Pros:
-Large Concrete tee pads
-Decent baskets
-Good signage (although #3 and #5 missing)
-Interesting tractor tire protectors for baskets #4, #5, and #6
-Trees to work around for interest on most holes
Cons:
-Hazard of being between parking lot and playground on #1 (kids running right through with a restroom to keep that blind)
-Hazard of the street on #4 and #7
-Hazard of the parking area on #5 and# 6
-Hazard of the pool on #9
-No elevation
Other Thoughts:
Laurel Park DGC plays around Laurel Park and other amenities on the north end of Gowrie, IA. Holes #1-3 play through the park, #4-7 play along the incoming street, and #8-9 play around the local pool. The course has some of the largest tee pads I've seen with good signage (although #3 and #5 were missing at the time). Plenty of trees to work around for #1-4 and #8 add some interest. There are several hazards that keep the rating down, although I'm not sure how they could be rectified and still have 9 holes. #1 tees past the back of a restroom building to the left. There is a playground in front of that building. With the parking to the right of the #1 fairway, kids will run past, at times blindly, right through the fairway. #4 play with street on both sides and a mando to keep you left of the street on the right. #5 and #6 play through a parking area for the athletic fields just east of #6-#8. Nothing going on while I was here, but could be full with event going on and unplayable. #4, #5 and #6 baskets have had large tractor tires put around them as protectors (See pic in Media for #4). #7 tees along the athletic fields with a street to the left that is OB and you really need to clear (although not that hard with the distance). #9 tees near the back corner of the pool and a need to stay right to stay out of the pool area. With the tee pads and the signage, this would be an above average course. The hazards drop it down a notch for me. Very playable with no activities going on. I would play again, if in the area.