Pros:
1) Holes are just long enough for the average player to really make you work for your birdies. It takes a really good drive on most holes to get close enough to birdie.
2) Nice big grippy concrete teepads and are generally shovelled in winter.
3) Nice DGA baskets in very good shape especially considering the location of this course set in the heart of the metro area. I think my friend actually swung a deal to get one of the old baskets. I noticed it in his yard last year when I visited and I am pretty sure he said it was one of the old baskets from Highland.
4) Terrain is pretty nice in that it is gently rolling hills however they don't use the big elevation changes at all (and #1 is by far the hole with the biggest change from tee to basket, maybe 10-15' vertical).
5) Someone else said it in their review, and truthfully I thought I might be the first to mention it . . . but I love it when city parks leave those old building up. There is some mystique that goes with those buildings and the past stories they have been involved in. I can only imagine what happened inside of that old building back in the day. I just like to see those buildings maintained and left on site, maybe someday it could become a disc golf store!
6) Course is fairly isolated from any other activity areas which is nice. No worries about slamming a disc right into someone, except where #9 is someone who launches one that hyzers out badly could end up over near the pavilion.
7) Beginner friendly. This is a straight out course with minimal obstacles and perfect for a beginner to come out and learn the game.
Cons:
1) Because of location I can assume this course will be full all of the time. I played in winter and noone else was there, but it is in the heart of the metro area (probably closer to downtown St. Paul than any other course). This could all lead to slow rounds (again just an assumption from what other people have said and the location).
2) Map at the kiosk is a map of the whole park and all it says is "9 hole disc golf course". You would think that after 21 years in existence it would be nice to have a map of the layout of the holes, especially because I did not see any teesigns or posts or anything directing people through the course. As a traveller it might be hard to find the first tee, and the second tee is hidden behind some trees (and when I played it had also been plowed under with snow from the road). Fortunately, I had some previous tracks to follow.
3) The layout didn't use some of the best property into the design. Not sure if some of this was by direction of the city to leave the wooded areas alone, or if the designer just bypassed those areas. Since the entire course is virtually open park space with some spotty trees, some variety would have been nice.
4) #4 is one of the best 2 holes on the course in terms of challenge. It is fairly long and narrow (with the road) creeping into play ont he left. It will take a good straight shot with no skip to keep it straight at the basket. Plus if you get near the basket you have to worry about a gentle kiss off the basket or a tree that shoots you down the massive gulley on the right of the basket. A lefty drive will also risk going down the hill. There also is one side (left from the tee) that is virtually blocked by a half dozen branches from the boxelder and other trees that hang right over the basket. If you are 10' away from the basket you would think it is a guaranteed birdie, just don't throw over on the left side!
5) Sign would be helpful directing you to the next hole. #1 o #2 tee, #4 to #5 tee, and a sign that clearly stated where #8 basket was. I accidentally threw at the 9th basket because it was closer to the tee than the real 8th basket. I figured the 9th tee was just off to the side ad when I got up there I realized I had just thrown to the 9th basket instead of the 8th (further up and to the left in the corner of the property).
6) A few of the baskets (or more specifically the # plate) was facing the wrong direction. This can lead to some flow confusion when looking for the next tee and also the 8th/9th basket confuion I experienced. I know this will only be a problem once for each individual, but if you get behind people that dont know where they are going it can create a mess for everyone on the course at that time!
Other Thoughts:
All in all this course is just plain. Nothing too exciting, nothing too challenging, just a nicely maintained open feel park with a selection of trees. The trees that are incorporated intot he holes do provide some obstacles and shot selection needs to be decided, but all in all there just isn't enough challenge here for me to love this course, especially considering that some of the best land for disc golf wasn't even used (for whatever reason).
For my Milwaukee readers, I would compare this course to Dineen (but much shorter). It is mostly open, some spotty trees, but just not a lot of challenge. No real hole stands out as a great hole (except maybe 5 because it is the most protected basket). 4 isn't bad because of the location of the basket but there are other issues with #4 as mentioned above.
This is just simply an average course. It has some of the amenities I come to appreciate like the teepads and nice baskets. It seems to be well manicured and taken care of and it even has a soda machine for your beverage of choice. The course doesn't present enough challenge, but it still could be a good course to bring new people. In general it flows pretty well (although signs for first timers would be nice for direction to the next tee. No teesigns or posts marking the next tee. I can't say anymore, it is just an average course.
WARNING: Please keep in mind I played this in winter. If anything I have stated is incorrect depending on season please let me know I can edit the review. I think I was accurate in my assumptions in a few places. I also cannot see the turf in the park or erosion/compaction issues because it is under 6 inches of snow, so if there are maintenance issues that I didnt comment on pleas emakeme aware of them so I can edit the review.