Saint Matthias Disc golf course

@ericmbrennan

53

Caught this one while fighting daylight, and the vibe is very much “backyard / pop-up style” more than a polished public course — for better and for worse. Front 9-ish / first impression: Most holes are short (almost all under 300’, many under 200’) and the opening stretch is basically back-and-forth in the same open area. Holes 1–4 overlap enough that you can tell it could get sketchy with multiple groups… and then Hole 13 literally throws across that same space again, so the safety/fairway-sharing issue comes back at the end. I lucked out that it wasn’t busy — and honestly, 13-hole courses usually aren’t — but it’s something to be aware of. Equipment / infrastructure: • Baskets are single-chain and not permanently set in the ground (think practice-basket style). • Tee pads are very small — only enough for a short 3-step walk-up. They are all mulch too, so think squishy & loose. • Navigation was the biggest friction point. Finding the next tee wasn’t always the problem… it was figuring out which basket you’re actually throwing to when several are visible. A couple times I stood there like, “Pretty sure it’s that one…?” Back half: Once you get past the track/soccer fields, the course gets genuinely fun. The wooded holes are short but technical with interesting fairway shapes, and the shot variety improves a lot. That said, the rough is super punishing — if you’re even a little off line, you may have no real lane and end up pitching out or throwing a desperate roller just to advance 20–30 feet. Also worth noting: some of the bushes/branches are what I’d call “eye-pokey.” I was glad I had my glasses on. A little clearing in a few landing zones would make this section way more enjoyable (and safer). Flow / walking: There are a few odd transitions and longer walks (10→11 stood out, and then it gets weird again around 11→12/13). On a couple wooded stretches you’re also walking back along/near fairways, which could be an issue if the course ever did have multiple groups. Nice touches: This is where the course shines. Tons of TLC: many holes had benches/chairs, and each tee had a little story/explanation (plus a short prayer). It was more “interesting and thoughtful” than off-putting, and you can tell people care about the experience here. Overall: Worth playing if you’re nearby, especially for a quick technical round or a quiet evening loop — but don’t expect a destination-quality setup. If you’re in a hurry (like I was, racing the sunset), the navigation + overlap can add stress. The back woods are the highlight, but also the most punishing.

@tellsons1

134

Fun little course, but it needs different tee pads