The History of Broadmoor Golf Club
Abraham Lincoln was President when the heavily timbered land destined to be Broadmoor Golf Club was acquired by Puget Mill Company. Travel over land from Elliott Bay to the lakeside property took half a day.
Years later, when cable cars ran out Madison from town to Lake Washington, the company dedicated 115 acres to a golf course and 85 acres to a residence park to create Broadmoor, the Pacific Northwest’s first country club development.
Broadmoor Golf Club came into being September 10th, 1924, when E.G. Ames, Puget Mill Company General Manager, Grosvenor Folsom, and George W. Johnson founded the corporation. Membership was for Broadmoor residents only.
To this day the Club benefits from the founders’ foresight in committing to spare no expense and incorporate every modern idea of 1924. Broadmoor is a tribute to designer/builder A. Vernan “Mac” Macan, the leading golf course architect of the time.
Opening Day, April 16th, 1927, offered Women’s Events all morning, complimentary luncheon, an afternoon of Men’s events, and tea. Festivities were housed in a temporary building, but plans were underway for the elegant $100,000 clubhouse which opened a year and five days later.
Broadmoor’s first twenty years included the Depression, Prohibition, and World War II, yet the Club grew, owned then, as is now, by members, a not for profit organization.
With the years came changes. First, the need in mid-1950 for more parking altered the course. The original 10th fairway was paved and the 11th hole became No. 1, reversing the nines, creating the present 18th hole. The lake and fountain at the 18th hole were created in 1969 when drainage problems necessitated rebuilding the 10th, 11th, 17th and 18th holes.
The club was remodeled in 1960, but restored in 1994 to its original elegance.
Golf history hosted at Broadmoor over the years included the Seattle $10,000 Open Tournament in 1945 with Byron Nelson, Jug McSpaden, Ben Hogan and Sam Snead. Nelson took the tournament with a new world’s record of 259 for 72 holes, 21 under par.
In 1952 at the Women’s Weathervane Tournament, Betsy Rawls bested Babe Zaharias. In 1954 the 52nd Western Amateur brought Jack Benny, Bing Crosby, and Phil Harris to the course. In 1961 Broadmoor hosted the 13th annual USGA Girl’s Junior Golf Championship and the Seattle Open where Dave Marr captured the $3,500 prize; Miller Barber won $10,000 for a hole-in-one on #7.
With the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962, the Seattle Open attracted Arnold Palmer, Billy Casper, Tony Lema, Ken Venturi, Dave Hill, Julius Boros, Doug Sanders, Jack Nicklaus, Hollywood stars Bob Hope, James Garner, Don Cherry, Dennis Morgan, and Phil Crosby, and a crowd of 6,000 for the Pro Am. In 1964 the Seattle Open was held for the last time at Broadmoor. Billy Casper claimed the winner’s circle.
The USGA Women’s National Amateur Championship in 1974 brought winner Cindy Hill of The Broadmoor in Colorado. The strong field included Nancy Lopez and Amy Alcott.
Broadmoor hosted the Pac-10 Men’s Golf Championship in 1989 and 1999. Paul Casey, from Arizona State University, set the men’s competitive course record of 60 in 1999 as he advanced to win the individual honors. The Women’s Pac-10 Championships were held in 2007 and Anna Nordquist, also from Arizona State University, set the women’s competitive course record of 69. More recently, Broadmoor hosted the expanded Pac-12 women’s event in 2018, which saw Patty Tavatankit, from UCLA, win the event.
The current course record (non-competition) was shot by Fred Couples, who eagled the 18th hole to shoot 59 in 2015.
Years later, when cable cars ran out Madison from town to Lake Washington, the company dedicated 115 acres to a golf course and 85 acres to a residence park to create Broadmoor, the Pacific Northwest’s first country club development.
Broadmoor Golf Club came into being September 10th, 1924, when E.G. Ames, Puget Mill Company General Manager, Grosvenor Folsom, and George W. Johnson founded the corporation. Membership was for Broadmoor residents only.
To this day the Club benefits from the founders’ foresight in committing to spare no expense and incorporate every modern idea of 1924. Broadmoor is a tribute to designer/builder A. Vernan “Mac” Macan, the leading golf course architect of the time.
Opening Day, April 16th, 1927, offered Women’s Events all morning, complimentary luncheon, an afternoon of Men’s events, and tea. Festivities were housed in a temporary building, but plans were underway for the elegant $100,000 clubhouse which opened a year and five days later.
Broadmoor’s first twenty years included the Depression, Prohibition, and World War II, yet the Club grew, owned then, as is now, by members, a not for profit organization.
With the years came changes. First, the need in mid-1950 for more parking altered the course. The original 10th fairway was paved and the 11th hole became No. 1, reversing the nines, creating the present 18th hole. The lake and fountain at the 18th hole were created in 1969 when drainage problems necessitated rebuilding the 10th, 11th, 17th and 18th holes.
The club was remodeled in 1960, but restored in 1994 to its original elegance.
Golf history hosted at Broadmoor over the years included the Seattle $10,000 Open Tournament in 1945 with Byron Nelson, Jug McSpaden, Ben Hogan and Sam Snead. Nelson took the tournament with a new world’s record of 259 for 72 holes, 21 under par.
In 1952 at the Women’s Weathervane Tournament, Betsy Rawls bested Babe Zaharias. In 1954 the 52nd Western Amateur brought Jack Benny, Bing Crosby, and Phil Harris to the course. In 1961 Broadmoor hosted the 13th annual USGA Girl’s Junior Golf Championship and the Seattle Open where Dave Marr captured the $3,500 prize; Miller Barber won $10,000 for a hole-in-one on #7.
With the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962, the Seattle Open attracted Arnold Palmer, Billy Casper, Tony Lema, Ken Venturi, Dave Hill, Julius Boros, Doug Sanders, Jack Nicklaus, Hollywood stars Bob Hope, James Garner, Don Cherry, Dennis Morgan, and Phil Crosby, and a crowd of 6,000 for the Pro Am. In 1964 the Seattle Open was held for the last time at Broadmoor. Billy Casper claimed the winner’s circle.
The USGA Women’s National Amateur Championship in 1974 brought winner Cindy Hill of The Broadmoor in Colorado. The strong field included Nancy Lopez and Amy Alcott.
Broadmoor hosted the Pac-10 Men’s Golf Championship in 1989 and 1999. Paul Casey, from Arizona State University, set the men’s competitive course record of 60 in 1999 as he advanced to win the individual honors. The Women’s Pac-10 Championships were held in 2007 and Anna Nordquist, also from Arizona State University, set the women’s competitive course record of 69. More recently, Broadmoor hosted the expanded Pac-12 women’s event in 2018, which saw Patty Tavatankit, from UCLA, win the event.
The current course record (non-competition) was shot by Fred Couples, who eagled the 18th hole to shoot 59 in 2015.