[Niall Hay]

I’m sure most on the site would immediately say Cherry Hills (Flynn - GCA darling) is the must play of the Denver area, but how does Castle Pines (Nicklaus) compare?  Is it really Cherry and then everything else in the area? Any pictures of either?  What about Denver CC? Columbine?

[Andy Troeger]

I'll have to wait for later on details, but I'll go against the (probably right) assumption and say I prefer Castle Pines. Far more unique. Cherry Hills gets really good for about the last seven holes, but probably benefits some from being "the" classic in the mountain time zone.

Colorado Golf Club could get some votes as well for best in the area. I have it #2 behind CP.

If you're willing to accept mountain cartball courses, Ravenna has a lot of merit as well. I enjoy Sanctuary too, but its narrow in spots.

Haven't played Denver CC or Columbine CC.

[Niall Hay]

My buddy's response, "Cherry Hills is excellent.  The first 6 holes leave you wondering and waiting.  They aren't bad...just not spectacular.  Then you get hit hard and it's a tough course down the stretch.  Tons of fun.  Like it a lot.  Castle is good, not great.  You simply won't get a better "club" experience.  It's as good as it gets, but it's better than the course itself..  Denver CC is cool.  Old school, solid.  A shorter course, but good, traditional course.
I would rate them as Cherry 8 1/2 - 9 , DCC 8, Castle 7 1/2 (Course only).
My assistant is from there and LOVES Columbine.  Better than DCC and Castle, but not Cherry.  For the record, since I am rating, which is always dangerous, Ballyneal is at least a 9 1/2 to me...for that style of golf.
COMPLETELY different that any of the above, though.  Apples and oranges."

[Niall Hay]

I'll have to wait for later on details, but I'll go against the (probably right) assumption and say I prefer Castle Pines. Far more unique. Cherry Hills gets really good for about the last seven holes, but probably benefits some from being "the" classic in the mountain time zone.

What makes CP superior to CH? Just uniqueness? Overall layout?   Assume conditions are both pretty good.

[Niall Hay]

Where does Cherry Hills rate as a Flynn design?

Also unrelated (but from another thread) it has cool/unique logo.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I prefer Castle Pines for the whole experience.  It is a golfer's club.  Cherry Hills is a special place because of the history and the course is excellent but I prefer CP.  It is more dramatic, has some compelling terrain, requires great thought and execution, and has the best milk shake in the state.

[Stephen Davis]

I haven't played any of these, but since I plan on moving to Denver soon ,I have spent a lot of time looking at the designs. I have to say that I am surprised Colorado Golf Club wasn't in your discussion. To me that looks to be the premier course in the area (just from what I have seen of the routing and pictures). Am I wrong? I would love to hear what people think of this club too.

[Matthew Petersen]

I prefer Castle Pines for the whole experience.  It is a golfer's club.  Cherry Hills is a special place because of the history and the course is excellent but I prefer CP.  It is more dramatic, has some compelling terrain, requires great thought and execution, and has the best milk shake in the state.

Is this still the case? I was under time impression that the guy responsible for those famous milkshakes was now at Whisper Rock in Scottsdale?

[Matthew Petersen]

For what it's worth 9and it's not worth much), I have never played either course but have walked both of them numerous times during various tournaments.

If given the opportunity to play at one of them, I would choose Castle Pines easily and without hesitation.

[Niall Hay]

I prefer Castle Pines for the whole experience.  It is a golfer's club.  Cherry Hills is a special place because of the history and the course is excellent but I prefer CP.  It is more dramatic, has some compelling terrain, requires great thought and execution, and has the best milk shake in the state.

Is this still the case? I was under time impression that the guy responsible for those famous milkshakes was now at Whisper Rock in Scottsdale?

Former Castle Pines locker-room attendant Mike Marranzino, now at Whisper Rock, brought the recipe for Castle's famous milkshakes as well as its legendary service.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

It is a tough call but I would be a Cherry Hills guy if it was one or the other. I think Colorado golf Club may be a better course than Castle Pines. Jack did both courses there. Castle Pines has those vistas and a wonderful feel whereas Cherry Hills is a city course and a classical feel to it. .

[Niall Hay]

I haven't played any of these, but since I plan on moving to Denver soon ,I have spent a lot of time looking at the designs. I have to say that I am surprised Colorado Golf Club wasn't in your discussion. To me that looks to be the premier course in the area (just from what I have seen of the routing and pictures). Am I wrong? I would love to hear what people think of this club too.

Wow.  Just looked at the Colorado Golf Club website. It does look great. Coore and Crenshaw? How does it compare to CH and CP?

[Niall Hay]

It is a tough call but I would be a Cherry Hills guy if it was one or the other. I think Colorado golf Club may be a better course than Castle Pines. Jack did both courses there. Castle Pines has those vistas and a wonderful feel whereas Cherry Hills is a city course and a classical feel to it. .

There are 2 courses at CP? Which one is better?

[Andy Troeger]

Niall,
I only played each once (on the same day) and its been five years, so hopefully my memory won't be too fuzzy.

Cherry Hills has a great classic feel and history--but the course itself isn't especially unique save for the finishing stretch. The front nine could be any number of parkland courses. I have only played a few Flynn's, but its similar in quality to me as Lancaster CC in PA. Lancaster is probably underappreciated, but as a top 50/75 course in the US, Cherry Hills may be overappreciated by some. The one advantage Cherry Hills has over Lancaster is that the unique holes are saved for the end, where I found the best part of Lancaster CC came in the first seven holes.

Castle Pines has good variety for a course of its difficulty, and it has quite a few pretty unique features and holes spread throughout the round. There is enough water to allow for some heroic risk/reward shots (not unlike Cherry Hills), but the majority of the course is just solid and the greens are well done. I especially like the par five eighth with its elevated green, the 10th as a long par four plunging downhill, and the 17th as a cool half-par hole toward the end of the round. Its comfortably a top 100 USA course in my book. Its not an easy walk, which is a negative, but its also incredibly beautiful, so that's a plus. The 14th is one of the prettiest par fives I've seen.

The biggest differences between the two to me are what Tommy mentioned...more dramatic terrain and more unique holes which combine to create more variety. Cherry Hills is still darn good--so you're not going wrong either way.

Colorado Golf Club does deserve to be in this discussion. Its got great variety, especially on the back nine. Watching the Senior PGA out there a couple years ago actually made me appreciate it more than on my own play, since those guys actually could reach those back-nine par fives.

The milkshakes at Castle Pines are still really good. Perhaps they still have the recipe!

[Niall Hay]

Good stuff Andy. Thanks!

[Matthew Rose]

If I could play one, and only one, I'd agonize for weeks..... in the end, probably Cherry only because of the history. It would be hard not to think of Arnie going around.

That said, Castle Pines for sheer dramatic landscape would be tough to beat anywhere.

Hope to get a chance to play either one someday... CH is right down the road from where I work but it feels like a whole world away.

I drive by Denver CC once in awhile and from what I've seen, it's pretty good too.

[Andy Troeger]

The Castle Pines everyone is familiar with is "Castle Pines Golf Club." There is also a CC at Castle Pines next door--tried to play it a couple times but something always came up. There is also a public "Ridge at Castle Pines North" which is a Troon property and not my favorite, although the course finishes pretty strong. The front nine is pretty bad--too many houses smother the course.

I mentioned it before, but Ravenna south of town is really good as well. Its not walkable at all sadly due to the terrain and a bit of a mountain that separates #10-15 from the rest of the course. I think its got a lot of great individual holes and great variety, but it does suffer a bit from the severity in that it becomes one of those "collection of holes" courses in some ways. I actually still think its almost as good as Colorado GC and deserves mention with the other courses on this thread. Unfortunately I think it opened at a bad time, so I'm not sure if it ever really got off the ground with membership. Perhaps the locals might know more there...it was a deserving member of the Modern Top 100 for a few years. Jay Morrish design.

[Sam Morrow]

I didn't play Cherry Hills when I was in Denver but did play Castle Pines. It was very cool and I found it incredibly difficult, probably top 5 toughest I've ever played. It does have some amazing vistas and that right there was worth the round. The milkshakes were pretty frickin awesome also. I go back and forth as to which I liked more, Castle Pines or Lakota Canyon.

[Brad Tufts]

I spend a week a year in Colorado in september for work, so I've been able to check out many of the favorites.

I played castle pines a few years back, and while it wasn't bad by any stretch, I didn't love it.  CC of castle pines was better than expected actually.  I thought Colorado GC was better than both by a bit.

My CO top 5 would be Ballyneal, CO GC, Castle Pines, Lakota, and Broadmoor East in that order.  Honorable mentions would be Maroon Creek, Commonground, and Red Sky Norman.  My favorite hidden gem is Four Mile Ranch...super easy but very high on the fun quotient.

Haven't played Ravenna, Sanctuary, Denver CC, or Cherry Hills as of yet, but definitely hoping/wishing to in upcoming years.

Others played in CO: Riverdale Dunes, Lakewood CC, Pradera, Snowmass, River Valley Ranch, Eagle Ranch, Wellshire, Cougar Canyon, Lost Tree, Redlands Mesa, Fossil Trace

[Tommy Williamsen]

I prefer Castle Pines for the whole experience.  It is a golfer's club.  Cherry Hills is a special place because of the history and the course is excellent but I prefer CP.  It is more dramatic, has some compelling terrain, requires great thought and execution, and has the best milk shake in the state.

Is this still the case? I was under time impression that the guy responsible for those famous milkshakes was now at Whisper Rock in Scottsdale?

He was still there in 2010 when I last was there.  At least the milk shakes were still there.

[Jeff Spittel]

I have yet to play Castle Pines so I should probably just keep my trap shut, but I really enjoy Cherry Hills. From about the 4th or 5th hole, I think the course has terrific character and the back nine has four of five world class holes. It's also one of the better experiences you can have at any club from the hospitality of the staff to the outstanding MLR. 

[Niall Hay]

I have yet to play Castle Pines so I should probably just keep my trap shut, but I really enjoy Cherry Hills. From about the 4th or 5th hole, I think the course has terrific character and the back nine has four of five world class holes. It's also one of the better experiences you can have at any club from the hospitality of the staff to the outstanding MLR. 

Keep hearing how Cherry Hills really has a great finish.

[Scott Szabo]

I used to work as a scoring observer during the International, and have walked Castle Pines numerous times.  I've always wanted to play the course, but haven't had the opportunity.  I think it's a beautiful, difficult course.  Cherry Hills definitely wins out because of the history, but I think I'd prefer Castle Pines myself. 

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