Colorado Golf Journal

GARY BAINES: A Matter of Perspective

What’s in Store for 2009?

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

With the recent change of the calendar, here are nine things we’d like to see come to pass in 2009 in the world of Colorado golf:

1. A rebounding economy. Many aspects of our lives have been affected by the recent economic woes, and the golf business is certainly not immune. But with the season in Colorado not heating up until the spring, perhaps golf can avoid the direct hit that other sectors are absorbing. “We’re all hoping good things happen with the market and the economy” in 2009, said Eddie Ainsworth, executive director of the Colorado Section of the PGA. “There could be an optimistic outlook by April.”

2. The state landing an annual stop on a major pro tour. To a certain extent, this is an offshoot of the economic outlook. With the financial situation being what it is, finding title sponsors for a new LPGA or Champions Tour event -- the most likely options on the menu -- is a huge hurdle. But if the economy improves, the state would be an ideal site for a tour stop. Colorado hosted at least one of the three major pro tours every calendar year from 1972 through 2006, and it’s hard to imagine it will be long before an annual tournament returns to the state.

3. A more routine Denver Golf Expo, for organizers’ sake. Sharing the Denver Merchandise Mart with The Sex Show exhibition in 2008 made for some funny one-liners. But that and a huge sink hole on I-25 at the Merchandise Mart exit created a once-in-a-lifetime set of circumstances for Golf Expo operators. Something a little less bizarre should be in order this year.

4. A rousing start for CommonGround Golf Course. The facility owned and operated by the Colorado Golf Association and the Colorado Women‘s Golf Association is scheduled to open to the public on May 23. Given Tom Doak’s reputation as a course designer, CommonGround figures to be popular venue.

5. A major pro title for a golfer with strong Colorado ties. Given that this hasn’t happened on the PGA Tour since the 1996 U.S. Open (Steve Jones), we’re open to spreading the possibilities to the Champions and LPGA Tours. Perhaps Hale Irwin can summon the magic one more time on the Champions circuit, or Jill McGill can break through on the LPGA Tour.

6. The best season ever for college golf in Colorado. The table is set for just that. On the men’s side, Colorado State is ranked 14th in the nation by Golfweek magazine after winning four team and two individual titles in the fall season. The University of Colorado notched one team win and three individual championships, and Denver claimed one individual crown. As for the women, Denver checks in at No. 15 nationally (Golfweek) after placing sixth in the NCAA Finals last spring. DU and CU each won a fall tournament, and Denver junior Stephanie Sherlock is ranked No. 4 in the country in the individual college ranks.

7. A Palmer Cup to remember. Colorado golf fans don’t get to see much college golf played in their state, but they’ll certainly get a chance June 3-5 when the Palmer Cup comes to Cherry Hills Country Club. The annual event matches the best American collegians against their top counterparts from Europe in a Ryder Cup-style event.

8. A fitting makeover at Cherry Hills Country Club. The host of three U.S. Opens and two PGA Championships is going retro, attempting to restore much of the flavor of the original William Flynn design. The work, led by course architect Tom Doak, is expected to be completed in the spring.

9. Successful pro transitions for Tolan, Grady. Derek Tolan and Pat Grady, senior teammates for the University of Colorado, plan to embark on pro careers this year after their final college season ends. They’ll do so as two of the most successful Colorado amateurs in recent years. Grady was the Colorado Golf Association’s Player of the Year in both 2007 and 2008, while Tolan has qualified for 10 U.S. Golf Association events as an amateur.

Here are some things we’re hoping for this year in Colorado golf