DraftKings PGA Millionaire Course Breakdown: Colonial CC
PGA DFS is back! Three months after suspending play at The Player Championship, the PGA Tour makes its long-awaited return this week with the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
Unsurprisingly, there are some huge DFS contests in anticipation of the Charles Schwab Challenge, including a $20 buy-in for DraftKings Millionaire Maker.
This article provides a free course breakdown for Colonial CC, but Premium subscribers get access to much more.
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Now let’s get to our Colonial CC course breakdown.
Colonial CC Course Breakdown
Sitting on the Trinity Rivier, Colonial Country Club has a rich history. Built in 1936, Marvin Leonard started the prestigious country club, bringing in John Bredamus and Perry Maxwell to help fulfill his vision of introducing Fort Worth, Texas to Bentgrass greens to Fort Worth, Texas.
Colonial CC History Lesson: Hogan’s Alley
Colonial CC debuted on the pro circuit in 1946, when Ben Hogan, a Fort Worth resident himself, claimed his first of five victories. Hogan defended his title at Colonial in ’46, and went back-to-back again six years later.
In 1959, Hogan was 46 years old and hadn’t won since taking down the Masters, U.S. Open, and the Open Championship in 1953 (it’s worth noting the Open Championship and PGA Championship were in conflict, so he went three-for-three in majors during the ’53 season). As one writer put it, entering the Colonial in ’59, the 46-year-old Texan was more of a sentimental pick than a serious one.
Hogan ended the drought, winning the at Colonial in a sudden-death playoff in what would be his final victory on tour, and at the site where the legend would eventually retire. Colonial CC truly is Hogan’s Alley.
Colonial CC Course Breakdown: The Layout
60 years after Hogan’s last win, Colonial remains a ball-striker’s paradise. The 7200-yard track only has two par 5s and plays to a par of 70. It might be lacking par 5s but it has a heavy dose of doglegs, which require precision off the tee and acute approach shots if golfers wish to set up birdie looks on its small Bentgrass greens.
With Par 5s scarce, bombers don’t have a distinct advantage at Colonial like on many of the courses we see in today’s PGA Tour. However, there are three par 4s stretching past 450 yards.
Whether starting on the front or back nine, golfers will begin their rounds with early birdie opportunities. The No. 1 tee box presents the first of two par 5s. Yielding birdies 44% of the time with one in every 50 golfers making an eagle, the 566 par 5 is the easiest hole on the course.
On the back nine, golfers will find the second par 5 as they walk to the 11th tee. This one stretches past 600 yards, making it a bit more difficult. Eagles are rare, and bogeys are certainly in play, but golfers will still find birdies roughly one in every four attempts.
Here’s a yardage breakdown for all 18 holes at Colonial CC.
Colonial’s Horrible Horseshoe
Hole No. 2 is also ripe for birdies, coming in as one of two par 4s shorter than 390 yards. The opportunism doesn’t last for long, though. Golfers will want to be at least 1-under par after these two holes, because on the third tee box is where the trouble begins as golfers are presented with one of the most challenging three-hole stretches in golf.
Infamous for its difficulty, the trio of holes has earned a nickname: Horrible Horseshoe.
Joining the company of Amen Corner and the Green Mile, its name is a warning of sorts.
Horrible Horseshe’s frightening three-combo punch is comprised of a tricky dogleg left, a back-breaking par 3, and a dangerously long and narrow par 4.
Like a skier unscathed after finishing a dangerous trail atop a mountain, golfers are more than content walking away from Horrible Horseshoe bogey-free. In doing so, players can gain a full stroke on the field. Here’s a more in-depth look at the daunting test.
Hole No. 3 – Par 4, 483 yards
Birdies: 8%
Par: 63%
Bogey: 26%
Double Bogey: 3%
No. 3 is arguably the second-toughest hole on the course (the toughest being only two holes later), demanding perfection off the tee to avoid a large tree and a gang of bunkers. A long approach shot is inevitable and birdies are rare.
Hole No. 4 – Par 3, 247 yards
Birdies: 10%
Par: 72%
Bogey: 17%
Double Bogey: 1%
An excess of 247 yards, the par 3 is stretched slightly more with its elevated green. The par 3 still hasn’t allowed an ace during tournament play.
Hole No. 5 – Par 4, 481 yards
Birdies: 9%
Par: 64%
Bogey: 22%
Double Bogey: 6%
Horrible Horseshoe concludes with the hardest hole of all. The tree-lined fairway on No. 5 is just inside the Trinity River. Golfers need to be comfortable hitting a small fade into the banana-shaped layout if they want even a decent chance at a birdie from another lengthy approach shot.
Course Conditions
Per the Golf Channel, Colonial CC member notes say the course is currently dry, which could make both fairways and greens tougher to hold. But the PGA Tour should want some scoring in its first tournament back, so I expect it easier than usual pin placements.
Colonial CC Course Breakdown Conclusion
Paster winners have included shorter hitters like Kevin Na (2019), Kevin Kisner (2017), Jordan Spieth (2016), Chris Kirk (2015), Steve Stricker (2009), David Toms (2011), and Zach Johnson (2010 and 2012). At the same time, longer hitters have found success with the most recent runners up including Tony Finau and Brooks Koepka. Sometimes these short courses allow bombers to reel it in a bit, clubbing down off the tee and staying away from trouble.
Overall, in making your DFS golf picks you’ll want to place a premium on ball-striking. In addition to strokes gained approach, consider good scramblers, as well as golfers with good putting splits on Bentgrass greens.
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