Denver's best golf course isn't a private club you need a member to get into. It's a public course in Larkspur that regular golfers have voted the best in the region for over a decade running. That's a different story than most golf-destination guides tell, and it sets the tone for the rest of this list: at 5,280 feet, the ball flies farther, the season runs longer than you'd expect, and some of the best golf in Colorado doesn't require a membership at all.
Quick answer: If you only remember five names: The Golf Club at Bear Dance for the best course in the metro, period, public or private, Fossil Trace for the most unique round you'll play anywhere (real dinosaur fossils line the fairways), Arrowhead for the scenery, City Park for an affordable in-town round, and Cherry Hills Country Club if you can get a member to bring you as a guest and want to stand where Arnold Palmer won his only U.S. Open.
What's in this guide
How Many Golf Courses Are Near Denver?
There are roughly 85 courses within about 15 miles of Denver, 68 public and 17 private. That's more than four times what Park City has in the same radius, which makes sense given Denver's size, but it also means the hard part isn't finding a course, it's narrowing down which ones are actually worth your time. Denver International Airport sits right in the metro area too, so unlike a resort town, you're not adding a mountain-pass drive on top of your flight to get to a tee time.
The Best Public Golf Courses in Denver
These are the courses anyone can book directly, no membership or member sponsor required.
The Golf Club at Bear Dance
Voted the best golf course in the Denver area every year from 2014 through 2025, and it's open to the public. That's a remarkable run for a daily-fee course. Bear Dance winds through 753 acres of towering Ponderosa Pines, oak-lined ridges, and native grass valleys about 45 minutes south of downtown in Larkspur. It plays long (over 7,700 yards from the tips) and isn't cheap at roughly $220 for a round, but reviewers consistently call it the best conditioned, most scenic course they've played in the state, public or private. Book through The Golf Club at Bear Dance.
Fossil Trace Golf Club
No other course on this list has a story like Fossil Trace. It was built on a former clay mine in Golden, and when Jim Engh's crew started shaping the land in the early 2000s, they uncovered 64-million-year-old triceratops footprints and prehistoric palm frond impressions preserved in the rock. You can see the actual fossils next to the fairway on holes 11 through 15, and the clubhouse has a small exhibit explaining what you're looking at. It's a genuinely rare case of a golf course being a legitimate paleontology site, not just a marketing angle. Book through Fossil Trace Golf Club.
Arrowhead Golf Club
Built into Roxborough State Park among 300-million-year-old red sandstone formations, Arrowhead has been named one of the ten most-photographed golf courses in the world, and it's easy to see why once you're standing on the tee. Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Jr. routed the course around towering rock spires rather than through them, so almost every hole frames a different formation. One reviewer summed it up well: "it's a $100 course with $250 views." Deer, elk, and foxes are regular company on the back nine. Book through Arrowhead Golf Club.
Green Valley Ranch Golf Club
Denver's premier public facility, and the closest thing on this list to a full golf resort. Perry Dye's design kept the site's natural creeks, wetlands, and cottonwood trees intact, giving it a links-style feel that punishes a mishit off the tee. Beyond the championship 18, there's a 9-hole par-3 course, a Trackman-equipped practice range, indoor simulators, and a golf academy, so it's a good pick if part of your group wants to work on their game rather than play a full round. It also hosts the Colorado Open. Book through Green Valley Ranch Golf Club.
City Park Golf Course
A full renovation reopened this Denver municipal course in 2020 with the downtown skyline and the Rockies visible from the same fairway, a setting few in-town munis anywhere can match. It's LEED Gold certified, with real storm water management built into the design rather than bolted on. Green fees run $38 to $67 depending on the day, which makes it the easiest way to get a genuinely good round in without leaving city limits. Book through City Park Golf Course.
Wellshire Golf Course
The only public course west of the Mississippi designed by Donald Ross, one of the sport's most influential architects, and it plays like it: straightforward, no gimmicks, a genuine test of golf rather than a scenery show. Ben Hogan won the Denver Open here in 1948. It's a country-club atmosphere at a municipal price, and the kind of course serious golfers quietly rate above flashier options nearby. Book through Wellshire Golf Course.
Private and Notable Courses Worth Knowing About
You won't be able to book these directly, but if a member invites you, both are worth the trip.
Cherry Hills Country Club
This is where Arnold Palmer shot a final-round 65, erased a seven-stroke deficit, and won the only U.S. Open of his career in 1960, one of the most famous comebacks in golf history. Cherry Hills has hosted major championships across nine decades and remains one of the most historically significant clubs in American golf. Learn more at Cherry Hills Country Club.
Colorado Golf Club
A Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw design on 1,700 acres of ponderosa forest and open meadow in Parker, opened in 2007. It hosted the Senior PGA Championship in 2010 and the Solheim Cup in 2013, real major-championship pedigree for a course that's barely two decades old. Learn more at Colorado Golf Club.
Denver Golf Courses at a Glance
| Course | Access | Par | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Golf Club at Bear Dance | Public | 72 | Best course in the metro, full stop |
| Fossil Trace Golf Club | Public | 72 | Most unique round anywhere, real fossils |
| Arrowhead Golf Club | Public | 70 | Scenery, red rock formations |
| Green Valley Ranch Golf Club | Public | 72 | Full practice facility, groups with mixed skill levels |
| City Park Golf Course | Public | 70 | Budget, in-town convenience |
| Wellshire Golf Course | Public | 71 | Serious golfers, classic Donald Ross design |
| Cherry Hills Country Club | Private | 71 | Golf history, 1960 U.S. Open site |
| Colorado Golf Club | Private | 72 | Bucket-list round, major championship pedigree |
Why Golf Plays Different at 5,280 Feet
Denver didn't earn the nickname Mile High City for nothing, and that elevation changes your golf game in a way that's easy to underestimate. Thinner air creates less drag on the ball, and the widely cited rule of thumb from golf equipment researchers, including Foresight Sports' breakdown of altitude and ball flight, is about a 1.1 to 1.2% distance gain for every 1,000 feet of elevation.
What that means on the course: at exactly 5,280 feet, expect roughly 6% more carry than you'd get at sea level. A drive that normally goes 250 yards can fly closer to 265. It's a smaller jump than what you'd see in a higher mountain town like Park City, but it's still enough to leave you short-siding greens if you're playing your usual yardages instead of clubbing down.
When to Golf in Denver
This is where Denver has a real advantage over most mountain golf destinations: the season runs 9 to 10 months a year. Many courses stay open through the winter with only a slow stretch from December through February, and some, like Inverness south of the city, play essentially year-round with just occasional weather closures. Denver's municipal courses typically run full grass conditions from May through Labor Day, then shift to mats on the front nine through the winter months. Compare that to a high mountain course with a hard 5-month window, and Denver is simply a more forgiving place to keep a swing in shape.
What to Wear for Mile High Golf
Thinner air filters out less ultraviolet radiation, so the sunburn you don't feel happening at 5,280 feet is real, and it adds up over four hours on an exposed fairway. Front Range weather also swings hard within a single round, cool mornings, a warm afternoon, and wind that can pick up out of nowhere on an open course like Arrowhead or Green Valley Ranch. A breathable polo with real sun protection built in beats reapplying sunscreen on the back nine. Yatta's (Golf Polos) come with UPF 40 woven into the fabric, and the (Women's Golf Polos) lineup covers the same ground if you're planning a round with the whole group.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Denver golf course is closest to downtown?
City Park Golf Course is just a few minutes from downtown, with the skyline visible from the fairway. Green Valley Ranch is the next closest, northeast of the city. Bear Dance and Colorado Golf Club are both a 45-minute-plus drive south, and Fossil Trace is about 20 to 25 minutes west in Golden.
Is a cart required at Denver golf courses?
Most Denver courses allow walking, and the lower elevation compared to a mountain town like Park City makes it a genuinely easier walk. Courses with more dramatic terrain, like Arrowhead's rock formations or Bear Dance's ridges, are more commonly played by cart. Check with the specific course when booking if walking matters to you.
How much does it cost to golf in Denver?
It ranges widely. Denver's municipal courses like City Park and Wellshire run roughly $38 to $67 for 18 holes. Premier public courses like Fossil Trace and Arrowhead run closer to $100 to $175. Bear Dance, the top-rated course in the metro, runs around $220.
Can visitors play Cherry Hills Country Club or Colorado Golf Club?
Only as a guest of a member. Neither club takes public tee time bookings, so you'd need someone with a membership to sponsor your round at either course.
What is the most unique golf course in Denver?
Fossil Trace, without much competition. It's built on a former clay mine where crews uncovered real 64-million-year-old triceratops footprints during construction, and you can still see the fossils next to the fairway on holes 11 through 15.
What's the best time to book a Denver tee time?
Early morning on weekdays gives you the best shot at both availability and cooler temperatures, especially at the more popular public courses like Bear Dance and Fossil Trace, which regularly book out on summer weekends well in advance.
Wherever you end up teeing off, Denver golf rewards knowing the elevation math and dressing for a Front Range afternoon, not just picking a scenic course. Stock up on breathable layers with Yatta's (Golf Polos) and (Women's Golf Polos) before you go, and enjoy the heck out of the round.