13 minute read
The Gallery
Rizzi Gets A Hall Pass
A FAMILIAR FACE has found a new workplace. Jon Rizzi, who edited this magazine for its first 18 years before hanging up his Footjoys in May, has taken on the role as executive director of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame. “I’ve served on the Hall’s board of directors for a decade—including two years as its president,” Rizzi says. “It’s an amazing organization, dating back to 1973, that not only honors the men and women who have defined Colorado golf, but also preserves the game’s history and promotes participation by future generations.” For the 58-year-old Denver resident, it’s also a way to maintain the strong relationships he has forged in the Colorado golf community. “Plus, if you think about it,” he says, “the Hall’s mission dovetails with that of Colorado AvidGolfer. Both organizations extol Colorado golf, but whereas the magazine, a commercial enterprise, taps into an all-embracing passion for the game, the Hall is a nonprofit celebrating the transcendent few whose passion has propelled them to achieve greatness. Those include PGA Tour stars such as Dow Finsterwald, Hale Irwin and Craig Stadler; amateur champs like Janet and Kent Moore; machers like Jack Vickers, Judy Bell and Will Nicholson; a course architect like Dick Phelps; a PGA professional such as Class of 2020 inductee Russ Miller; or one of the many stellar instructors and course superintendents we’ve enshrined.” Miller, the longtime director of golf at The Broadmoor who has brought four USGA major championships to Colorado Springs, is the 140th member of the exclusive pantheon located in the east wing of the clubhouse at the Riverdale Golf Courses in Brighton. Visitors to the free space will also find a trove of memorabilia from Colorado’s rich golf history, as well as plaques listing annual award winners in the categories of lifetime achievement, distinguished service, person of the year and future famer. Coming soon: an interactive touchscreen kiosk. “We believe in celebrating excellence— past, present and future,” Rizzi says. “This applies to the inductees and honorees and also to the philanthropic contributions the Hall of Fame has made to organizations such as the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado.” Funding for those contributions largely comes from donations and sponsorships associated with the annual high-profile Hall of Fame induction dinner and golf tournament (this year’s events were to have been at Colorado Golf Club). But with the pandemic causing the postponement of the 2020 edition of these events until 2021, Rizzi and the 35-member board will fill the void through some creative initiatives designed both to raise money and public awareness of the Hall. “We’re exploring merchandising, memberships, corporate and individual underwriting and other fundraising opportunities,” Rizzi says. “Whatever we pursue has to uphold the standards to which we hold those we honor.” Kevin Hood, Columbine Country Club’s general manager and the current president of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, believes the board has the right person for the job. “In selecting Jon Rizzi, I believe the Hall has ensured its long-term viability,” Hood says. “Jon has a broad and deep understanding of the people and institutions in Colorado that form the key pillars of the local golf environment—both currently and historically. His integrity is beyond reproach, and he has the energy and creativity to address the most challenging issues.” Beyond the pandemic-related challenges, Rizzi is also focused on 2023. “That will mark the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame’s 50th anniversary,” he notes, “and we’re planning a celebration that will be every bit as momentous as that milestone event.” coloradogolfhalloffame.org
Precious Memories
WHILE IT WASN’T quite Snowmageddon, the unexpected, surprising winter-like blast Colorado got in September was a disappointing reminder that at some point soon, it will indeed be the end of the (daily) golf season. With so much happening, from COVID-19 to record-setting numbers of rounds played, summer was a dizzying blur—but we wanted to take time to acknowledge a few special events that took place on courses across the state. Although they grew up just a few blocks away from each other in Scotland, with both playing golf collegiately at Colorado State University, Adam Nelson has at best, a passing acquaintance with Martin Laird. The two have never played a round of golf together. One could say that the latter—still kicking around on the circuit with three PGA TOUR wins under his belt—has had the most notable career. But, that may have changed briefly in July—according to the National Hole-inOne Registry, the odds of one player making two holes-in-one in one round are 67 million-to-1. But at Lakewood Country Club, Nelson did just that, acing the 7th and 17th holes. “It was a super windy day, like 30 miles an hour—it was tough, but I seemed to be playing okay,” he said. “Number 7 was about 205 yards; it was heavily downwind and the pin was in the back. I hit like a chippy, three-quarter eightiron—I kept it low and it landed on the front of the green and kept on rolling up. “I think I kind of muttered the words, ‘Go in,’ and then it dropped and my friends who were playing in front of me on the eighth tee started running at me and we had a huge celebration. I texted a couple of friends and told them they’d better get down to the club ’cuz we were gonna start drinking.” As it turned out, there was no rush. A crowd gathered at the 18th green, in anticipation of celebrating Nelson’s feat (the odds of which are “only” 12,000-to-1, according to the registry), but before he could play 18, there was the matter of the 135yard 17th. On that hole Nelson said he “smashed” a 56-degree wedge. “Again, it was downwind,” he said. “It landed eight feet short, jumped just past the hole then spun back in. At that point, I think the whole course thought something was up, because you could hear the ovations everywhere...it was a little bit like being at Augusta (National, home of the Masters and its legendary roars).” If two holes-in-one wasn’t odd enough, consider that Nelson used the same ball for each— after his first ace, Nelson eschewed the tradition of taking the special ball out of play. “People asked me why I didn’t retire it after the first one; I thought about it, but I thought I would just end up losing somewhere anyway,” he said. “So I played 18 with it—which probably wasn’t the smartest move—but I managed not to lose it, so now it’s been polished up and is going into a case with the two flags from the holes.” Nelson, who said he had two previous holesin-one, both in Scotland, played Lakewood again the day after his incredible day, basically just getting gluttonous. “You gotta think that there’s a chance, right?” he said. “But alas, no holes-in-one to report, I’m afraid.”
FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS
After three-putting the 14th hole for bogey at The Ranch Country Club in Westminster in early July, Brandon Dingae’s playing partners began giving him a hard time, telling him he needed a birdie on 15 to make up for the lost stroke. He accomplished that, and more. Hitting driver on the 370-yard hole, Dingae said his tee shot “never left the flagstick. “I figured that I would be putting for eagle,” he continued. “We did not see my ball as we drove up to the green and parked behind the green to check the back bunkers and rough in case it went long—the ball was nowhere to be found so we checked the hole and my #6 Titleist was staring back at me…Pretty fun 4th before and after!”
A SWEET STROKE—AND AN EVEN SWEETER RIDE
Last, but certainly not least (particularly as it relates to continued employment), in August, Colorado AvidGolfer President and Group Publish-
er Allen J. Walters was participating in final day of the magazine’s annual Schomp BMW Cup tournament at The Country Club at Castle Pines. “After six shots on No. 1, I stepped onto the No. 2 tee box with a 7-iron,” Walters said. “It was about 178 yards to the pin and it was, without a doubt, the finest golf swing I have ever been able to deliver—it was the perfect shot.” Indeed, the ball hit the green and began rolling up to the pin… “All of a sudden,” recalled Walters, “I said, ‘Guys, that’s going in!’” In the aftermath, Walters admitted to being more nervous than he’d ever been “in my entire life.” He wasn’t the only one; Walters’ ace came on a hole sponsored by the auto company and carried a prize of a year’s lease of a fancy BMW X-7. “The kid from Schomp who was working there went, ‘I don’t know what I’m supposed to do,’” Walters said. Perhaps still in a daze, like Nelson at Lakewood Country Club, Walters continued his round playing the hole-in-one ball, at one point sending a wayward shot into some native grass off the fairway. “You better believe we did a really thorough search for it, and we found it,” Walters said. “I put it away after that.”
YOU DA MAN: Brandon Dingae (left) aced the 370-yard, par-4 15th hole at The Ranch Country Club in July. Dingae said his tee shot “never left the flagstick.” Colorado AvidGolfer President and Group Publisher Allen J. Walters (above) was more than an accommodating host at the 2020 Schomp BMW Cup tournament at The Country Club at Castle Pines—he aced the 178-year, par-3 second hole, winning a year’s lease on a vehicle from the event’s title sponsor.
DISCOVER
ONE O f c O l O r ad O ’ s b E s t c O u rs E s — t H E r I d GE
Located just south of Denver, The Ridge at Castle Pines North is an award-winning example of Tom Weiskopf’s fluent, well-proportioned layout that presents players with roomy fairways, sculpted bunkers and large, rolling greens. The Ridge is recognized by various golf publications as one of Colorado’s top golf courses. More specifically, The Ridge has been voted as the top Denver region golf course, as well as the top golf course in Colorado multiple times by Colorado AvidGolfer.
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Spring Deferred?
GOLFERS IN COLORADO and throughout the Rocky Mountain region have long circled their calendars, eagerly awaiting early February and their personal harbinger of spring, the Denver Golf Expo. However, while the dates for next year (Feb. 1214) are already on the books, as 2020 draws to a close, there’s still a great deal of uncertainty as to whether the annual event, held at the Denver Mart, will actually take place. “We’ve been following other shows, and what they are doing and how they’re doing it—if they’re doing it; there are very few shows that are even trying,” says Mark Cramer, the Expo’s Show Manager. Of course, things are in a precarious state because of the novel coronavirus. With guidelines and regulations continually shifting, it’s hard to predict what standards will be in place tomorrow, let alone in February. “We’re looking at everything that’s coming out, whether it’s from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), or the industry and association leaders, or the state,” Cramer said. “Every conference facility is patiently waiting for the state to relax the standards—which they have not. So right now, we’re pretty much between a rock and a hard place...we really don’t control our future.” At present, according to Cramer, the standards say you can’t have more than 100 people present per 11,300 square feet—“we’d have more exhibitors than that,” he said. One option would be to cut the size of the Expo, both exhibitors and attendees, to perhaps 60 percent of normal capacity—last year, even with big snowfalls on Friday and Sunday of Expo weekend, it still drew about 7,800 people. Cramer says that was down from a typical crowd of about 9,500. But regardless of the reduction size, he adds, the pandemic-mandated precautionary
measures would be massive. “First-aid stations; having some way to check the temperature of everyone who comes in for possible fever and not allowing them to come in; sanitation stations all over the place; having masks available for anyone who comes in without one—so on and so forth,” Cramer said. Then, just as golf courses across the state have had to confront throughout the season, there’s the mental anguish that comes with worrying about whether someone might contract COVID-19 as a result of walking through the door. As sizable an enterprise as the Expo is, in many ways it’s a Mom and Pop operation, run by Cramer and his wife, Lynn. “We really don’t want to put anybody at risk, and I just don't know if they’ll have a handle on this by then,” he said. “That’s the kind of people we are; people trust us, and if we decide it won’t be good enough, or if it would jeopardize people or the brand...we’re not going to make some panicked decision for the sake of $20,000... “Even if it were the full amount that we’d normally make, we just feel there’s too much responsibility to the golf industry and the people here to try and do something that might put folks at risk...I think you can tell where I’m leaning with this…” Cramer says he probably won’t make a final decision until some time in October, and although he started cutting expenses and overhead at the onset of the pandemic, right now things are progressing as if the show will be taking place, with exhibitors securing their spots, ads being purchased and produced, etc. But for now… “It’s not just us; it’s worldwide, with people losing their businesses and their livelihoods, Cramer said, “but it’s really just a mess.” denvergolfexpo.com
Vote Early, Vote Often
LET’S BE CLEAR: when it comes to picking out the Best in Colorado Golf, one might expect a fair amount of ballot-stuffing to take place—after all, there’s so much to be celebrated, from the Denver Metro to the Mountains and Western Slope, it’s not surprising that folks feel passionate about making sure their voices are heard. That’s the idea behind the CAGGY Awards—Colorado AvidGolfer’s annual excursion into the best and brightest in the game across the state is an opportunity for you, the reader, to let us know your thoughts in 60 different categories, ranging from the top courses and clubs, to teachers and travel destinations. Voting for the 2021 awards are hereby opened—for the next three months, feel free to take a deep dive into your game—whether it’s played at the local muni or Bushwood Country Club. The final tallies will be published in the Spring 2021 issue of Colorado AvidGolfer.
HOLY MOLEY: Ballyneal Golf & Hunt Club in Holyoke was named the Best Front Range/ Northeast Club winner in the 2020 CAGGYS.
CGA members save up to $18 on green fees every time they play! Join today at coloradogolf.org
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