The 2001 Conquistador Golf Course major tournament schedule is now complete.

The Cortez municipal course closed for three months (December-February) in order to the let the course heal from heavy play. It was the first time the course has been closed for that long it many years. Because of a mild winter temperatures and more than snowfall than in past years, the course is in great shape. Perhaps the best shape of all is the greens.

The course reopened March 1 and it will remain open through the end of November.

Back to the schedule, it should be another good one with some great amateur tournaments on tap.

The first is the annual Cortez Men’s Golf Association’s Ice Breaker Three-Man Scramble tourney. It is set for April 27-28. Three-man teams consisting of one A player (0-10 current handicap), one B player (11-17) and one C player (17-up). Entry fee is $75 per team. Entries are due no later than noon, April 27. Fees must be paid upon signup. No refunds will be given after that date.

The month of May is unusually quite as there are no tournaments scheduled. Incidentally, the course will be closed May 1-2 for maintenance (aeration).

Tournaments are scheduled every weekend and a couple on week days during the month of June. On June 2-3 is the annual Guy’s and Doll’s. The annual Doug Lancaster Memorial is scheduled for June 9. The Cortez Women’s Golf Association’s annual Beat the Pro day is set for June 19. Junior golfers from throughout the Four Corners area will compete on June 21. The CMGA Two-Man Scramble is slated for June 23-24.

July has several events on the books. The Coors Light Firecracker Tournament is set for July 7-8. The Cortez Elks Lodge Three-Man Scramble will be July 14-15. The CWGA’s President’s Cup (low net tourney) is slated for July 24. The CMGA Men’s Club Championship will be held July 21-22.

Big, big tourneys will be held in August. The annual Ute Mountain Oil Classic will get things under way on Aug. 4. The Cortez Women’s Golf Association’s Mesa Verde Tee Cup Invitational is set for Aug. 14. The grandaddy of them, the Pinto Bean Classic, will be held Aug. 18-19.

September may bring a nip to the air and leaf color changes, but it doesn’t mean golf season is over. The Dean Hanson Memorial is set for Sept. 8. The CWGA’s Club Championship is set for Sept. 11-12. The Nielson’s Invitational is slated Sept. 15. The Cortez Senior Championship will be held Sept. 22-23 and the Job’s Daughter’s Tournament will close the tournament schedule Sept. 29.

No firm dates have been scheduled for the CWGA’s President’s Cup (low net tourney) and their club championship. These will be announced soon.