Ranked as the sixth most beautiful golf course in the U.S. in The Golf Book of Lists, The Estes Park 18-Hole Golf Course is set in a wide mountain valley and offers breathtaking panoramic views of Meeker and Longs Peaks. It also is home to some of the 3,200 elk roam that freely roam the surrounding area.
The vast majority golfers who come in contact with the resident elk will simply pick up or wait it out until they have a clear shot but there are some who blatantly disregard Section 33-6-128 of Colorado State Law that expressly prohibits harassment of any wildlife.
The following video was taken at the driving range and shows man purposely hitting a golf ball at group of elk. The person shooting the video threatens to send the video to the cops if the golfer continued to hit balls at the elk and comments that this is not the first time he has witnessed this type of heinous behavior.
Estes Park 18-Hole Golf Course does not have any specific wildlife guidelines for golfers on their website but they really should. The USGA does have rule 16.2 for Dangerous Animal Condition whereby a golfer is granted relief when a dangerous animal is near a ball as it lies.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed they are investigating this incident as wildlife harassment.