Bethlehem, PA

South Mountain DGC

3.515(based on 53 reviews)
Filter course reviews

Filter reviews

Filter reviews

South Mountain DGC reviews

Filter
3 1
Tiwal
Experience: 10 played 10 reviews
4.00 star(s)

A fun mountain 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 11, 2014 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

A series of mountains that is a hike. The holes each provide an elevation and location challenge. It doesn't feel like the course is leading you back to the beginning, and the flow is great.

Cons:

See other thoughts

Other Thoughts:

It is the quintessential mountain disc golf course. It has all the pros and cons that that means. I wouldn't take a cart there, or someone with a bad foot. That is just a fact of it being a natural mountain. It can be a tough course for those not use to a hike.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
13 0
Ryal
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 6.8 years 216 played 182 reviews
3.50 star(s)

So, How About In South Mountain? 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 29, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

+ Almost the whole course takes place within a dense and adventurous forest with walls of trees, some tricky hills to conquer and dozens of rocks & roots underfoot-- often all of these simultaneously. Leave the flip flops in the car, and put the phone away. You'll want both hands free as you walk.
+ All holes have long and level tee pads of poured concrete.
+ There are 'next hole' signs hanging from baskets and/or planted in the ground. Navigation was a breeze!
+ None of the holes are terribly long, which I think is the right call for a heavily wooded course like this.
+ Benches all over the place and a bathroom halfway through.

Cons:

- No lost disc box. A course with endless hills, dense trees and piles of leaves like this one could really use it.
- Very few trash cans. Please don't little folks!
- The 'tee signs' are just thick vertical wooden pegs with the hole number a distance. That wouldn't be so bad except some of them are scuffed and/or faded. None of them have diagrams of the fairway ahead, either.
- The practice basket feels crammed into a corner right next to the parking lot.
- Very little in the way of open holes.

Other Thoughts:

My favorite hole to look at here is hole 3 because of the slanted texture that leads down into a deeper and darker part of the woods, and if you stand in the right spot, you can see for miles and spot the rooftops of a town far in the distance. It gives the place a sense of quiet grandeur.
My favorite hole to play here is hole 5 because of its mighty yet manageable uphill heave. The trees make formidable obstacles, but if you snake through them, it is a satisfying par.
My least favorite hole was 6, I guess? I take a picture of every hole I play during my first visit to a course. Even when I look at the picture I took for that hole, I don't remember playing it!

That could easily describe many holes at this course, depending on the kind of golf you prefer. Wooded courses can be great fun, of course. However, if there is nothing that differentiates the holes from one other they can easily meld together. This is exactly the kind of forest course that will cause some players to think, "Oh, great... yet another impossible throw in a dense patch of trees!"

To try and introduce some variety into the holes, the course focuses more on the throw-to-throw challenges rather than distance. Leave your drivers in the back of your bags, folks. The longest hole on offer from either layout is 358 feet. That makes it indirectly appealing to new players. Yet, in the middle of the woods, any 358 looks like a 500-foot hole! So, it was smart to shorten up the holes in favor of the immediate tactics with hills and good use of the trees. There are also some more open holes in the final third of the course to give the player some room to breathe. Simply put: the variety is here, but some players may not feel it's enough.

In closing, South Mountain DGC is just the place to go if you want to improve your accuracy. The trees, rocks and hills are merciless in combination here. Shortened hole distances compensate for that somewhat, but the player must still pay attention and throw with intent each and every time. The first third is great. The middle third gets dull or samey. The final third is a pleasant ending with the most noticeable variation. Altogether, the course is very good and an adventurous alternative to flat and safe courses. Give it a chance to enchant you, but I won't blame you if the trees and hills chase you away for good. Recommended.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 0
Doug4
Experience: 19 played 7 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Perfect Par 3 course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 24, 2019 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-Concrete tee pads
-shot verity off the tee
-Scrambling practice
-Technical course
-Easy to navigate
-beginner friendly
-can give seasoned players a humbling experience for a "short par 3 beginner course"

Cons:

-I've seen better tee pad signs.
-This course is probably the busiest in the Leigh Valley. I feel like LVDC could put a little more time and money into this course with some bells and whistles.

Other Thoughts:

This course is GREAT. You are going to hit trees and you're going to be forced to scramble. Going off the fairways doesn't mean you're going to spend 15 minutes looking for your disc. Just means you're navigating around trees. It's fantastic that a par 3 short distance course can humble people who have been playing for years, yet forgiving enough that a first timer can pick up a par or 2 on the day and feel good about themselves.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
8 0
HyooMac
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 6.7 years 415 played 382 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Play disc golf on a mountain! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 21, 2018 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Such a unique feel to this course: you really ARE playing on a mountain!
- The designers have done a really good job creating a course in this environment - they don't have a lot of length to work with, but the holes require thinking about what you want your disc to do, where you want your disc to land, and how you want your disc to land (rocky, hilly terrain = bouncers and rollaways).

Cons:

- While the location is memorable, the holes aren't all that visually interesting. As someone else noted, the views here are of the surrounding area, not the course itself. This doesn't make the holes any less challenging or any less "good" as holes: they're just hard to remember after one time playing.
-There are no "soft landings" here. That's part of the challenge, but I have to admit it can also get a little tiring...

Other Thoughts:

- This is a good course that's really worth a visit. Come expecting a very specific sort of a challenge: hills, rocks and trees.
- This is a very fair layout that features a rocky terrain and a lot of sloped landing areas - it ain't park golf!
Was this review helpful? Yes No
4 0
DonM
Experience: 25.9 years 42 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Don't Miss - Tight, Woody, Lots of Elevation 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 9, 2017 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

• Concrete tee pads
• Alternate tee locations
• Distance marked on tee post
• Alternate pin locations
• Lots of elevation change
• Lots of trees
• Good mix of left, right, and straight shots
• Lost discs seem unlikely
• Course map near parking lot
• There are some beautiful vistas
• Lots of friendly people in PM; the AM seems pretty uncrowded.

Cons:

• No hole map at each tee
• No recycling bins or trash cans along course (that I saw)
• A little tight and technical for my taste
• Nowhere to really open up your arm
• None of the beautiful vistas are part of a hole.
• Ankle-turning is a real risk.

Other Thoughts:

Don't miss this course. It is a lot of fun, and one heck of a workout, due to all the elevation change (both up and down) and the technically demanding holes. I just moved here from Madison, WI, where courses tend to be more 'parklike' and less 'mountainy.' I am used to holes that are a little more open and that have a little more distance. There are a couple fairly scenic overlooks, and I found it mildly surprising that none of the holes actually made use of one.
If you're looking to power through a round, get there early. If you're hoping to meet some new people to play with, the afternoon is a pretty happening scene.
Watch out for the mountain bikers and wear boots with ankle support.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
3 0
PRC90
Experience: 7.7 years 20 played 18 reviews
4.00 star(s)

What can I say that hasn't been said? 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 2, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Shot variety
Challenging without giving an advantage to 400ft+ players
Great grounds maintenance
Home of the LVDC who are always gracious hosts
Concrete pads
Multiple pins (and baskets for some holes)

Cons:

Not forgiving, the rough is thick and there are some steep drop offs to lose stuff.

Wears your plastic very quickly, got a new disc to break in play a round here!

Although losing a disc here isn't too common... that disc will be gone. (both due to extreme terrain and the common practice for people to just bag your lost plastic)

This is a popular cyclist and runner spot so you may have some non disc golf traffic passing through fairways from time to time but in my experience everyone has been cool.

Being so close to Lehigh and DeSales you do get some of those "bro safari golfers" who smoke up and don't like to clean up their trash.

In relation to last comment: there is a good bit of vandalism on the course which is sad because so many people put time in to keep the course clean and looking good.

Other Thoughts:

South Mountain is one of the staples of the Lehigh Valley's disc golf scene, this course holds weekly competitive rounds plus a few annual tournaments roll through making this a destination spot (please please please bring trilogy challenge here!). This course will bring you down a peg and back to reality as you can easily park a hole for birdie then get chewed up carding a double on the very next hole on these tight and technical fairways. The course is primarily rock and as such stays very consistent from visit to visit, additionally you can play this course just after it rains and it isn't too muddy which is a huge bonus. The course plays very differently from Red tee to White tee. If you want a casual fun round play from the whites and enjoy one of the most fun par 3 layouts a beginner/am can ask for. Ready to step your game up? Playing from the red tee usually changes up the line instead of just adding more distance which is a nice change. Mix and match to find your favorite layout. Overall this course is a must play if you are passing through the valley!
Was this review helpful? Yes No
3 0
In The Rough
Experience: 6 played 6 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Chopping Wood 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 4, 2016 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

The upkeep at this course moves my rating from good to very good. Multiple tee pads, excellent baskets, clear signage, and a clean course all combine to make this an enjoyable place to play.

Changes in elevation and a few signature holes also make this course worth playing (especially if you haven't played it before).

Cons:

Trees, trees, and more trees. Some holes have awesome fairways. Some are narrow, some follow power lines, basically a good deal of variety in the good fairways. However, too many holes have essentially no fairway at all, and you just have to heave a disc through the woods and hope for the best. While that is fun from time to time, it felt like it became a redundant theme on this course---be prepared.

Other Thoughts:

I get to this course about once a year, and I'll continue to do that because what is good about the course far outweighs the weaknesses.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
11 0
Zunz
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 10.4 years 85 played 21 reviews
4.50 star(s)

A Little Slice of Disc Golf Heaven 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 17, 2016 Played the course:5+ times

Other Thoughts:

South Mountain is one of the more unique courses out there and because of that I believe it's one of those courses where a Pro and Con list is going to be far too subjective to be of much use. If you like heavily wooded courses where elevation change is the name of the game and there are lots and lots of rocks... SoMo is the course for you! If you don't like ALL of these things, you're going to have a bad time, m'kay. It plays between 800 and 1000' above sea level which isn't high enough for thinner air to affect your discs, but it is high enough that some days you can literally find yourself playing inside of a cloud!

Most of the holes involve interesting shot shaping to follow the fairways, some have multiple lines that will get you to the basket and the more open holes aren't as open as they seem. There are now two concrete tee pads on almost every hole and every basket has multiple positions. For the purposes of this review (and my 4.5 disc rating), I will be talking about the throws from the regular tees unless otherwise indicated. To be completely honest, I'm not a fan of most of the new tee boxes that were added last year. Some are so close to the original box that they make no sense and some just ruin a great hole (like 1, 4, 6 and 11). If I had to rate the course on the red tees (I think that's what they are calling them), it would be a 3 or a 3.5 disc course at best. Good thing I'm ignoring those tees here the same way I do on the course. I've played them a few times when friends who haven't tried them feel the need to see what all the work is being put into but would never play them by choice.


On to the course!

Hole one comes at you hard and fast with everything SoMo brings to the table. It's a steep, rocky, uphill annie throw with a utility wire that follows the fairway the first half of the way up. Missing right can leave you in a mess of thorns.

Hole 2 is a blind uphill hyzer.

Hole 3 is basically straight but you are playing across a hillside. The green is grassy and flat with a drop off that goes all the way down the mountain. Great for taking pictures but makes for a scary downhill death putt if your drive went left. Roll aways here can be costly.

4's newest basket position is up on one of the two massive fallen trees down in the green area, it's pretty darn awesome.

5 is a killer uphill with a mando on the right side of the fairway.

6 is a crazy uphill annie with a somewhat open area to start your drive out and then lots of trees as you get closer to the basket. The hill rolls away left of the basket.

7 is more open especially in the straight (you're throwing along a road), but you're still probably going to find yourself in the woods off to one side or the other.

8 is a straight shot with a strong fade needed at the end to get into the green area. If you get through the early trees this hole is about as wide open as it gets here.

9 plays up a fire road towards a water tank and communications tower. They built a nice pedestal off in the woods to the right and put in a bright orange permanent alt basket, but they forgot to make a fairway to get to it.

10. Magical. This is the one where you get to throw over the top of a mountain. Sure, it's really just a blind shot over a little hill but it has a special feeling to it. I was mentioning this to a friend once while playing here and he said, "It's funny you use the word 'Magical' here, the first throw at this basket when it was installed was an ace!"

Speaking of aces, one of the coolest I've ever seen was a skip ace here on hole 11 on Christmas day 2014 (Merry Discmas!).

Hole 12. Oh boy. There is a fairway here. Honest. No, really, there is. And I've seen a thumber line at the basket work. I usually throw a poke and hope flick through the woods right at the basket. Keep an eye on your shot and mark where it lands. I had a hard time finding my disc on this hole the first dozen or so times I played SoMo, and a few of those times, once I found my disc, I had absolutely no clue where the basket was anymore!

There's a picnic bench behind 13's tee, it'll help you find it from 12. There are a lot of tiny little lines to the basket here.

14 is a wide open downhill grassy fairway. Most throws here seem to end up in the woods anyway. As an added bonus, there are utility wires going down the left side of the fairway that I've hit from below multiple times. I've heard but not seen that a disc on top of the wire can ride it down the hill. Oddly enough, my first bird here after many many rounds came from the long tee when they first put in the form for the concrete. It forces a big annie or a roller to get in the fairway, I went with the latter and it went all the way down.

15 is a lot like 12. There's a bit more of a lane.

16 is a straight downhill shot and the first place on the course that OB comes into play (the parking lot). The wind on this hole can mess with your disc like nothing I've ever seen outside of the course at Burning Man. I had one a few feet away from an ace shoot 40' straight up in the air and land half way up to the pavilion.

17 is deceptively difficult. It's just a straight throw up a hill (unless it's in the new short pin position off to the right). The most wide open throw on the course. But the big grassy hill you're throwing up tilts down hard to the left. The basket is tucked in the woods and there's a huge pine guarding the right side entrance from the fairway.

18 is a straight downhill shot with a fade. Once again there are utility lines and poles along the way and too much fade will put you in the OB parking lot. The basket is perched on the edge of a plateau making roll aways likely. I've seen people go so long here their discs have left the park.


Final Thoughts: Of the 77 courses I've played to date, South Mountain is easily in my top 5 most favorite to play. It's the farthest course from my house that I drive to somewhat regularly to play. It's a challenging par 3 course but you can score well here if your throws are on line. One of the other things that makes people use the word Magical when they talk about Somo is that you can ALWAYS play here. When other courses are muddy soup, you can wear your good shoes to SoMo and they will go home clean. When it's super hot on all the courses around, the elevation, shade and breeze make it a lot more pleasant to play here than anywhere else. Even rainy days seem better up here under the canopy of trees. It's almost never crowded, I've often found myself alone on the mountain throwing a weekday round. And I know I already mentioned this, but where else can you throw a round of disc golf inside a cloud?!?!?!
Was this review helpful? Yes No
3 0
SmurfItchy
Experience: 13.1 years 62 played 9 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2 Different tee pads 2 different courses 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 29, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

I played this course when they just had the original pad and I thought it was a good course that made you take different shots. But when I came back to hit up the red tees I felt I was playing a completely different course that involved a fresh new look! They did a AMAZING job placing these new pads that involved you taking completely different shots than before! I really liked hole 4, the basket is literately on top of a fallen tree 5 feet up in the air!

Cons:

This course is really nice, you have a low chance of losing your disc, which I really like in a course. But hole 18 has a higher chance of losing your disc. Other than that small complaint, its a great course!

Other Thoughts:

The people who look after this course do a great job! The course was in great shape and with the additional red pad, it has gone from good to great and a must go! ALSO every Friday night they do a random doubles. All you need is a mini and $5 and they randomly pick team. Its a very laid back fun Friday atmosphere of an event where you can meet new people and just have a good time!
Was this review helpful? Yes No
4 0
sidewinder22
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 17.7 years 297 played 197 reviews
3.50 star(s)

South Mountain Fun 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 25, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Dual tees on most holes, 1 set is concrete and the other set are prepped to be concrete. Mach 3 baskets, decent signage and easy to navigate. Excellent use of the mostly wooded rocky terrain and elevation. Good variety of shot shaping through the woods with straight and left or right turning holes and uphill and downhill and side slopes and fast greens. Great course for every skill level from rank beginner to seasoned vet. Very little underbrush to lose a disc. Benches at every hole. Bathrooms and water mid course. Friendly local players.

Cons:

Nothing major, the course is crowded because it's so popular. Other park users might camp out near hole 17 and 18. Hole 18 has the potential to throw into the road. Some broken glass around the course and the rocky terrain is rough on discs and ankles. The course is fairly short. Gnats.

Other Thoughts:

Overall South Mountain is a fun little old school par 3 style course featuring great elevation changes and wooded holes. Driving to the course from the southwest is pretty awesome when you come into Bethlehem and see the whole town backdropped by the South Mountain Ranges. I almost aced hole 3, and glad a used an overstable mid range because I didn't know about the drop off the mountain to the right side.

I met quite a few players playing here and eventually joined a threesome on hole 10 and finished the course as a foursome and had a blast with these local characters. Hole 14 was probably my favorite, it's one of the longer more open holes and has a steep drop off past the basket. I parked the basket with a Comet and one of the guys in my group asked me to throw his Comet to see if it flew the same and I just missed the ace. He said, now that's how a Comet is supposed to fly when you have good form.

So in conclusion South Mountain is a great course and will help hone your tree dodging skills. I'd highly recommend this course to anyone in the area, you will have a good time.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
4 1
Afropirg
Experience: 9.7 years 34 played 19 reviews
4.00 star(s)

SoMo Lehigh Valley, PA 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 30, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Challenging wooded course
Some interesting and fun shots
IIRC multiple tee's and basket positions
Easy to navigate to the next hole
Seating at each tee box

Cons:

Trash, lots of beer cans and broken bottles
Leaves (but that's to be expected in the fall)
Stupid mando tree (yes, I missed it)

Other Thoughts:

SoMo isn't very far from my and I don't know why I haven't played it sooner. Had a really good time playing here. Some really fun and challenging shots.

Only really cons I have are the amounts of beer cans and broken beer bottles on the course. We filled up a plastic bag of crushed beer cans by hole 6. I don't think this is from the Disc Golfers in the area, I think the mountain is a hangout for teens looking to party and just dump trash wherever.

The course itself is really fun. The view from the basket on 2 (I think it was hole 2) over the valley is really nice. Great use of the environment. Throughout the course I had to use just about every type of shot which made for a good challenging time. Each hole felt like you had multiple options or lanes to take.

Looking forward to playing this course with one disc for "Once around the mountain" tournament.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
7 0
JohtoVillage
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 24 years 160 played 73 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 8, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course is a great, short course that allows you to work on your shorter, midrange shots. If you need to work on your putter shots, short sidearm shots or midrange shots then this is the course for you.

The course is mostly wooded and offers some fun, short holes. It also does not take a long time to play. If you only have 90 minutes you can easily get through this course in that amount of time.

Since this course is short most of the holes are tighter and have a defined fairway in mind. The course designer had an idea of a shot in mind for each hole and the disc needs to be shaped accordingly. If you can hit the lines that the designer intended then you can score well here! Hole 10 is a good example of this. Even though this is a short hole the design of this hole requires a slight anhyzer or a sidearm shot to get down to the green. Even then, you really have to perfectly hit your line to have a putt.

Hole 4 has a new basket location and it is truly stunning. It is cut into a tree and elevated up in the air. Its a VERY challenging basket that drops off past the basket. If you are behind the basket and putt back to the basket and go long you could easily drop away and have a 30 foot putt coming back.

Even though this course probably doesn't have a signature hole, it does have a signature view. The view to the right of hole 3 is simply stunning. Its a view down the mountain and is truly stunning.

Cons:

Here are the cons for this course. Don't take these the wrong way as they are just the things that keep the course from being a 5:

1) This is essentially par 3 golf. None of the holes are more than 360 feet so the driver can essentially be kept in the bag. There was an alternate pin on one hole that was just installed and I think that would add one par 4 but it was a two shot hole so there were no opportunities to air out a drive.

2) Navigation was very tricky in the middle of the course. I fortunately played with a local and had printed a map beforehand but even with the map I may have been confused. The confusing holes were 6 through 9 so I would recommend reading Optidisc's review of the course on how to navigate these holes.

3) Expect your plastic to take a beating. The course has some serious boulders and rocks in and around the fairways that will eat up lesser quality plastic. Also, this course is not an easy walk in the park. The rocks, boulders and elevation make for some challenging walks.

4) Even though this was a fun course with some nice holes, the course really didn't have any true signature holes. This is not a huge con for me but don't come to this course expecting any massive bomber holes or water hazards. This course has a lot of solid holes but nothing that I would call a spectacular signature hole.

Other Thoughts:

This course is a great compliment to one of the best areas for disc golf in the country. While this course doesn't have the allure of Jordan, Lehigh, Nocky, etc it does offer something different and variety is a good thing. Not every course is going to be epic and not every course is going to be hard. I played this course on a lazy Sunday afternoon and actually had a nice, fun time. I was able to play the course with Allentown legend Optidisc and if you haven't had the chance to play with him then send him a message. I would highly recommend playing Nockamixon and Sellersville if you are in the area. They are good compliments to South Mountain if you want some variety.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 0
Smf5125
Experience: 7 played 4 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Nice Wooded Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 19, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Fairly short technical holes that can provide a decent challenge for most.
Holes are laid out pretty well to allow quick play through, but it can be slightly confusing the first time you play
Tees are in good shape, new Pro tees are being put in slowly and there are a few holes with them already done.

Cons:

Again, the layout can be difficult for new people so I recommend trying to play with someone who ha splayed there before your first time.
When it is crowded, it is very possible to have crossover on the holes

Other Thoughts:

This course is the course we generally go to when we only have about 2 hours. Takes me about half an hour to get there and then two of us are able to get through it in about an hour and a half. The holes can be challenging and the new pin placement on hole 4 (literally drilled into a downed tree) is a very cool hole but a pain to get the discs out of. This is a great quick course though.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 0
Bleeder973
Experience: 10.8 years 30 played 6 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Delivered on Expectations 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 12, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

I really liked this course because it was challenging without the threat of tossing a disc into a waterway. Lots of elevation with the mix of trees and rocks/boulders. This was sweet as it demanded a different approach to almost every shot. There was just enough baskets that were pretty wide open. A handful of holes that left you rip it and some holes that forced me out of my confort zone and throw a few shots I found fun and challenging. Lots of nice, new concrete tees.

Cons:

Navigation was a little rough. If it wasn't for the group in front, we'd have been searching for the next hole quite a few times. Marking of short and long tees were a tad vague.

Other Thoughts:

I had a preconceived idea about what I was about to face from videos and other reviews. I was pleasantly surprise. Looking forward to my next round here and plenty more after that.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
4 1
wmjar
Experience: 13.7 years 109 played 5 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Will play again and again 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 15, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Everything about this course will attract both the first time player as well as the seasoned pro. Living in an area that has a lot of top rated courses, I always come back to South Mountain. Even after rainfall, this is a course that you can play the next day without drudging through mud and flooded tees. There are so many courses that you find to be interesting from the first time playing. South Mountain may be a tough the first few times through, but once you've figured out the proper angles, it may be a place you will find yourself at again and again.

Cons:

Could use a longer shot or two and maybe a par 4 or 5. There are not too many times that most players would bring out the "big arm" distance driver, but probably makes for a more interesting round.

Other Thoughts:

If you are in the Lehigh Valley, this should be the first course to get to. Easy to find, Good mix and, will always run into other friendly disc golf players.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
3 8
cmjar
Experience: 13.9 years 87 played 5 reviews
4.00 star(s)

fun short coarse 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Aug 15, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

South mountain has a number of good things to say so let's start with the tee boxes. They are concrete so u will get traction. This course is a beginner to intermediate level player because the holes are not so long. Also it's about 5 minutes from exit 67 on 78. This course requires all types of shots so practice those overhead shots and sidearm shots.

Cons:

There is only like 2 complains about this course which are navigation signs because it can be somewhat tricky towards the end. Lastly a water fountain. South has a water fountain near 6's tee pad but the water is shut off so bring extra water just in case

Other Thoughts:

I don't really have any
Was this review helpful? Yes No
3 1
SSCrash
Experience: 13.7 years 29 played 6 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Nice par 3 course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 4, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Was a fun course to play after hitting Nockamixon 2 days prior.
Wooded and rocky course pretty easy to navigate in most spots.
Tees are marked with short posts giving hole # and pin distance(s) -

Cons:

Could use signage or colored spokes directing you to the next tee in a few spots.
Could use hole layout signage.

Other Thoughts:

New framed crushed stone tee pads were in the process of being installed.
Played on a Sunday afternoon - plenty of players but no backups or waiting.
Yellow poles are the alternate pins.
Would return to play again - had a 3rd timer and 1st timer with me - both enjoyed playing there.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
5 0
jblough
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.9 years 85 played 82 reviews
3.50 star(s)

A classic wooded Lehigh Valley treat! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 21, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Overall, this is one of the most peaceful and picturesque wooded courses I've played in awhile. The lush foliage, paths, and all of the rocks make it look like some kind of setting of a fairy tale. I guess the fable here is that you need to throw with precision throughout the 18 holes!

- Each fairway is cut with a certain line in mind; this course does a nice job of making you shape a lot of different lines with little margin for error. Several holes have a lefty and righty line to the basket. Lots of punishment if you make errant throws. Nice balance, IMO, of righty and lefty holes with a few straight lasers to the basket as well.

- Great use of elevation, both downhill and uphill. I thought the long bomb downhill on #18 was a great way to finish, especially when the road and parking lot played OB.

-Practice basket, info kiosk, bathrooms by hole #8, tees are marked well and the paths are well defined. Definitely has that worn-in but cared for look and feel, which I enjoy.

- Not too busy for being a Friday afternoon. Saw a few souls but didn't have to wait to throw on any holes.

- Some nice stand-out holes here. Hole #8 must clear a sightly tight gap between two trees, but then it opens out into a giant expanse with plenty of approach room! Hole #14 was a near-400 foot downhill bomb down a pole-line to the basket. Errant shots make par difficult to achieve. #16 is a nice downhill shot that cuts hard to the right and 17 balances its previous hole with an uphill bomb to a basket guarded in the woods that can utilize either a sidearm or backhand.

- I think I played this in a little under 80 minutes, which isn't bad for never playing here before. It's definitely a quick round if the crowds are thin!

Cons:

- The rocks. They're everywhere. I mean everywhere. Just big enough to bust your ankles if you're not watching yourself. Wear good footwear and be mindful of the rocks. Also, if you throw primarily with low-end plastic, either disc-up or be prepared to turn your drivers into rollers.

- With the exception of #17 and 18, there aren't many chances for wide open bombs. I think this would be a nice balance to the excellent wooded holes present. Then again, maybe you want to come here for mostly a semi-technical challenge :raises hand:

- The old DGA baskets. So many spit-outs! Some of the tees were uneven as well, but it looks like some new tees are about to be put in.

- Only one mando on the course; I forget which hole, but it was on the middle of the front nine. Would have been nice to see another mando or two just to make the shots interesting and really require pinpoint accuracy. Not sure if the road on #9 is OB, but it should be.

Other Thoughts:

When this course was installed a decade and a half ago, I'm sure it was a bear! Now courses like Nockamixon make this seem a little easier--not to mention a better variety of discs! Like its Nocky neighbor, you have to thread many trees and stumble over many rocks to get to the basket here. The main difference here is that you can bring an inexperienced player and not scare him/her away! Overall, I think it's another solid course in the Lehigh Valley and is a nice complement to Allentown's Little Lehigh Parkway and Jordan Creek--especially in the sense of practicing line-shaping, throwing low, meandering doglegs, etc. I'd definitely come back!
Was this review helpful? Yes No
7 0
swatso
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.7 years 755 played 414 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Sudberg 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 27, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

The long, wide, and flat concrete tees were a pleasant surprise

Friendly locals - we arrived at towards the end of a one-n-done tournament, and we managed to integrate in without any problem, and got to spend some time talking about the local courses.

Cons:

With some the baskets being hard to spot (no coloured band) and some holes having multiple pin positions, a map at the tee and an indication of the current position would be nice.

Lower-grade plastic will be eaten up - my Pro-D Stratus looks as if it was gnawed on by Preston.

Other Thoughts:

Course plays across (often), down (sometimes), and up (infrequently) the ridge/slope that forms South Mountain. Despite being on a mountain, the elevation changes are not overly extreme, but the rocky terrain certainly is - wear stout, firm-soled shoes. Scattered, mid-sized hardwoods and evergreens are used to form primary (and often, alternate, so you do have decisions to make) throwing lanes of various width, from tightish to openish, but nothing extreme nor unfair. The trees are not so dense that recovery is not impossible, and the undergrowth is not existent (its rocks), so disc loss chance is minimal.

From the white (concrete) tees, from where I played, the average length is just under 260', ranging from 200'~350', so, when combined with the omnipresent trees and bending throwing lanes, makes this course about control. Shape-wise, a variety of lefts/right/straights will be needed from the tee, with moderate turns needed mid-fairway, or subtle turns needed late - at times, both.

Navigation for a first-time visitor isn't too bad with the map, as long as you pay attention to the "mixing bowl" that is 6-8.

Favourite hole: While I very much enjoyed the view across the valley from basket-3, and trying to throw the perfect S-shape down the straight ~350' #14, number-15 was my favourite, requiring a "classic" right-turn-then-hold-the-line at the midpoint of this gradually descending ~300' hole, with many a hardwood ready, willing, and available to knock the disc askew.

South Mountain is a fine course, adding to the varied options one finds in the greater Allentown area.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
2 3
Gerry
Experience: 12.7 years 15 played 13 reviews
3.50 star(s)

tight but fair 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 20, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

A very nice mix of shots that does not favor one type of throw over another. Does not take long to get around the whole 18. No probs at all with lost plastic.

Cons:

Not many. Signage could be better. A few arrows would help.

Other Thoughts:

If you are hitting the lines, you can put up good number. The trees got me, but I will be back again and again to this fun and interesting track.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Top