Hail, drought, lightning and fires hit Colorado courses

One player hit by lightning Tuesday

By Jim Bebbington

The summer weather across Colorado this week have caused damage to some golf courses, temporary closures and injured at least one player.

Quail Dunes Golf Course, the city-owned course near Fort Morgan, was inundated with hail in mid-June and had to close for three days. The same storm smashed out windshields throughout the town and peppered the course’s greens with marks.

Quail Dunes team had to re-roll the greens and in some cases aerate them to bring them back online.

“In the next seven to 10 days we won’t even be able to tell,” said Adam Blake, the head professional.

Throughout the region courses have been affected either by too much – or too little – rain.

Denver’s Evergreen Golf Course in the foothills was affected by the rains that caused flash flooding in the town.

In Colorado Springs, The Broadmoor was on the other extreme – still waiting for some rains after an excessively dry winter and spring.

“We haven’t even had a sprinkle down here,” said Russ Miller, the director of golf. “We don’t want hail but a little rain sure would be nice.”

A lightning strike at Fox Hollow Golf Course in Lakewood on Tuesday injured a player on the 6^th hole, according to local media reports. The lightning started a grass fire that burned two acres, according to the West Rescue Fire Rescue service.

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.

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