For the first time in a decade, the PGA Tour returns to Colorado, with Castle Pines Golf Club outside Denver to host this week's BMW Championship.
The PGA Tour will make a triumphant return to Colorado this summer when the 2024 BMW Championship is played at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, just south of Denver.
The excitement from fans in the Denver area already has reached a peak, with ticket sales, volunteer spots and hospitality options moving at record-breaking pace.
“We’re so thrilled to bring the best players on the PGA Tour back to Castle Pines and the Denver area for the BMW Championship,” said Vince Pellegrino, the WGA's senior vice president of tournaments. “This golf course was made to host high-level championships, and we anticipate an unparalleled experience for the players, the Castle Pines community and our fans.”
Castle Pines Golf Club hosted The INTERNATIONAL, a unique championship that utilized the modified Stableford scoring system, on the PGA Tour from 1986 through 2006. It will be the BMW Championship’s first visit to Colorado since 2014, when Billy Horschel won at Cherry Hills Country Club en route to capturing the FedEx Cup title.
The BMW Championship was named PGA Tour “Tournament of the Year” for a third consecutive season in 2014; in 2023, it was named “Tournament of the Year” for a record fifth time.
The highly acclaimed Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course at Castle Pines opened in 1981, capitalizing on iconic Colorado scenery with holes carved through natural rock features and majestic Ponderosa pines.
During its 21-year run on the PGA Tour, The INTERNATIONAL at Castle Pines Golf Club was one of the players’ favorite stops, combining a challenging course with impeccable course conditions and outstanding service (plus the club’s signature milkshakes).
A pair of Evans Scholars alumni – brothers George and Duffy Solich – have been instrumental in bringing the best players in the world back to Colorado.
“Castle Pines is one of the most stunning clubs and courses in the world. For 21 extraordinary years, it was viewed by many as their favorite stop on tour. It is wonderful to see it return.”
Jim Nantz
Both grew up caddying at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, earning Evans Scholarships to attend the University of Colorado. They went on to become successful business executives and members of the WGA board of directors and established the Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy at CommonGround Golf Course. That program has produced 44 Evans Scholars since its inception.
Now they’re making an impact through the BMW Championship. Duffy Solich is serving as tournament chairman, overseeing all preparations for the championship at Castle Pines Golf Club. George Solich is closely involved as Castle Pines’ chairman and president, having assumed that role from club legend Jack Vickers after Vickers died in 2018.
In the years since, George Solich has worked alongside Nicklaus and the Nicklaus Design team to update the golf course and ensure its status as a championship layout. Now stretched to more than 8,000 yards with a par of 72, the course features narrow fairways and elevated, challenging greens.
“Our motto has been to honor the past while shaping the future. Jack Vickers’ vision for Castle Pines was to build a championship golf course and hold a tournament of national prominence,” said George Solich, who chaired the 2014 BMW Championship that raised $3.5 million for Evans Scholars. “With Jack Nicklaus’ vision and commitment to Castle Pines, we are once again ready to host the best players on the PGA Tour.”
“It’s very exciting to see Castle Pines back in tournament golf,” Nicklaus said. “We have made some excellent changes to the golf course over the last five years, which make it more playable but still quite challenging. The players will really enjoy this renewed facility.”
Jim Nantz of CBS Sports said, “Castle Pines is one of the most stunning clubs and courses in the world. For 21 extraordinary years it was viewed by many as their favorite stop on tour. It is wonderful to see it return.”
In addition to having an estimated $30 million economic impact on the Denver metro area, the 2024 BMW Championship is expected to play a vital philanthropic role by introducing more golfers and fans in the region to the Evans Scholars Foundation and its mission of awarding full tuition and college scholarships to youth caddies.
There are 1,130 Evans Scholars enrolled in 24 leading universities nationwide this year, including 57 at the University of Colorado. Nine caddies from Castle Pines Golf Club have earned the Evans Scholarship since 1985.
“Castle Pines Golf Club has long been a tremendous supporter of youth caddies and the ESF,” said John Kaczkowski, the WGA's president and CEO. “This is an excellent opportunity to showcase this beautiful club and our shared efforts to reach more deserving young caddies.”
All proceeds from the BMW Championship benefit the ESF. Since 2007, the event has raised more than $50 million for Evans Scholarships, helping award scholarships to more than 3,300 caddies during that time.
“We are proud of the positive impact the BMW Championship has made on so many lives over the past 15 years,” said Sebastian Mackensen, president and CEO, BMW of North America.
“Each time we host this event in a different market, it provides a great opportunity to raise awareness for the Evans Scholars Foundation and showcase the BMW brand for customers and golf fans in the area.”
Last year at Olympia Fields Country Club, 2023 BMW Championship winner Viktor Hovland met newly awarded Evans Scholar Diana Llamas, following his 2022 hole-in-one. As a result of his ace, BMW donated a full, four-year college scholarship worth $125,000. The BMW Hole-in-One Scholarship was the sixth awarded since 2007.
Evans Scholars will once again take center stage at Castle Pines, caddying in Wednesday’s Gardner Heidrick Pro-Am, and representing the program in various media opportunities throughout the week.
Western Golf Association
Course photos courtesy Castle Pines Golf Club