It’s rarely felt like winter in Durango over the past few months, and it’s feeling a lot more like spring and summer with the opening of Hillcrest Golf Club on Friday.
The putting greens and driving range have been open, but local players will be able to get their first rounds in of the year on Friday, with scheduling tee times also available now.
“People are all very excited to write the winter off and focus on summer activities,” Hillcrest General Manager/Director of Golf Michael McCloskey said. “That benefit, of course, for us, the golf course is coming out of the winter in very reasonable condition … We're extremely happy at this point with the way that the golf course is recovering, and hence the reason why we're able to open up next Friday.”
The warm winter didn’t bring any of the winter damages or ice damages that the course usually experiences, but a dry winter can bring some desiccation to the course.
However, McCloskey said there was enough moisture throughout the winter to keep the ground and grass at healthy levels. Therefore, the course is about two weeks ahead of the normal opening schedule. The irrigation system has been running for about two weeks, and McCloskey thinks the course will be in a reasonable condition on opening day.
One of the big changes for Hillcrest is with its staff. Will Herz, who’s been the golf course superintendent for 30 years, is retiring at the end of the month. Durangoan Kaelen Waters is taking Herz’s place. Water studied golf course maintenance while at Colorado State University. He played a key role as superintendent at TPC Colorado in Berthoud and as superintendent of the construction of Raindance National Golf Club in Windsor.
“Words don’t say enough for the thanks and appreciation that our entire community owes Will for is time here … Will is an exceptional leader and exceptional agronomist,” McCloskey said about Herz. “We’ve been blessed to have not only Will, but the predating superintendents leading up to him. It’s really what makes Hillcrest, Hillcrest.”
Heading into the 2026 season, nothing will change with the course, but McCloskey said Hillcrest is working on enhancing the club atmosphere. He and the rest of the staff want Hillcrest to become more of a community staple to the non-golf community with Hillcrest’s enhanced use of its clubhouse and food and beverage department.
The Across the Border tournament will be held at Hillcrest and Piñon Hills Golf Course on May 2-3 in partnership with First Tee Four Corners. The Navajo Trail Open is back, and Hillcrest’s signature event will be from June 18-21. Registration is open now.
Season passes are the same price as last year, and the early bird discount ends on March 31.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
