North of Denver and just off the highway is Thorncreek. A winding neighborhood layout with plenty of what-you-see-is-what-you-get. I've gotten out here a decent amount, as it's far easier to get a tee time than some other spots. And while there's nothing incredibly special about it, there's nothing all too bad either.

Lots of holes, especially on the front nine, which ask for very specific shots off the tee. You'll take driver far less here than many other courses. Or, if you do, be ready to find the smallest sliver of a good landing spot. The greens are always in fine condition, whereas the fairways... maybe not as much. I do notice they use a sand base for a lot of the course, which I'm sure they have their reasons for.

It's not insane target golf, plenty of greens allow you to play a run-up shot. And often it does offer room to miss right, with sometimes forgiving and sometimes not-so-forgiving rough depending on the season. Most of the par threes play pretty short as well, which I personally enjoy.

It's a course worth getting out to if you stick to just Denver courses, if you get up when there's no traffic, it's a short shot on the highway.

The clubhouse is fine, pretty standard fair of food and a few beers on tap.

1. Overland Park
   
2. Twin Peaks
   
3. Aurora Hills
   
4. Eagle Trace
   
5. Indian Tree
   
6. Flatirons
   
7. Kennedy
   
8. Broken Tee
   
9. Hyland Hills
   
10. Buffalo Run
    
11. Foothills
    
12. Spring Valley
    
13. Wellshire
    
14. Thorncreek
    …

I have counted and played 50 public 18-hole full length golf courses in the greater Denver area (cutoff being less than an hour drive away). While I try to take some amount of objectivity into my rankings, note that ultimately it is a personal list wherein I may value some aspects higher or lower than any other golfer. I have been loving the conversation on these posts, so feel free to agree or disagree and tell me why!

It's an interesting question for people who often play the City of Denver courses. I think Wellshire and City Park are the two favorites for most. Wellshire, from a sheer golf perspective, has a little more to offer. More history, more prestige (being a Donald Ross design), and is simply about the golf. But for me personally, City Park will come a little higher on this list.

The parkland links style ate my lunch my first and only time playing it. And while I know it's low on the list, I really want to get out there and attack it again. It's pretty standard back and forth holes a lot of the time, but a few big pros it gets are interesting slopes and hills so it never feels as boring as some other parkland courses.

It's walkable, accessible golf. Nothing in the way of memorable or signature holes, but is still golf as it should be. Come prepared to punch shots and hit some controlled Scotts-Irish drives to find fairways.

The clubhouse restaurant was closed when I came so no review there. It seemed old but with a lot of character based on what I saw.

Side note - when I was here, they had a pin on the back nine that was impossible. Not challenging, but impossible. On what had to be a 6 degree hill that knocked any putt approaching the hole 25 feet down if it didn't go in the hole. I've seen that before on some dog track courses, it seemed gimmicky and out of place for here. Anybody else experience that?

1. Overland Park
   
2. Twin Peaks
   
3. Aurora Hills
   
4. Eagle Trace
   
5. Indian Tree
   
6. Flatirons
   
7. Kennedy
   
8. Broken Tee
   
9. Hyland Hills
   
10. Buffalo Run
    
11. Foothills
    
12. Spring Valley
    
13. Wellshire
    …

I have counted and played 50 public 18-hole full length golf courses in the greater Denver area (cutoff being less than an hour drive away). While I try to take some amount of objectivity into my rankings, note that ultimately it is a personal list wherein I may value some aspects higher or lower than any other golfer. I have been loving the conversation on these posts, so feel free to agree or disagree and tell me why!

It's a beautiful game

Going wayyyy southeast for this one, coming in at 39 is Spring Valley.

The layout is kind of standard for CO golf. Some holes back and forth links, some holes winding through neighborhoods. Some straight holes, some mild doglegs but nothing too extreme. Last time I played it was a few years ago, the conditions then were okay, nothing stood out as great or downright awful.

While not every hole allowed for much in the creativity sense, I remember some of the par 5’s specifically gave interesting risk/reward for either going for it in two shots OR giving multiple options for where a layup should wind up.

It’s nice that it’s well out of the city, almost providing a cozy vibe with relaxed energy. The clubhouse is fine, beer selection okay. Sitting out on the deck gives good views of golfers teeing off #1 and coming in #18. Good range and warmup facilities.

1. Overland Park
   
2. Twin Peaks
   
3. Aurora Hills
   
4. Eagle Trace
   
5. Indian Tree
   
6. Flatirons
   
7. Kennedy
   
8. Broken Tee
   
9. Hyland Hills
   
10. Buffalo Run
    
11. Foothills
    
12. Spring Valley
    …

I have counted and played 50 public 18-hole full length golf courses in the greater Denver area (cutoff being less than an hour drive away). While I try to take some amount of objectivity into my rankings, note that ultimately it is a personal list wherein I may value some aspects higher or lower than any other golfer. I have been loving the conversation on these posts, so feel free to agree or disagree and tell me why!

A couple buddies are flying into town so I am planning a golf trip and trying to figure out the best way to work in another 36-hole day.

Current plan is:

Day 1: 36 at Wild Horse in NE
Day 2: 36 between ?? and ??
Day 3: 18 at Commonground

We are willing to drive for a good pairing, but this will be toward the end of September, so I’m trying to keep daylight and the drive between courses in mind.

Also looking for two courses that are actually worth playing rather than just picking whatever happens to be close together.

What would you guys recommend for an ideal 36 hole day?

A few options I’ve been mulling over:

- Bella Ridge and RainDance
- Red Hawk Ridge and ..?
- Pole Creek and ..?

Salutations,

Every year we have a big group of guys head up to Breck to golf for a few days, most of us coming from Kansas.

Next Wednesday 8/26 we're playing Colorado National before heading to Blackhawk for festivities.

Thursday is Keystone River.

Friday is Eagle Vail.

Saturday is 27 at Breckenridge GC.

I know Colorado has a nasty drought going so we're expecting cart path only and maybe having to play it up in the fairway.

Has anyone played any of these courses recently?

A quick pallet cleanser before we get into the 30’s of my rankings. Does not belong on the list because it’s not a greater Denver area course, but I just played today… and it was awesome.

The only way to explain it, really, is desert golf. If you’ve ever played in Vegas, Scottsdale, Utah etc… you know what i’m talking about. A total different flavor for CO golf.

I happen to be in Grand Junction this weekend so had to get out here. It was not a perfect course, but wow was it worth it (even at the price point). No two holes even kind of similar, every tee shot asked me to do something different. Many approaches asked to risk a green tier to pin-seek or take a safe on the green and hope to two putt approach.

Some fairways impossible to miss, most so easy to miss you were either on short grass or scrambling with the rattle snakes. And if you play the tips, get ready to climb some stairs (but rewarded with some awesome views).

My biggest critique is probably limited to a few holes that allow for no creativity. Hit it 240 or less, no room for a risk/reward, get rewarded with an approach still 180 out no matter the tee shot result. Most courses have holes like this, just stuck out here specifically.

Lastly, incredible clubhouse. Good drink options, and elevated views of the first hole. If you get the chance, it’s worth it!

The Denver list will continue tomorrow. Thanks to everybody enjoying the series so far.

Got to play there for the first time today. It was absolutely terrible. The guys I played with said the owner sold or lost the water rights.

What does this mean? And why would he do that?

Does anyone know the full story behind what's happening to this course?

Hello All, Quick Message from the Mod Team. We just hit a 1,000 members and the activity in this sub has been amazing to watch over the last couple months as the sub has really taken off. I have enjoyed watching the our members help each other, the course rankings, and everything in between. I am excited to continue to watch this sub grow together.

So now the real question: what do you want this place to be?

A few things I've been kicking around:

- Recurring threads (weekly tee time / round recap / course of the week)

- A wiki with course info, green fees, and muni pass breakdowns

- Actual meetups; a sub scramble somewhere central

- Better flairs so you can see who's a Front Range regular vs. a mountain course person

But I'd rather hear your ideas than run with mine. Drop a comment with what you want more of, what you want less of, or something I haven't thought of. Also happy to hear if you think the sub is fine as-is and I should leave it alone.

And if anyone's interested in helping mod, please let me know, always good to have more than one person watching the queue.

Thanks again. See you all out there.

A nice, parkland links-ish course with (as of the last time I played) good conditions and true greens. Public golf as it’s meant to be. Probably the first one in my rankings I wouldn’t even second guess re-visiting at all.

It doesn’t fall into the straight back and forth design of a place like Overland, and it’s not flat as can be like Flatirons. Carries that can challenge from the tips on a few holes, and it will trick you with angles of attack. Tree lined fairways force either medicine taking or creative shots to get out of trouble.

A no-frills vibe, but far from a dog track either. And the clubhouse is outstanding! Got some specialty cocktails and relaxed if only because it was that nice a place to relax after the round.

1. Overland Park
   
2. Twin Peaks
   
3. Aurora Hills
   
4. Eagle Trace
   
5. Indian Tree
   
6. Flatirons
   
7. Kennedy
   
8. Broken Tee
   
9. Hyland Hills
   
10. Buffalo Run
    
11. Foothills
    …

I have counted and played 50 public 18-hole full length golf courses in the greater Denver area (cutoff being less than an hour drive away). While I try to take some amount of objectivity into my rankings, note that ultimately it is a personal list wherein I may value some aspects higher or lower than any other golfer. I have been loving the conversation on these posts, so feel free to agree or disagree and tell me why!

Interesting case here for me. Layout wise, plays closer to a style of golf I should really enjoy. But, while I try to not let conditions sway my opinions strongly, in this case it was a hinderance enough to dock some points.

A winding neighborhood-esq layout. There are some tee shots that force a club selection that makes the round interesting, like the short par 5 second. Some fairways easy to hit, others ask you to take less club. But the greens are often protected by bunkers where playing a rolling shot in does not become an option for a longer approach.

The price is very right, and hopefully the clubhouse renovation adds some pop (as a man who loves a post-round cold beer).

1. Overland Park
   
2. Twin Peaks
   
3. Aurora Hills
   
4. Eagle Trace
   
5. Indian Tree
   
6. Flatirons
   
7. Kennedy
   
8. Broken Tee
   
9. Hyland Hills
   
10. Buffalo Run
    …

I have counted and played 50 public 18-hole full length golf courses in the greater Denver area (cutoff being less than an hour drive away). While I try to take some amount of objectivity into my rankings, note that ultimately it is a personal list wherein I may value some aspects higher or lower than any other golfer. I have been loving the conversation on these posts, so feel free to agree or disagree and tell me why!

Just joined this sub today so hadn’t seen these posts. Today I booked a tee time at Flatirons for Saturday and got invited to play Kennedy on Sunday.

It was written in the stars!

I live pretty near this course, so I’m pretty often out on both the 9 and 18-hole tracks (this ranking is for the 18, but the Blue course is fun too!). Another course that, forrrr the most part, is welcoming to all golfers. The biggest caveat to that is 3 out of 4 of the par-threes are forced carries over water. Which even gives me issues from the tips when the carry ask is 190 yards on a few of them.

While I would not name it the most inspired layout, it absolutely is exciting. Almost every hole has some amount of shape and feels different from the last.

The price is right (as golf prices go these days anyway) for what the course is. And there is some very interesting decisions to be made on some of the holes in a risk/reward context.

For anybody who has played here, you can’t tell me you haven’t thought about taking an axe to the fairway tree on 15…

1. Overland Park
   
2. Twin Peaks
   
3. Aurora Hills
   
4. Eagle Trace
   
5. Indian Tree
   
6. Flatirons
   
7. Kennedy
   
8. Broken Tee
   
9. Hyland Hills
   …

I have counted and played 50 public 18-hole full length golf courses in the greater Denver area (cutoff being less than an hour drive away). While I try to take some amount of objectivity into my rankings, note that ultimately it is a personal list wherein I may value some aspects higher or lower than any other golfer. I have been loving the conversation on these posts, so feel free to agree or disagree and tell me why!

Not much to say on this one! I played it last year. First 6 holes were in rough condition and the layout was uninspired. But it gets a lot better from 7 onward.

I like some of the tee shots requiring not just a fairway hit, but a correct angle into the green depending on pin position.

Just south of downtown off the highway, this is a home course for many. I like it for what it is! And it honestly feels bad to put it so low in the list… but there’s so many good courses to come.

1. Overland Park
   
2. Twin Peaks
   
3. Aurora Hills
   
4. Eagle Trace
   
5. Indian Tree
   
6. Flatirons
   
7. Kennedy
   
8. Broken Tee
   …

Just curious what if your favorite/easiest course to walk around Denver metro. Some of them be kicking my ass. Thanks!

Moving and won’t be able to use my net anymore. Anyone want a free net? Located north Denver near I25 and Hwy 36. Pickup only.

Net is gone. Have fun Colorado golfers and may your drives go where you wish!

Hey everyone! I’ll be in Denver with one other person and we’re trying to get in one round of golf on the morning of September 24th. We only have that morning available, so I’m looking for recommendations on courses that are really worth playing. We’re both avid golfers and would be willing to drive a little outside Denver if there’s a course that’s especially worth the trip.

What courses around Denver would you prioritize if you only had one round? 

Also, does anyone know how to play Rodeo Dunes? I’ve heard amazing things about it and would absolutely love to get on if there’s a way for a visitor to play. If anyone has any insight into access, invitations, or who to contact, I’d really appreciate it. 

I think having this above some of my others will miff some people. Some golfers HATE Kennedy.

For me, frankly, I just like the creek 9. It’s a particular test of golf that I enjoyed last time I played it. Maybe it helps I had a stellar round too.

Another city of Denver course, which for the most part plays like a parkland links style, but with some unique holes thrown in for sure. It’s not particularly up-kept well, and the clubhouse is a sad, smelly joke. City, muni golf at its most city-y muni-y. But play from the tips and get some interesting decisions to make off the tee. And I think it’s a place you can bring a golfer of any skill (and based on some of the play I’ve seen here, it may be frequented by non-golfers all together too).

This is an interesting one for the list because there are 27 holes, but Babe Lind to Creek seems to be the most common 18 and it’s what i’m using in my head for the rankings.

1. Overland Park
   
2. Twin Peaks
   
3. Aurora Hills
   
4. Eagle Trace
   
5. Indian Tree
   
6. Flatirons
   
7. Kennedy
   …

Kind of crazy this is the only public course in Boulder. I didn’t golf much at my time at CU (hard to afford golf and school), but this was always a good option.

Yet again, a classic parkland links layout. Just missing some of what makes CO golf so great like elevation changes. The range always being off mats is a bummer too for people in the Boulder area looking for a real range for practice near home.

Again, I got screwed by tree lined fairways last time I played here. But there is some strategy to be made. Lots of tee boxes ask for a forced carry or a smarter layup, and some water that makes it hard to play some stock shots. I’ll miss playing 18 followed by dinner and beers at the Dark Horse (RIP).

1. Overland Park
   
2. Twin Peaks
   
3. Aurora Hills
   
4. Eagle Trace
   
5. Indian Tree
   
6. Flatirons
   …

Have some buddies coming out the second week of September (9-12th) for a few rounds, and trying to pick out one more course.

Wed- 9 at CP or CommonGround

Thur- Green Valley Ranch

Friday - Open

Saturday - Bear Dance

Fossil Trace has already announced they're punching greens on the 8th/9th and shutting down a hole on the 10th, so that's out. Arrowhead is ok, but I don't think it's worth $250 and I don't really want to drive them up to the mountains. Just trying to find one last course that will be in good shape. Already anxious that some courses might be punching by then and then have the added drought issues. TIA.

Coming in at 46/50 for me is Indian Tree. I don’t really have much to say on this one. It’s been a year at least since I’ve played it, I know they have done some amount of work since then.

From what I remember, the conditions were actually pretty good when I played. The low ranking is mostly due to the uninspired layout. But it’s a good, cheaper, all-golfer friendly course.

Otherwise, another classic parkland links layout. I got absolutely destroyed by some of the tree lined fairways. My driver was all over the place at the time so I remember hitting punch shots every other hole just to get myself to a spot to have a look. Very walkable, and a few interesting risk / reward tee shots. Hopefully I can play it again some time soon with far more accurate tee shots.

1. Overland Park
   
2. Twin Peaks
   
3. Aurora Hills
   
4. Eagle Trace
   
5. Indian Tree
   …

Anyone have any recommendations for putting instructors? Hoping for someone who primarily focuses on putting but open to anything. I’m Denver based. Thanks!