Golfers tee off as Timnath marches on

A larger-than-life bronze ram stands guard to the west and a small flock of sheep grazing just to the east of a plot of land once part of a historic Nelson Farm where real sheep once grazed and crops grew to support them. Between the pastoral metallic monuments are now offices for the Harmony community — 648 acres that are home to numerous modern-day Timnath settlers.

Harmony spokeswoman Sheri V. Jensen said planning for the large acreage began in 1998 and was finalized in 2005 and approval soon granted for 515 home sites. The first lots were sold in 2006. The first resident moved in the following year when the golf course also opened. The 188-acre, 18-hole course is important to residents seeking a lifestyle that includes easy access to the game. Membership is limited to 350-450, based on operational considerations intended to provide a pleasurable experience for residents and their guests. Jensen said that “there is a metric for everything that revolves around a golf course, including cart speeds to prevent overcrowding or rushing.”

She said golf is a particularly great way to relax and unwind – no GPS units in carts, for example. The frenetic, wired (and wireless) world can be ignored on the course if one so chooses. Avid Harmony golfers, ranging from their 30s into their 80s, are exposing children and grandchildren to their cherished avocation, so future generations will play on.

Harmony Club’s temporary, eight-piece modular golf shop has the authentic feel of a log cabin. A “full-blown” clubhouse on campus will eventually replace it. Tennis courts, workout facility, basketball and pickle ball courts, and spa and resort-style pool are already in place and scheduled to open in May.

Some long-time town residents unabashedly mourn old Timnath as being crowded or, by some reports, overcrowded out. Jensen perceives growth as simply another stage in the town’s life. Just as nobody’s baby remains an infant, but gradually develops into a larger, more mature person. So a town has its phases.

“The reality is that Timnath has always been in flux,” said Jensen. “There was a beet boom followed by a bust, a sheep boom and then a bust.”

She added that in 1998, Wild Wing, Harmony, Timnath Ranch, Saratoga Falls and Fairview Village were all proposed for development in a town with approximately 270 residents, presenting a daunting task to the town council and other government entities.

Inevitable growth would have ultimately claimed farmland, whether by Timnath or other municipalities. Through its foresight, the town will continue to healthily grow rather than be swallowed up by encroaching neighboring communities.

“Timnath is beginning to realize its potential as a regional northern Colorado hub,” Jensen said. “Timnath is known as a neutral zone for residential relocation.”

Businesses have also caught the vision, she said. “This is an awesome location for companies that do business up and down I-25.”