AWARD W NNERS 2020
A RECORD-SETTING 6,389 of you participated in our 18th annual salute to the Best of Colorado Golf ! This represents an increase of nearly 40 percent over our previous high. Thank you! We tallied all of those votes in 60 categories for the top courses and clubs, teachers and travel destinations. Some courses and instructors evidently mounted better campaigns than others did; such is the democratic process. So, as usual, we supplemented the results with some alphabetized picks of our own. To see the winners, flip the page.
THE OFFICIAL 19TH HOLE OF THE CAGGY AWARDS coloradoavidgolfer.com
The Golf Club at Bear Dance
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Spring 2020 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
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AWARD W NNERS 2020
THE OFFICIAL 19TH HOLE OF THE CAGGY AWARDS
PUBLIC & RESORT COURSES The Golf Club at Bear Dance, Larkspur 2. Arrowhead Golf Club, Littleton 3. The Ridge at Castle Pines, Castle Pines Staff Picks (alphabetical) The Golf Club at Bear Dance CommonGround Golf Course, Aurora Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, Denver The Ridge at Castle Pines
BEST FRONT RANGE/ NORTHEAST COURSE
TPC Colorado, Berthoud 2. Pelican Lakes Golf Club, Windsor 3. Mariana Butte Golf Course, Loveland Staff Picks (alphabetical) Collindale Golf Course, Fort Collins Mariana Butte Golf Course TPC Colorado
BEST MOUNTAIN COURSE
Pole Creek Golf Club, Tabernash 2. Breckenridge Golf Club, Breckenridge 3. Red Sky Golf Club–Norman, Wolcott
Staff Picks (alphabetical) Red Sky Golf Club–Fazio, Wolcott The River Course at Keystone, Keystone Rollingstone Ranch Golf Club, Steamboat Springs Vail Golf Club, Vail
BEST SOUTHERN COURSE (Colorado Springs and below)
Broadmoor Golf Club, Colorado Springs 2. Patty Jewett Golf Course, Colorado Springs 3. Walking Stick Golf Course, Pueblo Staff Picks (alphabetical) Broadmoor Golf Club Country Club of Colorado, Colorado Springs Kissing Camels Golf Club, Colorado Springs
PHOTOGRAPH BY SHAWN BAUGH
BEST DENVER METRO COURSE
The Club at Redlands Mesa
BEST WESTERN SLOPE/ SOUTHWEST COURSE
Staff Picks (alphabetical) The Bridges Golf & Country Club, Montrose The Club at Redlands Mesa Tiara Rado Golf Course, Grand Junction
2. Devil’s Thumb Golf Course, Delta 3. Lakota Canyon Ranch Golf Club, New Castle
BEST EGO-BOOSTER
The Club at Redlands Mesa, Grand Junction
Eagle Trace Golf Club, Broomfield 2. Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course, Castle Rock 3. Aurora Hills Golf Course, Aurora Staff Picks (alphabetical) Applewood Golf Course, Golden Broken Tee Golf Course, Englewood Overland Park Golf Course, Denver
PHOTOGRAPH BY JAMIE SCHWABEROW/CLARKSON CREATIVE
BEST ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM Aurora Hills Golf Course
2. The Golf Club at Bear Dance 3. CommonGround Golf Course Staff Picks (alphabetical) Broken Tee Golf Course Colorado National Golf Course, Erie CommonGround Golf Course Green Valley Ranch Golf Club TPC Colorado
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BEST PRACTICE FACILITY Broken Tee Golf Course
2. Broadmoor Golf Club 3. The Golf Club at Bear Dance Staff Picks (alphabetical) Green Valley Ranch Golf Club Murphy Creek Golf Course, Aurora Omni Interlocken Golf Club, Broomfield
PHOTOGRAPH BY E.J. CARR
BEST OPENING HOLE
The Golf Club at Bear Dance 2. Fossil Trace Golf Club, Golden 3. Broadmoor Golf Club
Coal Creek Golf Course
Staff Picks (alphabetical) Beaver Creek Golf Club, Beaver Creek The River Course at Keystone Willis Case Golf Course, Denver
Staff Picks (alphabetical) Green Valley Ranch Golf Club Legacy Ridge Golf Course, Westminster Meadow Hills Golf Course, Aurora
BEST FINISHING HOLE
Broadmoor Golf Club (East Course)
BEST CONDITIONS: RESORT
2. The Golf Club at Bear Dance 3. Fossil Trace Golf Club
Broadmoor Golf Club
2. Omni Interlocken Golf Club 3. Red Sky Golf Club
Staff Picks (alphabetical) Pelican Lakes Golf Club The Ridge at Castle Pines Green Valley Ranch Golf Club
Staff Picks (alphabetical) Broadmoor Golf Club The Club at Inverness, Englewood Omni Interlocken Golf Club
BEST PAR 3
Arrowhead Golf Club, No. 13 2. The Golf Club at Bear Dance, No. 17 3. Homestead Golf Course, Lakewood, No. 17 Staff Picks (alphabetical) Broadmoor Golf Club (East), No. 4 CommonGround Golf Course, No. 6 Gypsum Creek Golf Course, Gypsum, No. 17
BEST COURSE FOR FAMILIES Applewood Golf Course
2. CommonGround Golf Course 3. Aurora Hills Golf Course Staff Picks (alphabetical) Estes Park Golf Course Foothills Golf Course, Denver South Suburban Golf Course, Centennial
BEST PAR 4
Riverdale Dunes Golf Course, Brighton, No. 15 2. The Golf Club at Bear Dance, No. 6 3. The Golf Club at Bear Dance, No. 16
BEST COURSE FOR WOMEN Applewood Golf Course
Staff Picks (alphabetical) Fox Hollow Golf Course (Canyon), Lakewood, No. 5 Saddle Rock Golf Course, Aurora, No. 10 Saddleback Golf Club, Firestone, No. 16
2. Aurora Hills Golf Course 3. CommonGround Golf Course Staff Picks (alphabetical) Adobe Creek National Golf Course, Fruita CommonGround Golf Course Fox Hollow Golf Course
BEST PAR 5
BEST APRÈS-GOLF EXPERIENCE Arrowhead Golf Club
2. Broadmoor Golf Club 3. The Golf Club at Bear Dance Staff Picks (alphabetical) Aspen Golf Club, Aspen Broadmoor Golf Club The Ridge at Castle Pines
BEST FOOD
Topgolf, Centennial 2. Broadmoor Golf Club 3. Applewood Golf Course Staff Picks (alphabetical) The Bridges Golf & Country Club Colorado National Golf Club Riverdale Golf Courses Vail Golf Club
BEST WEDDING/PARTY VENUE Arrowhead Golf Club
2. Broadmoor Golf Club 3. The Golf Club at Bear Dance Staff Picks (alphabetical) The Club at Inverness Raccoon Creek Golf Course, Littleton Vail Golf Club
BEST VALUE
Coal Creek Golf Course, Louisville 2. CommonGround Golf Course 3. Applewood Golf Course
2. Fossil Trace Golf Club, No. 12 3. The Golf Club at Bear Dance, No. 18
Staff Picks (alphabetical) Fox Hollow Golf Course Riverdale Dunes Golf Course Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course
Staff Picks (alphabetical) Estes Park Golf Course, Estes Park, No. 17 Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course, No. 18 TPC Colorado, No. 13
BEST TO WALK
Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, No. 18
The Golf Club at Bear Dance
T2. CommonGround Golf Course Riverdale Golf Courses
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY PREMIER AERIALS
BEST CONDITIONS: PUBLIC
Aurora Hills Golf Course 2. CommonGround Golf Course 3. Applewood Golf Course Staff Picks (alphabetical) Aspen Golf Club Bella Rosa Golf Course, Frederick Flatirons Golf Course, Boulder
Applewood Golf Course
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“ISN’T IT WONDERFUL?” Audrey Hepburn’s character says of the jewelry store in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. “You see what I mean, how nothing bad could happen to you in a place like this?” It’s fair to say that anyone who has set foot on the property at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs has had a similar reaction. Featuring a feast of luxe lodging options, delectable restaurants, plush amenities and rustic adventures, Colorado’s only Forbes five-star, AAA five-diamond resort radiates refinement at every turn. It also treats its premier private membership—and its hotel guests, whom the resort considers visiting members—to 36 holes of stellar championship-level golf designed by Donald Ross and Robert Trent Jones. We’re not alone in showering praise. GOLF magazine named it North America’s #1 Golf Resort and Golf Digest ranked it one of the continent’s 12 five-star properties. Everything—from the well-stocked golf shop to the impressive Heritage Hallway—pulses with a history that will continue with the 2025 U.S. Senior Open, its ninth USGA championship. At the event’s 2018 edition, Bernard Langer said The Broadmoor’s greens were tougher than Augusta National’s. In other words, nothing bad could ever happen there—except a few three-putts. But oh, what a place to have them!
BEST COURSE FOR SENIORS Broken Tee Golf Course
2. Aurora Hills Golf Course 3. Applewood Golf Course Staff Picks (alphabetical) Overland Park Golf Course Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Club, Aurora Indian Tree Golf Course, Arvada
BEST COURSE TO HOLD A TOURNAMENT
Colorado National Golf Club 2. The Golf Club at Bear Dance 3. Arrowhead Golf Club Staff Picks (alphabetical) Deer Creek Golf Club, Littleton Green Valley Ranch Golf Club The Ridge at Castle Pines
BEST SERVICE
Broken Tee Golf Course 2. Broadmoor Golf Club 3. Coal Creek Golf Course
Staff Picks (alphabetical) The Greg Mastriona Courses at Hyland Hills, Westminster The Links at Cobble Creek, Montrose Walnut Creek Golf Preserve, Westminster
BEST PACE OF PLAY
Aurora Hills Golf Course 2. The Golf Club at Bear Dance 3. Bella Rosa Golf Course Staff Picks (alphabetical) Battlement Mesa Golf Course, Battlement Mesa Green Valley Ranch Golf Club Vail Golf Club
BEST GOLF COURSE COMMUNITY The Ridge at Castle Pines
2. Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Club 3. The Golf Club at Bear Dance Staff Picks (alphabetical) Reunion at Buffalo Run Golf Course, Commerce City Todd Creek Golf Club, Thornton Water Valley at Pelican Lakes Golf Club
Staff Picks (alphabetical) Broadmoor Golf Club Red Sky Golf Club Raccoon Creek Golf Course
FAVORITE COLORADO AVIDGOLFER GOLF PASSPORT COURSE
MOST UNDERRATED COURSE
2. Coal Creek Golf Course 3. CommonGround Golf Course
2. Fox Hollow Golf Course 3. Aspen Golf Club
Staff Picks (alphabetical) All 65 of them
Coal Creek Golf Course
Buffalo Run Golf Course
Broadmoor Golf Club (East)
PRIVATE CLUBS BEST DENVER METRO CLUB Cherry Hills Country Club, Cherry Hills Village
2. Denver Country Club, Denver 3. Colorado Golf Club, Parker Staff Picks (alphabetical) Castle Pines Golf Club, Castle Pines Cherry Creek Country Club, Denver The Country Club at Castle Pines, Castle Pines
BEST FRONT RANGE/NORTHEAST CLUB Ballyneal Golf & Hunt Club, Holyoke 2. Greeley Country Club, Greeley 3. Harmony Club, Timnath Staff Picks (alphabetical) Ballyneal Golf & Hunt Club The Golf Club at Fox Acres, Red Feather Lakes Harmony Club
BEST MOUNTAIN CLUB Red Sky Golf Club
2. Country Club of the Rockies, Edwards 3. Roaring Fork Club, Basalt Staff Picks (alphabetical) The Club at Cordillera, Edwards Frost Creek Club, Eagle Red Sky Golf Club
BEST WESTERN SLOPE/ SOUTHWEST CLUB
Telluride Ski & Golf Club, Telluride 2. The Glacier Club, Durango 3. Bookcliff Country Club, Grand Junction Staff Picks (alphabetical) Cornerstone Club, Montrose The Glacier Club Telluride Ski & Golf Club
BEST SOUTHERN CLUB Broadmoor Golf Club
2. The Club at Flying Horse, Colorado Springs 3. Eisenhower Golf Club, Colorado Springs Staff Picks (alphabetical) Broadmoor Golf Club The Club at Flying Horse Kissing Camels at Garden of the Gods Club, Colorado Springs
Ballyneal Golf & Hunt Club
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BEST VALUE
Black Bear Golf Club, Parker 2. Perry Park Country Club, Larkspur 3. Valley Country Club, Centennial
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY PREMIER AERIALS
Staff Picks (alphabetical) Perry Park Country Club The Pinery Country Club, Parker The Club at Pradera, Parker The Country Club at Woodmoor, Monument
BEST OVERALL EXPERIENCE Cherry Hills Country Club
2. Broadmoor Golf Club 3. Cherry Creek Country Club Staff Picks (alphabetical) Columbine Country Club, Columbine Valley The Club at Cordillera Frost Creek Club
BEST FOR FAMILIES Black Bear Golf Club
2. Valley Country Club 3. Cherry Creek Country Club Staff Picks (alphabetical) Glenmoor Country Club, Cherry Hills Village Pinehurst Country Club, Denver The Ranch Country Club, Westminster
MOST UNDERRATED CLUB Black Bear Golf Club
2. Perry Park Country Club 3. Valley Country Club Staff Picks (alphabetical) The Ranch Country Club Blackstone Country Club, Aurora The Pinery Country Club
BEST CLUB TO HOLD A TOURNAMENT Valley Country Club
2. Broadmoor Golf Club 3. Cherry Hills Country Club Staff Picks (alphabetical) The Country Club at Castle Pines Lakewood Country Club, Lakewood Sanctuary, Sedalia
Black Bear Golf Club
Cherry Hills Country Club
MOST COVETED INVITATION Ballyneal Golf & Hunt Club
2. Sanctuary 3. Cherry Hills Country Club Staff Picks (alphabetical) Castle Pines Golf Club Cherry Hills Country Club Sanctuary
BEST MEN’S LOCKER ROOM Cherry Creek Country Club 2. Castle Pines Golf Club 3. Colorado Golf Club Staff Picks (alphabetical) Cherry Hills Country Club Columbine Country Club Lakewood Country Club
BEST WOMEN’S LOCKER ROOM Cherry Creek Country Club
2. Broadmoor Golf Club 3. Cherry Hills Country Club Staff Picks (alphabetical) Cherry Creek Country Club Cherry Hills Country Club Lakewood Country Club
BEST CLUBHOUSE
Cherry Creek Country Club 2. Broadmoor Golf Club 3. Castle Pines Golf Club
Staff Picks (alphabetical) Colorado Golf Club Columbine Country Club The Club at Flying Horse Frost Creek Club
BEST CADDIES
Ballyneal Golf & Hunt Club 2. Cherry Hills Country Club 3. Cherry Creek Country Club Staff Picks (alphabetical) Broadmoor Golf Club Castle Pines Golf Club Cherry Hills Country Club Colorado Golf Club
BEST FOOD
Blackstone Country Club 2. Broadmoor Golf Club 3. The Ranch Country Club Staff Picks (alphabetical) Castle Pines Golf Club The Country Club at Castle Pines Colorado Golf Club
BEST GOLF COURSE COMMUNITY Castle Pines Golf Club
2. Chery Creek Country Club 3. Colorado Golf Club Staff Picks (alphabetical) Blackstone Country Club The Club at Pradera The Club at Ravenna, Littleton
BEST PAR 3
Cherry Creek Country Club, No. 17 2. The Club at Ravenna, No. 16 3. Perry Park Country Club, No. 8 Staff Picks (alphabetical) Castle Pines Golf Club, No. 16 Colorado Golf Club, No. 2 The Club at Rolling Hills, Golden, No. 17
Cherry Creek Country Club
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2 oz. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye Ginger Ale Lime Wedge DRINK RE SPONSIBLY Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye Whiskey, 45% Alc. by Vol. (90 proof.) Distilled and bottled by JACK DANIEL DISTILLERY, Lynchburg, Tennessee. JACK DANIEL’S is a registered trademark. ©2020 Jack Daniel’s. All rights reserved.
PRIVATE CLUBS (CONTINUED) BEST PAR 4
Cherry Creek Country Club, No. 11 2. Perry Park Country Club, No. 14 3. The Country Club at Castle Pines, No. 15 Staff Picks (alphabetical) Castle Pines Golf Club, No. 10 The Club at Cordillera (Summit), No. 15 The Club at Flying Horse, No. 14
BEST PAR 5
Cherry Creek Country Club, No. 16 2. Perry Park Country Club, No. 11 3. Cherry Hills Country Club, No. 17 Staff Picks (alphabetical) Castle Pines Golf Club, No. 17 Colorado Golf Club, No. 16 Red Rocks Country Club, Morrison, No. 18
INSTRUCTION BEST INSTRUCTOR FOR JUNIORS
Chris Schultz, Broken Tee Golf Course 2. Dennis Murray, Valley Country Club 3. Cassius Dinkel, Cherry Creek Country Club Staff Picks (alphabetical) Ed Oldham, The Ranch Country Club Rick Timm, Timm Golf Academy Trent Wearner, Trent Wearner Golf Academy Jason Witczak, The Club at Pradera/The Pinery
BEST INSTRUCTOR FOR MEN Chris Schultz
Quintero Golf Club
TRAVEL BEST GOLF EXPERIENCE: ARIZONA
BEST GOLF EXPERIENCE: NEVADA
2. Desert Mountain, Scottsdale 3. Seven Canyons Golf Club, Sedona
2. Wolf Creek Golf Club, Mesquite 3. Edgewood Tahoe, Stateline
Staff Picks (alphabetical) Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, Maricopa Grayhawk Golf Club, Scottsdale Troon North Golf Club, Scottsdale Ventana Canyon Golf Club, Tucson We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, Ft. McDowell
Staff Picks (alphabetical) Bear’s Best, Las Vegas Cascata, Boulder City Coyote Springs Golf Club, Coyote Springs Rio Secco Golf Club, Las Vegas
Quintero Golf Club, Peoria
BEST GOLF EXPERIENCE: CALIFORNIA Torrey Pines Golf Course, La Jolla
2. Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach 3. Cypress Point Club, Del Monte Forest
2. Dennis Murray 3. Jim Owens, Cherry Creek Country Club
Staff Picks (alphabetical) Pelican Hill Golf Club, Newport Beach Pebble Beach Golf Links PGA West/La Quinta Resort, La Quinta
Staff Picks (alphabetical) Brad Alston, Optimum Golf Alex Fisher, Glacier Club Chris Johnson, GolfTEC–Boulder Dan Sniffin, Omni Interlocken Golf Club
BEST GOLF EXPERIENCE: HAWAI‘I
BEST INSTRUCTOR FOR WOMEN Dennis Murray
2. Lana Ortega, Lana Ortega Golf 3. Ed Oldham Staff Picks (alphabetical) Dede Cusimano, Aspen Golf Academy Elena King, ExperienceGolf Mike Knight, GolfTEC–Westminster
Kapalua Golf, Lahaina
2. Mauna Kea Golf Course, Waimea 3. Princeville Makai Golf Club, Princeville Staff Picks (alphabetical) Manele Golf Course, Lanai Mauna Lani Golf, Waimea Waikoloa Beach Resort, Waikoloa Village
BEST GOLF EXPERIENCE: NEW MEXICO
Sandia Golf Club, Albuquerque
2. Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club, Sandia Park 3. Piñon Hills Golf Course, Farmington Staff Picks (alphabetical) Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club Rockwind Community Links, Hobbs Towa Golf Club, Santa Fe Univ. of New Mexico Golf Course, Albuquerque
Shadow Creek Golf Club, Las Vegas
BEST GOLF EXPERIENCE: UTAH Sand Hollow Resort, Hurricane
2. Wasatch Mountain State Park Golf Course, Midway 3. Willow Creek Country Club, Sandy Staff Picks (alphabetical) Coral Canyon Golf Club, Washington Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club, St. George Sand Hollow Golf Resort Thanksgiving Point Golf Club, Lehi
BEST GOLF EXPERIENCE: OVERALL U.S. Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina
2. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Oregon 3. Teton Pines Country Club, Wyoming Staff Picks (alphabetical) Bandon Dunes Golf Resort American Club/Kohler, Wisconsin Sea Island, Georgia Streamsong Resort, Florida
BEST GOLF EXPERIENCE: INTERNATIONAL St. Andrews Old Course, Scotland
2. Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Australia 3. Old Head Golf Links, Ireland Staff Picks (alphabetical) Royal County Down, Northern Ireland Quivira, Mexico Tara Iti Golf Club, New Zealand
Elena King
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