Northampton, MA

Northampton State Hospital

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2.885(based on 24 reviews)
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4 0
obiwanjacobi
Experience: 14.8 years 52 played 4 reviews
2.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:May 6, 2017 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

• Good variety of holes, need both left and right turning throws
• Good parking, it was pretty full of walkers and dog people but still ample space
• Good use of elevation, lots of up and down and large mounds
• Good warm up holes, the first few holes are putter friendly and will warm you up before getting into longer throws

Cons:

• Hole one is in a questionable location, which is a bad first impression. The course improves after.

• Long grass, the later holes have a lot of thick grass about 12" long when I played which can make finding your disc difficult

• Thick rough, if you throw off the fairway you may have to hack your way to your disc. The fairways themselves are pretty clear.

• Signage is poor. Most of the signs are broken. They at one time probably worked but need updated. Hole # and distance and maybe a flight line would be nice.

Other Thoughts:

This is a good course. I will play it more. There are lots of people here but they shouldn't interfere with your play other than hole 1. They are mostly friendly dog people. When I played there were many off leash that would run up to check you out.

There seemed to be some redesign of the course going on. Some of the complaints in earlier reviews may be being addressed.
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4 0
Hector Chain
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.8 years 222 played 189 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Can differentiate l'hospital 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 18, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

First off, this is one of the more confusing names for a course. I have no idea what hospital is being referenced. I can't even find one on a map nearby. It is huge piece of land with walking trails winding through the woods and fields. It looks like it's owned by Smith College, and it's super dog friendly (which may be redundant).

There is a nice mix of holes here. The first 6 holes or so are wooded and hilly, then three good meadow holes with a couple trees and bushes in play, then back up the hill for more woods.

Good mix of distances as well.

Hole 8 was one of the best, a steep downhill wooded shot that requires a careful line to get close to a birdie. Every hole from 6-12 felt pretty fun.

Cons:

Navigation. Not great. There are two temp alternate holes (13 and 14) that look like they have been temporary for awhile. One of them is a 500-foot hole that throws along a walking trail, but I never found the basket. Looked all over. That really sucks the wind out of your round. I don't think I found hole 15, either. It took me a few minutes to figure out how to get from hole 8 to 9.

Oh, and the map on here is not helpful. I feel bad that someone spent so much time making a map with that level of detail...none of which is helpful.

Many of the tees are natural. I wasn't even sure where the tee pad was for hole 1.

I do wish there were a couple more meadow holes.

Other Thoughts:

There is a really good course hiding in here. It just hasn't been built yet. A lot of the amenities, from the kiosk to the baskets, just look tired. The land is here for a 4-star course. As it is, the high points of this course were better than I expected, and I'm glad I came. But man, please fix the navigation issues.

Note: I came in March when grass and foliage were a non-issue. It looks like a lot of other reviewers ran into tall grass.
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1 3
CTPowell
Experience: 2 played 2 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Sticker bushes / more signs 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 6, 2016 Played the course:once

Pros:

Pretty park... Though a lot of dog walkers, all were friendly

Cons:

Difficult finding way around course, no indication where to find next tee...
Many holes with sticker bushes lining fairway, those need to be cleared back...
Course layout needs some work, then tee boxes could be put in...
Young course...
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7 0
TBabb
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 18.7 years 65 played 56 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Bring a Machete 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 31, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course is tucked away in the woods west of Smith College in what is the rather charming town of Northampton, MA. The course weaves through walking trails where locals bring their four-legged friends for some exercise. The basics of the course are all present and in workable condition. The baskets catch, the tee pads work, and there is some signage. There's a good mix of hole distances ranging from 150-463 feet. There's also a nice mix of tight wooded shots and more wide open field shots. The course is designed in a nice loop with 18 bringing you back to the trail head. I also like the contrast of a tight technical front 9 with the back 9 which emphasizes distance wide open shots more. The tight woods, tricky basket placements, variety of lines, and long distances make this course a challenging undertaking. Some very friendly locals helped me find a bad drive. There's plenty of parking , the area is beautiful, and it's very close to downtown Northampton where there are many places to grab a taste or a libation after a round. The course is also a good road trip stop being just a short jog off I-91.

Cons:

The biggest problem here is foliage maintenance. The grass was so high at the head of the course that I didn't actually find the proper tee pad for the first hole. There was overgrowth throughout the course and if you land off the fairway, you're in for a task. There are prickly bushes and stinging nettles that will conspire against you in your hunt for an errant drive, and it's very possible to loose a disc. You'll also want to do a thorough tick check after around here, especially since the grass is so high. The pictures suggest that the weeds get cut back occasionally, but it clearly doesn't happen often enough.

Some tee pads could be longer. Maps on the tee signs would be a huge help, since several baskets are blind shots from the tee. Navigation can be tricky in a few spots, so some signage could help with that too.

I would have liked to see better use of the elevation here too, as only a couple holes really used it. Generally, the elevation is something to be avoided as a drop off from the fairway. There was little change in elevation on the fairways here, which is something that makes a course fun for me.

No holes really stood out as being particularly innovative. Mostly standard shots.

Other Thoughts:

I've played in some thick woods before, but this course had beastly foliage. After the first few holes I got my wife to spot for me and that helped move things along much better. All in all it was an enjoyable round, but the heavy woods did put a damper on things. Come prepared with your most toxic bug spray and this will be a great place to play. Definitely worth a stop and the town is definitely worth hanging in for a while. I'll definitely be back.
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4 1
Basshunter
Experience: 11 years 9 played 4 reviews
2.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 10, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

That it exists. That it plays well just after the snow melts. A variety of hole types.

Cons:

There is little to no course maintenance. Disc golfers are regarded as a nuisance by the "dog walkers" who violate park rules by walking their dogs off leash (hey, i have dogs and walk them off leash all the time, but not in such public areas demanding leashing. DG players need to be respectful of the multi use facility but should he able to expect the same from other users of the space, which doesn't happen.

Other Thoughts:

So much potential for a cool course, but needs maintenance and support from local players.
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4 1
gabereif
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13 years 57 played 37 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Solid local course

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Nov 18, 2012 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Overall, this course is a solid 18 holes. The disc golf is fun and challenging. The course is well designed in a number of places.

-It's free.
-It's easy to find.
-There's plenty of parking.
-Wide range of shots, including left to right, right to left, short, long, wooden, open, hilly, flat, etc. No water, for better or worse.
-A few ace runs and a few very hard shots make for a nice balance.
-The locals are building new tee pads, installing new baskets and signs, etc. While some courses are dying, this one is improving.
-No waiting for other players.
-Nice signs at each hole. Many holes have two tees or baskets.
-Every hole is a legit disc golf hole with a fairway.
-Tees are rubber and good.
-You finish in the same place as where you start
-Short walks between holes
-A great resource for the community


Cons:

-Watch out for poo on your walk from the lot to the first tee
-No holes with "wow" aesthetics. 14 and 15 are somewhat scenic.
-More mosquitos than the other courses I've played in the region.
-From June-August there's a decent amount of poison ivy on the course, as well as some high grass. This will definitely reduce enjoyment for less experienced players. Solid players won't have an issue because it's not that hard to stay on the fairway.

Other Thoughts:

-I've now played this course in spring, summer, and fall. Summer can get gnarly with thick rough and poison ivy. Fall and spring are better. In the peak of summer, I rate this course just below a 3 and the rest of the year it's just above a 3.
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3 5
Glenith
Experience: 17.8 years 3 played 3 reviews
4.50 star(s)

My Local Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 4, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Love this course. Chill and beautiful. Diverse course with steep terrain, tight woods, open fields...alternate baskets, tees and holes. Well maintained by the local league. Nicely designed so that you often have to use every shot in your bag.

Cons:

- Can get very overgrown in the mid summer.
- First hole requires waiting for pedestrians.
- Easy to lose a disc in the underbrush
- College students leave beer cans and cig butts (grrrr)
- Watch out for dog poo (especially hole 1)

Other Thoughts:

Please carry out what you carry in and do not leave butts on the ground. Thanks. :)
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1 6
buzzzingross
Experience: 16 years 12 played 1 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Nonotuck 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 11, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Challenging holes through course balanced by easy birdie holes. Holes 8,9,10 are located in grass valley (disc golf heaven), and have just recently been mowed. Many places to sit and chill, after a few frustrating shots or putts (behind tee 9). Alternate baskets! Play to different holes or just take a few putts while you pass (holes 10,15).

Cons:

Very easy to lose disc! I've lost more disc on this course than any other. Mosquitos, mosquitos, mosquitos.. Muddy but playable. Dogs and pedestrians everywhere, watch out

Other Thoughts:

Over all, more pros than cons. Good course
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1 1
kskog
Experience: 12.7 years 4 played 4 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Will improve your game! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 20, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Diverse. Tight woods and some open fields. Great practice course. Once you go off-line, you will work to find your disk. You will want to keep it in the fairway.

Cons:

You will likely loose a disk if you don't have the patience to search for it. Narrow woods section with steep penalties if you miss your shot. Hole 2 and 3 require good control (not necessarliy a bad thing). Holes 13 and 14 get overgrown. There are alternates in the woods. Need a course map. Finding 2nd hole can be tough. Also, the alternate holes are useless if you can't find them.
Dog walkers leave poop. Hole one tends to smell because of it.
Not really what I'd call a beginers course.

Other Thoughts:

My local course. I'm glad to have it. Everyone I've met is super friendly. If you're lost just ask anyone for help. Don't let the first few holes sour your day. From holes 5-18, this is a great course. Needs signs/course map for newbies. League play Saturdays at 10am and Mondays at 5pm.
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2 0
JB Brownstone
Experience: 13.6 years 7 played 3 reviews
3.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 7, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Very easy to follow and navigate, self explanatory as to where the next hole is, except for maybe the first hole. Baskets are in great condition, rubber mats on all of the tee boxes, and all-round great course from beginner to pro. I believe there are pro tees but I don't know if they are throughout the whole course(1.because I don't play pro tees so I've never looked for them. 2. I have seen a few baskets that aren't apart of the usually 18 holes.)

Cons:

It is located in a dog park so you most likely will encounter a few dogs throughout the course (some who may want to play with your disc). Also, there is no course map or pictures of the hole at the tee off.
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3 1
burly369
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Not much better in the immediate area 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 7, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

There are rubber mats at most of the tees. They have a "disc return" thing at the end of the course, and every saturday people can go back and check if someone has returned your lost disc.

There is a good variety of holes (a few really long ones in open areas, some really short ones with good elevation change, and a bunch in mildly wooded areas)

Cons:

Watch for people walking dogs by first hole.

A map on the bulletin board would be nice.

Hole #14 is very easy to loose a disc in the tall/think grass. I lost a disc my first time there, and the next time I went I saw someone else in a different group do the same thing. Your best bet is to throw it, and chase after it haha.

Other Thoughts:

If your from western mass like myself, there really aren't that many other courses in the immediate area that are much better.

Solid course, especially if you don't want to travel the extra hour 1/2 to go to Manchester CT.
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1 7
luvmyvalkerie
Experience: 17 years 31 played 3 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 28, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Easy to find using the map provided by this site. Good use of elevation changes. Both short and long holes. Some holes are certainly ace-able. Fun course, not crowded, and most holes have nice rubber tees.

Cons:

Dog and dog walker traffic. Dog poop on hole one. Hard to find tee #2 after Hole #1. Hard to find tee #18 after hole # 17.
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14 0
solomon.trenton
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.6 years 89 played 67 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Not quite what I expected 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 13, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

There is lots of elevation change throughout the course. This also makes the risk/reward pretty amazing on several holes. There is a great mix of holes: wooded, open, uphill, downhill, dogleg right, dogleg left and a mixture of all. The fairways are clearly defined which helps you in the woods immensely. The open fields have recently been mowed so it's almost impossible to lose your disc. It also makes for some nice approach shots. This course if great to work on your all around game; most notably your mid-range. Most holes have assorted sized rubber tee pads. The holes in the woods have brooms on the tee pads to clear the leaves. Porta-potties are also located in the large parking lot.

Cons:

There are tee signs, but they don't show the fairways: only the hole number and distance is labeled. There are several steep holes and none of them have steps to help you descend or ascend the hills which make for some super slippery footing. There is a dog walking trail and a separate cross country trail that intersect the fairways and make it crowded at times. It also makes an errant throw that much more dangerous. All of the next tee signs are laying on top of the baskets not pointing anywhere in particular. This makes navigation complicated.

Other Thoughts:

The underbrush on the course is full of vines and thorns which cut me up pretty good. So make sure to wear pants. There is four different kinds of baskets so you can practice on multiples. It looks like there was a dumping ground for scrap metal between holes 3 and 4 so be extra careful to not step on any loose metal.
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7 0
DaKineSurfer32
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.9 years 577 played 57 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 15, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Fly18 tees in good condition, but some of them at the beginning are cut in half, so they're really short
- nice tables near a few holes, made from bottlecaps
- the course is mowed often because it is also used as a 5k cross country course every Tuesday night
- the wooded holes are tight and will teach you to hit your lines
- it's only an hour and a half from Maple Hill, Pyramids and Marshall Street

Cons:

- the first half of the course is extremely short, the second half much longer. There is no balance to the course
- there isn't just one type of basket, there are multiple types and colors (red, blue, yellow, silver), so don't expect to know exactly what you're looking for when you step on a tee
- no tee signs
- MANY people walking their dogs in the park. You have to wait before throwing often, and dogs will sometimes go after your discs, so be careful when you throw.
- navigation isn't too bad, but can be a little tricky at some points because two paths look equally worn

Other Thoughts:

I took pictures for this course which I will post in about a week, when I can get them off my camera.

The course starts near the picnic table and second billboard, across the field from where you park.

Some of the holes on the front are very short, but they're still fun and creative. I think that the short holes are much more fun and quality holes than the wide open, long ones on the back 9 where you just throw across a field.

I was extremely disappointed when I found out that most of the old Hospital buildings had been torn down. To me, that was the allure of this course, to be playing through the grounds of a super old mental institution. I'm from Traverse City, MI, and pushing to get a course put in at the old Traverse City State Hospital, to get a course with just that vibe. Something unique.

There is a shop called Village Ski & Sports on Main St in Northampton that sells discs, but they're all way overpriced ($20+ for star plastic, $13 for DX), so don't bother going there if you're not desperate.

There is a cafe in Northampton that's called Lhasa Cafe (it's Tibetan cuisine) that is amazing. It's exotic, inexpensive and really good. How many places do you know of where you can eat Yak?

Northampton is a neat little town and there are definitely some chicas to look at, at Smith College... but as for the course, it was actually unimpressive. It's a okay course, but the one thing that distinguished it from every other average course in that nation is no longer there (the old Hospital buildings). Worth a trip if you're in the area, or worth going to every once in a while if you live in New England, but not a course that will develop your game too much.
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2 0
sikaranmonkey
Experience: 16 years 8 played 6 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Look out for the dog walkers 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 22, 2009 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Nice terrain. Starts out with some very interesting gully shots on 2 and three. The first half of the course seems to be a bit more technical. The woods are beautiful. Giant grape vines. Second half of the course opens up for the arm a bit more.

Cons:

Way too much brush. The shots are nice but mess up and your spending time hunting for the disc. Even on the shorter holes its really thick just outside the shot zone. Get spotters for the field shots and some dog legd, especially hole 13. A lot of dog walkers, I mean a lot. The smell is there but I haven't stepped in any there. There is almost a kennel aroma from the parking lot until hole 2, you'll smell it. The owners do a pretty good job of cleaning up after their dogs, though.

Other Thoughts:

Overall I like the course. Hole 2 and 3 can be hell. The angle is steep enough that rollers seem to be common. The course seems to favor the flick but very playable for backhanders. It needs some brushing work and maintanance in some critical areas. I'll go back but far from my favorite.
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1 1
forehandfranz
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 31.8 years 226 played 128 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Don't Be Fooled By the Name 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:May 23, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Pretty setting of woods and fields with elevation and variety of shots and length. Chances for a few aces as well. This course will force you to think on many holes, as the punishment for going OB can be harsh at times.

Cons:

The teepads are mostly rubber but they are not very flat. Some are quite short in length. I wish they had gone to the full effort to make them proper while they were at it.

The course is a bit wild (plant growth) on the edges and some of the open fairways have tall grass that can make both good and errant drives difficult to find.

Hole #1 goes right along a popular walking path which can cause delays.

Other Thoughts:

Overall, an enjoyable experience, but it would be helpful to have a spotter whenever you can.
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1 2
benlh15
Experience: 15.1 years 77 played 11 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Northampton State Hospital 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:May 15, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Fun course with a good range of different style holes. Really a nice walk through the park with interesting holes that are also challenging.

Cons:

Some of the fields are not mowed at all. You can spend hours looking for discs. I once lost three discs on one hole (true fact).

Other Thoughts:

Real fun course. Beginner players with a lot of slice: probably not the best course to practice on. I've recently discovered there is an alternate hole 13 that saves a lot of time, discs, and strokes. After 12 there is a left turn through the woods. Follow this path about 100 yards of weaving through the woods and you will find the alternate hole with a basket made from a tire.
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1 1
vtsquid
Experience: 18.1 years 21 played 17 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Needs a little more up keep, but good. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 15, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great course has a lot to offer any player! The baskets are wide open and are well marked, pointers to the next tee box are out there and help find the next tee. The lay out is nice, open fields, tight woods and a few elevation shots.

Cons:

I found the fields to be a little over grown and the woods need to be cleared a little more. Walking around there are stumps, branches and tall grass everywhere. Some times it made it hard to find a disc. But not everyone can work on these courses all the time. It is a large course and I can see how hard it is to keep it up. It would also cost a bit too.

Other Thoughts:

This is a good course for the area, could use a little up keep but its good. In the fall I bet it is wonderful! I really enjoyed hole one, To start off it has great dynamics, you need to be on top of your throws to get what you want for a score. No lucky shots in this course! The maps/score cards are a great addition! This makes for a great keepsake and helps you find where you are going. I like the rubber mats at the tee's and there are brooms around too. Chairs at most of the tee boxes to sit and rest and at the end a lost disc box! I placed two that i found looking for my lost one! Again a great course in the works it looks like, I think it would just need two or three people to really up keep this course!
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1 0
GTdisc
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Northampton 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 12, 2007 Played the course:once

Pros:

Very diverse with variable terrain, tight woods to open fields. Optional tees and baskets to add difficulty. Challenging on many levels. Free to play.

Cons:

It does get overgrown in the summer, but is maintained by local league players and others. A little buggy, but could be worse.

Other Thoughts:

Many baskets are updated and new now. Dog poop is only a problem on 1st hole. The folks that play here are often friendly and respectful.
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1 1
jkalish
Experience: 23.8 years 116 played 2 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Overgrown at times 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 15, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Free, nice elevation changes and mix of long and short holes. Recently, each tee pad has a garbage and a broom. nice serene environment

Cons:

Overgrown at times, not maintained well, not mowed frequently. Watch out for dog poop! Buggy! 720 ft hole is annoyingly long!

Other Thoughts:

when mowed its a nice course, when overgrown you spend too much time looking for discs.
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