Pros:
Very unique terrain and very well designed to make the most of these features, that is the most enduring quality of Vollrath. There is a large ravine disecting the course, and rather than play around it, you play across it, through it, along side of it, and up and down. Very excellent design that makes you make the shot. I do think Vollrath design is great. The variety and balance is excellent with water hazard, uphill, downhill, acrosshill, left, right, tight woods, open rippers, etc. The front nine plays up in the main park area (think mature city park with huge oaks and maples and a playground). It flirts with the ravine and plays back and forth across it, and along side of it. Then the back nine cross the other side of the ravine, plays along the lake, back up the huge shoreline dropoff, and starts into a nice open park area with a few pines and large trees (as well as street OB) to define the holes.
Very neat sharp elevation changes, but no huge elevation.
Cons:
The holes up near the playground area are very tight and crowded, and because they are under a canopy of trees, an errant shank off a tree can put you in any of three different fairways on certain holes - definitely some crowding issues. The course is overall very short, but some of the back nine holes add a little more distance.
Other Thoughts:
The city park can be hugely crowded and overrun. The age, condition, erosion of the course can really be seen and all the traffic, garbage, graffitti, etc really take away from the experience. The only thing missing from amazing variety would be a huge downhill ripper hole, a true water hazard that was in a landing zone where you'd have to be careful of your throw, and some really tightly wooded holes (liek tunnels). I like playing Vollrath a lot, I just don't like the experience, crowds, garbage, etc. Playing on a quiet morning is your best bet. Come up and play the Triple Double Trouble event in mid-September, it is a blast! My preference for peace and quiet often steers me away from Vollrath to LTC or Quarry, but Vollrath is always fun (on the right day). Only a 3 because I would choose to drive 50+ miles away to play any of the courses I rated a 4.