Cherry Hills Country Club

Cherry Hills Country Club was founded in 1922 in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado, south of Denver. William Flynn, one of the most revered architects of the Golden Age, designed the course on a property graced with mature cottonwood trees, Little Dry Creek, and panoramic Rocky Mountain views. The course opened to immediate acclaim and quickly became Colorado's premier private club.

Cherry Hills is the site of one of the most famous moments in golf history. At the 1960 U.S. Open, Arnold Palmer trailed by seven strokes entering the final round. He famously drove the green on the 346-yard 1st hole, shot a final-round 65, and won the championship in dramatic fashion. The 1960 Open also marked a passing of the torch, as 47-year-old Ben Hogan faded on the back nine and a young Jack Nicklaus finished as the low amateur.

Cherry Hills has hosted the U.S. Open three times (1938, 1960, 1978), the PGA Championship in 1985 won by Hubert Green, the U.S. Amateur in 1990 won by Phil Mickelson, and the BMW Championship in 2014. Tom Doak completed a decade-long restoration of the William Flynn design in 2022, recovering original green contours and bunker positions that had been altered over the decades.

Cherry Hills is a classic William Flynn parkland course set against the dramatic backdrop of the Rocky Mountains at approximately 5,300 feet elevation. The mile-high altitude adds 10-15 percent to shot distances, making the 7,160-yard layout play somewhat shorter than its yardage suggests. Little Dry Creek winds through the property, coming into play on several holes.

The Tom Doak restoration completed in 2022 returned the course to its Flynn-era character, with recovered green contours, restored bunker positions, and cleared sightlines. The mature cottonwood trees, mountain panoramas, and historic character combine to create one of the most special golf experiences in America.

Factor altitude into every club selection at Cherry Hills. The ball flies 10-15 percent farther at mile-high elevation, so a shot that normally travels 150 yards will carry approximately 165-170 yards here. The thin air also reduces spin, so the ball will release more on landing.

Little Dry Creek is the primary hazard and comes into play on several key holes. Position off the tee is critical on holes where the creek threatens, particularly on the risk-reward par 5s. The recently restored Flynn greens feature more contour and firmness than longtime members may remember.