Jack Vickers had tried for more than eleven years to obtain the rolling pine-clad land near Castle Rock, Colorado. His dream?--a world-class golf course hosting a major professional tournament. His persistence was rewarded in the late seventies when approval was given to purchase the 5,000 acre tract of land about a half hour South and 1,000 feet above Denver. The first thing Vickers did was secure Jack Nicklaus as his architect. Within two years his vision--Castle Pines Golf Club-- opened in 1981 to strongly favorable reviews. It didn’t take long before Vickers realized the other half of his dream. In 1986 Castle Pines was given a spot on the PGA Tour hosting The International, a unique tournament living up to its name, with a field of pros from all over the world.

Castle Pines is the longest course on the PGA Tour. It begins with the tour’s longest hole, a 644 yard par-five that plays downhill. The hardest hole on the course is arguabley the fifth hole going uphill the entire 477 yards with bunkers on both the drive and the approach. The beautiful 10th hole at Castle Pines is downhill with a lush fairway through deep stands of pine and oak--reminiscent of the 10th at Augusta--with one major difference, it’s more difficult.

Signature Hole Comments: Number 18 features menacing bunkers, a Nicklaus signature feature.