West Liberty, IA

Wapsi DGC

2.235(based on 11 reviews)
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11 0
wolfhaley
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 19.9 years 970 played 542 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 16, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

Wapsi DGC is a fairly typical city park niner. It's located in a small park just on the edge of the town. The course itself stays away from other park activities and shouldn't ever be crowded. Easy navigation. The flow of the course is real simple from hole to hole and it starts and ends near the small parking lot.

The baskets are older Mach II's I believe. These things are really durable. They catch okay, not great, but get the job done. All are still in solid shape after all these years and Iowa winters. One basket and pin position per hole.

Concrete tees on each hole. These are on the smaller side but more than serviceable for a course like this. One tee per hole.

The tee signs are the prominent white plastic ones with the stick on decals you've seen many times before. I should really learn the brand name of these. Either way, these are very basic. Hole map, par and distance. They have a next tee arrow too, which is always appreciated. All you really need here since every basket is visible from the tee minus hole 4.

The design of the course is well done. It's a small park, even smaller space for the course. They do a great job of fitting nine holes in here and incorporating the limited trees and even having the creek come into play on holes 2 and 3. Though that would take a pretty errant shot to reach it.

Permanent, free to play and probably never busy. Shouldn't take more than 30 minutes to get a full round in here and it's a good pit stop if you're travelling along 6 from Iowa City to the Quad Cities or vice versa.

Cons:

The tee signs and baskets are starting to show their age a bit. That'll happen on permanent courses in the midwest though.

Speaking of the baskets, while durable, older Mach's like these just become more and more inferior with all the newer models debuted since these came out. A couple are a little leany and they're starting to get a little rusty. Nitpicky for sure, just worth noting if you jam putts into the baskets.

A few of the holes play very close to each other. Mostly a non issue I'd assume due to the low volume of traffic here. But if there are other groups you'll have to wait on a couple holes and should have your head on a swivel.

Completely flat and on the shorter side. If you like to air out drives this isn't the course for you. The holes range in length from 196' up to the longest, hole 3, at 400'. Not a con, just a heads up to the big arms.

Other Thoughts:

Decent little small town nine. Not worth going out of your way to play, but for sure worth a visit if you got a little extra time and happen to be in the area. You can certainly do a lot worse than this one. There's just nothing memorable about it. I'd hit it again though.
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4 0
yearofrolling
Experience: 26.8 years 87 played 18 reviews
3.00 star(s)

It Starts Here 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 31, 2021 Played the course:once

Pros:

Great trees.Easy to read layout with signs.

Cons:

Tee pads could be bigger.

Other Thoughts:

Iowa is chock-full of peaceful little hamlets, each with their own Sub-Way, Dollar General, AND beginer-friendly disc golf, usually weaving it's way through the city park.
West Liberty is no exception.
These little courses play important rolls in our sport: they grow the sport through introduction, they sharpen vital skills like approach shots and putting, and, for a lot of players, are the meat and potatoes, the ol' stand-by, the place where they can get a quick round in after work.
Where they play when they can't drive an hour to get to that big 18 holer.
It's where most of their rounds will be played.

Maybe you're fortunate enough to live in one of these little towns, maybe you're driving through like I was, either way the time spent on the disc golf course is almost always better than wherever else you were going to be.
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0 2
bk1ia
Experience: 41 years 38 played 3 reviews
3.50 star(s)

a little disc golf good life! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 2, 2015 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Easy to find park. Lawn-length grass fairways throughout. Stately mature trees.
Intuitive 9-hole layout with obstacleshazards in play on every hole.

Cons:

baskets #2,3,4 to close to disc-confiscating creek,tempering full-on pin attempts

Other Thoughts:

a successful inviting 9 holer worthy of praise
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2 0
Jukeshoe
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.6 years 315 played 266 reviews
1.50 star(s)

What do you call an Italian ocean? 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 24, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Wapsi DGC is comprised of nine solid beginner-style holes. Located in a small park, the course is flat, grassy, and dotted with large mature trees. A small stream with steep schule-covered banks comes into play on three holes (#'s 2, 3, 4) and adds a fair risk for beginners. The course shares the property with other various park activities.
- Good use of water. #2's a short open ace-run with the stream directly behind the basket waiting to swallow anything that goes long. The stream's steep bank and gnarly vegetation makes discs fairly difficult to recover. A spotter might be a good idea on #2 during the summer months.
The stream stays to the right of the fairway on the next two holes (#'s 3 and 4). #4's the most difficult hole on the course. Clocking in at 406', it's the only hole on offer over 320'. Trees to the left, the river to the right.
- Good use of the many large trees. While nothing could be considered "tight," there are enough trees in play on most holes to at least create a reasonable challenge.
- Concrete tees, adequate signage, good flow, decent enough golf.

Cons:

- The course plays too close to other park activities in places (#'s 5 and 6). A playground lies directly in the killzone of noob hyzers on #5, and the fences from the ball fields are rather close on both #'s 5 and 6. Scattered benches are also placed in awkward positions. In crowded park conditions, the course most likely would be unplayable due to safety issues.
- Flat. Not much the course designer could do about this, but man is this course flat.

Other Thoughts:

- A good beginner course with a bit of spice (in the form of the water hazards) and a few trees thrown in for good measure. An okay place for strollers, practice, or one-disc rounds.
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1 1
IHearChains
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 19.8 years 211 played 34 reviews
1.50 star(s)

intro and practice course 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 9, 2012 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Good practice course for midrange and approach game, only a couple holes call for a driver. A few obstacles to make it interesting, and one hole is dangerously close to a creek that is large enough and murky enough that you might not get your disc back.

Cons:

Not much variety. Flat. It is probably good for the purpose of getting local kids introduced to disc golf, but it's not really a good course for serious play.
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4 1
mashnut
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.1 years 831 played 767 reviews
1.00 star(s)

Beginner park course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 24, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course plays through a nicely maintained city park with mowed grass and mature trees. There are enough trees on a few of the holes to make you hit a certain line, the majority offer multiple options to get to the pin. There is some good distance variety, with a couple longer holes and some shorter ace runs mixed in. The creek comes into play on a few holes, adding some risk to otherwise fairly open shots. Baskets are in good shape, as are the tees, signage is basic but totally adequate to follow the course and to know where to throw.

Cons:

The course is pretty straightforward, other than a couple holes you can throw a simple hyzer on every shot. There's just not a whole lot of interesting challenge outside of the creek and the couple longer shots. Though the course mostly stays away from other park uses, there is some potential on a couple holes for some safety issues where the course plays near some kids' play equipment. A couple spots on the course took a minute to figure out which was the next tee with a few in a small area, though it's pretty easy to figure out with a minimum of extra walking.

Other Thoughts:

Beginners will have a good time here, there isn't a whole lot of punishment for limited shot selection or errant shots as long as you stay out of the creek. More experienced players won't be tested here, you can score well with just a putter.
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3 0
notapro
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.7 years 568 played 281 reviews
1.50 star(s)

Beginner/Intermediate 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 24, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Course is set on one end of a city park; there is some other stuff like baseball fields, possible interference with the disc golf side of things. Shouldn't be horrible.
- Many holes use mature oaks to make things interesting, a few holes are better suited to a hyzer or anhyzer because of this. There is usually a line no matter which way you go, but some are easier than others. Shorter trees with lower branches are also present in a few spots.
- A wide creek is in play on three of the holes, and is definitely in play. A bad shot here can be the end of a disc; when I was there the water was pretty deep and moving. Punishes shots that drift too far right on #3 and #4, and shots that go long on #2. #4 is a longer RHBH anny, pretty risky.
- Wide mix of hole lengths here, there are some definite ace runs, as well as 2 over 300' and another over 400'. Combined with the treacherous water hazard, holes #3 and #4 demand good length and control for a close putt.
- Good signs, baskets, and teepads. Navigation can be confusing with a lot of holes close to each other, but it's easily figured out.

Cons:

- Besides the oaks and some other trees, there is not much to worry about in the air. Being able to shape basic lines will be plenty here, with a lot of options on most holes.
- Four of the holes are under 250', not much challenge for an experienced player.

Other Thoughts:

- All in all, a fun little course to play some relaxing disc golf. Assuming that you can stay out of the creek! It is a real hazard, with a real chance to lose some plastic. Definitely adds good challenge on three of the holes.
- Great course for beginners, as long as they stay dry. More experienced players won't find much challenge here.
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3 0
lazy42
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.8 years 40 played 39 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Short and sweet 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Apr 24, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Nice small town park setting. Concrete tee pads. Adequate tee signs. Nice # of fully grown trees for shade and obstacles. Park was maintained well. Bathrooms on site. Benches and other playground equipment in park. Trashcans on course. Creek comes into play on 2 if you overshoot, along 3, and again on 4. Course flow was simple, one after another.

Cons:

Playground equipment was near a few holes (4 and 5) and there were a lot of kids in the park when I was there, so I had to temporarily skip those holes. Lack of elevation. Didn't look like there was any room to expand course.

Other Thoughts:

Though mostly a shorter course, it had one longer hole to air it out on, but a risk reward type hole due to the creek (hole 3). Course had a couple of really nicely thought out holes (4 and 7). 4 being a slightly longer hole, with a left to right shot that starts open, but squeezes you in the closer you get to the hole, and don't forget about the turn in the creek there too, it'll eat discs from what I hear. 7 is a shorter hole, but the pin is protected fairly well by a few large tall trees, and a medium sized flowering tree (looked like a flowering tree) that blocks the straight approach. This leaves you with several options, left to right, right to left, or you could try to slip a tommy or thumber in (that's what I did). I enjoyed the park and hope to return to better my scores.
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0 0
can_ravens
Experience: 15.8 years 8 played 2 reviews
3.50 star(s)

fun course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 16, 2009 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Fun, this course is short and level. great little town. beautiful park. fun with my kids. which are age 15 and 12

Cons:

the stream along the one hole. it claimed my sons disc. not easy to get to the stream and it moving fast.

Other Thoughts:

Great setting beautiful park. Kids had fun goofing around on playground equipment. Nice places to sit and just enjoy the surroundings.
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3 0
wolito
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 17.1 years 88 played 86 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Wapsi fun 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 17, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

Easy to get to in West Liberty with parking right next to hole 1. Teesigns on all the holes with everything you need on them. Course design is great, with one hole flowing well to the next. Mainly shorter holes, but the large trees add to the challenge. Baskets are in great shape. Teepads are concrete, no problems there. Creek comes into play on 3 holes, but as long as you don't overshoot it, you will be good. Careful placement of the baskets maximize the challenge. Holes 3, 4 7 and 9 reflect this with either water or trees to affect your throw.

Cons:

A short course. Maybe throw in some longer holes, or just add some more. Not much elevation changes here.

Other Thoughts:

Another small town Iowa course that surprised me! This short little course was well thought out and it shows. Bring a putter and a mid are you are set. Birdies await, and maybe even an ace as well. I would definately come back here again.
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6 0
Gflap
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 20.7 years 423 played 33 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Wapsi is no whoopsie 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 21, 2009 Played the course:once

Pros:

About 5 miles south of I-80. 7x3 concrete teepads. New DGA baskets and tee signs. Freshly mowed fairways. Creek borders right side of holes 3 and 4. Trash cans on 3 holes. Nice bench behind #7 tee box to relax for a minute. Bathroom in park. No termites (casuals) when I played.

Cons:

No elevation change. Skeeters were bad as course is along low lying area next to creek.

Other Thoughts:

This course provided for a fun, easy round. Hole # 7 was my favorite hole--a short tunnel type shot with the option of LHFD flick shot. Moderate use of mature trees as obstacles. Also uses outfield ballfield fence as OB on one hole. Worth a stop here if driving along I-80.
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