Colorado must feel like home to Philadelphia-area native Doug Habgood, championship director for the July 31-Aug. 3 U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor. Before moving to Colorado Springs, Habgood served as championship director of the 2005 U.S. Women’s Open at Cherry Hills; he arrived in Denver to begin those duties in 2003. And after this summer’s U.S. Senior Open, he will hang around The Broadmoor for another three years as championship director for the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open there. Habgood sat down with The Denver Post’s Tom Kensler this week to discuss the challenges of hosting a major golf championship.
Q: With the Senior Open less than a month away, do you have a lot of loose ends to tie up?
A: This is the time when we have all of our staff on “ready alert.” The sheer volume of the tournament is a challenge. There are so many details out there. Obviously, we want to make sure the players are well taken care of, and that we don’t miss anybody at the airport. . . . We want to make sure that everybody on our property feels special.
Q: As far as hospitality tents, early merchandise sales and ticket orders, how does the scope compare between the Women’s Open and Senior Open?
A: We have outsold the ’05 Women’s Open as far as hospitality and ticket sales, to date. When we had the Women’s Open, there was The International looming a few weeks after. Without competition like that, we’ve seen it has opened up more doors for clients and ticket buyers. We’re hoping for about 30,000 spectators per day during the four days of the tournament, which is about what the ’05 Women’s Open drew.
Q: So you get to work only at legendary courses, eh?
A: Yeah, they really had to twist my arm to go to The Broadmoor. Before I got to Cherry Hills, there was so much hype about that golf course and its history. The same happened when I got down here to The Broadmoor. I was overwhelmed by the history and the standards of service that are demanded.
Q: There must be advantages being in Colorado Springs, where the Senior Open will be the biggest show in town.
A: It’s not really a mystery that the USGA has taken that initiative for the U.S. Senior Open. If you look at their venues in the past . . . there are very few that are in major markets.
Q: What’s everybody saying about the golf course?
A: You’re not going to see rough up to your knees, but I think it’s going to be a very fair test. You’re going to see some birdies, and the guy who figures out these greens is going to win. That’s The Broadmoor’s defense — its greens. The USGA’s setup is great. I think after four days we’re definitely going to find the best player over the age of 50.
Q: Which players do you expect to attract the largest galleries?
A: Obviously, Greg Norman will be one. We’re hoping that with Hale Irwin’s ties to CU and his background with the USGA (three U.S. Open titles) that he will draw a lot of fans. . . . And you’ve got some new players who it will be interesting to see compete — guys like Mark O’Meara, Jeff Sluman, Fred Funk who we’re not used to seeing on the Champions Tour.
Q: There’s bound to be a lot of laughs around the golf course as the players kid around with those outside the ropes.
A: It’s interesting, but from my perspective I see the PGA Tour players being so much into their game, they’re in their own little world. They don’t interact a whole lot with the spectators. With the women, a lot of them are at such a young age, they focus so much on each shot and don’t have time to enjoy it. With the seniors, it’s the exact opposite. They’re going to compete. They’re going to battle hard. But you’re going to see smiles and a lot of conversations and pictures being taken and autographs being given.
Top five in Colorado
Five things Doug Habgood likes most about Colorado:
1. The Broadmoor. It’s the best resort I’ve ever seen.
2. Cherry Hills. You can’t beat the history and the golf course.
3. Skiing at Copper Mountain.
4. Not having to worry about mosquitoes.
5. Having an excuse for being out of breath when I get to the top of a stairwell.
