By Jeff Bailey • Photography by Patrick Edmiston
TPC Colorado offers something for everyone: an 18-hole championship course, a high-end clubhouse, swimming and tennis: all at Heron Lakes in Berthoud.
Welcome home, TPC Colorado. Golf fans around the state have a new course they will want to add to their must-play list this season and it’s not hard to see why the PGA Tour’s TPC Network of golf courses has extended into Northern Colorado. The PGA TOUR’s TPC Network, along with owner and developer Heron Lakes Investments, LLC, has done something in Colorado that hasn’t been accomplished in nearly 10 years. And that is to build a golf course development from scratch. TPC Colorado is the first course built from the ground up since TPC built its golf community at TPC San Antonio in 2010.
Located in Berthoud, TPC Colorado is a semi-private club that will also be open for public play and is set to open this summer. The new course is a part of the PGA TOUR’s Tournament Players Club network and this one, like the rest of their properties, does not disappoint. Though privately owned, something that makes TPC Colorado unique to the state: the golf club is being managed and maintained in conjunction with the PGA TOUR.
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“The club is going to operate as a high-end semi-private club,” said Larry Collins, the general manager at TPC Colorado. “Right now, we have 151 members on board and we think we’ll clearly be between 250-270 by the end of the year.” The public will have access on a space-available basis.
From the 18-hole championship course to the Heron Lakes community development being built, TPC has a little something for everyone. Coloradans love the outdoors and whether you are looking to golf, play tennis, go swimming or boating with friends, TPC Colorado has you covered.
Art Schaupeter Golf Course Architects designed the golf course at TPC Colorado. Like all the TPC-branded courses, this one is built with the ability to host a professional golf tournament.
“We are really talking about a brand that is married up with the PGA TOUR,” said Collins. “Every TPC is built with an infrastructure to host a PGA TOUR event, whether it be a (PGA) TOUR event, Champions TOUR event or the Web.com.” And that is what the club is going to do, as they will host a Web.com tournament in 2019.
TPC Colorado is a par-72 Scottish-style layout and can accommodate players of all skill levels. With seven sets of tees, the course in Berthoud can play anywhere from less than 5,000 yards for the weekend recreational golfer, all the way out to longer than 7,991 yards for the tour players.
There are a number of Scottish elements at this course that can be seen all over during a round of golf. You have stacked-sod wall bunkers along with much larger flashed sand bunkers that can come into play. Players will also see fescue-lined fairways while on the course, all of which display that Scottish heritage.
“This is a golf course that’s going to be memorable,” said Collins. “It’s got all those Scottish elements sitting in the Colorado mountain backdrop.
“I think it’s an incredible setting, but once you put the tour standard as far as service and quality of the condition of the golf course, I think it’s going to be a win.”
The course has a lot of unique features that will make players remember playing TPC Colorado. You have holes that start from elevated tee boxes, the wide fairways are very forgiving to players off the tee. During your round you will see a number of fairways that are 60-70 yards in width. It’s also hard to forget the stunning views on this property of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains with panoramic views of Long’s Peak in the background.
While touring the course with Collins we discussed the signature holes at TPC Colorado. Collins doesn’t like to think of the course as having only one signature hole, but as having 18 memorable holes.
“I still like to say that we have 18 memorable holes,” he said. “But for the member or for the repeat guest when they step to the first tee they’re going to be thinking No. 8, because it’s a risk reward par-3, it almost has that island green.” Collins also talked about the par-3 16th in front of the clubhouse.
“Then 16, it’s named Center Stage because everybody, whether you’re a scratch player or a 30 handicapper, is going to feel what the tour player feels.
“And that’s what it is like to hit a 140 yard shot in front of maybe 100 individuals dining within 50 feet of you.”
And after seeing all 18 myself, I can see why he says there are 18 memorable holes. The layout of the course also has a good mix of long and short holes. But lookout for the long one, as TPC Colorado will be known for having the state’s longest hole. Longer Still, is the name of the par-5 13th that will run out to a playable 762 yards. I say go for it in two.
The course being in the Town of Berthoud also has its benefits to the community. One impact it will have will be with the local high school in town.
“We will be the home for the Berthoud High School boys and girls teams,” Collins said. “They’re going to be the only ones that can call this place their home.”
Another impact it will have is going to be with the future build-out of the real estate development at Heron Lakes.
The 800-acre golf community will feature the TPC Network 18-hole championship caliber golf course. The new community will also feature a residential neighborhood that will include multi-million-dollar estates along with luxury, low-maintenance villas, condos and townhomes.
The TPC Colorado clubhouse is going to be considered the hub of the Heron Lakes community. Phase 1 will have a large pro shop with a bar and grill. Phase 2 will feature a full-service restaurant, an exclusive member-only dining room and locker rooms, and space to serve as a meeting place for corporate outings, banquets, weddings and other major events. The pool and fitness amenities will be located south of the clubhouse.
The clubhouse and restaurant are going to be substantial—nearly 60,000 square feet. There are a number of different membership opportunities available for those interested in becoming a member at TPC Colorado. Some of the more popular membership packages include Charter and Young Executives. There is also a Corporate membership available for the folks that like to entertain business clientele.
For membership information, contact Mick Newberg, Director of Memberships, at 970-663-5063 or by email at MichaelNewberg@tpccolorado.com.
Another unique feature of this property will be the Lake Club. Ideal for fans of the outdoors and the water, who will have lake access for recreation. There is also going to be a bar and grill on location at the Lake Club that will be open to the public. So, both members of TPC Colorado and the public will have access to an unforgettable dining experience on the water.
The Lake Club also has Coloradans covered when it comes to outdoor activities. In addition to fishing and hunting, there will be access to walking, hiking and biking trails that span over 8 miles. TPC Colorado at Heron Lakes is a unique community in Northern Colorado and must be seen firsthand to truly appreciate what has been built and what lies ahead for future of the development. For anyone who wants to experience what it is like to play a PGA TOUR-caliber course, head on out to TPC Colorado for a memorable round of golf in Northern Colorado.
Jeff Bailey spent time in the Northern Colorado area while in the journalism program at the University of Northern Colorado. He finished his schooling in Denver while working for the Colorado Rockies and graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver with a degree in journalism. His bylines have also appeared in The Denver Post. To comment on this article, send an email to letters@nocostyle.com.
