The Club Cordillera

The Short Course at Club Cordillera in Edwards, Colorado, was designed by short game specialist Dave Pelz and opened in the early 2000s as part of the broader Cordillera resort and residential community in the Vail Valley. Pelz, known primarily for his instructional work and research on the short game rather than traditional course architecture, created this facility specifically to challenge and develop players' skills from 125 yards and in. The course sits at approximately 7,800 feet elevation in the Colorado Rockies, where the high altitude affects ball flight and distance calculations. The layout consists of par-3 holes ranging from short pitch shots to longer approach distances, designed to replicate the variety of short game situations players encounter during regulation rounds. The routing takes advantage of the natural mountain terrain and elevation changes characteristic of the Edwards area, incorporating slopes, contours, and green complexes that test different shot types and trajectories. The design philosophy emphasizes practice and skill development rather than traditional scoring, making it particularly useful for players looking to work on specific aspects of their short game in an on-course environment. Club Cordillera operates as a private club within the larger Cordillera development, which includes multiple golf courses and amenities spread across the valley. The Short Course serves as a supplementary facility for members and provides an alternative to full-length play while focusing on the scoring zone that Pelz's research has long emphasized as critical to lower scores.