ECONOGAL

This weekend’s PGA tournament sponsored by BMW is filled with the magnificent sights and sounds of the Castle Pines Golf Club. Even though the area is south of the Denver Metro Area, the topography is akin to the foothills to the west of the city.

The top fifty golfers vying for the thirty slots in the Fed Ex Cup finals are facing the challenge of golfing up and down the fairways at an elevation over 6000 feet above sea level. Kudos to the caddies carrying the equipment for the nine miles traversing the eighteen holes.

The BMW Classic is a first for me. One of my offspring loves to golf and several members of the family actively follow the PGA. Since I knew I would attend the tournament this year, I started following the players in the late spring. The ups and downs of the sport mimic the golf course at Castle Pines. Steep slopes to the top are challenging for a walking fan and a bag toting caddie. Meanwhile, sand traps and water hazards are taxing for golfers. Watching them dig out creates riveting sights. And sounds include loud cheers carrying across the wind for favorite golfers making great shots.

I trained for the rigors of the course by walking the steepest streets and always finishing my hikes going uphill. This paid off. While most walk down Hole #1, for me it was a hike up to see the players tee off for the start. The stands at the tee were available to the general public as well as those with upgraded tickets and served as the stage for the opening ceremony as well as the flyover by four F-16s. (See video below.)

Other hikes upward include Hole #8 and #s 17 and 18. Since I was with others, I did not complete the entire course. Fortunately, I have a ticket for Sunday where I hope to find the hole with the largest of the waterfalls. The small cascade in the slide show is from Hole #3 of Castle Pines.

Landscapers excelled prepping the course. The abundance of flower beds delight as the crowd walks the course. Creeks and waterfalls meander alongside the fairways creating a pleasant background noise. And the crowd, for the most part, practices good etiquette. Even the tiny tots know not to cry out near the greens.

Naturally, birdies are accompanied by cheers and bogeys by groans of empathy. The players themselves are focused on their task. One can almost see the wheels spinning in their heads as they plot how to get out of the sand traps and water hazards.

The golf course is both suburban and wilderness. The masterplan behind the course and community is filled with natural wilderness. Wild turkeys strut around, deer and elk are often seen on the course and bear sightings are often enough to seem normal. Tracks and scat of shier animals can be found too. This connection to nature makes Castle Pines a special place.

Best of all are the plethora of birds in Castle Pines. The zipping of hummingbirds, hooting owls, and flashes of the male bluebirds are all a part of the sights and sounds of Castle Pines. If you go to the tournament, you may even spy my mystery bird-the towhee.

Afternoon mountain rains delayed the finish of the first day, but hopefully will not slow down the players much. And the rains are welcomed by the residents. The thick rough is a by-product of the late afternoon showers. Probably not welcomed by the golfers. Nor are the whistles signaling thunder just as a pro sets up a putt.

The Evans Scholars Foundation is the beneficiary of ALL the funds raised during the BMW Championship. Loud applause accompanied each introduction of past and current scholars during the opening ceremonies. Those of you old enough to remember Caddyshack might wonder at a connection. And yes, there is one. Ed Murray won an Evans Scholarship-full tuition and housing- to Northwestern University.

This prestigious program began in 1930 with two awardees. Now, more than two dozen caddies are awarded the four-year scholarship. All because Charles Evans wished to retain his amateur status. Non-attendees of the BMW Classic can learn about the fund by clicking here.

Scattered throughout the course are a myriad of new BMWs. There are at least two locations where spectators can take a seat but not a test drive. The beautiful colors and classic lines add to the sights and sounds of the tournament. Even those not in the market for a car are drawn in for a look. BMW has hit just the right note for marketing.

A myriad of shuttles ferry spectators to and from the course from remote parking lots. There is not a set schedule, more of a continuous run. So, wait times can vary. The only interior shuttle is located near the BMW Experience just below Hole #11. This shuttle provides a ride to the start of the course for spectators entering Gates 1,2, and 3. Two caveats: The shuttle is one way only and does not return passengers from the top of the course. Also, we found out the hard way that the shuttle stops at 1:00 p.m., perhaps the thought is walking downhill is easy.

There are plenty of port-a-potties and concession stands but the only water fountain I spied was adjacent to International Park. Rumor is another water fountain was in the area of Holes #6&7. I did not see that one.

The two merchandise tents are conveniently located. I know little about golf apparel, but logos were plentiful from Castle Pines Golf Club to BMW. Colors were mostly traditional. The neatest item was a throw blanket with the golf course map.

If you have tickets for the final two days, I hope you enjoy the experience as much as I did. I was impressed by both the organizers and the attendees. Perhaps this is just the start of a new spectator sport for me. Good luck to all the golfers and for those not lucky enough to attend, please enjoy the slideshow.