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Rope Rider at Suncadia • Roslyn
Even more than Gamble Sands’ debut at No. 2, nothing surprised us as much this year as Rope Rider’s ascension over its older sibling, Prospector, into the top-10 of our rankings.
It’s not that Rope Rider’s accolades are undeserved — Suncadia’s second public course has been one of our favorites since its opening in 2011, with unique views, a thrilling front nine and one of the best clubhouses in the state. It’s that it should come at the expense of Prospector, which ranked eighth on our 2013 list and, in fact, appeared on one more total ballot in 2015 than Rope Rider.
The golfers that love Rope Rider, though, really love it, frequently ranking it in their top-five. Our suggestion? Make it a day and play ’em both, then grab a Pinot in the Swiftwater Cellars winery overlooking Rope Rider’s No. 9 green and debate away.