Colorado National (Vista Ridge) - Course Review

June 22nd, 2008 by mulligan

Overview

Vista Ridge Golf Club is located about 25 minutes north of Denver. It’s a fairly easy drive as you can take I-25 most of the way. The surrounding area where the course is located as grown quite a bit since the course was built in 2003. Houses are beginning to line the course but overall the houses never really impede on your round. Perhaps most impressive (aside from the course’s quality) are the views you get where you might not expect them. The Front Range of the Rockies stand quite impressive in the early spring rounds with their snow capped peaks. Even in mid summer the views can still be quite majestic on a clear day. While Vista Ridge is no longer a “Troon” owned course, the standards have not diminished at all since the buyout some two seasons ago.

Playability

At 7,676 yards, Vista Ridge offers an incredible challenge of length and accuracy. I’ve found the biggest test of the course is typically a mid-summer afternoon round where the punishing tall native grass combined with the wind can make this one of those rounds you don’t soon forget. You’re offered not only a 696 yard Par Five (ok, it plays a bit downhill) but also a driveable Par 4. Now for the shorter hitters, have no fear, Vista offers a total of 5 tee boxes to suit golfers of all abilities. While the course offers the occassional water hazards, I find them a bit sparse and not really in play all that often. Vista Ridge makes up for it however on the driveable Par 4 however, you must carry the pond whether you choose to go for it, or layup! The bunkers on this course offer a bit of a challenge, typically found greenside more than in the general landing areas, and the fairways overall feel quite large. For the shorter (relatively speaking of course!) Par 5’s you will find smaller greens to hit, and for the longer Par 3’s you will find larger greens. On the shorter Par 4’s you’ll find more fairway and green side bunkers to protect itself placing a premium on your approach and tee box shots. It’s a fair course for sure and that’s a good thing because for it’s length if it wasn’t fair I doubt people would want to play it.

A big benefit to your game is an adequate practice facility. Vista Ridge offers a large putting green, a full size driving range, and a smaller chipping/bunker area. I’d like to see the chipping area improved as it kind of felt overgrown more than groomed when I played it last. Also, as Vista now offers a membership (Shared with Plum Creek, and Deer Creek) I was a bit more surprised to see the area in the condition it was in.

Conclusion

Vista seems to be a very popular course as almost anyone I’ve spoken with seems to have played it and most of what I hear is “great course, but tough!” I definitely recommend the course to anyone living on the north or south end of town as one that should be played. The conditions seem to consistently be in what I would consider the top 10 public courses in the metro area. Of course I still think courses that reach that $75+ and offer a “Club Style Memebership” should have bunkers with sand like Fossil Trace, but since it seems sand is an afterthought in Colorado I can’t really knock the course for the typical Colorado Municipal style bunkers.

How Others Rate This Course

(1 votes, average: 4 out of 6)

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Location

Vista Ridge Golf Club: http://www.vistaridgegolfclub.com
Phone: 303.926.1723

Posted in Course Reviews | One User Review