Pros:
If you're driving up the Peninsula toward Neah Bay or even Canada, Port Angeles is the farthest you can go before you run completely out of disc golf. But if you're up there and only have time for one course? Make sure that this one is it.
Equipment: The baskets are stellar and stand out well in the woods. That's one pro of having DiscCatchers on the course. And there's a practice basket, which is always an equipment pro. The teepads are all concrete, grippy, and more than sufficient for the hole length.
Navigation: There's a kiosk with a map by the white teepad for Hole 1. As always, I recommend taking a picture of it. There's plenty of signage throughout the course guiding you from the basket to the following tee, but it still helps to have a map. Then all of the tees have a sign somewhere that shows if it's the white or the blue tee. Not only this, but the holes that are blind have white arrows hung on the trees that point at the basket. I've never seen this before and I thought they were mandos at first, but I love the idea for first time visitors!
Design: This course has it all. If you've read my reviews at all up to this point, you're used to seeing me point out variety. Well, this course has it. There are open holes and technical ones. There are easy approaches and OB. Water hazards. Slight elevation and flat. Short and long. Low ceiling and high ceiling. Right and left turning. Straight. They really do have everything in the design of this course that I look for. And there are multiple tees and multiple basket placements. So you have your comparatively easy white course that plays very well for an average player, and you have a more challenging blue course for those of you who like more of a challenge. Both courses provide enough challenge, but white isn't going to drive first time players to a shuffleboard tournament either. Although hole 1 is pretty nasty in length for a first timer's noob hyzer. Can't fault the course for that though... Any course with multiple tees that both offer unique looks gets at least an extra half disc out of me in my rating. This one was done so well, and I really wish I'd had more time to play it the day that I was there.
Upkeep: I didn't see any signs of vandalism. The baskets were in great condition, the kiosk wasn't covered in graffiti, and the underbrush was at a minimum. This is the best course within several hours, and they clearly take pride in it. Well done.
Cons:
Equipment: No cons to list.
Navigation: I can't complain too much about the navigation. There are some long walkouts that get confusing without the map, but all of them are pretty well signed as well. All of them except for the walkout from 12-13 that is. And you have a map and a camera on your phone. Use them.
Design: I can only find two faults with the design on this course:
1. The walkouts. The worst ones are 1-2, 4-5, and 12-13. 12-13 was the single worst walkout I have ever experienced. Hands down. Sure they warn you with a sign just past the 12 basket that says that you're about to walk nearly 800' to the new basket, but really? 800'?! You walk across two other fairways just to get there! Granted it would ruin the flow of the course if you played 16 first, but you're walking 800'. The flow was already ruined. And I'm sure someone who really knew that property could figure something out...
2. The holes that close the round play dangerously close to the parking lot. Sure, the lot is marked as OB, but how many of us are good enough to avoid OB at all times? Hole 16 actually plays across a driving path, and hole 17 has cars parked in the "OB" behind it. Both have pretty visible approaches so you aren't going to throw and suddenly see a car driving into your flight path, but still.
Don't get me wrong. I love this course. But it's another one that feels like it started so strong and then the designer ran out of space. Holes 13-17 are all interesting holes. I'm not knocking the hole design. At all. But the design of it as an entire cohesive COURSE leaves something to be desired.
Other Thoughts:
Despite its issues, this has to be one of my top 10 favorite courses that I've played in the state so far. I'd probably have to bump it all the way down to number 10 because it's so far away from anywhere I'll ever be, but it's fun. It's challenging. It has enough variety to keep you coming back. And the hole design is all very well done.