A Player's Perspective

Bear Creek opened in 1985 and quickly gained a reputation as a demanding course, a fair and true test for players of all abilities.

With its multitude of targets, rolling terrain, undulations and hazards, some have found their first encounter with it to be a humbling experience. But most find the going gets easier after a few rounds, when they have learned the strategic tests of the layout.

Virtually everyone who has played Bear Creek has praised it. It's no wonder: tees are perfectly flat, fairways are superbly manicured; and greens are immaculate. Even the bunkers, lakes, creeks and roughs are impressive.

Each hole has as many as seven tees. They not only can change the length of a hole considerably but the angle of the attack as well. Coupled with strategic pin placements, the course can present a unique combination of club selections and targets each time it is played.

Clubhouse

Set against a backdrop of the spectacular Front Range, the clubhouse stands high on the southern slope of Green Mountain with a commanding view of downtown Denver and Bear Creek's finishing holes.

The Club is in southwest Denver, about a 15-minute drive from the downtown area, with easy access to Sixth Avenue, C-470 and other metropolitan freeways.

Once you enter the grounds and drive up to this beautifully landscaped structure, you are tucked away, isolated from the activities of the city, and rewarded with scenic vistas of tremendous beauty.

Constructed of brick, hard woods, steel and glass, the shake shingled building comprises more than 33,000 square feet. Though massive, the clubhouse is a warm, comfortable place for members and their guests, where quality is evidenced by the subtle detail of finely crafted mill work, plushness of custom-woven carpeting and warmth of handsome furnishings. The ornate and overdone has been conscientiously avoided.

The upper level of the clubhouse accommodates club offices, dinning room, lounge area, card room and locker room. The locker room completely carpeted and containing several comfortable seating areas, features solid oak lockers, a huge fireplace, the finest in shoe care facilities, showers and bar.

The lower level contains a spacious golf shop with luxurious seating areas adjacent to a grand fireplace. It also features a library of books, including many rare collectors' editions. Also on this level are the golf cart, club storage areas and the caddie locker room.

The clubhouse is designed to meet the year-round needs of our members, whether entertaining guests over lunch, card games, social gatherings or activities all centered around the game of golf.

Practice Facility

There is no finer practice facility in the nation.

Everything that is necessary to help a player improve his game is available here: practice tees, fairway and green-side bunkers, chipping and putting greens, Titleist Pro V1X practice balls, professional instruction with video, custom club fitting programs and a comfortable rest area.

Testimony to its commitment to helping members improve their skills is Bear Creek's unique practice program unlike any other in the region. It provides for completely utilizing the practice facility including all practice balls, club care, bag storage, and game improvement tips from the golf professional and his staff. This program promotes proper practice with professional supervision.

The practice facility is beautifully organized, equipped and serviced. Practice balls are neatly placed along the level, radial four-tiered hitting area. There is always a well-groomed area, unmarred by divots, from which to practice.

Bear Creek Golf Club offers four full-sized bent-grass greens as targets at 100, 175, 200 and 250 yards. Granite plaques on each level depict the exact distance to the front of each green. Playing shots to these greens and knowing precisely how far your shots are traveling significantly enhances the enjoyment of practicing.

Bear Creek Golf Club recognizes that players want to focus on all facets of their game. Therefore our practice facility offers every conceivable situation a player may encounter. At the intersection of the first and tenth tees is a putting green. This is the place to be when looking for a game.

Additionally, the new short course practice area adjacent to the practice range offers three holes for players to tighten up their skills for shots less than 100 yards.

Considering the importance of practice, Bear Creek has crafted a facility to meet even the most demanding player’s requirements.

A Delight to Play

Since the course can be played from a variety of tees, Bear Creek can be custom fitted to the talents of almost any golfer, from higher handicappers to even the most gifted shot makers in the world. A number of conveniences have been added to enhance one's enjoyment of golf.

Caddies are available in the summer months. In fact, the Club established a caddie program that evolved into one of the finest in the region. A fleet of electric carts is also maintained. Cart paths, kept to a minimum, were constructed of grey crushed rock rather than concrete so they would blend into the natural setting.

Players are not required to guess at yardage or calculate them on the basis of the distance from a marker in the rough. More than 250 sprinkler heads have been engraved to mark their precise distance to the front of the greens.

Even the flagsticks at Bear Creek are classic. Painted with yellow-and-blue stripes and standing a foot taller than most, their design comes from the famous seaside links of Scotland in the late 1800's.

Unlike so many country clubs that staff and maintain facilities to appeal to a wide range of interests, the golf course at Bear Creek will always be the focus of attentions. And by all accounts, it has measured up to the test of time.