Saddle Rock

Venue Overview

Saddle Rock Golf Course is a public, 18-hole golf course in Aurora, Colorado, designed by architect Richard "Dick" Phelps and opened in 1997. Playing to a par of 72 across 7,351 yards from the longest tees, the high-plains, links-style course combines extensive native areas with significant elevation changes for a genuinely memorable round. Owned and operated by the City of Aurora, Saddle Rock was named one of Golf Digest's Top 10 Best New Courses in 1998 and has since served as the former home of the Colorado Open and numerous statewide amateur and professional events.

About the Course

Dick Phelps' design at Saddle Rock stretches to 7,351 yards from the back tees, one of the longer municipal layouts in the Denver metro area, and uses the high plains' natural elevation changes and native grassland to create a strategic, links-inspired test. The city partnered with local developers to build the course in the 1990s, with the developers donating the land and the city funding roughly $7 million in construction, including the clubhouse. That investment paid off quickly: within a year of opening, Golf Digest recognized Saddle Rock among the nation's Top 10 Best New Courses of 1998, and the course went on to host the Colorado Open and a long list of statewide amateur and professional championships.

• 18-hole, par-72 course designed by Richard "Dick" Phelps, opened in 1997
• 7,351 yards from the longest tees
• High-plains, links-style layout with extensive native areas and elevation change
• Golf Digest Top 10 Best New Courses, 1998
• Former home of the Colorado Open
• Native American artwork displayed throughout the course
• Owned and operated by the City of Aurora

A City-Developer Partnership That Paid Off

Saddle Rock's origin story is a study in public-private collaboration: in the 1990s, the City of Aurora struck an agreement with local land developers in which the developers donated the acreage and the city financed roughly $7 million in construction, covering both the course and its clubhouse. That investment proved itself almost immediately, with Golf Digest naming Saddle Rock one of America's Top 10 Best New Courses within a year of its 1997 opening. Native American artwork displayed throughout the grounds adds a distinctive cultural layer to the high-plains links experience, and the course's tournament resume — headlined by its years as former home of the Colorado Open — has made it one of Aurora's signature municipal golf assets ever since.

Practice Facilities & Amenities

• One of the largest practice tees in the Denver metro area
• Full-service golf shop
• Saddle Rock Grill, the on-site restaurant
• Junior golf programs, including First Tee of Colorado programming
• Group and individual lesson programs for golfers of all ages

Lessons & Instruction

Saddle Rock's instructional program, as of 2026, includes PGA professionals with decades of combined teaching experience serving group and individual lessons for women, men, and juniors of all skill levels on one of the area's largest practice tees. Saddle Rock also hosts First Tee of Colorado programming for junior golfers. Contact the golf shop at (303) 326-8460 to schedule a lesson or ask about current clinic and junior program offerings.

Tournaments & Events

Saddle Rock's championship-length layout and tournament pedigree — including its history as former home of the Colorado Open — make it a strong host for golf tournaments, corporate outings, and group events, with the City of Aurora's golf operations staff available to help coordinate bookings.

Planning Your Event Here

Saddle Rock's Dick Phelps design, Golf Digest-recognized layout, and City of Aurora support make it a distinctive option for tournaments, corporate outings, and group events in the Aurora area. Contact the golf shop to coordinate a booking. The course is located at 21705 E. Arapahoe Road, Aurora, CO 80016 (303-326-8460).

Hosting an Event at Saddle Rock Golf Course? Launch It on Colorado Under Par

If you're organizing a tournament, scramble, or group outing at Saddle Rock Golf Course, you can launch 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 golf community takes less than five minutes. Launch your event here: coloradounderpar.com/submit-event