You Finally Get to Play Sanctuary. Now What?

Get advice and select hole strategy from the club’s first and only PGA Head Golf Professional

Rudy Zupetz, PGA Head Golf Professional | Sanctuary

As a club devoted exclusively to raising money for charity, Sanctuary has generated a cumulative net revenue of more than $73 million since it opened in 1997. This year the Sedalia club created by RE/MAX founders Dave and Gail Liniger will host 27 tournaments as well as numerous foursomes won at select charity auctions, where RE/MAX mandates an opening bid of $1,600. That’s much less than the $5,000 to $10,000 paid by foursomes at some Sanctuary tournaments. At that price, it’s no wonder the average golfer may get only one crack at the surreal Jim Engh-designed course.

To make the most of your Sanctuary round, arrive early to experience fully the magnificence of the clubhouse, the views and the wildlife. When it’s time to play golf, know that many of the holes inspire awe, intimidation and confusion. So try to keep in mind the following advice and select hole strategy from the club’s first and only PGA Head Golf Professional, Rudy Zupetz.

PLAY THE RIGHT TEES: Sanctuary runs 7,044 yards from from the Rattlesnake tees, where the views are breathtaking and the slope is a stout 152. Unless you’re a strong single-digit player, head for the Elk tees (6,369 yards with a 134 slope for men and 151 for women).

BE DECISIVE: Sanctuary presents you with a decision on almost every tee. Do I play conservatively or should I push the envelope? The fairways are plenty wide at designed landing areas but they pinch and become fairly narrow beyond prescribed landing areas, resulting in a high risk/reward round of golf.

HOLE 1: The 185-foot drop from the Rattlesnake Tee to the first landing area can be intimidating but it is a fairly straightforward 604-yard Par 5. Don’t let adrenaline rush your swing. Find the fairway and then ask yourself, is risking the water next to the green worth the reward of reaching this hole in two?

HOLE 2: Your approach plays uphill; club up to carry the greenside bunker.

HOLE 3: Favor the right on your approach. Generous bounces are available versus the native disaster looming left.

HOLE 4: Take advantage on this 571-yard par 5. A tee shot just right of bunker will feed toward the green on this double-right dogleg, leaving a second shot of 200 or less.

HOLE 7: From the 347-yard Elk tee, longer hitters can try to drive this left dogleg by aiming over the visible cart path. Others should aim at the lone pine beyond the fairway.

HOLE 8: Hit driver off the tee as there is more room in upper fairway than meets the eye. If the pin is back, be sure to pull plenty of club. And if you have to putt up the ramp from the front of green, hit it twice as hard as you initially feel.

HOLE 11: You can easily negotiate this 585-yard Par 5 if you treat it as a threeshotter. If you’re long and gutsy enough to challenge the ravine splitting the fairway, you have a chance of reaching in two.

HOLE 12: Hit it deep and just right of the fairway bunker; it will leave a short approach into the green.

HOLE 13: Longer hitters can drive this green from the 344-yard Elk/Bear tee; others should play just right of the left fairway bunker. All players must watch the pond that protects the green short and right.

HOLE 14: Only players with excellent distance control should attack left hole locations on this dramatic par 3..

HOLE 15: A straight-away tee shot should position you to birdie this 613-yard hard dogleg right, but an aggressive line over the hill—a completely blind shot—could set up an eagle putt.

HOLE 17: Aim your tee shot between the bunker and lone pine. It will leave a short downhill second shot to a narrow green.

For more on Sanctuary, visit sanctuarygolfcourse.com; 303-224-2860.

RELATED LINKS

2015 CAGGYs: Private Club Winners

Living on the Green: Castle Pines Village

Private Clubs and Communities: Denver Region

The Value of Private Club Membership

Private Clubs and Communities: Southern Region

Colorado AvidGolfer is the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it. It publishes eight issues annually and proudly delivers daily content via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com.