Pros:
- There isn't really anything negative to say about the course itself. It's a beautiful area, a perfectly kept ball course. Everything looks great.
- The layout of course is pretty good. All the holes are different, and have some sort of challenge to them, whether it is water, OB, or trees. A lot of holes allow you to unleash, but it is balanced by many that require precision over strength, and some require a lot of both. Having short and long tees on each hole is a nice touch, but I think it could've been done better (more in Cons Section).
- Baskets were perfect, and even though the tee boxes are natural, they are kept well and are fine.
- I would highly recommend getting the map off here or in the club house, because distance numbers aren't kept on the tee signs. The map is very helpful and is well made.
Cons:
- Hole signage is pretty much awful. The tee sings are just 3ft posts with a sign that says "#1 Long" and so on for long and short. No distance, no reference basket location. Surely this can be improved, it just seems lazy. There is also almost no help finding the next hole other than the map. One hole does, but it's between 14 & 15, and that's only because 15 is in the middle of the woods/hell.
- Speaking of #15 (aka HellTrack), it needs to go. It's impossible, unfair, ugly to look at, and frankly a garbage hole. A almost perfect throw will likely end up being a triple bogey, and an awful throw can very easily bounce its way down the fairway. Holes should reward quality throws, not sheer luck. And if you think you can throw a roller, false, the stumps from the trees they cleared to make the hole are still there, so no rollers, and the trees are too thick and close to the tee box to go over (unless you have the greatest overhead shot in the game). There is plenty more room out there to add another hole, and remove this one. Please do it.
- I can see this being too difficult for beginners. I completely understand making the course difficult and wanting to use as much land as possible, but I'd imagine someone who has not become competent at playing would find the course to be too much.
- Like I said above the Long and Short tees are nice. However, there isn't much of a difference between them besides distance. A few holes were completely different between tees, but those were the exception, not the common. This typically isn't an issue, since most courses with two tees want the shorts to just be kids/women/beginner tees, but they seemed to think of them as almost two separate courses. Like when you pay, it's $5 for a day, which gives the impression that you should want to come play both. There are some good differences between the tees, but I wouldn't make it a point to play both tees, there isn't much difference, other than some of the long tees, are really much longer.
Other Thoughts:
- Overall, it is a top notch course, definitely worthy of going out of your way to play. I don't like pay-to-plays, so I wouldn't choose to go and play here, but for someone passing through, 5 bucks is worth to get it under your belt and move on.
- I also would recommend NOT getting the cart. Unless you just have $5 to burn, just want the experience of playing with a cart, or physically need the cart, walking is just fine. It is a long course, and you will be tired by the end, but it's not like there are large walks between holes, it's just more money for the course.
- If you are in the area, it should be toward the top of the list to go visit, but if you are wanting to play two rounds, I would recommend Burns Park, the two courses give more variety than the two sets of tees here.