Colorado resort unveils four new holes

Dye Designs Group has completed the redesign of four new holes on the Copper Creek Golf Course at Colorado’s Copper Mountain Resort.

Holes 12 through 15 were reimagined by Cynthia Dye McGarey, DDG’s principal architect, and her son, Matt McGarey, the firm’s senior design associate. The project brief also included repositioning tee boxes on the 16th hole and creation of a new back tee on No. 18. Copper Creek, originally designed by Pete and Perry Dye, opened for play in 1986.

A skilled operator of heavy machinery, Matt McGarey successfully navigated a very tight construction window in Summer 2023. Although not originally planned, he quickly assessed project needs and jumped in with the contractor’s team to shape the greens and other important features. Taking this action ensured DDG’s plans were optimally brought to life. Copper Creek superintendent Scott Sundeen’s team was responsible for growing in the holes.

“Condo construction and a new access road for ski operations required the team to rethink the back nine’s routing,” said Matt, who has nearly 20 years of experience as a shaper and project manager. “It was a fun assignment as it not only gave us an opportunity to update a course that Pete and Perry designed, but to add our own spin to the typical Dye aesthetic. Working up here in the mountains means you’re inevitably dealing with some very rocky and challenging terrain, but we’re really happy with how it all turned out.”

The new par-3 12th now measures 174 yards from the back tee and requires a short iron over the access road to an angled green guarded by flat-bottomed bunkers topped with grass eyebrows.

No. 13 is a reachable par 5, playing slightly uphill toward a backdrop of the Ten Mile Range’s Pacific, Atlantic and Crystal peaks (all measuring more than13,800 feet) as well as nearby Breckenridge Resort’s Peak No. 8. A volcano bunker behind the putting surface mirrors Peak No. 8 and is an example of the Dye team deriving design inspiration from the surrounding topography.

The 14th is another par 3. Blessed with long views of Ten Mile Canyon, it plays significantly downhill to a push-up green featuring significant internal contours punctuated by a Biarritz-like channel. The hole’s back tee, at 9,863 feet, is the highest tee box in North America.

Finally, No. 15 is a short par 4 measuring 315 yards from the tips. The green is defended by a small pot bunker about 30 yards short of the front apron.

“Partnering with Dye Designs Group to reimagine our back nine holes was an easy choice,” Copper Creek head golf professional Zach Dobrota said. “Their expertise in crafting challenging yet playable layouts is evident in these reimagined holes. This targeted redesign elevates Copper Creek to a whole new level, offering our guests an enhanced golfing experience that showcases the natural beauty of our mountain setting while maintaining the character of our beloved course.”