Pros:
UPDATE (6/4/2024): This is my second-favorite course in the KC area to play. It's really on the cusp between a 4 and a 4.5 to me; the multiple pins, great setting, ample creature comforts, and variety of shots get me to round up to the 4.5. That's quite a bit higher than a lot of other folks have rated this one, but keep in mind many of the reviews (including my old one) were from before multiple pins were installed; I think that, along with the excellent maintenance, is enough to get it there. Original review from 2013 follows:
Wow, this is a very visually pleasing and beautiful course! Shawnee Mission Park is huge and very pretty, and this course gives you a gorgeous tour of the park.
This course had a great variety of wooded, open, downhill, uphill, and right/left or left/right shots.
Baskets, tee pads, and signs are all in good condition. I noticed there was minimal trash on the course and it appeared to be in good condition. The bag hangers on each sign were also a nice touch.
Not overly crowded on the Sunday afternoon that we played! It didn't look very heavily used; I know it's a bit out of the way of most of the metro, so maybe that's why.
Course navigation is super easy. Just look for the pea gravel surrounding every tee pad and you'll be golden.
And, obviously, there IS pea gravel around every tee, which I love because it really helps with erosion. You won't get your shoes so muddy this way.
The course is designed really nicely and makes full use of the land that is available.
Alternate pin positions aren't marked, but they frequently change how you'll play the hole. Not sure how often they change them out, but they're generally pretty well thought out.
This course just played super easily, no stress, no worries, and gave a great scenic view of the park. Well designed and very fun to play!
Although some of the holes switchbacked on each other (see more on that in the cons), they didn't play excessively close (like Swope) and you'd really have to have a bad shot to end up in someone else's fairway. We played in a very stiff Kansas wind and didn't have issues. I like the length and spread out feel the course has.
No burrs and the course maintenance was well done. No branches or anything that needed attention.
Cons:
From 12-16, you're shooting up and down the same basic hill. They do a good job of giving some different shots and I get that they're just using the elevation, but I'm not generally a fan of switchbacking like this.
No benches and I didn't see any restrooms super close by, but that's not a big deal to me.
Shawnee Mission Park is a many, many, many multi-use park. We had some issues with other park goers wandering directly in front of us while we were throwing; we also ran into some folks just messing around on the holes while we were waiting to tee off. They did finally let us play through -- I think they just didn't know that's the courteous thing to do, so no biggie, but it doesn't look like this course has staked itself out as a DG-exclusive area.
Other Thoughts:
UPDATE (6/4/2024): I did bump this to a 4.5. It's a "soft" 4.5 vs. courses like Lakeside Hills in Olathe and Bad Rock Creek in Liberty, which clearly make the cut, but I think it gets there on its accessibility, shot selection, and setting. Original review from 2013 follows:
This course is in a very safe, clean park in northwest Johnson County. Take I-435 to the Midland Road exit and go east, then south on Renner and you're there.
Seeing as it's very close to Wyandotte County Park, it seems fitting it reminded me of it a bit, albeit much shorter. If you like WyCo but it's just too long for you, you'll probably like it here better (I personally love both).
Gorgeous vistas, nice maintenance, and good variety get this one a 4.0. Happy discing!