COLORADO

Cornerstone Colorado (877-855-7273,  cornerstonecolorado.com) encompasses 6,000 majestic acres in the southwestern part of the state and a new concept in frontier living: join the country club and live on your ranch.

In a landscape of frontier meadows, aspen glades and mountain vistas, Greg Norman’s minimalist design approach was a perfect fit for the private Cornerstone golf course. From the daunting Shark Tees that offer a real challenge at 8,000 total yards to the Tyke’s Tees that are 50 yards from each green, Norman planned this sprawling course to make everyone’s round a joy. In addition to a complete array of summertime activities like hiking, fishing and horseback riding, Cornerstone has its own trail systems for cross-country skiers and a members-only clubhouse in nearby Telluride.

But Cornerstone Colorado’s most unique feature is its range of “homestead” options, from convenient village residences on less than an acre each and estate homes on multi-acre parcels to genuine frontier ranches covering up to 100 acres. If you were wondering whether there was anywhere left in the American West with plenty of room for your elbows and your horses, Cornerstone Colorado has a positive answer for you. 

Living on the Edge

Cougar Canyon (877-547-7455  cougarcanyonliving.com)   near the historic Colorado town of Trinidad features the region’s most acclaimed new golf course and new neighborhoods for serious nature lovers.

Cougar Canyon is the right place for families who want to live in a private community with on-site access to a complete roster of resort-style amenities. Nicklaus Design’s Cougar Canyon golf course opened last year to unanimous praise and several “Best New” awards from major industry publications. And construction is well underway for the community’s 117-suite boutique hotel and on-site amenities that will include a spa, shops, restaurant and lounge, business center and fitness facilities with a pool and hot tub. The first designer homes and custom homesites to be offered at Cougar Canyon are just a short stroll from the clubhouse and recreation center.

Are daily walks and weekend hikes an important part of your lifestyle? An eight-mile Conservancy Trail loops through the community itself and connects to trailheads at the adjacent Cougar Canyon Conservancy, a 3,000-acre wonderland of pristine beauty. Residents can explore on their own or enjoy guided walks, participate in conservation programs and join community environmental clubs for everything from bird watching to organic gardening. Cougar Canyon is a natural choice.

Up, Up and Away

Glacier Club (888-382-7888  theglacierclub.com) sits at an elevation of 8,000 feet, surrounded by mountain peaks that rise an addition 6,000 feet towards the heavens. Sound like an awesome location for a golf paradise? You should check out the pictures.

If variety of private play is atop your priority list, Glacier Club offers 27 holes of on-site golf in three distinctive nines. The Cliffs, Hermosa and Glacier courses were each built in a unique pocket of the rich landscape, sometimes through rock-wall canyons, sometimes around sparkling ice-melt lakes and always adorned for the appropriate season in the pastels of spring, the deep greens of summer and the vivid hues of fall.

Located in the Animus River valley near Durango, Glacier Club is in the heart of a region renowned for its ski resorts, fly fishing, whitewater rafting, hiking trails and cultural attractions. Residential options with authentic Western style include luxury townhomes in mountain and woodland settings, club cottages along the golf course and custom homesites that overlook the adjacent national forest. Top-flight golf and a lifestyle above the rest is what you’ll discover at Glacier Club.