Course recommendations along i70 west of Denver

[siegel159]

Hey all,

 

Planning on doing a little golf trip along i70 in the mountains in CO next month. Only course I have 100% on my list is Keystone Ranch, then I'll be driving out from there. I've seen a number of posts with course recommendations: Raven at Three Peaks, Red Sky, Eagle Ranch, Ironbridge, Lakota Links, River Valley Ranch, Rifle Creek, Battlement Mesa, Redlands Mesa...but I haven't seen anyone mention walkability. Obviously a possible issue for a mountain course, but I enjoy golfing far more when I can walk the course rather than cart it. So, are there any courses that should definitely be avoided if I'm trying to walk, or courses that should definitely be considered? Thanks!

[pseudoswede]

Paging @007iron

[Nickb333]

 

Good discussion here.^

[007iron]

On 8/24/2024 at 10:45 PM, siegel159 said:

 Eagle Ranch, Ironbridge, Lakota Links, River Valley Ranch, Rifle Creek, Battlement Mesa, Redlands Mesa

 

Haven't played the others. To some, all mountain courses would be unwalkable, but based on your description of how  you like to walk I presume a tough walk won't bother you.

 

Eagle Ranch - very walkable as it's on the valley floor/old ranch land

Ironbridge - not walkable - I think 14 green to 15 tee would take 20+ minutes to walk up and then an slightly longer walk down from 18 green

Lakota Links - walkable but on the cusp of unwalkable - many long transitions from green to tee and the undulation is wild. 1 green to 2, 2 to 3, 3 to 4, hole 4 in general, 7 to 8, 8 to 9, 10 to 11, 16 to 17 and 18 up to the clubhouse are serious hills. I saw high school kids walking it for a tournament a few days ago and was surprised they chose Lakota

River Valley Ranch - very walkable; 11 green to 12 tee and 17 green to 18 tee are the longest, but not bad

Rifle Creek - front nine is an old pasture and is very walkable. Back 9 -  12, 13, 14 and up to 15 tee are quite uphill, but doable

Battlement Mesa - tougher walk than RVR or Eagle Ranch but quite walkable - my home course and not to be missed in my biased opinion

Redlands Mesa - you could walk it, but it's like Lakota (Engh) where there are some longer and tougher transitions that have some pretty serious up/down

[007iron]

And if you've got time and interest go play Devil's Thumb in Delta. Slightly challenging walk, but doable and the course and scenery are very unique and worth seeing

[siegel159]

Appreciate the input.

 

FWIW, I called a bunch of courses along i70 (plus some in Steamboat) and asked.  A handful of them are mandatory carts.  I'll leave the info here for anyone asking the same thing in the future:

Raven @ Three Peaks: No walking, carts are mandatory

Breckenridge: Walkable

Red Sky: No walking, carts mandatory

Eagle Ranch: Walkable

Ironbridge: No walking, carts mandatory

Lakota: Walking allowed, but very difficult

River Valley Ranch: Walkable

Rifle Creek: Walkable

Battlement Mesa: Walkable

Redlands Mesa: Walkable

Haymaker GC: Walkable

Rollingstone Ranch GC: Walkable, but difficult

 

[cubuffs]

On 8/24/2024 at 11:45 PM, siegel159 said:

Hey all,

 

Planning on doing a little golf trip along i70 in the mountains in CO next month. Only course I have 100% on my list is Keystone Ranch, then I'll be driving out from there. I've seen a number of posts with course recommendations: Raven at Three Peaks, Red Sky, Eagle Ranch, Ironbridge, Lakota Links, River Valley Ranch, Rifle Creek, Battlement Mesa, Redlands Mesa...but I haven't seen anyone mention walkability. Obviously a possible issue for a mountain course, but I enjoy golfing far more when I can walk the course rather than cart it. So, are there any courses that should definitely be avoided if I'm trying to walk, or courses that should definitely be considered? Thanks!

 

Any reason (besides the walkability piece) that you have Keystone Ranch as a definite?  The only reason I ask, we were there and played River the first week of August (they are right next to eachother but River is not walkable) and the condition was the worst I have seen it in the 20+ times we have played as they have had a very dry Summer.  Have to imagine that they Ranch is the same.  The next day we played Breckenridge and it was in MUCH better condition.   

[siegel159]

36 minutes ago, cubuffs said:

 

Any reason (besides the walkability piece) that you have Keystone Ranch as a definite?  The only reason I ask, we were there and played River the first week of August (they are right next to eachother but River is not walkable) and the condition was the worst I have seen it in the 20+ times we have played as they have had a very dry Summer.  Have to imagine that they Ranch is the same.  The next day we played Breckenridge and it was in MUCH better condition.   

 

I actually walked River last year - so it's walkable, just not particularly easy.

 

It's a definite on my list because Keystone lets you play for free on your birthday, and I'm not letting a free round at Keystone go to waste regardless of the conditions.  

[cubuffs]

18 hours ago, siegel159 said:

 

I actually walked River last year - so it's walkable, just not particularly easy.

 

It's a definite on my list because Keystone lets you play for free on your birthday, and I'm not letting a free round at Keystone go to waste regardless of the conditions.  

wow, walking on the river course must’ve been fun. That loop walking from from 15 green all the way up-down-up to 18 tee must’ve been a challenge.

 

did not know that about Keystone, definitely wouldn’t turn down a free round. Don’t get me wrong, river was still enjoyable, but just night and day difference in conditions versus Breckenridge. If paying, Breckenridge all day long, but given a free round, the ranch will be a great walk!