees. You really want to stay on wha5 passes for the fairways here.

Hole # 3 is simply put, amazing. Any course in the world would be thrilled to have this hole on their course. It's just about 225' but the basket is over beyond two giant boulders. Then the basket is placed precariously on another boulder just feet from a 15' drop-off. It's a simple touch shot but there are mute ways to get into trouble. A possible birdie can quickly turn into a 6 or 7.

Then you follow up # 3 with a really cool downhill shot. The tee pad has been built into the boulders up above. This is probably about a 240' throw but you have a fairly minuscule window to hit.

# 9 is a great, innovative tee pad. It's a large flat boulder which slopes ever so gently upwards. There are a few other boulders used as tee pads but this one is the coolest.

# 12 is supposed to be another awesome holes. I actually missed it trying to follow the old signs. Hopefully, new signs and next tee arrows under the basket will remedy this problem.

Cons:

Besides the need for the new signs and some kind of concrete or block tee pads, the biggest issue I had with the course might not affect others. At my age, I found navigating all these boulders, hills and downed tees to be exhausting and hard on my knees.

Furthermore, it mentally wore me out too. Here, every drive you throw seemingly disappears into the boulders and rough. It seems you can never just walk up and spot your disc. I spent 15 minutes hunting for my disc in the middle of the fairway on a simple little 175' drive. Somehow, my disc had slid underneath one of the large boulders. Only my persistence and cheapness persevered in the end. I really don't know I spotted it but it is the most irreplaceable disc in my bag.

Other Thoughts:

When the upcoming improvements are finished, this will be a first class, wonderfully unique disc golf experience. I think to find something similar, you may have to travel to southeast Utah and play the famous Moab Mountain course.

One of the course designers, Nick, is extremely enthusiastic about this course. I talked to him both before and after playing and he was quite willing to listen to my comments and criticisms. He showed me the new metal signs which are great. There are sign poles lying near many tee pads. There has been some really creative thought designing and building baskets and tee pads into these boulders.

Nick told me the area's more serious players have shunned this course with it's re-tire baskets and natural pads. Well gentlemen, I'm sure, no matter what your playing level is, if you come out here, you will enjoy yourself and being challenged at the same time. The new baskets are in, the new signs are coming soon and the tee pads are in the planning stage. This course is beyond creative!
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8 0
itsRudy
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 7.9 years 74 played 64 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Hiking With A Touch of DG

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jan 15, 2023 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

BC is extremely rocky with huge boulders and I know of no other course like it in SE PA. Even more so than Nockamixon or French Creek. BC makes them look like smooth skating rinks in comparison. There are many paths where you won't touch dirt for a number of steps, navigating up and down boulders and rock throughout the fairways.

I played Bootlegger's Cave several times before Covid and there has been changes since. Highway construction has been going on for a while, putting holes 5&6 out of commission. Other holes have changed a bit over time.

The old short tire-baskets average about 235' while the newer professional baskets are about 310'. The fairways were appropriate in width and brush is usually not of immediate concern. However, trees and kicks aplenty on almost every hole. It's challenging and has kept up with my skill level.

There are a number of natural (boulder) tees and a number of good concrete tees have been built along with some outdoor seats and tables for sitting - highly appreciated - while the owner made sure to still provide a backwoods spin doing so.

+A par on this course would feel like an accomplishment.

Cons:

Never go here when there's rain, snow, or ice on the ground. Simply too dangerous. If you have problems hiking or climbing rocks, then this course isn't a good fit. Carts are a definite no go.

Even with 6+ playthroughs, I get lost after time fades the course from memory. Next Tee signs are sporadic. uDisc or photographing the course map is a must.

Tee signs up but a bit annoying, I don't think they give an accurate flow of the hole. There are a possible 4 pins per sign as printed, but usually there's only two in reality. It's really difficult to tell from the tee or even halfway down which tire basket was what and sometimes I threw at pins belonging to another hole entirely.

Maybe a colorful coat of paint on those old dogs would help a lot. Or perhaps nip the problem in the bud and just retire a number of tire baskets. Simplify, simplify.

Other Thoughts:

You're going to either completely love or loathe the course, mostly due to the terrain, which is unique amongst its local peers. Execution is good, the owner obviously cares about the course. At the same time I think parts could be greatly simplified for a better experience for newcomers and seasoned players alike.

Upkeep was good with no trash, sadly no gags either since my last play. I can't tell if it's more difficult to navigate or to reach par. Certainly is no walk in the park.

I seen several player groups on a Sunday but suspect it's one of the lesser played courses in the area. Overall, it's a fun, different course for those who like hikes, breaking their ankles and nature.
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3 0
EJLESQ
Experience: 3 played 3 reviews
3.50 star(s)

A hidden surprise in Montgomery County 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 27, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Really good hike with some steep climbs and falls. Great workout.
- Well maintained and pretty good signage overall
- Challenging holes but not ridiculously difficult
- Some shorter, easier holes with birdie opportunities for the average disc golfer
- 19th hole is a good way to finish on a positive note

Cons:

- Not really a con, but this course can be physically demanding with a lot of residual boulders, which could cause issues for the less agile players.
- Somewhat hard to find for first timers. I recommend using Waze and entering "Boulder Woods". Enter the main entrance and sign in, they will direct you to the first tee which is an extra 30 second car ride.
- Some baskets are on top of boulders or hills requiring putts at weird angles.
- As many have mentioned, the signage to get to hole 15 is non-existent, which is surprising because I found the rest of the signage pretty good
- I find the boulder terrain to be a challenge and good exercise...looks like others find it annoying and a con.
- Also, some may find the homemade baskets with tires at the base a con. I don't think it made any difference in the game and it was kind of a neat quirk, like the subtle differences in baseball fields.

Other Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this course. I feel like this course is under the radar compared to other local courses, and many are unaware of this course. It is worth seeking out and getting to know.
Challenging but not super difficult for the moderate golfer. Mostly par 3's with a couple reachable in one shot and one par 4. If you're a Montgomery county player this is reasonably close drive and worth the extra couple of minutes.
Wear good shoes, perhaps even hiking boots. You will have shots that seem easy but your footing is limited thus increasing the difficulty in accuracy.
This is a camp ground some you may see some campers hanging around or fishing near the pond, but that is barely noticeable.
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3 0
thombo
Experience: 26.7 years 27 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 1, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Neat, unique little course. Great rock formations, some of which you tee from, a cool "cave", a bit of elevation change, and some fun pin placements. While the baskets were homemade and didn't look too functional, they actually caught discs much better than I expected. Overall it had a fun feel to it, just don't go there expecting a world class course or anything.

Cons:

Not super challenging layout-wise and holes were mostly short. The last hole going along the pond is kind of stupid in my opinion, water on the left, narrow green, and a mess of reeds on the right. There's challenging, and then there's "good luck not losing a disc on this hole," it's the latter which I've never been a fan of. We had to search for a while in the reeds for one of ours, and found another one in there while we were at it.

Other Thoughts:

As others mentioned, holes after the pond (after 15 I think) are hard to find, they are to the right through or before the gate I believe, NOT down the road/path on the left. Hole layout and next tee signage for the 2nd half of the course was lacking, making some baskets and tees hard to find. The Smile you're on Camera signs were a bit creepy too, couldn't find any cameras but nobody likes being watched without knowing where/by who. There's a private campground on site too, so this would make a nice little campout trip. I wouldn't drive a long ways to play this course but definitely worth checking out if you're nearby. I'd play it again.
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3 0
sidewinder22
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 17.8 years 304 played 198 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Bootlegged 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 29, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

19 short, fun and challenging holes playing along a boulder infested mountain side hardwood forest and pond to homemade tire baskets that catch quite well. Signage is adequate and navigation was fairly easy after finding the tee for hole 1.

Excellent use of the property's natural terrain features and interesting basket locations and gimmicks providing good variety. There is some disc golf gear available for purchase at the campground store/office.

Cons:

Some of the tees and walks are a bit rough. I'm sure some discs will be lost in the pond and the other side of the fence. I somehow missed holes 16-18, navigational signage could be improved after hole 15, or an available course map would have mitigated that.

Other Thoughts:

I definitely enjoyed playing Bootleggers Cave, despite my personal preference for some longer holes. I played the vast majority of the course with just my putter. Hole 2's green was probably my favorite with the raised basket on the rock formation. The cave between that and hole 3's deck tee is an interesting area to hang out. Lots of really fun holes here teeing off some large boulders and playing up and down the elevation. Also enjoyed the holes around the pond and the basket in the tiny gazebo that I almost aced.

I'm not sure what the bigger basket is doing in the middle of the fairway of hole 15. I saw some flags marked on the other side of the pond from that big basket so I threw that as an extra hole. I think there is a mando on hole 15 as well to stay to the right, which I'm not sure why?

At any rate, this is a fun short course to play and I'm sure most everyone else will enjoy it as well taken in that light.
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5 0
adlacro
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 18 years 152 played 125 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Throwing Plastic at Rubber? 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 28, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

It (for now, anyway) is a nine basket course. Tees are either natural or sometimes off boulders. Baskets are quite unique; they are made out of tires with chains in the middle and a top, different for a change (they catch well). The course is rather technical with several holes offering unique basket placements. One offered an elevated basket on a boulder with OB behind it, daring you to go for the ace but will punish the overthrow, another one hangs above a boulder. Tee signs offered at every hole, and they are good handmade signs. Every hole offers something different, and you're going to have to work for your birdies here. Campground on site. Check in before you play. Course is clean; let's keep it that way.

Cons:

If the course is wet, you will need to be really cautious traversing the course, and on the tees that utilize the boulders. One of the holes is not far from a fence near the turnpike. It would take a really bad and long hook to reach the highway; however, I probably wouldn't advise you climbing the fence (believe this was the hole after the elevated basket on the boulder).

Other Thoughts:

I got to take a look at some of the new holes that are being worked on, and this place will be a treat when all 18 are in sometime early next year. In addition to what is already a unique course, there will be a water throw, a basket in a gazebo, and others to follow. The course designer (who also designed Sellersville) once again did a good job with the land and with his signature basket locations. As for the nine that are down here, it is worth your time (when dry). Come see the cave, dare yourself to run the elevated baskets, and throw plastic (or rubber) at rubber...just hit the chains above the rubber, that is.
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5 0
owvanguard
Experience: 16 years 170 played 34 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Rocky Fun 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 27, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

This is a fun technical wooded course.

Most of the fairway shots are unique utilizing uphill, downhill, large boulders, cave.

Great bootleggers cave between hole 2 & 3

Great next tee signs between every hole.

Fun hanging basket.

Cons:

You need to watch your footing when walking up the fairway because of many rocks.

This course would be unplayable in the rain or right after it rains.

Tee of hole 9 needs to be more clearly defined.

The walk back from hole 9 to my car was not 100% clear.

Other Thoughts:

The campground staff was very friendly and helpful. No course fee but I would suggest buying ice cream or water just to stay in good standings.

Must check in at office before playing your round.

The baskets are made of a tire, metal and chains. They work great for this casual round feeling.

I would remove more rocks to create clearer paths whenever possible.

I had a great time today at Bootlegger's Cave.

Most of the downed trees will be burned at the end of the summer bonfire soon.
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4 0
Woodchipper
Experience: 24 years 30 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Fun Afternoon 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 14, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

The proprietors are very friendly. I stopped at the office as the course description on this site suggests). One of the owners and one of the course designers played a round with me to help understand the course layout.

There are hole markers with distance, par, and drawing of basket placement. I have tried courses in PA with almost no information on site.

The course has Re-Tire baskets. Just as fun as mach3 or Discatcher. I've played target courses and always prefer a basket to a paint mark on a tree, or pvc pole to hit.

I was pleasantly surprised at the difficulty of play. A few other nearby courses have holes in the range of 200 feet, but are wide open. This course is well wooded. You will have to earn any birdies.

1st tee is close to a main campground road and subsequent tees are close to the previous basket. You won't spend time searching for the next tee.

Cons:

Like any wooded course, you don't want to wear flip flops. Until it gets broken in further- keep an eye on your footing.

some may be deterred by the fact that it is part of a campground (a privately owned business, not a public park). I stopped in expecting to pay a fee for a day pass. The owners asked if I intended to hand around to use the pool or fishing pond. I said I was leaving after I try the course and they waived the fee.
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4 0
foulal
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

first review 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 25, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This course isn't complete yet so... as it stands as a playable 9 hole course I would definitely recommend playing here. With only 9 holes complete so far, there are a few "signature " type holes already! It's terrain is very unique and the designer incorporated that into the layout. You'll find d the course very easy to navigate as there are signs to guide you. The baskets are like New and are visible on nearly every hole. There is a store on site where you can eat, use a restroom, camp, purchase disc golf equip., swim, relax etc... I can't wait for the next 9 to complete the course!

Cons:

Back 9 aren't in yet, the course is still blooming so the next year or two will " break in " the course. The course is still having growing pains and needs a little attention to the rough along the fairways but that's to be expected as a course Is created.

Other Thoughts:

I would highly recommend camping here for a weekend and playing this course as well as some of the many others in the area. I hope once the course is completed there will be an inaugural tournament / event for the campers and the locals. Great course in the making!
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