Pros:
PARK DESCRIPTION - I read that Little Mulberry Park is over 800 acres. I didn't have time to explore much but the park is lovely with rolling hills and lots of green lawns. The DGC plays almost entirely in this delicious Georgia Pine Woods with wonderful elevation throughout and mostly underbrush free and clean rough.
VARIETY - There are 17 wooded holes along with the mostly open 930' # 10. With two concrete tee pads on each hole and two or three basket placements, combined with the always hilly terrain, I think Lil Mulberry provides plenty of variety.
ELEVATION - Just enough to titillate most players. As with many other Atlanta wooded 18's, the hilly terrain provides all these interesting opportunities crossing gullies, blind over the hill throws, difficult uphill's and much, much more.
CHALLENGE - I played a combination of both the Blues and the Whites. IMO, the Whites are a difficult recreational round. It's from the Long Blue's where I might get myself in some trouble here. I think the Blues give you a really, challenging intermediate challenge. The holes here aren't as punishing or unforgiving like those at the IDGC courses and the top advanced level courses like Harmoney Bends, Caliber or Idlewild.
EQUIPMENT - Off the charts awesome. As I gathered at the first tee with the circular seating area with a view over the park, I had to wonder, was this constructed just for the DGC or as part of the park infrastructure? there are two great tee pads at each hole. The tee signs are large and very informative. They have the same clever ring system that other Atlanta courses have. I have not seen this exact system used anywhere else in the country. There is a kiosk with a great course map, practice basket, lots of next tee signs and professionally built benches throughout.
In my travels playing over 1500, one course stands alone for amenities, cleanliness, landscaping, etc. That is Bryant Park in Minneapolis. I think I'll remember Little Mulberry as being in the very second tier after Bryant. I don't recall there being very many courses in this second grouping.
AESTHETICS - Once again, off the charts awesome. The park is so clean with great walking paths throughout which are always lurking just off the fairways but never interfering with your round.
FUN FACTOR - As a weak assed recreational player, I had a great time here, actually picking up a couple of pars from Long Blues. This course should delight all but the beginner players.
ROUTING/NAVIGATION - Easy to follow with plenty of next tee signs throughout.
Cons:
ONE TRICK PONY - Having 17 wooded holes is probably not a con in my book. In fact, they were my favorite 17 holes here.
WHAT IS LACKING - Advanced level challenge.
Water in play.
Not enough bomber holes to satisfy some players.
A Top of the World Hole.
One true signature hole that you leave talking about. That one hole where the anticipation grows as you approach it. I left thinking of the course as memorable as any but not any one hole.
Other Thoughts:
Some areas seem to be known for a certain type of courses. The Chicago area is well known for its preponderance of flat, nine-hole rec courses. The Charlotte area is known for its tough advanced level courses like Nevin, Hornet's Nest, Renny Gold, Winthrop and more.
After playing courses around Atlanta, I'm thinking Atlanta has a large grouping of fun, 18's that are tweeners, that is, they're more challenging than a recreational level but fall short of being called intermediate level. Courses I would include in this tweener 18 category would include; Frog Rock, Oregon Park, East Roswell, Wills Park, Suwanee Creek, Little Mulberry, Fort Yarbo, Mathews, Central Park, Rosewood- DeKalb which is at the lower rec level, Deer Lick and many others I haven't had the pleasure of playing.
Little Mulberry is certainly above these others as far as an over-all experience. Challenge wise, it sits right on the top of the list but not that far ahead. If you like, feel free to exclude it from my list of the Atlanta tweener 18's. You won't hurt my feelings.