Arrowhead | Bear Dance | Fossil Trace | Walnut Creek | TPC Colorado
It would be impossible to talk about golf in Denver and not bring Bear Dance Golf Club into the conversation. Located between Denver and Colorado Springs, this amazing championship course takes full advantage of the setting with dramatic elevation changes, views of the surrounding Rocky Mountains, and every kind of native plant and animal species possible.
Starting at the moment you arrive at the course, it’s easy to see why Bear Dance has consistently been named one of the state’s best golf courses. During your time, you’re guaranteed to be treated with respect by everyone from the bag drop to the pro shop, and from the starter to the snack shack wants to make sure golfers are enjoying their experience.
“We want to make sure everyone has the best experience possible,” said Head Golf Professional Mark Pfingston. “It’s something we take very seriously.”
The course, opened in 2002, is a unique project that was designed by a group of four PGA of America members headed by Brian Whitcomb. Fans of golf in Central Oregon will surely know Whitcomb’s name as the former owner of Lost Tracks Golf Club in Bend; he’s had a successful design career, though, and was able to bring three of his employees – Stuart Bruening, Corey Aurand and Dennis Hogan – in to help design Bear Dance.
“When we got the opportunity to do Bear Dance, I said to the other guys, ‘You know, we’re not supposed to get this kind of land. Jack Nicklaus or somebody like that is supposed to get it,'” Whitcomb said in a 2022 interview. “It’s that nice, and while it is just a couple hundred yards from the interstate, you are a world away. It’s pretty cool.”
The course is home to the Colorado Section of the PGA, a relationship it’s impossible to miss throughout the property. It’s also a relationship that guarantees only the best possible service and conditions for visiting professionals and amateur players.
Bear Dance is a big golf course, but it’s a big golf course that is accessible for players of all abilities. Players can choose between five sets of tees that measure from 7,726 to 5,240 yards. The starters are great at asking questions and making recommendations for which tee each player should use. Regardless of the chosen tee, everyone will find generous fairways and greens that are large but challenging.
Wandering between meadows and tree stands, Bear Dance rewards accuracy, especially off the tee. Players face tee shots and approach shots that alternate between uphill and downhill. Proper club selection is essential to good scores; the green complexes are well guarded by bunkers but are gently sloping.
Making your way through the round, it feels like every hole offers something different. Every par three is challenging, but the views are all majestic. The green of the short par four 6th is guarded by a series of small bunkers that mimic the club’s bear paw logo. The 16th hole, however, is the one that everyone remembers best.
Regularly called one of the best holes in the state, the par four 16th is stunning in every way. Playing from 270- to 431-yards in length, the hole is a severe downhill with a wide fairway. A good tee shot will leave a short approach over the small pond guarding the green. From certain tee boxes, big hitters will swear they can drive the green. That makes the hole considerably harder if they miss.
Bear Dance has every amenity players need. The practice facilities – driving range, putting green, and short game area – are perfect for warming up or working on your game. The real gem, however, is the relatively new golf shop.
“When we opened, the golf shop was in the clubhouse with all the offices,” said Pfingston. “We opened this new building and 1,500 square foot shop in 2015 and have had great success with it.” Inside, guests will find apparel and equipment from not only the big brands, but also from the newest lines. Everything in the shop has a unique look and feel that will make you smile every time you put that hat or shirt on.