Pros:
Shot shaping along with variety. With two sets of skill based tee design (red for recreational players, and blue for advanced players), the play off the tees is varied extremely well with short/long, left/straight/right, and uphill/downhill holes. These tees do not leave multiple routes for you most of the time, rather force you to become a better player and throw better requiring almost specific disc flights. Perfect flights yield deuce opportunities in almost all cases, and often ace runs. Poor throws are punished but not too bad. Adequate throws can save par.
Risk versus reward. With lots of wooded shot shaped "airways" playing it safe and controlled can yield a decent round. However, all airways are completely fair for skill and overall distances and a hot round can be easily had. BUT, the hot round will not just come off the tee, it will require well placed upshots due to obstacles and risky greens, and putts must also be spot on due to some risky greens. Also, many holes offer sneak peaks at the pin through narrow gaps, while the main fairway bends in an opposite direction. Risk the 5' gap acerun and you may be rewarded for your skill.
Variety again. Mostly wooded course, which I prefer, but a few holes open up and let you air it out a bit, or leave you with options. Many corridor airways, but power line right-of-ways and some holes bordering fields and sandy river bottom offer a change of "space". Distance varies from the picturesque ace run hole 3 at 180', to the tunnel along the river at 525' and a need to drive 375' through a corridor to hit the landing zone at the dogleg left. Great mix of distances and excellent fair length to width ratios.
Memorable holes. The ace run #3 is a beauty. Hole 2 alternate pin location down in a grassy cove along the river and a 500' S-curve with road and river OB. Hole 7 up the rock ledge and three separate landing terraces. Hole 8 down the tunnel and off the rock outcropping. The untamed beast of a hole #10. The fear inducing narrow ridge of hole 14. And the ace run 18 to end it all. There are more, and I have more favorites, but these seem most commonly adored.
Personal touches. From our sponsors and talented and dedicated volunteers throughout the community we have elevated tees, rock gardens, custom woodwork benches, tables, and signs. Many players and sponsors work tirelessly and selflessly to beautify and make this course unique.
Land use variety. The design did the absolute best with the given limitations to showcase so many of the unique and different features of the land. In a relatively small area, you will see a lot of terrain used in many good ways.
No poison ivy, oak, nettles, etc. But ticks, blackflies, and mosquitoes are probably ever present, however completely bearable.
Cons:
Crowding and cramping. Due to land use restrictions and the natural and man made features, the design was somewhat restrictive and a few tighter hole interactions are a result. Good throws are no issue, but bad throws can overlap. Potential areas are Hole 4 pin/Hole 5, Hole 9 mid fairway/Hole 10 long tee, Hole 11 pin if you go long/Hole 12 long tee fairway if your drive isnt straight, Hole 16 if you go long into Hole 9. We had to fit the design in between soccer fields, a river, and a county highway. All while avoiding a gravel road that bisects the course and a well used recreation trail (North Country Trail) that winds throughout some of the better parts of the course.
Backstops. This is more a function of the land, or rock rather than soil, and some pins had to be placed too close to an upslope in my opinion. This creates a backstop in which to rifle drives and upshots at the pin with little risk of overthrowing. The greens of hole 3, 7, and 10 have backstops. Although countering this are many risky dropoff greens as well like
Crowds. The course starts and ends, with the parking lot right by a busy BMX track and soccer fields. The adjacent sports complex is used a LOT. There is a lot of traffic up and down the road that bisects the property and the amount of extranneous noise really eliminates your chances at a peaceful and secluded round. The amount of players is really very high because this is the only 18-hole and only well designed course in the 20 mile area. (UPDGA is working on 5 more!)
No water forced to throw over. No huge downhill bombers.
Other Thoughts:
In summary, this course design really does a good job using the created airways to force players use or develop the skills necessary to be well rounded. Risking the great drive may be punished, but is easily rewarded. Playing safe, controlled, and accurate will yield a decent round, but thos skill players who take their chances and are confident putters will be able to rise to the challenge and concquer it.
Be mindful of the public in general when crossing the roads, throwing near other fishing, biking, walking, soccer areas.
Come to Marquette and enjoy this skill based design and post your thoughts and accomplishments on the facebook page.
This course was developed by a small hardcore group of enthuisiasts. Despite low numbers and relatively poor volunteer turnouts, the finished product truly reflects the level of dedication, and personal commitment. Sponsors and those dedicated volunteers have really helped make this course shine and it will continue to for years as UPDGA develops more and more courses in the area and makes a bid to host Worlds!