Pros:
Alton Baker Park is conveniently located right next to Autzen Stadium and the UO. This large mostly flat, sprawling park provides plenty of room for the disc golf course.
The course's many amenities start with great tee signs with hole #, sponsors name, a picture of the hole, distance, routes and up to four pin locations. Currently they use a little piece of red tape to indicate the current basket position. How about drilling a hole in the tee sign next to each position A-B-C-D and inserting a colored washer to indicate basket position. Much better system!
The tee pads are over-sized recycled artificial turf pads set inside framed tee boxes with bark all around. They're very level built over crushed rock. The pads have a painted foul line about two feet from the front allowing for a safe follow through. I've not seen this line on any of the 575 courses I've played. But it's a great idea!
The day I played, everything was in the A & B positions so the course played as a recreational length course. Because it's flat and open in places, it's never going to be an advanced /Pro challenge type course, even from the C-D positions. If you're looking for that challenge, go to Dexter or Whistler's Bend.
I liked # 9 today in it's 198' ACE run position.
# 15 & 16 were a little longer, 300' plus from the A and B positions.
Cons:
This is a pay to play course. $3 is the toll, I guess. There were a lot of players playing today so I don't think $3 is keeping many away.
The recreational length/challenge might be a CON for some but this course will see plenty of players.
Other Thoughts:
The Marshall was out checking on the course so I never did locate the guy to give him my $. I figure Uncle Phil Knight can pay my for my round today.
The disc golfers had to battle long andhard with the runners (The famous Prefontaine Trail crosses through this park) to get permission to construct this course. Only once, at # 18, do you even get close to the running trail. This being such a large expanse, there is plenty of room for runners, bikers and disc golfers to all co-exist.
Now the Eugene disc golf community needs to develop the little three baskets practice area at Sladden Park. That could be a cool little elementary length 9 holer there.