Colorado Springs / Colorado

The take

Colorado Springs is a premium mountain-resort golf trip built around The Broadmoor, not a pure multi-course golf factory. The Broadmoor opened in 1918, the East Course still carries Donald Ross bones and Robert Trent Jones Sr. additions, and the property has hosted major USGA championships including U.S. Amateur, U.S. Women's Open, and U.S. Senior Open events. Jack Nicklaus won the 1959 U.S. Amateur here. Annika Sorenstam won the 1995 U.S. Women's Open here. That history matters. It gives the trip credibility before anyone orders the first old fashioned.

The best version is simple: stay at The Broadmoor, play East and West, use Cheyenne Mountain or Garden of the Gods as a supporting round only if the group wants more golf, and leave real time for the resort, the spa, the Penrose Room, the Golden Bee, and the mountains. This is not Bandon. You are not here to walk 36 in weather and prove moral superiority. You are here for a polished golf-and-resort trip that happens to have serious golf bones.

Read the full take

The mistake is treating Colorado Springs like a cheap golf destination because it is not coastal. The golf access, hotel quality, dining, and service level all point premium. If the group wants value volume, go elsewhere. If the group wants a comfortable, scenic, grown-up trip with enough golf credibility to satisfy strong players, this works.

Best version

Couples trips and polished buddy trips, Groups that want resort amenities with legitimate golf history, Travelers who value service, scenery, spa, and dining, Golfers who enjoy altitude, mountain views, and classic resort courses

Skip if

Budget-sensitive groups
Players who want 36 holes every day
Trip captains trying to build a dense public-course itinerary
Anyone expecting Bandon-style walking culture

Insider notes

Couples trips and polished buddy trips
Groups that want resort amenities with legitimate golf history
Travelers who value service, scenery, spa, and dining
Golfers who enjoy altitude, mountain views, and classic resort courses

The courses

5 core rounds. Scan first, then click into the course detail when you want the full read.

Full destination course detailsExpand this section for the deeper course reads, then click again to hide it.Expand

#47GD Public

Strong play

Broadmoor East

Designer: Donald Ross / Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Year: 1918
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,355 yds
Difficulty: High from the back; fair from the right tees
Green fees: Resort/private-club access only; daily green fee includes cart and practice access when paid. Verify current adult rates directly.

East is the reason golf people care. It has the history, the tournament resume, the best architecture, and the tree-lined mountain-resort look that makes The Broadmoor feel like The Broadmoor. The Ross/Jones blend gives it more design substance than many luxury-resort courses, and the mountain-read greens are the quiet problem. Play it first if the group is serious.

Strengths

USGA pedigree
Strong routing
Classic greens
Best course identity on property.

Weaknesses

Access tied to resort stay or member guest status
Premium pricing
Carts required before 2 PM.

The anchor. If you skip East, you did not really do the trip.

0/5

Signature holes: 4, 7, 15, 18.

4.7(297)

1 Lake Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, USA

(719) 577-5790

Strong play

Broadmoor West

Designer: Robert Trent Jones Sr. / Donald Ross influence
Year: 1965
Par: 71
Yardage: 7,016 yds
Difficulty: Moderate-high
Green fees: Resort/private-club access only; verify current rates and seasonal opening schedule directly.

West is the better second course than many guests expect. It has more elevation movement, more mountain feel, and a slightly less formal personality than East. That makes it a useful contrast rather than a consolation prize.

Strengths

Better mountain movement
Strong views
Good companion to East
More varied than it gets credit for.

Weaknesses

Less championship gravity than East
Occasional seasonal maintenance/opening limits
Still premium access.

Play East for the history and West for the resort trip. Both belong.

0/5

Signature holes: 1, 6, 13, 18.

Strong play

Broadmoor Mountain Course

Designer: Jack Nicklaus Design renovation of former South Course
Year: 2006
Par: Closed
Yardage: Not currently bookable
Difficulty: Not applicable
Green fees: Not currently bookable as an 18-hole course.

Do not plan around the Mountain Course. The former Mountain/South Course has been closed for years after land movement issues, and The Broadmoor has explored using part of that site for a short-course concept. For trip planning today, Broadmoor golf means East and West.

Strengths

Interesting history
Possible future short-course relevance
Explains why older Broadmoor content mentions three courses.

Weaknesses

Not an active 18-hole planning option
Easy for outdated lists to mislead people.

History note only. The current trip is East/West.

0/5

Signature holes: Not applicable.

Strong play

Cheyenne Mountain Resort / Country Club of Colorado

Designer: Pete Dye
Year: 1973
Par: 71
Yardage: About 7,000 yds
Difficulty: Moderate
Green fees: Resort/member/public-access policies and rates should be verified directly before booking.

Cheyenne Mountain is the practical add-on if the group wants more golf without turning the trip into a road show. It is not Broadmoor East, and it does not need to be. It gives you a playable, scenic Pete Dye resort round around a 35-acre lake with easier access and a very different design flavor.

Strengths

Close to The Broadmoor
Resort setting
Good for arrival/departure rounds
Less intense than East.

Weaknesses

Not a bucket-list course
Access/rates and current conditioning need confirming
Can feel secondary if oversold.

Good third round. Do not let it steal time from The Broadmoor if this is a short trip.

0/5

Signature holes: 3, 9, 14, 18.

4.8(260)

2336-3818 N 30th St, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, USA

Strong play

Garden of the Gods / Kissing Camels

Designer: J. Press Maxwell / Mark Rathert renovation work
Year: 1961
Par: 71/72 by nine combination
Yardage: 27-hole resort/private club facility
Difficulty: Moderate
Green fees: Private club/resort guest access; verify current guest policies and package availability.

Kissing Camels is more about setting and access than pure architecture. The red-rock and mountain backdrop is excellent, the facility is private/resort-oriented, and it works best as a polished supporting round for groups staying there or able to secure access.

Strengths

Great scenery
27-hole flexibility
Strong resort pairing
Useful for mixed groups.

Weaknesses

Access restrictions
Not as historically important as Broadmoor East
Can feel more lifestyle than serious-golf.

Play it if access is easy. Do not bend the whole trip around it.

0/5

Signature holes: Access-dependent by nine; prioritize the most scenic routing available.

Full course library

Where to stay, eat, and stray

Lodging

Where to stay

The Broadmoor

Cheyenne Mountain Resort

Garden of the Gods Resort and Club

Dining

Where groups actually eat

Penrose Room

La Taverne

Ristorante del Lago

Things to do

Beyond the golf

The Broadmoor Spa

Best for: Recovery, couples trips, premium groups Our take: This is where the resort premium shows up. If the group includes non-golfers, the spa is not optional window dressing.

Garden of the Gods

Best for: Easy scenery and short hikes Our take: The easiest "we actually saw Colorado" move. Do it on arrival day or a lighter golf day.

Pikes Peak / Cog Railway

Best for: Groups with an open half day Our take: Great if the schedule allows. Dumb if squeezed between tee times.

Planning mechanics

Logistics

Flights, driving, walking

Flights

Colorado Springs Airport (COS): best airport if direct flights work. Denver International Airport (DEN): more flight options, but usually 90 minutes or more by car depending on traffic. Private aviation: COS is the cleanest premium arrival option.

Ground transportation

If staying at The Broadmoor, transportation needs are light once on property. If adding Cheyenne Mountain or Garden of the Gods, use rental cars or arranged transfers. Do not underestimate Denver-to-Colorado Springs traffic.

Walking

Broadmoor policy requires carts before 2 PM on both courses. This is not a walking-purist destination. Accept the cart, enjoy the views, and save the morality play for another trip. If caddies or forecaddie-style help are available for your tee time, they are most useful on the East Course greens.

Weather

When the trip works best

Summer

Best overall window, with afternoon storms possible.

Shoulder season

May and October can be good value but require flexibility.

Altitude

The ball flies, the sun is stronger, and hydration is not optional.

Planning ranges

Cost and value levers

Golf

$$$-$$$$ - Broadmoor rounds are premium and access-controlled; supporting courses vary.

Lodging

$$$$ - The Broadmoor is the luxury spend; alternatives reduce cost but change the trip.

Dining

$$$-$$$$ - Resort dinners add up fast but are part of the experience.

Itinerary builder

Build your itinerary

The sample on the right is an illustrative Streamsong example.

It is meant to show the depth and shape of a real plan. Build your own around your group, dates, rounds, lodging, dining, and travel timing.

Build my itinerary

Illustrative sample output

Streamsong in 3 Days: 4 Rounds, Mixed Group

3 nights at Streamsong Lodge covering all 3 courses plus a repeat of whichever lands best with the group. With a mixed-skill group and a social thread running through the trip, the sequencing matters: start approachable, build toward bold, and protect evenings for the group to decompress together.

Recommendation

Start with Red to set the right tone for mixed players, not Black. Black's scale can deflate weaker players early and that poisons the rest of the trip.

Day 1

Morning: Arrive, check in to Streamsong Lodge, and get settled without rushing. Arrival timing is unknown, so do not force a same-day round.

Afternoon: If arriving early-to-midday, use the practice facilities to shake off travel; skip forcing an afternoon round on an unknown schedule.

Evening: Make this the nicer dinner night. Gather the group, debrief the plan, and use the evening to build energy for the heavy golf days ahead.

Insider note: Day 1 is the setup day, not a golf day. Burning a round here on travel legs is the most common mistake groups make at Streamsong.

Day 2

Morning: Tee off on Streamsong Red first thing. It is the most balanced course and the right anchor for a mixed-skill group on fresh legs.

Afternoon: Afternoon round on Streamsong Blue. It is more open and wind-affected, which rewards better players while staying manageable enough for the group.

Evening: Keep dinner casual and on property. Two rounds is a full day and the group needs to recover, not power through a production.

Insider note: Red in the morning lets the group settle in before Blue asks harder questions in the afternoon wind.

Day 3

Morning: Play Streamsong Black. Use it as the bold contrast round the guide describes, not as the centerpiece, and set expectations accordingly for higher-handicap players.

Afternoon: Replay the course that resonated most with the group. Red is the likely call for mixed groups, Blue for stronger players who want another look.

Evening: Final evening on property. Keep it relaxed since departure timing is unknown and no one should be grinding through dinner logistics.

Insider note: Black is the experience round, not the best round. Frame it that way for the group before the first tee so no one is quietly disappointed by the rougher edges.

Tradeoffs

Four rounds in two full golf days is aggressive but workable at a comfortable pace. The plan keeps Day 1 golf-free to protect legs and group cohesion rather than chasing a fifth round nobody would enjoy.

Black is scheduled for Day 3 morning rather than being skipped. It adds useful contrast and a memorable moment, but it was deliberately placed after the group already has two courses under its belt rather than as an opener.

The nicer dinner was placed on Day 1 rather than a golf day. This protects energy on the days that matter and gives the group something to build toward without splitting a long golf day around a formal meal.

Book first

Book all four tee times at Streamsong before lodging fills. The property manages its own tee sheet and availability tightens fast in peak season.

Confirm Streamsong Lodge rooms for all three nights in a single block. A small group of 3-4 makes this manageable, but winter weekends can still book out early.

Arrange caddies for at least Red and Blue if the group is open to walking. First-time looks benefit significantly from local knowledge on both courses.

Watchouts

Two rounds on Day 2 is the heaviest ask of the trip. If anyone in the mixed group is a high-handicapper or infrequent player, build in flexibility to skip the afternoon Blue round rather than grinding through it.

Streamsong is genuinely remote and there is no nightlife option off property. Groups expecting energy beyond the lodge bar will be disappointed, and that expectation gap kills trip morale faster than a bad round.

Black's scale and difficulty can frustrate less experienced players, especially after already playing 36 holes the day before. If the group's weakest player struggled on Day 2, consider swapping Black for a Red replay.

LodgingExpand

Overall lodging take: Colorado Springs is one of the places where lodging choice defines the trip. If you want The Broadmoor experience, stay at The Broadmoor. If you are trying to save money, admit you are building a different trip.

Five-star resort

The Broadmoor

0/5

Best for: First-time trips, couples, premium groups, and anyone prioritizing service

Cost: Luxury resort rates vary heavily by season, room type, and package.

4.7(9,837)(855) 634-7711

1 Lake Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, USA

Pros

Best golf access; strongest service; deep dining; Penrose Room and Golden Bee on property; spa and resort amenities; iconic setting.

Cons

Expensive; less ideal for rowdy budget buddy groups; tee access tied to resort/member policies.

Full-service resort

Cheyenne Mountain Resort

0/5

Best for: Groups wanting a cheaper resort base with on-site golf

Cost: Seasonal resort rates; often below The Broadmoor.

Pros

On-site golf; lake and mountain setting; easier price point; good for family/mixed trips.

Cons

Less iconic; not the same dining/service tier; Broadmoor rounds still require separate planning.

Scenic resort/private club

Garden of the Gods Resort and Club

0/5

Best for: Couples, spa-forward trips, and groups prioritizing views

Cost: Seasonal premium resort rates; confirm golf access with stay.

4.4(1,312)(719) 748-6190

3320 Mesa Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, USA

Monday: Open 24 hours

Pros

Strong views; spa/wellness angle; on-site Kissing Camels access by policy; polished rooms.

Cons

Access complexity; not as golf-historic as The Broadmoor; less central to the core golf story.

City hotel or rental base

Downtown Colorado Springs / Manitou Springs hotels

0/5

Best for: Value control and groups that want local restaurants

Cost: Broad range by season and event calendar.

Lodging verdict: If the trip is Broadmoor-led, stay at The Broadmoor. If the trip is Colorado Springs plus some golf, Cheyenne Mountain or Garden of the Gods can work.

Pros

Lower cost; restaurant access; more casual group energy.

Cons

Less premium; less convenient; weakens Broadmoor access strategy.

0/5

Best for: Casual group night

2.8(191)(888) 721-2228

PO Box 351028, Los Angeles, CA 90035, USA

Details

Scenic resort casual

Kissing Camels Grille

0/5

Best for: Garden of the Gods round or stay

4.4(5)(719) 329-6904

4500 Kissing Camels Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, USA

Monday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM