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• Position: Business entertaining

PRO TOURNEYS MAKE GOOD COMPANY

If you're looking for a break from that annual company golf outing or want to add to it, there's another way you can use the sport to bond with clients, reward employees or increase your company's visibility: Invite the important people in your business to one of the handful of spectator golf events that will be held along the Front Range in 2005.

The International at Castle Pines, the U.S. Women's Open at Cherry Hills, the Colorado Open at Green Valley Ranch and the Denver Open Championship at Buffalo Run all offer ways for companies to get involved in the action, with possibilities ranging from inexpensive or even free tickets to hospitality tents to awards dinners where you and your guests can meet some of the game's top players and hear about their Colorado golf experience first-hand.

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Here's a look at the pro tournaments teeing up this summer:

U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN, JUNE 20-26 AT CHERRY HILLS COUNTRY CLUB

How does a pro golf tournament work as a memorable company gathering? "It's sort of along the same lines of a (company) golf outing where you're essentially entertaining people," says Doug Habgood, championship director for the 60th U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship. "You're just doing it without the club in your guests' hands. You're just inviting them out here as you would invite them to Invesco or Coors Field."

The levels in which companies can get involved, at least in the U.S. Women's Open, are nearly endless, Habgood says. "I think what we want to stress is, the sky's the limit. We're very flexible. Based on your needs we'll do what we can to make sure you get the return that you're looking for."

The most popular package with companies or small groups for the U.S. Women's Open, Habgood says, is the "10-ticket flex book" for $230. The package allows the buyer to divvy up the tickets any way he or she wants--give out all 10 of them for Sunday's final round, or spread them out to different guests over all three days of tournament play. And if your business friends are true fanatics and don't want to miss anything, you can get them tickets for practice rounds for $15 each.

Habgood says much of what the U.S. Women's Open offers companies and small groups is hospitality-based. "We have several different packages they can participate in," he says. "Some include food and beverage, some do not. Some are on the golf course, others are in the clubhouse. We do have tents where you have your...