Pros:
This course was built in 1977 and amongst the original 6 in the country. A delightful concoction of steep hills, large boulders, old hardwoods, and creativity combine to form a surprisingly relevant disc course in the year 2010. Yes this course is 33 yrs old but this 21 holer has much staying power. I assure you that this is the best pure disc golf course in the greater New York area. (better than FDR, Cranbury, Campgaw, and gives J-Park and Warwick a run for the money) 18 of the 21 holes play through dense woods with ample fairways. There is minimal shule if any at all. The challenge is in shot making like it should be. There is no digging through underbrush. Elevation gains and drops throughout the entire course. Old growth trees form perfect fairways and there are large boulders that guard greens and create an amazing beauty not found in many places. I never felt the course was unfair or too easy. I felt every hole challenged me to choose and then pick from a multitude of endless lines or shots with plenty of trouble via trees, boulders, cliffs, hills, roll-aways, and some longer par 4s that required multiple shots to safely approach the often precarious or protected green. Some holes deserve special mention.
After 3 strong woods holes the course begins to show it's deep woods technical character as follows
#4- A short uphill drive that requires a powerful accurate drive to a basket nestled atop a steep grade
#7 A basket nestled in the saddle of 2 large boulder mounds
#8 A downhill par 4 that rquires accuracy early and a delicate approach as the green slopes off dramatically
#9 A delightful up and over that is blind but the lines are clearly visible
The course really gets fun as it progresses at
#12 A slightly downhill drive that provides lots of fun
#13 one of the best holes tight, blind, fast green with a cliff running the left edge of fairway
#14 a short tight S-turn that will have you wanting to achieve that perfect flex
Now it gets really intense
#15 a huge open uphill drive to an ever narrowing wooded fairway atop a massive hill to a protected approach and green area
#16 the Signature Hole..a shot from atop one crest to another with a gorge valley between and steeper hillsides to the left and right. Hit a tree and you could be 100 ft down a hillside R or L. Hit it perfect and you could be parked. A fair fun and challenging hole.
#17 A steep downhill wooded screamer through the woods to a protected green below.
#19 is a relatively open downhill with woods to the right and open air and steep grass hill left. Play it right and your parked. Mess up and your hyzering off the hillside with a big upshot to the basket.
#21 The only open drive of the day over a massive field to a protected basket.
The course is secluded from other park activities (unless a ballgame is being played in summer on 21) Can't believe this place was laid out in the year of Star Wars, Disco, and the 77 Yankees!
Cons:
While this course's design is still difficult and challenging, unfortunately playing it can be challenging/difficult for the same reasons. The tees are natural/rutted and at times dangerous. Their is no kiosk, signage is gone or faded, navigation signs, (though there are maps at hole #1 if you look carefully), the baskets are worn out dilapidated antiques that perform a local trick...getting Kiscoed means a deflection or spit out and I never saw so many in one round. There is an awkward area around holes 14,15,19, and 20 where the course either criss crosses fairways(15,20)(15,19), Shares Baskets due to theft of #20?(14,20), or runs close to other fairways(15,19,20). A little swampy/icy in the first couple of holes. In general it's an old course that needs a facelift. Better signage, rubber tees, newer baskets, and fixing the shared basket and flow problems and suddenly this old course is amonst the best in the northeast. Yeah the layout is that good.
Apparently parking is only for locals in the summer months.
Other Thoughts:
I think this course despite it's first time unfriendliness should be played by any serious DGer. I kept thinking about how ingenious the design was and how with some simple modifications you have a premiere course. If you need splashy signs, new baskets, huge concrete tees, and amenities don't bother coming here. (Go to Warwick or Cranbury instead) but if you enjoy shotmaking, line shaping, variety of holes and natural beauty this is where you need to go. Course begins behind the farthest baseball field from the entrance. Get a map from DGCR to aid in navigation. In short it's from 1977 but kids still love Star Wars, Chicks still dance to Disco, and the Yankees still win the World Series. Somethings never change!