Disc golf has become a favorite sport of mine. With three courses nearby, I have been able to squeeze in games between meetings, and also just take off a little early at the end of the day for a round. Steamboat Springs disc golf is done on mountain courses. Uphill shots, throws across ravines, and tricky shots around rocks and trees make golfing here entertaining.
Steamboat Springs has Hillside at Colorado Mountain College. The disc golf course located adjacent the dormitory is a fun, quick course. I often call it a ‘true par 3’ course. Others may not think so, but with my arm and accuracy, I’m able to par or birdie most holes. With this course, it takes you around the base of a mountainside. Most of the holes are easy to see, with a couple using raised flags off the baskets to help identify your target. The most fun shots of the CMC course happen when weather is moving in or out. Winds can gust to 40 mph and carry a disc a long way.
Thunderhead Disc Golf Course at Steamboat Ski Resort is a challenge. This course is located at the base of Thunderhead lift, at the top of Burgess Creek Road. Tee shots are long, often obstructed, and come complete with excellent views of the Yampa Valley. There are definitely uphill tee shots to work with. Overall, the tee to basket shots are commonly even in elevation. The terrain between them is not. A beautiful tee shot can be deceiving and a small hook leaves a lie in a ditch or caught in Tamarack limbs. The downhill shots on this course are a lot of fun. They take strategy.
My favorite, Haybro Redtail Disc Golf Course, is located 20 minutes south of Steamboat Springs. It is on private land and developed by serious disc golf players. The course starts on the valley floor and takes a player uphill along a ridge above the farm. Most holes are marked with basket flags because the terrain is all pro. The shrubs and trees provide for excellent obstacles and many shots are through narrow spaces. If the space is navigated well, the lie of your tee shot is usually excellent.
I find this course challenging and very fun. The views are excellent, and the atmosphere is private, except for the occasional herd of cows. When visiting Haybro, there is a waiver to sign and leave $5. All of this is to keep the course in good condition. It is a privately funded good time.
There are more reasons to be in Steamboat Springs other than great disc golf, and disc golf is a great bonus to being here. It is great to get out and toss some discs with friends and enjoy Colorado a little bit more.