Broadmoor Readies For Senior Open

COLORADO SPRINGS – Workers had eight weeks to prepare, but on Sunday they scrambled to finish setting up for the 2008 U.S. Open Golf Tournament at the Broadmoor. Practice rounds begin Monday, and play starts Thursday.

“First, the tents go up,” explained director Doug Habgood. “Then the landscape goes in, then the electricity. It’s sort of like building a small city. Eventually, we’re going to have to tear it down, too.”

Workers driving golf carts scurried around the course like ants as they put finishing touches on the event. Habgood expects 150,000 visitors to attend the event. He says every activity will face the mountains, so that spectators can better enjoy the atomosphere. Habgood insists he has tried to plan for everything, including the unpredictable–namely, the weather. “We have a complete evacuation system when a storm is approaching, to get this golf course cleared, to get people into safe areas. When it’s all clear, we’ll put them back out on the golf course and start all over again.”

Although fans will come to see big names like Tom Watson, Greg Norman and Hale Irwin, the tournament couldn’t happen without the work of 3,000 volunteers from across the country. The volunteers are not paid, and must pay their own way. However, many of them believe the memories are priceless.

The Open may be the Broadmoor’s biggest event since the NATO conference in the fall of 2003. Some neighbors remember the tight security and neighborhood disruption during that event, and wonder if that–along with increased traffic–will happen during the Open. “No,” says Josh Ellis. “It might be a little inconvenient, but the trade-off is worth it. We’re excited. We want it. We’d been talking about parking people here in our driveway to make a little extra money, but we probably won’t do that.”

The gates open at 6:30 a.m. each day. Organizers ask visitors to avoid parking in the Broadmoor area, and instead use a designated lot at Drennan Road and South Academy Boulevard. Shuttle buses are available for transportation to the event. For more information, visit the website.