For second straight year, a Colorado-based golf shop is named one of top 10 nationally/internationally as Colorado Golf Club makes the grade in 2026
By Gary Baines – 2/2/2026
The golf operation at Colorado Golf Club has been the subject of several notable news items in recent months.
In October, the USGA announced that the club in Parker will host the 2030 U.S. Junior Amateur, arguably the top junior golf championship in the world. Then last month, Colorado Golf Club was ranked No. 6 among residential courses in the U.S. Also last month, two CGC caddies — Krew Averett and Mindzie Madsen — earned full-tuition and housing Evans Scholarships to the University of Colorado.
Then there was this: CGC’s golf shop was recently named one of the top 10 nationally/internationally by the Association of Golf Merchandisers, earning a “best of the best” award for exemplifying innovation, creativity, and excellence in golf merchandising. The 10 represent the “most outstanding shops that set the highest standard for the industry,” according to the AGM.
That marks the second consecutive year a Colorado golf shop has earned a top-10 honor from the AGM as Columbine Country Club did so in 2025. The rankings include public, private, resort and off-course retailers.
“This year’s honorees have redefined excellence through creativity, operational discipline, data-driven strategy and an unwavering devotion to their golfers,” the AGM said in a video on its website. “These 10 facilities represent the highest standard in golf retailing, elevating hospitality, merchandising, service and culture.”
Joining Colorado Golf Club in the 2026 top 10 were Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Ga.; Boca West Country Club in Boca Raton, Fla.; Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md.; Haggin Oaks Golf Super Shop in Sacramento, Calif.; Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minn.; Kapalua’s Plantation Course in Lahaina, Hawaii; Monterey Peninsula Country Club in Pebble Beach, Calif.; St. Andrews Country Club in Boca Raton, Fla.; and The Sanctuary Golf Club in Sanibel, Fla.
Colorado Golf Club’s course, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, has hosted the 2010 Senior PGA Championship, the 2013 Solheim Cup and the 2019 U.S. Mid-Amateur. Graham Cliff has been the PGA director of golf at CGC since it soft opened in 2006.
Here’s what the AGM had to say about CGC’s golf shop:
“At Colorado Golf Club, retail success is built on precision, education and elite-level service that matches the club’s championship heritage. The team invests heavily in staff development, completing more than 320 hours of product and service training annually. Every associate is equipped to serve as a confident style adviser and equipment consultant.
“A disciplined ‘open to buy’ model and thoughtful mid-season adjustments ensure smart buying decisions, while vendor scorecards and performance data drive results. Innovation shines through programs like their growing corporate order platform and strategic trunk shows that build loyalty while minimizing inventory risk.
“Colorado Golf Club’s concierge-style service — ’10 feet in, 10 feet out’ philosophy — and elevated hospitality create memorable interactions at every touchpoint. This is retail by design rooted in discipline, knowledge and a relentless commitment to excellence.”
CGC was one of four golf shops in Colorado ranked in the top 100 nationally/internationally by the AGM, joining Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock; Columbine Country Club in Columbine Valley; and The Country Club of Colorado in Colorado Springs.
About the Writer: Gary Baines has covered golf in Colorado continuously since 1983. He was a sports writer at the Daily Camera newspaper in Boulder, then the sports editor there, and has written regularly for ColoradoGolf.org since 2009. The University of Colorado Evans Scholar alum was inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame in 2022. He owns and operates ColoradoGolfJournal.com