Things to do
Tomorrow is Friday, it’s actually Thursday, but since the real Friday is the 4th of July we get to make Thursday our Friday for the week. Ha ha! Holiday weekends are always better when the week-end means a 3 days off. What are you going to do with your 3 days off?
The choices in Denver metro are many. Fourth of July Fireworks will be dotting the city from the mountains to the plains.
My all-time favorite is the Cherry Creek Arts Festival. If you’ve never been this one is a must. As far as Art Festivals go, the 3-day Cherry Creek Arts Festival is the Grand-Daddy of them all and it is free!
Friday night is “First Friday” so if fireworks aren’t enough for you, take a stroll down Santa Fe in Denver. You will be amazed at the diversity and talent found in this emerging art district.
Do you crave some outdoor action? Head for the hills…fish, hike, ATV, climb, picnic, cycle, fly, photograph or just relax and contemplate your navel. Whatever makes you happy you will find it somewhere in Colorado this weekend.
So who needs to leave home?
Real Estate Undressed
Thank you Larry from Real Estate Undressed! It is always nice to be recognized and this week one of my photos was honored!
This tenacious tree was found along the Mt. Evans highway, the highest paved road in North America. It is a spectacular drive and only a few minutes from downtown Denver. Just go west on I-70 to Idaho Springs, turn at the second exit and follow the signs to Mt. Evans. Its up. Very up!
Why not make a day of it, pack a lunch and stop along the way to enjoy the view. At the top of the mountain it is very common to see Big Horn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Goats, Marmots, Ptarmigan and a variety of other birds. Of course the view of the Colorado mountain range is worth the trip alone!
If you have time, stop at the Echo Lake Lodge and watch the Humming Birds through the window and munch on some tasty homemade pie. Yum!
Living in Colorado has it’s benefits…why not enjoy them soon…
P.S. If you look hard you will find this tree! 
Buffalo Run Golf Course
Happy days are here again when it’s warm and sunny all day and one doesn’t have to go to work! I play golf with EWGA ~ Executive Women’s Golf Association, the Denver Chapter. Saturday was a play day at Buffalo Run, so not only did I take my golf clubs, but my camera as well. I know having someone shooting pictures while playing golf can be distracting, but these ladies didn’t seem to mind at all. In fact, they told me to grab my camera more than once when a lovely fox or heron was in view! 
Buffalo Run is located in Commerce City, it is actually adjacent to the popular Reunion neighborhood off 112th and 120th. The course like most Colorado golf courses is positioned for fabulous views of the front range of the Rocky Mountains. Today was no exception. The mountain peaks were covered in fresh white snow, while down in the plains we played in 70 degree weather, perfect for shorts and a golf shirt!
The course plays very nicely. I like long drives with a broad area. Several times we found ourselves rummaging around in the rough looking for a lost ball. Luckily I didn’t lose any balls, so that must mean the course was easy! A couple of the Par 3’s required some precision work. Once I landed in a bunker, in the exact same spot as a previous golfer, who failed to rake! Bah humbug! May he eat nats!
All in all I would not hesitate to suggest playing at Buffalo Run. I love techie GPS in the cart and caught on to using it immediately. I wish the GPS would track the ball and choose my club, but guess that will have to be invented by someone soon. 
Buffalo Run Golf Course opened in 1996 when there was hardly a home in site. Today the golf course is almost totally surrounded by homes in varying price ranges, multi-family dwellings to upscale luxury homes. Since the neighborhood is relatively new, it still has that nice "new" feeling.
Reunion is a planned community that offers a wide variety of housing and prices. Entry level homes can be found in the area for under $200,000 and luxury former Parade of Home models sell over one million on the Back NIne of Reunion.
The commercial side of the location is growing rapidly. Once residents had a long commute to grab a Starbucks or a burger, but not anymore. Now fast food and soon groceries will be within a few minutes away.
This area has an address of Commerce City. It’s convenience to both downtown Denver and Denver International Airport is a strong draw for homeowners wishing to be in a lovely new neighborhood, near a very nice golf course.
If you would like to discuss housing options for the Buffalo Run Golf Course area and Reunion, please feel free to call me. I welcome your call.
Saddle Rock Golf Course
In 1998 Saddle Rock Golf Course was recognized as one of the America’s Top 10 Best New Courses by Golf
Digest. Ten years later this top notch Aurora public course continues to live up to it’s reputation. Saddle Rock Golf Course is a long, high-plains, links-style course and challenging. Even the best players find a challenge in negotiating native areas, creeks, trees and rolling diversity. The course is high and the panoramic views of the front range are among the best in metro Denver.
Saddle Rock Golf Course is a public course so the fees are quite reasonable. Players can enjoy either 9 or 18 holes of play. A cart is recommended (by me) this is a long and tough course to walk.
Residents are eligible to receive a special reservation card allowing them to book tee times seven days in advance. As with most community golf courses, residents also get discounted play.
Saddle Rock Golf Course is conveniently located at 21324 E. Briarwood Drive, Aurora, CO. 80016. To get there from I-25, take Arapahoe Road east, look for the entrance to the golf course on the left after crossing Liverpool.
Saddle Rock Real Estate
Homeowners desiring a nice place to call home, will be happy to know Saddle Rock is a planned community offering open space of parks, green belts and recreation trails. There are neighborhood "pocket parks" for the little ones to enjoy, or a great destination for walking the dog.
The Saddle Rock area offers a variety of housing options for those who desire to be in a golf community. Custom and semi-custom homes can be purchased along or near the golf course. The Community is fairly new, so resale homes built in the year 1998 and newer are also available. Custom homes start in the high $600k’s and semi custom can be found in the $500k’s.
It is also possible to find less expensive homes within a few blocks of the golf course. Multi-family (condos) are also available in the area.
Getting To Saddle Rock Golf Course or Community
The Saddle Rock neighborhood is conveniently located off the E-470 beltway. The population growth in the area has been expanding ever since E-470 opened, bringing the southeast neighborhoods closer to the city. The beltway provides quick and easy access to the Denver Tech Center (20 minutes), Meridian (12 minutes), Denver International Airport/DIA (20 minutes) or downtown Denver (30-40 minutes).
Saddle Rock Shopping
Outstanding shopping is available in the nearby fabulous Southlands. Patterned in old time Main Street style, Southlands offers more than 150 retailers, restaurants and second floor office suites. Southlands is home to major retailers; An Taylor Loft, Banana Republic, Coldwater Creek, J. Jill and many more.
Schools in Saddle Rock
The Saddle Rock neighborhood is serviced by two high schools both in the nationally acclaimed Cherry Creek School District; Grandview High School and the recently built Cherokee Trail High School.
CyberPros
I’ve just returned from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where I spent 2 solid days with associates from around the
country. The Cyber Professional group meets twice a year to discuss real estate issues and network among industry professionals.
My experience with this group tends to enhance my business perspective. When I return home, I have a briefcase full of new ideas that will help my buyers and sellers.
Communicating with brokers from other parts of the country only substantiates how much better off we are in this Denver real estate market. Yes, I know we have some very difficult spots, but in comparison to other areas, we have very little to complain about.
City Park Golf Course
The middle of March seems like a funny time to be talking about golf courses. Actually this time of year Colorado golfers are watching the weather report and ready to jump on the course at the hint of a sunny day.
In fact two weeks ago, we had such a day. I was over by City Park, picking up a client to look at houses. We both remarked on how this beautiful, sunny Colorado day had brought out the golfers at City Park Golf Course. The parking lot was full to capacity, the side streets were lined with golfer cars and the driving range had a line!
It’s no wonder City Park Golf Course is a popular place. The location is very convenient,
only 10 minutes from downtown Denver. The green fees are reasonable, approximately $37 with a cart. The nearly new club house is very nice, as is the pro shop and the well-run restaurant overlooking the fairway.
The course is fairly challenging but not over-bearing as many courses tend to be. If you loose a ball you don’t have to wade through rattle snake territory to retrieve it! Long hitters may have an advantage, but if they don’t place their shot in the right spot on the tilted green they will end up putting more than wanted.
City Park Golf Course is my favorite place to shoot a Canon. In fact some of my most favorite Denver skyline shots were taken from the 8th tee box. The course location offers some of the most inspiring city/mountain views. It is not unusual to find me roaming the course after dark or at day break, in anticipation of a perfect sunrise/sunset with the Denver skyline in the frame.
City Park Real Estate
Homes surrounding City Park Golf Course come in all shapes and sizes. The area to the
west offers older homes, bungalows, Denver Squares and two stories. Many homes in this area were built in the late 1800’s. Home seekers looking for a fine vintage home to restore (or a fully restored one) will find some good choices (value & style) here to the west of City Park.
To the north (above 23rd Avenue) the neighborhood was developed in the 1940 and 1950’s with a mixed bag of architecture. I particularly enjoy some of the scuptured trees and bushes in this area. For some reason when I think of City Park north this vision comes to mind. Homes in this area are priced beginning high $200’s for less than 1000 sq. feet.
The eastern border is in Park Hill along Colorado Blvd. Here we find large lovely homes of the early 1900’s. These homes built opposite the golf course and the park have an extraordinary, unmarred view of the city and with the mountains as a back drop. These homes are still very popular despite the fact they are on a busy boulevard.
South of the golf course is City Park, Denver Zoo, Museum of Natural History and the Imax. Further south of 17th Street is another fine mixture of new development and historic older homes. Homes here were built at the turn of the century. There is a new multi-use development of high rise, row houses and condos with modern finishes and some "knock your socks off views" of the Front Range, City Park and Denver in general.
This location is becoming even more appealing with the restoration of Colfax
Avenue. The Tattered Cover relocated its store to the Lowenstein Theater complex from the popular Cherry Creek location. Many feel this move is just the beginning for many good things to happen along this once blighted avenue.
The price range of homes in this area will begin in the high $200’s for a very conservative brick bungalow with natural woodwork, two bedroom, one bath and off street parking. On the high end, a brand new row house can be had in the $600’s or a nicely redone Victorian 1900 vintage home in the $500’s ++. The area offers such a diversity in housing, one can pick the price point if one is flexible on requirements!
Hope you have enjoyed your virtual golf tour of the City Park Golf Course and City Park neighborhood. I encourage you to visit the area and enjoy it live and in person! If you would like more information about City Park Real Estate, I’m happy to chat with you.
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Arrowhead Golf Club
Today was a semi-nice day with warmish temps yet the snow is still dotting the ground. Instead of posting dreary winter golf course pictures, I thought I would share the shots of Arrowhead, taken at the end of golf season 2007.
The day we played here was most memorable for the amazing range in change of weather. Over the course of a few hours we experienced all four seasons! Luckily Mother Nature saved winter for the last half hour!
Avid Golfer magazine designated Arrowhead as the top winner in the "Most Scenic Course (Public or Private)" category. One look down just about any Arrowhead fairway will confirm this course is a perfect choice. Jutting, jagged, gigantic red sandstone monoliths decorate the landscape lending the most incredible accents to the rolling foothill terrain. Arrowhead located south of I-470 in Littleton’s furthest most southwestern boundary is only 45 minutes from downtown Denver.
Looking through the red rocks one can view Denver in the distance. This hole was nearly our last on this particular fall day. Soon the gray clouds began to drop nasty cold rain, then sleet on us. Being the dedicated golfers we are, we continued to play in the wet, until we were frozen to the bone and shaking. Brrrrr!
Finally we caved in, running for the shelter and warmth of the car. Despite the weather it was a memorable day. Filled with the joy of the moment we went home wet, but satisfied.
Any day with golf in it, is a good day.
Snapping back to reality, (this is a real estate blog after all) the community surrounding Arrowhead Golf Club is called Roxborough. There are various plats within this gated community. Most homes are custom or semi-custom. At the entrance to the community the homes are wedged in at a higher density. As the road winds around the the west and then south the lots get bigger.
Many homes have views of the golf course, some are even high enough to have a view of the plains toward Denver.
Roxborough Real Estate
The price of homes in the gated section of Roxborough start at $400k and go up and up from there. Outside the gate there are a variety of subdivisions some old, some brand new with reasonably priced homes starting in the high $200’s.
The area has a unique beauty that makes the extra few miles to get there worth the trip. Now that more people are opting to live in the area, the close in daily amenities are easier to find. There is a strip shopping center in the Roxborough community with a grocery store, several fast food restaurants and filling station.
Just outside the entrance to the gated community is Roxborough State Park. Once voted one of the most beautiful state parks by National Geographic Magazine. The untamed terrain within the park resembles the terrain at Arrowhead. So if only half of a couple plays golf and the other half is a hiker or photographer, this neck of the world would be a good match for a day playing outside.
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Lone Tree Country Club
The Denver Metro is home to over 100 golf courses. Many of these courses, both private and public are lined with personal residences. Since golf lovers are always looking for a home on the golf course, I thought I would start showcasing the various Denver golf courses and the real estate surrounding them.
(about the photo: taken on February 29, 2008, yes the pond is covered with ice. Yes it was 60 degrees and yes, this is Colorado! Gotta love that weather!)
Lone Tree Country Club ~ Lone Tree, Colorado
Located in Douglas County just south of downtown Denver and the Denver Tech Center is the lovely City of Lone Tree and the public golf course of the same name. As part of the South Suburban Parks and Recreation system this 18 hole, Arnold Palmer designed par 72 championship course boasts spectacular views of Denver and the Front Range.
Surrounding the course are several different neighborhoods diverse style and price. Carriage Club, Heritage Estates, Muirfield, Fairways, Cypress Green, Centennial Ridge and Terra Ridge all have homes adjacent to the Lone Tree fairways. Home prices range from the high $300,000’s for a townhome to a multi-million dollar custom home high on the hill in Heritage Estates.
The Lone Tree Community
Lone Tree was established in 1995 with a City Council led by a Mayor. The population of 10,264 grew at a 5.8% rate in 2006. The City encompasses about 9.54 sq. miles, but only 4.3 is currently developed.
The community is positioned well for growth and has a strong tax base that includes the Park Meadows Mall. Lincoln Station is the current "end of the line" for the Southeast Light Rail. Expansion is planned to extend the rail further south to Sky Ridge Medical Center.
Overall Lone Tree enjoys all the popular conveniences of life, a lovely golf course, a huge recreation center, recreation trails, tennis courts, public swimming pool and well maintained neighborhoods. The schools are part of the highly respected Douglas County system, a favored destination for families with children.
The Skinny on the Lone Tree Golf Club
- 4 sets of tees challenge players of all abilities
- A well-bunkered layout, manicured, undulating greens and a spectacular view of Denver & the Front Range
- Practice area featuring grass driving range, putting green, chipping green and practice bunkers
- Golf instruction from PGA & LPGA trained Professionals
- Pro shop featuring quality service & merchandise, custom club fitting from PGA/LPGA Professionals and competitive prices
- Golf club cleaning and storage service
- Locker and shower facilities
- Fitness center with sauna and whirlpool
- Tennis courts
- 15 luxury hotel suites
- Conference and meeting rooms
- Banquet and reception halls
- Cafe Bar & Grill
There’s Snow in the Hills
I love getting photos via the cell phone! Today my daughter sent me a picture from the top of Wolf Creek Ski area. She called it “from the top of the world!” It is breath-taking, I just had to share it with the world.
Enjoy!
Golf or Sex?
Spring is in the air and the Denver Golf Expo is in town. Hubby and I decided to drive to the
Denver Merchandise Mart to see what is new in the golf world.
Imagine my delight (for blog photo fodder) when I saw this sign! Hubby didn’t understand when I immediately pulled the car over without explaining why I just had to have a photo of this sign.
When he finally figured it out, we both had a good laugh.
Decisions, decisions! Turn right or turn left? Is this a male dilemma or good planning, all vices in one place?
By the way I turned left. The golf expo was great.
I came away with a bagful of bounty and I won a free round of golf, found the Perfect Putter, I sunk 100% of my putts in it! I think I’ll be joining the Executive Woman’s Golf Association in Denver.
Also I found the most adorable custom, hand made club covers, PS McGillicuddy’s haute styles for the well dressed golf club. I didn’t purchase yet, maybe I should see if I can still play golf first!
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