April in Colorado & Utah - Recommendations?

Note that in Colorado in April, there is a chance that golf could be snowed out. I think we average mid-April for our last snow, but last year our last day of snow was mother's day (seriously!). I would guess that most mountain courses don't open until May.

My question is - where in Colorado are you looking at and what type of courses (public vs. resort)?

Having played here for 40 years, April is more often good than bad for weather.  And when it does snow that late, it's gone within a couple of days at most.  Late April should see plenty of the lowland courses in fine shape, but check ahead for aeration schedules.

Do not plan to play any mountain courses, as none will be open yet that early, or if any are, the conditions will be less than pristine, to say the least.

Where in CO?

If near metro Denver, there are many courses near metro Denver.  But it could be a crap shoot with the weather.  See above two posts.

As for courses near Denver, I would recommend the following, but in no particular order:

Bear Dance (near Larkspur) - my favorite in Metro Denver;

Riverdale Dunes (Brighton) - muni course but Pete Dye design;

Fossil Trace (Golden);

Red Hawk Ridge (Castle Rock);

The Ridge at Castle Pines North;

Fox Hollow (27 holes, pick Canyon-Meadows combination)

Colorado National (home course for CU golf team);

There are others, but these should get you started.

People rave about Arrowhead. I've never actually played there, though, so I don't know.

I like your list, although I'm not a huge fan of Fossil Trace. If you play Fox Hollow, definitely go Canyon-Meadow. Links is fine, but you can get that style of course anywhere. Canyon-Meadow is much more unique.

Arrowhead has scenery that's drop dead beautiful, and good golf on a Robert Trent Jones course, but it's also more expensive than any of the courses on that list.  Last I knew it was about $125 in season, and being west of the hogback, it may not green up to summer conditions as fast as some other courses.

Just looked online and it's priced at $80 starting April 1.  That's pretty high for early season golf when course and weather conditions can be quite variable.

Arrowhead has been in decline.  When American Golf took over management of the course, it went down the toilet, like all American Golf run courses I've seen over the years.

I hate American Golf management company as they seem to suck all profits out without putting any back in for improvements and upkeep of the course.

That was about 4 years ago.  I haven't been back since.  So it may have changed, i.e., American Golf may have left - I hope.

You should find out more info on Arrowhead, if you are interested in playing.

If you haven't made choices for Denver area these are my suggestions.

Riverdale Dunes

CO National

Legacy Ridge

Heritage

Todd Creek

sleeper pick, Hyland Hills Gold. Don't let the putt-putt and Go Kart track in front scare you away this is a cool course.

To be avoided

Arrowhead

Buffalo Run

any of the Denver City courses

If you are going to be up north check out Ute Creek in Longmont.

Late April is right around the corner but if you haven't picked your stops yet... these are all Colorado courses. These should all be open by late April and you shouldn't need more than a sweater, but there is always the chance it could snow :P Be ready for courses with lots of slowly rolling hills and lots of elevation change if you go up into the mountains.

+1 Riverdale Dunes in Brighton Colorado. Just a very cool course.

+1 Fossil Trace as well. Has some really unique holes! If I had to tell you one that was close to Denver that you must play it would be this one.

A few of my other favorites, these are mountain courses, all close to I-70.

Ironbridge is a difficult but beautiful course about an hour from Aspen.

Lakota Canyon Ranch has some of the craziest elevation changes you'll ever see in a course. 3 hrs from Denver.

Redlands Mesa is a great course on the way into CO (or out) from Utah, in Grand Junction. Kind of far from Denver though.

I grew up in Denver, near Wellshire, played there all the time and City Park a lot. Not in the last 25 years though.

Was considering a trip through Denver and playing Wellshire and City Park with some buddies I grew up with. Your post makes it look like a bad idea. What happened to them? Are they crappy now? Would I be upset if I saw them now?

Lots of strong old memories that I don't want to ruin, so if I'd be upset I'd just as soon pass on them---

FWIW I remember Hyland Hills, it was great back then, way out in the boonies though. I assume now not so much.

Just curious - why not Buffalo Run?  I've played there a couple of times and enjoyed it.

Another strong vote for Fossil Trace.  Very unique course and a lot of fun to play.  When my brother comes down from Idaho, it's always near the top of our list.

Fossil Trace 10th hole

My sleeper is Foothills Golf Course - it's a parkland style of the type that Dave turns his nose on, but it is already in great condition, 7000 yards from the tips if you want it, but with gold, white, blue and black tees you can make it whatever you want.  It's not dead flat, the holes run in all points of the compass, and there are enough trees to be an issue for errant shots.  The facility also has a very good practice area, 9 hole executive course, and 9 hole par 3 course.

I played there Tuesday - teed off as a foursome at 10:05 and we were done before 2.

I'm not a huge fan of either Fossil Trace or Foothills. They both have a couple of holes that just bug the crap out of me. 12 on Fossil Trace, for example. Those stupid rocks in the middle of the fairway. Ugh. And then I think it's 14, if they put the pin on the upper tier of the putting green, that hole is also terrible. And I tend to have trouble paying that much when similar courses nearby are much cheaper. Foothills has one hole where you have to hit your tee shot so you can avoid two trees blocking the green. Last time I teed off with a 6 iron and was blocked out from the green entirely because the ball went too far. I'll pass. Foothills is a little boring for Denver, too. Homestead and Fox Hollow are within 10 minutes of Foothills and are much more unique in my opinion. If you want a parkland style course that is well maintained and in a similar price range, try out Indian Tree. That course doesn't really have goofy holes like Foothills or Fossil Trace does.

I do agree that Foothills is kept in pretty good shape, though.

I first played foothills in 1974.  I started playing it regularly when I moved into the Foothills Recreation District in south Jeffco in 1983.  Those trees on #7 that you seem to hate so badly were just bushes then.  I've watched them grow to become more and more significant in how the hole is played.  I don't see the problem.  You have to play to the right half of the fairway or to the left rough to have a clear shot.  From left center to the left edge of the fairway, you have stay back near the 150 yard range to be able to fly it over the tree.  If you are too close then you played the hole wrong.  This also happens to be the shortest par 4 (343 from the blue tee) on the course, and with the lake between the landing area and the green, it's a layup hole for most players.  When I played on Tuesday I was too far left and had to play my 2nd to the bowl short and right of the green, then chip up and down for par.  No biggie.

I think that this hole and the 18th are the strongest holes on the course.

Yeah, I can see that. I'm more annoyed that a 6 iron rolled out about 40 yards that time more than anything. I do really like the 18th, for what it's worth. I am just not a huge fan of that type of layout. Mostly because I tend to spray the ball all over the place and do not enjoy tree problems. Also an issue with an idiot ranger last time, so that soured it a bit as well (he came up from behind and told us we were behind pace, which was very wrong).

Their range is really good, though. And I play the par 3 and executive course with newer/worse players all the time. Just prefer other places for a full 18.

By the way, if you want to see an even more ridiculous hole with trees similar to that, look at 16 at Green Valley Ranch. Absolutely terrible hole.

It has been in poor condition the last couple times I was there and it is poorly managed. Last time we were there it took almost three hours to finish the front. Only once did we see a ranger despite a few calls to the pro shop. At one point on whatever the last par 5 is on the front there were four groups on that hole. A group on the green us behind them with people behind us and people waiting on the tee. And it's expensive weekend fees with cart is $39 for 9 holes. You can ride 18 at Todd Creek or CO National for less than that and their tiered times start getting affordable around 2PM. both are similar to BR but better cared for.

Honestly I only pay at the places near me these days. Some are real beaters but I like funky rural places. Play almost all my golf in Ft Lupton.