Pros:
- That it's There. I suppose it's always a pro when there are baskets in the ground... but that's about where the Pro's stop for the serious golfer.
- Opportunity for Difficulty. With the walking path bisecting almost every Hole on the course and other park features (basketball court, tennis court, etc...) on other Holes, there is an opportunity to create some island greens, extra OB's, etc... and increase the difficulty of this otherwise simple course.
- Beginner Friendly. The course is short enough for beginners to not be discouraged about the sport. It's also easy to follow and almost impossible to lose a disc. However, the course is not beginner friendly for other park users (see below).
Cons:
- Dangerous. Never before have I played a course that was as dangerous as Desert Sands. The gazebo, basketball courts, tennis courts, baseball fields, walking paths, and playground all come into play (especially for beginners, which this course was designed for).
- #3's Basket was Missing. Someone had recently stolen the basket to Hole 3. While I was there, the park director was out there collecting evidence (the cut lock) to take to the Sheriff for fingerprinting. I heard it was the second time #3 had been stolen.
Other Thoughts:
- Overall. The course was filled with birdie opportunities for the advanced player, although some shots had to be thrown. In general, the Holes were more like upshots you might face at longer courses. Definitely not worth a special trip to play, unless you want to bag every course in your region or you happen to be nearby.
- Babe Ruth Ace. I ended up playing with a new local player (Damian) and on the 8th Hole I called my shot "Babe Ruth" style. There was a sprinkler that was circling and spraying the basket... I told Damian that I was going to wait until the water came back around and was spraying the basket so that I could time my disc so that it would go through the water and splash the chains... and it happened.
- My Score: A lot under Par. I didn't really take my score seriously at Desert Sands.