Golf in Colorado
Mile high golf beneath the Rockies, where the ball flies farther in the thin mountain air, the season is short and brilliant, and the courses run from the grand old Broadmoor in Colorado Springs to Tom Doak's wild sandhills at Ballyneal and the resort golf of the Vail valley. The courses that matter, the altitude, the season, the costs and how to plan a Rocky Mountain trip.
Photograph: The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Kevin Unterreiner, via Google
Why golf in Colorado
Colorado is golf with a backdrop few states can match, and a character all its own. Almost every course sits at altitude, a mile high or more, and the thin, dry air sends the ball noticeably farther, which makes for some of the most exhilarating tee shots in American golf against a wall of fourteen thousand foot peaks. The grand dame is The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, a Donald Ross and Robert Trent Jones resort course that has hosted US Opens and Senior events and remains one of the great mountain golf experiences. South of Denver, Castle Pines Golf Club, the Jack Nicklaus design that long hosted The International, now welcomes the PGA Tour back for the BMW Championship.
The depth is the surprise. Out on the eastern plains near Holyoke, Tom Doak conjured Ballyneal from rolling sandhills, a firm, walkable, links inspired course routinely rated the best in the state. The resort golf of the Vail valley, the historic majesty of Cherry Hills where Arnold Palmer drove the first green to launch his 1960 US Open charge, and excellent, affordable public courses such as CommonGround near Denver round out a golf scene with genuine range. The catch is the calendar: the season is short, roughly May to October, which only makes a Colorado golf summer feel more precious.
The regions
Denver and the Front Range
The metro hub, with Castle Pines and Cherry Hills to the south, the public gem of CommonGround in Aurora, and the easiest air access through Denver International.
Colorado Springs
Home of The Broadmoor beneath Pikes Peak and Cheyenne Mountain, the grandest resort base in the state and a natural anchor for a Colorado trip.
The Vail valley
High mountain resort golf around Vail, Beaver Creek and Edwards, including the Fazio and Norman courses at Red Sky Ranch, paired with summer alpine scenery.
The eastern plains
Big sky sandhills country near Holyoke, where Ballyneal sits in glorious isolation, a pilgrimage for those who love firm, walking, links inspired golf.
Boulder and the north
College town golf north of Denver against the Flatirons, with a clutch of good public courses and an easy add on to a Front Range trip.
The western slope
The high desert and river valleys around Grand Junction and Steamboat, a quieter, scenic region for those touring the state by car.
The courses that matter
The Broadmoor, East Course
The grand old champion of Colorado golf beneath Cheyenne Mountain, a Donald Ross original later extended by Robert Trent Jones, host to US Opens and Senior majors and open to guests of the storied Broadmoor resort.
Castle Pines Golf Club
The Jack Nicklaus design that hosted The International for years and now welcomes the PGA Tour back for the BMW Championship, a long, dramatic mountain layout through the pines south of Denver. Private, accessed through a member.
Ballyneal Golf Club
Tom Doak's wild sandhills course, a firm, fast, walking only links inspired design rated the best in Colorado, set in glorious isolation out on the high plains. A private retreat club, accessed through a member.
Cherry Hills Country Club
A William Flynn classic from 1923 that has hosted US Opens, a PGA Championship and a US Amateur, famous as the stage for Arnold Palmer's final round charge to win the 1960 US Open. Private, accessed through a member.
Red Sky Ranch
Two contrasting mountain courses, one by Tom Fazio and one by Greg Norman, high in the Vail valley, open to members and to guests of the associated resorts, the premium golf base of the high country.
CommonGround Golf Course
A rare public Tom Doak design owned by the Colorado Golf Association near Denver, firm, strategic and superb value, the smart everyday counterpoint to the state's resort and private golf.
Designers and host events verified June 2026. Course profiles are added across the site as the directory grows. Always confirm access, opening dates and fees directly before booking.
When to go
| Season | Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| June to August | Warm, dry days, cool evenings, afternoon storms | Prime golf, peak demand, all courses open |
| May and September to October | Cooler, beautiful, some snow risk at altitude | Shoulder value, the Front Range plays best |
| November to April | Cold, snow, most courses closed | Off season, golf largely paused |
The Colorado season is short and centred on summer, with the mountain courses opening later and closing earlier than the Front Range. Afternoon thunderstorms are common, so early tee times are wise. Always confirm course opening dates before you travel.
Indicative costs
| Item | Indicative 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Broadmoor, peak | Around $200 to $300 | Resort guest rate, cart and altitude included |
| Vail valley resort golf | Around $200 to $300 | High mountain courses, short summer season |
| CommonGround, public | A fraction of resort rates | Excellent value daily fee golf near Denver |
| A week, all in | Around $3,000 to $6,000 per person | Resort golf and stay, excluding flights |
Indicative third party figures for the 2026 season, shown in US dollars to set expectations only. Marquee private clubs do not publish a visitor fee. We are a guide, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Always confirm directly before booking.
Getting there and around
Denver International is the gateway, one of the busiest airports in the country with direct flights from across North America and beyond, and it puts the Front Range courses, Castle Pines and Cherry Hills among them, within an hour. Colorado Springs and The Broadmoor are a straightforward seventy minute drive south, and the Vail valley a scenic two hour run west into the mountains on Interstate 70. Ballyneal, out on the eastern plains, is a longer haul, around two and a half hours northeast of Denver, and worth the journey for those who love it. A hire car is essential to link the regions and to enjoy the scenery between rounds.
Where to stay
The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs is the grand resort base, a Forbes five star landmark with golf, spa and dining on site and a natural anchor for a Colorado trip. The Vail valley offers high mountain luxury at the resorts of Vail, Beaver Creek and Edwards, ideal for pairing golf with summer hiking and alpine scenery. Around Denver, the smart hotels of Cherry Creek and downtown keep you close to the Front Range courses and the city. One planner can match the base to your courses, your group and your dates, and fold in a mountain or plains leg.
Plan your Colorado golf trip
Tell us the courses you want and roughly when. One concierge costs the whole trip to the head and replies within one working day, with no obligation.
Colorado golf questions
When is the best time to play golf in Colorado?
The Colorado golf season is short and glorious, running roughly from May to October at altitude, with summer the prime window of warm, dry, blue sky days and cool evenings. The mountain courses around Vail open later and close earlier than the courses on the Front Range plains. Spring and autumn carry the risk of snow at elevation. Winter closes most of the state's golf. Always confirm course opening dates and tee times before you travel.
Which is the best golf course in Colorado?
Ballyneal, Tom Doak's wild sandhills course near Holyoke on the eastern plains, is widely rated the number one course in Colorado, though it is a private club. For courses with broader access, the East Course at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, a Donald Ross and Robert Trent Jones design open to resort guests, and Castle Pines Golf Club, the Jack Nicklaus design south of Denver that now hosts the PGA Tour's BMW Championship, are the marquee names.
How does altitude affect golf in Colorado?
Significantly. Much of Colorado's golf sits a mile high or more, and the thin air lets the ball fly noticeably farther, often around ten percent, so clubbing off the tee and into greens takes recalibration. The air is dry and the sun strong, the ball rolls out on firm turf, and afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer. First time visitors should expect to take less club than at sea level and to hydrate well. Judge each shot on the ground.
How much does golf cost in Colorado in 2026?
It spans a wide range. Resort golf at The Broadmoor carries an indicative peak season green fee in the region of $200 to $300 for guests, the Vail valley resort courses sit in a similar premium bracket, and the marquee private clubs do not publish a visitor fee. At the other end, excellent public courses such as CommonGround near Denver play for a fraction of that. A week built around resort golf typically lands between $3,000 and $6,000 per head excluding flights. Always confirm directly before booking.
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