Title McTitleFace
12 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: A course seemingly geared toward the advanced side of novice, there is indeed a lake at this park. The mild elevation changes throughout the park will be your main obstacle, matching the angle of a hill or stopping short on a downhill throw will test this aspect of your game.
Sizable concrete tees throughout the park, at least two pin spots on every hole, the ever-informative Dynamic Discs tee signs, and 18 Latitude 64 baskets round out the amenities of the park. Everything is in excellent condition.
The lake creates a balanced obstacle for the last seven holes of the course. These are some of the shorter holes on the course, but they play to the risk/reward side of the game incredibly well. 13 is the best example of this: it’s a downhill, 200ft hole, and the pin sits about 20 feet from the shore on a small plateau. You have to put enough power behind the shot since the hill before the plateau could hop your disc up to rolling, but also there’s water behind the pin, so obviously you can’t aim to overshoot it by much. 12, 16 and 17 have rollaway potential into the water, 18 crosses a not insignificant cove, and 14… well, we’ll address 14 later.
Elevation is used smartly throughout the course. 2 plays over a small dip in the land, but still finishes higher than it starts, but with the pin directly behind a tree that can be tough to gauge. Holes 4 and 8 are the only ones with pins near 400ft, but they are slightly downhill which plays to the easier nature of the front half. 15 is also a big downhill right-finishing hole, but you cant go too far right since the lake looms over there.
What trees there are have been used well. Shielding the pins of 2 and 4, blocking the right to left hyzer on 9, guarding the tee shot on 12, and the treeline along the lake creating a ceiling on 14 and 16, tucking 17’s pin into the evergreens, it’s all done well.
Cons: The sameness of holes 3-9 is a big flaw. While it is the easier part of the course, they run together after having played them which makes it hard to think about how you’d attack those holes next time. I’ve had to look back at the hole pictures to write about those for this review… that also might owe to me playing 115 holes in a day, but I remember the others just fine.
Hole 14 plays very close to the lake, and that's fine. What isn't fine is the long pin being so close to the lake that any missed putt has about a 75% chance of flying/rolling into the lake. The reward is far to small to risk your putter on a long putt.
Some of the routing between holes is a bit odd. The tee of 6 is over a hill from the basket of 5, the long pin of 9 is directly in 10's fairway, and to get to 15, you'll walk up the hill just to go back in the same direction you came from. While it does allow for the trees to be better used, there was enough space left in the park that these issues could have been avoided.
Hole 3 is dead flat with a telephone pole as the only obstacle.
While there are groups of holes that do things well, no hole does anything to set itself apart from the others. Maybe the unique green of 11 long, but that's all I can really think of except the cove shot on 18, but the green of 18 is full of loose scree while trying to make a putt.
Other Thoughts: Parking area is a bit small for an 18-hole. I imagine league night parking overflows to the street.
The designers really did make a lot out of this piece of land. With a few more standout holes this would be a no-brainer to stop at if you're in Topeka. As it is, it's still a fine option, but it wouldn't be on the top of my list.
12 of 12 people found this review helpful.
Enjoyable, Interesting, Clean, Windy
9 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: -Very clean and always mowed
-Good use of trees, water hazards, and elevation
-Yellow Latitude 64 Pro baskets which make for easy visibility from the tee
-Concrete tee pads
-Numerous benches throughout the course
-Trash cans
-Multiple pin placements
-Practice basket for those waiting on a group
-Picnic tables near hole 1
-Easy navigation (arrows under the baskets that direct you to the next tee)
-Enjoyable views of the lake
-Lots of parking space and a few spots under the shade
-Very cart-friendly
-Playground and shelter houses nearby
-Never crowded
Cons: -No restrooms directly on site but can be found down the street
-No tee signs (although everything is par 3)
-Wind will only add to the challenge
-A little bit repetitive on the front nine but leaving some variety on the back nine
Other Thoughts: Lake Shawnee DGC is one of the oldest courses in Kansas. If you're in Topeka or just passing through, this will be your best pick. It is the most hilliest course in town (if you like elevation change). There are a few holes where you can bomb your disc down a hill. The front nine is mostly open shots and the back nine gets more technical with water hazards and trees. A shoutout to the people with Dawn To Dusk Disc Club here in Topeka and the work they have put in to the local courses including Lake Shawnee!
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.
Great Open Course
3 Helpful / 2 Not
Pros: Easy to follow nothing blind.
Not many players not crowded
Great tee and nice little rock signs
Cons: Wind i know the state but no trees to block it none and wind is often
Fishers on 18 cant play 18 since so many people fishing by basket
Other Thoughts: The back is more interesting than front for sure.
3 of 5 people found this review helpful.
Blown Away
5 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: Lake Shawnee sits on one corner of a nice park that surrounds that end of the lake. There is a full 18 hole course, all with numbered concrete tees and dual pin positions. No tee signs, but the basket is usually in sight from the pad.
It is almost all grass, with a few nice old trees here and there, and a patches of thicker rough on the holes that are nearer to the water. There are rolling hills, not huge, but far from flat. Elevation changes on several holes that make it a bit more interesting. Water is in play on 4 or 5 holes, mainly at the end.
I liked the first and last holes the best. Number 1 tees across a trickling stream, downhill and up the opposite side. A line of trees offers some ok gaps with low clearance, or there is a 2 o'clock window if you want to try a right to left spike hyzer. Not deep enough water do lose a disc, but some undergrowth could hide one here. I went right side, but it is a hard bend playing the short pin position, and wound up 3 putting for bogey. 18 is over water, the right to left hyzer is required to make it back to the shore, where a few trees that stand around the pin position I played to on the right. The other is further to the left on the land. I didn't put enough air under it, and it splashed about a foot short of the bank. Luckily it was easily retrieved from the aquatic plants growing there, and I was still able to make a bogey after the penalty.
I found the back nine to be more interesting than the front, holes 12-18 in particular. All of the elements become more prominent and blend together more often. 12 is not long to the short pin, but steeply up hill and with large trees taking the direct line and right side away. Challenging for the RHBH style I am most comfortable with. Hole 13 is a short one, but has the steepest drop, and is no room to overshoot it because the lake is about 15 feet behind the pin I played. Laid up close enough to insure an easy birdie. 14 is kind of close to the water in the pin location I played, but there is room to the left for a safe line if you are not wanting to risk getting wet. 15 takes a left to right line to get around the trees that protect the basket in that position when I played, bending toward the water, but not perilously close to it. Managed a birdie there too.
Cons: There are a few holes that are fairly average quality, maybe a bit boring, but can become difficult if you are unaccustomed to playing in high wind, like I am. I was spraying drives everywhere, and my short game was atrocious.
This is par 54 any way you play it, and should be an easier course to experienced players with any kind of accuracy and a decent arm. I finished my first round at 7 over, with two inexcusable double bogeys, even with the high gusts of wind. So I am looking forward to redemption when the conditions are more favorable.
Other Thoughts: It was a fun round at Lake Shawnee. I didn't light it up, but it was my third course of the day, so at least it was nice for the simplistic layout that does not require too much exertion.
I struggled a lot with the wind, but did take three birdies, although one came after a bad drive on hole 7 and a perfect 75 foot Roc shot that got the air bounce straight into the chains. Best shot of the day on any of the three courses.
If you want an easier course, that plays pretty quick, this is a nice option. Not ridiculous easy, with several fun holes, I would say it is worth a trip if you're not too far away.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.
Boring Front, Interesting Back
9 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: It's pretty easy to find the next tee. There are arrows by the basket posts that point the way. It's a bit confusing to tell which hole is 8 and which is 10 (see below). 18 is the only other tricky spot since there are a couple alternate tees. Course navigation 9/10
Baskets and tees are both in solid but not perfect condition. A couple of baskets are slightly tilted but not bad. Holes 8 and 10 share an L-shaped tee pad, which is kind of weird. An alternate tee on 18 is in pretty bad shape. 8/10
Hole 1 and several holes on the back force you to choose a route through the trees where several are possible. Some holes on the front only have a couple of trees right around the basket and you have to decide how to get around them. Decisionmaking 8/10
It's pretty easy to find discs most of the time. The lake is very in play on holes 13, 14, and 18. 13 the lake is behind the basket on a downhill shot, 14 is along the right side, and 18 requires about a 200-250ft carry (the shore is closer the further left you go) from an elevated tee. 8/10
There's a decent amount of elevation that's mixed pretty well. There are a couple more downhill holes than uphill, or at least the downhill holes are typically more severe (12 is more severely up). There are also a couple of interesting sidehill shots. However, many of the holes on the front nine are mostly flat. 7/10
Obstacles are used very well on the back nine to provide a challenge, but something to be desired on most of the front. 7/10
Navigation on holes is decent, as it's pretty obvious on most holes. However, the only information you have at the tee is the hole number on a post, no distances or maps. A few holes have blind shots where you have may have to walk ahead to find the basket. 6/10
The course is usually pretty well mowed, and there are a couple benches along the course. No tee signs or trash cans. The brush along, 1, 13, 14, 16, and 17 sometimes gets a little out of control. 6/10 on maintenance
Beginners will find plenty of challenge on this course. Intermediate players will be pretty bored on the front nine but find the back a lot more challenging. Advanced players will have enough challenge to keep them interested on the back. 6/10 on challenging all levels
Cons: Most holes have two pin positions, but on many of the holes the alternates aren't much different from each other and don't change the feel of the holes at all. There's one alternate tee on 18. 3/10
There's not much variety in distances. Most holes are 275-325 feet, especially on the front. There are a few shorter more technical holes on the back. Not many long bomb holes, 8 and 11 are about as close as it gets. 3/10
Much of holes 2-11 are pretty open, with a few trees to avoid. There is some decent variety on the back. 1, 12, 14, and 16 are fairly technical. Variety of openness 5/10
This course doesn't have many holes that force you to throw a certain shot path. There are some exceptions, holes 1 and 18 require right to left, while 9, 10, 12, and 17 require left to right. 5/10
Other Thoughts: Overall Challenge: 4/10
This course is a decent play if you are in the area, though if you're in Topeka I definitely prefer Crestview Park. Neither of these courses are particularly challenging, and if that's what you're looking for you should head up to Longview at Perry Lake.
This course is pretty solidly at a 3 for me, with a 2.902 on my spreadsheet. Holes 2-11 are a 2.5 quality, while the rest are more of a 3.5 quality, averaging out to a 3.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.
Solid but overrated
3 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: Nice back 9 with a little more variety than the front 9. Great hole 18!
Cons: Kind of a boring front 9, not a lot of trees involved.
Other Thoughts: Overrated compared to other great courses in KS. Awesome last hole though.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.
Lake Shawnee - North Course
4 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: I was in the area for the day and had the afternoon off so I decided to check out the most highly rated course in town (per DGCR). Whether or not it is the best course is neither here, nor there. It is the only one I have played in Topeka though.
- Being that I am of novice/intermediate skill level, this course was a pretty good fit. I can only drive about 225 right now so making par was a fair challenge for my skill level.
- The back 9 in general was designed well for my style of play.
-Plenty of parking and I know there are bathrooms within a short drive.
- The baskets have big number signs on top of them making locating the baskets, for the most part, relatively easy. Of course, I could not locate 17 but determined it was buried in the woods through a process of elimination.
- Some of the nicer tee boxes I have played on. Long enough and make of concrete that has minimal cracks or issues.
- Plenty of benches if you need to sit to rest or if you are waiting on the group in front of you.
Cons: - The 18th...where do I start. I didn't even attempt to tee off from the box for fear of losing a disc in the water. Instead, I teed of from about 30 feet from the shoreline. I can see how higher skill level people would enjoy this hole.
- Holes 3 through 9 are somewhat repetitive as they zig-zag across a field with little elevation change.
-Some holes have markers that state their numbers, others do not.
- There are not multiple basket locations, as stated on here. And there are not multiple tee boxes for each hole either. I don't have a problem with this though.
Other Thoughts: DGCR states that there is a south course on the other side of the park road but I looked and did not see any baskets. I did not look hard but I could have missed them. I would not say that this is a must play but, in the case that it is the superior course in Topeka, it was worth the stop. I know people said this is close to a disc golf shop (LSDiscs). I would have stopped but my phone gave me the location as being a persons home so I skipped for today. Overall, I would recommend this course but would like to play the others in the area before going back.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.
my favorite topeka course
2 Helpful / 2 Not
Pros: beautiful lake scenery, water comes into play 3-4 times , plays pretty quick for a 18 hole course. i love holes 14, 15 and 18. there is a practice basket wich is nice helps give you something to do on busy days. the make good use of the elevation there.
Cons: wish it was longer , first couple baskets a lil narrow
Other Thoughts: lsdiscs is 2 blocks away
2 of 4 people found this review helpful.
Hilly by the lake!
4 Helpful / 1 Not
Pros: This course sits on the SE side of the biggest lake in Topeka. The holes are easy to navigate for the most part and have great use of trees, elevation changes, and water. The holes are also a good mix of lengths ranging from 216'-415'. The area is very well trimmed and maintained at all times. There are plenty of trash cans and benches throughout the course as well. There is also a water fountain ny #11 tee as well as a walking/biking trail. In addition to this the baskets are in great shape and the tee pads are huge. Lastly, there is so much to do around the lake. There are grills, picnic tables, playgrounds, bathrooms, and even the lakes swiimming beach can be seen from the course.This course is a must stop in Topeka as it is just one of two 18-hole courses here!
Cons: The area is generally pretty breezy to the winds coming off of the lake. Water comes into play on the back nine which is great, but if you aren't careful you could be leaving with 2-3 discs less then you started with. Navigation can be tricky on a couple of occasions (after #5 go up the big hill & after #11 go down the hill). Very minor cons here, the pros clearly out weigh them.
Other Thoughts: #1- Through two trees (at the tee) and around a row of other trees that the pin lies behind.
#s 6,11,13,15- All great downhill bombing opportunities.
#18- Signiature Hole. This beauty sits atop a high hill as many others do. The hole extends to a cove in which your disc must clear to reach the pin on the other side. This hole is also downhill and requires a hefty throw to make it over the water.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.
Worth a trip
2 Helpful / 4 Not
Pros: easy to tell where you're going, Pin placement is good. LS Discs is pretty close if you lose something in the lake. aceable and birdieable holes.
Water holes give this place the challenge it needs
Cons: No signs to help you find it if you aren't around, also no signage by the tees to show distance or anything. except for the holes around the lake no real challenges. Dries out slowly
Other Thoughts: Great atmosphere, great place to practice, you can even take a swim at the end to cool off on a hot Kansas Day
2 of 6 people found this review helpful.
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5+ 
6/17/2012 
7/1/2012
Review By: DisCat13 
This review was updated on 3/17/2013
Hole #16 (Taken 10/2022) 
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