A year’s worth of golf — and golf-related activities — produces many quotable utterances, even if you limit it to just Colorado and Coloradans.

2013 was certainly no exception. An eventful year yielded a plethora of memorable quotes.

Without any further ado, we present you with a selection of the most notable quotables of the year in Colorado golf:

 — Dustin Jensen, recalling an episode when he and fellow former CGA staffer Pete Lis (pictured above in green) shared an apartment:

“(Lis) was a diehard about the Rules of Golf. He sat out on the patio at our apartment and was reading the original Rules of Golf — or a book like that — and happened to fall asleep. He was catching a suntan and had his shirt off. He fell asleep with the book laying on his stomach, and he ended up having the outline of the book burned into his stomach. We thought that was pretty funny. He loved the Rules of Golf to the point that he would burn them into his chest.”

— Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale, after winning the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open:

“I lost my sister in January. Scott Freelove (a Titleist representative and a friend of Rohrbaugh) had some golf balls made up for me. They had her initials on one side and the number 49 for how old she was. That’s the golf ball I was using. So it was kind of a little kiss on the golf ball and looking up at her (after winning).”

— Colorado Springs native R.W. Eaks (left), after, for the second consecutive year, withdrawing from the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open mid-round while being in the top five on the leaderboard:

“I’m just done.” Asked if he was hurt, he added, “No, I’m just mentally ill.”

— Country Club at Castle Pines head professional George Kahrhoff insisted that his two sons, Mitchell and Trey, watch the Golf Channel after he and Collindale Golf Course director of golf Dale Smigelsky earned PGA of America nationwide awards, both for merchandising:

“I said, ‘You guys need to pay attention.’ Of course, they were on the computer and all that. I said, ‘Are you watching?’ and they were like, ‘Yeah, yeah’. All of a sudden my name pops up on the TV, and they said, ‘Hey, that’s you.'”

— Denver’s Jim Bunch, the departing chairman of the Western Golf Association, on participating in interview sessions with Evans Caddie Scholarship candidates:

“It’s the best day of the year without any question — and not just for the Evans Scholars but for me. It’s very rewarding and makes you so glad you’re helping out. It’s a one-of-a-kind event; there’s not another organization that I know that does it like that. I look forward to it.”

— LPGA commissioner Mike Whan, leading up to the Solheim Cup at Colorado Golf Club:

“Colorado (fan support) has been a consistent home run for women’s golf.”

— Meg Mallon, captain for the U.S. team at the Solheim Cup in Colorado, on getting more girls involved in the game:

“My greatest memory in golf to this day is walking nine holes with my mom (while) carrying a bag on my back. I want every kid and every parent to have that experience. I’m biased. It’s the greatest game in the world. It teaches ethics, morals, the right thing to do, how to get along with people. What greater avenue (than) to teach children the game of golf? So we need to, as adults, make sure that that happens. … It’s a hard game. It’s a time-consuming game. You have to give the kids the love of the game so they want to be out there playing. … Make golf fun. It’s not supposed to be like going to the dentist.”

— George Solich (left, in red) on making a seven-figure lead gift to found the Colorado Golf Foundation:

“I love golf and what it can teach kids of all socio-economic backgrounds — good lessons about character and competition. For me, the game has affected my life in so many great ways. When we look back in five or 10 years, I hope we can say, ‘Look at what we started and how many kids we affected.'”

— Hannah Wood of Centennial, after winning the Kathy Whitworth Invitational, an event which featured several players ranked highly on a national basis:

“I knew I could play with them, but I’ve never had the opportunity. I went up against the best today and kept telling myself to play Hannah Wood golf.”

— CommonGround Golf Course director of golf Dave Troyer, characterizing Lauren Harmon, the course’s director of player development:

“She’s a non-stop energy bunny. Her relaxation and enjoyment is to spend more time at work.”

— Former Colorado State golfer Martin Laird, on winning the Valero Texas Open to earn a spot in the Masters the following week:

“I’ve probably been asked 30 times in the last couple of weeks, ‘Are you in Augusta, are you in Augusta?’ Everytime I’d say ‘no’ it hurt me.”


— Coloradan Kaye Kessler, on the attraction of the Masters, a tournament he covered for the 50th time in 2013:

“It’s the first breath of spring. It’s a coming-out party, a rite of spring. And it’s the only one of the majors that’s anchored. The Masters tries to look better every year — and they seem to do it. It’s just kind of an awakening. And I think it’s still the toughest ticket around.”

— Former University of Colorado golfer Steve Jones, on attending the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame banquet instead of competing in a Champions Tour event:

“In the very beginning, yeah (it was a tough choice), but when you really think about it, my parents raised me pretty well to think correctly. And thanks to that upbringing, I made the right decision to come here. There’s no way you can miss something like this. It’s the biggest golf honor in my life that I’ve been given.”

— Tom Glissmeyer, on continuing to try to qualify for the U.S. Open after making it as a 16-year-old in 2003:

“It’s hard to believe that I’ve tried 10 times now. I don’t think I had an appreciation for how tough it is. I just showed up my first time (and qualified). It was like, ‘Oh, it’s no big deal.’ Little did I know 10 years later I’d still be waiting for that return trip.”

— Kala Keltz of Montrose after winning the 4A state high school title:

“I don’t even know what to say right now. I’m kind of in shock, I guess. This means the world. I don’t know what to do I’m so excited. This is something people dream about. It was one of my goals this year to even come close, so I’m stoked.”

— Dean Clapp, after winning his first CGA individual title (the Mid-Amateur Match Play Invitational) following 21 years of competing in Colorado, ironically on the eve of moving to California:

“I’ve always been the bridesmaid but never the bride, so to speak. Last night I was telling my wife, ‘I have a chance to go out with a bang tomorrow. I could end my Colorado golf career with a bang if I can finish it off.’ Lo and behold, I pulled it off. I’m elated. I finally got the monkey off my back.”

— Christie Austin, 56, on her and Janet Moore, 48, coming up short in the CWGA Mashie Championship against Samantha Stancato, 20, and Kathleen Kershisnik, 19:

“We’re like they’re mothers (age-wise). I think they would have been disappointed to lose to the old ladies, to be honest. I think they’re pretty happy that they beat us.”

— Steven Kupcho, whose 63 the previous day was bettered by Derek Fribbs’ 62 in the CGA Public Links Championship:

“He was 9 under through 17; that’s just unbelievable. I can’t even fathom shooting that number after what I did yesterday because I felt like I played about as good as I could.”


— Annika Sorenstam (left, in purple cap), assistant captain for the European squad at the Solheim Cup held in Parker, on potentially bringing her husband, Mike McGee, to the competition:

“My husband is a U.S. citizen. I said, ‘(You can come, but) only if you cheer for Europe.”

— CU’s David Oraee, who beat CSU’s Parker Edens, a fellow Greeley product, in the final of the CGA Match Play:

“Obviously we’ve always gone to rival schools in high school and college. It was fun. It’s fun to play against someone you’ve known for a while. And it’s awesome that we’re both from Greeley. We bring the city name some ‘rep’.”

— Wyndham Clark, who has qualified for three of the last four U.S. Amateurs, on the one he missed, which just happened to be held at his home course, Cherry Hills Country Club, in 2012:

“It sucked. I would have for sure given up one of the other Ams to play in that one. But I told myself last year, ‘I don’t ever want to miss it again.’ I just hated that feeling.”

— Zahkai Brown, on his final-round approach at the HealthOne Colorado Open, where he’s led through three rounds each of the last two years:

“I stayed real aggressive. On No. 18, I was like 305 (yards out on the par-5). I’m like, ‘I’m still going for it. Play aggressive.’ My whole mindset was to stay aggressive.”

— Gunner Wiebe, on finishing fifth following the final round of the HealthOne Colorado Open while his dad, Mark, was in contention at the Senior British Open:

“My mind was really elsewhere today, but I will not apologize for that. I love playing golf myself and I love competing, but it’s hard for me not to” be distracted by what was going on with Mark.

— Fellow competitor Deb Hughes on Kim Eaton, the Colorado Golf Hall of Famer who’s retiring from CWGA championships after 41 years of competing:

“She’s not only a good player, but she’s a good person and I love being paired with her and against her. I learn a lot by playing with her.”

— Beth Clippinger, on trying to qualify for the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur at age 61:

“You always think the young ‘munchkins’ are going to come beat you out. So it is more special (to qualify as a 61-year-old).”

— Pueblo West’s Glenn Workman, on arguably his two biggest golf victories coming in Colorado Springs:

“I like the air up here, the water.”

— Hale Irwin, stopping by the CGA Stroke Play 50 years after posting the first of three straight wins in the tournament, that one by 15 shots:

“That was a lot of years ago, but I remember that first one; that made an impression on me. I was an upstart young guy and then there was the old guard — guys like Les Fowler and Jim English. I was relatively new to Colorado and I happened to have a very good tournament. I do remember playing awfully well.”

— World Golf Hall of Famer Kathy Whitworth after captaining a U.S. team that won the Junior Solheim Cup at Inverness Golf Club:

“I never played on a team, even in high school or later on. So (the Solheim Cup) was a new experience for me. And I was flattered that John Solheim asked me to do this again. I don’t have any experience doing things like this. I was never part of a team. I would have liked to have been, but it wasn’t in the books for me. But I can imagine being part of a team that’s playing for your country.”


— Liselotte Neumann, European team captain, proving somewhat prophetic going into the Solheim Cup in Colorado:

“I said, ‘We need to go to America, we need to make history. No (European) team has ever won here before; let’s do this.’ So that’s our goal and that’s why I took on the job, and here we are.”

— U.S. Solheim Cup captain Meg Mallon, after a day in which Europe’s Anna Nordqvist made a hole-in-one to win a match at Colorado Golf Club:

“I’m standing there on 17 tee and looking at Anna Nordqvist’s shot in the air, and I’m thinking, ‘That’s going to go in the hole.’ And it did. Things like that just don’t happen. But today for the Europeans, it was a magical day.

— Veteran Suzann Pettersen, on being on the first European Solheim Cup team to win in the U.S.:

“It’s massive for women’s golf, it’s massive for the Solheim Cup, for us to be historic and win on American soil, in Colorado, in front of a pretty much all-American crowd We took it to them and they couldn’t answer.”

— U.S. Solheim Cup captain Meg Mallon after the Americans’ historic loss to the Europeans:

“We really got our butts kicked this week.”

— Haymes Snedeker, an older brother of six-time PGA Tour winner Brandt Snedeker, on holing out for eagle from 90 yards on the final hole at CommonGround to qualify for the U.S. Mid-Amateur:

“Sometimes it’s supposed to be. Sometimes it’s meant to be and sometimes it certainly isn’t. I’ve been on both sides of it.”

— Vail’s Harry Johnson on becoming, at age 63, the fifth player to sweep CGA match play and stroke play senior championships in a calendar year:

“These guys (his fellow competitors) make me play better than I can play. It’s really an interesting phenomenon. It’s one reason I play in these events. I don’t have that type of game when I play Saturday with my friends, but in a tournament the focus is there and I can make it happen.”

— George Solich, who with brother Geoff are the namesakes for the Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy, which produced more than 1,000 caddie loops in 2013 at CommonGround Golf Course:

“I feel like we’re really hitting it on all cylinders right now, and I think people get what this is about.”

— Doug Rohrbaugh (left) after a season in which he won the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open, the Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championship, and the Colorado PGA Professional Championship:

“The only thing I keep saying is, ‘Why did it take me 50 years to figure this out?’ There’s definitely something to be said for older and wiser, but who knows?”

— George Solich figures there are two ways to approach his job as general chairman for the 2014 BMW Championship at Cherry Hills Country Club:

“You can be a figurehead and let everyone else do all the work, or you can dive in — and I’ve dived in and it’s been really fun. There are a lot of balls in the air, but it’s been fun.”

— Ernie Els, noting his attachment to Colorado in receiving the Will Nicholson Award:

“I made so many great friends here. I was this close to buying a house at Castle Pines about 10 years ago. I used to stay with a heart specialist here in town — he’s an ex-South African — and he had a house on the 11th tee. (My) whole family came every year; we’d come on a Sunday and stay until Tuesday (of the following week). “I saw his kids grow up and he’s seen my kids grow up. He lives near Cherry Hills here now. I said to Liezl (Els’ wife), ‘You know, next year we’re going to come to Cherry Hills (for the BMW Championship) and maybe I’ll still buy that house.'”

— DU men’s golf coach Eric Hoos, on the Pioneers winning CSU’s home tournament by a stroke over the Rams as a one-stroke penalty incurred on the final hole by CSU freshman Jimmy Makloski loomed large:

“You hate to see that. Honestly, I would much rather have had a tie and go into a playoff. But that speaks volumes about the character of Jimmy and to their program that he called (the penalty) on himself. That’s what this game is about. I don’t think that always happens out there. Class kid, class program. I’m sorry for him.”

— Keith Humerickhouse, on winning a record-matching four straight CGA Mid-Amateur titles:

“I feel like it’s my niche. I really like it. I feel comfortable out here. I feel like I can actually compete. The Publinks and the Stroke Play, it’s not that I don’t feel I can compete, but basically I’m playing a college golf tournament. These (college-age) kids are playing every day. You feel like you’re going to have to shoot 10 to 15 under to even sniff the lead. That’s how good they are.”

— Spencer Painton, on claiming the 5A state high school individual title and helping his Regis Jesuit squad land its fourth consecutive team championship:

“I’m happy to contribute to hopefully (Regis eventually winning) six in a row. I wish I could come back again next year, but I went out with a bang. That’s all I can do.”

— Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton, on retiring from CWGA championship competition:

“It’s tough because the CWGA is a great organization and I love the way they run all their tournaments and I love all the people. Everybody that’s been involved in the CWGA in the 41 years I’ve played has somewhat been involved in raising me or making me a better person or making me the person I am today. And that’s hard. But sometimes you just have to move on. … You know what they say: It’s better to go out on top because you all know when I’m not on top I’m not going to be a very happy person. It’s been a great run.”
 

When Colorado Golf Club in Parker hosts the biennial Solheim Cup matches between the U.S. and Europe Aug. 16-18, Lewis will be the participant with the most success in 2013. The former University of Arkansas golfer has won three times this year and will be the only competitor with a major championship title in 2013.

While the South Koreans as a group lead the way in women’s golf, the Americans and Europeans who will square off in the Solheim Cup have some pretty impressive credentials in their own right. Both teams were finalized on Sunday shortly after the conclusion of the Women’s British Open at St. Andrews in Scotland.

The automatic qualifiers — 10 on the American side and eight on the European — were set, then U.S. captain Meg Mallon announced her two wild-card picks, and Europe’s Liselotte Neumann her four. (Neumann is pictured above, at left, with Mallon.)

The USA’s automatic qualifiers — Stacy Lewis, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Angela Stanford, Brittany Lincicome, 18-year-old Lexi Thompson, Jessica Korda, Brittany Lang, Lizette Salas and Morgan Pressel — were supplemented by Mallon’s choices of former teenage phenom Michelle Wie and Texan Gerina Piller, who’s winless on the circuit but is ranked No. 57 in the world.

“I’m just thrilled to finally have my team announced,” Mallon said. “I have 12 players who I am very excited to have on this team. They have all played their hearts out over the last two years. … We are playing on all cylinders right now and I’m really excited about it.”

Wie has won twice on the LPGA Tour, but not since 2010. However, that didn’t dissuade Mallon.

“Michelle to me was a no‑brainer,” the captain said. “With her experience, she can handle the big stage.  She’s played well in Solheim Cups, and I just really believe in Michelle Wie, and am excited for her to be coming to Colorado.”

Said Wie, who will be playing in her third Solheim Cup and has a 4-3-1 record: “I am so happy and so honored and so grateful to be a captain’s pick. To play under Meg and be with all the girls again, it’s a dream come true.”

The eight qualifiers for defending champion Europe were Suzann Pettersen, Carlota Ciganda, Catriona Matthew, Caroline Masson, Beatriz Recari, Anna Nordqvist, Karine Icher and Azahara Munoz. Neumann filled out her squad by naming wild-cards Charley Hull, Jodi Ewart Shadoff, Caroline Hedwall and Giulia Sergas. Hull, a 17-year-old from England, will be the youngest player in Solheim Cup history.

U.S. team members have won a combined seven major championships and 50 LPGA Tour events. One American player — Lewis, who’s second behind Park — is ranked among the world’s top 10 women’s golfers.

The Europeans have won a combined three majors, 21 LPGA Tour events and 26 Ladies European Tour tournaments. Both Pettersen (third) and Matthew (eighth) are ranked among the top 10 in the world.

The Americans will have four Solheim Cup rookies on their team — Thompson, Korda, Salas and Piller. Meanwhile, the Europeans will have six first-timers: Ciganda, Masson, Recari, Sergas, Hull and Ewart Shadoff.

A couple of the most experienced Solheim Cup players ever — one on each side — won’t be back this year: American Juli Inkster, a nine-time Solheim Cupper and eight-time major champion, and England’s Laura Davies, a four-time major winner who had played in all 12 previous Solheim Cups.

“I spoke to (Davies) yesterday, and she knew and she said that, ‘You know, I haven’t played enough.  I tried but I haven’t performed well enough, and I just wish you and the team the best of luck and just go get ’em; you can do it in Colorado,'” Neumann relayed.

AMERICAN TEAM

Stacy Lewis of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. — LPGA Tour Victories: 8, including 3 in 2013. … Major Wins: 2. … World Ranking: 2. … Previous Solheim Cup Teams: 1 (1-3 record). … College Golf: University of Arkansas. … Age: 28.

Paula Creamer of Windermere, Fla. — LPGA Tour Victories: 9, including 0 in 2013. … Major Wins: 1. … World Ranking: 11. … Previous Solheim Cup Teams: 4 (11-3-5 record). … College Golf: none. … Age: 27 on Aug. 5.

Cristie Kerr of Miami — LPGA Tour Victories: 16, including 1 in 2013. … Major Wins: 2. … World Ranking: 12. … Previous Solheim Cup Teams: 6 (11-12-3 record). … College Golf: none. … Age: 35.

Angela Stanford of Fort Worth, Texas — LPGA Tour Victories: 5, including 0 in 2013. … Major Wins: 0. … World Ranking: 16. … Previous Solheim Cup Teams: 4 (3-7-3 record). … College Golf: Texas Christian. … Age: 35.

Brittany Lincicome of Seminole, Fla. — LPGA Tour Victories: 5, including 0 in 2013. … Major Wins: 1. … World Ranking: 38. … Previous Solheim Cup Teams: 3 (4-6-1 record). … College Golf: none. … Age: 27.

Lexi Thompson of Coral Springs, Fla. — LPGA Tour Victories: 1, including 0 in 2013. … Major Wins: 0. … World Ranking: 26. … Previous Solheim Cup Teams: 0. … College Golf: none. … Age: 18.

Jessica Korda of Bradenton, Fla. — LPGA Tour Victories: 1, including 0 in 2013. … Major Wins: 0. … World Ranking: 28. … Previous Solheim Cup Teams: 0. … College Golf: none. … Age: 20.

Brittany Lang of McKinney, Texas — LPGA Tour Victories: 1, including 0 in 2013. … Major Wins: 0. … World Ranking: 50. … Previous Solheim Cup Teams: 2 (2-3-2 record). … College Golf: Duke. … Age: 27.

Lizette Salas of Asuzu, Calif. — LPGA Tour Victories: 0. … Major Wins: 0. … World Ranking: 19. … Previous Solheim Cup Teams: 0. … College Golf: Southern California. … Age: 24.

Morgan Pressel of Boca Raton, Fla. — LPGA Tour Victories: 2, including 0 in 2013. … Major Wins: 1. … World Ranking: 41. … Previous Solheim Cup Teams: 3 (7-2-2 record). … College Golf: none. … Age: 25.

Michelle Wie of Jupiter, Fla. (wild card pick) — LPGA Tour Victories: 2, including 0 in 2013. … Major Wins: 0. … World Ranking: 82. … Previous Solheim Cup Teams: 2 (4-3-1 record). … College Golf: none. … Age: 23.

Gerina Piller of Plano Texas (wild-card pick) — LPGA Tour Victories: 0. … Major Wins: 0. … World Ranking: 57. … Previous Solheim Cup Teams: 0. … College Golf: Texas-El Paso. … Age: 28.

EUROPEAN TEAM

Suzann Pettersen of Norway — LPGA Tour Victories: 11, including 1 in 2013. … LET Victories: 5. … Major Wins: 1. … World Ranking: 3. … Previous Solheim Cup Teams: 6 (12-8-5 record). … College Golf: none. … Age: 32.

Carlota Ciganda of Spain — LPGA Tour Victories: 0. … LET Victories: 2. … Major Wins: 0. … World Ranking: 30. … Previous Solheim Cup Teams: 0. … College Golf: Arizona State. … Age: 23.

Catriona Matthew of Scotland — LPGA Tour Victories: 4, including 0 in 2013. … LET Victories: 4. … Major Wins: 1. … World Ranking: 8. … Previous Solheim Cup Teams: 6 (11-8-6 record). … College Golf: none. … Age: 43.

Caroline Masson of Germany — LPGA Tour Victories: 0. … LET Victories: 1. … Major Wins: 0. … World Ranking: 58. … Previous Solheim Cup Teams: 0. … College Golf: Oklahoma State. … Age: 24.

Beatriz Recari of Spain — LPGA Tour Victories: 3, including 2 in 2013. … LET Victories: 1. … Major Wins: 0. … World Ranking: 20. … Previous Solheim Cup Teams: 0. … College Golf: none. … Age: 26.

Anna Nordqvist of Sweden — LPGA Tour Victories: 2, including 0 in 2013. … LET Victories: 2. … Major Wins: 1. … World Ranking: 22. … Previous Solheim Cup Teams: 2 (4-4 record). … College Golf: Arizona State. … Age: 26.

Karine Icher of France — LPGA Tour Victories: 0. … LET Victories: 5. … Major Wins: 0. … World Ranking: 24. … Previous Solheim Cup Teams: 1 (1-2 record). … College Golf: none. … Age: 34.

Azahara Munoz of Spain — LPGA Tour Victories: 1, including 0 in 2013. … LET Victories: 1. … Major Wins: 0. … World Ranking: 27. … Previous Solheim Cup Teams: 1 (2-1-1 record). … College Golf: Arizona State. … Age: 25.

Caroline Hedwall of Sweden (wild card pick) — LPGA Tour Victories: 0. … LET Victories: 5. … Major Wins: 0. … World Ranking: 29. … Previous Solheim Cup Teams: 1 (2-1-1 record). … College Golf: Oklahoma State. … Age: 24.

Giulia Sergas of Italy (wild card pick) — LPGA Tour Victories: 0. … LET Victories: 0. … Major Wins: 0. … World Ranking: 62. … Previous Solheim Cup Teams: 0. … College Golf: none. … Age: 33.

Charley Hull of England (wild card pick) — LPGA Tour Victories: 0. … LET Victories: 0. … Major Wins: 0. … World Ranking: 147. … Previous Solheim Cup Teams: 0. … College Golf: none. … Age: 17.

Jodi Ewart Shadoff of England (wild card pick) — LPGA Tour Victories: 0. … LET Victories: 0. … Major Wins: 0. … World Ranking: 45. … Previous Solheim Cup Teams: 0. … College Golf: New Mexico. … Age: 25.
 

So much so that we’re still two months out from the event at Colorado Golf Club in Parker, and she’s already made three separate trips to play the course. And, mind you, this is a competition in which no prize money is distributed.

The most recent of those trips came over the weekend, when roughly half of the likely American team that will face defending champion Europe in the Aug. 16-18 match play event came to Colorado Golf Club to prepare.

“The last Solheim (in Ireland in 2011), we couldn’t get over and play” ahead of time, Lewis, the top American player, said on Monday at a Solheim Cup media event at the club. “I talked to Meg (Mallon, the U.S. captain) and she’s played here and she said, ‘It’s a golf course you need to play a lot. You need to learn it. There’s quirky things about it. You need to play it.’ And I’m listening to her.

“It’s a course that I love. It’s different every time you play it. That’s what I think is the good part about it. But more than anything for me, I know how busy that week is going to be, so I want to have the golf course preparation stuff out of the way so that week I can go do the extra stuff and just play.”

Make no mistake: Anytime a top-tier player makes three special trips to a tournament site, the event must be special.

“I was in Dallas (in late April) and Meg called,” said Lizette Salas, who is looking to play in her first Solheim Cup. “She said, ‘I’d like to invite you to practice (at Colorado Golf Club) in June’, and I said, ‘I’m there.’ The Solheim has been a goal of mine this year. I was so excited to come here. Packing, I thought, I need more red, white and blue. It’s just been a great experience.”

It’s Crunch Time for Aspiring Solheim Cup Players: Starting with the Wegmans LPGA Championship earlier this month, American players had six tournaments left to qualify for the Solheim Cup team, and three of those were major championships where players earn double the normal number of Solheim points.

“You can just tell the Solheim Cup is on their minds,” American captain Meg Mallon said of the players. “That’s the exciting part for me. Not only are they playing to win major championships or golf tournaments, but they’re playing to represent their country. This is going to be a lot of fun, these last five weeks, to see how this team plays out.”

The 12-player U.S. team will consist of the top eight golfers on the Solheim points list through the Women’s British Open (Aug. 1-4), the next two highest-ranked Americans from the Rolex Rankings, and two captain’s picks divulged by Mallon on Aug. 4.
 But Mallon made it clear on Monday that no one should rely on being a captain’s pick.

“I’ve played on eight teams and I was never a pick for any of those teams; I made it on my own points” she said. “I tell them I don’t have any sympathy for you if you don’t make the team. And don’t expect to make the team if you don’t make it on points.”

The Europeans’ roster will be made up of the top four players from the Solheim Cup points list, the four next-best Europeans from the Rolex Rankings, and four captain’s picks announced on Aug. 4 by Liselotte Neumann.



Here are the Solheim Cup standings for the AMERICANS and for the EUROPEANS.


Solheim Cup Making Donation to Colorado Firefighters: In the wake of recent fires throughout the state, Solheim Cup officials pledged on Monday to donate 15 percent of tickets sold through solheimcup.com for the remainder of June to the Colorado Professional Fire Fighters Foundation.

The Foundation helps area fire fighters and their families, as well as dependents who are victims of tragedies.

“The players were so thrilled and excited to be able to do something to help,” U.S. captain Meg Mallon said.

Information about the Fire Fighters Foundation can be found by CLICKING HERE. To purchase Solheim Cup tickets, CLICK HERE.

Military Day Set for Eve of Solheim Cup Competition: Thursday, Aug. 15, the day before the first competition at the 2013 Solheim Cup, has been designated Military Day at the event. On that day, active-duty and retired service men and women with military identification and an e-ticket will receive free admission for themselves and one guest. They’ll also have access to discounted tickets on the Solheim Cup’s three competition days, Aug. 16-18.

To order Military Day tickets, CLICK HERE. 
 

But as she noted at this month’s Denver Golf Expo, she doesn’t consider any of those things her favorite memory regarding the game.

“My greatest memory in golf to this day is walking nine holes with my mom (while) carrying a bag on my back,” Mallon said. “I want every kid and every parent to have that experience.”

Like most people in the golf business, Mallon has seen the worrisome statistics about golf participation trends, especially among females and junior players. According to the National Golf Foundation, the number of female golfers in the U.S. has dropped more than 27 percent, from 7 million in 2005 to 5.1 million in 2011. And the number of junior golfers in the country decreased more than 36 percent (3.8 million to 2.4 million) over the same period.

That’s certainly concerning to those in the golf industry — and really anyone who cares about the game. (So are declines among men since 2005, but those have been significantly less pronounced.)

So how can these trends be reversed, and more girls and women be successfully welcomed into the game?

“Access, access, access,” said Mallon, the American captain for the Solheim Cup that will be contested at Colorado Golf Club in August. “We need to open up our facilities, our golf courses, to get kids more involved. We see countries like Korea and Sweden and now China — it’s all about kids playing golf. This country has not embraced that as much as they should.

“I’m biased. It’s the greatest game in the world. It teaches ethics, morals, the right thing to do, how to get along with people. What greater avenue (than) to teach children the game of golf? So we need to, as adults, make sure that that happens.

“… It’s a hard game. It’s a time-consuming game. You have to give the kids the love of the game so they want to be out there playing. … Make golf fun. It’s not supposed to be like going to the dentist.”

This is also a major issue in Colorado, especially to organizations like the CWGA, CGA, CJGA and the Colorado PGA. Not surprisingly, making inroads in attracting girls and women to the game — or back to the game — will be one of the major themes at Saturday’s CWGA Annual Meeting at the Inverness Hotel. And there are numerous initiatives and efforts designed to combat the problematic trends.

“The goal is to promote women’s golf and grow women’s golf,” said Kim Nissen, membership programs and marketing manager for the CWGA.

“We’re trying to make (the game) as inviting as we possibly can,” said Eddie Ainsworth, executive director of the Colorado PGA, noting that it’s OK to play three or six holes of golf instead of the more traditional nine or 18. “We believe once we get them there, the golf bug will bite them.”

Here are some of the programs and plans that major golf organizations in Colorado hope will make inroads in building a strong foundation in golf with girls and women:

— The Colorado PGA, CWGA and other local organizations will put on a Girls Golf Fair on May 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at CommonGround Golf Course. The free event is for girls age 5-17 and their families, and is billed as “a fun-filled event geared to energize junior girls about the game of golf.”

The day — also sponsored by the CGA, LPGA-USGA Girls Golf, The First Tee at Green Valley Ranch and Girl Power Golf — will include family golf instruction, education on the Rules of Golf and etiquette, lunch and nutrition information, Solheim Cup-related fun and photos, sun protection and fitness tips, games and exhibitions.

— The CWGA continues to significantly expand its social golf outings, designed to attract women more interested in the game as a social activity rather than as competition. This year, there are nine such late afternoon/evening outings planned — seven “Ladies Nights Out” at the Greg Mastriona Golf Courses at Hyland Hills, and one similar event each at Foothills Golf Course and Meridian Golf Club. The activities usually include short clinics or instruction, some playing time on the golf course, help from the CWGA on rules and etiquette, and a get-together with food and/or beverages after. For more details, CLICK HERE.

In addition, a larger number of CWGA Experience outings (four) will be offered this year, all in the spring, with ones in Aurora, Colorado Springs, Thornton and Grand Junction. Experience events include group lessons from LPGA and/or PGA professionals — with rotating instructional areas, each focusing on a different area of the game — lunch and welcome gifts and prizes. For more details, CLICK HERE.

— Seeing many of the best women’s golfers in the world up close and personal is sure to inspire some girls and women, and help increase the game’s reach. That’s where this summer’s Solheim Cup matches between the U.S. and Europe at Colorado Golf Club could make a difference. And helping facilitate that will be the fact that kids 17 and under will be admitted to the event free of charge when accompanied by a ticketed adult.

— The Colorado PGA Golf in Schools program, a joint initiative with the CGA, CWGA and other organizations, continues to expand its reach in bringing golf to students through P.E. classes at their schools. Ainsworth said the Colorado PGA has partnered with P.E. teacher Kenny Webb in the effort, “and the things he’s teaching us on how kids learn is phenomenal. What we’re modeling here in Colorado will go across the country. I like to call us the tip of the spear in what we’re doing with growth of the game.”

— The CWGA has added a new membership identification that will help the association reach out to new golfers for education purposes. Handicap chairpersons at women’s clubs can note an “N” membership type on the Golf Handicap and Information Network (GHIN). Then the CWGA can send these “N” members periodic communication regarding etiquette, the Rules of Golf, and handicap system tips and information. The idea is to make newer women golfers feel more comfortable with the game.

— The Colorado PGA has created a new full-time position — funded by the Colorado PGA Foundation — with the title of junior development director. Erin (Hall) Diegel, a graduate of the Evans Caddie Scholarship program at the University of Colorado and a former CU women’s golfer, will fill the new position, which also will encompass other matters related to women’s and girls golf. Diegel founded Girl Power Golf, which Ainsworth said will be rolled into a Colorado PGA program.

— A “Connecting With Her” Committee” has been formed by the Colorado PGA, which is receiving input from groups such as the CWGA, the Executive Women’s Golf Association and Sassy Golf. And, in trying to build the partnership between women’s clubs and PGA professionals, the CWGA has asked the Colorado PGA’s new director of player development, Keith Soriano, to conduct one of the breakout sessions at Saturday’s CWGA Annual Meeting.

“We’re trying to give women’s clubs reasons to enhance their relationships with their PGA professionals,” Nissen said.

Nissen, meanwhile, will join with Metropolitan State University professor Kathy Malpass in conducting a breakout session on how women’s clubs and leagues can attract new membership. Another breakout will include discussion on how fitness workshops and camps can help add golfers to women’s clubs. And club presidents will share practices that have proven effective in attracting new members and retaining them.

Meanwhile, the Colorado PGA is also partnering with the Solheim Cup in an effort to get more businesswomen involved in the game, and related efforts.

— On a local level in Colorado Springs, the Colorado PGA is planning to work with girls high school golf programs, with PGA and LPGA professionals partnering with coaches. The idea is for the professionals to provide golf instruction, while the coaches focus on the coaching and organizational parts of the job.

In a related matter, Ainsworth said “we’re probably going to look at eventually lobbying to move girls high school golf from the spring” to the fall because of the more-advantageous weather and course conditions.
 

And, mind you, the event is still more than six months away.

With the Solheim Cup — a biennial Ryder Cup-like matchup between the best female golfers from the U.S. and Europe — being held in America just once every four years, there’s nothing held back.

The Solheim Cup staff estimates that the total economic impact for this year’s event at Colorado Golf Club in Parker (Aug. 13-18) could approach $30 million. And they’re hoping for total attendance of 110,000-120,000 at the golf course and for perhaps the best TV ratings of the year for a women’s golf tournament.

As LPGA commissioner Mike Whan noted earlier this week, “Colorado has been a consistent home run for women’s golf” in terms of fan support.

“This event doesn’t just happen,” said Pepper, the former NBC golf broadcaster, in an interview with COgolf.org on Friday. “You need community support and you need corporate support and you need awareness.

“It’s an event that although it’s over 20 years old now, it’s still gaining its traction, so everything we do is about awareness of the event, getting people involved, and telling them how great it’s been. The whole mantra has been, ‘Don’t wake up on Monday, the 19th of August, and say, ‘Oh man, I missed it.”’

Just this week, LPGA and Solheim Cup officials have gone on another publicity tour for an event that has already generated plenty of buzz with close results in recent years, including a 15-13 European win in Ireland in 2011.

Mallon and Pepper, who have won 35 LPGA Tour events and six major championships between them, and Whan led a contingent to Colorado. Among other stops, they promoted the Solheim Cup at the Denver Golf Expo, where between 100 and 200 people watched a Friday Q&A involving Mallon and Pepper and they later signed autographs. (Pepper, left, and Mallon are pictured above on Friday.) They and Whan also attended Thursday’s Denver Nuggets game, and all three made the rounds with numerous media outlets during the week.

This week was Mallon’s fourth Solheim Cup-related visit to Colorado since being named U.S. captain. She said she’ll probably make four more stops in the state before the week of the event. In addition, she said she’ll probably go on five or six other trips this year to promote the Solheim Cup and attend to various details of her duties.

As for Pepper, she indicated she’ll make six or seven Solheim-related trips leading up to tournament week.

“The event is so big,” said Mallon, whose promotional efforts take up much of her time as U.S. captain, particularly at this point. “It’s our biggest event on tour. It’s every four years that it comes to the United States and there’s an awful lot of planning that goes into it. So it’s just making sure we’re prepared for an incredibly hectic (tournament) week and trying to eliminate as much of the potential problems as possible so we can have a pretty smooth week.

“It’s eye-opening. Being the home captain is a lot of work and a lot of travel, and it’s good that the staff involves the captain. But it’s not something the everyday (tour) golfer does. Instead of being just in charge of your own life, now you’re in charge of 12 lives and trying to logistically make things happen. Not only 12, right now I have 30 people on my email list because I don’t know who’s going to be on the team.”

And the same is certainly true for European captain Liselotte Neumann and everyone assisting her. But the pressure is particularly intense for the Americans, who have never lost a Solheim Cup competition held in the U.S. And, of course, regaining the Cup after a close loss will be a high priority.

“Since they lost in 2011, we have a highly motivated group coming to Colorado,” Mallon said.

And Mallon and Pepper want to capitalize on that motivation by doing their part to assure the Americans play their best in mid-August.

“We want (the players) to know that we have their interests at the forefront,” Pepper said. “We want to make their week is as great as it can be, and as simple as it can be so that they can just go play great golf. The more we can get across to them — give us your junk (problems), we’ll take care of it, we’ll make it go away or we’ll deal with it. That’s what they need to know from us.”

Notable: World Golf Hall of Famer Kathy Whitworth, the captain for the first two U.S. Solheim Cup teams (1990 and ’92), will be the American captain for the Junior Solheim Cup that will be held Aug. 13-14 at Inverness Golf Club in Englewood. Scotland’s Janice Moodie will captain the European squad. Each team will be made up of a dozen players ages 12-18. … Pepper said Friday that the seventh hole at Colorado Golf Club, which normally plays as a par-5, will be a par-4 for the Solheim Cup.
 

“The number of man-hours that goes into putting this on — not just us, but for the CGA and the PGA — means there’s a lot riding on it,” Cramer said.
    

20th Annual Denver Golf Expo: Just the Facts
   
What: 20th Denver Golf Expo.
   
When: Feb. 8-10 (Friday through Sunday).
   
Where: Denver Merchandise Mart (I-25 and 58th Ave.)
   
Show Hours: Friday Feb. 8, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday Feb. 9, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday Feb. 10, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
  
Ticket Prices: adults, $12; seniors (50 and over) and military with ID, $10; kids 12 and under, free.
   
Tickets Available: At the door at the Merchandise Mart or at TicketsWest at King Soopers.
   
Parking Shuttles: Available from the East parking lot and at the south side of the Merchandise Mart.
  
Show Features: Colorado Junior Golf Experience interactive exhibit, free swing seminars from Colorado PGA professionals, Used Club Sale to benefit CGA and CWGA junior golf developmental programs, free seminars beginning at 10 a.m., club demo area.
   
Donations for Used Club Sale Accepted: Drop off at the north side main entrance of Merchandise Mart Feb. 7, noon to 3 p.m.; Feb. 8, 8 a.m.-noon.
 

With the year drawing to a close, it’s time to play one final 18. In this case, we’ll run down the top 18 Colorado golf stories of 2012, then throw in some honorable-mention selections at the end.

And just for the sake of a little suspense, we’ll start with the 18th-biggest story.

18. Woodard Inducted into National Black Golf Hall of Fame, Voted into Colorado Golf Hall of Fame: 2012 was a big year for longtime Coloradan Tom Woodard, now the director of golf for the Foothills Park & Recreation District. In March, he was inducted into the National Black Golf Hall of Fame, then in October he was voted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, along with fellow Colorado PGA professional Alan Abrams and Jimmy Vickers. COLORADO GOLF HALL OF FAME FULL STORY, NATIONAL BLACK GOLF HALL OF FAME FULL STORY

17. Tourney Routs by Eaton, Humerickhouse: There were a couple of lopsided state tournament victories that went beyond the norm. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton prevailed by 16 shots in the CWGA Senior Stroke Play at the course on which she grew up, Greeley Country Club. STORY And in winning his third straight CGA Mid-Amateur, Keith Humerickhouse was a dozen shots ahead of the runner-up, marking the biggest margin in the event since 1991. STORY Then Humerickhouse put an exclamation mark on the year by proposing to his girlfriend in the midst of his acceptance speech for the CGA Mid-Amateur Player of the Year award.

16. A Lucky Seven Straight for Kent Denver: Kent Denver, coached by Bob Austin, set a Colorado record by winning its seventh consecutive state high school boys team championship, this time in Class 3A. STORY 

15. Bertsch, Jacques, Huffer ‘Open’ the Door: Three Coloradans qualified for the top USGA championship for their respective gender. Shane Bertsch of Parker earned a U.S. Open berth for the first time since 1998. STORY And Becca Huffer and Kelly Jacques made it through qualifying at the Broadmoor to punch their tickets to their first U.S. Women’s Open. STORY Then in December, Jacques joined former University of Denver golfer Stephanie Sherlock in earning LPGA Tour status in 2013. STORY

14. Jones Joining Nicholson in Colorado Sports Hall of Fame: Former USGA president Will Nicholson Jr., was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in April. STORY And after being voted in in October, 1996 U.S. Open champion Steve Jones, a former University of Colorado golfer, will follow suit in the spring of 2013. STORY

13. Ringsby Hits the National Stage: Calli Ringsby of Cherry Hills Village had a memorable 2012 tournament season. She swept both the CWGA Junior Stroke Play STORY and Junior Match Play titles. Then she was one of just four American girls selected to compete in the USA-China Youth Golf Match. STORY

12. Lee Adds Still More Variety to Her Accomplishments: With a nine-shot victory in the CWGA Stroke Play, Somin Lee became just the second player in history to win the CWGA Junior Stroke Play, Junior Match Play, Stroke Play and Match Play. Lee joined Wendy Werley as the only golfers to capture all four of those titles during their careers. STORY

11. Colorado PGA Keeps its Streak Going: For the sixth and seventh time in six years, the Colorado PGA earned national awards from the PGA of America. Dale Smigelsky, the director of golf at Collindale Golf Club in Fort Collins, was named PGA Merchandiser of the Year for Public Facilities, while George Kahrhoff, head professional at The Country Club at Castle Pines in Castle Rock, earned the Merchandiser award for private facilities. STORY The Colorado PGA also was among the national leaders in the “Get Golf Ready” initiative in which PGA and LPGA professionals teach people everything they’ll need to know to play golf with confidence — in five lessons, usually for $99 total. The idea is to bring new and former golfers into the game as seamlessly as possible in a no-pressure environment.

10. Tolan Doubles Up in Colorado Open: Coloradan Derek Tolan won his second HealthOne Colorado Open in the last four years, this time rallying after trailing by four strokes with six holes to play. STORY

9. Bermel Departs CSU After 13 Years: After 13 successful years at the helm of the Colorado State University men’s team, Jamie Bermel resigned to take the same job at the University of Kansas. Bermel’s teams went to the NCAA regional tournament in 12 of his 13 years, and in 2011 the Rams earned a berth in the NCAA Finals for just the second time in program history. Overall, the Rams won 18 multi-team tournaments in Bermel’s tenure, including two conference titles. Former national assistant coach of the year Christian Newton succeeded Bermel at CSU. STORY

8. Near Miss in College Finale for Knous: Colorado School of Mines golfer Jim Knous finished up his college career with a flourish. After leading most of the final round of the NCAA Division II national finals, Knous finished second, losing in a playoff. STORY

7. Mallon, Neumann Will Lead the Way at Colorado Golf Club: The leadership of the competing teams for the 2013 Solheim Cup matches that will be played at Colorado Golf Club in Parker was set early this year. Meg Mallon, winner of 18 LPGA Tour events in her career, will captain the U.S. squad, while 1988 U.S. Women’s Open champion Liselotte Neumann will be her European counterpart. STORY 

6. CU Women Score NCAA Breakthrough in Colorado: An NCAA women’s regional golf tournament was held in Colorado for the first time, and the University of Colorado took advantage of its host role at Colorado National by advancing to the NCAA Finals for the first time in program history. STORY

5. Kupcho Rallies from 9 Down in Final Round to Win CGA Stroke Play: After starting the final round nine strokes out of the lead and in 16th place, Steven Kupcho posted one of the biggest final-round rallies ever by a winner of the CGA Stroke Play. His final-round 66 at Fort Collins Country Club gave him the title as a 19-year-old. STORY

4. Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy Debuts: The CGA and CWGA launched a unique initiative to promote the use of caddies and foster candidates for the Evans Caddie Scholarship at the University of Colorado. The Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy at CommonGround Golf Course — which is owned and operated by the CGA and CWGA — provides a powerful incentive to use caddies by paying all of their base fees. The program’s mission is to use caddying and the game of golf to help kids learn how to succeed in life. STORY

3. Stacy Gains Spots in World Golf Hall of Fame: Part-time Colorado resident Hollis Stacy earned one of golf’s biggest honors by being inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Stacy, who lives in Lakewood during the summer, won 18 times on the LPGA Tour, but particularly excelled in USGA events. She won three U.S. Women’s Opens and three U.S. Girls’ Juniors. STORY

2. Austin Departing Powerful USGA Executive Committee: Not many women preceded Coloradan Christie Austin as a member of the USGA Executive Committee, one of golf’s most powerful governing bodies. But after six years in that role, Austin will be stepping down in February. STORY 

1. U.S. Amateur a Hit in Colorado: The U.S. Amateur was held in Colorado for just the fourth time, with Cherry Hills hosting and CommonGround being the second stroke-play course. The week started with Jack Nicklaus, winner of 18 major championships and two U.S. Amateurs, playing the role of spectator as son Gary competed. It continued with two players with strong Colorado ties — Michael Schoolcraft and Justin Spray — qualifying for match play. And it ended with largely unheralded and 63rd-seeded Tennesseean Steven Fox winning a final in 37 holes after being 2 down with two holes left. Fox (pictured above with his dad Alan) was the the highest-seeded player to win the U.S. Amateur since the USGA began the seeding process in 1985. About 4,500 fans attended the final day, one of the largest totals in recent U.S. Amateurs. STORY

Honorable Mention: Former University of Colorado athlete Hale Irwin followed the likes of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson in receiving the Nicholson Award given for a lifetime of commitment and dedication to the game of golf. Later in the year, the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program was launched, with the initiative designed to nurture the budding careers of exceptional young golfers in the state. … After Ray Makloski won the CGA Senior Match Play in May, son Jimmy claimed a CGA title of his own (the Junior Stroke Play) in June. Later in the year, University of Denver golfer Andy Yang qualified for the U.S. Amateur shortly after sister Jennifer advanced to the U.S. Women’s Amateur. … Former college hockey standout David Delich won the CGA Senior Stroke Play the week after placing second in the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open, which marked the best finish by an amateur in that event since 1999. … Despite dozens and dozens of entrants both years, Lone Tree Golf Club repeated as champion in the season-long CGA Team InterClub Championship. … Nicole Zhang made it to the semifinals of the U.S. Women’s Amateur after qualifying for the event in Colorado. … At age 14, Jordan Sahm of Centennial qualified for U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship. … Cherry Creek’s Mackenzie Cohen, who shot 93 in the first round of the 5A state tourney in 2011, posted a score 26 strokes better in the final round of this year’s meet en route to an improbable victory. … Six-time CGA Player of the Year Rick DeWitt, who had never before competed in an event on the PGA, Champions or Web.com Tours, qualified for the U.S. Senior Open.