Pros:
Swopes Park didn't give me the first impression of an excellent course. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical. By the time I was done playing the round, a healthy respect for the course had been instilled within me.
Initially upon entering the parking lot I saw the practice baskets and the first couple of holes, and it looked like it was jammed into a limited amount of room too near the park entry, playground, ball fields and streets.
This is the first course I have played with baskets from Dynamic, I liked them. There are concrete tee pads that are longer than I am used to, but maybe a little narrower too. The tee signs and directional signs are very good, and in the right spots. Navigation of the layout is not hard to follow. I thought the large rocks that anchor many of the baskets, display the tee signs, and make up the tiers of the pyramid on 14 were very cool.
There are multiple practice baskets with white rims, and a large tractor tire mounted in front of one, that mimics the old football throwing accuracy practice method. I thought that was cool and original. A few trash cans along the way, and bathrooms on site.
The first few holes are ok, but they all offer very similar looks, with flat terrain with a few trees, and the main challenge is to fight the wind and stay in bounds. Don't get me wrong, they can get you for some extra shots if you aren't on point (they got me for a penalty and some two putt bogeys). But once you make the turn into the woods at hole 5 it gets a lot better fast.
You will begin to see the elevation changes, tee shots over water, and heavy woods with limbs taking up a lot of airspace. 5 eases you into the chaos, then 6 slaps you in the face with a gnarly look off the tee. There is a short run to the edge of the stream, and then a good stretch over the water, with steep banks to the left and heavy trees on the right. Pin is left side surrounded by mature trees. A layup to the leading edge of the water would be a good strategy, as it is a very difficult flex shot to drive over the water. You have a better shot to make par with less chance of a knock down or roll into the water. I tested my luck and payed with a bogey 5, but I stayed dry at least, but was lucky to cling to the edge of the hill on my second shot.
Hole 8 is another tough par 4 that has lots of branches and a funky fairway requiring great precision to hit and get any distance.
9 is a fun shorter hole downhill off the tee, through the trees to a pin that is protected by trees in front, and backed by water. I thought I nailed the drive, but it brushed a tiny limb deflected just far enough left to leave a big tree between me and the target on a 25 foot putt.
10 and 11 are back into the open spaces, giving you a chance to catch your breath before the perilous hole 12. It has a narrow fairway running along the ridge of a ravine to the left. Heavy trees line most of the right side. The ravine sits 15 feet under the fairway, and it is very steep, with some water, lots of trees, and a couple of antique automobiles. My drive was knocked down and went towards the ditch, but somehow clung to the edge halfway down. I was slipping and sliding down, grabbing for tree roots, and pushing a small landslide of dirt and one large rock that appeared to be a good foothold. Be careful on that sucker.
Another short relief on hole 13, and then you come to the monumental 14th hole. OB road to the left, and baseball field to the right, with the basket on top of a pyramid of massive slabs of rock that has to be close to 15' above the ground. A flag pole flies Old Glory at the pinnacle, a thing of beauty.
15 is a long par 3, and I went OB twice, to put one more dagger through my scorecard. My only birdie was on 16, I called my shot to the dog, and made the putt to salve to wounds, and finished with pars on 17 and 18.
Cons:
Some buildings, base ball fields, and roads near holes that could be crowded if other events are going on. There appeared to be a function that day, and the parking lot was filling up fast as I played 17, with cars parked close to the fairway.
Mud might be bad after rain near the water, there was a little when I visited, but it was not a major issue.
Other Thoughts:
Swope Park has enough really fun holes to garner my respect. Even the less challenging holes have OB all around usually. With the wind, they can still be really tough also.
Played here on a New Years weekend trip to Emporia, and I was really glad I did. It turned out to be one of the favorites of the 5 courses played. If you decide to check out the scene, don't overlook this one.