Tee Times in Thailand • Glenmoor’s Rare Penny
CRENSHAW’S CLOSE-UP Colorado Golf Club welcomes the
Senior PGA Championship
Hole By Hole • Players to Watch Local Plotlines • Inside Info
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Call 866.337.7648 or visit grandlodgeonpeak7.com *Restrictions apply. Golf valid at Breckenridge Golf Course through 6/30/10 and 9/6/10 through close. Golf valid at Keystone Ranch Course for tee times after noon 7/1-9/5/10. Qualifications and requirements apply for this offer. Based on availability. Source code: AVD10.
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A BETTER 3G EXPERIENCE. 1.866.MOBILITY – ATT.COM – VISIT A STORE Applications are device specific. 3G not available in all areas. Coverage is not available in all areas. See coverage map at stores for details. ©HTC Corporation. All rights reserved. The HTC logo is a registered trademark and HTC Tilt 2 is a trademark of HTC Corporation. ©2010 AT&T Intellectual Property. Service provided by AT&T Mobility. All rights reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo, and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
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SmartPhones Dial in Your Game
AT&T’s multidimensional smartphones can invigorate your golf experience.
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he righT equipmenT can Take your game To The
next level. But it’s not just what’s in your bag; it’s what’s in your hand. Take the smartphone, for example. Whether you’re winning championships or recently became hooked on the sport, these cutting-edge multitasking geniuses from AT&T can help you enjoy golf even more. Teeing Off: Remember when you hit the best drive of your life and everything came together in one brilliant instant? The ability to replicate that moment takes a lot of practice and perhaps a little luck. Next time use your smartphone like the HTC Tilt 2 from AT&T with a 3.2 MP video camera to capture your swing. Replay the video later for expert analysis and remove luck from the equation. Approach Shot: Don’t leave any shot up to chance. Use your GPS enabled smartphone to determine accurately the distance to the pin and the right club for the task. After all, execution of the approach shot could mean the difference between bogey and par— and, all too often, whether you’ll owe your buddies a round at the 19th hole. The Winning Putt: Golf is a game of inches. Nowhere is this more evident than on the putting green. This challenge of skill and accuracy under pressure makes the game great. If you’re lucky enough to witness when a pro sinks that impossible 16-footer, your smartphone gives you easy access to the web and social networking sites so you can instantly update your status and say you were there. You can also use the nation’s fastest 3G network with AT&T to track your favorite pros in real time and quickly look up and debate golf ’s greatest moments. Back at the Club House: To succeed at golf requires a focus on the fundamentals and a dedication to the game. Similarly, to be your provider of choice, AT&T is focused on providing innovative, high-quality mobile solutions and a great customer experience. From dedicated QWERTY keyboards to touch screens, from GPS to auto-focus cameras, your smartphone gives you cutting-edge capabilities in the office and on the course.
With AT&T, you have access to the most popular lineup of smartphones, so it’s easy to find a device with the features and functionality that best meet your personal, business and golf needs. Take advantage of AT&T’s powerful communication tools and take your technological game to the next level.
GAME ON: Get the HTC Tilt 2 exclusively at an AT&T store.
InsideContents
48 41
98 Features
38
44
In Every Issue 14 Forethoughts Old Golfers, New Media. By Jon Rizzi 19 The Games of Golf Spot the differences in two photos. 23 Gallery Segways arrive at Indian Tree, Srixon’s yellow ball, Dale Douglass, more. 104 Back Nine 71st Senior PGA Championship Director Jeromy Manser Player’s Corner 33 Home Course The Bridges Golf & Country Club 34 Lesson Mastering the bump-andrun can cure the chip yips. By Stan Sayers
36 Dear Junior Advice for Younger Players. By Elena King and Denise McGuire 38 Elevated Green Alternative energy finds fans among the golf establishment. By Peter Bronski Sidebets 41 Nice Drives The Hyundai Tucson Limited and Cadillac SRX 2.8T. By Isaac Bouchard 44 Fareways Glenmoor Country Club Executive Chef Penelope Wong. By Lori Midson 48 Clubbing Up Boulder County’s Lake Valley Golf Club. By Jon Rizzi
68
The 71st Senior PGA Championship As the oldest senior major comes to brand-new Colorado Golf Club, we present 30 pages of facts, figures and photographs detailing whom to watch, where to watch and what holes will prove pivotal. Plus: a hole-by-hole guide to the championship.
98
All the King’s Courses A heady confluence of Buddhist culture, surreal golf experiences and frenzied nightlife defines a journey to the storied sovereignty of Thailand. By Jake Kubié
57
New Mexico South of the state line awaits a world of golf, restaurants, lodging and activities with a uniquely southwestern flavor.
Cover: Ben Crenshaw photograph courtesy of Getty Images
8
Colorado AvidGolfer | May 2010
www.coloradoavidgo lf e r.c o m
The land. The golf. The attitude.
q
Pradera is Colorado real.
If nature is an architect, then Colorado is certainly one of her finest projects. That’s why homes at Pradera tuck respectfully into the rise and fall of the terrain. And why the private, award-winning golf course uses the lay of the land and indigenous plantings to challenge every player. At Pradera, life is genuine Colorado – from the elk grazing in the open spaces to the down-to-earth neighbors hanging out by the pool. We couldn’t have planned it better ourselves.
Pr a de r a Color a d o . C om homes from the $400s to $2 million. • Call 720-851-9900 for more information. • club at pradera memberships also available. d i r e c t i o n s : Pradera is located in Douglas County between Parker and Castle Rock. Take I-25 south to Founders Parkway, east to Crowfoot Valley
Road to Pradera Parkway; or Parker Road to Bayou Gulch Road and west.
May 2010 Volume 9, Number 2
publisher
Allen J. Walters editor
Jon Rizzi art director
Dana Barak associate editor/web manager
Jake Kubié
editor-at-large
Tom Ferrell
dining out editor
Lori Midson automotive editor
Isaac Bouchard contributors
Sam Adams, Andy Bigford, Tony Dear, Lynn DeBruin, Sue Drinker, Dick Durrance II, Chris Duthie, Lois Friedland, Barbara Hey, David R. Holland, Ted Johnson, Kaye W. Kessler, Todd Langley, Kim D. McHugh, Emily Ritt, Bob Russo, Jerry Walters, Gil Whiteley, Neil Wolkodoff director of sales and marketing
Chris Phillips account manager
Scott Anderson office and operations manager
Cindy P. Nold g o l f pa s s p o r t a n d c i r c u l at i o n m a n a g e r
Jeffrey Manson 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 #B-180, Centennial, CO 80112 FAX: 720-482-0784 Newsstand Information: 720-493-1729 Website: coloradoavidgolfer.com Colorado AvidGolfer (ISSN 1548-4335) is published nine times a year by Baker-Colorado Publishing, LLC, and printed by American Web, Inc. Volume 9, Number One. 7200 S. Alton Way #B-180, Centennial, CO 80112. Colorado AvidGolfer is available at more than 250 locations, or you may order your personal subscription by calling 720-493-1729. Subscriptions are available at the rate of $17.95 per year. Copyright © 2010 by Baker-Colorado Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Postmaster: Send address changes to Colorado AvidGolfer, 7200 S Alton Way #B-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.
m a g a z i n e pa r t n e r o f c h o i c e :
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Colorado AvidGolfer | May 2010
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The Public Course with the Feel of a Private Club.
Group outing special for the summer months at GVR Book your group outing at GVR for just $60 per person! Includes green fees, cart fees, driving range balls, sleeve of golf balls and a comeback coupon for a free cart rental. Must have 16+ players in group for special to apply. Contact Matt Dribnak at ( 303) 371-8725 for more information. Offer expires August 31st, 2010
Play where the pros play. Home of the HealthONE Colorado Open Championships
Pr ader a: a place to gather around the game. There are a lot of golf course communities out there. And most seem to follow a sort of recipe: nice homes and a few nice amenities built around a nice parkland-style golf course. All of which is perfectly ‌ nice. But maybe you’re looking for something a little different. A place that’s more down-to-earth. Where the homes and the golf course feel more connected to the Colorado landscape. And where the people feel more connected to each other.
www.colorado avidgo lf e r.c o m
q
Sounds intriguing? Then you’ll want to make your way to Pradera — which has brought a fresh, friendly spirit to the whole idea of what a golf community can be.
A golf community with real community As wonderful as the golf course is, the Pradera experience is truly set apart by the attitude you find here. Like the terrain, it’s real Colorado. The feeling is relaxed and genuinely friendly. Just earlier this year Colorado Avid Golfer named Pradera’s après golf the “Best in Colorado,” praising its “Colorado Casual” vibe. And this vibe resonates through the entire place. From the Club’s other amenities (tennis courts, restaurant and workout rooms) to the Pradera Community Center, with its big pool, park and play fields. And of course, you can’t have real community without really good schools. Fortunately, all the kids in Pradera get to attend the highly acclaimed schools of Douglas County.
Great golf begins with interesting terrain Located between Parker and Castle Rock, Pradera is one of those increasingly rare communities that actually feels like Colorado. Rolling hills and sharply folded valleys. Tall prairie grasses and stands of scrub oak. It’s a distinctly western landscape. And it’s a magnificent setting, both for the welcoming neighborhoods of Pradera and for the unique golf course that is at the heart of the community. Celebrated golf course architect Jim Engh designed the Pradera course. Unlike the parkland golf courses you find at most private clubs, The Club at Pradera features Engh’s own brand of linksstyle course. 360º at the 16th Engh, who was named by Golf Magazine as one of three “Key Architects for the New Millenium,” is a master at turning rugged, dramatic terrain into deeply satisfying rounds of golf. When you see his fairways meandering through these valleys, you get the sense that they were meant to be here. And when you’re standing in the hilltop tee box of the 16th hole, taking in a view of almost the entire course and much of the front range, you feel as if you were meant to be here, too. This is a golf course that will hold your attention for a lifetime. At first, you may find yourself playing it safe from the tees (which in many cases leaves you a very tricky approach). Then, as your familiarity grows, you begin to challenge the course. But hit one of Engh’s deep, soft “muscle bunkers” or land in the wrong spot on the green and … well, like the perfect golf partner, the course will always push you in a fun, good-natured way.
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Even the homes feel different In Pradera, the style is called “Colorado Rustic.” It’s a ruggedly handsome interpretation of Arts and Crafts, European and other classical architecture. Considering the setting, you couldn’t pick a more appropriate look. The homes of Pradera offer a range of lifestyles. Choose a low-maintenance Golf Villa or a single family home on a ¼ ½ acre home site, both from the $400s. Or pick from a variety of magnificent custom and semi-custom homes, each on a spacious home site from ½ to 3 acres, priced from the $500s to over $2 million. And since each home here is either on the golf course or has a view of it, everyone feels invited to gather around the game. Learn more For home sales and club membership information, call 720-851-9900. Or visit PraderaColorado.com.
q
Forethoughts
Win a dream golf trip for four!
Play St. Andrews, Carnoustie and other world-famous Scottish and Irish courses on this once-in-a-lifetime golf vacation presented by Colorado Avid Golfer. You and three friends will enjoy prime tee times and luxury transportation, dining and accommodations where golf began.
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Old Golfers, New Media
A
t age 48, I identify less with the Olympic athletes
who competed in Vancouver than I do with their parents. I can no longer track down long flies in the outfield or circle a quarter-mile track in less than a minute. I have no hope of ever dunking a basketball or bicycle-kicking a ball past a goalkeeper. But in less than two years I’ll be eligible for the Champions Tour. This is a laughable premise for anyone who has watched me hack my way across Colorado’s golf landscape. But if this month’s Senior PGA Championship at Colorado Golf Club teaches us anything, it’s that golf is one of the few sports at which we can improve as we age. Consider 50-year-old Fred Couples and 60-year-old Tom Watson, who regularly beat up on guys half their ages. Also, consider Colin, an acquaintance of mine from Texas, who’s my age and recently went from a 24 to a 7 handicap over the course of one dedicated year. If I shaved 17 strokes like he did, I’d be a plus-1. Not good enough for the Champions Tour but inspiring all the same. The Senior PGA Championship—if not the entire Champions Tour—not only gives older golfers a stage on which they can compete, it also gives players like the gritty Michael Allen, who never won in 334 PGA Tour starts, a second chance at winning, which he did in his first quinquagenarian start at a last year’s Senior PGA Championship. In the best possible way, the senior circuit promises a renaissance for all competitors. It gives them a mulligan, something to look forward to when they turn 50. Watching those guys gives hope to us jocks manqués. Speaking of renaissances, I’m thrilled to announce the rebirth of our Website. Over the course of the past six months, we’ve invested a great deal of time, money and resources into making coloradoavidgolfer.com the ultimate hub for golf in Colorado. Our prettier, more robust and easily navigable site now delivers a complete and comprehensive Colorado course directory, exclusive discounts and special offers, online tee times and featured Colorado AvidGolfer content. You can buy a Golf Passport, get an official USGA handicap, rate and comment on courses, book screaming travel deals and win prizes. You’ll also have access to the latest news and features, lessons and tips. We’ll Tweet you, too, and you can Friend us on Facebook. We intend for you to rely on us as your resource for everything golf in Colorado, so we’ll constantly be adding features. But we also have to rely on your feedback, so don’t be shy about telling us what you want. Like anyone’s golf game, a Website is a work in perpetual progress. But thanks to our talented Web Manager and Associate Editor Jake Kubié, I’m confident the site will improve more swiftly and successfully than my tired, old swing ever could. —JON RIZZI
*Rules & regulations apply. Visit www.coloradoavidgolfer.com to learn more.
14
Colorado AvidGolfer | May 2010
www.colorado avidgo lf e r.c o m
Colorado’s New Golf Hub! Visit www.coloradoavidgolfer.com today
{ G o l f is Ju st O ne C lick Away } • Register to Win a Dream Golf Vacation
• Online Golf Course Directory
• Buy Your Golf Passport
• Register for CAG Golf Tournaments
• Make Online Tee Times
• Rate Your Favorite Golf Course
• Search for Online Golf Deals
• Sign Up for Our E-Newsletters
• Get an Official USGA Handicap
• Follow Us on Facebook and Twitter
• Book Stay-and-Play Packages
• And Much More…
focus & vision Important to your golf game. Crucial to your business.
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TheGamesOfGolf PUZZLErS | WORD G AMES | trivia
Spot the Differences
between these photos of Jimmy Roberts and 2009 Senior PGA champ Michael Allen
To find out the eight differences between the photos, see page 28.
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May 2 0 1 0 |Colorado AvidGolfer
19
E
xperience
something extraordinary. You can experience for yourself how this Jim Engh designed layout engages & entertains guests. Discover its challenge, character, conditions & good looks. Fossil Trace Golf Club is a “must play” in Colorado. A short 15 minute drive from
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where 64 million year old triceratops footprints exist. The 1st hole has been voted the Best Starting Hole in CO (4) times, so step back, and begin the adventure you won’t forget.
Hole #12 Par 5 -585 yards Voted Most Memorable Hole in Colorado. CO Avid Golfer Magazine
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TheGallery N ews | N o t es | N ames
RIDING HIGH
TOP GUN: Canongate and Sequoia Golf CEO Joe Guerra.
p h o t og r ap h by t odd langle y
A
GEEK CHIC: Abrams rolls on his Segway.
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t Arvada’s Indian Tree Golf
Course, double takes have become more common than double bogeys, thanks to PGA Head Professional Alan Abrams zipping around the course atop a Segway. Abrams has brought in four of the two-wheeled, gyroscopically self-balancing personal transportation devices as novel alternatives to carts. “I’m addicted,” the longtime pro laughs as he demonstrates the unit’s tight turning radius. After a brief, one-time certification training session, Indian Tree golfers can rent the units for $21 for 18 holes or $11 for nine. Each Segway comes with two bag holders, and can support golfers weighing up to 240 pounds. More than just novelties, Segways are less intrusive and more energy-efficient than carts—charging on 110-volt current as opposed to 220-volt—and have little or no impact on turf conditions. Plus Segwaying requires a similar heel-toe movement to snowboarding—a feature, Abrams believes, that might attract some younger players. Although Indian Tree is currently the only course in the state to offer Segways, the company from which Abrams leased them, On In One Golf, is actively pursuing other courses, certifying riders at more locations and conducting Segway-only tournaments. “People will see it’s really a fun, cool way to get around the course,” says Abrams, the 2008 Colorado PGA Golf Professional of the Year and a nationally recognized PGA Junior Golf Leader. “It’s also another revenue generator.” He knows there’ll be skeptics, “but I remember when golf carts first showed up and people didn’t want to use them. Now we own a fleet.” indiantree.org; 303-403-2541.
May 2 0 1 0 |Colorado AvidGolfer
23
TheGallery
Mulligans Our April issue incorrectly identified the Website for Canongate Colorado and membership director for Blackstone Country Club. The correct Web address is canongatecolorado.com; Blackstone’s membership director is Tiffanie Trenck (720-346-2367). Also, the Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers T.A.P.S. Celebrity Classic takes place June 18-19.
Douglass’s Largesse The weekend following the Senior PGA Championship brings a two-day event named after the most senior player in the tournament—the Dale Douglass Adult Classic at Fort Morgan Golf Course. It’s one of three tournaments annually held at Fort Morgan that bear the fingerprints of the 74-year-old Douglass, an 11-time winner on the Champions Tour. The other two events are high-school tournaments—for girls in April and boys in September—that Dale’s father, former head club professional Hal Douglass, started in 1987 with his longtime friend Robert Haffke. In conjunction with the tournaments, Dale and his wife, Joyce, established a foundation, whereby seniors could receive $2,500 towards tuition at the University of Colorado (Douglass’s alma mater), or $2,000 at another institution. “We would like to get more applications for the scholarships, which are open to those seniors who play golf whether they play in the high school tournaments in the spring or fall or not,” says Robert Haffke’s nephew, George Haffke, who helps administer the scholarship. “We count on the high school
Memberships Weddings Golf Tournaments Special Events Est. 1958
Call 303-985-1551 or visit pinehurstcountryclub.com
24
Colorado AvidGolfer | May 2010
golf coaches who participate in the tournaments to get the word out to the kids.” Haffke knows that as a player like Douglass gets into his 70s, fewer young people will have heard of him. “The scholarship ensures Dale’s legacy and gets kids here to play.” For more details on the scholarships and on the Dale Douglass Adult Classic, call the Fort Morgan Golf Course at 970-542-3961.
CLASS OF ’59: Douglass at CU.
Visiting the Woods Last February CAG Associate Editor and Web Manager Jake Kubié joined David Wood (pictured), whose article “Tribute in the Trees”appeared in our September 2009 issue, at Snowmass’s golf shrine, where the laminated article now hangs in a place of prominence. Along with friends Alex Goldberg and John Dresser, the group enjoyed a “wee nip” followed by a chipping contest. Wood’s book, Sanctuaries in the Snow: The Shrines of Aspen/Snowmass details the more than 100 shrines and memorials throughout that region’s four ski areas. For more information, visit aspensnowmassshrines.com or email aspenshrines@aol.com.
www.coloradoavidgo lf e r.c o m
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Schomp BMW • www.schompbmw.com • 1190 Plum Valley Lane • Highlands Ranch, CO • 888-306-8399 For full details on BMW Ultimate Service™ visit bmwusa.com/ultimateservice. ©2009 BMW of North America, LLC. The BMW name, model names and logo are registered trademarks.
TheGallery
SPORTSRADIO 104.3 THE FAN IS PROUD TO BRING YOU THE 2010 FAN GOLF TOUR!
PINEHURST
GREEN GABLES
HIWAN
Play some of Colorado’s best private courses for an affordable $104.30 per course on The 2010 FAN Golf Tour! These fun events are are open to both men and women golfers of all abilities—from the avid player to the weekend hacker. This year’s Tour tees off Monday, June 14 at Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen and concludes Monday, August 9 at Glenmoor Country Club in Cherry Hills Village. Stops in between include Woodmoor Pines Country Club (June 28), Valley Country Club (July 12), Pinehurst Country Club (July 19), and Green Gables Country Club (July 26). “Hiwan Golf Club is happy to be a part of The FAN Golf Tour for the fourth consecutive year,” says Kyle Heyen, Head PGA Golf Professional at Hiwan Golf Club. “We are excited to be the first stop of what is sure to be a great series of events this summer.” Sportsradio 104.3 The FAN will be partnering this year with the Colorado PGA, which will help facilitate and direct the events, ensuring a fair and enjoyable experience for all. “The PGA of America’s Colorado Section is excited to partner with Sportsradio 104.3 The FAN to enhance the experience of The FAN Golf Tour,” says Colorado Section PGA Executive Director Eddie Ainsworth. “This partnership also allows us to promote the game of golf, which employs more than 10,000 people in Colorado. Our PGA Professionals are proud to be the leaders in this industry.” The 2010 FAN Golf Tour Finals will be held in late August at Westin La Poloma Golf Club in Tucson, where four qualifiers from each of the six tour stops will join Sportsradio 104.3 The FAN as they compete for the Colorado AvidGolfer Cup and a Tag Heuer watch from Matheu’s Fine Watches. There will be three overall winners, with finalists divided into three separate flights based on their ability. “We are thrilled to hold this year’s qualifying events at some of Colorado’s select private clubs,”says KKFN Station Manager Steve Price. “Plus, we’ve upgraded our championships by sending our top qualifiers to Tucson. By teaming up with the Colorado PGA and Colorado AvidGolfer, we anticipate a great run for The FAN Colorado AvidGolfer Cup.”
New Yeller Anyone old enough to remember Rod Laver might also recall white tennis balls. The sport switched to the now-standard yellow balls during the early 1970s. Could golf—a sport where yellow balls usually have “PRACTICE” stamped on them— do the same during the 2010s? The Research and Development team at Srixon Sports thinks so. The Srixon Z-STAR and Z-STAR X Tour, which are used by such PGA Tour stars as Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk Tim Clark, and Henrik Stenson, now also come in yellow. “Science has proven that yellow is the most visible color in the visual spectrum and psychology has correlated green with calming and stress relief,” a company press release announced. “Therefore Srixon has combined the two colors based on these findings to tap into the player’s mind and expand the benefits of playing a better ball.” Tests of the yellow orbs by numerous PGA and Nationwide Tour players already playing the Z-STAR line proved overwhelmingly positive. Purists might cast a jaundiced eye, but both yellow Z-STAR balls embrace Srixon’s explosive core technology, and the flaxen cover is comprised of 324 large seamless, wind-reducing dimples and coated with super-soft urethane for improved control. $39.99 per dozen. srixon.com.
For more information or to sign up for any of the events, visit: www.1043thefan.com
26
Colorado AvidGolfer | May 2010
www.colorado avidgo lf e r.c o m
The 2010 FAN Golf Tour! Sign-Up Now Before It Sells Out! June 14 June 28
July 12 July 19 July 26 August 9
Hiwan Golf Course
Woodmoor Pines C.C. Valley Country Club Pinehurst Country Club Green Gables Country Club Glenmoor Country Club
All Private Courses!
Play them all for only $104.30 each! Find out more at
ww w. c o l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c om
www.1043TheFan.com
May 2 0 1 0 |Colorado AvidGolfer
27
TheGallery
Spot the Differences. From page 19 1. The shirt of the woman on the far left is missing its logo. 2. Jimmy Roberts’s tie is a different color. 3. The man next to Michael Allen is missing his credential. 4. The top of the Alfred Bourne Trophy is gone. 5. Allen’s TaylorMade visor is missing the R9. 6. The glove is out of Allen’s pocket. 7. Roberts’s microphone cover is a different color 8. So is the microphone cord.
Box Lunch Hungry golfers en route to or from Indian Peaks Golf Course in Lafayette may not notice the wee red cabin stationed in the liquor-store parking lot at the corner of South Boulder Road and Highway 42. But stop once and they’ll make the fluffy flatcakes prepared within—called pupusas—part of their pre- or post-round routine. Resembling tortillas in shape alone, these biscuit-like Salvadorean specialties come stuffed with quesillo, queso con loroco (a Central American flower bud) and zucchini, pork or beans in different combinations. Louisville craftsman Mario Ramirez built the cabin and outfitted it with a flatiron, upon which his mother tenderly hand-makes each pupusa and serves it with a side of tangy coleslaw called curtido. Two pupusas cost $5. Grab it to go and be swept away by this authentic culinary curio.
CHARITY EVENT CALENDAR May 9-15 100 Hole Challenge benefiting the March of Dimes and Colorado PGA Foundation 303-996-1595 dplassmeyer@pgahq.com May 20 Casa of the Continental Divide Charity Golf Tournament Beaver Creek Golf Club, Beaver Creek 970-547-1783 sclabl@comcast.net May 19-21 Jack Vickers Invitational hosted by John Elway Castle Pines Golf Club, Castle Rock 303-807-3356 klaura@coloradoopen.com May 21 Denver Firefighters Burn Foundation Golf Tournament Colorado National Golf Club, Erie 303-955-4141 jlarson@denveburnfoundation.org May 24 The Hope Challenge Golf Tournament Valley Country Club, Aurora 720-524-2061 tgoodwin@bhgh.org June 2 The Children’s Classic Sanctuary, Sedalia 720-777-1707 jmiller@tchfden.org June 2-4 HealthONE Colorado Open Women’s Pro-Am Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, Denver 303-807-3365 klaura@coloradoopen.com June 3 Newmont Mining/Project C.U.R.E Golf Tournament Sanctuary, Sedalia 303-877-3565 jangordon@projectcure.org
28
Colorado AvidGolfer | May 2010
www.coloradoavidgo lf e r.c o m
Make the home of the University of Colorado golf teams your home course. Sign up for a one-month trial membership for as little as $139 and receive: • 14-day advance tee time booking • Discounts on clinics, lessons and guest fees
$85
• Members-only events • Member privileges at Palm Valley Golf Club in Phoenix
Twosome special:
• Special rates for CU faculty, staff and alumni
Bring this coupon in and receive 2 green fees, cart and GPS for $85. Valid Monday-Thursday (excluding holidays). Not valid with any other offers or discounts. Expires 6.15.10
Offering five sets of tees, Colorado National welcomes all golfers to play its 7,676yard Jay Morrish design. Our sumptuous clubhouse features an outdoor firepit, sprawling patio, gourmet restaurant and unparalleled mountain views, making it an ideal venue for tournaments, corporate outings, weddings and banquets. w w w. c o l o r a d o n a t i o n a l g o l f c l u b . c o m
| 3 0 3 - 9 2 6 - 1 7 2 3 | 2 7 0 0 V i s t a P k w y. , E r i e
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Colorado National Breaks New Ground State-of-the-art facility will allow year-round practice
L
ast year’s transformation of Erie’s Vista Ridge Golf Club into Colorado National Golf Club involved more than just changing a few logos and ordering new stationery. The club has embraced its new identity as the home course for the University of Colorado golf teams—“a place to showcase the Buff nation,” as CU alum Steve Kerr put it— with all the appointments and amenities of a first-rate golf property. According to Colorado National’s Director of Golf Matt Schalk, those amenities will soon include a year-round prac-
tice facility. “We’re about to break ground in the spring of 2010 on one of the state’s leading indoor practice facilities,” Schalk says. “The new 5,600-square-foot building will allow for year-round practice, training and instruction.” Available to all Colorado National members and CU players, the building will feature a large indoor putting green and five heated hitting bays—all equipped with state of the art video analysis equipment—that open onto an outdoor driving range. Surrounding the practice facility will be a state-of-the-art short-game practice area designed by the Colorado National’s co-designer, Ric Buckton, and Hale Irwin Design. Surrounded by bunkers of
varying depths, hollows mowed at both fairway and rough heights, level run-up areas and elevated ridges, the practice green will accommodate sand, lob wedge and bump-and-run play. “When everything is said and done, this area will be a virtual playground for golfers of all abilities,” Schalk said. “It is the perfect place to build short game fundamentals, touch, creative shot making and to introduce golfers to the game. Imagination is the only limit to shot variety at Colorado National Golf Club.”
Colorado National Golf Club Memberships on SALE Now! Here are just a few benefits a Colorado National Golf Membership has to offer: • Playing privileges at 3 other golf courses in Colorado and our newly acquired course in Phoenix- Palm Valley • Unlimited use of the practice facilities • Advanced tee time reservations- Members can book 14 days in advance • Men’s and Women’s golf league • Access to and discounts on clinics, lessons, and resources to improve your game • Members’ guests receive discounted rates • Members-only golf events, receptions, and festivities • Special Rates for CU Faculty, Staff and Alumni
Player’sCorner P h oto g r a p h by D rin k er D urr a nce Gr a p h ics / C ourtes y of t h e b rid g es g o l f a nd countr y c lu b
COURSES | INSTRUCTION | FITNESS
Rebuilding Bridges
C
all Montrose’s Bridges Golf & Country Club the Timex of golf developments—it’s taken
a licking and kept on ticking. What began in 2003 as a semi-private club with a $60,000 initiation fee, 7,207-yard Nicklaus Design course and hundreds of homesites with views of the San Juans has endured, among other things, the death of its original owner, receivership in the hands of a bank that collapsed in 2009, ownership by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and scuttlebutt from local bloggers. Today, a round at The Bridges, which Scottsdale’s Troon Golf has managed for the past year, costs $50 on weekdays and $65 on weekends—a great deal when you consider the price includes range balls and a cart, the latter of which is optional and unnecessary on this memorable layout. Hoof it and you’re looking at a $35 fee. Those prices might change when new owners take over the facility. As of April 2, The Bridges was under contract—“though we don’t know to whom,” says Course Superintendent Joe Distefano, who has painstakingly conditioned the course since day one. Water figures into 16 holes, posing all kinds of strategic decisions, and the combination of three par-threes, par-fours and par-fives turns the bunker-filled, waterlined back nine into a risk-reward smorgasbord. Speaking of smorgasbords, one of the area’s best chefs, Donn Wagner, formerly of Cazwella’s, holds forth at Remington’s, the clubhouse restaurant. montrosebridges.com; 877-546-GOLF
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May 2 0 1 0 |Colorado AvidGolfer
33
Player’sCorner LESSON
Ground Rules
The Bump…
…and Run
With a Short Iron - Place the ball back in your stance. - Choke down, keeping your hands in front of the ball. - Place more weight on your left side (right-handed players). - Keep you hands firm, but your wrists and forearms soft. - “Bump” the ball using an abbreviated swing
With a Hybrid or Fairway Wood - Place the ball back in your stance. - Stand tall with your feet close together and slightly open. - Choke all the way down on the grip, keeping your hands in front of the ball. - Make a putting stroke with a very short backswing and follow through.
Minimize your misses and beat the chip yips by using an iron or fairway wood around the greens. By Stan Sayers
A
s the seniors prepare to take on col-
orado Golf Club’s delicate greens and greenside areas, we’re reminded of the benefits of trajectory control. Not every shot within 50 feet of the pin requires a high-lofted wedge. By minimizing loft, you eliminate variables like wind and spin. Instead of using a sand or lob wedge from the fringe, try a hitting a bumpand-run shot with an iron, hybrid or fairway wood. 2009 Colorado Section PGA Teacher of the Year Stan Sayers is the director of instruction at Englewood’s MetaGolf Learning Center, which brings mind, body and swing together. 303-799-0870 or mcgetrickgolf.com. The Drill
Take a sand wedge, nine iron, five wood and hit 10 shots with each to a target 25 yards away. Pay attention to each shot’s arc, spin rate and roll. The arcs above show the appropriate trajectory: red for a sand wedge, yellow for a nine iron, and white for a five wood.
34
Colorado AvidGolfer | May 2010
www.colorado avidgo lf e r.c o m
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Limit one coupon per customer. Minimum purchase of $50 before sales tax. Total amount of coupon must be redeemed at one time. Cannot be combined with any other offers, coupons or used for previously purchased merchandise. Coupon valid on in-store purchases only. Not redeemable for cash, gift cards or store credit. No reproductions or rain checks accepted. Excludes Under Armour, Ping, select new release Callaway Golf, Cleveland, Odyssey, Titleist, Mizuno, Cobra, TaylorMade, Nike Golf, ecco and FootJoy merchandise. Some additional exclusions may apply. See store for details. Valid through 6/30/11.
Player’sCorner 1 5 T H C LU B
Do you enjoy playing golf? What makes it fun for you?
Dear Junior…
This advice, designed for younger players, applies to golfers of any age. By Elena King and Denise McGuire
Y
ou’re out on the course playing with friends or maybe playing a
practice round. You’re relaxed, hitting good shots, sinking putts and scoring well. The very next day you’re playing in a tournament and everything seems different. Your swing feels off, you can’t seem to find the fairway, you are thinking more over short putts and missing putts you were making just yesterday. Does that sound familiar? What changes from one day to the next? What interferes with your ability to perform under pressure? Are you curious as to how you can change this? Most people believe performance is all about skill level, hard work and possibly even luck. Even though we tend to believe that, there are other elements that can produce good performance and help us reach our potential. Learning and enjoyment can be the foundation for better performance. Performance
Learning
Enjoyment
As in the scenario above, your mind tells you that tournaments have more significance than your practice rounds. You start to think more about results and what you are doing instead of allowing your body to make the natural, free-flowing swing that you are capable of. You often play best when absorbed in what you are doing and enjoying yourself. Without enjoyment golf can begin to feel like work. When you are playing and really in the moment, you are not as likely to be distracted by score, rankings, college coaches, parents’ reactions or making mistakes. Golf provides many opportunities for learning. Even when we make “mistakes” we can learn from them.
36
Colorado AvidGolfer | May 2010
Here are some tips for making golf more fun: • Ask your coach for tips to make practice fun and challenging. Practice with your buddies. Learn from each other. • Manage your expectations. • Give yourself credit for the things that you do well. Do this every day. • Be fearless! Swing without fear of the outcome • Use time in between shots to give your mind and body a break. Talk to your playing partners, laugh. • Play golf for you! • Learning the game involves more than just the technical aspects. The more you know about your tendencies the better equipped you are to coach yourself. • What are you learning about yourself as you play golf? • What distracts you from playing your best? • Who are you trying to impress? • How would you play if you approached every round of golf as an opportunity to learn more about yourself, your game and to get better? Do you think you’d feel less pressure? • Here are some ways to emphasize learning through golf: • Commit to being a lifetime learner or student of golf and life. • Become aware of your tendencies. You can’t change what you don’t know. • Be willing to let go of what you think you know in order to allow something new to take its place. • View learning as an experience. You can learn something new about yourself every time you practice and play. • Keep a performance journal. • Focus on the process of becoming an excellent golfer and not as much on outcomes (scores, rankings, etc). Results will naturally occur. ag
Performance coach Dr. Denise McGuire (denise@getinthezone.net) and CommonGround Golf Course Director of Instruction Elena King (eking@experiencegolf.biz) partner to deliver unique learning experiences that increase awareness of the game’s mental and technical aspects and offer tools for optimal performance. www.colorado avidgo lf e r.c o m
The grass just got
GREENER ...for you.
The Country Club at Castle Pines features greens that can be mean but our Preferred Prospective Membership program will have you smiling. If you thought that golfing on our Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course was out of reach, think again. Grab your
irons and discover one of Colorado’s most prestigious clubs. We would like to cordially invite you to find out about the special opportunity that has been made available for you. Our greens can become your backyard, and we’ll even cut the grass for you.
the place you want to be
Please call the Membership & Communications Director for a tour. Kim Bartuccio 303-660-6807 www.ccatcastlepines.com
a 501(c) (7) non-profit private club.
Player’sCorner
One with the Wind
Alternative energy is coming to a golf course near you. By Peter Bronski
E
arlier this year, Governor Ritter signed House Bill 10-1001,
legislation requiring that 30 percent of the state’s electricity come from renewable energy sources (solar, wind) by the year 2020. Known as a Renewable Portfolio Standard, the revised target makes us one of the top states in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The bill also emphasized small-scale, home-based energy production, or in the context of this article, golf course-based energy production.
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Colorado AvidGolfer | May 2010
www.coloradoavidgo lf e r.c o m
I LLU S T R AT I O N BY DA N A BA R AK
E L E VA T E D G R E E N
The game of golf uses its share of energy, from the clubhouse to the maintenance equipment to the golf carts. And it’s intriguing to think what a renewable-energypowered golf course might look like. Beyond the bounds of the Centennial State, there are a handful of examples of golf courses doing just that. On the solar side, the Jockey Club in Hong Kong and Sebonack Golf Club in New York have become two of the first courses in the world to boast a solar-powered fleet of golf carts. Using the technology of a company called SolarDrive, they basically transform the roof of each golf cart into a big solar panel. You’ll likely see it in Colorado soon, too. “The interest in the US has increased dramatically the last couple of months and we see a very big interest from some of the obvious states in the Sun Belt,” says SolarDrive’s Peter Randow. “But we must admit we have been surprised to see the huge interest we also get from the state of Colorado.” (With Colorado’s eco-conscious golf courses, and Denver touting 300 days of sunshine per year, this doesn’t surprise me at all.) On the wind side, Highlands Golf Course in British Columbia and Rochester Golf Club in Massachusetts have both installed wind turbines on their respective golf course properties to help power their clubhouses. Usually, such efforts are undertaken—at least initially—by only the most progressive, eco-conscious golf courses. It’s only later that those efforts go mainstream. After all, golf is a game steeped in tradition, which means that people are slow to change the current way of doing things, environmental or otherwise. But renewable energy is coming down the golf pipeline faster in Colorado than elsewhere. House Bill 10-1001 is part of it, but so is Cole & Scott, a golf club consulting firm based in Aurora. The firm was founded by Clayton Cole, former Head PGA Professional at Cherry Hills Country Club and member of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, and Nelson Scott, the former general manager of such esteemed clubs as Pinehurst in North Carolina, Fox Hills in Michigan, and Columbine Country Club here in Colorado. They’re part of what you might call the Old Guard, an earlier generation of golf professionals. At first glance, their golf and club management consulting company seems pretty straightforward. Until you
read their list of services: strategic planning, IRS audit protection, executive searches, and…renewable energy? Absolutely. And when the Old Guard starts talking about solar and wind power on golf courses, you know there’s been a fundamental shift in how people are thinking. While there’s certainly a strong environmental perspective to renewable energy (for example, reduced carbon emissions, to the point of last month’s column), Scott comes at it from the economic side, viewing it as a fundamental part of golf course operations. “Energy is the next big nut to crack,” he told me. Scott lays out a series of energy-finance cause and effects: increased EPA enforcement of the Clean Air Act, resulting fines for coal-fired power plants, and ultimately, utilities such as Xcel passing those costs along to consumers like you and me—and golf courses. The way Scott sees it, the solution for golf courses is two-fold: reduce consumption, and shift to in-house renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind. In all,
Shifting to renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, can reduce a golf course’s costs by as much as 30 percent. That’s no small piece of change. he says, doing so can reduce the energy costs of a golf course by up to 30%. With the average electricity bill of a private club in Colorado running about $200,000 per year—and with all golf courses in the state spending some $9 million on electricity in 2002, according to a CSU study—that adds up to no small piece of change. Cole & Scott started its renewable energy program in late 2009, and by the time you read this, Scott estimates they’ll actively be working with about 15 golf courses, mostly in the Front Range. For one as-yetundisclosed club, he predicts the course
will save more than $2 million on energy costs over the 25 year lifespan of the proposed project. Regardless of the why—whether to go green or for the economics of it—renewable energy use on golf courses seems a winwin for both the environment and for the wallets of Colorado golf courses and the golfers like you and me who play them. The result is that, in the not-so-distant future, wind turbines on the fringes of our golf courses and solar panels on the roofs of our clubhouses and golf carts may become as much a backdrop to the game of golf as Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. ag
Boulder-based writer Peter Bronski is the author of four books and a former ecologist for the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses. His environmental pieces about golf have earned numerous national awards, and his golf writing has also appeared in Golf Course Management, California Fairways, the USGA’s Green Section Record and other publications.
The Case for Sensorship
By Fred Dickman CGCS, RMGCSA member since 1997 It goes without saying that water has always been a precious resource, but with the increase in population and our semiarid climate, our vulnerability has really hit home. Rocky Mountain Golf Course Superintendents have, and always will, battle the misperception that they waste water. The fact is most courses, especially those in Colorado, are very conscious and careful about their water use. The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, where I serve as the Director of Golf Course Maintenance, has always strived for more efficient water use on its courses. Our primary motivations for doing so include: • Reducing water costs and electricity associated with pumping • Upgrading conditions by achieving firm playing surfaces • Managing our water resources wisely • Focusing on Precision Technology Turf Management The original Broadmoor irrigation system for the East and West courses was installed in 1996. Since that time, multiple irrigation audits have identified inefficiencies and made recommendations for optimizing the system. As a result, we have upgraded the pump stations, purchased new controllers and computer systems, and retrofit existing sprinkler head components. We have always tried to be proactive in using new technologies—especially those that can help conserve water. When the Toro Company developed a reliable soil sensor we immediately recognized the value and importance for the golf courses. While the soil sensors better help to manage irrigation distribution, the primary benefit has been the improvement in playability. Playability is, of course, what all golfers want. When preparing the East course for the 2008 U.S. Senior Open, and the upcoming 2011 U.S. Women’s Open, our main goals are consistency and firmness on all 18 greens. The accuracy of Toro’s Turf Guard soil sensors has been critical in achieving those goals. There is a direct connection between firmness and soil moisture, and because in-ground sensors record changes in soil moisture over time, they provide some predictive ability in firmness. In addition to greens, soil sensors have been installed in fairways and approaches. Turf Guard sensors have allowed us to identify the ideal conditions for playability and promoting healthy turf. Too-dry turf can result in too-firm conditions, which can lead to dead grass and poor playability. Conversely, too-moist turf wastes water, promotes poor playing conditions and results in unhealthy conditions for the turfgrass plant. It should be noted that every course is different, and it is usually not practical to compare one course with another. For more local Superintendent articles please visit www.rmgcsa.org
Count on us! 35 Years of Service
Golf Irrigation Products 303-320-1270 800-793-1270 www.lljohnson.com
35 Years of Service
Golf Irrigation Products 303‐320‐1270 800‐793‐1270 www.lljohnson.com
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May 2 0 1 0 |Colorado AvidGolfer
39
COLORADO’S BEST GOLF DEAL! PLAY MORE. PAY LESS. BUY TODAY FOR ONLY $79.95! PRICES INCLUDE A CART. Golf Course
1/1 5/31
6/1 8/31
9/1 12/31
Available Tee Times
Weekend Play
# of Rounds
Exclusive Golf Courses Arrowhead Golf Club, Littleton
$75
$85
$75
Mon-Thur anytime, Fri-Sun after 1pm
Yes
1 per season
Black Bear, Parker
$40 / $50
$45 / $55
$40 / $50
Mon-Thur after 11am, Fri-Sun after 1pm
Yes
Unlimited
Breckenridge Golf Club, Breckenridge
$99
$99*
$99
Sun-Thur anytime, Sundays only Peak season
Yes
2
The Club at Crested Butte, Creste Butte
$60
$95
$60
Any day after 12pm
Yes
Unlimited in shoulder,
Colorado National Golf Club, Erie
$40
$50
$40
Mon-Fri after 11am
CommonGround Golf Course, Aurora NEW
$40
$40
$40
Shoulder: Mon-Thur anytime, Fri-Sun after 1pm Peak: Mon-Thur after 1pm
3 in Peak 3 Yes
3
Grand Elk, Granby
$39
$69
$39
Mon-Thur after 11am, Fri-Sun after 12pm
Yes
3
Grand Lake, Grand Lake
$40
$50
$40
Sun-Thur after 11am
Yes
3
Green Valley Ranch, Denver
$35
$45
$35
Mon-Thur before 8am, after 12pm, Fri-Sun after 3pm
Yes
1 per season
Headwaters Golf Course, Granby
$40
$50
$40
Mon-Thur after 11 am, Sat-Sun after 2pm
Yes
2
Heritage Todd Creek, Thornton NEW
$50*
$50*
$50*
Mon-Thur after 12pm
Indian Tree, Arvada
$30
$37
$33
Any day, anytime
Yes
Unlimited
Kings Deer, Monument
$35
$40
$35
Mon-Fri after 1pm
The Ridge at Castle Pines, Castle Rock
$50
$79
$50*
Mon-Thur anytime. Fri-Sun after 1pm
Yes
1 per season
Vail Golf Club, Vail
$45
$89
$45
Any day after 1pm
Yes
2
$76*
$76
Tues-Fri anytime, Sat-Sun, holidays after 12pm
Yes
3 2
Private Courses The Inverness, Englewood
$56*
3
Red Rocks Country Club, Morrison
$90
05/03/10 9am shotgun
1
Omni Interlocken Golf Club, Broomfield
$90
Any Wednesday of the year
Unlimited
Lake Valley Golf Club, Niwot
$95
05/24/10 9:30am shotgun
1
Country Club of Colorado, Colorado Springs
$90
4/26/10 & 08/23/10 1pm shotgun
2
Woodmoor Pines, Monument
$80
08/02/10 Anytime on that day
1
Other Courses Antelope Hills, Bennett
$20
$20
$20
Any day, anytime
Antler Creek, Falcon
$23
$23
$23
Mon-Thur anytime
Yes
1
3
Box Elder, Brighton NEW
$20
$20
$20
Mon-Thur after 9am
3
Broadlands, Broomfield
$30
$30
$30
Mon-Thur after 12pm
2
Buffalo Run, Commerce City
$39
$39
$39
Mon-Fri anytime
Cougar Canyon, Trinidad
$50
$60
$50
Mon-Fri after 11am, Sat-Sun after 1pm
Yes Yes
2 Unlimited
DeerCreek Village Golf Club, Cederedge NEW $40
$40
$35
Any day, anytime
Devil’s Thumb, Delta
$35
$35
$35
Mon-Thur anytime
Unlimited
3
Eagle Ranch , Eagle
$40
$55
$40
Mon-Thur anytime
1 per season
Eagle Trace, Broomfield
$22
$22
$22
Mon-Thur after 12pm
Eagle Vail, Avon
$35
$70
$55
Mon-Thur after 11am, Fri-Sun after 1pm
Foothills Golf Course, Littleton NEW
$33
$33
$33
Mon-Thur before 8am, after 1pm
Grandote Peaks, LaVeta
$50
$60
$50
Mon-Fri after 11am
Heritage Eagle Bend, Aurora
$43
$49
$43
Any day after 12pm
Heritage at Westmoor, Westminster
$40
$40
$40
Mon-Thur after 1pm
Highland Meadows, Windsor
$34
$44
$34
Highlands Ranch GC, Highlands Ranch
$49 /
$58 /
$49 /
$59
$68
$59
Indian Peaks, Lafayette
$43
$43
$43
Shoulder: Mon-Thur after 12pm Peak: Mon-Thur after 1pm
Keystone Ranch, Keystone
$60*
$90*
$60
Lakota Canyon, New Castle
$65 /
$65 /
$65 /
$75
$75
$75
Legacy Ridge, Westminster
$40
$40
$40
Mon-Thur after 1pm
The Links, Highlands Ranch
$31 / $36
$35 / $40
$31 / $36
Shoulder: Mon-Thur anytime, Fri-Sun after Noon Peak: Mon-Thur anytime, Fri-Sun after 1pm
Meadows, Littleton
$37
$37
$37
Mon-Thur before 8am, after 1pm
3
Park Hill, Denver
$20
$25
$20
Mon-Thur before 8am, after 11am
2
Pine Creek, Colorado Springs
$30
$40
$30
Mon-Thur after 1pm
Pole Creek, Winter Park
$50
$50
$50
Sun-Thur after 12pm
Yes Yes
2 Yes
2 3 3
Yes
2
Mon-Thur after 11am, Fri-Sun after 1pm
Yes
3
Mon-Fri after 12pm, Sat-Sun after 1pm
Yes
1 per season
Any day after 11am
Yes
Unlimited
Mon-Thur after 11am, Sat-Sun after 2pm
Yes
3
Yes
1 per season
Raven Golf Club, Silverthorne
$74
$98
$74
Mon-Thur after 12pm, Sat-Sun after 2pm
Redlands Mesa, Grand Junction
$63
$63
$63
Mon-Thur anytime
Unlimited
3
Unlimited
Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited 2
The River Course at Keystone, Keystone NEW
$75*
$120*
$75
Any day after 11am
Yes
River Valley Ranch, Carbondale
$65
$70
$65
Any day after 12pm
Yes
Unlimited 2
Shining Mountain, Woodland Park
$40
$50
$40
Any day anytime
Yes
3
Thorncreek, Thornton
$25
$32
$25
Mon-Thur before 8am, after 11am
2
Some restrictions apply. Visit www.coloradoavidgolfer.com or pages 54 & 55 for complete details.
SideBets
p h otoG R A P H courtes y of h y unda i
QUITE CONTINENTAL: Hyundai’s Euro-engineered Tucson
NICE DRIVES
Cars Without Borders
Proving the world is flat, Hyundai goes Euro while Cadillac turns a little Japanese. By Isaac Bouchard 2010 HYUNDAI TUCSON LIMITED Price as tested: $29,490
S
pend some time with Hyundai’s recent products and you’ll under
stand why the company has set sales records during the past few years. They continue to offer great value and terrific reliability—long brand hallmarks—but now come with a level of style that bespeaks a company brimming with confidence. The all-new Tucson small crossover looks set to continue this roll. The first Hyundai designed and engineered in Europe, its look is boldly avant-guard, with a sharkish nose and swooping lines that help disguise its short and upright proportions—essential to success overseas, given the tight confines of Continental cities. Ranging from six to 14 inches shorter in length than competitors from the U.S. and Japan, it is still very roomy inside for occupants, though load-lugging ability trails the likes of Honda’s CR-V (the class’ best-seller) and the new Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain. The Tucson is equally Euro-centric to drive: although the suspension tuning is a bit stiff, the trade-off is tight, athletic handling and ample steering feel for electric assist. The Tucson’s also up to 500 pounds lighter than competitors, benefiting both speed and thrift. The older version offered a V6 option; now the only engine offered is a refined and willing 2.4-liter four cylinder, with competitive ratings of 176hp and 168lb-ft, paired with a smartly programmed six-speed automatic. The Hyundai offers class-average acceleraww w. c o l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c om
tion (0-60 in 8.8 seconds) and excellent fuel economy ratings of 21mpg city and 28mpg highway. And unlike the Chevy and GMC, it will actually get near those numbers. Its cockpit is as stylish as those two, but is built of higher quality materials, and chock full of useful tech like Bluetooth with streaming audio connectivity, a terrific (optional) nav system, and standard iPod integration. While overall comfort is excellent, the government mandated active head restraints will force some to adopt less-thanideal positions in the otherwise very supportive front seats. That a loaded Limited model, with niceties like panoramic roof and backup camera, costs more than $4,000 less than the domestics, means Hyundai’s reputation for value remains intact. That it drives almost as well as the Honda comes as a bit more of a surprise. The Tucson’s less staid appearance and more contemporary interior will catapult it to the front of many folks’ shopping lists, and it should easily help the company shave numbers off competitors’ sales totals—something Hyundai has become quite adept at of late. May 2 0 1 0 |Colorado AvidGolfer
41
SideBets
2010 Cadillac SRX 2.8T Price as tested: $50,390
CADDY CROSSOVER: The two-ton SRX 2.8T
THE ALL NEW
2010 HYUNDAI
tuCson
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31 MPG
Hyundai set out to crossover the rugged utility of an SUV with the maneuverability and refinement of a car
test driVe one todAy!
Result… Hole In One Visit Your Denver Area Hyundai Dealers ArApAhoe hyundAi 9899 East Arapahoe Road Centennial, CO 80112 (303) 539-1700
Go hyundAi 10450 North Federal Boulevard Westminster, CO 80234 (303) 460-0102
lonGs peAk hyundAi 600 South Main Street Longmont, CO 80501 (303) 651-2623
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shortline hyundAi 500 South Havana Aurora, CO 80012 (303) 364-2200
www.ColoradoHyundai.com 42
Colorado AvidGolfer | May 2010
www.coloradoavidgo lf e r.c o m
p h oto g r a p h C ourtes y of Gener a l m otors
The first generation SRX was a one of the best crossovers you could buy. Unfortunately most people didn’t; they went for the Lexus RX instead. So for the sequel, Cadillac used that vehicle as a template, thereby pitching it into the heart of the hotly contested five-seat premium market. The one that will most appeal to us here in the Rockies is the 2.8T model, which just happens to be the first production Cadillac with a turbocharged engine. While the puffer only adds 35 horses (for a total of 300), torque burgeons from 223 to 295lb-ft, which is available from a low 2,000rpm. This does wonders in offsetting the SRX’s rotund 4,500lb-plus mass, especially in our rarified air. Coupled to a slick Aisin six-speed auto (the normally-aspirated base engine is hooked to a dull-witted GM unit), with sport and manual modes, 0-60 runs come
in the mid-seven-second bracket. While others are faster still at sea level, and one might wish for even a bit more punch—especially as real-world fuel economy isn’t anything special at 20mpg—up here the Cadillac is at least competitive. This powertrain combo also does a much better job of exercising the SRX’s terrific sport-tuned FE3 chassis. Suspended by continuously adjusting Sachs dampers, it combines a firm but crash-free ride with incredibly tight body control and low levels of roll. Steering feel and precision make a mockery of the numb, electric helm of the Lexus, though competitors from Germany are better still. This SRX appears to solve the older model’s biggest shortcoming—lackluster styling—both inside and out. Showing off the latest evolution of Cadillac’s brilliantly modern yet understandable form language, it builds on the ground gained by the award-winning CTS sedan. Sadly, though, its cockpit’s materials aren’t up to the levels set by CTS, with many plastic molding choices that are too cheap for the price point and some gauche miscues like vacuum-formed stitching on the door panels. It is, however, very refined and quiet within. The available technology (almost all of which is standard on the 2.8T) also helps one overlook cost- cutting, being both user-friendly and comprehensive in content. Systems ranging from the rich-looking navigation display and driver interfaces through to such niceties as the variable height limiter settings for the rear power hatch, are thoughtfully configured and add to the perception of class. The Cadillac’s seats are comfortable and supportive, and the cargo area well shaped and finished. A large moonroof is standard, and helps brighten things up noticeably. Options are pretty much limited to things like rear entertainment, ventilated seats for the front, heated seats in the rear, a smart key system, and chrome wheels. Despite some very stiff competition, the SRX more than holds its own; its driverfocused dynamics and sharp styling give it a unique character, and its size and configuration appear to be what buyers want right now. That combination should help insure that this Cadillac crossover meets its maker’s goals.
Red Rock Golf Trail 00 ! 4 n igh t s , 4 r o u n ds u n d e r $ 5
Searching for a new golf getaway? Look no further - St. George, Utah’s Red Rock Golf Trail lets you choose from nine courses and 10 hotels. Book up to 6 months in advance. Off season rates start June 1. 90 minutes north of Vegas on I-15!
ag
Read more of Contributing Editor Isaac Bouchard’s automotive writing at nicedrivz.com. ww w. c o l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c om
888.345.2550 or visit
RedRockGolf.com
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SideBets FA R E W A Y S
Glenmoor’s Rare Penny Penelope Wong shares her recipe for success.|By Lori Midson Photographs by Joshua Duplechian/Rich Clarkson & Associates
Starting as a prep hand in 1998, Penelope Wong moved up through ranks at Glenmoor Country Club to become executive chef at the age of 29. Six years after her promotion, she remains of the few females in the country to head the kitchen at a major country club—and members wouldn’t have it any other way.
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Colorado AvidGolfer | May 2010
www.coloradoavidgo lf e r.c o m
When did you know you were going to be a chef? When I was 14. My childhood memories all include food—lots of it. Cooking was always an integral part of our family unit, and I began learning different styles of cooking—mostly Thai and Chinese—in my preteens. When I was finally part of the matriarchal group responsible for all of the cooking, I gained a sense of pride within myself and loved to display my minimal cooking skills to the family. Greatest professional achievement? Becoming the youngest—and first—female executive chef at Glenmoor was both thrilling and terrifying, but it wasn’t until just a few years ago that I really became aware of my own achievements. I was invited to participate in the March of Dimes signature chef ’s event along with 19 other prominent chefs in the Denver area, and soon after that, I was invited to participate as the guest chef at a wine and food pairing dinner at Opus, Michael Long’s wonderful restaurant in Littleton. And shortly after that, Club & Resort Business magazine did an interview with me about my menu and different cooking techniques. I was completely elated to be rec-
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BEST-SELLER: Wong’s pan-seared diver scallops in avocado tamarind glaze with gingered jasmine steamed rice and crispy spinach.
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SideBets ognized by the outside community; it was a tremendous feeling.
is great because it gives our members a new menu item to enjoy on a daily basis.
Your kitchen philosophy? It’s just cooking. Although cooking is second nature to me, I firmly believe that simplicity is the key to success. Having a love and a passion for food and the ability to pair different flavors is essential, but ultimately, it’s all about good food and showcasing the integrity of the product.
What would you like to put on your menu, but are afraid no one will eat? Rice porridge with spicy fermented bean curd. It sounds scary, but it’s tasty. Both my grandmother and my mother made different versions of it when I was growing up— and both were out of this world. My version happens to be one of my son’s favorite meals.
Personal culinary hero? Who doesn’t love Julia Child? She was a brilliant and fearless woman who aspired to cook great food. To me, that epitomizes my entire career choice.
Do you cook often at home? All the time. Cooking for friends and family is the best part of owning this talent. I also feel better knowing that my son is eating at least one good, nutritional meal a day.
Favorite dish on your menu? Whatever our fish of the day is. Spotlighting fresh fish specials allows me to exhibit a very unique and, at times, crazy—but still simple— flair for different flavors. I’ve been told that my palate is ridiculously attuned to discovering new flavor profiles. The fish of the day happens to be one of our top sellers, which
Guiltiest food pleasure: Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey ice cream. If you put a pint in front of me, it’s history.
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Colorado AvidGolfer | May 2010
Favorite local restaurant: Z Cuisine offers simple foods that are cooked so perfectly that each bite screams integrity, plus it just makes for a fantastic night of cel-
ebrating. I also like Osteria Marco for a fun night out; it has a great atmosphere and has that feeling of being invited to a good friend’s house for yummy wines, good company and a truly great meal. Oshima Ramen is my favorite place for homemade noodles. Where do you find inspiration for your recipes? Most of my crazy ideas come from childhood memories. With my heritage being Thai and Chinese, the food I ate growing up included a lot of different ingredients and flavors that are challenging and delicious. What’s a perfect meal for you? A big bowl of Bouchot mussels from Maine steamed in Thai coconut curry and a whole loaf of crusty ciabatta bread. One ingredient you can’t cook without? I’ve got two, actually: cilantro and Sriracha sauce, two magic ingredients that make any flavor profile pop. Whenever my staff asks me to taste a dish, they usually have the cilantro and Sriracha waiting.
www.coloradoavidgo lf e r.c o m
Favorite ingredient right now? Purple Thai basil. We use it a lot of our sauces and salad dressings, in our salads and in our relishes.
P h oto g r a p h By J os h ua dup l ec h i a n / R ic h c l a r k son & Associ ates
What’s the biggest change you’re seeing in country club kitchens? Bolder, bigger, more global flavors—and definitely a lot more Asian ingredients. Favorite golf course snack food? Red Vines. If you could cook for any celebrity golfer, who would it be? He’s not exactly a celebrity golfer, but Kevin Costner’s character from Tin Cup, Roy, is my kind of guy—easygoing, appreciative of the bare necessities in life and loads of fun. What’s your handicap? I don’t keep score. At times I’ll crush it off the tee; at other times, I need a cue stick. ag
CAG Dining Out Editor Lori Midson also covers Denver’s dining scene for Westword.
PENNYWISE: Wong relishes discovering new flavor profiles.
Ba ck by popular dem
and
To participate just drop off your clubs at our stores and fill out a consignment form, then leave the rest to us. The Golf Swap will be held in our parking lot. For additional information please call or stop by our stores and ask our staff or visit us online at www.coloradoskiandgolf.com.
HeRe ARe tHe gOLf SwAp dAteS And LOCAtiOnS: AURORA - 2650 S. Havana - 303.337.1734 Club Drop Off Dates: April 26 thru April 30 Sale Date: May 1 & May 2 LittLetOn - 8100 W. Crestline Ave - 303.948.7550 Club Drop Off Dates: May 9 thru May 14 Sale Date: May 15 & May 16 COLORAdO SpRingS - Montebello & Academy - 719.268.9522 Club Drop Off Dates: May 9 thru May 14 Sale Date: May 15 & May 16 ARvAdA - 7715 Wadsworth - 303.420.0885 Club Drop Off Dates: May 16 thru May 21 Sale Date: May 22 & May 23
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SideBets C L U B B I N G UP
GREAT BLOOMER: Lush landscaping complements the club’s Flatirons views.
The Boulder County club plies members with a clear mission: great golf at a great price. | By Jon Rizzi
W
hether the acreage now covered by Lake Valley Golf Club sits
in Niwot (the name of the nearest major cross-street) or Longmont (as its ZIP Code suggests) didn’t much matter to brothers Reino and Leonard Loukonen in the early 1960s. Envisioning a public golf course with gorgeous vistas of the Flatirons, the local quarry owners bought the Boulder County property for $10,000, which they delivered to the bank in a milk pail. After the teller had counted more than $11,000 in currency and coins, the young son of one of the brothers said, “Dad, we brought the wrong milk pail!” A half-century and half-dozen owners later, people arrive at Lake Valley with $6,000 checks to become members—and there’s nothing wrong about that. With an impeccably conditioned 6,825-yard Press Maxwell-designed course, expansive driving range, 70-yard short-game practice area, gourmet dining with views from the clubhouse deck, and a guarantee of no capital assessments or food minimums, Lake Valley easily ranks as one of the state’s best private golf deals. “My family has belonged to five or six private clubs back east, and they’ve all had a food minimum or active assessment plan,” says marketing executive A.J. Mirabedini, a five-handicap who joined in September after moving from Ohio. “Lake Valley has neither. Plus, the greens are among the best I’ve ever putted on.” The fiddly Maxwell greens and the thick native areas protect par on this superbly conditioned layout. In addition to Course Superintendent Ian Johnson, much of the credit for
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Colorado AvidGolfer editor Jon Rizzi is a one-time Lake Valley member. Until May 31, Lake Valley is offering a $3,500 initiation. On May 24 the club will hold a 9:30 shotgun tournament exclusively for Colorado AvidGolfer Golf Passport holders. The $95 price includes breakfast, lunch, cart, $10 pro shop credit and range balls. lakevalley.com; 303-444-2114. www.coloradoavidgo lf e r.c o m
p h oto g r a p h by k eit h b renner
Lake Valley’s Value
Lake Valley’s playability goes to co-owner and general manager Mitch Galnick, who with two partners purchased the then-public course in 1987 and began the process of privatizing it during the golf boom of the mid-1990s (the club went fully private in 2001). Atypical of most GMs, Galnick plays “at least 150 rounds a year” and confronts the same issues members do. “I think they appreciate the fact that I’m out there, that I’m a player,” he says, then adds with a laugh, “except when I win tournaments.” Although Galnick initially envisioned the private Lake Valley as having all the amenities of a typical country club, “our research showed members didn’t want that. I’m happy we’re not trying to run swim teams and a million other programs. It’s not just having the amenities, it’s the programming of those amenities.” Not having swim and tennis programs helps keep monthly dues around $300. But Membership Director Rob Mount points out, there are non-golf amenities—ski passes to Eldora, discounts at a local health club, access to the local subdivision’s lake and its tennis and beach volleyball courts, as well as reciprocity at 176 clubs nationwide through the Private Club Network. Unlike many clubs, Lake Valley’s public-course heritage keeps it open Mondays, and longtime PGA Director of Golf Jim Phillips gives men, women and juniors equal priority when it comes to tee times. “But you can always get on and get around quickly,” says Bob Groening, a two-handicap who says the course has improved every year since he joined in 1999. “Lake Valley very nicely fills a much needed niche for avid golfers looking for a great value and a great golf course,” says Mirabedini. “But beyond that, it’s the people. They’re diverse, unpretentious, welcoming and friendly. It became home very quickly.”
Escapes COLORADO
2010
S PE C I A L A D V ERT ISIN G SECT ION PRESENTED BY:
STEAMBOAT
Springs GRAND County STEAM B OAT ’ S R O L L I N G STO N E RA N C H G O L F C LUB Golf is but one of the countless outdoor experiences that make Steamboat Springs and Grand County two of Colorado’s ideal summer playgrounds. Located just a few hours northwest of Denver, these neighboring regions abound in unrivaled natural beauty, convenient and affordable accommodations, and activities and events for every age and interest.
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS/GRAND COUNTY
Courses & Clubs
Haymaker Golf Course
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
GRAND COUNTY
ROLLINGSTONE RANCH GOLF CLUB
POLE CREEK GOLF COURSE
Formerly Sheraton Steamboat Golf Course, this 30-year-old Robert Trent Jones Jr. layout measures 6,882 yards and plays along the foothills of Mt. Werner. At a relatively low elevation of 7,000 feet, Rollingstone Ranch sets up surreal panoramas of the Flat Top Mountains and Yampa Valley. Crystal-clear Fish Creek adds a strategy to most holes and thick stands of pines and aspens provide a secluded feel. 2200 Village Inn Court, Steamboat Springs; 970-879-1391; rollingstoneranchgolf.com
HAYMAKER GOLF COURSE
One of Colorado’s best-kept secrets, this Keith Foster design spans more than 7,300 yards on a scenic 233-acre plot. The course was built for golf, not real estate, so no homes surround the holes. Instead, thick native grasses and wetlands capture errant golf balls while awesome mountain views ensnare the senses. 34855 US Highway 40 E., Steamboat Springs; 970-870-1846; haymakergolf.com
With three very distinct nine-hole courses, Pole Creek Golf Club consistently rates as one of Colorado’s foremost mountain golf retreats. Any combination of the Ranch, Meadow and Ridge nines will provide a scenic and challenging experience. While the Meadow and Ranch nines wind through wildflowers and open meadows in the Fraser Valley, the Ridge scales a hillside, presenting breathtaking views of the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area and Never Summer Mountains. The experience is now even more improved after a 2009 upgrade that included a new irrigation system and clubhouse. 6827 County Road 51, Tabernash; 800-511-5076; polecreekgolf.com
more wetlands and elevation changes. 2579 County Road 894, Granby; 970-887-2709; granbyranch.com
GRAND ELK RANCH AND CLUB
Designed by Tripp Davis and Champions Tour star and Colorado resident Craig Stadler, Grand Elk Ranch and Club rests on a valley floor surrounded by stunning views of the Continental Divide. Measuring 7,144 yards and carrying a rating of 72.5, the heathlandstyle layout features tall grasses, rolling terrain and is reminiscent of Britain’s inland courses. Rates range from $49 to $99, May through October. 1375 Ten Mile Dr., Granby; 866866-3557; grandelk.com
HEADWATERS GOLF COURSE AT GRANBY RANCH
Set in the beautiful Fraser River Valley and recently renovated by Jack Nicklaus Design, Headwaters Golf Course at Granby Ranch stretches to more than 7,200 yards and is loaded with lakes and small ponds. The back nine is especially challenging, with far
Rollingstone Ranch
SP EC IAL AD V E RT I S I NG S E C T I O N
36 Holes are Better when Shared Sheraton is where people gather. Tee off together with special golf rates at Sheraton Steamboat Resort’s Rollingstone Ranch Golf Club, managed by Troon Golf. Golf Til You Drop package includes overnight accommodations and 36 holes of golf.
Book at sheratonsteamboatresort.com or call 800-848-8877
Golf Til You Drop Package for two
164.50
$
per person
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS/GRAND COUNTY
Lodging SHERATON STEAMBOAT RESORT
After a $20 million renovation, Sheraton Steamboat Resort features redesigned guestrooms with flat screen TVs, large workspaces and private balconies. Guests can also stay in one- and two-bedroom condos located on the top levels of the hotel, which have sophisticated furnishings, full living room, dining room, kitchen and a variety of bedding configurations. When not spending time enjoying their comfortable accommodations or outdoor activities, the resort offers a variety of dining options, including the upscale contemporary Sevens Restaurants and 3 Saddles Bar and Grill, which provides a more relaxed dining experience. Please note the resort is closed through June 4, 2010. 2200 Village Inn Court, Steamboat Springs; 970-8792220; starwoodhotels.com/Sheraton
Sheraton Steamboat Resort
~Horseback Riding~
~Fly fishing Clinics~
~Skeet and Trap~
~Pool and Hot Tub~
~Sporting Clays~
~Driving Range~
~Rifle Range~
~Lake Fishing~
~3D Archery~
~Canoeing~
~Hiking~
~Tennis~
YOUR BACK YARD
IS
CALLING...
Only a short drive from Denver near Granby, come experience a fun-filled Adventure Day or stay for the weekend. Activities for the whole family, fine Western dining, and cozy lodging, all within 25 miles of Grand County’s four championship golf courses. stay@KingMountainRanch.com 970.887.2511 11845 Hwy. 125 PO Box 497 Granby CO 80446 KMR is an equal opportunity service provider operating under authority of USFS Special Use Permit on Arapahoe National Forest.
SP EC IAL AD V E RT I S I NG S E C T I O N
Golf Course
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Photos Dave Thiemann
t was intended to i s a f l o G be.
Rolling fairways, stunning mountain views, and meandering streams make Haymaker the ideal mountain golf getaway. For lodging and tee times go to
haymakergolf.com or call 970.870.1846
Colorado’s most popular golf discount program More exclusive offers you won’t find anywhere else!
Golf Course Arrowhead Exclusive Broadlands Buffalo Run Colorado National Exclusive CommonGround Exclusive Eagle Vail Grand Elk Exclusive Green Valley Ranch Exclusive Heritage Eagle Bend Indian Tree Exclusive Inverness Exclusive Keystone Ranch Pine Creek Pole Creek Raven at Three Peaks The Ridge Exclusive Thorncreek
Member Rate Starting at* $75 $30 $39 $40 $40 $35 $39 $35 $43 $30 $56 $60 $30 $50 $74 $50 $25
% Discount 40% 43% 37% 53% 40% 44% 60% 44% 31% 27% 50% 45% 49% 46% 47% 57% 45%
* All rates include a cart. The rate shown is the lowest rate of the season
• New courses include: CommonGround, Heritage Todd Creek, DeerCreek Village, Foothills and The River Course at Keystone. • New Private Courses include: Omni Interlocken, Lake Valley and Country Club of Colorado FOR ONLY $20 MORE become a Golf Passport PLUS Member. You’ll receive all Golf Passport benefits, in addition to: A USGA Handicap and Membership in the Colorado Golf Association or the Colorado Women’s Golf Association.
• Online: www.colo radoavidgolfer.com • Phone: 720-493-43 • Visit: Your neares 55 t Colorado Ski & Go lf, King Soopers or Golfsmith Golf Passport Presenting Sponsor:
Golf Passport Supporting Sponsors:
2010 Member Privileges *All rates include a cart. Visit www.coloradoavidgolfer.com for complete details regarding rates, available tee times, number of rounds and reservation policy. Tee time requests are on a space available basis to Golf Passport members and participating courses’ rain check policies will apply. The golf offers are good from January 1, 2010 – December 31, 2010, excluding holidays, special events, tournaments or closure due to environmental or economic conditions. Mountain seasons may vary slightly. The Golf Passport is limited to one per person and is non-transferable. Prices do not include sales tax. Some courses may require a credit card to secure a tee time prior to play. If a tee time is cancelled, the golf course may charge for its discounted fee. Colorado AvidGolfer Magazine reserves the right to make reasonable modifications to the Golf Passport, effective upon notice by e-mail or first class mail to the Golf Passport member. A Golf Passport member may reject any such modification by responding in writing to Colorado AvidGolfer Magazine and returning the Golf Passport within ten (10) days. The Golf Passport member will then receive a prorated refund. The Golf Passport member agrees that he or she is not entitled to any additional compensation. Colorado AvidGolfer Magazine disclaims all liability for damage or loss of property or injury to any person occurring while using the Golf Passport. The subscription expires with the Winter 2010 issue. One subscription per household. If ordered online, please allow 7 – 10 days for delivery of your Golf Passport.
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS/GRAND COUNTY
Events/Activities
Colorado AvidGolfer Magazine is Colorado’s #1 Golf Magazine!
WE ARE PROUD TO BE
Magazine Partner of Choice for
Exclusive Golf Magazine of
A Proud Patron of
The exclusive publisher of The Official Guide to the Golf Courses of Colorado. The publisher of the Golf Passport. Colorado’s number #1 golf discount program. BECOME A MEMBER OF OUR ONLINE GOLF COMMUNITY! VISIT COLORADOAVIDGOLFER.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION.
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
GRAND COUNTY
4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION
KING MOUNTAIN RANCH
A classic Steamboat Springs tradition for more than 100 years, this Independence Day celebration includes a quintessential small town parade, complete with horses, firetrucks, kids on bikes, pets and vintage tractors, all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast and one of the state’s largest fireworks displays. steamboat-springs.com
Grand County is famous for its dude ranches, and King Mountain Ranch is one of the best. Stay in one of 34 rooms and enjoy hearty ranch dining and activities like horseback riding, fishing, hiking, skeet and trap shooting, archery and a challenge course. 970-8872511 or kingmountainranch.com
MOUNTAIN BIKING
Groove to the sounds of Trampled Under Foot, Walter Trout and the Radicals, Samantha Fish and many more at Hideaway Park Event Center and other local venues around the Valley. June 25-27. grandblues.org
The same hills that helped shape the careers of numerous Olympians during the winter turn into mountain bike havens in the summer. Steamboat Resort offers more than 50 miles of world-class and thrilling trails. steamboatresorts.com
FLY FISHING ON THE YAMPA From the tail waters of Stagecoach Reservior 10 miles south of town to the heart downtown, Steamboat Springs offers some of the best fly-fishing in Colorado. For guided trips call Mark Kershner at Steamboat Flyfisher. 970-879-6552 or steamboatflyfisher.com
BLUES FROM THE TOP 2010
WINTER PARK JAZZ FESTIVAL For two days in July the crisp mountain air will fill with the sounds of jazz greats like Chaka Kahn, Brian Culbertson and Norman Brown. July 24-25. winterpark-info.com For additional information on lodging, dining, activities and attractions and a calendar of events, visit grand-county.com
SP EC IAL AD V E RT I S I NG S E C T I O N
NEW MEXICO
AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO CULTURE • LODGING • GOLF • DINING
ING VERTIS Y: IAL AD B C D E E P T S A ESEN R P N SECTIO
PRESENTED BY:
CULTURE & ATTRACTIONS Santa Fe’s Mystique
The oldest capital city in the United States, Santa Fe brims with a distinct charm and vibrant culture that radiates from its narrow cobblestone streets, pueblo-style architecture and mouthwatering New Mexican cuisine. Whether you enjoy trendy hangouts, shopping for a one-of-a-kind piece of New Mexican jewelry, or want to expand your sense of culture, this 400-year-old city both calms and electrifies, frequently celebrating its rich culture and heritage with a variety of events and festivals. Visit santafe400th.com for details. Canyon Road galleries
Georgia O’Keefe Museum
Considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th Century, Georgia O’Keefe made her home near Santa Fe, where the area’s vibrant colors and breathtaking natural scenes influenced her stunning work. The museum houses more than 3,000 of her original paintings, drawings and sculptures and offers multimedia presentations on her life and work. 217 Johnson St., Santa Fe; 505-946-1000; okeeffemuseum.org
Canyon Road Art Galleries
Artists have gathered for decades on Santa Fe’s Canyon Road where you’ll find more than 100 art galleries, studios, unique specialty shops and gourmet restaurants, all housed in the city’s emblematic adobe architecture. Devote at least a half-day to taking in both sides of this gauntlet of creativity that defines the magic of Santa Fe. canyonroadarts.com
The Cathedral Basilica St. Francis of Assisi
Santa Fe’s most recognizable landmark was built in 1869 to replace an older church that was destroyed during the Pueblo Revolt of 1860. Offering daily tours except during funerals and religious services, the transcendent property leaves you breathless. Visit cbsfa.org for more information. Sandia Peak Tram
Sandia Peak Tram
One of Albuquerque’s most acclaimed attractions, the Sandia Peak Tram ferries passengers from the base of the high desert foothills to Sandia Peak at an altitude of nearly 11,000 feet. Once on top, enjoy the amazing views, take a nature hike, dine at High Finance Restaurant or just kick back and watch the sunset over the West Mesa. Visit sandiapeak.com or call 505-856-7325.
Shopping in Nob Hill
Albuquerque’s Nob Hill shopping district, located along historic Route 66, will cure any shopper’s craving for choices. Encounter a variety of boutique shops, restaurants and bars that offer a full taste of New Mexico, old and new. Check out family-owned Kurt’s Camera Corral, which has supplied camera gear for more than 60 years, or Flying Star Café, where you can order from a tremendous menu of delectable pastries, pies and cakes, as well as great entrées.
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Nob Hill
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Colorado AvidGolfer | May 2010
At the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, you’ll witness more than 700 “special shape” and vibrantly colored hot air balloons rise into the early morning New Mexico sky. People from all over come to see the New Mexico sky filled with hundreds of colorful balloons. This year’s fiesta takes place October 2-10. Hotels fill quickly, so make sure you make your reservations in advance! Visit balloonfiesta.com for more information. www.coloradoav idg o lf e r.c o m/t r ave l
Be enchanted. Around here, there’s more than one way to fire up your senses. Enjoy a refreshing soak at one of our many hot springs and spas. Or awaken your taste buds with a bite of our authentic Southwestern cuisine. For a free vacation guide, call 888-730-7070 or visit newmexico.org.
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PRESENTED BY:
RESORTS & HOTELS Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino
Buffalo Thunder
A short drive from Santa Fe’s historic plaza, Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino has quickly become one of New Mexico’s most desirable destinations. From the exterior, which suggests its pueblo heritage through giant statues, to the interior, which features more than 200 pieces of art from renowned Native American artists, including Dan Namingha, Roxanne Swentzell and Rose Simpson, Buffalo Thunder’s attention to detail is unparalleled and something for every traveler to see. A proud member of the Hilton family, this megaresort offers every guest a sense of elegance combined with the funky casual culture of Santa Fe. The resort’s 398 rooms all come adorned with works of art, elaborate headboards, ornate furniture and kiva fireplaces. The property boasts a 1.5-acre gaming area, 16,000-square-foot Wo-P’in Spa, numerous stores and boutiques and a bevy of dining options, including Red Sage by famed restaurateur Mark Miller. Travel Tip: When looking for an unmatched culinary experience during your stay in Santa Fe, make reservations—you absolutely need them on weekends—at Red Sage. 30 Buffalo Thunder Trl., Santa Fe; 505-455-5555; buffalothunderresort.com
Sandia Resort and Casino
Sandia
Situated on a sprawling high desert prairie leading up to the magnificent Sandia Mountains, Sandia Resort and Casino combines the comforts of a luxurious resort with the thrill of a Las Vegas-style casino. Each of the 228 guest rooms reflects the area’s rich pueblo heritage with soft earth tones and Southwest-inspired furniture. Choose a room facing west and you’ll marvel at the sun setting over the Rio Grande river valley. Book a room on the flip side and you’ll enjoy the verdant golf course and mountains beyond. Perhaps the greatest view is from the 140,000-square-foot casino, where towering windows reveal a stunning panoramic mountain scene. The resort also features a spa offering every imaginable treatment; a near-dozen dining options ranging from casual coffee shops to full-service fine dining; and an outdoor amphitheater, which this summer welcomes acts like Kenny G and Chicago with Earth, Wind and Fire. 30 Rainbow Rd., Albuquerque; 800526-9366; sandiacasino.com
Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa
For the travel enthusiast looking for class and serenity, head to New Mexico’s Hyatt Regency Tamaya. Greeted by a grand lobby, you’re immediately taken back by the smell of piñon and cedar which saturate the space. Rustic yet elegant, this resort showcases Native American furnishings that swathe the interior in deep earth tones and invite you to indulge in this welcoming New Mexico retreat. Grab lunch at the Rio Grande Lounge, where, if you time it right, you’ll be treated to fresh baked loaves from a traditional horno while vibrantly adorned tribal dancers perform nearby. The resort features two pools and the Tamaya Mist spa, which offers a tremendous list of services to define your relaxing experience. Located just a short hike from the banks of the Rio Grande, the resort offers hayrides as well as guided horseback and children’s pony rides. Travel Tip: The lobby provides a tranquil haven to read, relax with friends and family and or enjoy cultural relics on display. For the traveler looking for a quiet spa and golf vacation away from the exciting world of gaming, this resort is your option! 1300 Tuyuna Trl., Santa Ana Pueblo; 505-867-1234; tamaya.hyatt.com
Hyatt Regency
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www.coloradoav idg o lf e r.c o m/t r ave l
A
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NEW VALUE! Stay & Play Package
Starting at
128*
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april - october 2010
Albuquerque’s award-winning golf club Play your best game on more than 7,700 yards of exquisitely maintained greens while challenging yourself on a number of risk and reward shots on the 18-hole Scott Miller-designed course. New Value Package Details: - Deluxe accommodations - 1 round of golf - Las Vegas style gaming – slots, blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, keno and bingo! - Amazing entertainment in the Tlur Pa lounge nightly - Access to the Fitness Center, sauna and hot tub - Free airport transportation To make reservations, call 877-272-9199.
*Package price is per person/per night based on double occupancy staying Monday – Thursday. Play & Stay package is subject to availability. Management reserves all rights. Tax and gratuity not included. Offer may not be combined with any other offer. Reference code: CAG210
505.798.3990 • www.sandiagolf.com • 30 Rainbow Road, NE • Albuquerque, NM
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gaming | hotel | fine dining | spa | golf | nightclub
5 0 5.455.5555 | 877.THUNDER | Buf faloThunderResor t.com Located 15 minutes north of the Santa Fe Plaza on Highway 84/285
Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino...
Santa Fe's Playground! Under a canopy of stars, an ancient rhythm rises with the moon, stirs the heart, and the dance begins. A heartbeat from Santa Fe, culture and artwork abound. Discover art galleries and architecture that whisper in the ancient Native American tradition, and revel in culinary delights, celebrity entertainment, and the thrill of gaming in Las Vegas style.
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GOLF Golf on the Santa Fe Trail
For the Colorado golfer looking for the ultimate—and economical—golf adventure within a short drive of Denver, New Mexico offers a memorable, scenic solution. Golf on the Santa Fe Trail provides the golf enthusiast the ultimate road map to navigate golf in the “Land of Enchantment.” Go to golfonthesantafetrail.com to set up your itinerary, book your tee times and find out more about famed New Mexico courses that include; Sandia Golf Club, Twin Warriors, Towa, Paa-Ko Ridge, University of New Mexico, Isleta Eagle, Santa Anna and more! Visit golfonthesantafetrail.com for complete information and to book today!
Sandia Golf Club Sandia
One of the “Must Play” courses in New Mexico, this Scott Miller-designed gem reflects many of the same attributes as several of his renowned desert creations, such as Kierland Golf Club in Scottsdale and We-Ko-Pa in Fort McDowell. With the Sandia Mountains providing a stunning backdrop, emerald fairways weaving into the hill side and conditions that are always up to par, Sandia Golf Club is one of the region’s finest golf experiences. Travel Tip: The golf club is attached to the spectacular Sandia Resort and Casino. Making this your hub during your New Mexico golf vacation creates the ideal stay-andplay situation. 30 Rainbow Rd., Albuquerque; 505-798-3990; sandiagolf.com
Black Mesa Golf Club
Black Mesa
Garnering all kinds of national recognition since it opened, Black Mesa Golf Club, which is located about 30 minutes west of Santa Fe, rocks with scenic views and a layout that will challenge the strongest of golfers. Routed through a harsh landscape of native arroyos and dramatic sandstone ridges, the 7,307yard Baxter Spann design is a minimalist layout that brings into play the native contours of the surrounding land. As a classic masterpiece in this mystic land and unlike many other courses of its caliber, Black Mesa has appealing unrefined touches such as unpaved cart paths, a simple tin-roofed clubhouse and a rustic windmill that greets guest upon arrival. Travel Tip: Black Mesa’s proximity to Santa Fe offers the opportunity to follow a memorable course with a few memorable courses at one of the city’s many restaurants. 115 State Road 399, La Mesilla; 505-747-8946; blackmesagolfclub.com
Towa Golf Club
The pride of the impressive Buffalo Thunder Resort near Santa Fe, Towa Golf Club sports four nine-hole courses: the Boulder and Butterfly nines, the Piñon nine and newly opened Valley nine. Any mixture of the quartet yields a bounty of difficult shots, made more intimidating by the surrounding rugged rock formations and deep red-dirt arroyos that help frame this enchanting canvas. One of the most photographed holes is the Boulder’s 186-yard fourth, which features a huge island green encircled by a bunker. Travel Tip: After your round, take advantage of Buffalo Thunder’s impressive casino, which speaks to the gambling golfer’s spirit, and its acclaimed Red Sage restaurant. 40 Buffalo Thunder Trail., Santa Fe; 877-465-3489; buffalothunderresort.com
Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club
Towa
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Traditionally known as one of New Mexico’s best courses, “Paa-Ko” has once again solidified its national standing with high rankings in Golf Digest’s recent listing of America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses. A 27-hole facility that nestles into the sloping east side of the Sandia Mountains, this Ken Dye design incorporates steep rock outcroppings and intense elevation changes. The focus of many photo opportunities during a golfer’s trip to Paa-Ko Ridge is the dramatic layout of the downhill par-three seventeenth and difficult parfour eighteenth. 1 Clubhouse Dr., Sandia Park; 866-898-5987; paakoridge.com
www.coloradoav idgo lf e r.c o m/t r ave l
Twin Warriors Golf Club
One of the many activities found at the authentic and luxurious Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa, Twin Warriors Golf Club perches high above the historic Rio Grande River Valley. At 7,736 yards, this Gary Panks creation battles back every step of the way. Play the course in during October, when the cottonwoods along the Rio Grande change from emerald green to shades of ochre, maize and amber. Or tee it up at dusk, when the distant mountains illuminate in surreal shades of pink and fuchsia. Travel Tip: Walking distance from the golf club, the Hyatt Tamaya offers a chance to indulge with a massage at the acclaimed spa and or relax by the crackling fire in the fragrant lobby. 1300 Tuyuna Trl., Santa Ana Pueblo; 505-867-1234; tamaya. hyatt.com
DINING
The Pink Adobe
In 1944 Rosalea Murphy opened what will go down in Santa Fe lore as one of the most respected restaurants around, The Pink Adobe. Across the street from the San Miguel Mission, the oldest church in the United States, the humble restaurant in the 300-yearold rose-colored house enjoys similarly historic status. Known by locals as “The Pink,” the restaurant still serves its classic Dobe Burgers, French onion soup, and hot apple pie from its location in the Barrio de Analco. The red chile enchiladas are to die for and the restaurant’s Dragon Room Lounge consistently ranks as Santa Fe’s best bar. Creaky tables, colorful characters, an antique bar and strong margaritas make this a perfect end to the day. 406 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe; 505-983-7712; the pinkadobe.com
Isleta Eagle Golf Club
Isleta Eagle Golf Club is a challenging 27hole complex located just across the street from the Hard Rock Albuquerque (formerly the Isleta Eagle Resort and Casino). Any combination of the Lakes, Arroyo and Mesa nines will undoubtedly test golfers with challenging fairways, forced carries over native washes and the kind of greens that can quickly add strokes to your scorecard. The hardest blend is Mesa-Lakes, which clocks in with a 75.1 rating. Like many of New Mexico’s fine golf experiences, a round at Isleta Eagle is easy on the pocketbook. Travel Tip: After your day of golf, relax in the clubhouse, hit the Hard Rock and take in one of the Vegas-style shows before heading home! 4001 Highway 47 SE, Albuquerque; 505-848-1900; isletaeagle.com
Timeless.
Rejuvenate your senses amidst the artistry of nature at Black Mesa Golf Club
Twin Warriors
115 State Road 399 Española, NM 505.747.8946 www.BlackMesaGolf.com
Masterpiece.
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PRESENTED BY:
The Shed
This intimate and well-known eatery is another top choice for any list as it relates to Santa Fe cuisine. Once you sit down, it’s easy to see—and taste— why. The Shed’s enchiladas are legendary, its red and green chile addictive, and its location—a 300-year-old, nine-room hacienda with a sunny flagstone patio—makes for a heady time and a treat for any food connoisseur . 113 1/2 East Palace Ave., Santa Fe; 505-982-9030
El Pinto
What started in the 1960s as a small New Mexican restaurant situated amid the cottonwoods of Albuquerque’s North Valley now is the most popular restaurant in town serving presidents, movie stars and professional athletes. Few can pass through town without stopping in for New Mexican favorites such as stuffed sopapillas and red chile ribs—all of it flavored with the restaurant’s internationally renowned green and red chile. 10500 4th Street NW, Albuquerque; (505) 898-1771; elpinto.com
Bobcat Bite
Once upon a time, before I-25 existed, this Santa Fe diner gave treats to the bobcats that wandered down from the hills. Today, cats of a different stripe make this Old Las Vegas Highway haunt the place to “keep it real” with some of the freshest burgers, steaks and chops. Limited seating and a limited menu make for the occasional wait, but this family owned and operated institution rewards patience with perfectly turned straightforward fare.420 Old Las Vegas Highway, Santa Fe; 505-983-5319; bobcatbite.com
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Eight award winning courses in the heart of the Southwest
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Bien Shur Restaurant (Sandia Resort)
New Mexican food isn’t all chiles and enchiladas. The Sandia Resort and Casino’s rooftop restaurant, Bien Shur specializes in high cuisine and even loftier views of the watermelon-hued mountains.Start with the prosciutto-wrapped asparagus with poached quail eggs and pecorino cheese, before moving onto your choice of steak served with one of eight mouthwatering sauces. 30 Rainbow Rd. NE, Albuquerque; 505-796-7500
The Compound Restaurant
Voted Best Chef of the Southwest by the James Beard Foundation in 2005, Executive Chef Mark Kiffin has recreated this elegant and energetic Canyon Road eatery with a modern menu layering bold flavors based on Old and New World traditions. His signature dishes include a Moulard Duck Steak with Mustard Greens and Sweet Potato Gratin, Tuna Tartar topped with Osetra Caviar and a grilled tenderloin with foie gras hollandaise. The Compound continually sets the high-water mark in Santa Fe dining. 653 Canyon Rd., Santa Fe 505-9824353; compoundrestaurant.com
Red Sage Restaurant
Although it’s still young, this outpost of Mark Miller’s highly successful Washington D.C. restaurant is well worth the trip—if only to take in the dramatic setting in Hilton’s lavish Buffalo Thunder Lodge. From its show kitchen, Red Sage dishes up fresh southwest cuisine with Native influences. (505) 455-5555; buffalothunderresort.com/dining.html
R ELA X.Y OU’re IN SA NTA FE. Discover centuries-old arts and culture, relaxing spas and resorts, innovative cuisine, and outdoor adventures amid timeless natural beauty. From a day on the links to a night on the town, A breadth of treasures await you in santa fe.
VISIT SANTAFE.ORG OR CALL 800.777.2489
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COLORADO’S
TURN
Whom to Watch Michael Allen
Since winning this event last year he’s been red hot and has been the most successful Champions Tour player on the PGA Tour. Adversity has never fazed him - Can he hold it together for four rounds?
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Paul Azinger
Nobody is more competitive. He’s a rookie who looks at the Champions Tour as a huge opportunity. - He needs to convince himself he can win again. It’s been a long time.
Fred Couples
He is on fire on the Champions Tour. His length will allow him to reach the par fives in two and even some par fours in one. - Three-footers on Colorado Golf Club’s fast and undulating greens are no gimmes and he’s known to struggle with short putts. www.colorado avidgo lf e r.c o m
By Dan Hicks I had never seen LeBron James play in person, but last year the Senior PGA Championship was headed to Canterbury Golf Club just outside Cleveland the same week that the Cavaliers would host the Orlando Magic in an NBA Playoff game. The night before we would begin broadcasting the final two days of the championship, few of my NBC Sports colleagues and I were lucky enough to score some tickets to the Quicken Loans Arena. As we made our way to our seats, I unexpectedly ran into a familiar face: PGA Tour player Michael Allen. Before I had a chance to think, I blurted out, “What are you doing here?” Allen, in his easygoing manner said, “I’m playin’ the Senior PGA.” I said, “You’re 50?” He said, “Yup. Just turned.” He then said he was encouraged by following up an opening-round 74 with a 66 to get into the hunt. We then went our separate ways to take in one of the greatest games in NBA Playoff history. With :01 left on the clock and his team trailing by 2 points, James got the inbound pass and in one sweeping powerful motion turned and let go a high arching shot that rattled home as time had expired to beat the Magic by one. It was one of those moments that is so rare but so good, it just explains why sports are the best reality shows ever created. And why there’s nothing quite like “being there” to let all your senses take it in. Michael Allen never saw it. He had just left the arena with that one second left when he would hear the crowd explode inside. He had thought, “What could happen in one second? What were the odds?” About as good as picking up your first win in your first try on the Champions Tour after going winless in 334 tries on the PGA Tour. About as good as getting a special invitation from the PGA of America two months before to play in the event at Canterbury, which shocked Allen so much he wondered if he “owed them some dues or something.” About as good as getting your name on the same trophy as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Sam Snead after quitting the game professionally, at a time which should have been the prime of your career, to take an assistant club professional job at Winged Foot. During that weekend in Cleveland, it was Lebron James’s time but it was finally Michael Allen’s turn, and if you missed either one, you missed a great show. Allen’s win at last year’s Senior PGA Championship at Canterbury was just the latest of the fine scripts that have been written at some of the game’s greatest venues. And although we witnessed some dramatic outcomes at PGA National for more than 20 years, the PGA of America’s 2000 decision to take this championship around the country—to courses like Oak Tree, Oak Hill, Kiawah, Aronimink and others—has proven to be the right one. Each has welcomed and defined golf ’s oldest senior major in its own inimitable way. It’s now time to introduce the world of golf to Colorado Golf Club. I, for one, cannot wait to witness the history that transpires there. Dan Hicks is the golf host for NBC Sports, which will be televising the 71st Senior PGA Championship.
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The Best Come West Like the Masters, the Senior PGA Championship was a tournament conceived by legendary amateur Bobby Jones. Through the years, the oldest (1937) and most prestigious senior major has had an equal array of illustrious champions, from Gene Sarazen and Sam Snead to Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Lee Trevino. More recently, Hale Irwin, Tom Watson and Fuzzy Zoeller have captured the Alfred S. Bourne Trophy, named after an original member of Augusta National and longtime friend of the PGA of America. This year one of the favorites figures to be Fred Couples, who made headlines by winning three straight tournaments in his debut year on the senior circuit before jumping back to the regular tour for the season’s first major, the Masters. This also marks the first PGA-conducted major in Colorado since 1985, when Hubert Green captured the 67th PGA Championship at Cherry Hills. In most recent years, the senior’s first major has been held on parkland style courses, with Michael Allen winning at Canterbury (Ohio) Golf Club last year and Jay Haas winning at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y. in 2008. With his win in the highest-scoring Senior PGA on record, Haas became the 13th multiple winner of the event (he also won in 2006, his first major on any tour), joining the ranks of Jock Hutchison (the inaugural winner in 1937, then repeat champ in 1947), Julius Boros (1971 and 1977), Palmer (1980, 1984), Trevino (1992, 1994), Player (1986, 1988, 1990) and Irwin (1996-98 and 2004). Snead holds the record for most wins with six (1964-65, 1967, 1970, 1972-1973). “This is the furthest west the championship has ever been and I think this golf
course really matches this western landscape,” said Colorado Golf Club spokesman Tom Ferrell. “It opens it up to more of a wild-west kind of feeling, and I think there are a lot of guys who will get in the mix here.” CGC founding partner Mike McGetrick said the course may favor those with a great
short game, and creativity. “This course is designed to play a lot of balls on the ground and the greens, a lot more bump-and-run type shots than flop shots,” he said. Of course distance doesn’t hurt nor does one’s ability to play in the wind, which could be a factor on the 7,467-yard layout. —Lynn DeBruin
Whom to Watch Paul Azinger
+ Nobody is more competitive. He’s a rookie who looks at the Champions Tour as a huge opportunity. - The 2008 Ryder Cup captain needs to convince himself he can win again. It’s been a long time.
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Fred Couples
+ His length will allow him to reach the par fives in two and even some par fours in one. - Three-footers on CGC’s fast, undulating greens are no gimmes, and he’s known to struggle with short putts.
Fred Funk
+ The 2009 U.S. Senior Open champion can keep it in the short grass. He finished second at the Broadmoor in 2008 and has had the opportunity to play Colorado Golf Club. - He had his right knee replaced last November.
www.colorado avidgo lf e r.c o m
Advantage: Crenshaw He’ll have ditched the mud boots and jeans for cleats and khakis, and have swapped his shovel for a driver. Yet the heart that went into building Colorado Golf Club figures to just as passionate when Ben Crenshaw tees it up at the 71st Senior PGA Championship. “He’s extremely proud and excited to play a major championship on his own golf course,” said Mike McGetrick, a founding partner at the private Parker club. “I think he’ll enjoy playing and enjoy the feedback he gets from fellow professionals. He’s always said the test of a great golf course is after the championship is over and they tell you they want to come back. I hope he hears that.” The par-72 layout that opened in 2007 will be the first Bill Coore-Crenshaw design to host a major championship. The two have combined to build 18 courses, including renowned Sand Hills Golf Club in Nebraska and Bandon Trails in Oregon. Though this is their first effort in Colorado, there isn’t a spot along the 7,604-yard layout that Gentle Ben doesn’t know intimately. Start with the colorful story of Crenshaw, a 58-year-old Texan, found hand-shaping a fairway bunker with a shovel at dusk during construction in 2006. He was spotted because of the orange glow from his cigarette burning through the gloaming as he worked away on hole No. 14. “When you think of a World Golf Hall of Fame member and architect, you usually think of site visits and grand openings, but rarely do you think of big mud boots, standing out there in a bunker in the night time making the course just exactly perfect,” club spokesman Tom Ferrell says. But that’s Crenshaw to the core. “When Ben and Bill work, they’re here from sunup to sundown,” McGetrick adds. Crenshaw, who has won two Masters and
29 professional tournaments (including one on the senior circuit), doesn’t know another way. “We love it,” he said. “We’ve got a fabulous little work crew that we love and we just do ‘em together and have fun.” As with Sand Hills, the Nebraska club consistently ranked among the best courses in the world, it’s the raw topography that stood out when they agreed to create Colorado Golf Club. It had rolling terrain, cut by a barranca, and colored by native grasses, ponderosa pines, thousands of wild flowers and expansive views from Pikes Peak to Longs Peak. “Any golf course is like putting together a giant puzzle,” Crenshaw says. “And you want 18 different holes if you can. But we thought there were natural attributes in all of those holes to make them different from one another.” All have one central theme. “It truly does look and feel like it could only be in Colorado. That’s the whole point of tying the course to the land,” Crenshaw said. “I noticed it for the first time when I competed in the U.S. Junior at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. The little stone walls and the exposed outcroppings—it could only be in New England.” Though Crenshaw’s only recent round at Colorado Golf Club came at the grand opening on June 16, 2007, McGetrick thinks he might still have an leg up on the competition at the Senior PGA: “Watching him play you would have thought he had played it 100 times. His course management was just spectacular. It was pretty neat to see.” McGetrick says Crenshaw knew where to miss shots, what club to hit off the tee and where to land his approach. “It’s a fun course. As they say, you have to do a little bit of everything,” Crenshaw noted that day.
He shot a 75. “Ben might have a little edge, because he’ll know the places where to play it safe and where he can be a bit more aggressive” says 11-time Champions Tour winner Dale Douglass. “But knowing it and being able to do it are two different things.” For Crenshaw and Coore, CGC repr e s e n t e d a s e c o n d ch a n c e o f s o r t s . Years earlier they had been hired to design 27 holes on land just a few miles away. But when ownership changed, the golf-course project went away. Th e t w o m e n w o u l d m a k e f o r ays back to the area whenever Crenshaw played The International at Castle Pines, to see what became of the land. When the call from McGetrick’s group came in 2004, they didn’t have to ask many questions. They knew how gorgeous the property was. Now the golf world will get a peek, too. “The goal of golf course design to is to build a place where families and friends can come together and share their time, maybe compete a little bit…create memories. We feel like we’ve done that here, and we’re proud of that,” Crenshaw said. “I’m looking forward to it. I hope to be playing well at that time.” —Lynn DeBruin
Whom to Watch Jay Haas
+ A two-time winner (2006, 2008) of this event, he has the experience and steadiness to win. - In this field, more “experience” can equate to less distance and fewer scoring chances on longer holes.
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Hale Irwin
+ He’s the most experienced Champions Tour winner in the field and has won this event four times. He’d love nothing more than make it a fifth in his home state. - He’s 64 in an event rookies traditionally dominate.
Bernhard Langer
+ The same things that make him tough at Augusta will serve him well at Colorado Golf Club– great iron play, short game and mental toughness. - Whether he’s using a belly or a standard putter, his flatstick can be balky.
www.colorado avidgo lf e r.c o m
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Easy Sits Michael Allen’s Crown Even diehard golf fans found themselves Googling “Michael Allen” during last year’s Senior PGA Championship at Ohio’s Canterbury Golf Club. What they discovered was that the 50-year-old journeyman who smote Larry Mize, Bruce Fleisher and Tom Watson and the rest of the field with a 6-under 274 had never won on the PGA Tour. Nor had he ever before competed in a Champions Tour event because he still had his regular Tour card, which he’d earned on his record seventh successful trip (in 13 attempts) through the PGA Tour’s Q-School. Journeyman…Grinder… Champion. All three fit the Bay Area native who now makes his home in Scottsdale and still aspires to winning that first PGA Tour event. “I love the challenge of trying to get that win; it’s still very important for me,” he says, noting that he competes in far more “regular” tour events than Champions Tour events. “It’s not that I don’t look forward to playing on the senior tour,” he says with genuine humility. “I love getting together with those guys, have a few laughs and tell a few jokes—you kind of wish the PGA Tour had always been that way— but I still have a few years left where I can be competitive on the PGA Tour.” You can’t fault Allen for continuing to chase the dream. After struggling to keep his card during the first six years out of the University of Nevada-Reno, he knocked around the European Tour for four years and even quit the game in the mid-1990s, trying his hand at home construction and golf instruction. Allen calls that hiatus “one of the best things that ever happened to me. I was young and didn’t appreciate how hard it was to make $100,000 for your family in the real world. I learned I’d rather work out in the gym and practice than try to deal
with contractors and be on the lesson tee. So when I came back, I had a new perspective; I enjoyed it more.” Allen probably never had more fun on a course than during last year’s final round at Canterbury, when he birdied two of the last four holes to win the Senior PGA by two strokes. “I said to myself, ‘Second isn’t good enough this week.’ I wanted to get on top. I was in the moment, playing the smart shots. It was fun, because as nervous as I think I’m going to be in that situation, I was in control. I hit one of the best three-irons I’ve ever hit on the par-three 17th. And I felt comfortable smashing my driver with the lead on 18. It was a fun moment for me. I was just kind of playing and it all paid off.” Alas, the paydays are better on the PGA Tour than they are on the Champions Tour, which almost led Allen to forego his special exemption into last year’s Senior PGA Championship in order to play in the HP Byron Nelson Championship. He clearly made the right choice. This year, as the defending Senior PGA Champion, he won’t have to make such decisions. “I’m ready to defend,” he says. “My ball-striking and putting have been strong. And I love Cren-
shaw’s courses—his Plantation Course at Kapalua is outstanding.” Allen also loves Colorado, having played The International at Castle Pines a number of times and rock-climbed here in his younger days. His longtime buddy, Mark Wiebe, lives in Denver, and he and his wife, Cynthia, with whom he has two children, aged 16 and 12, have given thought of moving here from Arizona when their nest empties. Until then, the Allens can enjoy the fruits of a senior champion’s labors. The family went to Europe for last year’s Senior Open Championship at Sunningdale, just minutes from the pub he, Sam Torrence and Ian Woosnam frequented while playing on the European Tour in the 1980s. “I never thought I’d be able to show my kids all that,” he says of the two weeks they spent around London and Paris. As he had just a month earlier at Canterbury, Allen finished the Senior British Open at 6-under. This time it earned him a T13. Will 6-under be good enough to get his name on the Alfred Bourne Trophy for a second time? Michael Allen knows it will be worth missing the Colonial to find out.—Jon Rizzi
Whom to Watch Tom Lehman
+ He’s a young guy on a young guy’s Tour. Long, strong and major championship tough. - The same issues that have kept him from winning majors before. Can he close the deal on Sunday?
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Mark O’Meara
+ He’s still hungry for his first Champions Tour win and he’s got all the shots. With some personal issues behind him, this might be his time. - He’s struggled to break through with a win.
Corey Pavin
+ The fun at Colorado Golf Club starts once the ball hits the ground and he is a master of utilizing slopes to his advantage. - His lack of length won’t allow him to capitalize on scoring holes.
www.colorado avidgo lf e r.c o m
C A N O N G AT E
Blackstone Country Club, Aurora
The Best Golf Membership in Denver,
No Matter How You Slice It! Membership with Canongate Colorado includes golf privileges at Blackstone in Aurora and Black Bear in Parker, as well as over 30 additional Canongate courses in Atlanta and Houston. Beyond golf, the clubs offer fantastic dining and events, with Blackstone also featuring fitness, swimming and tennis. There’s something for every member of the family, with dues starting at only $179 monthly.
Blackstone & Black Bear are now offering a limited number of golf memberships for a $1,500 entry fee.
Social memberships are available for a $300 entry fee. These unprecedented offers are available for a very limited time.
For more information, please call (877) 444-0183. www.canongatecolorado.com Membership requires a one year commitment. Promotion not valid with any other offers. A limited number of memberships are available at this rate. Offer expires May 31, 2010.
Local Flavor This may be the Alfred S. Bourne trophy’s first venture to the Rocky Mountain West, but for some in the field, Colorado is more than a scenic stop; it’s home. For 11-time Champions Tour winner Dale Douglass, who grew up in Fort Morgan, attended the University of Colorado and splits his time between Castle Pines and Paradise Valley, there’s the appeal of sleeping in his own bed. “Colorado’s home,” says the 74-year-old former U.S. Senior Open champion. “But I’ve always taken issue with the term, ‘relaxed.’ We’re competing.” Douglass, who’ll be appearing in his 598th senior event (five shy of Miller Barber’s record), has played Colorado Golf Club several times and hopes the wind kicks up to give shorter hitters like him an edge somehow. “If I make the cut and get pretty high up in the tournament, it’ll be pretty successful for me,” he says. Mark Wiebe, a two-time winner on the Champions Tour, has openly dreamed of winning at Colorado Golf Club. “Wouldn’t that be great?” he said last year. “Just play-
ing this golf course makes you feel like you’re out there competing. You can’t sleepwalk around here. There is something riding on every shot, and that’s what makes the great courses great. Add in the fact that there will be so many friends and family here to take part in it, and I’m just thrilled about the Senior PGA Championship.” Wiebe isn’t the only “homer” in the field. Hale Irwin, a product of the University of Colorado, has hoisted the Alfred S. Bourne trophy four times. Does he need another, now that he’s 64? One of the most resilient competitors in golf history is carrying a 69.92 scoring average for 2010 and stands 15th on the money list. Does he have one more major —this one on home turf—in the tank? Other familiar faces will include 1981 Masters Champion and Evergreen resident Craig Stadler, Colorado Springs’ R.W. Eaks, and Castle Pines’ own Gary Hallberg. Colorado club professionals Bill Loeffler, Ron Vlosich and Mike Zaremba also qualified for the event.—Tom Ferrell
Dale Douglass
Craig Stadler
Under the Radar Although Mike “Radar” Reid only spent about 18 months at Cherry Creek High School, Colorado has been quick to claim the 2005 Senior PGA Champion as its own, mainly because he helped the Bruins win the state title. But at last year’s Senior PGA Championship, a player with deeper Colorado connections made a huge splash. Chris Starkjohann (pronounced “Stark-john”), a product of Loveland High School now working in Southern California, came in fifth place overall at Canterbury, taking home a crystal trophy and a $65,000 check for the lowest score—a 1-under 281—among club professionals. Not bad for the seventh alternate taken for the event. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Don Fox, who coached him at The Olde Course in Loveland, isn’t surprised. “Chris was an above-average high-school player with enormous dedication,” Fox recalls. “His greatest asset was that nothing ever stopped him from trying to make par. He could be down in a ditch or in a burrow hole—nothing seemed to bother him. And his scores reflected that. He never had any wild fluctuations; he always shot in the low 70s.” Fox hopes to see his former charge, who was the PGA of America’s National Senior Player of the Year in 2006 and 2007, at this year’s Senior PGA Championship. “My juniors are now seniors?” muses the man who made the cut at the 1989 U.S. Senior Open. “How old does that make me?”— Jon Rizzi
Whom to Watch Eduardo Romero
+ He has history of playing well in Colorado, winning the 2008 U.S. Senior Open and almost winning The International in 1990. Add lots of power and nerves of steel. - He’s a streaky player.
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Tom Watson
+ Arguably the best links player in history, he was one poor stroke away from winning last year’s British Open. - See above.
Mark Wiebe
+ An all-around solid player, he has played the course more than anyone else in the field. - The idea of winning in front of a hometown crowd might add a lot of pressure.
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Did you know? The course will be the longest in Champions Tour history, with the par72 layout stretched to 7,467 yards. The shortest par four, however, may be key in determining the champion. Hole No. 14 will be as short as 329 yards, making it reachable off the tee by long-hitters most
days and by everyone when it is moved up. McGetrick calls it the second hole in a finishing stretch where birdies can be made and the tournament won. Holes Nos. 15 and 16 are both par 5s, No. 17 is a 209yard par 3, and Nos. 13, 14, and 18 are all par 4s that lend themselves to birdies.
The 156-player field will be the strongest in the event’s history. It will feature 22 major champions, 17 senior major champions, 10 Ryder Cup captains and eight Hall of Fame members.
Colorado’s Wine Country
As with any major, the course will toughened up for tournament play. The fairways have been brought in an average of 10 yards, making them typically 30 yards wide rather than 40. And the rough has been allowed to grow. The first cut of rough will be 10 feet wide and 2.5 inches deep. The primary rough will be four inches and beyond that one has to contend with native grasses. The greens will Stimp around 11.
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Colorado’s changing weather could be a factor. Though organizers aren’t really worried about snow (it has snowed just once in Denver after May 15 the past eight years), temperatures could vary significantly from day to day, and winds could be high.“We could have a great week weather-wise and a so-so week, but I think that will make it fun and interesting,” McGetrick said. “You might not just get four beautiful sunny days, you might get some cool days and some wind. I think that’s good.” Because Colorado Golf Club is so new, not all of the amenities are finished. The 44,000-square-foot clubhouse is expected to be 85 percent complete by the Senior PGA. The men’s locker room as well as banquet and cart facilities will be ready, but a downturn in the economy is blamed for the other delays. Certain ticket packages will allow fan access to the clubhouse, which was designed so virtually all of the dining spaces open up to outdoor patios, with fire pits and space heaters and abundant views of the course and Front Range. www.colorado avidgo lf e r.c o m
Best Bets Best deal: Juniors 17 and younger get in free with a ticketed adult. The deal is good for up to four youths per adult. Those looking for tips might want to take advantage of the free 10-minute lessons pros from the Colorado section of the PGA are offering all week. Best local-knowledge source: Brad Faxon, a P GA tour member, is one of Colorado Golf Club’s national members. He just signed an agreement with NBC and potentially could be in the announcer’s booth to help broadcast the tourney. Best field: Of golf ’s senior majors, this is clearly the strongest field. It includes 22 major champions, and 10 Ryder Cup captains (six American and 4 European).
Best stop on the way home: Big Jim Sullivan’s. The former Atlanta Falcon has been parking his magic rib wagon on the west side of Parker Road at Longs Way (north of the course) and putting “the south in yo’ mouth” for years. He says it ain’t heaven, but just one whiff of his smoker and you can almost smell the pearly gates! —Lynn DeBruin
AFTER THE GREEN, THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A NICE RED.
JOB # CLIEN DESCR Denve VERSI TRIM STOC INK C PERSO SPECI REVIS
Best place to get autographs: Around the practice tee area during practice rounds. Best places to take in the action: The par-5 16th features the Crenshaw Village to the right of the green. The hole itself presents some interesting challenges, with two fairways to choose from and a creek down the middle. “You’ll see anywhere from an eagle to an 8,” said course superintendent Tony Hartsock. Other prime spots will be from the viewing suite overlooking the 18th tee and 17th green. Otherwise, because it was designed as a walking course, it’s easy to catch action just about anywhere. “It’s so open and there’s so much room they’ll feel comfortable as fans and not feel crowded and cramped,” McGetrick said. Best menu item: TBD. The International at Castle Pines Golf Club was famous for its thick milkshakes. So will CGC have it’s own magic elixir? “Not yet,” said McGetrick. “We’re thinking about it. Milkshakes are one of the things Castle Pines does that’s great. Go to the the Olympic Club in San Francisco and there are the ‘burger dogs’—cheeseburgers they do on a hotdog bun. “We’ll have something,” he promised. Members already know about the Indian Paintbrush, a tasty velvet hammer of pink lemonade and Grey Goose vodka that takes its name from the ubiquitous wildflower that appears in the club and tournament logo. ww w. c o l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c om
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Man with the Plan people. I really like what I do. A lot of people can’t say that.” By the time he’d left Cherry Hills in 1993, McGetrick knew he wanted not only to build a high-end instructional center but also a high-end golf club. He spent the next decade studying what great courses have to offer as well as their downsides. Whenever he traveled to tournaments to help pupils, he’d take notes and sometimes video. He still has notes from more than 100 courses on stacks of spiral binders and hotel stationery as well as course brochures tucked away in his home office. When the opportunity to buy a 1,700-acre former Arabian horse ranch in Parker presented itself in 2004, he knew he’d found the perfect location. He liked the rolling terrain, that it canted to the south to take in prime sunlight, that it was tucked into an enclave where it wasn’t visible from surrounding roads, and that it had areas flush with trees as well as open meadows.
O WE G
Before becoming a founding partner at a club that will host the Senior PGA Championships in May, and before becoming the nationally renowned instructor of such pros as Juli Inkster, Meg Mallon, Beth Daniel and Brandt Jobe, Mike McGetrick was testing different mechanics, working at a nuclear power plant in Bloomington, Ill. “I thought I was crazy at first to take a job where I only worked 10 months out of the year,” McGetrick said of becoming an assistant golf pro under Mike Adams, the head golf professional at Bloomington Country Club. It wasn’t just the career switch; it was a loss in income. He went from making roughly $55,000 a year as an engineer, to making perhaps $12,000. “Twenty-six years later, I still enjoy it,” said McGetrick, who would go on to work at Cherry Hills Country Club and then start his eponymous teaching academy. “I’m still excited to go to work and still excited to teach
And he liked the fact that he and his partners didn’t have to pigeonhole the course into a certain corridor; they had the freedom to locate the holes anywhere on the property. After selecting the team of Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore to design Colorado Golf Club, he already has two majors lined up: this month’s Senior PGA Championship and the 2013 Solheim Cup. “We decided we wanted to host a major championship every three to five years, and the golf course has afforded us that opportunity,” McGetrick said. “We really have a championship course.”—Lynn DeBruin
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A Hole-By-Hole Guide to the
ST
71
SENIOR PGA
CHAMPIONSHIP
ww w. c o l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c om
Par 72
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Colorado Golf Club
7,467 Yards
May 25-30, 2010
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find out moreMichael at www.vPlusrewards.com. Your wish is Azinger our command. Allen Paul Since winning this event last year he’s been red hot and has been the most successful Champions Tour player on the PGA Tour. Adversity has never fazed him - Can he hold it together for four rounds?
Nobody is more competitive. He’s a rookie who looks at the Champions Tour as a huge opportunity. - He needs to convince himself he can win again. It’s been a long time.
Fred Couples
He is on fire on the Champions Tour. His length will allow him to reach the par fives in two and even some par fours in one. - Three-footers on Colorado Golf Club’s fast and undulating greens are no gimmes and he’s known to struggle with short putts.
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Hole 1 Par 5 630 Yards
This challenging par-five cascades down the hill, playing toward beautiful views of Mt. Evans. Players have tons of options, especially when it comes to approaching the green. A great first hole tells you something about the course, and this one does just that, showcasing the strategic choices faced throughout the round.
Hole 2 Par 3 152 Yards
>
This is the shortest par-three on the course, but it packs a big punch. A very precise tee shot is required to hit the right part of the tiny green, which slopes severely making for extremely tricky chips and putts. Bunkers short and long catch missed shots. Mark Wiebe calls it the toughest shot on the course.
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Hole 3 Par 4 426 Yards
Players can rip their tee shot as far as theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like down the right hand side, being careful to avoid the drop off into the native on the left. Strategy off the tee will vary depending on hole position. A good first shot will set up a short approach across a natural gully.
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Stay on your game: enjoy responsibly.
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Hole 4 Par 4 498 Yards
This is one of the toughest holes on the course, especially when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s playing into a prevailing wind. Cross-bunkers about 100 yards short of the green add deception. The green falls away to the left, but a bail out to the right leaves a difficult downhill chip
Hole 5 Par 4 477 Yards
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The native on the left defines this lengthy par-four. The green sits in a small natural amphitheater and has great subtle movement. A dramatic false front will play havoc with competitors who come up even a little short.
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Hole 6 Par 3 249 Yards
With a massive green, this long par-three allows for a tremendous number of pin locations. The front right corner will be the most difficult. The holeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest challenge, however, is the psychological effect caused by its length. A kick slope short of the green helps to ease its span
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A S
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Hole 7 Par 5 580 Yards
Nature really did all the work on this strategic par-five. The bunker on the right side of the fairway forces a decision off the tee–carry the bunker for a relatively short approach or play out to the left making it a three-shot hole. Those who play aggressively don’t have much room for error. The green is a tough target for even a wedge let alone a wood or long iron.
Hole 8 Par 4 308 Yards
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This is definitely one hole to watch during the Championship. Big hitters, like Fred Couples, can go for the green off the tee, but if they fail, they’ll face an awkward pitch to a small green with dramatic internal contours. There may be some eagles here, but look for a higher number of doubles.
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Hole 9 Par 4 463 Yards
Big hitters will have the advantage. With a green that slopes from left to right, watch for players to aim down the left side of a wide fairway. Dangerous bunkers lurking short right virtually eliminate any chance at par.
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Hole 10 Par 4 459 Yards
This is the only hole on the course without any bunkers. That doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make it any easier though. A dogleg right that plays downhill, this hole plays a little shorter and requires approach shots to land short of the crowned green.
Hole 11 Par 3 197 Yards
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Tee shots play over a pond to a green with three very distinct segments. There are many interesting pin positions and setup options. Back left is the most difficult location to access, but a large number of shots that land in that section will end up very close to the hole.
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Hole 12 Par 4 508 Yards
This is the hardest hole on the course. Even with a big drive, players will have to hit long irons and even fairway woods to reach this deep green. Watch for the bunker on the front right of the green to get a lot of action. .
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Hole 13 Par 4 401 Yards
A spine runs along the entire length of this par-four and it defines both the tee shot and approach. Players will be drawn to the left side, but a tee shot to right provides a better angle to attack the green. Missed approaches will require a lot of short-game creativity.
Hole 14 Par 4 326 Yards
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Another reachable par-four will tempt competitors to drive the boomerang-shaped green that wraps around a tiny pot bunker. This hole kicks off an exciting finishing stretch that will likely define the championship.
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Hole 15 Par 5 592 Yards
This par-five brings in numerous strategies and options. Watch for players to hug the left side off the tee to catch a massive speed slot that greatly shortens the approach. A ball hit to the right on top of the hill requires a tough decision on going for the green in two. The smart play from there is to lay-up short of the crossing stream.
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Hole 16 Par 5 550 Yards
Pick your poison off the tee. The smaller and narrower right fairway provides a green light for the second shot, while the left fairway is more forgiving, but reduces the chance to reach the severely sloping green in two. The creek that snakes up the middle plays into every shot. This is the most pivotal hole on the course.
Hole 17 Par 3 206 Yards
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The green on this downhill par-three is a natural peninsula, with water in front and a dry wash in back. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a generous bailout to the right, but hitting there wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be good enough on Sunday with the tournament on the line.
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Hole 18 Par 4 445 Yards
This is a great finishing hole where a lot of mistakes can be made. Fairway bunkers on the left are major trouble. Huge uphill slope makes for a partially blind approach and missing short will bring balls back down a severe hill. The green falls away at the shoulders.
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Course Knowledge
Course Par: 72 Total Yardage: 7,467 yards Architects: Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw Opened: 2007 (Crenshaw shot a 75) Highest point: 6,180 feet (1st tee) Lowest point: 6,050 feet (4th hole) Turf: Kentucky bluegrass (tees and fairways); bentgrass (greens) Host Course: 2008 and 2009 U.S. Open local Qualifying Tournaments, 2008 Senior Open Qualifier, 2013 Solheim Cup Best three--hole finish: Birdie-ace-birdie by Tom Glissmeyer, to win the 2008 U.S. Open Local Qualifying by two shots
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A heady confluence of Buddhist culture, surreal golf experiences and frenzied nightlife defines a journey to Thailand’s storied kingdom. TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHS By Jake Kubié
Nuer, my caddie at Siam Country Club’s Old Course, was borderline frantic as she hastily plucked off the green the ball marker I had dug out of my pocket. With Ninja-like agility, she replaced it with an oversized Mickey Mouse coin from a magnetic holder clipped to the brim of her lampshade hat. Nuer wasn’t distressed because I was doing her job. It was because I had managed to dishonor King Bhumibol Adulyadej, currently the world’s longest-serving head of state, whose likeness appears on all Thai currency. The Thai people have a deep reverence for their king, she explained, and by marking my ball with a five-baht coin, I’d technically committed a crime by placing an object bearing his image on the ground. Thanks to Nuer, I managed to stay out of the pokey and continue on a weeklong sampling of golf and culture in the Kingdom of Thailand—an expedition that took me throughout the south central region from Pattaya, along the Gulf of Thailand’s east coast, to Hua Hin on the west coast and back to Bangkok on the gulf ’s northernmost point. Nuer, along with every other caddy I had through a half-dozen rounds of golf, was a pleasure and truly one of the highlights of playing golf in this proud, never-colonized sovereignty of Southeast Asia. When you arrive at most of the country’s 250 courses, you’re greeted by an army of women clad in full-body uniforms that conceal nearly every inch of skin from the neck down. They’re cheerful, eager to please, take care of everything from ball marking to neck massages, and giggle and gossip when you get frustrated over a missed shot, providing a dose of humility, calming presence and the type of perspective you’d expect from Buddhists. And if you’re lucky to get one who speaks English with relative fluency, they can provide tremendous insight into Thai culture and lifestyle. ww w. c o l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c om
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My infraction on the fourth green notwithstanding, my round at the Siam Country Club’s Old Course was truly exceptional. Host of this year’s Honda PTT LPGA won by Japanese pro Ai Miyazato, the club is located 15 minutes east of Pattaya, which is situated along a scenic coastal stretch on the Gulf of Thailand, and is the country’s first privately owned golf course. The classic layout’s gently rolling fairways and greens could easily be mistaken for those at any of Hawaii or Florida’s better country clubs, except for two obvious traits–dozens of elephant topiaries scattered between holes and a Buddhist shrine perched on a ridge above the ninth hole, whose bright orange pagoda pops against the dense jade tropical foliage. Siam Country Club’s sister course is exactly the opposite. With three nine-hole courses named for the sugar cane, tapioca and pineapple plantations that once covered the property, the Plantation Course is a considerably more modern, wild and difficult. Set at a higher elevation, the Plantation has an excessive number of bunkers, much more severe elevation changes and crowned greens defined by multiple tiers. Coarse, hiphigh plants resembling upside-down wicker brooms provide contour on most holes. Any suffering endured during the round, however, is quickly eased with a couple icy Singhas from the veranda of the absolutely stunning contemporary clubhouse. The drinks keep flowing back in Pattaya, located along the Gulf of Thailand. Once a quiet fishing village, Pattaya experienced rapid growth as a popular rest and relaxation locale for GIs and Marines during the Vietnam War. With that heritage, you can only imagine what it has become. Today the city offers the country’s most vibrant nightlife, particularly along the city’s famous Walking Street—the Thai version of the Las
Vegas Strip and Bourbon Street wrapped up into one stretch of neon—and fluorescentdrenched pavement. What’s often the seedy underbelly of many cities is flaunted; an odd mix of restaurants, discotheques, nightclubs, cabarets, tailors, massage parlors and street vendors peddling everything from souvenir trinkets to fried scorpions and grasshoppers cater to an international clientele. It’s complete sensory overload.
Hua Hin Equally enjoyable as Pattaya, but much more subdued, Hua Hin (pronounced Wah Hen) is a laidback resort town in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula 120 miles south of Bangkok on the opposite side of the Gulf of Thailand. Instead of Walking Street, Hua Hin has its renowned night market, where fresh seafood stands and garment vendors substitute for cabarets and nightclubs. Stay at Anantara Resort, located just five minutes along the same coastal strip from the king’s sprawling vacation complex. One of the most extravagant resorts I’ve ever visited, Anantara Hua Hin offers gorgeous guest rooms with soaring ceilings, balconies with expansive day beds, top-rate service and an impressive and colorful breakfast spread highlighted by Thailand’s renowned selection of exotic fruits such as lychee, mangosteen, rose apple and pomelo. The property is decorated with an equally eclectic assortment of artifacts and architectural features that looks to have been lifted from an Indiana Jones movie set. Banyan Golf Club is an adventure in itself. Located in the mountains south of Hua Hin, Banyan was built and designed by a Thai company and was won a well deserved ranking as the “Best New Golf Course in Asia Pacific” by Asian Golf Monthly. With a minimal amount of earth moved during www.coloradoavidgo lf e r.c o m
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Pattaya
construction, the course ambles through its naturally hilly site, providing elevation changes–some incredibly dramatic–on nearly every hole. Searching for errant shots requires a bit of bravery–and long pants, as most native areas bordering the fairways consist of prickly, rigid pineapple plants. Banyan’s spectacular, exquisite pagodastyle clubhouse typifies the kind of clubhouse experience that makes golf in Thailand so memorable. The moment you walk in, attendants greet you with hands clasped, a traditional half bow and a friendly sawadee (hello and goodbye). You’re given a locker key and towel and led into locker rooms that rival–and in many cases outdo–those of this country’s finest resorts. Golfers can easily spend a couple post-round hours enjoying drinks and fresh Thai cuisine on sprawling indoor/outdoor terraces, getting massages or taking dips in a hot tub. “Thailand’s clubhouses are made to accommodate the après-golf ritual, with great dining and space to kick back and relax,” explains Mark Siegal, owner of Golfasian, which operates golf tours throughout Southeast Asia. “I read a lot about how American golfers struggle these days to find time to play 18 holes, and I guess I can understand the issue. But it’s just not like that here. And frankly it shouldn’t be like that, especially when you’re on vacation.” Nearby Black Mountain Country Club, located 20 minutes from Hua Hin, is no exception. Along with an equally impressive clubhouse, Black Mountain’s course features similar lines and elevation changes as Banyan and swells and falls from its namesake mountain, which looms nearby, providing a lush backdrop. Manmade rock walls, shapely white sand bunker and tall brown native grasses define the course.
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Bangkok The view from the 34th floor of Bangkok’s Westin Grande Sukhumvit does little to reveal the chaos below. Home to more than 10 million people, Bangkok is a massive city with an endless skyline of modern high rises dwarfing older apartment buildings. Street level exposes a side of Thai life not seen in the resort towns like Pattaya and Hua Hin. Bright orange, yellow and purple taxis clog the roads, motorcycles and mopeds weave through traffic, and the unrelenting blaring of horns makes for a daunting experience for even seasoned travelers. ww w. c o l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c om
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Bangkok especially springs to life at night. Street vendors selling cheap clothes, knickknacks and hot-of-the-wok meals line the sidewalks, turning them into narrow passages. Alleyways burst with light from massive and elaborate neon signs overhanging the entrances of countless cabarets with names like Kiss, Déjà Vu, Midnite Bar, Our Place and We’re Soulmate. Sanctuary exists less than an hour outside
Bangkok’s city center at Thai Country Club. The prestigious club has hosted numerous professional tournaments, including the Volvo Masters between 2005 and 2008 and the 1997 Asian Honda Classic, which Tiger Woods won in his first visit to Thailand as a professional. Plaques scattered throughout the course remind you of the superhuman shots executed by the pros, like the one telling of Tiger’s drive that reached the green
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on the 370-yard tenth. A true tropical oasis, Thai Country Club’s immaculately maintained fairways border large lake complexes that snake around the entire course, which is a perfect challenge for everyone from Tiger and Vijay to novice vacationers. To be sure, Thailand is a long haul. But it’s worth the trip. While it’s not difficult to find a similar combination of great golf courses, world-class service and luxurious accommodations, it is nearly impossible to do it as economically. Aside from airfare, which can run well over $1,000, a trip to Thailand can be less expensive than a few days in Scottsdale or Palm Springs. Even the finest hotels, including Anantara, seldom exceed $200 per night and few golf courses charge more than $100 per round. Factor in the rich culture and you’ve got a golf vacation of a lifetime. Just remember to keep all that saved coin in your pockets around the greens. ag
Jake Kubié is CAG’s Associate Editor and Web Manager. jake@coloradoavidgolfer.com.
Getting there Travel Advisory There have been numerous anti-government protests during the past months, primarily centered in Bangkok. Check travel.state.gov/travel prior to departure. Flight Total flight time from Los Angles is approximately 18 hours, not including a layover in Taipei. Book a flight on EVA Airlines and if it’s in your budget, upgrade to Elite Class, which provides a little extra legroom and access to the airport’s Evergreen Lounges. evaair.com Tour Operator Bangkok-based Golf Asian has arranged nearly 17,000 golf vacations for visitors from Europe, North America, Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. While they also organize tours in Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia, Thailand is by far the most popular golf destination, accounting for about 85% of trips. Itineraries feature the country’s best golf courses, and hotels and packages can be tailored for all preferences. For more information, visit golfasian.com or call 866-550-2284.
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Fox Hollow offers 27 championship holes in three distinctly different Nines: • The Canyon: Negotiate a challenging plunge down narrow Coyote Gulch to Fox Hollow’s signature fifth hole. This 445-yard par four hole includes an 80-foot elevation drop from the end of the fairway to the green. • The Meadow: Swing into this streamside Nine, where Bear Creek and other water hazards sparkle amid ancient cottonwood trees. • The Links: Unwind on a Scottish-style Nine set against a sweeping vista of the Rocky Mountain foothills rising steeply to the west. With five sets of tees, golfers of every ability will feel at home. Fox Hollow was one of the first golf courses in the nation designed to be completely accessible to golfers with disabilities. Restaurants The Den at Fox Hollow and The Grill at Homestead provide a great place to have breakfast, a business lunch or an after work drink, with incredible, unobstructed views of the golf courses and Rocky Mountain foothills. Eat indoors on a cold winter day or enjoy the sunny patios. Both restaurants are open year-round. Junior Golf/Lessons/Practice Facilities Both courses offer Junior Golf programs during the summer for kids ages 7-17. Lessons for adults are also available from our certified PGA or LPGA Professionals. Fox Hollow and The Homestead offer some of the finest practice facilities in the metro area. From the driving range to chipping and putting greens, both courses offer a relaxed setting with the perfect opportunity to hone the skills of golfers of all abilities. So whether it is your first visit or it’s just been a while since you’ve come to our courses, join us for a relaxing day of golf, natural beauty and great hospitality!
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BackNine
Jeromy Q&A with Manser Christie Championship Director,
Olympic skier, fearless Senior PGA Championship golfer What’s your handicap? 10 o golf
T
aficionados on this side ofside How did you become Championship Director? of thewith Pacific, Mission Hills means I started my career the PGA of America in 2002 one thing: the Palm Springs site of theI’ve LPand like most I worked my way up the ladder. servedGA’s in numerous positionsChampionship for the Senior PGA Kraft Nabisco (aka Championship, PGA Championship, andabout Ryderevthe Dinah Shore). But in just Cup. When the opportunity came available to ery other bunker on the globe, Mission relocate to Colorado and serve as a championship Hills Golf Club the most stundirector, I couldn’t pass represents it up.
ning Chinese construction accomplishment
economically powerful Pearl River Delta
How have you made it successful? province of Guangdong, just north of Hong The course speaks for itself, but it also helps to have Kong. What makes Mission Hills spectacular names like Fred Couples, Corey Pavin, Tom Watson is not justinthe sheer and Hale Irwin your field.number of courses; nor
the fact that half of them were built concur-
What are thein benefits hostingby the eventroundin rently just 18of months 30,000 Colorado? the-clock workers; nor the fact that the 1 Mostly it’s the community whose interest in the game has supported numerous events from The 0 designers Olazabal, International to the (Norman, U.S Senior Nicklaus, Open in 2008.
Sorenstam, Singh, Leadbetter, Els, Duval,
What about Golf Club? OzakiColorado and Faldo) rank among the game’s This golf course is ranked as oneMission of the top modern most renowned players. Hills’ chi designs in the country and I think it will be a nice change from some of the traditional, tree-lined e fwhere achievement is thatthis each course acquits courses we’ve hosted championship.
itself with such difficulty and distinction.
How will the for local PGA Section be involved? Take, example, the tough, water-laced On a number of levels. They will be hosting Play 7,031-yard Faldo Course, typified byathe isGolf America Day at Colorado Golf Club in May, a land green on the 163-yard, par-three 16th junior golf clinic for more than 10 local charities on pictured here.the OrChampionship the Olazabal Course, which the Sunday before and expect November host the World Golf 300 or next 400 kids, and PGAwill Professionals will also staff the practice range and offer free swing instruction Championships-Mission Hills World Cup. It’s to spectators Championship Week.
the first WGC event to take place in China,
Aside from the 18th green, where would you whichpeople happens to have approximately the recommend watch the tournament? samealong number of golf courses—235—as ColoAnywhere the closing stretch, starting with the reachable 14th. You’ll a lotMission of movement radopar-four does. Guests of thesee plush Hills up andResort down the leader board over last five have access to all 10 the layouts, as do holes.
business travelers coming from nearby Hong
Who’s your pick to win? Don’t tell anyone, but Fred Couples!
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Colorado AvidGolfer | May 2010
www.colorado avidgo lf e r.c o m
p h o t o g r a p h by: TO D D L A N G L E Y
What’ssince the biggest hurdle you’ve had18-hole to overcome the Great Wall. Its ten co in selling and organizing the Championship? Establishing an identity for Colorado Golf Club. u rses, more than Pinehurst or any other They opened in 2006, so are relatively new to the golf locally, compound, sprawl square golf scene but most are across findingeight out how truly of prime specialmiles this place is. Shenzhen real estate in the