This is a course that plays through and around some athletic fields in the front portion of Holyoke Community College and then around the woods going around the campus in the back 9. The terrain is somewhat hilly, with good use of elevation in the course design. In the front portion the grounds are very well kept, the grass mowed, etc..

I loved some of the tight shots and risk/reward opportunities on this course. Hole #1 starts off from behind the rec center and you have to get it just in behind the running track's high fence and the hill behind it. You'll find big uphill hyzer and anhyzer throws, roller opportunities, and both long and short holes (fun for big arms too).

And once you think you're getting tired of being in the open, you head into the back part, with tight wooded tunnel shots galore.

This is a great little course, and the vibe was very good when I was there in mid-June, and we only encountered a few other groups of players after playing many rounds.

A little bit hard to find and navigate at first. Get a map in the rec center or print the map you can find online. Be sure to turn right upon entering the campus, then take the first left into the parking lot and the 1st tee is literally several feet from the rear exit of the rec center.

Some buddies were bothered by poison oak and such in the back 9 (I'm immune to it, so I don't know).

Each time we played we had a few 6 packs and kept it low key...we were never bothered by anybody, and even the folks walking their dogs around were very friendly.

There must be an air force base nearby, because we had fighter jets screaming overhead all the time, doing crazy maneuvers, showing off, etc.. Just make sure they aren't coming up while you're putting, it is sure to distract you!

FREE! most holes(all but 4) are groomed by campus personel and are in great shape (most of the time),nice use of campus terrian-elevations, small O.O.B. pavement "rivers" and "ponds" to shoot over and around, mixed very open and very wooded holes, no water hazards to lose a disc in, nice mix of distance and finese shots, free map/scorecard is available in the gym (you have to walk around the building from the first tee but the second floor rear exit will put you right there after you stop at the info desk), couple tourneys a year too!

few muddy tee boxes(all natural), crossing the softball field can be a problem...( but a schedule of practices and games is avaiable on the HCC website), same can be said of the parking lots and roads on weekdays when school is in, navigation for a first timer-(esp. without a map!) can be tricky, the back nine are a bit of walk from where the front stops, on windy days a score over 100 is possible- the winds just tear across the open fields and even small gusts can lift a disc up, up, and away!, the few wooded holes- 11, 12, and 15 could usually use a good clearing in summer and fall Update- the back nine are freshly groomed and look great, leaves are raked, fairways are just limbed and the brush is clear, Kudos to the guys!

what a great free course! Jay did a helluva job putting it together, and since the back 9 cages went in- just super. the placement of the cages on the front nine makes for much harder shots than they appear- the few things that are in the way always seem to be in the way and the sloped greens are deadly. I think that 15 needs a mando to keep it a dog leg to the left- its easy to cheat over the road and float into the green...Update- spoke to Jay (course designer) today and he likes the "cheat" over the road as a risk/reward shot!