Jack Vickers had tried for more than eleven years to obtain the rolling pine-clad land
near Castle Rock, Colorado. His dream?--a world-class golf course hosting a major
professional tournament. His persistence was rewarded in the late seventies when
approval was given to purchase the 5,000 acre tract of land about a half hour South
and 1,000 feet above Denver. The first thing Vickers did was secure Jack Nicklaus as
his architect. Within two years his vision--Castle Pines Golf Club--opened in 1981 to
strongly favorable reviews. It didn't take long before Vickers realized the other half
of his dream. In 1986 Castle Pines was given a spot on the PGA Tour hosting The
International, a unique tournament living up to its name, with a field of pros from all
over the world.
Castle Pines is the longest course on the PGA Tour. It begins with the tour's longest
hole, a 644 yard par-five that plays downhill. The hardest hole on the course is
arguabley the fifth hole going uphill the entire 477 yards with bunkers on both the
drive and the approach. The beautiful 10th hole at Castle Pines is downhill with a
lush fairway through deep stands of pine and oak--reminiscent of the 10th at
Augusta--with one major difference, it's more difficult.
Signature Hole Comments: Number 18 features menacing bunkers, a Nicklaus signature feature.
Course Statistics
