June 2017 Colorado AvidGolfer

CPR’S JO ANN ALLEN • TPC’S LARRY COLLINS • GOLF REAL ESTATE

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Elevating the Game.

DRIVING the GREENS For TV’s TOM GREEN, golf with son CONNOR is a “cruel competition— we pull for each other so hard.”

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Home of the Colorado Section

CONTENTS | June 2017

82

FEATURES 45

DEPARTMENTS 10 Forethoughts

Closest to the Kin

By Jon Rizzi

12 ’net Score

Rory McIlroy, Free Golf, The Sky Ridge Medical Center Tournament Series, more

14 Golf 102

Go West, Young Caddie. By Ryan Smith

16 Ladies’ Tee

Connect with Colorado Women’s Golf.

21 The Gallery

82 Greens in Regulation

Tom and Connor Green’s weekly golf games are less about keeping score than about forging an enduring filial friendship. By Jon Rizzi

SIDE BETS 45 Fareways

At private Vail Valley golf clubs, you don’t need to be a member to eat like one.

By Gary James

47 Tapping In

Casey Brewing & Blending in Glenwood Springs. By Cody Gabbard

49 Nice Drives

The 2017 BMW 530i, Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V. By Isaac Bouchard

86 Colorado’s 27 Funnest Holes They’re challenging, quirky, memorable, distinctive.

They’re the holes you look forward to playing, not the ones you dread. See our combination of reader and staff picks.

TPC Colorado’s Larry Collins, Wyndham Clark, Jennifer Kupcho, Gary Hill, Omega Psi Phi, The Trashmasters and more

96 Blind Shot

Behind the Scenes at The Inverness.

Special Sections 53 GETTING HOME

PLAYER’S CORNER 35 Profile

Colorado Public Radio’s Jo Ann Allen.

By Jon Rizzi

Property in The Powder Horn, Castle Pines Village, The Keep and Rendezvous

61 COLORADO GETAWAYS

The best of Colorado Springs, Grand County, Grand Junction, Montrose, Gunnison and Steamboat Springs.

40 Lesson

Games in the Game of the Father.

By Trent Wearner Academy

42 Gear

ON THE COVER

and cool products to make Dad’s day.

By Suzanne S. Brown

Photograph by Jamie Schwaberow/Clarkson Creative at Inverness Golf Club.

A selection of clothes, sunglasses

COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

Tom & Connor Green

6

61 coloradoavidgolfer.com

NATURAL BEAUTY AT PLAY

With a course designed to highlight the spectacular high-alpine surroundings, the Beaver Creek Golf Club offers a mountain golf experience like no other. Known for narrow, challenging fairways and stunning scenery, the course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., sits high above sea level – for a chance at record-setting drives. And equally thrilling views just beyond the greens.

THE ULTIMATE MOUNTAIN GOLF EXPERIENCE Our Stay & Play packages combine upscale lodging and exclusive golf access.

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June 2017 | Volume 16, Number 3 publisher

A llen J. Walters editor

Jon Rizzi SALES, MARKETING & ADVERTISING associate publisher

Chris Phillips account manager

Vivian Keesling digital and social media manager

A lex J. Rajaniemi

office and operations manager

Cindy Palmer

projects and special events manager

Todd Hall

ART & EDITORIAL art director

Jani Duncan Smith editor - at- large

Tom Ferrell

automotive editor

Isaac Bouchard contributors

Sam Adams, Andy Bigford, E.J. Carr, Tony Dear, Denny Dressman, Sue Drinker, Dick Durrance II, Chris Duthie, Cody Gabbard, Gar y James, Ted Johnson, Kaye W. Kessler, Phil Mumford, Kim D. McHugh, Jerr y Walters principals

Ray L . Baker, C. Don Baker, Dick B. Baker advertising inquiries : cindy@coloradoavidgolfer.com editorial inquiries and letters : jon@coloradoavidgolfer.com customer service and subscriptions :

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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 16, 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 Š 2017 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. magazine partner of choice :

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Forethoughts

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PHOTOGRAPH BY JO ANNE HARADA

Closest to the Kin WITH FATHER’S DAY as the general topic for this month’s column, I fittingly began writing it on Mother’s Day. It’s appropriate because, with my mom long gone and me and the mother of my own children now married to other people, I celebrate my father on Mother’s Day, too.

Then again, every day my father is alive occasions a celebration. He just turned 95.

His father died when my father was three years old. My grandmother never remarried. Even without that patriarchal influence to model, John (nee Giovanni) Rizzi became a great father to my sister and me—and he never once took us to the golf course to accomplish it.

But after 20 years of writing and editing about golf, I get why intergenerational relationships play such a pivotal role in the game. How could I not in a sport whose modern history begins with Old and Young Tom Morris and continues with Jack and Jackie at Augusta in ’86 and the Earl and Tiger Woods Show?

Conversely, the game also plays a pivotal role in the relationship. Father-son golf is not just about passing along knowledge about putting and chipping. Nor is it just about teaching honor, integrity and other qualities that golfers sanctimoniously tend to espouse. It has a great deal to do with learning patience, respect, perseverance, how to handle adversity and not to take yourself too seriously.

But it’s become even more. With the distractions of tweets, texts, emails, posts and phone calls, the opportunity for a kid to spend three or four focused hours with his or her parent is rare—but increasingly essential.

Golf provides that opportunity. Its leisurely pace spurs conversation. The course becomes a classroom, a confessional, a place to talk about school, news, sports, friends, girls, life. Texts don’t show body language or communicate tone.

Frankly, besides taking the occasional photo or getting yardage with an app, I can only think of one edifying use for a smartphone on the golf course—and it’s not to play music or make emergency phone calls. If someone throws a club, cusses up a storm, takes relief behind a bush or generally acts like a horse’s ass, someone could capture it on video. The lesson: Always act like someone’s watching.

Starting with our cover story, this issue looks at golf through the prism of parenthood—and vice-versa. Tom Green and his son, Connor, forged their bond over hundreds of rounds. Tom, a self-described “part-time single dad” who had a very close relationship with his father, discovered golf as the vehicle through which he could replicate that intimacy with his own son (page 82).

Instruction-wise, the team at Trent Wearner Golf gives some creative games for parents to overcome the “golf’s so boring” objection (page 40). Suzanne Brown follows that with some great Father’s Day gift suggestions (page 42). There’s also a 21-page section filled with locations that, in addition to being “Colorado Getaways,” are eminently familyfriendly.

June 3 brings the Colorado Golf Association and Colorado Women’s Golf Association Parent/Child Championship to Frost Creek Club in Eagle. Each of the 60 teams can be any combination of a father or mother with a daughter or son. And in my book, they’re all winners because they presumably enjoy a bond that will endure for many Father’s and Mother’s Days to come. —JON RIZZI

38 LOCATIONS FROM DENVER TO DURANGO INCLUDING THE DENVER NEIGHBORHOODS OF CHERRY CREEK AND UNION STATION

COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

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’net Score INFO | BLOGS | DIALOG

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Just Did It TAYLORMADE HAS OFFICIALLY won the Nike Golf lottery after the company announced a 10-year, $100 million deal with superstar Rory McIlroy. Rors will play TaylorMade clubs throughout his bag (with the exception of his custom Odyssey PT putter with Microhinge insert) and switched to the all-new TP5x golf ball before the THE PLAYERS. On the same day TaylorMade Golf announced the McIlroy signing, parent company Adidas sold TaylorMade for $425 million to a new affiliate of the New York investment-banking firm KPS Capital Partners.

#GolfPassport FREE GOLF Contest OUR SPRING CONTESTS are underway again—this time we’re giving away two rounds at CommonGround Golf Course, an EXCLUSIVE course in the Golf Passport. Time is running out to enter, so get on Facebook and check out the pinned post for a chance to win some free golf, courtesy of Colorado AvidGolfer!

Follow Colorado’s Best COLORADOAVIDGOLFER.COM is your home for NCAA, CHSAA team and individual news,

as well as results from Colorado Golf Association, Colorado Women’s Golf Association and Colorado PGA events. Follow the local stars on our NEWS page.

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Golf 102

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF COLORADO GOLF ASSOCIATION

THE CGA’S SECOND CENTURY

Go West, Young Caddie Grand Junction welcomes the successful Solich Caddie and Leadership Academy program. By Ryan Smith THE FLAGSHIP PROGRAM of the Colorado Golf Association is headed west in 2017. Thanks to a partnership with the City of Grand Junction, the Solich Caddie and Leadership Academy is establishing an outpost at Grand Junction’s Lincoln Park and Tiara Rado golf courses.

Now in its sixth year at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora and third year at Meridian Golf Club in Englewood, the academy continues to gain recognition as an impactful program designed to instill life skills and develop character through caddieing, volunteerism and leadership training.

“Four lucky teenagers from Grand Junction will have the opporutunity to receive the formative experience of a lifetime,” says Colorado Golf Association Executive Director Ed Mate, a former caddie himself, who credits CGA Board Member and Grand Junction resident Frank Wilkinson for leading the academy’s westward charge.

“The program continues to be a success at CommonGround and Meridian, and we are grateful for the collaborative spirit we received from the city of Grand Junction,” Mate says. “These kids will learn so much through their experience caddieing, the weekly ethics curriculum they receive and the volunteer work the program requires.”

The Academy continues to see increased COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

demand, with applications exceeding the number of spots available. The program also continues to see positive results from graduates.

Founded at CommonGround Golf Course, the home course of the CGA, the Solich Caddie and Leadership Academy puts kids on a path to an Evans Scholarship. Last year alone, three graduates of the academy received the scholarship, bringing the total to 12 program graduates who have received the four-year, full-tuition-and-housing scholarship to the University of Colorado in Boulder.

Through the Solich Academy, golfers in the Grand Junction or Denver areas can take caddies in the program in June and July free of charge— though a gratuity for good service is encouraged.

The caddies receive an educational stipend on a biweekly basis, pending their completion of the program requirements: number of loops completed, attendance at weekly ethics and leadership training sessions and volunteer hours with local community programs.

The Academy is subsidized by contributions and sponsors locally and nationally. For more information about supporting the Solich Caddie and Leadership Program, visit coloradogolf.org Ryan Smith is the Colorado Golf Association’s director of development.

14

Catch the Rising Stars See some of the top young golfers aspiring to play collegiately and even professionally when the third annual AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior Presented by Transamerica arrives at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve in Westminster June 6-9. The CGA and the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado—along with Presenting Sponsor Transamerica and the City of Westminster— are proud to serve as host partners. The event welcomes the top young amateurs, ages 12-19 from Colorado and the nation. Admission to the event is free. Many current PGA & LPGA stars have risen through the AJGA ranks, including Colorado natives Kevin Stadler and Mark Hubbard, as well as Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Paula Creamer and Stacey Lewis. For information, visit ajga.com

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A G r e At S tAt e D e S e r v e S A G r e At O p e n

CoBank is proud to be the title sponsor for the Colorado Open Championships.

As the state’s largest financial services institution, we look forward to continuing a great Colorado tradition – where legends begin.

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CoBank Colorado open: July 20-23, 2017

CoBank Colorado Women’S open: August 30 - September 1, 2017

The CWGA

Tee up one of the finest gifts in Colorado.

PLAY AWAY, LADIES

Join and Enjoy Connect with Colorado Women’s Golf FUN. CAMARADERIE. COMPETITION. For 101 years, the Colorado Women’s Golf Association has shared with everyone in the state all the great game of golf has to offer. Whether you’re a rank beginner or a club champion, the CWGA connects women of all experience levels with opportunities to learn, play, compete and socialize in friendly, encouraging environments.

More than 17,000 individuals from approximately 250 member clubs comprise this non-profit amateur golf organization. What do they get out of it?

• Exposure to a community of like-minded women with whom to play and socialize.

• An official USGA golf handicap, which allows you to track your growth as a golfer and play equitably with golfers of all levels across the state and country. It also lets you compete in the skill-appropriate group in a tournament.

• Volunteer opportunities with the CWGA and Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado.

• Access to discounts, rules experts and a twice-monthly newsletter.

• Opportunities to learn the game and improve your skills at clinics and events all over Colorado.

• Eligibility to participate in tournaments at premier golf courses across the state.

Here’s this year’s calendar of events. Visit coloradowomensgolf.org for information and to register.

2017 CLINICS & EVENTS DATE TITLE June 2 - LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Aug. 11 (Fridays, 4:00-5:30 pm) June 3 CWGA Golf Experience June 6 Women’s Golf Day July 8 CWGA Golf Experience July 16 CWGA On-Course Golf Experience Aug. 6 CWGA Golf Experience

LOCATION CommonGround Golf Course, Aurora Tiara Rado Golf Course, Grand Junction PGA TOUR Superstore, Centennial City Park Golf Course, Denver Harvard Gulch Golf Course, Denver Fossil Trace Golf Course, Golden

2017 TOURNAMENTS DATE TITLE June 19-21 Stroke Play Championship July 6 Niblick Championship July 17-20 Match Play Championship Aug. 5-6 Brassie Championship Aug. 14-15 Senior Stroke Play Championship Sept. 16-17 Dunham Chapman Championship Sept. 25 Club Team Championship

LOCATION Lone Tree Golf Club, Lone Tree The Fox Hill Club, Longmont Buffalo Run Golf Course, Commerce City Rifle Creek Golf Course, Rifle Mariana Butte Golf Course, Loveland Raven Golf Club at 3 Peaks, Silverthorne The Ranch Country Club, Westminster

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The Gallery NEWS | NOTES | NAMES

Wyndham’s Rewards

TPC Gets Its Man

UP: Larry .NEXT Collins is now GM at the TPC Colorado in Berthoud.

IN THE YEAR SINCE TPC Colorado was officially announced, questions have swirled around the new course in Berthoud. When will it open? Will it be public? Will it host a tour event? As to who’ll be the general manager— and, presumably, the person to answer further inquiries—there’s a definitive answer.

Larry Collins, who for the last 18 years has served as the director of golf at the 27-hole Omni Interlocken Golf Club in Broomfield, will oversee the highly anticipated latest addition to the 33-course TPC network. Prior to Omni, Collins was PGA director of golf at Boulder Country Club and at The Club at Ibis in West Palm Beach.

And before that, he held the head PGA golf professional’s job at TPC Southwind (Memphis), TPC Sawgrass (Ponte Vedra Beach) and the former TPC at Starr Pass (Tucson).

Collins brought his TPC know-how to bear at Omni, spearheading the opening of its 27-hole resort golf club through all phases of development and transitioning it from a resort/daily fee property to a successful semi-private club. He brought in high-profile events including the John Elway Celebrity Classic from 20002004.

“I’m proud to be returning to the TPC family in the state I’ve called home for the past 25 years,” says Collins, whose own family includes daughters Chelsey and Brooke, both former prep and collegiate star golfers.

Larry was a two-time All-American at the University of Southern California, where he won the 1977 Pac-8 Conference’s South Division Championship.

Collins’ experience makes him the perfect fit for the first ground-up golf course development in the state in nearly 10 years. The semi-private TPC will boast all the infrastructure, facilities and amenities necessary to host TOUR-sponsored golf tournaments. Situated alongside the Lonetree, McNeil and Welch Reservoirs, Arthur Schaupeter’s links-style design incorporates fescue, sod-faced bunkers mountain views and shoreline.

Plans call for it to open to the public next spring, and we could see either a Web.com or Champions Tour event soon thereafter. tpc.com/colorado

A Two-Sided Cheat Sheet

PHOTOGRAPH BY EJ CARR

ALTHOUGH THE USGA and R&A are “modernizing” them, the Rules of Golf still intimidate players, especially neophytes. To demystify the rules and help all levels of player, the Colorado Women’s Golf Association has produced a handy laminated Rules Card with 13 common “situations” on one side and “What to Do” on the other.

It clips on a golf bag for quick reference. “It’s an easy, nonthreatening way to get out of trouble when situations arise,” says CWGA Executive Director Laura Robinson, who thus far has sold more than 4,000, nearly 25 percent of the CWGA membership. Get yours at coloradowomensgolf.org coloradoavidgolfer.com

21

CONGRATULATIONS to Colorado’s own Wyndham Clark, a redshirt senior at the University of Oregon, who went into the NCAA Regionals as the No. 1ranked player in the country, according to Golfstat and Golfweek. Clark won the PAC-12 Championship, held at Boulder Country Club, leading the Ducks to the team title as well.

Transferring from Oklahoma State before this season, the erstwhile Valor Christian phenom sports a 68.25 scoring average as of May 1, making him a frontrunner for the Haskins Award, golf’s equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, which is announced this month.

Re-laying Cornerstone?

COULD IT BE that Cornerstone, a 6,000-acre development between Ridgway and Telluride, may reopen its spectacular Greg Norman-designed golf course?

Sources familiar with the situation believe a sale is imminent. Texas oil billionaire Ray Hunt originally developed the property in 2004 and sold it to a private equity firm in 2012. The ensuing period of failed flips, foreclosure, litigation and no golf since 2013 may finally be coming to an end.

June 2017 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER

The Gallery

The Count of Montecristos

SENSE OF HUMIDOR: Gary Hill, “the cigar guy,” in Cherry Creek Country Club’s grillroom.

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PHOTOGRAPH BY PHIL MUMFORD

IF YOU ENJOY a few good smokes to go with a few good strokes during your round, then you should probably thank Gary Hill. The 64-year-old Denver native’s company, G. Hill Cigars, is a “one-man band,” purveying to no fewer than 60 golf facilities—both public and private—along the Front Range.

Hill got the idea for the business in 2000 when he and his wife Bev were playing golf on vacation and he couldn’t get a good cigar on the course. Sensing an entrepreneurial opportunity, he ordered some cigars and humidors from a wholesaler.

His first golf customer was Denver Country Club. He provided cigars, humidors, cutters and other accouterments. Word quickly spread, but to satisfy his growing customer base, compete with corporate distributors and turn a profit, he needed the kind of wholesale pricing available to tobacconists who attend the exclusive IPCPR Convention & Trade Show. He secured a coveted badge—no easy task without a store—and business took off.

Hill visits every one of his customers at least once every two weeks, and he sells his products on consignment. ”I bill clubs only on what they sell,” he explains. “They have no inventory at the end of the season.” At tournament time—especially during multiday member-members and member-guest championships—he’ll return twice in the same day.

Karaoke nights and scotch tastings also burn through a lot of cigars.

A big client is Cherry Creek Country Club, which has a Cigar Smoking Patio off the Men’s Grill and offers a popular Cigar and Scotch bar option for member events. “We also have an expert come in to roll cigars with different tobaccos, which is a fun process,” says club owner Karen Hart. “But our regular smokers don’t think those are the best.”

Hill only rolls to and from clubs in his car, although for a while he created a popular “G. Hill” line with the late tobacconist Avo Uvezian. “It was a really good cigar,” he says.

“People still call to see if I have it.”

Hill’s product line consists mostly of Dominicans and Nicaraguans. The most popular are the Montecristo White Label and Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real. Pinehurst Country Club ranks as his largest customer, although, he reports, “Columbine, Valley and all the clubs go through a good amount. So do courses like Applewood and Riverdale.”

Cigars may be subject to a 40 percent Colorado sin tax, but they don’t carry the same stigma as cigarettes. Although Hill jokes it’s becoming easier to find places to smoke marijuana than to smoke cigars, he dismisses any thought of expanding his product line into that category.

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The Gallery

Kupcho Wins Regional . PAINFULLY CLOSE: For

the second straight year, Brittany Fan and the Buffs came up a shot shy.

CU, DU Fall Short DESPITE STRONG SEASONS, the University of Colorado and University of Denver women’s golf teams both failed to qualify for the NCAA National Championship tournament.

A strong runner-up finish in the PAC-12 championship earned the Buffs a five seed in the NCAA Regionals at Ohio State University’s Scarlet Course. After starting the final round five shots out of the sixth and final qualifying spot, the Buffs rallied hard but came up one shot short of advancing to the Nationals.

Compounding the heartbreak, in last year’s regionals the team also finished a shot shy of qualifying.

After winning the Summit League championship—its 14th consecutive Conference/League title—the University of Denver Pioneers finished a disappointing 12th in the NCAA Regionals at Albuquerque, missing the qualifying cut by 15 strokes.

WESTMINSTER NATIVE Jennifer Kupcho’s star continues to rise. The Wake Forest University sophomore utterly dominated the NCAA Athens Regional, carding rounds of 68, 70 and 68 to win the tournament at 10-under par. She finished five shots clear of the field, advancing for the second consecutive year to the NCAA National Championships. As a freshman last year, Kupcho finished sixth in the Nationals. “Jennifer played incredibly well,” said Wake Forest head coach Dianne Dailey.

“She just overpowered the golf course and the field….I wouldn’t be surprised if she won the whole thing.”

The nationals took place May 19-22, as this issue went to press, at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill.

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The Gallery

Omega Men

. FROM HERE TO FRATERNITY: Dr. Seymour E. Loftman

LAST YEAR, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity’s Holmes Omega Scholarship Golf Tournament sold out at Black Bear Golf Club, generating twice the amount raised in 2015 for its Scholarship Fund and Omega Leadership Mentorship Program. At this year’s June 23 event, the leaders of one of the nation’s oldest African-American frats intend again to double the funds raised for youth mentoring and college scholarships. They’ve expanded the field to 120 and moved the tournament to Aurora’s Murphy Creek Golf Course.

Emphasizing the organization’s rich legacy, the event luncheon will honor 90-year-old Dr. Seymour Loftman, the Denver Chapter’s oldest living member.

Like Clarence Holmes, the prominent Denverite for whom the scholarship is named, Loftman practiced dentistry. He is also a direct link to Frank Coleman, who in 1911 co-founded Omega Psi Phi at Howard University, where he later taught Loftman physics.

“Our fraternity does so much, I’m still learning about it 70 years after pledging,” Loftman says.

“Guided by our cardinal principles—manhood, scholarship, perseverance and uplift—we try to mentor and educate young people as they grow into manhood. Everything we do involves community and social service. We share in the belief that friendship is essential to the soul.” As testament to this spirit, Omega Psi Phi is sponsoring two foursomes of students from the Denver Public School System and Cherry Creek School District. holmesomega.org

Out on Top CENTENNIAL’S Mackenzie Cohen, the 2012 Colorado 5A High School champion, capped off her collegiate career with a bang.

She and the Memphis-based Rhodes College Lynx clawed back from a four-shot final-round deficit at Houston’s Bay Oaks Country Club to win the college’s second consecutive NCAA Division III National Championship. rhodeslynx.com

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The Gallery

Good Reads RALPH KENNEDY wouldn’t know a bucket list from a bucket hat, but between 1919 and 1961, the co-founder of New York’s Winged Foot Golf Club played at more than 3,165 different golf courses across the United States, Canada and the world. In Golf’s Iron Horse, author John Sabino animates Kennedy’s inspiring odyssey, which generated more than 100 pounds of scorecards and reams of news coverage, especially during one epic 1946 road trip that included 10 Colorado courses. By the time he died at age 79, Kennedy had played golf more than 8,500 times—the equivalent of every day for 23 straight years. In discovering his motivation, it inspires our own. skyhorsepublishing.com Mark E. Squire’s Rain Delay: Untold Stories from the Legends of Golf is a self-published labor of love based on interviews with 22 professional golfers, including Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Nick Faldo, Lee Trevino and Tom Lehman. They share anecdotes both humorous and life-changing. The best story isn’t the one about Trevino at the Masters, but about Squire donating half of his profits to Elevate Phoenix (one of Tom Lehman’s favorite charities) and The First Tee of Phoenix. untoldgolfstories.com

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The Gallery

. WIGGING OUT: Trashmasters founder and fundraising chairman Boone Schweitzer.

Trooning Up TROON GOLF, the world’s largest golf management

Trashing Aspen JULY 20-21 WILL MARK the 25th Anniversary of The Trashmasters. Created by the irrepressible Aspen realtor Boone Schweitzer, who presides over the event like a manic magistrate, this etesian celebration of the weird, wacky and unusual occurrences—such as tree-aided birdies, marmot sightings and fairway-free pars—annually draws a high-spirited crowd to Snowmass Club. Past participants include such luminaries as Robert Wagner, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, and this year’s special guest will be former Denver Post columnist and current ESPN personality Woody Paige.

For all the apparent frivolity of the tournament, there’s nothing insignificant about the 62 students from Roaring Fork Valley high schools who have graduated from college as a result of The Trashmasters Scholarship Fund. Last year the fund awarded four four-year scholarships to students heading to Colgate University, Colorado School of Mines, Humboldt State University and the University of Denver. Support levels include a $10,000 Recycling Center sponsorship and a $5,000 Dumpster sponsorship. The minimum entry per player is $1,000—the same as it costs to be a Trash Can Sponsor. trashmasters.com

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Player’s Corner PROFILE

PHOTOGRAPH BY EJ CARR

TEED UP: Allen at Willis Case (left); and in-studio with Officer Finley after their confrontation over the "rifle."

clearly doesn’t deter the Mobile, Ala. native’s commitment to improving. “I like the water range at Wellshire when it freezes over,” she says. “The ball makes this odd whirring sound when it hits the ice and it just goes. I’m hitting 200-yard drives!”

Twenty-four years of living in New York made Allen an apostle of public transportation, so she either takes RTD or Uber everywhere, often with a shoulder-strap carrier containing three or four clubs she needs to work on.

Last September 20, however, this ritual nearly got her shot.

She planned on practicing after work, so she and her clubs rode the E line from DU. She got off at the Dry Creek stop and headed towards CPR’s Bridges Broadcast Center on South Alton Way. She was cutting through a 7-11 parking lot when she heard someone shout, “Sir, drop the rifle!”

The honey-throated Colorado Public Radio host adores playing golf—but it's not a fatal attraction. By Jon Rizzi COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO’S Jo Ann Allen doesn’t own a car but she’s a very good driver. That is, her tee shots fly so reliably straight that her playing partners have nicknamed her “Ms. Consistency.”

The news host/reporter certainly lives up to her moniker on a glorious Friday morning at Denver’s Willis Case Golf Course. She hits nine out of nine fairways—a record of perfection tainted only by two of those fairways coming on par 3s of 108 and 125 yards.

“I need to work on my power,” the veteran journalist says after popping her first shot of the day about 80 yards towards a green 384 yards away.

A longtime tennis player whose knees started rebelling, Allen went from casual to avid golfer about 10 years ago.

She has an athletic setup but a swing that suggests the two-handed forehand of Monica coloradoavidgolfer.com

Seles more than the one-piece takeaway of Annika Sörenstam. Or, as she acknowledges: “My instructor said part of my problem is that I swing like I’m hitting a tennis ball.”

She’s referring to a teaching pro with whom she’d taken one lesson. “He’s not officially my teacher yet,” she says. “He did some testing and measuring of my swing. He said, ‘Once you get your swing faster, we’ll start doing lessons.’

I don’t blame him. He wants to work with people he knows are serious, not somebody who doesn’t want to practice. I’m like, ‘Don’t worry, dude.

I practice.’ I have no problem practicing. It’s something I enjoy.”

Allen, who lives near the University of Denver, enjoys practicing so much that at least twice a week she’ll head to Overland or Wellshire to hit a bucket of balls—or to the par-3 at Harvard Gulch to hone her short game. Cold weather

35

Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Deputy Tom Finley, who had been in the convenience store, was responding to a report, based on a 911 call, from the Arapahoe County Dispatcher of a “black man, black in dress, carrying a rifle” in the area.

“I slowly turned, threw the golf clubs away from my body with my left hand, and held out my arms, and said, ‘They're golf clubs. They're golf clubs,’” she remembers.

Finley slowly approached her, and seeing the golf clubs, he took his hand off his gun and immediately apologized for challenging her.

“When we get a call like this," he said, “we have to respond.”

In light of recent encounters between African-Americans and law enforcement that had ended fatally, Allen and Finley went on-air a few weeks later to recount their story. Each commended the other’s handling of the situation, addressing the “what-ifs” that could have resulted in a tragedy.

“I totally understood why I was stopped,” she said. The carrying case “looks like a gun. I can totally see that.” For his part, Finley admitted to feeling nervous but not threatened, “because if you're out of control yourself, you're going to do more harm than good.”

Looking back on the situation, Allen says, “Luckily for me, the deputy was a pretty good mind in terms of being cool about it. I probably would have been dead today if it had been some cops running up on me in a car like they did to Tamir Rice in Cleveland because they don’t give you a chance to say anything.”

June 2017 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CPR NEWS/HART VAN DENBURG

The Passion of Jo Ann Allen

Player’s Corner PROFILE

Stan Fenn and Doug Perry at KCOL 600 and iHeart radio

EVERY SATURDAY MORNING from 7-9 a.m. on radio, computer or phone.

COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

PHOTOGRAPH BY EJ CARR

TWO PGA PROS WHO CAN “TALK” A GREAT GAME.

Allen wanted to talk to him on-air because, she says, “I knew it would be devastating for him if he had acted inappropriately, or even if he had needed to shoot for some weird reason. It would have probably ruined his life. I wanted to see how he was reacting. His humanity came through to me.”

She adds, “If I had seen someone—I don’t care what color they were—walking down the street with what looked like a gun, especially near a convenience store, I would have called 911.”

When the story appeared on-air and online, Allen says she had friends who “were pissed off.

I said, ‘No, you’re getting it wrong. If I had been shot, then you can be pissed off. But this turned out fine, with a very fine police officer.”

During her police encounter, Allen says she immediately thought of her father, Willie B. Allen, who still lives in Mobile and celebrated his 102nd birthday in April. “I just couldn't imagine him getting the news I’d been shot,” she says. “I’m the youngest of seven. The oldest, my sister, died many years ago. It would be devastating for him to lose two daughters.”

Allen grew up in a tight-knit Catholic family in Mobile. She studied classical piano, sang in chorus and enjoyed all sports, but as a fifthgrader “for some reason I had an interest in golf,” she says. “This was the Sixties. Back then, for a black family… ‘Golf? Really? Where’s the country club we’re going to take you to learn?’”

A priest in her parish heard of her interest, and took her out for her first lesson using his 7-iron. “But then my mom thought it wasn’t appropriate for a priest to be taking a little girl alone to a golf course. She forbade me from going again, so the priest loaned me the 7-iron. It just stood in my bedroom for a while. I’d swing with it.

Eventually I gave it back to the priest. But I always wanted to get back into golf.”

Before she did, she attended Bishop Toolen High School, and at the “strong—and I mean strong” suggestion of her parents, she enrolled in Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin, a tiny liberal arts school in the Dominican Catholic tradition.

36

“It wasn’t as Catholic as you’d expect,” Allen laughs now. “I mean, we even smoked in class.

Can you imagine that?”

Edgewood didn’t have a journalism department, so the aspiring newspaperwoman took those classes at the University of Wisconsin.

After graduation, for two years she covered media for The Capital Times. At the conclusion of one interview with Wisconsin Public Radio’s new GM Jack Mitchell, he asked if he could ask her a question.

“I figured he wanted to know when the story was running,” she remembers. Instead, “He looked me straight in the eye and said, ‘Will you come work for me?’”

She loved print, but also remembered a soliloquy she had given during a college drama class, after which her teacher from the back of darkened theater said, “You should do something with that voice.”

So she took the radio job. Four years later, she left for New York, where she would spend 18 of her 24 years there at WNYC. She also taught at Long Island University in Brooklyn and calls Lincoln Center her happy place. Puccini’s Turandot is her top opera, and her favorite aria is “Mon cœur s’ouvre à ta voix” from Saint-Saën’s Samson et Dalila—particularly as performed by the Latvian mezzo-soprano Elina Garanca.

During those days she got back into golf, playing mostly at Pelham Bay Golf Course in the Bronx, where she came the closest she has ever come to acing a hole.

“I thought it was in, I was so excited,” she says. “I drove the cart up to the green, looking at it the whole way, and tried getting out of the cart before it stopped. I caught my spike and fell and shredded my knee on the gravel path. I tore my meniscus, but I didn’t feel a thing, because the ball was on the edge of the cup, and I wanted to make that birdie putt. This tells you how much I enjoy this sport!”

Two years at KPBS radio in San Diego bought her another two years of writing screenplays, one of which “Never Speak My Name” was a finalist in the prestigious One-in-Ten Screenplay coloradoavidgolfer.com

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Jon Rizzi is the editor of Colorado AvidGolfer. To hear the interview with Jo Ann Allen and Officer Tom Finley, visit cpr.org. coloradoavidgolfer.com

PHOTOGRAPH BY EJ CARR

Certified Pre-Owned Range Rover

Contest. When the money got tight, she tried selling insurance, but soon found herself applying for—and getting—a job doing “Morning Edition” at WHYY in Philadelphia. After four years, she burned out on the early shift and returned to writing screenplays. By 2015, she’d arrived in Denver as part of a CPR staff expansion.

Allen’s work golf buddies include “Engineer Judy Banstra, Arts Reporter Corey Jones, General Assignment Reporter Sam Brasch and General Assignment Reporter/Weekend Host Vic Vella.”

And yes, she uses their titles before their names.

“I always tell people, if you’re super-serious about golf, I don’t want to play with you. I just like being outside. The sunshine. The camaraderie.

People in Denver are nice, but they're supernice on the golf course compared to what I’ve experienced in New York or even in California, where folks are just not that patient or willing to cut you some slack when you’re a below-average player like me.”

Her favorite playing partner lives in Sierra Vista, Arizona—her brother Fred, a retired U.S. Army sergeant. “We’ve always been competitive, so we keep score, but we don’t bet or anything like that,” he says. “I try to give her tips about not lifting her head and following through. I noticed a lot of improvement in her game when we played last year.”

By the eighth hole at Willis Case, Allen has found her groove. Thanks to some deft shotmaking with her hybrid, she’s on the green of the 260yard par 4 in three, with a ten-foot right-to-left breaker for par. I’m away, and after going to school on my putt, she drains hers and lets out a wellearned whoop.

Allen’s clearly pumped to play and improve.

With more shoulder turn and swing speed, she’ll soon be launching her shots onto the green in fewer strokes. She’s already made one potentially shot-saving change in her practice routine. She no longer draws her clubs from a holster.

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Player’s Corner

2

LESSON

Games in the Game of the Father

Want to get a junior into golf while improving your own skills? Try these games from the PGA pros at Trent Wearner Golf Academy.

MAKING PRACTICE FUN for junior golfers is vital to their growth and love of the sport. Shifting practice from mechanics to enjoyable, competitive games results in improved performance for both juniors and the parents who play with them.

Trent Wearner Golf Academy is located at Meridian Golf Club in Englewood. trentwearnergolf.com; 303-645-8000

1.

BOWLING-PIN PUTTING: At a

distance of 10 feet, set up two sets of four plastic bowling pins, army men or—for a real challenge—golf tees a foot apart. Each person stands by his or her “pins.” Play against each other by alternating putting one ball in an effort to knock over the other person’s pins. The first one who knocks over all four of the other person’s pins wins. Variations: play nine or 18 four-putt “holes.” Use either a match-play (most pins knocked down wins “hole”) or stroke-play format (cumulative number of pins).

—Kelly Plaisier

2.

TEE BALL: Begin by setting up eight

—Trent Wearner

3.

CHIPPING BOX: (photo on facing page)

Using string or sticks (as shown here), create an eight-by-eight-foot frame around the hole. Getting chips as close as possible to the hole certainly puts less pressure on putting, so a great way to improve the skill of distance control is to set up a border in which the ball must come to rest. Using only one ball, start from just a couple of feet off the fringe and try to chip into the box. Then move back some distance, say three feet, and hit your second shot. Continue moving back in approximately three-foot increments in about five locations, hitting only one ball at each distance. Count how many end up in the box, then start again trying to beat that score.

1 COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

—Trent Wearner

40

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY PHIL MUMFORD

tees about two feet apart. Starting from a position of about five feet away from the first tee, have the junior roll the ball toward the second tee trying to get it to stop as close to it as possible. It ideally should go past the first tee but not past the third tee. If successful, the junior should now attempt to get his/her ball to stop as close as possible to the third tee. Again it must go past the previous tee but not past the next one. Once the junior shows some proficiency from five feet, he/she can move back to 10 feet.

4.

ICE-CREAM CONE CHIPPING: This is a fun

way to seemingly make the hole bigger and yet at the same time teach both junior and adult the important skill of distance control. We like to use three sticks on each side of the cone just to add color but one stick on each side will work fine. If the ball is rolling too quickly it will roll right over the sticks instead of funneling to the cup. Obviously if it’s rolling too slowly it won’t have a chance to have the sticks guide it into the hole.

—Trent Wearner

4 This game helps develop 5. full-swing aim, ball-trajectory control and shot-making that relies more on instinct than on TOWER OF POWER :

technique. Stack six, 10, 15 or 21 empty plastic range-ball baskets upside-down to form a pyramidshaped tower. The golfer stands 15-20 feet away with a 7- or 8-iron and the goal of knocking down as many baskets as possible in five shots, preferably taken as fast as possible. Count the number of baskets. Then rebuild the tower for the next player.

Whoever knocks down the most baskets wins.

In one variation of the game, players can alternate shots, keeping score of the number they hit. If player B is behind on his/her last shot, he or she can knock down the remaining baskets to tie the score. In another variation involving two teams, designated players from both team simultaneously hit five balls while the others wait safely “on deck” until it’s their turn. They keep hitting until all the baskets are knocked down.

5

—Katie Milstead

3 coloradoavidgolfer.com

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June 2017 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER

Player’s Corner GEAR

Make Dad’s Day From clothes that give back to a stand bag with benefits, Father’s Day gifts he’ll love.

By Suzanne S. Brown > LINKED IN John Ashworth sold his eponymous apparel company years ago and is now immersed in Linksoul.

The California brand, with a motto of “Make Par Not War” and mandatory golf for employees on Fridays, makes golf and lifestyle clothing, but also is collaborating with artists and designers. Among its offerings of shirts, board shorts and Ts is the “Drytech” cotton blend polo with moisture-wicking stretch fibers for comfort and performance.

The shirt comes in 11 solid and heathered colors, sized from S to XXL, $70. linksoul.com

< THE EYES HAVE IT Bubba Watson, among others, wears Oakley sunglasses for the eye protection and optics he needs on the course. But the recreational golfer typically wants glasses that are versatile enough to wear around town as well as on the greens. That’s the appeal of Oakley’s Crossrange Prizm Golf glasses, which have interchangeable temple pieces and nose pads. While playing, you wear the “unobtainium” rubber temples and nose pieces that offer a snug, comfortable fit. Off the course, the temples and nosepiece pop out and are replaceable with standard stems and nosepieces. The glasses come in regular and extra-large fits; $180. oakley.com

< RETRO RANGE Bryson DeChambeau won both the NCAA Division I men’s individual championship and the U.S. Amateur in 2015 before joining the pro tour last year. In addition to playing single-length irons, he has also turned heads with his wardrobe choices. Puma Golf took notice, creating a Heritage Collection to complement DeChambeau’s throwback style.

Included are a Ben Hogan-inspired chestnut herringbone cap, $40, tailored chinos, $80, a stretch belt (pictured above), $30, spikeless Ignite shoes, $120, and a limited edition wood grain King F7 driver, $349. The club might look like an old persimmon driver, but it has the features today’s golfers demand, like adjustable loft settings. The sweater, $85, will be part of the fall collection. cobragolf.com.

COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

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Player’s Corner

< IF THE SHOE STICKS Guys looking to pick up on some of Jordan Spieth’s tricks of the trade might find some in his first signature shoe, Under Armour’s Spieth One. The design was introduced earlier this year in a global tour that stopped in Tokyo, Seoul, Mexico City and Los Angeles. Among the Spieth One details: the shoe is waterproof but breathable so perspiration can escape; the upper has a single seam to reduce weight and enhance fit; and (geek alert) it features rotational resistance traction, which prevents the rotation of the foot during the swing from load up to impact, paired with a firm heel for stability and support, $200. ua.com

GEAR

>

> PATRIOTIC POLOS PGA professional and U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Maj. Dan Rooney started the Folds of Honor Foundation to provide educational scholarships to the spouses and children of American service members who have lost their lives or become disabled. A new effort helping fund those scholarships is the Volition America Clothing Collection created in collaboration with Cobra Puma Golf. The line includes pieces for men, women and children, including a blue camo print polo, and a variety of red, white and blue T-shirts, hats and shoes. Prices range from $22 to $120, and a portion of sales will benefit the foundation. cobragolf.com

> COLD ONES One of the drawbacks of walking the course on a hot summer day is that the beverage cart never seems to roll by when you need it and that bottle of water you started out with is lukewarm (if there’s anything left in it) by the time you’ve played a few holes. Bag Boy offers a solution with its Chiller Hybrid Stand Bag. Among the bag’s eight specialized zippered pockets is a removable insulated cooler bag that can hold four 12-ounce cans. The bag comes in six color combinations and sells for $180 (excluding beverages). bagboy.com Suzanne S. Brown is the former fashion and features editor for The Denver Post. She also contributes to Mountain Living and Colorado Expression.

OUTSTANDING

COURSES The City of Lakewood has two outstanding municipal golf courses that offer golfers of every level an exciting golfing experience, coupled with spectacular views of Denver’s iconic skyline and the snowcapped peaks of the Rocky Mountains.

Fox Hollow and Homestead offer a unique mix of terrain types and course challenges. Nestled next to Bear Creek Lake Park on native rolling prairie lands, both courses offer an opportunity for escape and relaxation with tranquil lakes, quiet streams and spectacular vistas.

LakewoodGolf.org COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

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coloradoavidgolfer.com

Side Bets | FAREWAYS FOOD | BEER | CARS

Private Club, Public Dining

FARE FOR ALL: From top left, Silver Sage at Red Sky Golf Club; Harvest’s kale, quinoa and beets; Frost Creek’s patio; TimberHearth at Cordillera.

At most of Vail’s clubs, you don’t have to be a member to eat like one. By Gary James WITH A SHORT SEASON and competition from upscale dining establishments in the Vail Valley, private golf clubs from Vail to Wolcott have a tough putt when it comes to keeping members sated all summer. Which is why, private golf clubs swing open their doors to nonmember dining—with no F&B minimum.

Silver Sage (Red Sky Golf Club) At Red Sky Golf Club, the 800-acre Vail Resortsowned country club in Wolcott, members and resort guests alternate play between the Greg Norman and Tom Fazio courses. However, these players don’t alternate clubhouses. The

Norman’s, which sits higher than the Fazio, is members-only—that is, until dinnertime.

Silver Sage, its primo full-service restaurant that opens June 10, welcomes nonmember dining with reservations after 5 p.m. every day except Sunday and during special member events. The sweeping sunset views of Castle Peak and the surrounding Valley provide apposite accompaniment to the colorful juice bar offerings and Executive Chef Ron Jackson’s imaginative menu. In addition to perfectly prepared steaks, leg of lamb and grilled salmon, foie gras appears both as an appetizer—with a peanut-butter-andjelly monte cristo and vanilla dressing—and atop the decadent Rossini Burger: a half-pound of ground Wagyu Beef from Delta, Colorado’s own 7X Ranch inside a challah bun with sweet onion jam and truffle fries.

Summer Thyme, at the “Guest” clubhouse on the Fazio course, serves a superb lunch. And for pre- or mid-round fare, hit the Bellyache Grill halfway house, which takes its name from Bellyache Ridge—the area occupied by the development—not from any kind of digestive distress. redskygolfclub.com

TimberHearth (The Club at Cordillera) All three of Cordillera’ 18-hole courses feature a worthy clubhouse restaurant, but the one that best exemplifies the “Cordillera experience,” head to TimberHearth. Situated at the Mountain course, it exudes comfort and warmth with a three-story river rock fireplace, cozy furniture and large picture windows with panoramic views.

The menu offers locally-inspired cuisine with a Rocky Mountain flair—smoked Kurobuta coloradoavidgolfer.com

45

pork chop with spaghetti squash, speckwrapped Boulder Natural Chicken, lump crabstuffed Rocky Mountain Trout—with a nightly “downhome cooking” special and Friday night Prime Rib. More than 300 selections populate the wine list. The more casual Chaparral Grille, at the Valley course, specializes in lighter fare such as veggie wraps, flatbreads and street tacos and salads. The Summit Course serves a lunch of salads, sandwiches, burgers and Korean Hog Wings. cordillera-vail.com

Frost Creek The highly successful rejuvenation of Eagle’s Frost Creek Club as a “four-season mountain lifestyle portal” manifests itself in the club’s staggering list of activities and amenities, as well as the presence of athletically attired diners in the clubhouse restaurant. After a morning round of golf or a ride up and down Brush Creek Road to Sylvan Lake State Park, members of the club and the general public have made brunch (or lunch) here a delightful ritual. Midday favorites on celebrated chef Marc Copenhaver’s everchanging menu are the Fresh Main Lobster and Grits, Classic Eggs Benedict, Grilled Colorado June 2017 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER

Side Bets | FAREWAYS

Angus Steak Wrap with Avocado and Crisp Jalapeños and a Grilled Sea of Cortez Shrimp Salad with Ruby Grapefruit, Basil Dressing, and Crisp Onions. Dinnertime brings Grilled Colorado Angus Beef Ribeye “Filet,” a Crusted Pacific Halibut with Cauliflower Puree, and a Roasted Rack of Colorado Lamb with Kalamata Olive Crumb, and Mint Pistou—all of it fuel for the following day’s adventure. frostcreek.com

INSIDE THE GATES: Vista (above) serves fresh Alaskan Halibut; Harvest’s lodge-like dining room.

Vista at Arrowhead (Country Club of the Rockies)

Perched on a gorgeous mountainside within the Country Club of the Rockies clubhouse comes an exquisite high-end fine dining experience courtesy of Executive Chef David Collins. The menu offers local and gluten-free dishes such as a grilled Rocky Mountain Ruby Red Trout and Colorado Braised Beef Short Ribs, plus creative salads, pasta dishes and sides. Another accompaniment is Vail Valley fixture Micky Poage, who regularly performs on piano. vista-arrowhead.com

Harvest (Sonnenalp Club)

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Announ

Blood

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Sha range

Wonderland Brewing Co. • Broomfield, Colorado Find us @ 120th and Sheridan

303.953.0400 wonderlandbrewing.com

COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

When Sonnenalp Club opened its new fitness and member facility last year, it also elevated the level of its food and beverage service. While not quite the haute cuisine served at the namesake Vail Village hotel that owns it, the family-friendly Harvest was created and managed by renowned Colorado chef Kelly Liken. Her engagement ended at the close of ski season, but the legacy lives on. The new leadership is building on what she started, with a simple, seasonal menu extoling Colorado harvested organic ingredients.

Specialties have included Colorado elk chili, fivespiced pork belly with Palisade peach preserves and a Colorado Lamb Ragout. The Pantry, located inside Harvest, serves grab-and-go coffee, pastries and breakfast items.

Read more of Contributor Gary James’ Fareways columns on coloradoavidgolfer.com.

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Side Bets | TAPPING IN

CASEY AT THE TAP: A pouring at Casey’s, which occupies a warehouse along the Roaring Fork River.

That’s the Ticket!

Only prepaid patrons get to enjoy the artisanal lambics at Casey Brewing & Blending in Glenwood Springs—and the payoff is well worth it. By Cody Gabbard WORLD-RENOWNED FOR THEIR uniquely tart, sour and refreshing characteristics, the beers of Belgium’s Pajottenland—known as lambiek, or lambics—result from the Old World techniques of spontaneous fermentation and blending. Much like wine, these beers represent the area in which they are brewed, incorporating the local terroir in the form of local fruits and airborne yeasts.

To create gueuze, a type of lambic, brewers blend beers of varying ages (typically of one, two and three years) to achieve a level of complexity not found in single vintages. Fruited lambics such as kriek (made with cherries) and framboise (made with raspberries) undergo a second fermentation on top of fruit.

In the past decade, a handful of American breweries have taken the notion of the locally brewed lambic to similar levels, devoting themselves solely to wild-fermented beers made with indigenous ingredients. One of those, Troy Casey of Casey Brewing and Blending in Glenwood Springs, has merged some of these Old World traditions with New World science.

Situated above the Roaring Fork River in a nondescript warehouse a few miles from downtown Glenwood Springs, Casey’s doesn’t resemble your typical brewery.

There’s no sweet, bready aroma mixed with the astringency of sanitizing solution; rather, it smells more like a wine cellar, with oak and over-ripe fruit perfuming the air. Instead of towering, stainless steel equipment, rows of stacked barrels—each with its own patina of liquid stains and aged wood—line the facility. In lieu of a metal bar encircled by television screens or hipster graffiti, Cacoloradoavidgolfer.com

sey has a single 15- to 20-seat bar lined with 22-ounce cork-and-caged bottles instead of taps. Patrons, who have to book online in advance, pace in anticipation for their allotted pours.

What may seem like an unnecessary process to get a beer is due to the high demand at Casey, which RateBeer.com ranked as the best new brewer in the world for 2015. When the place initially opened, lines of curious beer buffs snaked out the door, with many of them turned away when supply ran out.

The ticketing system guarantees that everyone gets to taste the beer and nobody has to queue up. Another advantage is the group gets to participate in a shared experience. These are not beers to gulp down, but to be savored and discussed. Once all members of the group have had the chance to sample the handful of beers that come with a ticket, it’s common for individuals to buy bottles—despite price tags that range from about $15 to upwards of $35 for rarer vintages—and share amongst the group.

It might seem paradoxical that intricate, smallbatch brewer Troy Casey spent his formative years at MillerCoors. But he arrived soon after the giant brewery had started its craft-centric project, AC Golden, and found his niche in the sour beer program. Credited with much of their success in developing these beers, he struck out on his own and founded Casey Brewing and Blending in 2013.

For a majority of the beers, Casey uses two base recipes, Saison and Oak Theory. The wort (unfermented

47

Glenwood Canyon Brewpub Located in the historic Hotel Denver, Glenwood Canyon Brewpub has been serving award-winning beers since 1996. Glenwood offers a range of traditional styles ranging from the 2015 Great American Beer Festival silver medal-winning No Name Nut Brown Ale to German specialties like Storm King Dunkel Lager and Carbonator Doppelbock (both GABF and World Beer Cup winners). The Brewpub has a full menu for lunch and dinner with standard pub fare to soak up a day filled with Glenwood’s eclectic range of breweries.

June 2017 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER

Side Bets | TAPPING IN

WESTWORD’S 2013 & 2015 “Best Neighborhood restaurant”

Alaska King Salmon

“.. imaginative takes on contemporary Italian fare that are masterfully prepared, artfully plated.”

- The Denver Post

beer) is brewed at a nearby brewery and then brought to Casey, where it’s aged and blended, often with fruit at a rate of one to two pounds per gallon.

Where the Old World meets the New is in the laboratory.

Casey holds an undergrad degree in chemistry as well as an advanced degree from University of California, Davis, an incubator for burgeoning brewers. Armed with this knowledge, he has managed to isolate a house blend of yeast and bacteria to inoculate his beers. Where Belgian lambic producers rely on the microflora resident in their breweries to spontaneously ferment their beers, Casey uses his selected strains in order to better predict the results of his blends. He still plans on someday adding a coolship (an open vessel used to cool wort naturally and simultaneously inoculate wort from airborne yeast and bacteria) to the brewery for the purpose of replicating the lambics of Europe.

All of the fruit comes from local farms and 99 percent of the ingredients are from Colorado, with the one percent comprised of specialty hops from New Zealand and Europe. Like wine vintages, the beers may vary by season depending on the fruit and wild yeast. However, the quality and bold flavors are undeniably consistent.

Casey’s beers are moderately tart rather than bracingly sour. The fruited blends are indeed very fruit forward, but not sweet. They finish dry with a surprising amount of body for beers that hover around 6-7% alcohol. They boast an earthiness you don’t get from other fruit-forward beers, with the entire fruit showcased from tannic skin to rich, juicy flavor. The beers are sporadically available outside of the brewery at select stores, but a trip to Glenwood Springs is best for the uninitiated. Just be sure to visit the website first.

3421 Grand Ave, Glenwood Springs caseybrewing.com; 970-230-9691 Read more of Cody Gabbard’s Tapping In columns at coloradoavidgolfer.com.

PRIZED SURPRISE: Casey’s once-yearly Bière de Garde hints of fruits, chocolate and other flavors.

America’s Pajottenland America is accumulating its fair share of wild and barrelaged-only breweries, with the following available at better beer stores and bars across Colorado.

AMERICAN SOLERA (Tulsa, Okla.): The brainchild of former Prairie Artisan Ales brewer Chase Healey, American Solera may come from Oklahoma but the beer is about as close as you can get to the spirit of wild Belgian ales—all of which undergo oak-aging from six to 18 months.

Following in Casey’s footsteps, American Solera garnered the 2016 title as best new brewer in the world

by RateBeer.com.

JESTER KING BREWERY (Austin, Tex.): Jester King is America’s answer to traditional farmhouse beer. Located in the Texas Hill Country, Jester focuses on incorporating the local agriculture into its spontaneous and mixed-fermentation beers. The brewery has earned the respect and attention of other notable sour beer brewers, with collaborations including Belgium’s Fantôme and Denver’s own Crooked Stave.

JOLLY PUMPKIN ARTISAN ALES (Dexter, Mich.): One of the original brewers to feature barrel-aged only beers, Jolly Pumpkin was started by Ron Jeffries in 2004. Jolly Pumpkin beers such as La Roja, Bam Noire and Oro de Calabaza have an unmistakable rustic character.

Since the brews are bottle-conditioned, they’re prized by homebrewers who harvest yeast from the bottles for their own creations.

COLORADO LAMB

2500 East Orchard Road #C Greenwood Village, CO 303 730 2152 thewoodentablerestaurant.com

COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

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Side Bets | NICE DRIVES

INSIDE AND OUT: BMW’s exquisite 530i drives as well as it looks.

All the Right Turns BMW’s upgraded 5 Series delivers a truly sybaritic sports sedan. By Isaac Bouchardard 2017 BMW 530i EPA ratings: 24/34mpg; 27mpg combined 0-60mph: 5.7 sec (estimated) Price as tested: $72,135 EARLY INDUSTRY BUZZ was that BMW intended the new, seventh- generation 5 Series to be a return to the true sports sedan ethos of the turn-of-the-century E39 series. But it wasn’t the better handling or faster acceleration—both of which the new, G30-series 5 certainly has over its predecessors—that convinced me.

I actually began to believe when I flicked the turn-signal stalk to take a corner and it didn’t immediately re-center itself, only returning to its resting position once I’d straightened the lovely sports steering wheel.

This certainly wouldn’t have been the case with most BMWs built during the last decade, when the fabled German company redesigned this perfected little

coloradoavidgolfer.com

device in a manner that made it harder, rather than easier, to use.

BMW has always been willing to push the envelope technologically—iDrive was the first true infotainment interface, and went from being horrid to the industry standard—but this return to blinker grace demonstrated a newfound sense of focus from the company. As does the 530i as a whole, with a more athletic demeanor than the outgoing car; the chassis is more interactive, with absurdly high limits, quicker reactions and more feedback through the seat of the pants. The steering, while still somewhat numb, is linear and very accurate.

Part of how a new 5 series tears up a road comes down to three specific options: four-wheel steering, adjustable antiroll bars and dampers.

The four-wheel steering shrinks the turning circle, adds alacrity to low-speed responsiveness and aids high-speed stability. That feature, however, cannot be combined with the antiroll bars, which keep the car incredibly flat even in high-g maneuvers, but distance the driver even further from what’s happening down at the tires’ contact patches. The dampers now work independently on each shock absorber, making sure the ride stays serene when traffic or road conditions discourage one from pressing on.

Speaking of pressing on, both the test 530i and a briefly sampled six cylinder-powered 540i have quite the appetite for it; independent tests show the six to be almost as fast as the fabled E39 M5, with 0-60mph being dispatched in the mid 4-second range. The 530i’s B46-engine makes 248hp and 258lb-ft and will be more than enough for most needs, with what feels like sub-6 second poke. It does sound like a diesel at idle and never sings like the 540i’s six, but it lightens the nose, improving turn-in response.

The 530i’s aesthetics and interior illustrate BMW’s desire to satisfy our inner sybarite but also its

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Comparing Compact Crossovers HONDA CR-V TOURING MAZDA CX-5 GRAND TOURING EPA ratings: Honda 27/33mpg; Mazda 23/29mpg 0-60mph: Honda 7.3sec; Mazda 7.6sec Price as tested: Honda $34,635; Mazda $32,165 Crossovers now represent onethird of all new vehicle sales, with compact versions among the most popular. The Honda CR-V helped start this class and was often its best seller. New for 2017, it faces stiff competition the second generation Mazda CX-5, the first version of which most consider best in class. How do they compare?

SPECS: The Honda is now based on a new modular platform that is already in use in the Civic and will soon underpin the Accord. All models but the LX get a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine with 190hp/179lb-ft. Colorado’s thin air doesn’t affect its output as much as that in the normally aspirated Mazda’s 2.5-liter mill, which cranks out 187hp/185lb-ft at sea level.

SPEED: The Honda tests faster than the Mazda, with 0-60 times in the low 7-second range.

However, the Honda runs stronger than the Mazda especially in higher altitudes. In normal traffic situations, the new CX-5 feels more responsive than the Honda; its throttle response is excellent and it feels more athletic in regular use. The CX-5’s slick direct-drive June 2017 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER

Side Bets | NICE DRIVES

Summer Blossoms Sophistication

HONDA CR-V

BMW 530i

lack of conviction to move forward stylistically after the poorly received Bangle-butt era.

From the outside, this latest 5 series could almost be a clone of its predecessor, though closer inspection reveals myriad new character lines and thoughtful detailing, and its proportions are nigh on perfect. However, its beauty is on the inside, with gorgeous surfacing, an improvement in material quality and a level of craft that reminds us that BMW owns Rolls-Royce.

The latest iDrive 6.0 offers more options— including touch sensitivity to its 10.3-inch screen—but had a few glitches that are now typical of major OS changes. The 530i is an incredibly tranquil place to while away the miles, with a super stiff yet lighter structure and incredible isolation from road and wind noise. It is more refined now than most anything one might consider a competitor, and many ostensibly more luxurious machines as well.

The 530i’s semi-autonomous driving aids available generally work well, Traffic Jam Assistant in particular being a real boon at times, though the lane-assist system occasionally wanders back and forth like a tipsy driver undergoing a sobriety test. The BMW is in no way alone in this; it will take a wholesale repaving and bolder lane markings to move us to truly autonomous driving.

In the meanwhile, this newest 5 series is one of the most pleasing places to enjoy the phenomenon of piloting a luxury sports sedan.

Get 10% off when you order from our website Code: PlayBC2017

Automotive Editor Isaac Bouchard is the owner of Englewood-based Bespoke Autos (303-475-1462). Read more of his writing on coloradoavidgolfer.com and bespokeautos.com.

6-speed gearbox is more fun and rips off revmatched downshifts worthy of a Ferrari.

ECONOMY: The Honda has better EPA numbers while the Mazda appears to return better economy in the real world.

RIDE: This Honda’s steering is accurate and precise. Ride quality is generally good, though big bumps do slam through surprisingly unfiltered. Mazda took the outgoing CX-5’s excellent Skyactiv chassis and raised the bar, with nimbler handling, steering that shames many sports sedans, and noise suppression that makes the Honda feel cheap in contrast.

STYLING: The CR-V looks boldly busy, slathered in chrome and nicely proportioned.

The upper models’ bigger 18-inch wheels fill their flares nicely and contribute to the tougher impression of this one-time wallflower. The Mazda’s surfaces are now simpler and the accents more upscale. The only misstep are the god-awful 19-inch wheels, whose black rim edges make them look two inches smaller.

INTERIOR: Honda has elevated the quality of surfaces above waist level and the layout is roomy and practical. If size is what counts, the CR-V kills. Don’t look below waist level, where the low-rent plastics reside. The Mazda’s quality is simply on another level from competitors—most of which, like the Honda, cost more than the Mazda—and seating comfort front and rear is actually better in the CX-5.

SAFETY SYSTEMS: Honda’s suite of active and passive systems doesn’t seem to work quite as well as the Mazda’s in normal situations. The lane assist system, for example, is more herky-jerky than that in the CX-5.

THE VERDICT: It’s no surprise the CR-V and CX-5 are their company’s best sellers. Historically each has been incredibly reliable and retained excellent resale value. If you want size and mountain-road thrust, go with the Honda.

In urban environs, the Mazda’s smaller exterior, plusher cockpit and extra refinement make it the unconventional yet undeniable winner.

MAZDA CX-5

www.ballcouture.com

COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

GETTING HOME

WHY NOT WYOMING? The Powder Horn in Sheridan brings the glories of the West within reach.

Castle Pines Village:

MOUNTAIN LUXURY on the Front Range

PLUS OPEN-SPACE Living at THE KEEP Homes at RENDEZVOUS make GRAND COUNTY EVEN GRANDER HOMEBUYER INFO on GOLF, neighborhoods, ACTIVITIES and more. coloradoavidgolfer.com

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June 2017 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER

GETTING HOME

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA:

THE POWDER HORN GOLF CLUB Sheridan, WYOMING WORTH NOTING: Now a private club managed by Troon Privé, The Powder Horn Golf Club was named “Best Facility Newcomer of the Year”

by Troon Golf and by Golfweek as Wyoming’s #1 course. The community is easily accessible via DIA with daily air service into Sheridan County Airport.

WHY MOVE HERE? Besides being one of America’s most tax-friendly states, Wyoming is appreciated for its unencumbered vistas and classic Old West character.

Full golf members at The Powder Horn benefit from reciprocal access to more than 60 private clubs through Troon Privé Privilege and golf privileges at more than 175 clubs nationwide at discounted greens fees via The Private Club Network.

COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

LOCATION: Generally mild weather, a valley setting at 3,800 feet and postcard views of The Big Horn Mountains converge to make this community in Sheridan, Wyoming extremely popular. Drawn by stunning natural beauty, array of amenities that include a 27-hole Certified Audubon Sanctuary course, a fitness and pool complex, and two premium tennis courts, homebuyers are afforded numerous real estate choices. Landscaping guidelines and residential covenants assure that homes have an appropriate architectural aesthetic.

Recently placed among America’s “Top 100 Best Residential Golf Courses” by Golfweek, The Powder Horn encompasses over 900 pristine acres. A two mile-long stretch of Little Goose Creek invites on-property fly-fishing, while residents can be in historic Sheridan within 10 minutes.

• Called the “Most Picturesque Town in Wyoming” by USA Today and named “#1 Small Town for Cowboy Charm” by Western Horseman, Sheridan is home to 30 buildings on the National Historic Registry.

• Featuring Western and American Indian Art, the newly built Brinton Museum joins with the new Whitney Center for the Arts and the historic WYO Theater to offer a variety of cultural experiences.

PRICE: Residences from the $325s to $1.5Ms; home sites from the $40s to $260s.

• Celebrating its 87th year, the Sheridan WYO Rodeo is one of many family-oriented events.

Enjoy watching world-class polo matches all summer long on nearby playing fields.

SIZE: Custom and low-maintenance homes ranging from 1,600 to more than 10,000 square feet; ¼-acre to nearly one acre home sites.

• Whether in Tongue River Canyon, the Bighorn Canyon National Recreational Area or the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range wildlife viewing adventures are plentiful.

PHONE: 307-674-9545

• Stay & Play packages invite guests to rent a luxurious private home from $399 per night, double occupancy, that includes golf on our 27-hole championship course.

WEBSITE: powderhornrealty.com

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sheridan, wyoming

GETTING HOME

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA:

WORTH NOTING: One of Metro Denver’s most prestigious gated communities, Taylor Morrison’s Castle Pines Village community appeals to both families and empty nesters.

Though it exudes a feeling of living in the mountains, it offers commuters great proximity to I-25 and light rail.

WHY MOVE HERE? The Village features a remarkable clubhouse with an Olympic-size pool and kiddie pool, four state-of-the-art tennis courts, a 60-yard playing field, sand volleyball court, and playground area. Taylor Morrison homebuyers also enjoy a significant fitness club with a lap pool and hot tub, group exercise rooms, a cardio room, free weights and locker rooms.

COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

TAYLOR MORRISON AT CASTLE PINES VILLAGE

Castle Pines Village provides residents easy access to a trail system that meanders for nearly 11 miles throughout the community.

Homeowners also find that it is a gateway to the charming town of Castle Rock and nearby places to explore.

LOCATION: Set in a landscape comprised of rock outcroppings, pine forests and panoramic Front Range views, Castle Pines Village is one of Castle Rock’s most sought-after communities. Home to two highly acclaimed golf courses—Castle Pines Golf Club and the Country Club of Castle Pines—it is where homebuyers can choose from dramatic residences within the Taylor Morrison portfolio or select one of 52 home sites and have a custom home constructed by our experienced builders.

• The Outlets at Castle Rock is the largest open-air outlet center in Colorado and offers shoppers more than 100 name-brand stores, including Coach, Polo Ralph Lauren, OshKosh B’gosh, Restoration Hardware, Nike, Under Armour and many more.

PRICE: Homes from the low $700s; home sites from the upper $100s

• Hikers and bikers can take to East Plum Creek Trail, Hangman’s Gulch Trail and Hidden Mesa Open Space, paved bike paths. Hikers can test their stamina on the 200 Step Challenge Hill at the Philip S. Miller Activity Center.

SIZE: Ranch style and two-story floor plans ranging in size from 2,700 to 3,800 square feet PHONE: 303-981-8481 WEBSITE: liveatcastlepines.com

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• Recently opened, the 166-acre Promenade at Castle Rock is a destination neighborhood center featuring national brand retailers, eateries, a plaza, fountains, outdoor seating and play areas.

• Douglas County Fairgrounds & Events Center is home to an annual rodeo and parade, and Taylor Morrison homeowners can enjoy events like vintage car shows, barrel racing and the Western Dressage Show. coloradoavidgolfer.com

Castle Pines Village Has LO TS to Offer!

Whether you are looking to build your own home or one of ours, we’ve got you covered. Select your ideal homesite, and then choose from one of Taylor Morrison’s six stunning floor plans, or custom build your own home on one of our several lots for sale.* Homes Priced From the Low $700s, Lots From the Upper $100s 6802 Northstar Circle | Castle Pines, CO 80108

Community

Highlights

unity Gated Comm ls Outdoor Poo r Fitness Cente s Miles of Trail ing Local Shopp

To schedule an appointment call: 303.981.8481

LiveatCastlePines.com | 303.981.8481 Taylor Morrison received the highest numerical score in the proprietary Lifestory Research 2016 and 2017 America’s Most Trusted® Home Builder study. The 2016 study based on 39,079 new home shoppers from Jan-Dec 2015, and 2017 study based on 31,764 new home shoppers from JanDec 2016 in the United States. Your experiences may vary. Visit www.lifestoryresearch.com. *Seller may, without guarantee, either (1) sell one or more of its remaining residential lots to purchasers who following the Closing construct custom homes on such lots through an unaffiliated home construction contractor of their election, or (2) Seller may construct Seller’s available homes on such lots based on its available home plans. Any custom home builder will be subject to the design guidelines established through the Master Association Documents; however, since the home will be custom built, it may not be similar to the other homes constructed by Seller. All information is not guaranteed and remains subject to change, availability or delay without notice. Maps and plans are not to scale and all dimensions are approximate. Prices shown may not include lot premiums, upgrades and options. Square footage is approximate. All homes/lots are subject to prior sale. Offer void where prohibited or otherwise restricted by law. Please see a Taylor Morrison Community Sales Manager for details and visit www.taylormorrison.com for additional disclaimers. © January, 2017, Taylor Morrison Colorado, Inc. All rights reserved.

DOWNTOWN • LOWRY • WASH PARK

LITTLETON • TECH CENTER • PLATT PARK

TAVERNHG.COM

Local Bew on Ta • Epi Patio • Scratch-Mad Eat

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Colorado

GETAWAYS GO WILD!

THE BROADMOOR takes five-star luxury outdoors

High-Flying Fun in COLORADO SPRINGS The Broadmoorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ranch at Emerald Valley

Grand County

Hiking, boating and 81 golf holes

coloradoavidgolfer.com

Steamboat Springs

Montrose/ Gunnison

Gold Medal waters, Going beyond the Black Canyon breathtaking golf 61

Grand Junction

Grapes, growlers and great golf June 2017 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER

COLORADO SPRINGS SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

South Suites

Cloud Camp Main Lodge

PERCHED 3,000 feet above The Broadmoor atop Cheyenne Mountain, the resort’s Cloud Camp occupies the site of founder Spencer Penrose’s Cheyenne Lodge. Unobstructed 360-degree views showcase Pikes Peak, and the wraparound deck overlooks a pine forest with miles of trails. Central to The Broadmoor’s “Wilderness Experience,” the timber-and-stone structure’s 8,500-square-foot main lodge features hand-hewn beams,indigenous stone fireplaces, authentic Western memorabilia and a long dining room table that seats up to 32 guests. broadmoor.com

Choices in the Wilderness Supreme in the Springs FIVE STARS, FIVE DIAMONDS: For 99 years, The Broadmoor has redefined luxury. For the last 57 of those, the iconic 779-room Colorado Springs resort has earned the highly coveted five-star rating from the Forbes (formerly Mobil) Travel Guide, and AAA has awarded it five diamonds ever since initiating the award in 1976. Plush accommodations range from rooms and suites to cottages, cabins, residential brownstones and the magnificent Estate House.

The ten dining choices span pub fare at The Golden Bee to haute cuisine in the Penrose Room.

CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF: Of all The Broadmoor’s myriad activities, none has endured as famously as golf—and deservedly so. The East and West Courses live in the country’s Top 100. Impeccable conditioning, challenging holes, glasslike greens and superalive service make playing the site of the 2018 U.S. Senior Open a bucket-list item for every golfer.

COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

THE RANCH at Emerald Valley, an all-inclusive retreat situated just a short ride up the mountain from The Broadmoor, combines rustic charm and incomparable luxury and service. More than 100,000 acres of Pike National Forest surround this enclave of 13 richly appointed cabins. Fly-fish in pristine mountain lakes, hike and bike along scenic trails and explore mountains on horseback.

Unwind by soaking in an outdoor hot tub, and then savor on-site five-star meals prepared by Broadmoor chefs.

A PRIVATE, FIVE-MILE stretch of Tarryall River,

located 75 minutes west of the Resort, is home to The Broadmoor Fly Fishing Camp, which pairs world-class guided fishing with stays in seven guest cabins and dining in a beautifully restored Main Lodge. Bordering 120,000 acres of the Lost Creek Wilderness, the troutfilled river bends through timbered canyons and grassy meadows. Guests can cast with nymphs or dry flies, while non-anglers can hike or ride horses.

FLY ABOVE scenic Seven Falls in the secluded South Cheyenne Canyon. The Broadmoor Soaring Adventure consists of 10 zip lines ranging from 300 to 1,800 feet linked by trails and rope bridges. A controlled 180-foot rappel offers views of the waterfalls and canyon below.

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Fly Fishing Camp

coloradoavidgolfer.com

A GRAND CELEBRATION OF THE

AMERICAN WEST.

The Broadmoor is so many things to so many different people. To some, it is the longest-running consecutive winner of both the AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Travel Guide Five Star awards. To others, it is the new touchstone for Colorado adventure, with the accommodations and activities of The Broadmoor Wilderness Experiences.

To all, it is a celebration of scenery, sport, luxury and service unique to the West; a bracing, independent spirit in a rather cold, regimented world of luxury brands. Visit broadmoor.com today, and discover exactly what The Broadmoor can be to you.

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BROADMOOR.COM

1 LAKE AVENUE, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80906

COLORADO SPRINGS SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Carving a Niche HIGH STEAKS: The top-rated steakhouse in the Springs, The Steakhouse at Flying Horse pairs Executive Chef Ketil Larsen’s swoon-worthy creations with an equally impressive wine list, sophisticated decor and glorious mountain views. Larsen handcuts and broils his steaks to sizzling tenderness. The salads, seafood, desserts and hand-crafted cocktails are similarly inspired. flyinghorsesteakhouse.com

The Club Flying Horse

WITH ITS PALATIAL Tuscan-style clubhouse, enormous spa and athletic facility, sprawling aquatic complex and views of Pikes Peak, The Club at Flying Horse remains one of Colorado’s most impressive private enclaves. At its core is a 12-year-old Tom Weiskopf-designed golf course—7,301 yards of split fairways, inventive bunkering, water and multitiered greens on sloping, tree-lined terrain. For years, only members had access, but now guests staying in the luxurious Lodge at Flying Horse or its four resort Villas can make tee times. theclubatflyinghorse.com

Springs Fever COMPRISING A 40-room boutique hotel and four

1,650-square-foot, two bedroom villas, the Lodge at Flying Horse combines all the luxuries of a high-end resort with the state-of-the-art services and amenities required for offsite meetings and conferences. Both the Lodge and Villas are perfect for couples, families or golf groups, with the Villas on holes 16 and 18 featuring communal great rooms and patios. Guests have access to the golf course, athletic complex and steakhouse. lodgeatflyinghorse.com

FLYING HORSE membership may soon include

golf at The Club at Flying Horse North, which should open in 2019 northeast of the club. Created by former Weiskopf architect Phil Smith, the course heroically rollercoasters through the pines and ranchland of the Black Forest. See it at philsmithdesign.net

The Villas at Flying Horse

COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

FOR FUN, head to Ivywild School, a converted grade school that hosts a bakery, shops, Bristol Brewery and concerts in a very cool space. ivywildschool.com

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RIDING THE RANGE: Channel your inner cowboy or cowgirl with Academy Riding Stables, the only regional outfitter licensed to lead tours through the geological marvels of the Garden of the Gods. The ride delivers unique views of the Sleeping Giant, Snakehead Rock, Kissing Camels, Pikes Peak and the city of Colorado Springs. Riders must be at least eight years old. academyridingstables.com coloradoavidgolfer.com

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

COLORADO SPRINGS SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Cheyenne Mountain Resort and Club

THE ONLY BEACH in Colorado Springs borders the 35-acre lake at Cheyenne Mountain Resort and Club, the

32-year-old 316-room resort and conference center. Guests have access to waterfront hijinks like boating, bonfire marshmallow roasts and beach volleyball, as well as a full-on fitness club, Alluvia Spa, indoor and outdoor swimming and tennis, basketball and golf. In addition to à la carte service, Mountain View Restaurant features huge breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets, with dinner spotlighting a different part of the world every night. cheyennemountain.com

Playing Around OPEN TO guests of the adjacent Cheyenne Mountain Resort and Club, The Country Club of Colorado features Pete Dye’s first course design west of the Mississippi River. Recently updated by Rick Phelps, the immaculate 7,056-yard course’s back nine runs along the lake, creating knee-knocking excitement on the 11th, 14th, 17th and 18th holes. ccofcolorado.com ALFRESCO DINING at the Pineview Grille looking onto the course provides the perfect end to a day of golf or one of the resort’s myriad other acitivities. The crispy lavosh pizza and spicy chicken wrap are member faves.

KNOWN AS “the secret Garden of the Gods” because it contains many similar red rock ridges and formations, Red Rocks Open Space draws in-the-know mountain bikers is criss-crossed with everything from wide and smooth dirt roads to tiny washed-out singletrack that climbs up the ridges. A wide variety of terrain allows you to traverse gravel, sand, hard packed dirt, and rocks.

The Roundup and Cordell Trails are must-rides.

PLAY COLORADO’S oldest continually operating

course. Built in 1898, Patty Jewett Golf Course boasts 27 holes and a ton of history. pattyjewettgolfshop.com

COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

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Country Club of Colorado

coloradoavidgolfer.com

Master Planned Active Adult 55+ Community in Green Valley Ranch

FAIRWAY VILLAS 7 FLOORPLANS • FROM THE $300s • UP TO 4,143 SQ FT

Award Winning Clubhouse & Golf Course Community

GRAND JUNCTION SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

The Golf Club at Redlands Mesa

Crag Crest Trail

ITS 350,000 acres make Grand Mesa the world’s largest flat-topped mountain —and a paradise for hikers of all

skill levels. Dozens of trails crisscross at 9,000 to 11,000 feet above sea level, ranging from easy ones around some of the mesa’s 300 lakes to more difficult ones like the 10-mile loop of Crag Crest Trail. The 6.6-mile upper portion literally sits atop the spine of the mesa, highlighted by a two-mile stretch flanked by dizzying drop-offs on both sides and 360-degree views of no fewer than eight mountain ranges, including the La Sal in Utah. visitgrandjunction.com

For a Good Time...

Golf in Grand Junction A SURE ENGH: Ever wonder what it would be like to play golf along the bottom of the Grand Canyon or in the Garden of the Gods? Head just south of Grand Junction to the award-winning Jim Engh design at The Golf Club at Redlands Mesa. The vertiginous layout sprawls 7,007 yard beneath the slopes of jagged buttes south of Grand Junction in the shadow of the towering pink and red sandstone face of the Colorado National Monument. redlandsmesa.com COURSES: Bordered by the spectacular Colorado National Monument, with splendid views of the Grand Mesa and Bookcliffs, the newly renovated Tiara Rado Golf Gourse annually hosts the Rocky Mountain Open, the State’s oldest, continually running open championship, dating to 1939. This year’s version is Aug. 18-20. Other area public courses include Lincoln Park and Chipeta in Grand Junction and Adobe Creek in Fruita. visitgrandjunction.com COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

SEPTEMBER ANNUALLY brings the Colorado

Mountain Winefest Presented by Alpine Bank to the Grand Valley. Virtually all of Colorado’s 140 wineries are represented at the four-day event (Sep. 14-17), highlighted by Saturday’s Festival in the Park at Riverbend Park in Palisade, where events include live music, a grape stomp, and samples from dozens of wineries.

View the full four-day schedule at coloradowinefest.com

WINE ISN’T the only drink in the area. Craft breweries

abound. In Grand Junction, be sure to try Kannah Creek, Rockslide and Edgewater. Palisade is home to Palisade Brewing Co., while Fruita boasts Copper Club and Suds Brothers. For a real kick, try the spirits at Palisade’s Peach Street Distillers.visitgrandjunction.com

EPIC BIKING of both the fat and skinny tire variety

comes naturally to Grand Junction, Fruita and Palisade.

Look into Three Sisters Park, the Kokopelli Loop Trails Area, 18 Road Trails Area, Rapid Creek Trail, Rim Rock Drive and Riverfront Trail. visitgrandjunction.com

DOWNTOWN Grand Junction bustles with shops,

restaurants, galleries, theaters music festivals and much more. For a full listing and offers, visit downtowngj.org

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Wine Festival

coloradoavidgolfer.com

“THE VIEWS KEEP DISTRACTING MY GAME.” Tee off on any of our 5 local golf courses.

Tiara Rado Golf Course, Adobe Creek National Golf Course, Chipeta Golf Course, Lincoln Park Golf Course & The Golf Club at Redlands Mesa Stay and Play golf discounts at participating hotels.

Learn more at visitgrandjunction.com/stay-play-golf-discounts or call 800-962-2547.

MONTROSE/GUNNISON SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Nature Calls IN THE BLACK: The Black Canyon of the Gunnison, located in a National Park east of downtown Montrose, boasts some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock formations and craggiest spires in North America. At 2,722 feet deep and 48 miles long, the canyon welcomes hikers along its North and South Rims, as well as floaters for a leisurely 90-minute boat tour on the stretch of Gunnison River that’s part of Curecanti National Recreaton Area. nps.gov

The Bridges Golf & Country Club

NICKLAUS DESIGN created the stunning course at The Bridges Golf & Country Club in Montrose. Spanning

5,380 to 7,207 yards, the classic layout incorporates abundant native plantings, natural arroyos, canals, rock features, waterfalls and views of the San Juans. The Bridges offers on-premises lodging in one of four plush suites ($100-175), fitness center, glorious dining at the CAGGY Award-winning Remington’s Restaurant and concerts throughout the summer, including a June 30 fundraiser featuring Lonestar. bridgesmontrose.com

Gunny Game THE GUNNISON River briefy forks as it passes

through downtown Gunnison, creating the “two rivers” that give Dos Rios Golf Club its name. Water plays into all but one hole on snug, well-conditioned, tree-lined layout that stretches between 4,593 and 6,512 yards, placing a premium on accuracy and shotmaking. The recently expanded Dos Grill is the perfect place to recount the round over a burger and beer. dosriosgolf.net

MERE STEPS separate the Water Wheel Inn from

the first tee at Dos Rios, making it a great stay-and-play option. The 52-room lodge also puts you close to Hartman Rocks, Gunnison Valley Observatory, mining ghost towns like Gothic, and the perpetual party that is Crested Butte. waterwheelinnatgunnison.com

THREE RIVERS Resort between Gunnison and Crest-

Dos Rios Golf Club

COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

ed Butte offers a nightly seven-mile Float N’ Dine down the river to Gunnison’s popular Garlic Mike’s Restaurant, which provides a fabulous meal and a voucher for up to $35 per adult and $10 per child. garlicmikes.com

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UTE IS SERVED: Montrose’s Ute Indian Museum, which since 1956 has celebrated the history and culture of Colorado’s longest continuous residents, just got better. After a three-year renovation, the museum reopens June 10, 2017 with a new building and exciting exhibitions highlighting Ute cultural survival, political self-determination, economic opportunity and celebrations. historycolorado.org coloradoavidgolfer.com

MONTROSE/GUNNISON SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

The Links at Cobble Creek

WATER COMES into play on all but three holes at The Links at Cobble Creek in Montrose, giving the 6,970-yard

layout character and challenge. The water in the 10 catch-and-release lakes also helps define the surrounding 530acre community, which features two tennis courts, access to the Rio Grande Bike Path and the completely renovated Creekside Restaurant, which reopens this month with a new chef. All Cobble Creek delivers stunning views of the San Juan Mountains. Lots range from .26 to .73 acres ($75K-$194K); homes start around $350K. cobblecreek.com

By the Numbers THE 62,844-ACRE Gunnison Gorge National

Conservation Area is home to Gold Medal trout fishing, and whitewater rafting, as well as hiking and biking on primitive trails through adobe badlands and sandstone canyons. Test your skills on the expert-level single-track Sidewinder Trail that snakes 20 miles through the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cavernous western flank. visitmontrose.com

1000 FEET of sustained Uncompahgre River flows

through Montrose Water Sports Park, attracting everyone from leisurely waders to kayakers practicing runs with natural obstacles. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a spectator area, skate park and picnic area. cityofmontrose.org

THREE CRAFT breweries now call Montrose home:

Horsefly, Colorado Boy and 2 Rascals. Horsefly, the oldest, serves its popular Tabano Red with superb pub fare at its original Main Street location, Montrose Airport and Black Canyon Golf Course. Colorado Boy dishes up pizza, while 2 Rascals is more of a brewery/tap room in a historic building. visitmontrose.com

SEE 3,000-YEAR-OLD sacred iconography on a

docent-led Archaeological Tour of Shavano Valley Ute Petroglyph Site. visitmontrose.com COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

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Gunnison Gorge

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Montrose, Colorado

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With jaw dropping views of the majestic San Juan Mountains, Cobble Creek is a golfing experience you will not forget. Rated by golfers as “Best in the Valley” five times, our 6,982 yard, par 72 course offers a challenging venue for the low handicap golfer. Our wide fairways and ample greens provide the occasional golfer a great experience as well.

Our full service on-site restaurant is open for dinner featuring wood fired pizza, steak, seafood, pasta and more . Visit the Creekside restaurant for a look at our

complete menu. The Tavern features all of your grilled favorites and a classic bar menu. Located in the Clubhouse, it is always open for lunch or to grab a quick snack or beverage on the turn.

Thinking of relocating to God’s Country? Cobble Creek is the premier residential golf community in Montrose with available homes ranging from low $200’s to $700’s and home sites from the mid $30’s to $80’s. We can build your dream home to your specifications.

TEE TIMES: Golf Pro-Shop (970) 240-9542 | ONLINE: cobblecreek.com CREEKSIDE RESTAURANT: (970) 249-5915 | ONLINE: creeksidecobblecreek.com REAL ESTATE: cobblecreek.com or call (970) 964-4947

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Fly Fishing

Rollingstone Ranch Golf Course

TUMBLING DOWN the flanks of Mount Werner with views of the Flat Tops Wilderness and Yampa Valley, Robert

Trent Jones Jr.’s design at Rollingstone Ranch Golf Club has set the standard for mountain golf since it debuted as the Sheraton Steamboat Golf Club in 1974. Open to the public, the spectacular 6,920-yard course remains part of the luxurious Sheraton Steamboat Resort, which offers sweet stay-and-play deals in addition to pampering at its Rocky Mountain Spa and dining in the Saddles Bar and Grille. rollingstoneranchgolf.com; sheratonsteamboatresort.com

The ’Boat Rocks Making a Splash CASTING CALL: The same snow that makes Steamboat Springs “Ski Town U.S.A.” melts and flows into water alive with fish in the summer. Wet a line in the Yampa River. Or the Stagecoach Tailwater, Sarvis Creek, Elk River or Stagecoach Reservoir.

The area overflows with choice fly-fishing spots. For current conditions, visit steamboatflyfisher.com or steamboatspringsflyfishing.com GRAB A SOAK AND A SMILE: The relaxing 104-degree mineral waters at Strawberry Park Hot Springs bubble from a vast, elaborate network of pools. Open until 10:30 p.m. Sun.-Thurs. and until midnight Fri.-Sat., the facility features private-pool watsu massage, lodging in quirky cabins, private massage huts, tipis and picnic areas. Anything goes—with the exception of alcohol and glass, which are prohibited. strawberryhotsprings.com COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

FOR 25 YEARS, Howelsen Hill has hosted Steam-

boat Free Summer Concerts. This year’s lineup includes appearances by Tribal Seeds, Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers, The Record Company and the Wood Brothers. The fifth and final show will be September 3’s first-ever SSFSC Labor Day Festival featuring Soul Rebels and a TBA headliner. keepinitfree.com

FUN FOR kids awaits at the Coca-Cola Adventure

Zone. Activities include a bungee jump, climing wall, mechanical bull and ropes course. steamboat.com

STEAMBOAT’S CHAMPAGNE powder is rivaled

by its craft brew scene. Mahogany Ridge, Storm Peak and the Butcherknife brew their own, while the BARley celebrates locally sourced creations. For variety, hit the Steamboat Bräu Haus, which carries 100 beers (56 on tap) from around the world. steamboat.com

RATED STEAMBOAT’S best restaurant by Trip

Advisor, the venerable Cafe Diva has served the everevolving seasonal cuisine in Ski Time Square since 1998. For alfresco riverfront dining, try the highly regarded Aurum. cafediva.com; aurumsteamboat.com

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Free Summer Concerts

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ROLLINGSTONE RANCH GOLF CLUB STEAMBOAT SPRINGS

SPRING INTO LIFE

Rollingstone Ranch Golf Club at the Sheraton Steamboat Resort features one of the best golf courses in Coloradoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rocky Mountains. A spectacular 18-hole course, designed by Robert Trent Jones II, features incredible views of the Yampa Valley, while Fish Creek winds its way through seven of the holes. The 70 bunkers and large, undulating bent grass greens make this a truly championship-caliber course to be enjoyed by players of all skill levels.

For these reasons, Fairways Magazine voted Rollingstone Ranch Golf Club as one of its 100 best golf courses.

1230 Steamboat Blvd, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487 | rollingstoneranchgolf.com | 970.879.1391

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

At Home on the Range COWBOY UP: Downhill from the Steamboat Mountain Village, historic Steamboat Springs remains an authentic Colorado mountain town, featuring chili festivals, farmer’s markets, concerts and scores of shops, restaurants, art galleries and spas. If you’ve arrived via US 40, you’ve no doubt seen the signs for F.M. Light & Sons, which for five generations has outfitted all manner of cowboys, cowgirls and their families with functional and fashionable Western products. mainstreetsteamboat.com RODEO ROMANCE: The country’s most successful weekly rodeo, the Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series happens Friday nights at Brent Romick Rodeo Arena at the base of Howelsen ski jump hill. The legendary pre-rodeo barbeque runs 6:00-7:15 p.m.

The regular roster of events includes team roping, bareback riding, steer wrestling, cowgirl and junior barrel racing and the most perilous eight seconds in all of sport—bull riding. steamboatprorodeo.com RIDING HIGH: Adjacent to the rodeo grounds in Steamboat, Steamboat Springs Stable offers horseback riding on scenic mountain trails. A perfect activity for friends, families, and groups, the one- and two-hour rides ($35-$45) give you an opportunity to explore this incredibly beautiful part of Colorado the way the settlers exerperienced it—on horseback. sombrero.com

COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

Steamboat Center

Full Steam Ahead LOCATED AT Steamboat Springs Health & Recreation Center, the Old Town Hot Springs has provided a great place for families to visit in both summer and winter for more than a century. This recently refurbished multi-use complex contains eight spring-fed mineral pools, including four hot pools, one shallow pool, two slides, an eight-lane lap pool, kiddie pool with water toys, a rock wall, two outdoor tennis courts, a fitness center with classes and personal trainers, plus child care. The hot activity pool alone is 3,000-square-feet. oldtownhotsprings.org

SAVOR THE VIEWS of the Yampa Valley as you ride up Mount Werner aboard Steamboat Ski Resort’s own

eight-passenger gondola. Once up top, kick back with a cold drink on the Oasis Sundeck at Thunderhead Lodge, perched 9,000 feet above sea level, which USA Today named a “Top Spot to Dine with an Elevated View.” Or work up an appetite with a hike on the Vista Nature Trail, a one-mile loop that winds through meadows and glorious aspen stands. The gondola runs 9-5 daily June 30 to August 27, and on weekends through Sept. 24. steamboat.com

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STEAMBOAT SPRINGS SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Family Fun NEW GOLF COURSE: Maverick Mini-Golf will debut June 30 in the base area of the ski resort. The terraced course features local landmarks, such as the iconic Steamboat barn, Fish Creek Falls, Nordic ski jumps, Rabbit Ears rock formation and more. steamboat.com THRILLS APLENTY: June 30th will also see the opening of the Outlaw Mountain Coaster, North America’s longest rollercoaster at more than 6,280 linear feet. The track near Christie Peak Express descends more than 400 vertical feet, rises up to 40 feet above the ground, and features dips, waves, turns and 360-degree circles. steamboat.com Haymaker Golf Course

Making Hay in Steamboat CELEBRATING 20 YEARS as one of the top municipal courses in the country, the Keith Foster-designed

Haymaker Golf Course in Steamboat Springs rolls like a links layout, with rock walls, deep bunkers, native grasses and finicky greens inviting risk-reward decisions. Built on a former rock quarry and hayfield, the site of the 7,308-yard layout sports views of Mount Werner from numerous holes. The “signature” hole, however, comes at 16 (pictured above), a 424-yard par 4 with a spectacular view of the Yampa Valley and Emerald Mountain. Avoid “the committee,” the group of five fairway bunkers along the right side, and prepare to hit your downhill second shot over a creek to a wide but shallow green. haymakergolf.com

FIFTY MINUTES west of downtown Steamboat Springs in Craig lies the Yampa Valley’s oldest 18 holes at Yampa Valley Golf Course. The Colorado AvidGolfer Golf Passport course sidles up to the Yampa River and plays 6,583 yards through and over 240 acres of cottonwoods, wetlands, native grasses and sage. yampavalleygolf.com

Be a Member for a Day! A one-of-a-kind opportunity to play Colorado’s finest private clubs this summer!

THE CLUB AT PRADERA

Monday, JUNE 12

PERRY PARK COUNTRY CLUB

THE PINERY COUNTRY CLUB

Monday, JULY 10

Monday, JULY 24

FROST CREEK MOUNTAIN CLUB

Friday, SEPTEMBER 22

To learn about the full experience and reserve your spot, please contact Todd Hall | 720-493-1729 ext.15 | todd@coloradoavidgolfer.com

coloradoavidgolfer.com/cag-events

PRESENTED BY

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GRAND COUNTY SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Grand Elk Golf Course

Life Is Grand STELLAR STADLER: PGA TOUR and Champions Tour notable Craig Stadler drew on his wealth of experience to co-design the outstanding course at Grand Elk Golf Club. Playing between 5,598 and 7,144 yards, the heathland-style layout is characterized by a natural, occasionally rugged landscape with a more strategic eye toward bunker placement. The award-winning 18-hole course is open for daily-fee play summer into fall.

Rendezvous

THE RENDEZVOUS COMMUNITY lies just 70 miles from downtown Denver and within “50 miles of everything” in Grand County. Setting a new standard for Colorado resort living, Rendezvous serves as a base camp for its residents, who enjoy the Great Outdoors right out their front door. Experience mountain biking and hiking onproperty, as well as fishing on Mary’s Pond. Venturing off the property residents can go white water rafting, rock climbing, horseback riding and shopping in nearby Winter Park.

Smart Plays CALLING ITSELF “Mountain Bike Capital, USA,”

Winter Park has more than 600 miles of marked and mapped mountain biking trails with even more winding throughout the Fraser Valley. Whether pedaling single tracks or back country trails visitors of all ages and abilities can ride to their heart’s content.

MORE THAN 1,000 miles of streams, 1,000 acres

of high mountain lakes and 11,000 acres of reservoirs in Grand County make it possible for you to fish in new places for years to come. Grand Lake is home to rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, mackinaw, and kokanee salmon.

WATER WORLD: No more than 30 minutes away

Grand Lake

COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

from Rendezvous, Grand Lake, Lake Granby and Shadow Mountain Lake are great places to swim, kayak, canoe, paddleboard, sail, or go pleasure boating.

Founded in 1901, Grand Lake Yacht Club is one of the West’s oldest clubs.

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ROCK STARS: Tucked into 416 square miles, Rocky Mountain National Park has some of America’s finest photogenic eye candy. From its serene wetlands and sweeping grassy valleys, to the grandeur of Longs Peak towering to 14,259 feet, it’s ready to take your breath away. Park Rangers are poised to lead you on hikes or photography walks, sharing their vast knowledge of this iconic place. coloradoavidgolfer.com

GRAND COUNTY SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Grand Lake Golf Course

Pole Creek Golf Course

THE ONLY 27-HOLE golf facility in Grand County, Pole Creek Golf Course in Tabernash features three nines

conceived by Dennis Griffiths, who incorporated existing lodgepole pine, valley meadows, sagebrush and a variety of water hazards—including five lakes—to create a diverse experience appealing to a range of golfers. The Ranch and Meadow nines wander through lush fields with spectacular views of the Continental Divide, while the scenic Ridge nine features dramatic elevation changes and qualifies as the most challening of the three nines. polecreekgolf.com

Grand Ideas Making It Grand BEAT THE BEETLES: Thanks to the cursed mountain pine beetle, lodgepole pine-lined fairways no longer define Grand Lake Golf Course. However, this glorious Dick Phelps-designed layout now has even better mountain views and remains the quintessential Colorado golf experience, with rolling fairways and subtle greens surrounded by pines, aspens, native flora and the occasional moose and fox. grandlakegolf.com LODGEPOLE LODGE: Listed on the National Register for Historic Places, the 97-year-old Grand Lake Lodge was constructed of lodgepole pine logs and has retained its rustic elegance. The lodge’s deck, called “Colorado’s Favorite Front Porch,” overlooks downtown Grand Lake and the state’s largest natural body of water. The lodge’s outdoor pool, upgraded cabins, fine restaurant and prime location make booking ahead a must. grandlakelodge.com COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

ORIGINALLY DESIGNED by Mike Asmundson,

with a reworking by Nicklaus Design, the 7,196-yard Golf Granby Ranch course treats you to views of the Rocky Mountains on every hole. The front nine bobs and weaves around native grasses and wetlands along the meandering Fraser River. A completely different experience awaits on the back nine, where elevation changes abound in a lush mountain valley. granbyranch.com

JAZZ IS the buzz every summer in Winter Park,

home of the 35th Annual Winter Park Jazz Festival July 15-16 on the brand-new, state-of-the-art stage at Hideaway Park amphitheater. This year’s lineup includes MAZE featuring Frankie Beverly, Brian Culbertson, Selina Albright, Marsha Ambrosius & Eric Benét and Dotsero. jazzwinterpark.com

KAYAK OR raft the newly completed Gore Canyon

Whitewater Park, a $1.7 million project found within steps of the popular Pumphouse Campground and recreation area outside of Kremmling. co.grand.co.us

MOOSE-SPOTTING is a favorite pastime in Grand County. Prime locales are the outlet of Grand Lake, Kawuneeche Valley and Berthoud Pass.

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Golf Granby Ranch

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Greens in

GAME ON: Tom and Connor play often at The Inverness.

“It’s funny,” Tom says, “as a dad, you want your kid to beat you.”

COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

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Regulation

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JAMIE SCHWABEROW, CLARKSON CREATIVE

TOM AND CONNOR GREEN’S weekly golf games are less about keeping score than about forging a filial bond. By JON RIZZI

ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO, news anchor Tom Green and his 14-year-old son Connor—then members at The Club at Pradera in Parker—seemingly had the course to themselves. Through the first six holes they hadn’t seen another golfer.

Arriving on the elevated tee of the par5 seventh, the pair noticed a lone player on the left side of the split fairway. He foozled his approach shot and immediately hurled his club in the same general direction—along with a voluble string of profanities that floated up to the teeing ground.

“Connor and I looked at each other and started laughing,” Tom remembers. “Then the guy drops a ball and shanks another one and starts cursing again—and we can hear every f-bomb very clearly.”

Sensing a teaching opportunity, father turned to son: “Always act like somebody’s watching. Because somebody usually is.”

Over the course of the past three decades millions of Coloradans have watched Tom Green—first as a sports anchor on NBC and ABC, and then as the news anchor on “Daybreak” for Channel 2 KDVRTV. But after 17 years of waking up at 2:30 a.m., the affable, popular Green decided to hang up his lavalier. “When I was sleeping I thought I should be awake,” he says. “And while I was awake, all I could think about was going to sleep.”

He rose for his last “Daybreak” on May 19, and colleagues such as former 31 newscaster Ron Zappolo and co-host Natalie Tysdale roasted him at a Comedy Works fundraiser the following Wednesday.

In between, on what would also have previously been a “school night,” the 7-handicap emceed the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame’s annual induction ceremony.

“Zap (Ron Zappolo) once told me, ‘Don’t leave without making sure you have a plan,’” Green says on the practice range at Inverness Golf Club. “That’s what he did when he left in 2013. I appreciate his advice, but I’m like, ‘Whatever.’”

Green is flip but honest about lacking a coloradoavidgolfer.com

plan, though he hints at having a few irons in the fire. For now, no contract means more time with wife Kathy—whom he married in 2011 and earlier this year resigned after three years as Governor John Hickenlooper’s communications director—and watching his 15-year-old stepdaughter Rachel’s highschool lacrosse games.

And, of course, he’ll fill his days with golf, which for the past 15 years he has tried to play at least once a week with Connor, who’s now 22. They usually tee off at Inverness or Meridian golf clubs and walk instead of ride. “Golf is an unbelievably valuable way to spend time,” Tom says. “With teenagers and millenials, you’re lucky to get 40 minutes—and during that time, they’re glancing at texts or tweets. Instead, Connor and I get to spend four hours talking about girls, school, life, work. It’s our time.”

Having that kind of time originally influenced Tom’s decision to take the “Daybreak” job back in 2001.

As a “part-time single dad,” he wanted to be as much of a presence as his own father— with whom he was very close— had been to him.

“Connor was going into first grade, and I was doing sports on Channel 7.

Ultimately if I was going to stay in sports, which is an afternoon and evening job, I wasn’t going to see much of him. This way, I could be awake when he was, spend time, help with homework, do father-son things.”

After school, they’d often go to the range at Family Sports in Centennial, where Connor, with Tom as his teacher, would hit balls from the ego-boosting upper deck. In 2005, when Connor was 10, they started going to The Club at Pradera, which had just opened with Tom as one of its members.

Twice a month, Connor would take lessons

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from PGA Assistant Golf Professional Shawn Wills.

“Tom really wanted something he and Connor could do together, a familial connection,” remembers Wills, who would take his young charge to the back of the range for privacy. “Tom would come hit balls near us but only if Connor was OK with it.

When Connor hit a shot and did it right, I can still remember how proud he was of himself.” After every lesson, Connor would eagerly relay what he’d learned to Tom. Then they’d go off and play a few holes.

“What I loved about time with

Tom and Connor was that there was no intensity,” Wills remembers. “It was fun.

There was none of that tension that you get from the parents who want their kids to play college golf.”

That lack of intensity—of even keeping a scorecard—has defined their golf experience.

“Golf ’s kind of secondary to us getting together,” Connor says. “We get out and usually walk, talk and play.”

“When we play together it’s more of a cruel competition,” Tom explains. “We needle each other but we pull for each other June 2017 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER

same date as my daughter.”

Tom estimates he plays at least threequarters of his golf with Connor and some combination of Wiebe, CBS4’s Jim Benneman and Altitude Sports’ Kyle Keefe.

“Being a dad, I know that anything we can do with our kids is great,” says Wiebe.

“I know Tom for a while was nervous that Connor didn’t like golf. But I think Connor really likes playing. He played a couple of years in high school at Rock Canyon. He’s got a good golf swing. He bombs it. He doesn’t scatter it as much as he used to. He’s fun to watch.”

So are he and Tom when they’re together. At first glance, you’d be hardpressed to see a family resemblance.

Although both stand above six feet with dark hair, Connor’s flowing black tresses and beard contrast with Tom’s close crop and clean shave. Tom has the build of an NFL kicker or quarterback; Connor could protect his blind side. Tom plays TaylorMade; Connor, Titleist. Tom’s swing is silky; Connor’s explodes. Both are fundamentally sound players with sweet short games. Each is the other’s best friend.

“When you know Greenie, you automatically think his son’s going to be just like him,” says Wiebe. “They’re not opposites, but complements. Tom’s wit is quick; Connor is more the straight man, the Ed McMahon to Tom’s Johnny Carson. He doesn’t try to compete with his dad’s jokes but he’s very funny.”

“What’s really funny is if I tell Connor he should chip with a 7-iron, he ignores me,” Tom says in mock exasperation. “But if ‘Wiebs’ suggests it, Connor does it.”

Wiebe laughs. “That happens with my kids, too. But Connor’s very curious about the golf swing, and I told him, ‘Don’t be like every other kid who automatically picks up a 60-degree or sand wedge when they’re two feet off the green. Learn how

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THROUGH THE YEARS: From top, young Connor at Long Island’s Montauk Downs; the Greens at CordeValle in Northern California in 2009 and at The Inverness in 2017.

to make shots.”

Tom concedes that Mark and Connor are “geniuses” when it comes to breaking down the golf swing. “They’re my teachers.”

Some of those lessons have come during the many golf vacations Tom and Connor have taken over the years. “From Maui to Montauk,” Connor quips. Highlights include Pebble Beach (“We played on Father’s Day weekend—the coolest experience I’ve ever had,” says Connor), Spyglass, CordeValle, Long Island’s Maidstone, New Jersey’s TPC Jasna Polana and Fowlers Mill in Ohio.

“We’ve still got to do Bandon,” Tom says.

But when? They’ll figure that out—as well as numerous other things—during their daily talks or weekly rounds. They always find the time for both, even though they both currently also find themselves at a professional crossroads: Tom’s plotting life after “Daybreak”; Connor’s breaking into the restaurant business at Mama Lisa’s Little Italy in Castle Rock. coloradoavidgolfer.com

PHOTOGRAPH BY JAMIE SCHWABEROW, CLARKSON CREATIVE

COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF TOM GREEN

so hard. It’s funny, as a dad, you want your kid to beat you. I’ll give it my best, but I want him to beat everyone—especially me.”

The first time Connor did that was at age 13. He could already outdrive Tom and both remember the day at Lone Tree Golf Club that son nipped father by a shot. “Not that we were keeping score or anything,” Connor deadpans. “But we both knew.”

Another time, at Meridian Golf Club, Connor also knew when his father, after stringing together birdies down the stretch, was only one-over heading into the par-4 finishing hole. He told Tom, who had never shot even par for a round, that a birdie would do it. “That’s a foreign country to me,” Tom explains. “So on 18, I hit two good shots and had a five-foot birdie putt to do something I’ve never done.”

And? “He still hasn’t done it,” Connor says with a sigh. (Tom has also never had an ace, but he and Kathy did watch Connor jar one on the 15th at Pradera in 2010.)

Through golf, Connor’s self-confidence blossomed. “When you’re 13, no matter what you act like, you want to find something you’re good at,” Tom says. “When your friends see you hitting the ball 275 yards, they’re impressed. It validates you, gives you a sense of self-esteem. We played once at Highlands Ranch and he hit driver-gap wedge to five feet on a par 5 and made eagle.”

Another confidence-booster has been PGA Champions Tour player Mark Wiebe, a friend of Tom’s since they were paired with Dinah Shore during the Gerald R. Ford Memorial Tournament at Vail Golf Club in the late 1980s and won the event. “I don’t remember life before Greenie,” the 2013 Senior British Open champion says. “I’ve known Connor since he was born on the

PHOTOGRAPH BY JAMIE SCHWABEROW, CLARKSON CREATIVE

Connor says he regularly applies what he’s learned during the rounds he’s played with his dad. “I realize if you want to be better, you have to have patience, put in the time and the work,” he says. “The rewards follow.”

Tom also plans on putting in work on the golf course, but in characteristically irreverent fashion, he says he has no illusion of improving. To do that might require keeping score. Besides, the former sportscaster says, “I remember when Doug Moe retired from coaching the Nuggets. He said he thought he’d play more golf and get better, but he didn’t. ‘It’s like when I coached,’ he joked. ‘More Hanzlik doesn’t equal better.’”

Hanzlik, as longtime Denver Nuggets fans know, is Bill Hanzlik, a kamikaze defender Moe once jokingly described as “both stupid and amazing.” Tom did a radio show with Moe back in the 1990s, and he counts the former coach and Hanzlik among the hundreds of sports and entertainment figures he’s played golf with during his 30 years in Colorado.

His all-time favorite? Connor Green.

Jon Rizzi is editor of Colorado AvidGolfer.

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Coloradoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Funnest

COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

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Hole 1, Sanctuary

Holes

Sick of getting beaten up by lists of the “toughest” holes?

So are we. Golf is a game—and games

are supposed to be fun. To narrow a list of the funnest—yes, Merriam-Webster approves—golf holes from the roughly 4,208 in the state of Colorado, we put the question to our Facebook followers and numerous other avid golfers.

We quickly found that one golfer’s fun is another’s frustration. A “fun” hole is challenging, quirky, memorable, distinctive—a hole you look forward to playing, not one you dread.

Of course, “fun” is arbitrary and subjective, and so, perforce, are these selections. *All yardages are from back tees.

Hole 1, Meeker Golf Club

Hole 1, Willis Case Golf Course

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FOR STARTERS Hole 1, Sanctuary, Sedalia 604 Yards Par 5 With a tee so high, it makes the fairway look like a bacon strip, Sanctuary’s opening hole drops 185 to the first landing area, then descends another 60 feet to the green. Your tee ball should have a parachute.

Hole 1, Willis Case Golf Course, Denver 428 Yards Par 4 The elevated tee affords sublime mountain views and leads to a bunkered fairway that rollercoasters into the green.

Hole 1, Meeker Golf Club, Meeker 295 Yards Par 4 You want an early birdie opportunity? Not so fast. A stream cutting across the fairway empties into a pond fronting the green. As your first shot of the day, you’re asking to re-tee if you go for the green.

PAR 3s Hole 10, Eagle-Vail Golf Club, Eagle Vail 197 Yards When does almost 200 Yards play like 160?

When the tee perches 180 feet above the green. What’s fun—at least when it’s not your shot—is watching the crosswinds buffet toohigh shots like a dinghy on the high seas.

Hole 12, Haymaker Golf Course, Steamboat Springs 163 Yards The heroic carry of water and wall while avoiding the bunkers is heady stuff. The excitement continues on the green, which runs right to the edge of the wall. If the flag’s up front, it’s easy to drain your putt— in the pond.

Hole 14, Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course, Castle Rock 216 Yards Boasting fantastic views in every direction, this cliff hanger tends to amp up your COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

Hole 10, Eagle-Vail Golf Club

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Hole 3, Evergreen Golf Course

swing, which explains the catch bunker running along the ravine edge that saves shots pulled left.

Hole 3, Evergreen Golf Course, Evergreen 109 Yards Grab a wedge, point and shoot. The arrow painted on the rocks aims your wedge shot over the rocks and onto the green hidden beyond.

Hole 13, Arrowhead Golf Club

Hole 14, Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course

Hole 17, Telluride Golf Club

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Hole 13, Arrowhead Golf Club, Littleton 173 Yards The granddaddy of plunging par 3s, this cathedral-like hole has for 44 years prompted players to take shots with their cameras before their irons.

Hole 17, Telluride Golf Club, Telluride 137 Yards Hole 7, a 254-yard par 4 over water, might be a fun eagle opp, but watching your tee shot float against a backdrop of 14ers on this plummeting hole is pure bliss.

Hole 16, The Club at Ravenna, Littleton 240 Yards

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Each tee nestles along a serpentine cart path winding down, down, down to a wavy-gravy green. On your descent, though, hit a blind shot from the “betting tee” hidden along the way.

When you play CommonGround, you are supporting numerous Community & Wellness Programs such as PGA Golf in Schools, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Special Olympics, and Boy Scouts that create opportunities for kids to experience the game we love. www.commongroundgc.com | 303-340-1520 COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | June 2017

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Hole 17, The Golf Club at Redlands Mesa, Grand Junction 218 Yards Well worth the climb to the wee patch that serves as the uppermost teeing area, this surreal hole requires a precise shot to a green tucked into a amphitheater of outcroppings.

Hole 7, Harmony Club, Timnath 179 Yards The yardage is taken from the middle of the green, but it can vary from 130 to 230 yards.

The squiggle of a green is literally as deep as a football field, so the day’s pin placement can mean a difference of three to four clubs from the same tee.

Hole 5 Trinidad Municipal Golf Course, Trinidad 135 Yards

Hole 16, The Club at Ravenna

For almost 100 years, this tight hole—and the four that precede and follow it—has bedeviled and bedazzled players. The simple-looking green slopes from back to front, right to

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left, requiring a precise tee shot to hold it, let alone get near the pin.

Hole 16, Saddleback Golf Club, Firestone

PAR 4s

The verdict’s split between Saddleback’s two island-green holes, the par-3 fifth and no. 16.

But it’s the fun choice between driving the green and laying up along the fairway on the right that casts the deciding vote.

Hole 6, The Golf Club at Bear Dance, Larkspur 353 Yards

Hole 5, Trinidad Municipal Golf Course

322 Yards

The 11 bunkers in the shape of a bear’s paw so dominate this reachable hole that you almost don’t notice the wide fairway to the left.

Hole 16, Saddleback Golf Club

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Hole 7, Ballyneal Golf and Hunt Club,

Hole 15, Riverdale Dunes Golf Course,

Holyoke 352 Yards

Brighton 426 Yards

Tom Doak’s entire layout is a rollicking good time. This hole in particular requires imaginative shot-making and a cheerful acceptance of the ground game’s idiosyncrasies.

Like a B-Horror film, this water-lined left-dogleg is both frightening and fun.

Clear the sliver of fairway to reach the larger landing area and it’s nothing but good times ahead.

PAR 5s Hole 6, Four Mile Ranch Golf Club, Cañon City 563 Yards Instead of bunkers, natural mini “hogbacks” and rock outcroppings serve as hazards throughout the course. Here they form a wall in front of the big bowl of a green, creating a completely blind third shot you can’t take until hearing the all-clear bell from the group ahead.

Hole 15, Riverdale Dunes Golf Course

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Hole 6, Four Mile Ranch

Hole 12, The Divide Ranch and Club, Ridgway 613 Yards Cut as much of the corner as you can on this pine-lined dogleg left. The fairway suddenly tumbles towards the green about 100 yards out, giving the option of laying up your second shot to the top of the hill or trying getting home by catching the chute.

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Hole 12, Eagle Ranch Golf Course

Hole 12, Eagle Ranch Golf Course, Eagle 569 Yards An early redesign of this gorgeous, uphill hole shifted the green to a more approachable position, upping the fun factor immensely. You can only get on in two by avoiding Abrams Creek off the tee and on your approach.

Hole 12, Fossil Trace Golf Club, Golden 585 Yards Colossal limestone monoliths loom in the middle of the fairway and an old crane rusts in the rough, polarizing opinion about this oft-photographed hole. Those who find it goofy, probably donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t appreciate Stonehenge, either.

Hole 16, The Club at Pradera, Parker 640 Yards

Four Events. Four Unique Colorado Experiences.

Jim Engh espouses fun in his designs, which explains the presence of so many of his holes on this list. It also explains why he lived along this hole at Pradera for 10 years. This hole plummets more than 250 feet from the tips to a rippling fairway speckled with pot bunkers that narrows toward the green.

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Visit coloradoavidgolfer.com for a slideshow presentation of all 27 holes.

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll also be able to comment and add your suggestions for ones we might have missed. coloradoavidgolfer.com

AND FOR CLOSERS

Broadmoor Golf Club (East), Colorado Springs 433 Yards Par 4 An iconic hole at an iconic venue, No. 18 on the Broadmoor’s original Donald Ross layout requires a second shot over water to a slippery, sloping green sprawled in front of the grandest of grand hotels.

Cherry Hills Country Club, Cherry Hills Village 487 Yards Par 5 This cape-style finisher begs you to cut off as much of the lake as you can. Go for it.

Whether you dunk your tee ball like Tommy Bolt, hole a bunker shot à la Birdie Kim or toss your cap like Arnie after holing out, you’ll be reliving history. How much fun is that?

Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, Denver 635 Yards, Par 5 A monster of a dogleg right that concludes every CoBank Colorado Open Championship, it lets you bomb away and risk cutting the dogleg by 100 yards.

The Ridge at Castle Pines North, Castle Pines Village 390 Yards Par 4 Play it from the tips, where you can peek at the group behind putting on 17. Then bomb it over the Gambel Oak and boulders to the uphill fairway and finish strong.

Castle Pines Golf Club, Castle Pines 442 Yards Par 4 Eagles and birdies may have soared on 17 during the days of The International, but 18 is the better and more fun hole—except that it means your round at this private club is over.

Hole 18, Castle Pines Golf Club

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Blind Shot THE UNSEEN GAME

Green Day

An unusually impressive shoot THEY SAY YOU ONLY GET one opportunity to make a first impression. But what so few of us consider is that first impressions can go in multiple directions and are in play with everybody we meet. Which makes the case of Tom Green all the more special. In the short time I spent with him and his son Connor, he was courteous and engaging with the team on the shoot (when told a crewmember’s husband was a civil engineer, he joked, “That’s good, because I don’t care much for uncivil ones”). He was cognizant of the other golfers, making sure our work didn’t interrupt their games. He was affable and even helped carry my camera gear between holes. Seldom in my 20 years of professional photography have I ever had a subject do that. It really left an impression on me. He had nothing to gain by it. He wasn’t doing it to impress Connor, who’d already left for work, or any of us. It just shows what an exceptional person he is.

— Jamie Schwaberow, Clarkson Creative

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