ERIE — Almost all of the top college golf programs in the nation have official courses for their teams, and Colorado-based universities have been more than happy to hop on the bandwagon in recent years.
The Harmony Club in Tinmath, complete with a life-size Ram monument and a new indoor practice facility, became the official home for the Colorado State men’s and women’s golf teams in 2007. And on Monday, the University of Colorado announced a similar agreement with the former Vista Ridge Golf Club in Erie.
Vista Ridge, after being purchased by a group led by Steve Kerr (a CU golfer from 1975-78) last November, has been renamed Colorado National Golf Club and will be the official home of the CU men’s and women’s golf teams under a 30-year licensing and usage agreement.
“This is one of the most exciting events in both of our programs’ histories,” CU men’s coach Roy Edwards said Monday. “From the standpoint of the community and recruiting, this is a place to call home,” though the Buffs will continue to utilize longstanding practice arrangements with clubs such as the Omni, Boulder Country Club, Flatirons Golf Course, Bear Creek and Heritage at Westmoor.
Men’s golf coach Roy Edwards at CU’s new home course.
The logo for Colorado National Golf Club makes it clear that the Buffs are part of the club’s foundation. Between the words “Colorado” and “National” is the CU buffalo logo with a golf club and a flagstick criss-crossed behind it. In addition, the club will have most of its golf carts painted in CU’s school colors, with the remainder (one each) painted in the colors of the other Big 12 schools and Colorado State.
Colorado National Golf Club will remain open to the public as a semi-private facility, and CU is hoping that many alums, students and employees will frequent the course and that CNGC might host a variety of CU-related functions.
The deal with CNGC has been in the works for well over a year. Former CU men’s golf coaches Les Fowler and Mark Simpson had long dreamed of the Buffs having a university course. In fact, even while in hospice care shortly before his death in December 2005, Simpson was discussing with Kerr how a CU facility might look, and Kerr literally took notes. There were hopes at one point that a course could be built on CU’s South Campus, but that idea never got off the ground.
Still, Edwards and CU women’s golf coach Anne Kelly looked into the matter further and explored how other facilities around the country work, including Washington National Golf Club, home course of the UW teams. Then they conferred with Kerr, the father of former CU women’s golfer Erin Houtsma, winner of the 2005 Colorado Women’s Open. When the coaches brought up the possibility of buying a course and forming a partnership, Kerr mentioned Vista Ridge and noted that he thought it was for sale. From there, Kerr worked out a deal with Stacey Hart, the owner of the course since 2006. Kerr began operating Vista Ridge in September, and he officially took ownership in November.
The fact that Vista Ridge isn’t far from Boulder and that its course and large practice facility are highly regarded made it attractive for the CU golf teams. Edwards said CU and the club are planning some changes, including by next winter adding indoor hitting bays for use during the cold-weather months. Such a facility at the Harmony Club has certainly been a big plus for the CSU teams.
“It doesn’t matter what the weather is, we’re going to practice,” CSU men’s coach Jamie Bermel said last year. “We never miss a day. That’s so important for these kids. And it’s a huge selling point for the program.”
Kerr said he has taken note of the CSU indoor facility, which includes hitting bays, team rooms, coaches offices and much more. And he has something similar in mind for CU on the far side of the practice range at CNGC.
“We want to emulate (CSU) and surpass them,” he said.
Even as-is, Colorado National Golf Club has plenty of attractive features. That includes a Jay Morrish-designed course that can stretch out to almost 7,700 yards, a short-game area, and plenty of room for a two-sided practice range.
CU senior Pat Grady said Colorado National Golf Club is of comparable quality to many college tournament courses, so it could host an NCAA Regional event — something CU would be interested in. But mainly, CNGC is a place to call home.
“I’m pretty excited; it’s nice to truly belong,” Grady said. “Usually we’re kind of nomads.” Edwards said the facility figures to be a big plus in recruiting.
“I think it will have a huge effect,” he said. “Recruits look at you and ask if you have a university course. It’s a peace-of-mind thing. Jamie Bermel told me he has more kids interested because of the facility” at the Harmony Club. “(Now) you can be a great, high-level golfer and play in Colorado and be as good as you can be.”
