Pros:
*Great tee pads Nice, level pads on most holes that provide ample length for run-ups.
*Good quality baskets.
*Multi-use park that (or at least on the day I was there,) looks to be well-maintained.
*The designers of the course, while presented with mostly open parkland, have done as much as they could have done to maximize obstacles to provide a challenge and add interest.
*This may be something other people would list as a con, but I would like to commend the designers for adding several short holes. I know "bigger, longer, farther," seems to be the current trend in disc golf courses but I still like having a hole here or there that gives me that rush of excitement that comes from the potential to card an ace--and the short holes here are not just crammed in to get you from one long hole to the next; they actually are some of the more interesting holes on the course, with multiple flight lines and plenty of obstacles that can turn deuces into fours.
*While there is not a lot of wooded area with which to work, what is available has been put to good use. I'm a particular fan of holes that may start in the open and end in coves cut out of the woods, and you have several of those at Blue Heron.
Cons:
*As I mentioned before, there is a lot of open space so some of the holes are bit bland. It's not a design flaw, it's just the result of working with what land was available. I played in November so it wasn't an issue for me on the day I was there, but I could imagine a round in July or August could be brutal with a lack of shade (not an issue for younger players, but we old, fat guys don't always do well in the heat.)
*Speaking of the heat, there was no water available that I saw (I apologize if I'm wrong on this.) Bringing your own isn't a big deal I suppose, but this is a 25-hole course and you don't get back near the parking lot until you finish so that may require a couple of bottles.
*Again, this isn't a design flaw so much as a fact of nature but there is virtually no elevation change. This matters to some. Not a huge deal to me.
*As the land is flat with a few small dips, I'd suspect that drainage could become a real problem if there's been a lot of rain.
*Some of the pars listed on the signs seem incorrect. There are "4"s where it doesn't seem any need to be a four. I am not a person who thinks "everything is a par 3" like some disc golfers, but many of these fours seem unnecessary.
*There are a couple of oddities with the flow, but if you just follow the signs you'll be fine (although I do think there could be some means of putting in a hole between 12 & 13 instead of just walking across that open field and past the #15 tee.)
Other Thoughts:
1-155'
Start with an easy throw, but you need to have some accuracy here. There is a line of about five trees to the left and the basket is behind the last of those trees so you'll need a bit of a hyzer for a RHBH. There are paths to both sides of the fairway that are OB, but shouldn't really be an issue. If you go too far there is a pond about 15 feet beyond the basket.
2-310'
Narrow fairway. The pond is to your left and there is deep grass (although it was cut down when I was there--you can still easily differentiate between fairway and OB,) to the right that doesn't give you a lot of real estate in which to land. The basket is at the end of the OB grass.
3-270'
This hole continues on along the right side of the pond and plays to the end of it. As the pond appears to be man-made, the ground is built up along the outside of it. The tee pad is up on top of this small elevation. A direct line to the basket would take you over the corner of the water but most will try to play it right-to-left, as the basket is tucked in behind a couple of pine trees about 30 or 40 feet past the end of the pond.
4-446'
Your first chance to kind of "grip it and rip it." Listed as a par 4--probably a "tweener" as a 3/4. There is OBto the left that only a really bad shot should find. Right off the tee there is some pampas grass to the right that shouldn't be an issue but will probably catch a throw or two. There is a bigger tree out in front of the tee a bit to the left that keeps you from playing your drive left-to-right, but shouldn't be a major obstacle. The fairway is wide open and there's a large planting of pampas grass about 400' from the tee. The basket is behind that.
5-290'
Wide open with a line of trees growing down a bit of a drainage ditch about 250' from the basket. There's a bit of an opening you need to hit in that line of trees to get to the basket, which is just right of that gap. It was dry when I was there but this area looks like it could easily become muddy and messy.
6-326'
Kind of an interesting use of the line of trees down the drainage ditch. You throw past the line of trees and need your disc to turn right once you get through. If you cut it back too far you'll be in the trees. There's no real punishment for going long other than being farther from the basket, as it's a big open field.
7-280'
You throw back across the drainage ditch, but the larger trees aren't growing at this part of it. The portion you need to clear here is more scrub and tall weeds than trees. The tree sits in the middle of three trees.
A-501' -par 4
The first of the new holes. There is a mando about 200' off the tee that keeps you to the right to avoid a park shelter, but it's not any difficult effort to avoid missing it--you'd probably play it that direction anyway. The fairway will turn to the left and the basket is tucked back in an area cut out of the woods.
B-128'
This hole is short but it's still not a guarantee that you'll be there for a drop-in. You have a narrow line through several tall, old trees that will force your throw to curve to the right from the tee. If you hit one of the trees you could careen into areas that leave you with little room to work.
I did just that and ended fairly close to the next teepad, too, so that's something about which to be cognizant if there are others on the course (I was fine--I don't think there were two or three other people there, and none near me.)
C-345'
Tee shot is in the woods. There's a pretty narrow tunnel to get you out into the open fairway, but once you get out into the open there are only a couple of trees that should provide minimal resistance for your approach to the basket. This hole is listed a a par-4 but doesn't quite seem like it needs to be.
D-342' (par four on sign, but seems incorrect.)
Tee shot is out in the wide open, with a couple of small trees that shouldn't be a problem to get around. The hole is tucked back in an opening in the woods. There are a couple of spots that look like they could be where you need to go, so make sure you're throwing at the right spot.
E-150'
Narrow line in the woods that arcs to the right. Hit a tree that sends you to the left and you might end up in the creek
F-354'
Par four, which seems like it would be unnecessary for a 354' hole, but given that it's a double-dogleg it really is an accurate designation. You have a narrow gap to get out of the woods but you need to turn pretty hard to the right as soon as you get out. The fairway runs along the woods and you need to turn left again to get back into the woods to get to the basket. You'll have to enter pretty low to get under the canopy to a well-guarded and you can't run much past the basket or you'll roll down into the creek.
G-298'
Pretty wide open hole. This one will become much tougher with time, as there are a few trees in the fairway that will mature but for now they aren't that big. The fairway curves a bit to the left and there is deep grass that is OB to the left.
8-287'
This is, to me, probably the most bland hole on the course. Wide open with no real obstacles other than the OB walking path left of the basket.
9-179'
Tricky little ace run. Looks easy, but then you realize that a straight shot has to stay extremely low to avoid the overhanging trees that run the length of the hole along the left side. A couple of trees out in the fairway keep you from getting too far right to avoid the canopy, and there is an OB path that runs to the right and curves around behind the basket. You could get an ace if you run at it...or you could skip over the path.
10-220'
Fairway is pretty narrow with woods to the right and a path to the left. At the end of the fairway the hole is back in a clearing that turns right. You can't hang your disc out too far to the left to bring it back this direction or you'll hit a tree that might drop you OB.
11-243'
This hole doesn't currently have a sign, but it's close enough to 10's basket that the natural flow should send you right to it and the basket is visible from the tee. Throw over the corner of a pond with lots of cattails and other weeds growing along the edge. A natural hyzer should lead you right to the basket but if you go too far before you hyzer you'll go into a couple of trees that knock you down; hyzer too far and you'll get into more weeds--don't know if they're OB or not since there was no sign.
12-324'
Listed as a par 4. More difficult than you think it's going to be. There is a pond to the left with lots of spindly, reedy "trees" about 15'-18' tall growing along the edge. There is a line of pines to the right that seem to make the fairway narrow as you get to the end of the pond. Some will probably be able to throw over the pond and go straight towards the basket but that's a tough decision, as there are more pines at the end of the pond blocking a direct line to the basket.
13-147'
Short ace run that winds down a narrow path in the woods. Plays as just a bit of an "S" shot.
14-218'
Another ace run curving to the right through the woods. Not a lot of a line but there is one there.
15-246'
Interesting little hole. You have to play around the corner of the pond, but going in it isn't probably an issue unless you clip the pine tree that's near the edge of it and roll in. You have to play a pretty mean hyzer, as a drive that goes too far straight will get into weeds/woods. The basket is tucked in pretty well near some larger trees.
16-245'
Very narrow off the tee, and stays narrow for a majority of the hole. It does open up a bit closer to the hole but there are also trees protecting the basket. It's almost straight to the basket but it does go slightly to the right.
17-199'
Another narrow fairway through the woods. The fairway turns to the left at about the 120' mark and the basket is behind a mound.
18-572'
Basically a wide open hole. There is a path way to the left that's OB but if you got over there you deserve the penalty There is deep grass behind the basket that is also out of bounds.