The course is free for the public and open on condition that there is no snow on the ground.
McKenna Harford / [email protected]
The nine-hole course has two tee box levels, a white and red intermediate starting point for beginners.
McKenna Harford / [email protected]
Lokteff said he likes to play disc golf because it’s a decent exercise, he takes him out and can play with his son.
McKenna Harford / [email protected]
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On a sunny Sunday, visitors to the Grand Lake Metropolitan Recreation District trailhead noticed a new addition to recreate in the area.
“It looks like a nice frisbee golf course,” shouted a young biker to his group as he rode near one of the disc golf holes near the Grand Lake Golf Course.
The recreation district opened the 9-hole golf course to the public earlier this month and already has fans.
“I’ve seen a lot of people (play) before,” said Ryan Lokteff, head of the Grand Lake Metropolitan Recreation District, for the new course he designed. “Our (course) has the Grand County style of being in the woods, so it’s really fun.”
Disc golf is a sport similar to golf, except for golf clubs and balls, players throw discs at a target with the aim of hitting the target with the least number of shots. Disc golf equipment is available for sale at the Grand Lake golf course shop.
The new Grand Lake course has two tee boxes, where players start each hole, an easier red level and an intermediate white. Lokteff added that if demand continues for the game, he also plans more difficult blue tee boxes.
Both paths begin at the trailhead in the rec district, opposite the Three Lakes Water and Sanitation district, off County Road 48. Then they intertwine in an isolated area on the edge of the former district fire zone and turn back to end at the trailhead.
Each hole has a unique challenge, whether it’s hitting the target through a grove of trees or reaching a target 500 feet away. Lokteff said he liked to plan the course using the natural features of the earth.
“I created (the tee boxes) on the ground outlined with trunks because I liked the natural feel,” he said. “I decided to go a little bit more Grand Lake style.”
Field information, including a map, is available on the disc golf UDisc app, which can also be used to keep score and leave reviews on the course.
Currently, the course is rated 4.3 out of 5 on UDisc and reviewers appreciate the great views of the course, as well as the fact that it is “well marked and well structured”.
Lokteff said he knew the course would be popular when a user uploaded the course information to UDisc before he could, although he made sure it was all accurate and up to date.
“Before I knew it, people were already playing it,” he said. “It’s an easy way to get out, it doesn’t take too long to play … do some exercise.”
There are other disc golf courses in Grand County, including Snow Mountain Ranch, but the Grand Lake course is free and open to the public as long as the snow is not on the ground.
With the response to the course so far positive, Lokteff said he hopes to continue working on diversification and addition to the course.
“I think next year, given that it is already doing quite well, we will probably be making another nine holes,” he said.
