Oldest in the DSM area
8 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: -Concrete Tees
-Good use of terrain of park
-Good variance of length of holes
-Mostly stays away from other park activities
Cons: -Baskets and signs in need of refresh
-Walking path/road in play on #3, #10, #11 and #12
-Can get busy
Other Thoughts: Lions Park hosts a nice 12 basket course in the heart of Altoona, IA. The oldest DGC in the Des Moines metro (and #4 in Iowa), the park does show some age. The baskets, while they catch OK, could really use an upgrade. Very basic signage is at each tee pad. Pads are in good shape. The course does have a little tricky transition from #3 basket to #4 tee (see new map), but otherwise, flow is good. A good mixture of length, but mostly open. A few trees to work around, but nothing to force a lot of shot shaping. Really only one blind tee shot as #5 is up and over a small ridge. Course can get busy and you do have to watch for pedestrians on 4 holes. Still, the course has held up and is popular. A refresh of baskets and signage would add to the rating for me. Have played a few times and would play again.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.
Short and Compact
5 Helpful / 1 Not
Pros: It is compact with nice elevation changes. A couple of the holes are longish, which adds a good variety. It is good for getting exposed to some hills (up and down).
Cons: The holes were not super well marked and it was easy to get confused as to which basket to go for on hole #3. Also, hole 9's basket is a bit beat up.
Other Thoughts: I had no good idea what to expect, but as a beginner, I found this course a fun challenge that doesn't take long to play. I will definitely go back and play some more for a little variety and a little practice on hills without much danger of losing discs.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful.
Lions Park can purr
7 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: 1. 12 holes. Concrete tees, DGA baskets
2. City keeps lawn mowed and downed limbs cleared
3. Trash dumpster in parking lot and cans at #1, #7, and open air shelter.
4. Litter is minimal for a city park and some locals do clean up after the slobs and raccoons.
4. Creek particularly on #10 does exact a penalty for overly errand shots. (one can easily and safely lay up off the tee with a putter and 20 foot putt if they so choose)
5. Rarely cowarded thus it allows for multi disc play and jungle holes
6. Fantasic thick turf and overall great drainage in the play area. (excepting for very heavy rains)
7. Compact course and easily to play quickly.
8. Elevation, water, and trees in moderate amounts.
Cons: 1. Tee signs showing wear and a couple not readable
2. Path / road through the center of course, but really not an issue as there are no blind throws near or close to it.
3. No course map onsite, might need to ask a local first round for the layout for ease of use (one here is not great)
4. No practice basket.
Other Thoughts: 1. The listed 'pars' are silly. All holes are really a three
2. Historically there has been a 'teen hangout' south of the railroad tracks. Please call police if you happen to notice a bonfire.
3. Most secluded place on course is south of #5 basket in the woods
4. High percentage of under 21 year old players on course
...Well maintained course for no hassle no wait disc. I give it a 3.33 stars, but round down.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.
Fun little local
2 Helpful / 1 Not
Pros: Nice teepads and baskets. Nice mix of short and easy and long and challenging. Nice open park feel, lots of mature trees. Good fit for the community, very good place to start disc golfing.
Nice signs. Uses the park space really well.
Cons: Only 12 holes. A bit on the too easy side, only the longer holes will anyone get more than a 3 on if they have any ability at all.
Other Thoughts: Really this is the type of course I love to see, it is inviting to all skill levels. The great players can challenge themselves with trying for birdies and ace runs, the n00bs can enjoy the park and not get too frustrated with the game. This course really isn't worth a special trip, but it was a good time, and I would play it again in a heartbeat if I was nearby.
This is a great course to bring the kids to and get them started, a couple open short holes that will give them some confidence, and give you some time to practice 200' putter shots.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.
Alright in Altoona
6 Helpful / 1 Not
Pros: 1) DGA Signs with Hole #, Par, DIstance and a map. These aren't the greatest sign in the world but at leas tthere is something, and it makes navigation much easier.
2) Mach baskets w/ # plate facing the tee is always beneficial. They had a powder coated top and basket in a maroonish color which must be the town color.
3) Elevation is pretty decent for Iowa. There are some holes that go along slopes, some that go down, some that go up, and some that go across the rolling terrain. All in all the elevation adds to this fairly straight forward mostly open course.
4) Tree density is pretty varied on this course from mostly open to somewhat wooded. There are no dense woods in play on this course.
5) There are a decent variety of shots required on this hole but it isn't very technical. SImple turnovers, straight shots, and nice easy hzyers are all you need. You really have multiple choices on every hole based on wind conditions and what your favorite shot type is.
6) There are a lot of different trees on this course including large mature Maples, some medium sized evergreens which will create much more of an obstacle in 15 years, and a nice variety of other hardwoods.
7) Fairly beginner friendly, but the distance may depress some beginners, but at least they don't really have the risk of losing many discs.
Cons: 1) Holes #4 and 7 are missing the signs, the posts are still there but the signs are gone.
2) 1 extra tee on the entire course? Why even hae two tees on that hole it is only more confusing for first timers. I would eliminate the short tee on that hole or install multiple tees on more than this hole.
3) This course is fairly simple meaning there isn't a huge challenge factor here. Aside from the snow I had to deal with, there isn't much of a challenge presented from the trees and obstacles. I am sure there are better courses in Des Moines and I wish I could have seen others, but it was a quick stop.
4) Path running through the middle of the course would be a detriment if it was busy. I played in zero degrees and 5" of snow so I didn't have to worry about it (I did see one runner).
5) Course plays back and forth in a tight little area. It isn't really dangerous because you would always be looking in the direction of the people who could throw into you, but it feels a little strange. This may have been the easiest way to design the course, but it just feels unnatural for some reason.
6) Very disjointed course. Holes 1 and 2 are in one area, then 3 through 10 are in another, then 11 and 12 are completely removed from the other 2 sections. It is broken up by some walking paths and these would be good spots for directional signs.
Other Thoughts: There were remnants of glow sticks on some basket and the fact that there were footprints in the 5 " of snow lead me to believe there may be a fairly active group of people around this part of town. I know Des Moines is kindof a disc golf hotbed for the middle of nowhere Iowa, and this is about the far southeast corner of the metro.
6 of 7 people found this review helpful.
Very Versitale Dozen
1 Helpful / 2 Not
Pros: A lot of variety in the holes, long open shots with narrow pin area, short deceiving shots, long rolling hills slightly tunneled by trees. Great course to play 3 par!
Large flat tees for every hole, clear signs with distance posted, trash bins along the way.
Cons: Recreational path brings lots of bikers/walkes directly through the fairway on a few holes. Very windy area it seeems although it could have been the day more than anything.
Other Thoughts: Make sure you're ready for the hills, and take safe shots if you don't want to be in some heavy brush thick forest and possibly a stream that's a foot deep and 3 ft wide
1 of 3 people found this review helpful.
Improves as trees mature
5 Helpful / 3 Not
Pros: Concrete tees, signs, elevation, water in play
Cons: park road and walking path in play.
Other Thoughts: This park houses a couple of ball diamonds and a shelter and the rest of it is the course. The first hole begins on the east side of the shelter building at the highest point in the park and then plays up and down hills and along a small stream. It's a rather compact course and there is much back and forth but the holes really don't conflict with one another. Unfortunately, a new recreation path was constructed recently and it affects the course to the extent that you will have to wait for pedestrian and bike traffic to clear on some holes.
Overall, a fun course to play as there are lots of good shots and challenge will only increase as the now mid-sized trees grow in height and width.
5 of 8 people found this review helpful.
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2-4 
3/20/2022 
4/3/2022
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