CSU Grad Davis Bryant Discusses His Rise as a Pro Golfer
Colorado State grad Davis Bryant opens up on his path to the pros and what keeps him busy when he’s off the course
An Apple of a Course
Regulars at Golden’s 58-year-old Applewood Golf Course say it has never been better—and a recent national award proves them right.
By Jon Rizzi
Just four years ago Applewood appeared destined for the bulldozer.
A large land developer wanted to purchase the 146-acre property from the owner, Molson Coors Brewing, in order to create a 454-home active-adult community. But with its access to Clear Creek and a prohibition on herbicides and pesticides to protect the brewery’s water, the course represented one of the last unspoiled open spaces in the area.
Concerned about the loss of natural habitat and a recreational resource, thousands of residents in the surrounding neighborhoods mobilized to fight the proposed rezoning. Through persistence and shrewd legal challenges by attorneys from within their ranks, the residents thwarted the developer’s plans. After a year and a half of planning and fundraising, the Prospect Recreation and Parks District bought the course from Molson Coors in late 2016 for $13.5 million—a portion of which came from a special tax voted on by the residents.
With Applewood’s future secured, its operator, Touchstone Golf, invested in upgrades to the golf course, cart paths, clubhouse and event facilities. Thanks to improved irrigation and landscaping practices, the course shines, and the clubhouse and Vista restaurants attract both golfers and non-golfers with excellent food and views of Table Mountain.
The community that helped save the course proudly supports it—and the course returns the love, donating thousands of dollars to local charities, hosting robust junior programs and helping three local high schools by annually buying players new bags and balls and providing free rounds.
”From day one we’ve always tried to be a community leader and support it in whatever way we can,” explains Touchstone Golf Regional Manager Brian Melody, the GM at Applewood since 2007. “We’re a community hub. Still, when we got into that whole development scare, we had no idea the community would give the kind of support it did. It was inspiring.”
Applewood’s inspirational narrative recently caught the attention of the National Golf Course Owners Association, a not-for-profit trade organization of more than 5,300 members representing over 7,200 golf courses.
This January, NGCOA honored Applewood as its National Course of the Year in the West Region. According to the citation, “The award recognizes a golf course that epitomizes exceptional course quality and management excellence, makes important contributions to its communities and the game, and is a model of operations to its peers.”
Melody accepted the award at the NGCOA’s Golf Business Conference in San Diego on February 7.
Colorado AvidGolfer Magazine is the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it, publishing eight issues annually and proudly delivering daily content via coloradoavidgolfer.com.
GET COLORADO GOLF NEWS DIRECTLY TO YOUR INBOX
Exceptional Indoor and Outdoor Views from Dream Makers Landscape
The staff at Dream Makers Landscape is ready to help you enhance the look and feel of your property with our exceptional landscaping projects
