This year, those reflections have particularly come into focus.

With the CGA celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, there’s been a concerted look back on the past century of golf in Colorado. That includes a 10-part series of stories on notable people and events from the last hundred years.

Writing that series was illuminating, which brings us back to Thanksgiving. A better understanding of the past can lead to increased appreciation for all we have to be thankful for in Colorado golf.

To wit, here are 10 things that come to mind:

— Rich History of Golf. The Century of Golf Gala held recently at The Broadmoor particulary brought this home, with Jack Nicklaus reminiscing about his strong links to Colorado over the last 60 years. Nicklaus is one of golf’s all-time pantheon to have won significant tournaments in the state, with others being Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, Kathy Whitworth, Babe Zaharias, Annika Sorenstam, Gary Player, Greg Norman and Phil Mickelson. For much more about Colorado golf history, CLICK HERE.

— Teamwork. Another thing that the Century of Golf Gala — 1,250 attendees strong — and related activities reinforced is that big things can happen when the Colorado golf community joins forces. Teaming up with the CGA in making it all a major success were the CWGA, Colorado PGA and the Rocky Mountain Golf Course Superintendents Association.

— Great Venues. The day of the Century of Golf Gala, a golf outing held at The Broadmoor (pictured) demonstrated yet again what stellar golf courses Colorado has produced. On a mid-November day, temperatures reached the mid-60s, and the setting was enough to make any golfer take pause. The same can be said for countless other courses in the state — Sanctuary, Arrowhead, Castle Pines, Ballyneal, Red Sky, Eisenhower, etc., etc. Golfers in Colorado are indeed fortunate.

— Good of the Game Partnerships. The recent creation of a partnership between the CGA and the Colorado PGA will result in a new Colorado Junior Tour and many other advantages for all levels of junior golfers in Colorado (READ MORE). It’s yet another example of how the game can be well served by constructive cooperation.

— Local Players Who Excel. Colorado has a long history of homegrown players hitting it big — with Hale Irwin, Steve Jones, Dale Douglass, Jill McGill, Brandt Jobe, Bob Byman, Kevin Stadler, Shane Bertsch, Bill Loeffler and to some extent Mike Reid, to name some. It’s always fun for Coloradans to have one of their own to root for on the national or international level. And we also have some very promising young players potentially in a similar pipleline with the likes of Mark Hubbard, Jennifer Kupcho, Wyndham Clark and Hannah Wood.

— Highly Regarded PGA Professionals. There are oustanding PGA professionals throughout the country, but members of the Colorado PGA have proven to be high achievers as the Section or its members have won national PGA of America awards eight times in the last nine years. And highly respected instructor Ann Finke was recently voted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, along with Colorado-based Champions Tour player Craig Stadler. And Vic Kline was honored as Colorado Golf Professional of the Century during the Century of Golf Gala.

— Foundations to Support Good Causes. Numerous golf foundations in Colorado do considerable and commendable work in bolstering good causes through the game of golf. Among them are the Colorado Golf Foundation, Colorado PGA Reach, the Colorado Open Golf Foundation, and the Rocky Mountain Environmental Golf Institute.

— Volunteers. While the staffs of the major golf organizations in Colorado do yeoman’s work, those organizations would be a shell of what they are were it not for volunteers. Such volunteerism came to the forefront this past year with the passing of Joe Salvo, and the departure from the Colorado tournament golf scene of Rich Langston and Joan Scholes. Each of them made major contributions — in terms of both time and dediction — to the likes of the CGA, CWGA and Colorado PGA over the years. And many, many others do likewise each year.

— Another Senior Major on the Horizon.This year it was announced that the 2018 U.S. Senior Open will be contested at The Broadmoor the year the resort celebrates its 100th birthday. It will mark the third U.S. Senior Open held in Colorado, meaning only Ohio (with six) will have hosted more. The Centennial State also was home to another senior major, the Senior PGA Championship contested at Colorado Golf Club in 2010.

— Good People. I’ve always marveled at the number of good people you meet through the game of golf. Perhaps it’s part of the significant “self-policing” aspect of the sport that tends to attract people of high character. But whatever the case, it’s refreshing.

And yet another reason to give thanks.
 

This week, the focus is more on turkey than two-putts, more on pumpkin pies than pars, and more on family and fellowship than fairways and flagsticks.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t reasons to reflect on the game of golf, and reasons to be thankful for it, especially here in Colorado.

Therefore, in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, here are nine things for which to be grateful, Colorado golf-wise:

— Stellar Golf Venues: Think of the golf courses and locales that are options in the state, and it’s enough to make anyone who loves to play the game salivate as if they were sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner. And not only are venues like Arrowhead (pictured above), the Broadmoor, Ballyneal, Sanctuary, Eisenhower, Perry Park and Red Sky jaw-droppingly beautiful, but the topography of the state makes for a great variety of courses.

— Diversity of Major Events: When The International PGA Tour stop took its final bow in 2006 after a 21-year run, there’s no doubt it created a big void. But looking back on the diversity of tournaments that helped fill that void is truly remarkable. Over the last seven years, Colorado has hosted the best men’s and women’s professionals in the world, the best seniors, as well as the best amateurs. There’s been the 2008 U.S. Senior Open and the U.S. Amateur Public Links, the 2009 Palmer Cup, the 2010 Senior PGA Championship, the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open, the 2012 U.S. Amateur, the 2013 Solheim Cup and the 2014 BMW Championship. Suffice it to say it’s been a pretty nice lineup for Colorado golf fans.

— Relatively Inexpensive Golf: While there are plenty of golf courses in Colorado that cost a pretty penny to play, there’s also an abundance of quality, well-maintained venues that charge $40 or less for a round. And there are even some nice courses where you can walk up to the counter on a summer weekend, pay your 18-hole green fee, and get change from the $30 you hand the golf shop attendant. For those who have played much in other states, you can get some pretty good bang for your buck in Colorado.

— Outstanding Golf Associations: While your average golfer in Colorado may or may not know it, there is tireless work being done behind the scenes by local golf associations — the CGA, CWGA, Colorado PGA, the Rocky Mountain Golf Course Superintendents and others — to assure that the game thrives not just now, but well into the future.

Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore summed it up well on Sunday at the Colorado Golf Awards Brunch. While he was speaking specifically about the CGA, it’s safe to say the general notion applies as well to the other major golf associations in the state: “I’ve seen this come from a cigar box and two guys on the first tee to an incredible organization that runs championships as professional as any you’ll ever see, and now making an incredible impact in the community. It’s just fabulous.”

— Volunteerism: While there are many paid staffers that make Colorado golf special with their day-to-day work, the amount of time and energy and wholehearted effort devoted by volunteers in the game is impressive. More than 2,500 people — 90 percent coming from Colorado — volunteered in the first week of September at Cherry Hills to help make the BMW Championship the PGA Tour’s Tournament of the Year. Other volunteers devote countless hours year-in and year-out to the CGA, CWGA, Colorado PGA and a myriad of other organizations to make the game what it is. In yet another example, just this week it was announced that Colorado Golf Club head professional Graham Cliff will serve as a volunteer assistant coach for the University of Denver men’s golf team. Without all these volunteers — and those who donate financially to the game — golf would be a shell of what it is.

— A Game of Honor: While this one certainly isn’t limited to Colorado, it’s noteworthy that golf is a leader in the world of sports regarding sportsmanship, integrity and honesty. Seldom does more than a couple of months go by without stories coming out about how a golfer reported a costly rules violation on himself or herself that no one else was aware of. Even at this year’s BMW Championship at Cherry Hills, Keegan Bradley withdrew after having lingering doubts about an embedded-ball ruling he received early in the tournament (CLICK HERE). 

— Great Programs for Juniors: Knowing that kids are the future lifeblood of the game, there is particular emphasis in recent times in drawing youngsters to golf and exposing them to all the virtues of the game, including through caddying.

Among the many worthwhile local programs that focus on youth are the Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy (left) at CommonGround Golf Course, the Colorado PGA Golf in Schools program, the Evans Scholarship house for caddies at the University of Colorado, and the local First Tee chapters.

— Local Tour Players: Every golf fan has his/her favorite tour players, but many Coloradans take a special interest in those who cut their teeth in the state as junior golfers and college players, then make it to the big time. Certainly that’s true in Colorado, with players like Hale Irwin, Steve Jones, Brandt Jobe, Kevin Stadler, Martin Laird and Jill McGill. And now there’s a younger group of local players who are getting their chance on golf’s big stages, golfers like Mark Hubbard, Espen Kofstad, Emily Talley and Becca Huffer, along with transplanted Coloradans like Sam Saunders. It’s always fun to see the local kid make good on a national/international level.

— The Sheer Camaraderie Achieved Through Golf: As the world gets ever faster-paced, and more and more time is devoted to gadgetry of one type or another, spending a few hours on the golf course with friends, family or random acquaintances can be remarkably refreshing.

Kind of like Thanksgiving.
 

Those of us who play golf in the state seem particularly fortunate. With that in mind, here are some of the many reasons Colorado golfers should be appreciative this Thanksgiving week:

— Weeks Like This: We may not be able to play golf every week of the year in Colorado — and yes, there are times during the dead of winter when we might long for a chance to break out the sticks — but it’s hard for a golfer to complain about a Thanksgiving week with temperatures in the 60s or 70s on several days.

And it’s rare when an entire month goes by without any playable days in Colorado. For an area that gets a full taste of all four seasons, it’s a bonus to be able to get out on the course pretty much year-round, should we get the inkling.

— Great Courses, Great Settings: Anyone who has played Arrowhead (pictured above), the Broadmoor, Perry Park or any number of other stunning Colorado courses can attest how jaw-droppingly beautiful the golf settings in our state can be.

And seldom does one of those national “greatest” or “best of” list of courses come out that doesn’t include several Colorado entries.

— Major Events Year-In and Year-Out: There’s no doubt that the departure of The International PGA Tour event after a 21-year run was a big blow for Colorado golf fans, but we’ve had a great run of national and international events just about every year since to help fill the void.

There was the 2008 U.S. Amateur Public Links, where Rickie Fowler was a big draw, at Murphy Creek in Aurora, then the 2008 U.S. Senior Open at the Broadmoor, the 2009 Palmer Cup at Cherry Hills, the 2010 Senior PGA Championship at Colorado Golf Club, the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open at the Broadmoor, and the 2012 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills and CommonGround. And upcoming are the 2013 Solheim Cup at Colorado Golf Club, and the 2014 BMW Championship, a PGA Tour playoff event at Cherry Hills.

— Business on the Upswing: Although it was probably almost exclusively due to the nice weather this year, it was still good news to find public courses reporting that rounds jumped considerably in the first eight months of the year.

Now it would be nice to see the game of golf grow due to the many initiatives that have been implemented in recent years.

— Giving Nature of Coloradans: There are plenty of good people in Colorado who get paid to nurture the game of golf, but the ones who particularly deserve praise are the many volunteers who give graciously of their time for the good of the game.

Whether it be rules officials for tournaments, course raters, general administrators, financial contributors, or folks who make valuable golf initiatives go, the game would suffer greatly without the many people who volunteer.

— National Leadership: Coloradans Jim Bunch and Christie Austin have been stalwarts in national leadership positions in recent years, and as such they’ve significantly benefited both the game in our state and on a much larger scale.

Bunch, who formerly served on the powerful USGA Executive Committee, currently is the chairman of the Western Golf Association, which administers the Evans Caddie Scholarship and conducts the BMW Championship on the PGA Tour. And Austin is finishing up her sixth year on the USGA Executive Committee, from which she will “retire” in early February.

— A History to Savor: Just looking at a list of all-time greats who have won significant tournaments in Colorado brings back all sorts of indelible memories for the state’s golf fans.

There’s Arnold Palmer (1960 U.S. Open), Jack Nicklaus (1959 U.S. Amateur and 1993 U.S. Senior Open), Phil Mickelson (1990 U.S. Amateur, 1993 and ’97 Internationals, and the 1990 CU-Fox Acres Invitational), Annika Sorenstam (1995 U.S. Women’s Open), Greg Norman (1989 International), Juli Inkster (1982 U.S. Women’s Amateur), Vijay Singh (1998 International), Ernie Els (2000 International), Davis Love (1990 and 2003 International), Hubert Green (1985 PGA Championship) and Jay Sigel (1983 U.S. Mid-Amateur).

— Recovery of Dennis Lyon: The retired longtime manager of golf for the city of Aurora suffered life-threatening injuries when he was struck by a truck last December while walking his dog near Murphy Creek Golf Course.

Thankfully, the Colorado Golf Hall of Famer and 2011 winner of the national USGA Green Section Award made a major recovery in 2012 and is largely back to his old self.

— Two Colorado Golf Expos: There’s something about the Denver Golf Expo — and the Southern Colorado Golf Expo, which will return in 2013 — that helps put local golfers in the mood for the coming season.

The timing is certainly ideal, with the Denver show in early February and the Southern Colorado Expo a month later. Coming as the state emerges from the dead of winter, there’s nothing like a multi-day golf show to get golfers back in the mindset.

— Productive Local Golf Associations: Members of the CGA and CWGA who also are members of out-of-state golf associations often rave about how well the Colorado organizations perform in comparison.

And the Colorado PGA and its professionals obviously stack up very well among their peers as they’ve earned seven national PGA of America awards in the last six years.

— Affordable Golf: People who play golf in a lot of other states appreciate the quality of courses and relatively inexpensive green fees we have available in Colorado. For $30 or so, golfers can play some very nice layouts, and bump it up to $50 and most public facilities are accessible. That combination of quality and affordability can be rare.

— Caddying Alive and Well: Although carts have eroded the utilization of caddies, there are still roughly 20 clubs in the state that have caddie programs.

And thanks to the CGA/CWGA’s new Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy at CommonGround Golf Course, there are new opportunities. By paying the base caddie fees, the program gives extra incentive for taking a caddie at CommonGround.

Which brings us to the Evans Caddie Scholarship at the University of Colorado. The Solich Academy no doubt will create additional candidates for the scholarship, which provides full tuition and housing at CU to qualified caddies who demonstrate financial need and meet other requirements.

Nationwide, there are 835 Evans Scholars currently in school at 19 universities.

And the reasons to give thanks go on and on.
 

At least that’s what some rankings in the September issue of Golf Digest tell us. The magazine, famous for its golf course rankings, which date back to 1966, just put a new spin on the theme by coming out with its first list of the “Most Fun Golf Courses” in the country.

And — in what should be no surprise to golfers in Colorado — our state fares quite well. Golf Digest puts 100 courses on its “fun” list — 50 in the public course category and 50 in the private — meaning that your average state should have two entries. But Colorado is far above average, checking in with five, including four in the public course list.

Included is the newest course in the state, Aurora-based CommonGround Golf Course (pictured), which is owned and operated by the CGA and CWGA, and which just served as the second course for the stroke-play portion of the U.S. Amateur. Golf Digest ranks CommonGround 39th in the public course category.

Other Colorado venues on that list are Fox Acres Country Club, a semi-private course accessibile to the public in Red Feather Lakes northwest of Fort Collins. It comes in at No. 17. The Golf Club at Redlands Mesa in Grand Junction is No. 34, while picturesque Arrowhead Golf Club in Littleton is No. 45.

In the private course category, Ballyneal Golf Club in Holyoke finds itself No. 37.

For the record, Pebble Beach Golf Links in California leads the way among public courses — with four Bandon, Ore., layouts in the next five — while Cypress Point, a Monterey-area neighbor of Pebble Beach, gained the top spot in the private category.

Here’s how Golf Digest laid out its thoughts about “fun” golf:

“Golf doesn’t have to be an ordeal. Honestly, when you think back on your most enjoyable rounds, were they on courses that left you bloodied and bruised? No. They were on courses that tested but did not torment you. Challenged but did not chafe you. Made you think but did not make you think about quitting.

“Golf Digest celebrates the best of these layouts with our first ranking of the Most Fun Courses. All of these — 50 public and 50 private — are very good courses, and some of them are great. But each shares one overarching characteristic: a good time is all but guaranteed.”

For its rankings, the magazine put particular emphasis on four considerations: 1. Length does not equal fun; 2. Hard is overrated; 3. Walking is more fun than riding; 4. A welcoming attitude beats a snooty vibe.

Here are Golf Digest’s quickie comments on each of the Colorado courses on the “fun” list:

Fox Acres CC in Red Feather Lakes (Public No. 17) — Charming, shortish course (now semi-private) in a beautiful area west of Fort Collins.

GC at Redland Mesa in Grand Junction (Public No. 34) — A beaut among buttes, where the game is pinball, played off humps and slopes while avoiding stone walls and rock outcroppings.

CommonGround GC in Aurora (Public No. 39) — The walkable, testy Tom Doak design will be the companion course for the 2012 U.S. Amateur. You can play it for $50 (Editor’s Note: $40 for CGA and CWGA members). Juniors walk on for $15.

Arrowhead GC in Littleton (Public No. 45) — Fairways and greens are tucked between gigantic, tilted red rocks that reach to the heavens. Do they actually play this course or just photograph it?

Ballyneal GC (Private No. 37) — Akin to Sand Hills (in Nebraska) with one key distinction: fescue greens that play super-fast down some scary slopes but molasses-slow up them.

To read the Golf Digest story and see the “fun course” rankings, CLICK HERE.