Editor’s Note: Wind, water, gullies, rocks, trees, snakes - name your
challenge, and you’re bound to find it on a Colorado golf course. We asked
expert golfing reporter Guy Girtin to help us find the Top Ten Public Golf
Courses in Colorado. Our own Carol White gives us the dish on the beer
carts, restaurants, grilles and taphandles - to make sure you keep your
priorities straight, and help you decide which of these golf treasures
you’ll need to visit before the ground freezes hard again...
Fossil Trace Golf Club
Located in Golden, right behind that big golden domed government building,
Fossil Trace Golf Club is one of Colorado's premier public golf
courses. Their slogan is “Escape the Ordinary, Experience the
Extraordinary” and they claim their course was 64 Million Years in the
Making! They’re right on their first claim. The experience is
extraordinary. We’ll just have to trust them on their 64 million year
claim.
From the simplicity of a 100 yard par 3 to the cruelty of a 659 yard par
5, Fossil Trace offers every level of player a unique and yet satisfying
challenge. Colorado golf course designer Jim Engh’s bowl greens and
sloping fairways make shot selection precise. Some golf purists criticize
Engh’s designs as being too golfer friendly but we find them to be great
fun. The 6,831 yards at altitude with a 72.5/139 rating/slope didn’t seem
too tough to handle but the narrow 480 yard par 4 4th and the 659 yard
uphill into the wind 9th hole can prove to be very difficult. The Blue
tees play at 6,241 yards and it is more manageable for the average golfer.
The par-5 12th makes you pick your route through twenty-foot tall pillars
of sandstone formations in the fairway. This is truly a unique
experience. (GG)
The Three Tomatoes Steakhouse & Club at Fossil Trace Golf Course offers a
decent selection of beers for the beer lover. They carry the normal
assortment of MillerCoors and A-B/In-Bev products, but also a few
specialties, like Barman Pilsner, which is an old recipe from Adolph Coors
himself. This beer requires 7 minutes to pour, because of its incredible
head. They also carry Herman Joseph's, Coor's German-style lager.
Representing Craft beer, you can get Dale's Pale Ale, Mamas' Little Yellow
Pils, and Fat Tire, both at the restaurant and in the beer cart. They
also occasionally carry an Odell beer on tap - a happy thing to find
anywhere. Three Tomatoes claims that they have “the best steak in
Golden.” And the view is just the appetizer. Nearby Golden City Brewery
is certainly worth an apres-golf stop. (CW)
Since opening in 1997 The Ridge has been voted a top upscale public golf
facility in Colorado by all the leading golf publications. The Ridge At
Castle Pines North facility is located in Castle Rock, and features 7,103
yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 71 . The course rating is
71.8 and it has a slope rating of 143. Designed by Tom Weiskopf, the
Ridge opened in 1997. It is a very well kept course with amazing views of
the mountains. The 9th measures 449 yards from the gold tees, and is a
hole where you can hit the best drive of your life or the worst drive of
your life. Accuracy is crucial. A Troon Golf managed facility, it is
Colorado's premier upscale public experience. Wonderful course. (GG)
When your thirst demands attention after a day on the course, stop at The
Ridge Bar & Grill. They, too, carry Herman Joseph's by Coors, but you can
also find the award winning Odell IPA on tap. Amongst the links, the beer
cart offers Blue Moon, Coors, Coors Lite. According to Food & Beverage
Director Wendy Wells, their food is “amazing. Nachos made with homemade
Green Chili and gourmet cheese, and in-house smoking of meats; ribs,
chicken, and pulled pork sandwiches.” Maybe you’ll be playing a 20th hole
here, too, and you can always check out nearby Rockyard Brewing... (CW)
This course features a mountainous terrain that is highlighted by many
scenic views. Due to the hilly terrain, elevation changes occur
frequently, including hole #10, a 208-yard, par 3, where you tee off from
a cliff about 100 feet above the green. The 18-hole "Eagle Vail" course is
located in Avon just west of Vail. It features 6,819 yards of golf from
the longest tees for a par of 72. The course rating is 70.6 and it has a
slope rating of 127 on Bent grass. Designed by Bruce Devlin/Robert von
Hagge, the Eagle Vail golf course opened in 1975. At nearly 8000 feet, it
offers the true mountain golf experience. With beauty and convenience,
and just a short drive from Vail and Beaver Creek resorts, Eagle Vail Golf
Club is one of the reasons people love to visit here. Easily reached from
I-70, this magnificent 18-hole public golf course is the perfect
combination of a gentle river course and a challenging, yet fair, mountain
(GG)
At Eagle Vail Golf Club you can wet your whistle at Mulligan’s Bar. Hole
11 is the halfway shack where you can also refresh yourself. Their
choices at the grill locations as well as on the beer cart include Coors
and Budweiser products, as well as Newcastle Brown Ale, Fat Tire, George
Killian’s (on tap), and Blue Moon. The food is pub-style fare, with
snacks and deli sandwiches. Also worth a stop is Crazy Mountain Brewing,
one of Colorado’s newest located in town nearby. (CW)
Pine Creek Golf Club is quite simply the finest public golf course in
Colorado Springs and is consistently ranked among the top ten public
courses in Colorado. The course features 7,194 yards of golf from the
longest tees for a par of 72. Designed by Richard M. Phelps, the Pine
Creek golf course opened in 1988. Great course layout but very narrow,
with plenty of trouble off the tee to the right on most holes. On the
front nine, you'll be challenged by the canyon-style course, while the
back nine features an American-style links course. The first hole has been
voted the most challenging starting hole in Colorado Springs. If you can
keep your ball out of the hazard and reach the green in regulation, then
you must negotiate a sloping, back-to-front green that can easily produce
three putts. Winding through the Pine Creek Valley, the course features
natural grasslands and wandering creek beds that come into play on 15 of
the 18 holes It can be a very deceiving course on depth perception, and is
very challenging for a first time visitor. This 18-hole championship
course is both physically and mentally demanding. Chances are, you will
come away from your round wanting to play again. (GG)
The Grill at Pine Creek offers pub-style fare, a place to pick up a
burger, a sandwich or a snack. The adequate if uninspired beer selection
is basically what Coors and Budweiser distribute. Amber Bock, Killians
Red, Fosters, Heineken and Corona are all served. Blue Moon and Fat Tire
can be purchased from the beer cart as well. After your round of rounds,
you can always retire down the road to the new Colorado Mountain Brewery,
and bring your Passport to Free Beer to get the first one free... (CW)
This course has towering red sandstone rocks throughout its design,
providing for some unbelievably beautiful settings. The 18-hole
"Arrowhead" course resides in Littleton, and features 6,682 yards of golf
from the longest tees for a par of 70. Arrowhead was designed by the
famous Robert Trent Jones, Jr., and opened in 1974. Voted the most
beautiful course in the Denver area, and that is hard to argue. Tournament
capital of Colorado! They say Arrowhead is the course that is 300 million
years in the making, and I would have to agree judging by the magnificent
rocks that you play through and between. The course features extreme
elevation changes, rolling terrain, breathtaking vistas and thousands of
feet of that ancient sandstone rock towering above you while you play your
round. Voted #1 public course in the Denver area, as well as one of
America’s top 75 public courses by Golf Digest magazine. (GG)
On The Rocks Bar and Grill is the place to relax and refresh at Arrowhead
Golf Club. The golf club is all inclusive, so when you pay for 18 holes of
golf, your food and drinks are free (YAY!), except for alcoholic beverages
(DOH!). And the menu features some great entrees: fish & chips and
blackened trout, to name a couple. Beers on tap include Fat Tire from New
Belgium, Breckenridge Agave Wheat, Stella Artois, Dos Equis and Moose
Drool from Montana. On the beer cart it's Fat Tire, Corona, Blue Moon,
and Heineken. If you’re still thirsty on the ride home, nearby CB & Potts
in Highlands Ranch and Hops in Littleton can assist... (CW)
Located in Grand Junction, Redlands Mesa is like playing golf along the
bottom of the Grand Canyon. This spectacular course occasionally
overwhelms the senses in its grandeur. The 18-hole course measures 7,007
yards from the longest tees for a par of 72. Another spectacular design by
James J. Engh, the Redlands Mesa golf course opened in 2001. In our
opinion, other reviews of Redlands Mesa are pretty accurate: it has
probably the best and most unique scenery. Jim Engh did an amazing job
cutting this course through the mesas, using available water and elevated
tees. Every hole is beautiful and unique. It has been recognized by
several publications as the best golf course on the western slope. Engh
took full advantage of the desert landscape by creating a course that
incorporates many elevation changes. Nine of the holes play downhill from
elevated tees. Wherever possible, native terrain and plants were left
untouched. Many areas of the course incorporate large rock outcroppings
and many marvelous views of the Grand Mesa, and most notably the Colorado
National Monument. Every golfer should play this course at least once. (GG)
Red Canyon Grille is the place to get a bite at Redlands Mesa. An
eclectic, upscale menu offers many choices to satisfy your appetite.
Beverage-wise, you can find several Sam Adams selections on tap, also
MillerCoor's Blue Moon. Out on the course, the beer cart offers up the
ever-popular Coors and Budweiser products, with Fat Tire, Guinness and
Heineken available, too. In town, Smuggler’s Brewpub and Grille would be a
wise choice for dinner after your exceptional round - since you can use
one of your Passport to Beer coupons to have the first beer free. You did
buy your Colorado Beer Map, didn’t you? (CW)
Walking Stick Golf Course was rated 4-stars by Golf Digest Magazine. It
has also been rated as Colorado's best golf value. In Pueblo, it stretches
out to 7,147 yards from the back tees for a par of 72. Check the weather
report for wind: this course can beat you up if the wind is stronger than
usual. The fairways are nice and you better stay on them. Cut your losses
and take the provisional off the tee or else you may end up with a snake
bite. Choose the tees you play from wisely, whites are pretty easy, blues
are tough, and the black tees are reserved for the bombers and scratch
players. Some of these greens are difficult to read and 3 putting from 20
feet is easy to do. From the fairways and below the hole, this course is
manageable and can give up some low scores. Walking Stick is a links-style
course, and has rolling fairways, deep arroyos and no trees. It is
moderately bunkered with water on only a few holes. The greens are above
average size and fairly contoured. The Signature hole is #4, a 544 yard
par 5. A hilly dogleg left with a deep arroyo along the entire left side.
A bunker guards the right front of the green. Another bunker sits about 30
yards from the green on the right side making judgment about distance to
the green difficult. The best birdie chance has to be #13, a 489 yard, par
5 that is reachable in two. The only trouble is water to the left behind
the green. Our vote: check out Walking Stick in Pueblo. (GG)
Either before you tee off, for an early breakfast, or after your round,
the Taphouse Restaurant at Walking Stick is where you can chill and relax.
Besides great food and a spectacular view, you can sip on a cold one from
a decent selection including Fat Tire and Alaskan Amber on tap, Sam Adams,
Newcastle Brown Ale, Stella, Heineken, Corona and Blue Moon. The beer cart
offers Fat Tire, Blue Moon, Corona and Heineken. Be sure to visit Pueblo’s
own Shamrock Brewing Company, located downtown, and impress your friends
with your very own Free Beer coupon, courtesy of the BDG2C. (CW)
Pelican Lakes Golf and Country Club is located in Windsor, just west of
Greeley. It is a par 72 measuring 7,219 yards form the back tees. This is
by far one of the best courses to play every year. Water comes into play
on most every hole, it has big trees that line the course, a friendly
staff, and it is simply a great course. A must play! According to reports,
Pelican Lakes boasts more shoreline than any other course in the world at
7.5 miles. It is said that this course has the most water hazards of any
inland course in America. Don't let this intimidate you, though. The
fairways are generous and the course is very playable. It is built around
five lakes and crosses the Poudre River numerous times. Keep it straight
and dry and the birdies are for the taking! (GG)
If looking at (or fishing balls out of) all that water makes you thirsty,
make sure to head to Austin's Homestead Bar & Grill. As well as the usual
locals on tap (Bud, Coors, and Miller are Colorado Beers, too!), you can
also get Fat Tire and Alaskan Ale. Bottled beer includes Fat Tire and
Sunshine Wheat from New Belgium, as well as several Odell offerings,
including 90 Shilling, Easy Street, and 5 Barrel. On the beer cart you'll
find Fat Tire, Sunshine Wheat, Blue Moon. The restaurant offers a wide
array of sandwiches. Manager Mike Brady says they are very proud of their
barbeque and steaks: “We smoke our own meats in-house”. The closest
Colorado brewing operation is the Loveland Rock Bottom, at the Centerra
Promenade. (CW)
Raccoon Creek, built on the historic Grant Ranch is named for the stream
that meanders through the course. Located in Littleton, it is a par-72 and
tops out to 7,045 yards of golf from the longest tees. Absolutely gorgeous
layout. The established landscape provides some challenging elevations and
water hazards for the experienced golfer, while the fairway designs can be
used to make Raccoon Creek the perfect course for the first-time golfer to
learn how to play. The golf course is generally in great condition. The
greens are fast and true. It is easy to get to located just off South
Wadsworth Blvd. The signature hole has to be the 375 yard par 4 10th hole.
There is trouble all along the right side with huge elm trees to catch a
stray shot and out of bounds further to the right. A creek runs through
the fairway and can catch a drive once in a while if the player is not
prepared. The reasonable price, too, makes this one of the best values in
the Denver metro area. (GG)
The Grove Restaurant is your watering hole at Raccoon Creek. The homemade
green chili is a highlight of their menu. They serve the usual suspects
from Coors, Bud, and Miller. Fat Tire and Avalanche are also available,
both in the restaurant and off the beer cart. You’ll find more to love at
Old Mill Brewery and Grill, located nearby inside the historic Columbine
Mill in beautiful downtown Littleton. (CW)
Coal Creek in Louisville, CO, is one of those courses that people rave
about. It is impressive and amazingly well maintained. This course is not
overly long but it can be tricky. Coal Creek features 6,957 yards of
well-designed golf and plays to a par 72. It opened in 1990 and was
designed by Richard M. Phelps. Coal Creek appears easy enough, but when
you start getting into the game, the subtleness comes out. Some of the
holes appear straight forward, but then you realize that tree branch is
sticking out right where you want the ball to go, or the edge of that pond
creeps in a little further than you thought. #16, which runs along Highway
36, has an elevated tee-box and if you are careful you can drive the
green. Not a tough hole, just one of those that makes you want to kick it
up a notch so you can actually say you drove onto the green and not into
the good sized bunker defending it.
The 18th is fun as well. The sharp dog-leg right combined with the trees
creates a funnel effect, making it appear you can cut the corner, only to
find out, nope, your ball just bounced into the woods. One of the most
interesting things about this course is the trees. Not many of the courses
in Colorado have a tree density to match Coal Creek. (GG)
Coal Creek's restaurant offering is The Deli 585. Greg Morgan, the Food &
Beverage director, offers up several Colorado craft beers on tap. 1554
from New Belgium and Boulder Beer’s Singletrack are on tap as well as
Colorado Native from Coors. Dale's Pale Ale and Fat Tire can be found on
the well-provisioned beer cart. When you’re done, Twisted Pine Brewery is
awaiting your arrival in East Boulder. Bring your Passport to Free Beer,
and the first beer’s free. (CW)
This spectacular Castle Rock course offers breathtaking high-mountain
views. The course is typically links in style, featuring hilly moguls and
native grass everywhere. Even though it winds through neighborhoods, the
elevation changes, wonderful views and interesting layout make this a
great course. It is shorter than most courses, so even mid-handicappers
will enjoy the gold tees best (the next longer tees are the black
championship tees). To make up for the short length, the blue grass rough
is especially long and tough, even around the greens. There is some
element to 'target golf' here, but there are still holes where the big dog
can be unleashed fully. The greens have some movement to them, usually
away from the mesa top and toward the dry gullies, but they are mostly
very fair. Not many trees on this layout as it sits along the edges of an
exposed ridge formation. But the views are wonderful, and the layout is
great. The real fun is the down-hill holes, including two par 5s that are
reachable, with some risk, by mere mortals. But, the course gets you back
with three up-hill par 5s that are quite tough. Overall a very nice course
that is truly enjoyable to play. (GG)
The Clubhouse Grill at Red Hawk is the place for refreshment when golfing
at Red Hawk Ridge. As well as the Bud and Coors products, Shiner Bock,
Corona, and Fosters, they serve Rockyard Brewing's RedHawk Ale on tap from
right down the street. Breckenridge's Avalanche is available, as well as
their Agave Wheat on tap. The beer cart can provide you with Avalanche and
Fat Tire out on the course. Happy Hour runs Wed. -Sat. from 4-7pm, 16 oz.
microbrews for $3.00 each. They offer lunch specials everyday from $4.95
and up. If you’re hankering to try more Rockyard beer, the brewery is a
long two-iron (okay, really long two-iron) away, just off Meadows Parkway. (CW)
Guy Girton got his golf chops the old-fashioned way: by losing so many
balls that he had to get better. An All-City and All-District high school
golfer in Denver, he attended college on a golf scholarship (bet you wish
you did, too, huh?) Girtin is a veteran sportscaster and TV producer with
over 25 years experience in broadcasting - from the NBC affiliate in
Colorado Springs to U.S. Open, British Open and Ryder Cup Match coverage
for ABC Sports. He is the originator, executive producer, and host of the
popular regional TV show “The Golf Show” and “The Golf Show-Million Dollar
Hole in One Shootout”. He currently owns Girtin Golf TV Productions and is
based in Colorado Springs.
Carol White is the energetic Sales and Marketing Guru here at The Beer
Drinker’s Guide to Colorado. A culinary school graduate and former
professional forester (ever eat pine bark? Her advice: “Don’t do it!!”),
in past lives she prepared elaborate seven-course meals for the hoightiest
of the toightiest on board exclusive 80-foot yachts. She also baked
thousands and thousands of loaves of bread during the wee hours when most
of us were passed out drunk. Carol doesn’t play much golf, but loves the
idea of pairing sports activity with beer drinking as much as anybody.
The Beer Drinker's Guide to Colorado is proud to be a member of these hard-working organizations.
