1IronCharlie

Take a putt putt course, a breathtaking mountain course, a finely manicured desert course, a trailer park, a top golf, 18 billion sharp rocks, and a cactus in a blender. Lay it out over 7000 yards in a shape dictated by Dr Seuss through a bad phone connection and what do you get? A southern Colorado gem, that's what, and this course is all about fun.

As with anything fun, you have to be in the right mindset to have it. If you come to 4 mile ranch with the notion of shooting your handicap, experiencing a true test of golf, or to wring the courses neck, stay home. This is the devils golf course.

If you want to have some laughs, see some incredibly unlikely shots, take some selfies, and enjoy some of the most beautiful vistas and indeed, course conditions in Colorado, this is the spot. Blind tee shots, approaches, I even had a blind putt. Balls hit into the native areas will do miraculous things. Bounce into the fairway, hole themselves, come back at you, vanish into thin air. The greens will make you think about putting in a totally different way, with mounding you could fall off, tiers that are so far apart they have different weather, and all so, so fast. How they mow some of them is a mystery. Yes, sir four mile is a wild, wild place, and you may not want to show anyone your scorecard, but you'll never ever forget it.

Bring your own food, and treat beverages like you would if you were going out on a boat, as amenities are next to nothing. Wear long pants and leather golf shoes regardless of heat because of cacti and the generally treacherous nature of the hazards, which you will find. Absolutely get a yardage book,, scorecards are personal preference. Fun is mandatory. If you take a friend who takes him game very seriously here, bring him a silly hat to get him in the mood. And don't bring a new box of proV1s , it won't help, and burning $50 takes less time. I couldn't make it my home course, but for a laid back Saturday game with your friends, you can't do better within 500 miles. Go and see!

I have probably played more rounds at kings deer than anywhere else in Colorado. There's a reason for that. Its not because of the amazing amenities, the immaculate conditions, or the unparreled design, because amenities are spartan at times, conditions are wild in places, and the design is....eclectic is a good word. No, Its because kings deer, and their staff encourage you to get out and play. With regular mailing club coupons, golfnow hot deals and golf-and-a-burger (and beer!) specials, they make it very affordable. With regular, well attended tournaments for members and the unwashed masses, there's a ton of reasons to go and meet some new friends to lose to or beat the snot out of. I think their attitude and effort are really admirable, but enough swooning, on to the real stuff.

I have rarely if ever had a slow round that was not my own doing, and for the most part, even on weekends everything generally runs smoothly. If you are held up by the group in front, thank your lucky stars, because if you rush, or just aren't paying attention, this course will eat your lunch. ( more delicious lunch can be purchased in the clubhouse, which I highly recommend. ) I've seen a few say that the rough is ridiculous, single digits only, etc. The rough IS ridiculous, the only way to find a ball that rolls into the high stuff is with a flamethrower, and there are a few bunkers that will make you think you've fallen in a well. There are extremely ample and safe landing areas for almost every single shot, however, but you really have to take a moment and think about your plan for the whole hole. Its like playing snooker, you have to think about where your next shot before you hit the one in front of you. I know that this is what you're supposed to do every time, but we all forget. As long as you pick your spots and get the yardage to that spot right or close, misses are widely forgiven, and anyone can get around this course in good shape.

And there in lies the magic of kings deer, the reason its a course you can enjoy coming to the first time and the 300th. You can play booming drives that roll and roll over the links style ground, and then realize you have a very unhandy shot into the green or laying up. Or play conservatively in respect of hazards, only to discover you had a landing area the size of a football field if you were more aggressive. Its like formula one racing, you have to be able to shift through all the gears.

What people have said about lost balls is true. Thank god for the forthcoming usga three minute rule change. They ought to adopt a local rule concerning a no penalty drop and give you six balls as a complimentary welcome gift, or the aforementioned flamethrower. However, one of my proudest days was shooting 76 around there with the same ball, so there's something to be said for the challenge.

The pro shop is friendly but not a place to try and buy clubs.

The beverage cart is fun, with games for free beer they offer to players. It's well stocked to boot, but they only run it on weekends and the height of the season.

Why? Well, they probably run labor on a tight budget, this course is out of the way, and you drive past 6 others to get there from any direction. But, drive past you should because the new management has put their labor savings into the course, and that's just fine by me. Not every course is a palace of luxury and reasonable rates from the get go, they grow, or wither. This one is growing.

Bring your second string ball the first time. Get a yardage book, not a rangefinder. Bring a sweater, even in July. It can get cloudy, windy, wet and cold in a matter of minutes. Bring a camera, some of the views are unreal, even for Colorado. Keep your head, don't try and overpower the course, but don't hesitate to be aggressive when you can. Keep this in mind, and you too will fall for this beautiful rocky mountain pearl.