Pros:
- concrete tees
- well maintained and cleanly mown
- 3 practice baskets/games
- entire additional "warmup" hole
- huge elevation changes
- technical wooded shots are challenging without being impractical
- Innova Discatcher baskets in good shape
- some benches throughout course
- garbage cans at entrance
- clearly marked dual tees with different color coding
- dual baskets with different colors
- great natural beauty
- next tee signs
- navigation straightforward except between 3 and 4
- nice staircase on hole 5
- area devoted to disc golf, no safety hazards
- driving practice area with distance signs on hole 8 fairway
Cons:
- some rough is pretty rough, this course is off the beaten path a bit
- some built in steps, but a lot of steep terrain that could use some more, gets a bit hazardous
- hole 7 is almost too easy due to short length
- course doesn't end very close to parking lot
- some tee sign damage on hole 9
Other Thoughts:
Wow, Brickyard impressed me. I think this might be my 2nd favorite 9 hole course after Campton Hills in Illinois. While some spots of rough were pretty thick, the course was generally well maintained, had great signage, and great amenities, from the practice baskets/warmup hole to the benches, next tee signs, etc. - about all that is missing is bathrooms.
The highlight here is the huge elevation change. If this were an 18 hole course with a bit more length on some of the holes I'd probably be rating it a 4. There is fantastic natural beauty, and this seems like a pretty quiet, less played course that you'll have to yourself. I was playing early in the morning so it may fill up more later in the day, but I kind of doubt it. The downside is there's just about nothing near this course. I hit it on the way home from Minneapolis on a road trip, but you kind of have to be in the area for some reason.
Some of the tee signs were a little beaten up, especially hole 9, but otherwise the course was really in good shape and has been well maintained. Some holes were a bit short, but generally the technical challenge and elevation change made up for that. Since there are 2 tees and 2 baskets per hole, generally, there are lots of ways to play. Hole 7 was the weak one for me, with a distance as short as 133 ft. depending on tee/basket. You shoot over a very deep ravine, but unless you really botch it, you're just throwing to an even height plateau on the other side. Of course, to get there, you have to walk all the way down and back up!
I think the other biggest con is how you end up a ways from the parking lot after hole 9 and have to hike back. I think the course designers could have found a different way to handle this, but it's not that big a deal.
On hole 8, the distance markers for driving practice are a nice touch, but since they share the fairway with 8, you're only going to be able to use this if the course is empty. My guess is you'll get that chance, but you never know.
I really enjoyed Brickyard (and would honestly like to know where it got the name). I would stop for a quick round again if I was passing by, although I don't know when that would be. This course is definitely worth checking out and plays in 45 minutes or less, just be prepared for some hill climbing. One of the best for elevation change, especially on a 9 hole course.