Shining Mountain Standout to Challenge the Broadmoor Beast
Rick Langbert
The controversy over short-term rental units isn’t just restricted to Woodland Park council debates and legal rulings.
It now extends to the region’s royal links land, the legendary and brutal East course at The Broadmoor, down the hill from Teller County, where golf nerves are tested like never before and usually obliterated. Just ask football great John Elway, baseball analyst John Smoltz and a few former athlete greats from other sports who tried their luck at the local Beast in U.S. Senior Open tests and qualifying duels. In most cases, they fell way short almost mimicked scenes from the acclaimed movie Tin Cup with their early scores.
Jerry Penland, who was recently rated as the area’s top political troublemaker, but is known for his golf skills at the Shining Mountain course in Woodland Park, has received a special USGA invitation to participate in the 45th annual U.S. Senior Open, which this summer is being held at the Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs. His invitation is part of a new community-oriented division of the tourney, dedicated to civic leaders who made a difference. Penland will be competing in the Senior Open’s community division.
Penland, who once ran for mayor of Woodland Park was considered the face behind Ordinance 1469 (the voter-approved law banning short-term rentals unless they are owner-occupied), after reportedly received endorsement from several top political figures, to compete in the tourney as an amateur. No names were released to TMC, but rumor has it that one of these involved a former elected leader who had a special love for rap music on special celebratory occasions in the Pool Hall bar.
Regardless of the politics behind the situation, Penland is in at the Senior Open, scheduled for late June. This year marks the third time the Broadmoor has hosted the U.S. Senior Open,
“I am glad to be part of tradition,” said Penland, who admits he will now be taking steps to add a little distance from the tee. But then there are the Broadmoor greens, considered among the toughest to putt in the world. TMC writers cringe even when trying to describe them. And the rough will most likely make the hazards of SM (which most local players dread) look like a walk in the park. Penland will be hiring Trevor Phipps as his caddie and spiritual links advisor and Rick Langenberg as his score-keeper.
“I will need all the help I can get,” said Penland. “Making the cut at the Broadmoor will be much harder than collecting several thousand petition signatures in Woodland Park,” he stated. Woodland Park is not immune to political controversies these days with a challenging terrain that will match the brutal physical test great senior players will face at the Broadmoor this June.
Several current leaders are excited over the news. “This will keep Jerry out of political trouble, at least for a couple of weeks,” quipped Mayor Kellie Casie,
SM General Manager Silas Beck was elated over the news, and has announced a spree of fund-raisers for top PGA instructors to work with Penland in preparation for the event.
The Broadmoor has a special relationship with golf history. The links is known for propelling golfing great Jack Nicklaus in his amateur career, which laide out the groundwork for Jack eventually winning 18 major championships, more than any player in history, including Tiger Woods. In more recent years, it became the site for Annika Sorenstam’s first major victory on the LPGA tour. Sorenstam is regarded as one of the greatest women players to compete. More notably, she currently is regarded one of the best ambassadors of the game. The senior opens at the Broadmoor have turned into real nail-biters.
Will Jerry make history? Readers will have to find out in future issues of TMC.
Happy April Fool’s Day!
