Colorado Golf Association

Background Statement

The Colorado Golf Association (CGA) was originally established in 1915. The CGA's first official function was to formally take over the administration of the state's amateur match play championship which had started in 1901. This tournament is still conducted by the Colorado Golf Association making it the oldest golf tournament in the state of Colorado. In 1937 the Denver District Golf Association formed to conduct a medal (stroke) play championship. For the next 21 years the two organizations conducted their tournaments separately. In 1951, the CGA added a second championship, the Junior Boys' Match Play Championship.

In 1958, under the leadership of Richard C. Campbell, the Colorado Golf Association merged with the Denver District Golf Association. The merger created a streamlined golf association dedicated to the management of golf statewide. In 1962, the Colorado Golf Association was officially incorporated and adopted the mission of representing, promoting and serving the best interests of golf in the state of Colorado. Over the next several years the CGA continued to expand its role in golf in the state. In addition to adding more championships, Senior Match Play Championship (1970), Senior Stroke Play Championship (1972), the Two-Man Team Championship (1972) and the Junior Boys' Stroke Play Championship (1977), the CGA also assumed responsibility for the state-wide handicap system. Prior to 1960, handicapping in the state was done on a club-by-club basis with great disparity from one club to the next. Beginning in 1962, the CGA began measuring and rating all of the state's golf courses in accordance with United States Golf Association (USGA) procedures creating a uniform rating system which laid the foundation for the CGA to assume the leadership role in handicapping.

In 1961, the CGA established the Eisenhower Scholarship to provide financial aid to selected college-bound junior golfers. This program was merged with the Western Golf Association's (WGA) Evans Caddie Scholarship program (a scholarship awarded to deserving caddies) in 1963, creating the Eisenhower-Evans Caddie Scholarship program. In 1968, the WGA purchased the Phi Gamma Delta house on the C.U. campus which continues to serve as the home for Eisenhower-Evans scholars. The CGA and WGA continue to work together to raise funds and promote the Eisenhower-Evans Scholarship Program.

Also in the 1960s, the Colorado Section of the Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA) was formed and was administered under the umbrella of the CGA and a single executive director. In 1978, the CGA and the Colorado PGA split, creating separate governing bodies for amateur and professional golf in Colorado. In the 1980s and 1990s the CGA added eleven more state championships: Western Chapter Junior (1981), Senior Four-Ball (1982), Western Chapter (1983), Public Links (1983), Mixed Team (1983), Parent-Child (1983), Net Stroke (1986), Mid Amateur (1987), Senior Two-Man Team (1988), and Public Links Team (1989) which is now the Club Team. In addition to conducting its 18 statewide championships, the CGA continued to expand its role through handicapping, annual publications for its membership, support of turfgrass and other golf-related research, interpretation of the Rules of Golf including amateur status, local/national golf organization interface including the coordination the statewide tournament schedule, the Eisenhower-Evans Caddie Scholarship, golf statistics and informational support. In 1984, the Colorado Junior Golf Association (CJGA) was formed and began its operations as a division of the Colorado Golf Association. The formation of the CJGA established a comprehensive program for junior golfers including tournaments, education on rules and etiquette, introductory and underprivileged youth golf programs, and job opportunities.

In 1993, desiring to qualify as a charitable organization under §501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, the CGA and CJGA were dissolved and reincorporated under new Articles and By-Laws substantially the same as before, but expanded and reworded to comply with the IRS Code. The reincorporation took effect in 1994 and an application for designation under §501(c)(3) was submitted to the IRS.

In 2018 the CGA merged with the Colorado Women's Golf Association under the umbrella of the CGA and unified operations to serve amateur golfers in Colorado.