artgolfer

Unfortunately for me I live over 50 miles away. Otherwise, I'd join Spring Valley as a member. It is worth the 70-minute drive to me and I go there often. The layout of the course is about perfect for public play. Too many courses want to have the toughest course around and introduce playing qualities that are not much fun for the average golfer. My home course, for example, has ridiculously mounded and domed greens that should be reserved for professional play--they only embarrass most public golfers. This course is always in great shape and the staff goes the extra step to make golf day pleasurable. The driving range is huge and can accommodate a ton of golfers. Colorado has an awful lot of excellent golf courses but this one is my favorite.

Many golf courses, including Pine Creek, have constructed several sets of tees for each hole so that golfers can choose the distance that best suits them and their game.Then they take that choice away from the golfer by having the tee markers frequently placed on the wrong box and not having markers at all on some of the boxes. Pine Creek is a major violator as there seems to be little care given to where tee markers are placed. I've played here hundreds of times and love the course, but this misplacement (or lack of proper placement) of tee markers irritates me every time I play here. Springs Ranch Golf Club, for example, always has the markers on the proper box--very much appreciated.

Springs Ranch has 5 different tee boxes on each hole so you can select any yardage you wish to play. The sand tees seem appropriate for most golfers (the middle of the 5 boxes). The course is in great shape and the greens are running fast. Best of all, tee times are quite readily available. Those who have difficulty at the city courses getting tee times need to give Springs Ranch a try.

There are many beautiful courses in Colorado. There are many golf courses in beautiful areas in Colorado. But when you combine these two elements, i.e., beautiful course AND beautiful surroundings, I think Red Rocks tops them all!! The fairways were perfectly maintained. The greens are impeccable. The holes are interesting. The practice facilities are top notch. This is the course I'd want to be a member of if I could afford it (it's a private club in a rich area so I suspect you'd have to be a millionaire or so to join). We played on a "Member for a Day" outing. Our $80 fee included everything, including lunch. What a wonderful day! What a wonderful golf course!!!! If you ever get the chance...!!!!!!!!