Ridge at Castle Pines Condition - July 22nd?

cubuffs · July 20, 2018

I will be coming back to Colorado on vacation and my Son and I will be playing on Sunday afternoon after the Open. I have booked a time at the Ridge but noticed some of the reviews via Golf Adviser list poor condition of the traps (dirt, very little sand). Has anyone played lately that could comment? Is it worth playing somewhere else (we are visiting my parents in Lakewood, and will be playing Fossil Trace Monday, and in the mountains (Three Peaks and Keystone River) during the week. The other course I was looking at was Omni.

masamitsu · July 20, 2018

I haven't played the Ridge this year so can't comment about the conditions.

If you want to replace it, Bear Dance is always is great shape and a very fun track.

cubuffs · July 20, 2018

I haven't played the Ridge this year so can't comment about the conditions.

If you want to replace it, Bear Dance is always is great shape and a very fun track.

Thanks for the reply - love Bear Dance but need to keep courses within 30-35 of Lakewood.

AU94CMK · July 20, 2018

We played the Ridge on July 11th. The bunkers were thin on sand, but by no means unplayable. The rest of the course conditions were superb, especially the greens and teeing surfaces. We played Bear Dance on July 6th, and while it was great, I’d give the nod to the Ridge on conditions mainly due to how well the greens rolled there.

Also, Keystone River was great. We were disappointed with the conditions at Raven, but still worth it to play for the views and course layout.

cubuffs · July 21, 2018

We played the Ridge on July 11th. The bunkers were thin on sand, but by no means unplayable. The rest of the course conditions were superb, especially the greens and teeing surfaces. We played Bear Dance on July 6th, and while it was great, I’d give the nod to the Ridge on conditions mainly due to how well the greens rolled there.

Also, Keystone River was great. We were disappointed with the conditions at Raven, but still worth it to play for the views and course layout.

Thanks for the update, read your trip report and it sounds like your group had a great time. When you say conditions were bad at the Raven, I know you mentioned that some of the greens were bad and they had lost several fairways. Have played there the last two years and really love the layout, how bad was the condition on the greens? Multiple greens that were unputtable or just some areas that were not quite as full as they should be?

cubuffs · July 23, 2018

So fresh off playing yesterday, after the Open, my son and I had a great time. We went off at 1 PM with a nice couple who lived in Castle Pines Village, played in four hours and 30 minutes, and that included a 30 minute rain delay right as were making the turn. I’m in complete agreement with the trip report that was posted earlier, course conditions were great outside of the traps that were pretty much dried dirt. You were better off picking up the ball clean with a lob wedge as opposed trying any type of explosion shot. Luckily, I was only in one trap but my son managed to hit three or four throughout the day. Tee boxes were great, fairways lush, and the greens were very fast and challenging.

AU94CMK · July 23, 2018

We played the Ridge on July 11th. The bunkers were thin on sand, but by no means unplayable. The rest of the course conditions were superb, especially the greens and teeing surfaces. We played Bear Dance on July 6th, and while it was great, I’d give the nod to the Ridge on conditions mainly due to how well the greens rolled there.

Also, Keystone River was great. We were disappointed with the conditions at Raven, but still worth it to play for the views and course layout.

Thanks for the update, read your trip report and it sounds like your group had a great time. When you say conditions were bad at the Raven, I know you mentioned that some of the greens were bad and they had lost several fairways. Have played there the last two years and really love the layout, how bad was the condition on the greens? Multiple greens that were unputtable or just some areas that were not quite as full as they should be?

The greens were all playable, but not consistent. Some had lost grass in areas, so you were essentially putting on painted dirt in spots. To be clear, it’s not like they lost the entire green, just bare spots in areas. They weren’t so bad that I wouldn’t play it, but if I were limited on time and couldn’t play everything, I’d pick Keystone River, Breckenidge, and Keystone Ranch in that area before I’d play The Raven. And that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy The Raven, just the order I’d rank them factoring in layout, scenery, and conditions.

AU94CMK · July 23, 2018

So fresh off playing yesterday, after the Open, my son and I had a great time. We went off at 1 PM with a nice couple who lived in Castle Pines Village, played in four hours and 30 minutes, and that included a 30 minute rain delay right as were making the turn. I’m in complete agreement with the trip report that was posted earlier, course conditions were great outside of the traps that were pretty much dried dirt. You were better off picking up the ball clean with a lob wedge as opposed trying any type of explosion shot. Luckily, I was only in one trap but my son managed to hit three or four throughout the day. Tee boxes were great, fairways lush, and the greens were very fast and challenging.

I hit my practice bunker shots like you suggested with great success. Then I got on the course and thought the bunkers looked fluffier and would try a normal explosion shot and bladed it out. Probably cost me about 6 strokes!

So fresh off playing yesterday, after the Open, my son and I had a great time. We went off at 1 PM with a nice couple who lived in Castle Pines Village, played in four hours and 30 minutes, and that included a 30 minute rain delay right as were making the turn. I’m in complete agreement with the trip report that was posted earlier, course conditions were great outside of the traps that were pretty much dried dirt. You were better off picking up the ball clean with a lob wedge as opposed trying any type of explosion shot. Luckily, I was only in one trap but my son managed to hit three or four throughout the day. Tee boxes were great, fairways lush, and the greens were very fast and challenging.

I hit my practice bunker shots like you suggested with great success. Then I got on the course and thought the bunkers looked fluffier and would try a normal explosion shot and bladed it out. Probably cost me about 6 strokes!