A Winner All-Around

Recently, the Aurora resident perused some information about the 2020 raffle; he surely knew the long odds of landing a second grand prize—but that won’t keep him from giving it a go again.

“You bet I am,” Winters said when asked if he’ll enter the raffle for a fifth-consecutive year.

Indeed, with six donated grand prize stay-and-play packages for two, at some stellar venues, it’s certainly enticing. They include Bandon Dunes in Oregon, Kohler in Wisconsin, Sand Valley in Wisconsin, Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic and two Robert Trent Jones Trail packages in Alabama—one in the northern part of the state and the other in the southern half. Also included is a $500 gift card for use toward travel, food and beverage, and complimentary Ship Sticks golf bag delivery.

Beyond that, there are more than two dozen Colorado golf packages—including at TPC Colorado, Boulder Country Club, The Club at Rolling Hills, The Ranch Country Club, Eisenhower Golf Club, River Valley Ranch, Raven Golf Club at Three Peaks in Silverthorne—and other prizes.

The CGA’s state-licensed raffle is offering tickets online until Aug. 20 at 4 p.m. MST, with the random drawing taking place on Aug. 21.

But whether entrants win a prize or not, their $40-per-ticket raffle entry benefits CGA junior programs that are hard not to like: the Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy, the Hale Irwin Player Program and the association’s Community and Wellness Programs.

“Our three flagship programs are really our conduit into the Colorado community, the metro Denver community—and our extension of (the CGA-owned) CommonGround Golf Course as ‘a place for all and all the game teaches,’” said Ryan Smith, the chief development officer for the CGA. “That is so important for us. It’s really where we’re a cause for good in the community. Our programs are doing great work, and the CGA staff members who lead that outreach are really committed to the children and the kids involved in all our programming. That’s what this raffle is supporting.”

The beneficiaries are certainly part of the reason Winters has entered the CGA raffle each of the past four years it’s been held. “Way back in the day, my brother caddied in Chicago, and I knew the raffle benefited (the Solich Academy). I thought, we might as well throw some money at them and help the cause. It’s great what they do. I haven’t hired a caddie yet at CommonGround, but I plan to.”

Over the past four years, the CGA Dream Golf Vacation Raffle has raised about $170,000, including $70,000 in 2019 alone. Smith said this year’s goal is $75,000.

Winners of the 2020 raffle grand prizes have until the late spring or even mid-summer of 2021—depending on the specific stay-and-play package—to take their trips. Given concerns some people have with traveling at present with the COVID-19 situation, that flexibility can offer peace of mind.

The courses that are part of the raffle grand prizes are very highly regarded. Just looking at Golf Digest’s “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses”—considered in many ways the gold standard of course rankings in the U.S.—six courses included in raffle grand prizes are on the list. Plus, Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo is ranked 32nd in Golf Digest’s list of “World’s 100 Greatest Courses.” Whistling Straits, of course, will be the site of this year’s Ryder Cup matches, assuming no scheduling changes are made.

To purchase tickets for CGA Dream Golf Vacation Raffle, visit coloradogolf.org.

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This article was also featured in the July 2020 issue of Colorado AvidGolfer.

Colorado AvidGolfer 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.

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