Pros:
WHAT TO EXPECT: Public park atmosphere in the town of Pekin just a small ways from Peoria. Mix of open, long holes, rolling hills, and some technical wooded line hitting in between. Well kept property and a must play when in the area.
TEES/BASKETS/AMENITIES: Two tees per hole with a long a short option, both concrete and ample size and texture in good shape. Two pin location options with only one basket being out at a time. Baskets are Orange Discatchers that are showing their signs of age but still catch well. Some are just hard to locate, especially in the wooded section of the course. Amenities are slim here, couple nice wooden bridges over some of the small creeks and ditches but not much else. Some benches and trash cans throughout but not on every hole. Tee signs are helpful, have all relevant information, and are in good shape.
DESIGN: Mix of longer more open holes to start and finish. (Holes 1-2, then 13-18). Few trees to miss, quite a bit of elevation change, and some wide, fair, open tunnels make up the bulk of defense on these holes. Holes 3-12 are the meat and potatoes of the wooded section of this course with a wide variety of challenging, multi angle and varying distance Par 3's that range from 250 feet up to 400 feet with the occasional 2 shot (but short) Par 4's sprinkled in. Definitely protects itself well and forces you to use multiple shot shapes to succeed. This course is a shot shapers dream (well for 10 Holes at least).
SIGNATURES: I'm guessing Hole #18 (the 900 or so foot wide open rolling hill Par 5 at the end) is supposed to be the signature hole by design, but I found Hole #4 to be a much better representation of the course. A long downhill heavily treed Par 3 that requires a perfectly executed S curved shot to reach. My vote for this hole has nothing to do with my chain out ace attempt, As I hit high in the chains and it wasn't the baskets fault. lol That mishap aside, this is well designed and aesthetically pleasing hole.
DIFFICULTY: Flexible, which is wonderful. I'd say Pro caliber from the long tees to the long pin positions, and yet rec and casual friendly from the short to shorts. The sticky grass fairways, mature trees, thick underbrush on the sides of the fairways, and multiple elevation changes allow this course to have teeth without being unfair or oppressive.
EXTRAS: Tons of wildlife both times I have played here. Saw multiple deer, a racoon, and a curious rabbit this time around.
Cons:
ROUGH: Heavy underbrush lines the fairways throughout, especially in the woods. Part of the advantage this gives to the course difficulty, it also takes away from in beauty and fun. There is a chance for lost discs. There are two ponds on the course but you would really have to try to miss bad enough to bring either into play.
NAVIGATION: Despite a wonderful course map in the parking lot near hole #1, some directional signs would be a great add. Hole #17 and #18 are back across the parking lot and a long way from #16 basket. You have to walk across 18 fairway, so be aware.
HO-HUM FINISH: For a course this nice in the center, I was expecting a much more exciting finish but Holes 13-16 are kind of the same shot in varying distances and then Holes 17 and 18 are both kind of bland compared to the rest of the course. This makes them feel out of place. While still challenging, they just don't have that pizzaz one expects. Probably the main thing keeping this course at a 4.0 instead of higher for me.
BATHROOMS: No water or bathrooms available that I saw, come prepared as you will be in for a hike up and down most of your round.
Other Thoughts:
All in all a gem of a course surrounded by multiple other gems. Meggido probably takes the edge if I only had time to play one course when in the area, but McNaughton is a close second. A definite destination course in a destination city where so many good courses exist within a 30 mile radius. Do yourself a favor and make sure you bag this one.