AZ Golf Insider February 2022

ARIZONA GOLF INSIDER

ARIZONAGOLF INSIDER

February/March 2022

METFUND Am-Am at Talking Stick Funding Veterans in Need With Medal of Honor Recipients

MIRANA

MIRANA

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contents AZ Golf News

48 8. SIGNATURE HOLE 10. MEMBERS ONLY 40. AGA NEWS 64. 19TH HOLE

28 INSIDE GOLF’S GRASS SEED SHORTAGE | By Andrew Hartsock An in-depth look at the factors driving the current shortage, what lies ahead, and what seed-shorthanded superintendents can do right now.

A GOOD WALK SPOILED REWARDED | By David Bataller After zero recipients from the Grand Canyon State in 15 years, Arizona caddies have earned the Chick Evans Scholarship in each of the past two years - both from Desert Forest Golf Club.

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THE MICHIGAN AND OREGON GOLF TRAILS | By Alice and Danny Scott ‘America’s Golfing Couple’ looks ahead to summer golf trips up north and out west, both featuring stunning coastlines on Lake Michigan and the Pacific Ocean.

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USGA COURSE RATING IN WHS | By Derek McKenzie The AGA’s Managing Director of USGA Services details USGA Course Rating, and how the results affect a player’s Handicap Index in the World Handicap System.

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RULES Gain new perspective on Rule 16 with a handful of real-life scenarios dealing with Relief from Abnormal Course Conditions, including when and how to take free relief.

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OUT OF BOUNDS

By Gary Van Sickle $790 and you don’t even get an entire golf club? There’s no way that’s worth it, right? Well, how much is 12-15 yards of carry worth to you?

February/March 2022

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Departments

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METFUND Am-Am at Talking Stick Funding Veterans in Need With Medal of Honor Recipients

ON THE COVER

Medal of Honor recipients Mike Thornton (far right) and Tom Norris (3rd from left), along with a dozen or more, will host the METFUND National AmAm at Talking Stick to benefit Veterans and families in need.

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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OFFICERS

From the Executive Director

BY ED GOWAN

PRESIDENT ........................................... Bob McNichols VICE PRESIDENT .......................................... Tim Brown VICE PRESIDENT ...................................... Michelle Cross SECRETARY ...............................................John Souza TREASURER ............................................ Tim Hulscher GENERAL COUNSEL ......................................... Greg Mast

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Jackie Bertsch, Vera Ciancola, Barbara Fitzgerald, Ed Gowan, Bryan Hoops, Jerry Huff, Mark Jeffery, Leslie Kramer, Ann Martin, Scott McNevin, Victoria Totlis

AGA STAFF

Ed Gowan, David Bataller, Anj Brown, Alexa Cerra, Tim Eberlein, Alex Gelman, Le Ann Finger, Amy Fruhwirth, Ryan Hyland, Sharon Goldstone, Vivian Kelley, Kathy Laux, Mike Mason, Meagan McEnery, Derek McKenzie, Chris Montgomery, Robyn Noll, Logan Rasmussen, Peg Tanner, Paige Timberlake, Alex Tsakiris, Susan Woods

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his year’s Annual Awards Banquet was very special in a number of ways. Our Players of the Year and special awards – Updegraff, Champion of Golf, Dorothy Pease and Volunteer of the Year – honor those who make Arizona Golf what it is today. We reflect on the Phoenix Open returning to the “Greatest Show on Grass” again. The Tucson Conquistadors began the Cologuard Championship at Tucson National with the Caboose Cup, including local amateurs in a Tour experience.

We highlight the water issues facing golf, those we can manage and those we will endure. Arizona’s leadership through Cactus and Pine Superintendents’ Association has set the baseline for environmentally-conscientious golf. Our courses use less water, less chemical and less acreage than any other place in the world. Two percent of commercial water use brings an economic impact of over four BILLION dollars each year and employs almost fifty thousand people.

Take a look at “Robin’s Rules of Order,” insight into the workings of the Rules led by Logan Rasmussen, and Derek

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McKenzie’s overview of the USGA Course Rating System.

You will probably come away with “I didn’t know that!” more than once.

A great contribution to tourism and charitable efforts, golf events drive tens of millions of dollars to needy causes each year. A prime example is our cover story about the METFUND (Michael E. Thornton Foundation) which will bring up to twenty Medal of Honor holders to Talking Stick in April for a dinner and fundraising golf event to help our veterans. There are many events here which focus on helping our military heroes, including our Patriot All-America, but this one brings those heroes to celebrate those who have given much to America. A dinner and golf event will give you a chance to spend a little time with these amazing people. Join us if you will!

Partnership Contact ................................Chris Montgomery cmontgomery@azgolf.org - (602) 872-7011 National Advertising Contact ........................... Brian Foster bfoster@azgolf.org - (602) 909-7799

AZ GOLF INSIDER STAFF

EDITOR IN CHIEF ..................................... David Bataller AGA GRAPHIC DESIGN .................................... Alexa Cerra CONTRIBUTORS ................Ed Gowan, David Bataller, Anj Brown, Alexa Cerra, Robin Farran, Andrew Hartsock, Jeff Locke, Derek McKenzie, Logan Rasmussen, Alice Scott, Danny Scott, Gary Van Sickle

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

LISA GRANNIS, ROBYN LAMBERT, MORGAN MCCLELLAN MICHELLE SCHNEIDER, DEIDRA VIBERG PRODUCTION MANAGER .................................Deidra Viberg CREATIVE DIRECTION ............................. Haines Wilkerson, Hither & Wander Inc. ART DIRECTION ......................................... Michael Min FOR PRINT ADVERTISING SALES CONTACT: SALES@ONMEDIAAZ.COM Arizona Golf Insider (ISSN 2765-9054) is published four times per year by the Arizona Golf Association. It is supported by members’ dues, utilizing $5 per member per year. We welcome all editorial submissions, including letters, but assume no responsibility for the loss or damage of unsolicited material. They will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Views expressed within these pages do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or official policies of the Arizona Golf Association. No part of this magazine is intended as an endorsement of any equipment, publication, videotape, golf course, or other entity. No part of this magazine may be reproduced for use as an advertising, publicity or endorsement item without written approval of the AGA. Arizona Golf Insider is offered on a subscription basis for $12.95 annually. Individual copies may be obtained by forwarding $5 to the address above. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Arizona Golf Association, 7600 E. Redfield Road, Suite 130, Scottsdale, AZ 85260-1101

SIGNATURE HOLE

Longbow Golf Club Longbow Golf Club has earned a reputation for quality of experience hosting championship tournaments at every level, but this Mesa favorite is also a must when it comes to public play. The Ken Kavanaugh design features five different tee boxes, offering players of all skill levels a fun challenge on every well-conditioned fairway. Looking to add some extra steps? The scenic course is extremely walkable at 7,050 yards from the tips. Or if feeling a little daring, many players decide to “Surf the Turf” on a Longbow Golfboard. And when the round wraps up, it’s time for a mouth watering burger and an ice-cold beverage.

Kick back and relax at The Grille at Longbow Golf Club, one of the Valley’s best patios where live music, great conversation and games galore await players and their families. Consider the invitation open for the first of many happy returns to Longbow Golf Club.

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February/March 2022

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A FOUNDATION, AN OPPORTUNITY, AND 24 HOURS YOU WILL NEVER FORGET

Enjoy Dinner, Golf, and Support Military Families Like Never Before

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FEBRUARY 2022

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fter his distinguished military career, Mike Thornton continued his support and involvement within the military community.

Because of his relationships, he often heard of families in dire need of assistance and was fortunate enough to have friends, family and corporate benefactors willing and able to help. Serving as an informal middleman over the years, the requests for assistance as well as the number of people who wanted to help continued to grow. In order to better expedite his endeavor, Thornton created a foundation, the Michael E. Thornton Foundation (METFUND), to educate the public on the needs and challenges that exist in order to help as many military families as possible.

All active Board Members donate their time and money to the METFUND, including Thornton’s worldwide speaking engagements fees. The commitment of the foundation organization is to insure 100% of all contributions are focused on helping these families get back on their feet. The general public is aware of the financial distress incurred to military families by the death of a spouse or the adjustment back into civilian society. Thornton and his foundation are dedicated to eradicating obstacles, envisioning a nation in which every active duty and veteran’s needs are addressed.

Serving those who serve us!

The 501(c)3 also addresses the education needs of soldier children by granting scholarships for their college education, averaging four to five students a year on FULL four-year scholarships. To support the METFUND, you are invited to honor our Active Duty, Veterans, and their families by joining around 20 of the 66 living Medal of Honor recipients, at the 2022 METFUND National Dinner and Tournament, to be held April 10-11 at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale.

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This 10-foot statue at the National Navy UDTSEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Fla., shows Mike Thornton carrying Tom Norris on his shoulders during the Vietnam War, an action for which Thornton earned the Medal of Honor. On the front of the statue is inscribed the following:

The Medal of Honor is the United States of America’s highest military honor, awarded for personal acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty. It is presented by the President of the United States in the name of Congress.

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February/March 2022

EVENTS

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Dinner, Golf and 24 hours that will make an impact for a lifetime.

”

April 10th

Sunday Night Welcome Patriot Dinner & Cocktail Party 6:30 PM $5,000 Per Table (8) To celebrate and commemorate, enjoy an evening of cocktails and dinner with Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients, Active Duty and Veterans of our country’s finest at Talking Stick Resort.

April 11th

Golf Tournament 10:30 AM Shotgun Start Post-Tournament Prizes $500 Entry Fee Spend the day enjoying a round of golf at Talking Stick Golf Club with these True American Heroes. Register for The METFUND National Tournament to join in the mission of giving military families the quality of life they deserve.

LOCATION Talking Stick Resort & Golf Club 9998 Talking Stick Way Scottsdale, AZ 85256

DATE & TIME Sunday, April 10th Welcome Patriot Dinner & Cocktail Party Talking Stick Resort 6:30 PM Individual Seat ($800.00) Couples Seating ($1,500.00) Table 8 ($5,000.00)

Monday, April 11th METFUND National Tournament Talking Stick Golf Club 10:30 AM Shotgun Start $500 Entry Fee Visit themetfund.org to register.

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GOLF SCIENCE

Inside

Golf’s

Grass Seed Shortage

An in-depth look at the factors driving the current shortage, what lies ahead, and what seed-shorthanded superintendents can do right now.

WORDS BY ANDREW HARTSOCK

N

ot long after the start of the new year, Jared Stanek had an inkling he might have more than a little trouble sourcing grass seed this summer.

Stanek, GCSAA Class A superintendent and director of agronomy at Toscana Country Club in Indian Wells, Calif., knew about the pandemic-induced run on residential grass seed caused by the millions of Americans staying at home, staring at their unloved lawns. Another domino fell this past year when Scotts Miracle-Gro reportedly entered into an agreement to purchase the turf division of Columbia Seeds, just one of a handful of mergers and acquisitions that was sure to constrict supply.

“Between those two pieces of information, I realized we had a big problem coming,” says Stanek, a 16-year GCSAA member. “Just doing the math in my head, that’s millions of 16 | ARIZONA GOLF INSIDER |

February/March 2022

pounds of seed that’s not available. I went to ownership and said this was probably going to be about a 50% increase in the price of seed.”

At Toscana CC, with a six-figure seed line item and the understanding that wall-to-wall overseeding is an imperative, a 50% cost increase is no small blip. When Stanek took possession of his order in mid-September — after essentially “tearing up” the contract he’d signed back in April anticipating that 50% increase — his bill had nearly doubled. And still he considered himself among the lucky ones: He actually had seed in hand, roughly 160,000 pounds for Toscana CC’s 36 holes, in time for the anticipated early-October overseed.

“We had it delivered, and I changed the locks on the shop door and told security,” Stanek says. “We have security cameras aimed at the doors. Every year, seed theft is somewhat of an

Barenbrug Grass Seed

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article appeared in last October’s issue of Golf Course Maintenance Magazine, the official publication of the Golf Course Superintendent’s Association of America, and is reprinted with the consent of the GCSAA. It details this season’s cool-weather grass seed shortage across the southwestern United States, which has affected the finances of golf courses more than its players may realize. And it’s looking like this won’t be the only season it happens.

©USGA

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GOLF SCIENCE

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We don’t overseed fairways. We stopped years ago because of environmental concerns and the price of seeds,

FEBRUARY 2022

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GOLF SCIENCE

GCSAA

issue. This year, since you can’t even really buy seed now, it’s going to be a really tough year. I was very relieved to see the seed come. A lot of guys were trying to get it early this year, but it’s all about getting it in hand. You just can’t really trust it to be here until you see it. I’ve never seen anything like this.

Unfortunately, I think there are going to be some golf courses on the outside looking in at this.”

It’s not like they hadn’t been warned. Turfgrass growers and distributors have been sounding the alarm for months.

“Oh, we’ve been sounding it,” says Leah Brilman, Ph.D., director of project management and technical services for DLF Pickseed North America in Halsey, Ore. “It used to be, for some species, you could say, ‘OK, I can’t get as much tall fescue, so I’ll put this in instead.’ But every species was down.

You can’t go up in this and down in that in your blends and mixtures. People can think it’s a big conspiracy theory all they want, but you know what? It’s just not there. It’s simple supply and demand.”

“Nothing has gone right in grass seed production for the last year,” adds Adam Russell, director of product development for Mountain View Seeds in Salem, Ore. “For a place chosen for its stability and mild weather, it has been everything but. And with demand staying high, there’s just not enough to go around.”

Which is why sticker shock — perennial ryegrass seems to be the most talked-about, with prices around twice as much as last year, though costs across the board seem to reflect scarcity for nearly all species — may be the least of a concerned superintendent’s worries.

“In terms of availability, it’s a little bit of a scramble,” says Jim Schmid, GCSAA Class A superintendent and director of golf course operations at The Lakes Country Club in Palm Desert, Calif. “At this point, I think most everybody has secured access to the seed they need, but a lot of people might have had to change varieties. Not everybody has gotten exactly what they wanted, but I think most everybody has come up with something acceptable.”

The Lakes CC obtained 120,000 pounds of perennial ryegrass in September in anticipation of an early-October overseed. Schmid paid $1.07 per pound last year, $2 this year.

“We spend over $100,000 in seed, and I think that’s fairly typical for an 18-hole facility, and now you’re doubling that up. That’s a big number to double,” says Schmid, a 17-year GCSAA member. “When we took delivery ... we were excited to have it sitting there, waiting. A lot of people were nervous. ‘Is this stuff going to show up?’ This year, it’s coming down to the wire.”

‘Is this biblical?’

The Great Grass Seed Shortage of 2020/2021 — and, honestly, probably 2022 and maybe into 2023, but more on that later — is, of course, not simple to explain. But as Mountain View Seeds’ Russell alluded to, much of it stems from the industry’s reliance on one small part of the United States to grow a huge chunk of its cool-season turfgrasses.

That Oregon in general — and Oregon’s Willamette Valley, in particular — is a cool-season turfgrass grower’s hotbed isn’t mere happenstance. The region became the “Grass Seed Capital of the World” by supplying around 75% of all the grass seed produced globally. Its mild, moist winters and dry summers, which aid in seed development and harvest, make the valley ideal for all sorts of agriculture, especially turfgrasses.

Though Oregon growers do produce smaller but significant portions of the U.S.’s Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescues, they produce essentially all of the country’s annual and perennial ryegrasses, bentgrasses, and fine fescues.

The valley’s climate is usually as nurturing as it is predictable. Usually.

Oregon’s recent climatic upheaval started with wildfires in summer 2020. Then came mice and voles. Then an ice storm hit in mid-February 2021, followed by extreme drought conditions and, finally, unprecedented heat, which seared the region at precisely the wrong time.

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GCSAA

“The amount of acres planted has been dropping, along with quality of harvest,” Russell says. “We realized there could be a problem, and we started to quietly sound the alarm that this might be a belt-tightening year. But we thought there’d maybe be a 20% decline, not 50%. And the disappointing part about this year is, we thought we had enough acres planted.

Maybe. But the cherry on top was the pollination. We had those unprecedented highs, and when it’s that hot, pollen can only sit on the crop so long before it dies.

“You start to think, ‘Is this biblical?’ You know, we didn’t just decide we’d pick this one valley in Oregon. It was specifically chosen because of stability of climate. This is the perfect valley. There’s something like 230 different crops in the Willamette Valley, like wine grapes and Christmas trees and hemp — and grass seed. And for eight months, really there goes here place in the U.S., maybe the world. It’s wasCaption no more volatile hard to overcome wildfire, an ice storm, drought, heat, all in 20 | ARIZONA GOLF INSIDER |

February/March 2022

an eight-month span. It’s hard to grow any plant.”

Any one of those factors may have hindered production individually, but collectively, they were crippling.

And those weren’t the only forces at play that made it expensive at best and impossible at worst to source seed this summer.

Remember that pandemic? Even before the elements conspired against the production of grass, work-from-homers were snatching up seed last summer, depleting what the seed sellers had on hand.

“Who knew that a pandemic would cause people throughout the world to decide they were going to plant grass seed?” quips DLF Pickseed’s Brilman.

As grass seed was flying out the door at big- (and small-) box retail stores, distributors had to dip into the reserve. The turfgrass industry relies on carry-over seed to sustain itself.

Once the growing, harvesting, drying and, finally, selling are

over, the aim is to retain a certain percentage of that year’s crop to have on hand the following spring. However, there was essentially no carry-over of perennial rye, meaning this year’s orders were entirely dependent on this year’s crop — which bodes ill for this year’s carry-over as well.

‘It’s just supply and demand’

One final contributing factor to the seed conundrum was, simply, capitalism.

There’s a considerably larger profit margin in the small bags of seed sold to homeowners than the big bags loaded on pallets and shipped to, say, golf courses. There have been a handful of recent consolidations among seed suppliers, no doubt triggered by the unrealized profits of last summer. When Scotts purchased Columbia, it signaled that all of Columbia’s inventory would shift over to retail, resulting in the immediate loss of a reported 10% to 15% of perennial ryegrass for

GOLF SCIENCE

the industry, which trickles down to tighten the supply of all other cool-season grasses as they replace perennial rye.

The economics of it all is pretty simple from there.

“It’s just supply and demand,” Russell says. “It may be hard for people to believe — and I do feel bad for those superintendents who have to craft a budget. We just blew through that budget — but it doesn’t do us any good. Quite frankly, we’d like the price to go down. If it goes too high, people might say, ‘I just won’t plant grass seed.’ People who might go for a 50% price increase might not go to 100.”

That’s not really an option across southwestern states like Arizona, wall-to-wall overseeding is the norm.

“Absolutely not,” Stanek says, “and I honestly don’t know what the price would have to be to convince the membership not to do it. We’re a high-high-end private club, and our membership fancies our club as one of the nicest clubs in not [California’s] Coachella Valley, but the world. It’s a world-class community property, and for them to change their practices ... it would take a lot. For other courses, that’s a calculation that probably should be started right now.”

“I think for most golf courses down here, our business is members who are traveling down from Canada, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota,” Schmid adds. “They’re leaving the frozen tundra, and they want to see green grass. I know of a couple of clubs that experimented with limited overseeding, and that was not well received from the membership. Most facilities would rather look somewhere else to cut costs than to reduce their overseeding.”

Though the seed discontent doesn’t discriminate by species or geographic region, it’s probably most jarring for those in the southwestern U.S., where overseeding perennial ryegrass is a common strategy to keep courses pretty when the warm-season grasses go dormant. A recent GCSAA maintenance budget survey showed that, at least among respondents, superintendents in some regions don’t budget for overseeding. In the Southwest, though, 60% of respondents overseed, and that overseed allowance made up close to 4% of the overall maintenance budget for 2021.

Leah Brilman

Jared Stanek

To deal this year, Ernie Pock, GCSAA Class A superintendent and director of agronomy at the 36-hole Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., decided to revert to an old 85:15 blend of perennial rye and Poa trivialis he had used in the past. Though Poa trivialis prices are up too, Pock figures he’ll save between $16,000 and $17,000 by blending.

Still, Pock, a 29-year GCSAA member, planned to take possession of 88,000 pounds of grass seed, enough to overseed one course wall to wall and partially overseed — fairways, green surrounds, tee boxes — the other.

“At Grayhawk, you have to overseed,” Pock says. “Too much money would be lost if you don’t. We have to produce a product our guests are willing to pay for.”

Pock placed his order in March of 2021. By mid-September, he was still crossing his fingers.

“I’m dealing with the seed trucks now,” he says. “It was supposed to be here, but it hasn’t even started shipping from

Leah Brilman

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GOLF SCIENCE

Oregon yet. It’s getting a little stressful. I’ve heard of golf courses that were promised seed, and now they don’t have any seed. And I’ve heard of guys where they’re told they’re only going to get 50% of their order. What does 50% do? You can’t just overseed nine holes.”

Strategies for golf course superintendents

What’s a seed-shorthanded superintendent to do?

“First, I’m surprised it’s not getting more press. I don’t know if that many guys and gals aren’t overseeding or what,” muses Steve Gano, a GCSAA Class A superintendent, vice president of operations for International Golf Maintenance Inc. and a 25-year association member.

IGM says it has assisted 183 courses and maintains 477 holes. Naturally, more than a few of its courses are feeling the pinch.

“We have a couple of clubs, they go through 50,000, 60,000 pounds. You double the price, it’s a huge hit to the budget,” Gano says. “I’m told we’re going to get what we’ve requested. However, when it comes time to load the truck, it just might not be available. We have one club that is going to paint. We have some other clubs, for the member base, the director of golf needs to sell rounds, so we’re going to have to just pay the difference.

“Not me personally, but other superintendents are going to try different varieties of perennial rye or lower the seeding rate. In some cases, you can make some adjustments. They’re not great adjustments, but in the end, you’re going to have to make some adjustments.”

Russell has a few tips. Though he predicts the perennial rye constriction has the potential to right itself most quickly, he expects, even in the best case, that issues with price and availability will linger well into 2023. Colorants — or “painting” — may be an option for some superintendents, Russell says. He suggests that buyers look outside their normal supplier network to explore options.

“Make the most of your best management practices and 22 | ARIZONA GOLF INSIDER |

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GOLF SCIENCE

integrated pest management, and I think it’s an opportunity to really look at your grassing programs,” he says. “What can you really get away with? You have to make the decision, ‘Do I really have to seed this area?’ If you get reduced seed, you have to get the best seed you can get. You’d better get the most aggressive cultivars and learn to benefit from doing more with less. For some people, that might be converting areas to natives, or taking areas out of play, or converting cool-season to warm-season.”

Brilman recently spoke to the Cactus and Pine GCSA and shared a similar message. She says some superintendents plan to counter by coloring their dormant warm-season grasses; others are experimenting with different cultivars, like turftype intermediate rye.

“Some of the turf-type annuals people are using aren’t as pretty, but if you want green color, they provide it. Now we’re sold out of them,” Brilman says. “Some guys are painting, but it doesn’t play the same.”

Brilman also spoke about the importance of timing.

“One of the solutions I shared is just to delay slightly when you overseed,” she says. “It was 100 (degrees) in Phoenix. If they just delayed a little bit, they could use less seed and it wouldn’t have as much impact. Sometimes if you just wait, when there’s less bermudagrass competition, you can get by with a lower seeding rate. But some of them are like, ‘No, this is the week I’m going to overseed.’ We’re doing our best to get it to them, but we’re waiting on our growers. It’s going out the door as soon as we get it.”

Seed shortage woes stretch nationwide

GCSAA

Long before the current seed snafu, the cost of overseeding was an issue for many golf courses.

Take Wildhorse Golf Club in Henderson, Nev., for example. While many surrounding courses still overseed wall to wall, Wildhorse GC hasn’t for years.

“We don’t overseed fairways. We stopped years ago because of environmental concerns and the price of seeds,” says

Darden Nicks, GCSAA Class A superintendent, Wildhorse’s director of agronomy and a 25-year association member. “I could see other courses go to that possibly too if they can’t get grass seed this year. Some of the high-end clubs ... I don’t know if they could switch out.”

Nicks uses colorants on his fairways in winter. He is still facing a $17,000 grass seed bill, up $11,000 from last year.

He rattles off the prices of the three grasses he purchases: ryegrass, up to $2 to $2.20 per pound from $1.02 to $1.18 per pound last year; Poa trivialis, up from $3.50 to $3.95; and fescue, up from $0.95 to $1.16 per pound to $1.90 to $2.15 this year.

“I’m lucky. I got some triv at last year’s prices,” Nicks says. “There are some courses that aren’t going to get any grass seed at all.”

And though seed difficulties might be hitting the Southwest disproportionally, they’re not limited to that region.

Just ask Scott Greenseth, GCSAA Class A superintendent at South Fork Golf Club in St. James, Minn. His course is about as far removed geographically and agronomically from the desert Southwest as can be, and even he is feeling the pinch.

“Seed is triple what it was even two years ago,” says Greenseth, a three-year association member. “I was paying $1.59, $1.90 a pound. Now I’m paying around $4. I wanted 400 pounds. I could only get 50.”

And proving the seed shortage isn’t just limited to perennial rye, Greenseth was hoping for low-mow bluegrass.

“No fescue, no rye, just overseeding some low areas that die every year when we have a wet spring,” he says. “It fills in with Poa. I killed it this year and planned to overseed this Labor Day. I didn’t get it, but I assume they’re trucking it in. It’s like everything else. I own the golf course, and I can’t get the pop or Gatorade I want. You get what you get. You order the 16-ounce screw-top cans; they send you the 12-ounce. You tell them what you want, and they send you what they’ve got.”

“We’re depending on nature, and it’s one chance a year,” Brilman says of grass seed. “That’s it. It’s a crop.”

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SCHOLARSHIP

A Good Walk Spoiled Rewarded Desert Forest Celebrates Two Evans Scholars

WORDS BY DAVID BATALLER Jeremy Dreher reads a putt during a recent round at Desert Forest Golf Club.

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February/March 2022

SCHOLARSHIP

T

he weight lifted off of Jeremy Dreher’s shoulders was palpable, and his smile bigger than probably ever before. The Moon Valley High School senior had just opened a bulky envelope from the Western Golf Association (WGA), the contents of which gave him the news he’d been working years to read: He won the Chick Evans Scholarship, given exclusively to caddies across the country and worth up to $120,000 to help cover his college education.

“I worked hard on my grades ever since freshman year, and you can’t really see right at that moment the reward, but I had it in my mind to earn scholarships and it paid off,” said Dreher, 18, who caddies full-time in season at Desert Forest Golf Club in Carefree. “It was a grind, and I see all the opportunities now and so I’m really proud of my freshman year self for not giving up on those.”

The WGA has supported the Chick Evans Scholarship Program through the Evans Scholars Foundation since 1930 and is the nation’s largest scholarship program for caddies. Scholarship funds come mostly from contributions by nearly 35,000 supporters across the country, who are members of the Evans Scholars Par Club program. Evans Scholars Alumni donate more than $17 million annually, and all proceeds from the PGA TOUR’s annual BMW Championship are donated to the Evans Scholars Foundation.

At Desert Forest, Head Golf Professional Brandon Rogers’ decision to start a caddie program at the club was inspired directly by the membership itself.

“Over the course of my career here, members continually come up and saying started playing golf because they got introduced by caddying first,” said Rogers, who started the caddie program at the club in 2015. “So I asked myself, ‘Where are there opportunities to caddie around here?’ Well, they don’t exist. Desert Forest exists for a different reason, and I want

Desert Forest Head Golf Professional Brandon Rogers (left) and Chick Evans Scholar Jeremy Dreher.

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Evan Johnson proudly displays his Chick Evans Scholarship letter.

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February/March 2022

this caddie program to exist for a different reason as well.”

The club began assisting the WGA with fundraisers a few years back, and Rogers learned more about the Evans Scholar Foundation. He immediately saw that many of his caddies personified what the scholarship was all about, and started encouraging them to apply.

For Dreher, it has been a labor of love to make the 40-minute commute from central Phoenix, oftentimes getting rides from his parents to make shifts at Desert Forest.

When not looping, Rogers found shifts for Dreher to pick up in outside service and with the maintenance department, rewarding his steadfast commitment to learning about golf and supporting the club.

“Jeremy has an amazing work ethic – he was one of the few who took advantage of that opportunity and worked all summer on the golf course,” said Rogers, noting Dreher checked off each of the four pillars of being an Evans Scholar: a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character. “It wasn’t an easy job, and what made it even more challenging was that he needed to be to work by 5:00 am each day. My superintendent said he was outstanding.”

“Just seeing [Rogers’] emotion on his face when he found out I got the scholarship was really special,” said Dreher, who hopes to attend the University of Colorado in Boulder as one of 315 caddies who are expected to be awarded the Evans Scholarship in the 202122 selection process. “He told me he never had

the thought of having Evans Scholars here, and seeing all the hard work he’s put into the caddies and the program – it’s awesome making him proud and making the club proud.”

Dreher is Desert Forest’s second Evans Scholar in as many years, following Evan Johnson of Glendale in 2021 as Arizona’s first recipient in 15 years. Johnson was a regular tournament player with the JGAA when he received an email saying Desert Forest was looking for caddies. Rogers saw something special in the hardworking Johnson, and the pair used the Evan Scholarship as a goal to strive to achieve over the next few years. His reputation as a knowledgeable, polite and diligent caddie would eventually pay off.

“I came home one night and I had a parcel on my front doorstep, and I knew what it was,” said Johnson, who transferred from Grand Canyon University to the University of Kansas, one of 21 partner universities across the nation where recipients live on campus with other Evans Scholars. “I rushed in, and my parents were already asleep, so I woke them up. We opened everything, and we were laughing, crying – it was awesome. It was really surreal.”

To no one’s surprise, Johnson has stayed humble since earning the scholarship.

“I really thought of it as being more of a humble servant, and really making yourself go the extra mile to help your player and excel in the classroom,” said Johnson, 20, who is studying Sports Management at Kansas.

“I know the other caddies at Desert Forest looked up to me, and it was really humbling. I

SCHOLARSHIP

Meagan McEnery and the University of Washington chapter of Evans Scholars pose with a trophy for highest combined GPA.

Meagan McEnery caddied in the PGA TOUR’s 2017 BMW Championship Pro-Am

hope that I was the best role model for them.”

The Arizona Golf Association has an Evans Scholar on staff with the addition of Program Manager Meagan McEnery this past December. A Youth on Course participant as a junior at Burlingame High School near her hometown of San Mateo, Calif., she heard of a brand-new caddy program in the area that was holding its first meeting at the California Golf Club 25 minutes away in South San Francisco.

“That first meeting, I was one of seven attendees, and the only girl,” explained McEnery, 24, whose resume already includes experience with the NCAA and PGA TOUR. “I was literally asking myself, ‘What am I doing here?’ But it all obviously worked out for the best.”

The group of prospective caddies was taken out on course and shown the ropes, and McEnery was hooked. The Head Golf Professional at the Cal Club saw her enthusiasm and

ability, and offered her weekend loops at the exclusive private club, where she would be the only female caddie. When loops weren’t available at the Cal Club, she was offered an opportunity to fill in at Lake Merced Golf Club a few miles away, and would soon have a full schedule in addition to her part-time job at TPC Harding Park.

“I was in San Francisco for golf more than I was at home,” McEnery joked. “Spending four to five hours with someone and experiencing the way they handle both the highs and lows that golf has to offer teaches you a lot about people. And the workout during a double-bag loop was intense!”

McEnery learned about the Evans Scholarship from one of her directors at Youth on Course, as well as her Head Pro at the Cal

Club, who both recommended she apply. An arduous application and interview process ensued, including a Q&A session in front of 60 or so WGA Directors, alumni and local golf professionals. A few weeks later, on her birthday, she received the good news.

“It’s life-changing – it really is,” said McEnery, who transferred from Sonoma State to the University of Washington, graduating in four years with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. “I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for the Evans Scholarship, and I’m proud to have it on my resume.

“I can only hope it will be as positive of an experience for every winner as it was for me. I’m sure it will be. Congratulations to the newest class of Evans Scholars!”

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Traveler’s Delight:

The Michigan and Oregon Golf Trails WORDS BY ALICE AND DANNY SCOTT 28 | ARIZONA GOLF INSIDER |

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TRAVEL

W

hile snowbirds are loving our Valley of the Sun as we do, it is time to plan our golf escapes from the triple-digit heat of summer.

Both Michigan and Oregon beckon again and again for great golf, wineries, and more - with stunning coastlines on Lake Michigan and the Pacific Ocean. Any destination on these short roundups in either state will indubitably thrill vacationers.

MICHIGAN

Island Resort & Casino Harris, Mich.

Boyne Resorts - Begin, end, or make it your solo destination on the Michigan Golf Trail – Boyne has TEN golf courses and three distinct resort options with endless activities. Boyne Mountain features the Monument and Alpine courses and Boyne Village, home to the original Boynehof Lodge and the mammoth Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa connected to Avalanche Bay, a Disneyesque indoor waterpark. Enjoy complimentary scenic rides on the Hemlock Chairlift for hiking or ziplining, or take a kayak out on Deer Lake.

Boyne Highland has completed its second of four phases in a significant transformation of its iconic main lodge next to the original Heather Course. It also features a chairlift and is located two miles from the Boyne Academy, with its three fabulous courses.

The Inn at Bay Harbor is a turn-of-the-century hotel, exquisitely seated on the northern shore of Lake Michigan with Bay Harbor Golf Club delivering 45 holes for three full course combinations plus the Crooked Tree Golf Club all dramatically designed along a five-mile stretch of shoreline.

Boyne properties are in proximity of one another to take advantage of the Magnificent Ten courses, superior dining options, and amenities throughout, all close to the boutique town of Petoskey and the incredible Mackinac Island. boynegolf.com Forest Dunes - A deer sculpture at the entrance sets the stage for live ones prancing through three courses. The Loop is a reversible course, fun in both directions. The Forest Dunes course is a Tom Weiskopf design creatively carved through natural dunes amidst the pine and hardwood forest, with sand bunkers added, one which completely encircles a greenside tree. Looking for a shorter test? The new Bootleggers Course is a hilly thrill of ten short Par 3 AZGOLF.ORG

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TRAVEL

Island Resort & Casino Harris, Mich.

holes to walk with only a few clubs needed. You can find it located adjacent to the patio bar next to the Lake Ausable Lodge trimmed in Michigan cherry red, where music is piped, and replay is free for as much short course fun as Pinehurst’s Cradle. forestdunesgolf.com Harbor Shores Resort - The Kitchen Aid Sr. PGA Championship is played every two years on this Jack Nicklaus Signature design, which skirts the Paw Paw River and Lake Michigan.

Stay at a golfer’s dream villa along the first fairway or at the Harbor Shores Inn, located at the Marina. From breakfast wraps to dinner cuisine paired with fine wines or cocktails, the kitchen at The Grille at Harbor Shores in the clubhouse needs no ‘Aid.’ Harbor Shores is a successful reclamation project restoring the area from the toxicity of the industrial era’s decline to the now gorgeous locale to reclaim your game. harborshoresgolf.com Gull Lake View - Four generations of the Scott Family have operated this affordable golf resort in southwestern Michigan for 60 years, with villas and cottages that feel like home for foursomes and families to stay and play all six courses. The newest course is Stoatin Brae, meaning Grand Hill in Scottish Gaelic. It was designed by Tom Doak’s Renaissance Design team overlooking the Kalamazoo River Valley and will delight any golfer. gulllakeview.com Island Resort and Casino - Following a $33 million expansion in the Upper Peninsula, Island Resort and Casino now boasts over 400 guest rooms, more than 1,200 of the latest slot machines, a poker room, various gaming tables, a Sportsbook, and a bingo hall. Add to those 30 | ARIZONA GOLF INSIDER |

February/March 2022

The Loop at Forest Dunes Roscommon, Mich.

upgrades the two championship golf courses, the luxurious Drift Spa, an RV Park, a headline entertainment showroom, expansive convention space, and enough dining choices to please every palette, Island has it all.

Sweetgrass, the original course, was selected as the 2022 Michigan Golf Course of the Year by the Michigan Golf Course Association. Sage Run is a walk unspoiled through unfettered woodlands. Paul Albanese designed both courses to seamlessly complement one another. islandresortgolf.com Arcadia Bluffs – Highly rated on almost any golf publication’s Best Of lists, Arcadia Bluffs is an experience all its own. The Bluffs Course plays out on a hillside with breathtaking views of Lake Michigan, and its deep bunkers are a trip. The new Arcadia South Course down the road might not feature the lake views, but a spectacular golf course more than makes up for it. Watch the flyover of Arcadia Bluffs online before making the trip out to set the tone for the adventure. arcadiabluffs.com Grand Traverse Resort - In the Cherry Capital of the World, this resort highlights three standout courses -The Bear, The Wolverine, and Spruce Run. A shuttle runs guests to a quaint downtown scene with shops and restaurants; as well as to the casino or beach. Aerie, located atop the resort tower, delivers succulent servings and a bird’s eye view of the east bay and golf below. grandtraverseresort.com

Evan Schiller Bay Harbor Golf Club Bay Harbor, Mich.

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Christian Hafer Silvies Valley Ranch Seneca, Ore.

Robert Kelsey Robert Kelsey

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TRAVEL

Tetherow Bend, Ore.

Shanty Creek Resorts - The Summit, The Legend, Schuss Mountain, and Cedar River Golf Clubs blend beautifully with three neighboring villages. Roost at the Lakeview Hotel for spacious rooms, including a huge whirlpool and balcony. shantycreek.com OREGON

Bandon Dunes - On golfers’ bucket lists with good reason, natural sand dunes along the southern Oregon stretch of the Pacific Ocean are reflective of Scotland, complete with gorse. Check out the flyovers on their website of every hole on six courses, including the latest offering opened in June 2020, Sheep Ranch. Take a side trip along the rugged coast for a tide pool tour or stop at Farm & Sea for savory fresh oysters. bandondunesgolf.com Silvies Valley Ranch – A stunning 140,000-acre working ranch located three hours between Bend and Boise, guests saddle up in their own golf cart upon check-in. “Yellowstone” fans may delight in horseback riding and roundups, but goats are the animals of distinction, some serving as caddies on the seven holes of McVeigh’s Gauntlet. A highly-awarded reversible course, it plays as Hankins one way and Craddock the other, while the Chief Egan executive course allows players to dial in their respective short games.

Need a break from golf? Test your skills on the shooting range with pistols and rifles, take an Eco/history Tour, luxuriate at the Rocking Heart Spa, and belly up to the bar in the ranch

Bandon Dunes Bandon, Ore.

house for evening cocktails and special dinners. Make it quick, though – the firepit awaits for star gazing and storytelling. silvies.us Bend - Central Oregon is known for breweries and Bend has its share – plus a trifecta of opportunities for adventurous travelers. In May or early June, you might ski Mt. Bachelor in the morning, play golf in the afternoon, and kayak or fly fish the Deschutes River at sunset to Kelsey complete the Robert day. Sun River Resort has four player-favorite courses on property, or stay and play at world-class facilities like Tetherow, Pronghorn, or Brasada Ranch. visitcentraloregon.com Tualatin Valley - This Portland suburb has become a vibrant, central spot for taking day trips to play golf, enjoy more than 30 wineries, the Columbia River Gorge, the coast, or ‘The Hoods.’ Mt. Hood is snowcapped and available for skiing year-round, while Hood River is the capital of kiteboarding. Pumpkin Ridge’s public track, Ghost Creek, meanders through a forest and along a canal. The Witch Hollow private course is famous for being the site of multiple Tiger Woods amateur wins, as well as notable LPGA and USGA Championships. The Reserve Golf Club, which has hosted prestigious PGA events, is equally fun. tualatinvalley.org Resorts fill up fast these days so check the respective destination’s website for open dates, as well as attractions that are attractive to your specifications, be it traveling with family, as couples, gals, buddy trips, or solo. Pin your favorites on the map, decide how you’re going to get there, and perhaps most importantly: Enjoy!

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HANDICAPPING

AGA / The Country Club at DC Ranch

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Course Rating in WHS

(World Handicap System)

WORDS BY DEREK MCKENZIE

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HANDICAPPING

W

ith levels of golf participation spiking over recent years, there are now more players than ever before seeking out use of the World Handicap System (WHS). Despite being just over two years since the official launch of WHS, the concept of Handicapping has, in fact, been around for a majority of the game’s lengthy history, perhaps documented under alternative terminology in European-based records as far back as the late 17th century! Although there have been numerous modifications applied over time to the methodology used to calculate a handicap assignment, the reason for doing so remains consistent: to promote equitable play and golfer enjoyment on any golf course around the globe, either in a competitive or casual-round formats.

Did you know: Original handicapping methods from the late 1800’s solely used a comparison of the player’s best (3) scores within the past one-year time frame against PAR to determine a ‘handicap’ assignment?

Although this approach had limited success, there were clearly still inefficiencies, based upon the nature of the game, each course being a completely unique playing field unto itself, plus other related variables that may impact player’s scoring capabilities not being addressed. Enter the implementation of a Course Rating System as a standardized component of the first US-based handicap system, launched by the United States Golf Association (USGA) in 1911 and remaining the backbone of the WHS system in use globally by 3+ million golfers over a century later.

However, despite an extended history of Course Rating System use within multiple handicap systems and perhaps already a commonly recognized term by those indoctrinated in the game of golf, there still remain many common questions, such as: What is Course Rating? How are the related rating assignments determined and by whom? And ultimately, in what respect are they used in the World Handicap System?

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“

The USGA Course Rating System, in general terms, refers to a standardized course evaluation methodology and calculation procedure used to assign measures of reflected difficulty for each golf course, per tee, and specific to each gender.

”

Papago Golf Club

HANDICAPPING

What is the USGA Course Rating System?

The USGA Course Rating System, in general terms, refers to a standardized course evaluation methodology and calculation procedure used to assign measures of reflected difficulty for each golf course, per tee, and specific to each gender.

Furthermore, there are actually two (2) reference points assigned through the rating system for men and women on each available tee set: USGA Course and Slope Ratings.

Predicted Score Chart Issued By: ARIZONA GOLF ASSOCIATION Arizona Country Club

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USGA Course Rating- An indication of the difficulty of a golf course for the Scratch (0-handicap) player, under normal course and weather conditions.

USGA Slope Rating- An indication of the relative difficulty of a golf course for players who are not scratch players, compared to players who are scratch players.

How are Course and Slope Ratings calculated?

Bogey Rating™

Course

Men's - White

There is an abundantly detailed course evaluation and rating calculation process that is the basis for the USGA’s Rating System and used exclusively in the population of assigned Course and Slope Ratings for all participating golf facilities around the globe. In particular, a projected score is calculated for both: a highly-skilled (‘Scratch’, 0-handicap) player, the Course Rating value assigned; as well as a lesser-skilled (‘Bogey’, approximate 20-handicap) player’s score projection, referred to as a Bogey Rating. Although this Bogey Rating value is not typically published for public view, the Slope Rating calculation is specifically based upon a relative comparison in anticipated scoring (Course vs. Bogey Ratings), multiplied by a statistical constant. The term ‘Slope’, actually being derived from a graphical representation of this projected scoring comparison between: Scratch vs.

Bogey, as shown in the chart to the left.

Course Rating™: 70.0 - Slope Rating®: 124 - Bogey Rating™: 93.0

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HANDICAPPING

For additional insight on what is actually used in determining these golfer scoring projections, the USGA’s Rating System is largely composed of the following components for consideration in each localized course evaluation: >Effective Playing Length (EPL) factors: Each course and tee set is independently measured to determine the actual yardage that players will need to navigate during their round.

Beyond the raw measured lengths of each hole gathered, these are then further adjusted shorter or longer, when appropriate, to account for any additional factors such as: +/- Roll, Dogleg/ Forced Layups, tee to green Elevation changes, Prevailing Wind and the Altitude where the course resides, each prospectively impacting the realistic length encountered by players. >Assessment of physical obstacle factors: There are an endless count of physical obstacles incorporated into modern golf course designs. Fortunately, the Course Rating System is able to account for nearly any circumstance encountered by the player, specifically through analysis of how the following Obstacles will impact the player’s ability to score: Topography - contour of playing surfaces as it impacts stance and lie, Fairway- the difficulty of hitting the fairway on tee shots or secondary shot on long holes, Green Target - the difficulty of hitting the green with the approach shot, Rough & Recoverythe difficulty of recovery from areas of rough beyond teeing areas, fairways or green complexes, Bunkers - the projected impact of bunkers adjacent fairway landing area(s) or green complex, Crossing and Lateral Obstacles - areas of the course marked as Penalty Area, or unmarked regions of desert, waste area or extreme rough beyond the turf line, Trees - how trees impact play from tee to green, Green Surface - difficulty of the speed and contour of each green and finally Psychological cumulative effect of numerous and significant obstacles being present on a hole.

Note - Each EPL and obstacle category is independently assessed by the Rating Team on a hole-by-hole basis, from each designated teeing area, for both scratch and bogey golfers, for both genders.

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AGA / The Country Club at DC Ranch

“

Regional rating teams usually consist of an experienced AGA staff member and localized volunteers that have been trained under the USGA’s Course Rating System.

”

HANDICAPPING

1. Calculation of Handicap Index: Each time a WHS account holder posts a new score, there is a Differential value calculated for the round, reflective of how well they played, lower the better. Calculation of each round’s score Differential is determined by the following formula which includes not only the score recorded, but reference to the difficulty encountered in the round, by use of Course and Slope Rating reference points: Score Differential= (113 / Slope Rating) X (Adjusted Gross Score – Course Rating – PCC Adjustments)

AGA / The Country Club at DC Ranch

>Accounts for varying skill-level golfer characteristics: When assessing the obstacles on a given hole, it is most pertinent to project where players will be playing a majority of their shots and in turn reflect the obstacles in closest proximity to be the most impactful upon them. For this reason, the USGA Course Rating system is structured with anticipated shot lengths for both scratch (0-handicap) and bogey (approximately 20-handicap) golfers to best project the landing areas and related obstacle factors that will most likely come into play consistently for players. >Accuracy and consistency in Rating assignments: Each course is rated by a team from the golf association who

are licensed within the region to oversee implementation the World Handicap System, the Arizona Golf Association for the state of Arizona. Regional rating teams usually consist of an experienced AGA staff member and localized volunteers that have been trained under the USGA’s Course Rating System. The USGA requires that all courses are re-rated at least once every 10-years.

However, ratings may occur more frequently if there are significant changes or renovations made, either to a specific hole or the entire course.

How does the World Handicap System utilize the USGA Course and Slope Ratings:

In turn, golfer WHS Handicap Index assignments are then typically based upon an averaging of the ‘best 8’ Differentials (lowest) within the most recent 20-rounds recorded, rounded to the nearest tenth, provided no unique circumstances are present.

2. Conversion of Handicap Index to Course Handicap: Aside from being used to calculate player’s score differentials and subsequent Handicap Index assignments, these ratings are also used to convert a players Handicap Index to a Course/Playing Handicap, the number of strokes assigned for a designated round and based upon the difficulty of the course and tee in use. Meaning, players will be afforded more strokes on higher rated courses and less at lower rated facilities. The material formula used to process this Course Handicap conversion is as follows, or players may utilize an online Handicap Calculator or Course Handicap Lookup Chart: Course Handicap = Handicap Index X (Slope Rating / 113) + (Course Rating – Par)

With a preview of the basic elements that compose the USGA Course Rating System and how they interact as a baseline for comparison in the World Handicap System listed above, stay tuned for the AGA’s next AZ Golf Insider Digital Magazine for a more intimate look at the on-course evaluation process carried out by the Arizona Golf Association’s Volunteer Rating Team.

In the meantime, visit azgolf.org/course-rating for more information on the AGA’s USGA Course Rating program.

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JUNIOR GOLF

AZ NEWS

2021 AGA Honors and Player Awards Ashley Menne Women’s Player of the Year

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AZ NEWS

Bryan Hoops Masters Player of Year

Judy McDermott Champion of Golf Presented annually by the AGA to a person who has “unselfishly created lasting benefit to the game of golf in Arizona.”

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2020 Player Awards

AZ NEWS

Kim Eaton Women’s Senior Player of the Year

Steve Tomlinson Doc Graves Volunteer of the Year

Jack Blair, Sr. Dr. Ed Updegraff Award Given annually to a person who “by his or her actions and accomplishments exemplify the Spirit of the Game.”

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Honoring an individual “who most exemplifies volunteerism through his or her commitment of time and effort to the association.”

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ENHANCE YOUR BEVERAGE EXPERIENCE W W W . L I Q U I D C A T E R E R S . C O M 4 8 0 . 7 8 8 . 8 3 6 3

2021 Player Awards

AZ NEWS

Peggy Briggs Dorothy Pease Achievement Award Given annually to a person who has “a profound and lasting impact on women’s golf in Arizona.”

Sean O’Donnell Men’s Player of the Year

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2021 Player Awards

AZ NEWS

Frank Ellenburg Legends Player of Year

Bryan Hoops – 67.92 Brad Wayment Men’s Senior Player of Year

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Mayfair Award Given annually to a player with the lowest weighted scoring average at the culmination of the season.

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JUNIOR GOLF

Scholarships Increase the AWGA’s Impact on the Community WORDS BY ANJ BROWN

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JUNIOR GOLF

T

he Arizona Women’s Golf Association (AWGA) is pleased to announce it will be offering scholarships for female high school seniors beginning in the 2022 - 2023 academic year. The purpose of the AWGA Scholarship is to encourage and promote the attainment of higher education goals for female golfers who have participated in junior golf programs and/or the AWGA Build A Team program, who have demonstrated a high level of academic achievement during high school or college and who have a financial need.

The AWGA will make individual awards of $1,000 to $2,000 – up to a total of $10,000 annually for residents of Arizona.

Information regarding eligibility for these scholarships is as follows: >> Candidate must be female, and must be, or have been, a member of any organized golf program during high school, with priority given to participants in the AWGA Build A Team Program. >> Financial need will be considered before awards are given. >> Candidate must be a graduating Arizona high school senior in the year they are applying, or Arizona high school graduate who has completed less than two years of college by

January 1 of the year in which they apply, or has a GED diploma. >> Scholarships may be applied to expenses at two and four-year colleges/universities and accredited trade schools to cover tuition, general fees, room, board, books and lab fees. >> Recipients must retain a 2.5 (or higher) grade point average, and must reapply for subsequent years of eligibility. Scholarship may be renewed annually (up to three times).

>> Students will be allowed to transfer pay-

ment to a different academic institution if required.

Each applicant must complete a current AWGA Scholarship application form and submit it along with the following documents:

Fall 2021), or an academic standing/ACT or SAT scores. A GED diploma is acceptable if applicable.

3. Letter(s) of recommendation from a teacher, coach, or counselor and a PGA or LPGA Golf Professional.

4. Financial Information Worksheets.

1. Essay: In 250 words or less, describe “How has golf made a difference in your life?”

2. An academic transcript of grades (through

For more information, application materials, and deadlines, please visit awga.org/scholarships

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Tournament Schedule DATE

COMPETITION SITE

HOST SITE

TOURNAMENT

JANUARY Jan. 14 - 16 Women’s State Medallion Oakwood Country Club Women’s Tournament Jan. 14 - 17 Latin America Amateur Lima Golf Club - Lima, Peru USGA Championship Jan. 16 - 17 Copper Cup (ASU Men) Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club Collegiate Jan. 22 - 23 Arizona Short Course Augusta Ranch Golf Club Men’s Tournament Jan. 24 - 25 U of A Men Tucson Country Club Collegiate Jan. 24 - 25 ASU Women Superstition Mountain Golf and CC Collegiate FEBRUARY Feb. 20 - 22 Loyola Collegiate Palm Valley Golf Club Collegiate Feb. 21 Women’s Season Opener Longbow Golf Club Women’s Tournament Feb. 26 - 27 San Tan Amateur Oakwood Country Club Men’s Tournament Feb. 28 - Mar 1 GCU Women Grand Canyon University Golf Course Collegiate MARCH Mar. 12 - 14 Clover Cup (Notre Dame Women) Longbow Golf Club Collegiate Mar. 14 - 15 GCU Men Grand Canyon University Golf Course Collegiate Mar. 17 - 20 AGA Championship Aguila Golf Course AGA Championship Mar. 18 - 19 NIT - U of A Men Omni Tucson National Golf Club Collegiate Mar. 25 - 27 PING ASU Invitational - ASU Women Papago Golf Club Collegiate Mar. 22 - 23 Mayan Palace Vidanta Golf Course AGA Member Day APRIL April 15 - 16 ASU Thunderbird Invitational - ASU Men Papago Golf Club Collegiate April 17 - 19 RMAC Championship Whirlwind Golf Club Collegiate April 18 - 19 Women’s Four-Ball Championship Briarwood Country Club Women’s Championship April 21 - 24 Arizona Stroke Play Championship Lone Tree Golf Club AGA Championship April 26 U.S. Women’s Open Qualifier Gainey Ranch Golf Club USGA Qualifier April 30 - May 4 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Grand Reserve GC-Rio Grande, Puerto Rico USGA Championship MAY May 5 U.S. Open Qualifier #1 Sewailo Golf Club USGA Qualifier May 9 U.S. Open Qualifier #2 Phoenix Golf Club USGA Qualifier May 12 U.S. Open Qualifier #3 Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club USGA Qualifier May 14 - 15 Mayan Palace Vidanta Golf Course AGA Member Day May 14 - 18 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball CC of Birmingham, AL USGA Championship May 16 U.S. Open Qualifier #4 Mesa Country Club USGA Qualifier May 20 - 21 Falcon Amateur / AZ Amateur Qualifier #1 Falcon Dunes Golf Course Men’s Tournament May 24 U.S. Senior Open Qualifier Papago Golf Club USGA Qualifier JUNE June 1 - 2 Arizona Divisional Stroke Play Championship TPC Scottsdale - Champions Men’s Tournament June 2 - 5 U.S. Women’s Open Pine Needles, Southern Pines, NC USGA Championship June 4 - 5 Father & Son Antelope Hills Golf Courses AGA Member Day June 9 - 12 Arizona Mid-Amateur Championship Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club AGA Championship June 16 - 19 U.S. Open The Country Club, Brookline, MA USGA Championship June 6 AZ Amateur Qualifier #2 Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club Men’s Tournament June 20 U.S. Junior Amateur Qualifier The Country Club at DC Ranch USGA Qualifier June 20 U.S. Girls’ Junior Qualifier Mesa Country Club USGA Qualifier June 22 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Qualifier TBD USGA Qualifier 50 | ARIZONA GOLF INSIDER |

February/March 2022

AGA TOUR Events

Women’s Championships and Tournaments

USGA Qualifier

AGA Team Events

AGA Scramble/Member Days

Senior Cup Series

Collegiate Events

USGA Championship

Men’s Tournament

DATE

COMPETITION SITE

June 23 - 26 June 25 - 26 JULY July 6 July 10 July 11 - 12 July 18 - 23 July 18 - 19 July 20 July 23 - 24 July 25 - 30 July 30 - Aug. 4

U.S. Senior Open Saucon Valley CC, Bethlehem, PA Southern Amateur / AZ Amateur Qualifier #4 Omni Tucson National Golf Club

USGA Championship Men’s Tournament

U.S. Women’s Amateur Qualifier AZ Amateur Qualifier #5 U.S. Amateur Qualifier #1 U.S. Girls’ Junior U.S. Amateur Qualifier #2 U.S. Senior Women’s Open Qualifier Mixed Stix Tournament U.S. Junior Amateur U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur

TBD Longbow Golf Club Longbow Golf Club Club at Olde Stone, Bowling Green, KY TBD Pinnacle Peak CC Oakcreek Country Club Bandon Dunes, Bandon, OR Anchorage GC, Anchorage, AK

USGA Qualifier Men’s Tournament USGA Qualifier USGA Championship USGA Qualifier USGA Qualifier Women’s Tournament USGA Championship USGA Championship

U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifier U.S. Women’s Amateur 97th Arizona Amateur Championship Women’s State Stroke Play Championship U.S. Amateur U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Qualifier U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifier Arizona Divisional Match Play Championship U.S. Senior Women’s Open U.S. Senior Amateur

Blackstone Country Club Chambers Bay, University Place, WA Desert Mountain Golf Club - Outlaw TBD Ridgewood Country Club - Paramus, NJ TBD Alta Mesa Golf Club Talking Stick Golf Club NCR Country Club, Kettering, OH Kittansett Club, Marion, MA

USGA Qualifier USGA Championship AGA Championship Women’s Championship USGA Championship USGA Qualifier USGA Qualifier Men’s Tournament USGA Championship USGA Championship

AUGUST Aug. 1 Aug. 8 - 14 Aug. 8 - 13 Aug. 15 - 17 August 15 - 21 Aug. 19 August 22 Aug. 22 - 26 Aug. 25 - 28 Aug. 27 - Sept. 1

HOST SITE

SEPTEMBER Sept. 7 - 9 Women’s State Senior Championship Tonto Verde Golf Club Sept. 10 - 15 U.S. Mid-Amateur Erin Hills, Erin, WI Sept. 15 - 18 Arizona Four-Ball Championship Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club Sept. 15 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Qualifier TBD Sept. 19 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Qualifier Arizona Country Club Sept. 25 - 30 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Fiddlesticks Country Club, Fort Myers, FL Sept. 12 Goldwater Cup Matches Phoenix Country Club OCTOBER Oct. 2 - 3 Women’s Scotch Play Tournament Flagstaff Ranch Golf Club Oct. 9 - 11 Arizona vs. Utah Shootout Riverside Country Club, Provo, UT Oct. 22 - 23 Mayan Palace Vidanta Golf Course Oct. 29 - 30 Northern Amateur Oakcreek Country Club NOVEMBER Nov. 6 - 7 Women’s Partners Tournament Tubac Golf Club Nov. 12 - 13 AGA Players Cup Championship TBD Nov. 12 - 13 AGA Women’s Players Cup Championship TBD DECEMBER Dec. 4 - 7 SW Team Challenge/Duel in the Desert TBD Dec. 29 - 31 Patriot All-America Wigwam Golf Resort - Gold/Blue Courses

TOURNAMENT

Women’s Championship USGA Championship AGA Championship USGA Qualifier USGA Qualifier USGA Championship AGA Team Women’s Tournament AGA Team AGA Member Day Men’s Tournament Women’s Tournament AGA Championship AGA Championship AGA Team Collegiate

SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

2022 ARIZONA GOLF ASSOCIATION

JUNIOR GOLF

F

or those who think expensive green fees dissuade kids for playing golf, here’s a money-saving solution courtesy of Youth on Course (YOC) and the Junior Golf Association of Arizona (JGAA). A national organization that works locally with the JGAA – YOC provides affordable golf for its 130,000 members, kids 6-18, by subsidizing green fees to a manageable $5 or less.

Youth on Course Participation Doubles

Youth on Course and the Junior Golf Association Teeing up $5 green fees and scholarships for Arizona’s junior golfers WORDS BY JEFF LOCKE

More than 1,700 courses across the U.S. and Canada participate, and locally 28 Arizona facilities – primarily in Phoenix and Tucson – support the program. In 2020 local YOC rounds jumped to nearly 11,000 from 4,200 in 2019.

Rounds ebbed at bit in 2021 to 8,800, which still doubles 2019’s pre-pandemic total.

“Youth on Course is based on a simple idea that works: reduce green fees to raise participation,” said Scott McNevin, executive director of the JGAA. “It’s included with JGAA and Girls Golf of Phoenix membership, and kids can also choose the Youth on Course-only option. Either way, the low cost makes it realistic to play more often. The extra rounds help everyone from top players to recreational junior golfers just having fun.”

Money-Saving Membership Options

JGAA Competition membership ($90 annually) includes YOC enrollment in addition to eligibility to register for girls’ and boys’ JGAA competitive tournaments. Likewise, the USGA*LPGA Girls Golf of Phoenix membership ($40 annually) includes YOC enrollment in addition to eligibility to register for Girls Golf of Phoenix competitive tourna-

Anawin Pikulthong

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February/March 2022

JUNIOR GOLF

“

Reachable green fees are but one example of the many ways YOC changes lives for the better.

”

ments and other events. Finally, the YOC-only membership ($15 annually) provides $5 green fees, without participation in JGAA and USGA*LPGA Girls Golf of Phoenix events.

Youth on Course Scholarship

Reachable green fees are but one example of the many ways YOC changes lives for the better. Turns out, they also help with another notoriously lofty price tag: college tuition.

In 2021 this greens-fee-saving organization awarded 20 deserving high school graduates – including JGAA member Noah Nuez – with scholarships.

The once-Brophy Bronco from Laveen is already putting his scholarship to good use studying nuclear engineering at the United States Naval Academy. Since the inception of the Youth on Course Scholarship Program in 2008, 280 members have been awarded financial support totaling $2 million. The graduation rate among all alumni and current recipients is 93 percent.

“Congratulations to Noah,” said the JGAA’s McNevin.

“He is a great example of a student athlete who juggle challenges on two fronts. I can’t think of a more deserving person.”

In many ways, organizations throughout the golf world have answered the call to “grow the game.” For local junior golfers who want to grow along with it, visit the website at JGAA.org to learn how to become part of this rewarding movement on the golf course.

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MAYAN

Get Your Golf On Nine & Wine Golf Mentoring Series

Have you been invited to play in a golf outing, but turned it down because you do not know how to play golf?

Have you thought about taking up golf but found it intimidating?

Nine & Wine is an adult golf mentoring program offering a casual golf experience, designed for the new or returning golfer to help them feel at ease on the golf course. Participants will play up to nine holes of golf with a mentor, then gather in the clubhouse after golf for a beverage, hosted appetizers, golf talk and networking.

If you have been hesitant about getting into the game, Nine & Wine is the ideal event!

Entry fee includes up to 9 holes of golf, help and guidance from an experienced golfer (mentor), appetizers, an adult beverage, and a lot of fun!

Location: Bear Creek Golf Complex, Cub Course, Chandler Cost: $36 per person per event Dates: • February 20, 3:30 p.m.

• March 20, 3:30 p.m.

• April 17, 4:30 p.m.

• May 22, 4:30 p.m.

For more information and to register:

azgolf.org/player-development

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RULES OF GOLF

I

Robin’s Rules of Order Entitled to free relief from an Immovable Obstruction, this player is dropping the “Right way” – from knee height (not shoulder height), after the Rules of Golf were updated by the USGA and R&A.

WORDS BY ROBIN FARRAN, ED GOWAN AND LOGAN RASMUSSEN

mmovable Obstructions such as cart paths, electrical boxes, and sprinkler heads were not put in place by a golf course architect as a “defense of the course” and players should not have to “play around” these objects. The same thing goes for Ground Under Repair, Temporary Water, and Animal Holes. Rule 16 covers how, when, and where a player is entitled to free relief when they are affected by one of these Abnormal Course Conditions.

Let’s explore some real-life examples on the golf course that involve Rule 16, courtesy of Rules Expert Robin Farran:

INCIDENT 1

Player A’s relief area for her ball on a cart path was on a sloped area of hard dirt.

Player A dropped the ball in the right way and, as the ball rolled quickly down the slope, Player A stopped the ball in the relief area before it rolled out of the relief area. >> As long as the ball would have rolled out of the relief area with no possibility to return on its own, stopping the ball is not a violation. The same applies on a slope above a penalty area where the ball could be lost in water. If the ball could have stopped in the area or returned on its own, there would have been a two-stroke penalty and the drop would NOT have counted.

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RULES OF GOLF

Abnormal course condition

INCIDENT 3

After Player A dropped the ball in the right way a second time and it rolled out of the relief area, Player A carefully placed the ball on the spot where the ball first touched the ground on the second drop. Player A played the ball. >> Correct procedure. The first drop was legal, and the proper procedure was followed to put the ball into play.

Player A dropped the ball in the right way a second time, almost one club-length from the reference point for relief and the ball rolled out of the relief area. >> First good drop, as the ball left the relief area, a second drop is required.

INCIDENT 2

Player A’s relief area for his ball on a cart path was on a sloped area in the fairway with several divot holes in the relief area.

Player A dropped the ball in the right way and, as the ball slowly rolled toward a divot hole in the relief area, Player A stopped the ball.

58 | ARIZONA GOLF INSIDER |

>> The player stopped his ball in play – two-stroke penalty and the drop does not count. Player A would need to redrop his ball into play.

Player A dropped the ball in the right way a third time and the ball remained in the relief area. Player A played the ball. >> Correct procedure, as the third drop was the second proper drop.

February/March 2022

Player A’s relief area for his ball on a cart path was on a sloped area of hard dirt.

Player A dropped the ball in the right way and the ball rolled quickly down the slope and out of the relief area. >>First drop counted, but a second drop is now required.

Being certain that the ball would likely roll out of the relief area on the next drop, Player A placed the ball on a spot in the relief area where he expected the ball to remain at rest. Player A played the ball. >>As a second drop was required, placing the ball resulted in the ball being played from a “wrong place”. The ball is in play with a two-stroke penalty.

In summary, free relief procedures have only a few requirements. The ball in the general area must be dropped (placed on

When taking relief from ground under repair, it must be the nearest point of complete relief.

a putting green) in the designated relief area defined by the Rule governing the situation. As the ball must be played from that area, should it have rolled out of the area, a second drop is required. If again the ball rolls out of the area, it must be placed where it first struck the ground when dropped the second time as it must be played from that designated relief area.

If the ball is accidentally deflected or stopped, there is no issue and the ball would be considered in play if it remained in the designated relief area; but, if purposely done so, then the drop does not count. A penalty is incurred in that case by the person responsible.

It will only take a few minutes’ reading to identify which Rule governs the relief area to be used. For free relief, it is always a half circle not closer to the hole than the identified “Nearest Point of Complete Relief.”

THEATERS. MUSEUMS. CONCERTS. VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES. STORIES FROM BEHIND THE CURTAIN.

Find your season calendar online at

ONSTAGEAZ.COM

OUT OF BOUNDS

I

How I got

shafted WORDS BY GARY VAN SICKLE

spent $1,325 on new golf clubs this year.

Correction. I spent $1,325 on ONE new golf club this year.

That is not standard operating procedure for me. I am what you call “value-oriented.” You might say, “cheap,” although I prefer “thrifty.” But hey, if the spikeless golf shoe fits...

So what convinced me to spend about what it costs to put a hotel on St. James Place, only in real dough and not Monopoly money?

The AutoFlex shaft. It’s new and it’s from South Korea, made

by Dumina. The AutoFlex is shrouded in mystery. The manufacturer has declined to file a patent on the process, the better to stymie Asia’s rampant industrial counterfeiting. A patent is a blueprint in countries without law enforcement.

We do know this: AutoFlex is ultra-light and ultra-whippy.

And mainly, it helps deliver drives that are longer and straighter.

This sounds like a paid political advertisement or a spam call in print, right? But it’s not. Ask senior golfers, such as myself, what they would pay to pick up 12 to 15 yards in carry distance with their tee shots and the popular answer would be, Just about anything.

The answer in this case is $790, the price of the Dumina AutoFlex shaft.

You’re wondering how the AutoFlex shaft works. I can’t tell you, because Dumina is mum on the makeup of its hot shaft.

Lighter and whippier is supposed to equal shorter and less accurate, according to conventional golf wisdom. But two months into my AutoFlex experience, I can tell you conventional wisdom doesn’t apply here.

Obviously, the $780 price tag is a stopper for some. Normally, I’d be one of them. But I was tipped off about AutoFlex by a PGA of America club professional who was already using it and thought it might be worth a story.

I soon learned that assorted tour players either have used it or tried it. Louis Oosthuizen played it in the Masters’ final round and Branden Grace put it in play at the PGA Champion-

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OUT OF BOUNDS ship. Others photographed with it include Adam Scott, Fred Couples and Michelle Wie-West. The shaft is easy to spot on TV. The top half of the shaft is hot pink, the bottom half is black.

Visiting the company’s website will not fill you in on specifics. There’s a photo of the shaft titled, “Korea Hidden Technology.” I’d shorten that to KHT except it gives me a sudden urge for crispy fried chicken.

So I don’t know why AutoFlex works, exactly. The shafts vary in weight from 41 to 57 grams, depending upon the model. That’s ultra-lightweight to medium lightweight. Yes, less weight should lead to an increase in the average player’s clubhead speed.

If you’re going to drop $780 on a shaft, this is not the time for a do-it-yourself project. Fitting the AutoFlex shaft requires an experienced pro because AutoFlex has its quirks. You need an expert like Joe Corsi, a clubfitter and good senior amateur player who runs Corsi’s Indoor Golf in Greensburg, Pa. Greensburg is just a few miles down the road from Latrobe, the home of a beloved golfing legend who had a tea drink and a regional airport named after him. Yeah, Him. I visited Corsi’s shop with no intention of buying the AutoFlex. In fact, I thought I might be getting spoofed.

“What’s funny is, the shaft is so soft, it whips all over the place when you wave it yet somehow it returns at impact to make the ball go straight,” Corsi said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

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February/March 2022

Dumina/Twitter @Autofl @AutoflexShaft Dumina/Twitter exShaft

Corsi became intrigued after watching a YouTube review by two Canadian residents who review clubs for their store, TXG (Tour Experience Golf). Ian Fraser and Matt Blois are known for telling it like it is. Blois is a powerful lefty with 122mph clubhead speed, just the kind of guy who shouldn’t be able to hit AutoFlex in the right direction.

Wrong. Even he was surprised when he hit his first two swings with the lightweight shaft 353 and 374 yards right down the middle (on a simulator screen).

His clubhead speed jumped to 127 mph and after Fraser tinkered with the specs, it got as high as 130 mph. Meanwhile, Blois saw his ball speed rise from 170 mph to 180 mph, an increase that translates to about 15 additional yards.

Corsi was still skeptical but ordered some AutoFlex shafts, fitted a few drivers for some friends and they got similar results as the video—increases in 7-10 mph of ball speed. Within two weeks, Corsi sold out his initial order of ten shafts. As word of mouth grew, Corsi sold more than 200 AutoFlex-fitted drivers and even a few 3-woods.

He found that AutoFlex performs best at a light swingweight of D-1 or D-0, and at a shorter length of 45 to 45.25 inches. Due to its higher launch angle, Corsi lowers the loft for buyers. In my case, from 10.5 degrees of loft to 9.0. The shaft works well with the driver heads of all the major brands.

“I’m a believer,” Corsi said. “I went out

on a 50-degree day last spring and hit drives to places I haven’t reached in a long time.”

When I got fitted for AutoFlex, my Titleist TS2 driver couldn’t get me past 230 yards of carry on the launch monitor with my best effort. Corsi slipped the shaft into the newer Titleist TSi3 driver and I regularly inched past 240 on the monitor. Those ten or 12 yards I gained weren’t simulator ghosts, they were real. I reached both par-5s in a nine-hole golf league on my first outdoor usage, something I hadn’t come close to doing before. It doesn’t hurt that the lower spin rate from AutoFlex makes the ball land hot and run out.

The AutoFlex shafts come in five specs, based on clubhead speed. The 305 is for swing speeds of 70-85 mph; 405 for 85-95 mph; 505, 95-105 mph; 505 X, 105-115 mph; and 505 XX, 115 and above.

If you’re good at math, you may wonder, if the AutoFlex shaft is $780, why did I spend $1,325? Well, I opted for the newer Titleist driver head and that meant I had to buy the whole new Titleist driver.

I have no buyer’s remorse. I’m driving it better than I have in a few years. It was worth every peso.

My next big game-improvement purchase? I hope it’s those bionic body parts I was promised on TV four-and-ahalf decades ago. Don’t just fix me, make me better! And hurry up, docs, my clock is ticking.

Luxurious Living Right on the Golf Course Acclaimed golf courses with breathtaking views.

Step out from your back door onto a Jack Nicklaus designed fairway.

Golf course homes and homesites are currently available with views of the 27-hole course at The Golf Club at Dove Mountain and the two 18-hole courses at The Gallery Golf Club.

Expertly crafted homes within a resort-lifestyle community.

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Golf course homes from luxury homebuilders Private custom lots available Amenities of The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain Resort & Spa Two award winning private clubs and 63 holes of golf 50+ miles of Tortolita Mountain trails

Learn more about the Dove Mountain community at DoveMountain.com or call 520.572.8000.

19TH HOLE

Blue Martini Phoenix

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February/March 2022

Blue Martini is located in the High Street district of North Phoenix and is best known as an upscale, contemporary hot spot for locals and visitors—and a perfect spot after a round of golf or for a ladies’ night.

There is always something new at Blue Martini. Enjoy the outdoor patio, tapas menu, and a chic cocktail menu. Blue Martini mixes sophistication with a fun atmosphere, where friends meet to socialize and unwind during their legendary Happy Hour. The drinks are flowing and the music is always going at Blue Martini!

5455 E High St Suite 101, Phoenix, AZ 85054 // phoenix.bluemartini.com

C Ye ele ar br s i at n B ing Es t.

5 19 us 72 in 0 es s

Established in 1972 Arizona’s Finest Men’s Store

8787 N. Scottsdale Rd. #230, Scottsdale, Az 85253 480.947.3800 Hours: Monday – Saturday 10am to 6pm | Sunday 12 pm to 5pm