Fort Collins Golf Trip Planning Guide
Fort Collins is Colorado's best-kept golf secret — a college town with 300+ days of sunshine, an absurd brewery density, and multiple quality courses at very reasonable prices. Old Town's walkable bar and restaurant district rivals any mountain town, and you're only an hour from Denver's airport.
5 courses · 4 restaurants · 4 bars · 4 activities
Quick Facts
Spring, Summer, Fall
DEN (75 min drive)
$28–$95
$400/night
2 of 5
~$326/person
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Here's a realistic 3-day itinerary for a group golf trip to Fort Collins. Every venue below is real and pulled from our curated database — no filler.
Day 1
Pelican Lakes Golf Club — parkland, $55–$89 · 4.6★
27 holes of Jack Nicklaus design in Windsor; water on nearly every hole and championship conditioning
The Melting Pot — upscale, $$$
Fondue chain done right; perfect for a group dinner with shared pots and great wine pairings
New Belgium Brewing — brewpub
Iconic Fat Tire brewery with a massive taproom, tours, and a riverside patio; a pilgrimage for beer lovers
Day 2
Mariana Butte Golf Course — mountain, $42–$68 · 4.5★
Jack Nicklaus-designed city course with dramatic red rock outcroppings and Horsetooth Reservoir views
Horsetooth Reservoir Boat Day — half day, $30–$60/pp
Rent a pontoon and cruise Horsetooth Reservoir with mountain views and cliff jumping spots
Austin's American Grill — steakhouse, $$$
Old Town steakhouse with a massive patio and private dining rooms; great for 16
Odell Brewing Company — brewpub
One of Colorado's OG craft breweries; gorgeous taproom with a huge outdoor area and food trucks
Day 3
Highland Meadows Golf Course — parkland, $60–$95 · 4.5★
Former Korn Ferry Tour host; championship layout with elevation changes and a serious test of golf
Fort Collins Brewery Tour — 3-4 hours, $15–$40/pp
20+ craft breweries in town; hit New Belgium, Odell, Horse & Dragon, and Funkwerks in one crawl
Coopersmith's Pub & Brewing — brewpub, $$
Old Town institution since 1989; house beers, pub food, and a pool hall next door
Lucky Joe's Sidewalk Saloon — dive · Open late
The late-night move in Old Town; strong drinks, live music, and zero pretension
Course-by-Course Guide
Fort Collins has 5 courses worth playing. 2 are walkable if you want to save on cart fees.
Mariana Butte Golf Course
SolidJack Nicklaus-designed city course with dramatic red rock outcroppings and Horsetooth Reservoir views
Collindale Golf Course
SolidFort Collins' best muni; mature trees, tight fairways, and always in great shape
Pelican Lakes Golf Club
Premium27 holes of Jack Nicklaus design in Windsor; water on nearly every hole and championship conditioning
Southridge Golf Club
BudgetWide-open muni perfect for the hungover round; great value and quick pace of play
Highland Meadows Golf Course
PremiumFormer Korn Ferry Tour host; championship layout with elevation changes and a serious test of golf
Where to Stay
Fort Collins has 2 group-friendly lodging options in our database, starting at $400/night for the whole house. Several options include hot tubs — a non-negotiable for most groups.
$400–$1100/night
Sleeps 10–16 · Old Town / Downtown Fort Collins
$500–$1400/night
Sleeps 12–18 · Horsetooth / West Fort Collins
Group Dining Guide
4 restaurants vetted for group golf trips. Several can handle large parties without a reservation headache.
The Melting Pot
$$$Fondue chain done right; perfect for a group dinner with shared pots and great wine pairings
Austin's American Grill
$$$Old Town steakhouse with a massive patio and private dining rooms; great for 16
Coopersmith's Pub & Brewing
$$Old Town institution since 1989; house beers, pub food, and a pool hall next door
Rare Italian
$$$Handmade pasta and craft cocktails in a beautifully restored Old Town building
Nightlife
4 bars curated for groups. 2 stay open past midnight.
New Belgium Brewing
Iconic Fat Tire brewery with a massive taproom, tours, and a riverside patio; a pilgrimage for beer lovers
Odell Brewing Company
One of Colorado's OG craft breweries; gorgeous taproom with a huge outdoor area and food trucks
Lucky Joe's Sidewalk Saloon
Late NightThe late-night move in Old Town; strong drinks, live music, and zero pretension
Social
Late NightCraft cocktails and a sophisticated vibe in Old Town; rooftop deck with mountain views
Activities Beyond Golf
4 off-course activities for rest days or afternoons.
Horsetooth Reservoir Boat Day
Rent a pontoon and cruise Horsetooth Reservoir with mountain views and cliff jumping spots
Fort Collins Brewery Tour
20+ craft breweries in town; hit New Belgium, Odell, Horse & Dragon, and Funkwerks in one crawl
Cache la Poudre River Rafting
Colorado's only Wild & Scenic river with Class III-IV rapids in Poudre Canyon
Axe Throwing at Ace Axe Throwing
Walk-in axe throwing lanes in Old Town; perfect pre-dinner group activity
Getting There
Fly into Denver International Airport (DEN) — it's a 75-minute drive to Fort Collins. For groups of 8+, consider booking a shuttle or party bus from the airport (local providers include Fort Collins Party Bus and Shamrock Shuttle). Renting two SUVs usually works for groups of 4-8.