With the picturesque settings surrounding most premiere ski resorts, the ski industry has wisely designed and constructed some of the most amazing golf courses and country clubs in the world in an effort to boost visitation during the non-skiing months. After spending hours looking through some of the most revered and jaw dropping golf destinations in North America, we’ve compiled the ultimate list of courses for the skier or snowboarder that likes spending warm weather months on a finely trimmed tee-box located directly beneath the mountains.
*Cover image courtesy of Silvertip Resort
Sun Valley Resort (Trail Creek/White Clouds’/Elkhorn) | Sun Valley, Idaho
Back in 1930, Sun Valley Resort’s Trail Creek Course started with nine holes and was renovated and extended to 18 holes via a Robert Trent Jones, Jr. design in 1971. The Elkhorn Golf Club was originally opened in 1974 and was the last collaboration between Jones and his father, Robert Trent Jones Senior. After its extensive renovation in 2004, the Elkhorn Club reopened in 2005 and was acquired by the Sun Valley Company in July of 2011. In 2009, Sun Valley continued to expand its golf options by adding the White Clouds’ course, which lies just across the street from Trail Creek. Long story short, there’s no shortage of places to play golf in Sun Valley, Idaho.
Trail Creek was most recently recognized by Golf Digest as one of the top 75 resort courses in North America. The alpine-style course includes wandering streams and ominous bunkers that are strategically positioned to punish any errant shot. White Clouds offers its guests 360-degree wrap-around view of the Wood River Valley, which encompasses Bald Mountain, Dollar Mountain, the Pioneer Mountains, Angel’s Perch, and Devil’s Bedstead. White Clouds provides players a more contrasting round that it’s neighbor, Trail Creek with its additional more sand traps, side-hill lies and blind shots. At the Elkhorn Golf Club, large, undulating greens are accompanied by over 100 sand traps over the 7,214-yard tract that runs along the Elkhorn hillsides.
Silvertip Resort (Silvertip Golf Course) | Canmore, Alberta
The Silvertip Golf Course is a creation of master designer Les Furber. The par-72 course features 600 feet of elevation change, so keep the walking bag in the truck and plan to use the cart bag. The length varies from 5,100 to 7,200 yards depending upon the tee placement, allowing for both scratch golfers and recreational players to enjoy their rounds.
Featuring some of the most spectacular scenery on earth, Silvertip may be the most breathtaking mountain golf course in the world. The resort is certified as an “Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” bordering two wildlife corridors, rewarding guests with views of a wide variety of Rocky Mountain wildlife. The course features lush forest, crystal clear mountain ponds, and immaculately manicured turf with inviting fairways and greens.
Spruce Peak Resort (The Mountain Course) | Stowe, Vermont
Laid out in the foothills of Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak, Spruce Peak Resort is the creation of designer Bob Cupp. Ranked the #1 course in Vermont by Golf Advisor, the rugged, par-72 design reaches an elevation of 1,800 feet over the 6,411-yard layout. Club members and guests with a qualifying stay at The Lodge at Spruce Peak enjoy spectacular rock outcroppings and abundant wildlife while enjoying views of both Spruce Peak and Mt. Mansfield during their round.
The Telluride Ski & Golf Resort (Telluride Golf Club) | Telluride, Colorado
Tucked within the highest concentration of 13,000 and 14,000-foot peaks in the United States, the Telluride Golf Club features an 18-hole par-70, 6,574-yard course that features the natural beauty and splendor of the surrounding mountains and wildflowers.
The opening hole features one of the nation’s most elevated tee areas at an altitude of 9,417 feet, so hitting the driver off the tee may result in some “pro-level” bombs. The fir and aspen forests are prevalent throughout the course and the Sneffels Range, San Sophia Range and 14’er Mount Wilson encircle the club. A 92-step climb from the cart path to the tee box on No. 17 reveals sweeping panoramic views of the towering San Miguel mountain range.
If you’re ready for the best golf experience these ski resorts have to offer, book your vacation with Ski.com today! Start by building your very own customized quote. If you have additional questions, call our Mountain Travel Experts at 800-610-8911.
About the Author:
My name is Jordan Fuller, and I am a golf enthusiast. Golf has always been my passion, ever since I was a kid. I fell in love with helping others improve their game. As a golf expert, my advice has been published on many newspapers, including Golf Tips Magazine, FORE Magazine, GolfMagic and USGolfTV.
Find more golf content from Jordan on his website, Golf Influence