The last time the PGA of America held one of its marquee championships in Colorado, Hubert Green won the tournament and Lee Trevino finished second.
For the record, those players are now 63 and 70 years old, respectively.
Given that the PGA of America hasn’t brought one of its major events to the state since that 1985 PGA Championship at Cherry Hills, it’s little wonder why the Colorado PGA is now champing at the bit. After all, the 2010 Senior PGA Championship, which will be held next month at Colorado Golf Club in Parker, may be the opportunity of a generation for the Colorado Section.
“This is our event; we own it,” Colorado PGA executive director Eddie Ainsworth said this week. “We’re doing everything we can to capitalize on one of the association’s events.
“From Day 1, we’ve worked to leverage the championship to promote golf in Colorado and what Colorado PGA professionals do. Everything we do this year is built around the Senior PGA.”
The Colorado PGA will have a high profile during tournament week for the Senior PGA (May 24-30), but it also will hold several significant events leading up to the festivities at Colorado Golf Club. Some of the activities are planned specifically with the Senior PGA in mind, and others are being held earlier in the year than they normally would have just to take advantage of the opportunity at hand.
“What we try to do at the PGA of America (at sites where it hosts major tournaments) is we always try to leave something in the community,” PGA of America president Jim Remy said during a visit to Colorado Golf Club earlier this week. “We get so much help from our PGA Sections — in this case the local Colorado Section. They volunteer their time.”
Just this week, Gov. Bill Ritter acknowledged the Colorado PGA — and the big month ahead for golf in Colorado — by signing an honorary proclamation deeming May “Colorado Golf Month.”
Earlier this year, as a lead-up to the Senior PGA, the Colorado Section arranged for PGA of America CEO Joe Steranka to be keynote speaker at the CGA Season Tee-Off Luncheon, part of the Denver Golf Expo. And here is a sampling of what else the Colorado PGA has planned in advance of — and during — next month’s Senior PGA:
“¢Play Golf Colorado: The Colorado Section will hold two Play Golf Colorado Days in the weeks before the Senior PGA: Saturday (April 24) at Collindale in Fort Collins (10 a.m.-2 p.m.), and May 8 at Colorado Golf Club (2-5 p.m.). In both cases, Colorado PGA professionals will give free 10-minute lessons to attendees of all abilities.
“¢Senior PGA Championship 9-Hole Junior Challenge: The Colorado PGA is teaming up with the Colorado Junior Golf Association to put on a junior tournament that will culminate with a championship round May 22 at Colorado Golf Club”˜s par-3 course. Qualifying tournaments leading up to that final round will take place across the state in the coming weeks: Saturday (April 24) at Indian Tree in Arvada; May 1 at CommonGround in Aurora, Green Valley Ranch in Denver, Lincoln Park in Grand Junction, City Park Nine in Fort Collins, and Elmwood in Pueblo; and May 8 at Eagle Vail.
A boys winner and a girls winner from the four age groups (8-9, 10-11, 12-13 and 14-15) at each local qualifier will advance to the championship round. Then the winners at Colorado Golf Club will get Family 4-Pack tickets to the Senior PGA and receive awards during the tournament.
“¢Mom’s Appreciation Day: On May 8, a day before Mother’s Day, Colorado PGA pros will give free lessons to moms and family members from 2 to 5 p.m. at Colorado Golf Club. In honor of mothers, there will be wine-tasting, and flowers and other gifts will be given out. Register at coloradopga.com.
“¢100-Hole Challenge: Similar to the old Colorado Open Golf Marathon, the 100-Hole Challenge will feature Colorado PGA professionals trying to complete 100 holes of golf in one day for a good cause — in this case to raise money for the March of Dimes and the Colorado PGA Foundation. So far, close to 40 pros have committed to the event and are attempting to raise at least $100,000, with the money being split for the two causes. The mission of the event is to “play golf, inspire lives for healthy mothers, healthy babies.”
Professionals are soliciting pledges at THIS SITE.
The Challenge event itself will take place the week of May 10 at clubs around the state.
“It’ll be a great example of fast, fun golf,” said Ainsworth, who plans to play at the Golf Club at Bear Dance with fellow professional Danny Harvanek. With some help from the groups on the course letting them play through, Ainsworth and Harvanek hope to complete 100 holes well before dark. “I’m planning to play in eight hours or less,” Ainsworth noted.
The Colorado PGA will present its check to the March of Dimes during the Senior PGA, probably on Saturday, May 29.
“¢PGA Junior Golf Day: The Section will hold a Junior Golf Day on May 23 (9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.) at CommonGround Golf Course, which is owned and operated by the CGA and CWGA. The Colorado PGA hopes 300 kids, age 8-14, will show up for clinics conducted by Section professionals and by Dennis Walters, a noted trick-shot artist who is paralyzed from the waist down. Participating youngsters will receive a complimentary lunch and gifts.
“¢Championship Week: During the week of the tournament (May 25-30), Colorado PGA pros plan to give free lessons to the public. Though the Section hasn’t received approval yet from PGA of America tournament officials, Ainsworth is optimistic that two spots on the end of the practice range at Colorado Golf Club can be reserved for those free lessons.
“Hopefully people can be hitting balls next to Fred Couples and Tom Watson,” Ainsworth said.
The Colorado PGA will have a hospitality tent near the practice range, which the Section will manage. The Section also will have a presence on the first and 10th tees at Colorado Golf Club.
Leading up to the tournament, fans purchasing Senior PGA tickets through Colorado PGA professionals will receive a 10 percent discount.
“¢Competing in the Senior PGA: It shouldn’t be overlooked that three Colorado PGA club professionals will be competing in the Senior PGA this year. Bill Loeffler of Castle Rock, Mike Zaremba of Pueblo West and Ron Vlosich of Lakewood will be in the 156-man field.
“We’ve invested a lot of time and resources in doing all these things,” Ainsworth said. “I like to think the best golf professionals are right here in this state, so all of us here in Colorado want to make sure we put our best foot forward.”
