Pros:
WHAT TO EXPECT: Campground/RV Park setting around a small pond just off the main drag on the west side of Emporia. Mildly wooded recreational skilled course with multiple angle options and some gimmicks.
AMENITIES: Obviously camping on site, a picturesque pond setting, some towering old growth trees, plenty of shade, decent sized parking lot, Fun sold seperately...
TEES/SIGNAGE/BASKETS: 1 tee and 1 basket per hole. Tees were short, narrow concrete pads with several not being completely level. This normally wouldn't be a concern but there are some serious lenghty hucks on this "pitch and putt" where a runup might be needed by some mortals. Signs were typical well done DD style full color with hole map. Baskets were red white and blue Veterans.
DESIGN: A lot of course crammed into a small area. Hole distances range from the very long for this style of course (385 ft) to the very short (175 ft). Course utilizes the pond well on 3 holes (a gap shot through the trees out to a basket perched near the edge of the pond, a right to left hyzer of the edge of the pond to a basket tucked back into the tree line, and a pure water carry to a penninsula green the size of a postage stamp). Course does an amazing job for the land available at providing multiple shot shapes, challenging gaps, and risky greens. Where the course lacks in elevation, it makes up for it with three (gimmicky but fun) height changes of the baskets (Hole #2 is buried in the ground with just the top lip of the cage part of the basket above ground level on a very short ace run hole, with two other baskets elevated. Hole #6 is elevated to a comedic height of roughly ten feet "ladder provided")
EXTRAS: Layout is compact but feels like you are playing individual holes and fairways without overlap and the flow of the course is good and quick. Despite being short by design, fun in nature, and quick to play, there is some challenge and touch needed to navigate this course well.
Cons:
LOST DISC POTENTIAL: While a really fun course and somewhere I would love to bring new players, the pond and the tree line beside Hole 4 and long of 6 presents a real risk to losing discs. Maybe if you bring discs that float specifically for those holes for them this wouldn't be such a big issue. But I can see lost disc potential and frustration for new players.
GIMMICKY BASKETS: The buried basket is cute but it does collect a lot of debris and the overly elevated basket with the step ladder can be a nightmare to actually make the putt for a beginner. While they give this course some character, I can also see them being hated by others.
SWAMPY: There was quite a bit of rain in the area before I played most areas were still pretty soggy, some standing water, and quite a bit of muddy areas.
Other Thoughts:
While a short and fun intended course, this course really shows that it had some real thought put into the design. Money was spent of tees, signs, baskets making them all top notch. The novelty basket placements were thought out and added for fun factor. This is a really well done, but not overly challenging, fun, course to drop in and play. Not a multi stop location for me, but a time killer for the experience stop when in Emporia.