Golf by Numbers: The Spring Issue

Jon Rizzi | Colorado AvidGolfer

11 Colorado high school seniors who caddied at local courses have earned an Evans Scholarship, each valued at more than $70,000 if renewed for four years, at the University of Colorado. The Illinoisbased Western Golf Association, which partners with the CGA and CWGA in supporting the program, selected the recipients at a Colorado Evans Scholars Selection Meeting Jan. 28 at Denver Country Club. The scholars will live in the CU Evans Scholars house. The finalist(and the clubs at which they caddied) are: Josh Aguilar-Wynn (pictured above, left), William Butler and Keane McClintock (caddies at Cherry Hills Country Club); Geovani Castillo (caddie at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club); Kade Hiller (caddie at Ballyneal Golf Club); Rachel Knobbs (pictured above, right, caddie at Broadmoor Golf Club); Michael O’Hearne (caddie at Boulder Country Club); Cameron Paysen (caddie at Lakewood Country Club); Dominic Perea (caddie at Denver Country Club); Rene Rosa (caddie at Roaring Fork Club) and Arthur Zabronsky (caddie at Colorado Golf Club). Additionally, both Aguilar-Wynn and Perea graduated from the Solich Caddie and Leadership Academy at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora. colorado.evansscholars.org

8 teenagers—or maybe more—will again participate in the Junior Caddie Program at Fort Collins Country Club. Now in its second year, the program operates in conjunction with the Spike Baker Chapter of the Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy. For caddying 12 rounds per month each caddie earns $400 a month, paid by the Solich Academy, which started in 2012 at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora. “The Solich model works,” says FCCC PGA Director of Golf John Hanrahan. “The stipend, which eliminates charging caddie fees, removes any financial barrier from members taking a caddie.” But, he adds, “The members really got behind the program, and a lot of our kids killed it on the tip side.”

Hanrahan also attributes the success of the program to the support of parents who have to drive their kids, as well as to a change in the club’s culture. “I started a caddie program here 15 years ago, but at the time 95 percent of our membership took carts and had little interest,” he says. “Now, at least 35 to 40 percent of our members walk; it’s part of their active Colorado lifestyle.” The membership formed a caddie committee and donates to the program. Hanrahan, a former looper at Omaha Country Club, notes that a number of his charges “were the children of Evans Scholars. But they all come in like deer in the headlights. Watching their personalities develop and confidence grow over the summer is amazing.”

The Spike Baker Chapter takes its name from the late Colorado Golf Hall of Fame member, whose son, Scott, sits on the club’s caddie committee. fortcollinscc.com

$176.8 billion represents the total economic impact of golf in America, including direct, indirect and induced impacts. Colorado accounts for $1.7 billion of that amount. Those numbers come from We Are Golf, a coalition of the game’s leading associations and industry partners that will convene April 15 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. for the eighth annual National Golf Day. Last year’s event produced more than 120 scheduled Congressional meetings. Attendees, such as GolfTEC Founder and CEO Joe Assell, communicated to Members of Congress, the Executive Branch and regulatory agencies the game’s economic, charitable and environmental impact, as well the game’s health and wellness benefits and its affordability and accessibility. The lobby will follow a similar agenda this year, according to Steve Mona, CEO of the World Golf Foundation and administrator of We Are Golf. “The primary goal as an industry,” he says, “is to make sure our voice is heard in Washington, D.C. to ensure laws and regulations that impact the golf industry are fair and appropriate.” wearegolf.org

RELATED LINKS

Golf by Numbers: The Winter Issue

Golf by Numbers: The Fall Issue

Golf by Numbers: The August Issue

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 www.coloradoavidgolfer.com. Jon Rizzi is the founding editor and co-owner of this regional golf-related media company producing magazines, web content, tournaments, events and the Golf Passport.