Tee to Green - March 2021

MARCH 2021 Message from the Director of Golf Rick Price, PGA I can't believe that it is already March 2021. We hope that our frost delays are over, and we will have an early spring.

It has been a year ago this month since COVID-19 has affected every one of us. It has been a year of change and adjustments for our personal lives and golf operations. We continue to see an increase in the number of people wanting to play golf, and we implemented safety practices from day one to keep everyone as safe as possible from COVID and continue those practices until needed.

Our Annual Cure for Cancer fundraiser for the University of Arizona Center on February 16 was a great success. We appreciate all the support from all the volunteers, players, sponsors and donors.

The next Yappy Hour will be Thursday, March 25 from 4:00 - 5:00 PM on the driving range tee. The driving range will be closed at 3:00 PM for a clean pick of all the range balls in the wash and desert areas. We would appreciate any volunteers to help.

Thank you for enjoying all the activities at the Club, and we look forward to seeing you playing golf soon.

PGA Director of Golf rprice@theviewsgolfclub.com 520-825-3110

Updated News CHIP & PUTT: Our first Chip & Putt event this year will be Thursday, March 11th starting at 4:30 PM. You can play up to six people per group. The entry fee is $10 per person for golf, prizes and one drink off the beverage cart before you tee off. Sign up on line through the reservation system or call the Pro Shop at 520-825-3110.

GOLF COURSE REMINDER: There was no overseeding on all the newly sodded areas around the greens, approach areas, and driving range tee. We ask your help when driving your golf cart around the tees and greens, always to keep the cart on the path, including all handicap flagged golf carts. Please follow the signage for golf cart traffic and use the blue gate system to enter the fairways between the two blue stakes and exit the fairway between the two blue stakes further down the fairway. The idea is to keep your carts in the fairway once you enter through the blue stakes. The newly seeded fairways will handle cart traffic much better than the dormant Bermuda rough.

The first tee time in March is 7:16 AM. Every week after it changes 8 minutes earlier. The Pro Shop will open an hour before the first tee time and close at 5:00 PM daily.

PRO SHOP STATUS We welcome you into the Pro Shop. However, we require masks inside, along with only two people at a time, to ensure the safety of all our members, residents, guests and staff.

The check-in process will continue as follows: a tee host concierge will be stationed outside of the pro shop to assist you with check in. The player assistant will be on the tee to get you started on time.

GOLF CART POLICY The Views Golf Club golf cart policy is two players per golf cart. Single players should be prepared to share a Views Club cart. We pair golfers up to share a golf cart according to starting times booked. Cart rental is a per seat charge.

Due to the lack of availability of golf carts, we cannot provide single rider golf carts. You may consider walking or renting one of our four single-rider scooters. However, please do not book a tee time if you are uncomfortable riding with someone else in a cart. Masks are recommended while riding in the golf cart. Masks are not required while playing, on the driving range or practice areas, if maintaining social distance – but if unable to do so, please wear your mask.

If you have a private golf cart, you may continue to ride as a single. Only two carts will be

allowed in the fairway or rough at any given time. Any additional carts in the group must always remain on the cart path the entire hole.

If you have less than four players and would like no one else to be paired with your group, you are welcome to pay for the entire foursome at the public rate to reserve the space.

It is also the person's responsibility to book the starting time to fully communicate these procedures to all golfers in their group in advance before arriving at The Views Golf Club.

TEE TIME RESERVATIONS Thank you for checking in and being ready to tee off a minimum of 10 minutes before your scheduled tee time. The early arrival to your starting time helps keep us on schedule throughout the day, leading to a good pace of play and an enjoyable day on the course.

FROST DELAY PHONE LINE – 520-825-0322 Please contact the frost line first thing in the morning if you believe there may be frost on the course that will delay your starting time. Depending on the frost length, we can catch up with tee times later in the morning or early afternoon, depending on cancelation. So, double check your email for any changes or call the Pro Shop at 520-825-3110.

PRACTICE FACILITIES & DRIVING RANGE TEE DRIVING RANGE - We will continue using the artificial tee line through the end of the season. It is located on the back of the driving range tee.

PRACTICE PUTTING GREEN - The area is available for putting and chipping.

SHORT GAME PITCHING AREA - The new short game area will feature two practice chipping greens and a bunker located between the 1st tee and 9th green at the bottom of the hill. The short game practice area was not overseeded this year. We will keep you updated on the progress as to when we will open the practice area. More then likely, it will be late spring as the Bermuda starts growing.

FINN SCOOTER'S We have four Finn Scooters available to rent. They are easy to ride with a low-center of gravity and the lightweight aluminum frame makes it a well-balanced ride. If you can ride a bike, you can ride a Finn. Renting a scooter is easy through a downloadable app. The cost is $25 for 18 holes and $14 for 9 holes. This fee is additional to the golf rate, and is charged right through the app when registering to use the scooter.

HOLE IN ONE Matt Clauer, 145 yards, Hole #12, 8-iron Todd Crain, 154 yards, Hole #3, 9-iron Dave Johnson, 141 yards, Hole #17, 8-iron

Sally Rohde, 118 yards, Hole #3, Driver

Lesson Tee Forget about how you used to play Stay present and take what the game gives you now. If that is 220 yards off the tee, get your fairway woods and hybrids out and do the best you can with the longer approach shots. Always over club!

Work on your scoring game If you have recently lost flexibility and strength, it does not have to affect your game from 100 yards and closer. You can sharpen your chipping and putting skills to make up for any lost distance.

Mind & Body The mind/body connection is vital for golfers. And… the results speak for themselves!

Staying as flexible and as healthy as you can for as long as possible is essential to playing better golf. Also, walk and carry whenever possible!

Get properly fitted Not only do we play golf dreaming of yesteryear, but we also often let our pride affect our game. Many golfers say, or more accurately, using equipment that once fit their game. 8590 mph clubhead speed does not likely require a stiff shaft, 9 degrees of loft, or 75 grams of weight to achieve proper launch and landing conditions. Proper fitting golf equipment demands being brutally honest with yourself and listening to the recommendation of the professional club fitter .

Consider swing “adjustments,” not a new swings As a teacher of many years, I know this much: The swing you have had for so many years will not change very much. This does not mean it cannot be made more effective. Your swing may need to be “tweaked,” not rebuilt.

Play tees further foward To make the game more enjoyable, consider playing tee further forward to allow you to hit greens in regulation. As a PGA golf professional, I was, at one time, a fairly decent player.

Now over 60 years young, I enjoy the game more, not playing from the back tees. And in a few years, I will likely move up again. It is just a fact of life, and denying it is futile.

Check your fundamentals Just because a specific grip, posture, or ball position was effective once, as we age, all these may need adjustments from time to time. Swings get shorter, slower, narrow, etc.

And as they do, we must allow for these things and find new ways to complement our

“maturing swing.”

As long as you can continue swinging a golf club, enjoy doing so. If you want to enjoy the game, do so with lighter clubs, from shorter tees, chipping, and putting for better scores.

We would all like to turn back the clock, but it is not likely to happen. Enjoy the back nine of life. I know I am.

Please attend one of our weekly clinics on Tuesdays or Wednesdays or take a private lesson for further help with your chipping. Call the Pro Shop at 520-825-3110

NOTE: 2020-2021 Daily Rate Fees - CLICK HERE 2020-2021 Membership Plans - CLICK HERE Charley's Grille @ The Turn every Friday and Saturday 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM Note: The Grille will be open on Monday, March 8 because the restaurant will be closed for the day for installing of new equipment.

All shotgun events currently through the month of May 2021 have been canceled due to COVID-19. However, the 9- and 18-hole men's and women's associations will have starting

times blocked for their league events. Please check your email and look to the website for further updates.

Bunker rakes will now be available on the golf course. Rakes can be utilized if hands are sanitized immediately after use.

Golf and COVID-19: Latest news on course operations Playing guidelines to golf safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many medical experts believe that golf is one of the safest activities you can participate in during these current times as long as you take proper precautions. These include social distancing with other golfers at the course.

Wear a mask when sharing a golf cart with someone you do not know. Walking is available in certain circumstances approved by the Pro Shop.

The Views Golf Club 1555 E. Rancho Vistoso Blvd.

520-825-3110 www.TheViewsGolfClub.com Our most important promise; “Golfing experience that provides professional and friendly service, mountain views and excellent conditions.”

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