Gotta Have That Funk

THERE IS WEE BIT of irony to be found in the idea of Fred Funk, regarded as one of the shortest hitters on the PGA TOUR during his days on the circuit, designing a golf course that stretches out to some 8,014 yards from the tips—with a Par-5 that will play as long as 759 yards. But what’s the old adage—Go Big or Go Home?—that seems to be the main idea behind RainDance National Golf Club.

Currently under construction in Windsor, RainDance is currently slated to open in July, 2022. Located less than a mile west of its “sister” course, Pelican Lakes Golf Club, RainDance is the brainchild of Funk and Harrison Minchew. A native of Augusta, Ga. Minchew spent more than a quarter-decade as the Director of Design Services for Arnold Palmer Golf, completing 70 courses around the world.

Some of those tracts have hosted big deal events on almost any major tour; during a recent site visit to Colorado, Minchew expects the same to happen at RainDance.

“This facility has everything a major tournament venue could want to have,” he said.

Playing at a par 71, featuring four par-5s and five par-3s, about the only thing missing from RainDance is, well, water. Only one hole, the par-4 15th, includes a hazard with the wet stuff (conversely, Pelican Lakes has water on 21 of its 27 holes). The spacious fairways will be seeded 50-50 with fescue and Kentucky bluegrass and the rest of the landscape will feature native plants such as sage grass, yucca, rabbitbush and cactus. PerFunk’srecommendation,RainDanceNational will play dry and fast, all the better to squeeze every bit of oompf from players who may be able to relate to his “everyman’s” game.

In addition, the facility will include a 6,000-square foot put- ting green as well as the “Horse Course,” a 65,000 square foot short game practice area. There are plans to add a snow-bunny hill—“SnowDance”—glamping and eventually, a hotel and resort that could draw Coloradans year- round.

“They’ll be this spectacular venue right in their back yard,” said Funk, who won eight events on the PGA TOUR, including the Players’ Championship in 2005.

While there are no plans— currently—to be the course that brings the tour back to Colorado, like Minchew, Funk sees no reason why RainDance shouldn’t become a player in golf circles.

“I’ve had talks with Suzy Whaley (former President of the PGA of America) and I’ve already called the USGA to let them know that we’re doing somethingouthereandtogetusonthemapand in their minds…they need to come out and see this.” raindancecolorado.com