by Craig Lemley | Oct 27, 2015 | Golf Courses, Reviews
This is why we play golf. Pine Creek Golf Club (9850 Divot Trail, pinecreekgc.com), on the north side of Colorado Springs, is a fantastic, two-for-one challenge fit for average to intermediate players. The front and back nine of this 7,241-yard (from the tips) tout two very different layouts; the front a self described “canyon” style course, the back being a more traditional links style layout.
Neither nine is easy, be prepared for a challenge on every hole. You’ll get a little taste of every kind of hazard, from ponds and bunkers to thick native grasses and meandering creek beds spread througout the course. If you end up in any of them, good luck. This is not a friendly course, you’ll want to use every trick in your bag to keep your ball playable.
Sunrise on the massive bunker welcoming players to the No. 1 green.
The trouble starts early at the 412-yard par-4 no. 1. The dog-legged fairway is protected by a narrow opening, lined on the left side by a thick natural hazard blocking your view to the green, and another hazard the right. Once you do lay eyes on the slightly elevated island green, you’ll have to decide how to deal with the mammoth bunker looming at the end of the fairway. Don’t expect a reprieve before the turn. The rest of the front plays similar to no. 1 — long, tight, and with difficult elevation changes.
The par four 419-yard no. 9, one of the hardest holes on the course, doesn’t do you any favors either. Another long, dog-legged fairway hides the green from the tee. And thoughts of an aggressive shot to the left side of the fairway — playing the inside curve of the dog leg — should be put to rest by more thick hazard, and a strategically placed tree protecting the inside line to the green.
The view from the no. 7 green offers a little reprieve from the struggle on the course.
After the turn, you’ll find yourself on an entirely different course. That doesn’t mean that it’s any easier, mind, but new challenge is still refreshing… in a way.
The 412-yard par-4 no. 10 fairway is split in two by the creek bed — long hitters may consider playing less-than-driver off the tee to avoid any close calls. No. 11 and no. 12 run alongside the water hazard, playing long and fairly tight, followed by one of the easiest holes on the course, the no. 13 par-3.
The toughest stretch on the front comes via holes 14, 15, and 16, a dog leg par-4, a hazard happy par-5, and a signature par-3, respectively. No. 14 takes players back over the creek from the tee, following a constant curve to the green set near the no. 3 tee boxes, protected by several bunkers and undulations on the frontside.
No. 15 demands accuracy from tee to green, with little room for error between a natural hazard running the length of the hole on the right, and houses on the left. No. 16 is innocent looking enough, but a decorative pond, the creek, and surrounding houses are magnets for errant tee shots. Depending on the pin placement, aggressive shots will get you in trouble.
A glimpse of the no. 15 green, and the decorative pond from the green side rough on no. 16.
Players face one final uphill challenge on no. 17 par-4 before closing the round on the beautiful 18th. An elevated tee shot does your confidence wonders on this par four. Take straight aim at the clubhouse set above the green — catch the hill at the bottom of the fairway for real ego boost. The approach to the green will play a little longer as you’re working your way back uphill. Depending on the lie you may not have a view of your landing on the green, don’t fly it and spoil this ending.
Green fees start around $29 for nine holes and as low as $30 for 18 — prices vary throughout the day (find updated pricing and tee times here) — making Pine Creek one of the more relatively expensive courses in the area. But the experience is certainly worth it.
by Craig Lemley | Oct 27, 2015 | Golf Courses, Reviews
Players are warned before entering ‘The Gauntlet’ at Antler Creek Golf Course in Peyton, Colorado.
“You are now entering “The Gauntlet,”” a sign reads as you pull up to the no.9 tee box at Antler Creek Golf Course (9650 Antler Creek Dr., Falcon, CO,719/494-1900, antlercreekgolf.com). “Arguably the hardest 4-hole stretch in Colorado.” Ye be warned. Consisting of three par-4s and one par-5, don’t plan on any scoring opportunities, just worry about reaching the 13th tee with your sanity intact.
The panic starts to set in at the no. 9 tee, even more so when addressing your approach. A smattering of bunkers on the right constricts the fairway halfway between the tee and green, followed by another collection of sand constricting your approach even more. These bunkers are big and deep, and an appropriate welcome party for The Gauntlet.
What a beautiful view of the bunkers from the no.9 tee box.
So you’re leaving no. 9 with an up-and-down bogey — we all know it was a double. Please keep your seatbelt fastened. The 657-yard (from the tips) par-5 no. 10 feels more like 800 yards, playing uphill from tee to green. Long hitters can expect a short approach if reaching the green in three —as long as you avoid the thick natural hazards on either side of the fairway — but shorter hitters will be playing long and mid irons for GIR. And did I mention the dogleg? Playing your third shot from the left side of the fairway will give the best down the dogleg and of the green. The green, however, is again uphill, and protected by a bunker and a pair of burms on the front side.
By now you probably don’t want to talk about your score, understandable, the good news — or bad news — is you’re halfway through this monster. The par-4 no. 11, another dog leg (right), is threatening from the get-go. What my foursome calls “the ditch” runs the length of the hole on the right side, making you think twice about trying to cut the corner from the tee. But the safer play on the left isn’t without hazard either, a bunker lies in the corner of the dog leg and very inviting to wary tee shots. Fear not, though, the short grass leads downhill for your approach shot, that is, to another elevated green … protected by a hill more than willing to funnel you ball far from the cup if you land on the wrong side of it.
Tee-to-green, the no. 12 dog leg.
Take a breath, one more left (yes you can throw your scorecard away). You’re not out of the thick on the 538-yard par-4 no. 12. As a matter of fact, you very well may be in the literal thick, with a sprawling natural hazard along the left side of the fairway. And oh yeah — surprise — it’s another dogleg. Your tee shot can get you into some trouble, a short (read shank) shot will leave you in the natural hazard while anything long can fly the fairway — and into a house if you muscle it. The approach to the green is less anxiety-inducing than the previous three, but the slope of the green is also likely to run you off the dance floor.
Deep breath in, deep breath out. You’ve just completed what very well may be the hardest four-hole stretch in the state of Colorado. You have six more holes to salvage what’s left of your score. Continue the grind.
by Craig Lemley | Oct 27, 2015 | Golf Courses, Reviews
“I love you. You annoy me more than I ever thought possible. But I want to spend every irritating minute with you.” — Anonymous
This is exactly how we at CGB feel about Patty Jewett (900 E. Española St., pattyjewettgolfshop.com), one of our favorite courses in the Springs. There is a lot to dislike about this muni course — notorious frost delays, slow play (what’s a marshall?), the laughable seasonal pricing, etc. Still, there is a lot to love.
Pikes Peak from the no.6 tee box.
The views are one thing, add a 27-hole, well-maintained layout with an excellent clubhouse, restaurant and patio in downtown Colorado Springs on top of that. But that doesn’t mean this course should get a pass for its obvious flaws.
The main issue with Patty Jewett comes down to the consistently slow play. A weekend round in the fall took a CGB threesome six hours to finish, without a marshall in sight. It’s hard to blame it all on the foursome of old timers that’ll probably be in front of you, I’ll blame the bureaucracy for poor course management. And don’t even get me started on Patty’s infamous frost delays — once we waited over an hour and a half to tee off in the late fall.
A twilight view from Patty’s no.17 tee box.
The layout is gorgeous, though, and the turf conditions … Patty knows what we like. It’s hard to put down one of the most beautiful courses in the city. Rebuilt bunkers and cart paths, and aesthetic work along the creek bed proves the course maintenance is on point, and work the continues. And depending on drought conditions, obviously, it’s hard to find fairer fairways or greener greens in the Springs metro area.
As for play, Patty is just challenging enough for average golfers — those on top of their game will find plenty of scoring opportunities. It’s not the longest course around, but there are plenty of chances for big swingers to let loose too. The hazard situation falls in the moderate to difficult category depending on which portion of the course you’re playing and skill level. A signature hole — and hazard — is the Peak course’s the 368-yard No. 9 par-4 — plan on hitting two and take shot over the water.
Twilight at the no.9 tee box on the Peak course.
Patty’s pleasures come at a premium — at least for golfers on a budget — $16 for 9, $31 for 18 during peak season; carts fees are $13 and $26, respectively. And you won’t find any reprieve with their offseason pricing — you save a whopping $2 dollars on 18, and an entire dollar on 9. There are a couple other cost-saving options including membership deals and twilight rates as well. See the pricing on this page for more on that.
With tremendous views and impeccable turf conditions, poor course management and questionable pricing, we hate to love Patty Jewett — or maybe it’s the other way around. Either way, this course will remain a CGB go-to for the foreseeable future, warranted or not.
