It’s golfing season in Colorado and for a state that arguably has some of the best golf courses in the west, that means it’s time to explore these stunning courses this summer. Whether you’re a scratch golfer or still dialing in your swing, there is something for everyone. Join us for part two of this three part series on golfing in Colorful Colorado!
Golfing Colorado’s Mountain Courses
While golfing along the front range is a year long activity, it is very much a seasonal activity in the high country. However, it is well worth the wait! There are spectacular courses throughout our resort communities that are scenic, challenging and a lot of fun to play.
The golf season in the mountains generally does not start until April or May and shuts down as soon as the snow starts to fall. Some of the advantages of playing more than 8,000ft above sea level in some areas are dramatic mountain views, fun elevation changes, and beautiful alpine flora and fauna. Read below for an overview of a few of our top picks in some incredible mountain areas.
Central Rockies
Known for its world class skiing in areas such as Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, and Keystone the Central Rockies also offers some of the state's most stunning golf courses, both public and private. Here are some of our favorites.
Vail Golf Club
Not only known for dramatic views- it is highlighted by the impressive Gore Range- the Vail Golf Club is a municipal course also known for its incredibly friendly staff. The 18-hole course features unique fairways and smooth putting surfaces. Recognized by Golf Digest as a "Top 100 Resort Course," golfers enjoy watching their balls fly 10 percent farther in Vail’s high altitude environment, while they challenge themselves on greens that follow the scenic Gore Creek.
Beaver Creek Golf Club
The Beaver Creek Golf Club, located against the slopes of Beaver Creek Mountain, is one of the oldest links in the Beaver Creek and Vail Valleys. Opened in 1982, the course was designed by legendary golf course architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and is known and respected for its long, narrow, challenging fairways and its stunning scenery.
Raven Golf Club at Three Peaks (Silverthorne)
The Raven Golf Club at Three Peaks is considered one of the top courses in the country and, without hesitation, the best mountain course in Colorado. Located in Silverthorne, Colorado just an hour from Denver and minutes from the Vail Valley’s top destinations, the challenging, but playable course, features lush rolling fairways and immaculate greens.
Breckenridge Golf Club
Sitting at 9,300+ft above sea level, designed by legend Jack Nicklaus and surrounded by snow capped peaks, the three championship 9-hole courses offer a true mountain golf experience. Dense wooded areas give way to open native grassland and wetland areas. It is not uncommon to spot wildlife during your round including beaver, deer, elk, moose and sometimes even a bear.
Pole Creek Golf Club (Tabernash)
Sandwiched between Granby and Winter Park and just a little over a half-hour’s drive from Rocky Mountain National Park, Pole Creek Golf Club is is home to arguably one of the best 27 holes in the state you can play. Enjoy jaw-dropping views from every hole, including an especially unforgettable grand finale vista from the top of the Ridge nine.
Collegiate Peaks Golf Course (Buena Vista)
This casual course with amazing views is nestled at the base of 14,000 foot peaks and offers premier golfing with stunning vistas on every side. But that is only the beginning. Collegiate Peaks Golf Course is a premier 9-hole golf course in the Upper Arkansas Valley, offering league play for men and women. Privately owned and open to the public, this course offers a variety of play for all levels and ages.
Southern Colorado
If you are trying to get further away from the metro area, visiting some of the highest elevation golf courses in the country will do the trick. The Southern Rockies are home to stunning mountain courses at elevations that will help your golf ball soar!
Rio Grande Club and Resort
Nestled 20 miles east of Colorado's picturesque Continental Divide and Wolf Creek Ski Area, the Rio Grande Club golf course is surrounded by all the natural beauty that Southern Colorado has to offer: rivers, meadows, creeks, volcanic formations, wildlife and nearby mountain peaks topping 12,000 feet. Our Championship, 18-hole layout offers one-of-a-kind opportunities and it’s along the back nine that golfers meet the challenge of dramatic elevation changes and tee shots that feel as though you are hitting off the very edge of a mountain.
The Club at Crested Butte
This semi-private course is located in the heart of Crested Butte. The 18-hole Championship course sprawls over a tranquil setting of trout filled lakes, aspen trees, mountaintops and pristine wilderness. A Robert Trent Jones II Championship Golf Course, it is rated one of the top courses in America and “Best Mountain Golf Course in Colorado” by Mountain golf Magazine.
Telluride Golf Club
Set at 9,500 feet, Telluride Golf Club is amongst the highest elevation golf courses in the world. With a backdrop of spectacularly dramatic beauty, set atop Turkey Creek Mesa, the course is tucked within the highest concentration of 13,000 and 14,000-foot peaks in the US. The air at this elevation creates less resistance for your ball during flight, resulting in soul-satisfying longer drives on this 18-hole par 70 course.