The Broadmoor East Course
Played The Broadmoor in 2019 with my buddy Erik on a work trip to Colorado Springs. The Broadmoor is an old-time resort similar to Homestead and Greenbrier. I compare the two of those in my Cascades at Homestead write-up. I should’ve added Broadmoor in that comparison and the Omni Mt. Washington Resort as well but will compare those here.
To start, these two are similar even though they are across the country – Colorado versus New Hampshire. The mountains are more mountainy here. Both resorts are nice featuring grand main buildings that are classic throw backs. I only played one course on each (both offer two courses, Mt. Washington’s second though is a nine-holer) but the ones I played were the higher ranked of the courses on property. Both courses are Donald Ross designs and the Broadmoor East features nine RTJ holes. Looking at the East versus the Mt. Washington, definitely the advantage goes to East. Conditioning was better. Design was more interesting. There’s more golf magazine love for the Broadmoor (currently in GD’s Second 100) and they’ve had some Senior and LPGA majors here. Plus having a second 18 versus a nine pushes Broadmore way ahead on the golf comparison.
Aesthetics are pretty close. Amenities as well. I was solo at Broadmoor so didn’t eat in the main dining room and went to Mt. Washington in the year of the Vid so didn’t eat dinner in their main dining room either (only for breakfast) but ate from their Steakhouse menu outside. Had decent eats in Play at the Broadmoor which is an indoor bowling alley/arcade bar but was pub food so obviously Mt. Washington wins by default on food. Both resorts are fun to amble around the nooks and crannies. Neither is a serious buddies golf destination trip but both make for a nice long weekend for a couples trip. I’ll go into the surrounding things to do in New Hampshire in the Omni write up. For here, I would take the trek back up to Denver – Springs doesn’t offer much and I haven’t really explored the surrounding area.
To the course. East is a fun course to play. It’s not brutal but not a push over either. Takes a little bit if you’re coming from the east to adjust for distances, but generally it’s only half a club. and you get a little more on the drive to feel better about yourself. The whites play about 6,650 yards which if you cut off distance for elevation it’s probably the equivalent to 6,100 yards at sea level. My favorites include the number-one handicap par-five third. Your approach is over a little pond to a tiny green in front of on-lookers in front of the resort. Parred it. Nine’s another great par-five with your approach navigating a pond. Parred it. I won’t tell you where I doubled. I also loved the eighteenth, coming back toward the clubhouse and a slight dogleg left again over a little pond on your approach. You’ll enjoy the round here. There is a good variety of holes and it’s not gonna beat you up. If you rank courses for the experience, fun factor, wow factor, and conditioning, you’ll rate this where I do. If you want a course that kicks you in the nuts for 18 holes and has serious architectural attractions, then you’ll probably think this is second-rate. Me, I play golf to relax, have some Miller Lites, and try to play well so it’s Top 100 in my book.
Golf Scrapbook 