Pros:
When I review a course, I don't review the top course any different than the rec courses. I hold each to the same standards in terms to design, use of space, difficulty, shot creativity, maintenance and overall flow of the course.
To begin, this is a very short course, if you are playing from the leagues tees, then maybe on 12 will you need an unstable driver to get up the steep 330ft+ hill, but other than that the 2 longest holes are 310ft and 257ft. So leave those drivers at home and get ready to test just how good your placement shots are!
This is both part of a pro and a con, but to start the 2015 season there was a drastic change to the course. Much of the woods that gave the course a wonderful out in nature feel were reduced. This did however open up plenty of new lines and different shots for many holes, including #2 #8 #9 #10 and #12. There still is a lot of wildlife though! I still see plenty of deer roaming the course, so be careful or one might walk out in front of your shot!
The course itself now plays with many different lines in mind. As a lefty I have plenty of opportunities to use LHBH, rollers, thumbers and anhyzer shaping shots. Watching the right handed players, there are still a few hyzer to the basket holes, but even right handed players are force to use an array of shots to shoot very low scores.
A factor that is not often talked about, but adds to the difficulty of the course is the putting. There are many baskets that are on steep hills or at the top of a hill where if you miss, you are floating or rolling 20-40ft away. Way to often have I had shots that hit within feet of the basket, hit a root or rock and roll either into an OB pond or back to my feet! It is very frustrating, but again adds a layer of difficulty to a short but technical course.
I also enjoy that 7 of the tees for the first 8 holes are either a concrete tee or on a tar walking path. But then it moves to dirt or gravel, which then becomes a con, especially after it rains.
The course itself flows pretty well. Holes 1-3 are very straight forward, then you have to walk across a recently added stone path (very much needed and well done) to hole 4, which leads nicely into holes 5-7. Hole 7 is the first of the alternate tees between rec or league. The rec tee is about 130ft away, just a giant thicket in the way and over hanging branches that protect against high hyzers or thumbers/tomahawks. While the league tee is further back on the path which adds 50-60ft and makes it a nice shaping RHBH shot or a LHFH/Thumber shot. The woods flow is fine, however it can be tricky finding #10. There are a few paths that leave #9's basket, one leading to the old hole 10 tee on the top of a hill and the new one which is left of 9's basket and down the side of the hill. The cleared trees makes it easier to find.
Overall for the course itself plays well for what it was trying to do and makes great use of the space. Holes are short, but very technical in spots and can punish you if you don't learn how to control the angel of your disc heading into some of the greens. However, even though I enjoy throwing on the course, there are several reasons why I do not rate this a 3.5 for a great beginner/practice course.
Cons:
The dirt tee pads in the woods. There are only for holes 9-12, but after rain it is very sloppy and you usually have to tee off several feet from the normal tee pad, unless you want to be standing in water. I also mentioned that 7 of the first 8 pads are concrete or a tar path, it really is 8 of 8, but hole 3 the pad is actually lower than the ground, so it almost always plays as a dirt pad covered in dirt/chips/standing water.
In addition the baskets are showing their age. Some have makeshift chains while some baskets are actually leaning due to kids jumping on them (I have seen this happen many times).
The number of "kids" is also a con. It is nothing that the course itself can do about it or intended, thus I do not count it against the course itself, however it does effect the experience pretty drastically at times and can turn many away who have never been there.
I just started playing in 2014 and heard from other locals that it was not an issue until a few years ago, but the parking lot has become the go to place for teens to hang out. Usually they do not disrupt the disc golf course, but the number on some days can over run the parking lot and gives the course a "bad image" to families wanting to try the course. Not to mention with so many young teens playing, the golf etiquette is very lacking. You get groups of 5-8 playing and wont let a small group or solo player through, or people tossing multiple discs while others are waiting at the tee, or just standing in the middle of the fairway chatting.
During the summer time the course can be packed after 5pm as it is normal to have 20-30 people on the course at a time, keeping in mind it is a 12 hole course. And at times you can have 3 or more groups stacking up at the 1st tee quite regularly.
Since it is also a walking nature park, you do get a lot of walkers in the wood holes that can slow the pace of play from time to time. Usually they are with a dog that wants to say hello, so all is forgiven!
Also a con, only 12 holes! I want more! I normally have to play 2 rounds to get my fix.
Lastly, the maintenance of the course is spotty. The area is clean of trash due to league members at the course daily picking it up and tossing into the many trash cans around the course. There have also been several improvements to paths and stairs like the stone path built in summer of 2014 from hole 3 to 4, and steps that were built after hole 5 leading to hole 6. But then there are wood steps that are rotting away and the baskets that are in dire need of a face lift. Not to mention the trees that were taken down are still there, just mashed into piles which will eat a stray disc if you are playing on the extended 12th hole.
Other Thoughts:
As you can tell there are many pro's but many cons. Most of the cons however are not course related, just area related being in a heavy residential area. Which includes the high population of players and teens over flowing the lot.
With so many trees being torn down there has been talk about the course being turned into a 18 hole course, which would be a great addition since the area is wonderful!
My only hope is that they make the course pay to play to thin out the numbers.