By Kim McHugh

April 23, 2013

To say Cordillera is one of North America’s toniest golf developments is like saying Augusta National hosts a golf tournament. The 12-square-mile enclave’s meteoric rise to prominence as the Vail Valley’s preeminent golf community and resort destination began in 1987 when plans were unveiled to construct the 28-room Lodge & Spa at Cordillera, and continued with the introduction of four golf courses: the Hale Irwin-designed Mountain Course in 1994; Tom Fazio’s Valley Course and the Dave Pelz-designed Short Course in 1997; and The Summit Course, a Nicklaus masterpiece, in 2001.

DISCORDILLERA
But in recent years, Cordillera, like so many golf communities, proved it wasn’t immune to the impact of an imploding real estate economy. Exacerbating its woes was a contentious spat between members of the Club at Cordillera and then-owner David Wilhelm. Not long after Wilhelm bought Cordillera in 2009 from owner and founder, Felix Posen, relations soured when Wilhelm allegedly made decisions unpopular with members, such as opening only one of the community’s four golf courses. Collateral damage also included the shuttering of two of the club’s restaurants and its golf instructional facility, which remained closed for two seasons. So disgruntled were the members by the closures, many stopped paying dues in protest or resigned altogether. Members filed a class-action lawsuit, Wilhelm countersued, and the club was eventually granted Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last year.

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By Jake Kubié

April 15, 2013

As Denver’s City Park turns 101 this year, I’d like to make a case for why the Old Tom Bendelow design is worthy of your time and money. Sure, may be slow (especially on the weekends), a bit out of style (6,700 yards doesn’t cut it anymore at altitude) and a bit rough around the edges, but she still has some teeth and is always appreciative of a visit from her neighbors.

Here are 5 reasons why I’ll be playing City Park in 2013:

1.) City Park is short and wide open, but it’s definitely not easy. The first four greens are among the trickiest in the state and the par threes–particularly the seventh and 16th holes–require one hell of a long-iron approach.

2.) City Park hosts some of the best money games in the city (rumor has it that PGA Tour winner Jonathan Kaye earned his milk money as a kid at the course by hustling unsuspecting seniors).

3.) $15 for nine holes walking–perfect for a quick twilight round.

4.) You can hear elephants, lions and monkeys from the holes along 23rd Avenue.

5.) City Park has the best view in all of Colorado golf. That may be a bold statement given the incredible vistas we enjoy here, but stand on the 13th tee and tell me the panorama of the downtown skyline against the Rocky Mountains doesn’t exemplify Denver.

Am I alone here? What do you think?

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By Jon Rizzi

April 23, 2013

On Friday, June 28 The Broadmoor’s East Course could very well become the site of a new world record. On that day, Colorado Springs resident Greg Stafford will stand in a two-square-meter teeing area and—wielding a reinforced custom driver with a 7.5 degree loft he can swing up to 160 mph—he will crush a drive towards a green expanse that fans out like a baseball field from home plate. For Stafford, a “home run” needs to travel at least to the 300-yard marker and land within a 157-yard-wide area.

Then he’ll do it again. And again. And again. His goal: Break the mark for most 300-plus-yard drives hit in one hour—276. That’s one every 13 seconds. An official from the Guinness Book of World Records will fly in from Dublin to bear witness, as will a gallery of up to 200 near the third hole. Sponsors include The Broadmoor and the Colorado Springs Sky Sox baseball team. Stafford initially proposed staging the event at the team’s Security Service Field, launching his parabolas from home plate onto Springs Ranch Golf Course well beyond the outfield. “I don’t think they wanted to test whether their $1 million JumboTron could withstand a golf ball traveling 180 miles per hour,” he says, chuckling.

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