Golf course living is a special niche in the real estate market that allows homeowners to enjoy the game right outside their door. To many, it’s a selling point to be located on the 3rd fairway or overlooking the 7th green. Luckily, Durango has multiple golf course communities to choose from.
Why Live on a Golf Course?
Especially coveted by avid golfers, golf course living can be attractive to those who don’t participate in the sport as well. Having a golf course in your backyard means there’s expansive open space that is meticulously landscaped and maintained. It’s common for golf courses to have water features, mature trees, and beautiful surrounding views as well. Of course, if you are a golf enthusiast, the ability to hop in your golf cart and be on the course within minutes is a major draw.
Although HOA fees may be higher and the neighborhood more structured than less incorporated neighborhoods, there are typically more inclusions and benefits, including common areas, maintenance and landscaping, and often amenities. These can include onsite dining, pools, gyms, tennis and pickleball courts, clubhouses, and neighborhood events. Some real estate sales in golf resorts may include exclusive memberships that can be hard or even impossible to obtain without residence.
Golf Course Communities in Durango, CO
Durango is home to three golf courses ranging from public to member-only access. They all offer a variety of different amenities as well as lifestyle and real estate opportunities.
Dalton Ranch
In the Animas Valley just nine miles north of downtown Durango, Dalton Ranch is a semi-private golf course with both memberships and public play. Amenities including the outdoor pool, pickleball courts, tennis courts, and The Clubhouse restaurant are all on site. The Animas River flows just to the west while the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train runs along the west side of Dalton with red cliffs framing in the valley. Dalton Ranch is easily accessed from both Highway 550 as well as County Road 250. Nearby, you can enjoy Durango Hot Springs, James Ranch, and many trails within minutes, as well as just a short 20-minute drive to Purgatory Ski Resort.
Real Estate in Dalton Ranch
Dalton Ranch is split into three different sections: South Dalton Ranch (the original phase), North Dalton Ranch, and West Dalton Ranch (the newest phase with vacant lots still available). There are townhomes, single level “golf villas”, and multimillion dollar luxury homes available within the area. Memberships are separate from homeownership in this golf community, allowing the option for golfing as well as a social membership that provides access to additional amenities for those who aren’t golfers.
Glacier Club
Glacier Club is the premier Durango golf club, offering two 18-hole courses, two clubhouses, three restaurants, and a wide range of additional amenities. It’s set 18 miles north of Durango, surrounded by tall pines and offers amazing views of the peaks to the north. Fully private, usage of the facilities requires a membership. Purgatory Ski Resort is just ten miles farther north for additional year-round outdoor activities plus adjacent open space, trails, and outdoor adventure.
Real Estate in Glacier Club
Tamarron offers easy lock-and-leave condo and townhome units, which are located on the southern end of the property. These units allow you to live in the community without a membership, with the option to purchase different plans depending on desired access and amenities. Once you pass the gates in Glacier Club, you can live in luxury in a $5,000,000+ home on the cliff or a stunning townhome overlooking the course. Real estate behind the gates provides access to all of the amenities - full memberships are required and often included in the sale.
Hillcrest Golf Course
This public golf course offers a restaurant, pro shop, and golf simulators all overlooking Durango from the Fort Lewis College mesa. Annual memberships are available for added benefits. Multiple roads allow for a quick five-minutes drive to downtown as well as trails for hiking and biking.
Real Estate in Hillcrest
While there is no specific Hillcrest Golf Course community, there are multiple different neighborhoods that border the golf course or are within a couple minutes from the clubhouse. The Villas at Hillcrest offer patio homes right on the course. The Hillcrest subdivision - named after the club - overlooks the course along with incredible views of town and primarily offers single family homes with a few townhomes and condos in the mix. The Skyridge neighborhood is the largest of the three with a mixture of single family homes and townhomes. With Fort Lewis College just next door and being on the transit line there are other condo/townhomes in the vicinity that are easy lock-and-leave living such as Silver Peaks, Skyline, and Ferringway complexes.
If you are interested in golf course real estate or other Durango neighborhoods, The Durango Team at The Wells Group is here to help you find the right fit and put our local market knowledge to work for you.
