Pros:
Graceland University has an excellent course. It's got 18 holes and is very challenging. There are plenty of elevation changes, water in play, and the woods are thick in some places.
There are two tees on each hole. the longs are paved with concrete, and have illustrated signs with distances marked on the posts. The short tees are natural and marked with numbered posts. There is also more than one pin location on each hole. I love the mach 2 baskets.
I love the opening hole. It is long, but plays down a big hill. There are a few trees along the way, but they leave a really nice line to the pin at the bottom. Hole 2 is also fun. It plays next to the first pond, and flexes around some bushes and mature trees. Hole 5 plays over a smaller pond if you aim for the short pin, which I did. There were baskets in both locations on this hole, it was the only one with dual baskets. Hole 6 is another large run downhill, but with more trees tightly packed restricting airspace. There is a pond behind one pin, and a large cluster of trees and bushes hiding the other.
The back nine starts with another fun downhill drive that is shorter and fairly open. It still takes a great drive to get close to the pin. 11 has a tricky line that is more woodsy as you near the pin. 12 is a long open fairway that hooks sharply to the right at the end of the tree line, with the pin on a slope before the trees thin out. 13 is the longest hole, flat and wide open. There was a wire fence at the far end of the field, adjacent to the pin.
15, well it's just crazy. There is a tunnel straight down a big hill in front of the tee. A wire fence lines the left side all the way down, and thick trees on the right with lots of branches that create a low ceiling. You can try a line drive through the tunnel, or play over the fence to the left and risk going OB. I went tunnel, because I didn't trust my left to right throws enough to make it back over the fence. It didn't work out for me. 16 is another tough hole, with trees crossing the fairway that create difficult lines.
Cons:
There are roads, sidewalks and some campus buildings near holes. Hole 18 tees in a really weird spot right in front of the library. Be on the lookout for pedestrians. The layout is kind of choppy. I was glad I printed the map and brought it along.
The length is formidable, and everything is par 3. I used the long tees, and would say some of them could be reasonably called par 4. Windy conditions would make it even more difficult.
Campus is tobacco, alcohol and drug free. Some fun is permitted.
Other Thoughts:
When I reached Graceland the sun was shining, and there was hardly a breeze. It was only 32 degrees, and there was an inch of snow on the ground. But I had a wool hat and hand warmers in my pocket. The frozen pond saved my plastic on hole 2. I was able to walk on water to retrieve a disc that would have been a goner most days.
I managed not to slip and fall down during the round, but had a couple of close calls. Obviously, my game suffered some effects of snow golf. Drives were not as long and putting was very unreliable. I shot a 76, and only made par on six holes. No birdies.
The campus grounds were nice and clean, and were nicely manicured under the snow I imagine. I was surprised that the only tracks in the snow beside mine were from animals. None of the college kids appeared to even go out and throw a any snowballs.
I had waited too long to play my first new course of 2018. I enjoyed this course, even with the snow. I would recommend it, but I'm sure it is better if you wait for more favorable weather conditions.