Baltimore, MD

Lake Montebello - Youth DGC

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1.425(based on 6 reviews)
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Lake Montebello - Youth DGC reviews

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5 1
MrFrosty
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 31 years 764 played 386 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Right Idea - Wrong Area 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 23, 2020 Played the course:once

Pros:

Lake Montebello - Youth is a 6 hole disc golf course sitting on the opposite side of the lake of it's 18 hole big brother . There is NO Parking other than where you can find a spot on the street .
I saw no bathrooms while here , not sure if the rec center at the start of the course opens or not .
The course is packed into a small rectangle just outside the walking/running cement area encircling the small lake . There is a slight grade that affects holes #1 and #3 mostly . The first 3 holes are mostly open , with the #3 basket part of the in a grove of bushes and trees . The last 3 holes are in that grove . The tee pads are natural , and I guess since there is not any scuffing dirt spot , you can throw either side of the tee sign . The tee signs are the old school white plastic ones on the metal poles . #5's sign is gone . The baskets are basic and still catch . #1 is located near the doors to the rec center , and is 189' and up a hill . I liked the idea , because a #1 hole is always hard to unleash a long drive , the uphill will slow that drive down , and the road is behind it . #2 is longer and runs parallel to the road . #3 is a slightly downhill 222' run , finishing just inside some trees . This same basket will also be the basket for #6 , whose tee is on the far end of this little grove . It's a nice little intro course and just might attract a curios local , and an added game for the rec center to occupy the kids . The course at 1107' is a fast play . It took me 15 minutes to play here .
Disc Risk - Near zero . Holes are short and no blind shots .

Cons:

#1 Safety - This course was installed for kids and newbies , mostly . It plays pretty close to the road , and it is windy . I can see an errant throw maybe hitting a car or pedestrian , leading to an ugly altercation . Also , the course is not in a good part of town . park as close to the course as possible , don't play at dusk , and stay aware .
#2 Is it a Course ? - It's only 6 holes , with 5 baskets ( 3 & 6 use the same one . I normally call these practice or instructional areas , but some might .
#3 Mother Nature Hates The Grove - The grass was mowed and the course wasn't in bad shape ,,,, until you had to enter the grove ! Maintenance must never go back here much . Grass was high , a tee sign was broken , and overgrowth is growing up through the #5 basket .
#4 Unnoticed - A tell tale sign of a course being abandoned or unplayed are natural tee pads that have no dirt spot to throw from . Even though I was on this side for only 15 minutes , I saw no one , now was I intending to .

Other Thoughts:

I didn't rate this a 1 because of course design or even because it was 6 holes. I rated it because a small 6 hole course wedged into a small area should be easily maintained , and it is a big fail . I applaud the volunteers and course designers for having the vision and guts to install this ( and the challenging course on the other side ) and introduce disc golf to an area which wouldn't normally support the game . As disc golf gains popularity year by year , there are places that just don't fit the demographic . This is one of those places . Locals won't want to come here . Many of the people walking and sitting along the reservoir seem angry , and riots had broken out maybe a mile away or less . This would be a perfect intro course or a course to cut a newbies teeth for their first few rounds . . Most first rounds on real short course are memories that sound like " hey , I got my first ace " , instead of " hey , can you pick me up from the hospital ? they stole my gas money , too " . I reality , families will not come here for a short outing and an ice cream if they don't feel comfortable , Any players intermediate and up might play across the lake , but there are good course just miles away . It's terrible to feel that way . but it's just IMO . Travelers , don't stop , Course Collectors - I picked up 2 courses , having to move my car a quarter mile in the process , and leaving a little disappointed . You can get a 3'fer down at Druid Hill , instead . You might want to give this course a " Drive By "
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3 1
cdelosr1
Experience: 6.8 years 6 played 2 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Good for what it is 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 16, 2017 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Great course to first try out disc golf, or take a friend who's never played. Would also be a good course to play a casual one-disk game.

There is a mix of open and wooded holes, so you can get a sense of the sport in a short time.

The open holes are in good shape (grass is mowed regularly), and there's not any crazy vegetation in the wooded holes, so even a true novice shouldn't have to worry about losing a disk.

Free and easy parking, and only a couple minutes to get to the much larger 18-hole course.

Cons:

As a children's course, everything is scaled down- only 6 holes, and they're short.

In the woods on holes 4/5/6, the foliage around the natural tees is a bit overgrown, so you might have to take your shot a step or two away from the post.

Other Thoughts:

I decided to play this while on "daddy duty" one weekend, as you can play the 6 holes in 20 mins. Depending on your skill, there might not be much gained from playing (for an adult player, it's really more of a chip-and-putt).

Hole 3 and 6 share a basket.

The course is on the playground of a school, but there's no access to water or bathrooms.
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3 0
sidewinder22
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 17.7 years 297 played 197 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Lil' Monte's Course Yo 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 5, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

The Youth or Rec course on the South side of Lake Monte consists of 6 discatcher baskets and natural tees and tee signs. Easy to navigate and quick to play. Variety consists of 3 open holes and 3 wooded holes. Nice view of Lake Montebello and warm up for the big boy course on the north side of the lake.

Cons:

The first 3 holes are wide open, and the last 3 are heavily wooded and very low canopy. Da hood it's in is suspect.

Other Thoughts:

Lil' Monte is a lil harder than it looks. Hole 1 is uphill a good bit, so it's short distance is deceiving. The last three holes are so low ceiling that rollers are the best option. It's hardly worth the walk or drive(I'd drive for safety) around the lake to play this course.
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6 0
The Valkyrie Kid
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 45.9 years 1563 played 1507 reviews
2.00 star(s)

I'm Not Sure About The Youth Designation Or The Hood! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 14, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

Lake Montebello DGC (Youth Course) sits across the lake at the SW corner from the big course. The course starts just up the park road about 100 yards on the hillside behind the big building (recreation building?).
The first hole plays 189' but uphill. Then # 2 is a 240' more flat shot across the lawn listed as Par 4 on the fiberglass tee sign. # 3 is then a 222' downhill throw into the small grove of trees with the basket just barely visible. Then the final three holes are all three less than 200' tight tunnel shots through the woods.
The course here features new Discatcher baskets. There are no tee pads. You just tee off from the next to the tee sign.

There are some fun/semi challenging holes here. The wooded tunnel shots currently require precise touch forcing you to keep your throw low out of the branches.

Cons:

I don't see this as an easy youth course. # 1 is only 189' but plays longer being uphill. Holes 4-6 are tight in the woods where you have to keep your throw low and on line. It's certainly not a difficult/challenging course. I just see it as a easy beginner course or warm up for the bigger 18 course across the lake.

Less than inviting clientele around these parts.

Other Thoughts:

The clientele around here is sketchy, at best. I was happy to return to my rental car, find it still there, undamaged and then get outta Dodge without looking anyone in the eye.

This is not the neighborhood where you're going to pack up the wife and kids from burbs, come play disc golf and then feel comfortable having a picnic on the grass in the park or stopping to grab a quick bite at one of the neighborhood eating establishments. At least not one within about 5 miles of the park.
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9 1
prerube
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 16.8 years 274 played 235 reviews
1.50 star(s)

nice warm up 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 23, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Serves as a nice warm up for Montebello 18.
Play this course first and when you come back to find your car is still safe, you can feel more comfortable leaving your car for 18.
DGA Signage and Discatcher baskets.
Good course for kids and beginners, which is what it is designed to be.

Cons:

6 short holes with no clear tee pads, just signs.
The tee area for hole 6 was completely underwater. Some hay had been placed down, but it was still unplayable.
Not the most comfortable place to play, less than a mile from some of the most dangerous parts of Baltimore

Other Thoughts:

Tucked in between Margenthaler High School (many Maryland sports play here due to the nice athletic facilities) and Morgan State University, and 4 Miles from Druid Hill. If you are visiting any of these, that would be a good reason to play here, otherwise it's not worth the drive.
1st tee is past the playground.
Hole 1 was an under 200 foot slightly up hill open hole.
Hole 2 was 240 open and straight slight downhill
Hole 3 was 222 with trees at the end and a slight downhill slope
Hole 4 was 150 feet following a cluster of trees to a basket with an overhanging tree directly on top of it.
Hole 5 was 168 feet straight through some small trees.
Hole 6 was 141 feet, but the tee was underwater, backing up means playing from the busy road and moving forward would have made it under 100 feet.
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6 5
swatso
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.7 years 755 played 414 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Start Here 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 10, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Length appropriate for beginners.
Minimal chance to lose a disc.

Cons:

Length appropriate for beginners.
Only six baskets.

Other Thoughts:

Course is located just off the southwestern corner of Lake Montebello, set upon the sloping open space, and within a small grove of trees, of a small public park. The first two holes are wide open, the first requiring some elevation gain. The third hole is wide open, too, until the last ~50', with the basket located just inside the treeline. The other three holes all play with the grove of trees, requiring low, tight lines to be hit, but are short, and don't overly punish an errant throw, as there are multiple optional lines to the basket for a wayward disc.

Well-suited for its target audience, and with a ~6600' 18=basket course just on the other side of the small lake, there's an option for when the beginners are ready to step up to the next degree of difficulty.
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