Ironbridge or Lakota Canyon?

[Chanceman]

Trying to decide where to play in this area and have heard good things about both courses. If you could only play one, which one? This will be the day after playing Redlands Mesa at Grand Junction.

[007iron]

I live at Lakota and play at Ironbridge.

 

Lakota will be similar to Redlands Mesa. Lots of elevated tee boxes and the fairways and greens have a lot of bowl-ing to them that funnel balls onto the short grass. The routing is fun, the course is memorable but the conditioning is mostly bad. Slow greens with dead spots and a lot of irrigation problems and dead grass in the fairways, too.

 

And I hate the customer service - from the cart guys, the golf shop and even the restaurant no one makes you feel the lest bit welcome. If you play Lakota please don't slice it real bad on 11.

 

Ironbridge is going to have a lot better conditioning with great greens. The price tag is a little steeper but the course is better in my opinion. Front nine winds through an old neighborhood (houses aren't in play) along the roaring fork river as well and the back nine starts with 4 holes way up in the hills that are super fun and unique. The second half of the back nine goes back down into a neighborhood again - homes slightly in play the last three holes.

 

Ironbridge has a great practice facility and the restaurant and customer service will be better. I'd only pick Lakota if you really like the Jim Engh designs and want to knock of more of his courses.

[Chanceman]

Thanks 007, I will be in Glenwood Springs September 14/16 so hopefully we can tee it up at both IB and LC.

[RobotDoctor]

I've played Lakota Canyon and enjoyed my round. I agree with 007iron in that the course is memorable and that there is a definite bowl effect that tends to funnel drives a bit errant back into the fairway. I have not played Ironbridge but that is the next course I'll play next time I spend a bit of time in the Glenwood Springs area.