We’ve published many of those colorful comments over the years — only those of the G-rated variety, of course — and 2011 supplemented the list nicely. With that in mind, we culled some of the most notable quotes of the past year in Colorado golf.

Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Janet Moore, 46, on being paired with a 15-year-old (Calli Ringsby) in the lead group at the CWGA Stroke Play Championship:

“I told Kent (her husband and caddie — pictured with Janet), ‘I’m playing with somebody a third my age.’ He said, ‘No honey, she’s less than a third your age.’ I was like, ‘Thank you very much.'”

Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore, who along with wife Janet took a major career detour in accepting golf head coaching positions at Wheaton College in Illinois:

“I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m on the 15th hole of life, and the tournament of life can be rained out at any time. And for the last three or four holes, it would be nice to do something for someone else.”

Dennis Lyon,  who retired at the end of 2010 after more than three decades as manager of golf for the city of Aurora:

“I don’t have to be anywhere at 8 a.m. every day — except maybe at the breakfast table.”

Golf talk show host Jerry Walters at the beginning of 2011, looking back on a 2010 calendar year which included a divorce, a station change for his radio show, and an end to his 10-year run as a representative for Yes! Golf:

“I’m sure glad to say goodbye to 2010.”

CGA executive director Ed Mate, on the reason he believes the Colorado Section PGA Golf in Schools Program, a major growth-of-the-game initiative being conducted by the Allied Golf Associations of Colorado, will take hold:

“The reason I am an amateur juggler is because some people came to my school when I was a kid and showed us how to juggle. So I am confident the in-school program will make an impact.”

CBS broadcaster — and Steamboat Springs resident — Verne Lundquist, on the 25th anniversary of his famous call, “Yes, SIR”, during Jack Nicklaus’ famous back-nine rally during the 1986 Masters:

“I could be self-deprecating to the point of sickness, but I’m proud of it. It fit the moment. My favorite anecdote about it is Pat Haden (former NFL player, broadcaster, and current University of Southern California athletic director) told me about 15 years ago that when his regular golf group plays in L.A., and anyone sinks a long putt, inevitably they’ll yell ‘Yes, SIR.’ That’s nice.”

Former Colorado State University golfer Martin Laird, after his win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational:

“I’m not someone that sets individual goals that much. I just try to improve every year and see where that takes me. I’m not shocked that I’ve achieved two (career) Tour wins already, but if you had told me a couple of years ago that I’d be (ranked) 21st in the world, I probably wouldn’t have believed you.”

Cherry Creek High School golfer Dani Urman, upon completing the first round of the girls 5A state high school tournament less than a year after battling bone cancer:

“I felt like crying on the 18th tee just because I was so happy. I didn’t play very good but I had so much fun. I’m so happy I could play. It’s definitely not my best, but (the second round) will be.”

Ed Mate, CGA executive director, on the two-year-old, CGA/CWGA-owned CommonGround Golf Course being selected as the second stroke-play course for the 2012 U.S. Amateur:

“It’s pretty amazing. Who would have guessed that in 2012 that our course would host any part of the U.S. Amateur — the Super Bowl of amateur championship golf?”

Former Ballyneal caddie Ben Cox, after a ski accident paralyzed him from the chest down:

“My ultimate goal is to play again. If I have to duct-tape my hands to the club, I’ll do it.”

Former University of Texas women’s basketball coach Jody Conradt, who received two $100 bills — — one each from former UT golfers Cindy Figg-Currier and Lisa DePaulo — after making a hole-in-one during the HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open:

“Cindy Figg has always said if I get a hole-in-one she’s going to give me $100. That was the best part of it because it’s hard to get money off of her. … This makes me a pro, right?”

Lisa DePaulo, on what Jody Conradt said when she selected a club before making her ace:

“‘I haven’t hit the one with the pink headcover on it today; I’ll hit that,’ and she hits it into the hole.”

Though Jody Conradt was happy to get the $200 for her hole-in-one, she admits she was hoping for something more:

“I figure you only have one (ace) in your lifetime — maybe — and I wanted it to be when there was a car (awarded to the player) on the line,” she said with a laugh.

Martin Kaymer, winner of the 2010 PGA Championship, on caddying for girlfriend Allison Micheletti at the HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open:

“I love to be on the golf course anyways. Sometimes it’s nice if I don’t have to play — just walk. It’s nice with the mountains around here.”

Dave Troyer is the director of golf at CommonGround Golf Course, which is owned and operated by the CGA and CWGA, who field the amateur teams for the Colorado Cup Matches. After winning the decisive match in the Colorado PGA professionals’ victory over the CGA amateurs in the men’s open division, Troyer was asked if he had any remorse for playing the pivotal role in the win over his employer’s team:

“None whatsoever,” he said with a big smile.

Three-time U.S. Open champion Hale Irwin on son Steve qualifying for the Open for the first time:

“The U.S. Open was the pinnacle for me. Now I’m glad he has his opportunity to play in it. He’s earned it.”

Scott Harrington, who led Tom Kalinowski by five shots with seven holes to play in the Mile High Invitational but bogeyed the last two holes to finish a stroke behind:

“T.K. is a good friend of mine; we play the same course back in Arizona. Christmas came early for him. … I’m sure he’ll give me some heat about that finish when we get back home.”

World Golf Hall of Famer Judy Bell, on joining  Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Ben Crenshaw and fellow former USGA president Will Nicholson Jr., as recipients of the Nicholson award:

The thought “makes my knees shake.”

Annika Sorenstam, the honorary chair of the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open at the Broadmoor, gave this candid critique of one-time teenage phenom Michelle Wie, who has won just twice in 107 LPGA Tour career starts:

“She probably has one of the best swings in the game today. I would say she has not performed to her expectations or her potential. … The physical part is there. Sometimes you wonder if she’s mentally strong enough to finish at the top. She has a few victories, but has not been able to really break through, in my opinion.”

Ben Kimball, championship director of the U.S. Women’s Open, after the tournament was interrupted by weather for the third straight day at the Broadmoor Golf Club:

“It’s kind of like ‘Groundhog Day’.”

Dustin Jensen, who left his job as director of youth programs for the CGA to take a position in North Dakota, on leaving many junior golfers with whom he had become close over the years:

“It’s crazy to have met these guys when they were 3 feet tall and 45 pounds and hardly able to swing a golf club, and now they’re some of the top players in the country as juniors.”

Elena King, a director of instruction at CommonGround Golf Course, who traveled 8,700 miles (one way) to Shenzhen, China to be an assistant coach for the U.S. women’s golf team at the World University Games:

“I left Denver, and door-to-door it was 34 hours (of travel). I don’t think I knew which way was up. You just keep going until you get there.”

Bert Welz, a three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year in the early 1990s, on competing in the CGA Senior Challenge for golfers 70 and older:

“I’ve taken up fly-fishing anymore. It’s a lot easier.”

PGA instructor Erik Billinger, after one of his clients, Wyndham Clark, put on a clinic in winning his second state high school title:

“How good is (shooting 64-64), and winning by eight? It’s quite a statement.”

Dow Finsterwald, the 1958 PGA Championship winner, on former USGA president Will Nicholson Jr., who’s been voted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame:

“Over my 60 years around the game of golf, both as an amateur and a professional, I firmly believe Will is one of maybe five people who have given the most to the sport while not actually playing.”

Ron Vlosich, a former longtime director of golf at Green Gables Country Club, which closed in the fall after a run of more than 80 years:

“I never dreamed that course would close up. You think of all the great times out there, and you get real sad. It was a great club.”

Part-time Lakewood resident Hollis Stacy, on her impending induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame:

“I was so shocked because I never thought that my mom (age 83) would live to see me get in because of the politics of being elected to the Hall. I had conditioned myself not to think about it because I think (not being in) did bug me a little bit because I had won four majors. … But I was so shocked and overwhelmed when I got the call. It was quite exciting to say the least. To be part of the Hall of Fame is a dream come true.”

Denver resident — and former caddie — Jim Bunch, on soon becoming chairman of the Western Golf Association, which administers the Evans Scholarship for caddies:

“Caddying is in my DNA.”

But that doesn’t keep thoughts of playing great rounds from dancing in our heads.

With that in mind, it’s time to dole out Colorado golf gift wishes for the third straight holiday season here at COgolf.org. And just to make it easy on the man with the big white beard, we’ve put our list in alphabetical order:

To: Coloradan Christie Austin, who’s moving up the ladder on the USGA Executive Committee. Gift: A stint as officer that she will long treasure.

To: Shane Bertsch of Parker. Gift: Earning at least $241,285 in his first PGA Tour start of 2012 — enough for him to meet the terms of his medical extension and retain his fully-exempt status on Tour.

To: The Broadmoor Golf Club. Gift: An upcoming major championship of one sort or another to follow on the heels of the well-attended 2011 U.S. Women’s Open and 2008 U.S. Senior Open.

To: CGA Player of the Year Zahkai Brown. Gift: Finishing his college career at Colorado State with a bang.

To: Denver’s Jim Bunch, new chairman of the Western Golf Association as of Jan. 1. Gift: An overabundance of donations to the Evans Caddie Scholarship, which the WGA administers.

To: Cherry Hills Country Club and CommonGround Golf Course. Gift: A U.S. Amateur in August that produces a champion like the 1990 Amateur at Cherry Hills yielded — a guy named Phil Mickelson.

To: Wyndham Clark of Greenwood Village. Gift: A freshman season at Oklahoma State that’s as memorable as that 64-64 you shot in winning the 4A state high school title by eight strokes.

To: Colorado golf course operators. Gift: Good weather and a good economy.

To: The Colorado PGA. Gift: A collective toast to the Section for its membership winning a PGA of America national award for the fifth consecutive year.

To: Mark and Lynn Cramer, who run the Denver Golf Expo. Gift: A fitting launch to a stellar golf season in Colorado.

To: Kathryn Davis and Tom Lawrence, new presidents of the CWGA and CGA, respectively. Gift: In their new positions, success befitting two former Division I college athletes.

To: Coloradan Brian Dorfman, a senior at Georgetown University. Gift: Two wins in the spring season to serve as bookends for the two you earned in the fall.

To: Cherry Hills Village resident David Duval. Gift: Your first PGA Tour victory in more than a decade.

To: Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton. Gift: After trips to the quarterfinals of the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur two of the last three years, a run at the national title in 2012.

To: The Golf in Schools program, the joint initiative of the Allied Golf Associations of Colorado that made its debut in 2011. Gift: Reaching ever-more kids in 2012.

To: The HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open. Gift: A tournament as memorable as this year’s, when reigning PGA Champion Martin Kaymer caddied for his girlfriend.

To: Rob Hunt of Highlands Ranch. Gift: A good run at a record-tying third Colorado PGA Professional Championship.

To: Former CU athlete Hale Irwin. Gift: Shooting your age en route to winning a Champions Tour event at age 66.

To: Dustin Jensen, popular former director of youth programs for the CGA. Gift: May you have as big an impact in your new job as you made at the CGA.

To: Oft-injured former CU golfer Steve Jones. Gift: Your first PGA/Champions Tour victory of the new millennium.

To: CU women’s golf coach Anne Kelly. Gift: The Buffs going to the NCAA Finals after qualifying at the NCAA regional tournament CU is hosting in May.

To: Former CSU golfer Martin Laird. Gift: Another major championship for a European-born player — in this case, a certain Scotsman who went to college in Colorado.

To: Pete Lis, director of rules and competitions for the CGA. Gift: A year when all tournament competitors play quickly enough that there’s no need to hand out slow-play penalties.

To: Colorado Golf Hall of Famers Janet and Kent Moore. Gift: Plenty of ongoing satisfaction in your new college coaching gigs in Illinois.

To: Will Nicholson Jr., of Denver. Gift: An April to remember, with your annual trip to the Masters and a well-deserved induction into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.

To: People who have supported the Eisenhower-Evans Caddie Scholarship at CU. Gift: A house full of young men and women forever grateful for the opportunity they’ve been given.

To: Part-time Lakewood resident Hollis Stacy. Gift: An unforgettable day for you and your family when induction time comes for the World Golf Hall of Fame.

To: The CWGA’s “Three Putt for the Cure” initiative that benefits breast-cancer research. Gift: A lot of donors who don’t putt very well.

To: Coloradan Derek Tolan. Gift: After missing the final stage of PGA Tour qualifying by one stroke, the persistence to finally land a Nationwide or PGA Tour card.

To: Cherry Creek High School junior Dani Urman, who’s battled back from bone cancer. Gift: Being in contention for the individual title at the girls state high school championship.
 

The CGA had about 4 1/2 months.

Colorado wasn’t scheduled to host its next boys JAC until 2016, but due to safety concerns the 2011 tournament was moved from Mazatlan, Mexico to Evergreen. Hiwan Golf Club — which has been home to a U.S. Junior Amateur, a U.S. Girls’ Junior and 28 Colorado Opens — quickly stepped forward to host the prestigious event.

This summer’s tournament, which features some of the best junior golfers from the western U.S., western Canada and Mexico, will be held Wednesday through Friday (July 27-29), with practice rounds and the opening ceremonies scheduled for Tuesday.

It will be just the third time the boys JAC has been held in Colorado; in 1982, it was contested at Eisenhower Golf Club at the Air Force Academy, and in 1999 it came to Perry Park Country Club in Larkspur.

“As a state golf association, this was something we wanted to take on,” said Dustin Jensen, director of youth programs for the CGA, and the tournament director for the JAC this year. “And we haven’t missed a beat” in organizing the event on short notice. “I think it will be a first-class tournament.”

This year’s 68-player Junior America’s Cup will feature 11 golfers ranked in the top 200 internationally by Junior Golf Scoreboard, including two in the top 100: Alex Chiarella from Pukalani, Hawaii and Jake Knapp of Costa Mesa, Calif.

Seventeen state or regional golf associations will field a team of four players — all 17 and under — and both team and individual competitions will be held. The Junior America’s Cup has been conducted annually since 1973, though its origins date back to 1959.

“It’s exciting to bring in the top players from three different countries,” Jensen said. “You look at the list of past players in the event and it’s like a who’s who of golf.”

Indeed, among those who have competed in the JAC over the years are Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Fred Couples, Corey Pavin and players with Colorado connections such as Steve Jones and Mark Wiebe. More recently, the fields have included such names as Ryan Moore, Anthony Kim and Patrick Cantlay, who won the individual JAC competition in 2008 and recently shot 60 in a PGA Tour event as an amateur.

With such talent on display, many college golf coaches scout at the Junior America’s Cup. And with the tournament featuring a team format not unlike that of college events, the coaches like to see how prospective players perform in that format. The top three scores from each golf association each day count toward the team total.

Not surprisingly, teams and individuals from California have often been the ones to beat in the JAC. But though Southern California has won the team title two of the last three years, there has been a wider variety of champions since the early 1990s.

Colorado will be represented at Hiwan by Cameron Harrell of Colorado Springs, a second-time participant who recently finished 28th in the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships; Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo, who played in the 2010 U.S. Junior Amateur; Cole Nygren of Longmont, winner of the recent AJGA Aspen Junior Golf Classic; and Benjamin Moore of Cherry Hills Village, who placed third in this month’s CGA Junior Stroke Play Championship.

Jensen normally serves as captain for the CGA team, but with him being tournament director, Bob Austin will take over the captaincy this year. Austin is the boys golf coach at Kent Denver High School, winner of five consecutive state high school titles, and he’s a member of the CGA Junior Committee. His wife, Christie Austin, is a member of the USGA Executive Committee.

The CGA has sent teams to the Junior America’s Cup since 1975. The Colorado contingent, which finished eighth last year, has never won the team title.

With its mountainous terrain and high altitude, Hiwan should give the JAC competitors a good taste of what Colorado golf is all about.

“The goal is to bring (the players) in and show them what Colorado is truly like,” Jensen said. “It’s a tremendous facility and has a great history. It’s a dream place to hold a tournament.”

The players, by the way, will reside near the premises, all staying with host families.

If past tournaments are any indication, the greens at Hiwan will put competitors to the test. They’re expected to run between 11 1/2 and 12 in the Stimpmeter.

“As tournament director, it’s a little scary to pick hole locations,” Jensen said. “On the greens — that’s the part of the course where the tournament will be won or lost.”

Spectators are invited to attend the tournament — as well as the opening and closing ceremonies — free of charge. The opening ceremonies are set for 5 p.m. on Tuesday, with the closing festivities scheduled for just after the conclusion of play on Friday. Championship rounds begin from 7 to 8:30 a.m. each day.

After the opening ceremonies, a players’ dinner is planned where the guest speaker will be Colorado-based U.S. Paralympic Ski Team member Ralph Green, who had his left leg amputated as a teenager after being shot in some random street violence in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Because Colorado is switching places with Mexico in the boys JAC hosting rotation, the tournament won’t be scheduled to return to the state until 2028. For tournament pairings and other information, CLICK HERE.