What’s on Your Golf Bucket List?

“I want to shoot my age someday for 18 holes. There are two advantages to this idea. On the one hand, if I shot a round when in my 60s I’d be psyched to score that low since I have yet to break 80. On the other hand, if I live to be 90 and shoot bogey golf, I’m psyched to still be playing golf at 90. Win-win if you ask me.”—Adam Aijala, Guitarist, Yonder Mountain String Band

“I want to join—or start—a women-only club that addresses all the amenities men-only golf clubs have—exclusivity, preferred tee times, amazing locker rooms, adaptive course design, outstanding apparel offerings, superior service and programs catered toward women’s interests.”— Lana Ortega, Director, Lana Ortega Golf

“I’ve played golf all over the country, but never in Europe. Like everyone else in the world, I want to play the Old Course, but I’m just as excited about hanging around the beautiful town of St. Andrews, with its university, shops and rich history.”—Russ Miller, Director of Golf, The Broadmoor

“The first thing that comes to mind, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to do it, is go to Nepal and muster with sherpas at base camp on Mount Everest. It’s a spiritual place, like Stonehenge, which is also on my list and probably more doable.”— Mark Wiebe, Colorado Golf Hall of Famer and 2013 Senior British Open champion

“Break par on a championship course while playing with my pals with a few friendly bets out on 18!”—George Solich, Co-Founder, Solich Caddie and Leadership Academy

“Shoot my age? I’m hoping to shoot my cholesterol.”—Gary James, Food writer, Colorado AvidGolfer

“Aside from going to Northwest Ireland for the 13th time—yes it’s that good— the top of my list is going scuba diving in Palau.”— Jim Engh, Course Architect (Sanctuary, Fossil Trace, Redlands Mesa)

“I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve shot my age, gotten to play with Palmer and Nicklaus and have played so many great courses. I wanted to play every course in Colorado, but then they built courses faster than I could play them. My goal is to play golf in every state of the union. I’m 15 states shy.” —Gary Potter, Member, Colorado Golf Hall of Fame

“After making a hole in one when I was 39, I want to have one in my 40s, 50s and 60s. I’m hoping to just be alive in my 70s. I also want to play a bogey-free round. It could be at Wellshire, a country club—doesn’t matter. I’ve shot a 68 but it wasn’t bogey-free.”—Kyle Keefe, Altitude Sports

“I’d like to invent and host a Golf Game Show. Which could actually then feed my greatest golf appetite—a schedule that would allow for traveling the world, with an itinerary filled with tee times.”—Tom Green, Host, KWGN-Channel 2’s Daybreak

“With my son now married and my daughter in college, if I’m fortunate to have grandkids, I want to play golf with them and have them learn the traditions and values the game teaches. Golf courses aren’t important to me. Spending time with family and friends on the course is what I value.” —Eddie Ainsworth, Executive Director, Colorado Section PGA

“I want to be able to tee off on that short par 3 along the Pacific Ocean at Pebble Beach—the 106-yard 7th—with monster wind in my face and a driver in my hand. Yes, a driver.”—Vic Lombardi, Altitude Sports

“I’d love to open my own learning center. There’s a specific way I’d want it—I won’t do it halfway—and there’s a pretty good expense to that. Meanwhile, I’m very happy on ‘Finke Hill.’”—Ann Finke, Director of Instruction, The Country Club of Colorado & Member, Colorado Golf Hall of Fame

“I want to make a midnight a tee time in Alaska or Scandinavia. I don’t think I’d want or be able to play for 24 straight hours, but that could happen too.”—Scott Radcliffe, President, Colorado Golf Hall of Fame

“Playing St. Andrews by myself…teeing off at 9 p.m. on the longest day of the year and getting in 18 holes before dark.”—Ed Mate, Executive Director, Colorado Golf Association

“I want to have one of my junior students go on to do something great in the game or just have a nice professional career.”—Larry Rinker, Director, Red Sky Ranch Golf Academy, Wolcott

“I want to caddie at the Masters. I’ve caddied for Gary Hallberg in many Tour events and for Jack Nicklaus and Chauncey Billups in pro-ams, but the Masters for four days (or two) would be the topper. As far as getting on, I want to play Shinnecock, National and Maidstone on three straight days. I’ve always wanted to parlay those three top-rated courses together with visits to the Hampton beaches every afternoon.” —Kevin Laura, CEO, The First Tee of GVR/CoBank Colorado Opens 

“After playing in five U.S. Amateurs, I always had competing in a professional major at the top of my bucket list. Now, it’s to play the great courses. Last year, I took 11 members to Scotland to play the Old Course, Dornoch and others. This year, the same group will go to Ireland to play Ballybunion, Lahinch and Waterville.”—John Ogden, PGA Head Professional, Cherry Hills Country Club

“My bucket overfloweth with great and unusual golf course adventures, but there’s always room for more, and that’s to play Handara, Bali’s first course, designed in 1974 by Peter Thompson in a blown-out volcano. I went in 1997, when I was in Indonesia with my daughter Kris, but the course was booked solid for four straight days so all I got was a look. It’s bugged me ever since.”—Kaye Kessler, Member, Colorado Golf Hall of Fame

“I don’t actually have a bucket list. I said two years ago during an Alaska fishing trip that if I had a bucket list, that trip would have been on it. I’ve never been to New Zealand and my wife and I are planning to go there next year.” —Craig Stadler, 1982 Masters Champion and Colorado Golf Hall of Fame Member

“I have a few. One is golf at St. Andrews with my dog Sammy. A few years back I went to St. Andrews and saw the locals walking up the 18th Hole of the Old Course with their trusted friends at their side. I was so jealous. Two is to have my wife Amy and I play golf at Roaring Fork and learn to fly-fish the same day. I’ve always wanted to learn to fly-fish. Three is to play the Hirono Golf Club in Japan and experience the true full day of golf. And four is to play Cypress Point with my friend BC and Clint Eastwood and have a Sam’s Special in the grill after the round.”—Scott Savlov, Executive Producer and Host, “Celebrity Bucket List”

“My son Brandon, who wants to go pro and shoots in the 60s and 70s, and I, who wants to break 90 consistently, have a friendly competition that I would just once like to win.“—Gerald Albright, Award-winning jazz saxophonist

“Play a round with Donald Trump’s caddie as I hear he has never had a bad lie! Seriously, though, I would love someday to put myself in a position to shoot a round under par. It would be an amazing experience not only to challenge my game, but I’m sure the last few holes would be a mental grind like I haven’t experienced on a golf course.”—Josh Kroenke, President and Governor, Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche

ALSO SEE: 18 Items for the Colorado Golfer’s Bucket List

So, what’s on YOUR Bucket List? Tell us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Or email to [email protected].

This article appears in the June 2016 issue of Colorado AvidGolfer.

Colorado AvidGolfer is the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it. It publishes eight issues annually and proudly delivers daily content via coloradoavidgolfer.com.