CORDILLERA, Colo. (AP) -- Spring is a great time to play golf, with the grass growing in, the flowers blooming and the excitement of playing after a long winter.
Summer is the time for some, with warm weather and long days a great combination. A few golfers even like winter, though the options are limited to courses in warm-weather places.
But when it comes to the whole package -- course conditions, weather, scenery -- fall can be dead-solid perfect.
And here's a little secret: When it comes to price, views and conditions, there might not be a better place to play in the fall than the Colorado Rockies.
"It's incredible here,'' Steve Kaufman of Des Moines said after a round at Ironbridge Golf Club near Glenwood Springs. "Everything is in such great shape and the views are absolutely amazing.''
Fall in the Rockies offers the yellows of the aspens and reds of the scrub oaks as a stark contrast to the deep green of the millions of pines, creating what looks like a multicolored shag carpet along the Interstate 70 corridor from Silverthorne to Glenwood Springs and on up the Roaring Fork Valley into Aspen.
Courses in the Rockies already provide eye appeal with dramatic elevation changes, plentiful wildlife and views of the towering, often snow-sprinkled peaks above. And when fall hits, the richness of dark green fairways winding through the pines and brightly colored aspens make you feel like you've been transported into a painting.
The weather, while starting to turn cool, hasn't quite reached frigid. Temperatures hover in the 50s and 60s with relatively no humidity, and the skies almost always are clear. That translates into excellent conditions on the golf courses, from ultra-smooth greens to fairways that match any in the country.
"It's ideal,'' said golfer Kurt Vogelman. "You play right into the cool weather, then comes the beautiful fall weather that a lot of the world would only dream about. It's perfect.''
Head to the Northeast, the fall foliage mecca, and you'll have to deal with crowded roads and hotels, not to mention peak-season prices.
But peak season in the Rockies is in the winter, when people trek from around the world for pristine skiing conditions, and during the summer driving months. Trying to lure people to the mountains, resort and hotel owners drop rates dramatically during the fall months, sometimes up to 70 percent. Golf courses often offer green fees at 50 percent of summer prices.
Hyatt Beaver Creek has fall golf packages that include two rounds at one of four courses and a night at the resort for $235. Red Sky Ranch in Wolcott has deals with several Vail-area resorts, starting as low at $159 for one night and a round of golf, and luxury resort Cordillera has golf-and-stay deals starting at $294.
Head to Aspen and the St. Regis Resort and you can get two rounds at Ironbridge, breakfast for two and a room for $445 after Oct. 1.
It doesn't really matter where you go in the Rockies -- chances are there's a deal to be had if the leaves are changing.
Even with the low prices, the Rockies are still a relatively crowd-free fall destination. Hotel rooms are easy to get and so are tee times, which means plenty of space to enjoy the spectacular scenery and lush courses. And those who don't make it to altitude are missing out on some incredible golf courses.
The plush resort area of Cordillera features four courses, including the Summit at 9,000 feet and the Valley at 7,300 feet. Beaver Creek Golf Club starts in the heart of the ski village, works its way almost to the bottom of the valley, then climbs back up on a route filled with spectacular holes.
Red Sky Ranch, just down the valley from Vail, has Norman and Fazio courses featuring fairways you can putt off and pool-table smooth greens.
Keep going through Glenwood Canyon, head south down Highway 82 and you'll come across Ironbridge, an exceptional course that features four of the most picturesque holes (10-13) you'll ever see carved out of a canyon that's a half-mile cart ride away from the clubhouse.
And the best part is that most people don't know the deals they can get to play these kinds of courses.
"It's very underrated,'' Vogelman said. "A lot of second homeowners come out, but as far as tourists I think it gets underutilized out here. I guess the whole world is just so busy they don't have the time, but if they did they'd be here.''
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
