Denver - Fossil Trace and ?

[Andy Doyle]

I'll be in Denver in early June for a business meeting and the schedule looks like I may be able to get out for 1 or 2 rounds.

I've never played an Engh course, so I was thinking about Fossil Trace.

Any other suggestions for public access courses relatively close to the downtown area?  I'll be staying near the convention center and can rent a car, but won't have time to venture too far afield.

This will also be my first time playing at altitude - can't wait to see that extra distance!

Andy

Homework Disclosure: Before posting this request I've searched the GCA archive (last 1000 days), checked the GD site and Top 10 list, perused TravelGolf.com, and searched The Golf Channel.com DB Travel archive.

[Glenn Spencer]

Riverdale Dunes is an awesome golf course in my mind for public.

[Tim Pitner]

I live in Denver; here's my two cents:

I strongly second the Riverdale Dunes recommendation.  It's maybe 20-30 minutes from downtown.  It can be overwatered at times, but it's still the best public course in the area.

I've never played Fossil Trace.  If you're looking to play an Engh course, this is probably the one to try.  The only other public Engh course in the area is Red Hawk Ridge in Castle Rock, which I don't recommend.  Fossil Trace is also very close to downtown, 15-20 minutes tops.  

Some others I recommend are:  Buffalo Run (Commerce City), Heritage at Westmoor (Westminster), Fox Hollow (Lakewood), and Green Valley Ranch (Denver near the airport).  They're all about 30 minutes from downtown.  Don't expect greatness from these four, but they're all solid.  

Buffalo Run is a faux links course designed by Keith Foster.  It's gone downhill in my mind a bit since they've started to build homes out there (it used to be very isolated), but the course is good.  Heritage at Westmoor is a Hurdzan/Fry course with 2 quite different nines--there are a couple weak holes here but I really enjoy the course.  Fox Hollow has 27 holes--you should try for the Canyon/Meadow combination.  Again, nothing tremendous here, 1-2 goofy holes, but you get a sense of playing in the foothills and it's quite scenic.  Green Valley is a Perry Dye course.  It's new (2-3 years old) and I haven't played it enough to say whether I really like it but it's worth playing.

If you want to go further afield, you might look at Golf Club at Bear Dance or the Ridge at Castle Pines North (Weiskopf).  They're both CCFADs, $100+, but they have some good scenery and have some good holes.  I recommend Bear Dance over the Ridge, but it's 10-15 minutes further south.

[Tim Pitner]

Oh, there's also Jeff Brauer's Canterberry in Parker.  It's a good layout, but it's experienced some conditioning issues in the recent past.  I don't know where it stands now.  Maybe Jeff can chime in.

[ed_getka]

Riverdale Dunes would be my choice. Pete Dye had Tom Doak with him at the time if memory serves. I haven't had the chance to play it but a marshal drove me around the course and the openings into the greens between the "dunes" on some holes looked interesting.
   I played some other public course out on the edge of town that was only memorable because I had the chance to golf with Brad Swanson.

[Tim Pitner]

Ed, you might be thinking of Murphy Creek in Aurora, which is okay but nothing special.

Andy, I tried to give you some options in my post, but Riverdale is by far the best choice.  

[Matt MacIver]

I've played Arrowhead several times and would probably play it again before I played Red Hawk Ridge or Highlands Ranch, the only other DEN courses I've played.  Arrowhead (RTJ Jr, 1972) is visually stunning with several holes playing around and between these cool red rock boulders...no one here would call it architecturally important but I enjoy my rounds there.  

[Steve_ Shaffer]

I haven't played Fossil Trace but Pradera has or did have a "member for a day" program. It's a fun Engh course to play and a good introduction to his work if you really want see some good stuff.

[cary lichtenstein]

You might call Pradera. It is private but they still may be taking some outside play if you have your pro call. Better than Fossil Trace.

Also, Sanctuary is ultra private, but they have a lot of charity events. You might want to give them a call, and check your dates and theirs, and if you can play it, do not miss it.

Both these are Jim Engh's

[Doug Wright]

Andy,

Fossil Trace and Riverdale Dunes are very good choices. If you haven't played a Jim Engh course you'll see much of what he likes to do on many/most of his courses at Fossil Trace with greenside containment and "squiggly" bunkering, plus how he manages to route on a unique, difficult site. For this reason alone I'd go there vs Pradera, and IMO don't bother trying to get on The Sanctuary.  Riverdale Dunes (note there is a second course called Riverdale Knolls--don't go there by accident) is a bit schizoid since Pete Dye let both Perry Dye and young Tom Doak work on it and the results produced by each are apparent... Many very good holes there but an abominable 18th mars the experience. A ways from downtown (Tim says 30 minutes but I'd allow a little more).

Re others, I've warmed to Green Valley Ranch (Perry Dye)lately at the expense of Buffalo Run--lots of width and decent variety. If time allowed I'd certainly see if I could get to Bear Dance. It has a lot of the facets of Castle Pines GC such as elevated tees, which are a blast at this altitude, and wicked greens.  

[Tim Pitner]

Doug,

I agree with you about Riverdale Dunes #18.  So, what at Riverdale is Perry Dye and what is Doak?

[Doug Wright]

Tim,

We'll have to play it together sometime...

[Tim Pitner]

Doug, sounds good.  

BTW, I played Bear Dance last weekend--they've redone some of the more interesting/difficult greens.  I'm afraid it's made the course a little more vanilla, but the views are still second to none in the Denver area.    

[Andy Doyle]

GCA.com doesn't disappoint.  Thanks, guys.

What I read about Fossil Trace sounded interesting - good to get the confirmation.  I'm interested in getting a look at Engh's work.  A friend of mine has a house at Reynold's Plantation and has joined the new Engh course that is currently being developed - it'll be nice to get a little preview of his work.

Thanks for the Riverdale Dunes suggestions - seems to be the consensus choice.

Andy

[Matt_Ward]

Andy:

In Denver I would strongly suggest a round at Pradera in Parker (by Jim Engh) if you can wiggle a round there. Likely one of the 2-3 best Engh I have played and candidly no one on this site has played more Engh courses (short of Jim himself) than I.

Fossil Trace is a good muni layout for the town of Golden but the other suggestions mentioned here would be worth your time. I can also suggest Bear Dance in Larkspur -- it's about 45-60 minutes south of central Denver off I-25. Nicely done layout and the scenery is quite complimentary.

If you should head north I would recommend Highland Meadows in Fort Collins and if you should venture a bit more south to the Colorado Springs area you would be well served with a round at Antler Creek in Falcon by Rick Phelps.

Frankly, there are very few municipalities like the greater Denver area for a wide swath of good public course offerings and at a price that is well within range for many.

[Jay Flemma]

One word...PRADERA!

That said, Any of Jims courses are craftsmanship and quality at a nice price!  Try Red Hawk and Lakota too.