Fool’s Spring or the real deal; either way we’ll take it

Warming up to the game

By Jim Bebbington

Well, so much for Colorado being a 12-month golf state.

God willing, by the time our Spring issue is in your hands there will be just the faint remnants of snow tucked into the shadowy protection of bushes and outbuildings. Golf courses on the eastern part of the state will be hosting players. Our mountain courses may still be underneath a blanket of snow, but Spring is coming there soon too.

Spring golf cannot come soon enough. This winter was legit, and as the Spring season limps into view it’s time to take stock.

First, our Spring edition of Colorado AvidGolfer allows us to celebrate the best courses, clubs and people of Colorado golf. Our annual CAGGY awards – with public votes as well as staff picks – this year showed our readers are paying attention. There are several new courses at the tops of some lists – hello Boulder’s Flatiron Golf Course and welcome to the ranks of the “Best to Walk” rankings – and several old lions who are still providing an excellent experience.

Thanks to our several thousands of voters, and look out for additional coverage throughout the year on our social media platforms for content exploring what some of the winners are doing well.

In addition, our popular Spring Training guide is ready for players who are making their annual pilgrimage to Phoenix. The Colorado Rockies have the slightest buzz of optimism around them – barely a whisper – but that’s all we need. Visitors to their minor league redoubt in Scottsdale can brag that they were on the bandwagon early if good things come to fruition.

As part of that package, we have an up-close look at one of Scottsdale’s most popular golf courses, TPC Scottsdale. The famous stadium on the No. 16 hole par 3 was fully framed when we visited in November. It requires more than three months to build each fall, then it comes down soon after the WM Phoenix Open is complete. No. 16 is nothing out of the ordinary without it; with the coliseum, however, that par 3 feels iconic, even when the only observers are construction crews installing seats.

Everything can be found in our print magazines as well as here on ColoradoAvidGolfer.Com.

Writer Jay McKinney visited with the college golf powerhouse at Colorado Christian University in Lakewood.  His article lays out how head coach Mark Hull sustains his Division 2 national championship team.

And Ravenna Country Club in Littleton has been on a roll for several years, which is a just reward for owner Kevin Collins. Jon Rizzi, the founding editor of Colorado AvidGolfer, spent time with Collins to help tell the story of how he pulled the club back from Chapter 11 bankruptcy to one that has sold out its entire development portfolio of home lots and just earned a prestigious national award.

So Spring is near and, thankfully, the game is afoot. Enjoy the final cool days of winter, and get ready for what should be a fantastic season ahead.