Pros:
* McChord Field DGC is a recreational course located at the base dog park just minutes from the main gate (exit 125). Designed in 2010, this course being located in Tacoma is just minutes away from Steilacoom and Ambient DGC's and offers those learning the game an appropriate introduction.
* The terrain at McChord is mostly flat and lightly wooded, with nine holes playing over grass almost the entire time (holes # 5 & #7 throw across road from the tee). Heavy rough can occasionally be found on the edges of the park but can easily be avoided. The course is very well manicured however, making it easy to locate discs and take advantage of fast skips toward the pin.
*Baskets are powdered blue DGA baskets that catch very well. Numbers were installed on the top to help with course navigation. (Note: Hole #1 is a dogleg left and is not visible from the tee pad, that basket is for hole #9 and is not apparent till putting with 30')
Favorite hole/s: #7- inccorporates the only elevation. tees off over the road under a tree canopy creating a low ceiling. only left to right hole w/ some risk/reward. uses natural obstacles well.
Cons:
*Par for the course is 23 which means that there are five Par 3's and four Par 2's. Expecting throwers to ace or par a hole just seems ridiculous to me and makes me question the validity of the hole. If a hole is that open and short then perhaps it needs to be either lengthened or pulled. There was plenty of room behind hole #7 where the designer could have incorporated more length and natural obstacles. Currently, all holes range from 160'-300', totaling 2,105 feet. Intermediate players on up will be having all sorts of ace runs.
*Tee signs although informative were facing the wrong direction. Without the review from the Valk Kid this might have been an issue. They were informative however, including distance, par, and pin placement.
Worst hole/s: #1-#3, #8-#9 - all short and wide open
Other Thoughts:
*I was sponsored on by my brother in law (Army) and had to stop at the main entrance at McChord. Once there, we had to give them our driver's license along with my car insurance since I was driving. They had us wait for about 10 minutes while they did backgrounds checks on us. The whole process took about 30 minutes before I was throwing a disc so don't expect to rush. I felt as if I were trying to cross the Canadian border!