Tons of fun, and frustration
10 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: -The hole design is superb. There are no holes that really stand out as being weird or boring, unless you include hole 1... It's a necessary hole though so you can get started at that end of the woods. Being next to the road it also screams "there's a disc golf course here", because otherwise you'd never know.
-If you like wooded courses, Shaver is for you. It has a more Kaposia (MN) vibe than any other course in the area.
-Bright. Pink. Baskets. If these were unpainted baskets it would have been a nightmare course to play for the first time. Technically it's my second time playing it, but the first was almost 10 years ago so it's like playing it new again.
-Tons of design elements in this course. Left/Right doglegs, S curving fairways, varying elevation changes, Low ceiling shots. All of this in a relatively tight wooded area. Some fairways are definitely tighter shots than others, but still never too tight. I threw a ton of different shots on this course.
-The only disc I didn't throw in my bag on this course was a force. To me, that'a fun course.
Cons: -The cons are big, but are actually pretty simple. It was very difficult to navigate, and the signage was written on with a sharpie because the holes changed. I'm still not entirely sure I played all 18, I may have skipped one around hole 4-7. This course really just needs good signage on the tee and at the basket to tell you where to go. There'a course map in the links, you'll need it.
Other Thoughts: I can see this being a rec killer. Then again, most wooded courses are. Be ready to shape your shots and hit some trees.
If course signage were fixed, it an easy 4. Amenities and cleanup would bring it up to a 4.5. There's downed trees and branches in a lot of places that just need removed. Could be the storm that came through recently, or they could be old. There was a large tree downed in the middle of hole 9's landing zone - made that hole much harder than it should've been (it's already a difficult hole). 3.5 rating is just about the best it can be based on course design alone.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful.
Savor the Flavor of Shaver
11 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: The first hole is a bit mundane, but every hole after that is fun. I favor this sort of very woodsy course over a grassy park layout. The elevation changes are really fun on a few holes. The tees are concrete, and the baskets are all decent. There are tee markers with signs that are ok.
If you are like me, you will have a few great throws to go along with a few bad throws. The lines are not too easy, but usually they're well defined and keep a nice mix of shots. I was able to make par on 15 holes, but botched a couple of holes and scored 5 over par. No birdies, but there were opportunities. Very enjoyable and I would love to play most of the course repeatedly.
Hole 2 introduces you to the vibe of the course. Woods all up the fairway, a well worn track with hilly contours. It's uphill and reachable if you nail the drive. Of course, some holes are better than others, but the consistent quality is good. 6 is a fun hole. 7 has a top of the world tee that is memorable. 9 is really good. The fairway along the path on 12 is beautiful. Hole 16 and 17 are great, segmented holes that take some strategy and precision. 18 is not a bad finisher, either.
Cons: The infrastructure could use renovations. The course is well established, and has gone through changes over the years. Not all of the signs are accurate. I found an old pole with the tee sign for 8, but the box and fairway had been abandoned and basket moved. I could have used directional arrows to help navigate some hole to hole transitions. I think I almost skipped a hole, and definitely wasted some time searching for tees. The stairs and paths are eroded and can be very slick in many spots after rain. Beer cans were left in piles near a few tees. Parking lot was overflowing.
Other Thoughts: I loved this course, and felt like giving a better rating. If not for wet conditions and outdated signage, the course would be pretty extraordinary. To live in one of those houses that back up to the park in the middle of the course would be SWEET!
I played Wildcat after Shaver. If the facilities were in the same great condition at Shaver as they are at Wildcat, I would go up a half point in my rating. Slick trails and poor markers were the most noticable points of contention. Upgrades would be amazing, but this is a very good course as is. One of the best in Iowa.
11 of 11 people found this review helpful.
Could Use a Refresh
4 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: -Concrete tees
-Tee signage is OK (missing on a couple of holes)
-Lots of risk/reward, interest for moderate to more advanced players
-Benches and trash cans are plentiful
-Disc shop located right next door
-Map (available on links page) is good
Cons: -Trash cans not emptied regularly
-"Steps" in many areas are falling apart, disintegrating, missing
-Some benches are falling apart
-Some large inclines on hole #3, up to tee box for #6 and between #7 and tee for #8 are a little daunting, especially for rec players
Other Thoughts: I enjoy playing at Shaver, and while there is some work going toward upkeep, there could be more to refresh this course to what it was. It is a technical course with only one really open hole. There are many risk/reward holes (#4, #6, #15, #16) and a couple of fun downward or across the ravine holes (#11, #17 and #18) What keeps the rating down for me is the deteriorating steps in many locations. Some have been replaced with concrete blocks, but many are fading away. Most are not a safety concern, yet, but can be slick and muddy at times. While there are trash cans at most tee boxes, the days I've been there, they are mostly full. New signage would be a plus as well. There are also some orange fences up on hole #13 that detract. There is some effort to stabilize washout prone areas, but some serious refresh would really bring some life to a great course Still a fun course after 20 years. I will play again.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.
Great but Lacking
3 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros:
-Great wooded course with some terrific design
-About a half hour south of Wildcat Bluff course, right off I-380 in Cedar Rapids
-Disc Golf Shop right next to course
- Challenging for intermediate and advanced players
-Fun 1
-Restrooms available
Cons:
-Hard for beginners, but not impossible
-You practically drive right by it on I-380 but can be a little hard to find once you make your exit
-Course has some maintenance issues, at least one tee sign is down and I still can't find the tee off spot for one of the holes
Other Thoughts: The place looks like any small city park with play ground and grills when you drive past and it can be easy to miss but it seems mostly dedicated to Disc Golf (That's the only people I see there). All but one of the holes are tucked in the trees and up the bluffs that surround the park. It's a great place to play, second only to Wildcat Bluff south of Urbana.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.
really cool course.
4 Helpful / 0 Not
Pros: -great signs, tee pads.
-nice care of the course, no trash, mowed.
-multiple tees and placements.
-fantastic use of trees and elevation.
-pretty
-fair for intermediate players on up, but wish i would have learned on this course.
-never feels claustrophobic, but it is tight.
-feels like a home course kind of course on first try. no problem looking back at the round with giant smile on my face!
Cons: baskets need an upgrade.
Other Thoughts: a good, fun, challenging course in a cooler town (city?) i loved my day here, it coupled with about a 45 minute drive to urbana to play wildcat bluff made an unbelieveable disc golf 1-2 punch in the midst of my road trip to chicago. you cannot go wrong making a trip here alone. freakin sweet course!!! easily in my top 10 favorites.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.
0 Helpful / 18 Not
Pros: Sweet course - super fun to play. Excellent design and can't wait to go back. Nice Nice Nice.
Cons: Nothing bad to say really. I enjoyed every aspect of the course.
Other Thoughts: This course is one of the best I have played.
0 of 18 people found this review helpful.
Needs updated signage
0 Helpful / 5 Not
Pros: Very wooded and challenging
Has potential for being a great course, if the cons are fixed
Cons: The signage makes navigation frustrating. Some holes are marked wrong, there is nothing pointing you to the next hole, if the holes have a sign showing where the basket is and/or the distance, it is likely wrong...
Some of the tee pads are cracked or divided into several pieces which threw off my run-up.
Other Thoughts: If I lived closer and played this course enough to learn the holes, it would be great - but since I was coming from out of town, I was spending all my time trying to find the next tee rather than concentrating on my game. By the end, I was kind of over it and ready to be done.
0 of 5 people found this review helpful.
Most challenging course in Cedar Rapids
5 Helpful / 2 Not
Pros: - Great variety of holes
- Essentially the whole course is wooded but there is still enough room to shape shots
- Excellent pro-shop right next to it (Titan Disc Golf)
- Tends to not get much traffic
- The course is very different than it was 5 or 6 years ago. An incredible amount of work was put into redesigning. What were previously repetitive holes are now signature throws.
Cons: - Not beginner friendly. You can't just flick nukes the whole time and expect to make it out alive
- Those playing it for the first time could get a little confused moving from basket to the next pad.
- A course of this caliber should have better tee signs and directions to the next pad.
Other Thoughts: - Shaver is one of the most underrated courses in Iowa.
- Having played here for almost 10 years, the TLC put into by the crew really shows. I don't know who works on it but hats off to them!
- This is a must play when in the Cedar Rapids area.
- I learned to play here so it will always have a special place in my heart.
- It's pronounced 'Shafer'
5 of 7 people found this review helpful.
Great fun
2 Helpful / 4 Not
Pros: A shot-maker's course, not just bombing and putting. Well-wooded (in a good way). Good elevation changes, fun ravine shots. Most holes have several options for playing it.
Cons: Local club is doing a good job with upkeep - tough location for bringing in materials, so improvements take time. Some negative reviews about layout, signs, maps...recommend those people just get the map off of this site since they're on this site griping about a lack of maps.
Other Thoughts: It is a tough course, but you only get into trouble on this course if you invite it - play the course, don't let it play you. Best course in Cedar Rapids.
2 of 6 people found this review helpful.
This course has gotten better
0 Helpful / 2 Not
Pros: This course has gotten better. The guys down at titan disc golf have modified this course to make it longer and more challenging. Theres a few old hole they took out to give it a lot more lenght (but those holes will mot be missed).all the tee pads have been leveled out and the baskets have very nice landscapeing work around them for a spectacular look.very challenging and fun to play.
Cons: Since the work has been done there is very little signage and some times hard to navigate (stop by titan disc golf next to the entrance of the park. they should have a map to help navigate). Not fun after it rains very muddy and slick. Plus the folage gets thick in the middle of summer and in the fall with the leaves falling makes it tricky so be accurate or you'll be looking for your disc alot
Other Thoughts: This course is the most challenging in the cedar rapids area so if you in town stop and play you will not regret it.
Thanks to the guys at titan disc golf shop and the people how helped
for making this course the best in town
Fyi the pictures on dg course reviewer have been updated for a wile so they won't help much
0 of 2 people found this review helpful.
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5+ 
5/13/2016 
5/31/2016
Review By: hotoatmeal 
This review was updated on 7/12/2016
Hole #18 (Taken 4/2011) 
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