Pole Creek Golf Club

The verdict

Pole Creek is one of the great high country values in Colorado golf, a Denis Griffiths design that opened in 1985 and has grown into a 27-hole complex near Winter Park in the Fraser Valley. Sitting at about 8,600 feet, it ranks among the higher golf courses in the state, and the thin air, big peaks and changeable mountain weather give it an authentic alpine character. It has long been a favorite of Front Range golfers willing to make the drive over Berthoud Pass.

The three nines, the Ranch, the Meadow and the Ridge, combine into different 18-hole rounds, with the Ranch and Ridge pairing the longest at about 7,065 yards, par 72. The Meadow nine is the gentler of the trio. The variety is part of the appeal: a player can mix and match the loops, and the design moves between open meadow, creek crossings and forested ridge holes. For a Grand County or Winter Park trip, it is the obvious headline round.

The holes worth the trip

Altitude is the first thing a visitor notices at Pole Creek. At about 8,600 feet the ball flies noticeably farther, so the 7,065-yard pairing plays shorter than the card and even shorter hitters can reach for greens they would not at sea level. The trade off is the weather: afternoon storms build quickly in the mountains, and an early tee time is the smart play in high summer.

The three nines give the place genuine variety. The Ranch and Ridge nines climb into forested, rolling terrain with the kind of elevation changes and creek crossings that define mountain golf, while the Meadow plays more openly across the valley floor. Pole Creek itself winds through the property and comes into play on several holes, and the views toward the Continental Divide are a constant.

It is a course that rewards a player who can handle uneven mountain lies and judge the effect of the elevation on each club. The conditioning is strong through the short season, the pace is relaxed, and the ability to mix the nines means a group can play it more than once without repeating the same eighteen. For the money, it is some of the best mountain golf in Colorado.

Where to stay nearby

Winter Park and Fraser sit just down the valley from Pole Creek, with mountain lodges, condos and rentals that make a comfortable base for a golf and outdoors trip. The area is best known as a ski destination, so summer rates are friendly and the town is quiet, with hiking, biking and the Winter Park resort to fill the non golf hours.

For a wider Colorado golf trip, Pole Creek pairs naturally with the other high country resort and mountain courses within a couple of hours, an easy add to a Summit County or Front Range itinerary. It suits a buddies or couples trip chasing big value mountain golf in a relaxed setting.

Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Winter Park.