I had the opportunity to be in Denver Colorado two weeks ago.
What a great city, what a great metropolitan area, what a great state. Colorado, Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder, the Rocky Mountains, have so much to offer.
One of the distinguishing characteristics of Denver and the state as a whole is its elevation. Denver which is at the base of the Rocky Mountains is 5,290’ above sea level. Hence, “the mile high city”. The mountains that Denver looks out on to its west are in the 10,000-14,000 foot range.
Another distinguishing feature of the Denver area is its weather. Let me share what happened to me last Friday and Saturday.
On Friday, I had reason to meet with the leaders of First Tee Denver.
First Tee is a national organization founded some 27 years ago. Strongly supported by the Professional Golf Association of America, its goal has been to expose low income kids of differing ethnic and racial backgrounds to the game of golf with a purpose of helping to build character and purpose in the youngsters. With 150 chapters nationwide, some 3.6 million kids are being served each year. Denver’s chapter is the second largest in the United States.
The reason I was meeting with First Tee’s leadership team was to explore a potential partnership with the Edge Foundation, which I founded some 18 years ago. Both organizations are focused on youth from low-income households who have challenges of one sort or another.
First Tee has 24,000 adult volunteers who are “coaches” for the youth. Of course, these volunteers are coaching the young people in First Tee how to play the game of golf, but they are more importantly coaching them in the values that the rules of golf embrace.
Edge Foundation is focused on training adults to be coaches for youth – training the adults in how through coaching to develop the young person’s executive function skills. I am referring to the ability to plan and prioritize. The ability to control one’s impulses. The ability to follow through and persevere. In short, the ability to make good decisions.
Ideally, the adults who are coaching the youth in Denver on how to play the game of golf and what its values are, can also be trained by Edge to coach the youth to assist them in developing their executive function skill set.
As you would expect, First Tee’s offices are located on one of Denver’s municipal golf courses. So, we arranged to meet at the City Park Golf Course, right across from the Denver Zoo.
What amazed me about our setting was that even though it was the 2nd day of February – i.e., the middle of winter – there were people playing golf in Denver! Yes, siree. It was almost 60 degrees and the sun was shining. Golf in Denver in February! Who would have thought that was possible. I sure did not.
Now, contrast that experience on Friday with what happened on Saturday. I woke up on Saturday to huge white snowflakes falling outside my window. By the time noon came around, some 8” had fallen on the ground. The same ground that people were playing golf the day before.
One day, 60 degrees and sunny, playing golf. The next day, below freezing with snow falling and an accumulation of 8” of snow.
How unusual, how variable the weather in Denver. How unpredictable. What a drastic change in weather in such a short period of time. How wacky is the weather in Denver!
What causes this, I wonder.
My research tells me that it is a combination of a few factors.
The elevation and the mountains. Colorado has 59 mountains that are higher than 14,000 feet. It has 830 mountains that range in height from 11,000 to 14,000 feet. 75% of all the land in America that is above 10,000 feet is in Colorado.
In addition, Denver does not sit near any oceans which tend to moderate the climate.
With the winds coming from the west most of the time, sometimes the strong winds descending off the front range of the Rockies can have a cool temperature. These winds are called Bora Winds.
Other times the air is warmed by strong winds descending off the Rocky Mountains. These winds are called Chinook Winds.
Denver in a year gets 300 days of sunshine – more than San Diego.
Denver also gets 57 inches of snow a year.
Bottom line, be prepared for some wacky weather in Denver.
Your research, observations and ability to paint pictures with words is truly a gift.
Your research, observations and ability to paint pictures with words is truly a gift.
Thanks for sharing.
Why it appeared twice, I have no clue
Sandy, you said it twice because Neil’s blogs are always interesting and I agree.
Hi Neil, Four months ago I spent over 3 weeks in Colorado Springs and Liz is about to leave for 3 weeks there. It’s very similar to Calgary AB. In our many visits to Denver since 1966 3 things stand out, particularly since we live at sea level. We find the altitude makes it tough for walking in hilly areas. The dry air, causes our skin to chap, and no matter what the weather, the views are fabulous.
Happy birthday to Liz. I remember we were born the same year and our birthdays were very close. Mine is February 23.
Hopefully, you are both well, and you, too, have the gift of painting pictures with words.
I had a similar experience with a dramatic weather shift from one day to the next. In the Fall of 1982. 70 degrees one day, snow the next. I spent a week in Denver during the summer once. I saw the strongest t-storms I have ever observed.
Hi Neil-
I think you already know all this, but for your other readers, with our primary residence in Denver and our second home here in San Diego where we are right now, I feel qualified to comment on this. First off, you are totally correct about the highly changeable Denver weather. And the City Park Golf Course, which was completely re-done a couple of years ago, now pretty much is my “home course”. For a public course with so many rounds played there, it is terrific. This from someone who has joined you and the old farts golf group on trips to Ireland (twice), Scotland (once) and Bandon, Oregon (4 times).
As to a comparison to the weather in San Diego, there really is no comparison — although we have been getting tons of rain over the past couple of weeks, and I have felt cold here almost every day. Getting old I guess.
Finally, good luck on the idea of establishing a relationship between Edge and First Tee. I think it is a great idea, so let me know if there is anything I can do to help.
Tom