The newest of the seven golf courses run by the city of Aurora is Murphy Creek.  This facility opened in 2000, and is the first Colorado design by Ken Kavanaugh. 

Saying the course lies in Aurora might be a bit of a stretch, as it is just east of the E470 toll highway and southeast of the Buckley Air Base. 

Murphy Creek is a prairie links style course cut into what was once farmland.  In fact, some old farm equipment is scattered about the course, which gives the place some additional charm.

For golfers familiar with all the Colorado Springs area courses, Murphy Creek can be best described as a cross between Springs Ranch and Antler Creek.  The course has a lot of waste areas along the fairways, though not of the number and size of those at Antler Creek. 

The shaping of the holes reminds one more of Springs Ranch.  The design feature that sets Murphy Creek apart from the other courses is that of a number of bunkers that are in yourway, at least visually. 

Some of these are in the middle of the fairways, while others tend to jut out at the bend of many doglegs, giving the illusion that the fairway is narrower than it really is.

Most of the front nine angles southeastward from the clubhouse.  Although there are some interesting holes, none really jumped out at me.  This is where most of the farm machinery sits. 

Things get more interesting on the back side, starting with number 12.  This is a very long, sharp dogleg left par-4 that requires an enormous carry from the back pair of tees. 

The problem here is that you almost have to aim for the bunker directly in front of you, which gives a little shorter distance to carry.  You may want to play the white tees, which will reward you for a good drive.

The best three-hole stretch is 14-15-16.  Fourteen is a par-4 of just over 400 yards that bends left around a lake.  Fifteen is a 590-yard par-5 that sweeps left to right around another lake that runs almost the entire length of the hole.  Sixteen is a straight par-4 of about 440 yards, with a lowered green slightly left.  This hole would be really nice without the houses running down both sides.

Murphy Creek will host the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship in mid-July.  (See preview article next month.) 

The length of 7,551 yards and the winds will make for a good test for these young golfers.  But here is my problem. 

Many have labeled this the best of the Aurora courses.  Personally, I don’t think it lives up to the hype.  Those that prefer Meadow Hills or Saddle Rock have a good argument that either of those might be at the top of Aurora’s list. 

Murphy Creek certainly has some interesting and challenging holes, but I was looking for something that would set it apart from other prairie courses.  I didn’t find anything.