Two tee pads on just about every hole, they are concrete and a good size. Three of the four with only one pad, are short holes and provide other challenges. The tees are labeled White and Blue, which is about right for their distance and challenge. If you are looking for a Red level course, the #1 course is in the same park.
The Mach 5 baskets are all in good shape, sometimes tough to spot on the tightly wooded holes, but not a big problem.
Good tee signs on every hole, Par, Distance, elevation change and (one of the few times I have seen this) the "Plays Like" distance. They have a picture of the hole (with a sponsor) and arrow showing the basket location. I normally prefer a hole layout to show the basket location, but these are well done.
A great variety of holes, it starts out with several partially wooded holes, downhill, uphill, then downhill again before moving into the heavily wooded holes. There are even some mostly open holes to finish your round.
This course moves around the northern end of the park, it looks like there should be very little interference from other park users, except for gravel walking paths. But I think these were between holes, to limit the interactions.
Some really cool holes, that you will remember for a while after playing them, #3, #4,#6, #15 and #18.

Not much to dislike about Ballou #2, as I mentioned on the Tee Signs, a couple of times I had to walk the fairway, because I couldn't tell where my line should be, based on the hole picture. But they are well done, and did a great job recruiting sponsors.
A couple of the short holes felt like filler holes, #8 and #10 are just 184' and 170' (uphill), but very tight fairways force you to hit your line, or hope you get close enough for a birdie look.
Really picky here, but the open field where #12 basket is looks like it could be used for another open hole. In fact, after finishing #12, I looked left for the next tee, thinking the hole was going to cross this large, open grassy area. Alas, it did not, just an easy walk to #13 tee.

While most people, especially baggers, probably play both courses at Ballou back-to-back, either warm up on the Par 3 #1, or use that for your cool down. Due to time constraints when I was first here in January, I finally got to play the #2 course ... 11 months later.
The #2 course at Ballou is definitely NOT the second best, I think that refers to the order they were installed, because #2 is twice as good as #1! If you are going to build two courses at one location, and have the room, this is how it should be done. One longer challenging course, plus a shorter, family/beginner friendly course. There's another location in VA with two courses, nearly the same distance and nearly the same layouts, having two different layouts is much better than having twins at the same location.
I mentioned in the Pros that this course has just about every type of openness of holes, it also mixes up the left, right and straight holes also, plus with the creeks that run through the park, there is some type of elevation change on just about every hole.
The holes here that most players will remember well after your round start pretty early:
#3 - a 342' Par 3 that starts downhill in the open, then turns left and narrows as you reach a creek, then uphill about 50-70' to a sloped green in the trees. Still can't believe I threw such a straight drive, that it crossed the fairway!
#4 - plays 550' and par 4 from the elevated Blue tee, its a dogleg left to a guarded target area, creek down the left and woods on the right, then the creek crosses the fairway and you have to cross that, and thru a tightening fairway to the green. (The first tee pad you come to is no longer used, keep walking to the tee sign, then the White tee is down below the Blue tee.)
#6 - another elevated tee, you have a tunnel you need to clear off the tee, then it opens up as you cross a valley and the basket is up a ridge of about 20', that slope is so steep, that stairs have been added. (This hole is not pictured on the site.)
#15 - another elevated tee and straight down to a small creek at the bottom, oh yea and you have to split 2 large trees in the middle of the fairway, or pick another line. Just one tee at 259', but you have to hit your gap or be scrambling.
#18 - unlike any other hole on the course, this one is mostly open with just a few trees on both sides of the ample fairway to beat. Great grass on this 420'/539' Par 4, that drops then has a steady incline to the basket, protected by large trees. Just a great finishing hole to watch the leaders come in on.
A great course here for intermediate and up players. Beginners will probably struggle with the distance, tightness of some holes and thick rough off the fairways. More advanced players should be challenged with the Blue tees as they add 1400' of distance and several different looks at the hole. If you play the #1 course before this one, be sure to play this gem.

Nice teepads and signs
Park well maintained
Variety that I was not expecting
Bathrooms with water at the first tee
Very nice mix of elevation and use of terrain
Every hole was a new and different challenge, nothing felt like a filler
Course #1 a few 100yds over for a warm up
Disc return box (every course could use one of these)

Nothing really major that could detract from the course
Maybe the extra teepad on 4 (I think) was a little confusing
Rough grown up bad on couple spots but it's been a monsoon summer in VA and no way to avoid that.

Was really not expecting as technical of a course as this but it was a great surprise, glad I made the stop on my way through. Almost every hole had me thinking which I really enjoyed, there are a couple that I still think about how I should have played them, 9 and 14 I believe. 15 is one I want to go back and just toss a bag of putters down. Course really only opens up on 17 and 18, which seemed like a really nice way to end the round.

The park facilities are nice, everything is well kept. I found someones MD4 and was able to call them and leave it in the locked drop box, can't say how much I like a course having one of those. It's a lot nicer to be able to contact the person and let them know it's in the drop box than trying to work out what trash can you're going to stash it under for them.

Only other thought is that the bathroom on the right didn't lock for me so if you gotta change or pinch one off you may try the one on the left.

Great Signs
Awesome changes in elevation.
Nice use of woods.
Challenging

Mostly middle range 300-350ft.
Confusing to get to, played the short par 9 next to it by accident first.
Could use more trash cans.

I played this course in the winter so I'm not sure what it plays like in full foliage, but I've got to say I'm surprised it has such a low rating. I think people are being overly picky. This course is sick, I wish it was in my home town.

multiple concrete tees on almost every hole
clean park
course flows well
variety of shots(short/long, H/S/A, up/down)
great signage
next tee indicators painted on baskets and on signs

a few trees need to be removed to make actual lines on some wooded holes, a little luck will get you out.
basket for 11 hard to see from either tee.
the rough is very rough

overall the course has come a long way and many attempts have been made to correct its flaws

-Just added pro level tees that bring some more thrill to the course.
-Nice use of woods and elevation.
-Challanging course all together.
The new blue pads are nice becuase it gives you a total different look at each hole.
-Nice course for leftys, and rightys with fairness along the whole course.

-All the holes except 16 and 18 are short so no grip and rip on this course unless you play the blues.
-Unforgiving thick woods with poison ivy.
-Not a huge fan of the tee signs just because of new players or beginners that haven't played the course can't really see where the basket is or the view around the basket just a red dot in the middle of a tree or in a hill if the basket isnt straight ahead, but thats just being picky.

-Only reason I don't 4.5 star this course is because they could really get some alternate pins going with the layout and land.
-Good mix of wood holes and open field throws, but not enough distance difference on the holes.
-On a lot of holes you are forced to throw on one line alone, but there is no OB or mandos. because of unforgiving trees...
-I like the course for an accuracy skill shot course.
-A practice basket and new billboard sign for information and directions along the course is a plus!
- Locals are very nice and they play on Thursday evenings.
- Tournaments are fun with lots of prizes for everyone even raffles!

challenging but not to hard. I made some incredible shots on this course. the first time i played this course I was a beginner I shot some where between 8 to 10 over. played it again and shot my best game I have ever played.

It was super hard to figure out where hole one was. After I found it, It wasn't to bad to find the next. some holes are pars should not be the par it should be i made 3 eagles which i shouldn't have. and a considerable about of birdies. I mean its kinda a con and kinda a pro.

I ended up shooting the best I have ever shot on a course 11 under par.

1. Variety of hole layouts (left vs. right, up vs. down, open vs. tight, etc.). For the rec player, there are plenty of opportunities for a wide selection of throwing styles and disc usage. I took my brother to Ballou for his first round, and I think he would say it's not a bad place to learn the game.
2. I find the fairways to be pretty well-maintained, although many of them have been chewed up a little to pour concrete for tees (5/14/11). The rough and trees are just enough in most cases for good risk-reward shots. Better to play when it's colder - less foliage and poison ivy.
3. The general park is well-used during the days and early evenings, and there are a number of locals around willing to walk a round with any visitors. However, I wouldn't recommend a glow round - Ballou isn't the best after dark.
4. Almost every hole (except #7) have had concrete tee pads poured in the last month. (5/14/11)
5. Additional longer tees have been added to most holes in the last month. (5/14/11)

1. Not enough challenging length for the above-average player. I think the course is of sufficient length for rec players, or for the above-average player working on accuracy.
2. The course could use multiple pin locations for each hole.
3. Overall signage could use improvement.

This is the first course I ever really played a full round on, so it holds a place dear to my heart (that and it is the closest course to me geographically). Because it's close, I play this course once or twice a week, and I find it to be enjoyable each time I play. And since I know the course well, I really appreciate it as a place to test new discs and practice different throwing styles. The recent improvements should make it a course you might want to go a little out of your way to play.

Fantastic Course! Excellent use of terrain.

The first five holes are the best.
1-A beautiful shot downhill through a grove of pine trees to a basket near the creek.
2-Hyzer over a hill to the basket nestled under some trees.
3-Beautiful downhill shot over the creek.
4-First hole in the woods over a ravine.
5-My favorite hole on the course. The tee box is on level with the basket. There is a ravine with a small meadow and a steep hill up to the basket. Beautifully designed!

The rest of the holes are fantastic as well, weaving through the woods. Many holes with nice grass fairways. The course ends with a long bomb over a field.

~Dirt tees in the woods are very short on some holes.
~Some tee signs are missing
~Some tee signs don't say what the par is for that hole.

Great course! Would play again. I loved the grass fairways on some of the holes. The designer did a fantastic job of looking at the terrain and picking the best possible configuration for the holes.