June 12, 2015
1:59 PM
Temp: 62
Wind SW @ 4
Cloudy
DGCourseReview link

My first encounter with the course was the location. The instructions on DGCourseReview.com noted weren’t written well and were easy to misunderstand so I tweaked them a bit. It ended up being easy to find because of what appeared to be a nice new sign. When I figured it out, I parked in the TV station parking lot instead of driving down into the park and having to walk back up to Tee 1. There was plenty of space, but I suppose the station could have got on my case.

It had rained just before I got there and things were wet! The parks department was actually doing some mowing at the same time. It was obvious that it hadn’t been mowed for awhile. The wet finally killed my measuring wheel. I measured hole 3 four different times and got four different distances and I knew none of them were close. I didn’t get this course measured.

Tee 1 is marked with a field disc painted white. Other than that I only found a tee marker on 5 which was a rock with a 5 painted on it. There were not tee signs or course map posted. The baskets are old/rusty but seemed to catch OK. They could stand to be replaced if course use justified it. 


Looking around I couldn’t see many baskets and with trees blocking my view of the lake I didn’t really know what to expect. I chose not to go wandering and looking and just get started. After the fact I discovered some playground equipment a fishing lake that was used and some trees that needed trimming for the sake of the course.

Hole one starts high and ends high with a valley in between. There was a drainage ditch into the lake at the bottom and with all the rain it had enough water in it to make getting across a challenge. Hole 2 was the same with the basket near Tee 1.

Hole 3 had a big evergreen with low hanging branches and trees on both sides making it hard to see a clear path to hole. Again, I didn’t walk to see what was really there, I just guessed there was a gap and anhyzered a Westside Hatchet which found the gap and landed close to the basket.

Hole 4 was a short, straight, flat hole with low hanging trees. Hole 5 was an open shot with a narrow fairway. There was OB road on the right and OB fence on the left.

Hole 6 was long and across an open field with a dogleg right next to some trees.

Hole 7 was also long with a slight dogleg left and followed a drainage ditch with OB road on the left. It was placed near the drains that go under the road. If there is any significant rain, this basket becomes unplayable.

There is a significant walk from Basket 7 to Tee 8 which is located on the north side of the pond. You throw across the water to a basket tucked under some trees. It’s not a long hole and the water shouldn’t be an issue.

Hole 9 is loooong with water on the right all the way and yards on the left side. About halfway is a big old tree with limbs that are nearly touching the ground. It really needs to be trimmed. The only real play is to lay up as near the tree as you can and hope you can see an opening. The basket is up on a hillside near a yard.

Once you’re done, it’s a trek back to tee 1 and, if you parked in the TV Station lot, your vehicle. It appears you either park down inside the park with a walk to the first tee or a walk when you’re finished.

I’m guessing they won’t mow holes 6 and 7 much based on where they are located so expect tall grass. The pars are a bit outlandish unless you are just beginning. I’m thinking they are all 3s except 9 which is a 4. I think that it would be an OK park if it is mowed and trimmed a bit. It isn’t a destination course

June 12, 2015
11:41 AM
Temp: 63
Wind SW @ 4
Cloudy
DGCourseReview link

Sappa State Park is a mile or so east of Oberlin and 1.25 mile north of the highway. It is off the beaten track. On site are restrooms, a stage, camping area and a sizeable building. As I drove up there were a couple of baskets and then had to drive a bit further to find the rest. It appeared to be a small are thus a short course.

It took me a few minutes to figure out the course. The pictures on DGCourseReview were invaluable. There are markers on the ground for most holes.

Hole 1 was short and open.

Hole 2 added some low hanging branches, the basket was tucked into some trees and there was a drop-off behind it.

Hole 3 is not good. You have to throw through a playground. Odds are it won’t be a problem very often. Basket 3 drops off behind it also, but it is more gradual than Hole 2 and isn’t a big problem.

Hole 4 tee marker is gone, but it's under the trees close to the picnic table. It's facing the restrooms which weren't built when the picture in DGCourseReview was taken and then are a new obstacle to deal with.

It’s a walk from basket 5 to Tee 6 which is hidden behind evergreens straight out from the marker.

At Hole 7 I couldn't find the tee marker so I played it in front of the trees that protect basket 6

Basket 8 is a tough shot now that the trees have grown and it's summer time with leaves. Probably the best choice as a right hander is to go right between the two evergreens, if you can, and let it hyzer over.

It was an OK course tucked away where a lot of people won’t notice it. It was very clean of trash and mowed well. The baskets were in good shape. The course itself isn’t real challenging and will play pretty quick. Hole 2 is probably the best hole on the course. I’m guessing I’ll probably never play it again.

June 12, 2105
8:17 AM
Temp: 60
Wind SW @ 8
Cloudy
DGCourseReview link

In my travels, I’m finding a lot of smaller towns really value and use their parks. Elmwood is a large area, loaded with activities for the Norton and the surrounding areas: football field, baseball diamonds, Equine facilities, dirt track racing, skateboard park, playground, camping, picnicking and of course disc golf. It appeared to be well taken care of and the baskets look fairly new.

It all starts with Tee 1 in the north central part of the park where Park St and Wabash Ave meet. There is a bench, tee pad and plaque with commemorating the course. As I looked down Hole 1 I was reminded of Waterworks Hole 1 in Kansas City. The tee is high and you look down through big old trees. By the time I was done playing, I was calling it a mini-Waterworks because of a number of similarities.

I had to be careful on Hole 3 for an octagonal shelter house. If there are people using it, there could be problems. I also had a bit of trouble finding Tee 4. It’s a straight walk east from Basket 3 along the road and just before the stop sign it's up in the trees on the north side of the road.

Holes 5 and 6 are fairly wide open. Hole 7 gets into the trees along Prairie Dog Creek. It’s straight down the pike, not real long, but really narrow and lots of trees. Hole 8 is similar but the middle part of the fairway is outside of trees only to go back in to the basket.

Basket 9 is hidden in the trees and can't be seen it from the tee pad. You can see the race track and if you just follow the ridge, it's at the corner of the race track behind the trees.

Basket 10 is in the infield of the racetrack which has all kinds of potential conflicts which I probably don’t have to explain! Hole 11 Tee is in the infield as well

Hole 13 runs along a ridge and the basket is down inside the trees on the left side of the ridge. To locate the basket, look along the ridge and find Tee 14. The basket is in the trees to the left in front of that tee box. You need to throw about 255 and then it’s a 90° turn into the trees. Hole 14 is similar, but the basket is up.

Hole 15 and 17 utilize the parking lot and when I was there, a camper trailer was parked in the middle of fairway 15.

Tee 18 is near Basket 1 and Basket 18 is up by Tee 1. You can't see the basket from the tee pad due to evergreens and other very large trees. It’s flat half way and the up hill significantly. When you get done playing Hole 1, look west and see Tee 18 for future reference.

This course was my favorite of the NW Kansas trip. There was a bit of everything! I had to stop and think a bit on most every hole which is a good sign. I compared it to Waterworks in KC because it has ups and downs, tunnel shots, trees, risky shots, and more. It just doesn't have the length. Because of the ups/downs, they had put in wooden steps where needed which was very nice! If I was anywhere close I'd come play this thing anytime I could. If I had nothing to do and I wanted to go play a couple courses over a couple of days, I'm thinking I'd head this way!

Almena City Park DGC
June 12, 2015
6:55 AM
Temp: 61
Wind SW @ 7
Cloudy
DGCourseReview link

As I got out of the truck I spotted 5-6 baskets in what appeared to be a pretty small park. It didn’t take long to spot a sign with information including maps of a Front and Back 9 Option. I also saw some covered picnic tables, restrooms and some play equipment. There are trees along the north and west edges while the east edge has a highway and the south edge as a park road. The course sets down in the park which means it is high around the edges giving it some elevation. The baskets are single chain and appear to be homemade. Some have numbers on top. Someone had mowed in the not too distant past.

Thankful for the maps, I started with hole 1 and discovered I was throwing through a swing set and when I got to the basket it was laying on the ground, but the chains were still hanging. When I got to Hole 3, I saw some semblance of a tee marker which I wasn’t expecting. That was not my experience on all the holes. It appears that whoever mows the park does so with a big tractor and rolls right over the tee markers.

Hole 4 is the first real challenge where you can't see the basket and the fairway bends along the trees and to the left. Your throw has to be somewhat low as to get under a tree as well. The basket was placed close to trees and tall grass. I imposed the tall grass as OB to make the course a little harder.

Basket 8 sits on the top of the ridge near the shelter which makes for an uphill shot. Being only 104’, going past could be a problem as the ground drops out pretty quick after the basket and you could get some pretty good roll.

Hole 9 goes into the trees and bends left. You can’t see the basket from the tee and the opening into the trees isn’t huge. You definitely want to be on the right edge, but not in the trees. It’s a fun finishing hole.

It’s  a nice little park where a lot of fairways cross each other, which probably isn’t a problem as it doesn’t appear to be played much. I was tempted to take only mids/putters which would have been enough. The baskets are showing their age as a number of them were beat up a bit although none quite like Hole 1. I’m not sure any of the baskets were the same height.

June 11, 20157:30 PM
Temp: 75
Wind SW @ 14
Partly Cloudy
DGCourseReview link

Hill City Park isn’t really a course although you can use the 3 baskets and make your own course using different areas of the park as tees. There is no map or tee signs. There are 6 holes just playing from basket to basket and then reversing directions. The rest of the holes are up to you.

It’s located on the east side of town bordering Main St on the south, Elm St on the north, West St on the west and Middle street on the east. Main Street is also Highway 24.

There are two parts to the park split by Elm St. While the baskets are in the southern part, I found a place to park at the SW corner of the northern part. Basket 3 is in the NW corner of the southern half, Basket 2 is in the NE corner and Basket 1 is in the South part.

The whole park is a little valley with a water way running through the middle from the NW to the SE. Trees line the waterway with a tree near Basket 1, and a small building with trees near Basket 2. Basket 3 is near an upslope as well as the creek/trees. When I was there it was mowed and in good shape.

While I enjoyed playing the holes, I would make a trip to do it unless it was part of a journey or project. If you are in town and want to stretch your arm…it is fun!

Holes/Distances
1 – 270
2 – 206
3 – 242

June 11, 2015
5:15 PM
Temp: 82, feels like 83
Wind SW @ 9
Clear
DGCourseReview link

The main part of the park has high outsides and a lower middle. I’ll discover that a road at the south end isolates a small piece between it and railroad tracks. There is also a piece attached to the NE corner that includes a water tower.

Driving up to Scout Park I could see a number of baskets right away. The main part of the park had been mowed with the sides a bit taller. There are no tees/signs so it’s safari golf and basket 9 is just south of the red building and blue gazebo. It’s a tight short course that provides quick play.

It follows a basic loop path with your first throw to the southwest. I had two hiccups and the first comes after hole 2. I guessed that basket 3 was to the NE under the tree for a short throw. When I got there I was labeled as basket 4. I finally looked across the road to the SE and there was a basket sitting up on a ridge near the railroad tracks. Back to basket 2 to throw again. Obviously, traffic becomes an issue although it is not a main thoroughfare.

Then it’s back to basket 4 under the tree and up the east side to basket 6. This is where I had my second hiccup. I couldn’t find basket 7 although I could see baskets 8 and 9. I knew it had to be on that NE extension of the park and I walked it, but couldn’t see it. I gave up and played to 8 and then 9 and was done. Something stuck with me and I decided to drive around the park and see if 7 was hiding somewhere. It was. From basket 6 straight to the east was a drainage ditch that had a lot of shrubs and trees, but no water. It ran almost up to the street bordering the easts side of the park. Down in the trees at the end of the ditch was ‘hidden’ basket 7. Ironically, there seem to be a tee marker for hole 8 just north of the ditch that houses basket 7. Out I got with my discs and back to basket 6 to finish the course correctly!

My initial perceptions of the course were a bit off and it was more fun than I thought. Just another reminder not to judge a course before you’ve played it! The baskets were nice although they’ve probably been there awhile and just not played a lot.

The shortest hole, hole 6, was a straight shot of 76 feet with no obstacles. They could have helped that one by moving it east into the tree line. I’m glad I got to play this one. For someone running down I-70, this would be a great place to take a break and stretch the legs and arms. Thirty minutes top and you could be back on the road. While I wouldn’t travel here just to play the course, I would stop to play it again.

June 11, 2015
3:35 PM
Temp: 84 felt like 86
Winds SW @ 7
Clear
DGCourseReview

Ransom is your small town about a mile off the highway. It was quiet the day I drove up to Grissel Park on the west side of town except for the new roof being put on across the street. My first impression wasn’t great. I got out of the truck and there was a park, with the grass growing tall, that didn’t appear to be used. When I got out, the first basket I saw was old and I only saw a couple of the 12 that were ‘supposed to be there”. Yep, I wasn’t thinking very positively. There was no course sign/map, tee signs or tees. Thankfully, there was a map on DGCourseReview!

With the rain and tall grass, it didn’t take long for me to stop and spray down for bugs! I pulled the map up on my phone and off I went. Hole 1 was along the street and good starter hole. Hole 2 was a blind shot and I had to walk up to find it. It was a dogleg right and then back left at the end. I finished hole 3 and started looking at hole 4 when I realized I had misjudged the course. It seemed that I was having to think on every hole! Hole 4 is a blind shot to the right around the pond which is basically dry but it is heavily circled by trees. For me it was a big anhyzer and my Hatchet landed about 5’ away!

As I look back, I’m glad I slowed down and enjoyed what the course had to offer. There was a dry pond in the middle crowded with trees. There were some buildings along the south side and the NE corner was bare. Trees were spread out in the rest of the park. A simple thing to do to make it more fun would be to mow it. I just don’t know how much action that park sees. From a disc golf perspective, I’d say it has some good potential if there were a few people in the area that would take it on as a project. The usual, tee signs, would be a great improvement. I don’t know that I’d make it my destination, but if I was traveling close and had some time, I’d play it again!

June 11, 2015
1:45 PM
Temp: 83 felt like 85
Winds SW @ 10
Clear
DGCourseReview

This is a 9-hole course located in a city park that appears well taken care of. On the north side of the park is a shelter house with restrooms and a loop driveway and I parked on the south side. As I got out of the truck and looked around, I saw a park that is fairly open in the middle with trees more towards the edges. You can see most of the baskets as you look around. A small creek runs east to west through the middle that I’m sure varies in the amount of water it contains. In the NE part of the part are tennis courts. Along the south edge are some historical buildings/museums.

Hole 1 is just south of the shelter house marked by a sandstone post with the hole number and par labeled. It runs east to west. There are two posts here, but on closer inspection, the other one is for Hole 3 which runs west to east.
Hole 2 is close to the creek and there was obvious signs the course can flood. There was debris pushed up into the fairway near the tee sign. It’s not a real long hole, but trees present some issues getting there for your birdie.
Hole 3 is wide open with nothing to think about. 
Hole 4 is wide open with only the creek in play, but it really doesn’t come into play. Both are under 200’.
Hole 5 adds a bit of length.
Hole 6 is only a couple hundred feet with trees lining the right side. If you’re a lefty, it’s wide open, but if you’re a righty, you’d better have low straight shot or an anhyzer in your bag.
Hole 7 has numerous obstacles. There are buildings on the right along with a fenced yard and windmill. In the middle is a pole and a tree or two.
Hole 8: I had trouble finding tee 8 and finally walked south between the buildings to find the tee and as I looked down the fairway, it was gorgeous! Pine trees lined the right side and deciduous trees lined the left side. All it takes is a long straight shot! Very Cool!
Hole 9 is long and it's easy to forget the little creek is there and if it has water in it, you could be in trouble. To get over the creek you can make a little jaunt to the west or you can go east and try to find a narrow spot to jump over. It just kind of depends on how much water there is in it.

I had a real good time playing Grass Park. The baskets appear to be new or they don’t get used a lot. Thankfully, there are tee markers facing each hole since there is no map available. I disagree with some of the pars. I don't see any hole in the park as a par 4, but they were marked that way so I played them that way. A number of baskets were placed where trees had an effect.

Overall, it’s a good experience and while I wouldn't run to La Crosse just to play it, but if I was close I'd stop. It doesn't take real long to play and it’s an easy walk.

March 19, 2015
4:35 PM
Temp: 46, felt like 42
Winds NE @ 7
Mostly cloudy
DGCourseReview

I was almost home and there was one course I hadn’t played, but new I could get in and finish so I stopped. I've played this course in the past and they've had a number of variations, but I’ve never played this version. It looks like they've kind of settled in to a 10 hole course now. They have color brochures printed up with a map. It is on the campus of Crosswinds Retreat Center. Stop in at the office to make sure you’re good to go. I’ve never been turned down.

This course uses tall natural grass on a number of holes with fairways mowed. There are two tee colors: reds are long and greens are short.

Hole 1 starts behind the office area and the basket is up against horseshoe pits.

Hole 2 basket is tucked back in the trees with low overhang close to the tee and the basket causing some issues. They are cleaning out some big old trees close to basket 2 so you want to stay left of the gnarly tree to get a shot at the basket.

Hole 3 crosses the volley ball court.

Hole 4 green tee is back right of 3 basket and hole 4 red tee is far left of 3 basket.

Hole 6 is a hanging basket in a tree about 6' above ground.

Hole 7 works around a pool and makeshift baseball field.

Neither 6 nor 7 had a green tee.

I had trouble seeing Hole 8, but trust the map and it’s there.

Hole 9 is a long narrow fairway with trees on both sides. Keep it straight or be prepared to look in the trees for discs.

Hole 10 uses the same basket as Hole 1.

Huntress Park DGC
March 19, 2015
1:20 PM
Temp: 43, felt like 43
Winds NW @ 2
Mostly cloudy
DGCourseReview

I drove into Clay Center from the west and found the park ‘sunken’ on the south side of the road. There was a little road that went down into the park and I took it seeing baskets. I parked and got out and found it to be basket 7. As I looked around, I saw a couple of other baskets but also saw some serious water park construction and begin to wonder how much of the course was still in place.  I found baskets 3-8 and decided to play those and see what happens.

I couldn’t find a map, sign or tee markers so I played safari style starting at basket 3. After looking around I took a mid and putter which was plenty. It was a short course with basket 3 on top and the rest were down in a lower area.

Forgot to put a card at Huntress and I went back and ran into the manager of the parks. He showed me where 2 and 9 were, they were still in the ground but surrounded by construction equipment. They pulled 1 but once the aquatic center is done they are putting the basket back in again. He also provided score cards and maps for both courses. I also found out they had made the baskets, which consist of single chains and black feed baskets. He also said there was no real design planning. And the courses were simply put in to give the people of Clay Center another option for something to do in the city parks.

Dexter Park DGC
March 19, 2015
1:50 PM
Temp: 43, felt like 43
Winds NW @ 3
DGCourseReview

This park is flat with a lot of man-made obstacles and some trees. Again I played it with a mid and putter only. There were cement blocks in the ground for tee pads here.

Neither course were something I’d travel to play, but may take the discs out to throw and get some exercise if I was in the area for something else.