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West Park reviews
16
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West Park Redux- Reviewing the Latest Layout of a Historical Course 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Jul 25, 2021
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
- West Park, established in 1979, remains a relevant course by today's standards, albeit a bit on the short side. Mostly a park-style course consisting of large mature oaks and other trees and light scrub, with a large seam of elevation (maybe 20-25' at its highest point) running through the middle. A small, semi-dry creek/ drainage pond/ body of "poo" water of dubious origin "runs" along the bottom of this slope. Stretches of highway, including I-80, run alongside, giving several parts of the course a very urban feel despite West Park's natural greenery and relaxed, casual vibe.
- Because of its age, much of the design focuses on shorter technical style holes where accuracy over raw power will win on most days. Only one hole tops 400', and just barely at that. As a result, most experienced players will have a fun time collecting birdies and making ace runs. In general, the course is shorter but more solid all-around than the previous layout.
-Good use of elevation throughout, with risk/reward opportunities arising from the positioning of baskets on the edge of slopes and drop-offs. Throwing downhill over the "creek" on #2 is the main holdover from the old design in this realm. The solid use of elevation throughout the park is definitely West Park's main allure for the author.
- Tee signs and concrete tees are a major upgrade to the previous layout's rutted, washed out, natural tees.
- Gone are the sketchiest of holes from the previous 24 hole layout: #16 (IIRC) was a sketchy up and over shot with no real fairway and road directly behind the basket. The hole that played through the grassy area that flooded is also gone. They did a good job picking the best, dropping the worst, and adding a few nice touches in between, and (despite the loss of total number of holes) come out more or less the same rating-wise.
- Because of its age, much of the design focuses on shorter technical style holes where accuracy over raw power will win on most days. Only one hole tops 400', and just barely at that. As a result, most experienced players will have a fun time collecting birdies and making ace runs. In general, the course is shorter but more solid all-around than the previous layout.
-Good use of elevation throughout, with risk/reward opportunities arising from the positioning of baskets on the edge of slopes and drop-offs. Throwing downhill over the "creek" on #2 is the main holdover from the old design in this realm. The solid use of elevation throughout the park is definitely West Park's main allure for the author.
- Tee signs and concrete tees are a major upgrade to the previous layout's rutted, washed out, natural tees.
- Gone are the sketchiest of holes from the previous 24 hole layout: #16 (IIRC) was a sketchy up and over shot with no real fairway and road directly behind the basket. The hole that played through the grassy area that flooded is also gone. They did a good job picking the best, dropping the worst, and adding a few nice touches in between, and (despite the loss of total number of holes) come out more or less the same rating-wise.
Cons:
- I always loved hole #4, the one that threw over the creek to the raised pin, but it was very much an erosion and safety issue, so I understand its deletion.
- A lot of the back nine feels a bit repetitive with the more open, grassy, park-style holes.
- The walk from #9 to #10 isn't obvious. Follow the roadway uphill and NOT the old fairway back towards the woods.
- A lot of the back nine feels a bit repetitive with the more open, grassy, park-style holes.
- The walk from #9 to #10 isn't obvious. Follow the roadway uphill and NOT the old fairway back towards the woods.
Other Thoughts:
- Despite the unpleasant aspects usually associated with semi-urban disc golf (such as the dubious smells emanating from the water hazards), West Park proves to be a really fun, solidly designed course geared towards beginners and rec-level players that provides a great woodsy escape to the surrounding urban and suburban sprawl.
