When
anyone asks if I've played The Olde Course, I say “Yes”. It's
just not the one you're thinking of.
This Olde Course is in Loveland, Colorado. It was designed in 1960 by Henry Hughes, an inductee in the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame. Henry had an
interesting life in golf, but may have peaked early:
“In
his youth Henry worked for his father, building the original 18 holes
at the Broadmoor as well as Cherry Hills Country Club … In 1934
Hughes became the superintendent at Cherry Hills”.
The
Olde Course is the oldest of 3 municipal courses in Loveland. It's a
fine facility, but without a trace of pretentiousness. No need for a
golf cart, as it is a “purpose-built” facility, not an
afterthought to satisfy the open space requirements for a housing
development. There's enough elevation change to take into
consideration for club selection, but not to present the dramatic and
panoramic views I favor. The course itself is of fairly standard
design, except for three holes: the 10th,
with the tree in the middle of the fairway,
the 14th,
with an “island” green which isn't really, and my favorite, the
5th,
a dogleg-left, 510-yard par 5 with the green hanging over the edge of
the lake – a real golf hole, that one.
The 14th
is the signature hole. The green is bordered by three pond segments separated by three walkways from the “mainland” to the green.
Despite the geographical discrepancy, it does present the implied
golf challenge.
In
2005, Ray “Andrew Magee” Rodgers had an ace on the par-4 4th
hole.
It's
a great price-performer, and one not to miss in Loveland. And not
just because you can say you've played The Olde Course. More pictures.
