Peak Mountain Living

By Shaun Tolson

Vacation homes are all about the experiences they can facilitate. Golf is a given, of course. But if your ideal refuge also involves clean alpine air, ample outdoor pursuits, striking Rocky Mountain vistas—plus a few extra yards of carry on your tee shots—you’ll find yourself blissfully at home at one of these four golf communities in the high-altitude haven of Colorado.

Cornerstone

The Community: Managed and operated by Montage International, this 4,800-acre residential club outside of Montrose epitomizes the great outdoors. More than 20 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails transition into snowshoe and cross-country skiing trails in the winter; shooting and equestrian centers further embrace the Western ranch lifestyle.

The Course: Stretching some 7,800 yards from the tips, this high-plateau design from Greg Norman and Matthew Dusenberry is intimidating at a glance. But the course’s length owes in part to its position at more than 9,000 feet above sea level, where it plays through a painterly landscape of aspen groves and scrub oak savannah.

The Home: A short walk from the clubhouse (even if you stop to catch your breath every few steps), Cornerstone’s furnished two- and four-bedroom cabins ($1.45 million and $2 million, respectively) feature open floorplans, large kitchen and dining areas, and master suites with walk-in showers.

cornerstoneclub.com

Alpine Mountain Ranch & Club

The Community: Adjacent to the Steamboat Ski Resort, this 1,200-acre residential club offers the best of both worlds—a five-minute drive to downtown Steamboat, and direct access to 900 acres of open space and wildlife preserve. With only 63 home sites, each five acres, the club delivers a ranch-like lifestyle, complete with an equestrian facility and fishing on the Yampa River.

The Course: Alpine Mountain members can join the adjacent Catamount Ranch & Club to play its 7,088-yard Tom Weiskopf design. The course trundles over alpine meadows, offering dramatic views of the surrounding peaks (which serve up some of Colorado’s best skiing).

The Home: With its clean, modern lines, the 5,353-square-foot Vestige Residence ($7.9 million) is set on a gently sloping, south-facing lot. The fourbedroom residence features a living area looking out to the Catamount course and the Flat Tops Wilderness area beyond.

alpinemountainranchsteamboat.com

RainDance

The Community: Family togetherness is the name of the game at RainDance, evidenced by the community’s 1.5-acre water park, complete with a lazy river. The 1,100acre development comprises 292 home sites and will soon include 15 miles of community trails, as well as a connection to the 21-mile Poudre River Trail Corridor between the towns of Greeley and Windsor.

The Course: At 8,465 yards in length, RainDance National is the longest golf course in North America. Designed by Harrison Minchew with the assistance of player consultant Fred Funk, the course sits at 5,000 feet above sea level and features fescue fairways that can easily be conditioned to play firm and fast. With its size and speed, RainDance could be a candidate for a future tour event.

The Home: Eclipsing 4,000 square feet of indoor living space, 1827 Windfall Drive ($909,990) is a single-story residence complete with four bedrooms, a three-car garage and a finished basement outfitted with a rec room and study.

raindancecolorado.com

Heron Lakes

The Community: Members of this northern Colorado residential community have access to almost 9 miles of trails, 4.5 miles of shorefront around Lonetree Reservoir and 130 acres of recreational space. A 65,000-square foot clubhouse is home to three restaurants, a swimming pool and a fitness center.

The Course: The Arthur Schaupeter–designed TPC Colorado course can play as big as the Front Range vistas that players will enjoy from its fairways. Championship tees stretch the course to almost 8,000 yards, but seven additional tee boxes provide recreational players with plenty of entry points.

The Home: Offering mountain views and a prime location just off the 13th green, 2732 Heron Lakes Parkway ($2.3 million) is a two-bedroom ranch house with more than 3,000 square feet of living space on the main floor plus a basement with a rec room, exercise room, wet bar, and two bathrooms.

heronlakescommunity.com