With The Masters wrapping up yesterday and the spring season beginning to tease us, golf has been on all of our minds. This is a ski town. Anyone who tries to tell you otherwise and who does not ski themselves, inherently does not understand Aspen Snowmass with that said, the summers are magical. A line that you will hear time and time again from transplants who have been here five years to locals who have been here 30 is, “I came for the winter and stayed for the summer.”
From someone who grew up in Aspen Junior Golf and now consistently finds himself fighting the age-old battle of man v. golf ball, here are some public golf courses I strongly recommend. In the next edition, I will touch on the private courses that add another level of incredible golf to this valley.
Aspen Golf Club
When I lived in NYC, I would get on a train or in an Uber and go anywhere from an hour to two hours to pay $100+ and play an absolute dog track. Aspen Golf Club is on the opposite end of the spectrum. A five-minute drive from downtown, it was ranked the #1 public course in the state of Colorado. They do an exceptional job keeping the course in great condition and the staff is locals who have a smile on their faces every day. It is consistently challenging and the greens run quickly; keep the ball below the hole or you’re going to have a long day.
Birdies
- Location
- Local discounts for full-time residents
- Practice area
- Red Mountain Grille
- Overall staff
- Walkable
Bogies
- Tee times
- Price for walk-ins
River Valley Ranch
Located in the heart of Carbondale is an incredible track in a beautiful subdivision. This is one of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in the valley and the course and club operate as the heart of the community. This course plays open and long; keep your ball in play and you will score well.
Birdies
- Location
- Twilight hour price
- Homestead Bar and Grill
- Views, views, views
- Walkable
Bogies
- Distance from Aspen
- Small practice facilities
- Tee times
Ranch at the Roaring Fork
This is our valley’s par 3 course in between Willits and Carbondale. Take off the shoes, grab a tall boy, and have yourself a casual day hitting your high irons and wedges.
Birdies
- Easy, casual, and great for the entire family
- Only par 3 in the valley
Bogies
- Surprisingly expensive
Ironbridge
Target golf in the mountains. The front 9 play in the valley and makes it a relatively standard course. Once you make the turn, the drama sets in. The back 9 goes up into the mountains with some of the most dramatic views and shots a golfer can ask for. It is a great way to mix it up and a very unique course. The majority of the greens are elevated so shoot for where you want to land; play darts.
Birdies
- Great subdivision with new affordable homes
- Dramatic views and course
- Completely different from the rest of the course in the valley
Bogies
- Carts only
- Can be difficult to get on
- Expensive
- Semi-private
Lakota
A Jim Engh designed course in New Castle, Colorado, which is about an hour and a half from Aspen. It is well worth the drive at the beginning or at the end of the upvalley season. On the first hole, you immediately understand why this is a cart-only course as you dramatically weave in and out of the mountain. It is a very playful course that can be challenging if you don’t keep the ball in the fairway. Hit the high-side of the greens and watch it funnel to the hole; your best shot for a hole in one.
Birdies
- Unique and challenging course
- Opens earlier and closes later in the season
- A top tier course for a reasonable price
Bogies
- An all-day affair
- Carts only
- Food and beverages
