Beautiful scenery and terrain within the Tetons
Varied challenge between tight wooded lines and open throws and elevation change (at 6,500' above sea level!)
27 holes with a variety of layouts
Tee signs with distance and elevation change listed
Some truly epic mountain holes, especially on the Legacy and Tournament layouts

While tee pads are flat, they are not perfect and have some minor bumps, drop offs, etc. Don't expect to have a 15' runup.
Baskets are Mach IIs with less chains than more modern baskets
The course is a challenging hike (pro for some, con for others)
Early season play will be met with very thick undergrowth and challenge to locate errant throws

***DISCLAIMER***
This review is written by the President of Teton Disc Golf Club. I am intimately involved in the design of the course, the work put into improvements each year, and events run at this course.

History:
The JHMR Disc Golf Course has been around in some capacity for many years. In 2021, the course as we had known it was impacted by significant new construction at the base of JHMR. This resulted in an off year and ultimately was the catalyst for the development of the Teton Disc Golf Club, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has the mission of expanding the sport of disc golf in the Jackson Hole area. In addition to running events with a large assortment of local organizations (everything from kids clubs to the senior center to adaptive sports organizations), our mission includes us designing and providing volunteer maintenance on the JHMR course, in collaboration with JHMR. In 2022, in an effort to create a new JHMR course that is more resistant to ongoing change/improvements at the JHMR base, we designed the new 18 hole "Sweetwater" layout. This layout purposely incorporated itself with the existing mountain bike trails to ensure that the disc golf course would likely be protected against drastic change in the future. In 2023, the Sweetwater course was redesigned to improve on the 2022 layout and the "Legacy" course was reintroduced to add back some of the original holes which were unaffected by the construction projects. The 2024 layout is expected to be unchanged from the Sweetwater 2023 layout.

Timing:
Most people traveling to the Tetons seem to think that early summer is the best time for disc golf at JHMR and unfortunately that is not the case. The course is generally open from early July through October. In early July the expectation is that the course is wet from the snow melt (JHMR annually receives 400+ inches of snow which continues to cover the ground, even at the "low" elevation of the disc golf course, well through July) and waterproof shoes are recommended. The foliage this time of year is also exploding and while our club goes out regularly to weed whack and lop the ground coverage, we physically cannot tame a mountain that is flourishing with growth after the dormant winter. The course plays very well this time of year, but utilizing a spotter might alleviate some frustration. The grass is also rapidly growing this time of year. Historically, JHMR is able to mow the grass twice throughout the summer so we have to pick and choose when this mowing is most needed and effective. Note that a special mower is required for mountain terrain and this process is quite expensive. The best time to play the course is mid-September through October. At this time of year, the grass is generally mowed and stops growing, the course is generally dry, the mountain bike park is winding down/closed, and the gondolas are shut down.

Terrain:
The disc golf course at JHMR is located on the lower elevation terrain at JHMR. This is essential - while the upper terrain at JHMR is perfect for skiing deep powder, this is not ideal for disc golf. While the idea of providing an upper mountain course which plays down the mountain has been considered, the upper terrain is far too steep and unforgiving for a safe/fun disc golf course to be implemented.

Visitors:
If you are visiting from out of town, feel free to join our club at our various events! We run two league events per week in addition to the Teton Toss non-sanctioned tournament run in late August. In 2024 we plan to also host a sanctioned tournament in late September. Follow our social media or visit our website (tetondiscgolfclub.com) to stay in the loop!

Sweetwater:
The Sweetwater layout is our main 18 hole layout. A par 54 course at a length of 4,773' and a total elevation change of 486', this course intertwines with the mountain bike downhill park and the various lifts operating throughout the summer. While many of the holes cross mountain bike trails, it should be noted that careful consideration of the course design took place to ensure that all mountain bike trail crossings occurred either near the tee pads, such that the thrower can see the biker approaching and wait to throw, or down the hole if the trail originally passes in proximity to the tee pad. Each tee hole sign clearly identifies the mountain bike trails so that the disc golfer can appropriately determine where mountain bike traffic takes place and if it is safe to throw. During normal play, the mountain bike park is a minor inconvenience at most.

As a par 3 course, the Sweetwater layout attempts to challenge disc golfers of all skill levels through various shot shapes, technical lines through the woods, specific gaps, and some long downhill throws.

Hole 1 - 301' +19' Par 3
The course begins with a required gap through a few trees to the open fairway. The basket is located uphill and to the right of the tee which requires either a hard right fade through the gap in the aspens at the end of the tee shot or a stall shot over the aspens which protect the basket area. This is one of the harder holes on the course and a birdie start is a great way to begin your round!

Hole 2 - 247' +40' Par 3
A new addition to the 2023 layout, Hole 2 is a hallmark of JHMR disc golf. This hole offers a narrow fairway to the basket which is visible from the tee and plays much longer than the listed distance. Try to pure a throw through the narrow line straight at the basket, or attempt a throw that begins left and ends right and navigates the multiple trees (and the Yeti's treehouse!) which will test your accuracy along the way.

Hole 3 - 195' +25' Par 3
A temporary reprieve from the challenge of the first 2 holes, Hole 3 is a short uphill shot to a flat green which is protected in front by a large pine and surrounded by aspens. A straight backhand shot is wise but the shot around the backside of the guardian pine is always worth considering!

Hole 4 - 273' +181' Par 3
A demanding tee shot from a treed recess forces you to throw straight and slightly to the right with a significant amount of power if you want any chance of the birdie. The basket is located in a wooded enclosure that is best approached from the right of the tee. There is a narrow backdoor route through the woods for those who go left off of the tee, but maybe it is wiser to layup to the larger opening instead.

Hole 5 - 178' +21' Par 3
While short and seemingly easy, don't take a birdie for granted on this one. The tee shot through the tight tree gaps will test your precision and the sloped green will test your power control and putting abilities. With the road between the tree gap and the basket being OB, this hole can bite if you don't take it seriously.

Hole 6 - 257' +36' Par 3
Starting from an open tee pad location, this hole requires you to hit a tree gap ~200' up the fairway (and significantly uphill) if you want a chance at the birdie. End up short of the gap and you will be completely boxed out from the basket due to the thick woods either requiring heroic scrambling or a layup to the gap. End up long and you will be in the OB road/beyond, essentially guaranteeing a bogey at best. Pure this shot and carry the ~50' into the gap and you will be thrilled to grab this challenging birdie.

Hole 7 - 267' -7' Par 3
Starting from the woods and diagonally crossing a road (OB) intersection, this hole requires precision to avoid catastrophe. Your best bet is likely to go straight at the basket, but beware the creek located immediately in front of the basket which is also OB.

Hole 8 - 208' -6' Par 3
This hole throws across a ski run to a basket located slightly below the fairway in a bed of tight aspens and pines. Hit the gap from the tee and you can likely pick up the birdie. Miss the gap and you will be challenged to scramble for par.

Hole 9 - 363' -46' Par 3
It appears so easy - a big downhill shot to a basket located in an open field. But did you consider the crosswind down or up the mountain that you may or may not feel at the tee pad? Are the trees to the left of the fairway or the tight aspens to the right of the fairway making you reconsider your intended line? Par is good on this one - a birdie is great.

Hole 10 - 472' -69' Par 3
This is why you are playing at this course - a big downhill shot with tremendous mountain views! While appearing wide open through, be sure not to end up in the woods to the right or the left of the fairway. The basket is perched just above a slope so run your putts at your own risk!

Hole 11 - 227' +30' Par 3
A simple hole with a mandatory left of the marked aspen where a creek runs through the trees. With the basket perched close to the drop off to the creek, a miss right is going to hurt. The safe play is to err left, but the chance for birdie from here is low.

Hole 12 - 204' +13' Par 3
The basket is perfectly in frame from the tee in a slight cutout within the lower branches of one of the guardian pines. This beautiful green is protected on the front by trees and a flowing creek. On the backside is yet another creek. The further uphill you go, the larger the distance between the guardian creeks, but you are less likely to get the birdie! Going into the far creek or beyond is OB which requires you to proceed to the drop zone which is a 28' downhill putt where any miss or skip off of the top of the basket is likely going back into the same OB creek/beyond which will force you to try the same shot again.

Hole 13 - 194' +9' Par 3
An immediate double mando off of the tee sets the tone for this touchy shot to a protected basket area. The low ceiling off of the tee and through the mando is also going to make you reconsider your approach to this one. The obvious play to approach the basket is to go right, but overdo it and you will be OB on the road/beyond.

Hole 14 - 293' -49' Par 3
A beautiful tunnel hole that will be sure to test your ability to throw a disc straight. The fairway is ~25' wide for the extent of this hole so ensure that you stay true to your line.

Hole 15 - 181' -5' Par 3
Starting directly beneath the Bridger Gondola, the basket is located 100' deep within the woods in front of you. With a mando left of the marked aspen, the line directly at the basket must be precise to avoid missing this mando. The wide line to the left of the middle trees will test your ability to navigate multiple obstacles.

Hole 16 - 216' -9' Par 3
The very tight wooded fairway rapidly approaches a large guardian tree that must be avoided if you want any chance at the birdie. The predominantly attempted route is to go left of this tree with a right fade back to the basket located in the opening, but it is easier said than done.

Hole 17 - 365' -45' Par 3
Nearing the end of the course but still time to get in some big downhill throws! This hole is mostly in the open ski run but the basket is located within a grove of aspens and pines. If you go right too early, you are going to be in serious trouble. If you play it safe and stay right of the basket, you likely have no chance at birdie.

Hole 18 - 365' -39' Par 3
The final hole and it's another downhill blast! Mostly open but the foliage immediately behind the basket can be a nuisance as well as the trees to the right of the fairway if you go with the large hyzer line.

Legacy:
The Legacy layout is our throwback to the previous 18 hole JHMR course that was impacted by construction. Today, the Legacy layout is a 9 hole par 38 course at a length of 2,869' and a total elevation change of 384'. This layout offers more challenge than the Sweetwater layout.

Hole A - 342' -13' Par 3
The Legacy layout begins with a long shot down the gravel service road with a left finish to the basket area. Go short or left and you may end up in thick woods. Go long and you will be OB into private property.

Hole B - 196' -9' Par 3
This touchy shot forces you to both clear the ground foliage near the tee but also not overshoot the basket which is located on the corner of an OB road/beyond.

Hole C - 256' +30' Par 3
With a mando right of the large tree in the middle of the fairway, this hole requires a shot that is perfectly shaped and has substantial power to get the birdie. The gap between the mando and the woods to the right is located 120' off of the tee and is only about 30' wide. Make it through this gap but end up left and you will be in thick woods.

Hole D - 256' +42' Par 3
One of the most picturesque basket areas on the course, this hole will test your strength off of the tee to see if you can muscle a disc anywhere close enough to get a birdie from. The straight fairway to this hole funnels into the basket area which is located immediately behind a massive pine. Go left and you will either be in the road (not OB) or in the woods which will leave you fighting for your par. Early right is potentially disastrous as you have missed the funnel and will either layup for the straight shot or attempt to scramble. Take a seat on the snowboard bench after this hole and enjoy the scenery.

Hole E - 147' +3' Par 3
This short hole plays through a tunnel that is ~12' wide for the duration of the hole. Hitting a tree early is going to likely spell trouble as is going long of the basket.

Hole F - 346' +73' Par 4
If you can keep the disc in the fairway, you will likely have an easy par and a very good chance at the birdie. But miss left and your disc will likely go down a dropoff into thick woods with horrible footing. Miss right and you will be in equally thick woods and likely have no chance to grab the birdie on this hole that finishes to a right green that is tightly perched above the fairway.

Hole G - 245' +38' Par 3
If you want a birdie, you are going to have to pure this one through the gap in the woods. This gap requires a straight shot as well as one which is traveling uphill to match the slope but also low enough that it travels beneath the tree canopy. The basket is located across the opening beyond the woods which can result in significantly rollaways if your disc doesn't land flat.

Hole H - 767' -124' Par 4
124' of vertical drop. Need I say more? This epic hole starts with a straight shot across the mountain. If you are playing it safe, you can save the vertical drop for your second throw, but if you are going for the eagle, you are going to need to throw a disc that can go straight and then turn 90° right and glide down the ski run as far as possible. Being too ambitious and not clearing the trees on the right before the dogleg will be disastrous. Be careful on the upshot as well since the basket is located on the hill which can result in some mean rolls.

Hole I - 315' -52' Par 3
A straight downhill shot to an elevated basket located in a flat opening. Go too far and you will be in the road OB/beyond. Hold a hyzer too far right and you will likely hit the trees and be left with a 100'+ approach.

Tournament Layout:

The tournament layout is currently being tested but is expected to be the layout for the 2024 late September sanctioned tournament. This layout plays as an 18 hole par 60 at a distance of 6,784'. The highlights of this layout include:

Combined holes 9>10
Combined holes 11>12
An alternate tee pad for Hole 13
Combined holes H>I for a 1,154' Par 5 with over 180' of vertical drop (!!!)

Final Thoughts:

Please remember that all efforts to grow the sport within the Jackson Hole area by Teton Disc Golf Club are 100% volunteer. Any support to our club via positive UDisc/DGCR reviews, helpful feedback, donations (monetary or new/old discs), etc. are always appreciated. Please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].

+tee signs with distance, elevation change, & next tee
+elevation
+views
+decent baskets (though not all matching)

-short somewhat uneven rubber tees (at least there are tees, rare on ski hills)
-hiking steep slopes, including getting to hole 1
-crossing mt. bike trails & gravel maintenance roads

discing on ski slopes is pretty great; fresh air, beautiful views, babbling streams, & generally not busy. though I have only played this twice, the course was almost totally different from the 1st time I played. it now has 27 holes this year. the 9 letter holes were the best of the ones I played the first time & the main 18 were all new, so it seems like they are improving the course every year/season.
they should consider adding a top 9or18 (bomber holes) that you could ride the lift/gondola up ($$) & play down to the top of the current holes; get those really long downhill throws that you want from a ski hill & generate some revenue from the lifts that are already running for the mountain bikers.
the current layout plays/hike straight uphill for the first couple, then slightly uphill back & forth to/from the wooded areas across the open ski runs. finally on 9&10 you get downhill throws. the back 9 is pretty similar with 2 uphill hikes then slightly downhill throws in/out of the trees. 14 is a cool tunnel downhill ~300ft. there are quite a few hikes between holes and I had to refer to the map a few times to be sure I was hiking the correct way. there are a couple places to jump to the letter holes, but again extra hiking to get to them.
I gotta mention how much better this is than grand targhee as the ratings here will mislead you; if you have to choose 1 of the 2, choose this one (though I have only played grand targhee once the same year I first played this one, but it was also better then). I'm giving this rating an extra half point better for this reason, but a solid 4 in it's current configuration (imo).
the j-hole mountain course will give you a workout and you will be rewarded with some great scenery & fun throws. hopefully they continue to improve every year it gets set up.