Ballyneal Golf Club

Ballyneal Golf Club started as a dream in 1979 when local golf enthusiast Jim O'Neal spotted the sand dunes south of Holyoke—locals call them the "chop hills"—and saw something that reminded him of the legendary links courses in Scotland and Ireland. With his brother Rupert, Jim purchased 700 acres and brought in Renaissance Golf Design's Tom Doak to create the course.

Tom Doak spent two years studying and routing the course before construction began, letting the native landscape dictate the flow rather than forcing a design onto the land. The course opened in 2006 and has matured into one of the top destination golf clubs in the world, despite surviving the financial pressures many private clubs faced after 2009.

#4 Best Modern Courses (Golfweek 2017) #36 Top 100 Courses in the USA (Golf Digest) #51 Top 100 Courses in the World

"A minimalist masterpiece," according to Colorado Avidgolfer. The fescue fairways and gusty high-plains conditions create true links-style golf where a ground game often beats the aerial approach.

The 18-hole routing plays across varied terrain defined by native sage, yucca, and dramatic elevation changes. Notable holes include:

• •Hole 4 (573 yards, Par 5): Reachable in two for elite players, but two perfect shots required. Most players lay back to the left fairway.
• •Hole 16 (546 yards, Par 5): Two-strategy hole with a dramatic big ridge on the inside left of the dogleg. Wind conditions determine whether it's a three-shotter or reachable in two.

The variety comes from the combination of design, playing surface, and conditions—fescue rewards ground game strategy and shotmaking.

Members enjoy: - Unlimited play with no need for tee time reservations - On-site lodging in four member lodges surrounding The Commons - Fine dining restaurant and Turtle Bar - The Commons putting complex where members gather between rounds - Caddie program featuring high-quality caddies from top clubs nationwide, plus local high school and college students - Casual dress code (shorts allowed on course and in the bar) - Car service from Denver International Airport (2.5 hours) or private air service

Members escape "the hustle and bustle of everyday life" in a tranquil, slow-paced setting. The staff is friendly and welcoming without pretention or overly formal structure.

Architect Tom Doak studied nearly every great course in the world (over 1,000) and spent time caddying at St. Andrews. He worked on construction projects with Pete Dye before his first solo design at age 26. His philosophy: great courses are organic, evolving from the subtleties of the ground itself rather than imposed designs.

At Ballyneal, Doak struck the first ball in summer 2006. The course has since proven that timeless design withstands the test of time—the fescue sward took hold better than anticipated and now feels at one with the native landscape.

Ballyneal maintains one of Colorado's top caddie programs. Caddies are hired from reputable clubs nationwide and include returning local high school and college students who grow within the program. Members recognize caddies as part of the Ballyneal family, and many return year after year to see favorite members and guests.

One Ballyneal Lane, Holyoke, CO 80734 (970) 854-5900

• •From Downtown Denver: I-25 North to I-76 East (119 miles), US-6 exit toward Holyoke, right on Interocean Ave (becomes Hwy 385), south 6 miles, left on dirt CR10 (2 miles), right on CR43 (5 miles). Entrance on right.

• •From Denver International Airport: Pena Blvd to E-470 Tollway North, I-76 East (106 miles), US-6 East toward Holyoke (47 miles), same final routing as above.

Member car service available from DIA (2.5 hours) or private/chartered air service with 10-minute drive to clubhouse.