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Valley’s New Heights

FEATURES

DUE SOUTH?// 34

The surge in play across Colorado has brought on a new dilemma: where are more public courses needed? By Jim Bebbington

WHISTLES TO WEDGES// 38

Highlands Ranch’s Dave Jackson, a former NHL referee, is ESPN’s go-to expert during NHL game broadcasts, and he can play a little golf too. By

Mike Chambers

BLINDSHOT

A RARE INVITATION // 80

It’s no secret that Ballyneal Golf Club, on Colorado’s eastern plains, is one of the best courses in the world and arguably the best in the state. Now it opens its tee sheet for the price of a little charity. By Jim Bebbington

SPOTLIGHTS

2026 Gear Guide// 20

The year in gear. Manufacturers are using 3D technology and new coatings to help players eke out every yard. By Ted Johnson

2026 PRIVATE CLUB GUIDE// 55

Colorado Private Clubs continue to seek the best fit for their members. By Jim Bebbington

DEPARTMENTS

8//

FORETHOUGHTS

The game has grown so much both private clubs and daily-fee courses are working hard to meet the demand. By Jim Bebbington

12//

THE CGA

People of the CGA – Peggy O’Neill Jones. By Kayla Kerns

14//

THE GALLERY

Saddleback’s Whitey O’Malley helps lead national golf course owners association; Colorado courses head into spring after a busy winter

44//

FACES OF THE GAME: JIM KNOUS

The shot that changed everything. Colorado Open defending champ Jim Knous reflects on his eventful 2025 season, the grind of golf, advice for younger golfers and more. By Michael Colander

WE ARE COLORADO

With over 120 years of trusted banking experience, Central Bank is here to help make your financial goals a reality. We’re expanding our footprint in Colorado and can’t wait to meet you.

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OPENING SOON: Downtown Littleton Branch

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TEAM MEET OUR COLORADO

Denise Walsh, SVP

Commercial Lending

Denise grew up in Lakewood, graduated from the University of Colorado in Boulder, and obtained her MBA from Regis University. She’s been banking along the Front Range for 22 years and proudly joined Central

Bank in 2024. Denise spends her weekends on the sidelines of her kids’ sports, golfing, hiking, and enjoying all things Colorado!

Keely Leuenberger, Private Banking Specialist

Keely is a Colorado native, originally from Englewood. She joined Central Bank in 2024 and loves how the bank feels like a

big family. Keely takes wonderful care of our clients, who love to see her smiling face when they visit our DTC office. In her free time, Keely can be found in the mountains snowboarding or hiking with her dog.

contributors ANDY BIGFORD, TONY DEAR, KEVIN GREENUP, CHRIS DUTHIE, SCOTT GARDNER, NICK MCQUEENEY, TED JOHNSON, CHRISTIAN MARCY-VEGA, KIM MCHUGH, JAY MCKINNEY, JON RIZZI, JAMIE SIEBRASE, CHRIS WHEELER, DAVID YOUNG coloradoavidgolfer.com

PRESIDENT & GROUP PUBLISHER

ALLEN J. WALTERS

EDITOR JIM BEBBINGTON

SALES, MARKETING & ADVERTISING

vp of sales & marketing LORI PERRY

vp of strategic partnerships & golf operations MICHAEL T. COLANDER digital marketing

GRIGGS advertising account managers

MINDA CARMANN BRAD BUTLER

ART & EDITORIAL creative director CHRIS DECONNA art director , avidlifestyle MICHELLE M. GUTIERREZ

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT NIKKI BELL

FORETHOUGHTS

THE STATE OF COLORADO GOLF

This issue of Colorado AvidGolfer we are bringing readers up to speed on the latest in Colorado’s private club world, and also what is going on to help the public golfer get access to courses near them. Golf’s popularity is staying high – the crowded tee sheets all winter long attest to that. But the people who help run the courses and lead the game are all still working to try to keep this growth going, and to make sure no player gets left behind.

Our readers can get a glimpse at the world of Colorado’s private clubs in our annual guide, which you can read beginning on page 55. Many clubs have raised their initiation rates and monthly dues this year, as the demand for club access remains so high for many clubs.

At the same time those clubs are all facing a steep competitive landscape between each other. Clubs are building pools, expanding workout rooms, adding full-blown daycare facilities, putting micro-restaurants on site all over the state. There are new patios, new fire pits and a seemingly never-ending process of bunker and tee box renovations.

We profile Valley Country Club, southeast of Denver, as an example of the way some clubs are evolving to stay vibrant. Valley has added millions in active amenities and staff in recent years in a concerted effort to attract families, and it appears the strategy is paying off.

But we also wanted to take the pulse of the public golf course situation. And what we found is that at

the top leaders of the game are worried about the fact that in some areas there are far more players than public golf courses available. The barrier for entry to opening any new public course is high. In recent years there have been few new openings, and some of the best success stories have come from excellent renovations of existing courses like CommonGround and City Park courses in Denver. But tee sheets remain packed, and Colorado Springs golfers in particular have the longest drives to make if they get shut out from their excellent local courses. What can be done?

Hockey writer Mike Chambers has also been on the prowl for us looking for interesting stories to tell. The hockey/golf interface is very, very strong. There are a couple courses in south Denver where on some weekends it can seem if half the Avalanche alumni are playing there; at times they are.

This month Mike profiles former NHL referee Dave Jackson, who has retired to Highlands Ranch from his longtime home in Canada. Dave is on ESPN all winter as their in-broadcast rules expert, and when he isn’t on TV these days he can often be found on the course.

So even though Mike’s story is about the only ice most of us have seen this winter, it’s time for spring and the great times ahead. I hope this edition helps you make the best choices for your time, your money and your game.

Jim Bebbington// jim@coloradoavidgolfer.com

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PEOPLE OF THE CGA: PEGGY O’NEILL-JONES

BY KAYLA KERNS

CGA Board member Peggy O’Neill-Jones served as the executive director of the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Western Region program and the TPS Teachers Network at Metropolitan State University of Denver for 22 years. After 35 years at MSU Denver, she retired as professor emeritus of journalism and media production in January 2026.

Her most lasting contribution may be the Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) program, a Library of Congress initiative she introduced to MSU Denver 22 years ago. As the founding executive director of the TPS Western Region program, O’Neill-Jones helped educators in 14 states use primary source materials, such as Lincoln’s hand-written Gettysburg Address, historic photographs, maps, letters in their classrooms.

In 2016, Peggy found two golf trophies from her great-great-uncle in her family’s basement. This discovery inspired her to play golf and learn about its history. The trophies are now at the Broadmoor Hotel in the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame. Peggy plays in the Applewood, Homestead, and Racoon Creek Golf Course leagues. She is married and has three daughters, two sons-in-law, two grandsons, and one granddaughter.

POJ: I’m a third-generation Coloradan, so I’ve been here most of my life. I grew up in Lakewood, went to school here, and spent 35 years on the faculty at Metropolitan State University of Denver. I just retired in January, so that’s been a big transition. In terms of golf, I’m very new compared to most people—I only started playing about five years ago. I still vividly remember asking myself,

why does anyone play this game? And then having moments where I completely understood why.

KK: Your career focused on education and storytelling. What did your work with the Teaching with Primary Sources program look like?

POJ: I received a grant from the Library of Congress in 2004 to lead the Teaching with Primary Sources program. When we started, it was just Colorado. By the time I stepped away, we had grown into the Western Region, serving educators across 16 states.

Our work was about helping teachers use primary sources—original historical documents, photographs, letters, recordings—from the Library of Congress to bring history to life. Instead of telling students what happened, teachers could show them the evidence and ask, What do you think this means? What story does this tell?

KK: What impact from that work are you most proud of?

POJ: The sheer number of students it reached is incredible. While we worked directly with teachers, they in turn reached countless students over the years. But beyond numbers, I’m proud of how it changed the way learning happened.

Students weren’t just memorizing facts—they were thinking critically, examining perspectives, and engaging with history in a deep way. That approach stays with people for life.

KK: Do you see golf—and golf history—as another powerful educational tool?

POJ: Absolutely. That’s why I’m involved with the CGA. Golf history and broader history are deeply intertwined. Sports reflect society, culture, and change in meaningful ways.

Even something as recent as the pandemic showed how golf fits into history. Suddenly it became one of the few activities people could safely do, and participation exploded. You can also look at individuals—like Tiger Woods—not just as golfers, but as cultural figures who shaped history. Golf tells stories. And stories are how people learn.

KK: How did your connection to golf history begin?

POJ: In 2016, I found two century-old golf trophies in my family’s basement that belonged to my great-great uncle, Mac McLaughlin. One was from Pebble Beach in the 1920s—he won that

tournament three times. As I started researching, I learned that Mac founded the Colorado Golf Association in 1915, and his wife, Ella McLaughlin, founded the Colorado Women’s Golf Association in 1916. My grandfather was also a top golfer in the 1920s. I realized I couldn’t write about golf if I didn’t play it.

So, I started playing at 67. We eventually donated Mac’s trophies to the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, which is how I became connected to the CGA.

KK: How did that lead to joining the CGA Board?

POJ: Through donating the trophies, I met Ed Mate, who is also a historian at heart. He invited me to join the CGA Board, and everything just clicked—history, golf, storytelling, education. I may be a high-handicap golfer, but I bring a different perspective, and I think that’s important.

KK: When did you join the Board, and what committees do you serve on?

POJ: This is my third year on the CGA Board. I don’t serve on any specific committees on the CGA Board, but I am on the Board of Directors for the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, which has been incredibly meaningful for me as well.

KK: Is there a Hall of Fame project that’s been especially impactful?

POJ: Yes—my great-great aunt, Ella McLaughlin, will be inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame as a 2026 inductee.

She was a trailblazer, winning the Colorado State Women’s Championship three times and helping establish women’s competitive golf in Colorado. Her induction is also an opportunity to highlight the 27 women currently in the Hall of Fame and recognize the pioneers who paved the way. Their contributions deserve more visibility.

KK: What advice would you give to younger generations—especially women?

POJ: Never stop learning. You’re never too old to try something new.

I didn’t start golf until 67, and while I’ll never be a champion, that’s not the point. Golf offers friendships, challenge, growth, and joy at any level. The same is true in life and careers.

You don’t do things to be the best in the world— you do them because they enrich your life.

Korn Ferry Stop Gets New Name

BLUE CHAMPIONSHIP DEBUTS AT TPC COLORADO

The annual Colorado stop by the top players in the PGA Tour’s developmental league has a new name and a new charitable cause to support.

The Blue Championship is the new name for the July 6 to 12 stop at TPC Colorado. Known in recent years as the Ascendant presented by Blue, the tournament has been rebranded after Blue Federal Credit Union became the event’s title sponsor. Blue had previously served as presenting sponsor of the event before stepping into the title role as the tournament enters its next chapter on the Korn Ferry Tour schedule. The

tournament remains organized by Colorado Golf Charities, which has overseen the event since its inception and helped build it into one of the most respected stops on the developmental tour.

In addition, the tournament has designated Children’s Hospital Colorado as the primary charity beneficiary of the tournament.

“We are honored to support Children’s Hospital Colorado,” Jon Turner, Colorado Golf Charities Board Member. “Everyone has a story that connects them to the superb care provided by this

organization. Through The Blue Championship, we have the opportunity to rally our community around a cause that touches so many families and helps ensure children across our area receive the top-level care they deserve.”

The partnership reinforces the tournament’s broader mission of using professional golf as a platform to support Colorado nonprofits and community initiatives. Over the years, events organized by Colorado Golf Charities have generated significant funding for charitable causes across the region while also providing fans with

rare opportunities to see future PGA Tour stars up close. The tournament held at TPC Colorado Golf Club in Berthoud has been voted by the players best tournament on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2021 and 2023. The tournament draws good weekend crowds and the organization for players and patrons earns high marks. First played in 2019, the event has quickly established itself as one of the premier stops on the Korn Ferry Tour and the only PGA TOUR–managed professional golf event currently held in Colorado.

For golf fans along the Front Range, the tournament offers a unique look at the next wave of talent making its way toward the game’s highest level. The Korn Ferry Tour serves as the primary pathway to the PGA Tour, with the season’s top performers earning promotion and the opportunity to compete against the best players in the world. Many of today’s biggest names, including Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas and Viktor Hovland, spent time honing their skills on the developmental circuit before breaking through on the PGA Tour stage.

TPC Colorado itself provides a formidable test for the Korn Ferry Tour’s rising stars. Designed by Arthur Schaupeter, the championship layout stretches to nearly 8,000 yards and features dramatic elevation changes along the Front Range. The course is perhaps best known for its massive 773-yard par-5 13th hole, one of the longest holes in professional golf, which has become a signature moment for both players and spectators during tournament week.

Players often note that the course rewards both power and creativity. Drives can travel extraordinary distances in Colorado’s thin air, but the firm greens and strategically placed hazards demand precise approach shots and disciplined course management. The setting, framed by views of Longs Peak and the surrounding foothills, adds to the tournament’s appeal for players who spend much of the season traveling from city to city across the country. The competition can also routinely add drama. The 2025 event was won by Neal Shipley who came from eight strokes back on Sunday to win his second tournament

of the year. Shipley surged through the field with a final-round charge that electrified the galleries and highlighted the unpredictable nature of Korn Ferry Tour competition. His comeback victory was one of the most memorable finishes in the tournament’s young history.

Shipley’s victory proved to be a major stepping stone in his professional career. By finishing the season among the Top 20 players in Korn Ferry Tour points, he secured his PGA Tour card for the following season it is a pivotal opportunity in the pursuit of a PGA Tour dream.

The Blue Championship’s new name and charitable mission signal a fresh chapter for a tournament that has already become one of the state’s most significant professional sporting events. With a growing reputation among players and fans alike, the event continues to strengthen Colorado’s presence on the national golf calendar while offering the community a chance to witness the future of the PGA Tour before it fully arrives.

Saddleback Owner Ascends

O’MALLEY BRINGS DECADES OF EXPERIENCE TO GOLF’S LEADING OWNERS ASSOCIATION

GET YOUR DENVER GOLF PASSES

Whitey O’Malley, owner of Saddleback Golf Club in Firestone, has been named president of the National Golf Course Owners Association.

O’Malley built and opened Saddleback in 2001. The course has been recognized by Golf Digest as one of the “Friendliest” in the United States. Over the years he became known for quirky marketing that helped draw players in, including “Old-Turd Tuesdays” and a stretch when the driving range used Titleist Pro V1s stamped with the message: “Stolen from Saddleback Golf Club.”

More recently, O’Malley has taken an active role in golf industry water-conservation discussions, helping courses across the Southwest prepare for a drier future.

“I have known Whitey for over 20 years and am thrilled he is taking the helm,” said NGCOA CEO Jay Karen. “Whitey is a creative and successful business owner with the experience and intuition to lead this organization.”

Before entering the golf business, O’Malley worked as an airline pilot. His family built a course in Wisconsin that opened in 1993 before he later developed Saddleback in Colorado. Reflecting the importance of water in the region, he also serves as president of the New Coal Ridge Ditch and sits on two additional water boards.

“I’m looking forward to helping the association continue to grow and better represent golf facility leadership,” O’Malley said.

The NGCOA is a nonprofit trade association representing the interests of golf course owners and operators across the country.

A Winter to Remember

RECORD WINTER PLAY ACROSS COLORADO KEPT COURSES OPEN, STAFFS GRINDING AND TURF UNDER STRESS

Now that its officially spring, it may be hard to remember how odd this winter was and how difficult it was for some of the Colorado golf community.

Here’s the deal: people in golf work a ton of hours during the spring, summer and fall. When you’re out there hitting on the range late, there is someone waiting for you to finish so they can clean up and go home. The assistant pros who staff your favorite pro shop more than likely put in way more than 40 hours a week during golf season.

The entire golf industry is geared for that. But it comes with the expectation that during the winter they will probably have some very quiet days behind the pro shop desk and many days in which courses are closed because of snow.

Not this year.

The Colorado golf industry is heading into the busiest time of the year already a little tired. This winter the front range courses saw warm temperatures and swarms of players, nearly every day. Many courses had to institute bans on golf carts, limited hours, or shut down altogether to keep the grass from suffering damage.

During one golf round this February a cart-waitress told me that she had never before had to schedule time off during the winter. This year she was working nearly every day. Not only was it warm enough to play nearly every single day

during February, but there was nearly zero rain. Course operators had to turn their watering systems back on. For example, at Ballyneal Golf Club, one of Colorado’s premier courses, they have a winter watering system in place. It was so warm for so long that wasn’t sufficient, and they had to switch back to the summer system in early March.

Valley Country Club was so busy that they finally closed the course altogether for a few weeks in March to give the ground time to heal.

Several courses instituted winter-long prohibitions on teeing off from par 3 tee boxes. The divots that were created in December are still there in April. Riverdale Dunes has an installed mat system ready to go; other courses just threw carpet down next to tee boxes and asked players to hit from there.

We couldn’t find any courses locally that have gone as far as courses in the UK do. There, where year-round golf is also not unheard of, most courses give players a little patch of plastic grass to carry with them. Players are supposed to pick up their ball, put the mat down, and place their ball on the mat and hit from there.

The new Bella Ridge Golf Course near Johnstown was proving so popular right out of the gate that they had to cap the number of players each day at about 100; tee times there were available only through about 11 a.m. each morning.

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Thirty-six years after the first titanium driver made it to market, golf equipment continues to evolve, even if it means needing a microscope to see it. The margins are smaller now — fractions of millimeters, grams redistributed within the head, face deflection measured in microseconds — but those tiny shifts are translating into measurable gains in ball speed, forgiveness and consistency across the face. Launch monitor data has become the industry’s north star, and every tweak is engineered to squeeze out one more mile per hour, one more yard, one less spin-reducing miss.

Faces of drivers, already crafted to hair-like thickness, have new coatings to increase efficiency at contact. Variable face architectures are being fine-tuned by AI modeling to preserve ball speed on mishits, while internal weighting systems push the limits of MOI without sacrificing workability. Carbon composite crowns and sole plates free up discretionary mass, allowing engineers to reposition weight low and deep — or forward and neutral — depending on the player profile. In other words, the modern driver isn’t just longer — it’s more stable when you’re not perfect.

More companies continue to search for the “distance player’s iron,” meaning a club that appeals to traditionalists but who also don’t want to lose out on Space Age distance. Hollow-body constructions, high-

strength steel faces and strategically injected polymers are allowing manufacturers to blend classic shaping with explosive face rebound and optimized launch windows. Tungsten weighting and progressive center-of-gravity placement help long irons launch higher and land softer, while short irons maintain precision and spin control where it matters most.

Even balls are getting the treatment: Some have new “coatings” to prevent the paint from “pooling” in the dimples, which could cut down on performance. Other models have been reconfigured from core to mantle to cover, dialing in spin separation — lower off the driver, higher with scoring clubs — while maintaining feel. Aerodynamic dimple patterns are being refined to stabilize flight in crosswinds and maximize carry, and softer urethane blends are improving greenside control without sacrificing durability.

It all adds up to equipment manufacturers continuing their undying quest to get the most out of ball, club and even player. The technology isn’t just chasing distance anymore — it’s chasing efficiency, dispersion control, repeatability and fit. In an era where data meets design, the smallest innovations are producing the biggest differences. Stay tuned, as this quest hardly seems willing to slow down anytime soon.

01.

PING G440K

Why You’ll Love It: More than a decade old, but interior tech improves each year

Why You Should Buy It: Dual carbon sole, carbon crown and large rear weight means more distance

Insider’s Insight: Various iterations of this model rank among many PGA Tour pros favorite

Price: $705

02.

TITLEIST GT2

Why You’ll Love It: Overall weight will feel light, but still very stable

Why You Should Buy It: Slower swing speeds will love the feel and pop from pro-style head

Insider’s Insight: A good transition for older players looking for forgiveness, power and feel

Price: $650 03.

MIZUNO JPX ONE

Why You’ll Love It: New face techonology for straighter flight and distance

Why You Should Buy It: Better players will love front weighting for faster energy transfer

Insider’s Insight: 33 adjustable sole weights allow super fine-tuning = proper trajectory

Price: $600

04. PXG LIGHTNING

Why You’ll Love It: Another face advancement to increase efficient restitution

Why You Should Buy It: More forgiving than Tour model but still offers control to shape shots

Insider’s Insight: Face deflection and return matches compression and return on ball: Boom!

Price: $650

05.

CALLAWAY QUANTUM MAX

Why You’ll Love It: High stability on off-center hits creates more forgiving face

Why You Should Buy It:

Super-thin ti face coated with polymer & carbon fiber in head = hot hot

Insider’s Insight: Some might sense a different feel and sound; just watch the ball fly

Price: $650

06.

SRIXON ZXi

Why You’ll Love It: High ball flight with less spin results in more distance

Why You Should Buy It: Avid golfers will love its forgiveness but also shot-shaping capability

Insider’s Insight: Variable face thickness goes for a sturdier sweetspot = more energy

Price: $550

01. TAYLORMADE

Qi4D

Why You’ll Love It: Crown is carbon fiber matched to titanium body

Why You Should Buy It: Traditional look and a traditional sound at contact appeals to traditionalists

Insider’s Insight: Compact shape, forward-weighting in head comforts better players

04. PING G440

Why You’ll Love It: Old model keeps getting better; myriad fitting & loft options

Why You Should Buy It:

This year: shallower and thinner face induces more on-center strikes

Insider’s Insight: Rigid back, low Cg and shallow face brings high launch off tightest of lies

Price: $325

Price: $450

02.

COBRA OPTM

MAX

Why You’ll Love It: Forgiving head matches high tech features to performance

Why You Should Buy It: Moveable sole weights to get more out of your swing

Insider’s Insight: Internal weights and hosel position creates draw bias for slicers

Price: $370

03.

TOUR EDGE EXOTICS C524

MAX

Why You’ll Love It: Great performance & forgiveness for the price

Why You Should Buy It: Pyramid Face Tech expands sweetspot with no loss of energy

Insider’s Insight: Rigid back, low Cg and shallow face brings high launch off tightest of lies

Price: $250

05. CALLAWAY QUANTUM MAX OS

Why You’ll Love It: A bit oversized but you’ll notice the forgiveness and less slices

Why You Should Buy It: For the golfer who wants to feel reassured at address: larger head is easier

Insider’s Insight: 24gram tungsten weight in head accounts for stability and ball flight

Price: $250

06.

TITLEIST GT3

Why You’ll Love It: Smaller head will appeal to better players; easy out in rough

Why You Should Buy It: Offers more ball speed than long irons as well as some shot shaping

Insider’s Insight: Fine-tune performance to your swing with adjustable heel and toe weights

Price: $330

01. SRIXON ZXiR

Why You’ll Love It: Has the classic pro-style look but in more forgiving cast head

Why You Should Buy It: 85% of iron players need clubs that are easier to hit than traditional blades

Insider’s Insight: Purists will complain about lack of forging; still will meet the needs of most

Price: $157 per club

02. PING i530

Why You’ll Love It: New best-player iron offers high trajectory & booming distance Why You Should Buy It: Maraging steel face on carbon steel body brings back old “pure” feel & sound

Insider’s Insight: Compact head, hollow body & springy face will change your yardages

$186 per club

MIZUNO M-15

Why You’ll Love It: Higher launch, more forgiveness and same forged feeling of old Why You Should Buy It: New pro-style iron with contour face and hollow body and tungsten

Insider’s Insight: Old school tradition iron company jumping on high-tech multi-piece

$215 per club

04.

TITLEIST T150

Why You’ll Love It: Old-school sleek look in slightly larger head for more stability

Why You Should Buy It: Lofts stronger by 1 degree but still produce high launch for more distance

Insider’s Insight: Yes, those 190-yard 8-iron shots are possible like the pros

Price: $215 per club

05. CALLAWAY QUANTUM MAX

Why You’ll Love It: Deep back channel and weight low makes it easy to get ball up

Why You Should Buy It: Innovative sole design resists digging; clubhead skips through turf

Insider’s Insight: Golfers early to the game will love the performance & ease of high ball flight

Price: $164 per club

06. COBRA KING COBRA

Why You’ll Love It: Game improvement iron offering distance and great feel

Why You Should Buy It: Very thin face that wraps around; tungsten weighting means large sweetspot

Insider’s Insight: Best performing iron in its category with looks a low handicapper likes

Price: $165 per club

01. PING s259

Why You’ll Love It: Softer feel, more spin in a wedge found in many PGA Tour bags

Why You Should Buy It: Larger elastomer insert behind face & carbon steel produces a Tourlike spin

Insider’s Insight: Very cool online fitting system to match grind to your swing and course

Price: $218

02.

CLEVELAND CBZ

Why You’ll Love It: UltiZip grooves for cleaner contact and consistent spin

Why You Should Buy It: New Z-slloy is lighter, softer for more responsiveness and feel Insider’s Insight: A cavity-back wedge offers more forgiveness to increase your confidence

Price: $180

03.

TITLEIST VOKEY T64 LOB

Why You’ll Love It: Designed with low bounce angle to get leading edge under ball Why You Should Buy It: Here’s the club to get the ball in the air off tight green-side lies

Insider’s Insight: Best results come from precise, shallow strike

Price: $275

04. TAYLORMADE MG5

Why You’ll Love It: Six grinds available to match to your swing & turf conditions

Why You Should Buy It: Soft carbon steel forged the old way: High heat and then shaping Insider’s Insight: SB grind for steep swings; SC grind for shallow swings; SX grind won’t dig

Price: $200

05. CALLAWAY OPUS

Why You’ll Love It: T grind for shallow divots; W grind for most forgiveness Why You Should Buy It: Micro grooves at angle to promote more bite and thus spin

Insider’s Insight: Check the grind as some lofts have lower bounce angles than others

Price: $200

06.

EDEL SMS PRO

Why You’ll Love It: Customizeable to your swing angle with unique back weighting

Why You Should Buy It: Three bounce degree options: Low, Standard, and High bounce

Insider’s Insight: Online fitting so you can tailor your wedge to swing and course conditions

Price: $180

01. ODYSSEY DB AI DUAL

Why You’ll Love It: New groove design in face induces better roll early in putt

Why You Should Buy It: Insert reverts back to same material used in the White Hot series Insider’s Insight: For blade loves, this putter will come across as very stable with great feel

Price: $350

02. PING MILLED ANSER 4D

Why You’ll Love It: Classic Anser head with precisely milled face for “butter” feel

Why You Should Buy It: Ball-width cavity with alignment line behind face inspires confidence Insider’s Insight: Perimeter-weighted blade has the forgiveness, accuracy of a mid-mallet

Price: $450

TITLEIST SCOTTY CAMERON 5.2

Why You’ll Love It: Unique “chain-link” milling in face for better roll and feel

Why You Should Buy It: 5 unique neck and shaft configurations to match your stroke

Insider’s Insight: Ideal for players seeking a square, straight-backand-through path

Price: $500

04.

L.A.B. GOLF DFI3

Why You’ll Love It: Noted for its very large sweetspot and overall head stability

Why You Should Buy It: New version slightly smaller but still delivers feel and proper alignment

Insider’s Insight: Your eyes may be fooling you; this putter may teach you how to line up

Price: $500

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BETTINARDI SB3

Why You’ll Love It: Center-shafted head keeps face square for on-target strikes

Why You Should Buy It: Exclusive milling of 303 steel face creates very soft feel that you trust Insider’s Insight: You’ll find you can strike those fast, downhill putts without fear

Price: $450

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ODYSSEY AI DUAL #7

Why You’ll Love It: Consistent ball speed across the face; mis-hits still roll straight

Why You Should Buy It: Half-ball alignment markings make for more on-target strikes

Insider’s Insight: AIaided design of titanium milled insert promotes silky feel & confidence

Price: $350

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BRIDGESTONE BX

Why You’ll Love It: VeloSurge core-mantle unifies two elements for more speed

Why You Should Buy It: Same Reactiv iQ cover adheres to the clubface longer inducing spin Insider’s Insight: Distance ball but with great cover for more control on approach shots

Price: $55/dozen

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BRIDGESTONE E12 HIGH LAUNCH

Why You’ll Love It: Softer core and better dimple design induces higher launch

Why You Should Buy It: Still provides good feel and response on approach shots to green Insider’s Insight: Best ball for slower swing speeds; more carry, more feel; good deal

Price: $35/dozen

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SRIXON Z-STAR XV

Why You’ll Love It: Thin cover with added new coathing for overall consistency

Why You Should Buy It: New core goes from soft in middle to harder on its edges

Insider’s Insight: That means high-energy on drivere swings, but more spin on approach shots

Price: $55/dozen

04.

TITLEIST PROV1X LEFT DASH

Why You’ll Love It: Tweaked core for more distance; thinner cover for feel

Why You Should Buy It: Best performance on long iron shots; high launch, low spin

Insider’s Insight: Swingspeeds at 110 mph will notice the carry distance; won’t flutter in air

Price: $58/dozen

05. TAYLORMADE TOUR RESPONSE

Why You’ll Love It: Urethane cover, new core and wide alignment stripe

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Price: $48/dozen

06. TAYLORMADE TP5X

Why You’ll Love It: New, ultra-thin cover, new core produce high performance

Why You Should Buy It: Higher swing speeds will notice higher coefficient of restitutuon = speed

Insider’s Insight: Micro-coating thinner than a human hair ensures each dimple is consistent

Price: $58/dozen

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SUPPLY

There’s a chance that the golf economy in Colorado is a little broken.

Normally, if there was a business that was all-but overwhelmed with customers, new competitors would show up. New companies offering similar services would open next door, and they’d compete.

With public golf tee times in Colorado, that isn’t happening very efficiently.

For five years the boom in Colorado golf has led to packed tee sheets and crazy competitiveness among public golfers trying to get tee times. North of Denver two public courses are going into their first seasons this summer – Bella Ridge Golf Course and Rodeo Dunes. But to the south golfers between Colorado Springs and Denver are seeing no new development. Players there driving ever-farther up I-25 to play public courses just to be able to get out.

But just hoping new courses will eventually come on line is tricky. Whitey O’Malley, the owner of Saddlebrook Golf Course in Frederick, has built two courses. Today he is the president of the National Golf Course Owners Association and he remembers very well when in the late 1990s developers nationwide were told to build courses as fast as possible. Many did, and many got burned.

“Many investors, financier’s and owners remember the late 1990’s, early 2000’s,” he said. “The heyday of “build a course a day”. The resulting oversupply was long lasting and painful.”

He said the rule of thumb for decades has been that courses need to be ready to charge a greens fee of $10 for every million dollars spent building a course.

“I think those numbers are fairly accurate today. I can’t imagine a course being built for under $10 million in Colorado, leaving average green fees to be around $100 per round. Getting increased value in surrounding homes is a way to offset the higher cost of green fees. The question becomes is the risk of building a golf course worth the increase value of the approximal housing.”

So, the problem is also not just supply, but affordable supply. Rodeo Dunes in northeast Colorado is just getting off the ground as a destination public golf resort but based on the rates its sister courses charge in Oregon and Wisconsin tee times will likely be $200 and up when it opens to public play in 2027. Tee time rates have not yet been announced. Bella Ridge, which is still in preview play

THE PRESSURES ON PUBLIC GOLF

COLORADO PUBLIC GOLF HAS THE DEMAND; WHERE’S THE NEW SUPPLY?

BY JIM BEBBINGTON

and doesn’t officially open until later this spring, charged $65 to $80 for rounds through the winter. Summer rates will almost certainly be higher.

Jay Karen, CEO of the NGCOA, said there is steep financial complexity for building golf courses in areas where development pressure for housing already exists.

“Once you consider the total fixed investment and development costs, including land acquisition, clubhouse design and construction (which includes all kitchen equipment, furniture and fixtures), permitting, modern irrigation systems, access to water (depending on location of the course), acquisition of fleets of golf cars and agronomic equipment, in addition to penciling the ongoing operational costs and costs of goods sold, including labor, agronomic needs, food and beverage, operation technology, marketing and more, it’s easy to see how difficult it would be to offer affordable green fees to sustain a multi-million dollar investment,” he said.

“And we haven’t even calculated what ongoing financing costs may be, assuming a loan of some kind is necessary to underpin the development. When we talk about land acquisition for a daily-fee type course, it would have to be near a robust population center, not in the middle of these rural areas, where private clubs are being built. Two hun -

dred acres of land near cities and towns will be far more expensive than fifty miles outside of town.”

Municipal governments can add courses, but there are no new projects announced at this time in the Colorado Springs area.

“We are placing high hopes on the municipal golf sector to continue to meet the needs of those looking for “affordable” golf in the coming years or even decades,” Karen said. “ Municipalities often have more tools in their tool box than private developers to build golf courses, or even acquire courses for sale, if there is interest in adding more green space and recreation to their portfolios of parks. Even though more and more muni courses are contributing to their town’s financial success, rather than extracting from them, it is still in the DNA of municipalities to keep the golf rates affordable for their local citizens. This is key for millions of people who enjoy golf in our country, especially in Colorado.”

In Colorado Springs, the city manages two: Patty Jewett and Valley Hi golf courses. Patty Jewett has been played for more than 100 years and city-owned since 1919. It offers a par 72 18-hole course and a separate 9-hole course.

Valley Hi’s 18-holes were built in 1956 as a private club then bought by the city in 1975. Valley Hi is

the home course of the First Tee of Southern Colorado, the youth development program.

Nationally, the picture is different. The National Golf Foundation reports that at the start of 2026, more than 140 new courses were in planning or under construction across the country – the majority of those tied to private destination clubs, high-end real estate communities and resort properties. Still, the opportunity is there.

Bella Ridge Golf Course, near Johnstown, was built by the Potdburg family which converted their former family farm to the golf and residential development. This is key: they already owned the land.

And as the population growth has continued in the northern front range, the course operators thought they were going to help meet a market demand for more public play.

If the course’s preview play is any indication, they absolutely have done that. The course does not officially open until this spring, but when they began to take a limited number of daily tee times beginning last fall the slots filled up quickly. Through the warm winter the course kept daily play to around 100 golfers, with tee times ending in the late mornings.

They still filled up.

WE ARE PLACING HIGH HOPES ON THE MUNICIPAL GOLF SECTOR TO CONTINUE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE LOOKING FOR “AFFORDABLE” GOLF IN THE COMING YEARS OR EVEN DECADES

JAY KAREN

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WHISTLES & WEDGES: A JACKSON LEGACY

BY MIKE CHAMBERS

For 28 years, Dave Jackson’s world was framed by blue lines and bright arena lights. Today, the former NHL referee is an ESPN rules analyst who still lives between whistles, but now it’s drives and divots sharing the spotlight. In Colorado, hockey roots and fairway rituals define his next chapter.

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Hockey and golf run rich in Dave Jackson’s circles, and the former longtime NHL referee who now serves as ESPN’s NHL rules analyst believes there is a burgeoning golfer in every young hockey player.

The seasons align in traditional hockey climates and, whether it’s a slap shot from the point or a drive off the tee, “the swing is not dissimilar,” he said during a recent interview.

Jackson’s youngest son and prodigy/protégé is an example of making excellent contact with the puck or ball.

Ryan Jackson, who is in his first season as a fulltime NHL linesman, teamed up with his father and used 300-yard-plus drives and a 220-yard 7-iron at “El Borracho” – the July tournament held annually at the Sanctuary Golf Course near Castle Pines. The two-man, best-ball tournament hosted by course owner Dave Liniger (and named after his late dog) had 50 entries.

Dave and Ryan Jackson won their flight and finished third.

“Pretty good for a 9 (Dave) and 15 (Ryan) handicap,” Dave said.

Dave Jackson is very familiar with Sanctuary and many other Colorado courses since moving from Montreal to Highlands Ranch in 2014. He lists the Golf Club at Bear Dance among his favorites, as well as Perry Park Country Club, where he used to belong.

His all-time Colorado low round of 76 came at Lone Tree Golf Club.

Dave and his wife Jill, a Los Angeles native who met her future husband while working gameday operations for the Los Angeles Kings, moved to Highlands Ranch when Dave’s two Montreal-based sons went to college. They chose Colorado because it was a convenient landing spot between Montreal and L.A.

“There was no learning curve for me. Colorado is such a beautiful place,” Dave said. “I immediately loved it.”

The lifestyle for an NHL on-ice official almost always includes a lot of golf.

Rookie Ryan Jackson, 30, might have only played 15 rounds this summer, his father said, but that’s bound to dramatically increase over his NHL officiating career.

LOCAL LEGACY

“Pretty much everybody I’ve refereed with played golf, and there’s some pretty good golfers, too, starting with Garrett Rank.”

Rank played hockey and golf at the University of Waterloo and has competed in the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Open since beginning his NHL officiating career in 2015.

“We have a bunch of guys with single-digit handicaps,” Jackson said of NHL officials.

Ryan is bound to get there. He’s now living the life his father enjoyed for 28 years.

“Other than him being a linesman, not a ref, every-

thing else is pretty much identical,” Dave said of Ryan’s big-league career. “He’s experiencing the same travel schedule, same buildings, same office people in every city, and he’s working with a lot of my former co-workers. There’s probably still 50 guys on that staff that I worked with. I took some of the younger ones under my wing and they’re now doing the same and paying it forward by looking after Ryan.”

Jackson’s two other children, oldest son Shayne, 32, and daughter Maddie, 19, also play a lot of golf. Shayne, a 4 handicap, lives in Seattle and is a player-agent for current and future NHL players. He often plays golf with his clients and others in the industry. Maddie, a sophomore at the University of

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Arizona, played varsity golf at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch.

As empty-nesters, Dave and Jill Jackson bought a winter home in Tucson, Ariz., a year ago. That means more golf for Dave, who set up his ESPN studio in his new home office.

Jackson, 60, was contacted by ESPN early in the 2021-22 NHL season when the network chose to add a rules analyst. Upon accepting the unique job – currently the only position of its kind in bigleague hockey – he knew social media came with it.

“Sometimes it’s tough,” Jackson said of publicly engaging with fans, which was taboo during his officiating career. “I’ll respond to anyone as long as it’s a good-faith question, if somebody wants to know a rule. I love a healthy debate. But you get the occasional guy who will just call me names or

get personal. Those people get blocked. But for the most part it’s overwhelmingly positive. People genuinely want answers and they really appreciate the view, the opinion from the inside, because it’s not something they’ve ever had in the past. And I enjoy trying to broaden the fans’ perspective and give them a different perspective of the game –something they’re not used to hearing.”

Still, fans often want Jackson to criticize his former brethren. But his response typically serves both sides of the argument.

“Nothing says my judgement is better than their judgement,” Jackson said of active NHL officials. “The only difference is I get to watch it from three or four different replay angles. So opposed to criticizing them, I’ll say something along the lines of, ‘I didn’t love that call and I think referee X, if he was watching the same angles I’m watching right now, he would probably agree.’”

Jackson returned to the ice in August by working the Avalanche-University of Denver alumni game at Magness Arena. The weekend affair also included a round of golf at DU’s course in Highlands Ranch. He golfed with Julie Rathke, director of the Avs’ alumni, and Avalanche television personalities Marc Moser and Mark Rycroft. “We had a great time and a ton of laughs,” Jackson said. He worked the ensuing hockey game with good friend and fellow Canadian native Brad Watson, the longtime Highlands Ranch resident who also exceeded 1,000 games as an NHL ref.

“I didn’t realize how much I missed it, being out there, under the lights, the crowd, sights, sound smells – it was awesome,” Jackson said. “Brought back so many memories, so many good memories.”

Golf and hockey. That’s an ideal weekend for Dave Jackson.

JIM KNOUS: ONE SHOT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

BY MICHAEL COLANDER

Jim Knous has built a career defined by perseverance, patience and Colorado grit. The Basalt native turned down an engineering path after Colorado School of Mines to chase the game, grinding through mini-tours, injuries and near misses before earning PGA Tour starts. In 2025, his journey came full circle with a dramatic, walk-off eagle to win the Colorado Open, the biggest victory of his career and a moment of redemption after years of chasing the dream. Knous’ story isn’t just about scores, it’s about resilience, loyalty to his roots and a relentless belief that the next shot can change everything.

FACES OF THE GAME

(MC) You won the 2025 Colorado Open in dramatic fashion holing out from 69 yards on the 18th hole in the fourth playoff. Can you recall what was going on in your head?

(JK) Yeah, I had had a similar shot (from the previous playoff hole), like right in that area, I think from the rough, just below. This time around, I was in the fairway. This was a fourth playoff hole, and the shot before, I kind of came up and out of it.

It was kind of a weak little, I don’t know, shot that kind of came up short of the hole, and if you know Green Valley Ranch, the pin was in the back left, and the shot before, I didn’t quite get to that ridge, and it came down all the way to that front bowl. So my caddie said, all right, keep your speed up on this one and get kind of through the ball. So I kind of took that advice and went ahead and hit it maybe just a little harder.

It was into the wind too, and I think still it just barely kind of covered the bunker. The greens were firm, and one kind of big-ish bounce, slam dunk. I didn’t really see it, because again, if you know Green Valley Ranch, there’s that bunker right there, and I was kind of hitting up over it, so I couldn’t see the hole itself, but there was enough people around the back of the green that they all went, ah! You knew it went in.

(MC) And you knew it went in right away, so that was, obviously it was thrilling. Have you ever won a

tournament in that fashion?

(JK) No, never. That was definitely the most dramatic win I’ve ever had. I think other tournaments that I’ve won, at least, were just kind of ho-hum, you know, two-putt on the last, and win by one or two or whatever, but nothing like that.

That is so much fun. You know, talking about fourth playoff hole, a lot of pressure on that.

(MC) How have you learned to handle the pressure in situations like that?

(JK) I think it’s just been a series of all my experiences throughout my career. I think it all comes back to, like, your routine, my pre-shot routine, so much so that I would actually practice my pre-shot routine, and I have it really dialed down to how many seconds the pre-shot routine takes. So it’s, you know, a practice swing, stepping into the ball, it’s your breathing, it’s all those things.

One last look at the target, you have maybe one mental thought, like, I’m going to take the swing like this, or I want to feel like this on the downswing. Something simple like that. And then after that, it’s just kind of, your body just knows what to do, you kind of have to rely on that, your instincts, if you will.

But then dealing with the pressure, obviously, situations like that are higher pressure than oth -

ers. So, I mean, that just kind of comes down to experience. Having been there a few times, I kind of know what to expect, and I know those feelings of nerves, those jitters that you have, and kind of what that does to your swing, because it will affect your swing.

(MC) Where does this Colorado Open Championship rank in your career? I’m trying to think if anything’s above it.

(JK) It’s very possible it’s the number one, it’s the number one thing. Obviously getting my PGA Tour card and being on the PGA Tour for a few years was the pinnacle of my career. I never won out there, I got close a couple times out of 54, whole lead in California, but never won.

So, I have a couple wins at the San Juan Open in New Mexico, but this being the home tournament, my home tournament, I’ve played it so many times as an amateur and a professional. For a long time, for whatever reason, I just never seemed to play well at the Colorado Open, and it always kind of bugged me, you know. But then for whatever reason, the last couple years, I’ve played really well, just mainly putted really well.

The greens at Green Valley Ranch, the Colorado Open, they always get them in unbelievable condition. In the last two years, I’ve just been seeing the lines. So second place in 2024, obviously the win this year, yeah, it’s hard to top that.

“I

I think it’s probably the number one. Yeah, I mean, you know, winning your home Open is pretty awesome. Very special.

Plus, I had a bunch of family and friends there, I mean, that’s just super fun.

(MC) Talk about pressure. People think Pro Golf is glitz and glam, you’re out on tour playing golf for a living, right? People do not see the grind that it actually is of all of the travel away from family, nights in hotel rooms. Talk me through kind of how that, how the travel piece and just how hard getting into Pro Golf in the early stages and up to the PGA Tour actually is.

(JK) Yeah, it’s pretty brutal. I will just say, yeah, you really have to love golf to want to do it. And it is an incredible journey. It’s really fun when you go into it with that mentality of, hey, I love golf, I want to do this as my career, and I do want to make it fun throughout my career. So yeah, I mean, we talk about the grind on the mini tours, you’re driving to every tournament or a lot of the tournaments, you know, not a lot of flying yet. Flying starts kind of, Corn Fairy Tour, PGA Tour, you kind of have to fly most places. The travel is, you know, you’re going in Monday, Monday’s your travel day, tournament,

FACES OF THE GAME

prep is Tuesday, Wednesday, tournament’s Thursday through Sunday, and then you’re traveling in on Monday. A lot of times you’re gone, you know, weeks at a time. My rookie year, I was gone 13 weeks in a row.

Pretty brutal. Something I learned there was like, hey, you have to build in breaks. Even if you’re kind of right up against a line or something, my rookie year, I was kind of fighting for my card, so I felt like I had to keep playing.

Looking back on it, I should have taken a week here or there to mentally reset, physically reset, stuff like that. But it is funny looking back on one of the years we did our accounting, and I was gone 197 nights of the year. So that’s, I mean, that’s brutal.

(MC) Talk to the, you know, high schooler that isn’t necessarily getting the looks or the college golfer at a D2 school or NAI school or D3 or whatever that, you know, maybe didn’t get looked at and signed by Texas or Auburn or, you know, Colorado or one of these bigger schools or the guy that’s on the mini tour that is like, you know what, I’m kind of done with this 2026, maybe be my last year. What advice do you have for those, for those players?

(JK) I think my main, my main advice, the best advice I can give, I say it a lot is keep your love for the game. I didn’t get the looks, but I loved golf. I just kept at it. I landed at Colorado School of Mines, which was actually perfect for me.

Watch the full interview on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@coloradoavidgolfer

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The Valley EVOLUTION

Families arrive at Valley Country Club for many reasons - golf, dining, pools and play. But what keeps them coming back is something deeper. In Centennial, the club has evolved into a gathering place where generations connect, children grow up, and neighbors become lifelong friends. For many members, Valley truly feels like home.

BY JIM BEBBINGTON // PHOTOS PROVIDED BY VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB

Jeff Sandman – retired attorney, avid golfer and 80 years young – had just finished a 9-hole round at his home course of Valley Country Club when he took a moment to consider what the club means to him.

“I’ve been a member for 41 years; president twice, and this is my third time on the board of directors,” he said. “I think that’s indicative of the fact that I love this place. The things that stand out to me are the membership. We are very family-oriented.”

Valley Country Club in Centennial has made family the centerpiece for its future. A multi-million dollar initiative over the past several years was driven by the goal of making the club the best home away for home for its members.

It has been working.

“What we have been finding is younger people are attracted to us because of our location, the golf course and the facilities,” Sandman said. The club’s board brought on Troon two years ago to help manage the operations. General Manager Brenton Rice feels that it was the final piece of the

puzzle. Membership Director Saige DiBella has sold 50 new memberships in the past year.

“Valley Country Club is entering one of the strongest chapters in its 70 year history, something I believe wholeheartedly in. I think we have really solid momentum,” Rice said. “I think there’s true alignment between the members, the committees, the board, and now management.”

All clubs have facilities – golf courses, pool complexes, restaurants, racquet courts and the like. But the members and the management set the tone for the kind of atmosphere people feel when they are there. Is it welcoming?

At Valley Country Club, “Something that we’ve really emphasized, especially with our new members that have come and joined the club over this last year, is the family environment that we’re providing,” Rice said. “It’s the welcoming second-home feeling that we’re trying to provide for our members. We’ll also be able to execute on that elevated experience that they’re hoping for when they’re coming to the club. I would say probably about 80% of our new members this last year were fit

young families with small children. So (we’re making) a heavy emphasis on our youth programming and just growing opportunities for members to make this their daily stop and really emphasize the family culture.”

The club has expanded its drop-in day care offerings in order for parents to be able to use the facilities free of care. The new aquatics area opened last summer with an array of pools from adults-only to high-fun slides and splash pad. The outdoor dining pavilion - The Bird’s Nest - around the perimeter was updated too and during last summer events that used the pool as a centerpiece brought hundreds of people out each time.

At last summer’s Fourth of July celebration and fireworks show the membership turned out in the hundreds to the point where furniture from inside was brought outside.

The golf course remains a cornerstone for the experience. The course has evolved in recent years with the nines being reversed, and can offer everything from a welcoming learning environment to a tough test for the best players. The club’s director

of agronomy, Brooks Dodson, has served for three years and become an expert at keeping the busy course in top condition throughout the year.

In addition, they have partnered with the Denver Racquets Club to provide staff for their tennis and pickleball facilities, which has brought stability and improved their members’ enjoyment of the racquet complex.

“We found a solid partnership there,” Rice said. Rice is very proud of the staff. He arrived a year ago and inherited many good people throughout the organization. He said his primary role with them is to be clear and honest about what they are all trying to accomplish for their members.

“Trusting each other is a big piece both within the staff,” he said. “We all take ownership of the club. We all take ownership of the process. And we all operate as one. I think communication is a big piece of the culture now as we try not to let anybody, including frontline staff, be in the dark

about anything.” Membership Director Saige DiBella has seen the transition first-hand. As Troon management went into place, she said, she saw an immediate benefit from the broad number of applicants that Troon was able to generate for nearly any opening. In addition to Rice, a new head chef was brought on within the last year.

“I mean it’s amazing what it’s opened up for our team, the possibility of having those options and the allocation of knowledge from Troon on down,” she said.

As DiBella has spoken with prospective new members she is often asked what sets the club apart. She comes back not just to a family atmosphere, but one that backs it up with service.

“I feel like that’s what I speak on the most when I’m talking to prospective members,” she said. “Especially because we do have a drop-in kids space downstairs where we have essentially babysitting on hand for our members during busy golf week-

ends and evenings during dinner service, which is a huge perk. Between summer camps or athletics programs for golf and rackets for juniors, aquatics, swim teams, swim lessons, there’s everything for the kids to do on top of kid-oriented events.”

The club’s 70th anniversary is coming in September, and plans are underway for a celebration that brings the best of what has come before together with the new members who will shape the club’s future.

And for members like Sandman, he couldn’t be happier with the blend.

As a member for more than 40 years, Sandman enjoys the club himself. He and his wife used the club when their daughters were small, and now sees the club’s new direction continue the family tradition.

“My daughters grew up here and now I have a daughter and son in law who are members,” he said. “It’s the friendliest club around.”

PRIVATE CLUB GUIDE

ARMS RACE

Colorado

The

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

TWICE IS NICE WITH INVITED CLUBS Discover

COLORADO PRIVATE CLUB GUIDE

PRESENTED BY

The Amenities Arms Race Begins

Colorado’s private golf clubs continue to evolve to keep pace with the changing interests of their members – and the members they hope to attract. Colorado AvidGolfer annual survey of private club operators found that across the state clubs continue to add amenities and re-invest in their golf courses in order to attract and keep members.

And as the golf boom has taken root in the gigantic millennial generation – who are also having kids now – the biggest niche that many are aiming for is that of ‘family-friendly club.’

Many clubs have added members in recent years some are steering funding to make long-needed golf course or building updates. Initiation fees and monthly dues have risen nearly across the board at all Colorado clubs, and several have raised their golf-capacity numbers in order to avoid having to create a waitlist.

The balancing act that club operators must walk is delicate. Current members want nice amenities

– and many clearly are willing to pay thousands a month for them. But they do not want a club that becomes so crowded that they can’t get a tee time or reservations for dinner when they want.

It was just a few years ago that the most-elite Colorado clubs – Castle Pines Golf Club and Cherry Hills Country Club – poured tens of millions. At Pinehurst Country Club, the club has embarked on a two-year pool replacement project that General Manager Trey Bayliss said is intended to create “the best pool in the Denver metro area.” That project is slated to be completed in time for summer, 2027, and will update the pool food options as well. In addition the club, which has 27-holes of golf available, is going to renovate the entire course, one nine-hole segment at a time.

Across town at Glenmoor Country Club a year-long $35 million renovation of the clubhouse is on track to be completed later this year to go along with a full upgrade of its aquatics area that took place two years ago. The Club at Rolling Hills is among

many that have installed special golf simulator lounges, some with dedicated bars and comfy seats. No club can stand still, it seems. At Grand Junction’s Bookcliff Country Club they added a nice outdoor fire pit near the pool. Pueblo Country Club renovated its pool and added new tee boxes. Meridian Golf Club in Englewood doubled the size of its golf practice area. Lakewood Country Club did a bunker overhaul.

Fort Collins Country Club invested $3.2 million renovating the golf shop and men’s and women’s locker rooms, adding saunas to both. Ptarmigan Country Club in Fort Collins recently renovated all the bunkers on their course and modernized the clubhouse dining area, and in 2026 is eyeing replacing all the bridges on the course, replastering the pool and updating their post-round eatery, the Bear’s Den Grille.

“We are incredibly pleased with the transformation accomplished thus far,” said Ptarmigan’s membership director, Kelly Misuraca.

COLORADO PRIVATE CLUB GUIDE

PRESENTED BY

Pinehurst

RENOVATION

Pinehurst Country Club is building on nearly 70 years of providing Denver area families with an excellent private club experience. After years of preparation the club began in 2025 a $21.5 million upgrade that will touch nearly every part of the popular Denver country club. The golf course creeks and streams this past winter were the first focus, shoring up the creek banks and repairing cart paths throughout the course.

Beyond the infrastructure improvements, Pinehurst’s golf remains the centerpiece of the member experience. The club has an 18-hole Press Maxwell designed course and a 9-hole course alongside. They create variety for players of all abilities, blending mature trees, strategic water features and classic Denver parkland design. Practice areas and year-round programming help golfers continue improving their games.

This spring work will kick off on a brand new pool complex that will feature modern amenities that will make it even more family friendly. A zero-entry children’s pool will be added and the entire pool grounds will be improved, with work completing in 2027. Beginning this fall the courses will undergo tee box and bunker renovations with 18-holes available to play at all times. Lights are also com -

ing to the popular tennis and pickleball courts to extend the season of play deep into the spring and fall. In all, the updates will make the most family friendly club in Denver even better.

FAMILY TRADITION

What isn’t changing is the club’s commitment to providing Denver area families with the best way to enjoy private club living. It’s wellness spa and fitness center give members a perfect resource to stay healthy, and great dining opportunities are available throughout the year.

QUESTIONS:

Trey Bayliss | General Manager tbayliss@pinehurstcountryclub.com

READY, SET... GOLF!

Elevate your game to new heights with Garden of the Gods Resort and Club’s exclusive membership offerings. Nestled in the breathtaking beauty of Colorado’s landscape, our 27-hole course beckons to those seeking not just a game, but a lifestyle. Become a part of our Garden of the Gods community today and leave no sense unturned.

GOLF WELLNESS Feel Good, Play Better

A LEGENDARY COURSE Award-winning & Iconic

Experience breathtaking mountain views from every hole and enjoy both the serenity and challenge of our awardwinning, 27-hole championship golf course, named an Avid Golfer Top Pick.

Elevate your game with certified golf fitness professionals and mobility clinics to help you lower your handicap. From protecting joints to improving movement patterns, play the sport you love longer and better than ever before.

VIBRANT COMMUNITY Connection & Belonging

The heartbeat of the Club is our member community. Enjoy lively member socials and a full calendar of special event programming throughout the year to connect with others and grow your circle.

DISCOVER YOUR NEW CLUB SCAN THE QR CODE TO LEARN MORE

DID YOU KNOW?

Garden of the Gods Resort & Club was established in 1951 with the Kissing Camels Golf Club being built shortly after in 1961. Members can enjoy annual tournaments that date back to over 60 years ago.

COLORADO PRIVATE CLUB GUIDE

PRESENTED BY

One Membership Twice the Experience

At Blackstone Country Club and Black Bear Golf Club, membership opens the door to two distinct private club atmospheres, each with its own personality, scenery, and style of play yet connected by one simple idea: more ways to enjoy your time.

Located in Aurora and Parker, this unique pairing offers 36 holes of championship golf designed to challenge, inspire, and stay fresh round after round. One day may call for strategic shot-making across rolling fairways, the next for a relaxed round with friends followed by drinks on the patio. Variety isn’t an occasional perk here; it’s built into everyday membership.

Beyond the courses, life at Blackstone and Black Bear is intentionally balanced between activity and connection.

Start the morning in the fitness center, spend the afternoon on the courts, and end the evening with dinner and conversation overlooking the course. Members move naturally between golf, tennis, pickleball, bocce, swimming, and dining with -

out feeling locked into a single experience. Each clubhouse brings its own atmosphere. Blackstone offers a grand English Tudor-inspired setting designed for gathering, celebrations, and family time. Black Bear provides a relaxed golf-centric retreat where post-round meals turn into lingering evenings on the veranda. Together, they create a rhythm: refined when you want it, casual when you need it.

The social calendar fills in the moments between with wine dinners, holiday celebrations, weekend brunches, and summer pool days that turn neighbors into regular playing partners and friends into traditions. This isn’t just access to two golf courses. It’s access to options, variety, and a membership that adapts to your week instead of the other way around.

Discover what club life feels like when it never gets repetitive. Explore Membership at Blackstone and Black Bear by contacting Todd.Ohair@InvitedClubs.Com

ONE MEMBERSHIP.

TWO EXTRAORDINARY CLUBS.

Endless ways to play, connect, and belong.

At Blackstone Country Club and Black Bear Golf Club, membership means more than just access—it means community. Whether you’re here for the game, the camaraderie, or a place to escape the every day, you’ll find a home among friends who feel like family.

From championship golf and lively social events to tennis, pickleball, fitness, and poolside relaxation, there’s something for everyone. Unwind, celebrate, and create lasting memories in a place where you truly belong. No matter your passion, your club is here.

Welcome home!

COLORADO PRIVATE CLUB GUIDE

PRESENTED BY

The Next Chapter at Pinery & Pradera

Two premier golf clubs near Parker, The Pinery Country Club and The Club at Pradera, deliver exceptional private club experiences, with membership options that unlock the best of both properties. Owned by Arcis Golf, the clubs offer a range of social and golf memberships, along with upgrade opportunities that allow members to enjoy worldclass golf, elevated amenities and a vibrant club community across both destinations.

THE PINERY MAKEOVER

The Pinery Country Club recently completed a multi-million-dollar renovation that reimagines the clubhouse as a vibrant gathering place for members and their families. The redesigned space now features a dramatic sense of openness, creating an inviting atmosphere where friends can gather, dine and unwind.

The fireplace lounge flows seamlessly into the bar, encouraging spontaneous gatherings over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Dining rooms feature custom banquette seating and trestle-style farm tables, while expansive windows frame sweeping sunset views over the Mountain Course’s ninth hole.

Outdoors, the renovated patio extends the main dining room and provides seating for more than 100 guests. Members can also enjoy the Golfer’s Grill — known to some as the “Prohibition Room” — which celebrates the region’s colorful bootlegging history and the early roots of Colorado’s renowned brewing culture.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR PRADERA?

The Club at Pradera is preparing to embark on a similar transformation. There will be a new grand entrance, and a new upscale dining venue will anchor the clubhouse. The current bar will be redesigned into a dedicated adult cocktail-only lounge. There will be a complete overhaul of furniture, fixtures, flooring and lighting, and outdoor spaces will be refreshed with expanded seating and upgraded furnishings.

THE GOLF

At Pradera, the 18-hole course designed by Jim Engh embraces dramatic movement and sculpted contours, using the land’s natural character to create signature holes and memorable moments. Its varied terrain ensures that every round feels fresh and engaging. Nearby, The Pinery offers three

distinct nine-hole layouts that deliver variety and challenge. The Mountain Nine features dramatic elevation changes, forested corridors and rolling terrain that demand thoughtful club selection and precise shot-making.

The Lake Nine is known for panoramic views of the Rocky Mountain Front Range and open, sweeping fairways that invite bold, confident play. The Valley Nine brings a high-plains, links-style character, with wide fairways, natural contours and wind-influenced strategy.

AND MORE

Both clubs offer excellent dining, family programming and fitness opportunities that enhance the private club lifestyle. Arcis Golf’s Summit membership provides dual access to both clubs, while the Arcis Access program extends privileges to more than 800 clubs in over 50 countries.

QUESTIONS?

Reach out to Mike Jones, General Manager, (Pinery and Pradera) 720.881.4154 mjones@arcisgolf.com

DISCOVER AN UNMATCHED PRIVATE CLUB EXPERIENCE AT TWO OF COLORADO’S PREMIER GOLF + LIFESTYLE CLUBS.

With two world-class golf courses, racquet sports, two exceptional restaurants with breathtaking patio dining, and a host of the finest lifestyle amenities in the area, there is something special for everyone. Immerse yourself in a year-round social calendar of events, including live entertainment, wine and craft beer dinners, pool parties, holiday celebrations, and an upcoming clubhouse renovation at Pradera is on the way!

COLORADO PRIVATE CLUB GUIDE

PRESENTED BY

Rio Grande

OUR EXPERIENCE

This premier club brings the beauty of the southern Rockies into focus. The region has rivers, meadows, creeks, volcanic formations, wildlife and mountain hikes, and the nearby Wolf Creek Ski Area. The club and resort offer golf memberships that make available the complex’s full array of benefits – fly fishing along the club’s private stretch of the Rio Grande River, the fitness Center, swimming and tennis complex, as well as the club’s social activities as well as a private fishing lodge and other benefits. Other membership types are social, young associate, sports and angling. The clubhouse offers ample meeting spaces for organizations.

THE GOLF: The golf course and dining room are open to the public, and the course has been challenging members and visitors since 2002. The front nine hugs the Rio Grande banks, and the back nine features holes cut from the forest and rock formations of the adjoining hills. From the breathtaking elevated tee box on No. 1 to the final putt the courses use native mountain terrain, grasses and waterways to challenge even the best player.

THE DINING: Culinary delights await at the resort’s dining venues. The Timbers Restaurant and

Big River Grille offer guests a diverse menu that blends innovative recipes with familiar flavors, all set against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains and the 18th hole of the golf course.

DON’T MISS: The view from the first tee. Players start high and immediately descend to the river wetlands for the front nine. Take a moment to breathe in the beauty before your first shot.

QUESTIONS: membership@rgcresort.com 719.873.1995

ASPEN GLEN CLUB 0545 Bald Eagle Way, Carbondale 970-510-0157; aspen-glen.com

BALLYNEAL GOLF CLUB 1 Ballyneal Lane, Holyoke 970-854-5900; ballyneal.com

BEAR CREEK GOLF CLUB

BLACK BEAR GOLF CLUB

BLACKSTONE COUNTRY CLUB

BOOKCLIFF COUNTRY CLUB

BOULDER COUNTRY CLUB

BROADMOOR GOLF CLUB

12201 Morrison Rd., Denver 303-667-4626; bearcreekgolfclub.net

11300 Canterberry Pkwy., Parker 720-330-7087; invitedclubs.com/clubs/ blackstone-black-bear

7777 Country Club Dr., Aurora 720-330-7087; invitedclubs.com/clubs/ blackstone-black-bear

2730 G Rd., Grand Junction 970-243-3323; bookcliffcc.com

Clubhouse Rd., Boulder 303-530-4600; bouldercc.org

One Lake Circle, Colorado Springs 719-577-5790; broadmoorgolfclub.org

CASTLE PINES GOLF CLUB 1000 Hummingbird Dr., Castle Rock 303-688-6000; castlepinesgolfclub.club

THE COUNTRY CLUB AT CASTLE PINES

RANCH & CLUB

CHERRY CREEK COUNTRY CLUB

HILLS COUNTRY CLUB

6400 Country Club Dr., Castle Pines Village 303-688-7400; ccatcastlepines.com

33400 B Catamount Dr., Steamboat Springs 970-871-9300; catamountranchclub.com

2405 South Yosemite St., Denver 303-597-0300; cherrycreekcountryclub.com

4125 S. University Blvd., Cherry Hills Village 303-350-5200; chcc.com

PRIVATE CLUB DIRECTORY 2026

EDITOR’S NOTE: This information is accurate to the best of our knowledge. In cases where information

That information. In all cases, contact the clubs directly for the most current information. * Initiations reflect full golf memberships for individuals. When given, ranges can account for incentives, promotions, refundability or multiple

Clubhouse, dining, pool, fitness, tennis, pickleball, bocce, golf simulator partial access to Blackstone Jeff

Full golf access to Black BearClubhouse, dining, social events, resort pool, fitness, tennis Jay Morrish (2006) TODD

or Elected

to

(equity/non-equity, associate, junior [usually ages

family, etc.). Some clubs make financing available.

** Dues reflect full golf. They do not account for food and beverage minimums, service fees, capital assessments or other surcharges. Ranges reflect membership levels.

PRIVATE CLUB DIRECTORY 2026

PHONE, WEB

COLORADO GOLF CLUB

8000 PRESERVATION TRAIL, PARKER 303-840-5400; COLORADOGOLFCLUB.COM

COLORADO SPRINGS COUNTRY CLUB 3333 TEMPLETON GAP RD., COLORADO SPRINGS 719-634-8851; CSCOUNTRYCLUB.COM

COLUMBINE COUNTRY CLUB 17 FAIRWAY LANE, COLUMBINE VALLEY 303-794-2674; COLUMBINECC.COM

THE CLUB AT CORDILLERA 655 CLUBHOUSE DR., EDWARDS 970-926-4687; CORDILLERA-VAIL.COM

CORNERSTONE CLUB^^

COUNTRY CLUB OF COLORADO

COUNTRY CLUB OF THE ROCKIES

DENVER COUNTRY CLUB

EAGLE SPRINGS GOLF CLUB

1000 CORNERSTONE TRAIL, MONTROSE 970-249-1922; CORNERSTONECLUB.COM

125 E. CLUBHOUSE DR., COLORADO SPRINGS 719-538-4080; CCOFCOLORADO.COM

676 SAWATCH DR., EDWARDS 970-926-3080; COUNTRYCLUBOFTHEROCKIES.COM

1700 E. FIRST AVE., DENVER 303-733-2441; DENVERCC.NET

28521 U.S. HIGHWAY 6 & 24, WOLCOTT 970-926-4400; EAGLESPRINGS.ORG

EATON COUNTRY CLUB 37661 WELD COUNTY RD. 39, EATON 970-454-2106; EATONCC.NET

THE CLUB AT FLYING HORSE

FORT COLLINS COUNTRY CLUB

1880 WEISKOPF POINT, COLORADO SPRINGS 719-487-2660; FLYINGHORSECLUB.COM

1920 COUNTRY CLUB RD., FORT COLLINS 970-482-1336; FORTCOLLINSCC.COM

LONGMONT

$75,000 (WESTERN SLOPE); $150,000 (RESIDENT)

$15,000/ YEAR (ALL CATEGORIES) NO

9-HOLE SHORT COURSE, DINING, RESORT-STYLE POOL, FITNESS, TRAILS, ABOUTGOLF SIMULATORS, INDOOR BAYS, TENNIS AND PICKLE BALL

SWIMMING, TENNIS, DINING, FITNESS, PICKLEBALL, KIDS’ PROGRAMMING

SWIMMING, TENNIS, PAR-3 COURSE, FITNESS, INDOOR SIMULATORS, INDOOR/ OUTDOOR DINING, SPA

SWIMMING, TENNIS, NORDIC CENTER, DINING, HIKING, FLY-FISHING, SKIING, TROON PRIVÉ PRIVILEGES

DINING, 50 MILES OF HIKING AND BIKING TRAILS , FLYFISHING, HORSEBACK RIDING, SNOWSHOEING, 4-WHEELING, SHOOTING, TENNIS, PICKLEBALL, ARCHERY

BEN CRENSHAW/ BILL COORE (2006) JOHN EASTERBROOK

UNKNOWN (1954); DICK PHELPS (1987) EMILY BASENBERG

(1956)

VALLEY: T. FAZIO (1997) MOUNTAIN: H. IRWIN (1994) SUMMIT: J NICKLAUS (2001) ALLYSON MASON

GREG NORMAN (2007) MATT DUSENBERRY (2018) CHAD QUIRK

SWIMMING, DINING, TENNIS, FITNESS, SAILING, SPA, BEACH, LAKE, WATERSPORTS, PICKLEBALL PETE DYE (1973) DANI ZAMPICH

DINING, FITNESS, SIMULATORS, FLY-FISHING, TENNIS, PICKLEBALL

LODGING, DINING, SWIMMING, TENNIS, PICKLEBALL, FITNESS, SPA, INDOOR GOLF FACILITY

SWIMMING, DINING, FITNESS, INDOOR & OUTDOOR TENNIS, REICPROCAL PROGRAMS

JACK NICKLAUS (1984)

BILL HUGHES, MPGA

JAMES FOULIS (1902) BILL COORE (1985) GIL HANSE (2009) MOLLY WILSON

JAY MORRISH/ TOM WEISKOPF (1995) JAMES OEFELEIN

FRANK BAUMGARDNER (1968)

TOM WEISKOPF (2005) FLYING HORSE NORTH: PHIL SMITH (2020)

STEPHANIE SCOTT

BRANDEN PHILLIPS/ TAYLOR GOUGH

HENRY HUGHES (1960) PETE DYE (2001) HEIDI ELSER THE FOX HILL CLUB

SWIMMING, TENNIS, PICKLEBALL, FITNESS FRANK HUMMEL (1972) REBECCA CASH

TENNIS, FITNESS, FISHING, SPA, PADDLEBOARD,

FROST CREEK CLUB 1094 FROST CREEK DR., EAGLE 970-455-3072; FROSTCREEK.COM

GLACIER CLUB

600 Glacier Club Dr., Durango 970-382-7800; theglacierclub.com

GLENMOOR COUNTRY CLUB 110 Glenmoor Dr., Cherry Hills Village 303-781-3000; glenmoorcc.org

GREELEY COUNTRY CLUB

4500 W. 10th St., Greeley 970-353-0528; greeleycc.org

HARMONY CLUB 4175 Club Dr., Timnath 970-482-4653; harmonyclub.info

HIWAN GOLF CLUB 30671 Clubhouse Ln., Evergreen 303-674-3366; hiwan.com

CLUB AT INVERNESS

LAKE VALLEY GOLF CLUB

LAKEWOOD COUNTRY CLUB

$50,000/ $200,000

PRIVATE CLUB DIRECTORY 2026

Inverness Dr., Englewood 303-397-7878; theclubatinverness.com

Lake Valley Dr., Niwot 303-444-2114; lakevalley.com

6800 W. 10th Ave., Lakewood 303-233-4614; lakewoodcountryclub.net

MAROON CREEK CLUB 10 Club Circle Rd., Aspen 970-920-1533; mccaspen.com

MERIDIAN GOLF CLUB

PERRY PARK COUNTRY CLUB

PINEHURST COUNTRY CLUB

THE PINERY COUNTRY CLUB

THE CLUB AT PRADERA

PTARMIGAN COUNTRY CLUB

PUEBLO COUNTRY CLUB

9742 S. Meridian Blvd., Englewood 303-799-8402; meridiangolfclub.com

7047 Perry Park Blvd., Larkspur 303-681-3305; perryparkcc.com

6255 W. Quincy Ave., Denver 303-996-5499; muchmorethangolf.com

6900 N. Pinery Pkwy., Parker 303-841-5157; thepinerycc.com

5225 Raintree Dr., Parker 303-607-5672; theclubatpradera.com

5416 Vardon Way, Fort Collins 970-226-8555; ptarmigancc.com

$20,000

$1,027$1,581/ mo. No 800

3200 8th Ave., Pueblo 719-543-4844; pueblocountryclub.com $2,000 $550/mo.

Two courses and clubhouses swimming, tennis & pickleball, fitness,

on

(1964)

Tom Bendelow (1908)/ Donald Ross (1917)Gil Hanse (2018) GRACE FILISS

(1995)

EDITOR’S NOTE: This information is accurate to the best of our knowledge. In cases where information is not available (N/A), the club had not yet officially established initiations and dues for the 2025 golf season or Elected not to provide That information. In all cases, contact the clubs directly for the most current information.

* Initiations reflect full golf memberships for individuals. When given, ranges can account for incentives, promotions, refundability or multiple levels (equity/non-equity, associate, junior [usually ages 21-39], family, etc.). Some clubs make financing available.

** Dues reflect full golf. They do not account for food and beverage minimums, service fees, capital assessments or other surcharges. Ranges reflect membership levels. ^2024 data CLUB ADDRESS, PHONE,

PRIVATE CLUB DIRECTORY 2026

THE RANCH COUNTRY CLUB 11887 Tejon St., Westminster 303-460-9700; theranchcc.com

RAVENNA COUNTRY CLUB 11118 Caretaker Rd., Littleton 720-956-1600; ravennagolf.com

RED ROCKS COUNTRY CLUB 16235 W. Belleview Ave., Morrison 303-352-2030; redrockscountryclub.org

RED SKY GOLF CLUB

RIO GRANDE

ROARING FORK CLUB

$20,000$30,000 $730$850/mo. Yes 500

$75,000 $1,375 No

1099 Red Sky Rd., Wolcott 970-754-8400; redskygolfclub.com $140,000 $12,600$14,210/

0285 Rio Grande Club Trail, South Fork 719-873-1995; rgcresort.com

100 Arbaney Ranch Rd., Basalt 970-927-9000; roaringforkclub.com

THE CLUB AT ROLLING HILLS 15707 W. 26th Ave., Golden 303-279-3334; theclubatrollinghills.org

SNOWMASS CLUB

0239 Snowmass Club Cir., Snowmass Village 970-923-5600; snowmassclub.com

SONNENALP CLUB 1265 Berry Creek Rd., Edwards 970-477-5376; sonnenalpclub.com

TPC COLORADO 2375 TPC Parkway, Berthoud 303-522-5711; tpc.com/colorado

VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB 14601 Country Club Dr., Centennial 720-630-2463; valleycountryclub.org

THE COUNTRY CLUB AT WOODMOOR 18945 Pebble Beach Way, Monument 719-884-7241; ccwoodmoor.com

$75,000$300,000^^ $14,500$39,500/ yr. INVITATION ONLY 500

$80,000 $1,338/ mo. Yes

$195,000 $1,750/ mo.

$60,000 $939/mo. No 385

$60,000 $8,950/Yr. No N/A

$50,000 $1,045/mo. No 470

$9,500 $529/mo. No 415

Indoor golf facility, indoor/ outdoor tennis, swimming, family pools, fitness, dining, indoor/ outdoor kids play area

Clubhouse, dining, pool, fitness center , Top Tracer on range

$50,000 $708/mo. Yes 430 Dining, swimming, fishing, hiking, golf simulator

Swimming, tennis, 2 clubhouses and restaurants, fitness, yearround golf academy

Dick Phelps (1974)

Stanley Harwood (1976) Kevin Atkinson (2017) BOBBY NORMAN

Fitness center w/ steam & massage rooms, pool & hot tub complex,restaurant, private Gold Medal Waters & fishing lodge Ric Buckton & Jay Benson (2001) ED ANDERSON

Swimming, tennis, fly-fishing, dining,

Jack Nicklaus (1999) SAM BROOME

Swimming, indoor/outdoor tennis, fitness, HD golf simulator, dining Press Maxwell/ Dick Phelps (1967) MARTA KOSTELNY

Spa & Fitness, Swimming, indoor/outdoor tennis, pickleball, cross-country skiing, dining, indoor golf simulator Jim Engh (2003) CHRISTY GARFIELD

Swimming, tennis, pickleball, spa, fitness, dining, practice facilities Jay Morrish/ Bob Cupp (1982)

3 restaurants, Pool, 600- acre lake, fitness center, waterfowl hunting, access to 30 other TPCs

(2018)

Swimming, lighted tennis, fitness, dining, children’s activity center William Bell (1960)

Indoor & outdoor pool, indoor tennis & pickleball, fitness, cross-country skiing, childcare

Press Maxwell (1969)

EDITOR’S NOTE: This information is accurate to the best of our knowledge. In cases where information is not available (N/A), the club had not yet officially established initiations and dues for the 2025 golf season or Elected not to provide That information. In all cases, contact the clubs directly for the most current information.

* Initiations reflect full golf memberships for individuals. When given, ranges can account for incentives, promotions, refundability or multiple levels (equity/non-equity, associate, junior [usually ages 21-39], family, etc.). Some clubs make financing available.

** Dues reflect full golf. They do not account for food and beverage minimums, service fees, capital assessments or other surcharges. Ranges reflect membership levels. ^^ 2025 rates CLUB ADDRESS, PHONE, WEB

Thursday, September 17, 2026 5:30 – 9:30 PM

New Venue: The Franciscan Event Center thefranciscaneventcenter.com Get your tickets today! coloradoavidgolfer.com/events/wheels-of-dreams-2026

AvidLifestyle and Colorado AvidGolfer invite you to one of Denver’s most anticipated luxury charity events of the year, with this year’s live entertainment provided by That Eighties Band, a Denver favorite known for its high-energy performances and devoted local following. Proceeds from the evening benefit FullCircle, which supports young people and families facing mental health and addiction challenges. Exotic cars. Gourmet cuisine. Craft cocktails. Live entertainment.

The Rare Ballyneal Invitation

BY JIM BEBBINGTON

With all the hoo ha about more golf courses being built on the American plains, one of the original plains courses is content to continue quietly serving its members.

It’s no secret that Ballyneal Golf Club, on Colorado’s eastern plains, is one of the best courses in the world and arguably the best in Colorado. The course is routinely ranked by Golf Magazine, Golf Digest and all the other list makers as one of the best golf experiences available on earth.

Its members are from Colorado and around the country. Typically, they and their guests are the only players who get to experience the 18 rolling holes.

But once a year – for a good cause – Ballyneal opens up its tee sheet for visitors.

Each year Ballyneal hosts one charity fundraiser – just one. Its Chop Hills Classic, a two-day extravaganza, is held on odd-numbered years and is played almost exclusively by men. On even-numbered years it’s the ladies’ turn and the club hosts them for the Bunker Bash. The two-day event includes two rounds, meals and lodging in some of the club’s visitor cabins and lodges.

This year’s Bunker Bash is May 2 to 3 and for a contribution of $1,050 per player women from

across the U.S. will have one of the world’s premier courses to themselves for at least two rounds. If a group gets done early one round and wants to get back at it for some extra holes, the staff has been known to make that available too. The event is in its third iteration. The first year 20 women played; two years ago 26 signed up; this year the deadline for entries is up.

“We max out at 60, maybe 64,” said Ballyneal General Manager Brian Vest. “We’re just going to continue to grow it. We get a lot of support from a contingent of our lady numbers and then some from as far as California.”

The money goes into several good causes that are supported by the Ballyneal Foundation, but the primary one is to help the club’s caddies and young employees with tuition assistance to college or trade schools.

Because the course is so remote, the operation depends upon local teens and people in their 20s to operate. If they did not work there, the course literally could not function. The club is eight miles from the Nebraska border, and the nearest town, Holyoke, has a population of around 2,400 people.

Which is why the club’s members set up the Ballyneal Foundation to give back in a meaningful way. “We’re very dependent on our students and our members have been very generous

over the years,” Vest said. “We’ve helped 21 students over the past year.” Other Foundation funds go to help the Evans Scholars Foundation.

For the workers graduating from high school the Foundation has sought to help them whether they intend to go to college or not.

“We’re not blind to the fact too that not everyone is a college driven student; over the past three, four years we’ve encouraged non-traditional students and we’ve funded HVAC training and welding school,” Vest said. “We’re just trying to help the one’s here that have helped us.” Ballyneal Golf Club opened in 2006, but the dream began back in the late 1970s.

Coloradan Jim O’Neal and his brother Rupert bought 700 acres of rolling sand dunes – chop hills – because they thought it was reminiscent of the dunescapes which are common along Irish and Scottish courses. Tom Doak designed the course in the early 2000s and since it has opened there has been a waiting list for new members wanting to join.

Today there are dozens of excellent plains and dunes golf courses in remote corners of the Midwest, but Ballyneal remains one of most sought-after destinations for an invitation. For a lucky few, that opportunity comes each year with the cost of a little charity.

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