Castle
Pines Golf Club:
International's Host Layout Known the World Over
By David R. Holland, Senior Writer
CASTLE ROCK, CO -- Tell a golfer from another state you live in Colorado and most likely he'll respond: "Have you played Castle Pines?"
The next question is about Cherry Hills Country Club, where three U.S. Opens have been staged along with two PGA Championships.
Located just 22 miles south of Cherry Hills, Castle Pines Golf Club is a stern test of golf designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1981. Because the television eyes of CBS show the beauty and competition of The International, Presented by Qwest, every year, folks from all over the world tune in and have a front-row seat for the stunning Rocky Mountain foothills setting and the entertaining variety of shots the pros have to execute.
"I think this is one of the top three courses on tour condition-wise,"
said Ernie Els, champion of the 2000 International. "I love
playing Jack Nicklaus golf courses, so I love this course and
I think he is a great designer. Even at this altitude, the 7,500
yards can still play short, but it ranks with Muirfield and Augusta
as the courses in top condition on the tour. Year in and year
out the greens are great."
Els won last year in the final round, wining in a shootout with two-time International champ Phil Mickelson.
The International tees off this year August 2-5 and fingers were crossed that Tiger Woods would make an appearance, but he won't be in the field. His last showing at the tournament was in 1999, the week after his duel with Sergio Garcia at the PGA Championship.
When Tiger announced he would play in the Buick Open, scheduled August 9-12, most officials at The International suspected he wouldn't be at Castle Pines. That would have meant Tiger would have to play four weeks in a row to make it to Castle Pines and that doesn't usually happen.
A year ago the PGA Tour changed its schedule moving The International
to two weeks before the PGA Championship, instead of the week
after. International officials were unhappy with the move and
let the PGA know. The reasoning was that European Tour stars such
as Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke would be
road-weary, having been in the states for five straight weeks,
and not willing to stay for The International.
But Larry Thiel, executive director of The International, met with PGA officials this spring, and dates for the 2003 International have been placed back in sequence just ahead of the PGA Championship and WGC-NEC Invitational. Read the complete story here.
The Golf Course
Situated at a lofty 6,400 feet in elevation among Ponderosa pines,
boulders and scrub oak, this 7,503-yard up-and-down hilly golf
adventure is one of the toughest walks the tour players face.
Castle Pines will present you with some narrow fairways, but overall the tee shot is not as intimidating as the approach. You will definitely get some uneven lies, face large elevated greens with multi-tiers and be required to steer your ball around lakes and streams on seven holes.
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No. 9 is another long 458-yard, par-4 aesthetic walk, but requires an accurate tee shot or you will be in a series of ponds and waterfalls that line the right side. The approach is semi-blind with a 5- or 6-iron to a green that slopes back to front. Staying below the hole is a must.
The real test all the pros will talk about is No. 10, a 485-yard, par 4, requiring an approach shot measuring more than 210 yards over water to the green. This hole has ruined many rounds in the tournament.
The 422-yard, No. 12 is one of Castle Pines' most beautiful holes, but it can be tricky. The hole requires a drive out of a chute of trees and an approach to a treacherous green guarded by a colorful flower bed on the left.
The 17th is where the tournament can easily be won or lost. It's a par-5, 492-yard eagle opportunity. If it is a close tournament, the lead can change several times at this hole.
You finish at 18 with one of the more interesting looking holes in golf. It's a 480-yard par-4. Players aim at the flag pole because the fairway is elevated to the right, then breaks off and drops lower into rough on the left side, which is also littered with many bunkers. The green is a figure-eight shape funneling down from both sides to the center. Needless to say when the pin is in the middle birdies are more frequent and if you are on the right tier putting to the left you must go through the low swale in the green.
Changes
at Castle Pines
The par-3, 205-yard fourth hole's front bunker has been enlarged and moved a few yards to the right to be less intimidating visually from the tee. A new pot bunker behind the green will also come into play when the pin placement is back right.
Castle Pines' par-5 eighth hole has a new tee box, increasing its length 35 yards to 570.
Castle Pines Golf Club pro Keith Schneider said they didn't make any changes to the length just because of Tiger Woods. "This makes it a more true par 5 for everybody."
Schneider thinks the PGA Tour will use the new tee box for at least two of the four rounds. "We made the change to keep step in keeping up with advances in golf equipment," said Schneider. "Instead of the players 5 or 6 irons on their second shots, they will have to hit solid 3 or 4 irons into this tricky, elevated green."
The dry ditch that fronted the par-3 11th and the par-5 14th, has been transformed into a man-made running creek with small lakes coming into play on both holes.
"We made the changes on 11 and 14 not to make it harder," said Schneider said. "But the water will give the players something else to think about."
The International is truly international -- players from 12 countries outside the United States are competing for the prize money at Castle Rock.
Castle Pines Golf Club
1000 Hummingbird Lane
Castle Rock, CO 80104
Telephone: 303-688-6000
Green Fees: $150, but it's private, so you will have to be invited by a member.
Internet Address: http://www.golfintl.com.
The International Schedule: Wednesday, August 1, Pro-Am Tournament, Castle Pines Golf Club Shotgun starts at 7:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, August 2, Round 1, 144 players begin play. Tee times scheduled to begin at 7 a.m., 1st and 10th tees.
Friday, August 3, Round 2. 144 players begin with top 72 players (plus ties) advancing. Tee times scheduled to begin at 7 a.m., 1st and 10th tee.
Saturday, August 4, Round 3. At least 72 players begin, carrying
points forward from Rounds 1 & 2. Top 36 (plus ties) advance
to Sunday's final round. Tee times scheduled to begin at approximately
7:45 a.m., 1st and 10th tees.
Sunday, August 5, Round 4. At least 36 players begin, carrying points forward from previous rounds. Player with most points is the winner. If necessary, a playoff will determine the winner. Playoff holes are 9, 10, 17 and 18 with repeat rotation as long as necessary. Tee times scheduled to begin at approximately 9 a.m.
The International's Former Winners
Ernie Els, 2000. David Toms, 1999. Vijay Singh, 1998. Phil Mickelson 1997 and 1993. Clarence Rose, 1996. Lee Janzen, 1995. Steve Lowery, 1994. Brad Faxon, 1992. Jose Maria Olazabal, 1991. Davis Love III, 1990. Greg Norman, 1989. Joey Sindelar, 1988. John Cook, 1987. Ken Green, 1986.
Modified
Stableford Point System
Double Eagle +8 points, Eagle +5 points,
Birdie +2 points, Par 0 points,
Bogey -1 point, Double Bogey or more -3 points.
Television Schedule: USA Network will televise Thursday
and Friday rounds.
CBS will televise Saturday and Sunday rounds.
Ticket Packages: http://www.golfintl.com/tickets/tick1.htm
Parking, Directions
Parking passes are required in all lots except for the general
public parking lot. A-VIP Parking: includes Sponsors' guests,
media and caddies. Take exit 187 to Castle Pines security gate.
B-VIP Parking: includes parking for Corporate Tent, Skybox and
Fairway Club patrons. From 1-25, take exit 184 and follow the
signs. Parking lot entrance located on Daniel's Park Road. General
Parking: Volunteers and General Public. From 1-25, take exit 184
and follow the signs.
144 contestants play first 36 holes, using the International (Modified Stableford) System, accumulating points. Round 1 Thursday: All 144 contestants play. Round 2 on Friday: 144 contestants play, 72 players plus ties, accumulating points for 36 holes advance to third round. Round 3 on Saturday: 72 players plus ties carry points from Rounds 1 and 2; high 36 pointmakers, plus ties, advance to Sunday's finals. Round 4 on Sunday: 36 players plus ties carry points to finals.
Awards
Golf Digest rated this course 48th best out of "America's
100 Greatest Courses" in 1995-96, and 44th best for 1997-98.
The same publication rated it as the 2nd "Best in State"
course for the years 1995 through 1998. GolfWeek ranked
it 9th among "America's 100 Best Modern Courses" for
1997, 12th for 1998 and 23rd for 1999. Golf Magazine selected
it 87th among the "Top 100 Courses in the U.S." for
1997.
Castle Pines' 10th Hole Honored by Golf Digest
Castle Pines Golf Club's 10th hole was recently picked in 2000
by Golf Digest as one of America's 18 greatest holes.
Long-time golf writer Dan Jenkins and golf course architecture editor Ron Whitten featured the par-4, 485-yard Jack Nicklaus hole in a two-page picture article in March, and wrote:
"From the elevated tee, sweeping downhill to a green nestled right behind a pond -with Pikes Peak looming in the background - this hole looks like a brilliant par 5, and certainly can play like it is. Sure, the ball's supposed to go farther in Colorado, but only if you get it in the air. The green mainly accepts a high fade - it's a Nicklaus, remember."
Jenkins first picked "America's Greatest 18" for Sports Illustrated in 1965. Then 35 years later he went back to choose his favorite modern 18. He then combined the list to pick the "All-Time Best," in which Castle Pines' No. 10 was selected, replacing No. 10 at Winged Foot.
The "All Time Best" list included nine new holes. No. 14 at Muirfield Village replaced Cherry Hills' No. 14, the only other Colorado representative. Among the back nine on the "All-Time" list were No. 12 at Augusta National and No. 18 at Pebble Beach.
