Hole No. 6

Foothills Golf Course:
A Championship Value in Denver

By Diana Rowe Martinez, Senior Writer

DENVER - Snuggled in a residential area south of Hampden between Wadsworth and Kipling you'll find a golfer's getaway. No matter how much time you have or what your skill level, Foothills has the course for you in its par 3, 9-hole course, an Executive 9, and a "Championship" 18-hole course. Foothills also offers an outstanding staff of PGA and LPGA professionals for their not-to-miss, all-age, instructional golf programs.

The par 31 Executive Nine has four tee options, ranging from 2,226 yards to 1,647 yards-a great start for beginners and an excellent way to improve your golf game. The Par Three course is nine holes totaling 1,175 yards of challenge in holes ranging from 85 to 155 yard shots.

I had the privilege of playing Foothills' Championship Course. There are three tee box options: forward, middle, and championship. The par-72's Championship yardage is 6,908 and the forward tees carry 6,028 yards at a par of 74. The entire course offers varying views of the mountains, and the fairways are plush with few bare spots and lots of trees.

• Past Colorado course reviews • Past reviews by Diana Rowe Martinez

Hole 1 starts with a slightly dogleg left with trees bordering the fairway on the right. You'll find the green behind the trees. This 371-yard par 4 is achievable as long as you stay out of the trees and be aware of the bunker to the right of the green. A rather long 513-yard, par 5, hole 2 gives some of the same in another left dogleg around a grassy area with trees lined on the right of the fairway.

Hole 3's 446 yard is a par 4 straight uphill to an elevated green. Once you're on top of the hill, your next hole plays from an elevated tee down to a green for a 176-yard par 3. Another elevated tee at the next hole plays down to a right dogleg fairway for the par 4, hole 5. The 432-yards are achievable, but bunkers protect the green on both sides. Laying up with a long drive will give you a fairly straightforward shot to the green.

Foothills calls hole 6 their signature hole. This slight S-curved fairway challenges the golfer in its dogleg left around a lake. A creek wanders through the right side. Straight shots are necessary; too much on either side will guarantee a gift to the water gods. At about 110 yards in front of the green, a lake winks at the golfer.

Hole 9 is a 379-yard par 4 that ends with a good challenge and another slight dogleg left. Trees border the fairway on the right and a lake about midway on the left.

The back nine is more of the same. Hole 10 begins the back nine with more of the same and another dogleg left, par 4. Hole 11's, 523-yard par-5 challenge is a dogleg right, but trees border the fairway on both sides, not allowing room for slicers.

	Hole No. 10

Foothill's PGA Head Professional Jim Hajek's favorite hole is 16, a par 5. The 551 yards of wide-open fairway with a slight dogleg left is misleading. A grassy area borders the right and a creek beckons the errant ball on the left of the fairway. This same creek weaves back to the course cutting just in front of the green at the 100 yard marker.

The Championship course ends well on hole 18 with a long, sharp dogleg left par 4 (436 yards). Your best bet is to drive over the hill, slightly left. Too much left and short will put you in the bunkers. A 240-yard drive will clear the bunkers. This will set your next shot over the creek directly in front of the green. On either side of the green is the lake, and a heavy shot will put you onto the asphalt.

Advanced tee time reservations may be made by utilizing the Automated Tee Time System. To access the system, golfers may register in person or via telephone at one of the pro shops. There is no charge for this service. For details please call Foothills. Once registered, golfers may call 303-643-9660 using the following call-in schedule:

Foothills Registered Residents 5 days in advance - 9:00 p.m.

Jeffco Registered Residents 4 days in advance - 9:30 p.m.

Registered Non-Residents 3 days in advance - 9:30 p.m.

	Hole No. 16

The original 27 (Par 3 and 18 hole course) opened in 1971 with the executive to follow in 1992. All courses were designed by Richard Phelps. Foothills' Mission Statement is "Committed to providing a thoroughly enjoyable golf experience." and this is evident through the employees all the way to the condition of the course. In 1999, Foothills was the recipient of Metro Tee Times "Best Value" Golf Course and also was given the National Golf Foundation Achievement in Public Golf Award for four consecutive years.

Foothills Golf Course was recently nominated as one of the most affordable course in the Denver Metro Area, and a round here at any of their three courses will give you a good game of golf.

Foothills Golf Course
3901 S. Carr St.
Denver, CO 80235
Pro: Jim Hajek
Golf Shop Phone: (303) 989-3901
Tee Times: (303) 643-9660