Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead

Golf Digest 4/05

Golf Magazine 5/07 & 8/06

Maximum Golf '05

Near Denver International Airport, Golf Digest

CLOSE BY: Green Valley Ranch G.C. (4900 Himalaya Road; 303-371-3131; 17 minutes, 12 miles; $29-$55) is a well-groomed valley course routed through wetlands just south of the airport. The four-year-old course has a good practice facility featuring Golf Digest Teaching Professional Mike McGetrick. Its location is ideal for avoiding traffic.

BEST VALUE: Buffalo Run (15700 E. 112th Ave., Commerce City; 303-289-1500; 17 minutes, 12 miles; $25-$40) is a lengthy (7,411 yards) links-style course that is a favorite of big hitters.The flat land is guarded by tall heather, but wind gives the course its best defense.

WORTH CHECKING OUT: Fitzsimons G. Cse. (2323 Scranton St., Aurora; 303-364-8125; 25 minutes, 17 miles; $33-$35) is a 6,335-yard parkland golf course once owned by the Army and frequented by President Eisenhower. The course was hit hard by the drought of 2002, but conditions have improved.

Also: Murphy Creek G. Cse. (1700 S. Old Tom Morris Road, Aurora; 303-361-7300; 21 minutes, 17 miles; $30-$38; not yet rated) sits atop a plateau in the high prairie east of the city. To the west of every hole is a great view of sprawling Denver and the front range of the Rocky Mountains.

AIRPORT CONFIDENTIAL: DIA is far enough away from the city that getting to nearby courses shouldn't be a problem even during rush hours. An on-site gas station can save you some time refilling a rental car. If your back is sore from the round, check out A Massage Inc. on concourses A or B.

Zane Lamprey's Drinking Made Easy Guide To Denver (2011):

Known as the “Mile-High City”, Denver is the capital and most populous city in Colorado. Founded as Denver City in November 1858 as a mining town during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush, it’s named after James William Denver who was the Kansas Territorial Governor. Boasting 300 days of annual sunshine, Denver’s mild temperatures and record snowfalls are evidence that there is never a bad time of year to visit. Home to the largest brewery in the world (Coors) with one of the largest concentration of microbreweries in the US, Colorado has more breweries per capita than any other state and has been brewing beer since the 1800s. Nicknamed “The Beer Me State” in September 2010 by a local Internet marketing company, Colorado’s capital city is often called the “Napa Valley of Beer” and hosts an annual beer festival celebrating the best in American brewing. If you’re looking to make drinking easy, Denver’s proof is in the bottle.

BEER

Every year, the prestigious Great American Beer Festival (GABF) descends on Denver bringing visitors from around the world to sample more than 2,000 different beers. Started in 1982 by beer aficionado, author and founder of the Brewers Association, Charlie Papazian, the 3-day festival draws almost 50,000 attendees. While festival-goers sample American brews from all corners of the country, about 3,300 beers are entered into competition by almost 500 domestic breweries and 100 judges give medals in 78 beer-style categories.

Denver and its surrounding areas are booming with craft breweries. One of Colorado’s most famous is New Belgium, located about 65 miles north of Denver in Fort Collins. Renowned for its flagship ale, Fat Tire, it was the brainchild of Jeff Lebesch who was enjoying a beer-y trip through Belgium in 1989 on a mountain bike with “fat tires” which inspired both the creation of thenow famous amber ale and the brewery itself in 1991. With the help of his wife, Kim Jordan who was New Belgium’s first bottler, sales rep, distributor, marketer and financial planner and is now their CEO, the brewery is ranked as the 3rd largest craft brewery in the United States.

In addition to their popular beers like Sunshine Wheat and 1554, they also brew seasonals like the Skinny Dip and Hoptober and their Trippel, Abbey, Ranger IPA and Mothership Wit are a part of their Explorer Series. New Belgium also collaborates with Elysian Brewery on a series called “Trip” which are limited batches of beer that are only available in draft in the Northwest. They also produce a line of artisanal brews, like the Abbey Grand Cru, Sahti Ale and Vrienden Ale in their Lips of Faith series.

New Belgium Brewery | 500 Linden St, Fort Collins, CO 80524 | (970) 221-0524

Another of the area’s top craft breweries is Avery Brewing Company, located about 45 minutes outside of Denver in the college town of Boulder. Founded in 1993 by Adam Avery, they offer a number of year-round beers like their most popular, Avery IPA, as well as their White Rascal Belgian White, Ellie’s Brown Ale, Out of Bounds American Stout and the 9.2% American Barleywine, Hog Heaven. Seasonals like the Old Jubilation and the New World Porter are available at different times throughout the year. Avery is open seven days a week, offers daily tours and has a tap room with nearly 20 brews on draft.

Avery Brewing Co. | 5763 Arapahoe Ave # East, Boulder, CO 80303 | (303) 440-4324

Another significant craft brewery, located about an hour outside of Denver in Lyons, Colorado is Oskar Blues Brewery. The first US craft brewery to package their beer in cans, beginning in 2002, Oskar Blues is largely distributed throughout the US. Their flagship, Dale’s Pale Ale is named after its founder, Dale Katechis. Other popular brews include Mama’s Little Yella Pils, Ten Fidy, Gubna and Old Chub.

If you’re staying within Denver’s City limits, check out the Wynkoop Brewing Company. Established in 1988, it’s Denver’s oldest brewpub. Founded by John Hickenlooper, now the mayor of Denver, who is also credited for starting the revival of the Lower Downtown (LoDo) section of Denver, Wynkoop recently debuted their latest beer in honor of the Mayor’s inauguration. Appropriately titled Hickenlooper’s Inaugurale, it’s a mix between a brown and warm winter ale and comes in at about 6.8% ABV. Other popular brews include their flagship beer, Rail Yard Ale, a hearty and refreshing amber ale, the cleverly named Mile HIPA, and the Wixa Wheat, a two-time GABF winning German Style Wheat Ale. They now can and sell (locally) the aforementioned Rail Yard Ale as well as the Silverback Pale Ale whose proceeds go to the Denver-based Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund. One of Wynkoop’s unique features is their annual contest to find the “Beerdrinker of the Year”, which is currently underway. A winner will be picked after the three finalists are grilled by a panel of wig and robe wearing judges on February 26th at the brewery. The event starts at 2pm and is open to the public.

Wynkoop Brewing Co. | 1634 18th Street, Denver, CO 80202 | (303) 297-2700

Also in town is Great Divide Brewing Co. Established in 1994 by Brian Dunn, their beers have earned 17 GABF medals and 5 World Beer Cup awards. Their Tap Room is located next door to their brewery on the corner of 22nd and Arapahoe in downtown Denver, and they offer tastings and events like a monthly beer and cheese pairing. You can also purchase bottled beer or fill up your growler.

One of Denver’s best beer bars, also known as “The Place to Drink Beer”, is Falling Rock Taphouse located in LoDo. With a constantly changing selection of 75+ draft beers and more than 130 bottles, you can try any number of local, domestic and international brews off their impressive beer list. Frequented during GABF by the brewers exhibiting at the festival, this place has the beer geek seal of approval.

We’d be remiss not to mention the presence and significance of Coors Brewing Company, which is headquartered 15 miles east of Denver in Golden, Colorado and has been brewing American lager since 1873. Today it’s a regional division of the Molson Coors Brewing Company and is the third-largest brewer in the U.S.

BEER AND BEYOND

Denver is renowned for its beer, but there are many places around town that serve up some unique and inspired cocktails.

One such place is “Denver’s Original Tavern”:Govnr’s Park. Established in 1976, it has been an integral part of Capitol Hill for 35 years having hosted two Governor’s acceptance speeches and helped start the Governor’s Cup Run, an annual 5k and 10k race which finishes at the State Capitol. Serving up classic tavern fare it has one of the best Happy Hours in Denver like 2-for-1 on all draft beers, margaritas, premium wells and Long Island Tea. While they have a good selection of beer, including the Big Nose Pale Ale, which is brewed especially for them, they are also known for “The Cheeseman”, a 4-person cocktail, served in a 64 oz fishbowl for around $11. There is no specific recipe for The Cheeseman, as it’s essentially whatever the bartender feels like making and is explained as “Kinda like the park… You never know what to expect.” (As the story goes, Cheeseman Park, up the street, was a graveyard until they dug up all of the graves and made it into a park).

Colorado Cheeseman
Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey
New Belgium’s Skinny Dip Beer
Coors Light
Orange Juice
Grenadine
Mountain Dew
Ice

The Steveman (Steve McKenna’s Cheeseman)
Butterscotch Liqueur
Tequila
Bloody Mary Mix
Black Licorice Schnapps
Orange Juice
Lemon Lime Soda
Mountain Dew
Beer
Mint Liqueur

Govnr’s Park | 672 Logan Street, Denver, CO 80203 | (303) 831-8605

As noted in the “Colorado Cheeseman” recipe above, Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey is a micro-distillery in Denver responsible for hand crafting the only Rocky Mountain Whiskey. Made from a unique four-barley fermented wash that consists of carbon filtered Rocky Mountain water and western barley, it is distilled and then aged in American white oak whiskey barrels.

Award-winning margaritas can be found in LoDo at Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant. Voted the “Best Margarita in the Nation” by City Search, the legendary Rio Margarita sells for $6.50 and customers are limited to 3 because of their strength. Other margaritas, like the Big Tex and the Agave Margarita are popular and they also carry an impressive selection of tequilas. Monday to Friday Happy Hour (3-6pm) will get you $1 off the Rio Marg and Wednesday’s Marg Madness (8-10pm) offers them for just $5.

Rio Grande | 1525 Blake Street, Denver, CO 80202 | (303) 623-5432

Located in Evergreen, about 40 miles outside of Denver is The Woodcellar Bar & Grill. The first bar in Colorado to install self-service beer taps, a system whereby patrons can pour their own draft beer at their table, owner Tabor Cowden has created a place that not only serves great beer, cocktails and food, but also caters to both a family and night-dwelling crowd. Some of their unique offerings include the Rocky Mountain Martini which is made with house-made bacon-infused vodka and garnished with a Rocky Mountain Oyster (i.e. fried bull testicle), and the “Shotski”, a snow ski mounted with 3 pint glasses for 3 patrons to simultaneously drink its contents.

Rocky Mountain Martini
Rim a martini glass with Celery Salt
Bacon Infused Vodka (5 count)
Bloody Mary Mix
Shake with ice
Strain and serve
Garnish with a Rocky Mountain Oyster, Lemon and Lime Wedge and 3 green olives

The Woodcellar |1552 Bergen Parkway, Evergreen, Co. 80439 | (303) 670-8448

Fat Guy Research:  For something a little less high brow, head for The Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery (www.tiltedkilt.com, 1201 16th St, Denver).  Think 'Hooter's meets a great Irish pub.'  The do a St. Paddy's Day celebration called St. Practice Day on the 17th of every month.

Per Golf Magazine's Travelin' Joe, 5/07

Near Denver Airport, try Buffalo Run Golf Course (www.golfexperience.com/buffalorun, 303-289-1500; $40-$61), a 1996 Keith Foster layout just west of the airport. Don't look for a lot of shade trees here, either, but its 7,411 yards, with multiple mounds and 65 bunkers will keep things lively throughout. Trivia buffs should note that Buffalo Run will host the storied Denver Open in July, an event that was once a PGA Tour stop, won by the likes of Ben Hogan and Chi Chi Rodriguez.

A worthy third alternative is Green Valley Ranch Golf Club (www.gvrgolf.com, 303-371-3131; $40-$71), nine miles from DIA. Perry Dye's 2001 design is laced with creeks, wetlands and sturdy cottonwoods and offers a sufficiently hefty challenge that it has hosted the Colorado Open. If time is short, a nine-hole par-3 course awaits, though if you're looking simply to hone your swing, check out the on-site Mike McGetrick Golf Academy. McGetrick is a long-time member of GOLF Magazine's Top 100 Teachers.

By Joe Passov, Senior Editor (Courses/Rankings), Golf Magazine  Published: June 01, 2007

Out-of-town golfers may be susceptible to altitude sickness in Denver, but you certainly won't suffer from sticker shock: the cloudscraping city that marries modern office towers with Rocky Mountain views boasts some of the country's best affordable golf. Plus that extra yardage you gain from the thin air is a great ego-booster, especially when you're not thinning your wallet at the same time.

WHERE TO PLAY
Arrowhead Golf Club, Littleton, 6,636 yards, par 70, 303-973-9614, www.arrowheadcolorado.com
WHY IT'S WORTH IT It's not Robert Trent Jones Jr.'s most sophisticated design, but it could be his most spectacular, nestled into red rocks that jut upwards like cathedral spires. The dropshot 13th is unforgettable.

COST Through Oct. 1 you'll pay $139 from 7 a.m. until noon, including cart. After noon, it's $105; after 3 p.m. you'll pay $75. Fall rates are $49-$99.

Riverdale Golf Club (Dunes Course), Brighton, 7,067 yards, par 72, 303-659-6700, www.riverdalegolf.com
WHY IT'S WORTH IT Pete Dye and his son Perry created a nearly treeless neo-Scottish layout marked by typical risk reward options, daunting water features and stark railroad ties.

COST Non-residents will pay $37 to walk during the week and $43 on weekends.

Murphy Creek Golf Course, Aurora 7,456 yards, par 72303-361-7300, www.golfaurora.com
WHY IT'S WORTH IT The venue for this year's U.S. Amateur Public Links, designed by Ken Kavanaugh, is sprinkled with tall fescue, sprawling bunkers and — in a neat Old West touch — rusted farm implements.

COST Non-residents pay $34 to walk Monday-Thursday, $41 on weekends. Year-round Super Twilight rates are just $30 every day, including cart.

TRIP TIPS
• Stay here: Embassy Suites Denver Two-bedroom suites, free breakfasts and evening cocktails, plus a location near many top courses, make it your best budget option. Rooms from $134 per night.303-696-6644, embassysuites.com

• Eat here: Located next door to Coors Field, the Denver Chop House & Brewery is an affordable haven for professional jocks and wannabes. These folks do red meat right — don't miss the bone-in Iowa Pork Chop.303-296-0800, www.chophouse.com

• Drink here: LoDo's Wynkoop Brewing Company is Colorado's oldest brew pub — sure, it's only from 1988, but the microbrew craze isn't that old. After 36 holes, the signature amber-red Rail Yard Ale is a tasty reward. 303-297-2700, www.wynkoop.com

Inexpensive Golf Courses in Denver
By JOE PASSOV Architecture/Course Ranking Editor, Published: Golf Magazine August 10, 2006

Caddies wheezing from the high-altitude climbs and pros puzzling over the Stableford scoring system, where plus-figures are good, means that the PGA Tour has arrived in Denver for the International. Once a year, the Stableford system makes for an interesting, occasionally wild show. There's no drama, however, in getting to play Castle Pines. You can't. It's really private. Fortunately, Denver boasts a plethora of affordable, high-quality public courses. Here are some snapshots on where to conduct your own Stablefords.

Murphy Creek, Aurora, Colo. It's only $40 for non-residents to tee it up at this 1999 Ken Kavanaugh design east of downtown that is slated to host the 2008 USGA Men's Amateur Public Links Championship. Crafted in prairie links style, the 7,456-yard, mostly treeless layout features wispy native grasses framing fairways and antique, rusted farm implements strewn about the course that reflect the property's legacy as an old ranch homestead. Nick Faldo established the early course record here, a 3-under-par 69 and remarked as how the course compared favorably with Nebraska's top-rated Sand Hills.

Riverdale (Dunes Course), Brighton, Colo. Over-the-top mounding, railroad-ties lining the water hazards and a profusion of pot bunkers label this layout as vintage, mid-1980s Pete and Perry Dye. It's also one of the nation's best bargains. At $41 tops for non-residents, this linksy (albeit one with trees and lakes), layout on Denver's far northeast side curls along the South Platte River for much of its journey. It, too, played host to the USGA Amateur Public Links, back in 1993, when David Berganio Jr. took the trophy. Architecture geeks should note that this was the first course where Tom Doak played a major role on the bulldozer.

Saddle Rock, Aurora, Colo. Richard Phelps has left his design imprint throughout the entire state, but his best value, in terms of price and design, could be right here in the Metro area. This nine-year-old, 7,351-yard layout unfolds among the high prairies and its open expanses make for fine mountain views, but also make it susceptible to frequent gusts, putting a premium on ball-flight. Numerous wetlands and other environmentally sensitive areas contribute to its 140 slope, but several blind shots, the result of daunting elevation changes, make things tougher-and occasionally slower — so don't expect to race through a round here. It's a strong enough test, however, to have hosted the Colorado Open from 1998 to 2000 and it's a heckuva value, at $42 maximum for non-residents.

Wellshire, Denver, Colo. Donald Ross in Denver? Yep. Now and again, the master went west, most notably at The Broadmoor, 70 miles south of Denver. He also designed this one, back in 1926 and it served as a private club for years, before the city took control. Mind you, this is hardly one of Ross's best efforts (though he's not the one responsible for its sometimes iffy conditioning), but its tight, reasonably hilly layout, testing finish and classic clubhouse yield a timeless feel to the round. You can walk this downtown-area track for $27.

Fossil Trace, Golden, Colo. If the name Golden rings a bell, at least at the bar, it should, as it's home to the Coors Brewery. These days, golfers thirsting for value have a keg party right next door, at Fossil Trace. Designed by Jim Engh, the modern king of Rocky Mountain architecture, the layout was sculpted in and around an ancient geological site and winds through canyons and rock outcroppings. High on drama, low on cost, this fossil goes for a peak fee of $56, a price that never gets old for this kind of quality.

Denver, Maximum Golf, 2005 (a short-lived golf mag by the guys at Maxim):

Play: The Ridge at Castle Pines North (Castle Pines, CO, $125). Some serious course critics rate this higher than it's ultra-exclusive PGA Tour-site neighbor Castle Pines, with well-planned views of the Colorado countryside. Ranked in the Top 100 You Can Play in 1998. Or try nearby Red Hawk Ridge in Castle Rock. Breathtaking mountain views, links style, hilly topography, generous fairways surrounded by moguls and native grasses. The crescendo is the par-3 14th, with 80-mile vistas of Rocky Mountain National Park and Pike's Peak, and a 75-foot drop from tee to green, with O.B. deep.

Best Bar Nearby, Denver: Maximum Golf recommends boozing at The Church, 1160 Lincoln St, former Episcopalian church now a dance mecca, wine and sushi bar, cigar bar, rooftop lounge. OR, El Chapultepec, 1962 Market St, Denver's most venerable jazz venue, hardly lavish, with Mexican food. OR, Grizzly Rose Saloon & Dance Emporium, 5450 N. Valley Highway, 40,000 sq feet of line dancin'. OR, Lion's Lair, 2022 E. Colfax Ave, once affiliated with the Playboy Club, reincarnated as watering-hole and live music venue attracting non-conformists of every stripe. Anything goes. OR, Wynkoop Brewing Co., 1634 18th St, tasty pub food, world class pool hall, walking distance to Coors Field, Railyard Ale made on premisis.

Best Bar, Colorado Springs: For a cool tiki bar, Critiki.com recommends The Castaways restaurant, which is part of the Castaways Inns & Suites, opened in 1971, and still has its original tiki decor.

Where To Grub:  MG says get fed at Denver Buffalo Co., 1109 Lincoln St, wide array of delicious bison dishes. OR, Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse, 8100 E. Orchard Rd, massive high quality steaks and cholestorol-laden side dishes, opulent decor, extraordinary service, strong drinks, cigar lounge with live music. Travel Channel digs the meats at The Buckhorn Exchange (www.buckhorn.com) so much, it made their list of the top Steak Paradise spots in the country.  "The Buckhorn Exchange is Denver's oldest restaurant. Its founder, 'Shorty' Zietz, hunted with Teddy Roosevelt and lived with Sitting Bull before he founded The Buckhorn Exchange in 1893. While others were traveling west to find gold, Shorty aimed to strike it rich in the restaurant business. If you've got a hankering for something unique, The Buckhorn Exchange offers elk, buffalo, yak and ostrich steaks. When you're ordering your appetizer, don't forget to sample the Rocky Mountain Oysters -- they're a house favorite."  Brook's Steak House (303-770-1177) also makes some Best Steakhouses in the U.S. lists.

MG also dug Julia Blackbird's, 3617 W. 32nd Ave, homey unpretentious Southwestern joint, lots of hot stuff (try the pinon chicken), superb deserts. OR, McCormick's Fish House & Bar, 1659 Wazee St, in Lower Downtown (heart of Denver nightlife district), solid, reasonably priced, great location, inside historic Oxford Hotel. OR, Mecury Cafe, 2199 California St, local landmark with split personality, fine restaurant downstairs with veggitarian and organic-meat dishes, upstairs features live swing, tango, and Cajun bands.