Pros:
- Highland Park consists of mature woodland, open grassy areas, and patches of trees and brush. Many of the holes provide epic discing opportunities, with a great variety of hole types throughout. Open, heavily wooded, right, left, up, down, for a course not far from the city, this course has a wealth of terrain and line shaping opportunities for even experienced discers.
- Outstanding new concrete tees: level, brushed, and plenty wide and long. Great signs show all sets of tees as well as the hole layout. Red/White/Blue tees make the course playable and enjoyable for all levels of experience and ability. Some tees are combined on the shorter holes, but all are easily located.
- Outstanding use of elevation: several ravines provide great shot selection throughout the course. Pin placements don't necessarily take advantage of the elevation by threatening rollaways, but other than that the elevation is masterfully implemented into the design. One hole throws from one side of the ravine to the other, and another has a short downhill ace run through trees. Stairs make otherwise risky slopes a snap to traverse.
- The parking lot is centrally located, allowing easy access to either the front or back nine in case of crowded conditions. Also easy to hit up your car for snacks, water, etc. during a round.
Cons:
- Some holes are close to roadways or incorporate roads as part of the fairway. Traffic isn't much of an issue but the paved surfaces can be a bit rough on your discs.
- The course can get a bit on the crowded side, but that is more a testimony to Highland's awesomeness rather than a knock against it. Also, being able to easily start on either the front or back nine really helps alleviate this issue.
Other Thoughts:
- Probably the gold standard of all Chicago/Joliet area courses.
- The stone bench supports surrounding the basket on one of the holes that runs through the middle of the woods add a somewhat surrealistic atmosphere to the hole. Definitely not something you see everyday.
- Some holes have descriptive names on wooden signs that add to the flavor of this course.