Norman's Newest Effort at Cornerstone ...

[Matt_Ward]

During my latest adventure to the mountain time zone I had the opportunity to be at the new Greg Norman design called Cornerstone located in Montrose, CO. I stayed at the facility for roughly two (2) days and had the good fortune in playing the golf course with the Director of Golf there Mark Wood.

I've played a number of other Greg Norman courses -- notably the likes of Doonbeg, Red Sky Ranch, Wente Vineyards, Shark's Tooth, Champions Gate, GC at Lansdowne, The Great White at Doral, Norman Course at PGA West, Tiburon and TPC Sugarloaf.

Cornerstone has some of the most striking overall scenery of any course you can play in Colorado -- the views can stretch in excess of 100 miles -- likely even more on the clearest of days. The layout is set on a high plateau and the course is a good drive from the main road from town (550). You just keep on climbing and climbing until you get to the property.

Cornerstone is a fine evolution in the design portfolio of Greg Norman. A number of the key dimensions one sees with nearby Red Sky Ranch in Wolcott can be seen at Cornerstone. One thing definitely is evident at Cornerstone -- the greens are blazing fast and I was told can be even faster during main club events. How fast? I am talking about a minimum of 12 on a Stimp.

Norman doesn't clutter up his greens at Cornerstone -- they are free flowing and allow for a range of shot to be played -- including a ground component which in a number of ways works quite well.

The faciility is roughly at 8-9,000 feet above sea level so the overall distance of 7,945 yards needs to be understood from that dimension. The course plays to a 76.9 CR and 142 SL from the tips. From the member tees the distance drops to 7,287 (again you have to factor in the 8-10% altitude adjustment -- the CR is more manageable at 73.5 and a more comfortable 138 slope.

Cornerstone provides ample width for the tee game -- but there are a few holes -- which I will outline shortly -- that require you to think carefully on how tight a line you wish to play. The thing that makes Cornerstone so special given the other Norman layouts I have played is that the movement of the property dictates plenty of your strategic choices. What I mean is that you need to know where the pin is located on the green and then calculate what is the best angle to come in from ... at the same time the ground movements put a good bit more pressure on you because getting to those positions is no small feat.

One of the drawbacks at Cornerstone is the lack of a really solid short or mid-rage par-4. No doubt Greg wanted to make sure there was enough muscle but I would have liked to see him include such a hole -- he did so on the par-3 front with the solid par-3 9th which maxes out at 150 yards.

I'll provide more info shortly on the other elements of the course. I know a few other GCA folks have played the course and likely they can provide some additional thoughts as well.

 

[Matt_Ward]

To pick up where I left off ...

I liked Cornerstone but so much of its strength is tied to the speed of the greens there. They were especially quick and although the tee-to-green dynamics were good -- it is the green speed which really elevate the intensity of the course. Any miss to any short side will never -- short of holing it out -- be able to get it up'down. The green speeds put incredible pressure to get to certain spots because failure to do so will be a three-jack.

No doubt the views when playing are indeed spectacular -- the panorama is nothing short of incredible.

But, when I look at Cornerstone and hold it against the likes of Red Sky Ranch I wonder if Norman has indeed broken new ground with his newest layout in Montrose. The course is well done in plenty of spots -- the fall away green at the long par-4 7th, the demands for short iron control at the par-3 9th -- the stellar vistas and shotmaking requirements at the par-4 10th, to name just a few. Yet, as the course concluded there wasn't really a crescendo that summarized all that had come before.

Cornerstone is well done for a mountain course but after playing what Team Nicklaus has done at Red Ledges in Heber City, UT I have to say that just like in his playing career the Shark still trails the Bear.

In sum Cornerstone is worth playing and it has numerous moments that will make one's time there worth spending.

[Andy Troeger]

I guess I missed this thread the first time around--in any case these were my comments shortly after playing Cornerstone in early August.

"I have a feeling more will be written about Cornerstone once more GCA'ers get out there. It's a very fine golf course--while it plays to almost 8,000 yards the course is located at almost 9,000 feet of elevation so it really doesn't play all that long. I was fairly comfortable from the 7300 yard set of tees. The fairways are generally very generous but the approach shots are varied and challenging. The greens are subtle because of the vastness of the site--there is quite a bit of movement but its hard to figure in most spots.

In lieu of posting photos I'm linking to their photos on the website: http://www.cornerstonecolorado.com/golf/holexhole/index.htm

I think Cornerstone will find a place among the top courses in Colorado. It very well might be the best course in the mountain portion of the state, although I'm still a big fan of Lakota Canyon. It is far different from Red Sky Ranch--far fewer bunkers and more expansive feel, but still uses the natural lay of the land pretty well."