Ski Hill Courses....be honest

[optidiscic]

I would like to start a honest dialogue about courses that are set on ski hills. It's happening more and more now that global warming has shortened winters and ski hill owners are scrambling to pull year round cash. I have a lot of opinions about ski hill golf that I don't think the majority will agree with. I really don't care for it I really would like to hear some others opinions about what they enjoy about these courses and what they don't like...I would like a real discussion and not just "I love this course or that course...tell me what you don't like or like and back it up. Thanks to serious posters in advance.

[dreadlock86]

hmm, interesting topic.

only one i've ever played was emory park in buffalo. probably not a good example though. i will be playing at the one in teton village in jackson hole next month though, i'll chime in then.

what don't you like about these courses? what DO you like about them?

[billnchristy]

I have never played one (imagine that, not many ski hills in ATL) but the downhill shots intrigue me because there is nothing more fun than chucking a putter 400+

[optidiscic]

I have played 5 ski hill courses......definetely a different type of DG experience...I enjoy some things about these courses but it's a real mixed bag for me...I just think once you get past the veil/gimickiness of the big throws that usually the DG experience is really not that pure or enjoyable.

[zenbot]

Originally Posted by optidiscic

I would like to start a honest dialogue about courses that are set on ski hills. It's happening more and more now that global warming has shortened winters and ski hill owners are scrambling to pull year round cash. I have a lot of opinions about ski hill golf that I don't think the majority will agree with. I really don't care for it I really would like to hear some others opinions about what they enjoy about these courses and what they don't like...I would like a real discussion and not just "I love this course or that course...tell me what you don't like or like and back it up. Thanks to serious posters in advance.

You've asked for our detailed opinions but didn't even offer your own. What are you hiding, man?


I've only played one ski course. Sunrise DGC in SoCal. (Yes, we have snow in SoCal.) I think it's not typical of seasonal courses as it just isn't up a slope down a slope. The 1st 9 plays pretty level and is carved out of woods that aren't used for ski slopes. What I do like about the ski run holes is that they are already cleared out and have distinct fairways.

[deadbody]

I've played 2, Hyland SSA (hate it) and GIants Ridge (love it) for me what I hate is when the distance and the uphill is the only difficulty. Hole 15 at Hyland is like 600 feet, up a steep slope, wide open. No skill to it other than can you throw it far. A lot of the holes there are like that, Open and long. That bores me and my small arm. Giants ridge is more technical. It is still long, but it has more woods, and is less about "Lets just climb up and down a ski hill" and more about a good DG experience.

[optidiscic]

There are always exceptions to the rule but this has been my experiences

Maintenance-practicially impossible to expect all of the grass to be mowed/maintained over 2 miles of ski hills..this leads to high grass/weeds/schule...that given the major distance your often throwing makes disc retrieval of on target throws a hassle

Fairways are usually wide but are difficult to stay on due to a few issue unique to the marriage of disc golf and mountains.....wind travels across the land and when it hits a mountain will updraft up a mountain (high speed gusts) or contour down a mountain (tailwind high speed) while this is often a lot of fun and requires knowledge of discs and playing the wind...it's not typical wind conditions and frankly impossible to master or tame...You are basically playing the percentages and hoping for the best...thus theres some luck involved...akin to playing in tropical storm wind conditions.. ..Also when throwing up these slopes your nose will undoubtedly be up and good luck if theres a headwind....typical uphill throws your reaching for a lighter disc....won't work way too flippy even if its a tee rex or XXX when your facing headwinds with your nose up. So you throw something heavy uphill etc etc these are often conditions that basically take skill out of the equation ...simply a matter of nature overpowering any skill, knowledge, or strategy you may have. Arguments can always be made that disc choice, technique, skill , strategy, can overcome the bigness of the mountain...I don't think this is always the case...Mother Nature wins a lot of the battles on the slopes from what I've seen. And when Mother Nature wins she takes your disc usually 200+ feet off the fairway down a wooded mountain slope with a 45 degree pitch...forget it...goner disc.

Throwaway discs is not you really playing your best DG....you really want to play with your favorite and best disc but I assume its like taking your hot gf to a party full of pre med athletes who are rich....you really don't wanna tempt fate if you have any insecurity about your game. I'd rather play my best discs and not punk out.

What inevitably happens is you throw conservatively and never truly rip a drive...it's a test of skill but I would rather throw a typical full throttle drive on top of the world hole than a series of fairways down a mountainside with danger L and R with winds and a 800 foot spread over a 200 foot elevation change. I know you think that sounds fun and it is I will admit I'm hooked and do find it challenging but once the gimmick wears off I d rather be playing real DG holes on a real Course.

Lets not forget about how ugly a ski hill looks in summer...sure the vistas are glorious...but your typically surrounded by ski lifts, equipment, rocks, roads, and blight in my opinion....thats been my experience at least....I prefer a real course.

Your hiking up and down a mountain..it's extremely grueling...some courses you actually climb from base to peak and get one or 2 big throws to enjoy after all that hard work...others you might get a ski lift ride up and play downhill but mountain terrain even downhill is quite gnarly....others you might get a lift ride but have to play down and then back up to ride back down...brutal! If you have not done it and your over 30 lets just say its a commitment...something else to consider...typically lack of trees means a lot of sun exposure in the middle of the day in the middle of the summer and your on a mountain hike trying to plat DG..ideally we could play these courses in late fall or late afternoon but often these courses are closed at these times.

I could rant on and probably will if this thread has legs.

I will admit I enjoy alot of the features of mountain golf but I feel I am in the minority when I speak about things I dont really like about ski hill golf.

I dont fancy myself an expert but I'm hardly a newcomer or clueless to how to play in wind and elevation either.

[cydisc]

Ski hill ground presents a lot of potential. The skilled designer recognizes that that type of ground is not limited to just the uphill and downhill.

[TheWCG]

I agree completely with cydisc. I think Disc golf is always more fun and interesting when elevation is utilized within a course. And It is up to the skilled designer to incorporate the lay of the land. There is always more land involved on a ski hill than just the ski runs themselves. I think its an excellent use of the land. And replying to this thread I'm thinking of Winter Park in Kewaunee, WI. Excellent use of the land and excellent course. Props to Superberry...

[Jimb]

I've played just the Nemacolin Resort ski slope course. It's an OK course.

There are two wooded holes, #4 & #5, running between the different slopes that are kind of cool. There are a couple holes that do make you turn the disc, #7 a big RHBH Hyzer tee shot and #9, a nice RHBH Anhyzer or roller.

The other 5 holes are pretty straight forward with decent length. And unfortunately, it doesn't even take real advantage of the big elevation drops. The ski slopes actually start at the top of the hill and you ride the lift back up when you're done. So the course starts at the top of the hill and only works about half way down to the bottom before turning and eventually coming back up the hill.

It's not one of my favorites, but it is kind of cool for a change. I also think that the novelty aspect of it makes it enjoyable.

I'm hoping to get to play The Wisp this year, too. Or maybe IUP College Lodge... that one's on an former ski slope, right?