Several years ago I made the trip to Montross, VA. to play in my first Lake Marshall Open. Two things happened immediately; I got thoroughly humbled by the courses on this property, and I fell in love with the shorter, wooded course called “The Lair.” On paper, this course fits my playing style perfectly; tight, wooded fairways leading to protected greens, middle-distance par fours that reward well-thrown drives while punishing errant executions and bad decisions, and risk/reward ratios that seem to encourage aggressive behavior, but actually deliver more bogies than birdies.

Of course, that’s on paper.

In reality, this course is like the classic “femme fatale,” beautiful and seductively serene on the outside, but with a dangerous and vengeful streak waiting just below the surface.

I never could resist a classic beauty!

Five simple words are the key to playing well at Quaker’s Challenge Disc Golf Course, located in the Gifford Pinchot State Park in Wellsville, Pa. Those words have nothing to do with the length of the course — which is substantial — or the elevation changes, which rival any other course in the area for height differential and slope angle. They have nothing to do with the well-guarded greens, the abundance of challenging footing, or the unique mix of fairway shapes that require every shot in your bag, along with a few that you are missing.

Just five simple words.

“Stay.” “Out.” “Of.” “The.” “Rough!”

Wrightsville, PA

If you’d like to combine a round of disc golf with beautiful scenery, look no further than Kline’s Run Disc Golf Course in Wrightsville, PA. Views of the Susquehanna River are the backdrop to some technically challenging— and “aerobic-ly” challenging — disc golf holes. With lots of elevation changes, several water crossings (It’s only a creek, but it has a way of magnetically attracting discs), and fairways designed to challenge your foresight as well as your form, Kline’s Run is a great addition to your list of disc golf courses to visit.

Lebanon, Pa

It didn’t take long for this course to find it’s way into my top 10 favorites! Kirchenwald’s Crossing in Lebanon, Pa, is a course that demands that you have both distance AND control, combining tight lines, elevation changes, and cleverly placed pin positions with stunning visuals and landscaping that is both natural-looking and functional. Bring your “big-boy” (or “big-girl”) arm, your “focus-cap” and a boatload of determination, because this course will demand it all!

Lancaster, PA

No intro or final videos on this one. Just a playthrough of the first course that I learned on. This is a wonderful course for beginners to start building their skills, and more advanced players to play the disc golf version of the Limbo — “How low can you go?”

Wellsville, Pa

If you’re looking for a great course to practice your game, check out Boulder Woods DGC in Wellsville, Pa. It’s a par-3 course with enough variation to keep you focused, and tons of opportunity to sharpen your skills. (Just don’t ask this guy to tell you what town the course is in, because, apparently, he doesn’t know…)

Columbia, PA

A quick look at a lesser-known gem near Columbia, PA., filled with tight wooded fairways which put a premium on accuracy, height and angle control, and the ability to scramble when necessary. Unfortunately, I didn’t really have any of those in my game during this round.

Camp Hill, Pa

What do you get when you combine a “Riverwalk-style” park with a bunch of disc golfers looking for a place to play? You get Creekside Disc Golf Course at Ridley Park in Camp Hill, PA. However, let me give you a word of warning - stay away from the water, and watch out for “Monster Alley”…

Millersville, PA

This is a great little park course with lots of reachable par 3’s for weak-armed people like me. So why not film a course playthrough… even though an ice storm is headed this way and the breeze felt like ice water. Thankfully, I didn’t try to narrate while I was filming, since that eliminated most of the wind noise. Too bad it didn’t help my score…

Lebanon, PA

Decided to film a playthrough on one of my favorite local courses — and decided to do it on one of the coldest mornings of the year. Then found out a little too late that my fingers and ears weren’t the only things that had issues with the temperature … when my camera batteries decided to go on strike! (Probably looking for better working conditions!)

Carlisle, PA

The first Course Playthrough of the season — and a desperate attempt to stay out of the way of the league players, the dog walkers, a few energetic hikers… and a squirrel!