The Ridge at Castle Pines North

The Ridge at Castle Pines North is Tom Weiskopf's 1997 design in Castle Rock, Colorado, 25 miles south of Denver in the foothills, through scrub oak and ponderosa pine with constant Front Range views. At 7,103 yards and par 71, it's sized like a championship course but paced like a resort layout; Weiskopf gave it roomy fairways, sculpted bunkers, and large rolling greens rather than narrow landing zones and forced carries. There isn't a single signature hole, Weiskopf treated the whole round as a variety exercise. The par-4 3rd (461 yards with a perched green) is the testing hole on the front; the par-3 4th (165 yards, surrounded by bunkers) is the short-iron check; and the drivable par-4 6th (307 yards, diagonal string of bunkers) is the risk-reward moment. The back nine rides the ridgeline and produces more elevation change than the front, downhill tee shots with the mountains in view show up repeatedly. The Ridge is consistently ranked among Colorado's top public courses, GolfAdvisor had it #10 statewide in 2023 and #6 in 2015. Pair with Arrowhead (RTJ Jr., red sandstone setting) and Red Hawk Ridge for a well-rounded Denver itinerary spanning foothills, plains, and canyon golf.