Island Paradise:
The Abaco Club
There are two kinds of tropical getaways. The first involves checking into a 600-room hotel where sunburned vacationers jockey for position in the breakfast buffet line with pale casino-goers fresh from a night at the tables. These are the mega-resorts, where you can commune with dolphins, take cooking classes with celebrity chefs, relive the ‘90s in pulsating discotheques, and if you’re lucky, stake out your own, private lounge chair poolside and sip drinks with umbrellas in ‘em.
The other kind of island vacation is a quieter, more self-indulgent affair, where the focus is on leaving the stress of the modern world behind, relaxing in the sun on an unspoiled beach, and interrupting your tanning schedule only long enough to play some golf or do a bit of snorkeling. The Abaco Club is most decidedly the latter kind of destination. Situated on a picturesque island in The Bahamas, The Abaco Club doesn’t even have a hotel. In fact, it’s not really even a resort. It’s a private, international sporting club, where members and residents from all over the world come to escape the rigors of everyday life and kick back in a setting of unmatched luxury and beauty. But even though it’s a very private place, you can visit it and enjoy the Club as a guest. The Abaco Club is situated on the most charming of The Bahamas’ Outer Islands—Great Abaco—and is graced by a 2-mile powder-soft beach that stretches as far as the eye can see. It’s easy to get to from New England, with connecting
flights into Abaco’s Marsh Harbour Airport from Miami, West Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale. The Club’s Scottish-style links golf course is a real stunner and is perennially ranked as the finest in The Bahamas. Water sports galore also vie for your time—from kayaking, sailing and snorkeling to bonefishing and deep-sea fishing. Visiting the spa, tennis courts or fitness center are other invigorating options. Cap it off all with an open-air lunch at Buster’s Beach Bar, or the exquisite local cuisine offered daily at The Cliff House, and you have a place no one ever wants to leave. Fortunately, if you decide to become a club member or homeowner there, you won’t have to. The island residences at The Abaco Club are magnificent, and range from cozy cabanas and charming cottages to grand oceanfront estates. It’s an atmosphere of quiet sophistication, where you, your family and friends can enjoy total relaxation when you want it—and a wealth of activities when the spirit moves you. In short, it’s Paradise with a capital P.
For more information or to book your Abaco Club vacation, visit theabacoclub.com
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FROM THE EDITOR
A Great Season and Greener Pastures We are winding down another golf season in the Northeast as the days grow shorter and courses prepare for dormant conditions at there facilities. Like last season courses are enjoying an extended season as temperatures in November have been seasonably above normal and a major freeze has not yet set in. This season we saw two players in New England redefine excellence and bring their game to another level. Nick McLaughlin the 2015 Player of the Year captured both Mass Amateur, The New England Amateur and The Mass Public Links Championship. He is only player is history to capture all three crowns in one season and achieve was might be known in the future as the “Mass Slam�. Billy Andrade set the Champions Tour on fire this year with 3 wins in 22 events and season ending victory over Bernard Langer at The Charles Schwab Cup. Billy amassed over $1.5 million in earnings for the season and finished 4th on the Champions Tour money list, great comeback year for Billy the Kid. While the golf season ramps down for another year golf travel destinations are now in full swing in the South, the Southwest and the Caribbean. In the weeks ahead golfers throughout the Northeast will be planning holiday and winter golf vacations to warm weather locations. New England Golf Monthly has made it all just a bit easier with the creation of Golf Travel Weekly. Each week we will bring you reviews and features of some of our favorite golf travel destinations. Golf Travel Weekly will provide by region some of the finest golf resorts for couples, buddy trips and large groups throughout the Fall and Winter season. Be sure to sign up for this weekly platform, it is sure to be a winner with our readers.
Timothy R. Branco Editor/ Publisher
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NEW ENGLAND GOLF MONTHLY
GOLF TRAVEL 8
Couple of Travelers / Travel Tips
GOLF FASHION 18 GFW Staff / Fash-Giving Guide
8
GORMAN VS. GEARY 26 Gorman & Geary / Too Many Private Courses in NE?
INDOOR GOLF & FITNESS 46 Places to Play, Practice & Get Fit
TINKERS NEST 65 Ed Travis / New Clubs for the 2016 Season
INTERVIEWS 29 John Molori / Jerry Thornton
36
68 Leigh McKay / Suzy Whaley
GOLF COURSE LIVING 74 Timothy Branco / Top 10 Best in Northeast
CONTENTS
74 WATCH THE SIGNATURE HOLES OF NEW ENGLAND Aerial video tours of 24 different holes at 8 different courses GO TO myNEGM.com ON ANY DEVICE presented by:
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COUPLE OF TRAVELERS
Travel Tips By Alice & Danny Scott
Psychological research shows that “people get more happiness out of purchases when those purchases are experiences than when they are material things.” So let’s swap trips for things on the holiday wish lists. By request, here are our top tips for your trips:
T
ake a vacation where? Globe trotting the world or rediscovering America, each and every place has a special indulgence, a piece of history. Listen to friends, read our articles, search the web, and watch travel shows and videos. Consider the time of year, climate preference and desired activities or culture outside of golf. Then go where your heart leads. Check for packages on the destinations’ websites as well as Google, Travelocity, Expedia, just a few of the many resources that offer insight. Take user reviews with a grain of salt, reading between lines on tripadvisor, travelpost, citysearch, and IgoUgo. One poor experience shouldn’t spoil the deal. Leverage any credit card or group affiliation that might give discounts or rewards. You may not get the lowest price, but upgrades or points for future travel might be worth it. Do however watch the fine print on all offers and consider research part of the fun.
R
eally be kind when traveling. Be kind to the person on the phone, to the ticket agent, to the bell captain, the grumpy x!l#@ at the rental car counter. Kindness will be well received and returned. Foremost, be kind to your travel companions – your spouse, kinfolk, your buddy, whoever is seated next to you because travel can be stressful at times and kindness transforms not only others’ but your own disposition. Be friendly with locals and other tourists. It will boost your experience and therefore your happiness quotient. For foreign travel learn how to say
8 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com |Nov. / Dec. 2015
hello, please and thank you. Sure most staffs understand English but a little “bonjour” goes a long way in showing respect and improving the quality of information and accuracy. Now when driving through the south of the United States it is not necessary to speak with a drawl, though it might be impossible not to if you stay too long.
A
ll aboard – If airfare is not included in a package deal you like, call each airline direct and ask for the best day and time to fly your route. If you like a flight reserve it temporarily while checking travel sites such as Orbit and Hotline. We searched daily for multiple leg connections from Phoenix to Ireland and then South Africa. After two weeks, there it was, the smoking deal on Vayama. com.
V
enture out of your comfort zone. Google for the destination’s visitor bureau website. They usually have fun activity ideas like on experiencescottsdale.com. Secure activities and tee times in advance but also leave some space in the schedule to let the vacation take you.
E
verybody wants your money. Unless you have plenty of discretionary funds, just say no - to upgrades that give 2 more inches, to timeshare deals. But sure, go to the presentation and listen if the gift is worth your time. It’s part of their business model and educational, just say no to the sale. Say no to the swarm of airport cabbies when you’ve already paid for hotel transport. The real
COUPLE OF TRAVELERS
driver will be outside with your name on a sign. Your insurance company or credit card probably covers rental car insurance. Check ahead of time.
L
ight packing makes life easier. A roller carryon is a flyer’s best friend with plenty of space if you choose wisely. Baggage rules are ever changing and more restrictive about size and weight so check with the airline before every trip. List the types of outfits needed for your itinerary and lay your clothing options on the bed. Choose colors and layers that can be mixed and matched figuring some repeated wear. Narrow it down until they fit, rolling each piece individually for tight packing and wrinkle reduction. Another sizeable “personal item” may be carried on with purse, computer, and snacks inside. Pack all liquids and lotions in labeled 3 oz or less travel containers from Target or Walmart, then in a zip lock quart size bag. Include Vicks Vapor Rub for foot odor prevention and softness, reducing sock count. Dab on nostrils to prevent illness. If you take your golf clubs, excess items will fit in travel bags like Club Glove, Caddy Daddy, Bag Boy or Sun Mountain whose Club Glider is operable with the touch of a single finger. You can also ship your clubs or consider rentals. You might love the new set or if not, have the excuse, “They’re not my clubs.”
T
ake a hike. Walking is the best exercise. Tour the airport or aisles on the
plane or circle your ankles, and pump your knees while seated. When exploring your destination by foot, you never know what will appear like a sea turtle on the Mexican beach laying eggs. Walk the course, a mountain trail or historic downtowns for a personal viewpoint.
I
dentification, insurance cards, itinerary, confirmation numbers, all documentation should be handy in a folder and/or smart phone. Be ready for security procedures with enough time. No joking and watch your balls. Our golf balls were confiscated in Cabo as potential weapons. Isolated incident? You never know.
P
lan, Act and Tweak is our PAT answer for life and travel. Setting a plan in action is the first secret to success. When problems emerge and they will, assess and tweak the plan. In Italy our accommodations in 3 cities reneged. We serendipitously secured fun spots on hotels.com. Surprises are the norm.
S
elfies or unselfies - take lots of photos of landscapes, street scenes, local folks, memories you want to keep. Share but don’t miss the whale breaching because you are tied up on social media. Delete the duplicates to save space, tweak the best pics and relive the experience again and again. Thanks for watching where we go every month for all these years and Bon Voyage wherever you go!
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The New and Improved
PGA Golf Club Signaling a new era for PGA Golf Club, an impressive, contemporary 20,000-square-foot clubhouse is now complete. Designed by Tom Hoch Design, the facility has more than doubled in size from the original clubhouse, which first opened its doors in 1996.
The new clubhouse features elements of style throughout the building that reflect the PGA of America’s rich history. As a result, the PGA has relocated some notable trophies and artifacts that trace its nearly 100 years to the new “PGA Gallery” area of the PGA Golf Club Clubhouse. This is highlighted by a display of the major Championship trophies of golf, including the original Wanamaker Trophy, the prize for winning the PGA Championship. In addition, the Wanamaker Course underwent a significant re-grassing project this off season, heightening the playing experience by introducing new turf to
fairways and bunker surrounds, and planting several ornamental species to reframe holes. Celebration, a hybrid Bermuda grass gaining great popularity in recent years, was installed on all 14 fairways. The strain is hearty enough to out-compete common Bermuda grass – making it ideal for weed control – and possesses a striking blue-green color. Its texture and density also helps it to recover quickly from divots. PGA Golf Club aims for tournament conditions and terminal velocity on all of our courses designed by legends Tom Fazio Wanamaker & Ryder Course, and Pete Dye’s The Dye Course.
800-800-GOLF (4653) | www.PGAVILLAGE.com www.PGALEARNINGCENTER.com
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Mission Inn
Golf Advisor comments: “One of the best! Played the El Campeon twice this year and was pleased both times. . . Plenty of F/B service on the course. Course was pristine.� I have been visiting Orlando for the last 20 years playing golf every year and I can tell you this is the best course in Orlando El Campeon is different from most Florida courses because of the 85 ft elevation changes!
MissionInnResort.com/golf | 800-697-9688 Howey-in-the-Hills, FL 34737 35 N.W.atof Orlando| 13 Nov.| / Dec. April Mins. 2015 | Subscribe myNEGM.com
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November / December 2015 Vol 8 | Issue 9
Editor / Publisher
Timothy R. Branco
Reach Over 700,000 New England Golfers Monthly
tim@nepubinc.com
Graphic Design & Production
Chris Hunter
CollectiveThoughtMedia.com
Administration
Mary L. Hullett
mary@nepubinc.com
Contributors Tom Gorman Tim Geary Pam Borges Bob DiCesare Kathleen Dyson David DeSmith Matt Adams Jim Hammond Ed Travis Becky Blaser Greg Sampson
John Molori Alicia Moon Alice Scott Steve Riggs Jeff Palopoli Emily Kay Jack Ross Danny Scott Leigh McKay Elisa Gaudet Matt Ward
Contributing Photographers Ken Dennis | kendennisphoto.com Rich Gagnon | Taunton, MA
New England Golf Monthly is published 9 times yearly by The New England Publishing Group Inc. Reproduction of the contents, images and editorial is strictly prohibited without written permission from the publisher. Neither advertiser or publisher will be held liable for errors or omissions in any content of this publication. All rights reserved.
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2016-17 Media Kit
myNEGM.com/mediakit We Can Also Manage Your Brand !
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Custom Media Plans Our team at New England Golf Monthly offers complete marketing management for golf facilities, golf products and golf services with graphic design, the NEGM multi-media platform, other partnered media platforms, social media, press releases, search engine marketing and more. Our staff will provide the plan, assets and implementation with full statistical analysis and reports monthly on results. Our programs are designed specifically for your brand and executed by experienced professionals with years of experience in golf marketing. We provide the brand impressions and data capture to grow your business in 2016 and beyond. Call today for a complete business review and consultation.
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GOLF FASHION
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2015 FASH-GIVING GUIDE
A
hhh, Black Friday, or in our case, Fash-Giving is almost here. The beginning of the Holiday shopping season has arrived. We all know the best part of the Holidays is the feeling of giving a gift to your friends, co-workers, family and loved ones. We have created the 2015 Fash-Giving Guide keeping everyone in mind. From the sophisticated looks of Aristo 18 & The Greg Norman Collection, weather proofing garments from Galway Bay & Bermuda Sands, female fashion trend setters SwingDish & Daily Sports, men’s underwear pioneers 2UNDR, that supports Cancer research and many more brands. Check out our full online gift guide running through the Holidays at www.Golffashionweekly.com
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GORMAN VS GEARY
percent of golf facilities open to the public every day and 90 percent of golf course acreage is green space. “The golf industry in 2015 recognizes its challenges,” World Golf Foundation CEO Steve Mona told Forbes magazine in a recent interview. “In the U.S., the game is enjoyed by 25 million Americans who play 455 million rounds annually at the nation’s 15,350 facilities. It is a nearly $70 billion industry, supporting two million jobs and $55.6 billion in annual wage income.” If the golf industry has a problem in New England the controversy is centered on money and how much disposable income does the avid golfer wish to spend on his Any talking head who suggests that the favorite past time? To join or not to join a golf industry is in recession is out of touch, private club seems to be a popular queslike one of the moonbats who think Bernie tion. With green fees at higher-end public Sanders is a credible candidate for Presifacilities such as Pine Hills, Granite Links, Farm dent. Next time you hear the complaint, Neck and Mohegan Sun fetching over $100 consider the source, because they probaper round, it gets expensive to play per diem bly aren’t getting their fair share of golf. Also, the sport is having a the golf industry’s enormous hard time connecting with $70 billion economy in millennials (ages 18-34). the United States. Inquiries to several Thirty years ago you private clubs reveal could buy a home there are no bargains just outside Boston for and waiting lists are norunder $100K, today it by Tom Gorman mal. According to Robby takes $100K upfront to pay Thompson, Membership/ for a family golf membership Marketing Director at Thorny Lea at one of suburban Boston’s swanky clubs, GC (Brockton) applications are available such as Belmont County Club, which hosted for a variety of membership opportunities the PGA Senior Tour’s Constellation Chamdepending on your age, income and availpionship in June. Golf clubs such as Charles ability to play. The new member initiation River, Winchester, The Country Club, Weston, fee is $10,000 with annual dues set at $4,500 Woodland and Brae Burn all command big plus $1,000 bond and another $100 monthly money for first year-members ranging from minimum. Compared to Charles River CC $50K to $75K. Private golf course member(Newton) that’s a bargain because it will ships in the Bay State is thriving like never require $75,000 upfront before you join, and before, with all clubs reporting waiting lists, you need references. Cummaquid CC (Yarsome, like Winchester, taking up to 20 years mouth) requires $25,000 initiation fee and to get in, and, where the average home $3,500 annual dues with a wait list. Norfolk price is $1.5 million. GC (Westwood), which is a private nine-hole Earlier this year, The Massachusetts Golf Ascourse, asks for $5,000 initiation fee, $1,000 sociation, which boasts about 90,000 membond and $3,000 annual dues. Surprisingly, bers from 400 facilities, proclaimed March they have 35 candidates on the wait list, ex20 as Massachusetts Golf Day celebrating pected to take three years to get in. the fact that the golf economy impact here So are there too many public and private is about $2.7 billion annually. The Mass Golf courses in New England? Never. What a silly Scorecard reads like this: over 25,000 jobs question. providing $796 million in wages; $74 million Tom Gorman has been writing about golf given back through golf-related non-profit for 24 years and occasionally knows what organizations; $366 million in golf tourism; 70 he’s writing about.
Are There Too Many Private Golf Courses in New England?
26 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | Nov. April 2015 / Dec. 2015
GORMAN VS GEARY
Asking if there at too many private golf and country clubs in New England is like asking if there are too many good restaurants, too many different kinds of beer and too many days off from work. But that is the argument that Mr. Private Club Gorman and I are having for our final issue of NEGM for 2015. Ironically it is Tom the Elitist who believes that there are too many privates in our six state region. Gorman usually holds his nose whenever he is forced to step seem strange, until you understand that onto the first tee of a public or municipal Tommy Silver Spoon only wants other peogolf course. Rubbing elbows with the great ple’s private clubs to be bulldozed, thus unwashed is something he loathes, at least making those clubs he either belongs to, or when it comes to his golf. frequents as a guest, to be even more presTom belongs to a couple of private clubs tigious. and I’m sure he would be aghast if anyone ever In a past issue we discussed the reason for suggested that his swanky digs be converted the decline in the privates and its as Amerinto a housing for the elderly. ican and as the free enterprise But he is maintaining system, namely survival of that we New Englandthe fittest. ers have too much There are only as of an abundance of many private clubs as privates and I’m sure there are those willing to he’s throwing all kinds support them. When the of faulty statistics at you by Tim Geary membership at a private on the adjoining page. club declines to the point where Truth be told, there are probit is no longer financially viable, it does ably more private clubs in New England than what any American business does. It closes. any other area of the country, but you could Either that or it declares bankruptcy and also include the entire northeast in that geothen attempts to re-organize. graphic area. It only makes sense since In Rhode Island, where I live, we have our section of the good ole USA has been 52 courses that are members of the Rhode around longer than other parts of our nation. Island Golf Association. Of that number 25 Does that make New England more snooty are fully private and two (Montaup in Portsthan the rest of the country. Well............. mouth and West Warwick) are considered yeah, it probably does. We invented the semi-private. Brahmin class. It was Plymouth, not Tampa That’s almost a 50-50 divide between pubBay, where the Mayflower first set anchor. lic and private courses. And as golf became popular among the Yes, we have some private clubs, that in well-to-do class it was only natural that those recent years have struggled, that have lost with a great deal of wherewithal should members and that have had to do some sewant to build clubs where they could mingle rious shuffling. But none have closed, despite with only each other and not with those of the economy being sluggish. the chimney sweep set. That seems to be consistent with the rest of Those of Gorman’s ilk like to be able to get New England. There are some hardships, but for away from peons such as myself and probthe most part the private clubs have kept their ably you. doors open and their greens hard and fast. Why he would argue that we have too Tim Geary is a R.I. based freelance writer. many of these such establishments might He belongs to a muni and is proud of it.
Are There Too Many Private Golf Courses in New England?
Nov. / Dec. April 2015 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 27
The Ultimate Holiday Gift That Keeps on Giving
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MOLORI UNPLUGGED | BY JOHN MOLORI
Jerry Thornton:
A smash hit in golf and media Comedian and sportswriter Jerry Thornton took a circuitous route to Boston media stardom, but has definitely arrived as a regular on Sportsradio WEEI’s “Dale and Holley with Thornton” show. He has also become a social media folk hero with his “Thornography” posts and unabashed “bro-mances” with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Like big time sports media, Thornton came to the golf a bit late, but has a passion for the game. “I think every golf beginner dreads the thought of being the one who’s so bad he holds the group up,” says Thornton, a Weymouth native and Bridgewater State grad. “It wasn’t until my early 20s when I saw my friends spraying the ball all over the place that I said, ‘I don’t suck any more than them.’” “I’ve mostly relied on the old Ben Hogan adage about practicing a lot: ‘The solution is in the dirt.’ I’d rather work it out on my own than fill my head with two dozen swing thoughts.” The consummate New Englander, Thornton’s favorite courses include Oyster Harbors, Old Barnstable, and Green Harbor. Lakeville was the site of a most memorable golf moment. He explains, “I was playing a Florida style scramble tournament where the closest-to-the-pin was an elevated tee shot to an island green. “By the time my group got there, there was a gallery and it was raining hard. I hit a 7-iron to within two feet and then sank the putt. I guess all those years of working in front of a crowd in a thousand comedy clubs brought out the best in me.” Thornton has been married to wife Anne for 22 years and has two sons, Jack, a high school freshman, and Nick, a U.S. Marine stationed in North Carolina. Both sons took lessons at Rockland Golf Course and the Harmon Club. “My wife came from a golf family and always encouraged it in the kids,” he relates. “Her dad, the late Jack Harvey, was shooting his age into his 70s, and I hope
to be playing alongside my boys at that age.” Charity is also a key tenet for Thornton’s golf passion, “My brother lost his wife to pancreatic cancer so we set up a tournament at Pembroke every May as a living memorial and to raise money for Homes for Our Heroes.” Thornton is also involved in tournaments to benefit children in Africa and Neurofibromatosis. With originality and wit, Thornton is a welcome wild card in the oftenpredictable Boston media scene. He shares a humorous links memory. “A friend and I had just finished up and were having a beer at the 19th hole, which overlooks the 9th green protected by a pond. The approach shot was never much more than a short iron for me, but I had put so many balls into the drink, they had broken the surface of the water and formed their own island nation! “As he and I were sitting there, one ball landed pin high and spun back for a tap in birdie. As the group approached, my buddy told me which guy had stuck that shot and, as God is my witness, he had one arm. I came to find out he’s like a 6-handicap. Here he is with as big a disadvantage as a golfer could have and playing circles around me. That is the best thing you could say about the game, and probably the worst thing about me.” With his ever-growing media schedule, Thornton does not play as much as he used to, but he has no intention of giving up the game. “I only play a few times a season, but that has to do with working on some exciting projects in my life. I have every intention of picking it up next year. They’ll have to pull the driver from between my cold, dead fingers!” John Molori is an author and columnist for numerous publications. Like him on Facebook at John Molori, Twitter @MoloriMedia. Email molorimedia@aol.com.
Nov. / Dec. 2015 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 29
ROSS’S RULINGS | BY JACK ROSS
WILL THE ANCHORING RULE
HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON GOLF?
As of January 1, 2016, golfers will no longer be permitted to anchor their club to their bodies when making a stroke. Rule 14-1b, which drew a storm of protest when proposed in 2012, will not ban long or belly putters themselves, but will prohibit anchoring such putters to the abdomen or chest while putting. Initially, the PGA of America opposed the rule as countering its efforts to grow the game and make it more enjoyable. Many older players who have lost grip steadiness or have back problems have found long putters to be a panacea. The PGA Tour also took issue with the rule, noting that the USGA and R&A were late in the game in prohibiting putting styles that had been permitted for over 20 years. But when Rule 14-1b was adopted in May 2013, all the major golf organizations came on board. The feeling was that the almost three year lag time before the rule would become effective would allow players to transition to conventional strokes. Some prominent PGA Tour players, like Keegan Bradley and Webb Simpson, made the adjustment fairly painlessly. Others, like Adam Scott and Bernard Langer, clung to their long putters as long as possible. How will the anchoring ban affect the game of golf? Certainly, Scott could face a tough adjustment. However, there are relatively few players employing anchoring on the PGA Tour. It will be more of an issue on the Champions Tour for players like Langer and Fred Couples, who has been using a belly putter for some time. The largest impact could be on amateur golf. A 2012 study found that only 5% of “serious” golfers (those playing more than 60 rounds per year with an average handicap of 14) used long or belly putters. Obviously, there is nothing to prevent recreational players from continuing to anchor their putters in casual play, just as they are free to use nonconforming balls and equipment on the market. However, of-
ficials at state amateur competitions surely will enforce the rule, as presumably will PGA professionals for club competitions. Thomas Pagel, Senior Director of Rules of Golf with the USGA, doubts that there will be widespread noncompliance at the grassroots level. He said the USGA has been very proactive the past few years in working with golf organizations to educate them about the rule. “It’s really been a sense of collaboration where we’re working to create educational materials and resources for those individuals to help assist and comply with the rule,” said Pagel at a USGA/R&A press conference. Pagel also observed that there are many varieties of putters and grips available to players. “There are still plenty of variations that players will have the opportunity to maintain their specific art form when it comes to making a stroke.” Ron Green, Director of Rules and Competition for the New England PGA, expected many players to attempt to emulate Matt Kuchar’s approach of anchoring the butt of the putter to the forearm, which is legal but could raise issues in competitions. Jesse Menachem, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Golf Association, thinks that the USGA, R&A, PGA of America, and PGA Tour have done a good job of “getting out ahead of the issue” by providing time for golfers to adjust to the new rule. He also noted that the MGA has seen fewer belly putters used in competitions. Menachem admitted that there is still some sentiment that the rule may reduce the enjoyment of the game for a segment of players, but sees Rule 14-1b as a good change overall. “It’s a very small group, and the advance notice of the rule will soften the blow,” he said.
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Is Knuth Golf’s High Heat
the Best Driver Ever? By Jon Rizzi
It outperforms the big brands in every way — except marketing. The “K” in Dean Knuth’s name isn’t silent, and neither is his High Heat driver. The ball explodes off the face and travels straight and far—even on decidedly off-center hits. How can you tell? The mark on the High Heat’s patented mirror face allows you to see exactly where impact occurred. Even when the mark appears near the heel, hosel, sole or toe, there’s a good chance the ball will be in the fairway. The experts haven’t been silent, either. After experiencing the High Heat’s consistent drives at this year’s PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, low and high handicap players, including mem-bers of the persnickety golf media, could not contain their enthusiasm. Gary Van Sickle of Sports Illustrated called it the show’s “most significant techno logical innovation…a gamechanger for amateur golfers.” Leigh MacKay of New England Golf Monthly named High Heat the best new driver at the show and noted that with “a much deeper and lower center of gravity (CG) than any of the major brands, High Heat produced more total distance and for44 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com |Nov. / Dec. 2015
giveness. No stranger to changing the game, Knuth invented the USGA Course and Slope Rating Sys¬tems during his 16 years as a senior director of the organization. Also retired from the U.S. Navy, where he developed classified defense solutions that remain in use today, Knuth brought his wide-ranging technical knowledge to the development of a driver that would significantly improve the play of amateur golfers. His 13 years of work have resulted in multiple U.S. Patents for driver inventions. High Heat takes advantage of his two most significant patents: the Optimal CG Game Changer and Fire Zone Face. The former places the High Heat’s center of gravity (CG) 25 percent deeper
and 18 percent lower than that of the average driver produced by the major brands. This lower, deeper CG produces an almost 25 percent greater MOI (moment of inertia) that results in greater forgiveness. Shots hit below the center of the face—a common problem—get added lift and fly as far as those hit on the center. Knuth Golf ’s Fire Zone Face Technology combines seven different zones of variable thickness, including patented “parabolic” lobes at the top of the toe and heel of the face. This increases the spring-like effect across the entire sweet spot zone and also enhances accuracy. Empirical evidence comes from a test report from Golf Laboratories, the world’s leading independent testing fa-
N
cility, when simulating swing parameters of non-tour golfers, the Knuth High Heat driver was longer, straighter and more forgiving than any other driver. The beautiful blue High Heat naturally conforms to USGA Rules. What it doesn’t conform to is the brand-consciousness of the guy whose driver will do more for its manufacturer’s profits than for his own performance. Try it for yourself. The board members of golf associations and Golf Hall of Fames did and raved about its performance. I did too and bought High Heat for my bag because it delivered as advertised. High Heat’s MSRP is $399.00. Visit knuthgolf.com to learn more about this amazing driver which also comes with Knuth Golf’s 30-day full money back Guarantee.
SA V
AT ew E YO E $7 KN ngla U SE 0 WH UT nd G LEC EN HG olf M T OL ont F.C hly OM
Nov. / Dec. 2015 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 45
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It’s incredibly accurate how simple it is to use are fantastic. It looks l out there on the range
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(802) 881-0660 | 1860 Williston Rd, South Burlington, VT 05403
TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR & WIN GREAT PRIZES AT www.GONZOSHDSPORTS.com August 2015 |LLC. Subscribe myNEGM.com | 49| 49 presented www.skytrakgolf.com| ©2015 by SkyHawke Technologies, AllmyNEGM.com/indoorgolf rights at reserved.
NEITHER SNOW, NOR RAIN, NOR GLOOM OF WINTER WILL KEEP US FROM OUR APPOINTED ROUNDS. Are you really going let a little wintery weather keep you from playing through? You don’t have to. The indoor golf season is just getting started at South Shore Country Club, where you can play any of nearly 50 PGA Championship courses on our three state-of-the-art simulators.
The Tour Golf Bar is open 7 days a week starting at 8am with bar and food service available from lunch to closing. Early bird hours are $30 and prime time are $40. To book a tee time or to plan a tournament or banquet, call 781-749-8479.
781-749-8479 | 274 SOUTH STREET HINGHAM, MA 02043 www.southshorecc.com | www.thetourgolfbar.com | www.greensidegrille.com
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BOSTON AREAS ONE STOP FOR ALL YOUR WINTER TRAINING NEEDS
To reserve time in our Private Simulator Studio, Trackman Studio or book a lesson call (978) 750-4653
IMPROVE YOUR GOLF GAME • Trackman Performance Studio • Private Simulator Studio • Indoor/Outdoor Studio • Covered Heated Tee’s • Golf lessons with PGA professionals • From Lessons to Practice to Playing
TrackMan Performace Studio Provides over 20 different data parameters including ball flight, club path and face angle, calibrated into the video. PARADISE is the only facility North of Boston to offer customers the latest technology combined in an indoor/outdoor studio which allows them to see ball flight! PARADISE FAMILY GOLF | Conveniently located off Route 114 25 Lonergan Rd | Middleton, MA 01949 978-750-4653 | www.paradisefamilygolf.com presented by www.skytrakgolf.com| myNEGM.com/indoorgolf | 51
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New England’s Premier Indoor Golf Venue • 8 PGA TOUR Widescreen Simulators • A full bar featuring wine, draft/bottled beers and top shelf liquors • A relaxing atmosphere offering American and Asian Bistro food
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• PGA lessons • 3 Full Swing Golf simulators with new ION high speed infrared path and impact cameras • Weekly 9 hole leagues • Best beer selection in town
• Pizza and sandwich shop available next door • Private party rentals available • Many of the world’s top golf courses available to choose from • Dynamic High Definition Graphics
Sign Up for Our Email Newsletter & Like Us on Facebook For News, Events, Specials and Weather Updates!
508-923-4653 | www.TheBrokenTee.com 166 County Road Lakeville, MA 02347
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• 8600 sqft facility with full bar & grill • 8 HD Golf Simulators & 2 Visual Sports Simulators • 13 HD TV’s. Pool, Ping Pong, Darts, Shuffle Board & Foosball
• PGA Lessons, Club Fitting & Repair • Leagues, Corporate Outings & Parties • Follow Us on Facebook for Specials & Events
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INDOOR GOLF & FITNESS GUIDE |
PRESENTED BY
Downswing’s Indoor Golf Center
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Derryfield Country Club • 3 PGA Tour Simulators from aboutGolf • Over 40 courses to choose from • Open 7 days a week • Full service Restaurant and Lounge • Book your tee time up to two weeks in advance
• Indoor League all winter long • Monthly Tournaments open to anyone • Accurate Ball Data • Lessons available form PGA Professionals
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Oceans 18 – Indoor Simulator & Glow In The Dark Mini Golf I Glow
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OptiGolf Middleton • 7,000 sq. ft. facility w/ 9 OptiGolf Simulators featuring real putting • A full bar w/ full food menu from Omega Pizza • A 14’ HD projection screen and 17 other TV’s • Over 85 championship courses available in each simulator
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| INDOOR GOLF & FITNESS GUIDE
• 7 HD Golf Simulators. From $35/hr to $60/hr. • Full bar & restaurant featuring 97 pizza creations • 18 flavors of wings • 12 beers on tap, including our house brew Par 97 Ale (made by the Boston Beer Company)
• Large TVs everywhere, including an 125 inch HD screen in the lounge • Functions, birthdays, corporate outings etc. welcome • Sign up for our newsletter & like on Facebook for specials, events, news and more!
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Seth Dichard Golf at Tyngsboro Sports Center • Private & semi-private personalized instruction • Indoor facility located at Tyngsboro Sports Center & we have multiple locations in MA & NH. • Two state-of-the-art teaching studios • Indoor driving range open to the public for off-season practice.
• V1 Digital Video Coaching System, the GC2 Simulator and the K-Vest 3D Technology to help analyze and improve your game. • Seth has also recently been recognized in Golf Digest as one of the TOP Teachers in the area!
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Rods Golf Improvement Center • 3 Dead Solid Golf Simulators • 35 golf courses • Driving Range • Indoor Teaching Area
• Golf Club Fitting Area • Pro Shop specializing in Training Aids and Custom Clubs • Full Golf Club Repair Shop
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BUTTON HOLE Now Includes Indoor Golf • (1) Foresight Sports GC2 Golf Simulator with course & range modes • Additionally (5) netted indoor hitting bays (no simulator) • For rates & to schedule a time visit www.ButtonHole.org • Professional golf instruction by Dan Gaughan, PGA Professional
• Outdoor driving range open to the public (mats or grass tees, weather permitting) • 9 Hole Short Course open to the public (open year round, weather permitting) • Outstanding junior golf clinics & programs during the outdoor golf season
(401) 421-1664 | www.buttonhole.org | 1 Button Hole Drive, Providence, RI 02909
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INDOOR GOLF & FITNESS GUIDE |
PRESENTED BY
HOLIDAY SPECIAL
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1st Workout Is FREE Give Us 3 months & We Will Give You the Extra YARDS.
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Strength coaches are now the “go to” people for anyone wanting to get serious about all areas of their golf game.
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Combine that with hitting consistent balls in our indoor range bay and you’ll see the results
Millyard Strength & Conditioning 88 Pine Street Extension, Nashua, NH 03060 (next to the MILLYARD smokestack)
Gym: (603)402-9558 | Cell: (978)235-0688 www.personaltrainerinnashuanh.com | www.clarkscorefitness.com
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What are you doing this winter to gain more distance and shoot lower scores for next season? How about spending a few minutes each week building consistency and power by repeating Tour-proven movement patterns and exercises? Follow along with Coach Joey D on DVD at home, get immediate live coaching through SKYPE, or join us for a warm and sunny Training Retreat in Jupiter, FL! No matter your skill level or physical ability, these programs allow you to work at your own pace, improve your game, and have more fun!
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MOVEMENT MADE STRONG! 401.413.2526 | www.lisatamburini.com Lisa M. Tamburini, CPT, CGFS | Email: golfstrong@yahoo.com Tamburini Golf Performance Center, 100 Federal Way, Johnston, RI 02919
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PRESENTING SPONSOR
Ace Sponsors:
PRESENTING SPONSOR
Eagle Sponsors:
GET ON THE RIGHT COURSE TO FIGHT CANCER速
THANK YOU! Jimmy Fund Golf thanks our 2015 sponsors and Tournament Directors for raising more than $6.8 million for cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
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Birdie Sponsors:
Fairway Sponsors:
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One Stop Shopping For All The Golfers on Your Holiday List
Equipment – Accessories – Golf Apparel Gift Certificates Available Online
• Top 100 Club Fitter – Open Year Round • 5 Full Flight Fitting Bays with Newest Launch Monitor Technology • Private and Group Instruction
• Multiple Winner – Top 100 Pro Shop • Trade-Ins Enthusiastically Accepted • Full Calendar of Demo and Expo Days • One Stop Tournament Shopping
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Personal Golf Fit Training Discover a plan that is catered to you! Personal training is one of the most time-effective & efficient ways to get and stay in shape Mind Body Studios @ Total Fitness Mind Body Studios is our “in house� private and small group fitness studio offering Pilates, Total Barre, TRX and more
Total Fitness Clubs Swansea, Seekonk, Dartmouth, MA & Bristol RI Golf Fitness Assessment
Learn how to achieve your specific health & fitness goals with our Team of Professionals.
Group Exercise We offer a variety of group exercise classes for all ages & abilities. 6 Weeks to Wellness 6-week, $99, introduction to fitness program designed for people with existing health issues or whose current lifestyle is leading to health issues
Total Fitness offers nationally certified and experienced RI & MA Personal Trainers. We specialize in cardiovascular, strength and conditioning programs, rehabilitation and injury recovery programs, sports specific programs and lifestyle programs.
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Bristol: 401-254-3900 | Swansea: 508-679-9793 Seekonk: 508-336-4545 | Dartmouth: 508-995-5600
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GOLF GEAR WEEKLY
New Clubs for the 2016 Season By ED TRAVIS
In the last issue we previewed for you the clubs being introduced for the 2016 golf season from several of the manufactures highlighting the latest technological advances and design features. This month
we continue with the latest from more companies. In most cases these clubs are now available in shops and stores though there are exceptions that will hit retail in January or later.
Mizuno Golf Mizuno has new offerings across the board starting with the JPX EZ line of woods, hybrids and irons. The driver ($400) uses Mizuno’s Fast Track three weight position system for ball flight corrections and Mizuno’s Quick Switch adjustable hosel with eight settings between 8.5 and 12.5 degrees plus their Rebound Crown design with decreased stiffness near the clubface for more ball speed. JPX EZ Fairway Woods ($250) have bigger confidence-producing heads with an enlarged sweet spot from the slotted “Shock Wave” sole and use of the Quick Switch hosel with four loft settings. The matching JPX EZ Hybrids ($200) are also are slightly larger than most others helping to produce a higher, softer landing ball flight and share the sole design with the fairway woods, albeit proportionately larger. JPX EZ Irons ($800 4-iron through sand wedge steel shafts) have a dual pocket construction and lots of forgiveness for mid to high handicap players. Their most striking feature though is the black nickel finish that visually sets them apart. There also a Forged cavity back model ($1,000 4-iron through gap wedge steel shafts) made of 1025 boron alloy with a thinner face and weight moved to the outside. They share Mizuno’s Triple Cut Sole design and black nickel finish with the JPX EZ model. Mizuno’s MP-25 Irons ($1,000 3-iron through pitching wedge steel shafts) for low handicap golfers and are made of grain flow forgings of 1025 Boron alloy with micro-milling of the faces in the 3- through 6-irons and a muscle back construction for the short irons. Also in the Mizuno stable for 2016 are the very nice MP-5 Irons at the same pricing as the MP-25s. With lots of forgiveness built-in due to the channel-
back design these forged irons allow for the shot shaping and ball flight demanded by better players. Don’t overlook Mizuno’s S5 wedges which compared to last year’s MP-T5s have a more rounded shape with a larger face area with 25 different loft and bounce combinations from 49 to 62 degrees. Besides a good looking white satin the S5s are available in a smashing Blue Ion finish.
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GOLF GEAR WEEKLY
PING PING’s new cavity-back GMax Irons are an update of the Karsten model of two years ago but with a COR-Eye design for a 30 percent thinner clubface and increased vibration dampening. Combined with improved clubhead impact dynamics PING says ball speed could be improved up to 3 mph for an additional 6 to 10 yards. Available in 4-iron through sand wedge pricing is $121.25 per club with steel shafts and $136.25 per club with graphite. Ping i Irons for the new year follow and build on the designs of the past such as the Eye2 and i25 and are targeted for the bags of low handicap golfers who want forgiveness in the long irons and a tradition soft feel in the scoring irons. Priced at $125 per club with steel shafts and $137.50 with graphite the i clubheads are made from 431 stainless steel in a cavity back construction including a custom tuning port elastomer weight for a very clean look. Avail-
able in 3- through 9-iron, pitching wedge and utility wedge. The Glide ES (for Eye Sole) wedges have the tapered hosel and scooped sole of the original Eye2 sand wedge combined with the performance in last year’ Glide model including the choice of standard sole (SS), thin sole (TS), and wide sole (WS). There are 16 loft and sole combinations to match any player’s swing and most common turf conditions. Glide ES wedges with steel shafts are $140 or with graphite 160.
TaylorMade Golf Trivia question: “What club was introduced during the PGA Tour year-ending playoffs and immediately put into play by 16 players?” The answer is the very impressive M1 Driver from TaylorMade with the tag line “the unmetalwood” because of the multi-material clubhead using titanium plus a 7-layer carbon composite for the rear part of the crown. For the third week of the playoffs, the BMW Championship, winner Jason Day plus Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia had the M1 in their bags. Weight saved from the crown not only lowered the center of gravity but also gave TMaG the opportunity of putting in a second track system in the sole. The familiar heel to toe track with a 15gram sliding weight just
behind the clubface allows the face added flexing at impact for more ball speed. The new sole track, running from front to rear, has a 10gram sliding weight and gives the user the chance to adjust ball spin by up to 300 rpm and launch angle by 0.8 degree in addition to the draw/fade bias adjustment of the heel/ toe track. The 460 cc M1 also has an adjustable hosel of plus or minus 2 degrees and is priced at $499 with four lofts available plus there’s a 430 cc version at the same price. M1 Fairways ($300) make use of the carbon composite crown idea as well as the sole slot behind the face with two 15-gram weights and the plus or minus 2 degrees adjustable hosel. The M1 Rescues ($250) have a shape that’s both great looking at address and to help get the ball out of difficult lies. There are two movable sole weights for neutral or fade bias and an adjustable hosel. Success of TMaG’s RSi irons last year prompted the new PSi/PSi Tour players-category irons with similar unique heel and toe slots and a redesigned cut-through slot for more feel and performance. PSi irons are $1,099 steel and $1,299 graphite (3-iron through PW) and the forged PSi Tour $1299 (3-iron through PW).
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GOLF GEAR WEEKLY
Titleist The 716 AP1 game-improvement model and 716 AP2 for advanced players are the latest from Titleist. The AP1s have a thin face back with a 360 degree undercut cavity and a “pre-worn” leading edge with cambered sole for easier turf interaction at impact. The tungsten weighting has been reworked to produce a significant increase in MOI or resistance to twisting that the average player likes in an iron. Pricing for a set of eight irons is $800 and $200 more with graphite shafts. AP2s have been tweaked com-
pared to the previous 714 AP2s for more forgiveness with the tungsten weighting repositioned. Made with Titleist’s co-forging process a set of eight AP2s is $1,199 with steel shafts and $1,399 with graphite shafts.
Tour Edge Golf The return of the familiar Bazooka name with the Bazooka Black 460 Driver is typical of Tour Edge’s approach to building clubs for the average player. It has a titanium clubhead matched with a choice of ultralightweight shafts, a rear fixed sole weight, large sweet spot and one other significant feature, the price. At an astounding retail price of $120 it is a quarter the price of many competitors’ drivers. Tour Edge’s reputation for quality and design will place the Bazooka Black 460 on any golfer’s list. Tour Edge though is best known though for its fairway woods and hybrids and in 2016 the latest are the Exotics EX9 line of fairway woods and hybrids. The fairway woods ($230) have a low aerodynamic drag crown and Tour Edge’s sole design that minimizes turf interaction to help maintain clubhead speed and distance. Exotics EX9 hybrids (5 lofts choices, $160) with a maraging steel cup face share the fairway woods’ sole design and reengineered flexible sole grid behind the cup face. Overall the hybrid is designed to produce high launch from most any lie. Tour Edge also added an E9 Driver in two models, the 460cc standard in 10 or 12 de-
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grees loft ($300) and the Tour ($400 430cc 9 or 10 degrees loft). Both have a range of adjustability for loft and lie angles and an interchangeable sole weight. The center of gravity has been moved deeper giving higher MOI and producing a low spinning ball flight. The E9 standard promotes a draw shot shape and the Tour model has a pear-shaped head with deeper face than comparable previous models. For better players the E9 line has Tour version fairway woods ($300) and hybrids ($200). The E9 Tour fairway woods have a smaller clubhead with combo-brazed titanium cup face, an adjustable hosel (the combination is a first for Tour Edge) and changeable sole weight while the Hybrids also have a smaller head, more pear-shaped than the standard E9 Hybrids, with a titanium face plate.
CELEBRITY GOLFER
Celebrity Golfer:
Suzy Whaley
UNC golfer, LPGA Tour player, PGA head pro, ESPN analyst, entrepreneur, coach, instructor— Suzy Whaley of Cromwell, Connecticut, has certainly used her passion and love for golf to fashion a challenging and fulfilling life to date. The challenges and fulfillment should continue unabated, however, as Suzy has just spent the past year as the Secretary of the PGA of America, the first woman ever to be elected as an Officer of the Association. She is on track to become the President of the PGA in 2018 and lead the 28,000 members of one of the largest working sports organizations in the world. The future of the PGA of America could not find itself in better hands, for Suzy has earned the respect and admiration of her peers. She said, “I didn’t run for Secretary because I’d be the first woman in that position. I ran because I am a proud PGA member who has the ability, experience, and the relationships.” Currently the PGA Director of Instruction at Suzy Whaley Golf in Cromwell, Suzy has served the PGA at the section and national level for a number
of years prior to her recent election. She has also spent much time with the state’s First Tee and has received many accolades for her work with juniors. An LPGA Tour player in the early 1990’s, she has been named the Connecticut section’s PGA Teacher of the Year twice and recognized as a Top 50 golf instructor by Golf Digest. As a player, Suzy has won the state’s Women’s Open three times and a host of other local and regional LPGA and PGA events as well. In September, the Sports Business Journal honored Suzy as one of its “Game Changers: Women in Sports Business.” Suzy’s husband Bill is the National Director of Golf for PGA TOUR properties, has been a PGA member for 27 years, and was Suzy’s coach when she earned her LPGA Tour card. They have two daughters. Jenn, 21, is a senior at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, and Kelly, 18, is a freshman at her mother’s alma mater, UNC Chapel Hill. Both play on their golf teams. OK, time to hear what the PGA of America’s “Game Changer” has to say.
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CELEBRITY GOLFER // BY LEIGH MCKAY
I determined that ski racing wasn’t the best scenario for me, and Coach Gunnells called me in December and offered me a scholarship to UNC. I transferred, was redshirted in the spring of 1985, and then played for four years. I had planned to go to law school, but that summer I played well in two LPGA events as an amateur and decided to go to Tour school, where I secured my non-exempt Tour card on my first try. I became a golf professional, never became a lawyer, and never looked back.
NEGM: What do you enjoy most? What are your concerns?
NEGM: What are your duties as the PGA Director of Instruction at Suzy Whaley Golf?
SW: I do everything from picking up broken tees to coaching. I oversee the staff, and our main concern is growing the game through player development, with an emphasis on junior players. We have two separate facilities where we coach and teach: TPC River Highlands and Tunxis Plantation in Farmington.
NEGM: How and where did you get into golf in the first place?
SW: I grew up in Syracuse, New York. My mom loved the game. When I was nine years old, my mom was told that I was on the driving range hitting golf balls in my swim suit. Instead of yelling at me, she asked, “Do you like this?” I said I did, and then she said, “Let’s go get you an outfit.”
NEGM: How did you become a golf professional?
SW: I was a ski racer first and foremost and had aspirations of becoming an Olympic skier even as my golf improved considerably. I was fortunate enough to qualify for the U.S. Junior Girls and the U.S. Open, and I attracted the attention of the UNC girls’ golf coach Dot Gunnells, but I still wanted to ski and went to the University of Colorado in Boulder.
SW: What I enjoy most is coaching golfers and watching them improve their games. From the moment I started coaching, I realized that’s what I was supposed to be doing. I still love to play, but I get the greatest satisfaction from coaching. I am excited and concerned about junior golf. It is on the uptick nationally with numbers up 27%. I attribute that to PGA Junior League golf and to our professionals across the country and their focus on juniors. We need to come up with a solution that keeps the game’s tradition but also offers an experience to juniors that they can enjoy and value. We need to make our facilities inviting and the place where they want to be, hopefully with their entire family.
NEGM: In your first year as the first woman Secretary of the PGA of America, how would you describe the experience so far? SW: Fantastic! Overwhelming! Challenging! Fun! It’s been a real eye opener. I have watched how the staff of the PGA of America seeks solutions for our membership in the areas of employment, education, and player development. We want to make the lives of the core membership better and help insure that their employers value them. I have had to learn how to organize my duties as well as how to represent the membership, which has been difficult because every section has different priorities. My first year has really been understanding all the ramifications of what’s expected of me and learning how to execute them. I also had the opportunity to announce the players on the first tee at the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. I really enjoyed it. My biggest fear was that I would mess up somebody’s name or their home town, but it was a real treat and a great honor to be able to do it.
NEGM: What have been your main duties this year?
SW: I oversee the membership—any concerns or issues that a member may have. I’m also the
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CELEBRITY GOLFER
be ready to go. When I become President of the PGA, I’ll hit the ground running.
NEGM: You have been honored as a “Game Changer” by the Sports Business Journal. What does this award mean to you? SW: It was very special. The SBJ is one of the premier publications for sports. It’s important to see that there are a number of women in leadership roles within sports. And sports are not about gender. They’re about the love of games and the love of business. The quality of the recipients of this award has been exceptional, and to be so honored by the SBJ as a leader and to represent the PGA of America has made me very proud to be a part of it.
NEGM: Name four of your favorite golf courses in your area? Four anywhere else in the world?
SW: TPC River Highlands and Ellington Ridge in Connecticut; Westchester Country Club and Shinnecock Hills in New York. Pebble Beach Golf Links and Cypress Point in California; North Berwick and Muirfield in Scotland.
NEGM: Who would be in your Dream Foursome?
Chair of the Board of Control, which is our ethics committee. As a member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, we meet four times a year to oversee current developments and to determine long-term strategic plans. I work closely with President Derek Sprague, Vice-President Paul Levy, Honorary President Allen Wronowski, and CEO Pete Bevacqua.
SW: My mom, Babe Zaharias, Jordan Spieth. (Photos courtesy of the PGA of America)
NEGM: Have you started to prepare yourself for that groundbreaking moment when you become the first woman President of the PGA?
SW: Right now I am concentrating on being the absolute best Secretary I can be so that I can support Derek and Paul and get a lot done in this position. I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I am grateful that I have a lot of time before I get there because there is just so much to learn and so much to navigate prior to getting to that seat. It’s not that I’m not preparing for that moment. I certainly am a huge preparer, and right now I am focusing on being a big part of the team and learning how to function within the team before I lead the team. I’m a coach, and that’s what I do every day: building support for people so that they can be successful. For me right now, it’s all about relationships. I need to be able to listen to people and understand where they are coming from and then put that into a working perspective. I want to
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GOLF COURSE LIVING
Fairways Lifestyle
Golf Course Living in The Northeast
Today quality of life issues are leading the way with families and retirees when looking for residential choices here in New England and throughout the country. Golf course communities offer some of the best quality of life amenities for consumers and today its not just about the golf, these communities are leading the way in providing a myriad of fitness, recreation and lifestyle choices as well. Golf course living is no longer just about the golf, it about gated secure facilities that offer residents resort style living that goes well beyond other choices offered in traditional new home development. While the real estate market continues to grow consumers throughout the U.S. are demanding more from builders and developers than at any time in history. Planned and managed communities are more sought after by buyers, especially in mid range and upper range price points. Buyers everywhere are looking for better design, planning and higher living standards with more open space. The Bay Club Mattapoisett has created one of the regions best model communities in Southeastern Massachusetts. The location offers small town charm with easy access to major market cities
just off Cape Cod. Nestled in one of the regions quaintest communities The Bay Club offers classically styled homes in a very well planned 625 acre forested setting for extraordinary golf and a multitude of sports and activities for every season. The course and development are the only Certified Silver Audubon Signature Sanctuary properties in Massachusetts today. In a recent meeting David ndrews Director of Sales and Membership at the club talked their facility and the mater plan for the community. David said,� The Bay Club offers a complete living experience unmatched by any golf course community in the region. With access to an amazing
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GOLF COURSE LIVING
array of recreation, dining and cultural activities within walking distance of your home, the club is the ideal setting for families and retirees. Custom homes today range upward of $700,000 in our region without any of the The Bay Clubs vast amenities. Our residents are enjoying all of this in similar price points right now.” Many golf course communities were left for dead during the Great Recession. But a dramatic swing in the housing market combined with overall economic growth and savvy owners have courses and clubs from coast to coast on the comeback trail. Experts say 2015 will be a particularly strong year for the national real estate market. Positive indicators were evident in late 2014; for example, the U.S. Department of Commerce reported sales of new homes grew by 0.7 percent in October 2014, and sales of existing homes rose 1.5 percent. The economy’s resurgence is spurring a similar uptick in the golf and the real estate markets, making it an advantageous time to invest in golf course communities. It goes without saying the U.S.’s continued economic resurgence is critical to the fortunes of golf course communities. As demand grows for resort-style housing options, consumers will continue to gravitate toward residential communities catering to active lifestyles. If the past few years are any in-
dication, those showcasing golf will continue their renaissance. For everyone that loves the game of golf the ultimate dream is to live where you play. For many it means a home right here in New England and for others it’s a place to escape the cold northern winters in Florida or beyond. Like every journey in life, it begins with first step and that is visiting properties that fit your own criteria. There is more to choose from in southern states and in Florida where thousands of golf courses and golf course communities offer endless choices at almost every price point. In New England home cost are higher and inventories are lower overall but Investment wise you will average much higher gains in the long run in the northeast on golf course homes in a much less volatile market. Golf Courses are great neighbors and 100 + acres of well maintained park like property abutting your home creates a wonderful environment for living and enjoying the great game of golf. Private golf course membership has become much more affordable in the last 10 years with many facilities offering many types of flexible categories of membership at their clubs. It is never too late to take up the game. If you dream of living on golf course, then take the first step to that dream. It’s never been a better time to buy with low rates and great amenities being offered as incentives at facilities throughout the Northeast and beyond.
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GOLF COURSE LIVING
Top 10 Best Golf Communities
In The Northeast Quechee Lakes, Hartford, New Hampshire Located just north of Lebanon, Quechee Lakes is a 5,500-acre treasure trove for those who like to play golf, cast for trout and bass in the pools of the Ottaquechee River and enjoy nature. Quechee Lakes residents get to play two superb courses designed by Geoffrey Cornish, one of New England’s most revered golf architects (he died in 2012 at the age of 97). Cornish’s Quechee courses, Highland traversing the pine-clad hillsides and Lakeland set around the Ottauquechee River and Lake Pinneo, are solid, scenic plays. In addition to golf there is tennis, swimming in Lake Pinneo, rowing, and water sports and in the winter residents go snowboarding and skiing on Quechee’s own Ski Hill, cross country skiing on the snow-covered golf courses and forested areas and ice-skating. More than 600 single-family homes and condominium villages are nestled into the hills along the Ottauquechee River Valley while 3,000 acres are set aside as open preserved common land. The Mission Statement includes a commitment to, “Preserve the natural beauty, rural character and setting of the valley.” Home prices range from the low $100,000s to more than a $1 million. Quecheelakes.com The Carnegie Abbey Club, Portsmouth, Rhode Island The Carnegie Abbey Club celebrates grand living within view of Narragansett Bay. Close to Newport with its extraordinary yachts and estates once the summer pads of America’s first families like the Vanderbilts and the Astors, this
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is the place where “Cottage” is an understatement —where gilded mansions like The Breakers and Miramar were once called “cottages.” The Scottish-style links course at Carnegie Abbey was designed by the renowned British architect, Donald Steel, the only architect to have had a hand in the design of every course played in the British Open Championship. Steel understood the importance of celebrating the spectacular setting. Running along the water, the course flows naturally over the landscape and is characterized by sod-sided bunkers, nonstop views of the Bay, wetlands, woodlands and stonewalls. “Why mess around with some-
thing God created,” says Steel. There is a 76,000-square-foot shingle and stone Adirondack-inspired Clubhouse, caddie program, a multi-tee practice range and a dedicated short-game area, plus two additional driving ranges and a pair of putting greens. Carnegienewport.com Whiteface Club & Resort, Lake Placid, New York Situated on the west shore of Lake Placid, many of the homes at Whiteface Club & Resort evoke the Great Camp era in the Adirondacks when the rich and famous like the Rockefellers came to these mountains to escape to a more rural, simpler way of life. The intention was to “rough” it in comfort and luxury, a lifestyle reflected in the Great Camp Sagamore on Raquette Lake and The Point on Saranac
GOLF COURSE LIVING // TIMOTHY BRANCO Lake, now repurposed, the former as a summer camp, the latter a pricey resort. Rustic-style architecture is reflected in the buildings of The Whiteface Club especially in the Lodge homes. The Lodges, range from 2,631 to 3,576 square feet and have three- to five-bedrooms with prices starting at $699,999. Special features include stone and timber exteriors and great rooms, family rooms, deck and screened porches. Details like twisted wood branch railings and stair rails, second-and thirdstory balconies and high vaulted ceilings with exposed log rafters echo the outdoors. Resales include a lakeside condo at $420,000. The Residences at Trump National Westchester, Briarcliff Manor, New York Living in the Hudson River Valley within 30 minutes of the Big Apple, residents of Trump National are typically those who want to be close to the city and love their golf and highend priviledges. The stone clubhouse is grand. Sitting on
the crest of a hill, it’s 75,000 square feet with a two-level foyer, Grille Room, card room, locker rooms, saunas, steam rooms, golf shop and a pool with a heated whirlpool and lovely stone pool house. There is a spa program, fitness center, four tennis courts with a pavilion and pro shop along with overnight suites for guests. The plan for the Residences at Trump National Golf Club includes 16 luxury attached ‘’golf villas,’’ ranging from 3,100 to 3,400 square feet overlooking the eighth fairway and 71 condominium residences, ranging from 1,800 to more than 3,000 square feet located in two low-rise buildings overlooking the ninth fairway. The interiors have large foyers, high ceilings, oversized windows, oak hardwood flooring, a
state-of-the-art security system, marble bathrooms and high-end kitchens. Prices start at $900,000 Trumpnationalwestchester.com The Residences at Fox Hopyard, East Haddam, Connecticut The Residences at Fox Hopyard, a new golf community on 230 acres of meadows and for-
ests in East Haddam is highlighted by a superb golf course designed by Roger Rulewich. Facilities include a handsome shingled clubhouse, pro shop and a large driving range. More than 50 home sites are clustered in small cul de sac neighborhoods ducking in, out and around the fairways and woods. In building the homes, many “green” features are employed making the buildings extremely energy efficient. Prices start around $700,000 while home sites are .5 acres to 1.5 acres. A recent home listed for $574,000 for a three bedroom, 2,447 square foot home on .79 acres. Currently golf club membership fees and first year dues are included in the purchase price (about a $14,000 value) . Foxhopyardhomes.com The Greens at Gillette Ridge, Bloomfield, Connecticut Gillette Ridge Golf Club, the only Palmer Design Company course in Connecticut, is a fitting backdrop for The Greens at Gillette Ridge located off Route 218 in Bloomfield. So named because the 72 acres once belonged to 19th century Connecticut politician and business leader, Francis Gillette, Gillette Ridge and the adjacent Greens course are close to Hartford, a great location for those going in and out of the city. There is a full-size practice facility, practice bunkers, putting greens, clubhouse, golf shop, locker rooms, grill room, exercise room, bar,
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GOLF COURSE LIVING
library, business center and outdoor patio and pool. Homes at The Greens at Gillette Ridge feature stone, clapboard and brick exteriors along with details like gables and pitched roofs, creating attractive, New England-style neighborhoods. Approximately 165 townhomes and single-family ranch and first floor master bedroom homes averaging 1,700 to 3,500 square feet, make up the mix. Homes are spacious and airy with high ceilings, hardwood floors and gourmet kitchens with granite countertops. Prices are from $429,000. gilletteridgehomes.com
Homes are clustered in intimate organic neighborhoods with views of Great Island Pond, Plymouth Bay and the golf courses. There are townhomes, cottages, custom single-famiy homes, luxury apartments in low-rise building and grand estates constructed with stone, clapboard siding or silvery shingles and pitched roofs and gables. A Village Green serves as the hub for Pine Hill’s 1,700 residents where there is always something going on with more than 25 shops and services including a post office, restaurants and beauty salon. There are seven miles of walking trails, tennis courts, pool, and the Stonebridge Club, home base for more than 40 community clubs. Like chess, art or the American Revolution? There’s a club for you. bHome prices start in the low $300,000. Pinehills.com Village at Crystal Springs, Hamburg, New Jersey The New Jersey Highlands about 47 miles from The Big Apple is home for those living in Crystal Springs where a full service resort,
Pine Hills, Plymouth, Massachusetts More than 3,174 acres comprising the world’s third largest pine ecosystem is the
landscape for Pine Hills in Plymouth named “Best Master Planned Community in the Nation” (2003 National Associaton of Homebuilders). This is a very large development but more than 70% of the land has been set aside to serve as natural areas and recreational open space. Two exceptional public golf courses, one by Rees Jones, the other by Nicklaus Design are rated in the Top Ten Courses you can Play by GolfWeek.
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ongoing activities and seven courses is like being on a perpetual vacation. Crystal’s courses climb roller coaster-like over the hills and around lakes and some require carries over ravines and ponds. But whatever your game you are bound to find a good fit for your skill level. Homes include single-family residences, townhomes, condominiums, golf villas and luxury estates. Some are associated with one of the hotels. For example High Grove Golf Villas although located in a private enclave, are part of Grand Cascades Lodge so residents enjoy all the hotel amenities as well as the optional rental program.
GOLF COURSE LIVING // TIMOTHY BRANCO Pembridge Luxury Townhomes priced from $200,000 and home buyers get a complimentary membership for golf, Mineral Springs Sports Club, and Crystal Springs Country Club. Additional recreational facilities include a Tennis Center, water park, hiking and biking along a network of trails, mountain bike park, Oxbow Stables and two spas. Crystalgolfresort.com The Bay Club at Mattapoisett, Mattapoisett, Massachusetts The Bay Club at Mattapoisett occupies 625 rolling wooded acres along the shoreline of Buzzard’s Bay. Member-owned, the club is built around a Brad Faxon-Brad Booth championship golf course playing more than 7,000 yards. Before the Civil War, Mattapoisett was a shipbuilding and whaling, town with four shipyards. The discovery of oil in 1870 marked the end of the whaling era and the demise of shipbuilding. Today this land is the site for The Bay Club encompassing 625 acres along with 300 acres of adjacent conservation land. Built with great sensitivity to the natural areas, the golf course received the Silver Sanctuary Rating from Audubon International. The parkland-style track represents a traditional approach with classic square tee boxes, push-up greens and more than 100 strategically placed bunkers. There is a 10-acre practice facility with a doubleended range plus short-game, chipping and putting areas as well as a winter practice section. Six neighborhoods with 175 homes are sited along the golf course, small lakes and woods. Each home is unique but most reflect the best of New England-style architecture with peaked roofs, gables, clapboard, stone or shingles and porches. A 10,000 square foot Sports and Activities Cen-
ter contains a fitness center, locker rooms, steam room and meeting areas. There are four Har-Tru tennis courts, two paddle tennis courts and a junior-Olympic size pool. Residents also enjoy kayaking and gardening. Bayclubmatt.com The Links at Gettysburg, Mt Joy, Pennsylvania Surrounded by 340 forested acres in the rolling hills and mountains of historic south central Pennsylvania, The Links at Gettysburg marries an award-winning golf course by Lindsay Ervin and Steve Klein with lovely neighborhoods looking out to fairways or mountains. The Links, home to LPGA’s Duramed Championship on the Futures Tour, features stone-banked elevated tee boxes, more than 10 lakes and streams, waterfalls, indigenous, rocky red-rock canyons and huge fast-rolling greens. French country-inspired three- and fourbedroom homes are sited along the fairways and built with stone, stucco and brick. The Links Manors homes with airy, high-ceilings, fire-
places and “outdoor living screened rooms” are priced from $329,900. New homes feature Maintenance-free Lock & Leave Living and “Smart Home” technology so you can remotely control music, lighting, temperature, entry and video monitoring. A geothermal construction option is available. Thanks to your monthly maintenance fee your lawns are sprinkled and mowed, leaves raked and snow shoveled adding up to a really conducive lifestyle. Membership in The Links At Gettysburg offers golf, fine dining, recreation, and relaxation at the club’s new pool and fitness center. Gettysburg with it historical sites, theaters, shops, and restaurants is minutes away. Golfcoursehome.net
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Elegant Design | Exceptional Construction | Luxury Finishes
The Preserve
At The Bay Club Mat tap oiset t
The Preserve is a luxurious, residential, country-club community, nestled in the Bay Club at Mattapoisett, a 625-acre Audubon sanctuary with championship golf and 300 acres of lush cons ervation areas. Just minutes from Buzzard's Bay, the idyllic, Nantucket-style development features 36 single-family homes in two neighborhoods alongside Tinkham Forest and The Bay's Nature Preserve. Homes feature 1,850 to 2,115 square feet of modern living space with deluxe amenities, including the privacy of a gated community. Homeowners also have direct membership access to the country club's golf course, sports and fitness center, fine dining and other recreational activities, as well as close proximity by foot to Mattapoisett's quaint harbor, scenic beaches and unique shops. Homes from the 500’s
CALL: 774.582.8005 | OPEN DAILY: 10am - 4pm CONTACT: SHARON.VIENS@THEPRESERVEATBAYCLUB.COM