Even if temperatures — and a little snow — this time of year don’t readily lend themselves to rounds of golf in Colorado, that shouldn’t mean “out of sight, out of mind” regarding our favorite sport.
At least that’s our feeling during this festive season. After all, part of the fun of the game is the anticipation. With that in mind, it’s time for our annual holiday wish list, Colorado golf-style. And given that there’s so much to do this time of year, let’s not dawdle. …
To: Coloradans Jennifer Kupcho and Hannah Wood.
Gift: A 1-2 individual finish — in whichever order — in the women’s NCAA Championships.
To: Golfers and course owners in Colorado.
Gift: In 2017, a year of splendid weather mixed with the perfect amount of moisture to keep course conditions ideal.
To: The Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado.
Gift: A “sophomore” year befitting the alliance’s strong start in 2016.
To: Part-time Colorado resident Kevin Stadler.
Gift: A fully-healed left hand and successful resumption of your PGA Tour career.
To: Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton.
Gift: After four trips to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, a title-winning breakthrough in the championship.
To: Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Brandt Jobe.
Gift: After so many close calls on both the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions, your first major tour victory in the U.S.
To: The CGA, Colorado PGA, CWGA and other leaders in the Colorado golf industry.
Gift: Still more tangible evidence that your efforts to grow the game in the Centennial State are paying dividends.
To: John Elway.
Gift: This is a little early, but you have to work up to these things … Success in qualifying for the 2018 U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor, where you’re the honorary chairman.
To: The CWGA.
Gift: Success in building off the momentum from your centennial year in 2016.
To: The CoBank Colorado Open Championships.
Gift: In 2017, three Colorado residents as winners.
To: Mike Northern of Colorado Springs.
Gift: After earning a spot in the 2017 Senior PGA by finishing fourth in the national Senior PGA Professional Championship, a top-10 showing in the Champions major.
To: Colorado Sports Hall of Famer Hale Irwin.
Gift: At 71 or 72, being in contention for a title one more time at a Champions major.
To: The caddies living at the University of Colorado Evans Scholars house.
Gift: An appreciation for the wonderful opportunity you’ve been given.
To: Denver native Mark Hubbard.
Gift: A PGA Tour season featuring multiple top-10 finishes.
To: The CU men’s golf team.
Gift: A victory in the 2017 Pac-12 Conference Championships at Boulder Country Club.
To: The AJGA Transamerica / Hale Irwin Colorado Junior, which is moving to Heritage at Westmoor for the next three years.
Gift: In 2017, a couple of Colorado champions for the first time.
To: Coloradan Wyndham Clark.
Gift: After five runner-up finishes in your college career, an individual championship before you put a wrap on college this coming spring.
To: Jim Knous of Englewood.
Gift: A rookie year on the Web.com Tour so successful that a PGA Tour card awaits for the 2017-18 season.
To: Former CU golfer Jenny Coleman.
Gift: Enough success on the LPGA Tour in 2017 to extend your stay on the world’s top tour for women.
To: Denver-area resident David Duval.
Gift: This month’s win — with stepson Nick Karavites — changing your golf fortunes after a 15-year victory drought.
To: Regulars at Denver’s City Park Golf Course.
Gift: That the historic course not fall victim — for the short- or long-term — to a stormwater drainage project.
To: Social media sensation Paige Spiranac, who grew up in Colorado and won the 2015 CWGA Match Play.
Gift: Taking the next step as a professional — gaining a spot on a major pro tour for the first time.
To: Colorado PGA professional Sherry Andonian-Smith.
Gift: A year after winning the Colorado PGA West Chapter Championship, to be in contention in the Section’s top tournament, the Colorado PGA Professional Championship.
To: CU golfer Jeremy Paul.
Gift: After coming ever so close to earning some exempt status on the Web.com Tour, the consolation of a stellar final semester as a college player.
To: Coloradans AJ Ott and Mary Weinstein.
Gift: A seamless transition from being Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado Players of the Year to the open-division amateur ranks in our fair state.
To: CU golfer Esther Lee.
Gift: That the record 11-under-par 61 you shot in September be a sign of things to come.
To: Recent European Tour qualifiers Espen Kofstad and Sebastian Heisele, who both played their college golf in Colorado.
Gift: Enough success in 2017 to be on the radar for Ryder Cup consideration in 2018.
To: Colorado golfers.
Gift: A holiday season as joyous as shooting a 59.
