Pros:
The Moo gets credit for one of the most interestingly named courses I've played. As for the course itself, this is the sound a doggy makes.
- What is a 9-hole course? Answer is this course. 9 fairways with dual tee pads still equals a nine-hole course. Don't believe me? Try playing groups on #1 & 10 concurrently.
- As for a nine-hole course, it's got some good flavor. Holes #5/14 & 7/16 are far and away the course's two best. #14, at 543 feet, with an OB creek drop-off playing the right side of the fairway, would fit into any high-level course.
- #7/16 is great for it's downhill over a small creek. Having played Shaver Championship earlier in the day, the creek weaving along the putting circle was a familiar sight. This was my favorite tee shot on the entire course.
- Excellent tee signs. With 9 holes and 18 baskets crammed into such a tight space, it would be easy to get lost/skip holes without adequate signage. High quality signage is a huge help.
- Some holes/dual baskets give truly different looks if you play through a second time - #1, 5, and 9 are good examples. Other holes - #4 & 6, for example - not so much.
- Course requires accuracy over big arms. With some fairways more heavily wooded, the risk/reward factor comes into play. Holes #4 & 6 are both sub-200-foot layouts. Holes can be ace runs or potential bogeys if you get a bad kick off a tree and are stuck in no-man's land.
Cons:
Course designers were too aggressive trying to cram too much into too little of a space. The course would be fantastic as a true 9-hole layout. By adding a second set of baskets, you now bring holes much closer together.
- Along those lines, with dual baskets per hole, you're left with three essential hole types: a fairway that has been overly stripped down/is way too wide, meaning it's lost its charm & appeal. #2/11 & 7/16 suffer from this layout.
- Second, you have a fairway that doesn't truly fit either basket. Instead of cutting a fairway that will accommodate two baskets, you're left with one fairway with awkwardly placed baskets. Baskets for #8/17, 11, and 18 seem they were squeezed in at the end.
- Third, is a hole type with baskets that are too close so you're essentially playing the same hole twice. #4/13, 6/15, and 7/16 are examples of this hole type.
- A few more next hole arrows would help. Tee signs point you to the next tee; however, if you haven't looked at it, it's easy to end up on the wrong hole. After playing #2, I headed to #7, before having to back track and find the basket for #3.
Other Thoughts:
Moo would have been best served as a 9-hole only course. It would have allowed a couple holes to add a little more room to sprue up the three shorter holes, #3, 4, & 6.
- It's impressive that they were able to squeeze in an excellent, par 4, 500-foot plus hole with the lack of space. #14 is akin to #5 at Timmons, just with a slightly longer layout and without the large bailout area to the left. It really is an excellent hole.
- From the long tees, course is 2871 feet, with four holes playing longer than 350 feet. To its credit, you do have chances to pull out driver on #10, 11, & 14. This isn't a 3-disc only course.
- Course does have some general vibes of a 9-hole version of Woodruff Leisure Center. The main difference is the 9 vs 18 hole factor. Playing the same tees twice, albeit to separate baskets, is what makes Woodruff a far superior course.
- I'm grading and viewing this course closer to a 9-hole course than an 18-holer. The couple holes that have genuine different feels (5/14 and 9/18) can be viewed as genuinely separate holes. Most of the rest are genuinely the same hole twice. My reasoning? On holes such as 3/12, 4/13, and 7/16, for example, one well placed tee shot means you're putting at both basket locations.
- Playing the best layout for each tee/fairway (1 vs 10, 2 vs 11, etc.), you have an excellent 9-hole course. As such, that's how I'm viewing this. A fun nine-hole layout. If you play a second go around with the second set of baskets, view it as a bonus.