Residents sorry to see event end

Hector Gutierrez, Rocky Mountain News

Thursday, February 8, 2007

Several business owners and residents around Castle Pines Village said Wednesday they were surprised and saddened about the sudden cancellation of The International.

As word spread of the tournament's demise, many remembered how organizers staged it with few hitches and thought they coexisted well with the weeklong event.

"We've been a big supporter of The International, and it's really sad to see it go," said Parker Utz, whose family owns Rodney's at Castle Pines restaurant, which is in The Village at Castle Pines at South Santa Fe Drive and East Happy Canyon Road.

"It's been a great venue for Castle Rock businesses and Castle Rock. It's a great tournament in the city and one of the biggest events in Colorado. I think Castle Rock is a golf-fanatic town, which is why I'm saddened by this," Utz said.

Michael Rima and his family have lived along Happy Canyon Road for 25 years, and he was also saddened by The International's sudden end.

"We'll miss it," Rima said. "It was an event we always looked forward to. It was an event that lightened the area, the economic structure of the whole town, and the county benefited from it."

Another resident, Karen Shull, said she has lived in the neighborhood for 11 years and marveled over how smoothly the organizers ran the tournament.

"We're surprised, because it's been going on for such a long time," Shull said. "It's always run very smoothly, so we had no problems with it, one way or another."

Rachel Blanchard, who works at Anthony's Pizza and Pasta in The Village at Castle Pines, saw one benefit - delivery drivers won't have to spend tournament week finding ways around Happy Canyon Road, which always was shut for the event.

More golf on the way

The International might be history, but Colorado has other big golf events coming.

In 2008 the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs will be the site of the U.S. Senior Open. The July 3-6 event will include the Champions Tour's top players, including former University of Colorado athlete Hale Irwin.

And the new Colorado Golf Club in Parker will host three USGA qualifiers this year, including a U.S. Open sectional. PGA professional Mike McGetrick said the club is not interested in hosting tour stops but would like to hold USGA championships every three to seven years.