Riverdale Golf Courses
Brighton, CO 80601 United States Get Directions
Venue Overview
Riverdale Golf Courses is a 36-hole public golf facility on Riverdale Road in Brighton, on the north side of the Denver metro and roughly 10 to 15 minutes from Denver International Airport. It is home to two full 18-hole courses with very different personalities. The Dunes is a Scottish-style links course by Pete and Perry Dye that meanders along the South Platte River, and The Knolls is a traditional park-style course criss-crossed by canals. Both courses have bentgrass tees, fairways and greens, and the clubhouse is home to the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame. Two complete 18s at one address make Riverdale one of the north metro’s strongest choices for large tournaments, two-course outings and club championships.
About the Courses
- The Dunes: 18 holes, par 72 (four par 3s, ten par 4s and four par 5s), four sets of tees from 4,884 to 7,067 yards, maximum rating and slope of 73.3 and 134, designed by Pete and Perry Dye and opened in 1985
- The Knolls: 18 holes, a traditional park-style layout crossed by canals, with plenty of hazards, trees and many elevated greens
- Links-style Dunes along the South Platte River, with pot bunkers, mounds, water and railroad ties
- Bentgrass tees, fairways and greens on both courses
- Public courses open to all golfers, generally open year round
History
The Dunes was built in 1985 as a municipal course designed by Pete Dye and his son Perry Dye. It made Golf Digest’s list of Top 75 public courses in 1990, hosted the 1993 USGA Public Links Championship, and hosted a Nike Tour event in 1996 and 1997. Riverdale also notes recognition from Colorado Golfer, which ranked The Dunes the number one public course in Colorado, and from Golf Magazine, which called it one of America’s most affordable courses. Its sister course, The Knolls, gives the facility a traditional parkland 18 alongside the links.
The Courses
The Dunes plays like a Scottish links, with expansive bentgrass fairways, hand-sculpted greens and long native grass waiting for anyone who strays too far. Dye used railroad ties throughout to build up hazard edges, and water comes into play on several holes. The number 5 hole, a par 4 of up to 429 yards, is the hardest on the course, and the signature number 15 is a par 4 with a tee shot along the edge of a lake. The Knolls is the opposite experience: tree-lined, crossed by canals and full of elevated greens, so good course management matters more than length. Playing both shows two very different styles of golf on one property.
Events Held Here
- Tournaments and outings: Riverdale sells shotgun tournament packages on The Dunes for fields of up to 144 players, with green fees, carts, range balls and professional scoring included
- Championships: The Dunes has hosted the 1993 USGA Public Links Championship, a Nike Tour event and several Colorado state championships
Riverdale handles tournament dates through its golf shop and food and beverage packages through its event staff. Upcoming events at this venue are listed below.
Lessons, Coaching & Programs
Riverdale’s practice area includes a driving range, practice bunkers, and chipping and putting greens, a good warm-up spot before a shotgun start. Contact the golf shop and its PGA head professional for current lessons, leagues and junior options.
Food, Drink & Amenities
- Two 18-hole public courses at one address
- Driving range, practice bunkers and chipping and putting greens
- Restaurant with a full-service bar, on-course snack bar and beverage cart
- Banquet facility with a private bar for large groups
- Rental electric carts, pull carts and golf clubs
Private Events & Groups
Riverdale’s shotgun packages on The Dunes start at 7:30 a.m. and take fields of up to 144 players. Packages bundle green fees, carts, range balls, a per-player gift certificate allowance and professional scoring, and food and beverage packages add access to the banquet facility with its own private bar. The Knolls had no tournament availability in 2025 because of a drainage ditch project, so ask the golf shop which course is open for your date.
Membership or Access
Riverdale Golf Courses are public, so any golfer can book a tee time on The Dunes or The Knolls. The courses are generally open year round and close only for snow, scheduled maintenance or holidays.
Contact & Links
Questions About Riverdale Golf Courses
How many golf courses does Riverdale have?
Riverdale Golf Courses has two full 18-hole public courses, The Dunes and The Knolls.
Who designed Riverdale Dunes?
Pete and Perry Dye designed Riverdale Dunes, which opened in 1985. It is a par 72 Scottish-style links course along the South Platte River.
How long is Riverdale Dunes?
Riverdale Dunes plays from 4,884 to 7,067 yards across four sets of tees, with a maximum rating and slope of 73.3 and 134.
What is Riverdale Knolls like?
Riverdale Knolls is a traditional park-style course criss-crossed by canals, with plenty of hazards, trees and many elevated greens. Course management matters more than length there.
Is Riverdale Golf Courses public?
Yes, both Riverdale courses are public and generally open year round. Golf Magazine has called The Dunes one of America’s most affordable courses.
Can I host an event at Riverdale Golf Courses?
Yes. Riverdale sells shotgun tournament packages on The Dunes for up to 144 players, and its banquet facility handles food and beverage for groups.
How do I list my event?
Submit your Riverdale Golf Courses tournament or charity scramble for free at coloradounderpar.com/submit-event. Once approved, it appears on this page.
Planning Your Event Here
Choose The Dunes for a championship-style test or a large shotgun field, and ask about The Knolls for a more traditional parkland round. Confirm course availability with the golf shop early, and book food and beverage packages separately with the events team.
Hosting an Event at Riverdale Golf Courses? List It on Colorado Under Par
If you’re organizing a tournament, scramble, charity outing or league event at Riverdale Golf Courses, you can list your event for free on Colorado Under Par, Colorado’s dedicated platform for discovering and promoting golf, pickleball, and sporting events. Getting your event in front of Colorado’s active sports community takes less than five minutes.
List your event here: coloradounderpar.com/submit-event
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