#Summit County Colorado.
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| Special to the Daily |
Clubs? Check. Balls? Check. Goofy pants? Check. Golf course?
Well, that one’s more of a half-check. The latest round of May snowstorms brought snow, cold temps and frozen ground to Summit County, meaning the majority of local golf clubs are still in limbo until the fairways thaw.
But that day is nearly here. Up north in Silverthorne, the Raven Golf Club at Three Peaks is already open, with pre-season rates for rounds of 18 on a hilly course at the base of Red Peak and Buffalo Mountain. This weekend, out east, Keystone opens 18 holes on the links-style River Course. That one-two combination gives all you antsy, anxious, when-will-winter-end-already folks the chance to find your swing before Memorial Day, when Copper Creek at Copper Mountain and the Breckenridge Golf Club off Tiger Road are expected to open for the season.
Until then, here’s a rundown of where to play, what to pay and how you can take advantage of locals-only perks before high season arrives. As for the goofy pants, only you can find the right pair. Best of luck.
Keystone is wasting no time making the move from ski to golf season this summer. On May 13, the first 18 holes open on The River Course, followed on May 27 by the final 18 holes on The Ranch Course. Both Par 72 courses are designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. to offer completely different styles of play — flat links fairways on The River, rolling mountain fairways on The Ranch — and both offer the kind of posh, immaculate experience you’d expect from a Vail Resorts property. The club, named one of the five best golf resorts in the Rocky Mountain region by Golf Digest in 2016, is also home to practice greens, a driving range, cocktails at Keystone Ranch and the Summit High School golf team.
Spring greens fees: $89 for 18 holes from open to 4 p.m., $55 from 4 p.m. to close until June 2. All fees include golf cart, practice facilities and practice balls.
Driving range: $20 for unlimited driving range balls, $250 for The River Course practice facility season pass
Coming up: Callaway Demo Day from 1-5 p.m. on June 10; 13th Annual We’re Open Open on June 13; Tee It Up Tournament for Wounded Warriors on Aug. 29
The Raven Golf Club in northern Silverthorne is traditionally the first local club to open and this year is no different — barely. Officials held a soft opening on the Front 9 last weekend and are now open for all players. Right now it’s still Front 9 only, with the Back 9 expected to open in the next week or two, or by Memorial Day at the latest.
Spring greens fees: $25 all day for 9 holes through May 15 only; $30 all day for 9 holes, $50 all day for 18 holes until the club is fully open.
Driving range: $15 all you can hit from
Coming up: All season passes are now on sale, including the $750 Twilight Pass for unlimited play from noon to close in June and September or after 3 p.m. from July to August.
The 27-hole club in the heart of Breckenridge is still mostly soggy, sloppy and covered in snow — but just mostly. Another few days of bright sun and the course will be ready to go. Opening dates are still tentative, but head PGA pro Erroll Miller expects to open the driving range by May 13 (as in this Friday), followed by the Elk 9 and Beaver 9 as early as May 20. If not then, the first 18 holes will open by May 27 at the latest. The Bear 9 opens in June when crews finish an irrigation project they started last season.
Spring greens fees: $67 all day for 18 holes walking, $85 all day with a cart through June 9.
Spring locals green fees: Locals with a Summit County or Park County driver’s license pay $22 for 9 holes or $44 for 18 holes (same as a punch card) until June 9. The local’s rate returns at least once per month in July, August and September. Tee times available after 8:30 a.m.
Driving range: $7 for 60 balls until June 9, open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Coming up: Group lesson clinics for juniors and adults on Mondays and Thursdays beginning in June, with five lessons for $99 (adults), four lessons for $50 (8-12 years old), four lessons for $30 (5-7 years old). Also watch for complimentary clinics throughout the season by calling the clubhouse.
There’s nothing quite like golf at the base of the Tenmile Range, just like there’s no such thing as golfing at Copper Mountain’s hometown course before early June. Club manager Scott Sundeen expects the 18-hole, Par 69 course to open by June 10 at the latest.
“The course is coming along nicely, considering the wintery weather we’ve had lately,” Sundeen said. Opening day is about the only thing Sundeen and crew know for certain right now. They’re still figuring out greens fees and driving range fees, and the summer-long clinic schedule isn’t yet finalized. New this season are eight golf bikes for folks who’d rather not trade one sport for the other.
Spring greens fees: TBA (check the club website for updates)
Driving range: TBA
Coming up: Ladies-only clinics with head PGA pro Tim Spring on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning mid-June; High Fives Foundation Tournament on Aug. 30
Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.
