It was 1969 and Jack Vickers had just moved to Denver and wanted "to get better acquainted with his new surroundings" when he stumbled upon the property that is now Castle Pines Golf Club.

Out on a drive to explore the area, he came upon a dirt lane on the south side of town and, on a whim, turned onto Happy Canyon Road. He stopped his car about half way up the lane, got out and climbed to the top of a rocky ridge — discovering a 360-degree panorama of iconic Colorado scenery. He had found the perfect spot to build his world-class golf course and club.

It took 12 determined years before Vickers had persuaded the numerous local landowners involved to deed him the title to the acreage he needed. With the location of his club decided, Vickers turned his attention to the golf course and engaged Jack Nicklaus to be the course designer. Touring the site on foot and by helicopter, both Vickers and Nicklaus are fond of saying that though they seldom agreed, they ultimately hammered out the final layout to what would become one of the best golf courses in the country. Construction began in 1979 and Castle Pines Golf Club officially opened in October of 1981.