Pros:
WHAT TO EXPECT: In typical Kansas fashion, expect wind... lots of wind. Consistent steady straight line wind, blustery gusts that can get up to some serious MPH, swirling winds and even multiple directional wind between tee and green. In all seriousness though, pack some extra overstable discs and some water discs to be safe. Beautiful well maintained public park that sports an additional West course as well, East is the more challenging of the two. Mildly wooded with tons of well placed low hanging Cedars that you will want to avoid. While not what I would call a "hilly" course, every single hole utilizes elevation in its design coupled with low ceilings to force very technical lines.
AMENITIES: Multiple modern bathroom locations, portable toilets near Hole 1 and Hole 10, walking trails, a very nice play ground, multiple practice baskets, a throwing net near the parking lot.
TEES/SIGNAGE/BASKETS: Tees are adequate 4'x10' concrete pads in good condition. A little skinnier than the 5' wide pads most other modern courses have, but you really only notice that if you are used to playing on larger pads. Well done course sign with full color map, information about the park and the design concept. Tee signs are done in typical Dynamic Discs fashion with large, full color sign with hole maps and all relevant information. Baskets on the East course are Red, White and Blue Veterans that caught well and were in like new condition.
DESIGN: Eric McCabe uses the subtle elevation on each hole and combines it with the low hanging old growth trees combined with distances that are deceiving. Most tee shots require very specific low line drives through vertical gaps rather than side to side. I would consider the long layout a very advanced skill level course that makes shooting under par a difficult goal. The design utilizes tons of natural and marked OB ratchet up the difficulty. Water comes into play on Holes #1, #7, #8, #14, #16, and #17 with small creeks additionally spread throughout but that aren't a real issue for most. A combination of spectacular holes with a few bland must gets mixed in. The rapid variation in change in difficulty can create a roller coaster round of victory and defeat.
EXTRAS: Beautiful limestone lined greens on both Hole #5 and Hole #17. It really makes Hole #5 a true 2 or 4 hole but the beauty is undeniable. Hole #14 is probably one of the craziest score separation holes I've ever played. Difficult but fair, and it punishes mistakes.
Cons:
NOODLE ARMS NEED NOT APPLY: This course does not offer opportunity for those throwing under 300 feet to score well or consistently. Despite sporting Hole distances just below or near 300 feet, these holes are often misleading in that they are severely uphill or have very low ceilings that require quite a bit of power to get close to.
LOST DISC VOIDS EVERYWHERE: Beyond the multiple water holes, forced water carries, and wind aided splash down chances, the tall grass here is no joke. Parts of the course are intentionally unmowed and line lots of fairways and require you to throw over multiple times. Mixed with several blind shots the risk of losing your disc in the high grass is probably greater than putting one in the drink.
VISCIOUS PLANTLIFE: Do yourself a favor and wear pants, their are thorn bushes, black berry bushes, and other angry plants in the high grass that will leave you tattered and cut up. Even if you trust yourself to not throw in there, it's almost inevitable someone you are playing with will and it's not fun trudging around in there. I'm convinced there are tiny ninjas hiding behind blades of grass trying to end you with death by a thousand cuts.
VARIANCE: Not really a knock on the course, but the variance in scoring on this course is wildly scattered based on what time of the day you play and what the wind is doing. I played this course early one morning with light breezes and shot under par only to come back and play it after lunch in winds over 20 mph and shot +14. Maybe more of a warning to temper expectations if you happen to come upon this beast in heavy winds.
TEE PAD GRAVEYARD: There are literally tee pads EVERYWHERE. Old designs, removed holes, shorts, longs, drop zones, combined courses like Jones Supreme, etc. Luckily when I played these didn't have tee signs, only the main layout did. But I can see someone being utterly bumfuzzled at trying to locate where to play from.
Other Thoughts:
This course rates slightly above a 4 for me but doesn't quite make the 4.5 level. It has some room for improvement despite being very well done. Destination course in the Emporia area and you can knock out the West course on the same property while you are hear and Champions Landing is less than 5 minutes away.
Favorite Holes:
#4 is one of the simpler but better designed Par 4's out there
#5 frustratingly wonderful
#18 great finishing hole Par 4