Red Sky Golf Club Norman Course

The verdict

Red Sky Golf Club is one of the most coveted golf experiences in the Colorado high country, a private club with two acclaimed mountain courses sharing a ridge above the Eagle River near Beaver Creek. The Norman Course, designed by Greg Norman and opened in 2003, was the first Greg Norman design in the state, and it is the longer, more demanding of the pair. From elevated tees it serves up sweeping views toward Vail's back bowls and a routing that climbs and falls with the mountain.

It plays as a par 72 of about 7,480 yards, with a course rating near 74.6 and a slope of 147, so it asks for real ball striking. The Norman favors the long, accurate iron player, with smaller, well bunkered greens that often play uphill and several holes where water and forced carries are in play. Paired with the companion Tom Fazio Course, it makes Red Sky a genuine bucket list stop for a golfer with access to the Vail valley resorts.

The holes worth the trip

The Norman Course climbs higher up the mountain than its Fazio sibling, and the extra elevation is both the scenery and the challenge. Tee shots play across sage meadow and aspen with the high peaks beyond, and the greens are smaller and more strongly bunkered than on the companion course, putting a premium on precise iron play and trajectory control in the thin mountain air.

Water is in play on several holes, with forced carries that ask a committed swing, and the green complexes often sit above the fairway so approaches play longer than the yardage suggests. The bent grass collars are a Norman signature here, unusual in Colorado, and they let a player run the ball into greens that reward the ground game as much as a high, soft approach. The wind at altitude is a constant variable.

At about 7,480 yards and a slope of 147 it is a stout examination from the back tees, and most visitors will enjoy it more from a set forward, where the views open up and the carries become tempting rather than punishing. It is the kind of course that rewards a return visit, and pairing it with the Fazio over two days is the classic Red Sky experience.

Where to stay nearby

The simplest route onto Red Sky is to stay at one of the affiliated luxury resorts in the Vail and Beaver Creek area, which carry guest access and sit a short drive from the club. These hotels pair high mountain comfort, spa and dining with the golf and put the rest of the valley's attractions within reach.

For a wider Colorado golf trip, the Norman Course is a marquee round to build a Vail valley itinerary around, paired with its Fazio sibling and the resort and mountain golf along the I 70 corridor. It suits a discerning couples or buddies trip ready to invest in a private, top tier mountain experience.

Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Beaver Creek.