Last month I had the pleasure of playing Eagle Springs Golf Club in Edwards, Colorado, located in the western Vail Valley of the Rocky Mountains. The course opened in 1995, the final collaboration of course architects Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish. The course inhabits a couple hundred acres of the valley floor, bounded by a hillside on the north and the Eagle River, which was rushing at near flood stage on that day, to the south. A handsome covered bridge ushers the players into the exclusive club.
The land possesses a few limitations. The valley floor (elevation about 7100 feet) is quite flat, and the hillside is somewhat abrupt by golf standards. The architects used the slopes to route a few holes up, down and along the hillside. Hole #4 moves up the slope, hole #5 is benched into the hillside, and hole #6 drops precipitously back to the valley floor. On the back nine, the par-4 11th hole creeps up the slope, while both par-4 holes #13 and #15 dogleg right up the slope. Hole #12 is a long par-3 a few feet above the floor. Hole #14 is a short par 3 back to the valley, and hole #16 is a very long, slightly uphill par-3, before the course returns to the valley for the two finishing holes along the Eagle River.
A well-maintained, rusty set of railroad tracks traverse the property; they probably belong to the Denver, Rio Grande and Western railroad. Walking golfers cross the tracks a couple of times. The course is a reasonable walk; I would have no problem walking and carrying my clubs, while playing the course in 4 or less hours with a cooperative, energetic foursome. There are a couple of awkward transitions between holes, where the next tee is not clear to the visiting golfer. This is not a major issue for an exclusive club. On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is the easiest and 10 is the hardest full-size walking course (but still walkable…think Pumpkin Ridge (Witch Hollow) as a 1 or 2, and Stone Eagle as a 9 or 10) Eagle Springs is about a 5 or 6.
The course is immaculately maintained, firm with hearty thick-bladed grasses used for fairways and rough, and pure stands of bentgrass on the greens and tees (correct me if I’m wrong about the fairways, please). 15 years into its life, the maintenance crew removes Poa annua from the greens by hand each year. On the day I played, the greens were very smooth and medium fast. As a set, the greens are very gentle, yielding many medium to long putts where the break is measured in inches versus feet. Chipping and putting was easy at Eagle Springs, as long as I managed to avoid one of the numerous ridges or “noses” sectioning a number of greens. I confidently thought I could make short and medium length putts as long as I hit the ball on the chosen line.
In general, the course is predictable, easily decipherable from the tee, and can be played well the first time around. My best buddy Kelly, typically a zero to plus-2 handicapper, played great and shot 69 on the par-71, 7058 yard layout. I am in a slump this year (4 handicap), but grumpily willed myself to a 77.
Hole 2, 547 yards:
Hole 2 played into the prevailing westerly wind. After a generous driving area, the player must decide whether to play left or right of the bisecting creek. Here is the green, which features one of the noses, a primary defense against routine two putts.
Hole 3, 483 yards:
A pair of fairway bunkers (not pictured) serves as aiming points for this long, difficult par-4. The green slopes away to the right from the player, encouraging a bounding long iron approach.
Hole 4, 495 yards:
The fourth hole heads up the hillside, the second par-5 with options for directional strategy. A small alternate fairway shortens the hole by 30-40 yards; otherwise, the player can play around the crescent-shaped (R-L) fairway. Here’s the 4th green looking down the primary fairway from the 5th tee.
Hole 5, 369 yards:
The little tree on the left edge of the 5th hole marks the position of a small swale, perhaps 245 yards out, mowed at rough length. Power players can play over the swale with a driver, but will leave an awkward distance for approach. The flattish green requires a crisp approach to hold the green.
Hole 6, 450 yards:
Rather than the typical practice of using a drop shot par-3 for severe elevation change, this par-4 requires both an accurate drive and accurate approach. The large right fairway bunker narrows the fairway for long drivers. The green slopes significantly towards the water; missing right of the green is a tough up and down. Hard golf hole.
Note the tilted layers of sediment that dominate the western views on the course. Beautiful geology is abundant here.
Hole 7, 175 yards:
The first of two consecutive par 3s, together with the par-4 9th hole, they form a fine trio of holes to finish out the front nine. #7 is a short iron play (medium 8-iron, about 145-150 yard shot for me) to a small green that slopes towards the back left. This picturesque hole finishes in the easternmost edge of the property
Hole 8, 221 yards:
The player crosses Eagle River and turns back west. Once again, the green slopes gently left, enabling the player to play a low shot short and right of the green. The green is very wide, and will yield many long first putts.
Hole 9, 420 yards:
Not pictured, hole 9 requires a rather precise drive, leaving an iron shot to the most severely sloped green on the course, with a fall of perhaps 3-4 feet. Hitting the proper side of the green is a must here.
Hole 13, 430 yards:
Taken from left of the 13th fairway, the side perspective shows the centered carry bunker dictating an accurate and long drive, followed by a steep approach that plays as much as two clubs uphill. Note the well-maintained, defunct rail line.
Hole 14, 165 yards:
This photo shows the large and rather undulating green, requiring an accurate short iron. The snazzy covered bridge adorns the view.
Hole 15, 463 yards:
The gentle course turns tough for a demanding four hole finishing stretch. Like #13, a level tee shot followed by a steeply uphill approach. This time, a tree rejects low approaches. The hillside slope can be used to bounce balls into the gently bowl-shaped green from the right side.
Hole 16, 270 yards:
Hole 16 plays slightly uphill. The left side is frought with trouble, bunkers and steep slopes. The green is large and very tricky, with significant internal contouring. Very tough par 3, and a rare chance to lay back your ears and bust a driver on a par 3.
Once again, note the delightful natural landforms in the background.
Hole 17, 447 yards:
The seventeenth typifies the Weiskopf/Moorish design. Nothing fancy or deceptive; two good shots required to reach the smooth, flattish putting surface. The fairway slopes just a hair towards Eagle Creek. Lovely golf hole.
Hole 18, 635 yards:
The 18th hole is wide and gentle, but requires power. Two good shots past the barn and along the river, leave a short to mid-iron shot to this narrow target.
After the round, we were treated to a delicious lunch in a first-class men’s grill. All of the amenities, from the understated, right-sized clubhouse, to the practice facility and caddie corps, are first rate. There are no houses on the course. The long-range views across the valley are spectacular and varied. Eagle Springs is a gentle pleasure, offering ample challenge without excessively punishing the player.