Lakota Canyon Ranch & Golf Club opened for play in May 2004, offering 18 holes of world class golf with stunning views of rugged Western Colorado canyons and natural terrain. Situated just below the Flat Tops Wilderness Area in the lower foothills of the Rockies, Lakota Canyon Ranch & Golf Club has a scenic, secluded location that is surprisingly accessible to and from all of the ski areas of Copper Mountain, Keystone, Breckenridge, Vail, and Aspen. The location is also equipped with spectacular views from all around the course. Jim Engh designed the golf course, incorporating all of his trademarks including bowled fairways, cavernous bunkers, and receptive but tricky greens. Water hazards also come into play on a few holes.
Fairways are strung out in two loops of returning nines along the sides and bottom of deep, narrow valleys so storm drainage was a major factor in the design specification. Many of the holes feature elevated tee boxes where golfers face everything that lies between tee and green.
The first hole is a dogleg left with a big drop from the tee. The finisher is a doozy. The hazard runs the entire length of the hole waiting to gobble up mishits. I played this up the left side.
The most difficult hole at Lakota Canyon Ranch & Golf Club is the 9th – 205 Yard Par – The 205 yard 9th hole at Lakota is a diabolical little hole that can ruin a good front nine score. A large ravine rests right of the hole and the left side of the hole features a hill that kicks balls toward that same ravine. If you miss the green you will almost surely score no better than a bogey and there is a good chance you will have lost a ball in the process.
Signature Hole: 18th Hole – 557 Yard Par 5 – The final hole offers a chance to press the bets! The player needing birdie can take a bold line and go for the green in two and hope to carry the waste area that leads up to the putting surface. The conservative player will follow the fairways up the right side of the hole and deliver a short chip to the green.
