2018 GEAR GUIDE
ANNUAL PRIVATE CLUB DIRECTORY
Elevating the Game.
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CONTENTS | April 2018 PHOTO COURTESY OF WILLIAM MURRAY GOLF
42
FEATURES 86
DEPARTMENTS 6 Forethoughts
April is the Coolest Month
82 Double Play
SIDE BETS 45 Fareways
Homegrown Colorado Rockies’ pitcher Kyle Freeland is an ace on the mound—and on the golf course. By Andy Bigford
By Jon Rizzi
Sierra in Lone Tree. By Gary James
8 The CGA
47 Getting Home
86
By Martin Yeager
Teeing Up a Celebration
49 Nice Drives
As San Antonio turns 300, there’s far more to remember than just the Alamo. By Jon Rizzi
It’s about more than just a handicap.
14 ’net Score
Why this year’s Tournament Series is the best ever, GolfTEC intruction, more
23 The Gallery
Living at Backstone Country Club.
2018 Audi A4 Allroad, Lincoln Navigator, Range Rover Velar. By Isaac Bouchard
NCAA D-I Conference Championships preview; Ed Oldham, The Broadmoor Heritage Hall, more
Special Sections
92 Blind Spot
15 HOME TEAM ADVANTAGE
Dave Loggins and the Masters theme song.
PLAYER’S CORNER
The Colorado PGA and Mile High Golf Trail Partners provide a free home to a wounded Colorado veteran.
29 Gear Guide
2018’s best clubs and balls.
53 PRIVATE CLUB GUIDE
By Ted Johnson
38 Instruction
How baseball can help your game.
29 pages of Colorado clubs, including a directory of fees, dues and amenities at the state’s 53 members-only golf institutions.
By Chris Schultz
40 Travel
Add birdies to the beat at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritge Festival. By Tom Ferrell
42 Fashion
Golf styles go back to the future. By Suzanne S. Brown COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
ON THE COVER Kyle Freeland at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Arizona. Photograph by John Lebya.
2
78 coloradoavidgolfer.com
April 2018 | Volume 17, Number 1 publisher
A llen J. Walters editor
Jon Rizzi SALES, MARKETING & ADVERTISING associate publisher
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Colorado AvidGolfer (ISSN 1548-4335) is published eight times a year by Baker-Colorado Publishing, LLC, and printed by American Web, Inc. Volume 17, Number one. 7200 S. Alton Way #A-180, Centennial, CO 80112. Colorado AvidGolfer is available at more than 250 locations, or you can order your personal subscription by calling 720-493-1729. Subscriptions are available at the rate of $17.95 per year. Copyright © 2018 by Baker-Colorado Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Postmaster: Send address changes to Colorado AvidGolfer, 7200 S. Alton Way #A-180 Centennial, CO 80112. The magazine welcomes editorial submissions but assumes no responsibility for the safekeeping or return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, artwork or other material.
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FRED COUPLES DAVIS LOVE III
TOM WATSON
Be A Part Of Golf History The U.S. Senior Open Championship returns to Colorado Springs during The Broadmoor Centennial Celebration. Don’t miss your chance to see the greatest champions in golf, such as Fred Couples, Davis Love III and Tom Watson along with Honorary Chair John Elway.
Order today at 2018ussenioropen.com 39TH U.S. SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP | JUNE 25 - JULY 1 | THE BROADMOOR
Forethoughts
PHOTOGRAPH BY MIC CLIK
April is the Coolest Month
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
THE POET T. S. Eliot wasn’t a golfer. Were he one, he’d have known April is not the “cruelest” month; it’s the coolest. It’s the month of resurrection and rebirth, when tulips push up through the thawing earth, when the air suddenly fills with birdsong and the aroma of freshly cut grass. But if you’re reading this, you know what makes April so cool—and it starts with the soothing, stirring notes of what everyone calls “The Masters Theme Song.” This canticle, which CBS couples with idyllic footage of Augusta National Golf Club during its broadcast, is actually the instrumental version of “Augusta,” a song written by Dave Loggins that signals the beginning of the golf season in Colorado and much of the country. The Masters, ironically, marks the end of the golf season at Augusta National, so we’ve fittingly put Loggins’ own story of how he came up with the tune, as told to Jon Lawrence, on the last page of this issue. You can flip to it directly, although you don’t want to miss the 90 pages preceding it. With baseball season also beginning this month, we turn our attention to Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland. By all accounts, the Denver native, who played on Thomas Jefferson High School’s golf team and competed in state championships, possesses the right skills and psychological makeup to succeed in professional golf. Contributor Andy Bigford joined the chorus of believers during Spring Training when he observed Freeland and fellow pitchers Jon Gray, Jeff Hoffman and Chris Rusin during a round at the challenging Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Arizona. The lefty put on a shot-making clinic, about which you can read more on page 82. In addition to Arizona, this month we also head east to New Orleans (page 40) and San Antonio (page 86), two historic, golf-rich cities that this year turn 300. There’ll also be a great deal of revelry in Colorado as The Broadmoor celebrates 100 years during its hosting of the 2018 U.S. Senior Open June 25-July 1. In preparation, the golf clubhouse and golf shop have already undergone an overhaul, this month opening the photo- and object-filled Heritage Hallway (page 26), revamping the grille and restoring the rich, green-walled grandeur of the entryway. The festivities begin with a June 25 concert featuring Vince Gill and Amy Grant, during which a wounded American soldier will receive a mortgage-free home. Find out how Colorado PGA REACH, the Golf Club at Bear Dance and Mile High Golf Trail Partners joined forces to help bring about this home award—and another one—this summer (page 18). April also annually brings our Gear Guide (page 29) and Private Club Directory (page 53). The former presents the latest advances in clubs and balls, while the latter provides profiles of institutions that encourage the deployment of those implements. More critically, however, clubs also have become increasingly focused on remaining relevant through a battery of non-golf programs, activities and amenities that fulfill the needs of the entire family. Are these programs succeeding? Given the rising price of initiations, disappearance of recession-era incentives and the reappearance of waiting lists to join, the answer is yes. So if a T.S. Eliot were planning to join a private club, this month would indeed be the cruelest because, with few exceptions, the buyer’s market that existed for almost a decade has ended. But the buyer’s market didn’t end because clubs closed (as hundreds had in other parts of the country), but because the vigor has returned to the Colorado golf world. And reporting good news like this makes April the coolest month of all. — JON RIZZI
6
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Starting June 10, 2018
H AV E R E T U R N E D !
The CGA SERVING ALL COLORADO GOLFERS
More Than a Handicap incredible results: 894 JGAC members played 5,800 tournament rounds, 10,000+ children participated in Golf in School programs, PGA Jr. League welcomed 1,519 competitors and the Drive, Chip and Putt competition fielded 1,088 participants. This April, one skilled junior will be testing his game on one of the world’s most hallowed courses. Kaden Ford of Colorado Springs will become just the fourth Coloradan to participate in the Drive, Chip, and Putt National competition held at Augusta National Golf Club the weekend prior to the Masters. Kaden is a Discovery Canyon High School golf teammate of 2016 4A state individual champion Luke Trujillo, who went to the DC&P Nationals at Augusta in the spring of 2016. That same year also saw the only other Coloradans—Arielle Keating and Caitlyn Chin—make it that far in the event’s five-year history. The DC&P Nationals are televised from Augusta on Golf Channel.
THE COLORADO GOLF ASSOCIATION is
MASTERFUL: Kaden Ford of Colorado Springs, center, will compete in the DC&P Nationals in Augusta.
To learn more about the many programs of the Colorado Golf Association, visit cogolf.org.
© 2017
dedicated to preserving, improving and sharing the game of golf in Colorado. While we are best known for providing handicaps, course ratings and state tournament activities, our impact extends beyond the course and into the community. Through the game and our programs, we teach the principles of competition, ethics and etiquette—hallmarks of today’s most effective business and community leaders. As we unite with the Colorado Women’s Golf Association in 2018, we look forward to increasing our collective reach and serving our members beyond just the handicap service. If you are interested in becoming a member or joining a club or league in your area, visit coloradogolf.org. One way the CGA impacts the game is through our partnership with the Colorado PGA Section to operate the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado (JGAC). In only two years, the JGAC is more than meeting its mission of “elevating the course of future generations.” Its unique “Player Development Pathway” delivered
Owned by the Colorado Golf Association, and designed by world-renowned architect Tom Doak, CommonGround Golf Course lies at the intersection of Mission and Masterpiece. Photo: EJ Carr, ejcphoto.com
commongroundgc.com | 303-340-1520 COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
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PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF COLORADO GOLF ASSOCIATION
On and off the course, the CGA strives to ensure the health of the game.
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Antler Creek, Falcon EXCLUSIVE
$28
$35
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M-Th any time, F-S-S after 12
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Applewood, Golden
$30
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M-Th any time, F-S-S after 1
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Yes
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Broadlands, Broomfield
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$45
$40
SS: any time, PS: M-Th after 12
Yes (SS)
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$34
$34
$34
M-Th after 12
No
3 P/S = 9
Buffalo Run, Commerce City
$41
$41
$41
M-F any time, S-S after 2
Yes
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M-Th any time, F-S-S after 1
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M-F after 11
No
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$45
M-Th any time, F-S-S after 1
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M-Th any time, F-S-S after 12
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$45
$36
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Yes
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Yes
2
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$55
$35
Any day after 11
Yes
2
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$30
$30
M-Th after 11, F-S-S after 12
Yes
3
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$59
$59
SS: any time, PS: any day after 1
Yes
3
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$21
$19
M-Th any time, F-S-S after 11
Yes
Unlimited
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$36/$51
$36/$51
M-Th before 8 or after 1, F-S-S after 1
Yes
4
Four Mile Ranch, Cañon City
$35
$38
$35
M-F any time, S-S after 1
Yes
3
Fox Acres, Red Feather Lakes
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$60
$50
M-Th any time, F-S-S after 11
Yes
Unlimited
Fox Hollow, Lakewood
$48
$48
$48
M-Th after 1, F-S-S after 2
Yes
Unlimited
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$55
$55
M-Th any time, F-S-S after 11
Yes
Unlimited
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$45/$54
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M-Th after 11, F-S-S after 12
Yes
1
$35
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$40
Any day after 12
Yes
3
$39/$49
$49/$59
$39/$49
Any day after 12
Yes
1 P/S = 3
$67
$87
$67
Any day, any time
Yes
Unlimited
Heritage Eagle Bend, Aurora
$34/$40
$50/$56
$34/$40
M-Th any time, F-S-S after 11
Yes
3
Highlands Ranch, Highlands Ranch
$49/$60
$59/$70
$49/$60
M-Th any time, F-S-S after 12
Yes
SS:2, PS:1 = 5
Homestead, Lakewood
$38
$38
$38
M-Th after 1, F-S-S after 2
Yes
Unlimited
The Greg Mastriona at Hyland Hills Gold Course, Westminster EXCLUSIVE
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$45
$45
M-Th any time, F-S-S after 12
Yes
3
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$24
$24
$24
Any day, any time
Yes
Unlimited
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AVAILABLE TEE TIMES WEEKENDS ROUNDS
The Greg Mastriona at Hyland Hills Par 3 Course, Westminster EXCLUSIVE
$12
$12
$12
Any day, any time
Yes
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Indian Tree, Arvada EXCLUSIVE
$38
$38
$38
Any day after 12
Yes
3
Inverness, Englewood EXCLUSIVE
$60
$80
$60
M-Th any time, F-S-S after 12
Yes
3
NEW Ironbridge, Glenwood Springs
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$79
$79
M-Th any time, F-S-S after 11
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4
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Any day after 11
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$40
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M-Th any time, F-S-S after 1
Yes
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M-Th any time, F-S-S after 12
Yes
1 P/S = 3
Littleton Golf & Tennis Club, Littleton
$29/$31
$34/$36
$29/$31
M-Th after 11, F-S-S after 1
Yes
3
$58
$68
$55
M-Th after 11, F-S-S after 12
Yes
Unlimited
$40/$54
$40/$54
$40/$54
M-Th before 8 or after 1, F-S-S after 1
Yes
4
M-F after 12, S-S after 1
Yes
1 P/S = 3
Lone Tree Golf Club & Hotel, Lone Tree The Meadows, Littleton Murphy Creek, Aurora EXCLUSIVE
$38.50/$46 $38.50/$46 $38.50/$46
Omni Interlocken, Broomfield*
$60
$72
$60
M-Th any time, F before 12, S-S after 12
Yes
3
Pelican Lake Golf Club, Windsor*
$45
$60
$50
M-Th any time, F-S-S after 12
Yes
3
Perry Park Country Club, Larkspur EXCLUSIVE
$79
$79
$79
T-Th after 11:30
No
2
Pole Creek, Tabernash
$58
$58
$58
M-Th after 11, Su after 11
Sunday
Unlimited
Quail Dunes, Fort Morgan
$20
$25
$20
Any day, any time
Yes
4
Raccoon Creek, Littleton
$39/$45
$39/$45
$39/$45
M-Th any time, F-S-S after 12
Yes
4
Raven at Three Peaks, Silverthorne*
$55
$99/$50
$55
SS: any day after 12 PS: M-Th after 12, F-S-S after 4
Yes
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Redlands Mesa, Grand Junction
$55
$55
$55
Any day after 11
Yes
3
The Ridge at Castle Pines, Castle Rock* EXCLUSIVE
$54
$65/$79
$54
M-Th any time, F-S-S after 1
Yes
1 P/S = 3
The River Course at Keystone, Keystone*
$80
$110
$80
Any day after 11
Yes
Unlimited
M-F after 12, S-S after 1
Yes
1 P/S = 3
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$9
$9
M-Th any time, F-S-S after 12
Yes
Unlimited
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$25
$30
$25
Any day after 12
Yes
2
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$40
$45
$45
M-Th any time, F-S-S after 11
Yes
3
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$40
$45
$40
M-Th after 10, F-S-S after 12
Yes
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$59
$99
$69
M-Th any time, F-S-S after 1
Yes
2
Walking Stick, Pueblo
$36
$36
$36
M-Th any time, F-S-S after 12:30
Yes
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$45
$45
$45
M-Th after 11, F-S-S after 1
Yes
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$30
$30
$30
M-Th after 11, F-S-S after 12
Yes
2
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M-Th = Monday-Thursday; F-S-S = Friday-Sunday; Sun-Th= Sunday-Thursday; S-S= Saturday-Sunday P/S= Per Season; SS= Shoulder Season; PS= Peak Season * Some seasons may vary
’net Score Stan Fenn & Doug Perry
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Tee It Up This Summer The Colorado AvidGolfer TOURNAMENT SERIES JUST GOT BETTER. With revamped gift bags that include FREE Chase54 golf polos, FREE Jack Daniel’s mini-bottles, one FREE dozen 2018 Callaway Chrome Softs, and so much more, you’ve NEVER seen a Tournament Series like this! Join us at Colorado National (July 23), Blackstone Country Club (August 20) and The Ridge at Castle Pines (September 5) for the best tournaments in Colorado. Three Golf Events. Three Unique Colorado Experiences: coloradoavidgolfer.com/tournament-series
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Sayonara, Slice! Did you know that ColoradoAvidGolfer.com is your digital home for the world’s BEST online golf instruction? Colorado-based GOLFTEC, the global leader in golf instruction, is the exclusive online instruction provider for CAG. Stop by every Wednesday for new, fact-based video drills from the very best in the world and start playing better golf! For drills and tips visit: coloradoavidgolfer.com/tips Looking for a coach? Take advantage of an EXCLUSIVE Colorado AvidGolfer GOLFTEC Offer: bit.ly/2DudCes
Draw It In The 2018 Denver Golf Expo was full of contests and giveaways—and if you didn’t find our booth you missed out. Congratulations to this year’s drawing winners: Jeff Stumpf, Brenda Garcia, Jay’s Fix It All, Polly Wiese, Jason Nicolas, Robin Eveland, Mark Ethridge, and Debbie Killam. Prizes included Massage Envy gift cards, 2018 U.S. Senior Open Centennial Passes, and free rounds at Green Valley Ranch, Raccoon Creek, CommonGround and The Ridge at Castle Pines. Check out the winners on Facebook: facebook.com/coloradoavidgolfer COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
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Making a Positive Difference in the Lives of Others Through the Game of Golf
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April 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
The Mission of Colorado PGA REACH is to
Make a Positive Difference in the
The Youth Pillar of Colorado PGA REACH seeks to improve and advance opportunities for young people. PGA Jr. League is a flagship youth pillar program of PGA REACH with the goal of making the program accessible to all interested kids across Colorado. PGA Jr. League is a fun, social and inclusive opportunity for boys and girls, ages 16 and under, to learn and enjoy the game of golf from PGA and LPGA Professionals. 2017: 132 teams, 1,500 juniors Colorado PGA Golf in Schools is an introductory golf program delivered during school at absolutely no cost to students or schools. In partnership with the Colorado Open Golf Foundation, more than 100 schools have used the program to introduce the game to nearly 100k students. 2017: 10,035 juniors, 42% on free and reduced lunch, 66 schools The Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado (JGAC) , created in conjunction with the Colorado Golf Association, serves as a vehicle for collaboration in the arena of junior golf in the state of Colorado for parents, kids, coaches and PGA Professionals by streamlining the junior golf process through three tiers of membership: Introductory, Series and Tour. 2017: 896 juniors, 64 tournaments The Drive, Chip & Putt Championship provides juniors the opportunity to compete in Colorado for a chance to qualify for the National Championship on Sunday prior to the Masters. 2017: 1,200 juniors, 9 events, and 1 Colorado Junior headed to Augusta National Golf Club. Diversity & Inclusion are core values and a focus of Colorado PGA REACH. We embrace the spirit of differences. Growth of the Game Grants, awarded to deserving facilities, provide funding to launch new programs that introduce people to the game that wouldn’t otherwise experience the game of golf. Through Colorado PGA REACH, we award College Scholarships to children and grandchildren of PGA Professionals, as well as students at the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs Golf Management University program. 2017: $60k awarded through grants and scholarships
Lives of Others Through the Game of Golf The Military Pillar of Colorado PGA REACH seeks to improve the physical, mental, and social rehabilitation of our military heroes and their families through the sport of golf. PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) is a flagship military program of Colorado PGA REACH. PGA HOPE is a rehabilitative program designed to introduce golf to veterans with disabilities in order to enhance their physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being. Led by trained PGA Professionals, PGA HOPE has helped thousands of Veterans assimilate back into their communities through the social interaction the game of golf provides. 2017 - 6 Chapters, 130 veterans We award a Mortgage Free Home to a Combat Wounded Veteran through our partnership with the Military Warriors Support Foundation. We will award our third home at the 2018 US Senior Open at the Broadmoor. Our fourth home, sponsored by the Mile High Golf Trail, will be awarded at the Colorado PGA REACH Invitational at the Golf Club at Bear Dance. 2017 - 1 mortgage free home award to a combat wounded veteran
The Colorado PGA is proud to partner with the Mile High Golf Trail to award a mortgage free home to a Combat Wounded Veteran in 2018.
RIDING HIGH: At last year’s PGA REACH Pro-Am, the Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard arrived wearing 1874 10th Cavalry Regiment Uniforms.
Colorado’s Home Team Advantage The Colorado PGA and Mile High Golf Trail Partners join forces to provide a free home to a wounded Colorado veteran. By Jon Rizzi FOR 16 YEARS, The Golf Club at Bear Dance in Larkspur has provided a home for the Colorado PGA Section, and for the last two years, the Colorado PGA Section has provided a mortgagefree home to a wounded veteran through its foundation, Colorado PGA REACH. This year, The Golf Club at Bear Dance and the Colorado PGA Section have constructed a partnership that literally brings their relationship home. Through sales of its popular Mile High Golf Trail FORE-Pack, Mile High Golf Trail Partners— which, in addition to Bear Dance, also operates Riverdale Dunes Golf Course and Plum Creek and Colorado National Golf Clubs—will fund the purchase of a mortgage-free home for a wounded hero. The presentation of the house key will occur at the annual Colorado PGA REACH Invitational at Bear Dance on July 18.
THE VISION Prior to this year, the three previous Colorado PGA REACH Foundation Invitationals took place at Colorado Golf Club in Parker. During COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
last year’s event, Bear Dance’s PGA General Manager and Co-Owner Stuart Bruening found the proceedings so inspiring that he wanted the Mile High Golf Trail courses to contribute to the Colorado PGA REACH’s mission of impacting the lives of military members. “I felt that, as longtime partners with the Colorado PGA, it was time to give back,” he says. “And what better way than to support the people and the communities that support and protect us?” Over the course of the next few months, Bruening discussed the idea with other members of the Mile High Golf Trail Partners, including Co-Owner Dan Bennett and Bear Dance PGA Professional Mark Pfingston. “Everyone bought in,” says Bruening. At the Section’s fall membership meeting, Pfingston told Colorado PGA Executive Director Eddie Ainsworth—whose father, like his own, spent his career in the U.S. Air Force—that Bruening wanted to sponsor giving away a home every year to a veteran. Ainsworth was ecstatic. “With the home
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fully funded we can now look at raising even more support for the three pillars of our Foundation,” he says, while citing the generosity of previous benefactors. “Our partners are the PGA Professionals and local golf courses.”
THE FORE-PACK FORMULA Bear Dance, Colorado National, Plum Creek and Riverdale comprise the Mile High Golf Trail FORE PACK, a popular package that for $239 gets you one round at each course. Buy a FORE PACK and proceeds go towards purchasing the mortgage-free home for the veteran, as does a portion of what the courses bring in. “We will have signage at each course to show how the property supports the program,” says Bennett. Adds Pfingston: “We want everyone in all four communities to feel that we have a bigger vision to give back.” Colorado PGA REACH secures the home through the Military Warriors Support Foundation, which to date has put a free-andclear roof over the heads of more than 800 families of combat-wounded veterans and coloradoavidgolfer.com
unmarried Gold Star spouses whose husbands, wives or loved ones were killed in action. In addition to the home, the families receive three years of family and financial mentoring. “They give them the keys but they don’t give them the deed until they go through the training and know how to manage the money,” explains Ainsworth. “The deed presentation, once they finish the training, has been one of the most moving things to see.” What’s also moving is the pageantry at the Colorado REACH Invitational, as well as the generous participation of PGA Professionals and their amateur teammates. Last year, the Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard rode in wearing 1874 10th Cavalry Regiment Uniforms. They could make another appearance this year, as could the Wings of Blue parachute team or a flyover of F-16s. “Stay tuned for a dramatic introduction,” Ainsworth says.
HEROIC GESTURE: Top, (l-r) Ken Eakes, Military Warrior Support Foundation; Eddie Ainsworth, Colorado PGA; Army Sgt Chris Hardesty. Below: Donors Bob and Millie Longmire and Eric Kennealy with Eakes and Hardesty at last year’s REACH event.
A Starry Salute THREE WEEKS BEFORE the July 18 Colorado PGA REACH Invitational at Bear Dance, the Colorado PGA and Mile High Golf Trail Partners will be involved in presenting another veteran with a mortgage-free home.
HOME-FREE: Sgt. Adam Cassidy (r.) with Dave Lieske of the Military Warrior Support Foundation at the 2016 Colorado PGA REACH Pro-Am.
REACHING AND HOPING The partnership between the Colorado PGA Section and the four Mile High Golf Trail courses extends beyond the home giveaway. As part of the PGA REACH’s HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) initiative, each course will host one free tournament as part of a PGA HOPE League, where graduates coloradoavidgolfer.com
of PGA HOPE’s free six- to eight-week “Golf 101” program—open to veterans recovering from physical and emotional injuries—will tee it up with their host instructor. The instructors include those from Mile High Golf Trail Partners. Throughout the year, PGA Professionals Bryan Flanagan (Plum Creek), Matt Schalk (Colorado National), Blake Sharamitaro (Riverdale) and Cy Twete (Bear Dance) will provide lessons to all rehabbing veterans. “We’re not just going to touch one person with a house,” Ainsworth explains. “We work with so many veterans who live with the stress from Iraq and Afghanistan, and many of them say the golf course is the only place they can find peace. You hear it all the time—‘Golf saved my life’ or ‘Golf saved my buddy’s life.’ Those are powerful statements.” As powerful statements go, teaming up to provide a wounded hero with a mortgage-free home and making an injured veteran feel at home on a golf course both rank way up there. Together, the Colorado PGA and Mile High Golf Trail Partners made that happen. So buy a Mile High Golf Trail FORE PACK and aid the brave men and women who endured great sacrifice in defense of our great nation.
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The presentation will take place June 25th, the Monday night before the 2018 U. S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, during a military appreciation concert headlined by country music stars Amy Grant and Vince Gill. The couple serves as honorary co-founders of Challenge America, a nonprofit that connects military service members, veterans, and their families to resources in their own communities. Festivities will include honor guard presentations and appearances by celebrity guests, including Fred Funk and top tour professionals, with all proceeds going to Challenge America. “Somewhere during the middle of the concert, we’ll be handing a wounded veteran and his family the key to a free and clear home,” says Colorado PGA Executive Director Eddie Ainsworth. “We’re doing this in collaboration with our partners at Challenge America, Military Warriors Support Foundation, adidas Golf Invitational—formerly the Jim Flick Invitational—and the Mile High Golf Trail.” Visit nashville2broadmoor.org
April 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
PROVIDING A HOME FOR A COMBAT WOUNDED COLORADO HERO Great Local Partners Providing An Amazing Dream The Mile High Golf Trail Partners have teamed up with the Colorado PGA Reach Foundation to provide a mortgage-free home to a Colorado Wounded Veteran.
The Golf Club at Bear Dance Plum Creek Golf Club Colorado National Golf Club Riverdale Golf Courses Proudly support our Colorado Heroes by donating proceeds from the
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Proudly Supporting Colorado Wounded Veterans
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April 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
Colorado PGA REACH Invitational July 19, 2018 The Golf Club at Bear Dance
The Colorado PGA REACH Invitational, the largest annual fundraising event for Colorado PGA REACH, is quickly becoming a can’t-miss event in the state of Colorado. This one day, all-inclusive event at The Golf Club at Bear Dance partners a team of three amateurs with one of our Colorado PGA Professionals in a fun, casual environment. Format - 3-2-1 Net Team (Am’s at 80% of handicap) Teams - Teams will be comprised of three (3) Amateurs and one (1) Colorado PGA Professional. Who can register - The event is open to anyone Entry Fee - $2,499 For more information and to register, visit ColoradoPGAREACH.com! COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
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The Gallery NEWS | NOTES | NAMES
The Old College Try
Colorado’s D-I teams eye Regional berths at this month’s conference championships NCAA CONFERENCE Championships are right around the corner, and Colorado’s leading Division I teams are honing their games in hopes of earning a spot at Regionals. The winner of each conference tournament automatically earns a spot in one of six NCAA Regional Championships with at-large representation selected to fill the fields. Here is a snapshot of each conference. —Drew Kort *All statistics as of 3/15/2018
NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S GOLF CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
NATIONAL RANKING
TEAMS TO BEAT PLAYERS TO WATCH
THE BUZZ
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UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF DENVER
Pac-12
Mountain West
Summit League
April 23-25 Rolling Hills Country Club, Rolling Hills Estates, Cal.
April 20–22 Gold Mountain Golf Club, Bremerton, Wash.
April 29–May 1 Sand Creek Station Golf Club, Newton, Kan.
Golfweek: 8th in Pac-12 (48th nationally) Golfstat: 8th in Pac-12 (47th nationally)
Golfweek: 2nd in Mountain West (29th nationally) Golfstat: 2nd in Mountain West (41st nationally)
Golfweek: 1st in Summit League (115th nationally) Golfstat: 1st in Summit League (117th nationally)
California, USC, Stanford, UCLA
UNLV, San Diego State, Nevada, Wyoming
South Dakota, Oral Roberts, North Dakota State, Fort Wayne
Jake Staiano, the junior and team captain from Cherry Hills Village, finished T11 in last season’s conference tournament and was the 20th Ram ever to be named to the All-Mountain-West squad. Look for him to crack the top 10 and lead the charge.
Senior Chris Korte from Littleton is the undeniable leader of this young group and one of the conference’s top players. His performance will be vital in DU’s quest to make Regionals. Look for Korte to contend for the individual title as well.
German senior Yannik Paul has the game and experience to get the Buffs into contention. Throughout his CU career, an impressive 85% of his rounds have counted toward team scoring and he logged two top-5 finishes this season. His name could be toward the top of the board.
Freshman Jackson Solem from Longmont has shown real promise, including a T23 finish in his collegiate debut. If he gets the nod as the fifth man from head coach Erik Billinger he could be a difference-maker for the Pios.
Freshman Trevor Olkowski (Grand Junction) likely will fill the team’s fourth or fifth spot. Low rounds from him will take pressure off Paul and senior Spencer Painton and provide a huge boost for the team.
Senior and team captain Colton Yates from Arizona has an important role come playoff time. His first two starts of the season resulted in two top-10 finishes. If he can replicate that strong play, CSU, and possibly even Yates, will look to take home titles.
With some of the toughest competition in the country in the Pac-12, the Buffaloes will be hardpressed to take home the team honors. But nothing is impossible. A top-5 finish would be impressive and would likely earn a spot in Regionals.
The Rams are a well-rounded group with four guys (Staiano, AJ Ott, Max Oelfke and Yates) who can lead the team in any given tournament. If they can put together three solid loops, CSU takes the title. You will likely see them compete at Regionals, too.
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The Crimson and Gold are in a prime position to take home their fourth- ever conference title. It would be their first since 2014-their inaugural year in the Summit Conference and their most recent trip to Regionals.
Spring 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
The Gallery
*All statistics as of 3/15/2018
NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN’S GOLF
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF DENVER
Pac-12
Mountain West
Summit League
April 22-24 Broadmoor Golf Club, Seattle, Wash.
April 16-18 Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage, Cal.
April 22-24 ArborLinks Golf Club, Nebraska City, Neb.
Golfweek: 7th in Pac-12 (19th nationally) Golfstat: 7th in Pac-12 (19th nationally)
Golfweek: 6th in Mountain West (94th nationally) Golfstat: 6th in Mountain West (90th nationally)
Golfweek: 1st in Summit League (42nd nationally) Golfstat: 1st in Summit League (42nd nationally)
UCLA, Stanford, ASU, USC
UNLV, San Diego State, San Jose State, New Mexico
Oral Roberts, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Western Illinois
Australian sophomore Robyn Choi is ranked as the 31st best collegiate player in the country, per Golfweek. She has five top-5 finishes on the season. She has big- stage experience, earning a T11 finish in last year’s conference tournament and competing in the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open.
Junior Katrina Prendergast (Sparks, Nev.) will look to add to her impressive track record. She competed individually in Regionals two years ago, and already recorded one victory and another top-5 this season.
Senior Lauren Whyte (St. Andrews, Scotland) began her senior year with four top-20 finishes and leads the Summit League in individual scoring average. She has a shot to be the individual champ, too.
Sophomore Jessica Sloot from Utah has played the key role of swing player all season, notching two top-15 finishes along with a top-30 finish. Contributing a couple of low scores as a fourth or fifth player could help position the Rams for a run at Regionals.
Sophomore Mary Weinstein (Highlands Ranch) transferred to DU after an extremely successful freshman campaign at Regis University. With three top-15 finishes thus far in her first D-I season, she could help propel the team to the top.
CSU has yet to win a Mountain West title in 17 years in the MWC. But with three top-notch competitors in Prendergast, Ellen Secor and Haley Greb, there’s a chance of a high finish that could extend their season.
DU is a force to be reckoned with within the conference and nationally. The team will be in search of its 15th straight conference championship and fifth straight Summit League title. The group will be highly disappointed to come home empty-handed.
CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
NATIONAL RANKING
TEAMS TO BEAT PLAYERS TO WATCH
Canadian frosh Alisha Lau’s performance as a swing player could have huge implications for the team. She has the talent with two top-30 finishes already this season.
THE BUZZ
The Lady Buffs face even tougher competition in the Pac-12 than the men do. But the team has the ability to contend, as they did last year when they placed 2nd in the tournament. An appearance at Regionals is almost a lock.
Putting the Ed in Education AFTER 27 YEARS at The Ranch Country Club in Westminster, Ed Oldham is no longer the club’s Head PGA Professional. The two-time Colorado PGA Teacher of the Year and one of Golf Digest’s Top Teachers in Colorado will now serve as The Ranch’s Director of Instruction. “I am very excited for this opportunity as I will be able to devote more time to what I love, which is helping people play better golf,” says Oldham, who counts among his students nine Colorado Players of the Year; numerous high school, collegiate and state champions; and more than 50 collegiate scholarship golfers. Ed Carlisle, late of Shadow Valley Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas, will take over as The Ranch’s PGA Head Professional edoldhamgolf.com
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Anarchy in the UK! In the Spring CAGGY Awards, we mistakenly listed Royal County Down as being in Scotland rather than its rightful home in Northern Ireland. Bollocks! coloradoavidgolfer.com
The Gallery
History on Display WITH THE POSSIBLE exception of Cherry Hills, no Colorado property has a richer golf heritage than The Broadmoor. The renowned Colorado Springs resort will celebrate its 100th birthday June 25-July 1 while it hosts the 2018 U.S. Senior Open. This April, three months before the fans arrive, a completely refurbished clubhouse debuts with The Broadmoor’s pedigree on full display. Johnson David Interiors—which has drawn up many of the recent upgrades to The Broadmoor’s spa, public areas, guest rooms and meeting rooms—worked its magic in the expansive golf portion of the Golf Spa and Tennis Complex. The high, coffered ceilings in the entry reveal hardwood beauty long covered by paint. Vintage golf photos line the spiral staircase leading to the three second-story reception rooms—named for Broadmoor course designers Donald Ross
and Robert Trent Jones and longtime PGA head professional Dow Finsterwald—overlooking the practice green and 18th hole. In the reconfigured golf shop, the service counter sits atop where the staircase to the downstairs tennis center has been sealed off. Across from the locker rooms, the bar and adjacent patio have become the private Members Lounge, while the restaurant, now known as the Golf Grille, still caters to hotel guests. Most dramatically, the corridor between the golf shop and grille has become Heritage Hallway. Display panels brimming with photographs, information and artwork line both sides, beginning with the design of the Broadmoor courses and club’s history: its golf professionals (including colorful “Long Jim” Barnes and “Big Ed” Dudley); its legendary women (such as Judy Bell and Barbara McIntire); its tradition of big-
time championships (eight USGA events, six Trans-Miss amateurs, five NCAAs, The Broadmoor Invitation and more); and a tribute to Jack Nicklaus and Annika Sorenstam, each of whom won their first national championship there. A display of one-of-a-kind artifacts adds yet another dimension to the Hall. Among the objects: clubs crafted by Donald Ross and early head pro Jimmy Gullane; Finsterwald’s bag from one of his four Ryder Cup appearances; signed original scorecards and much more. The Broadmoor’s PGA Director of Golf, Russ Miller, and President/CEO, Jack Damioli, embarked on this project two years ago with the centennial celebration in mind. As only a five-star, five-diamond resort can, the end result exquisitely encapsulates the legacy of one of America’s greatest golf destinations. broadmoor.com; 2018ussenioropen.com
experienceThe Ridge
Enjoy The Ridge’s Newest Dining Experience
The Ridge, located in Castle Pines, Colorado is excited to announce the re-launch
of The Ridge restaurant. Named after Grace Park, a 12-year LPGA Tour Player, Park Place will offer a fresh, new ambiance, unparalleled food choices & upscale service. In addition, Park Place has recently hired a BRAND NEW Executive Chef & Sous Chef! Visit www.PlayTheRidge.com or call 303.688.4575 for reservations today.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
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T H E R I D G E I S M A N A G E D B Y T R O O N G O L F, ® T H E L E A D E R I N U P S C A L E G O L F C O U R S E M A N A G E M E N T
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Real Swing Oil ON JANUARY 1, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) removed cannabidiol (CBD)—a nonpsychotropic compound found in hemp and marijuana plants—from its list of banned substances. Although natural cannabinoids (cannabis, hashish, marijuana) and synthetic ones (THC) will still get you suspended from the Olympics or PGA Tour, using CBD products will only suspend your aches, pains and yips. That’s good news for the pros—and for anyone who plays golf. Research shows that CBD oil—which is legal to use in all 50 states—and secondary hemp-based cannabinoids reduce and even prevent pain in the joints and muscles caused by inflammation. And what golfer hasn’t experienced that? Moreover, cannabinoids may assist in reducing anxiety—another familiar emotion— by balancing the ratio of cortisol, a hormone released in response to stress, and DHEA, an adrenal hormone crucial to mental clarity. The benefits of CBD oils to golfers have not gone unnoticed at Boulder-based Functional Remedies. The company utilizes its own plants and proprietary extraction processes to produce one of the densest, richest, most well balanced products on the market. Proof came at February’s Boca Raton Championship presented by Sallyport, where a number of PGA Tour Champions players tried the CBD-based supplement. One competitor—a major champion and 13-time PGA Tour winner who’d been battling arthritis for years—reported pain decreases and an almost immediate improvement in his golf game. Sponsorship discussions ensued. Locally, Steve Patterson, a PGA Certified Golf Instructor at Hiwan Golf Club and the 2016 Colorado PGA Teacher of the Year, also swears by the products. After spraining his MCL and suffering with pain and inflammation, Patterson decided to use Functional Remedies’ CBDbased cream and was pain-free after two weeks of use. Functional Remedies sells its CBD supplements in capsule, tincture and cream forms. The only “high” they provide is the joy that comes with reduced pain, increased mobility and balanced mood—all of which golfers and non-golfers can profit from. functionalremedies.com
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FOLLOW-THROUGH IS EVERYTHING.
On the course, follow-through is critical to directing energy and maintaining momentum. In heart and vascular care, it’s the key to your best outcome and quality of life. That’s why we’ve aligned our full team of cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and vascular interventionalists in one smoothly coordinated network. They’re connected by advanced technology and 1:1 conversation—with each other and your primary care doctor. Which means you’re connected with excellence from first visit to follow-through.
Avista Adventist Hospital Longmont United Hospital St. Anthony Hospital St. Anthony North Health Campus
If you’re focused on keeping your heart healthier and your game long, talk to our team of specialists. Learn more about your risk of heart disease at centura.org/heart We are part of the Centura Health Heart and Vascular Network, the region’s leading provider of cardiovascular care. Centura Health does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, religion, creed, ancestry, sexual orientation, and marital status in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. For further information about this policy contact Centura Health’s Office of the General Counsel at 1-303-673-8166 (TTY: 711). Copyright © Centura Health, 2017. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-303-637-8166 (TTY: 711). CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-3303-637-8166 (TTY: 711).
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Spring 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
It’s Time.
GOLF PACKAGES STARTING AT $109*
30 Rainbow Road NE || Albuquerque, NM || 505.798.3990 || sandiagolf.com *Price is per night per person/double occupancy staying Sunday - Wednesday night. Minimum two (2) night stay required. Price is subject to availability and/or blackout dates. Not applicable to groups (17 or more), conventions, or other discounts or specials.
2018
GEAR GUIDE By Ted Johnson
“MORE OF THE SAME, ONLY BETTER” seems to be the theme of 2018. Drivers offer optimum custom fitting options. Irons now feature super-thin, highly flexible faces thanks to the varying materials that go into their construction. Wedges not only have varying grooves depending on their face loft, but now have different head shapes. It can be confusing, yes, but the purpose of all these design improvements is to inject a dose of pure confidence into your swing. Good technique helps but you’ll get less damage out of the mishits, which is why today’s clubs clearly outperform their five-year-old predecessors. And as far as balls go, we mixed in some usual suspects with offerings from companies whose products offer high-tech design and performance at considerable savings.
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April 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
2018 Gear Guide DRIVERS
Callaway Rogue Sub Zero $500 Appeal: ★★★★ Drool factor: Better players will love distance, higher handicappers the forgiveness. Why: Its max size means max sweetspot, and “jailbreak” titanium bars behind the face are an ejection seat for tee shots.
Cobra F8 $500 Appeal: ★★★★ Drool factor: Techies love its milled face inserts for precision, and also for its high and long tee shots. Why: More traditional head shape and traditional “crunch” sound will appeal to – you guessed it – traditionalists.
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
TaylorMade M3/440 $400 Appeal: ★★★ Drool factor: New Twist Face technology in face gives center-of-face performance on mis-hits. Gear heads will love to fiddle with its 13,000 fitting options. Why: TaylorMade continues to tinker with famed M-line of woods that you see so much on the pro tours.
Ping SFT $400 Appeal: ★★★ Drool factor: Anti-slice interior weighting turns a big miss into another fairway hit. Why: You’re ready to get serious about the game. You want to love golf, but you need help. This is a high-tech driver for the aspiring newbie.
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Knuth Golf High Heat 257+ $500 Appeal: ★★★★ Drool factor: Conforms to latest “time-on-face” standards, so entire face brings “3-trampoline technology” to your tee shots. Why: You don’t care about brands, you care about results. Here’s a driver that yields bigtime results in eye-catching shape.
Cleveland Launcher HB $300 Appeal: ★★ Drool factor: For many, similar performance to other “high-tech” clubs but at less cost. Why: Old School “grab-and-hit” club—nothing to adjust on the head. Back-weighting means larger sweetspot, higher launch, less spin and more distance.
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LAND ROVER
DENVER
CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED
LAND ROVER LR4 Certified Pre-Owned Range Rover
EVOQUE
CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED
RANGE ROVER RANGE ROVER DISCOVERY Certified Pre-Owned Land Rover
Certified Pre-Owned
LAND ROVER DENVER
1-800-NEW-LAND-ROVER | 6160 S Broadway • Littleton, CO 80121 www.LandRoverDenver.com Like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/LandRoverDenver
Every Land Rover and Range Rover vehicle comes with a 5-year, 100,000 mile limited warranty and a 165-point inspection. Original in-Service date is the earlier of new-vehicle retail sales or in-use date, as reported to or by Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC. See your local authorized Land Rover Retailer for complete terms and conditions of the limited warranty and service coverage.
2018 Gear Guide FAIRWAY WOODS + HYBRIDS
Callaway Rogue Sub Zero $280 Appeal: ★★★★ Drool factor: Lightweight carbon shell saves weight, resulting in larger sweetspot. Titanium “jailbreak” bars behind face for high ball exit speed. Why: Perfect for long fairway shots into par-5s.
Ping G400 hybrid $230 Appeal: ★★★ Drool factor: High-launch capability off a sidewalk thanks to steel face and a sole heavier than most. Why: Mountain golf often means playing off tight fairways to firm, firm greens. You want something to land like it’s attached to a parachute. COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
Ping G400 Stretch $270 Appeal: ★★★★ Drool factor: Lighter than many similar clubs, and the forgiving maraging steel face means big sweetspot and a high launch. Why: Having driver troubles? Facing a lot of tight fairways? Go with the Stretch.
Callaway Rogue X hybrid $250 Appeal: ★★★★ Drool factor: Easy to hit hybrid with “jailbreak” face for hot launch off a cupped face that increases forgiveness. Why: Need some distance out of the rough? Consistency issues? This is a straight & true copy machine.
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TaylorMade M3 $300 Appeal: ★★★ Drool factor: Pro-style head and interior weights that can be set for draw or fade bias. Why: Better players like the sleek, slightly smaller head on tight fairway lies.
KZG H370 hybrid $180 Appeal: ★★★ Drool factor: Slight offset gives confidence by reducing slices. Comes in lofts from 18 to 42 degrees, so goodbye 3-, 4- and 5-irons. Maybe the 6, too. Why: Because you need something that’s more consistent on second shots to long par 4s.
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2018 Gear Guide
IRONS
Mizuno JPX 900 Hot $900 Appeal: ★★★★ Drool factor: Slightly oversized, but heads with Chromoly 4140 steel faces only 2 millimeters thick launch shots like an F-22 off a carrier deck. Why: A set of bazookas conceived in a very traditional, refined look.
TaylorMade M CBG $1,200 Appeal: ★★★ Drool factor: Tungsten weights & sole slots bring higher launch, more consistency and distance, and yet you still get that “got-it-all” feel. Why: Because you want all the high-tech features without looking like you're swinging a beginner’s club.
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
Titleist AP1 $1,000 Appeal: ★★★★ Drool factor: Hollow 4- and 5-irons for greater spring in faces. Thin faces in rest of set for control and feel. A game improvement club but with lots of style. Why: When you need more forgiveness in your irons. Not your typical game-improvement set.
Mizuno MP-18 MMC $1,200 Appeal: ★★★★ Drool factor: It took three years for the famed company to get this high-tech design right: hot titanium face forged into carbon steel head for eye-popping distance. Why: You want that classic size and look but you also want that added juice off the face.
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Honma Beres IS-06 $3,000 Appeal: ★★★ Drool factor: This famous Japanese company turns out works of art disguised as clubs meant for slower swing speeds. Why: Irons 4 thru 8 have three slits in sole for flex and distance, and 50-gram shaft means amazing pop. Slower swingers will see a difference.
Ping iBlade $1,200 Appeal: ★★★★ Drool factor: Ping is so good at building modern features into classic looks. Here: thin soles, classic heads with elastomer in face for feel and distance. Why: Colorado's the high desert. Lots of wind. You want that boring trajectory into your target.
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2018 Gear Guide WEDGES
Cobra King Black $120 Appeal: ★★★★ Drool factor: Thicker face means more mass higher on club, so mis-hits travel further. Why: It’s larger with variable grooves so it emanates confidence when in the sand or tall greenside grass.
Mizuno T7 $150 Appeal: ★★★★ Drool factor: Boron-infused carbon steel face gives ridges on grooves longer life for best spin throughout life of club. Why: Serious players use wedges for full swings more than any other club. These grooves last for high spin throughout their life.
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
Callaway Mack Daddy 4 $150 Appeal: ★★★★ Drool factor: Two different types of grooves, depending on the loft, and they have milled ridges for prominent grab. Why: You want spin? I got your spin right here. (Just ask Phil Mickelson.)
Titlest Vokey Design $150 Appeal: ★★★★ Drool factor: With six sole grinds, including the Tour-popular D grind, it helps to get fitted for your most common playing conditions. Why: It’s No. 1 among pros around the world for a reason, and serious golfers abide.
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Cleveland CBX $130 Appeal: ★★★ Drool factor: Progressive head shapes, so stronger lofts are smaller, higher lofts are larger—and all have perimeter weighting and lighter shafts. Why: It’s all for more confidence in those scoring shots near the green.
Wilson PMP Raw $120 Appeal: ★★★ Drool factor: Soft carbon steel for feel of memorable Robert Mendralla wedges in years past – Seve’s favorite. Soft ridges between grooves add spin even on soft shots. Why: Legal square-groove design reduces water and grass infringing contact out of rough.
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2018 Gear Guide PUTTERS + BALLS Callaway Chrome Soft X $45 Appeal: ★★★★ Drool factor: New Graphene DualSoft core results in good distance even off moderate swing speeds. Great consistency from driver to wedges, and decent spin. Why: Nothing has bit into Titleist's Pro-V1 line like the Chrome Soft, which costs less. Optic Golf Z3 $350 Appeal: ★★★★ Drool factor: Align the toe of putter to the ZNeck and then Z-Neck to the heel and—voilà!— your face is precisely square to your target-line. Why: You want the soft feel and look of a “blade” with alignment aid of today’s big mallets.
Odyssey Toulon Design $400 Appeal: ★★★★ Drool factor: Former head golf club designer at TaylorMade took his own putter line – his real passion – to Callaway. Diamond-mill pattern in face induces pure contact. Why: For the serious golfer wanting consistent forward roll on all green surfaces.
Ping Sigma G Tyme H $200 Appeal: ★★★★ Drool factor: The aluminum face insert is backed by an elastomer that resonates pleasantly in the ear while transferring more energy to the ball. Why: It has perimeter weighting, easy alignment and other benefits of high-tech mallets— but for less money. coloradoavidgolfer.com
Bettinardi BB Series $300 Appeal: ★★★★ Drool factor: Velvet softness off a milled carbon steel face in a matte black finish that makes you consider buying it a seat next to you when you fly. Why: You want that confidence to stroke the ball on those glassy downhill putts.
TaylorMade Spider $300 Appeal: ★★★★ Drool factor: It’s in the hands of many PGA Tour and LPGA pros because it induces that straightback, straight-through stroke. Why: So easy to line up, yet offers good feel (which is sound) and proper roll with no skid. In short, less three-putts.
Wilson Infinite $100 Appeal: ★★★ Drool factor: Consistency. Comes with a 104gram counterbalanced grip, and the oversize head has a large sweet spot—all resulting in consistent distance. Why: You want all the benefits of modern mallet but at a lesser cost.
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Snell MTB Black $32 Appeal: ★★★★ Drool factor: Threepiece construction with urethane cover from the man who used to design TaylorMade balls. Why: It’s hard to find a better value for those who want off-the-tee distance and high spin. Bridgestone BXS $45 Appeal: ★★★★ Drool factor: New SlipRes cover is softer than previous models so has more feel on long iron shots. Scuffs less than other highperformance balls yet has high spin. Why: Bridgestone has 400 PhDs working in its Japanese headquarters. They know all things rubber, as seen in his premier ball Srixon QStar $25 Appeal: ★★★★ Drool factor: Perhaps the perfect ball for the mid-handicap golfer who wants performance and value. Two-piece construction offers spin, distance and feel. Why: It’s hard to find a better value. That is all. Vice Pro+ $25 Appeal: ★★★ Drool factor: 4-piece urethane cover with 360 dimples gives lower, boring ball flight but still grabs the greens. Why: Order online and use the company’s “Ball Recommender” to find the right model for you. This is their high-performance model. April 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
Player’s Corner LESSON
Swing Training Try these four baseball-related drills to improve the fundamentals of your golf swing. By Chris Schultz
2.
FINISH FORWARD, NOT BACK. A baseball player will swing through the ball, effectively transitioning his weight to his front foot through impact. This helps generate power and stability in the swing.
1.
ONE-ARM SWING. Like the golf swing, the baseball swing should occur naturally with the assistance of the weight of the bat. A one-arm golf swing emphasizes this notion by forcing you to use gravity and the weight of the golf club to guide your swing path without engaging large muscle groups.
DRILL: Most golfers struggle to achieve proper weight shift and end up “hanging back” on their trail foot upon follow-through. Gary Player utilized the “walk-through” drill to counter-act this tendency. He emphasized weightshift onto the lead side to the extent that he would finish his swing moving towards the target, ultimately causing him to step through onto his trail foot. Give this motion a try to ensure that the weight shift is moving in the correct direction.
DRILL: Swing a golf club with the left and right arm only. Hit ten balls with each arm. This will weaken the overall system by awakening the brain to the impropriety of adding large muscles to the downswing.
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
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4.
CHIPPING TO BASES. Arrange a baseball diamond using as each “base” three golf clubs stood vertically (like a tepee). Lay out first, second, third and home base evenly distanced apart.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY EJ CARR
DRILL: This is a “landing drill” where the object is to land the ball in a designated base, teaching distance control through the air. Position yourself behind the diamond (where the home plate umpire might be) and chip to each base until you land two in a row on each. When you begin to improve, you can attempt to “touch ‘em all” by hitting all bases sequentially.
3.
VERTICAL BASEBALL SWING TO CURE SLICE. A vertical baseball swing ensures that the player has the proper amount of space to bring the bat on an in-to-out path and allow for a full release of the hands through impact. DRILL: Try placing yourself with your bottom against a wall. Take a few slow swings in this position, attempting to avoid any other contact with the wall. Getting comfortable with this motion will force you to lengthen your swing vertically and leave room for a release of the hands. To eradicate slice shots from your game, practicing this technique is crucial.
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April 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
Player’s Corner
SKYLINE VIEW: Rees Jones’ redesign at Bayou Oaks Golf Course at City Park.
TRAVEL
All That Jazz Add birdies to the beat at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Fest. By Tom Ferrell WITH APOLOGIES to William Shakespeare: Some people are born to New Orleans, some achieve New Orleans and some have New Orleans thrust upon them. Luckily, New Orleans was thrust upon me when I married a Crescent City girl. So, while I had known New Orleans for many fuzzy-memoried visits over the years, now I simply know New Orleans. And with the world-renowned New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Fest once again upon us Irma Thomas
PHOTOGRAPH BY CHERYL GERBER
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
(April 27 – May 6 at the New Orleans Fairgrounds) I wanted to share some local insight on visiting the most eccentric of all American cities–with golf clubs in tow. The first thing you should know is that New Orleans, not New York, is America’s true melting pot. Like the rich and varied gumbos that spice the city and fill the air with irresistible aromas, New Orleans blends an array of diverse cultural ingredients and simmers them up into a single, delectable whole. Here you have your Cajuns, descendants of the ill-fated Acadians, driven from their adopted Canadian homeland and sent sailing down the Mississippi River some 260 years ago. Mix in the Creoles, who hearken back to pre-Colonial days and represent the intermingling of Eurpoean and African heritage. Then there are the Sicilians, the Irish, the Southerners and the African-Americans–all of whom are essential to this culinary, cultural, social and musical stew. That rich heritage is the mythical Mardi Gras Big Chief of the Jazz Fest celebration. How important is music to New Orleans? Take a moment to ponder that as you land at LOUIS ARMSTRONG
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Harry Connick, Jr.
International Airport. Yes, what a wonderful world. The register of the New Orleans musical community is bursting at the seams with Nevilles and Marsalises and Porters. Dr. John is in the right place. Irma Thomas, the “Soul Queen” of New Orleans. Anders Osborne. Harry Connick, Jr. You get my drift. And those are just the headliners. A walk around the fairgrounds at Jazz Fest will lead you through the Gospel Tent, where I danced and praised with a congregation spellcoloradoavidgolfer.com
runs straight up St. Charles Avenue, and they can follow the track to the Audubon Clubhouse, which serves one of the best Sunday brunches in New Orleans. And just like that, you’ve had a great morning and are ready for an afternoon of getting down! Bayou Oaks Golf Course at City Park 1 Palm Drive cityparkgolf.com
STRUTTING: Parades break out across the city during festival season.
bound by the testifying of Dottie People and her Peoples Choir. Then squeeze into the pit in front of the Acura Stage, where this year’s top bills include Aerosmith, Aretha Franklin and Sting or any other number of modern heavyweights as they pay homage to the heritage of New Orleans. Wander over to the Congo Square Stage, which features all New Orleans local musicians all the time. All that roaming and dancing is sure to make you hungry, and what better place to get hungry than Jazz Fest? Many of the top chefs and restaurants in the city are there to feed you. To top it off, liquid refreshment is never far away. Once the sun sets, the French Quarter comes alive, and some of those same world-famous artists pop up in any of the hundreds of jazz and music clubs throughout the city. Nights in New Orleans usually turn into stories you’ll be telling for a lifetime, but if you happen to get a few hours of sleep and want to get in a quick round before heading back to the Fairgrounds for the afternoon, you do have a couple of very good options.
Anders Osborne
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If you want a full-size portion of championship golf as part of your Jazz Fest experience, rise early and head for the spectacular new Rees Jones creation in City Park—Bayou Oaks. They’ve been playing golf in expansive and scenic City Park since 1901. Like much of the city, however, City Park suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Katrina. Now, where once there were three courses, there are just two—the North Course, which is ipreferred mainly by beginners and those seeking a low-cost round, and Bayou Oaks, which opened in April of 2017 to widespread acclaim. Designing golf below sea level is a unique challenge, given that there is virtually no natural movement in the land. Jones, known as the “U.S. Open Doctor” for his renovation work on such
SHORT AND SLY: The challenging par-62 Audubon Park.
Audubon Park Golf Course 6500 Magazine Street 504-212-5290 audubonnatureinstitute.org/golf Ben Crenshaw has called the innovative course at Audubon Park—located in the heart of historic Uptown—“the future of golf.” This isn’t a five-hour slog. You’ll complete all 18 holes in less than three and a half hours, because the little gem clocks in at just 4,189 yards and plays to a par of 62. Now before you serious golfers roll your bloodshot eyes at this suggestion, you should know that noted architect Denis Griffiths did not interpret “short” as “easy.” Here your $40 green fee (cart included) will buy you onto a layout featuring 12 par-3s, four par-4s and two par-5s that weave through the lagoons and the live oaks. You’ll also get a healthy dose of people-watching—a twomile paved walking/jogging track encircles the course. If you have a non-golfing spouse, have them meet you after the round. The streetcar
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courses as Bethpage Black and Torrey Pines, adroitly handled this challenge by integrating the majestic, moss-draped live oaks that dot the property into the strategic design of the course. More than a few holes require real shotmaking decisions to avoid or challenge trees that directly affect lines of play. The back nine showcases beautiful views of the New Orleans skyline. The challenge of the day comes at the 450-yard par-4 14th, which requires a long drive to the right side of the fairway and then a long- to midiron past the outreached limbs of an oak tree and over a fronting pond. Make par here, and you’ve earned yourself another shot on Bourbon Street. You can find additional golf if you’re willing to travel to the “West Bank” or head over to the casino-laden Mississippi Coast. But you came here for the music, right? A little golf just makes the gumbo of Jazz Fest that much tastier. Tom Ferrell is CAG’s Editor at Large. For more festival information, visit nojazzfest.com April 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
Player’s Corner GEAR
Back to the Future
Eye-popping prints and colors scream Seventies, but performance fabrics and styling speak to today. BILL-BOTTOMS Actor Bill Murray loves golf but not its stuffiness. So he and his brothers decided to launch a men’s line in 2016. While William Murray Golf sounds traditional, the company is anything but. In addition to the classic “Murray” tartan plaid—which can show up as trim or in a pocket lining—there are plenty of wild prints on polos, shirts and shorts. Taking his ideas a step farther, William Murray has joined Betabrand for a crowdfunding project called Bill-Bottoms. The initial design features wide-leg pants with a bold peony pattern on a blueprint background in a four-way stretch fabric with roomy front and back pockets. Promising a pair to funders paying $100 each, the campaign quickly exceeded its goal, so Betabrand will offer the pants this spring. williammurraygolf.com; betabrand.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF WILLIAM MURRAY GOLF
By Suzanne S. Brown
PHOTO COURTESY OF BETABRAND
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GOING GREEN With a bright blend of colors and patterns that recall the 1970s, Tory Sport’s spring collection features such items as a chevron polo in a CoolMax cotton blend, $128, worn with printed pants in a stretch tech fabric, $198. Embroidered golf-themed patches decorate the cotton canvas visor, $48, which has a moisture-wicking mesh at the forehead and a striped elastic band. The navy blue patent leather Pocket-Tee Golf Loafers, $278, are decorated with a tee holder across the instep. Worn on or off the course, the shoes are water-resistant and have rubber soles that offer flexible traction. torysport.com
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PENGUIN POWER Launched in the mid-1950s and popularized by the likes of Arnold Palmer and Bing Crosby, the Original Penguin golf shirt by Munsingwear was popular with American men for decades. Well, shirts with a Pete the Penguin logo are back for a new generation of golfers. Owned by Perry Ellis International, the company has revamped its golf line, with designer Juan Carlos Alvarez tapping the Munsingwear archives. Among the retro-inspired looks: the horizontally striped 1978 polo, $89; the 1976 Captain track jacket with a wide chest stripe, $129; and bold red or blue plaid shorts, $89; or pants, $99. Also included are playful items, such as the Pete on the Beach polo in a print dotted with palm trees, umbrellas, sunglasses and penguins, $89. originalpenguin.com
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
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Player’s Corner GEAR
LOVING THE LINKS Miamibased tennis apparel company Lucky in Love added golfwear last year. Playful printed and layered skirts anchor performance fabric tops to create looks that are both fashionable and functional. The spring Haviana collection takes inspiration from the tropics in outfits like the printed stretch top, $100, worn with solid skort with pleat detail, $98; while space-dyed fabrics provide the interest in Spaced Out’s solid top, $80 and printed skort, $90. shopluckyinlove.com
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HIT THE SWEDE SPOT Among the successful collaborations between professional women golfers and apparel companies is Annika Sorenstam’s collection for Cutter & Buck. The clothes not only offer the fit and technical qualities needed on the course but have a distinctive look as well. For spring, the Annika line features a printed skort in a quick-dry UPF 50+ polyester-jersey fabric with front and back exposed zipper pockets, $95. It coordinates with an ombre print wind- and water-resistant vest with a cape back featuring a jersey mesh under-layer, $108. For cooler weather, a color-blocked mock neck quarter zip pullover in quick-dry fabric has a printed back that matches the skirt, $93. Available in May at cutterbuck.com
< SOCKS APPEAL Golf may or may not be a good walk spoiled, but why let sore legs and feet ruin your round—even if your only steps come between the cart and the green? With a medically proven ability to increase lower-leg blood circulation, CEP’s lightweight and breathable compression socks, $20-$50, come in a variety of lengths, sizes and colors to allow you to feel comfortable and stylish while decreasing fatigue and swelling. Unlike cotton socks, these do not retain heat and moisture and can also come with antibacterial and odorreducing properties. cepcompression.com < FORM-FIT FEET Ecco is striving to keep golfers striding comfortably with its new mouthful of a men’s model: the Biom G 2 Boa GTX, $260. Boiled down, the Biom part refers to a shoe last style that molds anatomically the wearer’s foot for a solid, stable fit, and the Boa mechanical lacing system allows for precision adjusting. No extra charge for the cool navy blue color in Ecco’s signature yak leather, and this model has the added benefit of Gore-Tex on the upper, making the shoes waterproof. ecco.com
< SHOWING THEIR STRIPES Travis Mathew is the go-to brand for guys who want clothes they can wear for a round of golf followed by a round of drinks. While the line’s signature slim fit, muted palette and variations on the chest stripe are still available, men will find more color options this spring. Check out the Expat polo in American Beauty red cotton blend interlock fabric, $85, or the heather blue Shipwreck polo. $90. Brave the elements wearing the Agave jacket in a lightweight quick-dry, moisture wicking fabric, $125, shown here with A-Rall cotton blend shorts, $85. travismathew.com Suzanne S. Brown is the former fashion and features editor for The Denver Post. She also contributes to Mountain Living and Colorado Expression. COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
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Side Bets | FAREWAYS FOOD | REAL ESTATE | CARS
FAMILY STYLE: Sierra’s distinct exterior, Louisiana Killer Shrimp, Paloma cocktail and Hatch Green Chili.
High Sierra in Lone Tree
The legacy of a Colorado Golf Hall of Famer and epicurean sizzles in the south suburbs. By Gary James
A 2006 INDUCTEE into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, Milford “Sonny” Brinkerhoff also left his mark as one of the Denver community’s great foodies. The golf CV is undeniable. With the late Dick Campbell and Dr. Homer McClintock, Brinkerhoff orchestrated the purchase of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house at the University of Colorado to establish the chapter house of the Eisenhower-Evans Caddie Scholarship program. He then spent 24 years as chairman of its committee. He was president of the Colorado Golf Association in 1978 and 1979, and also served on the board of directors and as president at Cherry Hills Country Club. Nearly a scratch player, he made five hole-in-ones. But Sonny, who passed away in 2012, also loved to cook—a legacy that continues at La Loma, a Denver institution, and the new Sierra restaurant in Lone Tree.
COOKING WITH GAS: Oilman Brinkerhoff’s culinary passion led to La Loma and Sierra.
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“In business and in golf, Sonny was always the guy—solid on integrity,” his son William says. “His word was his bond. That was a great lesson for me. And he truly loved Mexican and Tex-Mex food. He held dinner parties for his buddies, making enchiladas, soft cheese tacos and chili and serving it on clay dinnerware.” As an oilman, Sonny guided the operations of the family business, Brinkerhoff Drilling Company, in Midland, Texas. He moved his family to Cherry Hills Village, and his love of Mexican cuisine led him to La Loma, a small northwest Denver restaurant founded in 1973 by the Mendoza family. “We just enjoyed the food and atmosphere, but they didn’t have a liquor license because it was too close to a school—but if you have an enchilada, you want a margarita,” William muses. “My dad became interested in the idea of a silent patron on the sidelines to cheer on opening another place.” Sonny bought a stake in La Loma and expanded the eatery’s menu. In 1981, he and William moved the original restaurant from a small brick house to a location just a block away on 26th Ave. “I had an accounting background—I was a CPA with Arthur Andersen and had my own practice for a number of years in oil and gas,” William notes. “But the restaurant turned out to be a better project than we initially thought, a hobby business that created a life of its own, so we shared that asset with the family.” Mark Brinkerhoff, one of William’s four sons, joined his father in acquiring and running La Loma. “He was living in Los Angeles and looking for a change of career,” William says. “He started out as a barback, cutting limes and stocking the liquor, and worked his way up.” Now the family’s Brinkerhoff Hospitality company has provided Sierra, a distinctive A-frame roofed restaurant that sits close to Cabela’s, the outdoor and sporting goods super store in Lone Tree. The dynamic architec-
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Enlarging La Loma After more than four decades on 26th Street in Denver’s Jefferson Park neighborhood, the Brinkerhoffs last April moved La Loma downtown to the corner of 18th and Broadway—the erstwhile location of Trinity Grille, across from the historic Brown Palace. The photo of la abuela, Savina Mendoza, still hangs on the wall, the green chili and giant margaritas remain savory signatures and the barrelaged Arta tequila continues to reside in the bar. Now another La Loma—español for “the hill”—is slotted to go in the Promenade at Castle Rock, being developed at US 85 and I-25, just eight miles south of Sierra. Seems as though Brinkerhoff Hospitality enjoys Sierra’s south suburban location. lalomamexican.com; 303-433-8300 April 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
Side Bets | FAREWAYS
THE SWEET SPOT: Sierra’s interior and Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake.
ture reminds many patrons of a ski lodge—over 8,000 square feet of windows, fireplaces and open space. A big 30-seat Horseshoe Bar, a fire pit, water features and classic brick and hammered copper throughout contribute to the stunning ambience. An outdoor deck commands one side of the building and patio dining on the other. The upscale wood fired kitchen (sporting an “Old World Clay Oven”) anchors one of the few non-chain eateries in the area. “We talked often about expansion, but we didn’t start looking for a new site in earnest until Mark got involved—he brought energy and effort and sweat equity to Sierra,” William notes. “We wanted to do Mexican food, but the sellers of the
property wanted something else, so we reached back into the family cookbook and put in a lot of recipes that we like.” You can still sample the Brinkerhoff’s Hatch green chili—not too much heat, with several big chunks of pork—on its own with house-made tortillas or with the Chile Rellenos and Rotisserie Chicken Enchiladas. “Our green chili is a recipe from Grandma Mendoza,” William said. “Before she passed, she’d come in to La Loma and have a martini and a cigarette and make sure it was still made the way it should be.” A favorite on the Sierra menu is Sonny’s West Texas Spaghetti. “He made a tomato-based meat sauce but flavored it with cumin, chili powder and other Mexican spices, not what you’d get in an Italian spaghetti sauce,” William explains. The Louisiana Killer Shrimp comes seasoned with Cajun spices and served with sticky coconut rice. “That’s Mark’s recipe—he wanted to represent the fact that Sonny came from Louisiana.” Other notable entrees include the Pecos Burger, the Crispy Chicken Diablo Sandwich (a
golden-crusted breast, pickle, jalapeño slaw and spicy aioli, served with sublime Crispy Fingerling Potatoes—smashed and deep fried) and the Chipotle Glazed Baby Back Ribs. The house specialty is Sierra’s American Wagyu Rib Roast, served after 5 p.m. with limited availability—cooked on their rotisserie, and dished up with mashed potatoes, jus, creamy horseradish and vegetables. Michael, our server, insisted that we come back when our appetites returned to try the Pan-Seared Norwegian Halibut, served with herb butter, mashed potatoes, carrots and asparagus. For dessert, Michael steered us toward a delightful Crème Brûlée Toffee Bread Pudding special from the in-house bakery, but it was hard not to partake in the family’s culinary heritage and order the Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake. “My mother Jo’s family was from west Texas, not far from Midland,” William explains. “We’d go down there and have chocolate sheet cake. Everyone loves chocolate, so we thought, ‘Let’s do that.’ “But the Strawberry Shortcake came from my dad—he had a weakness for it. Sometimes that’s what they’d have for dinner back in Texas, shortcakes and a big bowl of strawberries. “Sonny’s devotion lives on in Sierra. We’re sticklers for consistency and quality of products— that’s how we’re staying faithful to the family’s culinary heritage.” 10680 Cabela Drive, Lone Tree sierrarestaurant.com; 303-662-8800 Read more of Contributor Gary James’ Fareways columns on coloradoavidgolfer.com.
Start Your Happily Ever After With Us From rehearsal dinners to bridal showers, Fleming’s will help you plan an unforgettable event. Book your event and earn a $50 dining card for every $500 spent. Contact our Private Dining Director Kimi Brown for more information.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar 191 Inverness Drive West | Englewood, CO 303-768-0827 Visit us at FlemingsSteakhouse.com/Private-Dining
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
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The Elias home located in Blackstone and offered at $635,000
Side Bets | GETTING HOME
PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARTIN YEAGER
The Magic of Blackstone Where new and existing homes disappear quickly from the market. Text and Photographs by Martin Yeager “I LOVE LIVING HERE,” Christie Elias said as we sat in her home overlooking the Blackstone Country Club’s gorgeous clubhouse and driving range. “My son is in the junior golf program, we have the best views of the clubhouse from our back patio, and we can walk to the pool or the driving range. Everything here feels right—from our neighbors to the social gatherings. We really do love living here.” Unfortunately for Elias, the conversation was proving difficult, due to the “For Sale” sign in the front yard —the result of a career move that’s taking her family to the Midwest. Arriving from Lone Tree just 18 months earlier, the Eliases were living in their dream home.
THE CLUB The Blackstone community began to take shape around 2005 and the golf course opened in 2006—one of the last works of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame architect Jay Morrish. To date, about 80% of the community is complete with new-home construction taking place along the back nine as well as a few remaining sites just west of the clubhouse. A private facility, Blackstone Country Club enjoys a solid reputation for its amenities, including the distinctive social and golf facilities with an outstanding golf shop, restaurant and separate event rooms. Add in the stunning pool area, tennis courts and fitness center, and the community truly reflects Colorado’s active lifestyle. Blackstone currently boasts 1,100 members. Golf privileges are extended to members only and not restricted to Blackstone residents. Entry fees for golf memberships begin at $2,000 with monthly fees ranging from $219 to $490.
THE COMMUNITY Blackstone is not simply a golf community. Half of the coloradoavidgolfer.com
homebuyers are attracted to the combination of open space and the area’s award-winning schools, creating a blended community of all ages. As part of the monthly fees, residents in Blackstone receive a social membership that includes access to the clubhouse, dining, pool, tennis courts and fitness center. For an additional fee, residents may also use the amenities at Blackstone’s sister community, Black Bear, located in Parker. Both communities feature an exceptional golf course and belong to the ClubCorp family of more than 200 resort and golf properties.
NEW HOME CHOICES Currently, both Richmond Homes and Lennar Homes offer an impressive selection of models and floor plans with prices starting in the $400s and extending to the $1 million range based on your choice of finishes. In addition, there are a handful of custom building sites available across from the clubhouse. Richmond American Homes’ larger residences in the Estate collection appeal more to families with school-aged children looking to move up to an active community. For those buyers, the country club lifestyle is an added value rather than the primary attraction. In contrast, Richmond’s Villa series features smaller lot sizes and floor plans, appealing to those looking to downsize and become part of an active golf community. In comparison, Lennar has numerous models available for those looking for a new home in Blackstone. Lennar spearheaded the community’s development and recently added its next phase of homes along the back nine. The newest neighborhoods will include approximately 200 more homes according to Lennar New Home Consultant Jeff Everhart. In addition to selecting your future home site and waiting for the construction to be
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RICHMOND Richmond offers two collections of homes at Blackstone and presents two different model home selections. Prices start in the mid $400’s for the villa series and go up to the high $700’s for the estate series. richmondamerican.com/Colorado April 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
Side Bets | GETTING HOME
PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARTIN YEAGER
SET IN BLACKSTONE: Fairway homes and the sprawling clubhouse.
completed, Lennar has a number of finished residences available—perfect for someone relocating to Colorado and wanting to move in immediately. Prices start in the low $500s.
CUSTOM HOMES
SOUTH PLATS: The original builder still has models to show.
Winston Wall, the owner of Wall Custom Homes, said opportunities to build an heirloom residence from design to finish are almost gone. “There were 27 original custom lots, and we are now down to less than five to six,” he told me in mid-February. “It’s hard to see them go since options for custom golf course homes won’t be as affordable as Blackstone.” The largest homesites in the community, custom lots usually offer up to one-third of an acre, allowing Hall to add more options for his clients, such as a four-car attached garage. Matt Sharkey with Richmond Homes echoes Hall’s sentiment. The last two-dozen or so homesites are quickly selling out. Since Richmond pre-sells every home before construction, it’s possible all its remaining homes will be unavailable after mid-summer and finished out by the beginning of 2019.
RESALE OPPORTUNITIES LENNAR The original builder in Blackstone continues to offer homes with a complete package of finishes. Lennar maintains a number of finished residences for immediate purchase, as well as allowing you to design your dream home with preferred finishes. lennar.com/Colorado
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
Finding a preexisting home is certainly an option in Blackstone, with distinctive residences similar to Christie Elias’ coming available. The 54 pre-owned residences sold at Blackstone last year fetched an average price in the mid $600s. As the community completes the current phase of homes along the front nine, the option to buy a preexisting home will see an increase in buyer activity with price increases to follow. This is in line with real estate trends and past home sales for the area.
LOOKING AHEAD As part of the impressive collection of golf communities along the Southeast corridor, Blackstone Country Club’s
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reputation for outstanding play and unparalleled amenities will continue to create significant interest in the entire area. In comparison, surrounding communities without the country club lifestyle will present more affordable options. Golf community homes on average, command a 30% increase over neighboring communities. I anticipate the number of homes being offered in 2018 will be similar to 2017, though the inventory of new-home options in Blackstone will decrease. New-home buyers will find Lennar as the best option. Its next phase of homes will be located further from the clubhouse yet continue to offer exceptional golf course views. To follow the market trends for all golf community activities along the Front Range, please visit AvidGolfRealEstate.com Martin Yeager, Colorado Avid Golfer’s Real Estate feature writer, is a realtor with the Colorado Fairway Home Team at Keller Williams DTC. He is available at Martin@FairwaysColorado.com and 303-668-9373. A special thank you to Sandra Allen and Matt Sharkey of Richmond Homes, Jeff Everhart and Audry Aylor of Lennar Homes, Winston Wall, owner of Wall Custom Homes and Irene Skrondahl, Membership Director at Blackstone CC and Black Bear. coloradoavidgolfer.com
Side Bets | NICE DRIVES
Lincoln Navigator
Keep on Truckin’
The latest SUVs from Audi, Lincoln and Range Rover bridge the ride divide between cars and trucks. By Isaac Bouchard WITH MORE THAN two-thirds of all new vehicles sold in the United Sates classified as light trucks, these vehicles increasingly now drive more like cars than ever before. This means we get their inherent benefits in utility, practicality and space without dynamic or efficiency compromises. Or so it goes in theory. In practice? Let’s see. 2018 AUDI A4 ALLROAD
0-60mph: 5.3sec Price as tested: $56,650 EPA ratings: 22 /30mpg; 25mpg
Ever since Subaru jacked up a Legacy wagon in the mid-90s, most premium brands—including Buick—have a plastic-clad version of such somewhere in their lineup. For its third generation of Allroad, Audi raised the A4 Avant wagon 1.3 inches, via taller springs and higher aspect-ratio tires, and installed adjustable dampers. By and large, it is a terrific counterargument to vehicles with higher centers of gravity; the Allroad is responsive and smooth riding in a way a taller vehicle rarely is. The willing 2-liter, 252 horsepower engine makes for effortless performance and excellent real-world economy;
0-60mph takes just over five seconds and it is easy to get mid-20s in urban use. In top-spec, Prestige trim, the Audi’s interior is lovely, with the kind of material quality, disciplined design and superb interface systems (which includes the incredibly cool 12.3–inch Virtual Cockpit in place of conventional instruments) that makes most man-machine interfaces seem dated. Audi’s latest autonomous driver aids are amongst the best of the breed and make daily commuting much more relaxing. Back seat room in the Audi is tight compared to “real” crossovers and SUVs, but there’s copious cargo volume for large objects or athletic gear. Better built, better driving and arguably better looking than the Q5 that will outsell it 10 to one, the Allroad is a compelling reminder of what brought European cars to prominence in the first place and the inherent advantages of a smaller, low-cg vehicle.
2018 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR
0-60mph: 5.8sec (est) Price as tested: $98,645 EPA ratings: 16/21mpg; 18mpg combined
Audi A4 Allroad
coloradoavidgolfer.com
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It is ironic that the Lincoln established the class that Cadillac came to dominate with the Escalade. Thankfully, the first all-new Navigator in well over a decade is a superb effort, redefining in many areas just how good a full-size, body-onframe SUV can be. The Lincoln’s exterior design is polarizingly confident, and its interior—in Black Label trim at least—worthy of the hype. Most all materials are April 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
Side Bets | NICE DRIVES
Range Rover Velar
price-appropriate and the leather and wood are used to stunning effect. Optional 30-way adjustable seats cozen the driver and front passenger in all the right ways, and the middle and third rows have more room than archrival GM vehicles, whether in short or long wheelbase form. Its Sync3 is a solid infotainment system, generally quick to respond and intuitive, and the voice command system trails only BMW’s latest. The head up display, which is visible through polarized sunglasses, doesn’t always announce upcoming turns quickly enough when you use the Navigator’s namesake function, but if you need to reroute, the Lincoln will still get you there on time, since its twin-turbo V6 is such a monster.
Lincoln Navigator
This latest serving of EcoBoost motivation comes in 3.5-liter size and outputs of 450hp and 510lbft, enough to run this rig to 60mph in the high five-second range and still provide class-average fuel economy. Its ride quality compares favorably with most other full-size SUVs. The kind of spring rates and damping curves needed to tie down such a large, heavy machine in the corners leave the Lincoln relatively stiff-legged over normal, bumpy pavement. It jiggles at high frequency over many freeways, no matter which of the settings the adjustable suspension is placed in. To be fair, the only vehicle of (almost) its size that tops it in this area is the Mercedes GLS. This Navigator gets most everything else just right. COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
From the running boards that power out as you approach it to the updated midcentury design vibe that defines the interior, Lincoln has emerged with a vehicle so popular that it had to expand its factory to meet demand.
2018 RANGE ROVER VELAR
0-60mph: 8.5sec (est) Price as tested: $75,415 EPA ratings: 26/30mpg; 28mpg combined Range Rover pioneered the luxury SUV and this latest example of its oeuvre references that by utilizing the name of an early prototype. In every other way the Velar ranks among the most postmodern of crossovers, with its emphasis on style and technology. Stunningly shaped inside and out, there are many delightful surprises on display, from the door handles that lie flush with the teardrop flanks until needed through to the Union Jack motifs stitched into the ventilated, heated seats and metal speaker covers. The Touch Pro Duo infotainment system is now near the top of the class, with twin, high-resolution screens, stunning graphics and pleasingly tactile controls that are meant to remind one of the focus ring on SLR camera lenses. Although the Velar’s main configurable instrument panel won’t hold a setting once you’ve restarted the car, Range Rover has otherwise finally caught its tech up to the competition, and even surpassed it in some areas, such as the steering wheel-mounted controls that modify their labeling depending on what you need them to do. The Velar, however, handles ponderously despite its aluminum body (shared with the Jaguar F-Pace, which rides in a similar fashion but handles better). It is far too much car for the available 180hp diesel engine option. Despite 317lb-ft of twist, the diesel needs to be flogged to keep up with traffic, which causes fuel economy to plummet into the teens from its amazing EPA numbers of 26/30mpg.
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Range Rover Velar
You’re better off opting for one of the smooth Ingenium gasoline engines that can really shift its considerable mass, allowing travelers to revel in the top tier ambiance that the Range Rover so capably provides. Since the two-box shape of crossovers is rapidly displacing other car configurations, we can at least hope most will be as compelling as the Velar. Isaac Bouchard is the owner of Englewood based Bespoke Autos (303-475-1462). Read more of his writing on coloradoavidgolfer.com and bespokeautos.com
Audi A4 Allroad
coloradoavidgolfer.com
2018
Come Play With Us! Colorado’s #1 Tournament Series presented by Colorado’s Premier Golf Magazine
Monday, 7/23 8:00 a.m. 4-person Shamble
Wednesday, 9/5 Monday, 8/20
1:30 p.m. 4-person Scramble
8:00 a.m. 4-person Shamble
$150 ENTRY FEE per event INCLUDES: ★ GOLF, CART and RANGE BALLS ★ MEALS before and after ★ Amazing PLAYER GIFT BAGS which include: A Chase54 golf shirt ($70 value) A dozen Callaway Chrome Soft Golf Balls ($50 value) A 2018 Golf Passport ($59.95 value)
★ Entry to Win a GOLF TRIP to BUFFALO THUNDER in Santa Fe ★ ON-COURSE CONTESTS and PRIZES and more!
2018
GOLF PASSPORT coloradoavidgolfer.com
(Total value more than $285) PRE S E N T ED BY
FOR MORE INFORMATION and TO REGISTER visit coloradoavidgolfer.com/events
CONTACT US with questions at: 720-493-1729 ext. 15 or Melissa@Coloradoavidgolfer.com
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2018
PRIVATE CLUB GUIDE Clubbing Up WHILE NOT QUITE as strong as it was at the dawn of the new millennium, Colorado’s private club scene is thriving. Initiations and dues have rebounded, and waiting lists have returned. It’s not just the economy, either; Colorado’s clubs withstood the recession better than those in most states. Credit the success to a willingness among most clubs to shed the perception of being elitist, exclusionary and expensive. They’ve reinvented themselves by emphasizing year-round family programming, member incentives, community outreach and such non-golf activities as fitness classes, spa amenities and gathering areas with multiple televisions, craft beers, casual dining and indoor golf simulators. As the next 27 pages show, some combination of these factors makes today’s Colorado private club far more appealing and relevant than ever before.
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
coloradoavidgolfer.com
The Club at Cordillera
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April 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
2018
M O N DAY & T U E S DAY
J U N E 4 & 5, 2018
An Exclusive Golf Tournament held at THE CLUB AT RAVENNA • Pairings Party May 31, 2018 at Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille • Two-Person, Best Ball, USGA handicap required • Après-Golf and Dinner Party • On-course Food, Cocktail Stations, Prizes and much more • Hole-In-One Prizes • $50,000 Shoot-out • Two year lease on a Schomp BMW • Club Car Golf Cart • Bandon Dunes Stay & Play • $10,000 Park Meadows Shopping Experience
A two-day Colorado Golf Experience like no other! To learn about the full experience, please contact Melissa Holmberg | 720-493-1729 ext.15 | melissa@coloradoavidgolfer.com
coloradoavidgolfer.com/cag-events
Colorado Section
We are proud to support Colorado PGA REACH and its goal of making a positive difference in the lives of others through Youth Development, Supporting Our Military and Diversity and Inclusion – a 501(c)(3) organization.
Has had the privilege of serving the golf industry in Colorado for 35 years.
Thank You!
For more information please visit our Denver Metro showroom or view inventory at www.cologolfandturf.net
RISING TO NEW HEIGHTS Discover Why Nowhere else will you find a private mountain club and course this close to the Denver metro area. Our award-winning Jack Nicklaus Signature Course provides Members and their guests an unparalleled golf experience combined with a Clubhouse offering a dynamic, year-round social calendar.
LIMITED MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE Our championship Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course underwent a million-dollar greens renovation last year and is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular courses in the entire state. Our iconic mountain clubhouse includes an outdoor terrace with breathtaking Rocky Mountain views. Our dining experience is second to none with menu creations that are sure to make a lasting impression and our social calendar is filled with both time-honored traditions as well as events unique to our club. Members and their guests enjoy live music events, wine dinners, family events and holiday festivities throughout the year.
MEMBER ACTIVITIES AND CLUB BENEFITS: - Spectacular golf course with breathtaking views and mountain terrain that will make you feel like you are hours away from home. - Our Game Improvement Facilities include two chipping greens with greenside bunkers, a short-game area with small target greens, and a 20-acre driving range with Titleist NXT practice balls. - Casual and formal dining experiences with exquisite food and exceptional service in a relaxed environment. - An iconic, award winning Clubhouse at the summit with endless mountain views from our outdoor terrace. - A strong sense of community because the Club is the perfect place to enjoy Club traditions and events, family dinners, wine tastings, live music, holiday parties and more. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a place to simply sit outside with friends to enjoy a glass of wine or beer, and watch the sunset over the mountains. - The club offers the perfect setting for our members to host memorable events such as weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, holiday parties or corporate events. - Exceptional service from a well-trained and friendly staff. - Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss The Taste: our annual food and wine festival with live music each June.
Location: Castle Pines (residence not required)
Website: www.ccatcastlepines.com Initiation: $21,000 Monthly Dues: $795 Contact: Mark Lewicki Phone: 303-660-6807 Email: mlewicki@ccofcastlepines.com
PRESENTED BY
2018 PRIVATE CLUB GUIDE
DENVER REGION
THE CLUB AT RAVENNA
DON’T MISS:
The 11,000-square-foot Fitness Center, Pool and Sunset Terrace opening this summer will include an abundance of programs and personalized service tailored to our members’ needs, outdoor grill and poolside cabanas, performance pavilion for live entertainment and casual rooftop atmosphere with views stretching across Pike National Forest, Ravenna’s majestic sunsets and Downtown Denver.
WHY JOIN OUR CLUB? Experience the Rocky Mountain lifestyle with golf, hiking, fishing, biking and more while enjoying convenient access to everyday amenities. Our location places you just minutes from the city but, with everything offered behind the gates, you may never want to leave. Membership and home growth has surged, bringing new life to the aweinspiring surroundings awaiting behind the gates. Membership is expected to be full by the end of 2019.
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
Location: Littleton Website: ravennagolf.com Initiation: $20,000-$35,000 Monthly Dues: $475-$575 Contact: Erik “Hack” Haberland Phone: 720-400-9673 Email: ehaberland@ravennagolf.com
AMENITIES AND SERVICES: Set against the iconic red rocks of the Dakota Hogback near Waterton Canyon in Littleton, The Club at Ravenna offers access to one of Colorado’s premier residential communities and private golf courses amidst an unusually stunning backdrop. • In a serene setting unlike any other in the Denver Metro area, the meticulously maintained course offers both fun and challenges for golfers of any age or skill level. Golfweek has included Ravenna as a U.S. Top 100 Residential Golf Course for eight years in a row. From elevated tee boxes to secluded escapes behind red rock formations, members can play the course time and time again while continuously enjoying it and experiencing new shots every round. It’s a course you can be proud of and one you can’t wait to show off to your friends and family. • Together with several of the finest builders in Colorado, Ravenna features a gorgeous collection of custom and semi-custom homes, designer specs, golf villas and home sites. Residents in Ravenna enjoy the security of 24-
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
hour staffed security gates, the privacy of quiet streets and peaceful evenings and the pleasure of magnificent views and nature at every turn. Each home is its own artfully crafted masterpiece full of modern day sophistication and details but steeped in classic and timeless beauty. • The new short game practice area opening this summer includes two practice greens, several bunkers and the ability to practice shot types up to 80 yards. • Our long-tenured team takes immense pride in making the experience at our Club feel like a vacation whether you're a first-time guest or a long-time member. From the valets who park your car to the attendants who handle your bag, tipping is not permitted, promoting an upscale, yet unpretentious atmosphere. • A full calendar of social events engages all ages of our membership. Executive Chef Christopher Moore and his passionate team consistently create distinct, delectable menus to fit each season and occasion at Ravenna. From 5-course wine dinners to weekly specials, fresh ingredients are selected each week and the variety of creative offerings allow for even the most regular diners to always have new selections available. • The 24,600-square-foot, Old-World-style clubhouse, in construction, will overlook the course and 18th green and represents our ongoing commitment to make Ravenna the best club in the area. • Proud home of the 2018 Schomp BMW Cup and winner of 2018 CAGGY Awards for Best Denver Region Private Club, Best Par 3 (#16) and Best Par 5 (#14). coloradoavidgolfer.com
Escape
RavennaGolf.com
720.956.1600
PRESENTED BY
2018 PRIVATE CLUB GUIDE
DENVER REGION
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
PERRY PARK COUNTRY CLUB Location: Larkspur Website: perryparkcc.com Initiation Fee: $4,500 Monthly Dues: $482 Membership Contact: Amy Morrow Phone: 303-681-3305, ext. 4 Email: amorrow@perryparkcc.com
MILLION-DOLLAR RENOVATION! Enjoy the club’s new dining and deck renovation overlooking the extraordinary scenery of Lake Wauconda and the foothills of Pike National Forest. Your serene “Mountain Getaway” close to home. The finest scenic club venue on the Front Range!
WHY JOIN OUR CLUB? There never will be a better time to investigate a Perry Park membership. With our current membership drive you can be one of the fortunate 10 golfers to take advantage of our $2,500 full equity membership. Reasonable monthly dues complement this attractive initiation fee. If a country club membership is in your future, now is your time to join!
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
MEMBER ACTIVITIES/BENEFITS: JUST TWENTY MINUTES from Castle Rock or Monument and you’re in another world—a world without traffic, noise or hassle; a place of serenity, timeless beauty and amazing golf. Picture winding green fairways set among spectacular red rock formations, Ponderosa pines and the habitat of many species of Colorado wildlife. Imagine the pleasure of a round of golf in this serene setting, framed by the woodlands of Pike National Forest. This is Perry Park Country Club, where one round will convince you something’s been missing from your game. • Introducing a new Twilight Preview Pass for 2018. Just $1,500 for the family, no dues! • Our limited membership of 300 makes for 3½-hour rounds. Even on weekends, you’ll be on the 19th tee in just a few minutes more. • The limited membership also allows easily accessible tee times most days of the week using our simple online tee-time system.
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• Designed by Dick Phelps, one of Colorado’s premier golf architects, the course takes full advantage of its unique, natural setting. To make your golf as enjoyable as possible, there are five sets of tees measuring 5,432 to 7,007 yards for golfers of all skill levels. • Friendly members and a new member introduction program will have you making friends, playing golf and becoming involved in activities in no time at all. • Ladies, Men’s & Couples leagues with 18 club tournaments, plus interclub events. • The children and grandchildren of both golf andsocial members can take part in our renowned Junior Golf program, which teaches both skills and etiquette. • Member-owned since 1969 means members have control of their future. All major decisions require a vote by the members. • Perry Park has been providing exceptional golf since 1969. Over this time the course has met the standards of the most highly skilled golfers and those that play for enjoyment. The course is maintained in tournament condition and our senior water rights and commitment to excellence will assure we will maintain those standards into the future. • We’ve been honored with 15 CAGGYs in the past three years. One round will show you why. coloradoavidgolfer.com
Perry Park COUNTRY CLUB
Timeless Beauty. Amazing Golf.
10 Memberships Available at $2,500 (Regularly $4,500) We invite you to come and try us out! Come and experience Perry Park Country Club for a day! Tuesday-Thursday after 12pm at just $90. Enjoy our practice facilities and a spectacular round of golf. Join us after your round on our newly expanded deck overlooking Lake Wauconda.
Extraordinary golf at an exceptional value! We are offering 10 (Only 9 left!) Equity Golf Memberships at the attractive price of $2500, (Regularly $4500) one time initiation fee (dues apply). Limited Preview: $1500 for 2018! (No Dues).
Perry Park Country Club Advantages: • • • •
Spectacular golf course and the benefits of a private course Low Membership cap allows readily available tee times and play in 4 hours or less Member of Private Club Network and ClubCorp Network, allows you to play hundreds of private clubs in the US Friendly, laid back membership and many social activities to keep you involved. We are Colorado casual in the clubhouse!
For more information on our membership experience, contact Amy Morrow at 303.681.3305, Ext 4 or amorrow@perryparkcc.com. And visit our website at www.perryparkcc.com.
PERRY PARK COUNTRY CLUB 7047 Perry Park Blvd Larkspur, CO 80118 Perry Park Country Club is a 501 (c) 7 Corp. Membership is by application and requires approval.
We’re Honored! We’re proud and honored to be named the winner of 15 Caggy Awards in the past 3 years, including: Colorado’s “Best Value” and “Most Underrated” Private Course by Colorado AvidGolfer.
PRESENTED BY
2018 PRIVATE CLUB GUIDE
DENVER REGION
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
BLACKSTONE COUNTRY CLUB and BLACK BEAR GOLF CLUB
DON’T MISS: Our extensive social calendar including wine dinners, brunches, barbecues, holiday parties and more!
Location: Blackstone Country Club, Aurora Location: Black Bear Golf Club, Parker Website: blackstone-club.com Initiation: $2,000 - $5,000 Dues: from $219 per month Membership Contact: Irene Skrondahl Phone: 720-330-7087 Email: Iskrondahl@clubcorp.com
MEMBER ACTIVITIES/BENEFITS: BOTH CLUBS HAVE recently renovated the
WHY JOIN OUR CLUB? Great things come in pairs. Members enjoy two championship courses, two clubhouses, two great restaurants, a calendar of golf and social events at each club all on one membership. Industry-leading O.N.E. (Optimal Network Experiences) membership benefits offer 50% off* à la carte dining at your home club and traveling benefits in the ClubCorp Network of more than 300 private clubs. More than $1 million has been invested in clubhouse and golf course improvements including enhanced patios, Fireside restaurant at Blackstone and Craft restaurant at Black Bear, as well as the resort-style pool at Blackstone.
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
restaurants and patios and improved the golf courses. Both offer exceptional dining with seasonal menus, chef’s table and live Friday night music. PGA Golf Professionals at both clubs offer excellent programming for the novice to scratch player. Both clubs feature a full calendar of men’s, ladies’ and junior events. • Black Bear is an 18-hole Jeff Brauerdesigned golf course with more than 200 feet in elevation change and views from Pikes Peak to Longs Peak, full driving range, practice areas and indoor golf performance center. • Black Bear’s craft restaurant offers a casual fare with a main dining area and patio overlooking the grass courtyard and gazebo. • Blackstone is a 7,313-yard Jay Morrishdesigned golf course with full driving range and practice areas.
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• The Fireside Restaurant at Blackstone combines a chophouse theme with casual country club dining and terraces looking out on Colorado’s Front Range. Blackstone’s spacious ballrooms are ideal for hosting any type of occasion. • Blackstone offers a fitness center, tennis courts and a resort-style pool. • Golf Memberships with access to both Blackstone and Black Bear start at $219 and include access to the ClubCorp Network of more than 300 private clubs when traveling. • Members with O.N.E. benefits* enjoy complimentary green fees at ClubCorp country clubs with tee times up to 30 days in advance and complimentary world-class dining at business clubs across the country. Members also have complimentary access to TaylorMade loaner clubs in the ClubCorp family. Enjoy up to 40% off at hundreds of hotels worldwide, including special offerings at more than 1,000 hotels, resorts, restaurants and entertainment venues, including tickets to theaters, concerts and sporting events. *The O.N.E. program and corresponding benefits are subject to certain terms, conditions, restrictions and exclusions. For details, visit clubcorpnetwork.com or call 720-330-7087. coloradoavidgolfer.com
ELEVATE YOUR LIFESTYLE
36 Holes of Championship Golf
Blackstone Country Club Grill
Weddings at Blackstone Country Club
Craft Grill at Black Bear Golf Club
Blackstone Country Club & Black Bear Golf Club Discover the ultimate Member experience with access to both clubs.* Stop by and experience the Club today. 720.330.7087 | blackstone-club.com | blackbearclub.com *New membership offerings subject to benefit terms and conditions. Membership is contingent on successful completion of the Club’s enrollment process. See Club for details.©ClubCorp USA, Inc. All rights reserved. 40146 0218 SS
QUICK MOVE-IN HOMES AVAILABLE ON THE GOLF COURSE!
R LA ES SO OM H
Country Club Living at Blackstone AURORA E. Smoky Hill Rd
Club Pk
Blackstone offers residents gorgeous single-family homes in a quaint country club setting. Elevate your everyday lifestyle in a community that offers spacious homes, exceptional included features and upscale amenities.
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1,974–3,498 sq. ft. | 3-5 Bedrooms | 2-4.5 Bathrooms
wy
Co
From the $500,000s
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E. Otero Dr
map not to scale
Blackstone
Waterloo
S. Powhaton Rd
27806 E. Alder Dr | Aurora, CO 80016 | 720-223-1740
N
County Line Rd
Blackstone in South East Aurora
Exceptional Value in a Country Club Setting Where residents enjoy the Grand Clubhouse with fitness center, pool, tennis courts, restaurant/grille, social activities, optional golf membership and more! follow Lennar Colorado
LENNAR.COM/COLORADO
Price is subject to change without notice. Stated dimensions and square footage are approximate and should not be used as representation of the home’s precise or actual size. Renderings are conceptual in nature and merely an artist’s rendition. These renderings are solely for illustrative purposes and should never be relied upon. Photographs are solely for illustrative purposes and should never be relied upon. Car size may vary from home to home and may not accommodate all vehicles. Map is not to scale and is for relative location purposes only. Please see your New Home Consultant and home purchase agreement for actual features designated as an Everything’s Included feature, additional information, disclosures, and disclaimers relating to your home and its features. Copyright © 2018 Lennar Corporation. All rights reserved. Lennar, the Lennar logo, Everything’s Included and the Everything’s Included logo are registered service marks or service marks of Lennar Corporation and/or its subsidiaries. 3/18
Come Out And Play.
Amenities For All 27 holes with 3 distinct nines (Mountain, Lake and Valley) Golf, Jr. Executive Golf, Tennis and Sport Memberships available MGA and LGA with golf leagues for men, women, couples, juniors and seniors Avid adult and junior tennis programming on 6 outdoor and 3 indoor courts year-round Resort style renovated pool complex with family, lap and toddler pools with poolside dining. Fully equipped fitness center overlooking the pool Year round social calendar with casual and fine dining, family events, wine dinners, holiday traditions and special events JOINING BEFORE THE SUMMER HAS ITS PRIVILEGES. ENROLL THIS SPRING IN A FULL GOLF OR YOUNG EXECUTIVE GOLF CATEGORY AND RECEIVE A SPECIAL INCENTIVE One of the many options included in your full golf membership at The Pinery is Summit Access. This exclusive program provides access to neighboring The Club at Pradera. Their amazing amenities include 18-holes of golf, outdoor tennis, fitness center and an awarding winning dining experience. Additionally, Pinery golf members with Summit enjoy preferred rates at Arrowhead Golf Club as well as travel benefits to over 60+ Arcis Golf properties from coast to coast. The Pinery Country Club 6900 N Pinery Pkwy. Parker, CO 80134
303.816.8696 Contact: Jeff Mathews | jmathews@thepinerycc.com | www.thepinerycc.com
And Play Even More.
The Club Experience You Deserve Every Day Award winning mountain Clubhouse surrounded by 18 breathtaking Jim Engh-designed golf holes Golf practice facility for driving, chipping, putting and sand play with surround sound music throughout the range Golf, Jr. Executive Golf, Tennis and Sports memberships available Golf leagues for Men, Women, Couples, Juniors and Seniors (50+) Golf 12 months a year including indoors when winter weather prevails outside Year-round social calendar with casual and fine dining, family traditions and programs, wine dinners, holiday celebrations, and more State of the art fitness center overlooking the golf course JOINING BEFORE THE SUMMER HAS ITS PRIVILEGES. ENROLL THIS SPRING IN A FULL GOLF OR YOUNG EXECUTIVE GOLF CATEGORY AND RECEIVE A SPECIAL INCENTIVE One of the many options included in your full golf membership at Pradera is Summit Access. This exclusive program provides access to neighboring Pinery Country Club. Their outstanding collection of amenities is a wonderful complement to Pradera - including 27-holes of golf, indoor/ outdoor tennis complex, fitness center and a resort-style pool complex. Additionally, Pradera golf members with Summit enjoy preferred rates at Denverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most scenic course, Arrowhead Golf Club as well as travel benefits to over 60+ Arcis Golf properties from coast to coast. The Club at Pradera 5225 Raintree Drive Parker, CO 80134
303.847.4905 Contact: Andrew Bustamante | abustamante@theclubatpradera.com www.theclubatpradera.com
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
DENVER REGION
2018 PRIVATE CLUB GUIDE
PRESENTED BY
The Club at Pradera
THE CLUB AT PRADERA
Pinery Country Club
PINERY COUNTRY CLUB DON’T MISS: Every Friday night has live music at either The Pinery Country Club or The Club at Pradera. The music alternates between the two clubs and if you need a babysitter for the night, the club takes care of that as well with the Kids Club.
Location: Parker Website: thepinerycc.com Initiation: $10,000 (call for updated information) Dues: $509 per month Membership Contact: Jeff Mathews Phone: 303-841-5157 Email: jmathews@thepinerycc.com
MEMBER ACTIVITIES AND CLUB BENEFITS: • The Pinery CC features 27 holes of renowned, scenic and challenging golf. The three distinct nines have their own unique characteristics with plenty of elevation changes with mature Ponderosa pines on several of the holes. Golf members enjoy unlimited use of the driving range, practice putting greens and chipping area with practice bunkers.
The Club at Pradera
coloradoavidgolfer.com
Location: Parker Website: theclubatpradera.com Initiation: $15,000 (call for updated information) Dues: $541 per month Membership Contact: Andrew Bustamante Phone: 303-607-5672 Email: abustamante@theclubatpradera.com
NESTLED IN THE UNSPOILED HILLS of Parker, Colorado, The Club at Pradera’s exquisite Jim Engh-designed Irish links-style golf course, luxurious amenities and superlative guest service have earned it acclaim as one of the finest private golf and lifestyle clubs in Colorado. From its unrivaled setting to its year-long array of social and recreational activities designed to engage and delight every member of the family, Pradera offers innumerable opportunities for members to forge lasting friendships and create lifelong memories.
• As part of the Summit Access program the membership at The Pinery has access to play at The Club at Pradera and the other 60+ Arcis Golf properties across the USA. Many other benefits come with the Summit Access program such as 20% off the menus at the clubs and discounted guest fees.
At the Club at Pradera, we know outstanding privileges and luxurious amenities are just as important as the intangible benefits that come with private club membership—a sense of community, camaraderie and belonging. We offer a variety of affordable Golf and Sports memberships that give you both access to spectacular golf and recreational facilities, as well as a yearlong schedule of events. Whether you are seeking a place to relax with family and friends or an unmatched venue for client entertainment, you’ve come to the right place.
• If your passion lies on the tennis courts, you’re invited to discover the benefits at one of Colorado’s most active tennis clubs with nine tennis courts (including three indoor courts). Tennis members also have access to the renovated swimming complex, fitness center and clubhouse dining.
The Club at Pradera is privately owned and all memberships are non-equity. There are no capital assessments or food minimums— so members can relax, unwind, and enjoy all of the privileges and benefits that come with membership at one of Colorado’s most celebrated private golf and lifestyle clubs.
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April 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
PRESENTED BY
2018 PRIVATE CLUB GUIDE
DENVER REGION
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
INVERNESS GOLF CLUB
DON’T MISS: The award-winning Champagne Sunday Brunch at the Garden Terrace Restaurant. Indulge in hundreds of delicious offerings to choose from, while a Jazz Trio creates a lively ambiance. Specialty dishes include an elaborate iced shellfish display of shrimp, crab, and mussels, and mouthwatering herb crusted prime rib from the carver. Membership benefits include four complimentary Sunday brunches.
WHY JOIN OUR CLUB? As one of Denver’s only semi-private golf courses, The Inverness Golf Club is only open to members, their guests and guests of the hotel. With increased membership benefits and recent on-property renovations, the Inverness Golf Club is the premier golf resort in the Mile High City.
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
Location: Englewood Website: HiltonInvernessGolf.com New Member Initiation: $1,250 Individual Member Annual Dues: $5,150 Family Member Annual Dues: $7,725 (Family Membership includes full benefits for member, spouse and children 18 years and younger) Couple or Adult + Junior Member Annual Dues: $6,695 (Couple or Adult + Junior Membership includes full benefits for member and spouse or child, 18 years and younger) Monthly payment options are available for all memberships Membership Contact: Dave Steinmetz Phone: 303-397-7810 Email: dsteinmetz@destinationhotels.com
MEMBER ACTIVITIES/BENEFITS: • Discover the balance of risk and reward at the unique and challenging Inverness Golf Club. This par-70, 7,026 yard PGA Championship golf course designed by J. Press Maxwell has been ranked among the finest Colorado golf resorts and presents an ideal golf destination. • With advanced tee sheet priority access, and the ability to book tee times through ForeTees. com, members also benefit from member-only tee times until noon on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
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• Improve your game with unlimited practice balls and access to the driving range, chipping area, and putting green. • Take advantage of two complimentary overnight hotel stays in the newly renovated luxury Hilton guest rooms, and four free brunches at the award-winning Garden Terrace Restaurant Sunday Brunch. • Relax and rejuvenate with 20% off all spa services at the full-service luxury Spa at The Inverness. Treat yourself to massages, body scrubs, facials, nail services, and more. • With an indoor pool and hot tub, and a seasonal outdoor pool, members have access to year-round swimming and water recreation. • Grab a local brew at the Spotted Dog Pub, or sip on a hand-crafted cocktail at Fireside Bar & Grill, where as a member, you can enjoy a 20% discount available at all hotel food & beverage outlets. Your post-round celebratory drinks will be even more satisfying. • A dedicated membership coordinator ensures an exceptional golf club experience, including an annual Holiday Gathering in December for all members. coloradoavidgolfer.com
Golf
STAY PLAY
&
at the newly remodeled
HILTON DENVER INVERNESS 200 INVERNESS DRIVE WEST, ENGLEWOOD, CO 80112 303.397.7808 | DENVERINVERNESS.HILTON.COM
Tee off on the stunning J. Press Maxwell PGA championship golf course when you book the Golf Stay & Play Package at Hilton Denver Inverness. Each registered guest receives one round of golf per day and a golf cart to get all the way to the 18th hole. Get out there and soak up the Colorado Summer sun on one of Denverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best golf courses!
CHERRY CREEK COUNTRY CLUB Denver Outside...Paradise Inside, an experience unlike any other
Whether they’re putting out on the 18th green of our Nicklaus Signature championship course or enjoying the relaxing services at the award-winning spa, once our members enter the gates of Cherry Creek Country Club, they’re treated to an experience unlike any other. Cherry Creek Country Club prides itself on incomparable service, fulfilling every member’s wants and needs. From exquisite dining to championship golf to world-class fitness facilities, soothing spa amenities, and personal wellness programs, Cherry Creek Country Club provides a home away from home; once you join, you truly belong.
Family Fun
Wellness Center: Boutique Spa and Fitness
While the club offers many exciting and competitive programs and events, members come and stay for the family and community atmosphere. Cherry Creek Country Club boasts a luxurious and enticing outdoor snack bar and eating area, tennis and pickleball courts and an expansive pool deck. The Club’s quarter-milliongallon pool is ideal for lap swimmers, splish-splashers, aquabasketball and volleyball players, as well as those who just want to take a dip on a hot summer day. Also, when school lets out, CCCC hosts Summer Kid’s Camp—ten weeks of sport-centric activities and themed fun in the sun, including kid’s yoga, golf, tennis, swimming, drama, science, arts and crafts and other teambuilding sports and games. Throughout the year, moms, dads and kids can attend unique family-friendly events such as Jungle Lady, Parent-Child golf tournaments, a Family Fall Festival, Breakfast with Santa and many others. Because Cherry Creek Country Club thrives on being family-oriented, a photographer is present at most family functions for members to capture and cherish the memories built at The Club.
Setting Cherry Creek Country Club apart and putting it into a league of its own is the Wellness Center. Located across from the clubhouse and golf course, this club within a club prides itself on exciting membership about health and wellness, and inspiring them to challenge and outdo themselves through innovative programs and services. With an ever-growing group exercise program presenting myriad classes and options, our professional team consistently creates new and exciting ways for members to improve their bodies and minds. When members finish training, the private spa awaits with six tranquil treatment rooms, a meditation courtyard and eight skilled therapists to help members recharge their batteries. Throughout the year, Cherry Creek Country Club members enjoy seasonally based wellness options such as performance instruction, pre-season prep, post-season recovery and spa services with tantalizing fragrances and products to keep the experiences fresh and leave members eager to return. Each of these offerings and programs provides members with plenty of choices so they never grow bored with their health and wellbeing.
Events and Social Activities
Dining
Golf
Featuring the Men’s Grill, Mixed Grill and Formal Dining Room, the Clubhouse offers members scenic views with exceptional service from our friendly, courteous staff that works hard to make dining experiences distinctive and memorable. With a worldclass menu featuring breakfast, lunch and dinner specials, dining at Cherry Creek Country Club is always special. Not only does the club serve up delicious food and drinks six days a week, The Clubhouse at Cherry Creek features a variety of monthly events including Prime Rib Thursdays, High Tea, Family Night, Wine Dinners and our ever-popular Couples “9 and Dine” golf dinners. Whatever the occasion, the Clubhouse at Cherry Creek Country Club provides the ideal destination for members to socialize, meet for cocktails in stylish comfort, take pleasure in an elegant meal in the Dining Room or relish a relaxed repast in the casual atmosphere of the Men’s or Mixed Grill.
Staying current with all the technological advancements in golf equipment, the golf shop at Cherry Creek Country Club always stocks the latest products from top vendors including TaylorMade, Callaway and Titleist. Complimentary fittings using FlightScope and Trackman technology provide golfers with a customized fit when purchasing new gear. Members can keep up their game all year long with the club’s newly installed indoor putting green and state-of-the-art simulator featuring a choice of more than thirty different courses, including Cherry Creek Country Club. Not only does the professional staff offer inhouse club repair, but it also provides group and individual lessons for players of every age and ability. This range and level of highly personalized golf instruction affords club members the opportunity to make the game a bonding experience, creating memories that can be shared across multiple generations and cherished for years.
Classic elegance defines events at Cherry Creek Country Club. Our gifted events department focuses on delighting members with tailor-made experiences, captivating inventiveness, spirited celebration and sophisticated service. With the ability to create one-of-a-kind menus, our talented team of culinary experts makes each occasion a unique and unforgettable one. Club members can choose from a number of distinct spaces that allow for the perfect setting. The events department at Cherry Creek Country Club includes coordinators who have extensive knowledge in hospitality and customer experience. Having spent years planning events at high-end resorts in Hawaii and on the mainland, these seasoned professionals have a true and thorough understanding of what it means to create a remarkable event for members. They overlook nothing, accommodate all requests and minister to every detail— from the linen and centerpieces to the place cards and lighting—to ensure a flawless affair. Personalized Social Calendar events transpire monthly, ranging from kid-focused functions to adult-only events and even shopping boutiques, which allow members and their entire family to participate, learn, shop and create memories at Cherry Creek Country Club.
Cherry Creek Country Club during the annual Member-Guest Bagpiper Tournament and Gala. Summer 2017.
Denver Outside…Paradise Inside
PRESENTED BY
2018 PRIVATE CLUB GUIDE
MOUNTAIN REGION
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
THE CLUB AT CORDILLERA DON’T MISS: Our Season Kick-Off Celebration, where we welcome all of the members for the season, as well as our Season Farewell Party where we bid everyone goodbye until the following spring. No expense is spared with the best in live entertainment, fireworks, impeccable food and drink, and themed events.
WHY JOIN OUR CLUB? Covering 11 square miles and more than 2,000 feet of elevation gain, Cordillera takes full advantage of its alpine location to promote the active lifestyle its members crave. That means a full assortment of outdoor activities and a jam-packed calendar of social events— from moonlight snowshoeing to shows at the Vilar Performing Center to kids’ color runs, outdoor concerts, wing-eating contests, and much more. “We strive to create the best, most memorable and fun Member experience possible,” General Manager Mike Henritze says. “We ski, we fish, we eat, we play. From plate to palate we live each day in celebration.”
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
Location: Edwards Website: cordillera-vail.com Initiation: Starting at $35,000 Dues: $12,500/year Membership Contact: Suzanne Morgan Phone: 970-569-6418 Email: smorgan@troon.com
MEMBER ACTIVITIES AND CLUB BENEFITS: • Spanning 2,000 feet of elevation change and 7,000 acres, each of our three 18-hole championship courses—Valley (7,200 feet), Mountain (8,250) and Summit (9,200)—has its own clubhouse and offers golf experiences as distinctive as their respective architects: Tom Fazio, Hale Irwin and Jack Nicklaus. The courses offer three different altitudes, topographies, climates and weather patterns. • Experienced and novice players can enjoy nine holes on our uniquely challenging Dave Pelz-designed short course. • Take a golf lesson from nationally ranked top 50 instructor Tim Mahoney, who makes his summer headquarters at the club. • Whether ice-skating on our 9,600-squarefoot outdoor rink or taking a backcountry jeep tour, you’ll find we’re a true four-season year ‘round club that embraces the active Vail Valley lifestyle.
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• In addition to skiing and snowboarding at nearby Beaver Creek and Vail, the club boasts a Nordic Center and a private groomed track for sledding, tubing, snowshoeing, and crosscountry skiing—both classic and skate— on seven miles encompassing the entire Mountain Course. • The warmer months bring golf, clay-court tennis, fly-fishing on 1.3 private miles of the Eagle River and fishing in five trout-stocked ponds. • Hike, mountain bike or ride on horseback along the club’s 31-mile trail network that extends into the three million-acre White River National Forest. • Members make the most of the club’s two fitness centers and five swimming pools with daily fitness classes and organized events. • Our three restaurants—Chaparral, Summit and TimberHearth—offer distinctive cuisine and casual yet refined mountain atmospheres. • As part of Troon Privé, Cordillera members have the privilege of playing at any of the network’s 85 private clubs for the host club’s cart fee rate. Members are also entitled to bring up to three guests that will play for the host clubs accompanied rates.
coloradoavidgolfer.com
World Class Golf... “IT’S NOTHING SHORT OF SPECTACULAR” - COLORADO AVID GOLFER
CAGGY AWARD WINNER - 2 YEARS SWINGING!
C O L O R A D O AV I D G O L F E R
C O L O R A D O AV I D G O L F E R
STAFF PICK - 2017
STAFF PICK - 2018
Colorado’s Premier Four Season Mountain Club FOR MEMBERSHIP, REAL ESTATE AND GENERAL INQUIRIES VISIT: WWW.FROSTCREEK.COM
•
CALL: 970.328.2326
BEST MOUNTAIN CLUB, PRIVATE
BEST MOUNTAIN MOST COVETED MOSTBEST COVETED MOUNTAIN CLUB, INVITATION, PRIVATE PRIVATE INVITATION, CLUB, PRIVATE PRIVATE
BEST MOUNTAIN CLUB, PRIVATE MOST COVETED INVITATION, PRIVATE
BEST MOUNTAIN MOST COVETED MOST COVETE CLUB, INVITATION, PRIVATE PRIVATE INVITATION, PRIV
BEST MOUNTAIN CLUB, PRIVATE BEST OVERALL EXPERIENCE, PRIVATE
ED VATE
...and so
Much More Surrounded by thousands of acres of ranch land and protected mountain wilderness, Frost Creek is the perfect haven to get active, or get away from it all. Fly fish in pristine rivers, hike and bike scenic trails, tee off for a round on our award-winning golf course, and enjoy easy access to everything you have come to expect from the Rocky Mountains. Spacious overnight cabins make membership an affordable alternative to mountain home ownership.
Are you ready to explore?
PRESENTED BY
2018 PRIVATE CLUB GUIDE
MOUNTAIN REGION
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
THE CLUB AT FLYING HORSE DON’T MISS: The coveted Flying Horse Signature Golf Membership is your ticket to golf, fitness, tennis, aquatics, gourmet dining, and other extraordinary privileges at the most celebrated Club in Colorado. With this membership you’ll enjoy all the pleasures of our 18-hole Tom Weiskopf Golf Course, plus make plans to tee off at our new 18-hole Phil Smith Golf Course coming to Flying Horse North in the summer of 2019!
WHY JOIN OUR CLUB? The club’s beautiful, Tuscan-style facilities were built—and our activity programming is designed—with the modern-day family in mind. Members enjoy the year-round amenities and are able to engage with others thanks to a full schedule of fun activities. The club also serves as a fashionable option where members can network socially and host impressive company functions or retreats. Located on the northern edge of colorful Colorado Springs, Flying Horse is convenient for those coming from Denver, Castle Rock or Monument.
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
Location: North Colorado Springs Website: flyinghorseclub.com Initiation: $39,000 (refundable option) $25,000 (non-refundable option) Social Fitness Initiation: $8,500 Golf Monthly Dues: $585 family $515 single family Social Fitness Monthly Dues: $275 Membership Contact: Jen Weis Phone: 719-487-2646 Email: jweis@flyinghorseclub.com
MEMBER ACTIVITIES AND BENEFITS: • Featuring an Audobon-certified, Tom Weiskopf-designed 18-hole golf course with Indoor Learning center, members can play and practice year-round rain or shine. • Coming soon, a new 18-hole Phil Smithdesigned golf course, to open in summer 2019! • Members enjoy gourmet dining surrounded by breathtaking views. Choose from three dining areas—the Steakhouse, the intimate Rotunda, or the casual member bar and grill. • With a full array of resort-style amenities— including swimming pools, clay tennis courts, group fitness classes, and state-of-the-art exercise equipment—the Athletic Club and Spa is an all-out winner for fitness enthusiasts of every age and interest. It’s also a great way for our members to unwind after a hard day at work.
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• Swim outdoors in our heated 25-yard salt water lap pool or soak in the spacious hot tub. Summer brings the opening of our seasonal adult only pool & hot tub and our children’s activity pool & splash parks. • Tennis plays a big part in club life. Members have the option of playing outdoors on our four hard surface courts or indoors on our four red clay courts. Daily drills are a way of tennis life and are available to players of any level. • Kids’ Cabin is a place where a kid can be a kid! While Mom and Dad play nine holes, attend a wine dinner or treat themselves to a spa treatment, the kiddos play and make new friends. Open daily and late for Date Night on Fridays and Saturdays. • Our members know the restorative power of herbs, water, and a soothing massage, especially after a long day of meetings. So they treat themselves to a day at our spa. Our full menu of rejuvenating therapies and curative treatments are relaxing, refreshing, and amazingly restorative. • Make new connections and reaffirm those you’ve had for years. The Club has proven to be the perfect place to network for business purposes and host clients to a round of golf or a company luncheon. Members’ guests are impressed by the attentive service and the high quality of the amenities. coloradoavidgolfer.com
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18-ho Phil S le mith Golf Co Flying urse in Ho North rse !
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Discover The Unbridled Majesty of Flying Horse. Born of legend, bred for pleasure, Flying Horse is a place of extraordinary possibilities. With breathtaking views, magnificent homes crafted by the area’s most celebrated builders, luxurious guest rooms and meeting accommodations, beguiling recreational amenities, world-class cuisine, and an 18-hole championship golf course designed by the legendary master, Tom Weiskopf—this storybook community reflects the absolute finest in luxury.
L G R M A www.LodgeAtFlyingHorse.com | 844-768-2684
C M O www.FlyingHorseClub.com | 719-494-1222
R E O www.FlyingHorseColorado.com
PRESENTED BY
2018 PRIVATE CLUB DIRECTORY CLUB
ADDRESS PHONE and WEBSITE
INITIATION DUES WAITING MEMBER FACILITIES * ** LIST CAP
COURSE ARCHITECT
Aspen Glen Club 0545 Bald Eagle Way, Carbondale $35,000 $995/mo. No 535 Swimming, tennis,spa, 970-704-1905; clubcorp.com fitness center, ClubCorp reciprocity Ballyneal Golf Club 1 Ballyneal Lane, Holyoke $25,000 (local) $4,500/ Yes 250 Bird hunting, bocce ball, 970-854-5900; ballyneal.com $20,000 (natâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l) $3,000/yr. shooting, lodging, dining, spa, 12-hole and putting courses Bear Creek Golf Club 12201/mo.rrison Rd., Denver $40,000 $830/mo. No 350 Dining 303-980-8700; bearcreekgolfclub.net Black Bear Golf Club 11300 Canterberry Pkwy., Parker $2,000- $324- No N/A Dining, privileges at all 720-330-7087; blackbear-club.com $5,000 $490/mo. ClubCorp facilities Blackstone Country Club 7777 Country Club Dr., Aurora $2,000 - $219- No N/A Swimming, tennis, fitness, dining, 720-330-7087; blackstone-club.com $5,000 $490/mo. privileges at all ClubCorp facilities Bookcliff Country Club 2730 G Rd., Grand Junction $25,000 $425/mo. No 520 Swimming, tennis, 970-243-3323; bookcliffcc.com exercise center, spa, dining Boulder Country Club 350 Clubhouse Rd., Boulder $38,500 $562 /mo. Yes 485 Swimming, tennis, fitness, 303-530-4600; bouldercc.org dining, wellness center, youth summer camp, par 3 Broadmoor Golf Club One Lake Circle, Colorado Springs $80,000 $655/mo. Yes N/A All resort privileges 719-577-5790; broadmoor.com
CONTACT
Nicklaus Design (1997)
Steve Van Dyke
Tom Doak (2006)
Kent Hiller/ Dave Hensley
Arnold Palmer, Ed Seay (1985)
Kirk Rider
Jeff Brauer (1996)
Irene Skrondahl
Jay Morrish (2006)
Irene Skrondahl
Dick Phelps (1958)
Kari Canaday
Press Maxwell (1965)
Kate Kippenberger
East: D. Ross (1918) Shauna West: R. T. Jones (1964) Sartori Mountain: J. Nicklaus (2006)
Castle Pines Golf Club 1000 Hummingbird Dr., Castle Rock $135,000 $18,000/yr. Invitation N/A Fitness center, dining Jack Nicklaus N/A 303-688-6000; castlepinesgolfclub.club only (1981) The Country Club at Castle Pines
6400 Country Club Dr., Castle Pines Village $21,000 $790/mo. No 395 303-688-7400; ccatcastlepines.com
Catamount Ranch & Club
33400 B Catamount Dr., Steamboat Springs $45,000 $11,200/yr. No 395 Swimming tennis, private lake, 970-871-9300; catamountranchclub.com water sports, fitness, skiing
Cherry Creek Country Club
2405 South Yosemite St., Denver 303-597-0300; cherrycreekcountryclub.com
Cherry Hills Country Club
4125 S. University Blvd., Cherry Hills Village $125,000 $1,000/mo. Invitation N/A Swimming , tennis, dining, 303-350-5200; chcc.com only indoor golf practice
$40,000- $60,000
$475- No 445 $775/mo.
Dining
Swimming, tennis, spa, full fitness facility
Colorado Golf Club 7803 E. Stroh Rd., Parker $55,000/ $885/mo. Invitation 375 9-hole short course, dining, fitness, 303-840-5400; coloradogolfclub.com $85,000 only pool complex, hiking/riding trails, AboutGolf simulator and indoor bays Colorado Springs Country Club
3333 Templeton Gap Rd., Colorado Springs $3,500 $520/mo. No 450 Swimming, tennis, dining, 719-634-8851; cscountryclub.com fitness and pickleball
Nicklaus Design Mark (1985) Lewicki Tom Weiskopf (2000)
Nicole Piret
Jack Nicklaus/ Jack Nicklaus II (2002)
Karen Hart
William Flynn(1922); Renaissance Golf (2009)
B.J. Johnson
Ben Crenshaw/ Bill Coore (2006)
Tom Ferrell
Dick Phelps (1957)
Judi Lakin
Columbine Country Club 17 Fairway Lane, Columbine Valley $80,000 $675/mo. No 620 Swimming, tennis, par-3, fitness, Henry Hughes 303-794-2674; columbinecc.com new clubhouse with indoor simulators, (1956) indoor/outdoor dining, spa
Robert Cuillard
The Club at Cordillera 655 Clubhouse Dr., Edwards $35,000- $12,500/yr. No 1,085 Swimming, tennis, Valley: T. Fazio (1997), Suzanne 970-569-6418; cordillera-vail.com $60,000 Nordic center, dining, Mountain: H. Irwin (1994), Morgan hiking, fly fishing, skiing Summit: J Nicklaus (2001) Country Club of 125 E. Clubhouse Dr., Colorado Springs $12,000 $490/mo. No 450 Swimming, tennis, fitness, Pete Dye Jessica Colorado 719-538-4084; ccofcolorado.com sailing, spa, watersports, (1973) Woehle pickleball Country Club of 676 Sawatch Dr, Edwards $125,000 $9,750/yr. No 350 Call for Facilities Jack Nicklaus Pentii the Rockies 970-926-3080; countrycluboftherockies.com (1984) Tofferi Denver Country Club* 1700 E. First Ave., Denver $105,000 $784/mo. Invitation 600 Swimming, tennis, ice rink, 303-733-2441; denvercc.net only fitness, paddle tennis
James Foulis (1902), Bill Coore (1985), Gil Hanse (2009)
Molly Elm
Eagle Springs 28521 U.S. Highway 6 & 24, Wolcott $60,000 $14,800/yr. Invitation 250 Golf Club 970-926-4400; eaglesprings.org only Eaton Country Club 37661 Weld Country Rd. 39, Eaton $1,000 $230/mo. No 450 970-454-2106; eatoncc.net
Jay Morrish/ Tom Weiskopf (1995)
Mike Steiner
The Club at 1880 Weiskopf Point., Colorado Springs $25,000 $515- No 450 Flying Horse 719-487-2646; flyinghorseclub.com $585 /mo.
None
Dining Frank Baumgardner Misty Welsh (1968)
Swimming, tennis, fitness, Tom Weiskopf (2005) spa, indoor golf facility, lodging, dining
Fort Collins 1920 Country Club Rd., Fort Collins $4,000/ $460/mo. No 489 Swimming, dining, fitness, Country Club 970-482-1336; fortcollinscc.com $9,000 indoor and outdoor tennis, privileges at ClubCorp
Henry Hughes (1960); Pete Dye (2001)
Jennifer Weis Heidi Elser
The Fox Hill Club 12389 E. Highway 119, Longmont $4,000 $430/mo. No N/A Dining, swimming, tennis, fitness Frank Hummel Pat Miller 303-651-7600; thefoxhillclub.com (1972) Frost Creek Club 1094 Frost Creek Dr., Eagle $25,000/ $5,410/ No 425 Swimming, tennis, fitness, fishing, Tom Weiskopf 970-445-3072; frostcreek.com $25,000 $8,110/yr. spa, paddle board, archery, yurts, (2007) Nordic skiing, ice skating, snow shoeing, jeep access, hiking and biking trails
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
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Kakie Holland
coloradoavidgolfer.com
coloradoavidgolfer.com is your gateway to private and public Colorado golf.
Our website offers listings, directions, user reviews and details for all public, resort and private facilities.
CLUB
ADDRESS PHONE and WEBSITE
INITIATION DUES WAITING MEMBER FACILITIES * ** LIST CAP
COURSE ARCHITECT
Garden of the Gods Club 3320 Mesa Rd, Colorado Springs $25,000 $575/mo. No N/A Wellness center, swimming, tennis, 719-520-4980; tennis, fitness, dining, gardenofthegodsclub.com spa, salon, lodging Glacier Club 40290 Highway 550 North, Durango 970-382-6712; theglacierclub.com
$17,000/ $812 /mo. No 675 Swimming, tennis. fitness $70,000
CONTACT
Press Maxwell (1961)/ Mark Rathert (1997)
Tracey Kalata
Arthur Hills (1974)/ Irwin-Schoeder (2017)
Ken Stone
Glenmoor Country Club 110 Glenmoor Dr., Cherry Hills Village $80,000 $580/mo. Yes 475 Swimming, tennis, fitness, Pete Dye (1985) 303-257-1313; glenmoorcc.org dining, massage, kids activity room
Teri Kubik
Greeley Country Club 4500 W. 10th St., Greeley $1,500- $250- No 500 Swimming, tennis, racquetball, 970-353-0528; greeleycc.org $7,500 $499/mo. dining, pickleball, access to Ft Collins & Fox Hill CCs, Kemper Sports facilities
Eric Crawford
Press Maxwell/ Tom Bendelow (1932)
Harmony Club 4176 Club Dr., Timnath $8,500 $365/mo. No 375 Indoor heated golf facility, pool, Jim Engh (2007) 970-224-4622; harmonyclub.info pool, tennis, fitness, pickleball Hiwan Golf Club* 30671 Clubhouse Ln., Evergreen $25,000 $530/mo. No N/A Dining, swimming, tennis, Press Maxwell 303-674-3366; hiwan.com fitness center, fishing, yoga (1962) and pilates
Jason Ward Daniel Sherman
Inverness Hotel & Golf Club 200 Inverness Dr., Englewood $1,250 $430/mo. No 350 Swimming, tennis, fitness 303-397-7878; invernesshotel.com
Press Maxwell Dave (1974) Steinmetz
Lake Valley Golf Club 4400 Lake Valley Dr., Longmont $15,500 $320- No 478 303-444-2114; lakevalley.com $418/mo.
Press Maxwell (1964)
Rob Mount
Tom Bendelow/ Donald Ross (1908) Gill Hanse (2018)
Carol Kaiser
Tom Fazio (1995)
David Chadbourne
Dining, practice facilities, private swim and fishing lake
Lakewood Country Club 6800 W. 10th Ave., Lakewood $52,500 $625/mo. Yes 450 Swimming, fitness 303-233-4614; lakewoodcountryclub.net Maroon Creek Club 10 Club Circle Rd., Aspen $200,000 $27,250/yr. Invitation 350 Swimming, tennis, fitness, 970-920-1533; mccaspen.com only spa, dining Meridian Golf Club 9742 S. Meridian Blvd., Englewood $7,000 $489/mo. Yes 475 303-799-8402; meridiangolfclub.com Perry Park Country Club 7047 Perry Park Blvd., Larkspur $4,500 $482 /mo. No 300 303-681-3305; perryparkcc.com
Dining Jack Nicklaus Tim Murphy (1984) Fishing, dining
Dick Phelps Amy (1969) Morrow
Pinehurst Country Club 6255 W. Quincy Ave., Denver $32,000 $695/mo. No 450 Swimming, indoor/outdoor tennis, 303-985-1551; pinehurstcountryclub.com dining, fitness, golf simulators
Press Maxwell (1960)
Tiffany Messer
The Pinery Country Club 6900 E Pinery Pkwy., Parker $10,000 $509/mo. No 650 Swimming, fitness, 303-841-5157; thepinerycc.com indoor/outdoor tennis
David Bingham (1972)
Jeff Mathews
The Club at Pradera 5225 Pradera Pkwy., Parker $15,000 $541/mo. No 450 Tennis, fitness Jim Engh Andrew 303-607-5672; theclubatpradera.com (2005) Bustamante Ptarmigan Country Club* 5416 Vardon Way, Fort Collins $5,000 $425/mo. No 425 Swimming, dining, tennis Jack Nicklaus Ryan Flack 970-226-8555; ptarmigancc.com (1988) Pueblo Country Club 3200 8th Ave., Pueblo $500 $411/mo. No 850 Swimming, tennis, dining, 719-543-4844; pueblocountryclub.com special events, 18 hole course
Henry Hughes (1902)
Gabbie Potter
The Ranch Country Club 11887 Tejon St., Westminster $10,000 $520/mo. No 425 Swimming, tennis, dining, fitness, 303-460-9700; theranchcc.com indoor facility, kids playroom
Dick Phelps (1974)
Kate Karnik
The Golf Club at Ravenna* 11118 Caretaker Road, Littleton 720-956-1600; ravennagolf.com
$20,000- $475- No 360 Dining, pool, fitness center $35,000 $575/mo. (under construction until mid-summer)
Jay Morrish (2006)
Eric “Hack” Haberland
Red Rocks Country Club 16235 W. Belleview Ave.,/mo.rrison 303-352-2030; redrockscountryclub.org
$12,500- $497/mo. No 425 Dining, swimming, fishing, hiking Stanley Harwood (1976)/ $15,000 Kevin Atkinson (2017)
Red Sky Golf Club 1099 Red Sky Rd., Wolcott $140,000 $9,700/yr. No 425 Swimming, tennis, hiking, dining 970-754-8400; redskygolfclub.com cycling/skiing, year round events
Claire Carter
Tom Fazio (2002)/ Greg Norman (2003)
Shawna Frank
Jack Nicklaus (1999)
Sam Broome
The Club at Rolling Hills 15707 W. 26th Ave., Golden $49,000 $8,040/yr. No 425 Swimming, indoor/outdoor tennis, 303-279-3334; theclubatrollinghills.org fitness, dining, banquet facility
Press Maxwell/ Dick Phelps (1967)
Marta Kostelny
Snowmass Club 0239 Snowmass Club Cir., Snowmass Village $12,500 $690/mo. No 375 Athletic club, swimming, spa, tennis, 970-923-5600; snowmassclub.com fitness, cross-country skiing, dining
Jim Engh (2003)
Joanna Malory
Sonnenalp Club 1265 Berry Creek Rd., Edwards $45,000 $6,500/yr. No 395 Swimming, tennis, spa, fitness, 970-477-5375; sonnenalpclub.com dining, indoor/outdoor practice facilities
Jay Morrish/ Bob Cupp (1982)
Diane Kerchof
Valley Country Club 14601 Country Club Dr., Centennial $23,000 $650/mo. No 475 Swimming, tennis, fitness, 720-630-2463; valleycountryclub.org dining, children activity center
William Bell (1960)
Lisa Schmid
The Country Club at 18945 Pebble Beach Way,/mo.nument $1,500 $165/mo. No 1,300 Swimming, indoor tennis, fitness, Woodmoor 719-884-7241; ccwoodmoor.com cross-country skiing, child care
Press Maxwell (1969)
Sarah Lindenberg
Roaring Fork Club 100 Arbaney Ranch Rd., Basalt 970-927-9000; roaringforkclub.com
$40,000- $125,000
$5,700- Invitation 500 Swimming, tennis, fly-fishing, $18,500/yr. only dining, fitness
EDITOR’S NOTE: This information is accurate to the best of our knowledge. Contact the club directly to confirm. * Initiations reflect full golf memberships for individuals. When given, ranges can account for incentives, promotions, refundability or multiple levels (associate, junior executive, individual, family, etc.). Clubs often make financing available ** Dues reflect full golf. They do not account for food and beverage minimums, service fees, capital assessments or other surchages. Ranges reflect levels of membership.
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April 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
Double Play Homegrown Colorado Rockies’ pitcher KYLE FREELAND is an ace on the mound—and on the green. By ANDY BIGFORD | Photographs by JOHN LEYBA
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WHEN KYLE FREELAND unleashes his Digging in with his high-top Nike Air powerful 6-foot, 4-inch, 200-pound frame Jordan Retro 1 golf shoes, Freeland does into a Tour-worthy southpaw golf swing, drive the 311-yard par-4 second to record the ball launches 350 yards down the mid- his first birdie. On the undulating, heavdle of the fairway—and the second-guessing ily bunkered 513-yard par-5 3rd, the No. begins. What if Freeland, who grew up in 1 handicap, his drive leaves him with a southeast Denver, had channeled this un- 213-yard seven-iron to the green. In a rare common talent into golf rather than throw- mishit, Freeland thins it right, down a steep ing a baseball? Might we be watching him embankment, behind trees and short-sidin the first week of April at Augusta Na- ed—total jail. Showing off that savvy short tional—rather than taking the mound for game, he scrambles and makes a 16-footer the home opener of the Colorado Rock- for a birdie 4. ies, as he did last year as a rookie when he Freeland is trading respectful barbs shut out the Los Angeles Dodgers for six with Hoffman, his best golf buddy and a innings en route to a 2-1 win in front of al- roughly 6-handicap with a high ceiling, and most 50,000 fans? with Gray, who recently took up the game. “If only we all had a swing like that,” The same height as Freeland but packing muses Brady Wilson, a Durango native, an additional 55 pounds, Gray alternates PGA teaching professional and the general manager at Ak-Chin FROM PREP TO PRO: Freeland competing in the 2010 4A Boys Southern Dunes Golf Club, the High School Championship, and sublime Troon Golf course that (opp.) at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes. is an hour’s drive south of the Rockies spring training camp, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, in Scottsdale. “Kyle asked me to take a look, and I told him not to change a thing. He checks all the boxes in every position,” says Wilson, who ballparks Freeland’s handicap as “probably something on the plus-side.” On the first day of March, Freeland, who is a youthful-looking 24, is joined at Southern Dunes by fellow Rockies starters Jon Gray 350-yard missiles down the sprinkler-line and Jeff Hoffman, plus workhorse reliever angle (no surprise, given the 467-foot bomb Chris Rusin. Freeland, Gray, and Hoffman to dead center he hit last season against the were all first-round, top-10 picks in the MLB Cincinnati Reds for his first MLB home run) draft, and Rusin, 31, the diminutive veteran with misfires that go the same distance at of the group at just 6-foot, 2-inches and 194 90-degree angles. His playing partners call pounds, pitched 85 innings in 60 appearanc- him “Cheese,” as in the big cheese on the es last year, the second most in the Majors. Rockies pitching staff. When the four warm up at the far end of the Amid the banter, Freeland retreats monstrous, two-sided 300-yard plus South- to his own zone to execute shots, playing ern Dunes practice range, their drives f ly quickly, decisively and with the steely focus over the distant practice tee and bounce off of an elite athlete. Thoughtful and soft-spothe cart path beyond. Good thing there are ken but competitively intense, he seems to no golfers on the opposite, customer end. have the perfect makeup for golf. A natural Southern Dunes architects Brian Cur- drawer of the ball, he is also perfecting the ley, Lee Schmidt and Fred Couples did not fade. All of his shots have an unusually high design the opening, 411-yard hole as a driv- trajectory, and his driver swing appears to be able par-four, but Freeland gives it a scare in the mid-120s, high even for a PGA playwhen his tee shot soars well over the stra- er. Wilson, who also serves as an assistant tegically placed bunkering at its dogleg, fin- coach with the University of Wyoming golf ishing in the middle of the fairway just 60 team, says both Freeland and Hoffman hit if yards shy of the green. This happens a few farther than 90 percent of NCAA Division I minutes after Freeland mentions that his players he’s seen. “scoring clubs,” shots from 150 yards in, are In the ongoing chaos of searching for the strongest part of his game. balls and keeping track of their spirited coloradoavidgolfer.com
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game of Wolf, Freeland’s partners become respectful spectators when he settles in over the ball. The birdie binge continues on Nos. 5, 7 and 8, and despite a three-putt bogey on the ninth, when Freeland’s delicate approach barely trickles over a crown and down into a treacherous swale, he finishes the front nine with a scorching 4-under 32. It’s the golf equivalent of throwing a “no-no” into the 9th, as Freeland did last July 9 when he held the Chicago White Sox hitless before surrendering a single in a 10-0 Rockies’ win, the best-ever outing for a Rockies pitcher at Coors Field. Despite focusing almost solely on baseball from age five through his record-setting career with the Thomas Jefferson High School Spartans, Freeland found just enough free time in the fall to play on the TJ golf team. He qualified for the state championships three years’ running, and put himself in the hunt with a first-round 75 as a senior. Freeland could have gone to state all four years, but in his freshman season he voluntarily gave up his spot for regionals to his older brother Colin, who was a senior. The Freeland boys were introduced to golf by their father, Don, who was inspired by his own father, the extremely Scottish and golf-obsessed James Freeland. The boys started at the par-3 Harvard Gulch, working up to play Kennedy Golf Course, a Denver city muni, where Kyle is still revered as the hometown hero. “My dad told me to swing right and left, then asked which felt better,” recalls Kyle. “They both felt natural, so he said I might as well swing lefty since that’s how I throw and bat.” Don, who writes parking tickets for the City and County of Denver, was a big Phil Mickelson fan, so Kyle became one too, along with idolizing Tiger Woods. “Kyle’s never had a paid lesson in his life. A lot of it is just natural,” says Don, who coached the boys for a decade in baseball. When Kyle struggled a bit on the diamond during his junior year, Don wondered if golf might be the better ticket to college. “It was in the back of my mind, if baseball doesn’t work out, there are a lot of golf scholarships out there,” says Don. In his senior season at TJ, Freeland set the state record for strikeouts and was drafted in the 35th round by the Philadelphia Phillies. Baseball had won out over golf, but it was never a fair fight. Freeland ended up accepting a scholarship to the University of April 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
Evansville in Indiana, the first school that recruited him, where he met his longtime girlfriend, Ashley Chrisman, who played soccer for Evansville. Freeland grabbed MLB attention when he led the summer Cape Cod League in strikeouts in 2013, then was named Missouri Valley Conference pitcher of the year in 2014. In a dream come true for a kid who grew up idolizing the Rockies, Colorado selected Freeland in the first round of the 2014 draft, eighth overall. He received a $2.3 million signing bonus and now earns a $535,000 salary; the really big bucks are a few seasons away, when he qualifies for arbitration and free agency. In his rookie season, when the Rockies made it to the playoffs for the first time since 2009 (and only the fourth time in the club’s 24-year history), Freeland led the team in wins, finishing with an 11-11 record and a 4.10 ERA. There were also double bogeys and “others,” like when he lost his composure and got lit up on Fireworks Night at Coors Field by the Cincinnati Reds. During this year’s spring camp, expectations for the Rockies are running high, and Freeland knows he’s a critical part of the equation. He wears his allegiance to his hometown on his sleeve, literally: the tattoo running down his right arm depicts Front Range peaks and lyrics from the Machine Gun Kelly song, “Victory Music”: “My city told me it needed me, so I’m grindin’ for that.” The sun is setting at Southern Dunes, where the course is full on a beautiful spring day, so the Rockies foursome gets the OK to play the front nine again in order to finish before dark. Freeland is ref lecting on how golf and pitching complement each other, especially in staying calm through adversity. His talks with Rockies bullpen coach Darren Holmes often drift into golf analogies, he says. “You get into a jam, you have to think creatively. Baseball and golf go hand-in-hand.” Among all professional athletes, the work schedule of an MLB starter provides the perfect fit for golf. Freeland and his foursome need look no further than the Atlanta Braves’ Hall of Fame trio of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Schmoltz, scratch golfers who competed obsessively against each other on the golf course during their careers. Rick Rhoden, an All-Star pitcher for the Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates, played on the PGA Champions Tour and dominated the Celebrity Golf Tour with more than 50 victories. Last July, former Oakland A’s All-Star pitcher Mark Mulder won a record third-straight title at the American Century Championship celebrity tourney in Lake Tahoe. Golf is mysterious, but hurling a baseball at 95 mph from a pile of dirt to a swinging target 60 feet away may be the most fickle endeavor of all. There are no guarantees. Nagged by a bothersome shoulder, Hoffman couldn’t get the reps he needed early in spring camp, and it appeared he might not be on the Rockies roster for Opening Day. Freeland was also battling to lock his own starting spot, and perhaps repeat last year’s heroics when the Rockies open at home on April 6 against the Braves. All of that is forgotten in the natural splendor of
DIGGING THE LONG BALL: Freeland uncorks a monster drive as fellow pitchers Chris Rusin, Jon Gray and Jeff Hoffman look on.
Continued on page 91
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Kyle often drifts into golf analogies during talks with Rockies bullpen coach Darren Holmes. “You get into a jam, you have to think creatively,” he explains. “Baseball and golf go hand-in-hand.”
Continued on page 91 coloradoavidgolfer.com
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I’M STANDING about four feet off the green on the par-4 11th hole at the stunning AT&T Oaks Course at the JW Marriott San Antonio—better known as TPC San Antonio, the site of this month’s Valero Texas Open. Fifteen feet separate me from par. With my ball nestled on the Bermuda fringe, I elect to putt. “Guess you don’t want to make it,” my playing partner, Gene Fowler, says. Gene, my wife’s cousin and no relation to Rickie—although he jokingly refers to the PGA Tour star as his “love child”—isn’t trying to get in my head; he’s quoting his one-time teacher. “Mister Runyan would always say that,” Gene explains. “He thought you should be able to chip in everything around the green.” Mister Runyan? So, while I’m trying to pull off a shot I saw Brooks Koepka make in last year’s Texas Open, Gene’s invoking World Golf Hall of Famer Paul Runyan, the owner of 29 PGA Tour titles, two major
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
championships and one of the greatest short games in golf history. It turns out Gene, who came to golf as an adult, learned from the 5-foot-7, 125-pound Runyan, known as “Little Poison,” who was director of golf at Denver’s Green Gables Country Club in the 1970s and early 1980s. I stick with the putter, and prove Mr. Runyan correct. Gene’s revelation represents just one of many discoveries I made during a long weekend in the Alamo City. Chief among those is that the Alamo may be well worth remembering as the site of a heroic battle during the Texas Revolution, but the iconic limestone structure in downtown San Antonio underwhelms many of its 2 million annual visitors. Fortunately for San Antonio, the Alamo is an outlier in this charming, diverse and vibrant metropolis that annually welcomes more than 34 million tourists. The Alamo City—which, like its eponymous mission,
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commemorates its 300th anniversary this year—has plenty to celebrate.
REMEMBER THE GOLF
Since it began hosting the Valero Texas Open in 2010, the 7,435-yard Greg Norman/ Sergio Garcia-designed AT&T Oaks Course at TPC Antonio has consistently ranked among the 10 toughest courses on the PGA Tour. Rumor has it that Norman, coming off his divorce from Chris Evert and partnered with Garcia, his daughter’s then-boyfriend, took out his frustration on the course. Hundreds of live oaks and varying fairway widths make the layout challenging— especially when the winds howl—but great fun. The long tight, par-4 4th is a beast, and even if you shoot a quintuple bogey on the par-4 ninth, you’re doing better than Kevin Na, who carded a 16 here in the 2011 event. Sixteen also happens to be the number of the par 3 that features a bunker in the center of the green. coloradoavidgolfer.com
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF VISIT SAN ANTONIO
Teeing a Cele
Up bration As SAN ANTONIO turns 300, there’s far more to remember than the Alamo. By JON RIZZI
The Oaks differs greatly from TPC San Antonio’s more open and dramatic Pete Dye-designed AT&T Canyons Course, which hosted the PGA TOUR Champions San Antonio Championship from 2011-2015. The TPC represents one of three Texas Open sites on my Alamo City itinerary. The other two are the 102-year-old A. W. Tillinghast layout at Brackenridge Park Golf Course, which hosted the event 21 times, and the 1995 Tom Weiskopf/Jay Morrish design at La Cantera Resort, which hosted 15 times before the event moved to the TPC. The two present fabulous contrasts. La Cantera inhabits a former quarry with elevation changes that mimic the rides at neighboring Six Flags; “Old Brack” is classic parkland, with tiny square-cornered greens, bottomless reef bunkers, water and mature pecan and oak trees aplenty. Old Brack linchpins the eightmunicipal-course Alamo City Golf Trail, houses the Texas Golf Hall of Fame in its
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wonderful old stone clubhouse, and hosts events in a separate building once occupied by the studio of famed Mount Rushmore sculptor Gutzon Borglum. Part of the fivestar resort and spa, La Cantera’s Resort Course complements its Palmer Course, designed by The King, with its majestic clubhouse occupying the highest point on property. Both endured significant renovations. The arrival of Highway 281 and Interstate 35 in the 1960s disfigured the original course, reducing it by 10 acres, but TLC over the years has kept Old Brack relevant and challenging. With the PGA Tour no longer played there, management has adjusted the extremity of many of La Cantera’s greens and approaches and reduced the environmental impact by allowing formerly maintained areas to return to native. Both Brack and La Cantera have witnessed PGA Tour history. At the 1955 Texas Open at Brackenridge, Mike Souchak
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tied what was then a single-round record with a 60 en route to a Tour-record 257; nearly a half-century later, at the 2003 Valero Texas Open at La Cantera, Tommy Armour III carded a PGA Tour-record 254— the number that happens to be the name of the new clubhouse grille. Souchak’s round wasn’t even the lowest ever shot at Brack. As I learned from the photos and items in Old Brack’s wonderful stone Tudor clubhouse, Jug McSpaden carded a course-record 59 during a 1939 exhibition played with Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan and guess who? Paul Runyan.
...AND THE ALAMO CITY Situated 20 minutes north of downtown, La Cantera Resort & Spa is far more than a home to two golf courses. Its Loma de Vida Wellness Spa now occupies the championship teeing area from which PGA Tour players would begin play during the Texas Open days. The par April 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
TPC, JW Marriott San Antonio The Saga
Pearl
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF VISIT SAN ANTONIO
5, though more than 120 yards shorter from the tips now, still ranks as the course’s no. 1 handicap hole, and the spa—with over-the-top treatments and resting room overlooking the foothills of the Texas Hill Country—rates as the five-star resort’s no. 1 non-golf amenity. Tied atop the leaderboard is Signature, the resort’s gourmet restaurant. Located in a stately stable-like building once inhabited by the resort’s golf learning center, Signature spotlights the cuisine of renowned Chef Andrew Weissman. Crisp and creamy, his seared Hudson Valley foie gras is sublime, as is the hearty cioppino, with its fresh fish and spicy bouillabaisse broth. The wine list spans continents, styles and price ranges, topping at $3,950 for a bottle of 2005 Domaine Romanée-Conti pinot noir. UNESCO has designated San Antonio a Creative City of Gastronomy, the only U.S. city besides Tucson to achieve this distinction. Its blissful confluence of Mexican, Spanish, German and French cuisines manifests itself throughout the city’s restaurants. With two locations, Rosario’s ranks as the city’s top spot for Mexican. Nao, the restaurant run by students and graduates of the Culinary Institute of America’s San
La Cantera Resort
Golf is one of two sports ever to be played on the moon.
Lakewood is way closer. LakewoodGolf.org COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
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Brackenridge Park Golf Course
Cured’s Charcuterie
Mission San Jose
Sunfish art along The River Walk
Antonio campus (the only others are in New York and San Francisco), focuses on live fire cooking and delectably inventive creations like duck flautas and Serrano croquettes. You’ll find Nao and the Culinary Institute at Pearl, the coolest “mall” in San Antonio. The 22-acre mixed-use space repurposes many of the buildings, equipment and materials from the Pearl Brewery, which operated between 1883 and 2001, to create a hip, LEED-certified neighborhood of shops, offices, apartments, restaurants and the stunning Hotel Emma (named after the widow of former brewery owner Otto Koehler, who was rumored also to have two mistresses with that same name). Exposed brickwork, repainted pumps and brewing equipment highlight the spacious lobby. Repurposed doors, glass, basins, bricks, steel beams, tin ceiling tiles, longleaf pine planks and other reclaimed items—including a drill press and slicer—define Cured, a restaurant so named for the meats curing in the glass case near the entrance. The brewery’s original fireproof vault stands at the end of the custom zinc-topped bar. Featuring a spectacularly diverse charcuterie plate (including hot goat sausage), as well as burgers with onion jam, pig cheek poutine,
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San Antonio’s population of 1.5 million makes it the seventhlargest city in the United States. Yet it counts only the NBA’s Spurs among its major professional sports teams. Of course, there’s the Valero Texas Open, the longest-running PGA Tour event to take place in the same city. It generates more charitable dollars than any other PGA Tour event, which means the PGA Tour plans to move its date even closer to Masters week next year. valerotexasopen.com masa fried oysters and other culinary curios, the quality and uniqueness of Cured’s fare are every bit the equal of its distinctive ambience. You can access Pearl via the famous San Antonio River Walk. The riparian thoroughfare stretches 15 miles, linking the city’s UNESCO-recognized missions (Concepción, San José, San Juan Capistrano and Espada) at its southern end to Brackenridge Park, San Antonio Zoo and Witte Museum in the north. In between are the bustling districts of Southtown, King William and Downtown, where restaurants, bars and shops, theaters and museums. The River Walk also connects you to the many events and activities associated with San Antonio’s yearlong tricentennial celebration (visit sanantonio300.org for a calendar). A stirring way to appreciate the scope of the city’s heritage is “The Saga,” a free world-class video art installation on the façade of San Fernando Cathedral, the oldest operating sanctuary in North America, in the city’s Main Plaza. Created by renowned French artist Xavier de Richemont, “the Saga” visually and musically consolidates the history of San Antonio into 30 minutes every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Jon Rizzi is the editor of CAG. For more information, go to visitsanantonio.com and sanantonio300.org. coloradoavidgolfer.com
KYLE FREELAND Continued from page 85
Southern Dunes, where Freeland again drives the second green and makes another birdie, even while Hoffman crouches over the hole with his best clown face imitation. Unable to quickly find his drive along the tree line on the par-5 7th in the dusk, Freeland takes a penalty and makes double, but closes strong by again birdieing the 8th and parring the 9th. He finishes with seven birdies and a 2-under 70 from the Gold Tees, which stretch 6,902 yards (Freeland and Hoffman usually play the 7,330-yard Blacks or the 7,546-yard Tips). Freeland says it’s his best score ever, though that’s a little hard to believe. Besides pounding driver long and straight all day, hitting crisp approach shots, and demonstrating an uncommonly deft feel for the short game, Freeland has holed roughly 160 feet worth of putts. Whatever happens on the baseball diamond, he’ll always have golf, and he wants it to be a big part of his life when his baseball days are over. “Whether in teaching or playing, we’ll see,” he says, grinning at the thought of either. “If Kyle spent all his time training for golf,” predicts the PGA pro Wilson, “I can only guess what his ceiling would be.” Contributor Andy Bigford, a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, would love to see any member of this Rockies foursome wearing Cubbie blue. Visit akchinsoutherndunes.com for more on Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club. To see a video of Kyle Freeland’s swing, go to coloradoavidgolfer.com. coloradoavidgolfer.com
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Blind Shot THE UNSEEN GAME
A Song Unlike Any Other
With “Augusta,” Dave Loggins penned the eternal soundtrack for The Masters and the curtain-raiser for the coming golf season. DAVE LOGGINS had it going on in the ’70s and ’80s as one of the most prolific singer/songwriters in Nashville. In ’74 he scored a No. 4 hit with “Please Come to Boston” (which included the verses “Please come to Denver with the snowfall/We’ll move up into the mountains so far that we can’t be found”) and went on to write numerous No. 1 songs for the likes of Three Dog Night, Alabama, Kenny Rogers, Wynonna Judd, Reba McIntire, Don Williams and many more— all while being nominated for multiple Grammys and winning numerous performing and songwriting awards. He co-wrote 1984’s “I Love Only You,” a country hit for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, in Aspen, where he spent some quality time writing songs with Don Henley at Jimmy Buffett’s cabin. Loggins likes to talk about all of it but what really revs his motor is the song he wrote for CBS and the Masters, “Augusta,” which has served as the theme song for the tournament broadcast for 35 years. He wrote the lyrics and the melody but it’s the instrumental that’s now COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | April 2018
played and universally regarded as the dulcet signal that winter is over and, as Jim Nantz intones, “a tradition unlike any other” is about to unfold. One golf writer described its effect on viewers as “Pavlovian.” While his kin, Kenny Loggins, has also some golf cred with “I’m Alright” from Caddyshack, Dave wouldn’t trade credits for the world. AS TOLD TO JON LAWRENCE... I was walking down the sixth fairway at the Masters in ’82—I‘m sure it was the sixth because I know that course like the back of my hand—with a friend who’s an attorney, and I got caught up in watching the tall white Georgia pines blow in the wind. I looked over at 16 at the azaleas of all colors and the dogwoods and I thought this was the most wonderful, beautiful place I’d ever been. Being a songwriter, sometimes when you’re inspired you just have to write something, so I wrote the chorus to “Augusta” over the next three holes and I knew it was good. We went to lunch, and as luck would have
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it, I met Frank Chirkinian, the CBS golf producer, who was looking for some music for the broadcast. I’m not even sure he knew that I was the “Please Come to Boston” guy, but I knew what it took to get those kinds of people’s attention. They don’t want to hear “I’m going to try to write this song.” I told him I already had the chorus in my head and no one could write the song better than me. Looked him right in the eye. “I’m the best there is,” I said. He bought it. So I went home with only the chorus and it just wouldn’t leave me alone. I finished it, cut it, and took it down to Augusta. I went to the CBS production truck and played it for Frank. He listened, put his arm around me, and said, “You did real good, son.” I said, “Thank you.” I played golf and caddied as a kid in Tennessee. At my best I played to about a 10. I’ve played Augusta National four or five times. For a few years after I wrote the song I could just call the pro down there and make a tee time. I took close friends who could play the game; you know, you wouldn’t want to take a 20 handicap there. Not so sure they’d take my call these days. coloradoavidgolfer.com
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