Playing golf in and around Aspen appeals to golfers of all levels; Aspen's stunning scenery provides the perfect backdrop. With magnificent mountain views and challenging alpine terrain everywhere you turn, golf courses throughout the Roaring Fork Valley are well worth exploring.
Golf in Aspen
You’ll find the Frank Hummel-designed Aspen Golf & Tennis Club a mere two miles outside of Aspen's downtown core. This 18-hole, 7,156-yard course was rated the best municipal golf course in Colorado by Golfweek magazine. Players can either purchase a golf pass or pay the daily course fee to enjoy the Aspen Golf Club (and take a tasty post-round break at the Red Mountain Grill). With its large driving range and practice putting green, the Aspen Golf & Tennis Club offers the open space to perfect technique and warm up before a round of 18 holes. A new sand bunker system, developed by a staff member of the Augusta National Golf Club, was added in 2019.
Designed by Tom Fazio, the golf course at the Maroon Creek Club is located about three miles outside of Aspen. The private course follows the Roaring Fork Valley from the base of Buttermilk Mountain to the opposite side of Highway 82, and then over towards Burlingame Ranch. The Maroon Creek Club golf course is completely surrounded by the White River National Forest, providing golfers with the opportunity to tee up before superb mountain views. After playing a round (or more) of golf at Maroon Creek, club members can enjoy the Maroon Creek’s elegant restaurant, dubbed "Aspen's best dining experience."
Golf in Snowmass
Situated on scenic former cattle pasture lands, the Snowmass Club golf course rests next to Brush Creek Road, just below the Snowmass Village Mall and Base Village. Designed by architect Jim Engh, the Snowmass Club golf course offers uniquely challenging rolling golf course terrain, making for a satisfying Snowmass golfing experience. In 2019, the Club made significant Club and golf course upgrades: for example, the old Hole No. 1 (a 2-handicap hole) became No. 10 for a gentler start to any round. As of May 2019, the Snowmass Club’s new owner closed the course to the public. There are still limited tee times for locals (any interested locals should call the pro shop), but generally golfers won’t be on the course unless they are members of the Snowmass Club or event attendees.
Golf in Basalt and Carbondale
You’ll encounter even more spectacularly-designed golf courses as you begin venturing further down the Roaring Fork Valley from Aspen and Snowmass.
The Roaring Fork Club is a private country club just outside of downtown Basalt (a 20-minute drive from Aspen) which boasts a sprawling 675-acre, 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. The Roaring Fork Club golf course is known for its numerous stocked trout ponds, its fairways neighboring the rushing Roaring Fork River, its rolling green meadows, and the stunning mountain views from any point on the course. Five holes play right along the river or creek, and another five play through lakes and wetland terrain. Because the Roaring Fork Club is a private country club in Basalt, eager golfers must be club members to play there.
Further down Highway 82 in the small mountain community of Carbondale, you can visit River Valley Ranch, a 7,348-yard, award-winning golf course designed by Jay Morrish, ASGCA. A 520-acre golf and resort community, River Valley Ranch has been honored by both Golf and Golfer magazines for its superb course design and unique terrain. From rolling former pasture lands to holes dotted with pinion pines and sage brush, to holes situated along the banks of the Crystal River, the River Valley Ranch offers golfers of all levels superb mountain valley terrain. River Valley Ranch is a public golf course, so to play there, golfers need only pay a daily course fee.
Aspen Glen, a private golf club, can also be found near Carbondale. Part of a private, gated community, Aspen Glen features a scenic 18-hole, Nicklaus/Nicklaus II links-style course. It’s often called a golfer’s paradise because of the breathtaking view of Mt. Sopris and the Roaring Fork River. Members of Aspen Glen can take advantage of the club’s membership in Club Corp – the owner and operator of more than 200 golf courses nationwide.
A Golfer's Concierge
For local’s golfing secrets and additional information on any of these memorable Aspen area courses, the knowledge and expertise of our Aspen Square Hotel concierge is always available to our guests at (866) 285-7876 ext. 3515.