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LOCAL GOLF NEWS
Remembering 20-time PGA TOUR Champions Winner
Jim Colbert( 1941-2026)
Editorial by Alan Hoskins
A winner on the PGA TOUR eight times, Colbert won 20 times on the PGA TOUR Champions( formerly the Senior PGA Tour and the Champions Tour) before his passing on May 10 at the age of 85. Famed for his always-present bucket hat, he also gained prominence as a broadcast analyst for ESPN, and the Colbert Hills Golf Course he built in Manhattan, KS, will help sustain his legacy for years and years to come.
But then you know that. My memories, however, are of a friendship I’ ll treasure forever— memories that are worth re-telling.
Two of Colbert’ s 20 senior victories came right here in Kansas City— the Southwestern Bell Classic in 1991 and 1994. Playing in one of them at Loch Lloyd, Colbert birdied the first eight holes on the back nine and barely missed a birdie putt on No. 18.“ I really wanted to make that putt, so if someone asked me how I played, I could say I birdied the back nine.” our golfers, Jerry Reid, even challenged Colbert for money. He lost. For the dozen golfers who played those rounds, not one will ever forget playing with an all-time great— and what a thrill it was.
I was fortunate enough to cover his last competitive win, the Senior Division of the PGA’ s Legends Tournament with Jim Thorpe in Branson in 2014. A two-time Senior Player of the Year, he’ s in five Halls of Fame.
No remembrance would be complete without his input in prolonging my life. Colbert underwent prostate cancer surgery in the 90s, and I wrote a story for TEE TIMES Golf Guide Magazine about it. When I was diagnosed with the same problem, I approached him to ask why he chose surgery over other options.“ I heard bad things about freezing, and I said I wanted the best surgeon in the world to do it.”
Another day playing at Colbert Hills with myself, Tyler Cundith, and Dave Klein, Colbert set down his rules before teeing off on the first hole.“ I have two rules. No. 1, we do not look for lost balls. No. 2, see No. 1.” And then after we finished, he gave each of us a dozen golf balls.
One of Colbert’ s favorite stories came after a Cadillac-sponsored senior tour tournament out west.“ My grandson was caddying for me, and I told him, if I won, I’ d give him the Escalade they gave for first. I was right in contention, and the TV cameras were focusing on him, and they were saying how hard he was cheering for his grandfather. But what he was really wanting was that Escalade.”
Playing at Colbert Hills became a“ right of summer” for about three years for a dozen golfers from Sunflower Hills. I’ d book three tee times in advance with Colbert, and he’ d be there to welcome us and then play six holes with each foursome. He also joined us for lunch a couple of times while sharing some great stories. One of
Alan Hoskins( center in red shirt) and 11 more golfers from Sunflower Hills played Colbert Hills Golf Course on June 16, 2020.“ It was an annual trip I’ ve arranged for three or four years,” said Hoskins. Golf legend Jim Colbert( wearing his famous bucket hat) played six holes with each of the three foursomes.
8 JULY 2026 TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE