Pros:
The picturesque lakeside property here is home to the Whitestone Inn Bed & Breakfast. My wife and I had stayed here a few years back (pre-DG course) and loved it. Many times I visit places and think "this would be a good place for a disc golf course", but rarely does that ever come true---however this is an exception! My wife and I had always wanted to come back, and when finally were able to, it was a pleasant bonus to have disc golf on the premises now as well. And it is a pretty nice and well-planned 9-hole layout, spread out, utilizing many of the land features found here.
The big rolling hills dotted with many large trees make for a beautiful and challenging course. Don't let the distance fool you, it plays much longer because the hills are about as steep as you can get without being categorized as mountain/extreme golf. Putting and approaching is tough with no gimmees because it is easy to sail past the basket when throwing downhill or have putts roll back to you on the uphills. Roads, the pool area, and a pond are some other hazards/o.b. you have to avoid. Also, there is many times a decent breeze blowing in off the lake onto the exposed hillside.
Though only 9 holes, there are two sets of tees (long and short) essentially making it 18 different holes to play. Play a round from each set and you will give yourself a pretty good workout walking all those hills twice!
I liked the 18 highly visible color tee signs. Mach baskets were easy to spot and always catch well. Navigation was no problem without a map (one exception, on my first round I threw to #8 basket from #6 tee- you don't throw over the pool, you throw over the pond instead, despite what the tee signs show and the direction they are faced.)
Fairway grounds are always mowed, with no undergrowth so finding your lie is easy, and errant drives are relatively easy to recover from (good characteristic for a course at a place like this as it is likely to be played by first-timers more often than pros.)
Since the course is a little out in the middle of nowhere, you are likely to have the course all to yourself for a relaxing peaceful round.
Cons:
Natural grass tees, and really no tee at all, you just throw from around the sign. Which is ok at a place like this, unless you are going to make this a 36-hole complex like Selah Ranch, better to keep the ground free of artificial tee material.
Some of the basket placements were a little easy out in the open, as there were definitely places available to tuck them in and around trees a little more, but since most people who will be playing here are amateurs, I totally understand the decision.
Only 9 holes, when there is definitely room for more that could utilize the woods and a hole or two down by the lake. But 9 holes is better than 0 for sure!
The geese! Canadian geese are everywhere. Many times I nearly accidentally hit them with my disc. Plus geese are known as poopers, so watch your step and hope your disc avoids it as well.
Last, the grounds used by disc golf are also common areas that could be used by other guests (fire pits, swings, hammock, pool, fishing pond, etc.), so be sure to scout ahead as to not hit anyone. Plus, there might be times where certain holes may have to be altered or may be just unplayable due to others being in the area.
Other Thoughts:
The course utilizes a large section of the more open areas of the property, but if they wanted to, there is room for a few more holes down by the big lake and plenty of woods land available to make for a super-nice 18-hole course. That being said, it is fine as it is making it more accessible to guests of the inn to get a taste of disc golf as just one of the many other activities this place has to offer as well.
It seems you can play the course without being an overnight guest, but I would recommend to call and ask for permission first. They also have discs to borrow if you are staying here and don't have your own.
The owners and workers are all very nice and hospitable, and Whitestone is one of our favorite getaway spots, but I would only play DG here if I was staying here. Note, that if you are just passing down I-40, Roane Co. Park DGC is a much better option to play and is much easier to get to from the interstate.