The par-four 17th is one of the more demanding and beautiful holes at Tiara Rado. (Photo by Robert S. Fagan)
There is no question that The Golf Club at Redlands Mesa is the must-play golf attraction when visiting or passing through Grand Junction, but you might also want to check out Tiara Rado for a fun change of pace.
Whereas Redlands Mesa is an “Oh Wow! Experience, Tiara Rado features more of the parkland residential, everyday golf experience albeit with magnificent backdrops of the Colorado National Monument bluffs just off the course to the South.
The par-three 8th features an unusual look of both the orchard and the mesa beyond. (Photo by Robert S. Fagan)
For novices or beginners, Tiara Rado will definitely be a better fit and a little less expensive than nearby Redlands Mesa. For better players or more avid golfers, it is not so much of a bunny-slope course as to not pose a challenge. A few narrow hitting areas and mostly small push-up greens see to that as you are apt to be chipping a bit more than usual. The conditioning is average-to-good making for a good value.
The practice putting green with the first tee beyond along with a full practice range make Tiara Rado an easy, comfortable place to work on your game. (Photo by Robert S. Fagan)
Tiara Rado begins in rather nondescript fashion between the trees and housing. For the first six holes there is little to capture your attention except the bluffs that rise not far away. From the little par-four 7th on, the golf becomes a bit more interesting and challenging. There is usually then fairly ample room to drive the ball, but those greens to require accurate approaches with the fall-offs to the side.
The dogleg-right par-four 10th is the second of three consecutive demanding two-shotters. You hit into the corridor in the left middle of the picture while the 11th returns with the green adjacent to the pond. (Photo by Robert S. Fagan)
At 441, 440, and 464 yards respectively, the par-fours spanning the 9th, 10th, and 11th pose the most challenging stretch, but I count the 401-yard 17th and drivable, but dangerous 301-yard finisher as the most interesting.
Tiara Rado will never compete in any Colorado “Best-In-State,” category, but it is the typical of affordable everyday fun, playable golf and another golf option when visiting Grand Junction.
Below: the short drivable par-four 18th narrows near the tiny, sharply elevated green making for a great risk-and-reward finisher. It can be a birdie/eagle or a double-bogey or worse! (Photo by Robert S. Fagan)
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