Pros:
NEW AND IMPROVED. After suffering for years with lousy natural tees and no signage, this course has been updated with brand new concrete teepads and very nice signs.
This 18 hole course is built behind the newly renamed "YMCA of the Highland Lakes at Galloway Hammond." There is a very large parking area that places you right on the first tee.
The course covers a nice area of treed land that is divided by a creek. There is usually some water in the lower areas of the creek, but not so much that you can't retrieve discs. During wet times of year the water becomes a more significant obstacle.
Holes 1 through 4 work around an area south of the access drive. Good use of the creek and large trees in the area create holes requiring a variety of straight, hyzer and anhyzer drives. Basket for Hole 4 is perched at the edge of the creek bed, and offers good risk/reward on the approach shot.
Holes 5, 6 & 7 are on the north side of the access road and play along the west side the creek. There are some decent elevation changes and large trees to add challenge to the holes.
Hole 8 tees off from the highest ground, across the creek, and down to the basket probably 25' below. The basket is guarded by trees but the shortish downhill drive gives a good birdie opportunity here.
Holes 9 - 16 play down a stretch that is bordered by the creek to the north and private land (fenceline) to the south. There are several mandos to keep you from driving onto folks playing back toward you on the other side of the lane. With the creek and fenceline O.B. and considerable trees to work through these holes place a premium on line shaping and disc placement.
Hole 16 is the only Par 4 and the longest at 623'. The fenceline is a tight O.B. on the left side of most of the hole, and a walking trail is O.B. on the right so the ability to drive straight is helpful here.
Holes 17 and 18 offer the best opportunities to air out your drive as they are wide open off of the tee, but the baskets themselves are well guarded by trees.
Even though most holes are in the 250' - 350' range, they are well designed using the available elevation and especially the trees and O.B.
Cons:
Most of my past "cons" have been eliminated with construction of concrete teepads and installation of good, descriptive signs. Such an improvement!
There are no restrooms or water out on the course, but I assume that you can use those inside the YMCA building.
Other Thoughts:
The recent re-design has eliminated old holes 17 & 18 due to conflicts with parking for the ball fields. New holes 14 & 15 now play down into a new area and are worthy replacements for the old holes.