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DRIVING THE GAME Forward

Colorado: The State of Women’s Golf –

Why are new women golfers picking up the game?

By Jasmine Ying & Jay McKinney

PG. 42

FEATURES

WAGONS EAST!// 30

Nebraska courses have led the way for golfers looking to discover inland dunes golf courses in the U.S. By Chris Wheeler

Golf

Where Trains Roar // 48

Dotted across eastern Colorado are courses like Yuma’s Indian Hills. By Jim Bebbington

OLD TOM, NEW TRICKS // 36

Matthew Erley, co-founder of Denver-based Old Tom Capital, is leading the charge in investing in new golf ventures By Jim Bebbington

SIDE BETS

22// FAREWAYS

Golf cuisine may be dominated by hotdogs at the turn, but cheeseburgers have entered the chat. By John Lehndorff

28// nice drives

The 2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE53. By Isaac Bouchard

GETAWAYS

59// THE MOUNTAINS ARE CALLING

Summer is time to take advantage of the great experiences right in your backyard: Vail, Summit County, Eagle County, Steamboat Springs

DEPARTMENTS

8// FORETHOUGHTS

Small golf courses in east Colorado are worth visiting. By Jim Bebbington

12// THE CGA

People of the CGA – Tai Palacio. By Kayla Kerns

14// THE GALLERY

Johnstown’s new jewel, Bella Ridge Golf Club, is nearly ready for fall play; A mid-season report card for Colorado pros and juniors; Colorado High School girls’ champs are crowned.

51 & 69// PREVIEWS: INSPIRATO COLORADO OPEN & The ascendent

AvidGolfer previews the 2025 Inspirato Open, July 24-27, and The Ascendent Presented by Blue, July 10-13. By Jim Bebbington

64// blindshot

A man can dream, can’t he? By Jim Bebbington

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coloradoavidgolfer.com

creative director

DECONNA

director , avidlifestyle MICHELLE M. GUTIERREZ

editor -at- large TOM FERRELL automotive editor ISAAC BOUCHARD

contributors

ANDY BIGFORD, TONY DEAR, CHRIS DUTHIE, SCOTT GARDNER, MIC GARAFALO, NICK MCQUEENEY, TED JOHNSON, JOHN LEHNDORFF, CHRISTIAN MARCYVEGA, KIM MCHUGH, JAY MCKINNEY, JON RIZZI, JAMIE SIEBRASE, CHRIS WHEELER, DAVID YOUNG

Newly Renovated Pete Dye Golf Course

FORETHOUGHTS

OLD TOM, NEW TRICKS

The best part of playing a new course is rarely the course – It’s the people.

This issue we wanted to shed light on a sometimes-overlooked part of the Colorado golf community – the smaller courses that dot the eastern plains. Most exist because farmers in their areas banded together at some point and built it by hand. Many are nine hole munis.

But the funny thing about these courses is they are the exact type of course that has grown the game – sometimes more than any other. Two of Colorado’s golf greats – U.S Open winners Hale Irwin and Steve Jones – grew up in towns with courses like these. Before his family moved him to Boulder at the start of high school, Irwin grew up getting dropped off by his mom at the tiny muni in the Kansas town where he grew up. He said sometimes he’d play; other times he’d go wander in the woods or creeks.

But either way, it was a pretty good way to grow up.

And these unassuming courses get played. At only nine holes, couples, kids, farmers at men’s league – everybody in town – will roll up and down their fairways again and again and again. For anyone who had a wasted youth playing a straightforward municipal course, these courses are a nice reminder that that kind of golf still exists.

We visited Indian Hills Golf Course in Yuma –where Steve Jones grew up – and played golf with his brother Scott, who is now the course superintendent. It was a nice eye-opener to see how these courses keep going.

At the other end of the spectrum, we also visited with Matt Erley for this issue. Matt grew up in Broomfield and after starting and selling a few businesses he and a friend launched an investment firm that focuses just on the golf industry.

Old Tom Capital already has investments in about a dozen golf and golf-adjacent businesses. Old Tom’s investment strategy sheds a little light on

where they see the golf industry going. With so many new players, and very few new public courses being built, they are banking on new companies that are helping people enjoy the game in new and unexpected ways. If you have to wait a month to get a tee time, these companies have something for you. It’s always hard to predict the future, but Erley and his partners seem to have a smart investment philosophy and our feature on him, The Business of New Golf, will we hope help you get up to speed too.

Also, we have updates on new courses in this issue! There hasn’t been a new public course built in Colorado in three years, but Bella Ridge near Johnstown is about to change that. The family that built it, the Podtburg’s, are a great story.

They are multi-generation dairy people, and when development from nearby Johnstown was getting close to their family farm, they relocated the cows to new land north of Greeley, and decided to turn the family farm into a nice course. They’re golfers themselves, and they wanted to bring something fun to their community. The course is growing in nicely and expects to open for its first players this fall. Also, Rodeo Dunes, the Dream Golf project near Roggen, is plugging right along. And we have an update on their expected 2026 start.

And in our last issue we told you about how former KUSA anchor Adele Arakawa was using golf to help navigate the Alzheimer’s journey of her husband Barry. The issue hadn’t been published a full day when I received a very touching email from a reader who went through the exact same journey.

Her husband has since passed, but she too said that the game of golf allowed them to do ‘normal’ things together for years more than they otherwise might have. In the end he was just driving the cart as she played – but they were together and it was a small dose or normal life for them all the way to the end.

Jim Bebbington// jim@coloradoavidgolfer.com

Where Legends Compete, and Champions Rise

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PEOPLE OF THE CGA : TAI PALACIO

SERVES AS A TRUSTEE FOR PGA REACH COLORADO

BY KAYLA KERNS

Tai Palacio is a commercial real estate finance attorney at Hogan Lovells. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Miami, Tai studied at Florida State and began her career in nonprofit fundraising and development. After meeting her husband in South Africa, she moved to Dublin, Ireland—earning her first law degree while living abroad.

In 2013, Tai and her husband relocated to Colorado to fulfill a lifelong dream of living near the mountains. Tai attended law school at the University of Denver, and despite never intending to practice law, she graduated at the top of her class and found her calling in the legal field.

Tai is a mother of two, a dedicated snowboarder, and a passionate golfer since 2020. She’s become a strong advocate for women in golf and serves as a trustee for PGA REACH Colorado.

KK: How were you introduced you to the game?

TP: It was May 2020 — we were in lockdown, and everyone was stir-crazy. I lived on the 8th fairway

at West Woods Golf Club, and each time I’d look outside while working, I’d see people just loving life. At the time, I was one of those people who thought, “Is golf even a real sport?” But something about what I saw made me want to try. I rang my colleague, Josh Savage, and asked him to teach me. And after a couple range sessions, he pushed me onto the course. That was huge. I think a lot of women hesitate to leave the range until they feel totally ready, but with golf, that’s a mistake — you learn by doing. From that moment on, I was hooked. I was fitted for clubs three months later, started lessons, joined a women’s league the next summer, and eventually joined Red Rocks. Now I play several times a week. I’m obsessed — and passionate about helping other women take that first step too.

KK: It seems like when you commit to something, there’s no stopping you!

TP: I try! I grew up watching my mom do it all — I was 5 when she, widowed with two children, went to law school. I saw her resolve first hand. So, when I started as a new associate with a 6-week old, I laughed when people asked how I was managing — I had a supportive husband, and I kept thinking, “My mom did this with less.”

I was raised by strong women — my grandmother ran a cement factory after leaving a difficult marriage — and they set the tone for how I approach life. From a young age, I learned to never ask if I could do something, only how I would get it done.

KK: How did you first hear about the CGA?

TP: In 2023, I was looking for a new board to join — and I knew I wanted it to be golf-related, with a focus on supporting youth or women.

I’ve found that women often learn to golf either as kids or empty nesters, but the time it really matters — especially in professional settings — is in your 30s and 40s. Business still happens on the golf course, and once I started playing, doors opened. I was suddenly invited to client tournaments and building real connections.

So I started thinking: How can I help more women get out and play? That curiosity led me to PGA REACH and the CGA.

KK: How have you used golf professionally?

TP: Four uninterrupted hours with someone is a rare opportunity in today’s fast-paced world. You

build relationships in a way that’s just not possible over a lunch meeting or Zoom call.

My colleagues all know I’m obsessed with golf, which led to me joining the deal team representing Fenway Sports Group in their $3 billion investment into PGA Tour Enterprises — a groundbreaking transaction that created a new PGA Tour subsidiary and gave equity to the top 200 players. Sitting across the table from legal teams for both the PGA Tour and Fenway Sports Group was surreal. Through my real estate practice, I’ve also worked on financing and development for several worldclass golf properties globally—most recently for Cabot Highlands in the Scottish Highlands. It’s fulfilling when my passion for golf and my professional work come together like that.

KK: What is your favorite golf memory?

TP: Last summer, my 8-year-old daughter decided — just a week before — to play in the Junior Club Championship. She ended up paired with older boys who could drive the ball twice as far, and after a couple of holes, she was visibly discouraged. I pulled her aside and teased, “Did you really think you’d win this?” She broke a smile, and I explained, “This is about learning, failing, and having fun.” Her frustration faded and she started enjoying herself and playing better.

Afterward, several parents complimented her attitude. When I asked if she’d want to do it again, she said, “That totally sucked — but I’ll do better next year!” That mindset made me proud, and made me laugh — it was such a perfect snapshot of the resilience, humility, and drive that keeps us coming back.

KK: If you were to meet a group of women who were hesitant about getting into golf, what would you tell them?

TP: For me, golf has added a new layer of fun to my marriage — whether its 18 with friends or a golf and spa getaway, it’s a way to recharge and reconnect. And it’s a great way to spend quality time with the family.

It’s wild that women make up only 19 percent of golfers in a sport that’s truly accessible to all — regardless of age, ability, or background. Golf brings connection, opportunity, and joy. So I’d say: be bold, start swinging, and forget perfect. Just get out there – and be the reason another woman picks up a club.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE COLORADO GOLF ASSOCIATION

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Johnstown’s New Jewel

The new golf course built on a family dairy farm near Johnstown – Bella Ridge – is growing in nicely this summer and will likely open this fall. Bella Ridge Golf Course is a family-owned new 18-hole public course, the first in Colorado to be built in the last three years. The Podtburg family used the land for two generations as the location for their dairy farm. With growth coming toward the farm from the city of Johnstown, though, they moved their dairy operations north of Greeley and opted to convert the family homestead to golf.

Ryan Flamm, a veteran golf course operator most recently with Eagle Vail Golf Club, has been hired by Troon to serve as the course’s first general manager. He is overseeing the final grow-in this summer and the construction of the course’s new cart barns and clubhouse, leading up to an opening day likely this fall.

“The course itself is looking really good,” Flamm said. “Like any new grow-in were giving it time to establish the roots and plants and let it have a chance to establish before players and carts start rolling over it.”

By mid-June the course looked ready. Overviews on the homepage at bellaridgegolf.com

show emerald green fairways and greens weaving through the tan native grasslands.

The 18-hole course was designed by architect Art Schaupeter, who also designed the nearby TPC Colorado course and the Highland Meadows Golf Course in Windsor.

The course is a traditional layout, with 18 holes running adjacent to each other and not interwoven with surrounding housing developments. The front-nine features gently rolling holes on the generally-flat northern edge of the property. Then the back-nine turns uphill, and, holes rise up over and down the ridge on the southern edge of the property that gives the course its name.

Two large ponds that are invisible to players on the front suddenly rear into view at the turn and become the center of attention for players on the back.

“It’s got rolling hills, native, and surprisingly some elevation change front to back,” Flamm said. “It’s a good test of golf that’s for sure. What Art did was establish the course as a player-friendly course you can play anywhere from 4,000 yards to up to 7,200 yards. It’ll challenge the best players and be a great tract for beginners too.”

The opening date and greens fees have not yet been determined, Flamm said. This summer will be spent hiring staff. A prefab clubhouse is being installed in July and work will begin on designing a permanent clubhouse building that will likely take three to five years to complete, Flamm said.

“Our goal is to be open to the public and be obtainable to most golfers in Colorado,” he said. “I think it’ll be nice. Our plan is to not just have a stellar golf course but deliver great service across the board.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN FLAMM, GM, BELLA RIDGE

COLORADO’S FIRST NEW COURSE IN THREE YEARS - BELLA RIDGE - SET TO OPEN THIS FALL

PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN FLAMM, GM, BELLA RIDGE

Mid-Year Report Card

ONE COLORADO-AFFILIATED PRO HAS A VICTORY AND ALL ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE

The standard bearer for Colorado Women’s Golf, Jennifer Kupcho, returned to the winner circle in June after a three-year absence. The now four-time winner on the LPGA, Kupcho won the ShopRite LPGA Classic in a rainy weekend, birdieing the final hole for the win.

Kupcho joined the Tour in 2019 and in 2022 won three times, including one major. She has earned nearly $6 million so far in her career and has 23 top 10 finishes.

But prior to winning the ShopRite LPGA Classic in June, she had not had a Top 10 finish this year. She said after the victory that she had had to have a lot of honest conversations with herself during a rough patch early this season.

“I felt like last year was one of my best seasons with how consistent I was, I just didn’t get a win,” she said after the ShopRite win. Then this year “I struggled mentally; completely lost my swing back in L.A. pretty much. Going into the Chevron I pretty much didn’t know where the ball was going. To be able to say I’ve won now only few weeks later is kind of insane.”

Coming up Kupcho and the rest of the LPGA top players have the AIG Women’s Open in Wales, U.K., in early August.

PGA

Wyndham Clark, who was one of the most-visible PGA players over the past two years, is trying to regain his form that helped him win the 2023 U.S. Open and put him on a path to success.

Clark joined the PGA Tour in 2017 but it wasn’t until 2021 that he began to show the potential for being a tournament winner. Then he won two tournaments in 2022 and one more in early 2023. That string of good finishes put him on the U.S. Olympic Team and the U.S. Ryder Cup Team.

Among the many statistical differences in his game between his early seasons and 2022, one big standout is strokes gained: approach to the green. This measures how many times a player hits the green in regulation and how close their ball lands to the hole, and whether he gains strokes on the competition or loses them. In Clark’s early seasons he was among the lowest on the Tour, ranking for the 2021/2022 173rd on Tour. Then something changed, and the follow -

ing season he ranked 29th and it was among the strongest parts of his game.

So far this year Clark has had his least successful season since his breakout year and his strokes gained: approach to the green stats are part of the reason why. Statistically his approach shots are missing the greens or ending up much too far away from the pin compared to his peers.

Clark remains one of the most powerful drivers on the Tour, and his putting stats are strong. He has missed only three cuts on the season through mid-June but his weekend rounds have so far not been enough to get him high on the leaderboard.

OTHER PERFORMANCES SO FAR

THIS SEASON:

Jeremy Paul, a former member of the Colorado University team, has one second place finish, in

WYNDHAM CLARK// PHOTO CREDIT: COLORADO AVIDGOLFER

JENNIFER KUPCHO HOISTS THE HARDWARE // PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES/LPGA

Mid-Year Report Card

ONE COLORADO-AFFILIATED PRO HAS A VICTORY AND ALL ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE

the Corales Puntacana Championship, this season. Mark Hubbard, who has been on the PGA Tour since 2012, is coming off two of his most successful seasons in which he earned nearly $3 million each year. Up until May this year Hubbard was having a relatively down year, missing at one point seven cuts out of nine straight tournaments. But then in early May he got back-toback top 10 finishes – 5th at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson and 7th at the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic.

On the DP World Tour, Yannick Paul, Jeremy Paul’s twin brother and a fellow CU golf alum, finished third in April in the Volvo China Open for his best performance so far.

Rookie Davis Bryant, of Aurora, a Colorado State University grad, is half-way through his first DP World Tour season. He got shut out early in the season by small fields and played several tournaments in the Middle East and Africa on the Hotel Planner Tour, the DP World Tour developmental league. But in spring the field-sizes grew, and he has been in most of the DP stops since. His best finish of the DP World Tour season has been 23rd at the Hainan Classic in China. His best Hotel Planner Tour finish was fourth at the Abu Dhabi Challenge in April.

Dan Erickson, whose family lived in Frederick, is also in his rookie DP World Tour season. He has also bounced between the main Tour and the Hotel Planner Tour, with his best finish so far a

6th place finish in the DP World Tour’s Porsche Singapore Classic in March. On the PGA Tour Champions for pros age 50 and over Denver-resident David Duval is having a bit of a renaissance. He ranks 40th overall on the Champions Tour this season and had two top-10 finishes through mid-June. The 2001 British Open winner won 13 times on the PGA Tour from 1997 to 2001.

Shane Bertsch of Parker has played in 12 Champions Tour tournaments so far this season and made the cut every time. His best finish so far is 16th at the Regions Tradition in May.

Brandt Jobe, a member of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame who grew up in Denver, has made eight cuts this season on the Champions Tour.

DAVIS BRYANT AT THE 2024 INSPIRATO COLORADO OPEN// PHOTO CREDIT: COLORADO AVIDGOLFER

Mid-Year Report Card

ONE COLORADO-AFFILIATED PRO HAS A VICTORY AND ALL ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE

JUNIOR & AMATEUR STANDOUTS

As the 2025 summer golf season unfolds, Colorado’s junior and amateur golfers are making significant strides on both local and national stages. From strong performances in state championships to national qualifiers and college commitments, the state’s young talent is demonstrating depth, determination, and promise.

Reese Barnett recently won a Colorado Junior PGA World Qualifier, marking a strong start to her summer. On the national stage, Hudson Blake (Fort Morgan, boys 12-13) and Isaiah Fowler (Greeley, boys 14 -15) both competed in the Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals at Augusta this April—rare achievements for Colorado juniors. Recruitment-wise, the Class of 2025 is one of Colorado’s most successful cohorts to date. At least 44 high school seniors have committed to college golf programs—17 of them to NCAA Division I schools. Notable names include Hadley Ashton, a former 4A state champion and CGA Girls Player of the Year, who committed to the University of Wisconsin.

HADLEY ASHTON// PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE ASHTON FAMILY

Girls HS Championship Round-Up

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS!

It’s hard to say that there was a youth movement in the girls’ high school golf championships this year – they’re all young – but several new faces and teams took top honors to conclude the 2025 season.

Individual medalist honors were won by two freshmen and two sophomores.

The finals were held at four courses in late May and while traditional powers Valor Christian and Colorado Academy both won their divisions, two schools won for the first time: Riverdale Ridge High School in Brighton and Holy Family High School in Broomfield. Valor Christian High School, in Highlands Ranch, has won four straight big-school titles.

CHAMPIONS

5A: Valor Christian

Medalist – Ella Scott, Valor Christian

4A: Riverdale Ridge

Medalist – Landry Frost, Air Academy

3A: Holy Family

Cheyanne Schrick, Timnath

2A: Colorado Academy

Sophia Lee, Colorado Academy

The individual winner for Class 5A, Ella Scott, is a sophomore. Scott shot rounds of 72 and 76 to finish at 4-over par in play at Todd Creek Golf Club in Thornton. Runner-up Maddie Makino of Legend High School, also a sophomore, finished at 7-over. In Class 4A freshman Landry Frost of Air Academy took medalist honors with rounds of 73 and 78.

She finished ahead by one-stroke of runner-up Kaylee Meyering of Ponderosa High School in play at The Broadlands Golf Course in Broomfield.

Class 3A medalist Cheyanne Schrick of Timnath High School, a sophomore, shot rounds of 74 and 76 at Boomerang Links Golf Course in Greeley. She finished two strokes ahead of junior runner-up Zoe Bar-Or of Littleton High School.

Class 2A, played at Pueblo Country Club, saw freshman Sophia Lee take top honors with rounds of 74 and 72. She finished five strokes ahead of the runner-up, sophomore Addison Dorsey of Manitou Springs High School.

5A STATE CHAMPIONS - VALOR CHRISTIAN

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A THICK AND JUICY CHRONICLE OF COLORADO’S LEGENDARY LINKS TO CHEESEBURGERS … AND GOLF

BY JOHN LEHNDORFF

America’s Cheeseburger Paradise

JIMMY BUFFETT BETWEEN HOLES AT THE HIGH COUNTRY SHOOTOUT GOLF CLASSIC IN 1984. (ASPEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY/ASPEN TIMES COLLECTION)

ALWAYS A WINNER

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In Colorado, golf and cheeseburgers go together like… well … cheese and burgers.

While living in Aspen in the 1970s, a songwriter and amateur golfer wrote a classic Colorado tune about a guy with good dietary intentions who caves in to his carnivorous cravings.

As Jimmy Buffett sang: “Medium rare with Muenster’d be nice Heaven on earth with an onion slice I’m just a cheeseburger in paradise.”

“Cheeseburger in Paradise” went on to become a sing-a-long hit for the late Jimmy Buffett at Red Rocks shows in a state with legendary links to cheeseburgers and golf going back more than a century.

In fact, the sandwich and the game almost grew up together in Colorado.

When the first players got a tee time in 1895 at the opening of the original Denver Country Club – now, Overland Park Golf Course - a Connecticut lunch cook was serving the first hamburger sandwich in the United States, most likely cheese-less. Cheeseburgers were hard to find in Denver until locals and visitors hit the road in cars. in the1920s Louis Ballast opened the Humpty Dumpty DriveIn, Colorado’s first drive-in restaurant.

According to newspaper accounts, Ballast tested many hamburger toppings (including peanut butter with chocolate) before settling on a slice of cheese.

Ballast was NOT the first person to melt cheese on a ground beef sandwich, but he did wisely trademark the term “cheeseburger” in 1935.

That’s why – like war heroes and city foundersLouis Ballast is honored with a monument in Denver. a city long-labelled a “cow town.” A simple granite slab in the parking lot at Key Bank, 2755 Speer Boulevard, is engraved with a tribute to the root beer barrel-shaped cheeseburger eatery that once occupied the site.

By the time Ballast was trademarking his heavenly combo of ground beef and melted cheese on a bun, the sandwich was popping up at local golf clubs where hand-held foods were always appreciated. Golfers driving to The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs in 1937 could grab a 20-cent hamburger. Cheese was extra.

In 2025, cheeseburgers are a course menu fixture from Ballyneal Golf Club to Telluride Golf Club and courses in between including Colorado’s newest destination, Ironwood Bar & Grill at Boulder’s Flatirons Golf Course.

Like Colorado’s golf courses, cheeseburgers have enjoyed a serious upgrade in recent years.

Ironwood Bar & Grill griddles a substantial freshly ground beef or bison patty, to temperature, and dishes it with a choice of cheeses, lettuce, tomato and a slice of onion on a toasted brioche bun. Cold dill spears, hot fries and a 90 Schilling Ale complete a perfect meal for watching the putting green from the shaded patio.

TOPPED, SLOPPER-ED, SMASHED, AND CHOPPED

In a state as large and contentious as Colorado, a multiverse of local and regional cheeseburger variations has naturally grabbed diners’ attention. Golfers across the state will encounter patties made from turkey, game meats or mushrooms. They may be griddled, grilled or smoked and crowned with cheeses ranging from Velveeta to triple creme. If the cheese is inside the burger, it’s a “Juicy Lucy.”

No variation is more celebrated that The Slopper, a relative of the chile burgers served religiously in New Mexico. The Slopper evolved in Pueblo in the 1950s as a bar food. As served at the city’s historic Gray’s Coors Tavern, the dish consists of two open-face cheeseburgers swamped with pork green chile made with Pueblo-grown roasted chilies. Sloppers are garnished with chopped onions, grated cheese and/or saltine crackers.

Colorado’s hottest cheeseburger style may well be smashed: a ground beef ball flattened on a griddle. Introduced by Denver-born SMASHburger, the chain now has 227 locations in the U.S. as well as Canada, Costa Rica, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom.

Hot on its crispy heels is the viral “chopped cheese,” ground beef and cheese cooked on a griddle then chopped and stuffed in a roll.

We acknowledge that Coloradans are not alone in our fondness for cheeseburgers.

In 2024, hamburgers were one of the Top 3 most popular American dishes in the U.S., according to Statistica. French fries have had a lock on the top spot for decades.

However, Colorado is the quintessential place to celebrate National Cheeseburger Day on September 18. Consider playing a round at a Colorado course and grabbing a clubhouse cheeseburger afterwards.

You can also join the band of devotees gathered around the little monument on Speer Boulevard to lift cheeseburgers to heaven as a toast to Louis Ballast.

PLAY US! with

Where Summer Meets the Sweet Spot!

Make it a Colorado Cheeseburger

Crafting a truly unforgettable burger begins with a commitment to quality—starting not in the kitchen, but at the source. In Colorado, where a passion for local, sustainable food runs deep, you’ll find everything you need to elevate a humble burger into a culinary experience.

This burger is more than a meal; it’s a celebration of Colorado’s finest food artisans, each one bringing their unique flavor to the table.

It all starts with the beef. Sourced from Western Daughters Butcher Shoppe in Denver, the freshly ground beef is pasture-raised and ethically sourced, delivering deep, rich flavor with every bite.

This isn’t your average grocery store grind—this is beef with integrity, handled with care from ranch to butcher block. Seasoned simply and beautifully with Wash Park Garlic Pepper from Savory Spice Shop, the patty is brought to life with bold notes of garlic, pepper, and a touch of herbaceous flair.

Next comes the bun, and in this case, only the best will do. Brioche burger buns from Rebel Bread Co., also based in Denver, offer a soft, buttery structure that holds together beautifully without overpow -

ering the flavors within. The richness of the bun perfectly complements the juicy beef, creating the ideal canvas for the layers to come.

Melted atop the patty is sharp cheddar cheese from Colorado Farmhouse Cheese Company in Loveland. Handcrafted in small batches, this cheddar boasts a creamy texture and just the right amount of tang, bringing out the savory essence of the burger without stealing the spotlight.

To add depth and a satisfying crunch, we turn to uncured smoked bacon from River Bear Meats, another Denver gem. Their bacon is slow-smoked and bursting with flavor, adding a touch of indulgence that ties everything together. And no burger is complete without the perfect pickle—cue the garlic dills from Mountain Girl Pickle Company in Boulder.

Crisp, tangy, and infused with garlic, these pickles provide a refreshing contrast that cuts through the richness and leaves your taste buds tingling. This burger is a love letter to Colorado’s thriving local food scene. It’s proof that when you bring together the best of what your community has to offer, even a backyard burger can become something extraordinary.

BEEF

Freshly ground beef, Western Daughters Butcher Shoppe, Denver: westerndaughters.square.site

BURGER SEASONING

Savory Spice Shops Wash Park Garlic Pepper. savoryspiceshop.com

BUNS

Brioche burger buns, Rebel Bread Co., Denver. rebelbreadco.com

CHEESE

Cheddar, Colorado Farmhouse Cheese Company, Loveland. coloradofarmhousecheese.com

TOPPINGS

Uncured Smoked Bacon, River Bear Meats, Denver. riverbearmeats.com

CONDIMENTS

Garlic Dills, Mountain Girl Pickle Company, Boulder. mountaingirlpickles.com

John Lehndorff is the Exhibit Historian for Boulder EATS! Opening November 15 at the Museum of Boulder.

Golfer’s Paradise

The Village at Castle Pines is home to two world-class golf courses: The Country Club at Castle Pines and the Castle Pines Golf Club, host to the 2024 BMW Championship. Many beautiful homes feature golf course views. There are plenty of lifestyle amenities for the non-golfer: pools, trails, and tennis and pickleball courts. Surrounded by open space, wildlife and spectacular mountain views. On-site, staffed security gate and emergency services for privacy and peace of mind.

If Colorado had an address, it would be

Open Air Affair

THE RAGTOP’S REVENGE - 2025 MERCEDES-AMG CLE53 KEEPS CONVERTIBLES AN AWESOME OPTION

BY ISAAC BOUCHARD

Convertibles, which once roamed the automotive landscape, are on the verge of extinction as a breed.

Mercedes used to offer over half a dozen at any given time. Now they are down to two: the SL and the CLE. Thankfully the new AMG-ified CLE53 is one of their best ever—a sleek and muscular statement piece that is fast, comfortable and even quite practical.

Based on the MRA2 platform, it’s a C- and E-class combo meal that is big enough to proffer back seats that actual humans can fit into for shorter trips. They’re also ideal for any luggage that won’t fit in the trunk, which shrinks when the soft top is stowed. The CLE53’s cockpit is solidly built and pleasingly styled, with eye-catching, LED-backlit air vents and an 11.9-inch infotainment screen that can power itself into a position less prone to reflections when the multi-layer top is dropped.

This can be done at speeds up to 37mph, which proved very helpful on an extended trip from New York City to the Berkshires, where rain showers were a constant companion. Roof up, the Mercedes is extremely refined and quiet. Once the sun came out, this topless AMG was back to its best: slicing through sweeping high-speed corners and devouring the short, tree-lined straights of the

Northeast’s byways. Its air springs and 2-valve dampers combine superb ride quality — even on the bigger, 20-inch wheels and ultra-high performance tires — with excellent road holding. The steering is precise and has enough heft, and the CLE53 has excellent body control over roller-coaster roads even at very high speeds, though one rarely forgets it is a big, hefty Grand Tourer, not a sports car.

Its métier is bolstered by its ability to keep the air within the cabin calm up to triple-digit speeds, thanks to a powered rear wind blocker and slick (if noisy) air deflector called Aircap, that pops up from the windshield header at the touch of a button. Heated seats and the latest version of Airscarf, which blows warm air from just below the front’s headrests make low-temp touring possible with the top down, though a heated steering wheel is

MERCEDES-AMG CLE53

$95,810

EPA

missed. Said helm is overly congested with spokes and small buttons (as in all AMGs) but one does get used to it. The standard seats are comfortable but don’t have enough lateral support; that can be remedied by optioning the Performance versions.

There are lesser CLEs: the 4-cylinder 300 and the 450, motivated by an inline-6. While both fulfill the sunseeker remit, it is the AMG that grabs bystanders. It’s fun to watch heads swivel and people walk all the around its voluptuous, bulging body, taking in details like the 3-inch wider fenders, gaping air intakes and the deeply dished wheels. And it’s almost impossible to not turn back around oneself to grab a last look at it once the CLE53 is parked.

No one should feel shortchanged by the 443 horsepower 3-liter that powers it; 60 arrives in under 4 seconds, and it pulls hard up to the legal limit. While its 48-volt hybrid system and battery pack fills in when the turbo is off-boost, full torque of 443-lb-ft is only available in 10 second bursts and acceleration tails off when used for repeated, high-speed passes.

This inline-6 sounds throaty and purposeful, but there’s absolutely no comparison to the M177 AMG twin-turbo V8 that came in previous models, and is still to be found in several Mercedes. The only transmission is a 9-speed automatic, whose

twin clutches smoothly slur shifts in Comfort and Sport, and thump home ratio-changes with just the right amount of drama in Sport+ and Race modes. Rear-biased 4Matic+ all-wheel drive is standard, making the CLE53 a true 4-season beast, and massive brakes (14.6 inches front and 14.2 in back) with 4-piston front calipers grant massive stopping power and decent feel. One other great feature of this AMG is standard rear-wheel

steering, which tightens the turning circle, allows quick turn-in and stabilizes the car at high speeds.

With its ability to coddle over rough roads, cruise in refinement at speed, hold luggage for epic journeys and tackle winter weather (if equipped with the right tires), the CLE53 is a great summation of what Mercedes and AMG have learned building grand tourers over the decades. While it’s wishful

thinking to expect it to relight enthusiasm for convertibles as a species, its very rarity also enhances its exclusivity. As a celebration of the joys of practical and passionate open-top motoring, this Mercedes-AMG is hard to beat.

GOLF’S HIDDEN HOLY / LAND

Few things bring more pleasure to longtime Coloradans than poking fun at our friends who live in the neighboring state to the northeast.

What’s the best thing to come out of Nebraska? Interstate-80.

Not long ago, the mere suggestion of a buddies trip to Nebraska would be the punch line of just another Nebraska joke.

The golf enlightened, however, know it’s now a destination.

Nebraska is a golf paradise that’s often mentioned in the same breath with Bandon Dunes, Pebble Beach, and even St. Andrews. Legendary players like Jack Nickalus, Ben Crenshaw and Tom Lehman have planted their designing flags in Nebraska. Rock star architects like Gil Hanse, Tom Doak and David McLay Kidd have carved masterpieces into the pristine prairies.

As Coloradoans await public dunes links opening here in 2026 - Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw are

The Dunes Golf Revolution

bringing Rodeo Dunes to the small town of Roggen – Nebraska’s dunes experiences are ready to give you an early taste.

For golf purists, the draw is a mythical place where cows outnumber cars. The Sandhills of western Nebraska is the largest sand dune formation in North America - 20,000 miles of dunes and prairie. This land mass comprises an area larger than the states of Vermont and New Hampshire combined. Thousands of years ago, glacial sediment from the Rockies blew eastward into modern day Nebraska where winds whipped sand into dunes - some more than 300 feet high. Prairie grasses wrapped around the dunes, holding them into place. The result is a sea of sandhills that to this day remain largely untouched.

Since the days of the Oregon Trail, settlers have scoffed at the Sandhills, saying the soil was not good for cultivating crops. In the 1990s, golf pioneers took a different view. They proposed the unthinkable: build a golf course that is a 400mile, five-hour drive from the nearest major city. The course would be far from any hotel chains or

fine dining. When guests arrived, there would be no concierge, no hot tubs, no coffee shops, no cell service, and certainly, no entertainment. The only clubs in the Sandhills would be the kind you carry on your back. The Sandhills visionaries were adamant about one thing: this place would be all about the golf.

So they built it. And they came.

The first was Sand Hills Golf Club in Mullen, Nebraska.

Dick Youngscap, a developer from Lincoln, had a dream for land he owned near this sleepy town of fewer than 500 souls. In 1991, he lured the architectural dream team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (Bandon Trails, Cabot Cliffs) into the Sandhills. When the duo first saw the stunning property, they knew a golf course had to be built.

By the spring of 1993, Coore and Crenshaw had identified a staggering 130 holes, which in time, were reduced to 18. They famously moved little dirt, letting the natural beauty of the sandhills

The Dunes Golf Revolution

shape the course design. For the fairways, they chose not Bermuda grass but fescue which was better suited for the sandy soils.

Blowout bunkers, hazards meant to reflect the natural features of the Sandhills landscape, were built onto the fairways. Bent-back greens were placed atop a sandhill stew of quartz and feldspar. When Sand Hills opened in 1995, Coore and Crenshaw were hailed for creating what many considered to be the most natural golf course in America. In 1999, Sand Hills broke into Golf Digest’s Top 100 Courses in America where it has stayed for a quarter century. This year, Sand Hills is ranked 8th, just above the 9th-ranked Pebble Beach.

Sand Hills GC is a private course and next to impossible to play for non-members. However, the masterpiece by Coore and Crenshaw laid the groundwork for more outstanding courses in Nebraska, many of them open to the public. The properties offer not only world class golf, but comfortable lodging and 5-star dining. Here’s a look at some of the best.

GRAYBULL – Maxwell, NE

David McLay Kidd has rocketed to stardom in the world of golf architecture. Creating courses at Bandon Dunes (1999) and Mammoth Dunes at Sand Valley (2018) will do that. He was recruited by The Dormie Network, a company offering a membership to seven luxurious golf resorts, to design a

course on its new property in Nebraska. For David, the rolling Sandhills evoked memories of his native Scotland. Ground was broken in 2022 on a site near North Platte that was personally chosen by Kidd. The links style Graybull opened in 2024 and has become an instant classic, hailed not just for its beauty but for its playability. If you have been fortunate to golf Bandon Dunes, you will find Graybull strangely familiar.

DISMAL RIVER CLUB – Mullen, NE

Don’t be fooled by the name. “Exhilarating” is a better descriptor for this course located just 14 miles from Sand Hills GC. The rugged White Course, unveiled in 2006, was designed by none other than Jack Nicklaus. It offers the classic Sandhills experience – dramatic elevation changes, blowout bunkers, and never-ending views of the Nebraska prairies. The Tom Doak-designed Red Course opened in 2013. Doak’s walkable masterwork begins at the course’s highpoint on hole #1, then slowly descends to the magnificent 18th. The closing hole follows the meandering Dismal River for a perfect Sandhills finish. dismalriver.com

THE PRAIRIE CLUB – Valentine, NE

Remember the Rockies’ Blake Street Bombers of the 1990s - Bichette, Walker and Galarraga back to back to back? The Prairie Club has its own golf version. Let’s call them the Sandhills Sluggers. The three courses near Valentine, Nebraska, were designed by heavy hitters Tom Lehman/Chris Brands,

Graham Marsh, and Gil Hanse. Lehman/Brands created The Dunes Course, a Sandhills classic known for its stunning blowout bunkers. Marsh, a former Australian tour player, designed The Pines Course to be a very different experience from The Dunes. This course transitions from prairie into a forest of Ponderosa Pines lining the Snake River Canyon. Hanse’s Par-3 Horse Course, which was co-designed by Geoff Shackelford, sits on the rim of the Canyon and is the fun way to round out an unforgettable day of golf in the Sandhills. theprairieclub.com

LANDMAND GOLF CLUB – Homer, NE

It’s a few hours east of the Sandhills but getting a tee time at one of the most coveted public courses in the US is worth the extra drive. Homer, Nebraska – population 517- sounds like a fictional town straight out of “A Prairie Home Companion.” Landmand’s story, however, is more like a golf version of “Field of Dreams.” Will Andersen, a farmer with golf in his veins, dreamed of transforming 588 acres of family land deemed too steep for farming into a golf course. An innovative design by Rob Collins and Tad King combined with stunning hilltop views has made Landmand – Danish for farmer – into the hottest ticket in golf. At 8 a.m. last December 31st, about 10,000 tee times for the 2025 season at Landmand became available. Within 50 minutes, all tee times were taken. landmangc.com

SAND HILLS WAS CREATED BY COORE AND CRENSHAW, THE SAME ARCHITECTS WHO WILL BE DESIGNING RODEO DUNES IN COLORADO // PHOTO CREDIT: SAND HILLS GOLF CLUB

LANDMAND’S ARCHITECTS ON THE PROPERTY IN HOMER, NEBRASKA: “THE LAND WAS JUST ON ANOTHER LEVEL.

the Grand Elk Lifestyle

offers golf, outdoor heated pool, large hot tub, clubhouse benefits, and so much more. Located in the heart of Granby and conveniently located near Rocky National Park and the Winter Park Resort. This is a great neighborhood with amazing residents. Come see what mountain mixed with country club living is all about. Grand

Where Mountain Living Meets Country Club Luxury

New Custom Home in Grand Elk with 6 bedrooms, office, 5.5 bathrooms, 2 living spaces, 3 laundry areas, 2-car garage, and large professionally landscaped yard. Kitchen offers Kitchen-Aid stainless appliance package, custom cabinets, pantry, and Quartz countertops. The office has custom built-in cabinets with wood flooring. Main living space has an open concept with the dining area and eat-in kitchen creating so much space for the entire family. Primary suite has 2 closets, soaker

Enjoy premier amenities including membership at our semi-private championship course with unlimited rounds and preferred tee times; plus, an outdoor heated pool and hot tub, Nordic skiing, and casual dining with a view at the Grille, Grand Elk’s signature restaurant.

Nestled in the heart of Granby—just minutes from Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Lake, and Winter Park Resort—Grand Elk offers the perfect blend of mountain adventure and upscale comfort. Single-family homes, townhomes, and custom homesites are available. Come discover the lifestyle you’ve been dreaming of.

Luxury Living with Mountain Views

This four bedroom, 3.5 bath smart home is being sold turnkey. Nice open floor plan with large covered Trex deck and hot tub that backs to a park for outside enjoyment. Upper level is finished with a 4th bedroom having its own bath and two additional bedrooms and bath. The kitchen and living room offer so much room for entertaining and dining. Large windows throughout add so much natural lighting and you have plenty of storage throughout. The HOA includes golf, clubhouse with a heated pool and large hot tub. Enjoy all the amenities with easy access to the Fraser Trail System, Granby Ranch Ski Resort, Rocky Mountain National Park or Winter Park only 20 minutes away. Come see what this mountain golf community has to offer your family and friends.

Stunning custom home on a corner lot with sweeping mountain views. This 4-bed, 4-bath beauty features wide plank flooring, vaulted beam ceilings, and a floor-toceiling stone fireplace. The chef’s kitchen wows with quartz island, custom cabinetry, and walk-in pantry. Enjoy a luxe primary suite with spa bath and fireplace. Upstairs: two en-suites plus loft. A 3-car garage, covered patio, and vibrant landscaping complete this exceptional, move-in-ready home built for comfort and style.

This four bedroom, 3.5 bath smart home is being sold turnkey. Nice open floor plan with large covered Trex deck and hot tub that backs to a park for outside enjoyment. Upper level is finished with a 4th bedroom having its

and two

Escape. Unwind. Live Fully.

This four bedroom, 3.5 bath smart home is being sold turnkey. Nice open floor plan with large covered Trex deck and hot tub that backs to a park for outside enjoyment. Upper level is finished with a 4th bedroom having its own bath and two additional bedrooms and bath. The kitchen and living room offer so much room for entertaining and dining. Large windows throughout add so much natural lighting and you have plenty of storage throughout. The HOA includes golf, clubhouse with a heated pool and large hot tub. Enjoy all the amenities with easy access to the Fraser Trail System, Granby Ranch Ski Resort, Rocky Mountain National Park or Winter Park only 20 minutes away. Come see what this mountain golf community has to offer your family and friends.

and bath. The kitchen and living room offer so much room for entertaining and dining. Large windows throughout add so much natural lighting and you have plenty of storage throughout. The HOA includes golf, clubhouse with a heated pool and large hot tub. Enjoy all the amenities with easy access to the Fraser Trail System, Granby Ranch Ski Resort, Rocky Mountain National Park or Winter Park only 20 minutes away. Come see what this mountain golf community has to offer your family and friends.

Enjoy country club living in the Colorado mountains! This fully turnkey 4-bed, 3.5bath smart home backs to open parkland and features a spacious open layout, main-level primary suite, and covered Trex deck with private hot tub. Upstairs offers a private en-suite plus two guest rooms. Located in Grand Elk, residents enjoy unlimited golf, a heated pool, clubhouse access, and more—just minutes from Winter Park, Granby Ranch, and Rocky Mountain National Park.

Stunning

Serene Aspen Retreat with Golf Course Views

and

Live Above the Fairway, Beneath the Peaks

Grand Elk amenities—pool, hot tub, and discounts at The Grille and Golf Shop. Just minutes to Granby Ranch, Winter Park, and Grand Lake.

(+ loft) mountain modern home on the 5th tee. Step into a bright, open layout with a gourmet kitchen, expansive

Overlooking the 14th green at Grand Elk, this charming 4-bed, 3.5-bath townhome offers a tranquil mountain escape with two spacious en-suites, a versatile loft, and a lower level perfect for guests or extended family. Tucked among the aspens, it features recent upgrades like a tankless water heater and Lennox heating. Enjoy low-maintenance living with HOA-covered services, plus access to Grand Elk’s golf, clubhouse, pool, and hot tub—just minutes from Winter Park and Rocky Mountain National Park.

Enjoy stunning, unobstructed views of the Grand Elk Golf Course and surrounding mountains from this custom 4-bed, 4-bath (+ loft) mountain modern home on the 5th tee. Step into a bright, open layout with a gourmet kitchen, expansive covered patio, and main-level guest suite with walk-in shower—perfect for multigenerational living. The oversized 3-car insulated garage (EV-ready) has room for your boat and golf cart, with a mudroom entry leading to a cozy living room with fireplace. Upstairs features a second living area, three more bedrooms (including two en-suites), a laundry room, and a luxurious primary suite with wet bar, fireplace, and spa-style 5-piece bath. Premium finishes include hardwood floors, tall ceilings, tankless water heater, dual-zone climate control, walk-in closets, and professional landscaping. South-facing driveway for easy winter access. Enjoy Grand Elk amenities—pool, hot tub, and discounts at The Grille and Golf Shop. Just minutes to Granby Ranch, Winter Park, and Grand Lake.

This fully furnished 4-bed, 3.5-bath townhome sits on the 5th green at Grand Elk, offering panoramic mountain and golf course views from a covered deck. With radiant in-floor heat, quartz countertops, wood floors, and sleek designer finishes, it’s the perfect blend of comfort and style. Enjoy low-maintenance living and exclusive access to Grand Elk’s unlimited golf, heated pool, hot tub, and elegant clubhouse—just minutes from Winter Park and Rocky Mountain National Park.

and

guest

with

shower—perfect for multigenerational living. The oversized 3-car insulated garage (EV-ready) has room for your boat and golf cart, with a mudroom entry leading to a cozy living room with fireplace. Upstairs features a second living area, three more bedrooms (including two en-suites), a laundry room, and a luxurious primary suite with wet bar, fireplace, and spa-style 5-piece bath. Premium finishes include hardwood floors, tall ceilings, tankless water heater, dual-zone climate control, walk-in closets, and professional landscaping. South-facing driveway for easy winter access. Enjoy Grand Elk amenities—pool, hot tub, and discounts at The Grille and Golf Shop. Just minutes to Granby Ranch, Winter Park, and Grand Lake.

The BUSINESS of NEW GOLF

DENVER’S MATTHEW ERLEY IS INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF THE GAME

BY JIM BEBBINGTON

As the golf industry evolves it’s easy for the average player to get lost on how big the golf industry actually IS.

But when you roll it all together – courses with greens fees, equipment to maintain the courses, gear, apparel, technology, spin-off golf entertainment, broadcast, digital media – some estimates put it north of about $80 billion annual revenue business world-wide. Other figures estimate it could be close to $200 billion.

The millennial generation – the largest the U.S. has ever seen – picked up the game in the past 10 years, and they brought with them their digital-native lifestyle. They have been using screens since their childhood, so why would that change now.

In business, that is known as an opportunity.

One of the leaders Investing in companies that are trying to take advantage of that opportunity is a Denver firm, Old Tom Capital, and it’s Denver-based co-founder, Matthew Erley.

Erley and his partner Evan Roosevelt formed Old Tom Capital after Erley’s years of experience in founding start-ups, including the alcohol-delivery service Drizly which Uber purchased in 2021 for $1.1 billion. Erley, 38, grew up in Broomfield and lives in Denver now with his wife Shannon and two children, Maxwell and Reese.

In the universe of angel investment firms the number that are seeking investment opportunities across a range of business-types is large. Erley and Roosevelt decided on a different path – to invest just in golf industry businesses, specifically ones which are creating products and services for where the golf industry is headed, not where it is today.

“There’s a lot of people who’ve just been throwing cash into the golf space for a long time, and there’s been a lot of people building companies in the golf space that maybe shouldn’t be building a company in the golf space, because it’s a tough area,” Erley said in a recent interview. “But everybody has like this blind perspective - sometimes because it’s golf and it’s something we love. You have to separate that.”

It’s the difference between someone building a golf course because they really like golf and want to play it, and someone building one for people who want to play but can’t.

“Every day when we look at investment opportunities, we talk to investors, we have to kind of sepa -

THE BUSINESS OF NEW GOLF

rate ourselves and say, is this just a good opportunity?” he said.

NEW GOLF

The business of new golf is many things. For Erley and his firm, they are looking at several sectors that boil down to a basic belief that as more people play, more people are going to want to experience the game differently.

PROFESSIONAL

GOLF:

Within professional golf, the PGA Tour is the definition of a disrupted business. The LIV Tour is just the biggest example – offering millions to some of the touring golf’s biggest names and then putting them in a witness protection program where they are never seen again. But there are also companies trying to present new types competition-golf to a video audience or in-person crowd.

Old Tom has invested in two. TMRW Sports, co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy and media executive Mike McCarley, launched its first product this winter, The TGL. Teams of PGA stars

played in a purpose-built arena in front of a live audience, hitting into enormous screens and putting and chipping from a real-grass and sand indoor green complex.

The matches were broadcast on ESPN and averaged about 500,000 viewers. Highs were more than 1 million when Tiger or Rory played; lows were a little more than 100,000 for a match held 5 p.m. East Coast time – out of prime time.

The other company, Grass League, also played this winter with high-stakes competitive par 3 golf played under the lights at night at a custom-built course in Phoenix. The matches are short, co-ed, and according to reports earned up to 100,000 viewers on the league’s YouTube channel.

Both are also scalable. TGL’s technology – the fantasy holes the pros play – could easily be made a premier package for owners of simulators worldwide. If the Grass League takes off, warm-weather cities everywhere are candidates for courses where it’s too hot to play in the day.

PHOTO CREDIT: CHRISTIAN MARCY-VEGA

GOLF LITE: Erley distinguishes between what he says are ‘golf entertainment’ businesses – which they tend to avoid - and what they are looking for: ‘golf lite’ businesses.

Golf entertainment businesses are similar to TopGolf, he said. Many are essentially bars with simulators. Ten years ago they might have installed axe throwing or escape rooms; now its golf simulators. The longevity for many of them remains to be seen, he said.

Instead, they have helped fund one company that is buying private driving ranges, fixing them up, and offering a higher-level of service. And they’re looking for more businesses like this.

“All of these new players coming to the game, I think they’re going to be less inclined to spend four-and-a-half hours, five hours on a golf course,” he said. “So where are they going to spend time? It’s probably driving ranges. It’s probably parthree courses. It’s smaller footprint, faster rounds.

So that’s an area that we as investors are looking at a lot. How do we come in and identify a lot of good assets in the golf space that aren’t traditional courses.”

GOLF RESOURCES: Another field they are in is resource management for green-grass course owners. Namely: Water. Many in the golf course

THE BUSINESS OF NEW GOLF

industry are trying to prepare for a time when there is less water for irrigation. Cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas – covered in thirsty golf courses – are expected to be rationing water use eventually as population growth outstrips water supply.

Old Tom raised money for a Swiss company, TerraRad, which produces sensors which can help course owners precisely what turf needs water and when.

“This is a narrative area that we care a lot about,” he said. “What companies are building towards helping courses save money and water in the agronomy practices.”

Old Tom has also backed a slate of golf-forward brands and platforms, including Dryvebox (mobile golf simulators), Fairgame (golf social and discovery app), Birdie Houses (group travel golf retreats), Quiet Golf (modern golf apparel), Lusso Cloud (comfort-focused footwear), and Sweetens Cove Spirits (the official bourbon of golf).

Erley said doing national and international investing from Denver is not just convenient for him, but his location is an asset. Colorado’s golf community is huge and diverse and Colorado has an obvious emphasis on outdoor lifestyle and tech-savvy talent. “Being based in Colorado gives us a unique perspective,” he said. “We’re surrounded by people who love the game but aren’t afraid to chal -

lenge its conventions.” How does Old Tom work?

Erley and Roosevelt are building Old Tom with investors looking for the same things they are.

“We have a private investment group that is about 350 people right now that are family offices, high net-worth - that love the game of golf and also are accredited investors who have money to deploy,” he said.

“So when we go do a new investment, we up to this point have always done what we would call like an individual vehicle. We’d go out to our group, we raise the money from the group for that one investment, and then we deploy that capital into the company versus having a fund where you’re just kind of, you know, you raise the funds up front and then you’re just pushing it out there into companies.”

He said they made six investments in 2024 and will likely have about that many again in 2025.

“It’s so interesting how the game has evolved,” he said. “The game didn’t evolve that much for the last 300 years. And then in the last 20 years, it’s like, it’s just completely different now. The traditional stuff is still there, but it’s kind of incredible what’s happened so fast. And so, where is it going? How is this going to change? I think it’s an amazing time to be in the golf space.”

PHOTO CREDIT: CHRISTIAN MARCY-VEGA

MATT ERLEY AND OLD TOM CAPITAL PARTNER, EVAN ROOSEVELT

If women’s golf was a stock, you’d buy it, because it’s what’s driving our game forward. “”

MIKE WHAN, CEO OF THE U.S. GOLF ASSOCIATION

SAVANNAH VILAUBI ON HOLE #1 OF THE 2025 INSPIRATO COLORADO WOMEN’S OPEN//PHOTO CREDIT: COLORADO AVIDGOLFER

The State of Women’s Golf in Colorado

COLORADO AVIDGOLFER’S ANNUAL CHECK-UP ON HOW COLORADO IS GROWING THE GAME AMONG WOMEN AND GIRLS BY JAY

MCKINNEY

AND JASMINE YING

The growth of the number of golfers since 2020 is genuine and many green-grass courses have seen crowds and full tee-sheets for four-years running now.

But hidden a little in the data about new golfers is an interesting nuance: the majority of them are women. And many are perfectly happy to play offcourse: playing with friends and family at ranges, simulator bars and specialty golf facilities and rarely darkening the doorway of a traditional 18hole course.

Now of the estimated 45 million Americans who play any kind of golf – on-course or off - 33 percent are women, according to a study by the National Golf Foundation in 2024. But 42 percent of players who play just off-course golf – the industry term for folks who play only at entertainment-based facilities – are women.

The industry is paying attention.

“That bodes well for future growth potential within the green-grass game, as does the fact that females account for more than one-third (35%) of “Latent Demand,” the NGF wrote. “This means another seven million females categorized as non-golfers have said they’re “very interested” in giving traditional golf a try. This heightened level of interest is, at least in part, a byproduct of more welcoming and less intimidating off-course forms of the game.”

In Colorado AvidGolfer’s annual check-up on how Colorado is doing in helping women access the game, we spoke with several women who started up in the game recently to find out why and what was working for them.

RACHEL ROBERTS

Instead of rolling her eyes when her fiance Brandon booked tee times to play golf, Rachel Roberts, 30, started tagging along and was happy chauffeuring him from shot to shot. Roberts did not have an urge to play herself. However, when Brandon suggested they watch Full Swing on Netflix, she became fascinated with the intricacies of the game and was intrigued. Roberts says the

pressure and passion that the show masterfully captures changed her perspective of the game and she has been following PGA tournaments as a fan ever since.

“Even though I’m new to golf, one of the most memorable moments for me so far actually occurred off of the course,” Roberts says. “Watching Rory McIlroy win the Masters to complete the career Grand Slam. I’ve been learning more about the game and seeing someone accomplish something that historic made it even more exciting to follow. You could feel how much it meant—not just to him, but to everyone watching. As someone just starting out, it was one of those moments that made me think, ‘Wow, this sport is something special.’”

Roberts started playing this year, going to Topgolf first. It was a humbling experience. Like others who have spent their lives as athletes, she looked at golf and thought, “how hard can it be?” After completely missing the ball on her first swing, she says she learned quickly just how hard it is.

Her father encouraged her to take lessons which is where she met her instructor Jaylee Tait at Lone Tree Golf Club. Tait put her at ease and simplified the game the way all great instructors do.

“Thanks to her encouragement, I actually started hitting the ball,” Roberts says. “That moment hooked me. There’s something addictive about finally connecting with the ball and seeing it fly.”

VERONICA BARTH

When it comes to father-daughter bonding, golf may be one of the best activities available. Veronica Barth, 38, lives in LoDo and took up golf after her dad encouraged her. She played her first round at a short executive course in 2017 and said it was stressful. But she was inspired to take on the challenge after seeing others make it look so effortless.

In January of 2024, Barth began taking lessons with Jaylee Tait’s sister, Ashley Tait. With Tait’s guidance, Barth is hitting the ball farther than she ever has and her short game has drastically improved. Tait encouraged her to join a league.

“My most memorable golf experience was playing in a Pro-Am tournament with Ashley,” Barth says. “Before then, golf had always been a casual hobby I enjoyed in my spare time. With Ashley’s encouragement and guidance, I decided to take the next step by establishing a handicap and joining her in the tournament. That day was a turning point for me - I had an incredible time playing and learning from the pros as I watched them in action. To top it off, I played my best round of golf yet!”

NIKKI DICKSON

Nikki Dickson, 32, of Denver has been playing golf for nearly three years thanks to a set of clubs that her husband Jordan bought her. Like Roberts, the first time she played was at Topgolf and the experience was painfully memorable. Nowadays, Dickson is officially hooked as she frequently takes lessons and plays as often as possible. In April she

RACHEL ROBERTS

joined the ExperienceGolf lesson program at CommonGround Golf Course. Thanks to her career in healthcare with a schedule of three 12-hour shifts, she can attend a good amount of the lessons taught by Stefanie Ferguson and Elena King. When she’s not improving her game through the program, you can find her squeezing in nine holes whenever possible.

Dickson said her stepsister and close friend Allison Bernhardt helped her get interested in the game. The two of them play in a nine-hole league at Broadlands Golf Course and she says it is great to have a fellow female golfing companion to celebrate the highs and lows of the game with. While they push each other to get better, she also enjoys playing with her husband.

“Some of my favorite golf days are just getting out there and walking nine holes with my husband before work with a cup of Starbucks coffee,” Dickson says. “It’s a great way to start the day and we have a lot of fun together.”

ALEX HOUGHTALIN

When Alex Houghtalin, 37, moved to Boulder, she took up golf as a way to get closer to the people around her. It was both her father-in-law and colleagues at the software investing company, Access Venture Partners, that inspired her to step out onto the course about a year ago. “I’m so sick of happy hours,” Houghtalin said, “I would much

DRIVING the game forward

rather be active.” At first, Houghtalin was worried about the time commitment. As a wife and mother of young children, she always wants to be there for her family and has worked to balance both. This allowed her to learn the game quickly and practice a lot. “I feel really comfortable on the golf course in just a year,” she said.

Now, Houghtalin attends work events held on the course and at golf simulator locations. “Whenever my company hosts events at the simulator, everyone will show up. I will take any and every chance I get to swing a golf club,” she said.

She still has that passion for outdoor sports, inspired by her time playing softball in college. Even though the green grass might feel a little intimidating, Houghtalin said she prefers the physical aspect of getting out on the course.

Fortunately, her company hosts more traditional golf events as well. “Even though I’m playing with my partners at work, it really doesn’t feel like work.” Houghtalin said. “It’s also really helpful for me to build new and better relationships. I have something to talk about with both men and women whom I wouldn’t have been able to connect with previously.”

MONICA SMOLAK

Monica Smolak, 43, based in Denver, said her interest in golf began during the COVID pandemic.

As a 20-year veteran of Grainger Industrial Supply, where she leads the sales team for the western region, Smolak is looking to push herself out of her comfort zone. When the pandemic hit, she made a goal to try something new every year.

In 2022 that was golf.

“I really got into researching the sport. I wanted to know how to get started and what it would look like to dedicate my personal time to golf,” Smolak said. “My first full year playing was in 2023 because I ended up loving it.”

She said the game was difficult to learn. But she enjoys that it is something she can do by herself. “Making the leap to book my first tee time was nerve–wracking, but once I got out there, I realized it really wasn’t that bad,” Smolak said.

She said she loves that golf is something she can combine with her passion for international travel. About a year and a half ago, Smolak went on a solo trip to Africa and was able to golf in Kenya.

“You could definitely tell that they don’t see many solo female golfers, but the two local gentlemen that played with me were very accommodating. It was a very fun and unique experience.”

This year, Smolak hopes to rely less on golf lessons and focus on improving her game independently.

MONICA SMOLAK

NIKKI & JORDAN DICKSON

VERONICA BARTH

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Celebrating the prairie 9-holers

Grassroots Golf in Yuma

EASTERN COLORADO’S FARM GOLF COURSES SURVIVE THROUGH THE LOVE AND SWEAT OF THE PEOPLE WHO PLAY THEM// WORDS AND PHOTOS BY JIM BEBBINGTON

Scott Jones, the brother of U.S. Open winner Steve Jones, is working these days as the superintendent of Indian Hills Golf Course - the 9-holer in their hometown of Yuma, Colorado.

Yuma has a population of around 3,500 and is the hub for a farm and ranching community that extends miles in every direction into the eastern Colorado plains. It is off the beaten path –miles south of the nearest major Interstate, I-76, and 150 miles east of Denver.

There are many mornings when Jones is cutting grass at 5:55 a.m. when the Amtrak train headed to Denver roars by on the tracks that run right along the edge of the course and through the middle of downtown. He always turns and waves.

The course is a labor of love for Jones and most of the members. Aaron Prior, an insurance risk advisor in town, is on the board of the course and just started helping coach the Yuma High School girls’ golf team.

“We have roughly 235 members – this is ag country so it’s a lot of farmers, a lot of insurance guys, a lot of bankers,” Prior said.

A pond on No. 7 needs to be re-lined, but that project will probably have to wait until fall when some member – it’s not clear who yet - will volunteer their skills and earthmoving equipment to make it happen. The irrigation system – crucial for saving the greens when the summers rains don’t come –needs an upgrade that could cost $1.3 million.

On the weekend rounds cost $36 to play the course twice. Kids play for $5.

Some members store their own golf carts in the barn. Playing a recent round with a guest, Jones borrowed one that was outfitted by its owner, a local farmer, with air conditioning. It topped out at nearly 35 miles an hour.

“He does everything fast,” Jones said of the carts owner.

The nine fairways are lined with pine, maple and other trees – and every single one of them was beaten to a pulp in a biblical May 2024 hail-storm that took Jones and his crew two weeks to recover from. The greens were pockmarked like focaccia. But for all the toil it takes to keep Indian Hills running, Jones and the rest of the people who run the course are glad to have it at all.

They know they have something that thousands of Colorado golfers wish they had too – a nice golf

course up the street from home where it’s very easy to get a tee time and doesn’t charge an arm and a leg.

Yuma’s course exists because a bunch of farmers in 1971 decided they wanted one. The current members once knew who the course-designer was, but after the clubhouse was renovated 10 years ago or so they lost track of their historical photos, including the one with the architect’s name written on it.

But through it all – summer droughts that turn the rough to ash; punishing hail; winds that some days seem like they never stop; this spring’s weird wet weather – they keep it running. It’s a source of pride, and the course has woven itself into the fabric of this small town for a generation. Do not, according to retired farmer Lyle Smith, try to get ahold of a local farmer on Thursdays during the

Celebrating the prairie 9-holers

summer. That’s men’s league day. “The whole town damn-near shuts down,” Smith said. And woe to the male golfer who pulls into the parking lot on Wednesdays. That’s ladies league day. That is their time, and men best busy themselves elsewhere.

Jones remembers playing with his older brother Steve on the course as a kid.

The photos they have at home show them in their 1970s shorts, maybe having ridden bikes with banana seats through town with their clubs, playing among tiny trees and skies that made you think you could see to the end of the world. “If you’re going to put this in the magazine, say I beat Steve all the time,” Scott Jones said.

The vibe is relaxed. Players wear everything from camo t-shirts and work boots to the latest in golf-

wear. A five-some of teenage boys played one Saturday afternoon recently by piling three players in the seats of the cart and two more standing on the sides of the cart, holding onto the roof.

“The only thing I have never understood is the best part of the entire golf course is where they put the clubhouse and the driving range and the parking lot,” Smith said, who has played here since he moved to town in 1974. Indian Hills gets serious right out of the gate. The first three holes start out par 5,4,5. “It’s all in front of you,” Prior said. “There’s not much (mystery) to it, but it’s all you can handle.”Courses like Indian Hills dot the eastern plains. From Yuma you can get to courses in Akron, Wray and Toledo all within an hour. Arguably the greatest course in the state – Ballyneal – is an hour drive to the east.

“Golf is strong in Yuma, Colorado,” Prior said.

SCOTT JONES

WHERE LEGENDS BEGIN ®

JULY 24-27, 2025 | GREEN VALLEY RANCH GOLF CLUB, DENVER

DAVIS BRYANT | CHAMPION 2024 INSPIRATO COLORADO OPEN

ALYAA ABDULGHANY | CHAMPION 2025 INSPIRATO COLORADO WOMEN’S OPEN

JONATHAN KAYE | CHAMPION 2024 INSPIRATO COLORADO SENIOR OPEN

2025 INSPIRATO COLORADO OPEN BRINGS OUT THE BEST

The 61st Inspirato Colorado Open is July 24 to 27 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club and the annual tournament this summer is slated to bring some of the best young pros and amateurs to compete for the $50,000 first prize.

Winners and top finishers from the past are slated to return for the 2025 event. Registered players include 2023 winner Turk Pettit from Louisiana, 2022 winner Wil Collins of New Mexico and 2024 runner-up Jim Knous.

The $50,000 first prize has often been enough to get the attention of pros from around the world who are not yet on one of the major tours. Registrants so far include players from Australia and Scotland along with players around the country.

2024 winner Davis Bryant is playing on the DP World Tour this summer and it is not known if he plans to return to defend his title. Last year featured a final-day duel between Bryant and Knous – two Colorado natives who played collegiate golf here and have strong local followings. Bryant is at the beginning of his professional touring

-July 21 at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora. This is the final year for the Inspirato sponsorship of the tournament series and the Colorado Open Golf Foundation is working to obtain a new lead sponsor for 2026 and beyond. With that change the board reduced the size of the first-place prize from $100,000 to $50,000 for this year’s tournament.

The Inspirato Colorado Women’s Open, played in late May, went through the same transition and the field remained a similar collection of high-ranking pros and amateurs from around the country.

The format is 72 holes of stroke play. The top 60 finishers and ties after 36 holes of play advance to the final two rounds. Anyone that completes the final round earns a share of the prize purse!

Wil Collins (2022 Champion, Albuquerque, NM) and Turk Petit (2023 Champion, Sugar Grove, NC), have both committed to playing in the Open at the time of this publication.

Bryant (-19), $100,000

Knous (-19), $20,000

Guthrie (-17), $12,360

Anderson (-16), $9,500

Bigley (-16), $9,500

1. Parker Edens (-6)

1ST PLACE (MORNING)

The First Western Trust Team: Pro Jake Staiano with Joe O’Brien, Darcy Cantwell, Kade Crossland and Kyle Bargery. 38-under

1ST PLACE (AFTERNOON)

Morning Star Elevators Team: Pro Kelby Scharmann with Richard Markow, Eddie Ainsworth, Scott Brozena and Ian Nygaard

golf career and last year Knous retired from full-time touring golf to work at Ping. Bry ant defeated Knous on the first hole of sud den-death playoffs. His victory was a family affair, as he grew up on the course and his father Matt is the director of golf for Green Valley Ranch and his mother Julie helps run the Inspirato Colorado Open tournament series.

A regular threat to win each year is amateur Parker Edens. Edens is a former Colorado State University player who turned pro then re-gained his amateur status. He is now the head coach of the South Dakota State University men’s golf team and finished second overall in 2023. He was low-amateur each of the past two tournaments and is slated to return.

Wil Colins, $165,000

Jonathan Kaye, $160,000

Sam Saunders, $132,000

Dru Love, $117,000

Neil Johnson, $115,000

Many of the Colorado-based players will be decided through qualifying tournaments that are held throughout the month of July.

Qualifiers Are:

-June 30 at the Univ. of Denver Golf Club

-July 8 at Collindage Golf Course in Fort Collins and The Broadlands Golf Course in Broomfield.

-July 15 at Eagle Ranch Golf Course in Eagle

PHOTO COURTESY OF COLORADO OPEN GOLF FOUNDATION

Wil Collins PHOTO COURTESY OF COLORADO OPEN GOLF FOUNDATION

Turk Pettit PHOTO CREDIT: COLORADO AVIDGOLFER

Jim Knous PHOTO CREDIT: COLORADO AVIDGOLFER

ABDULGHANY WINS INSPIRATO COLORADO WOMEN’S OPEN IN EXTRAS

After three grueling 18-hole rounds two Epson Tour professionals – Alyaa Abdulghany and Brianna Do – needed two playoff holes on Friday, May 30 before deciding the winner of the 2025 Inspirato Colorado Women’s Open.

Abdulghany, 26, scrambled for pars on both playoff holes – each played on the par 5 No. 18 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Course. Both times she bounced her approach shot hard off the green and wound up in the back rough. Do placed her approach shots each time in the center of the green.

But it was Abdulghany who won. She chipped close both times and sank her par putts. On the second playoff hole Do pushed her potential winning birdie putt well past the hole, then missed her comeback par putt by an inch.

As fellow Epson Tour pro Ellie Slama doused Abdulghany with bottled water she hugged her caddie – her mom. “I like having my mom on the bag,” she said. “It keeps me calm.”

She entered the final round tied with Do for third place, behind two-time winner Denver-native Becca Huffer and Yixian Guo of China. Abdulghany slowly and steadily moved first into a tie for the lead with Huffer, then she and Do finished tied at 13-under par after regulation.

“(It was) just kind of taking it one step at a time,” she said. “The biggest thing really was

to make sure that we stuck to our game and our process and whatever happens after that happens.”

With the win Abdulghany becomes the fourth woman to win both low-amateur and the professional tournament at the Inspirato Colorado Open. Abdulghany was low-am the first year she played here, in 2020. The three others include Huffer and LPGA major winner Jennifer Kupcho.

“It’s been a great time and every time if I don’t get a chance to play in the U.S. Open I’ll come out here and play in Colorado,” she said. For Huffer it was another near-win in a tournament where she has uniquely flourished for nearly 20 years. Friday she finished in third place and missed a chip-in birdie on No. 17 by millimeters to keep her out of the playoff. She won in 2013 and 2019 and finished second in 2012, 2021 and 2023. She was low-amateur in 2008.

“I had a good front nine, a couple good holes, but just couldn’t get anything rolling at the end,” Huffer said. “Overall I’m pleased with my tournament.”

1. Alyaa Abdulghany (-13), $50,000

2. Brianna Do (-13), $23,000

3. Becca Huffer (-11), $12,250

4 Yixian Guo (-10), $10,000

T5. Jessica Geise (-9), $8,000

T5. Haylee Harford (-9), $8,000

How to Learn from the Pros at the Inspirato Colorado Open

As an unaffiliated golf fan, watching any professional golf tournament can yield a lot of information that can help your game. Here’s some tips for visitors to the Inspirato Colorado Open:

PREPARE TO WIN: The driving ranges and practice greens of most pro tournaments are where the action begins. Even if you are an experienced player – or especially if you are a novice – spend 30 minutes watching how pros warm up. Watch how most very gradually increase their tempo. What are the clubs they focus on? On the greens – knowing you’re watching just warm-up drills and not full-on practices – notice how the best players get ready? What drills do they use?

FOLLOW THE LEADER: Most of the people following players at the Inspirato Colorado Open’s are family and friends of the players. But the small crowds give any visitor tremendous insight into how the best players go about their games. There are no ropes, so visitors are asked to generally stay along the cart paths. But that still gives amazing access to watch as the tournament leaders go about their business with $50,000 on the line. The concentration, the little reactions, their responses to bad shots – all make for an amazing study.

STUDY A HOLE: Like with LPGA or PGA events, there is a ton to be gained for patient visitors. At Green Valley Ranch a great place to post up is behind the green on No. 12. The 531yard par 5 will be subject to an air assault in the men’s tournament, with big hitters clearing almost all of the lake and leaving themselves around 200 yards into a narrow, curvaceous green. There will be plenty of eagle putts, but also a good share of recovery shots from the heaving mounds of sand and tall grass that guard the green on the left. It’s then a short walk up a slope to the No. 13 tee, and you can watch players aim for tight pin placements on the par 3 over a pond.

ALYAA ABDULGHANI PHOTO CREDIT: COLORADO AVIDGOLFER

YIXIAN “SOPHIE” GUO//PHOTO CREDIT: COLORADO AVIDGOLFER

THANK YOU

Title Sponsor

Presenting Sponsors

Friends of the First Tee

Special Thanks

Friends of the First Tee

Special Thanks

FIRST TEE HELPS PAVE THE WAY FOR LIFE

The Inspirato Colorado Open series helps underwrite The Green Valley Ranch First Tee chapter, one of 150 chapters in the U.S. that help teach young people life skills through the game of golf.

The Green Valley Ranch First Tee chapter holds classes and training for children and teens to learn the game of golf but also learn character education and life skills. Golf is the vehicle to help the participants develop skills that can help them succeed in life.

“Arguably the most important thing I got out of the First Tee was the community,” said Emma Stavely.

Stavely this year was named a First Tee Scholar, the first in the 20-year history of the Green Valley Ranch First Tee program. The national scholar process has First Tee participants apply and go through a selection

process. The 16 women and 11 men named as Scholars this year average nearly 10 years in First Tee and an SAT score of 1450.

Stavely is planning to attend the University of San Diego to study civil engineering and business administration and is the daughter of Lynae and Craig Stavely.

“I got to participate in so many various classes, leadership events and volunteer/ caddying opportunities,” she said.

“Through those I met countless individuals, each coming from a different background and life story, that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to meet if it wasn’t for this program. Yes, this program did teach me a lot about who I am as a player.”

“But even beyond that it allowed me to branch out and explore new opportunities and people, while also learning more about

myself as a person.” Stavely said the First Tee program helped her develop her confidence, which was crucial when she began to look for schools.

“This program has helped me become more confident in taking my next steps,” she said.”

“Especially when going out of state I had a lot of questions and nerves about what was to come, but they have been great with providing answers and advice.”

“Obviously the scholarship has helped alleviate some of the financial burden put on my family’s shoulders. Yet it has also provided me with a mentor and a group of fellow scholars that have been fundamental in making me feel more prepared for what’s to come.”

SENIORS TAKE THE STAGE IN AUGUST!

The 2025 Colorado Senior Open is set to take place from August 27–29 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in Denver, continuing its tradition as one of the premier senior golf tournaments in the region. This 54-hole stroke play event will feature a competitive field of seasoned professionals and top amateurs aged 50 and older, vying for a substantial purse and the prestigious title.

Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, renowned for its challenging layout and exceptional course conditions, has been a consistent host for the Colorado Open Championships, including the Colorado Open and Colorado Women’s Open. The course’s strategic design and pristine fairways provide an ideal setting for high-level competition, ensuring an exciting tournament for both players and spectators.

The Colorado Senior Open not only showcases remarkable talent but also serves as

a platform for local and national players to compete at a high level. With past champions like Jonathan Kaye, who secured the title in 2024, the tournament continues to highlight the enduring skill and competitiveness of senior golfers.

As the tournament approaches, golf enthusiasts can anticipate a thrilling display of experience and precision. The event promises to deliver memorable moments and fierce competition, solidifying its status as a highlight in Colorado’s golfing calendar.

Jonathan Kaye PHOTO CREDIT: COLORADO OPEN

EMMA STAVELY

Summit Co.

Summit County, Colorado, is a summer paradise for families seeking a blend of outdoor adventure, relaxation, and mountain charm. In the heart of the Rockies, this area offers scenic golf courses, great dining and exciting outdoor activities.

THE BEST OF MOUNTAIN GOLF

Keystone Ranch Golf Course is set within a historic Ranch and offers two 18-hole courses that are surrounded by stunning mountain vistas. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., the Keystone Ranch course features challenging terrain and great views. The River Course takes you out along the Snake River and brings you back through a pine forest. After it’s over make time for the Keystone Resort Spa and numerous great dining opportunities. KeystoneResort.Com.

For families with younger children or those new to the game, mini-golf is a fun alternative. Breckenridge’s Mountain Mini Golf offers a whimsical 18-hole course with playful themes and beautiful landscaping.

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT FOR ALL AGES

Summit County’s dining scene is as diverse as its landscapes, offering a range of options to satisfy every palate. Sauce on the Blue is a riverside Italian eatery that serves up wood-fired pizzas and handmade pastas, perfect for a family dinner. The Lost Cajun in Frisco offers a taste of New Orleans. Aurum Food & Wine in Breckenridge has a

menu featuring locally-sourced ingredients and a kid-friendly atmosphere. Bluebird Market, a Silverthorne food hall, offers vendors from tacos to ice cream.

Keystone’s summer calendar is packed with festivals, including the Bacon & Bourbon Festival in June, the Wine & Jazz Festival in July, and the Bluegrass & Beer Festival in August. Whether you’re seeking adventure or relaxation, Keystone offers an unforgettable summer experience.

Discover 36 holes of adventure at Keystone Ranch and The River Course. Just 90 minutes west of Denver, at 9,280 feet in elevation, two dynamic designs unfold into a journey of breathtaking backdrops and thrilling golf shots. Relish the casual spirit and welcoming service as you embark on an unforgettable experience with your family and friends. Beyond the greens, find exhilarating experiences at our epic mountain resort.

Vail

Downtown Vail is a perfect summer destination for families seeking adventure, relaxation, and unforgettable experiences.

FAMILY ACTIVITIES

For families with older children, whitewater rafting and tubing on the Colorado and Eagle Rivers provides an exhilarating experience. Companies like Lakota Guides and Sage Outdoor Adventures offer trips suitable for various skill levels.

Vail Nature Center is situated on a 1940s homestead and offers seven acres of meadows and forested trails. Families can bird, stargaze and take creekside nature tours. Educational programs are available for all ages. For younger children the Pirate Ship Park and Cloud Park in Vail Village, features a life-sized pirate ship with climbing nets and slides.

DINING

At Makoto Vail, Chef Makoto Okuwa’s restaurant blends modern Japanese cuisine with traditional sushi techniques. Located in the Grand Hyatt Vail, the menu includes dishes like sakura pork tonkatsu and Koji butter-aged steak, offering a unique culinary experience. The Root & Flower wine bar in Vail Village offers draft beer, craft cocktails, and seasonal small plates in a rustic modern setting. It’s an ideal spot for families to unwind after a day of activities.

GOLFING

In addition to Vail Golf Club, in downtown Vail, Red Sky Ranch & Golf Club is located in nearby Wolcott. Red Sky Ranch features two world-class courses designed by Tom Fazio and Greg Norman. The club offers tee times to guests at an array of Vail-affiliated hotels and resorts and is known for its exceptional service and facilities. EagleVail Golf Club is situated between Vail and Avon, and offers a family-friendly 18-hole course with a relaxed atmosphere. The club is known for its amazing mountain views.

VAIL GOLF CLUB

WHERE THE EXPERIENCE EXCEEDS THE ELEVATION

Exceptionally well-maintained, 18-hole course with a stunning mountainous backdrop. Beautiful clubhouse with a restaurant, bar and patio. Award-winning PGA professionals, 4:07 pace of play and golf bike rentals. Public welcome.

2025 COLORADO GETAwAYS

Eagle Co.

Eagle County, Colorado, offers a perfect blend of outdoor adventures, delectable dining, and scenic golf courses, making it an ideal summer destination for families. Whether you’re seeking thrilling activities or serene landscapes, Eagle County has something for everyone.

GOLF

Eagle County boasts several golf courses set against stunning mountain backdrops, suitable for all skill levels. At the Arnold-Palmer designed Eagle Ranch Golf Club the 18-hole course offers challenging play amidst picturesque views. The mountain-meadow course is 30 minutes west of Vail and rolls out to anywhere from 6,000 yards to more than 7,400 yards in the thin mountain air. The lush fairways are generous and the greens are mostly flat and good ball control can help a player have a great score. After the round the Eagle Ranch Grille provides a perfect spot to relax after a round.

BEING ACTIVE TOGETHER

Sylvan Lake State Park is 10 miles south of Eagle. Tthis 1,548-acre park offers a 42-acre lake for fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding, along with 1.5 miles of trails. Visitors can enjoy camping in yurts, cabins, or campsites, making it a perfect spot for a family getaway. The Brush Creek Trail is a moderate 6.5-mile trail offering scenic views of the Eagle River and surrounding mountains. It’s suitable for hiking and biking, providing an excellent opportunity for family exploration. The Hay-

maker Trail is a 6-mile trail featuring challenging terrain and stunning vistas, perfect for mountain biking enthusiasts looking for an adventure.

GREAT DINING OPTIONS

The village of Eagle hosts several great eateries that provide good service and laid-back summer value. The Wild Sage Restaurant opened in 2023 and offers everything from Buddha Bowls to burgers. The Capitol Public House bills itself as ‘the people’s house’: family friendly, walk-ins welcome, and great execution of American fare.

Vail Valley 2025 COLORADO GETAwAYS

The Vail Valley transforms into a vibrant summer destination, offering families a blend of outdoor adventures, delectable dining, and scenic golf courses. The valley is home to an endless array of summer outdoor pursuits, or else can be a perfect spa-based destination.

GOLFING IN THE VALLEY

Vail Valley boasts several golf courses set against stunning mountain backdrops, suitable for all skill levels. The Vail Golf Club, just minutes from Vail Village, is the city of Vail’s course and combines a gentle river with a challenging mountain layout. Mostly down by the riverside, it is the most walkable of the region’s golf courses and offers a great experience. VailRec.Com

FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES

With the snow gone, a vibrant summer playground emerges. Start at Epic Discovery at Vail Mountain, a mountaintop adventure park is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features zip lines, a mountain coaster, bungee trampolines, and a mini golf course. The Little Eagle Zipline caters to young adventurers aged 3 and up, ensuring fun for all. Vail.com

Take in breathtaking panoramic views of the valley and surrounding peaks with a gondola ride on the Eagle Bahn or Gondola One. Vail Farmer’s Market & Art Show every Sunday from June through October offers fresh produce, local crafts, live music, and family-friendly activities.

The Vail Village Parks & Playgrounds include Pirate Ship Park and Cloud Park, where children can play while parents relax nearby. Enjoy the Bulleit Hot Summer Nights Concerts free every Tuesday evening at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater.

DINING

The dining scene is a culinary haven, blending alpine charm with world-class cuisine. From Michelin-recognized establishments like Sweet Basil and Osaki’s to cozy European eateries such as Pepi’s and Almresi, the town offers diverse flavors to satisfy every palate.

Steamboat Springs

Steamboat Springs is like a secret only you and your friends know. Far enough from the city bustle, but close enough to get their often and packed with charm, amenities, great dining, golf and things for a family getaway.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES

Old Town Hot Springs A historic gem in downtown Steamboat Springs, Old Town Hot Springs features natural hot spring pools, water slides, and a rock climbing wall. It’s a family-friendly spot for relaxation and fun.

The Yampa River Botanic Park is a six-acre park offers over 60 unique gardens, including a children’s garden, butterfly garden, and pond. Stagecoach State Park outside Steamboat Springs offers a 771-acre reservoir for fishing, boating, and swimming, along with eight miles of trails for hiking and biking.

DINING

The Laundry is known for its exceptional cocktails and seasonal ingredients. Café Diva

focuses on seasonal ingredients and provides a cozy atmosphere. The Steamboat Springs Farmers Market every Saturday through September offers fresh produce, local crafts, live music, and family-friendly activities.

GREAT GOLF

Summer golf in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, offers a refreshing blend of alpine beauty, crisp mountain air, and wide-open fairways. Set in the scenic Yampa Valley, courses like the public Haymaker Golf Course provide championship-level play with views of the surrounding Flat Tops and Mount Werner. Designed by Keith Foster, Haymaker is known for its links-style layout, natural contours, and absence of homes lining the course— just pure golf. Cooler summer temperatures and low humidity make for ideal playing conditions, while the pace of life in Steamboat ensures a laid-back, unhurried round. Post-golf, relax in the town’s famous hot springs or enjoy a meal at one of the many local eateries. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a weekend warrior, golf in Steamboat is a true Rocky Mountain experience.

The Ascendant Presented by Blue

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BEAST BERTHOUD

BY JIM BEBBINGTON

This year’s Colorado Korn Ferry Tour stop, The Ascendant Presented by Blue, is July 7 to July 13 at TPC Colorado in Berthoud.

The tournament at TPC Colorado will be the first since tournament organizers brought on a new management company, Outlyr. The global event management firm has promised a similarly well-organized experience as in past years for patrons and players, with some new music, food and entertainment options.

The tournament has been voted ‘Tournament of the Year’ twice by Korn Ferry players and draws weekend crowds larger than most Korn Ferry Tournaments. The clubhouse and course design make it easy to watch the holes 15 to 18 from the back patio and chalets with breathtaking views of lakes and the Rocky Mountains.

THE VENUE:

TPC Colorado in Berthoud is the only PGA TOUR-managed course in the Colorado. The par72, 7,991 yard, 18-hole championship golf course features sweeping views of Longs Peak and the full range of the Rocky Mountains and is designed around the natural landscape of Lonetree, McNeil and Welch Reservoirs. TPC Colorado’s championship golf course is designed by Arthur Schaupeter Golf Course Architects. As with all TPC courses, it was built with the infrastructure to accommodate a professional tournament.

WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR:

Outlyr is planning to replace the traditional concession stands on the course with local food trucks. Tournament Director Cory Brougham said that the spring rains have brought the course up to an early magnificent level, and the rough may end up taller this year than in the past. “The course looks incredible,” Brougham said.

The Ascendant Presented by Blue

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

MONDAY, JULY 7 | YOUTH DAY

Heron Lakes Junior Pro-Am | Seven-hole for juniors ages 8-17. Tee Times beginning at approximately 12 p.m. An Open Qualifier will also be held at Colorado National GC, with another site—potentially Broadlands GC—mirroring the format from previous years

TUESDAY, JULY 8 | PRACTICE DAY

Professional Practice Rounds | All Day PRO-AM Pairing Party | TPC Colorado | Invitation Only Event

WEDNESDAY, JULY 9 | OFFICIAL PRO-AM

Wednesday’s Pro - Am draws amateur golfers to team up with Korn Ferry professionals for a round of 18 holes. Only open to Pro-Am participants

THURSDAY, JULY 10 | ROUND 1

Tee Times | No. 1 and No. 10 Tees | 6:30 AM - 9:01 AM

Early tee times feature morning dew and cool mountain air, ideal conditions for scoring low.

FRIDAY, JULY 11 | ROUND 2

First Wave Tee Times | No. 1 and No. 10 Tees | 6:30 AM - 9:01 AM

Second Round - Second Wave Tee Times | No. 1 and No. 10 Tees | 12:20 PM - 2:31 PM Round 2 continues with players aiming to blast off the tee and advance past the typical cut mark of the top 65 and ties. Excitement builds as contenders push for weekend contention.

SATURDAY, JULY 12 | ROUND 3

Tee Times | No. 1 Tees | 6:30 AM - 1:20 PM

For those advancing, Saturday is Day 3 — often the most grueling round as leaders make moves.

SUNDAY, JULY 13 | FINAL ROUND

Tee Times | No. 1 & No. 10 Tees | 7:18 AM - 9:30 AM

Sunday’s Round 4 concludes the 72- hole battle. In 2024, Cristóbal Del Solar secured victory with a 22-under-par 266—earning his PGA TOUR card in the process

A Man Can Dream, Can’t He?

BY JIM BEBBINGTON

A Castle Pines man was working with a local company, MaK Construction, to renovate his lower level of his house and install a golf simulator.

Easy, right?

Not for this project. The homeowner wanted the room to evoke the days of a Speakeasy – the illegal bars of the 1920s. It would convert basic storage room into a sumptuous and stylish golf cave.

“He wanted something bold, something that would reflect his personality and make a lasting impression,” said Jack Rodenberger, a marketing assistant for MaK Construction.

MaK took the design ideas and ran with them, pulling together elements of vintage golf clubhouse meets 1920s secret-door speakeasy. The client added the golf simulator himself.

“Every element from the custom antique mirror backsplash to the rich, dark oak flooring contributes to a cohesive and nostalgic atmo -

LUXURY OUTDOOR SPACES

Dream Makers Landscape would like to help you enhance the look and feel of your home. With our expertise in design and construction, our projects will improve the look and value of your home so you can enjoy it for years to come.