Red Sky Fazio and Broadmoor East - walkable?

[paul.r]

Will be playing both next month and was wondering how walkable these two courses are.

[CSURam_06]

Where are you coming from as far as altitude? Broadmoor East is definitely walkable, however, I would recommend taking a caddy. It sits on the side of a mountain so it is not a walk in the park, and if you're not used to the altitude it will take it out of you. I very much doubt Red Sky allows walking. They are even higher and the course was not built with walking in mind.

[paul.r]

Thanks for the input. Coming from Houston, so sea level. I spent many summers in Wyoming, but that was years ago. So I am familiar with how the altitude makes aerobic activity more difficult for someone not used to it.

Would like to give it a shot, especially as the current Houston weather makes it difficult to walk if its not an early morning or late evening round. But if the course is set up with tee boxes a good ways from the previous green then that's a different story.

Thanks again.

[CSURam_06]

Broadmoor is an old course so the tees are very close to the green, for the most part. I can think of 3 semi long walks between holes, you have to cross a road twice and then meander around the tee box of another hole, but again, they aren't long walks by any means. The caddy's that they have there are generally "kids", teenagers, that aren't professionals, just someone to help carry the bag, although they may be able to help with reading the greens. Just remember that after #4 you don't see the clubhouse until after 18, so if you decide that you want a cart halfway through it will take a bit to get it out to you. I'm not saying that you will, just want you to be aware. I get to play there quite often and love the course, but have yet to walk it. Just remember that everything breaks away from the clock tower, it will break 3 times more than you think, stay below the hole at all costs, and read the slope of the green on the mountain before reading the break of the putt.

[paul.r]

Much appreciated. I have a lightweight bag so if the caddie is just a pack mule, I'd rather go it alone. I've walked a Hill Country course in Texas so I'm comfortable with terrain that's not flat.....granted, the atmosphere and air is completely different.

Maybe I'll plan on riding at Red Sky and walk the Broadmoor.

I have heard the same about how the puts break but nothing with respect to that much more than you think.

The help is much appreciated.

[MileHighGuye]

Broadmoor is a fantastic track. Definitely walkable. Only a couple of long walks but really not terrible. 1,2,3,4 are maybe 50 yards apart. Wonderful track, enjoy!

[paul.r]

Thanks! Looking forward to getting out of this Texas heat and playing my first Ross course, even if only partial.

[_MS22_]

Just got back from a trip and played Broadmoor East. Great track, super easy to walk, altitude wasn't an issue at all coming from sea level either. The only time I really noticed the altitude was the last 1000ft of hiking Pike's on our second day there and trying to run the incline in Mannitou.

We took a forecaddy and he helped a ton with reading the breaks as I'd have easily under-played more than a handful. The other courses are in equally great shape but the East is the prime one and plays much harder than the other two. Also got the chance to play CSCC which was surprisingly great.

As some advice you'll be about 10% longer with your clubs on average so dial them in at the range beforehand. I pegged a flag on the range at 195 and was pelting it with a 7i which is normally not the case at sea level unless I've got a 30MPH tailwind.

[paul.r]

That's what I've heard...and even more for higher altitudes like Red Sky. Will be a nice change as I've had to club up recently due to the muggy and heavy summer air down here taking about half a club off a lot of shots.

[asianplow]

Broadmoor East is a great track. I also agree that it is pretty walkable. Depending on which tees you play from, you may need to backtrack from the cart path if you're playing the tips. I play out there maybe a half dozen times a year and every time I walk off the 18th green, I tell myself that next time, I'm going to get a caddy. For me, I just need help with reading the greens. I'm getting better with playing reading them, but there are always a handful of putts that just fool me.

[paul.r]

Just got back. When we pulled up to the bag drop at Red Sky, I asked if walking was allowed for guests. They said they had never seen anyone walk the course. I figured that was all the answer I needed and it was probably best we took a cart. The holes would have been a challenge in that altitude but like a lot of other Fazio courses, the walks from greens to tees would have been difficult.

Broadmoor East was another story. The shop told me that in order to walk before 3PM (as a guest) I would have to take a caddie. The fees were pretty reasonable ($20-$35 depending on which level of caddie, plus gratuity) so I put in a request for one. When I showed up the next day at the starter's shack, there was no caddie to be found and the starter didn't have any problem with me walking.

It wasn't bad of a walk at all, and as CSURAM_06 said, the worst parts were between 6-7 and 15-18 (where the course changes from the Ross holes to the Fazio holes and back, it crosses the street both times). I went ahead and jumped on the cart of a gentleman I was paired up with whose wife was riding with him and left after the third hole. I did enjoy the walk. The bluegrass rough and putting off the greens a few times were a different story.....

And you could definitely tell the difference between the Ross and Fazio holes. Great course and I hope to play it again soon!