While Not at the Lake in Grand Lake, Colorado: Golf

Everyone visits Grand Lake for the lake. However, there are other ways to spend time in this charming little mountain town. For instance, you may want to hit some balls around at the Grand Lake Golf Course.

I have heard this many, many times: “I didn’t know that you golfed!”

Sort of. Can ex-golfers say they golf? If so, I do.

Throughout high school, I worked at Avalon Golf Club, now called Avalon Golf Links. I worked in the clubhouse with several other students. We listened to “The Cranberries” on repeat and golfed when we got off in the evening. I was the only teen staff member not on a high school golf team, but I could hold my own. 

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Now, I seem to golf about once a year, but every time I spend a little time on the fairway, I tell myself that I want to do it regularly. I never do. 

On a recent trip to Grand Lake, I had a tee time with another writer, Diana Rowe. Ryan and I had been camping the night before and didn’t have room for my clubs so I had to use rental clubs. 

I honestly wish I had taken a picture of the rentals because they were nice! If you should go to this course, you may want to rent, in order to play with them, especially if your clubs are old like mine.

For some reason, my putting was spot on and I’m sure it was the $500 club I was using. At least that’s what I told Ryan later. Ryan didn’t golf because we had brought the dog along. So he went hiking with her on a nearby trail. 

Due to a mix up (not the fault of the golf course), I got a late start with Diana and grandson, Ryland. He was the most avid golfer among us, although Diana used to write for golf magazines so she knows a thing or two about the sport. 

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Before the outing started, Ryan had grabbed lunch with me in the clubhouse restaurant. We ordered cold sandwiches and sodas and sat on the deck. The view before us was idyllic and very green.

Incidentally, I’ve cross country skied here twice. The golf course turns into the Grand Lake Nordic Center in the winter and I am a fan. The last time I was here, I saw a person skijoring (skiing with dogs pulling them).

When Diana and Ryland arrived we set out to golf as much as we could before our next meeting (Diana and I were on a deadline). We got in three holes and drove our carts around looking at the views. I want to come back and golf it all.

The course is 8,420 feet above sea level and borders Rocky Mountain National Park. If that’s not bragging rights, I don’t know what is. The 18 holes offer many elevated tee boxes with sweeping mountain views. You’ll want to take pictures along the way—I promise. Seriously, if you want a golf course with a view, Grand Lake Golf Course is it. A storm was brewing during our visit and I still managed to snap some shots before it started to sprinkle.

I am not going to get into any technical talk here, because quite frankly if I once knew the intricacies of the sport, I have now forgotten them. I will say that golfing in Grand Lake is a great way to spend an afternoon.  

Thank you to Grand Lake Golf Course for the hospitality & use of the amazing rental clubs.