Saddle Rock Golf
Course: Gone With the Wind

By Seth Goldfogel
Rockiesgolf.com Course Reviewer

June 1, 1999

Driving through Parker, Colo., on my way to Saddle Rock Golf Course, I found myself eager and wondering if the eighteen-hole track that I was about to play would be as memorable and challenging as everyone had told me it would be. For the past year or so, I have heard nothing but wonderful things about this course, so I decided I would take a trip out east in order to find out what everyone's been so excited about.

Upon arriving to the course, I had a few minutes before teeing off, so I decided to look around a bit. I found that the complex has a roomy driving range, a putting green, a pro shop, and a restaurant, all of which add to the already pleasant atmosphere.

After writing my first article on another local course (Canterberry) that was not as developed as some of Colorado's nicer courses, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Saddle Rock was as accommodating as any course, public or private, that I have ever played. In addition to these amenities, I found the staff at Saddle Rock to be pleasant and courteous from the pro shop to the clubhouse as well as on the course.

After determining that everything that has nothing to do with the golf itself was superb, our pager buzzed, and it was time to head for the first tee. Looking out across the first fairway (which I never had the pleasure of frequenting) I was impressed by the lush green grass that stretched across the entire hole, as well as every other hole on the course for that matter.

To say that Saddle Rock is well maintained would be a tremendous understatement. The fairways were consistent, the greens firm but true, and the sand was simply inviting (at least for me, as I think I managed to find it no less than once a hole). I don't know that I have ever played another public course in Colorado that was maintained as well as Saddle Rock.

At other courses, fairways may be nice, but often the greens are bumpy and or slow. Or, perhaps the greens are fine, but maybe the sand is comparable to pavement. This was not the case at Saddle Rock.

Each and every fairway was trimmed thin, but consistently. There were not a lot of divots or bare spots that would otherwise punish the player for hitting a good drive. All eighteen greens were quite firm, and although it was difficult to stop a ball on them, there could be no complaints as to their consistency relative to one another. The sand was thick and playable, especially for the player who prefers to blast their shots from the hazard.

Most notably, though, the course is surrounded by protected native areas that cannot be entered by cart or on foot. Thirteen of the eighteen holes are edged with this grass which is as good as a lake, since once your ball enters it, it is forever gone.

Looking back on my round, it seemed like I hit a lot of good shots. Like most golfers, though, I managed to forget the shanks and pushes, and only remember the flush shots that yield me pars. However, at least for me, as well as I thought I was hitting, there were not a lot of pars to be found. This course is as challenging a course as I would ever want to play. Perhaps because of this challenge, the Colorado Open has chosen to host their 1999 tournament at Saddle Rock.

Much like nearby Canterberry, the wind at Saddle Rock is horrendous in a good way. I found myself hitting a six iron where I would normally play eight. What otherwise doesn't appear to be a terribly long golf course winds up playing remarkably longer on account of the wind that I am sure was in our faces on at least sixteen of the holes.

While only three of the holes (nine, sixteen and seventeen) are adorned with water, the rolling hills and scenic views of the Rocky Mountains easily make up for the "shortage" of the blue hazards.

Truthfully, I didn't have a favorite hole from the course, as each hole was exciting and intriguing in and of itself. I found the back nine to be more tricky than the front, perhaps due to fatigue, but also because it requires more accuracy, and punishes errant shots more so than the front nine.

I would suggest purchasing a yardage book from the pro shop, as many of the greens are either hidden or deceiving. Without this handy little book, I fear my already brutal handicap would suffer even more.

So now that I have given Saddle Rock the praise that is so greatly deserves, you may be wondering if I found any serious shortcomings. My answer - not really. I will admit that the wind was traitorous, but it's hard to blame the course for such an "unseen" hazard.

I do recall being slightly peeved with a gentleman in the foursome ahead of us who despite flirting with darkness repeatedly hit "multiple" mulligans on several of the holes. Unfortunately, no matter how superior the course may be, there will always be those people who have little consideration for the group playing behind them. In the scheme of things, though, the very fact that this incident even made the shortcomings section of my article should indicate how superior this course really is.

Taking all of this information into consideration, I would highly recommend Saddle Rock Golf Course to anyone interested in a scenic and challenging round of golf. The pro shop takes tee times up to five days in advance, so if you want to finish before dark, I would suggest calling early.

Saddle Rock is one of those courses that tourists may not be otherwise be aware of. It is hidden in Parker, but should not be passed over on anyone's trip to Colorado (unless you have the inside scoop on private courses like Castle Pines or Cherry Hills Country Club, in which case you should e-mail me immediately).

The greens fees are more than reasonable; although I cannot specifically remember the figure, thirty to forty dollars keeps popping up in my head. If you hate the wind as much as I, do as the Ranger suggested, and make a tee time early in the morning.

However, even with the wind, Saddle Rock is a course that you don't want to pass up, so make a tee time today for a memorable round of golf.

Check here for a past reader review this course.