Rockies Golf Hole of the Week - Deer
Creek Village
By Shane Sharp, Regional Writer
Monday, April 5, 1999
CEDAREDGE, CO - How does the concept of playing one golf course and experiencing two distinctly different layouts sound, all for the low price of less than a dollar a hole? Too good to be true? Not in Cedaredge, Colorado where Deer Creek Village Golf Club offers up 18 holes of championship golf that will challenge your shot making ability, and not your wallet. Deer Creek's front nine is as wet as Rocky Mountain snow melt, with water coming into play on 8 of the nine holes. The back nine, with its narrow fairways, puts as much of a premium on accuracy as a Larry Walker put out from right field. When asked to offer up a Deer Creek hole for "Hole of the Week", Head Pro and Director of Golf Eric Feeley did not hesitate to offer up the course's signature hole, the par-4 9th, as bait. Says Feeley about his favorite hole, "the 9th has it all, water, a dogleg, bunkers, and tough decisions." Let's strap on our game faces and get into the challenge that is the 9th at Deer Creek. The Hole: The 9th Hole at Deer Creek Village Golf Club, a par-4, dogleg left, that plays 409 yards from the tips. Architect: Byron Cooker. Front nine opened in 1992, and the back nine in 1995. The Layout: The new Delta Chi nickname for this hole should be "tightrope". Why tightrope? A dogleg left, the 9th features water down the entire right side of the fairway and in front of the green, and out of bounds down the entire left side. The Strategy: For the low handicapper, or the player who has simply brought his or her "A" game: peel a straight drive about 240 yards down the middle of the fairway to set up about a 160 yard approach shot to a green as well guarded as John Elway on a five step drop. Try to stick your approach on the left side of the green so you can funnel your put down towards the pin. The Average Golfer: Should treat this hole like a par-5 due to the water in front of the green. If you only hit a 200 yard drive, then you are left with an approach shot of close to 200 yards - one that could easily end up wet. Lay-up in front of the water and leave yourself about a 75 yard approach shot you can stick near the pin and still have a shot at a great par save. Don't Play: Like a good golfer on this hole if you're not one. Course management is the name of the game for any player, so exercise a little here and lay-up short of the water on your second shot if you hit a short drive. Play the Hole: While the hole may set up beautifully in the early morning or late evening, hitting the 9th during the middle of the day should illuminate the hole's abundance of water, provided you have laid off the Coors. Wanna Play?
Deer Creek Village Directory Information CLASSIFICATION: Public GUEST POLICY: Open DRESS CODE: Shirt and shoes required. SEASON: Mar 15 to Dec 15 TEE TIMES: Accepted 7 days in advance. EARLIEST TIME TO CALL: 7:00 AM PRO SHOP PHONE: (970)856-7781 PRO SHOP OPENS: 6:00 AM
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