Colorado Getaways June 2019: Grand County

Bagging a Grand Elk

Avid outdoorsman and Masters champion Craig Stadler was clearly inspired by the rugged, fauna-filled terrain near Granby during the construction of Grand Elk Golf Club, the course he co-designed with Tripp Davis. This 7,144-yard masterpiece runs through natural wetlands that form the Colorado River headwaters and affords breathtaking views of the Continental Divide and Rocky Mountain National Park. Part of a 520-acre residential enclave 90 minutes from Denver, Grand Elk’s heathland design suggests Scotland’s Gleneagles courses. grandelk.com

Catch and Release

Mary’s Pond reflects the glorious mountain life at Rendezvous Colorado, a private upscale community between Fraser and Winter Park with abundant fishing, biking and hiking trails, mountain biking, skiing and other active options. rendezvouscolorado.com

Eat at the Elk

Game meats don’t appear often on the menu at the rustic Grand Elk Grille. But tasty fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner sure does. Jumbo burgers, savory salads, fresh-caught fish and exquisitely turned steaks all come with inspiring views of the golf course, Byers Peak and Grand County’s famous 360-degree scenic vistas. Enjoy it all in the quaint, western farmhouse dining area, the fresh mountain air of the deck—or just belly up to the classic wood-and-silver bar. grandelk.com

Second That Emotion

With four golf courses, world-class trails and lakes, gold-medal fishing waters, awesome skiing and historic communities, Grand County provides an ideal second-home option. Koelbel’s Fairway Villas at Grand Elk mostly come in ranch and two-story styles, while the developer’s 1,160-acre Rendezvous Colorado near Winter Park features custom homes, cabins, townhomes and more. koelbelatgrandelk.com; rendezvouscolorado.com

Don’t Miss Events

Blues from the Top Music Festival: This June 29-30 event at the Rendezvous Event Center showcases regional and national talent in blues, roots, American rock, jam, soul and blues gospel. playwinterpark.com

Fire Up the Cliffs: Kremmling draws visitors from all over to celebrate the 4th of July. Join them for a boffo block party, beer garden, BBQ, live music and fireworks. kremmlingchamber.com

Winter Park Jazz Festival: The 37th edition takes place July 20-21 at the Rendezvous Event Center with Boyz II Men, Gerald Albright and Rick Braun among the many star performers. playwinterpark.com/jazzfest

Grand Lake’s Mulligan

For more than 40 years, the lodgepole pines lining the fairways of Grand Lake Golf Course saluted good shots and imprisoned wayward ones. Then came the pine-beetle infestation. The loss of hundreds of thousands of trees transformed the Henry Hughes/Dick Phelps layout adjacent to Rocky Mountain National Park into a dazzling links-style layout. Set at 8,420 feet above sea level, the impeccably maintained course stretches to 7,165 yards and features tiny greens, mountain views and numerous elk, moose, fox and the occasional bear. grandlakegolf.com

Pole Position

Any 18-hole combo of Pole Creek Golf Club’s Ridge, Ranch or Meadow nines will conspire to test your game with ubiquitous pines, water hazards, elevation changes and fast bentgrass greens. polecreekgolf.com

Down Flows Fraser

The Fraser River teems with wild rainbows, browns and cutthroat trout. Access the currents on foot or mountain bike via the Fraser River Trail, or via USFS campgrounds or road turnouts. Outfitters include Grand County Fishing Company, Winter Park Flyfisher and Mo Henry’s Trout Shop. visitgrandcounty.com

Down Goes the Beer

Grand County’s craft brewing scene is hopping. Never Summer Brewing (Granby), Hideaway Park (Winter Park), World’s End (Grand Lake) and Grand Adventure (Kremmling) all deliver special suds and an apposite vibe. visitgrandcounty.com

Ranching Out

South of Grand Elk sprawls the 7,196-yard Granby Ranch, comprised of a valley/wetlands front nine and a back that tightropes the ridgeline of the property’s ski resort. Great hiking and biking trails and the Fraser River frame the course. granbyranch.com

Soak It In

Hot Sulphur Springs, a small town just east of Kremmling, features the 17 rooms, 23 pools and 90-minute massage treatments of the 140-year-old Hot Sulphur Springs Resort & Spa. Bathe in the waters and melt away stress. hotsulphursprings.com

For more Colorado adventure ideas, check out this guide from Your RV Lifestyle.

Steamboat Springs | Colorado Springs | Western Slope

This section appeared in the 2019 June Issue of Colorado AvidGolfer.

Colorado AvidGolfer Magazine is the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it, publishing eight issues annually and proudly delivering daily content via coloradoavidgolfer.com.

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