Hyland Hills: Strange and Worthless Holes Mired in Poor Conditions

By Jamie Dawson
Rockies Golf Daily Course Reviewer

Hyland Hills, not to be confused with Highland Hills in Greeley, is a municipal course in Westminster just north of US 36 and Sheridan. Hyland Hills has received considerable acclaim as a championship test of golf. One wonders why. I think it is an “Emperor’s New Clothes” thing. It is a course with many strange and substandard holes mired in consistently poor conditions.

The course itself has undergone a series of facelifts, none of which has improved the course. Originally built as an 18-hole course, a third nine was built about 15 years ago. The holes were re-routed and the end result was the “Gold” and “Blue” courses. The Gold is a nine-hole course. The Blue is an eighteen-hole course, taking the nine original holes and adding another nine, with several modifications. Several years later, they moved the driving range, added a par-3 course, built new greens for 17 and 18, and rerouted slightly a couple other holes. They have also built another green for the fifth hole. If they had left it all alone, they would have been much better off.

Let me begin on a positive note. The first hole is a good hole, a longer, fair par 5. The sixth hole will challenge anyone. Also, the par-3 13 is a good hole with water in front of the green. But don’t go long, or you will never see your ball again.

It is not fair to review this course without mentioning something about the conditions you will find. I have never played this course without something unusual occurring. One time they top-dressed the greens with what seemed like gravel. You might find your ball on either mud when you haven’t seen rain in two weeks, or you’ll lose your ball in the rough 18 inches from the green. Be prepared.

The general weakness of the course is the inconsistency of it all. The greens on some holes are completely different from others. Some of the newer holes are links-style, with few trees and mounding. Other holes are defined purely by trees. This course is a discordant collection of mediocre holes.

The punctuation mark of the course is the final pair of holes. They took a couple average holes and by moving the greens to the other side of a ditch, made them short and pointless.

The professional staff at this course has my respect. They do a first-rate job under some difficult circumstances. For example, they also must run the racquetball courts located in the clubhouse. So if you play this course and have a bad time, don’t take it out on the pros. They are pretty cool. Call 428-6526 for more information. Fees are $19.

RATINGS: (out of five)
Condition: *
Pace: ***
Clubhouse: ***
Playability, 36 handicap or more: ***
Playability, 10-36: **
Playability, 0-10: **

The "Playability" categories are based on enjoyment. It measures how much we think you'll enjoy playing this course with your current handicap.

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