There was a time, not so long ago, that golf tournaments attracting close to 100,000 people — and often far more — over the course of a week were a near-annual occurrence in Colorado.
Indeed, from 1972 through 2014, there were only three years (2007, ’09 and ’12) when at least one of the three biggest tours in the U.S. — the PGA, LPGA and PGA Tour Champions — didn’t play an event in the Centennial State. In fact, six times in the 1980s, there was more than one such event in a given year. And in both 1986 and ’87, all three major tours came to the state.
But in that regard, there’s been a drought of sorts in recent years — since the BMW Championship PGA Tour playoff event came to Cherry Hills Country Club in 2014.
But that drought will end when The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs hosts the U.S. Senior Open June 28-July 1.
Such events are a big hit with local golf fans for obvious reasons. Being on hand to watch some of the best players on the planet tackle Colorado courses can leave an indelible impression.
But those events are also a big deal for the top organizations in the Colorado golf industry. After all, it’s a rare opportunity to both help out the cause and showcase what they do amid large crowds.
And so it will be for the CGA, Colorado PGA and other such local leaders in the golf business when arguably the top senior golf tournament in the world is contested in the state. For the record, the 2008 U.S. Senior Open held at The Broadmoor drew almost 129,000 people for the week.
The CGA and the Colorado PGA certainly recognize the opportunity and are planning accordingly for the Senior Open.
“When you have the eyes of golf — it’s the Senior Open, not the U.S. Open, but nevertheless, just like when the BMW was here or the Solheim Cup — it’s a chance to really showcase what we’re doing,” said Ed Mate, executive director of the CGA.
Added Eddie Ainsworth, the Colorado PGA’s executive director: “Being able to talk about our programs and the different things we’re doing, we’re pretty excited about that. It’s going to be a busy week.”
And perhaps the most notable thing being handled locally at the U.S. Senior Open is the Youth Golf Experience, which will run under the banner of the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado, a highly successful joint venture of the CGA and the Colorado PGA.
“I’m really pleased the Junior Golf Alliance is taking center stage because of all the things we can do to highlight, that’s No. 1,” Mate said.
Here’s a brief rundown of what the CGA and Colorado PGA have planned for the Senior Open:
— The Youth Golf Experience is an area where youngsters can participate in various golf activities, get information on junior golf in Colorado and leave with a Birdie Ball with U.S. Senior Open and JGAC logos on it.
The Experience tent, which will be located on the first hole of the West Course at The Broadmoor while the professionals play the East Course, will be open all seven days of tournament week (June 25-July 1).
Also in the junior golf realm, the JGAC will oversee the first-ever Drive, Chip and Putt local qualifying event that will be held at the site of a major championship. It will be conducted at the 18th hole of the West Course on June 26.
The Drive, Chip and Putt event holds local, sub-regional and regional qualifying rounds, with the top performers earning spots to compete in the DCP National Finals, set for Augusta National Golf Club on the Sunday before the Masters.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to showcase collaboration and the tremendous success of the Junior Golf Alliance,” Mate said. “All the banners when you go into that portion of the event are going to be Junior Golf Alliance. That just says, ‘The state of Colorado is working together to advance the game.’ Drive, Chip and Putt and all the other initiatives that will be showcased at that event will be under that umbrella. That’s first and foremost.”
Ainsworth said a Youth Experience area at the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open at The Broadmoor attracted about 8,000 kids for the week. And, of course, many parents attended with their kids.
For the U.S. Senior Open, kids 17 and under will be admitted to the tournament for free when accompanied by a ticketed adult.
— During the week prior to the U.S. Senior Open, the CGA and the USGA are co-branding a by-invitation event called the Community Play Nine. It will be held at Cherokee Ridge Golf Course in Colorado Springs, home of the Pikes Peak Linkers, a program in which kids receive golf instruction from professionals and have free access to the par-3 course at Cherokee Ridge. The Linkers receive support from the USGA and Colorado Golf Foundation. Mate is hoping Colorado Springs resident and former USGA president Judy Bell will be an honorary chair for the event as she’s played a key role in support of the Linkers. Among those on hand for the Community Play Nine will be junior golfers, community residents and perhaps a celebrity or two “to add a little cool factor to it,” Mate said.
“It’s an opportunity to showcase our initiatives to grow the game of golf in Colorado, in partnership with the USGA. It will be a nice way to connect a lot of dots” with people and organizations who have supported the Linkers over the years.
— The Colorado PGA, through its REACH Foundation, is also holding U.S. Senior Open-related events that support the military, and diversity and inclusion, two of the three pillars of the foundation — along with youth development.
In conjunction with a military appreciation concert conducted June 25 by Vince Gill and Amy Grant at The Broadmoor, the Colorado REACH Foundation, in partnership with the Military Warriors Support Foundation, will present another mortgage-free home to a combat-wounded veteran. The REACH Foundation has previously awarded two such homes in recent years in order to honor U.S. vets. Another will be given out, with support from Mile High Golf Trail, during the Colorado PGA REACH Invitational July 18 at the Golf Club at Bear Dance in Larkspur.
Also in support of the military during Senior Open week, the CPGA is co-sponsoring “The Bunker”, a hospitality area for active-duty military and vets to receive complimentary food and beverage.
As for diversity and inclusion, the REACH Foundation is hosting a Women’s Leadership Summit on June 27. Among those expected to be hand will be industry leaders in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math; young women of college and high school age; and corporate representatives.
The young women can “learn about how other women have started their own companies and businesses and receive encouragement to be in leadership roles,” Ainsworth said. “Also, (the industry leaders will talk about) how they’ve used golf to leverage their relationships and build relationships.”
The related events on June 27 will include a women’s clinic with a Drive, Chip and Putt theme. “The goal is for each woman to leave with a putter to help build their interest in the game of golf even if they’ve never played,” Ainsworth said. There will be time for attendees to watch the U.S. Senior Open practice round and have lunch. Colorado PGA REACH plans to bring in a keynote speaker and an Olympic athlete.
— On the East Course during tournament week, the CGA and some members of its board of directors and key committees will serve as honorary starters during the practice rounds. And the association and its volunteers will help out on one of the holes that they’ve “adopted” for the championship.
“It’ll be a fun opportunity,” Mate said.
Overall, about 2,500 volunteers have been recruited for the U.S. Senior Open.
