Pros:
-Top of the line cement tee's, detailed signs with maps and pin placements,
-Well maintained and manicured.
-This is a great course for advanced players.
-Bathrooms in the main school buildings (Accessible only during school hours). (DORMS ARE OFF LIMITS!! ...unless you are a student.)
-Excellent use of elevation.
-Multiple Tee pads: White and Blue Teeboxes, with a few red boxes for the more difficult holes.
-Parking Lots are considered O.B.. Including an ace basket that is right on top of a slab of cement. (Depending on what you consider OB.)
-3 risk/reward holes. #14 is a long drive and it's all about placing your second shot in the right place. You could find your second shot playing from the bottom of a steep hill
-Course flows nicely around the perimeter of the campus. You may still want to hook up with a guide if possible.
-The Ecological surroundings are beautiful, especially in the Fall.
-Each hole comes with its own challenge,
-The Course flows nicely back to the starting point
-You will be throwing across varying terrains: Uphill shots, Down Hill shots, canyon shots, Doglegs, across multiple ponds, and working a line through some trees. ...and for what it's worth, you will play along side an old Catholic Nuns Cemetery.
-You have to buy a bag tag for 5 dollars. Only once, and it's good for the year. (FWIW It's a nice looking tag as well)
-Security also keeps tabs on whats happening on the course. This is due to a rash of vandalism.
-Has an great "Fun Factor", and it is a fantastic challenge!
Cons:
-Bathrooms are only open during times when the buildings are open. (I went real early on a Saturday morning)
-Didn't see any scorecards, then again they may be available at the bookstore or where you purchase tags
-Navigation: Although IHCC is relatively easy to navigate, you could find yourself wondering where to go next. A course map would help. Hook up with a local if you can.
-Could use more red tee boxes, as this course could be very intimidating and frustrating to beginners.
- Purchasing a tag during off hours must be done by locating a security guard. As I was only in town for one day, again I was there early. (when we found a security guard, he was very nice and helpful)
-Some shots require playing very close, and alongside, parking lots.
-The tree that is right in front of the Tee box on hole 13, I feel is rather unnecessary. That is just my opinion!
Other Thoughts:
Indian Hills Community College (IHCC) has a fantastic Disc Golf course. They have invested time, money, and effort to make this an attractive and challenging course. All of the basic necessities here are top notch. You will find that this course offers a challenge that will require strategy, as well as a variety of shots. All of the holes offer a fair amount of distance. The blue tees only have 2 holes that are less than 300ft, and one 661ft hole that plays along a steep hill with a pond at the bottom. While the white tee's still offer up a fair challenge for the average player. The longest white tee is 441ft, with most holes between 250 and 350ft. The pond shots are reachable, but there is an intimidation factor that can mess with your confidence.
The course flows very nicely around the perimeter of the campus. The course starts and ends near the Helyer Life Center. You will find yourself navigating around parking lots, across ponds, and up & down hills on this course. The scenery on this course is gorgeous, especially in the fall. You might want a good pair of shoes, because you will trek over all kinds of terrain on this course.. Most of the holes at IHCC require a strategic approach, with a couple of risk/reward shots. The risk means losing your disc in a pond. The course has its twists and turns. It helps to play with someone that knows or has played the course. Having a guide can also aid in knowing where and how you should play your disc. A bad lie here can define how the rest of the hole will play.
Indian Hills is a gem in southeastern Iowa and it is well worth a long drive. Especially since this is one of three courses in Ottumwa. I played here early on a Saturday morning, and the course was empty. Bring a couple of discs you may not mind parting with, as well as a snack and some liquid refreshment. It's a long walk around the campus!