Pros:
[Fully updated review as of the Inaugural Dearborn County Open 10/12/14] The first public course in what has until now been a disc golf desert in SE Indiana, now boasts a sheltered kiosk where you are encouraged to sign in (and show the Indiana parks in the area that courses here are played and wanted), picnic tables in the clearing at the start, as well as throughout the course (some are oak, so please take good care of these treasures!), a port-a potty, trash and recycling barrels, and some of the largest, flush-to the ground, all-season teepads in the region. Personally, I think this is the way to go for tees: box-framed, interlocking pavers. There is new parking available in the level corner of the field nearest the start of the course, which, if we respect it, the farmer who owns the lease is allowing the parks to use. The clearing done just this year of the rough along the fairly tight fairways, and the use of timbers to cover and mark some of the many sinkholes has been a Herculean effort, and is much appreciated!
18 (+1) brand-new Innova DisCatcher baskets, often situated just blind off the tee, and finishing with occasionally tricky greens at the end of rolling, turning fairways often defined by the numerous cedars spaced throughout this wooded acreage between a large farm field and Little Hogan creek (downslope to the west of the course). There are eight shorter holes ranging from 187 to 267 feet, but six relatively longer ones ranging from 328 to 388 feet. No monster bomb shots out here: you will be challenged more by the technical line shaping than the need for big 'D'.
The latest revision of the signage is really, really nice: each hole has a map with major obstacles and landing zones depicted, and there are often measurements to some of the more prominent features. Each sign also indicates the path to the next tee, so check these out. And the paths are marked by red arrows on the baskets and orange ribbon on the trees, but the course flow is actually pretty intuitive after you've gotten around once. The course has a pretty fair mix of left to right, straight, and right to left holes, but as a predominantly rhbh player, I appreciated the number of fade shots you get coming down the home stretch. The design is clever, using the available elevation and trees to create lines of flight accessible to the Intermediate disc golfer, and likely pretty good practice for the more advanced. Players at the recreational level and below who don't relish a challenge may get a little frustrated, as well as put some discs into the branches and rough.
So far, I'd have to say the 'signature holes' here are nine (a pretty brutally tight left-turning tee shot to a landing zone which will give you a long run into a tight little green at the end of the second lane), eleven (a gorgeous looking tee shot that can give you a fade left to the end of the fairway, but you'll have a small cluster of tree trunks between you and the basket), and seventeen (where you gun out through two cedars and still have to bend to the right to a straight 280' fairway, with the basket in the corner). But 12 & 13 tease you with the huge drop-off elevation to the west, and back across a tree-filled ravine, too.
In all, this course, and the nearby property, has some real potential as it 'weathers in', the rest of the park amenities are installed, and folks get out here to enjoy it.
Cons:
Come prepared (long pants recommended) for the fact that there are still a lot of briars and thorns just off the fairways, but the intended flight path fairways are, well, 'fair'. One of the troublesome sink holes is just left of the third basket. You may still want to spray on some Deep Woods OFF, to guard against summer bugs (I picked up a couple of ticks in late April).
The course is situated in a somewhat remote area, just west of a crossroads-small town with nothing more than one gas station within a few miles, so you'll need to plan ahead for beverages and (running water) bathrooms for now.
Other Thoughts:
Last words: I personally hope that a lot of disc golfers will make an effort to visit Cedar Sentinels, represent with class, and give feedback to Dearborn County parks, so that this corner of the state can look to it as a model for more courses in the region.
And don't be fooled into thinking that a 'shorter' course is going to be easy: After the first tourney out here, only one player has officially gone under a 53. You MUST control your shots at Cedar Sentinels, or you'll be searching the tall growth just off the fairway all day. Send spotters ahead. Better yet, disc down, and play this TIGHT course conservatively. The course will only get better and better as traffic and time wears it in. If you worry about your control, please plan on a visit after the leaves and undergrowth fall off in autumn.