An old but diverse course with holes ranging from poor to fantastic.

-Amenities: Two concrete tees per hole, complete tee signs with maps, three DD Veteran baskets per hole.

-Multi-Baskets/Pins: The variety is exceptional. You can play an almost exclusively ace race course, or mix in the longer whites and blues. The whites especially have a lot of cool approaches that totally change the flavor of the hole. I liberally mixed them all during my round based on what basket I could see and what looked fun to throw.

-Terrain Variety: The course plays everything from open grassy fields to tight woods lines and in between. There are quite a few streams to cross, some protected greens, and occasional elevated shots. It's a truly eclectic run of 18 holes, made even more zany by the inclusion of extra baskets.

-Accessibility: Thanks to this variety, players of all skill levels should find something to like about Frontier. It's also well kept, reasonably easy to navigate, and a pleasant park environment. To me, this is about ideal for a welcoming city park course. If this were in a big city, I think it would be a well-known and popular place.

-Shot Shaping/Gameplay: A combo of easy par-3s, long par-3s, and short-ish par-4s that include quite a few shapes over the course of the round. There are plenty of about 300' open drives that just require good control of a fairway driver, but a lot of the course gets more interesting. For example, hole (5) is the shortest of the course but plays to a basket guarded by a tight woods gap. Shortly after is the long hole (7), which plays downhill, over a parking lot, and gives you a chance to really power one. Several of the back nine include great use of a stream, including throwing over it early, throwing parallel to it, and creek-guarded greens. The grass is lush, and slight slopes play more of a role than might initially meet the eye. There's also an enjoyable mix of par-3s and short to medium par-4s that keeps it from being a drive-putt-drive-putt pattern.

-Pin Position Indicators: Desperately needed with all the baskets and possible pin positions. I'd like to know what position I see, how far it is, and whether the blind pin positions have a basket or not.

-Park Roads: A lot of playing over roadways. Just pulling into the course, I accidentally stopped the car in the middle of a fairway, not realizing that the tee was facing that direction. Multiple holes involve playing directly over parking areas as well. Please use good judgement in throwing.

-Wind: Ye olde Kansas gusts. However, this was much more manageable than the other Kansas course I've played, and had substantial lulls in the wind.

-Transitions: The (6)-(7) and (11)-(12) transitions are both difficult. I think there were a couple of other roundabout trips between holes, but I can't name any particulars.

-Zoo Smell: A couple of holes just smelled like a zoo. I don't know why, but it wasn't pleasant.

-Short Baskets: The short baskets are often quite near the next tee pads, which is a definite safety hazard.

I think Hays has a delightful course here. It's rec-friendly but still challenging for upper intermediate players. It's got plenty of amenities, and the baskets/pin positions will provide consistent entertainment. There are some really memorable holes with nice greens and cool creek crossings. Overall, I gave it a Very Good rating for all these enjoyable aspects. It's worth considering a longer stop on I-70 to enjoy this charming course.

~Similar Courses: Dillon Park (Sumter, SC); Seviren Lang DGC (Elizabethtown, IN).

Interesting water features and very versatile course. Played the traditional (red) baskets and the pro (white) placements were extreme.

Walking on the highway instead of a bridge over the creek was a little dangerous.

Great course, recommend Defiance Brewery down the road for a refreshing cold beverage.

DG here since 84 maaannn!!!!

Course has been upgraded in the past year, and now has 2 Concrete Tees and 2 Veteran Baskets per hole, White and or Red... with several pin locations for each Hole to boot! Looks like they get rotated fairly often too

The Teesigns have the Pin Positions and footage relative for that specific Tee. And with the Multiple bright colorful Baskets, it's pretty easy to Deduct which you're going for

Also added 3 Practice Holes with a White and Red Veteran per. These are A B C and have 1 Concrete Tee. Bonus DG!!!

Big Creek winds down the middle of this Park and comes into play numerous times: Definitely on Holes 11 15 and 16 as drives have a forced carry across the Creek, super Fun shots here Creek could eat a Badshot on A B 10 12 13 14 & 17. Big Creek is awesome, and also a legit Hazard

There's a ton of different shots and lines at Frontier!!! I used all of the discs in my bag here, a Few shots even used the Destroyer

Park has all the extra things people like: Bathrooms Garbages, Bridges, and some Benches

uuuuummmmm, it's not 42 Holes with 2 Pads and Baskets per, cause that schnizzy would be Chain Bangin Heaven, SON!!!

Water does Puddle on C in front of both Baskets, and by one of 13s Pin Locations. But that's not bad at all, considering... things and stuff

Hole 7 : Between the White Tee and Baskets. Ya know, the Parking Lot and Kids Playground. (Whadya gonna do. There is a RHBH bailout route)

I first came thru Hays in 08, and found this GEM. Had the good fortune of returning these past three years, to find this DGC continuing to flourish. It's one of my personal faves, and I always have a Fun time playing here

For as much as putting Pin Positions near Teepads is Taboo, Frontier gets a pass... cause with the Highway on one side of the Park, the RailTrail on the other side, and then the Big Creek winding down the middle... there's only so much space for all these Teepads and Baskets!

And as much as I may dislike 5s Red and 7s White Tees, I really like the 18 alternatives!!!... especially 11 & 16 (Red Tees are Alternate, fyi)

Great to see an Oldschool Course get updated, when so many out there get neglected. Hayes is lucky to have Mr Rice and those Flying Bison

Great Tee Pads/Signs
Great New Vet Baskets
Multiple Tees and Baskets on each hole giving diversity on difficulty
Grounds are very well kept
Awesome Community and Safe Area

Some tees/shots run close to playgrounds, but you can play alt tees to avoid them
Possible tree trimming on tunnel shots to open the option more, but all shots are possible

This is the best the course has looked ever. Must play if you are in the vicinity

- good new tee signs that give you all the info you need
- great large concrete tee pads
- good variety of distances ranging from 175 to 600 feet
- tons of trees and OB to offer challenge
- some slight elevation change but not much
- a beautiful park that seems to be well maintained
- navigation of the course was relatively easy

- some holes play directly over playgrounds and other commonly used public areas
- a few basket locations are very close to tee pads making a dangerous scenario very possible
- it was pretty difficult to find a few of the basket locations, definitely had to walk up a few fairways

Quality course that with some small layout adjustments this could easily be a 4 star course.

Amazing course. Multiple tees and pin positions on most holes. Brand new signs on all holes. Course flows extremely well. Water hazards make this course a good challenge for technical course enthusiasts. Set in a beautiful old forest park.

Watch out for holes 15 and 16 the creek near by is known for swallowing discs. Make sure to snap a picture of the course map at the first tee otherwise the course can be challenging to follow for first timers.

A must play course if traveling threw western kansas. Truly a destination course.

If you are like me and favor courses in well maintained parks with large, old growth trees, this is a near perfect course.

It has concrete tees, some slight elevation, and great shots over and around a decent size creek.

Best of all, it is well mowed and maintained. This makes the perfect mid-Kansas stop to break up those long road trips.

No signs. There are a few tricky bits that can get you lost, especially when you have to cross the bridge over the creek.

Lots of walking to see blind shots, but having spotters out on the fairway on blind shots keeps me from wasting time looking for discs, so I didn't mind it that much.

Only got the pig smell on one hole, but it was memorable.

After you leave KC, this may be the best course near I-70 till you hit the mountains.

Although perhaps bias (having played this course when I was younger), I always really loved this course. The majestic cottonwood trees, the very real water traps, the vastness of all 18 holes with no overlaps, the buffalo, and the variety in the holes. This course is challenging and requires the ability to drive far. It also demands a great deal of accuracy on the holes with water traps - and there are several. There are also opportunities to open up. The variety of shots exposes the strengths and weaknesses of all players. There are two tees for each hole and two pins that will occasionally relocate. The placement of the tees are very thoughtful and well conceived. The pins are also cleverly placed. The overall design of this course is quite remarkable. It does not favor right or left handed players, and will require forehand and backhand shots from every player. The placement of tees and pins isn't obvious or contrived or intentionally difficult or intentionally obnoxious - every toss on this course is a real pleasure. If you like disc golf, you cannot pass this one up - courses of this caliber are rare.

Fortunately for me, I grew up with this course, even though I didn't take my technique seriously until I moved away from Hays for college, many years ago. I played this course yesterday for the first time in over six years. Without my intimate knowledge of the course layout, I surely would have been very frustrated. Frontier Park is really four or five parks grouped together separated by main roads, forested areas, and an impassable creek. The course utilizes this entire area. Hole seven requires a very (relatively) long walk, over a traffic bridge and roadway, along a dyke, and several hundred feet from the last pin - and there is essentially no signage to explain this. It almost seems like you're leaving the park and entering a different part of the town. There are beautiful limestone posts that once had maps for each hole; these have long been neglected. Normally I appreciate walk-aheads on holes to scout out the pin - it's more exercise. But since this course is already so expansive, scouting out holes for first-timers probably becomes tiresome very quick. It is hard not to disagree with those who have already pointed out the lack of signs, despite finding this course so outstanding. My recommendation, like with any course, is that if you have a smartphone like nearly everyone on the planet does, snap a photo of the course map at tee 1. This course is so vast and detailed, with alternative holes and tees, that you will really have to make an effort to study the map, and review details at every single tee. This is fairly standard for anybody who plays new courses often, but Frontier Park is extra special in this sense.

If night golf is your thing, the pins on this course use reflective tape for the number designation. A quick flick of your flashlight easily shows where each pin sits.

As I've already mentioned, this course is quite long, and does one gigantic loop. Be prepared for a long hike, bring lots of water, and I always recommend a short break at holes that have benches.

+Course map on bulletin board at tee one.
+Concrete tee pads & mach 3s.
+Alt. tees and pin locations on most all holes.
+Limestone fence posts mark orginal tee pad locations.
+Beautiful mature trees including majestic cottonwoods.
+Course follows and crosses over big creek several times making for many pucker shots during round. I carry at least 2 water discs per round.
+Established course built in the early 80s.
+Course has a great tradition with many admirers.
+Must throw a controlled round to score well.
+Well balanced for both lefties and righties.
+Newly added holes A,B,and C, are an option for the more technical crowd.

-Signage is non existence. Can be very confusing for first timers but for the seasoned disc golfer navigation should not be to big of a problem. Just remember cross main street bridge after hole 6.
-Tee pads are short but wide.
-Course can become very busy during prime throwing hours. The people of Hays love throwing disc.
-A few pins are blind so be prepared to walk fairways to locate basket.
-Some throws cross park roadways but with a little patience not really an issue. Roadways are OB.
-Wandering park goers may interrupt round momentarily at times.
-Course does not loop back to parking lot during round so pack for 18.
-High winds can make for very interesting round.
-Only 2 or 3 bomber holes.

Frontier park is one of the oldest disc golf courses in the country. The course design is amazing. Not one boring hole on the course. Erant shots will cost you strokes and discs. Be prepared to stay focused for 18 holes. I believe Frontier Park to be one of the most interesting and challenging disc golf courses in the country. For the true disc golf enthusiast Frontier disc golf course is a must play.

Edit: (July of 2017) Recently the course has been updated with new signs making navigation much easier.

As a side note I threw my first disc on this course. I could not believe how much fun disc golf can be. It was love at first throw.

This is a challenging little course set in a very nice park in the small town of Hays, KS. The design of the course has to be mentioned as simply amazing at time and really good the rest of the time. Shots range from nice and long and really short. The course tends to dictate what kind of shot you are going to throw and the more different shots you have the better. There are multiple tee pads and pin positions on every holes. There is enough space in the park that they could have 2 separate 18 holes courses. While other amenities may be a little far away, the park does have some very nice features including a the ability to turn this one course into two eighteen hole courses. There is a strong local club that does a great job with the course and setting it up for tournaments was second to none. There are a lot of trees on this course and most of them seem to come into play. Precision is a must on this course as I found out the hard way and did not shoot well..

Baskets are quite old, some of them definitely should be retired in favor of new baskets. The tee pads felt very short to be when we were playing off the tee pads. Even in the midst of a tournament there was enough park traffic that it become interesting on a couple of times. There is some water that you will not want to go into to retrieve a disc. Regular tee signs were less than ideal. Several baskets were all too close to a tees pad. Occasionally fairways will cross each other. The neighbors on one side are buffalo ranchers.

This course was a lot of fun and very challenging all at the same time. I played alternate layouts for this course for a tournament. I wish there was a piece of land like this close to where I live. This is a course worth the stop and time to play it. I believe that in the normal layout hole 1 is over as far West as you can go before not being in the park any longer. The A, B and C holes are able to be played on a regular basis and have permanent tees and baskets. One could either choose to start or to finish on these holes.

This is where I learned how to golf. Has great holes that will call for every kind of shot in the bag. Plus it is always blowing, which will help with your wind game. Lots of hazards to deal with (roads, water, sloping greens). Perfect resting place when heading through Kansas.

Some of the tees can be pretty close to the last basket...so watch your back.

Check out Ellis, KS (11 miles west) if you have time too.

This course has 2 sets of tees for every hole and there are also alt. pin placements. There is water threat on a few holes, especially on the holes where you tee off across the creek.
There are enough trees to keep this park style course interesting. Several of the holes require line shaping too.
There are long holes and short holes here as well depending on which set of tees you prefer to play.
There are other amenities here: restrooms, playgrounds, etc.
Some of my favorite holes here 5, 11, 16, & 17.

The biggest cons for me is the lack of signage on the stone markers. There was only one hole that still had the hole layout on a post and it was hard to read. This makes it difficult for the first timer or the out of towner to navigate this course and judge the distance of their shot selection. Obviously scouting ahead could be done but with a little updating that problem could be eliminated.
Lots of beer cans on the ground, some trash cans might alleviate this???
There are a few holes where a road or two comes into play. Also there are a couple of holes where a swing set might get plunked so please look before you rip.
Like others have said there is a smell that is pretty stank about hole 7 or so. I didn't notice when I played here in Nov., but when I first played here in the summer 2 years ago it was pretty ripe.

This is a pretty nice course even with some of its flaws. Yes the music can be annoying coming from the pool, but how is that the course's fault?
I feel this course has taken a few hits recently. It is a course that will challenge your decision making on some holes and offers risk reward on other holes. If the signage were to be updated I think the reviews for this course would be better. With that said its one of the better courses west of I135. I personally can overlook some of the piddly flaws because the disc golf here is pretty good. And after all isn't that what you came here for in the first place?

Looks like a pretty setting. Nice concrete T-boxes.

Signage? What signage. My wife and I were traveling across KS and wanted to play some disc golf en route. This course was reported to be the oldest course in KS in a beautiful setting. We drove into the first entrance we saw for the park but saw no signs for a disc golf course. We did see some baskets so stopped and parked. We started play at an unknown hole because there were no markings or signage on the T-box. The post rock near the T-box had nothing on it. We didn't know where the basket was so we threw in the direction the T-box pointed until we got close enough to see a basket and then walked to the basket to look for a number. This particular basket had a number. What luck. Finished the hole and had no idea where the next T-box was. There was no one else playing that we could see so we wandered around to find a basket with a number and then find a T-box with a corresponding number. We never did find a T-box with a number. We just had to find any T-box and then walk out the front until we found a basket. Hopefully it had a number corresponding the the hole we were supposed to be playing. This was a hit and miss proposition. We probably walked the equivalent of three holes to play one hole. This process continued and we got so frustrated that we left before finishing. We never did see a sign or any marking at any T-box.

I'd be embarrassed to be a local and too cheap to buy a can of spray paint and not put numbers on the T-boxes. This type of lack of signage discourages the growth of the sport. What newbee wants to spend their day solving a jigsaw puzzle. They have enough trouble figuring out how to get the disc to go where they want it to go.

A nice variety of open and wooded terrain.
The creek makes a good water hazard on several holes.
Course layout is easy to follow, mostly because it's so heavily travelled.

The creek is polluted and nasty.
Grass grows poorly on most of the course, typical for the climate but still a con.

As my first DG course, the one that first sparked my interest when I saw FHSU students playing while I was jogging, this course will always hold a special place for me.
The course is heavily utilized, mostly by FHSU students.

-Proof that a course doesn't have to have massive elevation changes to be challenging. There are some great holes here, even in pancake-like Kansas
-Nice use of natural obstacles - the river, mature trees, etc.
-Set in a nice metro park. I could see myself visiting the park regularly if I lived in Hays, even if it weren't to play disc golf... except for:

-The course smells like manure. I don't know where it came from; I saw some buffalo herding near the first couple holes, but the smell was most pungent further afield.
-The signage is nonexistent. There are points in the course where a first-timer at Frontier Park would have absolutely no idea where the next tee is. In fact, there were many times I just guessed which tee was next, then found out I was completely wrong based on seeing the pair throwing a couple holes ahead of me. Each tee is marked with a stone, waist-high post, which is aesthetically pleasing in a way, but blends in way too easily with the surroundings.
-The course layout is problematic at best and dangerous at worst. There are too many holes that border the road in such a way that even a seasoned disc golfer could easily hit a passing car without meaning too. Also, there are places, although not many, where the next tee is less than five feet from the previous hole's basket, which seemingly contradicts my last grievance, but the confusion is mixed at Frontier Park.
-When I played the course there was a baseball team practicing in the stadium near holes 7-9, and they were playing top 40 EXTREMELY loud over the speakers. While this is a situational complaint, I'm sure it's not the only time it's happened. If I were a regular here it would drive me insane.

It's frustrating; this course could be fantastic if, minimally, effort would be put into adding signs to each tee indicating which hole it is and where the next tee will be. And if something could be done about that manure...

i came here in 2010 expecting a well- maintained, historic disc golf course that must have been well loved to survive this long, but instead, it almost seemed abandoned- no signage whatsoever, not even at the beginning to indicate that this was indeed a disc golf course. some tee pads had views of multiple baskets- where to throw? if they still have pro tourneys here, do they mark the course for them? why not leave the signage up?

i was very disappointed with the course, after reading some of the reviews here and taking time out of my road trip to play here, sorry. i would say that the park has taken a serious nose-dive since the pictures on this site were taken.
UPDATE: super disappointed to see recent reviews still noting the lack of signage. it sounds like a nice course, but how are tourists supposed to find their way around? i drive past twice a year but have only stopped by once. how has a 33-yr old course not had signs put on it again after x-amount of years since they disappeared? the posts are there, is it vandals or something? all the other infrastructure is there, would just like to know where to throw...

Well designed course follows Big Creek, and shoots over it several times. Incorporates left and right turns, up and over shots, tunnel shots, water shots, short and long, depending upon basket placement. Original and alternate concrete pads on 18 of the 21 tees. Basket positions are changed monthly, offering a nice change for regulars. All baskets are numbered so you know which one is which. Alternate pads change the fairway slightly on some holes, and entirely on others, making multiple rounds like playing a different course. There is a well-cleaned permanent bathroom near hole #1.

The worst part for those playing the first time would be signage and navigation. There are no signs whatsoever, except a welcome sign pointing to hole #1. I hear there used to be tee signs, but they were vandalized and not replaced. Navigating to next hole without a local guide will be tricky on some holes, and almost impossible from #6 to #7. Course is basically flat - elevation never changes more than 10 feet. Depending upon which way the wind blows, a strong "farm smell" is sometimes present. Near basket for hole #1, vehicles parked to view the bison herd can be in the way. Hole #7 has 3 tees, the original (identified by its post rock) can almost never be used as the fairway crosses a parking lot and playground. Local mentality is "finders keepers," so if you lose a disc on this course, don't expect to get it back. There are no benches or trash bins by the tee pads. Tees for holes A, B and C are dirt, and unmarked.

There is almost always a breeze (10 Mph), and often very strong winds (25+ Mph), so bring out your most stable discs. New players will probably lose discs in Big Creek, since there are lots of water shots. Big Creek freezes over in winter, making fewer lost discs.

Ok, So i've gotta break my (THE) normal way to post and list pro's and con's etc...
I was traveling through the state from CO to IN and playing some DG along the way, stopping at 4 star courses so that I know I wouldn't be dissappointed. Sadly in this case I was.

After the 6th hole, I couldn't find 7.. no signage, course maps, anything. I couldn't even find the basket or the next hole, I found 17 though! MANY of these holes need SERIOUS work! lots of signage missing at t-pads, garbage, graffiti (its whatever though).. The park looks absolutely terrible, which is a shock after seeing the other reviews for this course. Only reason I give it a two is because in order to continue playing I had to play 17 back to the start and play the front 3 again.

I guess I mostly hope that whoever maintains this course sees this as I can see how the course can be 4 stars but is in need of some serious love. And anyone else, please don't let your beloved home courses turn out like this one, take care of your toys.
As well, I know it sucks getting bad reviews on one of your favorite courses, if someone lets me know that this stuff is fixed, i'll gladly remove the review!

-Beautiful park
-Wide variety of shots required (Good use of the trees in the park)
-Very memorable shots (especially over the river shots). I loved Hole 11 a shot over the river with some trees leaning into it and if you shoot too high into the river you go.
-Holes varied in length (there were several over 500 hundred feet from the long tees) along with a good mix of holes between 200 and 400 feet.
-The alternate tees give most of the holes a totally different look rather than just adding extra distance to the hole
-Several of the holes have benches on them to rest on

-Some of the tee pads are pretty much next to the basket before and if the park was crowded you might have to watch for incoming discs
-The signage on all but one of the holes (Hole 7 I believe still has the signage) is missing, which can make it hard at times to figure out where the pin is.
-Navigation between Hole 6 and 7 was a little difficult to figure out and there was no sign pointing the way to Hole 7 (You have to go across the bridge after Hole 6 and then cross over to the other side of the road to find tee 7)
-The course also has a fee safety issues with its design. The long tee of hole 7 plays straight through a parking lot. Several of the holes play right next swings and other playground equipment which could be a problem if children are playing on them
-When we played there was a lot of trash in the park

This course has quite a few memorable holes and is quite fun but it does have its flaws. If the signage on each hole was replaced and updated I would definitely raise my score of the course. Overall, if you are passing through Hayes I would suggest a quick stop to play this enjoyable course.

Site of the longest running PDGA sanctioned event in Kansas, the Frontier Open which celebrated its silver anniversary this year, Frontier Park has been wowing disc golfers with its serene surroundings and challenging layout since the early 80's. Alternate tees are available on every hole now, many of which offer an entirely different look at the hole. The creek is a formiddable hazard here, coming into play on at least eight holes. The most distinct of the holes are the cross creek shots on Holes 11 and 16 where your drive (from either the original or alternate tee) must hit a narrow window going laterally over the creek. Catch an errant branch and your disc may be going swimming. Concrete pads have now been replaced many of the asphalt alternates which were in bad shape. You can almost literally play what seems like two different courses, each with its distinct hazards.

Perhaps the most glaring is that several of the original tee pads are too close to the previous hole's pin (if its in that position). There is no shortage of parking in the park but only a small amount by the first tee where the course kiosk can be very helpful for people who do not know their way around. Signage is lacking. There are small hole signs located atop the post rocks near the original tees (which helps define these from the alternates), but many of them are deteriorating or missing. In certain positions, the DGA baskets can be hard to see. The nickels have green backgrounds, so you may need to check what position you're shooting for before you do as this can make tremendous difference in strategy. There are a few spots in the park where you cross areas that non-DGers may be traversing, namely the parking lot on 7, and the parking loop area on holes 6 and 18. Has never been a problem for me, but I've only played during the weekend here during a tournament when these areas are barricaded off.

Located at the south end of Hays along the US-183 bypass, Frontier is hands down the best course along I-70 between Denver and KC. The local club here and parks department have kept this longtime favorite magnificently maintained. With Hays being a relatively small town, you're likely not going to have to wait at the teepads like you would at a number of bigger city courses. A great "halfway" point if you need to rest from driving and well worth the stop.