One of my happiest times of the year occurred last weekend. As I always do I attended the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club and once again it was a fantastic way to spend a day, made even more wonderful by sharing it with my son-in-law Stephen, in town from Colorado, and my best friend Mark. While this was only Stephen’s second visit – he got hooked on his first time in 2023 and now plans to make this an annual event as well – Mark has been joining me at Colonial for many years.
And yes, I was working. But you know what they say about work when you love your job! I was there to have fun. And now I’m “working” as I tell you about it in this column.
First, I have to once again applaud the folks at Colonial for the course makeover. It is absolutely gorgeous.
MAJOR TIME
While I thought it was beautiful previously, and it was, the course is now a crown jewel for golf in North Texas. With all due respect to the folks in Frisco, where PGA headquarters are now located, it’s time for either the PGA or the U.S. Open to make its way to Fort Worth for a major tournament.
And before you argue that Colonial’s course isn’t tough enough for either, might I remind you that Xander Schauffele shot a record 21 under par in winning this year’s PGA. Also, any course can be toughened up with pin placement, etc., to make it challenging enough to host one of these tournaments.
With the PGA set for Frisco in 2027 and 2034, its hard to envision they’d come to North Texas three times in such a short span, but are you listening USGA? Trust me, you could do much worse than bringing the open here.
Also, let’s remember to include the ladies. Again, not likely with the PGA Women’s Championship coming to Frisco in 2025 and 2031, but I defer to you on this also, USGA.
MEDIA TIME
I won’t get into all the details on what Colonial did to renovate and improve the course – I did that in a previous column – but suffice to say it’s a magnificent sight. In fact, I’d love to play it again.
That’s not a request for a free round. Well, sort of. How about bringing back the annual media tournament?
I realize there was the whole COVID interruption. Then there was the course makeover. Now, let’s move on. What better way to tell folks about the course than to play it?
What do ya say, Colonial powers that be?
CHECK IT OUT NEXT YEAR
If you didn’t make it to the Charles Schwab Challenge this year, make plans to do so in 2015. It’s quite simply one of the best tournaments on the PGA Tour.
Of course, being my hometown tournament, I admit being a little prejudiced. But I can’t imagine having a better time anywhere else.
And Schwab certainly knows how to give away prizes. Along with $1.6 million that went to winner Davis Riley, the1975 mint condition Corvette Stingray the champion took home was pretty sweet.
Each tournament and course has its own traditions. But here we have, quite simply, Fort Worth – and it just doesn’t get any better than Cowtown/Funkytown when it comes to hospitality.
Barbecue and birdies, that’s a tasty combo.
There’s a reason one of the marshals at the tournament makes an annual trek back from Costa Rico to be a part of this great event. As he once said to me, it’s hard to get Fort Worth out of your system. And if you’re a golf lover, it’s understandable why someone with the means would make this a part of their annual agenda.
So, see ya at next year’s CSC? I’ll be there.
In the meantime, not to be a pest, but … Colonial folks, that media tournament was a lot of fun. Just sayin’.
Rick Mauch writes regularly for the Fort Worth Business Press, covering a wide array of topics including business, sports and entertainment.
