Break out the diamonds.
This week marks the diamond anniversary of the first U.S. Open ever held in Colorado, the 1938 version that Cherry Hills Country Club hosted.
In fact, the final two rounds of that tournament were held exactly 75 years ago today (June 11).
When current Cherry Hills head professional John Ogden accepted the Golf Person of the Year Award from the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame on Sunday, he said that June 9, 1938 — the first day of the U.S. Open — “could be one of the most significant days in Colorado golf. … It was the first time that (major) championship golf had ever come to Colorado, and it wouldn’t have come to Colorado if it wasn’t for one person, and that person is Will Nicholson Sr.
“He had the vision and the determination to bring championship golf not just to Cherry Hills but to Colorado. Since then, we know what has happened. Cherry Hills has had numerous championships, the Broadmoor, Columbine (and) The International kind of sprung from that. Without the vision of Mr. Nicholson, none of this would be possible.”
This month also marks a notable anniversary for another Open held in Colorado — the 35th anniversary of the ’78 championship, likewise hosted by Cherry Hills. And three years ago, the club celebrated the 50th anniversary of the unforgettable 1960 U.S. Open, won by Arnold Palmer.
Colorado has also held three PGA Championships (two at Cherry Hills and one at Columbine Country Club), three U.S. Women’s Opens (two at the Broadmoor, one at Cherry Hills), two U.S. Senior Opens (one each at the Broadmoor and Cherry Hills), a Senior PGA Championship (at Colorado Golf Club), along with 23 USGA amateur championships.
With this year’s U.S. Open beginning on Thursday, it’s worth revisiting the three U.S. Opens that have been contested in Colorado. So here are some tidbits from each of those major championships:
1938 at Cherry Hills — This marks Colorado’s first major championship and the first U.S. Open held in the western half of the country. … The USGA required Cherry Hills members to post a $10,000 bond — a huge sum during the Depression — to assure the association a profit in running the championship. … Cherry Hills was just 16 years old when it hosted the Open. … The championship was chaired by Will Nicholson Sr., a USGA Executive Committee member who would go on to become mayor of Denver from 1955-59. Nicholson’s son, Will Jr., would serve as president of the USGA in 1980-81. … Total attendance for the championship was 37,000 over six days, including the practice rounds. … Ralph Guldahl became the fourth back-to-back winner of the Open, posting an even-par 284 total for a six-stroke victory after trailing by four after three rounds. … Ray Ainsley set a still-existing U.S. Open single-hole record by carding a 19 on the par-4 16th hole in the second round, taking whack after whack at his ball, which was submerged in the creek bordering the green. Ainsley shot a 96 for the round. … Paul Runyan, now a member of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, tied for seventh place. … 1,223 players entered the event. … The total purse was $6,000, with $1,000 going to the winner. … A weeklong ticket to the tournament went for $6.72, including tax.
1960 at Cherry Hills — How big was the 1960 U.S. Open? Author Julian Graubart wrote a book entitled “Golf’s Greatest Championship: The 1960 U.S. Open”. … Arnold Palmer, victorious at the Masters two months earlier, won his only U.S. Open at Cherry Hills, in remarkable fashion. In the final round, he drove the green on the 346-yard, par-4 first hole en route to shooting a 65 after trailing by seven strokes. In the process, he overcame greats of the past (Ben Hogan) and the future (Jack Nicklaus). Nicklaus, a 20-year-old amateur, finished second, two shots back of Palmer. It’s the highest finish by an amateur in the U.S. Open since 1933. … Hogan, 47, hit the first 34 greens in regulation during the two-round final day and was tied for the lead going into 17, but he spun a wedge shot into the water on the 71st hole en route to a bogey, then closed with a triple bogey. He tied for ninth, four behind Palmer. … Palmer (pictured above celebrating his victory) was later made an honorary lifetime member at Cherry Hills. … Dow Finsterwald, now a member of the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame, tied for third place, three shots back of good friend Palmer. … H.R. (Potts) Berglund served as the general chairman of the championship. … 2,453 golfers entered the U.S. Open.
1978 at Cherry Hills — Andy North won only three PGA Tour events in his career, but two of them were U.S. Opens. … The first of those Open victories came at Cherry Hills, where North needed four shots to get to the green on the par-4 18th in the final round, then holed a 4-foot bogey putt to prevail by one over Dave Stockton and J.C. Snead. … North finished at 1-over-par 285, which matches the highest stroke total by a U.S. Open champion since 1976. … North led by four with five holes to play, but he went 4 over in those last five holes. … The lowest round posted during the tournament was a 68. … North needed just 114 putts for the four rounds, tying a record set by Billy Casper in 1966. … The prize money for the winner was $45,000. … Former University of Colorado golfer Hale Irwin led after the first round and finished tied for fourth. three back of North. … Also in the top 10 were Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Gary Player, Johnny Miller and Tom Weiskopf. … The total attendance for tournament week was over 132,000. … 4,897 competitors entered the ’78 U.S. Open.
