THE COUNTRY CLUB AT CASTLE PINES

Stunning views and a spectacular Nicklaus course create
a virtual “golf vacation” experience just minutes from Denver

By Lisa Perry

Situated deep among refreshing pines and gentle hills, the Country Club at Castle Pines offers a superb calling card: a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course so scenic—and subsequently so distracting—that newcomers are advised to abandon their first few scorecards in favor of a relaxing experience. In a state full of gorgeous mountain vistas, the panoramic views from the clubhouse patio may be the most amazing in Colorado.

The course and the club can easily sell themselves, but this golf-centric haven might be the best-kept secret in the region. With a name very similar to a neighboring venue, management is on a mission to clear up any identity issues and erroneous information. For instance, the Country Club has never hosted The International golf tournament. Another false impression involves residency.

“We’re a regional club and 100 of our 450 members live outside of Castle Pines Village,” says George Kahrhoff, director of golf and general manager. “People think you are required to be a Village resident, and it’s been a big misconception.”

Misconceptions aside, once prospective members take the tour and play the course, they’re sold. “We have exceptional playing conditions, challenging but forgiving,” says Membership and Communications Director Kim Bartuccio. “The course is phenomenal, with million-dollar views and more than 600 feet of elevation change throughout the property. The clubhouse sits atop a cliff overlooking breathtaking landscapes. From the clubhouse you can see the entire Front Range, and prospective members say it’s like a mountain retreat or being on vacation. However, we’re literally 10 minutes from the Denver Tech Center. We’re a hidden gem, and a lot closer than you think.”
The golf course is the centerpiece of the club, a course Kahrhoff describes as “player-friendly” with lots of options to chip, pitch or putt around greens. When you miss, you have the opportunity to roll the ball on because there are not a lot of forced carries. In a course with 18 superb holes, the 15th is a standout. It has been featured on Altitude TV as one of the top 18 holes in Colorado. From the tips, it’s 484 yards uphill, with a second shot that needs to be precise to a narrow green that is deceptively fast sloping from back to front. A four here feels like a birdie.

“The course is open year-round, weather permitting,” notes Kahrhoff. “We open, play and go. Members follow pace-of-play and know if they tee off at noon, they will be done at 4:20 and home by 5.”

Leagues are in place for all ages, including junior camps and programs, plus women’s nine- and 18-hole leagues. The nine-hole ladies association focuses on fun and friendships. The club has a men’s group that culminates the year with a two-day Ryder Cup-type format and champions’ dinner.  Among tournaments that have been hosted at the club are the Colorado Golf Association (CGA) Stroke Play Championship and CGA Mid-Amateur Championship, Colorado Junior Golf Association Junior Stroke Play Championship and the Colorado Section PGA Pro-Assistants Championship. The club will host the Colorado Women’s Golf Association team Match Play Championship in 2011.

Longtime member and board president Vance Adler says, “I would say that the Country Club at Castle Pines is a golfer’s dream-come-true. The course definitely has a mountain-course feel with elevation changes and fairways that meander through the pines—but you don’t have to go to the mountains to play it. Truly one of Jack’s premier course designs, it will provide the golfer with an exceptional experience. It’s a course that you can play for the rest of your life and you will not get tired of it.”

Financially solid, the club’s commitment to being recognized as one of the top golf courses in the state has been evident in its incremental approach to course improvements. In 2001, the club began the successful conversion of its fairways from ryegrass to bentgrass. Jack Nicklaus visited his namesake design when a long-term master plan for improvements was approved. Sean McCue, golf course superintendent for the past 14 years, supervised work that included the recent installation of a $4.5 million irrigation system. “It’s one of the most sophisticated systems in the state and helps create more consistent playing conditions,” he says.

In 2007, existing bunkers were rebuilt and 14 new bunkers added, along with tee boxes that incorporate seven sets of tees for golfers of all abilities. The driving range is being completely renovated and scheduled for completion this spring. “We’re expanding the tee surface by 25 percent to accommodate more players,” says McCue, “reconfiguring landing areas for better visibility and reconstructing target greens so golfers have conditions similar to what they’d find on the course. It’s purposeful practice.”
Next up in long-range planning and discussion: the addition of a three-hole Par-3 course with multiple tee locations that will provide nine distinctly different holes.

Castle Pines Village was recognized as the No. 2 residential golf community in the country by a national golf publication in 2009, so while golf may be the heart of the experience, members have a wealth of amenities and activities off the course, too. And even within an affluent community, the atmosphere remains casual and welcoming.   “We have impeccable service and social activities for all ages year-round,” says Bartuccio. “The clubhouse has a Colorado lodge feeling, and our membership is very friendly and down-to-earth.”

With an average new-member age of 49, activities are geared toward families as well as adults, and restaurant options range from casual to fine dining.  Events throughout the year include wine tastings to kid-focused activities to “Grill on the Greens.” Members also travel to an Air Force football game and look forward to the annual holiday gala. Plans are being considered to enhance members’ enjoyment of incredible clubhouse views with additional patio expansions and cozy fire pits.

The membership is proud of the club—more than half of new members have come from referrals—and communication between management and members is open and fluid. After extensive meetings and consultation with members, the club implemented an innovative “market-based membership” program in 2009 that benefits both current and prospective members. New memberships have far surpassed club goals from the plan that incorporates a “preferred prospect” list.

“This model allowed us to make one decision on how we do business, and avoid being reactive,” says Bartuccio. “The program works well in both positive and difficult economic times, and it has paid off extremely well for the club.”
With a cap of 450 memberships, current opportunities are limited but available. To learn more, contact Kim Bartuccio at 303.660.6807 or kbartuccio@ccofcastlepines.com. Also visit ccatcastlepines.com, and read the golf course’s Superintendent’s Blog at cccpgcm.blogspot.com. The Country Club at Castle Pines is member-owned, a 501(c)(7) venue by invitation.

Lisa Perry is a staff writer with
Colorado Golf Magazine