Going to Denver this weekend

[uttexas]

Heading out to Denver Thursday with a buddy of mine for golf/fishing/Broncos vs Patriots.

Will likely play 36 holes Friday and 18 Saturday.

Plan on playing the following:
Murphy Creek
Arrowhead
Riverdale vs Grand Elk vs Golf Club at Bear Dance.

Let me know if you have any advice on finding golf discounts, where to go fishing, whatever.

Let me know if you want to play 18 with us.

[jaragon126]

You'll love Arrowhead ... it's a beautiful course.

Try looking here for discounts:
http://www.golfcolorado.com/display.php?courseid=4

Murphy Creek is nice too ... no trees, usually breezy.
http://www.auroragov.org/AuroraGov/D...unts/index.htm

Never played the other courses you mentioned, and sorry no advice on fishing :)

[patmac]

Bear dance is amazing! Played 36 there 2 weeks ago. Grand Elk is in the mountains and will take you a little longer to get there.

[Ghost Runner]

I would play Bear Dance over Riverdale.

[uttexas]

Thanks, booked my tee times.

http://www.grandelk.com/golfcourse.asp
http://www.arrowheadcolorado.com/arr...=188&page;=3514
http://www.beardancegolf.com/

Arrowhead just punched the greens, so might substitute Murphy Creek or other.

[Ghost Runner]

Arrowhead just punched the greens, so might substitute Murphy Creek or other.

Ignoring my avatar for a moment I would play Murphy Creek before I played Arrowhead. Arrowhead is great for the scenery which appeals to those form out of town but as far as golf goes Murphy Creek is, in my opinion, a better course.

[jaragon126]

Well you better bring your rain suit/stocking cap/winter gloves for this weekend if you are going to play ... supposed to be CRAPPY weather

Snow / rain on Sat & Sun.

Friday will be cool, but still should be able to play.

Thursday looks like it's going to be nasty too ... rain / snow all day.

[uttexas]

Yep, I'll be bringing my snow gear.
I wonder if they'll cancel the Rockies/Phillies game if there's snow. Hope not, I'll be trying to get tickets somewhere (sold out)

[Yukari]

Bear Dance is one of my favorite courses. I don't like Arrowhead because the play is slow and the fairway is not kept up nicely. Since you are not playing Arrowhead, it wouldn't matter.

As for Riverdale, if you do decide to play, play the Dunes course (Pete Dye design) not Knolls course.

Another good course is the Ridge at Castle Pines North.

But then again, with the crappy weather we suppose to get on Thursday and on the weekend, it may be a moot point.

[uttexas]

Weather only allowed for Grand Elk. Great golf course. We were literally the only ones on the course. It was 45*F.

[Beachcomber]

Sorry to bump this old thread... But I just got invited to play in a charity event at Bear Dance in Colorado later this month.  Hope it is nice!

[Yukari]

It is my favorite course in Denver.  The greens are running a little slow compared to its typical 11 to 13 on stimpmeter.  Currently I would say it is running around 8.

Back nine is better view than the front nine.  With your handicap, you should play the black tees, but being that it is a charity event, I would imagine it will be white or blue tees.  Just remember your shots will go about a club to a club and one-half longer because the elevation is around 7300 ft.  Also, watch out for afternoon thunder storms.  Denver is notorious for afternoon thunder storms during the summer.  If you hear thunder or see lighting take cover.

On a side note, I noticed you are from Newport Beach, CA.  I am originally from Long Beach/Huntington Beach area.  Sometimes I do miss the ocean.  But definitely not the LA traffic.

Originally Posted by Beachcomber

Sorry to bump this old thread... But I just got invited to play in a charity event at Bear Dance in Colorado later this month.  Hope it is nice!

[sabram]

Here's a link to a photo tour of Bear Dance http://sports.webshots.com/album/577425715VMZuzh?start=48

[Motley01]

Yep Bear Dance is a sweet mountain course for sure. I played it only once, but it was awesome! I plan on playing it this year again.

But don't get too comfortable, we already have way too many Californians moving here. Now our traffic is just like L.A.

[Beachcomber]

Well I played Bear Dance last week in a charity event.  Wow.  The first time I've played golf in Colorado...  A few comments before I gush about the course.

(1.) It is truly amazing how much further the ball flies when you are playing in elevation of 6,700 feet... There were holes - where I was hitting PW from 145 to 150 (wind assisted, elevation).  Crazy when I usually hit a wedge 120.

(2.) It was fun hitting drives down wind from elevated tees 320+yds... Felt like the ball was going forever.

(3.) The elevation changes make everything look so much closer.  I've never had 180 into a hole - over a wash/hazard and felt like I should be hitting a 6iron (and hit it through the green - flushed it).

Now to the course... It was beautiful.  Really, for this being a public course - it was manicured like a high end resort course - or private club.  Their wasn't a spot that was bare, or under repair.  It was extremely well manicured.  No nasty grass clippings laying around anywhere.  If you're looking for a solid round of golf, with panoramic vista views of prairies, mountainous and towering pines.  Go checkout Bear Dance.  You won't be disappointed.  Just remember to club down if you are from out of town.

Lastly, a few pics taken with my iPhone.

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14th Hole - We're playing in a Shotgun Start.  First time playing the course - tight dogleg left.  Screw it... Pull out the driver and RIP it!

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Quality green complexes like this is par for the course at Bear Dance

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Beauty Par 5 - Looks peaceful in the picture - but let me tell you - there was ~ 25mph wind in our face!

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Snapshot behind the tee - which shows the prairie with a train running along the side of the vista... Makes you feel like you're in the middle of nowhere.

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Signature hole at Bear Dance - with the bear paw trap design.  Nice birdie hole if you can get your approach shot to the correct tear.

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Short par 3 over water - gnarly hole that can sneak up and bite you if you're not careful as the green is severely sloped.

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Make sure you wait for the group in front of you on this dog leg left Par 4.  HULK SMASH it with a driver over the trees on the left and you'll leave yourself a baby wedge into the green.

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[Beachcomber]

Originally Posted by Yukari

It is my favorite course in Denver.  The greens are running a little slow compared to its typical 11 to 13 on stimpmeter.  Currently I would say it is running around 8.

Back nine is better view than the front nine.  With your handicap, you should play the black tees, but being that it is a charity event, I would imagine it will be white or blue tees.  Just remember your shots will go about a club to a club and one-half longer because the elevation is around 7300 ft.  Also, watch out for afternoon thunder storms.  Denver is notorious for afternoon thunder storms during the summer.  If you hear thunder or see lighting take cover.

On a side note, I noticed you are from Newport Beach, CA.  I am originally from Long Beach/Huntington Beach area.  Sometimes I do miss the ocean.  But definitely not the LA traffic.

The greens were running solid when we played them last Wednesday... Guessing they were 10 or 11.  They did have a slight remainder of what looked like sand on a few.  But it was so minute - that you could barely notice.  And it didn't effect the puts other than maybe prevent them from running at 11+ on the stimp?  I could definitely see these greens reaching 13 as you mentioned if they were in tournament conditions.