Vail Golf Club is the town's public golf course: 18 holes, par 71, at 1775 Sunburst Drive, run by the Vail Recreation District. In 2026 a guest walking 18 holes pays between $68 and $138 depending on the date, tee times open 60 days ahead, and once snow covers the fairways the same ground becomes the Vail Nordic Center.
The course
Ben Krueger designed and built the course in 1962. It plays 6,739 yards from the longest tees, with a rating and slope of 71.0/136 from the back tees and 63.5/108 from the forward tees. The fairways are tree-lined and generally flat, so the defence is bunkers beside the greens and fairways and a scattering of beaver ponds. The routing follows Gore Creek along the edge of the White River National Forest. The district bills it as the Vail Valley's most walkable course, and the pro shop rents golf bikes ($15 per person for 18 holes) alongside carts; an ADA-accessible cart is available for players who need one.
The district also says balls fly about 10 percent farther at this altitude and notes a Golf Digest "Top 100 Resort Course" recognition. Before or after a round there is a full-length driving range, a large practice green and a chipping and sand area. The range opens 30 minutes before the first tee time and runs until dusk, except Wednesdays, when it closes at 5 p.m. for maintenance. Pets are not allowed on the course or range, and children must be at least 6 years old to be on the course. The Vail Golf Club listing has the address and map details, and the district's own course page carries the current notices.
Dry summers change how a round plays. In 2026 the course went to Phase Three water restrictions and cart-path-only play, and the range stayed on mats for the rest of the season. Players with a state-issued handicap placard still get cart access under the district's 90-degree rule.
2026 rates by season
The season is split into three price periods. These are guest rates per player; Vail residents pay less in the peak and fall periods and must show proof of residency.
| Period (2026) | 18 holes, walking | 18 holes, with cart | 9 holes or twilight, walking | Junior 18, walking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early season, May 15 to June 18 | $68 | $94 | $47 (twilight after 3:30 p.m.) | $39 |
| Peak season, June 19 to September 20 | $138 | $164 | $94 (twilight after 3:30 p.m.) | $69 |
| Fall season, September 21 to October 11 | $84 | $109 | $75 (twilight after 3 p.m.) | $39 |
The gap between periods is the main planning lever. A peak-season round costs about double the early-season price, and the fall season lands in between, so flexible dates save the most. Within peak season, a twilight round at $94 is $44 less than walking 18 holes at full price. If you take a cart, add $26 per person for 18 holes or $18 for nine; the cart fee is charged per seat, and a single player who takes a cart is paired with another available seat. Push carts are $9. Range baskets cost $7, $10 or $14, and rental clubs run $69 for 18 holes or $59 for nine (Callaway for adults, Cobra for juniors, with right- and left-handed sets). The dates above are the 2026 windows; the district posts a new rate page each year, and the season ends when conditions require it. The 2026 rate page has the resident figures.
Booking a tee time
Guests can book online up to 60 days ahead. Tee times 15 or more days out are online only and prepaid, and they carry a $20 advance-reservation fee that is refundable along with the tee time when you change or cancel at least 24 hours ahead. Within 14 days you can book online or through the pro shop; pro shop bookings made more than 14 days out carry a non-refundable $20 fee per player. One booking covers a maximum of four tee times, and groups of 17 or more need a written contract. Book on the district's tee time page or call the golf shop at 970-479-2260.
Lessons and junior golf
Instruction comes as private lessons, structured group lessons and weekly clinics. The PGA Director of Golf and the Head Golf Professional charge $120 for an hour, $90 for 45 minutes and $60 for 30 minutes; the other instructors charge $70 to $85 for an hour. Golfers 17 and under pay $60, $45 and $30 for the same lengths. Groups of up to six can book together, and group lessons for adults run from $100 an hour for two students to $180 an hour for six.
The junior program runs through the summer. In 2026 the beginner camps were two days at $79 per child, the intermediate camps three days at $109, and the advanced camp three days at $139. All ran from 9 to 11 a.m. for ages 6 to 17, with the advanced camp limited to ages 10 to 17. Summer also brings a PGA Junior League team and junior tournaments. Registration opens in spring through the district or by phone at 970-479-2260.
Lunch at Grill on the Gore
The clubhouse restaurant, Grill on the Gore, is open to the public year-round, with posted daily hours of 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Its summer menu is sandwiches, salads and appetizers built on Colorado ingredients, with a full bar, Colorado craft beer and a large patio facing the Gore Range. Reservations are not taken; seating is first come, first served. In winter the restaurant serves a bottomless soup and chili buffet for $17 ($10 for children 12 and under), from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parking at the clubhouse is free, and the Golf Course loop of the free Town of Vail bus stops there.
Winter: the Vail Nordic Center
When snow covers the course, the district runs it as the Vail Nordic Center: 17 kilometers of daily-groomed skate and classic track, 10 kilometers of snowshoe trails and 13 kilometers of fat-bike trails. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and grooming happens at 8 a.m. Rentals, lessons and a lodge for changing and warming up are on site. Day passes for 2025-26 were $29 for adults, $24 for ages 13 to 17 and $12 for ages 6 to 12, with children 5 and under free; rental packages ranged from $37 for snowshoes to $44 for skate skis, and $42 for a half-day fat bike with helmet. The season follows the snow: the district closed the trails on March 10, 2026 because conditions had become unsafe. Call 970-476-8366 for current conditions. For snowshoe options elsewhere, see where to snowshoe in Vail.
Weddings and private events
The Vail Golf and Nordic Clubhouse takes weddings, rehearsal dinners and corporate events through an event request form on the district's site. The terms include a $500 compliance deposit and a $500 damage deposit, both due 30 days before the event, and a guaranteed guest count due 14 days before. Menu pricing and availability come with the request. For a summer stay near the course, start with where to stay in Vail in the summer.
