The Century of Golf Gala set for Saturday night (Nov. 14) at The Broadmoor will feature more golf luminaries than you can shake a stick — or a golf club — at.
Of course, heading the list will be arguably the greatest golfer of all time, Jack Nicklaus, the featured guest at the Gala. (To read about his many accomplishments in Colorado, CLICK HERE). The Golden Bear will participate in a fireside chat with another notable, columnist and Golf Channel insider Tim Rosaforte.
Other headliners at the Gala will be the six Colorado golf People of the Century who will be recognized at The Broadmoor:
Man of the Century — Will Nicholson Jr.
Woman of the Century — Judy Bell
Male Player of the Century — Hale Irwin
Female Player of the Century — Barbara McIntire
Golf Professional of the Century — Charles “Vic” Kline
Superintendent of the Century — Dennis Lyon
(Pictured above are five of the six, from left: McIntire, Bell, Nicholson, Kline and Lyon.)
And many other big names will be among the roughly 1,250 people expected to attend the Gala or the 160 planning to play golf as part of the festivities earlier in the day, weather-permitting.
The Gala and related events are being held in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the CGA. The Nov. 14 events are being conducted by the Colorado Golf Foundation, with all proceeds benefiting the Foundation’s mission of youth development through golf.
As a primer to the Gala, here’s a look at the People of the Century, by the numbers:
1 — Women who have served as USGA president since the position was created in 1894, with that one being Judy Bell of Colorado Springs (1996-97).
1st — U.S. captain for the President’s Cup, Hale Irwin in 1994.
2 — World Golf Hall of Famers among the People of the Century, Judy Bell and Hale Irwin (left).
2 — People of the Century who lost to the great Mickey Wright at the 1952 U.S. Girls’ Junior. Judy Bell fell to Wright in the semifinals and Barbara McIntire in the final. McIntire was also the runner-up in 1951.
2 — Major national awards earned by Dennis Lyon in the years shortly following his retirement as manager of golf for the city of Aurora: USGA’s Green Section Award, given to individuals who contribute significantly to the game of golf through their work with turfgrass (2011) and the Col. John Morley Distinguished Service Award, presented by the GCSAA to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the golf course superintendent’s profession (2013).
2 — Sports in which Vic Kline lettered at the University of New Mexico (golf and basketball) and in which Hale Irwin lettered at the University of Colorado (golf and football). Irwin was a two-time All-Big Eight defensive back in football (1965 and ’66) and won the 1967 NCAA individual title in golf.
3 — Coloradans who have been presidents of the USGA, with People of the Century Will Nicholson and Judy Bell joining Frank Woodward.
3 — Courses Hale Irwin has designed in Colorado: Highlands Ranch GC, Indian Peaks GC and the Cordillera Mountain Course.
3 — National amateur titles won in the U.S. and Great Britain by Barbara McIntire from 1959-64. She claimed the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 1959 and ’64 and also captured the 1960 British Ladies Amateur, becoming just the fourth American to win that event.
3 — Coloradans who have chaired the USGA Women’s Golf Committee, with People of the Century Judy Bell and Barbara McIntire joining Joan Birkland.
4 — People of the Century who are in the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame: Hale Irwin, Judy Bell, Will Nicholson and Barbara McIntire.
4 — Times Hale Irwin, 70, shot his age or better during the 2015 Champions Tour season, including his final two official rounds of the year (both 68s).
5 — USGA championships won by Hale Irwin, including three U.S. Opens and two U.S. Senior Opens. Also the number of CGA championship titles he captured, including three straight Stroke Plays (1963-65). In addition, Irwin claimed the 1963 state high school title at Boulder High, where he was a teammate of Dick Anderson, who would go on to be a three-time NFL Pro Bowler with the Miami Dolphins.
5 — Times Vic Kline was named the Colorado PGA’s Player of the Year. Also, years he served as president of the Colorado PGA from 1975 to ’92.
6 — People of the Century who’ve been inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame.
6 — People who have won the U.S. Open at least three times: Jack Nicklaus (4), Ben Hogan (4), Bobby Jones (4), Willie Anderson (4), Hale Irwin (3) and Tiger Woods (3).
7 — Recipients of the Will Nicholson Jr., Award who are members of the World Golf Hall of Fame: Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Ben Crenshaw, Judy Bell, Hale Irwin and Ernie Els. The award goes to people who have demonstrated a lifetime of commitment and dedication to the game of golf. Nicholson himself was the first recipient.
8 — Curtis Cup teams on which Barbara McIntire competed (6) or captained (2). Judy Bell played in two and captained two.
11 — Years Will Nicholson Jr., spent on the powerful USGA Executive Committee.
11 — Times the Vic Kline Award has been given to a member of the Colorado PGA Board of Directors for outstanding service and leadership for the Section.
13 — Match wins by Hale Irwin in the Ryder Cup (against five losses and two draws).
15 — Age at which Judy Bell won the first of her three Kansas state women’s amateur titles, in 1952.
17 — Years Will Nicholson Jr., chaired the Rules Committee for the Masters. Nicholson was responsible for setting up Augusta National for the Masters from 1992-2006.
20 — PGA Tour victories recorded by Hale Irwin from 1971-94.
25 — Years of volunteer service on USGA committees for which Dennis Lyon received the Ike Grainger Award.
38 — USGA championships in which Judy Bell competed.
45 — Record total of career Champions Tour victories posted by Hale Irwin, 16 more than runner-up Lee Trevino. The total includes seven senior major championships.
45 — Age at which Hale Irwin won the 1990 U.S. Open, making him the oldest champion of that event.
67 — Score Judy Bell shot at the 1964 U.S. Women’s Open, which remained the record for the championship for 14 years.
302 — Four-round total shot by Barbara McIntire in the 1956 U.S. Women’s Open in forcing a playoff with Kathy Cornelius. If McIntire had won the playoff, she would have become the first amateur to capture the U.S. Women’s Open title, but Cornelius prevailed 75-82.
1250 — Prize money earned by Vic Kline for winning the Colorado Open in 1968.
1973 (to present) — Time Will Nicholson has served on the CGA Board of Governors.
1980-81 — Years Will Nicholson Jr., served as president of the USGA.
1987 — Year Judy Bell became the first female to serve on the USGA Executive Committee.
1988 — Year the junior golf program at Indian Tree Golf Club in Arvada was named the best in the nation at a municipal facility by Golf Digest. Vic Kline was the longtime director of golf at Indian Tree.
1989 — Year Dennis Lyon became national president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.
2000 — Year Barbara McIntire received the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor given by the USGA, in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf.
2000 — Year Vic Kline was presented the PGA of America’s top award, as national Golf Professional of the Year. Only one other member of the Colorado PGA has earned the honor, Warren Smith in 1973. Five years later, in 2005, Kline was inducted into the PGA of America Golf Professional Hall of Fame.
2002-03 — Years Dennis Lyon served as president of the CGA. In 2008, he would become general chairman of the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at Murphy Creek Golf Course in Aurora.
