West Des Moines Leagues

The West Des Moines Park and Recreation’s 2023 non-sanctioned horseshoe league will begin on Wednesday, May 3, and end 14 weeks later on August 2, (prior to the Iowa State Fair). Play is on the Florer Horseshoe Courts located at 14th and Maple in Holiday Park in West Des Moines. Play is on Wednesday nights from 6:30 – 8:30 pm for the nominal fee of $3.00 (for the entire season) for those over age 18, and $1.00 for those 12-18 years old. (Those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent.) This non-sanctioned league is for any level of player from novice to expert. This format allows for play for those showing up under questionable, but playable, weather conditions and also does not penalize players if you have to miss a night of play.

Pitchers will pitch three, thirty-shoe “count all” games using a 100% handicap system (your 30-shoe point average). Each week, those players present will be placed in either a higher handicap or a lower handicap group. Players are matched with similar level players as much as possible. Round robin cards will be turned in each week for league standings tabulation and for updating the handicap for the following week.

A small amount of the entry fee will be used to engrave the traveling trophy with the league champion’s name. The rest will be used to fund prize money that will go to 1st Place (40%), 2nd Place (30%), 3rd Place (20%), and 4th Place (10%). Please arrive by 6:00 pm if you wish to play or text League Director, Chris Jordan, if you are running late.

2022 Winners were:
1st Place – Bert Logsdon – $15
2nd Place – Travis Kahrig – $11
3rd Place – Reggie Crumes – $7
4th Place – Mark Nickell – $4

West Des Moines “Holiday Classic” – Sanctioned League

The Wednesday night following the Iowa State Fair, August 23, the fall sanctioned league begins and continues for 8 weeks. The last night of play is October 11. Play is similar except that now players must be IHHPA/NHPA members. The league fee becomes a whopping $10 for the season. Players will pitch four 30-shoe games which are now 90% handicapped. The games now use cancellation scoring. Stats are turned in to NHPA, and patches will be awarded in the same way they are for sanctioned tournaments. There is one addition – percentage patches are awarded when players pitch at a level 10% above their prior play. The hope is that players introduced to or returning to horseshoes in the earlier league will continue with the sanctioned league

2022 Winners were:
1st Place – Pam Slippy – $50
2nd Place – Fred Allgood – $38
3rd Place – Bert Logsdon – $25
4th Place – Rick Cook -$12