Rick Langenberg
After years of neglect and an uncertain financial future, Woodland Park’s sole golf links is on the rebound.
And more notably, the championship-level 18-hole course is welcoming motorized carts down its fairways for the first time in 10-plus years. In addition, their course landing areas have vastly widened, and the greens are not quite ready to compete with the Broadmoor resort; but by all accounts, they are rolling better than they have for years.
And if current trends continue, the Shining Mountain golf course could be right on par to become one of the state’s best mountain links’ gems.
“The course has come back (in improvements) a lot of faster than any of us expected,” said head pro Van Bullock, hired last spring by the Monumental Golf Group, to take over day-to-day operations of the municipal course, now owned by the city of Woodland Park. “The response we have received has been very positive.”
So much that Shining Mountain took a gamble that shocked regular players by reversing a cart-path-only policy, which dominated the course’s radar for at least 10 years, by allowing carts to trek down the fairways, at least partially, through a 90-degree rule. (Under this rule, players still use the cart paths to approach their balls but then can travel right down the fairways, prior to striking their next shot).
“People have really enjoyed this change,” added Bullock, who admitted the cart-path-only restriction really stifled rounds at SM, known for her difficult challenges, and often slowed play down.
This marks a 360-degree rebound from last spring, when the new management company was given little chance, if any, of making an impact in its first year in running the course by regular users.
“I have played on over 190 golf courses across the world, and this one is the worst I have ever played on,” said local links enthusiast and former planning commission member and civic leader Jerry Penland, when commenting on course conditions and playability over the last few years.
In addition, an earlier spring forum on the course’s future, hosted by the city of Woodland Park at the Ute Pass Cultural Center, almost turned into a community-wide golfer protest, with some civic leaders doubting if a 2026 season would even occur. If pitch forks were available, they would have been directed at city officials.
But alas, Jerry and other SM critics are now probably eating their words.
If there is a complaint now, it focuses on the bustling activity at the course, with tee-times difficult to obtain on the weekends. The parking lots are often filled on Saturdays.
“We have been very busy,” admitted Bullock, who previously worked as a pro and experienced some of the best Colorado mountain golf in such areas as Vail and Crested Butte.
A Maintenance Overhaul
The SM golf director credits course supervisor and foreman Eli Crumley for launching the improvements that have put Shining Mountain back on the popular links list for the Pikes Peak region. Crumley is quite a player himself, sporting time on the professional golf mini-tours and gaining much experience in golf course management. He grew up in Georgia, a state that breathes and lives golf daily, and is probably more well-known for hosting the annual Masters tournament every spring.
Crumley also gained the upper hand in conquering SM’s past woes with better equipment and resources.
“I cannot say enough for the job Eli has done,” said Bullock. “He has really turned this course around.” His work, in fact, has also been lauded by regular players.
Plus, Monumental Golf decided from the outset to significantly reduce green fees from what was charged by the previous ownership group. “We reduced green fees by about 20 percent. We wanted to give our customers some value,” explained Bullock.
The end-product has made Shining Mountain a quality golf experience again, a goal that was somewhat lost over the previous five years or so.
That said, players aren’t going to experience a round at the SM links with no lost balls. SM has not lost its quirky and distinctive, high-altitude, mountain character. “If I had to compare this course to any other in Colorado, I would say it reminds me most of the course in Cedaredge (located at the base of the Grand Mesa in Delta County, not far from Grand Junction). Like Shining Mountain, that one is fun but weird,” quipped Bullock, who admits the Cedaredge links, just like SM, has given him an occasional beating.
Yes, target golf is the name of the game at Shining Mountain, and that trend will continue, noted Bullock.
However, the Shining Mountain golf director conceded that Shining Mountain is still undergoing many improvements.
Next year, the head pro has cited cart paths and carts as the main target area of improvements. Cruising down some of their dirt paths can sometimes become a scary proposition, not to mention the old bridge between holes 15 and 16.
“We are still several years away from where we want to be,” said the SM golf pro. He hinted that the main theme in improvements still centers on making the course more “player- friendly.”
If players want to still experience the Shining Mountain golf experience prior to the end of the year, the clock is ticking.
Bullock said the course will probably close for the season in late October. But the Monumental company will end its 2026 debut period with an exclamation mark, with some pivotal and fun tournaments, geared to all levels of play.
Remaining Tournaments
On Aug. 30, Eli himself will get a chance at paybacks with the first-ever Superintendent’s Revenge tournament. During this two-person scramble, the course will feature some of its most difficult and bizarre set-ups. According to a tournament flyer, “Eli’s out for Revenge, and he’s got 18 ways to get it.” “It really is a lot of fun,” cautioned Bullock, who noted that these types of tourneys are quite popular at many of the top courses in the area.
More recently, the course even sported a “beat the pro day” that targeted Bullock and Cromley as the men to beat.
Then, on Sept. 18, Shining Mountain will host the first-ever Birdies and Bratwurst Scramble, starting at 9 a.m., as part of the new Oktoberfest festival in Woodland Park. This kicks off a local Bavarian-themed weekend to raise funds for Teller County youth athletics.
“If people haven’t got the chance to play out here this year, these are good opportunities,” noted Bullock.
More than Golf
But golf aside, plenty of upcoming events abound at the SM bar and restaurant lounge area, which may stay open during the winter. With the help of the city of Woodland Park, the bar, restaurant and special events area features many regular activities, such as Trivial Nights every Tuesday and Cornball competitions. Also, special concerts are often held outdoors, with a big event planned in late September, featuring Cari Dell.
It also could become a hub for watching Denver Broncos football this fall and early winter.
“We are going to give it a shot,” said SM Bar/Restaurant Manager Amy Fuller, who previously served as the SM general manager.
Turning SM into a year-round hangout has always been an ardent desire of the Shining Mountain staff, and one request that was heavily mentioned at the earlier facility forum, hosted by the city of Woodland Park.
