The Gallery

(Gold) Crowning Tomorrow’s Champions

FOCUS IN: Whether it’s introductory leagues for middle schoolers or fall tournaments to help high schoolers prep for their seasons, the Gold Crown Foundation offers programs for all types of golfers.

WHEN VALOR CHRISTIAN’S boys’ team won the Class 5A championship in golf last fall, it brought a smile to Brian Lee’s face; in fact, as he scrolled down the final standings, his grin got bigger and bigger. “Every year we have 10 to 12 of their players in our program; Ralston Valley finished fourth—every year they have 12 to 15 kids with us,” said Lee, the program director for the Gold Crown Foundation, the Colorado nonprofit that offers athletic and enrichment programs to almost 20,000 youth annually. While Gold Crown is synonymous with basketball and volleyball, hosting hundreds of tournaments and leagues in its fieldhouse in Lakewood, golf is quickly making a name for itself as well. “It’s really been starting to gain traction the last five or six years,” Lee says. “Kind of the way our youth basketball programs have become feeder systems for the area’s high school programs, our golf programs have become feeders for some of the top high schools—it’s really cool to see the impact we’re having.” And, as is the case with hoops, the opportunities to join in the fun are ubiquitous, with programs running throughout the spring, summer and fall—according to the foundation, 31 high school teams participated in their “Back to School” series, comprised of four weeks of nine-hole tournaments played at courses in the metro Denver area and open to individuals or “high school players looking for extra tournaments, or for JV programs that do not have a league to play in.” There are also similar middle school programs for sixth to eighth graders; overall, in 2020, officials say they offered “opportunities” to more than 500 players. “I love that we continue to fill niches and voids,” Lee said. “Because of COVID-19, we noticed the girls’ season was getting off to a bit of a late start this year, so we created a little four-week program so that they would be able to get out and knock a little bit of the rust off before they got started with their schools and they could enter their tryouts with some confidence. “It’s about giving them opportunities and helping them achieve whatever goal they have in the sport, whether it be just picking up the game and just being able to play with their friends, or to make their high school team, or maybe take that next step and play in college.” Lee spent some time working for Troon Golf and playing on some of Arizona’s mini-tours before moving to Colorado in 2012. After a stint at The Ridge at Castle Pines Golf Club, he joined Gold Crown in 2015, continuing to feed an itch that started after getting the bug as a seventh-grader. He eventually became proficient enough to earn a scholarship to the University of Nevada-Reno, but lost it when (perhaps in a bit of foreshadowing, given his current employer) he injured an ankle playing in a basketball league. “I was actually playing with my Dad,” Lee said. “It was a bad decision, but it led me to where I am today, and so I really wouldn’t change anything.” Speaking of COVID, another benefit of Gold Crown was, with all the grownups hogging all the tee times at courses throughout the area, there was a haven for youngsters to play. And, with spring and summer seasons burgeoning, chances are the need will be equally great this year. “And courses are actually starting to see the value of starting to cater to and build up that next wave of golfers,” Lee said. “We have great relationships with the City of Denver courses, as well as Jeffco and regionally...and all of us just love the idea of how much the game is growing—it’s a really cool bond that we’re all sharing.” goldcrownfoundation.com/golf-programs

Shuck Hoping to Blossom at Cherry Hills...

SOME SIX MONTHS after its highly-regarded pro John Ogden left to become the director of golf at Jack Nicklaus’ Muirfield Village in Ohio, Cherry Hills Country Club recently announced a replacement—Andrew Shuck. Just the seventh head pro in the prestigious club’s 99-year history, Shuck is coming to Colorado after spending more than a decade at the Charlotte Country Club. He’s also been a head pro at the Ocean Forest Golf Club, in Sea Island, Georgia and the McArthur Golf Club, in Hobe Sound, Florida. In 2017, Shuck won the Carolina PGA Section Bill Strausbaugh Award, which recognizes a PGA Professional who demonstrates exceptional character, integrity and leadership by way of teaching and mentoring other PGA Professionals, Shuck has mentored 21 former Assistant Golf Professionals who went on to earn PGA Head Golf Professional positions throughout the industry. The following year, Charlotte hosted the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship; in 2023, Cherry Hills is slated to host the U.S. Amateur for a third time—the club also held the event in 1990 and 2012. In between now and then, Shuck will help shepherd a major, multi-million dollar renovation project at the club, which includes a new clubhouse along with new kitchen and dining facilities. chcc.com

NC TO CO: Andrew Shuck worked at Charlotte Country Club before being hired as the new head golf professional at Cherry Hills Country Club (pictured here).

THE SHOT

that keeps you coming back.

...While Hanson Follows the Sun

AFTER 21 YEARS, Jeff Hanson says it’s time to trade in his snowblower, perhaps for something more aquatic in nature. After 21 years as the director of golf at the Red Sky Golf Club near Vail, Hanson is moving on, taking on the same role at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club in Florida. “I’ve always wanted to live in a warm weather climate, and this was just a great opportunity,” Hanson said. That’s not to say that there aren’t pangs of anguish at what Hanson’s leaving behind. The former director of golf at Beaver Creek Golf Club, head pro at Glenmoor Country Club and an assistant pro at both Cherry Hills and Columbine, Hanson played an instrumental role in the creation of Red Sky, from the design of the club’s Fazio and Norman courses to how the club was organized. At Red Sky, Hanson ran everything except the food and beverage services. “Being there from the beginning, developing the programming and everything...it’s been a really quick 21 years,” he said. “I just think it has such an incredible membership; two of the top-100 courses in the country...it’s hard to believe all that we accomplished there.” Even so, it’s clear how excited Hanson is with his move. Located near Jacksonville (and PGA TOUR headquarters), the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club also has a pair of courses, the Ocean and Lagoon, the latter, featuring a front nine designed by Robert Trent Jones. “It’s a family-owned business (Gate Petroleum); there’s an unbelievable hotel right on the ocean and two incredible golf courses right across the street,” he said. “It’s all just super attractive.”

CO TO FLA: After playing a major role in its design, Jeff Hanson is leaving Red Sky Golf Club (Fazio course pictured here) near Vail to become head pro at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club in Florida.

A Major Deal

WHEN IS A major championship more than just a major championship? When it empowers executive women and future leaders of the game. That’s the mission of the PGA’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship; this year’s edition is scheduled for June 24–27 at the Atlanta Athletic Club, the sixth major to be held at the facility. The tournament is held in conjunction with the KPMG Women’s Leadership Summit and an ongoing charitable initiative, the KPMG Future Leaders Program—all focused on the development, advancement and empowerment of women on and off the golf course. Another aspect of the event is a series of KPMG Women’s PGA Golf Clinics, held throughout the summer at courses across the United States. Able to meet only three times in 2020 because of the pandemic, a full slate of 12 clinics are scheduled for this year, with one set for Denver—August 30 at the TPC Colorado Golf Club in Berthoud. The clinics, founded by 27-time LPGA Tour winner Jane Blalock, are a full-day program in which participants will learn the fundamental aspects of social and business golf; there’s also personalized instruction, play and assessments from PGA Club Professionals/LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals, a keynote speaker, breakfast, lunch, and a closing networking reception. The clinic series was intentionally scheduled for late July in the hopes that COVID-19 vaccinations will have become more prevalent across the country. “It is a remarkable day of immersion into golf,” Blalock said, “and a significant opportunity to build and strengthen your company’s or organization’s relationship capital, particularly at a time when so many are anxious to return to face-toface, in person engagement.” All skill levels are welcome, from “never touched a club” to experienced players, and each group is made up of no more than eight women who are paired with the same PGA/LPGA Certified Coach for the day. Total attendance ranges from 72–96, depending on club capacities and may be limited in some markets to adhere to COVID health and safety guidelines. kpmgwomenspgaclinics.com

POWER SUMMIT: Founded by former LPGA star Jane Blalock, the KPMG Women’s PGA Golf Clinic is coming to TPC Colorado in Berthoud in August.

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Owned by the Colorado Golf Association, and designed by world-renowned architect Tom Doak, CommonGround can be found in Aurora at the intersection of Mission and Masterpiece.

Golf by Numbers

THE COLORADO GOLF COALITION, in collaboration with the National Golf Foundation and Radius Sports Group, a sustainability consulting firm focused on connecting sustainability and sports, recently released a report focusing on the economic impact of the game in the state. Here are some of the notable figures from the report, found at coloradogolfimpact.org:

$1.3 billion

The direct economic impact of golf in Colorado in 2019.

19,400

The number of jobs supported by golf in the state.

>1%

Of the state’s annual water consumption is used by golf courses, with approximately 97 percent of Colorado golf courses employing at least three or more water conservation measures.

33,061

The number of acres of green infrastructure at courses devoted to wildlife habitat and improved quality of life.

$35.6 million

The amount raised at Colorado courses for charities like The First Tee and PGA REACH.