On Sunday I met up with a friend to golf. My friend knows one of the pros at Keystone Resort and we all played the River Course. The pro is a stick so it was fun to golf with someone who is such a good player!

There are two courses at Keystone Resort – the Ranch Course and the River Course. I’ve heard it is a toss up which is the “better” course, but I greatly enjoyed my time on the River Course (a Hurdzan-Fry design). Hopefully, I can make it back soon to check out the Ranch.

Probably like most golf courses in this area, the River Course’s defining characteristic is all the impressive views. It is pricey – nearly $200 – so you are paying a premium for the scenery. The course is nestled in a small valley in the Rocky Mountains with a nearly perfect setting for golf. For my West Coast friends, this part of the country reminded me of the Truckee/Tahoe area. There are lots of pine trees, lakes and beautiful scenery everywhere you turn.

I thought the front nine on the River Course was good, but the back nine is really where the course shines. As the name indicates, a river – the Snake River – runs through a few holes on the front. The river shouldn’t come into play, although the par-3 7th plays over it. There are a number of elevated tees on the River Course, including on the 1st hole and the 9th hole – my favorite holes on the front nine.

The front nine helps prepare you for the back, which I found more interesting and scenic. While the front has a couple funky holes (e.g.: the 5th and 6th), the back nine is pretty special. The back climbs into the mountains and most holes have a good amount of elevation change. You’ll want to bring your camera as there are multiple signature holes. The 10th, 14th, 16th, and 18th all have postcard views.

The most memorable hole is the 497 yard par-4 16th. It probably plays closer to 380 yards because of the drop from tee to green. I hit a 4-iron off the tee and a 7-iron into the green. Crazy. The 16th also has good views of the Ranch Course off in the distance.

We played the blue tees which are 69.4/126/6507. The course is a par-71 with four par-5’s and five par-3’s. Given the high elevation and the elevated tees, it shouldn’t play too long. The fairways are generous, but out of bounds lurks for wild shots. I thought the toughest thing about the course was putting the greens. The greens have a lot of undulation and most of my putts broke hard. The greens are small and well-guarded by deep bunkers. Only a very good iron shot will get close to the flag.

The conditions at the River Course were good. Most of the turf was lush, with just a few thin spots. The tees and fairways were cut short. The greens were smooth and fast. The rough was thick and tough to play from.

I haven’t played much golf in the mountains of Colorado, but I don’t think you can go wrong with a round on Keystone’s River Course. If I have one criticism about the course, it is that it feels too modern. For example, the bunkering and green complexes feel a bit overdone. However, there are a number of ways to play the course. Hurdzan-Fry usually deliver a solid product and the River Course is no exception.

Course Pictures (click any picture to scroll through the gallery):