

Coverage area: Louisiana and Mississippi
Publisher: John Price (TTGmagazine@yahoo.com)
Social media: TTGgolfmagazine
In each of the first five months of this year, local golfers have been able to post a double-eagle, which is the rarest shot in golf. Also called an albatross, the shot can sometime also be a hole-in-one, which was the case three times in this instance.
John Smith, 72, got things started with an albatross ace at Pine Creek Golf Club (Purvis, Miss.) on Jan. 31. The hole-in-one was the eighth for Smith, 72. The shot came on the first hole where he used his driver for the 240-yard shot. Witnesses were Jerry Rollin, Vic Anderson, Matt Ready and Dwight Helton.
On Feb. 26, Michael Demots, 52, used a 3-wood from 202 yards to finish the par-5 third hole at Bayou Vista Golf Course (Gulfport, Miss.) in two shots. Demots’ tee shot went 212 yards while playing with Doug Swann and Jeff Matting.
Johnny Severson — a member at Bay Pointe Golf and Country Club (Brandon, Miss.) — recorded his albatross on the ninth hole of his home course while playing with Juan Wilson, Gary McLemore and Brad McLemore on April 30. The shot was also an ace on the par-4 hole, which was playing 215 yards that day.
On March 31, Chris Nicholas registered an albatross on the par-5 fifth at Canebrake Country Club in Hattiesburg, Miss.
Riley Guerra holed his 323-yard drive on No. 17 at Pine Creek Golf Club (Purvis, Miss.) on May 26. The 24-year-old was playing with Layton Cooper, Nick Gory, Bryston West, Justin Seal and Trenton Flatt.
The rare albatross ace is a once in half-a-million shot, according to probability experts.
Mallard Pointe Golf Course and Villas(Sardis,Miss.) has had to overcome a lot since re-opening in June 2022.
Now open a year later,the fun and popular facility is getting better and better on a weekly basis and is the newest member of the MISSISSIPPI GOLF TRAIL.Mallard Pointe,a Bob Cupp design that opened in 2004,is a public facility managed by local Chris Sparks.
Sparks and his team have addressed and made improvements in all areas of Mallard Pointe.It started with the clubhouse,which sits between the ninth and 18th greens and also steps from the east side of the dual 350-yard driving range.The clubhouse got new flooring,a fresh coat of paint and some new counters.The pro shop is fully stocked with everything you need for your round. There are also refreshments,snacks and quick meals available every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Before you hit the course,there is a practice green and a short-game practice area (on west side of driving range).
Cupp’s layout on on the wooded banks of the Sardis Lake is very pleasing to the eye and an overall fun one.When Mallard Pointe opened 19 years ago,Golf Digest listed it as one of its ‘Best Places to Play’ in Mississippi. With lots of work going on daily here,there is little doubt the course will get back to its former glory soon.
The front nine starts out with four consecutive par-4s.All of them are fun starter holes.The third hole features a dog-leg right that plays 289-393 yards, meaning driver may not be the best play here with a giant pond on the right.The fourth hole is longer,straighter and has a wide fairway,allowing for a more grip-and-rip option.
The next set of four holes features a par-3,back-to-back par-5,then the par-3 8th,which may be the easiest on the front nine.No.5 requires lots of accuracy with woods coming into play to the left and behind the green.The first par-5 of the front nine is the sixth,which has water to deal with on the tee shot and approach shot.It plays 605 yards
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from the tips.No.7,which is 496 yards from the back (black) tees,is pretty much a straight hole with no water,but does have out-of-bounds (woods) on the left.
Mallard Pointe features great finishing holes in the form of the 9th and 18th.The ninth hole is listed as the toughest hole on the course (by handicap).Your second shot features a green you’ll be shooting down into with a great view of the clubhouse to your right.Playing the right tees on this hole (as well as the entire course) will make it more enjoyable.From the middle (white) tees,this hole plays just under 400 yards and with two good shots and a two-putt you can leave this hole with a par and have it feel like a nice little accomplishment.
No. 9 green is far left. Also seen — in this great shot from CourseScout Scorecards and Video — is the first tee, a part of the east side of the driving range, the clubhouse and the 18th hole. Part of Lake Sardis provides a great backdrop in this picture.
The entire back nine is on the south side of the property,which borders the northwest side of Sardis Lake.No.10 is a par-5 that is all uphill after the tee shot. Woods protect the hole to the left as it plays 509 yards from the tips and 425 from the front (red)tees.Nos.12-14 feature a cool stretch of holes.From the 11th green,you can see the 12th tee box,12th green,the 13th tee box and the 14th green.The 11th is a straight par-4 that plays 348-461 yards.The 12th is a wide-open par-3 that plays 113-177 yards and the 13th is a par-4 with a dog-leg left,featuring a pond protecting the front left of the green.The par-5 16th has a dog-leg right with mounding to help shots just left of the fairway.There are woods to the right on this hole,which plays 357-574 yards.The second-to-last hole is a drivable par-4 (221-301 yards) playing along the side of the lake.The round finishes with the toughest hole handicap wise on the back nine as the par-4 requires a forced carry over native areas.It plays as long as 457 yards from the tips,but less than accurate or shorter shots can make it feel like a par-5.While challenging,it is also fun.
One of the great things about the design at Mallard Pointe is that if you if can keep your errant shot on the fairway side,a lot of the mounding will help out and get you back in the fairway or very close to it.
There are five sets of tees at Mallard Pointe and the facility will soon be getting a brand-new cart fleet with GPS.
The course features daily-fee play ($45-$52),memberships or stay-and-play options.The villas are located near the 18th green and along the lake.Each villa can house four players.Range balls come in options of small ($4)and large ($8)buckets.There are also special senior rates during the week and twilight and junior rates seven days per week.
Address: 3037 State Park Road (Sardis,Miss.)
Phone: 662.546.4172
Web: www.golfmallardpointe.com
E-mail: mallardpointegolf@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Mallardpointgolfcourse
GARY WADE
May 1, BREC's Beaver Creek Golf Course (Zachary, La.), No. 3 (120 yards)
PAUL STEVENS
May 2, BREC's Beaver Creek Golf Course (Zachary, La.), No. 15 (120 yards)
BARRETTMcKENNEY
May 3, Okatoma Golf Club (Collins, Miss.), No. 7 (118 yards)
RAMSEY MILLING
May 4, Reunion Golf and Country Club (Madison, Miss.), No. 4 (115 yards)
JOHN PREVOST
May 4, Atchafalaya Golf Course (Patterson, La.), No. 7
DANNY WILSON
May 5, Timber Truss Golf Course (Olive Branch, Miss.), No. 9
MIKE SOMMERS
May 8, BREC’s Webb Memorial Golf Course (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 15 (135 yards)
BOBBY WADE
May 9, BREC’s Santa Maria Golf Course (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 11 (114 yards)
ROBERT HARRISON
May 13, Sugar Oaks Golf Course (New Iberia, La.), No. 9 (136 yards)
DEMPSEY WEDGEWORTH
May 15, Bay Pointe Golf and Country Club (Brandon, Miss.), No. 3
LANDON ANDRE
May 17, The Island Golf Course (Plaquemine, La.), No. 13 (188 yards)
WAYNE GOLDSMITH
May 21, BREC’s Beaver Creek Golf Course (Zachary, La.), No. 15 (116 yards)
HAL RAMIREZ
May 21, BREC’s Santa Maria Golf Course (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 11 (140 yards)
HERB REITES
May 22, Les Vieux Chenes Golf Course (Youngsville, La.), No. 12 (158 yards)
DAVE McGILL
May 23, Bay Pointe Golf and Country Club (Brandon, Miss.), No. 3 (85 yards)
May 26
Pine Creek Golf Club (Purvis, Miss.)
No. 17 (323 yards)
PHIL CANOVA
May 29
The Island Golf Course (Plaquemine, La.)
No. 8 (148 yards)
MITCHEL HARVEY
May 30
Mallard Pointe Golf Course (Sardis, Miss.)
No. 8 (123 yards)
RODNEY SCHILTZ
May 30
Cam2 Golf Club (Roseland, La.)
No. 15 (104 yards)
JIMMY COKER
May 31
Quail Hollow Golf Course (McComb, Miss.)
No. 15 (131 yards)
MILLS McCLENDON
April 2, The Island Golf Course (Plaquemine, La.), No. 3 (161 yards)
RAY LEJEUNE
April 3, The Club at Diamondhead (Miss.), Cardinal No. 4
JONNY BORDELON
April 4, The Island Golf Course (Plaquemine, La.), No. 13 (137 yards)
BING WALDRON
April 4, Canebrake Country Club (Hattiesburg, Miss.), No. 7
RONNIE BEAN
April 5, Quail Hollow Golf Course at Percy Quin State Park (McComb, Miss.), No. 8
KEN WISE
April 11, Stonebridge Golf Club of New Orleans (Gretna, La.), No. 7
JIM PARR
April 11, The University Club (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 8
JIM COONS
April 13, BREC's Santa Maria Golf Course (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 17 (115 yards)
LOU VOORHIES
April 14, BREC's Santa Maria Golf Course (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 17 (119 yards)
RENE ROBERTS
April 15, The University Club (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 5 (125 yards)
KEITH HODGESON
April 17, BREC's Historic City Park Golf Course (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 1 (140 yards)
BILL POWELL
April 17, BREC's Santa Maria Golf Course (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 2 (135 yards)
WILLIE LEWIS
April 18, Sugar Oaks Golf Course (New Iberia, La.), No. 17 (110 yards)
ART EARLYWINE
April 20, BREC's Historic City Park Golf Course (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 9 (125 yards)
BARBARA FREIBERG
April 23, The University Club (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 8 (107 yards)
MEL COVINGTON
April 23, Greenville (Miss.) Municipal Golf Course, No. 15 (146 yards)
TERRELL BOURGEOIS
April 24, BREC’s Santa Maria Golf Course (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 17 (137 yards)
DON EVERETT
April 24, Les Vieux Chenes Golf Course (Youngsville, La.), No. 3 (123 yards)
MIKE NELSON
April 25, BREC's Santa Maria Golf Course (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 17 (130 yards)
ARIANA BLAGROVE
April 26, BREC's Santa Maria Golf Course (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 11 (84 yards)
BILL CEFALU
April 26, St. Mary Golf and Country Club (Berwick, La.), No. 5 (138 yards)
BRAYDEN ROMERO
April 26, Les Vieux Chenes Golf Course (Youngsville, La.), No. 12 (173 yards)
HEATHER CASSIDY
April 26, Jennings (La.) Golf Club, No. 2
ADAM MOSHER
April 27, The University Club (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 8 (172 yards)
TUCKER WOODS
April 27, Okatoma Golf Club (Collins, Miss.), No. 11 (113 yards)
RONALD STRITZINGER
April 28, Stonebridge Golf Club of New Orleans (Gretna, La.), No. 7 (117 yards)
JOHNNY SEVERSON
April 30, Bay Pointe Golf & Country Club (Brandon, Miss.), No. 9 (215 yards)
BILL BYRNE
April 30, Beau Pre Country Club (Natchez, Miss.), No. 13
DANNY SCHAUS
March 1, The Club at Diamondhead (Miss.), Cardinal No. 13 (120 yards)
GERRY O'QUIN
March 3, The University Club (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 5 (124 yards)
STEPHEN KING
March 3, The Club at Diamondhead (Miss.), Cardinal No. 4 (118 yards)
SCOTT SCHNEIDWIND
March 4, The University Club (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 16 (148 yards)
JUSTIN HOWE
March 5, Pontotoc (Miss.) Country Club, No. 13 (185 yards)
LARRY MOSES
March 6, Pine Creek Golf Club (Purvis, Miss.), No. 15 (115 yards)
DANNY HOOKER
March 6, Pontotoc (Miss.) Country Club, No. 11 (106 yards)
RAY LEJEUNE
March 7, The Club at Diamondhead (Miss.), Pine No. 6 (110 yards)
DON ELDRIDGE
March 8, Quail Hollow Golf Course at Percy Quin State Park (McComb, Miss.), No. 13 (100 yards)
HANK FRIED
March 11, The Club at Diamondhead (Miss.), Pine No. 13 (134 yards)
DALE RABER
March 12, The Island Golf Course (Plaquemine, La.), No. 3 (100 yards)
KATELYNN ALTESE
March 13, Lake Jovita (Fla.) Golf and Country Club, No. 12 (151 yards)
LLOYD NICAUD
March 13, The Club at Diamondhead (Miss.), Cardinal No. 17 (168 yards)
NEWELL GAUTHIER
March 15, BREC's Beaver Creek Golf Course (Zachary, La.), No. 15 (90 yards)
JACKIE HOOKER
March 16, Pontotoc (Miss.) Country Club, No. 11 (120 yards)
BRADLEY GREMILLION
March 19, The University Club (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 8 (154 yards)
DEL COX
March 21, Clear Creek Golf Course (Vicksburg, Miss.), No. 13
JAMES MOAK
March 22, Greystone Golf and Country Club (Denham Springs, La.), No. 7 (122 yards)
WES JUSTMANN
March 22, Beauregard Country Club (DeRidder, La.), No. 8 (105 yards)
GARY HAY
March 23, BREC's Dumas Memorial Golf Course (Baker, La.), No. 11
RONALD FRANK
March 23, Royal Golf Club (Slidell, La.), No. 17 (125 yards)
KEVIN LEMAIRE
March 24, Stonebridge Golf Club of New Orleans (Gretna, La.), No. 5 (124 yards)
EARL LANGLOIS
March 25, BREC's Santa Maria Golf Course (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 17 (150 yards)
BOB SPAULDING
March 26, Country Club of Canton (Miss.), No. 12
AARON BROOKS
March 28, The University Club (Baton Rouge, La.). No. 13 (136 yards)
MIKE FITZWILLIAM
March 29, Pine Creek Golf Club (Purvis, Miss.), No. 15 (128 yards)
ROB CULVER
March 30, BREC's Santa Maria Golf Course (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 17 (155 yards)
KEN VERLANDER
March 30, BREC's Santa Maria Golf Course (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 17 (126 yards)
GRANT WILSON
March 30, Mallard Pointe Golf Course (Sardis, Miss.), No. 8 (156 yards)
ERIK WALLIN
March 31, BREC's Webb Memorial Golf Course (Baton Rouge, La.) No. 17 (145 yards)
PANCHO ARTECONA
Feb. 4, The University Club (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 5 (139 yards)
FRED HENSON
Feb. 6, Jerry Tim Brooks Golf Course (Shreveport, La.), No. 7 (148 yards)
HUDSON GREENE
Feb. 13, David Toms 265 Academy (Shreveport, La.), No. 5
JAMISON GENTRY
Feb. 13, Panola Country Club (Batesville, Miss.), No. 6 (185 yards)
KERRY SIMON
Feb. 18, Timberlane Golf and Recreation (Gretna, La.), No. 3
Feb. 19, Timberlane Golf and Recreation (Gretna, La.), No. 3
ANDY PEARSON
Feb. 19, Tupelo National Golf Club (Saltillo, Miss.), No. 2 (177 yards)
DAVID BOOTH
Feb. 20, Okatoma Golf Club (Collins, Miss.), No. 7
SHANE RICHARD
Feb. 20, BREC's Historic City Park Golf Course (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 8
HUDSON GREENE
Feb. 20, Squire Creek Country Club (Choudrant, La.), No. 12 (126 yards)
CHASE MAY
Feb. 22, English Turn Golf and Country Club (New Orleans), No. 3 (175 yards)
GARY McLEMORE
Feb. 26, Bay Pointe Golf and Country Club (Brandon, Miss.), No. 17 (118 yards)
JIM HOFHER
Feb. 26, The University Club (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 8 (168 yards)
COREY LANDRY
Feb. 26, Eagle Ridge Golf Club (Cade, La.), No. 17
JAY PRINCE
Feb. 27, Clear Creek Golf Course (Vicksburg, Miss.), No. 14
SCOTT RICHARD
Feb. 27, Eunice (La.) Country Club, No. 4
BARBARA WATTS
Feb. 28, BREC's Webb Memorial Golf Course (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 3
LARRY NEUCERE
Feb. 28, BREC's Dumas Memorial Golf Course (Baker, La.), No. 7
CHUCK WOOD
Feb. 28, Farm d'Allie Golf Club (Carencro, La.), No. 3 (130 yards)
C.J. ACKMAN
Jan. 1, St. Mary Golf and Country Club (Berwick, La.), No. 5 (160 yards)
CADE BURNS
Jan. 1, Bayou Vista Golf Course (Gulfport, Miss.), No. 9 (180 yards)
BRANDON HUDSON
Jan. 2, Okatoma Golf Club (Collins, Miss.), No. 17
EDDIE HAVARD
Jan. 4, Starkville (Miss.) Country Club, No. 5
BERNARD JONES
Jan. 7, The Refuge Golf Course (Flowood, Miss.), No. 7 (167 yards)
NOLAN LAMBERT SR.
Jan. 7, The Bridges Golf Club (Bay St. Louis, Miss.), No. 3 (124 yards)
KEVIN WEST
Jan. 10, The Club at Diamondhead (Miss.), Cardinal No. 4 (115 yards)
DEAN NAPOLI
Jan. 10, The University Club (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 8 (163 yards)
LARRY RICHARDS
Jan. 14, Links on the Bayou (Alexandria, La.), No. 12
MARK EUBANK
Jan. 14, Bay Pointe Golf and Country Club (Brandon, Miss.), No. 13 (160 yards)
WILL FISER
Jan. 16, Mississippi State University Golf Course (Starkville, Miss.), No. 10 (85 yards)
STEVE CLAYTON
Jan. 16, The Refuge Golf Course (Flowood, Miss.), No. 8 (147 yards)
SI NGUYEN
Jan. 24, The University Club (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 8 (165 yards)
CRAIG CARROLL
Jan. 24, The Country Club of Louisiana (Baton Rouge), No. 17 (138 yards)
GAINES ALLEN
Jan. 27, Mississippi State University Golf Course (Starkville), No. 2 (177 yards)
BRAYDEN DAVID
Jan. 27, The Island Golf Course (Plaquemine, La.), No. 3 (143 yards)
STORMY BAUCUM
Jan. 27, Copper Mill Golf Club (Zachary, La.), No. 11 (119 yards)
LARRY DORR
Jan. 28, Quail Hollow Golf Course (McComb, Miss.), No. 3 (149 yards)
JOHN SMITH
Jan. 31, Pine Creek Golf Club (Purvis, Miss.), No. 1 (240 yards)
JEFF BOWKER
Jan. 31, Sunkist Country Club(Biloxi, Miss.), No. 3 (160 yards)
DOUGLAS WAGNER
Jan. 31, The Club at Diamondhead (Miss.), Pine No. 6 (105 yards)
Have you ever experienced that instant fear that comes with standing over a 6-foot putt knowing that the putt stands between you and beating your best bud or worse,between you and a championship trophy? It's a feeling most of us are familiar with but never want to admit.Some instructors would tell you that it's a feeling that won't ever go away or that it can't be controlled,but there are steps that you can take to ease the pressure of those situations and turn them into an advantage for you.This is one benefit of practicing with a specific purpose in mind.
One way to practice this skill is through drills.We have found that these two drills not only allow you to work on your putting fundamentals but also allows you to simulate the feeling of being 'under the gun' to actually simulate that moment of fear without something being on the line.My father used to tell me all the time,if you can't do it in practice, you will never be able to do it when it counts.One of our favorite drills is called the 3,6,9 putting drill.
The following steps describe how to set it up and complete it:
1. Place your putter head inside the cup and put a tee down at the length of the club.Most putters are 33 to 35 inches.
2. Go another putter length back from that tee which would be 6 feet and then another from that tee which would be 9 feet.
3. Take three golf balls at the 3-foot tee and putt,if you make all three of those golf balls consecutively then proceed to the 6-foot tee.Putt those three golf balls and if you make those three consecutively,move to the 9-foot tee and make those three in a row.
4. If you make all nine balls in a row,you have completed the drill but the first ball that you miss takes you back to the beginning with the 3-foot tee where you start the drill from scratch.
The purpose of the drill is to put you in a make-or-break situation.The pressure increases as you move back and when you reach that eighth or ninth ball,you will have simulated effectively that true feeling of pressure.This is not an easy drill to successfully navigate.There has been more than one occasion where my father has had to turn on the car headlights to illuminate the putting green so that I could finish it.One thing that we can promise is that this will make you a better pressure putter and those 3-foot putts will no longer be viewed as knee-knockers.
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The second drill is known as the 3-Foot Circle. The following steps describes how to set it up and complete it:
1. Take 10 balls and 10 tees.
2. Put the tees in a 3-foot circle surrounding the hole. This can be done by placing the putter head in the cup and slowing circle the hole, placing tees at the length of the putter.Most putters are 33 to 35 inches.
3. Place one ball at each tee.The objective of this drill is make all 10 balls consecutively without missing.If you miss,you must begin again.
The purpose of this drill is to help ease the stress that 3-foot putts cause.Additionally,this drill assists with allowing the player to repeat their pre-shot routine at every putt so that they can understand that routine and confidence combats the fear of failure.
These drills do not take away fear alone,but it provides an opportunity to replace the fear with confidence. PGA professionals have a success rate of putts from three feet at 96% and 88% from four feet. This only goes to prove that emotions and confidence plays a major roll in success.The pros put themselves in these situations daily in practice so that when it happens in tournament play,they have the confidence to make the putt because they have done it a thousand times.
Give these drills a try and see if you reach your success goals and improve your overall performance.
Jason Voigts and Maria Castellucci are teaching professionals at The Club at Diamondhead (Mississippi).
Voigts is a champion and elite-level coach that has helped juniors and adults reach their golf potential and achieve their dreams.Voigts has coached the 2016 US Kids National Players of the Year,both male and female.He has developed national champions in multiple associations such as AJGA,Florida Junior Tour,Louisiana Junior Golf Associations,Kelly Gibson Junior Tour, Golfweek Amateur Champions Tour and several female and male state high school champions from both Mississippi and Florida.
Castellucci is a former professional golfer who played on multiple tours such as LPGA and the Futures Tour.She also had a successful junior career where she won the AJGA Francis Ouimet Trophy for lowest stroke average along with Tiger Woods in 1990.She also had a successful college career at Florida State University.
TIMBER TRUSS GOLF COURSE (Olive Branch)
THE DOGWOODS GOLF COURSE (Grenada)
MALLARD POINTE GOLF COURSE (Sardis)
BAY POINTE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB (Brandon)
NATCHEZ GOLF CLUB at DUNCAN PARK (Natchez)
OKATOMA GOLF CLUB (Collins)
QUAIL HOLLOW GOLF COURSE at PERCY QUIN STATE PARK (McComb)
PINE CREEK GOLF CLUB (Purvis)
SHELL LANDING GOLF CLUB (Gautier)
THE OAKS GOLF CLUB (Pass Christian)
www.themississippigolftrail.com