When it comes to Colorado hosting USGA championships, The Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs and Cherry Hills Country Club run virtually neck and neck.

Cherry Hills has been the home of nine such championships, dating back to the 1938 U.S. Open. And The Broadmoor, which like Cherry Hills will celebrate its 100th “birthday” within the next decade, is on a similar pace.

With the USGA announcing Tuesday that The Broadmoor’s East Course will be the site of the 2018 U.S. Senior Open — the dates will be June 28-July 1 — the venerable resort at the foot of Cheyenne Mountain will be hosting a USGA championship for the eighth time. It’s scheduled to be No. 6 for the East Course, including the 2008 U.S. Senior Open, which drew 128,714 fans — and at least one bear (pictured below) — to The Broadmoor.

Appropriately, the 2018 Senior Open will be held at The Broadmoor in the summer it celebrates its 100th “birthday”.

“The Broadmoor has a rich and vibrant history in hosting tournament golf,” two-time U.S. Senior Open champion Hale Irwin noted in an email to coloradogolf.org on Tuesday. “The facilities (are outstanding) and, more importantly, the people there are gracious and accommodating hosts who proudly welcome anyone to one of our nation’s greatest resorts. The USGA has chosen a wonderful place to once again play the USGA Senior Open Championship as proven by the last time the tournament was played there in 2008.”

Overall, it will be the third time Colorado has hosted a U.S. Senior Open, which dates back to 1980. Jack Nicklaus won at Cherry Hills in 1993 and Eduardo Romero prevailed in 2008 at The Broadmoor. The resort’s East Course is combination of holes designed by Donald Ross and Robert Trent Jones Sr.

“The Broadmoor has been a great partner with the USGA and a friend to golf on the international, national and collegiate levels since the 1920s,” said Diana Murphy, USGA vice president and Championship Committee chairman. “The U.S. Senior Open is senior golf’s most coveted championship and we know the East Course will test the players thoroughly.”

By the time the 2018 championship is completed, only Ohio (with six) will have hosted the U.S. Senior Open more times than Colorado, which will be tied with Michigan and Pennsylvania with three each.

“The Broadmoor is thrilled to have the opportunity to host its eighth USGA championship,” said Russ Miller, The Broadmoor’s director of golf. “Not only will it be a time to watch and enjoy the greatest senior golfers in the world, it is a tremendous accolade to the city of Colorado Springs and the state of Colorado to be chosen as its site. We are privileged to once again stage such a prestigious and highly reconizable worldwide golf championship.”

All eight of The Broadmoor’s USGA championships will have been held since 1959, when Nicklaus defeated Charlie Coe in the final to claim the first of his two U.S. Amateur titles. Two U.S. Women’s Opens are among the events that have been contested on the East Course, including the one Annika Sorenstam won in 1995 for her first LPGA Tour victory. Another World Golf Hall of Famer who has won an USGA individual title at The Broadmoor is Juli (Simpson) Inkster, who in 1982 claimed her third consecutive U.S. Women’s Amateur championship at what was then the South Course.

Overall, the 2018 U.S. Senior Open will mark the 32nd USGA championship played in Colorado, with The Broadmoor and Cherry Hills combined having hosted more than half of those.

Not only has Colorado been home to more than its share of U.S. Senior Opens, players with strong ties to the Centennial State have captured the title on several occasions. Irwin, a former University of Colorado golfer who grew up in Boulder, won the Senior Open in 1998 and 2000 to go with his three U.S. Open championships. Another former Buff, Dale Douglass, who grew up in Fort Morgan, landed the Senior Open title as a 50-year-old in 1986. And Orville Moody, who was once stationed at Fitzsimons while in the Army, won in 1989.

With the 2018 U.S. Senior Open, Colorado will add to the extensive and diverse list of significant golf championships it has hosted since The International PGA Tour event ended its 21-year run after the 2006 tournament.

That list includes:

— The 2008 U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor
— The 2008 U.S. Amateur Public Links at Murphy Creek
— The 2009 Palmer Cup at Cherry Hills
— The 2010 Senior PGA Championship at Colorado Golf Club
— The 2010 Trans-Mississippi at Denver Country Club
— The 2011 U.S. Women’s Open at The Broadmoor
— The 2012 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills and CommonGround
— The 2013 Solheim Cup at Colorado Golf Club
— The 2014 BMW Championship at Cherry Hills

Other upcoming U.S. Senior Opens are scheduled for Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio (2016) and Salem Country Club in Peabody, Mass. (2017).
 

Editor’s Note: With the CGA celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding in 1915, this is the seventh monthly installment of a series of stories looking back on the last century of golf in Colorado. All the articles are being published on coloradogolf.org. This chapter focuses on the period from 1975-84. For the previous installments, CLICK HERE. 

Over the last century — actually, just since 1938 — the USGA has held 31 of its championships in Colorado. But no decade-long period that we’re dealing with in our Century of Golf series of stories can match 1975-84 for sheer numbers.

Between national championships and the Curtis Cup matches held biennially between top women amateurs from the U.S. and Great Britain & Ireland, Colorado hosted eight USGA events between ’75 and ’84.

Three were conducted at Cherry Hills Country Club, and an unmatched four were held in a single year in the Centennial State (1982).

There was a U.S. Senior Amateur (1976 at Cherry Hills), a U.S. Junior Amateur (1976 at Hiwan, where Coloradan Steve Jones was a semifinalist), a U.S. Open (1978 at Cherry Hills), a U.S. Women’s Amateur (1982 at The Broadmoor), a Curtis Cup (1982 at Denver Country Club), a U.S. Girls’ Junior (1982 at Greeley CC), a U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur (1982 at what was then Kissing Camels), and a U.S. Mid-Amateur (1983 at Cherry Hills).

Of course, by far the biggest of the bunch was the ’78 U.S. Open, which marked the third and final U.S. Open that’s been conducted in the state to date. Cherry Hills has hosted all three, with the previous ones coming in 1938 and ’60, when two players now in the World Golf Hall of Fame won (Ralph Guldahl and Arnold Palmer).

This time around, a far less prominent player, Andy North (pictured above), prevailed. North had won just one PGA Tour event before claiming the title at Cherry Hills — and would win just one after, though that one was another U.S. Open. North thus has the distinction of winning more majors (2) than non-majors (1) on the PGA Tour.

At Cherry Hills, North tied Billy Casper’s U.S. Open record by needing just 114 putts over the four rounds en route to a winning total of 1-over-par 285. He led outright after the second, third and final rounds.

University of Colorado alum Hale Irwin, the local favorite, was ahead after round 1 and ended up tied for fourth with Tom Weiskopf. Other all-time greats in the top 10 were Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson, who shared sixth place, four behind North.

North wasn’t the only notable winner of the Colorado-based USGA championships during this time period produced. Juli (Simpson) Inkster won her third consecutive U.S. Women’s Amateur at The Broadmoor in 1982. Jay Sigel (1983 U.S. Mid-Am at Cherry Hills), Lew Oehmig (1976 U.S. Senior Am at Cherry Hills) and Heather Farr (1982 U.S. Girls’ Junior at Greeley CC) are also multiple-time USGA champions.

But championships weren’t the only way the USGA and Colorado were linked in a substantial way during this decade. In 1980, lifelong Coloradan Will Nicholson Jr., the son of a former USGA Executive Committee member, became president of the national association for a two-year term. Nicholson (left) was just the second Coloradan to ascend to the prestigious post, and the first in more than 60 years as Frank Woodward served in 1915-16.

Also during this time, another Coloradan, Judy Bell of Colorado Springs, became the first person from the Centennial State to chair the USGA Women’s Committee. She served in that capacity from 1981 through ’84.

Here are some of the other Colorado golf highlights of the decade from 1975-84:

— The LPGA Tour event based in Denver had quite a spectacular run of champions during this decade. These are just the now-World Golf Hall of Famers who won in Colorado during this stretch: Judy Rankin (1975 at Pinehurst CC); JoAnne Carner (1977 and ’81, both at Columbine CC); Kathy Whitworth (left; 1978 at Green Gables CC); Beth Daniel (1980 and ’82, both at Columbine); Pat Bradley (1983 at Columbine, and ’85 at Lone Tree and Meridian); and Betsy King (1984 at Green Gables). For those of you keeping track, that means that in an 11-year span, nine times the Denver tournament was won by a player now in the World Golf Hall of Fame. And if you throw in Sandra Haynie (1974 at Green Gables) and Amy Alcott (1986 at Lone Tree and Glenmoor CC), you have World Golf Hall of Famers winning in Denver 11 times in a 13-year span.

— The Colorado Open, which debuted in 1964, started hitting its heyday, drawing thousands of spectators each year to Hiwan Golf Club and garnering local TV broadcast coverage. During the Hiwan days, the tournaments lured contestants which included Sam Snead, Billy Casper, Hale Irwin, Phil Mickelson and Fred Couples, among many others. And then-Colorado resident and PGA Tour player Dave Hill (left) won the Open four times — in 1971, ’76, ’77 and ’81 — which remains a record. The fourth of those victories came in a playoff over then-amateur Steve Jones, who would go on to win the 1988 Colorado Open and the 1996 U.S. Open.

— The Jerry Ford Invitational began a 20-year run in the Vail Valley in 1977. Hosted by the former U.S. President, the charity tournament drew some of the best golfers in the world, along with top-line celebrities. On the celebrity side, that included Clint Eastwood, Robert Wagner (below), Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, George C. Scott, Michael Jordan, Julius Erving, Bob Knight, Sammy Davis Jr., Glen Campbell, Jimmy Buffet and John Denver. On the Tour pro side, there was Jack Nicklaus (the first champion), Tom Watson, Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Tom Weiskopf, Johnny Miller, Irwin and Ray Floyd. Here are some of the funnier Jerry Ford Invitational moments over the years that I recalled in a 2007 column: CLICK HERE.

— In 1982, the Champions Tour (then called the Senior Tour) played for the first of six straight years in Colorado, with events held at Pinehurst CC, Green Gables CC and Plum Creek. Winners included all-time greats Arnold Palmer (1982) and Gary Player (1986).

— Speaking of all-time greats, some played memorable exhibitions in Colorado during this decade. There was Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Dow Finsterwald teeing it up at Pinehurst CC in 1981. And Nicklaus and Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Spike Baker played at Baker’s home club, Fort Collins Country Club, in 1978. (Nicklaus is pictured below with longtime Fort Collins CC superintendent Fred Foss, who also helped construct the course.)

— Mark Crabtree, a University of Colorado golfer and an Evans Scholar, won the first of his four CGA Match Play titles in 1975. Two championships came in the 1970s and two in the 1990s. Two future PGA Tour players — Steve Jones (1980) and Brandt Jobe (1984, ’85 and ’87) — also won CGA Match Plays during this time period. Jones (1981) and Jobe (1985) likewise claimed CGA Stroke Play titles.

— Two members of the Colorado PGA — Jim Bailey (1976) and Paul Runyan (1977) — won the PGA of America’s national Horton Smith Award in back-to-back years. The award honors a PGA professional who has made “outstanding and continuing contributions to PGA education.”

— Twice during this decade, Colorado hosted the Pacific Coast Amateur — at Denver Country Club in 1977 and at Hiwan Golf Club in 1983. At the latter, Colorado crowned its only individual Pac Coast champion in tournament history, which dates back to 1967. Mike Mathies of Golden prevailed that year.

— In 1976, Coloradan Bill Loeffler won the first of his three Broadmoor Invitation titles (1976, ’78 and ’87). Loeffler also claimed the CGA Stroke Play championship in ’76.

— Nancy Roth Syms of Colorado Springs won the Women’s Trans National in 1978. The 1981 Women’s Trans was held at the Ranch Country Club in Westminster, where Floridian Amy Benz prevailed.

— The CGA and Colorado PGA separated their administrative functions in 1978 and the first CGA-only executive director was hired, Dave Askins.

— In 1978, Kim Eaton won the first of what would become four CWGA Stroke Play titles over the course of 27 years.

— University of Colorado graduate Hale Irwin won the second of his three U.S. Open titles, this one in 1979 at Inverness in Toledo, Ohio, as he prevailed by two over Gary Player and Jerry Pate.

— Coloradan Gregg Jones finished runner-up in the Trans Miss that Denver Country Club hosted in 1980.

— In 1982, the CGA becqme the first golf association in the nation to rate all its courses in accordance with the USGA’s new Slope rating system. A year later, the CGA joined the USGA’s Golf Handicap Information Network (GHIN) to provide handicap services to its member clubs.

— Denver Country Club hosted the 1982 Curtis Cup, with the Juli (Simpson) Inkster-led U.S. squad beating Great Britain & Ireland 14.5-3.5 in the biennial matches that feature top female amateurs.

— Coloradan Lauren Howe, winner of the 1975 CWGA Stroke Play, notched a victory on the LPGA Tour, winning the 1983 Mayflower Classic in Indianapolis.

— The Colorado Junior Golf Association was created in 1984, thanks in large part to the efforts of Denver resident Gary Potter.

— Future PGA Tour player Duffy Waldorf won the Broadmoor Invitation in 1984.
 

Who would have thought that an event summarized in two newspaper paragraphs — fewer than 60 words — would have such a longstanding and ever-growing impact?

On Aug. 21, 1915, a small item appeared in the Denver Post under the headline, “M’LAUGHLIN HEADS GOLF ASSOCIATION”. The “short” — as it is often referred to by newsroom staffers — notes the events of Aug. 20, detailing a newly formed organization called the Colorado Golf Association and the election of its officers, including president M.A. McLaughlin.

The story further reports on the other officers elected and says, “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.”

One hundred years after that humble beginning, the CGA’s mission has expanded dramatically over the decades, and the association moves forward as a steward for the traditions and future of golf in the state. And now the CGA is gearing up to celebrate its centennial throughout 2015. That will culminate with a Century of Golf Gala, tentatively scheduled for Nov. 14. At that event, a number of Colorado golf’s all-time luminaries will be honored, and both the history and future of golf in the state will be celebrated.

During the coming year, the CGA plans to unveil a new logo along with artwork that will highlight a century of golf in Colorado. Also on the docket are a monthly series of articles — published on COgolf.org and in the first-of-each-month CGA Revision newsletters throughout the year. A decade at a time since the CGA’s founding — 1915-24, 1925-34, etc. — will be focused on in each of the series of stories, with the last article of the year being a look-ahead.

In addition, the CGA will hold a season-long fundraising event that will support the Colorado Golf Foundation and benefit its many programs that foster youth development through golf. That event will be called “100 Holes for 100 Years”, and participants will raise money through donations pledged for a personalized golf-related activity centering around the number 100. For instance, a person could play 100 holes in a day, or in another set period of time. Or participants can add any twist they’d like to the event, as long as it involves the number 100.

“The goal is to raise awareness and engage the golf community to play golf for a purpose,” said CGA executive director Ed Mate. “It will get the whole state involved.”

The CGA plans to set up an internet portal in which the financial aspects of 100 Holes for 100 Years will be handled. Details about that will be forthcoming.

“Why we’re doing all this is to advance golf in Colorado,” Mate said. “It’s not just a celebration, but that’s the driving force behind it all. We want to seize on the centennial to position the CGA, the community of golf and the Colorado Golf Foundation for the next 100 years. We want to make sure that the game not only will be around, but will be thriving.”

As for the upcoming series of stories focusing on the last century of Colorado golf, there is certainly no lack of history having been made in the Centennial State. Just consider this list of golf “firsts” that occurred in Colorado:

— Arnold Palmer won his only U.S. Open in Colorado, in 1960 at Cherry Hills Country Club. (Palmer is pictured at left tossing his visor in celebration on the 18th green.)

— Jack Nicklaus won the first and last of his eight USGA championships in Colorado, prevailing in the 1959 U.S. Amateur at the Broadmoor and the 1993 U.S. Senior Open at Cherry Hills.

— Phil Mickelson won his only USGA event (to date) in Colorado, the 1990 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills.

— Annika Sorenstam made the 1995 U.S. Women’s Open at the Broadmoor the first of her 72 LPGA Tour victories.

— Frank Woodward of Denver, who won the first CGA championship ever in 1901, was elected the first president of the United States Golf Association from the western U.S.

— In 1959 at Wellshire Golf Course, Bill Wright became the first African-American golfer to win a USGA championship, in his case the U.S. Amateur Public Links title.

— In 1996, Judy Bell of Colorado Springs became the only female president in the history of the USGA.

— And just recently, Colorado Golf Club was the site of the first victory on U.S. soil by a European team in the Solheim Cup.

Winners of big tournaments in Colorado have included a who’s who of golf: Besides Palmer, Nicklaus, Sorenstam and Mickelson, that list features Babe Zaharias, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Kathy Whitworth, Hale Irwin, Greg Norman, JoAnne Carner, Judy Rankin, Juli Inkster, Pat Bradley, Vijay Singh, Ernie Els, Hubert Green, Betsy King, Amy Alcott and Davis Love.

The centennial series will explore all that and much, much more. After all, a lot has happened, golf-wise, in Colorado since that two-paragraph story appeared in the Denver Post during World War I.