Cherry Hills Makes U.S. Amateur a “Turning Point” for Youth Across Colorado

Cherry Hills has been hosting golf’s most historic championships since the 1938 United States Open – this summer’s 123rd U.S. Amateur Championship will be the 14th national championship the storied club will have presented. And, since that time, Cherry Hills has demonstrated a powerful and galvanizing vision to host major events in a manner that welcomes, inspires, and unites all in attendance with a spirit of pride and appreciation for all the good golf can bring.

Legendary golf scribe Herbert Warren Wind said about the 1960 U.S. Open, “Cherry Hills, no question about it, was far better prepared to run the championship than any club had ever been before. Nothing was overlooked, everything seemed to move without effort.”

Just as important as hosting national golf championships on a regular basis, Cherry Hills holds an equal dedication and passion to giving back to the game and creating turning-point opportunities for youth in the local community. Through charitable donations to the Palmer Scholarship Foundation, Evans Scholars Foundation, and First Tee Colorado chapters, Cherry Hills is making a significant impact in the lives of young people across the Centennial State.

“We’re obviously proud to present unparalleled championship golf to the world-class participants and spectators of the U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills, but the charitable impact in the community made possible through this championship is a legacy that means everything to the club,” says Cherry Hills President Kim Koehn. “To be able to see what our Palmer and Evans Scholars accomplish nationwide keeps us motivated to do even more to support young people across Colorado.”

Arnold Palmer came to Cherry Hills in 1960 with a U.S. Amateur title under his belt, from 1954, that had solidly, and dramatically, affirmed his belief in his game. Palmer was on the brink of quitting competitive golf leading into the 1954 Amateur and the heroic win gave him the ambition to go on and have a legendary life on and off the golf course, reigning as the sport’s King. “The Turning Point. That’s what it was in my life,” Palmer told Golfweek in 2014. “It gave me the confidence that I was ready to turn professional and play the PGA Tour.” The road to The King’s Hall of Fame golf career and legendary popularity began with winning the 1954 U.S. Amateur.

In honor of the indelible connection forged by Palmer’s iconic victories in both 1954 and 1960, the Cherry Hills Palmer Scholarship was created in 2001 to award scholarship assistance to deserving coworkers and golf caddies of Cherry Hills. Over the past two decades, the Palmer Scholarship Foundation has served as a turning point for over a thousand employees who have been awarded scholarships valued at more than $2 million. These scholarships have been used towards agronomy degrees, college tuition assistance, english as a second language classes, certification as a sommelier and other educational pursuits.

“The Palmer Scholarship is truly an invaluable gift, and I will always be grateful to be a recipient. Instead of volunteering in San Diego or serving as a TA for organic chemistry, I would have to maintain a full-time job and deprioritize my studies,” said Rachel Hubka, a freshman majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience, with a double minor in Chemistry and Sociology at the University of San Diego.

In addition to the Palmer Scholarship Foundation, Cherry Hills has been a longtime supporter of The Evans Scholars Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides full tuition and housing college scholarships to golf caddies. Operated by the Western Golf Association and founded by famed amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans, the Evans Scholars Foundation has helped more than 11,550 caddies graduate from college since its creation in 1930.

“Hosting major championships is a tradition at Cherry Hills dating back to 1938. In addition, Cherry Hills has a long tradition of supporting youth through its caddie program and support of the Evans Scholarship and Palmer Scholarship programs,” said Jim Hillary, Championship Chair for the United States Amateur. “During the US Amateur, Cherry Hills will host the Junior Golf Experience which will provide fun activities and a roadmap for kids wanting to get involved in golf through play, employment and internship opportunities and scholarships. We hope the 2023 U.S Amateur provides ‘Turning Points’ to the players and the kids who come out to experience the top amateurs in the world and learn how to access all that the game has to offer.”

Since 2019, 15 Cherry Hills caddies have earned Evans Scholarships. There have also been 53 caddies from the club who have graduated as Evans Scholars since 1967. The club is also one of the two top fundraising clubs nationwide for the Evans Scholarship. The most recent Cherry Hills caddies to be named Evans Scholars are Keily Cornejo, Nevina Montoya-Olivas, and Abigail Schlomer.

“Being an Evans Scholar has opened many doors for me in obtaining internships and job offers through Executive Board positions I have been elected to in the Scholarship House,” said Helena Seyoum. “I firmly believe that the leadership skills that I have obtained from being an Evans Scholar reflects in my work as a Medical Assistant and will help in my future career. To be an Evans Scholar means to be a part of a community that values education and personal growth. The Scholarship has taught me patience, diligence, and perseverance, not only as a student, but as a person overall.”

On site at this U.S. Amateur, the Junior Golf Experience will be the place for attendees and youth to learn about golf and the opportunities and doors it can open for young people. Kids will have a hands-on chance to chip, putt and swing in a golf simulator. There will also be activities in STEM and art that tie in with golf. Alongside the activities, kids will also be exposed to the many opportunities golf presents. Through the First Tee Colorado Chapters, the Colorado Golf Association, and PGA Junior Programs, kids can learn how to play golf. The Evans and Palmer Scholarship Programs will present information for kids and their parents to apply for and receive scholarships through summer work programs at Cherry Hills and other participating clubs. Finally, PGA Reach will discuss its strategic initiative to diversify the golf industry’s workforce through fellowships, scholarships and possible careers.

This year’s U.S. Amateur will crown another future legend in the game. More importantly, the young people impacted by charitable largesse associated with this year’s championship could well go on to call this the turning point that propelled them to great heights in their educations and professional careers.

In the words of Palmer Scholarship recipient Hannah Smith, “This support has done more for me than you will ever know. Cherry Hills is a community of members I know I will never forget. Thank you! I am beyond excited to further my education.”

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Former Broncos QB Peyton Manning to serve as Honorary Chair of US Amateur

Fans will have a chance to walk the fairways with the world’s best amateur golfers and future stars of the game as tickets for the 123rd U.S. Amateur Championship, scheduled for Aug. 14-20 at Cherry Hills, in Denver, Colo., are now available for purchase.

The USGA is offering individual single-day gallery tickets and five-packs of gallery tickets that can be used over multiple days or shared with family and friends. Each individual ticket may be used for any one day of the of the championship (Monday through Sunday) and will include general admission to the grounds, access to walk the historic course and access to purchase on-site food and beverages. Monday and Tuesday tickets will grant you access to both Cherry Hills and nearby Colorado Golf Club, the stroke-play co-host site.

Ticket Pricing
Gallery – Good Any One Day ($25/ticket)
Gallery – Good Any One Day, Five-Pack ($100 total, $20/ticket)

All tickets are available for purchase at usamateur.com/2023.

In addition, Peyton Manning, a two-time Super Bowl champion and first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer, has been named honorary chair of the 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship. Manning had an illustrious 18-season career as the quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos.

“I am honored to represent the state of Colorado, the city of Denver and Cherry Hills as the honorary chair of the 2023 U.S. Amateur,” said Manning. “As someone who has great enthusiasm for not only the game of golf, but also for competitive athletics and all the great things that can be learned through sports, I’m thrilled to have a role in this championship. I’m confident Colorado’s golf fans will join me in welcoming the game’s best amateur players to Denver.”

At the time of his retirement in 2015, Manning had broken many major NFL records including career passing yards (71,940), career passing touchdowns (539), single-season passing touchdowns (55) in 2013, single-season passing yards (5,477) in 2013, total wins including playoffs (201), 4,000-plus-yard passing seasons (14), consecutive seasons with at least 25 passing touchdowns (13).

Manning earned Pro Bowl honors 14 times, was named Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player five times and was selected to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s. In all, Manning made four Super Bowl appearances. He currently hosts the popular “Manningcast,” an alternate Monday Night Football telecast, with his brother Eli on ESPN.

The 123rd U.S. Amateur is currently seeking volunteers for championship week. Roles include marshals/forecaddies, walking scorers, standard bearers, practice range assistants and many other opportunities to be part of the action. For more information and to register, please visit the volunteer website here.

Future stars of the game are born on the U.S. Amateur stage, as a total of 19 champions have gone on to win major championships at the professional level including Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods. The last time the U.S. Amateur was played in Colorado was in 2012, when Steven Fox outlasted Michael Weaver on the 37th hole at Cherry Hills to become the highest seed (No. 63) to win the Amateur since the USGA began the seeding process in 1985.

The starting field of 312 players for the U.S. Amateur Championship (usamateur.com) will play 18 holes of stroke play on Aug. 14 and 15, with one round at Cherry Hills and one at Colorado Golf Club, the stroke-play co-host for the championship, after which the field will be cut to the low 64 scores. Six rounds of match play begin on Wednesday, Aug. 16 and the championship concludes with a 36-hole championship match on Sunday, Aug. 20. The winner and runner-up are exempt into the following year’s U.S. Open Championship at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club’s No. 2. The championship is open to amateur golfers with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 2.4. Entries are now open at champs.usga.org.