Pros:
-Pratt Park a very scenic course is a tale of two 9's. The F9 meanders with some downhill and uphill tee shots, moderately wooded holes, an open hole, and thru some meadows where you can find picnic tables and grills.
-The B9 the pace picks up with an open tee shot on 10, a tunnel on 11, and from that point ravine play the rest of the round.
-Holes 12 thru 18 are exceptional with Ravine play, and I rank #1 for a finishing 7-hole stretch and very scenic with foliage and the creek coming into play. Some elevated tee throws, Elevated tee to elevated basket, baskets protected by guardian trees and the creek, heavy trees with gaps, and intentionally the creek is being used as a fairway on 17, and 18. Hole 15 offers respite as a sloping uphill hole. Number 12 is the only hole with a long tee.
-#16 for holes less than 200 feet I rank personnel #1 an elevated tee shot of at least 40 feet.
-15 of the 18 holes are very memorable.
-From the tee used mid's, fairways, and drivers. I used a variety of discs from my bag and had several "think about it" holes at the tee. I threw at least 4 times up in the canopy, more so than any other course I've played.
-Most tee pads with turf are in good condition, and baskets catch well. Tee signs are located on the leg of benches and have hole number and distance.
-Navigation is in the form of a snake mostly counter-clockwise. There are some navigation signs to find the next tee.
-Beginners and Recreational this could be a struggle, but also can be fun. Intermediate and Advanced will find the ravine portion fun and a challenge, and the F9 a good warmup.
-After you pickup your disc from the 18th basket, there's a physical fitness test waiting for you.
Cons:
-Pratt Park seems to be very popular to the local area, and there could be course difficulty on some busy days. On a Tuesday morning a few dozen people using fairways for their walks, except for #9 all on the B9. I even had someone walk up #18 with me. Even the walkers find the B9 exceptional, nobody on the F8. Had to do some waiting, and a disc buzz past a walker that couldn't be seen.
-From hole 4 thru 7 there are picnic tables and grills in the fairway. I wonder how possible its to play these holes on a busy weekend, let alone the increase of walkers. There was a festival still set up from the previous weekend, and I wonder if it was even possible to play the course? There was a picnic table to the left of 12 basket outside C2, but for the most part out of the way except for a wild to the left approach or big drive.
-Teeing across a park road on #1 a straight downhill throw, and jogging/walking trails 9, and 10. There's a parking lot to a business to off the 11 fairway to the right.
-Holes 5 thru 7 very blurry thinking back. Pretty much moderately wooded with grills and picnic tables.
-A few tees just carpet, and lumpy, #10 was the worst.
-A few more navigation signs would be helpful from 12 basket to 13th tee, and 13 basket to 14th tee.
-Disc lost is going to be high. On the F9 heavy trees and brush off some fairways. B9 you can be saying good by to your disc in the deep portion of ravines and brush. However, where the creek comes into play very shallow, and a disc can be played from the water just a few inches deep.
-After heavy or sustained rain. May want to wait a few days to play the ravine, the creek seems to move quickly.
-It's about a 5-minute walk back to the parking lot after 18. If I lived in the area, there would be times when I would want to get 9 in on the back.
-Need some strong legs, there are some steep inclines and declines. Also balance to cross footbridges. That physical fitness test is a leg burner to get out of the ravine, and #13 is straight up hill to tee using roots as steps.
Other Thoughts:
Pratt Park was pure fun! Ravine play has become my favorite, and the 12 thru 18-hole experience will be unforgettable. Cannon Ridge is less than 10 miles away with ravine play holes 1 thru 11, add in Pratt's 12 thru 18 and I would be in Disc Golf 18-hole Ravine Heaven. Pratt Park does separate itself with a unique creek fairway on 17 and 18, only one other hole I've played has that feature #16 Lake Marshall Lair Course. My focus has been on the B9, but the F9 does get you warmed up. The biggest con for me is the course availability on a busy day at the park or how big of a distraction with other park goers. Holes 4 thru 7 also doesn't help the overall rating. I really wanted to favorite the course but can't do it for only 1/3rd of the course. I tried to reason out a 4.0 rating, but the cons drag it down and I just thought the front was okay, so here we are.
My overall rating is anchored on a 5.0, focused on the 12 thru 18-hole stretch offering a unique playing experience. My time to play was 70 minutes with some waiting here and there.
That physical fitness test after picking up your disc from the 18 basket. There's a steep set of wooden steps waiting for you to get out of the ravine and having to pick up your knees for about 50 steps. It's the first time on any course I had to pause because of the burn to my swimmer legs, and that includes playing Lake Marshall, Hawk Hollow, and a few others.
Notable Tee:
-No. 4 an open tee lining up to a tree gap about 120 feet out and only about 15 feet wide. If you miss the gap its possible to power your way thru the branches. The most difficult gap on the course.
Notable Basket Placement:
-No. 9 an open throw to the basket. Behind the basket are heavy trees. Just past C1 a straight drop to the ravine. Overthrow you're not getting disc back easily.
-No. 10 a par 4 with an open tee with heavy trees on the left and the basket hooks to left into the tree line. I had thought #9 was the only ravine behind the basket play. So, on my approach I went for the basket and hit a "good" tree, the disc would have been lost into the ravine which is about 15 feet behind the basket. That same tree would influence my missed birdie.
Notable Holes:
-No. 13 Par 3 at 189 feet is a straight tee to basket over the ravine, basket a little higher up than tee. The tee on the edge of ravine, to cross about 70 feet. The issue is the heavy trees, canopy, and branches when I played in early October. You can hit a tree anywhere, very narrow gap to the basket. I found a hole up in the canopy on the left side, took it and parked it from about 10 feet. You can retrieve your disc from the creek in the ravine but will take some time to get it. Very scenic hole.
-No. 14 Par 3 at 328 feet is an elevated tee shot on a slight dogleg left with heavy trees both sides. The creek borders to the right and swings to the front of basket within C1. Beautiful green setting with basket elevated above creek and a roller, behind basket set of stairs leading out of ravine and brush all within C1. A foot bridge crosses the creek for you just before the basket, and a few trees in C1. From my early release tee shot to C2 putt such a lovely site, small target, and a little concerning. Ran a birdie and missed.
-No. 16 Par 3 at 175 feet a highly elevated tee shot at least 40 feet up to an island green below. Teeing off on the ledge with plenty of trees and canopy ahead. The creek passes below and in front of basket, meanders to the left of basket and turns behind it. Some trees and brush behind basket early October. Such a beautiful sight! And not one to be forgotten about. No straight line to the basket for myself. Saw a hole in the canopy way out left center to far and up for putter and mid. Threw an easy TL3 and found the green after passing thru leaves. I'll call it lucky.
-No. 17 Par 3 at 278 feet straight down fairway following the creek which was shallow. Trees here and there but not narrow. Heavy trees on the bluff both sides. Basket is just around the corner right side sitting on a ledge and a roller back in creek. In the creek fallen trees, boulders, and pebbles. Another scenic look from tee. Threw an awful throw to the right deflected into the creek. Lofted a harp outside C2 into the basket only seeing its top. I could only laugh with the back-to-back luck throws.
Signature Hole:
No. 18 Par 3 at 258 feet kind of sort of looks like 17 but narrower and more trees in the creek bed fairway, and does have its own look. More dead trees and boulders laying in the creek as well. Instead of bluffs, has hills that lead into the creek area. The basket is also tucked into the right behind a hill with a guardian tree and a roller. Behind the basket is that physical fitness test leading out of the ravine, and another beautiful hole. Then the oddest stick from the tee, disc went right into a dead tree, basket high left into an old wedge, couldn't do that again.
Trouble Hole:
No. 12 Par 4 at 432 feet long tee is a dogleg left that starts down slope until about 150 feet out where at the turn starts to run down hill and then 120 feet from basket a straight drop. Heavy trees, brush, and mounds both sides of fairway. A clump of trees in the middle part of fairway about 200 feet down giving two lines, the one on the right more difficult. The basket area is compact dirt and several guardian trees. Behind basket a roller into the creek within C1. From the tee a blind shot and if you lose track where the disc is flying too, you maybe doing some looking. It would have helped to of had a hole map. Only hole where I took a walk down fairway and decided left gap and caught some brush out of sight. Very scenic look toward basket which I couldn't locate because of guardian trees. Mistakenly thru up in canopy on right side and dumped putt because of roller back to the left.