Denver Area Course Recommendations for June

[RobYakes]

WRXers, headed to the Denver area next month for a buddy's bachelor party and I've been tasked with booking golf. There's 8 of us and we plan on playing 2-3 rounds. The Thursday round(s) will be just the serious golfers on the trip (maybe a place with 36 holes and do a morning and afternoon round each). Or is it worth doing two courses near each other on Thurs (like Dunes @ Riverdale and CO National, or Heritage Eagle Bend and Saddle Rock)? And the Friday round will be the whole group (so a more wide-open course would be best). Here's where I'm looking and their rack rate. Let me know which courses are worth the price and which aren't. The asterisk courses are ones where I can probably get an online deal better than the rack rate. Thanks

 

(Weekday/Weekend rates)

Riverdale Golf Course (Dunes) $55/$64*

Plum Creek Golf Club $59/$69

Saddle Rock Golf Course $62/$72

Colorado National Golf Club $65/$85*

Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Club $70/$75

Murphy Creek Golf Course $75/$85

The Ridge at Castle Pines North $79/$105*

The Golf Club at Bear Dance $79/$95

Green Valley Ranch Golf Club $80/$95

Commonground Golf Course $84/$84

Fossil Trace Golf Club $85/$95

Arrowhead Golf Club $120/$140*

Omni Interlocken $140/$140*

[jdcadkin]

Those courses are all over the map geographically. Not sure where you plan to stay or what else is on the agenda other than golf. Straight off the bat I’d scratch At least Colorado National, Omni, and Green Valley. Fine courses, but nothing special. CommonGround is also fine, but frankly overpriced for what it is. Dunes is a great track but pretty far north east of metro area.

 

If people are coming into Denver you want a Colorado golf experience. Bear Dance is great. Ridge at Castle Pines is fun and very playable. Those two are doable as a 36 hole day. Arrowhead is the most photographed course in the state and not a difficult track. Red Hawk Ridge is a fun and playable option down south, too.

 

Where will you be staying?

[RobYakes]

We’re going to be staying in The Highlands area. The plan is to do the Knolls and Dunes courses at Riverdale on Thurs and then play Arrowhead on Friday or maybe Bear Dance or Castle Pines North. Thanks

[irvtrain]

I'd skip the Knolls. Decent course but not for the serious golfer. I'd do Bear Dance and The Ridge for 36 and then Arrowhead for the whole group. They'll lose some balls and the golf is mediocre but that course has the most beautiful backdrop of any course in the US.

[irvtrain]

Staying in the Highlands, El Five is a good place and William and Graham was listed as a top 50 bar in the US a couple years back. It's a speak easy type place with interesting concoctions.

[gmetcalf18]

I'd say bear dance is a must play if you're down there, arrowhead is cool but like others have said it's more for the photos than the golf bear dance you can do both! The ridge looks cool but it seems there are a ton of houses pretty close to the course, kind of taking away from the mountain feel you may be going for. Red Hawk Ridge and Bear Dance would be an awesome day of 36 but like others have mentioned where you stay and the amount of traffic you're willing to deal with will determine where you can and can't play. I didn't think people were serious about the traffic until I was in it trying to make it to a Rockies game, that was quite the experience but I certainly learned from that one.

[RobotDoctor]

I definitely agree with Bear Dance. That's a terrific track. Rob, if you're thinking of playing Riverdale Dunes then try to combine it with another course going back to Highland's Ranch on E-470. Green Valley Ranch, Saddle Rock, Murphy Creek are on the way. I agree with irvtrain that the Knolls is a track more for the beginner and certainly not as challenging as the Dunes. That said, both are on the same complex so convenience is definitely there.

 

By the way, add about 10% carry distance from what you're used to playing near sea level. Have a great trip.