Fall 2015

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2015

Contents

In Evey Issue 8

Forethoughts

34

Jack and Thrills

By Jon Rizzi

18

Fall

Features

’net Score On-course micturition, player “brands” and who’ll win the FedEx Cup?

21

the Gallery 2018 U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor, Jimmy Gunn, 14er Golf, David Feherty, a PTSD golf event and more

104 The Games

of Golf

The Courses That Jack Built

player’s Corner

29

profile Broncos CEO Joe Ellis.

32

state of play

What to do when the anchored putter goes away. By Jerry Walters

36

gear

Knuth Golf’s High Heat is the best driver you’ve never heard of.

By Jon Rizzi

side Bets

39

fareways Allred’s Restaurant.

By Gary James

42

92 A Visit from Jack Nicklaus As Colorado celebrates a Century of Golf, the most formidable golfer of the last 100 years returns to the state that helped launch his career.

By Jon Rizzi

98 Shrine to the Game For devotees of the sport’s legacy and its legends, the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine most definitely hits the sweet spot.

By Denny Dressman

tapping in Breckenridge Brewery.

By Cody Gabbard

44

niceDrives Lincoln MKX, Volvo XC90 T6 and Mazda MX-5 Miata.

By Isaac Bouchard

lesson

Getting down on iron shots. By Alex Fisher

11

MILE HIGH GOLF AT $52.80 Exclusive autumn offers from 16 Colorado courses.

On The Cover Jack Nicklaus

Photograph by Jim Mandeville/ Nicklaus Design

4

Colorado AvidGolfer | Fall 2015

47

WINTER TRAVEL SPECIAL A selective guide to the best of Arizona, Nevada and Utah.

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Fall 2 015 Volu me 14, Nu m b er 6 publisher

Allen J. Walters editor

Jon Rizzi SALES, MARKET ING & ADVERT IS ING associate publisher

Chris Phillips account manager

Vivian Keesling digital and social media manager

Michael Petrelli office and operations manager

Cindy P. Nold projects and special events manager

Ryan McLean ART & EDIT ORIAL art director

Jani Duncan Smith editor-at-large

Tom Ferrell

automotive editor

Isaac Bouchard

contributors

Sam Adams, E.J. Carr, Tony Dear, Denny Dressman, Sue Drinker, Dick Durrance II, Chris Duthie, Gary James, Ted Johnson, Kaye W. Kessler, Todd Langley, Kim D. McHugh, Jerry Walters p r i n c i pa l s

Ray L. Baker, C. Don Baker, Dick B. Baker ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: cindy@coloradoavidgolfer.com EDITORIAL INQUIRIES AND LETTERS: jon@coloradoavidgolfer.com CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SUBSCRIPTIONS: 720-493-1729 MAILING ADDRESS: 7200 S. Alton Way #A-180, Centennial, CO 80112 FAX: 720-482-0784 NEWSSTAND INFORMATION: 720-493-1729

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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 14, Number two.

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 © 2015 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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Colorado AvidGolfer | Fall 2015

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Forethoughts

Jack and Thrills

A

8

Colorado AvidGolfer | Fall 2015

PHOTOGRAPH BY TED MCINTYRE

T THIS TIME LAST YEAR, the 2014 BMW Championship at Cherry Hills consumed Colorado’s attention—and that of this publication. Long after the last grandstands came down and the PGA Tour awarded the BMW its 2014 Tournament of the Year, people couldn’t wait for the event to return.

However, the Illinois-based Western Golf Association, which operates the BMW, didn’t include a Colorado venue among its tournament sites for the remainder of the decade. But rumors are swirling like the winds off Lake Michigan that the penultimate event in the FedEx Cup series could return to the Mountain Time Zone as early as 2020.

Between now and then, however, we’ll have the 2018 U.S. Senior Open, which The Broadmoor will host June 25-July 1. Ten years will have passed since the Colorado Springs resort last hosted the championship (won by Argentine Eduardo Romero), and the festivities will coincide with the 100th anniversary of the grand hotel’s grand opening.

This November 14, The Broadmoor will host another centennial celebration when the Colorado Golf Foundation stages its Century of Golf Gala. Six living legends of Colorado golf will be honored, and the great Jack Nicklaus, will conduct a fireside chat with golf writer Tim Rosaforte.

Nicklaus won the 1959 U.S. Amateur at The Broadmoor and designed the resort’s Mountain Course in 2006. During the half-century in between, he racked up victories in 18 majors and eight senior majors—both records—and 73 PGA Tour events. One of those senior major wins came at Cherry Hills in the 1993 U.S. Senior Open. He’s also designed close to 400, including 12 still open for play in Colorado.

I write about Colorado’s impact on Nicklaus and his impact on the state in this issue’s cover story (page 92). What intrigues me most about the Golden Bear is not merely the singularity of his accomplishments, but the unanimity of opinion about his character. The snide rumours that buzz like flies around other star athletes go silent around him.

This issue not only shines a spotlight on Nicklaus; it also turns our attention towards destinations where the sun shines throughout the winter.

Our Travel Guide, which begins on page 47, soaks up the best of resorts, courses and activities in Arizona, Nevada and Utah.

But before you make that trip to Scottsdale, take advantage of the invigorating fall golf season here. For the seventh consecutive year, our Mile High Golf at $52.80 promotion (page 11) delivers exclusive deals at 16 of the state’s foremost courses.

As proven by the quality of our courses and the excitement surrounding last year’s BMW, this year’s Century of Golf Gala and the 2018 U.S. Senior Open, Colorado is an incredible golf state, one worthy of again hosting a PGA Tour event—maybe even on a course that Jack built.

—JON RIZZI

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FALL COLORADO GOLF AT ITS FINEST FOR $52.80 12 APPLEWOOD GOLF COURSE

14 GRAND ELK RANCH & CLUB

12 CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN

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14 GREEN VALLEY RANCH

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12 COLORADO NATIONAL

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14 THE GREG MASTRIONA

GOLF COURSES AT

HYLAND HILLS

13 COMMONGROUND

GOLF COURSE 13 DEER CREEK GOLF CLUB 13 THE GOLF COURSE AT

FOX ACRES

15 THE RIVER COURSE AT KEYSTONE 15 PLUM CREEK GOLF CLUB 16 RACCOON CREEK

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15 HIGHLANDS RANCH GOLF CLUB

16 RED HAWK RIDGE

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15 KEYSTONE RANCH GOLF COURSE

16 THE RIDGE AT

CASTLE PINES NORTH See following pages for details.

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APPLEWOOD GOLF COURSE

14001 West 32nd Avenue, Golden, CO 80401 303-279-3003 | Appelwoodgc.com

LVOCA R VO

Opened in 1961, Applewood Golf Course has been regarded as one of the best Denver golf locations for the whole family.

Set against the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and 15 minutes from Denver, the course is a tribute to its breathtaking surroundings as well as the beauty of the game of golf itself. Whether you’re looking for tournaments, leagues, a wedding location or even 18-holes of golf, Applewood is a location that won’t disappoint.

OFFER INCLUDES:

18-holes of golf, cart, range balls, hot dog, chips and soft drink for two (2) players for $52.80. Offer valid any day after 1pm.

Mile High Golf dates are Monday, September 14th through Sunday, September 27th.

CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN RESORT

3225 Broadmoor Valley Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906 719-538-4000 | CheyenneMountain.com Designed to challenge Colorado players at any level, Cheyenne Mountain Resort features an immaculately groomed 18-hole championship course. Designed by the legendary Pete Dye and set alongside a 35-acre lake, the rugged mountain ridgeline and bright blue southern Colorado sky create one of the state’s best golf experiences. More than 300 days of sunshine make this course perfect to swing away on all year long.

OFFER INCLUDES:

Enjoy a round of golf Monday through Thursday after 12:00 noon at Cheyenne Mountain Resort for only $52.80. Please contact our golf pro shop no later than seven days prior to your desired tee time. Subject to Availability.

Mile High Golf dates are Monday, September 14th through Sunday, September 27th.

(The golf course will be closed September 15th and 16th for aerification.)

COLORADO NATIONAL GOLF CLUB

2700 Vista Parkway, Erie, CO 80516 303-926-1723 | ColoradoNationalGolfClub.com Colorado National Golf Club is the premier golf facility on the Front Range. With five sets of tees, the course is playable for all levels, and can stretch to 7,676 yards for that major championship. Our award-winning facility houses the state’s best clubhouse, practice facility, restaurant, patio and indoor golf practice facility. The golf course was awarded the Best Course on the Front Range in 2011, Best Clubhouse in 2011, and the Best Food in 2011. The golf shop is a former winner of the prestigious “TOP 100” golf shops in the country.

OFFER INCLUDES:

$52.80 includes green fee, cart, range balls, and a sleeve of new balls. Valid Monday through Friday anytime and weekends after 11 a.m.

Mile High Golf dates are Monday, September 14th through Sunday, September 27th.

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Designed by world-renowned architect Tom Doak and owned by the Colorado Golf Association, the state’s newest public course is also one of its most affordable golf experiences. It measures 7,200 yards and features mounded fairways, huge green complexes and plenty of subtle elevation changes.

While challenging enough to co-host the 2012 U.S. Amateur, CommonGround has multiple tees to create an enjoyable experience for all abilities.

OFFER INCLUDES:

18 holes of golf, cart and large bucket of range balls for $52.80. Valid anytime Monday through Thursday and after 1 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Mile High Golf dates are Monday, September 14th through Sunday, September 27th.

DEER CREEK GOLF CLUB

8135 Shaffer Parkway, Littleton, CO 80127 303-978-1800 | PlayDeerCreek.com Deer Creek Golf Club has a links-style layout that wanders through rolling hills covered with more than 40 acres of natural wetlands. The beautifully maintained landscape provides numerous natural challenges. The golf course features elevated greens guarded by numerous bunkers as well as the occasional island green. Risk-reward opportunities abound, but this course demands accuracy and strategic play to score.

OFFER INCLUDES:

Golf and cart for two players anytime Monday through Thursday.

Mile High Golf dates are Monday, September 14th through Sunday, September 27th.

THE GOLF CLUB AT FOX ACRES

3350 Fox Acres Drive East, Red Feather Lakes, CO 80545 970-881-2574 | GolfClubatFoxAcres.com Golf is played in all manner of environments, but it thrives best where there is a level of solitude and serenity. That means it thrives like crazy at Fox Acres. Designed by John Cochran, Fox Acres is one of Colorado’s golf courses that will leave you with a truly breathtaking experience. At 8,300 ft. above sea level and just shy of 6,500 yards from the tips, it’s a thinking person’s course from start to finish, which is just fine since there is enough peace and quiet around to allow for a good think.

OFFER INCLUDES:

Golf cart, range balls and one non-alcholic beverage per person. Offer valid any day, anytime.

Mile High Golf dates are Monday, September 14th through Sunday, September 27th. co l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c o m

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10300 E. Golfers Way, Aurora, CO 80010 303-340-1520 | CommonGroundGC.com

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GRAND ELK RANCH & CLUB

1300 Ten Mile Drive, Granby, CO 80446 970-887-9122 | GrandElk.com

LVOCA R VO

Inspired by the inland courses of the British Isles with its low lying vegetation and rolling terrain, Grand County’s only “heathland” style golf course showcases the rugged natural beauty you’d expect to find in Colorado. Designed to challenge the imagination and creativity of the finest golfers by using the rolling terrain and natural contours to influence shotmaking.

Yet it’s also perfectly suited for seniors, juniors and ladies.

OFFER INCLUDES:

Enjoy great fall golf and the best conditions of the year at Grand Elk for only $52.80 per person. Includes green fee, cart and range balls! Plus, save 25% on all golf apparel.

Good anytime, 7 days per week.

Mile High Golf dates are Monday, September 14th through Sunday, September 27th.

GREEN VALLEY RANCH GOLF CLUB

4900 Himalaya Road, Denver, CO 80249 303-371-3131 | GVRgolf.com Host to all three Colorado Open Championships, Green Valley Ranch Golf Club stretches to a demanding 7,249 yards and blends natural wetlands, creeks and towering cottonwoods.

The last three holes make up one of the best finishes in Colorado golf—score par or better and the first drink is on GVR.

OFFER INCLUDES:

18-hole green fee, 18-hole cart fee with GPS, driving range balls and one sleeve of Bridgestone E5, E6 or E7 golf balls.

Valid anytime Monday–Thursday and after 12pm on Friday, Saturday & Sunday.

Mile High Golf dates are Monday, September 14th through Sunday, September 27th.

THE GREG MASTRIONA GOLF COURSES AT HYLAND HILLS

9650 Sheridan Boulevard, Westminster, CO 80031 303-426-4653 (GOLF) | GolfHylandHills.com The Greg Mastriona Golf Courses at Hyland Hills originally opened in 1963 as one of the first 18-hole championship courses in the Northern Metropolitan area. Hyland Hills, being one of the most notable golf courses in Colorado, hosted the 1st annual Colorado State Public Links Championship in 1965 as well as several other CGA and USGA events over the years.

OFFER INCLUDES:

Two players with cart for $52.80. Gold Course all day MondayThursday and Friday-Sunday after 12:00pm.

Four players with carts for $52.80. Blue Course all day Monday-Thursday and Friday-Sunday after 12:00pm.

Mile High Golf dates are Monday, September 14th through Sunday, September 27th.

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Highlands Ranch Golf Club is an 18-hole semi-private golf club featuring a Hale Irwin-designed championship golf course.

The course, which opened in 1998, features a great variety of immaculately groomed holes. The 7,179- yard, par-72 layout boasts expansive bentgrass greens that many say are the best in the region.

OFFER INCLUDES:

18 holes of golf, cart and warm-up balls. Offer valid MondayThursday anytime, Friday before 11:30am, Saturday and Sunday after 1pm.

Mile High Golf dates are Monday, September 14th through Sunday, September 27th.

KEYSTONE RESORT 970-496-4250

|

GolfKeystone.com

With two distinctly different 18-hole courses—Keystone Ranch Golf Course and The River Course at Keystone—Keystone Resort is one of the high country’s top golf retreats. The Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed Keystone Ranch course plays around a pristine 9-acre lake, while The River Course, which was designed by Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, winds along the Snake River and offers stunning views of Lake Dillon.

OFFER INCLUDES:

Play Keystone Ranch or The River Course at Keystone for $52.80 per person. Rate includes greens fee, golf cart and practice balls. Tee times may be reserved up to 48 hrs in advance Sunday – Thursday after 12:00 p.m. and must be booked online at www.golfkeystone.com. Use promo code 15KAVID for discount. Stay the night and receive discounted lodging. Call 844-235-3077 and mention promo code 15AVID to reserve a room today. Blackout dates apply.

PLUM CREEK GOLF CLUB

331 Players Club Drive, Castle Rock, CO 80104 303-660-2200 | GolfPlumCreek.com Plum Creek Golf Club is located in beautiful Castle Rock, Colorado. It’s a former TPC Golf Course and was host to a Champions Tour event for several years. Past champions include Miller Barber, Lee Elder, Bruce Crampton and Gary Player. This Pete Dye golf course features many of the state’s best holes. The par-3 12th consists of 10,000 railroad ties surrounding the green. “The Best Finish in Colorado” is highlighted by the par-3 17th—all over water.

OFFER INCLUDES:

One green fee, golf cart and $10 gift card (merchandise only).

Offer valid Monday through Friday.

Mile High Golf dates are Monday, September 14th through Sunday, September 27th.

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RACCOON CREEK GOLF COURSE

7301 West Bowles Avenue, Littleton, CO 80123 303-973-4653 | RaccoonCreek.com

LVOCA R VO

This Denver-area golf course is a par-72 that plays between 5,130 and 7,045 yards depending on tee location. The established landscape provides some challenging elevations and water hazards for the experienced golfer, while our fairway designs can be used to make Raccoon Creek the perfect course for the first-time golfer to learn how to play.

OFFER INCLUDES:

18 holes of golf and cart for $52.80. Offer valid MondayThursday anytime, Friday-Sunday after 12:00 p.m.

Mile High Golf dates are Monday, September 14th through Sunday, September 27th.

RED HAWK RIDGE GOLF COURSE

2156 Red Hawk Ridge Drive, Castle Rock, CO 80108 720-733-3500 | RedHawkRidge.com Outstanding playing conditions are enjoyed on bentgrass tees, while generous, lush bluegrass fairways lie in contrast with the scrub oak and native grasses. The beautifully manicured greens challenge golfers with subtle undulation. Five sets of tees welcome golfers of all experience and skill levels to enjoy a course with risk/reward opportunities through extensive mounding, strategically placed bunkers and greenside lakes.

OFFER INCLUDES:

Golf and cart for one player. Offer valid Monday through Thursday anytime and Friday through Sunday after 1p.m.

Mile High Golf dates are Monday, September 14th through Sunday, September 27th.

THE RIDGE AT CASTLE PINES NORTH

1414 Castle Pines Parkway, Castle Rock, CO 303-688-0100 | PlayTheRidge.com Consistently ranked as one of the best daily-fee courses in Colorado, The Ridge at Castle Pines North challenges golfers with massive elevation changes, myriad lakes and streams, and expanses of pine and Gambel oak. Stick around after your round for a brew and some seriously good grub on the clubhouse patio, which provides stunning views of Pikes Peak and Devil’s Head.

OFFER INCLUDES:

Golf, cart, practice balls, yardage book, scorecard and divot tool. Tee times valid after 12:00 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday and anytime Monday – Thursday. Tee times may be booked 3 days in advance at www.playtheridge.com, use promo code 5280. All players will need to sign up for the Troon Rewards to receive the $52.80 rate.

SPECIAL DATES: Mile High Golf at The Ridge is October 16th through October 29th.

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Heir Jordan?

It took the better part of the last century for most people to consider golf a sport instead of a game and to consider golfers athletes instead of skilled hobbyists. But now, with sports figures no longer referring to themselves as athletes but as “brands,” golfers have naturally followed suit.

Masters and U.S. Open winner Jordan Spieth, who already had his “own” issue of Golf Digest this year, will soon follow the likes of Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Greg Norman and dozens of other golfers who have their own logo.

Of course, athlete logos are nothing new. 1920s tennis superstar René Lacoste parlayed his “crocodile” nickname into an internationally recognizable—and iconically preppy—symbol that endures to this day. The silhouette of another Jordan—Michael—still flies high more than 12 years since his retirement from the NBA. So, which of these golfer’s logos will stand the test of time? Will any come close to Gary Player’s black knight, Jack’s golden bear or Arnie’s colorful umbrella? Go to coloradoavidgolfer.com and weigh in.

SEEK RELIEF: The right way to go.

No Joke Who hasn’t answered nature’s call on the golf course? Well, a number of unnamed Colorado sources have leaked this cautionary tale. Apparently an “overserved” golfer decided to “take relief ” in the landscaping of a home adjacent to a private golf course. When the homeowner, a woman, objected to his vertical micturition, the golfer grew belligerent and unapologetic, prompting calls to the clubhouse and the police.

An arrest followed. For not zipping his fly—and, more egregiously, his mouth—the perpetrator is now a registered sex offender.

Who’ll Cop the Cup? Going into last year’s BMW Championship at Cherry Hills, did anyone think Billy Horschel would? And did you think he’d win the FedEx Cup? “Any given Sunday” evidently doesn’t just apply to football. Who’s your prediction to take this year’s FedEx Cup? Tell us on Facebook!

18

Colorado AvidGolfer | Fall 2015

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NAMES

theGallery NEWS

|

NOTES

|

SOBERING HUMOR: David Feherty comes in September.

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF THE BROADMOOR AND ARAPAHOE HOUSE

CHAMPIONSHIP SITE: The ninth hole at The Broadmoor, host of the 2018 U.S. Senior Open.

A Funny Way to Help

T Senior Moment for a Centenarian

U

NLESS YOU’VE SPENT the last few months in the deep rough—or haven’t looked at this issue’s cover story—you know The Broadmoor will be hosting Colorado’s Century of Golf Gala November 14.

What you might not know is that in less than three years the five-star, five-diamond golf resort will celebrate its 100th birthday by welcoming the 2018 U.S. Senior Open—the dates of which ( June 25-July 1) roughly coincide with the 100th anniversaries of the hotel’s opening ( June 29, 1918) and golf course ( July 4, 1918).

Played on what is now known as the East Course, the 2018 U.S. Senior Open will mark co l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c o m

the ninth USGA championship and 23rd overall national championship contested at the legendary Colorado Springs compound.

The most recent were the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open, won by So Yeon Ryu, and the 2008 U.S. Senior Open, in which Eduardo Romero triumphed. In addition to Romero, Fred Funk, Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie and other Champions Tour stars, the field portends to include players who will become eligible between now and 2018 such as John Daly, Jerry Kelly, Billy Mayfair, Paul McGinley, José María Olazábal, Jesper Parnevik, Steve Stricker and David Toms. broadmoor.com

HE CUTTING WIT and colorful humor that animates David Feherty’s work on CBS, The Golf Channel and in print will no doubt enliven his keynote address at the 6th Annual Arapahoe House Luncheon September 15 at the Seawell Grand Ballroom at The Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

The winner of 10 events as a professional on the European and PGA Tours, Feherty claims his greatest victory came in 2006, when he went into recovery from alcohol addiction. “I didn’t quit drinking because I was a bad drunk,” he says. “I quit because I was a spectacular drunk. It got to be like a video game, where you get to the highest level and it’s not even a challenge.” Using humor and laughter as rehabilitative tool, Feherty is as charming as he is disarming. His message will not only entertain; it will resonate with the men and women whom Arapahoe House has championed for 40 years by providing accessible and affordable alcohol and drug treatment. Tickets are $100 per person. Sponsorships are still available. arapahoehouse.org Fall 2015 | Colorado AvidGolfer

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T Break a Tee for PTSD

S

TEFFAN TUBBS CALLS IT “the most important thing I’ve ever done in my 25 years in news—hands-down.” The 850 KOA morning show co-host is referring to ACRONYM, the documentary his production company, Mountain Time Media, will debut on Veterans Day. Subtitled “The Cross-Generational Battle with PTSD,” ACRONYM weaves together firsthand accounts of veterans from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, both Gulf Wars, Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan who are struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder—PTSD, or what has historically been called “hysteria,” “battle fatigue,” “shell-shock” and “nerves.”

By any name, Tubbs says, “veterans from 19 to 90 are saying the same things about the aftereffects of the trauma of war.” Moreover, he contends, it’s the chief factor behind a troubling epidemic. “Every day 76 veterans attempt to take their lives and 22 succeed,” claims Tubbs, whose goal with the film is to help lower those numbers.

“Even one is too many.”

By including older veterans, he also wants to eliminate the “soft” stigma long associated with the disorder. “I’ve been married to this man for

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Colorado AvidGolfer | Fall 2015

52 years,” says the wife of a Korean War veteran who only recently began PTSD therapy, “and I learned things I never knew about him.”

ACRONYM stems from Tubbs’ experience in Iraq, where he was embedded with members of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division from Ft. Carson. “I saw the danger our men and women were exposed to,” he says, “and we had some very close calls. Then, shortly after I returned, I learned that one of the soldiers, Captain Ian Weikel, was killed in the same Humvee in which he was protecting me. That news in itself traumatized me.”

To raise money for the film and awareness for PTSD treatment, Tubbs is hosting the ACROYNM Drive to Fight PTSD, a September 28 morning scramble at Arrowhead Golf Club in Littleton. The cost: $175 per person and $650 per foursome. “What’s great,” Tubbs says, “is that the film isn’t partisan—I have friends on both sides of the aisle—and it’s not relentlessly depressing. It’s hopeful. We look at all kinds of therapies—group, equine, canine, hiking, camping. And golf is hugely therapeutic. Just hitting balls produces enormous benefits.” To participate in the tournament, visit golfsquid.com or mountaintm.com/events-1.

ELLURIDE SKI & GOLF has acquired the 177-room Peaks Resort and Spa. The full-service hotel, located adjacent to the scenic 6,574-yard Telluride Ski & Golf Club, features a 42,000-square-foot spa with 32 treatment rooms, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, 9,100 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space and more than 73,000+ square feet of commercial space, which includes the golf shop, 19th hole and other amenities. The purchase follows the purchase of the award-winning Inn at Lost Creek in 2013.

“This truly marks the final phase of restoration of the Peaks to the worldwide, iconic stature it has previously enjoyed and deserves once again,” says Mike Theile of Peaks Capital Partners, which had owned the resort since 2009. For golfers, the deal could mean more options for stay-and-play possibilities. tellurideskiresort.com FEATURED PAIRING: The course and resort now have the same owner.

coloradoav idgo lf e r.c o m

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF MOUNTAIN TIME MEDIA AND TELLURIDE SKI & GOLF

theGallery

A Telluride Transaction

INVISIBLE WOUNDS: A film and golf tournament aim to help veterans ages 19 to 90 struggling with PTSD.

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T

HE 51st COLORADO OPEN at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club proved to be a memorable one. It marked the end of the 12-year HealthONE title-sponsorship era and the announcement of the five-year CoBank one. The Open also saw its first international winner since Canadian Dan Halldorson in 1982.

Scotland’s Jimmy Gunn took the event with a blistering final-round 65 that included eagles on holes 12 and 14. Gunn, 34, entered the day

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Colorado AvidGolfer | Fall 2015

trailing 2014 champion Ian Davis and 2013 champion Zahkai Brown by two strokes and finished ahead of Brown by one. A former caddie from Dornoch, Dunn had on his bag Parker resident Steve “Pepsi” Hale, the regular Tour caddie for Keegan Bradley, who had volunteered his time to any player needing a looper. After his victory, Gunn offered Hale a portion of his $23,500 winnings, but Hale suggested he instead donate it to The First Tee of Green Valley Ranch.

“Jimmy promptly gave us a $1,000 donation in his and Pepsi’s name,” reports Colorado Open Golf Foundation Chief Executive Officer Kevin Laura. “Other players have given us a portion of their pro-am skins winnings, have donated to us on-line when they register, or have donated to us from their other events/causes, but this is the first time in my nine years that a player gave us money from his winnings that day. Is that cool or what?”

coloradoav idgo lf e r.c o m

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF COLORADO OPEN GOLF FOUNDATION

Gunn Hits the Mark

PEPSI MAX: Hale (right) gave Gunn winning advice and The First Tee his share of the purse.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF STEVE BAUERLE

Shooting 54

HIT IT HIGH: Bauerle elevates his game to help kids.

T

ALK ABOUT ELEVATED tees.

GolfTEC Senior VP of Business Development Steve Bauerle, a PGA professional, has rolled his passions for golf, hiking and philanthropy into a quest to bring golf to the top all 54 of Colorado’s 14,000-foot-high mountains. As of August 9, he had summited 27 of these peaks and driven a wooden, biodegradable golf ball off all but five. By the time you read this, he will have added three more in the Sawatch Range— La Plata, Harvard and Columbia—though he no longer will bring his driver. “The environmentalists are all about leaving no trace,” Bauerle explains.

“So I’m going to be doing different golf activities on the top—like making a putt or bouncing a ball on a wedge.” Bauerle’s website, 14ergolf.com, chronicles his conquests and includes vertiginous videos. There’s also a purpose to his pursuit. “My goal is to raise awareness and money for two things I love: the mountains and the game of golf,” says Bauerle, who hopes to generate $25,000 apiece for The Boys and Girls Club, Gates Camp and The First Tee of Metro Denver. “One hundred percent of what I’ll raise goes to those charities,” he says. “This is all about helping kids.” Bauerle plans to summit No. 54—in all likelihood, Pikes Peak—next year. You can go online and pledge $5 for each future peak he bags or make a one-time donation. Donations are tax-deductible. 14ergolf.com

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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 2015 | Colorado AvidGolfer

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8/12/15 8:48 AM

Invitation to Redemption

A

T LAST YEAR’S BROADMOOR Invitation, Brad Grogg sank a curling, downhill 8-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to put him and his teammate, Mike Allred, in a playoff against the team of David Lee and Chris Hunt. Allred’s and Grogg’s momentum was short-lived, however, as they lost on the first playoff hole. “We thought about it all year, how we let one get away,” says Grogg, a Colorado Springs-based insurance broker. “It was in our heads to close the deal this year.” And they did. After being pushed to the final hole

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Colorado AvidGolfer | Fall 2015

It was like carrying the Stanley Cup around.”

The pair weren’t the only winners. The 60 players from across the country who competed in the marquee event—revived in 2014 after a 19-year hiatus—received five days of first-class, five-star accommodations, rounds on both the East and West courses and fabulous meals and gifts. Their spouses and families also enjoyed a raft of special activities. “The tournament made great strides from last year,” Grogg says. “Better competition. Longer matches. And getting to see guys from Oklahoma, Texas and all over.

I can’t wait to come back.” The 2016 Invitation will take place July 24-28. broadmoor.com WINNERS: Grogg (right) and Allred avenged last year’s loss.

in their two preliminary matches, Allred and Grogg faced another Colorado Springs-based twosome—John Blackburn and Jeff Stedman—in the championship. Having gone dormie after halving the par-3 16th, Allred and Grogg left nothing to chance on the par-5 17th, as Grogg’s third shot rattled the flagstick from 111 yards and dropped an inch from the cup. A couple of missed eagle attempts by their opponents later, and Allred-Grogg had a 3 and 1 victory “and a piece of Broadmoor history,” says Grogg. “We brought the trophy to the Golden Bee that night.

coloradoav idgo lf e r.c o m

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MIC GAROFOLO

theGallery

KEYNOTE: Broadmoor legend Dow Finsterwald welcomed players to the historic tournament.

Golf By Numbers

33 HONORABLE: Mary Weinstein

years after being named the Colorado Section 1982 PGA’s Player of the Year, Dennis Murray became the first golf professional also to win the Section’s PGA Teacher of the Year Award. Currently a Certified PGA Professional in Teaching and Coaching at Valley Country Club in Centennial, Murray preaches “Uncomplicated Golf,” and is developing a new model for beginning golf instruction. For a full list of other winners, visit coloradopga.com

PHOTOGRAPH BY E.J. CARR

4 HONORED: Dennis Murray

co l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c o m

times the Colorado PGA has honored Joe Assell, but this November will mark the first time GolfTEC’s co-founder, president & CEO will receive the section’s Golf Professional of the Year Award. Assel’s 20-yearold Centennial-based instruction company clears more than $80 million annually and employs more PGA Professionals than any other U.S. company.

Also, GolfTEC’s Vice President of Instruction and Education, Andy Hilts, will receive his second Colorado PGA Horton Smith Award for exceptional contributions to promote and improve the PGA’s educational programs. golftec.com

16

Colorado PGA Professionals in history have been singled out by the PGA of America for national recognition. The most recent is Fossil Trace Golf Club’s Head PGA Professional Jim Hajek, who will receive the National Public Merchandiser of the Year Award at the organization’s annual November meeting in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Hajek follows Collindale Golf Course Head PGA Professional Dale Smigelsky, who won the same award in 2012. pgaofamerica.com

2

strokes was the penalty for the Rules infraction Mary Weinstein called on herself on the first day of the CJGA 1418 Junior Series Championship at The Ranch Country Club in Westminster. The Regis Jesuit senior teed off in front of the markers on the par-3 15th, although her playing partners did not notice. Despite the infraction, Weinstein, who won the 2015 CWGA Junior Stroke Play Championship and placed second in the adult version, still won the event by four strokes. coloradowomensgolf.org

Fall 2015 | Colorado AvidGolfer

27

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profile

Joe Ellis Is a Grinder Both on and off the course, the 6-handicap Broncos CEO works hard for his results.

DRIVING AMBITION: Ellis tees off at Cherry Hills.

By Sam Adams

M

ANY BUISNESS DEALS are struck on golf courses. There’s only one line of business on the mind of Denver Broncos president and CEO Joe Ellis on this particular early August afternoon—getting the best of his fellow Cherry Hills members Eric Black and Bill Danneberg.

Knowledgeable Broncos fans probably know Ellis by name, but unlike the team’s famous Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway, Ellis can walk down 16th Street wearing the brightest of orange Broncos polo shirts and still go unnoticed by the general public.

The anonymity amongst sports fans and non-sports fans alike suits Ellis just fine. His identity on the golf course is that of a friendly competitor.

Ellis’ drive from the first tee box lands in the left bunker. He follows with a sand wedge shot, then misses a long birdie putt.

“Everything can be ugly at certain points,” Ellis, a 6, says in assessing his golf game. “Most of my biggest problems are around the green, the short game—a lack of touch with chips and sand shots. It’s what happens to most amateurs. I can get the ball near the green in regulation—maybe co l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c o m

“I only think of the Super Bowl in terms of importance to the public, to this area— and specifically, to our fans. It’s a huge responsibility.”

not on it, but near it. But that’s when the trouble starts.”

From setup to swing, it’s evident that Ellis plays a solid game of golf. He received his first set of clubs after graduating from Colorado College in 1980. “I took them and went out to Patty Jewett almost every afternoon that summer when I got off work,” he remembers. “Since then, I never really got good.” Good enough, though, to shoot his best low score of 73 “a long, long time ago,” Ellis says.

Ellis is starting his 21st year in the Broncos’ organization. He has held the title of team president since 2011. Last year he was named CEO after owner Pat Bowlen stepped down from day-to-day team operations due to complications from Alzheimer’s Disease. Ellis will continue in that role until the Bowlen family decides which family member will serve as Pat Bowlen’s successor.

Josiah Ellis is a native New Englander who played high school soccer, baseball and ice hockey in Massachusetts. “I lucked into a job in football and fell in love with it,” Ellis says. His first NFL job came with the Broncos, selling advertisements. “I overheard in the gift shop at old Mile High StaFall 2015 | Colorado AvidGolfer

29

Manning and Elway “are just competitive people, and the handicap system generally doesn’t overcome their will to win when I take them on.”

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Colorado AvidGolfer | Fall 2015

ROLL PLAYER: Ellis says his short game needs work.

Ellis did bring John Elway to the Broncos—literally. He picked up the young quarterback from Stapleton Airport upon his arrival in Denver in 1983. After Bowlen purchased the Broncos the following year, and Ellis remained with the organization. “Pat Bowlen came in, I introduced myself and said the same things to him, that being, if you need anything I’ll do it for you.”

Ellis left the organization in 1986 to pursue his Master’s Degree at the J. L. Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. After graduating in 1988, he was hired by the NFL in 1990, working under then-commissioner Paul Tagliabue (and alongside current NFL commissioner Roger Goodell). Bowlen, along with former Broncos GM John Beake, helped Ellis get the job at the league office.

Ellis returned to the Broncos’ front office in 1998 as executive vice president of business operations. He became the organization’s chief operating officer in 2008. Ellis usually is all business at the office, but at times he was forced to lower his guard—at the request of his boss.

“Some of my fondest memories of playing golf in Colorado come from when Pat would come into my office at lunch and say, ‘Let’s go play Castle Pines.’ And I’d say, ‘Oh gee, I’ve got something coming up this afternoon . . . but I think I can fit it in. I’ll re-work it.’ We’d leave at 11:30, get one cart, play 18 holes in two hours, have lunch and be back at the office by 2:30. Pat always was fun to play with and very, very gracious to invite me.”

Ellis never takes for granted his rise through the ranks of the Broncos’ front office. His primary goal remains the same—to help bring a Super Bowl championship back to Denver. “I only think of it in terms of importance to the public, to this area—and specifically, to our fans,” Ellis says.

“It’s a huge responsibility. It’s an honor to be in coloradoav idgo lf e r.c o m

PHOTOGRAPHS BY EJ CARR

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dium that they were looking for somebody to sell advertising in their Game Day program. In those days, you didn’t have access to rosters, so a lot of people bought the program to see the names and numbers.

“So I sniffed around and got a guy who knew the general manager at that time, to get him to interview me. His name was Hein Poulus. Hein said to me, ‘We don’t have anything. If you want to sell ads for us, you’ll have to do it on a commission basis.’ I didn’t have any money, so I said, ‘How about this—you give me an advance on my commissions? If I meet that advance or exceed it, you pay me the excess. If I don’t meet it, I’ll pay you back.’ He laughed, said it took some guts and I got the job. That’s how it started.”

The ad seller and self-professed “glorified gofer” for former Broncos owner Edgar Kaiser does have direct bloodlines to both former President Bushes. Not that he advertises it.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY EJ CARR

the position that I’m in, for the team that I work for—and the owner that I work for, especially. I spend most of my time not thinking about how I got here, but what we’re going to do as a company, as a team and as an organization to be the best we can be all the time. That’s what the expectations are.

“Their support and their equity . . . their emotional investment that they’ve put into this team—not to mention the dollar investment that a lot of people put into it. It’s so significant that I don’t sit here and think, ‘Wow, look what happened to me.’ It’s more like, ‘OK, now what are we going to do? What are we going to do to try and win the next championship?’”

Ellis confesses that he negotiated the naming rights for Invesco Field at Mile High while on a golf course, a deal in 2001 reported at $120 million over 20 years. “That’s the only one,” Ellis says. “But relationships are built, and you learn a lot about people when you play golf with them.”

What has he learned about being on the course with Elway or current Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning?

“I’ve played a few times with Peyton,” Ellis says. “I’ve played with Elway, but not this year.

They’re just competitive people, and the handicap system generally doesn’t overcome their will to win when I take them on. It’s a different level of athlete, if you will. But it’s fun.”

Ellis admits that his long tenure in running

EASY GO: The CEO and scribe drive the course.

the business side of an NFL team does not make him an expert on the football side. “I don’t get over-exuberant,” he says. “I stay optimistic. I can see effort and enthusiasm. I can’t see skill.”

Ellis then puts away his Laser Link range finder and sets up for his next shot. From that point, the driving, chipping and good-natured chirping between the trio of friends begins to heat up on the course.

AN EASY WAY TO

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SMOOTH STROKE: Ellis sinks a par putt. co l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c o m

Fall 2015 | Colorado AvidGolfer

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player’sCorner

lesson

Be an Impact Player Are you down with your iron shots?

F

By Alex Fisher

OR ALL OF THE brainpower that goes into making it, the golf ball isn’t very smart. It doesn’t really care what your swing looks like. It only cares about your impact position. That is the moment of truth in the golf swing, and it results from three key principles: clubface angle, club path and angle of attack.

Of the three, clubface alignment at impact has the greatest influence—recent studies suggest 85 percent—on the direction the ball

will travel. Without a square clubface at impact, it is going to be difficult to get your golf ball to your target.

The path of the club through impact also influences the direction of the ball. When the path direction contradicts the face angle, the golf ball will curve either left of right. For your shots to start and stay on target, the clubface and path must match each other.

However, the most critical of the three principles is the angle of attack, which influences

whether the ball gets airborne. It is OK for the club head to travel upwards when hitting a driver but not with your irons. Hit on an upswing, a perfectly squared-up iron shot may go really straight but will rarely get off the ground.

To send it airborne, you consistently need to hit down on the golf ball, making a divot after it. This drill will help you attack the golf ball on a descending angle and become a more consistent ball-striker.

1. Before taking your stance, place a tee six inches behind the golf ball. Set up to the ball but start with the club head behind the tee, not the ball. This ensures your weight stays evenly distributed.

2. As you take back the golf club, keep your weight on the instep of your back foot. This will allow you to make a full shoulder turn without pivoting your body too far to your right side (if you’re right-handed).

3. Start your downswing with your left hip turning far enough left to transfer weight to your left foot. This movement lowers your hands and arms to the midpoint position. Notice that the handle is leading the charge into impact, with the clubhead lagging behind. A lot of speed and power is being stored in your wrists at this point. Make sure they don’t unhinge too soon and you’ll deliver the club on a better angle of attack.

4. At the moment of impact, the left hand, forearm, and shaft of the club form a straight line. By correctly timing the release of the club through impact, you are able to keep your hands ahead of the club head and take a divot without hitting the behind tee. This allows the clubface and path to be more consistent through impact.

5. By the time you get to the end of the swing, most of your weight is transferred on to the inside of your left foot, and your left leg is straight. You should feel the majority of your weight on your left side and hold your balance as you watch the parabolic flight of a solidly struck iron shot.

Originally from England, Alex Fisher (alexfisherpga.com;

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Colorado AvidGolfer | Fall 2015

602-363-9800) is the PGA director of instruction at the Glacier Club in Durango. For four straight years, Golf Digest has named him to the list of “Best Young Teachers in America.” During the winter, he instructs at Wildfire Golf Club in Phoenix.

To watch a video of this lesson, visit coloradoavidgolfer.com. coloradoav idgo lf e r.c o m

player’sCorner

state of play

GET A GRIP: Adding weight in the butt end of the putter counterbalances the mass that’s three feet from your hands and imparts a greater sense of control.

Uncomfortably Unanchored As Rule 14-1b becomes reality, what are your options?

L

IKE IT OR NOT, the USGA Rule 141b banning anchored putters takes effect January 1, 2016. Players of all calibers must comply or be disqualified—or worse, publicly hazed by their peers at the local course.

Many tour players have been experimenting with alternatives and a few have taken the plunge. Webb Simpson, who belly-putted his way to victory in the 2012 US Open, even went so far as to break his trusty club in half so there was no looking back. 2013 Masters winner Adam Scott has tried a shorter putter, but hasn’t settled in with a replacement to date.

Then there’s 2011 PGA Champion Keegan Bradley, who went to the same style of putter he’s used for many years, but had it cut shorter and added some weight under the grip—a simple method called “counterbalancing” that promotes a more advantageous feel.

Due to the imminent rules change, counterbalanced or back-weighted putters are suddenly in vogue. Simply put, additional weight is placed in the grip end of the club to counterbalance the mass that is nearly three feet from your hands. The farther your hands are from the weight of the club, the less control you feel.

By adding weight under your hands—near the butt end of the putter—the control is readily returned. This weighting technique boosts the club’s overall moment of inertia (MOI), so that

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Colorado AvidGolfer | Fall 2015

it swings and feels more stable throughout the stroke, reducing the twisting at impact.

Many of the more popular putter manufacturers are currently featuring a backweighted model or two. What you’ll discover is that the head has bit more bulk than traditional putters. That adds to the stability of the flatstick. And, by adding mass to the opposite end you’ll experience the sensation of your hands being connected to the head of your putter. More weight will also slow down your stroke producing more stability and hopefully more putts made.

New putters that feature this counterbalancing are a bit longer than the traditional putters. But a certified putter fitter can also add weight under the grip to help stabilize a conventional length flatstick.

Whether you use a conventional length putter or are contemplating moving away from an anchored putter, a counterbalanced putter might be the smooth replacement you’re looking for.

Contributor Jerry Walters hosts “In the Fairway” 7-9 A.M. Saturdays on 104.3 The Fan. He is a Putting and Short Game Instructor at Trent Wearner Golf Academy, as well as

By JERRY WALTERS

Counterbalancing—or back-weighting—places additional weight in the grip end and promotes greater stability throughout the stroke, improving your sense of contol.

a Tour Lock Certified Fitter. For more information on counterbalancing or to schedule a fitting, contact him at jerry@ trentwearnergolf.com. coloradoav idgo lf e r.c o m

Art. Brought To Life.

It has often been said that life imitates art. At Desert Highlands, there is no imitation. Desert Highlands has always been a beautiful place to live. And a world class country club. The centerpiece of this private residential community is its Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. The 18-hole putting course, designed by Gary Panks and inspired by the putting courses in Scotland, was the first of its kind in America. But recreation at Desert Highlands isn’t just about golf.

There are 13 tennis courts with grass, Har-Tru or hard surfaces, a 7,000 square foot state-of-the-art fitness center, a beautifully landscaped lake for fishing and miles of walking paths that wind through the community.

Desert Highlands isn’t just about where you live, it’s about how you live.

Welcome to Desert Highlands. Let the celebration begin.

10040 East Happy Valley Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 85255 • 480-419-3745 • www.deserthighlandsscottsdale.com

player’sCorner

gear

Best Driver Ever?

Knuth Golf’s High Heat outperforms the big brands in every way—except marketing. By Jon Rizzi

T

HE “K” IN DEAN KNUTH’S name isn’t silent, and neither is his High Heat driver. The ball explodes off the face and travels straight and far—even on decidedly off-center hits. How can you tell?

The mark on the High Heat’s patented mirror face allows you to see exactly where impact occurred. Even when the mark appears near the heel, hosel, sole or toe, there’s a good chance the ball will be in the fairway.

The experts haven’t been silent, either.

After experiencing the High Heat’s consistent drives at this year’s PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, low and high handicap players, including members of the persnickety golf media, could not contain their enthusiasm.

Most volubly, Gary Van Sickle of Sports Illustrated called it the show’s “most significant technological innovation…a game-changer for amateur golfers.”

No stranger to changing the game, Knuth invented the USGA Course and Slope Rating Systems during his 16 years as a senior director of the organization. Also retired from the U.S. Navy, where he developed classified defense solutions that remain in use today, Knuth brought his wide-ranging technical knowledge to the development of a driver that would significantly improve the play of amateur golfers. His 13 years of work have resulted in multiple U.S. Patents for driver inventions.

High Heat takes advantage of his two most significant patents: the Optimal CG Game Changer and Fire Zone Face.

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Colorado AvidGolfer | Fall 2015

The former places the High Heat’s center of gravity (CG) 25 percent deeper and 18 percent lower than that of the average driver produced by the major brands. This lower, deeper CG produces an almost 25 percent greater MOI (moment of inertia) that results in greater forgiveness. Shots hit below the center of the face—a common problem—get added lift and fly as far as those hit on the center.

Knuth Golf ’s Fire Zone Face Technology combines seven different zones of variable thickness, including patented “parabolic” lobes at the top of the toe and heel of the face. This increases the spring-like effect across the entire sweet spot zone and also enhances accuracy.

Empirical evidence comes from a test report from Golf Laboratories, the world’s leading independent testing facility, when simulating swing parameters of non-tour golfers, the Knuth High Heat driver was longer, straighter and more forgiving than any other driver.

The beautiful blue High Heat naturally conforms to USGA Rules. What it doesn’t conform to is the brand-consciousness of the guy whose driver will do more for its manufacturer’s profits than for his own performance.

Try it for yourself. The board members of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame did. After hitting and loving the High Heat driver, they have arranged for Colorado AvidGolfer readers to purchase High Heat driver for $319. That’s $30 off the regular price. Just visit knuthgolf. com. When asked, “How did you hear about us,” simply select “Colorado AvidGolfer.”

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Back on Top PHOTOGRAPHS BY BEN ENG, COURTESY OF TELLURIDE SKI RESORT

Perched high above Telluride, Allred’s Restaurant once again delivers a dining experience worthy of its spectacular setting. By Gary James

LOFTY STANDARDS: An award-winning wine list complements Allred’s superb fare and skyscraping setting.

B

ACK IN 2001, WHEN IT WAS heralded as one of the “Top Ten Best New Restaurants in America” by Esquire magazine, Allred’s Restaurant emerged as the town of Telluride’s flagship dining experience.

The bona fides? An elegant, exclusive atmosphere and an unparalleled view—at 10,551 feet above sea level, Allred’s can only be accessed by a free fiveminute gondola ride from both Telluride and the Mountain Village.

But word among local epicures was that Allred’s eventually slipped into mediocrity. So it’s worth noting that, in recent years, Allred’s has returned to prominence on the fine dining scene. The credit goes to executive chef Mike Regrut and his culinary touch, while general manager Mario Petillo ramps it up with his wonderful personality and care, making patrons feel welcome as members of his own family.

Petillo, 66, was born into the restaurant business in his native Italy.

“I’ve been doing this for 54 years, through hotel school in Europe, working on a cruise ship and running restaurants in Orange County,” he co l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c o m

TOPS OF THE TOTS: Parmesan shavings and truffle aoli elevates the potato croutons.

Fall 2015 | Colorado AvidGolfer

39

STIR up the

PaRTy. Host your holiday event at Cool River and surround yourself with a mix of fine food and exotic cocktails. Five private dining rooms for groups of 8 to 150. Excitement is swirling around every corner.

BEEFED UP: The Angus Tenderloin with Vermont Cheddar potato mousseline and shaved Brussels sprouts.

Make plans today for your

HolidAy EVEnt 8000 E. Belleview Avenue Greenwood Village 303-771-4117 CoolRiverCafe.com 40

Colorado AvidGolfer | Fall 2015

ALPINE ELEGANCE: Allred’s exquisite dining room coloradoav idgo lf e r.c o m

PHOTOGRAPHS BY BEN ENG, COURTESY OF TELLURIDE SKI RESORT

says. “The owner of the ski resort convinced me to come up here in 2011, and I doubled the business in three years.

“This isn’t a job for me—this is a mission, my profession. I love what I do. I don’t work a minute of my life.”

Allred’s amazing ambience helps him stay in a voluble mood. If you’re lucky, you can occupy a table at the full-length picture windows to watch the aspen glow at sunset and the lights of Telluride turn on more than a thousand feet below.

Regrut and his staff offer creative, seasonally changing contemporary American cuisine, encompassing ingredients and techniques from around the world—and meeting the challenges of turning out innovative, impeccably prepared food at a unique mountaintop eatery.

“In the summertime, we have pickups scheduled on the service roads,” Petillo explains.

“In the winter, we have a snowcat. There’s only one problem that the delivery causes—sometimes during the trip, our delicate items, like watercress, arrive frozen!”

It’s a rare pleasure to work through the Allred’s menu. For starters, it’s hard to pass on the lobster bisque (cognac cream and shaved chives), but the lemongrass-shrimp bisque is a mellow alternative, the lemongrass awakening the shrimp flavor.

Everyone on the staff recommended the potato croutons. Think “tater tots for a sophisticated palate“—shaved potato and Parmesan, stacked and baked and then deep-fried, garnished with chives and truffle aioli.

Featured entrées range from a scrumptious miso-marinated black cod to a roasted chicken from Boulder Farms. I’ve experienced the latter in several iterations, from New Mexican style (served with roasted tomatillo, hominy, Hatch green chiles and duck confit) to a presentation of braised winter greens, porcini-parmesan tortellini and grana padano cheese.

Elk appears on the menu in various configurations, from carpaccio to a medallions plate. A bourbon marinated elk strip loin is cooked to tender medium-rare perfection, its inherent flavor enhanced by fingerling potatoes, bing cherry chutney, broccolini and a juniper demi-glace.

But the certifiable treat is the sustainablesourced lamb.

“People ask me, ‘What’s your signature dish?’”

Petillo notes. “My menu doesn’t have one— psychologically, it means that the rest of the menu is second rate. But our Colorado lamb is the best I’ve ever served. Grass fed, natural lamb that you can only get locally.”

The succulent flavor and texture is incredible.

On one recent visit, the rack of lamb was crusted in panko crumbs and served with a “stew” of gigandes (the “giant” beans from Greece) and spicy, earthy Merguez-style sausage; on another, with buttery, bright-green castelvetrano olives, a warm tomatoeggplant jam and a goat cheese foam.

Of course, the desserts are outrageously rich and indulgent; my favorite is the warm sticky toffee pudding cake, served with a dollop of vanilla-whipped cream, Meyer’s rum toffee sauce and a crisp, buttery almond tuile. Allred’s has a beautiful, voluminous wine selection by the glass and the bottle (the restaurant is recognized as a Wine Spectator Award Winner); I’m always a sucker for the 2010 Tyler, a fresh Pinot Noir utilizing grapes from Bien Nacido Vineyards (“good birth”) in Santa Barbara County.

Allred’s cozy bar features handcrafted cocktails and lighter fare, plus a chance to enjoy the stylings of the house pianist. Whether it’s an après-ski nosh and appetizers or a formal dinner, Petillo truly cares that you enjoy your meal.

LAND ROVER

DENVER

2015 Land Rover SUPER MARIO: GM Petillo is Allred’s majordomo.

“The challenge is personnel,” he admits. “In big cities like New York or Los Angeles or Chicago, you encounter professional waiters. In a ski resort, we operate mainly with seasonal workers—they come in summertime to mountain bike or hike; in winter they want to ski. They want a job to pay their expenses. It took me four years to install a little bit of passion, the beauty of this profession.

We have the opportunity to mingle with people who we normally would never meet. For example, I made good friends with the late Neil Armstrong, first man on the moon and a real gentleman…”

I note that Allred’s servers have been friendly and organized during my visits.

“I made them an Italian offer,” Petillo smiles.

“The one they can’t refuse.”

St. Sophia Gondola Station 970-728-7474; tellurideskiresort.com

Gary James is a Boulder-based food and music writer.

Read more of his restaurant writeups in the Lifestyle section of coloradoavidgolfer.com. co l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c o m

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tapping in

Too Big to Ale?

Breckenridge Brewery keeps expanding while losing none of its craft-beer cred. By Cody Gabbard

A

MONG CRAFT BEER aficionados, a great deal of concern swirls around microbreweries that have “gone macro,” with some having even “sold out” to the more established big breweries. The mug-half-full argument, however, is that this growth indicates an industry healthy enough to spur investment and command an increasing share of a beer market that has been forever dominated by a handful of companies.

Several Colorado breweries are products of this environment, and due to their ever-increasing popularity, they have continued to expand both their facilities and branding.

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Colorado AvidGolfer | Fall 2015

Breckenridge Brewery is one example. A relative senior citizen in the craft beer industry, Breckenridge celebrated its 25th Anniversary in July. It also opened a new production facility and restaurant on 12 acres in Littleton that pump out 62,000 barrels of beer a year, compared to the 3,000 from the original brewery.

To understand where the company came from and where it’s headed, I drove up to its eponymous Brewery and Pub in downtown Breckenridge. More than your typical take on an American brewpub, it definitely ups the ante with non-standard dishes such as the tomatillo chicken salad sandwich and turkey apple sandwich. The heaping slices of fluffy, buttery focaccia bread did their duty of soaking up a sampling of all the house beers, and having two Kentucky grandmothers, I can say authoritatively the mashed potatoes are world-class.

I finished the Summer Bright Ale before even looking at the others on the sampling tray.

The effervescence brightens up an initial aroma

BETTING THE FARM: Breckenridge’s new Littleton facility cranks out 62,000 barrels annually.

of citrus and cuts into the pith-like bitterness.

The addition of lemon and orange peels, along with a dry, spritzy finish is surprisingly thirst-quenching for such a full-flavored beer.

With the Front Porch Session IPA (4.0% alcohol by volume), Breckenridge throws its hat into the ring with numerous other low-abv pale ales being produced in the craft beer world.

The overall balance definitely leans towards hops; it’s more fruity than piney, with a lingering herbal quality on the back end.

Both higher-strength IPAs, Breck IPA and 471 Double IPA, have big, malty backbones that balance toward chewy sweetness. Breck IPA, the lighter of the two, has a piney tang, but is quite smooth and sneaky at 6.2% abv.

Although it is ubiquitous across the nation as the perfect example of a flavor-infused porter, I’d be remiss not to mention Vanilla Porter.

Some beers have a nostalgic quality and are able to transport you to another place, just like the aromas and flavor of comfort foods evoke childhood and home-cooked meals. Vanilla Porter reminds me of what it was like to try a craft beer before I understood what good beer really meant. The vanilla evinces itself coloradoav idgo lf e r.c o m

throughout, both in aroma and flavor. It has a light body, but is not thin, which makes it much more drinkable than thicker versions where heavy stouts are the base. The delicate balance of creamy vanilla and hints of malted milk are the beer’s hallmarks, with little to no roasted qualities to mask the luscious flavors.

Breckenridge Brewery’s biggest seller is its amber style Avalanche Ale. Much like other such “intro” craft beers created by larger breweries—including New Belgium’s Fat Tire—it drinks easily and relies mostly on caramel malts for flavor. It is by far the most approachable of Breckenridge’s lineup.

Outside of the genre-bending Vanilla Porter, you are unlikely to find any Breckenridge brews reaching cult status. But enough precious beers already fill that category. It’s the mainstays of breweries like Breckenridge that will lead the ever-encroaching push into the overall beer market and make more room for the niche nanos.

The latest manifestation of this push is its Farm House Restaurant, in Littleton. I arrived via the South Platte River bike trail, which saddles up right next to the brewery. Although I appreciate a nice, cozy, no-frills nanobrewery, the size and beauty of the new 85,000-square-foot facility made me proud that the craft-beer industry has the ability to support the public demand for such an awesome site.

Yet the Farm House is intimate and inviting. My group was more than comfortable sitting on the huge wrap-around porch, which also connects to a beer garden (more like a beer field!) replete with

mobile bar, plenty of seating and outdoor games.

I’m not always in favor of breweries going big, especially if it’s at the expense of their ability to connect with their core customers, but if you are going to expand, this is certainly the way to do it.

The Farm House (2990 Brewery Lane, Littleton) is one of Breckenridge Brewery’s five Colorado restaurant locations. breckbrew.com.

Imbibing in Breck

As of a little over a year ago, there’s another place to get a home brew in Breckenridge. Broken Compass offers a lively taproom for ski bums and summer hikers. Take to heart its motto and “Get Lost” in a unique brew such as the velvety Coconut Porter, loaded with coconut and milk chocolate flavors, or the spicy and refreshing Ginger Pale Ale. 68 Continental Ct., Breckenridge; brokencompassbrewing.com For a more warming drink after a cold day on the slopes, check out Breckenridge Distillery. The award-winning bourbon is incredibly smooth, with loads of cinnamon and spice flavors deriving from the heavy dose of rye malt. Love cocktails? Pick up Bitter, an herbal liqueur made with spices and dried fruit, which can be used in place of vermouth for added bitterness, or even added to pale ales. 1925 Airport Rd., Breckenridge; breckenridgedistillery.com

Home-brewer and freelance beer writer Cody Gabbard contributes regularly to CAG and the Boulder Weekly.

MACRO VIEW: Despite its enormity, The Farm House maintains the inviting intimacy of a classic brewpub.

co l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c o m

Fall 2015 | Colorado AvidGolfer

43

sideBets

A Quasi-Family Reunion

nice drives

One present and two past members of the Ford empire bring new looks to the party.

By Isaac Bouchard

A LEGEND REBORN: The 2016 Lincoln MKX

2016 LINCOLN MKX

MSRP: $38,100 EPA Ratings: 17/26 mpg; 22 mpg combined There was a time when Lincoln not only defined automotive luxury; it also sold more cars in a year than most all the high-end imports did combined. While a return to the latter is unlikely, vehicles like the new MKX make a strong statement on the company’s ability to deliver the former.

Lincoln’s new design language is really coming into focus. The split grill now spreads its wings horizontally, helping to emphasize the pleasing stance of the MKX. Combined with thoughtfully formed brightwork, beautifully handled lighting graphics and creased and pressed sheet metal, this crossover mixes aggression and refinement in excellent measure.

Inside the MKX is constructed of materials commensurate with the price point and apropos to the class. Buttery hides cover seats that are very well shaped for support, and a return to actual “hard” buttons below the touchscreen makes interfacing with oft-used controls much easier.

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Colorado AvidGolfer | Fall 2015

Like the popular Edge SUV and other vehicles currently coming out of Dearborn, the MKX boasts excellent bones. The structure is very stiff, meaning minimal noise, vibration and harshness. Dynamically, the Lincoln is excellent, with a superbly controlled and pliant ride yet pleasing handling. Steering is above average for the class, with good linearity and a confident sense of tracking on the highway.

Much of the MKX’s smoothness stems from a sophisticated set of computer-controlled dampers and numerous noise-isolation measures.

The MKX uses either a 300 hp/280 lb-ft V6 that is larger and more powerful than that of most of its competitors—or an optional 2.7-liter twin turbo EcoBoost V6 with 330 hp and a monster 370 lb-ft of torque.

This engine, which propels the much larger F150, proves awesome in the MKX. Most every available safety and labor-saving device comes either standard or optional on the Lincoln, including 360-degree cameras, embedded WiFi hotspot, and rush-hour helper in the form of auto stop-start that makes the daily commute slightly less fraught.

Aiding in this is noble endeavor are optional— and exclusive—audio systems from Revel, a very well respected high-end home manufacturer.

The path Lincoln has chosen towards renewed relevance is exactly that which Lexus used decades ago to coax demanding Americans out of domestic vehicles. As the imports now react to each other with increasingly aggressive offerings, it is refreshing—in the best sense of the word—to see this once-haloed U.S. company return to the qualities that once defined luxury.

2016 VOLVO XC90 T6

MSRP: $48,900 EPA Ratings: 20/25 mpg; 22 mpg combined The first all-new Volvo in more than 14 years is also the most futuristic SUV I have yet experienced.

It seems tailor-made for 21st Century urban use, both in its design ethos and the way it goes about its duties.

This starts with its appearance. The honing of recent Volvo design trends into a superbly classy and well-proportioned package means the XC90 coloradoav idgo lf e r.c o m

makes most upscale SUVs look like they’re trying too hard. Packaging is excellent; the first two rows are supremely comfortable, and even the fold-flat third row will work for adults on a short trip.

The XC90 accomplishes this within exterior dimensions that make a mockery of the “space efficiency” of a BMW X5 or Mercedes GLE. The use of beveled real wood, beautiful leather for the dash and seating, fresh detailing for the controls, a stunning B&O sound system and one of the slickest, fastest, most intuitive infotainment interfaces yet put into a car make it a lovely place to spend time.

Dynamically the Volvo seems built for such mundane drudgery; the ride is very supple despite the bling 21-inch footwear, and it runs very quietly, with accurate steering and smooth handling in its sportier settings.

If the XC90 has a weakness, however, it’s the powertrain. Two liters of four-cylinder turbo- and supercharged motor simply aren’t enough to provide competitive thrust and good economy. Driven very sedately it will indeed hit its EPA ratings, but piloted with any élan and the numbers plunge to those most often associated with big V8s. That’s a real shame, as so much hoopla has been expended on this Drive-E engine and partner 8-speed auto partner. Simply put, BMW’s rated 300 ponies must be much better fed than the 316 horses that Volvo has mustered.

Despite this, the Volvo is easy to fall for.

These are certainly the best seats my surgeryravaged backside has sat upon. The interior architecture imparts an incredible sense of wellbeing. You just know the XC90 will save you from an untimely demise on the roads. It has every conceivable form of safety assist, driver aid and self-parking, and most work superbly. The only one that goes a step too far is the seatbelt

ROCKING ROADSTER: Mazda’s MX-5 Miata

interlock, which wont let you maneuver about (in your driveway, say) without clicking in.

But you’ll forgive this nit as you stroke surfaces that are unmatched at the price or as you stop to admire the XC90’s cohesive and discreet handsomeness. With Colorado’s roads more congested than ever, this Volvo is one of the nicer places in which to find yourself stuck.

2016 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA Price as Tested: $32,950 EPA Ratings: 27/34 mpg 0-60 mph: 5.8 seconds

When the first generation Miata debuted over

SINUOUS SWEDE: Volvo’s XC90 T6

co l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c o m

25 years ago, no one really knew what to expect.

But this little Mazda went on to become the best selling two-seat sports car of all time, and more have probably been raced—on the amateur and professional level—than any other single model, ever. Needless to say, expectations weigh heavily on this, the all-new, fourth generation model.

The latest MX-5 certainly looks very modern.

The design team met the challenge of blending the simple cleanliness of the original with the company’s current Kodo-Soul of Motion design language. The designers shrink-wrapped it around the driver and mechanicals, leaving the 2016 Miata four inches shorter yet with more usable space in the cockpit and trunk. Dropping the hood three-quarters of an inch and raising the fenders give it a distinctly vintage-911 vibe, with the road seeming to rush right at you.

And rush the new MX-5 does; Mazda may go on and on about how they didn’t chase numbers, but 0-60 in under six seconds and insanely high cornering levels bespeak the superb engineering that resulted from a 150-pound weight loss, and the tangible lack of inertia that you feel every time you swivel the perfectly weighted steering or apply the brakes.

The 2016 MX-5 Miata lives up to—and exceeds—almost all expectations, even from folks like myself who have owned and raced them. It’s faster yet more efficient, corners harder yet rides softer, runs quieter and more comfortably, is smaller outside yet bigger in, and has loads more tech. It also delivers (in spades) on Mazda’s stated goal of putting driver satisfaction first. Compared to any sports car at almost any price, the Miata is almost unrivaled as a good time.

Read more of Automotive Editor Isaac Bouchard’s car writing at coloradoavidgolfer.com and nicedrivz.com Fall 2015 | Colorado AvidGolfer

45

Discover the Unbridled Majesty of Flying Horse.

Born of legend, bred for pleasure, Flying Horse is a place of extraordinary possibilities.

With breathtaking views, beguiling recreational amenities, magnificent custom-crafted homes

by the area’s most celebrated builders, luxury guest accommodations, and yes—a pulse-fluttering 18-hole championship golf course designed by the legendary master, Tom Weiskopf—this storybook community reflects the absolute finest in luxury.

Bold. Beautiful. Wildly Original.

Real Estate Opportunities: 719-886-4800 Club Membership Opportunities: 719-494-1222 Luxury Guest Accommodations: 844-768-2684

46

www.FlyingHorseColorado.com

Colorado AvidGolfer | Fall 2015 | TRAVEL GUIDE

coloradoav idgo lf e r.c o m 1880 Weiskopf Point, Colorado Springs, CO 80921

TRAVEL guide

2015

A R I Z O N A | N E VA D A | U T A H

Soaking it in Fairmont’s Scottsdale Princess shines in the Valley of the Sun

co l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c o m

TRAVEL GUIDE | Fall 2015 | Colorado AvidGolfer

47

TRAVEL GUIDE 2015

that Truly Represents Golf in the Arizona Desert

Contents

An Experience...

Sewailo at Casino del Sol

50-74

Arizona Lodging | Golf | Lifestyle

76-80

Nevada Lodging | Golf | Lifestyle

480-488-0398

CasaBlanca Hotel & Casino

5734 E. Rancho Manana Blvd Cave Creek, AZ 85331 www.RanchoManana.com

82

Utah PHOTOGRAPH BY INGO HUEBNER

Lodging | Golf | Lifestyle

Snow Canyon

48

Colorado AvidGolfer | Fall 2015 | TRAVEL GUIDE

91 Resources coloradoav idgo lf e r.c o m

“SCOTTSDALE IS transformative.

IT encourages YOU TO BE OUTDOORS AND play.”

200 Area Courses | 70+ Resorts & Hotels | 600+ Restaurants | 100+ Downtown Nightlife Options | EXPERIENCESCOTTSDALEGOLF.COM

Lodging

Arizona

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

Phoenix/Scottsdale TROPHY CASE: The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess has added yet another AAA Five Diamond Award to its praiseworthy résumé. That’s 24 consecutive years of displaying the prestigious accolade—regal mettle indeed, earned with peerless guest services and amenities that include 649 richly appointed and spacious guestrooms, premier dining, Well & Being Spa, expansive meeting facilities, five pools, kids programs and privileged tee-time access to the 36-hole TPC Scottsdale. fairmont.com/scottsdale GET STARTED: With its 10-year anniversary just a year away, We-Ko-Pa Resort & Conference Center in Scottsdale is kick-starting the party with a resort wide rebranding that includes more luxury accommodations, bookings with Pink Jeep Tours for scrapbook-worthy excursions, and enhanced guest programs that range from casino gaming, to spa and fitness, to Segway desert touring, to 36 holes of premium golf courses crafted by Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw and Scott Miller. wekoparesort.com

50

Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale

BIG STICK: Exceptional cuisine is just one of the premier hallmarks of Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, as demonstrated by its fifth consecutive Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.

Other head turners include beautifully appointed guest rooms, Vegas-style gaming and entertainment, cabanaequipped pools, signature spa, fitness center, shopping, a Major League Baseball spring training facility and a 36-hole golf facility crafted by Scott Miller and Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw. talkingstickresort.com

Colorado AvidGolfer | Fall 2015 | TRAVEL GUIDE

IT WOWS: J.W. Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa, the firstever Marriott resort is also recipient of the AAA Five Diamond Award, Meeting & Conventions Gold Key and Gold Tee Awards, Corporate Meetings & Incentives Paragon Award, and Successful Meetings Pinnacle Award. Moreover, Bill Marriott, the namesake chairman of the renowned hotel chain, used to vacation here as a kid, so he has ensured this flagship property is family-friendly—from the pair of playable championship 18s to the pitch-and-putt course in the resort’s front yard. camelbackinn.com

Resources on page 91

coloradoav idgo lf e r.c o m

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Locally owned and caringly operated by the Salt River-Pima Maricopa Indian Community.

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Whether you’re looking for excitement and adventure or rest and relaxation, the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation has something for you. Play 36 holes of golf on We-Ko-Pa Golf Club’s award-winning courses, hit the jackpot at Fort McDowell Casino, explore the beautiful Sonoran Desert with Fort McDowell Adventures or simply relax poolside at the We-Ko-Pa Resort and Conference Center.

Located just minutes from Scottsdale, We-Ko-Pa is the perfect place to stay and play.

for stay & play packages call or visit wekoparesort.com

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an enterprise of the fort mcdowell yavapai nation |

Golf Photography by Lonna Tucker

Arizona

Casino Del Sol Resort J.W. Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa

PEOPLE PLEASER: For your next Sonora Desert vacation, make your headquarters the J.W. Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. Recognized among America’s finest resorts by AAA and Condé Nast Traveler, the sprawling property offers an invigorating abundance of guest services and amenities, including luxe-level accommodations, outstanding restaurants, Revive Spa, fitness center, water park and 36 holes of LPGA Tourhosting golf designed by Arnold Palmer and Nick Faldo. jwdesertridgeresort.com

Tucson GET BACK: If it has been awhile, get back to The Lodge at Ventana Canyon in Tucson. Among the compelling reasons to return: a just-completed remodeling of its 50 luxury suites; new cocktail bar with dramatic desert views; new resort pool with a sandy beach; newly resurfaced 12-court tennis center; and new restaurant cuisine directed by Chef Joe Martin, formerly of Monterey Peninsula Golf Club. Plus, there are 36 holes of spectacular Tom Fazio-crafted golf. thelodgeatventanacanyon.com TRAVEL ALERT: Big news from Tubac Golf Resort & Spa: The historic hotel’s celebrated 19th hole-styled back patio has been entirely renovated and expanded; all 17 casitas have been

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Colorado AvidGolfer | Fall 2015 | TRAVEL GUIDE

gorgeously remodeled and now offer HD TV with satellite channel reception; the Red Lawrence-designed golf facility has completed a course-wide rebuild of its sand bunkers; and its exceedingly popular Tubac Golf School returns to offer full-swing and short game classes (Oct. 25-28; limited to 14 resort guests). tubacgolfresort.com STREET CRED: By earning a second consecutive AAA Four Diamond Award since opening in 2012, there is no question Tucson’s towering Casino Del Sol Resort is among the finest destination properties in Arizona. Amenities include luxury accommodations, fine and casual dining, spa and fitness, gaming, expansive conference space and a terrific Notah Begay-designed golf course that now offers the game-juicing option of playing aboard a clubs-carrying GolfBoard. casinodelsolresort.com

Resources on page 91

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THREE STUNNING JW MARRIOTT RESORTS. SIX AWARD-WINNING GOLF COURSES. DISCOVER THEM ALL, ONLY IN ARIZONA.

869 guest rooms and 81 suites.

Elevate your stay with Griffin Club access.

Four pools, lazy river and waterslide.

Two 18-hole courses at Wildfire Golf Club.

Full-service Revive Spa. World-class fitness facilities and classes.

26,000 square foot organic garden.

Six unique restaurants and lounges.

Kids Club and family activities.

5350 E. Marriott Dr. Phoenix, AZ 85054 jwdesertridgeresort.com @jwdesertridge Š2015 Marriott International.

453 casitas and 27 suites.

Hiking, biking, tennis and swimming.

Camelback Golf Club featuring the new $10 million Ambiente course and the Arthur Hills Padre course.

31,000 sq. ft. Spa at Camelback Inn. Full-service fitness center and classes.

Six unique restaurants and lounges.

Live entertainment nightly.

540 guest rooms and 35 suites.

Water Collection featuring two pools, waterslide, lazy river and splash pad.

Championship golf and tennis facilities at Starr Pass Golf Club.

Luxurious Hashani Spa and fitness center.

Blur teen lounge and kids club.

Hiking, biking and walking trails.

Five unique restaurants and lounges.

5402 E. Lincoln Dr. Scottsdale, AZ 85253 camelbackinn.com

3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd.

Tucson, AZ 85745 jwstarrpass.com

@camelbackinn

@jwstarrpass

DESERT STARR: Hell hath no fury like risk-reward golf played from tight lies and desert-squeezed fairways like those at J.W. Marriott Tucson Starr Pass’ 27-hole golf complex designed by Arnold Palmer, Bob Cupp and Craig Stadler. The AAA Four Diamond resort is blissfully balanced with heavenly guest rooms and suites,a spirit-resurrecting spa and fitness center and soul-replenishing cuisine from James Beard Awardwinning Chef Melissa Kelly. jwmarriottstarrpass.com

Arizona

TAKE ADVANTAGE: If it’s for romance, family, friends, business or simply to self indulge, booking a week or weekend at The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa in Tucson pays lifelong dividends. The award-winning property tempts guests with a resplendent Santa Catalina Mountains foothills location that’s further enhanced by an Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa, Jack Nicklaus Signature golf, five-pool oasis, tennis, fitness club, fine and casual dining, and majestic guest accommodations. westinlapalomaresort.com LOCAL KNOWLEDGE: “One thing that often surprises Arizona visitors is the living desert and its vibrant, natural beauty,” says 34-year Tucson resident Aaron Aguilar. “The Sonoran Desert is lush with towering saguaro cacti and greenery, and the mountains rise so high they are often blanketed in snow.

Plus, Arizona boasts the largest Ponderosa pine forest on the continent. It’s magical.”

J.W. Marriott Tucson Starr Pass

Resources on page 91

Condé Nast Traveler Named Tubac 1 of 14 Up-and-Coming, Must-See Destinations

27-Hole

Championship Golf!

With 10 or more rooms, receive a special group golf package.

For more information call 520.398.3532

Historic Tubac, Arizona

(1-19, Exit 40) • 30 minutes from Tucson

www.TubacGolfResort.com 1.800.848.7893

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KINDLY REFRAIN FROM OOHING AND AAHING AT THE SCENERY WHILE YOUR OPPONENT IS PUTTING. With breathtaking views and a thrilling design crafted by Tom Lehman and John Fought, Verrado Golf Club combines the ďŹ nest elements of Arizona golf with the highest standards for service.

See for yourself why golf here defines golf everywhere.

www.VerradoGolfClub.com 4242 North Golf Drive, Buckeye, AZ 85396 | 623.388.3000

Golf

Arizona

Troon North Golf Club

Phoenix/Scottsdale MANY HAPPY RETURNS: This season Troon North Golf Club in north Scottsdale is celebrating 25 years of iconic customer service. Perennially rated among the best daily-fee facilities in America, its 36 holes of Tom Weiskopf/ Jay Morrish-designed golf remain the celebrated high-bar standard from which nearly all desert-style courses are judged. troonnorthgolf.com HIGH RANKING: It’s ranked among the top daily-fee golf courses in Arizona by Golfweek and Golf magazines, and with good reason. Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club is a pure golf experience with no shot-distracting buildings, homes or traffic; Troon Golf fastidiously manages the upscale facility; and the 7,546-yard Australian sandhills inspired routing—a Lee Schmidt, Brian Curley and Fred Couples design collaboration—is an absolute hoot to play. golfsoutherndunes.com

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A REAL SLEEPER: Taking the Yavapai name for “gathering place,” Tegavah Golf Club tucks between McDowell Mountain Regional Park and the Tonto National Forest 15 minutes east of Scottsdale. The OB Sports-managed Ken Kavanaugh design, once known as Vista Verde Golf Club, tips at 7,229 yards with views of the Four Peaks and Mazatzal Mountains. tegavahgolf.com GO LONG: A permanent resident among Golf and Golfweek’s top Arizona courses, Longbow Golf Club sprouts no homes along its distinctively bunkered fairways and greens. Located in North Mesa and featuring views of Red Mountain, the 7,050-yard Ken Kavanaugh layout annually hosts the Symetra Tour’s Gateway Classic and AJGA Winn Grips Heather Farr Classic. longbowgolf.com GET SCHOOLED: Ranked 4.5 stars by Golf Digest, The OB Sports-managed ASU Karsten Course sits in the shadow of Sun Devil Stadium and features Pete Dye’s signature bunkering, mounding and

Colorado AvidGolfer | Fall 2015 | TRAVEL GUIDE

Longbow Golf Club

railroad ties. Phil Mickelson and Billy Mayfair cut their competitive teeth here.

The par-3 16th, with its 217-yard carry over water, ranks as one of college golf’s toughest holes. asukarsten.com BETTING THE RANCH: Located 60 miles northwest of Phoenix, Wickenburg Ranch Golf Club opened last January to great fanfare. Designed by Bill Brownlee and Wendell Pickett, the layout crisscrosses the canyons and arroyos abutting Prescott National Forest and, thanks to the temperate climate, features satiny bentgrass greens all year round. wickenburgranch.com EVEN BETTER: Following a major Tom Weiskopf-directed renovation of its PGA

Resources on page 91

coloradoav idgo lf e r.c o m

Arizona

it’s easy.

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TPC Scottsdale

Tour-hosting Stadium course, the 36hole TPC Scottsdale also has completed a big-ticket transformation of its public-invited bistro. The new Fairmont Scottsdale Princess-operated Toro Latin Restaurant is a Chef Richard Sandoval signature eatery that, in addition to an innovative “suviche bar” (serving sushi and ceviche), offers 111 varieties of rums from throughout the world. tpc.com/scottsdale

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HIGH FLYER: Eagle Mountain Golf Club has nestled in the ravines of the McDowell Mountains since 1996. Architect Scott Miller sculpted the fairways and greens on this 6,800-yard gem into massive bowls, which helps redirect wayward drives and build your calves walking back up to the cart paths. The spectacular romp through box canyons and desert valleys climaxes on the plunging par-4 18th. eaglemt.com DESERT THRILL: Located just west of Phoenix amongst Buckeye’s verdant White Tank Mountains, Verrado Golf Club is the exceptional collaborative design of John Fought and Tom Lehman. The duo orchestrated the 7,300-yard target-style layout with generous landing areas, five sets of tee boxes and enough risk/reward to challenge and excite even the most accomplished player. verradogolfclub.com

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Colorado AvidGolfer | Fall 2015 | TRAVEL GUIDE

Talking Stick Golf Club

FIRE IT UP: Host course to the LPGA Tour’s JTBC Founders Cup (scheduled March 15-20, 2016), Wildfire Golf Club offers Phoenix vacationers a thrilling opportunity to “play where the pros play.” The 36-hole facility includes the 7,145-yard Arnold Palmer Signature Course and the 6,846-yard Nick Faldo Course. Stay-and-play packages are readily available, plus kids age 15 and younger play free or at a greatly discounted rate (restrictions apply). wildfiregolf.com MUST PLAY: In 1998, when golf architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw infused their minimalistic co-design style into a board-flat, desert-scrub landscape, Scottsdale’s Talking Stick Golf Club became a critically acclaimed 36-hole challenge.

The club’s “must play” magnetism remains Resources on page 91 coloradoav idgo lf e r.c o m

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Arizona

today, as evinced by Golfweek magazine’s ranking of the North and South layouts among the top public courses in the country. talkingstickgolfclub.com

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE: “Vacationing golfers often forget what a great value Arizona can be in the off season,” said 48-year Scottsdale resident Jerry Rose. “The rates drop as the temperature rises. You can find great deals in the late spring and early fall. Even late fall is a relative bargain. In summer, early morning tee times are plentiful midweek, and incredibly inexpensive, even at the Valley’s best courses.”

Tucson

Sewailo Golf Club

SOUTHERN SWING: On your next trip to Tucson, reserve a tee time at awardwinning Sewailo Golf Club, home course of the University of Arizona Wildcats and a popular guest amenity of the Casino Del Sol Resort. Designed by Native American and former PGA Tour player Notah Begay III with Ty Butler, the 7,400-yard routing is a water-laden

test that pushes every player’s “A” game. sewailogolfclub.com TAKE FLIGHT: In Marana just northwest of Tucson, the semi-private Golf Club at Dove Mountain has established a compelling legacy for excellence in customer service, course conditioning and Tour-caliber golf. Underscoring its allure is a Jack Nicklaus-crafted, 27-hole routing that from 2009 to 2014 hosted the PGA Tour’s WGC Accenture Match Play Championship. thegolfclubatdovemountain.com LANDMARK IT: If you desire a memorable, easy paced golf vacation with all the bells and whistles, make it Tubac Golf Resort & Spa. Located in the tranquil Santa Cruz River Valley 160 miles south of Phoenix, the historic property complements its luxe-level services with a 27-hole cottonwood- and mesquite-lined golf experience designed

by Red Lawrence and Ken Kavanaugh. tubacgolfresort.com

Resources on page 91

You thought a winter golf trip to Phoenix would be too expensive to take…

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Must play on Friday (PM), anytime Saturday or Sunday on three consecutive days.

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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.

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Lifestyle

Arizona

Kierland Commons

GREAT SCOTTSDALE!: Scottsdale is hot, and we’re not talking Fahrenheit.

Satiate your palate at some of the city’s 600-plus restaurants—including Culinary Dropout (culinarydropout.com), Deseo (kierlandresort.com), Dominick’s Steakhouse (dominickssteakhouse.com), La Hacienda at the Scottsdale Princess (fairmont.com/Scottsdale), Handlebar J (handlebarj.com), The House Brasserie (thehousebrasserie.com) and Pinnacle Peak Patio (pppatio.com). Afterwards, hit one or more of the city’s 80 wine bars, speakeasies and dance clubs. If you fancy whisky, head to the Westin Kierland’s Scotch Library (kierlandresort. com), home to more than 200 single malts and blends. Learn more at experiencescottsdale.com.

WHAT’S IN STORE: Golf may be Scottsdale’s top outdoor activity, but the hands-down indoor winner is shopping. At Kierland Commons, take full advantage of more than 70 upscale specialty stores, plus live music and a mouthwatering menu of restaurants, cafes and bistros that consistently rank among the best in the Valley. kierlandcommons.com

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FOR ART LOVERS: It’s a four-decade tradition, and the Scottsdale Artwalk remains a premier showcase of world-renowned galleries that seduce art aficionados with aweinspiring collections. The weekly event includes a variety of activities including artist demonstrations, wine and food samplings, live music and more. Scheduled from 7-9 p.m. every Thursday (except Thanksgiving). Bonus tip: The Scottsdale Trolley is free during the event. scottsdalegalleries. com YEE-HAW!: Experience the Old West up close and personal at the popular Rawhide Western Town. The sprawling 1880s-style attraction wows audiences with shoot-’em-up cowboys at the Six Gun Theater, stagecoach and burro rides, a 30-foot rock climbing wall and white-knuckle shotgun weddings.

Afterwards, treat your hungry pilgrims to a delectable multi-course BBQ dinner. rawhide.com BFF BONANZA: Scottsdale’s girlfriend getaways often begin with golf, but they almost always include luxurious spa

Colorado AvidGolfer | Fall 2015 | TRAVEL GUIDE

Scottsdale Artwalk

treatments. BFF specials are offered at many of the city’s finer spas, including Scottsdale Resort and Athletic Club, Firesky Resort & Spa and Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain. At the esteemed Boulders Resort & Spa in Carefree, book a stay-and-spa package that includes sensuous treatments and good-for-you cuisine. experiencescottsdale.com FAST & FABULOUS: Want to take your next corporate teambuilding to a whole new level? Fuel your company’s prized employees and clients at Octane Raceway, an award-winning facility in Scottsdale where Indy-inspired electric karts fly up to 45 miles per hour on a third-of-a-mile indoor/outdoor course.

Resources on page 91 coloradoav idgo lf e r.c o m

ESCAPE THE WINTER, TRAVEL & PLAY

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FEEL THE SUN Contact our courses below to make your experience special with advantages like best rates, great stay & play specials and MORE!

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ASU KARSTEN Tempe, Arizona asukarsten.com 480.921.8070

LONGBOW Mesa, Arizona longbowgolf.com 480.807.5400

EAGLE MOUNTAIN Fountain Hills, Arizona eaglemtn.com 480.816.1234

SEDONA GOLF RESORT Sedona, Arizona sedonagolfresort.com 928.284.9355

PALM VALLEY Goodyear, Arizona palmvalleygolf.com 623.935.2500

MCDOWELL MOUNTAIN Scottsdale, Arizona mcdowellmountaingc.com 480.502.8200

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ANGEL PARK GC angelpark.com 702.254.4653

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Arizona

Tucson

Attack the track then kick back at the Trackside Bar & Grill. Groups and the general public are welcome. octaneraceway.com

visitors each year and is regarded among the state’s most popular and culturally significant attractions. visittucson.org

GET LUCKY: Scottsdale’s casino gaming venues are first class. The double-down, Las Vegas-style excitement includes slots, poker, table games, sports betting, cocktail lounges, fine dining and premier live-music entertainment, all guest-friendly staples at Casino Arizona (talkingstickresort.com) and We-Ko-Pa Resort & Conference Center (wekoparesort.com).

PAINT PARTY: The 98-acre ArizonaSonora Desert Museum is one of America’s leading living museums, featuring more than 230 animals and 1,200 varieties of desert plants.

Founded in 1952, its longtime mission is to make the fragile Sonoran Desert accessible, understandable and treasured for generations to come. For an even more personal experience, check into the museum’s celebrated Art Institute classes taught by accomplished illustrators like painter Ned Aldrich. desertmuseum.org

FUN FLOAT: Wet and wild barely describes the fun of floating the serene and wildlife-teeming waters of the Verde River. Inflatable “ducky” kayaks and tours are readily available from Sedona Adventure Tours in nearby Camp Verde, where vacationers enjoy a safe and relaxing trip into lush canyons and estuaries that are habitat to deer, beaver, river otters, herons, hawks, eagles and javalina. No experience necessary. sedonaadventuretours.com DESERT DOVE: More than any other landmark, Mission San Xavier del Bac is what characterizes and defines Tucson’s “Old Pueblo” moniker.

The 315-year-old structure, widely considered the finest example of Spanish Colonial architecture in the United States, hosts some 200,000

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IT’S AMAZING: It’s been called one of the 50 must-see wonders of the world, and quite frankly, there is nothing on earth like Biosphere 2. An ongoing University of Arizona experiment in sustainability, the engineering marvel allows visitors to explore a mangrove wetland, tropical rainforest, savanna grassland, coastal fog desert and a million-gallon ocean—all within a 3.14-acre facility enclosed by 7.2 million cubic feet of sealed glass. b2science.org FOODIE ALERT: Delectable dining is elemental to the Tucson experience, and nowhere is that better exemplified than at the CORE Kitchen & Wine Bar at the

Colorado AvidGolfer | Fall 2015 | TRAVEL GUIDE

Mount Lemmon

luxurious Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain in Marana. This brilliantly executed restaurant offers six dining venues and a menu focused on regional sustainable cuisine and local growers. A signature feature is an adjoining 42-acre citrus grove that offers freshly harvested Arizona oranges, Minneola tangelos and red grapefruit. ritzcarlton.com/en/ properties/dovemountain GO SHOP: When shopping is an affair of the heart, there’s much to love in Old Pueblo. La Encantada (laencantadashoppingcenter.com) is Tucson’s premier facility for upscale apparel, décor, electronics, restaurants and more, plus it offers a bounty of fitness events and festivals including complimentary Yoga Sundays at LuluLemon Athletica. And don’t miss downtown Tucson’s eclectic shops, bars, pubs and live music venues at historic, tree-lined Fourth Avenue fourthavenue.org Local Knowledge: “I retired 18 months ago and moved to Tucson, and it was one the best things I ever did for myself,” said former Denver resident and avid golfer Dan James. “I pretty much live and breathe the great outdoors, and for my active lifestyle, there is no better place to live than in Tucson.”

Resources on page 91 coloradoav idgo lf e r.c o m

Stop searching for your oasis. It’s right here.

You’ll be amazed at the stories you can tell with Tucson as your escape.

Learn more at VisitTucson.org/GOLF

Lodging

Nevada

CasaBlanca Hotel & Casino

SAVOR LIFE SLOWLY: Last summer witnessed the addition of spectacular glamour and glitter to the North Vegas Strip with the opening of SLS Las Vegas.

Already, the 1,600-room, three-towered resort is celebrated for high-energy gaming, poolside day clubs, intimate live performances and eight luscious dining options, including the savory signature cuisine dished up at Bazaar Meat by José Andrés. slshotels.com/lasvegas

Ceasars Palace Las Vegas Hotel and Casino

ZOOM ZOOM: A fast car will get you from Las Vegas to Mesquite in less than an hour. Upon arrival, double down on a sure-bet vacation by checking into CasaBlanca Hotel & Casino. Celebrated for its pink exterior and lagoon-style pool, the resort also offers 500 newly remodeled guest rooms, fine and casual dining, spirit renewing spa services, gaming and sportsbook, live entertainment, complimentary guest valet and 36 holes of top-caliber golf. casablancaresort.com PRIMM AND PROPER: Just 30 minutes southwest of Vegas near the California state line, burgeoning Primm is igniting the desert sky with a trio of premier properties—Whiskey Pete’s, Primm Valley and Buffalo Bill’s—collectively

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known as Primm Valley Casino Resorts.

While there, play the Tom Fazio-crafted Primm Valley Golf Club, which entices with two of the finest 18-hole courses in the Southwest. primmvalleyresorts.com and primmvalleygolf.com ROYAL PURSUITS: The guest experience at Caesars Palace Las Vegas Hotel and Casino is simply magical. The worldfamous property offers five towers of luxury accommodations—including the award-winning intimacy of Nobu Hotel—gaming, live entertainment, nightlife, myriad restaurants and upscale shopping. Its recreation is equally amazing, including Qua Baths and Spa, Garden of the Gods Pool, and privileged access to Cascata and Rio Secco golf clubs. caesarspalace.com

Colorado AvidGolfer | Fall 2015 | TRAVEL GUIDE

HOWLIN’ GOOD: A big, bold desert necessitates a life-enriching oasis.

In Mesquite, it’s the Eureka Casino Resort, a 60-acre property of lush landscaping, luxurious guest rooms and suites, full-on gaming, top-rated casual and fine dining, spa services, cabanaappointed swimming and easy access golf, including an exclusive tee-time partnership with award-winning Wolf Creek Golf Club. eurekamesquite.com GO ALL IN: For guests of Mesquite’s Virgin River Hotel in, “stay and play” has become a lifestyle-spoiling art form. Indulging amenities include 714 pets-welcome guestrooms, casino and sportsbook gambling, live entertainment, appetizing dining, pool, bowling, arcade and build-your-own packages at the CasaBlanca or Palms highly regarded golf courses. virginriver.com

Resources on page 91 coloradoav idgo lf e r.c o m

Golf

Nevada

Conestoga Golf Club

GET SPOILED: Expect nothing less than first-class service, immaculate conditioning and exciting shot values at daily-fee Conestoga Golf Club in Mesquite. Fully managed by Troon Golf, the 7,232-yard Gary Panks design further rewards players with a neoclassic layout that serpentines through colored canyons surrounded by sky-piercing mountain ranges. conestogagolf.com TOP SHELF: Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort, the 2014 CAGGY Award winner for Best Las Vegas Experience, celebrates its 20th anniversary this season. The destination property sports a trifecta of spectacular golf courses—the Snow Mountain; Sun Mountain; and Wolf—all designed by legendary architect Pete Dye. lvpaiutegolf.com ITS NAME IS RIO: The marvelous Rees Jones designed Rio Secco Golf Club offers impeccable service, steep canyon challenges and female T-Mates who know the course intimately. The semi-private club welcomes players who overnight at any hotel in the greater Las Vegas area, and if your game is on the skids, swing guru Butch Harmon’s golf school is based at Rio Secco. riosecco.net FASTER IS BETTER: Courses that can be played briskly are becoming a whole lot

more attractive to time-sensitive golfers.

Las Vegas’ Durango Hills Golf Club, an executive-length course, boasts four par4 holes, 14 par-3s and stunning views of Red Rock, Snow and Sheep mountains. durangohillsgolf.com DESERT ICON: Opened in 1987, Painted Desert Golf Club is considered Las Vegas’ original desert-style layout. The highly regarded Jay Morrish design plays 6,781 yards from the tips. The Arcis managed facility once hosted the Nevada Open. painteddesertgc.com VIVA LAS VEGAS: Facts about venerable Las Vegas Golf Club: It’s the oldest club in the valley, having challenged and rewarded golfers since 1938; no other course is closer to Downtown Las Vegas; and the high-season $50 trail fee is a flat-out bargain. lasvegasgc.com YEA, BABY: It is described as “the world’s most complete Las Vegas golf experience,” and for good reason. Angel Park Golf Club sports 36 holes of Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay-designed golf, a lighted 12-hole short course and 18-hole putting course, golf academy, breakfast and lunch fare, plus an all-female caddie crew known as the Angel Park Angels. angelpark.com

SIMPLY THE BEST: Five-star luxury awaits guests at gated Cascata, the highly decorated upscale daily-fee golf experience in Boulder City. It starts with a masterfully crafted Rees Jonesdesigned golf course, and continues with tour-class caddies, an unpretentious clubhouse with fine and casual dining, and deliciously appointed locker rooms and lounges for both men and women. cascatagolf.com TREND SETTER: In 1995 Oasis Golf Club put Mesquite on America’s golf radar.

Its 36-holes of Arnold Palmer-designed golf—the elder Palmer course as well as the younger Canyons track—have introduced the property’s awe-inspiring “moonscape” surrounds to scores of avid golfers, who after a pleasurable round take respite in the semi-private club’s grill and 29,000-square-foot clubhouse. theoasisgolfclub.com PERFECT 10: Pure eye candy will be your first reaction to Falcon Ridge Golf Course in Mesquite. This explosive 6,569-yard daily fee—gorgeously crafted by Kelby Hughes and Cresent Hardy—plays into, up and over plunging canyons and ravines, enhanced by ball-collecting mounding, strategically placed bunkering and superb turf conditioning. golffalcon.com Resources on page 91

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experienceMesquite “Conestoga Cares”

Conestoga Golf Club is an expert in golf outings of any size. Book your 12+ player group directly with us and receive our exclusive “Conestoga Cares” package for the guaranteed lowest price. This amazing package includes golf, group scoring, cart, merchandise credit, and select food and beverage options for one easy all-inclusive price. We will also provide your group with a dedicated event professional to ensure every one of these amazing benefits is utilized by the group. Make no mistake —“Conestoga Cares”— and as Mesquite’s only Troon managed golf facility, we promise to deliver you the premier golf experience in Southern Nevada.

MESQUITE, NV

|

702.346.4292

|

CO N E STOG AGO LF.COm

CO N E S T O G A G O L F C L U B 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 CO U r S E m A N A G E m E N T

“Conestoga CaRes” PaCkage start at $69 Per Player this Fall / Winter Call 702.346.4292 and ask for the General Manager or email: tmcdowell@TroonGolf.com Call for a custom quote for your preferred package dates regardless of group size. #ConestogaCares

Lifestyle

Nevada

Las Vegas

JACK’S PLACE: It’s located 50 minutes from both Las Vegas and Mesquite, but top-ranked Coyote Springs Golf Club is well worth the drive. The 7,471-yard daily fee is a Jack Nicklaus Signature, complemented by a 19-acre practice facility that includes a 10,000-squarefoot practice putting green. Plus, the views of the Delamar, Arrow and Meadow Valley mountains are breathtaking. coyotesprings.com JOIN UP: A newly renovated fitness center, two aquatic areas, 12 tennis courts, gourmet kitchen and a 50,000-square-foot clubhouse are among the eye-popping amenities at members-only Spanish Trail Country Club. More compelling, the club’s 27hole golf facility was thrilling enough for the PGA Tour, hosting the Las Vegas Invitational five times in the 1980s. spanishtrailcc.com MI CASA, SU CASA: Crafted with great sensitivity to the surrounding environs, the Cal Olson-designed CasaBlanca Golf Course is an unqualified treasure and a key stay-and-play amenity of CasaBlanca Hotel & Casino in Mesquite.

The classically styled, 7,011-yard track is enhanced by desert vistas and mountainscapes, as well as beautifully conditioned fairways and greens. casablancaresort.com MAKE THE CALL: Turnkey golf trips are the life of Riley, and there are few

Bellagio Jean Phillip Patisserie

better one-call services than Golf Mesquite Nevada. Designed for both casual and competitive golfers, the premier vacation packager helps ensure travelers fully realize and remember their long-awaited trip to Nevada. No matter the budget, Golf Mesquite Nevada is the one to call. 866-720-7111 or golfmesquitenevada.com ALL THAT GLITTERS: More positive signs the economy is nearing its full stride: MGM Resorts International has announced plans to build a 5,000-seat concert theater at Monte Carlo Resort and Casino. Located adjacent to another 20,000-seat arena currently under construction between Monte Carlo and New York-New York Hotel & Casino, the multiple-configuration theater will further anchor a new entertainment district currently taking shape on Las Vegas Boulevard. Both facilities are expected to host events in April 2016. lasvegasevents.com MESQUITE FLAVOR: Located 70 minutes northeast of Las Vegas and 40 minutes southwest of St. George, Utah, Mesquite is a singular gateway to some of the West’s most memorable adventures including Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, North Rim of the Grand Canyon and Valley of Fire State Park. In addition to golf, Mesquite’s rugged desert setting offers astonishing recreational opportunities. visitmesquite.com

COWBOY UP: Sin City is deeply rooted in gaming, but it also has big-hat ties to the American West. For 30 consecutive years, Las Vegas has hosted the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the richest and most prestigious event of its kind. That streak will continue thanks to a new multi-year agreement that will keep the NFR at the Thomas & Mack Center at least through 2025. This year’s broncobuckin’ thrills take place Dec. 3-12. lasvegasevents.com COME HUNGRY: Vegas is a who’s-who of celebrity chefs and fabulous cuisine, and now there’s another feast-able on the way. Celebrity chef Alain Ducasse debuts Rivea and Skyfall Lounge at Delano Las Vegas. Inspired by the casual elegance of the Mediterranean coast and influenced by the delectable food markets of Provence and Italy, the new bistro will focus on simple, fresh flavors made with the best West Coast-sourced seasonal ingredients. alain-ducasse.com ACES WILD!: Former World No. 1s—Andre Agassi, Stefanie Graf, Martina Navratilova and Andy Roddick—headline a starstudded event to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Aid for AIDS of Nevada. Held on a specially constructed tennis court in a Caesars Palace valet parking lot, the event is courtesy of two other world-renowned celebs—39 Grand Slams-winner Billy Jean King, and Sir Elton John, who performs at Caesars Palace. wtt.com Resources on page 91

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Utah

Utah

Lodging | Golf | Lifestyle

PHOTOGRAPH BY JOE NEWMAN

Utah

Sand Hollow

ROCK IT: Outstanding golf is part and parcel to the Red Rock Golf Trail, an 11-course smorgasbord (10 in and around St. George, another in nearby Mesquite, Nevada) that satisfies the royal and ancient appetite of even the most avid golfer. redrockgolftrail.com INN AND ON: Although Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club is private, guests in one of the 40 luxury casitas at the Inn at Entrada can get on. This award-winning experience includes Troon Golf-managed Johnny Miller Signature golf; Kokopelli Restaurant and Lounge; and a stateof-the-art fitness center that includes spa services, tennis, pickleball, sand volleyball, basketball and swimming. golfentrada.com IT’S A WONDER: Don’t plan a golf excursion to Southern Utah without booking Sand Hollow Golf Club near Hurricane. Envied for its majestic views of Zion National Park, Pine Valley Mountain and a particularly inspiring red sandstone formation bookending

St. George

the property, the 27-hole John Fought masterpiece is an unabashed stunner.

Stay and play at the luxe Sand Hollow Golf Resort Sand Hollow Golf Resort. sandhollowresort.com IN THE MIX: Newly remodeled and under new ownership, The Inn at St. George offers clean, comfortable and distinct boutique lodging with easy access to galleries, shopping, dining and historic landmarks like the Opera House, St. George Tabernacle and Brigham Young’s famous home. innstgeorge.com INCREDIBLE IVINS: Blended into an unforgettable landscape of vivid red rock cliffs and canyons, Red Mountain Resort in Ivins is flawlessly suited for relaxing, renewing and rediscovering your passion for adventure. The high-end property offers generously appointed guest rooms and villas, wellness programs, spa, fine dining and adventures to nearby Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks. redmountainresort.com

NATURAL WONDERS: Southern Utah’s acclaimed red rock country is a proverbial four-season playground, underscored by 229-square-mile Zion National Park and its world-famous sandstone cliffs, majestic Snow Canyon and Sand Hollow state parks, and the spectacular northeastern reaches of the 54,000-square-mile Mojave Desert.

That’s eye-candy fodder for balloonists, hikers, rock climbers, bikers, skydivers, zip-liners, horseback riders, ATV’ers and water sports enthusiasts. visitstgeorge.com

MORE THAN GOLF: Sports mecca St. George hosts a distinguished list of annual events, including the St. George Marathon (Oct. 3), fifth largest in America and ranked among the continent’s most scenic footraces; the 10,000-athletes-strong Huntsman World Senior Games (Oct. 5-17); and the preeminent Ironman 70.3 U.S. Pro Championship (May 7, 2016), which welcomes 2,500 athletes and 10,000 visitors to the area. visitstgeorge.com Resources on page 91

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Courses Hotels Amenities Rates

10 Courses 189 Holes 365 Days

#WhatOSeason

RED ROCK GOLF TRAIL

My Golf Trip Planner

There is a Place...

It s time for a golf getaway, and you re ready for some serious tee time. How about a new golf destination with a small town atmosphere and big time golf? There is a place where you can get away and focus on your game.

Comfortably nestled in the southwest corner of Utah, St. George is only 90 minutes north of Las Vegas right on I-15. Experience impeccable greens, impressive accommodations and eclectic dining, with plenty of other great activites to keep you busy while you re not on the greens.

The Red Rock Golf Trail will take you for the ride of your life without breaking the bank!

We ve got 10 challenging courses to choose from. Play

them all if you dare! That s 189 holes to get your game on. Oh, and not to mention we re open for play 365 days a year. In this dry and temperate desert climate it s always good weather for golf.

Off season? No such thing in St. George.

With nine franchised hotels that offer resonable rates, comfortable beds and hearty breakfasts, you ll find accomodations that meet your expectations.

So pack your bags, shine your clubs, and get a new sleeve of your favorite golf balls because by the time you re done with this brochure you ll be booking the golf trip of your dreams. You ll see how affordable and easy it is on the Red Rock Golf Trail.

Get your

REDROCKGOLF .COM

GAME ON!

Courses

¦¦¦

Sunbrook Course Info 1 of 10 | | Holes......27 Par........108 Yards......10,240 Rating.....73.0 Slope......137 Golf Pro...Reed McArthur Tel........435.627.4400

Sunbrook Golf Club is right in town and has a great variety of what the Red Rock Golf Trail has to offer. Play from the top of the bluffs to the desert floor. Shoot through black lava rock and try to avoid the red sand traps. With beautiful views of red rock formations and nearby alpine moun-

In

The Point - Hole 5

TOWN

tians, you ll be in awe over the amazing landscapes that surround this course.

Bridges, water hazards and elevation drops make every hole an adventure. There is even a par 3 island hole that will leave you dreaming about a hole in one.

The Ledges Course Info 2 of 10 | | Holes......18 Par........72 Yards......7145 Rating.....74.2 Slope......137 Golf Pro...Michael Sweet Tel........435.634.4640

- Hole 12 The Ledges Golf Club comes with unique views of it s own. The red rock panoramas from the rim of Snow Canyon State Park make you feel like you re playing golf in a postcard. Designed by renowned golf course architect Matt Dye this course has a friendly atmo-

sphere with an upscale pro shop and delightful restaurant. Four separate tee boxes with long and open fairways promise a rewarding round for everyone in your group. The front nine is set up well to help you break in your driver, and the back nine is a great test to see how well you can control your irons.

Most

¦¦¦ Courses YARDAGE

Sand Hollow Course Info 3 of 10 | | Holes.....27 Par.......108 Yards.....10,310 Rating....73.7 Slope.....137 Golf Pro...Adam Jasperson Tel........435.656.4653

Sand Hollow Golf Club has it s own standard for unique course design that includes an 18 hole championship track as well as a walkable 9 hole links style course. Have you ever played golf on a cliff? Well, get ready because on this John Fought course, you might find yourself teeing one off

over the edge just to see how far you can make it fly. Combine that with the reflecting sunset on the Virgin River as you finish your round and you ll be wishing you had your best buddy there with you (and I don t mean your new driver).

Sky Mountain Course Info 4 of 10 | | Holes......18 Par........72 Yards......6363 Rating.....70.9 Slope......131 Golf Pro...Kent Abegglen Tel........435.635.7888

Sky Mountain is as scenic as it is challenging. Don t be fooled by the yardage, you ll earn every stroke here. But when you shave one or two off, it s all the more satisfying. The course is appropriately named for the amazing views from the

elevated tee boxes. Don t be surprised if you find yourself gazing off at the cliffs of Zion National Park and the azure rim of the Pine Valley Mountains in the distance. Anywhere you look and anytime you play, it s simply gorgeous!

REDROCKGOLF .COM

Falcon Ridge Course Info

Desert

5 of 10 | | Holes.....18 Par.......72 Yards.....6550 Rating....71.6 Slope.....138 Golf Pro...Brian Wursten Tel........702.346.6363

GEM

Falcon Ridge Golf Club is another desert gem on the Red Rock Golf Trail. Just 40 minutes south of St. George, it s totally worth the drive. This course has so many water features you ll forget you re golfing in the desert. With all its elevated tee boxes you ll see a side of golf you ve never seen before.

Watch out for the white sand bunkers just ready to swallow up your strays. Scoring opportunities come quickly at first, and good thing because you ll definitely need the extra strokes later. Bring everyting you ve got for this one, including your smile - you ll be glad you did.

Coral Canyon Tactical Strategy | Hole 6 Par 3 Yards 122 -1 shot to the green -Long putt for the birdie

-Avoid the ball-eating bunnies

Coral Canyon Golf Club is all about the colors. You will be amazed at how green the fairways are in this rustic desert. The way the sunshine and blue skies brighten up the greens will make you feel like you re playing golf in paradise. The fair-

Course Info 6 of 10 | | Holes......18 Par........72 Yards......7029 Rating.....73.5 Slope......142 Golf Pro...Marco Leoni Tel........435.688.1700

ways here are wide and nicely forgiving ‒ so go ahead, flex your muscles and go for your longest drive. The most common thing golfers say about Coral Canyon is just how fun it is.

Golf? Fun? Hmmm, now there s an idea.

REDROCKGOLF .COM

Green Spring Course Info 7 of 10 | | Holes......18 Par........72 Yards......6859 Rating.....73.5 Slope......138 Golf Pro...Nick Neeley Tel........435.673.7888

might ďŹ nd yourself wanting to tee o a couple extra balls just to see if you can cut the corner to the green. This course will leave you with plenty of great stories and a deep desire to return for another chance to try again.

Local

Green Spring Golf Club is a favorite among locals and guests. Holes 5 and 6 have you shooting across red rock ravines that will get your heart racing. There is plenty of water here to have fun with, especially on number 15. You

TRADITION

St. George Course Info 9 of 10 | | Holes......18 Par........73 Yards......7217 Rating.....73.7 Slope......126 Golf Pro...James Hood Tel........435.627.4404

St. George Golf Club is another course you won t want to miss. Open since 1976, this course is a local tradition with large greens that make for long and rewarding putts. It s another great course to walk to mix a little ex-

ercise in with your game. There are three par 3 s over water that you ll have fun with, along with a couple holes where the greens are on a small peninsula. As the only par 73 on the trail, you ll see why this course has been a favorite forever.

Courses

¦¦¦

Southgate Course Info 8 of 10 | | Holes......18 Par........71 Yards......6270 Rating.....69.2 Slope......119 Golf Pro...Eron Deming Tel........435.627.4440

Adding

Southgate can be a walkable course for those looking to mix a little exercise in with their golf game. This is a doable course that weaves alongside the Santa Clara river ‒ just close enough to make it beautiful and keep the game interesting. Eight of the first nine holes have water features, so you ve got to be

accurate. But the fairways are wide, so there s usually a safe place to play. The back nine, however, is a different story. The narrow fairways and hills make you justify your front nine score. If you re not happy with your results, Southgate also has a game improvement center with PGA professionals to help you dial things in.

EXERCISE

Dixie Red Hills Course Info 10 of 10 | | Holes......9 Par........34 Yards......2733 Rating.....66.1 Slope......119 Golf Pro...Allen Orchard Tel........435.627.4444

Dixie Red Hills is the pioneer of St. George golf, opening for play in the mid 1960 s. If you want to play in the red rocks, you can t get any closer than this. You ll be calling shots off the boulders, around the cliffs and through the

trees as you find your way to the green. The fairways are lined with large cottonwood trees which are great for shade and keeping your game on track. It s a perfect place for a quick nine holes right in the heart of St. George.

DESTINATION

Jet Air Service

Via Denver and Salt Lake

St. George Utah Airport is conveniently located only 15 minutes from town with flights on United Airlines via Denver and Delta Airlines via Salt Lake City. With these major connecting hubs, you can fly right in to our stateof-the-art SGU municipal

airport literally anywhere from around the world.

Not finding a flight connection? No problem. Golfers love that we are just 90 minutes north of Las Vegas which has hundreds of flights every day.

So what are you waiting for? You ll find everything you ve been looking for, more affordably than you could imagine and more scenic than you ll believe.

REDROCKGOLF.COM

My Golf Trip Planner

Destination

with endless options Aside from impresseive golf courses, St. George offers a wide variety of additional activities.

Only 40 minutes away, the world-renowned Zion National Park attracts over 3 million visitors each year. Here you can hike the famous Narrows and Subway slot canyons, or take in the grandeur of the Great White Throne and

Angels Landing.

It s an experience that will change your life.

That s why people come to St. George over and over again, because there are endless affordable options for both the soft adverturer and the adrenaline junkie.

We ve got it all. That s why we ve adopted the slogan Everything from A to Zion.

888-345-2550

365 DAYS OF PLAY Weather Information

Month Ave.Temp January 54 February 54 March 66 April 74 May 85 June 95 July 102 August 99 September 92 October 80 November 65 December 55

Precip. .9 in. .9 in. .9 in. .5 in. .4 in. .2 in. .6 in. .6 in. .6 in. .7 in. .6 in. .9 in.

Season peak peak peak peak peak off off off peak peak off off

Package Rates Peak Season 4 Nights 4 Rounds

$636

Resources ARIZONA FEATURED RESORTS

SPOTLIGHT: SCOTTSDALE

NEVADA FEATURED COURSES

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort Scottsdale fairmont.com/scottsdale; 800-344-4758

Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau experiencescottsdale.com; 800-782-1117

Angel Park Golf Course, Las Vegas

Cafe Zuzu; 480-421-7997

Badlands Golf Club, Las Vegas badlandsgc.com; 702-363-0754

J.W. Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa Phoenix jwdesertridgeresort.com; 800-835-6206 Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia Paradise Valley montelucia.com; 888-627-3010 Talking Stick Resort, Scottsdale talkingstickresort.com; 866-850-7777 We-Ko-Pa Resort & Conference Center Fort McDowell wekoparesort.com; 480-789-5300 Casino Del Sol Resort, Tucson casinodelsolresort.com; 866-715-0006 The Lodge at Ventana Canyon, Tucson thelodgeatventanacanyon.com; 800-828-5701 Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, Tucson loewsventanacanyon.com; 800-234-5117 Tubac Golf Resort & Spa, Tubac tubacgolfresort.com; 800-848-7893 The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa, Tucson westinlapalomaresort.com; 888-627-7201

angelpark.com; 702-254-4653

Culinary Dropout culinarydropout.com; 480-970-1700

Canyons at Oasis Golf Club, Mesquite theoasisgolfclub.com; 888-367-3386

Deseo; kierlandresort.com; 480-624-1202

CasaBlanca Golf Course, Mesquite casablancaresort.com; 877-438-2929

Dominick’s Steakhouse dominickssteakhouse.com; 480-272-7271

Cascata, Boulder City cascatagolf.com; 702-294-2005

La Hacienda at the Scottsdale Princess fairmont.com/scottsdale; 480-585-4848 Handlebar J; handlebarj.com; 480-948-0110

Conestoga Golf Club, Mesquite conestogagolf.com; 702-346-4292

The House Brasserie thehousebrasserie.com; 480-634-1600

Coyote Springs Golf Club, Coyote Springs coyotesprings.com; 877-742-8455

Kierland Commons kierlandcommons.com; 480-386-6020

Durango Hills Golf Club, Las Vegas durangohillsgolf.com; 702-229-4653

Pinnacle Peak Patio; pppatio.com; 480-585-1599

Falcon Ridge Golf Course, Mesquite golffalcon.com; 702-346-6363

Rusty Spur Saloon rustyspursaloon.com; 480-425-7787 Scottsdale Artwalk scottsdalegalleries.com; 480-998-4323

SPOTLIGHT: TUCSON

Golf Mesquite Nevada, Mesquite golfmesquitenevada.com; 866-720-7111 Las Vegas Golf Club, Las Vegas lasvegasgc.com; 702-646-3003 The Legacy Golf Club, Las Vegas thelegacygc.com; 702-897-2187

ARIZONA FEATURED COURSES

Visit Tucson; visittucson.org; 800-638-8350

Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, Maricopa golfsoutherndunes.com; 480-367-8949

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum desertmuseum.org; 520-883-2702

The Golf Club at Dove Mountain, Marana thegolfclubatdovemountain.com; 520-572-3500

Arizona Wine Growers arizonawine.org; 623-236-2338

Eagle Mountain Golf Club, Fountain Hills eaglemtn.com; 480-816-1234

Ava Amphitheater tickets.solcasinos.com; 855-SOL-STAY

JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass, Tucson jwmarriottstarrpass.com; 520-792-3500

Biosphere 2; b2science.org; 520-838-6200

Rio Secco Golf Club, Henderson riosecco.net; 702-777-2400

CORE Kitchen & Wine Bar ritzcarlton.com/en/properties/dovemountain 520-572-3000

Silverstone Golf Club, Las Vegas silverstonegolf.com; 702-562-3770

El Charro; elcharrocafe.com; 520-622-1922

Spanish Trail Country Club, Las Vegas spanishtrailcc.com; 702-364-5050

Rancho MaĂąana Golf Club, Cave Creek ranchomanana.com; 480-488-0398 Sewailo Golf Club, Tucson sewailogolfclub.com; 520-838-6623 Talking Stick Golf Club, Scottsdale talkingstickgolfclub.com; 480-860-2221 Tegavah Golf Club, Rio Verde tegavahgolf.com; 480-471-3232 TPC Scottsdale, Scottsdale tpc.com/scottsdale; 888-400-4001 Troon North Golf Club, North Scottsdale troonnorthgolf.com; 480-585-5300 Tubac Golf Resort & Spa, Tubac tubacgolfresort.com; 800-848-7893 Ventana Canyon Golf Club, Tucson ventanacanyonclub.com; 800-828-5701 Verrado Golf Club, Buckeye verradogolfclub.com; 623-388-3000 We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, Fort McDowell wekopa.com; 866-660-7700 Westin La Paloma Golf Club, Tucson lapalomacc.com; 520-742-6100 Wickenburg Ranch Golf Club, Wickenburg wickenburgranch.com; 480-367-3610 Wildfire Golf Club, Phoenix wildfiregolf.com; 480-473-0205 co l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c o m

Painted Desert Golf Club, Las Vegas painteddesertgc.com; 702-645-2570 Palmer at Oasis Golf Club, Mesquite theoasisgolfclub.com; 888-367-3386 Primm Valley Golf Club, Primm primmvalleygolf.com; 702-679-5509

La Encantada laencantadashoppingcenter.com; 520-299-3566

UTAH FEATURED RESORTS

Fourth Avenue Merchants fourthavenue.org; 520-624-5004

The Inn at Entrada, St. George innatentrada.com; 435-634-7100

NEVADA FEATURED RESORTS

The Inn at St. George, St. George innstgeorge.com; 855-222-3301

Caesars Palace Las Vegas Hotel and Casino Las Vegas caesarspalace.com; 866-227-5938

Red Mountain Resort, Ivins redmountainresort.com; 877-246-4453

CasaBlanca Hotel & Casino, Mesquite casablancaresort.com; 877-438-2929

Sand Hollow Golf Resort, Hurricane sandhollowresort.com; 435-656-4653

Eureka Casino Resort, Mesquite eurekamesquite.com; 800-346-4611

UTAH FEATURED COURSES

Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Mesquite ihg.com; 800-315-2621 Virgin River Hotel, Mesquite virginriver.com; 877-438-2929

Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club, St. George golfentrada.com; 435-986-2207 Red Rock Golf Trail (10 Courses), St. George redrockgolftrail.com; 888-345-2550

Primm Valley Casino Resorts, Primm primmvalleyresorts.com; 888-774-6668 SLS Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas slshotels.com/lasvegas; 855-761-7757 Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa, Las Vegas redrock.sclv.com; 702-797-7777 TRAVEL GUIDE | Fall 2015 | Colorado AvidGolfer

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BROADMOOR SPRINGBOARD: The 19-yearold Nicklaus, shown here at the 1959 U.S. Amateur at The Broadmoor, calls his 8-footer to win the championship, “the most important putt I’ve ever made.”

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A Visit from

JACK NICKLAUS As Colorado celebrates a Century of Golf, the century’s greatest golfer returns to the state that helped shape his career. By Jon Rizzi

C

ALL HIM ST. NICKLAUS. He has used his gifts as a golfer, architect, businessman and humanitarian to bring joy to the world.

And he will bring that joy to Colorado Springs November 14. How fitting is it that the finest golfer of the last 100 years comes to The Broadmoor for the Colorado Golf Foundation’s Century of Golf Gala? Very.

After all, while Jack Nicklaus’s legend began in Upper Arlington, Ohio, where by age 13 he sported a plus-3 handicap at Scioto Country Club, his competitive legacy began five years later at The Broadmoor when he curled in an eight-foot birdie putt on the 36th hole to win the 1959 U.S. Amateur.

“That putt gave me confidence,” he says today. “Making that putt proved to me that I had the stuff to be able to do what I needed to do under pressure in order to win something significant. I still believe that was probably the most important putt I made in my life. All of a sudden I had to make a putt under pressure to win my first major championship—which the co l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c o m

U.S Amateur was at the time. It added to the self-belief that I needed as a 19-year-old. That putt and that victory together served as the springboard to the rest of my career.”

With that putt he defeated the defending U.S. Amateur champion, Charlie Coe, who would be his captain and teammate at that year’s Walker Cup competition across the pond at Muirfield, where the U.S. team triumphed. On that same links seven years later, Nicklaus would win the first of his three Open Championships and the sixth of his record 18 majors.

That total would reach 20 if you include the U.S. Amateurs he won at The Broadmoor in ‘59 and at Pebble Beach in ’61. He triumphed in eight senior majors, too. And then there are the nearly 400 courses he’s designed around the world, including 13 in Colorado (see page 104)—the fourth highest total of the 38 states in which he’s worked. Only Florida, California and Arizona have more.

The Golden Bear clearly adores the Centennial State. That putt at The Broadmoor is one reason, but what happened Fall 2015 | Colorado AvidGolfer

93

the following June at the U.S. Open at Cherry Hills Country Club also played a seminal role.

Already competing in his fourth U.S. Open, the 20-year-old Nicklaus led the event by two strokes after 66 holes, but went three over on the final six to finish two behind Arnold Palmer. As Ben Hogan famously said of Nicklaus, “I played 36 holes today with a kid who, if he had a brain in his head, should have won this thing by ten strokes.”

“I think not winning that U.S. Open may have been the best thing that ever happened to me,” Nicklaus says with a smile. “Had I won, I would have been a 20-year-old kid with a head about the size of the moon—or the size of Colorado—and I would have had a hard time reaching my ears. I was in the growing stages of my life and my career, and although it was a great experience it taught me many lessons. One was that other people have trouble coming down the stretch just as I did—everybody else is nervous and trying to win, too. I had to learn to be composed and be able to play within my own game.”

Immediately after that defeat, the Ohio State star drove to The Broadmoor for the NCAA Champioflanships. “I lost to Stanford’s Steve Smith in the quarterfinals, 4 and 3,” he remembers correctly. This November will be his first time back at The Broadmoor.

Although Nicklaus would also lose the 1972 Open at Muirfield, the ancient course on which he won the ‘66 Open inspired the name of his first “signature” golf course nine miles northwest of his Ohio hometown. As any PGA Tour fan knows, Muirfield Village Golf Club, which opened 1974, has annually hosted The Memorial Tournament, with its host/founder/architect winning twice.

What golf fans might not know is that when he was first recruiting members for Muirfield, Nicklaus invited Jack Vickers and his sons to play the course. Fifteen years Vickers’ junior, Nicklaus and the future founder of Castle Pines Golf Club had become friendly at the 1958 Trans-Mississippi Amateur at Prairie Dunes Golf Club, which the 18-year-old Nicklaus won—and would win again the following year.

Despite making an ace on hole 16, Vickers didn’t join Muirfield Village. But he did take notice of the course and how its architect had clearly approached the design with the same laser focus and uncompromising commitment to excellence that defined his winning style of play.

By the late 1970s, with Muirfield entrenching itself on the lists of top U.S. courses and Nicklaus continuing to rack up major victories, Vickers decided the time had

JACK TO THE FUTURE: Clockwise from above, Nicklaus (left) and Jack Vickers in 1980, during the creation of Castle Pines Golf Club; on-site at his new layout in Campeche, Mexico; his stunning par-4 12th at Castle Pines; a bronze sculpture of Nicklaus’ fabled Reverse “C” follow-through in Castle Pines’ men’s locker room.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY: JIM MANDEVILLE/NICKLAUS DESIGN (EXCEPT NICKLAUS AND VICKERS, COURTESY CASTLE PINES GOLF CLUB.)

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“Golf was always my vehicle to competition and golf course design is an extension of that. It’s not competition with other people or designers. It is competition between the land and me.”

co l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c o m

come to build Castle Pines Golf Club. He wanted only one man to execute his vision.

“But I’m a flatlander,” Nicklaus jokingly remembers responding before agreeing to see the rugged, densely tree-covered site.

“Jack walked every foot of it before we began,” Vickers said of the first visit. “We helicoptered up and down, too… The thing I like most of all about Jack is that he is not a ‘yes’ man. He would listen to me and tell me if he thought I was wrong, and tell me why. And if he thought I was right, he was perfectly willing to make changes.”

“The mutual respect they have just exudes when they’re together,” says Castle Pines Golf Club vice president and general manager Keith Schneider, who readily admits, “I wouldn’t be here today if not for Jack Nicklaus.”

Hired at Muirfield Village when it opened, Schneider, worked his way up to become a Class A PGA Professional. In 1981 Nicklaus pulled aside the young pro and told him the grass at Castle Pines had come in early and asked if he could go and get things ready.

“I had three weeks before the first round, October 1, 1981,” Schneider says.

“So not only did you not join Muirfield,” Nicklaus jokingly said in a video for Vickers’ 90th birthday fête in August, “I loaned you my junior pro and you kept him for 35 years!”

Castle Pines hosted The International from 1986 to 2006, with its architect finishing as high as sixth in 1989, at the age of 49. Three years earlier, Nicklaus had become the oldest player ever to win the Masters, blistering Sunday’s back nine in 30 en route to his 18th and final major victory.

On the wall of Schneider’s office hangs a photo from that historic win. It shows Nicklaus hitting a tee shot. “He got that driver from me,” Schneider says. “Back in ’84, he saw I had a MacGregor Eye-O-Matic driver in my bag. A member at Muirfield had given it to me. It had ‘Jack Nicklaus’ stamped on the bottom. ‘Keith,’ Jack said, ‘this is my driver.’ He was half-kidding, but apparently his driver had a small crack, so I gave him mine. Now it’s hanging in the Jack Nicklaus Museum on the Ohio State campus.”

Not only does Columbus have a Jack Nicklaus Museum, but this year the USGA dedicated a room at its Far Hills museum to him and named the award given to the U.S. Open winner the Jack Nicklaus Medal. He has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. In 1975, the USGA bestowed upon him its highest honor, the Bob Jones Award, in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf.

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of 55 years, received the same award during this year’s U.S. Open. “Her dedication to support players and spouses, and advocacy for multiple causes, are worthy of our highest honor,” USGA President Thomas J. O’Toole Jr. said in a statement. She currently chairs the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, which has raised more than $32 million since its 2004 inception.

“Barbara, their five sprouts and 22 grandchildren are the inspiration that kept Jack on course to conquer every mountain he challenged,” says journalist Kaye Kessler, who first covered the Golden Bear when he was a 10-year-old cub at Scioto. “She’s the queen of all the wives of the world’s athletes, and he’s the most accessible, most affable athlete I’ve ever known.”

That affability, Schneider says, belies a hardwired determination to win. “‘Schneids, I have no fear,’” he remembers his boss at Muirfield saying. “‘Not towards any competitor or golf course. I respect both and they can beat me but I won’t let them win.’

He was so focused on what he was doing, he

12, 13 and 16. Modifications will include the construction of entirely new green complexes on 5, 8 and 16; the addition and elimination of numerous bunkers; the re-contouring of slopes surrounding the greens; and the addition of cascading ponds on hole 16 similar to those on 11. The 16th will also see its tips moved back to 225 yards from 204.

Course design represents only part of the multimillion-dollar Nicklaus empire, which includes multiple services, project and charitable initiatives.

Nicklaus returned to Castle Pines in June to collaborate with Vickers on “modernizing” the 35-year old course.

Modifications will include rebuilding and relocating greens

and changing seven holes. Work began August 27.

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At 75, Nicklaus still crisscrosses the world. During the November 14 gala, the Golf Channel’s Tim Rosaforte will interview him. Six Colorado People of the Century will also be honored that evening—Judy Bell, Hale Irwin, Vic Kline, Dennis Lyon, Barbara McIntire and Will Nicholson.

“I am very flattered Will and the people of the Colorado Golf Association wanted me to be there,” Nicklaus says of the invitation he received from Nicholson, the former USGA president and chairman of the Masters Competition Committee.

“I have a long and special history with the state of Colorado, and a lot of wonderful memories I cherish,” Nicklaus continues.

“Let’s hope this event simply creates one more special memory.”

It certainly will create one for all in attendance. They’ll get to savor the transcendent presence of not only the greatest golfer of the last 100 years, but also one of its finest gentlemen.

For information on the Century of Golf Gala, visit coloradogolf.org/foundation/gala.php.

BONUS: Read more insights and opinions from Jack Nicklaus at coloradoavidgolfer.com

COLORADO CONNECTION: From top left, Castle Pines collaborators Vickers and Nicklaus discuss “modifications” during their June visit; a victorious Nicklaus at the 1993 U.S. Senior Open at Cherry Hills; the Nicklauses with family members and Red Sky Golf Club PGA Head Professional Chris Lai at Beaver Creek in 2005; a bronze bust near the 18th green on the East Course at The Broadmoor commemorates Nicklaus’ 1959 U.S. Amateur victory there. coloradoav idgo lf e r.c o m

PHOTOGRAPHS: IM MANDEVILLE/NICKLAUS DESIGN; COURTESY CHERRY HILLS; COURTESY CHRIS LAI; BY MIC GAROFOLO.

never let anything else get into his mind.”

By July 1993, the 53-year-old Nicklaus had on his mind the U.S. Senior Open at Denver’s Cherry Hills Country Club, where he’d not only fallen short in 1960 but also at the 1978 U.S. Open (T6) and the 1985 PGA (T32).

Up two shots on Tom Weiskopf going into the 72nd hole of the ’93 Senior Open, Nicklaus faced a downhill 45-foot birdie putt.

“I was standing with Tom,” remembers Kessler. “I asked him if he thought Jack might three-putt to force a playoff. ‘Have you ever seen Nicklaus three-putt when two would win?’ he replied without batting an eye. Jack promptly arced a rainbow put that stopped four feet above the pin—and then calmly sank the four-footer to win.”

The victory marked Nicklaus’ last victory in Colorado. But his career as an architect, has brought him back dozens of times..

He most recently returned in June to collaborate again with Vickers on the course he designed 35 years ago.

“They were going to redo the greens, so we went to see if there was anything we could do to improve the course,” Nicklaus says before going into great detail on the changes that will mainly affect seven holes—5, 6, 8, 9,

100 years.

6 luminaries.

One legend.

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A Shrine to the Game For devotees of the sport’s legacy and its legends, the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine most definitely hits the sweet spot.

By Denny Dressman

PERSONAL TOUCHES: Inductees each appoint their own locker. Sandy Lyle’s (top left) and Pete Dye’s contain some of the more intriguing items.

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R. TONY PARKER’S passion is apparent in the sparkle in his eyes and the relish in his voice as he leads a private two-person tour of the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum.

“I am a storyteller,” says the Hall’s historian.

Entry into the Hall of Fame and Museum is through the Gallery of Greats, one of several exhibits Dr. Parker created since arriving in March 2014. Immediately upon taking the job, he asked, “How ‘World’ is the World Golf Hall of Fame?”

The answer comes in the form of six 12foot photo banners of giants from the history of the game. Along with a list of members of the Hall of Fame, they dominate the Gallery of Greats. There’s one of Arnie, of course, and of The Golden Bear; Louise Suggs, one of the LPGA’s founders, and Annika Sorenstam, perhaps its greatest star; Spain’s dashing Seve Ballesteros; and South Africa’s Black Knight, Gary Player, who shared the stage with Arnie and Jack between 1960 and 1975.

“I want visitors to feel a sense of awe as soon as they enter,” Dr. Parker explains. In a new strategic move, the WGHOF adopted a mission expressed in three words: “Preservation, Conservation and Education.” Under his direction the goal is to establish the Hall of Fame as the central repository for golf ’s history and legacy, and to tell its countless stories through ever-changing special exhibits to complement the core of permanent displays.

Dr. Parker is “a Georgia boy,” he announces proudly, with undergraduate and master’s degrees in History from the 230-year-old state university in Athens. But he spent 21 years where the modern game of golf began, St. Andrews in Scotland, before returning to the U.S. as curator of golfdom’s most fabulous museum.

Parker earned his doctorate in history from the University of St. Andrews, and held administrative and teaching positions at the University of Dundee before eventually earning the position of Curator of Golf Collections at St. Andrews. Under Dr. Parker’s direction, the golf collection at the University of St. Andrews became a world-renowned archive.

Until he came along, no one in the acknowledged birthplace of the sport had even asked if documents establishing the origination of the Royal and Ancient Club and golf ’s earlier history might exist within their vast files.

As displays on the origins of golf and its forerunners, early golf clubs, and the evolution of the golf ball collectively attest, Dr. Parker’s co l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c o m

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appreciation transcends fellow Georgia boy and American icon Bobby Jones and extends back—reverently—well beyond the legendary Scottish golf pioneer, Old Tom Morris.

The storyteller in Dr. Parker can hardly contain itself as he moves through the 35,000 square feet of golf history on display. Among his favorite stops: • The manual typewriter of iconic golf writer Herbert Warren Wind—the one on which he first coined “Amen Corner” to describe the Masters crucible that awaits early on the back nine at Augusta National—along with a copy of the April 21, 1958 issue of Sports Illustrated in which that now-common nickname first appeared.

• Harvey Penick’s original, hand-written notebook of golf instruction—insightful, easily understood anecdotes from the legendary teaching pro, himself a Hall inductee and mentor to more than a foursome of Hall of Famers including Ben Crenshaw and Mickey Wright.

Dr. Parker beams as he reminds that Penick’s Little Red Book, when finally published in 1992, became the highest selling golf book ever published.

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HISTORIC ARC: An exhibit chronicles the African-American golf experience.

• A four-dollar check from Ben Hogan to Lanny Wadkins, dated June 12, 1981.

It represents what Hogan owed Wadkins when a club member asked to join them on the 16th hole during a round at Hogan’s last club, Shady Oaks in Fort Worth, and Hogan walked off. As Dr. Parker wryly tells it, Hogan sent the check, then called Wadkins a couple weeks later to ask when he was going to cash it. (“Are you kidding?” Wadkins wanted to say but didn’t.)

One of Dr. Parker’s proudest collaborations is called “Honoring The Legacy: A Tribute to African-Americans in Golf.” The exhibit includes a timeline divided into three sections—“From The Beginning,” “Breaking Through” and “Moving Forward”—that charts the struggles and successes of African-Americans in the annals of golf from the 19th century to the present.

Also in this area is Mario Chiodo’s remarkable floor-to-ceiling, spiral sculpture titled “The DNA of the Golf Swing,” which

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serves as a metaphor for the step-by-step progress of African-Americans in the sport.

At the bottom, addressing a shot, is John Shippen, the first African-American to play in the U.S. Open in 1896, and at the top, in his classic follow-through, is Tiger Woods – with an open rung above him, symbolizing the question: Who will be next?”

Among the historic contributors acknowledged in the timeline: • Dr. George Grant, a dentist who in 1899 patented the first wooden golf tee; • Charlie Sifford, who broke the tournament color barrier in 1960; • Two-time Wimbledon singles champion Althea Gibson, winner of three other Grand Slam tennis titles, who became the first African-Ameri can on the LPGA tour at age 37 and played well for five years despite wide spread racial discrimination; • One-time Vardon Trophy winner Calvin Peete, first black Ryder Cup player and most successful African-American golfer until Tiger Woods (12 tournament victories).

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CURATOR WITH A CAUSE: Parker, who trained at St. Andrews, aims to make the Hall more “world.”

Dr. Parker can’t escort all visitors around the Hall of Fame for half a day. But even without his intimate commentary, the exhibits are well worth more than a quick walk-through. Actually, one could spend more than a day viewing the many exhibits. Fortunately, the admission is good for two days.

“Shanks For The Memories” is a play co l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c o m

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LOCAL HEROES

• In humanitarian Betsy King’s: A copy of The Bible, opened to the Book of Titus, with Chapter 3, Verses 5-7 under lined; • In Japanese star Jumbo Ozaki’s: A samurai sword;

on the unforgettable Bob Hope theme song, and the title of an extensive exhibit that commemorates Hope’s involvement in golf as well as his dedication to U.S. troops during World War II and after.

“It’s one of the most popular exhibits for American veterans,” Dr. Parker notes.

There is so much to see that it’s virtually impossible to capture it all in one story. The Hall of Fame Tower, with its collection of trophies from golf ’s most significant cham-

pionships, overlooks the two Hall of Fame golf courses: Slammer & Squire (named for Snead and Sarazen) and King & Bear (the only course Palmer and Nicklaus jointly designed—and ever will, they said afterward, according to Dr. Parker).

The Members Gallery contains original paintings of all Hall of Fame inductees. Along the way from one exhibit to another, you’ll even see Ike’s golf cart, the one golf-loving President Dwight D. Eisenhower rode in.

• In crusty Louise Suggs’: A personalized Florida license plate that reads TEED- OFF (“Her dog is named ‘Dammit,’” an amused Dr. Parker relates); • In course architect Pete Dye’s: A pair of mud-caked boots (“What could be more appropriate?” asks the doctor); • In British two-time major champion Sandy Lyle’s: A LEGO tractor, a can of WD-40 lubricant, and a roll of duct tape (“They represent his family’s farming heritage,” explains Dr. Parker.)

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Proceeds benefit the Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation.

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The absolute “Don’t Miss” stop is the Members Locker Room. “Every inductee has a locker,” Dr. Parker explains, “and they choose what goes in them.”

Take the time to stroll among them and peek inside. A snippet of what you’ll find:

Babe Zaharias, Hale Irwin and Judy Bell, the only Coloradans in the World Golf Hall of Fame, also enjoy enshrinement in the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame.

Their achievements, along with those of 130 other men and women, are all on display at the CGHOF pantheon at the Riverdale Golf Courses in Brighton. Also on display are artifacts and videos detailing Colorado’s rich golf history. Visit the Hall online at coloradogolfhalloffame.org.

As part of an effort to make the World Golf Hall of Fame more “World,” as Dr. Parker says, the biennial induction ceremony was held this year during The Open Championship at St. Andrews. It will return to World Golf Village in 2017, then be held at Pebble Beach in 2019.

With the induction this summer of majors winners Laura Davies, David Graham and Mark O’Meara, as well as prolific course architect A.W. Tillinghast, the Hall of Fame now has 150 members. Each is saluted with a plaque on the Wall of Fame in Shell Hall.

VILLAGE COURSE: The Slammer & Squire.

Marquee exhibits relate the lives and careers of some of the biggest stars in greater detail. In the past, the Hall of Fame has highlighted Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones, Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.

Special displays in 2015 feature Nancy Lopez and Gary Player.

More than 150 of Lopez’s personal items are part of “Nancy Lopez: Pride, Passion and Personality.” Says Dr. Parker: “Nancy Lopez did for women’s golf what Arnold Palmer did for men’s golf.”

The Player exhibit opened February 27.

“Gary has played such an integral role in globalizing the game of golf,” Hall CEO Jack Peter said in a statement. “The values he represents are what makes the Hall of Fame so proud to call him our Global Ambassador.” Player won 165 tournaments over five decades, including nine majors. He is one of five players ever to win the career Grand Slam.

The World Golf Hall of Fame—where golf history dating to the Middle Ages is celebrated—was located in Pinehurst, N.C. until 1998. Then it relocated to idyllic World Golf Village—fittingly, it seems, near America’s oldest city, Florida’s 550-year-old St. Augustine.

Rich with history itself, St. Augustine is 30 minutes south of Jacksonville, and about 100

miles northeast of Orlando.

Besides the two championship golf courses, the WGHOF offers an 18-hole, natural-grass putting course that’s fun and quite challenging, and, reminiscent of No. 17 at the Stadium Course at Sawgrass, a 132-yard island Challenge Hole, surrounded by the World Golf Hall of Fame lake. A half-mile Walk of Champions, featuring inlaid tiles bearing the autographs of all Hall of Fame inductees, circles the lake.

The pristine grounds of World Golf Village are home to Renaissance Resort’s 300 guest rooms and suites and, along the pleasant drive to the Hall of Fame, the PGA TOUR Golf Academy, a state-of-the-art learning center.

And, if all this history gets too heavy, there’s always Caddyshack. Bill Murray, the actor, who famously played the film’s gopher-hunting groundskeeper and annually entertains the gallery at the AT&T Pro-Am at Pebble Beach, partners with brothers John, Joel and Brian in Murray Bros. Caddy Shack, a pub-style restaurant just a short walk from the Hall.

For more information about the World Golf Hall of Fame, go to worldgolfhalloffame.org or call 904-940-4000 or 1-800-WGV-GOLF (948-4653).

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Golf

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N 1969, WITH SEVEN majors already under his belt, Jack Nicklaus added golf course architecture to his formidable résumé with the opening of Harbour Town Golf Links, which he co-designed with Pete Dye in Hilton Head. Today, nearly five decades later, with design associates all over the world, the Nicklaus Design portfolio comprises a staggering 390 courses open for play, with all but 100 directly involving the man himself.

His empire spans 41 countries and 38 states, with Colorado boasting a dozen courses—plus an unlucky 13th that didn’t survive the recession. Can you match the photos to the course names below?

1. Aspen Glen Golf Club (1997)

8. The Country Club at Castle Pines (1986)

2. Breckenridge Golf Club (1987)

9. Country Club of the Rockies (1984)

3. The Bridges Golf & Country Club (2005)

10. Meridian Golf Club (1984)

4. The Broadmoor Mountain Course (2006)

11. Ptarmigan Country Club (1988)

5. Castle Pines Golf Club (1981)

12. The Roaring Fork Club (1999)

6. Cherry Creek Country Club (2002)

13. The Summit at Cordillera (2001)

7. Cougar Canyon Golf Links (2007)*

*Closed

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The Courses That Jack Built H

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C For the answers, visit coloradoavidgolfer.com

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2015 Winner