CASE KEENUM: THE BRONCOS’ 2-HANDICAP QUARTERBACK
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JACK DANIEL’S TENNESSEE RYE
CONTENTS | Fall 2018
11
FEATURES
80 Three the Fun Way 80
DEPARTMENTS 6 Forethoughts
Jack Vickers, a Lion of a Gentleman
84 The Case of the
SIDE BETS 27 Fareways
Boulder County’s Chimera, Corrida,
By Jon Rizzi
Busaba, Acreage and Gastronauts. By Gary James
8 ’net Score
30 Getting Home
10 The CGA
Stoking the Members. By Ryan Smith
tournament can be your home too at Heron Lakes at TPC Colorado. By Martin Yaeger
11 The Gallery
32 Nice Drives
Savoring our season and new website.
Web.com Tour at TPC Colorado; Junior Americas Cup teams; Colorado PGA winners; Colorado Open champs; more.
92 Blind Shot
The home of a new Web.com Tour
The 2018 Lexus LS500 F Sport and 2019 Acura RDX SH-AWD A-Spec By Isaac Bouchard
The Comeback of Cornerstone Club
Special Sections
PLAYER’S CORNER
34 OLD-SCHOOL COOL
17 Lesson
Noodling Your Slice. By Alex Fisher
20 Lesson
Chip Away at Scores. By Bryson Hotchkiss
22 Gear
Knuth Golf’s High Heat 257+ line. By Jon Rizzi
24 Fashion
Dress for Climate Changes By Suzanne S. Brown
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
The perky par-3s of Mountain Shadows, Li’l Wick and Seven at Desert Mountain. By Jon Rizzi
2-Handicap Quarterback Can Case Keenum move the Broncos down the field the way he moves a golf ball down the fairway? By Sam Adams
88 Northern Irish Eyes Are Smiling
The Open Championship’s return to Royal Portrush shines a light on one of golf’s most desirable destinations. By Tom Mackin
Tubac Golf Resort & Spa, The Hermosa Inn and Rancho Mañana Golf Resort drip with history, intimacy and charm.
39 2018 TRAVEL GUIDE
41 pages of best bets in Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah.
ON THE COVER Tubac Golf Resort & Spa, hole 9, Anza Course: Photograph by David Fox. Case Keenum inset: Photograph by Ben Barocas
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Colorado AvidGolfer (ISSN 1548-4335) is published eight times a year by Baker-Colorado Publishing, LLC, and printed by American Web, Inc. Volume 17, Number six. 7200 S. Alton Way #A-180, Centennial, CO 80112. Colorado AvidGolfer is available at more than 250 locations, or you can order your personal subscription by calling 720-493-1729. Subscriptions are available at the rate of $17.95 per year. Copyright © 2018 by Baker-Colorado Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Postmaster: Send address changes to Colorado AvidGolfer, 7200 S. Alton Way #A-180 Centennial, CO 80112. The magazine welcomes editorial submissions but assumes no responsibility for the safekeeping or return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, artwork or other material.
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We’re Called
Forethoughts
“SUPER”
A Lion of a Gentleman
for a Reason Neither hail...
before
after
Nor wind...
PHOTOGRAPH BY MIC CLIK
Nor winterkill...
before
after
Shall keep us from letting you enjoy your round. Here’s to another great year of keeping Colorado golf green!
GCSAA
Rocky Mountain Chapter
AS THIS ISSUE went to press, two events prompted me to rewrite my initial column: Tiger Woods’ electrifying victory in the TOUR Championship, and the passing of Castle Pines Golf Club founder Jack A. Vickers at the age of 93. The two obviously have nothing to do with each other, but the coincidence brought me back to early 2007, a little less than three years before Tiger tripped over his feet of clay. Back then, Woods had “a headlock on the golf world,” as Contributor Kaye W. Kessler put it in these pages. That meant that anywhere that Tiger went, up the Nielsens were sure go. And since Tiger hadn’t gone to The International at Castle Pines for seven straight years, Jack Vickers’ glorious 21-yearold event became vulnerable. PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem proposed a September date change that Mr. Vickers believed would likely bring about the extinction of his tournament as he—and we—knew it. So, instead of competing with the Buffs and Broncos, Jack Vickers regretfully pulled the plug on The International, but in doing so he demonstrated quintessential class. After the announcement, he returned to The International’s offices. “It must have broken his heart, but he went around and met with each person individually,” remembers then-staffer Kevin Laura. “He had more than two hours of one-on-ones.” In the wake of such dissing and disappointment, Mr. Vickers never aired his grievances publicly. He remained the pillar of his club and a benefactor to the Colorado community. Building off the youth charity event he’d staged in conjunction with The International, in 2008 he launched the Jack A. Vickers Invitational, a fundraiser that generated more than $6.5 million over the next 10 years for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver. In recognition of these contributions, the Jack A. Vickers Boys & Girls Club opened in 2013. And during the following year’s BMW Championship—the TOUR’s first Colorado event since the 2006 International—Commissioner Finchem presented Mr. Vickers with the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award amid a roomful of golf luminaries. Among the speakers was Ernie Els, who made his U.S. debut at The International. He articulated what that invitation meant to him, but more important was what Mr. Vickers imparted to the young South African about being a gentleman and representative of the game. Mr. Vickers lives on in Castle Pines Golf Club, which remains one of America’s top courses. His considered involvement with his dear friend Jack Nicklaus on its original design and recent renovation speaks to his devotion. He ran the club his way, taking the best practices of Augusta National and the many clubs to which he belonged and cultivating a national membership that would uphold and respect the traditions he held dear. Yet he also knew when to break with tradition. To give The International added buzz, he eschewed the standard stroke-play format in favor of what he called “a refreshing format that combines a touch of the late-lamented match play and a large helping of a system created over a half-century ago in England by Dr. Frank Stableford.” The Modified Stableford System was thus tradition with a spin. It got players’ attention and created thrilling golf. Mr. Vickers treated members royally, with more than enough personnel to minister to them. In turn, he and the members took good care of the staff, leading to astonishingly low turnover by club standards. “If we came in and worked hard and we adopted Jack and (his wife) Cally’s vision, we became family,” said General Manager Keith Schenider, whose tenure at Castle Pines began when the club opened 37 years ago. “Everyone at Castle Pines loved Jack Vickers,” Jack Nicklaus posted in a Facebook tribute. For my part, I can say with certainty that a great many people outside the club’s gates also shared in that affection. — JON RIZZI
rmgcsa.org #thankasuperintendent COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
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IN MEMORIAM
Jack A. Vickers 1925-2018 \
Entrepreneur, philanthropist and a true champion of golf and community
PHOTOGRAPH BY RICH CLARKSON, CLARKSON CREATIVE
The staff and contributors of Colorado AvidGolfer salute your rich life and enduring legacy.
’net Score INFO | BLOGS | DIALOG
Coming Soon! Hit ’em With Your Best Shots WE’VE HAD a historic 2018 event season—from the Schomp BMW Cup at Ravenna, to the summerlong Tournament Series presented by Michelob ULTRA to our best Cordillera Golf Experience to date. But just because the leaves are falling and the days are growing shorter doesn’t mean you can’t relive your favorite Colorado AvidGolfer moments from another perfect mile-high golf season. All of our photos from our 2018 events are available for download on our SmugMug page. You’ll find pairings photos, in-round action and some of the best landscapes in Colorado golf. Didn’t get the chance to participate in one of our events? Head to coloradoavidgolfer.com/events for more information on the 2019 schedule to plan your next golf adventure! Relive the fun here: coloradoavidgolfer.smugmug.com
2018 HAS BEEN a year of change and steps forward here at Colorado AvidGolfer, and we’re not done yet. We’ve taken our first steps into video production with the Michelob ULTRA #GetGolfFit Series with Jason Witczak and Elizabeth Carpenter…We’ve modernized and localized our flagship event, the Schomp BMW Cup… We’ve radically changed how you can buy and share the Golf Passport… Now we have our biggest announcement to date. We’re rolling out a complete, expansive website redesign! Built for YOU, our members and readers, the new ColoradoAvidGolfer.com will launch in November to coincide with the 2019 Golf Passport unveiling. We’ve spent the past year learning from you at our events and focus groups, as well as by parsing our digital data to see exactly what you want out of your CAG experience. We hear you loud and clear. You want a new, exciting experience to invigorate your love for the game. You want a streamlined and seamless way to register for events and purchase your Golf Passport. Above all, you want the best content in golf, travel and lifestyle in one place. It’s going to look different—very different—from what you’re used to. More importantly it’s going to work better for our members and readers, bringing the content you’ve grown to trust for the past 16 years into the future to change the way you learn about the game and lifestyle you love. The NEW ColoradoAvidGolfer.com unveiled in November 2018.
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COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
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HERE ARE 36 REASONS WE MAKE CARE BETTER. WE HAVE 1,200 MORE. Our 1,200+ Permanente Medicine doctors are here for you, serving Kaiser Permanente members at 31 medical offices and at our plan hospitals across Colorado.
In our collaborative environment, Permanente Medicine physicians lead care teams across 46 specialties. We deliver innovative care that is backed by the latest research and evidence, and supported by advanced technology. Our doctors deliver compassionate, respectful care that meets your individual needs.
Congratulations to all of our Permanente Medicine physicians who have been recognized as 5280 Top Doctors. Anesthesiology Matthew S. Koehler, MD Keri J. Propst, MD Child Abuse Pediatrics Jennifer N. Kelloff, MD Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Laurent Lewkowiez, MD
Hematology Alexander R. Menter, MD Internal Medicine Frank Becky, MD Lynn L. Rooney, MD Interventional Radiology Stephen P. Johnson, MD Maternal & Fetal Medicine Morgan L. Swank, MD Medical Oncology Alexander R. Menter, MD Neuroradiology Sirisha Komakula, MD Neurology Heidi Ray, MD Nuclear Medicine Eric K. Bode, MD Obstetrics & Gynecology Jody L. Gibson, MD Orthopedic Sports Medicine Tyler L. Skaife, MD
Dermatology Elisa S. Kapler, MD Diagnostic Radiology Barry A. Schoelch, DO Emergency Medicine Ryan Paterson, MD Family Medicine Deborah Fromm, MD Daniel P. Jones, MD Micheline Kuhr, MD
Geriatric Psychiatry Jennifer Osborne, MD Gynecologic Oncology Margrit Juretzka, MD
Learn more at kp.org/Colorado
That’s how we help you thrive.
Orthopedic Surgery Timothy R. Muratore, MD Otolaryngology Gary L. McDonald, MD
Pediatrics Sorenna Kirkegaard, MD Sarah Beth Van Scoy, MD Pediatric Anesthesiology David Barclay, MD Pediatric Radiology Brian Bagrosky, MD Plastic Surgery Edward T. Melkun, MD Pulmonary Disease Kristy Bauman, MD Radiation Oncology John Christopher Sohayda, MD Rheumatology John-Paul Morfin, MD Sleep Medicine Walter D. Conwell, MD Sports Medicine David C. Gerhardt, MD Surgery of the Hand Christopher Jockel, MD Urology Justin Green, MD
The CGA SERVING ALL COLORADO GOLFERS
From partner discounts to travel deals to co-ed events, the CGA provides benefits of belonging. The CGA is also serving its members through the CGA Member Zone, a free resource to all members with an active GHIN handicap. CGA members receive unique deals and discounts from local and national companies, a rotating array of golf and travel offers, as well as numerous business and sponsor benefits from its partners, many of which donate back to CGA programs. Current CGA Member Zone partners include Hotel Engine, Avis/Budget, Office Depot and Sassy Caddy. This fall, the CGA will provide discounted tickets to select Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets games. The Member Zone also provides access to USGA resources including GHIN score posting and handicap course calculations, posting and recognizing member hole-in-ones and viewing a CGA event calendar. To provide input or to become a partner providing Member Zone benefits, contact CGA Managing Director of Development and Communications Ryan Smith (rsmith@coloradogolf.org; 303-974-2108).
The CGA concluded its 3rd Annual Bandon Dunes Dream Golf Vacation Raffle. This fundraiser for the CGA’s Solich Caddie and Leadership Academy raised more than $34,000 for its chapters at CommonGround Golf Course, Meridian Golf Club and Tiara Rado and Lincoln Park golf courses in Grand Junction. This year’s lucky winner was Murphy Creek Golf Course member Rich Winters (above). Rich has lived in Denver many years on two different occasions, but he also lived in Oregon for a time. Recently retired, he and his guest are looking forward to their twelve-round, three-night stay donated by Bandon Dunes, one of the world’s premier golf destinations. In 2019, the CGA will expand its “Dream Golf Vacation Raffle.” Keep an eye out for more grand-prize destinations, as well as more Colorado golf course prizes to expand our organization’s support for junior golf programs in the state.
© 2017
WITH THE UNIFICATION of the Colorado Golf Association and the Colorado Women’s Golf Association eight months complete, the newly combined organization continues “to look at how we can support the 60,000 dedicated members who belong to Colorado golf facilities and comprise more than 650 active men’s and women’s clubs,” said CGA Executive Director Ed Mate. In 2018, the CGA surveyed its members in order to identify unique opportunities for benefits. “One thing we consistently heard is that members are seeking new events to participate in,” Mate said. “We will therefore look to provide new ways for men and women at all skill levels to play golf together in social and competitive environments.” One of the first co-ed events was September’s CGA Fall Duet Duel at CommonGround Golf Course. Open to 96 male and female CGA members of all ages, this two-person net shamble featured food, prizes and awards for first, second, third and last places.
Bandon, Dude!
Owned by the Colorado Golf Association, and designed by world-renowned architect Tom Doak, CommonGround Golf Course lies at the intersection of Mission and Masterpiece. Photo: EJ Carr, ejcphoto.com
commongroundgc.com | 303-340-1520 COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
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PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF COLORADO GOLF ASSOCIATION
Stirring the Members
The Gallery NEWS | NOTES | NAMES
MEDALISTS: Cade McCoy, Walker Franklin, Dillon Stewart, Davis Bryant and captain Dustin Jensen.
Home-Course Advantage?
Team Colorado Makes History BEHIND THE STELLAR PLAY of medalist Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins and a clutch back nine by Cal McCoy of Highlands Ranch, Team Colorado won the Junior America’s Cup for the first time in the event’s 46-year history. The Junior America’s Cup—a college-style 54-hole competition featuring 18 teams of four boys from the U.S., Canada and Mexico representing their state, province or country—took place July 24-26 at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort in Anaconda, Mont. Represented by Stewart, McCoy, Davis Bryant and Walker Franklin, the Colorado team found itself in third place after two rounds, three strokes behind Mexico and one behind Utah. Individually, Stewart went into the final round in second place, three shots behind Utah’s Zachary Jones and one ahead of Mexico’s Alejandro Madariaga. In the final round, Stewart went out in 33 on the front nine. Madariaga shot an even-par 36 and Jones struggled to a 41. Then, showing the focus he’ll bring to Oklahoma State University in 2019, Stewart shrugged off a double-bogey on the par-5 10th with birdies on holes 12, 14 and 16, and a thrilling up-and-down par from behind the 17th green. “His ball was in a divot and he hit the best shot I’ve ever seen,” said team captain Dustin Jensen. “He somehow slid his wedge under the ball and got it just high enough to skid onto the green within two feet of the hole.” Stewart’s 68 (he finished as medalist with a 16-under 200) nipped Madariaga’s 69—the single stroke serving as the margin of victory between the two teams. Stewart’s teammates made that possible. Each had two of his three scores count towards the team’s total, and after going out in 36 in the final round, McCoy, came in with a 33—highlighted by birdies on 16 and 17—to shoot a 69, the DU freshman’s low round of the tournament. Bryant, playing in his fourth and final America’s Cup, finished the tournament at 3-under 213 (70-7073), and Franklin, a 15-year-old playing in his first America’s Cup, shot a 1-under 215 (73-70-72) over the three days, demonstrating “incredible composure,” according to Jensen. The victory surprised Jensen. “We knew Dillon had the individual medal won, but when I saw the Utah kid (Jones) finish birdie, birdie, birdie, I thought that was it,” he admitted. “As Dillon’s group finished, the Utah captain came up to us, but before I could say anything, he said ‘Congratulations on the team win.’ The rush of adrenaline was unlike anything I’d experienced.”
CONCLUDING JULY 27, the day after the boy’s Junior America’s Cup, the Girls Junior Americas Cup brought teams representing 18 western U.S. states, Canadian provinces and Mexico to Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen, and the original host (1964-1991) of the Colorado Open certainly showed why it remains a spectacular, course for a tournament. Amid much pageantry and sportsmanship, the Colorado team of Hailey Schalk, Lauren Lehigh, Kelsey Webster and Emma Bryant rode the support of the home crowd to a fifth-place finish, the state’s best showing since a third-place finish in 2013. Led by medalist Cory Lopez (a 2-over 212), Mexico won the tournament with a 12-over-par 642. Lehigh and Webster tied for 14th at 16-over. Schalk finished a shot behind and tied for 21st, while Bryant’s 30-over put her T48. This year’s win marked Mexico’s eighth team victory and ninth individual medalist performance. Colorado’s sole win in the event came in 1993 behind medalist Jennifer Kern. gjac.org
TPC Gets Web.com Tour Event NEXT JULY 8-14, 156 of the world’s best players will arrive in Berthoud to compete for a $600,000 purse in a debut event on the Web.com Tour—the TPC Colorado Championship at Heron Lakes. The newly opened TPC Colorado course, located between Boulder and Fort Collins, reached a five-year agreement with the Web.com Tour that runs through 2023. “This is our marquee development project and we think it’s the perfect stage for this event to showcase Colorado to the world,” said Jon Turner, the owner of Heron Lakes Investments and developer of TPC Colorado. The tournament marks the state’s first Web. com Tour event since Riverdale Dunes in Brighton held the Colorado Classic in 1996 (won by Stewart Cink) and 1997 (Pat Bates). To date, Web.com Tour alumni have won 500 events on the PGA Tour. Tournament Director Drew Blass says he plans “to make the TPC Colorado Championship at Heron Lakes the premier stop on the Web.com Tour.” TPCColoradoChampionship.com coloradoavidgolfer.com
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Fall 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
The Gallery
Senior High FOR THE FIFTH TIME in the last six years, a senior player won the Colorado PGA Professional championship. Pat Reidy, 52, of Inverness Golf Club shot a 1-over-par 217 on the new TPC Colorado course in Berthoud, surviving a final-round triple-bogey on the 772-yard 13th, to capture his first Section title. He follows John Ogden (2017) and Doug Rohrbaugh (2013, ’14, and ’15) as senior players who have recently won the trophy. Finishing second, two shots behind Reidy were Rohrbaugh (56 years old) of Snowmass Club, Sherry AndonianSmith (55) of Valley Country Club and youngbloods Dustin Miller of Black Bear and Remington Post of The Raven at Three Peaks. Those five will join sixth-place finishers Eric Bradley (Black Bear), Caine Fitzgerald (Meadow Hills) and Alexandra Braga (Denver CC) in advancing to National PGA Professional Championship April 28-May 1, 2019 at Belfair in Bluffton, S. C.. Andonian-Smith and Braga will be the first women players to represent the Colorado PGA at the championship. coloradopga.com
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
Leaders in and out of the Clubhouse EVERY YEAR THE PGA of America singles out one of its 41 Sections for extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in the area of player development and growth-of-the-game initiatives on both a local and national level. The highly coveted distinction is called the Herb Graffis Award, and for the second time in eight years, the 800-member Colorado PGA Section has won it. Led by Section President Ty Thompson, the Colorado PGA has made tremendous strides in player development through dynamic programs geared towards youth development, supporting our military, and diversity and inclusion. The Section’s Golf in Schools program, a joint effort between the Section and the Colorado Open Golf Foundation begun in 2011, has introduced the game to more than 10,000 school-age kids each year in gym class and become a nationwide model. The Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado—a partnership the Colorado PGA initiated with the Colorado Golf Association and the Colorado Women’s Golf Association—serves as the resource for parents, kids, coaches and PGA Professionals by streamlining the junior golf process, building the youth golf ranks and creating new excitement with four major championships. PGA Junior League continues to thrive with participation from more than 2,000 boys and girls aged 13 and younger. The Colorado PGA’s PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) program has expanded to seven chapters using golf as a rehabilitation tool to help veterans assimilate back into society. The Section hosts the annual Colorado PGA REACH Invitational, awarding a Combat Wounded Veteran a debt-free home through its partnership with the Military Warriors Support Foundation. The Section has partnered with the U.S. Olympic Committee’s F.L.A.M.E (Finding Leaders Among Minorities Everywhere) to introduce the game to minority college students by creating a culture of inclusiveness and demonstrating golf as an affordable, accessible game for all. This only describes part of what the Colorado PGA Professionals do to make a difference in the lives of others. As Colorado PGA President Ty Thompson says, “Every now and again I have to take a moment so I can process all that the Colorado PGA Professionals do to serve our local communities and grow the game of golf.”
Dan Sniffin
Ty Thompson
Jeff Hanson Stuart Bruening Erin Diege
Winners’ Circle ON NOVEMBER 2 at Colorado Golf Club in Parker, the Colorado PGA will honor 16 of its members for outstanding contributions. They are Ty Thompson of Crosshairs Consulting (Golf Professional of the Year); Dan Sniffin of Omni Interlocken Resort (Teacher of the Year); Stuart Bruening of The Golf Club at Bear Dance (Bill Strausbaugh Award for mentorship and service); Kyle Heyen of Hiwan Golf Club (Warren Smith Award for outstanding contributions to golf); Ben Welsh of Frost Creek Club (Horton Smith Award for developing education programs for PGA professionals); Erin Diegel of Legacy Ridge Golf Course (Youth Player Development Award); Trent Wearner of the Trent Warner Golf Academy (Player Development Award); Ed Marzec of Country Club of the Rockies (Assistant Golf Professional of the Year); Jeff Hanson of Red Sky Golf Club (Resort Merchandiser of the Year); Brian Carlson of Walnut Creek Golf Preserve (Public Merchandiser of the Year); and Jake O’Dell of The Club at Flying Horse (Private Merchandiser of the Year). The Colorado Section will announce the recipients of the Charles “Vic” Kline Award, President’s Award, Dow Finsterwald OMEGA Player of the Year, OMEGA Senior Player of the Year and Apprentice Player of the Year at November’s awards banquet. coloradopga.com
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Lexi Goes Low Dru Love Conquers All DAVIS LOVE IV hadn’t yet turned 10 when his father, World Golf Hall of Famer Davis Love III, became the second player ever to win The International at Castle Pines twice. Fifteen years later, the younger Love—who goes by Dru (short for “quadruple”)—made some Colorado history of his own in July by winning his first CoBank Colorado Open at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in Denver. The Georgia native defeated Sam Saunders of Albuquerque with an eagle on the second hole of a playoff, after the two had tied for first place with a 19-under-par 197. Love’s 64 in the final round tied Saunders at 19-under 197 after the New Mexican earlier posted a scorching 12-under-par 60 to shatter the course record by two strokes. Love would not have made the playoff had it not been for a miraculous par on the final hole after driving one off a tree and hitting his second into the deep rough 200 feet out. In the low amateur competition, University of Utah senior Kyler Dunkle of Parker carded a 12-under 204, edging out Griffin Barela of Lakewood by one stroke and AJ Ott of Ft. Collins by two. The following week, Dunkle shot a 14-under-par 266 at Pinehurst Country Club to become the Colorado Golf Association’s 2018 Amateur Champion. Coloradoopen.com
RECENT UNIVERSITY of Wisconsin graduate Lexi Harkins picked the perfect time for her personal-best score, carding a 64 in the final round of the CoBank Colorado Women’s Open to capture the title by two strokes over Colorado State University senior Katrina Prendergast, the leader after each of the first two rounds. Harkins’ third-round score also established a women’s course record at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, and she did so with clutch play down the stretch. With Prendergast leading by one with three holes left, Harkins holed long birdie putts on the par-4 16th and par-5 18th, while Prendergast went par-bogey-par on the final three holes, finishing with a 2-under-par 70 and an 8-under 208 total. Harkins’ first professional victory earned her $50,000, which she also would have received had she finished second to the amateur Prendergast. The CSU star, who earlier this year won the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball (with college teammate Ellen Secor), finished six shots clear of the next closest amateur, Slovakia’s Aneta Abrahamova, and nine ahead of Secor. coloradoopen.com
experienceThe Ridge
Enjoy The Ridge’s Newest Dining Experience
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OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
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T H E R I D G E I S M A N A G E D B Y T R O O N G O L F, ® T H E L E A D E R I N U P S C A L E G O L F C O U R S E M A N A G E M E N T
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Fall 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER 3/1/16 12:08 PM
The Gallery THERE’S THE SCRUB: A Tanzanian girl learns proper hand-washing technique.
Moore Cards a 58 56-YEAR-OLD Doug Moore didn’t shoot his age at CommonGround Golf Course on August 14, but he came tantalizingly close. Representing The Ridge at Castle Pines Men’s Club in an interclub match play against CommonGround, Moore and partner Tom Locke took on Michael Mahoney and Craig Stephenson from the red/white combo tees. “It was a net tournament and Craig Got six strokes and Mike got 7 or 8,” Moore, a scratch player, explains. “And they kept making pars so I had to play well.” Did he ever. His bogey-free round included eagles on holes 3, 7 and 18, birdies on 1, 4, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13 and eight pars. That equals a smooth 58. “The funny thing is, I knew I had a good round going, but I didn’t know exactly what my score was,” Moore says. “All four of us played well. The match was close all the way to the last hole. In fact, I had to make an eagle on 18 just to halve it. We won the match, but they won the back nine.”
Clearing the Water Hazard MOST AMERICANS take clean water for granted and don’t think twice about the importance of hand washing. That’s not the case in many parts of the world. In Tanzania, unsafe water leads to the deaths of as many as 270 children daily from chronic dysentery, cholera and other waterborne diseases. Among the most perilous areas is the country’s rural Mara region, where 99 percent of the water is contaminated. Co-founded in 2013 by Boulder native Bruce Maj Pelz, the Colorado- and Tanzania-based Maji-Safi Group (“Maji Safi” is Swahili for “clean water”) has sought to remedy this public-health crisis by improving access to clean water and educating local community members—particularly women and children—on the importance of using safe water for sanitation, personal hygiene and regular hand washing. Using primarily female community health educators and a holistic, empowering and creative approach (including art, song and dance), the program has already taught more than 365,000 people how to bring these lifesaving practices into their daily routines. The organization’s biggest annual fundraiser is the Maji Safi Golf-a-thon at Lake Valley Golf Club in Niwot, where for the last two years, Pelz has joined his mother, Maji Safi’s U.S. Fundraising and Outreach Coordinator Erna Maj, and other members from the club’s 18-hole Ladies League to play as many holes as they can in a day. Last year, the group attracted 20 players and 107 sponsors who donated between 5¢ and $10 per hole (and as much as $50 per hole played beyond 500), as well as $100 per birdie and $5 for every net Stableford point. “We played our hearts out,” says Maj, who finished 54 holes before it got dark. Last year’s tally of 613 holes raised $57,566.77, an average of 30.6 holes and $2,878 per player. At press time, Maj had a 25-player field for this year’s event, which took place September 28, and expected a similar number of sponsors and profit. To become a future sponsor or for more information, visit majisafigroup.org or email bruce@majisafigroup.org.
“It was fun to watch,” Mahoney said of Moore’s round.
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winners of CoBank’s PEAK Performers Contest got to play alongside 72-time LPGA champion Annika Sorenstam at The Broadmoor’s famed East Course on August 28, playing six holes with each threesome. Having the The Broadmoor’s Director of Golf Russ Miller on her bag, made her round all the more enjoyable, especially when it came to reading the confounding greens. Among those taking part in the four-day, all-expenses-paid golf academy were two Coloradans, Sarah Abercrombie, 15, from The First Tee of Pikes Peak (Colorado Springs) and Hunter Swanson, 14, from The First Tee of Green Valley Ranch (Denver).
The competitive nature of the match meant Moore putted everything out, adding credibility to his accomplishment. “Match play is what led to the score,” Moore contends. “It’s always about the next shot and the next hole. If I were playing stroke play, it would have gotten into my head.” GREEN-READER:
Russ Miller caddied for Sorenstam.
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Congratulations to the Colorado PGA Section for winning the 2018 Herb Graffis Award.
The Herb Graffis Award is awarded by the PGA of America for exemplary contributions in the area of player development and growth-of-the-game initiatives. Š2018 GOLFTEC - The PGA name, logos, and marks are a trademark of The Professional Golfers’ Association of America.
The Gallery
U-S-A, U-S-A: World Amateur Team Golf Champions Lilia Vu, captain Stacey Collins, Jennifer Kupcho and Kristen Gillman
One Kupcho Heads to Ireland… LED BY Wake Forest University senior Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster, Team USA hoisted the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship’s Espirito Santo Trophy September 1 at Carlton House in County Kildare, Ireland. The three-woman team completed its four rounds in 29 under par—10 shots clear of runner-up Japan—in the biennial International Golf Federation competition. Kupcho’s 15-under-par 275 placed her second individually to South Korea’s Ayean Cho (17-under par). Impressively, in a field of players from 57 countries, Kupcho and teammates Kristen Gillman (fourth place individually at 12-under) and Lilia Vu (T17 at 2-under) comprised the only team with all three players under par. The international team win is the third this year for Kupcho, who played on the victorious Curtis Cup and Palmer Cup teams after having won the NCAA Tallahassee Regional and NCAA Championship as an individual. Her performance kept her atop the World Amateur Golf Ranking—a position that earned the 21-year-old phenom the Mark H. McCormack Medal from the USGA and R&A in August. The McCormack Medal exempts her into the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open (May 29-June 2) and Ricoh Women’s British Open (August 1-4). That is, if she remains an amateur.
TOPGOLFERS: Regional champs Steven Kupcho and Connor Barr.
…Another Heads to Vegas A PLAYER with a familiar last name will represent Colorado at November’s Topgolf Tour Championship in Las Vegas. Twenty-five-year-old Steven Kupcho—the 2012 Colorado Golf Association’s Les Fowler Player of the Year and the older brother of 2018 NCAA Division I champion Jennifer Kupcho— partnered with his former University of Northern Colorado roommate, Connor Barr, to win the Topgolf Tour’s regional championship held July 30 at the Topgolf in Centennial. In the final round, they defeated another former UNC Bear, Rich Lash, and his partner, 2016 Rocky Mountain Open champion Nick Mason. In the inaugural edition of the event, in 2016, Kupcho and teammate Braden Baer not only got to the Topgolf Tour Championship; they also came in second overall, barely missing out on the winner-take-all $50,000 grand prize. The prize will be the same at this year’s TopGolf Tour Championship, which will again take place November 2 at Topgolf Las Vegas, where the Colorado team will compete against 21 other two-person teams. tour.topgolf.com COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
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Player’s Corner LESSON
Take a Noodle to Your Slice An uncommon cure to golf’s most common problem. By Alex Fisher THE MAJORITY of the students who come to me want to correct a slicing issue. And well they should. A slice is the least efficient shot you could hit. It travels much shorter than a well-struck ball and its direction is almost impossible to control. One of the most common mistakes people make is aiming their feet more left of the target. But what seems like a logical approach actually exacerbates the problem. What if I told you that to avoid slicing the ball to the right, you should swing to the right? It sounds illogical, but it makes sense if you understand what causes a slice.
DISSECTING A SLICE
There are two factors in the golf swing that influence the direction a golf ball goes: the clubface and club path at the moment of impact. The position of the clubface at impact influences up to 85 percent of the ball’s flight. So, if your face and path are going in the same direction at impact, your golf ball will go straight.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRIS DUTHIE
However, if your face is square to the target and the path is going left of the target (“outside-in” or “over the top”), it imparts clockwise spin on the ball, causing it to curve right—a slice. The face and the path disagree. That’s why you don’t want to aim more left of your target. Trying to “play to your slice” creates even more sidespin on the ball.
GO TO THE OPPOSITE FIELD
To fix a slice correctly you have to make the club path travel on an inside-out swing path. Think of it in baseball terms. If your desired target is straight (second base), and assuming that your clubface is square to your target, your club path needs to travel towards first base. I know it’s counterintuitive to swing the club in the direction you are trying to avoid, but this mismatch of the face and path angle will cause the ball to draw. (Continued on page 18)
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Player’s Corner LESSON
(Continued from page 17)
DRILL: USING THE OLD NOODLE
STAY ON PLANE As you start your backswing, make sure that you miss the noodle with your club. If your backswing is too steep or if your arms get too far from your body, you will likely hit the noodle. Half way back in your backswing make sure that your hands are on top of your right toe and the shaft angle matches the angle of the noodle.
TOP OF THE BACKSWING For right-handed golfers, at the top of your backswing, your balance should favor the inside of your right foot. Our right arm dictates the shaft plane and club path in the swing. If you have a flying elbow at the top of the swing, your left arm will get too high. Getting your right elbow underneath your hands at the top of your back swing will allow the left arm to be flatter and on the same plane as your shoulders.
THE DOWNSWING (INCORRECT) The sequencing of the downswing is key to not slicing. As you initiate your downswing you have to make sure that your upper body doesn’t rotate first. Rotating prematurely causes the hands and arms to work away from the body and makes the shaft angle of the club become too steep.
THE DOWNSWING (CORRECT) Initiate the downswing with your lower body. Your lead hip bumps slightly towards the target and starts the weight transfer. Then the arms drop and the hands stay inside of your toe line. A great swing thought is to feel as if your back is to the target slightly longer and not rotating as fast as before. This is also where you will feel as though you’re swinging to the right. This will guarantee you’ll miss the noodle as the club travels on an inside path to the ball.
STICK THE LANDING A common sign of a slice swing is when you lose your balance and fall towards your toes. This happens when the club is traveling too steep into the ball and your spine angle elevates to avoid digging the club into the ground. As your swing comes to a finish, you should be able to maintain your balance because the club stayed on plane and you were able to maintain your posture.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRIS DUTHIE
SETUP A super simple way to correct a slice is to use an alignment rod and a pool noodle. Stick the alignment rod into the ground approximately four feet outside and behind the golf ball. Slide the noodle onto the alignment stick, making sure to angle the noodle the same as your club’s shaft angle at address. Set up in an athletic stance, with your weight on the balls of your feet—not on your toes, which also leads to slicing.
Alex Fisher, PGA Certified Golf Professional and Golf Digest Best Young Teacher, teaches at JW Marriott Wildfire Golf Club in Phoenix, Arizona, during the winter months and at Glacier Club in Durango, Colorado, during the summer. COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
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Player’s Corner LESSON
Chip Strokes Off Your Score Better technique around the green will improve your results on it. By Bryson Hotchkiss PRACTICING AND PLAYING with bad technique around the greens—poor chipping—probably costs most amateurs more strokes than they’d like to admit. The good news is that developing good chipping form will give you the best chance at seeing lower scores.
INCORRECT INCORRECT
1.
When chipping, you want to choke down to the bottom of the grip, play the ball off the inside of your back heel, have 60% of your weight on your front foot, toes slightly flared open to your target line and your hands slightly in front of the ball.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY EJ CARR
THE SETUP I see a lot of people chipping with the same setup they use for their full swings. They have their feet shoulder-width apart, ball in the middle of their stance and holding the club at the end of the grip like a full shot.
CORRECT
CORRECT
3. INCORRECT
2.
THE TAKEAWAY A solid setup will allow you to swing the club properly. You should be all arms and shoulders with a little rotation of the upper body around your spine. The length of your backswing should match the length of your followthrough. Too often I see people chip with a long backswing and a short followthrough. This causes inconsistent shots. You always want to accelerate through your shot.
CORRECT
THE ADDRESS You should stand closer and taller to the ball as well, with the golf ball six to eight inches from your feet. Combined with choking down on the club and putting your feet closer together, this will allow you to control the club better and result in more consistent shots around the green.
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INCORRECT
CORRECT
4.
THE FINISH These pictures show the incorrect and correct finishing positions. You don’t want your finish position with the club head ending up past your hands (top). Don’t break your wrists or move your legs. Your hands should always be in front of your club head at the finish position. This will ensure a clean and consistent strike of the golf ball.
Bryson Hotchkiss is the PGA Head Golf Professional (bhotchkiss@troon.com; 303-688-4586) at The Ridge at Castle Pines. playtheridge.com coloradoavidgolfer.com
DRILL If you have an old wedge, cut a small hole in the top of the grip and slide an alignment rod down the shaft to use as a training aid. This will force you to rotate around your body, using your arms and shoulders only to swing the club. It also forces you not to break your wrists at the bottom of the swing; if you “flip” your hands, the club will hit your side, giving you instant feedback.
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Player’s Corner GEAR
Turning Up the High Heat Knuth Golf jumps into the fire with the new 257+ line’s proprietary three-trampoline technology. By Jon Rizzi
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
of the “impact area” (aka the “sweet spot”) remained at 257 µs (239 µs with a tolerance of 18 µs), the heel and the toe could be as high as 275 µs (257 µs with a 18 µs tolerance). A clubface’s heel and toe can therefore have a greater CT than the center, meaning a potential increase in distance on off-center hits. But the major brands haven’t exploited this. Their drivers score an average CT of 242 µs in the toe, and 216 µs in the heel. In comparison, the 257+ averages 266 µs on both ends of the face, thanks to its novel trampoline-like technology created in the heel and the toe areas instead of just having one trampoline for the entire face.
amateur golfers by inventing the Course and Slope Rating Systems that's in use all over the world. That feat earned him the nickname “Pope of Slope.” Now, that he's helping amateurs with the High Heat 257+, maybe he can add the nickname “King of Clubs.”
PHOTOGRAPHS BY EJ CARR
THREE YEARS AGO, Knuth Golf’s High Heat driver made a lot of noise, and we're not talking about the resounding ping of the ball coming off its clubface. Designed by former U.S. Navy and USGA mastermind Dean Knuth, the High Heat employed revolutionary technology that resulted in greater lift, distance and forgiveness on off-center hits. Even hardboiled members of the golf press called it “a game-changer” for amateur players, and the subsequent release of a fairway metal and hybrid generated similar raves. Now Knuth has changed the game-changer with the High Heat 257+ line. The 257+ line looks different than its predecessor. Gone is the electrifying cobalt head in favor of a black one with blue trim. The patented beta titanium mirror face remains, as do Knuth’s patented Optimal CG Game Changer and Fire Zone Face technology, which help shots coming off the heel or toe, or near the crown or sole, go further and straighter when hit by amateurs who lack Tour players’ swing speed. What really sets the 257+ apart is the “3-Trampoline Technology” in the face. The 257+ takes advantage of the USGA and R&A’s 2016 decision to update the “Spring Effect and Dynamic Properties” Rule permitting a conforming clubface to have a higher Characteristic Time (CT)—that is, the amount of time a golf ball can stay on the face. The greater the CT (measured in one-millionths of a second [µs]), the greater the ball’s energy for more ball speed and distance. According to the ruling bodies, while the CT
THE TEST How much do millionths of a second matter? Testing the High Heat 257+, I found its still peals when I make contact, but intentional and unintentional mis-hits came off the titanium face hotter and traveled straighter and longer than they did with the club’s prodigious predecessor. An even bigger advantage came with the 257+ 3-metalwood and hybrid, both of which average the same 266 µs on the toe and heel—as much as 68 percent more than anything produced by the major manufacturers. Also, unlike other manufacturers, Knuth uses titanium instead of steel on the faces of the 3-metalwood and hybrid. This produced an explosive quality from these clubs—as well as a consistency of ball flight and ball speed—that I normally only experience with my driver. Back in his USGA days, Knuth first helped
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SPECIAL DEAL for Colorado AvidGolfer READERS Available only through KnuthGolf.com, the driver costs $499.99; the fairway metal, $329.99; the hybrid $257.99. Colorado AvidGolfer readers receive 15% off all orders. When ordering, simply select “Colorado AvidGolfer” in the dropdown screen. Knuth Golf’s 30-day full money back guarantee applies to this special offer. knuthgolf.com coloradoavidgolfer.com
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Š2018 Porsche Cars North America, Inc. Porsche recommends seat belt usage and observance of traffic laws at all times. European model shown. Some options may not be available in the U.S.
Player’s Corner FALL FASHION
Climate Change For chilly rounds in the high country or warm-weather resort games, golf apparel designers have you covered this season
< RAINY DAY The Shelby Packable jacket from Zero Restriction will stand up to the elements with its high waterproof and breathability rating, as well as sealed seams, waterproof zippers, adjustable Velcro cuffs, drawstring waist and stowaway hood, $245. It is shown with the silver Mae skort, $96. zerorestriction.com
By Suzanne S. Brown
WEATHER OR NOT To play in just about any conditions, pros like 2018 Women’s British Open champion Georgia Hall need to have a few key pieces to layer over their shirts and pants. Here, she wears a waterproof jacket with tonal panels, $170, over tech stretch pull-on trousers, $85, from Callaway. The seam-sealed jacket in a two-layer woven and enhanced stretch fabric has a knit lining and comes in four colors. Other pieces in the series include reversible quilted vests, $110, a quilted Thermore insulated jacket, $120, and windproof pants, $150. callawayapparel.com
<
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KNIT PICKS Looking just as good in the clubhouse as it does on the course is the Deco Grid wool and silk V-neck sweater, $195, from the fall Northern Lights Collection by Bobby Jones. It is tipped at the neck, cuffs and bottom and worn over the Ettore mélange cotton sport shirt with spread collar, $125. bobbyjones.com
< CLIMATE CONTROL A jacket to have in your bag when a sudden rainstorm hits, Zero Restriction’s Power Torque quarter zip is made of highly waterproof, noiseless lightweight fabric that is seam sealed and has molded waterproof zippers, adjustable cuffs and an interior wind flap, $215. zerorestriction.com
< LAYER IT ON Offered in a wide range of colors, the Bobby Jones raglansleeved mid-weight Crawford performance quarter-zip pullover is made of a stretchy polyester blend fabric and has a zippered chest pocket, $98.50. Sized from small to double-extra-large, it appears here with a jacquard performance polo, $69.50, and Franks Viceroy fivepocket pants in a cotton blend, $165. bobbyjones.com
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
< VESTED INTEREST When weather is unpredictable, dress in layers, such as the Bobby Jones water-repellant stretch fabric Denali full zip vest in navy blue with contrast piping, $125, worn over a Pioneer striped polo, $95. bobbyjones.com
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< MIX AND MATCH Callaway makes what to wear on the course a gimme. Its fall men’s collection features a range of polos, $65-$75, that can be worn with lightweight performance fabric pants, $80, and when temperatures drop, topped with a quarter zip, $80, or a lightweight fleece pullover with linear print, $85, as modeled by PGA Tour professional Taylor Gooch. callawayapparel.com
< SHELL GAME A golf vest or jacket should lack bulk and stretch as you swing. Peter Millar’s Turin Stretch Shower Jacket, $195, and Calgary Vest, $165, in a subtle camo print (shown over a gray quarter-zip top) are windproof and water-repellant soft shells made of a three-layer interlock fabric with a breathable polyurethane membrane. The company’s Crown Sport fall collection features the cozy Birchmont stretch mélange quarter-zip pullover in a four-way stretch jersey knit with brushed ribbed back in four colors (here is winterberry), $125. petermillar.com
< IN BLACK AND WHITE A graphic black and-white floral pattern contrasts perfectly with the lipstick red in Jofit’s fall Prosecco collection. Pieces include a keyhole polo, $84, worn with the floral print skort, $98; a striped sleeveless zip polo, $84, and skort, $84; and the raglan-sleeve mock neck floral print top, $98, with shorts, $96. The company’s signature figure-flattering pants (far right) include the cropped pants, left, $94, with a short sleeve mockneck polo, $90; and cropped flare Capri in a twill check, $116, topped with a tech cutaway polo, $84. Visors, $26, and belts, $50, come in a wide range of sizes, with printed skorts, $98, available in sizes 00 to 16. The mock neck brushed jersey top, $80, runs from double extra small to double extra large. jofit.com coloradoavidgolfer.com
CAG Contributor Suzanne S. Brown is the former fashion and features editor for The Denver Post. She also contributes to Mountain Living and Colorado Expression.
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Congratulations! The PGA of America this year recognized what we in Colorado have known for a long time…
NOBODY DOES IT BETTER than the 800 members of the Colorado Section of the PGA—the most innovative, progressive, community-minded and dedicated PGA Professionals in the country. Every day, in every way, they devote themselves to growing the game we love.
That’s why, for a second time in the last eight years, the 41-Section PGA of America has recognized the Colorado Section’s leadership role with the association’s highest honor—the 2018 Herb Graffis Award. As a proud partner of of the PGA for 15 years, Colorado AvidGolfer congratulates the Colorado Section of the PGA on this richly deserved recognition. We look forward to at least 15 more!
Colorado Section
Side Bets | FAREWAYS FOOD | REAL ESTATE | CARS
AN ASIAN EDUCATION: Chimera ‘s scrumptious Chinese Chow Fun, Korean-style Calamari and delecable Lobster Ramen.
Five-Down Territory Heading to a CU football game this fall? Instead of tailgating, hightail it to one of these five restaurants in and around Boulder. By Gary James CHIMERA
CORRIDA
Visit any college town and you’re returning to the scene of a classic culinary crime—instant ramen noodles have long been a cheap and reliable dorm-room dinner for chronically starved cashpoor students ever since Momofuku Ando invented the flash-fried version of the classic Japanese noodle dish to solve his nation’s hunger problem after World War II. Actually, ramen’s origins can be traced back to the hand-pulled noodles in the late 19th-century food stalls of Chinese immigrants in Japan; it was then adapted and differentiated by regions. Now Boulder denizens can thank Edwin Zoe (the founder of Zoe Ma Ma in Denver and Boulder) who has seen his vision for Pacific Rim cuisine realized at Chimera, on the Pearl Street Mall. In addition to Chinese Chow Fun, Korean calamari and seafood soondubu, Chimera makes a variety of Japanese-style ramen soups with broths made from scratch and its own style of artisan, rustic organic “temoni” noodles—it means “hand massaged,” making the noodle shape wavy and uneven. Alkalinity is what gives these ramen noodles their unique springy characteristic and golden hue.
The running of Ralphie, CU’s live mascot, before each half of every home game, doesn’t quite have the life-or-death drama of the running of the bulls in Pamplona. Yet Corrida (“running” in Spanish—a name inspired by the annual ritual) certainly has added excitement to the Boulder
A BULL MARKET: Corrida dishes up Wagyu Bone Marrow with green tomatoes and peaches, savored best with tapas on the restaurant’s rooftop patio.
2014 10th St., Boulder chimera.restaurant; 720-580-1100 coloradoavidgolfer.com
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Side Bets | FAREWAYS dining scene since opening in May. Located in a sleek space on the fourth floor of the old Daily Camera building on Walnut Street, this Iberian steakhouse serves up unimpeded views of the Flatirons along with delicious dry-aged Wagyu and Angus cuts sourced from Wyoming and Colorado—not Pamplona. However, it’s the colorful, flavor-rich tapas (and their toothpicked Basque cousin, pintxos) that steal the show. Highlighting the list of more than two dozen choices are the Patatas Con Chorizo swimming in gooey Manchego and chives; the savory croquette-like Aceitunas Fritas (fried olives); the Atún Crudo (raw tuna) with cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, pickled onions and almorejo puree; and the incomparable Wagyu Bone Marrow drizzled with green tomato, peaches, basil, paprika and crunchy beef cracklins. If that’s too exotic for you, know that Colorado’s frontier folk called beef marrow “prairie butter,” and that, my friend, is no bull. 1023 Walnut Street #400, Boulder corridaboulder.com; 303-444-1333 TAPA THE WORLD: Corrida’s cheesy Patatas con Chorizo
THAI ONE ON: Busaba’s lipsmacking Pad Thai and magical Tom Yum Soup.
BUSABA Some Thai cusine is iconic (pad thai, delicious curries), some obscure. Busaba, located north of U.S. 36 on McCaslin Blvd, does a superior job on it all. But the dish that makes this popular spot worth visiting is the Trio Mushroom Tom Yum Soup. There are hundreds of variations of tom yum, but you don’t have to be vegetarian or vegan to enjoy this recipe—it pleases even most carnivores. The stock has the natural sweetness of vegetables, and kaffir lime leaves play the role of citrusy component. Shallots and herbs like lemongrass and galangal draw out some scent. It’s punctuated with three species of Asian mushrooms—usually oyster, shitake and enoki (the long stemmed, delicate “golden needle” fungi)—with tomatoes and tart, fresh lime juice thrown in at the end. With the spice/heat levels radiating through all body parts, it’s light, warming, refreshing and nutritious. What more could you want? 133 S. McCaslin Blvd. H, Louisville busabaco.com; 303-665-0330
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ACREAGE Lafayette’s Stem Ciders has opened Acreage, a cider house in a bucolic setting. The modern craft beer movement has inspired a growth of popularity in the world of cider, largely as a gluten-free alternative for suds lovers. It can be hard to make a distinction between beer and cider, as they both rely on a brewing process to produce alcohol. But no true cider contains malted grains—it’s made by fermenting apple juice. It varies in color (light yellow, orange and brown hues) and transparency, plus it’s a humdinger of polyphenol antioxidants. So knock back any lineup of cider flights to wash down Acreage’s wood-fired food. The best menu item? A set of sausages—Bison Green Chili, Bacon & Cheddar Bratwurst, Venison & Port Wine and Berkshire Pork—served with warm cider sauerkraut. The absolute wurst! 1380 Horizon Ave., Lafayette acreageco.com; 303-227-3243 OVER THE MOON: From its kitchen at Gravity Brewing, Gastronauts (above) serves hand-tossed pizzas, Crispy Broccoli with Sriacha Aoli, shitake crisps with umami sauce and other inspired fare.
GASTRONAUTS AT GRAVITY BREWING CO. In a corner of downtown Louisville, there’s Gravity Brewing, a family-friendly tasting room pouring superb craft-brewed beers. And in the corner of Gravity Brewing is the cleverly named Gastronauts, an independent in-house kitchen run by the team of Sheila Peck and John Tusa that dishes up made-from-scratch fare that accompanies the brews. Far from “pub grub,” Gastronauts serves, among other treats, otherworldly shitake crisps with umami sauce and hand-tossed New York-style pizzas with traditional toppings on top and the perfect amount of char on the bottom. Whatever you do, though, don’t miss the Crispy Broccoli with Sriracha Aioli. Sriracha, of course, comes in “the red bottle with the rooster on it.” Made from chili peppers and garlic ground into a paste, the sauce, long a staple in Thai and Vietnamese restaurants, has mainstreamed onto seemingly every fast-food menu in America, flavoring even potato chips, nuts, jerky and other snacks. In Gastronauts’ emulsified mixture, it gives the crisp roasted broccoli a piquant kick that you absolutely need to taste to believe.
LAFAYETTE LIBATIONS: At Acreage (above left) the wide assortment of entrees and appetizers go great with a flight of refreshing ciders.
1150 Pine St. Unit B, Louisville thegravitybrewing.com ; 303-544-0746 Read more of Contributor Gary James’ Fareways columns on coloradoavidgolfer.com. coloradoavidgolfer.com
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Side Bets | GETTING HOME
PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARTIN YEAGER
Follow the North Star
Make the new home of a Web.com Tour event your home too, at Heron Lakes at TPC Colorado in Berthoud. Text and Photographs by Martin Yeager ENTERING THE HERON LAKES development that surrounds the new TPC Colorado in Berthoud, you realize you are standing at the beginning of something special. The nearly 8,000-yard course, which opened in August and for the next five years will host the will host the Web.com Tour’s TPC Colorado Championship at Heron Lakes, sports deep sod-faced pot bunkers, undulant fairways and waterfront views of snowcapped mountains. Phase One construction of what will become a 55,000-square-foot clubhouse is near completion, and the first homes in the neighborhood are taking shape. Small wonder the club has already attracted more than 200 members and interest is growing for many new residents wishing to live around this impressive course.
THE VISION
Emily Kupec, the Chief Operating Officer with Hillside Commercial Group is spearheading the initial growth at Heron Lakes at TPC Colorado. She is no stranger to watching such plans unfold. Starting a decade ago driving a beverage cart at Highland Meadows Golf Course in Windsor, she has stepped into many roles over the years while advancing to her executive position with the development team of Jon Turner, Chris Frye and Jim Birdsall. “I love that there is always something new to look forward to—literally every day,” she shares. Gazing out on the landscape from a temporary viewing gallery, she quickly points out every parcel, every future phase of the development, and calling out the natural surroundings that will remain untouched.
THE PLAN
MOVING EARTH: One of many custom homes under construction.
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
Staring across McNeil Reservoir—one of three reservoirs that define this impressive development—you can see the homes starting to sprout. Phase One will consist of 227 singlefamily custom homes, built by select Northern Colorado custom builders. Towards the north, Phase Two will incorporate more paired and patio residences, adding a more casual, limited maintenance lifestyle for the area. Finally, a community of townhomes and condominiums will be added into the entire master plan, providing a full range of architectural styles, floor plans, and price points. When everything is completed, Heron Lakes at TPC Colorado will include 1,188
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residences encompassing over 800 acres. The initial acquisition of the land stretches back over a decade—a testament to allowing time to evolve the concept into a premier master plan. “We always knew this was the perfect setting for a golf course,” Kupec says, “and the efforts by TPC and the PGA Tour, working with course architect Art Schaupeter, will make it an outstanding place to live and play.” Starting next year, the course will host a Web.com Tour event, and the community will be well on its way of becoming a premier location to live.
LIFESTYLE
Life in golf communities has shifted significantly in the past few years. Today, a larger percentage of new residents seek out communities that honor open spaces as well as offer a resort-like collection of amenities. With over 8.5 miles of additional walking trails and access to watersports, Heron Lakes at TPC Colorado more than checks the outdoor lifestyle box. Plans are underway for the Lonetree Lake Club, featuring outdoor seating with some of the best views along the Front Range. For the Heron Lake residents, a pool, tennis courts and additional parks will soon become part of their community.
LOCATION
Situated just west of downtown Berthoud and minutes from I-25 and the stretch of Highway 287 that runs between Longmont and Fort Collins, Heron Lakes at TPC Colorado is easily accessible. Careful planning with the Town of Berthoud coloradoavidgolfer.com
NEW 2018 RANGE ROVER VELAR
TAKE CENTER STAGE WITH EVERY TURN ROOM TO GROW: Phase One of the TPC clubhouse is complete.
ensures the development will become a welcome addition to this serene, largely agricultural town as it emerges from the shadows of Fort Collins to the north and Loveland to the south. Farms still define the landscape, adding to the rural setting that defines the eastern edge of Colorado’s Front Range. The extensive growth around Denver’s metro area makes Heron Lakes at TPC Colorado an attractive getaway and a wonderful place to call home in the near future.
WHAT’S AVAILABLE?
Currently, there is availability for the permitready custom lots, while advanced reservations for the paired home and townhomes are just now becoming available. As with all master-planned communities, the entire portfolio of amenities and services will be added as the community grows. Yet standing up there with Kupec on the temporary viewing station, you begin to see her vision for this special place as the birds flock around the waterways, and the fairways are meticulously groomed for the weekend play. TPC Colorado has not only arrived, but it is also destined to become one of your favorite choices for play and very soon, to live.
Author’s Note: As we wrap up the first full year of “Getting Home,” it is clear that both gated and public golf communities are no longer just for golf enthusiasts but for younger families and active residents who have discovered the beauty along Colorado’s finer fairways. For all those that spent their time connecting with me as I explored the special relationship between golf and real estate, I sincerely appreciate all you and your members do for the game.
6160 SOUTH BROADWAY LITTLETON, CO 80121 SALES: (720) 549-9143
Martin Yeager, Colorado AvidGolfer’s real estate writer, is a realtor with the Colorado Fairway home Team at Keller Williams DTC. Reach him at Martin@fairwaysColorado.com and 303-668-9373 coloradoavidgolfer.com
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HOURS MONDAY - FRIDAY: 9AM-8PM SATURDAY: 9AM-7PM SUNDAY: CLOSED
Fall 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
Side Bets | NICE DRIVES
Lexus LS 500
Polishing the Jewels With the new LS500 and RDX, Lexus and Acura respectively redefine their flagship models. By Isaac Bouchard 2018 LEXUS LS500 F SPORT
EPA ratings: 19/30mpg; 23mpg combined 0-60mph: 4.6 seconds (mfg) Price as tested: $101,675 There is no way the new Lexus LS500 can be the kind of game-changer the original LS was in 1990. But the all-new flagship Lexus sedan does serve notice that the company is now a purveyor of machines as dedicated to style and performance as to comfort and near-bulletproof reliability. Built on the company’s new GL-A luxury platform, the shark-sleek new four-door LS500 is lower and longer than the outgoing car and its wheelbase is 1.3 inches greater, helping offset the loss of interior volume that the coupe-like silhouette imposes. This is certainly one of Lexus’ most recent
styling successes, with a cohesion to the complex shapes and ornate trim that celebrates traditional Japanese design yet is much more modern than what is seen on the German competition. The LS500’s interior is a masterwork, with gorgeous forms rendered in complex, three-dimensional shapes and detailing that is in no way old school. However, at the price point it competes, the use of synthetic soft materials in lieu of real hide grates a bit. Likewise, the Remote Touch Interface for the infotainment system requires more concentration than the best from the Europeans. But the powered, sliding tachometer in the main instrument cluster, lovely contrast-color ventilated seat patterning (that echoes the 7,100 facets in the spindle grill) and other thoughtful detailing more than make up for these nits. Lexus’ insistence on proclaiming its performance focus is evident in the way the LS500
comports itself on the road. Its steering is alert and responsive and its chassis keeps this large machine tightly tied down, with almost no longitudinal dive or squat and low roll angles in corners. Similar to what Jaguar and Land Rover have done over the past decade with their formally posh-riding cars and SUVs, the LS500 handles bumps and broken pavement in a less refined fashion than before. It’s not harsh per se, but it doesn’t cosset as previously did, and more road noise than expected transfers through from the staggered, high performance 20-inch tires. It feels almost like a willful choice on the part of the company, a reminder of its focus on motorsports—from the Lexus RC F GT3s it races stateside to Toyota’s relentless assault on the prototype class at Le Mans. Both Mercedes and BMW have proven you can have both a magic carpet ride and driver-fo-
Acura RDX
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cused handling, but those two companies are very comfortable in their skin. The LS500 is the first vehicle from Lexus to be powered by a new, twin turbo 3.5-liter engine; so refined and smooth is it that it might fool one into thinking this luxury liner is motived by the older, normally aspirated V8. Power and torque are smack dab in the middle between the six and eight-cylinder competition, with 416hp and a stout 442lb-ft of low end torque. Channeled through Lexus’ new 10-speed, in-house automatic, the LS500 is decently responsive in normal use and really flies in the sportier drive settings. Braking is up to task, with stout six-piston Brembos front and four-pot rears, grasping large diameter spiral-vented discs. With trucks of some sort comprising three quarters of all new vehicles being sold, it is wonderfully refreshing and even somewhat exotic to pilot a large, sexy sedan. The new LS500 exemplifies all the best of this kind of motoring, while continuing Lexus’ tradition of crafting cars that make their owners’ lives less onerous and taxing in both the short and long term.
2019 ACURA RDX SH-AWD A-SPEC
EPA ratings: 21/26mpg; 23mpg combined 0-60mph: 5.7 seconds (estimated) Price as tested: $44,900 It has taken a while for Japan’s original premium car company to find its way back from the wilderness, but the all-new RDX, a crossover al-
most certain to become its best-selling vehicle, succeeds in reaffirming Acura’s original selling proposition: that of making tech-laden, sporty drivers’ vehicles that are also good value and distinctly different than the European and American competition. Designed and built here in the States, the RDX has grown to just the right size for most folks who are pre- and post-kiddos. Cargo volume is indeed voluminous, the back seat is spacious enough for taking two couples slopeside, and the driver and front passenger share a richly detailed space that is built with high quality materials. While more sedate color schemes are available, the A-Spec test vehicle had pleasingly audacious red and black trim with silver highlights, another reminder of how Acura views itself. Virtually every expected Level 2 autonomous driving and safety aid is standard, as is a panoramic roof. There are a few surprising omissions, unless you spring for the top model, like remote start and a heated steering wheel, but that’s how you upsell in the modern age. Their latest way to control all the RDX’s systems, dubbed Acura True Touchpad Interface, is a nice improvement over the company’s previous efforts and less clunky than its name. It works really well once you learn its logic and is better than systems from Lexus and Infiniti. Appearance-wise, the RDX hides its height and boxy nature well with lots of intersecting lines and diagonal forms; the latest iteration of the corporate grill is bold but not as polarizing as the beak-like protuberance on older models. One other way we know Acura has returned
to the True Path is that the default setting for the chassis is Sport. While you can configure it back to Comfort, Winter or push into Sport+ for a more overtly aggressive set of responses, Sport suits the RDX well in the chassis and steering subcategories. It is well balanced for a nose-heavy vehicle (as are most all crossovers), and Super Handling AWD does indeed lend it mutant powers in terms of the ability to zap understeer in most situations by overdriving the outside rear wheel. Steering is linear and incisive, helping imbue the Acura with a light, lively feel. Thankfully, ride doesn’t suffer, due to a really rigid new platform and careful tuning of the damping and bushings. While the RDX lacks something of the cohesion of the latest BMW X3, it masters the latest Audi Q5 and most anything offered by one of the Detroit 3 for a similar price. Its engine is a 2-liter turbo with competitive outputs of 272hp and 280lb-ft. It feels slightly flat until you engage the 10-speed transmission’s Sport mode, at which point it livens right up and scoots. It should attain 60mph in less than six seconds and passing power at all altitudes is excellent. Three decades after Honda started the upstart brand, Acura has again firmly found its footing, and if the RDX is any indication of what’s to come, we are in for a good time. Contact CAG Automotive Editor Isaac Bouchard at Isaac@bespokeautos.com for help saving time, money and hassle when buying or leasing a vehicle.
Pour Your Own Beer, BEER HALL
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Fall 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
PHOTOGRAPH BY C.J. POWELL
Old-School Cool The Four Diamond-rated TUBAC GOLF RESORT & SPA heads a trio of classic Arizona resort properties—each dripping with history, intimacy and irresistible charm. By JON RIZZI TUBAC, Paradise Valley and Cave Creek: three Arizona towns separated by about 200 years of settlement and nearly as many miles. The first is rustic and artsy; the second affluent; the third a funky cowboy town. Each features a timeless resort property— the hacienda-like Tubac Golf Resort and Spa, the boutique Hermosa Inn, and the saguaro-rich Rancho Mañana Golf Resort— of a piece with its surroundings. A shared reverence for history also links these resorts, as does a charismatic intimacy and serenity you won’t find at sprawling multicourse golf retreats. They also happen to share a common owner in a partnership led by Coloradan Ron Allred and his son Mike, the president and CFO of Allred Investments. Ron, who decades ago transformed COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
Telluride from a failing mining town into a luxury ski destination and Avon from a ranching area into a resort community, bought Rancho Mañana in 1994, Tubac in 2002 and Hermosa in 2015. The partnership has invested millions in 21st-century upgrades while preserving and enhancing the historic ambience that makes these resorts so appealing. The results of their efforts are well worth the investment for golfers looking for something different from their annual Arizona sojourn. TUBAC GOLF RESORT & SPA Situated 40 miles from Tucson and 25 from the Mexican border, Tubac occupies 500 acres of the Otero Ranch (established 1789), once the largest of its kind west of the
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Mississippi River. Twenty-seven holes of lush, tree-lined golf (the Anza, Otero and Rancho nines) designed by Red Lawrence and Ken Kavanaugh now inhabit a sizable portion of land that straddles the Santa Cruz River and looks out on the Santa Rita Mountains. Cattle still graze behind the island green on the Anza’s 140-yard par-3 ninth, where the bovines comprise a far less intimidating gallery than the spectators sitting behind the tee at the Stables Patio Bar. “You see people all the time cheering great shots to the flag and perhaps less than cheering shots that find the surrounding water.” says Tubac’s Head Golf Professional Kristie Fowler. Also unique is the course’s role in the movie Tin Cup. On the Rancho nine’s 568yard par-5 fourth hole Roy McAvoy (Kevin Costner), caddying for David Simms (Don coloradoavidgolfer.com
BET ON THE RANCH: The appeal of Tubac Golf Resort & Spa’s iconic mission-style chapel (opposite) continues (clockwise from left) in its plush haciendas, patio adjacent to the island-green 9th hole, vintage Stables Restaurant and recently renovated pool.
Johnson), gets home in two by carrying the pond in front of the green with a 3-wood while Johnson lays up with a 7-iron—the same club McAvoy uses in the bet with Simms near Tubac’s mission-style entry arch and in the scene where he and his caddie (Cheech Marin) break all but that club on Rancho’s third hole. “People still ask about the Tin Cup hole,” says Fowler, the LPGA’s 2017 Professional of the Year, who has capitalized on the connection to the film—and the cows—with some creative merchandise in the golf shop. “We also have a plaque on Rancho’s fourth fairway immortalizing the 3-wood shot.” Tubac changes its course rotation daily, so guests can play all 27 holes during a twoday stay. Few visitors, however, are so quick to depart. The 52 Hacienda King and 16 coloradoavidgolfer.com
Casita suites cosset guests with rich leather furnishings, one-of-a-kind appointments, fireplaces, private patios and walk-out access to all amenities, including the golf course, world-class Aveda spa and salon, missionstyle chapel (a stellar wedding site), fitness center, refurbished resort pool, spanking new lap pool and the silo-flanked Otero Barn— home of Pancho’s Resource and Design, a home décor candy store colorfully brimming with one-of-a-kind Southwestern furniture, lighting fixtures, mirrors and other objects. Some of those objects appoint the suites, the rooms of the Otero House, the original home of the ranching family (available for lodging), and the 29 magnificently upgraded Posada Guest Rooms that—together with increased Wi-Fi bandwidth and numerous other enhancements—helped elevate the
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resort to AAA Four Diamond Status in March, according to General Manager Linda Cormier. Tubac’s Stables Ranch Grille and Patios also contribute to the resort’s high standing. Its authentic rustic ambiance and views of the “island green” and the Santa Ritas pair perfectly with its impeccable seasonal cuisine and extensive wine and cocktail list. The bar scene is second to none. And for a quick burrito before golf or between nines, sit at La Cantina’s shaded tables right by the pro shop. From the resort, it’s a mile by bike or on foot along the Anza Trail into the quaint, no-stoplight town of Tubac, a one-square mile village where artists and shopowners often leave works overnight on the tree-lined streets without worry. World-class galleries Fall 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
overflow with paintings, sculptures, ceramics and photography. Fountains tuck into hidden courtyards and shops peddle local crafts and jewelry. Make sure to wash down the moles at Elvira’s or the black bean burger at Shelby’s Bistro with a margarita or cerveza fría. “It stands up to Taos or Santa Fe or Sedona in terms of sophistication,” says Patti Todd, who once served as president of the Tubac Chamber of Commerce. “People often come from Tucson just to spend the day.“ And Tubac Resort & Spa is much the same. Compared to most desert golf resorts, where the environment demands target shots to pods of green, Tubac lets you play in a lush environment. As Todd says: “It’s like vacationing at a posh Mexican resort without crossing the border.” tubacgolfresort.com; 800-848-7893 THE HERMOSA INN The Hermosa Inn wants for nothing—except an onsite golf course. But with the Arizona Biltmore, Camelback, Mountain Shadows and McCormick Ranch all within a 10-minute drive, it makes little difference. Besides, the Paradise Valley property boasts only kingsized beds. No double-doubles means it’s more suited to a couples’ golf trip than 36 holes a day with the fellas. But what the boutique hotel lacks in fairways, it more than makes up for in colorful history and impeccable accommodations that have not only earned it AAA Four-Diamond Award but also placed it among the Top 10 Hotels in the U.S. and the No. 1 Hotel in the Southwest among Condé Nast Traveler readers. Originally built in 1936 by swashbuckling cowboy artist Alonzo “Lon” Megargee as his home and studio, The Hermosa Inn began welcoming paying guests in 1941 after the painter lost the property either in a card game or one of his estimated seven divorces. Legend has it some friends showed up not knowing the house no longer belonged to him, which inspired the new owner to start charging people to stay there. Today’s guests still feel like they’re staying at a friend’s home (the original name of Casa Hermosa means “beautiful house”) in a residential neighborhood. They arrive an adobe building nestled in lush flower gardens and arrive through huge, hand-carved wood doors into a renovated lobby festooned with original Megargee paintings and scented with the aroma of warm cookies. The garden paths lead to 43 hacienda-style guestrooms and casitas—10 of which were recently added, while 12 existing rancho casitas underwent major refurbishment as part of a $5.5 million renovation. The casitas, which deliver breathtaking vistas of the lush desert and Camelback Mountain, come in four sizes—the Grande (750 sq. ft.), Deluxe (600-700 sq. ft.), Garden (400 sq. ft.) and Rancho (350 sq. ft.). All are individually decorated in warm Southwestern colors, materials and style. Most include fireplaces, secluded patios, vaulted ceilings and the latest in modern-day conveniences and residential comforts, including deep soaking tubs, beehive fireplaces and private patios. After a day in one of the poolside casitas or a bike ride along the Arizona Canal Trail, head to LON’s at The Hermosa Inn, long one of Paradise Valley’s top dining experiences. The readers of Food & Wine voted it Arizona’s Most Romantic Restaurant, and OpenTable.com diners ranked it among the 100 Best Al Fresco Restaurants in America for 2018. As a ninth-generation Arizonan, Executive Chef Jeremy Pacheco’s farm-to-table ingredient-inspired menu results from partnerships with local purveyors and farmers, adding gastronomic authenticity to COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
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HOMECOMING: The historic Hermosa Inn’s entry leads to luxe casitas with private patios (this page) and LON’s Last Drop (opposite top).
coloradoavidgolfer.com
dishes paired with the Wine Spectator Award-winning collection of 700 varietals housed in a subterranean wine cellar (also available for private dining) and three wine vaults. Lon’s Last Drop, so named in honor of the Megargee painting of a horse drinking from his cowboy’s Stetson, serves as the Hermosa’s bar and patio. A recent expansion added five outdoor fireplaces and a new all-day menu featuring small plates, sandwiches, salads, and pizzas baked in a wood-burning oven. Personalized pampering comes second nature at the Hermosa Inn. Just don’t expect tuck-in service. hermosainn.com; 844-423-3981
HIGH DESERT: Rancho Mañana’s swoon-worthy par-4 fourth (left) and eighth holes climb into the hills above the valley.
RANCHO MAÑANA GOLF CLUB & RESORT From its origins as one of Arizona’s first and most successful dude ranches, Rancho Mañana has become a first-class golf destination. Revamped by the Allred Family after its purchase in 1994, the golf shop still occupies the homestead of China and Ted Loring, the couple that started welcoming urban cowboys back in the 1940s. The Cave Creek property features the northernmost publicaccess course in the Phoenix/Scottsdale orbit, situated just south of the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation. Tips of 6,016 yards won’t scare anyone, but the par-70 course “plays like 6,400,” according to General Manager Dale Samar, who cites the presence of six tough par-3s, numerous elevated greens and a front nine that steadily climbs to higher elevations before descending again and finishing with an equally scenic back nine. Frankly, the aesthetics alone are worth the relatively modest price of admission. Rancho Mañana takes in unimpeded and often simultaneous views of Camelback Mountain, Mummy Mountain, Piestewa Peak, Black Mountain, South Mountain and the Tonto National Forest’s distinctive Elephant Butte. Hundreds upon hundreds of saguaros spike the surrounding hills, and bobcats, javelinas, roadrunners, mule deer and jackrabbits regularly dart across the fairways. This echt Arizona experience is reinforced at the Tonto Bar & Grill, which looks out onto the par-3 11th and has been rated by OpenTable.com diners as one of the 100 Best Al Fresco Restaurants in America three years running. Definitely order a round of Tontoritas or Four Peaks 8th Street Ales and share the Three Sister Salsas & Guacamole and Duck Manchamanteles Enchiladas with your playing partners. Diamond Resorts runs the Rancho Mañana accommodations. The 38 casitas each feature two full master suites, two bedrooms, a gourmet kitchen, fireplace, a balcony or patio—all bedecked in traditional Western décor. Beautifully landscaped flower and rock gardens with fountains, chimineas, palms and cacti surround the expansive pool area. The resort also houses the full-service Spa at Rancho Mañana, a day spa and salon offering treatments ranging from toning wraps to Reiki to ultrasound facials to multiple massage options, including the Hot Golf Ball Massage. The spa also showcases a sublime Kiva Room for pre- and post-treatment relaxation and meditation. The resort and course sit within the former gold-mining town of Cave Creek, home to great western shops, numerous art galleries and several saloons. Multiple trails welcome riders on foot, horseback or bicycle—the most popular of which is the 4.8-mile Go John Trail. Don’t put off Mañana when you can go there today. ranchomanana.com; 480-488-0398 ranchomananaresort.com; 800-438-2929
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Fall 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
GETAWAYS Special Advertising Section
2018 GUIDE // ARIZONA // CALIFORNIA // NEVADA // UTAH
Go All In The renovated RIO SECCO shares top billing with Cascata among Las Vegas sure bets this winter. (See page 72)
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Off the Grid in Arizona GETTING ON AT TORREON
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Carrying the Canyons
MESQUITE, ST. GEORGE SAND HOLLOW
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Special Advertising Section
GETAWAYS // ARIZONA // CALIFORNIA // NEVADA // UTAH 66
An Experience...
that Truly Represents Golf in the Arizona Desert
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Contents 42 ARIZONA
480-488-0398 5734 E. Rancho Manana Blvd Cave Creek, AZ 85331 www.RanchoManana.com COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
Travel from Phoenix and Scottsdale to Tucson and Tubac and on the way experience spectacular golf, intriguing culture, inspired dining and some of the most stunning scenery in the world.
66 CALIFORNIA
Experience the many forms of life along the coast, in the mountains and across the desert through the prism of Troon Golf Californiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 11 properties.
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68 NEVADA
Bet on yourself and come home a winner. The golf, gaming and excitement of Mesquite, Summerlin and Las Vegas are always on the money.
78 UTAH
Learn why Sand Hollow Resort is much more than just 27 holes of golfâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and why its location amid the brilliant red rock formations in and around St. George have everything to do with it.
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THE DESERT IS WILD Absolutely spontaneous.
AbsolutelyScottsdale.com
Special Advertising Section
GETAWAYS // ARIZONA // SCOTTSDALE
2 The raucous 16th at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course during the Phoenix Waste Management Open.
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Golf bikes are just one of many cool conveyances at Westin Kierland.
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes evokes the exacting beauty of the Australian Sandhills.
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As Good as it Gets
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes in Maricopa is the go-to course for those who want a test. Ranked by Golf magazine as the #84 Best Course You Can Play in the United States, Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club annually serves as a U.S. Open sectional qualifying venue and has thrice hosted the Arizona Amateur. Plenty of length (7,546 yards from the tips), wellpositioned bunkers and subtle yet tricky greens are all part of the challenge. No homes intrude on this Australian Sandhills-inspired course designed by Lee Schmidt, Brian Curley and Fred Couples. Before driving the 40 miles back to Scottsdale, don’t forget to fuel up with a killer milkshake in the clubhouse. akchinsoutherndunescom COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
See why the luxurious Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is the longest-running AAA Five Diamond resort in Arizona—27 years. fairmont.com/scottsdale
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Play where the world’s best golf pros have played annually since 1987. Famous for its raucous Roman Coliseum-like 16th hole, The TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course will give you all the golf you can handle. tpc.com/scottsdale
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In keeping with its tradition of creating unique and different golf experiences, the 27-hole Westin Kierland Golf Club boasts a quartet of fun ways to traverse the course: Segways, GolfBoards, Golf Bikes and, the latest, Kierland TurfRiders—easy-to-ride scooters that provide an exhilarating golf experience few have ever had. kierlandresort.com
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This November, The Phoenician will unveil its golf course, which has gone from 27 to 18 holes under the aegis of architect Phil Smith, the designer of Flying Horse North in Colorado Springs. thephoenician.com
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4 coloradoavidgolfer.com
Insta
REIMAGINED ALL FOR YOU Welcome to the prestigious Desert Mountain Club in Scottsdale—a golf and outdoor club that has been reimagined to provide a lifestyle that rises above the rest. Within our expansive 8,000 acres of pristine desert beauty, members enjoy an outdoor playground unlike any other in the world. Jack Nicklaus golf nearly every day of the week. Technology-based golf instruction. 5-star dining for every palate. Tennis on three surfaces. Fitness fit for an athlete. Spa indulgences to pamper the soul. Pickleball, parties, moonlight hikes, and mountain bikes. Making a move? Move up to the Mountain and receive $5K of initiation credits or 3 months of no dues. Call for details. Coming soon, Seven Desert Mountain—our new luxury residential golf community. See opposite page for details.
DESERTMOUNTAIN.COM SCOTTSDALE, AZ
(480) 595-1415
Make Seven your Lucky Number.
CULLUM HOMES customizable & smart
CAMELOT HOMES elegant & modern
F A M I LY D E V E L O P M E N T lock and leave & luxury
You’ll feel like the luckiest person around at Seven Desert Mountain. Opening in early 2019, our exclusive, luxury residential golf community features a Par 54 course, luxury homes constructed by three distinct builders, and a unique gastropub clubhouse. Plus, residents also enjoy Desert Mountain’s exclusive services and amenities. F O R I N F O R M AT I O N O N S E V E N D E S E R T M O U N TA I N H O M E S C A L L ( 6 0 2 ) 3 8 5 - 1 6 7 5 , O R T O L E A R N A B O U T D E S E R T M O U N TA I N M E M B E R S H I P C A L L ( 4 8 0 ) 4 2 8 - 1 4 1 5 .
SEVENDESERTMOUNTAIN.COM
SCOTTSDALE, AZ
Images are conceptual only and are for the convenience of reference. They should not be relied upon as representations, express or implied, of the final detail of the Community. The Developer expressly reserves the right to make modifications, revisions and changes it deems desirable in its sole and absolute discretion.
Special Advertising Section
GETAWAYS // ARIZONA // SCOTTSDALE
On-property Mountain biking represents just one of the Desert Mountain’s many amenities.
The Magic Mountain Troon North’s Pinnacle and Monument courses epitomize the excellence of the brand.
Setting the Standard
Troon North Golf Club is the showpiece of Arizona-based Troon Golf’s daily-fee portfolio. FIND YOUR true north at Troon North Troon North Golf Club, which set the gold standard for upscale daily-fee golf when it debuted in 1990 and remains one of the best 36-hole facilities in the country. Designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, both the Monument and Pinnacle courses present formidable challenges as they wind through the natural ravines and foothills in the shadows of Pinnacle Peak. Giant granite boulders lie strewn across the rugged landscape of Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, combining iconic golf with the visual sensation of desert landscape, setting a standard seldom rivaled in the American Southwest. Recent renovations by Weiskopf have added even more luster to these twin gems in Troon Golf’s growing collection of upscale public and private courses. troonnorthgolf.com COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
Check It Out Cheers! If you want to drink in the craft-brew scene, follow the Scottsdale Ale Trail to Bottled Blonde, Brat Haüs, Craft 64, Goldwater Brewing Co., Scapegoat Bar, Sip Coffee & Beer House, Two Brothers Tap House, Vines & Hops. experiencescottsdale.com Prefer wine to beer? Hit the Scottsdale Wine Trail, consisting of Aridus Wine Company, Carlson Creek Vineyards, LDV Winery, Salvatore Vineyards and Su Vino Winery. experiencescottsdale.com
Situated on 8,000 acres tucked into the rolling hills and dramatic scenery of north Scottsdale, Desert Mountain ranks among the finest private golf and recreational communities in the world. It is the only private community worldwide with six Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses, and, as of 2019, an 18-hole par-3 appropriately called Seven in a 90-acre enclave of the same name. An ever-evolving smorgasbord of amenities, activities and events makes the Desert Mountain lifestyle unlike any other. The property encompasses 35 “villages” containing an stunning range of homesites and homes. desertmt.com
After a round or two at Troon North, head to Talavera at Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North, where spiced-up steakhouse fare pairs with sunset views of Pinnacle Peak. talaverarestaurant.com In addition to its contemporary Latin cuisine temple Deseo, a rare treat at the Westin Kierland Resort is its Scotch Library—hundreds of single malts and whisky blends available by the dram with a kilted Scotch Master to guide you. kierlandresort.com
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Talavera Gin Bar
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Come experience both of Troon North’s Monument and Pinnacle courses for the best desert golf in Arizona. Please visit www.TroonNorthGolf.com for best available rates and 36-hole packages. After your round, stop in at the Dynamite Grill where you can enjoy great food with a view. Mention “Colorado Avid Golfer” by phone and get 10% off the already best available rate through 2019.
CALL 4 80.585.7700 OR VISIT TROONNORTHGOLF.COM M E NTI O N “ C O LO RAD O AVI D G O L FE R ” TO B O O K TO DAY
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GETAWAYS // ARIZONA // SCOTTSDALE
2 The architect’s rendering of the clubhouse at Seven Desert Mountain.
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The indulgent Sanctuary at Camelback Spa rates among Arizona’s foremost resorts.
3 Rio Verde’s Roadrunner course.
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Blame it on Rio
Forty-three years young, Rio Verde Country Club continues to enchant members and visitors. ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE of Arizona’s active-adult communities, Rio Verde takes full advantage of its location in the McDowell foothills adjacent to the Tonto National Forest, offering clubs for hikers, bikers and horse-lovers. Thirtysix holes of Midwestern-style golf, six tennis courts (two lighted), pickleball and bocce courts, heated resort-style pool and fitness and swimming programs help fill members’ days. There is also a first-rate art studio. A clubhouse renovation adds even more to the Rio Verde experience. Visitors and prospective members can rent homes with golf and other club privileges. rioverdearizona.com COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
The neighboring threemillion-acre Tonto National Forest and 21,000-acre McDowell Mountain Regional Park make Rio Verde a paradise for hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. rioverdearizona.com
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The newest addition to the masterplanned Desert Mountain development is Seven, a 90-acre enclave centered around an 18-hole par-3 course and an informal, family-oriented clubhouse. (For more, see page 82). DesertMountain.com/seven
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An architectural wonder beautifully embedded within spectacular terrain, Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa ranks as one of Arizona’s most spectacular and rejuvenating resorts. sanctuary.com
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Since Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain (above) doesn’t offer on-site golf and Mountain Shadows Resort lacks a spa, guests of the latter can get shuttled between the two resorts in a sublimely silent Tesla Model X. mountainshadows.com
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Rio Verde is our perfect fit.
Speak to those who live and play in Rio Verde just northeast of Phoenix and you’ll probably hear, “This is the perfect fit for our lifestyle!” Originally a slice of what was known as Box Bar Ranch, the bucolic property nestled along the Verde River on the edge of the Tonto National Forest is as stunning today as it was when the developers first envisioned it as an ideal retreat for golf and nature lovers alike. Wrapped in blue skies and Arizona sunshine, Rio Verde feels far away, yet is still a short drive away from spectacular restaurants, theaters, shopping, museums and more. Truly a total club lifestyle with spectacular weather for being outdoors and staying active, Rio Verde is tailored perfectly to fill the days with endless opportunities to connect and build friendships that deepen over time. Although Full Membership is not limited to those who live in Rio Verde, every homeowner is a Social Member of the club. When combined with the 36 holes of parkland-style golf, fantastic food (dine in, take out, or they’ll deliver!), social calendar, and signature events, members stay as busy as they please. The majestic natural surroundings are perfect for a hike, bike, or run, while tennis, pickle ball, swimming, fitness, bocce, book clubs, mahjong, bridge and more can be found right at home! And as the evening skies explode with stars, block parties and improvised gatherings are just an invitation away.
Golf is elemental to this full life. Members play for both the thrill of the sport and pure joy of the game. And whether they’re out to play for three hours or three holes, Rio Verde’s professional staff, extensive practice facility, and open fairways provide plenty of opportunity to get into golf. Unlike many private clubs, Rio Verde’s members don’t have food and beverage minimums or pay trail fees (non-residents don’t pay to use the club’s carts). Full Membership provides unlimited access to dining and events, plus 36-holes of parkland-style golf, driving range, three putting greens, and bunker/ chipping complex. Because Rio Verde Country Club is managed by Troon, members can request tee times at 75 other private clubs and receive discounts of up to 50% off greens fees at resort and daily fee facilities around the world. Those seeking a little piece of paradise are invited to see firsthand what makes Rio Verde the perfect place to live and play. Get connected to one of the Preferred Realtors, rent a home with built-in golf or social privileges, or try The Experience Membership for up to one year with no obligation. From its magical setting and exceptional club and community amenities, to the warm and friendly people who make Rio Verde an incredible place to live and play, this is a place to stay busy and happy. To learn more about RioVerdeArizona.com Susan Martin (480) 471.3410 smartin@rioverdecc.com
“We love the walkable courses and there’s never a cart fee, even for non-residents. But it’s the people who make Rio Verde so special.” Gary & Diana Mercer
“We play golf, get together with friends, and we’re in a dinner club… there are so many activities, we just don’t run out of things to do.” Marlin & Karen Knutson
“The people are so welcoming, you just feel like you’re at home within a short time of being here.” Chris & Diane McMullen
“We’re always meeting up for a round of golf, game of pickleball, drinks and dinner, or a fabulous event at the club. We stay busy and happy. This is our paradise!” Ron & Nancy Miller
RioVerdeArizona.com
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ARIZONA // SCOTTSDALE // GETAWAYS
Check It Out One of Scottsdale’s coolest places is the interactive Musical Instrument Museum, which houses 16,000 instruments from across the globe and hosts concerts. mim.org Hungry? Hit the award-winning Cowboy Ciao on Restaurant Row in Scottsdale’s arts district. A list of 3,200 wines complement its celebrated global menu. cowboyciao.com Toast Old Town Scottsdale’s first Champagne lounge. Located above the popular bar Wasted Grain, The Bubble Room pours more than 21 types of bubbly. wastedgrain.com
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Tonto Verde
Riding with Tonto A top Arizona adult golf community nestled against the stunning Mazatzal mountains, Tonto Verde sports some of Arizona’s best greens on its challenging 18-hole championship golf courses designed by Gary Panks and David Graham. It also features swimming, fitness, tennis, dining and other amenties. Savor it all with a four day/three-night Discover Package stay in a luxury townhome ($995 per couple) or a three-month temporary membership. For details, visit tontoverde.org
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Fall 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
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GETAWAYS // ARIZONA // SCOTTSDALE
2 Cave Creek’s Rancho Mañana Golf Club serves up views of Black Mountain. Festive repasts are a Tonto Grill hallmark.
We-Ko-Pa Golf Club
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We Go Play We-Ko-Pa
A spirit-stirring 36-hole golf experience awaits on the land of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. We-Ko-Pa translates to the “Four Mountains” that play an important spiritual role within the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. For golfers, the tribal-owned We-Ko-Pa Golf Club translates into must-play experience ever since the Scott Millerdesigned Cholla course opened in 2001. The Coore-Crenshaw Saguaro course soon followed, offering a one-two punch for players. Neither course features residences to mar views of the Four Peaks, Red Mountain, the McDowells and the Superstitions. The only buildings are the Yavapaiinspired clubhouse featuring the We-Ko-Pa Grille, and similarly styled Saguaro Grille. wekopa.com COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
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A mile from the We-Ko-Pa courses sits the We-Ko-Pa Resort & Conference Center, 246 rooms of AAA-rated four-star luxury with dining at the Ahnala Mesquite Room. We-Ko-Pa Resort will open its own 166,000-squarefoot casino in Spring 2020. wekoparesort.com
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What the 6,100-yard Rancho Mañana Golf Club (see page 37) lacks in length, it makes up for in elevation gain. The Cave Creek course rewards golfers with superb conditions and jaw-dropping views. ranchomana.com
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After working up an appetite at Rancho Manana Golf Club, indulge in the brews, views and sublime food at the course’s award-winning Tonto Bar and Grill. tontobarandgrill.com
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Sunrise or sunset, take in gorgeous 5,000-foot views views of the Sonoran Desert during an exhilarating, catered, hour-long balloon ride from Hot Air Expeditions. Both flights end with Champagne and a catered meal. experiencescottsdale.com
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SMART & BEAUTIFUL 36 HOLES | PLAY CHOLLA & SAGUARO Both the Scott Miller-designed Cholla course and the Coore/Crenshaw-designed Saguaro course made GOLF Magazine’s list of the “Best Golf Courses You Can Play in Arizona, 2016-2017.” And you can experience both within a 3-day period with the 36-hole package. Located minutes from Scottsdale in the pristine Sonoran Desert of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.
CALL 800.660.7700 OR VISIT WEKOPA.COM AN ENTERPRISE OF THE FORT MCDOWELL YAVAPAI NATION
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HOMES IN
GETAWAYS // SCOTTSDALE
SCOTTSDALE
VISIT www.DesertFineHomes.com
Grayhawk Golf Club
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Wayne Little
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
Circling Grayhawk
The dramatic Raptor and Talon courses give everyone a shot at playing Tour-tested golf. Since opening in 1994 Grayhawk Golf Club in North Scottsdale has welcomed the world’s best amateurs and professionals to its Tom Faziodesigned Raptor and the Panks/Graham-designed Talon layouts. Two WGC events, the Williams World Challenge and three Frys.com PGA Tour Championships were all contested here, and in 2020, the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Division I Championships will take place on the Raptor, beginning an unprecedented three-year run at one location. Phil’s Grill (named for Mickelson, an early regular) and Isabella’s dish up excellent postround eats. grayhawkgolf.com
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Check It Out 1
For a honky-tonking good time, two-step over to the Rusty Spur Saloon, Old Town Scottsdale’s home to live country music since 1951. Be sure to get your photo taken from behind on one of the two “bigbottomed barmaid” barstools. rustyspursaloon.com Hikers take note of the 1.75mile Pinnacle Peak Trail, which clambers up and over the shoulder of its namesake formations. Its manicured path cuts through saguaro, cholla, ocotillo, creosote and more as you reach two benches overlooking the valley. experiencescottsdale.com See why True West magazine named Scottsdale’s Museum of the West the nation’s “Best Western Museum.” Featuring exhibits embracing film, painting, sculpture and artifacts, this interactive museum celebrates the unique stories of the people, places and events of the 19 states of the American West, bordering Canadian provinces and Mexican states. scottsdalemuseumwest.org coloradoavidgolfer.com
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ARIZONA // SCOTTSDALE // GETAWAYS
Check It Out Sun City West isn’t just about golf. It features miles of walking trails, three recreation centers with pools, fitness centers, pickleball courts and more. suncitywest.com Saddle up at Scottsdale’s top stable, MacDonald’sRanch, for the best in individual, group and moonlight horseback and stagecoach rides. macdonaldsranch.com The hills are alive with the sounds of hikers. Discover the best trails by downloading The Scottsdale Hiking + Trail Guide at experiencescottsdale.com/maps-guides
Desert Trails Golf Course at Sun City
Where it’s Always Sunny IF YOU’VE MADE IT TO AGE 55 AND WANT TO PLAY a different course every day of the week, Sun City West just might be your happy place. The Del Webb development, located an hour west of Scottsdale, features four attractively priced 18hole par-72 layouts (Grandview, Trail Ridge, Deer Valley and Pebblebrook) and three par-60/61 executive layouts (Desert Trails, Echo Mesa and Stardust). The courses are all walkable, well-conditioned and offer tee times to non-residents. suncitywest.com
You thought a winter golf trip to Phoenix would be too expensive to take…
think again! Both rounds of golf MUST be played on a Friday afternoon, anytime Saturday or Sunday of the same weekend. for two ro un during th ds of golf e months of Decemb er 1, 201 8April 30, 2019.
Available at ALL 7 golf courses Deer Valley, Desert Trails, Grandview, Echo Mesa, Pebblebrook, Stardust, Trail Ridge
Contact Patrick O’Hara, PGA at patrick.ohara@suncitywest.com or 623.544.6499 to discuss how you can take advantage of this offer. Group size must consist of 4-16 players. Tee times will be booked once fees are paid. coloradoavidgolfer.com
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Fall 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
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GETAWAYS // ARIZONA // SHOW LOW
Torreon’s Tower Course
Par for the Pines Torreon’s clubhouse peeks between the Ponderosa pines lining the golf course
Why to Go to Show Low Torreon Golf Club could make you reconsider limiting your highcountry options to Colorado.
As the Front Range’s increasingly sweltering summers find us spending more time on I-70 than in our high-country destinations, maybe its time to look at some alternatives. Maybe Arizona isn’t just an escape from Colorado’s winters but also a reprieve from its summers. Or maybe you’re considering joining a four-season club in Vail or buying a place in Breck so you can play golf and ski, but the long lines on the roads, at the lifts, at restaurants and at Starbucks are making you reconsider. Maybe it’s time to give Torreon Golf Club—a year-round, pine-covered haven located 165 miles northeast of Scottsdale near the town of Show Low—a serious look. The Troon Privé property perches at 6,200 feet, boasts 36 holes and is an easy drive to Sunrise Park Ski Resort and the 11,000-foot Mt. Baldy. torreon.com COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
Check It Out Torreon guests and members can rent a 3-bedroom luxury Golf Villa for up to two weeks at a time. Prospective members can get a “Taste of Torreon” for $375 (double occupancy), which includes a night in a Villa, 18 holes of golf, two dozen Callaway Chrome Softs and other amenities. Each additional night runs $295 and includes a round of golf.
ROBERT VAN HAGGE designed Torreon’s Tower and Cabin courses, both of which thread through stunning stands of Ponderosa pines and large rock outcroppings. The Tower features seven lakes and copious bunkers, but far fewer elevation changes than the younger Cabin course. Both are open April to November. The winter months bring cross-country skiers and snowshoers to the course. Torreon sits on the Mogollon Rim at the eastern edge of the ApacheSitgreaves National Forest. From there it’s a 2.5-hour drive to balmy Scottsdale, making it possible to keep playing golf all year. For real estate opportunities and membership, visit torreon.com
With nearly 120 miles of trails, mountain bikers can pedal for hours without seeing a car or a truck, and hikers can access a trail system of 25 to 30 interconnecting, multi-use loops. Kids have it made with an Arcade and Movie Room, Junior Golf Course, catch-and-release fishing pond, pool, beach volleyball court and more. Torreon’s equestrian center, tennis and pickleball courts and bountiful outdoor activities will work up your appetite for chef Spencer Gorman-Prow’s inspired cuisine in the Torreon Grille.
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Torreon Grille
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CH ASE54.COM
C H O O S E YO U R N OW - FA L L 2 0 1 8 C O L L E C T I O N I n s p i r e d b y t h e p a s t , p r e s e n t a n d f u t u r e o f g o l f s t y l e , t h e C h o o s e Yo u N o w collection boasts nostalgic, modern-classic designs married with the proprietary fabric technologies that sets us apart. F o u n d a t t h e s e fi n e g o l f p r o p e r t i e s :
ELEVATE Your LIFESTYLE
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EXPERIENCE A HIGH COUNTRY MEMBERSHIP Located in Show Low, Arizona in the heart of the White Mountains, Torreon Golf Club is more than just championship golf, it’s a summer escape the whole family can enjoy. In addition to golf, our members enjoy a 20,000sf clubhouse, two restaurants, fitness center, family center, pool, equestrian center and summer temperatures in the 80’s!
R E A L E S TAT E I N Q U I R I E S & M E M B E R S H I P O P P O RT U N I T I E S
Carol Heuett clh@torreon.com 928.532.8000
torreon.com
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GETAWAYS // ARIZONA // TUCSON
2 El Conquistador’s scenic and familyfriendly Cañada Course.
Sewailo means “Land Where Flowers Grow” in the native Yaqui language,
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A Golfer’s Paradise
Featuring more than 40 courses, the Tucson region appeals to players of every skill level. PRO GOLFERS AND PGA TOUR events have been coming to Tucson since 1945—a rich tradition that continues March 1-3 at the Tucson Cologuard Classic, a PGA Tour Champions event at Omni Tucson National’s Catalina Course, the longtime home of the Tucson Open. Phil Mickelson won a Tucson Open held at Starr Pass Golf Club; The Gallery Golf Club in Marana hosted the WGC Match Play in 2007 and ’08; and PGA Tour veteran Notah Begay co-designed Sewailo Golf Club in 2013. But you don’t always have to follow in the pros’ footsteps. Twenty-seven of El Conquistador Golf’s 45 holes are perfect for families. So are the 18s at Crooked Tree and the City of Tucson’s five outstanding municipal layouts: Fred Enke, Dell Ulrich, Randolph, Silverbell and El Rio. visittucson.org COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
Check It Out 1
In addition to the Tourworthy Catalina Course, the Omni Tucson National boasts the somewhat gentler Tom Lehmandesigned Sonoran Course. Both take in the beauty of the Catalina Mountains. tucsonnational.com
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The Troon Golf-managed Cañada Course at Oro Valley’s El Conquistador Golf & Tennis provides fun for all, as does its spunky Pusch X9 executive course. elcongolfandtennis.com
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Part of the stunning tribally owned Casino Del Sol Resort, Spa and Conference Center, the Ty Butler/Notah Begay-designed Sewailo Golf Club boasts 40,000 native plants, 14 acres of lakes and five sets of tees. sewailogolf.com
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Roadrunner, Rattler and Coyote comprise the Arnold Palmer-designed nines at Starr Pass Golf Club at the J.W. Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa. After 3 p.m. adult-accompanied kids 15 and under play free. starrpassgolfclub.com
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ARIZONA // TUCSON // GETAWAYS
Tucson’s vibrant art scene spills into the streets. Get a murals map at tucsonaz.gov/ muralmap
Tubac Golf Resort & Spa’s Hacienda Embrace Body Treatment is as fun as its island green.
Surrounded by five mountain ranges, Loews Ventana Canyon Resort features 398 rooms and 36 golf holes,
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Something to Chew On THREE years ago, Tucson became the first UNESCO Creative City in the United States selected for Gastronomy. The Old Pueblo sizzles with authentic restaurants serving carne asada, ceviche, empanadas, raspados, elote and the ubiquitous Sonoran hot dog—a frank wrapped in bacon and grilled, served on a boule-style bun, and topped with pinto beans, onions, tomatoes and condiments such as mayonnaise, mustard and jalapeños. For more upscale cardiologist-friendly fare, head to The Grill at Hacienda del Sol (haciendadelsol.com) or a golf resort restaurant: Epazote Kitchen (Hilton El Conquistador); AZul (Westin La Paloma); Primo (JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass); or the Flying V Bar & Grill (Loews Ventana). visittucson.org
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You’ll enjoy Tubac Golf Resort & Spa’s 27 golf holes (p. 34) even more with one of the masterful massages, body treatments (including acupuncture) and skin care provided by its expert spa staff. tubacresort.com
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Ventana Canyon Golf Club spotlights Tom Fazio’s Mountain and Canyon courses. Canyon’s Whaleback Rock appears on hole 10; to see the Mountain’s third, flip the page. loewshotels.com/ ventana-canyon
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The 3.9-mile Sun Link Tucson Streetcar route rolls through the heart of Tucson. Check out the hip restaurants, bars and shops of 4th Avenue, Downtown Tucson and the Mercado San Agustín. visittucson.org
Fall 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
F O E G N A CH
E S R U CO Golf in Tucson means a break from the average links. Challenge your game on daring desert layouts or hit it long on fairways that host the champions. Whatever your style, Tucson has it in the bag. Find Your Course at VisitTucson.org/Golf
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GETAWAYS // CALIFORNIA Tribally owned Yocha Dehe Golf Club rates four stars from Golf Digest and Four AAA Diamonds for its luxury resort.
“Love and hate can be found here,” Pete Dye said of his PGA West Stadium Course.
Shoot 90 in La Quinta
California Troons Up
Troon Golf’s Golden State footprint now extends from San Diego County to north of Napa. WITH COURSES in 33 countries and 37 states flying the Troon Golf flag, it may seem surprising that the golf-management giant now operates nearly as many daily-fee/resort courses in California as it does in its home state of Arizona. Six of those Cali courses (Classic Club, Indian Wells, La Quinta, PGA West, Shadow Hills and The Westin Mission Hills) account for 216 holes in the Palm Desert region alone, while a seventh SoCal layout—the 18-hole Maderas Golf Club—lies in sunny San Diego County. Troon’s four NoCal properties (Diablo Grande, Hiddenbrooke, Silverado and Yocha Dehe) total 90 holes. This empire benefits Troon Rewards members who earn points towards free rounds and myriad perks, as well as preferred tee-time booking at TroonCA.co COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
Check It Out 1
Vallejo’s apparently aptly named Hiddenbrooke Golf Course—an Arnold Palmer design—has quietly earned 4.5 stars from Golf Digest. In California, only Pebble and Spyglass have scored a perfect five. troonCA.com
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Host site of the 2006-’08 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, The Palmer-designed Classic Club eschews target golf for rolling terrain, pine trees and five sets of tees on each hole. troonCA.com
THE PETE DYE-designed Mountain and Dunes courses at La Quinta Resort and the PGA WEST troika of the Dye-designed Stadium Course, Nicklaus Tournament Course and Greg Norman’s eponymous layout comprise a 90-hole complex famed for its challenging layouts and stunning visuals. Arguably the most famous of the five, the PGA WEST Stadium Course currently co-hosts (along with the Nicklaus Tournament Course and private La Quinta Country Club) the latest incarnation of the PGA Tour’s Bob Hope Desert Classic, now known as the CareerBuilder Challenge. Get Troon Golf Rewards and book tee times at this Waldorf-Astoria Resort at TroonCA.com.
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Indian Wells Golf Resort’s Celebrity and Players courses both made Golfweek’s list of Top 25 Best Municipal Courses in the United States. This October, the resort will introduce “Shots in the Night”—glow-in-the-dark putting and range games troonCA.com
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Not to be confused with the home of the ANA Inspiration Dinah Shore Tournament, the Westin Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage makes a splash with its Gary Player Signature and Pete Dye Resort courses. troonCA.com
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California Dreamin’
Play the very best golf in the Golden State
Indian Wells Golf Resort, Indian Wells, CA
Silverado Resort and Spa, Napa, CA
EXPERIENCE CALIFORNIA’S BEST: •
Classic Club
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Diablo Grande Golf & Country Club
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Hiddenbrooke Golf Club
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Indian Wells Golf Resort
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La Quinta/PGA WEST
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Maderas Golf Club
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Shadow Hills Golf Club
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Silverado Resort and Spa
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The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa
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Yocha Dehe Golf Club
Maderas Golf Club, Poway, CA
From the moment you drop your sticks at the bag drop to holing out on the 18th, you’ll experience the finest playing conditions and the friendliest customer service in the game. Then, as the sun sets on another glorious California day, you’ll be winding down, swapping stories and enjoying exceptional dining at the world’s greatest golf destinations in the Golden State. TroonCA.com is your one stop shop for: •
Booking Tee Times
•
Planning Group Outings
•
Discovering Stay & Play Packages
TroonCA.com
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GETAWAYS // NEVADA // MESQUITE
2 The Nicklausdesigned Coyote Springs Golf Club turns 10 this year.
A pair of Arnold Palmer layouts highlight the Oasis Golf Club.
The par-71 Falcon Ridge sits on the ruddy cliffs above Mesquite.
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A One-Stop Shop
To golf Mesquite, Nevada, simply key in a URL with those three words. Omit spaces and commas. Few golf-vacation packagers custom-fit an itinerary with the efficiency of Golf Mesquite Nevada. This turnkey operation builds a golf trip that hits the sweet spot between your budget and your appetite for great golf. Realtionships with area hotels and courses—including the toprated Sand Hollow and Coral Canyon in nearby St. George, Utah—ensure the best possible deal. Additional courses include both the Palmer and Canyons layouts at Oasis Golf Club, Coyote Springs, Falcon Ridge and a trio of St. George-area layouts: Sunbrook, Sun River, Green Spring and Sky Mountain. golfmesquitenevada.com COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
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Strike it rich at the Eureka Casino Resort, a 60-acre property with welcoming rooms and suites, resort pool, dining at Gregorys Mesquite Grill and acres of gaming activity, including sports book. golfmesquitenevada.com
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Equidistant from Mesquite and Las Vegas and flanked by mountains, Coyote Springs Golf Club bobs and weaves around 11 lakes and ponds and crushedstone waste areas. Warm up on the 19-acre practice facility. coyotesprings.com
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Oasis Golf Club’s two Arnold Palmer designs—Canyon and Palmer—both traverse rugged landforms with fairways and greens tucked between escarpments. The King said holes 5, 6 and 8 on the Palmer were among his best ever. theoasisgolfclub.com
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A 50-minute drive from Mesquite brings you to the 46,000-acre Valley of Fire State Park, a recreation area aglow with red sandstone formations and strikingly dramatic views of the Virgin Mountains.
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GETAWAYS // NEVADA // MESQUITE
Conestoga, Mesquite’s newest course, opened in 2009.
Hitch Up Your Team CasaBlanca Golf Course hosts the final round of this year’s Nevada Open (Nov. 6-8) and co-hosts the two preceding it,
Easy as OneTwo-Three One two-person, three-day team championship spotlights a threesome of classic Mesquite-area courses. NOBODY WILL confuse the rotation of courses used for the CasaBlanca II-Man with those used in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. But the second-year event will showcase to participants and onlookers the enjoyment of competing on three distinct layouts in the Mesquite region. Taking place Nov. 9-11, the II-M opens with a two-man scramble at The Palms Golf Course in next-door Littlefield, Ariz. Day two brings you to Conestoga Golf Club for a best-ball competition. CasaBlanca Golf Club hosts the final day’s action, a modified alternate-shot format to decide the champions. Open to men and women, the handicapped event features 9 a.m. shotgun starts all three days. The entry is $350 per player, and players receive discounted rates at the CasaBlanca Resort & Casino. casablancaresort.com/ii-m COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
Check It Out 1
A 10-minute drive across the Arizona border from Mesquite lies the co-host of the first two rounds of this year’s Nevada Open. Debuting in 1990, The Palms Golf Club boasts dramatic back-nine elevation changes, including a 114foot plunge from tee to fairway on the par-4 15th. palmsgolfclub.com
NAMED FOR the wagons that once carried settlers westward, Conestoga Golf Club invites golf-car-riding pioneers to traverse the myriad washes, arroyos, ravines, bluffs and bunkers that marble its lush fairways. Golf and Golfweek rank the 7,232-yard Gary Panks layout—located in the community of Sun City Mesquite—among the top 10 public courses in Nevada. After 18 holes, hit the 1880 Grille, which takes its name from the year pioneers arrived via the Old Spanish Trail, and gives its name to the enormous signature 1880 wings and 1880 Burger. Wash it all down with privatelabel 1880 Ale, a red beer available only on tap. conestogagolf.com
Crafted by Cal Olson, the walkable 7,011-yard CasaBlanca Golf Course takes in sweeping desert vistas, numerous water features and views of the Virgin Mountains. casablancaresort.com In addition to clean-air gambling, the 500-room CasaBlanca Resort & Casino features live shows, a lagoon-style pool, co-ed spa the fine-dining Katherine’s restaurant and more. casablancaresort.com CasaBlanca’s sister property, The 700-room Virgin River Resort & Casino features 24 bowling lanes, two restaurants and countless gaming tables. Guests also can access The Palms and CasaBlanca golf courses. virginriver.com
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Las Vegas Golf’s Perfect Pair -
High pairs are typically a great thing on the felt and they are even better on manicured turf, especially when they are the perfect Las Vegas golf pair of Rio Secco and Cascata. Experience two of Las Vegas’s best with these truly stunning and spectacular VICI golf courses. Located just minutes from the strip, Rio Secco has hosted the Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge, Tiger Jam and is the home of the Butch Harmon School of Golf. Book using promo code CAG1018 and save as much as $25 off the best available rates. * *
10% off the prevailing rate. $25 savings quoted is 10% off the dynamic Priced Peak Season rate of $249. Peak season rates valid through November 18, 2018. Savings may vary for alternative start times. Discount may not be combined with other discounts, specials, or other promos. Not valid to Double Down. Not valid to tournament or event play. Expires 01/31/2019.
Rio Secco Golf Club · riosecco.com · 702.777.2400
Rio Secco and Cascata.
No trip to the City of Entertainment is complete without a round at Cascata. Ranked #2 in Nevada “Best Courses You Can Play” by Golfweek, a round at Cascata is an experience unlike any other complete with forecaddies, jaw dropping elevation changes, waterfalls and rivers that cascade through the course and meanders through the clubhouse. Book using promo code CAG1018 and save as much as $40 off the best available rates. *
10% off the Peak Season rate of $399. Peak season rates valid through November 18, 2018. Savings may vary for alternative start times. Discount may not be combined with other discounts, specials, or other promos. Not valid to Double Down. Not valid to tournament or event play. Expires 01/31/2019.
Cascata · cascatagolf.com · 702.294.2005
Special Advertising Section
GETAWAYS // NEVADA// SUMMERLIN Cascata (above) and Rio Secco form a formidable one-two punch in Las Vegas,
2 Palm Valley is Golf Summerlin’s oldest, longest and most challenging course.
Summerlin’s Highland Falls abounds in riskreward decisions.
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Bet on This Pair
Rees Jones’ stellar Cascata and his recently renovated Rio Secco are the two money plays in Vegas. OWNED BY the VICI, the same folks who run Caesars Palace, the Rees Jones layouts at Cascata and Rio Secco epitomize upscale Las Vegas golf. A gated entry, palatial clubhouse, 418-foot natural waterfall, mandatory forecaddie, surreal course routing and flawless service make a day at Cascata feel like a steal at $295. The similarly dramatic Rio Secco, home also to the Butch Harmon School of Golf, last year celebrated its 20th birthday with a $2.1 million refurbishment by its original designer, who enhanced playability for the casual golfer, while adding nuances to challenge top players. cascatagolf.com; riosecco.net COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
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Among the many upgrades Jones made on his original Rio Secco design were regrassing and recontouring all putting surfaces, overhauling all greenside bunkers and installng new forward tees to reduce yardage and limit forced carries. riosecco.net
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Summerlin may be identified with the TPC that hosts the PGA Tour’s Shriner’s event, but for half the price of playing there, try the equally challenging and scenic 6,849-yard Palm Valley Golf Course. golfsummerlin.com
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Another great Summerlin find is Highland Falls Golf Club, a Billy Casper-Greg Nash design that rewards players with spectacular conditions, elevation changes, strategic bunkering and cameraworthy views of the Las Vegas Strip. golfsummerlin.com
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Perfect for a quick quality round, Summerlin’s par-60 Eagle Crest Golf Course even lets you hit driver. Designer Billy Casper said any hole here would ”fit right in” on a championship layout. golfsummerlin.com
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Special Advertising Section
GETAWAYS // NEVADA // LAS VEGAS
Salvatore’s Italian Restaurant at the Suncoast Hotel & Casino
Staying in Summerlin Bear’s Best Las Vegas skillfully strings together 18 holes from the more than 5,000 Jack Nicklaus has designed.
Jack in Spades
A “greatest hits” of Nicklaus holes, Bear’s Best Las Vegas lets the public peek into his private portfolio. ONLY THE privileged few have had the pleasure of playing Colorado’s Castle Pines Golf Club, but if you want to experience its par-5 14th hole, head to the eighth tee at Bear’s Best Las Vegas for a faithful re-creation. But with few exceptions, this collection of 18 Jack Nicklaus holes fittingly comes from his private and high-end desert courses at Desert Highlands, Desert Mountain, PGA WEST, Las Campanas, El Dorado and Cabo del Sol. Despite their disparate provenances, they come together stunningly in the Las Vegas desert, unified by flawless bentgrass greens and approaches, as well as by a private-club atmosphere as welcoming as that of the clubs inspiring the holes. Enjoy casual dining Jack’s Place and the Bear’s Den BBQ while savoring views of Red Rock Canyon. bearsbestlasvegas.com COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
Check It Out 1
One of Summerlin’s finest eateries is Vintner Grill, a Continental bistro with an outdoor seating area and two illuminated cabanas. vglasvegas.com All parking for the PGA Tour’s Shriners Hospitals for Children Open (Nov. 1-4) at TPC Summerlin is at the Suncoast Hotel & Casino. The tournament provides complimentary shuttle service to and from the course. pgatour.com
GOLF SUMMERLIN’S lodging partner, Suncoast Hotel & Casino, serves up incredible views of the Las Vegas Valley and the nearby Spring Mountains. The property offers 388 newly remodeled deluxe guest rooms at 550 square feet and 39 lavish guest suites ranging from 1,100 to 2,300 square feet. The casino features every conceivable game of chance. SC Prime Steakhouse and Salvatore’s Italian Restaurant provide fine dining, while the 90 Ninety Bar & Grill dishes up great casual fare. There’s also the Spa at Suncoast, bowling, movie theaters, bingo and a 500-seat showroom that harkens back to the glitzy Vegas showrooms of yore. suncoastcasino.com
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Bear’s Best Las Vegas features a FASTEE COURSE defined by a Green Bear tee marker approximately 100 yards in front of the red tees on every hole. The 3,004-yard distance is perfect for juniors, seniors, beginners and those ooking to improve their short game. bearsbestlasvegas.com Summerlin features a vibrant downtown as well as 19 subdivisions and a 150-mile trail system that will soon connect to the 200,000-acre Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. summerlin.com
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You head for warmer weather and Play the BEST Bear’s Best Las Vegas.
A course like no other, Bear’s Best Las Vegas is a unique golf course made up of 18 holes hand selected by Jack Nicklaus. This upscale, daily-fee Las Vegas golf course offers a high-end private club experience in a public facility.
Plus, our winter rates are HOT! Call the golf shop at (702) 804-8500 and ask about our special gift—only for Colorado AvidGolfer readers!
Special Advertising Section
GETAWAYS // UTAH
2 Sand Hollow’s John Fought-designed Championship Course continually earns raves from the national press.
Sand Hollow’s Wee Course allows players of all ages to pitch in and chip together.
3 Sand Hollow Resort tucks into its vibrant red-rock setting PH
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Aye of the Hurricane
Due west of St. George, Sand Hollow Resort has stormed to the forefront of Utah golf destinations. LOCATED IN HURRICANE, Sand Hollow Resort has blended the jaw-dropping beauty of its 27 award-winning golf holes with a magnificent resort that also takes full advantage of the glorious red-rock setting with six types of foursome friendly suites, spaciaous villas and luxury homes, two swimming pools and other amenities. The Clubhouse Grill turns into a live music venue Friday and Saturday nights. Equipment rentals and local opportunites for boating, biking, motorsports and hiking at Sand Hollow Reservoir, Snow Canyon State Park and Sand Mountain Dunes complete the picture. sandhollowresort.com COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
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Celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year, Sand Hollow also just staged its fifth Sand Hollow Open. Won twice by Zac Blair, the event was won this year by Taylor Montgomery, who pocketed $18,000. sandhollow.com
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Sand Hollow’s 7,300-yard John Fought-designed Championship Course perpeually tops Golfweek’s list of best Utah courses. It takes brilliant advantage of the red-rock outcroppings, natural vegetation and indigenous sand bunkers that define the region’s beauty. The back nine holes tightrope along ledges, undulate wildly and perch along a towering ridgeline. sandhollowresort.com
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Sand Hollow now includes two 9-holers: the 3,600-yard Links Course (complete with sheep fencing) and the family-friendly Wee Course.sandhollowresort.com
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Proximity to Sand Hollow State Park (2 mi), Zion National Park (33 mi) and other natural treasures adds mightily to Sand Hollow’s appeal. sandhollowresort.com
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Escape. Play. Discover. Relax. Home to one of America’s most prestigious golf courses, Sand Hollow Resort is also positioned perfectly for respite and adventure in the heart of the southwest near Zion National Park, Sand Hollow Reservoir, and the Sand Mountain Dunes.
Sand Hollow Resort Golf Course Rated #54 by Golfweek. Ranked #1 course in Utah for 9 consecutive years. Brian Oar
Book online at SandHollowResort.com or call 435-656-GOLF.
VACATION RENTALS | CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF | OUTDOOR ADVENTURES sandhollowresort.com | 5662 W. Clubhouse Dr. Hurricane, UT 84737 | 435-656-4653
sandhollowresort.com | 5662 W. Clubhouse Dr. Hurricane, UT | 435-656-GOLF
PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVE SANSOM PHOTOGRAPHY, COURTESY OF MOUNTAIN SHADOWS
The Short Course at Mountain Shadows
Three the SO, YOU THINK par-3 courses lack challenge? Any Coloradan who’s played Tom Doak’s 12-hole Mulligan Course at Ballyneal Golf and Hunt Club or Dave Pelz’s Short Course at The Club Cordillera will scoff at your naiveté. So will anyone who has taken on the Bad Little Nine at Scottsdale National Golf Club—a par-3 configuration so diabolical, club owner Bob Parsons will pay $1,000 to any player who breaks par. Think playing nine holes isn’t worth your time? Ask the guy who squeezes in nine before work at City Park Nine, at Family Sports during lunchtime or at Hyland Hills at twilight. He will no doubt take issue—and your money the next time you play, since you “don’t have the time” to work on your game. And if you think you need to spend five hours a day on your Arizona vacation spanking around that little white ball, three new, very different courses—The Short Course COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
at Mountain Shadows, Li’l Wick and the forthcoming Seven at Desert Mountain—will give you a golf fix while leaving plenty of time for life’s other pleasures. Each is quick, and challenging, and cultivates an oft-overlooked ingredient in golf: fun.
The Short Course at Mountain Shadows On the seventh hole of the par-54 Short Course at Mountain Shadows Resort in Paradise Valley, a plaque honors the late Arthur Jack Snyder, the designer of the resort’s original par-56 course. “Created to be a challenging, yet fun and enjoyable golf experience,” the inscription reads. “What the game needs.” Snyder’s course opened in 1961. Its star rose with the resort’s before declining in popularity as course development exploded in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. Snyder died in 2005, the year after the resort (and his course) at the base of Camelback Mountain
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closed and a decade before its demolition and brilliant rebirth under the aegis of Scottsdale’s Westroc Hospitality. Clearly, what the game needed then, it still needs now, and who better to meet that need than Snyder’s right-hand man for 25 years, Forrest Richardson? “Fun golf is defined by presenting puzzles that beckon the player back for more,” Richardson said in an interview. “At Mountain Shadows we have created just that—a series of riddles that are demanding, but all the while enjoyable.” How right he is. The holes on Richardson’s layout—which opened last year and measures between 1,735 and 2,310 yards—range from 75 to 193 yards, and feature no shortage of challenge. Mounds, bunkers, slopes and ponds guard the ample greens, which vary in size, shape (the fourth is a Biarritz, the 10th a punchbowl) and contour (the 13th and 14th are descriptively named Dells and Mummy). They are both fiddly coloradoavidgolfer.com
and eminently fair, producing numerous fun putts. The sly addition of “Forrest’s Wager”—a rollicking par-2 putting hole after hole 17— makes the longish journey to the 18th tee somewhat shorter. You can walk or ride the entire course in two hours and never feel like you saw the same hole twice (though you might do a double-take if occasional visitor Paige Spiranac stops by). The sleek, modern clubhouse boasts large framed reproductions of vintage ads for Wilson golf balls, Jaymar Sansabelt slacks and McGregor Cupioni Rayon shirts—all popular items during the resort’s first iteration. Fun photographs of original owner Martin Stern, Jr. with celebrities also hang in spots throughout the hotel, but the resort is anything but a throwback. Private cabanas surround the two outdoor pools. Modern amenities and swish furnishings appoint the rooms, and the open kitchen at the popular Hearth ’61 (named for the year of Paradise Valley’s incorporation) turns out an
impeccable rack of lamb, tomahawk rib-eye and sublime salads and sides. The course welcomes the public to share in the fun, especially this December 19, when it resurrects the Mountain Shadows Golf Open. At $500 per player (food included) for the event and $169 a night, you could find yourself going “short” for a long time. mountainshadows.com; 855-485-1417
Li’l Wick About a 45-minute drive northwest of Phoenix, Wickenburg Ranch calls itself a Golf & Social Club—an apt description of the two forces that mingle organically at Li’l Wick, the nine-hole, par-3 sidekick to the property’s award-winning par-71 18-hole course known now as Big Wick. Bill Brownlee and Wendell Pickett of Phoenix-based M3 Companies designed both courses. While the big one’s an absolute mustplay, the little one’s a can’t-miss. The course pivots around the lakeside Watering Hole, a sports bar where golfers check in by writing
their name on a chalkboard. No tee times, no dress codes, no pace of play enforcement. Just wait your turn. For $25—$15 if played in conjunction with the “regulation” course—you get to play nine holes from one of three sets of tees: Revolver, Bullet and Spur. The longest hole measures 187 yards; the shortest, 62. It’s a mini Big Wick, with ample fairways and ampler greens making for a fun experience. Lakes factor into a couple of holes, but not if you’re playing from the forward Spur tees, from which even a non-golfer could play the whole course with a putter. Music streams from speakers on every hole, while drinks flow from the Watering Hole, located just a short walk along a wooden footpath from just about every tee and green. A giant hammock and numerous cozy seating areas reinforce the chill social vibe, and when it gets late, you can head to holes six through nine or the putting area for illuminated night golf. wickenburgranch.com; 855-878-1703
Fun Way PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF LIL’ WICK
Short takes on SHORT COURSES changing the Arizona golf landscape. By JON RIZZI
Lil’ Wick
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Fall 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
RENDERING COURTESY OF DESERT MOUNTAIN
Seven at Desert Mountain
Seven at Desert Mountain The same team that designed Wickenburg Ranch’s Li’l Wick—Bill Brownlee and Wendell Pickett of Phoenix-based M3 Companies—is putting the finishing touches on a similar project at the Desert Mountain, the 8,000-acre development on the northern tip of Scottsdale. “Seven”—an 18-hole par-54 course so named because it will join the exclusive enclave’s six private Jack Nicklaus-designed layouts—will occupy a 90-acre parcel just west of the existing entrance on North Cave Creek Road. Seven will have its own entrance, one “that brings you into an enclosed space and focuses on the elegance of the community,” Brownlee says. A total of 190 custom, semi-custom and condominium COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
homes ranging from 2,200 to 6,500 square feet will eventually border the course. The activity, however, will center around Seven’s Drewett Works-designed clubhouse. Perched on a hill with dramatic views of both the mountains and valley, this fun and family-friendly community gathering place will feature an indoor-outdoor gastro pub, large patios for dining and entertainment, welcoming fire pits and bocce courts. The course will have three sets of tees and measure more than 3,000 yards from the tips. Designed for all skill levels, the course, like all others at Desert Mountain, will feature bentgrass tees, fairways and greens. Inspired by Li’l Wick, the course at Seven will have a lighted putting green, seating areas and music that extends from
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the clubhouse, creating a lively, entertaining and interactive experience. “This place will be a reflection of how we like to have fun with our own families,” Pickett says. “It will be social, playable, visual – while honoring the quality of the other six courses at Desert Mountain.” “This in an amazing amenity. The assets it will bring to our club are special and unique,” says Desert Mountain CEO Damon DiOrio. “It’s a two-hour round of golf on a course in premier condition. It’s also highly conducive to introducing spouses, children, and grandchildren to the game, and having it be a highly social event, while also being an excellent short-game practice opportunity for the better player.” desertmountain.com/seven; 602-385-1675 coloradoavidgolfer.com
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PHOTOGRAPH BY BEN BAROCAS
GAME FACE: Keenum stripes one during Julyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course.
COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
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The Case of the 2-handicap QB If new Broncos signal-caller CASE KEENUM can move the Broncos down the field the way he moves a golf ball down the fairway, the team will be in the hunt come January.
By SAM ADAMS
CASE KEENUM stood over a two-foot putt at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course during a round of golf—an experience that hardly matched the grueling pressure of playing in an NFC Championship Game six months earlier. The situation, however, was far from relaxing. With stargazing eyes of a full gallery upon him at the annual American Century Championship, the Denver Broncos’ new starting quarterback inexplicably rolled away from the pocket, missing his open target. “I tried to tap it in,” said Keenum, recalling his embarrassing moment with a Scotty Cameron putter. “It’s the one that we’d give each other—you know, ‘that’s good.’ But I just yanked it, and that made me pretty mad.” Finishing tied for 24th (with 40 points in the Modified Stableford scoring system) was not bad for Keenum, a 2-handicap, considering it was his first appearance in the celebrity tournament. The missed putt reminded Keenum of where his game needs work. “I need to get my putting better. That’s a big deal,” he said. “I think my ball striking is pretty good.” Kimberly Keenum, who met Case while both attended Wylie High School in Abilene, coloradoavidgolfer.com
Tex., walked the Tahoe course with her husband of seven years while her brother Brian served as his caddie. “I don’t think he knew what he was in for,” Case said. Keenum was one of five NFL quarterbacks to finish among the top 25 in Tahoe. Former Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo won the tournament. Super Bowl champions Trent Dilfer, Mark Rypien and Aaron Rodgers also finished ahead of Keenum. When asked why quarterbacks seem to be such good golfers, Keenum paused, smiled and said, “Maybe it’s the skills mastery part of it, just the part where we just want to be perfect. I’m kind of that way with anything. I like to try things until I get it, and I always want to be a master. “Golf is one of those crafts, one of those skills that you never really all the way master. There’s always more to it. But I just love playing golf. I love the getaway it is for me. I love that in the offseason it’s a great hobby. It gets me outdoors, gets me active … Man, it totally engrosses my mind. I can only think about golf when I’m playing. I’ll talk in between shots, but golf just resets my mind.” Those moments to reset the mind on the Tahoe golf course are some of the precious
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few Keenum would have for relaxation before the beginning of another NFL season, and the start of Broncos training camp, where his new coaches, teammates—and fans—would anxiously await to analyze his every throw. Keenum replaced injured Vikings starter Sam Bradford early in the 2017 season, and led the team to 11 wins in his 14 regular-season starts. He finished with 22 touchdowns, while completing 67.6 percent of his passes— ranking second in the NFL only to New Orleans Saints’ star Drew Brees. Keenum and the Vikings dramatically beat Brees and the Saints, 29-24, in last year’s playoffs, on the “Minnesota Miracle” —a 61-yard touchdown catch-and-run to Stephon Diggs with no time remaining. The Vikings would go on to lose the Conference championship game, 38-17, to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles, but Keenum came away a winner during the off-season free-agent signing period. He received a two-year contract with the Broncos, a deal worth a reported $36 million. Keenum, who was named an offensive captain before the Broncos’ season-opener against the Seattle Seahawks, showed throughout training camp that he can provide Fall 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
PHOTOGRAPH BY BEN BAROCAS
GOING LONG: Keenum, here with Rams’ QB Jared Goff, tied for 24th at Tahoe with 40 Stableford points.
PHOTOGRAPH BY BEN BAROCAS
a much-needed boost to a Broncos passing offense that has experienced a steady drop—from 248 yards per game in 2015 to 208 in 2017. In coming to Denver, the Texas native has marveled at Colorado’s incredible terrain, but he knows the challenge lies in climbing Mount Elway and Peyton’s Peak. Intense scrutiny blankets every Broncos starting quarterback. Fans expect them to play DRIVING FOR DOUGH: up to par every possession of every game. Keenum in the Broncos’ It’s Von Miller-like pressure from fanatics $36 million man. and critics that can make a quarterback really uncomfortable. is the GM. He’s running the ship and it’d “I think playing quarterback anywhere is a big deal,” Keenum said. be cool to come play for him. And (Gary) “Usually, as you go, the team goes. But here Kubiak is in the building. Billy (offensive there’s definitely a history and tradition of coordinator Musgrave), Mike (quarterbacks great quarterback play. I’m reminded of that coach Sullivan) … guys that have a great daily when I walk in the building and see history of working with great quarterbacks. That was more important than necessarily John Elway’s poster up there. “It’s a big job, a tough, tough job. Once being a Broncos quarterback because John I got here I realized it. More so, that Elway and Peyton had played here before.” Kubiak, now a senior personnel advisor for the Broncos, was head coach of the SIGNING BONUS: The QB is keen on Houston Texans when the team signed connecting with kids. Keenum as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He’d played collegiately at the University of Houston, where he won two Conference USA Most Valuable Player awards and set several NCAA career passing records that still stand today—including most touchdowns and passing yards. While preparing for the NFL Scouting Combine, Keenum spent a fair amount of time on the links with members of the University of Houston golf program. Jonathan Dismuke, who is director of golf and men’s golf coach at COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
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Of his competitive rounds with John Elway, Keenum says, “I’m trying to keep my day job, you know? Playing golf with your boss, you can’t play too well.” U of H, said Keenum could’ve made the Cougars’ golf team if he’d more time to devote to the sport while in college. “The one thing I’ll tell you is, I’m not going to tell Case he’s not good enough because he’s proven people wrong in that regard—whether it’s football or anything,” Dismuke says. He and Keenum have played rounds together frequently. “Physically, I believe had he spent the amount of time playing golf that he did playing football … absolutely he could’ve played at the Division I level, and potentially maybe played professionally. “He’s extremely competitive and always is wanting to know how he can get better. It’s not okay for him just to be good in whatever it is he’s doing. He’s going to pursue mastery, try to improve technique and his overall ability. He wants to get a simulator in his house so he can practice in the winter because he’s always trying to get better.” The trail of greatness left by Manning and Elway has proven to be intimidating for others to follow on the football field. On the putting greens though, Keenum has held his own against both gridiron greats. “They’ve asked me to play a few times,” Keenum said. “It’s always competitive. It goes coloradoavidgolfer.com
back and forth—those guys are really good golfers. “And I’m trying to keep my day job, you know? Playing golf with your boss, you can’t play too well.” As a youngster Keenum learned to play golf in the Texas heat by going out on municipal courses with his father, Steve. “He’s the golfer … I’m the duffer,” said Steve Keenum, who is a former high school and college football coach who has channeled his time into serving with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). “Case is God-gifted athletically. I’m an old offensive lineman so I have to overcome a lot. But we would play in Alpine, Texas, in the Davis mountains of the Chihuahua Desert. It’s kind of arid, but a nice little course. We got him some smaller clubs to swing. When I’d hit one that I didn’t like, he’d chase it and I’d let him hit it. That’s how he starting playing. And then we played off and on as he started growing up. He got into high school and decided he wanted to play on the golf team. So his senior year he played golf.” When the two get together now for a father-son round “I give him some strokes, and let him play from the up tees,” Case Keenum said. “He makes a birdie or two every now and then, still shows me how it’s done.” Like his father, Keenum is actively involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes FCA. His faith-based book, Playing For More: Trust Beyond What You Can See, was released in September. He explained its title before moving onto his next interview. “I’m playing for more than just winning, more than breaking records or winning championships,” Keenum said. “I’m playing more than providing for my family. I’m playing for more than just trying to make a name for myself. I want people to know that I’m a Christian first and I just happen to be a football player. I’m playing, honestly, first and foremost, to glorify Him in all that I do. “As long as I’m striving to do that, I think all the other things fall into place.” It doesn’t matter if he’s clutching a putter or gripping a football, Keenum always maintains a firm belief that he will be successful. After a dismal finish in 2017, the Broncos are holding faith that Keenum is the right quarterback to lead them back into the ranks of Super Bowl contenders in 2018. As of press time, the team’s record behind the 2-handicap was 2-0.
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Fall 2018 | COLORADO AVIDGOLFER
Northern Are For the first time in 68 years, the Open Championship will return to ROYAL PORTRUSH next July, shining a light on one of golf ’s most desirable destinations. By TOM MACKIN
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CARR GOLF
WHEN LOCAL political parties, along with the British and Irish governments, signed the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland in 1998, the long-term ramifications beyond a more peaceful country were unknown. Two decades later, one byproduct is perhaps the most unlikely of all: the return of the Open Championship in 2019 to Royal Portush, which had hosted it once before in 1951. Why now? A fantastic host venue, naturally, and a calming of “The Troubles” certainly helped. So too did having three native sons win six majors in the past eight years. With tickets already sold out for the four days of competition next July, expectations are high for what many say will be the biggest sporting event in the island’s history, far exceeding the 2006 Ryder Cup at the K Club in Ireland.
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Irish Eyes Smiling
TRUE LINKS: A mere 13 miles across the Irish Sea from Scotland, Royal Portrush is the only club outside of the mainland UK to have hosted the Open Championship.
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COLORADO AVIDGOLFER | Fall 2018
Royal County Down
Slieve Donard Hotel
Ardglass Golf Club
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF CARR GOLF
“It’s without precedent for the exposure it will bring to golf in Ireland in terms of the global impact,” said Marty Carr, owner of the Dublin-based tour operator Carr Golf. “I’d be very bullish on the impact the Open will have. I think it will be exponentially greater than the impact of the Ryder Cup.” It will also highlight a region where the course roster is varied and rich. So much so that Northern Ireland now runs neck and neck with the Southwest of Ireland as a favored destination for American golfers. That’s happened for various reasons, Carr says. “One is obviously Royal County Down being rated No. 1 (by Golf Digest in its World 100 Greatest Courses outside of the U.S.) in the world,” he said. “That put it on the map, particularly for the trophy hunters. Royal Portrush getting the Open is another factor. But probably the most important factor involves Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell. Everybody says there must be something in the water up there in Northern Ireland. But the courses can stand on their own two feet.” Indeed they can. On a trip last May sponsored by Carr Golf, I saw firsthand why Royal Portush is a fitting venue for the Open Championship. Massive in scale with a memorable seaside setting, the Dunluce Links course (there’s also the Valley Course onsite) will offer the world’s best a proper challenge. So important was getting the Open that the club willingly discarded its final two holes and built two new ones— the seventh and eighth—on land previously used on the Valley Course. As expected on a true links, wind will be the unpredictable factor. You can, however, be certain of comfortable accommodations at the nearby Craignamara Guest House, while both the Giant’s Causeway and Bushmills Distillery are worthy off-course stops. Just down the road from Portrush is Portstewart Golf Club, where the front nine of The Strand Course may lack the glamour of Royal County Down’s but comes very close in drama. A memorable elevated tee kicks off the round, with numerous fairways then dwarfed by towering dunes, especially on the par-4 second. As for Royal County Down itself, just listen to what Carr hears from his customers. “In terms of my experience after 30 years in this business, 50 percent of the people who walk off Royal County Down say it’s the best golf course they have ever played, which is extraordinary feedback,” said Carr. Having played it twice now, I understand that verdict. With the exception
Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links
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Giant’s Causeway
Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links
Portstewart Golf Club
Royal County Down
Bushmills Distillery
Tom Mackin is an Arizona-based freelance writer. For more information on Carr Golf visit carrgolf.com or call 855-617-5701.
Dunluce Castle
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of the final two holes (the 17th fairway has an incongruous pond and the 18th is fine if unremarkable), it’s a joyful walk. If the wind is up, however, forget the scorecard. Hiring a veteran caddie here is worth the fee. As is staying at the iconic Slieve Donard Hotel, located a very brief walk from the course. Ardglass Golf Club, founded in 1896, is less a hidden gem than an overshadowed one, thanks to its higher profile neighbors. It’s a fun layout with a wonderful seaside setting and historic clubhouse (the origins of which date back to the 15th century). “It’s not a big course, but I would see it as a bit of break from Royal County Down and Royal Portrush, which will both test you to your core,” said Carr. “It’s shorter but still has those links challenges and is right on the water.” And it may just have the best foursome of par 3s in the country. Ardglass is also upping its game by currently implementing a course development plan that includes changing all bunkers to a revetted style and creating new green complexes on almost half of the holes. With more direct f lights to Dublin from the U.S. than to Belfast, you’ll likely begin and/or end your trip to Northern Ireland two hours to the south in Ireland’s capital. A 20-minute drive east of Dublin Airport are two notable courses. Portmarnock Golf Club celebrates its 125th anniversary next year when it hosts the British Amateur (as it also did in 1949). It’s a gentle walk buffeted by the wind off the Irish Sea, plus the green fee includes lunch in a clubhouse filled with interesting bits and pieces of club history. Just to the north is Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links, featuring a course designed by architect Stan Eby and Bernhard Langer, in 1995. The pair crafted a fine layout with a back nine that weaves in and around goodsized dunes. Just off the first fairway lies the final resting place of Jameson family members, who long ago owned the very land you will be walking on. The modern hotel will cure your jet lag with a comfortable bed in a room overlooking the sea. If you prefer a last night in the heart of Dublin, splurge on the luxurious Merrion Hotel. Well worth it. Now back to next year’s Open at Royal Portrush. What if one of Northern Ireland’s native sons were to raise the Claret Jug after the final round? “It will be absolute and utter carnage, in the best sense of the word,” said Carr. “An Irish winner would be very fitting and the icing on the cake.”
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Blind Shot THE UNSEEN GAME
The Comeback Course
Southwestern Colorado’s Cornerstone Club rises from the dead. since hung his own shingle. “It wasn’t Armageddon,” he says, describing the scene he encountered in July 2017. “The turf was in surprisingly good condition, as was the irrigation system.” With the club wanting to maintain the course’s design characteristics within a modest budget, Dusenberry says he and design partner, Jim McKenna, applied “a pretty light touch. Most people wouldn’t notice most of the changes but they’ll make the course more playable, sustainable and efficient to operate.” Working with superintendent Jason Stroehlein, Dusenberry’s team focused on reducing the number of tees, contracting approaches and shoring up the greens—areas that are bentgrass. Somewhat less “low mow“ bluegrass than before now carpets the fairways and rough. Dusenberry also modified the sizes and
shapes of the dazzlingly white-sand bunkers for ease of maintenance, improved drainage and protection from wildlife. “We removed the ones that were more aesthetic than strategic and, in some cases, combined two or three bunkers into one,” he explains. He also eliminated many of their noses and gave the lips a more “natural” look. The overall guiding principles, he says, were to improve strategy, playability, memorability, player enjoyment, aesthetics and long-term water usage. Moreover, they’re “giving our client the most creative and cost-effective results.” Members got a taste of those results this year when the practice range and a handful of holes reopened. By late next summer they’ll be playing a full 18 on a memorable course they thankfully wouldn’t let die. — Jon Rizzi
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CORNERSTONE CLUB
THE ASPENS have turned on the Uncompahgre Plateau, and so have the fortunes of the private club that sits high atop it. Located on approximately 4,800 acres 40 miles northeast of Telluride, Cornerstone Club opened in 2007 to universal acclaim, but its breathtaking Greg Norman-designed golf course—which takes in views of the West Elks, Cimarron Ridge and San Juan Mountains—soon fell victim to the recession. By 2012 the original developer, Texas billionaire Ray Hunt, had sold it all off. Shortly thereafter, the course went fallow. The Cornerstone Owners Association took over, and during the past two years a handful of devoted property owners and investors pooled substantial resources to re-launch the golf course and clubhouse. For this, they brought on former Norman associate Matt Dusenberry, who had
THE 9,000-FOOT VIEW: Cornerstone’s 578-yard Par-5 18th and the 17 holes that precede it will reopen in 2019.
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