Pros:
UPDATE (6/4/2024): The rough is perfectly mowed, and the course is in fantastic shape.
UPDATE (11/19/2023): Still a fantastic course in great shape. They've now added several blue baskets that are generally farther and tougher than the yellow ones. It mirrors what they did at Bad Rock Creek in Liberty.
UPDATE (09/30/2022): Course was in great shape for my return visit. Trash was very minimal, grass was well mowed, and the new pin positions have kept the course fun without being frustrating. The "creature comforts" (benches, trash cans, etc) are amazing here and really add to the experience. Continued thoughtful updates will keep this a great place to play for the long haul. Original review (from 2013!) follows:
Grass is always mowed, and trash is generally well taken care of.
Benches, concrete tees, and clear, unmarked signs at every hole with bag hangers.
Good range of shots; the first 11 holes are generally fairly open, then 12-18 take you through the woods.
Natural obstacles are used very well. For a beginner, it is challenging but I've never felt overwhelmed or frustrated from playing here. There is a small creek that comes into play on a couple of holes on the back 9 that adds a nice touch.
Everything in good condition, including baskets, tees, grass, etc...also (obviously), the course is in a very nice neighborhood, so no worries there.
Course is fairly long and is laid out very nicely. An excellent way to unwind and relax after a long day at work and enjoy the park.
While part of the course butts up against Colbern Road, the road noise isn't excessive by any means.
As I've played more courses, I'm really coming to appreciate how the fairways don't cross each other and are spaced very nicely. Even though the back 9 is a bit closer, it still doesn't feel encumbered at all. The room is nice and makes this course flow exceptionally well.
UPDATE (2/9): Course has been nicely maintained over winter. I believe 5 is now the only hole that doesn't have multiple pin positions. 9 now has a sharp left dogleg into the trees, 10 and 11 have alternate shorter positions, and 14 now plays over a small creekbed. All excellent changes that really keep the course fresh and are well thought out! Great job Lee's Summit.
EDIT (9/4/14): 5 now also has an additional pin position, farther back. While there are still no alternate tee pads, the city does move the baskets fairly often and many of the alternates do change the par of the hole, which is always good in my opinion.
The terrain variety here is excellent, in my opinion. You have some long hills and wide-open shots, plenty of technical woods, and even some rocky areas on 16-18, which forces you to think about what the disc is going to do when it lands.
The fairways are generally very well maintained, and as stated before, the safe neighborhood is really nice to be in. Trash has been very well under control the last few months.
EDIT (1/30/16): The city has planted multiple trees and appears to be taking great care of this course. The long, tall grass has been mowed down and the underbrush cleared in many spots. Much better to play now.
Cons:
UPDATE (9/30/2022): Minor nit, but the signage really doesn't do a great job showing the expanded pin locations. It's weird because they were pretty good when it was only 1-2 positions per hole, but there are now 3-4 on many holes, and pins C-D are usually not marked all that well. It'll get you "close" most of the time, but if you haven't played here a lot, it won't be apparent right away at times. Original review follows:
This course can get very crowded -- I know this isn't a fault of the course at all, but I've rarely played here where there haven't been several other groups playing as well. Be prepared to wait a lot or get played through.
There is a large maintenance complex right next to holes 1, 2, and 5 with a very high fence, and if you're not careful, an errant drive can easily end up in there. You're technically not allowed to climb the fence to retrieve your disc, so they give you a number to call.
Wear long socks! There's a fair amount of burrs out here and they can get tangled on you if you're not careful.
I'm getting nit-picky here, but there are two large shelters near holes 10-12, and on occasion I've seen partygoers wander into the fairways when there's events. They're usually pretty good about moving, but just be careful so you don't bean some kid in the head with your driver.
EDIT (9/4/14): I've been playing here for over a year now and this is still one of my favorite courses. However, the city does NOT do a great job keeping the rough and brush under control. It can get up over your knees before they finally come and trim it back a bit.
EDIT (1/30/16): It appears LSPR came out this month and REALLY cleaned up the weeds and underbrush. Course is a much better play now!
Other Thoughts:
UPDATE (6/4/2024): I've finally bumped this one up to a 4.5. Yes, this is pretty high compared to what most other folks have rated, but in my opinion this course can hang in there with Lakeside Hills and Bad Rock Creek, two of the top courses in the area. Also, a lot of the older reviews are from before the multiple pin positions were added, which has really opened up this course and kept it fresh. The maintenance is excellent here, and the city has done a good job keeping the rough down. The creature comforts, setting, and variety come together to make this overall my favorite course to play in the KC area. Yes, I'm probably biased as this was my home course for over six years, but when I come back to visit, I always end up back here (even though it's pretty far on the edge of the metro) and always have a phenomenal time.
UPDATE (11/19/2023): Well, I came back to visit again this year, and sure enough, I played this course - twice. It's still amazing and I'm glad to see it thriving and doing well.
UPDATE (9/30/2022): I started playing DG on this course almost ten years ago, and it was my home course for over six years until I left the KC area entirely. I had to come back to visit for family reasons, and had time to play exactly one course...this is the one I picked. Sure, there are objectively "better" courses closer to the airport or other attractions. But aside from the emotional connection I have to it, man this course is still an extremely fun play. It didn't disappoint whatsoever, and it was great to see it so well cared for and in excellent shape. Looks like it will be an amazing course for years to come. Next time I visit, I hope to have more time to play others too, but if not, it'd be extremely tempting to come back to the old reliable. Original review follows:
If you're in the KC metro, this course is on the far southeast edge of town. It's a very suburban, quiet setting, and the most noise you'll ever hear is a kids soccer game at the nearby fields. That's a pro for me, but I chalk that up to personal preference, so your mileage may vary.
I absolutely love this course! I'm so glad it's close by and play as often as I can. There are tons of amenities here and the holes can be challenging, but not overwhelming, for beginners.
The 9th hole dumps you right by the parking lot, so if you're running short on time or need to grab something out of your car, it's super easy.
This is one of my favorite courses, but the lack of trimming the rough has gotten ridiculous this summer it seems like. 6-9 are particularly bad about this -- the fairways are pretty tight, especially on 8, and it doesn't take far into the rough for your disc to dig down and hide. Almost every time I've played lately I've seen people searching in that stupid huge patch of weeds to the left of 4/6, and 7 plays over a hill, which forces you to shoot blind in between two huge fields of weeds. The city really needs to watch this a little closer, as several of these holes are challenging already without the added danger of losing a disc in the middle of a field. (EDIT 1/30/16) This appears to be under much better control now.
While the scenery isn't near, say, Water Works Park, it's still pretty and makes best use of what the designer had to work with. I enjoy the rolling hills and trees. Definitely recommend if you're in the area!