TREES TO TEES: A new life for a Grand Lake pine.
“I was watching the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland on TV last year,” Ritter remarked, “and I could have sworn the pictures were coming from Grand Elk.” Gleneagles was the inspiration for the Craig Stadler-Tripp Davis design at Grand Elk, Ritter explained. “This isn’t a links-style course, because we’re not near an ocean,” Ritter clarifies. “It’s a ‘heathland-style’ course. And our course superintendent Austin Anderson has it in great shape.” Broadening his perspective to the revived Grand Links program, Ritter hopes for a return to the days when golf, according to a tourism study during the last boom, contributed as much as $4 million to the local economy in lodging, meals and other visitor expenditures—“in just five months,” he says. His partner Burks has a grander vision. “I’d like to see this lead to a countywide championship,” he says. “Golfers come from all over, play a round at each of our four courses, and we crown a true Grand County champion.” Not this year, but maybe soon. CAG
Contributing Editor Denny Dressman’s piece for Colorado AvidGolfer, “Next on the Tee: Lewis and Clark,” won the 2015 Colorado Authors’ League Award for Feature Articles.
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