The signature Greg Norman designed golf course at Cornerstone Colorado, a 6,000-acre residential community and private resort club located in Southwestern Colorado, is taking the next step on the path to completion with all 18 holes being laid with sod this summer.
The course site, which covers an estimated 350 acres, was selected by Norman from the parcel being developed at Cornerstone. Framed by the towering peaks of the San Juan and Cimarron mountains on the west side of the Continental Divide, the new golf course has the potential to be ranked among the finest in the Rockies upon completion. The full 18 holes will debut in summer 2007.
“With the pleasant weather and early snow melt this spring, we’re about three weeks ahead of schedule for summer construction compared to this time last year,” says Tom Huesgen, golf course superintendent. “If Mother Nature continues to cooperate, we expect to have a very successful season in terms of course construction.”
The layout, which will measure approximately 7,900 yards, is situated on a long, broad slope with a 700-foot elevation change from start to finish. Golf holes have been benched into the slope at different levels, transitioning from one distinct environment to the next.
Cornerstone will feature bentgrass tees, greens, and aprons, with Kentucky bluegrass used in all other maintained areas. In addition, drought-resistant grasses will be introduced to facilitate the project’s water conservation and water quality enhancement programs. Out-of-play areas will be re-vegetated with a palette of fescue grasses, native plants, and woody species that produce self-sustaining ecosystems. Native areas will also be hydroseeded with yarrow, lupine, Indian paintbrush and other indigenous wildflowers. The program’s stated goal is to merge wildlife conservation, habitat enhancement, resource conservation, and environmental improvement—a goal that dovetails with Norman’s own “least disturbance” philosophy.
Norman and his design team have made their first priority the utilization of Cornerstone’s most desirable natural features. Mature aspen groves, dramatic rock outcrops, steep ravines, meandering streams, and rolling alpine meadows mark the upland site, which offers ideal terrain for golf according to Norman.
“The simplicity of our ‘least-disturbance’ approach accentuates the creation of a natural, stand-alone golfing experience unique to its part of the world, a course where the existing landscape dictates the flow of play,” Norman says. “It is not only our desire to create a great golf course at Cornerstone, but also to find a perfect balance between maximizing the value of the residential component and creating a plan that is conducive to protecting its surroundings.”
"We take pride in working with the natural features of each site,” he adds. “We respect environmentally sensitive areas and incorporate them into the design strategy of the course, ensuring their protection and preservation. I’m a firm believer in using what Mother Nature gives us on a particular site.”
The areas surrounding the grand-scale layout’s undulating greens at Cornerstone will be tightly mowed to allow an array of recovery options. Norman has decided on a simple, classic bunker design, with sand brought in from Denver. While Norman maintains that aesthetics take a back seat to strategy and shot making in his designs, Cornerstone serves up stunning mountain views throughout the round.
Conceived as a family-friendly retreat, Cornerstone will feature multiple tee placements catering to seasoned professionals as well as erstwhile beginners. Several back tees will require sizeable carries over cavernous ravines, while forward tees offer a safer route to the fairway. Generous fairways and minimal rough will make this course a most enjoyable experience for all skill levels.
