Denver, CO—Cherry Hills Country Club, one of America’s most historic golf clubs and a 15-time major championship host site, has selected decorated PGA club professional Bryan Nicholson to become just the eighth head professional in the club’s 102-year history. Nicholson will oversee all golf operations, including tournaments, events and outings, membership programming, instruction, and merchandising.
“I couldn’t be more pleased to have Bryan join our management team and lead the storied golf operation here at Cherry Hills,” said Lance Sabella, CCM Chief Operating Officer for Cherry Hills. “With his experience, I’m certain that our professional staff will thrive under his leadership and deliver an elite golf experience for our members and guests.”
Among the country’s top head professionals, Nicholson comes to Cherry Hills directly from Sahalee Country Club near Seattle, where he was the PGA of America Director of Golf.
“I am thrilled for this opportunity to be a small part of the historic lore of Cherry Hills,” said Nicholson. “With its century-long legacy of hosting major championships, incredible golf course, clubhouse, and esteemed, welcoming membership, Cherry Hills is one of the finest clubs in America. I look forward to meeting all the members, working closely with the staff, and continuing the traditions that have made this club uniquely special among the top historic clubs in the country.”
Before his time at Sahalee, Nicholson served as Director of Golf at Northwood Club in Dallas and Head Professional at Orange Lake Country Club in Kissimmee, FL. Along the way, Nicholson has won the 2023 Western Washington Chapter PNWGA Merchandiser of the Year, 2019 Northern Texas PGA Merchandiser of the Year, 2018-2021 and 2023 AGM Platinum Award, 2014 NTPGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year, and was the 2014 Captain of the NTPGA Jordan Cup Team.
Nicholson earned a B.A. in Mass Communication, Electronic Media with a minor in Journalism from the University of Northern Iowa. Plus, he’s a PGA of America Certified Professional in Golf Operations, Instruction, Executive Management, General Management, Retail, and Ownership & Leasing.
“Our membership is very excited to welcome Bryan to the Cherry Hills team,” said Brent Powers, President of Cherry Hills Country Club. “His proven leadership as the consummate PGA Professional will undoubtedly add to the legacy of great golf professionals we’ve been fortunate to have at Cherry Hills over the past century.”
Cherry Hills recently celebrated its centennial with the completion of a multi-year restoration of its acclaimed 18-hole William Flynn design, an awe-inspiring clubhouse renovation, and hosting the 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship. Most prominent among the 15 major national championships hosted at Cherry Hills is the electrifying 1960 U.S. Open, famously won by the final-round heroics of the legendary Arnold Palmer.
About Cherry Hills Country Club
Founded in 1922, Cherry Hills Country Club in Denver is one of America’s most iconic golf clubs. The course was designed by leading golden age architect William Flynn, who also designed other famous venues like Shinnecock Hills and The Country Club in Brookline and assisted with the designs of Pine Valley and Merion. In 2010, leading modern-day course architect Tom Doak was retained to restore Cherry Hills back to Flynn’s original design intent.
The club has hosted a variety of professional and amateur championships, including three U.S. Opens (1938, 1960, 1978), two PGA Championships (1941, 1985), two U.S. amateurs, U.S. Senior Amateur, U.S. Senior Open, U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Mid-Amateur, and a PGA Tour FedEx Cup playoff event with the BMW Championship.
At the 1960 U.S. Open, Arnold Palmer hit one of the most memorable shots in all of major championship golf history. Six shots behind the leader in the final round, Palmer drove the first green — leading to a birdie — and fired a final round 65 to win his only Open at Cherry Hills. Other World Golf Hall of Fame champions at Cherry Hills include Jack Nicklaus (U.S. Senior Open-1993) and Phil Mickelson (U.S. Amateur-1990), Hubert Green (PGA Championship-1985), Ralph Guldahl (U.S. Open – 1938) and Babe Zaharias (Women’s Western Open – 1950). President Dwight D. Eisenhower, an honorary member at Cherry Hills, is also a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Cherry Hills celebrated its centennial in 2022 and hosted the U.S. Amateur in 2023.
Visit www.chcc.com for more information.
