Jamestown, PA

Pymatuning State Park

3.465(based on 23 reviews)
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11 0
The Red Death 30
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 26.8 years 78 played 33 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great Course on a Beautiful Lake

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 9, 2023 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

I always start most course reviews with how much I enjoy the natural aspects of the course. Pymatuning doesn't disappoint here. You play most of the front nine in and out of nice stands of old trees. There is a cool mossy undergrowth look to the landscape here that helps lend an old nature feel. There are some nice fields, creeks and valleys and then you get into the back nine where you finally get close to the lake itself. There is an oddly shaped hole here, with a very memorable green featuring a postcard shot look at a basket framed by trees over the lake. You flirt with the lake once more along the way as well, while playing through some pretty woods.

The course itself is fun to play. It's very much in modern design with multiple Par 5s and Par 4s that make you appreciate the biride Par 3 oops. You are going to use almost every trick in your bag as this course has some tight wooded cooridors and also some big one fairways. In tourney play, it really does lend any style a few holes to shine. That 9th Hole is a great one that starts with a big drive uphill in oft windy conditions, then down carrying a turnover shot through a valley, just a great hole. The 18th is a postcard hole, starting off with a tricky drive that need length and then a fairway that carries the lake the hole way.

There are three sets of tees here, with concrete on two of them. There are two baskets on some holes, though I have never played the long baskets.

Cons:

I'll start here with the natural as well. As beautiful as this entire park and region is, I felt like the course could have used it more to its'' advantage. There is a gorgeous lake out there. You see it twice maybe on the entire track and only once does it come into play. That's largely because this is one of those courses that seems to have come into play with land no one was using. That's great in itself, but it means that a lot of this is holes built between the park roads and the town roads in mostly wide open spaces.

There is also too much of this course that does start feeling similar at a certain point. Half the course feels like you're just throwing drives in the same fields and facing crazy winds most of the time to boot, so it can all be a bit deflating. That 4th Hole is one son of a b..ch. Just so far and so tight, with ample trees to knock down most shots.

There are a handful of places on this course where you will cross dangerous wooden bridges. They are just wet and mud slicked and seem like they haven't dried in a decade. They don't seem capable of carrying much weight and losing footing is easy. The parking situation isn't easy. You can try to park in the shelter closest to 1st Tee if nothing is happening there, but most likely you're trying to find a spot down by the lake and walking a good bit to get up the 1st Tee.

I'm not basket snob but these are ancient

BRDGES
Parking

Other Thoughts:

Sometimes you get all the right ingredients for a masterpiece and it just doesn't work out. This is a great course. It's got good amenities in a pretty park with some great shots. There just isn't any memorable holes. There's nothing that makes this course unique to itself and that's a shame in such a beautiful park.
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15 0
DiscinOhio
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 10.8 years 200 played 191 reviews
3.50 star(s)

No Time For A Tune-Up At Pymatuning!

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 1, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

Just over the OH/PA border near the small town of Jamestown is Pymatuning State Park. This seemingly endless piece of property has excellent views throughout, with most of the course playing within view of the Pymatuning Reservoir.

+ Each hole has three sets of tees, with the total course distance ranging from 6271' to 8880'. Both the whites and the blues have concrete, while the red tees are natural.

+ There is great variety throughout the entire 18. Your round starts with a fantastic 600' par 4 (from the blues) that trails off into a wooded area on the left. You'll see a few holes under 300' and a few over 700'. Elevation, tree coverage, and hole shapes vary as well.

+ The course makes two nine hole loops. It looks like the front 9 can get really sloppy after rain, so the back 9 can be played by itself easily to avoid that.

Cons:

- Navigation is inconsistent would be very difficult for someone not using UDisc. While a few holes have signs and tape on the basket, many do not. This can lead to some confusion, especially with longer walks between a few holes.

- Not a real con, but the course is in the middle of nowhere. There's only one or two gas stations nearby, and the nearest fast food place is about eight miles south.
- It's been well documented on my reviews that I don't like two baskets per hole. This can be especially confusing at Pymatuning, with the different basket colors not always coordinating to the tee/layout color.

- Parking is pretty limited. There is a small area that can fit maybe 5 or 6 cars behind the shelter next to the first tee. Other than that, the nearest lot is down by the reservoir.

Other Thoughts:

While some of my cons would usually severely impact the rating, this course is so much fun that I can overlook the flaws.

Western PA has some of the best courses in the region. While I wouldn't put Pymatuning up there with the likes of Moraine, Knob Hill, etc, it's still a very fun track that's worth a separate trip.
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6 0
Phaelenopsis
Experience: 16.3 years 9 played 4 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Home Course.. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 17, 2021 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

I take a lot of newbies to this course because it is challenging at all levels. Some new ones kicked my butt not long ago because I had a horrible time with the tree holes. That's what I love about this course. We play whatever concrete pad is available and difficulty of party.

Cons:

Depends on the season. Early spring has very tall side grass to look for discs. As summer progresses, they slowly cut those areas down opening up the freeways. Sometimes soggy on some holes after rainy days. Winds: Can come from any direction at any given time.

Other Thoughts:

Play this course.
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12 0
kinger
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14 years 101 played 101 reviews
3.50 star(s)

That Pymatuning Is A Good Course... 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 4, 2020 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

~Challenging layout with 3-sets of tees for most skill levels
~Very fair par 4's and 5's
~Solid variety of hole types and distances
~Concrete tee pads for White and Blue layouts
~Nice rolling terrain, great lakeside setting

Cons:

~Red tee pads are natural with gravel base
~Marshy wet spots in some low lying areas
~Tee signs and baskets could use updating
~Some long gaps between holes in a few places

Other Thoughts:

Visited on an early October day for a local C-Tier tournament. Played two rounds from the white tees, and walked away impressed. This is a well designed and challenging course that offers three sets of tees that should accommodate most players with a few years or more of experience. The course throws long and rewards those with 350+ feet of very controlled throwing distance. Shorter arms such as myself can play well with good course management, but many holes will limit your shots off the tee if you aren't able to throw far.

The white and blue layouts have concrete tees, while the reds are worn in gravel. Concrete tee pads for the reds would appeal more to the casual players and would benefit this course greatly. The baskets are already showing their age and new ones would be a huge improvement. The tee signs are also looking worn, and more descriptive hole signs would also be a key asset.

The terrain is mostly rolling hills with fairways defined by tall grass/vegetation, mature trees, and the waters edge on some holes. There are a handful of holes where the lake comes into play, but for the most part it's strategically located groupings of trees and brush that define how well you will finish each hole. A big arm is rewarded here, especially if you are able to hit the tight landing zones setting you up for a clear shot on your next approach. At first the course seems open and accessible, but the natural terrain plays great into the overall design to challenge you most every step of the way.

The course flows fairly well, there are some longer walks between holes in a few spots. Navigation is pretty straightforward, and only a couple spots where you might need to think a bit to continue onto the next hole.

It's a very good course, that offers repeatable play due to the variety offered from the tee pads and course layout. A well thought out design, and a wonderful state park atmosphere. Worth the visit when in the area.
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9 0
jjtwinnova
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 8.7 years 246 played 97 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Moraine-On a Budget 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 1, 2017 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Pymatuning is an absolutely beautiful State Park. Great walking trails, many activities surrounding the massive lake. This place would be absolutely perfect for a family day in the summertime, as I can see the chance for a full day of fun-filled things to do.

The course itself is quite nice as well. The holes are well designed, weaving around the fields on one side of the lake, with enough trees to challenge both distance and accuracy.

The open holes require distance off the tee from all tees, but there is also an emphasis on placement. To hit your line may not be too hard, but if you are 10 feet left or right of the landing zone, you may be forced to pitch up to a better area, or throw a shot that you may not be too happy with.

The slightly wooded, slightly open holes are more line based, with a required 300-350 off the tee, through a designated gap. To go off the fairway would be trouble, and there is nothing to do about it.

The very wooded holes require mostly accuracy, with little distance, as there are only really two that I can think of. They are also tough, as a single tree can send you all the way to bogeytown. 

Overall, the course has a good flow, with well-designed holes, in an area that seemed mostly dedicated to disc golf. It was overall, a great outline to a championship course.

Cons:

I am usually not one to complain about amenities, and I will say again and again that design is ten times more important than anything else, but there are a few things that have to be noted.

Gravel/Natural tee pads- Gravel is slick and loose, worse than running on grass, which is still not optimal. Concrete, turf, even rubber would improve this course immensely.

Tee signs- Pretty basic, distance, tee, hole and par. No map, and when there are a lot of long holes where the basket cannot be seen, an extra helper would be great.

Baskets- Blah, blah, Mach III, Blah. I know everybody hears things about Mach IIIs. I know they don't suck, but they still aren't my favorite.

The grass was mowed somewhat recently, but would still reach your heel at some points, and the rough could get nasty. Also some low-hanging branches were in place. Overall, could be improved, but certainly playable.

As well designed as the holes were, you would throw the same, distance drive off the tee on all the big holes. With so many woods in the park, they could have come into play more, same with the water. No real "wow" hole comes to mind.

Other Thoughts:

Overall, Pymatuming is a very solid course, in a town that could use some more courses. I could see it work it's way to a solid 3.5 or even a 4 with an increase in maintenance and an overall amenity upgrade.

Would I recommend that you place this course if you are in the area? Yes. Drive an hour out of your way? No
There are courses all across PA that can satisfy the need to play, and this would fit the bill, but it lacks a certain special addition to make me want to keep on coming back.
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5 2
Jags
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 9.6 years 84 played 41 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 5, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

This is an awesome course in a beautiful BIG park. This course will utilize every shot in your bag & then some. There are bathrooms throughout course if needed. Very easy to navigate course.

Cons:

Tee boxes are gravel & uneven & I didn't trust them since some were uneven. Some signs need replaced. Hole #17 & #18 can see your disc in the water if overshot. Low ceilings on a couple different holes throughout course.

Other Thoughts:

This course had great flow and was easy to navigate. Cement tee pads would make this course a 4* course in my opinion. I had nothing but good to say about this course throughout. I drove for 2 hours to play this course and wasn't disappointed.
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10 0
BigAl724
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.6 years 178 played 144 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Bomber's Paradise 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 4, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Pymatuning is a bomber's dream, set in an enormous state park filled with all kinds of things to do. The course offers different hole types and lengths with a good blend of ace/birdie runs and long par 4's and 5's. Most of the course plays long and open, with eight holes over 500 feet from the long tees. This is the course's focus and feel throughout, with a par of 66 - five par 4's and three par 5's. The longer holes are varied as they offer a mix of open bombs and more moderately wooded holes. Regardless of what level you are at, you will throw a satisfying amount of long drives and upshots.

The more open bombs have thoughtful design in using the provided elevation changes and the nearby water on 17 and 18. The longer wooded holes force you to hit stretched out lanes among trees and get tighter as you approach the basket. Hole 4 is the best example of this - 810 feet from the blue tee with a well-protected pin. 13 is another multi-stage hole that plays uphill through a row of trees and then downhill over a small creek.

Three tee and pin positions are offered, giving a nice variety to the level that you want to play at. Almost every par 4 and 5 has two permanent baskets, making those holes even more dynamic. The baskets have bright orange circles displaying numbers on the top, making them easy to spot out. Many baskets are blind, so there are a few aids to help you locate the basket easier. Hole 11 is a uphill then downhill shot with a blind basket that has a tall sign mounted on top of it.

There are bathrooms conveniently located throughout the course.

Navigation is straight-forward for the most part. There is a long walk from 9-10 but it starts right on the other side of 1's tee, conveniently making two nine-hole loops.

Cons:

If you like long bombs, this is definitely your course. I enjoyed the variety of long holes, but I would have preferred the course to have a few more tighter, technical holes within the densely wooded areas to give it more variety. Only hole 15 is designed this way. This is just a personal preference of mine.

Most of the tee signs don't have maps on them, which would be nice to have on a course as long as this one.

Most of the tees are either natural or gravel and they weren't always even. Not a huge problem, but one worth noting.

The course isn't as well maintained as other state parks in the area, like Moraine or some of the Eastern Ohio state park courses. The course was in good shape for the most part, but there was taller grass in and around some of the fairways.

The course uses the elevation that is provided, but it is mostly flat here.

Be prepared for longer walks between holes.

Other Thoughts:

Set at over 8,500 feet, this course is a big arm's dream. I can see a range of players liking this course, with three different tees offered. I think even new players would enjoy themselves here playing from the reds since there aren't many risk factors that come into play.

It can initially be confusing finding the course, especially if you are someone who simply plugs the address into your GPS. Make sure you follow the instructions on the course page, looking for signs for beach 2. The main entrance of the southern end of the park won't get you there, take West Lake Road. The course begins near boat docks and there is a parking area down by the water and a playground.
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10 0
Derek B
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 21.8 years 398 played 46 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Teed off 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 20, 2014 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

1) Good variety of left and right doglegs
2) Some elevation changes
3) Beautiful views of lake and marina
4) Challenging length
5) Highlight holes: 13, 14, 18

Cons:

1) No concrete tee pads
2) Fly pads are slick af when wet
3) Low ceilings on quite a few holes that are over 500'
4) Grass too high

Other Thoughts:

This course sits on some good property with small hills and a few trees to provide added challenge. The course plays long. From the white tees, it's approximately 7,000'.

One of the things you notice first about the course is its proximity to the lake. Beautiful and serene views of the lake from many holes. Water comes into play on a few holes....17 and 18 come to mind in particular.

The layout of the course is challenging and should provide some room for you to air out some big bomber drives, but, unfortunately, many of the holes have extremely low ceilings with branches and leaves hanging down that prevent a good rip. To compound this problem, you can't even do a roller because the grass is so tall that it will eat your drive up in a hurry.

To make matters even worse, the tees are either fly pad or gravel, and most of these aren't level. On a course with numerous 500'+ holes, IMO you need concrete tees so you can really rip one down field to have a chance to par it. Some of the holes with fly pads don't even have full fly pads...they're falling apart and disintegrating. And even if the fly pad isn't rotted out, it's still slick when it rains so be careful.

Negatives aside, this course has a lot of potential. The layout of the course is not the problem here, so luckily it can be fixed. Pour some concrete pads and trim the low hanging branches and cut the grass and you turn a 3/5 course into a 3.5 or 4/5 course!

The course has a nice mix of lefty and righty holes, although me being a RHBH thrower, I noticed that quite a few holes had a slight advantage for lefty or FH cshots.

Most of the holes are in the open, with a few well placed trees to make it more challenging. There are a few holes, such as 15, that are tightly wooded. There are also a few hills to spice things up. There's potential for roll away putts on a few holes.

All in all, this course is not bad and has the potential to be great. I played the Keystone Classic last weekend and was told that the club is just getting organized in this area and will be making improvements to the course in due time. I can't wait until its seen some TLC because this is like grandma's muscle car that has been in the garage for 20 years. It needs some work, but when you put the work in, it will pop, both visually and performance-wise.
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5 0
yokozunapete
Experience: 28.8 years 4 played 2 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Great course for those not quite ready for the championship-level courses 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 20, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

-A lot of variety of holes (open, wooded, water, uphill, downhill, doglegs, etc.)
-Challenging for novice/intermediate
-Great practice for advanced/pros
-Restrooms are easily accessible during play

Cons:

-Tees are not in great shape and very slick when wet (red tees are just grass).
-I never found a course map and the layout was not intuitive to me. Course needs to be marked better.
-Only one tee had a hole diagram which made blind shots very challenging since I didn't know where the basket was.

Other Thoughts:

I played in the Keystone Classic, so course navigation was easier since my group had played the course before. Someone just playing a casual round for the first time would struggle to navigate the course without a map.

The local club is currently raising funds (to be matched by the state park) to replace the tees in time for next season. This will make a big difference in the playability.
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7 0
LukeButch
Experience: 25.9 years 123 played 6 reviews
3.50 star(s)

surprisingly good 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 28, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-2 to 3 tees and multiple baskets on every hole gives alot of options

-gravel tees on front 9

-very easy to follow, had no course map, played alone with no info and found my way around without a problem

-many par 4s, that have very good distances: good drives are rewarded with easier upshots:

-nice views of the lake along a few holes

-rolling hills throughout the course, but no extreme elevation shots

Cons:

-most of the par 4s/5s had a VERY similar tee shot- long flip up straight shots with very little fade. bring understable discs!

-poorly done flypads on the back 9. very bumpy and uneven, also the ones in the woods were so slippery from pollen and dirt that even throwing stand still on them was very difficult :( wish they had gravel tees on the whole course

Other Thoughts:

bit out of the way as nothing is nearby, but an easy 30minute drive from rt 79 that is definitely worth it
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10 0
el_duder
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.8 years 44 played 14 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Scenic Golfing in Northeast PA 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 16, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Course layout: really nice layout, it's somewhat sprawling but feels like a golf course. Not much elevation change, but seems to be well utilized. For the most part, we had no trouble navigating the course without a map on our first visit.
-Course maintenance: Very nicely cut "fairways" with some thicker rough to give you some troubles if you don't hit the fairways. Really thick brush will generally punish you and force a throw just to get back on to clear ground.
-Hole variety: seemed to be well balanced with no RH/LH bias. Maybe only 2-3 holes felt like repeats. Multiple baskets (while not utilized by us) looked to offer a pretty good challenge for more advanced players.
-Scenery: This would have have been a great walk through the park, the fact that we were playing disc golf just made it more fun. I especially like holes like 8 and 18 which offered great views of the lake and 14 which offered an unexpected great view of the lake.
-Restrooms: For the most part these were located within a reasonable walk from the course without causing a major delay in play.

Cons:

Most of these cons should be taken as minor hits against the course, not major negatives. All could likely be easily remedied.

-Tee pads: While I would say they were all comfortable to throw from, they varied from gravel on the front 9 to flypads/natural on the back nine. It'd be nice to see flypads on the front nine. A couple of the flypads on the back nine are in need of replacement.
-Tee signs: Back nine signs were really nice, but the front nine (newer portion of the course) could use an upgrade to match the back nine. The signs showing the direction to hole 12 and all of the tee signs for 18 are missing.
-Garbage cans: I didn't see a single one on the course and this is kind of a pet peeve of mine. There wasn't any trash or broken glass on the course so it is obviously well maintained but the only place I could conveniently hit a trash can was on our walk from 9 to 10.

Other Thoughts:

Overall my wife and I had a great time playing this course and we were somewhat surprised that we were the lone disc golfers on the course. I played from the red tees for the front nine and the whites for the back nine. I really enjoyed the layout of the course, while there are many holes that will have you reaching for your drivers they will likely be fairway drivers because of a clump of trees in just the right location. While the woods are fairly sparse on the course the trees that are there really force you to hit some accurate tee shots. I think the pars were fair and the different tee positions offered appropriate challenges for a wide variety of disc golfers.

One note on the long grass along the fairways (and I'm sure this is seasonal) but they are full of bees. On several holes we could hear the buzzing like we were standing next to a hive, but they were all scattered throughout the flowers in the rough. So if you have allergies, take your epipen! Everyone else may want to include some Benadryl in their bag even if you aren't allergic.

The park as a whole is somewhat remote so I would recommend planning a full day to take in some of the other available recreational opportunities like swimming, fishing, playgrounds (for the kids), and picnic tables. I suppose you could also just play another round! Regardless, this course is definitely worth hitting up for a round. We'll be back for sure!
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10 0
jblough
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.9 years 85 played 82 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Come in with bug spray; leave with bengay 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 24, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

- An excellent blend of big-arm open-air bombing holes and holes that require accurate, technical throws to navigate the trees. On some holes, you have to do both in the same hole.
- Utilizes a variety of shots. I threw so many variations of hyzer and anhyzer angles to navigate the doglegs; I threw tomahawks and thumbers; I threw rollers to navigate the fairways peppered with trees. So many shots will be needed, so bring a decent bag with you!
- More elevation than I anticipated. We're not talking super steep hills--just rolling hills that vary enough to make for blind shots and slight downhill and uphill approaches to the basket.
- Water comes in play on #14 (kinda) and definitely on #18. The big risk here, more or less, is rolls or skips into the reservoir off the fairway, so it definitely adds an element of concentration and fun!
- Distinct lines are present on many holes for red, white, blue, and gold tees. As such, each tee has a line that rewards the respective skill level. In this regard, the tees are accurately rated, IMO.
- Many pins are well guarded by trees. You better have a good upshot game to try and make par or better.
- All 18 holes are now complete, and there arent any navigation issues. Aside from some long walks to the tee (see cons), you should be fine finding every hole.

Cons:

- The gravel tees here are terrible for run-ups. The gravel is really thick, too--none of that nice crushed stuff. I know that the DCNR will never pour concrete, but flypads would be nice.
- Long walks between some tees. It's definitely more of an issue on the back nine as it is on the front nine. The course could use some "next tee" signs, as there's only one between #17-18.
- The less fun aspects of nature are quite prevalent here. And I'm talking of course about bugs and poison ivy. Watch out especially on hole #13, as there's quite a bit growing in the middle of the fairway between the tee and pin.
- Not a big fan of the dual pins on a lot of holes. From far away, it's hard to tell whether the pin belongs to gold/blue or red/white shots and is kind of annoying for a first timer.
- Wind from the reservoir can be a factor. I noticed some heavy gusts on the back nine, but I'm sure it's a hazard on all 18 holes.

Other Thoughts:

It's fitting that PA's largest state park is also one of the largest disc golf courses in the state park system if you add up the hole lengths (Codorus and Tyler are larger, but are also 27 holes).

This course is a no brainer if you live in NW PA or are visiting the area. I waited to play here when all 18 holes were done and it was well worth the wait! Can't wait til Prompton is done being worked on so I can compare the two!

It's definitely different than some of the quality courses south of it (Moraine, Deer Lakes, Knob Hill, etc.) in that the course is far more open and less wooded. I would also say that, from the red tees, a beginner would have an easier time playing here than some of the quality courses in the Pittsburgh Area. Well, except for the noodle arm part.

During the summer months, taking a dip in the reservoir is almost mandatory! :)

From what I understand, the PA State Park Points Series will culimate at this park for the championship. After playing at places like Nockamixon and Pinchot, the competitors should really have fun airing out some discs.
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7 0
BogeyNoMore
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.8 years 479 played 183 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Air it out at Pymatuning 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 27, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Scenic, well maintained course in a large state park with all the amenities that come with, including several clean bathrooms (with running water), pavilions, camp sites, and lots more: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/s...ion/index.htm

• Interesting set up: Thirteen "Par 3" holes with three tees and a single basket, plus five "Par 4/5"holes featuring dual tees and dual baskets, with the extra (blue) basket in a longer, harder to reach position for those seeking greater challenge. This allows you to play a red, white, blue, or gold level layout... kinda. Does a decent job of accommodating players of varying skill levels.
• Clearly defined fairways were well mowed - really gives the course a much more polished look.
• More long &open rather than short, wooded and technical, but several holes get a bit tight in spots, with decent variety overall. Most holes allow for numerous routes to the basket, with opportunities to throw hyzer, annie, straight and overhand shots. Distances that will have you throwing putters, mids, fairway and distance drivers from the tee.
• Significant elevation comes into play with tee and fairway shots that have you throwing uphill, downhill, over gullies and rises, as well as some greens where rollaway putts can bite you.
• Starts off with an appealing hole that has you shooting downhill to a landing area that lies 400'+ away behind a stand of tree, grass and brush that traverses an otherwise open fairway, for your upshot and putt. The long pin lies another 180'or so further out, tucked in among some trees. The rest of the front 9 is comprised mostly of flat fairways that play through some open fields, except for one or two holes where you really need to work around some trees to reach the pin. Back 9 really ramps things up, with trees and elevation figuring more prominently on more holes. Hole 15 is the only true "technical" hole; a short straight shot through some fairly densely packed trees. Most of the holes are pretty solid and stand on their own.
• Nice, tall 4x4 posts mark each tee with hole #, tee color, distance, and basic hole layout; simple yet effective and really helps you find the next tee. Scorecards with map available at the office near the park entrance.

Cons:

• No fly-pads when I visited, gravel tee pads are less than desirable, felt unsteady. Please: pour some CONCRETE! This wouldn't be such an issue if this were a short, placement critcal type of course, but it's not. It's a long course that requires power off the tee to score well, and power comes from... the legs. It's hard to crank out good drives on long holes without firm footing to push off on. Most of the holes on this course are quite accessible, so it really shouldn't be as tough to put concrete pads in here as it is on other courses.
• Not a fan of thick, 3ft tall grass lining fairways - doesn't serve to shape shots, its sole function is to hide discs. If I land 15 feet off the fairway, I deserve to hump around looking for my disc, but not on a shot that lands in the fairway and skips or rolls a few feet into the savannah.
• Navigation can be tough, even with the map, particularly on the back 9. Feels a bit disjointed, with several long walks to the next tee that kind of break up the flow. Doesn't really have you throwing over one, but you have to cross a road about 8 times to get to the next tee, which means there are many instances where locating it isn't as obvious as "follow the well-worn path." My round would have taken a lot longer without the map. Also kind of kills that secluded, "away from it all feel." Had to wait for a car to clear the area before throwing my tee shot on 2.
• Holes 2, 3, 5, 6, 12... meh. I'd say they are filler holes to get you to the next hole, but the way the course is laid out, I can't really buy that.
• Some tee signs are damaged/missing.

Other Thoughts:

• Wind off the lake can be strong and figure prominently in disc/shot selection.
• A bit paradoxical in that the park kind of seems in the middle of nowhere, but with the open holes, crossing over roads, holes playing near the park office, pavilions, marina, etc, the course itself lacks that "away from it all" feel.
• Memorable holes: 1, 4, 8, 9, 11, 13,14, 18
• Not sure I buy this as a true Par 66, but I wouldn't call it a Par 54 either. • Not sure how much my perception of "disjointed feel/flow due to long walks between holes" is really the result of being unsure where the hell I was going; entirely possible I might not feel that way if I were familiar with the layout. Visitors take note: I should have used the aerial photograph on the Links/File tab of the course page links on the course page - MUCH better than the map on the score card.
• There's a lot to like, but I have my criticisms.
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1 5
caston59
Experience: 13.4 years 6 played 2 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 27, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Is a great beginner course. Holes are mostly open and terrain is slightly rolling not too steep on any hole.

Cons:

Need to get tee matts on all of the holes. On hole #9 near the basket the DCNR needs to get the oil leaking from the ground capped and cleaned up. Lastly the walkway between hole 17 and hole 18 needs some gravel or the water needs to be diverted so that here isn't such a mud pit to walk through.
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1 7
aDedhed
Experience: 23.8 years 31 played 21 reviews
3.00 star(s)

nice course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 11, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

very detailed course with many different tee and basket options. not much "park" traffic to interfere with gameplay.

Cons:

VERY LONG. it is a long hike and even longer throws on some of the holes

Other Thoughts:

it was a beautiful course to play. some of the holes seem excessivly long
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6 0
thadon
Experience: 18.9 years 33 played 30 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Unique 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 13, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Beautiful Park.
Fairly new baskets
Tee signs at every hole and decent signage
Tees are color coded Blue white and red, some Gold

Cons:

Tall grass
Vandals have damaged some of the tee signs
Finding 1st hole was was little confusing.
Some walks in between holes, can be confusing as well.
Dirt Tees

Other Thoughts:

I started this game on Hole 8 . There was no real indication where the begining of the course was, so we followed it from there.
After 8 you walk behind the baseball feild and you will eventually find the Blue tee, opposite corner of the field.

Hole 9 was an enormous hole, with several elevation changes up ,down , and up again.
After the basket you'll walk probably 70 yds past the pavillon thru a field to eventually end up at hole 10 .
Cross the street to 11 , which again plays up a hill to a basket that sits on the edge of a ravine .
From 11 you have to walk back to the street down and around the wooded area..You will see the tee's for 12 in the woods, but no path makes it a hike to get to . After that the course is pretty easy to follow.



Alot of up and down elevation changes in the fairways of this park, which i thought was really unique.
There are several holes with multiple baskets, and not all the tee's indicate it , making it confusing to first timers.
As much negtive as i've said about this course, i still think it is worth the trip. Figuring out the course for the first time was tough.

I drew up a google map, and placed everything as best i could remember. I hope this is able to help somebody in finding most of the holes.

Some tees are kickboard, some are gravel, some rubber

LOts open fields to air it out on . Winds off the HUGE lake will make for some tough throws. Not sure if it is like this year round...but the grass outside the fairways was really tall when i was there.

Fun challenging course, i'd give it 4.5 if was cleaned up a little . JUst some TLC.
Definitely a course you can play over and over.

Marina is near by. They have great rates on Pontoons as well !
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4 0
bcsst26
Experience: 16.8 years 7 played 7 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Another great coures in Western PA 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 16, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

I played two rounds on this course and overall it is an excellent course. Of the courses I have played this is my third favorite course. Deer Lakes being number one and Moraine number two. The major strength of this course is the par 5's. I found them very challenging and using elevation change very well. This course has some great holes where you can just let loose. I also found using my forehand more in this course than most. The multiple tee positions along with the long and short basics make for different skill levels to be tested. Overall another excellent course.

Cons:

I thought some of the par 3 and par 4 were just throwing at a basket in a field. I feel that they could have been setup better. These few holes are what keeps this from being in the same field as Deer Lakes and Moraine. Also I think a parking lot could be designated to disc golf along with some better signs showing where the course is within the state park.

Other Thoughts:

Overall I enjoyed myself on this course. I drove 2 hours to play so I played two rounds. I would do the drive again so the course is worth it.
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12 0
bcr123psu
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.7 years 85 played 64 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Nice Course that Fills a DG Void 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 10, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Pymatuning State Park is located directly off Route 322 and is easy to get to and fills the NW PA disc golf Bermuda triangle that extends from NE Ohio to Pittsburgh to the Buffalo region. The park itself is well-kept and offers many amenities...not the least of which is disc golf.

Saftey should be one of the first items to consider in the design of a course. In this case, the design guides most throws away from other public areas, walkways, and roads and keeps pedestrians and bystanders safe.

The course design offers lots of variety and a few memorable holes from short shots at the basket to long-bomb, wide-open fairways to tight wooded holes to moderately wooded fairways to any combination in between. Ace & birdie opportunities were present on many holes, especially from the short tees (but, see the cons). In general, there was good use of elevation, incorporating the gently rolling hills throughout the park. There was also some use of water in the design (but see the cons).
Holes 8 and 18 both incorporated water into the design and were the biggest the risk/reward standouts.

Multiple tees on every hole is amazing and makes for a great experience for all levels of play from beginners to long-time, well-seasoned players. Additionally, multiple permanent baskets on par 4 & 5 holes really expands the layout and play possibilities.

Fairways were mowed and well maintained. The rubber tee pads (on those tees that had them) were in great shape.

Next tee signs were present when really needed. The tee signs on some holes showed fairways, all tees, and fairway direction (but, see the cons). Additional convenience features included score cards at the first tee and a practice basket that was accessible at the start of the front and back nine.

Cons:

On several of the holes (especially from the shorter tees), the layout was repetitive. Numerous holes were simply straight drives or gentle left-turning fairways. Right-turning fairways weren't quite as prevalent. There were many blind baskets on a lot of the longer holes which made throwing decisions difficult.

Additionally, there was limited risk/reward aspects on most of the holes. As such, water OB could have played a larger role in the course design.

While a few of the holes had rubber tee pads, others had gravel and some had none at all. To really set this course off, concrete tees would be a massive foot forward.

While some of the holes on the back nine had detailed tee signs, most holes did not and this type of perk would help the player better comprehend the layout of the fairway and any obstacles.

Once you arrive at the park, navigation to course parking lot is difficult as there are no signs indicating a disc golf course. Further, navigation to first tee from the parking lot can be difficult as well.

Although the fairways and fields were mowed, there are some serious, blood-letting briars and rough along the edge several holes making a lost disc or numerous lacerations a good possibility.

Garbage cans weren't really present on the course. While litter wasn't much of a problem, having a can here or there would help.

Even though route 322 is a major US route, Pymatuning State Park isn't really located near anything and is kind of "out there".

Other Thoughts:

All things considered, Pymatuning State Park's disc golf course was well done and is an enjoyable experience. The variety of play at this course is extensive and caters to all level of player. This course is another testament to the PA State Park systems willingness to work with the disc golf community to install solid, enjoyable courses. If only Erie Bluffs or Presque Isle State Parks would take a hint from Pymatuning, Western PA could become a go-to disc golf destination.
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11 0
tistoude
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.8 years 198 played 60 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Very Nice Course 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 15, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Located in a beautiful state park with tons of ameneties. There are something like 6 seperate, very well kept, bathrooms along the course, which is the most I have ever seen at a DG course.
-Very Nice DG Terrain. This course plays over gently rolling hills, in and out of wood, and briefly along the lake. No dramatic elevation changes but rarely straight out flat either.
-Hole Variety. There is a great mix of short (200' )and long (750'), open and wooded, left turning and right turning holes.
-New baskets. I think they were Mach V baskets and were in great shape.
-Pro layout. Each hole has three tees. but there are some holes that have an extra pin that makes the hole play much longer adding that little bit extra difficulty
-Distinct Fairways. Each fairway was very distinct with lines clearly available. Each fairway was mowed and in good condition.
-Punishes bad shots rewards good shots. The rough can be pretty thick and punishes shots that get a little loose (I should know since I was in it pretty often) but if you play the holes right birdies are plentiful.

Cons:

-Tee's on the front nine are gravel and are not in the best of condition. Hole number 4's pro tee slopes down is hard to throw from. These tee's are by no means dangerous but I like the flypads they have on the back nine.
-Hole Number 4 from the pro tee allows Forehanders and Lefties to just swing out and around all of the trouble and gaps that make the hole intersting. Two good forehands and I am sitting under the pin. A couple of small trees planted correctly would funnel everyone into using the fairway.

Other Thoughts:

I had a really great time playing this course. Talking with a few of the regular guys that are the "locals" (even though they are not that local) it seems like the State Parks department is really behind this course and is willing to work hand in hand with disc golfers to create a destination course. And they are well on their way to doing so. This is a great course in a very nice park.
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10 0
JohtoVillage
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 24 years 160 played 73 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Awesome Potential 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 25, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course has such awesome potential - think a mix of Granite Ridge and Idlewild. There isn't as much elevation here at Pymatuning, but the mowed fairways are really neat and the course is still more hilly than your typical course. In addition, each hole has at least three sets of tees (pretty nice flypads), with some holes having 4 tees! Also, some holes even have multiple baskets (not just alternate pins, but multiple pins). However, there seems to only be 4 holes with extra pins now, as of June 2010. The course is mainly long and open (why it makes me think of Granite Ridge at Highbridge), with mowed fairways (which makes me think of Idlewild). The course will challenge the best of players. However, the course offers multiple tees and offers lesser players the chance to have fun because the courses ranges from 6000 to 9500 feet. In addition, the multiple tees weren't just thrown into the design. The multiple tees were well thought out and really add to the course. Even though the front nine was only partly playable (I will get to that in the cons), the front nine is going to be as enjoyable as the back nine. Holes 11, 13, and 16 were awesome holes from the back tees (hole 13 was the signature hole, which started out of the woods, went into the woods, down the hill, and back out of the woods into a protected green...and was 900 feet from the golds), and holes 1 and 9 really stood out on the front nine. See the cons for the main problem with this course...

Cons:

As of right now, the front nine is only partly playable. All of the tees are in on the front nine (multiple pins per hole), and sign posts are in...but there are no signs yet so you don't know which hole is which. However, it was pretty easy to tell which hole was which because the navigation is pretty easy in the course. Also, the baskets have numbers on them. However, holes 3 through 6 do not have baskets in the ground as of June 2010 (just poles). Holes 1 through 2 and 7 through 9 are playable - however, hole 7 had some trees that were starting to tighten the fairway, as did hole 9. Hole 8 was a true gem, 340 feet slightly downhill with the lake in the background. However, some of the fairways on the back nine were getting a little long, and some of the fairways on the front nine weren't as nicely manicured (they were getting a little long). The main problem with this course is that it doesn't appear to get a lot of play, which is really a shame. Another con was the hole 14 gold tee - the back tee was no longer player because of a big tree with some overhanging branches. Also, holes 16 gold tee was playable, but some low hanging branches made for a tough drive. Bridges would have been nice on hole 16 and 18, with 18 forcing you to jump a small creek or trek through tall grass. And it wasn't a small jump....16 wasn't bad, as there was a small path through the tall grass, but any rain would have made the path very wet. The path from 17 to 18 was extremely wet and overgrown, but was manageable. Even though there are sign posts in the ground, the signs on the front nine do not have numbers or signs yet to indicate the lengths of the hole or the number of the hole. So as of right now, I would advise you to play the back nine (by shelter four) and then after hole 18 walk back up the hill towards the shelter and give the front nine a shot. While the navigation is somewhat difficult, its not near as difficult now because all of the holes do have tees. Keep in mind that holes 3 through 6 have everything (including hole poles) but baskets. Hole 6 looked a little tight around the basket (some more clearing was maybe needed around the basket), and hole 15 was awfully tight from the back tees, but I guess it was supposed to be hard from the long tees.

Other Thoughts:

While some of the other reviews mentioned the navigation issues on the front nine, those have been addressed by all holes having multiple tee pads. The course has such awesome potential, but the maintenance appears to be lacking what some of the other public or state parks get. While the course is still very fun and challenging, the course is still missing 4 baskets and the front nine is still missing hole signs with distances and numbers. While it is now pretty easy to find your way around because the holes are laid out in nice order and the multiple tees make it easy to find holes (the only navigational issue would be after hole 2 you just walk across the road to hole 3), distances and hole signs would be nice. In addition, some of the holes on the back nine didn't have tee signs on every tee pole. While every tee had a pole in the ground, some poles didn't have the hole picture. This was only a big deal if you wanted to know the distance, and I think hole 17 was the only hole on the back nine to not have tee signs on every hole (each of the four tees). The main frustration with this course right now is the fact that four holes have the multiple baskets in the ground, while four holes currently have no baskets at all. Wouldn't it make sense to move the four multiple baskets to the four holes that currently have no baskets at all right now? Once holes 3 through 6 get baskets, and the front nine gets tee signs (keep in mind they already have sign poles), the course will be a 4.5 in my opinion. If the course gets better maintenance, the course would get a 5 rating in my book. It's not like the maintenance was bad, but there were some overgrown areas and some of the grass was long. But it wasn't enough to detract from the experience. For the most part, the fairways were nicely mowed and really added to the overall experience! I would definitely recommend Pymatuning.
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