Golf Digest

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The 131 yard17th at Red

Sky Golf Clubdesignedby Tom Fazio

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TRAVELJN VA LING GOLFFrom one of the best bargainsin the country to some of the bestN COLORADO mountain courses in the world

2012 GOLFDIOEST COM 8 7yVPHOTOGRAPH BY DICK DURRANCE

Golf DigestCirculation: 1679244DMA: New York, NY

City: WiltonState: CT

Account: 182500Date: 07/01/2012Pub Num: 80E80Section/Page: 87Page Count: 1 / 3

RefNo: ae4288© Copyright 07/01/2012 Golf Digest All Rights Reserved. Unlicensed Reproduction, Sale or Republication Prohibited.

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COURSE GUIDE

AWAYGAME

BOULDER

o o°DENVER 0

COLORADO SPRINGS

h CommonGround

commongroiindgc com 303 340 1520

~ Red Sky Golf ClubNormanredskygolfdub com

Red Sky Golf Club Fazio

I Vail Golf Club

vailgoifclub net 970 479 2260

Ravenat Three Peaksravpnatthrppppaks com 970 267 3636

GOLFDICEST COM JULY 2012 M

CommonGround is the companion course for the 2012 U S Amateur

Vailinjune feels like an intimate European ski villageeager to share its thawed out offerings with summerenthusiasts My golf agenda crossed creeks with anannual event called the Teva Mountain Games so as

the kayakers were cartwheeling in the ice coldwater to the crunchycrowd s delight I was navigating mountain courses in shortsleeves and a cart O I flew into Denver and before I made mywaytoVail I played CommonGround which is a formermilitary courserenovated by Tom Doak in 2009 One of the hottest shapers in golf

received no fee from the

course s owners the Colorado GolfAssociation and the

ColoradoWomen s GolfAs

sociation At that time Doak

was getting about 8750 000to design a layout We werelooking for a project thatwould allow us to give something back to the communityand that was accessible to the

average golfer Doak saysAs a result CommonGroundis one ofthe best courses in

the country for 55 or less seepage 92 and it s one of twocourses used for the stroke

play portion of this year s U SAmateur Aug 13 19 Only 20minutes from the airport it s

a must play ifyou re anywherenear Denver

Bandon Dunes owner Mike

Keiser recently said I don tthink anyone has created atrue St Andrews concept inthe U S CommonGround

feels a little like St Andrews

to me It appeals to touristscaters to locals with specialrates 40 encourages walking and is cultivating a caddieprogram In addition to Doak sdesign there are nine holes forkids CommonGround says itsphilanthropic mission is torepresent promote and servethe best interests ofgolf in thestate ofColorado

After a serving ofafternoon

winds and five tough finishingholes it was in mybest interest to make the two hour drive

from CommonGround to VaiPs

high groundAt 7 880 feet the ball never

went far enough to make thegame feel easy at the swankyand semiprivate 36 holeRed Sky Golf Club The 240members have their own

log cabin clubhouse at thecourse designed by Greg Norman but you ll check in at thecourse built by Tom FazioThe general theme of the Norman courses I ve played islong narrow and unforgivingConversely Fazio assists thehigh handicapper by build

ing receptive saddle shapedfairways That s not the casehere Red Sky s Norman ismore forgiving off the tee thanthe Fazio Both were in Au

gusta National condition andfeatured Masters fast greensEach day one course is opento members only The walk uprate for either course is 240and you can play both but noton the same day for 300 Youhave four days to take advantage of that deal which is morereasonable than the 85 breakfast ticket for two including





amLOCAL KNOWLEDGEw

^y^ |i EXTREME SPORTSVail s a winter and sum

uJLa I mer playground for professional and amateur

athletes During the TevaMountain Games June

6 9 2013 you ll enjoywatching eight sports Including extreme kayakingand competitive slackllnIng which take place Inand around Va I Village

© ZIPITIf you want your own extreme sport go zip liningthrough 44 acres of trees

and along the ArkansasRiver coloradoraftlngnet With seven lines thelongest is 900 feet thehalf day away from golf Isworth the 90 mlnute drive

from Vail for the views and

value 79 for adults 69for children 10 12

CORDILLERA UPDATEWith Its owner and mem

bership locked in battleVail s high end Cordilleradevelopment has sufferedthrough court cases andcourse closures But the

Valley Course one of fourwill be open this summerto resort guests The par 71

egg burritos fruit smoothies Clockwise from top Arrabelle at at Vail Square had to offer The Tom Fazio design is a funVail Square the ultimate beverageBloody Marys and a 10 tip 36 room resort with 50 condo round of golfcart Red Sky s Norman Course

That meal was S30 more than options and European inspireda 55 twilight rate at Vail Golf bikers and golfers are wowed facade would satisfy the highest

at the Raven course at ThreeClub a perfect combination of by excellent food refreshing of lodging expectations roomssetting convenience value and energy and live music The best start at 189 per night The Peaks in Silverthorne 165fun You ll play shots along the meal I had was at Sapphire Res rooftop pool and Jacuzzis with It s more mountain golf withhighway Gore Creek and at the taurant and Oyster Bar which stunning mountain views are a spectacular backdrops andbase of 2 3 million acres ofna offered scenic outdoor seating fittingway to enjoy a day or end a friendly staff Almost astional forest Those 150 yard overlooking the wild water an evening The spa is as sweet impressive as the view from

the ninth tee is the all terrainmarkers are ski tips I walked it sports The menu is always as you d expect and the menuwith a friend and joined two lo subject to change but I ordered at Tavern On the Square is a bit beverage mobile which comescals who brought beer in carry a sampling of appetizers and gamey buffalo meatloaf grilled with a roll bar no governor andcoolers provided by the course couldn t name a favorite among elk lettuce wraps and barbecue two smiley servers

the sesame seared tuna nachos duck enchiladaA little more pretentious It goes fast and I drive it fastand a much more festive venue The town is named aftertempura asparagus fried arti says AlyWhittaker 24 I get

Charlie Vail who was the en into a lot oftrouble with the suchokes and avocado pancakesthe Vail Village is where you lldo most ofyour drinking eat I didn t spend a lot ofTime gineer who built the original perintendent There are a lot ofing shopping and spending in my room—a sign ofagreat highway through the area in tight corners and steep slopes

Whittaker served cold drinksIn what feels like a European golf trip—but I regret not being 1940 And as you re headedand an accurate assessment ofback to Denver off Interstateepicenter of social activity pe able to sample more ofwhat the

destrians paddlers climbers recently renovatedArrabelle 70 I d suggest agetaway round golf in Colorado matt ginella

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