Cherry Hills Country Club
Encyclopedia
Cherry Hills Country Club is a private country club
in Cherry Hills Village
, Colorado
, a suburb
of Denver. The club was founded in 1922 and designed by William Flynn. The club features a championship 18-hole golf course, a 9-hole par three course, eight tennis courts, and a lap pool. The nine hole course is called the Rip Arnold Course, named for the man who was the club's head golf professional from 1939 to 1962. The club hosts a Pro-Member Invitational every September named for Warren Smith (golfer)
, head professional at Cherry Hills from 1963 to 1991. A bas relief of Smith, who was honored as the PGA of America's Golf Professional of the Year in 1973, now sits near the 10th tee at the course. The championship eighteen hole golf course measures 7,160 yards and is a par 72. However, the course plays much shorter because the average elevation
of the course exceeds 5300 feet (1,615.4 m) above sea level. In 2005 Cherry Hills completed a $12 million dollar renovation on the club house facilities. As of 2006, the membership fee is $95,000. The club's signature colors are cherry red and white.
(USGA) championships, including U.S. Open
competitions in 1938, 1960, and 1978. It hosted the U.S. Amateur in 1990, won by Phil Mickelson
.
The 1993 U.S. Senior Open
was contested at Cherry Hills, with Jack Nicklaus
winning. Most recently, Birdie Kim
won the 2005
U.S. Women's Open
which was contested at Cherry Hills. The U.S. Amateur will return to the club in 2012.
Three U.S. Opens
have been played at Cherry Hills, the first won by Ralph Guldahl
in 1938. In 1960, Arnold Palmer
won the Open with a score of four under par. After three unsuccessful attempts, Palmer finally drove the first green (355-yard par four) in the fourth round on his way to victory. Tied for the lead with Palmer as he came to the par-5 17th hole, 47-year old Ben Hogan
hit his third shot back from the cup into the water and bogeyed. He hooked his final tee shot and triple-bogeyed the final hole to finish four strokes back at even par, which ended his chances of a tenth major championship. Playing with Hogan, a 20-year old collegian named Jack Nicklaus
from Ohio State
bogeyed the final hole and finished second, two strokes behind Palmer, and was the low amateur. As a result of Palmer's feat, the USGA commissioned construction of a new tee prior to the 1978 U.S. Open, which extended the hole 50 yards. The '78 Open is the most recent Open held at Cherry Hills, and it was won by Andy North
with a score of one over par. Until 2006
, this was the most recent U.S. Open in which the winning score had been over par.
A significant restoration by noted architect Tom Doak
was carried out during 2008 and opened for play in spring 2009. The course was extended to over 7500 yards (6858 m) and many trees were removed. In addition, several original bunkers that had been removed over the years were restored, bringing the course more in-line with William Flynn's original design.
s held at Cherry Hills. The first, which was held in 1941 (when the PGA Championship was conducted in a match play format), was won by Vic Ghezzi
with a score of "one-up" over Byron Nelson
. In 1985, Hubert Green
won the PGA Championship with a score of six under par 278.
Bolded Years are major championships
on the PGA Tour
.
39.642896°N 104.962194°W
Country club
A country club is a private club, often with a closed membership, that typically offers a variety of recreational sports facilities and is located in city outskirts or rural areas. Activities may include, for example, any of golf, tennis, swimming or polo...
in Cherry Hills Village
Cherry Hills Village, Colorado
The city of Cherry Hills Village is a Denver suburb and Home Rule Municipality located in Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States. The population was 5,958 at the 2000 census. It is one of the most affluent places in Colorado and the United States....
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Denver. The club was founded in 1922 and designed by William Flynn. The club features a championship 18-hole golf course, a 9-hole par three course, eight tennis courts, and a lap pool. The nine hole course is called the Rip Arnold Course, named for the man who was the club's head golf professional from 1939 to 1962. The club hosts a Pro-Member Invitational every September named for Warren Smith (golfer)
Warren Smith (golfer)
Smith was born in Escanaba, Michigan but the family soon moved to Gadsden, Alabama where he started playing golf at the age of 11. He won his first match at 16, set a new amateur record of 31 at the Gadsden Country Club at 18, and won the 25th annual Beauvoir Country Club Invitational in...
, head professional at Cherry Hills from 1963 to 1991. A bas relief of Smith, who was honored as the PGA of America's Golf Professional of the Year in 1973, now sits near the 10th tee at the course. The championship eighteen hole golf course measures 7,160 yards and is a par 72. However, the course plays much shorter because the average elevation
Elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
of the course exceeds 5300 feet (1,615.4 m) above sea level. In 2005 Cherry Hills completed a $12 million dollar renovation on the club house facilities. As of 2006, the membership fee is $95,000. The club's signature colors are cherry red and white.
USGA championships
Cherry Hills has hosted seven United States Golf AssociationUnited States Golf Association
The United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system...
(USGA) championships, including U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
competitions in 1938, 1960, and 1978. It hosted the U.S. Amateur in 1990, won by Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson
Philip Alfred Mickelson is an American professional golfer. He has won four major championships and a total of 39 events on the PGA Tour. He has reached a career high world ranking of 2nd in multiple years. He is nicknamed "Lefty" for his left-handed swing, even though he is otherwise right-handed...
.
The 1993 U.S. Senior Open
United States Senior Open
The U.S. Senior Open is one of the major championships in men's senior golf. It was first played in 1980 and is administered by the United States Golf Association and is recognized as a major championship by both the Champions Tour and the European Seniors Tour...
was contested at Cherry Hills, with Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
winning. Most recently, Birdie Kim
Birdie Kim
Birdie Kim is a South Korean golfer. Her career highlight is winning the 2005 U.S. Women's Open at Cherry Hills Country Club. In the last round, she was tied for the lead on the 18th hole. Her second shot found a green-side bunker...
won the 2005
2005 in golf
-Men's professional golf:Major championships*7-10 April: Masters Tournament - Tiger Woods defeated fellow American Chris DiMarco at the first playoff hole to claim his 4th Masters title, and his 9th major. He temporarily returned to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Rankings.*16-19 June: U.S...
U.S. Women's Open
United States Women's Open Championship (golf)
The United States Women's Open Golf Championship, one of thirteen national championships conducted by the United States Golf Association , is one of the LPGA's major championships along with the LPGA Championship, the Women's British Open, and the Kraft Nabisco Championship...
which was contested at Cherry Hills. The U.S. Amateur will return to the club in 2012.
Three U.S. Opens
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
have been played at Cherry Hills, the first won by Ralph Guldahl
Ralph Guldahl
Ralph J. Guldahl was an American professional golfer who was one of the top players in the sport for three years in the late 1930s.-Early life until 1939:Guldahl was born in Dallas, Texas...
in 1938. In 1960, Arnold Palmer
Arnold Palmer
Arnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955...
won the Open with a score of four under par. After three unsuccessful attempts, Palmer finally drove the first green (355-yard par four) in the fourth round on his way to victory. Tied for the lead with Palmer as he came to the par-5 17th hole, 47-year old Ben Hogan
Ben Hogan
William Ben Hogan was an American golfer, generally considered one of the greatest players in the history of the game...
hit his third shot back from the cup into the water and bogeyed. He hooked his final tee shot and triple-bogeyed the final hole to finish four strokes back at even par, which ended his chances of a tenth major championship. Playing with Hogan, a 20-year old collegian named Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
from Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the intercollegiate sports teams and players of The Ohio State University, named after the state tree, the Buckeye. The Buckeyes participate in the NCAA's Division I in all sports and the Big Ten Conference in most sports...
bogeyed the final hole and finished second, two strokes behind Palmer, and was the low amateur. As a result of Palmer's feat, the USGA commissioned construction of a new tee prior to the 1978 U.S. Open, which extended the hole 50 yards. The '78 Open is the most recent Open held at Cherry Hills, and it was won by Andy North
Andy North
Andrew Stewart North is an American professional golfer who is best known for winning the U.S. Open twice.- Early years :North was born in Thorp, Wisconsin, and raised in Monona, Wisconsin...
with a score of one over par. Until 2006
2006 in golf
-Men's professional golf:Major championships*6–9 April: The Masters - Winner: Phil Mickelson The Augusta National course was lengthened to 7,445 yards for the tournament, generating some advance controversy. For the first time since 1954 neither Jack Nicklaus nor Arnold Palmer played...
, this was the most recent U.S. Open in which the winning score had been over par.
A significant restoration by noted architect Tom Doak
Tom Doak
Tom Doak is a golf course architect. He currently has 4 courses ranked among the top 100 in the world according to Golf Magazines "Top 100 Courses in the World" list, including Pacific Dunes in Oregon, Ballyneal in Colorado , Barnbougle Dunes in Tasmania and Cape Kidnappers in New Zealand...
was carried out during 2008 and opened for play in spring 2009. The course was extended to over 7500 yards (6858 m) and many trees were removed. In addition, several original bunkers that had been removed over the years were restored, bringing the course more in-line with William Flynn's original design.
PGA Championships
There have been two PGA ChampionshipPGA Championship
The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship...
s held at Cherry Hills. The first, which was held in 1941 (when the PGA Championship was conducted in a match play format), was won by Vic Ghezzi
Vic Ghezzi
Victor J. Ghezzi was an American golfer. He won 11 times on the PGA Tour including one major championship, the 1941 PGA Championship. He was selected for three Ryder Cup teams, 1939, 1941, and 1943 but each was canceled due to World War II...
with a score of "one-up" over Byron Nelson
Byron Nelson
John Byron Nelson, Jr. was an American PGA Tour golfer between 1935 and 1946.Nelson and two other well known golfers of the time, Ben Hogan and Sam Snead, were born within seven months of each other in 1912...
. In 1985, Hubert Green
Hubert Green
Hubert Myatt Green is an American professional golfer who has won numerous professional golf tournaments at both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour level....
won the PGA Championship with a score of six under par 278.
Major tournaments hosted
| Year | Tournament | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 1938 | U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
Ralph Guldahl Ralph Guldahl Ralph J. Guldahl was an American professional golfer who was one of the top players in the sport for three years in the late 1930s.-Early life until 1939:Guldahl was born in Dallas, Texas... |
| 1941 1941 PGA Championship The 1941 PGA Championship was a golf competition held at Cherry Hills Country Club. Vic Ghezzi won the competition.... |
PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
Vic Ghezzi Vic Ghezzi Victor J. Ghezzi was an American golfer. He won 11 times on the PGA Tour including one major championship, the 1941 PGA Championship. He was selected for three Ryder Cup teams, 1939, 1941, and 1943 but each was canceled due to World War II... |
| 1960 | U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
Arnold Palmer Arnold Palmer Arnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955... |
| 1976 | U.S. Senior Amateur | Lewis Oehmig |
| 1978 | U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
Andy North Andy North Andrew Stewart North is an American professional golfer who is best known for winning the U.S. Open twice.- Early years :North was born in Thorp, Wisconsin, and raised in Monona, Wisconsin... |
| 1983 | U.S. Mid-Amateur | Jay Sigel Jay Sigel Robert Jay Sigel is an American professional golfer. He enjoyed one of the more illustrious careers in the history of U.S... |
| 1985 1985 PGA Championship The 1985 PGA Championship was the 67th PGA Championship held from August 8-11 at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado. Hubert Green won his first PGA Championship and second major title by two strokes over Lee Trevino.... |
PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
Hubert Green Hubert Green Hubert Myatt Green is an American professional golfer who has won numerous professional golf tournaments at both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour level.... |
| 1990 | U.S. Amateur | Phil Mickelson Phil Mickelson Philip Alfred Mickelson is an American professional golfer. He has won four major championships and a total of 39 events on the PGA Tour. He has reached a career high world ranking of 2nd in multiple years. He is nicknamed "Lefty" for his left-handed swing, even though he is otherwise right-handed... |
| 1993 | U.S. Senior Open | Jack Nicklaus Jack Nicklaus Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a... |
| 2005 2005 U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship The 2005 U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship was contested from June 23 to June 26 at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado, a suburb of Denver. It was the 60th edition of the U.S. Women's Open.... |
U.S. Women's Open | Birdie Kim Birdie Kim Birdie Kim is a South Korean golfer. Her career highlight is winning the 2005 U.S. Women's Open at Cherry Hills Country Club. In the last round, she was tied for the lead on the 18th hole. Her second shot found a green-side bunker... |
| 2012 | U.S. Amateur | |
| 2014 | BMW Championship |
Bolded Years are major championships
Men's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
.
External links
39.642896°N 104.962194°W