Pros:
Kelley Park in McCook is a really fun disc golf course, boasting an unusual amount of elevation change for the Great Plains. An 18 hole, par 54 layout that is compact and uses all of the available space very well. There are some longish holes, but the majority are reachable from the tee.
The tees are concrete, and they're all marked by posts with signs listing the hole and the distance, along with an illustration. The baskets were all in good condition, and are usually visible out of the box.
There are many holes that can be birdies, but a number of mature trees and tricky pin locations also provide a fair amount of resistance. I played it through once, and would have made a few different disc selections if I had played it a second time. Getting the distance right and playing the elevation correctly is a challenge. In windy conditions, difficulty would be even higher.
Hole 1 is a great starting hole, downhill a bit navigating around several large old trees. Hole 2 doubles down on the elevation, with a massive drop and windows in between branches reaching out from a line of mature trees. 3 goes back up the hill, requiring a good snap to reach the top and set up the easy approach. 4 gives you another big downhill drive. 5 is shorter, and uphill but not as steep. I bonked the birdie putt, and took a nasty roll, leading to two more putts and a bogey. The basket on 10 is blind from the box, and has a steep hill behind the pin. There are lots of trees and brushy limbs blocking the come back if you skip/roll past the basket and down the hill. 13 is one more monster downhill, with a lot of open airspace to bomb it if you want to go for it. 15 is a cool dogleg right, with a turn up the hill into the woods making it a tough par 3.
Cons:
The layout is a bit choppy, with holes 8-10, and 11-13 in corners of the park that are separated from the main portion by roads. Take a good look at the map to make sure you play everything in order without searching and aimless wandering.
No dynamic features, with only one set of tees and one set of pin positions. Few places to sit down if you want to catch your breath. Could use another trash can or two. The practice basket is near not near the first tee, it is across the street from the tee for hole 7, next to the picnic pavilion.
Other Thoughts:
I drove into McCook from the South end of town on Highway 83. As soon as I saw the vista overlooking town I had a good feeling about the first course to be played on this road trip. It was a great view, coming after a long drive featuring mostly corn fields and feed lots.
McCook gave me a good first impression, and Kelley Park disc golf course cemented the deal. I loved the fun drives up and down the hills. The mature trees established fairway lines that kept things interesting.
It is not a championship quality layout, but the level of fun is consistently high. I didn't make any birdies at all, but not because there were no opportunities. My putts just weren't falling, and I had a couple of nasty rolls. At the end of the day I shot a 62. I would love to try this one over again a few more times. After getting a feel for the course and knowing what to throw, under par would not be unimaginable.
This is now my second favorite course in the state, behind Hummel in Omaha. It isn't super versatile or challenging, but the fun factor is undeniable. Reminds me of Jackson Park in Atchison, KS or Earlewood Park in Columbia, SC. Worth a detour if you are driving across that stretch of I-70 or I-80.