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No Comments [ Add Comment ]U.S. Women's Open will be played in Colorado in 2011
By Kate CrandallCOLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The U.S. Women's Open will return to The Broadmoor in 2011, the U.S. Golf Association said Wednesday.
Already tabbed as site of the 2008 U.S. Senior Open, The Broadmoor last hosted the Women's Open in 1995, when Annika Sorenstam claimed her first professional victory.
"I don't think it's any secret that we love The Broadmoor for championships," said Marty Parkes, the USGA's senior director of communications. "We think the golf course is a great test for a national championship and we have always had great support in the Colorado Springs area."
Parkes declined to specify how many other courses were considered for 2011.
The Broadmoor hosted two U.S. Amateurs, the 1962 Curtis Cup, and the 1982 U.S. Women's Amateur.
This year's U.S. Women's Open begins todaythursday at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C. That was the site of The Broadmoor announcement by USGA Women's Committee chairwoman Roberta Bolduc, who was joined by Russ Miller, The Broadmoor's director of golf. The tournament will be July 7-10, 2011.
"Obviously we're very excited and very, very proud," Miller said by phone. "I think one of the reasons we were successful in getting it back is because the city and the state was so supportive (in 1995). Colorado loves golf. It says a lot about the community."
Miller said he would like to submit a bid for a U.S. Amateur, but there are no plans to seek a U.S. Men's Open.
Cherry Hills Country Club is the only Colorado golf course that has hosted the U.S. Men's Open (1960, 1978).
At 7,189 yards, The Broadmoor's East Course is about "600 or 700 yards" short of accommodating the U.S. Open, taking into account Colorado Springs' altitude, Miller said.
"At this point, quite honestly, we don't have the room to get the course where we need it to be to have a U.S. Open," he said. "We would have to make some very drastic changes and I just don't know if that's going to happen."
Miller said The Broadmoor staff will start preparations for the 2011 Women's Open almost as soon as the Senior Open concludes Aug. 3, 2008.
No event coordinators have been hired, but Doug Habgood, who is the Senior Open championship director, could be a front-runner. Habgood, of the Birmingham, Ala.-based Bruno Event Team, organized the 2005 U.S. Women's Open at Cherry Hills and set records for corporate sponsorships. Miller said he expects to name a championship director in a few weeks.
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