Pros:
- good use of elevation; not overly reliant on holes that only go downhill or only go uphill.
- baskets are really nice (Mach 5) and there's a circle of mulch around each one.
- scorecards on hand are good; they have a map of the course along with distances and pars.
- decent mix of hard/easy holes; a tad on the easier side for the most part.
- good concrete teepads and signage by every hole.
- the overall landscape of the course looks beautiful, especially early in the morning or at sunset.
- many holes are just fun to play because they're not too hard, but you need to be able to execute different types of shots to score good (1, 4, 10, 16, and 17 are some of my favorite holes).
- pro shop on site that carries food and beverages, along with a rack of Innova discs.
- with the cut of the fairway grass it's always clear where you need to go when you can't see the basket.
Cons:
- not really a con for me personally, but the course is pay to play; costs $6 for a day pass or $45 for a whole summers worth, and the pass is good at two other courses in the same area.
- doesn't get mowed/maintained that often so lots of times the rough can be absolutely BRUTAL.
- on certain holes (4, 5, 12) there is a sharp downhill slope in the woods off the fairway that can send your disc 50+ feet away from the course and into a marsh.
- due to the nature of thick roughs and some narrow fairways it can be more challenging for a beginner.
- some holes do get repetitive; holes 8, 9, 11, and 13 are basically the same.
- pars are fairly tough to get unless you play at a near professional level; lots of times it takes two shots just to get near the basket. Hole 5 is nearly 500 feet and a double dog leg, yet still only a par 3.
- bring bug spray, thank me later.
Other Thoughts:
I live nearby this course and have been playing it every summer for the past seven years or so, meaning I have a soft spot for it because it's the course I grew up on. Objectively speaking, it's nothing special. It's definitely a good course that's worth playing a few times a season if you're from the area, and if you're just visiting or driving through town, it's worth the $6, but not worth coming back to town just for another play.
The biggest problems lie in how thick the rough can get, and how many swampy marsh areas there are. It's a beginners trap, and I've lost many discs into the jaws of Elm Creek since I started playing disc golf. That being said, if you play regularly (like I do now), you'll find this course to be a somewhat relaxing romp around the park reserve. It's good for a late afternoon round with some buddies where everyone's having a good time and you're not really worried about who's winning.
On the other side, this course is very challenging to score at or below par on, even for veteran players. That's good, because it'll keep you coming back to try and lower your score and get birdies on pretty difficult holes. Like I mentioned earlier, most holes it will take you two shots to even have a chance at putting, and that's only if you can avoid the trees in the fairway and hit the gaps right. The entire course is made up of nothing but Par 3s, with two Par 4s thrown in. The Par 4s play similarly, with the exception of needing three throws to get to the basket.
Overall, yeah, it's worth a play or two - but it really is nothing more than your average neighborhood disc golf course.