Take I’m F me! re e ( :-)
Vol. 3, No. 1
Gruninger wins in Florida
Fourteen-year-old Johnny Gruninger, of Syracuse, won the Boys 12-14 Division in the Future Collegians World Tour at Falcon’s Fire Golf Club in Orlando, Florida, last November. Junior golfers played 36 holes of stroke play over two days. At Falcon’s Fire, Gruninger finished at +4. He opened with an even-par 72 and led wire-to-wire. In October, he finished T3 at the FCWT New England event. Gruninger earned a FCWT Junior Golf Spotlight in January. The FCWT is a junior golf tour offering golf tournaments for junior golfers from across the country. Golfers ages 9-19 compete in tour events.
Cortland’s Wells, CNY PGA’s Pro of the Year
Martha Wells, General Manager/Head Golf Professional at Cortland Country Club, has been named 2017 Central New York PGA Golf Professional of the Year. The highest honor paid to a CNY PGA professional went to Wells for her overall performance at her facility, level of service to the PGA, leadership, image and ability to inspire fellow professionals and promote golf. Prior to coming to Cortland, Wells, 46, was Head Golf Professional at the Country Club of Ithaca, where her passion for merchandising, teaching and providing a superior level of service has been on full display. Indeed she is one of three up for the PGA Merchandiser of the year and last year was recognized as the 2017 CNY PGA Private Merchandiser of the Year. She says about half her items are for women and going into her first year at Cortland, she has purchased an exciting array of products including lines by EP Pro, FootJoy, Adidias, Bermuda Sands, San Soleil, Callaway and others. (Read more on page 11)
Who won the
Mitchell Cup? See page 4
Spring 2018
PGA Merchandise Show rolls out hot new products
Golf carts that follow you like robots; balls imbedded with a chip to give you info on your impact; sunglasses that fold neatly into a small case; and cell chargers built into your golf bag were just a taste of what more than 40,000 golf industry professionals — golf retailers, PGA pros, industry leaders and media members — came to see at the annual PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida. The Major of Golf Business, the PGA Show is mindboggling, the place where golf companies big and small showcase their wares and latest innovations in equipment, technology, training aids, fashion, accessories and golf-related services. In total, upwards of 1,000 golf companies and brands occupied the one million square feet of exhibit, demonstration and meeting space at the Orange County Convention Center from Jan. 24-26 with more than 100 golf businesses demonstrating their newest products at Demo Day, staged at the 42-acre Orange County National Golf Center practice facility. Check out what CNY Golfer found. (Read more on page 9)
2017 CNY PGA Special Award Winners
David Rhone, Cavalry Club, Teacher of the Year Marian Blain, Canasawacta CC, Player Development Award Dustin Jones, Beacon Golf Center, Bill Strausbaugh Award (for mentoring) Matt Jaynes, Corning CC, Horton Smith Award (Education) Bob Fuller, Radisson Greens GC, Youth Player Development Award Steve Nacewicz, Crestwood GC, Patriot Award Martha Wells, Cortland CC, Patriot Award Steve Volpicelli, Soaring Eagles GC, Merchandiser of the Year-Private Naomi Nesenoff, Traditions at the Glen, Merchandiser of the Year-Public John Taranto, The Skenandoa Club, Merchandiser of the Year-Resort
IN THIS ISSUE...
CNY Events 5 • Tournaments 4,16 • Caught on Camera 8 PGA Roundup 9 • Charity Events 10 • Inside the Lines 11 Juniors 12 • Fashion 13 • Travel 15 • Map 17 • Holes-in-One 18