Colorado’s diverse landscape has long been a playground for the world’s best golf course architects. The state’s towering mountain peaks provide a dramatic setting for cliffside fairways that challenge and awe golfers. Lush forests stretching for miles offer the perfect canvas for classic parkland courses. Expansive deserts and rolling golden plains create some of the most breathtaking natural backdrops in the U.S., making every round as visually exciting as the golf itself.
Needless to say, the best golf courses in Colorado are certainly worth a visit. So, let’s dive into the ones that promise not just a game, but an adventure.
Best Golf Courses in Colorado
1. Ballyneal Golf Club
Holyoke
One of golf’s greatest pleasures is its ability to offer a long-lasting escape from the every day, and Ballyneal Golf Club takes this escape to a whole new level. Tucked away in the high plains of Eastern Colorado, this private club is accessible only by driving several miles along a dirt road. This journey imparts a true “middle of nowhere” sensation, yet leads you to something truly extraordinary.
Ballyneal is a hidden gem, offering a unique links-style golf experience far from the coast. Despite its inland location, it features all the hallmarks of a classic links design: wispy fescue grasses, firm playing conditions, and gusty winds. Designed by Tom Doak, Ballyneal promises that no two rounds will ever be the same. The absence of traditional tee markers encourages creativity and variety in play, ensuring a fresh and imaginative adventure every time.
2. Castle Pines Golf Club
Castle Rock
If you’re accustomed to playing golf at sea level, the 6,500+ feet of elevation at Castle Pines Golf Club may throw you for a loop, especially when your iron shots are carrying 30 yards further than expected!
This Jack Nicklaus-designed course is renowned for its immaculate conditioning and routing that makes each hole feel distinct and private. And with minimal earth disturbed during its creation, Castle Pines provides a true Rocky Mountain golf experience. The course’s clever use of elevation changes, mountain ponds, and babbling brooks not only ramps up the challenge but also enhances its natural charm.
3. Cherry Hills Country Club
Cherry Hills Village
Cherry Hills Country Club, founded in 1922 by a group of Denver Country Club members, was named after the cherry orchard that once graced its grounds. And for a fee of $4,500, equivalent to about $80,000 today, William S. Flynn, a renowned golf course architect from Philadelphia, designed the course. Over the past century, Cherry Hills has firmly established itself as a classic in American golf and it’s now one of the best golf courses in Colorado. Its tight, tree-lined fairways, strategic bunkering, and fast, undulating greens backed by snow-capped peaks continue to challenge and captivate golfers. The club has hosted numerous major championships, too, including the U.S. Open and PGA Championship, solidifying its reputation.
4. Colorado Golf Club
Parker
There are some settings that simply feel like they were made for golf. And the 1,700 acres now occupied by Colorado Golf Club is a great example. Designed by the iconic duo of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, Colorado Golf Club takes you on a journey through the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It’s one of Coore and Crenshaw’s premier designs and undoubtedly one of the best golf courses in Colorado.
Its fairways meander through ponderosa forests, sprawling meadows, and rugged barrancas. This is a course that not only tests your skills but also inspires a deep appreciation for Rocky Mountain golf and the artistry of integrating golf courses into its natural landscape.
5. Sanctuary Golf Course
Sedalia
Some believe that golf’s true beauty lies in its isolation. And Sanctuary Golf Course epitomizes this idea. Despite being a mere 30-minute drive from downtown Denver, Sanctuary feels a world away from the busy city. Carved into the rugged foothills, this Jim Engh-designed course features dramatic elevation changes, challenging carries, and stunning vistas at every turn. The course was a vision of RE/MAX, LLC Co-Founder Dave Liniger but, coincidentally, you’ll find no residential properties on site. Play is incredibly exclusive, reserved primarily for charity events, making each round here a rare and memorable experience.
6. The Broadmoor Golf Club: East Course
Colorado Springs
The Broadmoor’s East Course is just the first of many dazzling things around the resort. This all-in-one destination is a must-visit. The East Course is ranked highly among the best golf courses in Colorado and in the country. It’s a combination of Donald Ross designs, holes 1 through 6 and 16 through 18, and Robert Trent Jones, Sr. who crafted the middle 7 through 15.
As with any great mountain course, the East Course is known for its undulating terrain and wonderful views of Cheyenne Mountain. But, it’s the greens that will leave a lasting impression. Often described as optical illusions, where putts that appear to be uphill can actually roll downhill and vice versa, you’ll want to dial up the flatstick before heading here.
7. Country Club of the Rockies
Edwards
Located in Edwards, Colorado, the Country Club of the Rockies is a Jack Nicklaus design that perfectly encapsulates the beauty of the Vail Valley. The course winds through rolling hills, but the elevation changes aren’t as severe as other courses in the state. A handful of holes also play alongside the Eagle River, so you can expect water to pose a significant challenge.
8. Red Sky Ranch & Golf Club: Fazio Course
Wolcott
The Fazio Course at Red Sky Ranch & Golf Club in Wolcott is where challenging play meets breathtaking beauty. Designed by the legendary Tom Fazio, this par 72 masterpiece offers a golfing experience like no other. Imagine teeing off against a backdrop of Vail’s Back Bowls, navigating through open sage-covered hills, dense aspen forests, and a serene highland lake. The elevation changes here are dramatic, the fairways lush, and the greens large and undulating. It’s a playground for golfers of all levels.
Tom Fazio and his team took extra care to preserve the natural beauty of the site, relocating over 23,000 native plants to nurseries for re-planting throughout the course. This thoughtful touch ensures that Red Sky Golf Club offers not only great golf but also an intimate encounter with the dramatic Rocky Mountain landscapes in their purest form.
9. Roaring Fork Club
Basalt
You truly get the best of both worlds at Roaring Fork Club: incredible scenery and world-class golf. Play through rolling hills and sprawling meadows, with the fast-moving Roaring Fork River and surrounding woods adding excitement to your game. Navigate holes along Spring Creek, through wetlands, and beside crystal-clear lakes. Every round on this 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature course is a unique adventure.
10. Maroon Creek Club
Aspen
Widely acclaimed as one of the best golf courses in Colorado, Maroon Creek Club, just outside Aspen, is a true gem. This masterpiece by Tom Fazio is celebrated for its seamless integration with the natural landscape, where each hole blends effortlessly into its stunning surroundings. True to the essence of top-tier Colorado courses, Maroon Creek Club challenges golfers with its rugged terrain, dramatic elevation changes, and meticulously protected greens, offering a demanding yet exhilarating experience.
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