Tee Time on the Gulf Coast Winter 2016-17

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Tee Time Winter 2016-17

On the Gulf Coast

In This Issue:

Schuessler Qualifies for Senior PGA Championship What You Should Know About Golf & Aging Turn Bogies Into Pars....Or Better The Golfing Gourmet Product Reviews Big Savings at Local Courses!! Local Events Calendar Course Map

Mississippi • Alabama • Florida


Play Your Favorite Local Courses

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Tee Time On the Gulf Coast

Contents 6 • What You Should Know About Golf & Aging 8 • Turning Bogies Into Pars...Or Better 11 • Golfing Gourmet: Standing Rib Roast 12 • Review: Nicklaus Golf Balls 16 • Course Map 24 • Schuessler Qualifies For Senior PGA Championship 26 • Product Review: Royal & Awesome 28 • Product Review: Tour Angle 144 30 • Professional Calendar 31 • Local Events Calendar A Joint Publication of RGB Marketing & CoastPro Marketing Copyright 2016 - 2017 All Rights Reserved.

www.teetimeonthegulfcoast.com

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Randy Burgan, CEO/Radio Host (251) 583-6188 rgburgan@yahoo.com Joey Johnson, Publisher (251) 379-0825 jjohnson@coastpromarketing.com


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(251) 379-0825


What You Should Know About Golf & Aging by Bobby Hall, PGA & Bill Howard

Golf caters to the senior player more than any other sport. There is no age limit, and the handicap system allows us to participate in organized competitions for as long as we are able to play golf. However, at some point in our lives all of our golf games will decline and we will become distance challenged. Physical Effects of Aging

human bodies muscle mass with a sedentary lifestyle will decrease by 50% between the ages of 20 and 50. Additionally on average individuals will lose about 30% of their strength between the ages of 50 and 70. These are startling numbers and definitively point to the necessity of any golfer to be pro-active in the reversal of these aforementioned aging trends.

Whether we like it or not, we’re all getting older!! In golf, the first thing we probably notice is that we’re not hitting the golf ball as far. This creeps up on us as typically it’s a slow process. The physical hallmarks of aging are a gradual loss of strength, endurance and, most of all, flexibility. We all suffer the consequences of wear, particularly in our joints. In the extreme, this wear results in the loss of cartilage that cushions the moving surface of our joints, i.e. osteoarthritis. Most of us start to gain some weight. Gaining weight is a natural process because we don’t reduce our food intake and our metabolism, our ability to digest and process food slows down. We need less food to feed our body. We used to be able to eat anything we wanted after a round of golf, a few beers, a hamburger, you name it! Not so much anymore. It is scientifically proven the body can become physically limited if steps are not taken to impede the aging process. Research studies have indicated the 6 • Tee Time on the Gulf Coast

Flexibility is a major part of loss of distance. We lose a lot of flexibility in our hips and the hamstring muscles because we sit and watch TV for hours or sit at a desk in the office on the computer and before you know it you can’t rotate or turn away from the ball as far as you once could. The extra weight affects your swing plane. The lack of muscle affects your strength and stamina. And lesser flexibility affects your ability to rotate and turn. All this contributes to your loss of distance. Accepting Effects of Aging Distance is dependent on swing speed or torque and this depends on flexible,


strong muscles. You need to work on your flexibility exercises along with some strength training. Introduce some golf specific flexibility exercises. You can look up some of these on the Internet. Then spend no longer than 10 or 20 minutes a day stretching in various ways. Basically, you want to improve your ability to take a full swing at the ball with a complete shoulder turn. This creates the torque you’re looking for to increase your swing speed and in the end hit the ball farther. You’ll be able to recover some of this lost distance and, by the way, probably feel stronger at the end of your round of golf. The fact is you can’t totally overcome the effects of aging. If this was possible then you would think Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus with all their resources would still be hitting it long distances. On the PGA Tour players seem to hit the wall at 45. Very few players win on the PGA Tour after the age of 45. On the Champions Tour the players seem to hit another wall around 58 to 60 years of age. Very few Champion Tour players win on that tour after the age of 60. Amateurs face these same age constraints in addition to the wall you will hit around 70 years old. Each wall we encounter will cost us loss of distance and loss of coordination. Overall expect to lose 50 to 80 yards distance off your driver and 20 to 30 yards distance off of your irons. You must eventually accept your aging

and the loss of distance. You have to adjust your club choices to hit the ball pin high. How easy is this to do? Well at first you might notice that you are no longer hitting, let’s say your 7 iron 150 yards any more. For months you will still hit the 7 iron from 150 yards even though you know you are only hitting it 145 yards. As time goes by, and you are only hitting your 7 iron 140 yards you will begin to change your attitude about how far you hit the 7 iron. For most, it takes about a 10 yard loss of distance before you actually make a conscious decision to hit more club. The mind loves to go to the past and the future. This is certainly true with the aging golfer. When you drive on 200 yards down the middle, you are frustrated because you remember when you used to hit them 240. The key to golf at any age is to be happy in the moment. Although that is easier said than done, the reality is we only have this moment and most importantly your ball is in the place where you hit it. Accept the moment. What can I do to Overcome Aging? Physical Activity Doing regular physical activities can make you feel good about yourself and it can have a number of benefits for your health. For example, it reduces the risk of developing heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, some cancers, type 2 diabetes and ‘thinning’ of the bones (osteoporosis). If you are over the age of 65 you should still aim to do the same amount of aerobic activity and muscle-strengthening activity as (continued on page 22)


Turning Bogies Into Pars...Or Better by Rea Schuessler, PGA Professional “Keeping it real” as they say now days, as we get ready for 2017 and looking into ways to get to your next level of improving your game, is what I consider the most overlooked area for most golfers. In my opinion the better players embrace getting closer to the hole and put in time and effort, whereas the players that struggle to improve either: A- Have not learned the skills and strategy to score better or, B- Have the skills and know the strategy but have not committed to budgeting time to improve. When I get with a new or existing student and we go over how they practice and what components of golf they spend the most time on, universally it is golf swing. No doubt the full swing needs attention, but Touring Professionals average hitting 6 to 7 out of every ten greens they approach. What should that say to most golfers not on tour? So if we are “keeping it real” and you are reading this you are missing 5 out of every 10 greens or more most of time you are playing. Getting up and down should always be a priority when looking to truly improve or maintain your game. Below are a couple of ideas to improve! First of all if you do not feel you have the skills or understand basic strategy to improve I highly encourage you to find a local PGA Teaching Professional who can help give you a proper foundation to improve your skills. If you feel you do have a good foundation, below are a couple of skill games to get you going. 1. Easy - Medium - Tough Challenge - Choose 3 easy chip shots 3 medium challenging chip/pitches and then 3 tough chip/pitch shots. Once they are chosen use the clubs you feel give you your best chance to execute plus your putter and score yourself. So you have 9 “holes” just like real golf and see how you do. You can play the same 9 shots again or choose 9 more. This is a great way to simulate real on course situations. Find a friend and do this or set benchmarks for yourself and do this on a regular basis. 2. Over the Shoulder Game - Again take 3 balls and gently toss behind you in different spots and again play 9 different shots around the green and see how you do. Play the ball where it lies just like real golf and score it. If you have a friend to do this he/she gets to drop or toss yours and you his/hers! This is allot fun and again simulates on course reality! Hope this helps and lets “Keep it Real” and take your game to the next level in 2017! Rea Schuessler is the Lead Instructor of the Gulf Shores Golf Academy. He has been named “One of the Top Teachers in Alabama” by Golf Digest. Rea can be contacted at (251) 978-1625 or rea@honoursgolf.com. 8 • Tee Time on the Gulf Coast



• Meticulous Course Conditions • Fully-Stocked Pro Shop • Practice Facilities • Bar & Grill

Jeff Marks, PGA General Manager & Head Golf Professional

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The Golfing Gourmet S t a n d i n g R i b Roast

by Danny Spybey, Excutive Chef & General Manager Stewart Lodges at Steelwood Hello again all my Golfing Foodies. Well…. We made it. Survived the Election, Survived Thanksgiving and got to watch some great football!! As the New Year begins I love to start things off the right way. And nothing says the right way like a favorite of mine. THE STANDING BEEF RIB ROAST! Some people are intimidated by this culinary masterpiece but if you just follow the directions below you cannot go wrong. Items needed: Shallow Cooking Pan, Wire Rack that fits on that pan, Meat Thermometer Recipe 4.5 lb. Standing Rib Roast (trimmed – ask butcher) 4 tbsp. Cracked Black Peppercorns 3 tsp. Kosher Salt (split in two parts) 5 tbsp. Dijon Mustard 1 cup Chopped Shallot (4 small ones) 5 cloves Crushed Garlic 4 tbsps. Fresh Rosemary 4 tbsp. Fresh Thyme 1 cup of Red Wine 1 tbsp. Butter Directions: Pre-heat Oven to 450 degrees. Remove top rack before heating oven and place bottom rack on second to bottom setting. Let rib roast come to room temperature Spray wire rack with non-stick spray and place rib roast directly on wire rack then place both into shallow cooking pan. Combine in food processor: peppercorns, 1/2 the salt, Dijon mustard, shallot, garlic, rosemary and thyme. Pulse 5-6 times or until mixture just comes together. Rub mixture on all sides of the roast. Try to get as much to stick as possible but don’t worry about the part that falls into pan. Just leave that part there during the cooking process. (Yummy crunches!!) Place Roast in oven for 20 minutes on 450 degrees. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and cook for an additional 1 hour. Keep roast in oven. Take internal temperature with meat thermometer (put the thermometer into the thickest part of the roast). WE ARE LOOKING FOR 135-140 degrees max. If you have reached that temp then remove the Roast and let cool. If you are just under, cook at 5-7 minute intervals until you reach that target zone. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT: Do not overcook. 140 degrees is a medium rare temperature. The Roast will continue to cook while it rests. Basically an extra 5 degrees. If you like your meat a little more done then when it is time to slice and serve you can cook a few pieces a little longer in the oven for those guests who request. If you’re like me and like things on the rare side then check roast at 50 minutes and look for that 130-135 degree temp. Tee Time on the Gulf Coast • 11


Review: Nicklaus Golf Balls by: Joey Johnson

When Jack Nicklaus talks, golfers listen. The winner of 18 major championships and 74 official PGA titles, Jack has produced a line of golf balls designed to 1- simplify the process of selecting the right ball to use, and 2- make charitable contributions. From Nicklaus.com: Our goal: To simplify golf ball selection. In today’s world, most golfers don’t know which ball is the right ball for them. With Nicklaus Black, Nicklaus Blue, and Nicklaus White, all you need to know is the tee you play from. We have created three cutting edge balls to maximize feel and distance for different levels of play: · Nicklaus White - For those who play from the forward tees · Nicklaus Blue - For those who play from the middle tees · Nicklaus Black - For those who play from the back tees A portion of each purchase amount is donated to the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, dedicated to supporting the well-being of children across the country by providing access the world-class heath care. For more information about the foundation, visit www.nchcf.org. We took a closer look at each ball and tested their performance on the course. Nicklaus White As described, the white is for players who play from the forward tee. The ball features a compression of 62, has a surlyn cover, a soft gradient core, and a spin reducing mantle. The ball is best suited for ladies or senior golfers with relatively low swing speeds. While the Nicklaus White has a relatively low compression, this doesn’t necessarily translate to a “soft” feel. The cover actually feels rather hard. The ball does seem easy to compress and offers low spin. The Nicklaus White is a good ball for players looking for reduced spin and more distance.

Nicklaus Blue Designed for players who play the “middle tees”. The Nicklaus Blue has compression of 82, a surlyn cover, high-speed gradient core, and a low spin mantle.

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• Daily Tee Times • 18- Hole Championship Course • Full Service Grill / Snack Bar • Driving Range / Practice Facility • PGA Staff on site • Full Service Pro-Shop • Club Fitting – Grips – Club Repair

Quail Creek Golf Course Highway 181 Fairhope, Alabama

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Tee Time On the Gulf Coast

Hosts Randy Burgan & Danny Spybey

• Local Golf News & Events • Professional Golf Tours • Great Guests Each Week • Instructional Tips • Two Hours of Great Golf Talk! Listen Live Every Sunday From 11 AM - 1 PM FM Talk 106.5

www.teetimeonthegulfcoast.com Tee Time on the Gulf Coast • 15


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1 Magnolia Grove 2 Azalea City 3 Spring Hill College (251) 380-4655 4 Holly Hills 5 TimberCreek (251) 621-9900 6 Lake Forest (251) 626-9324 7 Rock Creek

springhillgolfcourse.com golftimbercreek.com lakeforestycc.com

8 Quail Creek (251) 990-0240 cofairhope.com 9 Grand Hotel 10 Kiva Dunes 11 Peninsula 12 Gulf Shores Golf Club 13 Gulf Links Golf Ctr. (251) 970-1444 gulflinksgolf.com 14 Orange Beach Golf Ctr. (251) 981- GOLF obparksandrec.com 15 Glenlakes (251) 955-1220 16 Soldiers Creek 17 Brewton Country Club

www.glenlakesgolf.com

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Tee Time on the Gulf Coast Radio Show Sundays 11am-1pm on FM Talk 106.5 www.teetimeonthegulfcoast.com


New Owners! New Greens!

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Call For Tee Times (251) 970-1444 www.gulflinksgolf.com

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Play More.... Spend Less

Very comparable to most other surlyn covered balls on the market. Not as “clicky” as the Nicklaus White, the Blue offers increased spin on full shots and pitches. Nicklaus Black

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The Nicklaus Black is the headliner of the group. It is designed for better players who have higher swing speeds, expect optimal control on all shots, and higher rates of spin on approach shots. The Black has a compression of 84, a responsive urethane cover, a high speed gradient core, and a spin optimized mantle. We spent the most time testing the Nicklaus Black and came away quite impressed. The ball seemed at least as long as other tour-quality urethane balls. The ball is very impressive with iron shots. Balls fly with a medium-high trajectory and check up very impressively. Several rounds were played in windy conditions and the ball penetrates the wind quite nicely. On pitch shots around the green, when a little spin is called for, the Nicklaus Black produces on par with other premium balls on the market. Give it a try up against your regular ball and see for yourself! The White and Blue are available for $28.00 per dozen. The Black is available for $32.00 per dozen. Prices include shipping.

www.teetimeonthegulfcoast.com 20 • Tee Time on the Gulf Coast

I’d recommend that you give one of the Nicklaus golf balls a try. You’ll get a good ball at a great price while contributing to a wonderful cause. Nicklaus golf balls are available online at www.nicklaus.com.


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as younger adults, depending on your ability. As well as this, a particular goal for older people should be, where possible, to do activities to help with flexibility and balance. This is to help reduce the risk of falls, and injury from falls. Examples of activities to help flexibility include yoga, golf, and stretching exercises. Examples of activities to help balance include dancing, T’ai Chi or keep fit classes. Special keep fit classes for older people are available in many areas and will usually include activities for flexibility and balance. The Nix Center in Fairhope has a number of exercise activities that can help you keep fit. Don’t over do it. People often injure themselves trying to do too much. As you continue to age, this time and effort probably will not overcome your loss of distance. However, the upside is you might just live longer. That will give you more time to spend on the golf course! Joint Replacement Surgery When it comes to relief of suffering, improving quality of life , and enhancing senior golf, the most effective procedure for osteoarthritis, and perhaps musculoskeletal conditions in general, is total joint replacement surgery. More than 350,000 hip replacements and 300,000 knee replacements are performed yearly in the United States. It is estimated that more than seventy percent of these procedures are performed on those 65 and older. A very common sport related question from the prospec22 • Tee Time on the Gulf Coast

tive hip or knee replacement patients is “will I be able to continue playing golf?” The answer in most cases is an unqualified yes. Your surgeon is the final authority in determining what to do and not to do after surgery. What can I do to Increase My Distance? Tee It Forward To help golfers have more fun on the course and enhance their overall experience by playing from a set of tees best suited to their abilities, The PGA of America and the United States Golf Association have partnered to support “TEE IT FORWARD,” a new national initiative to be proposed for golf facilities nationwide. If the majority of your shots into the green is greater than 150 yards then you should Tee It Forward. Go to the set of tees that will allow you to be within 150 yards of the green on most of your shots into the green. You can multiply your driver distance by 28 and get the length of golf course you should enjoy playing. Buy New Technology Buy new technology especially if your equipment is 8 years old or older. If you have steel shafts then try graphite shafts. If you use Stiff shafts try Regular shafts, if you use Regular shafts try senior shafts. Hey... what could it hurt? The new technology in the cupped faced irons and the trampoline effect in the woods will also help add a few yards to your shots. Additionally, the newer irons are lofted stronger than the older irons so you can hit your 9 iron


like you used to hit your 8 iron. Use a Harder/Distance Ball Try a 2 piece Surlyn/Ionomer ball as they will typically go 5-8 yards farther than a 3 or 4 piece Urethane covered ball. That’s 10-16 yards on each hole for 2 shots. This is a quick and easy way to pick up a few yards and save a few bucks in the process. Use Hybrids If you are still using the 3, 4 and 5 irons then you have to try Hybrids. They are easier to hit, they go higher, and fly longer than those irons of yours. This is a must if you want more distance from these clubs. Most will be hesitant to make this change but when you do you will wish you had made the change to hybrids months earlier. Lift Your Left Heel Off the Ground

to make a more powerful swing. What can you do to slow the rate of aging and get some of your distance back? Physical activity such as stretching and exercising will help slow the aging effect on your body. Teeing It Forward, updating your technology, using longer balls, replacing the 3, 4 and 5 irons with hybrids, and lifting your left heel on your backswing, all will help regain some of the distance you have lost. Even if you do all these things, you will still continue to lose distance as you age. Everyone who plays golf must come to grips with the fact that their skills will eventually diminish. So accept the changes of life… work on your short game… and when you can enjoy golf with your buddies!!

Lift your left heel off the ground on your back swing and before you swing down with your arms plant the left heel back on the ground. Most of the great golfers in the past used this swing technique to make a bigger back swing. Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Byron Nelson, Johnny Miller, Nick Price, Laura Davies, Julie Inkster, Patty Sheehan and even today’s Bubba Watson all lifted their heel off the ground on their back swing. Tiger Woods used the new teaching method of keeping your left knee planted throughout the swing. This may have contributed to his knee problems. Just try lifting your heel on your backswing …it may make it easier for you

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Rea Schuessler Qualifies For Senior PGA Championship By Joey Johnson

Local PGA Professional Rea Schuessler recently qualified for the 78th Senior PGA Championship to be held at Trump National Golf Club in Potomac Falls, VA next May. Rea is the Director of Instruction at the Gulf Shores Golf Academy based at Craft Farms and Kiva Dunes. His qualification into the prestigious event is based on his T25 finish in the 28th Annual PGA Senior Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida where he competed against 264 PGA Professionals from around the country. Randy Burgan and I recently sat down with Rea and talked with him about what initially drew him to the game, his career in golf, and his achievement of qualifying for a Senior Major. Rea was introduced to golf by his parents who both loved the game. He grew up in Mobile in a home adjacent to the Country Club of Mobile. He distinctly remembers being drawn to the game at a very early age and being told by his mother that “you can’t go out there until you learn what ‘fore’ means”. For Rea, competition came early at local and regional junior events. Woody Woodall arrived at Mobile CC when Rea was 15 and was very influential in improving his fundamentals and sharpening his skills. He played high school golf for renowned Coach Eddie Holmes at UMS (now UMS-Wright). As a senior he finished second in the National High School Invitational Tournament which placed him on the High School All-American Team. Between his junior and senior year of college Rea won the Birmingham Invitational hosted at the Country Club of Birmingham, the Labor Day Invitational at the Country Club of Mobile along with qualifying for The US Amateur at The Olympic Club. Finishing his senior year at South Alabama he won The Rome Intercollegiate in Rome, Georgia. After college Rea went to work at Indian Bayou in Destin, FL for a year. Competitive golf was always on his mind, though. For the next few years he played various mini tour events in the US along with competing on The Sunshine Tour in South Africa which is now part of The European Tour. During this time he competed against and played with the likes of Pensacola’s Joe Durant, John Daly, Jeff Maggert, Lee Janzen, David Feherty, and a young Ernie Els. 24 • Tee Time on the Gulf Coast


The Ben Hogan Tour was starting up and Rea missed qualifying for the tour by virtue of a playoff loss. After that he decided it was time to get back into the club professional business. He worked as an assistant at Westmoreland Country Club in Wilmette, IL before heading back home to the warmer climate of the south. He spent about a year as an assistant at the Country Club of Mobile before getting his first Head Professional position at Gulf Shores Golf Club, a positon he held for 16 years. At that time he accepted an offer from Cherokee Ridge in north Alabama. Once again, though, Rea got a call from “back home”. Jim “Scrappy” Edgemon offered the Director of Golf position at Kiva Dunes and Rea accepted. During his years as a “club professional” Rea has continued to compete in local and sectional PGA events. The competition is what initially drew him to the game and at age 56 he continues to be one of the best players in this area. His accomplishments include: two-time PGA Gulf Coast Chapter Teacher of the Year, four-time PGA Dixie Section Player of the Year, fourtime PGA Dixie Section Senior Player of the Year, and two-time PGA Dixie Section Champion. Along with his lifelong love of the game of golf, Rea also has a love for helping others improve. His teaching certifications include Aimpoint Express, Titleist Performance Institute (TPI), US Kids Golf, and Operation 36. Rea credits the experience of playing in the PGA Professional Championship on four previous occasions with his ability to get over the hump this time. “Sometimes you get in your own way and make it a bigger deal than you should”, he said. “But, this time I was able to stay focused on shot-to-shot and hole-to- hole and not get too far ahead of myself”. Rea tied for 25th place with a score of 3 under par (285) over four rounds with scores of 71, 72, 68, and 74. Next May Rea will be teeing it up with the likes of Bernhard Langer, Jeff Sluman, Colin Montgomerie, and old friend Joe Durant. The event will be televised nationally be Golf Channel and NBC. His goal? “I want to play my best golf” is his answer. We know you will Rea…..and we’re pulling for you!

Tee Time on the Gulf Coast • 25


Loyalty Card

Purchase Price: $75 at Shell Landing or $59 at Hickory Hill

• Includes one complimentary round! • Significantly reduced daily golf rates • Tee times for Loyalty Card holders may be made up to 7 days in advance of play • Good For 1 Year From Purchase Date

Orange Beach Golf Center

Par 3 Course Tee Times Not Required Lighted Driving Range Meeting Facility Tournaments Lessons

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Product Review: Royal & Awesome by Joey Johnson

Do you like to stand out from the crowd? Are you tired of deciding which shade of khaki you’re going to wear with your white polo? Check out the line of golf shorts, pants, and even knickers offered by Royal & Awesome. The folks at Royal & Awesome have paired vibrant colors with bold patterns in a way that is both unique and fun. These are not your grandfather’s plaid pants even if they may have been inspired by them. Some of the options include “Disco Diamonds”, “Plaid Electric”, and “ParTee”.

Royal & Awesome sent us a pair of “Plaid A Blinder” (pictured) to try and they are royally awesome! The pants are not just wild, they’re also very comfortable and well made. For me, the pants ran true to size. They’re 97% cotton/3% spandex, so they’re durable and not too hot. I really enjoyed the pants and, of course, I was the target of a few good-natured jokes from the group that day. The men’s line includes pants, shorts, knickers, shirts, flat caps, belts, and socks. The women’s line includes pants, shorts, skorts, and shirts. Visits www.royalandawesome.com for more details or to place your order.

Tee Time on the Gulf Coast • 27


Product Review: Tour Angle 144 by Joey Johnson

I’ll start off with a confession. I’m a sucker for golf training aids. For me, there are a couple of things that separate the good ones from the rest. 1- Does it help me solve a problem with my game? 2- Is it easy to use? The Tour Angle 144 is designed to put the golfer in the proper posture, promote a one-piece takeaway, and prevent casting of the club. Any golfer who is strong in these areas has a more than decent chance to be a consistent ball striker. The Tour Angle 144 is also designed to combat the dreaded “chip yips”. But does the Tour Angle 144 actually help the average golfer accomplish these tasks? Posture Research has shown that the angle of club shaft and forearms in tour professionals average 144 degrees. Getting this angle correct at the address position is a key element of a proper setup. The angle should be the same with all clubs. The Tour Angle 144 definitely makes it very easy for the golfer to check this angle. When applied properly, the red arm of the Tour Angle 144 should rest lightly on the lower portion of the forearm, just above the wrist. If it doesn’t touch, or presses too firmly, you are not in the correct address position. One-Piece Takeaway The hinging of the wrists is an important part of the golf swing relative to both power and consistency. Proper sequencing of this hinging is paramount to developing a sound swing. A solid, one-piece takeaway is necessary, and the hinging should be delayed so that the red arm remains touching until the shaft is parallel to the ground. If you feel the red arm separating from your forearm before this then your wrists are getting involved too early in the swing. Simple! Prevents Casting Even more important than delaying the cocking of the wrists in the backswing is the delaying of the uncocking on the downswing. Casting severely reduces power and is a contributor to the weak slice that many golfers battle. If you “cast” the club from the top, you’ll feel the red arm touch your forearm before 28 • Tee Time on the Gulf Coast


contact with the ball. You should not feel the red arm make contact until at or slightly after contact. Improve this move and you’ll immediately hit straighter and more powerful shots! Chipping Yips This one is my personal nemesis! Is there a worse feeling than hitting two good shots on a par five and then sculling a simple chip over the green (or chunking it just a few feet)? What should have been an easy birdie turns into tough scramble for a par….and more likely a bogie. The Tour Angle 144 really can help with this dreaded problem. Much like on full shots, simply set up to the ball as normal with the red arm of the Tour Angle 144 lightly touching your forearm just above the wrist. Take some simple practice strokes, lightly touching the grass. You should get the feel of the Tour Angle 144 staying in touch with your arm. If it breaks away, then you’re getting too wristy. At impact and through the chipping stroke, the red arm should stay in contact, but the pressure against your arm should not increase. If it does, then you are “flipping” your hands….a dreaded mistake when chipping. In my opinion, the Tour Angle 144 helps with setup and proper takeaway as well as helping to identify and eliminate the problems of casting and chipping yips. If you’re having issues with any of these elements of your game, then I recommend you visit www.tourangle144.com. There you will find more information about the Tour Angle 144 along with a number of instructional videos by Top 100 Teacher Steve Bosdosh, PGA. Steve will show you how to use the Tour Angle 144 and will demonstrate the features and benefits in the videos. You can also place your order on the website. I’m using the Tour Angle 144 almost every day. It’s helping me and I think it can help you as well.

Tee Time on the Gulf Coast • 29


Professional Tour Schedule PGA Tour JAN 5 - 8 JAN 12 - 15 JAN 19 - 22 JAN 26 - 29 FEB 2 - 5 FEB 9 - 12 FEB 16 - 19 FEB 23 - 26 MAR 2 - 5 MAR 9 - 12 MAR 16 - 19

www.pgatour.com Tournament of Champions, Kapalua, Maui, HI Sony Open in Hawaii, Waialae CC, Honolulu, HI CareerBuilder Challenge, PGA WEST TPC, La Quinta, CA Farmers Insurance Open, Torrey Pines GC (South), San Diego, CA Waste Management Phoenix Open, TPC Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Pebble Beach GL, Pebble Beach, CA Genesis Open, Riviera CC, Pacific Palisades, CA The Honda Classic, PGA National, Palm Beach Gardens, FL WGC Mexico Championship, Club de Golf Chapultepec, Mexico Valspar Championship, Innisbrook Resort, Palm Harbor, FL Arnold Palmer Invitational, Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, FL

Champions Tour www.pgatour.com/champions JAN 21 - 23 FEB 5 - 7 FEB 12 - 14 MAR 18 - 20

LPGA Tour JAN 28-31 FEB3-6 FEB 18-21 FEB 25-28 MAR 3-6 MAR 17-20

30 • Tee Time on the Gulf Coast

Mitsubishi Electric Championship, Ka’upulehu-Kona, Hawaii Allianz Championship, Old Course at Broken Sound, Boca Raton, FL Chubb Classic, TwinEagles GC (Talon), Naples, FL Tucson Conquistadores Classic, Omni Tucson National, Tucson, AZ

www.lpga.com Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic, Paradise Island, Bahamas Coates Golf Championship Presented by R+L Carriers, Ocala, FL ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open, Grange, South Australia Honda LPGA Thailand, Chonburi, Thailand HSBC Women’s Champions, Singapore Bank of Hope Founders Cup, Phoenix, AZ


Local Events Calendar Quail Creek Events: Nix Center Group - Every Tuesday at 8:00 AM Seniors League - Every Wednesday at 8:00 AM MGA Bullpen - Every Wednesday at 3:00 PM (9 Holes) MGA Bullpen - Every Saturday at 8:00 AM (18 Holes) Call Pro Shop to Join or for More Details (251) 990-0240

GlenLakes Men’s Golf Association: Every Tuesday & Saturday Morning Call Pro Shop to Join or for More Details (251) 955-1220

Lake Forest Y&CC Men’s Golf Association: Saturday Mornings Call Pro Shop to Join or for More Details (251) 626-9329

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