Legacy Ridge Golf Course Review

Legacy Ridge G.C. - Review

October 13th, 2007 by mulligan

Overview

Normally the course review starts out with the location and some general background information about the facility. For this review however, we’ll take you to the Par 4 9th hole. No, it’s not the most scenic on the course, and it’s not rated as the most difficult (#3 handicap) but it does lend itself nicely to describing the overall nature of this 18 hole championship design.

While #9 isn’t a completely blind tee shot, it doesn’t expose to you what the preferred line is off the tee. It offers a very generous landing area and only plays 417 from the tips. However in reality, that landing area isn’t as generous as you might think. The 150 marker splits the fairway, and unless you’d like your approach shot interrupted by those trees that overhang the left side of the fairway, or you prefer your approach to the slender green to travel over the water hazard, I might suggest hugging that 150 marker as tightly as possible. For the long hitters, a driver will run out of the fairway into a lie that sits downhill. The right side of the green is completely protected by water, while the left side is a severe slope towards the green with undulating knobs of lush rough making for a very delicate chip. Yes, it can definitely be stated that #9 is a hole that (just like the rest of this course) must be played with precision.

Legacy Ridge Golf Course is located in Westminster Colorado. It shares the city with a couple of other courses but it’s sister course, The Heritage at Westmoor boast some of the best links play in the metro area. After experiencing both courses it is a hard argument to shoot down. Year round you will find Legacy Ridge to be in top condition. It offers an extensive practice area, with a large putting surface and full featured driving range. The chipping area is probably the only dent in the overall experience at Legacy where you will find it to be somewhat small and a little unrealistic with it’s elevated green and small fairway type surface to chip from. The course has been around since 1994 and measures 7,157 yards from the championship tees. Four tee boxes offer golfers of all abilities to play the course, but it’s fair to say that this course is probably not for the absolute beginner. What you will find here is a mix of native prairie grasses, trees and spectacular views of the front range and Rocky Mountains.

Playability

I’ve mentioned in the overview that this course probably wasn’t where you’d want to take an absolute beginner to the game. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t get out and enjoy this course, I’m just warning you that in the heat of the summer when the grasses are up and the greens start rolling fast, this course can be a serious challenge. It has regularly hosted Colorado Open Qualifiers (2001, 2002, 2003, 2006) and has also consistently been listed in Golf Digest’s places to play (1994-2006). What you will find is that at every turn you will be presented with a challenge. Whether it’s the tight fairway on number 3, or the decision to be made on number 7 (a risk reward drive opportunity), you will continually be thinking your way around this course. You will also be admiring the views along the way too which makes for a nice break from the constant grinding this place seems to promote! The greens are consistent in roll, and for the most part aren’t incredibly difficult to read. The offer subtle undulations, and generous landing areas.

Both 9’s start off with fairly straight forward par 4’s of relative short length. #1 is a bit longer but plays completely downhill. This can be a bit misleading as numbers 2 and 11 play significantly different than the openers. This is the type of variety you will come to expect when playing Legacy Ridge. It makes for an exciting and interesting round of golf. Perhaps the only knock on the course itself would have to be the bunker play. It’s unfortunate that a course of this magnitude offers the same generic sand that we all to often have come to expect here in Colorado. I call it “road gravel”. It gets pasty in the rain, and hard baked in the sun. Perhaps if this course had sand like Fossil Trace or Bear Dance, it would rival them in overall quality.

One last note in the “playability” category. During the transition from Spring to Summer, the native grasses really take hold of the course. The pose as natural hazard areas, while not being marked. If you happen to hit a stray shot into them, go ahead and tee up another. The odds of finding your ball are going to be a lot smaller than you think, including those balls that just cross into the area where the grasses are growing!

Conclusion

Legacy Ridge has possibly the best blend of natural protection and scenery to mix with the standard problems any course can present. The combination makes for an incredible day on the links and if you live in the greater metro area, you owe it to yourself as a golfer to get out to this place for a round you will not soon forget. The price is very reasonable for a golf course at this level of quality. It’s also not too difficult to get on, but we all know how tournaments can take up a great number of spots, so be sure and call ahead early!

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