~33~
N
o sport pays homage to its history more than golf does and one is reminded of
that fact every time a number is recorded on a scorecard at the Golf Club at Bear
Dance.
The course is found just a few minutes off the busy interstate that links Colorado Springs
and Denver and it creates an instant oasis from the hectic pace of life that the roadway
symbolizes.
Each hole at Bear Dance is named for someone synonymous with golf and those names
are listed on the scorecard. The second hole bears the name of the sport's first truly
famous figure—Old Tom Morris.
Not only did he win four of the first eight British Opens, Old Tom did quite a bit of course
designing. But he never had a piece of property to build a course on like the one that
houses Bear Dance.
The test that carries his name is a magnificent short hole, although at 218 yards from the
Pro Tee it can hardly be called short. In fact, the course as a whole measures a robust
7,726 yards. Fortunately, each hole has five sets of tees from which to choose.
At the second, however, any of the tees will present a challenge with a shot between
the Ponderosa pines, over a waste area and past a cavernous bunker at the right, front
corner of the green.
The left side of the green should be favored, not only to avoid the big bunker, but also
to stay out of a deep swale that eats into the right portion of the putting surface.
The green slopes hard from left to right and a pot bunker can be found just beyond and
to the left.
It makes for an all-encompassing examination with the sobering fact being that it is
listed as the second-easiest hole on the course.
That would give any golfer, Old Tom Morris included, reason to contemplate what lies
ahead.
Photographs by Julie Gibson
GOLF CLUB AT GOLF CLUB AT
BEAR DANCE BEAR DANCE
PAR 3 218 YARDS
Larkspur, CO
303.681.4653
beardancegolf.com
2
