Green Valley Ranch is located about 15 miles northeast of Downtown Denver, near Denver International Airport. Green Valley Ranch includes one of the finest 18-hole courses in the Denver area, along with a 9-hole par 3 course. Green Valley Ranch is the home of the HealthONE Colorado Open Golf Championships and the par-72 course stretches beyond 7,000 yards from the back tees. Designed by Perry Dye, ASGCA, the course opened for play in 2001 and has won numerous awards ever since, including:

• "Best Course - Denver Metro Area"
• "Best Risk/Reward Hole - #18"
• "Best Overall Value"
• "Most Female-Friendly"
• + more, click here to see all awards

If you don’t have the time to play 18 holes or even 9, Green Valley Ranch provides all participating golfers with superb practice facilities. With separate greens for chipping and putting, each offering a wide variety of pin locations. The driving range also has its own distinct area with multiple greens presenting great visual encouragement to practice sticking it tight! Independent from the outdoor range is a building with several different indoor bays each complete with the most advanced swing analysis equipment (operated by qualified, dedicated staff members to assist unlike the big stores!), teeing ground and as many balls as you can hit in a year with 365 days in it. “The indoor teeing area is an ingenious use of range space. Offering year long practice space to the inspiring junior player or accomplished veteran alike“, Ian Surkalo - DSB Associate.

Whether you like rolling putts, pinching tight irons or pulling out the driver in hopes of getting home in one on a par 4, Green Valley Ranch will test not only every club in your bag, it also requires a vast repertoire of different shots if you want to keep your score low. As some incentive to keep your round low coming down the stretch, Green Valley Ranch staff challenges each golfer to play the last three holes at par or better. If successful, Green Valley Ranch rewards the par shooter with a free drink in the club house after your round. It may sound easy but be ready for a tough 3 holes, and if you can par all three holes, enjoy the rare free drink!

It was tough to pick favorite holes for Green Valley Ranch (there were many) but we were able to come up with a few.

#2: A 534 yard par 5 that requires a nicely placed tee shot to avoid the massive tree pictured above. Once you get past the first tree in the fairway, you must contend with another in front of the green along with some bunkers. If you can avoid the obstacles on this hole, a birdie is definitely possible.

#12: A 512 yard par 5 that is both difficult and rewarding. The tee shot is made over the lake and must be planned out well. After clearing the lake, you must avoid the bunkers that line the far side of the fairway. If you can stick your tee shot in a good resting spot away from water and sand, it's possible to reach the green on your second shot. The green is uphill, adding to the difficulty of #12.

#18: Although we were not able to play this hole due to the onset of rain, this hole is one of the most popular finishing holes in all of Colorado.  #18 is 602 yard par 5 and provides a great deal of difficulty.  Lining the left side of the fairway are wetlands, hit your ball there and you have to drop. On the right side of the fairway is a long bunker, hit your ball there and par may be out of the question. The length and obstacles on 18 make it a difficult finishing hole. If you can avoid the problem areas, choose the right club and hit your shots where you want, 18 can also be a rewarding finish to your round.

Denver Sports Blog writers Ian Surkalo and Jeremy Fleming had a great experience at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club! We recommend making a trip to play this outstanding course. Special thanks to Matt Dribnak, VP of Sales & Marketing. Matt played with us and offered excellent course insight and expertise. If you would like more information on becoming a member at Green Valley Ranch, contact Matt Dribnak. For more general information on Green Valley Ranch go to http://www.gvrgolf.com/golf/proto/gvrgolf/index.htm