Golfing
Todd Hartley, May, 2017
Thin air means greater distance, making mountain golf more than enough reason to bring your clubs when you visit Aspen. Boasting a plethora of excellent public and private clubs to choose from, the Roaring Fork Valley has a course for every level of golfer (and every budget). Here's a breakdown of what's available:
Aspen Golf Club. Public. Silver City's beloved municipal links, this par-71 course plays across former pastureland just 2 miles from downtown and is a great course for walking. Four sets of tees, stretching to a lengthy 7,114 yards from the tips, make the course accessible to golfers of all abilities. Clever contouring, water on 14 of the 18 holes and distracting views of Pyramid Peak, Mount Hayden and Independence Pass provide plenty of challenge. Always well maintained and open to the public, Aspen Golf Club is also a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary with an official Callaway club-fitting pro shop and the full-service Red Mountain Grill.
Learn More
Maroon Creek Club. Private. You'll probably need to be or know a member to get on this emphatically private course on the outskirts of Aspen. But if you can play it, don't miss the chance. Designed by renowned course architect Tom Fazio, this 7,102-yard, par-71 layout was ranked the 7th-best course in Colorado for 2015-16 by Golf Digest. Featuring amazing views and clever routing along Maroon Creek Canyon and across the foothills of Buttermilk Mountain, the course is a treat to play, and the whole MCC private club experience takes posh to dizzying heights, even by Aspen standards.
Learn More
Snowmass Club. Semi-private. Redesigned and rebuilt from the ground up in 2004, this one-time Arnold Palmer layout now bears the signature of celebrated Colorado-based course architect Jim Engh. Engh's complete makeover added acres of wetlands and his signature dramatic bunkering and contouring across the par-72, 7,008-yard course. Big changes in elevation and views of Mount Daly and the ski area add to the charm, as does the full-service Black Saddle Bar & Grille at the clubhouse. The public is welcome to play the course at select tee times Monday-Thursday all summer.
Learn more
Roaring Fork Club. Mostly private. RFC is generally a very private place, but Basalt residents and their guests can play this Jack Nicklaus signature course at select tee times each day. Considering it's Golf Digest's 10th-best course in Colorado for 2015-16, this par-72, 7,130-yard gem is worth trying to get on. Two holes play along and over the club's namesake river, while others meander past spectacular fields of wildflowers and ponds teeming with huge trout. True to the Nicklaus ethic, this course rewards bold play, with a number of opportunities for heroic shots.
Learn more
Ranch at Roaring Fork. Public. This 9-hole, par-3 "executive" course halfway between El Jebel and Carbondale is a great place to work on your short game or introduce kids to golf. You won't need a lot of money for this affordable option, and if you're a decent golfer, you probably won't need anything longer than a 5-iron either, so you can leave the woods out of your bag.
Learn more
River Valley Ranch Golf Club. Public. Boasting four holes that cross the Crystal River and huge, up-close views of Mount Sopris, this underrated Jay Moorish design in Carbondale is an affordable locals' favorite. Four sets of tees, stretching from the 5,198-yard reds to the beefy, 7,328-yard blacks, provide ample challenge for all levels of golfer, while the rolling terrain, numerous elevated tees and wetlands lend the course a true Western feel. After a round, stop off at the excellent Restaurant Pan & Fork for drinks and fresh seasonal fare.
Learn more
Aspen Glen Club. Private. Wide-open fairways and big views of Mount Sopris characterize this par-72, 7,455-yard Nicklaus-Nicklaus II design near Carbondale. Seven holes along the Roaring Fork River help make this Golf Digest's 9th-best course in Colorado for 2015-16, and the river-spanning drive from the back tees on the 10th hole is one of the most daunting but beautiful you'll ever see. The finishing hole, with its green on an island in the river, is equally memorable. You'll need to know or be a member, though, or else enter a tournament that's open to the public.
Learn more
Ironbridge Golf Club. Public. Designed by noted course architect Arthur Hills and tweaked by 1996 British Open champion Tom Lehman in 2014, Ironbridge, near Glenwood Springs, is another underrated course anyone can play. The front nine has two holes along the Roaring Fork River, but it's the spectacular holes 10-13, tucked away in a hidden valley, that are the real draw, with big views and extremely elevated tee boxes on 12 and 13. Affordable and featuring the full-service Ironbridge Grill, this par-72, 7,224-yard test is definitely worth the trip downvalley.
Learn more
Glenwood Springs Golf Club. Public. A true locals' haunt, the nine-hole "Hill" course has been an institution in West Glenwood since 1953. With a nice collection of par-3s, 4s and 5s, a full-service pro shop and the Greenside Grill for lunch or drinks afterward, the Hill is a fine choice for a quick round before or after a visit to Target, Lowe's or the hot springs.
Learn more
Lakota Canyon Ranch. Public. Technically out of the Roaring Fork Valley in New Castle, this affordable, par-72, 7,111-yard Jim Engh creation deserves its ranking as Golf.com's 5th-best public course in Colorado for 2016-17. Playing up and down a series of canyons, the layout boasts a collection of elevated tees unmatched in Colorado and presents golfers with plenty of chances to hit huge drives and scenic approach shots over desert arroyos. Stop off after the round at the Lakota Grill for lunch or a drink and soak up the dramatic view of the 18th hole on the canyon floor below.
Learn more
Gypsum Creek Golf Club. Public. Head east from El Jebel over scenic Cottonwood Pass and this affordable public layout in Gypsum is just an hour and 15 minutes away. Designed by renowned course architect Pete Dye, GCGC takes full advantage of its par-72, 6,980-yard length, with six holes along its namesake creek and three others traversing a scenic mesa of pinyon and sage. Combine a round with lunch at the Gypsum Creekside Grill and a trip to nearby CostCo, and you'll have a perfect little getaway from Aspen.
Learn more
Aspen Golf Club. Public. Silver City's beloved municipal links, this par-71 course plays across former pastureland just 2 miles from downtown and is a great course for walking. Four sets of tees, stretching to a lengthy 7,114 yards from the tips, make the course accessible to golfers of all abilities. Clever contouring, water on 14 of the 18 holes and distracting views of Pyramid Peak, Mount Hayden and Independence Pass provide plenty of challenge. Always well maintained and open to the public, Aspen Golf Club is also a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary with an official Callaway club-fitting pro shop and the full-service Red Mountain Grill.
Learn More
Maroon Creek Club. Private. You'll probably need to be or know a member to get on this emphatically private course on the outskirts of Aspen. But if you can play it, don't miss the chance. Designed by renowned course architect Tom Fazio, this 7,102-yard, par-71 layout was ranked the 7th-best course in Colorado for 2015-16 by Golf Digest. Featuring amazing views and clever routing along Maroon Creek Canyon and across the foothills of Buttermilk Mountain, the course is a treat to play, and the whole MCC private club experience takes posh to dizzying heights, even by Aspen standards.
Learn More
Snowmass Club. Semi-private. Redesigned and rebuilt from the ground up in 2004, this one-time Arnold Palmer layout now bears the signature of celebrated Colorado-based course architect Jim Engh. Engh's complete makeover added acres of wetlands and his signature dramatic bunkering and contouring across the par-72, 7,008-yard course. Big changes in elevation and views of Mount Daly and the ski area add to the charm, as does the full-service Black Saddle Bar & Grille at the clubhouse. The public is welcome to play the course at select tee times Monday-Thursday all summer.
Learn more
Roaring Fork Club. Mostly private. RFC is generally a very private place, but Basalt residents and their guests can play this Jack Nicklaus signature course at select tee times each day. Considering it's Golf Digest's 10th-best course in Colorado for 2015-16, this par-72, 7,130-yard gem is worth trying to get on. Two holes play along and over the club's namesake river, while others meander past spectacular fields of wildflowers and ponds teeming with huge trout. True to the Nicklaus ethic, this course rewards bold play, with a number of opportunities for heroic shots.
Learn more
Ranch at Roaring Fork. Public. This 9-hole, par-3 "executive" course halfway between El Jebel and Carbondale is a great place to work on your short game or introduce kids to golf. You won't need a lot of money for this affordable option, and if you're a decent golfer, you probably won't need anything longer than a 5-iron either, so you can leave the woods out of your bag.
Learn more
River Valley Ranch Golf Club. Public. Boasting four holes that cross the Crystal River and huge, up-close views of Mount Sopris, this underrated Jay Moorish design in Carbondale is an affordable locals' favorite. Four sets of tees, stretching from the 5,198-yard reds to the beefy, 7,328-yard blacks, provide ample challenge for all levels of golfer, while the rolling terrain, numerous elevated tees and wetlands lend the course a true Western feel. After a round, stop off at the excellent Restaurant Pan & Fork for drinks and fresh seasonal fare.
Learn more
Aspen Glen Club. Private. Wide-open fairways and big views of Mount Sopris characterize this par-72, 7,455-yard Nicklaus-Nicklaus II design near Carbondale. Seven holes along the Roaring Fork River help make this Golf Digest's 9th-best course in Colorado for 2015-16, and the river-spanning drive from the back tees on the 10th hole is one of the most daunting but beautiful you'll ever see. The finishing hole, with its green on an island in the river, is equally memorable. You'll need to know or be a member, though, or else enter a tournament that's open to the public.
Learn more
Ironbridge Golf Club. Public. Designed by noted course architect Arthur Hills and tweaked by 1996 British Open champion Tom Lehman in 2014, Ironbridge, near Glenwood Springs, is another underrated course anyone can play. The front nine has two holes along the Roaring Fork River, but it's the spectacular holes 10-13, tucked away in a hidden valley, that are the real draw, with big views and extremely elevated tee boxes on 12 and 13. Affordable and featuring the full-service Ironbridge Grill, this par-72, 7,224-yard test is definitely worth the trip downvalley.
Learn more
Glenwood Springs Golf Club. Public. A true locals' haunt, the nine-hole "Hill" course has been an institution in West Glenwood since 1953. With a nice collection of par-3s, 4s and 5s, a full-service pro shop and the Greenside Grill for lunch or drinks afterward, the Hill is a fine choice for a quick round before or after a visit to Target, Lowe's or the hot springs.
Learn more
Lakota Canyon Ranch. Public. Technically out of the Roaring Fork Valley in New Castle, this affordable, par-72, 7,111-yard Jim Engh creation deserves its ranking as Golf.com's 5th-best public course in Colorado for 2016-17. Playing up and down a series of canyons, the layout boasts a collection of elevated tees unmatched in Colorado and presents golfers with plenty of chances to hit huge drives and scenic approach shots over desert arroyos. Stop off after the round at the Lakota Grill for lunch or a drink and soak up the dramatic view of the 18th hole on the canyon floor below.
Learn more
Gypsum Creek Golf Club. Public. Head east from El Jebel over scenic Cottonwood Pass and this affordable public layout in Gypsum is just an hour and 15 minutes away. Designed by renowned course architect Pete Dye, GCGC takes full advantage of its par-72, 6,980-yard length, with six holes along its namesake creek and three others traversing a scenic mesa of pinyon and sage. Combine a round with lunch at the Gypsum Creekside Grill and a trip to nearby CostCo, and you'll have a perfect little getaway from Aspen.
Learn more