Story and Photos By Dustin Doskocil

Located in the beautiful foothills between Golden and Boulder is a hidden gem of a disc golf course. Wondervu Disc Golf Course offers an amazing 22-hole course that has sweeping views of the Continental Divide, from the backside of the Boulder flatirons to the foothills of southwest Denver.

Consistently ranked among the top courses statewide, it sits at 8,800 feet, and is quite literally not for the faint of heart. Holes range from 126 feet to 402 feet, and beginners are advised to get more experience before giving it a try.

The amazing and difficult par-3 is home to multiple tournaments each year, featuring top-tier athletes. Yet, enthusiasts just looking for a quick escape from the daily grind can get on the mountain after a 45-minute drive from Denver or a 30-minute trip from Boulder. The course is located in Coal Creek Canyon (aka Highway 72) between the Wondervu Cafe and the Canyon Tavern. Reservations are required, so check the Facebook page prior to heading up.

The man behind the dream known as Wondervu Disc Golf Course is Dan Ward. After watching “Field of Dreams” in 2015 while on summer break from CU, Ward followed the model of “if you build it, they will come.”

He rented the land, which hosted an old, converted Griff’s Hamburgers Stand, and spent his last $5,000 on nine baskets. And with 42 days until delivery, he bought a chainsaw and started working to open up holes on the 25 acres of forest.

After nine holes were built, he brought in Eagle McMahon, a young local pro who has ranked in the top 3 worldwide, to check out the property and offer some tips. McMahon’s father, also a competitive player, shared his thoughts on creating a challenging, unique course. Eagle suggested that he remove right-hand, back-hand shots, and keep pure lines throughout the course, Ward explained.

By doing so, the course became challenging to all but a minority of players. Throw in the tight fairway gaps, elevation changes and large pine trees and you have one of the toughest par-3 courses in the region.

While the sport can be competitive, most people at Wondervu are simply trying to improve their game while enjoying Rocky Mountain views. At roughly 8,800 feet, the pines are tall, the peaks are jagged and the “rough” is unforgiving.

Like any good golf course, if the going gets tough and the discs disappear into the mountainside, a small pro shop awaits. Discs, hats, hoodies and other goods are available. Ward created High Altitude Disc Golf apparel and offers a variety of swag.

Talk of a food truck has been kicked around, as well. Recently, three picnic tables were donated for players to hang out before and after a round. According to the Facebook page, improvements have been made to the course and season passes are now available for $80. A major summer tournament, the Boulder County Classic has been scheduled for July 1-2.

For more information, visit the Wondervu Facebook page.

Photographer Dustin Doskocil launched his business 16 years ago while obtaining his degree in Austin, Texas. He eventually moved to Colorado, where his passion is capturing and sharing moments of people doing what they love. Check out doskophoto.com