THORNTON - If you have ever driven by Interstate 25 and 136th Avenue and wondered if you were missing out by not stopping by and playing a round at Thorncreek Golf Course the answer is a firm yes.

The course that always looks a lush green off the highway is even better on foot, and Thorncreek offers an out-of-town golf experience just 15 minutes north of downtown Denver.

“You will definitely have a golf experience and not just play a round of golf when you are at Thorncreek,” Thorncreek staff member Peyton Lindbloom said.

The 18-hole course that is also Thornton’s only municipal course is more than 7,200 yards from the championship tees, but it can also play 6,500 yards from the white tees, making the course welcome to players of all abilities.

The course, designed by Finger Dye Spahn, Inc., just celebrated its 20th anniversary. It has been just over a year since the City of Thornton took over day-to-day operations of the course from previously management. Thornton spent over a quarter-of-a-million dollars in renovations and took an already popular course to the next level in terms of overall course conditions.

Landscaping additions, new fences, new turf seed and overall appearances of the fairways, cart paths and even clubhouse were just some of the makeovers the course received.

“The company that has been running the course has let a few things go, and the course’s overall condition slipped a little bit. But right now the course is beautiful,” Thornton resident and Thorncreek regular Phil Wells said.

Thorncreek has a well above course rating of 73.6 and was given a 4-star rating by Golf Digest as “Best Places to Play.”

“The course can definitely be challenging, but it can also be a long or as short as you want to play it. It is a course everyone can play,” Lindbloom said.

And then comes the matter of price — which is actually no issue at Thorncreek.

One thing the city has done is to remain competitive with the cost of playing nine of 18 holes. There are courses twice the price and three times the drive that don’t live up to the experience you will get at Thorncreek.

And Thorncreek puts together tournaments for business owners who run a charity or are involved in a fundraiser.