Summertime living in Summit County offers no shortage of activities and fun things to do. You can jam-pack your weekends with hiking, biking, boating, live concerts, and much more.
With so many options for summer adventures in the Colorado High Country, it can be easy to forget that Summit offers five scenic golf courses – each course providing an optimal golfing experience thanks to their high elevation locations!
Indeed, golf balls travel further at higher elevations, and the curve is significantly, and almost entirely, reduced.
“If you play a little cut or play a little draw, the ball is not going to move as much,” explains Vail Resorts golf professional Philip Tobias. “Generally, the ball will fly farther and straighter. Whether or not that is straight into the woods or to the fairway is up to the golfer.”
Experienced Summit County golfers will tell you that while local golfers enjoy hitting the ball a greater distance than at sea level, getting in tune with your clubs before heading to a high-altitude course is imperative. This preparation will help you to avoid hitting wild shanks off the course or behind the green. A few rounds on the practice range will help you get your swings dialed in significantly!
Our five local golf courses are yet another luxurious amenity that come with living in Summit County, Colorado. As long-time locals and golf enthusiasts ourselves, all of us at Real Estate of the Summit are intimately familiar with each course and its offerings.
In this article, we break down the highlights of each Summit County Golf Course, so you have a handy guide the next time you hit the links!
The Keystone Ranch Course
Designed by well-known golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Jr, the Keystone Ranch course offers significant history as it was developed in 1980 on an old Summit County homestead site. This par-75 course is known for its challenging holes and breathtaking scenery, including backdrops of the course’s historic landmarks.
The Keystone Ranch Course winds through lodgepole pines and sage meadows and crosses a nine-acre lake. It features minimal elevation changes.
The Keystone River Course
“Bring an element of drama to your game.” The par-35 front offers an ideal mountain atmosphere as it winds along the path of the Snake River and offers magnificent views of the Continental Divide and Dillon Reservoir. The par-36 back nine runs through a lodgepole pine forest.
This course offers more significant elevation changes in addition to bunkers and water hazards. Five sets of tees on each hole add to the challenge. The Keystone River Course is another great option for golfers of all abilities looking to put their skills to the test!
The Breckenridge Golf Club
Conveniently located off Highway 9 in Breckenridge, the Breckenridge Golf Club offers three unique courses: The Bear, Beaver, and Elk. Legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus famously designed all three courses.
The Bear course opened first in 1985 on what was previously a historic mining tent camp. The Beaver Course opened two years later in 1987, and its name is a reference to the scattered beaver ponds through which the course rolls along. The Elk Course opened in 2001 and is known for its elevation and panoramic views.
Copper Creek Golf Course
Located just a few minutes west of downtown Frisco, the Copper Creek Golf Course is owned by Copper Mountain Resort and sits next to the Center Village. This family-friendly course offers picturesque views of the Tenmile Range.
The Copper Creek Golf Course is shorter, narrower, and has smaller greens than the four other Summit County golf courses. This design requires precision rather than power to score well. It’s easy to navigate and provides an enjoyable experience for all golfers, including beginners.
Copper Creek’s back nine is closed for the summer of 2022 for construction. For an 18-hole game of golf, guests can play the front nine twice.
The Raven Golf Course at Three Peaks
Designed in 2000 by Tom Lehman, Hurzdan, and Fry, The Raven Golf Course features rolling fairways and immaculate greens encircled by pine and aspen trees and trout-filled lakes. The popular alpine golf course is famous for its gorgeous backdrop between Buffalo and Red Mountains.
The Raven Golf Course is known for more than just its majestic scenery, however. This course is characterized as “a true mountain course” and poses challenges for players of all levels. It features 7,413 yards of golf and a par of 72.
Summit County offers unparalleled golfing experiences conveniently accessible in each corner of the county. Most Summit County real estate owners enjoy having one of these courses located in “their backyard,” and all are a short commute from one another. For golf enthusiasts thinking of making the move to Summit County, we indeed are a linksman’s paradise.
