Arrowhead Golf Club

Arrowhead Golf Club is a must play when you're in the Denver area and you want to experience some truly incredible scenery. They've made some nice improvements since I'd last played a few years ago.   The course was built in 1972.  But after all as they claim, the course was "300 million years in the making". They don't want to be accused of letting it slip now.  

When I played in June the greens were nice, lush and fast but it's a shame to see what a poor job some golfers do by not repairing their ball marks. Also, although each cart is equipped with a good supply of green sand and seed mix the golfers don't seem to repair their fairway divots as they should. The fairways are very green, lush and soft. Denver is not suffering the water shortage this year that its had in some prior years. 

Arrowhead books lots of weddings and special tournaments.  That's great unless you're in a rush to get through 18 holes…….They no longer do "all inclusive pricing" but you still shouldn't plan on this being a quick round.  Relax and enjoy your surroundings.

Bring your camera. You'll experience awesome views … a geological fantasy. Red sandstone flatirons upthrust from volcanic action 300 million years ago. Or collapsed to the lower lands as some folks believe? Either way you'll feel like the ball in a pinball machine as you play your way through these wonderful rock formations. You may also share your fairways (and roughs) with deer, elk, fox and other Colorado native wildlife.

 Arrowhead provides 4 tee box choices. The back tees are called Black Bear, then Arrowhead, Silver Fox and Columbine moving forward.

The first two holes head north up into the flatirons. #3 is a unique par three with a green tucked into a quarter moon of red rock. If the pin is back left a long right-to-left tee shot could ricochet and pass the hole 2-3 times mini-golf style. 'Sounds crazy but it's great fun. And you'll get a nice view of Denver's skyline to the northeast as you go to the 4th and 17th tees. 

Hopefully your camera still has battery life when you reach the back nine because that's where the rock formations really are spectacular. Lucky #13 is an awesome par 3 off an elevated tee between red rock cliffs over trees to a large green often occupied by geese and deer and backed by a pond.

 Unless you're holding up the players behind you should take a minute to check out the view from the black tees on #14 even if you're playing the forward tees. Note the narrow canyon shot for this par 4 tee ball over a pond.  See photo.  #15 is a sharp dogleg right. You'll be tempted to try to carry your drive over the huge red rock ridge towering on the right. But beware behind this rock is a deep mass of scrub oak home to many deer, elk and foxes. 

Finally #18 is a short, uphill, blind tee shot with a pond long left par 5 allowing you to finish high with a magnificent view of Roxborough Valley. You'll long remember this view even if you forgot your camera or your buddies made you stow it in your bag after the 14th hole! 

This is a course you've got to play and you'll never forget.

Sam Sherstad – Writer, Recreation Travel Reviews