Golfers apparently love lists, especially those that rank courses. Why else would just about every top national golf magazine — from Tacoma to Tampa and from Honolulu to Hartford — publish such rankings?
Golf fans can read about the best courses in America or the entire world, or peruse countless other specialized “best course” lists. And, agree or disagree with a publication’s findings, they’re popular features.
And there’s also some local pride involved when a given course makes such a list — which brings us to the Colorado courses that were mentioned in national best-course rankings in 2009.
We looked through many of the most prominent national golf magazines and compiled a rundown of the Colorado courses that have appeared on the lists this year. Fifteen different in-state layouts received such honors, including the CGA/CWGA-owned CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora (pictured). Several Colorado facilities were cited more than once.
Golf Digest’s 100 greatest courses in America — Castle Pines Golf Club, Castle Rock (28th place); Cherry Hills Country Club, Cherry Hills Village (54th); Sanctuary, Sedalia (96th).
Golf Magazine’s top 100 courses in the world — Ballyneal Golf Club, Holyoke (83rd).
Golf Magazine’s top 100 courses in the U.S. — Ballyneal Golf Club, Holyoke (48th); Cherry Hills Country Club, Cherry Hills Village (56th).
Golf Digest’s best new private courses in America (ones that officially opened between May 1, 2008 and April 30, 2009) — Cornerstone Club, Montrose (4th).
Links Magazine’s best new public courses in the country — CommonGround Golf Course, Aurora (not numbered, but one of the top 10).
Golfweek magazine’s best modern courses in the U.S. (ones that opened 1960-present) — Ballyneal Golf Club, Holyoke (8th); Colorado Golf Club, Parker (23rd); Castle Pines Golf Club, Castle Rock (31st); Sanctuary, Salida (57th); The Golf Club at Ravenna, Littleton (100th).
Golfweek magazine’s best classic courses in the U.S. (ones that opened before 1960) — Cherry Hills Country Club, Cherry Hills Village (57th).
Golf World magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards for top 50 resort facilities in the U.S. — Broadmoor Golf Club, Colorado Springs (16th).
Golf World magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards for top 50 private facilities in the U.S. — Castle Pines Golf Club, Castle Rock (31st).
Golfweek magazine’s best residential courses in the U.S. — 2. Colorado Golf Club, Parker (2nd); Castle Pines Golf Club, Castle Rock (4th); The Golf Club at Ravenna, Littleton (34th); Lakota Canyon Ranch Golf Club, New Castle (75th); Redlands Mesa Golf Club, Grand Junction (76th); The Glacier Club, Durango (86th).
Golfweek magazine’s best resort courses in the U.S. — Cougar Canyon Golf Links, Trinidad (14th); Red Sky Golf Club (Fazio Course), Wolcott (53rd); Broadmoor Golf Club (East Course), Colorado Springs (67th); Red Sky Golf Club (Norman Course), Wolcott (77th).
