Denver area golf.

[Brizam]

I'm headed up to Denver for a conference in September and I would like to get 3 or so rounds of golf in instead of attending the conference. Looking for some recommendations. Im staying at the Omni Interlocken so the closer the better.

 

So far I am considering Fossil Trace and Arrowhead.

[MileHighBuckeye]

shoot me a PM, lived in Denver my whole life. Can give yah some rundowns of the top courses and other things to do while in the Mile High

[FlounderinDC]

I love Arrowhead, but I feel it is polarizing. People love or hate it...I could be wrong though. It is probably a bit over priced, but last year (last time I played it) they ran a deal where you got 18 holes, range, food and drinks (except booze), shirt, hat, towel and a sleeve of ProV1's for $200 I think.

I think it is one of the prettier courses I've ever played. Whenever I'm in CO I try to play it. Don't have a clue about current conditions...sorry!

[mschmidt17]

Thorncreek and The Broadlands are good options reasonably close to Omni Interlocken, but the best golf is further down I-25. If you're willing to make a 30-40 minute drive south of the city, there are plenty of gems. Bear Dance is an awesome track and really gives you the feel for Colorado golf. The Ridge at Castle Pines is another good option with a great back 9. Plum Creek is a former TPC course and actually hosted a Senior event back in the day--it's in great shape currently and is definitely a hidden gem in the Denver metro area.

[poppyhillsguy]

Riverdale Dunes. http://www.riverdalegolf.com/

About 25-30 minutes from your hotel and worth the drive.

[masamitsu]

^^^^
What he said...

[wfwp]

Riverdale Dunes, Green Valley Ranch, Bear Dance, Common Ground, Wellshire, Heritage Eagle Bend, Plum Creek, Lone Tree and Highlands Ranch.

[cdnrockies]

Played in the Colorado Bar Owners golf tournament at Arrowhead 3 weeks ago and the course was in excellent shape. Greens ran dead true and were decently fast.

I've played Fossil Trace as well and had fun.

Both courses have some gimmicky holes but overall are very good tracks, imo.

[CDM]

[quote name='poppyhillsguy' timestamp='1406069737' post='9761721']
Riverdale Dunes. http://www.riverdalegolf.com/

About 25-30 minutes from your hotel and worth the drive.
[/quote]
[quote name='masamitsu' timestamp='1406069948' post='9761759']
^^^^
What he said...
[/quote]

Double that. The DUNES course is great.

[puttnforthe8]

Ballyneal is worth the drive...I know it is a bit away, but if you are going to be there....for me it would be hard to pass up.

[Dmchase33]

I don't want to be argumentative, but man, please do not go play Thorncreek. I've lived and played golf in the Denver area for almost 30 years and I would be hard pressed to come up with a course that I like less. It's always in terrible shape and the layout is horrible. Just one man's opinion, but it's an opinion shared by most people I know.

Riverdale Dunes is a classic and very affordable. The Omni courses are good, but more expensive. Heritage Todd Creek and Colorado National are good options near where you'll be staying too (20 mins).

I agree that Arrowhead is polarizing. In my opinion it's sort of a tragedy. It could be a world class golf course given that setting, but I don't particularly like the layout and they do not take care of it like they should.

Fossil Trace is definitely a fun track to play once. I could never play it all the time, but I like to get down there once a year. It's probably about 25 mins from the Omni down Highway 93.

[masamitsu]

[quote name='wfwp' timestamp='1406076133' post='9762681']
Riverdale Dunes, Green Valley Ranch, Bear Dance, Common Ground, Wellshire, Heritage Eagle Bend, Plum Creek, Lone Tree and Highlands Ranch.
[/quote]

Thanks for the plug for my home course (Heritage Eagle Bend).

I didn't offer it up since it's a bit of a drive from where he's staying.

[Sooner7x]

Haven't played many courses in Denver but have played Fossil Trace and would recommend

[North Texas]

Was there last August during the Solheim Cup. Played Omni Interlocken, Common Ground, and Arrowhead. Didn't pay over $100 for any of them. They were all in good shape, both fairways and greens. Our group had a blast at Arrowhead and everyone loved the course. We all found it fun to play. Common Ground was also a very enjoyable course to play and it was actually one of the 2 courses used for stroke play when they played the US Amateur at Cherry Hills. Would highly recommend both of these. The Omni Interlocken course definitely came in 3rd among these three but was still enjoyable to play. Again, we paid less than a $100 for all of them and I want to say that Common Ground was around $60 or so.

[CDM]

[quote name='puttnforthe8' timestamp='1406132945' post='9767783']
Ballyneal is worth the drive...I know it is a bit away, but if you are going to be there....for me it would be hard to pass up.
[/quote]

Excellent suggestion... I think in the top 50. It is not in Denver that is for sure, It is about 3hr drive east. If you can do it, highly recommend it. Holyoke, Co.


[i]Edit: From DIA it is 2.5 hours.... I added an hour considering your location listed.[/i]

[cdnrockies]

[quote name='Chile Dip Master' timestamp='1406248377' post='9779291']
[quote name='puttnforthe8' timestamp='1406132945' post='9767783']
Ballyneal is worth the drive...I know it is a bit away, but if you are going to be there....for me it would be hard to pass up.
[/quote]

Excellent suggestion... I think in the top 50. It is not in Denver that is for sure, It is about 3hr drive east. If you can do it, highly recommend it. Holyoke, Co.


[i]Edit: From DIA it is 2.5 hours.... I added an hour considering your location listed.[/i]
[/quote]

It is fully private and apparently big bucks but they do offer a one time opportunity to play as a non-member. The catch is that you have to stay on the property. I didn't have time on my most recent trip so I didn't even get to asking about price of the round or accommodations, although the opportunity is there.

[puttnforthe8]

[quote name='cdnrockies' timestamp='1406249469' post='9779423']
[quote name='Chile Dip Master' timestamp='1406248377' post='9779291']
[quote name='puttnforthe8' timestamp='1406132945' post='9767783']
Ballyneal is worth the drive...I know it is a bit away, but if you are going to be there....for me it would be hard to pass up.
[/quote]

Excellent suggestion... I think in the top 50. It is not in Denver that is for sure, It is about 3hr drive east. If you can do it, highly recommend it. Holyoke, Co.


[i]Edit: From DIA it is 2.5 hours.... I added an hour considering your location listed.[/i]
[/quote]

It is fully private and apparently big bucks but they do offer a one time opportunity to play as a non-member. The catch is that you have to stay on the property. I didn't have time on my most recent trip so I didn't even get to asking about price of the round or accommodations, although the opportunity is there.
[/quote]

You don't have to stay on the property. We just emailed Matt Payne(not sure if he is still there) and Kia(awesome lady) and got a tee time. It was worth every penny we paid! With our own caddies as well!

[cdnrockies]

[quote name='puttnforthe8' timestamp='1406306869' post='9783829']
[quote name='cdnrockies' timestamp='1406249469' post='9779423']
[quote name='Chile Dip Master' timestamp='1406248377' post='9779291']
[quote name='puttnforthe8' timestamp='1406132945' post='9767783']
Ballyneal is worth the drive...I know it is a bit away, but if you are going to be there....for me it would be hard to pass up.
[/quote]

Excellent suggestion... I think in the top 50. It is not in Denver that is for sure, It is about 3hr drive east. If you can do it, highly recommend it. Holyoke, Co.


[i]Edit: From DIA it is 2.5 hours.... I added an hour considering your location listed.[/i]
[/quote]

It is fully private and apparently big bucks but they do offer a one time opportunity to play as a non-member. The catch is that you have to stay on the property. I didn't have time on my most recent trip so I didn't even get to asking about price of the round or accommodations, although the opportunity is there.
[/quote]

You don't have to stay on the property. We just emailed Matt Payne(not sure if he is still there) and Kia(awesome lady) and got a tee time. It was worth every penny we paid! With our own caddies as well!
[/quote]

Reciprocal play?

I had my Director of Golf contact them prior to my trip in June and was told that I had to stay on the property. Interesting.

[puttnforthe8]

[quote name='cdnrockies' timestamp='1406310050' post='9784353']
[quote name='puttnforthe8' timestamp='1406306869' post='9783829']
[quote name='cdnrockies' timestamp='1406249469' post='9779423']
[quote name='Chile Dip Master' timestamp='1406248377' post='9779291']
[quote name='puttnforthe8' timestamp='1406132945' post='9767783']
Ballyneal is worth the drive...I know it is a bit away, but if you are going to be there....for me it would be hard to pass up.
[/quote]

Excellent suggestion... I think in the top 50. It is not in Denver that is for sure, It is about 3hr drive east. If you can do it, highly recommend it. Holyoke, Co.


[i]Edit: From DIA it is 2.5 hours.... I added an hour considering your location listed.[/i]
[/quote]

It is fully private and apparently big bucks but they do offer a one time opportunity to play as a non-member. The catch is that you have to stay on the property. I didn't have time on my most recent trip so I didn't even get to asking about price of the round or accommodations, although the opportunity is there.
[/quote]

You don't have to stay on the property. We just emailed Matt Payne(not sure if he is still there) and Kia(awesome lady) and got a tee time. It was worth every penny we paid! With our own caddies as well!
[/quote]

Reciprocal play?

I had my Director of Golf contact them prior to my trip in June and was told that I had to stay on the property. Interesting.
[/quote]


Nope. They must have changed things. We played Sandhills of NE and Ballyneal last year and just emailed/called and set times up. That sux if that is the deal now.

[CDM]

When I played Ballyneal I was with a member. Not sure how it is when you call up as a non member.

[puttnforthe8]

well coincidence, I guess....[url="http://www.ebay.com/sch/Tee-Times-Green-Fees-/14108/i.html"]http://www.ebay.com/sch/Tee-Times-Green-Fees-/14108/i.html[/url]

5-6 golf certificates for Ballyneal up for sale on ebay

[irvtrain]

All good suggestions. Fossil Trace is a must. It is designed by Jim Engh and I think he has only designed a handul of courses outside of Colorado. His designs are very unique, fun, and forgiving. A few of the holes will actually put small misses back into the fairway or onto the green. Course management is your friend and driver should be left in the bag on several holes.

No one has mentioned Heritage at Westmoor but it is only 5 minutes from Omni. It is a CO links style course. It is long and one of the toughest courses in the metro area. It hosts a local qualifier for the US Open.

Everyone has mentioned good courses. Dunes is a lot of fun and is suppose to be similar to a course in Ireland. Common Ground was redesigned by Tom Doak. Green Valley Ranch hosts the Colorado Open and the closing 4 holes are very difficult. In fact they offer you a free drink if you play the last 3 par or better.

I might be available to play with you a round or two depending on when you're here. PM if you want.

[Micjhenr]

Fossil Trace is a great course. My favorite in the area is Bear Dance but close to an hour drive from broomfield. Common Grounds is a nice course but again you are looking at a 40-45 min drive if traffic isn't awful. Most of the courses around broomfield are comparable in quality to Common Ground maybe not designer. Indian Peaks in Lafayette is nice, Todd Creek in Brighton is cheap and nice (most of the time), colorado national in eerie and broadlands and the Omni are all good courses. Any courses south of Denver will be a 50+ minute commute if traffic isn't bad, I-25 can suck some days.