player’sCorner
P h o t o g r a p h by d i c k d u r r a n c e / d r i n k e r d u r r a n c e g r a p h i c s
COURSES | LESSONS | GEAR
Ironbridge’s Next Chapter The largest bankruptcy filing in U.S. history opens this private course to the public. TRANSITION HOLE: The 400-yard 14th eases the changeover from 10-13.
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eceivership has its privileges—at least for golfers heading to Colorado’s glorious Roaring Fork Valley. A breathtaking gem in the now-bankrupt Lehman Brothers empire, Ironbridge Golf Club once commanded a $40,000 initiation, but currently costs $0 to join and $298 a month in dues. Better yet, the public can play for $69 a round. And what a play it is. Located five miles south of I-70 on the road to Aspen, Ironbridge sprawls across the riparian site of the old Westbank Ranch Golf Course, the rolling meadows of Rose Ranch and the limestone cliffs 500 feet above it all. The 7,224 yards in black on the scorecard simply can’t express the enormity of the property over which this Arthur Hills layout winds, climbs, bends, breaks and bows. More than eight miles of cart path ribbon the course, transporting you to some of the most visually and tactically memorable holes in the state. On the front nine those include the 647-yard par-5 second (a strategically bunkered monster that’s a true three-shotter, even at 6,000 feet), the Co l o r a d o A v i d G o l f e r. c o m
lake-lined fifth and the par-3s on holes six and nine. But Ironbridge’s eye-popping glory begins after the long drive up, up, up to holes 10-13, an otherworldly gauntlet that amounts to a Shangri-La of mountain golf. Playing over and around canyons, cliffs and ravines, the par-4 10th and par-3 11th present no shortage of photo and double-bogey opps. On the 467-yard 12th, the snow-covered face of Mount Sopris shines like a beacon as your tee shot parachutes 100 feet to a fairway leading to a shallow, sloping green. The entire 621 yards of hole 13 seemingly cling to the edge of the earth as your grip on par slips away. After catching your breath, it’s a good fiveminute downhill ride to the denouement. Thanks to the budget-stretching ingenuity of superintendent Eric Foerster, Ironbridge’s course conditions remain blue-chip despite the property’s distressed status. For now, with green fees lower than those at those at nearby courses, Ironbridge represents the best golf deal in the area. 970-384–0630; ironbridgeclub.com June 2012 |Colorado AvidGolfer
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player’sCorner Lesson
A Short-Sided Policy No green to work with? Setting your wrists is worth the rewards. By Trent Wearner
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p h o t o g r a p h s by m o r g a n c u t t e r
uring a round you’ll inevitably find yourself on the wrong side of the green. By the wrong side, we mean the short side—the side where you don’t have much putting green surface between you and the pin. It’s a situation even Tour pros try to avoid, especially with the fast and firm greens on which they play. But when they find themselves without much green to work with, there’s a safe way to hit a soft, lofted shot that can cozy near the hole.
Setup
• Play the ball in the middle to slightly forward in your stance. • Shift your weight slightly to your left foot (right-handed golfer) and lean your upper body slightly towards the target. • Open the clubface about 30 degrees
On the backswing,
don’t turn radically with your shoulders. This will help set your wrists (Note: the deeper the grass, the more you want to set your wrists).
On the DOWNswing, allow your shoulders and hips to open up/ turn. This helps create a consistent amount of loft through the impact area as well as a consistent contact point with the ball/ground.
Into the finish,
sustain a line between your left arm and shaft. If you don’t turn, your wrists will get flippy and produce bladed shots, chunks and shanks. To avoid these foozles, strive to finish with your left arm and shaft more. (Although Tour players at times use their wrists a little through impact on short shots, you can only develop a feel for using them after having accomplished not using them.)
The author of the popular book, Golf Scrimmages and a Golf Digest Top-20 Teacher Under 40, Trent Wearner owns and operates Trent Wearner Golf Academy (TrentWearnerGolf.com; 303-645-8000) at Meridian Golf Club in Englewood, as well as scratchgolfer.org, a free game-improvement site. For more lessons visit coloradoavidgolfer.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
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Colorado AvidGolfer | June 2012
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June 2012 |Colorado AvidGolfer
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player’sCorner 15th CLUB
The Old Curiosity Shot Does a foozle get your self-corrective gears turning or do the wheels start coming off? By Elena King and Denise McGuire
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ou’re playing well. Then, out of nowhere, on the 13th green, you shank a short chip-and-run into a bunker. “I’m such an idiot! I can’t believe I shanked a chip!” you say to yourself. “What is wrong with me?” Judging our shots is a very common reaction. The brain is actually biased in the direction of looking for “what’s wrong” in practically everything that we do. Pay attention to your own reactions and you likely will see this is true for you too. When you are judging your performance, all you can see is what is wrong. Avidya The next thing you are likely to do is go into “fix it” mode and begin tinkering with your swing mechanics. Out of desperation, you might even text your pro for a quick fix before the 14th tee. When “fixing” doesn’t work—and it usually doesn’t—golfers tend to become even more judgmental and frustrated. Performance suffers as a result. Self-judging skews your perspective. It forces you to overlook valuable information
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Colorado AvidGolfer | June 2012
and compromises real learning. An alternative to judging every shot is to become curious about what just happened. When you’ve been chipping well for the last 12 holes and suddenly shank one, be inquisitive instead of self-critical. . Did your mechanics really change all of a sudden or might there be something else going on that would help you understand how to self-correct more quickly? What we often overlook in our search for the answer to our swing flaws are the subtle changes in our thoughts, emotional reactions and/or body which could be affecting our swing or putting stroke. For example, what if, after you shanked it on the 13th hole, you asked herself: pedantic • What was different in the way that I approached that shot? • Did I rush through my pre-shot routine? Did my tempo get quicker? • Was I fully committed to hitting the shot that I chose? • What thoughts were going through my head prior to the shot?
• Did I doubt my club selection? • Was I distracted? If so, by what (i.e. score, playing partner, pace of play) • Was I focused on my target? • Have I fueled by body with water and food? Don’t underestimate the role these factors play in influencing your mechanics and performance during a round. Judging yourself and your shots creates tension and anxiety, which inhibits your ability to swing the club naturally and in good rhythm. By adopting a curious rather than self-critical attitude toward your game, you have an opportunity to learn more about your tendencies and be able to get back “on course” more quickly. ag
Performance Coach Dr. Denise McGuire (303902-5008; denise@getinthezone.net) and Elena King, LPGA Director of Instruction, ExperienceGolf at CommonGround Learning Center (303503-0330; eking@experiencegolf.biz) partner to deliver unique learning experiences that increase awareness of the mental and technical aspects of the game for optimal performance. commongroundgc.com ColoradoAvidG o lf e r.c o m
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player’sCorner GIMMES
Father Glows Best How to make him happy this Father’s Day.
Rock the Socks The chaussettes of choice for Bubba Watson and scores of PGA and LPGA Tour pros, Kentwool’s Premium Performance Golf Socks are spun from fine merino wool and high-tech fibers to breathe, enhance support, eliminate blisters and boost performance—even if Dad’s longest walks are to and from the cart. Men’s styles include Low Profile, Tour Profile and longer Tour Standard. $20-$25. kentwoolsocks.com
Pin High A ticket to next April’s Masters might not fit into your budget, but a framed, authentic pin flag from last year’s event just might. $50. mmogolf.com; 888-660-7910.
Keepin’ It Reel Puff Daddy For many men, golf is a good smoke spoiled. This discreet, personalized cigar case flask holds an 8-inch cigar and a shot of Dad’s favorite swing lube. The monogrammed set comes with a Zippo lighter. $46. humidorvault.com; 800-687-1586.
Traveling Pants As timeless as a Hemingway novel, Mountain Khakis’ classic cotton Teton Twill works on the course, in the office or in the backcountry. Available in seven colors, these durable, relaxed-fit pants get better with every wash. $83. mountainkhakis.com; 866-686-5425.
Hacker Tracker Attached to Dad’s wrist or belt, the MotoAcTV-Golf Edition can track his game on more than 20,000 courses worldwide and measure distances to hazards and greens from the front, center and back. A virtual caddy keeps scorecards, clubs used and key stats. Dad can also stay fit by tracking total steps taken, distance covered and calories burned. $300. motoactv.com
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Colorado AvidGolfer | June 2012
Golf and fly-fishing go together like steak and potatoes. Yet packing a mix of gear is anything but appetizing. Redington’s Crosswater 4 Piece provides angling equivalent of a Sunday bag. The easy-to-assemble, easy-to-cast, mediumfast action setup comes with a variety of weights and a pre-spooled reel. $140. redington.com; 855-378-9420
Am Way Woods, Mickelson, Nicklaus, Palmer, Jones—the list of U.S. Amateur champions extends back to C.B. Macdonald, who won the inaugural competition in 1895 (then considered a major) and now has a course at Bandon Dunes named after him. Cherry Hills Country Club will host the event August 13-19, with CommonGround Golf Course as companion course. Daily tickets are available at King Soopers for $17.50 and a weekly ticket package costs $85. (Children 17 years and younger receive free admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult.) 2012usamateur.com; 866-464-2626 ColoradoAvidG o lf e r.c o m
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June 2012 |Colorado AvidGolfer
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player’sCorner THE GAME
A Slope of 30 In 1982 the Colorado Golf Association began the revolution in the way we figure handicaps. SLIPPERY SLOPE: Castle Pines Golf Club’s 155 slope is Colorado’s highest.
By Ted Johnson
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o banners will be hung nor toasts made, but the summer of 2012 marks the 30th anniversary of the Colorado Golf Association’s introduction of a unique method that aimed to rate courses on metrics other than yardage. In so doing, the CGA became the first association in the world to do use what we now know as the Slope System. At first, “Slope” confused private and associate club presidents, PGA professionals and, most of all, golfers. Since then, it has become the dominant handicap system the world over because it achieved, for the most part, two key desires of golf administrators: Make handicaps more accurate for less-skilled players and, better still, portable. “It helped everyone and it now it is used around the world,” says former CGA President Warren Simmons, who oversaw the CGA’s institution of the system. “It just makes the handicap system a lot more fair.” Prior to slope, golfers established their handicaps at one course. When those golfers traveled to other courses to play tournaments, the old system left a lot to be desired.
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Colorado AvidGolfer | June 2012
“If you were playing Open Flats or Panther Mountain, it didn’t matter,” said Simmons. “The handicaps remained the same.” Before there was slope, however, course rating had to be reconsidered. In 1975 Naval Academy Midshipman Dean Knuth had to create a project for a class entitled “Design of Experiments.” An avid golfer and a student at the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, Knuth approached the Northern California Golf Association to see if there was a better way to rate courses. Knuth (pronounced kuh-nooth) visited courses and tracked where golfers lost shots. He realized that higher handicappers had trouble with obstacles – bunkers, creeks, canyons, ponds, lakes, stands of trees – as well as distance. Better players, however, were able to carry many of those obstacles and thus record lower scores. As Knuth built data on this project, it became clear that the handicap system was shorting less-skilled players, which is why the project was first known as Bogey Handicap. In a few years he built enough data and used regression analysis to come up with a course rating system that reflected the difficulties for higher handicappers. The higher
the rating, the more difficult the course. The low 10 of the player’s last 20 scores count for the index, and each score takes into account the difficulty of each course. For the 10-handicapper, a score of 82 on course rated 118 might create a player index of 10. Score an 82 at a course like Castle Pines Golf Club, which is much more difficult, could create a player index of 6. Thanks to the Slope System, the 10 from Park Hill may have an “index of 16” when playing at Castle Pines. Moreover, the slope rating changes depending on the tee boxes. A “10” from the back tees at Park Hill might be an “8” from the shorter white tees. “Which player would you want, one who shoots 80 on easy course or 80 on hard course?” asks Simmons. “The answer is the guy who has developed his game on the harder course. But in slope it’s the differential. In slope, the player from the tough course might have a 5 handicap and the slope index for the other one is 12.” Simmons says the CGA started by re-rating courses in 1982, a project headed by Byron Williamson, who passed away in the mid-80s. Once the new ratings were established, the CGA switched over. Simmons, ColoradoAvidG o lf e r.c o m
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Beat the Heat
Come June, the heat of the summer and infrequent natural rainfall can wreak havoc on turfgrass in our high desert climate. By Scott Ellis, Assistant Maintenance Supervisor, South Suburban Golf Course
M
ost lawns in Colorado consist of Kentucky bluegrass or some other species of cool-season turfgrass. By cool-season we mean that the optimum growing temperature for these plants is between 60-75 degrees. With the mercury frequently soaring into the 90’s and above, stress to the turf causes problems such as thinning, increased weed pressure and disease. What to do? Think of spring as the time of year to nurture that great stand of grass and summer as the time to help it survive. Here are some tips to help your lawn beat the summer heat. 1. Raise your mowing heights. Lawns cut at a height greater than three inches will develop deeper root systems and dry out slower than those mowed more closely. A taller canopy of grass also helps to shade the soil and prevents weed seeds from germinating. 2. Mow more frequently. A great rule of thumb is to never remove more than 1/3rd of the leaf material when you mow as this causes undue stress to the plant and can make it more susceptible to disease. Cool-season turf in Colorado will also naturally slow its growth rate as temperatures rise above 80 degrees, so the grass may not need cut as often. 3. Water deep and infrequent. Applying 1 to 1.5 inches of water to a Kentucky bluegrass lawn three times per week rather than smaller amounts on a daily basis will help to develop deeper roots and allow the canopy to not hold excess moisture which can result in disease outbreaks. 4. Perform an irrigation audit. Irrigation is a great tool, but like anything, it needs to be maintained. Check your sprinkler heads to make sure that there are no clogged nozzles, and if you have rotating heads, look to see that these are turning and adjusted properly. 5. Avoid excess fertilization. Even if it looks as though your lawn may need a shot of fertilizer during the summer, avoid this as summer applications will cause a flush of tender growth that will struggle in the summer heat. If you must fertilize, organic based fertilizer rather than synthetic will give a natural slow release and avoid flush growth. 6. Hold off on other lawn care practices. Practices such as de-thatching, seeding, and herbicide place unneeded stress on the turf and are best left until the fall when the temperature drops and the grass can better recover from injury. We all know that the summers in Colorado can take a toll on our turf, but hopefully these tips will help you to have a lawn that your neighbors will envy.
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Colorado AvidGolfer | June 2012
player’sCorner a former physics instructor at the Air Force Academy and retired and living in Scottsdale, pushed for the transformation. Living north of San Diego and recently retired, Knuth spent 16 years with the USGA and traveled 160 days a year to various states and countries to teach golf associations how to rate their courses, which then could integrate the slope system, which is part of the USGA’s Golf Handicap and Information Network (GHIN). Simmons and Knuth both believe the system isn’t perfect. For starters, it still doesn’t rid the game of the dreaded “sandbagger,” the golfer who purports to be a “12” and then shoots 72 at a tournament. The system, according to Knuth, accepts random excellence; statistically it is possible for a 90-shooter to score 72. However, if that “12” follows up that tournament score of 72 with a 76, then the handicap is adjusted immediately, sliding down towards 7 or lower. Knuth credits that fault being able to post scores online, removing “peer review” from the equation. At most clubs, scorecards are signed and then examined by a committee to determine authenticity. “The idea was that everything would be open for review,” said Knuth. “Now the personal computer takes that away.” Simmons points out the “horses for courses” element in handicapping. “We always had to have a scratch rating for what the best player might do,” he said. “But that doesn’t really tell you where all the obstacles are. They may be more than 200 yards off the tee, but for the player who doesn’t carry the ball 220 the hazards may not be an issue. Move all that stuff to180 yards and the bogey player now gets in trouble off the tee.” The solution, according to both, was another consideration in the index: long, short, wide, tight, sort of like fitting yourself at the shoe store. You’re a 9 but are you a 9D or 9EE? For rating a course, it may be long but wide, or conversely short but tight. “The USGA thought that Slope was complicated enough,” Knuth explained. “That was just another factor to consider.” But we have learned it, accepted it and now use it. ag
Contributing Editor Ted Johnson carries a 9.4 handicap index at Callippee Preserve Golf Course in Pleasanton, California. For more stories and helpful information, visit Colorado AvidGolfer.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook. ColoradoAvidG o lf e r.c o m
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June 2012 |Colorado AvidGolfer
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player’sCorner Clubbing Up
Augusta in Evergreen Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Hiwan Golf Club remains one of Colorado’s toughest tests of putting. | By Greg Henry
H
iwan Golf Club will celebrate its 50th anniversary with an August members’ party. Stories will flow like champagne at this hallowed private club nestled at 7,665 feet amid the pines of Evergreen. Founded in 1962 by Darst Buchanan (who would die before the course opened) and his three sons-in-law—John Casey, Robert Kirchner, Fred Gooddale—on the Buchanan family’s 14,000-acre Hiwan Ranch, the club hired Press Maxwell, who had moved to Colorado in 1958, as the course designer. Press’s father, Perry, designed the greens for Alister MacKenzie at Augusta National, home of the Masters. In fact, President Eisenhower, a regular at Augusta, was among the first to note the similarities of the two courses— the pines, hilly terrain and fast, undulating
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Colorado AvidGolfer | June 2012
greens—when he visited Hiwan in 1963. This led to the Colorado Open—which Kirchner started at Hiwan in 1964 as a fundraiser for Craig Hospital—often being called The Masters of state tournaments. The Open took place the week before the Broadmoor Invitational in Colorado Springs, then a popular stop for older golf professionals and budding amateurs. During the Colorado Open’s 28 years at Hiwan, you could see veterans Al Geiberger, Dave Stockton, Dow Finsterwald, Gene Littler, Billy Casper and even Sam Snead. College players who became PGA Tour stars also played, including Hale Irwin, Steve Jones, Phil Mickelson and Corey Pavin (who stayed in Hiwan Superintendent Gary Russell’s home off the 14th hole). “Those years of hosting the Colorado Open and being able to get the field from
ColoradoAvidG o lf e r.c o m
p h o t o g r a p h c o u r t e s y o f h i wa n g o l f c l u b
MASTERFUL: Vibrant landscaping borders Hiwan’s par-4 opener.
those premier players allowed Hiwan to make its mark,” says Kyle Heyen, Hiwan’s head PGA golf professional since 1985 and a member of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame. While the Colorado Open gave Hiwan notoriety, the golf course remains the star. “One reason we brought so many people here was because of the golf course,” says Russell, one of the three longest tenured employees, since 1972. Perry Maxwell always said 50 percent of the game was around the green so he invented the ’Maxwell rolls’ emphasizing undulations on the green.” Sam Snead learned the effect of “Maxwell rolls” at Hiwan. While giving a chipping lesson to members in 1986, he plopped a chip on the green, which quickly rolled off. “Now I remember how fast the greens are here,” Slammin’ Sammy reportedly said. For all its attraction of high-profile players, Hiwan’s most enduring legacy may be its devotion to junior golf. “When you have 600 kids at a club, junior golf is obviously the way to go,” says Hiwan President David Fowler. Club General Manager Dan Sherman adds, “Most clubs are building a high wall (to keep people out). We’ve tried to be inclusive.” Evergreen High School’s boys’ and girls’ golf and tennis teams play free at Hiwan. Heyen and his golf assistants teach inschool lessons on golf to local schools. Hiwan hosted the USGA Girls Junior in 1965 and the USGA Junior Boys Amateur in ’76. It also hosted the American Junior Golf Association Junior from 2003-05 and the prestigious Rolex Tournament of Champions in 2006, followed by the Rolex Girls Junior in 2007. A year ago the Junior America’s Cup tournament brought the best male golfers from the western U.S., Canada and Mexico. Rickie Fowler, now a star on the PGA Tour, played in the 2006 Rolex event. Lexi Thompson played in the 2007 Rolex event, just 12 days after becoming the youngest qualifier for the U.S. Women’s Open at age 12. Dave Fowler (no relation to Rickie) readily admits, “Hiwan didn’t start as a family club.” One of Hiwan’s founding members was attorney Leo Bradley, who moved on to found the all-male Bear Creek Golf Club
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CASCADE OF BEAUTY: Hiwan’s par-5 2nd.
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Colorado AvidGolfer | June 2012
SWIM UPSTREAM: Hiwan is the rare “golf club” with a pool.
made a 6 after his tee shot went into the pines. Russell recalls: “Hill took the check and went straight to the Little Bear. He didn’t even stop for the trophy.” ag
Greg Henry is a Denver-based freelance writer. Hiwan Golf Club is located at 30671 Clubhouse Lane, Evergreen. Initiation is $25,000; monthly dues run $470. For more information, visit hiwan.com or call 303-674-3369.
A Run at the Ryder?
Hiwan Golf Club made a play at hosting the 1971 matches between the United States and Great Britain. On Feb. 25, 1970, Hiwan hosted the PGA Select Committee and several dignitaries, including Denver Mayor Bill McNichols. The presentation booklet included cutout color photos glued to the pages. Only a couple of those presentations remain. An “English Festival” was proposed at downtown Denver’s new Larimer Square honoring British guests and U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom Walter Annenberg, who later became a Hiwan member. The dinner appeared to be a success, though Hiwan needed to make several course improvements, including an automatic sprinkler system and new bunkers. Then-club President Tony Tyrone believed the TV revenues Hiwan would share equally with the PGA would pay for those costs. No one knew Arnold Palmer had also approached the PGA Selection Committee. Palmer wanted to host the Ryder Cup at his new course, Laurel Valley Golf Club, 55 miles east of Pittsburgh. Palmer’s notoriety trumped Hiwan. Ironically, construction delays prevented Laurel Valley from hosting the Ryder Cup until 1975. St. Louis’ Old Warson Country Club was named a last-minute replacement in 1971 because Hiwan had not made the required changes to the course. It was the only time Hiwan attempted to host such a prestigious tournament. —G.H.
ColoradoAvidG o lf e r.c o m
p h o t o g r a p h s c o u r t e s y o f h i wa n g o l f c l u b
that, even after Bradley’s passing in 2004, refuses to allow females. The family-friendly atmosphere at Hiwan grew with membership changes, Fowler says. “The swimming pool was put in begrudgingly in 1965. We changed with the community and if our members wanted something, we gave it to them,” Fowler adds. Over the years what they’ve consistently wanted—and have consistently gotten—is great golf. Only 7,021 yards from the back tees—relatively short at 7,500 feet—Hiwan still challenges players with its hilly terrain and lightning-fast greens. “The golf course has proven itself over the test of time,” Fowler says. An example came in 1984. The week before his 3-over 283 won the Colorado Open at Hiwan, Willie Wood shot a 16-under 268 at the Anheuser-Busch Classic in Williamsburg, Va.—and lost by one shot to Ronnie Black in the PGA Tour event. “The key to Hiwan is it’s firm and fast,” says Russell, who in 1989 replaced the green on the now signature par-3 12th hole five weeks before the Colorado Open was played on it. “That’s how this course plays its best.” Perhaps the best story about Hiwan involves Dave Hill, renowned beer drinker on the course and four-time Open winner. In 1982, Hill finished tied for first with a young Steve Jones, who was playing at CU. Before the playoff started on the first hole, Hill turned to his caddie and said, “This won’t take me long.” Hill smacked his drive down the middle, hit a little fade on his second shot to within 10 feet and made the putt for birdie. Jones
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Aurora Hills, Aurora EXCLUSIVE!
$27/$29
Mon-Thur after 12pm, Fri-Sun & holidays after 1pm
Yes
1 per season
The Bridges, Montrose NEW!
$53
Mon-Thur after 11am, Fri-Sun after 1pm
Yes
2
Broadlands, Broomfield
$32
Monday-Thursday after 12pm
3
Buffalo Run, Commerce City
$39
Monday-Thursday anytime
3
Cedaredge Golf Club, Cedaredge
$35
Any day, anytime
Yes
3
Colorado National, Erie
$45
Mon-Thur anytime, Fri-Sun after 12pm
Yes
3
CommonGround, Aurora* EXCLUSIVE!
$40
Shoulder: Mon-Thur anytime, Fri-Sun after 12pm Peak: Mon-Thur anytime
Yes
3
Deer Creek, Littleton EXCLUSIVE & NEW!
$40
Mon-Thur anytime, Fri-Sun after 12pm
Yes
2
Devil's Thumb, Delta
$35
Mon-Thur anytime, Fri-Sun after 12pm
Yes
2
Eagle Trace, Broomfield
$26/$34
Mon-Thur after 12pm, Fri-Sun after 2pm
Yes
2
Family Sports Center, Centennial*
$19/$21
Mon-Thur after 11am, Fri-Sun after 1pm
Yes
Unlimited
Fitzsimons, Aurora EXCLUSIVE!
$25/$28
Mon-Thur after 11am, Fri-Sun & holidays after 1pm
Yes
1 per season
Foothills, Denver
$33
Monday-Thursday after 1pm
3
Fossil Trace, Golden EXCLUSIVE!
$45
Shoulder: Mon-Thur after 1pm Peak: Mon-Thur before 7am, after 2pm
Shoulders: Unlimited Peak: 1 Round
Fox Hollow, Lakewood NEW!
$44
Mon-Thur after 1pm, Fri-Sun & holidays after 2pm
Yes
Shoulders: Unlimited Peak: 3 Rounds
Green Valley Ranch, Denver EXCLUSIVE!
$35
Mon-Thur before 9am, after 12pm, Fri-Sun after 2pm
Yes
1 per season
Heritage at Westmoor, Westminster
$40
Monday-Thursday after 11am
Heritage Eagle Bend, Aurora
$43
Monday-Thursday after 11am
Heritage Todd Creek, Thornton
$40
Mon-Thur after 12pm, Fri-Sun after 1pm
Yes
3
Highlands Ranch GC, Highlands Ranch
$43/$53
Mon-Thur anytime, Fri-Sun after 1pm
Yes
Shoulders: 2 Rounds Peak: 1 Round
The Homestead Golf Course, Lakewood NEW!
$34
Mon-Thur after 1pm, Fri-Sun & holidays after 2pm
Yes
Shoulders: Unlimited Peak: 3 Rounds
Indian Tree, Arvada
$33
Any day after 12pm
Yes
Unlimited
The Inverness, Englewood EXCLUSIVE!
$56
Mon-Thur anytime, Fri-Sun after 12pm
Yes
3
Kings Deer, Monument EXCLUSIVE!
$35
Monday-Thursday after 11am
Legacy Ridge, Westminster
$45
Mon-Thur after 11am, Fri-Sun after 3pm
The Links, Highlands Ranch
$31/$36
Mon-Thur anytime, Fri-Sun after 12pm
Littleton Golf and Tennis Club, Littleton
$27
1st Shoulder and Peak: Mon-Thur after 1pm Shoulder: Any day after 1pm
Lone Tree GC, Lone Tree EXCLUSIVE!
$44
Monday-Thursday after 1pm
1 per season
Meadows, Littleton
$37
Monday-Thursday after 1pm
3
Meadow Hills, Aurora EXCLUSIVE!
$30/$34
Mon-Thur after 11am, Fri-Sun & holidays after 1pm
36
Colorado AvidGolfer | June 2012
Unlimited 2
2
2nd
Yes
Unlimited
Yes
1 per season
Yes
Unlimited
Yes
1 per season
ColoradoAvidG o lf e r.c o m
53 5 42 15 courses
courses with weekend play
new courses
courses with EXCLUSIVE Passport offers
Golf Courses
Rates starting at
Available Tee Times
Weekend Play
# of Rounds
Murphy Creek, Aurora EXCLUSIVE!
$33/$40
Mon-Thur after 11am, Fri-Sun & holidays after 1pm
Yes
1 per season
Omni Interlocken, Broomfield EXCLUSIVE!
$55
Mon-Thur anytime, Fri before 12pm, Sat-Sun & holidays after 12pm
Yes
3
Pine Creek, Colorado Springs
$39
Any day after 12pm
Yes
4 per season
Plum Creek, Castle Rock EXCLUSIVE & NEW!
$40
Mon-Thur anytime, Fri-Sun & holidays after 12pm
Yes
2
Redlands Mesa, Grand Junction
$63
Mon-Thur after 11am, Fri-Sun after 2pm
Yes
2
The Ridge at Castle Pines, Castle Rock EXCLUSIVE!
$50
Monday-Thursday anytime
Saddle Rock, Aurora EXCLUSIVE!
$35/$42
Mon-Thur after 11am, Fri-Sun & holidays after 1pm
Yes
1 per season
South Suburban Par 3, Centennial (cart not included)
$9
Mon-Thur after 11am, Fri-Sun after 1pm
Yes
Unlimited
Thorncreek, Thornton
$27
Monday-Thursday after 11am
Mountain Golf Courses
1/1 - 6/30 9/1-closing
Available Tee Times
Weekend Play
# of Rounds
Breckenridge GC, Breckenridge*
$99
Sun-Thur anytime, Sundays only Peak season
Yes
2
Eagle Ranch, Eagle
$35
Any day after 11am
Yes
2
Eagle Vail, Avon
$55
Mon-Thur after 11am, Fri-Sun after 2pm
Yes
2
Grand Elk, Granby
$32/$37
Any day after 12pm
Yes
4 per season
Grand Lake, Grand Lake
$40
Sunday-Thursday after 11am
Yes
3
Headwaters, Granby
$40
Mon-Thur after 11 am, Fri-Sun after 1pm
Yes
Unlimited
Keystone Ranch, Keystone
$60
Any day after 11am
Yes
Unlimited
Lakota Canyon, New Castle
$65
Mon-Thur after 11am, Fri-Sun after 2pm
Yes
3
Pole Creek, Tabernash
$45
Sunday-Thursday after 12pm
Yes
3
The Raven at Three Peaks, Silverthorne
$65
Sun-Thur after 12pm, Fri-Sun after 2pm
Yes
Unlimited
The River Course at Keystone, Keystone
$75
Any day after 11am
Yes
Unlimited
River Valley Ranch, Carbondale
$65
Mon-Thur after 11am, Fri-Sun after 1pm
Yes
3
Vail GC, Vail
$50
Monday-Thursday and Sunday after 1pm
Yes
1 per season
†
3
3
* Family Sports: 9-Hole Golf Course * Breckenridge offer: Opening date through 6/30/12 (27 holes for $99); 7/1/12 through 8/31/12 (18 holes for $99, Sundays Only); 9/1- closing date $99 (27 Holes) * CommonGround offer: Must be CGA or Golf Passport Plus member to get rate * Mountain golf courses: Peak season (7/1 through 8/31). Prices may vary.
G O T O C O L O R A D O AV I D G O L F E R . C O M F O R C O M P L E T E D E TA I L S . 2012 Member Privileges. All rates include a cart. Visit www.coloradoavidgolfer.com for complete details regarding rates, available tee times, number of rounds and reservation policy. Tee time requests are on a space available basis to Golf Passport members and participating courses’ rain check policies will apply. The golf offers are good from January 1, 2012 – December, 31 2012, excluding holidays, special events, tournaments or closure to environmental or economic conditions. Mountain seasons may vary slightly. The Golf Passport is limited to one per person and is non-transferable. Prices do not include sales tax. Some courses may require a credit card to secure a tee time prior to play. If a tee time is cancelled, the golf course may charge for its discounted fee. Colorado AvidGolfer reserves the right to make reasonable modifications to the Golf Passport, effective upon notice by e-mail or first class mail to the Golf Passport member. A Golf Passport member may reject any such modification by responding in writing to Colorado AvidGolfer and returning the Golf Passport within ten (10) days. The Golf Passport member will receive a prorated refund. The Golf Passport member agrees that he or she is not entitled to any additional compensation. Colorado AvidGolfer disclaims all liability for damage or loss or property or injury to any person occurring while using the Golf Passport. The subscription expires with the Winter 2012 issue. One subscription per household. If ordered online, please allow up to 10 days for delivery of your Golf Passport.
Co l o r a d o A v i d G o l f e r. c o m
June 2012 |Colorado AvidGolfer
37
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Colorado AvidGolfer | June 2012
ColoradoAvidG o lf e r.c o m
side Bets |
CARS
p h o t o g r a p h by m o r g a n c u t t e r
FOOD
A LOTTA CIABATTA: Bear Dance’s chicken sandwich with almond pesto and mozzarella.
Wicked ’wiches of the West A subjective selection of the Front Range’s foremost sandwiches. By Lori Midson The Golf Club at Bear Dance
If you’re a regular at Bear Dance, consider yourself lucky. Executive chef John Daly could easily kick the golf gig and open a restaurant in central Denver, where he could strut his cooking bravado to a much larger audience of foodniks. But that’s not happening—at least not anytime in the foreseeable future. While Daly’s menu extends yards and yards beyond standard golf grub and overflows with cosmopolitan dishes that make you want to linger in the cozy clubhouse, his sandwiches are hardly an afterthought. In fact, from what we can tell, his combinations, which will continue to evolve throughout the next few months, are worthy of their own billboard. To wit: The seared, Asian-inspired ahi tuna, sandwich, seared and crusted with crushed coriander seeds and black pepper and elevated with a smear of wasabi aioli, fresh lettuce and rings of red onion. Also deservedly popular is the burger smothered with red or green chile (the verde, especially, is terrific) and the pesto chicken breast sandwich rubbed Co l o r a d o A v i d G o l f e r. c o m
with toasted almond pesto, balsamic drizzle and mozzarella on toasted ciabatta. Regardless of what you feed your mouth, you’ll go home happy, fat, full and determined to eat your way through Daly’s menu. 6630 Bear Dance Dr., Larkspur, 303-681-4653; beardancegolf.com
Cinque Soldi Salumeria
Leave it to Mark DeNittis, Denver’s heralded sultan of sausages, to open an old-world salumeria that pimps many of the same handcrafted, artisanal products he introduced to Denver two years ago at Il Mondo Vecchio, a manufacturing facility that ballyhoos the city’s best salumi. At Cinque Soldi Salumeria, a tiny gathering stoop in Washington Park, you can get your fix of prosciutto, pepperoni, sweet coppa and hot Italian sausages—all of which are DeNittis’s delicacies—wedged between bread heaped with good cheeses and all sorts of other toppings, like hot giardineria or fried or roasted peppers. The “wicked, awesome grindahs”—as they’re billed—will make you feel like you’ve won the lottery. 1284 S. Pearl St., 303-996-6400; cinquesoldi.com June 2012 |Colorado AvidGolfer
39
sideBets Vert Kitchen
Masterpiece Deli
Masterpiece Deli
Red Star Deli
James Mazzio, a Food & Wine magazine Best New Chef alum, can cook just about anything—and cook it well. But at Red Star Deli, the new food emporium he opened in the Icehouse in conjunction with Studio F—a professional kitchen that plays host to pop-up dinners and cooking classes—he focuses solely
Vert Kitchen
on sandwiches, and the results are nothing short of stellar. Mazzio, who has endearingly acerbic East Coast personality, pays homage to “sandwiches that you want to run all over your face.” His BLT&E, stockpiled with fivepepper bacon, beefsteak tomatoes, butter lettuce and egg salad, is fist pump-perfect. His Italiano, piled to the rafters with aged provolone, housemade giardiniera, beefsteak tomatoes, lettuce and five different meats, including capicola and Parmacotta ham, would fly Sinatra to the moon. 1801 Wynkoop, Suite 175, 303-226-9460; redstardeli.com ag
Lori Midson is CAG’s dining editor. Read more at ColoradoAvidGolfer.com and Westword.com. Jump on and follow us as well on Facebook and Twitter.
Visit our
NEW PARK MEADOWS STORE 8691 Park Meadows Ctr Dr
next to Costco & The Container Store.
THE SAME GREAT GEAR AND MORE!
EXCEPTION SAVE Golf Balls 40% 20-Ball Pack
Reg. 24.99
14.99
Z-STAR Golf Gloves 3 for 24.99
SAVE OVER 45% Reg. 18.99
9.99
each
5 CONVENIENT FRONT RANGE LOCATIONS
AURORA ARVADA LITTLETON 2650 S. Havana 7715 Wadsworth 8100 W. Crestline Ave 303-337-1734 303-420-0885 303-948-7550
PARK MEADOWS COLORADO SPRINGS 8691 Park Meadows Ctr Dr Montebello & Academy 719-268-9522 720-328-7402
coloradoskiandgolf.com 40
Colorado AvidGolfer | June 2012
ColoradoAvidG o lf e r.c o m
p h o t o g r a p h s by l o r i m i d s o n
Masterpiece Deli is the kind of joint you wish you had in your ’hood, but then, you’d likely be so be’wiched by what’s between the bread that the rest of us would have to hijack your table. This pretty sums up the scenario at Masterpiece. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, this Highland deli is arguably Denver’s best, thanks to its unassailable arsenal of highquality meats, cheeses and produce, which result in towering marvels like the Cubano and the Greek. But it may be the skyscraping pastrami sandwich with housemade coleslaw, aged Swiss and Thousand Island dressing on grilled rye that demonstrates why Masterpiece lives up to its moniker. 1575 Central St., 303561-3354; masterpiecedeli.com
At Vert Kitchen, patrons always outnumber seats, and lines often wind out the front door. But Vert rewards persistence with transcendent sandwiches like the tuna salad tart with lemon, herbed with chervil and smooched with Greek yogurt scented with cucumber. Owner and chef Noah Stephens makes just about everything in-house, including the roasted turkey, sliced thick and paired with marinated tomatoes. His BLT is stacked high with salty slabs of bacon that’s never floppy, butter lettuce, fresh mozzarella and those ethereal marinated tomatoes. Enjoy the sandwiches and equally delicious side dishes on the shaded back patio. 704 S. Pearl St., 303997-5941; vertkitchen.com
INVESTMENT
MANAGERS ARE
LIKE GOLF CLUBS.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT ONE MAKES
ALL THE DIFFERENCE. Whether you’re on the links or investing – results matter. We believe our philosophy of
We strive to produce income while protecting principal
We strive to go the “extra mile” by talking with employees, suppliers, customers – even
protecting capital while
competitors – to get the whole story.
maximizing return
Performance is key!
distinguishes us within the high-yield bond market. We place
importance on reducing credit and interest rate risk thereby protecting on the downside. A commitment to rigorous research takes us on-site for face-to-face meetings and facility tours.
For more information call 303-221-9499 www.threepeaks.com
Three Peaks Capital Management, LLC is an investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investing in securities involves risk of loss which clients should be prepared to bear. Our past performance is not a guarantee of future results. You may obtain more information about Three Peaks Capital Management, LLC, including its Form ADV Brochure, by sending a written request to Three Peaks Capital Management, LLC, Attn: Ashley Shockley, 3750 Dacoro Lane, Suite 100, Castle Rock, CO 80109 or call (303) 221-9499. Co l o r a d o A v i d G o l f e r. c o m
June 2012 |Colorado AvidGolfer
41
sideBets Nice Drives
TURNING OVER: Outside and in, the Leaf is electrifying.
The radical Nissan Leaf holds its charge while Ford’s Escape gets a jolting makeover. By Isaac Bouchard 2012 Nissan Leaf SL
Price as tested: $38,270 before tax incentives More than most vehicles, the Nissan Leaf requires we define its mission. This 100-percent electric car will only suit a very specific set of buyers and usages; stray from those parameters and buying or judging it makes about as much sense as driving beyond its 90-100 mile range. The Leaf is the first mass-produced, fully electric vehicle (EV) for the general public. It is brilliantly engineered, seamless in intended use, and pleasing to operate. It also engenders a very satisfying sense of frugality, knowing that running it can cost literally pennies a day (or night, as that is when recharging costs are lowest), and that it should require far less upkeep than conventional cars. If you are one of the millions who only drives about 40 miles per day, this Nissan will meet most of your needs, as its range is about twice that. Since most families have another vehicle, the Leaf could happily serve duty as the commuter car. But there are other requirements, such as the
42
Colorado AvidGolfer | June 2012
ColoradoAvidG o lf e r.c o m
photographs courtesy of Nissan
Amping Up the Action
need for secure parking with access to electricity in the form of a dedicated, 240-volt source, which will almost certainly need to be installed by an outside contractor (there can be tax credits for doing so). If those criteria apply, here’s what a Leaf owner will experience: They’ll get lots of questions about what they’re driving, as this EV looks sufficiently different from conventional cars. Inside they’ll find a well-constructed, thoughtfully laid out cockpit that’s comfortable and generally practical, though there isn’t a flat floor in back when you fold the seats, making it less load-friendly than the standard-issue five-door hatchback. Various screens display range and charge status along with info about what tunes you’re playing or where you’re headed. The Leaf offers a cold-weather package with heated steering wheel and seats (cuts down use of the climate control, which increases the range) on upper models, and you can program it to pre-warm or pre– cool the passenger compartment while still plugged in. Charging takes up to 20 hours on normal current, and seven or eight with 240V. The Leaf is a very nice drive, almost silent. Nissan has done a wonderful job of suppressing road noise, making it quieter than the Prius or Chevy Volt. It rides tolerably well, and handles a bit like a sports car too, with a low center of gravity and quick reactions. It also feels quick, as its 24 kiloWatt hour lithium-ion battery makes its full 207lb-ft of torque at 0rpm, meaning punchy off-the-line performance for city driving, though the 0-60 time of 10 seconds is slow. Yet exploring its dynamic envelope will mean eating into its theoretical 100+ mile range. Basically, everything you use—heater, A/C, power windows—is draining the battery, and shortening how far you can go. Which can lead to fear of running out of juice, and getting stranded on the side of the road; this is known as “range anxiety.” Unlike what happened when you were a broke teenager and ran out of gas, however, you’re literally dead in the water. So making sure you calculate your journeys and plan everything in advance is essential to the Leaf life. And often, the Nissan will tell you that you have a lot less range than you thought at the journey’s beginning, meaning charging up at some inopportune times or inconvenient locations.
Let us indulge you head to toe with a Citrus Lavender Salt Scrub. Let us ease away tension with the soothing warmth of a Colorado River Stone Massage. Let us replenish your skin with our special High Altitude Oxygen Facial. Let us allow you to contemplate nothing more serious than the aroma of your therapy.
Ritz Carlton
Experience the benefits of a spa treatment designed just for you. For more information or to make an appointment, call The Ritz-Carlton, Denver at 303-312-3800 or go to ritzcarlton.com/denver.
Š2012 The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.
sideBets Leaf sales have run behind estimates so far, despite a $7,500 federal tax credit and a complex-to-calculate Colorado one that could be worth up to $6,000. The depth and breadth of engineering prowess demonstrated by this first-generation Nissan EV isn’t reflected in those sales numbers, and someday we may all look back on the Leaf as a groundbreaker.
2013 Ford Escape
Price range (AWD): $27,645-37,420
NEW LOOK: The redesigned Ford Escape
button. Ford expects class-leading economy numbers (not available at press time) but in the real world, the CX-5 will probably beat any version of the Escape. But in Colorado’s thin air, the 2.0-liter Escape is probably faster and more fun to drive hard, than anything other than a V6-powered RAV4. As an example of Ford’s “One World” policy of devoting more engineering resources to fewer vehicles, the Escape succeeds in the range of needs it covers. If not best in class in every category, it is a very strong contender for overall honors. ag
CAG Automotive Editor Isaac Bouchard’s definitive book on car-buying is available at CarBuyingTipsGuide.com. Read his reviews at Nicedrivz.com and ColoradoAvidgolfer.com, and become a follower.
Visit our
NEW PARK MEADOWS STORE 8691 Park Meadows Ctr Dr
next to Costco & The Container Store.
THE SAME GREAT GEAR AND MORE!
EXCEPTION SAVE Golf Balls 40% 20-Ball Pack
Reg. 24.99
14.99
Z-STAR Golf Gloves 3 for 24.99
SAVE OVER 45% Reg. 18.99
9.99
each
5 CONVENIENT FRONT RANGE LOCATIONS
AURORA ARVADA LITTLETON 2650 S. Havana 7715 Wadsworth 8100 W. Crestline Ave 303-337-1734 303-420-0885 303-948-7550
PARK MEADOWS COLORADO SPRINGS 8691 Park Meadows Ctr Dr Montebello & Academy 719-268-9522 720-328-7402
coloradoskiandgolf.com 44
Colorado AvidGolfer | June 2012
ColoradoAvidG o lf e r.c o m
photograph courtesy of ford
Despite being an elderly compact crossover, the Escape is one of the class’s top sellers. This latest version—the first real redesign in its 12-year life—will attempt to dethrone the Honda CR-V as the segment’s leader. While the Escape’s sleek new look may put off some traditionalists, Ford hopes many buyers will gravitate to the more carlike stance and flash surface ornamentation. Inside, few will complain, as the very techy look of recent company products continues, with lots of trapezoids and contrasts of color and finish—at least on top-end models. Downsides include seats that are tight for larger folk and the same
sense of cost-cutting shared by all Dearborn products: things such as shinier, cheaper plastics for the rear door panels than the fronts, and the use of real animal hide only on some parts of the “full leather” seats. But overall it is a better place to spend time than in the dumbed-down Honda CR-V or ancient-feeling Toyota RAV4. Only the Mazda CX-5 really beats it, with a greater depth of quality and more comfortable seating. That new class entry trumps the Escape dynamically as well, with better steering feel, a chassis that is as tossable and fun, and a more absorbent, smoother ride. The Ford fights back with torquier, turbocharged powertrain lineup of 1.6- and 2.0-liter Ecoboost engines that make for effortless progress (there’s a rental-spec 2.5-liter normally aspirated motor, but only for FWD base S models). The bigger motor is a stout puller, with 270lb-ft of torque, meaning the Escape can tow up to 3,500 pounds, yet it’s the little brother that actually surprises more, with an easy-to-access 184lb-ft at only 2500rpm, and up to 178hp if you run premium fuel. All are hooked to a slick sixspeed automatic with a fiddly manual shift