Terrain - I think Prickly has the best disc golf terrain in all of Colorado. Elevation change is constantly present, to varying degrees, on every throw and putt. Sometimes it's obvious, other times it will creep up on you. It forces you to make adjustments to aim, touch, and disc selection, and can cause some to second-guess their lines. And it's never so steep to the point that it's gimmicky.

Prickly is also fortunate to have many pine trees that require you to pick a good line and execute the shot. Holes #1-5, #7, #13-14, you have to hit gaps. The course has many spots where a tree branch and an uphill slope meet in the same spot, making it an even tighter gap. Some of these pines thoughtfully guard the basket, with trunks and overhangs that encourage landing the previous shot in a certain area.

Decision making (intermediate) - When I first played this course, I thought it was purely an 'execution' course -- hit the line, execute the shot. But as I continue to log more rounds here, I keep seeing more spots and that require someone of my skill and distance to make a decision. More than enough to label Prickly as a 'decision-making' course--for intermediates.

For example, holes #9, #12, #17 -- intermediate distance throwers have to choose to either lay up for par, or risk going for it, where a short throw lands you in thick, tall, natural area jail.

There are less obvious spots as well. #15 in the short position, playing the natural area below as OB. #5, back position. #4 and #6 with OB to the right. Do you take the more aggressive line for birdie/bogie, or play it safe for par?

Lack of a practice basket, practice area - Some will warm up on 18 pad/basket, or throw a bunch of shots off #1 tee. This is not as feasable during afternoons or weekends.

Decision making (advanced/pro level) - While Prickly is an excellent decision-making course for intermediates, it translates into an 'execution' course on the advanced level. Players with strong distance can simply power through most of the decision-making spots that intermediates and shorter distance players will face.

Some additional course notes:

#17 - it's complicated.
On one hand, the tall, wet natural area immediately beyond and below the ridge is an absolute, disc-eating pain from May-October. On the other hand, it forces someone with my limited distance off the tee to make a decision: do I lay it up before the natural area, leaving myself with a blind 2nd shot with uphill footing? Or do I try and throw a max effort shot over the natural area into a very small landing area, that punishes me with a lost disc, but rewards me with a great chance to make birdie?

In a perfect world, I'd recommend a 2nd, small teepad on top of the ridge, and keep the basket in the back position. Original teepad would play it as a par 4, teepad on the ridge would play it as a par 3.

#10 - future expansion?
In my opinion, #10 is one of the weaker holes on the course. While the trees to the right of the basket do give it some protection, it's a pure execution hole that's easy to execute--no real decision making required. There is a quite a bit of available land beyond the basket, with pine trees and rolling hills. Putting a basket back there would add a nice increase in challenge.

Prickly Pines course maintenance- 5 stars
The locals here treat and maintain this course with so much TLC! There have been steady course improvements throughout the course's short existence. They stood out more than ever in this summer of abnormal rains. While most of our local courses were overwhelmed with wetness and overgrowth, Prickly was very proactive in keeping the weeds and growth to a minimum. Fantastic course, fantastic community!

+ Great teesigns, giving you everything you need.

+ Great use of the land available. The course winds through a lot of pine trees so you need to be able to shape shots in order to score well here.

+ I would consider this regular disc golf and not mountain golf even though there is some elevation change. The elevation was used very well. You throw a lot of shots over small peaks and valleys with not a lot of shots that go strictly uphill or downhill.

+ I only played the course once but I could see that there were multiple pins

+ A few elevated baskets. Hanging and podium.

+ A good variety of hole lengths that will make for a good mix of shots that should be suitable for all skill levels. Some might be a bit far for those that cant throw very far but there are only a few.

+ Hole 11 is a baby top of the world shot and would be the "signature hole" if I had to chose one, but they are all unique in their own way.

- Turf Tees. Again, turf tees will almost always be a negative. These were short, lumpy and slightly slick. I played on a dry day so they werent the slickest but they are not good.

- DD Patriot Baskets. I personally dont like DD baskets. I do not think they catch well with their light weight chains.

- There are a few spots were the rough was a bit rough, to the point where you could easily lose a disc while being able to see exactly where it is.

If I lived in the Denver area, this would probably be a course that I would frequent often. Mainly because its not mountain golf. There is nothing wrong with mountain golf, its beautiful and brutal, but its just not the same or as fun as non mountain golf.

This course to me just reminded me of golf that you can find throughout the country while still playing at elevation. The playability of the course was super fun and would like to go back one day. I think that this is a really good course for all skill levels. I wont say that you should travel out of your way to play here because CO already has an abundance of courses that are a lot more beautiful and jaw dropping but if you are looking for a fun course that wont kill your lungs or take too long then this is the place.

- Brand new tee signs that offer all the info you need
- good quality baskets
- multiple basket placements with a marker on the tee signs to show you which placement
- a good variety of distances ranging from 250 to 500 feet
- great variety of shots required to throw the different lines
- tons of trees to offer a challenge
- plenty of elevation change
- multiple risk/reward style shots

- the course is sort of out there
- there's a few holes with some real nasty areas that if you throw into you could easily loose a disc
- the back 9 opens up a bit, and felt slightly repetitive
- i could imagine the parking lot being a bit of a mad house when the course is busy
- turf tee pads are ok but could use an upgrade

This is really a great course, with a few more upgrades this could be one of the best courses in Colorado. It already might be the best free course in Colorado! Well worth the drive!

Super fun course, tough shots to hit, tough lines and very good use of the few trees that CO has.
This is an awesome non-mountain course that uses elevation trees and the bushes very well. The baskets are nice and the tees are turf (plus for me minus for others) definitely one of the best low (for colorado)elevation courses in the state.

No tee signs so it's pretty easy to get lost, when i played the grass was right around knee height so it was very easy to lose some discs and spend some time looking. The turf tees are good but some are small and hard to manage.

Its quite a hike from Denver or any city area (Elizabeth is pretty rural for the area) so getting out there could be an issue if you're visiting and taking ubers or lyfts

All of what everyone said before me
Tees and basket arrows are great (when there)
Maps on tee boxes really helped

Very difficult to see most of the holes right now from the tee
Several holes are on top of ridges or hills so misses really roll

Nice alternative to the Dillon Cemetary course for me. The tunnels (almost as good as Thomas Park in Salina KS), challenging bushes, and a couple of signature view tee shots make me come back. I'd say it will become a destination course.

* New quality hole signage in place Aug 2019, completes one of the key items missing in previous reviews
* Scenic course, plays mostly through tight piney woods to start, but includes a number of open holes on the back nine.
* Some elevation changes, not like nearby mountain courses but enough to remind you that you are in Colorado. A few holes have touchy down hill approaches that add to the challenge.
* Added a couple of elevated baskets on the open holes to keep things interesting. One hanging basket also in play.
* Multiple pin locations on almost every hole, changed out on a semi-regular basis

* Turf tee pads are not very big, and are starting to get lumpy in spots
* Hole 2 has a mando that leads into a blind area of scrub pines, and hole 17 you crest a hill and might end up in dense thickets that you cannot see from the tee.
* A couple of the native growth areas are close to baskets on the back nine, these can be quite difficult areas to locate discs.
* Hole 18 is a bit of a let down compared to the rest of the course, but it does put you right back at the start.
* Very tall grass on the open holes, up to waist high on my last round. You really need to spot your disc well, especially in the summer.

Quite a nice course with a great variety of holes and shots to shape. Recently added a small fee box to help with course maintenance You can park in the big paved lot to the south and easily walk to the first tee if the small dirt parking area is full. Because the course goes through an area of pre-existing hiking trails you do need to watch for hikers and dog walkers. The course is not crowded as it is a bit removed from the main suburbs along the front range. There are some nice picnic tables throughout the area for short rests, and a skate park, nice playgrounds and bathrooms are convenient if you bring non players along.

I do really wish they would mow the tall grass to make some actual fairways on the open holes.

Course is located in a natural mostly forested section of Evans City Park in Elizabeth, CO. There is a soft surface trail that runs through the area, and a fishing pond at the south end of the course that does not come into play. Lots of shade from the pine trees, and there are tree stumps on many holes to sit on. Also a few picnic tables are available for rest. A good mix of open and technical holes, with good elevation gain on some. Artificial turf tee pads are in good shape.

The main drawback is no signs on the tees. I printed a map to take with me and still had difficulty finding baskets on some holes, or determining which basket went with which hole. Since there are multiple basket locations on each hole, installing signs with current basket location (A, B or C in some cases) would be a big improvement.

I'll definitely come back to play again, especially now that I have a sense of the course layout. It's a nice alternative to many of the wide-open "bomber" courses on the front range in Colorado.

+New Patriot Baskets Catch Well
+Wooded Holes
+Elevation Changes on the majority of Holes
+18 functions as a great practice basket
+Hole Distance Variety
+Muliple Pin Positions
+Hanging Basket (Hole 10?)
+Elevated Positions
+Plenty of Cover/Shade
+Beautiful Views

-Minimal Parking/Can be difficult to find
-Artificial turf tee pads are passable but not great
-Navigation can be confusing
-Shade means snow does not melt quickly at the course
- a few holes play close to property lines that you can not cross =lost discs

Now that this course has a full 18, it is a premier course for the Denver Metro Area. The first 7 holes are tight, wooded, with a variety of features like double mandos, low ceilings, and blind shots. Many baskets are perched on hills introducing risk-reward with putts, and it is easy to find yourself above par 1/3 of the way through your round.

The latter 2/3rds of the course dip in and out of the woods and play with elevation changes ranging from mild to severe. Some of the open holes leave a little to be desired, but the designer used some fairly nasty bushes to force decisions on how safe or risky to play your shots.

There is one hanging basket that has been secured with a metal cable to prevent excessive swaying, and two elevated positions on relatively easy holes that introduce a level challenge. It is clear that this course has been well thought out.

The cons are minor. Parking is not ideal but unless the course is seeing some tags or tournament play that is unlikely to be an issue.

The teepads range from good to far from desirable. The course designer is slowly working on fixing them one by one, and even the worst of them (IMO hole 17) is still throwable.

Now that this course is entering the growing season it will be interesting to see how well it is maintained. If the brush and undergrowth are allowed to grow unchecked this course could go from amazing to not fun pretty quickly.

Overall: This course offers tight, technical golf that is unseen in Denver outside the 285 Corridor with courses like Beaver or Bucksnort. It blends both open shots and woods in a way that flows and is enjoyable to play. A variety of distances offer shots for every level of player (except maybe complete beginners.) For me, this course is juuuuust a step below Beaver Ranch in Conifer. Nowhere near the same amount of amenities, but the quality of golf is there. Highly recommend. Consult the map when you go!

Really nice technical shots that take imagination, correct vectors and angles.
Many baskets were reachable for intermediate players IF they hit their lines.
Great use of elevation and danger zones
No out of bounds, but MANY area that you definitely didn't want to land in. Had to make good decisions or take you bogies
Fairly easy to find tee pads even without signs

Tee pads a little lumpy still, but good grip
A couple of super tight lines could have a few more limbs pruned to open up angles
Had a few chain outs on Patriots basket that probably would have held with better baskets

We had a ton of fun on this course figuring out optimal lines. Really need a balanced game with tight forehand and backhand shots. A few bombers made it fun too. This is a real remote gem f a new course!

Mix of woods and open shots. Mostly longer holes but a few must get birdies. The layout is fair but very challenging. Be prepared to scramble at times and hopefully the putter is working.

There was a walking path on one of the downhill woods holes that is a possible problem. The walking path is to the left of the fairway but you can't see over the hill. This needs to be addressed but for now a spotter would be a good idea. Some of the tee pads need some TLC but that's expected with a developing course.

This course is a mix of bailey with a little shinny mountain thrown in. It is worth the drive just like the above mentioned courses. We played 2 rounds. A warm up, see what's up round. Then a 2nd round that was much more enjoyable. Recommend you do as well. One idea for course improvement. The mando between the trees on hole 2 is super tight. I'd like to see the next 2 trees outside the current trees have the mando makers on them. Just a thought. I will be back for another round soon.

Good mix of tight tree line technical shots, elevation changes, and a couple bomber gap shots. Some elevated baskets and one hanging basket. Great turf tees.

No signage as of yet, but the funds are there and navigating is not a problem. Some tees still need leveling. The dirt parking lot fills quickly, please park by the skate park.

Big thank yous to parks and rec and the Evans family for blessing us plastic chuckers with this beautiful piece of land.

Lots of trees!!!
Elevation changes!
Course difficulty!
Wildlife!
Not your typical wide open Metro Course!!!
Dog friendly!

No signage at this time! But its coming....
Parking at the course is limited but there is a large parking lot at the park office. (map and discs available at the office).
Tee pads are small but adequate, some are still being built.

This course is just getting off the ground. There are 18 holes with brand new Patriot baskets. The course has raised log features to add to the difficulty. Signage and hole footage is coming soon. Trashcans coming soon! This course is part of the pubic park and was built with the love of the sport! PLEASE NO SMOKING on the course!!!! Please come out an help break in Colorado's newest course.
This course was built by disc golfers for disc golfers but its a "work in progress" and will be getting better as time goes on.

Good piece of land with lots of trees, makes for some tight shots.
A few holes well laid out and interesting.
You'll have the course to yourself.
Great Patriot baskets.

Can be hard to follow with no signage, so refer to the course map.
Some blind tee shots, so more fun on the 2nd round.
Arrows inside the basket point to the next hole, but end after front 9.
Long walk back after ending.
The yellow flags to mark the tee boxes are bent or gone.
Tight trees are fine, but when there is no lane to shoot thru it is annoying.

The now completed course has a much better layout. I am enjoying it more each subsequent round as I get to know the course layout. It is a challenging course with not many birdie holes, but it seems fair and I look forward to the baskets moving to alternate positions.