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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For the complete list, CLICK HERE.

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

For the complete list, CLICK HERE.

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

For the complete list, CLICK HERE.

Nick Mason (pictured) of Denver ended that streak on Sunday — with an exclamation point. And it didn’t stop with Mason claiming the title. The second- and third-place professional finishers — Jim Knous of Englewood and Nathaniel Goddard of Fort Collins, respectively — were also Coloradans.

Six years after Ben Portie of Westminster won the RMO, Mason prevailed by seven strokes in the 78th edtion of the tournament.

Mason, who has played in five PGA Tour events over the years — including the 2014 U.S. Open, shot 65-64-65 at the event held at both Tiara Rado Golf Course and the Golf Club at Redlands Mesa. That left him at 20-under-par 194 overall. He posted 20 birdies and one eagle (on the 13th hole Sunday), while making just two bogeys in 54 holes. The victory was worth $10,000.

Knous, who finished third last year in the RMO, moved up a spot this time, closing with a 68 for a 201 total.

Goddard, the 2016 CGA Match Play champion who just turned pro, checked in third at 203 after a final-round 67. Also at that figure was low-amateur Isaac Petersilie of Colorado Springs, the University of Denver-bound golfer who carded a 68 on Sunday. He prevailed by five over Taylor Montgomery in the amateur competiton.

Robin Bradbury of Superior, who just qualified for the U.S. Senior Amateur, claimed the title in the senior amateur division. After he tied Scott Sullivan and Owen Ellis with a three-day total of 6-over-par 220, Bradbury prevailed in a playoff.

This year marked the first time that Redlands Mesa was part of the RMO’s championship rotation.

For scores from the RMO, CLICK HERE.

But while the inventory of Colorado courses has shrunk slightly, what we have in the state continues to be highly regarded, not only by Coloradans but on a national scale.

That was apparent once again last week when one of the more respected “best of” course rankings was published. Golfweek.com put out its list of Best Modern Courses (opened 1960-present), Best Classic Courses (opened prior to 1960), and best “courses you can play” state by state.

The modern and classic rankings come out every two years, and this time around one additional Colorado course — the Jack Nicklaus-designed Country Club of the Rockies (pictured) in Edwards — made it into the nation’s top 100 modern courses, checking in at No. 82.

Overall, four Colorado courses made the top 100 modern, with another three among the top 200. The Tom Doak-designed Ballyneal in Holyoke remains the standard-bearer for the state in this category, staying at No. 4 nationally, behind only Sand Hills in Mullen, Neb. (No. 1, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw), Pacific Dunes in Bandon, Ore. (No. 2, designed by Doak) and Friar’s Head in Baiting Hollow, N.Y. (No. 3, designed by Coore and Crenshaw). Doak, by the way, designed or co-designed four of the top seven modern courses.

Among Golfweek’s classic course rankings, two Colorado venues made the top 200 nationally, with Cherry Hills Country Club, host of three U.S. Opens and two PGA Championships, leading the way at No. 82. Pine Valley in New Jersey was tops in that category, followed by Cypress Point in Pebble Beach, Calif., and Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, N.Y.

In the best “courses you can play” state by state, the Golf Club at Redlands Mesa in Grand Junction led the way in Colorado. Rounding out the top five were The Broadmoor’s East Course in Colorado Springs (second), Red Sky’s Fazio Course in Wolcott (third), the CGA-owned CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora (fourth) and Haymaker in Steaboat Springs (fifth).

Here’s a rundown of where all the Colorado courses were placed by Golfweek in the new rankings published last week:

Golfweek Best Modern Courses (opened 1960-present)

4. Ballyneal in Holyoke (Tom Doak design)
34. Colorado Golf Club in Parker (Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw design)
46. Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Pines (Jack Nicklaus design)
82. Country Club of the Rockies in Edwards (Jack Nicklaus design)
179. Golf Club at Ravenna in Littleton (Jay Morrish design)
184. Redlands Mesa in Grand Junction (Jim Engh design)
197. Sanctuary in Sedalia (Jim Engh design)

For a complete list of the top 100 modern courses, CLICK HERE.

Golfweek Best Classic Courses (opened before 1960)

82. Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village (William Flynn design)
171. Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs, East Course (Donald Ross and Robert Trent Jones design)

For a complete list of the top 100 classic courses, CLICK HERE.
 

Golfweek Best State-by-State Courses You Can Play–Colorado

1. GC at Redlands Mesa in Grand Junction (Jim Engh design) 
2. The Broadmoor (East Course) in Colorado Springs (Donald Ross and Robert Trent Jones design)
3. Red Sky (Fazio Course) in Wolcott (Tom Fazio design)
4. CommonGround in Aurora (Tom Doak design)
5. Haymaker in Steamboat Springs (Keith Foster design)
6. Devil’s Thumb in Delta (Rick Phelps design)
7. The Broadmoor (West Course) in Colorado Springs (Donald Ross and Robert Trent Jones design) 
8. Lakota Canyon Ranch in New Castle (Jim Engh design)
9. Red Sky (Norman Couse) in Wolcott (Greg Norman design)
10. The Ridge at Castle Pines North in Castle Pines (Tom Weiskopf design) 

For a complete rundown of the top courses you can play state by state, CLICK HERE.
 

He made the first hole-in-one of his life when he drained a pitching wedge from 147 yards at Valley Hi Golf Course in Colorado Springs on June 1.

Six days later, Tarasiewicz celebrated his 24th birthday. Then on Sunday, he and his dad, Rick, won their first CGA championship by claiming the Father/Son title at the Golf Club at Redlands Mesa in Grand Junction.

“I’m starting out the summer right,” Nick said.

After being runner-up in this championship four years ago, the Tarasiewiczes were eager to move up to the top position — and they did just that.

“We’ve been playing this for six or seven years, and we finished second at Cougar Canyon (in 2009),” Rick Tarasiewicz said. “The No. 1 spot is a better feeling. It’s awesome.”

The Tarasiewiczes, who play out of Patty Jewett Golf Course, held off four-time champions Gary and Alex Kephart on Sunday to earn the Father/Son title.

The Tarasiewiczes, who led after the first round, shot an even-par 72 in Sunday’s foursomes (alternate-shot) format, giving them a five-stroke victory. They finished with a two-day total of 9-under-par 135 after firing a 63 in Saturday’s Chapman Scotch format.

The Colorado Springs residents overcame a triple-bogey 8 on the fifth hole Sunday.

“We were both concerned” after the snowman, Rick Tarasiewicz said. “But I said, ‘This is where champions show what they’re made of.'”

The Tarasiewiczes responded to the adversity by making birdies on each of the next three holes, sinking putts of 1, 8 and 20 feet in the process.

“Nick was putting lights out today,” said Rick, a 51-year-old Army retiree who was runner-up in the senior division of the Colorado Springs City Championship last year.

The Kepharts, from Eisenhower Golf Club, have won the Father/Son in 2005, ’07, ’10 and ’11, but they had to settle for runners-up this time around. Their 72 on Sunday left them with a 4-under 140 total for the weekend.

“As soon as the Kepharts said (congratulations), my dad got a little emotional,” Nick said. “He teared up a little.”

Nick Tarasiewicz is no stranger to high-level amateur competition. In fact, three years ago, he was a medalist in qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship. This was likely his final CGA Father/Son as he’s tentatively planning to turn pro next month and get his feet wet on the Dakotas Tour.

Hayden and George Nicholaides of South Suburban Family Sports eagled the 10th hole and also fired a 72 on Sunday, giving them them third place at 142. They captured the Loel and Caleb Lierman Award, given to the team with a player 18 or under which has the best gross score.

Meanwhile, low-net honors on Sunday went to Brandon Warnke of Adobe Creek National Golf Course and Larry Warnke of Redlands Mesa, who were 13 under par for two days.

CGA Father/Son Championship

At Par-72 Golf Club at Redlands Mesa in Grand Junction

Rick Tarasiewicz / Nick Tarasiewicz 63-72–135
Gary Kephart / Alex Kephart 68-72–140
Hayden Nicholaides / George Nicholaides 70-72–142
Mark Miller / Morgan Miller 68-75–143
Stan Woodworth / Josh Woodworth 66-78–144
Dallas Massey / James Massey 73-72–145
Bruce Hogg / Tyler Hogg 72-74–146
Mark Fowler / Brandon Fowler 72-74–146
Bill Fowler / Will Fowler 67-80–147
Rick Rosendahl / Mitch Rosendahl 70-77–147
Bradley Becker / David Becker 74-78–152
Jeff Eitel / Mr. Danny Eitel 75-78–153
Randy Rouse / Reid Rouse 74-79–153
Gene Mccolley / Zac Mccolley 75-80–155
Patrick Griffin / Tad Griffin 75-80–155
Robert Barnhardt / Cameron Barnhardt 70-85–155
Ryan Hettich / Ben Hettich 73-82–155
Thomas E Moore / Benjamin Moore 73-82–155
Chuck Delich / Philip Delich 78-78–156
Brandon Warnke / Larry Warnke 75-82–157
David Livingston / Thomas Livingston 72-87–159
Jim Chaldekas / Chase Chaldekas 78-81–159
Steve Dillon / Chris Dillon 76-84–160
Colby Smith / Doug Skelton 75-87–162
Larry Phillips / Sam Phillips 78-84–162
Gregg Mueller / Terry Mueller 79-84–163
Ken Harris / David Harris 75-88–163
Derek Schouten / Tom Schouten 81-83–164
Don Alley / Eric B Young 73-91–164
James Steigerwald / Tyler Steigerwald 78-86–164
Larry Michaels / Greg Michaels 79-85–164
Jim Hollingsworth / Brian Hollingsworth 72-93–165
Brian Cramer / Arlo Cramer 81-85–166
Paul Grant / Alex Grant 79-88–167
Dennis Weber / Andrew Weber 82-87–169
John Luoma / Bill Luoma 80-89–169
Gary Driber / Brandon Driber 84-86–170
Harold Erker / Grant Erker 90-84–174
Jess Whittlef / Scott Whittlef 84-92–176
Mark Boscoe / Sam Ethan Boscoe 80-97–177
Warren Androus / Lyle Androus 88-94–182
Jocko Kaliszewski / Lukas Kaliszewski 87-96–183
Wade T Pinkerton / Matthew Pinkerton 81-104–185
Steve J Bockenstedt / Scott Bockenstedt 87-100–187
Warren Seese / Alex Seese 84-104–188
Dr. Michael Smith / Bob Smith 88-102–190
Jerry Holder / Charles Holder 87-107–194
Richard Defries / Hans Defries 93-101–194
John Marasco / Mackenzie Marasco 89-107–196

 Click to view full results

Go to CGA Father/Son Results Archive

But it’s not just the quantity that’s impressive. It’s also the quality.

The list includes such standouts as Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock (1981), Ballyneal in Holyoke (2006) and Colorado Golf Club in Parker (also 2006).

In fact, it’s safe to say that over the last three-plus decades, the state has had more than its share of stellar new courses.

And while local residents might be biased in saying as much, another national ranking of courses confirms that Colorado has certainly added more highly-regarded layouts since 1980 than is the norm for a given state.

Last week, Golfweek published its list of the best modern courses in the U.S., with the magazine classifying “modern” as opening in 1960 or later.

Six Colorado courses are included in Golfweek’s best 200 modern layouts. With 176 of those courses having opened since 1980, the Colorado venues make up 3.4 percent of that total, almost twice the norm for the 50 states.

Moreover, three Colorado courses are in the nation’s top 40.

Without further ado, here’s Golfweek’s rundown of the Colorado courses in the top 200, with the top pick in the category also included: 1. Sand Hills in Mullen, Neb.; 6. Ballyneal (pictured); 35. Colorado Golf Club, home of this year’s Solheim Cup; 38. Castle Pines Golf Club, where the PGA Tour’s International was held from 1986 through 2006; 124. Ravenna in Littleton; 131. Sanctuary in Sedalia; 188. Redlands Mesa in Grand Junction.

In last week’s top course breakdown, Golfweek also ranked the top 200 classic courses in the country, those opened before 1960. Colorado wasn’t nearly as well represented in that category, which included just two courses from the state.

Here are the Colorado courses in Golfweek’s “classic” list, plus the No. 1 layout: 1. Pine Valley in New Jersey; 86. Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, which will host the PGA Tour’s 2014 BMW Championship after the 2012 U.S. Amateur was played there; 190. East Course at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, home of the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open and 2008 U.S. Senior Open.

Golfweek also picked the “best courses you can play” in each state, and these were the Colorado layouts included, in order: 1. Redlands Mesa in Grand Junction; 2. Cougar Canyon in Trinidad; 3. Fazio Course at Red Sky in Wolcott; 4. Lakota Canyon in New Castle; 5. CommonGround in Aurora; 6. East Course at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs; 7. Devil’s Thumb in Delta; 8. Norman Course at Red Sky in Wolcott; 9. Haymaker in Steamboat Springs; 10. Bear Dance in Larkspur.
 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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