jpmcgee

This course is a gem. Great pace, conditioning, layout, scenery, and value. Have played it at least a dozen times and almost always face a shot or a putt that I haven't encountered before.

Some call the course gimmicky because of roller-coaster greens, doglegs into canyons and a couple of blind shots, but I think it's a blast. Architect Jim Engh knew what he was doing. There's more room off the tee than it appears, and pin placement can alter strategy--some hole locations are challenging; others are easy to access via backstops and lateral banks.

Pace is almost always great. This round had as much waiting as I've encountered, as they had shoe-horned some players into a back-nine start and had to work them back into first-tee traffic, but I still finished in 3.5 hours on a Saturday.

My only quibble with this round was that my cart was missing the pin-rotation guide, which makes a difference! They have adjusted for winter (and/or Covid) by pre-cutting 3 hole locations on each green, with covers over each day's unused holes. Haven't noticed that in the past.

The course is all about the golf--no restaurant or locker room, and just a trailer for a shop. All the better for Covid conditions. Bring your own beverages and snacks.

This round was a rare near-windless day in Canon City. Afternoon rounds at Four Mile can be windy, but the views near sunset on the back nine are spectacular.

Course is scoreable, but it isn't for players who struggle to get the ball airborne. For moderate-to-good players, it's well worth the one-hour drive from Colorado Springs and maybe even the two-hour drive from Denver, especially when the weather is iffy up north.

Actually saw hot-air balloons overhead as in the profile photo (annual festival Labor Day weekend).

Probably the fastest greens I've ever played at a muni, and they were in flawless condition. Really impressed given how much play the course gets. The old-school push-up greens have a lot of back-to-front slopes, so keeping the ball below the hole was key. Playing partners had played earlier in the week and said the greens were not nearly as fast then.

I hadn't played Valley Hi in maybe 8 years and the course had made some upgrades, including some new hazards, perhaps to improve drainage. The course had fewer bare spots than I recall and was in good condition, especially on the front.. Pace was fine--2 hours for the front and 3:45 overall. Layout offers more variety than you get on a lot of munis. The par-5s are easy; the par-3s are challenging. Be ready to play from the sand--traps are well placed close to greens.

Paid $38 + $15 to ride, which seemed a shade high but holiday weekend rate, I guess. Putting green was in great condition, and the course has a nice chipping/sand practice area. Range had nice grass tees but is otherwise ugly, intended for easy ball pickup. Facilities aren't why you play Valley Hi; didn't eat at the restaurant, which was recently reopened following Covid shut-down. Cart fare was priced reasonably.

Staff was friendly and committed to efficiency. Enjoyed the round.

You always hear about how long the course is (8,000+ from the tips), but plenty of tee options.

Challenging course both off the tee and around the greens. This makes it great for match play and pretty bad for stroke play. More than the distance, what detracts from playability is bunkers pinching the landing areas and tightly fronting several greens. If you're intimidated by sand, this is not your course. I was in 7 traps.

The day I played (warm winter day, breezy), the pins were tucked on several holes and not very accessible, especially because the greens were firm and the winter grass thin. The course is far enough from the mountains that wind is almost always a factor, but the design doesn't favor a ground game. Guessing it plays better in the summer.

With heroic carries and plenty of lateral trouble, it's a fun course for match play, a frustrating course for stroke play. Your card will get blown up somewhere. My playing partner was a 5 handicap who shot in the mid-90s from the back tees. But he eagled the 667-yard 7th, which was worth the price of the Hot Deal.

Course has a nice practice area. Pace of play was good for a Saturday during off-season.