New Hall of Famers urge others to give back to the game of golf

Colorado Golf Hall of Fame inducts stellar class

By Jim Bebbington

Many of the newest members of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame urged the hundreds in attendance at their induction ceremony Sunday to give back to the game that has given joy and opportunity to so many.

The Hall inducted pros Wyndham Clark and Jennifer Kupcho, golf industry titans Pat Hamill, Joe Assell and George Solich, as well as Gene Torres, a celebrated pro of the 1950s to the 1970s who was born in Trinidad, Colorado.

In speeches to the 400 in attendance, the new members of the Hall – as well as Torres son Gene Jr. – said the game of golf had provided them with careers and opportunity and they wanted everyone who is able to help spread the game to others.

“Thank you for considering an old caddie for the Hall of Fame,” Solich said.

Solich and his brother Duffy grew up in Colorado Springs and caddied as teens at The Broadmoor, home of the 2025 U.S. Senior Open. That led to a crucial Evans Scholarship for each, which made it possible for them to attend the University of Colorado. They went on to lead a successful oil exploration company, and they have funded caddie training facilities at The Broadmoor, CommonGround and Meridian golf clubs near Denver, and a Grand Junction chapter.

Solich was named to to the hall for that support in addition to being crucial to efforts to bring the PGA Tour’s BMW Championship here in 2024 and 2014.

Clark and Kupcho have both won majors on their tours and three tournaments each in their careers. Kupcho, 27, won the 2020 CoBank Colorado Women’s Open, and is the youngest person ever inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame.

Kupcho told the audience ‘Not many players can say I won my first professional tournament in the state where I grew up. If it wasn’t for Colorado’s commitment to holding competitive tournaments for all levels of golfers I wouldn’t have gained the confidence it takes to be successful at the professional level.”

Hamill is the recently retired CEO of Oakwood Homes and developer of Green Valley Ranch Golf Club and major backer of the Inspirato Colorado Open championships. He said after he was told of his induction he read up on the more than 100 other previous members of the Hall. “They all spent their time working to improve their game,” he said. “No matter how good they got at it in the office or on the course at what they did, they always worked at giving back.”

Clark, who grew up in Highlands Ranch, spoke of his mother, Lise, who died in 2013 when he was in college. “My mom instilled in me this great motto which was to Play Big. Play for something bigger than yourself. So I stress to anyone – young kids and adults – to not do your profession just for yourself but for something greater than yourself. If that’s giving back, if that’s influence, if that’s growing golf or growing your business, do that.”

Joe Assell, who grew the company GolfTec into an international operation with more than 200 locations, urged the crowd to appreciate what they have.

“Just reflect for a minute how fortunate all of us are to have golf in our lives – to be golfers, to be in this room. The places we go, the people we meet, the experiences we have, the incredible friendships we make. For me, an entire career on top of that,” he said.

Also honored Sunday were:

Future Famer Award: Logan Hale, a two-time state champion at Erie High School and Charlie Tucker, a Rock Canyon High School graduate and 2023 state champ.

Distinguished Service Award: Mark Passey, a longtime USGA regional affairs director and a key contributor to the establishment of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame’s new facility at The Broadmoor.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Kathy Walker, a marketing executive who volunteered to run several high-profile tournaments in the region, including the 1990 U.S. Amateur and the 1993 U.S. Senior Open.

Person of the Year: Jim Hillary, who ran the 2023 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills Country Club, which set records for attendance and philanthropic support.