Bella Ridge Golf Club

Bella Ridge is Colorado's first new regulation public golf course since RainDance National. Offering six tee options on a par-72 layout that stretches to just over 7,300 yards.

Architect Art Schaupeter — the Colorado native behind TPC Colorado in nearby Berthoud — shaped the Podtburg family's former dairy farm into a layout with 50 bunkers, multiple water features, and nearly 200 feet of elevation change across rolling Front Range terrain.

History of Bella Ridge Golf Club

The concept for Bella Ridge was first proposed around 2016 by the Podtburg family, who had owned and operated a dairy farm on the Johnstown site for more than 45 years. After approximately eight years of planning and construction, the golf course opened for limited preview play on 6 October 2025, managed by Troon Golf.

Schaupeter, who designed TPC Colorado in Berthoud and Highland Meadows in Windsor, was engaged to transform the rolling hillside property into an 18-hole public layout. The course is named after the mountain views that define the property — Bella Ridge, translating loosely as "beautiful ridge" — with Longs Peak visible from multiple points during the round.

A dedicated practice facility, including a 400-yard driving range, a 15,000-square-foot putting green, and a short-game area, is scheduled to open in 2026. The clubhouse, featuring a golf simulator, pro shop, and Virgil's Lounge, was completing final construction phases at the time of opening.

Course Layout & Playing Experience

Bella Ridge plays as a par-72 across four par-3s, ten par-4s, and four par-5s, with six sets of tees ranging from just under 3,200 yards to over 7,300 yards. The course is built on bluegrass and ryegrass fairways with 007XL bentgrass greens throughout.

Schaupeter used the site's natural contours to generate nearly 200 feet of elevation change across the round, with wide, undulating fairways giving way to sculpted green complexes. The layout includes three short par-4s — measuring 276, 303, and 310 yards respectively — alongside par-5s ranging from 527 to 646 yards, providing variety across all ability levels.

Each of the 18 holes carries a named identity drawn from the property's history and geography. Holes include Valley of Risk…Reward?, Dare Ya, Ridge Runner, Udderly Long, Dam Deceptive, and Podtburg Point — the latter a tribute to the family whose dairy farm became the site.

Verdict

Bella Ridge Golf Club arrives as Colorado's most significant new public golf addition in several years, shaped from a working dairy farm by a designer who knows the Front Range terrain well.

The combination of named holes, 50 bunkers, multiple water hazards, and mountain views of Longs Peak gives the course a distinctive identity from its first season.

With the full practice facility and clubhouse still completing construction at the time of writing, Bella Ridge is a course that warrants revisiting as it matures — and one whose accessible public-access model makes it a practical addition to any northern Colorado golf itinerary alongside TPC Colorado and RainDance National Golf Club.