Vail Golf Trip Planning Guide
Vail is the gold standard of Colorado mountain resort towns — world-class everything from dining to nightlife to golf. The courses in the Eagle Valley are immaculate, the Bavarian-village pedestrian core is walkable and packed with bars, and the lodging options for groups are elite. Not cheap, but worth every penny.
5 courses · 4 restaurants · 4 bars · 4 activities
Quick Facts
Summer, Fall
EGE (35 min drive)
$55–$275
$800/night
2 of 5
~$530/person
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Here's a realistic 3-day itinerary for a group golf trip to Vail. Every venue below is real and pulled from our curated database — no filler.
Day 1
Beaver Creek Golf Club — mountain, $175–$275 · 4.6★
Robert Trent Jones Jr. design at 8,400 feet; Tom Kite called it 'Augusta at altitude'
Mountain Standard — farm to-table, $$
Lively Vail Village spot with craft cocktails, creative small plates, and a buzzy patio scene
The George — patio
Massive outdoor patio in Lionshead with fire pits, cocktails, and a see-and-be-seen crowd
Day 2
Vail Golf Club — mountain, $100–$185 · 4.5★
Municipal course that plays like a resort; tight fairways along Gore Creek with spectacular mountain walls
Zip Line Adventure Tour — 2-3 hours, $75–$130/pp
Soar over the Eagle River Valley with views of the Gore Range; multiple lines and a suspension bridge
Sweet Basil — upscale, $$$$
Vail's most acclaimed restaurant since 1977; inventive American cuisine with a legendary wine list
Shakedown Bar — dive · Open late
The late-night move in Vail Village; cheap-ish drinks by Vail standards and packed until 2am
Day 3
Sonnenalp Golf Club — mountain, $90–$165 · 4.5★
Bob Cupp design with stunning Gore Range views; long and demanding with immaculate conditioning
Vail Mountain Bike Park — half day, $40–$80/pp
Lift-served mountain biking at Vail Resort; trails for all levels and bike rentals at the base
Elway's Vail — steakhouse, $$$$
John Elway's steakhouse in Vail Village; prime aged beef, big group energy, and Colorado legend status
Garfinkel's — sports bar · Open late
Classic Vail sports bar with big screens, pub food, and a raucous atmosphere on event nights
Course-by-Course Guide
Vail has 5 courses worth playing, including 1 bucket-list tier layout. 2 are walkable if you want to save on cart fees.
Vail Golf Club
PremiumMunicipal course that plays like a resort; tight fairways along Gore Creek with spectacular mountain walls
Eagle-Vail Golf Club
SolidClassic mountain course between Vail and Beaver Creek; great conditioning and more affordable than Vail GC
Sonnenalp Golf Club
PremiumBob Cupp design with stunning Gore Range views; long and demanding with immaculate conditioning
Beaver Creek Golf Club
Bucket ListRobert Trent Jones Jr. design at 8,400 feet; Tom Kite called it 'Augusta at altitude'
Cotton Ranch Golf Club
SolidPete Dye design in Gypsum with great valley views; less crowded and more affordable alternative to Vail courses
Where to Stay
Vail has 2 group-friendly lodging options in our database, starting at $800/night for the whole house. Several options include hot tubs — a non-negotiable for most groups.
$1000–$3500/night
Sleeps 12–20 · West Vail / Intermountain area
$800–$2800/night
Sleeps 10–16 · Vail Village / Lionshead
Group Dining Guide
4 restaurants vetted for group golf trips. Several can handle large parties without a reservation headache.
Mountain Standard
$$Lively Vail Village spot with craft cocktails, creative small plates, and a buzzy patio scene
Sweet Basil
$$$$Vail's most acclaimed restaurant since 1977; inventive American cuisine with a legendary wine list
Elway's Vail
$$$$John Elway's steakhouse in Vail Village; prime aged beef, big group energy, and Colorado legend status
Vendetta's Italian Restaurant
$$Old-school Italian in Bridge Street; big portions, reasonable prices by Vail standards, and great for groups
Nightlife
4 bars curated for groups. 3 stay open past midnight.
The George
Massive outdoor patio in Lionshead with fire pits, cocktails, and a see-and-be-seen crowd
Shakedown Bar
Late NightThe late-night move in Vail Village; cheap-ish drinks by Vail standards and packed until 2am
Garfinkel's
Late NightClassic Vail sports bar with big screens, pub food, and a raucous atmosphere on event nights
The Red Lion
Late NightIconic Vail après spot since the 1960s; live music on the outdoor stage and legendary energy
Activities Beyond Golf
4 off-course activities for rest days or afternoons.
Zip Line Adventure Tour
Soar over the Eagle River Valley with views of the Gore Range; multiple lines and a suspension bridge
Vail Mountain Bike Park
Lift-served mountain biking at Vail Resort; trails for all levels and bike rentals at the base
Eagle River Fly Fishing
Gold Medal water with excellent trout fishing; guided wade and float trips available
Vail Brewery Tour
Hit Vail Brewing Co., The Vail Ale House, and more; all walkable in the village
Getting There
Fly into Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) — it's a 35-minute drive to Vail. For groups of 8+, consider booking a shuttle or party bus from the airport (local providers include Epic Mountain Express and Vail Valley Shuttle). Renting two SUVs usually works for groups of 4-8.