Pros:
Almost every hole is either pretty, or spectacular
The turf tees give it a natural feel while also providing a good surface.
The back tees are unplayable for most people so the fact there is a forward set of tees really helps make it fun.
There's plenty of opportunity to make your own custom map. Play the short tee on some holes, long tees on others.
Unlike Muddy Run, if you do play the short tees, there are quite a few shortcuts. You're not always trudging past the back tee to get to the short tee.
The short tee pars seem generous at first, and maybe they are if you're making a lot of 25 foot putts, but it's fair. If you throw it 250-300 feet, the pars are fair. If you throw it 500 feet, obviously the pars will be wrong, but shouldn't you be on the back tees?
It's hard to believe, but both Muddy Run and Faylor Lake are absolutely free of charge to play. That's right, $0.
Cons:
If you play only the short tees, you do miss out on 2 of the most massive downhill throws I've ever seen. You have to walk by those long tees anyway, you might as well play the hole from there. Instead, the short tee is a long walk to a ridge where you still get a downhill throw, just nothing as spectacular.
The gold tees just aren't playable for the average golfer unless you add 1 to every par.. Oh sure, it is no doubt a great course from back there, but if you can't throw it 500 feet, it's pure punishment to play the back tee course at the posted pars.
The walks between some of the holes are VERY STRENUOUS, especially on the back nine. The joy of throwing off numerous high ridges is you have to eventually get to those ridges.
Some of the walks, especially downhill, are kind of dangerous, especially if it's wet. They really need to post "safe routes" up and down the hills. This would be expensive but they could use some stairs as well in some areas. (Update, they have put in quite a few stairs, it's much less dangerous now.)
This is the kind of course that is built to challenge the best players in the world....but there's not much in the way of parking. They can handle 50-60 cars, but that's about it.
For a course where you have a lot of long, hilly walks, there aren't many places to sit yet.
Other Thoughts:
Update: I've played this course in 2023 now, and they've changed it a little, for the better. There are now two baskets and two tees on every hole, which creates 4 courses officially, but in reality you can play whatever configuration you want. And by doing this, you can bring an absolute beginner to this course and have a great time. The short tees to the short baskets do involve a lot of walking between holes, but look at the views! It has become a Best of the Best course since I was here last. It's not a playground exclusively for the highly skilled.
This has become the #14 ranked course in the world on Udisc. At first I thought it was mainly because of the window dressing, you know, the multiple throws off of cliffs, the water views, the peninsula holes. And those holes are spectacular, but there are also quite a few holes away from those pleasures that could be found on any relatively decent muni.
But by having 4 courses now, everybody can have a thrilling experience here.
So why is this a top 100 course? Having studied the courses at the very top there is a general theme.....there is a wide variety in the widths of the playing corridors. At Maple Hill, which is #1, about half of the holes are generously wide and let you rip a tee shot, and the other half are very narrow with disaster lurking everywhere. Krokhol is similar, as are most of the courses at the very top. Faylor Lake is no exception. There are some holes that are nearly impossible to miss the fairway, but mixed into that are some really difficult woods shots. Faylor also has multiple holes that feature a wide fairway, then an approach shot through a gap in some trees, where you emerge into another wide fairway.
This is why Muddy Run about 2 hours south of here is also in the top 100 in the world. The variety in width of fairways combined with fun elevation.
I still wouldn't play the long tees to the long baskets but it's not quite as impossible as it was in 2022. The longest layout doesn't use some of the really really long baskets, those are just for special tournaments now.
Every layout other than long to long is really pretty friendly now. They've toughened up the pars a little bit, but the average golfer is still going to be entertained.
There are multiple holes where you have to navigate a small gap in a grove of trees. The tee shots are generally wide open, but if you're out of position you can't then get through the gap to approach the green.
At Faylor, 1-5 are all fun, quirky and unique holes leading up to a stunning stretch from 6-8. After all of that elevation, water, woods and drama, it's hard for the course to keep up that high level. 9-14 are away from the lake , mostly in the woods or alongside a cornfield. They're perfectly fine holes, but they aren't the reason you make the drive to this place. 15 though....the view! The last 4 holes are all really good. .
Both courses also have 1 basket and 2 tees per hole, although Faylor does have an alternate shorter basket on the 18th hole, just in case you don't want to lose a disc in the lake. (Update: They are installing a second basket on each hole, a shorter basket, so you'll have two tees and two baskets per hole. Lots of options, you'll have two fairly similar length short courses, one really short course, and then the original beast)
Faylor has steeper and longer hills than Muddy Run, but you mostly walk up and down them between holes. It seems less tiring to play Muddy. Your trudge up the hillsides is broken up by playing shots. Also, there are no long walks to the next tee at Muddy. Faylor has several 5 minute walks between shots.