Ottawa, KS

Kanza Park

2.965(based on 12 reviews)
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12 0
Pevio
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 11.9 years 188 played 120 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Right Down the Middle

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 17, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

Kanza is about what you would expect from Kansas. Good use of elevation and trees, though there's not much of either, and great upkeep overall. The front and back nines are divided by a bike trail, and you're never far from the start.

I didn't expect there to be any par 4's and 5's, but there were. It's a par 60 layout, and the higher pars are real interesting. They make the park a bit cramped at times, but I think it's worth it. Hole 14, the par 5, plays through a tight section, using the creek as OB to make the middle part harder. Hole 17 is overall the best hole on the course, although it plays a little too near one of the paths.

The creek is used on a few other holes to make you think twice on a handful of drives. It ends up making a decent OB challenge. And it's small enough that you can ignore it completely if you want.

While a lot of holes don't have much going for them, they're all a good bit different. That one tree that's in the way is in a slightly different position on almost every hole, and there are a few low ceiling shots at the beginning and end of the course.

Cons:

With the little amount of space there is here, a few holes end up rather boring. Hole 6 is the worst one, but a lot of others have only one tree in the way, and won't provide much difficulty after a few plays through. The drives of 4, 9 and 16, and upshots of 13 and 16 are also pretty wide open. Once you figure out all of this, some of the holes just lose their spiciness.

Even on the more interesting holes, there's often one line that is super open. Granted, which line that is does vary from hole to hole, but when you can step up to several of the tees and throw your most comfortable shot with nothing in the way, it's not great.

The walking and biking paths are really close on some holes. Hole 17 is between two of them, and hole 1 is between one and the parking lot. Playing OB, it makes those fairly interesting holes, but it does hurt safety. A few other holes start right by the path, so while it's easy to see anyone approaching, you might be waiting for a little while. In addition, a few holes play pretty close to each other. When you're already avoiding the paths and the creek, your only option is to throw down the middle, and if you miss that line even by a little, you might be yelling fore.

Other Thoughts:

This does seem like it's a good beginner course. The distance on some of the holes won't be accessible for them, but with the relative openness (but not completely open) and the niceness of the park, this is a decent place. Some shorter tees on the par 4's and 5 would help for beginners.

There aren't many other ways for this course to improve. I think a better version of hole 14 is possible, but I don't know how that would happen. Anything to get hole 6 out would be good, but I again don't know how that would happen.

This feels like the most average course there is. Not bad by any means, but nothing special either. And not just in overall quality, but every aspect is average. But when everything is average, the result ends up being pretty decent, and someplace that most everyone can have fun at.
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9 0
Surge5
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 9.7 years 166 played 166 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Just Went To Worlds, Too Tired To Title

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 5, 2022 Played the course:once

Pros:

Sprawling across the entirety of Kanza Park, the disc golf course invites a lot of low scores - but could get tough on you if your throws start getting errant.

Good tee signs and great quality DisCatchers are the best of the amenities. The pads could be a little bigger, but they're not unusable like they used to be.

A good variety of distances and shot shapes; you'll get to use most of the discs in your bag here. Getting a par 62 (60?) course out of this land without being easy to the point of becoming a bore is a nice feat in itself.

The more open front 9 is contrasted by a tighter, more wooded back 9 with the bigger pars. Always nice for the challenge to go up throughout a round, but count yourself lucky if you get to start on holes 8-10 in a tournament.

Both the par 5s stand out from the rest of the course. 14 is a shocker when you read you'll be going 920ft through the middle of the park, and beating the last wall of trees justifies the par 5. 17 has a very interesting design, with a low ceiling off the tee and tree placement that encourages control off the tee then a big drive on the second shot, with the landing being important to zip into the green for a 4. It's not the hardest hole to birdie, but messing up the placement or going for broke off the tee is a good way to take a par or worse.

Cons:

Design is the weakest part of this course. Holes 1, 7, and 16-18 all play next to or across a walking path, holes 1, 5, 6, and 9 are all open air, and the baskets of 2-4 are much too close to the tees of 3-5 to be "safe." On top of this, if hole 4 thinks that a 3ft strip of that orange mesh construction fencing just to take away the straight line is an "obstacle" that I'm not gonna complain about, it's wrong.

Holes 7 and 13 are not par 4s. 407 and 330 downhill respectively are not enough of a challenge to warrant a 4. Switch them to a 3 on your scorecard and enjoy the rest of this par 60.

None of them are horrible, but none of the par 3s really do anything to separate themselves from each other besides being super short (6) or super wooded (18).

Other Thoughts:

This course has some big weaknesses to improve on. Defining official OB and making some safety fixes would bring the overall value of this course up, but combined with the other Ottawa course this makes for a fine day trip from Kansas City or Emporia. Not the flashiest or best of courses, but it's not boring and worth your time if you want a solid small town park experience.

Make sure you search for the park itself and not specifically the disc golf course on your maps app or it takes you to the wrong side of the park where there's no parking lot.
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10 0
Upshawt1979
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.8 years 548 played 429 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Kanza Park is No Turkey 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 23, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

Kanza Park is a really nice park, all grass covered with ripples on the surface that are too meek to be called hills. The trees are spread around sparingly, and are significant enough to be in play in some manner on most holes.

A course map in the parking lot will give you the layout, and the tapered concrete tees indicate direction to the pin. The baskets are really nice models, and also have concrete pads to hold them steadily in place.

Making the most of the vegetation on site, but there are a few wide open rippers with two par 5 holes, and some par 4's thrown in too. If the wind is blowing, things will get a lot more interesting.

Holes 2 and 3 have nice clusters of trees around the pins, and hole 10 is a fun little ace run. Hole 17 has good trees coming out of the box. Very roomy and good for practicing controlled drives and approaches. Beginner friendly, with no water or heavy rough.

Cons:

As well groomed and nicely equipped as it is, Kanza Park is fairly tame. No real elevation change, few trees and part time breezes are about all of the obstacles you will face there.

Mind the walking trails that are alongside some of the holes. Plenty of pedestrians were out there walking off the Thanksgiving lunches on the beautiful afternoon I came into town.

Other Thoughts:

It is 18 holes, and the layout is not bad. I liked the equipment, even with the funky tee pads. Kanza Park is enough to give you a game, but it's not the most exhilarating round.

Still, it's well designed and executed, and is worth a look if you don't have too far to travel, or find yourself in Ottawa, KS for some reason.

I did not fair well on the score card on my single round played there. 67 (+6) with only one birdie. Maybe my firecracker for breakfast or holiday libations factored into my poor putting, but I couldn't sink one to save my life. If nothing else, I need to return to Kanza Park to try and restore my confidence. Feels like I should have been much closer to par.
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3 0
ssimmons
Experience: 10.6 years 19 played 3 reviews
3.00 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 23, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

this was a good course with a variety of shots and distances. Fairly open but enough trees to offer some challenge.

Cons:

Tees, it was a pretty wet day so had to watch some low muddy spots especially when throwing to hole 14.

Other Thoughts:

I played this for a tournament so alternate tees were set up. I preferred throwing from the grass than the triangle tees
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11 0
bigreddog
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 12.1 years 195 played 62 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Better than I expected in Ottawa 2+ years

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 7, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Discs are very easy to find as long as you don't miss right on the first hole. No dense woods or tall grass in play. 10/10

There is a great variety of distances on the holes. A couple holes early on and number 8, 10, and 15 do not require driver, while 5, 14, 16, and 17 are all well over 500ft. In general the back nine plays longer than the front but there is a good mix throughout. 8/10

Good mix of openness on shots. A couple drives have no trouble in play at all (5 and 9 come to mind) while others require a technical shot (3, 16, and 17). In addition, some holes require a more accurate drive while others a more accurate approach. 7/10

Once you find the tee the navigation is pretty good since the tee points you toward the hole and there aren't alternate positions. Some baskets are kind of close together though like 14 and 15, and also 9 and 18. overall 7/10

The available obstacles were used pretty well providing good holes but not any awesome signature holes, a few more would have been nice. 7/10

Although there are only a couple of benches there is a good deal of shade as well as running water and public restrooms on site. No tall grass helps make this a comfortable round. 7/10

Cons:

No alternate hole positions 0/10

Tees are basically grass. There are little concrete triangles (see pictures) pointing toward the hole with the hole number but they don't really function as tee pads. Also the baskets only have one ring of chains and they are quite a bit heavier than normal baskets. Be sure to hit dead center or you'll be bouncing out, especially if you try to float it in or use a gummy putter like me. 2/10

Navigation between holes is a pretty big problem. There is no map that I've found at the park, so be sure to print one out from this site. The small tees and lack of signs etc. are difficult to see from a distance. 2/10

There is not much elevation at this course, but they do their best to incorporate what is there. holes 6-8 and 10-14 have elevation in play but the rest are mostly flat. 3/10

Many of the holes only have one way to play them. 3/10 on decisionmaking

The front nine here is good for beginners but would bore most advanced players, while the back nine would frustrate beginners and give more advanced players some more of a challenge. 5/10

There are no tee signs or trash cans along the way, and only a couple benches, but the grass has been mowed very well both times I've been there 5/10

Other Thoughts:

Not too challenging, 4/10 overall

It'll be worth the drive from Lawrence for some variety.
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5 0
sipplry
Experience: 10.8 years 19 played 2 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Always Open 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 14, 2013 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

The course is never packed with people, (there's not alot of us disc golfers in Ottawa) so its easy to get on at any time. You get to have a wide variety of holes, in the distance and the way you must play them.

Cons:

The tee pads are by far the worst part, do yourself a favor and tee off from the grass beside the pads. The baskets also aren't the best, but they do the job.

Other Thoughts:

I played a tournament here with the courses designer, and there are a few tweaks to the course that make it a little better. On number 8, instead of teeing off from the normal pad, move back about 20 yards to the bench on the walking trail, this will make the hole a little more longer and difficult. Also on number 14 there is a mando that requires you fly it between the creek and a tree, making it about 30 feet wide at that point, it's about 2/3's of the way through the hole, I'll take some pictures next time I play and add them. Overall a fun course.
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3 1
DisCat13
Experience: 25.1 years 110 played 19 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Good times 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 19, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Good variety of long and short holes. Fun park. Back nine is much longer than front, but all holes are a good mix and a good challenge.

Cons:

Tee pads. Weird. Why the little triangle point? Good that it points at the hole, but a little weird nonetheless.
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6 0
panoptik0n
Experience: 10 played 1 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Above average 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 10, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Interesting hole diversity
-Quiet setting
-Many opportunities to test the different shots + discs in your game
-Pretty fun, although that is a relative thing

Cons:

-Really not a fan of small triangular tee pads. Save yrself the sprained ankle and tee to the side unless you one-step.
-Not super difficult to find following hole, but could
use some signs.
-Course pacing is odd. Two holes >200ft, two 600+.. First 12 are roughly same length as last 6. Could be spaced out better.
-Park walkpath runs along majority of course. Heads up!

Other Thoughts:

Open area, so not the best idea for windy days. Not an excellent course, but not a terrible one either and less than five minutes from I-35.

If you are in the area and want a change of pace, give it a throw!
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3 4
pjc77
Experience: 3 played 3 reviews
4.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 16, 2010 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Clean cut and well maintained, open drives, never crowded, great variation of hole lengths, and most importantly, FREE

Cons:

No individual hole maps, triangle tees.

Other Thoughts:

Really enjoyed this course, I used to play it at least three times a week when I lived in the area.
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4 1
seymourdiscgolf
Premium Member
Experience: 21.9 years 316 played 11 reviews
1.50 star(s)

ATTENTION Lawrence, Topeka and Southwest KC 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 20, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Nice spread. The trees that are in the park come into play nicely. Twenty minutes South of Lawrence so make a day and hit up the 9 and the 18 hole at Pamona Lake, just 20 minutes straight West of Ottawa on 68 Highway. The back 9 was put in within the last couple years so they made use of the rest of the park and streeetttched out the back 9, good and bad.

Cons:

Triangle tee pads?????? The course has triangle shaped tee pads that are about 3 ft wide at the back and are about 5 ft long, they point in the direction of the basket (which I guess would be one of the reasons?). #14 is 900ish ft, don't mistake #15's basket with it though (like we did :) ), 14's basket is the one a little further back on the left as you approach the 2 baskets, you'll see.

Other Thoughts:

HAPPY DISCIN'!!!
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11 0
Donovan
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 37 years 300 played 187 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Let the Pad Point the Way 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 29, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Well this is pretty big park for the area that it is in. The course uses almost all of the park for it's layout. This course has a few trees involved on some of the holes and makes use of the slight elevation. #14 is a 900 foot monster that you can air it out on and #17 is a long hole that has trees working your flight path. There are a couple protected like pin placements out here as well. The course welcome sign has a great map on it. The course was sponsored my the local Rotary Club and it looks as though they do a great job maintaining the grounds here. The baskets are in great shape and even have a Rotary Club logo with the hole number on them.

Cons:

There is a walking path around the course and there are lots of walkers at all hours. So safety is an issue. The Tee Pads are indeed cement and they are in the shape of narrow arrow (see photos). These are worthless as tee pads, but do point you to the basket. Don't twist your ankle on them, by trying to get your pivot foot out toward the end of the pad. :eek:) Navigation is not too bad, but there are no tee signs, so take a copy(picture) of that map with you. There are some holes right next to each other and since baskets 10, 14, 15, 17, & 18 are all in proximity of one another, it helps to know which basket to throw at in that area. Most of the holes are a straight shots, so it does lack in accuracy throws over all.

Other Thoughts:

The Fun Factor here was fair. The hole variety was decent enough it made disc selection not too repetitive and there were just enough interesting pin placements with tree positions to keep those from being t0o boring. #17 was hands down the best hole here and it is what I will remember the most. If you are in the area, it is certainly worth stopping by to play once at least.
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2 1
D-Low
Experience: 2 played 2 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Tee pads? 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 26, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Nice baskets. Large holes. The course is never busy.

Cons:

Weird tee pads. I think they are there for directions only. Well mowed.

Other Thoughts:

I don't think anyone in Ottawa plays disc golf. I have never seen anyone there. If your from Lawrence it is worth the drive for 18 holes.
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