The main pro is that in the least there is a course at Swope. Some elevation changes help, the tee pads are very nice. Some have nice benches and trash cans.

No dig at the designers -- there wasn't much to work with here. Very hard to not review this in light of the course's predecessor and the stain of its removal, but intentionally trying to be unbiased here. Very few obstacles and lots of uninteresting shots. The grass was at least ankle high almost everywhere and finding discs on normal throws was obnoxious. 60% of the course was deceptively swampy under the grass. It had rained recently but it wasn't a heavy rain. Don't go play this course if it's rained in the last few days unless you're wearing water shoes or you like having wet socks because you're going to sink unexpectedly at some point even if you're being cautious.

This course is the closest to where I live, but I don't have much desire to return to it. I've heard rumors there are plans to improve it, but I know nothing official, and as it is I would recommend playing any other number of enjoyable courses in the KC Metro until it gets more work.

Course Design: Swope makes decent use of the terrain that is present: elevation is in play on many holes and there are trees used near the pin (hole 3 and hole 5 for example) that certainly favor left to right or right to left shot shapes. Elevation is used well on a few holes to allow for a big downhill rip (hole 18) or to force some decision making (hole 10, might have to control a flippier disc up the hill into the trees).

Concrete tee pads are very large.

Baskets are Mach X. I think they catch alright, your opinion may vary.

Some locals might not share the park very well. I'm not talking about anyone using the pavilions to grill and gather, they're not harming anyone. I'm talking about having dirt bikes and 4 wheelers and even dune buggies racing through the fairways while people are playing, taking a major toll on some of the fairways. That's not sustainable for the park, let alone trying to make it a mixed use park with the disc golf course.

Course Design: Yes, the majority of the holes are open and if you can throw a controlled hyzer from about 280-360 feet both forehand and backhand, you'll bore quickly while likely scoring very well. However...

THERE IS WORK BEING PUT INTO THE COURSE. I have faith that the fundraiser tournament held, in combination with the GoFundMe that was out there will allow for some new holes and a little more TLC to be put into the course. The tournament layout for the KC Wide Open has a lot of potential, bringing in some big shots with alternate holes that introduced a lot more foliage to the design, while keeping large elevation changes. If they move toward this layout and can make the course flow a bit better than the tournament layout, all the sudden this is a fun course with some OB (yes, some artificial) that can really sneak up on you. I have hope that this course can yet be shaped into something that offers varied shots, terrain, and a bit more in the way of navigation. I have the course sitting at 2.0 right now, but I think it could pop to a 3.5 or higher with some layout tweaks and navigational aids. I'm cautiously optimistic.

Very nice tee pads. Looks like they'll be adding permanent trash cans and benches eventually.

The MachX baskets are a nice touch, even if they aren't my favorite baskets.

Pins get moved pretty frequently.

Temporary tee signs are nice and large, and most even have the (inaccurate) Udisc distances written on them.

Mowing can be a big issue.

Here's the main issue: 8 of the holes have zero obstacles, and in certain pin spots that number could go up to 10! There's very little uphill and downhill, and the ones that do have obstacles are either easily cleared (an easy forehand line on 9) or massively in the way (basket could be only 15 feet behind a 30 foot wide tree on 3). I wouldn't go so far as to say it's pitch and putt, cause some of the open holes approach 400 feet, but for this to be anything near a "good" course... well, it'll take 10 years for trees to grow up.

If you go a whole round without hearing at least 2 police sirens go by, that's a good round (my record is 6).

Parking can be tough, especially on Saturday nights. Not sure what goes on at the pavillion, but it brings out a lot of the locals who really don't seem to care that you're trying to get through.

Tee signs could easily get stolen as they're the same as political yard signs. The locals seem to leave the course alone, but it could happen.

I don't have much good to say about New Swope. It's good I don't have anything to compare it to since I never got out to play the old Swope course, but from everything I hear this is a massive downgrade. The tees and baskets are excellent, but everything in the middle could be labeled downright boring. The elevation changes on 13 and 18 are the only dramatic ones on the course. Overall, there were several better spots in Swope Park to put a course at. It will never be the old course, but this one is really shoehorned in.

There was work promised, but as of 2023 it's still in essence the same as it was on day 1.

It's in Swope Park. Decent tee pads and good baskets.

It's short, wide open and boring because there are not many trees. The grass gets long, needs to be mowed more often and there are a lot of wet spots. The terrain is rough in some areas and the tilt of the land is a little tiresome.

Not a great course. Just tee pads and baskets and not much of a design. What a letdown for Swope II.

Holes are spread out.
It looks to be newer as the concrete pads look fresh.

Some of the pads/baskets are not marked.
They do not list the par or show a diagram of the hole with obstacles.
Signs are flimsy and more of a temporary nature, may blow away or be taken.
Little shade.
The grass was knee high in some places and ankle high everywhere else.
There are several ditches that run throughout the course.

If they would get decent signs and mow, this would be an okay course. Most of the holes are out in open spaces with no obstacles to get around so it gets a little boring.

Swope Park is a massive park, the Disc Golf course taking up just a small portion of it, conveniently situated away from any walking trails. The old course elsewhere in the park was pulled (don't follow the signs for "Disc Golf"; they'll lead you to an animal shelter), and this one was the replacement. It features... well, not much interesting.

Nice big cement tee pads, brand new Mach X baskets, and multiple pins on every hole.

The hills are used well. The lack of trees, while a big con, does make distance perception difficult. Right now, with not much signage, it's difficult to tell how far away the basket is, and with the hills, how hard to throw the disc.

The holes that do have trees are pretty interesting. While there's only a few of them, there's multiple ways to attack those holes, with opportunity for punishment if you miss your line.

Half - and I mean literally half - of the holes on this course have nothing interesting about them. Just a tee and a basket, with a bit of elevation. Some holes have trees, but they are so spread far apart there are still multiple lines to throw on.

The course is being installed, so benches and better tee signs can be expected in the future.

While other park functions avoid the course, or rather the course avoids them, there are sometimes some loud events just across the street that make the course not all peaceful.

The grass gets mowed pretty irregularly. Angle-deep grass is common, making disc searching take an annoying long time, even when there's no trees. Or, the fairways might be mowed but the grass is long off the fairway.

This course is likely to improve, but it needs many trees to be planted and grow for it to offer a consistent challenge across all holes.

If you're travelling through and want to see what the city has to offer, choose a different course - KC has plenty.