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Fossil Trace Golf Club is an 18-hole, par-72 municipal course in Golden, Colorado, designed by Jim Engh and opened in July 2003. The Black tees measure 6,831 yards with a 72.3 course rating and 138 slope, with six additional published tee configurations extending down to 4,681 yards. The course occupies land with several distinct layers of local history: portions were once farmland and institutional property, while holes 11 through 15 cross the former Rockwell clay mine.
Mining exposed prehistoric trace fossils in the site's sandstone, including Triceratops and hadrosaur footprints. Fossils can be viewed beside the 12th green, and historical mining equipment remains incorporated into the property. Engh began routing concepts for the project in 1991, but land acquisition, environmental remediation and fossil-preservation issues contributed to a development process lasting roughly twelve years.
The course is an 18-hole golf course. It plays to par 72, 6,831 yards, course rating 72.3 and slope rating 138. Designed by Jim Engh, the course originally opened in 2003. It is open to the public. On-site facilities include Driving Range, Putting Green, Chipping Area, Golf Shop, Restaurant, Golf Lessons, Club Fitting.
The site tells a much older story than the golf course. Geological layers of sandstone and clay preserved prehistoric footprints before the uplift of the Rocky Mountains exposed them. In the modern era the property included farmland, institutional uses and the Rockwell clay mine, first worked by George W.
Parfet in 1877. Clay mining continued into 2001.
Jim Engh said that he and City of Golden Parks and Recreation director Charlie Fagan agreed not to dilute the architecture simply because Fossil Trace would be publicly owned. The difficult mine site, exposed sandstone formations and fossil areas were treated as defining constraints rather than features to erase.
Engh produced his first routing in 1991, but the project took roughly twelve years to reach opening. It required assembling land held by several owners, acquiring the clay-mine parcel, addressing buried fly ash and other environmental-cleanup issues and preserving important fossil exposures. Holes 11 through 15 occupy the former mine area.
After opening in July 2003, Fossil Trace attracted attention for both Engh's unconventional architecture and the unusual combination of golf, industrial remnants and paleontology.
The City of Golden operates Fossil Trace as a public municipal course. Historic mining machinery remains on the property, and visitors can view exposed trace fossils near the 12th green as well as historical displays in the clubhouse.
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| Fee Type | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Peak Season Standard - Monday-Thursday 18 Holes | $140 | Includes green fee, premium cart/GPS and range balls. |
| 2026 Peak Season Standard - Friday-Sunday & Holidays 18 Holes | $175 | Includes green fee, premium cart/GPS and range balls. |
Prices are indicative and subject to change. Contact the course to confirm current rates.
| Front 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 36 |
| Yards | 575 | 320 | 151 | 480 | 96 | 409 | 377 | 412 | 659 | 3479 |
| Index | 3 | 13 | 15 | 5 | 17 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 1 | - |
| Back 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 72 |
| Yards | 333 | 186 | 585 | 394 | 231 | 565 | 160 | 356 | 542 | 3352 | 6831 |
| Index | 10 | 16 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 2 | 18 | 12 | 6 | - | - |
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