The Raven Golf Club at Three Peaks

If your going to play golf in Colo.

The Raven is a must play,

Great views and as challenging as you want.

First time I've played in the mountains. I wish I had played this course in late September, when the aspens were a golden yellow. This course is surrounded by aspens and has some spectacular vistas. The staff was very friendly, it was a well marshaled golf course (pace of play was great) and even one marshal was giving out cookies. I think the front side is more beautiful, with more views of the 3 peaks and holes 8 & 9 are breathtaking.

When playing this course, understand the green speeds are too fast for the undulations in the greens. For example, we had a 4.8 index player, 3-putt seven times and he also had a 4-putt. Also, I almost saw my first 5-putt in my career but my playing partner made a 4-footer to not 5-putt. We all said after the round, when you got on the greens, there was no guarantee 2 putts. We all felt uneasy on the greens all day. They have a nice practice facility but the driving range is only 240 yards long. We felt the fairways were just so-so, for a greens fee of $135. Only one hole on the back side had views of the 3 peaks. Disappointing the final two holes were uphill holes. We all thought the nines should be switched, however, hole 10 would be too difficult of a starting hole. Holes 8 & 9 would be great finishing holes.

Very nice mountain course, played in the afternoon. We played on a week day with steady but not slow or inconsistent pace. Great course design and use of the mountain - you'll do better the second time around. Some incredible views, didn't want to go home. Staff was very nice and cordial during our visit.

It was my 2nd time to play the Raven. Course was in great shape! Pro shop guys were great, our server in the grill was great, and the starter was very nice. Pace of play is bad!! 5+ hours. We had 5 guys and asked to play as a fivesome, but the Pro Shop and Starter said no and split us up. Fair enough, but we were all at the same tee at the same time on almost every hole. We eventually played as a fivesome and still waited on several holes. Again, great course but bring an extra pair of patience.

My group of mostly out-of-state Colorado Golf Binge players thoroughly enjoyed playing here again last week. Our weather was great and the course was in fine shape.

The fairways were lush and the greens were fast and true. Hole #7 continues to be a challenge for drainage but almost all other problem areas seem to be largely corrected with updates on their irrigation systems. The Raven's biggest challenge seems to be keeping the cart paths from sliding down the mountainsides....a problem common to Summit County including I-70.

The unique features of The Raven are generally wide and lush fairways, large and fine greens that are very challenging to read and great elevation changes.

Bring your camera for great Rocky Mountain scenery combined with a fair amount of local wildlife including fox, deer, an occasional moose and ospreys that for years have had their huge nest on a post overlooking the 3rd fairway. You may see an osprey snatch a large trout from ponds of The Raven or the neighboring ponds and fly it back to its tall nest on the pole.

The Raven staff will welcome you to a great day of golf and send you off on what begins as a rather tame front nine. But as you climb from the Blue River valley uphill to the par 3 8th hole (appropriately named Buena Vista) you'll be ready for 2 very exciting downhillers. The 8th hole measures 184 yds from the Raven (tips) tees and 134 yds from the forward tees. A flatlander with a good game should probably hit about 2 clubs less than he'd hit this distance at low altitude due to the approximate 150 ft. drop from tee to green and the thin, light air at almost 9,000' above sea level. Of course this depends on the wind that day. Just don't miss left or long!

Then #9 is a breathtaking par 4 with a launch pad tee box that must sit 300 feet or more above the green on this par 4 monster. Drive your tee shot straight out into the Rocky Mountain air and watch it drop hopefully to the center of the lush, downsloping fairway. Then hit your long iron to the left front of the right sloping green, earn your birdie or par and head happily past the beautiful Raven clubhouse and patio to the even more challenging back nine.

The Raven's back nine has two very tough par 3s (#12 and 14) and five fun but challenging par 4s. But it's the two par 5s that really define the back nine here. #11 (properly named Waterloo) is a super risk/reward hole. Your tee shot hopefully will land just short of the large trout filled pond straight off the tee. A well-struck 200+ yard, high risk second shot over the pond puts you in great position for a birdie or eagle. But the more prudent shot tends to be playing the hole as a double dogleg and hit a mid to long iron left of the pond in preparation for lofting a high, soft iron to a green that can be tough to hold.

My favorite hole is The Raven's signature #16. It's a long downhill, dogleg right par 5. Measuring 601 yards from the tips and 489 yards from the forward tees this hole welcomes a long, left center tee shot followed by an equally long and well aimed second shot near or on a well- bunkered, roller coaster green. From #16 you begin a long, uphill climb through two tough par 4s and finish at a high point on the course.

After your final putt on #18 you'll drive a long, steep, downhill cart path with lots of switchbacks before returning to the clubhouse for a great lunch, dinner and/or drinks on the normally sunny patio. You've earned a beverage of choice following your Rocky Mountain high golf experience at The Raven at Three Peaks.

After the turn, there were 3 groups on almost every whole until groups started quitting. It took 20-35 minutes per hole. It's very hard to keep a consistent round when it is that slow.

Excellent course and for the price we paid it was a steal

The course was a great mountain course to play. Some amazing views mainly on the front 9 which I thought was odd that they wouldn't switch the nines. The 18th hole finishes a long ways from the club house and is up hill with little to no views versus the 9th hole having the best view on the course leading into the club house.

Player Beware** Members here will ask marshals to play through when they can't even keep up to the group they are passing. We had a group of all members ask to play through to a marshal and we proceeded to hit our tee shots and wait 10 minutes for the group to even get to the tee box.

I play 7000-7500 yard courses in Denver and had no issues with the distances from 7400(back tees)

Fun to play - fairways are wide - lots of sand traps and very quick greens.

Nice course. Some really great holes.

Tee time 3 PM. Left 16th hole at 8:15 PM when it became too dark. 5 hrs 15 min to play 16 holes!!! Was always another group on each tee box. No course Marshal. Pro Shop closed when returned cart so unable to eat or drink afterwards.

Played course one other time 5 years ago and had a 5 hour round then as well. Tempting to play the Raven since it is the most accessible mountain course from driving up from Denver. Will never play course again. Pace of play is stupid long and service at course was absent. Sad because it is a nice course. Don't waste your time. Keystone, Breckonridge, Lakota Canyon, and Red Sky Ranch are far better experiences if you are looking to play mountain golf .

If your going to play golf in the Colorado mountains The Raven is a must do. From the black tees to the very friendly white tees every hole is a challenge. And once you're done you're ready to go again.

Weather was perfect.

Golf was challenging.

Very scenic.

Expensive but worth it, one time.

Incredible mountain setting - snow in the peaks even in July. Tough layout, elevation changes make club selection difficult. Lots of trouble if you miss the fairways or greens. Mountains make reading greens a challenge. Don't expect to hit your usual score here. Conditions good, maybe a bit shaggy and moist. Fair green fee for a nice course on a holiday. Recommended.

Fantastic value on a gorgeous mountain course. Huge elevation changes. Magnificent views. In great condition. Highly recommend at rack rates, but at $40 it's a must play!

Got the mid week afternoon hot deal for $58. Teed off at 2:40 and were paired with another twosome. Staff and starter were friendly and gave a few reommendations for altitude anf club selection on #8(2 less) as well as tee boxes. Suggested it would be about a 4.5 hr. round.

The course was gorgeous. Great mountain views, elevated tees, lakes to cross, and no tricked up holes. One of the more beautiful courses I've played and for the money, a fantastic deal. Greens were firm and fast and undulating so you did have to play to the front. Rest of the course was in great shape and yes, a few bumpy cart paths but nothing to spoil a round.

Only complaint was the ranger asked us to speed up since we were a hole behind. Issue was that it was a twosome in front of us and a twosome behind us....so a foursome would naturally play slower (although guys we were paired with did spend a bit too much time looking for lost balls). We sped up and ended up waiting on the twosome in front on a reachable par 5 so the warning was unnecessary. Round did take 4.5 which is slow but for an unfamiliar course and altitude that made club selection a bit tricky, can't expect the same pace on home course.

I'm a 12 index from N.C., and just played Breckenridge 2 days ago. I had high hopes here today but was sorely disappointed. Changed my tee time to beat the rain but had to pay $117. The course layout is designed well and scenery is amazing but all holes have significant elevation changes. I loved hitting a 330 yd drive on 9 but there are several blind uphill pins as well. Gas carts chugged slowly up the hills and the cart GPS is a hand held device that doesnt show maps.

Now the conditions; many fairways and approach areas are overlay saturated while greens are rock hard. Hit lots of high approach shots onto greens but couldn'f find a ball mark or hold a green. Fairways have lots of divots, bare spots, and #5 greenside bunkers are under repair. Most bunkers are heavy grained sand, wet, and sand depth was shallow. Weeds in some. The greens were the most disappointing aspect for this course. Huge undulations on most with pins in crazy locations on crests of slopes. The quality of the greens is very poor. Very uneven grass quality with lots of Poa weeds and sand. Didn't appear to have mown today.

The staff was mostly friendly but the snack bar was unable to cook a hot dog due to maintenance.

Overall, the course seems like it was once excellent but until they address these issues, I do not recommend this course.

The challenging layout of the course winds through beautiful views of Colorado mountains. The clubhouse was very nice and the staff was nice.

However, the course is so overwatered, that even on hills there's a good chance that you'll be sloshing through over-watered spongy grass on the fairways. There was even standing water on one of the greens (it hadn't rained the night before) that they water entirely too much.

Until they get their problems remedied (an easy way to do so would be to simply water less) I wouldn't spend the kind of money they are charging to play there.

Hadn;t played in several years but enjoyed it the last time out, so when when i saw a coupon 2 rounds for 100.00 i jumped on it. Was it worth 50.00? Sad to say no. The greens were like concrete. The fairways had a lot of bald spots.

The cart path was even in need of repair!!

Not sure if the course is having financial difficulties but stay away,,,,,,,,,,,,