Cherry Creek Links Course

Cherry Creek

I have a review of the Woods at Cherry Creek, so let’s talk about the links course across the street. Looks wise, it is one of my favorites, but I’m not a big enough hitter to score well. It is one of the few courses I have endured playing in the rain, which I just did not enjoy. The wet course did not help with my lack of distance on a good day.

One of the first times I played here, I missed every fairway. Someone ahead of me must have been doing the same. While I couldn’t find my ball, I started just considering his mine. I’m not even talking 1 or 2, but 7 or 8 balls. It was one of those days in the rain. I was also behind a childhood friend’s dad in the same round. The rain, the other guy’s balls and seeing him were the highlights of the round. My score was more like a basketball score.

This is the longest course I ever played. I’m not going to torture myself with Bethpage Black, which is Long Island’s longest. On days my long game is off, it feels like a long slog. This is off of the whites. On other courses I will occasionally play the blues, I’m not going to do that to myself here. The 2nd hole is a 100 yard par 3, which is generally the highlight of my day.

The 4th hole is a 585 yard par 5. Between the distance and the rough, I just struggle here and tend to fall apart. BY the time I can hit the green, there is a water hazard, which would be great if it was the green, I can hit it every time.

The other holes are picturesque. Some will go good, some not oh so good. There have been times after 9, I wonder if I should just skip to 19. The layout is very nice. If I could drive a little better, I would have a lot more fun here.

So on to the ‘highlight’ of the course, Long Island’s only par 6.Somehow, I have actually parred this hole. There are other days where my arms are shot, and it will take me a while to even be close. It finishes off long, which is a trend for the rest of the course.

Aside from my usual struggles here, I do like this course. While I’m not scoring well, the focus on my long game is different. It is mostly straight, so I don’t have to lay up as much if I’m short on a dogleg. My bigger hitting friends have a lot of fun just able to let loose and swing away here. Yes, I’m jealous because I can’t do it too.

By Sebastian Wyczawski