Pros:
Quiet course in a multi-use park offering Putt-Putt golf, a water park, soccer fields, and walking trails. Somewhat of a dichotomy in that Summit is a densely wooded course located smack in the middle of a fairly commercial, urban neighborhood.
Overall, the tightest set of fairways I've ever played; challenging and then some. Places a HUGE premium on line shaping, precision and accuracy (perhaps to the point of absurdity), but playing this course on a regular basis would certainly help one develop the kind of control that few players have... if you can take that much abuse. This course will have you accepting that par isn't a bad score, and any birdies here are sure to be difference makers in a competitive round.
- Offers a surprising number of opportunities for all kinds of shots, all requiring control, control, control; hyzers, annies, FH, FH annies, flex/S-shots, even a low, straight overhand; all will serve you well here.
- Contains two or three holes where you can actually let loose to provide a very welcome break from the monotony of threading the needle hole after hole.
- Might actually age well in that even if several trees are lost to storms or vandalism, this course will still maintain its tight and foreboding personality.
- 75-80% of the course plays in very shady cover, so heat wasn't much of a factor, even on the 4th of July.
- Perhaps as much a con as a pro: missing your line by a few inches can land you in jail, with seemingly no way out except to take a stroke and to huck it back onto the fairway.
- Tee pads seemed OK - perhaps a bit worn, but footing was never an issue, and baskets were in decent condition. Simple yet effective tees signs show hole distance and layout, and combine with well- worn paths help keep you on track for the most part. There are a couple of tricky spots, but for the most part navigation shouldn't be too bad for first timers.
Cons:
- Can feel monotonous; endless tight fairways with only a couple of open shots towards the end. Not that they could do much, about it, but the completely flat terrain only adds to the unidimensional nature of this course (although I shudder at the thought of rollaway greens here).
- Some of the fairways seem to require shots that defy conventional disc physics.
- Has a few blind holes with thick foliage that make disc loss a very real possibility, even if the distances aren't that far.
- I find it frustrating to execute exactly the line I want off the tee on a blind shot, only to have it land where you simply had no decent look at the basket - seems a bit random in that aspect.
- Not sure I see the balance between risk/reward here.
- Despite being quite densely wooded, you wouldn't call this course scenic or aesthetically pleasing. Located next to a factory, with a ditch full of nasty looking water running alongside one of the holes. Seemed peaceful, woodsy and quiet, but a pleasant walk through the park, not so much.
Other Thoughts:
Tree haters and those intent on airing it out need not apply. I like short technical courses, but I honestly couldn't believe some of the fairways this course had, or the lines required for a decent shot at a birdie. Could swear I sensed Obi Wan urging me to close my eyes, telling me to use The Force on a couple of holes. Bring tough plastic or stuff you wanna break in (R-Pro Darts won't fly the same after a round here).
Some would say this course requires more luck than skill, but to score close to par here, you'd have to exhibit the kind of consistency that can only be attributed to skill. I'm sure this course would play a bit easier in the fall or winter, particularly for those who like to throw overhand. Not for everyone, but if you want to master precision and control, this is certainly the place to do it.