Princeton, MA

Goodnow Park

Permanent course
1.675(based on 6 reviews)
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3 0
Startedw165
Experience: 39.6 years 343 played 10 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Backyard course not intended for competition DG 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 4, 2014 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

This course still exists !
Layout has been reformatted to be 18 holes with single tees. Still approx. 9 different targets. Its not merely 2 loops around the park though.
All holes have a defined fairway or clear landing area. No throwing into a maze of trees hoping for the best.
Hole # 1 has been repaired, all of the baskets are now stable.
Fairways have been cleared since last review. Old photos no longer valid. Some new signs (small) on painted white wood. I was able to navigate the course, but it was not my first time here.
Cool rocky terrain. Great piece of land. Enjoy the couple natural tee boxes that are huge boulders.

Cons:

No map.
Unlevel tee boxes that can be slippery. No evidence that anybody has played this course in the first 5 months of 2014, which allows green growth to begin covering pathways. 17th tee missing ?

It is a backyard course, so it has many things that people complain about - short tight holes, old single chain baskets, most of which are played to on multiple holes. No trash cans. Non-groomed tees and fairways. Criss-crossing fairways and incomplete signage.

Other Thoughts:

Why does every course have to dream of being competition caliber someday?
Goodnow is a thoroughly enjoyable course to play right now if one does not try to dress it up as something that it is not. This course has short holes, but the terrain, footing (tee box and otherwise) and not so sexy baskets will put 3's on your scorecard. An occasional 4 too :(

Backyard courses do not need to support multiple groups ! Like the tree falling in a forest with nobody there to hear it.... if there are never 2 groups playing Goodnow at the same time, crossing fairways are not an issue. If anybody ever plays here and does have to wait for another group, be sure to post it here. Until then, this property supports these 18 holes very well. Would be a very unnecessary mistake to remove any.

Course plays to one basket 4 times - however, each subsequent tee was in a different direction and unlike the other three.
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2 0
anttiwalt
Experience: 5 played 5 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Potential and Cool Spot 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 18, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

-not busy
-good views
-cool terrain
-fun pitch and putt course

Cons:

-too many holes (should only be 9, not 18)
-baskets in "ok" shape
-very confusing course layout
-some baskets used 2 or 3 times
-very poor signage

Other Thoughts:

For being a backyard course its not terrible. There are some really cool shots from ledges/boulders and baskets placed in challenging locations. It looks like some work was recently done clearing brush and stabilizing the baskets, but it still could use more work. Signage needs to be greatly improved, and the course should only be 9 holes if signage isn't improved. There could be room for 18 probably but it would need much upgrading. Overall worth the drive if within half an hour.
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4 0
frizgolfkiller
Experience: 24 played 11 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Post-Apocalypse Disc Golf 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 10, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Interesting terrain, has potential for a really fun 9 hole course, decent mid-range/putter practice if you want to focus on accuracy more the distance. Call me crazy, but I kind of like the non-standard baskets...gives the course some character.

Cons:

Very rough shape today. This course should not try to squeeze 18 holes in an area that can support 9. No signs at all, course map doesn't match actual layout, reuses many of the baskets to get a full 18, misses some great opportunities for cool holes. One basket was used 3 or 4 times according to the map I was looking at.

Other Thoughts:

With a some work this place could be turned from a heavily wooded 18 that can only support a single group of players to a pretty decent 9 hole course that could support multiple groups. The amount of land here should not be used for 18 holes. Take out a few of the smaller trees, completely reorganize the teeboxes (forget the red and blue tees). Current 16 has get potential for a cool hole of the tee was moved back to the right on the rock ledge with more of a straight shot at the basket (should be hole 9 on a 9 hole course).
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14 0
solomon.trenton
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.6 years 89 played 67 reviews
0.50 star(s)

Needs some serious help 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Apr 29, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

There are a few things going for this course. There are multiple tees, both red and blue: although most of the numbers have long since faded off the sticks. There are real baskets but the shape is quite poor. The course is located at the crossroads of two pretty well used routes in central Massachusetts and in close proximity to Wachusett Mountain. With some sprucing up and brush clearing this course could easily be a two disc rating.

Cons:

First and foremost the navigation is piss poor. There is no signage of any kind and there is no course map to be found anywhere; the Princeton recreation department doesn't even know where to find one! There is a ton of trees that have fallen down from the ice storm back in 2008. Seeing the fairways is more than tough with all the trees down. From what I have heard it was neglected long before the ice storm and the ice storm just made it that much worse. As far as the course itself the tee boxes are in some precarious positions. They are far from level and not easy to get to in some cases. The baskets that are there are rusted to hell and not anchored at all.

Other Thoughts:

Head up to the right hand side of the police station/town hall annex and follow the slightly worn path. The first hole is straight ahead.


Update Summer 2010: The town invested $1500 to help clear the woods and a local businessman is raising more money. A new review will be done summer of '11
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8 0
KazamaSmokers
Experience: 24 played 7 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Like a Lost Incan City 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 15, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Conveniently located right in the middle of Massachusetts, right at the junction of two well-traveled secondary roads. Close to Wachusett Mountain. Pretty in the Fall.

Cons:

Hasn't been tended to in years... maybe more than a decade. None of the Winter 2008 ice damage has been cleared. Numbers painted on the tees and baskets has long since faded. Totally overgrown. You'll lose most of your discs unless you're lucky. Baskets rusted and off-kilter.

Other Thoughts:

Could be such a gem. It's located right behind the town hall. Needs a lot of TLC. No signage whatsoever. Needs a course map. There's no way to complete 9 holes without getting lost. Maybe the Princeton cub scouts could make this their merit badge project or something. It could be great little course sustained by $5 donations.
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11 0
Luke@DiscTrips
Experience: 27.8 years 333 played 5 reviews
3.00 star(s)

It's Scavenger Hunt Time! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 7, 2008 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course brings new meaning to the term "thickly wooded." Somehow, through ultra-dense underbrush and sight-lines that you might miss if you blink, this course finds a way to make some sense, and even be enjoyable. On two consecutive and similarly-buried holes, I shot a 6 and a 2. No one will ever play two identical rounds here!

Cons:

It's a leap of faith to even enter this course... A faded signboard behind the town police station sits next to a couple of skinny red stakes that point up a narrow, weedy slope into the middle of forest nowhere. Once you enter, you find yourself in a virtual hall-of-mirrors funhouse of tees and baskets. Eighteen sets of tees, half blue and half red, and only about half marked with numbers, point at nine baskets of different shapes and sizes. It's dizzying, but oddly intriguing. Good luck connecting all the dots, though -- I gave up after 10 holes.

Other Thoughts:

This course is in desperate need of a map! And numbers on the un-numbered tees! It's just a wacky but kind of enchanting place.
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