Sierra
GOLFER
Your guide to golf and life in the Sierra
SEPTEMBER 2009
Canadian Rockies Golf
Beautiful & Challenging
CordeValle Golf Club The Hogan 1-iron Shot
The Sierra Golf Trail
Getting Fit for Golf Uncorking with the Wine Guy
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What a whirlwind of a project. This Sierra Golfer Magazine has taken on a whole new life. We’ve come a long way in the first year of publishing. As you know, The Sierra Golfer Magazine has entered a new era of publishing with the help of many talented and gifted technicians, artists and writers. One veteran of the publishing world, a Vicepresident of one of the largest newspapers in the world told me recently…’Rick, you are changing the world of publishing’. Now I am not sure about all that, but it was sure nice to hear his vote of confidence. Yep, for the remainder of 2009 we will publish by digital means only to one million opt-in golfers and travelers from the Bay Area of California up to the Reno and Tahoe areas of the High Country. The future may include millions more if all goes as planned. This Edition kicks off this new era in Sierra Golfer Magazine and needless to say we are all quite excited. You will also see right away that the magazine has undergone a redesign that I feel is simply out of this world. I can say that because I cannot take credit for this brilliant makeover. I am proud to say that my new creative designer Ian Lenton is one of the best in the business, and I couldn’t be any prouder than a new papa gazing at his latest offspring. I think you will agree the magazine has taken on a new and wonderful look. We have also added a new fitness writer, Susan Hill and a wine columnist that will add some new perspectives that I think you will enjoy. I am also proud of our new feature contributor Brian Oar, a world-renowned travel writer and photographer. In short, thank you all and enjoy the new Sierra Golfer Magazine.
Sierra Golfer - September 2009
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Sierra Golfer - September 2009
Table of Contents
Ben Kline
Features Canadian Rockies Golf
Page 6
CordeValle Golf Club
Page 10
Sierra Golf Trail
Page 22
Columns The Hogan 1-Iron Shot
Page 12
Getting Fit for Golf Training to Reach Your Peak Performance
Page 14
Mark Your Ball Like a Pro
Page 16
Psychology of Golf Pre-shot Routines
Page 18
Golf Tip from the Pro
Page 21
Uncorking With the Wine Guy
Page 27
Sierra Golf Guide
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Contributors
Sierra
GOLFER
David Wood
is an avid golfer and golf historian with an astonishing record for attendance at Major Golf Tournaments and other events, including 14 Open Championships, 7 Masters Championships, 16 U.S. Opens, 2 PGA Championships and 5 Ryder Cups. He has played in numerous Pro-Ams (even the Mercedes in Maui, the lucky so & so!), and has been paired with tour pros Tom Watson, Fred Couples, Davis Love III, Scott McCarron, Scott Simpson, Bernhard Langer, Gary Player, Chip Beck, John Cook and David Graham among others. He was Leaderboard Chairman for the 1999 U.S. Senior Open and Senior Marshal at the 2006 Ryder Cup. The retired CEO of Wells Fargo Financial makes his primary residence in West Des Moines, Iowa, and plays to an 11.9 Index. David can be reached at davidwoodlaw@aol.com. is a sport psychology consultant based in Mill Valley, Ca., and is passionate about helping people improve performance on and off the sporting field. A former collegiate track athlete, avid golfer, classically trained musician, and veteran of 23 years in the competitive high technology industry, Ben holds a Masters degree in Sport Psychology. He enjoys working with amateur and professional athletes who desire to overcome impediments to peak performance or just want to increase enjoyment of their sport. Ben believes that our bodies have their own genius and that our thought patterns, beliefs and personal histories can interfere with the manifestation of that brilliance on the sporting field. Information on Ben’s practice can be found at clarityperformance.com.
Tom Morton was raised at Haggin Oaks since the age of 5. Tom’s golf career was
fostered through Haggin Oaks Golf Programs and through his father and five-time national PGA award winner Ken Morton, Sr. Tom has played tournament golf since the age of 7, leading him to the Junior Golf Association of Northern California Tour and American Junior Golf Association events. Tom earned a scholarship in golf and scholastics at the University of California at Santa Barbara, and now is the Director of Player Performance for Morton Golf. Tom is a 3-time NCPGA Award winner, including the 2002 Apprentice of the Year, 2006 Horton Smith Award and the 2008 Junior Golf Leader of the Year. He also has been recognized as a Top 50 Kids Teacher in America the last 3 years by U.S. Kids Golf, was a national finalist for the PGA of America Junior Golf Leader Award in 2009 and has contributed to various publications over the years.
Brian Oar
is a highly regarded travel writer and photographer. A longtime Salt Lake City resident who lives there with his wife and family, Brian’s work has been published in many leading North American magazines. Brian can be reached at brian.oar@fairwaysphotography.com.
Susan Hill
is the President of http://www.fitnessforgolf.com, a website dedicated to helping golfers improve through golf specific programs. She has credentials as a golf biomechanic, sports performance nutritionist, youth conditioning specialist and fitness trainer. As a professional golf fitness trainer, Susan has worked with hundreds of golfers ranging in skills from beginners just taking up the game of golf to collegiate, amateur and tour players looking for a more competitive edge. Her work has been featured in Resort Golf, Travel Golf, Golf Illustrated, GolfersMd and on ESPN. Susan can also be reached at susan@fitnessforgolf.com
Brian Vanderbeek is a Sportswriter and is currently
nursing his 5.9 handicap index at Stevinson Ranch, but Brian’s a Dutchman so don’t ask him to play for money .
Sierra Golfer Magazine
Rick Rider
Publisher - rick@sierragolfer.com
Ian Lenton Art Direction - ianlenton@hotmail.com PO Box 11 San Andreas, CA 95249 209.327.8934
Sierra Golfer - September 2009
Brian Klassen a wine connoisseur, markets and sells fine wines from Australia and
New Zealand as well as from his home region, the Sierra Foothills. Brian hand selects wine properties representing the finest in winemaking skill and creativity. The owners and winemakers of all brands in his portfolio have worked closely with Brian through the years with the goal of sharing with customers the distinct flare for life found both Down Under and in the Sierra’s. Brian can be reached at brian@ klassenwines.com and his web address is www.klassenwines.com.
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Canadian Rockies Golf Historic. Dramatic. Untamed!
Trying to understand what a golf destination is like from the outside looking in can be difficult. Informed decisions can mean the difference between wishing for a great getaway experience and ensuring one. This is why six golf-and-resort lifestyle properties located in or near Jasper National Park and Banff National Park, in the majestic Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada, have banded together to offer as fine a collection of destination golf resorts as perhaps exists in North America.
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Sierra Golfer - September 2009
This past month I was fortunate to have the opportunity to witness this incredible region of the world with my own eyes, ears, mouth, and camera. With few good friends along for the ride in a well stocked motor coach, complete with driver, we were free to take in the sights and experience the golf and resorts of the Canadian Rockies in style. Banff National Park is located about 80 miles west of Calgary, and Jasper National Park is 250 miles southwest of Edmonton. The two parks are essentially right next to each other, and they span for close to 8,000 square miles along the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies in the province of Alberta. To help our group become acquainted with the region, our hosts came up with an informative tagline for us to gain a collective understanding of the offerings: Canadian Rockies Golf: Historic, Dramatic, Untamed.
Historic In the fall of 1883, Canadian Pacific Railway construction workers discovered a hot springs on the slopes of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains. With that small natural find, the Banff National Park was born, Canada’s first national park and the world’s third. The area quickly gained notoriety across North America and Europe from the railroad pushing their advertising to affluent travelers, as a new and fantastic tourist destination. William Cornelius Van Horne, the railroad’s president at the time said: “Since I can’t export the scenery; I’ll import the tourists”. Within a few years, Canadian Pacific built a series of grand hotels along the rail line including the magnificent Banff Springs Hotel, which was instrumental in founding a legitimate tourist destination with luxurious accommodations and top-notch service. While the first hotel may have been slightly more than a cabin in those days, it did the trick with getting people to vacation in the park. The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel as it is today, is part of the Fairmont brand of hotels, a leader in upscale accommodations throughout the world, and offers guests the finest amenities one would expect from a world-class hotel. It is truly a tribute to elegant, timeless design from a bygone era, yet it offers all the modern conveniences. In 1911, the Canadian Pacific Railroad built the Banff Springs Golf Course as 9-hole layout as an amenity to their hotel, to attract more people to the region. The course was then expanded years later to 18 holes by legendary golf architect Donald Ross and was held in high praise as the time. Apparently, the course was not spectacular enough to accompany the grand scale of the Banff Hotel. In 1927, a Canadian architect named Stanley Thompson was hired to create the world’s greatest mountain golf course, after owners of the Banff Hotel saw his stunning work at Jasper Park, from that they had to have him remodel Banff Springs. The new course opened in 1929, with incredibly distinct, ragged looking bunkers with an out-and-back style course routing, similar to many courses in Scotland. When
Sierra Golfer - September 2009
complete, the only green site that Thompson kept from the Ross course was that of today’s second hole. Unfortunately, the original routing had to be altered to accommodate a new clubhouse and modern golf operations reasons, but the course is still outstanding from top to bottom, and although the original layout was arguably better, the updated layout continues to amaze golfers daily to a superb round of golf. Jasper National Park, located a few hours north of Banff Springs, is said to be “the wild side of the Rockies”, with frequent bear, coyote, cougars, and a wide variety of birds including eagles regularly sighted on property. At Jasper Park, Mr. Thompson must have been giddy with the
of a Fairmont hotel inside. The accommodations follow the Fairmont’s swanky brand, complete with modern rooms, superb service and wonderful dining options. However, quite possibly the best way to experience Jasper Park Lodge is to stay in one of the signature cabins they offer, like the Milligan Manor Cabin located just off the first tee of the golf course. It was perfect for our golf group of eight & would also be a unique idea for a wedding, family reunion or any group retreat. Cabins at Jasper are perfect for a catered barbecue where a professional chef will fire up a gourmet cookout with legendary Alberta Beef, local fish, and a list of
In 1911, the Canadian Pacific Railroad built the Banff Springs Golf Course as 9-hole layout as an amenity to their hotel, to attract more people to the region. The course was then expanded years later to 18 holes by legendary golf architect Donald Ross and was held in high praise as the time.
opportunity to work with such a stunning mountain setting, and a piece of land with subtle, rolling terrain perfect for golf. Similar to Banff, the golf course was constructed to enhance the tourist draw to rustic cabins known as the Jasper Park Lodge in the late 1800’s. I found myself absolutely marveling at the two courses in Jasper and Banff, at the incredible ability of the golf architects of the early 1900’s to create such interesting holes I was captivated with unique, scraggly bunkers, seemingly perfect playing corridors and a variety of hole designs testing the ability to move the ball left or right. Arguably, Stanly Thompson was one of the best golf architects of the of the 1920’s, and the two courses in the Canadian Rockies are among the best of his career. Today, the resort is Canada’s #1 Golf Resort according to SCORE Golf Magazine, and although it is quite rustic looking from the outside, it features all the modern luxury
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excellent side dishes all cooked to perfection. Served on a huge deck overlooking the golf course, amazing dining experiences do not get much better than that. Unless of course after dinner you tee off at about 9pm for a quick nine holes. Die-hard golfers will savor the chance to take advantage of the fact that it stays light until 10:45pm in the summer meaning you can golf until 11pm!
Dramatic All six of the courses in the area, are decorated by towering, majestic mountain peaks which are so close they seem within arm’s reach. Distraction by natural wonder is a distinct reality when playing golf in the Canadian Rockies. In 1983, Robert Trent Jones Sr. completed two masterpieces at Kananaskis Country Golf Course that continue to delight golfers with 36-holes played beneath
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breathtaking Mt. Lorette and Mt. Kidd, after which the courses are respectively named. Nestled in rural countryside, the courses feature immaculate lush fairways, 140, sparkling white silica sand bunkers, and a famed island-like 4th green on Mt. Kidd course, framed by the cascading Kananaskis River. Mr. Jones showed is masterarchitect skill on this excellent par 3 design, by using the river to fill and drain the ponds that surround the 4th green. A genius idea strategically, and aesthetically as the water creates an illusion as to the size and depth of the green,
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creating a difficult club decision. If you do make the journey to Kananaskis, you must consider a ride by helicopter, to The Delta Lodge at Kananaskis and the golf course, which is the logical choice for accommodations when coming to the Kananaskis Country. While it may be a small, quaint resort there is no lack of attention to the comfortable rooms, with flat screen TV’s and luxurious linens. There is a helipad just a short distance for the hotel, operated by Kananaskis Heli Tours. This method of
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transport is one incredible way to get the total lay of the land in Kananaskis, and an amazing experience you will never forget! Take a buzz around the towering peaks of Mt. Kidd, and Mt. Lorette with their sheer cliff walls hundreds of feet tall, and get a bird’s eye view of the numerous blue glacial lakes and crystal-clear rivers in the area. Two excellent modern style courses at Silvertip, and Stewart Creek not only offer great drama in their course designs, they also are popular vacation- and/or secondhome destinations, a result of the aforementioned
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scintillating vistas and locations of the resorts, combined with their many upscale amenities. Silvertip is the home course of PGA Tour Member and 2006 Players Champion Stephen Ames, and holds a Golf Digest 4 ½ star rating. This golf course plays like a wild ride at a theme park, and offers 600 feet of elevation
see 800-pound elk with massive racks atop their head meandering throughout the area, including occasionally asking to play through. Nature and golf are only a couple of the many acclaimed attractions offered in the Canadian Rockies. With the area host to the 1988 Olympic Games, Alberta’s national
Thanks to being graced by thousands upon thousands of protected acres which fall under the national parks and which are the core of the Canadian Rockies golf and resort lifestyle experience, wildlife proliferates. It is common to see 800-pound elk with massive racks atop their head meandering throughout the area, including occasionally asking to play through.
change throughout the property, including dramatic par-4 18th with extreme altitude drop from tee to fairway, fairway to green. Stewart Creek Golf and Country Club was one of my personal favorites of this trip, as the layout is surrounded by the spellbinding Three Sisters Mountains, and appear to be close enough to touch during play. Golf Digest has adorned its rated 4 ½ stars rating and the course is also an Audubon-certified preserved habitat for plentiful wildlife. The course offers a blend of mountain style holes with massive elevation drops, to rolling, grassy meadow masterpieces. Throughout the layout, golfers can see old mine shafts, which incorporate into the design of the holes and become a resounding theme of the course. Additionally, Canmore Golf & Curling Club is a delightful club with a vibe like that of the TV sitcom “Cheers,” where everybody knows your name and you’re welcomed like an old friend. The tree-lined course requires players use all clubs in their bag, and narrow fairways challenge all levels of golfers. Interestingly, golf course architect Les Furber, who also designed Silvertip Resort, is a member. How many courses can you play where the course is constantly being tweaked by a talented, well-regarded design expert?
Untamed Thanks to being graced by thousands upon thousands of protected acres which fall under the national parks and which are the core of the Canadian Rockies golf and resort lifestyle experience, wildlife proliferates. It is common to
Brian Oar is a highly regarded travel writer and photographer. A longtime Salt Lake City resident who lives there with his wife and family, Brian’s work has been published in many leading North American magazines.
Sierra Golfer - September 2009
parks long been known to avid travelers and winter-sport aficionados for its awe-inspiring terrain and jaw-dropping scenery. Winter activities run the gamut from skiing, ice climbing, dog-sledding, snowshoeing, ice fishing, horsedrawn carriage rides, hockey, ice-skating and much more. Combine the spectacular scenery and summer daylight
as late as 11:00 p.m. and golfers can play to their heart’s delight and still have time for family and the region’s many other activities. Many visitors enjoy a scenic rafting trip down the Bow River from Rocky Mountain Raft Tours, where you can witness the uncanny scenery of the surrounding mountains and wildlife. The list of endless recreation and activities continue, with gourmet restaurants, indoor and outdoor pools, horseback riding, and many children’s programs. For icing on the cake, all of the properties are all within 45 minutes, except The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. It’s a three-hour drive from The Fairmont Banff Springs, but such a description would be decried by many. Traversed along the Icefields Parkway, many consider this mind-blowing drive among the world’s most scintillating, thanks to the panoramic, otherworldly natural environs, which include glaciers, pine forests blanketing craggy slopes, and ever present snow-capped peaks which can rise as high as 12,000 feet from the roughly mile-high base on which most of the area sits. If golf is your passion, and you love to travel to incredible parts of the world, play golf on spectacular courses, and you have not been to the Canadian Rockies, let this slogan tell you all you need to know: Canadian Rockies Golf: Historic, Dramatic, Untamed.
Useful Information To view the stunning topography, vacation options and learn more about the area visit www.canadianrockiesgolf.ca. Website visitors can view stay-and-play packages or request custom quotes for trips and packages. Or they may call 877.323.3633 for more information. Places to Stay Delta Lodge at Kananaskis, 403.591.7711, www.deltalodge.albertanetwork.com The Fairmont Banff Springs, 403.762.2211, www.fairmont.com/banffsprings/ The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, 780.852.3301, www.fairmont.com/jasper Things to Do Travel Alberta, www.travelalberta.com/en-us/ Banff National Park, www.banffnationalpark.com Jasper National Park, www.jaspercanadianrockies.com Kananaskis Heli Tours Inc, 403.881.2500, www.discoverkananaskis.com Rocky Mountain Raft Tours, 403.762.3632, www.banffrafttours.com/ Places to Play www.canadianrockiesgolf.ca Luxury Ground Transportation Luxury Motor Coach Charters, 403.678.2990, www.luxurymotorcoach.ca/
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CordeValle Golf Club
didn’t get to the world’s top 50 golf resorts for nothing
By Brian VanderBeek SAN MARTIN _ Membership on all of these varied “best of” golf lists don’t come coincidentally. And in the case of CordeValle, a decidedly upscale golf club and resort about 30 minutes south of San Jose, it doesn’t come cheaply, either. The resort, a member of the Rosewood family of resorts, was named earlier this summer to Golf Digest’s list of the world’s 50 best golf hotels, weighing in at a lofty No. 14. Consider what goes into such an honor. Build the world’s most opulent lodge next to your local muni, and you won’t get a sniff from the selection committee. Conversely, a distant view of the trees from the sliding
Unless you’re a member or a member’s guest of the country club at CordeValle, you must be staying at the resort to play the course. There are only 45 rooms. Twenty-eight are in private, 700 square-foot bungalows, five are part of 1,100 square-foot single-bedroom villas, and the other 12 are in the three 3,100 square-foot, four bedroom homes. All of the lodgings offer sweeping vistas of the golf course. We’d list prices here, but they’re as varied as the amenities you wish to include, and those perks seem to be endless. The resort includes meeting rooms, a world-class spa
With that kind of attention to the lodging, amenities and service, it would be easy to assume that the golf experience takes a backseat at CordeValle, yet such is decidedly not the case. The same elegant, relaxed and _ above all _ unrushed feeling that comes upon you when you first step through the doors is carried over to the golf experience, starting with the tee times, set at comfortable 15-minute intervals. The course is a gem. Tipping out at 7,169 yards, the Robert Trent Jones design magically complements the feeling of the resort, or is it the other way around? In retrospect, you’ll find you’ve had the chance to strike
window at any one of the string of No-Tell Motels just outside the gates of Augusta National would not merit a nomination. No, this is a list for the marriage of golf + hotel, and in CordeValle’s case a day spent meandering around this resort’s 1,200 acres makes you fantasize about the other 13 spots on Golf Digest’s earth list deemed better. And, also, who on earth would be able to afford making a bucket list effort to visit the list’s grand settings? The people at CordeValle make no bones about it _ their resort is pricey to the point of being exclusive. “It’s very much upscale,” said Travis Skeesik, the resort’s director of golf operations. “The resort guests are spending a lot of money to stay here, and our rack rate for golf, including green fee, cart and forecaddie, is almost $400 a person, if you’re staying here. The people who stay here and spend that kind of money are coming from private clubs, from all over.” Yes, it’s about $400 for a round of golf at CordeValle, with the big “if,” as Skeesik mentioned, you’re a guest of the resort.
and training center, tennis courts, extensive, challenging and well-marked hiking trails, a heated outdoor pool, a bar, a grill, a restaurant, and an opulent and working winery that offers tastings. The one thing you will not be getting for your money is snoot. You may feel like an outsider while driving down the private road and past the guarded gatehouse, but once you’ve made it that far, every person at the resort is doing everything possible to make you feel as if you belong, as if _ even only for this day _ you’re a member of this exclusive club. “We hire right,” Skeesik said. “We don’t hire people necessarily with golf knowledge, we hire the people with the right attitudes and we’ll teach them the golf knowledge. That’s critical. Once they buy into the concept, it’s amazing how people take pride in giving that level of service we ask. “They want to exceed the expectations of every person who comes here. We’re always training and tweaking and asking our employees for feedback, so it’s a machine that keeps growing.”
memorable shots, but there is no single hole that really jumps out. You come away from the experience knowing you just played a fair and challenging course in great condition _ one with ample risk and reward. By itself, the course checks in at No. 28 on Golf Digest’s best California layouts, but numbers aside, Jones succeeded in building a course that caresses the natural landscape of this secluded valley. True to the overall feel of the resort, CordeValle was designed for walking. And adding to the walking experience is a fleet of caddies. “Before 9 a.m. every day of the week we’re walking-only, so that morning experience is the pure caddie experience,” Skeesik said. “We encourage everybody to take caddies, and our unaccompanied (not playing with a member) hotel guests are required to take caddies. Caddies make the day more enjoyable when they’re spotting your ball or cracking a joke. It’s a great way to play golf.”
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For pricing and special packages, visit the resort’s Web site at www.cordevalle.com.
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CordeValle was named earlier this summer to Golf Digest’s list of the world’s 50 best golf hotels, weighing in at a lofty No. 14.
Sierra Golfer - September 2009
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With the 42nd playing of the Walker Cup Matches coming up in September at the Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, PA, thoughts turn to the storied historical past of this great golf club, and the many significant events that have occurred there over the years. Although this is Merion’s first Walker Cup, they have had more than their share of other memorable moments in golf history, including being where 14 year-old Bobby Jones first played in a U.S. Amateur Championship (1916), where Jones won his first U.S. Amateur (1924), where he completed his “Grand Slam” in 1930 by winning the U.S. Amateur held there (after having won the British Amateur, the [British] Open Championship, and the U.S. Open earlier in the year), and where Ben Hogan played in his first U.S. Open in 1934. Merion has hosted 17 USGA championships, more than any other course in the country, and it is also scheduled to host its fifth U.S. Open Championship in 2013. The 1950 U.S. Open Championship held at Merion and won by Ben Hogan is another notable chapter in Merion’s rich history and the subject of this article.
The Hogan 1-Iron Shot By David Wood
In February of 1949 Hogan and his wife had been involved in a serious automobile accident while driving on a highway in Texas. They were on their way back home when they were hit head-on by a Greyhound bus. Hogan’s pelvis was broken and he had other extensive injuries, and for a time it was thought he would never walk again, let alone play golf. But less than a year after the accident he started playing and in June of 1950 entered the U.S. Open being held at Merion. He recorded scores of 70, 72, and 69 in the first three rounds of the Open, and started the fourth round two shots back of Lloyd Mangrum. The third and fourth rounds were played on Saturday June 10, 1950; this was back in the days when 36 holes were always played on the final day of the Open, a practice that was not changed until 1965. Hogan came to the final hole in the fourth round needing a par to force a playoff. From around 200 yards in the fairway of the 18th Hogan hit a 1-iron shot that found the green and he two-putted for a par, and then won the Open the next day in a playoff against Lloyd Mangrum and George Fazio. A photographer for LIFE magazine, Hy Peskin, captured Hogan in his follow-through after the 1-iron shot in a photograph that has become one of the most famous golf photographs ever taken. James Dodson, in his excellent book, Hogan--An American Life, tells the story: “Hogan thumbed away his smoke and reached into his bag and pulled out his butter knife, the one-iron that had replaced his seven….His swing was a violent slash that seemed like a blur….At that instant Peskin’s shutter lens opened and closed, freezing Hogan in his immaculate
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follow-through, a shot that became the greatest shot of Peskin’s career and probably the most famous golf picture ever taken. The elegant black-and-white photograph provides rich visual detail of what many consider to be the most marvelous clutch shot ever played in the throes of Open competition.” The Peskin photograph appeared in the June 19, 1950
issue of LIFE magazine on page 28. The magazine reported that the distance of his first putt on the last hole was 35 feet, and the magazine article refers to Hogan as “little Ben Hogan” and stated, “Despite knee-length elastic stockings, Ben’s legs swelled after each round. But in the stretch with only six holes to play, Hogan has a three-stroke lead. Could he stick it out? The gallery swarmed after him, cheering every move. But then Ben, dog-tired and dead-game, missed a three-foot putt on the 15th, another five-footer on
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the 17th.” This set the stage for his par on the final hole and then the playoff the next day, Sunday June 11, 1950.” In his book The Official U.S. Open Almanac, Sal Johnson states, “Sometime between that shot (the famous 1-iron shot) and the next morning, however, the 1-iron and his shoes were stolen. The 1-iron resurfaced in 1983 when it became the possession of collector Bob Farino, and Hogan verified that it was indeed the legendary weapon. The club now resides at the USGA Museum in Far Hills, N.J.” At the USGA Museum in Far Hills, N.J. Hogan’s 1-iron is on display, along with a copy of Hy Peskin’s famous LIFE magazine photo, and also a sign that reads as follows: “The picture shown at the top of this display is probably the best known photograph ever taken of a golfer. It was done on June 10, 1950. It shows Ben Hogan Playing his second shot to the 18th green of the Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. The photographer was Hy Peskin and the picture appeared for the first time in Life Magazine. The club displayed here with the picture is the club in Hogan’s hands. In 1950 Hogan was making his comeback from the serious automobile accident he and his wife Valerie survived in February, 1949. In this Open Hogan had built a three-stroke lead by the end of 11 holes of the afternoon round and seemed to have the Open won. Then his legs began to give him serious trouble. He needed a par 4 on the 18th to tie Lloyd Mangrum and George Fazio. He reached the front of the green with his 1-iron and made his par 4 to tie; then beat Mangrum and Fazio in an 18-hole playoff the next day.
Sierra Golfer - September 2009
Between the time when that shot was played and when Hogan’s clubs were put away for the night, the 1-iron disappeared, stolen from Hogan’s bag. No one ever knew what happened to the club. Suddenly, in 1983, the 1-iron was returned through a tortuous route that no one connected with the return wants to talk about. Evidently it was seen in a shop somewhere by someone who suspected its origin, perhaps by the peculiar wear on its face. The iron was delivered to Hogan in Fort Worth, where it stood in a corner of his office while he considered its authenticity. Eventually he determined that it was the real thing. Hogan had a grip similar to the original put on the club and then sent it to the USGA Museum. The club is a Ben Hogan Personal model, manufactured and distributed by the MacGregor Company in the 1940’s.” Dodson notes in his book that there is now a granite marker in the 18th fairway at Merion, marking the spot where Hogan stuck the famous shot, and he quotes Merion Historian John Capers, “Almost everyone who come by here feels compelled to drop a ball and try to replicate the shot--measure themselves against Hogan that afternoon. I suppose I can’t blame them.”
Many other various facts have become part of the lore surrounding this famous Merion story: • Hogan pulled his 7-iron out of his bag when he put the 1-iron in for the Open. When questioned about that his answer was, “There are no 7-iron shots at Merion.” • Several notable things can be seen in the famous Peskin photo: The extra spike Hogan had put in the sole of his right shoe; the fact that Hogan was not wearing a glove; that Hogan is using an interlocking grip; that Hogan has on his trademark white flat linen cap; that many of the men in the gallery are also wearing “Hogan caps;” that there are no gallery ropes; that the ball is barely visible and a bit blurred, as it is streaking toward the green just under the tree line; and that there is a flag on the flagstick at the 18th, not the traditional Merion teardrop-shaped basket (the USGA made the club make the change for the Open.) • This 1950 US Open was the fiftieth playing of the Open, and Dodson refers to it in his book as “the National Open’s golden anniversary edition.“ Hogan’s first putt on the 18th was between 35 and 40 feet, and Dodson says his second putt was a four-footer. • There is some disagreement among witnesses to the shot (including George Fazio and amateur great William Campbell) as to whether he hit a 1-iron or a 2-iron, and even Hogan himself at times gave conflicting answers. However, he eventually wrote a letter to the Merion Golf Club, in which he stated: “It was a one-iron I played to the 72nd green. After hitting the shot my one-iron was stolen. I haven’t seen it since. Also, that night my shoes were stolen out of my locker and I haven’t seen them either.” • George Fazio is golf course designer Tom Fazio’s uncle. • In the same LIFE magazine issue containing the famous Peskin photo, there is also an advertisement for Pabst Blue Ribbon beer that features Hogan. • In the Sunday playoff, on the 16th green Hogan had only a one-shot lead over Mangrum. As Mangrum was getting ready to putt, he noticed a bug on his ball and bent down and picked up the ball and blew the bug off. On the next tee he was assessed a two-stroke penalty for improperly marking his ball, giving Hogan a 3-shot lead. Hogan then birdied 17 and coasted to victory. Final scores in the playoff: Hogan 69, Mangrum 73, Fazio 75. • Even though Hogan did not have his 1-iron for the playoff, he did not need it for his second shot on 18. According to Dodson, he hit a 3-iron. • Most of the golf photographers covering the Open did not like Peskin, one calling him a “typical pushy little New Yorker.” • After the losing his lead and ending up in a playoff after the fourth round, Hogan said, “I was so discouraged. If you can’t hold a three-stoke lead through six holes, you ought to be someplace else.” • The 1-iron shot was around 200-210 yards. • According to an article in the June 1998 issue of Golf Digest by Bob Cullen, Hy Peskin’s real name was “Hyman Peskowitz” and later he had it changed to “Brian Blaine Reynolds.” • Peskin used a “Speedgraphic” camera for the 1-iron shot. • Hogan won three consecutive U.S. Opens he played in: 1948, 1950, and 1951. He did not play in 1949 because of the automobile accident. He also won the 1953 Open at Oakmont, so he won 4 out of the 6 Opens he played in from 1948 to 1953. • The Sunday playoff did not start until 1:00 PM due to the Pennsylvania Blue Laws. The extra hours gave Hogan more time to rest his weary legs. • Mary Capers was the mother of Merion Historian John Capers. She was one of the walking scorers in the playoff. • The week following the Open, filming started out in Hollywood on the Twentieth Century Fox Hogan film project, “Follow the Sun” starring Glen Ford as Hogan.
Merion Historian John Capers standing at the Hogan marker in June 2006, during a round of golf with the author.
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Getting Fit for Golf By Susan Hill
Training to Reach Peak Performance in Golf Late fall is typically a great time to begin the process of reflection on one’s game. While golfers in California still have months of golf left, this time of year traditionally marks the ending of the competitive golf season. All the new club champions have been crowned and amateurs have played their hearts out all summer in an attempt for local or regional recognition. Naturally, this becomes the time to ask important questions like “how did I do?” and “did I play as well as I thought I would?”, or “what might I have done differently or could do differently moving forward to get a different result for next season?” When training seasoned golf pros, this period is commonly referred to as the four R’s - Rest, Recovery, Regeneration and Reflection. While there could be many reasons why a player did not get the result they were looking for, the focus of this article will be on the physical or nutritional elements that may have played a significant part and could serve as an important part of an improvement opportunity going forward. Susan Hill is the President of http://www.fitnessforgolf.com, a website dedicated to helping golfers improve through golf specific programs. She has credentials as a golf biomechanic, sports performance nutritionist, youth conditioning specialist and fitness trainer. As a professional golf fitness trainer, Susan has worked with hundreds of golfers ranging in skills from beginners just taking up the game of golf to collegiate, amateur and tour players looking for a more competitive edge. Her work has been featured in Resort Golf, Travel Golf, Golf Illustrated, GolfersMd and on ESPN.
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From a fitness perspective, ask yourself the following questions…
• W ere you able to maintain your energy levels throughout the entire round – each round you played and consistently from week to week and month to month? • A re there specific holes or times of play when you seem to have more energy or less energy while playing? • D o you feel strong in your wrists, hands, upper body, lower body, core and throughout your entire body? If not, where do you feel weakness? Which areas do you think need improvement? • D o you feel like you have complete freedom in your swing? Or do you feel like you have tightness in your shoulders, neck, back or hips creating unnecessary restrictions in movement? • H ave you had pain, discomfort or some areas that just seem to be more prone to weakness?
The answers to these key questions will help guide and direct a player to the most productive and effective workout or fitness routine during the off season. The goal is always to improve upon weak links, making you stronger, fitter and an overall better player for the next season. So, when a player asks this all important (and typical) question, ‘what should I be doing in the off season?’, the answer then becomes ‘focus on those exercises and stretches which are likely to have the most benefit and influence on your specific game’.
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Sierra Golfer - September 2009
Choosing the Right Golf Coach is as Easy as 1-2-3 The game of golf can be very intimidating, both when one is just learning the game and for those that have played for some time. Taking golf lessons is a great way to improve your game and help to alleviate the intimidating factor. Choosing the right golf coach is a very important part of the process and a detail people often do not spend enough time on. Utilizing the “3 F’s” can help simplify and speed up the selection process and allow the student to have a great experience while improving their game.
1.
Fun: Golf is a recreational activity and something that someone chooses to do that perhaps takes them away from their family or work, thus it should be a lot of fun to make the time away well worth it. The student should take a few minutes and speak to the potential golf coach, whether in person or over the phone, before signing up for lessons and get a feel for their excitement and attitude towards the learning process. Does the golf coach get really excited when discussing what they do with their students or does it seem like it is just another task they perform during the day? Does it appear that the coach mixes up what they do during a series of lessons, i.e., short game, full swing, playing lessons, etc.? Get a feel for the golf coach’s personality and demeanor so that it is a fit with yours to ensure you will have fun. After all, golf is a game that IS fun!
Focused: During the pre-screening process a student should make sure that the golf coach has a plan in mind for your game. Just because the coach hasn’t seen you hit a ball doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t have a general plan of attack for someone of your skill level (beginner, intermediate or advanced). Have the coach talk through what plans they have developed with their other students of like abilities. Does the coach start the lessons around the green and work back to the full swing in order to build the proper foundation? Does the coach understand the different types of learning styles (auditory, visual and kinesthetic) and focus the information to the student in the appropriate way to ensure the best chance for success? Does the coach ask about what your goals and objectives are so that the lessons can be focused on achieving them? Having a coach with a clear focus and plan for YOUR game gives you the best chance to be your best!
3.
2.
Follow-Up: When talking to your potential golf coach discuss what kind of communication and follow-up takes place in between lessons. Does the coach keep track of what happens during each session? Will you be receiving an email after each lesson delivering the notes and thoughts about what was discussed? Does the coach promote communication between student and teacher as a mandatory piece to achieving your goals, both during and in between lessons? Does the coach ask you to follow up in regards to how practice or play is going in between sessions either by email, phone or in person? Follow up keeps the student and coach connected and ensures that both YOU and the coach are always moving in the same direction.
A great golf coach wants to be your “total golf guardian” and views the relationship between student and coach as a lifetime commitment. Take the time before choosing a coach and utilize the “3 F’s” to make sure the coach is a fit for you. It will be well worth the extra time and your golf game will thank you for it!
Sierra Golfer - September 2009
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By: Tom Morton, PGA Director of Player Performance, Morton Golf
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Mark
your ball like a
PRO
I think most of my readers know that when your ball is on the putting green, golfing etiquette dictates that you need to mark your ball, even if you are not interfering with another golfer’s line of play. That’s the way it is. Most tour pros use coins, sometimes lucky ones or ones with sentimental value. Others like myself, and Tiger by the way, just use quarters. Still others have these cool ballmarks that adhere to their hats with magnets. Those are very handy. Whatever your marker of choice may be, here are some rules of the road, so to speak, that will help you play and handle your ball on the green like a pro…and may help your game also. In golf there is nothing like hitting a nice approach shot right up onto the green, something like the way we designed the shot in our heads. After I have hit the green and am walking up to where my ball lays, I like to mark it right away with my quarter. I usually start my game with about 4 or 5 quarters, just in case I lose a couple on the occasional spot bet. So I just slide my quarter right behind my ball, and either pick the ball right up or roll it away where I may scoop it up. Main thing is to get that coin down. Once you do that, you can do whatever you want to your ball, including tossing it into the pond and grabbing another out of your bag. Oops, better mention to your playing partners that it was scuffed. Rules, you know. I also mark right away so I can clean it up with my damp towel that I always have with me. Always a white towel and usually too big for the job, I always have that big white
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By Rick Rider
and wet towel handy. I hate putting with a dirty ball. It just doesn’t feel right. So I’ve marked my ball and cleaned the dirt off of it, now I am sizing up the green, my putt, and my opponents’ putts, as we are usually playing a match. You really want to be in control at this point, so you need to know who is away, who is putting next, and when to size up your putt. Usually you want to start sizing your putt up as soon as possible as you walk onto the green. You are trying to get a feel for the lay of the land, which way the sun sets, and how water may drain off the green. These things will give you a sense for the speed of your putt as well as the break. Speed is a bit more important, so pay attention. You can walk around the green while others are putting, or preparing to putt, just be mindful of when they begin to address the ball, as you really ought to stand still at this point. I have known playing partners who continue to move around while I am putting; you know who you are; and that’s not cool. I let it go because we are always needling each other anyway…plus it really doesn’t bother me. If you experience this a lot in your group and it does bother you, just back off, squat behind your ball and give the offender a quick glance. They will get the message. If you happen to be in a heated match, glance over and ask them politely to please stand still while you are putting. That’ll shake’em up…quite proper too, I might add. So it’s your turn to putt, you’ve sized up your putt, have a feel for the speed and break, now it’s time to get busy. Approach your ball from behind, lay your clean ball down right in front of your coin, and gently pick up your coin. If you are disgusted at this stage of the round, you can flick
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your coin backwards with your index finger, but it’s really best to keep your cool. If your ball has a line on it, there are cool implements for making lines btw, or your ball has arrows and you like to use them, place your ball with the lines or arrows on your putting line. This will help you putt and start your ball on your intended line. Hey, everything helps when it comes to putting. Furthermore, I will lean the arrows either forward or backwards, depending on the speed of the putt, as a reminder. For example, if I have a pretty slow uphill putt, I will lay the arrows toward the back of the ball, as if to say to myself…ok, I’ve got to give this one a rap. Or, if I have a slippery downhiller, I will lean the arrow forward, sometimes almost out of sight, but still aiming them down the putting line. By having the arrows or lines toward the front, I’m reminding myself that all I have to do is get the ball rolling on the right line and it will make it to the hole. Ok, then, make a good stroke and keep your head still and knock your putt right in. Well, if you happen to miss it, decide straightaway whether you will finish up the next putt, or wait…and announce it so to your fellow-competitors. Don’t be shy, it’s your turn still, you can do either. More often than not, I will wait, and say so and mark again, if I have more than a 2-footer. You hate missing those shorties. Sometimes if you stand over that shorty long enough, you playing partners will just give it to you, to keep the game moving. Not that I have tried this, or anything. So be decisive, mark your ball properly, and make more putts. Remember too that a putt of any length is as important as any other shot on the course, including the drive. Forrrre.
Sierra Golfer - September 2009
Sierra Golfer - September 2009
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Pre-Shot... What do the Blue Angels, an elite basketball player on the free throw line, and Tiger Woods have in common? They have all practiced and adhered to specific pre-performance routines.
By Ben Kline
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Why? So that pressure-filled situations do not distract them from attending to critical details or decisions needed for success. In other words, for flying 18 inches from another jet at the speed of sound, for sinking a game winning free throw at the end of a game, or executing an awe-inspiring golf shot. Pre-performance routines, also known as pre-shot routines in golf, help athletes focus attention, improve confidence, and lessen anxiety. You can develop, practice, and use routines to improve your golf performance and enhance consistency. A pre-shot routine helped Stewart Cink win this year’s British Open golf championship. Cink describing his preparation for his putt on 18 at this year’s British Open at Turnberry, “I had a great solid routine there. I knew what I was looking at, and I hit that putt with really – really without a care in the world of whether it went in or whether it missed.” Watch Tiger Woods as he prepares to putt. Time his putting routine from when he steps up and takes two practice strokes. Next, shuffling his feet forward into position, he places his club behind and directs his eyes
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over the ball. Widening his stance slightly, he then takes one last look at the target and then without pause, strokes the ball. Swoosh. Almost to the second, his putting routine does not vary. A solid pre-shot golf routine should contain several elements. These include analysis of the situation, visualization of the shot and focus on the target. It should not take too long nor be too complex. And routines for full shots may be different than those for putting. Some golfers use a gesture to initiate routines, to signal that they have entered their performance zone. Examples include tapping the club on the ground, touching their cap, or tugging at a shirtsleeve. Visualizing in great detail, the shot you want to hit is a valuable part of a good routine. Also, manage your grip, alignment, stance, and posture the same way each time you address the ball. Consistency is key. Practice your pre-shot routines so that they become engrained and automatic. Will a solid pre-shot routine cure your slice? Probably not. However, it can contribute to better consistency in your overall game. Professional golfers use them. Maybe you should, too.
Sierra Golfer - September 2009
Routines Sierra Golfer - September 2009
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The Grandeur of
the Sierra Foothills Tucked amongst the rolling hills and streams of California’s Gold Country, in close proximity to the historic town of Copperopolis, lies one of the finest and most acclaimed golf venues in the state. Saddle Creek Resort, a Castle & Cooke community, is home to the famed 18hole Carter Morrish design known for its fun and challenging layout, exceptional conditioning, and the scenic backdrop of the Sierra Mountains.
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Featuring five sets of tees that stretch to 6,826 yards from the back, Saddle Creek is accommodating of all skill levels. Routed in such a way that no two fairways run parallel, the course drops players into an atmosphere of tranquility and isolation amongst shimmering lakes, native trees, and indigenous grasses. The round kicks off with a wide open par 4, allowing players to rear back and start the day with a big drive and potentially a low score. Take advantage of this gift, because starting with the second hole Saddle Creek begins to show its teeth. For players that enjoy the strategy of the game, this Northern California beauty is a must play. With no two holes that share similar designs, a new challenge waits on every tee box. The course has received numerous accolades from the world’s most respected golf publications, including Golf Digest, GOLF Magazine and Golfweek among others. Click HERE to take a virtual tour of the course.
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The resort offers multiple stay-and-play packages available during mid-week and on the weekend. They are a tremendous value option allowing unlimited golf, free use of the practice facility and short game area and daily breakfast amongst other benefits. Lodging in the cozy course-side bungalows is a treat unto itself, as they make the perfect private headquarters for a relaxing stay.
For more information on the numerous amenities at Saddle Creek Resort, or to check out stay-and-play packages and normal rates please visit www.saddlecreek.com or call 1-800-611-7722.
Sierra Golfer - September 2009
$75 Per Person
Double Occupancy Monday-Thursday
*18 holes of GOLF inc. CART *Dinner at Figaro’s Pizza *Comfortable Accomodations
www.Murphys Inn Motel.com
Sierra Golfer - September 2009
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Beautiful & Challenging Q
Sierra Golf Trail By Rick Rider
There is no question that nature’s beauty manifests itself in many forms. Oceans, islands, rivers, forests and mountains come immediately to mind when I think of nature’s beauty and wonder. We here in California are pretty fortunate that we have all of these destinations within driving distance.
begins in Calaveras County The Sierra Golf Trail is one adventure that the travelling golfer will not want to pass up when it comes to experiencing both the beauty of nature and the challenges of the game of golf. Although oceans and islands are not in the recipe for this beautiful trip up the Sierra Nevada mountain range, there are plenty of forests and mountains to delight and engage most of us who travel to, live near and visit these wonderful Alpine golfing destinations.
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The Sierra Golf Trail begins in Calaveras County, home of the world-famous Jumping Frog that Mark Twain wrote about, and made famous in his stories in the latter 19th century. Calaveras County is also home to many Gold Rush towns rich in history and charming in their rusticness. Ironically, it was a metal other than gold that put our first destination of the Trail on the map. Registered as a California Landmark and founded in 1860, Copperopolis
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was to become the second largest source of copper in the region and would eventually produce over 75 million pounds of copper by the time the mines finally closed in 1946. Situated on Scenic Highway 4, Copperopolis now produces fine golf and wonderful shopping thanks to the efforts of the Castle and Cooke’s Saddle Creek Resort Development and Town Square, a wonderful mixed use shopping and living experience that is truly unique.
Sierra Golfer - September 2009
Sierra Foothills Calaveras County California
✦ GOLF RESORT ANGELS CAMP, CALIFORNIA
GREENHORN CREEK
Hole #13 par 3
course redesigned by Robert Trent Jones II
Hole #5 par 4
Stay & Play Packages starting at $99 per person
Hole
Book golf on-line at G REENHORN C REEK .com or call 1-888-736-5900 Angels Camp is 1 hour from Valley cities, 1.5 hours from Sacramento, 2.5 hours from San Francisco or San Jose.
CRITICS COMMENTS
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
Voted “Best” maintained and ‘Best’ worth the fee by Greenskeeper.org 2007 Hole #5 selected among the “Toughest 18”, KCRA TV 2009 Among “26 must play courses in the U.S.A.” Costco Connection 2009 “The quintessential round to play in Gold Country” Golf Travel & Leisure 2008 Lodging
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
Dining
18 Holes of Championship Golf Practice Facility Lessons - PGA Professional Staff Lodging, Pools, Tennis, Fitness Camps Restaurant
E-Club: Register on-line at GREENHORNCREEK.COM or call 1-888-736-5900 GREENHORN CREEK GOLF RESORT - 711 McCauley Ranch Road
Sierra Golfer - September 2009
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Angels Camp, California 95222
(209) 736 - 8111 Page 23
Q
Sierra Golf Trail
As the travelling golfer heads up Highway 4 into the foothills of the Sierra, the first semblance of civilization appears to be a mining town from the 1850’s, only it seems brand new…wait, it is brand new. Pull in and enjoy the spectacular architecture that blends history, charm and serenity among the wonderful shops and eateries. With a town square as its focal point, Copperopolis Town Square also features second and third story lofts that offer fabulous views of the square. What a neat place and a great way to start a golfing adventure. You just might want to stay and live here. Heading down the road a bit is the Resort at Saddle Creek, our first golfing destination. And what a way to start this adventure. This course is most definitely a top-notch golf course, and I ought to mention that the facility has great food and drink as well in the cozy dining and bar areas, with remarkable views of the beautiful finishing holes. About the golf, though, be sure to warm up nicely before you tee it up, as the first few holes are pretty tough. Really just hit a 3 wood or driver real straight on the first tee and you should be fine. On hole 2 though, you have a real tough tee shot and will still have a tough approach after a really good drive. Personally, I would switch the nines for this reason. But that’s a story for another day. Ok, survive holes 1 and 2 with good scores and you are off and running on this hilly and scenic golf course. I would describe this Carter Morrish designed course, beautiful and scenic as it is and opened in 1996, as one you really need
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to bring you’re A-game to enjoy, as there are many bunkers and forced carries over water that require solid shots all the way around the course. Play a match though, like one ought to on a tough course, and then you’ll have some real fun. Your opponent has to play the same holes, same conditions, so just play a match and forget your score. I think that’s the way golf should be played, anyway. Again…story for another day. Aside from the demanding shot-playing required, this is truly a great course and one that continually beats me up. Tough par 4’s and par 5’s are around every corner. The par threes are great, too. Fun. Except for the 14th, or Redan as it is known on the scorecard, named after the famous Redan hole designed by the great course designer of yesteryear, Alister McKenzie. On this hole you really need to hit a solid shot onto the right portion of this green and let it release down to the hole. It is a long-iron or even a wood to this long par three, so hit it well. There is plenty of elevation change to keep your attention piqued, and the greens are no piece of cake either. Although they are usually in prime condition, as is the rest of the course, the greens are just as slopey as the surrounding terrain. Just remember that most of the putts break towards the west, away from the high Sierra, and that should help. On balance this course, although it’s a tough one, is as nice a course as I have ever played. Great golf, good food, drink and ambiance, and a wonderful setting. Just
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be sure to utilize the first-class practice area before teeing it up here. More information can be had at www.saddlecreek.com or you can give them a call at 800.611.7722
The next golf destination as we head up the hill toward the historic Gold Country is the wonderful Greenhorn Creek Golf Resort. Situated in historic Angels Camp, the only incorporated town in Calaveras County, Greenhorn Creek is another Gem of a golf course here in the Sierra. Angels Camp began as a mining town during the gold rush, but quickly became more of a trading post as the founders, Henry and George Angel found that running a trading post was easier on the back than mining for gold. Thus the City of Angels and later named Angels Camp was born. Gold was indeed found here, just not by the brothers Angel. Over $20 million of it was found here back in the day, and it was Angels Camp that inspired Mark Twain to write The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. The story became the title to a compilation of stories by Twain known by the same name. The story was inspired by a bartender at the Angels Hotel, one Simon Wheeler, about a gambler named Jim Smiley. Twain describes Smiley as such… “If he even seen a straddle bug start to go anywheres, he would bet you how long it would take him to get to—to wherever he going to, and if you took him up, he would foller that straddle bug to
Sierra Golfer - September 2009
Q Mexico but what he would find out where he was bound for and how long he was on the road.” Thankfully, Angels Camp survived the end of the Gold Rush, and is still known for the Jumping Frog Jubilee and County Fair that occurs every year on the third weekend of May. Yes, we still jump frogs in Calaveras County. We also play golf. And even though Mark Twain supposedly opined that the game of golf was a ‘good walk spoiled’, it’s too bad Mr. Twain wasn’t born a century later. He probably would have had a different opinion after playing Greenhorn Creek. As Greenhorn’s press release states, ‘Robert Trent Jones II and Mother Nature have teamed up to create one of Northern California’s finest golf experiences.’ I would humbly agree. Greenhorn Creek Golf Resort is a nice blend of several key enjoyment factors. Beautiful rolling hills, marvelous vistas, and course conditioning combined with a wonderful clubhouse and a perfect after-round balcony overlooking the first tee and 18th green. I’ve said it before and will say it again, there’s nothing like finishing a challenging round of golf and then retiring to this very balcony with your playing partners and enjoying your favorite beverage…especially if the sun is setting. I would consider this my golfing Shangri-La, provided I just birdied the 18th. Winding its way through the Greenhorn Creek development, the golf course neither stresses you nor bores you in any extraordinary way. Sure there are some tough holes and a couple of easier ones; I’ll think of one in a minute; but you can certainly manage your way around this wonderful layout if you just keep your wits about you. There are no real blind shots or forced carries over water. Just real golf. The putting greens can get a bit troublesome if you are putting downhill on some of these greens, but that’s just the way it is. You learn which greens not to miss above the hole, and deal with it. The challenging holes here at Greenhorn are really the short ones…I mean the par threes. All great holes, they all require a certain amount of skill, execution and steadiness. Number 6 is a medium length one-shotter that does require a well struck middle iron to fairway metal wood over water. Talk about challenging oneself, this hole will do it. The signature hole here at Greenhorn is the Par 3 number 13, and what a signature it is. After you step out onto the tee and fully take in the view of the lake and hills and mountains in the distance, you are soon brought back to the reality that you need to make a well-calculated golf swing to avoid the pond in front and bunkers behind this green. What a marvelous golf hole. I don’t think you can get tired of playing this wellmaintained and superbly staffed golf course. Even though you may have driven out to Greenhorn Creek from some distance, the staff here sure likes to make you feel at home, and that goes a long way in my book. For more information on Greenhorn Creek call 209.736.8111 or visit www.greenhorncreek.com. The final stop on our first Sierra Golf Trail Adventure
Sierra Golfer - September 2009
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Q
Sierra Golf Trail Where to stay and where to play
may be considered a short course in stature, but is certainly not short of character. As one local from Murphys describes the course; I would challenge any good golfer to come up to Forest Meadows and shoot a good score. Forest Meadows is situated just uphill from the current wine rich and picturesque town of Murphys, also known as the ‘Queen of the Sierra’. John and Daniel Murphy were part of the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party, the first immigrant party to bring wagons across the Sierra Nevada to Sutter’s Fort in 1844. They earned a living as merchants, but began prospecting for gold and settled “Murphys New Diggings”, later named “Murphys Camp” and eventually simply named Murphys, in 1848. Like many other mining towns, fire destroyed Murphys three times with its flames; in 1859, 1874, and 1893. After the second major fire, there was little gold left to mine and the town was never completely rebuilt. Today the town bustles with tourists visiting historic sites nestled between 21 wine tasting rooms and exquisite dining. Be sure to stop by our favorite tasting rooms, Newsome-Harlowe, Twisted Oak and French Hill Wineries as their wines are some of the best here. One other must see in Murphys is Ironstone Vineyards and Heritage Museum, where the largest in the world, a 44 pound, Crystalline Gold Leaf specimen is on display. Just a mere 5 miles up Hwy 4 from this rustic town you will discover Forest Meadows Golf Course. This executive course offers one a lone par 5 plus four par 4 holes to break up the challenging par 3’s…the real beauties of this golf course. There are fairways set deep in the quiet of giant pines, great oaks and towering cedars, while some play across high meadowland. The 15th hole is a long Par 3 overlooking the expansive Stanislaus Canyon. Don’t get too distracted as the tee shot here is a demanding one. Usually a mid-iron to a fairway wood from the Blue Tees there is little margin for error here. Keep your tee shot here right of the greenside bunker and expect a tough putt to the hole. The 17th is a picturesque hole playing downhill to a green set on the opposite slope of a valley with a small lake across the full front of the green. States renowned course designer Robert Trent Jones Jr., “Of all the golf courses that I have designed, Forest Meadows is one of my favorites. It can be played quickly but you will use every club in your bag…” referring to this jewel in the Sierra. I would say this short course is a challenge and indicative of what mountain golf is all about. Tall pines, sharp elevation changes, and breathtaking views…and this course has all of these elements covered…to a tee.
Copperopolis Saddle Creek Bungalows Stay and play Packages 800.611.7722 or 209.785.7415 saddlecreekbungalows@castlecooke.com Panini’s Italian Grill 131 Town Square Rd Copperopolis, CA 95228 (209) 785-8811
Sierra Golf Trail I would also add that if wine tasting and leisure golf, perhaps even at the same time, is how you like to spend a day here in the beautiful Sierra, Murphys and Forest Meadows golf just may be your ticket. Just make sure you have a glass or a beverage available on the 15th tee, because there is a beauty of a golf hole and an unbelievable view of the Sierra Mountains… and you just may want to toast the coincidence of golf and majestic beauty at the same time. For more information about Forest Meadows you may call the clubhouse at 209.728.3439 or visit www.forestmeadowsgolf.com
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Renner Winery Tasting Room Town Square Copperopolis, CA 95228 www.rennerwinery.com Angels Camp Angels Inn Motel 600 North Main Street Angels Camp, CA 95222 888.753.0226 www.angelsinnmotel.com Angels Food Market 396 North Main St Angels Camp, CA 95222 209.736.4243 Pickel Barrel Delicatessen 1225 South Main Street Angels Camp, CA 95249 209.736.4704 Camps Restaurant at Greenhorn Creek Greenhorn Creek Resort Angels Camp, Ca 95222 209.736.8181
New Melones Lake Marina and Boat Rentals Angels Camp, CA 95222 209.736.3300 Moaning Cavern Caving, climbing, Rappelling and zip-lininge 866.762.2837 www.caverntours.com Murphys Murphys Inn Motel 888.796.1800 www.murphysinnmotel.com Murphys Suites 877.728.2121 www.murphyssuites.com V Restaurant 402 Main Street Murphys, CA 95247 209.728.0107 Grounds Restaurant 402 Main Street Murphys, CA 95247 209.728.8663 Ironstone Vineyard, Museum and Events 1894 Six Mile Road Murphys, CA 95247 209.728.1251 www.ironstonevineyards.com Murphys Park Picnic, Events, Creek Downtown Murphys
Sierra Golfer - September 2009
Uncorking with the Wine Guy
By Brian Klassen
From Titleist to Top Flight After Heath Slocum sunk a 20 foot putt for par on Sunday to win the Barclays he was probably not thinking about spraying his enourage with expensive French Champagne. Despite the average touring pro having a bank account that is larger than most, almost everyone in the world is trading down when it comes to wine. Sales of Champagne are so slow that the producers in France are considering not harvesting this year to keep supply in line wih demand. Ever since 9/11 sales of fine have been in decline. The days of buying 80.00 Napa Cabernet or even 50.00 Aussie Shiraz are well and truly over.
Most figures point to sales of wines over 15.00 retail in serious decline. The only area of growth at present is wine priced below 10.00. Not all is lost however. There are great wines to be had out there for under 15.00. The trick is to find them. Most often thesw gems come from lesser known areas. Land prices in Napa have been at least 100 times more expensive than silmilar vineyard land in Australia, Chile, Argentina and South Africa. As a result great tasting wines from these regions are all great values. To make your purchase focus on the right variety from the region. Look for Malbec from Argentina, Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa,
Merlot from Chile and Chardonnay from Australia. Wines from these regions can be found easily for under 15.00 and if you work hard you can find them for under 10.00. I think a lot of people have already been pleasantly surprised by being more informed in their wine buying decisions. Remember, you don’t have to be like Rodney Dangerfield in the Pro Shop in Caddyshack. By being discriminating you can still find a great buy.
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Page 27
Sierra Golf Course Directory Page 28
Course
Location
Web Address
Phone
Head Pro/GM
Snowcreek Golf Resort Sierra Star GC River Creek GC Sierra Meadows CC Pine Mountain Lake GC Lake Don Pedro G&CC La Phoenix Lake GC Mountain Springs GC Twain Harte GC Greenhorn Creek GC La Contenta GC Saddle Creek Resort Forest Meadows GC Meadowmont GC Sequoia Woods CC Castle Oaks GC Mace Meadow GCC Carson Valley GC Genoa Lakes GC Genoa Lakes GC & Resort Silver Oak GC Sunridge GC Empire Ranch GC Dayton Valley CC Eagle Valley GC Rosewood Lakes GC Lakeridge GC Washoe GC Wolf Run GC Sierra Sage GC Hidden Valley GC Thunder Canyon CC Red Hawk Golf Club Wildcreek GC Arrow Creek GC Incline Championship GC Incline Mountain Course Old Brockway GC Edgewood Tahoe GC Lake Tahoe GC Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort Tahoe City GC Timilick Club Coyote Moon GC Gray’s Crossing Old Greenwood GC Tahoe Donner GC Apple Mountain Resort Grizzly Ranch Resort
Mammoth Lakes, CA Mammoth, CA Ahwahnee, CA Ahwahnee, CA Groveland, CA Grange, CA Sonora, CA Sonora, CA Twain Harte, CA Angels Camp, CA Valley Springs, Ca Copperopolis, CA Murphys, CA Arnold, CA Arnold, CA Ione, CA Pioneer, CA Gardnerville, NV Genoa, NV Genoa, NV Carson City, NV Carson City, NV Carson City, NV Dayton, NV Carson City, NV Reno, NV Reno, NV Reno, NV Reno, NV Reno, NV Reno, NV Washoe Valley, NV Sparks, NV Sparks, NV Reno, NV Incline Village, NV Incline Village, NV Kings Beach, CA Stateline, NV e Lake Tahoe, CA Truckee, CA Tahoe City, CA Truckee, CA Truckee, CA Truckee, CA Truckee, CA Truckee, CA Camino, CA Portola, CA
snowcreekresort.com mammothmountain.com rivercreekgolfcourse.com sierrameadows.com pinemountainlake.com deerwoodcorp.com phoenixlakegolf.com mountainspringsgolf.com twainhartevillage.com greenhorncreek.com lacontentagolf.com saddlecreek.com forestmeadowsgolf.com forestmeadowsgolf.com sequoiawoods.com castleoaksgolf.com macemeadow.com carsonvalleygolf.com genoalakes.com genoalakes.com silveroakgolf.com sunridgegolf.com empireranchgolf.com daytonvalleygolf.com eaglevalleygolf.com cityofreno.com lakeridgegolf.com washoegolf.org wolfrungolfclub.com sierrasagegolf.org hvccreno.com thundercanyon.com resortatredhawk.com visitrenotahoe.com www.arrowcreekcc.com golfincline.com golfincline.com oldbrockway.com dgewoodtahoe.com laketahoegc.com northstarattahoe.com golftahoe.com/tahoe-city timilick.com coyotemoongolf.com grayscrossinggolf.com oldgreenwoodgolf.com tahoedonner.com applemountaingolfresort grizzlyranch.com 8
760.934.6633 760.924.4653 559.683.5600 559.642.1343 209.962.8620 209.852.0404 209.532.0111 209.532.1000 209.586.3131 209.736.8111 209.772.1081 888.852.5787 209.728.3439 209.795.1313 209.795.2141 209.274.0167 209.295.7020 775.265.3181 866.795.2709 866.795.2709 775.841.7000 775.267.4448 888.227.1335 775.246.7888 775.887.2380 775.857.2892 800.815.6966 775.828.6640 775.851.3301 775.972.1564 775.857.4742 775.882.0882 866-Go2Hawk 775.673.3100 775.850.4653 775.832.1146 775.832.1150 530.546.9909 775.588.3566 530.577.0788 530.562.3887 530.583.1516 877.Timilick 530.587.0886 530.550.5800 530.550.7010 530.587.9443 530.647.7400 66.901.1010
Gary Paolino Dave Schacht Jim Monson Tim Huber Tony Murphy Bill Cloud Mike White Mike Cook Jeff Burmester Darryl Peif Phil Sponseller Geoffrey Podgorny Jim Dillashaw Jim Dillashaw Larry Babica Dominic Atlan Gregg Standridge Rob Harbottle Lou Eiguren Lou Eiguren Robert Mason Matt LaPorte Keith Stoll Rick Vaughn Dave Gebhardt Bob Forse Randy Beeghly Darin Menante Lacy Erickson Steve Bell Kelly Manos Dave La Fata Greg Enholm Eric Huzarski John Ross Brannigan McNulty Angie Rodriguez Garrett Good Randy Fox Amy McCormick Pete Smith Bob Bonino Matt Anderson Ed McGargill Shane Jones Bob Hickam, Director Ed Leinenkugel, Dir. Paul Shorts Rob Young
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Sierra Golfer - September 2009
For information contact ianlenton@hotmail.com
Play golf in the land of smiles - Thailand Best Rates • Courseside Accommodation • Green Fees • Tours and more.
Name ____________________ _____________________________ HCP ___________ Event __________________________ Hole ____________ Date __________ _______
Player Score Card 38 Moo 5 Vichitsongkram Road, Kathu District, Puket 83120, Thailand Tel: +66 (0) 76 321 929-34 Fax: +66 (0) 76 321 927-8 www.lochpalm.com
All forms of Graphic Design Specialist Internet Consultants
Index
White
374
302
4
494
476
3
442
11
5
330
298
262
15
5
1
346
171
156
604
5
376
364
314
4
330
316
280
8
13 9 Out
175
157
314
4
2,668
36
Hole
Index
Yardage Blue
White
6
362
342
310
4
4
524
506
412
5
12 2
358
328
456
292
406
168
147
118
3
389
371
277
4
16
10 18
202
190
320
8 In
142
296
469
5
2,658
36
3,248
3,041
2,668
36
6,555
6,135
5,326
72
Handicap Net Score
Loch Palm Course - Front Nine Holes
e: ianlenton@hotmail.com
7
The most relaxing golf course in Phuket! Score Card.indd 1
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The Autumn /Winter 2008 Collection
The Norman Clubhouse
WaterProof
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16
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14
17
12
15
18
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suit
ian Poulter would not it is not just a brilliant wear a waterproof until this. piece of technol ogy, it is also incredibly stylish.
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76
8
6
10
Ian Poulter
we thank him for his time, his commitment and his talent.” the norman Clubhouse will be complemented by an ultramodern practice facility and state-of-the-art european tour Centre of excellence and Golf academy. the Golf academy will offer personalized instruction, with low instructor-to-student ratios, using the latest technology and training knowledge to deliver real improvements to every part of the student’s game. the Clubhouse’s sports Centre will cater for a variety of leisure activities, featuring a fully-equipped gymnasium, swimming pools, exercise studio, yoga and pilates studio, a leisure-focused lagoon, a lounge area and a spa and Wellness Centre with several treatment rooms. Dining and entertainment options will include the Golf brasserie, the Cellar private dining, the swing Juice and Health bar, a tiki bar serving the lagoon pools, an events lawn for up to 400 people, a terrace dining area, and a rooftop bar and bbQ terrace. another feature of the norman Clubhouse will be a stunning rock waterfall backdrop to the 18th greens of both the fire and earth courses. Jumeirah Golf estates has brought together the world’s leading golf and course design superstars, to create Dubai’s premier residential golfing community. Greg norman, vijay singh, sergio Garcia and “the father of modern golf course design”, Pete Dye, are working on creating one of the world’s most distinctive golf developments. the four courses - fire, earth,Water, and Wind – will be surrounded by the most desirable residential communities in Dubai.
Asian Issue.indd
5
3
Loch Palm Course - Back Nine Holes
Produced offshore to save you money
Jumeirah Golf Estates, the premier residential golf community in Dubai, has announced the first concrete pouring at its Norman Clubhouse, another milestone in the progress of the development. The Norman Clubhouse, designed by and named after golf legend Greg Norman, will serve the Fire and Earth courses upon completion ahead of the first Dubai World Championship in November 2009.
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4
508 3,094
Out
4
Asian Issue.indd 48
3
270
528 3,307
TOTAL
1
76
4
14 16
17
Marker
Player
4
368
14 15
18
Creative Copywriting
Par
Red
10 11
Player
48
3
364 3,041
Marker
Work on the foundations of the clubhouse, which at 131,000 square feet will be one of the largest in the Middle east, was completed in april, ahead of the concreting which started recently. this progress follows another recent announcement that Greg norman’s earth course has been chosen as the host venue for the richest tournament in world golf, the inaugural Dubai World Championship, in november 2009. a landmark of elegance and style, the Mediterraneaninfluenced norman Clubhouse will offer a range of options for both formal and casual dining, a Wellness Centre with a variety of massage and spa treatments, a sports Centre, a nearby tennis academy, two tennis courts and a coaching facility, and the european tour Centre of excellence with adjoining Golf academy. this important milestone was recognized by David spencer, Chief executive, Golf at leisurecorp, the owner of Jumeirah Golf estates. He said: “this is a big course, with a big tournament and a big designer, in Greg norman. it deserves a big clubhouse – and that’s what it’s getting. this is going to be a stunning facility, somewhere which will attract golfers and non-golfers alike. “i visit the site every few days and it’s been exciting to see the foundations take shape. now, with the first concrete pour, we’re seeing an important milestone. “Greg has designed the best golf courses in the Middle east here at Jumeirah Golf estates, along with the best homes, at his fireside by Greg norman development. He’s now adding the best clubhouse to that roll of honour and, as always,
4
115
394 3,248
THE UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION AND THE ROYAL AND ANCIENT GOLF CLUB OF ST. ANDREW’S RULES GOVERN ALL PLAY EXCEPT WHERE LOCAL RULES PREVAIL
Online and Offline marketing
MaxMedia
3
524
5 17
9
Marker
Player
4
115
564
6 7
12
Par
Red
7 3
13
Yardage Blue
1 2 4
Etiquette 1. It is every golfer’s responsibility to abide by the course’s pace of play policy. a. Choose a set of realistic set of tees for your ability. b. Always keep up with the group ahead of you. c. Minimize the amount of time spent looking for lost balls. d. Be ready to hit your shot when it is your turn to play. e. After play, leave the green immediately and proceed to the next tee. 2. Fairway distance markers are defined by “red” at 100 yards, “white” at 150 yards, and “blue” at 200 yards. Those are measured from the markers to the center of the green. 3. Golfers are responsible for any damage or injury occurred during play. 4. Appropriate Golf Attire is required at the discretion of the Management. 5. Please ensure caddies repair all divots and ball marks on greens and rake bunkers after use. 6. Please co-operate with slow play marshals. They are there to help all golfers enjoy a reasonable speed of play.
The most exciting and challenging golf course in Phuket!
Hole
Local Rules 1. Out of bounds are defined by white stakes and or boundary fences on holes 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14 and 15. 2. Drop zones are in play on holes 14 and 16. 3. A ball coming to rest in a flower bed must be dropped at the nearest point of relief, no matter the hole. 4. Free relief may be taken if immovable obstructions, such as staked trees, cart paths, any permanent irrigation and drainage fixtures, shelters, kiosks, yardage markers or any other artificial materials, interfere with stance or swing. 5. An embedded ball “through the green” may be marked, lifted, cleaned and dropped within one club length, not nearer the hole.
until now, waterp roof clothing has focused on function been rather than fashion. solely ever, the design Howfeatures of the new iJP (ian James Poulter, the compan y logo) waterproof that the fit is tailored suit means to the individual wearer, making the shape lines incredibly elegant of the billowing at the and not waist. the focus on the fit does not detract from the fact that both the jacket and the trousers are durable, innovat ive and high-tech garments. the suit is 100% waterproof, and breathable. windproof What makes the jacket stand out from others is the tailored rather than ing movement easier gathered waistband, makand the fit spectac comfort there is ular. for fleece lining in the collar, the front facing area and the sleeves. the front the sealed seams and the light weight zip guard, you dry while not lining keep weighing you down. the waterproof trousers also boast tures including original feastretch lining in the knee ditional movement and a tailored waistba for adbelt loops. every detail has been thought nd with to making the back of pockets zips slightly down and wider to ensure deeper the player can easily fit in both their card and their glove. a tough test run was the open Champ ionship 2008 at royal birkdale ,where made life very difficult dreadful weather conditions for the world’s top the suit protect golfers. ed ian helping him get ahead from howling wind and rain, of the pack and the tournament. finish 2nd in
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• two year Guaran tee • 100% Windpr oof and waterproof • stretch for freedom of movement
Asian Issue.indd
where valley meets mountain range, Black Mountain Golf Club is a course ready to please visually as well as being exciting for both the experienced and the average golfer.
• breathable • lightweight • sealed seams
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• technical zips / guards • Part fleece lined for comfort • tailored waistba nds
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Asian Issue.indd 64
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tranquil surrounding,
Stockist infor mation visit : www.ianpoulte rdesign.com
Key Features
Stockist infor mation visit : www.ianpoulte rdesign.com
Set in an idyllic peaceful,
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Sierra Golfer - September 2009
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Page 29
For Sale
Championship Golf Course in Texas
Page 30
• Built in 2003 and measures over 7,300 yards • Located in Dallas/Fort Worth area • Offered at $2.5 million For information on this property and other available Texas Golf Courses Call Joseph Dengall at 972.771.8808 or Bill Hale at 512.402.0057
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Sierra Golfer - September 2009