Pros:
- Course is set on the ground of an old farm, taken over by the park district. Doesn't seem like there would be any interference except for a walking path by #16 and #17. No problem.
- Roughly half the holes are set in a large section/grove of smaller trees that force/take away lines. Some are pretty tight, like the hallway on #7, and the low ceiling on #13. Others are more open but still require accuracy, like the uphill shots on #6 and #8. #11 plays out of the woods with a few trees right off the tee, and #12 plays back into the woods from an open meadow.
- Other holes are more open, like #1 which only has one large tree to worry about. #14 is almost wide open, a nice downhill shot with a little tree in the fairway. #17 plays around a large tree, with a basket on top of a smallish hill, and #18 is a long shot over rolling terrain. #2 is a bomber shot with lots of length, and trees to snag approach shots by the basket. Most of these holes also have elevation changes to keep things interesting.
- Three of the holes have major water hazards here. #3 has a water carry with the basket on a peninsula. Water left, behind, front the basket, with a large tree on the right. #4 is a much, much longer water carry that has a huge bush forcing a wide hyzer shot if you aren't going over the water. The silver pin isn't too tough to get to, but the red is far across the water with another large bush blocking the lay-up option. #5 is the big boy, the red pin is tucked way back in the woods to the right. Getting to the window involves a high RHBH anny over the lake or a very skinny shot straight between the water and the woods. Tough hole.
- Tricky basket positions add to the challenge in many spots. #3's is close to the water, #17's is on top of a hill that slopes on both sides, #9's baskets are within a tight cluster of trees, and one is elevated (on top of the other, no less). #11's baskets are right next to each other... don't end up on the wrong side I suppose.
- Great teepads; some circular for different lines and others rectangular for the same line. Good baskets. Tee sign pending, but the navigation isn't too terrible, even without them.
Cons:
- Holes amongst the smaller trees are a little crammed in, there are some close fairways, and some close baskets/teepads. I could foresee some errant shots ending up in other people's business.
- Course is kind of split between holes that are pretty darn tough, and others that are pretty easy. At times it seems way too hard for beginners, at other times a little too straightforward for anyone else.
Other Thoughts:
- Overall, a fun course that has lots of birdie opportunities, and also some double, triple, or worse bogey opportunities. The silver pins are well suited to beginner players who know how to avoid water; the red pins are much tougher for the more experienced players.