SNE Golfer Winter 2012

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GOLF EXPOS / TRAVEL ISSUE

WINTER 2012

VOL. 2 NO. 1

BEST COVERAGE OF GOLF IN RI, MASS & CONN

The

PATS Are

BACK

U.R.I.’s Devon Quigley, son of Dana, was in a terrible accident on Dec. 1. See page 15 for update info.

TEE TO GREEN 3 COVER STORY 4 EDITORIAL 6 GOLF INSTRUCTION 10 Q SCHOOL 14 JUNIOR GOLF 19 GOLF COMMENTARY 20 YEAR IN REVIEW 23 SNE GOLF SHOW GUIDE 32 PRODUCT REVIEWS 36 GOLFING IN CA 38 GOLF TRAVEL 42 GOLFING IN VA 45 RI GOLF LOCATOR MAP 46 W. MA GOLF LOCATOR MAP AND MUCH MORE!

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SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

COVER STORY

By BOB DICK

Sheehan Back on PGA Tour, Horgan on Champions

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he Pats are back! No, we’re not talking about the guys up the road at Gillette Stadium. We’re talking about Rhode Island’s two golfing Pats—Patrick Sheehan and P.H. (Patrick Henry) Horgan.

These two Pats are kicking off the new golf year in wonderful fashion after finishing up 2011 by playing their best golf in a number of years.

You see, both Sheehan and Horgan have bulled their way back into the big leagues of professional golf.

Sheehan, a native of Warwick now living in Florida, was stuck in a rut and toiling on the Nationwide Tour the past two years.

He vaulted back into the cauldron of the PGA Tour after finishing No. 18 in the final stage of the PGA Q-School competition at La Quinta, California. It was a mindexhausting six round finale in which the top 27 received PGA Tour cards. Sheehan shot rounds of 73, 75, 70, 71, 66 and 67.

The 51-year-old Horgan, on the other hand, returns to the pro golf tour, this time on the Champions Tour, after a five-year hiatus from professional golf caused mainly by health issues.

The Newport native and former Rogers High and URI standout finished fifth in the

Champions Tour qualifying school at the TPC of Scottsdale. Horgan carded rounds of 70, 68, 64, and 68 and went three under on his last seven holes to earn that fifth and final berth.

This past summer Sheehan told Southern New England Golfer that despite his problems on the Nationwide Tour the past few years, he firmly believed that he hadn’t played his best golf yet. Some scoffed at that remark believing Sheehan was in denial. Obviously, those folks didn’t know the resolve this guy has.

Better yet, they didn’t realize the help that younger brother Chris, the head pro at Pelican Nest in Naples, Fla., would provide.

“We’ve been working for awhile on getting my upper body to rotate more,” said the 41year-old Sheehan. “When I did it properly it would feel good and I would play better.

Hopefully, these changes will continue.

We’ve been working on them for awhile. I’m excited to be back. This is the first time that I made it to the tour out of Q-School. The other times I qualified by being in the top tier on the Nationwide Tour.”

It was four years ago (2008) when Sheehan enjoyed his greatest success on the PGA tour with two top 10 finishes and a top 25 finish

five times. All that was good enough to earn him $805,697. Since then it has been a downhill spiral for him.

Now Sheehan feels rejuvenated. “I think I played my best golf in those two final rounds when I shot 66 and 67,” he says.

But it didn’t start out well for him in the final stage. “I think I was 150th and going nowhere after my first two days.” Sheehan said. “But after I shot 70 in the third round I blew past 50 guys and I started to get a little excited.”

From then on everything seemed to click.

“I hit the ball so well. It just feels great to be back. It has been two years. Chris and I just knew we had to fix the problem,” Sheehan said.

For Horgan, who managed to Monday Qualify for four Champions Tour events last year, qualifying for a Champions tour card is a great relief after five frustrating seasons where he dealt with numerous health problems including overcoming cancer in one of his eyes.

“I didn’t want to think about making it as I came into my very last round. I was one shot out of the lead at the start of the day. Only five guys in the world would make it,” said Horgan, who lives in West Palm Beach, Fla.,

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

but was home in Newport for the holidays to visit family. “But I was playing well and I wound up with 7 birdies in my last round of 64. In fact, I had no bogies in my last three rounds. I had to be positive that day and as I went along I began thinking ‘I’m going to make it.’”

However, coming to his final hole he found a 15-minute backup of players. “I didn’t know what I had to do but I did know I had to have at least a par. My heart started pumping.”

Finally, Horgan teed off and drove the ball 270 yards. He then lifted a five iron to within 15 feet of the pin. “When I got to the green I finally went to an official to find out where I stood. He told me not to three-putt. I said to myself ‘Great, not too much pressure.’”

Horgan, who played 10 years on the PGA Tour (1989-1994 and 1997-2000) didn’t fold. He tapped-in for par. “Everyone came up to me and said I was in but, you never know until all the cards are in,” he said.

So, the Pats are back. Let’s hope they keep it going and find their way into the winner’s circle.

Bob Dick is a retired sports writer for the Providence Journal and a member of the Golf Writers Assn. of America.

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e are blessed with excellent professional tour golfers in our area, and it is with great pleasure that we honor two of them on our cover.

Patrick Sheehan of Warwick, and a Pilgrim H.S. graduate, has had some success on the PGA Tour, but for the last few years has been on the Nationwide Tour. His great showing at Q School earned him a return to the top.

P.H. Horgan also once had a Tour card, but has struggled with illness and it seemed his professional career might have ended. At age 51 he has qualified for the Champions Tour for 2012. Bob Dick does an excellent job on page 3 getting the two “Pats” reaction to their success.

The first year of Southern New England Golfer was a huge success. We never had 48 pages when it was Ocean State Golf.

Last January’s editorial spoke of how we were going to do just two print issues and three online. With the success of last January’s edition and the wishes of both readers and advertisers we printed all five issues in 2011 and that will remain our plan for the future.

Notice that the issue is called the Golf Expos and Travel Issue. We will be at five golf shows (Providence, West. Mass., Worcester, Boston and Hartford) and half the issues will be distributed then. We will still keep 20,000 to bring to the courses

when they open in March. There are more travel stories in this issue than ever before.

Enjoy them and wish that you were there rather than cold New England.

We’ve added a new writer for this year.

Bob Dicesare, who just won a writing award from the ING, will be doing an Eastern Massachusetts Notebook column.

Bob currently writes for the Brockton paper and will be doing work with the Patriot Ledger. This issue he interviewed Mass. POTY Ryan Riley. Riley, who was a star in the U.S. Challenge Cup junior program, also coaches the Norton H.S. golf team.

Seeing the picture of the Hall of Fame awards in Rhode Island made me feel both old and nostalgic. Archie Boulet, who retired after 45 years of coaching the Bryant University golf team, was my science professor in 1965. Stan Abrams, who held found the Champions Tour, was on the second cover of Ocean State Golf back in 1994. Must be getting old.

2011 was quite a year in golf. The rise of Keegan Bradley and many other youngsters, the fall and return again of Tiger, the great local professional and amateur tournaments and the wonderful play of our juniors made for great stories.

The pictorial on pages 20 and 21 and Joe Gordon’s recap on page 19 is a fine look back.

From the Assoc. Editor

S

outhern New England Golfer is on a roll and 2012 looks to be another banner year. Last year we introduced new products and services to southern New England starting with a new publication.

The magazine covers Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

To compliment the magazine and our stable of great writers we produced two new golf shows on the country’s number one sports radio network, WEEI. The Golf Show on 103.7 FM in Providence was an instant hit with golfers with many great guests including Lexi Thompson, the youngest winner on the LPGA Tour and Keegan Bradley, the 2012 PGA Champion. The Golf Show in central Mass enjoyed great success as well with the addition of Bill Doyle on the show.

Both shows had a 7 a.m. start times which is key in reaching golfers heading out to their weekend round.

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Southern New England Golfer also introduced the Season Pass to greater Rhode Island and central Mass. where golfers received a booklet of discounted golf not offered to the public. The Season Pass offers $600 in savings for one low price. Last year we came within a handful of selling out. The number of passes are limited so get yours early. We’ve also added a new season pass covering South Shore and the Cape that has over $600 in discounts for one low price.

This year Southern New England Golfer has a new website which can be accessed here at www.snegolfer.com and will improve on the newsletters going out to the greater R.I. and central Mass. areas.

We have several writers including Tom Gorman and Bob Dicesare that will do weekly columns for the newsletters. We look forward to another great year and hope yours is enjoyable on the golf cours.

Jay Nomakeo, “The golf ball wacker guy.”

We had so much fun with WEEI’s golf radio show this past season. Great guests, good information and fun topics made for an enjoyable seven months. Can’t wait to get started again in March.

Enjoy the publication. Come up and say hello at one of the golf shows. Keep your head down and swing easy and we’ll see you for the next edition on May 2.

Bruce Vittner is a member of the Golf Writers Assn. of America and the Golf Travel Writers of America. He can be reached at bruce@snegolfer.com.

GOLF TRIVIA 1. Who was the first U.S. Women’s Open winner?

2. Who was the first amateur to win the U.S. Open?

3. What golfer invented the sand wedge?

4. What is the name of the bridge across the water to number 15 at Augusta National?

5. What was Nancy Lopez’s first major?

6. What year?

7. What two golfing stars have signature courses at “The Villages?”

8. Who designed New England Country Club?

9. Who won five Vardon Trophies during the 1960s?

Answers: 1. Patty Berg 2. Francis Ouimet 3. Gene Sarazen 4. Sarazen Bridge 5. LPGA Championship 6. 1978 7. Nancy Lopez and Arnold Palmer 8. Hale Irwin 9. Billy Casper

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From the Editor Editor/Publisher BRUCE VITTNER bruce@snegolfer.com Associate Editor JAY NOMAKEO snjnom@comcast.com Design/Production DEB BASILE Contributing Writers DAVE ADAMONIS JR. BRUCE BERLET GEOFF CONVERSE SCOTT CORDISCHI BOB DICESARE BOB DICK BILL DOYLE KATHARINE DYSON JOE GORDON TOM GORMAN RUSS HELD DEREK HOOPER BRUCE HUTCHINSON CAROLYN VITTNER DAN VUKELICH Staff Photographers JIM CALORIO BOB LAVALLEE Sales Director MARK O’CONNOR Markjoc57@aol.com Account Executives JIM GRAY ROY WAGNER Web Design SHIRLEY NOMAKEO SUSAN VITTNER Publishing Information: Southern New England Golfer is published five times per year: January, May, June, August, and September Editorial: Mail all articles, releases, and other items to Editor, Southern New England Golfer, P.O. BOX 10038, Cranston, RI 02910. Materials will not be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All rights reserved.

Advertising: Southern New England Golfer is not responsible for advertising copy.

Corrected advertising will be placed in future issues. © 2012. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

GOLF BUSINESS

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By BRUCE VITTNER

Mohegan Sun C.C. at Pautipaug Set to Reopen

n 2007 the Mohegan Sun Tribal Council purchased Pautipaug Country Club in Baltic, Conn. Its members owned this private course, and the Tribal Council agreed to retain the membership.

The course sits only twenty minutes away from Mohegan Sun Casino, and the plan was to make the course available to patrons of the casino. The major problem was that the course had serious water problems that made it almost unplayable at times and unsustainable in the long run.

The Tribal Council turned to Robert McNeil of the Northeast Golf Company in Saunderstown, R.I. to develop an extensive water enhancement and golf course renovation plan to make the course into a fine venue for golf and a major draw for Mohegan Sun. McNeil, a native of Northbridge, Mass. grew up next to the current fifth hole at Shining Rock Golf Course. “As a young boy, I designed a course in our two-acre back yard. My mother still lives there and loves to watch the golfers go by and pick

up balls that roll down to her yard,” said McNeil.

“I wanted to be a golf course architect from the time I was a little kid,” remembered McNeil who earned an undergraduate degree in business administration from Bryant University and then earned his master’s degree in landscape architecture, specializing in golf course design from Ohio State University.

“We started developing the plan to solve the water problem in 2007. Ayers Brook ran through the property but was not sustainable and there were problems with erosion and wetlands,” said McNeil who added two retention ponds strategically placed on the course near the entrance at the tenth and eighteenth holes and redesigned the pond next to the sixth hole. “We’ve put in a state-of-the-art water transfer system that allows for highly efficient and environmentally sound usage control,” he added.

With the help of NMP Golf Construction of Montreal, the same firm who constructed the Lake of Isles courses

in Ledyard, McNeil and his team closed the course in August 2010 and restyled and repositioned all bunkers, rebuilt and realigned all of the tees, constructed five new greens, reshaped two others and regrassed all the other greens. “We used T1 bentgrass to provide the best turf coverage with limited use of water and fertilizers,” said a proud McNeil. “We’ve given the course a bold new look from the bland design of the 60s that course had. We’ve put in fescue grass around the bunkers to further embolden the strategy and the ponds have added a wonderful look to the property.”

“We are very excited to unveil the newly remodeled Mohegan Sun Country Club at Pautipaug this spring,” said Gary Crowder, Senior Vice President of Resort Operations. “With the design of Robert McNeil and the hard work done by our contractors and development team, we have made extensive renovations and upgrades to the golf course. We have also made interior and exterior upgrades to the clubhouse. We believe the end result of the

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

The sixth at Mohegan Sun C.C. at Pautipaug. work will firmly create the Mohegan Sun Country Club at Pautipaug as a preferred golf destination in New England,” he added.

“This has been a great season for growing and the course is really starting to look spectacular. We should have the course open for play in May,” said McNeil who was off to Romania to design and develop a new course.

For more information, please visit www.mohegansun.com/golf.

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By DEREK HOOPER

GOLF INSTRUCTION

Effective Practice - Full Swing Part 1 improving.

Armed with these practice drills you can now design your effective practice session by answering the questions and guidelines below:

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f you want to get better at this game there is only one way to accomplish that – practice. I don’t just mean going to a driving range a hitting a large bucket of balls with your driver with no target and no goals for that session. That is exercise not practice. If you want to get better you need to do regular, effective practice.

Effective practice is any practice session where before you begin, you clearly defined what you will do in that session, how you will do it, and you will have a measure to know if you have achieved your goal.

Only once you start doing this type of practice regularly will you start to see real improvement in your golf game. So how do you devise such a practice session?

Your first step is to assess your current full swing game and decide what aspect of it, if improved will give you the greatest gains in performance. Taking a golf lesson with your local PGA professional is the quickest, easiest and most accurate assessment of your swing you can get, and will be time and money well spent. He or she will break down your swing with you and explain where and why you are getting into trouble, before showing you practice drills to help you improve the areas of weakness. A pro will also tell you how to assess your ball flight so you will know if you are doing the drill correctly and thus 6

• How much total time do I have for my practice session?

• Set up an effective practice station on a quiet section of the range, with clubs on the ground for alignment and ball position.

• There should be at least two practice swings for every ball hit.

• Golf is a target game, so always practice to a target.

• Give every shot and practice swing your fullest attention – quality is more important than quantity.

• Examine your ball flight after every shot and ask yourself if during the swing you achieved the swing change you are trying to make.

• Based on the last swing and ball flight decide your focus for the next set of practice swings and shots. Be sure to stay focused on the goals and drills for that particular practice session. Do not allow yourself to drift into reactionary practice where all you are doing is making corrections based on the previous shot.

Follow this effective practice outline every time you work on your full swing and coupled with regular feedback from your PGA professional, your improvement is all but guaranteed.

Derek Hooper is the Director of Instruction at the Hank Haney Golf Academy at Lake of Isles. Derek has a college degree in teaching and over 15 years experience conducting lesson programs in Australia, Japan and Taiwan. He specializes in personalized, improvement programs that cover the technical and physical components required to play your best golf. Derek can be contacted at 1.888.475.3746 or dhooper@troongolf.com.

2012 RIGA MAJOR TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE DATE April 30 May 8-9

TOURNAMENT USGA Open Qualifying John P. Burke Memorial (Gross)

May 14-15

John P. Burke Memorial (Net)

May 22-23 May 31 TBD TBD June 5-6 June 12-13

Senior Four-Ball (Gross Div.) Amateur Qualifying

June 20-23 June 25-26 June 30-July 1

Senior Four-Ball (Net Div.) Four-Ball Championship 36 Hole Stroke Play Northeast Amateur Father & Son/Parent & Daughter Public Links Championship

July 9-13 July 17-19 July 24 July 31-August 1 July TBD August 7-9 August 13-15 August 14-15 TBD August 27-28 September 11-12 September 13 September 19-21 September 25-26 TBD October 11-12 TBD

Amateur Championship New England Amateur USGA Amateur Qualifying Stroke Play Championship Junior Amateur Championship Rhode Island Open Mixed Foursomes New England Junior Mid-Amateur Qualifying Mid-Amateur New England Seniors Mulligan InterclubTeam Champ.

USGA State Team Senior Amateur (Gross Div.) Senior Amateur (Net Div.) Tri-State Matches Fred Malcolm Memorial

CLUB Montaup C.C. Newport C.C., Shelter Harbor G.C. Carnegie Abbey Wanumetonomy G&C.C. Cranston C.C. Triggs Memorial G.C. Green Valley C.C. Fenner Hill G.C. Kirkbrae C.C. North Kingstown G.C. Potowomut G.C. Wannamoisett C.C. Metacomet C.C. Triggs Memorial G.C. Cranston C.C. Wanumetonomy G&C.C. Falmouth C.C. (ME) Crestwood C.C. Alpine C.C. West Warwick C.C. Ledgemont C.C. Agawam Hunt Taconic G.C. (MA) TBD Pawtucket C.C. Rutland C.C. (VT) Crestwood C.C. Callaway National G.C. (NJ) Valley C.C. TBD Old Sandwich (MA) Crestwood C.C.

2012 RIWGA Major Schedule May 14 June 7 Jul. 9-11 Jul. 16-20 Aug. 13-15 Oct. 1-3

Stroke Play RI/CT Matches NEWGA Champ.

RIWGA Champ.

RIGA State Mixed Endicott Cup

RICC Hartford G.C. (CT) Natanis G.C. (ME) Metacomet C.C. Agawam Hunt Nashawtuc C.C. (MA)

The Ocean State Women’s Golf Assn.’s website is undergoing major changes. Their schedule will be posted on March 1 at www.oswga.org. This group of about 350 women is open to all golfers from both the public and private sector.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

PEOPLE IN GOLF

By BOB DICK

Kirouac Inducted into RIGA Hall of Fame

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here are many who believe that the golden era for women’s amateur golf in Rhode Island was the 1970s. Why? Because much of the intense competition back then involved great players who belonged to the Rhode Island Country Club.

There was the late Julie Greene, who went on to win 11 state amateur championships.

Nancy Johnson Chaffee captured four state titles in four decades, and Noreen Uihlein, a winner in 1978. But there also was a newcomer from California by the name of Martha Kirouac.

When Kirouac arrived in Rhode Island she had already made a name for herself on the women’s national amateur circuit.

Before moving here, as Martha Wilkinson, she had won the Women’s Intercollegiate Championship in 1967 and the U.S. Women’s Amateur title in 1970. The year she arrived in Rhode Island, 1972, she represented the United States on the Curtis Cup team for the second time.

So, you can just imagine those brilliant, but oh so intense golf wars these four women waged, whether it was for club championships at RICC or tournaments throughout the summer seasons.

Kirouac, (by then married to Bob Kirouac) wowed everyone when she ripped off RIWGA state amateur wins in 1974, 1975 and 1977. In addition she won the Women’s New England Amateur crown in 1975. With her husband, Kirouac won State Mixed titles in 1974, 1976, 1980 and 1982 before moving to Georgia after Bob changed jobs.

Clearly, Martha Kirouac was a dynamic golf force during her 10-year stay in Rhode Island.

That is why she was honored at the 2011 RIGA annual Year End Awards dinner at Ledgemont C.C. by being inducted into the RIGA Hall of Fame.

“I was very surprised, almost disbelieving, when I heard the news, “ Kirouac told

Southern New England Golfer. “It has been 28 years since I lived here but I have to say that I have taken every advantage in coming back here to see all my friends that I had developed when I lived in Barrington.

Kirouac was among five individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame before a packed gathering of nearly 270 people.

Also inducted were legendary head coach at Bryant University, Archie Boulet; Stan Abrams, two-time State Amateur champ who later became involved in successful golf real estate development and helped form in 1982 the Senior Tour Players, Inc., which later turned into the current Champions Tour; Anthony Paolino who received the Distinguished Service Award for helping make the game of golf better in Rhode Island; and Anthony Caranci Jr. who became the first course superintendent inducted into the Hall of Fame.

But it was Kirouac who was the main attraction. A poignant moment occurred during her induction when David Chaffee, a member of the 2011 Hall of Fame Committee, read a congratulatory letter to Kirouac from good friend Brad Faxon.

In his note to her, Faxon said, “Without question your amateur record in not only in Rhode Island but in U.S. Women’s golf is obviously beyond worthy of the RIGA Hall of Fame. Way more important are your achievements as a person, a wife, a mother (two daughters) and a Captain. You were a tremendous role model to me and you helped shape me into the kind of person I would want to become.”

Faxon began his illustrious golf career as a caddie at RICC during Kirouac’s stay there.

“I did give passing thought to turning professional but I had done enough traveling when I was younger. And we had such great competition right here, myself, Julie, Nancy, and Noreen,” said Kirouac. “It was such great competition that I could stay here and be a mom and that was my focus. I really just

wanted to teach.”

Kirouac’s good friend for 40 years, Nancy Chaffee, recalled what it was like competing against her dear friend.

“It was so competitive. Martha was so focused. You couldn’t get her off her game.

She had every shot in the bag. I learned so much watching her play. Watching her helped improve my game,” Chaffee said.

However, Kirouac’s wonderful stay in Rhode Island ended when her husband, who worked for Acushnet in New Bedford, got a job in Atlanta in the early ‘80s. Just like that one of the toughest competitors to ever play the game on Rhode Island fairways and greens was gone.

Kirouac, though, continued to play good amateur golf and won the 1986 Georgia Women’s Amateur Championship and the 1990 Women’s Southern Amateur.

She still remains actively involved in the game. Kirouac is senior director of course rating/member services of the Georgia State Golf Association and a member of the USGA’s Women’s Committee. She was inducted into the Georgia State Golf Hall of Fame in 2006

Seated, Archie Boulet; left to right, Millie Carranci, wife of the late Tony Caranci, Jr, Stan Abrams, Anthony Paolino and Martha Kirouac.

“I knew little about Rhode Island when I moved here,” said Kirouac. “But I loved it and I thought I would be here to stay. But my husband changed jobs and we moved to Atlanta and that turned out to be a good thing, too. Still, Rhode Island was a special place for me and it always will be.”

Archie Boulet Endowed Scholarship Being Established at Bryant “Bryant’s Mr. Golf,” as he was referred to by many, retired as the Bryant University golf coach in May 2011. Archie Boulet— who founded the golf program in 1964 and finished with 11 New England Division II titles, 31 NCAA appearances, 20 Northeast-10 Conference titles and 18 Coach of the Year awards — called it quits due to failing health.

“Archie instilled loyalty and dedication in his students, and developed lifelong relationships,” said Bill Smith, Bryant’s

director of athletics. “He was more than a coach—he was a caring mentor and friend.”

To ensure the values he personified The Arthur “Archie” Boulet Endowed Scholarship is being established by alumni, colleagues and friends. To make a gift and help Bryant continue to transform lives in the classroom and on the playing fields, please call Edward Magro, J.D. at 877353-5667 or email emagro@bryant.edu.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

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By SCOTT CORDISCHI

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or golf fans in southern New England, the CVS Caremark Charity Classic has been a home run. Many of the world’s greatest golfers have walked the fairways of Rhode Island Country Club over the past 13 years, entertaining fans with great golf and great personalities.

But if the CVS Caremark Charity Classic has been a home run for the fans, it has been a grand slam for local charities.

This year alone, 64 nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island and Massachusetts will share just under $1.2 million raised from the 2011 tournament.

That brings the total money raised for local charities to more than $15 million over the last 13 years.

“In the past I’ve been seated in the back as these presentations have been made to the over 60 worthy charities in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, many who provide volunteers during our event,” said CVS Caremark CEO Larry Merlo.

This year, Merlo was joined by tournament co-hosts Brad Faxon and

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GOLF COMMENTARY Billy Andrade at CVS headquarters in Woonsocket in December to announce the amount raised from last year’s tournament.

“This is one of my favorite days of the year,” said Andrade.

Added Faxon, “We could never pull off this great event without the support of these wonderful charities who provide us with over 1,000 volunteers. It’s great to see so many smiling faces when these checks are handed out.”

It’s understandable why these charities are so appreciative of the support they receive from the tournament. Since our economy took a turn for the worse in 2008, nonprofit organizations everywhere have suffered. With people losing their jobs and a large portion of their portfolio, charitable donations have decreased significantly. This is why these local nonprofits are so grateful to have the CVS Caremark Charity Classic in their own backyard.

“We are so fortunate to be one of the charities of choice for CVS,” said Special Olympics R.I. CEO Dennis DeJesus.

Some of the recipients of the nearly $1.2 million given to charity from the 2011 CVS Caremark Charity Classic.

Billy Andrade is front row center and Brad Faxon is to his left and CEO Larry Merlo is left of Faxon.

“Since the tournament’s inception, we have had an amazing partnership with the CVS Caremark Charity Classic which is the premier summer sporting event in Rhode Island.”

Special Olympics R.I. helps more than 2,700 athletes with disabilities each year.

Their calendar is highlighted by their summer games at URI each year. DeJesus knows that without the support of a great company like CVS Caremark, things would be a lot tougher for his organization.

“This economy hasn’t been too friendly to nonprofits,” he said. “But it’s so nice to rely on CVS and the Charity Classic as something we can count on each year.

Being affiliated with such a great company like CVS Caremark also lends tremendous credibility to our organization in the state and in the community.”

CVS Caremark’s support of Special Olympics R.I. runs far beyond just the Charity Classic. The company recently donated a gift of a half-million dollars to Special Olympics R.I. for the construction of their new headquarters. They are just one of the many local charities that benefit from not just the generosity of CVS Caremark, but also tournament co-hosts Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade.

Nicole Dufresne, executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Providence, said, “We are very honored to be one of the working charities of the tournament.

Our staff and volunteers have taken part in every CVS Caremark Charity Classic.

The money donated to us from the Classic is used for our after school homework help and tutoring program and is vital to our success.”

Giving back to their community is nothing new for Faxon and Andrade.

The two have been doing it for decades through the Andrade/Faxon Charities for Children, Inc. that has donated more than $8 million to youngsters in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts since 1991. The two also co-chair Button Hole, a short course that serves as a teaching and learning center for underprivileged kids. Their extreme generosity earned them the Golf Writers Association of America’s Charlie Bartlett Award, given to playing professionals for their unselfish contributions to society, in 1999.

1999 was also the first year for the CVS Caremark Charity Classic and many wonder how much longer the event will last. “I really look forward to continuing this great event for our area,” said Merlo.

Andrade and Faxon announced that the 14th classic will be held June 1719 at Rhode Island Country Club this year. Invitations have been extended to various members of the PGA, LPGA and Champions Tours with hopes of another strong field for 2012.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

RI NOTEBOOK

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he 2011 men’s amateur Player ofthe-Year award in Rhode Island was up for grabs until late in the season when Potowomut’s Bobby Leopold put on a spurt and reached the round of 16 at the U.S. Men’s Amateur Championship in Wisconsin and then won the RIGA Mid-Amateur title at Carnegie Abbey.

His point total reached 887, 17 more than runner-up Charlie Blanchard in the RIGA standings.

Southern New England Golfer also selected Leopold as its 2011 Men’s Player of the Year.

In addition, Leopold, a British native, tied for 10th at the R.I Open and was the medallist at the State Amateur Championship with a 6-under 136. He lost in the quarterfinals.

On the women’s side, there was no doubt who was Southern New England Golfer’s Rhode Island Female Player-ofthe-Year for 2011. That honor went to North Kingstown’s Samantha Morrell for the second year in a row.

Morrell was a runaway choice after winning both the RIWGA State Amateur Championship and the Ocean State Women’s Golf Association State Amateur title.

By winning those two titles in the same year, Morrell added her name to the very short list of golfers who have accomplished that feat. The others are Katherine Murphy (2006 and 2009) and Becky Mailloux who did it in the late 1990s.

In addition, the number one player on the Old Dominion golf team won her first collegiate tournament in the fall when she finished first in the 20-team Lady Pirate Invitational in Georgia. She finished the event with a 4-under 212 total after rounds of 71,70 and 71.

“That was my first collegiate win. I was so excited. I’ve been second so many times,” said Morrell.

Ironically, Morrell beat out fellow Rhode Islander Juliet Vongphoumy by one stroke for the title. Vongphoumy, who starred at LaSalle, now plays for the University of Maryland, which won the team title in that event.

“It was a shotgun start in the final round and I birdied my last hole (11th) and that got me the win,” said Morrell. “I really putted well. I didn’t have any three putts on any hole in the three rounds.

My short game and putting has been my biggest improvement. When I’m putting I now keep my head down for five seconds after putting the ball. My assistant coach (Kristin Simpson) suggested that and it has worked.”

The 21-year-old Morrell says her goal for 2012 is to qualify for the women’s NCAA Division One Regionals.

2011 saw another honor for Valley’s Dr. George Pirie. He earned the RIGA Senior Player-of-the-Year award. A member of the RIGA Hall of Fame since 2007, Pirie won the senior division of the Stroke Play Championship, finished second in both the Senior Division of the Burke and Mid Amateur and also finished second in the Senior Four Ball and 4th in the Senior Amateur.

Ever the competitor, Pirie placed in the top 10 in nearly every tournament he played in and wound up with 810 Senior Player-of-the-Year points.

Pirie said he had two goals for 2011: to be the Senior Player-of-the-Year and to capture another club championship at Valley. He did both, winning the club title by a whopping 9 and 8 margin.

The 66-year-old Morin, a terrific amateur golfer years ago, has retired from his post as Workers’ Compensation Court Judge.

Morin told the Providence Journal that he thought 41 years of working was enough.

He was named to the court in 1991 by then governor Bruce Sundlun.

Morin said his only immediate plans were to play more golf and spend time with his family.

During his top playing days in the 1960s and 70s, Morin was two-time State Junior Amateur Champion in 1962 and 1963, reached the final of the 1962 State Amateur Championship but lost 1-up to Ronnie Quinn, won the 1966 State 4-Ball title with Ed Perry and won the 1972 Mixed Foursome crown with Judy Whalon.

The Rhode Island entry into the 2011 USGA Women’s State Team Championship finished 46th out of 51 entries at the Landings Club in Savannah, Ga. Judy Davis of Rumford was the low scorer for Rhode Island with a three round

By BOB DICK

Southern New England Golfer’s Rhode Island Female Player-ofthe-Year, Samantha Morrell score of 271. Next came Marisa White at 274 and Kibbe Reilly at 277. Georgia won the team title. Connecticut finished tied for 14th and Massachusetts ended up 23rd.

Famed local amateur standout, Charlie Blanchard, is getting ready for his first spring season as head coach of the Bryant University Men’s Golf team. Blanchard replaced the legendary Archie Boulet last fall when Boulet retired.

Although he has been an assistant coach for the men’s lacrosse team at Bryant, this is the first time Blanchard has been in charge of a program.

“It was a learning curve for me getting use to golf as a team sport,” said Blanchard.

“We’re trying to get better a little at a time.

I found it more demanding than I thought it would be. It was more time consuming than I thought. I got into it late, trying to find players on short notice for this year, so it has been challenging.”

Bryant played in four events last fall and won the Division One title at the New England Tournament on Cape Cod. “I told my players, I didn’t care what they shot just play hard, keep grinding and not quit out there. That’s what will make me happy,” Blanchard said.

We should be seeing more of Bruce Morin in RIGA tournaments this summer.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

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By DAVE ADAMONIS, JR

PEOPLE IN GOLF

Elation, Frustration for New England Pro Contingent

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ear after year, more and more talented New England players chase their golfing dreams, with hopes of establishing playing privileges at the Nationwide or PGA Tour level. The 2011 season and subsequent PGA Qualifying School enhanced many of our players’ dreams, but dashed an even larger group.

Here is a recap of how our contingent fared and their plans for 2012.

Brad Adamonis, Cumberland, RI The 39-year-old Adamonis showed signs his game was returning to top form during the middle of the 2011 Nationwide Tour season, but a wrist injury (which he tried to play through) stunted his run of earning playing status for 2012. With a return to the dreaded PGA Tour School in order, an orthopedic doctor informed Adamonis he had injured the ligaments in his wrist and needed to wear a cast for six

weeks. The 15-year veteran relented for 10 days and entered the second stage of QSchool with little preparation. Amazingly, Adamonis fired rounds of 66-67-70-72 to post a 9-under par total and advance to the final stage by one stroke. At the final stage, after opening with a 1-over par 73 which left him tied for 137th, the former Miami of Ohio star rallied over the next three rounds (72-66-72) to move inside the necessary number to earn a PGA Tour card (tied for 21st through four rounds).

After a 1-over par fifth round, Adamonis fought gamely throughout the final round to earn his card by playing holes 7 though 12 at 4-under par (to move within 1stroke of the number), but two untimely bogies left him tied for 38th earning priority status on the Nationwide Tour in 2012. With priority status Adamonis is fully exempt into the first ten tournaments before he faces a reshuffle based on the money earned in those events.

“I have mixed emotions about Q-School this year,” stated the former PGA Tour member. “Obviously to come so close to earning my PGA Tour privileges back is deflating, but I hung in there all week.

Entering Q-School I had very limited status on the Nationwide Tour. I probably would have only been guaranteed a few starts max, so I am pleased with my effort.

If I can play at the level I exhibited this week I should have a great opportunity to finish in the Top 25 on the money list and a earn a card for 2013.”

Billy Andrade, Bristol, RI I had the good fortune to speak with Billy on several occasions last summer, as he was a frequent spectator at his son Cameron’s tournaments on the Challenge Cup circuit. Once again Billy has committed to several events as a broadcaster for the Golf Channel in 2012. He will don the spikes, competing in a handful of PGA Tour events as well. Ultimately, Billy is preparing himself for a prosperous career on the Champions Tour in 2014 when he turns 50. In the meantime, he is enjoying this time with his family. He feels fortunate to have been a part of the improvement of his son Cameron’s golf game.

“In 2009 I witnessed Cameron make his first hole-in-one on the 14th hole at Crystal Lake G.C. in the Gately Cup. I have been able to watch him play in numerous tournaments. It has been a lot of fun. I wouldn’t trade the past few years for anything,” said dad.

Keegan Bradley, Hopkinton, MA The past two years yours truly has been spot on in evaluating Bradley’s game.

In 2010 I forecasted Bradley would finish Top 25 on the Nationwide Tour Money List to earn his PGA Tour card.

He finished 14th...check. In 2011, I annointed him the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year before the season started. It could have been argued he was the Player of the Year as well, winning both awards.... check. While I did not envision Bradley winning a major in 2011, I certainly believed he had the tools to win (as he did at the HP Byron Nelson Championship).

He absolutely kills it off the tee and he is an excellent putter. Hmmmm.....that 10

sounds like the recipe to wear a “Green Jacket.” Well maybe that is too much to ask for him in his first trip around “Amen Corner,” but who thought he would have won the PGA Championship in his first attempt at a major. The sky is the limit for this bomber.....and you got to love his emotion. Enjoy the ride New Englandas!

James Driscoll, Brookline, MA The Charles River C.C. standout sewed up a 2012 PGA Tour card by virtue of a tie for 12th at the PGA Tour’s season ending Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic. Driscoll finished 114th on the money list, earning $741,010.

He posted his best finish at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut, where he fired a 16-under par total to finish alone in 5th place. The former University of Virginia star will be playing his 7th full season on the PGA Tour. His career has included two play-off losses. In 2012, this scribe believes Driscoll will become the next New England golfer to win on the PGA Tour.

Kyle Gallo, Kensington, CT A former Nationwide Tour member, Gallo has been a dominant force on the New England professional golf scene the past fours years, most recently winning the 2011 Massachusetts Open. At the recent MGA awards banquet Gallo indicated his journey as a professional golfer may be over. The former Central Connecticut ace has an excellent opportunity working in the “real world,” one that will be tough to pass up. The departure from the professional ranks by Brent Wanner in 2008 and potentially Gallo is an indicator of how difficult the life of a professional golfer can be. Many of these talented players have to walk away from the game they love because of the lack of financial resources. PGA champion Keegan Bradley often tells the story how he was down to his last $1,500 and he won a Hooters event to keep his dream alive. Average expenses for players playing a 25 tournament schedule on the following tours are: Hooters Tour $50,000, Nationwide Tour $60,000 - $75,000, and PGA Tour $100,000 $125,000. While players can find ways to lighten the financial burden some weeks,

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

PEOPLE IN GOLF Qualifying School. It is this scribe’s belief his accomplishment is the most difficult to conquer in all of golf. A story on P.H. and Patrick Sheehan can be found on page 3.

Rob Oppenheim, Andover, MA

Adamonis showed signs his game was returning to top form during the middle of the 2011 Nationwide Tour season, but a wrist injury stunted his run of earning playing status for 2012.

The former Rollins College ace has been one of the most consistent performers on the Nationwide Tour the last two years.

Oppenheim has finished 43rd and 44th on the money list the past two seasons earning fully exempt status for the 2012 season on the Nationwide Tour. At Q-School he could only improve his status. On the final day he roared into contention only to fall two strokes shy of earning a PGA Tour card (just like Adamonis). The two-time Massachusettts Open champion certainly has the skill set to have a long career as a PGA Tour player. A win in 2012, or a ticket to the Big Show via the Top 25 on the money list are well within reach.

Brett Quigley, Barrington, RI

Based on his immense talent Renner is among the favorites to earn a PGA Tour card by finishing in the Top 25 on the money list. these expenses do not include their annual living expenses, thus one can see the plight of the Wanners and Gallos.

P.H. Horgan, Newport, RI P.H. was one of only five players to earn full status at this year’s Champions Tour

The Quigley family endured a nightmarish 2011. Brett, a 16-year veteran of the PGA Tour, lost his card in 2010 meaning he was relegated to playing roughly 10 events on the PGA Tour, while maintaining full Nationwide Tour status in 2011. A mysterious illness plagued Quigley for most of the season limiting him to 10 PGA starts and 1 Nationwide appearance. The illness made it extremely difficult for Quigley to play, never mind compete against the game’s best competition. The former University of South Carolina star experienced debilitating pain throughout his left side.

Recently, Quigley was diagnosed with a form of compartment syndrome, a serious condition that involves increased pressure in a muscle compartment. It can lead to muscle and nerve damage and problems with blood flow. He has seen numerous doctors around the country to discuss his illness. An invasive surgery is the most radical option. Right now he is seeking alternative options to deal with his condition. Assuming Brett is able to compete, he will have almost the same

status he had in 2011. A start at the PGA Tour’s Humana Challenge (January 1922) is a possibility, as they are one of his sponsors.

If that was not enough for one family, the ultimate blow came on December 1st, when Brett’s cousin and part-time caddy Devon was critically injured in a horrific car accident. Devon sustained significant brain trauma from the accident. The road to recovery for Devon looks like a long one, but the Quigleys have incredible faith and perseverance. I know I speak for the entire golfing community in wishing Brett and Devon a return to the links in 2012.

Fran Quinn Jr., Holden, MA Quinn is a member of the most recognized golf family in the history of Massachusetts. Along with his brothers Kevin (an amateur) and Brian, all three brothers have posted Mass Open victories.

Sadly, their father (an accomplished golfer as well) recently lost a year-and-one-half battle with pancreatic cancer. Much like Quigley, Fran Jr. experienced a difficult 2011. While his dad was battling cancer, the former Holy Cross standout was on the IR with a stress fracture in his back.

In 2012 Fran still has five events left on his major medical extension. He’ll be thinking of his father when he returns to the PGA Tour next month at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. “It will be emotional,” Fran Jr. said. “I know he’ll be looking down on me with a big smile. He’ll tell me to try as hard as I can and not to leave anything on the table and that he loves me.”

Jim Renner, Plainville, MA Despite achieving his life long goal of earning a PGA Tour card at the 2010 QSchool, Renner fought an uphill battle the entire 2011 season finishing 155th on the money list to lose his PGA Tour card.

Based on his finish at the 2010 Q-School, the former Johnson & Wales sensation saw limited action in the first third of the season. Often times he would learn he was in a tournament the afternoon before an

event began. Understandably he struggled through the first part of the season. When Jim finally had an opportunity to play on a weekly basis he flashed moments of brilliance posting two top 5 finishes (a tie for 4th at the Viking Classic and a solo 5th at the Reno Tahoe Open). A return to QSchool resulted in Renner earning priority status on the Nationwide Tour in 2012.

Based on his immense talent Renner is among the favorites to earn a PGA Tour card by finishing in the Top 25 on the money list.

Patrick Sheehan, Warwick, RI Facing a possibility of having no tour to play on, Sheehan played brilliant golf over the final two rounds going from golfing oblivion to earning a PGA Tour card. By virtue of final rounds of 66-67 Sheehan finished tied for 18th to earn a return to the Big Show. A story on him can be found on page 3.

Geoff Sisk, Marshfield, MA Once deemed the “King of New England” for his dominance on the New England pro circuit (6 Mass Opens titles for starters), Sisk reeled off three solid seasons on the Nationwide Tour from 2008 to 2010. He just missed winning two tournaments during that period which would have earned him a PGA Tour card.

After knocking on the door three straight years it was thought Sisk would be a prime candidate to break through in 2011.

Despite Sisk’s best ball striking season ever, Sisk struggled mightily with the flat stick finishing 108th on the money list meaning a successful trip to Q-School was his only option to gain playing status. Surprisingly the 46-year old passed on Q-School.

“It was a strange year,” stated the Tour’s leader in driving accuracy. “I hit the ball the best I ever have, but I was extremely frustrated with my putting.” Despite having no status on either tour Sisk will begin the season chasing Monday qualifiers on both tours. It would come of no surprise if the Bay Stater pulled a Rich Beem and won a tournament as a Monday Qualifier.

Beginning March 17th, listen to the Golf Radio Show every Saturday at 7 a.m. on WEEI. If you miss the show you can listen to the podcast at www.snegolfer.com/radioshow.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

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ByRUSS HELD

WESTERN MASS NOTEBOOK

Richy (left) and Micky Werenski Werenski Boys Rising to the Top The home of the top golfer from Western Massachusetts in 2011 was easy to find. From there, the search got tougher.

The Werenski brothers of South Hadley each fashioned two terrific amateur golf seasons last year and it may be pretty difficult to choose who was the best golfer

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in his own house. Unless you ask Mickey Werenski, 17.

“It’s Richy . . . right now,’’ Mickey said of his older brother.

And Richy Werenski, 20, is enjoying it while it lasts.

“I win most of the them, but Mickey is getting better, he gets me on occasion,’’ Richy said of matches between the two.

“He’s hitting it as far as me now, which is ridiculous.’’

Ridiculous is Richy starring as a junior at Georgia Tech, a perennial top-5 ranked team in Division I and Mickey making a verbal commitment to Texas A&M for the Fall of 2014.

Richy’s 2011 resume included a great summer run of consecutive runnerup finishes at the Southern Amateur at Palm Harbor, Fla., the New England Amateur at Metacomet Country Club in East Providence, R.I., and the Northern Amateur at Chesterton, Ind. “The Southern Amateur was the biggest and the more times I put myself in position to win, to be in the final group . . . it makes you a much better player,’’ Richy said.

The plus-4.5 handicapper ended the calendar year with a seventh place finish, with Mickey as his caddie, at the Patriot All-American Invitational at Scottsdale, Ariz. His spring collegiate season includes trips to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Florida and California.

His early January Golfweek Amateur golf ranking was No. 73 in the world and

No. 32 in the U.S. Mickey is gaining fast as a high school junior at Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy in Hilton Head Island, S.C. Mickey said one of his biggest accomplishments in golf last year came off the course, when he accepted a Division I scholarship offer from Texas A&M, which will be moving to the Southeastern Conference.

“It was such a relief,’’ said Werenski, the International Junior Golf Tour’s Player of the Year for 2009-10. “All the pressure was off, I could just play and have fun and not worry where I’d be in two years.’’

Mickey said his biggest victory of the season came last fall when he won an IJGT event at Falcons Fire in Orlando.

The win ended a month-long stretch in which Werenski said he struggled.

“Any win comes at the right time, but this one really came at the right time,’’ Mickey said.

He capped the year with a 27th place finish (12th among Americans) against a field of 200 at the Doral Publix in Miami.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

WESTERN MASS NOTEBOOK Mickey said a rapid growth spurt saw him grow 10 or 11 inches in one year, but it also left him in a tough predicament.

“A lot of days, it hurts to swing . . .

I think my body is catching up,’’ said Mickey, who is now 6 feet 3. “I weigh 170 pounds and was 155 about a month ago. I’ve been working out a lot, to get my weight up.’’

Mickey was heading to Arizona in late January to play in the Golfweek West Coast Invitiational, where he finished fifth last year. He is also entered in the Junior Heritage at Harbour Town.

“They are probably two of the biggest tournaments I will play in this year,’’ Mickey said.

Last summer, he was eighth in stroke play qualifying at the Massachusetts Amateur, reaching the Round of 16.

He also finished fourth at the Ouimet Memorial Invitational.

With school and other travel commitments, the brothers play golf together only a handful of times each year. And when they do, Richy gets the upperhand . . . “right now.’’

GIRL TALK East Longmeadow High School student Lana O’Connor left no doubt that she enjoyed one of the best seasons among female golfers in the region.

The current senior won the Western Mass. Girls Individual championship, firing a 2-over-par 74 at Veterans G.C. in Springfield in October.

She finished fifth at the high school girls state championships at Crestview C.C. in Agawam in May, and had a Top 20 finish at the New Englands at Bretwood (N.H.) G.C. in June. She added her fifth age division title at The Republican Junior at Franconia and Veterans golf courses in August.

O’Connor, a captain on the Spartans’ high school boys team, helped the team qualify for the Division I state championships. She finished her Christmas break undecided about her college plans.

ON COURSE Country Club of Greenfield is recovering from an early morning fire

on Oct.22 that destroyed its century-old clubhouse. The club, which was founded in 1896, re-opened for play the following week, but will operate with temporary facilities in 2012 as a new clubhouse/pro shop is built . . . The new year began with a degree of uncertainty at local courses such as Hampden Country Club, Hickory Ridge C.C. in Amherst, Holyoke C.C., Northampton C.C. and Crestview C.C. in Agawam. A number of clubs were either up for sale, facing foreclosure auction, had recent changes in ownership or faced general uncertainty about their long-term futures . . . After more than a decade of delays and failed business ventures, Cold Spring Country Club on Route 21 in Belchertown is being advertised for a June opening.

WESTERN FRONT Western Massachusetts will be home to the New England Junior Amateur Championship. Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown will host the invitational on Aug. 12-14 . . . C.C. of Greenfield will host

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

By RUSS HELD

the lone Massachusetts Golf Association championship in the region — the Senior Four-Ball Championship May 22-23 . . .

The Western New England Golf Expo is planned for Feb. 25-26 at Holyoke Mall at Ingleside, off Route 91.

AIR WAVES The Western Mass. Golf Radio Show on WEEI 105.5 FM is scheduled to open for the season March 17. The show, with hosts Jay Nomakeo, Steve Magargal and Russ Held, will air Saturday mornings from 7-8. The “Off-Season,’’ which often includes a golf-related theme, airs yearround on the station, from 8-9 a.m. on Saturdays. . . Springfield’s ESPN affiliate WHLL 1450 AM is expected to resume its weekly golf show, Friday’s from 4-5 p.m., in April.

Russ Held is the long-time golf writer for The Republican in Springfield and is co-host of the Western Mass. Golf Show on WEEI.

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By DAVE ADAMONIS, JR Khang, Barrett Claim Challenge Cup Player of the Year Titles

Rockland, Massachusetts phenom Megan Khang claimed her record third consecutive Spinal Technology Girls Challenge Cup Player of the Year title, but had to work a little harder this season to earn the honor. BC bound Izzy Southard and Maryland freshman Juliet Vongphoumy threatened Khang through the middle of the summer each posting two wins, but Khang was a model of consistency winning 6 tournaments on the Challenge Cup circuit and 9 tournaments overall. The 13-year-old once again created quite a buzz at the U.S. Girls Junior Amateur, where she finished tied for 7th in the medal play portion of the tournament before losing a thriller in the Round of 32 in match play. The highlight of her campaign came at the 28th annual Scott Robertson Memorial in Roanoke, VA. Khang, who has become New England’s top junior prospect under the tutelage of her father Lee Khang, fired rounds of 73-73-69 to win the Girls 14 & Under title.

JUNIOR GOLF Keene, New Hampshire’s Chelso Barrett became the first player from the “Granite State” to earn the Spinal Technology Boys Challenge Cup Player of the Year. Like Khang, Barrett was amazingly consistent throughout the season. During the season Barrett and BC commit Nicholas Pandelena traded wins, all but insuring a fall finish, but Barrett changed all that in mid-July at the USGA Junior Championship. The high school junior, who has already given a verbal commitment to TCU, easily qualified for match play and made an incredible run to the finals. In the finals Barrett lost (for the second consecutive year) to man-child Jordan Spieth 6 & 5. Despite losing in the finals, his performance at the U.S. Junior gave Barrett a sizable lead in the POTY race.

He locked up the honor in the inaugural Granite State Junior Championship at his home course winning a dramatic play-off with Makenzie Denver. In addition to winning the Challenge Cup’s Player of the Year award, Chelso also took home the MGA’s Christopher Cutler Junior Player of the Year award.

Pandelena, Southard BC Bound

Once again Boston College coaches Trevor Drumm and Bill Poutre have landed the top boys and girls recruit from the New England. Atkinson, New Hampshire’s Nicholas Pandelena and Sharon, Massachusetts star Izzy Southard signed national letters of intent in November to attend the Heights. The Eagles were not finished though, as West Hartford, Connecticut resident and Connecticut Junior Amateur runner-up Brian Butler committed to the Eagles as well. Other players signing National Letters of Intent included: Nick Celestino and Nick Fairweather (URI); John Flaherty and Zach Zaback (University of Connecticut); Chris Houston and Geoff Vartelas (Penn State); Connor Murphy (Central Connecticut State); Nick McLaughlin (University of Virginia); Seth Sweet (Old Dominion); and Patrick O’Leary (University of Pennsylvania).

Three players from the class of 2013 have made verbal commitments. They include: Challenge Cup Player of the Year Chelso Barrett (TCU); Greenwich, Connecticut’s Danny Guise (Wake Forest); and Bridgewater, Connecticut ace Mia Landegren (University of Denver).

Team New England Stuns Team Florida in Adamonis Sr. Matches at Doral

Team New England posted a dramatic 18 1⁄2 to 17 1⁄2 victory over Team Florida in the 24th annual Dave Adamonis Sr. Challenge Cup Matches at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa just before Christmas.

Danny Guise and Ben Balter (playing in the final group) won the clinching point on the final hole of the final match. The team of Joe Leavitt and Connor Greenleaf also played a huge role, as they earned 5 1⁄2 of the 6 points in their match. The annual competition pits the top 12 golfers from the Challenge Cup against a group of Florida’s finest. The victory was only the third for Team New England in the 24 year history of the event. This year’s team was captained by Steve Feinstein and Joe Guise. Over the years PGA Tour players Brad Adamonis, James Driscoll, Sean O’Hair, Jim Renner and Nicholas Thompson have competed in this competition. The competition takes place the day prior to the Doral Publix Junior Classic, a tournament in which all of the members from both teams compete in.

The Doral Publix Junior Classic is one of the top international junior competitions in all of junior golf. Danny

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Guise continued his impressive play in the tournament proper firing rounds of 75-7472 to finish with a 5-over par total tied for 8th place (the low American). In the Boys 10-11 Division, cross-handed phenom Patrick Welch double-bogeyed the final hole to lose in heart-breaking fashion by 1-stroke. Welch carded rounds of 75-76 for a 7-over par 151 total. A total of 22 Challenge Cup players and 654 players from throughout the world participated in six age/gender divisions at this year’s tournament.

2012 Dave Adamonis Sr. Challenge Cup Matches Team New England French – Collopy Flaherty – Butler Reilly – Steele Carlson – Shuman Leavitt – Greenleaf Balter – Guise Total

Pts 1 1 3 3 5.5 5 18.5

Team Florida Diaz – Morantes Yumar – Donegan Kuehler – Chambers DeRoche – Cabanas Echhardt – Fratini Ines – Leon Total

Pts 5 5 3 3 .5 1 17.5

Visit to Eisenhower Red Highlights Spring Calendar

The Challenge Cup season will tee off on March 24th with the increasingly popular Junior Match Play Championship. A field of 180 entrants will attempt to qualify for 52 match play spots, competing in four age divisions at three golf courses. The tournament will continue under a match play format the following three weekends.

In the month of April, the Challenge Cup will conduct 16 days of tournament golf.

The following month, players will have the opportunity to compete in two of the organization’s premiere competitions: the Long Island Junior Classic and the Spinal Technology Junior Classic. The LIJC will be contested at the famed Eisenhower Red Course in East Meadow, New York. Two weeks later the Challenge Cup will make a return to the highly acclaimed Old Marsh C.C. in Wells, Maine.

For a full listing of the Challenge Cup schedule and a comprehensive listing of junior golf competitions in the Northeast corridor one can visit the Challenge Cup website at www.uschallengecup.org.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

JUNIOR GOLF Challenge Cup past and present, Chelso Barrett, Ryan Riley and Ryan Gay Mia Landegren, Megan Khang and Vinh Hoa-Ngo

Devon Quigley Updates on the Web

On December 1st Devon Quigley, a former URI golf team standout, was critically injured in a horrific car accident. The son of Champions Tour star Dana Quigley sustained significant brain trauma from the accident. The road to recovery for Devon is expected to be a long and difficult one. The Quigley family has setup a webpage www.caringbridge.org/visit/devonquigley, which updates Devon’s status on a daily basis. The support the family has received through the message board on the website and beyond has been amazing. A couple of weeks ago Tiger Woods sent a letter of encouragement to Devon and his family. On behalf of the Southern New England Golfer staff our daily thoughts and prayers are with the Quigley family.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

Pennbound Patrick O’Leary

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By BILL DOYLE

CENTRAL MASS GOLF NOTEBOOK

Nelson, Vana & Ruschioni Named Central Mass. Players of Year

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entral Massachusetts golfers enjoyed another great year in 2011, nearly sweeping the men’s, women’s and senior state amateur championships.

A few months after graduating from Holy Name High School in Worcester, Katie Nelson, 18, of Auburn won the Women’s Golf Association of Massachusetts Amateur championship at Weston Golf Club. At age 63, Jim Ruschioni of Monoosnock C.C. in Leominster captured the Massachusetts Senior Amateur championship at Black Rock C.C. in Hingham for his record 13th Massachusetts Golf Association title.

Frank Vana Jr. of Marlboro C.C. almost won his third Massachusetts Amateur championship, losing to Ryan Riley of Norton C.C. in the 36-hole final, 4 and 3, at Wyantenuck C.C. in Great Barrington.

Riley, by the way, grew up in Central Mass. in Sutton.

The golf team at St. John’s High School of Shrewsbury won its sixth Division 1 state championship, defeating defending state champion St. John’s Prep of Danvers by five shots at Glen Ellen C.C. in Millis.

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Yes, 2011 was quite a memorable year for Central Mass. golfers. Then again, most years are. Central Mass. golfers annually rank among the best in the state.

Southern New England Golfer has selected Vana, Nelson, and Ruschioni as its Central Massachusetts male, female and senior players of the year for 2011.

The magazine has also picked the St. John’s High Pioneers as its juniors of the year.

Nelson became the first golfer from Central Mass. to win the WGAM Amateur since Laura Torrisi of Lunenburg did in 2001. “This was definitely my biggest golf moment,” she said after winning. “I haven’t played great in other tournaments.

Partly, it was because of my mental game, but this week everything just clicked. I knew I was close to putting it all together.”

Nelson parred 13, then birdied 14, 15 and 17 and parred 18 to rally from four down with six holes to play and beat Tracy Martin of Butter Brook in Westford, 1 up, in the final.

“It’s a great feeling to win, especially coming from behind,” Nelson said. “I really wanted to win this tournament.

All my matches, I came from behind, but each round I had a few shots that really got me back into the match and gave me my confidence back.”

Nelson, who was the only girl on the Holy Name golf team, plays out of Cyprian Keyes G.C. in Boylston and is a freshman at Siena College.

Nelson beat 2009 champion Mary Chamberlain, 1 up, in the semifinals.

Martin beat Mary Gale of Bedrock G.C., 5 and 4, in the other semifinal. Nelson’s instructor at Cyprian Keyes, Jack Gale, is married to Mary Gale.

Ruschioni carded six birdies, including five in a row, during an opening-round 4-under 67, then finished with a 74 to beat Don Keycroft of LeBaron Hills C.C. by three shots at Black Rock. “This was completely unexpected,” Ruschioni said.

“I will cherish this one. I figured that my time was done.”

Ruschioni finished second to Andy Congdon in George M. Cohen MGA Senior Player of the Year points.

Vana, a nine-time MGA Player of the Year winner, finished third in Richard

Jim Ruschioni of Monoosnock C.C. Haskell MGA Player of the Year points in 2011. Riley won Player of the Year.

In addition to placing second in the Mass. Amateur, Vana lost in a playoff in the Western Mass. Amateur, was fourth in the Worcester County Amateur, fifth in the Mass. Mid Amateur and the Tarlow Invitational, and tied for seventh in the Hornblower and the Ouimet Memorial.

Junior Keegan Lavin shot a career-best 1-under 71 in a steady downpour to share medalist honors in the Division 1 state championship and lead St. John’s High to the state team title. The Pioneers’ top four golfers took 302 strokes, five less than St. John’s Prep. Nick Pandelena of St. John’s Prep parred the first playoff hole to beat Lavin and Joe Leavitt of Lawrence Central Catholic for the individual title. Junior Thomas Henderson (75), sophomore Dan Woodbury (76) and juniors Nick DiReda (80), Joe Plante (80) and Dan Lynch (81) also played well for St. John’s.

All six will return to play this fall.

“It’s amazing,” Lavin said. “We have a very young team, and here we are in the rain winning at states. Incredible.”

In October, Worcester native and longtime member Regan Remillard agreed to purchase Mount Pleasant C.C. Club members have owned Mount Pleasant since it opened in Leicester and moved to Boylston in 1956.

Sadly, on Oct. 10, Dave Comee, superintendent at the Winchendon School Golf Club for 32 years, died at age 60 after being stricken ill while biking up Mount Wachusett in Princeton with his wife Kathy. Comee won the Winchendon club championship in 2008 and 2009.

The 2012 MGA schedule begins with the return of the Massachusetts Four-Ball Championship to Stow Acres C.C. on May 7-8. Stow has hosted the event nine times, the most by any club, most recently in 2004.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLF

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By JAY NOMAKEO

Radio Golf Shows to Restart March 17

olfers throughout Southern New England will get a chance to tune in to The Golf Show on sports radio WEEI beginning March 17 in the Springfield, Worcester and Providence markets. Each show is tailored to the particular areas and our pro segment is heard in all three markets.

Last year we added the Worcester and Providence markets to our other shows in Springfield. We are entering our third year in Springfield on WEEI 105.5 FM at 7a.m. As the host of all three shows my goal was to bring out the experts and those that have a passion for the game. I am joined in Springfield by Steve Magargal the “mayor of golf ’ who is the best golfer of the group and course record holder at several courses. Steve knows everyone in the business and last year hosted a segment on television for a local cable television station reporting on the Mass.

Open. Russ Held is a sports writer for the Republican and has a weekly column read by thousands of golfers. Since his debut on the Golf Show, Russ has had other opportunities in radio and hosts a sports

show on another station. Russ also can be heard online broadcasting local high school sports.

Our Central Mass Golf Show can also be heard at 7 a.m. when I am joined by Steve Magargal and Bill Doyle. Close to a dozen courses supported the show in its first year with Shining Rock Golf Club as the main sponsor. Shining Rock holds the distinction as the last course to open in Massachusetts, but will lose that title this year with the opening of Cold Springs C.C. in Belchertown. Cold Springs C.C. is located between Worcester and Springfield and they will be looking for golfers in each market. Bill Doyle has been the golf writer in central Mass. for over twenty years and we rely on his years of experience to guide the show. I have the moniker of “the golf ball wacker guy” and Steve Magargal is known as the “mayor of golf ” and we are looking for a title for Bill Doyle. If you have any suggestions just email them to snjnom@comcast.net. We received a few after our last show and we will talk about it on our first show on March 17 on WEEI 1440 AM.

By the time we went on air last year in Providence we had just filled our final spot on the show with the addition of Dave Adamonis Jr., Executive Director of the Challenge Cup. Dave joined myself and 20-year print media veteran Bruce Vittner to form the nucleus of the greater Rhode Island Show. The show can be heard at 7 a.m. on WEEI 103.7 and is one of the largest stations in New England in terms of reach. With two rookies in the booth it did not take long for my partners to feel comfortable with the format. From time to time we added guest hosts and the show took off when Dave Adamonis Jr. decided to take over the reigns of booking guests.

As the Executive Director of the Challenge Cup, a series of junior tournaments with some of the best young golfers in New England, Dave saw the likes of Keegan Bradley, Jim Renner and James Driscoll come through his program. All three play on the PGA Tour. Keegan Bradley joined us three times last year on the show, once before he won, right after he won his first tournament and after the PGA

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

Championship. One of the best sound bites of the season was when Keegan came on the air after his PGA Championship and told the listeners of the show that when he left the golf course after winning the PGA he asked his mom to stop at a gas station to get some beer to take back to the house. Keegan says after riding around for more than a half an hour and finding all the stores closed he went back to the house and had a bowl of cereal and stared at the trophy for four hours.

For those looking for advertising opportunities, Southern New England Golfer has more to offer than most golf magazines. We package radio, print and email marketing and target golfers to give advertisers the best value. What separates us from the competition is that we get better results because of our large audience and database and we are able to reach several markets with one product.

Join us March 17th at 7 a.m. on sports radio WEEI 103.7 for another great season.

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By BOB DICESARE Ryan Riley is MGA Player of the Year

Ryan Riley of Norton Country Club has always thrived under pressure and performed well on a golf course, and he has the resume to prove it.

For the 2011 golf season, however, Riley made some adjustments. He started a new job, moved to a new home in Easton, and spent more quality time with his wife and kids and less time on the practice range.

So, what happened? Riley became the only golfer to capture two major Massachusetts Golf Association championships in one season, the Mass.

Four-Ball and the Mass. Amateur, en route to earning the Richard D. Haskell Award as the MGA Player of the Year.

The 30-year-old Riley earned 732 points overall to edge his good friend and Four-Ball partner, Herbie Aikens, to become the 21st golfer to win this prestigious honor since it was introduced in 1976.

“Winning the Mass. Amateur was the highlight of my summer, and earning this

EASTERN MASS NOTEBOOK Ryan Riley

award is like a dream,” Riley said at the MGA Salute to Champions Dinner in January. “The list of names who have won this award is littered with PGA pros and college stars, and to be in such company is an honor.”

“At the beginning, I made a concerted effort to put less pressure on myself in 2011,” added Riley. “I am getting to the point in my life where I don’t have as much time to put into practicing. But after a while, I noticed that my game was still holding up and I was having the kind of consistency needed to have good results.”

The Mass. Amateur at Wyantenuck C.C. in Great Barrington started out as a family vacation in the Berkshires and soon evolved into a historic event. In the 36-

hole match play final, Riley defeated ninetime MGA Player of the Year, Frank Vana Jr., 4 & 3, as he carded 10 birdies over 33 holes, including holing out for birdie from the front right bunker on the 33rd hole to clinch the match.

“The thought of actually winning the Massachusetts Amateur Championship never crossed my mind,” said Riley. “You don’t go there and expect to win – not with that great field. It’s not often that you beat Mr. Massachusetts (Vana) in golf, but you might as well beat the best to be the best.

It definitely made it more special.”

In addition to triumphs at the Mass.

Amateur and Mass. Four-Ball, which also happened to be his third straight title with Aikens in that event, Riley had a stellar string of top finishes. He captured the Concord Invitational Four-Ball, placed second at the Worcester County Amateur, and was involved in a fourplayer playoff and tied for second at the Francis Ouimet Invitational. He tied for third at both the Mass. Public Links and Mass. Mid-Amateur and was a member of the victorious Team Massachusetts squad at the season-ending Tri-State Matches.

“I have so much respect for the quality of players in Massachusetts,” said Riley, who is also the golf coach at Norton High. “It is an honor competing with and against these guys and something that has been a culmination of a lot of hard work and perseverance. It’s the journey, not the destination. I am proof positive of that.”

Local Notes

There were several other state champions from the area recognized by the MGA. Veteran Ray Richard of Thorny Lea G.C. won his first-ever MGA title by pairing with Kevin Carey to win the Senior Four-Ball.

John and Mary Mulcahy of Hatherly C.C. in Scituate captured the junior division of the Father & Daughter tournament, while Brian and Patrick O’Leary of Ponkapoag G.C. took the junior division of the Father & Son tournament. Also, Mike Calef of Brockton C.C. won the Mid-Amateur Championship and Scott Congdon of Foxborough C.C. took the Public Links crown.

Liz LaVerghetta, a senior at Norton High School, has become a Class of 2012 Scholar of The First Tee of Massachusetts.

LaVerghetta, a junior member at MGA Links at Mamantapett in Norton, 18

now has the opportunity to apply for any educational scholarship programs offered through The First Tee to attend a participating college or university.

The First Tee Scholars program recognizes participants for exceptional achievement in academics, leadership, character development, and chapter and community involvement.

“Liz exemplifies what it means to be part of The First Tee,” said Joe McCabe, executive director of The First Tee. “She has made a real difference in our community.”

In addition to top grades at Norton High, the 17-year-old LaVerghetta is also a member of the school golf team and joined forces with another First Tee participant, Cora Bernier, to host a charity golf tournament benefitting the Norton-based Cupboard of Kindness Food Pantry.

In two years, the girls raised up to $3,000 in funds and an additional $1,000 in donated can goods for the local food pantry. As a result, LaVerghetta and Bernier represented The First Tee of Massachusetts at a leadership forum at Walt Disney World on Oct. 20-23.

Rob Bradley of Norton was named Director of Golf at Brockton Country Club. He replaces amateur Mike Calef, who moved to McKinney, Texas following his wife’s job promotion with Raytheon Corp. An NEPGA professional, Bradley was most recently a teaching pro at Golf Town in Avon since it opened last spring.

Before that, Bradley was an assistant pro under Tom Rooney at LeBaron Hills C.C. in Lakeville. He is the son of Bob Bradley, a longtime stalwart on the amateur scene.

Several Southeastern Mass. residents were elected officers with the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund in 2012 at its recent 63rd annual meeting. Terry Kennedy of Milton and Wollaston G.C. was elected vice president, Scott Adler of Sharon and Woodland G.C. was elected treasurer, and longtime executive director Bob Donovan of Milton and Wollaston G.C. will continue in the same capacity.

Bob DiCesare is the golf writer for The Brockton Enterprise and The Patriot Ledger of Quincy, and he’s also a member of the International Network of Golf and the Golf Travel Writers of America.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

GOLF COMMENTARY

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s much as we fellow New Englanders would like to anoint Keegan Bradley as the prince of professional golf, it might be a bit provincial to bestow such status on the native of the Green Mountain state, despite his selection as 2011 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year at a time when the Tour’s youngsters stood poised to take over the game.

Bradley, a rags-to-riches story in a year of fantastic tales, cemented the honor with Tour wins at the Byron Nelson Championship in a playoff with Ryan Palmer on May 20 and an amazing playoff win over Jason Dufner in the PGA Championship Aug. 12 in the 25-yearold’s first crack at a major. He also won in the so-called Silly Season, taking victories in the PGA Grand Slam contested by the year’s four major winners and a team win with his Tour pal Brendan Steele in the Franklin/Templeton Shootout.

Bradley played in 28 Tour events, making the cut 18 times with two wins, four top-10s and 12 top-25s. He won $3.75 million dollars, good for 13th on the money list. His world ranking of 31st should rise significantly when he plays more tournaments, assuming he can pick up where he left off last year. He was the surprise story of 2011.

There were those who felt Bradley should have been one of U.S. Presidents Cup captain Fred Couples wild-card choices, but it’s hard to criticize a winning captain whose team won on the road in Australia with captain’s pick Tiger Woods positing the winning point in the match.

Bradley heads into this year’s Ryder Cup tabulations on top of the two-year points tally.

Bradley, nephew of Westford, Ma. native Pat Bradley, a LPGA Hall of Famer, will be under close scrutiny this year, along with other youngsters who won in 2011 including Nick Watney, Gary Woodand, Webb Simpson, Bill Haas, Jhonattan Vegas, and Steele. Bradley finished second to Luke Donald in Player of the Year voting, but was delighted to get the rookie honor.

“I take tremendous pride in being from New England. It’s one of the things that defines me, I think as a player and as a person. I didn’t grow up like the kids in the south did. I mean, I ski-raced in the

By JOE GORDON

2011 Was Quite a Year winter. I had a long time off where I didn’t even hit balls and I think it paid off because I haven’t been playing as long as a 25-yearold from Florida. I guess I’m not burned out. It’s a tremendous amount of pride for me to be from Vermont and to be a PGA champion and to be able to say that there has not been a lot of us out here. But New England is a huge part of my personality and the way I even play golf.”

Bradley led a youthful group of Tour players 30-and-under in a veritable palace coup last year that is directly attributable to the deposed king of golf, Tiger Woods.

Woods, who turned 36 on Dec. 30, hasn’t won a Tour event since the 2009 BMW Championship, which came just three months before his family broke up when he was involved in a sex scandal. He also had to regain his form following major knee surgery.

Woods, who fell more than 50 spots from his long-time perch as the top-ranked player in the world, is currently ranked 23 after his December win in the non-Tour Chevron World Challenge. Ironically, it was the emergence of Woods 16 years ago as a super-athlete who mastered the golf swing that made golf a cool sport to play for the best athletes. Now there are a couple of dozen Woods clones who appear on the verge of taking over the game.

It’s hard to figure out why more wasn’t made of Donald’s 2011 feat of becoming the first player ever to lead the money lists on both the European and U.S. PGA Tours. He was a last-minute entrant into the PGA Tour’s Children’s Miracle Network Hospital Classic at the Disney complex in Buena Vista, Fla. He had looked at the money list and realized he had to come over from his native England and finish in the top two to beat Webb Simpson for the money title. He won.

Donald won $6.65 million on the U.S. Tour and 5.32 million Euros to lead the European Tour. This might be the most amazing statistic of 2011 – Donald played in 19 events on the U.S. Tour with 14 top-tens and he played 13 events on the European Tour with 10 top-10s for a total of 32 tournaments with 24 top-10s.

From the standpoint of human drama, two of Northern Ireland’s finest, Rory McIlroy, 22, and Darren Clarke, 43, posted the most compelling tournament wins of

2011. McIlroy won the U.S. Open and Clarke the British Open. The wins were of such magnitude that Queen Elizabeth II named Clarke an officer in the Order of the British Empire and McIlroy a member of the Order of the British Empire.

South African Charl Schwartzel, 26, became the first player in the history of the Masters to birdie the last four holes to win. Rory McIlroy had a major collapse on the back nine, but wise beyond his years, said all the right things at his press conference. What stood out the most was this comment – “This will not define my career.”

True to his words, McIlroy won the year’s second major, the U.S. Open, by eight shots at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md.. He was the first person who ever led the U.S. Open for 72 holes.

In 2006 Clarke’s world all but collapsed when Heather, his wife, succumbed to breast cancer in August after a long, courageous battle. Clarke, left with two small children, Tyrone and Conor, was devastated. He stayed at home for more than a month, mourning and trying to figure out the family’s next move.

Last summer, at the age of 42, Clarke, re-married and moving on with his life, became the most popular winner of the British Open in decades. His 68-68-6970-275 at Royal St. George’s netted him a three-stroke win over Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson and his first major championship.

“Being the Open champion just means the world to me,” said a tearful Clarke.

“In terms of what’s going through my heart, there’s obviously somebody who is watching down from up above there, and I know she’d be very proud of me. She’d probably be saying, I told you so. But I think she’d be more proud of my two boys and them at home watching more than anything else. It’s been a long journey to get here. As I say, I’m 42 and I’m not getting any younger.

“It may be the only major that I win, it may not be the only major that I win. But at least I’ve gone out there today and done my best, and my best was good enough to win. If I had come off and hadn’t won, I could still have said I did my best. I can’t ask for anything -- I ask my two boys to do

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

It was a year in which the unexpected became the norm.

There likely will be more of the same in 2012. their best and that’s what they do. I can’t ask them for any more, so I think their dad should try and do the same.”

Bill Haas won the pot of the year and the shot of the year on the same day, in the final round of the Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta. It was the finale of the four-tournament FedEx Cup playoff series with a $10-million dollar bonus going to the FedEx Cup winner and another $1.4 million to the winner of the Tour Championship.

Yani Tseng won was the LPGA Player of the Year for the second straight year, while Tom Lehman was named Champions Tour Player of the Year, becoming the first player ever to have won Player of the Year honors in all three tours operated by the PGA Tour – the Nationwide, PGA and Champions tours. Tseng won 12 tournaments around the world while Lehman had three victories on the Champions Tour.

It’s been a long time since Brad Faxon was a rookie, but the affable Rhode Islander was a rookie on the Champions Tour and won the Insperity Championship in October.

It was a year in which the unexpected became the norm. There likely will be more of the same in 2012.

Keegan Bradley is talented, but he’s got something many talented players don’t have – hunger. He grew up watching the hunger his aunt Pat Bradley displayed on the way to the Hall of Fame. That’s where he wants to go as well. Look for a big year from this young man, who is likely to represent the United States in the Ryder Cup matches at Medinah. The U.S. team should win this event.

New stars on the horizon? Bradley, Dustin Johnson, Webb Simpson, Rickie Fowler to name just a few Americans with Aussies Jason Day and Adam Scott in the mix.

Joe Gordon is the retired golf writer from the Boston Herald and a long-time member of the Golf Writers Assn. of America.

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YEAR IN REVIEW Matt Kuchar and Zach Johnson won the CVS Charity Classic.

Fredrik Jacobsen won the Travelers Championship in front of massive crowds.

Tiger got his first win in 22 months in California with a very small field.

What will 2012 bring?

Peter Uihlein of Massachusetts won the Northeast Amateur, played in the Walker Cup and recently announced that he will play on the European Tour in 2012.

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Webb Simpson won the Deutsche Bank Championship, played in the President’s Cup and finished fifth on the money list.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

YEAR IN REVIEW

Brad Faxon joined the Champions Tour in August and promptly won an event.

He has lifetime status on the Champions Tour.

New England’s Keegan Bradley won the PGA Championship, was the Tour’s Rookie of the Year, should have made the President’s Cup, threw out the first pitch at Fenway, did the coin toss at Gillette Stadium and recently dropped the puck at TD Garden. What does 2012 have in store for him?

Bobby Leopold of Cranston, RI made it to the round of 16 at the U.S. Amateur.

Bubba Watson gave us the best interview of 2011, although we guess that it didn’t go so well in France as he described the famous monuments

Luke Donald unbelievably won the money titles on both the PGA and European Tours, the first to ever accomplish that feat.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

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By KATHARINE DYSON

WOMEN’S GOLF

Bamboo, Raindrops, Mud? California spas get with the trends

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y cheerful therapist, Ruth, asks if there are any particular places I want her to work on.

“My shoulders, my back, my neck, my legs. And while you’re at it, my head,” I replied. After the long plane ride from the east coast in Riff Raft Class and a couple rounds of golf, we were talking tension big time.

I had booked a Bamboo Massage at The Spa at La Costa. I’d heard it was the hottest new treatment since Hot Stones with smooth bamboo rods heated and applied in extended Swedish massagelike strokes to your body. Heat was good, massage good. Perfect.

In a life of growing stress and flash mobs — funny when you think all these iPhones and other tech things are supposed to make life easier —according to The International Spa Association 57 million adults in the U.S. visit spas. Top reasons include relieving stress (47%), soothing sore joints and muscles (38%), feeling

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better (31%), and improving mental and emotional health (28%) and appearance (22%).

Instead of confabs over coffee, women are discussing the hottest stock tips while lounging on their towels in the steam room, going to the gym for Zumba and kickboxing classes and getting massages and facials.

Combining two passions, golf and spa, might be considered going over the top, but more and more resorts are adding or expanding their spa facilities. Take California’s La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad near San Diego and CordeValle south of San Francisco.

La Costa is the larger of the two resorts with 611 redecorated rooms spread out among low-rise Spanish-style bungalow buildings. Among the many facilities including two recently redesigned golf courses (Champions and South) are a 28,000 square foot Spa & Salon plus a 15,000 sq. ft. outdoor courtyard and the

Part of the beautiful spa at La Costa Resort

spiritually focused Chopra Center.

In the couples-friendly spa, a spacious coed lounge is located between the women’s and men’s lounges. Guests can relax in white robes on chaises around a shared garden pool, have lunch at the Spa Café and walk the new Reflexology Path. I found all but the large round stones, pretty tough on my bare feet but those with tougher soles than I seemed able to cope with the smaller stone-imbedded trails.

With 42 treatment rooms, La Costa is able to offer an extensive array of treatments: Swedish massages, scrubs, wraps, facials, hot stone and lomi, bamboo and Thai along with services for couples like their “Suite Hearts Massage” and “Romantic Journey for Two.” Treatments can be customized. I wanted to see what the bamboo was all about yet hated to relinquish my favorite, Swedish massage. Ruth readily gave me a combo treatment, seamlessly alternating between the bamboo and her hands. Delicious.

CordeValle, a Rosewood Resort luxury property, has just 45 rooms located in bungalows, homes and villas terraced up the hills. It caters to couples looking for romantic getaways and corporate types who appreciate personalized services.

Set on close to 1,700 acres, CordeValle has a scenic RT Jones Jr. course, an 85acre vineyard and winery, clubhouse with meeting facilities, fitness center, restaurants and Sense, a 5,000 sq. ft. Rosewood Spa. At Sense I headed for my Signature Grapeseed & Cherry Bark Scrub, which promised to leave my tough, sun-lashed skin, “soft and silky smooth.” (If that could only translate to my golf swing).

I would be rubbed with a concoction of finely ground seed and bark to exfoliate my skin and finished off with a vanilla body butter massage — wouldn’t that be the cherry on the sundae! This lady really got

into her job but then there were years of abuse to exfoliate. “Is the pressure O.K.?” she asked.

“Fine,” I said through gritted teeth.

Did it work? Well, my skin did now feel more like a pear than a coconut but I admit I liked the vanilla butter thing at the end the best.

Sense has a lot of water-based treatments like their Raindrop Ritual with a mud body wrap, hair and scalp massage, and Vichy shower rinse and full body massage with grape seed oil. Their Ocean Immersion, a scrub and body wrap is new.

For couples Nicole Hollinger, spa manager, suggests “Bungalow Love” in a private villa ending with champagne and treats. “It’s above and beyond,” she says adding, “We also have double treatment rooms, so services can be shared. That can be pretty special.”

Big on service, Hollinger says, “We work hard to create a customized program for each guest. If they want a private guided hike with an instructor up to one of our yoga platforms in the hills, we can arrange it.”

A little advice: Playing golf in the desert, your skin will dry out more than in New England. Spa treatments also detoxify and for these reasons, you need to drink lots and lots of water. It’s important.

Spa treatments can be a costly proposition, but booking a package can help. La Costa’s 2-1/2 hour “Inspire Spa Package” includes a 50-minute signature massage, 50-minute restorative facial and lunch for $295. Pay for these separately, it costs about $330. (Lacosta.com) At CordeValle, their Spa Getaway Package for two includes one-night accommodations, $200 Sense spa credit, breakfasts and wine tasting priced at $470.

Also ask about their Golf & Spa Getaway package. (Cordevalle.com)

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

SNE GOLF SHOW GUIDE

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

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SNE GOLF SHOW GUIDE

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SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

LIST OF EXHIBITORS

SNE GOLF SHOW GUIDE AS OF JAN. 14 AAA - Southern New England AM 790 Adams Golf Alpine Country Club Amica Insurance Blue Green Vacation Resorts Boston Amateur Golf Society - RI Division Bridgestone Buttonhole c Prime Callaway Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce Center for Preventive Medicine Cleveland Golf Cobra-Puma Cox Communications CVS Caremark Charity Classic Deutsche Bank Championship Dick’s Sporting Goods 5 Hour Sample, LLC Gina Cigar Golf Digest/Golf World Golf Now.com Golfing Magazine GRewards.com Highland Country Club Jay Peak Resort Joe & Leigh’s Discount Golf Shop Lite Rock 105 Metacomet Country Club MMJ Promotions NEWPRO NikeGolf Ninety Two Percent North Kingstown Golf Course Ocean City MD Harrison Group Golf Owens Corning Potowomut Country Club RI-PGA RESCOM Exteriors Segregansett Country Club Southern New England Golfer Spargo Golf Stay and Play on Cape Cod Stowe Country Club Sugarbush Swift Results Golf Center Swing Juice TaylorMade The Call/The Times/Neighbors Vacation Village Resorts & Affiliates Valley Country Club WEEI Sports Radio 103.7 WPRI-12, FOX Providence and MyRITV WPRO 630

Members of RIPGA will be presenting instruction each hour at the Amica Seminar Theater.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

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Photo by Dan Hendrickson, Amica employee

A new season. Great expectations.

Discover Amica.

AmicaConnections.com 866-51-AMICA (26422)

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SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

CHARITY GOLF

By TOM GORMAN

Bob Donovan: Prolific Fundraiser for the Ouimet Fund

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t doesn’t always take prodigious drives, a nifty short game or superior putting skills to be considered among notable golf talents in Bay State golf circles.

However, one name consistently tops the list of best off-course performances—Bob Donovan—executive director of The Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund.

In a sport where impressive statistics prove who is best, Donovan’s numbers over the past two decades are one-of-a-kind.

The humble, engaging businessman, who admits to a lifelong love of the game but few low scores, has been the guiding force behind the Ouimet Fund for 20 years.

“One of my most important duties is to provide the golfing community with an opportunity to give back to golf and society by assisting youth in furthering their education,” said Donovan, a Wollaston Golf Club member, whose office is located at The Golf House at TPC Norton. “To achieve the success we have is a tribute to the Ouimet Board of Directors, to volunteer committee members, to our member clubs and to hundreds of generous donors who write checks to The Fund each year. Last year we awarded over $1.46 million in scholarships, which is our highest ever, and 95 endowed scholarships.”

The Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund is The Golf Charity of Massachusetts, and is one of the largest independent scholarship organizations in New England. The Ouimet Fund was founded in 1949 and since that time has awarded over $23 million in need/ merit based tuition assistance scholarships to over 4,800 students. To be eligible for a Ouimet Scholarship applicants must have completed at least two years service to golf as caddies, helpers in the pro shop, or course superintendent operations at a club in Massachusetts.

According to federal statistics, today Massachusetts is one of the wealthiest states in the country, No. 5 in median household income at $61,133. The rise in median wealth in the Bay State, which ranked No. 13 in 1979, has been driven by steady expansion of the technology and biotechnology industries in Cambridge and Route 128 and Interstate 495, and high-paying financial services jobs in downtown Boston. Donors to Ouimet come from this demographic who enjoy

golf and the rewards and meaningful relationships that result.

“Money for scholarships comes from many different programs and fundraising initiatives,” said Richard F. Connolly, senior vice president at Morgan Stanley and long-time contributor and overseer of The Ouimet Fund. “Donations are accepted through the Bag Tag program, the annual golf marathon raises almost $300,000, our annual banquet total is about $600,000, our golf tournament is a funding source and through other Ouimet Society events.

We are very proud of the fact that almost all the money raised is awarded back to student scholarships. Our administrative costs are less than six-percent, which is a tremendous accomplishment for a charitable organization.”

When your days and nights involve raising money in this tight economy, a valuable tool is a rolodex filled with reliable, committed and deep-pocketed individuals.

And to that end, Bob Donovan can attribute much of his success locally and internationally. From Presidents (George H.W. Bush) to “Kings” (Arnold Palmer), from millionaires (Peter Lynch and more) to PGA legends (Jack Nicklaus and more), Donovan has their number. And, they all return his call.

Since 1997 when Arnold Palmer was honored, the annual Ouimet banquet has attracted an illustrious lineup to receive the Lifetime Achievement in Golf award. They include: former President Bush (2002), Greg Norman (2005), Jack Nicklaus (2007), Gary Player (2008), Tom Watson (2009), Nancy Lopez (2004) and Anika Sorenstam (2010).

Kudos for the prolific fundraising that Bob Donovan does for The Fund comes from many sources including Mark Frost, author of “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” and many long-time volunteers including 2009-2010 president Richard Barrett, from Charles River C.C. At the Jack Nicklaus banquet in 2007, over 2,100 attendees turned out which stands as the largest golf banquet ever and the largest sports banquet in Boston sports history.

“Bob works hard and he does an outstanding job as director,” said Dedham Country & Polo Club member Denny Goodrich, a retired investment banker

associated with The Ouimet Fund for 41 years. “The results are clear and every year the scholarship awards are increasing and we are able to assist more students. The Ouimet program means a lot to all of us who have been involved for all these years and it touches a lot of kids when they need it most.”

Finally, two important announcements from Bob Donovan: Save the date of Monday, May 7, 2012, at Boston Copley Place when Mark O’Meara will be honored at a dinner and 1500 contributors are expected. Also, Arnold Palmer will serve as Chairman for the Ouimet Centennial Celebration, marking 100 years since Francis Ouimet (1893-1967), an unknown 20-year old amateur and former caddie, upset famed British golfers Harry Vardon and Ted Ray at The Country Club in Brookline to win the 1913 U.S. Open.

The Ouimet Fund’s website is www. ouimet.org.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

Bob Donovan Tom Gorman, a Boston-based freelance golf writer, is a member of Golf Writers Association of America, Golf Travel Writers Association and International Network of Golf. He can be reached at teetalk@aol.com.

27

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER New Burke Scholars Announced Scholar Name Aaron S. Day Michael Al Delude Adam M. DeRiso Glenna K. Druken William J. Farrell Thomas R. Hammatt Amanda B. Hauser Zachary J. Hess Andrew C. John Mark J. Messier Marcus R. Murray Kaley T. Paulo Ryan C. Rappoport Thomas R. Raulli Abby Ricci Timothy C. Rogers Christopher M. Smith

Sponsoring Club School Wannamoisett Country Club RIC Fran Reavey Memorial Scholarship Pawtucket Country Club Assumption Rhode Island Country Club James Madison Michael William McCampbell Memorial Scholarship Newport Country Club URI Brad Faxon Scholarship Rhode Island Country Club CCRI Carnegie Abbey Club Dalhousie Univ.

Edward J. & Virginia M. Routhier Endowed Scholarship Valley Country Club URI Rhode Island Country Club Syracuse Univ.

Rev. Joseph L. Lennon, O.P. Scholarship Rhode Island Country Club URI Potowomut Golf Club Marquette Univ.

Lincoln Country Club URI Pawtucket Country Club URI Jim Tanner Scholarship Alpine Country Club URI Carnegie Abbey Club URI Wannamoisett Country Club Syracuse Univ.

Joseph J. Sprague, Sr. Memorial Scholarship Wannamoisett Country Club Boston College RI State Seniors’ Golf Association Scholarship Louisquisset Golf Club Campbell Univ.

Class 2015 2015 2015 2015 2013 2015 2011 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015

The Burke Fund was founded in 1946 as a tribute to John P. Burke, a talented golfer who died in World War II. Burke was a two-time R.I. Amateur champion and won the State Amateur four times. The fund was originally started to assist caddies in pursuing a college education. Working in close partnership with the Rhode Island Golf Assn. the program has expanded to provide funds for qualified students who have worked in a golf facility for at least two years in the service of golf.

Mass. Golf Assn. 2012 Major Schedule May 7-8 May 22-23 Jun. 5-7 July 9-13 July 25 Jul 31-Au 1 Aug. 6-8 Aug. 21-22 Sep 4-6 Sep. 24-25 Oct. 11-12

Four-Ball Champ.

Senior Four-Ball Open Championship Amateur Champion.

Father & Daughter Amateur Public Links Junior Amateur Father & Son Mid-Amateur Senior Amateur Tri-States

Stow Acres Crumpin-Fox Walpole C.C. Tedesco C.C. Bass Rocks C.C. George Wright G.C. Oakley C.C. Crestwood C.C. Framingham C.C. Cape Cod Ntl. C.C. Old Sandwich

WGAM 2012 Major Tournament Schedule May 15-17 May 30-31 June 19 June 20 June 25-26 June 27 or 28 July 5 July 10 July 9-11 July 17 July 18 Jul 30-Aug 2 Aug 8 Aug 13-14 Aug 20&23 Sep. 11-12 Sep 18 or 19 Sep 24-26 Oct 1-3 Oct 10 Oct. 15 or 16 28

Mildred Gardinor Prunaret Cup Clement Griscom Cup D & E Championships Eleanor W. Allen Bowl Edith Noblit Baker Trophy Curtis Bowl Mother/Daugh & Member/Jr Cris Easton Foursomes NEWGA Championship Mother/Son B & C Championships Amateur Champ. & Pres. Cup Hannah Townshend Cup Grace Keyes Cup Dolly Sullivan Tourn.

Senior Championships Sheeran Trophy Stone Cup Endicott Cup Fall Cup Championships Eleanor I. LaBonte

Cummaquid G.C. Gulph Mills G.C., PA Sagamore Spring G.C. Presidents G.C. Woods Hole G.C. Gardner G.C. Wenham C.C. Wollaston G.C. Natanis G.C., ME Haverhill G. & C.C. Nortoon C.C. Brae Burn C.C. Wellesley C.C. Marshfield C.C. Ellinwood C.C. Cranberry Valley G.C. Thorny Lea G.C. C.C. of New Bedford Nashawtuc C.C. Wedgewood Pines C.C. Hopkinton C.C.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

BOSTON GOLF SHOW

NEW ENGLAND’S MOST ANTICIPATED GOLF SHOW IS BACK!

G

olf comes to Boston just a little earlier for those who attend the National Golf Expo, Boston, presented by Amica Insurance. The Expo takes place Friday, March 2 to Sunday, March 4, 2012 at the Seaport World Trade Center in South Boston’s beautiful Seaport District. The winter weather and cabin fever has golfers dreaming of warmer weather and hitting the greens.

New England’s most anticipated golf show is the first sign that Spring is just around the corner and it’s time to get ready to hit the links! The National Golf Expo features tons of fantastic golf-related exhibits, displays, and interactive features, as well as a driving range and demonstration stage.

What better occasion to round up your golf buddies and head over to the Expo for a day of everything golf!

There are some exciting things planned for this year’s event. New to the show this year is the Man Cave interactive feature area. Every man dreams of having a Man Cave and the Golf Expo has one! In addition to games, the Man Cave will offer

beer and spirits tastings, and create the perfect spot to take a break and unwind as you explore the Expo. On Saturday, March 3rd attendees have the opportunity to meet Michael Breed, host of the Golf Channel’s “The Golf Fix.” A top 100 golf instructor, Michael is known for answering viewer’s toughest golf questions in a fast paced yet efficient manner.

The National Golf Expo offers millions of dollars worth of bargains that you can’t find anywhere else. As always, a range of manufacturers are present with their latest offerings that you can test out on the 25 station demo range. Manufacturers will be set up along this indoor driving range ready to let you try their newest clubs. In addition to the manufacturers, a selection of retailers offer great deals on merchandise and many exhibiting companies feature innovative wares that you may not traditionally find in your local pro shop.

At the Expo you can find that perfect club you’ve been looking for.

There are also a variety of travel destinations, golf resorts, and courses

available to help you plan your season.

While you can’t get personal attention searching on the Internet, at the Expo representatives are on hand to answer your questions and help you customize packages to fit your needs. Plan a weekend trip to Vermont or a longer stay in a warmer climate. Whether you desire a weekend road trip or a weeklong getaway, the Golf Expo is a great resource for planning your golf vacation.

Not only can you look, research, and buy, you can also hit a few balls and take part in one of our many interactive challenges. Whether your specialty is the hole-in-one or the long drive, the Expo is the perfect time to work out the kinks before the season starts. It’s a fun way to get in shape for the season, while encouraging some friendly competition amongst friends. Don’t forget to stop by the Amica Demonstration Stage to pick up that needed tip to take your game to the next level from some of the pros!

Whatever you are looking for, if it’s golf-related, the Expo is the only place

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

Meet the Golf Channel’s Michael Breed! to find it under one roof! So mark your calendar March 2-4 at the Seaport World Trade Center, and come to Boston for the most anticipated golf show in New England! Our location is easily accessible by “T” with many nearby parking lots at reasonable rates. There are a variety of great restaurants within walking distance of the Center. Bring your friends, bring your dad, bring your kids, bring your spouse—there’s something for everyone at the National Golf Expo this March!

The National Golf Expo, Boston, presented by Amica Insurance, will be held March 2 - 4, 2012 at the Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA. Hours of the Show are Friday, March 2, 12pm8pm; Saturday, March 3, 10am – 6pm; Sunday, March 4, 10am-5pm. The Expo is produced by Paragon Group. Save time and buy tickets online at www.

GolfExpoBoston.com or call 800-2511563 for more information on the Expo.

29

By BRUCE BERLET Szewczul Wins Big in 2011 Just when it appeared things couldn’t get any better for Dave Szewczul along came 2011. Szewczul was the runaway Connecticut State Golf Association Senior Player of the Year and finished third in the Player of the Year race in 2010, when he capped his season with induction into the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame.

The standout from Tunxis Plantation Country Club in Farmington went one better on the competitive front in 2011.

Szewczul again was the runaway winner of a third consecutive Dick Siderowf Senior Player of the Year Award and finished second to Tom McCarthy of Twin Hills C.C. in Coventry in his bid for the Dick Tettelbach Award.

And Szewczul ended with a flourish when he became the first player in the modern era to win three consecutive major tournaments in successive weeks – the New England Senior Amateur, Connecticut Senior Amateur and CSGA Public Links Championship for a record fourth time, all in a span of 13 days.

“I don’t know if this was my best year, but it was my most consistent,” said Szewczul, who turned 58 on Dec. 16. “My stroke average was the lowest ever, I’m a better ball-striker and didn’t have as many highs and lows. It sounds funny, but over the years I’m just maturing and playing a more mature type of golf. Whether it’s my wrist injury or not, I’m just hitting more quality shots because I can’t attack the ball as well as I used to.”

Seven years ago, doctors told Szewczul that he might never play golf again because of an ailing left wrist that underwent three extensive surgeries and left his left arm immobilized in a cast from his wrist to his shoulder for 30 weeks. He couldn’t shave, tie a tie or turn a doorknob. He needed wife Lisa to help dress him. He couldn’t have the fun he wanted with son David because of a hunk of plaster that had seemingly become part of his anatomy.

Golf? Forget it. A thing of the past.

Miniature golf, maybe, but not the real deal. Only in his dreams. Well, Szewczul defied the odds again last year and is proud to say he has remained highly competitive, as he is about to enter his fifth decade of high-level competition.

“The injury changed my game to the point where I’m a more consistent player because I can’t drive through the ball the way I used,” Szewczul said. “I’m taking more club and not intimidated by players who hit if farther and use two less clubs than I do. The name of the game is the score that you put up, and it doesn’t matter how you get there. And that’s all I’ve tried 30

CT NOTEBOOK to do, just maintain and keep myself in position to win.

“The year was going along OK until the last month, when it became a memorable year. Winning three tournaments in a row like that was pretty special. People have asked which one meant the most, and I really can’t say any one had any more significance than the other. The Public Links was special because it had been 16 years since I won the last one. The Senior Amateur was wonderful because it was my first one, and the New England Senior Amateur was special because I was able to repeat in my home state at Race Brook amongst all my friends and to be able to share the spotlight with my good friend Bill Lee. He won the Super Seniors, and I think it was pretty neat. We first locked heads in 1975 (in the CSGA Amateur final), and here we were 36 years later able to share a victory together.

“And if you take that one step and you have Jeff Hedden winning the New England Amateur, I think it’s pretty awesome that you’ve got the New England Amateur champion, the Senior Amateur champion and the Super Senior Amateur champion all from the same state in the same year. I don’t know if there’s any other sport where you can say that. And that pretty much sends a message to all of New England that Connecticut golf is strong and healthy.

Szewczul won more than ever in 2011, as he made the unprecedented threetournament run late in the year after he tied for second in the Russell C. Palmer Cup, the state’s stroke-play championship, and was low amateur in the Connecticut Senior Open, which he won in 2010, fourth overall and second low amateur to McCarthy in the Connecticut Open, a semifinalist in the CSGA Senior Match Play Championship and reached the Round of 16 in the CSGA Amateur Championship.

Szewczul’s 525 points were 95 less than McCarthy, but he played in only four events, two less than the champion. The difference was McCarthy’s 100 points for finishing second to 2009-10 Player of the Year Jeff Hedden of the Black Hall Club in Old Lyme in the New England Amateur Championship, which Szewczul didn’t play. Meanwhile, Szewczul’s 1,425 points in the Senior Player of the Year race were nearly four times that of runner-up Lee (365) and more than the next FIVE players combined. He also is the leader for the three-man Connecticut team for the 2012 USGA Men’s State Team Championship Sept. 9-12 at Galloway National G.C. in Galloway, N.J.

Szewczul was especially proud of his win in the New England Senior Amateur where he was three shots back with four holes to go but pulled out a second straight victory over Andy Congdon and Jim Hosey of Massachusetts at Race Brook C.C. But the big question was: Did winning a second runaway senior player of the year title, nearly winning the regular player of the year title or his son receiving the Connecticut Section PGA Boys Sportsmanship Award for 2011 mean more to him?

“There’s no question it’s Dave,” dad said without hesitation of his son, a threesport athlete and top student at Avon Old Farms. “I play for the love of the game, and I tear up and can’t think of anything more important to me that what my son did. His peers nominated him, and that to me is more important than shooting 65. Reputation means everything. My dad told me once you lose your reputation, you can’t get it back, so I just tell (my son) to play with the utmost respect.”

CT Notes...

The Connecticut Section PGA Players of the Year were familiar names. Kevin Giancola of Golf Quest in Southington won the Player of the Year Award for the sixth time since 2003, and Fran Marrello of Canaan C.C. won the Senior Player of the Year for the fifth time in the seven years he has been eligible. He also has been Player of the Year six times, the last in 2007 when he became the only player to win both in the same year.

Abbey Doski of Sandy Hook and Patrick Albanesi of Avon were the Connecticut Section PGA Junior Golf Association Girls and Boys Player of the Year.

The 2012 Connecticut golf schedule again will be highlighted by the $6 million Travelers Championship at the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell on June 21-24, when Fredrik Jacobsen will be defending champion. Other notable events will be the Connecticut Open July 30-Aug. 1 at Wee Burn C.C. at Darien, the Connecticut Women’s Open May 2930 at C.C. of Waterbury, the Connecticut PGA Championship Sept. 24-26 at Ellington Ridge C.C., the CSGA Amateur Championship June 25-29 at Race Brook C.C. in Orange, the Connecticut Women’s Golf Association Championship June 1114 at Rolling Hills C.C. in Wilton, the Southern New England Women’s Golf Association Championship July 23-24 at Cedar Knob G.C. in Somers and the Connecticut State Women’s Amateur Championship Aug. 14-16 at Ridgewood C.C. in Danbury.

Dave Szewczul The new year also brought a new CSGA executive director as Ron Drapeau retired after six years and was succeeded by former University of Virginia men’s golf coach Mike Moraghan, whose players included PGA Tour player James Driscoll of Brookline, Mass. Moraghan’s late father, Marty, was a longtime CSGA tournament director and USGA rules official who is in the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame.

“During my tenure at the CSGA, the scope of our activities as the association of member clubs broadened significantly to include legislative issues and grow the game initiatives at a time when the general economy stumbled and discretionary income was reduced,” Drapeau said. “I feel good that we were able to provide quality leadership on the new issues while maintaining the base mission.

We completed and publicized a study reflecting the golf industry that delivers $1.1 billion to the State of Connecticut’s economy while employing 11,500 with a payroll of $340 million.

“Working through the Connecticut Golf Alliance in concert with the Superintendents’ Association, we were able to influence pragmatic, sensible regulation from the Department of Environmental Protection regarding ground water use.

The creation of the Connecticut Clubs for Schools program has started to reap benefits with two CSGA champions in 2011 coming from these clubs. The position has been challenging and rewarding and encompasses a great six years of my career.”

continued on next page

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

CT NOTEBOOK New Hall of Famers Ron Smith, Art Williams and Gary Reynolds were inducted into the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame on Dec. 6.

Smith won the CSGA Amateur and New England Amateur in 1964, when he was recognized as the New England Amateur Golfer of the Year by the Boston Sports Writers Alliance. He led the University of Houston to the NCAA championship a year later and then won another CSGA Amateur before his deployment to Vietnam with the Marine Corps. His stint with the Marine Corps delayed but did not deter his golf career, which boasts individual titles in the New Hampshire Open, Maine PGA Championship (six times), two U.S. Open appearances and and one in the PGA Championship. Smith worked for three decades at Webhannet C.C. in Maine before retiring as head professional and club manager in 2004.

Williams had back-to-back wins in the CSGA Junior Championship in 19381939 and was captain of the Yale golf team in 1940, but his dedication and

contributions to Connecticut golf far exceed his competitive success. Williams was CSGA president in 1981-82 and has volunteered as a rules official for more than 40 years. A Marine Corp fighter pilot in World War II, Williams also served as President of Brooklawn C.C. in Fairfield in 1963-64. It was his presentation of an amicus curiae brief before the Supreme Court of Connecticut that served as the foundation for special tax assessment relief for golf courses that helped to launch the CSGA into an organization that he describes as “one that is proactive in matters relating to the health of the game.”

Reynolds has been a PGA of America member for nearly 40 years, most of them spent as head pro at Hartford Golf Club, during which he has distinguished himself as a leader in the game. He is the co-founder of the Connecticut Section PGA Golf Foundation and has also been heavily involved with The First Tee of Connecticut since its merger with The First Tee of Hartford in 1999. Reynolds has served on the section board of directors since 1985 and was president in 1993-

By BRUCE BERLET

The new Hall of Famers

94. He has earned several section awards, including three Bill Strausbaugh Awards, two President’s Awards, Merchandiser of the Year and Golf Professional of the Year.

His outstanding character and civic and charitable work within the community was recognized by the PGA of America in 2001 when he was awarded the PGA of America National Bill Strausbaugh Award.

The section’s new Hall of Fame inductees were Don Gliha, the only Master Professional in the section’s 78-year

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

history, and the late Wally Cichon, a PGA of America member for 63 years, including as Ellington Ridge C.C. head pro from 1959 to 1987; Joel Smith of Wallingford, a founding member of the section in 1933 who played with LPGA Hall of Famer Patty Berg and whom his sisters said started working for $30 a month; and Henry Bontempo, a PGA member for 56 years in western Massachusetts who

continued on page 32

31

GOLF PRODUCT REVIEWS

By BRUCE HUTCHINSON continued from page 31 once beat the legendary Bobby Jones on a $1 bet and played golf and cards with legendary Babe Ruth.

Gliha also was named the section’s Professional of the Year, making him the first person to receive that award and be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the same year. When asked which honor was bigger, the gregarious 66-year-old Gliha said, “This is the eagle-double eagle finish to my career.” The answer was almost as good as the entertaining 20-minute acceptance/ thank you speech that Gliha delivered in his inimitable fashion, capped by a takeoff on David Letterman and his “Top 10” list of why he chosen for the dual recognition.

It was actually only eight because Gliha jokingly said he couldn’t come up with good reasons at No. 3 and 4.

Other award winners were Kevin Giancola, Golf Quest Family Sports

Center-Southington, section champion and Player of the Year; Fran Marrello, Canaan C.C., Senior Player of the Year; George Connor, Gillette Ridge G.C.Bloomfield, Teacher of the Year; Tim Gavronski, Shuttle Meadow C.C.Kensington, Bill Strausbaugh Award; Sean Busca, Clinton C.C., Horton Smith Award; Jon Janik, Tashua Knolls C.C.-Trumbull, Junior Golf Leader; Ryan Hall, Golf Club of Avon, merchandiser of the year (private); Kyle Hedstrom, Stanley G.C.New Britain, merchandiser of the year (public); Shaun Maher, Stanley, assistant professional of the year; Mike Perreault, Callaway Golf, sales representative of the year; Brian Higgins, Hartford G.C., President’s Award; Abbey Doski of Sandy Hook, Junior Golf Association Girls Player of the Year; Patrick Albanesi of Avon, JGA Boys Player of the Year; Barbara Wilson of East Lyme and David Szewczul Jr. of Farmington, Jack Kelly Sportsmanship Award.

CWGA 2012 Major Tournament Schedule May 1 May 10 S May 21 May 29-30 June 7 June 11-14 June 26 July 9-11 July 9-12 July 26-27 July 26-27 July 27 Aug 7 Aug 14-16 Sep 20 Oct 1-3

Best Ball of 4 toke Play (class) A/B Summer Spec.

CSGA Open CT/RI Matches CWGA Champ.

A/B Best Ball 2 of 4 NEWGA Champ.

Junior Amateur Senior Champ.

Jr. Champ.

Legends Champ.

Tourn. of Champ.

CT Women’s Am. Medallion Endicott Cup

River Oaks Stonington New London Clinto Hartford Rolling Hills Lake of Isles S.C. Natanis ME Watertown Hop Meadow Hop Meadow Hop Meadow Avon Ridgewood Glastonbury Hills Nashawtuc (MA)

CSGA 2012 Major Tournament Schedule May 21-22 May 29-30 June 4-6 June 25-29 July 9-12 Jul 30-Aug 1 Aug 27-28 Sep 24-25 Oct. 1-2

Stroke Play Women’s Open Senior Match Play Silver Amateur Champ.

Jr. Amateur Champ.

Conn. Open Mid Amateur Senior Amateur Public Links

C.C. of Waterbury Clinton C.C. Spring C.C. Race Brook C.C. Watertown G.C. Wee Burn C.C. Hop Meadow C.C. G.C. of Avon H. Smith Richardson

NEGA 2012 Tournament Schedule July 17-19 Aug 12-14 Sept. 11-12

32

New England Amateur Falmouth CC (ME) New England Jr. Invit.

Taconic GC (MA) New England Sr. Amateur Rutland CC (VT)

Golf Buddy Range Finder

The hand-held Golf Buddy Platinum has been rated one of the top GPS range finders available. With its 40,000-course storage capacity, high resolution and full color for easy visibility, the Golf Buddy has become very successful. There is a zoom in and out feature and touch screen makes it easy to use.

It has the ability to measure to and from any point on the hole, and has a feature to move the pin placement around on the screen.

With a 4-player score tracking system built in and a shock and water resistant cover, the Golf Buddy makes a great tool for golfers.

Visit www.golfbuddyglobal.com. —BH

Innovex Golf Balls The Innovex V motion golf ball is a tour caliber three-piece-designed ball that recently won a Golf Digest Silver award for quality and consistency. It received high ratings for distance, durability and short game feel. One of the features of the ball is its soft cast urethane cover that has 318 dimples that reduces drag and adds distance.

It has a compensating speed core that senses speed for superior performance from any position. One of the key features of the ball is the low price of $32.95 for this tour-quality ball. Innovex is a young company that you will hear from in the near future.

Visit www.innovex.com. —BH

Abacus Carlo Polo Abacus, the Swedish golf brand that provides the clothing for the European Solheim Cup team, has introduced a new line of polo shirts that are sporty and functional.

Made of a bamboo charcoal/ polyester blend, the shirt transfers moisture from the skin to the outer surface of the shirt and quickly evaporates.

The material maintains body temperature and provides UV protection from the sun.

“Every garment must promote freedom of movement and do its job.

Players want to look good and feel self-confident when they are on the course,” said Sven-Olof Karlsson of Abacus. For more information call 800-268-7939. —BV SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

CAPE COD NOTEBOOK Yeomans Earns Wessner Award as Cape’s Top Player

The Cape Cod Chapter of the New England PGA holds a series of events throughout the year to help determine the Player of the Year and honor that person with the Dutch Wessner Award. As the season progresses from April through November points are awarded for finishes in Chapter and Section events.

For the third straight year Greg Yeomans of The Bay Club has prevailed over the area pros to capture the Wessner Award. Yeomans collected 142.75 points to beat runner-up (for the second straight year) Tom Tobey of Bay Pointe Country Club (106.75 points). Finishing third with 103.25 points was Country Club of New Bedford’s Joe Cordani. It was Cordani’s best overall finish in Wessner Points competition.

Rusty Gunnarson of Rochester Golf Club was fourth (100.25 points) which received a boost from his win in the CCPGA Match-Play Championship.

After four years losing in the finals and coming out on the short end, Gunnarson finally earned the W in that event, which was played at Oyster Harbors Club.

Finishing fifth was newcomer Matt Baran of Oyster Harbors, who only played in eight Chapter events this year including winning the Chapter Championship in a playoff with Tobey. Both Baran and Tobey are Salem State grads, so the Witches were flying that day.

This year the Chapter tournament program has thrived under the guidance of Tournament Director Mickey Herron, who has taken his talents to the administrative side after years of dominating the playing side of the ledger.

The Cape Cod Pro-Am League had another successful campaign and a familiar name tops the awards category as Bob Miller, the director of golf at the Club at Yarmouthport was named the Sullivan Award winner, the league’s most prestigious honor among the pro field.

He came out on top of runner-up Rusty Gunnarson, who was second to Miller but the winner of the top Senior Pro honor, the Haberl Award. Al Lupis was third overall and second to Gunnarson in that grouping.

Garnering the top amateur honor was Mike Boden of Sandwich Hollows. The reinstated amateur captured the Gaquin Award, given annually to the top amateur in the league.

As was the case in the pro awards categories, the runner up top Boden, Barry Jones of The Captains Golf Course,

was the top senior amateur and went home with the Bob Lovely Award.

Claude Hoopes of Kittansett captured the coveted Pitts Award for the top seniorsenior honor.

The New England Intercollegiate Golf Association has been staging its annual championship at The Captains Golf Course in Brewster for almost 20 years and this year may have been the closest competition ever.

There are winners in Divisions I, II and III and there is an overall team and individual champion crowned as well.

This year’s top player proved to be Holy Cross’s Steven Zychowski, who fired a 36hole total of 136 to grab the honor.

In team play, Bryant College, which had won numerous Div. II crowns in the past, grabbed the Division I team honor. Bentley College was the Division II Champion and Salem State topped the Division III field.

Overall winner was Bentley, shooting a two-day total of 606 and beating Bryant by a single shot. The Bentley coach is second-year mentor Mickey Herron – Yes, the same Mickey Herron who is the tournament chairman for the Cape Cod Chapter of the NEPGA. Herron has done a tremendous job with the Falcons’ program in a very short time.

Smiling folks who greet you at the bag drop, taking your clubs and arranging them on a cart for you before you return from parking your car, is just a small microcosm of what pushes Cape courses to the back of the bus compared to other regions that depend on this great game to create jobs and income for locals.

There is a mentality that permeates the area languishing in the belief that Yankee ingenuity and self dependence are what made us who we are. Service is a privilege, not something you should expect and when you are dealing with people who are plopping down over $100 per-player, per-round of golf, there should be an expectation of more than a hello, give me your money and see you at the end of the round mentality.

For an area that depends on tourism dollars as much as Cape Cod does, the services offered at golf courses are woefully lacking.

Geoff Converse writes a Cape Cod Notebook in each issue of Southern New England Golfer.

He can be reached at geoffc@snegolfer.com with story ideas or comments.

By GEOFF CONVERSE

Greg Yeomans For the third straight year Greg Yeomans of The Bay Club has prevailed over the area pros to capture the Wessner Award.

Despite an amazing fall and winter weather-wise, 2011 was another down year for golf revenues on Cape Cod and across the nation. Gurus have numerous theories, but lets be honest, the national economy, people watching how they spend their disposable income (and also, let’s be honest, golf falls into the disposable income category), unemployment and greens fees that have not been reduced to match the economic downturn, have all contributed to lower numbers of golfers and less income for the golf community.

On the Cape, though not the tourism force that drives our economic engine that it once was, golf still has an impact and those numbers are down.

Why? All of the above conditions plus the inability of a majority of Cape courses to keep their product ahead of the curve in many ways – most notably the services offered and performed.

The lack of special treatment afforded to golf visitors is No. 1. Compare Cape golf courses and the reception at the front door by personnel to those of other noted golf destinations – here comes that dreaded name, Myrtle Beach – and it is like night and day.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

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By TOM GORMAN

GOLF TRAVEL

No Score Card Like Hawaii

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or 30-plus years I thought there was nothing better than a golf trip to Myrtle Beach that included endless fairways, brillo-like rough, watery endings, doglegs, sand, island greens, sun, surf, southern hospitality, laughs, grits, chili dogs, alligators, beer, thongs, strip joints and the inevitable snowman on the score card.

Myrtle Beach had it all, or so I thought, until a 10-day road trip in September to the Mother of all golf destinations –Hawaii. My trip, to a place I had never been, was so inspiring and stimulated my golf senses so much, that I made a promise to return as soon as possible, despite the Boston to Honolulu distance of 5,055 air miles and 11-hour plane flight. One visit to Hawaii convinced me that it is the best golf destination on the planet!

When planning a vacation to Hawaii, that includes golf, start saving those

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‘Benjamin’s’ because it is pricey! Rental clubs, greens fees, cart and accessories (lots of golf balls) can run from $100 (twilight) to $250 (prime). I suggest you bring your own golf balls, tees, glove and shoes to keep from busting your budget, especially after breaking out the VISA card to buy a souvenir shirt from Kapalua pro shop ($84) or hat from Ko’olau ($18).

Let’s fast forward to my trip’s most exhilarating, spectacular experience. Before belting a tee shot from high atop the 13th tee at Ko’olau Golf Club in Oahu, this is what I recall. In one 360 degree turn, I can glimpse the emerald-colored Pacific Ocean sparkling on a deep-blue sky to the north; a massive, tropical rain forest sits in the belly of the 2,000 foot Ko’olau Mountain immediately to the west; the constant chatter of wild animals and other funky sounds behind me to the east; and a plush, wide fairway falls dramatically about

The seventh at Kiele Moa 300 feet, only to rise slowly to a slightly elevated green, 373-yards straight out.

Best advice – take your camera or flip video! I was so in awe I’m not sure what I scored, although I do remember hitting a good drive!

Hawaii golf connoisseur Norm Guenther assisted in educating me to the golf karma of the six Hawaiian Islands and 94 courses. Ko’olau G.C. is a mustplay because it is considered the toughest USGA handicapped course in the nation with a slope rating of 152 from the back tees. Local lore has it that whatever your handicap, then expect to lose that many golf balls during your round. They were right on the money in my case, with 10 deposits into the jungle. Also, the natives told me they’ll play Ko’olau once and never return, because it’s just too damn tough and I totally agree with that assessment.

Tee times are easy since they only average 22,000 rounds annually.

On Oahu, which draws more visitors than any other island, more than 100 world-renowned beaches ring the coast, with surfers found wherever there are waves. The best golf choices from 39 courses include Turtle Bay Resort, Waikele C.C. and Koolina G.C. Maui, home to Hawaii’s second largest island, offers 18 courses, including Ka’anapali Resort and my favorite, the award winning Kapalua Resort, home of the PGA Tour’s season opening tournament. The Bay Course has 68 bunkers and eight water hazards. In my

view, the Plantation Course has some of the most valuable real estate in the world and some breathtaking ocean front views.

The 7,411-yard mountain links course, with deep valleys, expansive greens and fairways follow the natural curves of the landscape.

For about $125 you can tee it up in Kauai Lagoons Golf Club, owned by Marriott, and one of eight choices on Kauai. The Jack Nicklaus designed course has 18 holes, featuring a great practice facility. This place has several majestic ocean-views and the uniqueness is that the Island’s only major airport runway parallels the 6th hole. Visualize this: You’re at the top of your swing and the roar of a 747 sweeps over the course and lands about 300 yards from the fairway. Suddenly, you hear screeching jet engines brake and the whiff of burning rubber. Interesting background interference or just another excuse to hit a bad shot? You make the call!

Imagine lush green mountains, crystal blue oceans, sweet smelling flowers, white sandy beaches and the most naturally beautiful golf courses you’ll ever find. Most importantly, add a perfect golf climate for your unique golf adventure in paradise.

When it comes to the world’s best golf destinations, there is no score card like Hawaii!

Tom Gorman is a member of the Golf Writers of America and the Golf Travel Writers of America and can be reached at teetalktom@aol.com.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

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By BRUCE VITTNER

GOLF TRAVEL

Golfing in California La Costa and CordeValle are Spectacular

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his publication has been doing golf travel stories from around the world for 20 years, but there has never been a story about golfing in California.

What a mistake if other places on the west coast are half as good as La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad (near San Diego) and CordeValle in San Martin (near San Jose and an hour south of San Francisco).

We started our journey at La Costa.

Yes, it is a six-hour airplane ride across the country. Yes, you might have jetlag for a day. But boy is it worth it!

You might remember La Costa from the 1960s. Designed by famous architect Dick Wilson, it opened in 1965 and was the home for the CBS Golf Classic that year. The Tournament of Champions was

held at La Costa from 1969 to 1998 before moving to Hawaii. As we played the course we recognized many of the holes from the shows that had brought the west coast to our television sets (black and white for those first years.)

The PGA Tour remained at La Costa where the Accenture Match Play Championship was held until 2006. The LPGA even held an event there—Kia Classic—in 2010.

Being in Southern California, La Costa became the special place for many celebrities. In the early days Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Dean Martin and Bing Crosby were members and often played with pals Clint Eastwood, Andy Williams, Jim Garner, Ray Bolger and William Powell.

There is an airstrip right near the course, and Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays,

Bubba and Webb were playing a match. Webb addressed his ball that was six inches from the hole. Just before he was ready to take his back swing the ball moved cause by the wind and the severe slope of the green. Bubba saw the ball move and told Webb that he had to take a stroke penalty. Webb thought that no penalty should be assessed because he had not caused the ball to move.

Ruling: As of 2012 there is no penalty for a ball moving if it was not caused by the player’s actions. This is a change in the rules and came as a direct result of Webb’s ball moving in a PGA Tour event that cost him a chance at a title.

Remember, it has to be an outside force (wind, slope, earthquake, etc.).

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La Costa’s 13th on the Champions Course. The bunkering and redo of the greens makes the course exceptional.

Yogi Berra, Joe Namath and Johnny Unitas were often there. It is still a favorite retreat for actors and actresses as well as sports superstars. There are pictures near the pro shop that are a must-see when playing there.

From 2002-2007 the resort spent $150 million on Phase one of a renovation project and in 2011 began Phase two for another $50 million. The 611 spacious and well-appointed guest rooms and villas are beautiful. A new meeting and events center was designed with 100,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting space on the 400-acre property.

Spas are not usually part of this reporter’s storylines, but both La Costa and CordeValle have amazing facilities.

You could easily spend a half-day at La Costa’s spa that is rated #1 in Southern California by Spa Magazine and #4 in the U.S. and Canada by Travel and Leisure.

There is also a great family atmosphere with a Kidtopia area featuring tree houses, aquariums and a Splash Landing that is nicer than most water parks. There are 17 tennis courts (both clay and hard court) and enough other sporting activities to fill a whole week—maybe a month. Families can get tee times from the very forward tees each day after 3. p.m.

Back to the golf. In 1973 Joe Lee came in to design another 9 holes. A couple of these holes were used in the tournaments,

so the South Course was actually a hybrid for tournaments. Lee returned in 1984 to finish the last nine holes of the North Course (now the Champions Course).

As part of the 2011 renovation, Pascuzzo and Pate Golf Course Design was hired to renovate all 18 holes of the Champions Course and redo the first two and last two holes on the South Course. We were fortunate to sit and talk to Damian Pascuzzo and Steve Pate about their work in renovating the courses. Pascuzzo has done many courses including The Ranch Golf Club in Southwick, Mass. Pate is the current Champions Tour player who won at La Costa in the 1988 Tournament of Champions, played in two Rider Cups and earned more than $8 million on Tour.

The two became partners in 2003 and along with architect Jeff Brauer have done a marvelous job in the redo of La Costa. “Steve teaches me about what an elite player thinks and I teach him about how an architect thinks,” said Pascuzzo. “I think a player derives just as much pleasure from golf by using his emotions as well as his athletic ability,” he added. In my case the emotion I derived from the 18th hole was fear as I saw water on both sides of the fairway on the difficult par 5 18th hole on the Champions Course.

“We wanted to be respectful of the design. We found old photographs and tried to create dramatic bunkering and

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

GOLF TRAVEL much of our work was in redesigning the greens to make them up to USGA standards,” said Pascuzzo. “This was always one of my favorite places to play, and it has been a real joy to help bring it back,” said Pate.

There are six sets of tees on the course and it plays from 7,172 down to 4,356 for the Family tees. Water comes into play on many holes, and the bunkering on the course is excellent. You will have to think your way around the course—actually both courses. Make sure you play both courses and Torrey Pines is only fifteen minutes away.

For more information go to www. lacosta.com or call 800-854-5000.

CordeValle might be one of the most unique and beautiful places that we’ve ever covered. Readers might recognize the name as host of the Frys.com Open, part of the PGA Tour’s Fall Series in 2011, the place where Tiger Woods played before participating in the President’s Cup. CordeValle “Heart of the Valley” sits along the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains. It winds through spacious canyons, serene meadows and a beautiful hillside. In fact the 13th hole is carved right into the side of the mountain. It is an idyllic property set on 1,700 acres of fertile California soil with the Clos LaChance winery alongside the golf holes.

Operated by the Resewood chain of luxury resorts, it is the unique combination of natural beauty and the convenience and hospitality of a luxury resort. Luxury might not be a strong enough adjective to describe this resort that has won numerous awards including Number 44 on Golfweek’s 2012 list of Best Resort Courses, Golf Digest’s Top 100 public golf courses, Conde Nash Golf List and much more. This reporter has never seen better service throughout the property in 20 years of covering golf.

The golf course actually opened before the resort. It was designed by Robert Trent Jones II and was open for play in 1999.

Jones, who designed Sunday River G.C. in Maine that has been rated Best Course in Maine for many years, considers it one of his very best designs. As you can see from the picture it features rolling terrain with many live oaks and sycamore

trees. The vineyard and hillside create a wonderful panorama.

The course can play to a maximum 7,400 yards for the pros and the college players who have a large tournament every year hosted by UCLA. The six sets of tees make it perfect for all skill levels.

The resort is quite small with only 45 rooms offered in spacious bungalows, expansive fairway homes or secluded villas. Elegant and exquisite would be the best way to describe the whole property from rooms, to dining, to spa to great golf course. It is very high-end, but it is a truly wonderful place.

Being only 45 minutes from the Monterey Peninsula, CordeValle serves as a great hub to visit other golf courses in the area. “We can get guests on most every course in the area,” said head professional Nick Bailey. We chose to visit Pasatiempo in Santa Cruz, the great Dr. Alister MacKenzie design that opened one month before the 1929 stock market crash.

U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion Marion Hollins who invited Bobby Jones to play the opening round founded the course. MacKenzie and Jones became friends and combined to design Augusta National five years later.

Combining dramatic elevation changes and natural hazards, Pasatiempo was a memorable track. MacKenzie called the 16th hole “the best two-shot hole I know” and said the undulating fairways reminded him of the Old Course in St. Andrews. You will love it. MacKenzie loved it so much he moved permanently to Pasatiempo and his home is alongside the sixth fairway.

For more information visit their website at www.cordevalle.com or call 408-695-4500.

Bruce Vittner is a member of the Golf Writers Assn. of America and the Golf Travel Writers of America and can be reached at bruce@snegolfer.com.

CordeValle’s rolling terrain is bucolic. The winery sits just below the picture and offers great views.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

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By BRUCE VITTNER

GOLF TRAVEL

Golfing in Virginia Virginia Beach and Fredericksburg Offer Fine Choices

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n last Winter’s issue we highlighted Kingsmill Resort in Virginia. They’ve just announced that they are hosting an LPGA event in 2012 and that is good news.

This past fall my wife and I decided to venture a little farther east on Interstate 64 to Virginia Beach and then stop at Fredericksburg, just off Route 95 on the way back home.

What a wonderful golfing vacation and a very nice surprise.

Virginia Beach might be considered a Myrtle Beach not on steroids. There are a dozen courses in the area and the beach is three miles long. We were able to play three courses and visit one other on our three-day, two-night stop.

Our first stop was Signature at West Neck, an Arnold Palmer signature course that offered 13 lakes, beautiful bunkering, roses everywhere and large, undulating A4 bent grass greens. No wonder Arnold put his signature on this course.

It didn’t take long for the lakes to come into play as one runs the left of the first hole with fingers running right to the edge of the fairway. Intimidating way to start.

The second hole also has a lake along the left, and the Bermuda rough can swallow balls.

Number 5 is a pretty par 3 over a pond and the tenth green seems to sit right out in a lake. A lake separates the 17th and 18th holes and makes for a fine finish.

The course is very pretty and a great test of golf.

We did not have time to play Virginia Beach National, a Pete Dye and Fred Couples collaboration, but we rode around the course. A typical Dye layout, there are many risk/reward holes, plenty of waste areas and large undulating greens.

The largest pond on the course separates 9 and 18, both long par 4’s.

There are no houses on the course. It is just a pleasing walk through tall hardwood trees. Dye and Couples can be proud of this layout that measures 7,197 from the back with a 76.2 rating and a 142 slope.

“Make sure you play the right tees,” said the starter. Amen.

The next day we managed to play 36 holes. We started at Hell’s Point. “Why do they call it Hell’s Point,” we asked the man at the desk. “You’ll see,” he said with a grin.

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The Rees Jones-designed course was not up to the conditioning of the others we played, but the layout was fun, and yes, a little diabolic. Hell’s Point Creek runs through the property and you cross it twice during the round.

Hole 5 is a wonderful reverse C with water along the left. Eleven is a par 3 over a large pond, and Jones has done a fine job of placing each of the four sets of tees along the bank to shorten the distance as needed.

Seventeen is the members’ favorite.

“We go up to the front tee to see if we can carry the pond and reach the green,” said the starter about the hole that plays only 275 from the front with a 225-yard forced carry. Safer to play down the left and hit a wedge.

Our last stop was Heron Ridge. It is a Fred Couples signature course, and to pay homage to him, the black tees are called the “boom-boom” tees. Just over 7,000 from the back, but with five sets of tees, it makes for a nice test from any distance.

The course has excellent conditioning and beautiful greens. Probably our favorite hole of the trip was the beautiful, downhill par 3 to a green that has water short, right and long.

Virginia Beach provides plenty of opportunities for great golf and is an excellent destination for group golf trips.

The Virginia Beach CVB can be reached at 757-385-4700 or on the web—www. visitvirginiabeach.com.

We’ve driven by Fredericksburg, Va. a hundred times. It’s about where the traffic jam from Washington, D.C. finally dissipates. Never have we thought about golfing in the area. Again, what a pleasant surprise.

Our first stop was Meadows Farms Golf Course that is about 15 miles west off the interstate.

Unique. Amazing. Not sure what adjective to describe this 27-hole (actually 28, because there is a practice hole before you begin one of the nines) property that has the longest hole in the United States (841 yards, par 6), a large waterfall that you drive under on your way to the par 3 green, and a hole that is a baseball field.

Honest.

continued on page 40

Lovin’ Virginia

By CAROLYN VITTNER

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irginia is for lovers and Virginia Beach is for lovers of the beach. I’m on the balcony of our hotel room of the Best Western Oceanfront overlooking the paved boardwalk, bike path and sandy beach of the Atlantic Ocean. King Neptune, a 24-foot 12-ton bronze icon is guarding the ocean. What an impressive way to start the day!

Just a couple of blocks away is where we enjoy our breakfast. Doc Taylor’s is a popular favorite of the locals, and I can see why. It is like stepping back in time (think Norman Rockwell). It was once a doctor’s home office; yes, there really was a Doc Taylor!

The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is an attraction that is not to be missed. It is ranked among the Top 10 marine science and aquarium facilities in the U.S. It offers over 300 hands-on exhibits, which makes it appealing to children of all ages as well as the golfers in the family.

Other local attractions include the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse, where English settlers landed in 1607.

Today it guards the entryway into the Chesapeake Bay. The Old Coast Guard Station is a quaint, oceanfront museum where you can learn about shipwrecks that occurred just off the Virginia Beach coast and the history of lifesaving service from World War II to the present.

After all this sightseeing, we are very hungry. Waterman’s Surfside Grille is a great choice to have our lunch. Not only is the food quite delicious, this familyowned restaurant offers a spectacular view of the ocean.

The afternoon is filled with golf, making my husband happy and hungry once again – imagine.

Right next door from Doc Taylor’s is Tautog’s, another local favorite gathering place. This establishment has been opened since the early 1900s and

The waterfall at Meadow Farms was once owned by the Winston family.

Mrs. Winston treated all of her guests like family and all these years later that feeling of warmth is still felt. Whether you just stop in for a drink at the bar or choose to dine here, you will not be disappointed. The menu offers a wide variety of fresh seafood choices for your casual dining experience.

Now it is time to leave the ocean behind. After about a two-hour drive heading northwest, we arrive in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Our destination is the Meadows Farms Golf Course. We eat lunch at their Red Bull Grill and our view is now overlooking some pretty impressive golf holes. Now I am not your typical golfer, but I really wanted to check out the 8th hole on the Waterfall Nine, which is a baseball field. I teed up, got a base hit to the infield, hit my 2nd shot close to the pin, rounded third base and putted into the hole for a par 3, scoring a run. If you think this golf course is interesting, meet the owner and see why; or pick up his book “Nearly Perfect” and read his fascinating life story.

After checking into our beautiful room at the WyteStone Suites, it is now time to dress for our evening meal. As we enjoy a delicious Italian dinner at the Vita Felice we are personally greeted by the owner, making this a lovely ending to our short stay here.

Alas, it is now time to head home.

One more day would have been nice so that I could check out the shopping mall nearby. Maybe next time!

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

GOLF TRAVEL

By DAN VUKELICH

New Mexico has Unique Golf “Why are you wearing a roadrunner lapel pin?”

“It’s the state bird of New Mexico.”

“It’s a real bird, then?”

“Yeah, you see them all the time here, running across roads, chasing lizards.”

“I thought it was just a cartoon.”

This is how it is. No one knows about my state. Some know about the Santa Fe Trail. Kids, they know about the Roswell aliens. Older people know about Los Alamos and the A bomb.

We’re only on Day 2 of a writers’ trip through Northern New Mexico, but it seems the manicured fairways, mild fall weather, tequila and the spicy green and red chile of New Mexican cuisine are starting to win converts among my fellow travelers.

“Where else can we play?” Down by Albuquerque, Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club, is No. 34 on Golf Digest’s “Top 100 You Can Play.” Great golf for about $100, but most of the best courses here charge less than $60, I tell my dinner companions.

We’re in Santa Fe, at the St. Francis Hotel, where mixologist Chris Milligan is making a dinner presentation on the history of the American cocktail, defined in 1806 as a drink containing spirits, sugar, water and bitters. Back then, you almost had to drink cocktails because in most cities, the water was so fetid, he says.

Slicing limes and mashing mint leaves, Milligan is walking us through the whiskey cocktails of the 1800s, the bathtub gin of the 1920s and onward through martinis, manhattans and the tiki-bar drinks of the 1960s. He’s handing out samples of each drink he makes, but most of us sip only a tiny bit, lest we nod off before the repeal of Prohibition.

But back to the golf. In Santa Fe, the obvious choice is Marty Sanchez Links de Santa Fe, a city-owned muni. “Marty,” as the course is known, is an affordable and well-kept 18-hole desert-links course straddling a ridge west of Santa Fe. It has a delightful nine-hole, par 28 executive course, “The Great 28,” for those in a hurry.

A fancier Santa Fe choice is the Jack Nicklaus-designed Sunrise Course at the Club at Las Campanas, a private

community developed by Lyle Anderson, who – before the banks foreclosed on him – built Desert Highlands, Desert Mountain and Superstition Mountain in Arizona, Hokuli’a in Hawaii and Loch Lomond Golf Club in Scotland.

Anderson transferred Las Campanas to its home-owner membership in 2010.

Now, 720 members and 48 contented horses (there’s a massive equestrian center) call Las Campanas home. Why, you may ask, is a writer mentioning a private club that you can’t play, even if it’s the No. 3ranked course in New Mexico?

Well, here’s a secret: Visitors to Santa Fe can get a tee time at Las Campanas by working through the concierge at the Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi, a four-star hotel in Downtown Santa Fe. Less expensive Santa Fe lodging choices are the Hotel Chimayo or the Hotel St. Francis, just steps from the Santa Fe Plaza, or the Lodge at Santa Fe, on the edge of town. All three are owned by New Mexico’s Heritage Hotels and Resorts, which specializes in operating small historic boutique hotels.

If you make it as far north as Santa Fe, a must-play course is Black Mesa Golf Club in La Mesilla, No. 86 on Golf Digest’s “Top 100 You Can Play,” Golf Digest critic Ron Whitten declared Black Mesa a “mountainous minimalist” classic immediately after it opened in 2003.

What the heck does “mountainous minimalist” mean? Whitten says, “The fairways of Black Mesa hug the natural slopes and ridgelines of its foothills location. Its recessed bunkers are positioned where wind and erosion might well have carved them out, and its greens seem effortlessly positioned in canyons, on rocky shelves, and alongside dry washes.”

Not a blade of grass seems out of place at Black Mesa, but you’ll find your ball can be, with plenty of blind shots and severe slopes. Multimound putting surfaces mean hitting the wrong green quadrant brings three-putt

into play.

Reward yourself after a humbling round at Black Mesa with a fun round at Towa Golf Course at Hilton’s Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino near Santa Fe. Towa offers an entertaining and scenic routing through high-desert terrain less severe than Black Mesa’s and Towa boasts the state’s only true island green.

If you’re in New Mexico for more than just a few days, take the scenic drive north through Taos to Angel Fire Resort, a mountain course. Amid the ponderosa pines of this ski town 8,400 feet above sea level, you’ll see elk, bald eagles and maybe a bear or two.

As for roadrunners, well, they’ll be waiting for you back in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, chasing gecko lizards and golf balls through the desert sagebrush.

Beep beep.

Dan Vukelich, a member of the Golf Travel Writers of America, is the editor of New Mexico Golf News.com, an online news source about golf in New Mexico. Reach him at dan@newmexicogolfnews.com.

If you go: American Airlines offers daily regionaljet service to Santa Fe from Dallas and Los Angeles. Most major airlines serve Albuquerque, 65 miles to the south.

Other must-plays: Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club, Twin Warriors Golf Club, Santa Ana Golf Club, Sandia Golf Club, University of New Mexico Championship Golf Course, all in Albuquerque.

Other things to do in Northern New Mexico: White-water raft on the Rio Grande near Taos; fly-fish near Angel Fire; ride a narrow-gauge tourist train in Chama, N.M.; prowl the galleries along Santa Fe’s Canyon Road.

Where to eat: Dinner at the Old House Restaurant in the Eldorado Hotel in Santa Fe, breakfast at Tia Sophia’s on San Francisco Street.

Black Mesa Golf Club’s 591-yard Par 5 13th hole is tucked neatly into the foothills north of Santa Fe, N.M.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

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GOLF COMMENTARY

The PGA of America and USGA Encourage Golfers to TEE IT FORWARD in 2012

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he PGA of America (PGA) and United States Golf Association (USGA) want golfers to have more fun by “teeing it forward” all year long.

Following the successful pilot launch of TEE IT FORWARD in July 2011, The PGA and USGA are encouraging golfers to continue to tee it forward and play from distances that match their playing skills. More than 1,900 facilities registered in 2011 with an average of 123 golfers per facility (nearly 237,000 nationwide) playing from forward tees during the promotional period. Additionally, a survey of more than 3,000 consumers who experienced the program showed that 70 percent found their round of golf more enjoyable and more than 90 percent said they would recommend TEE IT FORWARD to a friend. The survey also found nearly 50 percent of respondents

continued from page 38 The course was the vision of Bill “Farmer” Meadows, a self-made millionaire who grew up around the coalmines of West Virginia and made his fortune in the nursery business. “I wanted to build a course that was fun for golfers, affordable and unique,” said Farmer during our visit.

With the help of Chester Guzek, general manager and course superintendent, the course is all that Farmer Meadows envisioned. “This was always my goal to work on this property and make it all it can be,” said Guzek who gave us a tour.

The three nines are called Island Green, Longest Hole and Waterfall.

Quite descriptive and very accurate.

“Most people start on the Island nine, because they get a warm-up hole first,” said Guzek. The island green is number 2 that can play to 170 yards. The course is quite hilly and can be difficult.

We had to try the longest hole. There are two ponds that have to be carried during your trek. Once you get to the green, the large back-to-front sloping green can lead to many three-putts. Plus, you are so tired from the long walk.

What you will remember from the Waterfall nine is the cart ride under the waterfall on your way to the green.

Hopefully your ball made it up and over

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saying the program helped them play faster.

“These golfers told us that they found golf more enjoyable by playing courses at shorter lengths than usual. At the end of the day, that’s what we want...golfers to have more fun, which, in turn, hopefully means they will play more and stay in the game,” said PGA of America President Allen Wronowski. “This initiative also generated incredible buzz through traditional and social media, as well as at golf facilities across the country.”

The PGA partnered with the USGA to support TEE IT FORWARD in 2011 and both organizations are once again teaming up to make this a year-round promotion.

“Simply put, TEE IT FORWARD can make golf much more fun for millions of people, while contributing to the growth of the game,” said Jim Hyler, USGA President. “We are encouraged by the the falls to the narrow green on this tough par 3. When you get to the 8th hole you will think you are at Fenway Park. It’s a par 3. The teeing area is normal, but on your way to the green you cross home plate, the pitchers mound a dirt infield with a fence around the outfield. The green sits in centerfield. A hole-in-one is a lot better than a home run (out of bounds).

You’ve got to see and play it. www. meadowsfarms.com.

Our next stop was right in Fredericksburg just three minutes from I-95. Lee’s Hill Golf Club is actually part of the battlefield area during the Civil War and General Lee had his field headquarters right next to the course. You will see battle trenches and the actual campsite of the Confederate troops.

What you will also see is an excellent golf course that flows through tall hardwoods with excellent greens and well-manicured fairways. The pond 10 and 18—two par 5’s is very scenic and a great view from the clubhouse. The four sets of tees are called cannon, rifle, saber and pistol. You can guess which is which.

Ocean, history, uniqueness—Virginia has it all. Nice golf as well.

To find out more about Fredericksburg you can call 800-6544118 or online at www.visitfred.com.

results of our pilot, and believe this new approach to the game is really beginning to catch on with golfers of all skill levels.”

TEE IT FORWARD was brought to the forefront by industry veteran Barney Adams, retired founder of Adams Golf. Adams was a strong advocate and ambassador for TEE IT FORWARD in 2011 and will continue in that role.

“I’ve been around the game for more than 30 years and continue to be amazed as golfers make it much harder than it should be by playing golf courses at distances that don’t come close to matching their abilities,” said Adams. “By playing from forward tees, amateur golfers have the chance to play the course at the same relative distance as a touring professional would over 18 holes. We need golfers to be hitting eight-irons and wedges into par fours like the pros...not fairway woods.”

While it was highlighted during a

specific time period in 2011, TEE IT FORWARD is now being promoted as a year-round initiative. Courses can set up additional tees to provide golfers with more options or simply encourage golfers to use existing forward tees to potentially have a more enjoyable experience on the course.

The PGA and USGA will be developing educational and promotional materials to be distributed to golf facilities across the country. World Golf Hall of Fame member Jack Nicklaus, PGA TOUR star Dustin Johnson and LPGA star Paula Creamer have been utilized on materials to carry the TEE IT FORWARD message. Both organizations will also leverage PSA and other promotional opportunities around their respective championships to support the initiative.

For more information, visit PlayGolfAmerica.com/ TEEITFORWARD.

Subscriptions

We continue to get many requests for subscriptions to the publication and have thus reinstituted them. If you can’t find this publication at your favorite course or range and wish to have it sent right to your mailbox, fill out the form on page 44 and send along a check that will cover postage and handling.

Planning Your 2012 Advertising Budget?

Target Your Audience in SNE Golfer!

Call Mark O’Connor at 413-348-2779 or email markjoc@aol.com.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

GOLF TRAVEL

By BRUCE VITTNER

Sea Palms Resort—A Georgia Star

A

t the 2011 golf show in Providence, a marketing representative from Sea Palms Resort in St. Simons Island, Ga. suggested that we visit her beautiful resort.

We told her we had done stories on Jekyll Island, just south of St. Simons, but had never visited St. Simons. “You’ll love it,” she said. She was correct.

Located just 20 minutes east of Interstate 95 at exit 38 in Georgia, Sea Palms Resort is an oasis of beautiful moss-filled live oaks, pretty marshland with wildlife everywhere and excellent golf.

“Our best golfing season is mid October through April,” said Rick Irwin, head golf professional. Our visit in November attested to Rick’s assessment, as the weather was perfect and the course was in great shape.

Actually, we should probably say courses, because there are 27 holes of golf on the property. George Cobb designed the first 18 holes in 1967. In the 1990’s Tom Jackson came in to design another nine holes, so there are different options for courses to play.

The original 18, called the Sea Palms course measures almost 6,500 yards. There are four sets of tees and the backs have a slope and rating of 70.9 and 130. It is a good test of golf as the two par 5’s on the front play under 500 yards, but the two on the back are very long.

Our favorite hole on the front side was the ninth, a par 3 over a pond. Actually, the pond wraps around the hole on the right and back, so it is a tester. The 18th hole is only the fifth handicap, but we thought was the most difficult. It’s a par 4 with water down the left and measures 423 from the back. Par is a great way to finish your round.

The quite short third nine is really a gem. Water comes into play on many of the holes and although it only measures 2,460 from the blues, it is a great challenge. The fairways are tighter and the water makes you think your way around the course.

We saw many couples playing. “Our resort is a great destination for couples as the island is so romantic, but we get many golfing groups as well,” said Irwin who listed some of the golf packages available.

The resort’s rooms are great for packages as they have many four-bedroom units.

Kathy Vickers, sales manager, showed us some of the four-bedroom units that would be perfect for a group of golfers.

There are 138 rooms, most deluxe suites with full kitchen facilities, that rim the back of the property and look out towards the marsh that is the barrier to protect the land from the Atlantic Ocean.

St. Simons is always rated as one of the top 10 islands in North America. It measures four miles across by 14 miles long (about the size of Manhattan). It is home to the PGA Tour’s McGladrey Classic each year, and Davis Love III and many other PGA Tour players call it home.

Considered one of the Golden Isles of Georgia, St. Simons is a wonderful place to visit and Sea Palms Resort is the place to stay. Besides the 27 holes of golf, the resort has clay tennis courts, fine restaurants, fitness center, giant pool with a tiki bar and other amenities to make your stay relaxing and memorable.

Jacksonville Airport is a little over one hour away. There is a small airport right on the island. There are many fine restaurants, interesting tours and great sightseeing opportunities on the island. Tranquil would be a great adjective to describe St. Simons and Sea Palms Resort offers the perfect setting for family vacations, romantic getaways and golf group outings.

They even have convention and business meeting rooms, and as we arrived there were 1,000 high school students from Georgia just leaving after competing in a technical program sponsored by Georgia Tech.

You can get more information about Sea Palms Resort and Conference Center at www.seapalms.com or call them at 800841-6268.

For group rates email Kathy Vickers at Kathy@seapalms.com or give her a call and mention this article for extra value pricing.

The water, tall grasses and live oaks make for a tranquil setting at Sea Palms.

Bruce Vittner is a member of the Golf Writers Assn. of America and the Golf Travel Writers of America and can be reached at bruce@snegolfer.com.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

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By BRUCE VITTNER

GOLF TRAVEL

Golfing in West Virginia L ast fall I was invited to visit West Virginia for a golf trip.

Thoughts of West Virginia were of coalmines, Mountaineer basketball, Sam Snead and John Denver. Not any more. Now it will be the home of wonderful golf courses.

The trip was a tour around the state playing at four of the nicer resorts that you will see. We started at the Resort at Glade Springs in Daniels that is south of Charleston. With three courses, 200 rooms, four restaurants, spa, tennis and an equestrian center, it could have been our stay for the week. Alas, we only had an afternoon and the following morning.

We played the Cobb Course first. It opened in 1972 and is the only signature George Cobb design. With huge

elevation changes (a trait very common in West Virginia), eight lakes and rolling greens, it was a great start. Be careful of the hundreds of small whitetail deer that meander throughout the course.

The next morning we played Stonehaven at Glade Springs. It is a Tom Clark design that opened in 2003 and is tough. With rock outcroppings, tall trees and dramatic elevation changes you feel like you are in the wilderness (also a trait in West Virginia). There are some very memorable holes with a great variety of par 3’s and par 5’s.

Woodhaven Course, the third at Glade Springs was also designed by Clark and opened in 2009. It plays through a valley that overlooks Glade Creek Gorge.

We didn’t get to play it but it looked demanding from what we saw.

The par 3 18th on Old White TPC. It is one of the few courses on the Tour that finish with a par 3.

Our next stop was The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs. Billed as America’s Resort, its history dates back over 200 years when people would visit the sulphur springs because of its reputed medicinal value.

The Greenbrier’s original Old White Hotel opened in 1858. You might remember that The Greenbrier was identified in the late 1990s as the site of a massive secret bunker that was built during the Cold War in the 60’s and was to serve as a place for the U.S. Congress to go in case of nuclear attack.

There are three golf courses on the property and we got to play The Old White TPC that was designed by Charles Blair Macdonald and Seth Raynor and opened in 1914. There is a train stop right on property that goes to Washington, D.C. and this is where the golfing crowd traveled to in the early part of the 1900s.

What a magnificent golf course. It is the current home of the PGA Tour’s The Greenbrier Classic and was won in 2011

by Scott Stallings, a native of Worcester.

Macdonald incorporated many features from his native Scotland in the design

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of The Old White TPC and there are markers throughout the course with explanations.

West Virginia native Jim Justice is a name that we heard often in our visit to The Greenbrier. A few years ago, he purchased the historic resort and has since made some exciting changes. He opened a casino right inside the hotel that is only available for members and guests of the hotel, spent millions to refurbish the property and even brought in Tom Watson as golf pro emeritus.

Sam Snead was the long-time pro emeritus at The Greenbrier. He and former president Dwight Eisenhower were good friends. Do you think Sam influenced Dwight to build the secret bunker at The Greenbrier?

The course is one of the few that end with a par 3, but that hole can be very difficult as well as many others. It is quite a treat to play the same course that President Wilson played in 1914, the Duke of Windsor in 1919 and scores of other presidents and Tour pros over the years. The pictures in Sam Snead’s, the excellent dining room, will make for a very nostalgic walk.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

GOLF TRAVEL Our first forty-eight hours were filled with great golf, wonderful history and truly magnificent scenery, but we were only half done. The next stop was the Raven Golf Club at Snowshoe Mountain.

Established in 1974 Snowshoe is truly a year-round venue. It has some of the best ski slopes in West Virginia, has a European-style village at the top of the mountain, great bike trails—they host mountain bike races from June through September—and in 1993 Gary Player came in to design what many consider to be the best course in West Virginia.

Many of the golf holes could have been ski slopes. The drop from tee to green on some holes is 200 feet including the par 5 first. What a way to start, as the fairway snakes its way down towards the green. Be careful of the ravine in front of the speedy sloping green.

“We have fairways, rough and then wilderness,” said head professional Gordon McHugh who grew up in the area and is a great ambassador. The par 3 third plays only 100 yards from the white tees, but it will take your breath away. There is a large gorge in front of the green and large rock outcroppings on the right. Hit this postage stamp green and your day will be a success.

The panorama of the Allegheny Mountains, the carving of the course through true wilderness, and the excellent conditioning will make this a very memorable golf experience. The rates charged for golfing at the Raven are very fair as they are throughout West Virginia.

Our last stop was the Arnold Palmer Signature Course at Stonewall Resort.

Opened in 2002, the course sits alongside one of the state’s largest manmade lakes. With rolling terrain, very large greens, and some very demanding holes, the course is manicured and has six sets of tees to fit all levels of play.

Wait until you see the drivable par 4 14th. You’d probably be wiser to lay up, but there’s not much room for that either. The course was named one of America’s Best New Courses by both Golf Digest and Golf Magazine and was recently ranted 23rd of America’s Top 100 Resort Courses by Golfweek.

There are 1,900 acres of resort property at Stonewall. The beautiful Adirondack-style lodge offers state-ofthe-art conference facilities and is a AAA Four Diamond-rated property. There is 374-slip boat marina as well as a wide variety of recreational activities.

This reporter didn’t know what to expect when asked to go to West Virginia to write about some of the resorts and golf courses offered in the Mountain state. It was a most pleasant surprise.

There were times during the week when I felt that it would make a great trip for golfing buddies, and yet other times when I thought it would make a great family vacation. Camping is prevalent throughout the state. Skiing and whitewater rafting are as good as anywhere in the East, and more ziplines are added every month. There are 50 state parks and they are all free.

The eastern panhandle of West Virginia around Harpers Ferry, formerly part of Virginia, was where one of the first battles of the Civil War was held.

The locals voted to stay in the Union as Virginia decided to be part of the Confederacy. The Federals defeat of the Confederates at Harpers Ferry paved the way for West Virginia to earn statehood in 1861. The people are very friendly, unassuming and proud of what they have—deservingly so.

Seventy percent of the nation’s population lives within a day’s drive of West Virginia. Six interstate highways intersect in the state and it is a fourhour drive to Washington. The “country roads” are even more fun to travel along.

Betty Cutlip, marketing manager for the West Virginia Division of Tourism, our hostess for the trip, said when we landed in Charleston, “I think you are really going to like our state and our golf.” Boy, was she right.

Scenes like this are common throughout the course at Stonewall, in fact all over West Virginia.

If you go....

West Virginia Tourism www.wvtourism.com 800-225-5982 Resort at Glade Springs www.gladesprings.com 866-562-8054 The Greenbrier Resort www.greenbrier.com 800-453-4858 Snowshoe Mountain www.snowshoemtn.com 877-441-4386 Stonewall Resort www.stonewallresort.com 888-278-8150

Bruce Vittner is a member of the Golf Writers of America and the Golf Travel Writers of America and can be reached at bruce@snegolfer.com.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

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PEOPLE IN GOLF

Karbowski Garners R.I. Senior Open Rick Karbowski (l) with tournament director Rick Holcomb.

T

he 7th Annual Rhode Island Senior Open Championship was held on September 26-27 at Valley Country Club in Warwick, R.I. with the strongest field in it’s history.

Rick Karbowski from Berlin, Mass. broke the tournament record when he fired two consecutive 67’s for a two round total of 134, 10 under par to win by three strokes over Jerry Courville of Conn. Tennis Hall-of-Famer and now golf professional, Ivan Lendl of Conn. was third, eight strokes back.

DON’T MISS THE ACTION!

Karbowski, is a golf instructor at the Auburn Driving Range and winner of the 2011 Massachusetts Senior Open. Both he and Courville have played part-time on the Champions Tour. Tad Constant and Tom O’Connor tied for the Over 60 division title with scores of 153.

Said tournament director, Rick Holcomb, “All of the players had great things to say about the condition of the Valley C.C. course. The superintendent, Frank Arruda, did a masterful job getting it ready, and once again Valley C.C. club manager, Melodi Caruso and her staff gave all the players the royal treatment.

I’d also like to thank the tournament staff: Ed Hines, John Pavao, Ed Reed, Dan Beaulieu and David Brault.”

Plans are already underway for the 2012 R.I. Senior Open. You can contact Holcomb at 401-862-4119.

Top Five Scores: Rick Karbowski 67-67-134 $1200.00 Jerry Courville 69-68-137 $800.00 Ivan Lendl 70-72-142 $600 Mike Ryan 74-73-147 $400 Tom Wecal 75-74-149 $300 Over 60 Division: Tad Constant 77-76-153 $300 Tom O’Connor 76-77-153 $300

Rising Star SUBSCRIBE NOW Southern New England Golfer is published five times per year 5 issues for $8 • 10 issues for $15 • 15 issues for $20 To subscribe, please fill in the information below and send with your check to: Southern New England Golfer, PO BOX 10038 Cranston, RI 02910

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44

Matt Every Age: 27 Birthplace: Daytona Beach, Fla. Family: Single College: Univ. of Florida Turned Pro: 2006

Matt Every was a walk-on at the University of Fla. after turning down a scholarship to No. Florida. He went on to be named firstteam All-American three times and was on the winning Walker and Palmer Cups. He played at the 2005 Northeast Amateur and was also the low amateur at the 2005 U.S. Open.

In his rookie season on the Nationwide Tour he made 12 cuts in 26 starts to keep his card. He had his only Nationwide in 2009 when he won the Tour Championship to vault him to 10th place and earn a PGA Tour card. He lost his card, but managed to make three Tour cuts in five starts in 2011. He faired better on the Nationwide Tour as he made 17 cuts in 20 events to earn $229,066 that placed him 18th on the money list to earn his Tour card for 2012.

In the second event of 2012 he finished the Sony Open tied for sixth. We feel he is going to have a breakout season in 2012.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

GREATER RI LOCATOR MAP 1. BEAVER RIVER G.C. (18) P 343 Kingstown Rd. Richmond, RI, 401-539-2100 www.beaverrivergolf.com, PS, CR, CH, SB, O 2. BLACKSTONE NATIONAL G.C. (18) SP 227 Putnam Hill Rd. Sutton, MA, 508-865-2111 www.bngc.net, CR,CL,CH,PS,O,DR 3. BLISSFUL MEADOWS G.C. (18) SP 801 Chocalog Rd., Uxbridge, MA, 508-278-6110 www.blissfulmeadows.com, CR,SL,DR,PS,O,DR 4. BUNGAY BROOK G.C. (9) P 30 Locust St., Bellingham, MA, 508-883-1600 www.bungaybrook.com, CR,CL,DR,PS,CH,O 5. BUTTON HOLE SHORT COURSE (9) P, X 1 Button Hole Dr. Providence, RI, 401-421-1664 www.buttonhole.org, CL,CH,DR,PS, Lessons 6. CAPTAINS GOLF COURSE (36) P 1000 Freemans Way, Brewster, MA, 508-896-1716, www.captainsgolfcourse.com, CR,CL,CH,PS,O 7. CHEMAWA GOLF COURSE (18) P 350 Cushman Rd. N. Attleboro, MA, 508-399-7330, www.chemawagolf.com, CR,CH,O,CL,Tee times 8. CONNECTICUT NATIONAL (18) P 136 Chase Rd. Putnam, CT, 860-928-7748 www.ctnational.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,SB,O 9. COUNTRY VIEW G.C. (18) P 49 Club Lane Burrillville, RI, 401-568-7157 www. countryviewgolf.net, CR,CL,PS,CH,O 10. COVENTRY PINES G.C. (9) P Harkney Hill Rd. Coventry, RI, 401-397-9482 CR,CL,CH,SB, Senior Rates 11. CRYSTAL LAKE G.C. (18) SP 100 Broncos Hwy., Mapleville, RI, 401-567-4500 www.crystallakegolfclub.com, CL,CR,PS,CH,O,SB 12. EAST GREENWICH G.C. (9) SP 1646 Division Rd., East Greenwich, RI, 401-884-5656 www.eastgreenwichgc.com, CR,CL,CH,O,Rest.

13. ELMRIDGE GOLF CLUB (27) P 229 Elmridge Rd., Pawcatuck, CT, 860-599-2248 www.elmridgegolf.com, CR,CL,DR,PS,CH,O 14. EXETER COUNTRY CLUB (18) SP 320 Victory Hwy, (Rte. 102) Exeter, RI, 401-295-8212 www.exetercc.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,O 15. FAIRLAWN GOLF COURSE (9) P,X Sherman Ave. Lincoln, RI, 401-334-3937 www. fairlawngolfcourse.com, CR,CL,CH,SB,O 16. FENNER HILL G.C. (18) P 33 Wheeler Ln., Hope Valley, RI, 401-539-8000 www. fennerhill.com, CR,CL,DR,PS,CH,O 17. FOSTER COUNTRY CLUB (18) P 67 Johnson Rd., Foster, RI, 401-397-7750 www. fostercountryclub.com, CR,CL,DR,PS,CH,O 18. GREEN VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB (18) SP 371 Union St., Portsmouth, RI, 401-847-9543, 401-842-0126 (T-times), www.greenvalleyccofri.com, DR,PS,CH,CR,O 19. HILLSIDE COUNTRY CLUB (18) SP 82 Hillside Ave., Rehoboth, MA, 508-252-9761 www.hillsidecountryclub.com,CR,CL,PS,O,Banquets 20. JAMESTOWN G.C. (9) P 245 Conanicus Ave., Jamestown, RI, 401-423-9930 www.jamestowngolf.com, CR,CL,CH 21. JOHN E. PARKER MUNICIPAL G.C. (9) P 17 Fisher St., Taunton, MA, 508-822-1797 CR,DR,CH,SB, Skins Thurs. 3:45 22. JUNIPER HILL G.C. (36) P 202 Brigham St., Northboro, MA, 508-393-2444 www.juniperhillgc.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,SB,O 23. LAKE OF ISLES C.C. (18) P Next to Foxwoods Casino, Mashantucket, CT, 860-312-3636, www.lakeofisles.com,CR,CL,PS,CH,SB,O 24. LAUREL LANE COUNTRY CLUB (18) P Laurel Lane, off Rte.138, W. Kingston, RI, 401-7833844, www.laurellanecountryclub.com, CR,PS,CH,O, Proper attire 25. LOCUST VALLEY G.C. (9) P 106 Locust St., Attleboro, MA, 508-222-1500 CR,CH,SB,O,new low rates

26. MAPLEGATE COUNTRY CLUB (18) SP 160 Maple St. Bellingham, MA, 508-966-4040 www. maplegate.com, CR,CL,PS,CH 27. MEADOW BROOK G.C. (18) P 163 Kingstown Rd., (Rte.138), Richmond, RI, 401-539-8491,www.meadowbrookgolfri.com CR,CL,CH,PS,O,PGA pro 28. MELODY HILL COUNTRY CLUB (18) P 55 Melody Hill Ln., Harmony, RI, 401-949-9851 CR,PS,CH 29. MGA LINKS AT MAMANTAPETT (18) P,X 300 W. Main Rd., (Rte. 123), Norton, MA, 508-2220555, www.mamantapett.com, CL,PS,CH,SB,O 30. MIDDLEBROOK C.C. (9) P 149 Pleasant St., Rehoboth, MA, 508-252-9395 CR,PS,CH,SB 31. MIDVILLE COUNTRY CLUB (9) P 100 Lombardi Ln., W. Warwick, RI, 401-828-9215 www.midvillegolfclub.com, CR,CL,PS,CH 32. NEW ENGLAND COUNTRY CLUB (18) SP 180 Paine St., Bellingham, MA, 508-883-2300 www. newenglandcountryclub.com,CR,CL,DR,PS,CH,O 33. NEWPORT NATIONAL GOLF CLUB (18) SP 324 Mitchell’s Lane, Middletown, RI, 401-848-9690, www.newportnational.com, CR,CL,PS,SB,O 34. NO. KINGSTOWN COUNTRY CLUB (18) P 615 Callahan Rd., No. Kingstown, RI, 401-294-0684 www.nkgc.com, DR,PS,CR,CL,CH,O 35. NORTON COUNTRY CLUB (18) SP 188 Oak St., Norton, MA, 508-285-2400 www. nortoncountryclub.com, CR,CL,CH,SB,O 36. PINE VALLEY C.C. (9) P 136 Providence St., Rehoboth, MA, 508-336-5064 CR,PS,CH,SB 37. PINECREST GOLF CLUB (9) P 25 Pinehurst Dr., Richmond, RI, 401-364-8600 www. pinecrestgolfclub.org, CR,CL,CH,SB, Leagues 38. RACEWAY GOLF COURSE (18) SP 205 E. Thompson Rd., Thompson, CT, 860-923959,1 www.racewaygolf.com,CR,CL,PS,DR,CH,REST.,O 39. REHOBOTH COUNTRY CLUB (18) P 155 Perryville Rd. Rehoboth, MA, 508-252-6259 www. rehobothcountryclub.com, CR,PS,CH,O, Tee times 40. RIVER RIDGE GOLF CLUB (18) P 259 Preston Rd., Griswold, CT, 860-376-3268 www. riverridgegolf.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,O 41. ROSE HILL GOLF CLUB (9) P, X 222 Rose Hill Rd., So. Kingstown, RI, 401-788-1088 www.rosehillri.com, CR,CL,CH,SB, Leagues 42. SHENNECOSSETT GOLF COURSE (18) P 93 Plant St., Groton, CT, 860-445-0262 (PS-4481867) www.shennygolf.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,Rest.,O 43. TIN CUP GOLF & DRIVING RANGE (6) P 2 Fairway Drive, Coventry, RI, 401-823-4653 www.tincupgc.com, CR,CL,CH,O,DR 44. TRIGGS MEMORIAL GOLF COURSE (18) P Chalkstone Ave., Providence, RI, 401-521-8460 www. triggs.us, CR,CL,PS,CH,O 45. WAMPANOAG GOLF COURSE (9) P 168 Old Providence Rd., Swansea, MA, 508-379-9832 www.wampanoaggolf.com, CR,CL,PS,CH 46. WINDMILL HILL G.C. (9) X 35 Schoolhouse Rd., (off Rte. 136), Warren, RI, 401-245-1463, www.windmillhillgolfri.com, CR,CL,CH,O,Restaurant 47. WOOD RIVER GOLF (18) P 78 Woodville Alton Rd., Hope Valley, RI, 401-3640700, www.woodrivergolf.com, CR,CH,SB,O 48. WOODLAND GREENS GOLF COURSE (9) P 655 Old Baptist Rd., N. Kingstown, RI, 401-2942872, www.woodlandgc.com, CR,PS,CH,O DRIVING RANGES A. ATLANTIC DRIVING RANGES LTD. (9) X 754 Newport Ave,. So. Attleboro, MA, 508-761-5484 www.atlanticgolfcenter.com, Shadow Brook, Heated tees, retail shop, mini golf, chip and putt

B. BUTTON HOLE LEARNING CENTER(9)PAR3 1 Button Hole Dr., Providence, RI, 401-421-1664, www.buttonhole.org, Target greens, two putting greens, lessons C. GOLF LEARNING CENTER OF NEW ENGLAND 19 Leonard St., Norton, MA, (exit 10 off Rte. 495), 508-285-4500, www.golflearningcenter.com, 1000 ft. grass teeline, heated bays, putting, chipping, bunkers D. IRON WOODS GOLF PRACTICE CENTER 1081 Iron Hill Mine Rd., (off Rte. 146), N. Smithfield, 401-766-1151, www.iwgolf.com, lessons, putting greens, grass tees, covered area, bunker E. MULLIGAN’S ISLAND GOLF & ENTERTAINMENT (9) X 1000 New London Ave., (Rte 2), Cranston, RI, www. mulligansisland.com, 60 stall driving range, covered area, batting cages, mini golf, par 3 course, 18-hole pitch & putt, PGA Golf Academy, Spargo Golf on premises, club fitting and repairs

F. PAVILION RESTAURANT & DRIVING RANGE 15 Frontier Rd., (exit 1 off Rte. 95), Ashaway, RI, 401377-9900, www.thepavilionrestaurant.com, grass tees, mini golf, restaurant, Sports Bar G. SEEKONK DRIVING RANGE 1977 Fall River Ave., (Rte. 6), Seekonk, MA, 508-3368074, www.seekonkdrivingrange.com, Covered heated tees, batting cages, mini golf, lessons available, grass hitting area

KEY Golf Course Driving Range DR = Driving Range ( ) = Holes PS = Pro Shop P = Public CH = Clubhouse SP = Semi Private O = Outings X = Executive SB = Snack Bar CR = Car Rental CL = Club Rental

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SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

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WESTERN MASS LOCATOR MAP

1. AGAWAM MUNICIPAL G.C. (18) P 128 Southwick St., Feeding Hills, MA 413-786-2194 www.agawamgc.com, CR,SB,O,CH,PS 2. AMHERST G.C. (9) P 365 S. Pleasant St., Amherst, MA, 413-256-6894 www.amherstgolfclub.org, CR,SB,O,CH,PS 3. BEAVER BROOK G.C. (9) P 183 Main St., Haydenville, MA, 413-268-7229 4. COUNTRY CLUB OF GREENFIELD (18) SP 224 Country Club Ln., Greenfield, MA, 413-773-7530, www.countryclubofgreenfield.net DR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS 5. COUNTRY CLUB OF WILBRAHAM (18) SP 859 Stony Hill Rd., Wilbraham, MA, 413-596-8897 www.countryclubofwilbraham.com DR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS 6. CHICOPEE C.C. (18) P 1290 Burnett Rd., Chicopee, MA, 413-594-9295 DR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS 7. EAST MOUNTAIN C.C. (18) P 1458 E. Mountain Rd., Westfield, MA, 413-568-1539 www.eastmountaincc.com, DR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS 8. ELMCREST C.C. (18) Private 105 Somersville Rd., E. Longmeadow, MA 413-575-7477 www.golfelmcrest.cc.com DR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS 9. FENWAY GOLF RANGE & PITCH & PUTT (DR) 112 Allen St., E. Longmeadow, MA,413-525-4444 www.fenwaygolf.com 10. HAMPDEN CC (18) P 128 Wilbraham Rd., Hampden, MA, 413-566-8010 www.hampdencountryclub.com, DR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS 11. HICKORY RIDGE C.C. (18) SP 191 W. Pomeroy Ln., Amherst, MA, 413-253-9320 www.hickoryridgecc.com, DR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS 12. LEDGES G.C. (18) P 18 Mulligan Dr., S. Hadley, MA, 413-532-2307 www.ledgesgc.com, DR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS 13. OAK RIDGE G.C. (18) P 850 S. Westfield St., Feeding Hills, MA 413-789-7307, www.oakridgegc.com, CR,SB,O,CH,PS 14. SHAKER FARMS C.C. (18) P 866 Shaker Rd., Westfield, MA, 413-568-4087 www.shakerfarmscc.com, DR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS 15. SOUTHAMPTON C.C. (18) P 329 College Hwy., Southampton, MA ,413-527-9815 CR,SB,O,CH,PS 16. ST. ANNE C.C. (18) P 781 Shoemaker Ln., Feeding Hills, MA, 413-786-2088, www.stannecc.com, CR,SB,O,CH,PS 17. TEKOA C.C. (18) P 459 Russell Rd., Westfield, MA, 413-568-1064 www.tekoacc.com, CR,SB,O,CH,PS 18. THE BLANDFORD CLUB (9) P 17 North St., Blandford, MA, 413-848-2443 www.massgolftennis.com, CR,SB,O,CH,PS 19. THE CRUMPIN FOX CLUB (18) P 87 Parmenter Rd., Bernardston, MA, 413-648-9101 www.golfthefox.com, DR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS 20. THE RANCH G.C. (18) P 65 Sunnyside Rd., Southwick, MA, 413-569-9333 www.theranchgolfclub.com, DR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS 21. WESTOVER G.C. (18) P 100 South St., Granby, MA, 413-547-8610 www.westovergolfcourse.com, DR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS 22. WORTHINGTON G.C. (9) P 113 Ridge Rd., Worthington, MA, 413-238-4464 www.worthingtongolfclub.net, DR,CR,SB,O,CH,PS

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For breaking local golf stories visit www. snegolfer.com and click “Breaking Stories.”

There is also a scroll on the home page of current golf news.

Answer on p.4

GOLF COURSES

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

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CVS CAREMARK CHARITY CLASSIC June 17-19, 2012 Rhode Island Country Club Barrington, RI

World-class golf for worthwhile charities.

For more than a decade the CVS Caremark Charity Classic has donated over $15 million to local nonproďŹ t organizations including Serve Rhode Island, Bradley Hospital, The American Heart Association and Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence. We believe such support strengthens communities and positively affects the quality of life for countless families and individuals.

This year, you can make a difference in the lives of others when you join us at our world-class golf event showcasing some of the PGA and LPGA’s top players.

For volunteer or ticket information, visit www.cvscharityclassic.com or call 1-866-CVS-9441 Presented by: High Quality Vitamins & Supplements

Photos courtesy of John Martin Save the Bay | Mike Ivins 2009 | Lisa Hornak 2009

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SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Winter 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com