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From the Championship Tees

Acelebrity

who hasn’t attended the Colorado Avalanche Charity Golf Classic for the last 20 years made an appearance at the Sept. 20 tournament at The Ridge at Castle Pines North. The Stanley Cup joined the NHL champions for a round of golf to benefit the community programs of the Colorado Avalanche supported by Kroenke Sports Charities (KSC)—which, since the team’s arrival in Denver in 1995, have granted more than $18 million to Colorado non-profit organizations. The Cup made a point of joining every group in the sold-out field—and always had the honors.

STANLEY’S IN THE HOUSE: Clockwise, Captain Gabriel Landeskog displays the Cup at the clubhouse; Nathan McKinnon signed an eightyear, $100.8 million contract after the tournament ended; reserve center Jayson Megna follows through; a 129-year-old plays from any tee it wants.

PHOTOGRAPHS

MICHAEL

Triple-Crown WinnerOpen Season

Atthis year’s Inspirato Colorado Open, Connor Jones came up just short of being a Longfellow.

That’s Gary Longfellow, the Colorado am ateur who in 1974 became the first and only person to win the Colorado Golf Association’s Match Play, Stroke Play (as the CGA Amateur was then known) and the Colorado Open. In 2020, Colin Prater of Colorado Springs sort of repeated the feat by capturing both state titles and earning low-amateur honors in the Colorado Open.

This June, Jones defeated Dillon Stewart in the 122nd CGA Match Play at The Broad moor. In July’s CGA Amateur at River Valley Ranch Golf Club, his 24-under 264 set an event record as he finished three shots ahead of Davis Bryant (and four ahead of Prater). In between, he shattered the Inspirato Col orado Open amateur scoring record with a 19-under at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club.

Like Prater in the 2020 Open, Jones won the low-am trophy. But unlike Prater—whose

12-under tied for 34th place, 17 shots behind the winner—Jones was in the hunt for the overall victory. On the steam of an 8-under 63 on Saturday, the Colorado State Universi ty senior went into Sunday’s round one shot behind co-leaders Rico Hoey and Wil Collins. Although Jones closed with a respectable 68, he finished four shots behind Collins, tied for third overall.

The obvious choice for CGA Player of the Year, Jones also won the Mountain West Conference individual championship in May. At July’s prestigious Trans-Mississippi Ama teur Championship at Denver Country Club, Jones, then No. 549 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, forced a playoff with 39 th ranked William Mouw of Pepperdine, losing on the second extra hole.

Jones’ run continued into his senior sea son at CSU. He won the 120-player Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational at the Air Force Academy in September. As of September 18, his world ranking had risen to 223.

A pair of familiar names dominated July’s Inspirato Colo rado Open and August’s Inspirato Colorado Senior Open championships at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club.

In July, Wil Collins shot a 23-under to win his second Colorado Open. His first came in 2005 and earned him a spot in that year’s International at Castle Pines, where the 26-year-old made the cut—something he would do only five more times in 24 subsequent PGA TOUR starts.

Currently a mortgage broker in Albuquerque, Collins had only competed twice this year before edging Californian Rico Hoey by a stroke to capture the $100,000 first-place prize. Collins’ 17 years between Colorado Open champi onships ranks second behind Jonathan Kaye’s 23, and his $159,335 in all-time winnings now trails only Kaye’s $160,593.

Carding a 15-under, Guy Boros won the Inspirato Senior Open by four shots over 1984 Colorado Open champion Willie Wood. A winner on the PGA TOUR in 1996, Boros is the son of the late World Golf Hall of Famer Julius Boros, who won two U.S. Opens (and tied for third in the 1960 edition at Cherry Hills), a PGA Championship and helped start the Senior PGA Tour, where he won three times. coloradoopen.com

COLORADO

OPENS-COURTESY COLORADO OPEN GOLF FOUNDATION

COLORADO

COLORADO OPEN GOLF FOUNDATION

GUY BOROS

WIL COLLINS

COURTESY COLORADO OPEN GOLF FOUNDATION

PHOTOS BY GARY

BAINES/COURTESY COLORADO GOLF ASSOCIATION

Kim Keeps Winning

Forfour years, Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton remained tied at 25 with fellow Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Carol Sorenson Flenniken atop the all-time list for most victories in CWGA/CGA Women’s events. In July at Boulder’s Flatirons Golf Course, the 62-year-old Eaton finally got number 26, defeating Marilyn Hardy of Gunnison, 4 and 3, in the finals of the CGA Women’s Senior Match Play. But she didn’t stop there. On Aug 25, Eaton and Molly Steffes won the Brassie Championship—a four-ball stroke play at Todd Creek Golf Club in Thornton. The next week at City Park Golf Course, she swept the 2022 CGA women’s senior majors—again defeating Hardy, this time by a shot— at the Senior Stroke Play. It was her record-tying sixth time winning the event and the fourth senior major sweep of her career. coloradogolf.org

¡Viva, La Veta!

The Kids are Alright

Madeline “Maddy” Bante, a 16-year-old junior at St. Mary’s Acade my received the USGA-AJGA Presidents’ Leadership Award, which the two national organizations founded in 2005 “to further devel op junior golfers through volunteerism.” Colorado’s reigning 3A girls highschool champion, Bante volunteers at First Tee-Colorado Rocky Mountains and belongs to the National Charity League. Last year, she raised $14,680 through the American Junior Golf Association’s Leadership Links program, splitting it between the First Tee-Colorado Rocky Mountains and the AJGA’s ACE (Achieving Competitive Excellence) Grant.

At the Drive, Chip & Putt Regional Finals at Castle Pines Golf Club, Castle Rock’s Jacob Eagan and Pueblo’s Brady Shaw became the 11th and 12th Coloradans to head to the DCP National Finals at Augusta National. Shaw dominated the Boys 10-11 division, winning all three disciplines. Eagan handily took the boys 7-9 division. The DCP National Finals take place April 2, 2023, the Sunday before the Masters. ajga.org; drivechipandputt.com

Golf

legend Tom Weiskopf left us in August, but his first Colorado golf course has re turned.

Located in La Veta, an hour south west of Pueblo at the foot of the San gre de Cristos, Weiskopf-Jay Mor rish design at Grandote Peaks Golf Course opened in 1986. The 7,085yard layout helped drive the region’s economy until a protracted battle between the owner and the town led to the course’s closure in 2013.

An investor bought the course and surrounding residential proper ty five years later, but by 2021, his backers foreclosed. “He didn’t have the business experience or money needed to turn a distressed asset into a performing one,” says one of the investors, Corinne Condon, the CEO and owner of Capella Mortgage, a Las Vegas-based hard money lend er specializing in distressed proper ties.

Condon spent $300,000 in main tenance in the past year to bring the golf course back to life, and in March she and her husband John took con trolling interest in the Investor Group Grandote, LLC. The Condons enlist ed the help—both paid and volun tary—of enthusiastic locals, includ ing Kelly and Sid Popejoy, whose

company maintains the course. Corinne has moved in, and John flies in monthly from Las Vegas to help.

“Ever since we came in and start ed doing things, we’ve heard, ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you—we love this course more than any course in the entire world,’” Corinne Condon says. A volunteer weekend at the end of June drew hundreds to help weed, sand, rake and haul. Grandote reopened the back nine on July 21.

The Condons have converted the real estate office into the Gran dote Grill, repaved the parking lot and renovated the clubhouse with an open floorplan, adding a steak house, new decking and pergolas.

“The real asset here is the lots,” Condon says. Working with the Colo rado Economic Development organi zation, she intends to help the area’s affordable housing shortage. Work has already begun on affordable pa tio homes and townhomes along the course. And “at the other point of the spectrum,” she says, “we’ll have mountain contemporary homes on lots up to a half-acre, some of them along the ridge, where you can see the entire valley.”

Plans call for all 18 of Grandote Peaks’ golf holes to open next spring. playgrandote.com

COURTESY OF PAT KUNTZ

MADDY

COURTESY OF KATY BANTE

GOLF BY #’s

43

YEARS OF FAMILY OWNERSHIP

AT EVERGREEN’S HIWAN GOLF CLUB ENDED IN AUGUST WHEN FLORIDA-BASED Concert Golf Partners—whose 26-course portfolio also includes The Ranch Country Club in Westminster— acquired the club from the Fowler family, which took controlling interest in 1979. Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, the club’s Press Maxwell-designed course hosted the first 28 Colorado Opens and has staged two USGA championships, a Rolex Tournament and a Junior America’s Cup. hiwan.com

Denver’s Next Golf Hang

10YEARS AFTER TAKING OVER AS HEAD COACH OF THE COLORADO STATE MEN’S TEAM, CHRISTIAN NEWTON HAS RETIRED. His successor, MICHAEL WILSON comes from Long Beach State, where he served as head coach for five years. He led LBSU to the Big West Conference title in 2021, earning him Big West Coach of the Year honors. csurams.com

Youwould think that a 22,000-square-foot, hangar-shaped struc ture built at Lowry Air Force Base in 1942 would have housed some cool B-29s or fighter planes. But no. “It nev er actually served as an air plane hangar,” says real estate developer Daren Schmidt of Allante Properties. “And as late as 2018, Netflix was pro cessing DVD envelopes here.”

Schmidt had a different sort of red-letter day on June 2.That’s when he and an in vestment group purchased the building for $5.5 million to transform it into The Hangar

Club—a vast golf entertain ment venue with an “elevated, country-club feel” according to James Love, a professional golfer who originated the idea for the business model.

With indoor golf facilities sprouting all over town, The Hangar Club distinguishes it self with its enormity and the seriousness with which it takes golf. It will have 10 huge hit ting bays—none of which will share a wall—outfitted with the latest TrackMan golf simu lators. “There’s nothing worse than feeling like you can’t get a full swing, or the ball is going to bounce back and hit you,”

Love says. “That’s the beauty of this space. We love its vol ume and want to honor it.”

Another point of distinction will be a 750-square-foot putting green equipped with PuttView, the “Trackman for putting” that will allow guests to improve aiming, breakreading, distance control and dozens of other flatstick skills.

“We’ll also be the only in door golf-entertainment spot in town that will be an accredited PGA facility,” Love says. “We’ll reserve bays for lessons. We’ll have a master club-fitter on our team, and major brands will all have fitting bags here.”

SLICK LOWRY:

By next early next year, the massive space (top) will house upscale an golfentertainment facility with an ample bar (above) and spacious hitting bays and lounge areas (right). The Hangar Club will also feature a 750foot PuttView system, PGA instruction, club-fitting and workspaces.

COURTESY OF DOVETAIL

SOLUTIONS

If this doesn’t sound like Topgolf, that’s okay. “We’d love to have people in here on a Friday night getting hammered and having longdrive contests,” Love says. “But we also want people here on a Wednesday morning working things out in their game. We want to hit both sides.”

To hit members of the growing ranks of virtual office dwellers—as well as executives looking for a novel place to conduct business— The Hangar Club will have plush lounge areas along most of its perimeter “that will function like a co-working spaces,” Love says.

A well-stocked, 25-seat bar will greet guests, but no hot food. “It’ll be meat-and-cheese boards and things to snack on,” Schmidt says, adding that not building a kitchen has saved a ton of time and money. He’s brought in restaurant veteran James Samara orchestrate the food and beverage operation. Guests can also order in from any of the neighboring Hangar 2 or Town Center restaurants just minutes away.

The space will also easily section off to accommodate private par ties, live entertainment, sports-watching and community events. “There’s no company that has too many people that we can host,” Schmidt jokes. In addition to Lowry, the location is an easy ride from the demographically desirable Crestmoor Park, Hilltop and Central Park neighborhoods. More than 200 parking spaces—including 55 covered—flank the building.

To build out the entire space the team will invest at least another $2.5 million. Expect The Hangar Club, located at 7600 East First Place in Denver, to open in early 2023.

WORK

By Alex Fisher | Photos by Chris Duthie

The 90s Are Over

Here’s your plan to break through to the next level.

GOLFERS SHOULD ALWAYS establish goals or milestones: become a single-digit handicap by the end of the season; shoot your age; break par. For most golfers, however, those are … stretches. According to the USGA, the average score posted by a male golfer is 101, and for females it is 104. Surprisingly, despite better course conditioning, superior technology and more readily available instruction, those averages haven’t changed much during the past five years. The one thing that is often overlooked: Most golfers rarely create a plan to get better. And without a plan, a goal is just a dream!

Breaking 90 consistently should be every golfer’s goal. With a logical approach to your game and focus on three specific areas, that goal is easily attainable.

Logically, breaking 90 means playing bogey golf. Assuming you two-putt every green, you must reach the putting surface on a par 3 in two shots, a par 4 in three, and a par 5 in four.

To achieve this, you don’t have to be perfect, just efficient, and focus on these three areas: tee-shot strategy, pitching and putting.

Alex Fisher is the PGA Director of Instruction at Glacier Club in Durango, Colo., during the summer and at the JW Marriott Camelback Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., from October to May. alexfisherpga.com; 602-363-9800.

01. TEEING OFF

Have a Strategy

On par 4s and 5s driver might not be always the best option. Obviously, it is more fun to try and bomb your driver, but does it fall within the strategy of the hole? Calculate the distance that you need off the tee that will keep you out of trouble first. Even if that means laying up way back, don’t hesitate to pull out a fairway wood or hybrid.

Visualize Intent

Seeing is believing when it comes to your pre-shot routine. If you get distracted by where trouble lurks, you’re more likely to overcompensate and get yourself in trouble on the opposite side of the hole. Instead, focus on your intention and what you want your shot to look like. Great players often talk about being able to see a shot in their mind before hitting the ball. This can block out any negative thoughts.

Commit and Execute

Complete your swing by fully committing to your intention. Fearing the outcome of a shot or worrying about making a mistake never helps keep your ball in play. Try to remain relaxed over the shot by minimizing your grip pressure. Tension in your hands will make it difficult to control your club face and finish the golf swing.

02. PITCHING

Set up to Score

You’re invariably going to face a short, midrange, or long pitch shot to the green. Here’s where a poor setup can cost a stroke or two. Keep it simple: Position the ball in the middle of your stance and slightly shift your weight towards your front foot while keeping your stance width narrow. This will allow your body to rotate more efficiently while staying balanced through the shot.

Take a Divot to Crispen Contact

Fat and thin pitches result from poor contact. To make crisp contact, you must take a divot after the golf ball. To ensure this happens, create a “gate” by placing two tees the width of your clubhead on either side of a ball. Removing the ball, start with small swings and try to make a divot in front of the tee gate. This will maximize not only your distance but also the spin you create. If the divot is behind the ball, your weight is likely on your back foot. If you take no divot, your trailing arm never full extended at the bottom of the golf swing and never reached its low point.

03. PUTTING

Look up, Not Down

There’s one simple thing you must do when putting: look at your target while you make practice swings. I often see golfers making practice swings while looking at their putter going back and forth. How can you expect to hit towards a target if you’re not looking at it during rehearsals? You might as well blindfold yourself and guess where the target is. Looking at the hole while making practice swings gives you a better understanding of what it should feel like to lag the ball closer.

By Suzanne S. Brown

Making the Rounds

01. WEAR IT AGAIN

Adidas’ Made to be Remade collection takes sustainability to the next level. Once a golfer finishes wearing a garment, it is sent back to the company, where it is shredded and turned into a new piece of clothing. Included in the lineup is a recycled polyester crewneck sweatshirt, perfect for cool fall rounds and clubhouse cocktails, $130. adidas.com

02. WARMING TREND

Fall golf wear typically calls for a warmer color palette than spring apparel, so Tim Conlin, the creative director for Sport Haley, combined burgundy with dusty rose in pieces like the fleur-de-lis patterned, moisture-wicking sleeveless top, $97. It is paired with the Distance pants, $110, in a hybrid knit and stretch woven fabric. sporthaley.com

Wherever fall golf finds you, these layering options and accessories provide function and fashion.

O4

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03. THE COVER UP

When cooler temps call for a jacket, Sweden-based Galvin Green is ready with its Dason full-zip insulated jacket that is both warm and breathable. The recycled polyester fabric combines with elastane for stretch and function. With a muted print on the front and contrasting collar sleeves, it also stylish, $189. galvingreen.com

O4. VESTED INTEREST

With wide 1970s-style stripes on the water-repellent nylon front, insulation for warm and knit side panels for stretch, Original Penguin’s mixed-media vest packs func tion and fashion appeal, $140. It didn’t hurt Cameron Smith, who wore it to stave off the wind and chill of St. Andrews while winning the 150th Open Championship. originalpenguin.com

05. CARRY ON

A roomy tote is a female golfer’s must-have travel companion. This fall she’ll be carrying Oliver Thom as’ Wanderlust Tote in quilted jacquard polyester. It has a trolley sleeve and multiple pockets inside and out to fit shoes, clothing, accessories and personal items. A zip pocket on the back has RFID blocking technology and slots for credit cards, $199. theoliverthomas.com

06. PATTERN PLAY

Golfers who want to stand out rather than blend in on the course gravitate to Lucky in Love for its flirty, flounced skorts in alluring prints, and its figure-flattering tops—all in performance fabrics. Among fall’s top choices: the Palms D’Amour pleated skort with palm print, $100, topped with Royal Stripe rib tank, $78. shopluckyinlove.com

Suzanne S. Brown is the former fashion editor at The Denver Post

Firstimpressions always linger— whether of places, individuals or meals. The first time you stroll through the front doors of the Club house at TPC Colorado your eyes are drawn through a lofty atrium to panoramic views of the sun-drenched par-3 16th hole and the foothills through a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows.

“Center Stage,” the name of that hole, is also the perfect name for the casual dining restaurant at the club in Berthoud. From any table and seat there is action that sweeps you up beyond the scenery outside. A showcase bar greets you when you enter with talented

mixologists composing cocktails and shaking (or stirring) martinis. From a well-staged ex hibition kitchen, cooks twirl pizzas near the wood-fired oven and turn steaks in the flames of a high-temperature grill.

Even the most jaded Colorado golfer who has seen lots of courses, views and club restaurants is likely to stop and utter a quiet: “Wow.”

Although a young club by golf standards, the five-year-old TPC Colorado has already created a buzz as the home of The Ascendant presented by Blue. The tournament—which took place June 30-July 3—is an annual stop on the Korn Ferry, the PGA TOUR’s develop

mental tour, where most PGA players begin their journey. Today’s stars such as Scotty Scheffler and Will Zalatoris played the Ber thoud course on their way to the Masters and the U.S. Open.

What golfers and diners alike are only start ing to discover is that the 65,000-squarefoot clubhouse and its three restaurants are open to the public. Besides Center Stage, the facility is home to the upscale 773 Prime steakhouse and the casual, grab-and-go Golf Café—all guided by Executive Chef Zach Drawdy.

TAKING CENTER STAGE

During a recent lunch, Center Stage’s menu

By John Lehndorff

ACING THE 19 TH HOLE: TPC Colorado Executive Chef Zach Drawdy puts on a show in the exhibition kitchen.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TPC COLORADO

proved to be as attention-grabbing as the ambience. The walleye fish fry is a serious upgrade on a Midwestern classic. Lightly bat tered whole boneless fresh filets arrive with moist steaming flesh ready for a lemon spritz and a tartar dip. Luckily, it’s served every day, not just the traditional Friday weekend fea ture.

Also in the happy mouth category is the prime rib French dip. A roll is overstuffed with juicy sliced beef, melted Provolone and tobacco onions with zesty horseradish cream and real au jus.

Meatless options are often an afterthought or built around plant-based “meats.” Chef Dawdry’s kitchen produces a satisfying and eye-catching plate centered around wood-fire oven roasted cauliflower, with sauteed baby vegetables, chickpea hummus, arugula and herb vinaigrette.

Frankly, it’s worth stopping by just for the aptly named house “loaded” tots. An irre sistible aroma wafts up from the crisply fried spuds crowned with house-smoked pulled

pork and shredded cotija cheese, plus srira cha aioli and chimichurri sauce.

A noticeable attention to the little details is apparent in the food as well as at the bar in cocktails ranging from near-perfect Sazeracs to Manhattans.

Center Stage’s dinner menu adds pizzas, main dish salads and entrees ranging from steak frites and plank-roasted salmon to braised beef short ribs.

Drawdy says he likes to change up the eat ery’s menu four times a year, excepting muchloved members’ favorites like the Cobb salad, crispy Brussels sprouts and house-smoked pulled pork.

“I want to always feature everything sea sonal and local I can, like Western Slope fruit and meat from local ranches,” the chef says.

THE PRIME OF BERTHOUD DINING

TPC Colorado’s Clubhouse was designed from scratch to feature 773 Prime, a dinner-only steak house. The art of the walls harkens back to the region’s rich agricultural history. Where

Center Stage is about casual meals, 773 Prime has a business attire dress code.

The menu focus is on Colorado meats and seafood singed on a 1700-degree char broiler and a roster of fine red and white wines. The wide range of vintages available by the glass makes it easy to match the right wine to a spe cific dish. Members and Clubhouse neighbors can sip from bottles kept in their own private wine lockers. Regular guided tastings allow members to add to their personal wine lists.

Starters at 773 Prime range from a Ber thoud Ale-poached Gulf shrimp cocktail to a spot on composed Caesar salad with romaine brushed with roasted garlic vinaigrette plus Parmesan, anchovies, blistered tomato and brioche croutons.

Main plates include pork chops with green chile polenta, spinach gnocchi with pan-seared salmon, ribeye, filet mignon and New York strip steaks with toppings like bleu cheese butter and big sides of au gratin potatoes and butter-poached aspar agus. You can satisfy your inner child with

WATERING

HOLE: TPC Colorado’s Center Stage Restaurant shares a name with the photogenic 16th hole visible from its bar and patio (here with a Palisade peach and burrata salad).

sweets such as a fried PB&J pastry with ice cream or fresh fruit tarts and a supremely chocolaty warm flourless torte.

“I like to send out an amuse bouche—a little taste of something else—so guests can sample some of the other dishes we have and wake up their palate,” he says, adding that he tries to visit every table every night.

Diners also appreciate the eatery’s freshbaked bread and butter service, a truly rare amenity at most restaurants.

The huge wraparound multi-level patio is ideal for dining, critiquing players trying putt on Hole 16 and appreciating the regu larly spectacular sunsets. During the cooler months the patio remains open with firepits

and heaters along with fleece blankets and hot drinks. Some guests gather outside after meals enjoying the establishment’s selec tion of 12 cigar varieties from the humidor and single malt whiskies.

FRONT-NINE FUEL

For morning golfers, the lower-level Golf Cafe offers quick meals, a full-service bar,

DRINK IT IN:

The spacious clubhouse boasts three restaurants— all open to the public. Lamb lollipops make for a colorful repast.

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF TPC COLORADO

coffee drinks and pastries. Eat-on-thecourse options include breakfast burritos, Hebrew National All-Beef Hot Dogs and a power salad of quinoa, chickpeas, cucum ber, tomato, pickled onions, basil and wal nuts in lemon vinaigrette served in a tall cup.

Berthoud has plenty of dining opportuni ties, but not many of them have TPC Colora do’s ambience and view. “Many locals think our restaurants are only open to members,” Drawdy says. “We try to welcome them by offering a 10 percent discount on dining.”

The fare at Center Stage and at 773 Prime is first-class but not overly fussy.

“I think of this as straightforward humble food with great flavors,” Drawdy says.

Reservations are recommended for din ner at Center Stage and required at 773 Prime. For reservations call 970-528-7073. TPC Colorado is located at 2375 TPC Park way, Berthoud. tpc.com/colorado/dinin g.

John Lehndorff is the former dining critic of the Rocky Mountain News.

THE STORY BEHIND THE STEAKHOUSE

TPC Colorado’s 7,991yard course is noted for its panoramic views of Longs Peak and Mount Meeker and its signature 13th hole. At 773 yards, it’s the longest par-5 hole played at any PGA TOUR course. It inspired the name of 773 Prime, the high-end steakhouse in TPC Colorado’s Clubhouse.

Speed Meets Strength

In which a classic

shares the road with a pair of new GM

2017 LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR SV ROADSTER

ONE OF THE EFFECTS of the ongoing supply chain issues is the massive runup in the values of used su percars. This affords their lucky owners the chance to indulge in the unbridled thrills of such beasts as the Aventador SV Roadster—and potentially make money at the same time.

As the sun sets on the glorious tradition of Lamborgh inis powered by raucous, gasoline V12 engines, there c an be few more thrilling ways to invest than from a carbon-shelled, leather-lined seat set just inches ahead of 740 screaming horses that can hurtle this ultra-rare machine to 60mph in only 2.6 seconds and through the quarter mile in 10.4.

Massive carbon ceramic brakes halt the Lambo just as effectively— as long as there is some heat in the pads. The SV’s steering is laser-like in its precision and incredibly direct. Thankfully, there is AWD to help tame its worst proclivities, and hydraulics to raise the gorgeous, stealth fighter-like nose when negotiating driveway en trances.

Yes, its single-clutch automated transmission re quires you to briefly lift your foot off the throttle to make smooth shifts, visibility is limited in every direction but straight ahead, and nobody would ever call the ride re fined. But as we close in on the waning days of the in ternal combustion engine, there can be no better way to celebrate fifty years of twelve-cylinder Lamborghini supercars than this. Unless, that is, you’re already on the list for one of the 600 “Ultimate” editions that will cap the end of the line for the Aventador.

2022 GMC SIERRA 1500 DENALI ULTIMATE

THE DENALI ULTIMATE’S interior materials now feel worthy of its price; the wrapped dash in particular, with its French stitching and contrast piping, wouldn’t feel out of place in a European luxury vehicle. It frames a 12.3inch driver’s display, 13.4-inch touchscreen and mas sive 15-inch head up display—all of which offer great re solution.

The General moves to first place in hands-free driving too, with Super Cruise being the current champ. It communicates intuitively and is a real step forward in reducing stress and fatigue on long journeys. The Denali Ultimate will blast down over 200,000 miles of roads, changing lanes to pass dawdlers—even while towing a trail er—as long as the driver’s eyes don’t wander for long.

Outside, dark, “Vader” chrome coats the massive Denali grill and trim, and the 22-inch machined wheels fill out the fenders nicely. Adaptive dampers help tame the rough ride motions to which this generation of GM trucks is prone, and the steering is direct and accurate. For those buying an $80k-plus pickup, but still want to be frugal, there is a diesel option that can get more than 25 mpg on the highway. Everyone else will be happy with the sonorous 6.2-liter V8, whose 420hp and 460lb-ft make hauling a nonevent. And, for those who want the luxu rious interior with more off-road chops, there is now an AT4X model.

By Isaac Bouchard

2022 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 ZR2

THE MEANEST OFF-ROAD SILVERADO is also the cool est-looking; a butch new front end, cutaway bumpers, contrast paint and red tow hooks generate comments wherever the new ZR2 goes. And if it is into the back country, this Chevy has the gear to handle it.

The Multimatic dampers feature “spool valve” tech to take the edge off big hits to the suspension and con trol the body over washboard roads and during high-speed impacts. The ZR2-specific, 33-inch Goodyear Wran gler Territory MTs mean it can crawl over most anything, while still being quiet on the highway. Even the exhaust system for the 6.2L V8 is tucked away to improve departure angle in extreme rock crawling.

While the ZR2 isn’t as powerful as a Ford Raptor or Ram TRX, its narrower body will get it into places those widebodies can’t tread, and its 8,900-lb. tow rating beats theirs, as does its real-world fuel economy. Inside, it also has a new interior, and while it’s not to the level of luxury of the GMCs, the quality is acceptable. The big screens and logical button layout also carry over to the Silverado, which is a good thing.

Thank You

to our sponsors and players for making the 2022 Schomp BMW Cup a huge success!

AZ Does It Every Time

From Carefree south to Tubac, Arizona delivers world-class experiences.

GET OUT!

The Boulders majors in outdoor adventure. Experts guide in rock climbing, stargazing, horseback riding, nature hiking and ballooning. The golf course offers lessons, and at night, you can bicycle its miles of cart paths by the light of hightech handlebar-mounted LED systems. TheBoulders.com

STONE, SAND AND SWINGS

Renowned for the geological giants balancing along numerous holes, the Jay Morrishdesigned North and South courses at The Boulders this summer underwent extensive renovations to areas containing tiny rock particles. Sporting new sand and drainage, the bunkers on all 36 holes have received complete makeovers to improve playability. The world-famous resort has also restored the South Course greens to their original shapes and sizes, as well as resurfacing them with quicker turf. TheBoulders.com

ROCKING YOUR STAY

Named for the 12-million-year-old granite formations into which it nestles on 1,300 acres in the desert foothills near Carefree, the Boulders Resort is about more than great golf. The property offers 160 plush guest casitas and 59 one-, two- and four-bedroom villas, four restaurants (including the swank alfresco Palo Verde, and the kicking Spotted Donkey), the Discovery Lounge, eight tennis courts and a 33,000-square-foot, fullservice spa with a cafe featuring bounty from the resort’s huge organic garden. TheBoulders.com

GO CAREFREE

Located just north of the Boulders and adjacent to the funky Old West town of Cave Creek, Carefree boasts a vibrant Town Center anchored by the four-acre Carefree Desert Gardens, home to 55 unique species of plants, a splash pad, playground, live entertainment pavilion and the third-largest sundial in the Western Hemisphere. visitcarefree.com

COURTESY

TROON NORTH GOLF CLUB DISCOVER

Cherish the ultimate golf experience at Troon North’s Monument and Pinnacle courses for the best desert golf in Arizona. Located in the golf mecca of the Southwest, these two North Scottsdale courses offer golf connoisseurs the best luxury golf experience. Pure. Desert. Classic. Visit TroonNorthGolf.com for the best available rates and 36-hole packages.

To experience Troon North, visit TroonNorthGolf.com or call 480.585.7700 today.

Inspire Your Game with Greatness

Lookout Mountain Golf Club

The Westin Kierland Golf Club Scottsdale

Eagle Mountain Golf Club Fountain Hills

ARIZONA IS HOME TO THE FINEST GOLF COURSES IN THE WORLD

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess resort is offering you the opportunity to play like a pro (or at least feel like one) on some of the top-rated courses in the Phoenix area. The Fairmont Golf Getaway Package is for those wishing to walk in the footsteps of some of the PGA TOUR’s finest players. Take your best shot on some of Arizona’s best courses including the TPC Stadium Course-home to the PGA TOUR’s WM Phoenix Open. Have fun and relieve stress playing your favorite game in the open air and beautiful weather of Scottsdale!

WINNING AND WINING

Since debuting two years ago with a stunning 167,000-square-foot upscale gaming facility, We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort has added sportsbook, which now features 4K video walls and displays that can show up to 12 games simultaneously. The sure bets, however, are the wood-fired steaks and spectac ular seafood at Ember, which recently became one of 21 Arizona restaurants to receive Wine Spectator’s “Best of Award of Excellence.” The wine program covers 22 countries, more than 800 wines by the bottle and 26 by the glass. wekopacasinoresort.com

We-Ko-Pa’s unique clubhouse draws inspiration from the natural surroundings and Yavapai culture. A canyon-like breezeway splits the structure—half golf shop, half grille and leads to a outdoor patio, while elements like fire, wood beams and stacked stone in the dining area suggest Yavapai heritage. wekopa.com

WE-KO-PA CONTINUES TO SHINE

Perennially ranked the Phoenix/Scottsdale area’s best course by Golfweek, We-Ko-Pa Golf Club’s walkable Saguaro layout bears the minimalist signature of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, who opened the course in 2005, four years after the club’s target-style Scott Miller-designed Cholla course debuted. Together, the two layouts pack a one-two punch that has vaulted this property, owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, to the top of every traveling golfer’s must-play list. The Cholla is less prickly than the widefairwayed and walkable Saguaro. No homes or developments interrupt the flow of the courses or the views of Red Mountain, the McDowells,the Superstitions and the Four Peaks from which We-Ko-Pa takes its name. wekopa.com

A WALK IN THE PARK

Less than 10 miles north of We-Ko-Pa, McDowell Mountain Regional Park spreads over 21,099 acres in the lower Verde River basin. A desert jewel, with elevations rising to 3,000 feet at the base of the McDowell Mountains, the park features more than over 50 miles of trails for running, hiking, biking and horseback riding—all coming with views of the surrounding mountain ranges. Among the animals you’ll likely see are deer, javelinas, coyotes and myriad avian species.

A WRIGHT TURN

“A look over the rim of the world,” is how the architect Frank Lloyd Wright described Taliesin West, his winter home in the McDowell Mountains due west of We-Ko-Pa. Handcrafted by Wright into a world unto itself, Taliesen West is a UNESCO World Heritage site and National Historic Landmark worth a tour. franklloydwright.org/taliesin-west

PHOTO BY LONNA

WE-KO-PA

RESORT

PLAY SAGUARO & CHOLLA

Under the Tucson Sun

The “Old Pueblo” never disappoints.

WHEN A VENTANA OPENS

Ventana Golf & Racquet Club spoils members and guests of the 50-suite Lodge at Ventana Canyon with two stunning Tom Fazio-designed courses—the Canyon and Mountain—which blend magically into the natural features of Tucson’s Santa Catalina Mountains. The Reserve, Ventana’s recent addition to the outdoor food service, rates a visit, as does the Flying V Bar & Grill at the 398-room Loews Ventana Canyon Resort near the Canyon Course’s 18th green. Loews guests can also arrange tee times at Ventana. thelodgeatventanacanyon.com

SEEING STARS

You might catch a glimpse of a Champions Tour player at the Omni Tucson National, but if you want to see some real stars, just look up. For 50 years, Pima County’s “dark sky” code has allowed stars and planets to shine through the night sky. For stargazing hot spots, check out visittucson.org

EAT IT UP

A UNESCO-recognized Creative City of Gastronomy, Tucson sizzles with exceptional restaurants, many of which have fabulous outdoor dining options. Those include Poco & Mom’s Cantina, Blue Willow, The Boxyard, Blanco Cocina + Tequila, Hotel Congress, Tay’s Barbecue, Saguaro Corners, Café à La C’Art at the Tucson Museum of Art and the restaurants at Mercado San Agustin visittucson.org/restaurants

WHAT’S THAT RACQUET

Golf may come first in its name, but Ventana Golf & Racquet Club takes care of its racquet sports fans with eight lighted tennis courts and four pickleball courts. The resort also features a day spa, restaurant and fitness center. Guests and members alternate golf days on the Mountain and Canyon courses. thelodgeatventanacanyon.com

COURTESY OF THE LODGE AT VENTANA CANYON

COURTESY OF VISIT TUCSON

COURTESY

THE

Holes. 50 Suites.

One spectacular Arizona getaway.

Play Tom Fazio's celebrated Mountain and Canyon courses at the premier all-suite hideaway Golf Magazine named as one of America's Top 75 Golf Resorts. Experience the sheer majesty of the Santa Catalina foothills while you play alongside bobcats, deer, quail and coyotes. Whether you play for the day, or indulge in a stay, you can expect a haven of southwestern serenity and unmatched personalized service. Come experience Ventana Canyon Club and Lodge.

MESQUITE’S

Direct flights from Denver to Las Vegas and St. George make Mesquite easily reachable, but what about the best deals for golf and lodging? Golf Mesquite Nevada is a one-stop shop. It combines five courses (Oasis Palmer, Oasis Canyons, Coyote Springs, Falcon Ridge and Conestoga) and lodging partners like Eureka Casino Resort—which features Gregory’s Mesquite Grill and all the gaming you could want ensure you’ll get the best possible deal. golfmesquitenevada.com

FALL AND WINTER IN SUMMERLIN

Home of the TPC that in October hosts the PGA TOUR’s Shriner’s Hospitals for Children Open, the tony Las Vegas community of Summerlin features three golf gems designed by Billy Casper and Greg Nash: Palm Valley, Highland Falls and Eagle Crest . The 33-year-old, 6,824-yard Palm Valley is the oldest, longest and most challenging; the 6,512-yard Highland Falls is the most scenic; and the 4,067-yard, par-60 Eagle Crest is the quickest and prettiest to play. Golf Summerlin operates the courses and combines them with the resort excitement of the nearby Suncoast Hotel & Casino (as well as Mandalay Bay and others on The Strip) into one the most affordable stayand-play packages in the pricey Las Vegas area. golfsummerlin.com

Sand Hollow Resort has over 170 nightly rentals including private homes, condos and suites for you and your group to enjoy. Our properties have views of all the beauty southern Utah has to offer including our nationally ranked Championship Golf Course and the breathtaking vistas of Zion National Park, you are sure to succumb to relaxation. Pair your stay with a round on our Championship Golf Course, ranked #42 in the nation by Golfweek, and make sure to enjoy the Links Course.

A Different Vibe

By Jon Rizzi Portrait by Jamie Schwaberow/ Clarkson Creative Photography

Hard by Lake Michigan, just north of the Illinois state line, Denver Broncos’ running back Melvin Gordon’ IIIs hometown of Keno sha, Wisc., features 45 holes of public golf.

Until his senior year at Bradford High School, however, he had never played any of them.

And that first and only time at the course, with his friend and quarterback Gino DeBartolo, left him … underwhelmed. “I was like, ‘I don’t know what this is, what I’m doing,’” Gordon recalls.

“I didn’t really enjoy it. When they told me I had to wear khakis, and I didn’t even own khakis, and I had to go out and buy them, I thought, ‘There’s too much that goes into this. I’m over it.’”

Gordon would earn a football scholarship to the University of Wisconsin, where in 2014 he broke LaDanian Tomlinson’s single-game NCAA rushing record with a 404-yard performance against Nebraska on the way to becoming the all-time second-leading single-season rusher in FBS history with 2,587 yards. He won the Doak Walker Award, finished second in the Heisman voting and was the San Diego Chargers’ first-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.

During his time in Madison, however, Gordon discovered that yards were also important metrics on the golf course. He joined Badger alum (and 2013 Broncos first-round pick) Montee Ball and a bunch of friends and players at a golf outing. “And I loved it,” he says. “It’s actually fun when you’re out there with a group of friends. It’s competitive, and I really like that side of it.”

MELVIN GORDON and his Vibez Golf Club are disrupting the game in a positive way.

“In football we have a due date. We can’t play forever. What I like about golf is I can do it for as long as I want, as old as I get. That’s the beauty of it.”

GETTING THE VIBE

Coincidentally, in 2015, the same year the Chargers drafted Gordon, one of his friends, Noe Vital, Jr.—a self-described “kid out of college with big aspirations”—took a job with the San Diego-based document platform GoFormz. “I was either going to surf or play golf,” Vital says. “I picked up golf for the wrong reason—a way to show the world you’ve made it—then I realized how much I enjoyed it.”

Vital would coax Gordon and former Badgers wide receiver Kenzel Doe into trips to the driving range “to get them to like the game more, so they would play with me. Even though they’re great athletes, they struggled with it, but we had fun.”

What wasn’t fun, Vital says, was the reaction he got when he showed up at his father-in-law’s country club with Jordan golf cleats. “On the course, I saw the way his friends were looking at me. You don’t know what that feeling is until you’ve felt it … Wearing my Jordans, my hoodies and my hats, things like that—certain golf courses, they just don’t accept that, which I think is ridiculous.”

By 2019, Vital decided to apply his business degree and entrepreneurial instincts to the problem. He looked at how people had built successful companies and brands by making video games cool, like Faze Clan and 100 Thieves. “I thought we could do this with golf and have a real social impact,” he explains.

That impact got a boost from the following year’s protests over the high-profile police killings of numerous people of color—as well as the shooting

of Jacob Blake in Kenosha and the ensuing riots that left two dead.

As the Black Lives Matter movement gained traction, the PGA TOUR, PGA of America and USGA prioritized diversity and inclusion. The developmental APGA Tour generated attention and major sponsors, and Roger Steele, an outspoken African American golf content creator, became such a social-media phenomenon that Callaway Golf gave him his own biweekly show and CBS hired him as part of its 2022 PGA Championship coverage.

Against that backdrop, in 2021 Vital, Gordon, Doe and seven other former Badgers—Hugs Etienne, Darius Feaster, Darius Hillary, Tanner McEvoy, Dare Ogunbowale, Austin Traylor and Robert Wheelwright—partnered to form the Vibez Golf Club. Each member has a specific job and title: For example, Gordon is director of social media; Vital is CEO; he shares the marketing leadership with Hillary, a fellow biz-school

alum who serves as the CFO.

“We have a huge opportunity to disrupt the game in a positive way,” Vital says, “and the way we do that is by just bringing our own personality to the courses with the levers that we can pull on today.” Those include YouTube videos of group activities, social media posts, appearances at events, branding and merchandising. “You’ve got to show it to grow it,” he says.

WATCH AND LEARN

This summer’s shows included a competition at Aurora’s Saddle Rock Golf Course between VGC members Gordon, Feaster, McEvoy and Vital and Broncos Justin Simmons, Sam Martin, Josey Jew ell and Courtland Sutton. A capsule of the match lives online. “We know kids love to watch YouTube, and this gives them a way to see a different side of golf in a competitive way,” Gordon says. “They can see us trash-talking, being ourselves outside our jerseys.”

MAKING THE CUTS: Gordon’s golf game will take a rest while he, former Badger teammate Russell Wilson and the rest of the Broncos make a run at the postseason.

PHOTO BY JAMIE SCHWABEROW/CLARKSON CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY

In another July video, all 10 VGC members celebrated the organization’s first anniversary with Vibez Go Crazy, a tournament at The Glen Golf Park—a nine-hole Madison muni restored by Michael Keiser that brought in Bo Jackson. Days later, at the PGA TOUR’s 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota, Gordon and Ogunbowale and a few other VGC members visited with kids at the 3M Open Fan Village.

“We were also on a panel with Larry Fitzgerald, Roger Steele and a few other big names,” Gordon says. “That felt special, to be part of the conversation about what golf means to us, and what we’re trying to do and change, in front of a group of kids.”

FLASH FORWARD

Gordon concedes his golf game is a work in progress. He has trouble off the tee, but, he says, “my short game’s really good—a shout-out to years of mini-golf for that!”

The 29-year-old two-time Pro Bowler, who currently splits carries with the

younger Javonte Williams, says he’s so focused on getting to his first Super Bowl that he probably won’t touch his brand-new set of PXG clubs until the season ends.

There is, however, a chance he’ll take another swing at some iteration of the Topgolf fundraiser he held during last year’s November bye week.

At that event—which included an exclusive silent auction and VIP Prizes—Gordon’s own Beyond the Flash Foundation presented a $10,000 check to the Denver chapter of The Boys & Girls Club. The kids got lessons from instructors, entered raffles for X-Box games, jerseys and bookbags.

“They also got to meet some of the players,” Gordon says. “I played arcade games with the kids, talked and laughed and just keep them entertained.”

More than just swag, Gordon wanted the kids to leave having been exposed to golf—something he never experienced growing up in Kenosha.

“The goal, the mission, is to raise

awareness and make golf attractive to minorities, guys like me, who came from poverty and were not really exposed to it,” he explains. “My dad made sure I played a lot of sports growing up, but golf wasn’t one of them. With Vibez, we’re trying to make the game more approachable, especially for kids who look like me, act like me, have hair like mine. When I was a kid, I didn’t think I could go to the golf course.”

Meanwhile, Vital is looking into developing a Vibez Golf Club affiliate program and create a Vibez Golf Club “ecosystem of people, courses, apparel and like-minded brands.”

The strength of that ecosystem, Gordon believes, depends on inspiring kids. “Where I’m from, kids only look at football and basketball as a way out, to provide for our families,” he explains. “And it doesn’t have to be just that.”

“We’re just trying to bring new eyeballs to the game,” he continues. “This way, the next generation of golfers can look more like us. We want them to be from all over the place, not just one demographic. To me, the future is one day having some guy playing in the Masters with dreads and a fitted hat— and putting on that green jacket.”

Jon Rizzi is the editorial director of Colorado AvidGolfer For more information about the Vibez Golf Club and upcoming events, visit MelvinGordon.org.

VIBING AND STRIVING:

Last November, Gordon and the Vibez Golf Club held a charity event at Topgolf for his Beyond the Flash Foundation in support of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver; at bottom, VGC’s founding members pose at the club’s first anniversary event.

PHOTO COURTESY DENVERBRONCOS.COM

PHOTO COURTESY DENVERBRONCOS.COM

PHOTO COURTESY

VIBEZ

It Takes a Villa

By Jon Rizzi | Photos by Dave Neligh Photography

A dramatic new clubhouse puts the capstone on The Club at Ravenna’s brilliant transformation.

At the Villa Ravenna grand opening, Club owner Kevin Collins (right) toasted everyone who helped make it a reality. Clockwise from left, Villa Ravenna’s bar has been a nightly hub ever since it opened; the men’s grill adds a Tudor touch; the building boasts undeniable curb appeal and 18thgreen allure.

T

he tent has finally come down. For 17 years, the huge, white “tempo rary structure” served as The Club at Ravenna’s nerve center, complete with a kitchen, dining area, bathrooms, patios, sales office and golf shop.

Yet for all its functionality, the ersatz clubhouse was also a totem of unfinished business, the residue of a history tainted by a Great Reces sion-prompted bankruptcy and a club without a permanent physical home.

As recently as 2018, members would gather in the tent before and after rounds on Ravenna’s robust Jay Morrish-designed course. Many arrived in personal golf cars from multimillion-dollar homes tucked into the sandstone outcrop pings of the surround ing enclave. Invariably, someone would ask some variation of “What’s happening with the clubhouse?”

“I am so glad I’ll nev er have to answer that question again,” the club’s owner and CEO Kevin Collins says with noticeable relief.

Villa Ravenna represents the latest effort in fortifying Ravenna’s brand.

A Building Backstory

The softspoken Collins, who took ownership of the club in 2015 and has engineered its remarkable resurgence, sits in the high-ceilinged men’s grill in Villa Ravenna—the spectacular 25,000-square-foot clubhouse that opened at the end of July. Sunlight streams through multiple windows as soothing guitar sounds waft through the room. Near the brightly lit bar, a muted 100-inch TV splits the morning news into four separate screens. Dark wood-grained wallpaper and Tudorstyle half-timbering suggest an English manor, but in place of a trophy stag above the entrance, a 19th-century bronze fresco from an Argentine polo club hangs above the exit to the adjoining patio and firepit.

Villa Ravenna, Collins explains, represents the latest effort in fortifying Ravenna’s brand. The others include improving the golf course by halving the number of bunkers and tempering the greens; installing Toptracer units on the driving range; hiring Chef de Cuisine David Lazarus, whose pedigree includes stretches at The Broad moor, Castle Pines and Denver Country Club; and building La Bella Vita, a resort-like 11,000-square-foot fitness and wellness facility that opened in 2018 and features state-of-the-art cardio and fitness equipment, trainers, a full-time physical therapist and an outdoor pool with cabanas and food service.

At the time Collins was building La Vita Bella, he brought in 300,000 cubic yards of dirt to create the site for Villa Ravenna. Soon came the pandemic —and with it with spikes in rounds, membership sales and homesite pur chases. Between 2020 and 2021, 149 new members joined, and all 234 lots had sold. With financing in place and members agreeing to make modest contribution, Collins had the founda tion poured on the new clubhouse in August of 2020, brought in the steel and went vertical the following May.

Seventeen months and $15 million later, here we are.

A LONG TIME COMING:

PHOTO COURTESY

JOHN

A KILLER VILLA

Suggesting a fortified Italian town, Villa Ravenna perches atop a hill at the end of a climbing, winding road. A tower with backlit clockface adds an Old-World touch, while modern conveniences like a heated driveway and skylit port-cochere with pipedin music create ambience. There’s a covered bag drop, but Collins nixed valet parking. “I don’t want a teenager parking a Lamborghini,” he says. “The lot’s close, and, if needed, someone with a golf cart will get you.”

A warm, buttery hue covers the walls of the entry hall—as well as the teardrop speakers hung from the ceil ing—and flows into the adjacent bar and dining area. Illuminated mainly by an iron chandelier, this main foyer includes a plush lounge area to handle overflow from the bar. Gnarled wood frames the doors and windows and creates a ribbon of crown molding midway around the perimeter.

The décor throughout blends antique items—some centuries old— and commissioned artwork by master painter André Martinez, who spent 18 months on the projects. Among his featured pieces are an oil of a commu nal Ravenna streetscape and a stylized cartograph of the ancient city cut into 12 framed units. Painted on lime plas ter, large frescoes depicting the four prophets from the Sistine Chapel join members in the dining area.

TIME WELL SPENT:

Villa Ravenna’s backlit clocktower greets golf ers and guests; a framed

map of old Ravenna hangs above

plush seating area near the patio doors in the main hallway.

And those members have been coming in droves. “We had 120 people on a Tuesday night and another 120 the next night,” Collins says, noting the tent used to draw about 10 or 15. “We’re going to limit it to 50 reservations for a while, so the kitchen doesn’t get overwhelmed—and I don’t want people to be upset.”

If they are, Collins wants to hear about it. Ravenna doesn’t have a board or committees. “It’s a benev olent dictatorship,” Collins explains. “It’s not about ego; it’s about efficiency.

If people have an issue, they can come and talk to us. If it makes sense to change what we’re doing, we’ll look into it.” As he walks through the impeccably appointed building, the positive reactions he gets from members and staff leave little doubt as to the effec tiveness of his approach.

They’re grateful to have a club house, yes, but it’s more than that. It’s the no-expense-spared quality of that clubhouse: the attention paid to the amenities in the women’ locker room and lounge; the detailed brickwork of

PHOTO

the intimate wine cave at the base of a spiral staircase from the dining area; the 1,660-bottle wine cellar’s custom glass-and-tile mosaic that mirrors one from 6th Century Ravenna; the 3-foot-high tempered glass panels that protect patio patrons from hosel rock ets launched at the 18th green; and the puck-sized speakers attached to those panels, transforming each one into a rectangle of resonance.

WHAT’S NEXT

“We designed the clubhouse with a vision that our membership was not going to be significantly large,” Collins

explains. “We wanted to have more of boutique club, where we could provide a great experience for our members.” Their numbers currently stand at about 350, which is 45 below Ravenna’s self-imposed cap.

La Vita Bella, Villa Ravenna and Il Corso di Golf can certainly accommo date that increase. With $65,000 initi ation and a stunning 25,000-squarefoot sales tool, it shouldn’t be too hard to get there. Collins is already eyeing other member-experience enhance ments and has recently received ap proval to develop another 10 lots near the development’s gatehouse, bringing

WORKS OF ART:

The Villa’s highceilinged dining room (top) features commissioned frescoes, while a replica 6th Century Ravenna mosaic distinguishes the 1,660-bottle wine cellar; the wine cave is as intimate as it looks.

634-acre development right up to its 250-home limit.

“It was never a foregone conclusion that we were going to be successful,” Collins says, recounting some of the less pleasant situations of the last seven years. Crediting the staff for its commitment and hard work, and the members for supporting his vision, a self-described “old accountant” has completed more than a clubhouse.

He’s built a legacy.

Jon Rizzi is the editorial director of Colorado AvidGolfer

THANK YOU

On behalf of AvidLifestyle and Colorado AvidGolfer, we would like to thank you for attending our 2nd Annual Wheels of Dreams event on Saturday, August 20, 2022. We hope you had a wonderful evening enjoying the live music, culinary creations from local restaurants, cocktails, artist, aerialist, vintage cars, exquisite luxury & super cars and curated loungesbrought to you by AvidLifestyle, Colorado AvidGolfer and our dedicated partners.

For us, it was pure magic to be able to celebrate our charity partner, Bags of Fun. We are truly grateful for all your support. We could not have created such a wonderful event without your kindness and generosity.

We are growing and planning for net year, and we hope to celebrate with all of you at the 3rd annual Wheels of Dreams charity experience!

COMPACT YET CAPTIVATING

MADE FOR MODERN LIFE