Maine’s newest disc golf course opened in Whitefield in July. Finn Brook Disc Golf, located at 63 Benner Lane, is being hailed as Maine’s prettiest disc golf course, with 1500 feet of frontage on the picturesque Sheepscott River. The course also borders Finn Brook, from which the course got its name.
Already, some of Maine’s top players have enjoyed the course with great reviews.
Sam Hutchinson, the owner of Finn Brook Disc Golf, had never heard of the sport until a year ago. The idea of building a course came about through his friendship with several avid disc golfers. “At their urging, and after playing the game at a local course last fall, I made the decision to explore the feasibility of building my own. I am very fortunate to own a beautiful piece of land; therefore I knew I could build a terrific course.
“During the planning and building process, I was overwhelmed with the amount of interest and support from friends and neighbors, many of which donated their time and equipment. I wish to thank all involved in the design and construction of Finn Brook Disc Golf. With their help, together we have created one of Maine’s most beautiful courses,” Hutchinson commented.
The course is situated on 20 acres of rolling fields and woods and borders the Sheepscot River for one-quarter mile. Finn Brook Disc Golf has nine holes with plenty of room for expansion.
Due to dramatic elevation changes, from the clubhouse to the riverbank, playing uphill and downhill makes each hole challenging and provides great exercise. Youth tees are provided for each basket and are 75 feet closer than adult tees.
“Picnic tables and benches are provided at all rest areas and scenic overlooks and every effort was made to make it family friendly and totally green,” Hutchinson said. Players are urged to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the scenery. Most of the course is mowed making for easy walking and is the home to various species of wildlife, including deer, turkeys, beaver, eagles, ospreys, and numerous songbirds.
“Finn Brook’s goal is to provide a fun and affordable outdoor family sport for anyone of any skill level to play, and to create an appreciation of the great natural beauty of the Sheepscot River Valley and its resources,” Hutchinson said.
Disc golf is played similar to golf. Players keep a scorecard, and throw a disc, similar to a Frisbee, into a metal basket. Finn Brook is a par 32 course, with most holes being a par three. Holes four, six and nine are par four and hole seven is a par five. A diagram on the back of the scorecard shows the layout of the course.
Experienced players bring a bag full of discs, of different weights that soar for different distances, similar to golf clubs. Good players can throw off the tee and land “within inches of the basket. I saw one get a hole in one,” Alice Hutchinson, Sam’s wife said.
“It is a wonderful family activity. We had a family here the other day that had never played before. They had a ball. Anybody can do it. Most holes you could play from a wheelchair in the field,” Alice added.
“It’s his field of dreams,” Alice said of the course and her husband Sam.
Finn Brook Disc Golf is open year ’round from 7 a.m. until dark daily and features disc rentals, Innova discs and accessories for sale along with cold beverages and snacks. Finn Brook is now hosting doubles tournaments on Wednesday evenings with future tournaments planned. Upon completion of Finn Brook’s website, they will be posting these events online. Check them out at www.finnbrookdiscgolf.com and email any inquiries to finnbrookdiscgolf@gmail.com.
We welcome everyone to come and play our course,” Hutchinson added. The cost is $5 a day for adults, $3 for children aged 11-17, and children 10 and under are free. Disc rentals are $1 a day.
Rules of play are simple: no alcohol, no illegal substances, no littering, no dogs, no vandalism, no glass on the course, no profanity or excessive noise, footwear and shirts are required, and return any found discs to the check-in area.
Finn Brook Disc Golf is located off of Rt. 126 (Gardiner Road, Grand Army Road) in Whitefield. Benner Road is located midway between the Whitefield School and the Whitefield Superette. It is located .4 miles west of the Rts. 218/126 intersection at the store. Turn onto Benner Road (dirt road) and drive .4 miles and Finn Brook Disc Golf will be on the right.
