With just a few days left in the year, it’s almost time to turn the calendar page to 2016. But before we move on, it’s worthwhile to reflect on the top stories of 2015 in Colorado golf. This marks our seventh consecutive year of compiling the rankings, and for suspense sake, we like to go in reverse order, from 25 to 1, then note the honorable-mention selections.

And away we go …:

25. Delich’s Third CGA Senior Match Play Title: David Delich of Colorado Springs became the sixth golfer to win the CGA Senior Match Play at least three times. Full story: CLICK HERE. But that was hardly the former hockey standout’s only significant golf accomplishment in 2015. Delich also qualified for the U.S. Senior Open and U.S. Mid-Amateur, won the senior division of the Charlie Coe Invitational (with Ben Hargis) and earned CGA Senior Player of the Year honors for the second time.

24. Another Honor for Bell: Part-time Colorado Springs resident Judy Bell, the first female president of the USGA, accepted an honorary membership at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews in Scotland, becoming one of the first female members at the historic club. Full story: CLICK HERE.

23. Eaton ‘Unretires’ from CWGA Play, But Falls Short of Another Win: Almost two years after “retiring” from CWGA championship play after accumulating the second-most titles in CWGA history, Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton decided to return to action in an association championship in 2015. But after winning the CWGA Senior Stroke Play each of the first four times she competed in the event, Eaton had to settle for runner-up this year, as Jill Gaschler prevailed by two for the title. Full story: CLICK HERE.

22. Bertsch Wins Web.com Event, Regains PGA Tour Card: Shane Bertsch of Parker notched his third career victory on the Web.com Tour — and first in a decade — when the 45-year-old prevailed in the Rust-Oleum Championship in Westlake, Ohio. That helped Bertsch finish high enough on the season-long money list to regain his PGA Tour card for the first time since 2012. Full story: CLICK HERE.

21. Coloradans Shine at Junior America’s Cup: The CGA has been fielding teams in the Junior America’s Cup annually since 1975, and this year the Coloradans matched their best finish ever in the event that features representatives from the western U.S., Canada and Mexico. The CGA placed third in the 18-team field in Flagstaff, Ariz. The Coloradans also were third in 2011 at Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen. Full story: CLICK HERE.

20. Craig Stadler, Finke to be Inducted: Former Masters champion Craig Stadler, a resident of Colorado for more than two decades, and Ann Finke of Colorado Springs, the first female member of the Colorado PGA and a national leader in junior golf, were voted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame. Stadler, an Evergreen resident since 2003 and a Coloradan since 1994, has won 13 times on the PGA Tour, including the 1982 Masters, plus nine times on the Champions Tour, along with the 1973 U.S. Amateur. Finke has been a fixture on the Colorado golf scene for three decades. During that time — all spent at the Country Club of Colorado in Colorado Springs, where she’s now director of instruction — she’s given about 38,000 lessons, more than 40 percent of those to juniors. Full story: CLICK HERE.

19. Moores Go Back-to-Back in USGA Qualifying: Janet Moore earned medalist honors for the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur qualifying the day after husband — and fellow Colorado Golf Hall of Famer — Kent Moore was medalist in U.S. Senior Amateur qualifying. And one day after the back-to-back feat, the Moores hosted a kickoff event leading up to the Century of Golf Gala, for which they served as honorary chairs. Full story: CLICK HERE.

18. Recent Skull Fracture Doesn’t Stop Saunders: Sam Saunders of Fort Collins finished tied for fourth in the Web.com Tour’s Hotel Fitness Championship for the second straight year, but that hardly was the most remarkable thing about his performance. No, it was the fact that Saunders played that well just weeks after suffering a fractured skull and an epidural hematoma in falling while riding an electric scooter in late August. He spent two nights in intensive care. Full story: CLICK HERE. Earlier in the year, Saunders posted his best finish ever on the PGA Tour, placing second after a playoff in the Puerto Rico Open. 

17. Nosewicz, 31, Oldest Winner of CGA Match Play Since ’90s: Most winners of the CGA Match Play in recent years have been college-aged. But 31-year-old Nick Nosewicz prevailed in the 115th Match Play this year, becoming the event’s oldest champion since 1994. Full story:  CLICK HERE.

16. Weinstein Makes History: Mary Weinstein of Highlands Ranch recorded the best finish ever by a Coloradan in the girls 15-17 age division of the prestigious IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego, placing 15th. Full story: CLICK HERE. Also in 2015, Weinstein won the CWGA Junior Stroke Play and the CJGA Junior Series Chamionship. 

15. Broken Tee Earns National Player Development Award: Broken Tee Golf Course in Englewood received a prestigious national honor, earning the 2015 Player Development Award from the National Golf Course Owners Association. The award is given to “a course which has implemented a true and tested player development program, providing effective return-on-investment and an overall welcoming atmosphere for new golfers of all ages.” Full story: CLICK HERE.

14. Record-Tying Round at Inaugural AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior: Reese Ramsey of Austin, Texas not only set a course record at CommonGround but he tied the low round in the 37-year history of the AJGA with a 10-under-par 61 that vaulted the 16-year-old to victory in the inaugural AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior. Full story: CLICK HERE. Earlier in the event, competitors made three holes-in-one in a single day. And three-time U.S. Open champion Hale Irwin held a clinic on the eve of the tournament, just days before his 70th birthday.

13. Oraee Makes Round of 16 at U.S. Amateur, Earns CGA Player of Year Award: Former University of Colorado golfer David Oraee put together a memorable U.S. Amateur, finishing second out of 312 players in the stroke-play portion of the event. Then he advanced to the round of 16 in match play before losing to Paul Dunne of Ireland, who made many headlines over the summer for sharing the British Open lead after three rounds. Also in 2015, Oraee became the first CU player since 2008 to compete in the NCAA men’s finals, and he went on to capture the CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year Award. Full story: CLICK HERE.

12. Fossil Trace’s Hajek Adds to Colorado PGA’s National Award Winners: The Colorado PGA and its members have made it a very pleasant habit in recent years to earn PGA of America national awards, and 2015 was no exception. Jim Hajek, the PGA head professional at Fossil Trace Golf Club in Golden, was named national Public Merchandiser of the Year. Hajek became the eighth Colorado PGA national honoree in the last nine years. Full story: CLICK HERE.

11. Littleton’s Leibold Wins National USGA-AJGA Presidents’ Leadership Award: Nick Leibold of Littleton earned a prestigious national honor for leadership, being named the male recipient of the 2015 USGA-AJGA Presidents’ Leadership Award. The award was created to recognize one male and one female junior golfer who demonstrate leadership, character and community service through their involvement with the Leadership Links program, a joint initiative founded by the USGA and AJGA to further develop junior golfers through volunteerism. Full story: CLICK HERE.

10. Jobe Wins Champions Tour Q-School Finals: Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Jobe, who turned 50 on Aug. 1, will go into his rookie season on the Champions Tour in style after winning the Q-school tournament outright. It was a big shot in the arm for Jobe, who has had limited status in recent seasons and has competed in just six PGA Tour events in the last two years. Full story: CLICK HERE.

9. CoBank Takes Over Title Sponsorships of Colo. Open Championships: After a dozen years of being known as the HealthOne Colorado Open, the venerable tournament will undergo a name change as the third title sponsor in the history of the event comes on board. After the conclusion of the 51st Open and with Denver mayor Michael Hancock on hand, tournament officials announced that Greenwood Village-based CoBank has signed a five-year agreement to become title sponsor of the Colorado Open, Colorado Women’s Open and Colorado Senior Open. Full story: CLICK HERE. The final HealthOne Colorado Open saw Jimmy Gunn make two eagles in the final seven holes to overcome 2013 champion Zahkai Brown. Gunn went on to earn his Web.com Tour card for 2016, while Brown landed conditional status.

8. 100th CWGA Match Play is One for the Books: The CWGA Match Play Championship was contested for the 100th time, with current social media phenom Paige Spiranac (left) edging Brittany Fan for the title. In the 35-hole final, the two players combined to make 22 birdies and were 15 under par. Full story: CLICK HERE.

7. Kupcho Blows Away Field in CWGA Stroke Play: Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster continues to amaze with her periodic dominance of tournaments in Colorado. Particularly eye-catching in 2015 was her 21-shot victory in the CWGA Stroke Play Championship, making it one of the largest — if not the largest — margin of victory in an event which dates back to 1948. The 18-year-old was 16 under par for three rounds. Also this season en route to repeating as CWGA Player of the Year, Kupcho won her second straight 4A state high school title, placed third in the Big “I” National Championship, made it to the final 16 at the U.S. Women’s Amateur before falling to eventual champion Hannah O’Sullivan, and posted three top-10 finishes in the fall as a freshman at Wake Forest. Kupcho currently sits 70th in the women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings. Full story: CLICK HERE.

6. Trifecta for Rohrbaugh: Not only did Doug Rohrbaugh match a record by winning his third consecutive Colorado PGA Professional Championship, but he continued to break the standard he’s previously set by claiming the title at unprecedented ages (53 in this case). Full story: CLICK HERE. Besides Rohrbaugh’s accomplishments in Colorado, the Carbondale resident competed in six events on the Champions Tour, placing as high as 15th.

5. Two More National Championships Set for Colorado: Colorado was awarded not one but two USGA championships in the final several months of 2015, marking the 32nd and 33rd USGA national championships to be set for the Centennial State. The association announced that the 2018 U.S. Senior Open will be held at The Broadmoor the same year the Colorado Springs resort turns 100 years old. Full story: CLICK HERE. Then the next year, Colorado Golf Club will host the U.S. Mid-Amateur, with CommonGround Golf Course serving as the second stroke-play course. Full story: CLICK HERE.

4. Colorado Golf Greats Pass Away: There’s no getting away from the passage of time, but far more than the usual number of people who have made an indelible mark in Colorado golf passed away during the course of the year. A partial list includes Colorado Golf Hall of Famers Warren Smith (a national PGA Golf Professional Hall of Famer), Jim Bailey (a life member of the PGA of America) and Jay Morrish (a renowned golf course architect). Also passing were former CGA president Bill Waggener, highly-regarded performance coach and psychologist Denise McGuire, longtime Colorado PGA professional Marv Mazone, and respected and well-liked volunteer rules official Joe Salvo, to whom the CGA dedicated its championship season. Suffice it to say the Colorado golf community is poorer for their passing.

3. CGA, Colorado PGA Join Forces for Junior Golf: When the executive directors and the staffs from the CGA and the Colorado Section PGA met in October 2014 to determine what programs it made the most sense to team up on, junior golf ended up major priority No. 1. A year later — after plenty of brainstorming, meetings and work on all sides — the seeds bore fruit as it was announced that the CGA and Colorado PGA are joining forces in a major effort to bolster junior golf in the state. Included will be a Junior Tour, including four junior major championships, and a developmental Junior Series. Another aspect of the collaboration will be the creation of a website that acts as a clearinghouse for all things junior golf-related in Colorado, including but not limited to registration for Junior Tour and Junior Series events; the PGA Junior League; the Colorado PGA Golf in Schools program, which exposes school kids to the game through P.E. classes; the Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy; and the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship. Full story: CLICK HERE.

For the 2016 junior tour schedule, CLICK HERE.

2. Colorado Golf People of the Century Honored: As part of the Century of Golf festivities that marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CGA, six Colorado golf People of the Century were named and then honored at the Century of Golf Gala held last month at The Broadmoor. The honorees were:

Man of the Century — Will Nicholson Jr.
Woman of the Century — Judy Bell
Golf Professional of the Century — Charles “Vic” Kline
Superintendent of the Century — Dennis Lyon
Male Player of the Century — Hale Irwin
Female Player of the Century — Barbara McIntire

“This is one of those moments where you need to take it all in — to be able to say, ‘I was in the room when these people were honored.'” noted CGA executive director Ed Mate. “I mean, they’re legends of golf in Colorado. Of all the things we could have done to celebrate 100 years, I think this may be the most important, honoring these six people.” Full story: CLICK HERE.

1. Century of Golf Gala Draws 1,250 People, Raises $380,000: Choosing the Colorado golf story of the year was pretty much a no-brainer in 2015. After all, how many times do you have an event that attracts 1,250 people including a who’s who of Colorado golf, have Jack Nicklaus as a featured guest, honor six People of the Century, and raise $380,000 for the Colorado Golf Foundation — and its mission of youth development through golf — in the process? The Gala at The Broadmoor was the culmination of a year of initiatives and events built around the 100th anniversary of the CGA’s founding. “We made the most of the centennial,” Mate noted. The Gala was “the biggest golf gathering of our time. We raised a ton of money. We launched an exciting relationship with the PGA. It’s a home run. I look back on this as a special year. It’ll be a tough act to follow.” Full story: CLICK HERE. (Pictured at top are Nicklaus and Mate chatting on the 18th green of the East Course at The Broadmoor, where Nicklaus defeated Charlie Coe to win the 1959 U.S. Amateur)

Honorable Mention:

— Fort Collins HS Golfers Finish 1-2 in 5A State Meet in Their Hometown

— Welch Becomes First Player to Win All Age Divisions of Jr. Series Championship

— Former CU Golfer Talley Earns Ladies European Tour Card

— Keating, Trujillo, Chin Earn Spots in Drive, Chip & Putt Finals at Augusta

— DU’s Korte Fires 65, Overcomes 4-Shot Deficit to Win CGA Stroke Play

— Chitkoksoong, 14, Becomes One of Youngest Winners of CWGA Jr. Match Play

— Bruckner Becomes First Two-Time Winner of Colorado Senior Open

— Strauss, Medalist at U.S. Women’s Open Qualifier, Goes On to Earn LPGA Tour Card

— At Boulder CC, CU Posts Best Pac-12 Finish Ever (5th), Beats Nation’s No. 1 Team

— Keffer Finishes Off Threepeat at Colorado PGA Assistants Championships

— CU’s Edwards Named One of Nation’s Top 20 Men’s College Coaches in Survey

— CSU-Pueblo’s Kim Finishes 12th in NCAA Div. II Women’s Finals

— Former DU Golfers Kempter, Sue Kim Earn Symetra Tour Victories
Kempter: CLICK HERE.
Kim: CLICK HERE.

— Coloradan Hannah Wood Notches Individual Win as College Freshman

— Flatirons GC’s Brown Ties for Senior Title at National Superintendents Tourney

— Denver-Area Resident Duval Becoming Analyst for Golf Channel

— Langston Departing State After 23 Years as Highly-Regarded Rules Official

It was more than a decade ago that former CGA president Dennis Lyon took Joe McCleary aside and asked if he’d be interested in serving on the association’s board of governors.

McCleary didn’t hesitate in saying “yes”. And now, it seems only appropriate that McCleary will be one of Lyon’s successors as president of the CGA. After all, not only was Lyon responsible for bringing McCleary on board, but both cut their teeth as golf course superintendents and both work (or worked) for many a year for the City of Aurora.

This week, a dozen years after Lyon — who was recently honored as Superintendent of the Century at the Century of Golf Gala — stepped down as CGA president, McCleary was named to the post, the top volunteer leadership position on the CGA board.

“I’ve always enjoyed being part of the CGA with all the things they’re involved in,” said McCleary (above), who’s expected to serve two consecutive one-year terms after taking over the presidency from Phil Lane. “I’m looking forward to it in too many ways to count.”

Speaking of too many ways to count, that comes close to indicating how many ways McCleary has served the CGA — and golf in general — over the years.

As the first golf course superintendent at Saddle Rock in Aurora from 1995-2011 — being heavily involved in the construction of the course and its maintenance for many years — he had plenty of interaction with CGA and the golf community. After all, Saddle Rock hosted the Colorado Open from 1998 through 2000, along with periodic CGA championships and USGA qualifiers over the years.

And in the early part of the new millennium, McCleary championed the independent study on the economic impact and environmental aspects of golf in Colorado, a report that has had a significant impact not only in the Centennial State, but nationally. The report — supported by the CGA, CWGA and the other Allied Golf Associations in Colorado — won national recognition from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and morphed into a program at the national level, the Environmental Institute for Golf’s “Golf Course Environmental Profile”.

“We proved what could be done” when you have the data, said McCleary (pictured at left with Lane).

McCleary, who received his MBA from CU-Denver, also is a past president of the Rocky Mountain Golf Course Superintendents Association. Since its inception, he’s served on the board that guides the CGA-owned-and-operated CommonGround Golf Course, and he’s also worked on the GCSAA’s government relations committee and the environmental programs committee. In addition, he’s served on the CGA youth programs committee, and most recently, he was the vice president on the CGA board.

“He has a lot of experience,” said CGA executive director Ed Mate. “He’s really been involved with the whole vision of the golf course on the (CommonGround) board. And as a superintendent he’s a great sounding-board.

“He’s been about as hands-on as any volunteer since I’ve been here. He’s also a leader, well-respected in the golf community. He’s always thinking and challenging himself to learn new things. He’s no sit-still type of guy. He’s always asking, how can we expand and be more relevant.”

Said McCleary: “I have a pretty well-rounded background related to golf, so that will serve me well. I understand things from a golf operations standpoint, from a legislative standpoint, from a superintendent’s standpoint and from a player’s perspective.”

McCleary, a Colorado resident since 1988, is now the stormwater operations superintendent for the Aurora Water Department after long working at golf courses (Lone Tree, Meadow Hills and Saddle Rock). But his interest in CGA programs runs the gamut.

For instance, he calls the selection committee meeting in which Colorado finalists for the Evans Scholarship for caddies are interviewed “one of my favorite things.”

“There are so many different things going on (with the CGA) and you interact with so many different people,” the 50-year-old said. “The golf course stuff (with CommonGround) is fun. And you’ve got the Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy, and the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program. I’m engaged on a variety of different levels. CommonGround keeps me interested, but all the things do. There’s also interaction with the (CGA) staff and other governors. (The association) uses all the people’s expertise and experience to keep things moving forward.”

The CGA just celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founding, so 2015 was a big year. But there are plenty of issues on the horizon that will demand attention from McCleary and the other board members (CLICK HERE to view the CGA’s volunteer leadership team).

McCleary said that among the top priorities are keeping the CGA and CommonGround Golf Course financially stable, working alongside the Colorado Golf Foundation, and furthering the CGA’s collaborative programs with other key players in the Colorado golf community. One of those programs is taking shape as 2016 dawns with the CGA and Colorado PGA joining forces to bolster junior golf in the state (CLICK HERE for more on that). 

“One of the biggest priorities is enhancing and continuing to develop relations with the other Allied Golf Associations within the state of Colorado,” McCleary said.
 

About 1,250 people attended the festivities, which were a culmination of a year of activities and initiatives held in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Colorado Golf Association.

The Gala featured a fireside chat with Jack Nicklaus and the honoring of six Colorado golf People of the Century:

Man of the Century — Will Nicholson Jr.

Woman of the Century — Judy Bell

Male Player of the Century — Hale Irwin

Female Player of the Century — Barbara McIntire

Golf Professional of the Century — Charles “Vic” Kline

Superintendent of the Century — Dennis Lyon

The Colorado Golf Foundation, which was founded three years ago, benefits youth player development, caddie programs, community partnerships, and college scholarships.

For links to Gala-related information:

— Article on the Gala: CLICK HERE

— YouTube: Nicklaus Reflects on Career in Colorado at The Broadmoor: CLICK HERE

— Photos for Download: CLICK HERE
 

In the West wing of The Broadmoor, there’s a hall of fame that includes an impressive photographic array of people of note who have visited the resort over the years.

There’s everyone from Arnold Palmer to Babe Zaharias, from Ronald Reagan to Barack Obama, from Aerosmith to Liberace, from Bing Crosby to Bob Hope, from Mickey Rooney to John Wayne, from John Elway to Peyton Manning, and even from Ted Cruz to Hillary Clinton.

Such a site seemed an altogether appropriate venue for Saturday night’s Century of Golf Gala at The Broadmoor, which featured a who’s who of golf in Colorado — and beyond.

About 1,250 people attended the Gala, the culmination of a year of activities and initiatives held in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CGA. Both the history and future of golf in the state were celebrated, with all proceeds benefiting the Colorado Golf Foundation and its mission of youth development through golf.

Jack Nicklaus — who won the first and last of his eight USGA championships in Colorado, the 1959 U.S. Amateur at The Broadmoor and the 1993 U.S. Senior Open at Cherry Hills Country Club — was the headliner on Saturday. He noted that it was his first trip back to the resort since the 1960 NCAA Championships — and just his second since his career-launching victory over defending champion Charlie Coe in the 36-hole U.S. Amateur final 56 years ago. (Nicklaus is pictured above at the Gala and at left on the 18th green at The Broadmoor’s East Course.)

“I’m really pleased to have had the pleasure to have Colorado be such a large part of my golfing life,” Nicklaus said before a fireside chat with journalist Tim Rosaforte. “… I’ve been blessed to be able to (design or redesign 10) golf courses in Colorado (including Castle Pines Golf Club, site of the PGA Tour’s International for 21 years, with three other Colorado courses done by Nicklaus Design). I’ve had a blast coming here. I’ve had two or three homes in Colorado, skied a lot in Colorado and spent a lot of time with (President) Gerald Ford when he was here; what a man. What I’m trying to say is, we’ve had a great, great time in Colorado, and it’s nice to be back here this evening.”

Also in attendance Saturday were the president and executive director of the USGA — Thomas O’Toole and Mike Davis, respectively — along with John Kaczkowski, president and CEO of the Western Golf Associaton, and Rhett Evans, CEO of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.

And, of course, there were the six Colorado golf People of the Century who were recognized on Saturday: Will Nicholson Jr. (Man of the Century), Judy Bell (Woman of the Century), Hale Irwin (Male Player of the Century), Barbara McIntire (Female Player of the Century), Charles “Vic” Kline (Golf Professional of the Century) and Dennis Lyon (Superintendent of the Century). (Five of the six are pictured above: from left, Kline, Bell, Nicholson, Lyon and Irwin. McIntire missed the event after feeling ill.)

To put things into perspective, there are six players in the history of golf to have won three or more U.S. Opens, and two of them were at the Gala, Nicklaus (four-time champ) and Irwin (three-time winner).

“We’ve got a five-time USGA champion in Hale Irwin,” O’Toole noted Saturday. “We’ve got the greatest major winner ever in Jack (Nicklaus). We’ve got two past presidents of the USGA (Nicholson and Bell). We’ve got a past chairman of the Women’s Committee (actually two in Bell and McIntire, in addition to Joan Birkland, who was also in attendance). We’ve got a many-time Curtis Cup captain in both Judy and Barbara. It was important for us to be here tonight.”

(For more about the People of the Century, CLICK HERE.)

And Nicholson, a longtime acquaintance of Nicklaus through the former’s longstanding roles with the USGA and the Masters, was responsible for getting the Golden Bear to headline Saturday’s Gala.

“Will has been an unbeliebable friend,” Nicklaus said. “He’s a great man and you’re lucky to have him in Colorado.”

Nicklaus’ fireside chat — covering his tournament, design and personal experiences in Colorado and beyond — was popular with the big crowd (left) at The Broadmoor.

Nicklaus has said in the past — and reiterated on Saturday — that the U.S. Amateur victory at The Broadmoor in 1959 was one of the most important in his career. He sank an 8-foot birdie putt on the 36th hole to secure the first of his 20 major championships, if U.S. Ams are still considered majors.

“That’s probably the most important putt I ever made,” Nicklaus said. “In those days it was a major championship. What it did was it put me in a position where if I had to make a putt if I wanted to win something, I did. And winning breeds winning.

“The U.S. Amateur was the one that gave me the confidence to know that I could play, that I could do things under pressure. That was important to me.”

Nicklaus also noted that he defeated Robert Tyre Jones III, son of Grand Slam winner Bobby Jones, in the first round of match play.

Jones III told Nicklaus that he had called his dad and asked the elder Jones if he was going to come out and watch him. Bobby Jones asked who Jones III was playing. After being told it was Nicklaus, Bobby Jones told his son, “I’ve heard of him. No, I’m not coming out to watch you play 13 holes.”

And, noted Nicklaus, “We played 13 holes” in the Bear’s match play victory.

As for his performance in the 1960 U.S. Open at Cherry Hills, where he finished runner-up — as an amateur — to Arnold Palmer while being paired with Ben Hogan for the final two rounds …

“Probably the best thing that ever happened to me in my career was not to win that tournament,” Nicklaus said. “Had I won that tournament, I probably wouldn’t have put my nose to the grindstone and would not have wanted to get better. It brings you down to earth.”

But Nicklaus would win again in Colorado, both at the 1977 Jerry Ford Invitational, then prevailing by one shot at Cherry Hills over fellow former Ohio State golfer Tom Weiskopf in the 1993 U.S. Senior Open.

And though Nicklaus’ competitive golf days are now over — aside from periodic participation in the PNC Father-Son Challenge — he still isn’t done making his mark in Colorado. Just in recent months, he made alterations to numerous holes at the Castle Pines Golf Club course which opened in 1981.

“It’s a better course now,” Nicklaus said.

(For more about Nicklaus’ many accomplishements in Colorado, CLICK HERE.)

Odds and Ends from The Broadmoor: In tribute to Nicklaus for playing such a prominent role in the Century of Golf Gala, CGA president Phil Lane said that $25,000 will be donated to the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation. …

George Solich, a former Broadmoor caddie who provided the lead gift for the Colorado Golf Foundation three years ago, spoke at the Gala along with current University of Colorado Evans Scholar Josh Aguilar (left, next to Solich). Aguilar was a product of the Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy, one of the beneficiaries of the Colorado Golf Foundation. Solich, a CU Evans Scholar alum, encouraged support of the Foundation and the programs it supports. …

About 20 Evans Scholar caddies from CU assisted with Saturday’s Century of Golf golf outing, held at The Broadmoor’s East and West courses, along with the Gala. …

Roughly 170 players participated in the golf on a mid-November day in which the temperature reached the mid-60s. Each threesome/foursome/fivesome competed Saturday by seeing if its net best-ball score bettered that of Jack Nicklaus during the 36-hole U.S. Amateur final in 1959 at the East Course. Also, each competitor had the chance to try an 8-foot birdie putt similar to the one Nicklaus sunk to win the Amateur on the 18th green at the East Course, with those making it being awarded a Century of Golf in Colorado poster created by artist Lee Wybranski.
 

The Century of Golf Gala set for Saturday night (Nov. 14) at The Broadmoor will feature more golf luminaries than you can shake a stick — or a golf club — at.

Of course, heading the list will be arguably the greatest golfer of all time, Jack Nicklaus, the featured guest at the Gala. (To read about his many accomplishments in Colorado, CLICK HERE). The Golden Bear will participate in a fireside chat with another notable, columnist and Golf Channel insider Tim Rosaforte.

Other headliners at the Gala will be the six Colorado golf People of the Century who will be recognized at The Broadmoor:

Man of the Century — Will Nicholson Jr.

Woman of the Century — Judy Bell

Male Player of the Century — Hale Irwin

Female Player of the Century — Barbara McIntire

Golf Professional of the Century — Charles “Vic” Kline

Superintendent of the Century — Dennis Lyon

(Pictured above are five of the six, from left: McIntire, Bell, Nicholson, Kline and Lyon.)

And many other big names will be among the roughly 1,250 people expected to attend the Gala or the 160 planning to play golf as part of the festivities earlier in the day, weather-permitting.

The Gala and related events are being held in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the CGA. The Nov. 14 events are being conducted by the Colorado Golf Foundation, with all proceeds benefiting the Foundation’s mission of youth development through golf.

As a primer to the Gala, here’s a look at the People of the Century, by the numbers:

1 — Women who have served as USGA president since the position was created in 1894, with that one being Judy Bell of Colorado Springs (1996-97).

1st — U.S. captain for the President’s Cup, Hale Irwin in 1994.

2 — World Golf Hall of Famers among the People of the Century, Judy Bell and Hale Irwin (left).

2 — People of the Century who lost to the great Mickey Wright at the 1952 U.S. Girls’ Junior. Judy Bell fell to Wright in the semifinals and Barbara McIntire in the final. McIntire was also the runner-up in 1951.

2 — Major national awards earned by Dennis Lyon in the years shortly following his retirement as manager of golf for the city of Aurora: USGA’s Green Section Award, given to individuals who contribute significantly to the game of golf through their work with turfgrass (2011) and the Col. John Morley Distinguished Service Award, presented by the GCSAA to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the golf course superintendent’s profession (2013).

2 — Sports in which Vic Kline lettered at the University of New Mexico (golf and basketball) and in which Hale Irwin lettered at the University of Colorado (golf and football). Irwin was a two-time All-Big Eight defensive back in football (1965 and ’66) and won the 1967 NCAA individual title in golf.

3 — Coloradans who have been presidents of the USGA, with People of the Century Will Nicholson and Judy Bell joining Frank Woodward.

3 — Courses Hale Irwin has designed in Colorado: Highlands Ranch GC, Indian Peaks GC and the Cordillera Mountain Course.

3 — National amateur titles won in the U.S. and Great Britain by Barbara McIntire from 1959-64. She claimed the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 1959 and ’64 and also captured the 1960 British Ladies Amateur, becoming just the fourth American to win that event.

3 — Coloradans who have chaired the USGA Women’s Golf Committee, with People of the Century Judy Bell and Barbara McIntire joining Joan Birkland.

4 — People of the Century who are in the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame: Hale Irwin, Judy Bell, Will Nicholson and Barbara McIntire.

4 — Times Hale Irwin, 70, shot his age or better during the 2015 Champions Tour season, including his final two official rounds of the year (both 68s).

5 — USGA championships won by Hale Irwin, including three U.S. Opens and two U.S. Senior Opens. Also the number of CGA championship titles he captured, including three straight Stroke Plays (1963-65). In addition, Irwin claimed the 1963 state high school title at Boulder High, where he was a teammate of Dick Anderson, who would go on to be a three-time NFL Pro Bowler with the Miami Dolphins.

5 — Times Vic Kline was named the Colorado PGA’s Player of the Year. Also, years he served as president of the Colorado PGA from 1975 to ’92.

6 — People of the Century who’ve been inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame.

6 — People who have won the U.S. Open at least three times: Jack Nicklaus (4), Ben Hogan (4), Bobby Jones (4), Willie Anderson (4), Hale Irwin (3) and Tiger Woods (3).

7 — Recipients of the Will Nicholson Jr., Award who are members of the World Golf Hall of Fame: Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Ben Crenshaw, Judy Bell, Hale Irwin and Ernie Els. The award goes to people who have demonstrated a lifetime of commitment and dedication to the game of golf. Nicholson himself was the first recipient.

8 — Curtis Cup teams on which Barbara McIntire competed (6) or captained (2). Judy Bell played in two and captained two.

11 — Years Will Nicholson Jr., spent on the powerful USGA Executive Committee.

11 — Times the Vic Kline Award has been given to a member of the Colorado PGA Board of Directors for outstanding service and leadership for the Section.

13 — Match wins by Hale Irwin in the Ryder Cup (against five losses and two draws).

15 — Age at which Judy Bell won the first of her three Kansas state women’s amateur titles, in 1952.

17 — Years Will Nicholson Jr., chaired the Rules Committee for the Masters. Nicholson was responsible for setting up Augusta National for the Masters from 1992-2006.

20 — PGA Tour victories recorded by Hale Irwin from 1971-94.

25 — Years of volunteer service on USGA committees for which Dennis Lyon received the Ike Grainger Award.

38 — USGA championships in which Judy Bell competed.

45 — Record total of career Champions Tour victories posted by Hale Irwin, 16 more than runner-up Lee Trevino. The total includes seven senior major championships.

45 — Age at which Hale Irwin won the 1990 U.S. Open, making him the oldest champion of that event.

67 — Score Judy Bell shot at the 1964 U.S. Women’s Open, which remained the record for the championship for 14 years.

302 — Four-round total shot by Barbara McIntire in the 1956 U.S. Women’s Open in forcing a playoff with Kathy Cornelius. If McIntire had won the playoff, she would have become the first amateur to capture the U.S. Women’s Open title, but Cornelius prevailed 75-82.

1250 — Prize money earned by Vic Kline for winning the Colorado Open in 1968.

1973 (to present) — Time Will Nicholson has served on the CGA Board of Governors.

1980-81 — Years Will Nicholson Jr., served as president of the USGA.

1987 — Year Judy Bell became the first female to serve on the USGA Executive Committee.

1988 — Year the junior golf program at Indian Tree Golf Club in Arvada was named the best in the nation at a municipal facility by Golf Digest. Vic Kline was the longtime director of golf at Indian Tree.

1989 — Year Dennis Lyon became national president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.

2000 — Year Barbara McIntire received the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor given by the USGA, in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf.

2000 — Year Vic Kline was presented the PGA of America’s top award, as national Golf Professional of the Year. Only one other member of the Colorado PGA has earned the honor, Warren Smith in 1973. Five years later, in 2005, Kline was inducted into the PGA of America Golf Professional Hall of Fame.

2002-03 — Years Dennis Lyon served as president of the CGA. In 2008, he would become general chairman of the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at Murphy Creek Golf Course in Aurora.
 

While Jack Nicklaus will be the featured guest at the Century of Golf Gala, the Golden Bear certainly won’t be the only golf luminary who will be honored Nov. 14 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs.

Nicklaus accomplished plenty in Colorado during his illustrious career, but he’s never been a full-time resident of the Centennial State. However, six people who have called Colorado home — all among the most notable names in the state’s golf history — will be honored in a major way at the Gala.

Indeed, the six Colorado golf luminaries will be recognized as People of the Century at the event, which is being held in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the CGA, which was founded in 1915. The Gala and related activities are being conducted by the Colorado Golf Foundation, with all proceeds supporting the Foundation’s mission of youth development through golf.

The six honorees will be:

Man of the Century — Will Nicholson Jr. (pictured above with current USGA president Tom O’Toole Jr.)

Woman of the Century — Judy Bell

Golf Professional of the Century — Charles “Vic” Kline

Superintendent of the Century — Dennis Lyon

Male Player of the Century — Hale Irwin

Female Player of the Century — Barbara McIntire

How good is that group?

Two — Bell (left) and Irwin — are in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Four — Irwin, Bell, Nicholson and McIntire — are in the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.

And all six have been inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame.

“The Century of Golf celebration is both a celebration of 100 years of golf, and an ushering in of the next 100,” said Ed Mate, executive director of the CGA. “And, in the reflection on the last 100, it’s giving credit to those individuals who have made it special — to all the people that drive everything. To me, it’s exciting and fitting and gratifying that we’re able to recognize these six people. It’s a chance to truly pay tribute to them.”

The criteria used for selecting the People of the Century were they had to be living individuals whose contributions to the game have transcended the state of Colorado and the sport, and who have been recognized nationally or beyond for what they’ve accomplished.

Here’s a brief rundown on the accomplishments of the People of the Century:

— Will Nicholson Jr. (Man of the Century): Denver resident served as president of the USGA in 1980-81, making him the second Coloradan to hold that prestigious volunteer post (following Frank Woodward). … Overall, spent 11 years on the powerful USGA Executive Committee. … As chairman of the Masters Competition Committee at Augusta National Golf Club from 1992 through 2006, was responsible for setting up the course for the Masters. … Also chaired the Masters Rules Committee for 17 years. … Chairs the Colorado Golf Foundation. … Has served on the CGA board of governors since 1973 and was on the board that helped make the CGA/CWGA-owned CommonGround Golf Course a reality. … Captained the U.S. squad at the 1984 World Amateur Team Championship. … Nicholson Award has been given to honorees who have demonstrated a lifetime of commitment and dedication to the game of golf. Among the recipients — besides Nicholson himself — are Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Ben Crenshaw, Judy Bell, Hale Irwin and Ernie Els. … Inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame in 1981 and the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.

— Judy Bell (Woman of the Century): Of all the volunteer presidents the USGA has had since its founding in 1894, the Colorado Springs resident is the only woman who has held the position, having served in that capacity in 1996-97. … One of just three Coloradans who have been USGA president, following Frank Woodward (1915-16) and Will Nicholson Jr. (1980-81). … In 1987, became the first female to serve on the USGA Executive Committee. … Lost to Mickey Wright in the semifinals of the 1952 U.S. Girls’ Junior. That’s one of 38 USGA championships in which Bell has competed. … In 1964, she shot a then-record 67 at the U.S. Women’s Open, a score that remained the tournament’s standard for 14 years. … Won the Kansas state women’s amateur title at age 15 in 1952, and again in ’53 and ’54. … Competed on the U.S. Curtis Cup team in 1960 and ’62 and captained it in 1986 and ’88. … Captured The Broadmoor Ladies Invitation title three times. … Was inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame in 1976, the Kansas Golf Hall of Fame in 1991, the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1996, and the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2001.

— Charles “Vic” Kline (Golf Professional of the Century): Was presented the PGA of America’s top award, as national Golf Professional of the Year, in 2000. Only one other member of the Colorado PGA has earned the honor, Warren Smith in 1973. … Five years later, in 2005, Kline was inducted into the PGA of America Golf Professional Hall of Fame. … Served as president of the Colorado PGA five different years from 1975 through ’92 and was also involved with adminstration at the PGA of America. … Has received numerous awards from the Colorado PGA, including being named Golf Professional of the Year in 1975 and ’93. … The junior golf program at Indian Tree Golf Club in Arvada, where Kline was the longtime director of golf, was named the best in the nation at a municipal facility by Golf Digest in 1988. … Lettered in both golf and basketball at the University of New Mexico, and won two state amateurs and a state publinks in New Mexico. … Won the Colorado Open in 1968 and the Rocky Mountain Open in 1977. … Five times was named the Colorado PGA’s Player of the Year. … The Colorado PGA’s Vic Kline Award is presented for outstanding service and leadership in the Section. … Was inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame in 1990.

— Dennis Lyon (Superintendent of the Century): Served as national president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America in 1989-90. … Was the president of the CGA in 2002-03. … Oversaw the 2008 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship held at Murphy Creek Golf Course in Aurora as general chairman. … In 2011, received the USGA’s national Green Section Award, given to individuals who contribute significantly to the game of golf through their work with turfgrass. … In 2013, was presented the national Col. John Morley Distinguished Service Award, presented by the GCSAA to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the golf course superintendent’s profession. … Also has been given the Ike Grainger award for 25 years of volunteer work on USGA committees. … Retired at the end of 2010 after more than three decades as manager of golf for the city of Aurora. … Was inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame in 2005.

— Hale Irwin (Male Player of the Century): Won the U.S. Open three times (1974, ’79 and ’90), and is one of just six players who have claimed the championship at least thrice, joining Jack Nicklaus (4), Ben Hogan (4), Bobby Jones (4), Willie Anderson (4) and Tiger Woods (3). … Remains the oldest winner of the U.S. Open, at age 45 in 1990. … Also holds the record for most Champions Tour victories, with 45, 16 more than second-place Lee Trevino. Of those 45, seven victories are senior majors. … Owns 20 wins overall on the PGA Tour. … All told, has competed in more than 1,100 events when adding PGA Tour and Champions Tour tournaments. … Compiled a 13-5-2 record in five Ryder Cup appearances. … Served as captain of the U.S. team in the inaugural President’s Cup, in 1994. … Won the 1967 NCAA individual title while at the University of Colorado. … Also was an All-Big Eight defensive back in football for CU. … Won five CGA state amateur championships in the 1960s, including three consecutive Stroke Plays. … Also claimed a Colorado state high school title in 1963. … Has designed several courses in Colorado, including Highlands Ranch Golf Club, Indian Peaks Golf Course and the Cordillera Mountain Course. … The Colorado-based Hale Irwin Elite Player Program and the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior are named in his honor. … Was inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame in 1974, the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1986, the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1992, and the CU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.

— Barbara McIntire (Female Player of the Century): Won the U.S. Women’s Amateur twice, in 1959 and ’64. Sandwiched between the two was another national title as she claimed victory at the 1960 British Ladies Amateur, becoming just the fourth American to win that event. … Earlier, in 1956, very nearly became the first amateur to win the U.S. Women’s Open as she was tied with Kathy Cornelius after four rounds, but lost an 18-hole playoff the next day (75-82) to finish runner-up. … Also was twice runner-up in the U.S. Girls’ Junior, in 1951 and ’52. She lost in the ’52 final 1 up to Mickey Wright. … Played on U.S. Curtis Cup teams six times and captained two others. … Won numerous prestigious titles in the U.S., including sixth North and Souths and two Western Amateurs. … In Colorado, she won the 1962 CWGA Stroke Play Championship. … Served as chairperson of the USGA Women’s Committee. … In 2000, was presented the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor given by the USGA, in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf. … Longtime Colorado Springs resident was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1998, the Ohio Golf Hall of Fame in 1995, and was part of the second class of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, in 1974.

The Century of Golf Gala at The Broadmoor will begin on Nov. 14 with a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m., and the dinner and formal program will start at 6:30 p.m.

To reserve spots at the Century of Golf Gala or for sponsorship opportunities or general information, CLICK HERE. Or you can contact CGA director of development Ryan Smith at rsmith@coloradogolf.org, or at 303-974-2108.

The former manager of golf for the city of Aurora was certainly well-respected during his career, but that fact has been reinforced considerably since his retirement at the end of 2010.

For the third time in the last couple of years, Lyon is receiving a national golf-related award. On Wednesday (Feb. 6) in San Diego, Lyon was one of four people presented the Col. John Morley Distinguished Service Award, given by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, which Morley founded.

The Morley award is given annually to individuals “who have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the golf course superintendent’s profession.” The honor was first presented in 1932, and it’s been awarded yearly since 1975.

“This means a lot,” Lyon said recently before heading to San Diego, where the GCSAA is holding its annual education conference. “It’s from my professional association, and it recognizes career involvement in the superintendent industry. I have a lot of respect for them.”

This honor comes less than two years after Lyon received the national USGA Green Section Award (contributing to golf through work with turfgrass) and the Ike Grainger Award (for 25 years of volunteer work on USGA committees). And, locally, he garnered a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.

“I just think I’ve been driven by a desire to contribute to my profession and the golf industry,” Lyon said. “You do the best you can, and it’s nice to be recognized.”

Even before he retired, Lyon received plenty of golf accolades both locally and nationally. The former superintendent at Aurora Hills Golf Course served as national president of the GCSAA (1989-90), president of the CGA (2002-03) and the general chairman for the 2008 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship held at Murphy Creek Golf Course.

Lyon also was inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, in 2005.

It’s little wonder why CGA executive director Ed Mate once said, “If we had a Mount Rushmore for golf administrators in the state of Colorado, he’d be on it.”

As for the Col. Morley award, Lyon follows in the footsteps of one of the biggest names ever in the golf superintendent business in Colorado: Stan Metsker, who received the honor six years ago. Like Lyon, Metsker is a member of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame.

In addition, Dr. Peter Dernoeden, the winner of last year’s Morley award, received undergraduate and master’s degrees from Colorado State University, where Lyon likewise studied.

Nowadays, 14 months after suffering life-threatening injuries when he was struck by a truck while walking his dog, Lyon has largely recovered and he still keeps his hand in the superintendents business.

He’s kept up enough to have his certification current, and he still does some consulting work, mainly related to golf course management. He also writes periodically for the national Golf Course Industry magazine and for the Rocky Mountain Golf Course Superintendents electronic newsletter.

“I’m doing fine,” said Lyon, who spent seven weeks in the hospital after suffering a broken back, pelvis and two shoulders, along with some significant internal injuries. “It’s not like (the accident) never happened, but I’m trying to work my way back. And I’ve stayed active.”

And not just in golf-related ventures. Lyon was recently appointed a volunteer citizen representative to the Arapahoe County Retirement Board.

“That’s exciting for me,” he said.
 

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.
 

But as it turned out, Lyon has absolutely no recollection of what should have been a very memorable time of year.

After getting struck by a truck on Dec. 20 as he was crossing a street while walking his dog Putter near Murphy Creek Golf Course, Lyon can’t remember anything from the next eight days. And that may be for the best, considering it was “touch and go” for a couple of days whether the Colorado Golf Hall of Famer would live to enjoy the retirement he had worked so long to earn.

“I was obviously shocked and very concerned” when first learning of the accident, said CGA executive director Ed Mate, who has long known and worked with Lyon, the president of the CGA in 2002 and 2003. “I was worried he might not make it.”

And though Lyon suffered a broken back, pelvis and two shoulders — as well as internal injuries, an ear nearly being torn off and some bleeding from the brain — he is indeed well on the way to recovery. He spent a total of seven weeks in three hospitals — including 10 days in intensive care — underwent multiple surgeries, and is now continuing his rehabilitation at his Murphy Creek home.

“I’m trying to get back to living normally,” Lyon said in a phone interview this week. “I should have a complete recovery. I’m shooting for mid-summer, but no one has told me when. Hopefully by mid-summer I’ll be out on the course (playing golf).

“I’m a hole captain for the U.S. Amateur (which will be held at Cherry Hills Country Club and CommonGround Golf Course the week of Aug. 13-19), so I’ve got to be able to walk all around Cherry Hills.”

After spending more than three decades as Aurora’s manager of golf, Lyon has many friends in the game. Appropriately, some of them have organized a golf tournament this year that will help Lyon and his family defray some of the medical expenses his insurance doesn’t pay. The event also will celebrate the fact that Lyon survived a traumatic accident in which he was thrown onto the hood of the truck that hit him, then fell onto the road.

The Tradition Tournament in Honor of Dennis Lyon is set for July 16 at 8 a.m. at Meadow Hills Golf Course in Aurora. All of the money raised from the $75-per-player entry fee — plus any other donations — will go toward Lyon’s medical and recovery costs. Those interested in playing can register through the CGA website by CLICKING HERE.

The Tradition tournament is not a new event. In fact, it’s been around since 2004, when Lyon, Mate, Gail Godbey and Bill Jewell started it at Fitzsimons Golf Course. Many years, it’s just been those four players participating, though other times as many as 30 golfers have played. Lyon, Mate, Godbey and Jewell get decked out in circa-1900 attire for the event — “we wear plus-fours and ties and get a lot of funny looks from people,” Mate noted with a laugh — and that attire is optional for this year’s tournament as well.

Not surprisingly, Lyon has been very touched at the outpouring of support he’s received — both in the form of the golf tournament and in general through the months following his accident.

“This was traumatic for me and my family,” Lyon said. “Friends like these guys (who organized the tournament), all those in the golf business and my coworkers have all been so kind and supportive. It’s made a huge difference. I want to say thanks to everyone who has helped me. It’s changed my life to some degree. I always have considered myself a people person, and now I want to be even more so.”

While Lyon certainly appreciates the fundraising support he’ll receive through the tournament, he’s looking forward to it mainly for the chance to mingle and watch everyone have some fun.

“That’s the driving force for me,” he said. “It’s more than a fundraiser; it’s a celebration of the fact I’m still here, I suppose. My family and I will all be there. I probably won’t play. I just want to hang around the first tee box and say ‘hi’. I think everyone will have fun.”

Before the accident, Lyon was having quite a memorable year in 2011. Not only was he in the first year of retirement, he received some prestigious honors. The former national president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America earned the national USGA Green Section Award, presented annually to a person who contributes significantly to golf through work with turfgrass. He was given a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame. And he received the Ike Grainger Award for 25 years of volunteer work on USGA Committees.

“Dennis is so well liked and loved,” Mate said. “He’s touched a lot of lives.”

Asked how he’s feeling now, 3 1/2 months after the accident, Lyon says, “pretty good actually.” He’s walking around, has done some work in his yard, and has gone shopping. And, with son Lane (a writer and reporter in the TV business), Dennis has resumed doing some writing for Golf Course Industry magazine, for which he has been a regular contributor.

Despite what he’s endured due to the accident, Lyon has tried to remain upbeat instead of having a “woe is me” attitude.

“I’d say 90 percent of the time I’m concentrated on making a positive recovery,” he said. “About 10 percent of the time I think ‘Why did this happen?’ But you have to stay positive if you want to get better.”