Pros:
- large concrete tee pads
- DISCatcher baskets in decent shape
- wooded course with good technical challenge
- good moderate distance will provide some challenge for intermediate players
- wood chips in some muddy areas
- good water hazard (creek) on 4
- restrooms at warming house
- some elevation change incorporated
- high risk water hazard (river) if you overthrow 9
Cons:
- tee signs are rather dated and primitive
- could use next tee signs for holes 2, 5, 8
- big safety hazard on hole 9, throws over bike path
- navigation is a bit confusing
- course doesn't end very close to parking lot
Other Thoughts:
I enjoyed Adler Park a lot. It was one of the only courses in the area where I saw a decent amount of activity besides myself. The course is set in a mixed use park; safety hazards and conflicts were generally minimal except for hole 9 which throws across the bike path and could easily be redesigned to avoid this hazard.
Most of the course essentials are good here - good concrete tees, primitive but decent tee signs, good baskets, etc. The water hazards they did incorporate are a nice touch. The creek on 4 is a good hazard to avoid. The Des Plaines River does come into play on 9, but as long as you don't bomb your shot well past the hole you're safe - if you do, well, you probably won't get it back. The elevation change available here was incorporated nicely, although in typical Chicago fashion, there isn't a ton of it.
The technical challenge here is fairly decent, with some more wooded holes and several more open. Even the more open holes have some decent tree obstacles, but this course is of intermediate challenge at best - some reasonable distance, but nothing that will tax you all that much. The park is generally well maintained and overall I think the X factor is that this course is pretty fun. The water hazards might be the only thing that really make it special, but I think the course designers did a nice job of making this a fun place to play a quick 9 holes.
I'd like to see a few next tee signs on this course. Navigation was definitely not the most straightforward and issues could be alleviated with some simple signage. To get to the tee for 2, to left from the basket for 1 and cross the road. To get to tee 5, cross the creek and turn left to cross the road intersection. After hole 7, go right bast the basket into the woods to find tee 8.
Overall, this is a good place to play a quick round and I'd return if I was in the area. If you aren't nearby, it's probably not worth a major trip unless you're set on bagging courses.