Pros:
I really like this course. It has a variety of shots and can be utilized by all levels of players. This is the type of course that someone could learn to play the game on and an advanced player could easily hone their skills here.
The addition of tee signs makes it easy to navigate, and the course flows very nicely together. There is a massive shelter between the green of 18 and the tee of 1. This could serve as a great tournament central as players moved from 18 to 1.
The design uses the elevation of the land as an advantage. Players will need to adjust tight hyzer or anhyzer lines off of the tee to take into account the descent or ascent of the land around the basket. Many of the baskets are guarded by smaller trees that allow shots to make it to the basket but leave players with some tricky putts.
Here are a few of my favorite holes:
On the second hole players are asked to stretch their arms on the second longest hole. As you come from the tee there is room for S shots to approach right to left or in the opposite direction. The basket is nestled in behind a small grove of trees. After moving past the obstacles, the green is clear for a solid putt.
Hole 6 is a simple 245 ft hole that is my favorite on the course. The basket is located about 20 ft above the tee box with a diagonal line of pines cutting between the two. There are multiple lines that your disc can take to the hole, but one misstep and you have a tough angle on the approach. This could be an easy two, disappointing par, or a misfortunate bogey depending on the execution of the tee shot.
Hole 14 is a anhyzer for the RHBH thrower. I learned from the locals that the orange ribbon on the closest tree to tee on right is a mandatory. It has a tight fairway up until the bend towards the right. As you walk down the lane you see that the left and right are populated with tiny trees that have yet to grow to mighty pines. This hole will be extremely tough in about 10 years provided it is not clearcut.
Cons:
Before I begin with cons, understand that this course has been in the ground less than two months prior to my playing it. New courses go through a tremendous amount of evolution during the first year of existence. Many of my comments may become irrelevant in the coming days and I really like this course.
While I have nothing against natural tees, the ground is sandy and these tees will need some substrate to become compacted. If left alone, I think that they will detract from the course eventually. I don't know what the plan is, but from what I gathered, they may not be upgraded for sometime.
The course has very nice signs, but they lack maps. While I don't think that maps are necessary for a course. Let's face it, after you play a course once you know what to expect. Having said that, there were times when multiple baskets were visible from the tee. Granted it only took about 100 feet of recon to discover the truth, this could be distracting and eliminated with maps. I see this as a future upgrade if needed at all.
There were a few places where the holes could have been stretched out a little more. Hole 10 is one that I felt could have been placed farther back, but I learned that the course design was changed by the City due to proximity to the walking paths. This is not a fault of the designers but more of a case where people that are unfamiliar with the game affect the appeal of a course.
I hate to even place this here, but I am concerned about how the course will play in the summer. The area is routinely burned to control underbrush. I don't know if this will be a con or how much of an impact it may have in the future. I only mention it so that others can attest to the condition in the future.
Other Thoughts:
This is a brand new course with a few locals trying to build a solid disc golf community. We happened to meet some and spent the day playing and discussing the course. I really feel that after they have completed the work and the course has gotten some play that this will be a real gem in an area that is in need of disc golf. As this course grows, I know the ratings will. It is unfair to review this early, but I want to let people know what a gem they have in this course. I will be back and offer my help to anyone that is involved with this course.