Denver, CO – Cherry Hills, one of America’s most historic and revered golf clubs and site of Arnold Palmer’s lone U.S. Open victory in 1960, continues to celebrate the opening of its newly renovated clubhouse by being recognized by Golf Inc. with Clubhouse of the Year and Golden Fork honors in 2024.
The historic clubhouse, originally constructed in 1923 by local Denver architects Merrill and Burnham Hoyt, was recently recognized among the Best New Clubhouses of the Year in the November/December 2024 issue. Cherry Hills joins other top facilities, including Promontory Club in Utah and Desert Mountain in Arizona.
Golf Inc. annually recognizes The Best New Clubhouse of the Year, including private, public, and the best new renovation.
“The golf course clubhouse is the central hub around which everything revolves. It's a home away from home, some would say. The winners for this year's Clubhouse of the Year awards truly exemplify that sentiment, said Golf Inc. “Cherry Hills Country Club has created a unique, family friendly clubhouse that takes advantage of the mountain views and is easy to navigate. The club has a food-centric culture, so it also has several dining options for members to enjoy.”
The stately English Tudor-style clubhouse created was timeless in its design and use of space. The building—which featured half-timber construction of wood and brick, pitched gable roof lines, and ornamental windows — offered magnificent views of Colorado’s Front Range, from Pikes Peak to the south to Longs Peak to the north.
“We are proud to be recognized among Golf Inc.’s Best New Clubhouses of the Year honorees, alongside other distinguished, deserving clubs and facilities,” said Lance Sabella, Cherry Hills Chief Operating Officer (COO). "Since the clubhouse unveiling last year - following the significant investment of time, resources, and dedication from our membership to ensure that this project was done in a first-class manner, it has been rewarding to see how quickly the Members have acclimated and enjoy the new experiences it provides. All of the exceptional new amenities, comfortable gathering spaces, and scenic Rocky Mountain views make this clubhouse incredibly special.”
Today, as members and guests enter the new clubhouse, they are greeted by a massive open hallway that flows toward large picture windows with familiar views of the Rocky Mountain vistas. The clubhouse architect, Mark Finlay, was trusted with completing a grand space that appropriately honors a club and membership that has hosted three United States Opens, two PGA Championships, three United States Amateurs, and a host of prestigious men’s and women’s national championships.
“Having the recognition of Golf Inc. and its readership is an honor,” said Finlay, President and CEO of Mark P. Finlay Architects, AIA. “Cherry Hills Country Club was a privilege to design, and its feature in two Golf Inc.award categories means a great deal to our entire team, in addition to the overwhelming satisfaction of the membership with the final product.”
Earlier this year, the new Cherry Hills clubhouse was also awarded first place in Golf Inc’s Golden Fork Awards. “The ninth annual award recognizes the top golf facilities leading the way in dining at golf courses and clubs. Whether casual or elegant, modern, or traditional, this year's Golden Fork honorees have two things in common: happy members and guests and strong F&B revenue growth,” Golf Inc. said.
"This design feels warm but also very relevant in today's design world," the judges said, referring to Cherry Hills. "The open pizza kitchen, wine wall, and inside/outside connection speak for themselves with this entry's growth in volume."
The impressive 97,000-square-foot clubhouse features an expansive dining area named “22” in honor of the clubhouse’s original debut. It features folding doors that retract to allow for the next best thing to an al fresco culinary experience. Touches like the design of “22” exemplifies the club’s commitment to fostering a more contemporary feel for its membership.
Elsewhere, Arnie’s, a nod to golfing legend Arnold Palmer, a former honorary member, (who became inextricably connected to Cherry Hills with his heroic victory there at the 1960 U.S. Open), is a boutique adult dining facility featuring indoor and outdoor terrace seating, all the while paying thoughtful homage to showcasing the iconic figure Palmer came to be. The Palmer memorabilia and artwork displayed was carefully curated to highlight multiple facets of The King’s life and career. The outdoor patio offers a 180-degree view spanning the eighteenth hole to the south and the tenth hole to the north. Finally, three centrally located and vertically connected kitchens allow for improved functionality and output.
“It has been rewarding to see the genuine look of 'Wow!' on members’ faces,” said Sabella. “This is now a much more well-rounded clubhouse as it relates to amenities. Our two new restaurants with distinct menus provide variety in that they can experience a more casual family experience or dine in a more adult-oriented, upscale environment when entertaining friends or business associates.”
For more information, visit www.CHCC.com.
ABOUT CHERRY HILLS
Cherry Hills is intertwined in the fabric of American golf history. The club was founded in 1922 on 272 acres south of Denver, Colorado and designed by renowned course architect William Flynn. In 1938, the United States Golf Association awarded Cherry Hills the U.S. Open, the first time the tournament was held west of the Mississippi River. Since then, the course has hosted 15 different national championships, including the most recent U.S. Amateur in 2023. Cherry Hills is the site of one of the most famous opening shots and monumental rounds in championship golf history when Arnold Palmer drove the first green in the final round of the 1960 U.S. Open and made birdie on his way to a final round 65 to win. Cherry Hills is the only course in the U.S., other than Augusta National, where Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus both won a major championship.
The champions who have won at Cherry Hills have included some of the game's greats: Palmer, Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Jay Siegel, Hubert Green, Andy North, Ralph Guldahl, Vic Ghezzi, Babe Didrikson-Zaharias, and Lewis Oehmig. Cherry Hills is ranked among America’s 100 Greatest Courses by Golf Digest, GOLFMagazine’s Top 100 Courses in the U.S. and Golfweek’s Best Classic Courses and Best Private Courses.
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