SAVE THOUSANDS ON GOLF, GEAR, DINING AND MORE!! (See page 17)
coloradoavidgolfer.com
SPRING 2014 | $3.95
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74470 56556 7 coloradoavidgolfer.com
Elevating the Game.
Our Readers Select The Best in Colorado Golf
C a n on g at e C olor a d o
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/ C a n o n g at e C o l o r a d o
Contents 2 0 14 SPRING
In Every Issue 10 Forethoughts
Getting out the Vote. By Jon Rizzi
12 ’net Score
CAG Nation, Tweets that weren’t, reader photos.
14 Off the Tee
Colorado Golf Club’s signature drink, clothing dos and don’ts, why cart paths save lives.
Features
32 Gear Bobby Grace putters.
34 15th Club
The importance of footwear. By
Neil Wolkodoff
Sidebets 37 Fareways Lake Valley Golf Club’s Persimmon Grill and The Ridge Bar & Grill at Castle Pines North. By Gary James
40 Nice Drives
Picks from the North 21 The Gallery American International The Broadmoor Invitation, Emily Auto Show. By Isaac Talley, course renovations, tee- Bouchard time reservations.
86 The Games of Golf
An Arnold Palmer quiz.
Player’s Corner 27 Play Away North Myrtle Beach. By Vince Recine
51
2014 TournAment Guide Tips and advice for planners and players.
44
2014 CAGGY Awards You voted. We counted. Find out which courses, clubs, instructors and destinations topped the lists for the Best in Colorado Golf.
65
Cactus League Special A golfer’s guide to playing, staying and indulging during Spring Training in Arizona.
76
It’s His Nature Noodles & Company founder and State of Colorado Chief Marketing Officer Aaron Kennedy’s passion for golf took root in rural America but it dates back centuries—all the way to Scotland. By Jon Rizzi
80
Sweet Holes, Alabama The Robert Trent Jones Trail has 468 of them, but the southern part of this blossoming golf state is about much more. By Tony Dear
30 Lesson
Get a jump on the season. By Ed Oldham
4
Colorado AvidGolfer | Spring 2014
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Only a Champion Could
Sire Such Nobility.
Born of legend, bred for pleasure, Flying Horse is a place of extraordinary possibilities. With breathtaking vistas, beguiling recreational amenities, magnificent custom-crafted homes by the area’s most celebrated
builders, and yes—a pulse-fluttering 18-hole championship golf course designed by the legendary master, Tom Weiskopf—this storybook community reflects the absolute finest in luxury living.
1 8 8 0 w e i s k o p f p o i n t , Color ad o s p r i n g s , Color ad o 8 0 9 2 1
In LIfe as In gOLf, CLub seLeCtIOn Is everythIng.
While Flying Horse is renowned for its golf, our award-winning club has been said to rival the finest resorts of Europe. If your soul yearns for offerings and services so handsome, so complete, so luxurious they defy comparison, The Club at Flying Horse is your choicest of choices.
Club Membership Opportunities Ask about our new Transitional Membership! Call (719) 494-1222
The Clubhouse
Sweeping terraces, an open-air fireplace, family and fine dining, and spectacular views of both the golf course and the mountains, make the Golf Clubhouse at Flying Horse the absolute best in high-styled entertainment.
The Athletic Club & Spa
Imagine a club whose amenities play as gently to the spirit as they do to the body, and you’ll begin to understand why the Athletic Club & Spa at Flying Horse is more than worthy of the extravagant superlatives used to describe it. - Massage Therapy - Spa Services - Kid’s Cabin - Aerobics - Yoga & Pilates - Personal Training
- Free Weights - Cardiovascular Equipment - Aquatics Area - Heated 25 Yard Lap Pool - Children’s Pools - Summer Youth Programs
- Indoor Basketball Courts - Indoor Red Clay Tennis Courts - Outdoor Tennis - Sport and Summer Camps
fLyIng hOrse. If yOu haven’t trIed It, yOu haven’t LIved.
A world of unattainable beauty is finally within your reach – Flying Horse. With magnificent homes, unsurpassed recreational amenities, and a boldly-conceived K-12 academic campus operated by Academy School District 20, this rarest of communities is now more accessible than ever. Luxury living in the here and now.
Rated as one of the “TOP 10 PRIVATe GOLF COuRSeS” in Colorado
The Villages at Flying Horse There’s something for everyone! Live in your own little world. In your own style. Here at Flying Horse, neighborhood villages transform into enclaves, each one with its own personality, its own architecture, and its own way of life. - Custom Homesites from the low $100s - Paired-Patio Homes from the upper $200s - Single Family Homes from the mid $300s - Active Adult, Maintenance-free, Ranch-style living from the mid $300s - Luxury Detached Patio Homes from the $400s - Custom Homes from the $500s Flying Horse Welcome Center and Realty Office - (719) 886-4800 Pricing and availability subject to change.
www.FlyingHorseColorado.com
Spring 2014 Volume 12, Number 8 publisher
Allen J. Walters editor
Jon Rizzi associate publisher
Chris Phillips art director
Jeremy Cantalamessa editor-at-large
Tom Ferrell
automotive editor
Isaac Bouchard contributors
Sam Adams, Andy Bigford, E.J. Carr, Tony Dear, Sue Drinker, Dick Durrance II, Chris Duthie, Amy Freeland, Lois Friedland, Gary James, Barbara Hey, Ted Johnson, Kaye W. Kessler, Jake KubiĂŠ, Todd Langley, Kim D. McHugh, Bob Russo, Jerry Walters, Neil Wolkodoff digital and social media manager
Kate Stromberg office and operations manager
Cindy P. Nold projects and special events manager
Vanessa Van Horn Projects & Special Events Intern
N icole H ulbert
Digital
and
Editorial Intern
Alexandra Bohren 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
coloradoavidgolfer.com Colorado AvidGolfer (ISSN 1548-4335) is published eight times a year by Baker-Colorado Publishing, LLC, and printed by American Web, Inc. Volume 12, Number Eight. 7200 S. Alton Way #B-180, Centennial, CO 80112. Colorado AvidGolfer is available at more than 250 locations, or you Winter order your personal subscription by calling 720-493-1729. Subscriptions are available at the rate of $17.95 per year. Copyright Š 2014 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 | Spring 2014
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C our
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.®
Forethoughts
GETTING OUT THE VotE
2
018 arrived December 1. That would be chron-
10
Colorado AvidGolfer | Spring 2014
colorado avidgo lf e r.c o m
F O R E T H O U G H T S P H O T O BY T e d M c I n tyre
ologically implausible but electorally accurate, as 2,018 individuals cast their votes for our annual CAGGY Awards, celebrating the best in Colorado golf. Polls closed December 1. We’ve published these awards annually since 2003. Those 12 years have seen us employ myriad methodologies and categories. We’ve composed committees of experts and polled golf-industry professionals. We surveyed playing panelists. We jokingly once considered—but didn’t use—a dartboard. Ultimately, however, we settled on democracy, which, to paraphrase erstwhile golfer Winston Churchill, is the worst form of decision-making except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time. (Churchill, a veritable quotation machine, also said: “The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.” But never mind…) So, as we did in 2013, this year we put the vote in your hands. Our voting took place online and began August 1. We used surveymonkey.com, which prevents ballot stuffing by allowing participants to complete only one survey per IP address; they also have to vote for a minimum of 20 categories for the survey to count. That’s a total of at least 40,360 votes. In the magazine, weekly e-newsletter, social networking sites and on coloradoavidgolfer.com, we encouraged your participation. We also invited courses and clubs to galvanize their regulars and members to vote (presumably for their home courses). Democracy, of course, isn’t perfect, and sometimes the election goes to the best campaign, not to the best candidate. But overall, I believe the results reflect well on you, the Colorado golfer. As you’ll see on page 44, across more than 50 categories, this year’s big winners are The Broadmoor (first place in seven categories), and Colorado National (13 Top 3s, including three first places). The Golf Club at Bear Dance tops the Best Denver Region Public category, and Colorado Golf Club, The Club at Cordillera, Cherry Hills, Castle Pines and Red Rocks all place high among the top private clubs. Your favorite instructors teach at GolfTEC, and Bandon Dunes rates as your favorite golf destination in the United States. Also, to complement your selections, we made “Staff Picks” for each category. These are listed alphabetically, not ranked numerically. After all, asking me, or any CAG staff member, “What’s your favorite course?” is akin to asking, “Which of your children is your favorite?” You shouldn’t have such conflicts. But I’m sure some of you will take issue with the selections. If that’s the case, make your voice heard! Go online and tell us. Better still, tell your home course to get out the vote next year, and make sure your golf buddies do the same. Given the subject matter, that would certainly qualify as a grassroots movement, although I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a Tee Party. —JON RIZZI
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CAGNation
Of the millions of viral golf videos on the internet, some just simply amaze us. Go to coloradoavidgolfer.com/cagnation to vote for the jaw-dropper you like best. The results will appear next issue. British conjurer Drummond Money-Coutts dazzles José María Olazábal and other European Tour players.
# thingsgolfersneversay @maeduputt:
6m
@juanundapar:
7m
@etienneholz:
7m
@sachabadriva:
8m
I’m a HUGE Rory Sabbatini fan! You’re giving me too many shots.
BLOGS
I never miss an issue of Colorado Golf magazine
| INFO
Tweets that weren’t:
I’m playing a Top Flite.
|
’net
Twitter Pheed
MAGIC MAN:
DIALOG
Score
connect with us
BALANCING ACT:
For real Tweets and the latest from Colorado AvidGolfer, follow us: @coloavidgolfer
French pro Romain Bechu bounces, spins, balances and flips a golf ball with savoir-faire.
What’d You Shoot?
GOING NUTS:
On The Big Break NFL Puerto Rico, Chi Chi Rodriguez unintentionally performs a trick he never wants to repeat.
Sometimes your best golf shots come with a camera. Rich Monet of Centennial snapped this fox at Arrowhead Golf Club after it followed his foursome “like an obedient dog” for two holes. Jane Lee of Parker captured these ProV1-sized hailstones on The Broadmoor’s practice green. Do you have a cool golf-related photo to share—like from an awesome course, or from a Tour event, or of wildlife? Email it to kate@coloradoavidgolfer.com, along with the story behind it. We’ll post the photos online and publish our favorites in upcoming issues.
Get inside deals, stories and more! Sign up for our e-newsletter at coloradoavidgolfer.com.
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Colorado AvidGolfer | Spring 2014
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| STYLE | APRÈS-GOLF
Super Secrets: Why Cart Path Only?
Golf course superintendents realize that golfers ultimately pay our salaries and fund our budgets. But golfers sometimes don’t understand the reasoning behind certain practices—such as the “cart path only” policy. While it might appear we are trying to punish the golfers or to make our jobs easier, nothing could be further from the truth. Our purpose is more about protecting the golfer than preserving the turf. For instance, after a big rain, carts moving from the path to the turf tend to hydroplane, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Also, the rule creates more work for us. With the sand bottle in the cart, which is on the path, golfers tend not to fill divots they’d ordinarily repair—and the super’s staff has to fix them. Bottom line: I don’t necessarily like the policy either, especially during prolonged periods. However, please respect it—no matter how far from the clubhouse you are. I have observed over the years that the greater the distance between golfers and the first hole, the less attention they pay to this rule. But now that Big Brother is watching via the GPS, he can and will send a gentle reminder! —Dave Cahalane, Golf Course Superintendent, The Golf Club at Bear Dance
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
Off theTee
Notable Potables
Wear to Play Indian Paintbrush Colorado Golf Club’s Signature Drink
A round at Colorado Golf Club is a treat in itself. But to cap that round off with a refreshing Paintbrush—the club’s signature cocktail—while sitting on the terrace watching the sun sink over the Rockies is one of those true “doesn’t get better than this” moments. Named for the Indian Paintbrush wildflower that speckles the landscape of Coore & Crenshaw’s minimalist masterpiece, the Paintbrush delights with color and flavors that evoke old memories, along with a kick that encourages new ones. “The Paintbrush is so good you have to be careful with it,” warns CGC mixologist Adam King. “It goes down easy.” The libation actually pre-dates the club itself. Developer representatives had asked several F&B candidates to devise a signature cocktail, and this tart and tangy concoction made of top-shelf vodka, lemonade, fresh strawberry puree and a splash of sparkling water has served as the signature drink since opening day. Today the CGC Paintbrush has made it onto menus as far away as New York and Scottsdale, and anyone who has a CGC story usually has a Paintbrush story to go with it.
by Jim Dandy
Just because you once wanted to run away and join the circus doesn’t mean you can dress like a clown when you run away to the golf course. Unless your job is to make kids cry, stay away from the harlequin outfit on the left. There is nothing harmonious—or manly or golfy—about them. The chap on the right, however, is wearing nice, fun plaid pants that go well with his sense of color—bright, fresh tones for a bright, fresh golfer. The colors are bright, but not loud. Get it? It helps that it looks like he can play golf; the guy on the left looks like he can juggle bowling pins. Do the right thing, or the thing on the right, if you are young, fit and have game. Otherwise, utilize one or two bright colors, but no more, and make sure they complement each other. If you just have to have those cool plaid pants, buy a white shirt to go with them. White. I will say again, white! And stay away from reversed caps if you are getting invitations from AARP. It’s just not right.
Mix it Up: • 2 oz. Tito’s Handmade American vodka • 2 oz. Fresh pureed strawberries • ¼ oz. Simple syrup • 4 oz. Fresh lemonade • Splash of sparkling water • Garnish with lemon twist
more at coloradoavidgolfer.com 14
Colorado AvidGolfer | Spring 2014
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ALL PRICES INCLUDE A CART
best courses
Golf Courses
1/1–5/31
6/1– 8/31
9/1– 12/31
Available Tee Times
Weekend Play
Total Rounds
Antler Creek, Falcon
$28
$35
$28
Mon-Thurs anytime, Fri-Sun after 11am
Yes
3
Broadlands, Broomfield
$35
$35
$35
Mon-Thurs after 12pm
No
3
Broken Tee, Englewood
$30
$30
$30
Mon-Thurs after 12pm
No
8
Buffalo Run, Commerce City
$39
$39
$39
Mon-Thurs anytime, Fri-Sun after 2pm
Yes
3
Colorado National, Erie EXCLUSIVE!
$45
$49
$40
Mon-Thurs anytime, Fri-Sun after 12pm
Yes
3
CommonGround, Aurora* EXCLUSIVE!
$42
$42
$42
Mon-Thurs anytime, Fri-Sun after 12pm
Yes
3
Eagle Trace, Broomfield
$30
$30
$30
Mon-Thurs after 11am, Fri-Sun after 12pm
Yes
3
Family Sports Center, Centennial*
$19
$21
$19
Anytime, anytime
Yes
Unlimited
Fitzsimons, Aurora EXCLUSIVE!
$26/$29
$26/$29
$26/$29
Mon-Fri after 11am, Sat-Sun after 1pm
Yes
3
Foothills, Littleton
$34/$47
$34/$47
$34/$47
Mon-Thurs after 1pm, Fri-Sun after 1pm
Yes
4
Four Mile Ranch, Canyon City NEW!
$30
$30
$30
Mon-Fri anytime, Sat-Sun after 12pm
Yes
4
Fox Hollow, Lakewood
$44
$44
$44
Mon-Thurs after 1pm, Fri-Sun after 1:30pm
Yes
Unlimited
Green Valley Ranch, Denver EXCLUSIVE!
$35
$40
$35
Shoulders: Mon-Thurs before 9am, after 12pm, Fri-Sun after 2pm; Peak: Mon-Thurs before 9am, after 1pm, Fri-Sun after 2pm
Yes
3
Heritage at Westmoor, Westminster
$40
$40
$40
Monday-Thursday Anytime, Fri-Sun after 1pm
Yes
Unlimited
Heritage Eagle Bend, Aurora
$34/$40
$48/$54
$34/$40
Mon-Thurs anytime, Fri-Sun after 12pm
Yes
2
Highland Meadows, Windsor
$34
$44
$34
Mon-Thurs after 12pm, Fri-Sun after 1pm
Yes
3
Highlands Ranch GC, Highlands Ranch
$45/$56
$55/$66
$45/$56
Mon-Thurs anytime, Fri-Sun after 1pm
Yes
5
The Homestead Golf Course, Lakewood
$34
$34
$34
Mon-Thurs after 1pm, Fri-Sun after 1:30 pm
Yes
Unlimited
The Greg Mastriona Golf Courses at Hyland Hills, Westminster
$39
$39
$39
Mon-Thurs after 11am, Fri-Sun after 1pm
Yes
Unlimited
Indian Tree, Arvada
$35
$35
$35
Seasons 1& 2 any day after 11am, Season 3 any day, anytime
Yes
3
The Inverness, Englewood* EXCLUSIVE!
$56
$76
$56
Mon-Thurs anytime, Fri-Sun after 12pm
Yes
3
Kings Deer, Monument EXCLUSIVE!
$32
$32
$32
Mon-Thurs after 11am, Fri-Sun after 2 pm
Yes
2
Legacy Ridge, Westminster
$45
$45
$45
Mon-Thurs anytime, Fri-Sun after 1pm
Yes
Unlimited
The Links, Highlands Ranch
$31/$36
$35/$40
$31/$36
Shoulder: Mon-Thurs anytime Fri-Sun after 12pm Peak: Mon-Thurs anytime, Fri-Sun after 1pm
Yes
3
Littleton Golf and Tennis Club, Littleton
$29/$31
$29/$31
$29/$31
Mon-Thurs after 11am, Fri-Sun after 1pm
Yes
Unlimited
Lone Tree Golf Club, Lone Tree
$49
$59
$47
Mon-Thurs after 11am, Fri- Sun after 1pm
Yes
Shoulders: Unlimited Peak: 2
Meadows, Littleton
$38/$50
$38/$50
$38/$50
Mon-Thurs after 1pm, Fri- Sun after 1pm
Yes
4
Meadow Hills, Aurora EXCLUSIVE!
$31/$35
$31/$35
$31/$35
Mon-Fri after 11am, Sat-Sun after 1pm
Yes
3
Murphy Creek, Aurora EXCLUSIVE!
$35/$42
$35/$42
$35/$42
Mon-Fri after 11am, Sat-Sun after 1pm
Yes
3
Omni Interlocken, Broomfield
$55
$65
$60
Mon-Thurs anytime, Fri before 12; Sat-Sun after 12
Yes
3
Pine Creek, Colorado Springs
$39
$39
$39
Mon-Thurs after 12pm, Fri- Sun after 2pm
Yes
9
Quail Dunes, Fort Morgan NEW!
$20
$23
$20
Any day, Anytime
Yes
3
Raccoon Creek, Littleton NEW!
$37/$44
$37/$44
$37/$44
Mon-Thurs anytime, Fri-Sun after 12pm
Yes
4
18
Colorado AvidGolfer | Spring 2014
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Go a u Pr tomlf Passp e Din Clu fer atica ort m e & b r lly e sav M ed rec mbe ea e e t m m Clie ive rs ore be n a tha rs te n 1 h le courses with 60 ip loca ! exclusive golf tion s! passport offers
58 7 55 11 courses
new courses
courses with weekend play
1/1–5/31
6/1– 8/31
9/1– 12/31
Available Tee Times
Weekend Play
Total Rounds
The Ridge at Castle Pines, Castle Rock* EXCLUSIVE!
$50
$65
$50
Mon-Thurs anytime, Fri- Sun after 1pm
Yes
3
Saddle Rock, Aurora EXCLUSIVE!
$37/$44
$37/$44
$37/$44
Mon-Fri after 11am, Sat-Sun after 1pm
Yes
3
South Suburban Par 3, Centennial*
$9
$9
$9
Mon-Thurs anytime, Fri-Sun after 11am
Yes
Unlimited
Sumo Golf Village, Florence
$22
$27
$22
Any day after 12pm
Yes
2
Thorncreek, Thornton
$28
$38
$28
Mon-Thurs after 10 am
No
3
Todd Creek, Thornton
$40
$45
$40
Mon-Fri after 10am, Sat- Sun after 1pm
Yes
3
Walking Stick, Pueblo NEW!
$32
$32
$32
Mon-Thurs after 11:30 am, Fri-Sun after 12:30 pm
Yes
Unlimited
Breckenridge Golf Club, Breckenridge*
$99
$99
$99
Sun-Thurs anytime 27-holes; Peak season- Sundays only 18-holes
Yes
2
The Bridges, Montrose
$53
$53
$53
Mon-Thurs anytime, Fri-Sun after 11am
Yes
2
Cederedge Golf Club, Cedaredge
$35
$40
$35
Any day, anytime
Yes
Unlimited
Devil's Thumb, Delta
$40
$40
$40
Mon-Thurs after 11am, Fri-Sun after 12pm
Yes
3
Eagle Ranch, Eagle EXCLUSIVE!
$35
$55
$35
Any day after 11am
Yes
2
Eagle Vail, Avon
$55
$70
$55
Mon-Thurs after 11am, Fri-Sun after 12pm
Yes
2
Golf Granby Ranch, Granby
$54
$54
$54
Mon-Thurs anytime, Fri-Sun after 1pm
Yes
Unlimited
Grand Elk, Granby
$32/$39
$45/$54
$39/$45
Sun-Thurs after 11am, Fri -Sat 12pm
Yes
3
Grand Lake, Grand Lake NEW!
$39.50
$49.50
$39.50
Any day after 11am
Yes
3
Haymaker, Steamboat NEW!
$50
$79
$50
Mon-Thurs anytime, Fri-Sun after 12pm
Yes
Unlimited
Keystone Ranch, Keystone
$65
$90
$65
Any day, Anytime
Yes
Unlimited
Lakota Canyon, New Castle
$49
$70
$49
Mon-Thurs anytime, Fri -Sun after 1pm
Yes
3
Pole Creek, Tabernash
$45
$45
$45
Sunday-Thursday after 11am
Yes
3
The Raven at Three Peaks, Silverthorne
$55
$89
$55
Any day after 12pm
Yes
Unlimited
Redlands Mesa, Grand Junction
$63
$70
$63
Any day, Anytime
Yes
4
The River Course at Keystone, Keystone
$75
$105
$75
Any day after 11am
Yes
Unlimited
Tiara Rado, Grand Junction NEW!
$30
$30
$30
Mon-Thurs anytime, Fri-Sun after 12pm
Yes
3
Vail Golf Club, Vail
$50
$89
$50
Mon- Thurs and Sun after 1pm
Yes
3
Golf Courses
Mountain Courses*
* CommonGround offer: Must be CGA, CWGA or Golf Passport Plus member to get rate * Family Sports: 9 Hole Golf Course * South Suburban: Par 3 - Cart not included * Breckenridge offer: Open - 6/30 $99 (27 Holes); 7/1-8/31 $99 (18 Holes, Sundays Only); 9/1-Close $99 (27 Holes) * Shoulder and Peak seasons may vary
Go to coloradoavidgolfer.com for complete details.
2014 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, 2014 – December, 31 2014, excluding holidays, special events, tournaments or closure 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 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 and returning the Golf Passport within ten (10) days. The Golf Passport member will receive a prorated refund. The Golf Passport member agrees that he or she is not entitled to any additional compensation. Colorado AvidGolfer disclaims all liability for damage or loss or property or injury to any person occurring while using the Golf Passport. The subscription expires with the Winter 2014 issue. One subscription per household. If ordered online, please allow up to 10 days for delivery of your Golf Passport.
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Spring 2014 | Colorado AvidGolfer
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theGallery
RESURRECTION OF A Classic
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ale Irwin won it. So did Lawson Little, Charlie Coe, Robert Dickson and Colorado Golf Hall of Famers Claude Wright and Bill Loeffler. Other notable competitors included Mark O’Meara, Fred Couples, John Cook, Corey Pavin and Lanny Wadkins. The Broadmoor Men’s Invitation (known erroneously as the “Invitational,” per the inscription on the original trophy, according to Director of Golf Russ Miller) ran from 1921 to 1995, earning a reputation as one of the country’s premier amateur tournaments. But as the resort again started to land major events like the 1995
co l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c o m
U.S. Women’s Open, and as the economic model of the Invitation became less sustainable, the yearly match play joined the Broadmoor World Arena as part of the Colorado Springs resort’s glorious history. But this July 6-11 The Broadmoor will resurrect the Invitation as an annual event. The format, which had switched to a two-man four-ball in 1992, will continue as such. The first of the six days will feature an optional practice round; day two, an 18-hole qualifying round to determine flights; and the following three days, match play on both the East and West Courses. “The Invitation will overlap with the Trans-Mississippi Championship (July
THE JOY OF SPECS: 1967 Broadmoor Invitation winner Hale Irwin with (from left) Broadmoor chairman Thayer Tutt, club president Milo Moore and runner-up Marty Fleckman.
7 – 10 at Southern Hills in Tulsa), so we are not anticipating attracting too many college players and younger amateurs,” Miller says. “We believe we will attract more mid-ams and seniors. That doesn’t mean the competition won’t be as keen. Players can be as high as a 12 handicap but everyone plays scratch.” Miller has already filled a number of slots in the eight-team field. The price for this invitation-only event includes all golf, five nights’ accommodations at The Broadmoor, a welcome reception, closing awards dinner and banquet, welcome gifts and all applicable taxes. For dates, pricing and information, contact Miller at 719577-5784 or rmiller@broadmoor.com.
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theGallery A Talley Rally
Emily Talley, an All-American who in 2012 led the University of Colorado to the NCAA finals for the first time in school history, teamed with NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice and fellow Big Break alumnus Isaac Sanchez to win the Golf Channel’s Big Break NFL Puerto Rico. Talley’s one-foot putt sealed the victory over a three-person team led by NFL Hall of Famer Chris Doleman. For her victory, the 23-year-old Napa native—who previously appeared on Big Break Mexico—received $50,000 in cash, a sponsor exemption to the 2014 ShopRite LPGA Classic; an endorsement contract from Adams Golf, (including $10,000 in cash); and a four-day, three-night stay for
two at Puerto Rico’s Dorado Beach Plantation Village. What did Talley think of playing with the NFL’s greatest receiver? “He was a great teammate,” she says. “It was really humbling to see somebody who has accomplished so much still wanting to give back and help others. He helped both of us, that was awesome.” Anything else? “He said I threw a tighter spiral than Steve Young did.” Talley, who as a Symetra Tour rookie finished 45th on the money list, plans on playing in all but one of that circuit’s 20 events this year, as well as in the LPGA ShopRite Classic, a U.S. Women’s Open qualifier and in as many LPGA qualifiers as she can.
Cheyenne Mountain Lodge
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he $20 million renovation that commemorated the resort’s 25th anniversary in 2011 upgraded the finishes, furnishings and Mountain View Terrace Restaurant. Last year, it was the golf course’s turn. The adjacent Pete Dye-designed Country Club of Colorado, which predates the opening of the lodge by 12 years, underwent a $4 million
facelift under the aegis of Evergreen-based Phelps-Atkinson Course Design. “We took out two bunkers
and added a total of seven new ones,” says principal Rick Phelps. “All of them are in the flat-bottomed, steep-faced early Dye style.” Phelps also added about 150 yards to the 40-year-old course (it now tips at 7,150), rebuilt tees and greens and, among many other modifications, made the water-carry par-3 17th (pictured above) even more intimidating by “removing the bench of grass by the white tees, so it tapers right into the cattails.” The club also completely replaced the original irrigation system. cheyennemountain.com
Catching Springs Fever
Major changes are afoot at three Colorado Springs golf resorts. The Broadmoor
A
fter renovating the East and West Courses in preparation for major USGA Championships in 2008 and 2011, the 96-year-old jewel has been undergoing a $60 million renovation that already has seen the Golden Bee expand, Cloud Camp open atop Cheyenne Mountain, The Tavern’s Garden Room redefine itself and a new activity center rock the Broadmoor West building. The biggest change, however, will come in late May when
Broadmoor West debuts a completely redesigneD structure, which will feature
larger rooms (and 31 more of them) and a remodeled exterior suggestive of the historic Main Building. Ristorante del Lago, an Italian restaurant, will replace Charles Court, and the enlarged West Lobby Bar will include a fireplace and expansive outdoor terrace. broadmoor.com
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Colorado AvidGolfer | Spring 2014
Garden of the Gods Club & Resort
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ix years after selling the club founded by her father to developers who fostered a resort component, Lyda Hill is now part of the LLC that reacquired the facility in August. The investment group, led not by Hill but by executives—and members—Brenda Smith and Judy Mackey, plans to invest heavily in improvements to the dining and lodging facilities, as well as the 27-hole Kissing Camels Golf Club. The chief priority, however, is to build a 14,000- to 16,000square-foot wellness center that will adjoin the club’s spa by late 2014 or early 2015. The staff will include doctors and practitioners in naturopathic medicine, acupuncture and massage therapy. This approach “can quickly grow the club’s membership base while introducing the resort to wellness-focused travelers who appreciate a sophisticated vacation experience,” says Jeff McIntyre, a principal at Gemstone Hotels and Resorts, the Utah-based company hired to manage the property. gardenofthegodsclub.com
coloradoavidgo lf e r.c o m
P H O T O G R A P H BY: M a r k Ashm a n / G o l f Ch a n n e l ( top l eft )
WINNER’S CIRCLE: CU alum Emily Talley with Big Break NFL Puerto Rico teammates Jerry Rice and Isaac Sanchez.
UR REDS, WHITES & GREENS SHOWING OFF O
WAVING OUR REDS, WHITES & GREENS
Wine? Check. Red rock canyon views from the greens? Double check. We’ve got it all, plus the wine country lifestyle. But don’t just take our word for it. Come discover for yourself why people return again and again to golf at Tiara Rado Golf Course and The Golf Club at Redlands Mesa in Grand Junction.
golfgrandjunction.net
800.962.2547
redlandsmesa.com
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Bookmark This Page! Come April, Colorado golfers will have a new source for booking tee times: www.pgateetimes.com/colorado. Initiated by the Colorado Section PGA and supported by both Colorado Golf Associations and the Rocky Mountain Golf Course Superintendents Association, the site intends to combat the nearly $2 million in golf revenue that leaves the state every year to online discount tee-time brokers. “We want that money to stay here,” says Colorado Section PGA Executive Director Eddie Ainsworth, whose model involves a statewide reservation system—developed by quick18.com— wherein course owner-operators can establish their own prices and take back control of their tee sheets. Ainsworth and others believe discounting has forced golf course owner-operators to devalue their product—cutting not only prices, but staff, services and maintenance—while trying to increase rounds to make up for discounting. “Instead of watching owner-operators beating each other up discounting their green fees,” Ainsworth says, “we’re leveraging the power of our brand to take on the discounters head-on.” Pgateetimes.com/colorado eliminates the need for individual courses to lease their own state-of-the-art online reservation system or barter out tee times with online discounters. And while various business models are still being worked out, Ainsworth figures the program can save owner-operators $1.2 million a year at no extra cost to them. If courses come together under coloradopgateetimes.com, a percentage of those savings for reinvestment in the facilities and in marketing initiatives to take on the discounters and to market and promote the game. But will golfers forsake those sweet online deals they’ve come to expect in exchange for an improved local golf economy? Ainsworth thinks so. “Consumers will always pay for value, and they will still find value out there, but it will be properly priced. The overall product for us all is going to be that much better. We’ve driven down the perceived value so low…any lower, more courses are going to close.”
Colorado AvidGolfer | Spring 2014
BUDDING CHANGES: Fort Collins CC
GOLF by NUMBERS $5 million in renovations—the largest membervoted capital expense in the club’s 54-year history—will begin this spring at Fort Collins Country Club. Phase one will involve construction on the indoor tennis and fitness facility, which includes 2,150 square feet of exercise equipment and fitness class space, as well as upgrades to the locker rooms. Phase two will comprise a new golf pro shop as well as the opening of new restaurant overlooking holes 10 and 18 that will triple the club’s casual dining capacity. Denver’s Marsh & Associates designed the expansion. “These improvements will position us as the premier tennis and golf facility in Northern Colorado,” says Club President Mark Smith. “Overall, the expanded club offerings will have a broader appeal, providing a balanced, year-round experience for all members of the family.” 970-482-1336; fortcollinscc.com
10 years after becoming the first Tournament Director and Executive Director of the Colorado Open Golf Foundation, LindaSue Chenoweth resigned her position in January to focus on her daughter, Lexie, and home life. Described as a “headstrong, competent and dynamic leader” by Foundation CEO Kevin Laura, Chenoweth keyed the success of both The First Tee of Green Valley Ranch and HealthONE Colorado Opens programs. At press time, no replacement had been named.
68 in the world—that’s where Holyoke’s Ballyneal Golf & Hunt Club placed in Golf Digest’s first-ever ranking of the World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses, leaving Tom Doak’s minimalist chophills design near the Nebraska border as Colorado’s lone representative. Curiously enough, Colorado’s Castle Pines Golf Club and Cherry Hills Country Club—both of which rank ahead of Ballyneal on the magazine’s latest list of America’s 100 Greatest Courses—didn’t make the global cut among the 846 “knowledgeable, well-traveled golfers” from around the world who completed the survey that appears in the magazine’s February issue. ballyneal.com
WORLD-CLASS: Ballyneal
4-6-5-3 adds up to the number of holes on a golf course. It also spells G-O-L-F on your telephone keypad. Eight Colorado courses have it as a suffix, and the list spans public, private and municipal facilities, as well as three area codes: The Golf Club at Bear Dance in Larkspur (303-681-); Black Canyon Golf Club at Montrose (970249-); Cherry Creek Country Club in Denver (303-597-); The Greg Mastriona Courses at Hyland Hills in Westminster (303-426-); Harmony Club in Timnath (970-482-); Highland Meadows Golf Course in Windsor (970-204-); Raccoon Creek Golf Course in Littleton (303973-); Sumo Golf Village in Florence (719-784-). GET IN THE GALLERY: Got an item to share? e-mail jon@coloradoavidgolfer.com with news & notes. CAG
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INLET IDYLL: Tidewater’s par-five 13th.
| LESSONS
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ANorthBrunswick Stew of Myrtle Beach, the tranquil beauty of Brunswick Isle makes for a weeklong feast of great golf and good eatin’. By Vince Recine
E
very spring fills our flatscreens with the spectacle of color, tradition and championship golf known as the PGA Tour’s southern swing. But why should the pros have all the fun? If you desire quiet, lush, championship golf in an antebellum setting, the Brunswick Isle area bordering North and South Carolina is open for year-round play. Folks also call this area North Myrtle Beach. But In contrast to its more rowdier southern neighbor, this region is totally chill. It houses more than three-dozen courses that will test golfers of any level— and nary a spring break reveler.
DAY 1
Arrive in Wilmington, North Carolina. The easy 50-mile drive down Route 17 delivers you to the Southern tip of this co lo r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c o m
golf oasis. In addition to many hotels, The Glens Group offers two- and threebedroom condos on a weekly basis with stay-and-play options. The Sea Trails Plantation and the Colony at Oyster Bay also both have excellent golf villas. Make your first tee time at the highly honored Tidewater Golf Club, which Golf Digest rated “The Best New Public Course” when it opened in 1990. Always ranked as one of the “must plays” in South Carolina, the 7,044-yard Ken Tomlinson-Rees Jones creation perches on a beautiful, rolling, salt-marsh peninsula. It’s a coastal experience that comes straight out of a Pat Conroy novel. This gem has several signature holes that wind through woods and tidal creeks. Make sure to have your camera on number 4 and 13. Spend your first evening out at Filets
Restaurant. It is located off the Inter Coastal Waterway next to the last swing bridge in the area. Sit on the waterfront and savor the unhurried pace along with a bowl of creamy lobster bisque brimming with fresh lobster meat. Carnivores must try the “Par 4,“ an 8-ounce filet topped with crab, scallops, and béarnaise sauce.
DAY 2
Before hitting the links on day two, indulge in the time- honored tradition of a Southern breakfast, typically two eggs, bacon or ham, grits or pancakes, and toast— all of which the many family owned “pancake houses” serve up at reasonable prices. The Golden Griddle Pancake House is a favorite of both golfers and locals. Owned by the same family for 31 years, this spot is warm and welcoming and serves up fresh home fries like Grandma made. Spring 2014 | Colorado AvidGolfer
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FORCED MARSH: Tidewater’s par-3 12th.
Another favorite, Dino’s, has been serving breakfast for over four decades—90 percent of the staff has been there 15-plus years. They can accommodate large groups, have a $5.95 golfer special and you can pick up tees as you leave. You’ll need all that fuel to take on the 27 holes of Heather Glen. Owned by the Glens Group and opened in 1987, the Clyde Johnson and Willard Byrd layout boasts wide, tree-lined fairways filled with moguls. No homes crowd the course and you cannot see the adjoining fairways. The still, lush, quiet play is delightful. If you have a hankering for Italian, stop by Benny Rappa’s Trattoria. The chalkboard menu changes daily at this small intimate “neighborhood “place. You will enjoy freshly prepared rustic dishes in an unrushed manner.
DAY 4
The 27-hole Thistle Golf Club takes its name from an ancient Scottish course. As you drive through the gates you will notice that the clubhouse suggests Muirfield in Scotland, and its regal and traditional interior sustains the impression. Director of Golf Gene Weldon is the “Don of the Grand Strand,” a fountain of knowledge about every course in the area and a source of great golf stories. The semi private club never overbooks. The 12-minute gap between tee times provides an exclusive feel. A day on this links-style layout is like drinking 18-year-old single malt; it goes down smooth but hits hard. The Parson’s Table, housed in a one-time church erected in 1885, provides a religious eating experience—and not just because of the transcendent food. Ed and Nancy Murray, the restaurant’s previous owners, searched for and purchased stained glass windows from old churches being torn down and placed them in each room in the restaurant. Their son, Executive Owner and Chef Ed Murray Jr., has earned national recognition for his inspired cuisine. After indulging in his slow roasted prime rib in the Saint Matthew room, you’ll understand why.
DAY 5 FLAPJACK FARE: The Golden Griddle
DAY 3
Your next stop is Legends Golf Group’s venerable Oyster Bay Golf Links. Golf Digest named this 6,700yard course “resort Golf Course of the Year” when it opened 30 years ago. Abundant with sage grass and marsh carries, the course draws locals—including some big, toothy gators. Oyster Bay requires accuracy, as water factors into most of the holes. It also includes two island greens lined with oyster shells. This night indulge and treat yourself to a Calabash seafood buffet. Not
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If Thistle is like whisky, the Arnold Palmer-designed Rivers Edge Golf Course is a mint julep—green, sweet, and packs a wallop. Given 4.5 stars by Golf Digest, this exclusive, scenic layout is bisected by the Shallotte River and traverses high bluffs and miles of marshlands. Bring your “A” game—or plenty of golf balls. Water carries and mounded greens abound. The signature ninth, a 536-yard par 5, is both beauty and beast. It requires a long straight tee shot placed to the right. Next you have to shoot to a narrow neck followed by a high, soft shoot to a long but very narrow green. If you think you have the “mojo” to reach this in 2 you will have to carry over 200-plus yards of
Colorado AvidGolfer | Spring 2014
marshlands to the wellbunkered green. Do this and your name will appear in the local paper but it only occurs 4 or 5 times a year. Kick back and enjoy casual fine dining at The Boundary House Restaurant, located on the border of North and BUNKERING DOWN: Cape Fear National’s eighth green. South Carolina. The setting is a sea lodge with high-vaulted ations of Chef Eric Masson. Housed ceilings. Everything on the menu in a 100-year-old restored mansion, extensive menu has a home-cooked the manor has six private rooms, feel. The meat on the ribs falls off each with its own fireplace. Savor to the bone and the sauce is sweet and the Fresh Salmon Poached in CourtBouillon, Roasted Rack of Lamb or succulent. The fish changes daily, Filet Mignon. depending on what’s biting that day.
DAY 6
The penultimate day brings a decision: wrestle with the Big Cats or face down Cape Fear. The five Big Cats live at Ocean Ridge Plantation. Panther Run, Lion’s Paw and Jaguar’s Lair roar, but Tiger’s Eye and Leopard’s Chase bite. These last two, designed by Tom Cate, are championship tests. Opened in 2000 Tiger’s Eye treats you to 7,010 yards threaded through mature oaks and pines, as well as ponds and natural waste areas. The new and ferocious Leopard’s Chase stretches 7,155 yards from the tips and features manmade ponds and significant mounding. The landscape changes on each hole. As an incentive, if you play three of the Cats you get a fourth round free. Option two is to travel north on Route 17 to Brunswick Forrest and Cate’s most recent and most acclaimed creation—the 7,217-yard Cape Fear National. The architect had 1.5 million yards of soil moved in order to create a hermetic experience of wide fairways, “beach type” bunkers with the only sound being the serenade of birdsong. Cate says he wanted to create a “wow” factor on every hole, and if the raft of awards the course has collected since opening in 2010 is any indication, he certainly accomplished his goal. Just be sure to club up to compensate for the thick air. For an intime French dinner, head over to The Brentwood Restaurant and Bistro and taste the award-winning low country and French cre-
DAY 7
To end your trip on a high note, take the 30-minute ferry ride to Bald Head Island, where a golf cart will whisk you to a place of unparalleled service. There are no cars on the island, so the tranquil atmosphere takes hold at once. Bald Head Island Club’s elegant clubhouse suggests a private club, and all the amenities are first class. George Cobb, the creator of the Par Three at Augusta National, designed the 6,823-yard
GO COASTAL: Bald Head’s par-3 eighth.
course, and Tom Cates added to its pedigree with a recent makeover. Fifteen of the holes feature water, and the combination of forest and ocean holes prevents any sense of monotony. The staff takes justifiable pride in the course that comes as close to “Golf In the Kingdom” as any experience this side of the Pond. CAG
Vince Recine is a Centennial-based writer. For help in planning your trip, contact Coastal Golfaway (800-368-0045; coastalgolfaway.com). For a list of golf course, restaurant and lodging contacts, visit coloradoavidgolfer.com.
coloradoavidgo lf e r.c o m
p h o t o g r a p h y ( t o p RIGHT ) by M i c h a e l C l e m m e r / g o l f c o u r s e p h o t o g r a p h e r . u s
player’s Corner
your ordinary buffets, these are feasts that have something for everyone. There are several to choose from but the one most locals favor is The Original Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood. The Howard family owned restaurant has been in operation for more than 30 years and serves up some 170 freshly prepared items nightly.
player’sCorner
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5 Ways to Get a Jump on the Season You can improve when it’s too cold to play.
Master PGA Professional Ed Oldham is the Colorado PGA Section 2013 Teacher of the Year and owner of Ed Oldham Golf Instruction (edoldhamgolf.com) at The Ranch Country Club in Westminster (303-466-2111; edoldhamgolf@gmail.com).
By Ed Oldham
S
everal years ago, I attended a teaching seminar and the speaker mentioned that golfers in Colorado should have better swings than golfers in Arizona. Why? Because they have all winter to make improvements. It’s a great point. Even with the golf season at least two months out, if you make changes to your golf game now, they will pay dividends when the temperatures rise and the grass turns green. Here are some ideas.
1. Improve your body
TAKE A LESSON
Now is the best time of year to take a lesson. Learning a new motion requires time and repetition to make the change permanent. Find a qualified PGA Professional to help to identify your priorities for improvement.
Whether it’s a lack of flexibility, weak core muscles or a nagging injury, golfers often have physical limitations that get in the way of swing improvement. A fitness professional who focuses on golf can help you to eliminate the limitations and improve your body for the upcoming golf season.
PUTT
When the weather is cold, focus on improving your putting. You need a putting mat, your putter and a few golf balls. Don’t just putt. Focus on improving. Check your setup. Make sure that your forearms and shoulders are square and that your eyes are either over the target line or just inside the target line. You can work on your stroke by improving your path or on making solid contact.
SWING EVERY DAY
Making changes to your golf swing takes time and repetition. You don’t need golf balls to improve. Make practice swing every day at home focusing on the new motion. If you have a fulllength mirror, swing in front of it. Seeing and feeling the swing at the same time can accelerate the learning process.
PRACTICE IN YOUR MIND
The brain doesn’t know the difference between visualization and reality. Can’t get out to practice or play? Play a round in your mind. Picture yourself playing your favorite golf course. Visualize every tee shot going down the middle, every approach shot finding the green and every putt going in the hole. You can also visualize your swing. Picture yourself making that new move or motion you are working on with your instructor. CAG
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Colorado AvidGolfer | Spring 2014
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gear
Grace Under Pressure Bobby Grace’s amazing new insert expands the sweet spot.
H
SM2 is the name of the
groundbreaking technology employed by renowned putter craftsman Bobby Grace. Don’t break out your periodic table. The letters actually stand for “Hole Seeking Material Squared,” and the science behind the innovation is highly evolved. His latest model further refines the original HSM he and his team invented back in 1996. They co-molded proprietary polymers with different amounts of energy return and put the higher rebounding ones—85 percent higher, in fact—away from the sweet spot. The result? The
TOUR Superstore—an official custom fitter— drove home the point. Even putts hit off the heel and toe had the buttery feel and rail-riding roll of putts hit on the sweet spot—while traveling equally as far. Grace’s flatsticks have won more than 200 Tour events worldwide and 13 majors. His latest models all incorporate the HSM2 technology. They come in a variety of mallets and blades, center-shafted, offset or gooseneck, and with a choice of grips and lengths. “Our machine shop can customize anything,” the Florida-based designer says. Putters start at $275. bobbygrace.com
insert lets you hit putts off the toe or heel without any loss of distance. Grace calls the entire insert the “Sweet Zone,” and the new and improved model is even more forgiving than its predecessor. Not only do offcenter hits travel as far as purely-struck ones; they roll true, thanks to the HSM2’s revolutionary grooved radial face, the curve of which positions the center of the radius infinitesimally above the equator of the ball. This imparts immediate forward spin and eliminates the backspin or skidding that occurs immediately after impact with most putter faces. A recent demo of his Fat Lady model at PGA
[ [
Shiloh ($375-$425)
The Amazing Grace NYC Tour model ($275) used by 2012 US Women’s Open winner Na Yeon Choi.
[
]
[ [
The HSM2 insert on the Amazing Grace model ($295) used by Greg Chalmers to win the 2011 Australian Open and Australian PGA.
[
The HSM2 on Grace’s breakthrough mallet, the Fat Lady Swings ($275), used by Nick Price to win the 1995 PGA Championship.
[ CAG
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Colorado AvidGolfer | Spring 2014
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Shod in the Dark Are you shooting your game in the foot? By Neil Wolkodoff
T
he most critical two feet in golf aren’t on the putting green; they’re connected to your legs. The feet are the foundation of sports, just like the foundation of the house. If the foot is not properly supported and aligned, not only does short term performance suffer, like the lack of speed and power in the swing, and later in life in foot, knee and hip issues. (correct ?) In adults, many of the knee issues contributing to knee and hip replacements can be linked to fallen arches and the changes that makes in lower body alignment. In juniors, this is a significant injury issue as well. With specialization in all sports occurring at earlier and earlier ages, more than 3.5 million children under the age of 14 are being treated annually for sports injuries. While junior athletes tend not to complain of foot issues, it does not mean they do not have them. Often these issues manifest themselves as inconsistent performance and aches and pains in other areas, so they are never traced to the root cause. Having your arches fall is normally a sign of age, yet in many cases, it is a result from poor footwear choices, the lack of proper lacing, worn out golf shoes, and a general lack of understanding of sizing and in-shoe support for golf athletes. The foot essentially has three arches—the medial, transverse and lateral. The lateral arch is normally what collapses in motion, resulting in a loss of balance, stability and power. The golf
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Colorado AvidGolfer | Spring 2014
shoe can only partially make up for this lack of stability if the foot is unstable. What you wear the rest of the week is also important. It has been estimated that 80 percent of people in the U.S. need orthotics, and my personal experience is this percentage is even higher with golfers because of the added load and rotational stress of the swing. In addition, at least 75 percent of people, including golfers, are wearing the wrong size shoes. You will perform better if you have the right-sized shoes, and will avoid future arch issues with proper in-shoe support. Winter and spring are the best times to focus on the feet and proper evaluation: The weather precludes playing regular rounds and your feet are not swollen from the first month of the golf season, meaning you’ll get a better fit with golf shoes. The following list contains some simple remedies and tips to increase foot function, health and performance. • See a doctor. Have your feet medically evaluated every year for size, shape, structural soundness and tendencies in both basic standing and gait. This will determine your optimal shoe shape or “last” (straight, semi-curved or curved) and what kind of insert—a simple insole support or medical orthotic—you’ll need. Both shoe fitting and foot structure are specialized approaches, just like club fitting. Off-therack rarely works for most golfers.
might really need two to three different orthotics depending upon your golf and activity profile. • Try right. Once you get an orthotic or insole, always try on new shoes with that insole instead of the foam sock liner, as that level of support will change foot size inside the shoe. • Freshen your footwear. Get new shoes at least once per year. They take tremendous lateral stress and break down in support long before their appearance indicates. • Buy two pairs. This way you can alternate wearing shoes when you play in order to allow them to dry adequately. • Avoid foot overuse. Play or practice golf a maximum of four days in a row, then take off one day. • Lace ’em up. Make sure your junior golfer wears supportive shoes off the course, and have them laced properly at all times, as not lacing shoes is akin to flip-flops with no support. • Vote conservative. There is mounting evidence that minimalist shoes are not ideal for athletic training and performance, so err in the direction of more conventional shoes in both areas. • Push it. Walk the course with a pushcart, not a carry bag. The reduced weight will lower the actual stress on the feet by 20-35 percent. CAG
• Remember: golf orthotics are significantly different than street shoe orthotics. You
Neil Wolkodoff, PhD is the Medical Program Director at the Colorado Center for Health & Sport Science. cochss.com
coloradoavidgo lf e r.c o m
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DE-BONED DELIGHT: The Persimmon Grill’s cornbread-stuffed Cornish Game Hen with orange achiote glaze.
Off-Season and On the Menu It takes a really special clubhouse restaurant to draw a steady stream of customers throughout the winter. By Gary James THE PERSIMMON GRILL at Lake Valley Golf Club
T
he highest compliment I can pay Lake Valley Golf Club is that the 50-year-old private course puts on no airs, and that ethos carries over into the Persimmon Grill, which serves the public as well as members. The output of some previous kitchen regimes might have ranged from lousy to over-the-top, but now Chef Paul Stoltz—who did turns in the kitchens at Hotel Boulderado and Red Rocks Country Club—has got the food service dialed in. At the Persimmon Grill, he offers his own
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take on casual full-service dining with Food & Beverage Manager John Waida’s watchful eyes on the front of house. Anyone wanting a hearty meal and a little taste of home can start with the “Classics” on the left side of the menu. Chef Paul makes robust, creative comfort food: Chicken Parmesan, Meatloaf and the Lake Valley Reuben—curing his own corned beef and marinating the warm cabbage slaw. He smokes the Babyback Ribs as well, and his tasty twist on Shrimp & Grits features Italian grits, a coarsely ground, hard flint corn. Chef Paul gets to be even more creative on the right side of the menu, where the flavor and visual sensation of his entrees— all in $16-$18 range—carry the day. My party of four shared Winter 2013 | Colorado AvidGolfer
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PUBLIC WELCOME: The Persimmon Grill’s inspired cuisine and unpretentious intimacy creates an inviting atmosphere for Lake Valley members and walk-ins alike.
HOLDING FORTH: Chef Paul Stoltz and his Spiced Cider-Braised Loin chop.
the Osso Buco Chanterelle, which came braised and finished with a rich demi-glace with chanterelle mushrooms, served with a creamy Parmesan risotto, long, tender stalks of broccolini and crispy pancetta and gremolada; and the moist and juicy center-cut Cider Braised Pork Loin Chop topped with a spiced cider sauce and crunchy onion straws. Equally delicious was the roasted Cornish Game Hen; eating that type of bird can be somewhat laborintensive, but this was de-boned and stuffed with savory corn bread, plus the achiote spice in the orange glaze imparted a vivid, brick color. And a red pepper-rubbed Pacific Sea Bass— seared hard in a pan, topped with a grilled scallion and a ginger-infused Buerre Blanc, the classic French butter sauce—was lovely. An informal poll of other diners revealed raves for the Boursin cream sauce dressing up the New York Strip. The Beef Thai Noodle was named best salad—tender steak off the grill, served over sweet Thai chili rice noodles and mixed greens with carrot, cucumber, red bell pepper, scallion and peanut vinaigrette. We washed it all down with a Dora Paula malbec, the hot grape variety from Argentina. The key to dessert was thoughtful portion choices for only $4—Bailey’s Irish cream cheesecake with chocolate crust and fresh, homemade Kahlúa whipped cream, or a raisin-and-walnut bread pudding. I couldn’t pass either one on this course (“Mind if I eat through?”).
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VIVID VICTUALS: Lake Valley’s Shrimp and Italian Grits tastes as good as it looks.
It was unfortunately too cold to dine on the deck—which sports Boulder County’s best view of the Flatirons, bar none—but the warm and inviting interior of the restaurant provided the perfect ambience for a faultless wintery dining experience. Much like the wood from which clubs were once made and the restaurant takes its name, the Persimmon Grill finds the sweet spot every time. 4400 Lake Valley Drive, Niwot; 303-444-2114 ext. 21; lakevalley.com
Colorado AvidGolfer | Spring 2014
THE RIDGE BAR & GRILL at Castle Pines You’re in the hands of a savvy veteran at The Ridge Bar & Grill— Bill Goers, Director of Food and Beverage, has worked at The Ridge at Castle Pines for 17 years. The Ridge used to close on Halloween, but for the last decade it has maintained winter hours. The restaurant is open three nights a week from 5
to 8 p.m., a schedule anchored by “Two Dollah Thursdays” (for kids’ menu items), “Walleye Fridays” and “Prime Rib Saturdays,” and breakfast is served on Saturday and Sunday mornings. During the off-season, Bill pulls off the neat trick of halving the summer menu but keeping it fresh for the locals, “a little something of everything.” On a recent visit, we learned our waitress, Chelsey, hails from Dardanelle, Ark.—home of John Daly, the famously overfed golfer, which I took as a sign. But we did a lot better than burgers, doughnuts and M&Ms. For appetizers, we sampled Root Beer Sliders; the soda tenderizes the pulled pork and gives a hint of sweetness; the mounds are grilled with onions, chili sauce and cheddar cheese. But everyone comes for the Borrachos Nachos. Bill himself smokes the “Ridge blend cheese” (grated cheddar and pepper jack), the delicious glue that holds the sour cream, guacamole and jalapeño together. He’s been making Jumbo Wings “Billy Bob style” since the early ’80s; under interrogation, he gives up the minimum intel required about marinating the wings in Cajun sauce for 24 hours, then frying and tossing them in Frank’s Hot Sauce with other seasonings to make it his own. The ten lip-smacking wing sections come with bleu cheese and ranch dressing—my thanks for not making me choose. If you think “Gluteny” is one of the Seven Deadly Sins, you’ll be happy here, as all of the Ridge’s sauces are gluten-free. Crab Stuffed Chicken led the weekly specials, with a silky, luxurious tarragon coloradoavidgo lf e r.c o m
MEXED GRILL: The Ridge’s popular Borrachos Nachos appetizes diners for entrees such as the New York Steak and Enchiladas.
cream sauce lending a faint anise flavor to the poultry. The “Ridge Favorites” category featured Fish and Chips and Homemade Meatloaf; I dug into the Steak and Enchilada, an 8 oz. New York with two cheese enchiladas smothered with a country-style green chili, not too hot. A bottle of Terrazas Reserve malbec from Argentina brimmed with jammy fruit on the nose. For dessert, the Apple Crisp paired a buttery, crunchy oat topping and tender apples—a simple and essential approach that infers Bill’s skills and knowledge.
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For breakfast, try the Stuffed French Toast, made with thick sliced Hawaiian bread, sweet and tender (made special by a local bakery, inspired by Bill’s yearly vacation), dipped in cinnamon egg batter and stuffed with warm strawberries and blueberries. Bill put migas on the menu when a server told him about the way they make the Mexican breakfast in Austin—two eggs scrambled with bacon, onion, jalapeño, corn tortillas and cheddar cheese topped with avocado and sour cream, served with hashbrowns and
salsa. He named the Terry Omelet after a guy from the neighborhood who comes to breakfast every morning at 10:45 for egg whites, turkey, onion, tomato and fontina cheese. Obviously, the guy listens. Now, about that Gary James Huevos Rancheros. 1414 Castle Pines Parkway, Castle Pines; 303-688-4575; playtheridge.com CAG
Read more of Gary James’ food writing at coloradoavidgolfer.com.
Spring 2014 | Colorado AvidGolfer
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P H O T O G R A P H s C O U RT E S Y O F che v ro l et a n d for d
A World of Excellence from Detroit Highlights from the 2014 North American International Auto Show. By Isaac Bouchard
North America
S
ometimes the hometown team has a real advantage, and while the major car-producing continents showed strongly at NAIAS, the Detroit 3 really captured the zeitgeist this year.
2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Everything promised—but not delivered—by the C7 Stingray at last year’s show, was finally realized. Wicked detailing, exquisite aggression and the cojones to back it up: 625 supercharged horses channeled through either a paddle-shift eightspeed auto or six-speed manual and the kind of race-derived engineering that has made the past two generations of Corvette such track weapons.
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2015 Chrysler 200
Chrysler’s first serious entry into the biggest segment of the US market goes from the basement to the top floor. “Movin’ on up” means an all-new platform, compelling and distinct styling and topnotch new interiors themed to places like Fifth Avenue, Sausalito and Detroit (check out the city skyline embossed into the rubber liner of the center console). Chrysler claims the 3.6L V6’s 295hp top the class, and it’s also the first in segment with a nine-speed automatic. Also available is an AWD system (shared with the new Jeep Cherokee) that disconnects when not needed to save fuel.
2015 Ford F150
A radical aluminum body atop a stiffer yet lighter frame save approximately a quarter ton of weight—without compromising durability, says
Ford. A new 2.7-liter twin turbo EcoBoost V6 joins returning 3.5L, base V6 and 5.0L V8. Oddly, many trim levels may not be available with the terrific (albeit thirsty) larger turbocharged engine. Inside great style, mediocre materials and loads of useful tech like 360 cameras and computers to help hook up a trailer. Outside subtle evolution and pleasing details like the tailgate’s sculpturing and side windows’ drop keep it current. Potentially a huge leap forward for the best selling vehicle in the world. coloradoavidgo lf e r.c o m
P H O T O G R A P H C O U RT E S Y O F chrys l er , porsche , vo lvo a n d m erce d es b e n z
SHOWSTOPPERS: Clockwise from top, Chrysler 200, Porsche Macan, Volvo XC Coupe and Mercedes C-Class.
Europe The Olde Worlde is very happy Americans and Asians have some money to spend these days, as shown by a slightly warmer and less arrogant mien than some previous years. Entry-level Mercedes CLA and upcoming GLA, combined with the C- and S-Class, make them look almost unbeatable. Then your knees go weak at the sight of the all new BMW M3 (and slightly less desirable two-door M4), 2-series and i3 and i8 electrics. Only Audi seemed slightly off form, with predictable, rehashed designs. At least its interiors are still such nice places to spend time, with clean, elegant surfaces and excellent quality materials, even in the latest, “entry level” A3 and Q3. co l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c o m
2015 Mercedes C-Class This seven-eights scale version of luxobarge Sclass doesn’t quite offer the same glamour outside, yet has an interior that resets the standard in the class and actually makes you feel like your $50k was well spent. Loads of new tech, lighter weight and more performance to go with the thoroughly 21st century styling.
2015 Porsche Macan
Porsche has been so hit or miss on styling. TFirst-gen Cayenne and current Panamera? Fugly! Second-gen fullsize SUV? Nice. Latest Carrera, Cayman and Boxster? Standouts. Thankfully, the smaller Macan follows those last three, and is simply gorgeous in the metal, with the right
size wheels—staggered in size like a 911’s—making it look purposeful and fast. Power starts at 300 horses and goes up from there. Also available in diesel, and with Stuttgart’s track record of fulfilling a driver’s fantasies, it should be a blast.
Volvo Concept XC Coupe Speaking of gorgeous, Volvo’s comeback looks to be kicking into high gear with the Concept XC Coupe. It won the award for best show car—as picked by other designers—and its surface development, sophisticated detailing and harmony of form showed a level of maturity from new exterior design chief Maximilian Missoni far beyond his years. Combined with the upcoming all-new scalable platform and super- and turbocharged engines a renaissance appears about to unfold. See the real deal next year when the all-new—and long overdue—XC90 replacement is unveiled. Spring 2014 | Colorado AvidGolfer
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sideBets ASIAN HOMAGES: Kia’s Quattro-like Stinger Concept and the sumptuous, BMW-esque Hyundai Genesis.
Asia
Kia GT Stinger Concept
The first Hyundai to be aimed directly at ze Germans returns completely reengineered, clothed in the company’s new “Fluidic Sculpture 2.0” design aesthetic. Inside the premium feel continues with shapes and materials to rival a BMW (which Hyundai made mention of several times). Beyond the new look is a stronger structure, revised suspension that they say improves ride and handling, and–for the first time in the Genesis—available AWD. About the only thing not significantly changed are the two engine options: 311hp 3.8L V6 and 420hp 5.0L V8, both pumping through an eight-speed auto.
High hopes and a big buildup couldn’t save Kia’s RWD sportster from appearing (to me) a bit too similar to Audi’s Quattro Concepts from a few years back. Yet the Stinger was sexy and had some interesting details such as the horizontal LED lighting scheme. If anything like this car actually hit the street from Kia, I’d eat my hat. CAG
Read more from Automotive Editor Isaac Bouchard’s visit to the NAIAS at coloradoavidgolfer.com and nicedrivz.com.
You don’t have to go far...
...for today’s business trip.
www.redrockscountryclub.org
(303) 352-2030
16235 W. Belleview Avenue
Morrison, CO 80465
Red Rocks Country Club is a private club located in Morrison, CO. All applicants are subject to the Club’s membership application and screening process.
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Colorado AvidGolfer | Spring 2014
coloradoavidgo lf e r.c o m
P H O T O G R A P H s C O U RT E S Y O F k i a a n d hyu n da i
While the Japanese and Koreans are doing just fine, thanks, there seems to be a bit less imagination overall coming from that part of the world these days. Or maybe it’s just me, who is sick of Toyota, Lexus, Honda and Acura failing to show any styling consistency. Mazda did bring some honor home with a strong second-place showing in North American Car of the Year with the stellar Mazda3, which never stood a chance with the hometown jury against the Z06.
2015 Hyundai Genesis Sedan
WHO’S
your
CAGGY? You voted. We counted. Herewith, your choices for
the best
in Colorado golf.
PUBLIC/RESORT Best Denver Region Course
STAFF PICKS*
Best Practice Facility
Best Western Slope Course
STAFF PICKS*
The Broadmoor Kissing Camels Golf Club, Colo. Springs Country Club of Colorado, Colo. Springs
1. The Golf Club at Bear Dance, Larkspur 2. The Ridge at Castle Pines, Castle Rock 3. Colorado National Golf Club, Erie
STAFF PICKS*
Bear Dance, Larkspur Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, Denver The Ridge at Castle Pines
1. The Golf Club at Redlands Mesa, Grand Junction 2. Lakota Canyon Ranch Club, New Castle 3. Devil’s Thumb Golf Club, Delta
Best Front Range/ Northeast Course
STAFF PICKS*
[Longmont and North] 1. Mariana Butte Golf Course, Loveland 2. Pelican Lakes Golf & Country Club, Windsor 3. Highland Meadows Golf Course, Windsor
STAFF PICKS*
Collindale Golf Course, Fort Collins Mariana Butte Pelican Lakes
Best Mountain Course
1. Pole Creek Golf Club, Tabernash 2. Raven Golf Club at Three Peaks, Silverthorne 3. Keystone Ranch Golf Course, Keystone
STAFF PICKS*
Red Sky Golf Club (Norman), Wolcott Red Sky Golf Club (Fazio) Rollingstone Ranch Golf Club, Steamboat Springs
Best Southern Course [Colo. Springs and South] 1. The Broadmoor Golf Club, Colo. Springs 2. Walking Stick Golf Course, Pueblo 3. Four Mile Ranch Golf Club, Cañon City
The Bridges Golf & Country Club, Montrose Redlands Mesa Telluride Ski & Golf Club
Best Environmental Stewardship
1. Green Valley Ranch 2. Colorado National 3. Heritage Eagle Bend
Green Valley Ranch Murphy Creek Golf Course, Aurora Red Sky Golf Club
Best Conditions
1. Riverdale Golf Courses, Brighton 2. Heritage Eagle Bend 3. Colorado National
STAFF PICKS*
Bear Dance The Ridge at Castle Pines Riverdale
Best Conditions
1. CommonGround Golf Course, Aurora Green Valley Ranch (tie) 3. Bear Dance
1. The Broadmoor 2. Omni Interlocken Resort, Broomfield 3. Red Sky (Fazio) Red Sky (Norman)
STAFF PICKS*
STAFF PICKS*
Green Valley Ranch Haymaker Golf Course, Steamboat Springs Heritage at Westmoor, Westminster
The Broadmoor Inverness Golf Club, Englewood Red Sky
Best Ego-Booster
1. Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Club, Aurora 2. Red Hawk Ridge Golf Club, Castle Rock 3. City Park Golf Course, Denver
1. Colorado National 2. CommonGround 3. The Greg Mastriona Courses at Hyland Hills, Westminster
STAFF PICKS*
STAFF PICKS*
Aurora Hills Golf Course, Aurora Park Hill Golf Course, Denver Willis Case Golf Course, Denver
Best Family Course
Family Sports Center, Centennial Green Valley Ranch The Links at Highlands Ranch
*Staff selections throughout are arranged alphabetically.
BEST DENVER REGION COURSES
THEY’RE NOT quite Pine Valley, Augusta National and Pebble Beach, which seem to take turns at the top of the golf world’s “best” lists. But the troika of The Golf Club at Bear Dance, The Ridge at Castle Pines North and Erie’s Colorado National Golf Club seem to own this highly competitive CAGGY category. Fans of Bear Dance love the course’s majestic setting, thought-provoking layout and punctilious maintenance. Since earning Best New Course in 2003, this 7,726-yard gem has finished among the top three Denver Region courses multiple times, including first places in 2006, 2008 and 2010, and best overall in 2007.
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Located 15 miles north in a similarly majestic milieu of ponderosa pines and Gambel oaks, The Ridge (pictured left) copped top honors in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2012. With its challenging, well-groomed, 7,013-yard Weiskopf design, the Troon-managed facility consistently earns high marks for a country-clubfor-a-day atmosphere that’s second to none. Finishing just behind The Ridge, Colorado National started life as Vista Ridge Golf Club before the University of Colorado rechristened it in 2009. The Jay Morrish-Ric Buckton course sprawls more than 7,600 challenging yards and regularly hosts PAC-12 and NCAA events. It won CAG’s Best Overall Public Course in 2011.
Spring 2014 | Colorado AvidGolfer
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PUBLIC/RESORT Best Course for Women
Best Wedding/ Party Venue
STAFF PICKS*
STAFF PICKS*
Best Après-Golf Experience
Best Colorado Stay & Play
STAFF PICKS*
STAFF PICKS*
1. Colorado National 2. Heritage Eagle Bend 3. Fox Hollow Golf Course, Lakewood Applewood Golf Course, Golden Broken Tee Golf Course, Englewood Green Valley Ranch
1. The Broadmoor 2. Colorado National 3. Pole Creek
Breckenridge Golf Club Buffalo Run Golf Course, Commerce City The Ridge at Castle Pines North
1. Arrowhead Golf Club, Littleton 2. The Broadmoor 3. Colorado National Cordillera Lodge & Spa, Edwards Keystone Ranch Omni Interlocken
1. The Broadmoor 2. Keystone Resort 3. Breckenridge Golf Club The Broadmoor Cordillera Lodge & Spa Telluride
Best to Walk
Best Course for Seniors
1. CommonGround 2. Riverdale 3. Collindale
1. Heritage Eagle Bend 2. Colorado National 3. Homestead at Fox Hollow
STAFF PICKS*
Fox Hollow Indian Peaks Wellshire Golf Course, Denver
Best On-Course Views 1. Arrowhead 2. Pole Creek 3. Bear Dance
STAFF PICKS*
Applewood Broken Tee Todd Creek Golf Club, Thornton
Best Charity Tournament Venue 1. Colorado National 2. The Ridge at Castle Pines North, Omni Interlocken (tie)
STAFF PICKS*
Cordillera (Summit Course) Redlands Mesa Telluride
STAFF PICKS*
Green Valley Ranch Inverness Omni Interlocken
Best Food
Best Value
Best Wildlife Experience
1. Arrowhead 2. Bear Dance 3. Estes Park Golf Course
1. The Broadmoor 2. Colorado National 3. Bear Dance
STAFF PICKS*
STAFF PICKS*
STAFF PICKS*
STAFF PICKS*
1. Colorado National 2. Fossil Trace Golf Club, Golden Fox Hollow (tie) Bear Dance Inverness Red Sky
1. Riverdale 2. Colorado National 3. CommonGround Raccoon Creek Golf Course, Littleton Riverdale Saddle Rock Golf Course, Aurora
Best Service
Breckenridge Broadmoor-Mountain Course The River Course at Keystone
The Broadmoor Fossil Trace Inverness
*Staff selections throughout are arranged alphabetically.
Featuring large wooden beams, a generous fireplace, bison trophies and discreetly displayed University of Colorado Buffaloes memorabilia, Colorado National Golf Club’s elegant clubhouse suggests a private club. And Master’s Restaurant welcomes hungry golfers and local diners as prized members. Food and Beverage Director Julie Poursadigh rewards them with fresh, homemade cuisine at affordable prices—and they’ve reciprocated by awarding the club its third CAGGY for best food. The home course for the CU golf teams naturally features Buff Wings and homemade Bison Chili (but no “BohnIn” Steak.), as well as a selection of hearty
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Colorado AvidGolfer | Spring 2014
salads and sandwiches—including a delectable Chicken Pesto Panini and Albuquerque Turkey with honey mustard. The standout entrée is the Almond-Crusted Salmon with a citrus sauce of homemade coleslaw dressing with reduced orange juice, closely followed by the classically tangy Chicken Piccata and Ancho Rubbed Pork. Finish up with the unique Bananas Foster Split. The $9.95 Sunday Brunch (8:00-12:00) buffet features comfort food such as Chicken and Waffles and sinful Bacon Pancakes—fluffy, moist and salty. You can even fill a to-go box to take on the course with you. On beautiful summer days, the scenic patio overlooking the 18th green lets you watch golfers hole out while you fill your piehole with masterful fare. —Gary James
coloradoavidgo lf e r.c o m
Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Clarkson Creative
BEST FOOD
PRIVATE Best Denver Region Club
Best Western Slope/ Southwest Club
Best Club to Hold a Tournament
1. Cherry Hills Country Club, Cherry Hills Village 2. Castle Pines Golf Club, Castle Rock 3. Colorado Golf Club, Parker
1. Telluride Ski & Golf Club 2. The Glacier Club, Durango 3. Bookcliff Country Club, Grand Junction
Best Overall Experience
STAFF PICKS*
STAFF PICKS*
Club at Crested Butte The Glacier Club Telluride
STAFF PICKS*
STAFF PICKS*
Castle Pines Golf Club Cherry Creek Country Club, Denver Cherry Hills
Best Front Range/ Northeast Club
Best Southern Club
Best for Families
Most Coveted Invitation
STAFF PICKS*
STAFF PICKS*
Ballyneal Fort Collins Country Club Harmony Club, Timnath
The Broadmoor Flying Horse Country Club of Colorado, Colo. Springs
Best Mountain Club
Best Value
1. The Club at Cordillera, Edwards 2. Red Sky Golf Club, Wolcott 3. Country Club of the Rockies, Edwards
1. Red Rocks Country Club, Morrison 2. Fox Hill 3. Canongate Colorado, Parker and Aurora
STAFF PICKS*
STAFF PICKS*
1. Ballyneal Golf & Hunt Club, Holyoke 2. Fox Hill Club, Longmont 3. Ptarmigan Country Club, Fort Collins
Adam’s Mountain Club, Eagle Red Sky Roaring Fork Club, Basalt
1. The Broadmoor 2. Eisenhower Golf Club, Colo. Springs 3. The Club at Flying Horse, Colo. Springs
Canongate Colorado Lake Valley Golf Club, Longmont Pueblo Country Club
1. Flying Horse 2. Cherry Creek 3. Lakewood Country Club
1. Sanctuary, Sedalia 2. The Broadmoor Pinehurst Country Club, Denver (tie)
Colorado Golf Club Flying Horse Pinehurst Country Club, Denver
Hiwan Golf Club, Evergreen Lakewood Sanctuary
1. Red Rocks Country Club, Morrison 2. Glenmoor Country Club, Cherry Hills Village 3. Fox Hill Club
STAFF PICKS*
Blackstone Golf Course, Aurora Flying Horse Pinehurst
1. Cherry Hills 2. Sanctuary 3. Castle Pines Golf Club
STAFF PICKS*
Castle Pines Golf Club Cherry Hills Denver Country Club
Most Underrated Club 1. Red Rocks 2. Fox Hill 3. Cherry Creek
Best Locker Room 1. Castle Pines Golf Club 2. Cherry Hills 3. Colorado Golf Club
STAFF PICKS*
STAFF PICKS*
Adam’s Mountain The Club at Rolling Hills, Golden Valley Country Club, Centennial
Cherry Creek Cherry Hills Lakewood Country Club
*Staff selections throughout are arranged alphabetically.
Photo courtesy of Cordillera Golf Club
B E S T M O U N TA I N C L U B Talk about a feel-good story. After a turbulent few years during which every member resigned, The Club at Cordillera is once again generating the kind of positive publicity that befits one of Colorado’s most magnificent properties. Credit for much of this success goes to Troon Golf, the global golf management firm hired by the new ownership group to operate the 7,000-acre facility. New General Manager Mike Henritze and his team listened to former and current members “for as long as they wanted to talk to us. We synthesized their comments and promised them we would reopen their club.” Troon overdelivered on its promise,
co l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c o m
unshuttering all three 18-hole courses—including the Mountain, which was on a 2014 timetable—along with their clubhouses, restaurants and services. Last year 336 former members rejoined and 52 new ones signed up. That’s a big number, but only about onethird of the 1,000-plus the business plan ultimately calls for. “The goal is to gain or regain 60 new members a year,” says Henritze. “We need to be sustainable as a club and not be real-estate driven. To do that we have to grow.” And to grow, he says, “we need to keep adapting and improving in every way.” One way is the food. They recently hired chef Matt Limbaugh from Vail’s hip Restaurant Kelly Liken to run the Mountain Course’s Timber Hearth Grille at the Mountain Course.
Spring 2014 | Colorado AvidGolfer
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PRIVATE
INSTRUCTION
Best Clubhouse
Best Instructor for Men
STAFF PICKS*
STAFF PICKS*
Toughest Test
Best Instructor for Women
1. Colorado Golf Club 2. Castle Pines Golf Club 3. Cherry Creek Cherry Creek Colorado Golf Club Flying Horse
1. Nathan Morris, GolfTEC-DTC 2. Vince Buelk, Collindale Golf Course 3. Reggie Sanchez, GolfTEC-DTC
Andy Hilts, GolfTEC Ed Oldham, The Ranch Country Club, Westminster Charlie Soule, Green Valley Ranch Golf Academy, Denver
1. Colorado Golf Club 2. Bear Creek Golf Club, Denver 3. Castle Pines Golf Club
STAFF PICKS*
Castle Pines Golf Club Colorado Golf Club The Country Club at Castle Pines
Best Food
1. Stephanie Ferguson, Green Valley Ranch Golf Academy 2. Elena King, Experience Golf at CommonGround, Aurora 3. Lana Ortega, Lana Ortega Golf, Denver
STAFF PICKS* Elena King Lana Ortega Sherry Smith
Best Instructor for Juniors
1. The Broadmoor 2. Red Rocks 3. Glenmoor
1. Matt Schalk, Colorado National 2. Steve Beach, Glenmoor 3. Trent Wearner Golf Academy, Englewood
STAFF PICKS*
Castle Pines Golf Club Cherry Hills Glenmoor
STAFF PICKS*
Doug Wherry, Jake’s Academy, Lone Tree Trent Wearner
*Staff selections throughout are arranged alphabetically.
Although GolfTEC
has more than 170 worldwide Improvement Centers, the company’s first location in the Denver Tech Center houses two of the top three vote-getting PGA Professionals—Nathan Morris and Reggie Sanchez. Both instructors benefit from great knowledge and access to the most precise and advanced golf-swing technology on the planet. But both agree teaching is about more than expensive training aids. Morris, a self-professed “golf geek,” has taught using everything from PVC pipes to Altoids boxes. “I get as creative as I can with drills,” he says. “GolfTEC has a formula, but
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Colorado AvidGolfer | Spring 2014
not a specific swing. I try to teach the simplest swing an individual can do to generate power and consistency.” Morris, a two-time Golf Digest Top 100 Clubfitter, integrates club-fitting into his instruction. Also a Top 100 clubfitter, the genial Sanchez enjoys working with juniors, though he clearly connects with clients of all ages. “They progress here a lot faster than they did at the club where I worked before,” he says. As proof, he points to a display of golf balls: “When clients come in, they tell us their goals. When they reach them, they make our Wall of Fame. I have the most Wall of Famers at this facility.”
coloradoavidgo olorado avidgo lf e r.c o m
Photo by Jeremy Cantalamessa
BEST INSTRUCTORS
TRAVEL Best Overall U.S. Experience 1. Bandon Dunes, Oregon 2. Pebble Beach, California 3. Pinehurst, North Carolina
STAFF PICKS*
STAFF PICKS*
Conestoga Golf Club, Mesquite Coyote Springs Golf Club, Coyote Springs, Nevada Entrada at Snow Canyon, St. George, Utah
Best Mexico Golf Experience
American Club, Wisconsin La Quinta, California Princeville Hawaii
Best Las Vegas Golf Experience
1. Wynn Las Vegas 2. Shadow Creek Golf Club, North Las Vegas 3. Cascata Golf, Boulder City
1. Cabo Del Sol, Cabo San Lucas 2. Estrella Del Mar, Mazatlán 3. Punta Mita, Puerto Vallarta
STAFF PICKS*
Costa Baja, La Paz El Tigre, Puerto Vallarta One&Only Palmilla, San José del Cabo
Best New Mexico Golf Experience
STAFF PICKS*
Cascata Paiute Golf Resort, Las Vegas Shadow Creek
Best Mesquite/ St. George Golf Experience 1. Wolf Creek Golf Club, Mesquite, Nev. 2. Sand Hollow Resort, Hurricane, Utah 3. Coral Canyon Golf Course, Washington, Utah
1. Paa-ko Ridge Golf Club, Sandia Park 2. Sandia Resort and Casino, Albuquerque 3. University of New Mexico Championship Course, Albuquerque
STAFF PICKS*
Best Phoenix/Scottsdale Golf Experience 1. Troon North Golf Club, North Scottsdale 2. We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, Ft. McDowell 3. Whisper Rock Golf Club, Scottsdale Desert Mountain, Scottsdale TPC Scottsdale, Scottsdale
STAFF PICKS*
The Boulders, Carefree TPC Scottsdale We-Ko-Pa
Best Tucson Area Golf Experience
1. The Lodge at Ventana Canyon, Tucson 2. The Golf Club at Dove Mountain, Marana 3. Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa, Tucson
STAFF PICKS*
Sewailo Golf Club, Tucson Tubac Golf Resort, Tubac Ventana Canyon
Black Mesa Golf Course, Santa Fe Paa-Ko Ridge Sandia *Staff selections throughout are arranged alphabetically.
BEST TRAVEL DESTINATION Approximately 600 miles separate Bandon Dunes from Pebble Beach. The number of votes separating the two was far fewer—seven. In the 15 years after opening Bandon Dunes—the first of its five walking-only, golf-as-itwas-meant-to-be courses on the linksland of the southern Oregon coast—Michael Keiser’s resort has distinguished itself time and again as the destination for golf pilgrims. Unlike the meccas to which it draws comparisons—Pebble, St. Andrews, Pinehurst—Bandon will likely never host a major tournament. Nor does it aspire to. The courses form a major gauntlet all their own: Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes,
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Colorado AvidGolfer | Spring 2014
Bandon Trails, Old Macdonald and the 10-hole Bandon Preserve. Each course delivers a singular golf experience that challenges our grey matter. And those challenges will continue, as Keiser recently inked a deal to build Bandon Links, a 27-hole, affordable links-style layout designed by Gil Hanse. From one-bedrooms at the Inn to lakeside cottages, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort boasts as many lodging options as it does courses. The range comfortably accommodates golfers of all budgets. Hearty food and spa treatments rejuvenate you after hiking 18 or 36 along the rugged, windswept terrain. And every year, more and more people are loving the trek.
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ALBUQUERQUE’S
AWARD WINNING
GOLF CLUB STAY& PLAY
PACKAGES STARTING AT
129
$
*
ENJOY COMPLIMENTARY AIRPORT PICKUP WHEN STAYING AND PLAYING AT SANDIA RESORT & CASINO
Sandia Resort & Casino features an award winning golf experience that offers a visually stunning and strategic 18 hole golf course designed by Scott Miller, complete practice facility and a 16,000 square foot “Pueblo” style clubhouse. Sandia Golf Club has garnered a number of national awards including “Best Resort Courses 2013 (#71) and Best Casino Courses (#15) ” by Golfweek. Every guest room and suite at Sandia Resort & Casino are highlighted by awe-inspiring views of the Albuquerque skyline or the rugged wildness of the Sandia Mountains.
CALL OR VISIT ONLINE TODAY TO RESERVE YOUR STAY & PLAY PACKAGE
505.798.3990
•
sandiagolf.com/avid
*Price is per person/per night based on double occupancy. Valid Sunday – Thursday. Rate does not include tax. Price is subject to availability and/or blackout dates. Not applicable to groups (17 or more), conventions, or special discount offers.
30 Rainbow Road NE
•
Albuquerque, NM
•
505.798.3990
•
sandiagolf.com
TOURNAMENT
PLANNER
How to PicK Your Course
I
n golf tournament
planning, as in life, if you choose the right course, you’ll succeed. The right golf course can help generate interest in your event and fill the field. How do you know it’s right? You need to take these four factors into consideration: price, reputation, location and amenities.
1. Price. Everything you can or cannot do with your tournament hinges on the contract price. But don’t jump at the lowest offer. Look at what the contract actually includes. Many courses will put together a package that covers nothing more than green fees and carts. When you add things such as cart signs, scoreboards and lunch, etc., your bargain just went to a premium. However, courses such as Colorado National Golf Club offer a package deal that includes scoring, prize fund, proximity events, souvenirs and other amenities that can add a great value to your event, without the hefty price tag. Whatever your budget, avoid trying to cover the cost of the tournament through entry fees. A hefty entry fee can easily dissuade potential entrants. Look for ways to offset the cost. Sponsors on each tee and green, as well as the putting, chipping and driving ranges provide a great revenue source. In addition, betting holes, raffles, “string” and silent auctions will bring in money and add value to your tournament.
Don’t overlook the reputation of the staff. Any course can hold a 144-player event, but very few can make all 144 players feel special. The staff at the golf course can make you look either very good—or very bad. Look for facilities that emphasize service. Ask your potential on-site coordinator: “Walk me through what each entrant will experience if we were to hold our tournament here.” If the answer doesn’t sound appealing to you, it most likely won’t be for your guests. Remember, each guest is special, and you want him or her to come back each year. The staff is the key to this. One last thing to consider about the course is its playability. Remember who your guests are going to be and what skill levels they represent. Your format should match your purpose and your guests—and the
2. Reputation Unless your event and/or organization enjoys great notoriety, the golf course itself is going to be your greatest marketing tool. When searching for a golf course, consider the reputation it has in the community. Has the course been featured recently in local and/or national golf publications? Have you heard people in your office talking about a particular course they’ve played or are anxious to play? Older courses with cachet often attract participants. However, those institutions can be more expensive and a little less flexible with their tournament prices. Newer courses often generate excitement among golfers because of the novelty factor. In addition, newer courses tend to be more accommodating than older ones.
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course setup should match those. If you are holding a corporate or charity outing, you should play a scramble or shamble at a golf course where the superintendent and tournament coordinator can set up the course so it is
playable and enjoyable to everyone.
3. Location. If the golf course is remote, players will get lost or arrive late, which can delay the start and put your guests in a bad mood. Look for an easily accessible location. Make sure to provide each entrant with directions to the golf course when they sign up, and again before the event via e-mail.
4. Amenities. Golf comprises only one part of the tournament experience. For most events, the players are there not only to play but to have fun, socialize and enjoy the atmosphere. Look for courses with multiple on-course servers, generous pro shop credits and carts with a GPS system that can run ads for your organization and key sponsors. Consider the banquet facilities. Will the dining room contribute to the experience you are trying to give each entrant? Can the dining room hold all of your guests rain or shine? Do you have limited menu choices or can the kitchen customize something unique for your event? Are locker rooms available? Where will the awards presentation be? Will you need audio/visual capabilities? The golf course is the key element in conducting a successful tournament. Finding a golf course that fits in your budget, is well-known for its service and playability, is easy to get to, and can offer amenities that add value to your event will help you fill not only this year’s field, but next year’s as well.
coloradoavidgo lf e r.c o m
Your
TOURNAMENT
FIND
PLANNER
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOME...
Call our clubs today to find out the great specials we have including no dues until spring and early season initiation fee specials. With a membership at either Colorado National Golf Club or The Fox Hill Club, you will receive playing benefits at either club and use of our 5,550 square foot indoor practice center and many other amenities like swimming and tennis. Join today and find out why having a membership at either of these clubs is like having two memberships at two premiere courses in Colorado for the price of one. Whether you are looking to join the club, book a tee time for your weekly game, or host your next corporate gathering or charitable event, Colorado National and Fox Hill are your destination and Colorado’s best home courses.
CALL NOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER!
coloradonationalgolfclub.com 303.926.1723 co l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c o m
thefoxhillclub.com 303.651.3777 Spring 2014 Colorado AvidGolfer
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TOURNAMENT
co l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c o m
PLANNER
Spring 2014 Colorado AvidGolfer
55
Excellence Exists at Red Hawk Ridge A Golf Digest Top 100, Jim Engh course minutes from the Denver Tech Center, in Castle Rock
COUNTRY CLUB
conditions
At public course prices.
MOUNTAIN-STYLE
play
Along I-25 in the Front Range.
TOURNAMENT
Making the Goodie Bag Great
M
ost golfers’ closets overflow with colorful logo-bearing shirts, hats, fleeces and windshirts—that is, if the golfer bothered to keep these items after the tournaments in which they played. Then there are the towels that work better on your car than your clubs, and the tee markers and repair tools that rattle around the bottom of the golf bag. Call them goodies, premiums, gifts or prizes. Tournament committees too often overlook the quality or uniqueness of these souvenirs. But they have the ability to make or break your event in the eyes of players—especially if yours is a charity event.
PLANNER
Listen to other golfers Ask friends who play a lot of golf about some of their most memorable tee prizes. We did, and got these answers: “Unique bagtags (I once got a leather one in the shape of a saddle); a mounted, framed photos of my group at a memorable hole; an engraved flask; a picnic set in a huge wooden basket.” “Four pint glasses etched with the tournament logo.”
ted
dy K
mem
oria
l
View each item as a marketing piece A unique and memorable custom prize might position your event as “the one” to which players will contribute in the years to come. Although everyone loves a sleve of Tour-quality logo golf balls, players lose them. The trick is to select a tee prize that is unique, useful and outlives the day’s event. For example, a quality travel bag with the event’s logo and information may provide many years of use, and each time the player packs it, it reminds him or her of your event.
Give bragging rights If you hold your tournament at a prestigious or new club, include the club logo on your prizes. Players are more likely to use the tee prize if it allows them “bragging rights.” And each use promotes your worthy cause.
“A cigar torch engraved with the course and tourney logo; rolling cooler; a golf flask that attaches to the bag.” “I once took home a cart girl from a charity event. Does that count?”
Create anticipation Offering a custom gift will not only help guarantee your players will use the item and remember your event, it will also keep them coming back, potentially with more players, to see what next year’s gift will be.
“Golf balls with my name printed on them; an engraved polished oak case of poker chips and double deck of cards; silver screw-capped walking stick flask fit for any golf bag.” (Continued on page 58)
Scout the pro shop
Let us host your 2014 tournament Call 720-733-3504 to schedule a visit or for more information. For tee times and other information: 720-733-3500 or redhawkridge.com.
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Colorado AvidGolfer | Spring 2014
Chances are, if you see something cool—an umbrella, say, or a jacket, Swiss Army knife, or canvas folding chair—in the pro shop, the PGA pro can custom-order it with your logo or hook you up with the local rep.
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Shhh...
WE WON’T TELL
Let your wedding venue be one compromise you don’t have to make. Heritage Eagle Bend is the best of both worlds for your bride and for you! Play golf on a course described by Golf Digest as “one of the best places to play in Colorado.” Enjoy a stag dinner with your groomsmen that includes a whiskey or beer pairing. Relax with a game of pool before walking down the aisle. Experience a wedding that is just as memorable for you as it is for your guests. Visit heritageeaglebend.com/groom to learn more!
23155 East Heritage Parkway
•
Aurora, CO 80016
• 303.693.7788
• heritageeaglebend.com/groom
TOURNAMENT
Tech It Out!
F
tee times to GPS to video instruction, technology has revolutionized golf, and the world of charity golf tournaments is no excep-
rom online
tion. Companies like My Custom Event, iWanamaker and Auctions by Cellular are automating and streamlining just about every function related to planning, scoring and monetizing a tournament.
My Custom Event (mycustomevent.com) This powerful Web-based event-registration and management platform enables tournament organizers to customize a site on which to register players and gather as much information about them as needed. The site looks, feels and functions as that of the charity organization, not a third-party provider, and it automatically scales to different devices. As an event director, just define the information you want from people when they register. The program will then create searchable databases through which you can know your participants better. It also captures participants’ IP addresses
PLANNER
when they register, which allows you to see
on working the event itself.
visually where your players are coming from, using MapPoint, and to target your audience, recruit new players and market to existing ones. What’s really cool is that you can set it up to text all participants about auction items, dinner selections and any other happenings before and during the event. You can also target individual participants (based on their info) about auction items on which they might bid. You can build in legal releases and track players, sponsors, donations and how much each participant spent on silent and live auction items. My Custom Event data-mines and integrates SEO to make your event more attractive to potential sponsors. It’s also plugged into more than 300 social network channels and ties all the information into Google analytics to extract rich data on participants. From a financial perspective, My Custom Event has automated payment system, which lets an event organizer use its own merchant account to process credit cards. This means the money gets into your account quicker. It also eliminates the human error that occurs with multiple people collecting checks and running registry tapes when they should be focused
iWanamaker (iwanamaker.com) Imagine a tournament with no scorecard to turn in, no mystery about your position during the round and no waiting to see your final standing on the leaderboard. iWanamaker has made all that happen—and more. Whether it’s an eight-man best ball, 144-person charity scramble, or a virtual skins game across multiple time zones, iWanamaker delivers real-time scoring directly to a players’ smartphone. You simply key in scores the same way you’d pencil in numbers on a card. The browser-based, smartphone-friendly event-scoring system immediately posts it to every competitor in the field. iWanamaker accounts for handicaps and course ratings and functions across all platforms. Colorado-based iWanamaker, which debuted in 2012, has scored events for hundreds of charities and organizations like AT&T, Ronald McDonald House, Boys and Girls Club, the Colorado Golf Association, CHSAA and high-school sports organizations across the country. It’s been used in tournaments at The Broadmoor, Pebble
WELCOME TO Todd Creek Golf Club
C
ome experience this Arthur Hills designed hidden gem, just minutes north of Denver in Thornton!
Opened in 2007, Todd Creek Golf Club is a full-service facility offering premium casual dining, banquets and events including weddings for up to 250 people, and of course, an exceptional golf experience. The 7,435 yard Arthur Hills Signature design features a rolling terrain with a variety of elevation changes. It emphasizes the surrounding landscape including native grasses, wetlands, the nearby Rocky Mountains, as well as Todd Creek. Don’t settle for an ordinary golf experience. Call now to reserve a tee time or book your event!
303.655.1779 toddcreekgolfclub.com
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Colorado AvidGolfer | Spring 2014
coloradoavidgo lf e r.c o m
TOURNAMENT
PLANNER
its “wall,” and ability to post video and photos. Advertising opportunities exist in those areas as well.
Auctions By Cellular
KEEP IT REAL-TIME: iWanamaker scores the field.
Beach, Pumpkin Ridge and scores of other venues. iWanamaker is a real-time way for event planners to engage entire fields for leagues, events and charity tournaments. It also presents multiple revenue streams for courses. After paying for an annual iWanamaker subscription, courses can sell advertising on leaderboards or license the program to organizations whose events they host. Sponsors have paid as much as $5,000 for leaderboard advertising space. iWanamaker also encourages competitors to post videos, photos and banter on
co l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c o m
(auctionsbycellular.com) To generate the most money from the event, many charity tournaments rely heavily on the après-golf silent auction. Auctions By Cellular not only organizes your auction, catalogues the items and gets out the word to attendees; it also has a track record of at least doubling the event revenue of its charity partners. ABC accomplishes this by employing cuttingedge auction tips and ideas, such as pre-event bidding, a televised fundraising thermometer and real-time text alerts when and if you’re outbid. ABC’s functionality is as simple as A-B-C. Before or during registration, guests provide their cell numbers and receive easy instructions from onsite ABC representatives on how to bid with their smartphones. The process eliminates those bid sheets and the competition and resentment they often cause among participants. Participants bid and instantly receive updates. The flawless and fast checkout process typically completes all transactions and prints receipts
CELL AND BUY: Easy as ABC
within 15 minutes of the auction’s close. Within 48 hours, ABC provides a detailed report that serves as a robust and invaluable database of names, numbers, emails and information on who did the least and most bidding, which items received the fewest, most and highest bids, etc.
Spring 2014 Colorado AvidGolfer
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TOURNAMENT
One and Done !
T
he next time you’re on a par-3 and a car, trip or cash awaits for a hole-in-one, remember Mancil Davis. Davis’ 15th club might be well a horseshoe. How else to explain his phenomenal mastery of the luckiest shot in golf? Davis, a club professional out of The Woodlands, Texas, holds the world record with 51 holes-in-one. Fifty of them have come on par3s; the other came on a 379-yard par-4 shaped— quite appropriately—“like a horseshoe,” he says. Known as The King of Aces, Davis flagged his first at the age of 11 in Odessa, Texas, and in 1967 made eight. He jokes that his caddy made more than he did during his cup of coffee on the PGA Tour. But his ebullient personality and uncanny proficiency on one-shotters has made him the perfect spokesman for the National Hole In One Association, the pioneering company that since 1981 has, for the cost of a relatively inexpensive insurance plan, enabled groups hosting golf events to offer cars and other expensive prizes to competitors if they jar an ace. (The odds of an amateur achieving this are 12,500 to 1.) “Before National Hole In One, hole-in-one prizes were an oddity,” says Davis, who has represented NHIO since Day One. He often appears at charity events, chatting up the competitors on the hole featuring a prize. After all the players in the group take their shot, presuming none has had an ace, he’ll hit. Any contestant with a shot closer than Davis’ wins a sleeve of King of Aces golf balls; if he’s closest to the pin, everyone plays off his ball. Each and
PLANNER
every golfer scoring a hole-in-one on the designated hole wins $10,000 in addition to any other prize offered by the tournament. “I’ve seen so many aces,” he says. “I never get tired of it. Our average winner is almost an 18 handicapper. We even had a blind lady make one. Golf ’s the only sport where a 22 handicapper can make a shot that can’t be replicated by the greatest player in the world.” What’s more, he says, a hole-in-one can instantly “turn a day of bad golf into a great day on the course.” What’s his trick? Davis insists he has no secret. “For the ball to go in the hole there’s an inordinate amount of luck,” he says. He never uses a tee and believes in visualizing the flight of the ball and aiming at the hole, not the green or even the flagstick. “It’s weird,” he says, when I’m playing a regulation round of golf, I feel differently with a six iron on a tee shot than I do on a second shot. On a par-3 it’s like HDTV, on a par 4 it’s low-def. I even had my brainwaves measured. Mine on my par-3 swings are completely different than they are on par-4s.”
Tips Having watched tens of thousands of amateur players attempt to ace par-3s, Davis has the following advice when you’re on the tee:
1. Club up. “The average player comes up short 85-90 percent of the time. Rarely do they find the back of the green. They just don’t seem to know how far they hit their clubs. Take more club.”
2. Maintain tempo. “Players often get very quick with their swing, and the results are usually pulls, hooks, tops or chunks.”
3. Tee it low or not at all. “Amateurs tend to tee the ball too high, resulting in those short popups. But why four times a round, do you hit it an iron off a tee when every other iron shot is off the fairway? It makes no sense. Unless you’re hitting off dirt, don’t use a tee.”
4. Visualize. “See in your mind where you want the ball to go. Account for the wind, but aim for the hole. Not the flag or green, but the hole.”
5. Stay optimistic. “Most golfers when they get to the prize hole feel like they have a chance. And they do. It can be anybody, any time, anywhere.”
ACE HIGH: Mancil Davis
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Colorado AvidGolfer | Spring 2014
For more information on National Hole In One, visit hio.com or call 888-423-8188.
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SPRING TRAINING RATES FROM
244
$
*
NO DAILY RESORT FEE
Talking Stick Resort is excited to welcome back the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies for Spring Training. And we’re thrilled to welcome back their fans – book now to enjoy spectacular Spring Training room rates from $244 per night, March 1st through 31st.
SCOTTSDALE
|
866.877.9897
|
TALKINGSTICKRESORT.COM
*Based on availability March 1-31, 2014. Not valid for groups or with any other offer. Locally owned and caringly operated by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
A Golfer’s Guide A Golfer’s Guide TO Training C a c Training t u s Spring L e a g u e S TO Spring a d v e r t i s i n g
s e c t i o n
presented by
p
e
c
i
a
l
A Golfer’s Guide TO Spring Training presented by
courses to
play Co l o r a d o A v i d G o l f e r. c o m
places to
stay
where to
eat
what to
do
Spring 2014 | Colorado AvidGolfer
65
A Golfer’s Guide TO Spring Training
presented by
E A
B A
COLORADO ROCKIES/ ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Salt River Fields at Talking Stick; 7555 N. Pima Rd, Scottsdale saltriverfields.com; 480-270-5000 PLAY: Talking Stick, TPC Scottsdale, The Boulders, Troon North, Grayhawk, We-Ko-Pa, Wildfire, Rancho Mañana STAY: Talking Stick, Zona, JW Desert Ridge, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Omni Montelucia, Four Seasons, The Phoenician EAT: Dominick’s, Tommy Bahama’s, Orange Sky, La Hacienda, Bourbon Steak, Deseo, Mastro’s, T. Cooks, Italian Grotto, Banderas, Don & Charlie’s
B
C
i
F H
G D
E
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SEATTLE MARINERS / SAN DIEGO PADRES
TEXAS RANGERS/ KANSAS CITY ROYALS
OAKLAND ATHLETICS
Peoria Sports Complex; 16101 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria peoriasportscomplex.com; 800-677-1227 PLAY: Quintero, Trilogy at Vistancia STAY: JW Marriott-Desert Ridge, Cibola Vista EAT: Firebirds Wood-Fired Grill, Dillons, Cucina Tagliani
Surprise Stadium, Surprise; 15850 North Bullard, Surprise surprisespringtraining.com; 623-222-2222 PLAY: The Wigwam, Hillcrest, Trilogy at Vistancia, Arizona Traditions, Rancho de los Caballeros STAY: The Wigwam, Rancho De Los Caballeros EAT: Vogue Bistro, Irish Wolfhound, New York Flavor, Fresh Wasabi
Phoenix Municipal Stadium; 5999 E. Van Buren, Phoenix phoenix.gov/SPORTS; 602-392-0074 PLAY: Papago Park, Wildfire, ASU Karsten, Talking Stick, TPC Scottsdale STAY: The Phoenician, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Royal Palms, Zona Resort Squites, Tempe Mission Palms EAT: Majerle’s, Vincents on Camelback, La Hacienda, Bourbon Steak, T.J. Cooks, Il Terazzo
CC
FF LOS ANGELES DODGERS/ CHICAGO WHITE SOX Camelback Ranch; 10710 West Camelback Rd, Glendale camelbackranchbaseball.com; 623-302-5000 PLAY: Golf Club at Aestrella, Wigwam, Raven at Verrado STAY: Cibola Vista, Welsch’s Rose Acres EAT: Calico Jack’s Yard House, Gordon Biersch, Margaritaville
D D
II SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Scottsdale Stadium; 7408 E. Osborn Road, Scottsdale scottsdaleaz.gov/stadium; 877-473-4849 PLAY: TPC Scottsdale, We-Ko-Pa, Eagle Montain, Westin Kierland, Camelback, McCormick Ranch STAY: Radisson Fort McDowell, The Phoenician, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Westin Kierland, Royal Palms, Omni Montelucia EAT: Cowboy Ciao, Dominick’s, Tommy Bahama’s, Orange Sky, La Hacienda, Bourbon Steak, Deseo, Mastro’s, T. Cooks
Maryvale Baseball Park; 3600 N. 51st Ave., Phoenix phoenix.gov/sports; 800 933-7890 PLAY: Raven at Verrado, Maryvale Golf Course, Desert Mirage STAY: Royal Palms, Arizona Biltmore, Arizona Grand EAT: Sylvia’s La Canasta, Bikini Lounge, The Original Hamburger Works
GG
JJ
CINCINNATI REDS/CLEVELAND INDIANS Goodyear Ballpark; 1933 South Ballpark Way, Goodyear goodyearaz.gov; 623-882-3130 PLAY: Wigwam Resort, Raven at Verrado, Palm Valley, The Golf Club of Estrella STAY: Wigwam Resort, Holiday Inn EAT: Bella Luna Ristorante, Caballero Grill, Bill Johnson’s Big Apple
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Colorado AvidGolfer | Spring 2014
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
CHICAGO CUBS
Tempe Diablo Stadium; 2200 W. Alameda Drive, Tempe tempe.gov/diablo; 888-796-HALO PLAY: ASU Karsten, Whirlwind, Raven Golf Club-Phoenix STAY: Sheraton Wildhorse Pass,The Buttes, Tempe Mission Palms EAT: Caffé Boa, The Tavern on Mill, Four Peaks Brewing
Cubs Park; 2330 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Mesa mlb.com/chc/mesa; 800-THE-CUBS PLAY: Longbow Golf Club, Superstition Springs Golf Club STAY: Gold Canyon Golf Resort, Sheraton Wildhorse Pass, EAT: Landmark, Postino Wine Café, Joyride Taco House coloradoavidgo lf e r.c o m
RULE #5
BRANDEL’S WATER IS NOT A HAZARD RULES FOR
SCOTTSDALE GOLF
There's plenty of world-class golf in Scottsdale. But, we all know there's more to a great golf trip than chasing a little white ball. Whenever I'm in town, I make sure to enjoy Scottsdale's "other" attractions. And I promise there is no penalty for being in the water.
I Love Scottsdale Golf and I promise you will, too. Learn more about how we play the game and start your next Scottsdale golf adventure at
iLoveScottsdaleGolf.com
— Brandel Chamblee, Golf Channel analyst and swimsuit model
A Golfer’s Guide TO Spring Training
T
hanks to the
second-worst road record in the National League last year, your Colorado Rockies pulled up the rear in the division. With Todd Helton now lacing line drives on golf courses and Dexter Fowler, Jonathan Herrera and half of last year’s pitching staff now playing elsewhere, the team will look considerably different when players report to Salt River Fields at Talking Stick this spring. But will the results be any better once the games count in April? A visit to Arizona this March lets you form an informed opinion—and also escape Colorado during the state’s snowiest month. The Rockies and 14 other Major League Baseball teams train within a 35-mile radius in the Phoenix/ Scottsdale area—home to more than 200 golf courses, endless hotel and dining options, and a wealth of activities. We listed the options closest to each team’s ballpark, but nothing here is more than an hour’s drive—tops—from anything else. Check out the other teams, such as the Cubs, which have a fabulous new stadium in Mesa, or see the Rockies play one of their 13 away games. They did have a winning spring record (16-15) last year, fourth in the Cactus League and tops among National League West teams.
Colorado Rockies/ Arizona Diamondbacks Salt River Fields at Talking Stick 7555 N Pima Rd, Scottsdale saltriverfields.com; 480-270-5000
presented by
PLAY
STAY
EAT
You can’t beat the convenience of the superbly conditioned courses at Talking Stick Golf Club (talkingstickgolfclub. com; 480-860-2221), the 36-hole Coore/ Crenshaw facility featuring the more open “links-style” North course and the tree-lined South. Adjacent to the Scottsdale Princess is TPC Scottsdale (tpc.com/Scottsdale; 888-877-9193), whose Stadium Course annually hosts the PGA Tour’s Waste Management Open and costs $299 to play; a round on the TPC’s much-improved Champions course runs $146. Roll some stones on the Rock ‘N’ Roll Range at Grayhawk Golf Club (grayhawkgolf.com; 480-502-2075),. The home of the Tom Fazio-designed Talon
Adjacent to the ballpark, The $440 million Talking Stick Resort (talkingstickresort.com; 866-877-9897) includes 497 guest rooms, a 240,000 square foot casino, a large pool/garden area with 20-plus cabanas, eight restaurants, and a world-class, 13,000-square-foot, open-air spa. Though no longer painted pink, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess (fairmont. com/scottsdale; 866-540-4495) brims with local color. The majestic, sprawling compound comprises 830 stately guest rooms, suites and casitas, superb restaurants, five swimming pools and a spa with a rooftop oasis, waterfall and aerial yoga. Located next door to the Fairmont, Zona Hotel & Suites (zonascottsdale.
The Scottsdale area overflows with dining options. The above resorts all feature top-tier restaurants worthy of a week’s worth of unique meals. Hands down, two of the best are at The Prin-
Sixteen’s A Crowd: TPC Scottsdale during the Waste Management Phoenix Open
and Raven courses, Grayhawk until 2009 hosted the PGA Tour’s Frys.com Open. Wildfire Golf Club (wildfiregolf.com; 888-705-7775), adjacent to the JW Marriott Desert Ridge, features a Faldo Signature and Palmer Signature courses that each March challenge the participants in the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup. If you can get north of town, don’t miss the photogenic pair of courses at The Boulders Club (bouldersclub.com; 480-488-9028) in Carefree and the highly playable beauty of Rancho Mañana Golf Club (ranchomanana.com; 480488-0398) in Cave Creek.
com; 888-222-1059) works well for groups and families. Due west of the ballpark, ultra-luxurious Montelucia (montelucia. com; 888-627-3010) just joined the Omni resort family. The 1,950-room JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa (jwdesertridgeresort.com; 800-835-6206) features an expansive spa, numerous pools and the Lazy River floating stream. Tucked into the Pinnacle Peak foothills, Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North (fourseasons.com/scottsdale; 480-515-5700) features 210 generously sized guest rooms.
START WITH A FANG: La Hacienda’s three-tequila Snakebite Flight.
cess: La Hacienda, Richard Sandoval’s superb gourmet Mexican, turns out theatrical and delectable dishes; and at Bourbon Steak, Chef Chris Curtiss poaches the beef in butter before grilling it to perfection. Deseo, the at the Westin Kierland, serves inspired South American dishes like Millionaire Tacos (yucca tacos with lobster, ahi and Hamachi) and a savory bone-in Pork Chuleta. If you’re lucky, you’ll see artist-in-residence Nelson Garcia-Miranda painting near the entrance. Sports bars include Zipp’s (zippssportsgrills.com), which is a short walk from the Salt River Fields, and Don & Charlie’s (donandcharlies.com).
DO Go shopping at Kierland Commons (kierlandcommons.com), or take the kids to CrackerJax Family Fun & Sports Park (crackerjax.com). For live music, hit Martini Ranch (martiniranchaz.com). If a dance DJ is more your style, kick it at Suede (suedeaz.com) in Old Town.
Go North
On the north edge of town, the Pinnacle and Monument courses at Troon North Golf Club (troonnorthgolf.com; 480-585-5300) continue to set a high bar for experience. Both courses guarantee a 4:24 pace of play and are great for families. Juniors aged 15 and younger play free after 3 p.m. when accompanied by a paying adult. They also receive complimentary Callaway rental clubs. The club has also created Mountain Express, an executive nine that families with golfers of different skill levels can play quickly.
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Colorado AvidGolfer | Spring 2014
coloradoavidgo lf e r.c o m
This year...
JUMP START YOUR SEASON With GolfTEC’s Training Camp. Open now through Feb. 28th 8 A complete Swing Evaluation 8 10 private lessons with a certified coach 8 18 hours of video-based practice 8 Precision club fitting For more information: www.golftec.com/trainingcamp Or call us today: (877) 446-5383 Offer expires 02/28/14. Prices and participation may vary. Visit your GolfTEC Improvement Center for details. © 2014 GolfTEC Intellectual Property, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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Boulder
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Golden
1727 Briargate Blvd. Colorado Springs, CO 80920 719-219-3095
Inside Golfsmith 17120 West Colfax Ave. Suite 108 Golden, CO 80401 303-278-3589
Park Meadows
Inside Golfsmith 9657 E. County Line Rd. Englewood, CO 80112 303-858-8280
Westminster
Chapel Hills
This year...
Cherry Creek
3773 Cherry Creek Dr. North Suite 130 Denver, CO 80206 303-388-4832
Denver Tech Center
Marina Square Shopping Center 8101 East Belleview Ave. Suite H Denver, CO 80237 303-770-5951
Inside Golfsmith 9440 Sheridan Blvd Westminster, CO 80030 303-426-6600 For more information: www.golftec.com/trainingcamp
For more information: www.golftec.com/trainingcamp Or call us today: (877) 446-5383
Offer expires 02/28/14. Prices and participation may vary. Visit your GolfTEC Improvement Center for details. Š 2014 GolfTEC Intellectual Property, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
zz
A Golfer’s Guide TO Spring Training
San Francisco Giants
presented by
DO
EAT
Scottsdale Fashion Square is the largest mall in the Southwest, with a recent $130 million renovation adding an entire new wing.
Quench your appetite for sports at The Tavern on Mill (tavernonmill.com) and Four Peaks Brewing (fourpeaks.com). Caffe Boa (cafeboa. com) specializes in upscale organic cuisine and a Wine Spectator award-winning selection of vintages.
Scottsdale Stadium 7408 E. Osborn Road, Scottsdale scottsdaleaz.gov/stadium; 877-473-4849
DO
PLAY Golf-loving aficonados of the Giants can avail themselves of the same courses as Rockies and D-Backs fans. In addition, definitely don’t miss the acclaimed Cholla and Saguaro courses at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club (wekopa.com; 866-660-7700) just east of Scottsdale on the Fort McDowell Indian Community. Closer in are the 27 Scott Miller-designed holes at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa (kierlandresort. com; 480-922-9283), which you can play in a kilt before the bagpiper’s legato ends the day. There’s also the new Ambiente
YOU-GO-PLAY: We-Ko-Pa Golf Club
layout at Camelback Golf Club (camelbackgolf.com; 480-596-7050) and the pair of renovated Desmond Muirhead layouts at McCormick Ranch Golf Club (mccormickranchgolf.com; 480-9480260).
STAY In addition to the hotels listed above for Rockies fans, check out the luxurious Westin Kierland Resort & Spa (kierlandresort.com; 800-354-5892) and the intimate Royal Palms Resort and Spa (royalpalmshotel.com; 602.840.3610).
EAT The same upscale North Scottsdale restaurants that attract Rockies rooters also welcome Giants fans, as well as players from those teams. For those looking for an eclectic, award-winning wine list, make a reservation at Cowboy Ciao (cowboyciao.com). co l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c o m
Mill Avenue Shopping (millavenue. com); Mill Cue Club (millcueclub.com).
Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim Tempe Diablo Stadium 2200 W. Alameda Drive, Tempe tempe.gov/diablo; 888-796-HALO
CHICAGO CUBS
Play the same course that challenged Arizona State University co-ed Phil Mickelson. The 7,002-yard Pete Dye-designed ASU Karsten Course (asukarsten.com; 480-921-8070) features three of the state’s toughest holes. Further south in Chandler try the Gary Panks-designed Devil’s Claw and Cattail courses at Whirlwind Golf Club (whirlwindgolf.com; 480-940-1500). The Cattail Course hosts the Nationwide Tour’s Gila River Classic. Just southwest of Tempe, the Gary PanksDavid Graham-designed Raven Golf Club-Phoenix (ravenphx.com; 602-2433636) features Georgia pines along the fairways and multi-tiered greens.
Cubs Park 2330 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Mesa mlb.com/chc/mesa; 800-THE-CUBS
The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort (wildhorsepassresort.com; 602-225-0100) boasts 500 rooms, an equestrian center, spa, casino and the two Whirlwind courses on its authentically designed and appointed property. The Buttes (marriott.com) is a Marriott property built right into the rock outcroppings with pools and a water slide, spa, tennis and volleyball courts. Tempe Mission Palms (missionpalms. com) right off Mill Avenue in the heart of downtown Tempe near Arizona State University, offers luxury in a college-town atmosphere.
STAY Mesa abounds with Marriotts, Hiltons and Holiday Inns. The Gold Canyon Golf Resort is a half-hour east of the Cubs new 15,000-seat Wrigley replica.
EAT
PLAY
STAY
lined respite from desert golf. Slightly east lies Las Sendas Golf Club (lassendas.com; 480-396-4000), a true sleeper etched into the Usery Mountains.
PLAY The Cubs new home in Mesa makes Whirlwind, ASU Karsten and RavenPhoenix viable options here. Most Cubs fans favor Longbow Golf Club, (longbowgolf.com 480-807-5400), a superb Ken Kavanaugh design just minutes from the stadium. Another option is Superstition Springs Golf Club (superstitionspringsgc; 480-985-5622, a lushly tree-
Diamond’s Sports Grille (diamondssportsgrille.com) bills itself as “the winter home of Chicago Cubs.” Vito’s (vitospizza.com) also serves Chicagostyle pizza in Scottsdale. For fun, head to Landmark Restaurant, which occupies a 100-year-old LDS church, or head to Gilbert’s swank Postino Winecafé (postinowinecafe.com) or the festive Joyride Taco House (joyridetacohouse.com).
DO Get an authentic Old West experience at Rockin’ R Ranch (rockinr.net) or a Modern Western experience at the upscale Dana Park (danapark.com) or Mesa Riverview (mesariverview.com).
The Book on Scotch
The Scottish flavor of the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa (kierlandresort.com; 480-6241000) does not confine itself to on-course kilts and bagpipes. A sumptuously appointed corner of the resort’s lobby now houses the Scotch Library, a staggering collection of more than 100 single malts and 25 blends imported from Scotland’s six whisky regions. The star, the Glenfiddich 50-year, costs $1,000 an ounce, and shares a glass case with other younger versions of distinctive brands as well as authentic claymores. A Bible-sized tome lists the qualities and prices of the myriad offerings. Blue-blazered, highly knowledgeable Scotch Ambassadors conduct a nightly “Evening of Scotches” for $45 per person (reservations required). Spring 2014 | Colorado AvidGolfer
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A Golfer’s Guide TO Spring Training
CINCINNATI REDS/ CLEVELAND INDIANS Goodyear Ballpark 1933 South Ballpark Way, Goodyear goodyearaz.gov; 623-882-3130
PLAY Palm Valley Golf Club (palmvalleygolf.com; 623-935-2500) in Goodyear features the 7,015-yard Palms layout by Arthur Hills and the perky par-62 Lakes Course by Hale Irwin. The magnificent Raven at Verrado (ravenatverrado.com; 623-388-3000) sits east of the West Valley in Buckeye. With 54 holes crisscrossed by mature trees and water, the Wigwam Resort (wigwamresort.com; 800-909-4224) in Litchfield Park serves up great old-school golf. The Jack Nicklaus II-designed Golf Club of Estrella (www.estrellagolf.com; 623-386-2600), provides a great value.
Texas Rangers/ Kansas City Royals Surprise Stadium 15850 North Bullard, Surprise surprisespringtraining.com; 623-222-2222
PLAY Your best bets are The Wigwam (Goodyear) and Trilogy at Vistancia (Peoria), both mentioned in connection with other teams. For a classic golf experience, head 45 minutes west to Wickenburg, home of the lush, rolling Rancho de los Caballeros Golf Club (ranchodeloscaballeros.com; 800-6845030). Golf bargains abound in this retiree paradise: Hillcrest (hillcrestgolfclub.com; 623-584-1500), Coyote Lakes (coyotelakesgolfclub.com; 623-566-2323) and two courses at Surprise Golf Club (surprisegolfclub.com; 623.584-6000).
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Los Angeles Dodgers/ Chicago White Sox Camelback Ranch 10710 West Camelback Road, Glendale camelbackranchbaseball.com; 623-302-5000
STAY
Resort-wise, you’re looking at 20-30 minutes between the ballpark and The Wigwam, Rancho de los Caballeros, or any of the finer Glendale/Phoenix/Scottsdale properties. In Surprise, The Windmill All Suites (windmillinns.com; 623-5830133) ranks highest among the many economy hotels.
Vogue Bistro (voguebistro.com 623544-9109) adds a delicious French touch to panini, burgers, fries and Continental cuisine. The Irish Wolfhound (irishwolfhoundpub.com) serves pints and pub fare in a convivial atmosphere. Deli lovers thrill to New York Flavor (newyorkflavor.com),
Colorado AvidGolfer | Spring 2014
DO: Tour Sahuaro Ranch Park, one of the Valley’s oldest and most magnificent ranches, which spreads across a 17-acre Historic Area featuring 13 original buildings, a rose garden, barnyard and historic orchards.
Seattle Mariners/ San Diego Padres
STAY
EAT
Phoenix International Raceway (phoenixraceway.com) hosts three races February 28-March 2. The Phoenix Coyotes (coyotes.nhl.com ) skate in Glendale.
The nearby White Tank Mountains provide some of the most enjoyable trails to hike. The centerfield party deck at Surprise Stadium provides an all-you-can-eat buffet, along with a great vibe and view of games every day.
WORTH IT: Rancho de los Caballeros.
EAT
DO
DO
The aforementioned Palm Valley and Raven Golf Club at Verrado. are solid plays here. Other layouts include the active-adult Sun City Country Club (suncitycountryclub.org; 623-933-1353) and Sun City North Course (sunaz.com; 623-876-3010). Talking Stick, Wildfire, Troon North and the other 36-hole facilities around Phoenix and Scottsdale are also easily accessible by highway from Glendale.
The Wigwam’s 440 acres and 331 intimate casitas and suites make it the perfect retreat for post-game cocktails or stargazing.
DUGOUT DUET: Reds and Indians mascots rev up the crowd.
and Fresh Wasabi (freshwasabisurprise. com) combines sushi and sports bar.
PLAY
STAY
The fine dining at Bella Luna Ristorante (bellalunaaz.com) and Caballero Grill makes them the best non-chain options in the area. Bill Johnson’s Big Apple (billjohnsons.com) is good too. Note: The ballpark serves Stadium Mustard for Cleveland fans and Skyline Chili for a taste of Cincinnati.
presented by
The major chains all have multiple inns and suites here. The Wigwam Resort is in nearby Litchfield Park, as is Welsch’s Rose Acres (roseacres.us), a bed-and-breakfast with pools, miniature horse racing and two chipping holes and putting greens.
EAT Head to Westgate City Center (westgatecitycenter.com) for nearly 20 different dining options, including Calico Jack’s Cantina (calicojacksglendale. com), Yard House (yardhouse.com) Gordon Biersch (gordonbiersch.com), and Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville (margaritavilleglendale.com).
Peoria Sports Complex 16101 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria peoriasportscomplex.com; 800-677-1227
PLAY Peoria sits on the 101 Loop, which makes just about any course accessible. But Peoria is also home to the five-star Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia (trilogygolfclub.com/vistancia; 623-328-5100) and Quintero Golf Club (quinterogolf. com; 928-501-1500), a once-private, Troon-managed Rees Jones layout.
STAY The national hotel chains all have Peoria outposts and North Scottsdale’s resorts (Fairmont, Xona, etc.) remain options. In Peoria, Cibola Vista Resort & Spa (cibolavista.com; 623-889-6700) boasts plush casitas and an expansive lagoon pool with a three-story water slide for family fun and an exclusive adult pool area.
EAT Peoria features great downhome barbecue at Firebirds Wood-Fired Grill (firebirdsrestaurants.com) and Dillons (dillonsrestaurant.com). Cucina Tagliani (cucinatagliani.com), right by the Stadium, dishes up Italian with great atmosphere.
DO Explore the final frontier with simulated flights at the Smithsonian’s Challenger Space Center (azchallenger.org). There’s nothing simulated about sailing, waterskiing or fishing on Lake Pleasant.
coloradoavidgo lf e r.c o m
S T AY & P L AY
ALL DAY AND NIGHT
Escape to the Radisson Fort McDowell Resort and We-Ko-Pa Golf Club. Relax poolside. Enjoy the incredible spa. Then tee it up on the finest 36 golf holes in the Southwest. For Stay and Play Packages and to experience We-Ko-Pa and the Radisson Resort, call (480) 789-5311, visit radissonfortmcdowellresort.com or visit fortmcdowelldestination.com. For golf tee times, call (480) 836-9000 or visit wekopa.com. LOCATED JUST MINUTES FROM SCOTTSDALE IN FORT MCDOWELL, ARIZONA STAY & PLAY PACKAGES WITH RADISSON FORT McDOWELL RESORT AND CASINO
866-660-7700
AN ENTERPRISE OF THE FORT MCDOWELL YAVAPAI NATION Golf Photography by Lonna Tucker
WEKOPA.COM RADISSON FORT McDOWELL RESORT & CASINO
A Golfer’s Guide TO Spring Training AAA Five-Diamond properties with championship golf, high-end spas and fine dining. Another superb option is the JW Marriott Desert Ridge (jwmarriottdesertridge.com). The luxurious Tempe Mission Palms is just one mile from the stadium.
EAT
Oakland Athletics Phoenix Municipal Stadium 5999 E. Van Buren, Phoenix phoenix.gov/SPORTS; 602-392-0074
PLAY
Former Phoenix Sun Dan Majerle’s Sports Grill (majerles.com) serves up games with its grub. Rosie McCaffrey’s Irish Pub & Restaurant (rosiemccaffreys.com) does pub fare right. On the higher end, try Vincent’s On Camelback (vincentsoncamelback.com) and the dozens of fine resort restaurants such as La Hacienda at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, T.J. Cooks at Royal Palms and Deseo at Westin Kierland.
This will be the A’s last spring in Phoenix before moving to the renovated Hohokam Stadium in Mesa (which until this year was home of the Cubs). Closest to the current facility is the 7,300-yard Papago Golf Course (papagogolfcourse. net; 602-275-8428), which borders Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale. Within 20 minutes, you’ll also find ASU Karsten, Talking Stick and TPC Scottsdale.
DO
STAY
Milwaukee Brewers
The Phoenician (thephoenician. com) or Fairmont Scottsdale Princess (fairmont.com/Scottsdale), both
Maryvale Baseball Park 3600 N. 51st Ave., Phoenix phoenix.gov/sports; 800 933-7890
Papago Park offers family-friendly hiking and biking trails, and the proximity to Tempe and Scottsdale puts a world of activities within a quick trip in the rental car.
presented by
PLAY Maryvale Golf Course (phoenix.gov/ recreation; 623-846-4022), a William Bell (Torrey Pines) classic, boasts plenty of mature trees, doglegs and great practice facilities. The aforesaid Raven Golf Club at Verrado (ravenatverrado.com; 623388-3000) is a straight shot west from the stadium on I-10.
STAY Budget motels dot the area. Resortand-spa options await east in downtown Phoenix at Royal Palms Resort & Spa, JW Marriott Desert Ridge and Arizona Biltmore (arizonabiltmore.com).
ARIZONA Arrowhead 7765 W Bell Rd., Glendale (Inside Golfsmith) 602-288-5180 Chandler 80 N 54th St, Chandler (Inside Golfsmith) 480-893-9029 North Scottsdale 15452 N. Pima Rd., North Scottsdale (Inside Golfsmith) 480-607-2212
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Colorado AvidGolfer | Spring 2014
DO Head to the West Valley or Peoria’s P83 Shopping District (visitpeoriaaz.com).
EAT The stadium serves Milwaukee-style brats and beer at every home game. Fans of down-home roadhouse food and outdoor patios will enjoy Chelsea’s Kitchen
Great Scottsdale!
For a superb one-stop shop for all things Scottsdale (including Spring Training packages), contact the extremely knowledgeable and helpful Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau (experiencescottsdale.com; 800-782-1117).
COLORADO LOCATIONS
(chelseaskitchenaz.com). Sylvia’s La Canasta (sylviasfiesta.com) dishes up authentic Mexican, the Bikini Lounge (thebikinilounge.com) is Phoenix history. The Original Hamburger Works (originalhamburgerworks.com) has nearby franchises.
Boulder 2767 Iris Avenue, Boulder 720-379-4843 Denver Cherry Creek 3773 Cherry Creek Drive North #130, Denver 303-388-4832 Denver Tech Center Marina Square Shopping Center 8101 East Belleview Ave. Suite H, Denver 303-770-5951 Golden 17120 West Colfax Ave; Suite 108, Golden (Inside Golfsmith) 303-278-3589
Park Meadows 9667 E. County Line Rd. Englewood (Inside Golfsmith) 303-858-8280 Westminster 9440 Sheridan Blvd, Westminster (Inside Golfsmith) 303-426-6600 Fort Collins South 4637 S. Mason St. Suite A4, Fort Collins 970-692-5270 Chapel Hills 1727 Briargate Blvd., Colorado Springs 719-219-3095
coloradoavidgo lf e r.c o m
A Golfer’s Guide TO Spring Training
co l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c o m
presented by
Spring 2014 | Colorado AvidGolfer
75
Noodles & Company founder and State of Colorado CMO Aaron Kennedy’s passion for golf took root in rural America but it goes back centuries— all the way to Scotland. By Jon Rizzi
A cynic might say he’s trying to polish his image with the rural state representatives who want voters to reject the controversial snowcapped “CO” green triangle his team developed as the Colorado brand. The cynic would be wrong. What could be a Dukakis-in-the-Tank Moment for Aaron Kennedy turns out to be anything but. Yes, the onetime Pepsico executive and founder of Noodles & Company restaurants knows a little something about creating an image, which is why in 2012 Governor John Hickenlooper made him the state’s first-ever CMO with the charge of developing a “cohesive brand that would help attract talent, trade and tourism to the state.” However the 51-year-old Kennedy, who grew up on a farm “where Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin meet,” knows just as much about cultivating crops. And on the days he doesn’t report to the Colorado State Capitol, he pursues his agricultural passion on his 20-acre property on the eastern edge of Boulder County. Spring 2014 | Colorado AvidGolfer
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HOME AND THE RANGE: Kennedy strokes some iron shots onto his back forty and relaxes with a few of his vintage sticks behind his custom-built Boulder manse.
Kennedy calls his acreage Flapjack Farm, and he works it with his Deere. In the shadow of the stunning 6,700-square-foot, solar-powered custom home he shares with his wife of 21 years, their two children and dog grow all forms of organic vegetables and legumes, as well the peach, apple and pear trees whose fruit he turns into jams and syrups. He has sold 250 oak trees from his on-site nursery. The land also doubles as a practice range. His Pings and shag bag sit by the barn. As a neighbor’s cows low on the other side of the split-rail fence, Kennedy spills out a bunch of Titleists (not Noodles) and compresses them with a easy swing he first developed as a teenager in Illinois and has refined over the years at Boulder Country Club, Nebraska’s Dismal River Club and the Old Course at St. Andrews.
counting my shots, I remember the beauty of the course, the genius of the designer, the smell of the turf. I love when the dew is still on the grass. But I also love the sound of hitting the ball squarely. Pure golf.”
He fell in love with the game at the age of 14. “I’d ride my bike with my friend Miles Douglas to Oakville Country Club, a nine-hole public course in Mount Carroll, Illinois,” he remembers. “I loved the joy of walking, of being in nature.”
It’s a golf course, not an office. “I dislike talking business on the golf course,” says Kennedy. “I like getting to know people and see how they react. At Noodles’ annual company tournament, I’d sometimes play with vendors or potential vendors. I’d watch their behavior to see if I could trust them. With a fairly big contract on the line, one of these guys started slamming his
He doesn’t lose sleep over bad rounds. “When I go to bed after playing golf, instead of
78
Don’t bet against him. “I’m a 9.6 index, so I’m a competitive player. But I don’t like to bet. Wagering changes the game and takes the fun out of it. I always wiggle out of gambling. I like to play with people who have the same approach to the game I do.” Be a good partner. Prior to starting Noodles & Co., Kennedy says working with the firm that designed the brand identity for the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Florida was his “funnest” project—“even though I played with a VP from the Tour who had to win at everything,” he says with slight exasperation.
Colorado AvidGolfer | Spring 2014
club after almost every shot. He just couldn’t help himself. I took him down and didn’t give him the contract.” What’s a golf widow? In addition to regular mile-long passeggiatas along the perimeter of their property, Kennedy and his wife, Jenifer—a biomedical engineering PhD and the co-founder of JustRight Surgical—play rounds on foot at Boulder Country Club and annually travel to St. Andrews, where they are members of two clubs (“only about £140 per year,” he says) and rent a second-story flat overlooking the 18th green and first tee of the Old Course. “Any time it’s not raining is my favorite time to go to Scotland.” Kennedy’s best memory of the Old Course is being 3-under after five holes the first time he played it. He finished with a 7-over 79 after some trouble in the Valley of Sin. He’s a fan of the dead Kennedys—and live ones. He can trace his family back to Scotland in the 1100s. They’re mainly from Ayrshire, about a three-hour drive southwest of St. Andrews on the Firth of Clyde and home to Royal Troon, Prestwick and Turnberry. “The Kennedy family built Turnberry,” he says. “I went
to a bar there and met Lord David Kennedy, who took me to the ruins of Dunure Castle, the clan’s ancestral point of origin, and to Culzean Castle, which was owned by the Marquis of Ailsa—the chief of Clan Kennedy—but is now in the hands of the National Trust.” He links to the past… Kennedy collects vintage clubs. Among his 20 hickory-shafted models from the late 19th Century is a putter by Ben Sayers, the legendary pro and clubmaker from North Berwick Golf Club in Scotland. ...and to the future. After taking Noodles & Co. from its original Cherry Creek location to 170 restaurants across the country, Kennedy retired to Flapjack Farms and the joy of “savoring every word” of The New York Times every morning. “More than just raising produce, berries and groves of trees,” he writes on his website, “Flapjack Farms is about but about growing powerful ideas into viable, sustainable enterprises.” Which includes the State of Colorado. Although he says he’s “allergic to politics,” Kennedy accepted the governor’s invitation to serve the state for two years in 2012. The new CMO set create a
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STIR YOUR
SENSES. OLD CLUBS, OLD COURSE: Kennedy acquired much of his hickory-shafted collection during trips to St. Andrews with his wife and favorite playing partner, Jenifer.
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unified, authentic brand identity that would help attract talent, trade and tourism to Colorado. “It would have been easy to hire a New York branding agency like Nevada did,” Kennedy says. “But we’re better than that.” “We” means all Coloradans. Ultimately, the “It’s Our Nature” campaign resulted from input from nearly 200,000 people from across the state, along with a Brand Review Board and Brand Advisory Council comprised of some the state’s foremost marketing and business minds. A website solicited feedback received more than a half-million hits. The process was exhaustive and inclusive. “If we build a reputation only around skiing, that’s not good; it’s only one dimension.” Kennedy says surveys proved the license plate was more recognizable than the state flag (which is in the public domain and can appear anywhere—including marijuana shops), and “we draw energy from our mountains.” Ergo, “the logo’s peak shape, which also acts as an upward-facing arrow that suggests and embodies our state’s upward ascension.”
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“We expected pushback.” Kennedy knows not everyone likes the new logo, but he believes in its power to market and position the state in a way “that allows us to continue our upward mobility and provide residents with the life they want to live.” The next thing. With his CMO commitment coming to an end this year, Kennedy finds himself looking for the next startup. “I like bringing something to life from nothing,” he says, looking at his harrowed fields, for now seeded only with dozens of golf balls. The planting season begins with the golf season, during which he and his wife have already planned two trips to St. Andrews. CAG Jon Rizzi is the editor of Colorado AvidGolfer.
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, ern south . e h t t , bu uch more m e h t 8 of out m as 46 tion is ab h l i a tina es Tr t Jon golf des n e r T g t ober somin The R f this blos o part y Dear n o By T
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considered heresy in a state that has become synonymous with Robert Trent Jones to say that the tiniest part of me wishes that for the rest of my life I could only play golf courses designed by Earl Stone. Now 87 and living in Mobile, Stone built around 40 courses during a solid design career that never took off the way a former star player’s might, but which left him with an awful lot of friends and admirers. For 40 years, the Navy veteran and Auburn alum built courses for golfers to enjoy—a curious notion in the latter part of the 20th century when the bigname architects appeared not to be concerned with those destined to play the course, but rather on rankings, awards and magazine covers. “That was never my style,” he says slowly, quietly and not without some effort. “I always remember a conversation I had with a professional sometime in the 1950s,” he adds. “He told me the game was becoming too difficult, and that I should build courses everyone could play. I kept that in mind throughout my career, and always considered the 18-handicapper when designing a hole.” Stone’s courses are far from cupcakes, however. They are plenty long from the back tees and if the superintendent chooses to grow the rough, suck all the moisture out of the putting surfaces, and stick the pins in the corners, an Earl Stone course becomes extremely challenging. But that’s not what members, visitors, general managers, owners or superintendents want.
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While the 11 sites and 26 courses of the Robert Trent Jones Trail extends brilliantly from The Shoals in the north to Lakewood Golf Club in the south, a concentration of layouts in the southern part of the state—many of them designed by Earl Stone—forms a somewhat more manageable gauntlet. Located a half hour east of Mobile and less than 20 minutes north of the coastal resort city of Gulf Shores, Rock Creek Golf Club in Fairhope ranks as Stone’s best layout, and General Manager Chad Leonard says everyone that plays the course loves it just the way it is. “We have a thriving membership and plenty of outside play,” he says. “We do about 30,000 rounds a year and get a lot of return rounds. Many of our guests are beach-goers who just can’t pass by without stopping in for some golf.” Besides the quality of its design and the fact you can play it for just $52 after noon ($62 before noon), Rock Creek is notable for its ability to stand up to the occasional downpour—as my group and I discovered on the first day of our Alabama swing. Not wanting to miss a course with such a good reputation, we teed it up expecting to have to dodge muddy patches and pools of standing water. But there weren’t any. Despite what must have been somewhere between three and four inches of rain falling from the sky, Rock Creek remained perfectly playable. And when the sun did eventually come out after nine holes, we saw it at its glorious best. Stone isn’t at all surprised his course coped so well. “My three watchwords when building a golf course were drainage, drainage, and drainage,” he says. “We didn’t do anything very complicated at Rock Creek though. We didn’t put in a multi-million dollar irrigation system or anything like that.” Fairhope actually enjoys 221 sunny days a year— about 30 fewer than Denver, according to the National Climatic Data Center—and the best months
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESTY OF Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism
Off THE TRAIL
PATE THE GREAT: The par-4 16th at Kiva Dunes in Gulf Shores.
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to come are April and October, although any time outside June through August should be agreeable to all but the most delicate of wallflowers. In addition to Rock Creek, Stone designed 27 lovely holes at TimberCreek outside Spanish Fort, as well as the three nines— Marsh, Lakes, and Cypress—at Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club in Gulf Shores. Even so, given the absence of any discernible style and his dislike of architectural grandstanding, nothing at either course suggests it is an Earl Stone course other than the fact that once you’ve finished you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised at how keen you are to go out for nine more. Eighteen probably won’t be enough at Kiva Dunes, either. Designed by 1976 U.S. Open champion Jerry Pate, the region’s undisputed star course in sits eight miles west of Peninsula on Highway 180. On the way there, you’ll pass to Fort Morgan State Park and what is left of the impressive, starshaped fort nicknamed “Guardian of Mobile Bay”—which is something of a misnomer considering the ease with which Union Admiral D.G. Farragut swept past it during the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5th, 1864. Developed by Pate’s good friends Jim Edgemond and Larry Drummond, Kiva was Pate’s fifth course for Drummond, ViceChairman of the Drummond Mining Company. “I knew Larry very well,” says Pate. “He trusted me and gave me the opportunity to build a course on land every architect in the world would have killed for.” As the name suggests, Kiva Dunes sits on sand hills and ridges which rise above the lagoons and wetlands that help make the site so appealing. The course is sandwiched between Mobile Bay to the north and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, though it doesn’t actually possess any waterfront holes.
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WATERING HOLE: Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club in Gulf Shores.
ON THE TRAIL Now 21 years old, the Robert Trent Jones Trail hosted its ten millionth round last summer. It was conceived by Dr. David Bronner, a Ph.D. and law degree student from the University of Alabama and now the CEO of the Retirement Systems of Alabama, a public pension fund with assets in excess of $30 billion providing benefits for over 325,000 public employees and retirees. What you might not remember, however, is that Bronner decided to go ahead with his plan for the Trail despite the fact the US was still feeling the effects of a serious recession bought on by the staggering 22.6% drop the Dow Jones Industrial Average suffered on October 19th 1987 (Black Monday), the failing Saving & Loans industry, and the start of the Gulf War. “Sure, some might have thought it wasn’t the best time to be spending $200 million on building golf courses,” says Bronner. “But I felt the reverse was true. I’ve always believed the ideal time to build and invest is when no one else is.” The initial concept had been laid out by US Steel, which was planning an 18-hole course on land it then owned at Oxmoor
SOUTHERN BELLE: Gulf Shores Golf Club
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PHOTOs COURTESTY OF Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism (top) and by Michael Clemmer / golfcoursephotographer.us
FINELY CHISELED: Rock Creek in Fairhope.
The turf is very unlinks-like too. The 419 Bermuda on the fairways and Champion Dwarf Bermuda on the greens play very differently to the fescues you might find on seaside courses in cooler climates, but are extremely well-maintained by superintendent Mike Rienzi. Kiva’s holes run east to west and vice versa, taking “advantage’ of the wind which, Pate says, follows the sun as the day progresses. “I am very familiar with the Gulf Coast and the behavior of the wind,” he says. “I wanted the golfer to be tested by downwind and headwind shots.” The lagoons run east-west/ west-east too. “Rather than having numerous forced carries over the water, I wanted the hazards to run down the sides of certain holes meaning high-handicappers wouldn’t have to spend the day trying desperately to get over them.” Thus, Kiva Dunes is tough but very playable. And though the green fee of $92 is a little higher than those of other courses nearby, you can play six rounds for an average of $65 per round with cart by purchasing the Kiva Dunes 6-Pack which is available through the end of March. Traveling golfers looking for well-designed, good value courses needn’t really venture far from Gulf Shores. Besides Kiva Dunes and Peninsula, there’s Gulf Shores Golf Club— which in 2005 received a multi-million dollar makeover by the original designer Jay Morrish—two excellent Arnold Palmer courses at Craft Farms three miles north of town and, about eight miles further north, a very good Bruce Devlin/Robin Von Hagge design at Glen Lakes. For a great place to stay, try the Beach Club condo hotel/resort that overlooks the Gulf just a mile east of Kiva Dunes. The 700 condo units all have balconies, kitchens, comfortable lounges, and one, two, three, four, or five bedrooms making them ideal for couples, families, or small groups.
Valley near Birmingham. Bronner wasn’t convinced, however. “I had something much bigger in mind,” he says. When word got out Bronner was thinking of building a number of multicourse facilities throughout the state, he began receiving calls from landowners looking to get involved. “To be honest, I didn’t know I was going to build the Trail six months before we started,” he says. “I was looking for a product to avert snowbirds going to and coming back from Florida. I wanted to diversify RSA’s assets and give Alabama tourism a boost, and when I started getting all these calls from people wanting to build golf courses, I realized they would be a great way
Edward A. Roberts, CEO of Waterman Steamship Company and owner of the nearby Grand Hotel had commissioned the course after the Second World War. As the hotel grew, Maxwell’s 18 holes, renamed the Old Course, became insufficient for the evergrowing number of guests, so Joe Lee was bought in to add nine more holes which he built on former swampland to the west of Maxwell’s course. In 1982, Marriott bought the hotel and added 200 guest rooms. Again, more golf course was required and Ron Garl was hired to design holes 28 through 36. Bronner bought the hotel and golf courses in 1999. “The Grand and Lakewood Golf Club made up what was really the only decent resort in the state for decades,” he says. “But they had been going downhill for years. Marriott hadn’t really been investing in them, and both were looking a bit tired.” By 2005, RSA had spent $50 million renovating the hotel and several million more on tidying up the golf courses. The results were outstanding. A 20,000-square-foot spa, impressive pool complex, top-notch restaurants and additional guest rooms (405 total now) saw the hotel awarded AAA Four Diamond status, while Rulewich and Vaughan worked some magic on the golf courses. The transitions from Maxwell to Lee and
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PHOTOGRAPH by Michael Clemmer / golfcoursephotographer.us
JONESING: LPGA Tour stop Magnolia Grove
to give people who up to then had zipped through Alabama as quickly as possible something worth stopping for.” Bronner sent out letters he describes as “pretty vague” to five designers asking for feedback on his idea. The response wasn’t entirely positive. “One wrote saying I had surely meant we would start with 18 holes at each site and then maybe build to 36 or 54 once the first course had proved successful,” says Bronner. “He couldn’t believe I intended building two or even three courses at most sites.” Another’s rather curt reply stated Bronner couldn’t possibly afford him. Jones was the only one to phone him. “Trent did ask if I was serious but, when I convinced him I was, he got on board pretty quickly.” Lakewood Golf Club in Point Clear, the Trail’s most southerly stop, is the only location whose courses weren’t built from scratch or designed by Jones and his associates Roger Rulewich and Bobby Vaughan. Opened in 1947, the first course at Lakewood was actually the work of Perry Maxwell whose other credits include Southern Hills in Tulsa, Okla., and Prairie Dunes in Hutchinson, Kan. His layout was made up of two distinct nines called the Dogwood and Azalea due to the profusion of both.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESTY OF Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism
STATELY STAY: Mobile’s Battle House Hotel
phone with a businessman friend shortly after the Trail opened,” he says. “He told me he wanted to bring some clients to Alabama to play these great new courses he heard about, but added he was hesitant to because he thought the lodging and clubhouses wouldn’t be up to much. He said he expected to find two dogs and a trailer at each course and that there wouldn’t be anywhere decent for them to stay.” Bronner certainly didn’t skimp on the clubhouses, however, and he began buying, renovating and building world-class resorts for golfers playing his courses to stay in. There are now eight in all, four carrying the
Marriott brand, four Renaissance. Whether you start your time in southern Alabama on the two RTJ Trail courses and finish in Gulf Shores or head north from the coast, it is a trip you really have to make. There’s just too much good golf to ignore. Add affordable green fees, the beaches, the hospitality, warm fall/winter weather, fishing on the Gulf, and the food…OMG the food… and you have a golf destination that now might figure among your favorite places to play. CAG Contributing Editor Tony Dear lives in Bellingham, Wash, and regularly blogs on coloradoavidgolfer.com.
from Maxwell to Garl aren’t exactly seamless, but aren’t so blatant a total novice could identify where each occurred. Indeed, many of Lee’s and Garl’s holes are every bit as enjoyable as Maxwell’s, though the best holes on the property certainly belong to Alister Mackenzie’s former partner. Just a few miles outside of Mobile, 25 miles north and west from Point Clear, is Lakewood’s RTJ Trail neighbor Magnolia Grove, venue for the LPGA Tour’s Mobile Bay Classic in May. There are three courses here: the Crossings, which hosts the lady professionals; the Falls; and the superb 18hole Short Course which Golf Digest ranked as the best Par-3 course in America. With large bunkers, huge greens, plenty of water, lofty Southern Longleaf pines bordering the fairways, and what golfers from other states might consider totally excessive parcels of land used for each hole, all three look distinctly Southern. Hit the ball half decently and you should have no problem finding the generous fairways and sizeable greens, but you’ll likely leave yourself some lengthy approach putts so you’ll need a deft touch with the putter to keep your score respectable. But whatever you card, you’re sure to enjoy the stroll through the forest. While in Mobile, stay at the elegant Battle House Hotel which started life in 1852 but was destroyed by fire in 1905 then rebuilt on the same site in 1908. In 2001, Bronner, announced plans to invest $132 million in downtown Mobile by building the state’s tallest office tower and renovating the Battle House Hotel. It reopened in May 2007 and, two years later, Travel + Leisure listed it among the top 500 hotels in the world. The renovation of the Battle House demonstrated Bronner’s commitment to Alabama which, he is the first to admit, wasn’t always the most attractive destination in the country. “I remember chatting on the co l o r a d o a v i d g o l f e r. c o m
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Golf TRIVIA
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PUZZLERS
games of
Riding with the King F
or the 36th consecutive year, the PGA Tour will descend on Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge May 20-23 for the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard. Defending champion Tiger Woods has won it a record eight times—six more than anyone else—but there’s far more to know about the King and his tournament. Answer three or fewer correctly, you’re a Court Jester; four to six, a Prince; seven to nine, a Knight; all ten, we’ll crown you King for a Day. 1. Palmer led Arnie’s Army, but in what branch of the service did he serve? 2. Palmer’s father, Milfred, was the golf pro/superintendent at what course? 3. Which of Palmer’s Wake Forest teammates later became a famous instructor? 4. Which Colorado Golf Hall of Famer (and Wake Forest grad) won the inaugural Bay Hill Invitational in 1979? 5. How many majors (exclusive of Senior events) did The King win? 6. Which former Colorado PGA Section executive director now runs the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard? 7. What Colorado State University alum won the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard in 2011? 8. What famous announcer co-narrated the 2-LP set pictured to the left here? 9. How many shots was Palmer behind before his final-round 65 to win the 1960 U.S. Open at Cherry Hills? 10. Which two existing Colorado courses did Palmer design? Visit coloradoavidgolfer.com for the answers.
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coloradoavidgo lf e r.c o m
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getaway that is highlighted by Conestoga Golf Club, ranked as one of the “Best Courses You Can Play In Nevada” by Golfweek Golfweek, and the exciting Eureka Resort & Casino. Enjoy a scenic 18 hole masterpiece woven through Abbot Wash featuring gentle elevation changes nestled below Mesquite’s majestic Flat Top Mesa. Conestoga, Mesquite’s only Troon Golf® experience is the perfect destination for your winter getaway, group outing or buddy trip. Reserve your “Round Up” Stay & Play package or book online at ConestogaGolf.Com for the best available rate.
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