Pros:
- Starts and ends right next to the parking lot. A couple of practice baskets nearby too and some open space to warm up.
- Another parking lot near holes 27 and 28 if you want to jump in on a less crowded part of the park.
- Tends to be less crowded than it's older, more notable neighbor.
- Awesome locals, played with a bunch of guys that I met at the course and people were pretty friendly.
- 19 and 20's tees are so close to the parking lot that you can really start on either hole.
- A good mix of difficulty. Holes 19, 23, 25, 34-36 all were somewhat gettable in every pin position. Not gimme holes but very refreshing because all the other holes are pretty challenging.
- A great blend of Par 3's and Par 4's. The par 4's are true, 2-shot par 4's. You have to throw targeted and precise shots to get to the green in regulation. Pro level distance won't be getting you any eagles here... except maybe on hole 36 in the C position.
- For the most part this is a hard but fair course. Hole 27 in the C position comes to mind as one that could be considered unfair. It takes two absolutely perfect tunnel shots to get there.
- Baskets are great, no issues with spit-outs or rust or anything.
- Teepads are concrete and excellent.
- Navigation is a breeze even without UDisc. Hard to get lost with this flow.
- Temporary Whiteboard Tee signs were great. Did see one or two that were misnumbered but other than that they were great. I suppose that could be considered a con as there are woodcarved tee signs on the other course...
- Makes great use of terrain. Whether it's elevation changes, log piles, trees, bushes, etc, the course is really well integrated into what's in the park.
- Cool that there is a lost and found box for discs at the bulletin board! Not sure if people actually use it though. Read on the Facebook page that some rogue guy has a key and keeps stealing returned discs.
Cons:
- Crowded multi-use park, the parking lot will fill up during peak times and you will definitely encounter plenty of walkers. They usually don't venture onto the holes but sometimes do.
- The rough is straight up dangerous. Tons of thorns, poison ivy, rotting logs and wood that may or may not split in half if you climb on it.
- The overgrowth makes disc losing a very real possibility if you get off the fairway. The rough in between holes 28 and 29 is SO GNARLY. Insane thorns, super thick, so easy for discs to penetrate below 3 layers of brush. Getting off the fairway on hole 27 is also a death sentence--lost one here that was thankfully returned.
- Hole 35 is definitely a filler hole. Just a 250' straight shot in an open field.
Other Thoughts:
It goes without saying that of the two Tyler courses this one is inferior. Between the tee signs, the lines off the tee and the cleared rough, the winner is clear.
That being said it's still a great course and makes for a fun day playing both courses together! I think in a couple of years and with a little more TLC this course will close the gap to the East course and earn a 4 - 4.5 star rating from me.