FEBRUARY 2024

1. Estes Park Golf Course- Estes Park - Played

This place is truly miraculous and probably the best golfing memory that I have although at the time I played I was probably 10 strokes worse. Regardless, the driving range makes you feel like you're hitting it to the top of one of the beautiful peaks that surround the area and when the weather permits, there is no better feeling of freshness. The course resides nearly 7,200 feet in altitude and plays a par 72 with a handful of unique par 3s. Don't be surprised if you see some awesome, or huge wildlife while playing your round, and I would highly recommend bringing a camera! 

2. Arrowhead Golf Course- Littleton - have not played

I honestly am so sick of hearing about how beautifully challenging this course is. You have my word I am going to play it this Summer. This course is probably one of the more scenically advanced and in fact, is one of the top 10 most photographed golf courses in the world! The course is an even par 70 with nearly every hole being another majestic mountain-view. The course is so majestic, it almost seems as if each hole is its own course, with each hole playing differently and being spread far from the other. 

3. Colorado Golf Club- Parker - have not played

I have to put this one on this list because it is close to the heart- shoutout my boys at CGC grinding everyday! This course has one of the more elite membership groups that plays home course to many prominent athletes and figures in Colorado. A golf course that provides excellency and pristine care to its members, CGC boasts a very challenging, but fun and unique course layout with beautiful panoramic views of the Eastern and Western plains. CGC most recently co-hosted the U.S. Amateur Championship for stroke play where Nick Dunlap took the cake (read about this at the bottom of the page), and was only 3 years young when it hosted its first PGA Championship (2010 Senior PGA Championship). At an even par 70, CGC is home to many long and difficult par 5s, but is at the top of any golfer's list on courses to play before they die or move away, pending an invite from an employee at the course. 

4. Castle Pines Golf Club- Castle Rock - have not played

This course is definitely at the top of my lists of courses I need to play. Castle Pines is a premier launching pad for golfers as the ball tends to travel 10% further at 6,600 feet in elevation. With many hills, this course does prove to be challenging, but it has rated amongst the top 5 courses since architect and golf legend Jack Nicklaus designed the course in 1981, and more recently has revamped its elegancy with renovations in 2020. The course is a par 72 and another premier destination for Colorado golfers, but that's if they get an invite from a member of the private club. 

5. Cherry Hills Country Club - Englewood - have not played

I probably will never get the privilege to play this pristine course but man it is another one I might do some crazy things to play. Cherry Hills is another course that has recently co-hosted the U.S Amateur in addition to CGC, where yet again Nick Dunlap did his thing. This course has an extensive history of hosting PGA championship events and has been played by some of golf's most prominent figures in Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Phil Mickelson, and many more. I honestly am not drawn to the scenery of this course, but rather its elite company that have played there and the professionalism the course displays. 

In what is the pinnacle of heavy drinking and golf colliding, the 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open ironically and emphatically lived up to its name, while exceeding any wild expectations golf fans may have had for the tournament. In what was a terrible weekend for golf with brisk winds and heavy rain in Phoenix, the fans made up for it with alcoholic beverages and insane stunts that would make any etiquette-respecting golfer throw a club. Not even midway through Saturday's schedule, tournament and course officials had to cut off food and alcohol sales in an attempt to calm the drunks and eliminate large crowds of people gathering in small areas. However, despite their efforts, the chaos really came to life when fans and media outlets began posting videos of madness. If you didn't catch one of these videos or pictures online, please- allow me to recap: 

1. For starters, we see the infamous sprint to the 16th hole at the buttcrack of dawn, where many fans had appeared to have already been at the bottle, beers, and seltzers for hours prior. As you could imagine, thousands of people sprinting to one place at the same time resulted in some people being trampled, but fortunately only a handful of injuries were reported.

2. There was an actual fight that broke out near one of the holes on Friday that required security personnel to tackle the brawlers. In the video, a man with a man bun and another young man are seen wrestling to the ground and elbowing each other before fans and security stepped in to stop the scuffle. 

3. Last year we had MacSavage that ran around in solely his underwear and pit viper sunglasses before catapulting himself into the pond on 16. This year, thankfully we had a young man with a bit more clothing. The man ran around his pants and reached the green before plunging into the sand trap, performing a few sand angels, then belly flopped into the pond leaving the crowd completely electrified, and the man in handcuffs. 

4. Speaking of handcuffs, why don't we touch on the numbers from the Scottsdale Police Department after this weekend. It's crazy to think that there was a Super Bowl in Sin City this weekend, yet substantially more people were arrested at a golf tournament, but that is why the Waste Management Open is so prominent. As of right now, according to the SPD and Waste Management Phoenix Open officials, there were 653 calls for services made, 54 people were arrested, 73 were charged with trespassing, and 211 people were ejected. 

5. Probably the most infamous moments of the tournament came from people having their shirts off and causing bodily harm to themseleves. One man in khaki pants with a goatee and long hair nearly lost his bridges when he slid down a muddy hill with his shirt off before pouring the rest of his beer all over himself. In another video, we see an extremely large man with his shirt off slide down a hill on his belly while being showered with beers from people around him. 

6. I will not go into too much detail with one video, because it is pretty self explanatory and you could paint the picture yourself, but we did see a man who looked like a modern day Frat-boy peeing himself while sitting down near a trash can, beer still in hand, mind you. 

All in all, it was a hell of a weekend in Arizona and there will most likely be a time where the PGA and WMPO officials meet to make adjustments to next year's tournament. I could imagine the tournament becomes a bit less alcohol induced, but one could only hope they keep the rowdy and rich traditions that have brought the tournament so much fame. 

JANUARY 2024

Nick Dunlap, a 20-year-old sophomore for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide has just accomplished a feat that includes legendary, exclusive company after his win in La Quinta, California American Express Cup Tournament win. Dunlap outlasted professional golf's biggest names in Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and more with his extremely impressive week, ending his final round with an insane 29 strokes under par on his scoresheet. Dunlap, while may not be from Colorado, seemed to have captivated the golf community's hearts when he won the U.S. Amateur Championship at Cherry Hills Country Club. With this victory coming 2 years after his Junior Amateur Championship win North Carolina, Nick Dunlap has now accumulated respectable stats in the professional golf realm and for his Crimson Tide.  Dunlap has already notched a tournament victory in 4 tournament appearances, and now has the world right in the palm of his hand. Because the fact he is still amateur, Dunlap simply has the world in the palm of his hands, and now has to make the decision of returning to Alabama, or pursuing a professional career with his guaranteed PGA Tour card. It is a problem that many young golfers around the world are looking at in awe and jealousy, as Nick Dunlap has introduced himself to the comepetitive professional golf world in a major way. Dunlap's victory earned him accolades with prestigious company, as only he and some guy named Tiger Woods are now the only two golfers to ever win a Junior Amateur and Amateur Championship, respectively. The future is looking all and more bright for Nick Dunlap and the golf world will continue to remain on edge until Dunlap's decision is made; will the young phenom leave his homework in California, or will he continue his education and National Championship with the Tide? Only time will tell, but it seems the bright lights and big putts are just beginning for the young and wickedly talented Nick Dunlap.