A Golfer's Guide to Colorado: Tee Off in the Land of Mile-High Fairways

There is a reason for Colorado to be called the place where the golf pros play and stay. After all, Colorado, the Centennial State, is one of only three American states without natural borders. 

Colorado is a geographically blessed diversified territory that includes the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado Eastern Plains, and the desert lands surrounding the Uncompahgre Plateau, all enclosed within a landmass of more than 100,000 square miles.

For golfers, playing at altitude is such an exciting experience because the ball lingers in the air for a little longer, allowing you to hit some of your longest drives. Plus, now that we know that the 2024 BMW Championship will be played in Colorado, another reason for golfers to be interested in checking out the state. If you are thinking: is betting legal in Colorado and can I bet on the PGA Tour? Yes, you can!

Many of the must-plays in Colorado's top public courses are located thousands of feet above sea level, allowing for that thrilling distance gain. 

These hidden jewels, on the other hand, have far more appeal than extra distance since they take advantage of Colorado's breathtaking scenery. This is why we have put together a Golfer's Guide to Colorado to show you the dramatic mountain views, enthralling elevation changes, and wispy natural grasses.

A historical overview

Amateur golf has been managed in the state since 1915, more specifically, August 1915, when the Colorado Gold Association was founded. Since then, this organization has been arranging competitive play for more than a century and represents the interests of approximately 45,000 male golfers in over 200 golf clubs. 

Colorado's corresponding female golfing body was created a year after its male counterpart, and it currently governs over 19,000 lady members.

Later on, in 1957, the Colorado Section of the Professional Golfers' Association of America was established as the 31st Section of the Professional Golfers' Association of America. It was governed by the CGA and a single executive director.

More recently, the Colorado Section hit over 800 members by 2020, with 727 Class A members and 93 Associates. In the Section, around 250 golf courses employ PGA members. Since 1957, the only alteration in the Section's geographical limits has been the inclusion of the cities of Spearfish and Rapid City, South Dakota. 

The association has grown over time to become a full-service golf organization.

Featured Colorado Golf Courses

Golf in Colorado is unique because of the diversity of golf courses available. There are courses that are reminiscent of Midwest parkland courses, complete with tree-lined fairways and undulating greens. Colorado offers desert-style courses with mounds, native vegetation, and firm playing conditions. 

1. Fossil Trace: The Fossil Trace Golf Club opened in July 2003 in Golden, Colorado, near to the foothills of the Rocky Mountain Front Range, and it’s regarded as one of Denver's top golf courses and premium playing venues.

2. The Broadmoor Golf Club East Course: The Broadmoor Golf Club East is another classic mountain course, set hard against Cheyenne Mountain, and has famous green contours that create optical illusions.

3. Red Sky Ranch: Red Sky Ranch has two 18-hole courses, one designed by Greg Norman and the other by Tom Fazio. The two courses are separated by a ridgeline (the ridge is recognized as a wildlife corridor). The Fazio 18 includes more elevation change than the Norman Course, with the mostly open opening nine atop a cliff filled with hand-planted sage. The Norman 18 is located on an ancient sheep ranch on the western side, offering long-range views of the Rockies to the west and south, as well as stunning sunsets.

4. TPC Colorado: It's a pattern that runs along the east side of Lonetree Reservoir, serving a residential subdivision called Heron Lakes.

5. Redlands Mesa Golf Course: Redlands Mesa is a must-play for its geography alone, set against the background of the Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction. Nearly every course has rocky outcroppings, and some tees play high above the fairway, affording breathtaking views of the surrounding lunar-like environment.

Tips from a Golf Pro 

One of the recommendations for golfers to lead their careers in Colorado is to hit the scoring clubs a little lower than usual.  This is because it will alleviate any uncertainty about how far the club goes. 

Mid-irons to wedges with good players travel much further than they expect when they first come to Colorado for a round. 

One of the effects of the high altitude is that the ball doesn’t travel as far as in other states, like Florida. Keep in mind that long tee shots do not equate to sea level and high humidity.

Since weather might change on a dime in Colorado, it is well advised to keep in your golf bag rain pants and a short-sleeved rain shirt or sweater since they can provide warmth while also repelling water.

It is also important to be aware of any wildlife on the links since they are more frequent than you might expect. For example, Fossil Trace is a popular elk, coyote, and fox hunting area. There might be a possibility of encountering snakes, so just keep an eye open just in case.