Colorado Golfing
Colorado is home to some amazing year-round sports activities, including Colorado golf. The awe-inspiring beauty of the Rocky Mountains isn’t just good for hiking and skiing.The geography of the Centennial State means that golf courses are naturally equipped with a diverse range of topography and terrain, from stunning greens lined with trees to rocky, sandy courses that feel more like playing in a desert. Whether you’re blowing off some steam with your coworkers or enjoying a nice, relaxing day on the course, Colorado has enough golf options to keep you busy and entertained year-round.
A World of Colorado Golf Course Terrain
The terrain in Colorado is incredibly varied. If you’re looking for a classic round of golf on a lush green course, you’ll find it, especially at one of the top resorts throughout the state.
Top-rated Colorado golf courses:
- Redlands Mesa Golf Club in Grand Junction, which boasts rolling green hills nestled under the dramatic rocky buttes of the Western Slope and the red sandstone of Colorado National Monument.
- Raven Golf Club at Three Peaks in Silverthorne, a breathtaking mountain golf course within close driving distance of resorts like Vail, with incredible views and scenery, and a Top Ten rating from Golf Magazine.
- The Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs, East and West Courses, has 36 holes, at 6,250 ft elevation, and has hosted multiple USGA championships.
- For a more urban experience, there are numerous golf courses near Denver, including City Park Golf Course, Overland Golf Course, and Cherry Creek Country Club.
Many ski resorts also offer golf during the summer season, such as:
- Telluride Golf Club, which features an 18-hole course nestled among the highest concentration of 13,000- to 14,000-foot mountains in the country, provides some unbeatable scenery.
- The Sonnenalp in Vail. A resort-owned private 18-hole course open to guests.
- Beaver Creek Resort, located in Avon, hosts three world-class championship courses.
- Sheraton Steamboat Resort hosts a golf course.
- The Steamboat Haymaker Golf Course, a top-10 public course.
The really great thing about golfing in Colorado is that the view is incredible, no matter where you go— you’re looking at a 14,000-foot-tall snow-capped mountain peak, the Denver city skyline, or jagged red rock formations you can find it in Colorado.
Colorado Golf in All Seasons
While summer and the warmer months are the obvious times for visiting the links, the cold of winter shouldn’t have to stop you from golfing. If you live in or are visiting lower elevation areas, you’ll find that snow isn’t always a problem during the winter, so many courses are open year-round, with a few closing days throughout the year based on weather. In Englewood, near Denver, Inverness Golf Course prides itself on being open 362 days a year, while many other golf courses are open 9 or 10 months out of the year, with a brief break for the slow season of December through February.
Indoor Colorado Golf Courses and Driving Ranges
When the weather gets bad or you’re looking to improve your drive, a standard outdoor course might not be enough. In this case, you’ll want to check out the abundance of indoor golf experiences in Colorado.
- The Learning Center in Colorado Springs
- Fairways at the Stable in Superior, CO.
- X Golf in Grand Junction
All offer indoor golf courses with state-of-the-art simulations and screens so you can get your fix regardless of Mother Nature’s whims.
Non-Traditional Golf Experiences
Maybe you’re short on time, or maybe playing a whole round of 18 holes just isn’t your cup of tea; there are still opportunities for you to have a golf experience in Colorado. Play9 is a USGA program that recognizes that a traditional 18-hole game of golf can run really long, and sometimes you just want to get out there and hit a few rounds without the full commitment. So Play9 was born, and whether you’re playing at a specified 9-hole course or just choosing the play the front or back half of an 18-hole course, Play9 is a great way to whet your taste for golf without the full commitment.
But maybe the whole idea of a traditional golf course doesn’t appeal to you; maybe you find it slow-paced or boring, or maybe you’re looking for something new entirely. That’s where TopGolf can help. At TopGolf, players team up or go head to head at the driving range, but instead of trying to hit their ball the farthest, they aim for large targets on the green in front of them. Using microchip technology in the balls and the targets, players aim, darts-style, to score more points than the other team, and as they do, they can munch on loaded nachos or sip some local craft beers. There are several variations on the game and the rules depending on what you’re looking for, but it can make for a whole new aspect to the sport.
Relaxing on the Green in Colorado
Colorado boasts golf resorts with some of the most breathtaking views in the world, featuring world-class courses and a thin mountain atmosphere that allows your golf ball to fly through the air with remarkable distance. You can enjoy a day out on the course with friends, family, business associates, or on your own, with many resorts and clubs that offer great amenities like signature cocktails, spas, and more. It’s a great way to get out into the sunshine and relax or enjoy some gorgeous Colorado nature, and as always in the Centennial State, you’ve got plenty of options when it comes to where and how to play.
by Kathleen Fitzsimmons
