Click here to Journal entry #66 about Flying Horse
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Hole #1 Four par, red 325, white 355, blue 394, black 418, gold 438, handicap #11
Number one is perhaps the least impressive of all 18 holes. It's slightly uphill with an annoying bunker about a hundred or so yards off the tees, except for the red one where it is clear sailing to a modestly wide fairway landing area. The blue, black and gold tees will easily fly over a slight links grass roughage. The green offers a soft approach, but an errant fade or shank on the approach will land you a large bunker. The green offers an ample target and the undulations are modest. So, with a good effort you can make your par or bogie to start your round. Enjoy this hole, for the rest of the four pars on the course may be much more challenging.
Hole #2, Three par, red 126, white 145, blue 394, Black 418, gold 438, handicap #17
Number two is a simple enough three par over links grass with an expansive bunker to the right side. The green configuration is elongated with its own dogleg to the right and the undulations will test your reading skills. Don't forget that there are mountains around, which some say affect the break.
Hole #3, Five par, red 402, white 452, blue 505, black 418, gold 561, handicap #3
Number three is the second toughest par five on the course. Now you know you are at Flying Horse. Shots have to pass over links grass twice, except from the red tee where once is enough. There are at least 10 bunkers, some very large, and these will demand you stay in the fairway. Approaches to the green will have to be accurate, for this green is not one of the larger ones.
Hole #4, Four par, red 322, white 365, blue 408, black 432, gold 458, handicap #5
No sooner than you escape from number three, you have to face one of the toughest four pars with a slight dogleg to the left with water and a huge bunker, which can catch a nicely hit draw or awful hook off any of the tees. For once, however, you have no links grass to contend with so you can top your tee shot here. This hole is in my opinion the most beautiful and should be designated a signature hole. What makes it even more beautiful is the expansive front range in the distance with Pikes Peak in all its glory. Take care not to over shoot the green. There's a bunker back there and if you pull, for a right-hander, your approach you will be in the drink.
Hole # 5, par 4, red 302, white 344, blue 388, black 408, gold 426, handicap #7
When you tee up on number five you are going to wonder if there are going to be any more easy holes like number one and two. Expansive links grass challenges all tee boxes and there is even a little pond off to the right. Drives are going to have to carry 170 to 208 yards to reach the fairway from the back three tees. There are plenty of undulations in the fairway, so don't look for level lies. The green has a soft front unless you approach from the left side. In that case you will be dealing with a bunker in front and two in the back of the green should you go long.
Hole #6, par 4, red 281, white 348, blue 348, black 364, gold 381, handicap #15
I name this hole "Weiskopf's Revenge." At least this will be true for high handicap golfers. The big hitters might just smile and go for it. This would be a signature hole if you could see what is in store for you from the tee. There are actually two fairways to aim for. If you can sail your drive 200 yards plus, 151 from the red tees, you can go over a ditch to a pleasant 100 yards or less opportunity to pitch to the green. In addition to the ditch, if the big right handed hitters pull their drive to the left, they will be greeted with an expansive area of sand. This bunker is the largest on the course up to now. If you decide to play it safe and go over the links grass to the right fairway, you will still need a good drive to get a clear shot at the green. You will be best served by laying up on your second shot to go for a bogie. Even the bogie will not be assured unless you can drop your ball down on the green because bunkers guard that approach, and a short shot will even roll back into the ditch. How this ranks as handicap #15 I don't know, and you will probably agree.
Hole #7, par 3, red 163, white 187, blue 187, black 208, gold 235, handicap #13
Finally, you think, you have a less challenging hole. At least it's a three par. Keep in mind that there are probably only about two holes on the course where you don't have to fly your shot off the tee to avoid the links grass. Yep, you can't top your ball on this hole either from any of the tees. However, with a good shot you can hit the green, but be cautious if you intend to go for the green if the pin is set on the upper end of this dogleg left hole. There is a bunker waiting for you. If you pull your shot long, another of those expansive beaches will greet you.
Hole #8, par 5, red 462, white 521, blue 521, black 539, gold 589, handicap #1
The fairway is not very forgiving if you can't keep your shots straight, and the hole is the longest on the course. It dog legs back to the right with a sizable bunker waiting for you on your second shot should you decide to cut across the bend. There is a soft front to the green. If you push or pull your approach shot to the right of the green another bunker awaits. This isn't a very exciting hole and it my frustrate you with its length unless you can put three long and well-placed shots together.
Hole #9, par4, red 319, white 344, blue 387, black 408, gold 428, handicap #9
You will end your first nine on a pleasant number nine. You have enough width for a modest fade or draw from the tee, and the hole is not too long. If you are hitting from one of the three back tees, you will have to, as usual, contend with links grass. The green has a soft front, but there are ever-present bunkers on either side as the fairway funnels into your target.
Hole #10, par 5, red 439, white 498, blue 498, black 526, gold 550, handicap #6
Your tee shot will have to carry 100 yards plus to find the fairway, which is fairly wide once you reach it. Putting your second shot to the left can be complicated by another huge sand pile, but if you keep to the center of the fairway, this should be no problem. Keep centered and a soft front to the green welcomes you. As usual a large bunker to the right and back of the green will penalize an errant approach.
Hole #11, par 4, red 285, white 324, blue 360, black 392, gold 415, handicap #10
Off the tee is reminiscent of number 10. This hole is very much like the previous five par but it is only a four par.
Hole #12, par 5, red 369, white 421, blue 448, black 484, gold 516, handicap #12
This hole requires target accuracy to stay in the fairway. There are numerous bunkers strategically placed along the way. Your approach to the green is challenged by bunkers and a links ditch. You will be faced with a gigantic sand trap if you do not keep your second shot to the right side of the fairway. You do have a very large green to shoot to. The down side is that if you are not on the pin with your approach, you will possibly have a very long putt to score well.
Hole #13 par 3, red 124, white 142, blue 142, black 167, gold 189, handicap #16
This is your first water hole on the back nine. The green is large but has many slants and curves to read. Place your tee shot to the left and you may not go in the water, but you will go into one of three bunkers. Too long to the right and a large one will get you. This is not a particularly difficult hole, but accuracy is demanded.
Hole #14, par 4, red 308, white 365, blue 399, black 429, gold 451, handicap #2
For me this hole should be the #1 handicap hole. Number 14 is an optically deceiving hole. Tee shots must be accurate or you will be in the reservoir. Force your drive any, you will be in trouble if not wet. You must reach the fairway over 100 yards out. If you hit the bank on the far side you will roll into the hazard. The fairway is ample but requires a straight shot as well. The red and white tees are exempt from these problems. Once you get to the fairway you are not on easy street. There is another sizable links ditch to avoid with a long pitch shot required if you have chosen to lay up rather than go for the green on your second shot. The green is a good size, but it is elongated requiring approach accuracy. Bunkers are not a problem because there are not any.
Hole #15, par 4, red 182, white 261, blue 261, black 321, gold 326, handicap #18
According to the scorecard this is the easiest of the 18. Maybe or maybe not. The fairway is skinny off the tee and this is a very short hole from the red tee. The fairway flares out about three quarters of the way but then it shrinks severely upon approach. Your second shot will be like shooting to a three par with all the glory of five bunkers of varying sizes and configurations along to the way to the green for the last 100 yards or so. This is a testy little hole.
Hole #16, par 3, red 143, white 162, blue 186, black 196, gold 207, handicap #14
All carry across the ever-present links and brush approach. A triangle of bunkers frames the green. There is fairway and a soft approach should your first effort fall short. Once again, accuracy will be required.
Hole #17, par 4, red 321, white 362, blue 402, black 434, gold 484, handicap #4
Keep to the center of the fairway. This, of course, is always a good idea. This hole is not very friendly to hooks and slices. There is a soft approach over fairway rough, but not links grass to the green. If you are short on you approach you will have a easy chip to the pin. If not it will be bunker time to the left and right.
Hole #18, par 4, red 335, white 379, blue 407, black 435, gold 456, handicap #18
The course ends about the way it begins, with a whimper so to speak, as compared to the rest of the 18. I guess Weiskopf wanted golfers to start and end with a par, bogie or birdie. On this hole a gentle fade or draw is acceptable and the fairway bunker is pretty much out of play. There is a soft green approach except for the left and right sand traps for less than accurate approach shots.
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