Pros:
One of the biggest things that will stand out to you after playing Sugarcreek is that this course exudes personality. The designers of this one clearly had a good time designing their course and it shines through in the play of the course. It would be the wrong impression to call this one "goofy golf" but in many ways it really is just that. The baskets are neon colors with aliens on top. There is a basket in a tire, a basket on a picnic bench, a basket hanging from a pavilion and a basket nestled in a tree. There are plenty of kitschy elements around the course, as well. There is a big bullseye (now sadly in disrepair) sitting on a fairway tree. There are bigfoot cutouts hanging around. People have left ornaments and knick knacks in clever places. See if you can find the tiny elf village though I think vandals may have wiped it out.
The fun doesn't just stop with eccentric basket placements, either. This isn't obviously the work of hired pros when designing but they went in and created holes that any of us would have fun playing. You get a water carry right on the first hole. They created a fake island green using railroad ties to create a walled effect. One of the holes has an elevated platform that tees to a double mando over some rough rough where I once encountered an angry buck in heat. On one of the final holes, they intentionally left a well placed vine hanging in the path of a drive. It's these little touches that separate this course for me so much. There are a lot of courses out there and too many are same ole same ole, so anything memorable is worthwhile.
It's not all about kitsch value though, by any means. This course plays hard in a lot of ways, some negative, but mostly this is a course where tight throws can land you pars and the right shots will birdie. There are big tight corridors to carry that will challenge a lot of golfers.
For those of you like me who are out here for the nature, this is one of the best I play in the Pittsburgh area. It's a natural moraine area, so you get a lot of interesting rocks and formations. It's also deep into the woods on a slope, the result of which is land that is usually always damp. It's full of ferns and cool wildlife like newts if you know where to look.
Cons:
Let's just go ahead and say it, the course is a mess. Even in its' best day, I imagine that this course was never all that well kept. It's DEEP in the woods in a small town with almost no way to get real park maintenance out there. I don't know how big the local club may be, but judging by rounds on apps, there aren't many and it does show. The course, much like the park itself, is falling into disrepair. It is, also, sadly one of the most littered courses I play and I rotate through a LOT folks. Schenley downtown doesn't have the amount of careless waste I see left around this place.
Because it is so deep into wet woods, it is usually always damp. I've played when tees were covered in water and even on good days, it's a wet place. The rough is pretty much always overgrown as well, so beware your bugs here. The very nature of that rawness makes for a challenging play on the course, as well. There are absolutely a lot of holes that are just unfair. As some have pointed out, most courses need to grow into themselves but that logic assumes a course is getting use and has regular maintenance, neither of which are happening here. The vast majority of holes have fair lanes, but there are absolutely a few that a birdie is a matter of sheer luck because there is not applicable pat to the hole.
While there are multiple tees on each hole, they are carpet tees and also in disrepair, so expect moss-covered fabric.
I like that you get a few bonus holes, but they could almost fit more. Unfortunately, the parking lot is a good walk down to the 1st Hole, but the final hole ends you up back at the car.
Other Thoughts:
If you come in the winter, the park gate is closed. You can park and walk in but it's a haul down to your car from the last basket. There is a hole in the ground toilet here,but no sink to wash hands or run water that I have seen. There is a large park that literally no other person has ever been in while I was there, so you have your run of picnic shelters.