Campgaw is a well-kept set of courses in a county park. The layouts wrap around a public ski facility (up one side, across the top, across some wide ski slopes, down the other side). Rocky ground and steep elevations mean it's not cart-friendly. The Blue/Black layout requires several trips up to the top - it's a real cardio workout

+ Concrete tees have been installed steadily over recent years. There are brooms, benches, and very good hand-painted signs with maps. Navigation aids from basket to tee have been improved. Some of the tees and baskets are shared by all three layouts (Black, Blue, Green) so they can be a little confusing. But signs are color-coded and shaped to match the layout. All three layouts use DisCatchers (and they're not numbered) - so be careful about throwing to the right basket. The upkeep is first rate, and improvements are ongoing - so many of the infrastructure issues cited in earlier reviews have been addressed


+ Even if you still come across a natural tee or a fading sign, the holes are what makes this place so good. Yes, the elevation: up, down, off a skill hill and watching the disc glide forever. But also lots of wooded holes with tight lines, and great use of natural features like rock formations. Good balance of doglegs in each direction. Pretty much everything you could ask for, except a water carry

The only real Cons have to do with timing your play:


- The open ski slopes are "vertical meadows" and the grass grows in as the season goes on. It becomes knee-deep and troublesome on three or four holes. Because of the long grass on these Blue/Black holes, don't even try to play during the summer - unless you're there to get rid of discs you don't like


- Avoid playing the course after heavy rains. There are a lot of wet areas as water makes it's way downhill.


- Blue/Black isn't fully available during ski season

~ Don't count out the Green layout. It's a par 27, and quite a bit shorter, but it's got the woods and the elevation


~ Playing up, down and across a ski hill makes for great stories; especially the 1500' closing hole with an island green (not a typo. I think #18 Campgaw Black is still the longest existing permanent hole in disc golf). From the top to the bottom - 1500' - but hey, it's a par 5. And I understand Brinster tees with an overstable mid.

The Campgaw Reservation courses offer a great variety of challenge. This is set in a beautiful property, and I probably experienced the height of this playing in the peak of the fall colors. What adds to the experience is that as long as you're not playing while skiing is in session, you will most likely have this entire property to yourself (save for a few hikers) since this part of the property is dedicated to disc golf in the offseason.

The Black/Blue course is the bigger brother to the Green course. Although they play through much of the same area, the Blue - and more so the Black - layouts offer a very challenging round with long throw after long throw. To the credit of the design, however, these holes greatly differ throughout. There are a great mix of pars, with the Black layout having four par 5's. Variety is divided between long, tightly wooded holes, more moderately wooded, and a few wide open bombs. Hole 18 is of course the feature hole here, a 1,500' downhill ski hill bomber's delight. It doesn't get better than this if you crave these kind of shots.

The course's best feature is combining tree lines with constant elevation changes. There are seemingly endless uphill, downhill, and valley shots - some more dramatic than others. There are a couple of fun blind pin placements as well that are near ridges and steep inclines. With so many trees, you can form many different lines on most holes. I think that I would enjoy these courses the more I played them because of this.

Even though you're deep in the woods for much of the round, there is an impressively minimal risk of even having to search for discs.

Much-needed directional signage is in place throughout the course. Without this, it'd be rough for first-timers.

There is some confusion because the two courses overlap each other throughout the same property, with three total layouts. I'm never a fan of seeing multiple pins or tees in view and not sure which plays to which. This won't cause you to pull the hair out of your head, but there are definitely moments of searching and wandering because of this. It doesn't help that the baskets aren't all numbered either.

The course travels far away from the parking lot and never winds back close to it. This normally doesn't bother me, but this is a longer than average hike with a +9,000 feet course. Since there is a lot of winding back and forth around these ski hills, I lost my sense of direction mid-round. A map is recommended if you want to make a pit stop at some point.

While the Green layout is permanent, Blue/Black is seasonal because it uses the ski hill. Open April-November for this part, although you could get away with playing most of this layout no problem even in the winter.

Campgaw offers a tremendous variety of disc golf with three different layouts. This is a really awesome place to play if you like courses set deep in the woods, but at the same time, it is easily accessible in a lot of ways. More so than the other ski hill courses I've played. In fact, Campgaw blows any of those other ones out of the water.

Word of advice: call ahead to make sure it's available to play. You never know what is going on at these ski resorts. As we drove up the hill to the lodge, a policeman ran down and said we couldn't access the property because of police academy training. Luckily, we got ahold of someone from the lodge who explained to him why we were there and that the course wouldn't interfere with their training.

• Tremendous shot variety
• Interesting forest scenery
• Interesting wildlife here and there
• A bold set of courses

• Tees are mostly dirt
• A little tricky to navigate in spots
• No restrooms/water that I could see
• Lotsa bugs (could be seasonal)
• The ski run area has high grass that is VERY WET (again, likely seasonal)

Tips:
• Bring a map
• When you arrive, park and head towards the ski lifts. When you see buildings, walk in front of them and go all the way to the left into the forest to find tee #1. This wasn't totally clear to me on the map(s).

Random Thoughts:
So obviously you need to read both the Green and Blue/Black reviews to know what you're getting out here although this is one case where the three courses really are quite different. To start, this was my first 'ski lift' course and I was really looking forward to seeing what that would be like. Overall I was not disappointed. Fortunately, this was a small ski lift so it was more attainable from a physical exertion standpoint. Having said that though, be prepared. This is a good 2-3 hour hike, and I said 'hike' back there, not walk. It's pretty steep and pretty rocky in places, so wear proper foot wear and take care where you step. As for the course, my first bit of advice would be, don't think you're going to play more than one course at a time. Despite the sharing of some fairways and baskets, it's really not realistic considering the distances involved with the Blue/Black courses. Just stick to one and play another round if you have time, and I mean a lot of time. Like play a round, have a lunch, and come back for another, kind of time. The Blue/Black courses are truly epic in scale. I've played some long holes before but these are long COURSES. I started off playing the Green and immediately started noticing how long the Blues and Blacks were and how I'd be on #4 or 5 Green but only #3 Blue/Black. I mean DAYUM these holes are long. The baskets are nowhere in sight, and you better have 2-3 good/great shots in your bag per hole. These are the not f-ing around holes. That means 'beginners' stay on the Green. You're having no fun here. But for the above average set, I really think you'll like what you've got here. Just the pure ambition of setting up a multi-shot strategic course is pretty cool to me. Intimidating, but cool. I also liked that they were fair about par. They're not asking you to throw a 600' double-S shot in 3. It's a par 4 or 5. What's also nice about these courses is that you can see the 'fairways' pretty well, even though you can't see the baskets. It's well scouted out. Now, full disclosure, I did not play every hole. I ran out of time and had to pick and choose, but I did my best to at least look and walk each hole so I could see what was asked of the player. Of course, I did finish by playing the top of the world/ski lift shot which just makes you chuckle. You bomb the snot out of it and......you're not even halfway down the hill. So you bomb it again....and then one more shot to get within range of the basket. Funny good times.

Bottom Line:
Ambitious as all hell. Bring your A game, lotsa water, lunch, and some sort of emergency beacon should the course consume you. Even though the amenities are missing, I really feel like this sort of design should be encouraged and rewarded. Good job folks!

This challenging, physically exhausting and at times intimidating 18 hole course is fun for the casual gamer and pro.

Great variations from hole to hole with doglegs, straight shots, uphill, downhill and an awesome 18th.

Don't be too attached to your discs as they are easy to lose on certain holes and in the high grass of the ski slope.

Check for tics after you play and don't litter the course.

Uniquely featured on and around a ski slope, Campgaw Reservation DG course is a challenging exercise in disc golf. Most of the 18 holes are densely wooded, yet fair. No real copycat holes; a wide variety of shots needed for success here. Many signature holes- a nice uphill hyzer (hole 4), a tight tunnel shot from a 30 foot elevation (hole 9), a nice hole with the basket behind a mammoth boulder (hole 6) and of course the two bombs from the top of the ski slope (holes 15 and 18). Has two different layouts depending on the season. Nice baskets and multiple tee pads at most holes. Navigation is pretty easy with helpful 'next tee' signs spread throughout the course. Signage with distance and projected disc flight path posted. As with most top flight facilities, Campgaw has a loyal following and local club actively involved with year round maintenance and ventures.

The absence of cement tee pads and professional grade signs- two elements essential for any 4.5 or 5.0 rated DG course- is a bit disappointing and really the only things to complain about. Dirt tee off areas and terrain is brutal to travel after heavy rains.

Campgaw is the best course in New Jersey- a state devoid of many good disc golf facilities. Picturesque views, a unique layout and the novelty of throwing multiple times off a mountain all add to the allure of playing here. That said, this is not your casual afternoon round of disc golf. Rocky terrain, heavy repetitive climbing and steep shots are all part of the experience here and are not ideal for the novice player. There is no doubt, however, this course will help your game. A great experience which is totally worth your while.

--Two teepads for each hole.
--Lots of different types of shots required.
--Woods are difficult but not usually punishing.

--Teepads are often in bad shape. They're working on getting cement teepads, but it's been a long process.
--The Mighty layout is only available to play in the Spring and Fall. There isn't really anything that can be done about that: in the winter, there are people skiing, in the summer the parks department won't mow the grass because of nesting animals.

The course has two layouts: Winter & Summer is the Campgaw layout and Spring and Fall is the Mighty Layout.

They call it mighty for a reason: You'll climb up and down this ski hill almost three times during the course of one round. Lots of trees and rocks to beat you (and your discs) up. Lots of elevation change. This course will really test your abilities.

It is very likely that you will lose a disc at some point on this course. Be prepared with extras.