[Tony_Chapman]

Gentleman -- We are heading to CS for a family vacation (the whole family, so dad and brother will be playing) and we've got one day for golf around the Springs. We won't be playing Broadmoor. After doing research, I'm leaning toward The Club at Bear Dance. Should I be looking for somewhere else. Or should we convince the women to make a trip to Denve and we go to CommonGround??

Thoughts, in advance, appreciated. Thanks!

[Matt_Ward]

Tony:

Best bet that's solid golf -- plus very affordable -- head to Canon City -- about 30 minutes south of Colorado Springs and play the Jim Engh design -- Four Mile Ranch. One of the best affordable public layouts I have played and easily among my ten best public layout for the entire state.

The course provides wonderful scenery -- is close to where you will be -- and as I said, very affordable.

CommonGround is a fine choice but a bit of a drive -- Bear Dance is also good -- but pricey.

FMR is really fun to play too.

[Tim Pitner]

Tony,

As Matt said, Bear Dance is somewhat pricey but it has shoulder season rates through May 28 so if you're going soon, the price won't be too bad.  I don't think you'd be disappointed in Bear Dance--GCA-wise, it's solid but not spectacular; the scenery is very good--the closest thing to a mountain course along the Front Range.  

I haven't played Four Mile Ranch so I can't compare the two.  (I'm not a big fan of Engh's courses generally and, living in Denver, Canon City is a little too far afield for me).  

[Matthew Petersen]

I have only played Bear Dance once, but I would recommend it without hesitation.

[Doug Wright]

Tony,

Four Mile Ranch is a very fun course to play and very unique even for Jim Engh. It has some of the Engh features (eg tiered greens) and then stuff Jim has never done (like no bunkers, which works great there). It's anything but "traditional" so if your group is into traditional you should not go there.  Depending on where you're staying in the Springs, it could be longer than the posted 30 minutes--more like an hour from north Colorado Springs I'd say.

I like Bear Dance as well, and it is a good golfing experience for non-locals because it is more of a mountain course with some great views, elevation changes, etc. Distancewise Bear Dance is quite close to north Colorado Springs, not so close to south Colorado Springs.

The only other option I'd suggest considering is Antler Creek (Rick Phelps), in Falcon east of town. Probably 3rd on the list and less desirable for out of towners because it's not scenic and in a housing development but a fine layout with some excellent holes.

In any case, you should check with the courses on conditions if you're coming in the near term because they are aerating greens and the like these days.

PS None of these courses come close to the Broadmoor East course, and the AFA Silver course would be #2 in the Springs area in my book.

[Tony_Chapman]

Guys - Thanks. Doug we'll be coming the weekend of the US Open, so nothing in the near term. Also, I've heard good things about Antler Creek. Would you put it ahead of Bear Dance and Four Mile Ranch? Is the AFA course accessible?

[Matthew Petersen]

Tony,

Four Mile Ranch is a very fun course to play and very unique even for Jim Engh. It has some of the Engh features (eg tiered greens) and then stuff Jim has never done (like no bunkers, which works great there). It's anything but "traditional" so if your group is into traditional you should not go there.  Depending on where you're staying in the Springs, it could be longer than the posted 30 minutes--more like an hour from north Colorado Springs I'd say.

I like Bear Dance as well, and it is a good golfing experience for non-locals because it is more of a mountain course with some great views, elevation changes, etc. Distancewise Bear Dance is quite close to north Colorado Springs, not so close to south Colorado Springs.

The only other option I'd suggest considering is Antler Creek (Rick Phelps), in Falcon east of town. Probably 3rd on the list and less desirable for out of towners because it's not scenic and in a housing development but a fine layout with some excellent holes.

In any case, you should check with the courses on conditions if you're coming in the near term because they are aerating greens and the like these days.

PS None of these courses come close to the Broadmoor East course, and the AFA Silver course would be #2 in the Springs area in my book.

AFA Silver over Blue?

[Matt_Ward]

Tony:

Antler Creek is behind the likes of Four Mile Ranch and Bear Dance -- but it's well worth playing for a spot nearest to where you will be staying. As Doug mentioned if you are staying on the south side of town you can access FMR very quickly -- no more than 30-35 minutes.

[Scott Szabo]

Doug Wright,

Are you sure about the Silver Course at the Air Force Academy?  I would suspect you are referring to the Blue, which is by far and away the better of the two courses in my opinion.  The Silver is much shorter and not nearly as well laid out as it's sister course.

I think the Blue Course is one of the best courses in the state.

Scott

[Doug Wright]

Doug Wright,

Are you sure about the Silver Course at the Air Force Academy?  I would suspect you are referring to the Blue, which is by far and away the better of the two courses in my opinion.  The Silver is much shorter and not nearly as well laid out as it's sister course.

I think the Blue Course is one of the best courses in the state.

Scott

Of course the Blue Course! I can never remember which is which and guessed, knowing you all would correct me if I guessed wrong...

Tony, you can access the AFA courses if you have an AFA connection. They might also need to play with you, that I cannot recall. 

As I said Antler Creek would be my third option but still decent if location vis a vis Four Mile Ranch and cost vis a vis Bear Dance are issues.

[Matthew Petersen]

Doug Wright,

Are you sure about the Silver Course at the Air Force Academy?  I would suspect you are referring to the Blue, which is by far and away the better of the two courses in my opinion.  The Silver is much shorter and not nearly as well laid out as it's sister course.

I think the Blue Course is one of the best courses in the state.

Scott

Of course the Blue Course! I can never remember which is which and guessed, knowing you all would correct me if I guessed wrong...

Tony, you can access the AFA courses if you have an AFA connection. They might also need to play with you, that I cannot recall. 

As I said Antler Creek would be my third option but still decent if location vis a vis Four Mile Ranch and cost vis a vis Bear Dance are issues.

I believe you would have to be with someone who has the AFA connection. Also, in mid-June they often have camps going on down there and the courses would not be available during that time, assuming they still do that.

[Ben Sims]

Resident Air Force Academy grad here!

June will no doubt be busy, but I think if you get a military member to sponsor you or even call and make the tee time for you, you're in good shape. 

Don't listen to the silver course detractors.  I would tout both courses as pretty solid. And VERY different.  There is also the Broadmoor($$$) and Flying Horse(Pvt).  You'll need a member at Flying Horse I think.

[Matt_Ward]

For the bang of the buck and without any need for connections to play -- FMR gives people the best of the lot in my book.

The ride is quite e-z and once you get on the property of FMR it does not disappoint.

[Ben Sims]

For the bang of the buck and without any need for connections to play -- FMR gives people the best of the lot in my book.

The ride is quite e-z and once you get on the property of FMR it does not disappoint.

Nice.  Three Jim Engh plugs in only 12 posts.  You're setting records Matt.

[Andy Troeger]

I'd take Four Mile Ranch over the Blue at AFA, although neither are bad options. I don't like Four Mile as much as Matt does, but its one of the better publics in Colorado at least of what I've seen. I like it as well as the Broadmoor's East Course, but I played that one before the US Senior Open a couple years back and so it was very narrow with too much rough. I probably should give it another chance.

I stopped at Bear Dance but couldn't get on--it looked very good from the clubhouse 

Matt will no doubt disagree, but Cougar Canyon in Trinidad is a great option and IMO better than any of the others. The downside is that I'm guessing its 90 minutes from Colorado Springs give or take.

[Tony_Chapman]

Gentleman -- Thanks for the thoughts on the golf here. It appears we'll decide between FMR, Antler Creek and Bear Dance. My dad just had hip surgery and so this will be the first time we golf together (the three of us) in well over two years. I'll enjoy the company more than the golf course. If anybody has any others that haven't been mentioned that we should look at, please chime in. Cheers!

[Matt_Ward]

Ben:

Have you played any Engh courses? Have you played FMR ? If you think my recommendations are all wet then knock yourself out with your commentary. Happy to read your contributions on that front.

Oh, I see, people on this site can promote certain designers but not others.

Andy:

I like Courgar Canyon -- just not as much as you do. FMR has the better terrain and like you said the better price. Antler Creek is also worth a shot for those closer to town -- unfortunately, the housing element may turn certain people off.

[Doug Wright]

I'd take Four Mile Ranch over the Blue at AFA, although neither are bad options. I don't like Four Mile as much as Matt does, but its one of the better publics in Colorado at least of what I've seen. I like it as well as the Broadmoor's East Course, but I played that one before the US Senior Open a couple years back and so it was very narrow with too much rough. I probably should give it another chance.

I stopped at Bear Dance but couldn't get on--it looked very good from the clubhouse  

Matt will no doubt disagree, but Cougar Canyon in Trinidad is a great option and IMO better than any of the others. The downside is that I'm guessing its 90 minutes from Colorado Springs give or take.

Andy,

Broadmoor East is much better now IMO. The work for the Senior Open, including bunkering rework, improved it. Not saying that the rough isn't difficult, but last time I played it the fairways were wider than before.

Cougar Canyon might be a good choice, but, in Matt Ward-speak, is WAAAY too far from the Springs for Tony on this trip.    

[Tony_Chapman]

Do I dare ask about Patty Jewett? I found an article that is was laid out by Willie Campbell in 1898, but little remains. Is it worth a look??

[Adam Clayman]

Tony, Patty Jewett is worth a look. It's got some old school charm. Rick Phelps recently did a re-do on some holes. Other greats have also had a hand at The Jewett. Maxwell is one, I think.

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