A collection of par-3s without a distinctive feature.

-Amenities: Slightly good. Concrete tees, pretty good signs, decent green baskets. Rock-line paths mark transitions.

-Birdie Opportunities: A combination of length and shape mean there are quite a lot of birdie chances out here at CMC. A dedicated college player could have a lot of fun trying to go lower each round.

-Terrain: A good mix. There are some hills in both directions of varying steepness, but also some flat holes. The course is more wooded than open, but there is variety in the thickness of cover, and some opportunities to rip as well.

-Shot Shaping/Gameplay: A mostly par-3 challenge with straight, technical shots. It's a deuce or die type of course (mostly), where non-birdies are likely going to turn out much worse. Tunnel shots, gentle bends, and pockets are most common out here, with few dramatic shapes. The back nine has a different vibe, opening up more and adding some length, but I actually scored better there than on the shorter woods half. Two par-4s, but they're both softies under 400'.

Nothing big.

-Broken Glass: A lot. More than any other course I've played.

-Scrambling: A lot of these holes will be impossible to save par if you hit a tree and fly any direction but straight down. Can definitely get on the nerves.

-Overlapping Fairways: More than once. Not a biggie, but keep a head up.

-Nothing Notable: There's no signature hole, and not really any excellent ones either. There aren't really flawed holes, but nor is there anything that really makes me want to go back.

One of the harder reviews to write, and I got stuck on it for quite some time. I didn't really like CMC Leadville, but it's got good infrastructure and a nice mix of slightly technical holes. For those interested in a pretty standard, but solid, par-3 course, this might be a good place to turn.

One of my favorite courses. Absolutely beautiful. Well maintained. Front nine plays through the woods like a Southern course - Lots of technical shots. Back nine is your prototypical Colorado course - Long open holes across a rolling terrain with incredible views.

*Very tough when it gets windy

*There is a hole on the back nine, I think #14, that has a huge evergreen tree right in front of the basket. It's just dumb.

Super technical holes mixed with some longer holes that are still challenging. Paths lead you from one hole to next, pretty easy to follow. One of few mountain courses in Colorado that is free to play.

Path to hole one needs signage, no practice basket to warm up

-There are good baskets, and they catch all good putts that are thrown at them, but don't allow missed putts to stick. There are not really unfair chain outs on these baskets.
-The tees are good, cement and long enough for a proper length run up.
-As the title of this review suggests, there are almost all types of shots here. The first nine are extremely different from the bask nine. The front nine are shorter, with super tight gaps, when the back nine you have the option to take the tighter lines but because the trees are a different kind of tree you can also go over the top. This could be advised on the back nine because the holes are much longer then the front nine.
-There is good elevation changes here, like holes 2,3,12 having a decent amount uphill and holes 1,7,18 being the more downhill holes.
-The tee signs are helpful, providing a decent knowledge on where the obstacles are on the hole as well a accurate distance.
-Not a heavily used course. I was there on a beautiful Sunday morning in the middle of June and our group was the people that were there.
-The views are absolutely amazing here. You have great views of the vista from the more open second half, and you can catch glimpses through the trees on the front nine.
-Places to sit on a few of tees, as well trashcans on almost every tee.
-There were two par fours, witch was nice because it provided some longer throws.
-This course loops around nicely putting the 18th basket near the first tee.
-Its free to play!
-This course is located on a collage campus so kids can get into the sport.
-This course had had a lot of work put into it. You can tell this from the fact that there are little paths lined with stones connecting fairway to basket on the front nine, and the absolutely perfectly carved fairways on holes 4,5,6,7,8.

-The bask nine were hard to follow. The front nine were fairly straight froward with well marked trails from one basket to the next tee, and every basket was visible from the next tee. However on the back nine you can't see the basket from hardly any of the tees, making you have to run up the fair way to get a look. Also the tees and baskets were more spread out, for example you will be walking for around 3 minuets from basket 17 to tee 18.
-The tees were sloped and that can impair a persons run-up .
-Holes 10 and 11 have big bushes (Brush) in the fairway that liked to eat discs (Use a spotter).
-The par 4's are not real par 4's and are just harder (real) par threes.
-There was no bathrooms, or practice basket here. Nearest bathrooms are in the collage.
-Basket 11 is warped and extremely tilted.
-Fairways 9 and 18 cross and it can be confusing as to what basket your shooting to. Also this could be dangerous.
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*Please note these cons are very minor and should not be considered as things that are wrong with the course, merely things that is keeping this course from being perfect *

This place is a beautiful course that should be honored to be allowed to play on. It has been there for quite some time and for the amount of people that must have played here over the years it has held up great! It is a really peaceful playing alone or with your buddies in the woods. The shots are not easy, but every hole is birdieable. You get rewarded for hitting your lines and very punished if you miss them. That the most simple way of putting it. The way that the two half's of the course are so different really gives this place a great challenge. Its a very unique course in I have never seen a come close to being similar. All players get rewarded with a even amount of lefty and righty shots, open and tight shots, and long and short shots, this course really has everything. If you are in the area come play here, you will definitely not regret it. Even you live within a hour or two drive it might still be worth the trip just for the experience.

Many-See Note Below

Only a few-See Note Below

NOTE: 'MarkMCC' wrote a very solid review of the course on June 6, 2016. So I am keeping my review short: a few hopefully helpful details.

I played the 3 round 'Get The Lead Out' tournament, along with 3 practice rounds, the first week of August. I enjoyed the course, especially the relative lack of non-players and the 'almost outback' surroundings. The course played pretty long for the Rec/ Older AMs but it was a good test for anyone from about Intermediate on up to local pros.

I do think that strong players will find that only a few shots will tame the course. I threw the same Hyzer Flip putters/ short mid-ranges several times on the front, and the same 'High Anhi Forehand over the trees' a few times on the back. Throw in 3 sweeping RHBH drives on 1, 14 and 18 and I can't say that 'every shot in the bag' was needed.

The concrete pads were pretty good. The course could use some mid-tees, especially on 11 through 17, which require too much 'over-the-top hucking' for many players. A few baskets were dinged but they worked OK.

Bring everything: there are no facilities and the course plays away from your car.

For Those Debating whether to make the drive: If you like solid courses in nice places, go for it. But if you live for endless variety and signature holes, I would only give this course about a 3.6.

For Those Playing Blind: Go all the way to the back parking area, and walk out the wide, gated dirt road about 500'. Tee #1 is then diagonally left about another 175' or so. The course is easy to follow, but you will want to walk WAY forward of some of the back nine tees to see the basket and plan a route.

Tip: Check out #18 while you play the #9 green. The basket is just to your right. The Tee is well up above you to your left. Also, after leaving #17, you take a left on the wide service path where the old path is Xed out with branches.

For LowLanders: Yes, playing at 10k is a thang. Bring water, take your time. And if you ever watched a Colorado Rockies game, you know your 'curveball' ain't gonna curve as much in the thin air unless you make it.

For Those Staying in Leadville: Take time to enjoy a unique scene. Can't recommend the nearby Super 8....try something a mile up in town. But for nearby food, 'The Grill' is a gem after 4pm. Huge Mexican Bar and Grill scene: Cross the highway as you exit the college, then take the first right on Elm...it's only 2 blocks.
In town, the Tennessee Pass was pretty rockin.

Speaking of 'Rockin', CMC is a No Alcohol-No Drugs campus.

This is a nicely varied 18-hole course located behind the local college, at the lofty elevation of 10,000+ feet. The views of the surrounding mountains and forest are simply amazing.

Hole lengths vary from 231' out to 396' and fairways range from tight and wooded to fairly open. .

The front nine winds through mature pine forest, making for some tight fairways where you'll want to hit your line accurately. The ground is clear so you won't lose your disc, but a tree hit may send you way out into the tight woods.

The back nine is more open, and plays over low sagebrush and through more widely spaced trees. Keep a close eye on your drive as finding discs in the sagebrush can be a bit of a challenge.

There are a couple of nice downhill drives (1 & 18) and a few modest uphill holes, but this course didn't really strike me as "very hilly".

Excellent concrete tee pads with good descriptive signs. Some of the baskets are a bit beat up and leaning, but they catch fine.

Navigation is a snap out here, as there are rock lined paths leading from each basket to the next tee. And for the most part the next tees are quite close, so this course plays pretty quickly.

In the dappled shade some of the baskets are tough to spot from the tee. That big yellow band would be welcome here.

The baskets for holes 9 and 18 are fairly close together, and when driving (blind) from 18 you can easily drive onto folks playing 9. I did this on my third round, and will start giving a yell before driving off this pad.

The popular "Mineral Belt" hike and bike trail runs alongside a couple of holes, so be aware of potential traffic.

This course is at a very high elevation with some hills. If you're visiting from lower elevation plan to take your time and bring plenty of water.

Great course that will make use of all of your discs in your bag. Front nine is tight and technical while the back 9 is more open but still requires you to avoid trees to get to the basket. I thought I was going to get lost when I played this course for the first time but it turned out to be fairly easy to navigate. Some par 4's which is always nice when at my local courses there are none.

I did not have any major issues or noticed anything out of the ordinary at this course. Seems to be kept up well. The only minor issue I would see is that there needs to be better signage to guide people to the course especially players that have never played there before.

I really enjoyed this course when I played there last year. It really was worth the 2 hour drive to get to Leadville. The tee pads and signs are in great condition and it was easy to navigate the course and there are nice paths to follow so it is easy to find the next hole. I will definitely be back to play this course hopefully before the snow rolls in! This is a very fun course! Not too busy either like bigger city courses are.

It is very technical employing most of the discs in your bag. Holes vary from long to short and up to down. Trees line most holes with natural openings for fairways. The back nine is a little more open and flat giving you more room for thumbers and forehands.

Missing baskets on 4 and 6. Graffiti on most signs and garbage lining some holes. Baskets that are still in are old and falling apart.

I used to love this course. It was one of my favorites to play. I would drive from Denver to play it. Now with the new Lake Dillon DGC I don't see a reason to come out here. CMC or whomever maintains this course needs to put in some money into this course. This is a perfect example of what happens to a course when you don't maintain it. It was a 5-star course but now with missing baskets and no maintenance it seems to be going downhill quickly.

Good coarse design. Figure 8 will bring you back to the beginning after 9. Thin corridors through tight trees are challenging. Accuracy is crucial. Privacy is great. Not to many roll outs.

No water shot. No unique obstacle designs. Not to many big hyzer opportunities. Tough trees.

I couldn't give it above 3 because of there being no water or unique features I'd expect from a higher rated course. Besides that its one of the more fun courses around Colorado and I'd recommend it.

1) 14 out of 18 holes are a delight!
2) Elevation change. Lots of courses in Colorado boast elevation changes, but few use the terrain so well. Here "elevation change" doesn't mean "throw straight up a cliff, because we had to wedge a hole in here somehow," instead players will enjoy two massive drives across a deep ravine, one long, winding, narrow downhill, two scenic graceful holes that gradually decline and elegantly bend, and some uphill plays that are genuinely interesting.
3) A great variety of distances. Too often it seems like designers throw in some obligatory shorties to keep new players happy, but here, the <250ft holes offer meaningful challenges and can just as easily trip you up as the longer holes.
4) A classic figure 8 layout. In addition to the obvious value of this layout, CMC is benefited even further because the front and back nine play very differently, and this layout gives players with limited time the option of conveniently playing whichever nine they're in the mood for.
5) Intuitive course flow and quality tee signage make it easy to navigate the course on the first try. Although I think this course, like most, would benefit from a few more "next tee" signs, the paths from baskets to tees are so well-worn that players should be able to figure it out.
6) Most the course plays, not just through a wooded area, but the right kind of wooded area. So often wooded courses are a brambled mess just feet off the fairway, but CMC Leadville has fairways flanked by beautiful pine forests that are light on undergrowth and low-hanging branches making it possible to find recovery lanes after errant shots. Also, it's the kind of forest one can walk through and enjoy.
7) Holes 1-12 and hole 18. The front nine has a very consistent feel while still offering a variety of challenges and opportunities. Hole 10, in addition to being fun to play, is simply beautiful. Hole 18 is a silly-fun way to wrap up as players are given the opportunity to fire back across the gully at full force.

CMC Leadville came highly recommended, and I wasn't disappointed, but it's not perfect. Building and maintaining a disc golf course is hard and I offer these light critiques respectfully, and with a spirit of appreciation toward those who did/do the work to make the course happen.
1) If the college would allow it, some signage at the parking lot would be helpful. The first tee is quite a distance away from the campus and it's hard to find.
2) Some of the baskets are getting pretty beat up - to the point that it affects shots. Also, basket heights aren't consistent.
3) Holes 13-17. This may be nothing more than a matter of taste, but I just don't appreciate the holes that feel like one is throwing into a forest with no obvious flight path toward a basket with no approach avenue. I enjoy pulling out the overhand approach, and I like the natural feel, but these holes on the back nine felt like they weren't designed with nearly the care that was put into the others. Of course, there may be all sorts of land use reasons for this that I don't understand.
4) I'm not sure, but I suspect that this land was either a landfill or was/is a landfill service road. On the lower elevation holes like 1,9,10, 11, and 18, there's broken glass everywhere; far more than the lazy drunk that carelessly discards a bottle here or there. I'd strongly recommend skipping the sandals on this course in favor of solid closed-toed shoes or boots.
This isn't a negative reflection on the course designers, maintenance team, or regular players. It's clear the glass issue isn't their fault, and, as long as you're wearing shoes, it doesn't affect play.
5) The course crosses over itself on four holes. Normally this is an enormous turn off for me, but it wasn't all that odious at CMC. In fact it was sort of fun playing under the golfers driving on one while I drove on nine. They were respectful of me and I returned the favor; it wasn't an issue. Plus it was fun to watch their drives from directly below while still feeling safe. It's not an angle I get to watch the sport from very often.
As I type it occurs to me that this con may be a pro in its own way.

This course gets an awful lot right, and it's just plain fun - which, I think, is still the point of the sport. For an experienced player, it will feel like unwrapping a very thoughtful Christmas gift from someone who knows you well. For newer players a few holes will feel daunting, but most will provide healthy, non-soul-crushing challenges that will prompt improvement.
The glass thing isn't a big deal if you know it's coming, and the course is still absolutely stunning. The course by no means feels like a trash pit (there are garbage barrels at every tee box and the place is totally free of litter).
If you're from Colorado and you love disc golf, you've probably played this course aplenty. If you're not, make sure to put it on the list of must-plays for your next road trip through the Centennial State.

Brand new tee signs with pin location. Awesome course. Super technical front 9. Wide open for the majority of the back 9. Nice to have the contrast.

A couple of holes that could really use a few less trees(12) In particular

A tournament here would be awesome!!!

The front 9 is in a amazing pine grove. It has some real cool shot. Lots of garbage cans and benches. Good tee pads and baskets

The back 9 is not quite as good as the front 9 its mostly wide open long shots. In a much more desert like area with lots of sage.

One of my favorite courses in Colorado.

-Very diverse course terrain with great basket placement
-Front nine tight and technical making every shot selection tough and the need to use every type shot in you bag
-Great elevation changes with again the placement of the baskets well thought of
-Hole 18 is incredible and for my 1st time playing "EAGLE" is exceptionally a great memory
-Great views and plenty of beautiful country to look at

Tough to find the basket placement for a 1st timer and could use a little better marking system on the baskets themselves. Otherwise just maybe some more trash cans to help eliminate the trash from those that don't understand how to pick up after themselves.

Loved the course and by far one of my all time favorites now. Look forward to meeting you again Leadville course!

- Great mix of shots and wide variety of terrain.
- Unbelievable views, simply can't be beat. One that sticks out in my mind is number 10. After coming out of the more tight and technical front nine we came to hole number 10 which was a more open sagebrush valley looking west towards Mt. Massive just before sunset. This is the single most memorable hole I've ever played.
- Some absolutely great holes on the course. Starting right away on hole number 1, the course challenges you. Other standout holes for me are 10, 12, and 18.
- The front and back nine have their own distinct character. The front is a more tight and closed in woods course, while the back is a more open sagebrush dominated course with much shorter trees.
- This course requires every kind of shot. From big hyzers and anhyzers to tomahawks and s-curves, this course requires that you use every shot in your bag.
- Excellent layout. The course was incredibly easy to follow even for a first time player. The stone lined paths really helped.
- Did I mention some incredible views?

- Signage was near nonexistant which was problematic at times, but never left you wondering where to go.
- For a first time player, the goals could use some sort of color so you can distinguish them from the trees on some holes.
- Number nine's basket was missing altogether, so we had to play to number 18.

Despite some maintenance problems, this course is absolutely phenomenal. I loved the shots required of you and the wonderful variety throughout the 18 holes. Add to this an incredible location and you have an outstanding course. It left a mark on me, and stands out as the single most enjoyable course I have played to this point. I must say I'm jealous of the residents of Leadville.

EDIT: The basket on number nine is now in place and someone tied flagging tape to all of the baskets, which have taken care of some of my cons. However, upon playing the course again, I feel like some fairways could use several trees cleared, just to give you a bit more of a fairway. My overall impression of the course is still the same though.

-Very good course design. The front nine are wooded with tighter fairways while the back nine opens up a little bit more. The course has a lot of baskets guarded by trees. This course punishes you for bad shots as if you go off the fairway you will usually find your self in some tight trees. The course has a lot of elevation changes, including some really awesome downhill shots and hole 12 is an awesome through straight uphill over some trees.
-Concrete teepads
-The course flow is really easy to follow and most of the holes have rock lined paths between them leading the way to the next holes, making the holes really easy to find.
-The course has some beautiful views of Mt. Massive and Mt. Elbert, the two tallest mountains in Colorado.
Update: July 2012- There are quite nice new tee-signs and the missing basket is back

-The tee-pads are a little short and it would be nice if they were a little longer.
-Several of the holes play really close or over each other which could lead to some safety issues especially when the course is crowded

This course finally got maintained and fixed up a little bit which definitely improved it. It is a great course with a wide variety of holes, a good mix of distance and open and wooded fairways. This course is definitely worth traveling to, if you are anywhere near Leadville definitely make a stop at this course, you wont regret it.

This is one of the top 5 courses in Colorado. At 10,000 feet a mountain course rarely gets better than this. I call it a "professional course" because while it may not be maintained every day, the layout and design of the course is clearly professional. Beautiful fairways cut out between the pine trees are in a perfect mixture with natural formations within the woods. The course starts out a bit hard to find, but once you are there it is well worth it. The front nine are much more technical, short, and have much tighter fairways. The back nine are more "free" mountain holes in terms of manicuring the fairways, and require much longer (yet just as accurate bombs). This course will certainly take every throw in your bag! Hyzers, anhyzers, s-curves, bombers, thumbers, scoobies, and tomahawks. When... and yes I say when, not if... you get stuck in the woods, expect to get creative and take some risks. The course requires a lot of hiking, and is at 10,000 feet in elevation, and will take a group of two fit guys about two hours to play. I have ran and played the course myself which took about 1.25 hours with no distractions. While this is fairly tucked in the backwoods, it is very easy to find your way from hole to hole. Leadville is certainly the most beautiful course I have ever been to: Gorgeous red, brown and white rock, loads of pine trees, and a majority of the time there are gorgeous views of 14,000 ft. snowcapped peaks and that blue Colorado sky. This course is also rarely visited, and in the six times I have played here I have only ran into four other groups of people (and that includes running solo past three groups). There is not much else to say besides this place is gorgeous, very technical, very long, very hard, and extremely well thought out. It would be wrong to miss this course if you are in the area... they don't make too many like this one.


After playing this course 10 or so times I have come to the conclusion that holes 2-9 are truly what make this course unique, ultra challenging, professional, and entertaining. These 8 holes are some of my favorite ever. Very tight lines beautifully cut out through chunks of tight forest. Straight away gaps, deep hooks, and one cut out anhyzer (hole 5, one of my favorites). After hole 9 the course was clearly left as is, and no trees were removed. While the back 9 are more open spaces with scattered trees, they are still very fun. They are not SUPER creative, but the distances and pin placements make them very hard. While they are all fairly similar, you will not find yourself getting bored with shot style, as each hole still requires a different shot and has a fairly well define "fairway" you want to hit.

This course is a bit in the middle of nowhere.... but thats probably what makes it so uncrowded and gives it such a relaxed vibe.

This is one of my favorites in the state. It is a very hard course, but can be played extremely well if the proper lines are hit. Play it. Disc at 10,000 feet.

I probably would rate this course a 3.5, but holes 2-8 really make this course for me! Enough to bump it up a half point. The back 9 truly only gets a bit boring after you have been a regular at this course for some time.

A very lovely place for a course,Beautiful scenery of Mt.Massive,pines and purple sage.Course flows thru the dense forest nicely,fairways definately wide enough to gun thru yet tight enough to mess up a few skilled players.The use of the elevation is decent as well.

Every hole is right in front of you. holeHole 1 and 18 were the only long holes.No baskets are tucked into the dense forest.Usually college courses lie this way not sure why.Makes it easier alot easier.Or another way to put it boring.Make the course longer, harder utilize the environs to the utmost tuck some baskets into the woods a little.

The purple sage here was really fun to play thru at 10152 feet Similar to the fields of it at Fire Mountain in Rifle.Definately one of the better courses i've played along the I-70 corridor.

2 miles high mountain vista are breathtaking - literally!
Two different courses between front and back 9.
Clever layout that makes great use of the terrain.
Did I mention the views?

Extremely dissapointed with lack of markings which make it really tough for a 1st time group. Nothing was marked and there was no help anywhere, we just had to wonder around and try to figure it out. Next time I go back I'm bringing some tape and a marker pen. Come-on locals play nice!
Several holes where you really need to send forward a scout because the brush is thick and heavy for all but the longest players.

They don't call it the rockies for nothing, this course will chew up your discs so bring the "B" discs. It's high up so bring sun screen and a jacket along with lots of liquid and take it easy on this gorgeous and most unique DGC.

Stunning views, variety of holes, great cement tee boxes, figure-8 layout, can play the back nine right until sunset over Mt. Massive. Well maintained most of the time, with trash cans and brooms at every hole.

Some trash and glass get churned up from it's former mining dump days.

One of my all-time favorite courses! Classic Colorado mountain course. Breathtaking views on the back nine, especially at sunset. Great variety of shots. Figure 8 design means you can be throwing #9 underneath #1 throwing North to South, and #18 throwing South to North over a former rail trestle. FUN! Leadville is a great town too: Eat a fat Filet Mignon for $7 at Quincy's, then head over to the bowling alley for super-cheap games and maybe the biggest pinball game collection in the Rockies, and you've had a good day! (note: course was still snowbound at the end of April, but is probably in fine shape now. A couple of baskets don't get put out until late May.)

Nice tight fairways on the front 9 while preserving a "warm up" for the back 9. Seriously challenging back 9 with some crazy angles, obstacles, and terrain.

This is the second Colorado course I've played and I'm not sure they're kept to be rough, but the back 9 had almost no fairway(if you loose discs easily you need a spotter, and even then you'll probably loose a disc to the sage or trees). Definitely needs new signs - I'm pretty sure the distances on this site are way off on some holes.

Friendly players on the course, 10k feet up in the mountains, and in a town with tons of "wild west" history.