When most people think about taking a trip out to Colorado it may be for the world class winter sports. But if you find yourself planning a trip anywhere between April and November you will have access to some of the most beautiful high altitude golf courses in this country.
If you are looking to play some of the best Colorado public golf courses you have come to the right place. We will also be touching on climate and travel tips for Colorado.
To start we will be taking a look at how Golf Digest, Golf Week, Golf Pass, and Golf Mile High rated public courses this past year. We have then compiled our list based off of how others have rated them, online reviews, and our own experiences.
Golf Digest’s Best Public Courses in Colorado 2023 (no specific order)
The Broadmoor Golf Club (East & West courses)
Red Sky Ranch & Golf Club (Fazio & Norman courses)
TPC Colorado
Redlands Mesa Golf Course
The Ridge at Castle Pines
Rio Grande Club & Resort
The Club at Crested Butte
Lakota Links Golf Course
Keystone Ranch Golf Course
The Bridges Golf & Country Club
The Golf Club at Bear Dance
Sonnenalp Club
The River Course at Keystone Resort
CommonGround Golf Course
Highlands Meadows Golf Course
Golf Week’s Best Public Courses in Colorado 2023
- Redlands Mesa Golf Course
- Red Sky Ranch & Golf Club (Fazio)
- The Broadmoor Golf Club (East)
- Red Sky Ranch & Golf Club (Norman)
- Haymaker Golf Course
- CommonGround Golf Course
- TPC Colorado
- The Broadmoor Golf Club (West)
- The Golf Club at Bear Dance
- River Valley Ranch Golf Club
Golf Pass’s Best Public Courses in Colorado 2024
- Coal Creek Golf Course
- West Woods Golf Club
- Haymaker Golf Course
- Interlocken Golf Club
- Rollingstone Ranch Golf Club
- Pole Creek Golf Club
- Green Valley Ranch Golf Club
- Wellshire Golf Course
- Grand Elk Ranch and Club
- The Ridge at castle Pines North
- Ironbridge Golf Club
- Lakota Links Golf Club
- Cheyenne Shadows Golf Club at Fort Carson
- Meadow Hills Golf Course
- J. F. Kennedy Golf Center
Golf Mile High’s Best Public Courses in Colorado 2023
- Polo Creek Golf Club
- Bear Dance Golf Club
- Fossil Trace Golf Club
- River Valley Ranch Golf Club
- Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course
- Omni Interlocken Resort Golf Club
- Devils Thumb Golf Club
- Breckinridge Golf Club
- Eagle Vail Golf Club
- Arrowhead Golf Course
Now that we have seen how others have rated courses let’s take a look at our top 15 public golf courses in Colorado. We have included the city, distance from Denver International Airport (DIA), and the designer of each course. We have taken a lot of factors into play for our top 15 but if we are being honest here if you have the chance to play any of these courses you will not be disappointed.
1. Red Sky Golf Club (Norman Course) - Wolcott, CO (~140 miles West of DIA) - Designed by Greg Norman
2. The Broadmoor (East Course) - Colorado Springs, CO(~90 miles South of DIA) - Designed by Donald Ross and updated by Robert Trent Jones Sr.
3. CommonGround Golf Course - Aurora, CO (~20 miles SouthWest of DIA) - Designed by Tom Doak.
4. Redlands Mesa Golf Club - Grand Junction, CO (~271 miles West of DIA) - Designed by Jim Engh.
5. Fossil Trace Golf Club - Golden, CO (~36 miles West of DIA) - Designed by Jim Engh.
6. The Ridge at Castle Pines North - Castle Rock, CO (~38 miles South of DIA) - Designed by Tom Weiskopf.
7. Arrowhead Golf Club - Littleton, CO (~52 miles South of DIA) Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr.
8. Lakota Canyon Ranch & Golf Club - New Castle, CO (~192 miles West of DIA) - Designed by James Engh.
9. The Golf Club at Bear Dance - Larkspur, CO (~52 miles South of DIA) - Designed by Douglass Carrick.
10. Keystone Ranch Golf Course - Keystone, CO (~100 miles West of DIA) - Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr.
11. Haymaker Golf Course - Steamboat Springs, CO (~174 miles West of DIA) - Designed by Keith Foster.
12. Pole Creek Golf Club - Tabernash, CO (~102 miles West of DIA) Designed by Denis Griffiths.
13. The Links at Cobble Creek - Montrose, CO (322 miles SouthWest of DIA). Designed by Craig Cherry.
14. Raven Golf Club at Three Peaks - Silverthorne, CO (~93 miles West of DIA) - Designed by Tom Lehman and Hurdzan/Fry.
15. Grand Elk Golf Club - Granby, CO (~107 miles West of DIA) - Designed by Craig Stadler and Tripp Davis.
Now this a pretty stacked 15 courses with so much variety and beauty there is something for everyone. We will go through a couple travel tips for those of you that are visiting.
Climate:
Lucky for you Colorado has some of the best weather for golfing. However, the high altitude mountain courses on this list are strictly playable in the summer months so that is something to think about. Anything east of Denver is a lot more mild and you can find yourself hitting the links between April and November. Summers are hot, spring & fall are gorgeous with temps ranging from 50s to 70s. The weather can change on a dime so layers are your friend. Big tip, if the sun is out lather that sunscreen on you, are a mile closer to the sun and can get burned year round.
Travel Tips:
Altitude: If you are not used to the high altitude it may take a day or so to get used to so keep that in mind.
Bring Layers: Always pack some layers in Colorado, the weather can change very quickly.
Hydrate: Always stay hydrated especially with Colorado’s dry climate it is easy to get dehydrated.
Sun Protection: Like we said before the sun is more intense at higher altitudes so stay protected!
Conclusion
Colorado's public golf courses offer a crazy range of experiences, from scenic desert fairways to challenging mountain layouts. No matter what your handicap, Colorado has something to offer every golfer. With its stunning natural beauty, gorgeous weather, and world-class courses, Colorado is really a golfer's paradise.
Refrences
“10 Best Public Golf Courses in Colorado (2023).” Golfmilehigh.com, 27 July 2023, golfmilehigh.com/best-golf-courses-colorado. Accessed 4 Apr. 2024.Deegan, Jason Scott , and Drake Dunaway .
“Top 25 Public Golf Courses in Colorado - Golfers’ Choice 2024.” Golf Advisor, 1 Mar. 2024, www.golfpass.com/travel-advisor/best-of/best-public-golf-courses-colorado-golfers-choice-2024. Accessed 4 Apr. 2024.
“Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play 2023: State-By-State Rankings for Public-Access Layouts.” Golfweek, 5 June 2023, golfweek.usatoday.com/lists/best-public-golf-courses-2023-ranking-each-state-you-can-play/. Accessed 4 Apr. 2024.Powell, Drew .
“The Best Courses You Can Play in Colorado.” Golf Digest, 8 Aug. 2022, www.golfdigest.com/courses/guides/best-public-courses-colorado. Accessed 4 Apr. 2024.