Red Sky
Colorado, of course, is known for its great ski destinations, but that’s winter. Fortunately, for those of us who like to chase white (or fluorescent) balls up and down the Rockies instead of sliding off them, many of these great ski locations are also fabulous golf destinations as well, especially in the summer.
While much of the country is sweltering in June, July, August, and September, Colorado, for the most part, presents near perfect summer temperatures. Obviously, the higher you go, the cooler it is — and the farther the ball travels. So if you like hitting big drives among incredible scenery, Colorado is a great choice for golf in the late spring, summer and early fall.
The Keystone State offers great variety as well, from some of the best munis in the country to high-end resorts. Plus, there’s so much else to do like summer festivals, great breweries, wineries, restaurants, hiking, biking — the list just keeps going on and on.
And adding to excitement is the new Rodeo Dunes, which will be located just outside of Roggen, Colo., about an hour northeast of downtown Denver. Developed by Michael and Chris Keiser — sons of Mike Kaiser, the creator behind Bandon Dunes (Oregon) and Sand Valley (Wisconsin) — this new venture has the potential for a six-course resort that would be open to the public. The first course — designed by Jim Craig who worked with Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore for many years — could open as soon as 2025.
Until then, though, we focus on all the fabulous public golf opportunities currently available in Colorado. Some are resorts and require you to be a guest to play the courses. But if you plan well, you can play any of these gems.
Country Club of Colorado
The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs
Nicknamed the “Grand Dame of the Rockies,” The Broadmoor Resort is special even without the golf courses. It was designed to emulate the great hotels of Europe and goes back to 1918, and the golf courses live up to that legacy. They have been the site of many high profile events, including the U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open, both which were held on the East Course. The first course was designed by Donald Ross, and at the time, it was the highest course in America. Robert Trent Jones designed the second course, which opened in 1965. Interestingly enough, the East and West courses are now a combination of different holes from Ross and Jones. Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay crafted the the third course, the Mountain Course, which opened in 1976.
The Broadmoor
Cheyenne Mountain Resort, Colorado Springs
Right next to the Broadmoor is the AAA four-diamond Cheyenne Mountain Resort, where you will find Pete Dye’s first design in Colorado — the Country Club of Colorado, which was built in 1973. It was originally a private club, but opened to the public after the resort was built in 1973. The near-7,000-yard, par-71 golf course is set at the foot of Cheyenne Mountain and was laid out around Curr Reservoir, a 35-acre spring-fed lake. The course is known for its narrow fairways and tricky greens.
Country Club of Colorado
Keystone (Colo.) Resort
Talk about teeing it high and letting it fly, the golf courses at Keystone are set around 9,000 feet, so those well-struck drives seem to never come down. There are two wonderful courses at this incredible ski destination — the Ranch Course and the River Course. The Ranch is a 7,090-yard Robert Trent Jones Jr. design with nearly 70 bunkers, nine-acre lake and six water features. The clubhouse is a former ranch house that was built in the 1930s. Dana Fry and Dr. Michael Hurdzan are responsible for the River Course, which was designed around the Snake River (front nine) and has plenty of elevated tees, including the first hole, where you tee off 100 feet above the fairway. The best way to experience these courses is to book a package at the four-diamond Keystone Lodge and Spa, which has more than 150 guest rooms, an incredible spa, the Big Horn Steakhouse and a European-styled village with more restaurants and shops.
Keystone
TPC Colorado, Berthoud
Ranked by Golf Digest as one of America’s top 100 public courses in 2021, TPC Colorado is also one of the longest golf courses in the world at just under 8,000 yards from the tips and includes a par-5 that’s 773 yards. Designed by Art Shaupeter and home of The Ascendant presented by Blue (a Korn Ferry Tour event), the course also has three short, and possibly drivable par-4s. Fortunately, there are seven sets of tees, which start out around 4,000 yards, so everyone can play it. There are plenty of pot bunkers to avoid, a reservoir that comes into play, and great views.
TPC Colorado
Breckenridge (Colo.) Golf Club
Once a tent city of miners searching for gold riches is now 27 holes of Jack Nicklaus golf. The first nine, the Bear, opened in 1985, while the second Beaver Creek Nine opened a couple of years later to form the original 18. You can still see remnants of the old miner camps from the front nine, while the back nine takes advantage of the beaver ponds that are scattered throughout the last few holes. The Elk Nine opened in 2001 giving resists and visitors alike the chance to play different combinations of courses that play at over 9,000 feet in elevation with great views of the Rockies.
Breckenridge
Red Sky Golf Club, Wolcott
Located in the Vail Valley, Red Sky Golf Club is private, but anyone can book stay-and-play packages to access two outstanding golf courses. The Fazio Course, designed by Tom Fazio, is laid out around sage-covered hills, aspen forest and around a highland lake. The Norman Course, designed by Greg Norman, is more than 400 yards longer than the Fazio at 7,580 yards from the tops. Craggy rock outcroppings, scrub oak and wildflower meadows paint the landscape of this championship layout.
Red Sky
Omni Interlocken, Broomfield
Just outside of Denver you’ll find the Omni Interlocken Hotel, which has nearly 400 rooms, a spa, fine dining and a terrific 27-hole course designed by David Graham and Gary Panks. The course features more than 400 feet of elevation change. You can play three combinations of nines — which include Eldorado, Vista, and Sunshine — each adding up to around 7,000 yards from the tips. The course was the site of the John Elway Celebrity Classic in the early 2000s.
Omni Interlocken
Beaver Creek Golf Club, Avon
There’s only one course at Beaver Creek Resort, but it’s well worth it. Nestled against the slopes of Beaver Creek Mountain, the course is a Robert Trent Jones Jr. design that is long and narrow with amazing views of mountain scenery (a common theme for Colorado courses). One of the unique pleasures that’s returned to Beaver Creek is “cookie time,” where rangers deliver fresh baked chocolate chip cookies each afternoon to players.
Beaver Creek
Commonground Golf Course, Aurora
Home of the Colorado Golf Association, the Tom Doak-designed golf course at Commonground is a must-play for anyone in the Denver area. The course, which provides great views of the Front Range, was crafted to satisfy all levels of golfers with a design that accommodates beginners, but challenges better players. Water features, native grass, a few trees, and wide fairways are the rule on this easy-to-walk course, where caddies are available.
Commonground
Haymaker, Steamboat Springs
Certainly one of the best muni courses in Colorado, Haymaker Golf Course is a championship-level Keith Foster design that features two distinct nines. The front is links-like, and the back is more traditional. Together they tip out at more than 7,300 yards, but there’s also a family option that’s under 3,000 yards. The course features a great variety of holes, including a drivable par-4. Haymaker is very walker-friendly, and it has an excellent golf shop, restaurant and practice facilities.
Haymaker, Steamboat Springs
Golf Club at Redlands Mesa, Grand Junction
Located in the shadows of the Colorado National Monument, the Golf Club at Redlands Mesa offers a spectacular golf course with amazing scenery. There are 11 elevated tees on this public layout designed by Jim Engh, who is known for his imaginative layouts. Simply put, the holes are stunning with their water features, rock formations, native grasses and outstanding conditions. The facility also has great practice facilities, dining, and an outstanding golf shop.
Redlands Mesa
Fossil Trace Golf Club, Golden
Certainly one of the most unique courses in the country, Fossil Trace Golf Club near Denver opened in 2003 or about 64 million years after dinosaurs first walked on this property. The connection becomes obvious when you play this course as these prehistoric creatures’ fossils can be seen there, adjacent to the 12th green, for example. It was also a working farm at one time, and once housed a boys school, and you can still see the remnants of the old Rockwell mine there. As for the course, it was also designed by Jim Engh, who takes golfers through a challenging journey that includes the 659-yard ninth as well as some very picturesque par-3 holes.
Fossil Trace