Pros:
First and foremost - ignore the first review of this course. The course has been re-designed and improved since that review was written.
This is an excellent course that is getting better. It plays below, up, down, along, and on top of a big hill (or small mountain). It offers a great variety of holes and shots that will challenge every aspect of your game (as well as your physical and mental stamina). With that being said, I am a rec level player, and I never felt frustrated with the difficulty level. In fact, my wife and I had a blast both times we played it. The first few holes are long, but fun to play with a nice creek and strategically placed pin on a small peninsula on the creek. Then the rest of the holes are good varying lengths and well designed - traversing up, down, and along the heavily wooded hill/mountain side. There are a number of very cool holes. In fact, while many courses struggle to identify a signature hole, this course is loaded with signature holes. Every hole we came to offered a slightly different challenge, and took advantage of the beautiful hillside property. There are some really nice views and several picture opportunities with the unique landscape, hole design, and pin placement.
Cons:
The course is a work in progress. The locals here are working on continued improvements. Minor tweaking is still needed and being done. Signs, benches, better pads, next tee markers, etc... are needed and are being worked on. Alternate pads on a couple of the long holes would be a nice addition too.
Also, by nature, this course is built on some rugged and rocky terrain. If you are in decent shape, you will have no problems as they have been working on paths and making the course relatively easy to traverse. But if you are out of shape, you will be worn out by the time you finish the round.
Other Thoughts:
We played this course while on a disc golf trip from Illinois to Phoenix Arizona (30 rounds at 25 courses in 16 days). This was one of the best courses we played. We were lucky enough to meet some of the locals here, and they were some of our favorite people we met during the entire trip. They love the game, and are like a brotherhood of disc golfers. They are dedicated to improving and making Ironside Bluffs the best course in the state of Arizona. And they are doing just that. Ironside Bluffs was one of our favorite courses we played on our entire trip. Its a championship level course that will be top notch once they complete the tweaking, add signs, etc..
If you love disc golf, and are in shape, find a way to make it to Show Low, Arizona to play this hidden gem. If you aren't in shape, get in shape, and then go play this course.
Thanks to Manny, Chris, Nick, Will, Doc, and all the folks in Show Low who showed us around. We will definitely be back - and are looking forward to it!!!