Killington, VT

Base Camp Outfitters DGC

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3.825(based on 28 reviews)
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2 2
Dirty Birdie
Experience: 4 played 3 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Needs maintenance.... 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 5, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

1. Cement tee pads (although skinny, only about 3 feet wide). 2. Signs/yardage. 3. Good layout (not excellent though as some tee areas are in the line of fire from previous hole). 4. Not much distance between holes. 5. Course directly on Rt. 4 (great accessibility).

Cons:

1. Many blind baskets (spotters especially helpful for holes 1 + 3). 2. Navigating the course is challenging on a few holes (especially finding tee pads for holes 8 + 11). 3. Many wet areas year-round making black flies + mosquitoes a contender to deal with. 4. Fairways constantly littered w/ debris (sticks, branches, etc.). 5. Innova baskets are old and smaller than regulation baskets. Chains are smaller and distance between the cage and top bar is smaller. An upgrade in baskets are needed. 6. Greens are almost not existent. Most baskets crowded by trees within 10 - 15 feet. 7. NOT cart-friendly. Too much elevation and rugged terrain. 8. $10 to play.

Other Thoughts:

With more tender-lovin' care, this course has the potential to be a good, decent course. It just seems there's not much work put into it and for $10, I'd expect a bit more in that dept. Still shot a nice 57 from the Longs which pleased me playing for 1st time (me being only 906-rated), so hard to complain too much here. LOL
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3 0
DoWork
Experience: 8 played 8 reviews
3.00 star(s)

good, bad and ugly all in one but fun! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 21, 2018 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Challenging course with many blind holes, many tough lanes and some really cool rolling/mountainous terrain. I like the long concrete tees and the trees that always seem to be just off the tee. Generally I have fun here because it doesn't coddle you in any way and you've got to take leaps of faith here and there when you can't see or tell where the basket is. For instance hole 3 I was throwing blind until I was putting but I still enjoyed it. The first time I teed off on 1 I lost my favorite driver off the cliff and I still like it.

Also the staff and the people who play there are friendly and fun.

Cons:

Messy fairways, sloppy or inconsistent details and ghetto baskets kind of set the tone. For a place that's been around over a decade I was honestly expecting it to be a bit more dialed. Also some seriously swampish OB areas. Sexy plastic beware.

Other Thoughts:

This course is a lot of fun if you like tough wooded courses, but be ready to slum it for lack of a better term. You'll have a ton of fun if you like pressured flex shots and threading needles but if you're an amenities-centric person with a cart you will likely not be overly pleased.

Overall, this is a good course but if ownership did some dialing here and there with a few upgrades it could easily be great. Still a solid course and will play again.
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7 0
Hector Chain
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.8 years 222 played 189 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 20, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

You'll probably drive through Woodstock, VT on the way here, which is on any list of the most scenic towns in the U.S. And you'll pass the Long Trail Brewery (try the underrated Double Bag), and dip under the bridge at the far reaches of Killington Mountain. So you'll be in a good mood by the time you arrive.

The course starts off with a bang, a huge left-to-right bomb down a steep hill. You'll want to empty the bag, and then when you're picking up your discs along the huge hill (it has switchbacks to get down), you might wish you hadn't.

Hole 3 is another big one, a straight downhill shot where your drive disappears over a ridge halfway down the fairway, and you need to avoid some wooded areas on either side.

After that, the course settles into a series of wooded holes along cross country skiing trails. The fairways are generally 220-320.' Among my favorites was hole 6 and 18. Hole 6 is a toss across an OB swamp to an uphill perch. It's not a long throw, and it's probably ace-able, but there are several ways your throw could go wrong. Hole 18 is a pretty easy birdie if you lay up, but you'll want to go for the ace, and the big slope to the left of the basket makes for a tough comeback putt.

Tee pads were brick (the pictures on the site are outdated). Signs were pretty good. The scenery at the beginning and end of the course is tough to beat.

Cons:

All of the holes are fun here. But on nearly every hole I was scanning for the basket and realized it was always straight ahead. There wasn't a lot of line shaping required.

Other than holes 1 and 3, none of the holes were multi throw holes. Most of the time, it was a question of whether your drive left you with a long putt or a short one.

I played in October after a pretty dry late summer, so it wasn't too wet. But several areas were still pretty swampy. On hole 4 I put my drive maybe 20 feet to the left of the basket and my feet fell through the fallen leaves into some muck.

Other Thoughts:

At $6, this felt like a great value. I had the course to myself on a windy but gorgeous fall afternoon with Green Mountains dressed in burnt orange. These are the days you like to remember.
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3 0
Justinperkins
Experience: 26.8 years 63 played 5 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Fantastic Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 5, 2016 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

I'm a big fan of this course. Lots of blind shots requiring faith in your throw, plenty of opportunities to use a variety of shots, rewards you with repeat visits as you learn the course.

You're pretty much in the shade the whole time, not a ton of vertical ascent/descent required considering this is a ski mountain course, lots of oddly placed baskets (plus 2 hanging) that make the putt/approach game a mando.

Cons:

Few of the holes would be great if you have a spotter, very easy to lose discs on hole #1. I'm seeing some complaints about damp soil, but this is a mountain course with snowmelt, so kinda expect it. It was only noticeable on a handful of holes and they do a good enough job out there with placing wood/boards to walk on, that I didn't once get damp feet. Granted, I played in September, not May.

Other Thoughts:

I like these baskets. Sure, they're old, but I'll take an Innova basket with homemade inner chains over a pro-level with a chastity belt any day of the week.

If you have a course map in your hand and pay attention to the signage after every hole (not to mention attached to many of the baskets), it's not even remotely difficult to find the next pad. Sure, if it's your first time out you'll need to walk ahead of each pad to spot the basket, but that's hardly unusual.

In terms of Upper Valley courses, this one is very high on my list of badass courses I'm really excited about.

Pro shop is a huge plus, staff is knowledgable about both the game and the course. Disc selection isn't amazing and would be great to have a used inventory to supplement the discs you're going to lose, but on the plus side the "discs lost return rate" is off the charts at this course.

If you find my Valkyrie can you let me know?
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1 0
Knowuh
Experience: 5 played 5 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Base Camper 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 8, 2016 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Nice long concrete tees on the long course. Good par 54 challenge layout. Decent disc selection in the store and super friendly staff. The first 3 holes are open bomb shots and the rest of the course is through the trees, the fairways are "fair" and players will be able to choose shots rather than the hole design choosing it for you.

Cons:

A lot of swampy lowland around, skilled players should be able to avoid the swamps easy enough but beginners are going to get wet feet for sure. I would love to see the course provide fetching sticks on some of the holes. The short course layout seems like an afterthought, the tees are not the best. A new set of chains would be great for this course, they are older baskets that spit out a bit.

Other Thoughts:

BCO is a good compliment to the growing VT disc golf scene and worth a visit even though it's a little out of the way to get to. Accurate shots are rewarded and errors are hard to get up and down. There are birdie ops but no gimmes,
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3 4
captain.roche
Experience: 12.2 years 12 played 2 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Not worth the drive 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 25, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

The long tee pads are all cement and the tee pad signage "only at the long tees" was at every hole. literally that's about the only positive things I can say. Maybe I'm just spoiled with the courses around my house and I might of raised the rating to a 2 if it was free, but otherwise its just not worth the trip.

Cons:

1. Poor signage. With the exception of the signs at the long tees, which gave you a poor sense of were the pin actually was. There were no signs on the short tees, and very few directional signs, that were also poorly placed. half the time we were just hoping we were going the right way. (we asked for a map before we started and were told they don't have one and we wouldn't need one, YES we needed one)
2. The Baskets are cheap. All were Disccatcher SPORTS, that someone tried to make better by adding some more chains. The paint on the tops of the basket were all wicked faded, making them hard to see in the distance. That and the poor signage made it hard to know even were to throw.
3. General poor course design. There were no real defined flight paths on half the holes. I shouldn't have to throw a roller because there is no clear path in the air. The sport is called disc golf not bowling. Also the pin areas were way to tight. The concept of a putting ring was non-existing. most pins were tucked into, at best, a 10 ft. "diameter" area. Which made it almost impossible to make a run at the basket.. Maybe it's just my opinion, but on a par 3 course I should be able to make a run at the basket on every hole and not fear ending up in a swamp or scrub brush 5 ft away from the pin.
4. The course was kinda dangerous. Multiple holes overlap and tee boxes are in areas were a flying disc could definitely go. A bunch of the pins are in blind locations,. That, along with the poor signage and hard to see faded baskets, one could easily throw a disc in the wrong place and end up hitting someone that you didn't even know was there.

Other Thoughts:

In conclusion It's not a good course. Certainly not one you should have to pay for. At best it could be considered mediocre, if it was free, but its not. So I rated it poorly.
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2 0
The Valkyrie Kid
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 45.9 years 1563 played 1507 reviews
3.50 star(s)

BCO Course Offers Extreme Holes And Lots Of Tecnical Throws! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 5, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

The Base Camp Outfitters course is located directly behind their store in Killington. The store is a high end ski/hiking/outfitters shop which also happens to stock a large selection of disc golf equipment. The cost to play is $6 payable at the store although I think the locals might just wait until the store closes and then play for free. A group of five were starting their round after store hours.

The course plays up, down and through the wooded slope behind the store. This area is criss-crossed with nordic ski trails. In summer, you may encounter some hikers. Parts of this slope are naturally wet and marshy. Logs and a few small log type bridges have been built to get you over the wettest sections. Even around the 1st of August, parts were quite wet. I would think spring and fall would be really problematic in places. Winter buried under snow, of course.

The concrete tee pads are nicely sized. The metal signs show the distance as well as a preferred route. The baskets are Discatchers portable models with double chains. I think three were fixed as hanging and one or two were elevated.

Hole # 1 is a long (507') sloping downhill throw withe the hanging basket tucked in far to the right. I tried to play it alone, sans spotter, and lost one of my essential discs, one that's been in my bag for probably 5-6 years. (I came back after my round, continued hunting for it and eventually found it about 50 yards from where I thought it was).

# 3 is another long hole which has you throwing blindly over a plateau which then funnels into an ever narrowing area to the basket below. There is thick, thick rough and tall grass on both sides. After losing one of my favorite discs on the first hole, I couldn't bring myself to crank another throw into the unknown without a spotter. So I chose to skip this hole.

From here on out I was able to play and navigate the course without any trouble, unless you call hitting a tree occasionally trouble. I didn't have any more problems with the local bug/mosquito population here than on any courses I've played around these parts.

But I found myself starting to become a little tired of looking at the same tee sign on every hole, that is 225-325', basically a straight shot through a semi-wooded fairway. Maybe a little difference in the elevation plus or minus. The lack of variety on the course keeps it from being a more elite course in my mind.

My favorite hole on the course was actually one of the aforementioned long straight down a ski trail type. But # 10 had a natural beauty to it. It's 317' but arrow straight and the basket is right there at the end staring back at you. Nothing in the way! You just have to thread the needle all the way.

Cons:

The bogginess/wetness of the course would have to affect the enjoyment during certain times of the year,

13-14 holes are basically similar in their design, straight throws, try to miss the trees.

Not the best baskets.

Spotters needed on a couple holes.

Other Thoughts:

This is a nice course which certainly presents the player with some challenging throws. I think it plays as an intermediate level course, thanks to holes 1 & 3. The other 16 holes are just solid recreational fun . It's not a course for beginners. It does provide a nice workout. I wonder about it's playability. When does it open in the spring? How late in the fall can you play? Is BCO open 6 months a year? Just curious? I'm a fair weather player, I don't even like to play in the rain or when the temperature drops unto the 40s. I'm not tough like these Vermont players.
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6 1
Upshawt1979
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.8 years 548 played 429 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Basically Cooler than Ordinary 2+ years

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

Pros:

Base Camp Outfitters DGC is pretty wild for a par 54. The store is full of good gear and snacks. Get a scorecard when you stop in to pay greens fees. Practice basket next to parking area to get you warmed up. The concrete tees are long and pretty good quality. Baskets are not the best, but serve their purpose. The first hole is the belle of the ball, but go ahead and play the rest, if you should make it out there. I played the long tees, and 1 is near the parking lot, with the target at the bottom of a tall hill, cutting hard to the right. Just go for it! I wanted to throw more than one, but I didn't have a spotter, and once it goes over the edge, there is a lot of space for a disc to hide. I held it to one shot, but didn't put enough air under it, and was well short of the pin, but safely in an open area near the bottom of the hill. There is a bell to ring once you clear the basket, to let anyone at the 1st tee know you are out of the way. 3 is another bomb from the top, with a big drop off and tricky pin position near the bottom. Hole 4 the elevation changes ease up, and around the basket you get into thicker woods. There are good fairways, but you need to hit the gaps and avoid pin balling off trees to play par. 6 tees over a small pond, to a pin at the top of a small, wooded hill. I missed to many putts, and feel like there are some great opportunities for birdies that I could not convert. I nailed the drive on 8, 340' downhill with a tight fairway, but could not make the putt. Same on shorter, easier uphill hole 9. I made a birdie on 10, after a good bullet line drive down a tight fairway, which was nice. 11 was back uphill with a pin perched on a stump. 12 was long enough to give me a two putt bogey, after a decent drive. I made a solid birdie putt on 15 from the fringe of the rough. That was the last one I got, and another bogey on 16 put me 2 over par, where I finished (56). 18 is a short final hole, over a creek flowing down the hill behind the clubhouse. There are 4 or 5 really great holes on the course, and only a couple of average ones. I liked the overall quiet and secluded feeling on the course. The layout did a wonderful job utilizing the nature of the landscape, playing around the trees, and over the rocks and water.

Cons:

The signs and the baskets could be better. Water in play on several holes, and mud lingering from rainfall a couple of days earlier. Added logs and boards in the worst spots will help you across. There are not any par 4 or 5 holes, a shortcoming for some players, not so much for me. Fairway on hole 2 crosses directly in front of 18 tee box.

Other Thoughts:

Base Camp Outfitters has developed a really good course. Those who helped with the design and install did a very good job. I really wanted to give them a 4.5 rating, but couldn't quite get there. Some upgrades on the baskets and signage would put it over the top, but a fine course as it is. One of my favorites for sure, perhaps the best opening hole I've ever seen.
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1 2
dvdchss
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Excellent course and pro shop 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 29, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Well kept with clear paths up the fairways. Clear hole description coincides with scorecard. Good signage to next hole. Cement tee pads and alternate tees on longer holes. The owner's dedication to the sport really shows.

Cons:

There are some boggy spots on a couple of holes, but these can be avoided with the correct disc selection or use of an alternate tee (Discretion is the better part of valour)

Other Thoughts:

Like the hanging baskets, general pin placements and use of logs and rocks to prevent skipping or sliding approach shots. No concenrs with any of the baskets. The proshop had a nice selection of disc even though it was late in the season and the owners could not have been any friendlier.
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3 0
Buchajs1
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.7 years 168 played 44 reviews
4.00 star(s)

BCO 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 6, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Between this course and killington resort disc golf you could have a pretty fun day of disc golf in killington. If you are within a couple hours of killington i would highly recommend coming here for a day trip to play two solid courses. Believe me, you wont be dissapointed.

Variety-this course has a good mix of open and wooded holes and equires a good deal of shot shaping to score well. The course begins with hole #1 a fantastic left to right around a large area of weeds and down a slope to a hanging basket. Probably my favorite hole on the course. I would recomend using a spotter on this hole. Then your off to hole number two, a a straight hole with a slight dogleg left, up a slope to the pin. As you continue forward you find yourself on top of a plateau where hole #3 tee is. Hole 3 is a long downhill bomber that plays over the edge of the plateau, then continues downhill to a basket on the left in a small area of woods. I would recommend using a spotter on this one also. From there you venture into the woods and swamps surrounding the nordic ski trails for holes 4-17 these holes present a nice mix of different lines and some elevation utilizing the many nordic ski trails. Shot shaping and accuracy is a must on this part of the course if you hope to score well. After that youre on the tee of 18 a relatively short (250 feet) hole that requires you to hit a somewhat small gap and continue to the basket. Try to stay to the right, beause there is a drop off left. Beware if you hit one of the trees forming the gap you may find yourself in a small stream with only a pancake shot out. Although some may find it gimmicky i really enjoyed the abundance of elevated and hanging baskets.

Amenities- concrete tees and paper tee signs on each hole, shorter tees are usually just natural tees marked by posts. Base camp outfitters store serves as a pro shop with a good amount of discs, as well as many other items to satisfy your outdoor needs. Bathrooms inside as well.

Cons:

Temp baskets- they catch pretty well, however even the best of portables do not compare to permanent baskets. I think the baskets are discatcher sports with an added set of chains to improve catching.

Lost disc potential- with the marshes, there are literally signs that say if you step in you will find yourself knee deep in mud. Beginners could find themselves losing some plastic here.
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4 10
AaronMonier18
Experience: 13 played 7 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Not Vermont's Finest 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 5, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

The Pro Shop is nice and has a decent amount of discs to browse. The staff seemed friendly and the location is pleasant.

There are some above average holes to play and it was a fun round. It just seemed like a campground course to me. I think the problem is mostly is the track of land which limits what can be done with design. Either way.... I would never consider driving from NH to play here again.

Cons:

The baskets are kind of a joke. I know they are expensive and the overhead hurts a small course like this... but they are not fun to putt with. They are essentially Innova Discatcher Sports with an extra set of chains? Garbage. The teepads are rough and not always facing the right direction. They were having a tournament the following day and I was a little appalled at the course conditions. The track swings through some defunct parking lot before heading into some cross country trails. Perhaps my expectations were too high... but BCO really disappointed me. However, I have friends who like it. Check it out for yourself.

Other Thoughts:

Again, this is just my opinion and it seems like I'm an outlier to most reviews here. However, anybody who thinks they are walking into a Excellent to Phenomenal course is destined to be a little disapointed.
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10 0
DSCJNKY
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.6 years 682 played 129 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Long Trail Ale and Fun Disc Golf = Happy! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 11, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Super Fun Holes. The course starts off with a bang on Hole 1 and keeps throwing some really fun golf at you along the way, utilizing the elevation, thick rough and swampy regions effectively. The course forces you to throw a variety of precise shots off the tee-pad, rewarding good drives with realistic birdie opportunities and punishing bad drives and upshots with probable bogeys.
- Extreme Punishment. There were a few holes where if you got off the fairway, you were F**ked. Even a pitch out would be rough. Other holes had a swampy region along a fairway's edge, or that had to be crossed, creating some risk/reward pressure as going in the swampy mud after your disc would not be pretty. I love that kind of golf... throw the shot or else.
- Base Camp Aspect. The Base Camp Outfitters disc golf course was on the private property of a ski/hiking/outfitter shop... which carried some real high-end gear and other various general store-like items. They have also installed various types of tent-like shelters around the course, which offered protection from the elements at a few of the tee-pads.
- Long Trail Brewery. I usually try to bag a few breweries during my disc golf travels... and I was pleasantly surprised to find the Long Trail Brewery just down the way from the course. Their beer isn't my favorite, not even close; but like famous courses, the brewery is famous enough to be a special one to bag!

Cons:

- Swampy. Several of the fairways bordered a swampy, messy area that you would not want to throw your disc into. I didn't have any trouble with it, but a small kick off a tree could have you wishing you hadn't hit the tree. I really didn't have a problem with the swamp, I actually think it enhanced several holes. I simply mention here because it's the best place to mention it... and, it probably breeds obscene amounts of mosquitoes.
- Potential Seasonality of the Course. (I am posing some educated guesses here): Due to the swamps, I imagine that this place is an insect breeding ground in the warmer months. This wasn't a problem for me as I played in October, and it was decently cold (literally snowing at the top of the mountain)... but from April-September, this place is probably extremely buggy, making play during those months undesirable. And then, I would imagine that the course gets snowed over during the winter months, making Base Camp Outfitters DGC really only friendly for play between April-May and September-October. (again, just a guess on my part).

Other Thoughts:

- Overall. I had a blast a Base Camp Outfitters. The golf was slightly above average, and birdies were there for the taking with proper execution. The shots were fun and the ruff punishing. I imagine the course is buggy as hell in the warmer months, especially due to the swampy areas, and buried under a couple feet of snow in the winter. The tent shelters offered great places to relax for a minute. If you're just traveling through, bring a little extra money as the Outfitter shop carries some amazing gear... and it would be good to support their local economy so they can stay alive and keep the course going. I was happy to make Base Camp my VT course... I mean, there might have been a better course somewhere in Vermont, but Base Camp Outfitters was a quality stop... especially since I got to bag the Long Trail Brewery too!
- My Score: 49... with 5 missed putts and a bogey (course record is a 44)
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10 0
swatso
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.7 years 755 played 414 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Bachman Corner Overdrive 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 5, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

The long tee areas had benches, trash cans, tee signs, and 4'x12' concrete tee pads. Some holes have middle and/or short tee areas marked by small posts/worn spots.

Practice basket. Extensive on-site shop, and a separate clubhouse. Proprietor quite friendly and informative.

Cons:

Dampness. As you can tell by glancing at the map and scorecard, several holes play along, and even across, bog-like terrain, and with the bulk of the course set on a tree-filled, north-facing slope, this is likely a fairly-permanent affliction. Wooden planks and logs have been placed in the worst areas to assist in passage.

Crossing fairway (2,18). Proximity of tees, fairways, and baskets to other baskets, fairways, and tees at several locations. This is somewhat mitigated by the placing of meshing netting to protect the most vulnerable tee locations (tee-17, perpendicular to blind, downhill fairway-3 comes to mind).

Other Thoughts:

Course plays up, down, and across the initially-open-but-primarily-wooded slope behind the BCO shop, with crisscrossing cross-country ski trails providing throwing lanes for many of the wooded holes. The terrain is interesting, with scattered boulders, an abundance of mid-sized trees, and moderate elevation changes. Many of the baskets have challenging greens - near slopes/drop-offs, obstacles, etc.

Make sure you arm is warmed and loosed before you start, as three of the four longest holes are played right from the start. While open, numbers 1 and 3 both have major elevation drops, with number-1 also requiring a major right turn to a hanging basket, and number-3, beginning at the midpoint, funneling the fairway with trees.

The next three holes are short (average ~220'), straight, relatively flat, and moderately tight, but have the ob-bog looming nearby. Holes seven thru ten are somewhat similar, with an average length of ~275, with more, scattered trees, moderate elevations changes, and a variety of subtle turns needed from the tee. The next two holes continue the theme, but are about 75' longer, while upslope-13 is short but a tree-filled challenge.

Hole-14 was probably my favourite hole. From an elevated, trees-enclosed position, you throw out into open space, across a stream-filled, bog-valley, to a tree-guarded basket, 320' away, sitting at roughly the same altitude as the teepad

Holes 15, first-half of 16, and 17 are similar - 280ish, tree-lined, moderate but tunneled fairway, with number-16 having a big/quick elevation drop at its midpoint. The final hole is an open, 212' ace-run, but not sans danger, as it sits near a steep slope.

Great course, worth a play if in the area. Try to play when it has been dry for quite some time!
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9 0
sloppydisc
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.3 years 201 played 147 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Cool set up 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 20, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

18 holes with concrete tee pads located behind a retail store that sells skiing, hiking, and disc golf equipment. also has clean bathrooms and drinks and snacks on site. Plenty of parking, and it is easy to get to right off Rt 4.

Each pad has rudimentary sign showing basic hole layout and distance. Pads are all plenty large and well done with concrete. There are also plenty of arrows and next tee signs. No map needed here as it is easy to navigate.

After hole 1 the course plays through nice quiet woods. Hole 1 plays from behind the store and is the only place where you don't really feel like you're playing wooded golf.

Decent variety of shots needed. There is a good mix of left and right turning shots. There are also some straight tunnel-like shots.

Basket positions are pretty good. There are some baskets on small hills, near slight drops, and wedged behind trees. There is also a few well placed hanging baskets. Baskets are portables, but catch very well, and are more than adequate.

Course is well maintained. Paths are cleared, and bridges, walkways and steps have been added throughout to help with some tricky areas.

Cons:

There are some low-lying swampy areas. Walkways have been added to help out, but sometimes discs don't land on those walkways. This may be weather dependent in some areas, but others seemed like it was a permanent issue.

Other Thoughts:

This course was not at all what I was expecting. It is a nice, fairly short technical course. No real major negatives or problems. But it is not what I would call mountain golf. There is some elevation, but nothing dramatic or eye catching. Just 18 holes of good wooded disc golf. While I didn't feel that any of the holes were exceptional, there were a few that stood out to me. #1 is a nice 469' shot that plays off a decent sized hill to a hanging basket between two trees. It's a blind shot, but is well designed and fun. #3 is another down hill blind shot of 406'. There is a narrow gap at about 200', then a small hillside behind the basket. Pretty cool. After that it is mostly tight wooded golf with very subtle elevation changes. Basically putter and mid control golf. There are a lot of 200'and 300' holes that work through the woods forcing you to hit a line or miss a tree. Most fairways are well cleared and have an obvious line to the basket. Only occasionally is there a random tree that could present a problem. #5 sticks out as one of those exceptions. 190' and very tight, but that works well on shorter holes.

There are a few places where some baskets are close to each other and things seem tight. I had the course to myself so it wasn't and issue, but if it was crowded I would want to keep aware of discs coming from other fairways. On #16 the basket for #3 is actually visible for the pad, but 16's is down and to the right. Could confuse some people.

All in all this is a good course and worth playing if you are in the area. It doesn't make the cut as a true destination mountain golf course, but it is well cared for, and offers a lot of amenities for a $6 fee. I would definitely recommend stopping in if you are nearby.
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8 0
bradharris
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 20.9 years 90 played 46 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 1, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Base Camp Outfitters is passionate about skiing. In the warmer months, when there's no snow on the ground, they shift their focus to a new passion: disc golf. I've seen other outdoor stores that sell discs. But none have a staff as knowledgable and excited about the sport as BCO.

The course starts next to the store with a big right turning downhill shot. After two more long open holes, the course moves into the woods and plays through cross-country ski and snowshoe trails.

The variety here is great. With a nice mix of elevation, distance, and fairway shapes, each hole has a unique feel to it. Every tee shot forces players to strategize carefully to choose the best shot for that hole.

Every green is reachable from the tee. However, the pin positions are very well chosen such that there are no easy birdies. On the shorter holes, technical greens and guardian trees emphasize placement off the tee. The longer holes have more accessable greens so that accurate distance is rewarded.

One thing I particularly like about this course is that it doesn't force throwing lines. Many wooded courses feature very early trees that completely obscure specific lines. Here though, there is plenty of open space to allow players to decide for themselves what line will work best.

Being able to visualize the right lines and then execute using a multitude of throwing styles will make players successful here.

Cons:

This land is swampy. The really wet areas are OB, but unfortunately, that doesn't stop discs from going in there. Errant tee shots can find their way into some really unforgiving terrain requiring the thrower to tip-toe over logs (if you're lucky) or get wet and muddy trying to retrieve them.

Holes 1, 2 and 18 all criss-cross and can create safety concerns.

The tee signs are positioned poorly. They are all set at the front of the tee box, usually on the right side where a RHBH throw will follow through. Although I don't think I would have actually hit any, seeing them there can make the follow through more tentative. On a number of holes I actually threw from the middle of the teebox to stay away from the signs.

Other Thoughts:

This course is definitely worth the trip. Enjoy the VT scenery on the way in and then enjoy playing disc golf on a wonderfully designed wooded course.
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1 5
3DiskBag
Experience: 2 played 1 reviews
5.00 star(s)

Tougher than it looks, and lots of fun 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 14, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Concrete teepads make for a great playing experience. The different hole layouts challenged me to use all of my shot types. Good variety of hole lengths--some of medium length (birdy-able), and others I was happy to get par on. The course is kept well maintained, so beginners could enjoy the challenging course without losing many discs in uncut grass or getting too frustrated. Great scenery too.

Cons:

A little mud after a big rain storm, but hey, that's to be expected in VT afterall. But there's always bridges/footpaths over those areas. Just part of the great outdoors!

Other Thoughts:

M@Marro's review hit the nail on the head. couldn't agree more.
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13 1
M@MARRO
Experience: 14.5 years 34 played 4 reviews
5.00 star(s)

ARGUABLY TOP 3, BUT HANDS DOWN TOP 5 COURSES IN THE STATE 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 17, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- Beautiful Scenery. The area in general of Killington, Vermont is a gorgeous one. This course takes advantage of tee boxes and fairways with wonderful views of the Green Mountains. The disc golf at Base Camp Outfitters winds through both coniferous and deciduous forests accented with ancient stone walls, 300 year-old maple property lines, cattail ridden marshlands, as well as open fields that perfectly break up wooded play throughout. When the disc gods don't seem to be on your side for the day, you can always look around and feel at ease thinking, "Well, it sure is pretty out."

- Amazingly Well Maintained. It seems like a no brainer right? You have a great course, why not take care of it? Well for what it's worth, New England courses can grow over a foot in a weeks time and skipping a week of mowing can turn an otherwise great day, into an unwanted easter egg hunt even within a fairway. I've never seen this course in a condition even remotely unmaintained. Sides of hills are mowed, greens are trimmed, brush is cleared seemingly constantly, tee boxes are weed-wacked, trash/recycling buckets on every hole are emptyed on a weekly bases. There really isn't much more one could ask for in terms of a condition of such a relatively new course.

- Concrete Tee Pads. I've played on very few concrete tee pads but certainly haven't met one I didn't like. These pads are 4' wide X 12 ' long and level. The only real problem with them, is you can't blame a bad shot off the tee due to roots or slipping on natural terrain. Grip and rip it.

- Interesting Greens. I'm biased when it comes to interesting and challenging greens, so that should be known. I love a tough a green. Now don't get me wrong, hard for the sake of hard isn't what I'm speaking of, nor does this course have any of that particular ilk. They are tough, fair, and incredibly interesting. First of all, baskets on blind shots boast tall orange flags visible from the tee. Certainly a plus. But as for the greens in general, few to none are simply flat, open, and/or ordinary. Base Camp Outfitters took advantage of terrain in every sense of the word when it comes to your up shot (or hopefully drive) landing near a basket. The course consists of two hanging baskets (1 and 13) both with punishments for an over throw, 10 greens with elevation drama and tough rolls for disc fading on an edge (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 18 ), 3 greens with OB to look out for (3, 4 and 16) and 3 greens with natural or man made features to keep your mind wondering and eyes wandering ( 7, 14, and 17.)

- Variety Of Shots. To put it simply, you'll be throwing every kind of shot in your bag if not every disc in your bag at least once. Hyzers, Anhyzers, backhands, flicks, overhands, rollers, flip hazers, anhyzer flicks, turn-over shots, long bombs, short technical ups, lay-up puts spike hyzers, floating shots, long glides, and what-ever else you think of that can get you coming in under par.

- Risk Vs. Reward. - "To go for it or not to go for it." It's the eternal question and one of the hardest aspects of playing smart golf. Sure it's a par 3 course and EVERY single hole HAS BEEN and CAN be birdied. So good luck trying to string 18 of those birdies together. The difficulty in a course like this is picking your battles. At a recent tourney (JULY 1rst 2012), the pro division that shot par over 2 rounds came in smack dead in the middle of the pack. Meaning 50 % of the pros in the tournement shot OVER PAR. And the simplest explanation of that fact is the course's "Risk Vs. Reward" effect. Choosing to go big on a shot and not succeeding can spell dissaster. You can turn a birdie fantasy into a double bogey reality before you have you the time curse properly. The longer par 3's on this course seem so tantalizing that you feel much like Oddysseus trying to block out the seductive song of the sirens. And before you know it, you're 3 down on the front nine has you wondering how you came to a place so quickly, digging yourself back, trying your hardest just to par out the round. Risk Vs. Reward on this course comes down to the particular strengths of your game. You might save your attempt for a shorter tighter birdie attempt if that's your strong suit, or going for a long straight bomb if that's your thing, or working the elevations changes if that's where your game flourishes; the point is, if you go for 'em all, chances are, you'll wish you hadn't, but it'll also keep you coming back for more.

- Playability - The course keeps you wanting more. You'll want another crack at it, and another, and another. 10 under par is right there at the tip of your disc, but still no one has come close.

Cons:

- Temporary Baskets. Although double chains, these baskets still have a hard time catching laser puts, bombed drives, and can toss out a disc more than one might like.

- Location. Although it's amazingly easy to find and even easier to get to, it's a hard course to work into an out-of-state road trip. Most of Vermont's courses are further North than Base Camp Outfitters, you should plan on playing it either on your way up North or on your way back down and try to make a day of it. Camping is all around the area

- Can be muddy at times but mostly only in the spring. Changes have been made in the past year to drain water in the few holes where it has been a problem Wear shoes and you'll be fine.

- Several fairways cross tee boxes.

- Some of the big blind bombs require spotting, and if you can't see the basket and it's your first time through, take the time to do so. It's worth the time saved in searching for discs. Remember to ring the cow bell when holing out blind drives. Sometimes a shout of "clear" get's lost in the hills.

- At times the first 3 holes can be windy and add to the challenge. It's certainly part of the game, and you have to make sure to change your game around it. The wind certainly dies down once you get to hole 4 and is by no means a constant hazard. But man, when it's wipping, throw hard and throw over stable.

- It's a par 3 course. Take it or leave it. Some folks love par 3's, some would rather par's 60 or over.

Other Thoughts:

Great pro shop and wonderful staff. Stop in and ask if you have any questions. Plus, the owners (Mike and Dianne Miller) are always willing to hear comments of praise or criticism alike.
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1 8
Highleym
Experience: 12.2 years 33 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Great course even in Sketchy conditions 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

A real hike. Very interesting holes lots of great obstacles.

Cons:

We were the first people to play of the season and the place was covered in ice. It was obvious some maintenance was needed. but i am sure it is awesome now.
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3 3
discrun
Experience: 6 played 6 reviews
5.00 star(s)

one of VT's best 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 6, 2012 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

I played this course last year and really liked it a lot. My biggest complaint was all the wet areas and lack of tee pads. They took care of that and then added small touches that really stand out. First off, I love the layout. They use natural features perfectly and now the added concrete tee pads. All 18 holes are done and they are all the same size. I think it is like 4x12. Plenty big. And then they built 100 ft, bridge on 11 and added drainage everywhere else. I played in sneakers and was shocked. I was not expecting dry feet. They also do many of the small things, trash buckets at every hole, benches and hole description signs on every hole, On some of the blind shots they have flags on extension poles so you can identify where the target is. Very helpful and then something I have not seen yet, a bell to let people know when you have finished the hole. These people have put some time and effort into this course and it shows.

Cons:

I will have to look for some next time

Other Thoughts:

This course is worth traveling for to play. When I was there some of the other players did come from far away and they shared my same thoughts. A must stop if you are in Vermont. Good selection of disc product as well.
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10 1
mashnut
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.1 years 831 played 767 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Fun lines 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

The course plays through rolling hills in the woods. Many of the holes use cross country ski trails for part or all of the fairway, others play in tighter woods. There is enough rough that you'll really have to get creative when you miss your line, though not enough to make the course a real disc eater. There are a few more open holes mixed in for variety, most of these have nice elevation changes to keep them interesting. The hills on the course are used well in general to add challenge and variety, and a few pin placements use hillsides to add some risk to the short game. The basket on a stump is a nice touch that is visually interesting and makes for a fun putt.

There is great variety of lines here, with a fairly balanced set of left, right and straight holes. With a mix of fairway widths and early vs. late turns, you'll need a wide set of shots to be successful here. The baskets are temporary, but are staked down and catch perfectly fine. The tees are marked, with good flow making it easy to follow the course. There are maps and scorecards available, with individual hole layouts on the back of the scorecard. This makes the lack of tee signs a non-issue.

Cons:

There is enough room here for some multi-shot holes, the majority of the course plays fairly short. I would have loved to see a few longer holes that make you really focus on fairway shots rather than just drive and putt on most holes. The tees are mediocre, many are not level and don't provide great footing. They are also fairly small, though with generally shorter hole lengths you shouldn't need a huge runup.

There are a few holes at the beginning and end of the course that overlap and cross, a potential safety issue though it doesn't seem like the course gets too terribly crowded. Several holes held water, and were pretty swampy, make sure you're prepared for deep mud if you play after rain.

Other Thoughts:

This is a very fun course, with lots of variety and nice wooded technical shots. Beginners will have a lot of fun from the shorter tees, there are some tight lines and rough but the holes aren't too long and there are opportunities for recovery shots. More experienced players won't find it too terribly challenging, though the longs do offer some interesting lines to hit. It is a lot of fun though, and worth a stop if you're in the area.

The people in the shop seemed very nice and helpful, and were interested in our feedback on the course. They have a limited selection of discs for sale.
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