Rodeo Dunes developers and owners Michael and Chris Keiser announced today that Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw have begun construction on the first of two currently scheduled golf courses on the resort property, which consists of 4,000 acres of towering sand dunes with 125-mile views of Colorado’s Front Range. A public golf resort, Rodeo Dunes is located off I-76, just 50 miles from downtown Denver and 42 miles from Denver International Airport (DEN).
“The moment I set foot on this land, I knew this was the place,” says Michael Keiser. “The dunes are perfect – tall and rolling, with unlimited possibilities for great golf holes. I also knew that Bill and Ben had to work here. Luckily, it didn’t take much to convince them.”
For Coore & Crenshaw, the Rodeo Dunes project marks a return to the type of inland-links landscape that defined their groundbreaking work at Sand Hills. Longtime Coore & Crenshaw associate Jim Craig has completed a routing for the resort’s second course.
“It’s hard to look at this site and not think of Sand Hills,” says Ben Crenshaw, referring to their 1995 design in Mullen, Nebraska – ranked no. 11 on GOLF Magazine’s 2023-24 list of Top 100 Courses in the World – which launched the modern era of golf course architecture.
“This is an amazing landscape,” says Bill Coore. “It’s the first time we’ve had a site like this in America since Sand Hills. It’s the type of property that goes back to the very beginnings of golf being played by the sea in Scotland, a link to 500 years of history. Anyone in our profession would consider it an extraordinary opportunity to work on with a site like this.”
Given the pure sand base and natural topography, Coore and Crenshaw and their team will do much of the shaping work by hand and small machinery, with virtually no heavy shaping. Some amount of preview play is expected in 2025, with grand opening slated for 2026.
A second course, designed by longtime Coore & Crenshaw associate Jimmy Craig, will begin next year, with grand opening currently slated for 2028. A short course and a sprawling putting course are also being planned.
“These dunes are so good” Keiser says. “You could not ask for a better site. The land requires minimal shaping. We know what kind of work Bill and Ben do, and their routing is as great as you would expect from them. Rodeo Dunes gives every golfer the chance to experience the timeless joys of links golf.”
About Rodeo Dunes
Rodeo Dunes is a public golf resort developed by Michael and Chris Keiser, owners of Sand Valley. Set on over 4,000 acres of towering sand dunes reminiscent of the southwest coast of Ireland, Rodeo Dunes is set to become a world-class golf destination. Two course routings are complete – one by the acclaimed duo of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, and the other marking the solo debut of longtime C&C associate, Jimmy Craig. Construction is underway on the Coore & Crenshaw course, opening in 2026. With a sandy dunescape, welcoming Western hospitality, and inspiring long views of the Rocky Mountains, Rodeo Dunes will introduce guests to a historic – but new to many – region of Colorado.
Rodeo Dunes is located less than an hour from Denver and Denver International Airport, and just a short drive from the Fort Collins and Colorado Springs areas. The resort will embody the same Dream Golf philosophy and values that have made Bandon Dunes and Sand Valley two of the world’s top golf destinations. Rodeo Dunes, where soul-stirring golf meets the spirit of the American West.
About Coore & Crenshaw
Coore and Crenshaw are among the top designers in golf history and have created numerous modern classics, including Sand Hills Golf Club, perennially ranked as the game’s top modern course, Their Keiser family projects include Bandon Trails, the Preserve, and Sheep Ranch at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort and Sand Valley and the Sandbox at Sand Valley Resort, along with Cabot Cliffs (Cabot Cape Breton) and Point Hardy Golf Club (Cabot St. Lucia).
About Dream Golf
Dream Golf is a growing collection of destination golf resorts developed by the Keiser family. At our resorts you will find soul-stirring golf built in harmony with the land, employees that welcome you like family, and destinations that embrace the rugged beauty of their natural environment.
For more information, please visit www.rodeodunes.com and www.dreamgolf.com.
