C H A P T E R
T H I R T E E N
COUNTRY CLUB OF THE ROCKIES Edwards, Colorado
A Golden Eighteen
Skiing in the Morning and Golf in the Afternoon
T
HERE ARE NOT MANY PLACES in the world where you can ski in the morning and play golf in the afternoon, but
the Country Club of the Rockies, near Vail, Colorado, is one of them. With skis in tow and boots at the ready, you can leave your car in the clubhouse parking lot, or walk over from your house or condo if you live within the adjoining Arrowhead Community, and in minutes be whisked up the high-speed chairlift to the world-famous and luxurious Beaver Creek ski slopes. Then after a morning cutting trails in fresh powder or wearing yourself out on the mogul runs or sticking to the well-groomed, more moderate slopes, you can return to the clubhouse, have a bite of lunch on the deck of the club’s Vista Restaurant, then tee it up for an afternoon 18. Sound too good to be true? Well, that lifestyle is a re-
it gets.” Sterett’s opinions are credible. A scratch golfer, he
ality, at least at certain times of the year and under ideal
played on the varsity team for the University of San Diego
weather, but only if your legs can hold up.
in La Jolla—their home course was Torrey Pines—before
Long-time member Dr. Bill Sterett, a specialist in
graduating from medical school at the University of Cali-
complex knee and shoulder surgery at VailSummit Orthopaedics, has enjoyed this routine a number of times. He joined the Country Club of the Rockies in 1996 and built a home in the Arrowhead development, where he raised two boys, now twenty-one and seventeen. “You’re at the base of one of the best ski slopes in the world,” Sterett says.
fornia-Davis. Over the years, some of Sterett’s PREVIOUS PAGES:
The par-4 ninth green; the Eagle River runs alongside the picturesque 12th green. ABOVE: The entry sign to Country Club of the Rockies. OPPOSITE:
Putting on the 12th green.
“And to be able to combine that with one of
more prominent patients have included Kobe Bryant, Greg Norman, and Vail resident and Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn. “One of the things I like best about the golf course is that it’s relatively flat,” Sterett says. “It’s not built on the side of a hill, like so many mountain courses. It’s probably the best piece of golf course property in all of Col-
the best golf courses in the country [he neglected to say a
orado. Nicklaus gives you room to drive the ball—it’s fun
Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course] is about as good as
off the tee. But the closer you get to the green, the harder
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A Golden Eighteen
the course gets.” Nicklaus, by the way, agrees with this gen-
professional who played varsity golf for Penn State, first
eral assessment. “The course is really built in a valley, with
came to the Vail Valley in the early 1970s as an assistant pro-
beautiful mountain backdrops,” Jack says. “It’s pretty much
fessional at the public Vail Golf Club. He is an institution in
a flat site with the Eagle River providing
Vail golfing circles. He fell in love with
a lot of interest to the holes. I tried to
the area when he first arrived and never
let the river just meander through the
left. He’s so in tune with the game in the
design, especially in the early part of
Rockies that he even wrote his Masters
the back nine.”
thesis on high-altitude golf. He knows exactly how different elevations increase
First, a little Vail Valley history
the yardage of each shot depending on
BEFORE WE CAN truly understand what
your club and swing speed. Hint: the
the golf experience is like at the Country
slower your speed, the less affected your
Club of the Rockies and what it’s like to
shots will be. Apple and Tofferi have
be a member here, we need to learn how
seen golf grow exponentially in the area.
golf first came to the area and what it
“When I first came, there was only
means to the Vail Valley. For this, we
one 18-hole golf course between Vail
turn to two highly knowledgeable peo-
and Las Vegas,” Apple says. “Think of
ple: the club’s long-time Director of Golf
that. There were a few nine-hole courses
Tom Apple and Pentti Tofferi, a PGA professional who is the
dispersed in the mountains, but that was it. Then Eagle Vail
club’s general manager and COO and has been an expert
opened up [Apple became the head professional there],
ski instructor in the area for forty years. Apple, a PGA master
then Sonnenalp, Beaver Creek, then three full 18s and a
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Country Club of the Rockies
nine-holer at Cordillera, then Eagle
OPPOSITE:
Springs, and Eagle Ranch.” Adds Tofferi:
The approach to the par-5 penultimate hole; members Sherry Smith and Cindy Parker.
“We evolved from one course to seventeen total in less than twenty years. So this whole valley really took to golf. People started coming to these public and resort courses to play golf and experience all the valley has to offer, but they said we would love a private club experience.” The original developer, Jen Wright, wanted to offer that. The site he settled on in the early ’80s
Also involved in the early days was tain Division, which trained during World War II at nearby Camp Hale in
ABOVE:
(Clockwise from upper left) Elk herds have been known to appear as the snow melts and also can be found in the form of napkin rings in the dining room; tee markers bear the club’s insignia; the outdoor patio of the Fitzhugh Scott-designed clubhouse overlooks the ninth hole; “Scotch on the Rockies” uniform.
was originally a lettuce ranch. “He said,
Pete Seibert, a member of the 10th Moun-
Leadville. Says Tofferi: “He always wanted to start a ski resort in the area, and he knew the snow was great. He and another member of the 10th Mountain Division, Earl Eaton, basically founded Vail. When Seibert saw the back bowls around here, he knew this was it.” Wright and his group later sold the
‘we’re going to build the best course you can build,’ and
CC of the Rockies/Arrowhead project to the Houston-
then he contacted Nicklaus,” Apple says.
based Wedge Group, owned by Issam Fares, who later be-
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A Golden Eighteen
came the deputy prime minister of Lebanon from 2000-
private dining area and a special room for members only.
’05. There were half a dozen individuals involved, includ-
The restaurant features nightly piano music by local icon
ing skiing great Pepi Gramshammer, now eighty-one and
Micky Poage. He played at the Lodge in Vail for thirty-five
still a member, and his wife Sheika. They
years, and when they had a change of
own the Hotel-Gasthof Gramshammer in
management and Poage was told his serv-
the middle of the village. “He’s a legend
ices were no longer needed, CC of the
in Austria; people bow down to him over
Rockies grabbed him. “It was a huge coup
there when they hear his name,” Apple
for us,” Tofferi says. Nothing beats sitting
says. Seibert was also an avid golfer and a
out on the massive deck and gazing at the
good player and became the general man-
spectacular views while enjoying a drink
ager of CC of the Rockies. He and his son
or meal prepared by Vista Executive Chef
designed most of the runs at Arrowhead,
and Owner Mike Glennon, and listening
which eventually became connected to
to Poage’s soft piano, seven nights a week.
Beaver Creek. The club was sold to Vail
Glennon, in keeping with the Colorado
Resorts in the late ’80s, which owned it
Rockies theme, says he likes to keep his
until it was turned over to the members completely debt-
preparations local and basic. “That’s my cooking philoso-
free in 1992. It’s been member-owned ever since, and 100
phy,” he says. “All of the meats and fish are seasoned with
percent of the memberships are equity.
Kosher salt and black pepper. We use fresh fish and produce that is in season, and, if possible, locally grown.”
The CC of the Rockies experience
Glennon notes that many of his dishes are prepared with
FROM THE BEGINNING, the plan called for the restaurant
only five to eight ingredients to keep things simple. The
to be open to the public to greatly reduce the club’s food
Yellowfin Tuna is just one of his many signature dishes. He
and beverage costs, but The Vista Restaurant reserves a
starts with seared rare yellowfin tuna and adorns it with
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Country Club of the Rockies
Napa cabbage slaw, edamame, and pan-seared gnocchi,
“It had an unbelievable run,” Apple says. “It was the Who’s
then tops it off with a soy-ginger butter sauce. It’s very tasty
Who of Entertainment—top celebrities, politicians, and
as well as healthy.
fifty-five of the best Tour players. It was scheduled the
The grand but rustic clubhouse has a distinct Alpine
Monday after The INTERNATIONAL, so they would
feel, with high, rough-wood beams and a massive, boul-
come over from Castle Pines and play,
dered fireplace that includes an indoor waterfall to greet
raising well into the millions of dol-
arriving members and guests. Designed by Fitzhugh Scott,
lars for the Vail Valley Charities.”
an original architect in Vail, the clubhouse and its moun-
Apple notes that when people
tain feel is unforgettable. On several walls hang breathtak-
come to Vail they seek outdoor activ-
ing photographs of local wildlife, taken by Tofferi himself.
ities, whether it’s skiing, mountain
One in particular is of a native fox playfully jumping. Oth-
biking, hiking, kayaking, tennis, fly-
ers show mule deer and elk seemingly at peace on the
fishing, or horse-back riding. The CC
course and ignoring the golfers.
of the Rockies seeks to appeal to that
PREVIOUS PAGES:
Arrowhead ski runs dissect the mountains overlooking the ninth and 18th holes. OPPOSITE:
The Eagle River rushes past the 12th green. ABOVE:
The 14th green was completely redesigned in the late 1990s.
President Gerald R. Ford was one of the club’s first
appetite. For example, there is a gold-
and most avid members, and the course played host to his
medal stream that the golf course
Jerry Ford Invitational Golf Tournament until 1996. He
plays over in four places, and the ponds are stocked with
was seen at the club nearly every day when he visited his
thousands of trout. “We have an area where members and
“summer White House” at Beaver Creek. Ford was always
their kids and grandkids can get introduced to skiing,”
extremely supportive of Bob Hope, Andy Williams, and
Apple says, “and another area where they can throw in
Dean Martin and the tournaments they hosted on the
some flies and learn fly-fishing. We have a lot more families
PGA Tour. So when he started his own event in 1977 (the
now—our junior golf program has really, really increased.
first one was won by Jack Nicklaus at the Eagle Vail and
“For the record, there are three-hundred-fifty members,
Vail Golf Clubs), the tournament was an instant success.
fully subscribed. Most will play between 8:30 and 10 a.m.
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A Golden Eighteen
There are tee times, but that is intended to give the staff—and members—flexibility. “It’s the best of both worlds,” Apple says. “You can be assured of getting out, but the first tee is never crowded.” The club doesn’t require members to take a caddie, but they are available on a reservation basis. Many members play in carts, but there are no walking restrictions—you can take a caddie or walk and
PREVIOUS PAGES: Putting on the eighth green; seasonal blooms and local wildlife are spotted on the golf course.
years Nicklaus had a house off of the 13th
ABOVE: Fly-fishing on the Eagle River is one of the many recreational activities at Country Club of the Rockies; walking up the fairway of the third hole.
hosted by a club that did not have thirty-six
hole, and his family spent holidays here.” In 1987, the club entertained the Jack Nicklaus Cup Matches, the last year it was holes. The teams loved it so much they wanted to come back. So the Vail International Pro-Am (VIPA) began in 1988. Now in its twenty-seventh year, it’s played in early September when the leaves are changing
carry your own bag, or push a cart. It’s a very walkable, playable course. “Jack didn’t have to circumvent
and the weather is perfect. The format: One member in-
huge changes in elevation,” Apple says. “For more than ten
vites a pro and two other members of another club that
282
CC of the Rockies’ Legendary Member HIS NAME IS SANFORD TREAT, and he’s indeed a treat to
I love,” he says, “skiing came first because I started at age
be around. At age ninety, after walking a quick nine, Sandy
four in Lake Placid.”
Treat (as he’s known to everyone on the mountain) will
He became fluent in Spanish and French and spent
regale you with tales of his tour of duty during World War
thirty-five years working all over the world, including in
II, where he fought in the Italian Alps as part of the 10th
South America and Europe, getting an MBA in Geneva.
Mountain Division. He came to Vail in 1942 to train with
His first wife died of cancer and never saw Vail. He met
the division until he was deployed. The 10th was the only
his second wife, Barbara, in Canada, and virtually every-
Mountain Division to be activated during the war.
one in Vail knew her. (When she passed away, 575 people
“Fighting in the mountains is so different from
came to the services.) Sandy had two children and eight
learning to fight in the
grandchildren.
flatlands,” Treat says. “Our
What does CC of
supporting troops in Italy
the Rockies mean to
once told us, ‘You fellas
Treat? First, the memory
moved so fast, we couldn’t
of Barbara, he says. She
keep up with you.’ So, un-
would
fortunately, they weren’t
work all morning, then
able to take advantage of
come to the club at
what we were doing. We
noon. She started taking
attributed that to the
lessons and became a
fabulous training we had
keen golfer, winning the
here in Vail.” Army plan-
handicap division of the
ners favored recruiting ex-
club championship five
perienced skiers for the
times and making a
do
volunteer
unit instead of trying to train standing troops in moun-
hole-in-one twice, both times on No. 14, which requires a
tain warfare, so the soldiers were recruited from schools,
long carry over water. “I would play a lot with her, then I
universities, and ski clubs for the unit. Treat had starred
started playing with some of the older men members. We’d
on Dartmouth’s ski team, hence his arrival in the Rockies.
have a lot of fun, despite the fact some of them would take
“We were asked to do things that other organizations
it a little too seriously,” he says, chuckling. As an early pres-
couldn’t do because they weren’t trained like we were,” he
ident of the club, he oversaw the club’s renovation of most
says today, his mind crystal clear. The 10th Mountain Di-
of the greens in the 1990s. “We removed most of the
vision was fighting on extremely steep terrain and facing
thatch, and ever since they’ve been marvelous.”
a very experienced German army. “But we helped stop
Recently, Treat was awarded a medal for his continu-
Rommel’s troops that had come up from Africa, and these
ous work on improving Mexican-American relations. “I’m
fellas were tough cookies,” he says.
prouder of that medal than the hundreds I won skiing,” he
When the war was over, Treat returned to this side
says. He also was inducted into the Colorado Ski Hall of
of the Atlantic and held a number of jobs, the most sig-
Fame and raced until he was eighty-five. The altitude ad-
nificant of which was president of Alcan Canadian Prod-
versely affects most people his age, and they have to relocate
ucts, a subsidiary of Alcan Aluminum. Treat’s résumé
to lower elevations. But because of his training with the
goes way beyond that, however. He graduated from Dart-
10th Mountain Division and the fact that he continues to
mouth, majoring in history and languages, and he skied
walk when he plays golf and to accompany his dog through
as much as possible. “With all due respect to golf, which
the area’s hiking trails every day, he’s still going strong.
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A Golden Eighteen
he belongs to. There is one net and one gross competi-
A links-style course in a mountain environment
tion over three days, played at CC of the Rockies and two
IN PUTTING THE COURSE together and creating a playable
other courses in the Vail Valley. Some of the other clubs
routing, Nicklaus was mindful of creating tees for everyone,
represented each year include Mayacama, Jupiter Hills,
designated by wooden markers branded with the club’s in-
and Preston Trail. You get the idea. This is lofty com-
signia made of three arrows overlaid to look like a
pany. The club doesn’t do outings, like some have re-
snowflake. He was also aware of two factors: the prevailing
sorted to for revenue. But there
wind, and the altitude, which is
are Interclub events with two
about seven-thousand feet. The
other Nicklaus clubs in the
wind, he says, can whip through
area: Aspen Glen and Roaring
the valley, usually from one direc-
Fork Club, both in Aspen.
tion in the morning. “The plan
Women members feel right
was to route the longer holes to
at home here as well, and there
play with the prevailing wind
are several competitions and
[going from west to east] and the
events for them to choose from.
shorter holes into the wind,” he
The Vail Valley Interclub con-
says. “At least for the majority of
ducts five or six events through-
the time. But sometimes the wind
out the season, for example.
changes direction in the after-
Speaking of women at CC of the
noon, so you can’t always plan for
Rockies, a very important one is
it. But it’s basically a links-style
Tom Apple’s wife, Annie, who is
course in a mountain environ-
the buyer for the golf shop,
ment. Regarding the elevation, I
which is also open to the public.
always figure the ball traveling
Annie Apple takes great pride in
about 10 percent farther at five-
stocking lines of apparel that the women members would
thousand feet. Then I factor in another 2 percent for every
have difficulty finding elsewhere. An avid skier from Ever-
thousand feet.” Allowing for the altitude, the course plays
green, outside of Denver, she was a rep for a Canadian
up to 7,402 yards from the Tournament (green) tees. An-
company that was trying to get into the golf business when
other important design considera-
she met Tom. “The women members have changed a lot,”
tion that was incorporated several
she says. “They’ve gotten younger minded and sportier,
years after the course was opened
and the clothes have reflected that—they’ve gotten more
involved building a long berm to
fun, too.” For example, Apple has exclusives with two
hide Highway 6 that borders the
unique companies in particular: Daily of Sweden, which
lower end of the property. Mound-
is part of Cutler Sports, and LIJA, a Canadian line based
ing as high as twenty-five feet was
in Vancouver, which she points out features the kind of
created, mimicking some of the
clothes you can play golf in and then go right to lunch or
mountains and helping to shield
to another event. There is an active ladies program. On any
the road from view, whether you’re
given day, thirty to forty women participate. And there are
on the course or on the clubhouse
no restrictions by gender on tee times. Kelly Deimund, one
veranda or even in one of the
of five Class-A professionals at CC of the Rockies, teaches
homes looking down over the 140
many of the women. For the most part, they find the club
acres. The Berm Project, as it has
very playable, despite some challenging forced carries over
come to be called, was overseen by Head Superintendent
the Eagle River.
Kevin Ross, who has been on site since 1995. A graduate of
284
ABOVE:
The “Birds of Prey” trophy commemorates the annual Men’s Member Guest tournament. OPPOSITE:
(Clockwise from upper left) The entryway into Vista Restaurant; Director of Golf Tom Apple; President Gerald Ford was an early member of Country Club of the Rockies. The club hosted his Jerry Ford Invitational Golf Tournament until 1996; Course Superintendent Kevin Ross; Cubby and a set of Nicklaus golf clubs; General Manager Pentti Tofferi; the Vail International Pro-Am trophy.
A Golden Eighteen
Penn State Agronomy School and known for his turfgrass
and location of watering. Although maintaining a course
seminars throughout the country, Ross has executed a num-
in the Rocky Mountain climate has its challenges, there are
ber of design changes at the club, as well as small tweaks and
also advantages. Ross notes that cold soil temperatures
adjustments over the years. “It’s not my golf course,” Ross
allow thatch to develop quickly. So in 1996-’97, when the
says. “I just like to do what the members want.” That includes not just maintaining the course at championship standards— the greens are kept at a 12 on the Stimpmeter during the season with a single cut and a roll each morning—but directing major projects as well. For example, in the spring of 2012 the club started a total cart path and irri-
greens resembled giant sponges, the presABOVE:
The lakes around the golf course, like this one on No. 5, are stocked with thousands of trout. OPPOSITE:
(Clockwise from upper left) The clubhouse clock tower; “The Boys;” Head Golf Professional Chad Hansen; Assistant Golf Professional Ed Marzec; Golf Shop Merchandise Manager Annie Apple.
gation project, at a cost of $6 million dol-
ident of the club at the time, Sandy Treat, suggested that they should be tested and renovated in consultation with the Nicklaus design staff. “There was a general feeling, amongst the older members at least, that the greens were too severe,” Treat says today. (See CC of the Rockies Legendary Member.) “This was true, especially as we were starting to increase the
lars. All of the black asphalt paths were dug up and
green speeds,” Ross says. “So we took care of that at the
replaced with a surface that better blends in with the ter-
same time.” (The 14th and 18th were rebuilt entirely and
rain and environment. The new irrigation system uses
there was a slight contour change on No. 9.) “But basically,
HDPE (high density polyethylene) engineering, which al-
we got rid of a severe Poa annua infestation.”
lows the superintendent to be specific with the amount
It happened by serendipity. “We had taken the sod up
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Country Club of the Rockies
from one of the greens that was being re-contoured and
humidity, mean a lack of insects and turfgrass diseases to
put it over to the side,” Ross remembers. “But I suggested
deal with. Even so, Ross faces potential problems that su-
that instead of putting the same sod back, we re-sod with a
perintendents in other geographic areas don’t have to
different grass [Penn A-4]. The difference was night and
think about. “With such a low relative humidity—7 to 12
day.” Treat asked Ross what it would cost to do the same to
percent—when you take that relative humidity and, say,
all eighteen greens. In consultation with the Nicklaus
an 85-degree day, with solar radiation at our elevation,
group, the club changed the grass on every green, switching
and a little wind coming out of the west, it’s fire trucks by
from Pentcross to Penn A-4. All
4 o’clock,” Ross says. “But even
the new putting surfaces were
so, my philosophy is, if we’re
re-sodded, not planted. Says
not stressing a little bit by the
Treat: “There was a lot of talk
end of the day, then we put too
about the types of grasses at
much water on the golf
this altitude, because we are at
course.
eight-thousand feet, after all.
through the day here, then you
We learned what the Nicklaus
watered too much. I like firm,
organization could do at that
fast, and dry, as long as it stays
moment, which was amazing.”
relatively green.” Ross prides
Adds Ross: “The members were
himself on doing more with
great. They stuck it out with us.
less (less fertilizer, fewer pesti-
It’s been sixteen years now, and
cides, and fungicides), which
we’re doing fine.” Says Tofferi:
is one reason the course is
“They are some of the finest
considered one of the most
putting surfaces you’ll ever see.
environmentally friendly in
There’s no question about it.”
the nation. “We do so many
If
you’re
perfect
“I think that set the CC of
things to promote harmony
the Rockies on a course to-
between the golf course and
ward a great future,” Ross says.
the surrounding vegetation,”
“The combination of the A-4,
Ross says, “which of course in-
the new contours and one other thing…”
OPPOSITE:
cludes the Eagle River.” The water flowing
During the green renovation, Ross gath-
through the course along the river is
Jack stared at him with those famous steely
(Clockwise from upper left) Pan-seared Alaskan halibut is a signature dish at Vista Restaurant; lunch on the deck at Vista Restaurant; the entrance of the clubhouse; a signature dessert; the bar at Vista; Vista Chef and Owner Michael Glennon.
blues, and said, “Kevin, I think that’s an
ABOVE:
ered himself and got up the nerve to suggest to Nicklaus that they also seed the fairways with bent grass, something Ross had some experience with back east.
incredible idea. It’ll grow where it wants to,
son—and we aim to keep it that way.” Ross wants the course playable for all levels of golfers. He maintains the rough at 1-3/4 inches. And he notes that to maintain good bentgrass fairways, you
Member Bill Sterett.
the other grass will stay where it is.”
pristine—you can catch trout there in sea-
have to cut them low; he mows them at
3/8 of an inch. But they’re not too tight because there is
“So we started seeding bent grass right away, and it’s
a bit of thatch underneath for a little cushion, just the
been a great playing surface,” Ross says. “Especially at the
way Nicklaus wants it. In fact, pretty much everything at
cooler temperatures we experience. It was a good move.”
the Country Club of the Rockies is the way Nicklaus
While the cooler soil temperatures can cause prob-
wants it. The entire staff—and membership—plan to
lems, those 50-degree evenings, along with the low relative
keep it that way.
289