Pros:
Nice course has decent variety and camping onsite. Plays like two completely different courses (which provides some variety in and of itself):
• First half of the course is moderately to densely wooded with some fairly tight lines - line shaping and precision shot making are emphasized over distance. Pretty much fodder for mids and putters, only a couple of wooded holes in the 300' range.
• Numerous fairway shapes in the wooded section allow for a variety of different shots, all requiring some degree of finesse.
• 2nd half of the course: break out the big guns. Open fairways are defined by grass/weeds as tall as cornstalks. Encourages numerous ways to air it out: hyzer flips, flex shots, mild hyzer lines out over the weeds to fade back into the fairway - whatever floats your boat. Favors big drives big time.
• Unlike many open holes, the stuff lining some of these fairways is actually tall enough to affect your shot, at least to a degree. Not hard to get over and around it - but you can't just throw flat unless your line keeps you over the fairway. Miss the fairway and you may or may not have a decent lie (depending on how thick it is where you land). Should you get into trouble, an OH shot can help you save par. Unless your shot strays way off course (perhaps a wind-aided grip lock), recovery shouldn't be too difficult... but you need to look shots down carefully or you may not find 'em.
• Wind likely to be a major factor on the back half of the course (was for my round).
• Hole 23 plays like an island green, pretty much deuce or die - most people will love it or hate it. Hole 18 is also a finesse shot, even though it's mostly open.
• Benches located every so often (don't recall the trash can situation on the course, but I know there was one at the beginning where you pay).
• Navigation: Pretty easy for the most part. Tee markers and next tee signs get the job done.
Cons:
• Entire course is flat. I don't even recall a reasonably risky rollaway putt. A creative way to elevate a couple of pins might have added that dimension for a change of pace. Perhaps a stepped pyramid of railroad ties or timbers about 3 ft high with the pin in the middle or a basket in a tree... Gimmicky? Perhaps, but this course could use a little risk/reward to make you think about short approaches/long putts, as well as some novelty.
• I thought the wooded section was a bit pitch and putt like, and while the rough is thick enough to punish errant shots, it shouldn't be too hard for players with reasonable control to card 3's - the challenge is scoring deuces and hitting metal.
• Could use flypads at all holes, and while it really isn't an issue yet, it's probably just a matter of time before traffic takes its toll and the tees become rutted and nasty.
• Hole 6 seemed ridiculously poke 'n' prayish off the tee and needs a bit of clearing.
• While I like the tee signs overall, I wish they included a simple line drawing indicating the fairway shape so visitors know where to look when walking the fairway to spot the pin.
Other Thoughts:
Suitable for beginners to intermediate players, but really won't challenge top Ams and Pros.
The wooded section seems quite average and really does nothing to distinguish it from a plethora of other courses in the mid-west. That's not to say it's bad by any stretch, just typical (i.e. 2.50). Normally, I prefer tight and technical, but I have to say the open holes on the 2nd half of The Edge seem more fun and unique (at least for this region), and help provide the balance and variety to make this a good course, hence my rating of 3.0.
Good compliment to Labyrinth - each course has what the other is missing, but neither course really puts it all together.
Pardon my laziness for copying this from my review of Labyrinth, but it's perfectly applicable:
Solid design and good disc play are nothing to turn one's nose up at. While I enjoyed my round and think they did a pretty good job here, I simply don't think The Edge is "destination worthy." It's no better (or worse) than many good courses in other communities I've visited.
The "problem" is the Mason County boys and Bill have set the bar so high with other courses in the area that I can't recommend spending your time playing The Edge when you could be experiencing something special nearby, especially if your time is limited.
However, if you're staying in the area for a few days, and have played the area's best (i.e.Flip, Beauty, Beast, Goliath, Leviathan,) and still have a desire to hit another course, play on The Edge and enjoy. But missing out one of them to play here would be a poor decision.