This might be one of the most unique courses out of the nearly 200 that I have played. The majority is open, playing up, along, and down the relatively steep hillside. There is absolutely no flat golf. Even holes without tee-to-basket elevation change have sloped fairways or nearby slopes that can severely punish errant throws. The slopes make you use and benefit from shots you'd rarely need on other courses, particularly some of the steep and relatively short downhills, or baskets placed on rather steep slopes. This also happens to be the only course I can think of with an uphill finish.
There are a few really excellent holes out here, though the course is undoubtedly limited by being a little too open. Hole #1 is a nice, wooded shot (long tee shoots over a swamp) into some difficult but excellent pin locations. Hole #5 is by far my favorite, the closest on the course to being a "top of the world" shot, though still a relatively gentle >400' downhill shot. Hole #8 is a short (~250') but fun right hand backhand hyzer onto a sloped green, and hole #13 is also a fun little downhill. It also has some holes that seem plain crazy, e.g. #10 and #12. Again, even these crazy holes have the benefit of being unique and challenging, particularly #12.
Running through the holes actually reminds me that this course is very fun. However, this brings me to the main downside of the course: it's exhausting without quite enough disc golf upside. I can think of several other courses where the elevation fun factor was worth the elevation exhaustion. Orange Crush (in nearby Fairmont, WV), Armco Park (Ashland, KY), Branson Trails Blue (Branson, MO), Coyote Point @ Lake Casitas (Ventura, CA), and Shark Tooth Mountain (Bakersfield, CA) spring to mind as having physically taxing up and downs but having awesome holes in which the disc golf more than compensates for any intra-round suffering and end of day fatigue. As I mentioned above, Dorsey's Knob has some good and unique golf, but nothing that quite makes up for the physical toll that it takes on the golfer. In particular, the absence of a real top of the world shot is notable. I can understand why there isn't such a shot, given the steep slope of where the course is situated, as well as some thickly wooded areas between the course's most elevated areas and flat lower areas. Designing course flow to accommodate such an epic throw would sacrifice course flow significantly, not to mention introduce significant safety concerns.
There are a couple things about playing here that can be downright annoying. Even walking the "flat" holes often involves walking on right-to-left slopes. Many of the holes have thick and tall (at least 18") grass. It's possible to lose discs in this stuff even when the course is tournament ready, so make sure to use whatever landmarks exist (bushes, the few trees, etc.) and be careful throwing multiples. Also, a couple of the slopes are treacherously steep and can be slick. The area just below the parking area is one example, but hole #12 may be the worst. It's fun, but it's one of the steepest fairways I can recall on any course. If it's muddy it requires a butt-scooch to get down safely. Speaking of mud, tread carefully on all the course's slopes when it's raining.
Out of curiosity, I just had to look up the elevation change on this course. A quick comparison between Google Maps, the course/park map, and the current USGS topographical map shows about 80'-90' elevation difference between the course's highest (practice basket and parking area) and lowest points (#14's long tee). In terms of lateral distance on Google Maps, the distance between the same two points is about 320'. That leaves a slope around 15 degrees overall, giving some idea of how steep this hillside is. On most courses, having two nine hole loops is a big plus. On this one, looking back down at the back nine can dissuade players from finishing with a second down and up. More than once, I've decided to call it a day after just the front nine. I've noticed plenty of apparent first timers out here, and I've seen at least a couple groups quit after hole #9. Being in Morgantown, this course ends up being a first disc golf experience for unknowing WVU students. One set of close friends played their first (and only) disc golf on this course with multiple catch discs on a slightly windy day. In their words, "we stopped when we lost all our frisbees."
I've played many times in all seasons. This is one course I like almost as much while playing in winter. It might be even better, because the grass annoyance is somewhat mitigated, and the course is already so open that the lack of leaves doesn't make too much difference. The elevation change provides enough challenge to have a fun round. When it's rainy, however, I avoid Dorsey's Knob. It's just too open and too slippery on the slopes.
Directions are fairly simple, and there is a park building that has a restroom (it was always open in non-COVID times, at least). It's also conveniently located near I-68 and a convenience store. The small park road leads through the sizable parking area (and past the practice basket) and makes a loop to return to the main road. In winter, the second half of the loop is often closed, so be aware that there may be two-way traffic on the narrow entrance to the course.
Also, make sure to check out Sky Rock on Dorsey's Knob (maybe the highest point in Morgantown?) for good views of Morgantown, the Monongahela River, or a beautiful sunset after your round.
Rating: 3.0 for "Good." This course is simple, relatively short and frustratingly exhausting, but it's unique enough and fun enough that I have no qualms giving this rating. It's definitely worth a play, but know what you're getting into and I'd stay away if it's raining.