RainDance National Golf Club
Overview
The newest addition to Front Range golf, opened in 2022, is a prairie style course from former Arnold Palmer associate Harrison Minchew and playing professional Fred Funks that’s laced with rugged ravines and can be stretched to over 8,400 yards, an asset in the mile high air (and somewhat ironic given that Funk was a notoriously "short" driver of the ball). Part of a large resort development that will continue to improve as it matures, there are a number of attractive but heart-pounding all-carry shots over the arroyos, meaning golfers better come with their A-games.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
Best in State: Ranked 22nd in 2023-'24 debut ranking.
2025-'26 ranking (and previous): 22nd.
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
“very challenging layout over and around many ravines. Has a farming theme from parking lot to clubhouse."
Read More2026
Review
“On this modern Harrison Minchew/Fred Funk design, start with the greens and work backward. Even if you reach the green in regulation, a 2-putt is no guarantee and some putts are nearly impossible. However, every green has a significant surround cut to fairway height with their own mounds and rolls, so a clever player can use these to their advantage in a links-like fashion. So this is an approach-shot course. Given the proper angle, most pins can be attacked by using these contours. But to get to the proper angle, the tee shot needs to be sound, and often the obvious tee shot is not the best one. There are numerous forced carries from the tees, and many on approach shots, but as your move up on the tees there are fewer and fewer of them, so the course becomes playable for shorter hitters. Because of the penal design on many holes, the key to enjoying this course is finding the tee box that provides the appropriate balance between risk/reward challenge without being too short and easy. Yet even from a forward tee, the greens and surrounds still provide plenty of interest."
Read More2025
Review
“On this modern Harrison Minchew/Fred Funk design, start with the greens and work backward. Even if you reach the green in regulation, a 2-putt is no guarantee and some putts are nearly impossible. However, every green has a significant surround cut to fairway height with their own mounds and rolls, so a clever player can use these to their advantage in a links-like fashion. So this is an approach-shot course. Given the proper angle, most pins can be attacked by using these contours. But to get to the proper angle, the tee shot needs to be sound, and often the obvious tee shot is not the best one. There are numerous forced carries from the tees, and many on approach shots, but as your move up on the tees there are fewer and fewer of them, so the course becomes playable for shorter hitters. Because of the penal design on many holes, the key to enjoying this course is finding the tee box that provides the appropriate balance between risk/reward challenge without being too short and easy. Yet even from a forward tee, the greens and surrounds still provide plenty of interest."
Read More2025
Review
“The views are endless. So are the forced carries. Worth a visit. It's a little bit like an amusement park."
Read More2024
Review
“Raindance National in Windsor, Co. The course is very long, especially on a counter-prevailing windy day. The the par 3's are all similar, par 4's tend to be somewhat extreme in elevation changes, and do not reward longer shots. With some of the average second shots being 200-200 yds plus, you'll have to be precise in your landing area, so that you do not lose your ball short into one of the many mini-canyons. Some of the green complexes were quite good. Overall, the course feels a bit "gimmicky", although it will run "firm and fast" due to its dry conditions and infant status."
Read More2024
Review
“RainDance provides the golfer with club options on every tee, layup to avoid a trap and face a longer approach or take the risk and boom it giving you a real shot at birdie or eagle! With a variety of dogleg holes and elevation changes club you find yourself using every club in the bag. The greens are large and have a good deal of undulation, PICK THE CORRECT LINE or three putting is a real possibility. Playing this golf course never gets boring!"
Read More2024
Review
“Definitely a unique experience here that will test even the longest and most talented players."
Read More2023
Review
“Beautiful, dramatic property. Too bad the course is so determined to be hard instead of aiming for fun. Bring a lot of balls."
Read More2023
Review
“Raindance National is a big, bold course set on a dramatic series of ravines on the front range of Northern Colorado. While the course starts out a little bit slow with a straightforward par-4 with a green set against a housing development, it quickly kicks into higher gear on holes #3-5 with two dramatic par-4's followed by a nice drop shot par-3. The majority of holes however provide solid shot options, variety, and drama... maybe slightly too much drama! The lakeside par-4 15th and gentle uphill par-3 17th provided some nice contrast to many of the other wildly-undulating holes on the course."
Read More2023
Review
“Raindance National is a big, bold course set on a dramatic series of ravines on the front range of Northern Colorado. While the course starts out a little bit slow with a straightforward par-4 with a green set against a housing development, it quickly kicks into higher gear on holes #3-5 with two dramatic par-4's followed by a nice drop shot par-3. A few holes (most notably #5) would benefit from a widening of the landing zones to achieve greater continuity with the course's massive scale, land slope and distance. The majority of holes however provided solid shot options and variety. The lakeside par-4 15th provided some nice contrast to many of the other wildly-undulating holes on the course. The duo of par-5's on the back, #13 with its canyon running down most of the right side of the hole, and #18, with its multiple forced carries and dramatic canyon running along most of the hole, were in tandem a bit on the extreme side in my view."
Read More2023
