TheGabster

Since relocating from Chicago 15 years ago,  lived in Central Florida for 10 and now in Denver South Suburbs for Last 5,  my take is that The Ridge At Castle Pines stacks up to just about any course that I have played in my many years of golf.

I enjoy playing The Ridge At Castle Pines is because of it's natural beauty and it 's exceptional physical layout. Towering oak - tree lined fairways,  hilly terrain,  strategic water hazards,  and fast but fair greens.

The Ridge at Castle Pines North is a challenging must play course. Those who consistantly hit the fairway will be rewarded. Those who are not hitting fairways or greens will most likely have tough recovery shots. The bottom line is except your bogey, or double/tripple bogey and move on (when warranted, pick it up and head to the next tee, don't hold the course up, figure it out on the next hole/driving range)

One thing that the couse has been working on is improving the green side bunkers (sand traps). They made alot of progress but they still have some work to do.  But all in all,  I still rate The Ridge At Castle Pines one of my personal favorites.

My thinking is when you play a championship course, such as The Ridge, you should bring plenty of balls. Don't spend over 2 minutes searching for balls in high rough. Just except your medicine for missing the fairway/green, drop another ball and keep it moving. That is what make golf fun, good hole, not so good holes, bad holes and disasters. Just think of it as being just like the ATM, if you do not put anything in you don't get anything out (practice your weak points before you head to the first tee)

To me The Ridge At Castle Pines is a whinning free zone. I will not get my whinning on about anything, not even if there is slow play on the days I am out there because I know that the rangers are dong thier best to ensure that the pace of play is fair for everyone. If it was one thing that I would change it would not be the course, it would be pricing. The rates can be plenty steep just like most championship golf courses. The bottom line is you get what you pay for, and from my standpoint The Ridge At Castle Pines did not disappoint.

Both courses at this facility are Class-A old school courses, similar to Big Run and Cog Hill #4 which are located in Lemont, Illinois (just southwst of Chicago). Both courses have and abundance of ttal tree which retrict your ball flight off the tee as well the approach shots to the green.

There terrain of hills, slops and valleys mean that golfers will need to adjust there stance for sidehill, downhill and uphill lies. If that is not enough to keep you thinking than the supurbly positioned sand traps and water hazards will make you realize that par is GREAT score, especially when the greens are playing fast. Having lived in the Chicago are, it was a pleasant surprise to learn that The Mission Inn Resort Las Colinas and El Capeon are great old school course and are a must play if visiting central Florida, If a group is planning a golf getaway then they owe it to themselves to consider The Mission Inn Resort.