Bear Dance - Colorado - USA

One of a number of high-end daily fee facilities that came onto the scene during the late 1990's and entering the new century.

Bear Dance is routed well -- best of all there's no sharing the eye-space with invasive housing. The combination of holes is also very good and the long par-4 1st sends a loud and clear message that hitting the ball at a high level is going to be tested again and again.

The main deficiency for me rests with the pedestrian putting surfaces. One of the virtues in having a highly skilled architect is someone who knows well how to tie in the greens to the shots one will play. It's not enough to have a testing driving hole and then end the process with greens that, for the most part, are nothing more than adequate.

This is a layout that can easily be better than what it is now. The greens are the heart of any course and it's crucial to provide putting surfaces that place a high premium on positioning one's approach shots. Good holes become great ones when greens provide the ultimate definition in terms of shotmaking. Bear Dance has the potential for even greater acclaim. Right now -- the dance is simply incomplete.

by M. James Ward

I spent my summer of 2015 working at Bear Dance so I got to play the course often, and spend many a day on the track getting a true appreciation for the design. I believe it's one of the most underrated courses in Colorado. There are stunning elevation changes across the Back 9 offering incredible views of the Rockies, particularly off of the 14th and 16th tees. The whole course is well-designed and a wonderful test of golf. Each hole is unique to itself, with some that are clear birdie holes, and others that you just have to survive. It's ranked as one of the best public courses in the state and for good reason. I highly recommend a visit here if you find yourself in Denver or Colorado Springs.