Susan Plummer’s ASPEN INTEL insider's guide to Aspen's most exclusive fairways. See adjacent column for MAROON CREEK without a membership:

Aspen Golf Club (Municipal) — Aspen, CO
Aspen's worst-kept secret: a genuine 18-hole championship muni minutes from downtown, where hidden streams and famously fast greens humble locals and visitors alike. Old-school, walkable, and gorgeous — just don't go expecting a hometown discount. (SEE PHOTO, right: the downtown Aspen muni course in the fall , overlooking 2nd hole
Greens fees (June–Sept 2026): $250 general public, $125 twilight (after 4:20 pm); cart & range included. Juniors 17 & under $60. Primary residents with local ID $125.
Senior: Age 62+, primary residents only — $105 (June–Sept), a $20 saving on the local rate; twilight $75. No senior discount on the $250 general-public rate.

Roaring Fork Club — Basalt, CO
A Jack Nicklaus Signature course threaded along both banks of the Roaring Fork River, with a shared double green and a tee shot over live railroad tracks that tip a cap to St. Andrews. At 6,600 ft it rewards members with one of the valley's longer seasons — plus world-class fly fishing for when you've had enough of three-putts.
Private — members & guests only; no public greens fees published.
Senior: None — private club; access is by membership, not age.

Snowmass Club — Snowmass Village, CO
An Arnold Palmer original (later reworked by Jim Engh) tucked beneath Mount Daly, winding through alpine meadows rather than seaside dunes. Excellent conditioning and a tidy par-72 test at altitude. Some call it a links course.
Now a private members' club. Snowmass Village locals may still play, charged at the Aspen Municipal greens-fee rate (cart not included).
Senior: None published; private club. Eligible local play follows the Aspen Municipal rate structure.

Maroon Creek Club — Aspen, CO
A Tom Fazio masterpiece ranked among Colorado's top five courses, tumbling through meadows and creekside terrain with views of two ski areas on nearly every hole. This is where Aspen's most discreet residents quietly tee off.
Private — members & guests only; no public greens fees published.
Senior: None — private club; access is by membership, not age.

SEE BELOW FOR PITKIN COUNTY

River Valley Ranch — Carbondale, CO
A Jay Morrish design and a Golf Magazine "Top 10 You Can Play," sitting beneath 12,965-ft Mount Sopris with the Crystal River weaving through four holes. Top-tier public golf, none of the Aspen attitude.
Greens fees (peak season, May 18–Oct 11, 2026): morning $149–184, after noon $114, twilight $74.
Senior: No dedicated senior rate — pricing is time-based. The value plays are twilight ($74) and the "Xtreme" late walk-up ($49).

Ironbridge — Glenwood Springs, CO
The only 18-hole course in Glenwood open to the public, originally Arthur Hills and refined by Tom Lehman — best known for the lung-busting 495-foot climb to the 12th tee and sweeping Mount Sopris views.
Semi-private. Public greens fees around $198 for 18 with cart; lower midweek and at twilight.
Senior: None offered. (Veterans get 25% off with a valid military ID; juniors 15 & under 50% off.)

Aspen Glen Club — Carbondale, CO
A Jack Nicklaus & Nicklaus II signature championship course at the foot of Mount Sopris, freshly reborn through a multimillion-dollar redesign and paired with a sleek new clubhouse.
Private — members & guests only; no public greens fees published.
Senior: None — private club; access is by membership, not age.

Lakota Links — New Castle, CO
Formerly Lakota Canyon Ranch, this James Engh design carves through rugged Western Colorado canyons with elevated tees that drop up to 100 feet to the fairway — and a green fee that's refreshingly down-to-earth. A Golf Digest Top 25 Colorado course and an easy day trip from Aspen.
Greens fees (prime season, May 21–Oct 3, 2026): 18 holes $135 morning / $99 afternoon; twilight $75; cart included. Discounted resident rates for Pitkin, Eagle & Garfield county locals.
Senior: Age 70+ — 20% off all greens fees (prime-season morning 18 drops from $135 to about $108). A Golden Pass season pass (70+) is $3,195 vs the $3,795 Premier.

Ranch at Roaring Fork — Carbondale, CO
The valley's original course (since 1973) and its friendliest: a walkable 9-hole, par-3 layout where water carries and narrow approaches quietly sharpen anyone's short game. No tee times, no carts — just walk up and play.
Greens fees (2026): Adult $29, Junior (under 14) $20, add-on 9 holes $15. Walking only; walk-ups welcome.
Senior: Age 65+ — $25 per round (a $4 saving on the $29 adult rate). Discounted senior season ($625) and punch passes also available.

Rates and senior discounts confirmed June 2026 and subject to seasonal change — always verify directly with the course before publishing or booking.

How to Play Maroon Creek — Without a Membership

Susan Plummer’s ASPEN INTEL insider's guide to Aspen's most exclusive fairways

Let's set expectations: Maroon Creek Club is a private club. Membership runs a $250,000 initiation fee plus annual dues at $64,000 (2026) , and there's a very long waiting list. You cannot call the pro shop, book a tee time, and walk on like it's the muni.  But — and this is the part nobody advertises — because part of the course sits on City of Aspen land under a 99-year ground lease, the club is contractually required to let qualifying locals play. Here are the real, legitimate ways onto the course, ranked from easiest to longest-shot.

Path 1 — Hold an Aspen Golf Club pass (the easiest route)

This is the cleanest path and the one most locals miss. Under the lease, anyone holding a season pass at the Aspen Golf Club (the muni) is entitled to one round per season at Maroon Creek — and the lease specifies "at all times," so it isn't limited to a member-only blackout calendar. You pay the City course's daily green-fee rate rather than any member pricing.

How to use it: Buy an Aspen Golf Club season pass (verification window is typically January; passes go on sale February–March at aspengolf.com/passes). Then call the Maroon Creek pro shop, mention you're a muni pass-holder exercising your annual round, and book it. Bring your pass and ID.

Path 2 — The Pitkin County "working local" program

Separate from the muni-pass round, the lease (amended 1993) grants qualifying Pitkin County residents up to five rounds per season at the club. The lease also caps what locals can be charged: non-member local green fees can't exceed the tourist muni rate by more than 50%.

To qualify, you generally need to show:

• Pitkin County residency

• That you work in the county at least 30 hours per week (this is a "working local" benefit, not a second-homeowner perk)

• A current pay stub as proof of employment, plus a Colorado driver's license or state ID

Heads-up for the self-employed: historically the club has been stingy about accepting a 1099 as proof of employment, which has tripped up freelancers and business owners. If that's you, call ahead and ask exactly what documentation they'll accept this season before you drive over.

Path 3 — Be the guest of a member

The classic private-club route. If you know a member, they can host you — this is unlimited by the lease rules and entirely at the member's discretion. In a town this small, it's worth more than you'd think: a member sponsor is often the fastest way onto the course on short notice, and you'll get the walked-with-a-local tour that the access rules otherwise won't give you.

Path 4 — Get into a charity or fundraiser event

Maroon Creek has hosted fundraisers and special events over the years where non-members played the course. Keep an eye on local nonprofit golf tournaments — occasionally one lands at a marquee private club, and buying into the event (or a foursome) is a legitimate, no-strings way to tee it up there for a good cause.

Know the local-play rules before you go

Even when you qualify, non-member play comes with strings attached:

• No early-morning tee times. Non-members can't tee off in the 8–10 a.m. member-only window.

• Cart and caddie required. Non-members must take both a cart and a caddie — the course isn't clearly marked, and the club doesn't want guests wandering. (Members may walk and skip the caddie.) Budget for this on top of the green fee.

• Limited tee-time inventory. Only a set number of non-member times are released, so book early and be flexible.

• Proper golf attire. Standard private-club dress code — collared shirt, no denim.

The play, in one breath

Buy an Aspen Golf Club pass and use your one guaranteed Maroon Creek round. If you're a full-time working Pitkin County resident, bring a pay stub and ID and ask the pro shop about the five-round local program. Cultivate a member friend for everything beyond that. And watch for charity events. Then show up with a cart, a caddie, and an afternoon tee time, and enjoy one of the top five courses in Colorado.

Worth confirming before you count on it: these access rights flow from Maroon Creek's ground lease with the City of Aspen, and the exact terms (round counts, proof requirements, and rates) have been negotiated and litigated over the years. The structure is durable, but the fine print can shift season to season. Confirm current specifics directly with the Maroon Creek Club pro shop (970-920-1533) and, if needed, the City of Aspen golf office before planning your round.