Ironbridge breaks into state’s top 20

The Ironbridge Golf Club is not yet 3 years old, but it’s already broken into the top 20.

The Ironbridge course recently earned the No. 19 ranking in Colorado, joining some other superior Roaring Fork Valley courses on Golf Digest’s 2005-06 Best in State rankings.

“It’s kind of unusual for us to crack the list this early, but this is a great golf course,” said Ironbridge head professional Dave Alvarez of the Arthur Hills-designed course. “(Ironbridge) is very demanding for the top players, but soft for the high handicapper.”

“Ironbridge is great fun, easy going and one of the best kept secrets in the area,” golf photographer and Carbondale resident Dick Durrance said in a release.

But that secret may be in jeopardy now.

Getting ranked on any list is an accomplishment, but that it was the state ranking ” which includes both private and public courses ” and that the ranking came from Golf Digest has Alvarez tickled.

“They (Golf Digest) are the creme de la creme of the ratings. They are the granddaddy of rankings,” said Alvarez, who pointed out that Golf Digest has been in the ratings business since 1966.

While Ironbridge may be the new kid on the block, it wasn’t the only course in the Roaring Fork Valley to earn kudos on the Golf Digest Colorado top 20.

Aspen Glen Golf Club near Carbondale moved up to No. 18 this year, after getting on the list at No. 20 last year. The Roaring Fork Club is the highest-ranked course in the Roaring Fork Valley, coming in at No. 11 after being ranked 12th last year. Aspen’s Maroon Creek Club appeared on the list at No. 17 after not getting a ranking in 2004. All four clubs are private.

Castle Pines Golf Club (Castle Rock), home of the International PGA Tour event, and Cherry Hills Country Club, which held the 2005 U.S. Women’s Open, took the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, respectively. Rounding out the top five are Sanctuary (Sedalia), The Golf Club at Redlands Mesa (Grand Junction) and Columbine Country Club (Littleton).