By Jim Bebbington
For 40 years Kevin Bolles helped grow the game of golf, primarily as the director of golf since 1999 for Boulder Country Club, and after a full course renovation decided it was time for other things.
He’s retiring on Sept. 1, then for the first time in years going to compete in the Inspirato Colorado Senior Open at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club.
“I haven’t played it for awhile,” he said.
Then it’s off to Montana for the month of September.
But on Sept. 1 Bolles retired and is hoping to be able to play and compete more after working to teach and encourage the game since 1986.
“My advice to any and all golf pros – self-educate yourself,” he said. “You know, we’re experts at a lot of different things from rules, handicapping, tournament operations, and oftentimes we act, it seems like golf pros expect seminars to train you. Just read the book, go online, make yourself smarter. It’s because nobody else is going to do it for you. And if you want to be successful in the business, you have to sound educated.”
One of the main aspects of his tenure in Boulder has been stability. His first hire there in 1999 was Terra Sheehy as an assistant pro, and she remains with the club.
He started working at Boulder CC in 1986 part-time, then in 1987 went on the payroll – filling in shifts while also trying to make it as a touring player on miniature tours.
“So that went on for a bunch of years while I was in and out of town,” he said. “and then in about ’91 I took a so-called full-time position in the winter, thinking I’ll work for a few months and then go back on the road. And I didn’t really go back on the road, so here I am today, still here.”
The most-recent years on the job have involved an extensive redesign of the course which began in 2020 and was completed in 2023.
“It ended up being a time-capsule of fixing or updating the course to take into account all the ways the game has changed,” he said.
For example, in one area a pond narrowed the fareway and with modern equipment players would smash their shots opposite the pond – often peppering the rooftops and walls of houses on that side. The pond had to go.
Then there were par 4s which were shortened to take advantage of the trend to give big-hitters an enticement to go for the green in one.
“Short fours are the new thing,” he said.
Bolles is proud of his tenure and of the other PGA professionals who have similar tenures.
“There’s a few of us in the Colorado that have done it,” he said. “I know Rudy Cataneda is still down at Indian Tree (Golf Club in Arvada) knocking it out. Jeff Seltz just retired a while ago (as director of golf for The Club at Rolling Hills). I feel like there’s been quite a few that have retired in the last couple of years. Kirk Rider’s down there in Bear Creek, hanging in there doing his thing. So anyway, we’re kind of a unique club, I got to say.”
Looking back at his career, Bolles said he is proud to have been part of working with so many people and students and Boulder members to help them learn golf and enjoy the game.
“It’s just been a part of a massive community of people, and you kind of don’t realize that when you’re in the middle of it,” he said. “But as you come down the road to retirement and you look back and go, wow, I’ve known thousands and thousands of people and generations of families from when they start having babies and now they’re grandparents or kids have gone to college. Kids come back and become members and start having babies. so I’ve been a part of one, two, three generations of people. And that’s I guess probably the favorite thing is just to know all these people and to watch the place grow.”
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.
Kevin Bolles retires Sept. 1 after 40 years By Jim Bebbington For 40 years Kevin Bolles helped grow the game of golf, primarily as the director of golf since 1999 for Boulder Country Club, and after a full course renovation decided it was time for other things. He’s retiring on Sept. 1, then for the
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