Pros:
The Bowling Green Technical course provides a challenging, but fair, par62 layout with a good balance between what the other courses in this area have to offer. Here is how the course breaks down...
Course Essentials:
-Baskets: Single Position Innova DISCatcher baskets, brand new.
-Tee Pads: Single position concrete pads on all holes, adequate size and good grip.
-Signs: Tee signs in place on all holes. The signs indicate hole layout, length, and par.
Course Design & Layout:
-Fairways: Mix of semi-open and semi-technical fairways. Fairways are defined and easy to navigate.
-Elevation: Minimal elevations are present throughout the course.
-Length: 6,310ft total (351avg/hole): 5@<300ft, 6@300-350ft, 1@350-400ft, 5@400-450ft, 1@500+
Course Description:
The course layout is comprised of two 9-hole loops that each return to the main parking area. Flow throughout the course is smooth and uninterrupted with the exception of the long walk between Holes 5&6. Holes 3-6 play through open fields with a few scattered trees to work around, while holes 1, 2, and 7-18 play through thick woods that surround the campus.
I agree completely with bjreagh on the length and shape of the fairways through the wooded section of the course, this is what really makes BG Tech different from the rest of the courses in the area. With the narrow, tree-lined fairways, you really have to work the disc to keep it in the short grass and out of the thick rough. There is good variety throughout the course that includes throwing from an open tee into the woods through a gap (and vice versa), gentle right/left fairways, sharp doglegs (hyzer/anhyzer), and placement/strategy type holes. There are no drastic elevations, mostly minimum changes as you navigate the course, but the elevations are used effectively in course design to provide additional variety in the layout and aesthetics.
BG Tech will provide ample challenge for all levels of play. I am an intermediate level player who throws around 300ft-325ft, and I think this course sets up perfectly for this level of play (890-920 rated or so). Hitting these narrow fairways is critical because the rough is thick, especially with the cleared trees and brush off to the sides, miss your line and you'll have to work to save par, there are no gimmies or easy outs through the wooded section of the course. The ability to control your disc and shape your lines is important for scoring low, there are no wide open grip and rip type holes on the course.
Navigation: The course is pretty straight-forward and easy to follow. The biggest issue is getting from Hole 5 to Hole 6. You are basically going to go left from #5's basket down the main road of the campus and follow it to the end, you'll see the sign and tee for #6. For the most part, then next tee is visible from the previous basket, otherwise you'll see a worn path and/or signs leading you in the right direction.
Maintenance: A lot of work has gone into getting the course in shape for the recent grand opening. The grass in the newer areas of the course is coming in nicely, fairways are clear, and all the tees/signs in place. Still some excess brush off the fairways from where they've been cleared, but all in all, the course is in good shape.
Cons:
-There is a parking lot to the right of several holes (3,6,14,15) where it is possible to throw into the parking area, especially hole 15. The tee here is set up as to almost force a hyzer shot (RHBH) over the edge of the parking lot on the right side, a little grip-lock or accidental turnover shot could put you in the parking area.
-The lower areas of the course do not appear to drain very well, so I would expect some pretty sloppy conditions around these areas (basket on 10/16, tee on 11)
-A couple of areas where a stray drive could end up landing on/near an adjacent tee/basket. This is not real likely, but I think it's possible, so just wanted to mention it. I think the tee for #11 is in range from the #10 tee, and the #10 tee is in range from the #18 tee. My drive faded out on #18 and ended up pretty close to #10 tee. Also, the basket for #13 is definitely in range from the #7 tee. Again, it would take a shot that is quite a bit off-line in any of these situations, but I think it is worth mentioning.
-Multiple baskets visible in a couple areas, can possibly throw to wrong basket. This mostly applies to #15 where the basket for #2 is visible from the fairway on #15. If your tee shot doesn't go far enough down the fairway, it can be difficult to see the opening to #15 basket on the left side, but the #2 basket is visible and roughly the correct length to match the distance on the sign.
-No trash cans, water fountains, benches, or restrooms on the course as of now.
Other Thoughts:
I mentioned earlier that I thought this course was a nice balance between the other courses in the area. There are shorter, more technical courses (Hobson/Preston), longer more open courses (Phil Moore/Franklin), and medium length courses that are somewhat technical, but still pretty open outside the suggested fairways (Kereiakes/Lover'sLane), then there is BG Tech. This course is a great length between Lovers Lane and Phil Moore with a technical aspect somewhere between Hobson and Kereiakes. This is a new course and still a little rough around the edges, but is on it's way to becoming one of the top courses in the area. The current average rating of this course is between a 3.5 and 4.0, which is a fair rating in my opinion. I think the layout is great, and the potential to be a 4.0 course is there, but it's not quite there yet. Definitely worth playing, so if you are coming to the area for some disc golf, put this one on your wish list!