Disc Golf near Boston

McDrew

Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
SoSH Member
Apr 11, 2006
4,060
Portland, OR
I had a week of between jobs in March and spent some time in Oregon with family/friends. A friend suggested we play some disc golf, and after 4 rounds in 2 days(including Pier Park and the easy course at Horning's Hideout), I was hooked.
I returned from my vacation and ordered a beginner set of discs for myself and my wife. We started with Simonds Park in Burlington because its near my new job, and it was an ok, but very muddy experience. We then tried the course at Borderland State Park in Easton and were really happy with it. The course there is well-maintained, has multiple tee/pin locations to allow for ability-appropriate challenges, and the fact that we only had to pay $6 for parking to play was also fantastic. Playing white-white (easy tee, easy pin) was totally appropriate for me, and I like that as I get better, I can progress to the blue-blue (hard tee, hard pin).

We're going to play again this Sunday, and our options are either going back to Borderland, or trying Dacey fields in Franklin or Devens DGC in Devens. Given that we are both very inexperienced, is either Dacey or Devens appropriate? At the moment we're both looking for shorter courses that provide technical and not distance challenges because we're mostly working on throwing consistently straight.

Does anyone else have recommendations on good courses for beginner-level skill? I'm hoping that I can get between 20-30 games in over the summer, and I'd like to see multiple courses for just some variety and continued challenge. I think Borderland might end up my "regular" course, but I'm definitely willing to drive 3ish hours round trip from Waltham if the course is good.
 

Rwillh11

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2010
225
Maple Hill is a phenomenal course, would definitely recommend checking it out. Playing from the easy tees, it's not so bad for a beginner. Pye Brook in topsfield and Amesbury Pines are both fun courses, but probably only worth playing if you are are already up that way for some reason. There is also supposedly a new course in Haverhill.
 

rickmac

New Member
Aug 26, 2015
8
Maple Hill in Worcester/Leicester is beautiful...has several levels of course and a great pro shop. Across the street from it is Pyramids - amazing pro shop (Marshall street if you want to find it on line) and one of the first courses around. Down the street is Newton Hill (which is free) and worth a throw.

Devens is great but both courses are wooded and can be tough for a beginner. Borderlands is probably the tamest course around and plays very easy on white compared to almost any other course around. Simonds Park is fine if you live close and great to get some practice in if near your work but many better options around.

check out the website suggested above. You will find another 20 courses that are a short drive and worth it and they all have different character.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 23, 2009
20,676
Maine
I haven't been to Dacey, but I've heard good things and I know some of the guys that helped put it in. They played a lot at Borderland so I expect there are a lot of similarities. Two sets of tees on each hole, and I'd guess that the short tees are comparable to the White-White layout at Borderland.

I'll also second the recommendation for Amesbury Pines and Pye Brook Park. Amesbury is a good combination of not-too-long and not too dense through the woods. An ideal beginner course. There are some water hazards but working around them is reasonable. And making a full day of it and hitting up Pye Brook Park too is well worth it. It's a bit longer with much more open field with elevation.

There is a new course in Haverhill. Haven't been yet, but what I've heard about it is that it is a bit longer and more technical than Amesbury or Pye.

If you ever find yourself in Maine and want to play, hit me up. I can at the very least steer you in the right direction as far as where to play.
 

Bunt4aTriple

Member (member)
Silver Supporter
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
4,348
North Yarmouth, ME
I used to play a ton 15 years ago (but always sucked). If I ever did a full retrospective of my life, one of my top 25 days will be the time I called in sick, played three rounds at Enman Field in Brunswick, ME (before it went to shit), went out for lunch, then came back and played three more rounds. It was simply a perfect, beautiful day, despite the fact that I needed to amputate my arm afterwards.

If you ever have to travel for work, a great way to experience a new area is to throw a disc or two in your carry-on. I have a conference in San Antonio next week and a few of us are bagging out on a dumb function and hitting up a course where we'll probably get bit by a rattlesnake. It'll be great.
 

McDrew

Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
SoSH Member
Apr 11, 2006
4,060
Portland, OR
Thanks for the advice guys. I've been preferring the wooded, shorter courses for now because neither my wife nor I have a very good drive yet, and the wooded courses tend to be shorter, par 3's from what I've played. Also, when you're really trying to focus on throwing straight, a few trees are not the problem.

I've thought about making a day trip of Maple Hill/Pyramids. I'll definitely do it now.
 

McDrew

Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
SoSH Member
Apr 11, 2006
4,060
Portland, OR
Bumping this thread for a couple reasons.

A) Simon Lizotte (top 10 ranked disc golfer in the world) and Tedy Bruschi did some filming for NESN. View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQzXHTuLlms


B) There are now a couple new courses in the Boston area. I'd love to play them, but I have moved out of the area. I can suggest courses and discs if anyone wants to get started though.
 

SumnerH

Malt Liquor Picker
Dope
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
31,900
Alexandria, VA
Bumping this thread for a couple reasons.

A) Simon Lizotte (top 10 ranked disc golfer in the world) and Tedy Bruschi did some filming for NESN. View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQzXHTuLlms


B) There are now a couple new courses in the Boston area. I'd love to play them, but I have moved out of the area. I can suggest courses and discs if anyone wants to get started though.
A) Tedy looks great and seems super chill. Nice to see him out there, and great to hear his (and his group's) reactions when Simon tees off for the first time and rips one. Kind of funny that Simon doesn't really know anything about American football (he's German), but Hannah Mcbeth is a big Pats fan so I'm guessing she got a call soon after this.

B) Obviously all beginners should go play the golds at Maple Hill, right?