Fox Hollow and Wellshire
Ranked in Top 10 by Reader
By Robert Anderson
Reader Course Review May 2, 1999
Here are my local favorites. All of these courses are within a half-hour of downtown Denver, and most of them cost less than $40 to play. I'll give you my top three, and then the rest in no particular order: 1. Fox Hollow, Lakewood - 27 holes, with each nine having its own particular character. The "Canyon/Meadows" combination is the best, but anytime you can play here is a treat. Tough to get on if you're not a Lakewood resident. 2. Wellshire, Denver A former private course now run by the city of Denver, this is a great casual course (i.e. it is run like/feels like a muni, but is actually quite a good layout). Denver residents get a break on fees, but even non-residents pay only around $22 for a weekend round. 3. The Ridge at Castle Pines North, Castle Pines - Opened in 1997, a great Tom Weiskopf design. The downside? It costs $100 to play. The upside? In my opinion, it's worth $100. Highlands Ranch G.C., Highlands Ranch - A Hale Irwin design opened in August, 1998. Plays down into a wooded section with several interesting holes. Not long. Buffalo Run, Commerce City - Opened in 1996 to serve as a magnet for development in the Denver to DIA corridor. Go play it now while the surrounding area is still farmland, before they start in with the condos. Legacy Ridge, Westminster - One of the most difficult public courses in the Denver metro area; well-maintained. A couple of holes (e.g. the par-5 11th) are a little too tough, but overall a worthy design Saddle Rock, Aurora - Opened in 1997, the Colorado Open was held here last year. The winds here can be ferocious, making a tough course play evil. South Suburban, Littleton - Course set on rolling terrain, with water and trees coming into play on certain holes. The 9th and 18th holes are particularly memorable. Tough to get on even as a single, and a little overpriced for non-residents. Coal Creek, Louisville - Maybe a little more than 1/2 hour from downtown Denver, this course will drive you to drink if you can't hit it straight. Trees and water flank many of the fairways. The upside is that the course is not long, you can leave your driver in the bag. Hyland Hills (north par three course), Westminster - Hyland Hills has 27 holes of regulation length golf, including the 18-hole Gold Course, but I prefer the north par three (there is also a second seven-hole par three course, making for 43 holes of golf, and that's not counting the putt-putt course next door). This nine-hole course is a cut above most executive courses, with several interesting, if not fanciful, holes. The course ends next to the driving range. READER REVIEWS
• Highlands Ranch a Great Addition
• Thumbs Down to Kennedy Golf Course
• Reader Not Impressed with Canterberry
• Mariana Butte Offers Course in Rudeness
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