Cougar Canyon -- Summer

[Andy Troeger]

Planning on heading up to Cougar Canyon in Trinidad, CO once things warm up (tentatively thinking first weekend in May give or take).

Two questions:
Is there anything recommended within an hour (two max--and no further than Colorado Springs going north) that could be played to make it a weekend trip instead of a day trip. I've played Grandote Peaks in La Veta, CO and enjoyed it and would consider playing it again. I believe Walking Stick has gotten some decent reviews in the past...despite being an Art Hills course      Anything else worth considering? Rio Grande in South Fork looks interesting, but might be too early in the season for that and it might be a bit more driving than I'd like. Would be interested in reviews of it in any case.

Any of the Denver group (or anyone else) interested in meeting up either for the one round or a Saturday afternoon / Sunday morning combo with Cougar Canyon and other course TBA?

[Kirk Gill]

I've been thinking of playing Cougar Canyon sometime this spring/summer, Andy, so let me know if you finalize your plans. I've played Walking Stick and particularly enjoyed the holes that play along a really gorgeous arroyo that looks a little bit like the Grand Canyon. You might like it, but I'm not sure how long a drive can be justified to play it. There's the Broadmoor courses in the Springs, although I think you've already played there.

[astavrides]

Rio Grande is definitely worth playing at some point.  The front is flat and plays nicely along a creek.  Back nine is mountainy-on a similar scale, though slightly lower standard, to Lakota Canyon. 
I recommend Walking Stick too.

[Andy Troeger]

Thanks for the comments. Kirk, I will let you know when I've got it narrowed down a bit more. Sounds like Walking Stick would be worth playing as a 2nd course in any case.

I have played the Broadmoor East and Mountain, would like to play West, but don't know that I want to drive an extra 90 minutes each way to do so. Granted I suppose Walking Stick is still the wrong direction too...oh well

[Kirk Gill]

Getting over to South Fork from Trinidad is a 2+ hour drive, albeit a very scenic one. Maybe others know of additional courses along the I-25 corridor that are worth playing. There's a muni 9 in Walsenburg that appears to feature nine perfectly circular greens, which their website says are crowned, thus they invoke a comparison to Pinehurst #2.

Sure.

Other than Walking Stick I don't care much for the other courses in Pueblo. There's the Sumo course in Canon City by Bucton/Player, about which I know nothing, other than it looks like purely cart-ball from an aerial perspective. Unfortunately, Jim Engh's Four Mile Ranch (bunkerless !) doesn't open until July.

[Matt_Ward]

Andy:

If you head north via I-25 be sure to play in Falcon -- just east of Colorado Springs and play the Rick Phelps course -- Antler Creek. Very underrated public layout that is very affordable. Might turn you off as you approach the property via car because it sports a "housing" type look. That changes dramatically when you actually play the course.

By the way -- from the tips it's over 8,000 yards but there's enough tee box variety to make matters interesting and fun.

Regarding the Suno course that John K mentioned -- skip it. It has few holes worth listing and frankly is in need of a major makeover.

It will be interesting to see the new Engh course when that opens later this year.

[Doug Wright]

Andy,

I might be interested in playing Cougar Canyon--let me know. Besides Grandote, which is really good IMO, I'd go to Walking Stick in Pueblo. fortunately it's more Keith Foster, who worked on the course, than Art Hills and features a number of really solid holes. Not sure I'd make a special trip to play it--instead head over to Grandote--but if so Walking Stick is the only option south of Colo Spgs. I can't believe Matt Ward used the words "Pinehurst" and the 9 holer outside Walsenburg in the same sentence. That is one of the worst golf courses I've ever played; skip at all costs.

[Allan Long]

Andy--Please let me know how your plans unfold. I have not yet played CC and would like to see it.

For those who have played down in Trinidad is their 9-hole Muni worth seeing? I agree with Doug that the Walsenburg course in the State Park close to Grandote is worth a skip, but I have heard good things about the Trinidad Muni from a local golf writer. It shouldn't take the place of Walking Stick or Grandote, but since it's close to Cougar Canyon is it worth seeing if you have a spare couple of hours?

[Kirk Gill]

Heh heh....Doug, it was myself and not Matt Ward that put Pinehurst #2 and the Walsenburg muni in the same sentence, but only because I found it so funny that they used that comparison on their website. Sorry I wasn't more clear about that. THEY said it, and I just unfortunately repeated it for the sake of good humour. Haven't played it, but your take is about what I might have expected of the course.

And Matt, it wasn't John Kirk that mentioned Sumo, it was again myself, and again not because I had any personal experience playing the course.

Man, I'm questioning my own existence.

And Doug, good call on the Grandote course in La Veta. I've been wanting to get down there as well. That would be a more pleasant drive for Andy, and the Moorish/Weiskopf combo has created a few courses of note.

[Andy Troeger]

Will certainly keep you guys posted, Grandote Peaks is a very nice course and I'd consider going back there again or to Walking Stick as it seems to be the best options. Will try to look at some dates for those of you that sound interested.

[Andy Troeger]

Figured I'd bump this back up. I still intend on getting to Cougar Canyon, but it won't be in May...sometime this summer! Will post again once I come up with a weekend.