Bowdoinham, ME

Acker's Acres - The Wicked

4.135(based on 15 reviews)
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Acker's Acres - The Wicked reviews

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6 0
markmcc
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.9 years 278 played 254 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Perfectly Maintained Woods Course 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 5, 2019 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

This is the shorter of the two courses in the complex, playing at 5373 feet for the 18 holes. This gives an average hole length right at 300', with individual holes varying from 190' to 582'.

All holes (except 18) are wooded and favor accuracy over distance. Nice mixing of distances as the course plays out, with the various par 3, 4, and 5 holes well distributed throughout the course.

A small pond is in play behind the basket on Hole 9 and has to be driven across on Hole 18. But the carry is modest and shouldn't be much of an issue for most players.

Fairways are fair and in some cases generous, but there are always trees in play and kicking off one will require some scrambling to recover. Fairway shapes include several that are absolutely straight, and others the bend left or right. I don't recall any sharp doglegs but there are some tricky bends early in fairways that require interesting shot shapes.

Excellent concrete teepads and tee signs on every hole.

Chainstar baskets are in good shape and catch fine. They are tough to spot and lack number plates, so seeing them from the tee is tricky on some holes.

Ample benches and trashcans, along with a couple of porta-potties out on the course round out the excellent infrastructure.

Cons:

This is a delightful wooded course, but it is just that. A wooded course with little in the way of variety. Modest elevation on only a couple of holes, and a short water carry on one hole. So the challenge is limited to staying in the reasonable fairways and then scrambling when you've kicked off of a tree. Not a bad course at all, but somewhat one-dimensional.

A single set of teepads and basket positions limits the variety that you'll find out here, though there is a second course on the same property.

The gray Chainstar baskets are almost impossible to see in the dappled shade. The faded orange flags on this course helped quite a bit, but you'll walk up on several holes to spot the basket. And, with the course being rather compact in some areas you will see more than one basket downrange.

Other Thoughts:

In the golf rich P2P mecca that is Central Maine, Ackers Acres is a solid representative. While it lacks the rolling hills and clear-running streams of some other area courses, it is impeccably maintained and a pleasure to play.

There is a small clubhouse near the parking lot with snacks and cold drinks. I haven't seen anyone staffing the clubhouse either time I've been there but it has been open and purchases are on the honor system.

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6 0
bjreagh
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 27.6 years 350 played 317 reviews
4.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 3, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

COURSE: One of the nicest wooded courses I have ever played- near perfection for what one would want from a technical wooded course. Set on peaceful and beautiful forest land with some gentle hills. Design provided a great balance between being fun and challenging which made the round very enjoyable.

Typical woods play with a mix of shot shapes required, sometimes with options. Fairways were plenty fair. Variety in length- most of the time rotating between short, medium, long. And the one characteristic that made Twisted stand out from her sister course is the use of some elevation.

The small pond adds in the water element just a little- a long errant shot to 9's basket in the water is possible, and the tee shot over it on 18 is an easy clear for almost anyone with some experience- still a fun finishing hole as it was an ace run for my group.

Course maintenance was incredible! Being on a family's private land and having 36 holes I was expecting lots of midsummer undergrowth off fairways and even some in the fairways, but there was very little. Nearly everything was short grass or pine straw (reminded me of IDGC at times). The DGCR pics are nice but do not do this course justice as it was much better in person

Tee signs really stood out as nice for a private course. Tees and baskets really good. Navigation was a breeze. Brooms on every tee as a bonus, though we never had to use them.

COMPLEX: Not sure who exactly we dealt with that day (owner, family, worker- probably all 3) but she was impressive- after a very welcoming greeting, she opened the clubhouse so we could pay and get scorecards, as we made our way to tee #1 she then hopped on a tractor and began working on the course! She worked out on the course practically the whole time we were there (a few hours).

Easy to find, ample parking and not crowded at all on a Wed July morning, portable toilets throughout the round thoughtfully placed to be accessed from several holes. Loops back to parking lot after holes 9 & 18.

Close to several other really good Maine disc golf complexes. This part of the country is loaded if you are willing to pay ~$10/day.

Cons:

18 is not a great finishing hole in regards to stroke differential or determining a winner. It is the easiest hole on the course because the pond means there are no trees to avoid for much of the hole. (*17 is where the round might be won/lost if in a tight battle.)

This is kind of a weird one, but the names Twisted and Wicked do not at all describe this place. I am sure it is all in the name of being silly (I guess), but it actually might send the wrong message, so don't be fooled- this place is family friendly and the courses are not extreme in either challenge or terrain.

Given par is a bit on the generous side, but that is no big deal.

Other Thoughts:

I hit up Ackers Acres on day 3 of my summer tour of NE complexes. And, having played Maple Hill, Pyramids, and Sabattus the couple days before, one might expect a bit of a let down playing anything after that, which would be totally understandable. But Ackers did not disappoint and actually exceeded my expectations.

Has another 18-hole course on site of the same quality. You will not find a nicer pair of wooded courses anywhere. This place was pristine, serene, and just made for a relaxing couple rounds of disc golf.
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2 0
HumorMe
Experience: 9.9 years 21 played 12 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Pleasant yet challenging 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 22, 2017 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

- Well maintained (hard to lose a disc, except under leaves this time of year)
- Good baskets
- Good tees (could be a bit longer)
- Several portable bathrooms along the course.
- Benches and picnic tables on most holes
- Clear signs
- They sell water (stay hydrated!)
- Owners are marvelous
- Each hole has a distinct lane, although some are quite tricky.

Cons:

- Can be crowded, and you run into some big groups. On the other hand, this is a pro if you consider that regular traffic is still the best way to keep a course maintained.
- Very limited disc & food selection in the shop
- It's a small acreage to fit 2 courses on. They've done the best they can, but tees can be near baskets and in one case you have to cross a fairway to get to the next tee.

Other Thoughts:

I suppose I also agree with prev reviewer that they could use more parking. Was fine this time of year, but must have been quite tough to find a spot in the summer months.
All around, a great place.
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0 0
Geer_Boggles
Experience: 13.8 years 7 played 7 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Acker's Acres - The Wicked 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 6, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

This course has great elevation. Flat to start, second is a sharp uphill to the right. Followed by a steep downhill 420' footah.
Plenty of benches to rest on and the pads are solid and level. The course has a good mix of technical & open but mostly towards the technical side.
Signs have been updated within the past couple years and accurately reflect hole basket placement.
Atmosphere is VERY relaxed and friendly. You won't find a better owner anywhere.
Very reasonable pricing

Cons:

Not much of a pro shop. Not a lot of Discs for sale.
Not enough parking for how popular the course is.

Other Thoughts:

I've always loved Acker's Acres in general but The Wicked was the first course I played there and still continue to play.

Acker's has had one of the best atmospheres I've ever experienced and Dave and his wife (owners) are the friendliest people in the world. I've played many other courses all over Maine and by and far this has been my favorite. As long as I'm in Maine I will be a lifer.
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1 3
cmcnamara
Experience: 5 played 3 reviews
4.50 star(s)

great simple course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 8, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Not as challenging as the other 18 at Ackers, but still a course where you'll have to hit some technical drives as well as toss your distance discs well. The Ackers have a beautiful piece if property, and these courses have some of my favorite spots; it really epitomizes disc-golf-in-Maine for me.

Cons:

It can get muddy in areas when wet. not much for a clubhouse.
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2 1
Lynchpyn
Experience: 11 played 3 reviews
4.50 star(s)

No rest for the Wicked 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 4, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Great owners who are as friendly now as they were as a start up. Just want you to have fun. The only free "rental" discs in the business for bringing noob friends. Just off 201, 197, and I-295 means they're close to everywhere, but feel miles from nowhere once you start playing. Nice pro shop with snacks and drinks.

The Wicked is their cornerstone course. It's gotten better every year of the 12 or so I've played there. Very fun course that won't dismantle a newbie, and won't bore a pro. Fair uphill shots on 2,5,9 and 17. Some good downhills too. Some lefts, some rights, lots of trees but none that are so obnoxious as to be peppered like they were hit with machine gun fire. There is some water to contend with on several holes, and a LOT on 18. But they leave a net and a canoe there to use if you go swimming. Great people.

I usually shoot 5 to 10 below, but I think I've played the course 100 times. It's not easy, but it's not hard. My buddies are challenged to par, meaning it's just that much more fun for them to chase the white whale. We are far from pros. Amateurs to pros will have fun here.

Cons:

I don't live next to them anymore.

Can get crowded, but that's just due to the awesomeness. Even then there's tons of parking and a beast course in Twisted to divert disc golfer traffic.

Other Thoughts:

I moved to Bowdoinham as Acker's transitioned from a quirky and impossible 9-hole par 3 to a legit destination location. Always friendly ownership and cool people that play there. Has to be a prime time stop on the Maine disc golf circuit. Have fun!
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1 2
mslebzak520
Experience: 10.7 years 20 played 4 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Great wooded course for all skill level 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 6, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Fun to play course that won't kill you physically. Very friendly owner. Woods course with some slopes and decent variety. Very nice tee signs with cool boxes to write your name if you throw an ace. Great course for beginners to tight courses.

Cons:

Bit marshy in areas. $8 a day is a little pricey. Maybe par is a tad high.

Other Thoughts:

Overall a great course that will keep me coming back. Highly recommend.
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2 2
mainediscgolfer
Experience: 15.8 years 23 played 8 reviews
4.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 29, 2012 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Great course one of the best around very well kept easy to get around it is fun to play there are some chances for aces and there are some holes that will challege you one of my favs they also have a board on each hole for you to right your name if you get an ace
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4 4
neilstegman
Experience: 2 played 2 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Very Nice 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 13, 2011 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Great mix of long holes and short holes. Very well maintained. 2 different courses to play.

Cons:

It was a little muddy when I was there because it had rained the previous 2 days...but nothing too bad

Other Thoughts:

My wife actually let me play this course on our honeymoon. It was about 40 min from Westport Island(and about the same from Boothbay). I went to play a round, and the next day just happened to be their big summer tourney, so I had to come back. The second course was under construction at the time, but really had some promise to it(and is probably finished now). The owners couldn't be nicer. They even sent mailed me a tournament mini after the fact. Thanks for showing a Maryland boy a good time. Definitely the best course in the area.
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4 2
Discobedience
Experience: 14.8 years 89 played 12 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Dont miss Acres Acres 2+ years drive by

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

Pros:

One of Maine's best disc golf locations. They have two courses and both of them are fantastic. Upkeep is done on this course regularly always making for a great experience. The course owners Barb and Dave are nice as can be. There is a nice balance of long and short holes pressing you to use a varied amount of shots. Located in Bowdoinham, ME you are in the middle of Maine's disc golf Mecca - it's a great location to be able to see a lot of different courses in one area. Feel welcome at this golf course, bring some food and some bevarages and enjoy during your round.

Cons:

There aren't too many bad things to say about this place. One of my only complaints are a few specific holes, all problems which could be fixed by a tee pad relocation or the removal of certain trees. That being said the owner is open to suggestions and will make adjustments if he feels the are reasonable. If you lose a disc in their pond chances are you might never see it again, I;m not sure how often someone dives there.

Other Thoughts:

If you're visiting Maine, this should be on your list of places to go. Two great courses with a great mix of long and short holes - backhand and flick holes. There are also many great courses within a half hours drive.
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8 1
dsm767
Experience: 20.8 years 16 played 12 reviews
4.00 star(s)

One of the best in maine 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 24, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Goods course to work on the basics in every way shape or form. You will need every disc in your bag at some point during the normal holes, not to mention a almost 800' par 5 on the twisted 12; a side course that will test your abilities as a disc golfer and set greater players aside from the rest. Also home to a rather nice couple that runs the shop whom always around to greet players.

One hole over water to note, however, they dragged the pond last year and ALOT of discs came out so if you lose a disc on the last hole you might just get it back since its a small pond.

Good layout overall alot of short holes under 200ft or so. alot of aces happen on this course and there is a board at the tee on every hole where you can sign your name if you get an ace on it, also you can see how many people have gotten an ace on every hole in the club house as well.

This is an extremely well maintained course and I have seen the owner out on the course plenty of times keeping up the course, he even complemented me on an amazing 300ft hyzer shot in the trees as he was riding his tractor through the hole next to us.

Cons:

When they dragged the pond, they didn't have a labeling system for the discs they just threw them on the side of the pro shop in a few large totes and let people rummaged through as they pleased, at least it seemed.

This was always a plus for me at Pleasant Hill Disc Golf in Maine where they had a alphabetized list of every disc the type of disc it was the color or the disc and who made it and if you had more then one it was labeled by the owners name so disc recovery was easy.

Other Thoughts:

Wish list it if you haven't been yet, its worth the trip and only about 45 minutes outside of Portland maybe an hour and a half outside of Portsmouth NH
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1 4
kfitz
Experience: 9 played 9 reviews
4.00 star(s)

acers 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 21, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

nice hole lay outs, very well kept, owners are on site getting feed back, players where out in force and let us play through their large groups. last hole plays to club house over pond, watch the ace runs

Cons:

little congestion where two coarses share a few holes

Other Thoughts:

owners where really involved in the devolopment feed back, cant really really overstate general good player vibe there
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2 4
xphelanx
Experience: 16.9 years 21 played 3 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Awesome course! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 22, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Well groomed, friendly owners.

Cons:

....What cons?

Other Thoughts:

Having played this course many times, I feel that it is one of my favorites. It is by far the best-kept course I've ever been to and you can often see the owner out on his tractor doing this and that to improve or fix it. Lots of great holes that are worthy of their pars and the price is very reasonable for the quality that you get. I recommend this course to anyone that has never played it.
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3 1
xZombiEx
Experience: 18.8 years 41 played 4 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Pure gold 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Mar 10, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

It is very easy to find your way around. Everything is very clearly marked, and each tee box also has a spot for you to write your ace should you get one. All tee boxes are cement. There are hardly any easy shots. Trees line every point on this course forcing you to use every disc, and every shot type. Hole designs that force hyzer shots, and holes that force anhyzer shots. Pro shop was well stocked with discs and provisions for a day on the course.

Cons:

The only thing I found with the course was there wasn't a place for my cigarette butts on every hole. Some holes had a cigarette bucket, but on other holes there was just the bottle bin. I am not one for littering, so I left them next to the bottle bins.

update 6/29/13 - There is a cigarette bucket at every hole now.

Other Thoughts:

The first thing I noticed about this course was that the owner was right there to greet my group at 8:30 am. It was early in March and snowing, and yet Mr. Acker was right there to say "Hello!" If that isn't dedication to the sport, I don't know what is! The second time I played was also in March, and there was already someone out there mulching the fairways at 9am. There were also no leaves on the trees yet when we played, so the course is only going to get more challenging. For the avid disc golfer, that is always a plus! I traveled over an hour to play this course, and I am going to be sure to do it many, many more times this season.

update 6/29/13 - The owner is still coming down to greet you before you start your round. Unless he is out on the course working already! the second course is now finished, and is quite a challenge.
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6 1
Jonny_Dread
Experience: 27.8 years 86 played 10 reviews
4.00 star(s)

Its a MUST! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 3, 2008 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Two 18-hole courses.. with a few holes you play twice to complete the 18. The people that run this place are the best. Really care about the game and it shows. Great variety of distances and angles. Good signs and flow. Fairways are groomed. Small lake to throw over on 18. Pay to play but WELL worth it. Pro shop with discs, food and drinks.

Cons:

I dont see much wrong with this place at all. Cant find anything bad to say about it. There are a lot of people who play it... at least when I have been there.. so expect a wait on a few holes.

Other Thoughts:

This area has a lot of great courses. This is one of them. If you are traveling in this area make this your first stop. Great for beginners but seems to be geared for the experienced players. A few aceable holes along with some true par 5's/. Bring your whole bag of discs for this course. I am surprised that this course is not yet rated... its awesome!
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