Red Sky Golf Club (Fazio and Norman)
August 2023 – Red Sky was kind of a last minute trip idea based on seeing My Morning Jacket at Red Rocks (more on that later). We got some comped tickets to the concert and my nephew and daughter were also big fans so me, my brother, nephew and my local buddy Erik put together a quick Rockies golf trip and then met my daughter back down in Denver for the concert. Was pretty excited to play Red Sky as buddies of mine who had an event at the Ritz Carlton played here and were blown away.
We flew into Denver and drove to Morrison night one. First thing the next morning, we took the 2-hour drive up to Red Sky which sits about 7,500 feet above sea level – which is certainly the highest elevation I’ve played.
The Rockies didn’t disappoint and John Denver is not full of shit. Plenty of eye candy to complement your rounds and a few really great restaurants make a Rockies guy’s trip a good bet. We played both courses here and then Keystone before heading back down. Of the Red Sky courses, we all agreed that Fazio was our favorite. Norman was very good, and Keystone was nice but was a solid notch below based on conditioning et al. In Breckenridge (closer to Keystone) we ate at a former brothel called Briar Rose which was really solid and Zino in Edwards was a great modern Italian joint right in the Riverside shopping center. We got a townhouse but the Ritz is pretty close if you prefer pampering.
They alternate the Norman and Fazio courses for member-only play every other day and the clubhouse at the Norman is members-only, though we got some rain blow in and they let us hang in there during our round for lunch and a few drinks and it’s a really nice, rustic set-up. Exactly as you would imagine it to be. The Fazio club house is a nice “resort” clubhouse, a little lighter on the frills.
If you’re doing a Red Sky trip with a concert at Red Rocks, make sure you follow my advice found on my Arrowhead write-up. Try the Fort as well which is super close to Red Rocks. It is a really fun experience. Here are some of my other Denver area course reviews: Broadmoor, Pradera, and Sanctuary.
Red Rocks is an awesome place to see a concert. I’m a pretty big not huge My Morning Jacket fan but heard they were really good live so got the tix and figured I’d expand my brother’s “stuck in the 70’s and 80’s” music taste. They did not disappoint. If you wonder where all the old Deadheads and Phishheads are when they’re not seeing the latest iterations of those bands, they are following My Morning Jacket. MMJ is a modern take on those jam bands.
Never heard? Here’s a great clip from American Dad featuring My Morning Jacket.
And a song from the show.
To the courses. I’ll throw a little information about the holes along with the photos. I’ll add Keystone later if I find the energy.
Fazio
The first hole is a 400-yard par four (from the Blue Gold combo tees – 6,400 yards 69.9/130). It’s the #11 handicap so is no slouch of an opening hole but isn’t a complete ball-buster to start your round either. I played really well on the front but had a triple, triple, double on holes 14, 15 and 16 on the back which killed my score.
The approach on one.
The third is a short 322-yard par four from the blues, As you see a hook is a bad idea.
The fourth plays from the golds on the combo tees and is 366 yards from there.
Five is the number one handicap, par five, playing 538 from the golds. It’s over 600 from the tips. As you see from my approach, the green is well protected so even the bombers who try and get there in two, have some nasty green-side bunkers to deal with. Thrilled with a bogey here.
Fazio sixth – 357-yard par four from the blues. Just a beautiful golf hole with a phenomenal backdrop.
The 7th plays 190 yards, uphill with a menacing bunker front right. And that’s from the golds. A tough par for sure.
Eight = short, tight and the number 3 handicap. Only double I would take on the front as I sprayed it right and had to drop.
I missed the 9th which is the #17 handicap – 176 yards and got that one close and birdied. The tenth (above) is a consecutive par three – very rare – and 188 yards with a huge drop off and tough bunkers left which I found. Out in two but a three putt five for a tough start to a craptacular back nine.
Eleven is the number two handicap. Tough drive, tight approach. Beautiful golf hole but not easy.
Twelve is another short par four. I just couldn’t get it together on the back. Should have eaten up this hole with the drive I had but flared my approach, crapped my wedge and three putt.
Thirteen is just 355 yards from the golds and finally got off the double train with a bogey but disaster awaited me.
Here’s the approach on 14. Hidden pond to the right – nasty bunkers and drop off left. Green or die. I died.
Fifteen is supposedly the 12th handicap. It’s a 520-yard par five with bunkers at every landing area unless you’re dead straight. I’d say this is a lot tougher than the 12 handicap ranking and my snowman would attest to that.
From just off the green on 16. Monster long par four – 425 from the golds!
Seventeen, sneaky tough par three with disaster awaiting on the left. My lone par on the back. I missed 18. But overall I put Red Sky Fazio just outside my personal top 100. It’s always ranked highly among the best in Colorado and definitely worth the trip to Vail!
Norman
Again played the Blue/Gold Combos (6,573 yards 70.6/132). Put my back at Norman with my front at Fazio and I would’ve had a really nice round. As it was, I shit two beds on the front here but it didn’t detract from an awesome experience and course. One is a tough (#5 handicap) opener and 414 yards from the golds.
Second – 163 yards from the blues. Par three. A nice Redan green.
The approach on three. Here from the approach on this 389-yard par four. Gotta lay up unless you really hammer your drive.
Four is a 510 yarder from the blues.
182-yard fifth. Another double for me and one of my worst nines of the year. Pretty course though.
Six is a shortish (317 yards from the blues) par four. The pond to the left isn’t in play – it’s from the 5th.
Seven and another hole from the blues – 355 yards.
Eight is a long par five and yet another double on the road to a front-nine, golf-quitting 54.
Nine and 420 yards to close out the front. You see the rain in the distance? It wouldn’t be in the distance long and took an hour long delay between nines after the rain came in. Nice because got me back into the right frame of mind (read I got to drink) for the back and we got to hang out in the member’s clubhouse at Red Sky.
After our lengthy delay and cocktails we start on the easiest hole on the course, the 131-yard par three 10th and a bogey for me but at least it wasn’t another double. We were playing skins and was shut out on the front and here too.
You’d think a 400-yard par four would earn more than an 11 handicap rating. But no. Another bogey but with a stroke and finally won a skin.
Twelve and bunkers galore. Fourth handicap, 525 yards, and par five.
Thirteenth. Played blues, 377 yards.
Missed 14. Here’s 15. 309 yards and a birdie – finally!
Where my approach ended up on the 15th.
I must’ve been so elated with my birdie on 15 that I missed 16. Here’s 17, the #2 handicap and 402 yards from the golds.
Eighteen from the tee. Tough closer. 555 yards. Par 5 obviously with a tough approach. Parred this.
And the approach on 18. Got it on way left but a great lag putt and par. Great course, I rank it ever so slightly behind Fazio but the two courses here are really great and worth the trip.
Golf Scrapbook 