Pros:
• Individual holes play pretty well, and most are challenging.
• Dual tees provide more/less challenge depending on what suits you.
• Tee signs with clever names for holes (adds a nice touch), distance, and hole layout showing both tees. Pegs to hang bags.
• Next tee signs in a few spots
• Not much traffic = no waiting for other players.
• Signature Hole 2
• Pleasant, suburban city park with plenty of amenities, including snack bar and restrooms, ice rinks, ball fields - fairly well insulated from other park visitors, but not completely.
• Good use limited elevation where available. Decent use of small chunk of park property that would otherwise not be used.
Cons:
• Flow is abysmal and navigation is tough to follow for the uninitiated - makes it hard to get a rhythm going. Easy to get confused after 3 and after 4.
• Chance of hitting a car on 1st hole (a slim, but definite possibility).
• Could have made better use of water:
• I love throwing over water, but signature hole 2 is a bit ridiculous IMO: 452' total, but it's about 400' to carry the water, with essentially no way to lay-up (although it plays a bit downhill from the long tee for a bit of help).
• Nasty water hidden behind basket 3, close to the basket on a downhill ... bad.
• Low traffic means paths to next hole aren't as well-worn as other busier courses - tough to follow peak season when growth is thick.
• Long walk to 2nd hole, somewhat long to 4 and then 5. Very long walk after 9 back to 1st tee or parking.
• More frustrating than fun.
Other Thoughts:
I try to be objective, but honestly, I just don't care for this course. Despite what they got right (some decent holes and clean park, signs) I simply don't enjoy playing here that much. I prefer tight, technical courses to open bomber courses, but this course really makes you pay for leaving the fairway, and seemsto be lacking any real "fun factor." Water carry on hole 2 is unfriendly, and hidden water on 3 is rude.
I realize the layout tries to make the best use of the available land, and given the plot of land, they made some decent holes, but the flow sucks and they could have made things a bit more accommodating. A well laid-out niner 9 leads back to 1 and parking so you can play a quick 18 and get going - not the case here. It's at least a 1200' walk back to 1st tee. Only worth it if you need to kill time while your kid's at hockey practice. They tried, but fell short. OK if you live in the immediate area, but not worth a drive from a different part of town. Do yourself a favore and play Cass Benton Hills instead.