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Steamboat Magazine

Tips for Affordable Golf in Steamboat Springs

09/26/2012 01:30PM ● By Christina Freeman

by Deb Olsen

Golf, yes.  

But affordable? In Routt County?  

The sport that is often cited as skiing’s closest financial counterpart can be expensive,especially in a resort town. But there are ways to contain the costs. The golf pros at each of Steamboat’s three public courses– Haymaker, the Sheraton and Steamboat Springs Golf Club – offer cost-saving tips.   

1. All three courses offer early and/or late season rates. “It’s still early in the growing season, and it’s always the best time to get a good value,” says pro Hank Franks of Haymaker.   

2. The Sheraton and Haymaker offer discounted rates for mid-afternoon tee times. At this time, the Sheraton allows golfers to walk, thus saving cart fees. Toward the end of summer, Steamboat Springs Golf Club offers twilight rates after 4 p.m.   

3. Every three years, the Sheraton sells off its rental equipment in the fall. “It’s a goodway to get some pretty decent equipment at affordable prices,” says pro Gary Crawford. Haymaker sells its rentals annually, plus offers early/late season discounts in the pro shop.   

4. Buy a bucket of balls and go to the range. Haymaker offers volume discount cards for big bucket buyers.   

5. Lindsay Heer offers golf classes through Colorado Mountain College. “It’s probably the most affordable instruction available in the valley,” says pro Dennis Johnson of Steamboat Springs Golf Club.   

6. Locals can purchase discount punch cards and/or season passes at Haymaker and Steamboat Springs Golf Club. 

Visitors get breaks, too. Guests at local lodges get a $25 discount at Haymaker; Sheraton guests receive preferential treatment on the resort’s course.