Please note that I am reviewing this course in its 18-hole format. I have not yet played the 9-hole format, which I hope to do in the coming year.

I just played a tournament in the 18-hole format which was quite delightful. I had not played this course before though I had been to Lake Marshall as a spectator for a professional event on the Lions course.

Lair and Lions are so far above my pay grade that I don't even consider them as something I could ever do myself. For those of us who fall into the recreational class of player, having a course that fits our skill level on this property of three courses is wisdom$$$ (a facility to attract most all skill levels). Indeed families and other groups that are not at the same skill level can play the different courses according to each person's ability and be in the same place (basically) at the same time! Drive to one park, choose your poison, and everybody has fun!

This little course is largely wooded, has a good deal of elevation change, and because the fairways are short in the 18-hole format, one is not demoralized if one is off the line. Recovery of some ilk is possible on most holes.

Seeing how two different layouts are integrated on one track is very intriguing and (I think) very well designed. When I play the 9-hole format, I will be able to judge better if the intervening baskets are in the way to the point of being problematic. At this point, I don't see that as being the case except perhaps on 9-hole nos. 1 and 3.

For those of us who struggle in the woods, this is a very good course to play to fine-tune your technique without a lot of concern about making a decent score. I think that's very encouraging.

Previously, I imagined that the course was flat, but it is far from that. It plays around the rim of ravines that feed into a very large marsh that borders maybe 1/3 of the course. You are walking down and then back up a good deal during the middle portion of play. These elevation changes give the small course (along with all the trees) a great deal of challenge.

The baskets do spit out your disc on occasion. Too hard of a throw and too light of a throw may end up on the ground. Something to keep in mind.

Tees are rather short. Varying materials. Some tees (2 and 16 on the 18-hole format) are really close to the previous hole's basket. Not a problem if few folks are on the course with you.

The hole markers can be initially confusing (1 or 2 low posts at the head of the tee pad) as well as hole signs on trees. The markings attempt to cover both the 9-hole and the 18-hole layouts. Once you get that straight in your mind, you know what you're doing and where you're going.

Where you are walking up or down a ravine, the wet leaves in fall and winter can be quite slippery. Take your time. Consider using a walking stick. Cut log "stairs" would be most welcome at some of the holes. I won't try to give the hole numbers because it would be confusing which I mean... But the designers know the places that are the steepest and slickest.

Since you pay money to play the courses at Lake Marshall, you'll have to think about how to get your money's worth if you are only playing Lambs. Lambs by itself (in either format) is probably not worth the effort to get to the place if you are coming from afar.

I have two ideas about that for myself: Play Lambs as part of an outing at Lake Marshall to attend a pro event as a spectator (if that is allowed). Or play Lambs with two discs (in either format, for 18 or for 36 holes) and walk around once. Even then I need to be doing something else in the area to support the effort to get to the place. Maybe I tack on Barnesfield and Turkey Hill for a full disc-golf day trip in Northern Neck Virginia connected to southern Maryland by the new Nice Bridge.

Comparing it to other small courses, I'm very impressed with Lambs. I think it is a very good little course. As noted by others, it can be used as a warm-up to the bigger courses on the property for those who are playing at intermediate level and above. However, if you're only playing Lambs and you are a recreational/novice player, you will not be disappointed.

While the course is often listed as a beginner course, it really isn't! I think if you brought your little children out here to teach them disc golf, they would be exhausted and in frustrated tears when you leave. Not the thing to do!

However, for teenagers and adults who have played some disc golf already and mastered the flat, open, true beginner's courses, this would be a good step up!

I play the ukulele and consider myself to be a low-intermediate player at this point in time with that instrument. There's a such thing as the advanced beginner in the ukulele world. Lambs is the course for the advanced beginner disc golfer.

The Lambs packs a wonderful array of challenges into a 9-hole course. Tight lines, ace runs, scary drop-offs near the baskets, and an undulating par 4. Elevation comes into play on most holes, sometimes in dramatic fashion. This was a fun round to play in a beautiful setting on a warm February day.

Other than one 500' par 4, the rest of the holes are 300' or less. Even so, players must earn birdies by hitting gaps or shaping lines off the tee. The Lambs is an excellent warm-up before playing the other courses on site, but also a challenging and enjoyable course in its own right. Nice mix of straight, left, and right-turning holes.

Generously sized carpet or turf teepads are well secured over fine gravel (but see cons). Low blocks on each tee show hole number and distance. No hole map but baskets feature an orange pole and yellow mini-band for visibility and are generally easy to spot. Benches are available throughout the course.

Navigation is pretty straightforward, with white arrows pointing the way between holes. I only checked my navigation app once or twice.

Ample parking near the payment box, with a practice basket, port-a-pot, and trash can located nearby. Practice basket has putting distances marked out to 60'. Signs to each of the three courses are clearly marked.

Had a very pleasant chat with the owner after my round.

Memorable holes:

Hole #4: The aforementioned 500' par 4 travels across a valley and then back up a big hill while turning gently left the whole way. Lots of adventure packed into one hole, especially if you kick off the fairway. Or so I hear.

Hole #3: Steeply downhill and tight, with an even steeper drop-off past the basket. One of the more treacherous 240' holes you are likely to play, and reminiscent of #4 at Maple Hill (and a variation on #10 at The Lair).

Hole #6: Straight 300' drive with undulating elevation along the fairway. The basket is raised on a stump and just visible over the last rise.

Single-chained baskets caught reasonably well, but better baskets would improve the course.

Teepads were carpet secured over fine gravel. Some tees seemed slightly uneven and affected my run-up.

The Lambs is strictly a woods course. A very good woods course, don't get me wrong, and I love playing in the woods, but The Lambs has less variety than the other courses on site.

The Lambs course and an 18-hole junior course occupy the same fairways, so sometimes baskets or teepads may be in range off the tee. The course was empty when I played so this was not a problem (other than chaining out on a "black ace") but players would need to exercise good judgment if the course was crowded.

This is a gorgeous site for a multi-course disc golf complex in the Northern Neck of Virginia, a peninsula between the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers. Sandy loam soil supports a picturesque forest of holly trees, tulip poplars, beeches, and laurels, and the course meanders through these woods with the lake serving as a scenic backdrop (and disc golf challenge at other Lake Marshall courses). I played during winter, but I would expect the site to be even lovelier during the growing season.

For a 9-hole course, The Lambs is a pretty good workout. You will hike up and down a quite a few hills, especially if (like me) you manage to kick off the fairway a time or three.

As of 2/2022 the daily fee was $10 weekdays and $15 weekends. With three fabulous courses included, this seems like a bargain to me. Clearly, fees are being used to create, maintain, and improve the courses.