The Broadmoor

2011-2012

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A BROADMOOR TIMELINE and old ball room pencil drawings showed things that were very valu- able in the restoration. For example you can see mounds short of the green on 18 East that were there in the beginning, but removed over time. It also seemed that many of the squared, geometrically shaped Ross bunkers with steep faces had disappeared and were replaced with Jones’ more circular bunkers. “It was also a goal to change the greens to favor what Ross envisioned,” Forse says. “Ross’ greens have an outline that’s a little more squared than Jones’. The surface undulations are also different. It really matters where you put the ball on the green, because Ross’ green edges are significant. Some fall off, but some pitch inward.” “On the East Course,” Forse continues, “the sixth and 18th greens have a thumbprint center swale. The front third across has a depres- sion and when the back of the green perches upward, that allows the golfer to boldly play to the back of the green because it will hold the shot. That is classic golf.” In other words, precision and put- ting are the keys here—not power. Recreating the East Course and the West Course to favor what Ross initially envisioned and laid into the beautiful landscape is a tall order. Forse and team reshaped existing bunkers, constructed new bunkers to mirror original bunkers, lengthened back tees and added lost mounding. The main goal of the project was to return the East Course bunkers and strategic playability of the golf course to the original classic design of Ross—ready for championship play by both women and men. The West Side So how about the West Course renovation? “The West Course is a combina- tion of the original Donald Ross lay- out from 1918 and the Robert Trent Jones additions from 1964,” Miller says. “As was the case with the East Course restoration, the goal is to bring back the original design intent 50 The Broadmoor Magazine | 2011 • 2012 1926: World Champion boxer Jack Dempsey, born in tiny Manassas, Colorado, comes to The Broadmoor to train for a fight with Gene Tunney. 1930: The Broadmoor Riding Arena is built on the west shore of Cheyenne Lake. 1928: The Broadmoor’s polo field and grandstand are built near The Broadmoor stables west of the hotel. 1945: “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias, a Texan who married Pueblo wrestler George Zaharias, wins the first of three consecutive titles in The Broadmoor Women’s Invitational. 1963: PGA tour player Dow Finsterwald becomes the head pro for the next 30 years, from 1963 to 1993. 1976: Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay design the third golf course named Broadmoor South on the west side of Cheyenne Lake. Sadly, an ancient water source slowly erodes and destroys the course. 2005: The land where the South Course sat is reborn as The Broadmoor Mountain Course, completed by Nicklaus Design. Jan. 1, 1938: The forerunner of the Broadmoor World Arena, The Broadmoor Ice Palace, opens in the renovated riding arena. December 1959: The hotel builds a double-chairlift ski area, Ski Broadmoor, and a Winter House. In later years an alpine slide is added for summer visitors. 1965: Robert Trent Jones, Sr. finishes the resort’s second golf course, named Broadmoor West. April 1994: The Broadmoor World Arena is razed. This historic building was the training ground for Olympic and world champions as well as the site of hockey games, ice shows, and curling. Five World Figure Skating Championships, six U.S. Figure Skating Championships and three National Sports Festivals were also held here. 1921: The first Broadmoor Invitational Golf Tournament is held.

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