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Desert

GOLF COURSES February 2012 golfnewsmag.com

Honoring the Legacy of 'Ole Blue Eyes

22 year desert resident Consistently recognized as a top producer in the Coachella Valley averaging over 25 million in sales for the past 12 years. Specializing in golf course properties from the 200s to the millions. A Premier Director with Winderemere Real Estate.

Duna La Quinta

The Citrus Fabulous lakefront home with breathtaking mountain views! Spacious great room with updated kitchen featuring slab granite counter tops. Gorgeous built-in media center and wet bar with wine cooler and slab granite counter top. All baths have been updated with stone finishes. Over 2400 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 3 baths including a detached casita. Large gated covered patio is an entertainer's delight. $465,000

PGA West Greg Norman

Spacious model perfect home located on 2nd fairway of the Greg Norman course with expansive mountain views. Approx. 4500 sq. ft. with 4 bedrooms including a casita and 4.5 baths, plus 2 dens. Huge great room with built-in entertainment center, wet bar and fireplace. Highly upgraded with travertine floors and a gourmet kitchen with gorgeous thick rich slab granite counter tops and stainless appliances. Luxurious master suite with sitting area and two walk-in closets. Stone finishes in all baths.The backyard is an entertainer's delight with covered patio looking to pebble tech pool and raised spa, built-in BBQ and lush landscaping. $1,075,000

Magnificent contemporary custom home. Exquisite design with beautiful great room featuring a wet bar and fireplace. Gourmet kitchen with top of the line stainless appliances and gorgeous slab granite counters. Incredible travertine floors and designer paint colors. Over 4500 sq ft with 5 bedrooms and 5.5 baths.Walls of glass bring the lovely outdoors in. Outdoor area offers covered loggia and nice pool and spa. $1,699,000

Duna La Quinta

One of the best locations in the community. Spacious condo offering 2653 sq. ft. with 3 bedroom suites. Lovely fairway and mountain views, close to the community pool.The large living room and dining room feature a cozy fireplace, wet bar and plasma TV.The light and airy gourmet kitchen has a breakfast nook with wonderful views. $379,000 turnkey furnished

Desert Falls CC

Palmilla Beautiful well maintained lake front home.Wide open great room floor plan with pocket doors that open to the covered patio for seamless indoor outdoor living. Floor to ceiling stone fireplace and sunken wet bar compliment the large living room. A gourmet kitchen offers top of the line stainless appliances. Enjoy the large pool and spa while taking in the beautiful mountain vistas. $715,000

Short sale opportunity for a real gem! 1360 sq ft lower level on the golf course with expansive fairway and mountain views.Completely remodeled in 2010! Granite counter tops in the kitchen and all baths, cabinets replaced, painted, carpeted, tiled, shutters on the windows and all appliances replaced. Fabulous rental history! Furnishings available outside of escrow. Let's make a deal ! $209,000

PGA West

The Hideaway Stunning remodeled home with southern exposure and unobstructed lake and mountain views! Wall has been removed from the kitchen to the living room for an open and airy feel.Wonderful kitchen with slab granite counters and stainless appliances. Mater suite has luxurious bath with stone finishes. Offered turnkey designer furnished $359,000

Awesome custom estate over 5700 sq ft with 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths. Gorgeous setting off of the 8th green of the Pete Dye course with unsurpassed mountain views! There is a beautiful stream and lake separating you from the course. Designer furnished including top of the line electronics in every room. If you demand only the best in quality this home is for your discriminating taste. Come take a look! 2,995,000

Tradition

PGA West

Absolutely the most incredible custom home on the market! Over 6800 square feet with 6 bedrooms/6.5 baths, a detached casita complete with 2 bedrooms/living room/kitchenette and laundry.Awesome finishes include imported stone flooring, Haadan stone outdoor trims and arte de mexico light fixtures.Two walls of retractable sliding pocket doors open up to two loggias off of the huge great room for an additional 2000 sq ft of covered entertaining space. $3,995,000 Furnished.

Model perfect home located on the Greg Norman course. Over 3500 sq ft with 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths,plus an office. Incredible southern golf, fairway and mountain views. Out door entertainer's delight with large covered loggia overlooking beautiful pool and spa. $1,050,000

PGA West

Fabulous La Quinta Acreage Awesome remodel located on the world famous stadium course at PGA West. Legends 10 with wall removed for spacious open great room. 3 bedrooms and 3.5 baths.Triple fairway views across water to the mountains.You won't be disappointed! Baths and Kitchen are amazing. $475,000 turnkey furnished

Hideaway Lot

Duna La Quinta Perfectly situated home elevated high above the fairway with big mountain views! 2093 sq ft with sq ft with 3 bedrooms and 3 baths. Large kitchen with pretty slab granite counters is open to the great room. Great outdoor area perfect for enjoying the sunsets! $375,000

One of the most dramatic special settings in the desert.This Spanish style home is located in the center of a lush 5 acre date grove.This incredible home is elevated to take full advantage of 360 degree views. A wrap around veranda with pocket and french doors surrounds the home to take full advantage of seamless indoor outdoor living.There is a beautiful lake with waterfall in the backyard. Over 5000 sq ft with a full basement and a two room detached casita. Exquisite custom finishes like imported hardwood floors and doors add to the charm of this awesome home. Seeing is believing! $3,995,000 Wonderful half acre lot south facing with unobstructed fairway and mountain views! $695,000

Golf News Makers Chance to Win $1,000 Bucks and Help Young Golfers Help the La Quinta High School Boys and Girls Golf Teams by participating in their fund raiser and have some fun along with it. For only $10 per ball, find out if the ball that flies from the sky is your lucky orb. Advanced tickets are on sale at Woodhaven Country Club or call (760) 963-0587 for your tickets. The winner will be decided when ticket-numbered balls are dropped from a crane at the COD golf range on Saturday, February 11th. The closest ball to the pin will win a $1,000. You do not have to be present to win. The event is being sponsored by Pete Carlson’s Golf & Tennis.

One Set of Golf Rules—Time For a Change! You’ve heard the saying, “Tour pros play a different game than amateurs” when it comes to the skill level of golfers. Because the disparity between Tour pros and amateurs is so extreme, it only makes sense to have a different set of rules for each. For example, let the Tour pros take a stroke and distance penalty for hitting a ball out of bounds, but let the amateur be penalized with the one-stroke it took for hitting the out of bounds shot and make him hit the shot over. Yet the USGA and R&A are stubborn. They claim tradition and the integrity of the game are at stake. Recently USGA executive director Mike Davis emphasized, “We have a longstanding belief, going back more than 100 years, that one set of rules for all golfers is one thing that has made the game so strong.” When Tiger Woods and friends lifted that huge bolder years ago during a PGA Tour tournament and successfully claimed the bolder was a “loose impediment,” that didn’t do much for the strength and integrity of the game. Did it? As fewer golfers are entering the game, maybe it’s time to rethink once again how rules can be modified so amateurs can enjoy the game better. Be as punitive as you like to the Tour pros. They are highly skilled professionals who make their living by competing in the game. But give the amateur a break. The amateur is trying to enjoy the complex and sometimes very difficult game; the amateur needs all the help he or she can get from the rules. Once and for all, let’s develop a different set of rules: a set for the pros, a set for the amateurs.

Greg Bay & Teammates Tie For First Joe Vetrano is proud of his clients who golf and when they do something special, Joe rightfully lets GolfNews know about it. Vancouver’s Greg Bay, member and homeowner at PGA West, with amateur teammates and rookie PGA Tour pro Russell Knox, tied for 1st place in the 2012 Humana Challenge Monday Pro-Am. As shown in the photo, winning always brings on plenty of smiles.

The team of Brad Campbell, Raj Sinha, PGA Tour pro Russell Knox, Robert O’Keefe and Greg Bay tied for 1st in the Humana Challenge Pro-Am.

The score is not indicative of how the matches were fiercely fought by the Women’s Council amateurs. The famous par-5 island green 18th hole on the Desmond Muirhead-designed Dinah Shore Course turned out to be the waterloo (no pun intended) for the amateur team. Playing on the victorious SCPGA team were Carol Hogan, Tracy Lane, Jane Rosenberg, Patty Schram, Dale Shaw, Junko Suzuki, Mardell Wilkins, Lehua Wise, and Captain Susan Roll. For the amateur team, the competitors were Penny Bazuik, Angela Collins, Joan Higgins, Kathy Kurata, Fran Macomber, Sheila McCain, Ran Oh, Cheryl Wohlgemut and Captain Judy Nickel.

LPGA Tour Loses 1 But Gains 4 In last month’s issue, GolfNews reported that the LPGA Tour lost its 36-yr-old Central Illinois Charity Golf Classic due to lack of sponsorship. We’ve got good news this month. The LPGA has added four full-field events for 2012, plus the return of the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic. The total number of tournaments for 2012 have increased from 23 to 27. The new tournaments are: ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open in Melbourne, LPGA Classic in Canada, LPGA LOTTE Championship in Hawaii, and Kingsmill Championship in Virginia. And the bucks for the ladies are a lot better, too. Compared to a total purse of $40.4 million in 2011, LPGA Tour tournaments in 2012 will shell out $47 million. There is no doubt that the LPGA Tour is showing strong gains in corporate support as well as its fan base. According to the LPGA Tour, in 2011 viewership on Golf Channel increased 29 percent across all tournaments and 38 percent for North American events versus 2010.

Excellence on the Course SCPGA Women Sock It to the Women’s Council In the first-ever Women’s Cup Matches played here in the desert at Mission Hills Country Club, the Southern California PGA professional team beat the Women’s Southern California Golf Council amateur team 7 ½ to 4 ½. 4 Golf News Magazine February 2012

Ken Forster & Howard Broun were low gross winners in the Mission Hills Country Club annual Sidewinder Tournament. Austin Burt & Greg Dewar took low net honors in Flight 1. Chuck Wingarten & Tom Hamlin won low net in Flt 2, Joe Mecklenberg & Jim Wegge won Flt 3. PLEASE SEE PAGE 6

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Ted Bettwy reports that Mission Hills nudged out its rival PGA West in Ryder Cup competition, 40 1/2 to 39 1/2. Bud Goldshine & Carrington Clark won the final match for Mission Hills earning the two points necessary for their team’s victory. Twenty-eight different players participated for Mission Hills. “The annual Ryder Cup is highly competitive,” said Bettwy. “There were no happy faces for the PGA West participants.” Watch out for PGA West next year. They will, no doubt, try to wipe off any smiles that might be remaining on Mission Hills players from this season’s victory.

Those that know Pete Carlson know he’s a good sport and is up to having some fun. Here he poses with all kinds of golf stuff as if he is rushing off to prepare for Pete Carlson’s 8th Annual Golf Expo scheduled this month February 10-11.

Pete Carlson’s A Good Sport in Promoting His Coming Golf Expo Golf legend Pete Carlson has been on the desert golf scene for going on 30 years and the respect he has earned from customers is highly regarded. For those that know him, along with his excellent business sense comes a sincere concern for people…and a sense of humor (as shown in the photo). Pete Carlson’s 8th Annual Golf Expo, the largest golf event of its kind in the desert, takes place February 10-11, this month at College of the Desert Driving Range (Fred Waring & San Pablo in Palm Desert), 9 a.m.-4 p.m., free admission. If you want to participate in golf action, you have to attend one or both Expo days. In the convenience of one location, virtually all the name-brand manufacturers are featuring their newest 2012 innovative equipment. Golf clinics, demos, live Music, custom club fitting and a lot more is on tap—all free. Last year’s attendance was estimated to be over 5,000. Don’t miss out on the biggest desert golf event of its kind!

Scott Scoots One In—Third Career Ace Scott KIner, one heck of a tennis player at one time and still a formidable amateur golfer, made his third career hole-in-one at the right time—in this year’s Humana Challenge Monday Pro-Am. On the 17th hole of the PGA West Palmer Private course, Kiner feathered in his ace from 110 yards using 9-iron. With his ace came a first-rate prize—one year’s membership to PGA West compliments of Scott KIner made his third career ace at the right time. PGA West. Kiner’s ace was historic within his family because as Yogi Berra would say, “It was déjà vu all over again.” In 1988, Scott aced the same exact hole for his second career hole-in-one playing with his legendary father, Ralph Kiner. The only difference is 23 years ago, Scott fired in his ace from 120 yards using wedge. GolfNews Publisher Dan Poppers asked Kiner, “So, what did that ace cost you? Did you buy all the drinks?” “Absolutely,” Kiner said with a chuckle. “I told everyone that the drinks were on me. After a pause, Kiner added, “It was an open bar and the drinks were free!” However, he’s not getting off “Scott-free.” Kiner said some time in the future he would make it up to those who were SCOTT AVRA

The Tiger Woods scandal shocked the world and a lot of disparaging remarks have been made about Tiger. But two former PGA Tour pros (one currently staring on the Champions Tour) have a lot of positive things to say about Tiger. In a recent issue of GOLFWEEK, Curtis Strange stated, “You know how good Tiger Woods was? He made us forget about Jack Nicklaus. He won half his majors by lapping the field.” John Cook added, “That was a Hall of Fame career in itself. There was nobody like him. No question in my mind that Tiger’s confidence is higher. You saw it in the President’s Cup. That was the guy we used to see. The players out here who might have stopped thinking that this guy could come back; well, they might see what can happen.” Cook, who usually comes across mild-mannered, is anything but when it comes to topics he’s passionate about. Cook is a sensitive, aware and outspoken person who won’t hesitate to give his opinion on controversial topics. And, clearly, he is a loyal friend of Tiger’s. When it comes to the media that has been bashing Tiger, Cook says, “I watch it and listen to it on TV and I cringe. I say, ‘I cannot believe this guy is saying this; it just doesn’t make sense at all. That there’s only one way to swing a club, that you fall for a year-and-a-half and next thing you know, you’re done and out.’ Not only does it frustrate me; sometimes it disgusts me that people just give up on a guy like that so fast.”

GOLFNEWS

John Cook and Curtis Strange Defend Tiger

PLEASE SEE PAGE 8

6 Golf News Magazine February 2012

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FROM PAGE 6

there and remind him of his hole-in-one obligations.

Invitation from Bermuda Dunes CC “In all private clubs today, membership seems to be of top concern and interest,” says Lila Langsford, membership director of Bermuda Dunes Country Club. “Ranging from recruitment to retention, clubs have to be more creative, innovating, and proactive in their efforts to attract new members and to keep the ones they have. “Bermuda Dunes Country Club is one of the many clubs in the desert facing these issues; however, Bermuda Dunes has recognized the key to membership success is positioning them in the market place. Bermuda Dunes Country Club has developed affordable membership categories including a Non-Equity category, Young Executive and even a Non-Resident membership. To address member retention Bermuda Dunes Country Club has developed a creative opportunity for their existing and new members to earn substantial dues credits; a win-win for all who are involved and choose to participate. “Through the various organizations and businesses throughout this valley, including Bermuda Dunes Country Club, opportunity avails itself that will continue to make the Desert a favorable place to spend enjoyable time with family and friends alike.” You can find out more about the memberships at Bermuda Dunes Country Club by visiting the club’s website at www.bermudadunescc.org.

More GolfNews Makers… Courage and PGA Tour players are one in the same when it comes to certain individuals. Ken Green’s comeback after losing a leg, Stacy Lewis becoming a champion after spending 7 ½ years in a back brace and, most recently, J.B. Holmes returning to the PGA Tour after undergoing brain surgery. Holmes hopes to play about 25 tournaments in 2012. Hats off to these courageous golfers… The Texas Longhorns enter the 20112012 college season ranked No. 1 in the GOLFWEEK/Sagarin College Rankings. The other four teams ranked No. 2 thru 5 include Oregon, Auburn, UCLA and North Florida, respectively… The SCPGA has announced its annual PLEASE SEE PAGE 22

8 Golf News Magazine February 2012

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Editor Speaks Up!

by Dan Poppers

COURSE TRAGEDIES, COSTCO, TIGER WOODS

What are your thoughts?

Disasters Can and Do Happen on the Golf Course Sharing my-slipping-in-the-canal experience in last month’s GolfNews Magazine generated a lot of response from readers appreciating the implied ‘warning’ about how all of us golfers need to be careful on the golf course. I don’t want to be negative or even ghoulish, but I feel it is important to share three other tragic episodes I am aware of that happened on the golf course that killed two golfers and seriously injured another…and lightening wasn’t the culprit. I share these tragedies for the sole purpose of educating how disasters can happen on the golf course in the blink-of-an-eye. I played golf the other day at a local desert course joining a charming older couple from Toronto. The lady’s ball landed very close to a tree with a large tree trunk and her husband immediately said, “Honey, move the ball. Don’t take a chance. Move it so you have plenty of room to hit it. Remember what happened in Toronto.” She agreed, moved her ball and hit a nice shot. As we walked toward the green, her husband shared this story: “Hitting a ball next to a tree can be deadly. A member of our golf club in Toronto hit a shot that landed close to a tree. He hit the ball, the shaft of his club struck the tree, and, due to the force of his follow-through, the shattered edge of the shaft cut his throat end-to-end, and he died on the spot.” The older couple I was playing with was sophisticated and honorable, and I have no reason to believe that the tragic story is not true. I have snapped my club against trees more than once breaking the shaft but never realizing until I heard that story that a broken shaft due to striking a tree can be a deadly weapon (in the Toronto man’s case unintended suicide). I will never again take a fullswing next to a large tree, no matter what the circumstances. I hope you think twice about it, too. The second tragedy I am aware of is very gruesome, so I will try to seek the right words without being too graphic. Not sure if I can but I will try. A couple was getting married the next day at one of our desert golf courses. The night before there was a bachelor’s party at the club and apparently the booze was flowing. Two fellows at the party, reportedly intoxicated, decided to take a ride in a golf car. It’s night, pitch black. Going over a mound on the

10 Golf News Magazine February 2012

golf course, the passenger, unbeknownst to the driver, falls out of the car, and the driver without knowing it runs over the other man’s head and the man dies. Remember, it was pitch black; they virtually couldn’t see a thing. The third incident wasn’t fatal but seriously damaged a golfer’s legs. A golfer was in the staging area ready to go out and start his round. He was standing between two golf cars and a drover in one of cars hit the accelerator and the golfer’s legs were crushed between the two golf cars. One of the legs suffered irreparable damage. Again, I share these three incidents for one reason only: let’s learn from them. In each case, it was a human error. None were intentional but they happened. Let’s all enjoy our golf and use common sense. There are dangers that don’t seem apparent but under the wrong conditions can be damaging and even fatal.

Signals From Sinegal Give me any excuse and I’ll write about one of my favorite places—Costco. Costco founder and CEO, Jim Sinegal, is retiring, however, his legacy is implanted in thousands of retailers and billions of consumers throughout the world. Sinegal and his partner Jeff Brotman started Costco in 1983, with its first warehouse in Seattle. Today the company has grown to be the third-largest retailer in America and the seventh-largest retailer in the world. Add to its resume 161,000 employees, 595 warehouses in eight countries, more than 64,000,000 cardholders annually with annual sales of $89,000,000,000. So, Costco? Golf? What’s the connection? In addition to selling a few golf products such as Titleist balls, TaylorMade clubs, Kirkland golf gloves and a few other golf items, Jim Sinegal’s vision and philosophy of doing business is applicable to the golf business and golfers at large. Sinegal’s insistence on high standards of ethics and consumers’ interests come first is directly transferable to the golf industry. When you go into the clubhouse to check in with the starter, what you expect is kindness and respect. You’re the consumer; you are the reason golf courses and country clubs exist. No need to be arrogant or snotty about it, but you have the right to feel that you will be treated with friendliness and courtesy. Fortunately, in nearly 30

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years of publishing and editing GolfNews Magazine and visiting desert golf courses thousands of times, I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen staff treat a public golfer or private member rudely. Desert golf staffs are to be commended for an exemplary record. Here are four signal Sinegal quotes that ring true: • If you don’t have the right merchandise in the right place at the right time you can forget about everything else. All the satellites in the world aren’t going to help you. • We only have one bullet in our gun, the right product at the right price. • The one constant is value. Value is appreciated no matter where you go. • If you’re a big-picture guy, you’re not in the picture. Retail is detail.

Tiger Has Paid His Dues, Lay Off “Tiger Woods has paid his price, lay off him,” is the input I’ve been receiving from several readers. This seems to be the consensus among golf fans. Though I don’t necessarily agree he has “paid the price,” I accept the argument that the price he has paid is a broken marriage and a tarnished legacy. Therefore, listening to readers’ wishes, I will try my best to lay off Tiger. I am very interested in your thoughts and feelings about the three topics I’ve covered. • Share with me other tragedies or near-tragedies that you’ve seen, experienced yourself or heard about that have happened on the golf course and/or • Comment on Costco and the Costco-style of doing business. What do you think of one or more of the Jim Sinegal quotes and/or • Has Tiger ‘Paid the Price’? Email me, Dan Poppers, at dpoppers@dc.rr.com Tell me what you think. I really want to know. golfnewsmag.com

letters to the editor Your Hatred of Tiger Demeans Your Publication Your hatred of Tiger is mean—beneath you—and demeans your publication. —Anonymous I do not hate Tiger Woods and, to the best of my memory, I have never said or written that I hate Tiger. What I do say is I respect Tiger Woods as a golfer, but I have lost respect for him as a person. There is reason to believe that if he weren’t “caught,” he would have continued his personal behavior while married with young children, behavior that was totally counter to his golf image being portrayed and created by him and his handlers as an impeccable role model for adults and children. One argument is that an athlete’s personal life should have nothing to with his professional life; they are totally separate. I don’t buy it. Professional athletes are role models whether they like it or not. They are public figures whether they like it or not. That’s why there are ‘ethics clauses’ and ‘moral clauses’ in their endorsement contracts. Tiger was “sold” to the public and made hundreds of millions of dollars based on the persona that he—Tiger—was an ethical, honest person with integrity, while all the while for many years his behavior was just the opposite. It’s the hypocrisy that bothers me the most. —Dan Poppers, Editor-in-Chief

Warm-Up Areas On Golf Courses When you reach 80 years old, I wonder if your thinking changes regarding golf ball suckers on putters (Should Special Warm-Up Areas Be Built on Golf Courses?, Dec. 2011). —James Lalla, Palm Desert, CA I enjoyed your commentary. As a chiropractor and golf specific/personal trainer, I could not agree with you more about the need for golfers of all abilities to spend some quality time warming-up properly before teeing it up. I work at several country clubs in the valley and have instructed hundred’s of golfers on the necessity of a quality pre-game warm-up. Each year, at the beginning of the season at Morningside CC and the Palms CC, I teach a dynamic pre-golf stretch routine to members that can be done in less than 10 minutes (see my website for a print out of the exercises). It has always been well received and usually I hear comments such as, ‘I’ve always known it was important to warm-up/stretch before I played, I just didn’t know what to do.’ I work with several tour players and trust me, they wouldn’t think of not doing a quality warm-up before they practice or play. A “designated warm-up” area would be great as long as people had an idea what a proper warm-up consisted of. —Paul Davis, D.C, Palm Desert, CA Yes, I am in favor of warm-up areas at golf courses. GREAT IDEA.. —Eileen Flexer, via email

Thanks For Sharing Canal Experience I thought you had a very interesting and educational article about your experience in the canal (Don’t Ever Do What I Did: It Could Kill You, Jan. 2012). I have almost done the same thing and now can imagine how dangerous that can be. I shared your story with my son. Thank you again for sharing. —Joe Vetrano, La Quinta, CA

Golf News Magazine February 2012 11

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CO-PUBLISHER Joan Poppers CO-PUBLISHER JoanPoppers Poppers Joan ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Steve Vine ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Steve Vine Natalie Curtis Steve Vine PeterRichardson Richardson Peter Natalie Curtis Natalie Curtis CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Golf Graphics CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS DKPoppers Golf Graphics Golf Graphics DKPoppers DKPoppers PLAYING EDITORS John Cook, Al Geiberger, PLAYING EDITORS PLAYING EDITORS KenCook, Venturi, Bryan Geiberger John Cook, AlGeiberger, Geiberger, KenVenturi Venturi John Al Ken STAFFGOLF GOLFINSTRUCTOR INSTRUCTOR STAFF STAFF Ed OwenGOLF INSTRUCTOR Ed Owen Ed Owen CONTRIBUTING WRITERS CONTRIBUTING WRITERS CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ried Holien,Ryan RyanWhite, White, MorrisDaniels, Daniels,Fred FredElliott, Elliott, Ried Holien, Morris Ried Holien,Kristin Fred Bohnet, Elliott, Jack Gibson, Kristin Bohnet,Willie WillieMaples Maples Jack Gibson, Jack Gibson, Willie Maples

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IN THE HOLE WITH HOLIEN by Reid Holien

The Other Side of the Handicap Coin

Corrupt Sandbaggers Last month, my column celebrated the centennial anniversary and abounding merits of golf’s handicap system. Unfortunately, all coins have two sides, and the corrupt underbelly of handicaps is, of course, the dreaded sandbagger. Sandbaggers purposely inflate their handicap index through various tricks such as intentionally missing meaningless putts, purposely playing one bad hole to puff up an 18-hole score, not reporting all rounds, or simply by reporting an incorrect number. They do this to gain an edge in matches and tournaments where money is at stake. Thieves Among Us In other words, sandbaggers are thieves. The term itself originated from British gangs who used rolled-up bags of sand to pummel innocents and steal their money. Today’s

sandbaggers use drivers and wedges to accomplish the same thing. Given their felonious intent, some golfers reject the term “sandbagger,” contending it sanitizes the crime. Call a spade a spade they say, or a cheater a cheater. Others claim to do so would be ungentlemanly in this most gentlemanly of sports. I’ll leave that up to you, good reader, to decide. If you wanted to call it cheating, however, you’d certainly have corroborating evidence. Inflating one’s handicap has been going on for hundreds of years, but it took a huge gambling scandal in post-World War II America to make it general knowledge. Calcutta Scandal In 1955, Deepdale Golf Club in Great Neck, New York, hosted a handicapped tournament. As was, and often still is, the

custom the club held a Calcutta (auctioning off teams that then pay out according to how well they score) that raised $45,000 (the equivalent of nearly $250,000 today). The winning team earned $16,016. Two New England golfers each carrying a 3-handicap, Bill Roberts and Charles Helmar, shot a net 58-57 to win by five strokes. For the tournament, Roberts claimed a 17-handicap and Helmar an 18. “I don’t absolve myself of guilt, but I was 26,” Roberts said years later. “I did wrong, but I knew that around here everybody cheats.” The scandal made national headlines, in part because one Deepdale member was President Eisenhower. The USGA warned all clubs against gambling. The Bing Crosby Pro-Am became the highest profile PGA Tour event out of many to cancel Cal-

cuttas altogether. Only that didn’t stop sandbaggers. Another high-profile sandbagging took place in 1995 at the modern version of the Crosby, the AT&T National Pro-Am. Amateur Masashi Yamada claimed a 15-handicap when teamed with professional Bruce Vaughan. Yamada nearly beat Vaughan scratch, playing every round in the 70s. Come to find out, Yamada carried three “official” handicaps back in Japan, and his 15 came from a club that his business group owned. Tournament officials stripped him of his title. Besides other questionable outcomes at celebrity Pro-Ams over the years, probably every avid golfer has participated in at least one tournament won by someone shooting remarkably better than his reported handicap. It happens often and everywhere. Yet it shouldn’t. According to former USGA Senior Director of Handicapping Dean Knuth, such scores are unattainable for honest golfers. For over 16-years, Knuth examined literally millions of reported scores. What he discovered shattered the sandbaggers’ claim that they scored well because they: 1) got lucky; 2)

enjoyed their best day; or 3) practiced hard to get ready. The Sandbagger Profile Instead, Knuth found these winners with dubious credentials fit a certain “sandbagger” profile. On average, these people claimed a 20-handicap, posted 8 rounds annually (the norm is 21), and shot 6-strokes below their handicap in tournaments. Knuth further discovered that only 9% of golfers EVER best their handicap by six strokes in any round, let alone regularly and in tournaments. In fact, the personal best for a typical honest golfer is three strokes below his handicap. Keep in mind that handicaps tabulate only the ten best scores out of the last twenty and therefore are meant to reflect potential, not average score. “Beating your handicap by three strokes or more twice in tournaments becomes such a rare event that Section 10-3 of the USGA handicap system automatically reduces the player’s USGA handicap index,” writes Knuth from his website, popeofslope.com. “Less than 1 percent of the golfers are reduced under that proce-

dure, so it is an uncommon event, except by the sandbaggers of the links.” According to the data, the odds any decent player can score eight strokes lower than his handicap is 1 in 1,138. Doing so twice in 20 rounds makes the odds skyrocket to 1 in 14,912. Again, that number includes casual rounds, not pressurepacked tournaments. As Knuth said: “Statistically speaking, it’s impossible.” Handicapping in the Old Days Oddly, handicaps were more reliable farther back in time. Today, sandbaggers can drive to different courses, play in various tournaments where their handicap is verified only by an easily-scammed computer program. Clubs, however, used to depend upon a vibrant peer review system. Historically, British clubs hosted dinners prior to tournaments where the official, with help from the crowd, appointed handicaps for each player. There you’d get such ‘liar-liar-pants-on-fire’ comments like: “How can Malcolm be given a 12? He shot a 77 last week in high wind to take two quid off me!”

This is why golf’s governing bodies have always claimed peer review to be an essential component of an honest handicap system. Only other people who have actu-

in a calendar year. Second, the Tournament Points System compiles tournament rankings. For instance, a golfer winning first in any net event receives 5 TPS points. Sec-

The term itself originated from British gangs who used rolled-up bags of sand to pummel innocents and steal their money.

ally seen another golfer play can attest to someone’s true ability. Or, as Sam Snead advised long ago: “You should never gamble with a stranger, and consider everyone a stranger until you’ve played with him at least a dozen times.” Fortunately, there are weapons to fight sandbaggers. First is Rule 10-3 that automatically reduces a player’s handicap after carding two remarkable tournament scores

ond place gets 4, third gets 3, and so on down the line. If a player accumulates seven or more TPS points inside a two-year window his handicap is automatically lowered. Some clubs find they don’t even need to enforce Rule 10-3 to achieve results. Southward Ho Country Club in Bayshore, New York, found success just by publicly posting results. Of 198 handicap events the club hosted in a short time frame, 82 were

won by the same 9 people. Those 9 also claimed top-5 spots with startling regularity in all tournaments. Fellow members saw this and, in a form of peer review, let those golfers know they were being watched. After that, Southward Ho experienced what one club official described as a “noticeable drop off” in participation from those golfers/sandbaggers/cheaters—take your pick. Sandbagger Sues Use whatever term you want because the law will protect you. In 1986, a banker in Montana got his handicap lowered by Green Meadow C.C. because, they said, he was not posting his low scores. The implication, of course, was that he was a sandbagger. The banker sued. Montana’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of the club, declaring it “not only had the right, but the responsibility under the USGA Handicap System to do so.” I can’t help but wonder if some members of that esteemed court were golfers with some unpleasant firsthand experience on the subject of sandbaggers. GNM

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FROM PAGE 8

awards. Recipients include Tom Addis III (SCPGA), Lehua Wise (Mesa Verde C.C.), Jon Fielder (Las Posas C.C.), Chris Starkjohann, Bobby Nickell (Monarch Beach Golf Links), DR. JERRY ELWELL (TAHQUITZ CREEK GOLF RESORT), Mark Wilson (North Ranch C.C.), Erik Horve (Tustin Ranch G.C.), and Jeff Runyan in honor of his legendary father Paul Runyan a.k.a. “Little Poison.” More winners D.J. Limardi (Sandpiper G.C.), TERRY BEARDSLEY (ELDORADO C.C.), JOHN BIRCHARD (IRONWOOD C.C.), Dustin Davidson (Los Angeles C.C.), Chris Smeal (Stadium Golf Center), Jason & Patti Taylor, and Susan Roll (Carlsbad Golf Center). More recipients include Bob Husband. Emil Scodeller accepted Hall of Fame designation on behalf of his brother Eric Monti (deceased)… Incoming SCPGA Chapter presidents for 2012 are for the Desert Chapter Craig Freeman of Citrus Club at La Quinta Resort, PGA member for 19 years; Inland Empire Chapter Mike Pearson of Oak Valley G.C., PGA member for 17 years; Metropolitan Chapter Scott Scozzola of DeBell G.C., 12year PGA member; Northern Chapter Mark Wison of North Ranch C.C., 12-year PGA member; and San Diego Chapter Renny Brown, Aviara G.C., member of the PGA for 14 years… Congratulations to the following desert SCPGA members for achieving their status in the PGA of America: Brian Garlington of Indian Palms G.C. for achieving A-4 status; Evan Murphy of Rancho La Quinta C.C. A-8; Charles Sundahl of Springs C.C. for earning A-1; David Bartholomew of Palm

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22 Golf News Magazine February 2012

Desert Resort C.C. A-1; Todd Connelly of Indian Canyons A-13; Geoff Dean of Escena A-4; Evan and David Zickau of Palm Desert C.C. A-4. For a complete description of what the status numbers mean, log on to the PGA of America website: http://tinyurl.com/7rpo2yu… Kayla Hamel reports that Stan Smith made a hole-in-at Desert Princess (Cielo), hole #7, 134 yards, using 5-hybrid… Award-winning TV reporter and broadcast journalist Anndee Laskoe has joined Fantasy Springs Resort Casino as its public relations manager. Laskoe for 16 years anchored the news at both local ABC and CBS affiliate television stations… Jeff Johnson is the new incoming president of the SCPGA. Outgoing president, Jason Taylor, addressing the SCPGA membership, welcomed Johnson and said, “Serving as president of the SCPGA has been an amazing experience. Thank you to all.” Then he added poking a little fun at himself, “You will see a striking difference over the next two years with the much more refined President Jeff Johnson.” GNM golfnewsmag.com

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Golf News Magazine February 2012 23

A Golf Stat That Finally Makes Sense By Ried Holien

GOLFNEWS

Mark Twain wrote there are three kinds of lies: lies, damn lies, and putting statistics. Okay, the man who called golf “a good walk spoiled” did not actually say “putting” in front of statistics, but he should have considering how false they’ve been. For decades the PGA Tour ranked golfers on Putts-Per-Round (total putts for 18-holes averaged out) or on Putting Average (average number of putts per green). Both were horribly flawed. Neither putting stat accounted for proximity to the hole. For example, golfers could be ranked high when they were in reality missing greens and chipping it close. Great iron players could also skew results by hitting approach shots tight. Some tried correcting this by advocating for Total Distance of Putts Made. That too failed to reflect reality because one long putt could distort results.

Bob Weekley— Dead last in SG: P on the PGA Tour but first in Greens in Regulation.

24 Golf News Magazine February 2012

Strokes Gained: Putting (SG:P) The PGA Tour finally seems to have gotten it right with Strokes Gained: Putting (SG:P). SG:P measures the percentage chance of holing any given putt. It’s based on years of data accumulated by the Tour’s ShotLink system, which recorded every shot in every event for several years. Those numbers revealed, for example, the average number of putts a pro took from seven feet was 1.50. SG: P therefore illustrates that anybody sinking his first putt from that distance gained .5 strokes on the field. Conversely, a golfer who missed lost .5 to other players. The average from 15-feet is 1.790, and from thirty it’s 1.934. From 3-feet, 5% of putts are missed, illustrating the importance of knee-knockers because a miss gives away a stroke to 95% of your competitors. The baseline percentage is .000, which means golfers with a positive number are better than average putters, and those with negative percentages are worse. For anyone who subscribes to the saying “Drive for show, putt for dough,” it is not surprising that SG:P’s leader is the Tour’s leading money winner, Luke Donald. Tiger’s SG:P Examining the rankings provides more proof. Tiger Woods ranked near the top of SG:P when he ruled the golf world. Woods averaged .518 between 2008-2011, good enough for 10th best overall. (Data from previous years are not yet available.) He was probably way better than that in his winning days, however, because since the beginning of 2010 he’s achieved only a .048 percentage. So while many fault Tiger’s wayward driver for his slump, his putter deserves part of the blame. While he’s still above the Tour average, he’s essentially two-strokes per tournament worse now than he was. Likewise, notoriously shaky putter Vijay Singh (-.130) ranked on the plus side of SG:P years ago when he was the world #1. In other words, it seems the PGA Tour has finally found a statistic that defies Mark Twain’s description.

Kudos to ShotLink Credit ShotLink for creating this valuable new way to analyze golf. It compiled an astounding amount of raw data. Better still, the PGA Tour released this information to universities hoping some professors could invent something useful. It worked. Strokes Gained: Putting originated with a Columbia teacher then was polished by a team from MIT. The system does have some limitations, however. For instance, not all 10-foot putts are equal. A curvy, downhill 10-footer is more difficult than a straight, uphill one. Still, the tour pros who helped implement SG:P agreed that length was the most important factor in gauging a putt’s difficulty. They also agreed the difficult/easy putts would even out over a full season. There’s no greater endorsement than that pros love it. Rory McIlroy, among others, expressed his enthusiasm, and mentioned he wanted the European Tour to implement their own version. That won’t be soon because the European Tour does not have a laser-measuring device like ShotLink. Because ShotLink measures all swings, not just putts, it’s likely there will be more innovative statistics coming soon. There are already rankings for “Wedge Proximity: 100-125 Yards” (Steve Stricker leads, averaging 15-feet), “Birdie From Rough” (Graeme McDowell accomplishes that 24.53% of the time), and “Birdie From Fairway” (Webb Simpson leads at 28.74%). These potential statistics face problems, however. ShotLink cannot, for instance, take into effect factors like wind, trees, pin positions, and good versus bad lies. Strokes Gained: Putting succeeds because all players putt the same greens, and they’re measured from identical distances. Amateurs should embrace Strokes Gained: Putting for the same reason professionals do, because it will improve your game. This stat provides a clear-eyed assessment of your putting, and therefore reveals strengths and weaknesses. Boo Weekley, for instance, ranks dead

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olf News Magazine December 2010 43

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GOLFNEWS

(30 sur8:>? 1,8:@> 30.670= 3:B0A0= :90 body-,>60?-,77 can measure tens of 4>thousands of last in SG:P, coming in at -1.102. He *,>3492?:9 @770?> *4E,=/> putts from other amateurs, let1,9alone your vives on tour because he’s 1st in &:-49 Greens4.60= In /403,=/ 4.60= :9.0 30.670/ ?30 34.,2: @77> -D >?,9/492 -0 Regulation. Similar disparities are evident own putts), but it would nonetheless help 349/ ?304= -09.3 ,9/ =0,/492 ,7:@/ ;,>>,20> :1 .:,.3 applying its principles to ,99:D0/ your game. with Joe Durant and Dustin Johnson, com- 8:?4A,?4:9,7 %347 ,.6>:9H> -::6 :8;70?07D "4.3,07 :=/,9 2:? Factor 4.60= ?3=:B9 :@? in percentages when analyzing -.497 ing in at -.829 (184th overall) and 3,=70> ,=670D 70,=90/ :1 ?34> ,9/ 49 2,80 :1 ?30 number your putting. Ten feet is the magic (171st) respectively. Both succeed because # 49,7> 34=0/ 4.60= ?: 30.670 ?30 @77> ? /4/ they thrive off the tee. Durant ranks first in where PGA Tour players stop making putts 9H? B:=6 3:B0A0= (30 @77> B:9 more than, 30.670= half the time.49>;4=0/ Therefore, you driving accuracy, so he almost never,=670DH> gets 4/0, :1 34=492 ,.?@,77D , 14.?4:9,7 .3,=,.?0= ?3,? 8,/0 9 ?30 from 2:71inside that should focus?30 on 74>? improving in trouble. Johnson simply overpowers 8:A40 ,;;D 478:=0 ?30 If -,/you 2@Dcan '3::?0= ,A49from 5-10 in distance. drop".putts courses tee-to-green, being 3rd overall ;,D> , 1,9 ?: =470 ,;;D 4> =0;0,?0/ >3:@?> :1 F+:@ driving distance and equally prodigious in feet even close to half the time you’ll be >?496 G ,9/ F ,.6,>> G B:=60/ ,9/ ,;;D -70B 34> ?:; length with his irons (a stat not measured). beating your ?: buddies regularly. :71H> :97D =0,7 7410 30.670= 8,60 ?30 (:; 74>? B,> ,9 ,9:9D8:@>From ;47:? between ,? ?30 ",>?0=> In short, these three should spend more 20-40 feet,&0 pros are just >;:9/492 ?: (420=H> ;@-74. 30their =010= lead, and time on the practice green than on the trying to F,;:7:2DG two-putt.B30=049 Follow 09.0/ 34> /0>4=0 ?: =0?@=9 ?: 34> =::?> 49 @//34>8 ?34> range. work on lag putting. ;0=>:9 170B , ;7,90 ;@77492 ,7:92 , >429 ?3,? ,>60/ Perhaps they should even F(420= consider some of your own 4/ D:@ 80,9Accumulate ::?D4>8 G :1 3@8:= ?30by recording ,9/ @2@>?, ShotLink data the#,distance of switching putters. For years, Adam ,A492 Scott9: >09>0 ?4:9,7 1:=.0/ ;7,90 putts, ?: 7,9/ and whether you made it or struggled to make cuts mainly because of ?30your '?477 ?30 1,.? ?3,? :90 8:A40 .3,=,.?0= ,9/ :90 his weakness with the flat blade. It’s no missed. You probably won’t need to mark ,9:9D8:@> ;47:? 8,/0 ?30 74>? :1 -0>? 30.670=> :1 ,77 ?480 many seeing a pattern. surprise his SG:P was terrible. He=0A0,7> turned3:B to 3,=/ 4? 4> ?: rounds 0110.?4A07Dbefore 30.670 ?H> 9:? 0,>D TIGER WOODS—An target to heckle even at Augusta. Tiger’s easy SG:P was very high in At the 2010 Masters, -0492 >8,=? ,9/You’ll .70A0= ,9/ 1@99D undoubtedly identify the distance at responding to Tiger’s public “apology” wherein he referenced a long putter and is now at least serviceable desire to return to his roots Buddhism, an anonymous pilot flew a his heyday andin low when his :=?@9,?07D which ?0.39:7:2D >?0;;0/ 49 ?:work, 307; ,77 your3,> putting needs and his prob(-.172 rating) on the greens. Not coincithe course pulling a banner: “Tiger: Did you mean Bootyism?” B:@7/ -0 30.670=> 924900=> B:=6492 :9 ?30 90B 4%3:90 plane overputting achievements dimindentally, he found the winner’s circle ably learn more about your approach shots and short game too. In all these regards, in- ished,9/ again. and wins nonexistent. 4%:/his (:@.3 49A09?0/ , 90B ,;;74.,?4:9 .,770/ ?30 F :71 ! & G ;;,=09?7D 4? >3:@?> .:8809?> ,? While amateurs cannot tabulate a com- formation is power—power to improve D:@= ;7,D492 ;,=?90=> B4?3 , >48;70 ?:@.3 :1 , -@??:9 plete Strokes Gained: Putting statistic, (no- your game. GNM

GOLF AS I SEE IT INSTRUCTION • spirit of the game by John Cook

Lesson Learned I have played on the PGA and Champions Tours for a combined total of nearly 35 years and some unusual things have happened. One memorable and unfortunate event was when I withdrew from the 1993 Canadian Open. I withdrew during the middle of my second round. I shot 82 the first round, which was unusual in itself; fortunately, rounds in the 80s for me are few and far between. I was not prepared to play. Many times I have said if I don’t want to be there, I shouldn’t be there in the first place. Not because it was Toronto, a city I hadn’t ventured to very often. I had a great time in Toronto. I just should have been home working on my game instead of playing. The first day I played terribly; the second day I started to play better. It’s Friday morning. I’m going to fly out in the afternoon after my round. Suddenly we get a rain delay. The

sky clears and then we get a second rain delay. We’re only on the 12th hole. It’s getting close to noon and I’ve got a 3:30 afternoon flight. I can be home by 6 p.m. Though I was evenpar for the day, I was still going to miss the cut by a mile. Being realistic, I’m not going to get up there and birdie the last seven holes and make the cut. Get real! I was ready to come home, get to work and get my game in shape for the Ryder Cup. My playing partner is Fred Couples. Fred is playing beautifully, leading the tournament. After the second rain delay, Fred and I are sitting in the locker room having a sandwich with our travel agent. I asked the agent if I couldn’t make the flight that I was scheduled to be on, what were my options. “The next flight is tomorrow afternoon,” he said. Fred then looked at me,

“Get out of here, John, go home and I’ll see you in Palm Springs.” So I did. I withdrew and caught my scheduled flight. I don’t beat myself up about it, but I won’t withdraw again from a tournament in order to make a flight. Though I was probably the only guy on Tour who had never before withdrawn from a tournament, afterwards I just didn’t feel right about it. Finishing a tournament regardless of your score is consistent with the spirit of the game. Lesson learned. John Cook won 3 Champions Tour events in 2011, finished 3rd on the money list with over $1.7 million in earnings. His 11 PGA Tour victories include the 1992 & 1997 Bob Hope Classic (now named the Humana Challenge)

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GOLF WITH GEIBERGER INSTRUCTION • alignment by Al Geiberger

Alignment Is In Your Face During setup, taking the correct aim is crucial in executing a successful shot. To hit the ball in the right direction, you have to aim it. Simple as that sounds—and it really is simple— it probably gives golfers more trouble than any other phase of the game. To have any chance of getting the ball started on the line you want, you must first get the clubface straight with that line, then get the parts of your body straight with the clubface. Let’s start with the clubface. In fact, that’s the first thing you do—aim the clubface. Most golfers’ aiming problems are the result of lining up their bodies first, then trying to get the clubface aimed. Because they probably have lined their bodies

up at the target, their clubfaces are going to be aimed to the right of the target, which means trouble. So first aim the clubface on the line on which you want the ball to start. Work in practice toward acquiring a sense of what a squarely aimed clubface looks like. There are some devices you can use. Scratch a line in the turf in the direction of your target. Or place a club or a board parallel to your target line. Then be sure your clubface is set square or perpendicular to the line when you address the ball. Always relate the position of the clubface to the target as well as the line, so you can learn to identify a square clubface when you get on the course without the use of artificial aids.

One “device” you can use on the course is the intermediate spot, which is simply some identifiable mark or object on your target line a few feet in front of your ball. From behind your ball, pick out the spot, and then aim your clubface square to the spot instead of your target. The theory is that it’s easier to aim at a close-by object than one in the distance. You also get a better idea of the line on which you want to swing the club. From Al Geiberger’s book TEMPO, available at your favorite book outlet. Geiberger has 22 combined wins on the PGA and Champions tours.

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VENTURI’S VIEW INSTRUCTION • putting by Ken Venturi

Improve your Putting With These Two Tips Putting Imagery Here’s a tip that will help you develop a better feel for the proper speed on both uphill and downhill putts. • With an uphill putt, imagine that you are actually putting to imaginary hole just beyond the cup. • When you have a downhill putt, strike the ball as if you were trying to get it to die at the lip of an imaginary hole cut just in front of the cup.

Targeting Breaking Putts My other tip has to do with the alignment and execution of you putt. I’ll watch a golfer line up a long breaking putt, then set up to the ball and get ready to give it a roll. Just before the ball is struck, I’ll tell you

whether it’s going to be a good putt. It’s one of the safest bets I can make, and I don’t even have to see where the putt is aimed. All I have to do is watch the player’s eyes. Usually a player reads the putt, chooses the line, and picks an intermediate target to aim at. Now, he’s ready to go, but at the last second he steals a glance at the hole. Bingo! He’s just sent a scrambled signal to his brain. He wants to roll the ball at one target, but now his brain is focusing on another. The lesson is this: Once you’ve judged the speed of the putt and the line, focus on one and only one target and have the confidence to go at it. Ken Venturi, 1964 U.S. Open champion and winner of 14 PGA Tour events, is the author of three books including his autobiography GETTING UP & DOWN: MY 60 YEARS IN GOLF, available though your favorite book outlet.

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SELF-HELP LESSONS INSTRUCTION • Accuracy by Fred Elliott

Straight is Great It’s been said that the only thing tennis and golf have in common is that it’s very important to get your first serve in and to keep your tee shot in play. A tee shot properly placed can put the golfer on the offensive on easier holes and allow him or her to have choices on the more difficult holes. Most of us fall into two categories: The short straight golfer who is quite often in play but at a disadvantage on long par fours and par fives; or the longer hitter who has enough firepower, but finds that they are “out of the hole from the start” because of accuracy issues. Here are a couple of suggestions for both types of golfer. The Short Straight Hitter. This golfer usually has a sound swing but for one reason or another is stuck in 2nd gear distance wise. A suggestion for more clubhead speed with

minimal or no mechanical complications— allot at least 25 practice balls a day with a driver swinging as aggressively as possible while holding one’s finish until the ball hits the ground. Experiment visualizing achieving maximum clubhead speed just past impact. Make this part of your warm-up or practice routine, be patient, and you will reap the practical and psychological reward of hitting 2 to 3 clubs less into greens. The Long Hitter With Accuracy Problems. Experiment playing your home course or another familiar course and only hitting a lofted fairway wood or hybrid off the tee. You may find that being “in the hole” from the beginning may change your approach to scoring. You will also get to enjoy the advantage your power gives you on a number of second shots that require and reward a

higher and longer shot. A trip to your local PGA professional for a driver “check-up” is an additional thought. What do you think? Many of these recent high speed camera shots seem to indicate that “releasing” the club at and just past impact does not involve any supination or pronation of the forearms, but is only the unhinging (radial and ulnar deviation in kinesiological terms) of the wrists. This could indicate that trying to induce wrist rolling is counterproductive, and should only happen naturally as a reaction as the club goes up and left after impact. Just a thought! Fred Elliott, PGA, is Director of Instruction, Rosewood Lakes GC, Reno, Nevada. Fred’s email: Lturf@charter.net.

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Mark Wilson Won the 2012 Humana Challenge, Mickelson Won,Too Amicable 37-year-old Mark Wilson, who joined the PGA Tour in 1997, won the 2012 Humana Challenge, his fifth PGA Tour victory, by shooting 24-under-par 264…and Phil Mickelson won, too, even though he finished with a score of 278 (10under). With no chance of winning the tournament at -9 on the final day when the leaders were tied at -19, thousands of fans in the gallery were following Mickelson on his front nine (which was actually the PGA West Palmer Private’s back nine because Mickelson started on hole #10). In any tournament no matter who wins, in the eyes of millions of fans, Mickelson will always be the winner and here is why: “Do you like Phil? Why are you following him?” are the two questions GolfNews Magazine asked some of the fans in the gallery following Michelson, here are their answers: “I love Phil. He’s a class act. I like him because he’s a great family man. Even when he messes up on the course, he has a smile on his face and never gets down on himself” —Sheri Kapp, Pleasanton, CA “He’s never boring. Good family man with good temperament.” —Judy Blackwood, Boise, Idaho & La Quinta, CA “He’s good for golf. Because he’s a guy that ‘goes for it.’ Just to clarify, I think he plays the percentages when he is in the hunt. Because ‘going for it’ is part of his golfing style, weekend golfers can identify with him because so many of them also ‘go for it.’ “Mickelson has an engaging personality. Men and women that are fans of golf relate to him. He’s engaging because he humanizes the game. He smiles whether he has a great shot or poor shot.

“Warmth is part of his character—his warmth is evident on the course and via the media including television.” —Allan Cooper, Newport Coast, CA “I love to watch him. Phil’s exciting to watch. He’s been doing it so long and he’s still so good! And…I’m left-handed.” —Linda Doom, Indio Michelson was definitely No. 1 at the Humana Challenge in popularity though he finished No. T49 when his final putt dropped. Being that tournament winner Mark Wilson is a graduate in mathematics from the University of North Carolina, it seems fitting to take a look a some key numbers related to this year’s tournament and next year’s. 3, 4, 90, 264 were this year’s significant numbers. 3 out of 4 four days the weather was perfect. On Saturday, 90-mph gusts at hurricane levels swept through courses. Scoreboards blew over instantly becoming sinking ships in lakes, the press tent was evacuated, and the tournament was suspended for the rest of the day. No one in the field finished the third round leaving doubt that the tournament would be able to be completed by the end of Sunday. (Miraculously, the tournament was completed on Sunday.) 264 was the score Mark Wilson shot to win the tournament. Tournament officials, players and fans hope next year, the numbers will be 4, 4, 5 and 258. 4 of the 4 days perfect weather. Mild 5-mph breezes. 258: an historic performance (30-under-par) by the winner of the Humana Challenge, setting a new four-day-format record. By Dan Poppers

GOLFNEWS PHOTOS

No matter where Phil Mickelson is on the course, fans are attracted to him.

32 Golf News Magazine February 2012

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Beyond the Course Strange Lawsuit Filed You’re in a golf tournament and your playing partner cheats. He turns in his scorecard and wins the tournament. You report his cheating to the rules committee and he’s disqualified. He sues you for the value of the first place prizes he would have won and the psychological harm it caused him based on breach of contract because before the round the cheater shook your hand and said, “Hey, good luck but anything goes, right?” You, thinking the guy was making a joke, said, “Sure!” Ah, a verbal contract claims the Plaintiff. Farfetched, you say? Maybe. But listen to this one. In Kansas, a man who held a couple hostage sued them for breach of contract for turning him in. Jesse Dimmick contended he had a contract with Jared and Lindsay Rowley that they would hide him from police in return for money. Dimmick was a fugitive facing a murder charge when he invaded the Rowleys’ home and threatened them at knifepoint. The Rowleys escaped when the fugitive fell asleep. Dimmick was convicted of kidnapping and other charges. How did Dimmick’s lawsuit against the couple turn out? The judge dismissed the case realizing that Dimmick was totally out of bounds. Alzheimer’s Epidemic One of the most devastating diseases of our time is Alzheimer’s. What it does to the individual, her family and friends is beyond comprehension; perfectly healthy people become immobilized with loss of memory, confusion and fear. “Alzheimer’s, which is a form of dementia that causes progressive loss of intellectual and social skills,” states Janice Lloyd in a recent USA Today article, “is the only disease among the top killers for which there is no prevention, cure or treatment that will slow its progression.” And, tragically, a “top killer” is an appropriate title for Alzheimer’s. golfnewsmag.com

Golf News Magazine February 2012 37

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Alzheimer’s is ranked 6th among the top 10 annual killers in the United States based on 2010 statistics; first is heart disease with 595,444 deaths. Next cancer (573,855 deaths), then chronic lower respiratory diseases (137,789), 4th is cerebrovascular disease (129,180), then accidents (129,943), 6th Alzheimer’s (118,043), followed by diabetes (83,308), kidney disease (68,905), influenza/pneumonia (50,472), and suicide (37,793). But there is hope. Congress passed the National Alzheimer’s Project Act and President Obama has signed the historic law to eradicate Alzheimer’s by the year 2005. For those suffering from the disease and for their loved ones and friends, the cure can’t happen fast enough. Alzheimer’s is nothing to joke about, but if you’re a senior citizen “memory loss” can be a great excuse when you’ve played a horrible round of golf. When someone asks you how well did you play, you can simply respond, “Um, I just don’t remember. I play so much golf, the scores seem to blend into one another.” Then give them a big smile in the hopes that they’re satisfied with your answer. Pig and Hog Manure to Cool and Heat Clubhouses? Renewable energy has gone hog wild! We all know that today’s large clubhouses on golf course properties use a tremendous amount of electricity with monthly bills in the multi-thousands of dollars. Someday golf course operators might be able to “pig out” on electricity at much lower prices. And this is not a lot of crap…well, it really is, here’s why. Hog farmer Loyd Bryant in North Carolina accumulates manure for his 8,640 hogs and has discovered something useful for all the waste products produced from those hogs. With the help of Duke University and $1.2 million, a new waste processing system— basically a small power-plant—has been installed on Bryant’s 154-acre farm that uses bacteria to digest the waste and burns methane to produce electricity. Duke University claims Bryant’s system is the cleanest alter-

38 Golf News Magazine February 2012

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Speaking of Manure… Without manure or its surrogate, most flowers would not exist. From grungy animal waste come the most beautiful specimens in the world—flowers—that not only add beauty to virtually every golf course in the world, but is the key ingredient and attraction for one of the world’s most glamorous pageants—the annual Rose Parade in Pasadena. Over 18 million flowers are used in the parade and over 700,000 spectators line the streets and grandstands to watch. With the beauty comes the beast— trash. The equivalent to human waste, other than the obvious, is trash. Cigarette butts and empty crumbled beer cans can blemish a golf course taking away from its beauty but, at least, they are relatively easy to pick up and discard appropriately. But how about these trash statistics from the 2012 Rose Parade (extrapolated from last year’s figures): 50 tons of trash, 5 tons of cardboard, and 3,500 beverage containers, and from the 2012 Rose Bowl game, an additional 50 tons of trash, 30 tons of cardboard, and 100,000 beverage containers. Fortunately, the Pasadena Public Works Department has years of experience cleaning up the mess. A team of 80 workers swept through the streets and stadium area with 10 dump trucks,

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native energy system of its kind in existence. The system is highly efficient. “It’s cut my electric bill in half,” says 71year-old Bryant, “and it’s going to make it so I can grow corn and wheat and beans.” Furthermore, Bryant’s neighbors are a lot happier. “People tell me the smells are a lot better now,” concludes Bryant. “To tell you the truth, the smell never bothered me. I just love hogs.” So, clubhouses and homes someday air-conditioned and heated from the waste products of hogs? GolfNews suggests that we all keep an open mind and not get pig headed—any intelligent way to reduce our dependency on oil should be considered and supported.

SERVICE... PARTS... ACCESSORIES...

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Golf News Magazine February 2012 39

5,000 OFF a New GARIA The Ultimate Luxury Golf Car $

New GARIA 2+2 GOLF CAR SPECIAL!!! SPECIAL PURCHASE = $5,000 OFF!! Sometimes there is that once in a lifetime special that comes out that is too good to pass up. This is one of them. We have made a special purchase of a limited number of NEW Garia Golf Cars 4 passenger vehicles. We are offering them at a special price. We are offering a $5,000 discount. With MSRP’s of $19,696 to $20,145, this is an amazing opportunity. Tax and shipping are extra. Garia is manufactured at the same factory as the Porsche Boxster and Cayman, the Garia is the ultimate luxury European golf car in the world. Equally fit for the course and the road, the Garia is the ultimate multi-purpose vehicle. And these Garia’s are offered with the rear facing 2+2 option. Golf bag attachment is also available to finish out the package. Garia offers unique features like refrigerator, air scoop/sun roof and 4 wheel brakes. They are powered by an AC drive system second to none. Front disc brakes, front storage compartment, double A-arm front suspension, seat belts and 10” standard wheels make this much more than just a golf car. It is an automobile set for the golf course. Don’t take our word for it. Stop by for a test drive and expe-

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GolferAID The New 100% Natural Drink for Golfers Golf is a unique sport and now golfers have a unique beverage to call their own – GolferAID. GolferAID is neither a “onesize-fits-all” sports drink nor an energy drink. Instead, GolferAID is the first in a new product category we call “Synergy Drinks.” Its ingredients are targeted at enhancing the skill set utilized while playing golf: Focus, Balance, Power, Endurance and Flexibility. GolferAID is at the forefront of the functional health and fitness movement in golf. Our product was doctor developed, is 100% natural and contains no artificial sweeteners, HFCS, artificial colors, or caffeine. GolferAID is lightly sweetened with organic blue agave and each 12 oz can contains a mere 45 calories and only nine grams of sugar. What’s more, it is refreshing and delicious. GolferAID contains effective doses of well known vitamins and supplements, such as Glucosamine for joint health, MSM, Turmeric, and Magnesium for muscle fatigue, and B Vitamins for sustainable energy, as well as lesser known but equally important ingredients including Co-Q10, Epimedium, 5-HTP, and Bilberry. (For a full ingredient listing, please visit www.golferaid.com) Of course, we don’t claim that GolferAID will instantly trans-

form you into a scratch golfer. We do guarantee that our powerful, healthy product will provide you with the nutritional elements that a round of golf demands of your body and mind, so that you are playing up to your potential. GolferAID is rapidly expanding into the Coachella Valley. Select courses will be hosting GolferAID days where our team will be present to provide free product and answer your questions. Please visit www.facebook.com/golferaid for upcoming dates and locations. For more information, please visit www.golferaid.com or call (888) 558-1113. Find GolferAID at Facebook.com/golferaid or Twitter.com/golferaid and join us today. *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Not recommended for children or women while nursing or pregnant.

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40 Golf News Magazine February 2012

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FROM PAGE 39

8 backhoes, 8 street sweepers, 3 packers and 6 pickup trucks, and the entire cleanup was accomplished starting 10 p.m. Monday night and was finished by 7 a.m. Tuesday morning. The magical metamorphosis took place in only 9 hours! If workers can take 9 hours to clean up debris from the Rose Bowl parade and game, every golfer should be able to take 15 to 30 seconds to throw his or her trash in a proper container. Keeping our golf courses beautiful free of litter is one reason why we love to play. Do your part. To hitchhike off an old phrase, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be a litter hacker!â&#x20AC;? Male Golfersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Duplicate This Temper Tantrum Golfers can get very competitive. At times, even physical fights have broken out on a golf course. But men, please donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t duplicate this way to resolve your anger. An Australian Rules football player, Peter Filania, was suspended for 10 games after admitting he bit an opponentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scrotum during a match. Male golfers, no matter how mad you get at your fellow competitors, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you dare use Filania as a role model! Warning to PGA and LPGA Tour Pros If the PGA and LPGA Tours follow suit and start levying fines as stiff as the NFL, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to see some golf tour pros go broke. In the recent regular season game between the New York Jets and New England Patriots, Jets Coach Rex Ryan lost his temper and swore at a fan during the game. The NFL fined Ryan $75,000. What in the hell he said that warranted that large of a fine, who in &%*#@ knows! LPGA and PGA Tour players beware. If you swear at a heckler in the gallery, it might not cost you $75,000, but the fine might be big enough to put a dent in your wallet. If you need to vent, do it after your round in the privacy of the locker room. Slam your locker door back and forth in unison with every cuss word you know. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s called primal therapy. It hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quite worked for John Daly but that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work for you. GNM

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Insights From A Highly Regarded Plastic Surgeon An Interview with Mark Sofonio, M.D. By Dan Poppers (Part 1) Plastic surgery and our desert are nearly synonymous. A large number of women and some men choose plastic surgery to improve their appearance and self-esteem. Women golfers that I see want to look good on the golf course more ways than one. They want to play well and look attractive—and both are very worthwhile goals. I found Dr. Sofonio, who has had a longstanding practice in the Coachella Valley, to be sincere, sensitive, intelligent, and very knowledgeable about his chosen profession and the patients he serves.

GolfNews Magazine: Plastic surgery versus cosmetic surgery? What’s the difference? Dr. Sofonio: In today’s society, many consider plastic surgery the same thing as cosmetic surgery. Plastic means ‘to form’ or ‘to change.’ Cosmetic surgery is considered ‘making the change for the [sole] purpose of cosmetics,’ not for reconstructive purposes. Whereas, plastic surgery encompasses reconstructive surgery as well as cosmetic surgery. Plastic surgery is a field that’s been around for almost 100 years. To be a plastic surgeon, there is a tremendous amount of training you have to Dr. Mark Sofonio go through, including a separate residency. There are only about 6,000 board certified plastic surgeons in the United States. They have to complete medical school, which is four years. They have to do an internship; and usually a general surgery residency which is two to five years. And then another plastic surgery residency for at least two years. So, a plastic surgeon will train for 12 to 14 years. Since the 1980s, there have been a lot of people that for a lot of reasons didn’t want to go through plastic surgery residency or couldn’t get in, and they wanted to do procedures on people, and called them cosmetic procedures. So what happened was there was a group of people who identified themselves and their practice with the name ‘cosmetic surgery’ to basically justify what 42 Golf News Magazine February 2012

they were doing. They wanted to separate cosmetic surgery from plastic surgery. Cosmetic surgery is what any M.D. can attach to their name if they wish, even if it’s only for removing a small cyst from a patient. GNM: Of all the different fields of medicine, what attracted you to the field of plastic surgery? Dr. Sofonio: I started as a general surgeon. I was at Cornell in the burn unit and I actually ran a burn unit in New York for a year for Westchester County Medical Center at Valhalla. While I was there I became very interested in patients with serious disfiguring injuries, and reconstruction for those patients. I became very interested in tissue, moving tissue around and skin surgery. I liked the challenge of seeing the results immediately. I realized the result can’t wait; the result has to look good on the operating table. For me, there was an intellectual and artistic challenge that I was drawn to, and that’s the reason I chose plastic surgery over general surgery. Surgeons tend to gravitate to the field that fits their personality. GNM: How do you separate the viewing of extreme deformity, when a person’s appearance has changed so far from the norm? How do you separate that from doing your job? The emotional component. I believe it’s a question every doctor through his or her training deals with, not getting emotionally involved? Dr. Sofonio: You always do have some emotional involvement. It’s impossible to separate it like that, at least for me. Most physicians want to help people, so if you want to help people and you care about people, then you are going to have some emotional involvement with each and every patient. And I think that would be the norm for all physicians and certainly for me. You just do get emotionally involved. When I operate on someone, I want it to be the best result. GNM: There is an emotional involvement in relationship to wanting the best results and caring about your patient, but when you see a deformed person that you are trying to enhance and, no doubt, do enhance, do you actually see the deformity, because for a lot of people that see a person that has had a tragic accident, it’s hard for them to even look at… Dr. Sofonio: Oh, I understand what you’re saying. The average person would be shocked to

see these things… GNM: Right, and they couldn’t work on a person like that. Dr. Sofonio: There is a component as a physician in where you look at the individual as a person but of course you also look at the deformity. So when you’re looking at the deformity itself, you are not looking at it in an emotional way. You look at the deformity just as somebody who works on roads and sees a big hole in the road. If I saw a big hole in the road, I would say, ‘Oh my god, look at that pothole.’ I’d stop and look and say, ‘It looks really bad,’ whereas someone who works on road repair would look at it as a hole that needs this and that and this to fix that type of hole. In Big Bear when part of a mountain slid a while back, I said, ‘Oh, no, part of the road’s gone.’ To the architects and civil engineers looking at it, they just look at it as a challenge to fix the road back to where it was. To the layperson, the damage looks encompassing and enormous, but the civil engineer understands the complexity of the damage and he understands how to fix it. When I see an individual who has a significant deformity, I look at that deformity and try to think in an intellectual fashion how am I going to fix that deformity. The deformity itself, I don’t have an emotional relationship with. I have an emotional involvement with the patient but not the deformity. I have to think what is the best way to deal with the deformity. Can we do certain procedures depending on where it is, how it’s been scarred, and a lot of factors have to be taken into account. There are things we can fix and there are things we can’t fix. GNM: Thank you, Dr. Sofonio. The topic of “universal beauty” is something that intrigues me. You have enhanced the appearance of women for several years in you’re plastic and cosmetic surgery practice. Can we take up the issue of universal beauty when it comes to women the next time we chat? Dr. Sofonio: Absolutely, Dan, it will be my pleasure. In Part 2 in next month’s issue of GolfNews Magazine, Dr. Sofonio, along with other topics, tackles the question, “Is there such thing as universal beauty when it comes to women? golfnewsmag.com

When Above Par is Very Good Eagle Falls Golf Course, Home of the Frank Sinatra Invitational, Soars High Above Par for Playing Conditions

There may be hundreds of golf courses to choose from in the Coachella Valley, but there’s only one that was voted as having the best playing conditions in all of Southern California. Eagle Falls Golf Course, part of Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, was given the high honor by Greenskeeper.org, the West Coast’s largest and fastest growing golf social network. The Greenskeeper Award holds a great amount of credibility among golfers and the industry. It was derived from analyzing the last 12 months of online survey ratings submitted by the websites’ users. Eagle Falls, Director of Golf Willie Maples says, “I’ve been in the golf business for more than 40 years and never have I been at an establishment where more compliments are paid on the condition of the course, the architecture and the service of our employees.” The staff at Eagle Falls is gearing up for the 24th annual Frank Sinatra Starkey Hearing Foundation Celebrity Invitational which will be held at the Indio course for the 3rd straight

year. The popular two day, celebrity amateur golf tournament is dedicated to the memory of Frank Sinatra and benefits the non-profit Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center. You can catch all the golf action at Eagle Falls March 1st through the 3rd. The 18-hole, Clive Clark-designed public course, opened in 2007, in addition to the Greenskeeper.org award, was voted one of the “Best Courses You Can Play” by GOLFWEEK magazine. Eagle Falls Golf Course is part of Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, located just outside of Palm Springs, California. The resort features a 250-room and suite luxury hotel, seven restaurants, rooftop wine bar, world class casino with 2,000 slots and 40 table games, bowling center, nightclub and A-list entertainment nearly every weekend. For tee times at Eagle Falls Golf Course, or to make reservations at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, call (800) 827-2946 or log onto www.FantasySpringsResort.com.The resort offers value added hotel and golf packages throughout the year.

Advertorial

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Golf News Magazine February 2012 43

2012 Calendar of Events What to see. Where to go. What to do. FEBRUARY 9 Women’s Guest Day, Ironwood C.C., Palm Desert. 10-11 Pete Carlson’s 8th Annual Golf Expo, College of the Desert Driving range, Palm Desert, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Free admission. 10-12 Men’s Club Championship & Senior Club Championship at Mission Hills C.C., Rancho Mirage. 11 Jazz Concert Series: Vocalist Janis Mann & Trio, Palm Desert High School Performing Center, 7 pm 15 Women’s Guest Day, Ironwood C.C., Palm Desert 18 Terry Fator in Concert, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio 16-26 Modernism Week 7th Annual. 11-day festival featuring more than 75 activities, dedicated to

44 Golf News Magazine February 2012

preserving and appreciating modernism, Palm Springs, CA. 16-19 Northern Trust Open, PGA TOUR, Riviera C.C., Pacific Palisades. 17 Jazz Concert Series: Peter Erskine’s Ensemble at Pete Carlson’s Golf & Tennis, Palm Desert, 7 p.m. 17-18 Mission Hills Employee Scholarship Fund Festival at Mission Hills C.C. 19 Share the Power of a Wish Golf Tournament at Porcupine Creek, Rancho Mirage, $950 entry fee. Benefits Make A Wish Foundation of Orange County. 19 Jazzoo Concert Series at The Living Desert, Palm Desert, 4-5:30 p.m. & 6:15-7:45 p.m.

MARCH 2 Havana Nights with Cigars & Salsa at Desert Falls C.C., Palm Desert. 4 Zoobilee! at The Renaissance Esmeralda, Indian Wells, 5 p.m. Benefits The Living Desert. 4 Paul Anka in Concert, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. 9 Willie Nelson in Concert, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. 7-10 Men’s Member-Member Golf Tournament, Ironwood C.C. 8-10 Fiesta Member-Guest Tournament, Mission Hills C.C. 9 Jazz Concert Series: Tom Scott Quartet at Pete Carlson’s Golf & Tennis. 7 p.m. 10 Peter Frampton in Concert,

Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. 11 Jazzoo Concert Series at The Living Desert, 4-5:30 p.m. & 6:157:45 p.m. 16-18 Toshiba Classic, Champions Tour at Newport Beach C.C., Newport Beach, CA. 17 Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons in Concert, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. 22-25 Kia Classic, LPGA Tour at La Costa Resort, Carlsbad, CA. 25 Jazzoo Concert Series at The Living Desert 4-5:30 p.m. & 6:157:45 p.m. 29- Apr 1 Kraft Nabisco Championship, Mission Hills C.C. 31 Trans Siberian Orchestra, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.

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ON THE TEE

HEALTH MATTERS Conference Activating Wellness in Every Generation Kicked Off the 2012 HUMANA CHALLENGE Golf Tournament One innovation in this year’s Humana Challenge was restructuring the former Bob Hope Classic to include the health conference that attracted participants from all over the country.

President Clinton said one reason people in his age group need to take care of themselves better is because the national expense related to caring for older citizens is putting a burden on the nation’s economy and is contributing to our health system crisis.

Chelsea Clinton added her intelligence and youthful charm to the conference.

President Clinton with Billie Jean King and Richard Gephardt—“A key problem is we’ve become a nation of spectators rather actors,” said President Clinton. “Physical movement has become similar to music; the majority of people sit back and listen rather than participate.This needs to change.”

“Be informed. Every person can improve their health without spending a penny.Viable health information is available. Information is power,” emphasized fitness expert Jillian Michaels.

Bob Marra— innovatively conceptualized the conference and was the catalyst for making the conference come to fruition. Richard Gephardt said, “The big problem with healthcare in this nation is how we pay for it. Healthcare right now is delivered in a chaotic, unpredictable way. This needs to be changed.”

Conference attendees from all over the nation traveled to the desert to participate in this historic inaugural event.

PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem, friend of President Clinton’s for 35 years, participated in the conference.

Dr. David Satcher said, “Unfortunately, many of us adults are addicted to foods filled with sugar and salt, but there’s hope for kids. Kids who grow up eating fruits and vegetables like them; they like the taste!” A surprise guest, Barbra Streisand, was in the audience being very low key and attentive. Post conference, President Clinton chatted with the legendary singer.

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All Photos by GolfNews Magazine

Golf News Magazine February 2012 45

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