
Estes Park Course
Estes Park Golf Course



About this course
Estes Park Golf Course sits at the eastern edge of Rocky Mountain National Park in the mountain town of Estes Park, Colorado, at an elevation of approximately 7,500 feet. The course was designed by Henry Hughes and Dick Phelps and occupies a scenic mountain valley setting with views of the surrounding peaks. The layout takes advantage of the natural topography, with holes routed through ponderosa pine and aspen groves and across meadow terrain characteristic of the Colorado high country. The course plays as a regulation 18-hole layout that accommodates both visitors and local golfers in a resort community known primarily as a gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. The thin mountain air at this elevation affects ball flight, typically adding distance to shots, while the terrain introduces elevation changes and uneven lies that require thoughtful club selection and course management. The natural setting means wildlife sightings—elk, deer, and various bird species—are common during play. Estes Park serves a mix of destination golfers visiting the national park area and seasonal residents. The course operates within the constraints of a short mountain golf season, typically from late spring through early fall depending on snowmelt and weather conditions. The facility functions as a public course and reflects the character of Colorado mountain golf: accessible, scenically situated, and shaped by the demands of high-altitude terrain and climate.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in CO
Quick facts
- Location
- Estes Park, CO, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1917
- Holes
- 18
- Designer(s)
- Henry Hughes, Dick Phelps
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 6,321 yards
- Difficulty
- 71.6/131
- Course Vaults score
- 6.0
Getting there
Most visitors arrive via Denver International Airport, roughly ninety minutes east, before beginning the scenic ascent into the Rockies along Highway 36. The route climbs steadily through Boulder and the mouth of Big Thompson Canyon, trading high plains for granite walls and rushing water, until the road finally opens onto the broad, alpine basin of Estes Park itself. The course sits just south of town at the base of towering peaks, where elk often graze the fairways at dawn and the air carries the sharp clarity of elevation - a fitting threshold to golf at the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park.

FAQ
Common questions about Estes Park
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Estes Park has a Course Vaults score of 6.0 out of 10 based on 13 logged golfers.
Estes Park was designed by Henry Hughes and Dick Phelps.
Yes. Estes Park is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Estes Park is 71.
Estes Park plays 6,321 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Estes Park is 131.



