Allen Kennedy
Brendan Caffrey
Red Sky Ranch & Golf Club: Fazio
Wolcott, CO • Private
Red Sky Ranch & Golf Club: Fazio
376 Red Sky Rd
Wolcott, CO 81632
United States
Overview
The companion to the Norman Course at Red Sky, the Fazio 18 features more elevation change, with the mostly open front nine atop a bluff dotted with hand-planted sage and juniper bushes and the back nine rising in switchback fashion far up a mountain slope through groves of aspen before plunging downhill on the final three holes. The bunkers here are some of Fazio's most elaborate. Both Red Sky Ranch courses have flip-flopped positions on the America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses ranking, but Fazio’s design consistently gets the higher Aesthetics marks.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest Public: Ranked since 2015.
Highest ranking: 68th, 2023-'24.
2025-'26 ranking: 71st.
Best in State: Ranked eighth, 2019-'20. Ranked ninth, 2017-'18, 2021-'26. Ranked 13th, 2011-'12. Ranked 14th, 2015-'16. Ranked 19th, 2013-'14.
2025-'26 ranking (and previous): 9th.
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
“Situated in the Colorado mountains not far from Vail and Beaver Creek, Red Sky built two golf courses, one by Tom Fazio and the other by Greg Norman. Fazio was clearly given the better piece of land on the lower half of the mountain with more gentle rolling hills, and it is much easier to build a championship level golf course, and he delivered. Even though this parcel of land had its challenges, Fazio did a good job fitting holes into the valleys, ravines and open spaces of the front nine and the more mountain feel of the back nine which may be the most scenic of all the mountain courses in the Vail area. From the beginning, Fazio provides a good variety of holes. The par 4, first provides an interesting start with a downhill shot to an infinity looking green across the valley. The par 5, second drops to a narrow fairway from an elevated tee box and an equally narrow second shot. The par 4, third is a short par four with a lake along the left side of the fairway and the par 4, fourth goes out into an open field. The stretch of holes from 12 to 16 flow through the pines and aspen trees with ample challenge and shot options ranging from long, medium and short holes to par. And the final three holes, 16-18, provide stunning views with unique challenges with the dramatic drop in elevation with the 18th green situated right in front of the guest clubhouse."
Read More2025
Review
“The rolling mountainous, terrain and natural vegetation secludes each hole on its own, giving you a nice private, feeling, and sense of awayness and solitude through out the entire course"
Read More2025
Review
“A nice layout considering it sits on the side of a mountain. Great views but the condition is much softer and not as good as the Norman course right next door."
Read More2023
Review
“RSR is a great stop for Colorado Golf. Two great courses with great views and plenty of challenge both in the thin air and on the ground. Great restaurant and pro shop. Definitely worth going out of your way to play either of these courses."
Read More2023
Review
“Difficult course- greens very fast and difficult to read.. Vistas are spectacular"
Read More2022
Review
“This is more user friendly than Norman's course with large undulating greens."
Read More2022
Review
“The Fazio course is more playable than Norman's with large greens and thrilling shots."
Read More2022
Review
“Red Sky Ranch with the Fazio and Norman courses provides the best overall golf experience in the Vail Valley."
Read More2018
Review
“Beautiful Fazio mountain course just west of Vail."
Read More2018