From Tee to Trailhead, Colorado Golf Communities are Thriving

Think Colorado golf is struggling? Just take a look at the real estate market around the state’s courses and you’ll be singing a different tune…

By Chris Duthie

In last May’s issue of Colorado AvidGolfer, contributing writer Andy Bigford gave a resounding, fact-based refute to the popular but misleading credence that golf is on life support.

“The spate of headline-grabbing course closures [nationally] is actually a natural correction, a right-siding that followed the unprecedented and reckless real estate-driven building boom of the 1990s and early 2000s,” wrote Bigford, noting that Michigan was, unfortunately, particularly hard hit with 200 course closures in the last few years.

“But in Colorado,” he continued, “the boom-and-bust was much less dramatic… [strengthened in large part] by the state’s heady population and economic growth,” including, he wrote, a major uptick in GDP “that is 50-percent higher than the national average.”

That’s pretty heady stuff, especially with so much new and refreshed Colorado golf real estate on the market, to say nothing about Tiger 2.0 and the new TPC Colorado course that just opened Aug. 1 in Berthoud.

Golf real estate is booming in Colorado. For a savory sampling, take a look at these five “living the dream” communities that are entirely devoted to inspired living:

1) The Enclave at Green Valley Ranch:

Located in East Denver, this master-planned community is anchored by an award-winning semi-private golf club, nine-hole par-3 course, golf academy, 2,400-square-foot beach-entry pool, restaurant, beer garden, and a gated entrance to 144 home sites. Plus, GVR is seven miles from the 15,000-acre Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, 10 minutes from DIA and 25 minutes from downtown Denver. (303) 486-8742

2) Flying Horse:

This 1,500-acre Colorado Springs community is steeped in the luxury of a Tom Weiskopf-designed private golf course, custom-acreage home sites, palatial Tuscan-style clubhouse, steakhouse dining, expansive athletic facility, outdoor aquatic complex, spa services, and a 14,000-acre working ranch that provides easy access to miles of equestrian and bike trails. Flying Horse is 20 minutes to downtown Colorado Springs and 40 minutes to the Denver Tech Center. (719) 886-4800

3) Frost Creek:

One of Colorado’s newest and more spectacular golf communities, this 1,100-acre low-density property just south of Eagle is home to a Tom Weiskopf-designed private golf course, tennis, Olympic-sized pool, 40,000-square-foot clubhouse with fine dining, and 100 miles of hiking and biking trails. Other perks include easy access to private fly-fishing waters and the four-season recreational splendor of Vail and Beaver Creek. Winner of the 2017 and 2018 CAGGY for Best Private Mountain Club. (970) 455-3072

4) Koebel Urban Homes’ 5390’:

Ensconced in Denver’s energetic Berkeley neighborhood, this newer development offers a new spin on golf course living. The 51-residences community is surrounded by Willis Case Golf Course and is celebrated for a pedestrian-friendly urban design that encourages walking and biking to myriad stores, markets, galleries and restaurants. It’s also close to multiple trails and parks, is less than a minute from I-70, and is equidistant from the Golden foothills and Downtown Denver. (303) 300-8828

5) Grand Elk:

Located just east of Granby and 18 miles from Grand Lake, this 700-homesite community is anchored by championship-caliber golf co-designed by Tripp Davis and Craig Stadler, water recreation on Grand Lake and Grandby Lake, and gateway access to some of Colorado’s more thrilling summer and winter sports. Additionally, Grand County boasts 1,000 miles of Gold Medal fly-fishing waters and 600 miles of hiking trails. Grand Elk is 85 miles from metro Denver via I-70. (970) 726-5177

To read Andy Bigford’s remarkable “Who Says Golf is Dying?” feature article, click here.

[easyazon_infoblock align=”right” identifier=”B07D5JHC43″ locale=”US” tag=”coloradoavidg-20″]RELATED LINKS

The CAGGY Awards 2018

Grand County is Rocky Mountain Majesty

Northern Light: TPC Colorado

David Duval at Green Valley Ranch

No Frost Delay

Chris Duthie is a Durango-based contributor to Colorado AvidGolfer. Colorado AvidGolfer is the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it, publishing eight issues annually and proudly delivering daily content via coloradoavidgolfer.com.

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