Planning a Golf Trip to Vail Valley & Summit County: Group Guide
Summer golf in Colorado's ski towns: two Red Sky courses by Tom Fazio and Greg Norman, Beaver Creek in its canyon, and 63 public and resort holes in Summit County. Base in the Vail Valley and day-trip over Vail Pass.
The courses to play
- Red Sky Golf Club, Fazio Course: Tom Fazio, 7,116 yards through sage hills and aspen forest with views of Vail's Back Bowls. A private club open to guests of its partner lodging properties.
- Red Sky Golf Club, Norman Course: Greg Norman, 7,580 yards of rock outcrops, scrub oak and gulches facing Castle Peak. Guests and members alternate courses daily, so you get one each day. A Flex 36 option lets the same player do both.
- Beaver Creek Golf Club: Robert Trent Jones Jr., opened 1982, with famously narrow fairways in the canyon below the ski area. Open to Beaver Creek, Bachelor Gulch and Arrowhead guests from 10am. Earlier times are for members.
- Vail Golf Club: Public course built by Vail pioneer Ben Krueger in 1962 along Gore Creek. Par 71, 6,739 yards, and the most walkable course in the valley.
- Breckenridge Golf Club: Town-owned, 27 Jack Nicklaus Signature holes (Bear, Beaver, Elk) at more than 9,300 feet. Public.
- Keystone Ranch: Robert Trent Jones Jr., par 72, up to 7,017 yards, routed past the original early-1900s homestead and barns. Public tee times, plus stay-and-play packages with Keystone lodging.
- The River Course at Keystone: Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, par 71, up to 6,886 yards. The 16th tee sits nearly 200 feet above the green with views of the Continental Divide and Lake Dillon.
- The Club at Cordillera: Private Troon-managed club with Fazio, Hale Irwin and Nicklaus courses. Members only, so plan around it.
Getting there
| Airport | Code | Drive to the golf |
|---|---|---|
| Eagle County (Vail) | EGE | about 35 min to Vail |
| Denver International | DEN | about 2 hrs to Vail, about 1 hr 30 min to Keystone |
Check live flights to EGE on Google Flights →
Nonstop from 39 major U.S. cities: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Raleigh-Durham, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, St. Louis, Syracuse, Tampa, Washington, D.C., Albany, Richmond. Group flying from different cities? →
When to go
Short season. Keystone ran May 8 to October 4 in 2026, Beaver Creek May 16 to October 4, and Vail Golf Club reopens in May 2027. June through September is the safe window.
Group tip
Before you book
- Lock the headcount in a multiple of four.
- Set the per-person budget with the cost calculator.
- Call the resort or golf desk directly and ask for group tee-time blocks, stay-and-play packages and the cancellation and rain policy.
- Collect deposits the week you book. Use the deposit tracker.
- Pick your format and build pairings.
Official resources
Heads-up before you book
- Vail Golf Club is closed for the 2026 season and plans to reopen in May 2027. source
- Rodeo Dunes, the new Coore and Crenshaw walking-only course on the plains about 35 minutes from Denver International Airport, opens to the public in 2027. All publicly released 2027 tee times are booked. Join the waitlist on the official site for released times. It is a good first or last round on the way to or from the mountains, not part of the mountain base. source
Checked November 10, 2026. Schedules change, so confirm with the resort.
Fun facts about Vail Valley & Summit County
- Breckenridge is the only town in the world that owns 27 holes of Jack Nicklaus golf. source
- Beaver Creek Golf Club marks its tees like ski runs, from green (easiest) to double black (hardest). source
- To build the Fazio Course, Red Sky moved more than 23,000 native plants into nurseries and replanted them around the course. source
- In winter, Vail Golf Club turns into the town's Nordic Center, with 17 kilometers of groomed cross-country ski track. source
- Moose, elk, beaver, deer and sometimes a bear show up on the course at Breckenridge. source
Facts last checked November 10, 2026. How we check facts. Resort or tourism board? Send us updates for this guide.
Course details and access rules change. Confirm current tee-time policies and rates directly with each course before you book.
FAQ
When is the best time for a Vail Valley & Summit County golf trip?
Short season. Keystone ran May 8 to October 4 in 2026, Beaver Creek May 16 to October 4, and Vail Golf Club reopens in May 2027. June through September is the safe window. Best months: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
What airport do you fly into for Vail Valley & Summit County?
Eagle County (Vail) (EGE), about 35 min to Vail; Denver International (DEN), about 2 hrs to Vail, about 1 hr 30 min to Keystone.
What are the best courses at Vail Valley & Summit County?
Red Sky Golf Club, Fazio Course, Red Sky Golf Club, Norman Course, Beaver Creek Golf Club, Vail Golf Club, Breckenridge Golf Club, Keystone Ranch, The River Course at Keystone, The Club at Cordillera.
Is Vail Valley & Summit County good for a group golf trip?
Best for: Groups who want cool summer golf, big mountain views and ski-town bars in the evening. It works for groups of 4–12, 12–24, 24+ golfers.
How far ahead should we book Vail Valley & Summit County?
For 8 or more golfers in peak season, plan 6–12 months out. Call the golf desk and ask about group tee-time blocks and package rates before you book rooms.
Similar trips
Turning Stone
Three championship courses, including a former PGA Tour venue, plus a casino and resort under one roof.
Nemacolin
Two Pete Dye designs in the Laurel Highlands. Golf is for resort guests and members, so the stay comes first.
The Greenbrier
A grand old resort with PGA Tour and Ryder Cup history, a casino, and enough golf for a full long weekend.