Welcome to “The Beauty and the Beast” at the Broadmoor
Rick Langenberg
Golf fever has struck the Pikes Peak and Ute Pass regions with a fury, unmatched in recent years.
This week, our little abode commands the national links stage, as the Broadmoor Golf Club (just minutes away from Woodland Park and the lower Ute Pass) hosts the 45th U.S. Senior Open Championship from June 26 to 29.
If you have never witnessed a professional golf tourney, this is a prime opportunity to see the real legends of the game compete in a quant, scenic setting. Unlike other sports, pro golf actually allows viewers a rare up-close opportunity to take in the action and almost breathe next to the competitors. Just make sure to take your walking and running shoes.
Just a few historic notes: With the forthcoming championship, the Broadmoor will now have showcased nine USGA (United States Golf Association) events and will tie the record for holding the most U.S. Senior Open Championships (now three for the Broadmoor). In fact, next to Oakmont, the site of the recent 2025 U.S. Open, the Broadmoor has featured more USGA championships than any other site in the country. Plenty of tradition bustles at the Broadmoor’s East Course. It marked the track where golfing great Jack Nicklaus started his stellar career by winning the 1959 U.S. Amateur as a teen. It also gained national notoriety as becoming the site that propelled the career of LPGA great Annika Sorenstam of Sweden who won the 1995 U.S. Open at the Broadmoor in a definite thriller.
The Broadmoor, at one time, mulled making a bid as a site for the ultimate USGA Holy Grail, the U.S. Open. But due to the length the big boys now hit the ball due to the PGA and USGA’s ultimate stupidity in not reigning in regarding the technology and ball speed boom that completely changed the game (often regarded as golf’s steroid infliction), it would have been forced to lengthen the course by some 1,000 yards. This marked a challenge that could only be accomplished by making major infrastructure changes to the area, such as altering the neighborhood’s fire evacuation system. You can guess how that idea was viewed.
But fret not, while the senior pros may still assault the current 7,264-yard layout at the Broadmoor with their long drives at high altitude, the Broadmoor greens will devour their nerves and play head games with the best plus-50 crowd of expert linksters.
As the saying goes, if you find yourself contending with a 60-foot downhill putt at the Broadmoor’s East Course on U.S. Open week, you are put on an immediate SUICIDE WATCH. Reports abound of some linksters incurring five or more puts to get the ball in the hole from this distance, scratching their head in agony and then fleeing to the nearest bar or church when they hear the Westminster chimes, stemming from the Will Rogers Shrine, which are heard at the Broadmoor course on a regular basis.
This became the scene of some area media pundits, who got the opportunity to challenge the course in mid-May and ended up waving a surrender flag, such as yours truly. Luckily, the USGA offered a post-round gathering to help soothe a few media nerves.
“The true defense of the Broadmoor are the putting greens, admitted Hale Irwin, the honorary chairman of this year’s event. A Colorado native, Hale won three U.S. Opens and two U.S. Senior titles, and a slew of PGA and Senior Tour championships. Hale was not a fan of the Westminster chimes and actually tried to stop them altogether in a previous U.S. Senior showdown at the Broadmoor.
No such luck. Hale got the powers that be to turn down the chime sound slightly, but that was about it.
Irwin believes the Broadmoor will prove to be quite a test. Besides the super-complex greens that easily rival those at Oakmont in overall difficulty, he sees the mountainous terrain as a big factor.
The Challenge Awaiting Senior Pros
The big question: Will the USGA force the contenders to endure the torturous test that occurred during the recent carnage at Oakmont, with six-inch rough and super slick greens and ridiculously high scores and almost unplayable conditions on the final day.
Probably not, as Oakmont is Oakmont and the members their revel in player torture. But don’t look for any mercy on the greens and much relief on wayward shots.
The Broadmoor’s reputation as “The Beauty and the Beast” will remain.
Plenty of big names are set to take in the action, expected to reach crowds of 130,000-plus. For spectator tips, try to go Thursday and Friday, as the field is cut in half by the weekend and many of the older more colorful players probably won’t be around on Saturday and Sunday. For key hole areas to witness, I highly suggest an area near 1 green and number 2 tee box. The second hole, a relatively short par-4 for these guys, is one that the bad boys of over 50 who show no signs of aging, will attempt to drive the green. No. 17 on the back is another great spot, as this 545-yard, par 4 hole (nope that’s not a typo, this is just the USGA madness), is often a pivotal point of play.
But with the hilly terrain, there are a number of elevated spots that permit great viewing.
Enjoy yourself. Believe it or not, this USGA showdown is one of the most democratic sporting events, in that it is open to the most participants. For this year, the USGA accepted nearly 3,000 potential entries with golfers from 49 states and 34 foreign countries making a bid to compete in the tourney.
By Sunday evening, we will see the real champion of the peoples’ championship (at least for seniors)
If golf viewing is not your thing, check out Shining Mountain in Woodland Park for a day of play.
The Woodland Park course is gearing up for their summer season and now offers a variety of charity tournaments and regular league play.
Stay tuned for more information regarding their weekly scramble tournaments.
