Located just 20 minutes west of Denver in Golden, Colorado, Jim Engh’s beautifully designed and historic Fossil Trace Golf Club. Nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, the undulating fairways and unique bunkering make Fossil Trace a must-play for those visiting the Denver area. The course is built on historical grounds, featuring everything from ancient dinosaur fossils (hence the name) to old mining grounds. Sixty-four million years ago, the entire area was engulfed by seawater. After the seawater had receded, it left several layers of sandstone and clay, which created dinosaur footprints from triceratops and left other prehistoric fossils behind. Fossil Trace is worth the short trip and a fun track with a whole lot of history.
Being just 20 minutes outside of Denver, Fossil Trace was pretty easy for us to fit into the travel schedule. We stayed in the city, and I recommend that anyone taking a golf trip to Denver do the same. Not only because it’s convenient, but I also personally love the city of Denver! There are several places to eat, shop and drink.
The practice facility featured a full-sized grass range and an expansive putting and chipping area. I love grass ranges, as it gives me a good idea of how I am striking the ball and where my club is bottoming out as opposed to bouncy turf.
Front Nine Highlights
As mentioned, Fossil Trace is on historic grounds, and the history starts immediately from the first hole. A par-5 playing at 575 yards from the tips features a blind tee shot to the landing spot. The starter will show you which landmark to target! Once in the fairway, you will see the famous chimney incinerator, which the adjacent boy’s school used to burn trash in the early 1900s. The bunkering on this course is funky, with several being long and skinny with twists and turns as it snakes its way through the course. Speaking of bunkers, avoid the bunker on the left if you’re going for it in two! This hole will reward you with a birdie if you’re smart!
Our next favorite hole on the front nine was the par-4 7th hole. Playing only 377 yards from the tips, the tee shot requires some strategy. Hitting a driver might either put you in the “river bunker” or leave you with an awkward distance to an uphill and small green. I made the mistake of getting too close instead of laying back and having a full wedge approach shot. The 7th hole gives you a good look at what kind of bunkering exists on this course, as one long swervy bunker (river bunker) serves as both a fairway and greenside bunker. Make sure to control your spin, or you might end up drowning in the river bunker!
Back Nine Highlights
The history of Fossil Trace continues on the back nine, but with a bit of a different twist. As you make the turn, you will encounter what remains of the Rockwell Mine. George W. Parfet primarily mined this mine in 1877 to mine clay. His heirs operated this mine up until 2001. Several pieces of machinery still exist on the property to this day.
Hole 12 is arguably the signature hole of Fossil Trace. With massive sandstone pillars enveloping the fairway, it is a hole not soon forgotten. 585 yards from the tips, this par-5 is a proper three-shot hole. The fairway narrows quite a bit the further you go, so I recommend taking less than a driver if you’re looking for safety. The second shot should be taken directly over the first sandstone pillar to give you an optimal look at this wide but narrow green. Behind the green features trace fossils of Triceratops and Hadrosaurs, hence the name “Fossil Trace.”
After close consideration on our second favorite hole on the back nine, we had to go with the par-5 18th. Playing at 542 yards from the tips, this is a very reachable hole in two. A lake protects this hole along the right side of the fairway, so miss left or else! A good tee shot leaves you with 200+ yards into this par-5 green if you’re feeling risky. If you’re more of a layup person, the landing area is expansive, and any miss to the left will trickle back down into the fairway. The unique snake bunkering found all over the course continues here as the green is protected by two, one on each side. There is a small hill on the backside of this green, so going long will not hurt.
The Final Score
Never before have I played such a rich and historic golf course. From the fossils in the clubhouse to the mining equipment sprinkled around the course, you can truly feel the history of what took place on the lands before. Dramatic bunkering and funky sandstone architecture add some adventure and challenge to the golfing experience.
Fossil Trace has been recognized as a premier golf destination by acclaimed critics such as Golf Digest, Denver A-List, Colorado Avid Golfer, and now Golf Aficionado. I recommend anyone visiting the Denver area to check out Fossil Trace Golf Club. Truly 64 million years in the making, this track will not leave you with a dull feeling.