"Ace" Middleton and myself set off a week or a lifetime ago to a town near Denver to visit an old high-school buddy (of course we're all now "old" high school buddies). With our friend, Paul, driving his 4-wheel drive Suburban, we went over Loveland Pass and made our way to Copper Creek Golf Course at Copper Mountain, billed as the highest 18-hole golf course in the U.S. (Played lowest elevation course, Furnace Creek GC in Death Valley, last year). Paul didn't play but rode along in the golf cart and was our official photographer and rules official (although he knows nothing about golf). We were joined by two gentleman who are retired and play the course regularly; I hope very regularly, as they kicked our butts! It should however be added that the Copper Creek course was designed by Pete Dye (yep that diabolical Pete Dye); meaning the course was beautiful but very tricky, especially playing it for the first time. Thankfully, our retired playing partners gave us good instructions on where to try to hit the ball and where to try to avoid hitting the ball. Once or twice Ace and I were able to follow their instructions.
We'd heard that the 9-hole Mount Massive Golf Course about thirty miles away in Leadville was actually a little higher in elevation in some spots than Copper Creek. So, to make sure we could legitimately make the claim to playing the highest elevation course we enjoyed the ride over to Leadville. Stayed the night in the 125 year old Delaware Hotel (past residence of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Doc Holliday). Next morning, we found and played the 9 holes at Mount Massive. After the constant elevation changes (beautiful but taxing at almost 2 miles elevation) of Copper Creek, the flat Mount Massive course looked to be an easy challenge. A nicely groomed course, it proved to not be the easy challenge we'd expected; or at least that I'd expected. Ace again demonstrated how to play golf; I demonstrated how not to. I'll blame it on the altitude.
Just as a warning, if you decide to emulate our glorious trip (made more glorious by the fact the temperatures back home were 114 while we were playing in temps in the 70's) DO NOT attempt to cross over Mosquito Pass. We did - barely, after getting stuck and shoveling out of snow and boulders at 13,000 feet using bare hands and golf clubs. Made for quite a memorable adventure, one we never, ever want to repeat. The sign at the start of the "road" leading to the Pass states "Four-Wheel Drive Vehicles Only." It should read "Burros Only;" or better yet, "Jackasses Only."
