Representative image Photo: Phillip Capper from Wellington, New Zealand · CC BY 2.0
Ballyneal Golf Club
Holyoke, Colorado, United States
18 Holes · Par 71 · Private club — no published green fee; play is by member invitation · Links
— About
About Ballyneal Golf Club
Ballyneal Golf Club is a private destination club near Holyoke, on the high plains of eastern Colorado. Tom Doak of Renaissance Golf Design created the course, and Doak struck the first ball there in the summer of 2006. It plays as a links in the inland tradition, with a firm, fast fescue playing surface set among sand dunes. The layout is a par 71 with 18 holes. Wind is a constant factor, since the gusty conditions push play toward true links style golf, and the greens are challenging. Ballyneal describes itself as a second club for most of its members. Many members belong to other clubs as well, and they often arrive for a night or two, so the club keeps lodging on site in a village of lodges around a central building called the Commons. The Commons also has a putting course, and a 12-hole Mulligan course gives members and their guests a shorter game beside the main course. Ballyneal is a private club for members and their guests, and no green fee is published.
- Tom Doak designed Ballyneal, and he struck the first ball in the summer of 2006 on the high plains of eastern Colorado.
- Ballyneal describes itself as a second club for most of its members, many of whom come for a night or two of golf.
- A 12-hole Mulligan course offers a short-game alternative, and the Commons has its own putting course.
- On-site lodges around the Commons let members and guests stay and play without leaving the property.
- Firm, fast fescue playing surfaces among sand dunes give the course a links-style character on the Colorado plains.
History of Ballyneal Golf Club
Ballyneal was built near Holyoke in eastern Colorado, and the founders hired Tom Doak of Renaissance Golf Design to lay out the golf course. Doak struck the first ball in the summer of 2006, and the course has been played on a fescue surface set among dunes ever since. Around it the club added lodges surrounding a central building, the Commons, with a putting course and a 12-hole Mulligan course as a shorter game. Ballyneal describes itself as a second club for most of its members, and one reviewer notes that members belong to two or three clubs and usually come for a night or two. It remains a private club for members and their guests. The club also notes that gusty conditions promote true links style golf, which is why wind is such a large part of any round.
Signature holes at Ballyneal Golf Club
Ballyneal is a course where the ground and the wind matter more than any single hole number. It is a par 71 built among sand dunes, with a firm, fast fescue surface, and the greens have a reputation for being challenging. The gusty conditions that promote true links style golf mean the same hole can play very differently from one day to the next. The Mulligan course adds a different test, with twelve holes of its own, and it gives members and their guests a shorter game beside the main course. Ask your host which holes to look forward to, since the club publishes no hole-by-hole guide of its own.
When to play Ballyneal Golf Club
Ballyneal is a private club, so timing matters only if a member has invited you, and stays are arranged through the member and the club. Wind is a defining part of the course, and the club says gusty conditions promote true links style golf, so expect wind on any visit. Members often come for a night or two, so ask your host about lodge availability on your dates and which of the two courses you will play.
Playing Ballyneal Golf Club: tips
Ballyneal is a private membership club, and there is no public or unaccompanied play. Access is by a member's invitation, and guests often stay on site in the lodges around the Commons for a night or two. The club is near Holyoke in eastern Colorado, at 1 Ballyneal Lane, a long way from the nearest big city, so ask your host how to plan the journey. Ask your host whether a caddie is available and how the day will be arranged, since the club publishes no visitor guidance. There is no published green fee.
Visit Ballyneal Golf Club
1 Ballyneal Lane, Holyoke, CO 80734
Holyoke, Colorado, United States
— Facilities
Practical Information
— FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Ballyneal Golf Club
Can anyone play Ballyneal?
No. Ballyneal is a private membership club for members and their guests. No public green fees are published, so plan through a member and the club.
Who designed Ballyneal?
Tom Doak of Renaissance Golf Design designed the course, and he struck the first ball there in the summer of 2006. It sits among sand dunes on the high plains of eastern Colorado.
What is the Mulligan course at Ballyneal?
The Mulligan course is a 12-hole short course that sits beside the main 18 and gives members and their guests a shorter game. The Commons also has its own putting course.
Is there lodging at Ballyneal?
Yes. The club has lodges around the Commons, which lets members and their guests stay on the property for a night or two while playing golf at the club.