Soaring Golf at Frost Creek
From the deck of our “luxury member cabin” the view above Frost Creek’s third fairway is eye-opening – it appears you could land a Boeing 767 on the massive, wide fairway.
EAGLE, Colo. – From the deck of our “luxury member cabin” the view above Frost Creek’s third fairway is eye-opening – it appears you could land a Boeing 767 on the massive, wide fairway. “Man, if you can’t find a nice landing spot from the tee down there you need to go back to the practice area,” joked cousin Jim Holland of Durango. I nodded “yep, that is one humongous driving area.” Thanks Tom Weiskopf, we approve. “I think the first time Mr. Weiskopf looked over the 1,100-acre property he was impressed by the huge scope of the land,” said general manager Mike Gibbs. “You need huge tee boxes, wide fairways and large greens. Little doesn’t fit on this acreage,” Weiskopf said. Massive is a common theme at Frost Creek nine miles from downtown Eagle and I-70 in the beautiful Brush Creek Valley. Massive includes the $400,000, 40-foot bronze bald eagle, clutching a human-sized trout in its talons, just in front of the 40,000-square foot clubhouse’s porte-cochere. The Oregon artist has work in the White House, Vatican and Kremlin. Fred Kummer, founder of the defunct Adam’s Mark Hotels chain, had massive dreams for the area. He had envisioned the Brush Creek Valley as another Vail Valley with ski runs flooding the surroundings. It just never happened – there was way too much opposition from local residents and a recession. Weiskopf, however, finished the golf course in 2007. It was a winner. It tried out two names – Adam’s Rib Ranch then Adam’s Mountain Country Club. But Frost Creek was born when the investment group, Brue Baukol Capital Partners, led by Chad Brue of Denver became the new owner. Because of the acquisition bargain, Brue enticed his young friends on the front range of Colorado to go for the memberships in this four-season private club. Today, Frost Creek is the fastest growing private club in Colorado. Many of the new members are under 50 with children and the pricing structure includes Eagle County residents and a better bargain for outside the county members, who can rent member cabins when visiting. And the vision created a family experience that includes something for everyone.
The more attractive pricing took memberships from 32 to 200. The new name came from a sense of the history of the land. W.E. Frost was an early pioneer who built a homestead on the property around 1880. Also a tributary of Brush Creek is Frost Creek that comes down at the fifth hole. The golf course Weiskopf’s routing includes eight man-made lakes, an awesome downhill driving range, chipping and putting areas. Ten holes play adjacent to water or around lakes and the creek. And you have Weiskopf’s signature drivable par four included in the 7,181-yard, par 72. “This is a tale of two nines,” says Ben Welsh, head pro. “The front nine is open into a high mountain meadow with giant greens and some elevation changes. The back nine runs past cottonwoods and adjacent to Brush Creek – holes 12-15 take you right up to the water with 13 (303-yard, par four) going over Brush Creek on the approach.” The fifth, a par 3 of 188 yards, has a bunker in the middle of the green similar Riviera Country Club’s famous seventh in Los Angeles. This is stellar golf. Gibbs, a Georgetown, Colorado native, said he was going to play nine holes with us. He ended up playing 15 – it is just hard to say no to just one more hole. “I’m really proud of the greens here,” Gibbs continued. “They run about 12 on the stimp meter and Derrick Dreyer, our superintendent, has a goal to keep poa annua out of them.” Family activities away from the golf course With thousands of acres of federal and state-protected wild areas within minutes, Frost Creek’s membership has countless outdoors activities. Also Beaver Creek Ski Resort is 32 miles away and Vail a bit farther. Here is a list of activities: pond fishing, fly fishing, standup paddle boarding, hiking, road biking, mountain biking, camping, bird and wildlife watching, junior golf, swimming, swim classes, basketball, tennis, volleyball, archery, disc golf, badminton, ping pong, arts and crafts, yoga classes, cardio burn, group day hikes, road cycling and snowshoeing. A jeep is also available for members to reserve. Members can use the concierge for guided fly fishing with Vail Valley Anglers, white water rafting, zipline adventures, horseback riding, ice skating, cross country skiing, sledding, ice fishing, hockey, and member ski days/shuttle to Vail and Beaver Creek. The clubhouse restaurant Open to the public, the clubhouse restaurant is under the guidance of chef Marc Copenhaver and his ever-changing menu is excellent. We tried the smoked trout bruschetta and cod. Member cabin lodging, and “glamping” in yurts under the stars Members without a home can rent luxury cabins containing four bedrooms and bathrooms and are located just across from the pool and tennis complex next to the clubhouse. There are 137 homesites. Frost Creek is all about getting outdoors even to “glamping” – two yurts located on the edge of the creek, have skylights so you can sleep comfortably under the stars. If you have never seen the stars in the boondocks away from street lights you will be amazed – much like the amenities that Frost Creek has assembled in this special part of the Rocky Mountains. www.golfvacationsmag.com