Pros:
Wonderland DGC is a much needed new course in Southern WV that offers 21 Mach 3 DGA baskets (plus Innova practice basket) with a variety of terrain and shot style. For full disclosure I may be slightly biased as I did design the course with the help of another ACE employee. That being said I will try to keep my emotional attachment separate from my observations.
-a mailbox with course maps inside awaits along the road right next to the practice basket.
-super nice custom powder coated baskets, painted in ACE's trademark yellow/blue colors for good visibility
-multiple tees to accommodate various skill levels and multiple pins for variety
-22 holes if you finish with the throw to the practice basket (we call it the tiebreaker) - so you can play it all or break the course up into countless different versions
-great change of elevation throughout with several super fun downhill launches
-great variety of terrain as the course starts out in a wide open pasture(#1), moves into more trees and tighter fairways with a meadow like feel (#''s 2-8), before entering the woods and weaving near a historic graveyard (#'s 9-13, 15-17). #'s 14 and 15 offer tremendous change of elevation and rugged pathways along the woods for the typically nimble dg'er but can be skipped straight thru to 16 when pinched for daylight or time or when playing with those who are aerobically challenged or just plain lazy. Finally #18 reemerges into the meadowy/pasture style of fairways with sweeping views of the mountains to the south.
-lots of space to expand in the future
-good access to restrooms and water spigot near #'s 8 and 18
-functional yet simple signage currently at one tee per hole and soon to be at both blue and white tees. (includes next tee direction, hole #, name, map, distance, and par)
-simple bolt on each tee post indicating A (shorter) or B (longer) pin location
-good variety of shots, not too righty-centric
-free to play even though located on a private Outdoor Adventure Resort where pay-to-play would be typically expected
-several wood benches and picnic tables in scenic areas with some trashcans strategically located throughout
-lots of other activities to do on site both guided and independently
-gear shop next to the lake at the bottom of the mountain sells beverages, discs and a great variety of other outdoor stuff. A small store with beverages, discs and paintball supplies will open next to the barn right near the course starting in July.
-the course already has a signature stamp logo'd disc designed by the "famous" river/superhero artist Tommy Hood (available in Champion Valkyrie, Champion Kitana, DX KC Roc, and DX Aviar Putt Approach)
-disc rental also available at Welcome Center
-a wide variety of lodging available on site including the Blackberry cabins and camping right next door to the course.
-restaurant and bar on site as well, located at the bottom of the mountain near the play lake.
-can't forget the friendly employees and locals who will gladly point you towards the next hole.
-they have doubles every Tuesday at 5:30 and all the participants are friendly and approachable
Cons:
The course has great potential but has not fully met that potential thus far. There are several challenges that leave the course with an unfinished, rugged feel (fine for many dg lovers but frustrating to others).
-the course was designed on top of a former horse pasture so there is a lot of tall grass to mow, burrs to eradicate, and pockmarks from horse hooves to smooth
-mowing and brush hawgin' have been inconsistent thus far (although great improvements as of late) as the resort adapts to the new acreage needing managed (ACE spans over 1500 acres and already must mow and landscape several hundred acres of camping sites, communal areas and recreational fields)
-there are large wood piles dotting several of the fairways, sometimes obscuring views of the basket or blocking lines. These will be chipped and burnt over time.
-challenging rough on several holes so you better watch your disc and send a spotter on a couple blind holes such as #2 and #20
-varied tees ranging from gravel, to grass, to natural and a couple still muddy- all in different stages of leveling. None are fully satisfying; none are finished, yet all are quite playable at this time and have never given me any problems. Long term, ACE hopes to add concrete tees but level, gravel tees are a more realistic goal in the short term.
-several areas could use steps, terracing, better pathways and other advanced landscaping techniques that are unlikely to occur any day soon.
-easy to lose a disc if you're not careful and diligent but I've always enjoyed the "sometime ya find one and sometime ya lose one" nature of dg in general. Of course we givem' back if they have I.D or contact info
-course lacks the figure eight double back to the cars after 9 set up that is appealing but not always available based on the geography of the area
Other Thoughts:
Wonderland DGC has already been a tremendous addition to the disc golf arena of Southern WV. After the recent losses of Songer DGC and the Flying Squirrel on the north side of the NRG Bridge, this course has offered a much needed boost of energy to the local scene which remains quite small in relation to the rest of the state. The Tuesday Doubles event has grown steadily throughout the spring and many guests from such disc golf mecca's like Charlotte and Cincinnati have shown sincere excitement for ACE's newest amenity.
Like many courses that show up on DGCourseReview before they are entirely finished and arguably prematurely, Wonderland has experienced a variety of opinions and expectations expressed towards the course as it currently plays. I for one have gotten a lot of enjoyment from playing the course in the short time since its introduction and look forward to the continued improvements that I discover nearly every time I come out to play.
Several people have put a great deal of effort into bringing the Wonderland Course to fruition but the dg community remains small and lacks the significant volunteer man power that is often available in more populous dg locales. That being said, Wonderland is already one of my favorite courses in the Mountain State and will someday compete with the more polished gems across the region as it ages and gets worked in.
I look forward to updating my review to a 4 when the kinks get worked out with regards to the tees and fairway management. Before that though, I wouldn't hesitate in recommending that others get out there and check it out for themselves. Drop on "Into the Rabbit Hole"-just remember to bring plenty of water and maybe a spare disc in case one gets away.