The River Nine
Upon arrival at the first tee, you will witness the mountain peaks of the Arapaho National Forest. Notice how the front nine holes meander along the floor of the Snake River Valley.

Hole 1: Great Divide
The River Course opens with a spectacular medium length par five that drops over 100 feet from the tee to the landing area. A good drive will allow the green to be reached in two. If players think their way through it, this hole will yield birdies.

Hole 2: Sawmill
A good drive down the left center of the fairway on this short par 4 leaves the best angle to approach the green. A deep bunker that should be avoided protects the right side, but the left half of the green is open.

Hole 3: River Hole
This long uphill par 3 will require a well struck long iron or fairway wood. The green is protected on the left by a small bunker on the left, a bug bunker on the right that runs the length of the green, and the Snake River behind the green. The green is over 140 feet deep; so club selection is very important.

Hole 4: Elk Crossing
This medium length dogleg left par 4 offers a wide fairway off the tee, but favor right side for the best approach angle to the green. The green is well protected by bunkers. When the pin is on the left, tucked behind the bunker, the smart play is to play right of the pin and try for a two-putt.

Hole 5: Meadows
Extremely demanding 3 shot part 5. Your drive must avoid the wetland on the right of the landing area. Your second shot must also carry part of the same hazard. The approach from the green is best from the left side of the fairway, so that you have the open axis to it.

Hole 6: Gulch
Challenges abound on the par 4. Your tee shot must carry a wetland and avoid a pond on the left side of the landing area that continues all the way up to the green. With an exacting short iron approach, a birdie opportunity awaits.

Hole 7: The Snake
Take a deep breath, check the wind, and take it to the middle of the green on this beautiful, but visually intimidating par 3. Proper club selection is crucial. Anywhere left is not always good but dry. Par is a good score here. Players that miss this green will be tested to save par.

Hole 8: Elk Run Villa
The best tee shot here will favor the left center of the fairway. Players that end up on the right side are forced to contend with an approach to a green that is blocked by a grass face that will gather up all shots that are not hit the proper distance.

Hole 9: Redtail
This long downhill par 3 is protected on the left by a deep bunker and on the right by a couple of grass depressions. Accurate club selection is needed on this hole, and judging the wind will make that difficult.

Hole 10: Buffalo
Drive it to the right side of the fairway for best approach angle. This fairway drops downhill on the second shot, to a small green flanked by a deep bunker that guards the left front of it.

Hole 11: Porcupine
This very demanding par 4 favors a tee shot in the left center of the fairway. An exacting mid iron will be required to hit this green in two. Right of the green should be avoided on approach, or par will be very difficult.

Hole 12: Tenderfoot
A long par 3 to a large green that is protected by bunkers on the front left and the right side of the green. The green is very deep and will accept run up shots. If the pin is back right, play it sage to the middle of the green.

Hole 13: Needles
This par 5 will play much longer than the yardage book says. The tee shot plays uphill and the approach to the green should be from the left side of the fairway. Bunkers that guard the front of the green must be avoided, for any chance of birdie.

Hole 14: Lodgepole
Favor the left side of the fairway on this long dogleg left par 4. From the left side of the fairway, you have the deep axis of green to hit into. Right of the green is to be avoided because of a severe drop off which will make saving par very difficult.

Hole 15: Snowshoe
The final par 3 at The River Course at Keystone will require a long to medium iron to reach the uphill green. The green is nestled into the hillside and guarded by a very deep bunker on the left. A par here is a good score.

Hole 16: Summit
The only way to describe the view from the tee is AWESOME. This par 4 will play much shorter than the yardage on the scorecard indicates. This hole drops almost 200 feet, from tee to green.

Hole 17: Little Bear
A short par 4 that requires a tee shot that must carry a wetland to the smallest landing area on the course. The approach shot to the uphill green will be played with a short iron, to a green that is protected by several deep bunkers that must be avoided. With a good approach a birdie should be attainable.