Pros:
- high level of challenge with tight, technical fairways
- some variety in hole length, though all on the shorter side
-practice basket
- ample parking
- plenty of benches and garbage cans
- amazing scenery and tight fairways wrapping around the sides of elevation
- baskets are serviceable though showing their age
- limited undergrowth makes finding discs easy in most places
- tight lines force a variety of shots and skill with shaping
- one of the most unique courses you will play
- some intense elevation change incorporated
- even flat holes "feel" steep in places due to dropoffs
- lots of birdie opportunities
Cons:
- not very clear where Down Under course starts
- some may feel holes are too short
- natural tees are short and rather precarious in places
- tee signs are some of the worst, just numbers on trees
- discs can get very chewed up on this rock/dirt type course
- heavy road traffic noise takes away from mystique of this course
- hole 18 ends kind of randomly and its unclear how to exit woods
Other Thoughts:
It pained me giving Rosedale Down Under a 3.5, which objectively I felt like was the right score, because I loved this place. Tight, technical disc golf with high rolloff/dropoff risk - you almost feel like you're playing on the side of a mountain - in Kansas!
At times, I felt like this course could use some built-in stairs in steep spots. I'm not sure I want them though. Part of what makes this course so cool is that rugged, rough around the edges style. Dare I say natural tees make sense here? Some quarried stone might play better, but it's not like you need huge run ups on these sub-250 ft holes. While the equipment is just ok and this course is definitely a bit haggard in places, the feel, scenery, and mystique of this place cannot be overstated. On hole 6, I almost felt like I was on the side of a Colorado mountain with the rocky terrain and evergreens about.
Besides the equipment, I think one of my biggest cons here is navigation - not so much during the course, which mostly flowed ok - it's just getting there and getting out! The start of the course is hard to find, you have to follow the directions laid out clearly. A sign near the parking lot would help immensely. Then the course ends more or less in the middle of the woods and it's totally unclear how to get out and back to the parking lot. It was just weird, really.
This course is scored very well but I could definitely see some people not enjoying it. The disc golf is very technical, there are almost no long holes, and it is kind of dirty/dusty and strenuous. I love courses like this, but some will not. If you don't have good shot control you will struggle here. Being able to throw both backhand and forehand helps to not fall victim to the sheer dropoffs. If you can't do a forehand, an anhyzer may substitute ok. This course feels for awhile like it's just wrapping around a mountainside (ok, hillside I guess) so there is always that "oh crap" opportunity, though thankfully I avoided ever losing one off the edge.
You won't really see grass on this course, but you won't see a really open hole either. Most are heavily wooded though a few have a bit more space. Honestly, anything over a 4 seems generous; this course is rough and it feels like maintenance might not be the best, but I still loved it. This feels like an older style of disc golf before longer holes and it's just a ton of fun. If you are in the KC area I highly recommend checking this course out. It's probably my favorite course in the KC metro, I had more fun here than Water Works. Clover Cliff to the west is even better, but in the KC area this is one I wouldn't miss.