Number 19: Cherry Hills

Ceiling: 91.5

Rating: 88

Trend over Time: 6.5

I played Cherry a few years back and my expectations were certainly exceeded, but after going back this past summer for the US Amateur, I fully recognized the displacement in what you hear about Cherry and what it is. Aside from Cherry, William Flynn left us with Shinnecock, The Country Club, Merion, and Kittansett to name a few, yet I reckon he wouldn’t be one of the first names out of many peoples’ mouths when asked about favorite golden age architects. Cherry Hills iss the rare combination of a traditional golden age, parkland style golf course that sits at an elevation (+/- 5,425 ft) that allows for supremely firm and fast playing conditions. As has been a common thread on many of these top courses, it’s all about factors that differentiate a course, and this unique combo is how Cherry creates Alpha.

Photo Credit: Evan Schiller at Golf Digest

Culture:

Situated in the foreground of the “front range” of the Rocky Mountains, the setting at Cherry is pretty fantastic. I had a couple moments at the US Amateur sitting at the upstairs bar that looks out over the golf course with the sun setting and the Rockies as the backdrop where you say “whoa, this is incredible.” Cherry Hills is undoubtedly a top club in the states. The combination of a great golf course, clubhouse, membership, dining experience, locker room, fitness center, etc. there can’t be many places better. The membership, staff, and internal perception you feel while around the place are resolute, candid, and humble. Those involved are proud and appreciative of their club and course, yet I don’t feel the ostentatiousness of clubs where the vibe is “don’t you feel lucky to be here.” With Cherry, I do feel lucky to be there, and the fact that it isn’t forced upon me makes it that much better.

Competition:

Cherry Hills’ competitive culture will be near as strong as any in this list of 25. Having hosted 3 US Open’s, 2 PGA’s, 3 US Amateurs, and 4 other USGA championships, competition is deeply engrained in its fabric. The most famous of these events for Cherry of course is the 1960 US Open where Arnold Palmer would narrowly hold off a 20-year-old amateur named Jack Nicklaus in a true battle for the ages. Palmer’s legacy at Cherry is important to this day as the upstairs bar is named for him.

What makes Cherry Hills such a distinguished and robust competitive experience is the ability to get the rough GNARLY and the course firm and fast. At this past summer’s US Amateur, I truly believe it was the longest rough I had played. This places such a massive premium on tee play such that if you aren’t in the fairway, you just can’t play to the greens as firm as they are. Maybe the best thing I can say about Cherry Hills is how enjoyable it is to compete on. Despite its difficulty, the course has wonderful variety and feels supremely fair which makes the experience fantastic. More big events at Cherry please!

Architecture:

To the eye, Cherry Hills mirrors an Oakland Hills or Olympia Fields. Narrow, long rough, and difficult greens are what you think provide its difficulty by simply walking it. Where it becomes interesting is the way the conditions inform strategy. Many of the more difficult tests in the USA have become a game of brute force. Amount of coverage of the hole off the tee and ability to stop the ball on the greens from the rough are the key questions players face. With how firm Cherry’s greens can get, given the elevation, there is no stopping the ball if you are approaching pins from the wrong angles. This forces you to be on the proper side of the hole or lay back off the tee to find short grass. Cherry Hills is far more nuanced than bomb and gouge style golf. This is why it is still one of the country’s top tests and should be perceived that way by more people. It may be short on paper, but to overlook the way its conditions challenge top players is to overlook one of the country’s best championship venues.

Cheers, HS