Smugglers Notch (The Woods)?

Eric Maurer · Post by **Eric Maurer** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 1:43 pm

Anyone played this course? Gonna be in the area soon and was gonna check it out.

Thanks

Tim Smith · Post by **Tim Smith** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 1:48 pm

This course is not very good. It just follows a trail, every shot is the same.
There are a few courses within an hours drive.

Eric Maurer · Post by **Eric Maurer** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 2:08 pm

Thanks.... we're gonna be playing Sugarbush, hopefully N.Calais, and Center Chains. Any others in the area worth playin?

Shawn Mullen · Post by **Shawn Mullen** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 2:09 pm

E-Nyce wrote:Anyone played this course? Gonna be in the area soon and was gonna check it out.

Thanks

Eric. There are a couple others in the area that are much better. This is more of a beginner friendly pitch and putt.

Johnson St. College is just up the rd. and Center Chains are both good courses. Waterbury is right on the other side of the notch. If you are in the area def. drive through the notch it's an experience in itself. I know you snowboard as well. On your drive through this is the rd. that smuggs back bowls dump out onto as well as Hellbrook on the other side (the rd is closed in the winter, you'll see why). Some sick riding in there. We need to go up there in the winter and I'll show you some great riding. It's nice to know a local guide.

Alan MacLean · Post by **Alan MacLean** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 2:42 pm

Hey Eric,

My fiance's family lives in Jeffersonville which is the town at the base of Smuggs. I go up there many times a year and have played some of the local courses up there. The Smuggs course is obviously the closest, yet I've never played it.

That's because everyone I've met on the other courses in VT have told me not to waste my time on the Smuggs course. I hear it's a pay to play and has no variation. "You may as well bring 3 discs and be prepared to only use two of them" or something like that was my favorite review of that course.

If you went down the Smuggs Road until you got into Jeffersonville, you will intersect with Rt. 15. Taking a right onto Rt 15 and driving for 5-10mi will bring you to Johnson. Johnson State College is on the left, and the course is next to the soccer/lax field.

They recently added 6 new holes to their existing 12 holes to make a full course. The original 12 are pretty straight forward holes which you're used to (like a smaller scale Wick - some open bombs and some wooded lanes with some Ace-runs). The new 6 are extremely tight and challenging... and theyre somewhat hidden. If you find Hole 7 (old hole 1) they're across the road to the left of the snowboard park.

Besides Johnson State College, the next three closest courses (Black Falls - Montgomery, Center Chains - Waterbury, and North Calais) are pretty much equi-distance from the Smuggs area. Probably 30-45 min drive each.

Eric Maurer · Post by **Eric Maurer** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 3:01 pm

Thanks guys!... We're gonna be camping at Little River State Park in Waterbury. Johnson State sounds much more promising than Smuggs.

Mullen...we definitely gotta get out this winter for some snowboarding!!! I've never been riding that far North. The years I did live in VT I always had a free pass to Stratton.

Andy Powell · Post by **Andy Powell** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 4:04 pm

Eric,

Let me know when you're in the area. It would be great to meet up for a round or two. I live about a mile away from Sugarbush.

johnny betts · Post by **johnny betts** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:09 pm

There are a bunch of people playing at Black Falls this weekend. We will be practicing for the KO. It is only 40 minutes from Smuggs and you have 72 different holes to play. If you get the chance to play Calais you should. It is one of the nicest courses you will ever play! People like to crap on the course at Smuggs but I think it is worth checking out if you are staying close to there. Every Disc Golf course is worthy of at least one round :wink:

Alan MacLean · Post by **Alan MacLean** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 11:50 am

Camping in Waterbury should be a good time, especially being so close to Center Chains (I love that course).

Not only could Smuggs be considered a waste of time as far as disc golf is concerned, but also for riding it's not optimal. I went last year when it dumped over a foot the night before, but Smuggs only has low-speed double chairs to get you to the summit, so you spend more time looking at others enjoying the pow than you get to float through it. I mean it's a good set of mountains, tickets are cheap, glades are real nice, and good sets of rails scattered throughout, but it takes twice as long to get up the mtn than other places.

Titan Bariloni · Post by **Titan Bariloni** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 1:06 pm

eric def hit sugarbush and waterbury great courses

those 2 should keep you more then occupied

Shawn Mullen · Post by **Shawn Mullen** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 1:17 pm

Alan MacLean wrote:Camping in Waterbury should be a good time, especially being so close to Center Chains (I love that course).

Not only could Smuggs be considered a waste of time as far as disc golf is concerned, but also for riding it's not optimal. I went last year when it dumped over a foot the night before, but Smuggs only has low-speed double chairs to get you to the summit, so you spend more time looking at others enjoying the pow than you get to float through it. I mean it's a good set of mountains, tickets are cheap, glades are real nice, and good sets of rails scattered throughout, but it takes twice as long to get up the mtn than other places.

The old double chairs are one of the things I like best about the mtn. Less people on the narrow trails all at once. Plus a good run off the back side takes 1-2 hrs plus sometimes. Also you don't get stuck with a couple d-bags on your lift when you are trying to "enjoy" the ride. It's a place where you really need to know where to go. It's got some of the steepest stuff around. I prefer it to the yuppie crowd of most other areas.

If you are looking to get 20 runs in in a day go somewhere else. My good friend works patrol at Smuggs so I know the ins and outs really well(just about every "secret" stash), him and his girl are the only two snowboarders on patrol. Good peeps.

Eric Maurer · Post by **Eric Maurer** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 1:25 pm

Andy...we should definitely get up for a round at Sugarbush. Not sure what day we're gonna play yet. We'll be headed up on Friday morning 08/07 and coming back Monday 08/10.

Johnny - Thanks for the heads up. I wasn't sure if you would be open to the public on Sunday. But we would really like to get up there for a couple of rounds. Played your course last summer and had a blast!

Alan - Played Center Chains last year also. Sweet course! Can't wait to play it again...and I HATE SLOW DOUBLE CHAIRS...every mtn. needs a high speed 6 seater or two.

Titan - We got to play the Sugarbush peak course last year but didn't have enough time to play the base course. Should be able to this year. Hell ya!

Eric Maurer · Post by **Eric Maurer** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 1:26 pm

Man all this snowboarding talk has me jonesin for some fresh Pow!!!

Shawn Mullen · Post by **Shawn Mullen** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 1:33 pm

E-Nyce wrote:Man all this snowboarding talk has me jonesin for some fresh Pow!!!

I still played more disc in the snow than skiing or riding last yr though.

Eric Maurer · Post by **Eric Maurer** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 1:44 pm

Mullen wrote:
E-Nyce wrote:Man all this snowboarding talk has me jonesin for some fresh Pow!!!

I still played more disc in the snow than skiing or riding last yr though.

True that....winter golf!!!

Eric Maurer · Post by **Eric Maurer** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 2:54 pm

Mullen wrote:
Plus a good run off the back side takes 1-2 hrs plus sometimes. Also you don't get stuck with a couple d-bags on your lift when you are trying to "enjoy" the ride. It's a place where you really need to know where to go. It's got some of the steepest stuff around. I prefer it to the yuppie crowd of most other areas.

Hell ya back country. I just remembered when I was a skier I would go up to Mad River Glen a bunch (right next door). They had the best out of bounds terrain. Haven't been back up since I started riding boards back in '95.... No snowboarders allowed... :thumbdown:

Shawn Mullen · Post by **Shawn Mullen** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 3:07 pm

E-Nyce wrote:
Mullen wrote:
Plus a good run off the back side takes 1-2 hrs plus sometimes. Also you don't get stuck with a couple d-bags on your lift when you are trying to "enjoy" the ride. It's a place where you really need to know where to go. It's got some of the steepest stuff around. I prefer it to the yuppie crowd of most other areas.

Hell ya back country. I just remembered when I was a skier I would go up to Mad River Glen a bunch (right next door). They had the best out of bounds terrain. Haven't been back up since I started riding boards back in '95.... No snowboarders allowed...

I've poached it.

Tim Smith · Post by **Tim Smith** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 9:23 pm

This course went through a huge revamp...took the best parts of what was a course following hiking and winter snowshoe trails and made huge improvements... had a great time on the course...with a few tweaks and more direction signs this course is a ton of fun now and is a must play now. It is not far from center chains.
Big thanks to Jeff Spring & Johnny Betts who help make this possible.

Titan Bariloni · Post by **Titan Bariloni** » Sat Jul 07, 2012 11:39 pm

James Sweat · Post by **James Sweat** » Sun Jul 08, 2012 2:08 am

Tim Smith wrote::D This course went through a huge revamp...took the best parts of what was a course following hiking and winter snowshoe trails and made huge improvements... had a great time on the course...with a few tweaks and more direction signs this course is a ton of fun now and is a must play now. It is not far from center chains.
Big thanks to Jeff Spring & Johnny Betts who help make this possible.

x2!!!

This place is really legit. There's talk of Smuggs really getting behind the sport, and building two more courses if things go well!

ira divoll · Post by **ira divoll** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 10:47 am

This course is amazing. North Calais, Black Falls/Cherry Hill and now Brewster ridge make for an all-time great disc golf road trip. Well done!

James Sweat · Post by **James Sweat** » Sat Apr 27, 2013 7:34 pm

Brewster river dgc at smugg has its opening day on weds! This place is top notch.

Christian Keidel · Post by **Christian Keidel** » Sun Apr 28, 2013 9:56 am

Did you say Wednesday?!?!

AWESOME, can't wait to get back out there.

Kevin Silvia · Post by **Kevin Silvia** » Fri Aug 15, 2014 12:40 am

Great course! Played there on Sunday, was not expecting it to be so nice. Very well taken care of!

Rick Mahoney · Post by **Rick Mahoney** » Wed Sep 17, 2014 1:53 pm

5 years of Smuggs history and still on one page. This was thrilling to read and built up more excitement about this weekend. And this winter for you riders.

Congrats, Jeff Spring.

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