-Good for beginners
-Solid place for practing putting and approach for advanced players
-Relaxing walk through a nice park on Umass campus
-A couple ace run shots
-Good variety of shots

-Easy to lose disc in high grass on most shots
-Only 9 holes
-Grass tees

-Hope it becomes 18 because these 9 are pretty basic

Definitely a fun little 9 hole loop that hopefully garners enough positive attention from the campus to be turned into the full 18 hole course it is planned to be. No, it is not a full course yet and there is of course some work that can still be done, but considering this was day one, I think it was quite a lot of fun. Most of the course was midrange or putter drives 200-320 feet, and it made good use of the elevation and land UMass allowed to be touched. Hole 1 is a short, mildly downhill shot in the open, woods waiting for you if you go long or left. Hole 2 is about 350 but so far downhill that it is a midrange shot. There is a cluster of trees and rough if you go short or right, so if you don't have the arm to make it, take the left hand route and settle for a three. Hole 3 is easy but there is water in play (see cons). 4 has a long (over 500ft) and short tee and we played long once, short twice. The long tee isn't too bad and definitely has a well thought out fairway, but the rough is ridiculously painful right now, so we decided to avoid any risk. Hole 5 is a flick (RHFH) or turnover (RHBH) to a basket protected by some trees and woods/rough waiting for anyone who goes short, but again, if you don't have the distance you can take an easy three by throwing a straight shot to the gap, then shooting in towards the basket. Hole 6 is a short little hole that is an easy birdie. 8 is a fun shot that can be attacked from a couple different angles, just the right number of trees/obstacles to keep you honest. Hole 9 can also be approached from a flick, turnover, placement shot or big hyzer over the trees. It conveniently finishes the loop not far from hole 1 so you can get started up again.

Once you get to the course (I agree it can be difficult to find if you don't know where to go), the signage is great and guides your from hole to hole easily.

Still unfinished, the rough is rough and full of thorns. Not a clearly defined line on hole 7. The rough there is also quite punishing, (nicked a vine and went careening deep into the thorns). People are not supposed to touch the pond by hole 3, but I am worried someone will go in anyway and ignore the signs. Maybe that basket should be moved a little back from the water. Can see parking without a permit being an issue during afternoons (plenty of free parking after 5pm).

As a local and a grad student at this school, I hope the course is a success. Being able to have a course to go to whenever for practice is great. I also hope that it being on campus will help get students curious about the sport and hopefully attract new players. I know I will be bringing as many of my non DGing buddies out to try the sport finally, since it is much easier to convince them to go on a 5 minute walk than a 30 minute drive to try this game out.

For anyone who doesn't know the campus well, you can find hole 1 right by the observatory: http://parking.umass.edu/imag...orParking.pdf