Pros:
- Technical, challenging holes that make good use of a narrow space. Lots of opportunity to go for higher risk shots for birdie opportunities, or layup to play safe. You will have lots of opportunity to learn how to evaluate and deal with obstacles on this course. The shots over water are intimidating, but most of them are short enough where intermediate players can safely reach them, and there's usually an option to play around the water if you don't feel comfortable throwing over it.
- Beautiful park setting along lake near the bay, with scenic views of San Francisco across the bay.
Cons:
- There's a heavily used footpath, popular with walkers, runners, dog walkers, and cyclists, that runs through the entire length of the course. Many of the holes play directly across this path, and several of the baskets are located within just a few feet of it. Combine that with the high winds and trees that make for lots of errant shots, and it's a minor miracle that more people don't get hit with discs here. At the very least, be prepared for occasional long waits for passersby to move along out of the way of your shot, and having to rush shots to take advantage of an opening in the foot traffic.
- There's LOTS of opportunity to lose discs here. Combine the frequent high winds with shots over water, thick trees, and marshy areas thick with tall grass, and this course will eat your plastic for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Poor/missing signage. It will be hard to make it around this course for the first time without a local to show you the way, even with a map.
- Teepads are short in length, and in poor condition (cracked, uneven concrete), where the exist at all. Some of the tees are just spray painted lines on the footpath.
- The high winds can offer an interesting challenge, but considering many of the holes are already quite technical, and the cost of an errant shot can be high due to the water/tree/marsh hazards, it can be more of a source of frustration than a fun element of the course.
- Despite the natural setting it's quite loud. There's a freeway right across the lake the provides constant traffic noise. Water skiing boats in the lake, plus the train tracks the run along the other side of the park.
Other Thoughts:
I really want to like this course, especially since it is very close where I live, and I can tell there are some dedicated locals who take great pride in this course.
It's definitely convenient if you're in the East Bay and want to get some throws in. But beyond that I really can't recommend it. The amount of foot traffic makes the course more stressful than relaxing to play. You're constantly having to wait for oblivious park goers to meander through, or having to rush a shot to time a gap in foot traffic on the path. Also, while the course has some interesting, technical holes, it's just too easy to lose discs here. Even if you're trying to play it safe around the lake or the marsh, a sudden gust of wind carry a disc, even on the best of shots, off to never be seen again.
It's better than nothing if you're close by, but there's so many good to great courses less than an hour away from here, I'd hardly make it a destination.