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Pineland Farms - Patriot reviews
5
0
I Saw the Future of Disc Golf and it is Pineland Farms 2+ years
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Oct 9, 2016
Played the course:once
Pros:
-Pay to pay, $5 per round and worth every penny. A true destination course and a unique disc golf experience.
-Set on a breathtakingly beautiful working farm. Stunning views from many holes
-A true "Gold Level" test of skills with 7 true par fours, and many long and challenging par threes. At 7,155 feet you need to be able to throw long, but also will need accuracy to negotiate the wooded holes and to play smart to handle the elevation changes.
-Clean lines, usually but multiple options, but you'll need to execute well. On many holes a "just miss" is going to get you struggling to salvage par.
-Immaculately maintained. Fairways mowed, not a bit of trash or litter anywhere.
-Practice basket available near first tee.
-Built up tee boxes with rubber pads. All appropriately sized for the hole length.
-New DiscCatcher baskets, well mounted. All of the greens are fair with no 'gimmick' hazards, but several feature "turtleback" terrain. Get too aggressive and miss a putt you might find your come-backer is a little further than you'd like
-Trash cans with lids and benches on every holes.
-Pro shop with a good selection and knowledgeable staff, with bathrooms and a changing area. Upstairs is the Pineland Farms Marketplace with a full deli and a dining room with terrific views. Pineland Farms amenities match or exceed those of a good public ball golf country club.
-Safety is fine, little chance on an errant shot on one hole threating other groups. The course does have some hiking / cross-country ski trails the occasionally cross fairways, but things seem to be well marked and traffic is light enough I don't see this as a problem.
-Navigation is easy. Good signage with Explore Disc Golf's great "watercolor style" hole drawings. Also scorecard and course map available at the pro shop.
-Solid mix of wooded and open holes that favor no particular throwing style.
-It's Maine, Lobster Rolls, blueberry pie, and shopping at LL Bean conveniently nearby.
-Set on a breathtakingly beautiful working farm. Stunning views from many holes
-A true "Gold Level" test of skills with 7 true par fours, and many long and challenging par threes. At 7,155 feet you need to be able to throw long, but also will need accuracy to negotiate the wooded holes and to play smart to handle the elevation changes.
-Clean lines, usually but multiple options, but you'll need to execute well. On many holes a "just miss" is going to get you struggling to salvage par.
-Immaculately maintained. Fairways mowed, not a bit of trash or litter anywhere.
-Practice basket available near first tee.
-Built up tee boxes with rubber pads. All appropriately sized for the hole length.
-New DiscCatcher baskets, well mounted. All of the greens are fair with no 'gimmick' hazards, but several feature "turtleback" terrain. Get too aggressive and miss a putt you might find your come-backer is a little further than you'd like
-Trash cans with lids and benches on every holes.
-Pro shop with a good selection and knowledgeable staff, with bathrooms and a changing area. Upstairs is the Pineland Farms Marketplace with a full deli and a dining room with terrific views. Pineland Farms amenities match or exceed those of a good public ball golf country club.
-Safety is fine, little chance on an errant shot on one hole threating other groups. The course does have some hiking / cross-country ski trails the occasionally cross fairways, but things seem to be well marked and traffic is light enough I don't see this as a problem.
-Navigation is easy. Good signage with Explore Disc Golf's great "watercolor style" hole drawings. Also scorecard and course map available at the pro shop.
-Solid mix of wooded and open holes that favor no particular throwing style.
-It's Maine, Lobster Rolls, blueberry pie, and shopping at LL Bean conveniently nearby.
Cons:
-With only one tee and one basket per hole, this is a Gold Level course and is very challenging for rec players and will certainly "beat up" beginners. I'd recommend taking beginners to nearby Sabbatus and let them cut their teeth on "the Owl" and "the Hawk" a few times before stepping up to the awesomeness of Pineland Farms.
-If you are used to the generous pars of many of the Maine pay-for-play courses, getting beat up by the layout of Pineland Farms could be tough on the ego. What I did was arbitrarily adjust some of the pars for myself: the fourth hole at 625' was a challenge for my arm in the weather conditions I was playing in, so I just told myself it was a par five. Nailed a 20' putt, took my 5, and happily moved on. Many of the longer par threes, like the 337' #17, were a par 3 ½ for me.
-If you are used to the generous pars of many of the Maine pay-for-play courses, getting beat up by the layout of Pineland Farms could be tough on the ego. What I did was arbitrarily adjust some of the pars for myself: the fourth hole at 625' was a challenge for my arm in the weather conditions I was playing in, so I just told myself it was a par five. Nailed a 20' putt, took my 5, and happily moved on. Many of the longer par threes, like the 337' #17, were a par 3 ½ for me.
Other Thoughts:
In 1974 jaded rock critic Jon Landau wrote "I saw rock and roll future and its name is Bruce Springsteen" after being wowed by the then unknown act that blew the doors off a small club in Boston. Along with courses like Brewster Ridge at Smuggler's in Vermont, Frost Valley in New York, Sabittus just down the road, and Maple Hill in Massachusetts, there is an undeniable trend, disc golf is heading for a level of quality in the northeast that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. Pineland Farms is a natural evolution in the top echelons of destination courses.
Hole-by-hole
#1 - your basic basket across an open field, 295' away, when the wind is down this is an easy par for a rec player and top players will see it as an ace run. Get a little too aggressive any you could catch the slope past the basket, but this is a pretty run-of-the mill hole. Don't let that fool you. You won't see another "boring" hole on this course again. By the turn you might be wishing for such boredom.
#2- Tee downhill across some scruff into a gap in the trees and negotiate right to left to the basket. You'll have to hit a tight line, there are many trees to grab an errant shot, and if you are unfortunate enough to kick left (or hard right) you are in a pretty impenetrable forest. Pitch out and take your bogie. At 390' this par three is a challenge for all skill levels. A big well placed RHBH hyzer might get you close, but it will take both power and precision. Nasty hole for a rec player, better be on your game!
#3 - Not my favorite hole on the course, very short (188'), sharp dogleg right uphill to a protected basic. There are lots of "early trees" to keep you honest. Really takes a hard turning mid to get close, tough shot shape for most players. The removal of one tree might make this a better hole, but the removal of two trees would make this too easy. When you stand on the tee you'll know immediately the trees I'm thinking of.
#4 - Tee off from an elevated tee to a basket 625' away across a manicured pasture to a basket set atop a grassy nob. This is one of the most beautiful par fours I've ever played, with the Maine hills and farmland framed in the distance. A couple of subtle challenges in the design... first the tee box points you slightly right of the basket... and even though it's a pretty open fairway it does "pinch" near the landing area and can give you some trouble to the right. The second is the basket is up on a "nob". Any flaws in your approach in any direction will be magnified by the slope. As a Rec player, I played this a par five, though big arms will be able to take a birdie run.
#5 - Hole four "in reverse" parallel to #4 fairway, tee back to a basket up hill and tucked just into the woods. This one measures 530' but plays a little longer with the elevation. Winds can offer challenges on #4 and #5, you'll be diving in an open area and the gentle sloping terrain can create some swirling winds that are hard to read.
#6 - A 492' undulating challenge along a cross-country ski path with a basket up in a clearing with a spectacular view of the white barns and pastures beyond. Again, some power and precision is needed on this narrow par four, with woods closing in. Get careless with your approach and the slope will cause havoc.
Hole 7 - Cross the road a short hike up to the next tee to enter the wooded part of the course. Seven is a bit uphill at the end, narrow and straight along a logging road to a protected green. At 406' this is the shortest par four on the course, but that doesn't necessarily translate to "easiest".
Hole 8 - A long par 3 up a logging road, again to a basket well protected by some birches and pines. Takes some precision to get close enough for a birdie look. The logging road runs from left to right in front of the tee, but I wouldn't really call this a dogleg. If you catch the right line you can go straight at the basket. The woods on the left slope off, go too far left and you can make for a difficult recovery shot.
Hole 9 - An longer par 3, 357' through the woods with trouble lurking just off the fairway. There are some lines to the basket in there, but you must hit a tight line. Again, as a rec player, I played this as a par 4 and even then it took some shot making to make that.
Hole 10 - A tight wooded par four, with a blind shot from the tee. At 546' a good shot to the clearly defined landing area still leaves a demanding tight shot to the basket. The sign shows this as a dogleg left, but depending on where you hit the landing area it can be relatively straight. As a player who struggles to throw 250' with any accuracy, I'll have to say these middle round holes in the woods were very challenging.
Hole 11 - Another blind tee shot, at 358' a long and tight par three. Eleven's sign shows it a fairly straight, but the line I the basket was tucked away to the left pretty far. Again, I played this as a par four.
Hole 12 - Another long 393' par three, maybe a little less dense forest then the previous few holes. For a rec player you are probably feeling pretty beat up at this point. From hear out it gets a touch easier.
Hole 13 - A little shorter, at least you can easily see the basket from this tee. Maybe a little right to left, still tight lines for a 277' hole.
Hole 14 - A favorite! Tee from an elevated tee box in the woods, through a pretty big opening (just miss hat one tree in the middle). The Fairway opens up pretty well, at 291' this is the first one that plays a little shorter than the posted distance with that elevation change. Still, some slope around the basket if you get careless. This is a pretty and fun hole and for a rec player your first real birdie chance since #1. After you tee you can't go down the slope, be sure to follow the path around to the left to prevent erosion in a sensitive area.
Hole 15 - A big dogleg left to right. If you try to cut the dogleg too close your can get yourself in big trouble, but some spindly trees just left of the tee-box keeps you from playing it too safe. Beautiful vista of colorful hardwoods on the mid October day I played this.
Hole 16 - You are probably tired and hungry at this point. At the tee box you are greeted with a sign with the menu from the Marketplace. Good sandwiches. A short par 3, 207' over a drainage area with the basket on an "S" shaped levy. Short, long, left, or right and you're left with an uphill approach. Place your drive well and you'll card your birdie.
Hole 17 - At 337' this par three requires you to hit a gap in the woods to get a run to the basket. Even if you hit the gap, you'll find some well-placed trees for you to make a solid approach to this basket. If you miss the gap, the woods are pretty thick, you probably will need to pitch it back to the fairway and take your bogie.
Hole 18 - A dramatic finishing hole, tees from down out of the woods out to a basket in the open up on the hill, a slight dogleg right-to-left. A big drive will leave a run at birdie. Get greedy and make a mistake on the drive and bogie is possible. Could be a two shot swing in a tight match. A bit of a walk back to the pro shop, parking lot, and the Marketplace.
Hole-by-hole
#1 - your basic basket across an open field, 295' away, when the wind is down this is an easy par for a rec player and top players will see it as an ace run. Get a little too aggressive any you could catch the slope past the basket, but this is a pretty run-of-the mill hole. Don't let that fool you. You won't see another "boring" hole on this course again. By the turn you might be wishing for such boredom.
#2- Tee downhill across some scruff into a gap in the trees and negotiate right to left to the basket. You'll have to hit a tight line, there are many trees to grab an errant shot, and if you are unfortunate enough to kick left (or hard right) you are in a pretty impenetrable forest. Pitch out and take your bogie. At 390' this par three is a challenge for all skill levels. A big well placed RHBH hyzer might get you close, but it will take both power and precision. Nasty hole for a rec player, better be on your game!
#3 - Not my favorite hole on the course, very short (188'), sharp dogleg right uphill to a protected basic. There are lots of "early trees" to keep you honest. Really takes a hard turning mid to get close, tough shot shape for most players. The removal of one tree might make this a better hole, but the removal of two trees would make this too easy. When you stand on the tee you'll know immediately the trees I'm thinking of.
#4 - Tee off from an elevated tee to a basket 625' away across a manicured pasture to a basket set atop a grassy nob. This is one of the most beautiful par fours I've ever played, with the Maine hills and farmland framed in the distance. A couple of subtle challenges in the design... first the tee box points you slightly right of the basket... and even though it's a pretty open fairway it does "pinch" near the landing area and can give you some trouble to the right. The second is the basket is up on a "nob". Any flaws in your approach in any direction will be magnified by the slope. As a Rec player, I played this a par five, though big arms will be able to take a birdie run.
#5 - Hole four "in reverse" parallel to #4 fairway, tee back to a basket up hill and tucked just into the woods. This one measures 530' but plays a little longer with the elevation. Winds can offer challenges on #4 and #5, you'll be diving in an open area and the gentle sloping terrain can create some swirling winds that are hard to read.
#6 - A 492' undulating challenge along a cross-country ski path with a basket up in a clearing with a spectacular view of the white barns and pastures beyond. Again, some power and precision is needed on this narrow par four, with woods closing in. Get careless with your approach and the slope will cause havoc.
Hole 7 - Cross the road a short hike up to the next tee to enter the wooded part of the course. Seven is a bit uphill at the end, narrow and straight along a logging road to a protected green. At 406' this is the shortest par four on the course, but that doesn't necessarily translate to "easiest".
Hole 8 - A long par 3 up a logging road, again to a basket well protected by some birches and pines. Takes some precision to get close enough for a birdie look. The logging road runs from left to right in front of the tee, but I wouldn't really call this a dogleg. If you catch the right line you can go straight at the basket. The woods on the left slope off, go too far left and you can make for a difficult recovery shot.
Hole 9 - An longer par 3, 357' through the woods with trouble lurking just off the fairway. There are some lines to the basket in there, but you must hit a tight line. Again, as a rec player, I played this as a par 4 and even then it took some shot making to make that.
Hole 10 - A tight wooded par four, with a blind shot from the tee. At 546' a good shot to the clearly defined landing area still leaves a demanding tight shot to the basket. The sign shows this as a dogleg left, but depending on where you hit the landing area it can be relatively straight. As a player who struggles to throw 250' with any accuracy, I'll have to say these middle round holes in the woods were very challenging.
Hole 11 - Another blind tee shot, at 358' a long and tight par three. Eleven's sign shows it a fairly straight, but the line I the basket was tucked away to the left pretty far. Again, I played this as a par four.
Hole 12 - Another long 393' par three, maybe a little less dense forest then the previous few holes. For a rec player you are probably feeling pretty beat up at this point. From hear out it gets a touch easier.
Hole 13 - A little shorter, at least you can easily see the basket from this tee. Maybe a little right to left, still tight lines for a 277' hole.
Hole 14 - A favorite! Tee from an elevated tee box in the woods, through a pretty big opening (just miss hat one tree in the middle). The Fairway opens up pretty well, at 291' this is the first one that plays a little shorter than the posted distance with that elevation change. Still, some slope around the basket if you get careless. This is a pretty and fun hole and for a rec player your first real birdie chance since #1. After you tee you can't go down the slope, be sure to follow the path around to the left to prevent erosion in a sensitive area.
Hole 15 - A big dogleg left to right. If you try to cut the dogleg too close your can get yourself in big trouble, but some spindly trees just left of the tee-box keeps you from playing it too safe. Beautiful vista of colorful hardwoods on the mid October day I played this.
Hole 16 - You are probably tired and hungry at this point. At the tee box you are greeted with a sign with the menu from the Marketplace. Good sandwiches. A short par 3, 207' over a drainage area with the basket on an "S" shaped levy. Short, long, left, or right and you're left with an uphill approach. Place your drive well and you'll card your birdie.
Hole 17 - At 337' this par three requires you to hit a gap in the woods to get a run to the basket. Even if you hit the gap, you'll find some well-placed trees for you to make a solid approach to this basket. If you miss the gap, the woods are pretty thick, you probably will need to pitch it back to the fairway and take your bogie.
Hole 18 - A dramatic finishing hole, tees from down out of the woods out to a basket in the open up on the hill, a slight dogleg right-to-left. A big drive will leave a run at birdie. Get greedy and make a mistake on the drive and bogie is possible. Could be a two shot swing in a tight match. A bit of a walk back to the pro shop, parking lot, and the Marketplace.
3
3
Jmewhite1
Experience:
24 played
13 reviews
Best course in the state 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Jul 12, 2016
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
Lots to say about this place! First off if you have never been to Pineland Farms you are in for a treat. Once a Mental Hospital in the early 1900's. Now Pineland Farms is a 5,000 acre farm and recreational property with a variety of other seasonal activities, such as trail running, mountain biking, and cyclo-cross and most recently Disc Golf (not seasonal?)
The property can be used to host corporate meetings, retreats, weddings, picnics, etc. The facilities include a conference center and banquet room as well as a tented location accented with a patio and pergola area, suitable for wedding ceremonies and cocktail parties.
Food grown and produced by the farm is available for sale in the Visitor Center's market.
They also have an amazing cold beer selection and a wonderful sandwich counter in the market. Open till about 6? i think.
The course is a very long and challenging pro caliber course with multiple pro par 4's. It makes great use of the scenery and elevation. From wooded holes to long field holes this course has it all. This course is still in its infancy and improvements have been made every time I come.
The property can be used to host corporate meetings, retreats, weddings, picnics, etc. The facilities include a conference center and banquet room as well as a tented location accented with a patio and pergola area, suitable for wedding ceremonies and cocktail parties.
Food grown and produced by the farm is available for sale in the Visitor Center's market.
They also have an amazing cold beer selection and a wonderful sandwich counter in the market. Open till about 6? i think.
The course is a very long and challenging pro caliber course with multiple pro par 4's. It makes great use of the scenery and elevation. From wooded holes to long field holes this course has it all. This course is still in its infancy and improvements have been made every time I come.
Cons:
Tee pads on 1 and 2 need to change they chose a poor material to create pads with, the rest of the tee pads are mostly rubber and are wonderful. The rough can be rough in some places but with the amazing landscaping crew at their disposal those spots are becoming few and far between. Signage and markings can be improved upon to help golfers find their way and to alert joggers sharing the property to watch out for flying discs.
Other Thoughts:
This is a destination course and I expect it to be at the top of New England golfers lists in the coming years.
