It's present even in the parking lot. An original nine holes opened the site in 1964, and in 1974 renowned Colorado designer Dick Phelps added nine more. The success of the layout, however, belongs purely to the land, specifically the forest and terrain. Creating holes at Grand Lake was more a task of clearing and mowing than of designing, but that in itself was a monumental chore. Thousands of pines were removed and holes were grooved into this beautiful property like rivers running through steep-cliffed canyons.
Grand Lake is corridor golf, played through the trees.
Fifty-foot walls of pine border either side of each narrowly rolling fairway. At 6,542 yards from the championship tees, Grand Lake qualifies as a short course. The thin air at this elevation will account for a club and a half to two club difference for most golfers. The men's yardage is 6,310 yards and for the ladies it is 5,678 yards. Controlling distance will be a challenge for advanced players, but Grand Lake's defense is not its yardage.