Pros:
1) Concrete tees
2) Multiple pin positions
3) Good mixture of lefty and righty holes
3) Highlight holes: 18
Cons:
1) Not a lot of obstacles to shoot around (trees cut down)
2) Crowded with pedestrians and dg traffic during warmer months
3) MUDDY when wet
4) Tee signs need updated
5) Navigation issues - bring map. Eg. ,hole 5's basket in B position in woods to right - visible basket is 16, not 5.
Other Thoughts:
Griggs is sandwiched in between Riverside Drive and the Scioto River on a relatively small rectangular piece of land. It plays in a giant loop, so by the time you get to hole 10, you are far away from your car. It is flat for the most part, with a few slight elevation changes on a handful of holes. The land is dotted with mature trees, but for the most part, it is open.
About 5 years ago, the course received a makeover which greatly enhanced its appeal for the intermediate to advanced player. New target positions were created, and for the most part, the course has stayed in this layout ever since. The tee signs need to be updated to match the new positions though. If you haven't been here before, you should bring a map because there are a few holes that might trip you up. (See above for example).
The course has an OB road that follows the length of the rectangle, creating some more challenge on quite a few holes. There is a nice mix of lefty and righty holes. I would say that the lefty holes are truly lefty holes, not only because of the shape of the hole, but because of the OB road on the left of the fairway...holes 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 18 come to mind.
There are a few ace runs and some long holes to navigate as well. Since some of the targets have been moved, the narrow strip of woods in between the course and Riverside Drive is being used to create more obstacles to shoot through/around. The river comes into play on a few holes as well...7, 8, 17, 18, which adds some challenge.
The course is (or was) fun to shoot, but unfortunately, they cut down a lot of the trees on the course (they were infected with the ash borer) from what I heard. The last time I played there was last April and they had already cut down 3 or 4, but there were a lot more that were marked for termination. I haven't been back because I've heard it isn't nearly as much fun now. I'll update my review when I go back this year.
That said, the Columbus Flyers have done what they can to prepare the course for the future by planting new trees...and the placement of those trees will make for a very challenging course someday. Until then, though, the course is in a transitional period.
Because this is the only truly challenging course in the area, it draws a lot of dg traffic, so be prepared to do a lot of waiting (or playing through) during the summer months. And be prepared to wait for walkers (not zombies) and joggers too, as a lot of people come here for R&R as well.
One more thing...this is one of the worst courses to play when the ground is wet. The ground has a lot of dirt exposed and this dirt is very clingy and clay-like when it gets wet. It will stick to your shoes like glue and you will gain 5 pounds in 1 hole because of it. Bring an extra pair of shoes to change into when you're done or drive your old car to the course if it's springtime, or any time you think the ground may be wet.
For now, I give this course a 3, but that is based upon my memory of it before the tree massacre.