Rifle Creek GC: Night & Day
Difference Between Front and Back Nines

By Pete Page
Rockies Golf Daily Staff Writer

RIFLE, Colo. -- Pat Hayes, the General Manager of Rifle Creek Golf Course, says, "The difference between the front and back nines are like night and day." The front nine is a "park setting" according to Hayes, while the back nine is a "mountain course with target golf."

The front nine was the original course, designed and built in 1960 by Jimmy LeDonne. LeDonne formed Rifle Gap Land Company, the non-profit owner of the course. Shares in the company were sold and given away to the volunteers that worked to build the Richard Phelps designed back nine in 1989. Money the course takes in goes into course upkeep and salaries of the staff. Steve LeDonne is the son of Jimmy, and the head pro at Rifle Creek.

The course plays 6,235 feet from the back tees and according to its manager it's "short but tougher than most."

The number one handicap hole is also the first hole. The 358-yard par four has a highly contoured green that is "a three-putt waiting to happen." Six of the holes on the front are influenced by Rifle creek as it makes its way through the course. On five of those holes, you have to play over the creek either off the tee or approaching the green. The creek also guards the backside of the green on number eight.

Crossing over Highway 325, the back starts off with a par four and a par three that begin to wind you into the foothills that overlook the front. The tee box on twelve gives you a hint of what lies ahead; you play uphill to a green set in a pocket formed by the base of the foothills. The fairway slopes to the left. If you stray right, your ball will be in the dirt and rocks, leaving you almost nothing to work with other than to bail out back into the fairway. From here on in, it's strictly target golf.

Number fourteen can only be described as "amazing." Standing on the tee, you look out to a 100-foot drop from the end of the box to the fairway. On the left is a gully lined with trees. Right of the fairway is more of the barren hillside. The fairway leads uphill to the green that is close in elevation to the tee box and again slopes to the left. There is also some water that comes into play if you are short right. Fifteen is a 140-yard par three with a great view from its tee box (if you don't suffer from acrophobia). Another 100-foot drop, then back uphill to a green that slopes back into the fairway. If you don't stick it here, you can roll off the green and either go way downhill or into the water that lies to the right front of the green.

The remaining holes require the same kind of shot placement. If you get away from the fairway, you'll find trees, ravines, rocks, bushes and other assorted hazards that will make you wish you had left the driver in the bag. Some of those areas are much more suited to the snakes and lizards and playing a provisional could be a better move to make.

The course throws every kind of challenge at you that you could think of. It's well cared for by the staff and offers something for every level of golfing ability. With the course location in a beautiful natural setting, this is one you really need to make a special trip to play.

It's about a four-hour drive west over Interstate 70 From Denver to Rifle. They take tee times seven days in advance by calling 970-625-1093. They also offer a package deal with the Rusty Cannon Motel. For $65 per person, you get eighteen holes of golf, a dinner at the Fireside Inn and a night's lodging at the motel. By booking through the motel (970-625-4004), the package can be set up in advance of your trip.