- Rolling, moderate elevation through a grassy, mostly open, links-style course. Scattered mature trees on the front nine increase in frequency on the back nine. A lot of saplings and young trees have been planted throughout the course but especially on the front nine. So while this course is mostly open at the moment, in a few years time the trees will become a key factor. Essentially, this course will only get better over time because of this. After hole #13, the course transitions over a causeway between two marshy areas. After hole #16, the flow crosses back over the same causeway, potentially causing minor conflict with hole #13. This was the most awkward spot, but the routing to the back part of the park allows for hole #'s 14-16 to play along the edge of actual woodland, adding even more diversity. Hole #15's tee has trees close off the front right side, the only tee shot on the course where you're dodging something immediately off the tee.
- Great design centered around getting the most out of the moderate elevation changes. A good variety of downhill, uphill, up-and-over, etc.
- Good use of water hazards to keep players honest on the downhill touch shot on hole #3, and guarding the green on the right side on hole #14. Water could potentially come into play on hole #'s 13 and 16 but would require some doing.
- Great mix of distances: three holes under 250', seven in the 300-399' range, three in the 400-499' range, and four over 500'. Nothing exceptionally long, in that no hole exceeds 600'. The mix of distances really help keep the round fresh and exciting, and adds greatly to the good "links" vibe. Scoring well here is predicated first on distance, then on managing the elevation, wind, water, and lastly, the scattered trees. Some courses that use distance for scoring separation seem bland to me, but I felt this design mixes everything up really solidly; designers seem to have a good eye and feel for teasing out the most fun from the land available.
- Solid amenities. Good baskets, concrete tees, sufficient tee signage, great "next tee" signage (an arrow on every basket), bathrooms, scorecard with map, etc.

- Walkers on the paths and the pavilion by hole #1, if in use, could impact play, but for the most part this course enjoys a golf-centric section of the park.
- The conflict on hole #13 as you walk from #16 to #17 is the one place where the design doesn't knock it out of the park; however, adding the holes in the back adds significantly to the course and I can understand the choice to do so.
- No prairie style grasses except in the marshy areas, which are, for the most part, really easily avoidable. However, it appears as though only the "fairways" and "greens" are mowed lower or more regularly...the "rough" areas aren't super long grass, but rougher and taller. Maybe ankle height. Mostly just a pain to walk through, and I could see this slowing down carts, especially in conjunction with the rolling elevation changes. Once or twice, the grass length transformed tracking down a disc into a 3-minute affair instead of an immediate "there it is."
- Hole #9's basket isn't immediately obvious, and another basket behind it looks to be your target from the tee. This is the only spot where the tee sign's lack of detail affected my round.
- First section of the park (hole #'s 1-5) are a bit cramped, and in a few other places throughout, but nothing unmanageable.
- Water hazards are hazardous. Not sure if most people will be able to retrieve discs from the water-filled, steep ditches on hole #'s 3 and 14.

- For a single tee/single pin, mostly open, grassy park styley course, Commons Park is Uncommonsly Good. Enjoyed my round immensely here, despite going in not expecting much.
- Great course for getting up on your good foot and practicing drives and managing elevation.
- Forget about Trine just down the road. Come here and enjoy this course twice instead!