Fat Guy's Pueblo CO Golf Weekend
Fat Guy Review, 2008: Pueblo is not quite the Colorado you picture when you think of Rocky Mountain spring water and world class ski resorts. It's a sleepy little former mining town, an outpost of Democrats in a largely Republican state, and located on the flat desert floor east of the Rockies, two hours south of Denver, or an hour south of Colorado Springs. It's more of a blue collar town, but somehow without alot of industry visible. However, the area has definitely upgraded it's golf offerings of late, with two of Golf Digest's Best New Courses for 2008 in the area. With Pueblo's proximity to world-class Denver/Colorado Springs courses like the Broadmoor and Arrowhead, there's some great golf to be had, and it's also a good jumping off point for area day trips. I used to do a week's worth of haz mat emergency response training out in the desert at the FRA/DOT Transportation Technology Center here every few years, so I knew my way around Pueblo a little.
When To Go: This is one of those desert spots that can be 105 in the summer and 10 degrees at midnight in December, so be careful when you go. Highs average in the 90's in July and August, 80's in June and September, 70's in May and October, high 60's in April, 50's in March and November, and December to February is more or less unplayably cold. This a perfect shoulder season spot, so go during April to early June or mid-September through October.
Where To Play: Friends characterized Pueblo West's Walking Stick (www.golfinpueblo.com/championshipgolf.htm) as a flat desert layout with generous fairways wound among a housing complex. It has been a perennial U.S. Open qualifying site, and was the site of the 2006 USGA Women's Amateur Pub Links Championship. Golf Digest rated it 4 stars, and it has been ranked as Colorado's best golfing value (weekend riding fees top out at ~$50). The sister Desert Hawk course underwent a $1.2 million renovation in 1999.
Those with a little more time will want to make the trip to Arrowhead Golf Course (http://www.golfcolorado.com/linkframe/arrowhead-frameset.html, 303-973-9614 ext. 21) up in Littleton near Colorado Springs, about an hour away. A buddy of mine had just come back from 2 weeks and 4 rounds on some of Hawaii's most beautiful courses, and said Arrowhead was probably the most naturally beautiful course he'd ever played. Surrounded by ancient red rocks and striking vistas, this Robert Trent Jones Jr. routing features dramatic elevation changes. Voted the #1 course in the Denver area, it's also John Elway's favorite Denver-area public, and among Golf Digest's Top 75 Public Courses. '08 prime time rates run as high as $145, but you can still avoid the worst heat of the day by teeing off after 3PM for $79 or after 5PM for a $49 twilight (cart included). Afterwards, hit the On The Rocks Bar & Grill for a cold Coors draft.
Or take the time to drive down to Trinidad, CO to newly-opened Cougar Canyon (http://www.cougarcanyonliving.com/main/golf), about an hour and 15 minutes south on I-25. This Jack Nicklaus Signature course winds through desert valleys, mesas, and arroyos, with views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The front 9 is a links style, while the back 9 follows a deep wash, creating strong shot values. This minimalist course has generous fairways and only about 40 unique black sand bunkers, a tribute to Trinidad's local mining heritage. The signature hole is the 16th, featuring an island green. Named to Golf Magazine's Top 10 New Courses You Can Play and Golf Digest's #3 Best New Course of 2008. With riding fees at $84, it's not a bad value for that pedigree despite the remote location. The Fairway Grill features a Southwestern menu, but also has grill favorites like wings and pizza (closed Mondays).
Those with a little more disposable income will definitely want to make the hour's drive north to the The Broadmoor Resort (http://www.broadmoor.com/luxury-golf-resorts.php, 866-837-9520). Founded in 1891 as a gambling casino, the resort gained fame when John D. Rockefeller stayed there in 1918. It's been a defining bastion of Rocky Mountain hospitality for Old Money for over 100 years. The resort features 3 courses: The East was designed by Donald Ross in 1917, since combined with holes designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. in 1965, and is one of only 12 courses in North America and the Carribean to receive Golf Digest's 5 star rating, also being ranked #1 in customer service. It has hosted 4 USGA Championships, most recently the 2008 U.S. Senior Open. '08 greens fees are $225, and public tee times are available after 9 AM. The West course is also a mixture of the original Ross design and the subsequent RTJ Jr. holes. Higher in elevation and more tree-lined than the East course, it features more doglegs and steeply-angled greens, with water on three of the par-3s. The West Course also has an impressive pedigree, having hosted the 1998 PGA Cup matches. The Mountain course received a 2006 renovation by Jack Nicklaus Design, playing as long as 7,700 yards. Greens fees for both the West and Mountain courses are $190.
A slightly better value in the Colorado Springs area might be Pine Creek GC (719-594-9999, ~$75), a pair of Jeykll & Hyde nines routed through an upscale housing community. Tight with good conditions, it's brutal on the front, capped off by a few hidden hazards. The back was a little more reasonable, but even so, the semi-blind 20' open gap between trees on the downhill long-iron gully carry approach to the 16th green was one of the most ridiculous designs I've ever seen (and I love tough target courses). I hit what I thought was a great shot there and ended up never finding an approach ball I expected to be on the fringe. Pace of play sucked too, spent almost 6 1/2 hours behind unknown delays. If you want to take a chance to save yourself about $150 off the Broadmoor's fees or $75 off of Arrowhead's, then go ahead and try this one, but bring your patience, your calculator, a flask of swing oil, and lots of ammo.
Or, you might swing a group outing with a friendly phone call to the private Pueblo Country Club (1902 Henry Hughes, 719-542-2941). Golf.com says it's a very traditional private course that was built on rolling terrain. The tree-lined fairways and greens are well-bunkered. The signature hole is #5, a 569-yard, par 5, requiring an approach shot from a dogleg fairway onto a heavily-bunkered green.
Got time for a round on your way out of town?
In Castle Pines (between Colorado Springs and Denver), play The Ridge at Castle Pines North (Castle Pines, CO, $125). Some serious course critics rate this higher than it's ultra-exclusive PGA Tour-site neighbor Castle Pines, with well-planned views of the Colorado countryside. Ranked in the Top 100 You Can Play in 1998. Or try nearby Red Hawk Ridge in Castle Rock. Breathtaking mountain views, links style, hilly topography, generous fairways surrounded by moguls and native grasses. The crescendo is the par-3 14th, with 80-mile vistas of Rocky Mountain National Park and Pike's Peak, and a 75-foot drop from tee to green, with O.B. deep.
Back near the Denver airport, try:
Riverdale Golf Club (Dunes Course)
#18 on Golf Magazine's 2007 Thrifty 50 (Top 50 courses under $50)
Brighton, Colo.
7,067 yards, par 72; Greens fee: $35 and up
303-659-6700,
www.riverdalegolf.com | GOLFCOURSE.com Profile
Suburban Denver is blessed with an abundance of topnotch value-priced courses and this 1985 Pete and Perry Dye design leads the way, with a plethora of water hazards, railroad ties, British links-style native roughs and pot bunkers. Wide fairways wind along the South Platte River, making for a scenic, if windy experience, especially at such holes as the lake-guarded par-3 eighth.
Murphy Creek Golf Course
Aurora, Colo.
#23, Golf Magazine's 2007 Thrifty 50 (Top 50 courses under $50)
7,456 yards, par 72; Greens fee: $33 and up
303-361-7300
www.golfaurora.com | GOLFCOURSE.com Profile
Ongoing home construction has diminished the Murph's aesthetic appeal, but the Ken Kavanaugh prairie links design remains as solid as ever, dating back to the layout's 2000 debut when Nick Faldo posted a 69, then likened the challenge to what he experienced at Sand Hills. When the USGA's Amateur Public Links arrives here in 2008, the winner will be the guy who keeps it out of the golden fescues and away from the deep, sprawling bunkers and rusted farm implements strewn about the property.
Per Golf Magazine's Travellin' Joe, 5/07
Near Denver Airport, try Buffalo Run Golf Course (golfexperience.com/buffalorun, 303-289-1500; $40-$61), a 1996 Keith Foster layout just west of the airport. Don't look for a lot of shade trees here, either, but its 7,411 yards, with multiple mounds and 65 bunkers will keep things lively throughout. Trivia buffs should note that Buffalo Run will host the storied Denver Open in July, an event that was once a PGA Tour stop, won by the likes of Ben Hogan and Chi Chi Rodriguez.
A worthy third alternative is Green Valley Ranch Golf Club (gvrgolf.com, 303-371-3131; $40-$71), nine miles from DIA. Perry Dye's 2001 design is laced with creeks, wetlands and sturdy cottonwoods and offers a sufficiently hefty challenge that it has hosted the Colorado Open. If time is short, a nine-hole par-3 course awaits, though if you're looking simply to hone your swing, check out the on-site Mike McGetrick Golf Academy. McGetrick is a long-time member of GOLF Magazine's Top 100 Teachers.
Note: With Colorado's natural elevations, add about 10% to your normal club distances when choosing a club.
Best Bar Nearby, Pueblo: Nightlife is semi-limited in this small city, so we got a few recommendations from some locals. For live music and a grungier, dude-heavy crowd... when they converted the old garage at Phil's Radiator Service (109 E. "C" St) to a bar, they didn't change much--including the name. They plopped a bar in the corner, and also one in the fenced-in parking lot, plugged in the amps, and let it rock. You get the feeling that maybe Phil (whoever he was) used to rent garage time to his neighbor kid's band for beer money and let guys hang around the garage after hours, then realized he could make more money doing that than fixing radiators. The garage door still remains, as locals flock here to hear everything from garage bands to 3 piece jazz ensembles. It has more ambience than you might think, somewhere between a basement party and a groovy 60's jazz club. You're almost surprised when the crowd doesn't start snapping in appreciation from the couches and chairs strewn randomly about. For a sportsbar, Showtime (4th St) is an expansive space with hordes of big screen plasmas, a huge bar, a video game section, and Blue Moon on tap. Head there for Thursday ladies nights. At least one hottie we met said she spends Thursday nights at the bar at upscale eatery Park East, so that might be worth a drink too. Locals also recommended The 101 Club (listed at 3rd? and Union?), although the address proved impossible for us to find. For a great neighborhood corner bar, try the Greenlight Tavern at the corner of Main & 2nd. The Greenlight hops with live bands on weekends and has a small young crowd during "Panic Hour" on weeknights. Guys from our group managed to hang with a few young hotties there. Nearby microbrewery Shamrock Brewing (108 W. 3rd, www.shamrockbrewing.com) got good reviews for both the brews and the food from friends. Zippers got an honorable mention as a hotspot, although I didn't make it there. Or, Tuesday karaoke night at Tumbleweed Tavern in West Pueblo brings out a colorful locals crowd, who fell out laughing at my version of I'm Sailing Away as Eric Cartman. Locals also recommended the Cock & Bull Tavern, but it was pretty dead when we checked it out. Gentlemen's clubs seemed to be slim pickin's, but I heard OK things about Aloha Glorya's (313 N Main, Downtown, 719-545-8468). Only 4 dancers on duty on a Thursday night, and only 1 of the 4 was hot. Check out www.inpueblo.com for what's hot tonight.
Tip: The Pueblo police station is right downtown near many of the above-mentioned spots, and there are cops everywhere. Designate a driver or call a cab.
Where To Grub: With a high Hispanic population, Pueblo boasts some good Mexican eateries. 3 Margaritas (just off I-25 exit 101) has really good Mexican food from an expansive menu, with a live Mariachi band to serenade you. Order the pork burrito, with tasty smoked and marinated pork inside. Rojas had a surprising amount of young, exotic-looking Hispanic talent hanging around for our late-night Wednesday dinner (albeit with their families, of course), although the food got slightly mixed reviews from our group. For local flavor at it's most basic, hit Gray's Coors Tavern on 4th Street, and order a Slopper. Imagine a fried burger bun, piled with anywhere from 2-6 real beef burger patties, topped with melted cheese and Gray's red or spicier green chile sauce, and served in a bowl with a spoon. Per our 300-pound bartender/waiter dude, "Pueblo is a green chile kinda town," so go local and order the green. It's like authentic-Mexican-Hamburger-Helper-on-steriods, and may have been the best meal I had in Pueblo. In addition, the old school bar at Gray's extends the length of the narrow downtown building, with as much character as any good big-city dive bar. The Marriott staff recommends Rosario's (2930 N Elizabeth, 719-583-1822) as the best Italian in town. Chain Texas Roadhouse had cute waitresses and surprisingly great steaks (better than I've had at recent Outback outings) at reasonable prices. Definitely top your beef off with an order of their awesomely-spiced sauteed mushrooms. They also serve surprisingly legit pulled pork BBQ and ribs. A potentially interesting dining experience awaits at the award-winning La Renaissance, a restaurant in a converted church. While the gabled ceilings and woodwork would add to a still-needed makeover, too much of the original architecture remains. The empty stage/altar, combined with painted concrete block walls along corridors and the buffet-style our large group was served, made this a little too much like eating at your local church's pot-luck, despite the massive shrimp cocktail bar. Or, how can you not try a joint called...
Saw that sign somewhere on the outskirts of downtown, and couldn't resist a pic. I'm not even sure if it was was in operation at the time.
Where To Stay: There's a Marriott in this smallish town, attached to the Pueblo Convention Center. OK, so it's pretty ho-hum for a Marriott, and their central air was broken our second scorching night there, parking kinda sucks due to the conventions going on, and the restaurant must not have any patrons for a reason (one of our guys got food poisoning). It's still the best digs in town. In the past few years, Pueblo has also added a few other good midscale chain hotels.
Further Distractions: Summer visitors should check out whitewater rafting on the Arkansas or Delores rivers with a half-day tour from Echo Canyon Tours in Canon City, (www.raftecho.com), or a full-day tour from their sister-company Four Corners Rafting up in Nathrop (www.fourcornersrafting.com).
After a half-day whitewater trip through the Royal Gorge with the fun-but-slightly-crazy desert bum guides at Echo Canyon, skip the ludicrous $23 admission charge for the Royal Gorge bridge, and you'll still have time to tee it up at nearby Four Mile Ranch GC in Canon City (www.fourmileranch.com, 888-851-8686). Per T&L Golf, this 2008-built course "may help Canon City get over it's prison-town rep. Architect Jim Engh put his unfettered design style to work. The site he was given lies within a montane microclimate, a temperate region of alpine terrain, dunes, and high desert, all in the shadow of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. 'There's so much going on visually,' says Engh, 'bunkers would have been a distraction.' So he designed the course without a single one, instead incorporating the many hogbacks, or mini-mesas of the soft shale spalls, that punctuate the land. Hitting off them won't damage your clubs, but missing the fairways will run up your score. Even straight drives can pose challenges: The par-4 14th has more humps than a herd of camels." It was also named #4 Best New Course of 2008 by Golf Digest. Greens fees are $74.
Another post-rafting option for gamblers is the trek northwest up to Cripple Creek, via the ballsiest 10-MPH, 2-hour drive you'll ever take through the canyons, on Shelf Road which runs between Canon City and Cripple Creek. Hairpin twists and turns on this one-lane dirt road have no guard rails for protection; just a 1,500 foot drop down into the creek. Or it's a nice one-hour day trip from Pueblo on I-25. Cripple Creek is a real Old West gold mining town made famous by The Band's song of the same name. The town underwent something of a renaissance in the New Century, with the conversion of most of the fomer Main Street saloons into casinos. Much of the original Old West architecture remains, alongside a couple brand new casino/hotels, and it's become a bustling little spot for hitting the slot machines and having a cold drink at a sidewalk table, with a nice mix of tourists, locals, and modern-day bikers. Then take a tour of a real gold mine, 1,000 feet underground. Cripple Creek was named Best Day Trip by the Colorado Springs Gazette. The closest course is The Broadmoor.
And finally, back in Pueblo, get back to your inner child effortlessly on the go-carts at Big Daddy's Used Cars & Pueblo Family Fun Center (I can't make this stuff up) off I-25 exit 94 (1530 W. Pueblo Blvd, 719-561-4386). The twisty road course is fun enough to run at 20 MPH or so, but catch the right manager on duty, and the "No Bumping" rule goes out the window. That's when it really gets fun.