Have you played in a 27-hole golf course constructed according to Jack Nicklaus design? If you have, then it could only have been at the Breckenridge Golf Club. The Jack Nicklaus designed course opened in 1985 with 18 holes. Its successful operation made the town officials decide to expand the course with nine holes, which was named The Elks Nine. The expansion, constructed at a higher elevation than the first 18 holes made Breckenridge Golf Club more prestigious.

The Awards

Breckenridge Golf Clubs prestigious reputation has been confirmed by the recognition it gets from top publications and organizations, both local and national. One local publication, the Colorado Golfer tagged Nicklaus course not only as the Best Mountain Course but also as the Toughest Mountain Course. Another recognition was from Golf Digest, which rated the course with 4-1/2 stars in its guide book Places to Play while including it in its list of the nations Upscale Places to Play.

Four of The Courses Unique Attributes:

The High-Altitude Effect

So, what impresses the visitors about this golf course aside from its designer? Maybe you have played in a few other Jack Nicklaus-designed golf courses but you should still visit the Breckenridge Golf Club for its unique features. For example, have you played at an elevation of over 9300 feet higher than sea level? There is less air resistance and gravity at that elevation, so your ball will be easier to control than when you are playing at lower altitudes. Playing at The Elk Nine is a good opportunity to set a new record for your game score.

Great Golf Weather

Temperatures at higher elevations are much cooler compared to those at lower elevations. Golfers love cool temperatures because they dont sweat that much even if they stay long in the courses, walking from one hole to another hole. If its summer, the temperature is leaning towards the 70s range, sometimes 80 degrees but it seldom happens. During spring and fall, have your jacket on and you can stay in the golf course for hours.

Difficult Terrain

Even the experts find the course a challenge (Since Jack Nicklaus is the designer, what do you expect?). There are four teeing points. Pick your course according to your level of skills- from the Easiest which include less obstacles to the Experts terrain which include more obstacles and difficult terrains.

The Vista

Probably, the best advantage of a golf player in Breckenridge is the fantastic panorama of the mountains. In addition, if you staring right there at Bear Nine, that is the location of the tent city that the gold miners put up while they were searching for the precious metal in Breckenridge. While walking from hole to hole, you can also view the beauty of the wetlands, the native plants plus the spectacular sight of Ten-Mile Range and the overview of the vast Breckenridge Ski Resort. If youre interested about history, Beaver Nine has loads of the rock pile that some miners left behind. You may notice that the beaver ponds are adding to the players frustration in some holes. However, whenever you find yourself in that situation, take time to enjoy the beauty of Buffalo Mountain and after sometime, your frustration has eased. The players at Elk Nine are very lucky to be facing the widest panorama of nature showing Breckenridges Ten-Mile Range as well as the greenery and lake that add to the courses difficulty level.

Such extraordinary effects make Breckenridge a joy to any golfer. If you choose to stay in a Breckenridge condo or in a vacation home that are just short distances from the golf course, you wont be taking much time away from golf. A widely recognized golf course, combined with golf weather and magnificent scenery-where else can you find a better place?

Having lived in the quaint Summit County town since she was a child, Monique Mertrandes knows how to get the most out of a stay in Breckenridge. Learn more about what to do in Breckenridge Colorado from other locals like Monique. Click here to get your own unique version of this article with free reprint rights.