Pros:
1) Nice big sign at the parking lot includes disc golf on the sign.
2) Portopotty at the parking lot which is good, but one in the middle of the course may also be appropriate, but I suppose there is no access.
3) Picnic tables and garbage are located under a massive tree near the first hole. This is a wonderful thing to have especially if there are tournaments played here. There also are plenty of garbage cans and benches scattered through the course. This would be helpful when behind a slow group or in tournament play.
4)Information on the tee signs is good including hole #, par, distance, and shot shape.
5) There is some incredible diversity on this course. The plant material ranges from palmettos (although trained very well and kept in good control for the most part), palm trees, massive pines and even some hardwoods.
6) How a large sandpile has turned into such a cool property is beyond me, but the erosion and massive rains have clearly played an integral role in making this course as good as it is. You can see washouts all over the place and they seem to use those areas for basket placements on more than one occassion. There are plenty of holes that have a good amount of elevation change. The majority of the holes have some elevation change, but the first few and last few have only moderate changes. Regardless this course uses the terrain effectively to create an awesome feel.
7) This course challenges you on almost every hole. The first few give you a little warmup for the arm and are relatively open, but then you work back into the rolling sandy terrain with the massive diversity in plant material. You have to shape your shots on most holes to avoid the trouble, but unlike Jack McLean where I had played earlier that day it was a little bit more forgiving of a slightly errant shot. Less luck was needed to play well on this course and it showed in my score. This ever present challenge is what takes a good course and makes it great.
8) Baskets are all in great shape and although the original 18 are different than the alternate holes they are all fine.
9) Green posts mark the pro tees and yellow posts mark the forward tees. This is very helpful in navigating because it is consistant the whole way through.
10) There is a shelter in the middle of the course and is easily accessible from about 5-6 holes.
11) Next tee signs are generally easily visible and helpful to the first timer (such as myself). Some are missing which contributed to me missing a couple holes.
12) The course is isolated from any other activity, in fac you never even get close enough to the paved walking trail to see it but I know it is there because you can see it in the parking lot.
13) The humor of a local was apparent when I saw a couple christmas ornaments in trees. It made me laugh when I saw it. I am a fan of a random gnome placement on a course (much like The Sinks in Chattanooga, TN). Not as funny as a gnome, but still something out of place on a disc golf course.
Cons:
1) Not all tees are concrete, some rubber was used on forward tees, but at least they have used something and not just given you a sandy worn out spot.
2) While the course generally challenges you at every turn, there are a couple simple plain holes. This may be by design to give you a warmup before hitting the elevation and more difficult part of the course, but I would rather have played a few more holes back in the wooded tougher area. It looks like they have more land that could have been used too.
3) Paintballers were present when I played but they were not on the course. I have no problem sharing the area with other people but they were loud and yelling and distracting to the peaceful natural setting. I can't imagine the paintballs are appreciated by the environmentalists but I suppose that would be happening there with or without the disc golf course. I do have to say if I liked paintball this would be an awesome place to play. I also would have to say I would thoroughly enjoy a dirt bike ride through this area too, so hopeful nobody gets any ideas!
4) Some of the next tee signs are missing. I got turned around a couple times because I was relying on the signs to help me through the course. I am thankful the ones are there, but it would be nice if the missing ones could reappear.
5) The layout was a little strange and I would guess it is because of the additional holes. Walking past baskets and tees to get to the next hole is always a little odd, but if it helped to make it a better course I can't be to hard on it.
6) I could imagine the course would get very hot sticky and buggy in summer, fortunately YOU WILL NEVER SEE ME IN FLORIDA IN THE SUMMER! This would be a negative for the locals, but at least the course is somewhat shaded throughout. There are always going to be shady areas to sit down and drink some water.
7) There are other plants that create a little havoc on this course and they generally are thorny. Not sure what they are but I don't like them. Fortunately there aren't any areas that are overgrown in my opinion, unless you are way off course.
Other Thoughts:
Walking in to this course made me think I was in for it because of how tightly canopied the trees were. I had to look up the definition of the word hammock to complete this review so who says DGCR isn't helping us all become smarter. The area you walk through is certainly a hammock. Dense vegetation with trees, shrubs and vines creating cover over an area. It gave me a cool feeling (no not below the belt), it just created atmosphere to the course in my opinion. It feels like you are throwing on a wind swept sand dune with a large amount of foliage and plant material.
I have to agree with Roller Coasters who has said he think Ocala Greenway is the best course in Florida. I know Florida is a different kind of disc golf area, but this course doesn't play like many of the other Florida courses but I think that may be why it is the best in Florida. Most Florida courses are overgrown with Plamettos and other plant material, and this course is virtually devoid of those plants and the issues they bring to a course. This course is unique and it is also very enjoyable. You are locked away in nature on a sandy rolling terrain in a state that has almost no elevation change. It simply put is an awesome course and a wonderful property. Get here if you can, it is well worth the 15 minute drive from the interstate.
I have to give this course a 4.5 as I would play it as often as I do Silver Creek, Winter Park, Bud Hill, Bryant Lake, Kaposia, and Charlie Vettiner if all things were the same.