Pros:
Many holes, 28 is the official count and I'm sure that by the time the creation is over there will be more. Number one is the $ hole, and silly me, I forgot to ask why. The $ hole is sure to become famous because it is handcrafted out of wood and provides ample opportunity for acing because it is one of the shorter and more open holes on the course. I bet that it will be the most photographed feature on the course. Most of the baskets are brand new Lightning DB-5's but there is an honest smattering of unique homemade baskets beyond the famous $ hole basket. One, like hanging chimes from a bowing tree at the bottom of a short ravine with a forty foot drop from the tee that begs you to empty your bag at it. The placement of the DB-5's are extremely unique, proving much risk reward, some at a cliff's edge others protected by rocks in the middle of a convergence of two hillsides.
Phantom falls is like the stock market, its up and down and then up and down again. I was beat after playing this course because I was simply not used to it. Go into a round at Phantom expecting to become a mountaineer. Admittedly there are more dramatic climbs at other Colorado disc golf courses, but you never get much of a break from the inclines here. I was sore after playing here, I earned it. The course is tight and challenging if you have a technical game in your bag you will greatly enjoy this course. The course is a disc golfers private fun-land, as such, is has a very high fun factor. There is a wide variety of looks and shots available during a round here.
For not being cement, the tee boxes are good quality. It is obvious that much labor has gone into the construction of the boxes, its one of the standout characteristics of Phantom. It is also well signed and marked usually just a simple rock with numbers and arrows on them but effective. As a work in process, I'm sure that all of these little things will become even better by the time you get around to playing it. The course is private, which as a "pro" gives is a total community feel with loads of comradery. I would recommend this course for anyone that's down to experience something different, beginners and pros alike who can respect a cool dude's private property.
Cons:
The fact that its private and you have to call Paulie (who is a cool dude by the way) to get a tee time. It feels like its favors the right hand side-armer over other types of throwers. Its missing a long bomber shot. Instead of touring the land you comb it throughly backwards and forwards usually sharing a basket later on getting different looks at it. This is a home course, the course you would build if you had the land to, as such it will never be the big tournament ready park or public course.
Other Thoughts:
When I think about the foothills of the Rockies this is the type of steep angled mountainside with tall skinny pines that comes to mind. Man, the list of great Colorado mountain courses just continues to climb, I realize that each person will have their own rankings and favorites but Phantom Falls holds it own with the best of them. It deserves a place in the conversation of "best Colorado courses." The fun factor is so high that I could see driving past Beaver Ranch to play this again. Next time I go, I'm eating at Zoka's Restaurant and Bar (which is only a mile and a half away) before or after the round because I was paired up with the owner and the guy knows his disc golf.
I could have rated this course a 4.0, this is one of those times I wish I could give out a 4.25 but high quality boxes and having a ton of holes ultimately bumped it up in my mind.