Pros:
Howard Park is a nice nine, with natural tee pads marked with numbered posts and Discatcher baskets. Fairways are cut out of the woods, and mostly bare aside from the winter leaves littering the ground, and the grass as you exit on the last hole. The park is multi use, but the disc golf portion carved out of the woods, and is pretty well off the beaten path.
If you don't enjoy wooded fairways you should skip this one. Most lanes are sizable enough to stay clean, but stray trees stand here and there and some lines are quite crowded. A stream runs through the center, and is in play at times. Missing a throw in certain places will mean you're facing a tough recovery. Distance is not crazy long, only one hole exceeds 300' and a couple of others are a touch under.
This one is tough for new players due to the multitude of trees. A good challenge for the recreational guys or gals. The first two holes are good warm ups. 1 is a bit downhill and short, a bit of right to left. A putter can do the job but don't overthrow, the creek is just behind the pin. There was water, and visibility is not good. Hole 2 is slightly uphill, also right to left. It is more than twice the length of the first hole, at 329'. A well placed drive and nice skip could get you close, but I put too much hyzer and came up left and well short. 3 might be the prettiest hole, see the pic. I like the little tunnel shot with a mid range or putter, and this one does it nicely. Dead center of the fairway, the basket is framed by trunks posted up on both sides. The creek is a factor, along with the handful of trees that create the snug run from A to B.
I didn't know what to do with hole 4, it made me wish I had a better sidearm. It's tough for RHBH, but does have the airspace to get good distance. A row of bushy evergreens on the right side hide the bucket. 5 has a couple of obstacles that require either good precision or a bit of luck to pass by with one throw. A line drive with little or no fade, about 260' is what it takes. Hole 6 is left to right, and not too hard of a bend. Short and sweet, unless you miss to the right. I don't recall much water, but the pin is in a bit of a valley with a minor drop in elevation. Hole 7 is similar to hole 6 in spirit, with a lot more teeth. The turn to the right is much more lefty friendly if you throw backhand. The inside of the curve is lined with trees on the edge of the creek, and it is a steepish drop of several feet. Probably the worst place to get wet.
Hole 8 is a kinder version of 3. Longer, but with a less crowded route to the pin and a very gradual decline in elevation. It does cross the creek on the approach, but it's at a shallow point without much risk. Hole 9 might be the most open throw from the tee, but there is a window and you need to be turning left after passing through. The pin is on the only grassy portion of the course, you'll walk past it on the way to the first tee. The approach is directly over a depression with a drain that was dry on the day I played, but looks like it could be squishy after storms.
I liked the balance of this layout. It is fair for both right and left handers. Has a couple of putter throws and some where you need to wind up. The fairways border on unfair in a couple of places but don't cross the line. As far as 9 holes go, this one is almost as groovy as can be.
Cons:
Improvements on equipment would be really nice. Concrete tees would be my first upgrade, followed by signage. The path was hard for me to find going from hole 2 to 3, I walked down a deer trail into tall grass for a ways before realizing I shoulda made a left. One or two directional cues could be helpful. I was told there is a map on a competing DG website, maybe I will bootleg it and post it on this page at some point.
Stream crossings can be slippery when wet. There are stumps, rocks and crude steps carved out in places, but the short legged and clumsy tread carefully. It was a bit muddy when I visited, and my girl needed a hand to stabilize her at a couple of points.
Other Thoughts:
I did enjoy this course quite a bit, it reminded me of some of the courses I played while living in the Augusta area with the woodsy setting. We went to try out a brewery (Smoke in Lee's Summit, it's excellent) and played Recreation Park in Raymore first. Howard Park only has half as many holes, but I would play it twice before visiting Raymore, unless you are looking to notch multiple new ones.
Unless there were another nine holes added, I couldn't go over a rating of 3, but I liked this one all the same. I don't really penalize for natural tees and lack of signs like I should, the soul shines through here. Mud was limited to the creek's banks, and never interfered with my play. I will have to return in the spring and try it out with leaves on the trees. I bet it is significantly brighter in May, though perhaps a bit more added challenge.
I played poorly, missing birdie putts on holes 1 and 5, and one was a real chump shot. Bogies on holes 3, 6, and a double bogus on 7 humbled me. It isn't out of the question by any means, but I would feel like I had a good round if I finished bogey free here. Control is key in a few spots. This is a good addition to the scene, and fills a void in this small part of the metro area.