The Top 10 Best Golf Courses In Colorado

Colorado is a state known for its beautiful landscapes and long open roads. It’s also well-known for its natural beauty and outdoor adventures in areas like Rocky Mountain National Park, the Peak to Peak Highway, and the Appalachian Trail. But Colorado is also a golfing destination. There are 100 golf courses in Colorado scattered throughout the state – from Aspen to Durango.

This article will tell you about Colorado’s top 10 best golf courses, both public and private.

Redlands Mesa Golf Club 

(Grand Junction, CO)

• Address: 2325 W Ridges Blvd, Grand Junction, CO 81507
• Phone: (970) 263-9270

Why It’s On Our List:

Redlands Mesa Golf Club is the top-rated private course in Colorado. It offers front, side, and rear views of the rolling hills that are characteristic of much of Colorado’s terrain. The course is also a favorite with local players for its friendly atmosphere and friendly rules that create a sense of camaraderie among players who tend to be competitive without being rude or arrogant.

Ironbridge Golf Club 

(Glenwood Springs, CO)

• Address: 430 Ironbridge Dr, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
• Phone: (970) 384-0630

Why It’s On Our List:

Ironbridge Golf Club is one of just two courses in the state located in Glenwood Springs, Colo. It was designed by landscape architect C.B. Macdonald Smith, who also designed numerous courses in Colorado and California, including what is now known as Redlands Mesa Golf Club – though Ironbridge had different ownership at that time. 

Ironbridge has hosted the U.S. Open J-Z Cup four times (1915, 1946, 1962, and 1993)and every PGA Tour event in Colorado since 2000 – except for 2007 when the J-Z Cup was replaced with the NAPA Auto Parts Open, which was held at Redlands Mesa Golf Club instead of Ironbridge.

The Club at Pradera 

(Parker, CO)

• Address: 5225 Raintree Dr, Parker, CO 80134
• Phone: (303) 607-5700

Why It’s On Our List:

 The Club at Pradera, which was founded in 1999, lies just north of Pike National Forest and is the only course in Colorado designed by Jack Nicklaus. It’s also one of just four Nicklaus-designed courses in the country that have hosted U.S. Open championships (Royal St George’s, England, 1962; Pebble Beach, Calif., 1999; Bethpage Black, N.Y., 2004) and World Golf Championships events (2002 FBR Open World Challenge).

The Club at Ravenna 

(Littleton, CO)

• Address: 11118 Caretaker Rd, Littleton, CO 80125
• Phone: (720) 956-1600

Why It’s On Our List:

 The Club at Ravenna was founded in 2001 as a public golf course but was designed to feel like a private club. It’s currently ranked by Golf Digest as the 15th best public course in the U.S. and is described by the publication as an “old-world masterpiece.” The Club at Ravenna is one of only two Colorado courses designed by Michael Hurdzan, who has also designed courses in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Ballyneal Golf Club 

(Holyoke, CO)

• Address: 1 Ballyneal Ln, Holyoke, CO 80734
• Phone: (970) 854-5900

Why It’s On Our List:

 For years, Ballyneal Golf Club has been one of Colorado’s top golf courses. It’s a Tom Fazio design and has hosted the PGA Championship at least twice (1997, 2004). It also hosts the Cache La Poudre Invitational every year. Considered one of the most difficult courses in the U.S., Ballyneal’s “Tricky Triangle” course has been described by Golf Digest as “the most daunting and fair test for golfers anywhere.”

Lakota Canyon Ranch Golf Club 

(New Castle, CO)

• Address: 1000 Clubhouse Dr, New Castle, CO 81647
• Phone: (970) 984-9700

Why It’s On Our List:

 Lakota Canyon Ranch was founded in 1969 and contained just over a mile of hole-to-hole golf. It’s located within the Snowy Range in the central mountains of Colorado, an area that’s just becoming known for mountain golf courses. The course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., a well-known designer whose many other courses include Carnoustie Golf Links, where the British Open is held each year.

Colorado Golf Club 

(Parker, CO)

• Address: 8000 Preservation Trail, Parker, CO 80134
• Phone: (303) 840-0090

Why It’s On Our List:

 Colorado Golf Club holds the distinction of being the only course in the U.S. built by Zachary Taylor Davis, a well-known golf architect who, at one time, designed more courses than any other American architect (including six that hosted PGA championships). The course was built in 1903 and played host to tournaments as recently as 2006 and 2007. It is one of just two courses founded before 1915 still operating today in Colorado, along with Redlands Mesa.

Castle Pines Golf Club 

(Castle Rock, CO)

• Address: 1000 Hummingbird Dr, Castle Rock, CO 80108
• Phone: (303) 688-6000

Why It’s On Our List:

Castle Pines Golf Club is one of Colorado’s most luxurious and frequently mentioned courses. It was founded in the late 1980s by a group of investors led by former Colorado Rockies pitcher Bill “Spaceman” Lee and is known for its lush green fairways set within a natural setting. It features a challenging “mini-challenge” course designed by Brendan Flynn, who also designed the nearby Falcon Ridge Golf Club.

Sanctuary Golf Course 

(Sedalia, CO)

• Address: 7549 N Daniels Park Rd, Sedalia, CO 80135
• Phone: (303) 224-2860

Why It’s On Our List:

Sanctuary Golf Course’s claim to fame is that it was the first course in Colorado to be certified as both Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary and Audubon Signature Sanctuary. In addition, Sanctuary has won awards for excellence from the Environmental Protection Agency, Wildlife Habitat Council, and National Audubon Society. 

It was founded by Colorado residents who wanted a place where they could “play, learn and view wildlife in a natural setting.”

The Broadmoor Golf Club 

(Colorado Springs, CO)

• Address: 1 Lake Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80906
• Phone: (719) 577-5790

Why It’s On Our List:

The Broadmoor Golf Club is one of Colorado’s most luxurious and frequently mentioned courses. It was built in 1918 by Spencer Penrose (who also founded The Broadmoor resort hotel) on land he originally purchased because of its magnificent views. 

It features a Donald Ross-designed course that winds through the vistas of Pikes Peak and Colorado Springs.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What is the difference between a golf club and a golf course?

Both are collections of holes on which golfers play. A golf club refers to the complete package, while a golf course addresses the individual elements. In other words, clubs consist of golf courses, but courses aren’t necessarily part of clubs. For example, you can play at your local country club (which is likely considered a “golf club”) without ever playing at its golf course (or paying any type of dues to be a member). But you can’t just show up to play at your local public links unless you pay its green fees.

2. How many golf courses are there in Colorado?

There are about 900 certified golf courses in the state of Colorado. This is down from about 1,200 in 2005. The majority of courses in the state have been built since 1990.

3. How many golfers play in Colorado each year?

About 1 million golfers play the state’s nine courses every year (not including playing at resorts). Colorado is also home to five of the top 25 courses in America, according to Golf Magazine’s list of “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses” (that includes TopGolf).

4. How many rounds are played each year in the state?

About 16 million rounds are played in Colorado each year, with about 30 percent of those occurring on courses in the Denver area. There were 121.7 million rounds of golf played nationwide in 2016 (down from 123.1 million the previous year). Colorado ranked eighth among all states for how many rounds are played each year and second only to California (with 3,891 courses) for a total number of courses.

5. How much revenue does golf contribute to Colorado’s economy?

Golf contributes $2 billion a year to Colorado’s economy (which is second only to California, among other states).

Check out the best golf courses in the US here.