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TEE IT UP! LEARN ABOUT THE HSF TOUR
Back in 1986, Curt Hanlen, Director of Operations at Angel Fire Resort, got together with Paul Windmueller and Erma Sanchez of Premier Distributing Company (PDC). They shared an idea to create a tournament series unlike any other in the state, getting golfers out of Albuquerque and into the rarified air of the mountains to raise money for a worthy cause. Their concept was to reward golfers with premium tournament prizes blending the camaraderie of competition with a cause dear to many. That year, and until 1994, the tournament was called the "Premier Open", however in 1987, the Tour took a path that remains in the 21st century. Sally Fernandez, Community Relations Director of Anheuser Busch, approached the event with matching funds for the National Hispanic Scholarship Fund (NHSF), a few years later to become the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF). In the summer of 1987, "the tee shot heard around New Mexico" flew up the fairway and the tournament founders dream was launched. When the New Mexico Alliance for Hispanic Education was founded in 1993, "Host Sponsors" such as Budweiser and Pepsi threw additional support behind the tour and the rest is history. Since 1994, Curt Hanlen, owner of Hanlen Company Inc. and Erma Sanchez, still with PDC, along with the support of businesses around the state fuel the fundraising efforts, relying on tremendous operational support from PDC. Many have called the HSF Tour the best series of it's kind in the state, attracting the business, educational and political elite from New Mexico and around the country. The first event in Angel Fire has retained most of the heritage that helped it grow and become a "must" on corporate golfer's calendars for decades. The addition of a full schedule of events for spouses and kids has made the annual trek to the pines a family affair, taking advantage of the beauty and full array of amenities Angel Fire Resort has to offer. Also driving the growth of the event is the enduring contribution of Albert and Deana Murray and the East Moreno Ranch, hosts of the annual BBQ and live auction. Another highlight of the event has been the "Casino Night" and Silent Auction, presented by Sandia Resort and Casino where collecting "funny money" at the blackjack tables, craps or roulette, can win you fabulous prizes later in the evening. Whether it's a summer chairlift ride to the summit, mountain biking or horseback riding the endless trails, to catching a rainbow trout at Monte Verde Lake, the Angel Fire HSF Invitational has something to offer everyone from golfers to guests. Kicking off the Tour is the decades long event at Taos Country Club, hosted by the Sagebrush Inn. It features a relaxed yet rewarding schedule complete with two days of golf, along with a silent auction, gourmet dinner and live entertainment in the heart of Taos. The traditional Tour ends in late August with a one day outing at Las Campanas, however in 2009, one day events in Albuquerque and Las Cruces have been created. These one day "classics" , the Sandia Resort HSF Shootout and the HSF Golf Fiesta, allow golfers the opportunity to support education while competing in tournaments that meet the budgets of any business, yet feature most amenities found on the regular HSF Tour. From it's humble beginnings led by visionaries with a purpose to present, a day on the HSF Tour is one you'll likely remember, yet along the way realize your contribution in the future of our state through the education of its youth. The HSF Tour..."your tee time for 23 years". |