Golfers have been known to utter their share of interesting remarks — some suitable for print and some not.
We’ve published many of those colorful comments over the years — only those of the G-rated variety, of course — and 2011 supplemented the list nicely. With that in mind, we culled some of the most notable quotes of the past year in Colorado golf.
Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Janet Moore, 46, on being paired with a 15-year-old (Calli Ringsby) in the lead group at the CWGA Stroke Play Championship:
“I told Kent (her husband and caddie — pictured with Janet), ‘I’m playing with somebody a third my age.’ He said, ‘No honey, she’s less than a third your age.’ I was like, ‘Thank you very much.'”
Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore, who along with wife Janet took a major career detour in accepting golf head coaching positions at Wheaton College in Illinois:
“I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m on the 15th hole of life, and the tournament of life can be rained out at any time. And for the last three or four holes, it would be nice to do something for someone else.”
Dennis Lyon, who retired at the end of 2010 after more than three decades as manager of golf for the city of Aurora:
“I don’t have to be anywhere at 8 a.m. every day — except maybe at the breakfast table.”
Golf talk show host Jerry Walters at the beginning of 2011, looking back on a 2010 calendar year which included a divorce, a station change for his radio show, and an end to his 10-year run as a representative for Yes! Golf:
“I’m sure glad to say goodbye to 2010.”
CGA executive director Ed Mate, on the reason he believes the Colorado Section PGA Golf in Schools Program, a major growth-of-the-game initiative being conducted by the Allied Golf Associations of Colorado, will take hold:
“The reason I am an amateur juggler is because some people came to my school when I was a kid and showed us how to juggle. So I am confident the in-school program will make an impact.”
CBS broadcaster — and Steamboat Springs resident — Verne Lundquist, on the 25th anniversary of his famous call, “Yes, SIR”, during Jack Nicklaus’ famous back-nine rally during the 1986 Masters:
“I could be self-deprecating to the point of sickness, but I’m proud of it. It fit the moment. My favorite anecdote about it is Pat Haden (former NFL player, broadcaster, and current University of Southern California athletic director) told me about 15 years ago that when his regular golf group plays in L.A., and anyone sinks a long putt, inevitably they’ll yell ‘Yes, SIR.’ That’s nice.”
Former Colorado State University golfer Martin Laird, after his win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational:
“I’m not someone that sets individual goals that much. I just try to improve every year and see where that takes me. I’m not shocked that I’ve achieved two (career) Tour wins already, but if you had told me a couple of years ago that I’d be (ranked) 21st in the world, I probably wouldn’t have believed you.”
Cherry Creek High School golfer Dani Urman, upon completing the first round of the girls 5A state high school tournament less than a year after battling bone cancer:
“I felt like crying on the 18th tee just because I was so happy. I didn’t play very good but I had so much fun. I’m so happy I could play. It’s definitely not my best, but (the second round) will be.”
Ed Mate, CGA executive director, on the two-year-old, CGA/CWGA-owned CommonGround Golf Course being selected as the second stroke-play course for the 2012 U.S. Amateur:
“It’s pretty amazing. Who would have guessed that in 2012 that our course would host any part of the U.S. Amateur — the Super Bowl of amateur championship golf?”
Former Ballyneal caddie Ben Cox, after a ski accident paralyzed him from the chest down:
“My ultimate goal is to play again. If I have to duct-tape my hands to the club, I’ll do it.”
Former University of Texas women’s basketball coach Jody Conradt, who received two $100 bills — — one each from former UT golfers Cindy Figg-Currier and Lisa DePaulo — after making a hole-in-one during the HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open:
“Cindy Figg has always said if I get a hole-in-one she’s going to give me $100. That was the best part of it because it’s hard to get money off of her. … This makes me a pro, right?”
Lisa DePaulo, on what Jody Conradt said when she selected a club before making her ace:
“‘I haven’t hit the one with the pink headcover on it today; I’ll hit that,’ and she hits it into the hole.”
Though Jody Conradt was happy to get the $200 for her hole-in-one, she admits she was hoping for something more:
“I figure you only have one (ace) in your lifetime — maybe — and I wanted it to be when there was a car (awarded to the player) on the line,” she said with a laugh.
Martin Kaymer, winner of the 2010 PGA Championship, on caddying for girlfriend Allison Micheletti at the HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open:
“I love to be on the golf course anyways. Sometimes it’s nice if I don’t have to play — just walk. It’s nice with the mountains around here.”
Dave Troyer is the director of golf at CommonGround Golf Course, which is owned and operated by the CGA and CWGA, who field the amateur teams for the Colorado Cup Matches. After winning the decisive match in the Colorado PGA professionals’ victory over the CGA amateurs in the men’s open division, Troyer was asked if he had any remorse for playing the pivotal role in the win over his employer’s team:
“None whatsoever,” he said with a big smile.
Three-time U.S. Open champion Hale Irwin on son Steve qualifying for the Open for the first time:
“The U.S. Open was the pinnacle for me. Now I’m glad he has his opportunity to play in it. He’s earned it.”
Scott Harrington, who led Tom Kalinowski by five shots with seven holes to play in the Mile High Invitational but bogeyed the last two holes to finish a stroke behind:
“T.K. is a good friend of mine; we play the same course back in Arizona. Christmas came early for him. … I’m sure he’ll give me some heat about that finish when we get back home.”
World Golf Hall of Famer Judy Bell, on joining Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Ben Crenshaw and fellow former USGA president Will Nicholson Jr., as recipients of the Nicholson award:
The thought “makes my knees shake.”
Annika Sorenstam, the honorary chair of the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open at the Broadmoor, gave this candid critique of one-time teenage phenom Michelle Wie, who has won just twice in 107 LPGA Tour career starts:
“She probably has one of the best swings in the game today. I would say she has not performed to her expectations or her potential. … The physical part is there. Sometimes you wonder if she’s mentally strong enough to finish at the top. She has a few victories, but has not been able to really break through, in my opinion.”
Ben Kimball, championship director of the U.S. Women’s Open, after the tournament was interrupted by weather for the third straight day at the Broadmoor Golf Club:
“It’s kind of like ‘Groundhog Day’.”
Dustin Jensen, who left his job as director of youth programs for the CGA to take a position in North Dakota, on leaving many junior golfers with whom he had become close over the years:
“It’s crazy to have met these guys when they were 3 feet tall and 45 pounds and hardly able to swing a golf club, and now they’re some of the top players in the country as juniors.”
Elena King, a director of instruction at CommonGround Golf Course, who traveled 8,700 miles (one way) to Shenzhen, China to be an assistant coach for the U.S. women’s golf team at the World University Games:
“I left Denver, and door-to-door it was 34 hours (of travel). I don’t think I knew which way was up. You just keep going until you get there.”
Bert Welz, a three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year in the early 1990s, on competing in the CGA Senior Challenge for golfers 70 and older:
“I’ve taken up fly-fishing anymore. It’s a lot easier.”
PGA instructor Erik Billinger, after one of his clients, Wyndham Clark, put on a clinic in winning his second state high school title:
“How good is (shooting 64-64), and winning by eight? It’s quite a statement.”
Dow Finsterwald, the 1958 PGA Championship winner, on former USGA president Will Nicholson Jr., who’s been voted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame:
“Over my 60 years around the game of golf, both as an amateur and a professional, I firmly believe Will is one of maybe five people who have given the most to the sport while not actually playing.”
Ron Vlosich, a former longtime director of golf at Green Gables Country Club, which closed in the fall after a run of more than 80 years:
“I never dreamed that course would close up. You think of all the great times out there, and you get real sad. It was a great club.”
Part-time Lakewood resident Hollis Stacy, on her impending induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame:
“I was so shocked because I never thought that my mom (age 83) would live to see me get in because of the politics of being elected to the Hall. I had conditioned myself not to think about it because I think (not being in) did bug me a little bit because I had won four majors. … But I was so shocked and overwhelmed when I got the call. It was quite exciting to say the least. To be part of the Hall of Fame is a dream come true.”
Denver resident — and former caddie — Jim Bunch, on soon becoming chairman of the Western Golf Association, which administers the Evans Scholarship for caddies:
“Caddying is in my DNA.”
