Championship at Cherry Hills Country Club

Cherry Hills Country Club sits in Englewood, a suburb south of Denver, where the High Plains meet the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. William S. Flynn designed the course in 1922, with Press Maxwell serving as construction supervisor and later making refinements. The property occupies rolling terrain at approximately 5,600 feet elevation, with Little Dry Creek meandering through the layout and mature cottonwoods framing many holes. Flynn routed the course to take advantage of natural contours and integrated the creek as a strategic element on several holes, creating a parkland character uncommon in the region.

The opening hole, a short par four, gained fame during the 1960 U.S. Open when Arnold Palmer drove the green to launch his final-round charge to victory. That championship remains one of golf's most celebrated comebacks, as Palmer overcame a seven-stroke deficit. Cherry Hills has hosted three U.S. Opens (1938, 1960, 1978), two U.S. Amateurs, two U.S. Women's Opens, and a PGA Championship, establishing it as one of America's most significant tournament venues. The 1978 U.S. Open saw Andy North claim his first major title.

The course features Flynn's characteristic strategic bunkering and green complexes that reward precise approach play. Elevation changes are modest but meaningful, and the thin air at altitude affects shot distances noticeably. Cherry Hills maintains a traditional private club atmosphere, with membership that has included prominent Colorado families and business leaders since its founding. The club has preserved much of Flynn's original design intent while making periodic adjustments to accommodate modern tournament play.