Southern Colorado

Colorado AvidGolfer

Golf

Southern Colorado presents the chance to play both the state’s classic courses as well as its newest. No trip to the area is complete without a visit to The Broadmoor Golf Club  (broadmoor.com; 866-837-9520). Guests of the august resort are treated to three first-class courses–the Mountain Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, the West Course, which combines nine holes of Donald Ross’s 1918 design and nine of Robert Trent Jones Sr.’s 1964 design, and the East Course, another Ross-Jones combination where the world’s top female golfers will test their games in the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open. Next, head southeast to Cañon City to take on Colorado’s newest course, Four Mile Ranch Golf Club (fourmileranch.com; 719-275-5400). Located in Colorado’s temperate “Banana Belt,” this Jim Engh layout spans a stunning high desert landscape dotted with piñon   and shale hogbacks that serve as hazards on this bunkerless creation. For a more traditional experience, go to Shadow Hills Golf Course (golfshadowhills.com; 719-275-0603), where rates start at only $24. Continue south to Trinidad and Cougar Canyon Golf Links (cougarcanyonliving.com; 719-422-7015). Crafted by Jack Nicklaus Design, Cougar Canyon’s 7,669 yards covers a stunningly diverse terrain of native brush, rocky canyons and black sand bunkers.

Lodging

Few places in Colorado–or the country for that matter–offer the same level of service, amenities and luxury as The Broadmoor (broadmoor.com; 866-837-9520). In addition to its three golf courses, guests enjoy a selection of the state’s best restaurants, decadent spa and elegantly appointed modern rooms and suites. It’s more than worth the cost of admission. Travelers looking for more affordable accommodations with a similar menu of amenities and activities stay at Cheyenne Mountain Resort (cheyennemountain.com; 800-428-8886), where you’ll find a full-service health club, four swimming pools, 35-acre lake, 18 tennis courts and access to a Pete Dye  championship golf course.

Attractions

Southern Colorado is all about natural wonders. Take a driving or walking tour of Garden of the Gods’ splendid rock formations (gardenofthegods.com; 719-634-6666) or Seven Falls (sevenfalls.com), where water cascades 181 feet over seven distinct granite shelves. Further south is the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park (royalgorgebridge.com; 888-333-5597). Not for the acrophobic, the bridge hangs nearly 1,000 feet above the Arkansas River.