Before I knew about this course, I always wondered about the imposing bell tower building, watching it while driving on Santa Fe or waiting for light rail. When I just recently started playing again after nearly 20 years off, I lucked into a free day they had on 9/2/12, and was hooked. I loved seeing the alternate tees AND alternate basket positions. These two features enhance an already great course for me, as they accommodate varying skill levels and offer (practically) endless hole configurations. The benches are great, holes are challenging and memorable, scenery is amazing from the top of the hill.
The season fee was originally a bit steep (fee for 2 players would be $100), but for 2013, the university changed their yearly fee to $60, which now INCLUDES a guest pass! If you get the pass this year, it is valid for 2012 AND 2013. Needless to say, I jumped on the deal. I was impressed by how smooth the purchase was - it takes 5 minutes to fill out a form, and after making the payment (credit cards accepted), you receive a packet with the member/guest passes in the form of aluminum tags, parking tag, and a map.
After playing several times now, I must say this course takes some stamina, especially playing back-to-back. My scores took a beating with the new recent basket placements, but I feel this only makes me a better player. The out of bounds markings on 15-18 are a bit unexpected (maybe tournament only?), seemingly harsh at first, and a little hard to follow (markings on the ground), so we wound up disregarding them for now - maybe after examining them/getting used to them a bit more, we will incorporate them into our play. Hole 11 is a total hoot, especially when you get to putt through the hole in the tree (depends on the basket placement) AND make the putt. Many holes require low drives to get underneath the tree branches (or distance on downhill hole 14), which is a good skill to learn. The long hole 14 will make you rip out your arm to get the distance, as 3 drives are needed on the hole. On a few holes (1, 2, 3, 5, 14, 16, 18), it may not be obvious where the baskets are, since they keep changing the basket positions, but after a few rounds, it gets easier. The map is very useful the first few times as well, as there are no signs to guide you to the next hole. I found the transition from 11 to 12 especially confusing the first time, and 12/13, 16/17 are also pretty far.
I feel this property could easily accommodate 27 holes. A few new holes I could think of - add 2 holes between current 4/5 (towards the tennis courts on the west side and back, without compromising current hole 5 length really), 2 holes on the southeast field above the parking (by the entrance), 2 holes in the center quad, 1 hole between 12/13, and maybe squeeze 2 more holes out of the 14-18 area (between 16/17 for sure, need to keep the 1000 footer though!). Not sure if this would make the course too busy, as I can see why it was designed the way it was, but... if the course designers are reading this - please consider this for the future! Update 11/18/2012 - new building construction on southeast field by entrance - never mind these 2 potential holes...
This course has become my in-town favorite in a very short amount of time. While David Lorenz Park is my "home" course, whenever possible, I will drive the extra few miles to play Colorado Heights. This course is, by far, the best in Denver, and even compares very well with the outstanding mountain courses (Bailey, Beaver Ranch, etc.).