Pros:
Grab your compass, course map and walking shoes for your visit to the Andrews University DGC. The college layout offers plenty of hiking across its elegant and mostly open campus, though the directional dilemmas mar the overall score for this course.
The traversability is excellent, mostly due to how flat the course plus the lovely grassy lawns, which appear to be frequently mowed and maintained. The concrete teepads are in good shape and they are conveniently level with the ground.
The main challenge of this course is distance, and you are unlikely to hit many trees, as most of the holes are open.
That openness is a bit repetitive, which means Hole #14 is clearly the best hole on the course. The par-4, 528-foot hole goes through a moderately woodsy shaded area that offers several lines toward the basket. Hole #15 is also in this isolated section of campus, and while these holes require an extra-long walk to reach, I wish there were a few more holes of this style and caliber on the course.
The areas of the course with overgrowth are few.
Cons:
The distance you will walk between holes is longer than the course itself. Several of the transitions are both lengthy and unclear. By lengthy, I mean ridiculous. And by unclear, I mean a mind-screwing labyrinth of confusion. Even with a map, first-timers can expect to spend a few minutes seeking to locate the next hole in several spots. There are a few bricks in the ground near the baskets to indicate the direction of the next hole. However, the dirt mostly obscures many of these bricks, and even knowing the right direction is only minimally useful sometimes.
Just one of the challenging transitions is for Hole #4 - it's across the street, and I'm sure many first-timers end up on the Hole #5 teepad instead. After Hole #6, there is a lengthy walk across the front entrance of campus to the next basket. Hole #9 is another out-of-the-way hole; it's across the street from Hole #8, then afterward, it's another walk back across one of the main campus roads to the next hole. Another several-minute-walk awaits after Hole #12. Then after Hole #13, you're dropped off in front of a large university building with absolutely no sense of where the next hole might be hidden. Even with a map, it took us probably 10 minutes to orient ourselves and wander our way onto the next teepad. And then finding Hole #17 isn't intuitive as they've hidden the teepad behind some bushes.
If the previous paragraph was difficult to follow, just wait until you play the Andrews University course. There are numerous transitions that require crossing streets, and many times the next teepad isn't visible. In addition, the basket is hidden on several of the holes and the correct direction isn't always intuitive. Of course, this navigational nonsense should only affect first-timers.
The amenities are lacking on this course. The tee signs are plain (just hole number and distance on a wooden post) and there are no benches.
The design is poor on several of the holes. Hole #8 requires throwing through a very narrow gap in a line of trees. Hole #11 goes in a goofy U-shaped pattern. Hole #13 is 327 feet but the teepad is among the evergreens and the ceiling of pine needles and branches limits your distance.
Other Thoughts:
Andrews University is an appealing option for big arms who do not mind commutes between holes, as the average distance per hole is nearly 350 feet. Unfortunately, this style is a poor fit for a college audience that might be checking out the game for the first time. Only a few holes are under 250 feet, and several of the shortest holes are more difficult than they need to be.
The course is not very interesting, and the wide-open design combined with lengthy hikes between holes are not my cup of tea. Plus, the navigation is some of the worst I've experienced.