The East Course at The Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs will do the honors during the resort’s 100th anniversary year as the U.S. Senior Open pays a visit the week of June 25-July 1.

That East Course (pictured) — site of two U.S. Women’s Opens, two U.S. Senior Opens (including next year’s) and a U.S. Amateur — has long been a highly regarded layout, besides being a historic one.

That was reaffirmed this week when Golfweek magazine published a couple of its top courses in the country lists.

The Broadmoor’s East Course has been a fixture on Golfweek’s Top 100 Resort Courses in the U.S., and this month was no exception. The East was ranked 55th on this year’s list, which was headed by the Pebble Beach Golf Links.

All told, seven Colorado-based courses were among those recognized this week in Golfweek’s Top 100 lists. Five were among the Top 100 Residential Courses in the U.S., including two in the top 10: Colorado Golf Club in Parker, which moved up to No. 4 in the nation this year; and Castle Pines Golf Club (No. 9), which hosted the PGA Tour’s International for 21 years beginning in 1986.

Here’s the rundown of the Colorado courses recognized by Golfweek this week, plus the No. 1-ranked course nationally in each category:

Golfweek’s Top 100 Resort Courses in U.S.
1. Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, Calif.
55. Broadmoor Golf Club (East Course) in Colorado Springs (Donald Ross/Robert Trent Jones Sr. design)
76. Red Sky Golf Club (Fazio Course) in Wolcott (Tom Fazio design)

For the complete list, CLICK HERE.

Golfweek’s Top 100 Residential Courses in U.S. 
1. Wade Hampton Club in Cashiers, N.C.
4. Colorado Golf Club in Parker (Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw design)
9. Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Pines (Jack Nicklaus design)
23. The Glacier Club in Durango (Arthur Hills design)
54. The Golf Club at Redlands Mesa in Grand Junction (Jim Engh design)
63. The Club at Ravenna in Littleton (Jay Morrish design)

For the complete list, CLICK HERE.

In addition, Golf.com selected its Best New Courses of 2017, and the 12-hole Mulligan Course — designed by Tom Doak — at Ballyneal in Holyoke received a “special citation” mention under the “Spectacular New Short Courses” section.

For the complete list, CLICK HERE.

Editor’s Note: With the CGA celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding in 1915, this is the second monthly installment of a series of stories looking back on the last century of golf in Colorado. All the articles will be published on ColoradoGolf.org. This chapter focuses on the period from 1915-1924. For a list of all installments to date, CLICK HERE. 

While there were certainly very notable happenings in the history of Colorado golf prior to 1915, the decade starting then marked a watershed for the sport in the Centennial State.

After all, that period included the founding of both the CGA and the CWGA; the first USGA presidency held by a Coloradan; the opening of a club that’s gone on to host more major championships and USGA championships than any other in Colorado (Cherry Hills Country Club) and of another club that’s been home to the second-most USGA championships in Colorado history (the Broadmoor); and the debut of what would become one of the country’s top amateur tournaments (the Broadmoor Invitation).

That’s what you call laying a strong foundation for golf in the state.

But before we continue with that, let’s briefly note what preceded the CGA’s founding.

A half-dozen golf courses in Colorado that opened prior to World War I remain vibrant to this day. That list includes Overland Park in Denver (left, circa 1895), Denver Country Club, Patty Jewett in Colorado Springs, Pueblo Country Club, Lakewood Country Club (then known as The Colorado Golf Club), and City Park in Denver. And there’s been some indication that other courses can trace their lineage back to pre-World War I, including perhaps Greeley Country Club.

Denver Country Club was one of the original 15 clubs in the Trans-Mississippi Golf Association (as was the Town & Gown Golf Club of Colorado Springs), and in the early years DCC hosted the Trans-Miss Championship in 1910 (won by a gentleman by the name of Harry Legg) and 1921 (George Von Elm). DCC was also the site of the 1912 Western Amateur won by Chick Evans, now best known as the founder of the Evans Scholarship for caddies. Evans would go on to capture eight Western Amateur titles in addition to two U.S. Amateurs and the 1916 U.S. Open.

Even though the CGA wasn’t founded until 1915, the tournament now known as the CGA Match Play dates back to 1901, making it the oldest continuously held state golf championship in Colorado. Frank Woodward, who played an exhibition match at Overland against the famed Harry Vardon during Vardon’s nationwide tour in 1900, captured the first Match Play title. (Keep his name in mind for a little history he’ll make later.)

Walter Fairbanks (pictured at top), also part of the Vardon exhibition, strung together four consecutive Match Play titles from 1902-05, a feat that remains unmatched in tournament history. But by far the most successful performer overall in the Match Play was Dr. Larry Bromfield, who won eight titles between 1912-28.

As for the specific decade at hand (1915-24), here are some of the highlights:

— The Colorado Golf Association was formally founded on Aug. 20, 1915. A two-paragraph Denver Post story noted that the “organization will control the state tournaments, give the cups and appoint the officers, and the winner will be the recognized champion of the association and state.”

M.A. McLaughlin of Lakewood Country Club was elected the first president. That same year, coincidentally, McLaughlin won the first of his two CGA Match Plays, this time defeating Bromfield. McLaughlin had been the Match Play runner-up the previous three years.

— The following year, on March 14, 1916, the Colorado Women’s Golf Association came into being when eight women met and elected a president, adopted a constitution and bylaws, and delineated the association’s objectives and purpose: to promote and maintain the best interests of the game of golf; to hold golf tournaments; and to promote good fellowship among member clubs.” Mrs. Olyn Hemming was named the CWGA’s first president.

In September 2016 the first CWGA Match Play Championship was held, with Mrs. M.A. McLaughlin of Lakewood prevailing for the title.

During the period from 1915-21, the McLaughlins won five CGA/CWGA Match Play titles between them.

— Meanwhile, at this same time, a Coloradan was making some history nationally. The United States Golf Association was founded in 1894, and from then through 1914, all the presidents of the organization had come from the East or Midwest. But Denver Country Club founding member Woodward, winner of the first CGA Match Play 14 years earlier, in 1915 became the first USGA president from the western U.S. He served a two-year term during which the USGA in 1916 stripped the amateur status from 1913 U.S. Open champion Francis Ouimet because Ouimet intended to open a sporting goods store. Ouimet wouldn’t be reinstated until 1918. The next USGA president from Colorado wouldn’t take office until 1980 (Will Nicholson Jr.).

During the period from 1909-20, Woodward would be president of Denver Country Club for five years. He was also a chairman of the Western Golf Association and the Trans Mississippi Golf Association.

— During the period from 1915-24, two of Colorado’s most famous courses opened, with the Donald Ross-designed Broadmoor Golf Club coming online in 1918 and William Flynn-designed Cherry Hills in 1922. Between them, Cherry Hills and the Broadmoor have hosted 16 USGA championships and 10 major championships (PGA, LPGA and Champions tours combined).

— In 1921, the Broadmoor debuted the Broadmoor Invitation (sometimes referred to as the Broadmoor Amateur Open in the early years), which would become one of the most prestigious amateur tournaments in the country. From 1921 to ’95, the tournament built a reputation for crowning top-notch champions. Among the winners of the tournament over those years — the event returned in 2014 as a scratch four-ball — were Hale Irwin, Lawson Little, Tom Purtzer, Grier Jones, Duffy Waldorf, Bob Dickson, John Fought and Willie Wood — all of whom went on to win on the PGA Tour — as well as Charlie Coe and locals N.C. “Tub” Morris (his 1922 Broadmoor Invitation medalist honor is pictured above), Bill Loeffler and Jim English.

As for the Broadmoor Ladies Invitation, its most famous champion would be Babe Zaharias, who won the event three consecutive years beginning in 1945.

All in all, the decade beginning in 1915 — along with the period leading up to it — had Colorado golf off to a rousing start through the first quarter of the 20th century. But many ups and downs awaited in the years to come.

Next up: 1925-34.
 

The sun shined brightly and warmly on all the participants in Sunday’s finals of the CGA Team Interclub Championship, but particularly so on players from the Broadmoor Golf Club — not only this weekend but all season.

On a day when the temperature approached the 80-degree mark, the Broadmoor completed a dominant, undefeated year by beating Rifle Creek Golf Course for the Team Interclub title at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora.

The Broadmoor defeated Rifle Creek 23-13, giving the Colorado Springs-based club a 7-0 record in 2014. To add to the accomplishment, the Broadmoor won all seven of its matches by double-digit margins. Overall, the club outscored its opponents 188-64. (The Broadmoor’s title-winning team is pictured above.)

“At least for a year, we’re the best. It’s fun,” said Mike Allred, one of five Broadmoor competitors to win both their singles and four-ball matches on Sunday. “We’ve been doing it and doing it and doing it (in the Team Interclub over the last five years). Last year we came close (losing by two points in the first round of the playoffs). This year, everybody just turned it on when it needed to be turned on.”

That included on Sunday, when the Broadmoor beat a Rifle Creek team that has made the final four at each of the last three CGA Team Interclubs. The Broadmoor prevailed 14-10 in the singles on Sunday, and 9-3 in the four-ball matches, which were held concurrently.

Teammates joining Allred in winning both singles and four-ball matches on Sunday were Ron Crowder, Scott Meagher, Josh Waymire and Jerry Petersen.

“This is some good fun at the club and gives us some bragging rights, I guess,” said Crowder (pictured at left in the red cap with Allred). “It’s really fun for me (because) I lived (at Lowry, where CommonGround is located) as a kid 60 years ago. The golf course didn’t even exist then.

“But I think we have a big advantage because of the greens at the Broadmoor. You’ve got to putt at the Broadmoor, and these things always boil down to putting. I saw a women’s tournament on TV recently, and a commentator was talking about So Yeon Ryu, who won the (2011) U.S. Women’s Open at the Broadmoor. And he said, ‘She can putt. She won it at the Broadmoor. Those are some of the toughest greens in America.’ And I think they’re right.

“You really have to know how to putt to score there.”

Allred seconds the notion.

“I think what it is is, the Broadmoor trains you to be an excellent golfer,” the 2.3-handicapper said. “It just makes you a better golfer. I think all these guys, if they didn’t play golf there, we wouldn’t be here. It’s world-class training to play golf at that golf course. It just fine-tunes everything.”

While five players went 2-0 for the Broadmoor on Sunday, Jim Grabe was the lone competitor from Rifle Creek to do likewise. Rifle Creek lost in the finals for the second time in three years, and it went to the semifinals last fall. Seven competitors from the 2012 finals played again on Sunday.

The Western Slope-based course finished the season 5-1, not including an opponent’s forfeit. (Pictured at left are Rifle Creek players Michael Smith and Jeb Savage.)

“We’ve got to find a way to get a win on some neutral territory,” said Kyle Daniell, the head professional at Rifle Creek. “Being our second time in the championship match, we wanted to get a win this year. Last time we were in it (2012), we were just happy to be there and it was a good experience. This was a great experience too, but we came with intention to win this year and that’s what we’ll continue to do.

“Definitely (the Team Interclub) is a big deal for us. We talk about it all the time. We get over 30 guys interested in playing. We have no problem filling the team. Maybe some clubs don’t take it as serious, but we take it serious. It’s good competition for our members and it’s good to see them out there competing.”

Sunday marked the conclusion of a season-long net match play championship that began on May 3 and which originally featured 61 teams from across the state. The finals were the 83rd match of the 2014 competition, not counting walkovers.

The “regular season” lasted from May through early August, with geographically-linked groups of four teams playing round-robins against one another. The team from each group with the highest point total advanced to the 16-team playoffs, which ran August through October.


Both in the regular season and the playoffs, teams of a dozen men each — of widely varying abilities — square off, with singles and four-ball matches held concurrently. Each individual match is worth two points — two for a win and one for a tie.

As part of the Team Interclub, the CGA will donate $500 to each of the junior golf programs at the clubs which qualified for the finals.

The Team Interclub concludes the 2014 CGA championship season.

CGA Team Interclub Finals
At CommonGround GC in Aurora

FINAL SCORE: Broadmoor GC 23, Rifle Creek GC 13

Singles (Broadmoor 14, Rifle Creek 10)
Mike Allred, B, def. Jeb Savage, 3 and 2
Ron Crowder, B, def. Michael Smith, 2 and 1
Jack Parkinson, RC, def. Phillip Temple, 2 and 1
Tod Smith, RC, def. Greg Flaks, 1 up
Jim Grabe, RC, def. Doug Wasson, 7 and 6
Jerry Tilton, B, halved with Jeff Hauer, RC
James Hafemeister, B, halved with Mark Sours, RC
Roger Perry, B, def. Steve Stanek, 3 and 2
Scott Meagher, B, def. Clint Hostettler, 4 and 3
Josh Waymire, B, def. Michael Higginbotham, 1 up
Pay Hayes, RC, def. Duke Mitchell, 6 and 4
Jerry Petersen, B, def. Mike Whitt, 4 and 2

Four-Ball (Broadmoor 9, Rifle Creek 3)
Allred/Crowder, B, def. Savage/Smith, 3 and 2
Temple/Flaks, B, def. Parkinson/Smith, 1 up
Grabe/Hauer, RC, def. Wasson/Tilton, 4 and 3
Hafemeister/Perry, B, halved with Sours/Stanek, RC
Meagher/Waymire, B, def. Hostettler/Higginbotham, 1 up
Mitchell/Petersen, B, def. Hayes/Whitt, 3 and 2
 

Suffice it to say that the fifth annual CGA Team Interclub Championship has had all parts of the state covered.

And, after almost six months of competition, the 2014 champion will be crowned on Sunday at CommonGround, where the Broadmoor and Rifle Creek will meet in the finals of a competition which originally featured 61 teams, the second-most in the history of the event.

The CGA Team Interclub is a season-long net match play competition that involves golf clubs from throughout the state. This year’s championship included teams from as far west as Adobe Creek National Golf Course in Fruita, as far east as Bunker Hill Country Club in Brush, as far south as Elmwood Golf Course in Pueblo, and as far north as Fort Collins Country Club.

The “regular season” lasted from May through early August, with geographically-linked groups of four teams playing round-robins against one another. The team from each group with the highest point total advanced to the playoffs, which run August through October. This year, the finals will mark the 83rd match of the year, not counting walkovers.



Both in the regular season and the playoffs, teams of a dozen men each — of widely varying abilities — square off, with singles and four-ball matches held concurrently. Each individual match is worth two points — two for a win and one for a tie.

Rifle Creek, a public course located just north of I-70 in Rifle, about 185 miles west of Denver, becomes just the second club to qualify for two CGA Team Interclub finals. Rifle Creek also made it in 2012, when it lost 28-8 to two-time champion Lone Tree Golf Club. (Pictured above are two players from that 2012 Rifle Creek team, Jeb Savage and Cole Manuppella. Savage is one of seven Rifle Creek competitors returning from that 2012 finals team.)

In this year’s Team Interclub, Rifle Creek has gone 5-0, not counting one walkover match. It has outscored its opponents by a combined 115-65, with its closest match being a 19-17 victory over Glenwood Springs Golf Club.

The other finalist, the Broadmoor, has been even more dominant. The resort club, seeded No. 1 in the playoffs, has gone 6-0, collectively outscoring opponents 165-51. Every one of the Broadmoor’s six victories has come by a double-digit margin, with the closest a 23-13 win over Hiwan Golf Club.

Both teams came up with strong semifinal performances to make it to the final two, with the Broadmoor routing Sunset Golf Course 30-6 and Rifle Creek defeating Lincoln Park/Tiara Rado 26-10.

Overall in the playoffs, the Broadmoor has beaten the Pinery 25-11, Hiwan 23-13 and Sunset 30-6. Rifle Creek defeated Riverdale 21-15, 2013 runner-up Todd Creek 23-13, and Lincoln Park/Tiara Rado 26-10.

The Team Interclub concludes the 2014 CGA championship season.

CGA Team Interclub Finals Pairings
Oct. 26, 2014 at CommonGround GC

Singles
Mike Allred, B, vs. Jeb Savage, RC
Ron Crowder, B, vs. Michael Smith, RC
Phillip Temple, B, vs. Jack Parkinson, RC
Greg Flaks, B, vs. Tod Smith, RC
Doug Wasson, B, vs. Jim Grabe, RC
Jerry Tilton, B, vs. Jeff Hauer, RC
James Hafemeister, B, vs. Mark Sours, RC
Roger Perry, B, vs. Steve Stanek, RC
Scott Meagher, B, vs. Clint Hostettler, RC
Josh Waymire, B, vs. Michael Higginbotham, RC
Duke Mitchell, B, vs. Pay Hayes, RC
Jerry Petersen, B, vs. Mike Whitt, RC

Four-Ball
Allred/Crowder, B, vs. Savage/Smith, RC
Temple/Flaks, B, vs. Parkinson/Smith, RC
Wasson/Tilton, B, vs. Grabe/Hauer, RC
Hafemeister/Perry, B, vs. Sours/Stanek, RC
Meagher/Waymire, B, vs. Hostettler/Higginbotham, RC
Mitchell/Petersen, B, vs. Hayes/Whitt, RC
 

Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch, attempting to earn his first return trip to the U.S. Open 12 years after qualifying as a 16-year-old, took the first step on Wednesday by sharing medalist honors in U.S. Open Local Qualifying at the Broadmoor Golf Club’s West Course in Colorado Springs.

The two-time HealthOne Colorado Open champion shot an even-par 70 and was one of five players at the site to advance to a 36-hole Sectional Qualifier on June 2.

Tolan, a former University of Colorado golfer, tied for the top spot Wednesday with David Schroeder II and Alex Kephart from Colorado Springs and Brandon Bingaman from Montrose. Also earning a Sectional berth was former CU golfer Derek Fribbs, from Castle Rock, who posted a 71.

After withdrawals and no-shows, 61 players competed for five spots into Sectionals at the Broadmoor.

Tolan, who played in the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black in New York at age 16, made three birdies and three bogeys on Wednesday. This marks the second consecutive year he’s advanced from a Local Qualifier at the Broadmoor’s West Course. Tolan (pictured above) has conditional status on the Web.com Tour this year.

Schroeder, playing at his home club, recorded five birdies on Wednesday. He was the runner-up in the 2011 CGA Stroke Play Championship. (Schroeder is pictured between Kephart, left, and Bingaman.) 

Bingaman, a former Colorado Mesa University golfer, chalked up four birdies — the same as Kephart, who qualified for last year’s U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur, and Fribbs, the 2013 CGA Player of the Year.

Wednesday marked the second of three U.S. Open Local Qualifying tournaments being held in Colorado this week. On Tuesday at Collindale in Fort Collins, amateurs Parker Edens of Greeley and Cameron Brown of Edwards, along with professionals Matt Rutledge of Fort Collins and Miles Philpy of Thornton earned spots in Sectionals.

Five more players will advance from Thursday’s tournament at Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster.

A total of more than 210 players are involved in this week’s 18-hole U.S. Open Local Qualifiers in Colorado. The numbers were even larger, but quite a few players withdrew when two of the qualifying tournaments — at Heritage at Westmoor and the Broadmoor — were rescheduled twice due to the weather early in the week.

The players who advance this week will play in one of a dozen 36-hole Sectional Qualifiers, with the 10 in the U.S. scheduled for June 2. The U.S. Open itself will be held June 12-15 at the Pinehurst Resort’s No. 2 course in North Carolina.

U.S. Open Local Qualifying
At Par-70 West Course at Broadmoor GC in Colo. Springs

ADVANCE TO SECTIONALS
Alex Kephart, Colorado Springs, Colo., 36-34–70
David Schroeder II, Colorado Springs, Colo., 35-35–70
Brandon Bingaman, Montrose, Colo., 35-35–70
Derek Tolan, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 35-35–70
Derek Fribbs, Castle Rock, Colo., 35-36–71

ALTERNATES (In Order)
Devyn Solano, Aurora, Colo., 32-40–72
Steven Irwin, Arvada, Colo., 37-36–73 

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Isaac Petersilie, Colorado Springs, Colo., 35-38–73
Barry Milstead, Centennial, Colo., 37-36–73
Wilson Belk, Colorado Springs, Colo., 35-38–73
Jeff Chapman, Englewood, Colo., 34-39–73
Jake Staiano, Englewood, Colo., 37-37–74
Erik Billinger, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 35-40–75
Eric Hallberg, Parker, Colo., 40-36–76
Tommy Carpenter, Centennial, Colo., 38-39–77
Luke Hemelstrand, Tempe, Ariz., 38-39–77
Jeffrey Gravina, Littleton, Colo., 37-40–77
William Beau Schoolcraft, Denver, Colo., 37-40–77
Marshall Clark, Denver, Colo., 34-44–78
David Lysaught, Denver, Colo., 41-37–78
Kaleb Nichols, Peyton, Colo., 37-41–78
Connor Klein, Lone Tree, Colo., 39-40–79
David Jackson, Colorado Springs, Colo., 38-41–79
Mitchell Smith, Elizabeth, Colo., 41-38–79
Nicholas Vanetten, Colorado Springs, Colo., 39-40–79
Matt Hart, Aurora, Colo., 40-40–80
Brett Housman, Pueblo, Colo., 39-41–80
Charles Rider, Centennial, Colo., 39-41–80
Jon Roth, Colorado Springs, Colo., 38-42–80
Austin Burgess, Colorado Springs, Colo., 39-42–81
Will Logsdon, Colorado Springs, Colo., 41-40–81
Audie Dean, Centennial, Colo., 40-42–82
Neil Tillman, Arvada, Colo., 40-42–82
Timothy Amundson, Littleton, Colo., 40-42–82
Chace Nathe, Timnath, Colo., 41-41–82
Alan Berry, Littleton, Colo., 39-44–83
Corey Stanton, Breckenridge, Colo., 39-44–83
Caleb Blass, Colorado Springs, Colo., 42-41–83
Justin Palermo, Colorado Springs, Colo., 41-42–83
Pierce Aichinger, Englewood, Colo., 41-43–84
Daniel Preston, Colorado Springs, Colo., 39-45–84
Jason Kroese, Denver, Colo., 38-46–84
Michael Swan, Crested Butte, Colo., 39-45–84
Grant McLaughlin, Aurora, Colo., 39-46–85
Todd Kenyon, Colorado Springs, Colo., 42-43–85
John Ward, Denver, Colo., 40-45–85
John Fowlds, Lone Tree, Colo., 43-42–85
Gilbert Garcia, Lawton, Okla., 42-44–86
Kyle Nottoli, Colorado Springs, Colo., 41-45–86
Andrew Silverman, Lone Tree, Colo., 42-44–86
Chris Winter, Colorado Springs, Colo., 43-44–87
Sam Marley, Centennial, Colo., 40-47–87
Andrew Cooper, Cherry Hills Village, Colo., 47-42–89
Jay Livsey, Denver, Colo., 40-49–89
Derek Williams, Colorado Springs, Colo., 36-54–90
Jacob Kelley, Littleton, Colo., 49-43–92
Spencer Rogerson, Colorado Springs, Colo., 49-45–94
Jeff Elliott, Moore, Okla., 48-48–96
Jimmy Byars, Denver, Colo., 51-46–97
Brian Whitehouse, Garden City, Kan., 49-49–98
Richard Esper, Parker, Colo., 49-49–98
Gary Driber, Castle Pines, Colo., WD
Troy Berglund, Pittsburgh, Pa., NS
Samuel Toillion, Longmont, Colo., NS
Matt Call, Castle Rock, Colo., WD
Conrad Smith, Golden, Colo., NS
Shane Bertsch, Parker, Colo., NS
Mike Milewski, Parker, Colo., NS
Wes Strang, Bethesda, Md., WD

The competitive golf season in Colorado will crank up to high gear in the coming weeks, and for one of the most notable tournament additions for this year, organizers will go back to the future.

The Broadmoor Invitation, an amateur event that built a big-time local and national reputation over a run that started shortly after World War I (1921) and continued until after the Cold War concluded (1995), will be resurrected this year.

After an absence of nearly two decades, the Broadmoor Invitation will rejoin the golf scene July 6-10, with the East Course at the Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs hosting the first return installment. The West Course also will probably be used in future years, according to Russ Miller, the Broadmoor’s director of golf.

“We’re trying to re-establish a historical tournament and things around the hotel,” Miller said, acknowledging that Phil Anschutz, whose corporation bought the Broadmoor in 2011, would like to tap into — and build upon — the rich history of the Broadmoor. “He’s very much that way. And we had a great Invitation here for a long time.”

Indeed, among the winners of the men’s Broadmoor Invitation over its long run as a premier amateur tournament were future U.S. Open champions Hale Irwin (winner at the Broadmoor in 1967) and Lawson Little (1933), along with Tom Purtzer (1973), Grier Jones (1968), Duffy Waldorf (1984), Bob Dickson (1966), John Fought (1977) and Willie Wood (1983) — all of whom went on to win on the PGA Tour.

Irwin, who also captured the 1967 NCAA title as a University of Colorado golfer, won 20 times on the PGA Tour (including three U.S. Opens), a record 45 times on the Champions Tour, and has been a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame since 1992. Little is also a World Golf Hall of Famer. Other Broadmoor Invitation champions include noted lifelong amateur great Charlie Coe (1947 and ’48), three-time Colorado Open champion Bill Loeffler (1976, ’78 and ’87), N.C. “Tub” Morris (for whom the CGA Stroke Play Championship Trophy is named; 1928), and Jim English (1955 and ’64). For the record, the tournament was called the Broadmoor Amateur Open during its early years.

But while the Broadmoor Invitation was an individual competition for the great majority of its run, the 21st-century version will hearken back to the format the tournament used in the final years of its previous incarnation — as a scratch four-ball championship.

Miller hopes to draw 64 two-man teams — with players with handicaps of 12 and lower — and he currently has about half the field full. After a practice round on July 6, a qualifying round will be played on July 7, then July 8 through 10 will feature match play. And regardless of how teams fare, they’ll play all the way through the 10th.

“We’re trying to get away from college golfers, and go more to seniors and mid-amateurs,” Miller said. “We’re not trying to compete with the U.S. Amateur. Most of the people in the field will be 40 or older,” though it’s open to younger golfers.

“Most of the players signed up (so far) are from Texas and Oklahoma, and a lot of them played (the Broadmoor Invitation) in the past or their dads played.”

While players from all over are welcome, the Broadmoor is hoping to get a large representation from Colorado.

Though the Broadmoor Invitation in its previous run preceded Miller’s arrival at the golf club (1998), he said the tournament went by the wayside primarily due to financial reasons, with two golf courses being used for a week during the prime season, and players not required to stay at the Broadmoor Hotel.

In the 21st-century Broadmoor Invitation, it’s a package deal. The cost — $3,950 for one player and a spouse/guest — includes accommodations at the Broadmoor Hotel, five rounds of golf, tournament registration, a variety of exclusive events and activities, selected meals and receptions for both players and their spouses/guests, and gifts and awards. Dow Finsterwald, winner of the 1958 PGA Championship and a former director of golf at the Broadmoor, will be a special guest at the closing awards dinner on July 10. For more information or to enter, contact Miller at rmiller@broadmoor.com.

With the Broadmoor featuring a five-star hotel and golf courses that have hosted seven USGA championships, the Invitation is right in the resort’s wheel-house. Earlier this year, the Broadmoor was named the top resort in North America in Golf magazine’s biennial rankings. In earning the No. 1 spot, the Broadmoor beat out the likes of The Greenbrier, Bandon Dunes, Kiawah Island, and the Pebble Beach, Pinehurst and Sea Island resorts.

(Top photo: Will Nicholson Sr., a onetime mayor of Denver, presents the Broadmoor Invitation trophies. Photo below: runner-up Walter Crooks and champion George Cornes with the trophy in 1929.)

With so few new golf courses having opened in the U.S. in recent years — and none in Colorado since 2009 — the plethora of course ratings lists published by golf magazines seldom includes many surprises these days.

Still, it’s fun for devoted golfers to peruse the various lists, seeing and reviewing the best the game has to offer internationally, nationally, and statewide.

We at COgolf.org periodically compile and note such course ratings, particularly those put together by prominent national publications with experience in such matters.

With Golfweek magazine having recently published several “best of” lists, now seemed an opportune time to take a look at some of the various course ratings that have been unveiled in the last several months.

In each case, we include Colorado courses which made national/international lists, plus the top five courses in the category.

Golfweek Magazine Best Residential Courses

Colorado Courses on List — 6. Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock (pictured above); 7. Colorado Golf Club in Parker (pictured at left); 33. Golf Club at Ravenna in Littleton; 60. The Glacier Club in Durango; 79. Golf Club at Redlands Mesa in Grand Junction.

Top 5 Overall — 1. Wade Hampton Club in Cashiers, N.C.; 2. Rock Creek Cattle Company in Deer Lodge, Mont.; 3. Huntsman Springs in Driggs, Idaho; 4. Shooting Star in Teton Village, Wyo.; 5. Gozzer Ranch in Arrowpoint, Idaho.

Golfweek Magazine Best Resort Courses

Colorado Courses on List — 45. Red Sky Golf Club (Fazio Course) in Wolcott; 71. Broadmoor Golf Club (East Course) in Colorado Springs.

Top 5 Overall — 1. Pacific Dunes in Bandon, Ore.; 2. Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, Calif.; 3. Pinehurst No. 2 in Pinehurst, N.C.; 4. Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wis.; 5. Old Macdonald in Bandon, Ore.

Golfweek Magazine Best Campus Courses

Colorado Course on List — 23. Eisenhower Golf Club (Blue Course) at Air Force Academy.

Top 5 Overall — 1. The Course at Yale in New Haven, Conn.; 2. Taconic GC in Williamstown, Mass.; 3. Rawls Course at Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas; 4. Palouse Ridge GC in Pullman, Wash.; 5. University Ridge GC in Verona, Wis.

Golf.com (Golf Magazine) Top 100 Courses in the World

Colorado Course on List — 75. Ballyneal in Holyoke.

Top 5 Overall — 1. Pine Valley in Pine Valley, N.J.; 2. Cypress Point in Pebble Beach, Calif.; 3. Augusta National in Augusta, Ga.; 4. St. Andrews (Old Course) in St. Andrews, Scotland; 5. Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, N.Y.

Links Golf Magazine “100” World Rankings

Colorado Course on List — 32. Ballyneal in Holyoke.

Top 5 Overall — 1. Cypress Point in Pebble Beach, Calif.; 2. Pine Valley in Pine Valley, N.J.; 3. Augusta National in Augusta, Ga.; 4. Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, N.Y.; 5. St. Andrews (Old Course) in St. Andrews, Scotland.

Links Golf Magazine “100” U.S. Rankings

Colorado Courses on List — 19. Ballyneal in Holyoke; 81. Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village; 90. Colorado Golf Club in Parker.

Top 5 Overall — Cypress Point in Pebble Beach, Calif.; 2. Pine Valley in Pine Valley, N.J.; 3. Augusta National in Augusta, Ga.; 4. Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, N.Y.; 5. National Golf Links of America in Southampton, N.Y.

And even though Golf Digest’s lists date back to the beginning of 2013 — and we’ve written about them previously — they’re worth including because they’re considered the course rating gold standard by many.

Golf Digest Magazine America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses

Colorado Courses on List — 33. Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock; 64. Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village; 78. Ballyneal in Holyoke.

Top 5 Overall — 1. Pine Valley in Pine Valley, N.J.; 2. Augusta National in Augusta, Ga.; 3. Cypress Point in Pebble Beach, Calif.; 4. Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, N.Y.; 5. Oakmont in Oakmont, Pa.

Golf Digest Magazine America’s Second 100 Greatest Golf Courses

Colorado Courses on List — 131. Colorado Golf Club in Parker; 135. Broadmoor Golf Club (East Course) in Colorado Springs; 139. Sanctuary in Sedalia; 194. Red Sky Golf Club (Norman Course) in Wolcott; 197. Country Club of the Rockies in Edwards.

Golf Digest Magazine America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses

Colorado Course on List — 29. Broadmoor Golf Club (East Course) in Colorado Springs; 70. Red Sky Golf Club (Norman Course) in Wolcott; 99. Golf Club at Redlands Mesa in Grand Junction.

Top 5 Overall — 1. Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, Calif.; 2. Whistling Straits in Haven, Wis.; 3. Pacific Dunes in Bandon, Ore.; 4. Ocean Course in Kiawah Island, S.C.; 5. Shadow Creek in North Las Vegas, Nev.
 

Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale had never played in a USGA championship until last year at age 50, but now he’s set to go to his second consecutive U.S. Senior Open.

Thanks to their performances on Monday, the two Colorado PGA professionals both punched their tickets to the 2013 U.S. Senior Open, which will be contested July 11-14 at Omaha (Neb.) Country Club.

“This will be my first (Senior Open),” said Loeffler, winner of three HealthOne Colorado Opens. “I’ve been to four Senior PGAs, but this will be the first Senior Open, so that will be fun. It’ll be great to play in it. I love the USGA events.”

As for Rohrbaugh, recent winner of the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open, he said earning consecutive U.S. Senior Open berths “is unbelievable. I couldn’t wait to turn 50 (last year), and it’s certainly been good for me. I wanted to get back to (the Senior Open) badly because I feel like I can compete at it. Last year I learned so much about the situation and myself. So I was like, ‘Give me another shot, please.'”

Loeffler, 56, and Rohrbaugh, 51, each shot 1-over-par 72 to land the two U.S. Senior Open berths available at Monday’s 83-man qualifier at the West Course at the Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs. (The two are pictured above, with Rohrbaugh at left.)

Loeffler, winner of the 1986 U.S. Mid-Amateur and two PGA of America national titles (Assistant Professional and Senior Professional), was 4 over par after six holes on Monday. But he battled back with three birdies the rest of the way, including one on No. 18.

“I just started playing better and better and finally got the speed of the greens right and was placing the ball in the correct spot, which you have to do here,” Loeffler said. “I hit some really good shots coming in and made up those three shots.”

Monday marked one of the most encouraging tournament rounds recently for Loeffler, a Colorado Golf Hall of Famer who had been struggling following neck fusion surgery in November 2011.

“I played in the Hall of Fame tournament (a week ago) and shot 78,” he said. “That’s kind of been my norm. I didn’t expect to make it today, but I did some (good) things, which was nice.”

Rohrbaugh, the head professional at Ironbridge Golf Club, likewise needed a late birdie to secure a national berth. He drained a big-breaking 15-foot birdie putt on his 17th hole to avoid what would have been a playoff.

Rohrbaugh missed the cut in last year’s U.S. Senior Open after a triple bogey on the back nine of his second round. But he figures he might perform all the better this year because of the 2012 experience.

“I’ve told people if I get back it won’t be as much, ‘Wow, there’s Fred Couples, there’s Tom Watson,'” he said. “I’ve had a chance to do it. This time it will be different. I’m going there to compete, period. If I’m hitting the ball like I’m hitting it now, and if I can just get the putter going …”

Like last year — and on Monday — Rohrbaugh plans to have son Tristan, now 17, caddying for him at the Senior Open.

“My wife and other son were also there last year,” the elder Rohrbaugh said. “It was just an amazing week. (Tristan and I) are a good tandem, a good team, and we have fun. I mean, you have your kid there. How much more relaxed can you be?”

Six players tied for third place on Monday, with Grand Junction amateur Matt Hall and Colorado Springs-based professional Mike Northern earning the No. 1 and 2 alternate spots, respectively.

The Broadmoor is one of 34 Sectional Qualifying sites for this year’s U.S. Senior Open.

(Updated June 25) Another longtime Colorado professional, Stacey Hart, later joined Loeffler and Rohrbaugh in qualifying for the U.S. Senior Open: READ MORE. And former University of Colorado golfer Mikael Hogberg also earned a berth, shooting a 68 in High Point, N.C., then winning a playoff over two-time PGA Tour winner John Inman.

U.S. Senior Open Qualifying
At Par-71 West Course at Broadmoor GC in Colo. Springs
(a) — indicates amateur

QUALIFIED FOR U.S. SENIOR OPEN
Bill Loeffler, Castle Rock, Colo., 38-34–72
Doug Rohrbaugh, Carbondale, Colo., 35-37–72

ALTERNATES (in order)
(a) Matt Hall, Grand Junction, Colo., 33-40–73
Mike Northern, Colorado Springs, Colo., 37-36–73

FAILED TO QUALIFY
David Rummells, Kissimmee, Fla., 36-37–73
Gregg Jones, Colorado Springs, Colo., 38-35–73
(a) Todd Follmer, Park City, Utah, 36-37–73
(a) Scott Radcliffe, Golden, Colo., 37-36–73
(a) Thomas Musselman Jr, Telluride, Colo., 36-38–74
Jim Kane, Edmond, Okla., 36-38–74
Zane Zwemke, Aurora, Colo., 39-37–76
Doug Perry, Fort Collins, Colo., 35-41–76
James Chancey, Kissimmee, Fla., 37-39–76
Perry Arthur, Plano, Texas, 39-37–76
(a) David Delich, Colorado Springs, Colo., 36-41–77
(a) Ron Garland, Bozeman, Mont., 37-40–77
Rick Cole, Eaton, Colo., 37-40–77
Paul Lobato, Denver, Colo., 41-36–77
Rick Dewitt, Arvada, Colo., 40-37–77
Don Hurter, Sedalia, Colo., 40-37–77
Thomas Anderson, Laurel, Mont., 41-37–78
(a) Mark Armistead, Lone Tree, Colo., 37-41–78
Ron Stelten, Palm Desert, Calif., 39-39–78
(a) John Pierce, San Antonio, Texas, 37-41–78
(a) Robert Polk, Parker, Colo., 41-38–79
(a) John Olive, Colorado Springs, Colo., 38-41–79
(a) Harry Johnson, Edwards, Colo., 39-40–79
Thomas Walter, Franktown, Colo., 38-41–79
Perry Holmes, Denver, Colo., 41-38–79
(a) Kent Moore, Cherry Hills Village, Colo., 37-43–80
Dean Sessions, Westminster, Colo., 37-43–80
(a) John Hoge, Parker, Colo., 40-40–80
Les Winter, Williston, N.D., 41-39–80
(a) Chuck Fisher, Westminster, Colo., 42-39–81
(a) Guy Mertz, Longmont, Colo., 42-39–81
(a) Grant Porter, Castle Rock, Colo., 40-41–81
(a) Glenn Hyde, Denver, Colo., 37-44–81
(a) Thomas Grawe, Conifer, Colo., 39-42–81
(a) Dave Balling, Cody, Wyo., 42-39–81
(a) Lance Balthaser, Littleton, Colo., 42-40–82
(a) Bruce Hogg, Colorado Springs, Colo., 40-42–82
(a) James Lemar, Littleton, Colo., 42-40–82
James Cusworth, Aurora, Colo., 40-42–82
Rick Uhlir, Boulder, Colo., 43-40–83
(a) John Bevere, Colorado Springs, Colo., 40-43–83
(a) Robert Burke, Longmont, Colo., 43-41–84
(a) Sean Forey, Morrison, Colo., 40-44–84
(a) Tom Schultz, Trinidad, Colo., 39-45–84
Gary Hoffman, Aurora, Colo., 40-44–84
Jeff Seltz, Arvada, Colo., 44-40–84
(a) David Nelson, Reno, Nev., 44-40–84
Craig Stephens, Frederick, Colo., 43-42–85
Russ Aragon, Aspen, Colo., 43-42–85
Ralph Delao, Albuquerque, N.M., 39-46–85
Mike Musgrave, Fort Collins, Colo., 42-43–85
(a) Hal Marshall, Littleton, Colo., 43-43–86
William Oshields, Aurora, Colo., 45-41–86
(a) Steve Norman, Colorado Springs, Colo., 44-42–86
(a) Stephen Bell, Denver, Colo., 43-43–86
(a) Mark Barkley, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 38-49–87
(a) Mark Runyan, Centennial, Colo., 44-43–87
(a) Robert Gill, Jackson, Wyo., 43-44–87
Mark Bassett, Colorado Springs, Colo., 38-49–87
(a) Richard Church, Panguitch, Utah, 42-45–87
(a) John Fife, Albuquerque, N.M., 44-44–88
Greg Woodhouse, Thornton, Colo., 44-45–89
Kevin Gannon, Rawlins, Wyo., 41-48–89
(a) Rob McLelland, Aurora, Colo., 44-46–90
(a) Ronny Roberts, Arcadia, Okla., 43-47–90
(a) Alan Honeyman, Hays, Kan., 44-47–91
(a) Michael Riley, Glenwood Springs, Colo., 42-50–92
(a) Thomas Roos, Englewood, Colo., WD
(a) Charlie Post, Castle Riock, Colo., NS
(a) Bill Fowler, Lakewood, Colo., WD
Dale Smigelsky, Fort Collins, Colo., WD
(a) Mark Mattarocci, Pueblo, Colo., WD
Tom Woodard, Denver, Colo., WD
Ron Vlosich, Lakewood, Colo., WD
Jeff Klein, Scottsbluff, Neb., DQ
Raymond Gibbons, Dallas, Texas, WD
Tommy Thomas, Boulder, Colo., WD
(a) James Sanborn, Arvada, Colo., WD
(a) Scott Dorney, Tulsa, Okla., NC