Pros:
Zion Lutheran Church sits on a hilltop with gently rolling elevation and scenic views of the surrounding hills and valleys. The first two holes have a tree or two that require some shot shaping, but the remainder of the course is wide open.
The basic course equipment is solid. Rubber tee pads are grippy and level. Yellow-banded baskets are easy to spot, mounted level, and caught well. No tee signs, but each basket is visible from the tee. Near zero chance of disc loss, unless you turn your drive over on hole #2 or get an epic rollaway on hole #4.
A "next tee" arrow is mounted to a spoke on each basket to help you find your way around the course. With one exception (see cons), navigation is pretty straightforward despite the lack of tee signs or posts.
The course loops around the church, so you can play from whichever tee you find first (I started on hole 3). Safety seems to have been considered in the design, and there were no obvious conflicts with other activities.
Cons:
This is a short, 6-hole course with few to no obstacles on four of six holes. Distances ranged from 170 - 225 feet, although some holes played longer or shorter due to elevation change. I played with a midrange and a putter, and only came up short on one uphill drive.
I had to check the navigation app to find the hole #6 tee, which is located on the far side of a white-fenced stormwater retention area. No tee signs or course map on site.
Other Thoughts:
The design does what it can with the land available, but there is a limit on how interesting a short, open course like this can be. Course equipment is solid, and rolling hills bump up the enjoyment factor a bit. I played on a calm day, but wind could be tricky on this open hilltop setting.
The course seems designed to introduce children to a wholesome outdoor activity. If that was the goal, the course design seems entirely appropriate. But experienced players will not find much of interest beyond the lovely views and a few wide open ace runs.
I debated between a rating of 1.0 or 1.5 for this review. Most courses I have rated 1.0 included glaring deficiencies with safety, playability, or equipment. This course does nothing particularly wrong so I settled on a rating of 1.5 ("passable").
For those looking to play a top-level course, you can find other options aplenty in south central PA. But if you are a course bagger, Zion Lutheran is a quick sping just off Route 30 between Gettysburg and Lancaster. Jump off the highway, check that box, and move on.