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 Monday, Aug 7 Headline News
Schedule of Events
Letter from the President
The Best Drive is Right Here
INTERNATIONAL Charities
Monday Pro-Am Pairings
 Letter from the President
Welcome to the 21st annual presentation of The INTERNATIONAL at
Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado.
It was more than twenty-five years ago that I first laid eyes on
this remarkable piece of land nestled in the foothills, among the
scrub oak and the ponderosa pine. Awestruck is the word that comes
to mind when describing how I felt as I took in the beauty of the
area. I knew right then and there that something inspired and spectacular
had to be done here. That is when I began to fabricate the vision
of a championship golf course that would host the world's
best professional golfer's to compete amidst the rarified
mountain air. Now a quarter-century later, we are proud to say
that Castle Pines Golf Club and The INTERNATIONAL are recognized
worldwide as one of the premier venues and most unique events in
professional golf.
Every year, it is my pleasure to welcome you, along with more than
100,000 other avid golf fans, to one of Jack Nicklaus' coveted
golf course designs. The athletic talent, supreme concentration
and precise shot making that you will witness this week are truly
astounding. However, we view the week as much more than the golf
tournament — it is a week to bring our community together.
After all, how many other events in our State can count on the
help of 1,600 residents who volunteer their time? It is also one
of the only sports where you can witness amateur golfers — your
friends and neighbors — actually playing alongside the professionals
during our Pro-am tournaments.
Thanks to your support, we are also able to raise needed funds
for many worthy charities in the community. With these funds, we
are able to provide opportunities and programs in and around the
game for our youth.
As you get your exercise with a refreshing hike around the golf
course or socialize with your family and friends, I encourage you
to take in the spectacular vistas, manicured landscaping and occasional
wildlife that Colorado has to offer.
Lastly, I want to mention that in 2007, The INTERNATIONAL will
be held during the week of the fourth of July! We're excited
about the earlier date for a number of reasons, not the least of
which is the fact that we'll be played at the peak of the
TOUR season, between two major championships, the U.S. Open and
the British Open. We believe that the anticipated date change will
further enhance our field and help attract even more of the world's
top ranked golfers including the "Big Five."
In conjunction with Douglas County, the Castle Pines Community
is planning some exciting events surrounding the fourth of July
holiday that you won't want to miss! Be sure to mark the
dates — July 2-8 — on your 2007 calendar and spread
the word that it's a great time to plan a vacation around
The INTERNATIONAL, in sunny Colorado!
Jack A. Vickers, President and Founder
 The Best Drive is Right Here
By JOHN FINERAN
INTERNATIONAL Daily News
CASTLE ROCK, CO — It may be the best drive on the PGA TOUR.
No, not the tee shot that awaits you on the downhill, 644-yard,
par-5 first hole but the ride down Happy Canyon Road that leads
you to Castle Pines Golf Club, which this week hosts its 21st INTERNATIONAL.
When club and tournament founder Jack A. Vickers made that fortuitous
turn off the highway south of Denver, Happy Canyon was just a dirt
road that meandered its way through pine trees in the foothills
of the Rocky Mountains. But Vickers, a successful oilman and sportsman,
saw the potential immediately for a world-class golf course and
tournament.
Castle Pines, designed by champion golfer Jack Nicklaus, and The
INTERNATIONAL, with its unique global field and Modified Stableford
scoring format, continue to exceed Vickers' expectations.
"It has been a long, long trip," Vickers said, "but it has been
a beautiful trip."
And each year since 1986, the world's best golfers and most appreciative
fans have developed a love affair with the par-72, 7,619-yard course
that Nicklaus has called "one of my favorite golf courses." The
views are spectacular — yes, that's Pikes Peak looming in
the distance south of the course — and the flora is breathtaking.
"This is one of the greatest places on any tour," said two-time U.S.
Open champion Ernie Els of South Africa. "Mr. Vickers and the tournament
gave me my first chance on the U.S. Tour, and I'll be forever grateful because
of the course and the people."
Els, who first played in 1991, won the title in 2000 with +48 (tying
two-time champion Phil Mickelson's winning effort in 1997) and
is the all-time money winner (more than $1.65 million) and points
leader (344). He is one of six foreign players — Australia's
Greg Norman (1989), Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal (1991), Fiji's
Vijay Singh (1998), Australia's Rodney Pampling (2004) and South
Africa's Retief Goosen (2005), the others — to have won the
title along with American major winners like Davis Love III (1990,
2003), Lee Janzen (1995) and David Toms (1999).
"Mr. Vickers was the first in America to make us truly feel special and
welcome," noted Olazabal, who has won two Masters green jackets.
Fans feel the same way, especially when they've been able to see
the world's greatest professional golfers produce great shots and
great finishes.
Castle Pines and The INTERNATIONAL never disappoint. So enjoy the
ride.
INTERNATIONAL
Charities
 At The INTERNATIONAL, our plan is to build a better Community.
We work towards that goal every day and are committed to making
a difference in the lives of our fellow Coloradoans through our
many charity initiatives.
Here are just a few of our partners in charity and our allied initiatives:
THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF METRO DENVER
Since 1986, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver (B&G
Clubs) has been the flagship charity of The INTERNATIONAL. This
amazing organization has been helping kids from tough neighborhoods
in the metro Denver area to stay out of trouble, remain in school
and succeed in life since 1961. Helping children has always been
a priority of the Tournament, so this partnership is a natural.
During The INTERNATIONAL, the B&G Clubs help manage tournament
parking and sell event programs, to raise additional dollars.
 THE FIRST TEE — COLORADO CHAPTERS
The INTERNATIONAL Charities is committed to supporting The First Tee Organization
(TFT) throughout the State of Colorado. The INTERNATIONAL Charities is helping
expand The First Tee — Colorado Chapters, with the collaborative efforts
of The Colorado Open Foundation, Colorado Golf Association, Colorado Section
PGA as well as support from the national Oversight Committee, which includes
The PGA TOUR, the United States Golf Association, The PGA of America, Augusta
National, and the LPGA. Currently TFT has seven kid-friendly golf facilities
and dozens of program affiliate golf courses in the counties of Denver, El Paso,
Jefferson, and Eagle. Together, our mission is to impact the lives of young people
by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character
development and life-enhancing values such as integrity, sportsmanship and responsibility.
COLORADO GOLF/COLORADO WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
The CGA and CWGA are the governing bodies of amateur golf in Colorado whose invaluable
services include the statewide administration of the USGA Handicap System, providing
Rules of Golf expertise and education, conducting state championships and USGA
qualifiers, creating outreach programs and growing the game initiatives and many
other programs vital to the health of the game in our state. The INTERNATIONAL
Charities is a proud partner and supporter of the CGA and CWGA and helping steward
the game of golf throughout the state with many cooperative initiatives including
funding the associations' quarterly membership publication, Colorado Golf.
DOUGLAS COUNTY EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
With more than sixty schools and over 48,000 students, Douglas County is the
fourth largest school district in Colorado. As the district continues to grow
and change, the focus of Douglas County Educational Foundation (DCEF) remains
on best practices in everything they do for their students, while promoting a
district-wide sense of community. The INTERNATIONAL is proud to partner in this
process. Together, we are committed to the community education and are working
on fundraising opportunities and programs with the common goal of helping each
and every child in a successful quest for academic and social growth.
 THE DENVER ACTIVE 20/30 CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION
The Denver Active 20/30 Children's Foundation is a nonprofit service organization
made up of business leaders between the ages of 20 and 39. Chartered under Active
20/30 International, the Foundation has over 50 members representing a diversity
of professional backgrounds. The mission of the Foundation is to raise money
for disadvantaged children through annual fund-raising events and projects. This
year, The INTERNATIONAL Charities is teaming up with Denver Active 20/30 to raise
donations.
THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER
The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, a leading institution in research
for Prostate Cancer, has teamed up with Castle Pines Golf Club and The INTERNATIONAL
Charities, through the leadership of President Jack A. Vickers and a generous
committee that he formed, to raise funding for prostate cancer research and the
endowed chair for Dr. E. David Crawford. Dr. Crawford has a worldwide reputation
as one of the leading experts in prostate cancer. To date, Vickers and his committee,
with the help of Castle Pines Golf Club, have raised $1,500,000 toward their
$3,000,000 goal.
THE EVANS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION
The Evans Scholarship Foundation (ESF) is a charitable trust, which provides
undergraduate scholarships for deserving caddies. This year, The INTERNATIONAL
Charities will donate money to the ESF and provide scholars with job opportunities
at The INTERNATIONAL. In addition, our goal is to identify and nurture caddies
from Castle Pines Golf Club and The First Tee Program as potential scholarship
recipients.
THE COLORADO PGA SECTION
Since 1986, The INTERNATIONAL has been a major donor to The Colorado Section
Foundation, helping to support the “Growth of the Game” by sponsoring
programs such as Women & Golf Day, which reaches over 200 women annually,
Youth Clinics for more than 500 youth golfers during the summer and the annual
Teach-a-thon. The Colorado PGA Section and The INTERNATIONAL both benefit greatly
from their mutual support throughout the 21 years of the Tournament.
SUNGATE KIDS
The mission of SungateKids is to coordinate a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary
community response designed to meet the needs of abused children and their families.
SungateKids uses nationally recognized forensic interviewers to help children
safely - and at their own pace - reveal the truth about a crime. Their approach
gets to the truth in a professional manner, which avoids re-traumatizing the
child and helps the family begin the healing process. In 2005, SungateKids interviewed
over 900 children and assisted over 1,200 child victims and their family members.
This year proceeds from The Time Warner Telecom Saturday Series will benefit
this worthy cause.
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