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Andy Troeger

Most Beautiful Course in Colorado (?)
« on: July 23, 2008, 06:55:56 PM »
Two part question:

Part One:
Just because I'm curious, what do y'all feel is the most beautiful (aesthetically pleasing...whatever word you like best) course in Colorado. For the purposes of this question, it doesn't matter if its a top 100 course or a dumb blonde. All courses included for this part whether public, private, mountain, prairie...

Part Two:
If given one round between the following courses which would you rate best in (a) if you had one round not factoring in cost which would you play and (b) the beauty category listed above. Feel free to add which would come in last too  ;D

Cordillera Summit
Cordillera Valley
Cordillera Mountain
Eagle Springs
Eagle Ranch
Sonnenalp
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Tim Leahy

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Re: Most Beautiful Course in Colorado (?)
« Reply #1 on: July 23, 2008, 07:00:41 PM »
the Golf Club at Beardance has great views of Pike's Peak and the Raven at Three Peaks has great views of the Rockies.
I haven't played any of the courses you listed.
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Adam Clayman

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Re: Most Beautiful Course in Colorado (?)
« Reply #2 on: July 23, 2008, 07:02:36 PM »
Andy, Ben and I were impressed with Summit.

As for #1, it really is in the eye of the beholder.  ;)
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"It's unbelievable how much you don't know about the game you've been playing your whole life." - Mickey Mantle

Andy Troeger

Re: Most Beautiful Course in Colorado (?)
« Reply #3 on: July 23, 2008, 07:09:04 PM »
Quote from: Adam Clayman on July 23, 2008, 07:02:36 PM

As for #1, it really is in the eye of the beholder.  ;)

No doubt about it, I'm just curious if I'll get any one winner. Something tells me I should be able to guess what your choice would be!  :D
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Doug Wright

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Re: Most Beautiful Course in Colorado (?)
« Reply #4 on: July 23, 2008, 07:29:12 PM »
Andy,

Part One:  Probably Cordillera Summit--way up there on the mountain and pretty secluded with incredible views.  I haven't played the Red Sky courses so can't compare them. Runnerup is Ballyneal, but of course that is an apples and oranges comparison.  Sanctuary wins most beautiful Front Range honors.

Part Two: Among the courses you mention (excluding Eagle Springs, which I haven't played), I'd rank them thusly for a combination of golf and beauty:

Cordillera Summit (Decent golf and #1 in beauty)
Eagle Ranch (Decent golf and OK beauty though front nine has a lot of houses)
Cordillera Valley (OK golf but pretty ugly and close to I-70)
Sonnenalp (Same as Cordillera Valley but with more houses)
Cordillera Mountain (Horrible golf trumps the beauty factor)


« Last Edit: July 23, 2008, 07:33:54 PM by Doug Wright »
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Matt_Ward

Re: Most Beautiful Course in Colorado (?)
« Reply #5 on: July 23, 2008, 08:20:49 PM »
Andy:

Among the courses you mentioned I would cite either Eagle Springs or Eagle Mountain.

The Mountain layout at Cordillera is simply horrible -- site is way too hilly and many of the holes require Calvin Peete driving ability. Best part is the driving range.

Cordillera Summit has the best views but the golf is just so-so at best. Not as contrived as Mountain but it's a one time play for me.

Cordillera Valley and Sonnenalp are as Doug W described.

If I had to name other courses for best Colorado veiws you need to throw into the mix Lakota Canyon Ranch and Norman's layout at Red Sky Ranch, to name just two. Haymaker in Steamboat Springs is good -- ditto the awesome beauty of Pole Creek in Winter Park.
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Allan Long

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Re: Most Beautiful Course in Colorado (?)
« Reply #6 on: July 23, 2008, 08:27:19 PM »
While it may not be in the mountains, or the greatest course, I would add Arrowhead G.C. to the list of stunning Colorado courses not already mentioned.
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Andy Troeger

Re: Most Beautiful Course in Colorado (?)
« Reply #7 on: July 24, 2008, 08:45:31 AM »
Interesting comments about Cordillera Mountain. Sounds like overall the Summit might be the best option of the bunch; I'm playing at Red Sky on an upcoming trip but have an afternoon tee time and am trying to decide if its worth playing somewhere else in the morning, those appear to be the options close enough to make it work.

I'm surprised for question #1 that none of the private clubs in the mountains have been mentioned yet: CC of the Rockies, Roaring Fork, Ironbridge, Glacier Club, Maroon Creek ,etc. Haven't played any of them yet, although will see a couple of them on the upcoming trip as well.

FWIW, of the 14 courses I've played in Colorado so far I'd probably give the award to Lakota Canyon so far, even with the added housing. Dalton Ranch in Durango has some pretty spectacular scenery as well, but then again most of the courses in Colorado do.
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Adam Clayman

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Re: Most Beautiful Course in Colorado (?)
« Reply #8 on: July 24, 2008, 09:20:22 AM »
Rio Grande Club in Southfork ain't shabby neither.
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cary lichtenstein

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Re: Most Beautiful Course in Colorado (?)
« Reply #9 on: July 24, 2008, 09:21:59 AM »
Summit hands down but just a so so course regarding playablitlity and weather is terrible. At the base of the mountain, the Fazio course was 76 degrees. When I got up to the Summit it was 52 degrees.

Probably the number of comfortable playable days is less than 30 as June is probably in the 40's and not even playable due to wetness and lack of spring thawing and growth.

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Dan_Callahan

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Re: Most Beautiful Course in Colorado (?)
« Reply #10 on: July 24, 2008, 10:37:11 AM »
The Snowmass Club is one of the most beautiful courses I've ever played from a scenic standpoint. The views are spectacular, and it is very walkable (most of the course is in a valley rather than running up and over mountains).
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Kirk Gill

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Re: Most Beautiful Course in Colorado (?)
« Reply #11 on: July 24, 2008, 10:59:49 AM »
As a Colorado native, should I be ashamed, Andy, that I've not played any of the courses on your list?

I'll go along with Arrowhead. A dumb blonde, perhaps, but a really lovely one. I'll also go along with the fact that there are a lot of scenic courses in this state. Heck, there are great views from City Park !

I'm curious about Cornerstone. Has anyone on the board played it? Sure looks gorgeous on their site, but of course, it WOULD.
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John Mayhugh

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Re: Most Beautiful Course in Colorado (?)
« Reply #12 on: July 24, 2008, 11:48:16 AM »
I've only played a single course in Colorado, but I'm comfortable declaring it most beautiful.  Especially if you're getting to play it and not just look at it!


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Kirk Gill

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Re: Most Beautiful Course in Colorado (?)
« Reply #13 on: July 24, 2008, 12:38:55 PM »
John - that IS truly spectacular !
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Scott Szabo

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Re: Most Beautiful Course in Colorado (?)
« Reply #14 on: July 24, 2008, 05:04:51 PM »
No mention of Castle Pines???

I've never had the pleasure, but some say Perry Park in Larkspur may be the most beautiful course in Colorado.
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astavrides

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Re: Most Beautiful Course in Colorado (?)
« Reply #15 on: July 24, 2008, 05:30:36 PM »
I echo Rio Grande and Snowmass and nominate also Divide Ranch (Fairway Pines), Estes Park, Breckenridge, Sheraton Steamboat, and Keystone Ranch (River).
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Andy Troeger

Re: Most Beautiful Course in Colorado (?)
« Reply #16 on: July 24, 2008, 06:28:58 PM »
Quote from: Kirk Gill on July 24, 2008, 10:59:49 AM
As a Colorado native, should I be ashamed, Andy, that I've not played any of the courses on your list?


Kirk,
I haven't played any of them either, so no shame here!  ;D

Overall, I'm not surprised there's no consensus. There's a lot to choose from; Castle Pines certainly would be high on my list as well. If all goes as planned I should get to see Ballyneal next month too, so the setting there vs the mountain courses should be an interesting and very fun comparison. I may very well change my vote (maybe more than once!)
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Tommy Williamsen

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Re: Most Beautiful Course in Colorado (?)
« Reply #17 on: July 24, 2008, 06:51:00 PM »
Sanctuary
Red Sky Norman
Maroon Creek
Keystone River
Ballyneal
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Tim Pitner

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Re: Most Beautiful Course in Colorado (?)
« Reply #18 on: July 24, 2008, 06:59:55 PM »
The most beautiful "course" I have seen in Colorado is certainly Ballyneal.  Colorado Golf Club is no slouch in this category either.

If beautiful mountain settings are what you're after, I can recommend Keystone River, Bear Dance and the back nine of the Raven at Three Peaks.  But, if all you're after is beautiful mountain views, why play golf at all?  Just go hiking in the Telluride area. 
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astavrides

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Re: Most Beautiful Course in Colorado (?)
« Reply #19 on: July 24, 2008, 07:11:20 PM »
Quote from: Tim Pitner on July 24, 2008, 06:59:55 PM
The most beautiful "course" I have seen in Colorado is certainly Ballyneal.  Colorado Golf Club is no slouch in this category either.

If beautiful mountain settings are what you're after, I can recommend Keystone River, Bear Dance and the back nine of the Raven at Three Peaks.  But, if all you're after is beautiful mountain views, why play golf at all?  Just go hiking in the Telluride area. 

hiking is a chance for a good golf shot spoiled.
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Tim Pitner

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Re: Most Beautiful Course in Colorado (?)
« Reply #20 on: July 24, 2008, 07:19:01 PM »
Quote from: astavrides on July 24, 2008, 07:11:20 PM
Quote from: Tim Pitner on July 24, 2008, 06:59:55 PM
The most beautiful "course" I have seen in Colorado is certainly Ballyneal.  Colorado Golf Club is no slouch in this category either.

If beautiful mountain settings are what you're after, I can recommend Keystone River, Bear Dance and the back nine of the Raven at Three Peaks.  But, if all you're after is beautiful mountain views, why play golf at all?  Just go hiking in the Telluride area. 

hiking is a chance for a good golf shot spoiled.

Touche, Alex. 

But, seriously, I'll take walking-only, links (-like?) Ballyneal over a mountain, cart-ball course every time.  One of the great things about the mountains is getting away from the mechanized world.  Perhaps that's why one of my favorite mountain courses is Keystone Ranch--you can walk it. 
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Andy Troeger

Re: Most Beautiful Course in Colorado (?)
« Reply #21 on: July 24, 2008, 07:24:10 PM »
Quote from: Tim Pitner on July 24, 2008, 06:59:55 PM
The most beautiful "course" I have seen in Colorado is certainly Ballyneal.  Colorado Golf Club is no slouch in this category either.

If beautiful mountain settings are what you're after, I can recommend Keystone River, Bear Dance and the back nine of the Raven at Three Peaks.  But, if all you're after is beautiful mountain views, why play golf at all?  Just go hiking in the Telluride area. 

Its just a question, I'm not against including hiking in the itinerary at some point, but I can do that in Albuquerque, and I'm no aficionado with that so I'm not that picky. I see nothing wrong with hiking with clubs in any case  ;D I also wanted to see how many out there would pick Ballyneal  ;) I'm admittedly a sucker for mountain scenery, so we'll see.

I forgot to mention Grandote Peaks; maybe not at the top of the scenery-meter, but not shabby by any means. I liked Cougar Canyon better as a course, but that's a good two day combination. Engh's new Four Mile Ranch is no slouch either in any respect.
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Matt_Ward

Re: Most Beautiful Course in Colorado (?)
« Reply #22 on: July 24, 2008, 07:26:39 PM »
Andy:

Ballyneal is indeed an awesome golf course but the surroundings off property cannot compare with what you get in the mountain area of Colorado.

Lakota is one good choice ... ditto Red Sky Ranch / Norman in Wolcott. Raven at Three Peaks is another. There's plenty of others -- as I said before one of the best may be Pole Creek in Winter Park -- the mountain look to invade the course itself !!!
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Tim Pitner

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Re: Most Beautiful Course in Colorado (?)
« Reply #23 on: July 24, 2008, 07:28:35 PM »
Andy,

I'm not trying to talk you out of playing golf in our fair state.  I was just offering the thought that the best mountain views of all in Colorado are, in my opinion, near Telluride and not on a golf course. 
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Andy Troeger

Re: Most Beautiful Course in Colorado (?)
« Reply #24 on: July 24, 2008, 07:32:18 PM »
Tim,
Thanks and I won't disagree. I haven't specifically been to Telluride, but if its as good or better than the ride from Ouray to Durango which I think is on the side of some of the same mountains its impressive indeed. A good friend down here makes it a point to visit Telluride every year. The site of The Glacier Club which I haven't played looked mighty impressive as well.
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