If PGA Tour returns to Colorado in 2028, take it to RainDance National | Golf Insider
A report from Sports Business Journal on Tuesday chronicled changes coming to the PGA Tour schedule in 2028.
Since Brian Rolapp took over as CEO, it’s been clear the PGA Tour is in for a different look.
In the report, there was plenty about changing the events and possibly having fields of 120 players. But the bigger news for Colorado golf was the PGA Tour is looking to expand to more cities, and Denver was on the list.
So which course in Colorado could host a PGA Tour event? The usual suspects of Cherry Hills Country Club and Castle Pines Golf Club showed up in social media. Colorado Golf Club made some appearances as well.
But if you are going to bring the PGA Tour back to Colorado, doesn’t the longest course in North America make perfect sense?
RainDance National in Windsor opened in 2023 and can play 8,463 yards from the tips. The course has hosted several Colorado Golf Association events, including the men’s championship in 2023, where Fort Collins’ Dillion Stewart won at 4-under. This year’s CGA Four-Ball was played there, too.
“With it being a new golf course, it was a way to get some attention and promote their facility,” Colorado Golf Association Executive Director Ed Mate said in 2024 about the course hosting CGA events. “Also, a chance to get valuable feedback from skilled players because they aspire to host a U.S. Open someday.”
RainDance, which was designed by former PGA Tour player Fred Funk and Harrison Minshew, has also had plenty of exposure in the YouTube golf world. Barstool Sports Fore Play played the Avalanche’s Brock Nelson, Devon Toews and John-Michael Liles in a match there. Good Good Golf has also taken on the course in a video.
Minshew has designed over 75 courses, including The K Club in Ireland, which hosted the 2006 Ryder Cup. His course, PGA West, hosts The American Express every year on the PGA Tour.
PGA professional Cam Crabtree’s video series “Every Course in Colorado” also reviewed the course where Crabtree said, “Every hole has a purpose and the second shot is really where the course shines.”
The reviews for RainDance are all there, but the real question is, does the course have interest in hosting a PGA event?
“The course is made to challenge the best golfers in the world but also the everyday golfer,” Chris Williamson, who is the general manager of golf operations at RainDance, told The Denver Gazette. “It was built with that (hosting the best players) in mind. We are always open to that conversation.”
Williamson feels the course setup and style could be good for a PGA event. The fairways are fescue grass, which deals with drought conditions well. They stay firm, fast and have plenty of rollout. The native grass offers penalties if balls roll out too far.
“When you look at the course, it’s not just about the length,” he said. “It’s a big course. It never plays the same and you have plenty of slope and elevation. The right carry on a lot of holes is 330 from the tips.”
The course itself is not the only aspect the PGA Tour would look at. Could the course handle fans and all that goes into a PGA event?
“The golf course could handle it,” Williamson said. “There are big canyons between holes and a stadium-like setup around the greens and tee boxes.”
Attendance has been strong for local events such as the 2024 BMW Championship at Castle Pines and the 2023 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills. The annual Korn Ferry event at TPC Colorado in Berthoud draws well every year.
“Golf in Colorado is healthy,” Williamson said.
It remains to be seen if Denver is selected for the 2028 schedule. Boston, Philadelphia, Nashville, Seattle and San Francisco were also mentioned in the report. The report said at least three cities will be part of the new schedule and will be part of the “first track,” which is taking the place of signature events.
If Denver makes the cut, it’s time for a little bit of a change. There is nothing but love for Cherry Hills and Castle Pines. They are classic layouts with grand traditions and provided unforgettable golf moments for Colorado fans.
But if the tour is about looking different, let’s see Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and the rest of the best in the world play their games at a modern Colorado course that was built for them.
Colorado men fall short at NCAA regionals
Colorado couldn’t complete the full comeback.
The Buffs made a run at the NCAA Bryan (Texas) Regional at Traditions Club on Tuesday but fell short of advancing to the NCAA Championship.
Fifth place at the tournament would have secured the spot, but the Buffs finished seventh after firing a 7-under round as a team in the final round. CU made 18 birdies in the second round and carried that momentum into the final round, where the Buffs carded 12 birdies and two eagles.
“This week we were right there and that is all you can ask for at a regional, have a chance coming down the stretch in the final round,” coach Roy Edwards said after the round.
Brandon Knight finished tied for 14th at 6-under-par after rounds of 71, 70 and 69. His total score of 210 tied for the third-lowest NCAA Regional mark in program history.
What they’re saying
“I think the putting’s going to be just fine. I think Doral and Aronimink, just the grain changes and the difficulty of those greens just set Scottie back a little bit.”
— CBS golf analyst Johnson Wagner on Scottie Scheffler’s struggles with the putter during the PGA Championship
Skins game
Odds to win CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Scottie Scheffler +165
Si Woo Kim +1500
Jordan Spieth +1600
Brooks Koepka +2500
Ryo Hisatsune +3300
Taylor Pendrith +4000
This week in golf
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Site: McKinney, Texas.
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Prize money: $10.3 million. Winner’s share: $1.854 million.
Television: Thursday-Friday, 1-5 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (Golf), 1-4 p.m. (CBS).
Defending champion: Scottie Scheffler.
DP World Tour
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