Maroon Creek Club Golf, Aspen CO

The 18th hole at Maroon Creek Club. Image by Evan Schiller, courtesy of Maroon Creek Club. 

CAN YOU PLAY MAROON CREEK COURSE WITHOUT A MEMBERSHIP?

A personal note: I have history with this one. When I first arrived in Aspen, I worked at the club back when it was still the Grand Champions Club, and I can still remember the late Jim Pearce describing his grand idea for a championship golf course — a vision that sounded almost impossibly ambitious at the time. Fast forward more than three decades, and here it is: one of the top five courses in Colorado, very much as he imagined it. Jim passed in 2017, but his vision endures on every fairway. I was a golf member here for 25 years, until recently — so I haven't just watched this place become what it is, I've lived it. Which is part of why I can tell you how to get onto it.

Maroon Creek Club is the course Aspen's most private residents keep to themselves: a Tom Fazio masterpiece ranked among Colorado's top five, tumbling through meadows with views of two ski areas from nearly every hole. It's a genuine private club —a true private club. I keep the membership figures off this page out of respect for the club and its members, many of whom are longtime friends and clients, but suffice it to say the barrier to entry is real.

But here's what almost no one advertises. Because part of the course sits on City of Aspen land under a 99-year ground lease, the club is contractually obligated to let qualifying locals play. For homeowners and buyers, that's a quiet but real perk of belonging here — and there are four legitimate ways onto the course, ranked below from the most accessible to the longest shot.

Path 1 — DOES AN ASPEN GOLF CLUB PASS GET YOU ONTO THE MAROON CREEK COURSE? YES:‍ ‍Hold an Aspen Golf Club pass (the easiest route)

This is the cleanest path and the one most locals miss. Under the lease, anyone holding a season pass at the Aspen Golf Club (the muni) is entitled to one round per season at Maroon Creek — and the lease specifies "at all times," so it isn't limited to a member-only blackout calendar. You pay the City course's daily green-fee rate rather than any member pricing. To use it: buy an Aspen Golf Club season pass (verification is typically in January; passes go on sale February–March at aspengolf.com), then call the Maroon Creek pro shop, mention you're a muni pass-holder exercising your annual round, and book it. Bring your pass and ID.

Path 2 — CAN PITKIN COUNTY LOCALS PLAY THE MAROON CREEK COURSE? YES: Pitkin County’s "working local" program

Separate from the muni-pass round, the lease (amended 1993) grants qualifying Pitkin County residents up to five rounds per season at the club. The lease also caps what locals can be charged: non-member local green fees can't exceed the tourist muni rate by more than 50%. To qualify, you generally need to show Pitkin County residency, proof you work in the county at least 30 hours per week, a current pay stub, and a Colorado driver's license or state ID. Heads-up for the self-employed: the club has historically been stingy about accepting a 1099 as proof of employment, which has tripped up freelancers. If that's you, call ahead and ask exactly what documentation they'll accept this season before you drive over.

Path 3 — Can you be the guest of a member at Maroon Creek? YES

The classic private-club route. If you know a member, they can host you — this is at the member's discretion and is often the fastest way onto the course on short notice. In a town this small, a member friend is worth more than you'd think, and you'll get the walked-with-a-local tour the access rules otherwise won't give you.

Path 4 — WHAT ARE CREATIVE WAYS TO PLAY MAROON CREEK COURSE? Get into a charity or fundraiser event

Maroon Creek has hosted fundraisers and special events where non-members played the course. Keep an eye on local nonprofit golf tournaments — occasionally one lands at a marquee private club, and buying into the event or a foursome is a legitimate, no-strings way to tee it up there for a good cause.

WHAT ARE THE RULES for non-members playing Maroon Creek? Know the local-play rules before you go

Even when you qualify, non-member play comes with strings attached. Non-members can't tee off in the 8–10 a.m. member-only window. You must take both a cart and a caddie — the course isn't clearly marked, and members may walk without one, so budget for this on top of the green fee. Only a limited number of non-member tee times are released, so book early and stay flexible. And expect a standard private-club dress code: collared shirt, no denim.

The play, in one breath

Buy an Aspen Golf Club pass and use your one guaranteed Maroon Creek round. If you're a full-time working Pitkin County resident, bring a pay stub and ID and ask the pro shop about the five-round local program. Cultivate a member friend for everything beyond that, and watch for charity events. Then show up with a cart, a caddie, and an afternoon tee time, and enjoy one of the top five courses in Colorado.

Closing caveat:

These access rights flow from Maroon Creek's ground lease with the City of Aspen, and the exact terms have been negotiated and litigated over the years. The structure is durable, but the fine print can shift season to season. Confirm current specifics with the Maroon Creek Club pro shop and, if needed, the City of Aspen golf office before planning your round.

About the author

Susan Carriero Plummer has called Aspen home since 1990 and has spent more than three decades inside this market — including 25 years as a golf member at Maroon Creek Club which she stepped away from recently. A Luxury Specialist with Christie's International Real Estate, Aspen | Snowmass, and a consistent top-producing agent, she's known for white-glove service, off-market access, and the kind of local knowledge that only comes from living it. Her Aspen INTEL guides share that insider perspective with buyers, owners, and anyone who loves this valley as much as she does.

ASPEN INTEL c/o CHRISTIE’S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE ASPEN 520 Durant Ave, Suite 205, Aspen, CO 81611 · License #100049477 📞 970-948-6786 · ✉️ susan@susanplummer.com