Pros:
+ Nearly the whole course, with one or two exceptions, plays in wide open, sunny, breezey and peaceful fields within a much larger park. Some appreciated elevation challenges keep this course from becoming a bore.
+ There are two baskets on all holes, and there are 'next tee' signs after every fairway.
+ Tee signs at every hole are illustrative and informative.
+ All tee pads are made of sufficiently long and wide contigous slabs of concrete. Three tee pads on all eighteen holes, but...
Cons:
- ...some tees are showing damage, wear, erosion or other signs of disrepair.
- The tee signs are only at the blue tees. Those players seeking a shorter layout will have to first travel to the blue pad to see the info about what's ahead.
- The whole course, with one or two exceptions, is wide open. Therefore, the challenges boil down to mostly distance.
- There is no dedicated practice pin and no lost disc box that I could find. Then again, an open course like this probably doesn't need one.
Other Thoughts:
It would be a bit too obvious to say that hole17 is my favorite to look at and play, so I won't. But still, that hole is a ridiculously perfect double tunnel of pine trees. As I looked at it I could picture a horsedrawn carriage gently transporting a 19th-Century aristocratic dignitary to some fancy banquet going down that corridor.
Instead, I'll say that my favorite to play is hole11 because of its bounding terrain and dense (for Franklin Park) tree cover. Hole13 was my favorite to look at because I could easily imagine a huge mansion in the style of Downton Abbey at the far end of that upward sloping hill with trees on three sides.
My least favorite was hole3 because it was the flattest, most direct and super wide open with a road on the right hand side.
In broad strokes, Franklin Park is a wide open course that definitely accommodates the power arms out there. There isn't much use for tactical approaches at this one. The elevation on offer isn't terribly daunting, but it can catch you off guard if you aren't adaptable. I like how approachable it is with two baskets and three tee pads on literally every hole. Mathematically, that makes for six different layouts, which not many other courses can claim. Also, there is a bit of a classy vibe to this course. With how peaceful and well-groomed it is, I almost expected to see a country club on the premises.
In finer strokes, I should mention that hole6 was unplayable during my visit due to construction within the park. Many laminated notices tacked to the fences guide players around the construction from hole5 to hole7. That's a shame, too, because it looked like hole6 would be a fun downhill hole to play. Holes8 and 9 got into my head because there are other fenced-in park features along those fairways. If my aim wasn't true or an unlucky nasty breeze came by, I might have lost a disc. Some of the holes feel copy-pasted. Holes3, 4, 13 - 15 play similarly. But there are definitely moments of satisfaction here. Hole12 puts an empty retention basin in the way. I Imagine it must feel good to skirt along the edge instead of having to climb out of it. What few fairways with trees in the way are much appreciated for how rare of a treat it is. Holes7, 11, 16 and 17 are probably the best examples of that. Also, hole18 gets a special mention for throwing a whole pond in the way when you least expect it. (Good thing I played from the white tees that day!)
Bottom line: The course at Franklin Park is not brilliant or particularly memorable, but it is still a good and quiet place to play so you can practice your longer throws and get some light exercise. Come here with a friend or two, try the different layouts and just enjoy the nice breezes and sunshine. Gently recommended.