Evan Schiller
Photo by Channing Benjamin
LC Lambrecht
Channing Benjamin/Courtesy of Ballyneal GC
Channing Benjamin/Courtesy of Ballyneal GC
Channing Benjamin/Courtesy of Ballyneal GC
Ballyneal Golf Club
Holyoke, CO•Private
Awards
Panelists Score
Ballyneal Golf Club
1 Ballyneal Ln
Holyoke, CO 80734-8711
United States
Overview
If Sand Hills Golf Club stands for the notion that there’s nothing more glorious than a round of golf beyond the range of cell phone reception, then Ballyneal (Tom Doak’s northeast Colorado answer to Nebraska’s Sand Hills) proves that isolated golf is even better when spartan in nature. With no carts and dry, tan fescue turf on fairways and greens, Ballyneal is even more austere than Sand Hills. It provides absolute firm and fast conditions, and with many greens perched on hilltops, the effect of wind on putts must be considered. The rolling landforms, topsy-turvy greens and half-par holes make playing here feel like a joyride. That sense of exuberance has catapulted Ballyneal from an original ranking of 95th in 2011 to its highest ranking to date at 34th.
About
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Golf Digest Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 Greatest / Best In State Scores
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“You need to play multiple rounds over several days to full experience Ballyneal. Playing the same hole from different tee locations at different times of day make this place special."
Read More2026
Review
“Carved into dramatic, rugged dunes, Ballyneal is among the best true links courses and overall golf experiences in the U.S. Shot options seem nearly infinite, with no tee markers allowing groups to choose from a range of lengths and angles on each hole, while wind conditions ebb and flow throughout the day. Fairways flow naturally with the terrain, setting up challenging approach shots from often uneven lies. The greens are complex and thrilling, with sharp plateaus and dramatic bowls that make proper positioning essential. A must-play for any golf purist."
Read More2026
Review
“A masterful, brutish design. The scale is huge, and completely unexpected. Massive dunes set the stage for a immensely enjoyable round. Many options for shots, and brown, super firm and fast fairways, which now represents ideal conditioning (instead of plush, soft and green)."
Read More2026
Review
“This course is fun! You wake up and are pumped to play. Caddies are key as there are multiple ways to play almost every shot. The green surrounds are spectacular and will dictate the options depending on the hole locations. Cant wait to go back. There is significant drought in eastern CO but the course is still great"
Read More2026
Review
“Great course that moves through an incredible landscape providing wonderful golf. The course is extremely fun and provides a great challenge."
Read More2024
Review
“A course every fan of architecture should see, Ballyneal utilizes every significant tenet of architecture. Thanks to wind conditions and teeing ground elasticity, one could play it dozens of times without ever facing the same shot. Many features on the course are gargantuan and the player becomes completely immersed in the experience. A sublime golf experience from start to finish."
Read More2024
Review
“Incredible layout variety and shot options. No two holes are alike. A lot of fun opportunities to use firm turf and play the contours around and on the greens. Outstanding greens conditioning but the fairways were inconsistent and at times patchy."
Read More2024
Review
“Ballyneal is an authentic true links course in the Colorado prairie. It almost feels like you are in Ireland."
Read More2023
Review
“Ballyneal is a piece of Ireland transplanted into the North American prairie, resembling Ballybunion or Waterville (without the ocean). The turf runs firm and fast as a links course should. The course layout is outstanding, particularly the green sites, which are as natural as any I've seen. Shot Options are the strength of the course. You are forced to play a wide variety of shots. There aren't a lot of bunkers, but it's a good idea to stay out of them because they are irregular and rugged. Ballyneal is one of the best true links courses in the U.S."
Read More2023
Review
“True Gem of the US Golf World. A Must play course."
Read More2023
