November 30, 2017
Colorado PGA Chip Shots
Colorado PGA News
Colorado Gives Day is Tuesday, December 5

On Tuesday, December 5, please take a few minutes and show your support of our Foundation - the Colorado PGA REACH Foundation. The money raised by Colorado PGA REACH goes directly back to our members in the form of Growth of the Game Grants, Scholarships, Golf in Schools and many more programs! 81 cents of every dollar donated goes back to the programs we support.

If every PGA Member made a minimal $20 donation, it would assist the fundraising efforts of the Foundation, as well as show your support. You can pre-register your gift for delivery on Colorado Gives Day by going to  Colorado Gives.

Award Nominations Now Open for 2018 Awards!

Nominations for the 2018 Colorado PGA Special Awards are now being accepted. Take a moment to nominate a deserving Colorado PGA Member by clicking the link below. The deadline to submit nominations is February 16, 2018.
Miss the Colorado Fall Meeting, Watch the Video

Although you may have missed the 2017 Colorado PGA Fall Membership Meeting, you don't have to miss the content and recognition that took place.  Two videos covering the meeting have been posted: 
  1. A review of 2017. Be introduced to the Noble Chalfant Inductees, watch the successes of the Junior Golf Programs and see a review of the 2017 Tournament winners.
  2. Fireside Chat with Clayton Cole, Former Head Professional at Cherry Hills. Cole is candid about the golf business and the success he has experienced.
Click here to watch the videos on the Colorado PGA's YouTube Channel.
Mary Mahoney (1956-2017)
Local Sales Rep Passes Away

Mary Mahoney passed away on November 25, 2017, as a result of a tragic accident in Sunflower, Alabama. She graduated from Cherry Creek High School and earned her B.S. degree from Colorado State University. Many in the golf business in Colorado knew her as a golf apparel sales representative for johnnie-O and Bugatchi.

Click here to read her obituary.
Save The Date

Upcoming events to place on your calendar:
Tournament News
Rohrbaugh Stands in 50th Position at Champions Tour Q-School

Doug Rohrbaugh, Director of Golf at Ironbridge Golf Club and a three-time Colorado PGA Professional Champion, stands tied for 50th halfway through the final round of Champions Tour Q-School. Rohrbaugh, who had conditional status on the Champions Tour in 2015, fired rounds of 72-70 to stand at even-par 142.

The top-5 finishers will earn fully exempt status on the Champions Tour in 2018.
Junior Golf News
Don't Miss Out on PGA Junior League Workshops!

The Colorado PGA is offering four PGA Junior League Workshops for Professionals to learn more about starting a new Junior League team or to help your current program flourish. All workshops run from 8 a.m. to noon.
  • December 6 - Legacy Ridge Golf Course
  • January 9 - South Suburban Golf Course
  • January 11 - Fort Collins Country Club
  • January 18 - The Country Club of Colorado
Each workshop will be divided into two parts. The first two hours will be geared toward starting a new team with discussions on taking the first step, recruiting players, scheduling matches and many other useful aspects of PGA Junior League team operations. The second half of the workshop will be diving deeper into operations and sharing best practices with the group. 

PGA Jr. League Captain Registration Open

If you are planning to host a Jr. League golf team in 2018, the Captain Registration is officially open. Registering now will allow ample time to recruit players and form leagues. There are several exciting updates and enhancements coming in 2018 so take this step to be a part of enriching lives through experiences that transcend golf.

Click here to register.
Golf Channel to Air PGA Jr. League Championship

The 6th PGA Jr. League Championship played at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, was presented by National Car Rental. The Golf Channel will air a two-hour, primetime special highlighting the event on Tuesday, December 5, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, with a rebroadcast at 12:30 a.m. ET / 9:30 p.m. PT.
Youth On Course Online Auction Raises Over $115,000 To Subsidize Rounds Of Golf For Juniors

Youth on Course - the non-profit providing young people with subsidized golf, college scholarships, caddie programs and paid internships - generated $115,485 last week during its annual online auction to support the nationally-expanding program to remove cost as a barrier to entry for potential lifetime golfers.

By raising $115,485, Youth on Course will be able to fund 23,097 '$5 or less' rounds of golf for its members. With over 100 individual bidders, this year's auction raised $20,639 more than the 2016 auction.

Click here to read the full story.
State and Regional News
Last Chance to Play Fitzsimons Golf Course Before it Closes

Colorado golfers only have a few weeks left to tee it up at one of the state's oldest courses.
 
The City of Aurora recently announced that on December 15 the Fitzsimons Golf Course will close to the public. The City of Aurora's Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department has operated this golf course since 1998, even though the land belongs to the Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority. A development project is planned for the site where the golf course currently sits.

Click here to check out more about the story.
Colorado Golf Association Names Players of the Year

Little to no mystery surrounded whom the Colorado Golf Association would name as its four 2017 Players of the Year.
 
You only had to look at the names atop the points list in each category-open, mid-am, senior and super-senior. The CGA rewarded the players who topped the season-long leaderboard, making the awards a foregone conclusion.

Click here to check out more about the CGA Players of the Year.
Manning Makes a Hole-in-One at Cherry Hills

Former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning hit a hole-in-one while golfing at Cherry Hills Country Club on Saturday, the club told the Denver Po st. The Cherry Hills fax said Manning sunk a hole-in-one from 196 yards out on Hole No. 12 using his 5-iron. Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis and former NFL receiver Brandon Stokley were on hand and are listed as witnesses.
Spread the Word! 2017 CAGGY Awards Voting Ends December 31

It's that time of year! The season is winding down and the 2017 CAGGY Awards are back. Through December 31, 2017, Colorado AvidGolfer will be holding open voting to determine the very best of Colorado golf in over 50 categories. 
 
We invite you to get the word out to your most loyal players and database. The more votes, the better chance you or your golf club has at winning a coveted 2017 CAGGY Award and being featured in the Spring 2018 issue of  Colorado AvidGolfer. If you would like to request any marketing materials for digital or print purposes please contact alex@coloradoavidgolfer.com
 
Please direct your membership, students or database to the following URL, where they will find an embedded survey. All completed entries are automatically entered to win one of three free 2018 Colorado AvidGolfer Golf Passports.

https://www.coloradoavidgolfer.com/vote-2018-caggy-awards-best-colorado-golf
West Chapter News
Just Over Two Week Left to Submit Nominations for West Chapter Awards!

It is time to make the nominations for those you would like to see receive one of the West Chapter Awards. There are many great professionals in the West Chapter who are worthy of these awards. Nominate now.

PGA of America News
PGA Financial Assistance Fund Scholarship Link Live

The PGA Financial Assistance Fund Scholarship application is available on PGA.org. Established in 1986, the program provides college scholarships for children and grandchildren of PGA Members.
 
There is a  new feature this year. A toll free number - (888) 713-9098 - will be able to provide information about the scholarship, dates, etc.

Important dates to remember:
  • November 16, 2017 - Scholarship application live on pga.org.
  • March 1, 2018 - Deadline to submit the application.
  • March 19, 2018 - Deadline to have all supporting documents submitted, provided applicant is eligible. 
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