DIVOT Magazine Winter/Expo Issue 2019

Vol 27 No 1

Your Guide to Golf in Colorado

Expo Issue 2019

Golf Summerlin Style...

Doing Vegas Right Page 21

Denver Golf Expo Sponsored By:

Jumpstart your 2019 Golf Season at the Denver Golf Expo February 8-10 at the Denver Mart

• Deals on equipment, travel and greens fees.

• Tips and lessons from PGA pros.

• An immersive kids golf experience.

• A lot of fun, food and GOLF!

Bring the family down. Or get your buddies together.

Hit the latest drivers. Spend the day learning and exploring.

Cover Image: Highland Falls Golf Club - Las Vegas

)DLUZD\V )URP 2XW 2I 7KLV :RUOG

" XJOUFS XPOEFSMBOE JO UIF HSFFOFTU QPTTJCMF GBTIJPO 8JUI PWFS EBZT PG TVOTIJOF BOE TUVOOJOH DPVSTFT JO B NJMF SBEJVT UIFSF JT BMXBZT B XPSUIZ RVFTU 4U (FPSHF DPOUJOVFT UP SBOL BNPOH UIF NPTU QSFTUJHJPVT HPMG EFTUJOBUJPOT UIF NPTU Q JO UIF XPSME 8JUI DPVSTFT XJUIJO B NJMF SBEJVT UIF 3FE 3PDL (PMG 5SBJM IBT FWFSZUIJOH ZPV SF MPPLJOH GPS 7JTJU 3FE3PDL(PMG DPN GPS HSFBU SBUFT PO HPMG BOE IPUFM QBDLBHFT

%BJMZ øJHIUT GSPN %FOWFS JOUP 4(6 PO %BJMZ øJH 6OJUFE "JSMJOFT NBLF HFUUJOH UIFSF B DJODI (PJOH IPNF XFMM UIBU NBZ UBLF TPNF DPOWJODJOH

!

2019 Golf & Gala Classic The Club at Rolling Hills, Golden CO

Expo Issue 2019 Volume 27 27 Volume

June 24th, 2019

Number 11 Number

Publisher // President President Publisher Karl O’Keefe O’Keefe Karl Advertising Advertising Karl O’Keefe O’Keefe Karl Business Development Development Business Kirk Hulbert Hulbert Kirk Distribution Distribution Karri Lemons Lemons Karri Contact Contact 303-797-8700 303-797-8700 karl@divotmagazine.com karl@divotmagazine.com www.divotmagazine.com www.divotmagazine.com P.O. Box Box 620999 620999 P.O. Littleton, Colorado Colorado 80162 80162 Littleton, Copyright © © 2018, 2018, O’Keefe O’Keefe Publishing, Publishing, Inc. Inc. Reproduction Reproduction in in whole whole or or in in part part of of any any text, text, Copyright photography, graphics graphics or or illustration illustration without without advance advance written written permission permission from from the the publisher publisher photography, is prohibited. prohibited. The The views views herein herein do do not not necessarily necessarily reflect reflect those those of of DIVOT’s DIVOT’s ownership ownership or or is contributors. DIVOT DIVOT magazine magazine is is aa registered registered trademark trademark of of O’Keefe O’Keefe Publishing, Publishing, Inc. Inc. contributors.

Charity Golf Event

Benefitting Rotary Community Youth Programs www.theclubatrollinghills.org/foundation Contact: Lauren Aquino at lauren@savvymarketing.org

Stop by booth #333 for our

GOLF EXPO SPECIAL! DENVER GOLF EXPO F E B R UA R Y 8-1 0

$145 for four rounds: two at Homestead, two at Fox Hollow; includes cart and range.

LakewoodGolf.org DIVOTMagazine.com l Expo Issue 2019

3

Denver Golf Expo Special Section

Find Your Key to the Game at this Year’s Denver Golf Expo

By Joe Grant DIVOT Contributing Writer

For most Americans, that April tournament in Augusta signals the beginning of the golf season. But here in the Rocky Mountain region, the golf season annually kicks off in February with the Denver Golf Expo.

The largest show of its kind in the state with more than 120 vendors, it’s no wonder more than 12,000 golfers annually have a regular tee time at The Denver Mart the weekend after the Super Bowl. (This year’s Expo runs February 8-10.)

“We like to think of it as the ‘Your Key to the Game,’” says Mark Cramer, who has co-owned the Expo with his wife, Lynn, for the past 19 years. “If we give avid and occasional golfers a great golf experience, get a new club in their hands, give them a swing lesson, or get them thinking about golf in a new way, it will get them on the course as soon as they get the chance and perhaps play more.”

After a winter of not playing, the Denver Golf Expo reignites your passion for the game with unreal deals on new equipment, rounds, lessons, clothing, fitness programs and more.

Beyond bargains, Colorado’s most comprehensive golf show is also its most authoritative, due to the strong support of the Colorado Golf Association, the Colorado PGA Section and the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado. As proof of the event’s importance to the golf community over the past

quarter-century, the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame is this year honoring the Cramers with its Lifetime Achievement Award.

As always, the Denver Golf Expo will reward you with chances to receive some sweet swag and compete for prizes. The Expo also stages hourly giveaways, and numerous booths ply you with free products and discounted rounds of golf.

Two of the Denver Golf Expo’s most popular contests are Closest to the Pin and the Long Putt Challenge.

Sponsored by Stan Sayers Golf, the Closest to the Pin contest utilizes a Trackman to gauge your shot’s proximity on a simulated par 3. The closest to the pin all three days will qualify for a Sunday afternoon playoff.

The winner then receives a stay-and-play golf package at Kaanapali Royal in Maui.

The Long Putt Challenge gives you two

balls—one of which is a “money ball”—to putt from a distance of more than 60 feet.

Hole the non-money ball and you’ll get a round of golf at Tubac Golf Resort & Spa in Arizona, while sinking the “money ball” earns you a spot in the Sunday Putt-Off and a shot at the grand prize of a Tubac stayand-play vacation.

More than Just Freebies Bargains and contests abound, but so do opportunities to try the latest drivers, irons, wedges and putters at the Lenny’s Golf Club Demo area and tap into the game-improvement expertise of PGA and LPGA Professionals during seminars on the Main Stage.

This year, you’ll also want to learn all about the major changes to the USGA Rules of Golf that have gone into effect in 2019. The Colorado Golf Association has updated its popular laminated card with the most common Rules questions. You can also sign up

for one of the in-depth Rules discussions the CGA will conduct during the Expo.

“We’re also going to be unveiling our new logo,” shares CGA Executive Director Ed Mate, “as well as introducing players to the new interface for entering their scores at the golf course and on their apps. Starting in 2020, handicaps will be updated instantly, rather than through the revision system.”

The CGA will also promote the benefits of membership, which go well beyond obtaining an official USGA handicap and include Dream Golf Raffles, discounts to sporting events and other perks.

If you have a young golfer in the family, head to the Junior Golf Experience, the interactive golf concourse of the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado. Ask about the JGAC Youth on Course program, which lets kids between ages 6 and 17 play golf for $5 at more than 30 courses, and the life-changing benefits of the Solich Caddie and Leadership Academy.

And if you’re looking to improve your game—and if you aren’t, you’re delusional—sign up for a free 15-minute lesson, courtesy of the talented professionals at the Colorado PGA Section.

4

DIVOTMagazine.com l Expo Issue 2019

“I never miss the Denver Golf Expo,” says longtime attendee Kurt Samuels of Denver.

“The people, the pros, the clubs, the courses, the seminars—the deals! The whole environment immerses you in golf.

It always inspires me and my wife to shake off the winter rust and get out and play.” D

Denver Golf Expo Special Section

Buy Your Tickets Now Every February, the Denver Golf Expo jumpstarts the golf season in the Rocky Mountain region. The earlier you think about golf, the sooner you’ll play and the more you’ll play! That’s why we’ve made it easier than ever to purchase tickets to one of North America’s premier consumer golf show—and, as always, we’ve included parking in the ticket price.

PURCHASE ONLINE If you can book a tee time online, why not buy your tickets to the Denver Golf Expo the same way? It’s convenient, simple and let’s you skip the lines and get into the show faster. Simply go to DenverGolf-

Expo.com and purchase your tickets safely and securely. Print the tickets and bring them to the show. You’ll be enjoying all of the golf-themed activities in no time.

KING SOOPERS Stop by the courtesy counter at any King Soopers and purchase Expo admission through Tickets West until February 7.

WALK-UPS WELCOME! Prefer buying your tickets at the door? We recommend arriving early to purchase your ticket so you can take advantage of the full day of golf-themed experiences.

WHERE:

ADMISSION PER DAY

The Denver Mart Plaza Hall 451 E. 58th Ave., Denver, CO 80216

Adults: Seniors: Military & Vets (valid ID): Kids 16 & Under:

Friday Feb. 8: Saturday Feb. 9: Sunday Feb. 10:

10:00 am - 5:00 pm 9:00 am - 5:00 pm 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

www.DenverGolfExpo.com

$13.00 $11.00 $11.00 $3.00

Take a Spin at South Suburban

Ultimately, the district’s course variety enhances the popularity of its booth.

Lone Tree, an Arnold Palmer design, is a tournament-level layout with five sets of tees and challenges for players of every handicap. South Suburban sports an 18hole Dick Phelps-designed layout with some of the state’s most demanding

Littleton Golf & Tennis

Bowels

Family Sports Center Golf 303-649-1115

winter than during the summer.

“Our courses vary in design and difficulty,” says Ramsey. “They appeal to all ages and levels of golfers.” In other words, they’re worth a spin.

Visit ssprd.org for more information.

470

D

25

Arapahoe Colorado

It’s also a good relationship between attendees and the four golf facilities that comprise SSP&R—Lone Tree, South Suburban Golf Course, Littleton Golf and Tennis Club, and Family Sports Golf Course. Admission to the Denver Golf Expo includes early-season discounts as

And the more willing they are to queue up at the SSP&R booth to spin the wheel for a chance at a free round, range balls or 2-for-1 deals. “It’s become our signature, and the booths near us like the lines,” Ramsey says.

greens, as well as 9-hole par 3 course and a recently remodeled clubhouse. Littleton, a par-63 executive 18, boasts tremendous conditioning and an active ladies league, while Family Sports features a 9hole, par-31 course and a lighted, heated two-tiered driving range that’s busier in

Broadway

“Mark’s a member at Lone Tree Golf Club, one of our courses, and I helped him out,” Ramsey says. “It’s been a good relationship both ways—for him and us.”

part of SSP&R’s Fore Golf Program.

“We want to give people an incentive to come out at least once a week to practice or play,” he says. “That’s the best way for people to learn. The more they go out, the better they get; and the better they get, the more they like the game.”

Littleton Golf & Tennis Club 303-794-5838

Fe

It wouldn’t be the Denver Golf Expo without the click-click-click of the prize wheel at the South Suburban Parks & Recreation booth. Then again, there might not even be a Denver Golf Expo without the help of South Suburban’s Director of Golf Bill Ramsey, who assisted Denver Golf Expo owners Mark and Lynn Cramer with range balls, mats and other items when the couple staged their first Golf Expo.

South Suburban Golf Course 303-770-5500

San ta

Lone Tree Golf Club & Hotel 303-799-9940

South Suburban Golf Course

470

25

Family Sports

Line Tree Golf Club

Lone Tree

DIVOTMagazine.com l Expo Issue 2019

5

Denver Golf Expo Special Section

Youth Must Be Served

By Joe Grant DIVOT Contributing Writer

Does any state do more for junior golfers than Colorado? At this year’s Denver Golf Expo, you’ll discover the answer is an emphatic “NO.”

Distinguished by giant BirdieBall inflatable chipping targets (such as the vibrant Golfzilla and BirdieRex), putting contests and other interactive attractions, the Junior Golf Experience provides multiple opportunities for juniors to get excited about the game and win prizes.

Beyond fun, however, the area introduces adults and their charges to the groundbreaking programs created by the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado (JGAC).

Now entering its fourth season, the JGAC is the “North Star” of junior golf in Colorado, according to Ed Mate, executive director of the Colorado Golf Association—which joined with the Colorado PGA to create the JGAC.

The JGAC has quickly become a model for junior golf programs across the country, with its website (juniorgolfcolorado.org) serving as a one-stop shop for all things junior golf.

For parents and kids interested in competitive junior golf, the Alliance provides a comprehensive resource (including holding four Major Championships, identifying in-state national qualifying events, locating instructors and providing counsel on college scholarships). As a result of JGAC participation in the Drive, Chip & Putt Championships, three Colorado players qualified to compete at the national finals at Augusta National Golf Club in April!

But the JGAC isn’t just for budding Jordan Spieths and Lydia Kos. It’s about building the ranks of all junior golfers. More than 20,000 kids annually participate in its developmental Golf in Schools and the PGA Junior League programs, as well as in its instructional camps, clinics and age-specific Junior Series events.

“The state of junior golf is healthier than I’ve ever seen it due to the Junior Golf Alliance,” says Ed Mate. “The Alliance has been a real game-changer for our sport, and the Denver Golf Expo provides us with a huge opportunity to have a storefront to deliver that message in a friendly, approachable way.”

At this year’s Denver Golf Expo, the JGAC will again change the game by making it more affordable for kids to play. Youth on Course, a national program that allows kids ages 6-17 to play a round of golf for $5 at specified times, will be available at more than 30 courses in Colorado—and possibly the seven City of Denver courses. That’s twice the number of courses that participated when

the program was implemented in 2018.

Youth on Course access comes with JGAC membership, and “the juniors who took advantage of the Youth on Course benefit raved about the affordability and ease of use,” according to JGAC Junior Golf Director Holly Champion, a PGA professional who has spearheaded the initiative. “It opened doors to courses the kids had never played before and were able to enjoy because they were Youth on Course members.”

To open those doors—and many others— for the kids in your life, visit the huge Junior Golf Experience area to the right as you enter the Denver Golf Expo. D

Lenny’s Golf Shop Has Big Space and Big Deals Occupying nearly 12,000 square feet of floor space, Lenny’s Golf Shop will again command the largest area at the Denver Golf Expo. “Most of that space is the Club Demo area, which we’re sponsoring,” says Jon Fitzgerald, one of the store’s seven club-fitting specialists, “but even without it, we still have the biggest retail area at the show.”

To be sure, the popular Aurora-based store, which is making its ninth consecutive appearance at Colorado’s foremost Golf Expo, needs every inch of that room. The 15-bay demo area—where you can test-drive the newest models from Callaway, TaylorMade, Titlest, Ping, Cobra, Mizuno and other major manufacturers—stays busy all three days. So does the retail space brimming with clubs, shirts, shoes, pants, swing aids, bags, accessories and much more.

“It’s the first opportunity most people will have to hit the new products that debuted two weeks earlier at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, and to ask the manufacturers’ reps any questions,” Fitzgerald shares. “It’s also a chance for people to get pricing you’ll never see in our store.”

6

What you will see in their store at 2601 S. Parker Road are master club-fitters fine-tuning any new clubs you order from Lenny’s at the Expo. “You buy it from us, DIVOTMagazine.com l Expo Issue 2019

we’ll fit it for free,” Fitzgerald says. “Just call and make an appointment.”

As all golfers should know, clubs fit with the loft, lie, shaft and grip appropriate your swing speed, launch angle, spin rate, carry distance and other metrics will optimize your performance. “Our master fitters have the Foresight technology, equipment and the experience to fit everything from drivers to putters,” Fitzgerald says.

“We have people come from all over Colorado and out of state for fittings.”

That kind of following attests to the customer relationships owner Lenny Nosewicz and his son Nick have developed over the 35 years of the store’s existence.

Lenny’s father, Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Ed Nosewicz, inspired their love of the game. They not only sell and custom-fit equipment, they know how to use it.

Nick won the 2015 Colorado Golf Association Match Play, and the pair captured the CGA 2017 Parent/Child Championship.

Their expertise, as well as that of Fitzgerald and the other experts on staff, makes it easy for the Lenny’s to deliver a high level of service to every level of player, cultivating a loyal and growing clientele.

In addition to deals on equipment and merchandise,

Lenny and Nick Nosewicz Bring their Best Golf Deals of the Year to the Expo

Lenny’s also plans to give away a new driver and stage contests for merchandise prizes at the Denver Golf Expo.

And naturally, the winner of the driver will get it fit in the store for free. D

Denver Golf Expo Special Section

Win a trip to Bandon Dunes!

In their classic 2010 book, True Links, authors George Peper and Malcolm Campbell controversially identify 246 courses in the world that fit the definition of a proper links course. North America, they contend, has exactly four such courses, and three of them—Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes and Old Macdonald—are at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon.

At this year’s Denver Golf Expo, one

lucky attendee* (and three companions) will win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience all three courses, plus the resort’s other two layouts, Bandon Trails and the unique par-3 Shorty’s.**

It’s called the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort Getaway, and all you need to do to become eligible for the drawing is complete the survey in the front lobby at the Expo.

Located on scenic Highway 101, Bandon

Dunes Golf Resort perches high above the Pacific Ocean and high atop any golfer’s bucket list. And thanks to the recent addition of direct flights from Denver to Southwest Oregon Regional Airport in North Bend (25 miles from Bandon), golfers no longer have to travel almost three hours from Eugene or four from Portland.

That equates to more time at the place

Golf Digest rated the No. 1 Golf Resort in North America. It also means more time to walk the courses that the publication ranked among the top 15 public courses in the United States, and more stories to share over meals in one of the resort’s six award-winning restaurants.

Resort accommodations range from single rooms overlooking Bandon Dunes’ 18th hole to 4-bedroom Grove cottages tucked into the coastal evergreen forest. The Denver Golf Expo’s Bandon Dunes Golf Resort Getaway package includes a three-night stay for four in the Chrome Lodge, 12 rounds of links golf on any of Bandon’s five courses. The package has a retail value of $6,000, but the experience Bandon Dunes Preserve - Hole 5 is priceless.

By please Wood Sabold For more information, visit their website at bandondunesgolf.com or call 888-345-6008 or 541-347-4380.

*You must complete the survey in the front lobby to be entered in the drawing. **All trips are good for Sunday arrival and Wednesday departure only, based on resort availability. Airfare and other incidental charges are not included. Expires 10/1/19. D

Make the Turn

As you turn the key to ignite your golf game,

make time for The Turn — the Denver Golf

Expo’s popular beer garden, sponsored this

year by Corona Premier. With fewer calories and carbs than Corona Light, Corona’s first new release in nearly 30 years is “perfectly

balanced with a touch of sweetness and a

clean and pleasantly dry finish,” according to

its distributor, Constellation Brands, which calls the aromatic brew “the smoothest, most drinkable Corona” yet.

DIVOTMagazine.com l Expo Issue 2019

7

Denver Golf Expo Special Section

The 2019 Denver Golf Expo would like to thank all of our sponsors!

G

8

DIVOTMagazine.com l Expo Issue 2019

O

L

F

Denver Golf Expo Special Section

2019 DENVER GOLF EXPO EXHIBITOR LIST AND FLOOR PLAN ( As of January 9, 2019 ) 2018 GOLF EXHIBITORS Booths Only Exhibitor

19th Hole Travel a division of Groupit Travel Aliante Casino + Hotel + Spa

American Singles Golf Association (ASGA)

Antler Creek Golf Course and The Creekview Grill Applewood Golf Course

Arcanum Sports Performance Athalonz

Aurora Hills Golf Course

Booth #

1211

1200

1218 339

320-322

614-616 325

248

Bel Cappelli Hat Company

626

BGV Marketing/ Peak 8/Best of Breckenridge

543

Bella Rosa Golf Course

536

Birdie Ball

144

Bluegreen Vacations

315

Black Mesa Golf

438

Broadlands Golf Course

437

Buffalo Run Golf Course

Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino Bump and Run CaddyDaddy

441

540

229

Callaway Golf

Driving Range

Cattails Golf Course

1310

Celtic Broker Inc.

1204

Centre Hills Golf Course

Chris Schultz Golf Instruction City of Arvada

City of Aurora Golf

248

419

228

248

City of Lakewood

333

City of Loveland

1310

Clear Vision Golf

347

Cleveland/Srixon

Driving Range

Coal Creek Golf Course

CO-WY Optimists Junior Golf Program Cobra Golf

Colorado AvidGolfer

324-326

Colorado Golf Association

541

1214

Driving Range

146

1215

Colorado Golf Book Corona Premier

Costco Wholesale #676

Coyote Creek Golf Course

Pronghorn Resort/Oregon Golf & Travel Guide

632

518

Heather Ridge Golf Club

337

Rain Wedge

537

Highland Meadows Golf Course

531

227

David Musty Putters

321

Deer Creek Golf Course

320-322

Denver Sign Factory

448-449

DIVOT Magazine

1248

Donny's 2nd Chance Clubs

1206

Eagle Trace Golf Club

421

Estes Park Golf Courses

630

Eye Putt Pro

442

Family Sports Golf Course Fox Acres Golf Course

427

222

Cutarelli Vision

First Tee of Denver

Greg Mastriona Golf Courses at Hyland Hills

418

Coyote Springs Golf Club & Villas

Finney County CVB

218

319 & “The Turn”

446-447 443

Pitching Lesson Area

Fox Hollow Golf Course Global Travel Network

Golf Loveland - City of Loveland Golf Mesquite Nevada

Golf on the Santa Fe Trail Golf Summerlin

320-322 333

145

1310 334

535

332

Golf The West

450

Golf Westminster- Legacy Ridge/ Walnut Creek

351

GOLFTEC

239

Golf TLC

Golfing Nevada Magazine Grand Links

Granby Ranch

Grand Elk Ranch and Golf Club

527 634 433

433

433

Grand Lake Golf Course

433

Green Valley Ranch Golf Club

233

Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce Greenside Golf Supply

223

525

Gypsum Creek Golf Course Heritage Eagle Bend

215

314

Homestead Golf Course

333

Inferno USA

515

Ironbridge Golf Club

415

J&M Distribution - Hidow

444

John Hutton Golf Collector

1207, 1209

Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado

1330

Ka'anapali & Puakea Golf Courses

220

Kendrita's Krafts

1216

Keystone Resort Golf

235

Kings Deer Golf Club

439

Lake Arbor Golf Course (City of Arvada)

228

LeafFilter Gutter Protection

523

LasikPlus

Legacy Ridge Golf Course Lenny's Golf Shop

Littleton Golf Course

341 351

Club Test & Driving Range

446-447

Lone Tree Golf Course

446-447

Loveland Olde Course

Mariana Butte Golf Course

1310

1310

Maximized Living / Meridian Health Center

1208

MedicPad

1302

Mile Hi Media

1202

Meadow Hills Golf Course Mesquite Gaming Mizuno Golf

Murphy Creek Golf Course PGA Tour Superstore Ping Golf

Pinnacle Performance Eyewear Pole Creek Golf Course

Pro Players Association

248 224

Driving Range

248

343

Driving Range

226

433

Quten Research

514

Raven Golf Club at Three Peaks

436

Red Rock Golf Trail

217

Renewal by Andersen

519

Rio Grande Club & Resort

214

Rocky Mountain Outback Hats

232

Raccoon Creek Golf Course

328

Saddle Rock Golf Course

248

Sassy Caddy

420

South Suburban Golf Courses

446-447

Spring Hill Golf Course

248

SQRD UP

414

Sun City West, AZ

219

Stryker Orthopaedics

538

Tahoe Kitchen Co./Laconiko Olive Oils

517

SuperFlexx Eyewear

544

Tamarack Golf Club

225

TaylorMade Golf

Driving Range

Titleist Golf

Driving Range

TECFIT Custom Club Fitting

348-349-350

Tony's Golf Stuff

640-642

Touchstone Golf

320-322

Tour Edge Golf

Driving Range

Treasure House of Hope

Tropicana Laughlin Casino/Los Lagos Golf Course Tubac Golf Resort & Spa

Walnut Creek Golf Course

1203

318

221

351

Welk Resorts

520

Western Health Systems

620-622

Westwoods Golf Course

228

Wilson Golf

Driving Range

Zipfizz

542

618

Main Entrance Plaza Entrance North Side of Denver Mart Complex 451 East 58th Avenue, Denver, CO 80216

Main Entrance

2019 Denver Golf Expo

February 8th - 10th DIVOTMagazine.com l Expo Issue 2019

9

Join us to play in the Denver City amateur Championships!

2019 Denver Men’s City Amateur June 15-16 Wellshire Golf Course NEW! 2019 Denver Senior Men’s City Amateur July 27-28 Overland Park Golf Course NEW! 2019 Denver Women’s City Amateur July 27-28 Overland Park Golf Course

2018 MEN’S CHAMPION JEFF CHAPMAN

l Registration

begins February 8th. Sign up early to reserve your spot! l You don’t have to be a Denver resident! l Anyone with a veri able handicap can play. l All events are ighted. Play against others within the same handicap range. l All levels of players welcome.

For more information go to: WWW.CITYOFDENVERGOLF.COM/DENVER_CITY/AMATEUR

W E N

www.cityofdenvergolf.com 720.865.GOLF(4653) Come home to play...Denver Golf is your neighborhood course!

Welcome to Raccoon Creek Golf Course At Raccoon Creek, we are well aware that it is repeat customers like you who are largely responsible for our continued success in the Denver golf community.

2019 Elite Players Pass: $199 Get You Over $2,000 Value Plus $2,000 in Prize Giveaways!

Free Benefits

Discounted Benefits

2 – Free 18 Hole Rounds (after 12:00PM, Cart Not Included) 3 – Free 9 Hole Rounds (after 4:00PM, Cart Not Included) 6 – Free Cart Rentals (after 12:00PM) 6 – Free One Hour Group Lesson Clinics

6 – 18 Hole $20.00 Rounds (after 12:00PM, Cart Not Included) 4 – 18 Hole $30.00 Rounds (Mon-Thurs Anytime, Cart Not Included) 4 – 18 Hole $40.00 Rounds (Any Day, Anytime. Cart Not Included) And Much More! Visit www.raccooncreek.com

New Clubhouse Now Open: • Clubhouse Design in the style of a modernized farmhouse by LIV Studios, the firm that designed The Barn at Raccoon Creek • 1200 Square foot Golf Shop • Seating for 20+ at our 3-sided Bar featuring a glycol chilled, 32-degree, 12-Tap Draft Beer system • Main Seating area for up to 88 • Convertible Private Dining / Meeting Room with seating for up to 40 • Built-in AV Capabilities and Multiple Flat Screen televisions • Covered West Patio with Seating for up to 40 • Outdoor fire pit

Sunday Brunch: Join us for Sunday Brunch at the Farmhouse from 9am - 1pm! Enjoy a delicious buffet featuring all the breakfast essentials from eggs to bacon. Sip on some delicious bloody marys or mimosas while enjoying time with your friends and family!

Download Our App: Then you need the Raccoon Creek Golf App! Not only will you have access to tee times instantly, but you'll also gain access to oncourse GPS, other in-app deals & rewards, club news and events, scorekeeping and much more! Visit Raccoon Rewards in your app and take advantage of great new offers.

303-932-0199 • www.RaccoonCreek.com 7301 West Bowles Avenue, Littleton, Colorado 80123

Heather Gardens Executive 9-hole Golf Course.

It’s the most beautiful 9-hole public golf course you’ve never seen.

Heather Gardens Executive 9-Hole Golf Course is not just superb, it’s “out of sight” – literally out of sight. So, it’s no wonder how you may have overlooked this urban gem.

Yet, you can find it easily. It’s close to the junction of Parker Road and I-225, and near Yale Avenue.

Set in the urban enclave of Heather Gardens, this public 9-hole executive course is open to golfers, young and old, and challenges even the most talented golfer.

Heather Gardens’ traditional design is enhanced by its lush, treelined fairways, elevated greens and well-positioned bunkers. The 2,461-yard, par 32 course provides a challenging yet fair test for golfers of all skill levels.

2888 S. Heather Gardens Way, Aurora CO 80014

|

Come see what you’ve been missing.

Book your tee time now.

303-751-2390

|

heathergardensgolf.com

Colorado based Classic GOLF Tours Has been serving traveling golfers Since 1989!

Whether your golf interest is Bonnie Scotland or England, Green(s) of Ireland, Excitement of Argentina, Warmth of Arizona or challenge of Pebble Beach or Whistling Straits...

Contact us and we’ll design the perfect trip for you!

Best Golf Values for 2019

• The Wigwam Resort, Arizona 3 nights, 3 rounds of golf, breakfast & transfers. Priced from: $540 ppdo

• Sunriver Resort, Oregon, 3 nights, 3 rounds of golf. Priced from: $620 ppdo

• Ask about our hosted trip to Cabo San Lucas in November

Classic GOLF Tours

Voted “2017 North American Best Golf Tour Operator”

By World Golf Awards

Voted “2017 Best International Golf Vacation Travel Agency” 12

DIVOTMagazine.com l Expo Issue 2019

• Pebble Beach – ask for a quote

• Whistling Straits, Koehler, WI – ask for a quote

• Pinehurst, NC – ask for a quote

• Whether your interests are in domestic golf or golf in Scotland, Ireland, England, Mexico or “Anywhere There’s Golf”,

Contact Us:

info@classicgolftours.com • www.classicgolftours.com Peter at 720.334.0674

“We Plan, You Play”

APPLEWOOD GOLF COURSE BOOK YOUR TOURNAMENT OR PRIVATE EVENT FOR 2019 MEMBERSHIPS NOW ON SALE: Players Club $29.95 Per Year Twilight Membership $249

ALWAYS KNOW WHATS HAPPENING ...

14001 W 32nd Ave, Golden, CO 80401 303.279.3003 • www.applewoodgc.com

FOLLOW US! @applewoodgc @thevistaapplewoodevents

DIVOTMagazine.com l Expo Issue 2019

13

We’re Back! ~ Now Open!

COURSE IMPROVEMENTS

New Irrigation System Regrassing of Tees, Greens & Fairways Redesign of holes 1, 2, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16 & 18 Expanded Lake at Hole 9 New Forward Tees Upgraded Practice Facility Bunker Renovations 5+ Miles of New Drainage Big Dry Creek Renovations Club House Renovations

Thorncreek Golf Course 13555 N. Washington St. • Thornton, CO 80241 • 303-450-7055 www.facebook.com/thorncreekgc Book your tee times online at thorncreekgc.com!

Photo: Newly grassed Hole 3.

14

DIVOTMagazine.com l Expo Issue 2019

Out Drive the Competition

PLAY QUAIL DUNES The Course is home to two distinct nines. The original front 9-hole course designed by Henry Hughs was opened in the early 1920s. In the late 1960s an additional 9 holes designed by Frank Hummel was added, along with a driving range. This traditional golf course features a variety of terrain from tree-lined fairways to rolling hills and challenging greens.

1 Hour North on I 76 at Exit 80. Easy Access. No Crowds.

Online Specials • Mid Day Specials • Twilight Specials

970-867-5990 www.quaildunes.com • www.cityoffortmorgan.com I-76 to Exit 80 • 17586 Morgan County, Road T.5 • Fort Morgan, CO 80701

Winter/Spring Special $25 Per Person • 18 Holes & Cart!

(1-4 players per coupon) Expires April 1st, 2019

Feature

Looking for a quick round of golf at an affordable price with all the amenities?

Look to Emerald Greens Golf Club...

Denver’s Premier Short Course!

www.emeraldgreensdenver.com

2-for-1

Greens F ees with this

Limit one coupon per foursome PGA Family Course • Excellent Course Conditions PGA Professional on staff • Course Rating 26.9, Par 27 1962 Henry Hughes Design • Average Playing Time 1.5 Hours BOGO Drinks at the Emerald Grill • Twilight Green Fee Specials Tournaments, Golf Learning Center, Dining, Entertainment, and more…

Plan your next round of golf at Emerald Greens Golf Club.

The Challenge Awaits You! Call for your tee time today!

303-366-3133

597 S. Clinton St Denver, CO 80247

16

DIVOTMagazine.com l Expo Issue 2019

ad

Lenny’s Golf Shop

We have been around since the early 1980's and during its history, the shop has become a staple for excellent customer service, quality products, and an extremely knowledgeable friendly staff.

Lenny and his employees are dedicated to their customer’s satisfaction.

303-369-5900

2601 S. Parker Rd., Aurora, CO 80014 Sun-Thurs 9am-7pm & Fri-Sat 9am-8pm

www.denvergolfshop.net

The shop also provides full-service golf repair, Offering quality products and state-of-the-art fitting technology. If you're bored with the big box store mentality and want a more personal experience with a staff that cares, then stop by and experience the difference.

DIVOTMagazine.com l Expo Issue 2019

17

Instruction

Chipping yips? We’ve got your fix Jon Levy DIVOT Contributing Writer

Practice makes yip-erfect

Even though we’re saying the chipping yips aren’t terminal, it does take some work to be completely cured if they’re well-engrained into your game. Work on the tips above and contact a local GOLFTEC Coach to rid yourself of the dreaded yips.

Fixing the chipping yips doesn’t take a trip to the doc, just some work with this technique.

We’ve seen some of the biggest names in golf, even Tiger Woods himself, suffer from the game’s cruelest of ailments: the chipping and pitching yips.

It’s a brutal part of the game many golfers face at one time or another. Just like all golf maladies, however, there is a cure!

Many speculate the underlying cause of the yips is rooted in one’s brain. But it ultimately comes down to physical execution of the shot, so we’ve got a few chipping and pitching tips that can help you finally change the pattern of those dreadful yips.

What’s the diagnosis?

Golfers with the worst cases of the yips often display one common fault: As they

20 18

DIVOTMagazine.com ll Expo Expo Issue Issue 2019 2019 DIVOTMagazine.com

approach impact, the grip end of the club moves well ahead of the club’s leading edge. This can cause the club to get stuck in the ground or vice versa, swing well above it and hit the ball near its equator, which sends it screaming low and out of control over the green.

You might have heard this referred to as forward shaft lean. Having too much of it at impact is the technical effect of a yipped chip shot.

Chip, pitch, hooray!

To hit proficient chips and pitches – shots exhibiting a nice, soft trajectory that spin and roll out consistently – you should use bounce to your advantage and let the clubhead pass ahead of the shaft as you hit the shot.

A good way to make that happen is focusing on the grip end of the club remaining close to your body after impact, while letting the clubhead continue to swing through past the handle.

Jon Levy was former Instruction & Equipment Editor at GolfChannel.com and guest author for PGATOUR.com, Golfweek and others, GOLFTEC's Jon Levy is an accomplished golf writer. His extensive golf experience also stems from a competitive background in college (Iowa State Univ.) and on the mini tours, and nine years as a college golf coach at the University of Colorado, Scottsdale Community College and Paradise Valley Community College. In 2007, Jon was named the NJCAA National Coach of the Year after leading Scottsdale to the NJCAA National Championship title.

GOLFTEC has 9 Colorado Locations.

Visit: golftec.com/golf-lessons/Denver for more information. For more instructional content and golf equipment reviews visit the GOLFTEC Scramble at golftec.com/blog. D

Excellence Exists at Red Hawk Ridge

play

MOUNTAIN-STYLE

A Golf Digest Top 100, Jim Engh course minutes from the Denver Tech Center, in Castle Rock

Along I-25 in the Front Range.

conditions

COUNTRY CLUB At public course prices.

TOURNAMENT headquarters

Host your next event at Red Hawk Ridge Call 720-733-3504 to schedule your preview round.

Bella Rosa Golf Course Bella Rosa Golf Course located in Frederick, CO is a 9-hole regulation golf course that opened for play in 2006. Measuring 2,974 yards from the blue tees, Bella Rosa offers something for every player.

• Opening Day Scramble, Summer Scramble & Fall Scramble events

• Three Glow-Ball tournaments

• Spring & Summer junior golf programs

• Men’s, Women’s and Couples league events

• Family Golf Day

• Individual & group golf instruction.

Book your 2019 league or golf outing!

303.678.2940 www.bellarosagolf.com

5830 Bella Rosa Parkway, Frederick, CO 80504 DIVOTMagazine.com l Expo Issue 2019

19

20

DIVOTMagazine.com l Expo Issue 2019

Cover Feature

Golf Summerlin offers three very unique and different golf experiences

The Highland Falls

By Cody Law DIVOT Contributing Writer

Just off I-15 and near the home of the PGA Tour’s Shriners Hospitals for Children Open you’ll find three golf courses designed by Billy Casper/Greg Nash and managed by Golf Summerlin Las Vegas.

The Highland Falls, Palm Valley and Eagle Crest courses are well conditioned, challenging and enjoyable.

“This is the best place to play in town,” said Eagle Crest Head Golf Pro Greg Wickensimer. “We have three great golf courses, two championship style and an executive course. There is truly something for all ages and skill levels.”

Director of Golf Donny Long said, “Golf Summerlin’s courses are among the best maintained in Southern Nevada. Most believe Golf Summerlin is private as we are a bit of a hidden gem, but all three courses are public and open to outside play. Highland Falls is a five-time winner, including the last four years in a row, of the Review Journal’s Best of Las Vegas award.”

“Golf Summerlin offers three very unique and different golf experiences, each with its

own charm,” said Highland Falls Head Pro Jim Neighbors. “Hole 14 at Highland Falls is my favorite par 3 in Las Vegas. The tee sits about 40-feet above the green, so picking the correct club is the key to playing this hole well and there is not a better view of the Las Vegas valley then on the tee box at 14.”

You’ll love the resort-like atmosphere at Highland Falls and Palm Valley – without the sticker shock. Long says Highland Falls tends to be the favorite for most out-oftowners due to its spectacular conditions, elevation changes and the views. Palm Valley is a more traditional layout, flatter but longer, with well-placed bunkers and outstanding conditions. Eagle Crest has become a favorite for many due to the quick pace of play and playability.

“Palm Valley is a very player-friendly course,” says Head Pro Shane Sanchez.

“While there are plenty of challenges for golfers of all skill levels, most golfers leave the course satisfied.”

“The private feel at Golf Summerlin is a bonus,” says Long. “And our friendly, knowledgeable staff will just add to that feeling as you play, dine and shop here.

“After nearly 30-years of Las Vegas golf existence it was time for us to sing our praises to the masses,” Long said. “While we have forever known that our quality of courses, professional service and challenging play offer a great golf experience, it was when we first started attending the national golf shows that we realized that the stayand-play golf market was a bit oblivious to our part of the Las Vegas golf world.”

Sometimes “build it and they will come,” isn’t the answer. A few years ago Golf Summerlin professionals, with the expertise of the Citywide Golf Solutions staff, hit the road, meeting with golfers across the country, putting the courses’ scenic layouts on display both in person and in all forms of traditional and digital marketing. Now, to put it in golf terms, Golf Summerlin’s stay-andplay experience is in red numbers – well under par and at the top of the leaderboard.

The feedback from players of all abilities, from across the country, has been nothing but positive. Low or high handicap players love the Golf Summerlin stay and play experience because it offers what every golfer is searching for in a golf getaway: great course conditions, comfortable accommodations and a fair price. Of course it doesn’t

hurt that just down the road is the famed Las Vegas Boulevard, waiting to celebrate every round under par or to help pay out lost bets.

The manicured conditions and club-like atmosphere of these courses are at odds with the pricing, especially when considering other higher-end, sexier courses in the area.

At Golf Summerlin the advantage goes to the visiting golfer.

“The private feel is a bonus,” says Long, “Not only are you secluded in a beautiful community but you will enjoy the mountain scenery as we are located on the base of Vegas’ scenic mountain range. Our courses sit at 3,000+ elevation making us about five-degrees cooler than most of the Las Vegas area.”

Golf Summerlin is the “home course” for the Southern Nevada Golf Association and hosts many amateur championships and junior events throughout the year.

Yes, Las Vegas is built on fast-paced, neonencrusted fun, including some of its more popular golf courses, but if you’re looking for wallet-friendly, challenging golf with a variety of designs and personalized service, look here first: www.golfsummerlin.com. D

DIVOTMagazine.com l Expo Issue 2019

21

Open to the Public!

Come Play the West!

27 Holes • Dining Golf Simulator • Great Views

West Woods Golf Club • West Woods Bar & Grill New Award Winning Clubhouse

720-898-7370 • www.westwoodsgolf.com • 6655 Quaker Street, Arvada, CO 80007 22

DIVOTMagazine.com l Expo Issue 2019

Join us at the Golf Expo

2019 DENVER GOLF EXPO AT THE DENVER MART Friday February 8 I 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Saturday February 9 I 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sunday February 10 I 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Photo taken at the South Suburban Golf Course.

ssprd.org/Golf

Family Sports Golf Course 303.649.1115 Littleton Golf and Tennis Club 303.794.5838 Lone Tree Golf Club & Hotel 303.799.9940 South Suburban Golf Course 303.770.5500

» Well maintained courses for all abilities » Kids play free year-round » Get Golf Ready Group Instruction » Open to the Public » Great practice facility at Family Sports Center » Visit us at the Golf Expo at booths #447-448 DIVOTMagazine.com l Expo Issue 2019

23

Golf

ON THE EDGE OF THE WORLD

One of Golfweek's BEST! Rated "#1 Best Course You Can Play" in Utah, every year since 2009.

Ranked as a "Top 100 Resort Course" consistently since 2011.

STAY & PLAY PACKAGES AVAILABLE Call 435-656-GOLF and mention the code "GolfUtahBest" when booking.

For Sale

VACATION RENTALS | CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF | OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

sandhollowresort.com | 5662 W. Clubhouse Dr. Hurricane, UT | 435-656-GOLF