Tournament Navigation

 

The INTERNATIONAL

 
Castle Pines Golf Club
Course Par Value:   72
Course Yardage:   7,619
The 18th hole - a 480-yard par 4.

Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
 
Hole Par Yards  
1 5 644 Easily the most panoramic hole on the course. The 120-foot elevation drop and big tee shot entice much of the field to go for the green in two. Best tip: Be sure the second shot clears the bunker 50 yards short of the green. And keep it right, the green will receive the ball best if hit from there.
2 4 408 A 3-wood or 1-iron layup off the tee, short of the creek and waste bunker leaves 8- or 9-iron to the green. Don't miss it -- it's a severe up-and-down test. The left side of the fairway offers a better shot to the green. Par should be anticipated.
3 4 462 There are two fairways to choose from on this hole. A driver off the tee to the left fairway is an easy drive, but leaves a tough second shot. Hitting to the right fairway leaves a small driving zone (250 yards), but promises an easier approach shot. The green is relatively flat, but is surrounded by severe bunkers.
4 3 230 Takes 4-iron to the back, 5-iron to the front of a three-tiered green guarded by Haskins Gulch on the right. To assure par, you must be on the same level as the pin. Be happy to two-putt on this green.
5 4 477 This is hole is uphill all the way. Key is a big tee shot to a generous landing area, then a 3- or 4-iron second shot must be either on the green or long because of the collection of bunkers front-center.
6 4 417 Sneakiest hole on the front nine. Be happy with par because it's a good driving hole which leaves an 8- or 9-iron second shot. Avoid the large bunker on the right. Severe uphill putting green is guarded by collection bunkers. If the pin is left-front, don't be short or you will leave yourself another 100-yard shot.
7 3 185 Usually the easiest of the par 3s, players tee-off with an 8-iron to a big green some 50 feet below. Careful placement is required because of a pot bunker in the right-center of the green.
8 5 570 Extremely difficult to reach in two because of a wall of large pine trees which guard the right. Drive up the left side. Two-tiered green is very small and severely sloped. Majority will lay up on their second shot for a wedge to the deep green protected back right by a pot bunker. If you miss the green, don't worry, you'll have several options on your next shot.
9 4 458 The tee-shot here is critical on the last day of The INTERNATIONAL. Very tight drive away from series of ponds and waterfalls on the right and a sloping green make this a tough par. A nearly blind, uphill second shot requires a 5- or 6-iron. Stay below the hole because the green slopes back to front.
10 4 485 Must be driven long down the hill for another 5- or 6-iron second shot. Aim towards the rock in Castle Rock. The approach shot is downhill and long so be careful not to hit it thin and into the lake. This hole is difficult to par. Take note of the wind here -- it comes into play on No. 11.
11 3 197 A 75-foot drop to a large green makes this only a 7-iron shot. A large bunker on the right guards it well. Be sure to miss them because the ball will plug from this drop.
12 4 440 A 3-wood off the tee, avoiding the fairway bunker on the right, sets up an 8- or 9-iron second shot. The green is very deep but narrow and is protected by traps and mounds right and water on the left. Be pleased with par because more points will be lost than gained here.
13 4 439 A treacherous three-tiered green makes this the sneakiest hole on the back side. Driver or 3-wood to the top of the hill leaves only an 8- or 9-iron to the green, but it slopes downhill, away from play. Note: Be happy to stand at zero on Stableford points after 13, because three of the final five holes are birdie possibilities.
14 5 623 Despite this hole's length, the green is very reachable in two with a big downhill drive down the right side to a heavy-grassed swail. Then it's possibly only an iron to the green that's very wide, level, but shallow.
15 4 403 You need to stay left with a 3-wood off the tee. Tall pine trees on the right guard the dogleg and block the green. Pond in front and three bunkers left of the big green can set up tricky pins, but it's only a wedge to the green. It's the shortest par 4 -- but also the most underrated hole on the course.
16 3 209 No. 16 is usually the toughest par 3 on the course because of its length, elevated green and collection bunker on the left. It's tough to get up-and-down with this severe three-tiered green.
17 5 492 This is Castle Pines Golf Club's "Signature Hole." Of all the par 5s on the course, No. 17 is the most reachable in two shots. The drive needs to be right-center to get an iron shot to the green. Avoid Cally's Creek on the left. This hole is uphill, with a dogleg left and is difficult to get up-and-down from the back side. Must birdie to stay with the field. This is the most exciting hole in the tournament.
18 4 480 Drive it at the flagpole to the right for a good view of the green for a second shot. Then, hit a 4- or 5-iron downhill to a large, well-bunkered, deceptively rolling green. Imperative to be on the right level as the green is difficult to read.