Pros:
Too many to list. See other reviews.
Other Thoughts:
'SEE-puh' has been reviewed MANY times. I only add what I hope are useful additions.
NEW UPDATE FOR AUGUST 2023: The upper 2/3rds of the course continues to be one of most exciting, scenic, steep, and serious tests of your mountain skills ANYWHERE.
The lower third continues to experience heavy impact from resort growth. Holes 2, 3, 4, 5,6 and 8 have seen major changes, the latest being a much shorter hole 3 to avoid new buildings. The bridge from the #4 pro tee is still gone, perhaps forever?
Visitors might want to pick a busy time, (it's never crowded). Warm up til you hook up with a local, as navigation is sketchy, even with the map from the store. Spotting the Gold Disc Size Directional signs can help at times.
The Season varies with the snow. Call first to 575-587 2240 if want to play before May or after mid-October. Wear real shoes and bring water...it's a hike and a half in heaven.
New Update for June 2017. The course is now free of spring runoff. There is some debris around the #1 and #19 baskets. Thursday dubs as usual at 5pm, with Saturday singles now at 10am on all non-tournament weekends. Weekends in general are a much better time to hook-up. Try Facebook groups NNMDG or NMDG, as well as the Sipapu site for updates.
The new chairlift is nearly blocking hole #2, which makes for a tough little birdie/ bogie shot. You then either walk down a very steep little 'Hay Cliff', or go right back through the hole #1 green!?! However, that gets you to a new bridge that keeps you off of #3.
The bridge back over the river at #4 is gone, so you walk back beside the #3 fairway and across the #2 green to the new bridge. Keep your heads up through this whole part of the course on crowded days. Meanwhile, #5 and #8 play longer but with more open lanes to the basket.
It is hard to ignore that the entire area around the new chair lift is heavily impacted and pretty ugly to see. Footing can be an issue, especially in the mud, from holes 2 through 8. That said, the time of play and course scores shouldn't go up much. The rest of the course is as beautiful as ever.
New lodgings will probably close some of the lower holes at some point. A new layout is being discussed and with some good planning the course may get back up to '4.5 Phenomenal'. A 5 star 'Best of the Best' is always possible here. Sipapu is ragged for now but always glorious.
Recent update: Early June 2014.
Right now, holes 6 and 7 are pretty bad. A new 'Magic Carpet' ski lift has made a muddy mess. You have to climb over and back on a rather sketchy ladder. And BTW the food is still terrible.
Recent update: Early May 2013.
-Typical early season debris.
-Casual water on 4 is not O.B.
"PERMANENT" NOTES START HERE"
The course is NOT pay to play. You can pay for the scorecard/map if you want. Fly freely if not.
The course is NOT 'just open late spring/summer'.
It's about May 1 until early November or so.
HINTS-TIPS-GETTING AROUND THE COURSE
-There are 3 sets of tee pads on most holes. Some with 2 have Pro Adv. or Adv. Rec on hte sign, indicating a shared tee.
-Look for course directional signs: they are gold and about 10 inchs around.
-Yes it is steep. Bring good shoes/ extra water.
-COURSE STARTS ON HOLE 20!!! and ends after #19. Yes, it's weird but just roll with it.
-The pro tees often go much farther up the grade before throwing (big air shots) back down where you climbed. So to find pro tees on 8, 9, 12, look up to the right. For 17, look up and left in the woods.
-SIPA HAS A LOST AND FOUND!!!! If you find a disc, please turn it in to the Sipapu store.
-The rec tees are VERY easy and really make this a beginner friendly course for anyone who can climb. Discs available in the store.
-Advance tees play like a mostly different course, not just a shorter version of the pro tees.
-The weather is usually great but check for lightning
-Course SEEMS short, but it's really deceptive.
A technical challenge even for versatile players.
If you only know how to bomb it, you bomb.