Pros:
(1.024 Rating) My first experience on a permanent object course.
- PUTTER RUNS - Not the same a banging chains, but admiring your shot at it approaches the sign is still a gut wrenching feeling. I didn't catch the distances on these shots, but they all felt to be at around 200 feet long or shorter. So you'll have a bunch of chances at an object ace with no chance of chaining out.
- BEGINNER FRIENDLY - Much easier than the 12 hole layout. Even a first timer could have a bunch of chances at birdie.
- QUICK PLAY - I played a full 18 in less than 30 minutes. So perhaps it could be a great quick putter practice warm-up before the big boy course.
- RAW BEAUTY - Like the adjacent course on site, its well above average. Towering old pines and a 10 foot wide creek running through the layout. The creek close up is not as pristine as seen from afar. That said, the object course in general still has a great look and feel. Probably a touch lower than the 12 hole layout as the shots don't use the site features as well.
- MAINTENANCE - Other than the base of the Creek, the course was in spectacular shape. Mowed fairways, Trimmed up trees and bushes. No branches or excess dead leaves littered about, and little trash observed.
Cons:
An Object course has its limitations.
- BASKETS - I guess I'm blessed to have been born at a time when basket course had already taken over. Its just not the same satisfying feeling to hit an object or post over a basket. Playing this course made me wonder what a player from 30 years back felt when they first played a course with chains.
- PLAYABILITY - The object course jumps around generally along the same layout as the 12 basket course. thus if people are already playing that layout, you're going to be competing for the same use of space to move from hole to hole.
- DIFFICULTY - As stated above, the shots are really never longer than 200 feet. I personally threw a putter from 17 of the 18 tees. Birdies should be a realistic possibility on many holes for even the newest of rec players.
- UNIQUENESS - In addition to being short runs, the targets are unguarded for the most part and are all straight. The creek is less in play when compared to the other layout as well. However, you'll still have an opportunity to drop one in the water on a shot or two.
- NAVIGATION - More tricky than the other course because there is no map and the 4 foot concrete tees are not marked. The only reason I had no issues is because I ran the 12 basket layout first and saw many of the targets and tees during that round. However, it's not that bad and you'll spend no more than 10 minutes trying to find your bearings first go around.
Other Thoughts:
I found it interesting to finally play a permanent one of these object courses. I'm definitely glad the sport evolved to baskets, because I doubt I would have ever picked the sport up.