Played Red Hawk Ridge in Castle Rock, Colorado this weekend when I was in Denver visiting some friends. It’s a solid course. Some pictures below, but here are my overall thoughts:
It’s a very easy course to drive the ball on. About half the holes – maybe more – feature elevated tee boxes, the altitude definitely gave me some extra distance, and there isn’t too much trouble to be found anywhere. If you’re a really long hitter off the tee you could probably hit a hybrid or low iron for many of the holes.
Though many of the elevated tee boxes were nice, I felt they got a little redundant and in some cases masked what would otherwise be bland holes or at least holes that were very similar to each other. I felt like I was hitting driver-9 iron over and over again.
Preferred the back nine to the front. The front is really crowded with houses whereas the back nine gets away from that to some extent and features a bit more variety in the visuals and the terrain.
It was $70 to walk, $80 to ride. This was yet another instance of the employees being stunned that somebody preferred to walk the course. I thought the guy was going to drop dead when I told him. I tend to feel most solid public courses are a little over-priced, and this was no exception. I felt it was more of a $45-55 value.
Lastly, played the last 3 holes in a hail storm. That was the highlight of the day. Had never done that before.
Pics below…
View from the 1st tee
Approach to the 1st green
http://www.shutterfly.com/lightbox/view.sfly?fid=37962e5415e7cf686d9889752d9a603cFrom above the right side of the 1st green
http://www.shutterfly.com/lightbox/view.sfly?fid=37962e5415e7cf686d9889752d9a603cFrom the 2nd fairway
http://www.shutterfly.com/lightbox/view.sfly?fid=37962e5415e7cf686d9889752d9a603cThe par 3 3rd
http://www.shutterfly.com/lightbox/view.sfly?fid=37962e5415e7cf686d9889752d9a603cFrom the 4th tee
http://www.shutterfly.com/lightbox/view.sfly?fid=37962e5415e7cf686d9889752d9a603canother par 3, i think #6
http://www.shutterfly.com/lightbox/view.sfly?fid=37962e5415e7cf686d9889752d9a603cone of several straight uphill par 5s without too much excitement -- i thought these holes were the weakest on the course
http://www.shutterfly.com/lightbox/view.sfly?fid=37962e5415e7cf686d9889752d9a603cFrom the 10th tee
http://www.shutterfly.com/lightbox/view.sfly?fid=37962e5415e7cf686d9889752d9a603cApproaching the 10th green
http://www.shutterfly.com/lightbox/view.sfly?fid=37962e5415e7cf686d9889752d9a603cAnother of the straight uphill par 5s - this one on the back 9
http://www.shutterfly.com/lightbox/view.sfly?fid=37962e5415e7cf686d9889752d9a603cThis is a fun downhill par 3 that we played into about a 20 mph wind. 140-150 yard hole that played like 180 with the approaching hail storm
http://www.shutterfly.com/lightbox/view.sfly?fid=37962e5415e7cf686d9889752d9a603cA nice view of the back 9 terrain, a welcome change from the rows of houses on the front 9
http://www.shutterfly.com/lightbox/view.sfly?fid=37962e5415e7cf686d9889752d9a603cA downhill par 4 on the back
http://www.shutterfly.com/lightbox/view.sfly?fid=37962e5415e7cf686d9889752d9a603cHail storm en route...
http://www.shutterfly.com/lightbox/view.sfly?fid=37962e5415e7cf686d9889752d9a603c