Ross Returns to Colorado
In 1916, Donald Ross’s redesign transformed Lakewood into a strategic test of precision and nerve. Nearly a century later, Gil Hanse and Keith Foster have honored this legacy, bringing Golden Age features back to life.
Golf Course Review & Scouting Report
Lakewood Country Club
Lakewood, Colorado
Established
1908
Architect
Tom Bendelow (1908), Donald Ross (1916 redesign), J. Press Maxwell (1961 partial rerouting), Gil Hanse (2017 restoration), Keith Foster (2024 full restoration)
Access
Private
Par
Par 71
Length
5,194 – 7,059 yds
The verdict
Colorado’s Timeless Classic Endures
Lakewood Country Club is Colorado golf royalty: an authentically restored Donald Ross and Golden-Age test, expertly modernized by Gil Hanse and Keith Foster. While it’s not a national top-100, it’s a must-see for any serious regional golfer craving history and shotmaking challenge.
Course DNA
Difficulty
82
Scenery70
Conditioning88
Shot Variety77
Walkability68
Green Complexity86
Wow Factor76
Design Quality90
At a glance
Quick facts
Donald Ross Redesign Year
1916
Major 2024 Restoration
Keith Foster-led, Golden Age faithful
Notable Holes
3 (par 3), 6 (par 5), 9 (par 5), 14 (par 5)
Only Four Ross Courses in Colorado
Historic design rarity
Strong Tournament Pedigree
Host of USGA, LPGA, and state championships
Original Architect
Tom Bendelow (1908)
Home to Legends
Babe Didrikson Zaharias played here
The design
The architecture
Lakewood Country Club is a living monument to golf’s Golden Age—rooted in Donald Ross’s classic philosophy, with contemporary polish courtesy of Gil Hanse and Keith Foster. Expect angled greens, strategic bunkering, and undulating contours that force you to think two shots ahead. The routing maximizes subtle ground movement and wind exposure, while the raised, trickily contoured greens are signature Ross: devilish if you’re careless, rewarding if you play the game as intended. Every renovation has honored its original soul, but today’s Lakewood is sharper, cleaner, and more playable for the modern golfer.
Donald Ross’s 1916 blueprint set the stage for generations of championship golf. Gil Hanse and Keith Foster’s recent restorations ensure the course remains both reverent to tradition and ready for today’s player.
Defining features
- Restored Ross-era green complexes
- Strategic, visually deceptive bunkering
- Classic risk-reward par 5s
- Mixed-length, well-varied par 4s
- Traditional walkable routing
- Consistently undulating, subtle greens
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 3
Long Iron Precision
PAR
3
YARDAGE
191
A stout, mid-iron par 3 demanding precise distance control and nervy ball flight. Sloping surrounds feed misses away, while the raised green rewards only top-notch execution.
Play it smart
Aim center-green; fading or drawing into the slopes brings real risk. Clubbing up sensibly protects against the deep front bunkers.
Where it bites
Miss long or short and you’re chipping uphill with firm, speedy slopes working against you.
Course management
Shots to think about
Approach to raised Ross green with a false front
Favor the middle and stay below the pin for a realistic chance at par.
Decision to lay up or go for it on a long par 5
Unless everything aligns, play smart to your favorite wedge distance and attack with your approach.
Deep greenside bunker right of a par 3
Don’t get cute; take your medicine and aim for a two-putt bogey if you’re out of position.
Long par 4 to a green with back-to-front slope
Plan your approach to land short and allow the slope to feed your ball onto the green.
Late-round short par 3 into swirling wind
Trust your committed club selection; don’t let distractions rush your swing.
Recovery from mature trees
Punch out smartly—par is still in play if you keep your next shot simple.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Expect top-tier private-club conditioning, fast and true greens, and well-tended fairways. Major restorations keep the course looking and playing fresh.
Pace
Membership play typically ensures a steady, unhurried pace—enjoy time to soak up the setting, but expect classic private-club rhythm rather than resort speed.
Vibe
Tradition is front and center; the tone is buttoned-up, history-soaked, and membership-oriented, with nods to both local camaraderie and championship lore.
Dress code
Traditional private-club attire preferred; collared shirts, no denim, and soft spikes—check specific club rules before visiting.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Work on Distance Control
Rossian greens and classic false fronts demand disciplined, precise iron distances.
02
Sharpen Short Game
Mature trees, deep bunkers, and sloping surrounds mean recovery skills are essential.
03
List Your Must-Play Holes
Research signature holes and request guidance from a member host—there’s too much history to miss.
04
Get Ready to Walk
While walkable overall, moderate elevation makes a comfortable pair of shoes your best gear investment.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1908
Club founded; original 18 by Bendelow
- 1916
Course redesigned by Donald Ross
- 1944
Hosted Texas Victory Open (PGA Tour)
- 1952
Trans-Mississippi Amateur won by Charles Coe
- 1957
Hosted U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship
- 1961
Partial rerouting by J. Press Maxwell
- 2017
Hanse restoration brings back Ross character
- 2024
Keith Foster leads $45 million restoration
Stories & legends
What makes it special
Legendary Champions Walked These Fairways
From the 1944 Texas Victory Open (a PGA Tour stop) to USGA and LPGA championships, Lakewood’s fairways have witnessed competition and greatness. Stories of icons like Babe Didrikson Zaharias add depth to its lore.
A Club That Evolves, Not Ages
Lakewood isn’t a static museum piece. Decades of renovations and championship tests—most recently the $45 million Foster restoration—keep its strategic interest and conditioning cutting-edge without losing its soul.
Denver’s Private Oasis
Cloaked in mature trees and classic shaping, Lakewood offers a serene, walkable escape just minutes from urban Denver—a timeless test wrapped in a modern package.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
One of only four Donald Ross courses in Colorado
2
Hosted the 1944 Texas Victory Open, part of the Byron Nelson PGA Tour lineage
3
Babe Didrikson Zaharias counted among its legendary competitors
4
Subject of a $45 million full restoration in 2024
5
Green complexes are restored Golden Age originals—angled, undulating, and fast
Build the trip
If you’re making a Denver golf trip out of it
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Cherry Hills Country Club
Private
Major championship pedigree, historic lore
Colorado Golf Club
Private
Coore & Crenshaw design, Solheim Cup host
Castle Pines Golf Club
Private
Elite setting, former PGA Tour stop
CommonGround Golf Course
Public
Walker Cup pedigree, top public choice
Applewood Golf Course
Public
Affordable, fun, mountain views
Downtown Denver, Cherry Creek, or Lakewood/Golden corridor
Course DNA
If You Like Lakewood Country Club
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match8.4
Country Club of Birmingham – West Course
Birmingham, AlabamaConditioning
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Country Club of Birmingham – West Course offers similarly polished playing surfaces, making it a compelling counterpart to Lakewood Country Club.
Strong DNA Match8.3
The Stanwich Club
Greenwich, ConnecticutConditioning
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. The Stanwich Club offers similarly polished playing surfaces, making it a compelling counterpart to Lakewood Country Club.
Strong DNA Match8.6
Kinloch Golf Club
Manakin Sabot, VirginiaConditioning
Why it matches: Kinloch Golf Club is a natural next stop after Lakewood Country Club: it offers similarly polished playing surfaces.
Community Sentiment
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