Pros:
-Plays in a well manicured park. You could throw this course barefoot.
-Nice variety of shots for a 9 hole course, distance varies from 200-375 ft.
-Water in play on holes 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7. The only 9 hole course I've played with water possible on the majority of holes.
-Plays in a quick loop. You and a buddy could throw this course in 40 minutes on a good day.
Cons:
-The Canal (See Below).
-Multi use park. This wouldn't be a problem but for questionable hole design on a couple. Hole #7's pin is 15 feet in front of a heavily used gazebo and requires a bomb to get there. The perfect line for #8 is basically throwing the sidewalk. Street is in play too.
-Practice basket is 20 feet from the pin of hole #2. Anyone using it is in play due to 2 being a downhill ace run.
Other Thoughts:
Consider this part one of my two part "North Side Double-Down." For anyone in the metro area coming up here, it's a waste of your time not to play both this course and Superior/Rock Creek, located 3 minutes up the road behind the Nordstrom. Two totally different courses that can be played, including drive time, in an hour and a half. It makes for a very enjoyable 18 without spending more time than you would at an average 18 hole course. On to Interlocken.
There are two very distinct experiences you can have playing this course. On days when the canal is not in full flow, this is a simple Park style course with little opportunity of true danger. I usually feel relaxed on these days and mess around with my less used mid and putter shots. Days when the canal IS running full clip, however, require focus, strategy, and cardio if you shank one. I'll be clear: if your disc leaves the hand with even a remote chance of landing or rolling into the canal, RUN. Your best chance is to get in front of the disc landing, and set yourself up in the canal (which will be fast and thigh high) with arms down and legs spread hopefully blocking the disc when it hits you. This actually works most of the time.
Now, let me alleviate some fear. For the above to be applicable, the canal has to be running full. If it's running even half, you'll be able to see your disc in the water, and provided you can run it down, should have an easy retrieval. I would say in my experience it's been truly running about 20% of the time. In my opinion, it's worth playing even if you arrive to the canal going full speed. It creates an entirely different strategy for half the holes, and running full clip after your disc can be exhilarating. I realize that's only my opinion.
All in all this is probably my favorite metro 9-hole, and makes for a great play following a round at very nearby Superior, which I will review now.