Thorncreek Golf Club

This was one of the worst experience, iI have ever had in Colorado and I have been traveling there for over 10 years now. Played a lot of courses all over Colorado. Was never told about the tournament of retired firefighters was going on. Took over 5 hours and only made it to the 13th hole.

A few challenging holes for a first year player but overall a good experience. We did encounter a group of drunk golfers who would not wait to tee off. Just abut hit with golf balls on two occasions and would leave trash behind of green in front of us. I would like to go back but probably won't because of this. =(

So I hang out here (practice and/or play) a minimum of 6 days a week, so I know the ins and outs of this place. Let me preface this by saying that I grew up in the cornfields of Illinois playing ummm...interesting...back-woods courses.

Let's start with the bad:

- The green speeds can fluctuate daily. It's frustrating because if you play there frequently you spend the first 3 holes trying to figure out how hard to hit your putts and how much break to play.
- The range is pretty sandy and soft, and the tee boxes on the range aren't mowed as tightly as you might prefer. This is easily resolved by packing down a small area to hit a few shots off of a realistic feeling lie from the fairway.
- The chipping green is small. Like, the size of your kitchen table pushed next to your coffee table.
- People are poor, getting better, but poor at fixing their ball marks. When other people are lining up putts I typically fix 4-5 just to try and keep the greens running smooth.
- Because green fees are so cheap, you get a very wide variety of players, from the average player, the beginners, the general riff-raff, to the serious player who would golf for a living in a heartbeat.

So why would I give this place 5 stars?

-The green fees are cheap. Like really cheap. Especially if you are on their practice program, which allows you to play at volume to work on your game if you don't make 6 figures.
- The staff there is extremely nice, and have a good sense of humor. I don't exactly look like your average golfer. At all. And a lot of places I go to they instantly treat me like a hack...at least until I start swinging a club. The staff will take the time to know your name, ask how your doing, and crack a joke or two with you when they are cleaning up the range.
- Literally every green here is multi-level, some of them even 3 levels. This is a bummer, and the best way to describe it is gimmicky, and the staff is realistic about it...however, this makes shot making and hitting to the correct level imperative to putting up a good score. Some pin placements are downright nasty, and for someone who is working to compete, its fantastic for developing your accuracy and distance control with your irons.
- There's some real risk/reward holes out here, and plenty of holes you have to be realistic with and take your par and walk away...but there's also a handful of scoring opportunities and you can really go after some of the holes.
- The back 9 especially, will force you to keep your driver in your bag outside of 3 holes (12, 14, 18), and target golf is good golf. It will teach you to play to yardages, not just pull your driver and play your giant banana slice.
- Despite being different speeds, the greens roll pretty smooth and true.
- Outside of holes 12 and 14, there are no holes that play back on each other, forcing you to actually pay for hitting the ball 50 yards offline. And deservedly so.
- While I've witnessed a lot of people get frustrated with kids at golf courses, I personally love this and encourage it by giving away buckets of range balls to kids and offering lessons. For example, there was a kid trying to hit out of the practice bunker the other day, I asked: 'Has anyone ever taught you how do to that?' 'No, but I REALLY want to learn how.' So I gave him a quick lesson. Golf is starving for kids to get involved, and it makes me happy to see kids who are hungry to learn the game. In 15 years, those are the players who will be keeping our game alive, they should be encouraged and having a course that kids feel comfortable at the very least practicing at is a necessity. This is one of the few places in Denver I've seen it.

So sure, it's not the greatest course you'll ever play, but play here. The fundamentals of golf are this: hit it in the fairway, get on the green in regulation, and make a couple putts...and you can do that anywhere. The views are phenomenal, the rates are unbeatable (literally), and I've never once ran into a rude player or staff member. I'm not sure what else you could ask for.

good time at a good venue at a place that is very easy to get to from Denver

Had a great time and the round went right on pace. Thorncreek has many challenges! Long Par-3's and 4's! Always enjoy the degree of difficulty and the course length. Looking forward to playing again.

We're only able to play 10 holes as it atarted pouring rain. Very disappointed not to see back none as enjoyed front nine do much. They will give us a rain check for the back 9 so we are very happy!

Really fun course that provides a solid test of golf. Bring your course management and green reading skills. Plenty of risk/reward situations. Huge greens with lots of undulation. Pace was right at 4 hours on a Sunday afternoon. Food was good too.

I can always find awesome deals. A fun challenging course. I like the back 9 better than the front. Too many houses on the front. Course has never been in great shape when I've played.

The course is nothing spectacular, decent but probably wont go back. Mondays is senior day and course was really slow.

Two different times I played here @ ThornCreek and on both occasions have encountered drunken people 1 time it was a foursome the guys could not even stand much less hit a golfball , on Sunday we ran into a threesome that was also drunken stupid.
I do not know if there is a limit from cart girl to serve but , I know an accident happens after leaving golf course and they say where were you drinking there could be a problem. Just thought I would mention this 2 times there and 2 times drunken golfers - it was not even a tourney

Had a blast. Staff was laid back, friendly, and the course was not busy at all

This is an amazing course for the value. Pace of play was great on Sunday afternoon, challenging target golf. I've paid triple at lonetree and no where near as good . Will be back !!

Golf now.com had a can't beat deal for a Friday afternoon. Course is difficult with some well placed bunkers and marshes. Will go back.

Thorncreek is a hidden gem of a course. Each hole is designed to make you think before you hit, all the way to the green. You have to plan your way to the cup. Additionally, almost every green has some form of intrigue. Pin locations were thoughtfully chosen to make you earn your putts. I will definitely plan to visit Thorncreek as often as I can this summer.

Some of the fairways are still a little rough but overall in good to excellent shape. Greens I excellent shape.

Compliments to the grounds crew! Keep up the good work!!!!

This course was 50$ on golfnow so we thought we'd try it. Every other hole is a blind shot. Most holes had dandelions in the fairways. If they had grass at all. The greens were very slow, but in decent condition. 18 had hard pan dirt up the fairway which my playing partners ball landed in. The maintenance staff had no clue we were there, except when we helped push one out of a hole his mower got stuck in. No need to play this course. The surrounding area has many more to play in better condition. After the round we drove to Indian Tree in Arvada to play some better conditions. 28$.

good condition shot 41 front 35 back I was pleased

I loved playing here. The course was very nice and and the staff was awesome. I will definitely golf here again.

Course was in pretty good shape for April. Staff was great and rangers did a good job until about hole 14 where there was multiple groups backed up. The price per round was the same to the general public as it was on golf now so I over paid by having to pay a booking fee.