Reasons Sheraton Steamboat Resort is a golfer's paradise

The Course

Rollingstone Ranch Golf Club, located just minutes from the resort by shuttle, isn't a very long course, but what it lacks in distance, it more than makes up for in challenge and beauty. Designed by famed course architect Robert Trent Jones II, the holes are bordered by aged aspen and evergreen trees, with the 18th notably opening with a drive shot through a somewhat narrow opening in between.  Greens consists of bentgrass/poa annua, and fairways consists of bluegrass/ryegrass. As a mountain course, expect changes in elevation, with sixty-six fairway and greenside sand bunkers, almost 70% protecting the greens. Fish Creek runs through the course, but the large, undulating  greens don't necessarily break towards it. Its slope rating from the black tees puts it on the same level as the top Colorado courses.

Run by Troon Golf, Rollingstone Ranch offers a family golf program, where juniors golf for free after 3 p.m. when playing with a parent, and complimentary Callaway Rental Clubs all day. 

While much about the course has changed over the years, the challenge and beauty that keeps golfers coming back has not. The course is open to anyone in Steamboat for a premium and a limited booking window, but the most convenient way to play is staying at the Steamboat Sheraton. 

A tip for playing Rollingstone- mountain weather can be unpredictable, so make sure you’ve got raingear in the bag. 

Accommodations

Sheraton Steamboat Resort, now part of Starwood Resorts, underwent renovations to its  200-plus guestrooms in 2008, and has some welcome and unique amenities to keep its guests comfortable and entertained. In the event of inclement weather, the PLAY game room offers billiards and a place to watch a game on TV with friends. Several shops on the resort property include a book store, spa services,  rental car, summer outdoor activity guides, and a coffee shop. The resort has a an outdoor heated pool and seven rooftop hot tubs to enjoy the mountain view in any season. 

The resort has several dining options including Sevens Restaurant, which serves a killer breakfast in any season, with sweet views of the mountain.

Sheraton Steamboat also offers two other types of accommodations in addition to its guestrooms. The one to three bedroom condominiums are available to rent by the resort and their owners. The villas work on a time-share. The condos and villas provide spacious accommodations and views of the mountain and Yampa Valley.

A couple of tips when staying at the Sheraton Steamboat are to get  a valley view if possible and when parking, get a spot on the first level.

The Town

What's great about the town of Steamboat Springs is that there's always something going on. On  one particular overcast morning where it was anybody's guess as to if it would rain, you could see hot air balloons take off into the Yampa Valley, for the Annual Hot Air Balloon Rodeo, or take in an art show at Art in the Park in downtown.  If you've never been, Fish Creek Falls, while not Niagara, offers a breathtaking view, especially if it's been a snowy winter, followed by a lot of rain. After a long day of fun of many varieties, a good place to unwind is Strawberry Hot Springs. For $10, you can soak in two natural hot springs pools and a couple of natural "tubs" and enjoy the mountain air. Rumors say it can get a little crazy at night, but it's hard not to in a town like this.

One tip everyone should take to heart is that it's all fun Friday and Saturday, but for Heaven's sake allow for the traffic on I-70 on Sunday.

Golf Deals Still Avaialble

While we're on the back half of summer, golf packages are still available through Sheraton Steamboat. 

You can learn more about Sheraton Steamboat Resort by visiting www.sheratonsteamboatresort.com.