Pros:
I was invited to come play Madman's course yesterday for a small tournament. I didn't know what to expect from a small 18 hole in his backyard but was pleasantly surprised as to how unique and challenging this course is!
There are concrete pads made from pavers on every hole which is nice. Some could be a bit bigger for run ups but most of the holes don't require much run up so bigger pads would just be a luxury.
The hole variation on such a small area is amazing! Almost every hole is pretty short (under 250) but there is no shortage of challenges; tight windows, annies, spike hyzers, tunnel shots, forehand, backhand... it really has it all in a tight little package. Playing a course like this on a regular basis will really progress your game and force you to learn all those little touch shots you wish you had but never want to practice.
Because this is such a technical course and the long bomber shot has been almost eliminated, it is an awesome course for a variety of players and arm strengths. It really levels the playing field, which is something you don't find much. I probably wouldn't take a complete noob here right away as the sweet water holes and thick rough require some good control and having at least an idea of where your disc should have gone before it crashed down in the thick brush.
Cons:
Cons... There really are not many when you take into account the size of the property and what kind of effort it must take to keep something like this up single handedly.
I mean could the tees be bigger? Sure, but they don't need to be.
Could the tees be more level? I suppose but you have to take that up with Mother Nature, not Madman.
Could a branch or two use a trim? Maybe but that's what makes this course so challenging, you are forced to throw a specific shot and often not the one you want.
Maybe the only real concern might be multiple holes using the same basket on blind holes. I don't know how you would make this course without using the baskets multiple times but in a couple spots I could see it being a problem for less experienced players. Thinking 6 and 12 or 2 and 8 maybe? Just keep your head up and be courteous and this issue can be eliminated.
I suppose it might be difficult to navigate the first few times around and a good map would be helpful. I played my first round with Madman so we didn't have any issues but I wasn't always sure where to go next. There are numbered tee signs at all the holes (with distances) and arrows near the pins to point you in the direction on the next hole so it shouldn't be a major problem. Also, if you just call Madman, he can help and probably will just come out and play with you if he has time.
Other Thoughts:
I wish I lived closer because I would play this course religiously! If you can score well here you can score well anywhere. You wont find a better 18 hole course with multiple tee pads and multiple pin placements on less than 5 acres.
This is a grassroots type course so the fancy amenities may not be like some big private courses; say Sandy Point or Rolling Ridge. However, you can expect an awesome course with great variation, some elevation, short, long, water, outhouse, permanent baskets (some Mach Xs!), paver pads, secluded location, and a hell of a host. Remember to thank Madman for opening up his private course for our enjoyment!