Pros:
Course is awesome with varied terrain, and a nice blend of short technical shots and long range placement drives. In a nutshell, bring your short game expertise on the front nine, which highlights many short par 3 holes with no room for error. I had to retrieve a few discs from the creek. Almost exclusively used mid range of several of the tees. Don't let the short distance holes (some under 200ft) fool you; as the hole will be near the creek. The tee signs are very well designed and laid out, water is utilized on several holes on the front nine including one very awesome downhill drive with a great view of St. Mary's campus.
The back nine featured more short technical shots but also incorporated some tough 300-350 holes which allowed for some distance driving and placement, including some open areas with wind. Downloaded scorecard from this website included a map which was very helpful. The course included plenty of areas to sit and relax and numerous garbage receptacles and was easy to locate on the St. Mary's campus.
Cons:
To be picky, the rubber tees needed to be a bit longer, especially on the back nine. I didn't mind so much on the front nine because I did a very short step on the drives, aiming for more placement than distance. The course could also use a few signs with arrows to next hole, but downloaded scorecard and map from this website provided my wife and I very little confusion.
Other Thoughts:
I am giving this course a very high rating because of the varied terrain including some open areas, nice signage, water hazards, variety in length, complexity of driving and placement shots, and incorporating some distance driving. From my standpoint, the university did the best job possible in laying out the course, and has to be a true treat for the students. Speaking of students, I went there when class was out of session, and it was fairly quiet, but can imagine the course becoming busier come late August/early September when the students return.
For recreational players such as my wife and I, be ready to get a little muddy in retrieving "wet" discs so wear old shoes. However, I would not recommend this course for beginners. Despite being very tough, we had a great time and recommend it for anyone looking for a challenge. Pack plenty of fluids on a hot day because you will do some hiking. Insect repellent recommended, but didn't seem to be too much of a problem. My wife and I had a fantastic time at St. Mary's and can't wait to return. Winona has three distinctly different disc golf courses, which makes for a great day trip.