Colorado Trip x2

[srm_520]

Okay - here's the plan. In about a week and a half I have 2 days to play golf in Colorado in about a 14 day vacation. Since the actual trip is in Cheyenne, Wyoming I plan on hitting the three Cheyenne courses when I can:

Dry Creek Parkway DGC (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=1202)
Mylar Park (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=2600)
Ramero Park (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=2589)

But, as I say, my wife is letting me enjoy the luxury of making two trips into Colorado and I want to make the most of it - so here is the plan. (Courses are in the order I want to play them and yes I plan on trying to start playing at the butt crack of dawn each time)

Trip 1:
Sundance Trail Ranch DGC (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=1880)
Beaver Meadows (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=2746) (x2)
Cache La Poudre Jr. High (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=679) (maybe x2)
Edora Park (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=492)

I think trip #1 is pretty solid, and I think my only slow up may be at Edora and actually if I had to drop something it would be the additional round at Cache or Edora all together. So, in the first trip I'm looking at being on Sundance after sunrise and playing 81-90 holes.


Trip 2:
Phantom Falls (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=3129)
Beaver Ranch/Conifer (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=2488) (x2)
Bird's Nest Disc Park (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=352)
Johnny Roberts (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=581)
Camenisch Park - Badlands (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=870)

Okay Trip 2 is all out since it will probably be towards the end my vacation, so I can afford to destroy my arm for a few weeks. Here are the rubs and I'm looking for the Camgolfers and DGTourists out there for some advice. Obviously Phantom Falls and Conifer are the highlights of this trip (the owner of Phantom Falls already contacted me, and is very cool) and so I want to play them first and enjoy the heck out of them.

Conifer gets so much talk that I'm seriously considering playing it twice and maybe cutting out Bird's Nest. Is this a good idea, or should I hit Conifer once and try to get in a round at Bird's Nest. The more I look at Johnny Roberts, the more I want to play it, and I figure I'll only play the Badlands unless I meet some people by chance who know the Blair Witch Project course and then possibly add that.

If I played everything (Conifer x2 and no Blair Witch) I would be trying to play 130 holes. Too much? If I cut out Bird's Nest it goes down to 106 plus driving time and stopping time which seems more manageable in my head. Or cut out the second round at Conifer and play Brid's Nest which would put the daily tally at 110.

Okay, there is it. I would be happy to hear any of your suggestions and/or thoughts on the subject.

[ERicJ]

Having played both... I'd suggest 1 Beaver Ranch and 1 Bird's Nest. Get the chance to see two courses. But having said that I think Beaver Ranch is the better course between the two.

[Miller]

I think you better bring a lot of Aleve.

[srm_520]

Or just find someone who will stick me with Cortisone shots each time I go out! Nothing like juicing up before a round. ;)

[Camgolfer]

Thanks for thinking of me. BTW let me know when you are out and I will guide you. The latter pt 2. of your trip are the courses near my house. I have not played Phantom Falls so I would be down to try something new. As far as Conifer goes- YES! You hear a lot about this course but it truely is one of the best courses around. It kicked my butt twice this weekend, but in a good way. Plan on this course taking about 1 hour 45 mins to play with the walk to the first hole from the parking lot. Here are the pros and cons of the other courses you listed:

Johnny Roberts- Pros: Use different shots in your bag, you don't need a huge arm, tight technical windows and some interesting shots. Nice green park. Cons- Can get very busy at times (but I guess that means it is good), heavy pedestrain traffic can cause back ups.

Bird's Nest- Pros: Can open up a little more here, Dedicated DG course, always being updated and improved. Cons: Needs more trees and better signage, can get hot, bring water.

Badlands- Pros: Some tight shots, some big bomb shots, fun downhill shots. Blair witch back 9 is thick and tight. Cons: every other shot is uphill and then down hill so it is a lot of walking.

I like Edora and CLP as well. Those are fun to play in the same day. Edora can get busy at times too. CLP is very short, but it is fun.

If you are closer to Denver and are trying to figure out which courses to play which day. Going North to south it may be best to Hit Badlands, Johnny, then Bird's Nest and then Conifer and Phantom. The last two are in the mountains and take a little bit of driving to get to. You can drive from Badlands to Johnny in about 10 minutes and then its about 15 minustes to get to Bird's nest. From there its about 45 mins to Conifer.

PM me if you ahve any more ?s

[jroll]

I would also gladly meet up with you at some point on the denver bound trip. help guide a few of the courses. If I was trying to hit all the courses. I would either start at dawn already at phantom or go north to south(see above). If I had to take a roundout to fit it in I would only do one round at conifer. if I was still hurting on time I would take out either badlands or johnny roberts depending on what time of day it was at that point. PM me with the dates once you know them and hopefully we can meet up

[srm_520]

Interesting thoughts - since I'm coming from Cheyenne - I was planning on driving way early and starting at Phantom and working my way back of north. I was thinking of Phantom by 7 and Conifer around 9. That way I can do the other courses around 12ish to 6ish and be on the north side of town to drive home.

I'm actually looking forward to the high dry heat over the Houston 95+ and humid it has been lately. Also, I think I would skip Blair Witch unless you want to play that with me since you know it. I heard it's basically impossible to follow for the first timer. So you do think Bird's Nest is worth the stop?

[jroll]

I prefer bird's nest over badlands but both are solid courses so it six of one half a dozen of another type of situation. if you are going south to north it makes the most sense to go from conifer to bird's to Johnny Robert's finishing at badlands if you still have time. If I am available that day I will glady help guide you on any or all of these three denver courses. Have fun at CLP on day one as well. I got my first ace there on hole 7 about ten years ago.

[ERicJ]

My http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q193/ejubin/2c.gif, but I enjoyed Badlands better than Bird's Nest, and definitely more than Roberts.

[DGtourist]

It took me a long time to finally play Johnny, and I was always told how cool it was, and when I did play it I was very surprised at how short and crowded it turned out to be.

[jroll]

It took me a long time to finally play Johnny, and I was always told how cool it was, and when I did play it I was very surprised at how short and crowded it turned out to be.

it all depends on what time you go. Many times I just will go over to another course becasue I know it will be super busy. However, when you do get there at the right time it is a fun 45 minute round. There are some short holes but also a few technical holes that make up for the easy ones. before they changed the course a few years ago hole 9 made it worth the wait on a busy day. Maybe the people who told you about it had played the old course before they had changed it.

Badlands and birds nest are both longer newer courses that i love playing, but Johnny is one of the older courses around here that i believe is worth playing once just to have played it. So yeah there is probably a good chunk of nostalgia in my preference of it.

[DGtourist]

Well, I still haven't played badlands so that comparison doesn't compute for me but I'd rater play Birds Nest. I did like the creekside holes though, they were pretty fun. I guess I want a little bit more D and Johnny.

[Camgolfer]

Bird's nest has more D than Johnny, but Badlands probably has more D than Bird's nest.

[srm_520]

Bird's nest has more D than Johnny, but Badlands probably has more D than Bird's nest.

So this means you would rank them:?

1. Badlands
2. Bird's Nest
3. Johnny

[Camgolfer]

IMO I rate them as:

1. Johnny
2. Badlands
3. Bird's Nest

I like the technical shots. It is more risk reward. I don't have a big gun so it is harder for me to play the longer course. With the addition of the Blair Witch at Badlands it added a technical side to the course. Badlands I think is the first real disc course I ever played so there is a certain sentimental value. Bird's Nest is a newer course with expanding potential. I like playing Johnny in the morning. I guess it depends on my mood at the time.

[srm_520]

So basically what you're saying is - so many courses, so little time! :)

I think given all I have heard - (unless Conifer just blows me away and I just have to play a second round) I just play Conifer once and play Bird's Nest. Who knows though - if it's a good day maybe I'll just do it all!

[McMarkD]

I was the one who gave DGtourest the Johnny trip. I am a huge fan of Bird's nest. It has hidden gems that are different depending on how big of an arm you have. I play tags there and am amazed at the different challanges the 350 throwers have compared to me a 270 thrower. I also like the risk/reward you have to do at Johnny. I tried to tell DGTourist about the huge hyzer into 9 to take the creek out of play... but didn't do it very will and he hit the creek. He had a great annie however and kept the creek out on 4 which I dropped into. I love Blair Witch, but, I haven't played it yet with leaves on the trees! It is a lot of fun in the winter. Good luck and have fun!

[Camgolfer]

Oh the leaves at Blair witch are nasty now. They have been doing a good job of keeping the field mowed back there so it is real nice.

[McMarkD]

I played bird's nest Thursday and John Bird had just mowed 23 and 24. So, hopefully by the time you get here it will all be mowed. Otherwise, you'd be upset with us, because it isn't up to its usual standards. It, is tough finding discs as overgrown as it was. I was playing with John and he said things like "I know I am going to slash up a few discs when I mow it." Like it is going to be soon. Another course that is fun, and close to all these is Red Rocks CC. I talked to the guy watering the flowers (to ask about when the sprinklers were going to be turned on). He said that next week they are changing around a bunch of holes and are thinking about adding another 9!

[srm_520]

Interesting, and any excuse to get up to the Red Rocks area is a good one.

First concert ever - Dave Matthews Band live at Red Rocks. To this day - best concert ever.

Thanks!

[jroll]

Interesting, and any excuse to get up to the Red Rocks area is a good one.

First concert ever - Dave Matthews Band live at Red Rocks. To this day - best concert ever.

Thanks!

Are you referring to the two disc cd they came out with of their show at red rocks in 95? that was my first red rocks show as well. it is still in the top ten I have seen at that venue

[srm_520]

No, but my brother was at that one. I went to the show two years later when Before These Crowded Streets was coming out. The song Dreaming Tree was amazing and he ended the night with All Along The Watchtower - good stuff.

[jroll]

awesome I was in high school at that point and I think I went to that show as well. there was a four year strech that they played denver once a year that I went to every year. they were all at red rocks except for 96 that was on halloween at mcnichols before they tore it down.

[srm_520]

Yeah I missed out on McNichols Arena, but I've seen them at Mile High (not Invesco), Red Rocks, and The Pepsi Center. Red Rocks was by far and away the best show. Not that the others were bad - it's just that Red Rocks is so amazing.

Anyhoo - the Red Rocks course looks okay - is it good enough to bump one of the other courses from the list??? I don't know if I can squeeze in the additional course that day.

[Schoenhofer]

Wow, I was looking for information on some courses in Colorado and stumbled across this thread.

Amazing; I'm planning a similar trip and out of what, 87 or more courses in CO, came up with the same list as those looking best to play.

Coming from Wichita, KS and might be up there over the 4th of July or might do it later in the Summer.

In Colorado, I've only played the 2 Colorado Springs courses, Pueblo City Park (loved this one), & Johnny Roberts.

Over 4 days, I'd like to hit the best courses and really want to get some mountain courses in! Here's what I was looking at.

*Ft. Collins- Edora
*Red Feather- Beaver Creek
*Red Feather- Sundance
*Arvada- Badlands
*Conifer- Beaver Ranch
*Pine- Phantom Falls

Any other suggestions? Copper Mountain is closed? Winter Park is closed for relocation, but may reopen soon? Lots of other courses out there, but not too much information. Is Frisco worth the trip?

Thanks for the info!

[Camgolfer]

What days are you coming?

[jroll]

Wow, I was looking for information on some courses in Colorado and stumbled across this thread.

Amazing; I'm planning a similar trip and out of what, 87 or more courses in CO, came up with the same list as those looking best to play.

Coming from Wichita, KS and might be up there over the 4th of July or might do it later in the Summer.

In Colorado, I've only played the 2 Colorado Springs courses, Pueblo City Park (loved this one), & Johnny Roberts.

Over 4 days, I'd like to hit the best courses and really want to get some mountain courses in! Here's what I was looking at.

*Ft. Collins- Edora
*Red Feather- Beaver Creek
*Red Feather- Sundance
*Arvada- Badlands
*Conifer- Beaver Ranch
*Pine- Phantom Falls

Any other suggestions? Copper Mountain is closed? Winter Park is closed for relocation, but may reopen soon? Lots of other courses out there, but not too much information. Is Frisco worth the trip?

Thanks for the info!

Ghost Town if you have time. it is a beautiful mountain course. once you have your trip finalized let me know I will try to meet you at at least one of the courses.

[Schoenhofer]

Was hoping to come up over the 4th of July, but it looks like it'll be too busy for me at work. Sometime before the summer is over! I'll post back.

[srm_520]

So I mangaed to get up to just Beaver Meadows (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=2746)and Sundance Trail Ranch (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=1880)with the high school buddy who I played my first ever round of DG with. Pretty freakin cool experience up in the mountains - little different from Houston DG. Didn't end up making it to Edora or La Cache JH since it started dumping buckets on us at the end of the Beaver Meadows round - which by the way took 3.5 hours to finish since we sp0ent so much time looking for discs!

I might have to switch up part two of the trip and skip out on Bird's Nest since I don't know if my crap arm can take an animal like that anyway and instead try to fit in Edora and LaCache.

Also, I have to say it was way cool to play a quick round with DGTourist in Cheyenne - which by the way - turns out my wife knows and went to junior high school with. How's that for a small world...

All and all so far it's been a good trip. Taken lots of pictures for the courses, updated some info pages, and managed to get in both reviews for Beaver Meadows and Sundance Trails - which as you'll see in the review I rank both a 4.5, but I personally thought Sundance was better. More serene experience - Beaver Meadows just seemed to kick the crap out of me!