The snow has melted, and the skis are stored for the summer...it’s time to get into the swing of things! Golf is always a favorite activity to kick off summer.
And did you know that the high altitude of the Rocky Mountains makes golf balls fly 10% farther? While it sounds like inflated folklore, the aerodynamic researchers at Titleist concur. With a driver, you get an extra 2.5 yards per 1,000 feet of altitude. At a base elevation of 9300’ your game can certainly go the distance! Fortunately, the extra boost only kicks in for long drives, meaning your short game doesn’t require any adjustments.
200 Clubhouse Drive, Breckenridge
Breckenridge Golf Club has three championship nines, the BEAR the BEAVER, and the ELK. All three nines are Jack Nicklaus signature courses. Playing at 9300+ feet in elevation, each nine offers a mountain golf experience with panoramic views of the snowcapped Colorado Rockies, while densely wooded areas give way to open native grassland and wetland areas. With the fantastic views and wildlife you may experience, you realize a visit to the Breckenridge Golf Club offers more than just golf!
The Bear Course
Opened in 1985, the Bear was the first nine to grace the landscape known to the early-day miners as Buffalo Flats. You should shoot no higher than your handicap on the first six holes on the Bear Nine because holes 7, 8, and 9 are as tough as they get. The Bear Nine has the most open feel of the three nines, as many of the holes play around the native grasses and wetlands. Views of the Ten-Mile mountain range are most notable on holes eight and nine. For a great view of the ski runs at the Breckenridge Ski Area, look back down hole # 5 once you are on the green. The Bear was fittingly named for the black bears that wander onto this nine numerous times every summer.
The Beaver Course
The second nine to open, in 1987, was the Beaver. The Beaver Nine has the narrowest fairways of any of the nines. Accurate drives, although not necessarily long drives, are a requirement for you to shoot your handicap on these nine holes. A venture to the left of holes 6, 7, and 8 and you will notice rock piles, tailings as the miners called them, leftover from the days of gold mining in the area. The miners were not the only creatures to leave their mark on the topography. The Beaver Nine takes its name from the beaver ponds that are scattered along holes 6, 8, and 9. These holes have active beavers that helped create the challenges that await you on these holes. Don’t blame Jack Nicklaus for this design work. The beavers created the habitat and Nicklaus left it in place for your enjoyment.
The Elk Course
The Elk Nine opened in 2001 giving golfers 27-holes to play. The Elk Nine offers the most elevation change of the three nines, as well as the widest panoramic views of the Ten-Mile mountain range. It’s easy to see why the Elk like this area so much. With open views, a lake to drink from, and nourishing bushes and grasses to eat from.
The challenges of the Elk Nine are accuracy and without this, you too will be experiencing the lake and the bushes. Although more open than the Beaver Nine, drives must be hit to specific locations for the best approach shots into the greens. Hole 7 has the most elevation change of any of the 27 holes at Breckenridge at 9,445 feet. Mountain Golf at its’ pinnacle!
Here are some of our favorite Moving Mountains homes near the Breckenridge Golf Courses:
ON THE CORNER AT THE SHORES | 3 BEDS | 3.5 BATHS | 10 GUESTS
RIVER SONG AT THE SHORES | 3 BEDS | 3.5 BATHS | 9 GUESTS
BLUE SKIES AT THE SHORES | 3 BEDS | 4 BATHS | 10 GUESTS
