Pros:
They've added a nine hole course in southeastern Indiana, and they've spared no expense in installing some of the nicest baskets I've played on so far. These are DGA Mach V's painted in a really sharp looking metallic blue. They're beautiful and catch great. Situated in an established park with mature trees, good maintenance, incredible playgrounds, a nice baseball diamond, shelters, tennis and basketball courts, and crisscrossing paths and driveways, the new course is an interesting addition.
The disc golf play itself tends to slightly favor left to right lines, but there are options on most holes to get creative. Hole distances were somewhat limited by the space available, but six are between 192 and 234 feet, and the last three go 141', 332', and 404'. So for the most part, the distances and the difficulty are geared toward casual to Recreational players. For the traveling disc golfer who needs a fix halfway between Cincinnati and Indianapolis (I know, you can't go more than an hour between getting your fix?), there's now a course just a few minutes off of I-74.
The lack of big distance and difficulty on this course probably won't attract more advanced players, but beginners to casual and even Recreational level players will have fun with it. If you do visit to try this course out, hole 1 begins just north of the baseball field's first base dugout, and the course loops clockwise around the park. I've added a course map here on dgcr for navigation.
Cons:
There are some safety concerns you MUST consider when playing this course. The very first hole plays directly over a piece of playground equipment, the second is better (though errant throws may go right at the park shelter there), but the third aims directly at a small 'house'. Step to your left to locate the blind basket position and try not to hit the building (I was unsuccessful in my first effort at that). Four and five are OK, six repeats the concern of two, and seven angles right at the tennis court chain link fence. Even if they 'mando' it to the reservoir side, eight will still have folks gunning high speed stuff down the walking path to get around the fenced in 'preserve' (nine seems fine for safety). Other than 8 & 9, hole distances are relatively short, so the course will attract beginners, who will be more prone to errant throws, tree kicks, and unexpected results (more likely than not, using high speed drivers). With such a nice, extremely busy park, the odds of non-players eventually getting hit is unfortunately high.
Teepads are presently natural grass, and marked only by a temporary sign on a small wooden stake. The seventh sign is already missing. I'm guessing, with the basket investment the parks department made, permanent tees and signage are likely in the works.
Other Thoughts:
BUT they've invested in some really good baskets. If, at some point, Batesville decides to take this idea to the next level, I hope they consult an experienced course designer, and consider land where great baskets like these can be the safely situated near, but not as much in potential conflict with, other activities.