Not a huge fan in general because the design typically just monotonously follows down the existing ski slopes and gets repetitive and the terrain is often too extreme to have real golf holes and a pain in the legs. Also often windy and not very well maintained with high risk of disc loss. Also typically if a ski resort has disc golf, they also have downhill mountain biking which often crosses paths with the dg course. I often get the feeling that disc golf is just an after thought. The highlight of these courses is most often the ski lift ride up.
Now take the example of Smuggler's Notch Ski Resort, they put disc golf on their own mountain ridge area separated away from the ski and biking areas. The elevation and terrain is much more suitable for the dg courses and provides better variety and feels like a much more satisfying disc golf experience playing on real dedicated courses, and also hiking through the woods without the ugly ski lifts and equipment and crazy bikers. If more ski resorts put disc golf in their own area and maintained them, the potential is definitely there for some really amazing courses.
I so agree eith Sidewinder's first paragraph. I've played maybe a dozen ski resort courses. First, understand the difference when they say playing a ski hill versus a ski resorts. Those ski hills in Minnesota or Michigan are way different than some of the extreme ski resorts courses in Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado where you take a chair up to 6000'-8000'.
My reviews sound like a broken record. They all complain about the same things. But let me preface this by stating that my reviews are from a seasoned veteran (nice way of saying I'm old, tired, not in the best shape, creaky knees, feet, hips, eyes). You younger players can handle the extreme downhill hiking better. If you've never played a ski resort, you have to experience it. It's awesome to watch your disc sail down that hill for epic distances.
My typical complaints:
Expensive to play. Chairlift tickets from $8-$20.
Always, always terrible natural, tee pads. Rocky, dangerous, etc.
Almost always, the signage is poor.
Always cheap temporary baskets.
Almost always, the design lacks creativity. The course is temporary and is an afterthought.
The terrain is always unbelievably rough and hard to walk on and especially down the mountain. It is covered with snow 9 months a year.
You're going to lose many discs as they sail down the mountain/hill for 500' plus. Bring lots of throwaways that are expendable.
I played these where you step up to the tee and there is no basket visible. Are you prepared to walk straight down 500' to locate a basket and then hike up the same 500' to tee off? When you are already beat and exhausted?
Often there is extreme wind.
When you disc starts to fade L-R, it may fade for 200', never to be seen again.
