Sabattus, ME

Sabattus Disc Golf - Eagle

4.675(based on 26 reviews)
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16 0
pmay5
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.9 years 482 played 245 reviews
4.50 star(s)

The BEST - at Sabattus, in Maine and DG Complex!!

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 21, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

Sabattus is one of the best Disc Golf complexes you will find, excellent pro shop, knowledgable and friendly staff and 4 (soon to be 5) courses. The Eagle is the longest and most challenging of the courses here.
The property here is great for DG, a couple of creeks running throughout, the elevation created by them, a pond used very well on one of the best holes, and even an open field for a couple of rip it tee shots.
All of the tees are large and concrete, landscaped very well with benches nearby. The signs are fine, the necessary stats, hole layout and intended path. The baskets are also in good shape. I don't recall too many Next Tee signs, but they are rarely needed, as the next tee is pretty obvious.
A great variety of holes, with distances from 180' to 635', Ace runs to six Par 5s, multi turn holes, uphills, downhills, lefts, rights, just about any type of hole you can think of. There are also woods on most holes, very little thick, choking woods that like to hide discs, but just enough woods to make you hit your lines.

Cons:

Gravel - one thing I don't like on a course, especially when the fairway follows a gravel road or, it is a main part of the hole. I know they get tough winters in Maine and this summer was one of their wettest ones, so it makes sense that they need the gravel to stablize some of the service roads, but I count at least 7 holes that use gravel for a large part of the fairway. Gravel is tough on discs and provides unstable footing for that next shot.

Overlapping Courses - the Eagle course shares most tees and fairways with the Falcon course. Both holes are identified on the tee signs and the baskets are different colors, with the Falcon baskets being a shorter distance and normally off to the side of the fairway. I understand why the courses are set up this way, have a challenging course and a shorter, less challenging course using the same real estate, it must help with the bottom line. But, this could lead to delays or confusion with players playing both courses at the same time. It didn't cause any delays for me.

#13 - I felt nearly all the holes were well designed, fair and good tests. However, this one felt forced, not a clear fairway, and an unusual fairway up and over a service road. It finished pretty cool, out of the woods to the basket in the open field, but overall I didn't like the design.

Other Thoughts:

While Pay to Play courses are the norm in Maine, Sabattus Disc Golf has taken it to a new level. The large Pro Shop has just about any Manufacturer you are looking for, very well stocked with INNOVA, bags, carts, hats and clothing (their items plus Mfg items) and all the small accessories you can think of.
The only downside was that State law only allows adult beverages on the courses, not while you are shopping or hanging out
The most popular course here is the Hawk, about the same distance as the Eagle (just 500' shorter) but the Pars are much more friendly. The Eagle will challenge most players, a lot of those challenges come from the terrain, the couple of creeks come into play on 6 holes, the pond makes #8 very memorable and I counted just 4 or 5 holes that could be considered flat.
These holes use that elevation and terrain to create holes that were fun to play and almost impossible to forget:
#8 - 500' Par 5 - the tee shot is uphill through a pretty tight tunnel of pine trees, then at about 200' it turns left to the crest of the hill, still in the pine forest. The fairway then drops down to the large pond as the trees thin out. About a 150-200' carry across the pond to the basket, 30' from the shore. A really awesome hole.
#11 - 556' Par 5 - a few scattered trees to beat off the tee and a couple of large trees at the crest of the hill to miss in the middle of the fairway at about 200'. The fairway then drops away to a wide, flat area that appears to have been a quarry. This area is about 300' across, then the basket is perched on the edge of this quarry, about 40' up. A few trees on that ledge help guard the basket.
#18 - I love a good finishing hole and this one comes through in a big way. Just 358' and Par 4, this has a lot going on, the tee is through more pine trees, then at 150' it makes a sharp turn to the right, and the fairway drops about 40'. Once you get around the corner and off the hill, the fairway is narrow 20-30', with the steep hillside on the right and another creek down the left side. Then the upshot has to cross the creek guarding the front of the green with some low branches guarding any high approaches. With the precision needed off the tee and the creek down the left, there can be some scoring separation at the end of your round.
With the current 4 courses (including the Par 3 Owl, now with lights) this is truely a destination for Disc Golf in Maine. You won't even mind paying the daily greens fee, to play the quality of the courses here.
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24 1
Ryal
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 6.9 years 222 played 184 reviews
5.00 star(s)

A Sabbatical At Sabattus

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 22, 2022 Played the course:once

Pros:

+ The peace and quiet were plentiful here amongst the hills, fields, trees and bodies of water.
+ Benches and trash cans everywhere.
+ Multiple layouts and each one has an assigned color for its tees and baskets so there is never any confusion about start and stop points.
+ Astonishing pro shop on site!
+ The tee signs are illustrative and informative on all holes.
+ Tees are all solid concrete in a sufficiently long and wide keystone shape, but...

Cons:

- ...some of them are noticeably damaged.
- The pars are kind of weird like at holes 1, 5 and 11. I felt those were a bit too generous.

Other Thoughts:

Few would disagree that many people who have never played this sport think about disc golf and its proponents in a rather dim light. They imagine certain clothing, certain music and certain glassy-eyed gazes induced by certain consumables all enjoyed by under-employed slackers all day long. This, of course, is a negative stereotype that stands in stark contrast to the larger reality. Still, when a stereotype grabs hold, it's difficult to shake. So thank goodness for places like Sabattus. This magnificent course tucked away in the northeast corner of the country is just the place to introduce the skeptic newbie who thinks that disc golf cannot be reputable.

For one thing, I have to mention the huge pro shop right alongside the enormous parking lot. It's got to be the biggest I've ever seen in my six years of playing. Granted, my experience is limited mostly to the northeast. However, I don't think I'm wrong to suspect that Sabattus boasts one of the very few equipment shops with two levels featuring every kind of disc, peripheral and gear item you can imagine. That alone might change the mind of a skeptic. A dedicated team member is always behind the counter ready to give advice, research their stock, accept payment for your round and receive lost discs. Don't forget to buy a yourself a souvenir mini or sticker!

Nice pro shops are nice, but how does the course play? This review is based on my experience with the Eagle layout in late July 2022, but I think it still holds up because of how consistent and splendid everything was. Sabattus Eagle isn't a course that specializes in any one thing, but its variety is done so well. I can't speak for the other layouts that Sabattus offers, but Eagle has an exciting assortment of hills, fields, trees and water features.

And many of those features are present at the same time. Hole17 illustrates this well because it has a fun valley fairway with a stream at the bottom. On both sides are walls of trees to be avoided. Hole4 has a nice hybrid fairway, a pleasant downhill slope and a guarded death putt of a basket. Water just beyond the pin await a poor putt. Good times.
But you know me. I love my wooded disc golf, and hole8 is the best example of that here. It doesn't have a dense or claustrophobic tunnel, but the gentle rise in elevation at first effectively hides the rest of the hole. That way, it is a nice surprise to see the pond in the second half of the fairway. It was my favorite to play here.
The fairways are as clean as can be. Just about every hole has a clearly defined path for players to follow. If you should land in the rough, things aren't hopeless, and shots can usually be saved. Hole1 exemplifies this well. It's so pretty and well-maintained that you almost want to purposefully throw a bad shot just so you can spend more time admiring it in greater detail.

But, on a course this good, the flaws, however small, stand out like sore thumbs. For example, the tee signs for holes5 and 16 were damaged or disconnected from their anchor stands. The tees at holes 7 and 16 were visibly damaged, too. But it would surprise me very much if those issues weren't addressed by now. Also, hole14 was kind of boring as a wide open field and nothing more.

The other holes more than make up for that, though. The course isn't just pretty and dynamic. It tests your techniques and power control. Hole11, for example, puts you at the bottom of a quarry. To reach the uphill basket, you've got to be confident in your approach. Hole13 makes things interesting with several mandos to challenge your control. And hole18 is just the perfect 'final boss fight' of a farewell hole. Elevation, trees and that omnipresent waterway all work together to make your life hell, and I love it.

It's so nice to come across a course that is this well-presented with a great assortment of challenges to boot. A nice-looking course with no challenge is pretentious. A tough course with no presence can feel like a homogenized letdown. Sabattus is the best of both worlds. It's got the curb appeal down pat, and the challenges are well-crafted. Now, all that needs to happen is for you to pay it a visit. We'll have those skeptics taking back their words in no time. Emphatically recommended!
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11 0
MrFrosty
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 31.1 years 764 played 387 reviews
4.00 star(s)

The Eagle Has Landed , And It's Great ! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 18, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

The entry into Sabattus Disc Golf is not hard to see . Look for the large Sabattus sign perched on a giant decorative basket . There is a large parking lot here , a good thing because there are also 4 courses total on the premises . The 2 story pro shop houses an enormous amount of discs , accessories and merchandise , also selling snacks and drinks . There is a nice bathroom in here . Pro or con , this is a pay to play . $7 per round on weekdays , or $11 all day and weekends , $8 per round , $12 all day . I didn't mind the cost at all . This place has to be seen to be believed .
The Equipment - Large cement tee pads , some shared by the Falcon course , The signage is great . The signs hand high and are also numbered on the back so you can pick up the navigation easier .They are color coded to help you match where you are supposed to tee from . There are also some Next Tee signs to help you . The baskets are yellow banded Mach 5s that have flags on top to help you see them from the tee or fairway.
The Landscape - Let me begin with this course being as clean a course as I have seen . The grass mowed and branches trimmed and all fairways free of sticks . There are no extreme amounts of elevation here . the course rolls and takes advantage of some natural gully's . There is a creek that comes into play on #s 3 and 7 , and a pond that you will have to throw across on #8 . The course changes throughout , from semi open to woods , back to semi open . You always feel that either the tee pad touches woods , or the basket , or maybe both . The Eagle utilizes more of these areas because it plays much longer than the Falcon Course .
The Highlights - #1 starts you off with a drive 399' that eventually breaks downhill at the end , left to right . with the basket on the hill . #4 is a cool little 211' ( seemed longer ) midrange shot over a creek right to left into some trees guarding the basket . #8 could be considered a signature hole .at 500' . You start be throwing uphill and bending right to left , then descending down to a large pond . Your 2nd ( or 3rd if you don't want to chance a disc ) shot will be over the pond to the basket just above the embankment . Scenic and tough . #13 ( 447 ') starts in the woods and works right to left toward the open where the basket sits . #14 is a open bomber hole . At 588' you only really have to contend with some old farm machinery left on the course for decoration .
Signature Hole - #3 . At 635' , the longest hole on this course . The hole starts off level , then drops down the gully where you tee off from on #2 . After landing in the gully , the basket is straight ahead , with trees and a creek in play in front of it .
The Amenities - 2 putting baskets near the pro shop . A driving net . nice stone cement benches at the holes . trash cans . the pro shop .
The Time - It took me an hour and 10 minutes to play this 6985' course . A group of 4 can get through in at about 2 hours 15 minutes or so .
Disc Risk - low . The course is maintained so well and there is little out of control overgrowth , the only way you might lose your disc other than catching it in a tree is by having it either roll down into or ricochet into the pond at #8 .
I like that you don't have to worry about a tee time here . It is on a first come- first serve basis . The courses are popular , so you might have some waits at tee boxes during the weekends .

Cons:

#1 Equipment - Even though everything is first class here , I wasn't sold on the idea of sharing tee pads with the Falcon Course . It happens about a half a dozen times , but it can cause backups at the tee pads or the fairways ( let faster groups pass ) .
#2 Pay To Play - I could see this as a possible con if you had a family of varying skills and were paying to put them on the course regularly , or if you were a local and in a pinch financially . I thought it was fair , but just worth mentioning .
Bring some bug spray . Where there are creeks , bugs , too .

Other Thoughts:

This course has it all . Navigation is easy , the equipment and course are kept first class . While it is not a bucket list course by itself , this is a destination place . 3 solid courses and even a family course on its grounds . The owner has put well over a million dollars into the venture and looks to be constantly putting costs of playing here back into the courses . They even have a pro giving private or dual lessons at the course . The 2 story pro shop is the nicest one that I have seen , The person running the store is friendly and helpful . This is a beautiful scenic piece of Maine property .
Sabattus is living proof that if you have an enviable product , that you can maintain a profitable business by giving the disc golfer everything that they might want in a single stop .
My Recommendation - Eagle is so clean , and has challenging but fair holes , and its length , 5 holes > than 500' can draw the intermediates to pro and make them work for their threes ( not the generous pars the course gives you ) . The local , will find this course pretty tough , and will empty out his bag with the variety of shots here . The newbie or the intro might want to start off with playing the Falcon until graduating to Eagle . Travelers will like it , especially if they can stay the day here in Sabattus ( city ) , and buy a disc or merchandise after playing a round ( or 2 ) . The Course Collector will salivate .Sitting between 2 interstates , I -95 & I-295 , you can grab all 4 courses and be back on the road in less than half a day .
Take you time when coming here and soak the atmosphere and the picturesque landscape here . It's a desination you might not want to miss .

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15 0
bjreagh
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 27.6 years 350 played 321 reviews
5.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 2, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

The Course: This is my new Gold Standard for what a signature course at a top notch disc golf complex should be. I had lofty expectations before coming here and I was not disappointed. This by far the best imitation of what ball golf typically offers in terms of total experience from walking in the clubhouse to putting out on the 18th green, to include a lovely setting for 18 challenging holes with top notch amenities.

About halfway through the round I commented to my friends that if I were to dream of an ideal piece of land to have a course on, that this is it! (Usually land this nice and ideal does not get used for disc golf.) It has everything to perfection- lots of trees, sprinkled with areas of open grass, elevation is used effectively, the stony brook is beautiful and used several times, plenty of acreage for holes of varying lengths including many par 4 and 5's, and the huge rocks strategically placed on the open holes were a nice touch.

The course is very challenging yet fair. Holes and shots are non-repetitive, many offer options of attack, and there is lots of risk/reward. Several signature type holes- #3 par 5 from open to downhill then along a ridge with the creek; #7 is gorgeous along the brook, #8 across a ponded area of the brook, #11 down and up a dirt covered valley, #18 down to an island green, and those are just some of what I found most memorable.

This course plays much harder than it looks. After playing I was surprised that it is listed on DGCR as only moderately wooded, the wooded holes are tight and once off the fairway there are just enough trees that having a decent look is unlikely usually resulting in costing you a shot or more. I guess the few open holes balance that out, but the last time I had to settle for so many pitch outs was playing Texas Trey Duece. Anyways, this definitely a true test of skill, shot-making, strategy, patience, and a great balance of both physical and mental challenge.

Tees and tee areas are great, baskets color coded, signage is spectacular. I asked in the proshop about a course map- his reply was a laugh while saying "you won't need it", and he was right. A good example of how well thought out things are here was the hole numbers on the tee signs were placed facing the previous basket, as opposed to only being seen once on the tee.

Extra touches are everywhere- stone benches that look custom made (and very expensive), landscaping with flowers, lots of trash cans, bridges are sturdy but also have style, many signs and arrows in the middle of the hole helping to point out baskets not seen from the tee.


The Complex: 4 courses on-site that cover a wide range of difficulty. The club house (which looks to be a new version than the pics on DGCR) would be the envy of many ball golf country clubs- two stories with discs, baskets, bags, clothes, and snacks for sale. Climate controlled, very nice restroom inside, and the employees were very professional, polite, and helpful. Plenty of large colorful scorecards and golf pencils.

Sabattus is very family friendly, and part of their mission is to make disc golf available and appealing to everyone, to include kids.

Cons:

The Course: If I had to pick something, it would be that the Falcon co-exists on mostly the same land, sometimes sharing fairways with different tees, sometimes in parallel. You do have to be aware of the multiple tees and baskets, and could possibly make for some interference if busy and you had several people playing both courses/layouts.


The Complex: A few things that are merely suggestions, rather than cons.

Practice area was very small, a couple baskets for practicing short putts and a driving net. Suggestion- warmup on the 9 hole Owl course instead.

I wished the clubhouse had more hearty lunch options available, instead of just snacks, but they did make a great nearby recommendation- Rocky Ridge Orchard.

Parking was weird, the signs are a bit unclear as to which way to point the car, so workers had to tell us and some other early risers to move our cars to the appropriate direction. The lot is gravel, maybe there are plans to pave after some other construction of walkways is built, but some chalk or spray painted lines would be an easy temp solution.

With all the courses being named after predatory birds, I get them confused and still have a hard time remembering which name goes with which course.

Other Thoughts:

While the high class feel at Sabattus made my jaw drop, I know some disc golfers prefer things a little more rustic. However, if you ever needed to prove to a non-disc golfer that our sport is not some shady activity but can have a business model, a trip to Sabattus would remove all doubt.

I read Sabattus's mission statement, and I would say they have definitely achieved what they have set out to do. I highly recommend making a trip to play here, and would definitely come back. (not to mention the numerous other very nice courses in this part of Maine)
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11 0
markmcc
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12 years 278 played 254 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Great Course in an Outstanding DG Complex 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 19, 2019 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Eagle is the most challenging of the three main courses in this complex. At 7000 feet and par 72 it is long and features a great variety of hole lengths. From the short, technical Par 3 holes to the longer, multi-throw Par 4's and 5's each hole offers a different set of lines, elevation, streams, ponds, obstacles, etc.

The shortest holes are 180', 211' and 215' and offer great chances at birdie, but don't be fooled. They also have nearby water and/or steeply sloped greens to punish careless shots.

At the other end of the spectrum is Hole 3 at 635'. It starts out with an open drove over grass, but then enters a slot in the forest (around a mando) bending right and downward on an ever narrowing fairway. And surprise! There is a stream near this basket.

Hole 8 is another great par 5 hole. You drive down a reasonably tight fairway, bending to the left. You can choose to try the birdie route over a pond, or continue around the back of pond on the longer, safer line. Either way, a challenging and enjoyable hole.

Infrastructure is top notch, with large, trapazoidal tee pads with perfect texture. Innova DisCatchers are just the ticket in the shadowy Maine woods. Benches and trash cans everywhere, and good tee markers and acceptable (but not great, see cons) tee signs.

Cons:

The tee signs on this course are my single greatest con. The hole diagrams are oddly vague, and in some cases inaccurate. While they will give you an idea of which direction the fairway bends, there is not nearly enough detail to even partially understand the hole.

Several holes bend sharply right or left (or both) but at best the tee signs will show a gentle bend in a single direction. So many top courses have signs with excellent, useful hole diagrams. Sabattus should consider overhauling their signs. Because of the long hole lengths and poor diagrams, you are going to walk up a lot of fairways to determine where to throw.

Along with signage, the numbers on the yellow baskets are white, making them essentially invisible. Same with some of the yellow next hole arrows. The white number is impossible to make out, and there are places where a couple of walking paths cross or diverge, so knowing which to take is useful.

Other Thoughts:

The entire Sabattus complex stands out in my mind as the ultimate demonstration of commercial, pay-to-play disc golf.

The complex feature three 18-hole courses, and an additional pitch-n-putt course. There is a well-marked parking lot, a top-notch pro shop with huge amounts of discs, baskets, bags, carts, clothing, etc. Nice clean indoor bathrooms in the pro shop and several porta-potties out on the course. It is clean and well maintained.

They have actual staff that are friendly and helpful and you don't get the impression that it is some sort of brother-in-law side gig. Actual employees running a business!
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2 4
sperry1288
Experience: 13.1 years 39 played 4 reviews
5.00 star(s)

One of the best! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 3, 2016 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

-4 different courses to play
-Knowledgeable staff that are helpful with any questions you may have
-Wide variety of shots, not one boring hole
-The atmosphere is friendly enough to draw families out to play but the courses are challenging enough that they will make even well seasoned players feel less than confident.
-Beautiful grounds, very well maintained. I've yet to see a course that is taken care of like Sabattus.

Cons:

None.

Other Thoughts:

This is a must-play for any disc golfer, hands down.
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5 1
AHagglund
Experience: 17 years 77 played 19 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Has anyone mentioned that this is a destination course yet? 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 27, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

The Sabattus Complex is fantastic. There are three courses on the property, and each have their niche. The property is a mature Maine woodland, which is every bit as lovely as it sounds. Everything is perfectly maintained, and the courses have every desired amenity. All in all, as others have mentioned, very professional.

The Eagle course is the most challenging of the three. Though the listed Par of 72 is, shall we say, pretty generous, the course is definitely not easy. The vast majority of the holes are wooded, narrow, relatively long, and usually with some degree of dogleg. Elevation often plays a factor, and there is shallow water on several holes. Put all of these factors together, and it is very, very tough to stay on the fairways.

The best compliment I can give the course is that there are no boring shots, and every hole is memorable. My personal favorites were probably 8 and 11.

Lots of par 4s and 5s, which I enjoyed.

Cons:

The hole designs were somewhat atypical. The doglegs are so extreme that they take a lot of shots away (which is how a 350' foot hole becomes a par 4). A few holes bend so much that the fairways form a "U" shape. Some may like this; I did not. In some cases I was more rewarded for missing a fairway than for hitting one.

There were sooooooo many extreme left to right shots. 1, 6, 9, 13, 16, and 18 all fit this category. There are R->L shots too, but those tend to be more open, shorter, and with a greater margin for error.

Finally, I felt that the tee signs weren't very helpful. The lines they showed didn't match the lines on the course.

Other Thoughts:

A full day of play for $10? Sign me up. The day I spent here was one of the most enjoyable days I've had with the sport.
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10 0
Hector Chain
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.9 years 222 played 191 reviews
4.50 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 31, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Of all the disc golf complexes I've visited (Highbridge, Horning's Hideout), this is by far the best taken care of. Disc golf is the entire focus of the property, and the attention is evident. Everything is mowed. Woodchips cover every possible wet area. The pro shop is one of the largest I've seen.

Eagle is a terrific, multi-shot course. Hole 3 really set the tone. The drive is a full drive across a field. Your second shot needs to get you around a mando as you negotiate a gentle downhill at the same time as a 70-degree turn to the right with a stream guarding the left side, and then long, accurate approach to the basket. I'd love to play this hole until I can get a four on it.

Hole 8 is my favorite at the complex. Your drive is an uphill drive that needs to fade left down the fairway toward a pond. Your second shot needs to be a low shot across the pond to the basket on the other side. If you set yourself up nicely, it's a standard shot where you really just need to keep any thoughts of a worm burner out of your mind. If you put yourself behind a tree, you need to decide if you're going for an awkward shot across (this is the only water hazard on the course where you probably won't get your disc back). Oh, and you can avoid the pond altogether with an easy but boring 5 by going around. I haven't played another hole quite like this.

There are long bombers. Hole 14 is a 635-foot wide open hole that is a refreshing change and a fun chance to see if you can give yourself a look at 3. But there are several great short holes, too. Hole 4 is 254 feet downhill with the basket sitting at the edge of a slope with a thick part of the stream sitting behind.

The tees are concrete. The baskets are top-notch Mach X contraptions.

Cons:

The tee signs (not the ones in the pictures). Not a fan. I only played to the wrong basket once (it was twice on Hawk). But the tee signs show the paths to the baskets for both Eagle and Falcon, which is an overlay to this course with separate baskets. The paths shown to the baskets take weird swooping paths that in no way represent the actual fairway. Please replace these. They don't fit with the superior standard that this complex has set for, frankly, everything else.

This isn't a true con for me, but just know that Eagle is not a true championship-level course. I imagine a real pro could shred the course. But whatever. There was no unnecessary beatdown here, just legitimate challenge combined with really fun design. We do play for fun, right?

Other Thoughts:

Maple Hill is the best designed course in New England, but this is neck and neck with Smuggler's Notch for second. But why limit it to the Northeast? With the incredible condition of the course, the woodchips everywhere, and overall feel of the complex, this felt like a cross between Blue Ribbon Pines and Horning's Hideout Meadow Ridge.

I drove up from Boston on a hot summer day to get some cooler weather. I can't wait to get back.
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2 6
WraithMaster
Experience: 14 years 3 played 2 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Great Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 13, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

A variety of shots are needed.
It's a nice walk in the woods.
The pro shop is very nice and staff are knowledgeable.
Lots of shots next to a body of water.
The bottle bins and butt cans are at every hole.

Cons:

There are a few water holes. They do give you ways to retrieve discs though.
It does share some tees with another course the falcon.

Other Thoughts:

This is hands down my favorite course to play. It has both open and tight drives. This course is a must play for anyone in Maine.
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1 3
Jmewhite1
Experience: 24 played 13 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Flawless 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 10, 2016 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Best baskets you will find anywhere, long and challenging course that is absolutely manicured to perfection. Nice stream ponds and bridges along the way. Great stonework and benches all over and very well marked. Home of the 2016 US Women's disc golf championships

Cons:

Isn't open in the winter.

Other Thoughts:

Destination course with the largest pro shop probably in the world. 3 other courses on site. Including a 9 hole course lit up at night.
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3 3
Birds
Experience: 22.6 years 49 played 2 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Professional feel. Good golf. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 9, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course is all the way nice. From the giant basket out front, into the pro shop, to the first tee, and throughout the course all you get is professional and upscale disc golf. The pro shop is great. The scorecards are nice. Tee signs are clear and concise. The course is aesthetic and fair. Beautiful. No litter. No bs.

Cons:

Only the "par" situation. I just played and didn't really think too much about par. All the 5's felt like 4's and most of the 4's I considered tough 3's. I shot a 61 which felt to me like somewhere around where par aught to be.

Other Thoughts:

I would definitely go out of my way to play this course again. Totally sweet. As others have said, this is what a pay to play course aught to be like. If you are paying 10 bucks a day (which I think is the most I've paid to play disc outside of tournaments) you should expect the highest level. This is it.
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1 7
overkill
Experience: 24 played 6 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Destination course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 24, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Very well layed out course; the first few times I played it I didn't even notice how one hole runs alongside another. The entire course is extremely well maintained - virtually all debris has been removed in any wooded area; the large/long grass areas are always cut and akin to fairways at a golf course. Challenging holes plus the beautiful layout make it my favorite place to play of approximately 20 courses I have been to.

Cons:

Very, very few. Get a working scale in the pro shop; and it would be nice to have food (burgers and dogs etc on site).

Other Thoughts:

Love the selection in the pro shop too.
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7 0
huckitt
Experience: 30.9 years 2 played 2 reviews
4.50 star(s)

destination course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 24, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Gorgeous property. Expertly laid out and immaculately maintained. Great use of terrain. Nice baskets, signage and pads. The three and a half courses offer something for every player level. Peter Ruby and his team have put their heart and soul into this property and it shows.

Cons:

I haven't encountered a problem with traffic but one of the intermediate courses shares tee boxes (but separate fairways and baskets) of the champion course for first several holes. Par is "generous". Grooming is so nice that the rough isn't a death sentence.

Other Thoughts:

I travel and play extensively, love Houck courses as noted by reposado in an earlier post and agree with his comment about pin placement, but would still rank Eagle at Sabattus as one of the all time fun rounds to play anywhere. Artful use of the gorgeous meadows and wooded terrain with open water and streams in play, (but not as ridiculous hazards). The fairways are immaculate and well laid out with excellent signage - the lanes will challenge (but not intimidate the best players) - and they are thankfully devoid of the huck and pray config typical of New England wooded courses. Only con for a pro course is that a few holes are generously parred - good for the ego but easily overcome by a bit of score adjustment. Besides the pro-oriented Eagle, Sabattus offers two other very playable 18 hole intermediate runs, another 9 hole beginner course and a nicely stocked pro shop. This is a destination course for all levels. If there was a brewpub onsite I'd move next door.
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2 2
iHitTree
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 21.9 years 100 played 38 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Awesome! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 15, 2014 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Awesome!

-Great mix of shots
-Nice elevation
-Awesome mix of tighter vs. more open fairways (mostly wooded)
-Great basket locations
-Great cement teepads
-Amazing signs
-Terrain is insane (roots, creeks, ponds, trees, rocks)
-Cheap to play all day
-Amazing pro shop with tons of discs and merch, so replacing lost plastic or stocking up is no prob)

Cons:

-Pars are meant for amateurs (I found this to be a par 65 rather than a 72, but no big deal if you convert it)
-Some spots muddy after a big rain
-Creeks are deep and murky, so no plastic coming back (side of hole 4, pond on 8)

Other Thoughts:

This place feels like a golf country club. From someone passing through for the 2nd summer from Philly, I was blown away with how awesome this place is. Great work guys! We need more places like this!
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2 5
piranhabite
Experience: 2 played 1 reviews
5.00 star(s)

eagle 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

nice challenge , wide variety of holes/shot to make, water hazards , excellent baskets

Cons:

not much maybe the water shots for newer players but good golfers will find it a fun challenge

Other Thoughts:

this course is awesome makes a good challenge and very cool terrain nice place and very well maintained landscaping is some of the best seen on any course thanks to pete and his crew
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1 4
endlsswinter
Experience: 12.9 years 1 played 1 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Awesome! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 10, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Amazingly friendly staff and beautifully maintained course. A great mixture of technical wooded holes and open bomber holes.

Other Thoughts:

I searched for some of the best courses in the north east, and this one popped up. I was a little worried about the 5 hour trip just to play this course, but I gave it a shot. It was well worth it. I am looking forward to playing this course again. It is now easily in my top 3 courses.
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15 0
reposado
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.8 years 278 played 276 reviews
4.50 star(s)

the course of the future, today 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 23, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

People often talk about the future of pay-to-play courses. Well in Sabattus, Maine, the future has arrived. There will always be a place for a true private course, a labor of love tucked far off the beaten path. But I think the growth will come from private, for-profit courses like this one.

People often talk about a course being manicured. Typically a course that is considered manicured means that apes a traditional golf course. Often, such courses are former courses. That's not how I would describe Sabattus. The courses here are manicured but with an original aesthetic that is specifically designed for disc golf. The gravel paths are striking. They look both professional and unique. There is grass too but often covers a glen, or a hillside and not a fairway. The entire operation just screams, "Professional."

From the first tee, a gravel path stretches ahead of you across the remainder of the open space and into the woods. The line isn't too demanding but it is long. You want to throw a straight shot down that gravel path. If you miss, you'll hit a tree, ruining a chance for birdie but there is very little underbrush, even off the fairway.

The second tee is the one that started me thinking that I was on a potential five. There is a creek just after the tee after which the fairway goes up and to the left. The bridge that crosses that creek will make every other course's bridges look amateur. Three is another killer hole. Over an open field on Eagle's high point. Past the standing stones, the first drive wants to cut left into an opening in the woods. From there, it's a narrow path to the basket.

Four, (and this is the last hole I'll describe in such detail) throws down along the path and into a glen that feels like discing in Hyrule. The basket is on the opposite hillside. The rest of the holes...man, they're all unique. The course really takes advantage of all the different slopes and shapes available on the property. There is quite a bit of water. Some of is merely aesthetic, but often the creek that runs along the course will come into play. It may lurk just behind the basket, making a run risky or it may require a crossing, but in every case it adds astounding beauty to the layout.

There are a lot of different shots here. There's a nice carry on twelve. There's an open pit which isn't a true carry but it is fun to attempt one there. There are even a few open holes where the big dogs will get a chance to eat, even for the big arms. There isn't any big elevation but there are a ton of bumps and ridges that will force players to reconsider flight paths.

The layout is fantastic. I think I've made that clear. But it's the professionalism that really stands out here. The grooming. The signage. Just the aesthetics. It's the course of the future, but you can play it today.

Cons:

If you are looking for a Houck-style course with specific landing areas, where holes are designed with par in mind, this isn't it. In my opinion, if you take a course like that and combine with the presentation of Eagle, you have a five. For the first third of the course, I was wondering if Eagle would warrant my first five. It didn't quite get there and mostly because of this lack. (And also, a few holes toward the end aren't as interesting as those first few.

If you are looking for a course that will challenge top pros, this isn't it. For all of its good qualities, Eagle doesn't scare you. You might walk up to a tee and be blown away, you might eagerly anticipate the throw, but a blue-level player isn't going to walk up to tee and think, "I don't know if I can throw that." I don't think it was actually designed for an ability level but more to take full-advantage of the terrain. Which isn't always a bad thing.

Other Thoughts:

In the end, Eagle is a very good example of a 4.5. It is fully deserving of a spot in the top 100 and likely should be among the top 50. I find it incredible that it has existed for this long without picking up more than ten reviews. Locals, travelers, anyone: get on your keyboard and write.
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1 3
Schleyer
Experience: 20.9 years 10 played 6 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Best I've ever played 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

Awesome pro shop
Great courses (3 of them)..Eagle is the hardest, Hawk is also hard. Owl is good learner course
Challenging
Well maintained
Trash / Recycling on every hole

Cons:

Can't think of anything!....except a bit of a distance from Portland

Other Thoughts:

Best course I have ever played! Recommend it to everyone!
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7 0
Ringthembells
Experience: 8 played 3 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Insanely well maintained 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

Both courses here are really well designed, with a perfect mix of open, rip-it shots, tight woods shots, lots of elevation related ones - like "basket on the edge of freakin' sandpit" elevation. Really cool stream and water incorporation. You could lose a disc, as the course is not the easiest you will ever play but the river's so clean, you might actually jump in to get it.

Cons:

Only con would be that word has spread of how well they take care of this place and it can get really packed in the summer. You will see some big groups out there, but most are pretty good about eeeeeeventually letting you pass.

Other Thoughts:

I have it in my head that the owner, creator, or both has a background in landscaping, and if that's true it would sure make sense. Along with beautiful course design, this place is almost comical in how well they maintain the place. Fresh wood chips EVERYwhere, huge fairways are always mowed, it's nuts. They must have a 30-person team that goes out in the middle of the night to keep this place as good as it is. Kinda kidding on the last one, but seriously, it's kept up!
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14 1
mashnut
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.1 years 831 played 777 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Great challenge 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 26, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course is a tough wooded challenge with a couple open bombs mixed in. The open field shots break up the wooded holes and keep the course from feeling repetitive, and some offer pins tucked into the woods to add some challenge to the approach. The wooded holes offer tight but fair lines with thick rough waiting to punish an errant shot. A couple very unique features are in play here, including a gravel pit where the tee shot has to hit a tight gap then cross a large open pit. The pin is placed on top of a 15' cliff with rollaway potential even if you do make it up on top with your approach.

There is a unique water hole as well here, with a long U shaped fairway around a pond that offers a local route across the water if you place your tee shot and have the guts to go for the glory on your approach. There is a great mix of hole shapes and lengths here, many of the holes are longer but there are definitely some ace/deuce chances mixed in throughout. You'll need a variety of different shots to score well here, with a balance of left and right turning fairways and a couple nice multi shot holes where placement is key to set up your next shot.

The concrete tees are all in nice shape, and the baskets don't show much wear at all. The signs are very visible, and have distance and hole layout clearly marked. There is a well stocked pro shop with equipment and snacks, and a great warmup area with practice baskets and a driving net.

Cons:

The signs show two pin placements for most holes, but locals told me the pins hadn't moved in years and the current placement isn't noted on the signs making some of the longer blind shots a little frustrating to scout ahead on. There are a few spots that don't feel quite as polished as the rest of the complex, with sticks and brush on the fairways.

Other Thoughts:

This was the least crowded of the courses here, the recreational players seem to stick to the Owl and Hawk courses. Beginners will not have as much fun here as on the other two, with long technical shots and punishing rough. More experienced players will find the most challenge here, and the best variety of shot shapes to test their full skill set. Combined with the other courses on site, this is a destination for sure and a great model of how to build a successful pay to play facility.
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