Pros:
- Located in a spacious park. Pass over the bridge spanning the waterfall and proceed to the open field. The first two (as well as the last several) holes are located in this mostly flat, grassy space. Cross the road for hole 3, and let the real fun begin as you enter the section of course that is built on a sort of wooded ridge.
- Solid design maximizes the many drastic elevation changes throughout the wooded section of the course. Play only the "numbered" holes for an 18 holer, or also play the 6 "lettered" holes expertly interspersed along the way to stretch the course out to 24. The way the course naturally flows even after so many optional holes and twists and turns and ups and downs is nothing short of amazing.
- Several technical holes requiring precision and several longer open holes for big arms.
-Long (orange) and short (white) tees. Long tees can be brutal but are outstandingly fun. Dual pin positions on most holes add to the fun and replayability. Pin positions often create great risk/reward opportunities, as rollaway chances abound in the wooded section.
- Signage really aides in the proper navigation of this course. Keep your eyes peeled for where to go next, depending on which holes you've chosen to play.
-Camping available on site. Camping areas near waterfall and 1st teebox. This course would be the IDEAL course to stop at if roadtripping through the area and looking to camp.
- $3 for a completely deserted course. Where are the locals?
Cons:
-The lack of proper concrete tees really detracts from this otherwise quite fine course. The natural/gravel tees are actually in pretty good condition (as it appears that NOBODY plays this course) but are short in some places, not really allowing a run up or even sure footing.
-Really could use another couple of trash cans along the course. Additional foot traffic would clear up most of the minor shule blanketing the fairways in places.
Other Thoughts:
-Overall the flow is very seamless and astounding in the manner that the "lettered" holes are optionally interspersed between the 18 "numbered" holes. Super surrealistic signage art adds to the charm of this kinda rough but outstandingly cool course.
-Despite being fairly well upkept, this course otherwise appeared abandoned on a beautiful sunny friday afternoon in June. It is truly a shame that such a magnificently challenging and interesting course doesn't see much more play.
- I came away with a really high regard and respect for France Park. Although it is well over an hour's drive away, I envision several future trips to further explore the intricacies of this solid but tragically flawed* course.
*see comments re: lack of better tees.
Update (7/10/2019): France Park, as another astute reviewer noted, has aged like a fine wine. Since writing my initial review almost *gulp* a decade ago, France Park's disc golf course has grown and changed for the better without losing the old school charm appeal. While some holes have added longer tee or pin positions, the old short layouts are still there, evidenced by the sleeves.
Don't sleep on the quarry swimming just down the park road from the disc golf course...luxuriating in a nice ice-cold dip in between rounds on a hot summer day is golden.
Pro tip: set up camp near the waterfall, walk to the disc golf course, walk to the quarry to swim and back for more dg. Second round is perfect to put glow sticks on basket if you're in the mood for a third, glow round (just don't forget to pick up your glow sticks on the way out...please don't litter!)
Although I never really minded the slightly rutted, less-than-ideal gravel tees, I also didn't mind seeing some newer (within the last couple of years) turf pads...definitely a plus.
With the continuing improvements, tweaks, and
the new pads, France Park deserves a bump up in my rating rubric from a very solid 3.5 to a 4.
One last thought, subjective vs. objective: France Park is my personal little slice of heaven, and my all-time favorite course to play. I've played more beautiful, epic, better designed courses...but for some reason this scruffy ol' bugger really captures my heart.