Making Hay

FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, there has been a growing sentiment in Colorado golf circles that Haymaker Golf Course in Steamboat Springs could be the best truly public links in the state. It’s got everything you could want in a golf course: great links-style layout, spectacular setting, affordable price, abundant wildlife and no encroaching real estate development. All Haymaker has lacked since opening in 1997 is recognition as a great course, and that’s finally starting to change.

In Colorado AvidGolfer’s prestigious 2023 CAGGY Awards, Haymaker scored the No. 1 spot among staff picks for the best mountain course in the state. That means CAG’s writers and editors, who know a thing or two about Colorado courses, preferred Haymaker over all the courses around Vail and Aspen and not-really-public heavyweights like Red Sky Golf Club, whose two courses are routinely ranked among the top 100 public layouts in the U.S.

“I would put us up against anybody,” says PGA Professional Cody Hasten. “I truly believe we’re one of the best golf courses in the state.”

Built, owned and operated by the City of Steamboat Springs – a true muni – Haymaker flows across former ranchland and encompasses acres of preserved and reclaimed wetlands. The course is home to numerous species of birds and larger game, like the occasional moose, and was the first course in Colorado to land an Audubon International Signature certification for its eco-thoughtful practices and design.

“That’s always been a big goal of the city, to leave a small footprint,” says Hasten. “That was a huge factor in building the course. We’re proud of that distinction.”

New for summer 2023 are an updated and expanded driving range, a renovated clubhouse with a golf simulator, and a remodeled restaurant that will make Haymaker a more fun place to hang out for drinks and eats after a round. It’s already just about the most fun place you can hang out during a round. haymakergolf.com

BIKING: Steamboat bills itself as Bike Town USA for a reason. There is everything from placid, calm trails along the Yampa River to cross country singletrack throughout the region. M ountain biking trails criss cross nearby hills. Many of the trails are being built with funding from a local lodging tax, and the trail system includes 1 to 2 mile easy trails up to expert trails of 3 miles and beyond.

HOT SPRINGS: Historic hot springs are what sets Steamboat apart. Old Town Hot Springs in downtown gives visitors to the village easy access to the signature soak. Steamboatchamber.com