Pros:
Baskets are Chainstars in decent condition - age is showing a little, but not much. They feature yellow flags for visibility. Three pin positions per hole (plus one extra on 13). Red tees (which are actually the middle set) are good-sized concrete; these are the tees which a majority of disc golfers will want, being around intermediate level in difficulty; the white (short) and black (long) tees are carpet tees playing at roughly novice and advanced levels, such that the course has an appropriate set of tees for the overwhelming majority of players. Although they look like death on a pale pony, none of the carpet tees were slick or otherwise difficult to tee from - maybe the heat bakes them dry. Tee signs are painted wood with tee color, distances, and hole maps (better drawn than the ones DGCR has pictured). No signs of chipping/fading; all were in good shape. Present pin position (typically all A, all B, or all C, save for some tourneys) is indicated at the course board, and they rotate, I believe monthly.
15 fully wooded (and I mean heavily, but beautifully wooded) holes, testing pretty much every line you could name, with plenty of elevation change as well - from long uphill shots to downhill ace runs, valley shots, etc. You'll need to be able to throw both FH/BH to play well (the whites are a bit more forgiving to players with only one). The rough is rough enough that "putting it down there" won't do you any good if you can't stay in the fairway. Conversely, if you hit your line, you will be putting - there's no poke and pray unless you decide you want to play it off the fairway on purpose. Good luck with that idea - it won't work. The distances are also enough to really add to the challenge - it isn't just a putter chucking contest. Several of the woods holes play in the 300+ foot range from red, and only about a third play under 300 from the blacks, with some out past 400. Being able to hit some lines with a driver is a must. Water comes into play on 3 holes - a clear, flowing stream which makes for some challenging greens.
The first three holes are far more open long boomrippers, but still with some tree guarding, starting one-sided on 1 and developing into a city park-style corridor shot on 3 before the real woods begin on 4. The first three thus add some further variety - and ease you into what you've undertaken.
Signature hole for the course would be number 18 for sure - long (293-398 feet from red, depending on pin) valley shot, but with the uphill side slightly dominant. Runs through a fairly tight corridor, with huge shule banks waiting to either side, especially if you leave the line early. The shot from the black tee actually runs over the top of the shule on the left-hand side for about half the length of the hole. Absolutely gorgeous - pictures don't capture the valley effect well, but they're still worth checking out. I sat down recently to make a course out of my favorite holes anywhere for each number 1-18; this was my choice for 18.
Cons:
There were some maintenance issues with the black tees - 13 and 16 were badly grown up, such that overhands or pitching out were the only viable tee shots. Seeing old footage of what they once were was saddening. 12 had a large tree down on the bridge in front of the black tee (only added a small detour to another bridge) and on the tee sign. They must be pretty sturdy, though; I think the sign did more damage to the tree than vice versa. I went looking for my loppers and saw in my car's trunk after my round, but unfortunately had taken them inside recently in order to effect a joke about my toenails.
Although next tee signage was pretty good overall, it was only unambiguously great for the red tees; a few signs could be added in a few places to point to the others (there are some already), but it's fine enough as it is. There's no map onsite, but the one linked here on DGCR is excellent.
Holes 1 and 3 gave me some slight concerns about interaction with other park activities and safety, but nothing too bad. The operative word is slight, and that's hard to avoid in a multi-use park. Holes 4-18, however, are problem-free in this regard, being buried in the woods.
Other Thoughts:
Tee colors (white short, red mid, black long) are obviously nonstandard - they're UATuscaloosa colors, though. There are also a number of Alabama football references as hole names etc., to which I say WDE. I won't hold that against anybody, though.
Gets very hot and very humid. There is probably about 75%+ shade once you get into the woods, but you will still want to bring plenty of water. I've seen a borderline heat stroke out here before, and that in a man who worked roofing for a living. Take care of yourself. There's a reason people joke about "when Tuscaloosa freezes over..."
I'm told there's poison ivy bad in the summer. I don't react, and frankly I barely remember what it looks like because of that, so I can neither confirm nor deny.
Overall, I have this course rated third out AL courses I've played (fourth out of all courses played), behind Inverness and Indian Creek (that one only barely). I haven't visited Heflin or the Mobile+ area, which I'm told house some serious contenders, but regardless, Bowers is AL top ten for sure.