Colbert Hills Explained

Golf Facility Name:Colbert Hills
Location:Manhattan, Kansas
United States
Establishment:2000
Type:Public
Holes:18
Website:Colbert Hills Official Site
Course1:Colbert Hills
Designer1:Jeff Brauer and Jim Colbert
Par1:72
Length1:7525 Yards
Rating1:77.50
Coordinates:39.2117°N -96.6433°W

Colbert Hills Golf Course is a public golf course located in Manhattan, Kansas. Utilizing the natural ecosystem of the surrounding Flint Hills, it is a links-style course with few trees. From its opening to 2011 Colbert Hills was ranked by Golfweek as the best public course in Kansas, and it has ranked as the second-best from 2012 to present.[1] Among both public and private courses, it has also been continuously ranked by Golf Digest among the top eight overall in the state.[2]

The course is home to the men's and women's golf teams of Kansas State University, and is used by the university as an environmental research and turf management facility. Colbert Hills is also home to The First Tee Academy and the Earl Woods National Youth Golf Academy.

The course was co-designed by professional golfer Jim Colbert, a Kansas State University graduate. A statue of him stands at the facility. Colbert Hills also features a Par-3 course.

History

The course opened with an invitational pro-am tournament on April 30, 2000.[3] Among those competing in the tournament were Jim Colbert, Lee Trevino, Raymond Floyd, Annika Sörenstam and Manhattan native Deb Richard. Also present at the opening was Tim Finchem, Commissioner of the PGA Tour.

A new clubhouse was completed in May 2010, on the tenth anniversary of the course.[4]

Tournaments

Colbert Hills was host to the Big 12 Conference women's golf championships on April 19–21, 2002.

Layout and Signature Holes

The signature hole is number 7, which is a 600-yard par 5 that begins with a 90feet drop from the tee to the fairway. The initial landing area is bracketed by 3 bunkers, making controlled shots essential. The second landing area is also well bunkered, combining with the bunkers at the green to require an entrance from the right side of the second landing area.[5]

Scorecard

Distances listed are from the black/blue tee boxes.[6]

Hole 1 Par 5 590 Yards Hole 10 Par 5 614 Yards
Hole 2 Par 4 412 Yards Hole 11 Par 3 230 Yards
Hole 3 Par 4 416 Yards Hole 12 Par 4 434 Yards
Hole 4 Par 4 494 Yards Hole 13 Par 4 357 Yards
Hole 5 Par 3 213 Yards Hole 14 Par 4 487 Yards
Hole 6 Par 4 428 Yards Hole 15 Par 4 375 Yards
Hole 7 Par 5 600 Yards Hole 16 Par 5 513 Yards
Hole 8 Par 3 210 Yards Hole 17 Par 3 237 Yards
Hole 9 Par 4 462 Yards Hole 18 Par 4 453 Yards

Notes and References

  1. http://golfweek.com/news/golfweeks-best/courses-you-can-play/ Golf Week Rankings
  2. Web site: Golf Digest.
  3. News: You Can See For Miles... At Colbert Hills . The Topeka Capital-Journal . April 30, 2000 . 2009-02-11.
  4. News: Colbert Hills To Dedicate New Clubhouse on May 8th . WIBW.com . May 3, 2010 . 2010-07-14.
  5. Web site: Colbert Hills info . 2008-10-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110520143703/http://www.golf.com/golf/courses_travel/coursefinder/course/0,28290,1522827,00.html . 2011-05-20 . dead .
  6. http://www.colberthills.com/page/64-1613.htm Scorecard