When Parks, Golf and Open Space Manager Lance Johnson first arrived in Westminster back in 1993, the city didn’t even have a golf course. Today, thanks to his vision and decades of dedication, Westminster boasts two of the finest municipal courses in Colorado: Legacy Ridge Golf Course (10801 Legacy Ridge Pkwy) and Walnut Creek Golf Preserve (10555 Westmoor Dr). This year, Johnson’s extraordinary career has been recognized with his induction into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame.
Unlike some Hall of Famers, Johnson isn’t being honored for just tournament victories or professional accolades on the course. Instead, his legacy is rooted in the land itself: the shaping, building, and nurturing of courses that have become community treasures.
“The induction is not about me. It’s about the team that I’ve worked with for the last 33 years here in Westminster.”
Johnson’s journey began at Arizona State University, where he studied turf management and entered the golf industry. After working at Camelback Golf Club in Scottsdale, he and his wife, a Colorado native, decided to move closer to family. A chance meeting with golf superintendent Scott Tuggle led Johnson to Westminster, just as the City was preparing to build its first course.
“We had not even started Legacy Ridge yet,” Johnson recalled. “When I got up here, the first couple of holes had been roughed in, and I started helping install irrigation. I installed a lot of the irrigation over Legacy, which we just replaced three years ago, so I’ve seen the whole lifespan of that project.”
Legacy Ridge opened in 1994 as Westminster’s first foray into a residential golf community. With its tree-lined fairways and challenging layout, it quickly earned a reputation as one of the state’s toughest courses. Over time and as the game has changed with better technology, it has become a familiar favorite for golfers of all skill levels.
“Back in the day, in ’94 when we opened, it was one of the tougher golf courses in the state,” Johnson said. “As the game has evolved, people are hitting the ball a lot farther. It’s not as difficult as it used to be, but people love Legacy. A lot of people kind of consider it their little country club at a municipal golf course.”
Five years later, Johnson helped oversee the creation of Walnut Creek Golf Preserve, a course that would become as much about conservation as competition. Built on open prairie land on the city’s west side, Walnut Creek was designed with wide fairways, native grasses, and a commitment to environmental stewardship.
“We were the 40th golf course worldwide to receive Audubon International Signature Sanctuary certification,” Johnson explained. “We started using reclaimed water in 2001, and millions of gallons have been saved that can now be used for our residents. It was a long process, but we got there.”
The course lives up to its name as a preserve. Wildlife sightings are common – coyotes, foxes, elk, and even the occasional bear. More than 60 species of birds have been identified on the property.
“It’s really a great place when it comes to wildlife,” Johnson said. “Especially being this close to the foothills.”
For Johnson, the importance of Westminster’s golf program extends far beyond the fairways.
“As a full-service City, we offer a lot of amenities. Parks, recreation, libraries,” he said. “Golf was booming in the early ’90s, and being able to have a municipal golf course to offer our residents was the goal. We now have two great golf courses. And as far as recreation goes, golf is a lifelong sport that you can play it until you’re in your 80s or even longer.”
With revenue from tee times, as well as restaurant and venue rentals, the courses have become self-sufficient economic drivers. Legacy Ridge spurred residential development of higher-end homes, while Walnut Creek anchors a thriving business park with plenty of foot traffic from professionals sneaking in a quick mid-week round. Together, they’ve positioned Westminster as a golf destination.
Johnson is quick to credit his staff for the success of Westminster’s golf program.
“We’ve built a really good culture here,” he said. “People really enjoy working at the golf course, and it pays big dividends when they enjoy what they’re doing. We have a lot of returning seasonals every year, and they also get the perk of playing free golf, which helps entice people.”
That culture of pride and care is evident in the immaculate conditions of both courses, which rival private country clubs.
Even as he celebrates the roots he’s put down and his recent Hall of Fame induction, Johnson remains focused on the future.
“Golf is a cyclical sport,” he reflected. “Right now, it’s booming. We’ve been sold out on a daily basis the last four years. We’re bringing so many more young people to golf, and you hope that wave continues for many years. Golf’s a great sport, and once you get hooked on it, it’s kind of hard to give it up. We’re in a good place as a City to maintain that excellence and live up to the expectations we’ve built.”
For Westminster, it’s looking bright over the horizon. With two championship-level municipal courses, a thriving golf culture, and a leader who has spent three decades shaping the game in the city, the community has much to celebrate.
And for Lance Johnson, the Hall of Fame honor is a fitting tribute to a career spent not just maintaining courses, but building legacies.