Golfing in God’s Country

A handful of golf’s greatest course designers have carved their work through the mountains and valleys of the county. Masters like Tom Fazio, Pete Dye, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones Jr., Greg Norman and Tom Weiskopf have created 18-hole gems here.

Cordillera is one of the nation’s most elegant and exclusive golf communities with three courses, and plans for more. Vail Resorts has gotten more into the golf game with Red Sky Ranch in Wolcott.

The majority of golf courses throughout Eagle County are semi-private or resort layouts. But with Eagle-Vail Golf Club and Vail Golf Club joined by Eagle Ranch in Eagle, golfers battling for tee times have signed something of a pact of non-aggression.

If getting a tee time on one of the county’s courses is the first step, honing the necessary skills to play well is the second. In your entire day, the chances are good that the only level surface you’ll stand on all day is in the clubhouse bar after your round. Pop a cold one, laugh a little and be thankful you’re not former Detroit Lion defensive tackle Alex Karras. He once his a ball off the first tee and through the plate glass window in the clubhouse. Karras poked his head in the door and asked, “Hey, is this room out of bounds?”