The Centennial State of Colorado is one of only three American states with no natural borders. It’s a geographically diverse territory that encompasses the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado Eastern Plains and the desert areas surrounding the Uncompahgre Plateau, all of which are contained within a landmass extending to more than 100,000 square miles.

Amateur golf has been administered in the state since 1915 when the Colorado Golf Association was established. This body has been organising competitive play for more than a hundred years – Hale Irwin won the state matchplay title in 1966 whilst a student in Boulder – and it looks after the interests of more than 45,000 male golfers in over 200 golf clubs. Colorado’s equivalent female golfing body was founded a year after its male counterpart and it has the modern day responsibility of governing around 19,000 lady members.

Tucked away in the north east corner of the state, close to the border with Nebraska and Kansas, Tom Doak’s widely-acclaimed Ballyneal course burst onto the world golfing stage in 2007 and his fabulous links-like layout has further enhanced his reputation as one of the best architects in the business. Other layouts of national note in the state include the old William Flynn layout at Cherry Hills and the recent Coore & Crenshaw creation at Colorado Golf Club.

Our Colorado Best In State Rankings were last updated in August 2020. Click the link to read the story.