As the other reviewers point out, this is a great destination course. I was there for Canadian Nationals and this review covers the course from the long tee pads. Rather than evaluate every hole, I'll try and hit the highlights (good and less good).

This course is a true "golf" experience. While long, strategy and disc placement is as important (if not more important) than power. Picking clear landing areas that set you up for the next shot is critical. Grip it and rip it will not work here.

Many of the holes have multiple fairways and lines available to you to allow for LHBH and RHBH approach lines, although a number of the holes start with a specific gap (generally straight on) that must be hit if you're going to score well. On most holes the baskets are visible, and when not, the fairway is clearly defined. Going off line on this course is punishing and one errant throw will add multiple strokes to your score.

A great example of course design is the par 4 hole 5, which offers three different fairways to get to the top of a hill that then offers two primary lines to the protected basket. Two well executed shots can get you a shot at a birdie, but you'll still need to make a good putt and par is much more common. If you go off line, you'll need an extra shot to get back on track, but it's not overly punitive. This is by far my favourite hole on the course.

The course includes a pond that comes into play on two holes, including a challenging finger placement for the par 4 basket on hole 7 (are you really going to go for that putt?). On the par 4 hole 12 the pond comes into play again, this time forcing players to decide whether to lay up short or go for a clearing shot to the basket. These are also beautifully designed holes that balance risk and reward, offer shots at a birdie three but are true par fours with errant shots anywhere on the way likely to leave you scrambling for a bogie.

While all of the holes are challenging, hole 14 is downright punishing. Designated as a par 5, at the Canadian Nationals the average score was over 6. The hole is really two fairways, the first a long tight wooded fairway that needs to be cleared to access the second fairway, which typically requires a placement shot half-way to the pin. If you go off line at all on the first fairway, you're looking at a scrambling for a 6, with 7s, 8s, and 9s not uncommon. The rest of the course was fun, this hole was a slog.

Hole 18 suffers from a similar criticism, with the initial fairway so tight as to make targeting your landing area for the next shot a bit of a crap shoot. Both of these holes could use some maintenance to make them a bit more friendly off the tee.

I would love to have also tried the course from the short pins and I'm guessing that is what gets played most--the long tees make the course so long that it would be tough to play it more than once in a day, even though you'll likely be wanting to exact revenge on some of the holes.

I was excited to play the "signature" hole 11 (bridges over a meandering creek), which is beautiful in appearance, but turns out to be awfully short. Ultimately it was one of the less interesting holes on the course--a straight putter shot up the middle for an ace run. The creek is so small that it's not worth trying to avoid, you just have to hope you don't get unlucky and bounce, roll or ricochet into it.

At the end of the day, Hillcrest is a challenging, manicured, well designed course that will test every aspect of your game. If you come out of your play here under par, you'll know you've thrown a world class round on a world class course.

Together with the nearby Huck It course, PEI is clearly a destination for disc golf tourism.

- Like the other Houck courses we've played, a truly professional layout where hole locations are intuitive and clear thought has gone into offering different lines from the tee.

- Good opportunity to throw a full range of shots, I've heard people say the course favours RHBH players but I'm not sure I agree with that. It rewards straight shooters the most, but as a person who throws FH and BH interchangeably I felt as if I used FH quite a bit, and dipped into the overhand throws a couple of times per round. Overall I felt the course was very well balanced.

- One of the best courses we've played in Canada.

- Signage is world class, doesn't get much better. Large map at entrance you can take a photo of.

- Course is maintained immaculately.

- Bit of water in play but rakes are available and most of the missed shots into the water should be retrievable unless you're a grip locky psychopath or something.

- Fantastic tee pads, enough for a very comfortable run up with no pads that put you in an awkward or uncomfortable spot.

- Beautiful treed location with a decent bit of elevation changes (though there are no major hill tee offs or big vertical drives etc.)

- One of the best club houses I've ever seen on a disc golf course.

- Well laid out from hole to hole, not too bad to play without a map (though I'd still recommend one).

- Very little annoying underbrush, I've had a few rounds and haven't come close to losing a disc yet, this course is about a 4 for losing discs with 0 being an empty field and 10 being unfindable awful.

- Hole 11 is a very memorable (scenic) ace run.

- Some holes that would be rather ho-hum are made challenging by basket locations on slopes.

- Cart is no problem on this course other than potential sogginess.

- Can be very wet in early spring conditions, almost unplayable in the low areas.

- Lack of surrounding disc golf courses if this is a destination trip. $50 to drive across bridge and go back to Nova Scotia if you're making a detour. Although there is a nearby course (Huck It Middleton) that is apparently excellent as well, we haven't played that course yet.

- Mosquitos in summer, bring bug spray, apparently there is free bug spray in clubhouse but yet to be confirmed.

- Lots of discs (with bags) for rent for a few bucks in the clubhouse.

- No smoking on the course, FYI to the smokers.

- $10 per day to play or $200 season pass.

- If you are looking for locals, check out PEI Chainsmokers on facebook, very friendly and helpful group.

- What I've realized playing a few John Houck courses now (Selah Ranch Texas, Rose Hill BC, Tall Firs Washington) is that his courses are fantastic for Novice and Advanced/Pro players, but intermediate players are a little stuck between the tee pads. As a mid to high 800s intermediate player, I find myself stuck between playing a lot longer than I want to with some tough tee offs that are likely to lose me discs from the blues and a lot of way-too-easy Par 4s and 5s. This isn't a criticism, just an observation on how different skill levels will take away different things from the course.

- For anyone who's played Rudy's courses (Aspen Meadows) in Sundre, Alberta, this course feels like what would happen if you gave John Houck an East Coast version of Aspen Meadows to design. It's more "professional" but not as wild and challenging and punishing.

- I gave this a 4.5 because although the course is great in every way, it doesn't have anything about it that creates a true wow factor / incredibly unique / blow me away with the views for me. Same way I felt about Selah Ranch, it's as professional as disc golf gets, but it doesn't have the uniqueness factor that I personally feel is needed to give it a 5 star, though the club house is pretty awesome. I would give it a 4.85 if I could.

The Clubhouse...is an actual house/cabin.
It has washroom, tables and chairs if you need to take a break or lunch. It also has a selection of (beginner) discs and bags that can be checked out.
Signage
There are excellent hole description signs at each tee showing the hole layout and distances (as you would expect with a full meal deal Houck course). There are also arrows and signs on the course to direct you to the next tee box. As a result actual course navigation is a breeze.
Tee Boxes
Large concrete tee boxes are present on each hole. There are long and short positions.
Holes
The holes are what you would expect of a top quality Houck design. Mostl holes are a Par 4. There are some long tough holes coming in at close to 900 feet from the longs. The holes are very well designed with various widths of fairway, some getting narrower others opening up and then funnelling down again. As you would expect placement and shot selection is important and being an accurate thrower is better rewarded than a person who throws far.
The course makes great use of elevation with holes that play both up and down within the same hole.
As for shot selection you will mostly use backhand. Forehand will also probably be required at times. Given the trees and canopy there probably isn't a massive need for Overhand shots. Other than the odd get out of trouble when off the fairway this is likely not a course where you will need to use a roller.

I can't think of too many. The wetness of the course might be one issue. Perhaps there could be a few more benches on the holes.

You might want to wear goretex shoes. The course was a little wet when we played it. PEI gets its fair share of rain and there are streams on the property so it is quite soggy in places.
There are 2 holes that a pond comes into play on. Very thoughtfully there is a swimming pool net at the pond for disc retrieval. The water isn't overly deep but you can sink in the mud making an otherwise retrievable disc not so. However, all discs that find their way into the water should be reachable with the net.

The "Hidden Gem" hole (hole 10 I think it was) is an absolute beauty. Not long. Just very very pretty.

Overall this is an excellent course that is very challenging.