Red Rocks Meets Golf: Arrowhead Golf Club
If you begin to lookup highly ranked accessible public golf courses in the Denver area, Arrowhead Golf Club will likely be near the top of every list. Along with being one of the most sought after public courses in the Denver area, Arrowhead is widely known as a course where you will need your camera for the round. If you have one day in the Denver area and are seeking to play golf, this is the course to be at. I scoped this course out as we were planning a trip to Denver to visit some friends and was quite excited in the days leading up to the round based off online reviews and pictures. The views of this golf course are one of a kind. Red sand stone, more commonly known as ‘red rocks’ weaves its way through the entire course and property in form of towering impressive rock structures. The sand stone is estimated be over 300 million years old ( the front of the scorecard reads ‘300 million years in the making’). It is a true feat that a golf course was built here. If you cannot make it to Red Rocks to see a show and love golf, Arrowhead is the perfect substitute.
One of the best views from Arrowhead Golf Club is from the clubhouse which offers expansive red rock views; fairway and green of number ten pictured above
Arrowhead Golf Club sits just 25 miles south of downtown Denver. Travel from the city to the to the course provides a slight elevation change from the mile high city as the course sits at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Arrowhead Golf Course opened for business in 1972 and was co-designed by Robert T Jones Jr. and Robert T Jones Sr. The course is fully public which is great that all locals and Colorado visitors can have access to such a unique layout. Tee times can be booked online (rates appear to be variable/demand based) and were over $100 when we played in October which was to be expected for what you get for this experience.
Arrowhead is a par 70. It has four tee boxes playing 6,636 yards with a slop rating of 139 from the longest tee box, ‘Black Bear’. While not a long course in yardage, the eighteen hole layout brings into play vast elevation changes and large greens. On a clear blue sky day, I imagine the views on some of the holes are second to none.
On our October round last year we were dealt temperatures in the 40’s with rain and heavy fog. It certainly wasn’t the ideal weather for this kind of course where a large part of the experience is the sandstone rock views intertwined in the course. While we still had some great views, visibility was limited to none on some holes. On the short par three ninth, our group could not see the green, truly a blind shot. In fact, I could not see ten feet in front of me. It was a nice hole with those kind of conditions to come away with a par. Despite the conditions, I still felt I got to experience one of Denver’s finest public course options.
Standout Holes
Hole 3: 197 yards, Par 3
This slight uphill par three provides the golfer the first view of what this course is all about, red rocks. The hole played long on this raw day. The pin placement on the day was tucked in the back center of the green. It was the first shot of the day where I made comfortable clean contact and found a green in regulation. On a clear day I have heard there are views of downtown Denver behind the hole, I’ll have to come back for another round to find that out in person.
While not the most dramatic view at Arrowhead, the par 3 third provides the golfer the first taste of what Arrowhead is all about, red sand stone
Hole 5: 337 Yards, Par 4
The short par four fourth is a dog leg right that provides the first dramatic views of red rocks; a much more expansive view than the third hole. The hole plays slightly uphill with a large green. Large hitters can play this aggressively and be left with a short pitch or chip to the green with a good drive. The large rock on the right can come into play here as the green sits almost directly behind it. Be careful not to leave your shot behind this rock or playing out to the fairway is likely the only option. It is one of the few holes on the course where the red rocks can actually come into play.
The fourth hole provides the first dramatic red rocks views at Arrowhead
Hole 13: 171 Yards, Par 3
Number 13 is the signature hole at Arrowhead. An elevated tee box plays to a downhill green. The hole plays 171 yards from the Arrowhead tee box and may take some time for the golfer to decide on club selection here as there as several factors to consider on this tee shot, including visual astonishment. Large red rocks stand high above on either side of the hole providing captivating views for the golfer of one impressive golf hole. Even on a raw day with low visibility, the views of this hole were still one that I will soon not forget. On a clear day, additional rock formations can be seen directly behind the hole.
The signature 13th hole at Arrowhead is that for good reason
Hole 14 : 328 Yards, Par 4
The 14th hole was my favorite tee shot on the course, with the exception of number 13. The tee shot comes between two rock formations, though they are much closer together than the 13th (looking back I wish I had a picture from this tee box). The golfers tee shot almost sounds like it is coming out of a cannon and provides a impressive echo in the canyon when struck well. Assuming your ball makes it out of the canyon and into the fairway, you should be left with a short approach shot on this short dog leg right.
14th fairway pictured above; an echoing tee shot comes between two rocks (not pictured, up canyon to the right) and requires carry over above lake
Course Rating : B -
Course Rating Analysis: I almost considered putting down inconclusive given the conditions and limited visibility that we played in on this gloomy October day. It’s hard to make a full conclusion of Arrowhead Golf Club when I had multiple shots that were completely blind due to heavy fog. I hope an opportunity presents itself to go back and experience this course on a clear blue bird Denver day. Even with the conditions, the views and overall unique setup and landscape of this course were well worth the greens fee and made for a great experience. The course is well designed and I thought for fall was in good condition with greens that still rolled fairly quick and true. Elevation changes are a constant theme along with incredible views. While Red Rocks is the famed concert venue in Denver, it’s neighboring golf brethren provides for a one of a kind Denver golf experience.