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What a Day at Colorado National!
The 2026 CHREF Golf Tournament rolled into Colorado National Golf Club in Erie on September 11, and what a day it was.
Blue skies, scattered clouds and those big Front Range mountain views made for one of the prettiest days we could have asked for. After all the planning, phone calls, emails, registrations and last-minute details that go into putting on a tournament, it was pretty special to finally see everyone out on the course having a good time.
Our players made the most of it, enjoying a little friendly competition while helping raise funds for the future of horticulture and the green industry.
A special thank-you goes to PROSPIANT, our 2026 Foundation Sponsor. Prospiant stepped up in a big way to support CHREF and our mission of education, workforce development and research. We appreciate their continued support and their commitment to the future of our industry.
We are grateful for our three Presented By sponsors, DWD Plant Sales, J Frank Schmidt and Woodburn Nursery & Azaleas, and First Editions and Prospiant, our lunch sponsors. Thanks to all the other generous sponsors, players and volunteers who helped make the day possible.
The score was tight from the first tee to the last putt, with longest drive, closest to the pin and our always popular Plant ID Contest keeping the friendly rivalry alive. It turns out a few of you can identify a shrub faster than you can read a green...
Afterward, everyone gathered for lunch, swapped stories from the course and cheered on the day's big winners.
Congratulations to This Year's Champions
• First Place - Rain Bird: 58
• Second Place - Park Creek Nursery: 59
• Third Place - DesignScapes: 60
• Fourth Place, Tie - Britton Nursery and KJT Enterprises: 61
Closest to the Pin: Gene Pielin and Stacey Haskett
Longest Drive: Heidi Fetig
Plant ID Contest: Curtis Manning and David Dickey
Trophy: Lou the Gnome will be spending the year with the Rain Bird Team.
And Yes, the Gnomes Were Watching
CHREF has a not-so-secret tradition: garden gnomes.
It all started back in 2008 with Gus, who left his garden to travel the country and help raise tens of thousands of dollars for scholarships and research. Since then, these quirky little characters have become part of CHREF lore, from Sol the Sporting Clay gnome to Lou, who once again proudly served as our golf tournament trophy.
They are a pretty good reminder that generosity and a little fun can go hand in hand.
A huge thank-you to every player, sponsor and volunteer who helped make this year's tournament such a success. Events like this don't happen without a lot of people pitching in, and we are continually reminded of what a great group of people we have in the horticulture and green industry.
Most importantly, your support goes straight to work helping grow the next generation of horticulture professionals through scholarships, workforce development and research.
That is what CHREF is all about.
See you next year. And don't forget to bring your A-game.
Lou the Gnome will be watching.
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