Jim Lipe completes renovation work on four holes at Castle Pines

Jim Lipe, senior design consultant at Nicklaus Design, has completed a four-hole renovation at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado.

Lipe has worked at the club since the late 1980s, completing various projects throughout the years on the course and practice area.

“The most recent work has involved reimagining the green and tee complexes and introducing a greenside pond/waterfall on the sixteenth hole,” said Lipe. “The existing mountain stream crossing on the fourteenth fairway was relocated along with adding a new fairway bunker. A new back tee was added on the fifteenth hole. The mountain stream on the left side of the seventeenth hole was enlarged and new fairway and greenside bunkers were also added. The tee complex was lowered and realigned in conjunction regrading part of the existing fairway to attain maximum visibility of the stream as it cascaded alongside the new tees.”

The ninth fairway and left-side fairway bunkering were realigned slightly right in conjunction with the reconstruction of the existing mountain stream on the hole’s right side. The fairway was regraded to improve fairway surface drainage and a forced carry pond was eliminated. A new back tee was added that can be used on both the ninth and eighteenth holes.

Jack Nicklaus originally designed the course in 1982 and the renovation work through the years that Lipe oversees is to “reflect Jack’s vision of shot variety and length” and to keep the course relevant and challenging in today’s game.

Whenever work is contemplated, it is planned well in advance and generally starts in October. “We work through the winter months, with the goal being to open as early in the spring as the weather allows,” said Lipe.

The architect has worked alongside the club’s superintendent, Doug Brooks and golf course contractor, Total Turf Golf Construction, for many years, and on the current project.

This clubhouse was also renovated in the past year, with a large fire pit located in an area near the existing small putting green.

“We had discussed for years how and when to enlarge the putting green, and with the new clubhouse and firepit area being constructed, we decided this would be the best time to construct a new putting course,” said Lipe. “The desire was to construct as large a green as we could for the area, and to maximise the size, new stone walls were constructed with planter areas to beautify this new amenity for the club.

“The green will be lit in the existing adjacent pine trees for fun in the evenings. The green is about 14,000 square feet and has interesting internal contouring so the club can have flexibility in laying out a putting course.”

Lipe will return to the club in July 2020 to begin the planning to expand the practice facilities and planning on other hole modifications that will likely commence construction in October 2020.

Richard HumphreysRichard Humphreys

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