The Broadmoor\'s Three Championship Courses 29 Aug 2012
Broadmoor Golf: Playing the History

The Broadmoor

There are only a handful of resorts in the United States that are as rich in golf history as The BROADMOOR.  From the very first golfers who played in 1918 to the players of today, a round of golf here is truly playing a part of history.

 

Spencer Penrose contacted renowned architect Donald Ross in 1916 to design an eighteen-hole golf course for the magnificent property he was dreaming up.  The original course at The BROADMOOR, designed by Ross, opened for play in 1918.  The course was unusual for the time, given its altitude and level of technical difficulty.  Ross, who had designed golf courses for several of the top golf clubs in the country, declared The BROADMOOR course his 'best work'.  In 1948, Robert Trent Jones, Sr., was hired to design a new nine holes, which are current holes 7-15 on the East Course.  The new nine holes opened in 1952 and he incorporated them with nine holes from the original course, into a new eighteen-hole championship course, currently known as the East Course.  The remaining nine became known as "The BROADMOOR Nine".  It was laid out so club members and guests could play while tournaments were in progress on the championship course.  In 1963, Jones began expansion of "The BROADMOOR Nine" into the hotel's second complete eighteen-hole golf course, which would eventually become the West Course.  And in 1964, eight new holes opened and an additional hole added on the lower west holes to make a new eighteen-hole course called the West Course.

 

East Course:

  • Holes 1-6 - Donald Ross
  • Holes 7-15 - Robert Trent Jones, Sr.
  • Holes 16-18 - Donald Ross

 West Course:

  • Holes 1-6 - Donald Ross
  • Holes 7-14 - Robert Trent Jones, Sr.
  • Holes 15-18 - Donald Ross

 Today, meticulous attention is paid to maintaining the courses, always keeping them in impeccable condition.  Detail is paramount.  With The BROADMOOR's East and West courses, golfers play championship courses that have both exceptional layout and unparalleled maintenance.

 

Below are some fun facts and tips from The BROADMOOR pros:

 

EAST COURSE

The East Course is one of the most historic, tradition-steeped links in America.  Not only has it hosted world-renowned championships, it is also playable and enjoyable for the average golfer.  East is a true test of golf, combining mountain views with a challenging, yet enjoyable layout.  The course still remains one of the premier golf courses in the world, dating back to its inception in 1918.  Classic architectural features include generous teeing areas, chocolate drop mounding and hollows behind greens.  The fairways are strategic in design, with the fastest and most challenging greens you will ever play.  Nothing is a "gimme" on these greens and they are considerably faster putting away from Cheyenne Mountain.  A strong short game is a "MUST".  East is also a great walking course, but we suggest you share your walk with one of The BROADMOOR's caddies who know the greens.

 

Bottom Line:

  • Par 72 (men and women)
  • Bunkers: 74
  • Water Hazards: 6
  • Average green size: 6,500 sq.ft.
  • Acres of maintained turf: 90
  • Length from back tees: 7,312 yards
  • Greens: bent grass/poa annua
  • Fairways and tees: ryegrass/poa annua
  • Roughs: ryegrass/bluegrass/poa annua
  • Holes with the best views: 1, 8, 9, 16, 18
    • Signature Holes: 3, 4, 9, 18

 Top Three tips from The BROADMOOR Pros on Playing the East:

  1. Keep the pin between you and the mountain.
  2. Be patient.  There are holes you can make good scores on.
  3. Hit something off the tee that you can hit "right to left."  There are quite a few doglegs that go left.

 WEST COURSE

Begun in 1948 and completed in 1964, The BROADMOOR's West Course hugs the foothills of Cheyenne Mountain.  Stretching from an elevation of 6,200 feet to 6,600 feet, West is not only a scenic course with sweeping views of the eastern plains and downtown Colorado Springs, but features sharp doglegs along with difficult greens, making it a true test of golf for all player levels.

 

Cheyenne Mountain will play tricks on your eyes, making the greens very difficult to read and challenging to putt.  Tighter than the East Course, West demands more accuracy off the tee.  On the signature 11th hole, a par 3 that plays at 228 yards, there is an elevation difference of nearly 60 feet between the tee and the green that is guarded by a small pond and bunkers.  The green is very fast, moving from right to left.

 

With its native stands of Ponderosa Pine and Scrub Oak, guests enjoy fields of wildflowers that attract a wide variety of birds and wildlife, including mountain bluebirds, wild turkey, black bear, mule deer and bobcat.

 

Bottom Line:

  • Par 71 (men; Par 72 (women)
  • Bunkers: 71
  • Acres of Maintained Turf: 80
  • Average Green Size: 5,600 sq.ft.
  • Water Hazards: 4
  • Length from Back Tees: 7,103 yards
  • Fairways and tees: ryegrass/poa annua
  • Roughs: ryegrass/bluegrass/poa annua
  • Holes with the best views: 1, 12, 18
  • Signature Holes: 11 & 18

Top Three Tips from The BROADMOOR Pros on Playing the West:

  1. Keep the pin between you and the mountain.
  2. You'd rather have a 20-foot uphill putt than an 8-foot downhill putt.
  3. Hit something off the tee that you can keep in play.

 MOUNTAIN COURSE

The Mountain Course has met all architectural objectives set forth by Nicklaus Design.  The course blends into its setting utilizing the natural terrain and maximizing the magnificent views.  Architectural features include numerous teeing grounds and generous fairway widths that play to accessible yet shot-demanding pin positions.  Like the East and West Courses, the Mountain greens are meticulously manicured and swift to putt, with subtle slope and terrain to be navigated.

 

This course offers some of the most impressive views of all three courses.

 

Carts are highly recommended at the Mountain Course due to the distance between greens and tees, combined with the higher altitude.

 

Bottom Line:

  • Par: 72
  • Bunkers: 56
  • Water Hazards: 5 (streams, no lakes or ponds)
  • Average green size: 6,200 sq. ft.
  • Acres of Maintained Turf: 82
  • Acres of native turf: 64
  • Length from back tees: 7,637 yards
  • Greens: A1 Penn Bent grass
  • Fairways and tees: perennial rye
  • Roughs: perennial rye
  • Holes with the best views: 3, 5, 9, 15, 18
  • Signature Holes: 4 & 18

 Top Three Tips from The BROADMOOR Pros on Playing the Mountain:

  1. Keep the pin between you and the mountain.
  2. Strategic driving position allows more accurate approach shots.
  3. Check yardage book for bunker positions - many are deceiving in their placement from the green.

 

Golf Attire

The Broadmoor requires that all guests are properly attired while on our championship golf courses.  We do not allow bare midriffs, short shorts, cut-offs or denim jeans.  Men are required to wear a shirt with a collar.  Ladies are required to wear a blouse with a collar or sleeves.  Ladies' and men's shorts are to be Bermuda length.  Soft spikes are required. 

 

Cancellation Policy

Regular guest reservations are held to a 48-hour cancellation policy if made outside that time frame.

 

 

The BROADMOOR is the longest-running consecutive winner of both the AAA Five-Diamond and the Forbes/Mobil Travel Guide Five-Star awards. For more information on The BROADMOOR please call 800.634.7711 or visit www.broadmoor.com.

MEDIA CONTACT
Allison Scott 
T +1 719 577 5718
E ascott@broadmoor.com


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