V16 issue 7 • interactive

W W W . T U R F L I F E . C L U B

from the publishers header

Happy New Year!

Southern Golf Central

Magazine is definitely tackling the popular ‘new year-new me’ say-ing in 2016. As the winter months rage on here in Florida (totally joking, it’s 60 degrees here now) we are beginning to brace ourselves for some impressive changes. With change comes opportunity, however, and the opportunities are certainly abundant!

Our year will kick off with the 2016 PGA Merchandise Show, which is the world’s largest. We’ll be welcoming many PGA and Golf Industry professionals to Orange County, where they’ll be busy testing out the latest equipment, technology, clothing and accessories. I’m very proud to say that our brand, TURF LiFE will be debuting a booth (#3516) at the show as well, so be sure to stop by and say hello to the team!

While we’re on the subject of TURF LiFE, I’d like to take some time to talk about how thrilled I am to watch the success and growth of the brand in 2016. This brand embodies the many people who live their life on the TURF. We aim to show our appreciation to not only the golfers, baseball and soccer players, but to the agronomists, superintendents, sod growers, seed producers and landscapers as well. I’m very proud of what the brand stands for and the boundaries we are going to break in 2016.

January has also brought us some fresh new faces that we’re stoked to be working with. Our new correspondent is younger than most, but she’s already taking the industry by storm. Eight year old Bella Dovhey is a ball of sunshine on and off the course. She’s won numerous tournaments, including the 6-and-under division at the Callaway Junior World Golf Champion-ships in San Diego. This tiny but fierce personality will turn the golf industry on its head in the coming years, and we’re lucky to have her on the team. If you haven’t met her yet, you absolute-ly should…Donald Trump has! We’re also happy to be taking on a new intern, Erin West. You can read her bio below.

I want to make it clear to readers that, although we are taking on new, exciting tasks in the coming year, Southern Golf Central Magazine is better than ever. We are happy to be inte-grating the success of the magazine and the freshness of TURF LiFE, and hopefully the two will complement each other well. In other words... we won’t be going anywhere for a while, so be ready for the shenanigans that lies ahead ;)

Volume 16, Issue 7 Publisher: Terrie L. Purdum Editor in Chief: Shannon Coates Regional Partner: Doug Hollandsworth, Founder-Georgia Golf Trail

Editor Emeritus: Joel Jackson, CGCS Retired Coordinating Communications Diva: Jasmin Smith Media Consultant:Robert Bissell Public Relations Princess: Felecia Botting Photographers: Lynn Pelham, Brion Price, Peter Hakansson Tres Fenton, Mike Coonan, Jess Regan Senior Correspondent: Rick Harris, Sr.

Contributing Writers: Jay Golden, PGA; Greg Wise, Bob Bolton, Elisa Gaudet, Mike Jamison, Mike May, Chris Thompson, Katie Hatfield, Ron Heller, Fred Seely, Deb Shuck, JL Quebbeman, Mitch Sadowsky, Lisa "Mickie" Clark Graphic Design: Melahn Cable, melahn@mac.com Website Design/Network Support: ryjo.com

Southern Golf Central Magazine is published monthly by: Sand Hill Publishing & Public Relations 1549 Warrington Court, Winter Springs, FL 32708

NEW PHONE: 321.765.4215 E-mail: info@floridagolfcentral.com ©2015 Southern Golf Central Magazine. No portion of this publication may be reprinted without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Editorial contributions are welcome, but Florida Golf Central Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited proposals, manuscripts and photographs. All materials submitted not accompanied by a selfaddressed stamped envelope will not be returned. Mailing, electronic mailing or faxing of contributions constitutes an expressed warrant on the part of the contributor that all material is original and does not infringe on the rights of others. Florida Golf Central Magazine retains all reprint rights and reserves the right to edit any submitted material to meet our specifications for publishing and or use in advertising or promotion. The Publisher and staff are not responsible for any loss or grievance by any person or persons whatsoever, due in any way or in part to the content of this publication. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse to accept any material deemed inappropriate or in bad taste.

2009 North Florida PGA Amateur of the Year

Hi everyone! My name is Erin West and I’m SO excited to be given the opportunity to work with Southern Golf Central. This will be my first internship ever, so I’m a little nervous, but mostly ex-cited to finally learn about the industry. I’ve never played a game of golf in my life; I’m that girl that’ll tear up the turf when I go to putt... but that means more room for improvement! I’m cur-rently in my second year at UCF as a Journalism major with a minor in Creative Writing (GO KNIGHTS!) and am more than ready to get my career rolling and take the magazine industry by storm. I can’t wait to meet everyone and see what this sport is all about!

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Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

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9685 Lake Nona Village Place Orlando, FL 32827 โ ข 407.313.0027 www.nonablue.com

Volume 16, Issue 7 60 Alabama Golf Central 66 Joe Wheeler State Park Caribbean Golf Central 60 Provo Golf Club Carolinas Golf Central 64 Santee Cart Girl 14 Amber Davis

Departments 8 Product Showcase 16 LPGA 18 IGTA 28 Freddy's Fairway Thoughts 40 Fore Your Health

44 48 50 52 56 58 70 72

Competitive Spirits Turf Life Turf Life Turf Life SFPGA NFPGA Golf Fitness Golf Fitness

Course of Dreams 30 Ocala Open FEATURE 38 Tuef Life Florida Golf Central 68 Junior Orange Bowl Invitational 69 World Golf Village Georgia Golf Central 62 Lake Oconee Golf Fore Charity 42 Folds Of Honor Golf History 48 Renaissance Vinoy 46 North Palm Beach Country Club Improving Performance 26 Swing Wizzard 54 Make More Putts

20

Player Profile 22 Don Nottingham Stay & Play 32 The Golden Nugget What's New 34 Varick Golf Balls 36 Golf Skate Caddy Young Guns 20 Bella Dovhey

16

southerngolfcentral.com

2015 Champion Jordan Spieth

FAMILY FUN ZONE

Tampa Bay’s Can’t-Miss March Event!

The Most Colorful PGA TOUR® Tournament in the World produced one of the most exciting finishes last year! So don’t miss out on the excitement of this year’s Valspar Championship, March 7th through the 13th.

• Biggest names on the PGA TOUR® • FREE Valspar® LIVE! Concert featuring Rascal Flatts (with Thursday admission) • On-course Family Fun Zone • Kids 15 & under get in FREE (with ticketed adult) For tickets, visit ValsparChampionship.com or call 727-942-5566.

Players subject to appear.

INNISBROOK RESORT MARCH 7-13, 2016 Facebook

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product showcase

CHASE54 INTRODUCES NEW FABRIC FOR GOLF SHIRTS One of golf’s fastest-growing golf apparel companies is introducing a new hightech luxury fabric, LXFUZE, that promises to add even more quality to an already impressive line.

Because CHASE54 operates its own manufacturing facilities, it develops such technologies ahead of the curve, delivering the ultimate in fabric innovation to golfers. LXFUSE is the latest creation.

“This fabric stuns people when they feel it for the first time since it’s cool to the touch,” says Lulu Faddis, Chief Designer and Creative Director for CHASE54. “The offering is incredibly unique to the industry, since it’s being offered as an ELEMENTS (core/basic) item that we’re launching in nine colors. We are so fortunate to own the resources to provide a fabric like this that cannot be replicated at such great value to the buyer and consumer.”

Among the growing list of professional tour players sporting the Chaes54 brand are Jerry Kelly of the PGA Tour and Brooke Pancake of the LPGA.

BIOMECH ACCULOCK ACE PUTTER Look at the way most golfers putt: severely bent over, arms away from the body, and the head and eyes turned at 90 degrees from the target. Does that sound comfortable and efficient? It’s neither.

The founders of BioMech Sports are changing all that. They have taken decades of experience in physiology, anatomy, physics, biomechanics and the study of motion, and applied them to golf. The company’s first product is the AccuLock ACE putter.

It’s long. It’s legal. And it’s lethal.

“The ACE matches the biomechanics of the human body,” says inventor Dr. Frank Fornari. “This putter makes it hard to miss.”

Tour veteran and four-time PGA Tour winner Heath Slocum, a member of the BioMech Sports Golf Professional Staff, is one of several PGA TOUR players using the AccuLock ACE putter in 2016.

“The science behind the design of this putter will permit golfers to improve upon the success that they have experienced with the anchored putter,” stated Slocum.

The ACE, which conforms to USGA rules, is available in various lengths (39, 41, 43 and 47 inches). The shaft is meant to rest against the forearm and be used from a much more erect body position. The golfer stands tall, which is better for the back and eliminates muscle tension throughout the body. Golfers are more comfortable and more efficient.

The BioMech AccuLock ACE putter, which conforms with USGA rules, is available at www.biomechsports.com and select retailers nationwide. Retail price $279.99.

FAST EDDIE FROM NEXBELT Nexbelt, The Belt With No Holes, is known for their innovative technology and providing golfers with the maximum comfort and minimal adjusting. The unique ratcheting system called PreciseFit allows the wearer to adjust his or her belt in ¼ inch increments versus the normal 1” adjustability of a traditional pin/buckle style belt, providing the golfer with the best fit, feel, and fashion available. New for 2016 is the Fast Eddie.

Hidden behind the flip down face of the buckle is a combination divot tool & bottle opener as well as a hidden ball marker. Available in Carbon, Shield, Vie, Contender and Performance buckle designs. Belt is cut-to-fit and will accommodate waist sizes up to 45” and buckles are interchangeable.

Over 150 style and color combinations available for both Men and Women at www.Nexbelt.com

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Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

E-Z-GO RXV The next-generation E-Z-GO RXV raises the bar on superior golf car performance. Equipped with an AC drivetrain and IntelliBrake technology, the RXV is the industry leader in efficiency.

The RXV’s AC drivetrain is up to 25 percent more efficient than a traditional DC drivetrain for energy efficiency, increased power and longer run times between charges. The electric RXV’s patented IntelliBrake system provides a motor brake that automatically slows the vehicle when traveling up or down steep grades, and a parking brake that engages when the vehicle stops, without the need for operator activation. This system also delivers full-time regenerative braking whenever the brakes are applied, recharging the batteries and further extending the vehicle’s energy efficiency and range.

The RXV is also available in a 13.5 hp gas-powered model. Both models provide rack-and-pinion steering and independent front suspension. In 2015, E-Z-GO used customer feedback to upgrade the RXV with a modern, automotive look and luxury refinements that maximize the golfer’s experience. An integrated front bumper is designed to withstand impacts up to 5 mph, while side and rear bumpers provide all-around vehicle protection. The redesigned rear body maximizes storage space and offers the industry’s largest bagwell to accommodate a range of golf bags.

The interior enhances the on-course experience with contoured, ergonomic seating, larger dash storage and an optional USB port to power smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices.

Available options include custom paint colors, premium seats, tires and wheels, a single-point battery watering system, scuff guards, sun canopy and windshield.

CARNOUSTIE BY ARISTO EIGHTEEN COLLECTION Wool trousers (MSRP $225) will feature a new, exclusive fabric quality, featuring super 140’s wool, blended with 2% lycra, and finished with a nano-stain resistant treatment. Natural-stretch waistband construction has been added to increase comfort and performance. In-stock trousers will now feature pre-finished bottoms to eliminate the need for alterations-a service that has been universally welcomed from the golf industry. Even the finest golf shops have had to seek outside services for tailoring. Patterned wool trousers are color-matched to complement each sportswear color group to insure perfect coordination. The Tech Collection of pants (MSRP $95) will feature a lightweight polyester/spandex blend that will be available in an extensive assortment of in-stock basic colors, as well as seasonal solids and digitally printed plaids to coordinate with each color story. In addition, a new program of pants will also be introduced, featuring Ceramica®, (MSRP $165) a super-premium thermo-regulated tech fabric designed to keep you cool in summer and warm in the winter. It features the look and feel of luxury wool combined with and all of the performance and easy-care capabilities of tech. Washed cotton shorts (MSRP $80) with 3% spandex, will perfectly compliment cotton polos and sweaters-always a hallmark for Carnoustie.

For more information visit www.Aristo18.com

RX3 HIGH MOI PUTTER Cure Putters are known for producing an incredibly smooth roll due a higher center of gravity, lower loft, and a deeper face that impacts the ball at the equator.

This eliminates backspin and creates a lower, more consistent launch angle and quicker, tighter forward roll, helping the ball stay on the intended line. Redesigned for 2016, the RX3 is the smallest putter in the RX Series. The RX3 is heel shafted with a 5.25” profile, tri-sole, rear flange and a spiral milled face. Available in R /L handed, standard lengths, with an offset shaft. The weight of the RX3 is adjustable from 332 - 586 grams with MOI ranging 6,400 - 14,200 g/cm2. The High MOI design delivers incredible stability throughout your stroke, helps you square the putter at impact and offers unmatched forgiveness on mishits. This translates to better distance and directional control and improved consistency. Fully customizable with a wide range of both weight and lie adjustability, you can easily dial in the perfect fit and feel to suit your stroke and tempo and change your setting anytime you wish. 100% CNC Milled and Made in the U.S.A. Available online at www.CurePutters.com $259.95

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

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product showcase

GPS GOLF BAND The GPS Golf Band is the future of distance. It is the thinnest, lightest (weighs just 1.2 oz.), most comfortable GPS wearable available. The featherweight and glove friendly design ensures not to interfere with your swing. The streamlined interface with auto hole recognition and out of the box usability ensures ease of use for any golfer.

• 34,000 Preloaded Courses powered by iGolf.

• Distance up to 4 Hazards Per Hole: The GPS GOLF Band will show up to 4 hazards (water, bunkers) per hole.

• Auto Course Recognition: The GPS GOLF BAND will display the closest courses based on your location.

• Auto Hole Advancement: after leaving a green and reaching the next hole the GPS Golf Band will automatically change to your current hole. If you start in the middle of the course or skip a hole you can easily toggle to your correct hole.

• Shot Distance Measurement Feature: this allows you to measure the distance from one point to another, making it easy to measure how far your ball travelled.

• USGA Tournament Legal: you should always check with the rules committee, but the GPS Golf Band is legal for tournaments that allow distance measuring devices.

• 1 Year Warranty: the warranty covers any operational issues.

• Watch Mode: the GPS Golf Band can be worn as a watch, providing the time and date when not in GPS golf mode.

• 8 Hour GPS Battery Life: While in GPS mode, the GPS GOLF Band has 8 hours of battery life while providing 52 weeks of battery life when in watch mode.

• Waterproof: GPS Golf Band is water proof up to 30 feet.

Available in White or Midnight Blue (MSRP $179) online at www.PrecisionProGolf.com

HIGH HEAT FAIRWAY WOODS AND HYBRIDS The company that launched the most decorated new driver of 2015 is back this year with fairway woods and hybrids featuring even greater breakthrough technology.

Knuth Golf’s High Heat Driver was called by Sports Illustrated writer Gary Van Sickle “the most significant technological innovation in golf equipment” from the 2015 PGA Show. The High Heat fairway woods and hybrids promise to be just as popular and successful.

They come with Knuth Golf’s Optimal Center of Gravity (CG) Game Changer and Fire Zone Face Technologies™ providing 25% deeper and 18% lower center of gravity, important for amateur golf swings.

Other design features from Dean Knuth, former USGA Senior Director, that differentiate the High Heat fairway woods and hybrids from their competitors: 1) The Beta titanium cup face provides increased spring-like effect across the entire face compared to the steel faces in most other woods.

2) A much wider club face provides a higher spring-like effect and more forgiveness on offcenter hits.

3) A higher launch angle helps get the ball airborne.

4) The center rail on the bottom of the sole provides less friction when hitting the ground.

Noted club designer and builder for 24 Hall of Fame golfers, Jeff Sheets, considers Knuth Golf’s family of fairway woods and hybrids “scientific breakthrough designs with significant performance advantages for amateur golfers including scratch to high handicappers that no other fairway woods or hybrids have achieved.”

GOLPHIN INTRODUCES ITS JUNIOR GOLF CLUBS TO NORTH AMERICA Golphin, an award-winning Scottish-based company which designs and manufactures specialized golf equipment for children, is launching distribution of its lines throughout North America. Golphin clubs, designed to make learning golf easier and more fun for juniors, already are a hit in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Europe.

“Introducing young people to golf at an early age is key to helping them develop a lifelong love of the game, and Golphin equipment allows them to succeed with confidence,” said Calum McPherson, founder and managing director of Golphin.

Golphin clubs are available for purchase at www.golphin.com.

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Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

GOLF GLOVE FROM ZERO FRICTION & JOHNNY MILLER Zero Friction, maker of technologically advanced performance golf products, has entered into an agreement with PGA Hall of Famer Johnny Miller as partner, global spokesman and product developer for the company.

The first product form that relationship is the Zero Friction Motion Fit Golf Glove

by Johnny Miller. It is the newest in the company’s highly popular and colorful line of compression-fit gloves. Compression-fit technology means a universal fit within the various models “Zero Friction has developed truly innovative products which enhance golf,” said Miller. “As I looked at the golf investment landscape I found Zero Friction to be a leader and innovator. I am looking forward to working with their entire team to build the brand and product lines to the fullest level possible.”

Zero Friction Founder and President John Iacono believes Miller can help take his already successful company to the next level.

“We could not be happier than to become a partner with Johnny Miller,” said Iacono. “It is a tremendous compliment to our company to be affiliated with an individual with such accomplishments and integrity. Johnny will be instrumental in assisting us in to develop products that maximize technology and push conventional performance standards.”

SHOT SCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LAUNCH PERFORMANCE TRACKING WEARABLE FOR GOLF Shot Scope Technologies has launched an innovative automatic performance tracking wearable for the golf market. The new technology allows the golfer to collect performance data without using a phone, manually tagging or pressing buttons.

CEO of Shot Scope, David Hunter said “Shot Scope is the 1st system that allows golfers of all levels to track their game with no interruptions; monitor statistics, identify your trends and use the information to make better decisions on the course. The wristband interacts with unique tags inserted into the grip of every golf club to identify shots, club used and log GPS information.”

Shot Scope automatically collects over 100 performance statistics. Information is uploaded through Bluetooth or USB to the Shot Scope dashboard and is displayed in easy-to-consume graphics. Golfers gain actionable insights which help them to identify strengths and weaknesses in their game. The technology equips golfers with the knowledge to play to their strengths on the course and work on weaknesses off it.

The Shot Scope pre-order package includes a wristband, twenty unique lightweight tags, micro USB cable and free shipping. Shot Scope will be shipped in April for the start of the golf season. Golfers who are keen to be the first to own Shot Scope can access the reduced pre-order price of $224 (normal price $280) at www.shotscope.com.

KENTWOOL Founded in 1843, KENTWOOL remains one of the nation’s longest running, family-owned textile companies. In 2008 KENTWOOL Performance Division was established to utilize the parent company’s nearly two-century-old heritage of superiority in textiles to create socks which draw upon wool’s natural wicking and cooling properties for moisture management, sheer comfort and other performance ­enhancing benefits. The “World’s Best Golf Sock” was born. Since entering the marketplace, KENTWOOL has won two Majors on the feet of Bubba Watson and numerous other TOUR events, establishing itself as golf’s leading, premium merino wool golf sock.

KENTWOOL’s Men’s and Women’s Tour Profile socks are constructed from a proprietary blend of Super Fine Merino Wool and other natural and high-tech performance fibers. Each pair is infused with an innovative WINDspun technology to deliver unparalleled comfort, and is designed to reduce friction, abrasion and muscle fatigue. In fact, KENTWOOL is so confident in the comfort of its socks, the company offers a lifetime “Blister-Free Guarantee” with the purchase of every pair.

KENTWOOL’s new Game Day Collection offers expanded color options in its Men’s Tour Profile model. The socks are available now through http://shop.kentwool. com/cart.php and at select retail locations.

KENTWOOL’s Men’s and Women’s Tour Profile socks feature a suggested retail price of $19.95 per pair.

Since 2008, KENTWOOL has manufactured the “World’s Best Golf Sock.” Drawing on over 150 years of mastery in wool manufacturing, KENTWOOL has leveraged the attributes of the natural “smart” fiber for unmatched comfort and performance in the sock category.

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

11

golf bachelor header

Where were you born? Did you grow up there?

Fort Lauderdale, born and raised.

I’m the Regional Director of South Florida for Sixt Rent a Car, check us out the next time you need a rental!

Aside from golf; what do you prefer for fun and relaxation?

There’s something aside from golf? Well, I also like to play tennis, catch a Miami Heat game, or travel with friends.

Whom do you most admire for their inner and outer beauty?

My mother.

Steak, chicken, or seafood?

Surf and Turf. Why settle for just one?

What three things would you need to survive on a deserted island?

A bottle of good bourbon, a seven iron and my favorite pair of Under Armour shorts.

What do you find to be the most annoying habit people demonstrate on the golf course?

Slow pace of play. A close second is my sister’s habit of talking during my backswing. Every time.

Name the three most important things to you in this world.

God. Family. Golf. (My mother told me in that order).

Given the choice; would you select love, success, or money to keep yourself happy?

Love, of course. (Nothing against the other two, though!)

What three people would you most like to play with in your fantasy golf foursome?

Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, and my late grandfather.

Favorite comedian?

Jerry Seinfeld

Movies:…comedy, drama, action, romance?

I’m a sucker for a good rom-com.

Favorite television channel?

Beyond ESPN, I’m a Netflix guy.

Last book you read?

I’ve been on an Apple kick lately. Just finished a biography on Jony Ive, their chief designer.

Favorite magazine?

Besides Southern Golf Central Magazine? Probably Sports Illustrated.

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MICHAEL STOCKAMORE

What do you do for a living?

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

cart header girl

AMBER DAVIS

Where did you grow up? Ocoee, Florida

What is your favorite sport to play? Softball!

Favorite sport to watch?

College football. GO GATORS!

What do you feel makes this club special? I feel our guests make this club special. To be a public golf course and always have guests returning once a week, month or year is amazing. It is great building relationships with them.

If you weren’t a cart girl, what would you be doing?

I like the hospitality industry, so I would like to stay in this business and grow with the company.

What type of music do you prefer? Country! I listen to everything but country is definitely my favorite.

What hobbies do you enjoy? Fishing, crafting, shopping, and golf!

Favorite Comedian? Kevin Hart Favorite type of movie?

Romance. I am a hopeless romantic.

Favorite charity to support? Breast Cancer Awareness What else would you like for us to know about you: I love my job and my coworkers. We have all become very close with all the time we spend together. We all work so well together and that’s awesome. I like that there is always room to grow here at OCN; it is by far my favorite job I have ever had. I have an amazing man and two wonderful children at home, and working at OCN has let me spend a lot more quality time with them.

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Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

north florida Ladies Professional PGA north Golfflorida Association PGA north Ladiesflorida Professional PGA north Golfflorida Association PGAheader north Ladifl

Tickets Now on Sale for LPGA's Coates Golf Championship at Golden Ocala Daily and Weekly Grouds Passes Available; Upgraded Craft Beer Garden Ticket New in 2016 The LPGA’s best will return to Central Florida February 1 – 6 for the second edition of the Coates Golf Championship Presented by R + L Carriers. More than 80,000 spectators visited Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club for the inaugural event, where Na Yeon Choi earned her ninth-career LPGA victory and Lydia Ko, then just 17 years old, ascended to No. 1 on the Rolex Rankings. The tournament also boasted an $18.4 million economic impact to the local community.

Ticket packages for the Coates Golf Championship, which will mark the first opportunity in 2016 to see the world’s best female golfers in the LPGA tee it up in the 16

United States, will be available for online purchase beginning Saturday, October 24. Single day grounds tickets are $15, weekly grounds tickets are $45 and children 12 and under receive free admission with a ticketed adult. The LPGA event is one of the few professional sports venues where you can stand yards away from the world’s greatest in the game for tickets that start at $15.

New for 2016, the Coates Golf Championship will feature a Craft Beer Garden Wednesday through Saturday of tournament week. Along with admission to the craft beer garden and a traditional sampling glass, the upgraded craft ticket includes admission to the LPGA event. Staged in Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

the expansive and beautiful garden lead-

the size of the galleries at the inaugu-

backdrop for the exciting golf we expect

ing up to the Golden Ocala clubhouse,

ral tournament and how welcome they

to see in February and the tourna-

this craft beer festival will offer patrons

felt within the community. The goal

ment showcases all that Ocala/Marion

the opportunity to sample and discover a

is to continue exceeding the commu-

County has to offer on a global stage.”

myriad of local and regional craft brands.

nity’s, the players’ and our sponsors’

Single day tickets to the Coates Golf Championship that include the Craft Beer Garden are $25 and weekly passes

expectations. It’s an exciting week-long

globally for the LPGA Tour includ-

event whether you play golf or not.”

ing two major championships.

“Golf fans in Central

to the tournament and garden are $65.

Florida and beyond have the

A limited quantity of tickets will be

opportunity to meet their

sold for this festival within the tour-

favorite players and see world

nament. Tickets can be purchased at

class golf at the Coates Golf

www.CoatesGolfChampionship.com.

Championship Presented

“The Coates Golf Championship was

IMG produces 10 tournaments

by R + L Carriers,” said Kelly

a great success for Ocala/Marion County

McAnally, Tournament Direc-

in 2015 and we’re excited to bring the

tor. “IMG is proud to operate

event back in February,” said Mollie

the first US-based tourna-

Coates, President of Coates Golf. “Again

ment of the season. Golden

and again the players commented on

Ocala provides a picturesque

About Coates Golf

Coates Golf is solely dedicated to women’s golf. Launched in January 2015, Coates Golf offers quality, performance equipment options for women.

The brand is anchored by an antelope for the simple reason that female antelope grow horns like male. More than just an elegant and athletic icon representing how Coates Golf believes women should be promoted, the antelope represents equality. No more patronizing. Same game. Same respect. Coates Golf is the title sponsor of the LPGA’s Coates Golf Championship. In July 2015, Golf Hall of Famer and Team USA Solheim Cup Captain Juli Inkster began representing Coates Golf on the LPGA Tour. www.coatesgolf.com #setyourgamefree Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

17

header IGTA

IGTA Tour Starts 16th Year With Strong Schedule including more $10,000.00 First Prizes All Avid Players with Handicap may Compete on the Tour that Attracts Top Professionals.

Jim Angeloff and Albano Valentino

Jonathan Shasha and David Morland IV

The Pro-Net Tour has strong

Christian Heavens, Jimmy Hazen, Nick Wade, and controls which assure Jimmy Lytle. There are about equalization for all com100 other Pro's from time petitors. Many Professionals to time that a competifrom the finest tours in the tor with Handicap can be country enjoy the chalpaired with on Sunday. lenge of going low on these Waldorf Astoria G.C. great courses. Any player hosted the Open ChampiChristian Heavens wins $10,000 at NIT with their handicap may be onship with Rocky Justice, paired with these fine playGainesville, Fla closing with ers in competing for an excela 75 on Sunday to win by 5 strokes. lent prize list. This is illustrated His 78-75 net 140.0 was his career by the fact that there has been best and his 2nd win this year, a first prize of at least $4,000.00 winning previously at Mission in over 260 consecutive tournaInn – El Campeon with a 145.5 ments and over $4,100,000.00 net, for $5,000.00. Natalia Ghilpaid to the Players. Also, it is zon, Windsor, Ont, Can, also was nice to note, any player playing a two time winner, with victories to Net Even Par will win at least at the Disney – Palm Course and $1,000.00 in almost every event. at the Southern Hills Plantation This year the IGTA Tour for the Players Championship.

Jim Angeloff wins at Mission Inn will provide Five or Six TourNatalia had a fine year finishing naments with a First Prize of second on the IGTA Money List 73-72 gross, from over 6400 yards. $10,000.00 and it takes only one with $12,733.00. Jim Angeloff, Auburn Alicia also became the first female tour event to qualify. In 2015 there Hills, Mich also had an impressive winner on the IGTA Tour. 2. Eric were four $10,000.00 events with wide year closing it out winning the Tour Jenkins, Upper Marlboro, Maryland at open competition. Winners included Championship Tournament at MisThe Club at Savannah Harbor made the following: 1. Alicia Weber, Novi, his first check in his sixth event with Michigan at Juliette Falls G.C. posted Natalia Ghilzon a 78-76 net 139.0. 3. Justin Herrema, Grand Rapids, Michigan in his 4th Tommy Schaff and Charlie Delsman year with the Tour had only posted one score of 82, scored 85-83 Net 143.5 at Mission Inn – El Campeon. This boosted his winnings to $14,720.00 for the tour lead. 4. Christian Heavens, Fairview Heights, Illinois a Tour player with +1 handicap won the Final at Plantation Bay - Club de Bonmont.

Tour Players included Tim O'Neal, Tommy Schaff, Jesse Allen, Javier Sanchez, Randy Erskine, Bobby Stroble, David Morland IV, Charlie Delsman, 18

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

Ocala, Fla. also in the money. At ChampionsGateInternational, Travis Lewis, Lake Mary, Fla won with 143.5 and Natalia Ghilzon, tied Jesse wins at Cobblestone Park for second with James Strickland, Clermont, Fla at 147.0 for $1,050.00 each.

Natalia Ghilzon Alicia Weber Leo Coates, II, Sunrise, Fla, Albasion Inn - Las Colinas with a 75-73, net no Valentino, San 145.0. That resulted in $11,725.00 for the Juan, Argentina, and Bill year, a fourth place Money List finish.

Currence, Deltona, Fla Other results show Charlie Delsman, were also in the money.

Natalia wins at Disney w/ Colgate, Wisc. winning the $4,000.00 Murray Miller, DeLand, Jones,Shasha,Currence,Lewis First Prize at Orange Lake - Legends.

Fla. defended his Title of the His 67-64, net 135.5 was the Tour's IGTA Points Champion winThe Tour will reward new courses, nalow for the year. Galen Aldrich, Miami, ning the $3,000.00 First Prize. Natalia tionwide, interested in conducting qualiFla. second for $1,500.00 with a net Ghilzon, Windsor, Ont, Can was 2nd fiers in participation with IGTA expan140.0 and Tommy Schaff, Savannah, for $1,500.00 and Mike Yaeger, Las Ga.was third for $1,100.00. with a 141.0. sion. This can generate added income for Vegas, Nev, was 3rd for $1,000.00.

Fourth was Travis Lewis, Lake Mary, the course, the Pro or a Rep in the area All Avid Golfers nationwide and Fla. for $1,000.00 and fifth was Chrisall Professionals are invited to parand is good for your players. USGA tian Carpenter, Hickory, NC, with Mike ticipate. www.igtatour.com Rules of Golf are followed at all times.

Yaeger, Las Vegas, Nev, and Tristan Seitz,

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Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

19

Bella Dovhey

young guns Bella with Barbara Nicklaus

20

To date, Bella has 131-1st place finishes; 6-2nd place finishes, and 4-3rd place finishes out of 144 total tournaments.

2013: When Bella was 5 years old she finished in the top 10 in the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship girls 7 year old division in Pinehurst, NC. She played 9 holes for 3 days and shot 40, 39, 41. The lowest total score in the events history for a 5 year old in the world championship.

2014: Won the Callaway Jr Golf World Championship in the girls 6 year old division in San Diego, Ca. 2015: Won the US Kids Golf Florida State Championship girls 7 year old division at Disney Oakes Trail golf course. She shot 33, 30 (-9) .

2015: She finished Runner-Up in the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship girls 7 year old division in Pinehurst, NC. She played 9 holes each day for 3 days.

She shot 35,41,34.

She has won 64 consecutive USK Local Tour Tournaments in the girls 7 year old division from April 2013-October 2015 (Including 3 playoffs). She competed in the U.S. Kids Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa, Stuart, and West Palm Local Tours.

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

“Golf at Stewart Lodges at Steelwood”

Play ~ The Stewart Lodges ~ All Inclusive, Customized Golf and Lodging DESTINATION including: A combination of charm, exclusivity, and

The Vistas are Spectacular, especially the 6 holes

impeccable service — all nestled within a gorgeous

bordering the lake.

1200-acre wooded area.

The Steelwood golf course opened in 1997.

The course, designed by former U.S. Open Champion Jerry Pate, is rated by GolfDigest® as one of “The Best Courses in Alabama”.

With no two fairways alike and with four sets of tees on each hole, the course offers versatility appealing to players of all levels.

Call TODAY ~ Mention this ad and ask about our “Value Added Package” Loxley, Alabama ~ Only minutes from Mobile Bay

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By Jay Goldwn, PGA

player profile

The

Team

Is Everything

A team is a group of people with com-

if everyone worked as a team?

plementary skills functioning together

On a MUCH smaller scale – and

to complete a common goal. Do you

perhaps one that is easier to pinpoint

think the world would be a better place

– NFL fullback Don Nottingham put

the team above everything else. His 34 touchdowns spanning an 8 year career (1971-1979) with the Baltimore Colts and Miami Dolphins were secondary to the main goal.

Larry Ball and Don Nottingham

“Everyone had a specific job and as Coach Shula told us very clearly, “We could only win if we play as a team,” said Don. “Although I wasn’t on the 1971 undefeated Dolphins, it was that understanding that was responsible for that record breaking season as well as the 1973 Superbowl winning team which I was part of.”

After retirement from the NFL, his alma mater Kent State University started awarding the “Don Nottingham Cup” to the top offensive player of the year. This is a tribute to Don’s role as an outstanding individual who put the team first.

Don lives in Central Florida, is an active member of the NFL Alumni Association, and enjoys playing golf. Don says, “Where else could you spending time with three friends in a beautiful environment having a friendly competition.

I would like to play better, but who wouldn’t?”

Don is presently part of a new team: Special Olympics of Marion County. “I was fortunate to play in the NFL and to learn that there is an opportunity to give back to the community after playing at that level. Along with others from the NFL Alumni Association, we run a ‘clay trap shooting’ completion as well as a golf outing as fund-raisers.”

Don also says, “It is an honor and a pleasure being part of the Special Olympics TEAM.”

22

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

The Allianz Championship is an official PGA Champions Tour golf tournament that is played at the Old Course at Broken Sound, in Boca Raton, from February 1-7. All proceeds from the tournament benefit the Boca Raton Regional Hospital. Whether you prefer being on the grounds of a championship golf course or relaxing and entertaining clients in our hospitality tents, you are sure to have a great time. Get your tickets today!

WIN A FREE CRUISE

Good-Any-One Day Grounds Pass allows the ticket holder access to the tournament grounds any one day between Friday through Sunday.

Good Any Day Grounds Pass 2 for

$40

Slush Lounge is good for one day purchased Friday through Sunday. Enjoy “cool” beverage options, including Slush frozen drinks, Celebrity Cruises’ curated menu of flavor-rich and fresh frozen cocktails.

Cocktails are perfectly balanced with ingredients ranging from fresh pressed lemon juice, raspberries, cucumbers and mint to Persian Lime, Florida Valencia and Hamlin orange juice with organic agave nectar.

Celebrity Cruises Slush Lounge One Day Pass 2 for

Club 18 One Day Pass 2 for

$300

$150

$20 GIFT CARD with purchase of any two tickets

For more information call 561.241.GOLF (4653) or visit AllianzChampionship.com Follow Us On

Club 18 Presented by is an upgraded ticket with a VIP Parking Pass includes unlimited upscale food and beverage that will be served throughout the day with a full open bar.

Proceeds Benefit

By Mike May

golf history

The Vinoy Golf Club: A Riches to Rags to Riches Story While the ‘roots’ of the Vinoy Renaissance Resort & Golf Club in St. Petersburg can be linked to a golf bet, this world-class resort has blossomed like a banyan tree and is now one of Florida’s most complete rest & relaxation getaway destinations.

In 1923, golfing great Walter Hagen agreed to a wager with Aymer Vinoy Laughner, a wealthy Pennsylvania businessman. Hagen bet Laughner that he (Hagen) could hit three golf balls over an adjacent strip of water and have the balls finish on a nearby piece of residential property. If Hagen was successful, Laughner agreed to build a resort on that nearby piece of property with his (Laughner’s) name attached to it. The only stipulation was that Hagen would have to hit the three golf balls off the crystal face of Laughner’s gold watch, without damaging the face or the watch. Well, much to the surprise of Laughner, Hagen won the bet as he successfully hit the balls to the intended destination without damaging the watch. Soon thereafter, a contract was written on a brown paper bag which confirmed Laughner’s plans to buy that nearby coastal property. That was the site of the original Vinoy Park Hotel and is now the Vinoy Renaissance Resort & Golf Club. On February 5, 1925, construction began on the 375-room hotel. By New Year’s Eve of that year,

Old Vinoy it opened for business at $20/night, which was quite expensive at the time.

The evolution of the golf course at the Vinoy is another story unto itself. In fact, the golf course was Opening Day

24

opened before ground was broken on the actual resort. Over time, the golf course was designed, built, opened, and has been modified a time or two. In 1920, a nine-hole course was opened

by St. Petersburg developer C. Perry Snell. It was called the Coffee Pot Golf Club. In 1921, nine more holes were added. A few years later, another 18 holes were added – making 36 holes of golf. In 1932, candy bar magnate D.L. Clark purchased the Coffee Pot GC and renamed it Clarks’ Sunset Golf and Country Club. The ownership of the Vinoy bought the golf complex in 1948. In 1992, the golf course was redesigned into what is today’s par 71, 18-hole layout and worthy of being a part of the Florida Historic Golf Trail.

Besides being a fun golf course to play which is always well-manicured and in great shape, this golf course is a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary because it’s the home of many types of vegetation – dozens of palm trees, live oak trees, and pine trees. Besides the ‘jungle’-like environment, there are 63 sand traps on the course. Another interesting element of this golf course is that it provides an alternative to walking or riding a golf cart. Here, you can use a Golf Bike. Since March of 2014, Golf Bikes have been used at the Vinoy Golf Club. Try it. You might like it.

One of the unique aspects of the Vinoy experience is that the resort is accessible by land and by sea. Yes, you can arrive by current and not just by car! At the Vinoy, there are 74 fixed concrete slips at its marina which can accommodate ships as long as 120 feet. If you stay on your boat, you can still enjoy all the amenities of the resort, including room service.

While the hotel is now a one-of-akind destination featuring 12 tennis courts, five restaurants, two outdoor pools, a whirlpool, a spa, a fitness center, twice-daily maid service, and much, much more, the resort fell on hard times beginning in the 1960s, eventually closed, was a homeless shelter, and was almost knocked down, but local efforts to revive the Vinoy were successful. Now, it’s a AAA Four Diamond Resort and it’s back in business. Are you ready to sample the Vinoy experience? I am. It’s just a phone call away -- 727-894-1000.

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

Florida’s Premier Private Island & Golf Club Community

Located in the rare rolling hills just 20 minutes west of downtown Orlando is a private waterfront and golf club community like none other in Florida. The breathtaking Tuscan-inspired setting makes you feel as though you have stepped into one of Italy’s most scenic hillside regions. Yet, Bella Collina’s peaceful country-like setting is just minutes from metropolitan Orlando’s world-class shopping, dining and entertainment attractions.

Timeless Tuscan architecture. Idyllic private island and lakefront living. Gorgeous Nick Faldo-designed golf course views. Bella Collina. Florida’s quintessential private club community.

Sales: 407.469.4980 | www.BellaCollina.com ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THIS BROCHURE, THE PURCHASE CONTRACT, AND THE GOVERNING DOCUMENTS FOR THE PROJECT PROVIDED BY THE DEVELOPER. DEVELOPER DOES NOT DESIGN OR CONSTRUCT HOMES. ANY PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER SHOULD CONTACT ONE OR MORE APPROVED BUILDERS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PLANS, DESCRIPTIONS, FEATURES, AMENITIES AND PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. ILLUSTRATIONS AND PHOTOGRAPHY ARE AN ARTIST’S INTERPRETATION OF THE PROPOSED PROPERTY AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED ON FOR ACCURACY. PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT ANY VIEW FROM THE LOT AND THE REMAINDER OF THE PROJECT MAY IN THE FUTURE BE LIMITED OR ELIMINATED. DEVELOPER HEREBY GIVES NOTICE TO PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS THAT DEVELOPER IN NO MANNER GUARANTEES THE CONTINUING EXISTENCE OF ANY VIEW FROM THE LOT OR THE PROJECT. FURTHER, DEVELOPER GIVES NOTICE TO PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS THAT DEVELOPER MAKES NO COMMITMENT OR REPRESENTATION CONCERNING THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANY PROPERTY IN PROXIMITY TO, OR VISIBLE FROM, THE LOT OR PROJECT. ACTUAL VIEWS MAY VARY. VIEWS SHOWN CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS THE ACTUAL VIEW FROM ANY PARTICULAR LOT WITHIN THE PROJECT. VIEWS WILL DIFFER DEPENDING ON CONDITIONS SUCH AS LOCATION, SKYLINE AND WEATHER. NO FEDERAL AGENCY HAS JUDGED THE MERITS OR VALUE, IF ANY, OF THIS PROPERTY. PICTURES OF HOMES IN DEVELOPER BROCHURE HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR DISPLAY BY THE OWNERS. THIS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL REAL PROPERTY TO RESIDENTS OF NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY OR OTHER JURISDICTIONS WHERE PROHIBITED OR WHERE PRIOR REGISTRATION OR ADVANCE QUALIFICATION IS REQUIRED. WE ARE PLEDGED TO THE LETTER AND SPIRIT OF U.S. POLICY FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT OF EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY THROUGHOUT THE NATION UNDER THE FEDERAL FAIR HOUSING ACT. WE ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT AN AFFIRMATIVE ADVERTISING AND MARKETING PROGRAM IN WHICH THERE ARE NO BARRIERS TO OBTAINING HOUSING BECAUSE OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, HANDICAP, FAMILIAL STATUS, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN.

By Gabriella St. Croix

improving performance

Groove Your Swing Keith Rogers is a golfer.

More importantly, he is a golfer with unique insight into the golf swing. His philosophy on learning has spawned a new golf company that promises to simplify how we learn and provide a suite of products every golfer serious about this game should own. The training aid market is cluttered with devices that are good, bad and everywhere in-between. Like most of us, he has bought them and used them with little success. While searching for a solution to his own swing issues, he invented the Swing Wizzard™.

Players and teachers alike are raving about how quickly and easily the Swing

Keith Rogers

Wizzard™ gives feedback on how their individual swing plane should feel. The word on the golf course is that the Swing Wizzard™’s effect feels like magic. It offers instant feedback and improvement in a way you just have to feel to believe.

Keith Rogers, president of Wizard Golf™, comments, “Any golfer can make a good swing if he understands how it should feel. There are so many elements in play when you swing at high speeds, it is simply impossible to focus on what is important. The Swing Wizzard™ slows you down and puts your movement on plane, while setting your hands in the proper impact position. It is automatic and immediate. Everyone is looking

26

for instant gratification, and countless golfers have told me that it literally feels like magic. Beginners see instant improvement they can build upon, and low handicappers see just as profound results. This was so encouraging, I decided to add some other great products into the Wizard Golf™ line following the same concept of extreme simplicity and effectiveness.

We now have products that will help golfers improve their short game and putting with very simple and universally applied techniques and tools” The Swing Wizzard™ is a simple device that conforms to your body’s natural movement and allows the user to not only see what transpires in the swing, but also to feel it.

Feel is the key to building muscle memory and a consistent repeatable swing that transfers effortlessly to your own swing.

Its patented design is not intended to hit balls. Rogers comments on his philosophy, “I wanted to take the user’s focus off hitting golf balls, and place it more on building and understanding the dynamics of their swing in a controlled manor. When you consider that the average swing is moving between 70 to 90 MPH in just 1.3 seconds, it is nearly impossible to gain a true sense of what your club and body are actually doing.”

From the momentum gathered from the success of the Swing Wizzard™, Wizard Golf™ is now embarking on an epic path for new products with real benefit and profound results. Wizard Golf™ now boasts more than seven products. They are all products that are inarguably simple and effective, and are important improvement products every golfer should carry. The new line focuses on the short game and addresses chipping, alignment, and putting stroke, as well as targets – all designed to build consistency and accuracy. The Chip Wizard attaches to the Swing Wizzard™ and encourages the proper hands forward position required for accurate

chip shots. The Wizard Target Master has three targets for chipping, pitching and putting that collapse and store easily in your bag. The Wizard Putting System includes a device to help develop a long smooth stroke, an innovative string alignment tool, as well as a multifunction hole reducer for creating a more focused target. Together, they cover the entire envelope of great putting. Rogers adds, “ We are promising great golf simplified. Our products all focus entirely on fundamentals and are the simplest possible solution to the problem they are designed to solve. My Tour Stroke won’t release the golf ball until a full smooth stroke is made. Short jabby strokes prone to the yips are history with this aid. The string trainer keeps the stroke on line, and is the same concept adopted by nearly all instructors and tour players. Finally, our hole reducer forces you to putt to a smaller target. This is another standard training tool that has always worked very well. We made a more practical multi-use version you can carry with you in the kit.”

Great Golf. Simplified. It is a bold statement and seems to be a lofty goal for sure. But maybe a new perspective and some sound practical products will be all it takes to give golfers what they need to see improvement in their game and give them a chance to take their entire golf game to a whole new level.

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

By Fred Seely

freddy's fairway thoughts

You think Donald Trump’s insults are only aimed at a) other Republican candidates, b) foreigners who want to get into America or c) whatever catches his eye at the moment?

He has plenty of insults for golf. Better grin and bear it, folks, because he might become the game’s biggest boy.

Widely reported Trumpisms go after programs like The First Tee (“Forcing the game on kids,”) the National Golf Foundation (“Their data is wrong.

They’re incompetent,”) equipment manufacturers (“Planned obsolescence”) and even the Scottish government (“The politicians should be thanking me instead of pandering to political correctness.”)

No arrows for this guy. He’s firing a shotgun and he’s hitting a lot of targets.

But he can justify plenty of ammo; he owns 15 courses from America to the Middle East.

He’s proud to be an elitist and his courses reflect that. But it’s not that border-jumpers need not apply, they can’t afford it.

Be wary, you golf administrators. Your turn is coming.

Short shots: • The Jacksonville area pros and amateurs put on a big annual banquet and the highlight is the presentation of the Deane Beman Award to someone who has made longterm contributions to the game. This year’s winner is a guy named Herb Peyton, who owns the big Gate Petroleum service station chain and a lot of land, and who funds the

best pro, amateur and senior tournaments in Northeast Florida. Beman will be on hand Feb. 3 to present the award; the evening’s speaker is former U.S. and British Am champ Steve Melnyk.

• When they start the member-guest at the exclusive Secession Golf Club near Beaufort, S.C., they do it with a bang. The previous year’s winners get to pull the cord on a Civil War cannon.

• You heard of “hand me downs.” How about “hand me ups?” That’s what Peter Kuchar calls his collection of nice golf shirts that son Matt passes along.

• Donald Ross designed over 400 courses in North America and a man on a mission is Brad Becken, who lives in Chapel Hill, N.C. He’s played 235 Ross courses and his fellow Donald Ross Society members have prevailed on him to history from the clubs themselves. “We know plenty about Ross,” says Becken, “and we want to know how his clubs have memorialized him.” He’s at chapala@dslextreme. com.

• The original LPGA sweetheart, Laura Baugh, has moved to Ponte Vedra Beach but it wasn’t because of the PGA Tour. She has been living near Augusta, Ga., and got her last child (she has seven) through school, and she wanted to live at a beach. Mutual friends put her in touch with Sawgrass CC Director of Golf Greg Lecker, and she’s now a teaching pro at the club.

• Lots of sons of famous golfers are coming along (we mentioned Dru Love recently) and now you’ll be reading more about Taylor Funk. He was on scholarship at the University of Texas, but the lure of pro golf trumped academics. He’ll start his new career on the Latin American Tour.

• The next Players Championship might have the biggest crowd ever: it won’t be on Mother’s Day weekend. The 2016 tournament will be May 12-15, the week after the holiday. The attendance effect is very noticeable on a Mother’s Day Sunday as many come out early and then head home midday.

Championship awards come in all shapes and one of the most unusual is at Jacksonville’s Hyde Park, where they give a boxing belt. A member is the local boxing promoter and donated this beauty. That’s current club champ Zach Rogers showing it off.

28

• There’s apparently a bit of politician in The Golf Channel’s Charlie Rymer. He’s the new secretary of his PGA Section — North Florida — which is the route to the president’s spot.

• Comments welcome, politically correct or not. I’m at fs4569@comcast.net.

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

By Greg Wise

coiurse of dreams

March Madness Returns to Ocala

No … we aren’t talking basketball. We are talking The Florida Professional Golf Tours return to Candler Hills Golf Club for the 10th Annual Ocala Open – March 15-18, 2016.

“Dan McCarthy has already committed that he will return to Candler Hills for the tenth annual Ocala Open,” stated Rick Hendershot, president, Florida Professional Golf Tour. Rick went on to state, “I am looking forward to another great championship here at Candler Hills, and I hope to duplicate last year’s record of 162 players for the three-day tournament, playing for the guaranteed $12,000 first place check.”

One of the biggest reason the Ocala Open continues to be successful is the support of local vendors and residents who partner with the Ocala Open to help raise money to support two local charities: Interfaith Emergency Services and Hospice of Marion County.

“From a maintenance standpoint, the Ocala Open is the highlight of our year. Months of preparation go into making this a success, not only for the tournament, but also for our members who enjoy the course leading up to and after the event. It truly showcases our knowledge and expertise in golf course preparation,” stated Andrew Jorgensen, CGCS, golf course superintendent at On Top of the World Communities.

“When you take a look at the past champions list, you begin to understand the quality that is event,” mentioned Rick Hendershot.

Current 2015 Ocala Open Champion – Dan McCarthy, Syracuse, NY 2014 Champion – Patrick Sheehan 2013 Champion – Travis Hampshire 2012 Champion – Yohann Benson 2011 Champion – Ted Potter Jr. 2010 Champion – Ted Potter Jr. 2009 Champion – Danny Ellis 2008 Champion – Travis Hampshire 2007 Champion – Rod Perry 2006 Champion – Rod Perry

30

Heading up to the Ocala Open, The Florida Professional Golf Tour hosts Professional Golf Events around the Central Florida area.

Feb 6-7 2016 Indian River Open -New Smyrna Beach Municipal - New Smyrna Beach, FL Feb 11-12 – 2-Man Team Championship - Stoneybrook East GC - Orlando, FL Feb 20-21 – 2016 Wildwood Open - Continental - Wildwood, FL Feb 27-28 – Crane Lakes Invitational Crane Lakes - Port Orange, FL Mar 16-18 – 2016 Ocala Open - Candler Hills Golf Club - Ocala, FL Mar 26-27 – 2016 Daytona Beach Open - Daytona Beach GC- North - Daytona Beach, FL Apr 4-5 – 2016 Winter Springs Open Tuscawilla - Winter Springs, FL Apr 28-29 – FPGTour Season Finale Eagle Dunes - Sorrento, FL

Eric Cole Dan McCarthy 2015 Champion

For additional information about the Florida Professional Golf Tour, Contact Rick Hendershot at www.FloridaProfessionalGolfTour.org or by calling (407) 619-4778.

Par 3 Hole #5

Patrick Sheehan 2014 Champion Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

A D I S P L A Y OF THE W ORLDS M OST E XOTI C C ARS, M OT OR C Y C LE S AND LU XU RY B RANDS.

ST. PETERSBURG

AMELIA ISLAND

FRIDAY, APRIL 1 L U X U R Y L IFE STYLE COCK TAIL R E CEPTI ON

FRIDAY, MARCH 1 1 LU XU RY LI F ES TY LE C OC KTAI L REC EP TION

SUN D A Y, APRIL 3 M OTOR SPOR TS D ISPLAY Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg

Omni Amel i a Isl and Pl antati on R esort

SAT U RDAY, MARCH 12 MOTORS P ORTS DI S PLAY Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort

R E GI S T E R YOUR CAR FOR D I S PL AY ONL I NE W W W . F E S T I V AL S OFS PEED . COM | 3 5 2-3 85 -9 4 5 0

By Mike May

stay & play

Go Stay & Play (Golf) in Lake Charles, IA When planning a southern golf getaway, many golfers think about Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; greater Pinehurst, North Carolina; or anywhere in Florida. One location which deserves equal consideration is Lake Charles, Louisiana (www.visitlakecharles. org) -- two hours east of Houston or three hours west of New Orleans, just off I-10. You can also fly into Lake

Charles on either United or American.

When planning your trip to Lake Charles, stay at the Golden Nugget Lake Charles (www.goldennugget.com/lakecharles), which is perched along Contraband Bayou.

The Golden Nugget is new as it just opened in December of 2014.

The two biggest attractions at the Golden Nugget are the pool and the golf course.

At the Golden Nugget, the H2O Pool & Bar is in a class by itself. To believe it, you have to see it. The pool has two family friendly destinations: the ‘lazy’ river and two flume rides. And, the pool features an awesome wet bar; multiple ‘islands’ called daybeds; and a state-of-the-art concert stage which features ‘live’ musical performances.

Here, you can swim to the wet bar, order a drink, charge it to your room, and then float along the ‘lazy river.’

That’s the epitome of relaxation. The pool area also contains fire pits and hot tubs. The Golden Nugget pool is cool!

For golfers, The Country Club at the Golden Nugget (844-777-4653; www. goldennuggetlc.com) is a must-play.

The course’s location is different as it sits on the edge of Contraband Bayou.

It’s your chance to pursue birdies in the bayou. This golf course, designed by award winning architect Todd Eckenrode, is well-designed, well-maintained, and very appealing to the eye. The Miniverde greens are fair, fast, and consistent. Since this golf course sits on the 32

banks of the bayou, the wind is everpresent. There are more than 15 acres of waste bunkers on the course that keep errant shots in play. If you can keep your ball out of the bunkers and the bayou, you can post a good score.

“In addition to the course, The Country Club features a full-service clubhouse providing the ideal environment for guests to dine, relax and recap the experience of a picturesque round of golf,” John Hurt, head golf professional at The Country Club at The Golden Nugget. “After the game, unwind on the patio with breathtaking views of the sunset while enjoying a chef-crafted cuisine or favorite drink from our full-service bar with an extensive wine, beer and liquor selection, as well as a premium cigar list.”

While standing on the tees of the par five 18th and the par four 9th, the view of the Golden Nugget in the distance is imposing.

As for the front nine, don’t get so consumed by the views of birds and the bayou and forget to play golf. The strongest memories of the back nine are the two medium-length par threes

(14th and 16th) and the three short par fours (10th, 13th, and 15th). All five are birdie holes, but they can torture your scorecard with higher scores, too.

The Golden Nugget Spa & Salon offers firstclass experiences.

They offer massages, manicures, pedicures, and facials. At the Spa, you can also find a sauna, steam room, whirlpool, and a fitness room.

When it comes to dining at the Golden Nugget, there are many restaurants on site. There’s no need to eat the same meal twice, unless you make that choice. Then, again, can you ever eat enough beignets for breakfast? Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse, Landry’s Seafood House, Lillie’s, Cadillac Mexican Kitchen, Saltgrass Steak House, Grotto, The Bufet, and Claim Jumper are just a few of the restaurant options. Make sure that you visit The Chocolate Box for dessert, where the handmade truffles are delightful.

Did I mention the Golden Nugget’s Grand Event Center, beach, shopping opportunities, lavishly designed rooms, and casino?

And, there are two other great local restaurants to enjoy in Lake Charles -- The Seafood Palace and the 1910 Restaurant and Wine Bar. What are you waiting for? Pack your bags and head to Lake Charles, Louisiana. Don’t forget to bring your golf clubs and an appetite.

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

IF YOU LOVE GOLF LIKE I DO Thank a Golf Course Superintendent

Thank a Golf Course Superintendent at www.gcsaa.org/thankasuperintendent and be entered to win a trip to the 2015 PGA Championship!

MYSTORY

Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

what's new

A Little Bling.

A Lot of Fun! The introduction of colored golf balls was a welcomed change in a sport steeped in traditions and standards unchanged for so many decades. It is no secret that golf must evolve and attract new generations of golfers to flourish. A bit of color added, a bit of fun and flair and golfers embraced the change. Why stop there? Varick Golf Balls are adding a little “bling” and some fun, and taking it to a whole new level with a line of metallic and neon patterned balls certain to turn the heads of anyone who sees them.

Varick Golf Balls can go toe-to-toe with most any ball on the market while giving golfers a stylish and individualized option.

Varick Golf balls are fun. They are easier to see, easier to recognize, and definitely add some novelty to your game. Who said change was ever a bad thing?

Hugh Penton, President, comments: “ When I was approached to distribute these unique golf balls, my first reaction was to say “wow , these are really cool!”

Everyone I showed the balls to immediately smiled and marveled at them. I really didn’t

34

By Gabriellla St. Croix know the potential of this ball, but I do know it is very cool and big fun on the course. The ball performs extremely well and I did not see any difference with the performance ball I normally use. I was immediately hooked. Everyone I talked to loved it, and my friends in my foursome all wanted some. Putting a little fun and style into golf is a good thing. A very good thing. I really hope golfers of all abilities at least try this ball. I am sure they will love it and will be very surprised at the way it performs and feels. The ladies just love these, but they are not just for ladies or young people either. I’ve been playing golf for longer than most, and I’m really excited over these balls!”

Lets look at how this ball performs.

As for distance, it is as good or better than most. When it comes to feel and control, this ball is remarkably good as well. Ultimately, you will have to be the judge. Michael Wargo, a professional golfer remarks, “My friend Hugh asked me to try a new

ball, and when I saw it, I had some serious doubts that something so radically different would play as well as the balls I normally use. But much to my surprise, I hit shots side by side hitting my ball and the Varick ball to the same target from the same distance. It felt great! Distance was the same, and I could work the ball and it was a very good ball. Around the greens was very similar. It felt soft on the clubface and I could spin it well.

There were literally no deficiencies I could report. I was really impressed.”

The Varick ball comes in 8 colors, and will be available in a men’s and women’s assortment box of a dozen.

The second you get your club on a Varick Golf Ball you will understand how easy it is to love this ball. The Varick Golf Balls will be more than eye-catching on the green, they are finally bringing something new and different to the golf ball. And best of all, they preform as well as they look!

There is no other ball like it. Bringing unique and individualistic flair to the course, you may never want to go back to the boring old white ball again.

Varick Golf Balls are exclusively distributed in the US by Starting Time®, a golf company that has been around for more than 12 years with products such as the Eye Cue Brass Putter, and the incredibly popular My Mini Golf. My mini Golf is a home mini golf system kids, clubs and teachers are praising all over the country making learning to putt fun and exciting. For more information on all of Starting Time’s great products, visit www.startingtimegolf.com.

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

what's new

Golf Skate Caddy: The Fun and Future of the Game Forget the over-starched khakis and long, drawn out rounds. In the face of declining interest in the sport, Golf Skate Caddy is throwing out the rulebook and bringing new excitement to the game of golf.

Today’s fast-paced world is driven by technology, innovation and immediate satisfaction -- everything that golf is not, until now. Golf Skate Caddy (GSC) based in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., is the culmination of more than 20 years of global research and development in the electric transportation industry.

Golf Skate Caddy offers many features and benefits for golf course owners and operators. The unit can speed up play by 50 percent for 18 holes and can move up to six players per tee time providing additional revenue for courses. GSC is also equipped with the latest technology to allow users to play music and connect to their smart phones.

With room for a single golf bag, a built-in cooler and cup-holder, the stand up golf cart adds a new element of fun and independence for players of all ages.

According to golf legend and golf course designer Greg Norman Sr., innovative products like Golf Skate Caddy are long overdue and necessary to ensure the sport doesn’t simple fade away. In a recent article in Australian Financial Review, Norman said, “Bring the kids in by letting them put speakers in golf carts, putting headsets on or playing in their board shorts or getting on an electric skateboard or something like that to take their clubs around, have fun with the game, speed it up, do what the kids like to do.”

they weren’t reaching down to millennials — you’ve got to listen to what these kids do,” he said.

Traditionally, golf has been a game that focused on walking and individual play. The modern golf age brought on the development of expansive course designs that forced the implementation of twoperson golf carts to enable golfers to physically play these longer layouts.

Norman went on to point out that this evolution can be seen in other sports and should be embraced by the golf industry to ensure growth.

“Golf Skate Caddy is modernizing an important aspect of the game,” said Aaron Parkinson, CEO of Golf Skate Caddy. “We’re excited to be bringing back the joy and spirit that walking has always provided golfers of all ages with this single rider vehicle.”

“When snowboarding became popular, ski resorts resisted and resisted and resisted, and what happened was families wouldn’t come becuase their kids couldn’t snowboard. The resorts were cutting off their nose to spite their face because

To learn more about Golf Skate Caddy, visit www. golfskatecaddyusa.com. For more information or to set up a demo, contact Patrick Pires at 844-3004653, 561-502-5125 or patrickp@golfskatecaddy. com.

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Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

The Stand Up Golf Cart

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

37

feature

By Erin West

Let’s Talk According to Dr. Nickolas Lavidis, a senior lecturer at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, cut grass can actually act as a stress reliever. Perhaps that’s why we can’t resist a match whenever the hustle and bustle of our lives comes to a quiet halt.

38

Or why professionals choose to spend the rest of their days making a career on the turf. Or why the superintendents care for it as if it’s their own child. On the grass, we are no longer burdened with the responsibilities real life has to offer. We can enjoy a cool beverage, take in the scenery, and quietly gloat when we get that birdie. This is exactly what TURF LIFE is all about.

Founded in 2013 by our very own Terrie Purdum, TURF LIFE is a lifestyle brand that highlights a part of the game that’s sometimes overlooked (literally and figuratively): the grass.

Without turf, we would have no course.

Without a course, well, you’d have no game. Without the game of golf we wouldn’t have a favorite player or those hardworking superintendents... and I know some of you would go insane but that’s beside the point. Almost 46.5 million acres of turf covers our world. If you think about it, that’s a lot of Golf Course Superintendents, and all of them work tirelessly to maintain those millions of acres of precious land. TURF LIFE is proud to pay homage to the individuals that eat, sleep and breathe golf. Without them, there would be no us.

Although the brand loves

to acknowledge the industry professionals, it was originally created by golfers, for golfers. That includes players of every age, color, shape and size. It strives to represent the average golfer, because it knows that they are the wind fanning the flame; the movement that keeps the sport we all love alive. It erases unseen separation between the “amateurs” and the “professionals”, and celebrates each hand that contributes to the game. So, if you can appreciate a good stroke, or get excited thinking about which skort you’ll wear at the next match, you, too, are an embodiment of the TURF LIFE brand.

A golf course, however, is not the only patch of grass the brand stands for. Baseball, football, and soccer Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

players are able to identify with the characteristics of the brand. It can even go beyond sports; anyone who admires hardworking, devoted people can appreciate the TURF LIFE movement.

Grantland Rice once said, “You are meant to play the ball as it lies, a fact that may help to touch on your own objective approach to life.” Lessons we learn from sports like golf can take root so deeply in our lives as we continue to grow upward and on. TURF LIFE is proud to provide a supportive and loving community as you learn and grow from the beautiful game of golf (or baseball, football, soccer, etc).

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

39

fore your health

Copper-Infused Compression Golf Glove Relieves Muscle and Joint Pain The phenomenon is everywhere. You’ve seen it on TV and in most major retailers. Copper compression technology products are red hot in the sports and

Pocketec, Inc. “Our patent-pending design gives the golfer an expandable

compression golf glove, Copper Tech, at the 2016 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, January 27-29 at

along with the

both men and women, are like having three gloves in one. First, each glove is made

gloves are engineered with a non-slip patent-pending spider weave silicon technology which reduces wear and allows golfers to grip the club with less tension while improving slip resistance, even

power of compression not only helps soothe muscle and joint pain in the hands, it improves a player’s

glove’s woven copper-infused compression technology helps soothe joint and muscle pain especially for golfers with chronic “We use high-grade copper fabrics to infuse our products of copper,” said Lloyd Cohn, President of

need to grab onto the club too

glove sold out for the holiday season proving that copper compression technology is something golfers are in need of and hungry for. “We believed our copper-infused glove

business.”

The Copper Tech glove is manufactured by Pocketec Inc. It retails for $19.99 and is available on line at www.coppertechglove.com. Pocketec also manufactures the Lady Classic glove, the only patented women’s golf glove designed with open Copper Tech's non-slip patent-pending spider weave silicon technology reduces wear and improves grip, even 40

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

Brenau University Golden Tigers Golf Team Selects 2015-16 Honoree for Folds of Honor Tribute The Brenau University golf team has selected Private First Class Theron V. Hobbs as their official honoree for the 2015-2016 WGCA/Folds of Honor Military Tribute Program. The team will carry a custom golf bag printed with PFC Hobbs’ name and rank to honor his service, bravery and ultimate sacrifice for our great nation.

“Carrying the name of a fallen soldier, especially when he belongs to one of our own, gives us a very unique chance to show our gratitude for the sacrifices he and his family have made for us,” said head golf coach Damon Stancil.

Hobbs, 22, was killed in action Nov. 6, 2008, in Kirkuk, Iraq, while deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Albany, Georgia, native and his wife Kimberly were expecting their first child just three months later. He was a cousin of Golden Tigers golfer Lakese Shanell Brown, a sophomore majoring in pre-nursing.

“Theron was a family person and wanted to serve his country,” said Brown. “I am proud of his work and service. He was a blessing to our family although we only got to see him physically for a short period of time, I believe in God, and that we will see him again.”

The bag is embroidered with an

American flag and the Folds of Honor logo, as well as the biblical quote John 15:13 - “greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Hobbs was assigned to the 572nd Engineer Company, 20th Engineer Battalion and 36th Engineer Brigade out of Fort Hood, Texas.

The Folds of Honor Foundation is a nonprofit organization providing educational support to spouses and children of America’s fallen and wounded soldiers. Since 2007, it has offered scholarship assistance to the million-plus dependents who have been affected by deployments and has raised over $27 million through sports fundraisers to provide financial support for students and their families. It was founded by Major Rooney, a PGA professional, USGA member, former college golfer at the University of Kansas and former F-16 military pilot with the Oklahoma Air National Guard, following his second of three tours of duty in Iraq.

“In honor of the members of the military who have protected and sacrificed so much for our country, this is one way to show our appreciation for them,” said Brenau Director of Military and Veteran Services Rosanne Short.

“We really want to step in and support those families who have had loved ones deployed, to help take away some of the stress they may be experiencing.”

This is Brenau’s second year with the Folds of Honor tribute program. Last year, Staff Sgt. Shaun J. Whitehead of Commerce, Georgia, was selected as the university’s honoree. He died April 24, 2008, in Iskandariyah, Iraq, of wounds sustained from an explosive at age 25. He had been assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

“Our team is humbled and honored to have this opportunity to honor Hobb and service members like him,” said Stancil. “The ladies have really taken this Military Tribute Program to heart and each has shown great pride when they have been able to carry the bag during one of our tournaments.”

To honor the memory of Private First Class Theron V. Hobbs, the Brenau University Golden Tigers Golf Team displays his name and rank on their custom golf bags as part of the 2015-16 Folds of Honors Military Tribute Program.

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Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

The Quarry at Black Diamond. . . . . . simply breathtaking.

Become a National Member

Enjoy full privileges at one of Florida’s premier private golf clubs and play unlimited golf on 45 Tom Fazio-designed holes, including the famed Quarry Course.

For More Information, Call Bill Hardin (813) 575-0705 Membership Real Estate Stay & Play www.blackdiamondranch.com/national 3125 W Black Diamond Circle, Lecanto, FL 34461

Sugarlands Distilling Company

competitive spirits

produces craft quality moonshine and whiskey. The distillery, in downtown Gatlinburg, is a popular attraction where guests are invited to taste free samples of authentic Sugarlands Shine, take behind the-scenes tours of the production, and purchase a variety of moonshine flavors, mountain merchandise, and apparel.

The distillery also offers live music, Appalachian storytelling, and outdoor adventure tours in the Sugarlands, an area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park historically known as “moonshiners’ paradise.” The company is East Tennessee-owned, with a focus on improving the local community through a variety of events and charitable giving.

Sugarlands Distilling Co. opened its downtown Gatlinburg distillery in March 2014 to perform the age-old craft of distilling fine Sugarlands Shine. Its authentic spirits, barn-house location, and first-class entertainment offer visitors the complete Tennessee moonshine experience. Sugarlands Distilling Co. is a proud, locally owned, community–minded, “give-back” brand.

www.sugarlandsdistilling.com

44

Jim Tom's Bloody Mary

Tropical Silver Cloud

Pour Sugarlands Shine Jim Tom’s Unaged Rye over ice, top with your favorite Bloody Mary Mix and garnish with Olives, Bacon and Celery. Optional Salt and Pepper rim.

2 ounces Silver Cloud Sugarlands Shine 2 ounces Pineapple juice 2 ounces Mango juice 1 ounce Water (to cut thickness of mango juice) Pour over ice and stir. Sink 1/4 ounce grenadine and garnish with mango pieces.

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

By Mike May

golf history header

A Tropical Delight

Palm Beach. A new clubhouse was built and opened in 1963. The original 1926 clubhouse remained until 1980.

On May 3, 2006, local resident and golf legend Jack Nicklaus entered the picture, as he oversaw major renovations on the course.

By November of that year, the course re-opened for play.

During the renovation

Golfers at Winter Club

process, the Golden Bear

way to give a little something back

took an active role in the course

to the community and the people

redesign and reconstruction.

who have given me so much,”

With his creativity, Nicklaus main-

said Nicklaus, who has lived in

tained the integrity of the original de-

the area since the early 1960s.

The North Palm Beach Country Club

sign while sharpening its appearance.

(951 U.S. Highway One, North Palm

And, in some cases, the Golden Bear

Club remains an 18-hole, par-71 golf

added a ‘roar’ to the course, especially

course, which now features six sets

Beach, FL; 561-691-3433) is a course which has experienced true transformation – a facelift and a name change – since it opened in the mid

to the 10th, 11th, and 18th holes which

of tees, including a family tee. De-

have heavily, but not unfairly, bunkered

pending on the tee, the course plays

fairways. As you play the 5th and 6th holes, you get a great view of the Lake Worth Lagoon and its upscale boat traffic. The waterway flanks both fairways, but doesn’t impact play. Many of the greens have enhanced undulations, which makes putting an experience at times. The greens are always in great condition.

Winter Club Driveway

1920s. And, today’s golfers are reaping the benefits of this change on this golf course which is one of the 51 courses on the Florida Historic Golf Trail.

Funded by developers Paris Singer and Harry Kelsey and designed by golf course architect Seth Raynor, the North Palm Beach Country Club opened for play in 1926. It was originally called the Palm Beach Winter Club. Located not far from the Atlantic Ocean and alongside the Lake Worth Lagoon, local newspaper articles at the time reported that the club was accessible by either an automobile or a fast motor boat, directly from the Everglades Club, its ‘sister’ club in Palm Beach.

Back then, the green fees were quite affordable by today’s prices – as low as $2.50. Oh, how times have changed!

In 1962, the club and golf course were purchased by the Village of North 46

The North Palm Beach Country

This newly renovated golf course became only the second public municipal golf

course in the U.S., at that time, to bear the prestigious moniker of a Jack Nicklaus “Signature” Golf Course. Nicklaus stated that the North Palm Beach

from 3,600 to 7,000 yards, so each golfer gets to play the course in a manner that is equal to their level.

The course features first-class practice facilities – a lighted driving range, a practice putting green and a pitching/chipping green.

The renovated North Palm Beach CC has received many accolades -- the #1 municipal golf course in Florida and the #27 municipal golf course in the U.S. by Golfweek. The Palm Beach Post has ranked the North Palm Beach CC as the top public golf course in Palm Beach County. And, AAA Magazine rates this course as a Must Play Course in Florida.

1962 Northeast over golf course

Country Club would be a great showcase course for Palm Beach County. He was right. And, many golfers who now play the course would agree.

For this major renovation project, Nicklaus charged the Village of North Palm Beach just one dollar for his expertise.

“This was my Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

Believe it!

Varick Golf Balls are high-performance balls designed to deliver great distance, feel and accuracy.

A little bling can be a lot of fun, but even the most demanding players will love the performance and the fun. The Varick golf ball comes in 8 cool high-visibility colors and promises to put a little bling in your game while lowering your scores.

Come visit us at the

PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando FL, Booth #2201

Phone: (800) 851-5442 custserv@startingtimegolf.com

www.startingtimegolf.com

By Andrew J. Jorgensen, CGCS

The 7 Dirty Words of Golf Course Maintenance When George Carlin came up with the “Seven words you can never say on television” in 1972, I don’t think he ever imagined the same bit could be used when talking about golf course maintenance. Yet, the golfing public has come up with a list of seven dirty

have been through extensive testing

damage requir-

for safety and human health. In fact,

ing months of repair and recovery.

manufacturers have been diligently im-

Aerification – the worst of the worst.

proving pesticides over the past several years to improve safety. Pesticides of today are applied in ounces or grams per acre compared to gallons or pounds

Aerification is a vital process that ensures long-term health of all playing surfaces on the golf course. This necessary evil allows air, water and

words no one ever wants

nutrients to penetrate into

to hear on the golf

the soil thereby improving

course. Although some of

plant health and limit-

these aren’t necessarily

ing the impacts from rain,

dirty, they have almost

drought and disease. Good

become a sort of taboo

conditions return within

around the locker room.

10-14 days, but leaves golf-

Rain – Although rain

ers calling around town to find out who has and

doesn’t sound too taboo,

who has not aerified.

it does limit the amount of time a golfer can enjoy

Topdressing – a close

the course. It also leads

second behind aerification

to wet and soft condi-

since both are performed

tions, and the dirtiest of

at the same time. Top-

all phrases: “Cart Path Only”. Yet rain is vital to course conditions and replaces what an irrigation system cannot. It is also better than…

Drought – the opposite of rain, drought

with the pesticides of yesteryear.

dressing is also used throughout the

Pesticides are a vital part in any golf

year to smooth the putting surface,

operation and a leading contributor

dilute thatch and organic matter

to great conditions. Also see: disease.

and improve drainage. Greens roll-

Disease – the dreaded “D” word. No

ing true? Thank topdressing for this.

golfer wants to hear the greens were

Closed – No golfer wants to find out

damaged due to disease, but it all too

their favorite course is closed during

often occurs. Catching a disease is

the time they want to play, however

like catching the common cold. Even

closing a golf course is sometimes

with the best intentions, sometimes

necessary to allow for maintenance

disease can run rampant until a cure is

to be performed efficiently, ef-

applied. The cure can be complex, or as

fectively and safely. Most courses

simple as applying a pesticide. Disease

don’t have the luxury to close often

Pesticides – Pesticides have taken a

often coincides with rain, and until the

enough, but those that do typi-

bad rap over the years even though all

rain stops, disease can cause severe

cally have better conditions.

can wreak havoc on a golf course.

Take California for example; millions of dollars in damage from poor turf conditions, lack of play and even a few course closures. Although this is an extreme example, prolonged drought conditions can strain any course, especially when watering restrictions are in place.

48

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

DAYTONA BEACH GOLF CLUB • INDIGO LAKES GOLF CLUB • LPGA INTERNATIONAL • THE CLUB AT PELICAN BAY

The Daytona Beach area is home to some of Florida’s best golf courses, and the Homewood Suites

By Hilton Daytona Beach has teamed up with some of our favorites for some exciting package deals starting at $99 per person per day. We can book packages for single players up to groups of 50.

With an average yearly temperature of 72 degrees, and 300 days of sunshine Daytona Beach is a wonderful area to enjoy your golf vacation.

Daytona Beach has been a great leisure destination for over 100 years welcoming over 8 million visitors annually. A true golfer’s heaven, the Daytona Beach area is home to some of the most highly recognizable golf courses in the Southeast, including:, LPGA International, Indigo Lakes, Pelican Bay, and Daytona Beach Golf Club.

Daytona Beach offers 23 miles of beaches, world class deep sea, and fresh water fishing, Daytona Beach Kennel Club & Poker Room, as well as unique dining and shopping experiences.

Our Homewood Suites by Hilton staff will handle all of your groups needs including tee times. We are an all-suite property featuring three different suite types to ensure more room to spread out. A full breakfast buffet is included every morning, and dinner Monday-Thursday. All of our partner golf courses are located within a quick 15 minute drive. Our expert golf specialist’s will help you choose the best golf courses and things to do while you’re visiting the area.

Jones Course & Clubhouse at LPGA International

386-258-2828 Patrick.Sullivan@Hilton.com

Watch out for WOTUS

By Seth Jones Editor-in-Chief, Golfdom

New EPA rule could raise greens fees at best, shut down courses at worst The next time you’re in the clubhouse and you see the superintendent walk by, ask him what his thoughts are on WOTUS. Even better, ask him if there’s anything you can do to help out. He’ll probably want to buy you a beer and sit down for a chat.

What is WOTUS? It’s a mystery to many, and simply confusing to the rest. But it’s important enough to golf course superintendents that we put it on the cover of the November 2015 issue of Golfdom.

WOTUS stands for Waters of the

50

United States, and it is an effort by the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to better define what bodies of water they have jurisdiction over. Many decry the rule because it complicates and greatly expands what is considered a body of water.

We had a little fun with the idea of what constitutes a body of water on the cover of Golfdom. We used an aerial image of a golf course and placed arrows all over the golf course, pointing to a fairway, a bunker, even a cart path. And we declared it all WOTUS water — “WOTUS water

everywhere” was the headline.

It’s really not much of an exaggeration of what WOTUS declares a body of water. I spoke with a golf course superintendent from Oklahoma recently, who maintains a course on a lake. Because his course drains into the lake, and because his source of water comes from the lake, pretty much his entire golf course would fall under the WOTUS restrictions. Which means the way he fertilizes, aerates, even mows, would have to change… and he might need costly permits for all of it.

It wasn’t long after WOTUS went live that it then went dead; it’s currently unenforceable as it bounces around the appeals courts. But it still has many golf course superintendents spooked. An attorney I interviewed for the article (you can read our cover story and watch that interview online at Golfdom.com) predicted that the rule would eventually go back into effect before the dust settles… and then it could take years before it’s all figured out in the courts.

Which means superintendents will be keeping a close eye on it. In fact, the Oklahoma superintendent I mentioned told me his resort had actually hired an independent contractor to serve as their resident WOTUS expert, because it effects much more than just the golf course, it impacts the entire resort. It isn’t the first time I’ve heard of a course having to hire outside help for fear of WOTUS. So hey, there’s one advantage of WOTUS — it’s creating a few jobs!

But here is another WOTUSrelated question: If it’s bad for the golf course superintendent, what does it mean for a farmer?

The rancher? The homeowner?

You can bet big industries like agriculture and home builders are not happy about WOTUS and doing all they can to get the rule beat. And if you have a pond on your property, you might want to start paying attention.

It wouldn’t be fun to get fined because you applied fertilizer to your yard.

Because according to WOTUS, water really is just about everywhere!

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

51

Tucker wins 2016 Edward Budding Award At 37, Stephen Tucker, equipment manager at Tranquillo Golf Club at Four Seasons in Windermere, Fla., may seem too young to be awarded his profession’s equivalent of a lifetime achievement award. However, in just 16 years in the profession, Tucker helped found a national membership organization for golf course equipment managers, oversaw development of the first recognized certificate program for technicians, and ushered the organization’s members into the next phase of opportunities. For his efforts, Tucker is being honored with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America’s 2015 Edwin Budding Award.

The Edwin Budding Award, named for the inventor of the lawnmower and presented in partnership with Ransomes/Jacobsen, is given to equipment managers and related innovators, technicians, educators, or engineers who have made a significant impact in the golf and turf business.

Tucker will be presented with the award in January at the British and International Golf Greenkeepers’ Association’s Turf Management Exhibition in Harrogate, England.

“It’s very humbling to be chosen for the Budding Award,” Tucker said. “But I feel that I still have a lot more to do in the industry. I would also not be where I am without all the leaders and volunteers I had with me. I want to accept the award on behalf of all of those guys.”

A native of Live Oak, Fla., and a graduate of Lake City College (now Florida Gateway College), Tucker has spent more than 16 years in the industry and was instrumental in the formation of the International Golf Course Equipment Managers Association in 2007. He said he began contacting other equipment managers from across the country to form an association so that the career path for equipment managers could be more than just going from job to job. IGCEMA would eventually become a partner in the annual Golf Industry Show and establish a certificate pro52

gram that recognized technicians for demonstrating proficiency in six key competencies. Tucker would serve as the first president of IGCEMA and eventually become its executive director.

“Stephen Tucker truly personifies the ideas behind the Budding Award,” GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans said. “His innovative thinking helped establish a network of knowledge and camaraderie for equipment managers from coast to coast. His efforts not only benefitted

equipment managers, but the facilities they serve and the industry as a whole.”

In just a few short years, however, IGCEMA was starting to feel the weight of its own success. Tucker said the association, which offered memberships for free and relied on volunteers, would need to consider hiring paid staff to increase IGCEMA’s offerings, as its growth had outpaced its resources. Tucker had originally entered the golf industry through a friend who was studying to be a superintendent and always understood the partnership between the two disciplines, so after meeting with GCSAA Past President Patrick Finlen, certified golf course superintendent and general manager at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, the answer was clear.

“It was going to be difficult to push ahead, so we had to ask the question: What was best for equipment managers moving forward?” Tucker said. “GCSAA was the answer to that.”

On April 27, 2015, GCSAA and IGEMA approved a membership union between the two organizations. IGCEMA would dissolve, and GCSAA would offer an equipment manager membership classification.

While this meant the end of IGCEMA, it also meant greater professional development and networking opportunities for equipment managers. As part of the agreement, GCSAA took over the Edwin Budding Award.

It seemed a natural progression to Tucker, who said he has always seen a positive relationship between equipment manager and superintendent as key to a great golf operation. The feeling is mutual with Tranquillo GC’s superintendent, GCSAA member Rusty Wilson.

“Stephen is always pushing innovation and how to make things easier while improving the overall golf course product.” Wilson said. “Stephen is the best of the best, and he should be recognized for all of his efforts – not only for doing his day-to-day job, but his continued efforts to raise the bar within the golf industry.”

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

Juice Up Your Marketing!

Branding Successful Clients Since 1990

Golf Marketing Services • • • •

Marketing and Public Relations Sales and Business Development Web Design, SEO and e-Commerce Social Media Strategies

321-303-9684 www.golfmarketinginc.com

By Greg Wise

improving performance

Roll With It, Baby!

Okay… I know what you are probably thinking. When I was asked that same question… I would bet the same thought was going through my mind.

But when author of “Make More Putts,” Juan Gutierrez, presented the answer to me, I began to really start listening, because it made total sense.

Juan explained, “ the width of your

on the forces of the green pulling it left or right. So, the concept of every putt is a straight putt, is a true statement.

The magic part of that 4 ¼”, is that is the plus or minus from the center line of the paper will still give the ball a change to go in. Your objective is to start the putt squarely within the width of the toilet paper.

So, let’s get back to the reality of the book and your quest to “Make More Putts.” Juan was the 2011 World Golf Hall of Fame Putting Champion. This is where the content of the book was tested and perfected on how Make More Putts can help you and your putting.

Juan was a Corporate Trainer for his entire life and has brought Corporate Training in to the game of golf with his Proven Putting Performance Improvement System.

Juan explained, “Putting is 50% of the game, yet rarely do people spend 50% of the practice time putting and perfecting that stroke, more like taking 3 balls on to the practice green and putting them around.”

The newer golfers are out there

Juan Gutierrez

on the practice facility because they all want to hit the ball 300 yards, but with the proper analysis, they lose 5 to 6 stokes a round within 5 feet of the cup on the green.

This book breaks down to the Strengths and Weaknesses and helps you develop a plan to better equip you to Make More Putts.

Available at Amazon and some local pro shops.

standard home toilet paper was the same width of a golf hole.” He went on to explain, “every putt is a straight putt as it leaves your putter,” he explained.

The more we talked… the more I was buying in to the concept of using toilet paper to practice putting square.

If you would roll out approximant 18” of toilet paper and lay it on the green on the actual track that your ball is going to follow, you will be able to focus on the straight putt that you are playing, prior to the ball started to take 54

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

north florida PGA north south south florida florida PGA PGA north southflorida floridaPGA PGAnorth southflorida floridaPGA PGAnorth southfl

2015 Junior Tour Championship Features Great Excitement The South Florida PGA Junior Tour Championship presented by The Honda Classic was contested at Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club at Old Trail. The field was composed of 90 players from the Challenge Tour and Championship Tour combined.

The Championship Tour Boys Division featured some outstanding play this weekend. Jupiter native Matt Mcrostie and Miami native Jake BeberFrankel each opened up round one with a 1-under-par 71 to find themselves tied at the top of the leaderboard. Jupiter native Bryan Wiyang, who fired a first round 2-over-par 73, made a strong push during Sunday’s final round after shooting a 74. After the 36 hole stroke play event was completed, Beber-Frankel and Wiyang found themselves tied for the lead, sending the boys division to a sudden death playoff. Wiyang managed to outlast Beber-Frankel on the third playoff hole and capture the season ending junior major title.

Miami native Alexa Rivas found herself three Mixed Team strokes behind Tamarac native Jillian Bourdage entering Sunday’s final round. Lake Worth native Alexa Pano made a strong push during the final round, firing a 4-over par 75 but it wasn’t enough to stop Rivas.

Rivas fired a final round 3-over-par 74 to capture the Girls Championship Tour Division title.

The Challenge Tour Division featured some great play this weekend as well. Vero Beach native Carter Dalili and Boca Raton native Matt Glenn each fired opening round 76’s and shared the lead heading into the final round. Dalili was able to continue his solid play and fire a final round 2-over-par 73 and capture the Boys Challenge Tour Overall Title. Lake Worth native Serina Combs put a solid end to her 2015 season by winning the Overall Girls Chal56

Junor Tour Champions lenge Tour Division by two strokes.

The boys and girls 11-12 age division squared off in a one day, 18 hold Tour Championship on Sunday. Nicklas Staub of Boynton Beach was able to continue his dominate 2015 season and win the boys 1112 age division. Doral native Skylee Shin fired a 3-over-par 74 to capture the girls 11-12 age division title.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour Player of the Year was also concluded during the Tour Championship. Hobe Sound native Andie Smith won the Girls 11-12 age division Player of the Year, while Boynton Beach native

Nicklas Staub won the Boys 11-12 age division player of the year. Coral Springs native Brett Roberts captured the Boys Challenge Tour Player of the Year, while Boca Raton native Taylor Roberts captured the Girls Challenge Tour Player of the Year honors. Lake Worth native Jordan Reeves took home the Boys Championship Tour Player of

the Year, while Boca Raton native Dana Williams took home the Girls Championship Tour Player of the Year.

Rinker and Amaral Take Home the Hardware at the 2015 Mixed Team Event The 2015 Mixed Team Event was contested this afternoon at Bonita Bay Club Naples on the Fazio designed Cypress Course. Thirty teams of two competed in the four-ball stroke play event consisting of PGA Members, Apprentices as well as LPGA teaching and playing Professionals.

In ideal conditions eighteen teams finished under par with three teams earning their way into a playoff position firing 62 (10 under par). Heading into the playoff were the teams of PGA Teaching Professional Dennis Meyer/LPGA Professional Terry-Jo Meyers, LPGA Professional Laurie Rinker and PGA Director of Instruction at the Yacht and Country Club, Colin Amaral, and PGA Assistant Professional at Bonita Bay Club Richard Packish/LPGA Professional Maude Amiee Leblanc. The teams of Rinker/Amaral and Packish/Leblanc went to the second playoff hole in a tie for the lead. Amaral got up and down from the fairway bunker for birdie on the eighteenth to secure the victory for the team.

The South Florida PGA would like to thank Cure Putters for their supporting role in this year’s event as well as Bonita Bay Club Naples for hosting.

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

north florida PGA north florida PGA north florida PGA north florida PGA north fl

It was a great day to be PGA! Our 36th Annual Meeting was quite possibly the best one ever! PGA of America President, Derek Sprague spent the day with us as was our keynote speaker.

The meeting was highlighted with the election of new officers along with reports and inspiration from the entire NFPGA Board. Two hundred PGA Members attended the Annual Meeting and heard the candidates PGA of America President Derek Sprague is administering oath along with our Honorary President, Tony Johnson)

speak before voting on the future of the NFPGA. A special thank you to all of the candidates for stepping up with their passion to serve their fel-

We closed the season with our Na-

low members! It’s always great to see

tional Car Rental Holiday Scramble

our PGA brothers and sisters gather

at Reunion Resort! Our champions

for conversation and support of their

were: Gross (54) Thomas Charlton, Ben

Section. Thank you to our Presenting

Murray, Kyle Kubala, Scott Crider. Net

Partners Chase54, The PGA Merchan-

(54.1) John O’Leary, Bryan Smith, Wade

dise Show, imapMyGolf, Flightscope

Oney, Wade Oney III. Like the Xmas

and ProGolf Weather. Thank you to

season they lit it up! Thank you all who

Reunion Resort, our homesite, for

played and brought all the Toys For

hosting. Thank you to all who took the

Tots! Thank you National Car Rental

time to attend! The stage was spec-

for sponsoring! Thank you to Reunion

tacular and everyone seemed to enjoy

Resort, our homesite, for hosting!

the day. We are already looking ahead

As we look ahead to the 2016 PGA

to a great 2016 and beyond. It truly

Merchandise Show we invite anyone to

was a great day to be PGA! Our newly

visit our North Florida PGA Hospitality

elected Officers: Mike Lynch, Presi-

room in W-305B. Come on up and take

dent. John Hughes, Vice- President.

a break and visit with friends and the

Charlie Rymer, Secretary. Clint Avret,

staff of the North Florida PGA. We hope

Tournament Chairman.

to see you there.

John O’Leary team 58

Ben Herring our tournament director

Thomas Charlton team Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

59

By Dave Douglas Director of Golf Provo Golf Club

caribbean golf central

David Feherty–Ambassador Ffff-Feherty equals fff-fun, not to mention way too fff-funny, which equals very cool for Provo Golf Club.

Really when you stop to think about golf what else at this point in its evolution makes more sense than having fun. This tragically serious, stressful, over analyzed, don’t do this, don’t touch that, game needs a little levity, not to mention a few laughs along the way to its survival. Have you ever seen the rule book let alone the case book? Now that is serious.

David Feherty has naturally been enjoying himself for over 40 years in this great game as a golf professional, occasionally at the expense of others but far more routinely at his own expense. Twenty years on tour followed by twenty years commentating, writing, interviewing, and most importantly continuously performing almost as if he was golf’s pied piper in charge of entertainment.

Clearly this makes him the most cherished character in the game of golf today.

Whether he is discussing serious matters on his award winning Feherty Show in a light hearted way or treating

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light matters with an unusual acute depth he is forever relating the ironies that seem to strike directly to the heart of the topic. Along the way David continually returns to the humor found in that particular moment due very much to his unique trait of impish irreverence; the beloved class clown. The fact that David would rather hang out with the caddies or the professional who just missed their 4th consecutive cut speaks to his view of the world and is the likely catalyst in our attraction to his style. Or as David says, “When the band starts playing I just can’t sleep anymore”. His active, creative, mind simply makes us want to be in that band.

Provo Golf Club has always been about fun, even in the early days when we were far too serious to realize it there was a light hearted innocence about the scene. Golf was new to the country and new to many of “our” golf characters who were consumed by the lure of this crazy game. In fact if you spotted us a few ffff’s we could almost spell fff-fun even back then. It sorta, kinda, makes us think that David Feherty has been the Provo Golf Ambassador for much longer then we all realize.

I wish you as many fff’s in life as necessary to spell ffffunn in your own way. Golf spells it F-eh-e-r-t-y. So does Provo Golf Club.

Mr. Feherty, “Thank you for being Provo Golf Club’s Ambassador”!

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

Come see us at the PGA Show booth #3516

www.TurfLife.club

By Mike May

Georgia golf central

The Lake Oconee Course: One of Georgia’s Finest The quality of the golf experience at The Oconee Course at the Reynolds Lake Oconee (100 Linger Longer Road, Greensboro, GA; 706-467-1200) is on par with the quality of the resort experience across the street at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation (One Lake Oconee Trail, Greensboro, GA; 706-467-0600), but if I had to limit my description of this stay-and-play experience to just four words, they would be pure, pleasant, photogenic and peaceful, with an emphasis on the latter.

When you arrive on the first tee of The Oconee, you are on the cusp of a magical sightseeing and strategic golf journey which is one of the cornerstones of the Reynolds Plantation golf experience. This journey won’t finish until you walk off the 18th green, just over four hours later. When you take a glance down the opening fairway at The Oconee – a 500+ yard par five – you can’t help but take note of the beauty and serenity of this golf course.

What’s unique about this course is that you get that special feeling on every single tee. It’s important to admire the breadth and depth of every hole before you strike your tee shots.

Golf course designer Rees Jones ‘got it right’ when he designed The Oconee, one of six golf courses at Reynolds Lake Oconee, located 80 miles east of Atlanta.

“The classic golf course that we designed fits the land perfectly,” says Jones. “The topography is such that the green sites are natural and the finishing holes on both nines are spectacular.”

Jones refers to The Oconee, a par 72 layout, as a “great golf course,” which is an understatement. Truth be told, it’s a masterpiece that is symbolic of what can be done with a lakeside property and some imagination. Even if you don’t play well at The Oconee, your memories of those tall Georgia pines acting as sentries alongside well-manicured fairways will put a smile on your

Oconee #15 62

face as you reflect on the privilege you had of spending a few hours in a wooded paradise trying to hit a little white (or yellow or orange) ball into 18 finely cut holes, each one 4 ¼” in diameter. While the greens are rather large, which gives the superintendent many different daily pinplacement options, they are receptive, consistent, fair, and fast (but not too fast!). Missed putts at The Oconee are the result of ‘pilot error.’

When The Oconee was first opened in January of 2003, Golf Digest named it as one of the “Best New Upscale Courses.” Since then, The Oconee

has remained in the “Top 100 Resort Courses” by Golfweek.

In a nutshell, The Oconee will create an indelible memory for anybody who plays it. The attention to detail at this course is what sets it apart from many resort golf courses. Jones did a wonderful job of incorporating the natural woodlands, rock-strewn brooks, central Georgia’s natural rolling terrain, and the breathtaking views of Lake Oconee. At The Oconee, there are no homes along the fairways and only two fairways (the 1st and the 10th) are remotely close to one another.

When playing The Oconee, you have 18 distinct golf experiences which are cocoon-like which adds to this course’s overall appeal and attraction. The only glimpse at civilization is at the turn and while playing the 18th hole.

To keep the golf experience at The Oconee fair, the course has five sets of tees, which are marked in a simplistic way: ‘one,’ ‘two,’ ‘three,’ ‘four,’ and ‘five,’ with ‘one’ representing the back tees. The distance from the back tees is a shade over 7,000 yards while the distance from the ‘five’ tees is just less than 5,200 yards. There is a distance for every handicap at The Oconee.

For the avid/competitive players, the scorecard suggests a mixture of the ‘two’ and ‘three’ tees, which is referred to as the ‘tournament’ distance.

It’s not easy choosing the ‘highlight’ shots and holes since the entire course is one big ‘WOW’ golf experience, but here are my most memorable moments: Opening tee shots at great golf courses get your attention and the tee shot at the 1st at The Oconee does just that. The tee shot on the par three 5th hole requires focus because water lurks short and right of the green. At the 5th, it’s possible to get ‘up & down’ from left of the green or from the two greenside bunkers, but not from the bottom of the lake. While the 6th hole is only 372 yards from the back tees, the second shot to an uphill green with a false front means you need to take an extra club or two on your approach, especially if the pin is at the back of the green. The 9th hole is tough from beginning to end – a long, somewhat tight par four which is flanked by water on the right from tee to green. Playing conservatively at the 9th hole, while settling for a bogey or a one-putt par, is a sound approach.

On the back nine, the 12th is one of those great short par fours which has a left-to-right flow from tee to green. To add to its degree of difficulty, a small Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

pond sits at the front of the green while a rolling brook runs alongside the right side of the fairway. For the right-hander, this hole is best played with two power fades, but if the approach drifts too far right, it will find a ‘watery grave.’ The distinct feature of the downhill par three 13th is that the biggest sand trap on the course protects the front of the green. From an aerial perspective, that bunker looks like a miniature layout of the actual Lake Oconee. Take enough club to clear the ‘sandy’ lake. The par four 16th can best be described as ‘tough love.’ It’s ‘lovely’ to look at, but it’s ‘tough’ to play. This lengthy par four is a right-to-left dogleg which is bordered by a stream along the left side of the fairway. While the green is perched in the far left-hand portion of the fairway, the presence of the water hazard keeps you from ‘cutting the corner’ with your tee shot. Pars at the 16th are precious.

At The Oconee, the best was saved for last. The par-four 18th hole is right-toleft, dogleg – the longest par four on the course. The presence of Lake Oconee impacts the tee shot and the approach to the heavily bunkered green. A par at the 18th is a PGA Tour-quality score.

The final attributes of The Oconee experience are its customer service and

Oconee #9 convenience. At the end of your round, if you feel that your golf game needs some TLC, The Reynolds Golf Academy, featuring the personal instruction of the highly acclaimed Charlie King, one of Golf Digest’s “50 Best Teachers,” is based at The Oconee. And, if you feel that you need new clubs, a swing analysis, and personalized club-fitting, that can be done at The Oconee, as well – at The TaylorMade Kingdom. Finally, as was mentioned at the beginning of this story, if you are

going to play a first-class golf course, then you need ‘hang your hat’ at a firstclass resort. It just so happens that The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation is so close to The Oconee that it’s more accessible with a short golf cart ride than driving your car. And, when you stay at this Ritz-Carlton, the quality of the visit as well as the list of things to do and enjoy are on par with the splendid memories that will be made while ‘on tour’ across the street at The Oconee.

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JACK’S CUSTOM WOODWORKING • JSAARI@YAHOO.COM Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

63

carolinas golf central

One of South Carolina’s Favorite Stopping-Off Points for Golfers A casual observer might think nothing ever changes around sleepy little Santee, South Carolina. While it’s true that this tiny lakeside town with a population of fewer than 900 has remained true to its roots dating back more than a half century, upon closer review you will discover that Santee has been quite busy lately making subtle but tasteful changes with the times.

Start with the new exit off I-95 with access to Santee that is going to open in 2016. There are high-powered Tesla

Santee Cooper Country Club - Hole #1 charging hook-ups at Clark’s Inn &

tee Recreation Center and Waterpark,

Restaurant, a new Conference Center,

which opened last year, features an

a 17,752-foot, state-of-the-art facility

aquatics center with an 80,000-gallon

with three breakout rooms can host up

pool separated into three sections for

to 1,200 people. The YMCA-run San-

all ages, basketball courts, baseball fields, soccer and bocce fields and

Lake Marion Golf Course - Hole #1

recreation pavilions — along with a thrilling, 300-foot slide that starts about 100 feet in the air and takes you on a tube down through the three loops.

And that doesn’t even include the golf, for which Santee has made its name through the years. Check out the fully-equipped villas overlooking the beautiful Lake Marion Golf Course, situated alongside Santee National’s fairways or rising high above the big waters on Lake Marion’s north shore.

Lake Marion has 24 villas available with 10 more currently under construction. “Santee is growing,” said Brock Hannay, Santee National’s office manager. “Everyone here has a vision.”

Santee is set up like a sprawling resort, offering an array of more than a dozen accommodation properties designed to suit any taste or budget, from hotels and motels to well appointed two bedroom deluxe villas just a short walk from Santee’s famous southern hospitality, delicious cuisine and vibrant nightlife. When all the rooms around town are full, Santee’s population swells to 20,000.

Located on the south shore of Lake Marion, South Carolina’s largest freshwater lake where a number of world records have been set through the years for largemouth catfish and sea bass, Santee is dissected by Interstate 95 — almost exactly halfway between New

64

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

York and Miami — and just off Interstate

greens. Architect Eddie Riccoboni

the past few years as well,” said Todd

26, midway between the Palmetto State’s

designed the traditional layout with

Miller, the general manager of Santee

popular cities Charleston and Columbia.

tree-lined fairways, bordering lakes

Cooper Resort for almost 20 years.

Among budget-conscious golfers, Santee

and dotted by 47 sand bunkers that

has morphed into a revered year-round

will test your golf course navigational

Behind golf counters, inside restau-

destination. Within a mile of town,

skills. Santee Cooper and Lake Marion

rants, hotels and on the streets you find

there are three outstanding courses that

are part of the Santee Cooper Resort.

friendly faces and welcoming hosts

don’t cost a small fortune to play — a

Another popular golf course on the

offering good old-fashioned Southern

trinity has become sacred ground for

menu at Santee is the Porter Gibson-

hospitality. When you go to the Oasis

golfers from all over North America.

routed Santee NationalGolf Club,

Bar and Grill, you might meet the owner

which opened in 1989 and underwent

Dennis, and he might buy a drink. It’s all

by George Cobb and opened in 1967,

a renovation in 2005. This 6,858-yard

part of the Santee charm. Coasters is a

is the oldest of the three courses and

offering is positioned in a truly natural

Santee must-visit for golfers, where the

arguably the venue you should never

setting filled with mossy live oaks is

Jack Daniels steak will rival most cuts of

leave off any Santee itinerary, due to

a more wide-open layout than San-

meat along the east coast, while the fish

its prime positioning on Lake Marion.

tee Cooper CC and Lake Marion.

and prime rib at Captain Kirk’s is equally

Santee Cooper Country Club, designed

Set among majestic pines, this classic

Most of all, Santee is a “people place.”

There are five other reasonably priced

tasty. During the season, Clark’s Inn &

challenge winds its way from an opening

gems within 20 minutes of Santee and

Restaurant — which celebrates its 70th

tee shot over water, through a series of

another 10 courses within 40 minutes.

anniversary in 2016 — will serve 350-plus

scenic dogleg holes, with elevated greens

Upscale premium green fees are no-

people a night. “People are what make a

and featuring some of the best par 3s

where to be found around these parts

community and that is what makes San-

in the region. The best closing hole in

and your dollar definitely goes further.

tee different,” said Hannay. “People care

Santee is unquestionably the par-4 No.

For about $60 during the off-season

you’re here and they treat you that way.”

18 that provides a panoramic view of

you can play golf with a cart, enjoy nice

Lake Marion from its elevated green.

accommodations and a full, hearty

ism.com. Specific golf packages are

Find more info at www.SanteeTour-

breakfast the next day. “Our prices are

available at www.GolfSantee.com,

in 1978, is Santee Cooper’s sister course

reasonable, but we’ve also been able to

www.SanteeCooperGolf.com and

and features outstanding, Miniverde

improve our product playability-wise

www.ClarksInnandRestaurant.com.

Lake Marion Golf Club, which opened

Kenny Perry and Trevor Immelman have made Transitions® lenses part of their game.

On the PGA TOUR®, vision is a golfer’s most important equipment. Transitions lenses adapt to changing light to help golfers see more comfortably in all light conditions and help protect eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

Visit your local Vision Source doctor, Dr. James Podschun, located at 2828 Casa Aloma Way, Suite 400 in Winter Park, FL 32792, to ask which Transitions lenses are right for you. 407-671-0960

www.TurfLife.club Come see us at the PGA Show booth #3516

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Transitions and the swirl are registered trademarks and Transitions Adaptive Lenses is a trademark of Transitions Optical, Inc. ©2012 Transitions Optical, Inc.

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

transitions.com

65

By Mike May

alabama golf central

Northern Alabama’s Golfing Treasure

Joe Wheeler State Park While some of the premier stay-andplay golf destinations in Alabama are affiliated with the Robert Trent Jones (RTJ) Golf Trail, your choices are certainly not limited to the RTJ courses. One very attractive destination in Alabama is the Joe Wheeler State Park Resort Lodge (4403 McLean Drive, Rogersville, AL), located in northwest Alabama. Joe Wheeler State Park, part of the Alabama State Park system, is as appropriate for a family of four (or more) as it is for a group of golfing buddies. This golf/ vacation destination is truly ‘a dash of the unexpected,’ which is a good thing!

History buffs will remember Joe Wheeler. He was a Confederate general in the Civil War who later served as a general in the U.S. Army after the conclusion of the War Between the States. Wheeler is the only Confederate general to rise to a similar rank in the U.S. Army.

The centerpiece of the Joe Wheeler State Park is the golf course, appropriately named The General. It is one of six state park golf courses in Alabama which are part of the Parks Path, which complements the existing RTJ Golf Trail. The General is devoid of homes and is perched in a very scenic part of northwest Alabama. The course is filled with a number of holes which are accentuated by a series of eleva-

66

tion changes, bends, twists, turns, and blind shots which keep your attention from the get-go. There are no ho-hum, straight-away par fours at The General.

Every shot at The General requires a tactical frame of mind, which adds to its overall appeal. When playing The General, you must stay in the moment.

There’s no time to dwell on past shots, as good or as bad as they might have been. This course grabs your attention, starting with the blind tee shot at the first hole. If you consistently miss the fairways and greens, this course will give you a chance to post a respectable score, but you must have creative chipping and sharp putting skills. Some of the memorable shots at The General are the downhill second shot into the 2nd green; trying to get up & down for par from anywhere near the par five 9th green; the third shot into the right-toleft dogleg par five 13th; the tee shot on the par three 14th; and the left-to-right tee shot on the uphill par four 15th.

The General is the kind of golf course that you will want to play again immediately after your initial round.

You’ll remember where to hit it and where to miss it. After you complete your inaugural round at The General, you will agree that this course is ‘a dash of the unexpected’ and worth playing time and time again.

Animals are another memorable aspect of The General as the course is inside a game sanctuary. Wildlife sightings are common, especially deer and bluebirds, but no lions, tigers or bears, oh my!

When it’s time to ‘hit the hay,’ the Lodge, located just minutes from the golf course, is a great place to spend the night. It’s built in a picture-postcard setting, possibly Alabama’s most stunning waterfront view. The view from the balconies of the Lodge’s 75 rooms looks at Wheeler Lake, an offshoot of the Tennessee River. The lake is bordered by trees on all sides. Without a doubt, the view of Wheeler Lake is ‘a dash of the unexpected.’ The Lodge has a pool as well as the Joe Wheeler Marina, so it’s possible to arrive there by boat. If you prefer more adventurous housing options, there are lakeside cottages, cabins, and a campground.

The view from Daniella’s in the Park restaurant at the Lodge is a 180-degree look at the water. Don’t have your back to the windows when you eat at Daniella’s because the view is eye-opening.

So, are you ready to make plans to experience ‘a dash of the unexpected?’ The Lodge is awaiting your reservation phone call (256-247-5461).

And, the golf pro shop (256-247-9308) or the Internet (www.alapark.com) are ready to book your tee time.

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

florida golf central header

Norway and Switzerland Win in Miami The 52st edition of the Junior Orange Bowl International belongs to Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan and Switzerland’s Albane Valenzuela.

Reitan posted a four-day total of 279, 5-under par with a final-round 70, resilient play for a tournament featuring stiff wind all week.

Valenzuela finished 3-under par (281) to take the Girls Division by three strokes from France’s Agathe Laisne and South Korea’s Euikyung Shin, while frontrunner for most of the event, North Carolina’s Emilia Migliaccio, finished 5th.

Defending champion Joaquin Niemann from Chile and Belgium’s Adrien Dumont de Chassart both birdied the 72nd hole to tie second place on even par. Niemann’s attempt to become the first Boy player to repeat the title was thwarted by a balky putter, his ball striking as immaculate as ever. “It’s the way golf goes, but obviously frustrating,” he said. Will Dickson from Providence RI was the low USA boy, tied 7th on 288.

“It feels amazing,” Reitan, 17, said afterwards. “That was the hardest

round of golf I’ve ever played, mentally really exhausting, having to keep my emotions in check for the entire day.

I was particularly pleased to avoid doing anything stupid, especially toward the end. To feel all these emotions on a golf course was a really good experience and hopefully will be useful in the future.”

Asked at what stage he began to believe he could win, the charismatic young Norwegian confessed “It was never easy. After the first nine, when I led by five strokes, I was still thinking there was a long way to go.

Then I bogeyed three in a row and the lead was down to two. Luckily I was able to birdie the 13th and from there on I got more comfortable. But it was only when I hit the 17th green that I felt I had compete control.”

Valenzuela came into the week full of confidence, having won at the Doral Junior the week pre-Christmas and competing in the JOBI for the third time. “The golf course suits my game,” she said. “After last year (when she finished third) I knew that if I played my style of golf, I would

have a chance. To actually achieve my ambition of winning this event, well it still has to sink in.” A solid final round of 70 sealed the championship.

“I enjoy attacking pins and that’s how I played today, and it worked.”

Now she’s off to challenge for the Mexican Amateur in Guadalajara, a tournament where her father was runner-up four times. “I’d love to win there for family honor, but honestly, to win the Junior Orange Bowl is truly fantastic.”

For complete scores, visit www.jrorangebowl.org/golf or www.golfstatresults.com.

Albane Valenzuela (Switzerland) - Bob Coman (Director of Golf The Biltmore Golf Club) – Kristoffer Reitan (Norway) 68

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

By Tony Leodora

For many golfers, winter golf travel plans will include a trip to/ through Florida. Plenty of golf courses. Warm weather. Why not?

And, while there are many varied destinations for golfers within Florida, there is only one destination that should be part of travel plans for ALL golfers visiting the Sunshine State.

At least once in their lifetime.

That is the World Golf Village.

Many have seen signs for it, as they drive north or south along I-95, near Saint Augustine. Many also aren’t aware of what it is.

In short, the World Golf Village is a veritable theme park for golfers. DisneyWorld, Universal Studios and SeaWorld … all rolled into one. Including 36 holes of the best golf in the state.

The centerpiece of the World Golf Village is the World Golf Hall of Fame. This unusual Hall of Fame is unique, in that it honors both men and women at a single site.

Originally opened in 1974 and located in Pinehurst, North Carolina, it merged with two other entities – the PGA of America Hall of Fame and the Hall of Fame of Women’s Golf. Construction of the new facility near Saint Augustine began in 1996 and it opened in 1998.

The Hall of Fame Museum features a permanent exhibition and a rolling program of temporary exhibitions.

Designed by museum design firm Ralph Appelbaum Associates, the Hall of Fame and exhibition area contains exhibits on the game’s history, heritage, and techniques; major players and organizations, golf course design, equipment, and dress; and new directions, such as ecological concerns in course management.

“It really is one of the best Hall of Fame properties in the world,” says Dave Cordero, director of public relations for the WGHOF. “There is so much to see and do.

An avid golf fan could easily spend an entire day inside the building.”

Some of the activities/exhibits include: • A golf simulator, where visitors can play courses such as The Old Course at St. Andrews, Firestone CC, the Plantation Course at Kapalua, and many more.

• Past inductee exhibits, where the exploits, accomplishments and artifacts of previous entrants to the WGHOF are celebrated.

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

• An 18-hole, natural-grass putting course is one of the Hall’s two outdoor exhibits that allow visitors to test their skills at the home of golf’s greatest players. One round is included with each Hall of Fame admission.

• The Royal and Ancient Game exhibit allows visitors to learn about more than five centuries of golf lore, from its formative years in Scotland to its global expansion. Included is a life-size replica of the famous Swilcan Burn Bridge, modeled after the original at the Old Course at St. Andrews. There is an extensive history of The Open Championship and the R&A. Visitors are invited to test their skill using replicated clubs from the 1800s on the indoor putting green.

• The Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf Theater is an outshoot from the famous television show of the same name. Theater space on the second floor has been dedicated to the show and more than 50 historic episodes are on file. They include footage of famous Hall of Fame members, including: Gary Player vs. Peter Thompson (1962), Ben Hogan vs.

Sam Snead (1965), and Sandra Haynie vs.

Kathy Whitworth vs. Carol Mann (1969).

• The center of the Museum is Shell Hall, where members of the World Golf Hall of Fame are honored on an 88-foot-long Wall of Fame. Each member is featured with a bronze relief plaque in his or her likeness and a brief summary of each member’s respective career, which gives a perspective on the greatest contributors the game has ever seen.

florida golf central

Best Advice While Driving Through Florida: Make a Pit Stop at the World Golf Village Snead and Gene Sarazen. It is a playerfriendly design that was collaborated on by two of the game’s legends.

The King and the Bear is a codesign by Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. With a set of tees that stretches to 7,279 yards, it has enough teeth to challenge any golfer.

Jeff Hartman, the director of golf for the two golf courses, has a long history in the hospitality business. He has applied it to his guests at the two courses.

“We realize that most people come to the World Golf Village as part of a special trip,” explains Hartman. “We want to make sure that we take care of their every need. Our goal is to make sure they walk off our courses talking about an exceptional experience.”

Of course, visitors will need someplace to stay if they plan to spend a few days at the World Golf Village. The Renaissance World Golf Village Resort is a 4-star hotel with 301 completely remodeled guest rooms and suites.

Views of the World Golf Village’s Kelly Lake and two golf courses serve to inspire hotel guests.

Finally, guests also need someplace to eat. There are a number of choices but no venue could be more fun for golfers than Murray Bros. Caddyshack Restaurant. Founded by actor/ comedian Bill Murray and his family, the restaurant that was inspired by the comedy movie hit floods guests with the golf theme and casual dining.

The entire equation at World Golf Village adds up to the ultimate stop for the golf nut. Whether it is a pit stop, en route to another Florida location, or the final destination of a golf trip, it is worth the visit.

Of course, the World Golf Village would not be complete without golf. And the village boasts two exceptional golf courses.

The Slammer and the Squire is a tribute to Sam 69

golf fitness

Back to Basics As I was thinking

about what to write for this month’s article, I was thinking about all of the topics we’ve covered.

I love seeing everyone come in to the gym and work on the newest topic from cable presses to farmer carry variations.

As we are now in to 2016, I wanted to cover something we hadn’t already, which, after a while, you run into the same topics. One that keeps recurring for me is back pain. Not MY back pain, YOUR back pain. As in, WHY does it hurt, not just the fact that it hurts. We all want the fast fix, the quick cure, the magic pill to make the pain go away.

None of those exist. They just don’t.

But, we also know that the right exercise prescription can fix a LOT of issues.

Pain is not normal, and it shouldn’t be treated as such.

Recently, I was reading article about a 68 year old man who was training for a kettlebell certification and he was hit by a car 2 weeks out from the certification. He was told MANY things by his doctors, including how shocked they were at how strong he was and how good of shape he was in. This allowed them to do surgeries that they normally wouldn’t on someone his age. Next, during PT, his therapist, asked him why he wanted to be able to do a single leg pistol squat again (he could before the accident) and said “You’re nearly 70, just being able to walk is a blessing.”

 Straight Leg Raise

He immediately fired his PT, started his own training and passed the certification at age 70, 2 years after being hit by a car. Think about that for a second. Yes, it took time to heal, it was a lot of work, but he was pain free and as strong as he was before. It just takes time and the right “prescription” of work. First, as we’ve said many times, get an assessment. TPI, FMS, whatever, but get to the root of the problem (usually it’s NOT your back but that’s where the pain manifests). Second, get on the right program. Simple, yes. But then staying consistent with the work becomes the hard part. Often times, it’s boring, tedious and downright frustrating when you used to be able to bench 250 lbs., but now you’re relegated to quadruped exercises on the floor learning how to keep your lower back out of excessive extension. Start slow and progress.

Our first 3 exercises this month are going to be an active straight leg raise, pelvic tilt, and bird dog.

Straight leg raise Start off laying on your back. Bring your right knee in the air keeping your right foot on your floor and your left leg straight, toes pointing to the ceiling. Keep your arms flat on the floor, palms facing the ceiling. Keeping your left leg as straight as possible, squeeze (contract) your left quad to initiate

 Pelvic Tilt

 Straight Leg Raise

By Mitch Sadowsky

MS SPSc TP11 USAW AIS FMS Director of Golf Fitness Lake Nona Country Club Owner, Mitch11 Strength and Performance

lifting the left leg off the floor, your left foot dorsiflexed (toes point to nose) and raise the leg as high as possible before the left bends. Slowly lower the leg and repeat 10 times, then switch legs.

An important note on the Active Straight Leg Raise, bring the leg as high as you can without it bending at the knee, then lower and repeat. Each time try to get a bit higher. The goal is 90⁰ to the floor.

Pelvic Tilt (sometimes known as Cats and Dogs) Start in a quadruped position (hands and knees, hands directly under shoulders, knees directly beneath your hips).

Press your belly button to the floor and hold for a 3 count. Slowly press your belly button towards the ceiling arching your back. Hold again for a 3 count.

Repeat this process 10 times.

Bird Dog Starting in the same quadruped position, bring your right hand so it is pointing straight ahead and press your left heel to the back wall. Hold for a 3 count. Be sure to keep your back still avoided rotation and excessive weight shift. Slowly return your hand and knee to the floor and repeat this process on the opposite side. Repeat this 10 times on each side.

 Pelvic Tilt

 Pelvic Tilt  Pelvic Tilt

 Straight Leg Raise

 Pelvic Tilt  Pelvic Tilt

 Straight Leg Raise

70

 Pelvic Tilt

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

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golf fitness

By Ken Pierce President, GolfGym, LLC

I recently watched a video by Sean

If you are a Star Trek fan you will

swing your golf club more consis-

Foley (Tiger Woods previous swing

tently, with more power and speed,

coach) in which he was describing

you must perform exercises and

his theory on developing more speed

movements that encourage and affect

in your golf swing. In the video Sean,

the muscles in a positive manner.

definitely remember the Borg (or is it

who tends to be very analytical and

one of the Borg?) utter the unforget-

very precise in his instruction made

at GolfGym.com: The GolfGym Power-

table quote, “Resistance Is Futile”.

the point that “power” comes from

SWING Plus, the PowerSwing Trainer,

Resistance used in that context was

using the entire body to generate club

and the GolfGym PowerBandz. All of

certainly not good. Resisting would

head speed. Swinging harder does

these tools will add resistance training

most likely get a person hurt, killed or

not equate to faster. Harder instinc-

to those golf specific muscles, and can

even worse (use your imagination).

tively means “tension” which is a

help golfers increase strength, flexibil-

speed killer. Performing golf specific

ity and proper swing plane mechanics.

However....in this context, Resistance Is Good!

We see so many of the top profes-

light resistance training will help to develop a smoother, faster golf swing.

The bottom line is: If you want to

Here are a few suggestions we offer

Resistance used correctly will produce a stronger, more powerful golf swing. Resistance is Good!

Rory McIlroy

sional golfers now spending a great amount of time in the gym lifting weights, using bands and even using body weight exercises to build muscle and develop more “golf strength”.

The only way to develop more powerful muscles is to use resistance. So, in this context Resistance Is Good!

Rory McIlroy, in a short video which showed him going through his workout, said: “I do enough and am strong enough now that I can control my golf club the whole way through my swing”.

We at GolfGym have spent many years developing swing training devices that are based totally on resistance.

Using light resistance while performing a golf swing motion, or movement pattern, is the only way to develop those exact muscles used in the golf swing.

This in turn helps develop a key “Motor Pattern Memory” for your swing. As Captain Jack Ross (Kevin Bacon) said in his opening statement in the movie A Few Good Men, “These Are The Facts Of The Case, And They Are Indisputable”.

72

Southern Golf Central • Volume 16, Issue 7

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