Pros:
Upside of the North course at Indian Foothills Park is similar to the attributes of the South. It is also a very good 18 hole layout with concrete tees and DISCatcher baskets. There are holes that cross grassy hills with mature trees, and others that are through more wooded areas. There is good elevation change on many holes, but maybe not as drastic as the South course. Water is nearby in the low area in the woods, but it wasn't a big risk.
The challenge factor is pretty high. Pars are makable, and birdies are a possibility, but shot making has to be almost perfect form the tee or really great putting. I got some great drives off, but missed on the putts. Really had good looks on 8, 9 and 11 and settled for pars. A few of the late holes are shorter, giving an opportunity to make up shots on the back 9.
There were a number of really great holes. The opening hole was a lengthy run over a hillside with a big tree on it, followed by a downhill approach to the basket under another stand of mature trees. Hole 3 is a fun downhill bomb into the woods, with a right to left fade. Perfect for the RHBH drive and very reachable if you can stay out of the tree branches. 9 was a pretty cool elevated tee where the fairway is a left to right bend around very tall trees. The basket is on the side of the next hill next to the road. I killed a perfect, flexing anhyzer that came to rest 20 feet from the pin, but I bonked on the birdie putt. 11 runs through the trees without a lot of elevation change, with a very tricky line. Again my drive with the Sidewinder was right on target, snaking a perfect path toward the basket and landing inside of 30', but I could not convert on the birdie putt. 15 is a fun, shorter hole in the woods that runs along the left side of the creek. The basket is slightly uphill on the bank, again begging for that right to left hyzer around the trees, and again I two putted for par. 17 isn't a great hole, but I did get the elusive birdie there. It's a tunnel shot over a foot bridge that is midrange. 18 is a tough final test, downhill with a number of trees.
Cons:
I would like to see some better signage, at the tees and for navigational purposes. Kiosks with course maps would also be pretty nice to help find the parking areas.
There are two sets of tees on the map, but only one is concrete. I think the long blue tees may have been marked with stakes. Multiple pin positions for most holes, but no way to tell which one you're throwing to on a blind shot.
Grass was sort of long, and holding water in the low areas. With all of the rain in the region this spring, it is a common condition at many disc golf courses I have played recently.
Other Thoughts:
I have wanted to return to Marshall and play this course since 2016, when I first visited and played the South course. It did not disappoint. They're both very good, but they could benefit from installation of updated signs. I think the South might be a tad better, but both are very much worth playing. Be prepared with maps and line up a guide if you are easily frustrated or lost, because the layouts are a little funky.
Two awesome courses that make for a great stop on a disc golf road trip. I will award a 4.5 rating for both despite the lack of nice quality tee signs, maps and navigational aids to help with flow.
I finished my round with a 60 (5 over par) on 6 bogies and a birdie. Could improve that with a couple of good putts and one or two better approaches, but playing par golf here is not easy.