Jones East is fun. It is my favorite of the two 18 hole layouts in the park, although I have only played one round at each, and the round on the West was 3 years ago. The East has fairly consistent rises and falls in elevation, nothing shocking, but it's a factor. There is water in play on several holes, and plenty of OB. The trees will add formidable challenges on a few holes, or at least shape the tee shot most of the time. The winter lawn was nice, and gave some good skips, but the tall grass areas were blanketed with leaves and can still hide an errant shot.

A lot of the holes have long and short concrete tees, and good quality signs are posted at each one. The yellow rimmed baskets from Dynamic Discs will often have alternate pin placements as well. Next to the parking lot there is a practice basket, as well as a narrow profile putting target.

Hole one is a nice starter, with a lot of trees that include a mando forcing a tee shot to be on the left side of the fairway. A building hides the long pin placement, with a road that is OB behind it. Hole 7 is my favorite, with an uphill drive to a landing zone that has quite a few trees, leading to a downhill shot toward the long pin that is also surrounded by trees. This was the only birdie for me on the round, but its a killer hole no matter the outcome. 11 and 12 play across a pond, to heighten the suspense a bit. 11 is a bit longer and may tempt a safe layup to prevent losing discs or taking penalties, but you can go for it and drive the green successfully. 12 can give an ace run with the putter, but it is on an elevated pin that holds the basket about two feet higher than normal. 13 has an interesting dogleg that turns right at the end of the fairway through a gap in a line of trees. 18 is a wild way to finish it out, with the tree lined creek all the way along the right side. It's a long par 3 that ends alongside the parking lot, creating a lot of OB to the left near the basket. My scorecard exploded on this hole, I took a circle 8. Christmas Eve snowman. NOT what I asked for.

There are walking trails that may bring pedestrians into the range of a disc occasionally. The basket on 18 is very near the entry to the parking area, and invites a dented fender from a poor throw or untimely gust of wind. Wind and water could add up to lost discs, beginners could be intimidated by a couple of holes.

The East half of the Jones Park duo is probably my favorite. My memory of the West has aged, but I'm pretty sure that I would recommend the East if you could only get to one of them.

The landscape changes more consistently, between slight elevation changes, water and trees. Maybe a few more birdies to be had, somewhat dependent on the layout, perhaps. A couple of the holes were mostly wide open, but there is a good bit of variation required shot to shot and hole to hole. Diversity of switching up tees or changing pin locations can create fresh looks too.

I was 11 over for the one round sadly. I was missing a lot of putts. Mostly it fell apart when I went 5 over par on the last hole. If I played that one par it would have been nice. My only birdie was on 7, which was in the par 4 long position, and felt pretty good.

Well designed course, variety of shots, championship level holes, some two-drive holes, rolling hills, lake, green grass, just the right amount of trees, good fairways, restrooms.

Not beginner friendly, holes are on the longish side.

I heard they are putting in some short tees which would increase the appeal to amateurs.

Good use of elevation and OB's. Long armers dream with many a skill shot with technique required. Being about a 950 or so rated player I questioned at first the par for many of the holes until I got into playing it. It demands a quality shot at the pin on most holes to give yourself a chance for birdie. It can get you in trouble if you can't control your drive

Can't really find many negatives. Maybe just some holes were a little too close for my liking to other things such as benches, ball fields and roads but it does give it the precision element.

Nice city with all amenities within a mile or so from the course; restaurants, hotels, convenient stores,etc. There are also additional courses within 5 minutes drive of this one. Can make a day out of it and play many holes.

I played this course twice for the PDGA Amateur Disc Golf World Championships in July 2013. Once for practice and once in competition.

This course is a great challenge. The use of elevation and limited water hazards here is well done. It deserves its par 60 status and a score in the 50s should be considered well played.

Most of the holes that use water have a way to lay up for people with smaller arms (except for maybe hole 12).

Course is in great shape following Worlds. Nice tees, nice signs, nice baskets.

Lots of parking at various places around the park allow you to conveniently start at the beginning, or the middle.

Located next to Jones Park - West. One can easily park once and have nice long 36 hole round.

Very few holes that I remember that clearly favor only left hand throws or right hand throws (maybe hole 4 and 14?).

It is a long course, but technical enough that someone with a short arm but accurate control can still score well against a big arm thrower.

Some of the OB that I played with in Am Worlds was temporary. The course is not quite as challenging if the casual player does not have the same OB marked.

A few unimaginative holes: I thought Holes 3 and 17 left something to be desired. This is just my opinion and others may like them. Hole 17 felt a bit simple. I think the tee box can be moved slightly to make this hole better. Hole 3 feels a bit forced. I don't feel like using a building in the fairway on a 500 foot hole makes for a good challenge, it's just annoying. These are the only 2 holes I have much negative to say about.

The tall grass, while nice for a clear OB line, makes discs frustratingly hard to find. Some of t he grass has thorns so its not fun to walk through.

This course is a long walk. This is not necessarily a con for everybody, but some casual players, or people with less endurance, will not be able to enjoy this course because it is too long.

No restroom near the parking lot at Hole 1. Restroom is at the parking lot where the two Jones courses meet in the middle.

The course map on DGCR is old. It has the wrong hole numbers, at least compared to what the numbering was for Worlds.

I don't know for sure, but I would guess the drop zones that were marked for Worlds are not permanently marked.

Just wish I lived closer to Jones Park so I could play it more often!

This course sits in a very nice park that actually has two disc golf coruses in it. The tee pads are incredible consistent and the design of the course makes really good use of land. Many trees and other plant features offer a challenge as OB comes into play on several holes. The variety of shots and length of holes makes this course feel challenging and yet fair at the same time. There are some long pin placements that can really make a hole significantly more challenging. New tee signs and baskets are in place and make the course feel newer than it is. The park does have other amenities for family members who may not like playing disc golf. There are also restrooms at various different places on the course. There is a good amount of elevation that comes into play on a few holes. There are a lot more of those holes that you will remember, either for how well you did on what looks like a tough hole or because of how poorly you did on a really tough hole.

There are a couple of places where the course plays near other park features that might be in use by other park visitors. There are a couple of places where holes are close to eachother and tee shots may come close to other players. The ground can get really soggy when it is wet and you will find some really muddy places, especially around the water features.

When the new baskets and tee signs went in, the start of this course was moved to the parking lot on the far East side of the park. This means that the same parking lot should no longer be used for both courses. This will make tournaments easier but casual play on both courses more difficult. This is probably one of the places you will want to stop at if you are in this part of the country. The course is very fair and does not punish players who cannot throw as far. That is in comparison to the temporary course in Emporia on ball golf courses. The fact that there is a second course to play in the same park is a big plus. I found this course to be really encouraging, even in the midst of some tough holes. The fun factor on this course was really high for me and the uniqueness of most shots on the course pushed the rating higher.

Pretty good variety of hole length
Many holes allow you to really open up on the drives
Quite a bit longer than the West course, but with fewer obstacles (hole 2 being an execption, 610 feet, trees all over the place. Least favorite hole)
flows well, as does the west course
Baskets catch rather well

Sometimes too long, but I have no room to complain, I have played Blue Valley.
Hole 2.
Trees can be obtrusive, (less of avoid the tress, but pick the best one to hit)

I would love to come back and play these in the summer. I am sure they would be more fun. I love how this course lets you bomb on some holes, then makes you place the drive on others. Trees are in a variety of areas, except on hole 2, where they are everywhere. Every hole seems fresh, so it rarely hits a dull moment.

Incredibly challenging. Its long, but its not a fun and gun kind of long. You really have to assess your abilities and plot a strategy right from the teepad on many holes. Steering your disc around, between and over trees is a big part of the challenge here. Many baskets are set in areas where dense trees, OB areas or other objects are close so placement is key. The water holes have an around route for people who can't clear them by going over. Its tough. Very tough, but its fair. In the minds of many who play disc golf in Kansas, this is the arguably the most difficult course in the state when the pins are set long. If this course emasculates you your first time out, you will want another shot at it.

Some of the same drainage issues that plague its sister course which it bumps right up against. Some hellatious thorns (more like small daggers) in the woods along the little creek by holes 9-11, and some less endangering ones in the tall grass areas on Hole 1 and 16-18. They provide for excellent obstacles, but I hate the idea of risking tetanus for a round of DG. Best keep your disc out of these areas. The conjoined teebox on holes 5 and 8 (see hole 8's picture) is rather awkward.

This one's not for the kiddies folks (send them to the other side of the park), but tournament caliber players will love this, even if the course is set in a short configuration. Much like the West course, I recommend seeing what position the basket is before you tee off as that may have an effect on your strategy. If you're passing through on I-35, and demand a challenge, this one is a must hit.

UPDATE: 5/2012. I've decided to lower this course to 4.0 discs. Nothing is particularly wrong that constituted the drop, but looking at where it fit compared to other courses that I've reviewed, the new score in hindsight seemed more befitting. If 4.25 was available, I'd give it that.

Course does have a good mixuture of open and wooded. Mostly longer holes. More for advanced players. Good tee pads. If you cant drive a long ways - this course will be perfect for you.

Very long and diffucult. Not a good course for beginners that want to shoot a good score.

I live in emporia and really like the east and west course, but prefer playing the west course. Prolly b/c I cant throw like a pro either