Southern New England Golfer Tee Off Issue

U w S RE .s O A ne N D go LIN lfe E r.c om w

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TEE OFF ISSUE

MAY 2012

VOL. 2 NO. 2

BEST COVERAGE OF GOLF IN RI, MASS & CONN

LaSalle Academy Takes Home Challenge Cup Crown

Front row L-R: Robert Quirk, Robert Mello, Charles Anthony, Matthew Corio.

Back row L-R: James Quinn (Asst. Coach), Patrick Healey, Cameron Walsh, Brian O’Reilly, Steven White (Coach).

Nick Pandelena Individual Winner

TEE TO GREEN 3 4 6

COVER STORY EDITORIAL GOLF INSTRUCTION 10 GOLF COMMENTARY 11 RI NOTEBOOK 12 JUNIOR GOLF 15 WESTERN MA NOTES 18 PGA SHOW PICTORIAL 19 MASTERS PICTORIAL 20 SNE GOLF LOCATOR MAP 24 CT NOTEBOOK 28 CENTRAL MA NOTES 29 CAPE COD NOTEBOOK 31 EASTERN MA NOTES 32 PRODUCT REVIEWS 34 GOLFING THE PGA VILLAGE 35 MYRTLE BEACH GOLF AND MUCH MORE!

Cold Spring C.C. Set to Open in Mass., P.5

Life is a journey

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COVER STORY

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By DAVE ADAMONIS, JR

LaSalle Edges Barrington, Thayer for Challenge Cup Crown

aSalle Academy took an early lead in the opening round of the 30th annual Challenge Cup Championship at Alpine Country Club and never looked back. The Rams posted rounds of 308-317 for a 625 total, 7strokes ahead of 12-time champion Barrington HS and 8-strokes clear of defending champion Thayer Academy.

The Rams, playing in the morning wave of tee times, on a glorious 80 degree day, took full advantage of the stellar conditions en route to an impressive 308 total. Senior captain, Charlie Anthony and freshman phenom Matt Corio led the way posting 71 and 73 respectively.

Barrington, who was playing without their top player David Kraunelis (due to a hockey injury), gave chase posting a 316 total, while defending champion Thayer was tied for third with Mount St. Charles at 320.

Over the final round Anthony and Corio continued their solid play posting 75 and 76 respectively. Junior Patrick Healey played the role of the closer, carding an

80, while Robert Quirk’s second round 88 was enough to assure the Rams of their first title since 1998 and second in the history of the event. The victory was the second in less than a week for LaSalle, as the Rams hoisted the hardware at the McCampbell Cup a few days earlier.

“It has been a great week for the team,” said coach Steve White. “Charlie and Matt were outstanding, but the entire team played a role in our success. We are looking forward to the regular season and the state championship.”

In the individual competition, Boston College-bound Nicholas Pandelena transitioned nicely from the hockey rink to the golf course in winning his seventh career Challenge Cup event. Only a few weeks earlier Pandelena had led St. John’s Prep (Danvers, Mass.) to the “Final 4” of the MIAA’s Super 8 tournament.

Pandelena fired rounds of 69-71 en route to a tournament record 4-under par total and 6-stroke margin of victory over LaSalle’s Charlie Anthony.

“I am happy with the result,” stated

Pandelena. I hit the ball pretty well, but didn’t really make many putts. I could have been a lot better, but considering this is my first tournament I am pleased.”

In the Girls Division, 3-time Challenge Cup Player of the Year Megan Khang erased a 1-stroke deficit to Vinh-Hop Ngo through 27 holes en route to the title. Khang, who two days earlier fired consecutive under par rounds in winning the FCWT at Red Tail, carded rounds of 77-74 for a 3-stroke victory.

Meanwhile, 12-year Jason Liu proved his victory in the Junior Match Play Championship was no fluke, by becoming the first two-time winner on the Challenge Cup circuit in 2012. Liu was a model of consistency posting a pair of 74’s in dusting the field in the Middle School Division. Liu’s 148 total was 6-strokes better than the duo of Patrick Welch and Jeffrey Arnold.

Tournament Tap –Ins • For the 6th consecutive year Alpine C.C. played host to the Challenge Cup Championship. This year’s competition

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

saw a field of 212 junior golfers playing in three age divisions match shots from all six New England states and New York.

• Milford, Connecticut’s Benjamin James became the youngest participant in the history of the 30-year event. The 8-year-old fired rounds of 90-81, an impressive feat considering his age division played a 6,040 yard course setup.

• The Barrington Eagles have won a record 12 Challenge Cup Championships over the 30-year history of the event.

Bishop Hendricken HS holds down the second spot with 8 team titles, while Cumberland HS and Bishop Feehan share the distinction of winning three team titles each. (Feehan’s three titles were won in consecutive years 2000, 2001, 2002.)

• LaSalle Academy has a chance to join Barrington in rarefied air. By virtue of their victories at the McCampbell Cup and Challenge Cup Championship the Rams are a state championship away from sweeping the board like the Eagles did in 2008.

Results page 36

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From the Editor

hat a Masters Championship.

Double-eagle, sudden death playoff decided by a shot for the ages, two Mickelson triple-bogeys (we can do that), a Tiger collapse and tantrum, a 52-year-old tied for the lead after two rounds—could it get much better than that? Enjoy our pictorial on page 19 and Scott Cordischi’s column on page 10.

Dave Adamonis, Jr.’s school vacation week is not a vacation for him. Over two hundred players competed in the Challenge Cup and congratulations to LaSalle Academy of Providence who walked away with the trophy and earned rights to be cover boys. Many other events were conducted by the U.S. Challenge Cup that most recognize as one of the best junior programs in the country. Read Dave’s stories on page 12.

Having a new golf course opening up in our area is great news. Cold Spring Country Club in Belchertown, Mass. was a 15-year work in progress. Enjoy Bill Doyle’s story on page 5. Bruins legend, Ray Bourque, was in Providence for the New England Turfgrass Show and Bob Dick sat down with him as he talked

about his love of golf. Page 7 gives a little insight into how golf has become the new hockey for Bourque.

Joe Moniz is the person that literally kept Crestwood Country Club in Rehoboth, Mass. afloat. Joe Gordon captures a look at this entrepreneur who has done a wonderful job bringing Crestwood back from possibly closing.

The PGA Merchandise Show is always one of the highlights of our golf year. About 50,000 people connected with the golf industry meet in Orlando to show off new products, discuss new ideas, buy and sell millions of dollars worth of merchandise and have a good time. Katharine Dyson talks about some of the new products geared for women on page 16 and Shane Drury, head professional at Swansea C.C. writes about a new incentive program championed by the PGA to increase the number of golfers in America. Read his story on page 27.

One of the perks of this job is to travel to wonderful golf destinations. We visited the PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Fla. after the PGA Show. It just gets better and better. Story on page 34. No spring would

be complete without a trip to Myrtle Beach before The Masters. That story is on page 35.

Most of the golfers in our area should be in mid-season form because you really could have been playing all winter. Tom Gorman talked to many of the local owners, managers and superintendents to get their take on how the unseasonable weather affected their bottom line and their courses. See his story on page 23.

What a great stable of writers that we have to provide local news in all the areas of southern New England and features about people and places in golf that are newsworthy and probably wouldn’t be written in any other publication. The comments we get every issue are, “There is so much good stuff in your publication and we look forward to reading it.” Makes us feel good and also quite proud.

May is the month when the competition really heats up in our area. We will have writers at most all the events and look forward to getting you that news in our June/July issue that will hit the streets on June 13. We will have a huge feature on the CVS/Caremark Charity Classic.

Keep your head down and swing easy.

See you next time in June.

MASTERS GOLF TRIVIA

1. Each hole is named for a ?

2. What president had a cabin built for him?

3. Amateurs can stay in the ?

4. The clubhouse is built of ?

5. What president has a tree named for him?

6. What is the name of the creek at No. 12?

7. What is the name of road leading to clubhouse?

8. Name of the bridge at No. 15?

9. What was the property before being a golf course?

Editor/Publisher BRUCE VITTNER bruce@snegolfer.com Associate Editor JAY NOMAKEO snjnom@comcast.com Design/Production DEB BASILE Contributing Writers DAVE ADAMONIS JR. BRUCE BERLET GEOFF CONVERSE SCOTT CORDISCHI BOB DICESARE BOB DICK BILL DOYLE SHANE DRURY KATHARINE DYSON LEONARD FINKEL TIM GEARY TIM GERRISH JOE GORDON TOM GORMAN RUSS HELD DEREK HOOPER BRUCE HUTCHINSON DR. BARRY LOTZ Staff Photographers JIM CALORIO BOB LAVALLEE Sales Director MARK O’CONNOR Markjoc57@aol.com Account Executives JIM GRAY ROY WAGNER Web Design SHIRLEY NOMAKEO SUSAN VITTNER Publishing Information: Southern New England Golfer is published five times per year: January, May, June, August, and September Editorial: Mail all articles, releases, and other items to Editor, Southern New England Golfer, P.O. BOX 10038, Cranston, RI 02910. Materials will not be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All rights reserved.

Advertising: Southern New England Golfer is not responsible for advertising copy.

Corrected advertising will be placed in future issues.

Answers 1. Tree 2. Eisenhower 3. Crow’s Nest 4. Cement (first in the South) 5. Eisenhower 6. Rae’s Creek 7. Magnolia Ln. 8. Sarazen Bridge 9.Fruitland Nurseries

© 2012. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.

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SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

GOLF BUSINESS

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By BILL DOYLE

Cold Springs C.C. Ready to Open

he tough economy and the glut of golf courses have forced many courses to struggle and more than a few to be sold at foreclosure auctions, but Cold Spring Country Club in Belchertown plans to buck that ugly trend.

Cold Spring, which has been in the works for 15 years, will finally open May 1 for members and June 1 for the public. The $10 million, 7,500-square foot clubhouse with outside patio seating is scheduled to open June 1.

“It’s the new baby in town so everyone will want to play it to start,” said Bill Tragakis, Cold Spring head pro and club manager. Tragakis also believes Cold Spring has what it takes to keep golfers coming back. “The owners really want this place,” he said, “to be the Lake of Isles of western Mass. It’s not just an ordinary golf course. It’s very much a resort style with all the bells and whistles.”

Cold Spring is the only golf course Tragakis knows of with more than 40 bunkers filled with crushed marble. “It looks like snow,” Tragakis said. Some of the bunkers are pot bunkers, adding to their difficulty.

Tragakis expects Cold Spring with its durable bent grass and state of the art irrigation

system to offer a similar golf experience as Crumpin Fox Golf Club in Bernardston and The Ranch in Southwick, but at a lower cost.

Cold Spring will charge $75 to ride 18 holes weekend mornings when carts are mandatory and $65 to ride or $48 to walk from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays. For golfers aged 30-62, full individual memberships cost $1,725 and family memberships cost $2,900. Limited memberships covering any time weekdays and after 1 p.m. weekends cost $1,200.

“With the quality of the course,” Tragakis said, “I think people are going to come. They’re going to get serviced, they’re going to feel good about it and they’re going to have a wonderful experience playing golf.”

The clubhouse sits atop a hill and provides a scenic view of the Pioneer Valley.

“They say that Hampden Country Club had a $1 million view,” said Tragakis, who was head pro at Hampden from 2002-2011, “but this view is actually better.”

The par-71 layout plays only 6,521 yards from the longest of its five sets of tees, but Tragakis called Cold Spring the longest 6,521 yards he’s ever played. He plans to suggest that most golfers play from the blues, which play 5,945 yards, or whites, which are 5,430 yards.

“The 6,521 seems relatively short,” Tragakis said, “but that total yardage is hidden because of the six par 3s.” That’s right, there are six par 3s, as well as seven par 4s and five par 5s. Three of the par 3s are 216, 221 and 257 yards from the tips. Two of the par 4s are 457 yards long and another is 449. There’s also a risk-reward, 255-yard par 4.

The first hole presents an immediate challenge. It’s a 457-yard, dogleg-left par 4 with an irrigation pond on the left and a wellbunkered green.

The fairway on the par-5 16th splits around the green and a mound of rough sits directly in front of the green, ruling out a bump and run shot. Learning to play the well-bunkered, falsefronted greens will be vital at Cold Spring.

“Some are big, some are postage stamps,” Tragakis said. “The majority are very undulated.

We can have these things rolling as fast as we want them. I told the superintendent (Doug Stachura) I don’t want them that quick because people are going to be three- or four-putting.”

Plans to build a golf course on the site of this former apple orchard began in 1997, but the first two developers periodically ran into financial problems. Qianlong (US Boston) LLC purchased the partially constructed course

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

from Southbridge Savings Bank in August of 2009 for $2.3 million and spent several more million dollars to finish it. The owner considered opening Cold Spring last year, but waited another year for the course to mature to prime condition.

Mary Armstrong of Merrimack, N.H. designed the course. She has designed other courses in Florida and Maine and did renovation work at Spring Valley C.C. in Sharon and Franconia Golf Course in Springfield.

Cold Spring already has close to 100 members and Tragakis hopes for 200-250 by the end of the year. Eleven of the holes sit to the left of Route 21 and seven are located to the right. A tunnel takes golfers under Route 21.

It is wonderful to see a course finally open in our area, and when it is this good, it is even better.

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GOLF INSTRUCTION

By DEREK HOOPER

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Golf is Not About The Swing

atch any PGA Tour telecast and all you will hear are commentators talking about how beautiful a certain player’s swing is, how someone else has a less than desirable quirky move in their swing and the things the average player should copy from the

tour players. Last time I checked the ball doesn’t care what your swing looks like.

It cares what the club face is doing at the moment of impact. How you looked getting it there is totally irrelevant. Golf is not about how pretty your swing looks. It’s about learning skills and executing them when you need to.

If you are going to get better and shoot lower scores then working on your game has got to be more than improving swing positions and making the swing look better. There are a wide variety of skills required to play the game well, and if you want to play your best then you need to know what skills are more important than others and be sure your coach is helping you get better at those higher priority skills.

Priority #1: Ball Control The ability to get the ball in play from the tee and then get it somewhere near your target on the second shot is critical to good

scoring. Penalty shots will quickly inflate your score, so the importance of avoiding them cannot be overstated. The key to this area of your game is not how many great shots you hit, but rather how good are you at avoiding disasters. Distance with your shots is of far less importance than how well you can control the ball.

Priority #2: Putting If penalties are the number one killer of a good score, then 3 putts are number 2.

Too often I see players working on their full swing because their ball curves a little off line, yet they regularly have over 40 putts per round. If you are not having 32 putts or less per round, then you need to invest some time working on your putting.

Priority #3: Scrambling We focus so much on how far we can hit a golf ball, but we choose to overlook how quickly we get the ball in the hole.

Playing golf is not a distance game. It is about getting the ball in the hole in as few

as strokes as possible. There is no point in hitting a driver 250 yards in one stroke if it takes another 4 or 5 strokes to get the ball in the hole from 50 yards. If you are unable to consistently hit the ball within 20 feet of the hole from inside 50 yards, then working on this area of your game will help to dramatically lower your scores.

Assess your game today. Decide the skills that if improved will give you the greatest reduction in score and then allocate your practice time accordingly.

You will be glad you did.

Derek Hooper is the Director of Instruction at the Troon Golf Academy, Lake of Isles. Derek has a college degree in teaching and over 17 years experience conducting lesson programs in Australia, Japan and Taiwan. He specializes in personalized, improvement programs that cover the technical and physical components required to play your best golf. Derek can be contacted at 1.888.475.3746 or dhooper@troongolf.com.

Rising Star Carl Pettersson Age: Birthplace: Family: College: Turned Pro:

34 Gothenburg, Sweden.

Wife, DeAnna, Carlie, 7, Chase, 4 North Carolina State 2000

Carl Pettersson started playing golf at 10 in Sweden. His father worked for Volvo Trucks and moved to North Carolina at 14. He was the North Carolina state medallist in high school, and graduated from N.C. State. He won the European Amateur in 2000 and then turned professional and played on the European Tour in 2001 –02. He earned his PGA card at the 2002 Q School by finishing tied for 21.

This year has been his best start ever on the tour as he recently won the RBC Heritage Classic and has two second-place finishes at the Sony and Shell Houston Open. Known as the “Swedish Redneck” he has five career wins and earnings of over $17 million. He is now ranked 35th in World Rankings, but will not qualify for the European Ryder Cup team because he does not play 13 European Tour events.

His earnings this year total $2,145,253 placing him fourth in the Fed Ex standings.

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SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

PEOPLE IN GOLF

By BOB DICK

Bourque Keynote at Turfgrass Conference

Ray Bourque signing autograph

H

e could always whack a golf ball off a tee like a withering slap shot from the blue line. But now that he’s been retired from the National Hockey League for 11 years, Ray Bourque has become obsessed with clubbing that little white ball all over the fairways of country clubs north of Boston.

Make no mistake, Ray Bourque still loves the game of hockey. Why not? He grew up in hockey-crazed Montreal where he learned the

game and then skated his way to a sensational Hall of Fame career in the NHL with the Boston Bruins and the Colorado Avalanche.

He came close to winning the coveted Stanley Cup with his beloved Bruins before finally capturing the holy grail of professional hockey with the Avalanche in 2001, his final year in the NHL. Now Bourque admits he’s totally in love with golf. And although he’s been playing the game a number of years, it now consumes him even more despite the fact that the game has him completely frustrated. Still, he enjoys talking about it every chance he gets.

In fact, the first words he uttered at this year’s annual New England Regional Turfgrass Conference where he was the keynote speaker at the R.I. Convention Center in Providence were, “When can we get out there and play some golf?” Bourque delivered that plea in February.

Listening to the keynote speaker is always a highlight and this year was no exception.

After his opening golf request, Bourque kept the large audience enthralled with hockey antidotes from his 21-year career. He spoke of

how fortunate he was to have played with such great Bruins as Terry O’Reilly and Brad Park.

“They taught me how to play the game and respect it,” Bourque said.

He recalled how frustrating it was coming so close to winning the Stanley Cup in Boston but missing out twice in the finals against a good Edmonton team in 1988 and 1990. Then came the lean years with Boston, he said, and his hopes of winning the Cup seemed dead until Boston traded him (with his blessing) to Colorado in 2000.

In an interview with Southern New England Golfer after his keynote address, Bourque smiled when he told this reporter about his new love.

It’s the toughest game I have ever played. It is a game that you never master. You quickly learn that when people ask you how you are playing, you never say ‘I’ve got it figured out’ because you don’t. Golf is a game where the conditions are always different. You just never know what is going to happen. You’ll be playing well and then all of a sudden you just go south.”

Bourque, who has a handicap somewhere around 10, says he’s out on the fairways six or seven times a week during the summer. He says

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

his wife doesn’t mind. “She knows I’d go crazy if I didn’t play,” he adds. “Besides, we have so much fun. I’ve met such great people out there and made some good friends. We have great matches but the game presents a constant challenge. You try to get better at it but you can’t.”

Even though he’s all wrapped up in Arnold Palmer’s game, Bourque does find time for other activities. He does a lot of charity work, is a spokesman for TD Bank of Boston, owns a restaurant on Hanover Street in Boston called Tresca, keeps track of his two sons playing in the American Hockey League, and, of course, attends between 20 and 25 Bruins games a season.

But, with the warmer weather here, the great Hall of Fame defenseman, is preparing to face once again his new found demon — nerves.

“In hockey I never had them but when I’m out there playing golf, I’ve got plenty of them,” he said. “My chipping is okay, my putting is fine but when I have to chip and carry a trap for like 20 yards, for me, that shot is like the yips for someone with the putter. I guess it’s all really in my head.”

Ray Bourque, welcome to our world.

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By T.F. GEARY

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Grass Isn’t Growing Under Feinstein’s Feet

teve Feinstein does have a home. It’s just that he seldom spends any time there. If you want to find the 2012 Rhode Island Golf Association President you’d better find the golf course he’s at or hope you have his cell phone number.

Feinstein is involved. He lives for golf, breathes golf and probably eats most of his meals either in grille rooms or on the road as he heads from one club to another.

And while he loves to play the game, and plays as often as he can, Feinstein spends much more time organizing and running events, particularly if kids are involved.

Junior golf is what Feinstein describes as “my passion. I’ve always worked with kids.

My business was a private summer camp that I owned and operated in Maine and I did that for almost 25 years.”

“I sold it and I was too young to retire.

I’m not even sure what my initial start in junior golf was. I think it might have been nothing more than a caddy needing a ride to a tournament. I took him and met

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PEOPLE IN GOLF

Dave Adamonis Sr. and I was hooked. I started working with U.S. Challenge Cup and have done it for a long time, working now with Dave Jr.” A long time member of Ledgemont Country Club in Seekonk, Feinstein first became affiliated with the RIGA when he became the club’s liaison with the organization. “I’d been representing (Ledgemont) 14 or 15 years,” he said.

Eventually he was named to the RIGA Board of Directors and moved up the ladder to the presidency. A member at Ledgemont for 40 years, he served as the club president for three years. He has also served as the chairman of the tournament and membership committees and has been the greens chairman for the past 10 to 12 years.

“I’ve tried to make myself as knowledgeable as I can about what goes on in the maintenance of the golf course. I don’t actually do the work, but I talk often with the superintendent and the greens committee. We try to keep it at a superior

level. It’s always had that reputation and it seems to have maintained it. We feel we have one of the premiere golf courses in the area.”

Feinstein loves to give of his time.

His energy seems boundless. “I’ve been involved with a number of organizations the longest which, along with Challenge Cup, is FCWT, which is a national junior golf organization. They run tournaments all over the country and I’ve been involved with them for the last 16 years.

“Among other things I’m the public relations director of the tour. The tour consists of 50 events nationwide.”

The best junior players in the country compete. “I do get paid for it, but that’s not why I do it,” he said. “It’s a lot of work, but I love it.”

He is also on the Board of Directors in Miami for the Orange Bowl Golf Tournament and the Doral (Miami, Fla.) Publics. “It’s pretty endless. Junior golf has become almost a vocation.”

With the blessing of Ledgemont’s

membership, Feinstein started a junior program for youngsters who were unaffiliated with the club. “It was designed to grow the game.

We gave them a very attractive rate and we now have 22 kids in that program. They’re there all the time. A lot of members really like it. It’s been fantastic. It’s breathed new life into the club.”

He spends his winters in Florida, chasing the sun and wherever he is he’s involved in golf, mostly administrating junior events.

“Golf is a passion and I play as much as I can but if I play too much I get bored. I have to have other challenges.”

As RIGA President he’d like to see the organization expand its involvement in junior golf, but understands that there are limits.

“Carrying the banner is a good word, but it’s the people paid to run a state organization who should run the organization,” he explained. “They deal with it on an everyday basis. We are in an advisory capacity. Some final decisions have to have (the president’s) approval, but almost always we go along with the recommendation of the staff and I think that’s the way it should be.”

“I am working on a couple of projects that do involve junior golf. I had told (RIGA Executive Director) Bob Ward that it should come as no surprise that it was the way I’d like to leave my mark. I think it’s the right thing to do. It’s a shame that most state golf associations don’t do enough with junior golf. The NEPGA has done a marvelous job.”

“Fiscally we are in very good shape as an organization. The tournament schedule is very active. I think what we want to do is reach out to people to volunteer. You can’t run these events without volunteers.”

Feinstein has also worked closely with the Mass Golf Association since Ledgemont is in the Bay State and is a member of both state organizations. “We are on the rotation for hosting (MGA) tournaments and I think it’s really helped the exposure for our club,” he said. “I feel that we are a good, active member of MGA. There’s no conflict. It’s good for everybody.”

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

PEOPLE IN GOLF

By BRUCE VITTNER

Faxon Wins Jim Murray Award at GWAA Ceremony

R

hode Island’s Brad Faxon was presented with the ASAP Sports/ Jim Murray Award at the 40th Annual Golf Writers Assn. of America Spring Dinner and Award Ceremony in Augusta, Ga. on the eve of The Masters last month.

Presenting the award was GWAA board member Jim McCabe, senior writer for GolfWeek and the former golf writer for the Boston Globe. Also presenting was Renee Harris of ASAP Sports.

“This is such a great honor,” said Faxon to the 400 assembled in the pavilion. “I met Jim Murray (the late sports writer from the Los Angeles Times, a Pulitzer Prize winner and a long-time member of the GWAA) at my first event at the L.A. Open in 1983, and it was a thrill to meet him.”

The award is presented to a professional player for his cooperation, quotability, and accommodation to the media, and for reflecting the most positive aspects of the working relationship between athlete

and journalist. The award was instituted in 2002 and winners include Nick Price, Arnold Palmer, Fred Funk, Jay Haas, Jack Nicklaus, Nancy Lopez, Gary Player, Juli Inkster, Padraig Harrington and Steve Stricker.

“What an impressive list of winners to have my name associated with,” said Faxon who added that there are many more great people that will definitely win the award in the future. “It means a lot to me to have the respect from my peers and the writers, and to know that you’ve treated everyone fairly and nicely,” he said.

During Faxon’s acceptance speech he spoke of his first meeting with someone from the press. “This well-dressed gentleman came up to me after I had won the R.I. Junior Championship. He congratulated me, shook my hand and asked if he could ask me a few questions. It was Paul Kenyon of the Providence Journal.

I couldn’t believe how nice he was and that he wanted to ask a long-haired sixteenyear-old questions. I knew right then that

if I was nice to the press they would be nice to me,” said the humble Faxon who has the total respect of everyone in the golf industry.

“Jim McCabe followed my career from when he first started covering golf for the Globe, said Faxon as he spoke of his presenter. “It is great to receive the award from him.”

This is not the first award that Faxon has garnered from the GWAA. In 1999 he and Billy Andrade won the Charlie Bartlett Award given by the GWAA to a playing professional(s) for unselfish contributions to the betterment of society.

The two Rhode Islanders have raised millions of dollars for charity through their own charity and the CVS/Caremark Charity Classic that will be held for the 14th year in June.

Other winners during the ceremony were: Luke Donald-Male Player of the Year, Tom Lehman-Senior Player of the Year, Yani Tseng-Female Player of the Year, Sophie Gustafson-Ben Hogan Award for

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

Renee Harris, Brad Faxon, Jim McCabe achievement in golf despite a physical handicap, Maj. Dan Rooney-William Richardson Award for outstanding contribution to golf, Notah Begay won the Bartlett Award and Dan Jenkins was presented with the PGA Lifetime Achievement in Journalism Award.

Photo courtesy of GWAA, Getty Images and the PGA of America

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By SCOTT CORDISCHI

T

hat’s the question everyone seems to have about Tiger Woods about a third of the way through the 2012 PGA Tour season. When Woods won at Bay Hill in late March, everyone assumed that the man who was the world’s best golfer for more than a decade was on his way back. But then there was his performance at the Master’s.

Woods tied for 40th place at 5-over par for the tournament. It was his worst Masters performance ever, as he failed to register a single round under par. Fortunately for golf fans, the show put on by Bubba Watson down the stretch was more than exciting enough to keep us glued to our TVs. And, after all, it was the Masters where we have come to learn that virtually anything can happen on the back nine at Augusta on Sunday.

But the Masters comes but once a year.

So what are golf fans, the PGA Tour and their sponsors and the television networks to do during those other weeks? The answer is simple: hope and pray that Tiger will indeed rediscover his game.

Let’s face it. Whether you love him or hate him, Tiger Woods is great for golf! When Tiger

GOLF COMMENTARY

Is He Back Or Isn’t He? is lurking at or near the top of the leaderboard on Sunday, everyone is happy.

We all understand what has happened in Tiger’s personal life and it wasn’t pretty. His infidelity may have turned some of his fans to non-fans and it certainly galvanized his legions of haters. But this has nothing to do with Tiger Woods the person. This is about Tiger Woods the golfer. And I’m here to tell you that golf needs this man to be relevant.

In all due respect to stars such as Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald, Hunter Mahan or Justin Rose, nobody cares when they are winning tournaments. With the possible exception of Phil Mickelson, there isn’t a professional golfer out there who people tune in to see on a regular basis which is why Tiger’s turnaround is paramount to the PGA Tour.

Ever since Tiger busted onto the scene in 1996, I have been one to root against him.

Why? Because I prefer to root for David to slay Goliath each week as opposed to vice versa.

Ironically, that is not my approach when Mickelson is lurking near the top of the leaderboard. In fact, it’s just the opposite. I root for Lefty to win. Maybe it’s the unnecessary

risks he seems to take at the worst times, or maybe it’s just his “aw, shucks” attitude when galleries shower him with applause that’s appealing. Whatever it is, I’m a Lefty fan.

Tiger, on the other hand, has an arrogance about him that makes him easy to root against.

He also had, for many years, that air of invincibility like being a #1-seed in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament facing a 16-seed.

Now, Tiger is a JAG – just another guy – and because of it the PGA Tour is significantly less interesting on a weekly basis. On top of that, everyone seems to have wanted their pound of Tiger’s flesh for his transgressions making him almost appear to be a sympathetic figure to those who feel like he has paid his price for his mistakes.

He has a new caddy, a new swing coach and, understandably, no longer has a wife. All that he has left are his children and golf. So what’s wrong with hoping that he rediscovers some of that Tiger magic from the past?

Since his fall from grace, many now claim to be Tiger “experts.” Former instructor Hank Haney authored a book entitled “The Big Miss” on his years with Woods that many view as a

betrayal by a swing coach towards his former pupil Even Butch Harmon told the Wall Street Journal recently that he believes that Tiger has “lost his nerve putting.”

Do you think either one of these guys would have said or written anything like this about Woods were they still employed by him? I doubt it. About the only words out of their mouths when they were with him were, “yes, Tiger...whatever you say Tiger...you’re the best Tiger.”

Tiger Woods is now 36 which certainly isn’t over the hill by golfing standards. But many of today’s young stars can hit the ball just as long as he can and, more importantly, aren’t intimidated by Woods when they step on the tee with him. That second part may one of the biggest reasons that Tiger will never dominate golf again.

But here’s hoping that he does. Because the PGA Tour is a heck of a lot more interesting when Tiger is on the prowl atop the leaderboard as opposed to being the JAG that he is today.

Scott Cordischi is co-host of a sports talk show on 103.7 WEEI on Saturday mornings.

Bubba and Louis were playing a match. Louis lined up his putt and grounded his club on the sudden-death hole. The wind blew and the ball moved. Bubba told him that was a stroke penalty and to replace the ball where it was. Was that correct?

Ruling: Not any more. In 2012 the rule was changed. It is no longer a penalty if an outside force (wind, earthquake, etc.) caused the ball to move after grounding your club. The ruling is that you play the ball where it lies, not return it to the original position. If you move it is a penalty.

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SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

RI NOTEBOOK

By BOB DICK

Leopold Sets Sight on Walker Cup 2013

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he one guy Potowomut’s Bobby Leopold wants to impress the most with his play over the next 14 months is a guy by the name of Jim Holtgrieve. Why? Well, the 63 year-old Holtgrieve just happens to be the captain of the 2013 U.S. Walker Cup team that will compete against its rivals from Great Britain and Ireland at the site of the very first Walker Cup match in 1922— the National Golf Links of America at Southhampton, Long Island.

The 27-year-old Leopold who has been impressing folks around here the past couple of years (he was the RIGA Player of the Year for 2011), has set his sites on becoming one of the 10 members of next year’s Walker Cup team when it tees off Sept. 7 and 8.

Leopold realizes he faces a daunting task but he believes he is up to it. “That’s my goal and I just have to get on their radar screen and I can do that if I play well in the top amateur tournaments this year and next,” he said.

Leopold, who at one time had dreams of eventually becoming a pro, now says that idea is over and he just wants to become a top amateur player, work at home (in his father-in-law’s insurance agency) and be with his family.

That plan became official in his mind last year while he became very productive in amateur circles, both in Rhode Island and nationally.

Leopold won the Hornblower Memorial in Plymouth, Mass., was the low Rhode Islander at the Northeast Amateur and was the medalist at the R.I. Amateur Championship. The English native then got on everyone’s radar screen when he earned the 64th seed for match play at the U.S. Amateur at Erin Hills in Wisconsin and then proceeded to knock off medalist Gregor Main 2 and 1 before upsetting Nationwide Tour winner Harris English, 4 and 3 only to lose his next match on the 19th hole to Jordan Russell.

Leopold returned home and won the RIGA’s Mid-Amateur title at Carnegie Abbey. “That’s what I have to do even more so this year,” Leopold said. “I’ll be competing in most of the top amateur events this summer although I won’t enter the Northeast this year because a friend

of mine is getting married at that time and I’m in the wedding party. I can’t miss that.”

Leopold got his 2012 season off to a good start when he finished 9th at the very competitive Terracotta event in Naples, Fla., last month. He shot rounds of 70, 74 and 74 in the 54-hole tourney.

“I thought I played well given I hadn’t had that much practice since the end of last season. I made 13 birdies in three days and I didn’t have any three-putts,” he noted. “My short game is getting better and I was making some putts.”

Now, all Leopold has to do is keep that kind of golf going this summer and force Jim Holtgrieve to take notice. There would be no better feeling than to be a member of the 2013 U.S. Walker Cup team that returns the cup to America after losing it to the Brits and Irish in 2011.

Morrell Enjoys Solid Spring

Rainy weather, however, shortened the competition that day to only the morning round of RIGA vs RIPGA Four Ball matches. The amateurs won four, halved one and lost one. The afternoon singles matches were canceled.

Everyone agreed afterward that they couldn’t wait to do it again. However, that isn’t about to happen. They couldn’t get together last year and won’t this season.

“It is just too tough for the pros to take a day out of work, we couldn’t work out a time for everyone,” said Ward. “The clubs have so many members to attend to that the pros just can’t get way for a day. It’s too bad because everyone had such a good time.”

OSWGA The Ocean State Women’s Golf Association kicked off its 2012 season with the annual Natalie Price Memorial Spring Open at the Kirkbrae C.C. The four player team

of Kibbe Reilly, Nancy Diemoz, Annie Corio and Patti D’Ambrosia captured the Championship Division title with a total score of 113. They finished five strokes ahead of the second place team of Ann Moran, Maureen Ford, Beth Ellinwood and Barbara Charles. First net honors went to the foursome of Ann DeStanis, Kyong Kim, Carolyn Pacheco and Suzette Gervais.

Listen to the Golf Radio Show every Saturday at 7 a.m. on WEEI in Springfield and Worcester.

In Providence listen on Saturday at 6 a.m. and Sunday at 8 a.m.

North Kingstown’s Samantha Morrell has enjoyed a solid spring season as the number one golfer on her Old Dominion University women’s golf team. Morrell, Southern New England Golfer’s female Player of the year in 2011, stayed among the top 10 finishers in her spring tournaments. Morrell’s best finish was second at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington Invitational with rounds of 73, 70 and 70. “I finished 3 under for 54 holes and my putting was awesome.

I think I missed only one birdie attempt from under two feet,” she said. Morrell is the defending RIWGA and OSWGA state amateur champion.

Amateur vs. Pros It was a great concept, but the idea of having the top Rhode Island amateur players compete against Rhode Island pros from the various country clubs is history at least for the near future. The top 12 local pros and top 12 amateurs squared off in July of 2010 at Meadow Brook G.C. It marked the first time for such competition since the early 90s. But the threesome of Bob Ward, executive director of the RIGA, Steve Napoli, pro at Carnegie Abbey and Ed Kirby from Alpine, worked hard to revive the event.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

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By DAVE ADAMONIS, JR Challenge Cup Loses a Friend Peter Curran, the father of 2-time Challenge Cup Player of the Year Jon Curran lost a long battle with melanoma cancer on February 15th. Curran was well known among the top golfers in the Challenge Cup for his mentoring.

Dave Wilson (Cameron’s dad) and Bill McLaughlin (Nick’s father) referred to Peter as the model golfing dad. He attained a wealth of knowledge to support his son and let him take care of his business on the golf course...barely ever watching Jon play.

Peter was the consummate family man.

His life revolved around his family. To me he was a model husband and father. He will be greatly missed, but never forgotten.

This will ring true in Challenge Cup circles, as an annual playing scholarship has been established in Peter’s memory for players lacking the financial resources to compete.

Gately Still Making an Impact In recognition of Barry Gately’s tireless contributions to junior golf, in 2011

JUNIOR GOLF the Challenge Cup deemed the month of April, “Barry Gately Month.” It had been an annual tribute in the month of April to recognize the late Challenge Cup president’s birthday (a ribbing he thoroughly enjoyed).

After a successful career in the printing business, Barry dedicated the final 30 years of his life to the betterment of our youth. Despite suffering a stroke in 2005, Barry still was a fixture at virtually all of the Challenge Cup’s competitions (unless of course it was football season at GDA).

In addition to this recognition, the Challenge Cup established a tournament in Barry’s name (the Gately Cup) in 2003.

The 36-hole stroke play competition brings together junior golfers and collegiate players. Two scholarships in Barry’s name are distributed annually. This year’s event will be contested at Connecticut National G.C. on August 21-22.

Last year in another tribute to Barry the Challenge Cup permanently deemed the team names for the Presidents Cup, Team Gately and Team McCampbell.

In 2012, the Challenge Cup will launch the inaugural Growing Golf through Gately program. The summer instructional program will be held on Saturday mornings beginning on June 23rd at Firefly G.C. For more information please contact yours truly at dadamonis@comcast.net.

Stimets Leads Campus Crawl Ricky Stimets was one of several former Challenge Cup players to post a win during the spring college golf season.

The Paxton, Mass. native recorded the most dominant win among New England players in cruising to a 9-stroke victory at his team’s host event the North Alabama Spring Classic. Stimets fired rounds of 6770-68 for an 11-under par total to win his first collegiate title.

Other players hoisting hardware included Hartford’s Matt Smith at the New England Division I Championships, Dartmouth’s Peter Williamson at the Princeton Invitational, Salem State’s Chris Berry at the Hampton Inn Collegiate Invite, Sacred Heart’s Josh Salah at the Rhody Invitational, UMass Lowell’s Cole Childs at the AIC Invitational, URI’s Branden Chicorka at the Century Intercollegiate and Skidmore College’s John McCarthy at the Palamountain Invitational.

Top Ranked While quite a few New England players posted wins during the spring season, four players are currently ranked among the top 100 by Golfstat. Golfstat’s ranking is the most comprehensive ranking system in college golf, as it includes all four intercollegiate divisions in its formula (Division 1, Division 2, Division 3 and NAIA). On the men’s side of the docket Peter Williamson is ranked 22nd, while Stanford’s Cameron Wilson holds down the 58th position. In the women’s ranking, Virginia’s Brittany Altomare is currently ranked 53rd, while the ultra consistent Juliet Vongphoumy (5 top 10’s in 10 starts at the University of Maryland) is ranked 80th.

LaSalle Tops at McCampbell Cup Robert Quirk and Robert Mello scored the clinching points to lead LaSalle Academy to a narrow victory over Barrington HS at 3rd annual McCampbell Cup. LaSalle, who hoisted the hardware for the first time in the event’s history, had contributions from all six players. Their top duo of Charlie Anthony and Matt Corio 12

earned 7 of a possible 8 points, while the pairing of Patrick Healey and Cameron Walsh chipped with 4 1⁄2 points.

While the Rams were taking home the team honors, five individuals were also recognized at the McCampbell Cup. Peter Curran posthumously earned the prestigious Michael W. McCampbell award for his charitable contributions to the game of golf. Barrington High School’s Jack Vanier earned a college scholarship named in memory of Michael.

LaSalle Academy’s Charlie Anthony, Bishop Hendricken’s Brendan Pagliaro and Mount St. Charles star Brad Auclair were named Barry Gately Scholarship recipients. In 2009, the McCampbell Cup was named in honor of former Challenge Cup standout and Tournament Director Mike McCampbell, who passed way in 2009 after a battle with brain cancer.

Final Results LaSalle Academy 18 Barrington HS 17 North Kingstown HS 11 Bishop Hendricken HS 10 Norton HS 9 1⁄2 Mount St. Charles 6 1⁄2

Clapp, Hickman, Vartelas Tops at Adamonis Players’ Championship Doug Clapp was in mid-season form in taking top honors at the 22nd annual Dave Adamonis Sr. Players’ Championship.

Clapp, making his first Players appearance, opened the tournament at Point Judith C.C. with a tidy 1-over par 72 to share the overnight lead with Brian O’Leary and former champion Ben Spitz.

In the final round at Warwick C.C., Clapp steadily separated himself from the field posting a 1-under par 68 for an even par total of 140. Clapp’s effort was 6-strokes better than the duo of Ben Spitz and Brian Higgins.

Meanwhile, New Bedford’s Bob Hickman posted rounds of 77-80 to earn his first Legends Division title. Hickman’s total was 2-strokes better than Mike Arter and 3-strokes clear of former Legends champion Stephen Molis.

Not to be outdone Cromwell, Connecticut’s Geoff Vartelas overcame a tight packed field to hoist the hardware in the Boys Division. Vartelas, will be headed to Penn State this fall, carded a pair of 74’s to edge Ben Warner by 1-stroke and Nick Fairweather and McKinley Slade by 2strokes.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

JUNIOR GOLF The Dave Adamonis Sr. Players’ Championship originally recognized as the Tournament Players’ Championship was permanently renamed in Dave’s memory following his passing in 2009. Adamonis Sr.’s commitment to the game of golf, most specifically junior golf is unrivaled.

In creating the Challenge Cup program it was his intention to provide junior golfers with the opportunity to use competitive golf as a vehicle to college. Currently, 224 Challenge Cup alumni are playing college golf. Twenty-four are members of an Ivy League team. Many of these young men and women have received scholarships to attend college. Results page 36.

Houston, Greenleaf Lead Team Hogan to New England Junior Ryder Cup Chris Houston may want to consider becoming a member at Ledgemont C.C. His affinity for the course is quite obvious.

For the second consecutive year the Penn State freshman to be grabbed medalist honors at the prestigious New England Junior Ryder Cup. Houston and Team Hogan teammate Connor Greenleaf earned a share of the medal honors by posting 2-under par 69’s to lead Team Hogan to the team title. The duo was unable to complete a play-off as the final group almost needed headlights to finish their round. Yet another Team Hogan player, Chris Gentle, finished 1-stroke behind the dynamic duo at 1-under par 70.

While Team Hogan had the top three players on the leaderboard, the victory was still in doubt over the back nine as Team Palmer (led by veteran captain Steve Feinstein) and players Nick Drago and Patrick (beach bum) Frodigh fought to the finish. The anchor players for Team

Hogan came up huge, as Adam Goldstein posted a back nine of 36 and Brian Carlson sealed the deal with a 37.

The victory was especially sweet for this scribe (as I was co-captain of Team Hogan with Steve Desantis). With the victory yours truly became the fifth captain to post multiple victories at the Ryder Cup. Legendary captain Barry Gately is a 7time winner, while Sean Fecteau checks in next with 3 titles. Chris Simmons and John Danieli round out the “Fab 5” with two wins a piece.

“I think the captains have as much fun with this event as the kids,” stated Team Hogan co-captain Steve Desantis. “Once the field of players is set we conduct a draft with each team selecting 11 players. This year we had our first trade. There are big time bragging rights on the line. There is a lot of ribbing amongst the players and captains, all in good fun of course.”

“This is an awesome event for the kids,” chimed in Team Watson captain Chris Simmons. “From the course to the amenities, it is first rate. The annual assemblage of talent at this event is impressive. The only top player from New England missing from the field this year was Chelso Barrett and I know he was bummed to miss this event (he was at the Sage Valley Junior Inviational).”

For the 20th consecutive year, participants were outfitted with team golf shirts and Pro V1 golf balls courtesy of Footjoy and Titleist. Once again, the traditional team lunch was provided

by Challenge Cup Tour sponsor Spinal Technology Inc. It is no wonder with the aforementioned amenities and the chance to play one of New England’s finest courses that the New England Junior Ryder Cup is the best one day junior competition in all of golf. Scores page 36.

By DAVE ADAMONIS, JR

Junior Ryder Cup Champions — Team Hogan

Read us online at www.snegolfer.com

Dave Adamonis Sr. Players Championship winners (l-r) Bob Hickman, Doug Clapp, Geoff Vartelas SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

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GOLF BUSINESS Tom Ryan to Receive John P. Burke Award The 2012 John P. Burke award will be presented to former chairman, president and CEO of CVS Caremark, Tom Ryan, at a dinner May 29th at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Warwick. The award is presented to an individual or organization that has made extraordinary contributions to golf in Rhode Island while helping others.

Ryan, now retired, helped launch the CVS Caremark Classic in 1999. That event has raised more than $14 million for various local charities.

For more information, contact the Burke Fund at (401) 272-1350 or visit its website at www.burkefund.org.

For breaking local golf stories visit www.snegolfer.com and click “Breaking Stories.”

You can also scroll on the home page for current golf news.

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Shelter Harbor hosts PCHC Benefit Providence Community Health Centers (PCHC) holds its 6th annual golf benefit at Charlestown’s pristine Shelter Harbor Golf Club on Wednesday June 6th at 12 noon – and a few sponsorships are still available.

For area businesses, this is an important cause because PCHC’s plays a critical role in the health of Providence families. Their ten neighborhood centers provide primary medical care to one of every three Providence children and more than 40,000 area residents, regardless of their ability to pay. A non-profit, PCHC is the safety net for people who cannot easily receive quality, affordable health care due to financial constraints, or because of social, cultural or language barriers. Its EXPRESS location also provides immediate care that helps reduce the load on hospital emergency departments. The golf community’s support helps PCHC meet this growing need.

This is a rare opportunity to play a magnificent course. Lunch, dinner and chair massages in the beautiful clubhouse are included. NBC 10 Sportscaster Frank Carpano will MC and conduct a live auction. For sponsorships please contact Suzanne Sustello, (401) 444-0411, ext. 3155 or by email at ssustello@ProvidenceCHC.org.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

WESTERN MASS NOTEBOOK

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By RUSS HELD

Big Changes in the Pioneer Valley

n off-season with winter weather that never really happened, was one that had plenty going on with local golf courses and businesses.

Ownership of five different golf courses in the greater Pioneer Valley changed hands during a three-month period, including three at foreclosure auction.

On the bright side, a new course will open in the region for the first time in 10 years when Cold Spring Country Club in Belchertown officially opens the door for member play on May 1.

Off the course, a longtime fixture in Fran Johnson’s Golf & Racquet was sold after 36 years. The family-owned business on Riverdale Street in West Springfield was purchased last month by longtime area pro David DiRico.

Two clubs – Crestview C.C. and Hampden C.C. – had decidedly different feels come opening day. At Crestview, the big news is that the former host of the LPGA Tour’s Friendly’s Classic is now open to public play. “We have to hit people between the eyes with it, to let them know that they can come out here and play golf,” Crestview’s new head pro Rick Fleury said.

Crestview had been a private club since its opening in 1958, but has now opened its doors to the daily-fee golfer as a semiprivate operation. “We are doing all we can to make the member feel like nothing has changed with the high-quality of service they’ll get and to make the public feel like they are a member for the day,” Fleury said.

New owner David Fleury (no relation), who caddied, played golf and had his wedding reception at the club, led a partnership group that purchased Crestview C.C. for $1.7 million.

Hampden C.C., once a jewel among private clubs in the region, was sold at auction in January and has changed from semiprivate back to private. The 18hole club on Wilbraham Road sold for $1.4 million in January to Connecticut businessman Jerry Antonacci.

“This is very exciting. The owners have been great about a plan to bring this place back to where it once was,” Hampden C.C. head pro Billy Downes said. The club does not plan to officially open for play this season, instead focusing on a

course-wide improvements and a bunker renovation project led by designer Brian Silva. Drainage issues have also been addressed.

“We made a decision not to take on members for this year, to get everything set and ready to really make a push for membership in the future,” Downes said.

A new 14,000-square facility, located to the right of the current practice green and on the site of the club’s old pool, will house a new pro shop and offices as well as cart and bag storage.

Renovations have already started on both levels of the clubhouse and with improvements to and expansion of the range. “And we’ll eventually have a shortgame facility next to the new pro shop and I am 95-percent sure we’ll be putting in a pool,” Downes said.

Hickory Ridge Golf Club in Amherst was sold for a $1.05 million to a New Jersey-based group that owns and manages more than a dozen courses along the Eastern seaboard. “We’ve made some changes and will make some more. We have a new logo and we’re not a country club anymore, so our name is different,” head pro Bill Rosenblum said. “But on the golf course it’s going to be business as usual, and that’s a good thing.”

The clubhouse at Northampton C.C. was sold to mortgage-holder Robert Berniche for $600,000 in March. The clubhouse owner holds rights to play the course, which is owned by owners of condominiums adjacent to the nine-hole course.

Holyoke C.C., a 107-year-old, nineholer at the base of Mount Tom, was sold for a reported $850,000 to Holyoke native and entertainment mogul Eric Suher. The land and its future use has been widely debated, as the region looks to land a casino. “He (Suher) is putting money into the club and it will be business as usual on the golf course,” Holyoke C.C. pro Via Wightman said.

The ranks of head golf professional changed some. Rick Fleury, who has been head or assistant pro for the last 23 years at Hickory Ridge C.C., has moved to Crestview. He replaced DiRico, who opted not to return when sale of the club was pending, as the club’s fourth head pro in 55 years.

Rosenblum, a longtime area pro and former assistant under Fleury, returned to Hickory Ridge as its head pro.

Ron Dunn plans to leave Agawam Municipal G.C., retiring next month after 19 years there.

“I am retiring, or semi-retiring. I want to and need to spend more time with my wife and family,” Dunn, 60, said.

Tom Toski returns to teach lessons, beginning his 52nd year as a Class A member of the PGA of America. He will teach at the Western Mass. Family Golf Center in Hadley.

It will be a quiet season in these parts for statewide championships, with the Senior Four-Ball Championship being the only Massachusetts Golf Association event held in Western Massachusetts. The championship runs May 22-23 at C.C. of Greenfield and Crumpin-Fox Club.

That C.C. of Greenfield has remained as a co-host for the championship is

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

a sign of its resiliency. Its century-old clubhouse burned to the ground during an early morning fire in mid-October.

The semiprivate club will operate for the season out of a temporary facility, but with full kitchen service, a liquor license and an outside tent. Golf professional Kevin Piecuch said the club will sell bricks, as part of a fund-raiser to help offset cost to rebuild its clubhouse.

TEE PARTY: Longtime area golf professional Francis Kringle of West Springfield was the guest of honor at the 66th Western Mass. Tee Party. Kringle was honored for his commitment to golf in the region on May 3 at Tekoa C.C. in Westfield.

Kringle, 62, is a ninth-year head pro at The Blandford Club, a nine-hole course at the foothills of the Berkshires. He turned professional at age 19 and earned Class A status with the PGA of America in 1975.

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By KATHARINE DYSON

WOMEN’S GOLF

Hot and New from the PGA Merchandise Floor

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he massive PGA Golf Merchandise Show that takes place each year in Orlando rolls out an exciting preview of what is new in the industry from apparel to equipment. Between catching wise snippets from golf icons like Paula Creamer, Jack Nicklaus and Nancy Lopez, you get an expansive overview of what you will be seeing in the pro shops this year.

Expect to see bold graphic prints, more athletic styling, lively stripes, strong colors and vibrant florals, taking a page from the Lily Pulitzer folio.

Traditionalists will gravitate towards Sport Haley, Cutter & Buck and Polo while athletic types will like fashions from Tail, Puma, Nike and adidas. Lily Pulitzer has been at the forefront of bright and bold florals for years and now is showing up in golf shops while yogawear has inspired other golf attire like Lulu. Abacus, a Swedish-based company who supplies the outfits for the European Solheim team, continues to make waves in the U.S. with incredible classic styling with design twists.

Loudmouth Rocks Being of sound mind and body is no reason not to show up for your next golf game in a custom-fitted Loud Mouth skort, Par Three pants, skirt or shorts.

These fashions rock with bright argyle diamond patterns, happy circles, stripes — even American flags. To make sure the fit works, you can now choose lengths, embroidery and other options. From Loudmouth CEO, Larry Jackson to your

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ears, “We are all about pleasing the ladies because we want them all in our pants.”

Loudmouthgolf.com.

Ou la la French fashion has always raised the bar. L’etiquette is no exception with fashions that seamlessly take you from the streets of Montmartre to the golf course in Pinehurst. Cuts are form-fitting so you look very sexy when you tee up while the designs use a lot of provocative zippers and wide color blocks and stripes, some sewn on the diagonal. The ladies “La Tropezine” Club Edition Polo is very chic indeed and available in America. Letiquette.fr.

All that glitters It may not be gold but for sure it is serious sparkle. We’re talking gemloaded belt buckles from lGd (Little Gorilla Design). Some are encrusted with Swarovki Crystals, others are rendered in a creative designs from paisley to tiny triangles and coated with a glass-like surface. Pair buckles with lGd belts in leather to set a fashion statement on and off the course. You’ll love them with jeans too. lGdbuckles.com.

Shades for Summer Paula Creamer, a strong advocate for sun protection, likes Sundog glasses pointing out in ING (International Network of Golf ) appearance, that the Mela-Lens used in her Paula Creamer Collection, protects you from the high energy visible light or “blue” light and gives you 100

percent UVA/B protection.

And you’ll love the styling.

Check out the Bravo MelaLens aviator-style glasses.

Paula wears them and you’ll live in them this summer. ($89) Sundogeyewear.com.

Bag Ladies on the Light Side If you are a must-ride kind of person, you know those cart bags can be a killer as far as weight goes even before you’ve loaded it up with 14 clubs, head covers, water bottle cosmetics and a pile of balls. Unless you have “people” to lift your bag from car trunk to cart, you will appreciate Datrek’s D-Light cart bag weighing only 4.5 pounds. The bag has individual dividers for clubs, a putter well and plenty of storage with six pockets including an insulated cooler pocket and a deluxe fleece-lined valuables pocket. We love the gray, baby blue design too. Datrek.com.

Sun Mountain’s Superlight Three 5 (3.5 lbs.- $159) is another sensible way to lighten your load. Designed to “sacrifice nothing but weight,” it’s a sturdy stand bag with the X-Strap Dual Strap for comfortable carrying and six pockets.

The women’s bag is also one inch shorter than men’s bags to better accommodate women’s clubs and wait until you eyeball the bag in the bright grape and black with yellow accents or the poppy-orange version with gold. The colors are a wow. sunmountain.com.

The lGd Buckle It’s all Talk Clip the Golf Buddy rangefinder onto your hat and let it talk away. This funky new high tech tool is about the size of an iPod nano and can also be worn on a band as you would a watch.

Golfbuddyglobal.com.

Best Things Come in Small Packages Have some fun marking your ball with GolfDotz, tiny motifs like flowers, horseshoes, happy faces and all sorts of designs. Just rub them on and you’re good to go. Golfdotz.com.

Katharine Dyson is a member of the Golf Writers Assn. of America and the Golf Travel Writers of America. She is the owner of Katharine Dyson Communications.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

PEOPLE IN GOLF

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By JOE GORDON

New Owner Joe Moniz Turns Around Crestwood

all it instinct or hard work. Or maybe Joe Moniz simply possesses the Midas Touch. Moniz, the new owner of Crestwood Country Club in Rehoboth, Ma., understands what it takes to be a success. A big part of the equation is a willingness to work long hours combined with solid business practices, no matter what the endeavor.

That’s how he turned a one-man startup machine shop into the largest machine shop in Rhode Island before selling it for a sizable profit.

Moniz, 54, grew up in Warren, R.I., and started his business career when he opened the doors to the machine shop in the early 1980s.

“My customers used to come on Fridays and I’d bring some food in and do wine tastings for them. One thing led to another and before you knew it I started a wine distributorship. And that took off,” said Moniz, a member at Crestwood for 18 years before officially acquiring the Geoffrey Cornish-designed layout.

“About three years after I started that, a big wholesaler out of Massachusetts came down and made me an offer. I took that.

One of the wines I used to represent as a wholesaler called me up. They had just started and they asked if I’d like to help them. I did. I don’t own the wine wholesale business but I still own a portion of the winery. I’m one of the partners in the winery.”

His wine comes from Napa, Ca. where his winery is named X Winery, after Generation X. One of his labels is Moniz Vineyards. When Moniz first became involved with the wine it was selling 2,000 cases annually. The business, exposed to Moniz’s touch, has thrived. “It’s a decent size. Last year we did over 50,000 cases.

That’s a good-sized winery, said Moniz.

“I really made most of my money in that machine shop. I sold that and then I sold the wine wholesale business and made money on each, but it was really the machine shop that got me the most. I used to work many hours a day. I’m working a lot now, but it seems like more because I’m older. I’m at the course seven days a week.”

Moniz, who now handles national sales for the winery, didn’t start playing golf until he was 18 years old and out of high school.

He also played baseball and soccer.

“The first time I played golf I liked it.

I’ve been playing ever since. My handicap got down to 6, but I haven’t played since last July,” said Moniz, who had extended a loan to Crestwood, a club that had fallen on lean financial times.

After a while, some representatives of the Crestwood board of directors approached Moniz to buy Crestwood, where Champions Tour star Dana Quigley had been the club’s long-time professional before turning the Champions Tour into his personal ATM. Now it seems Crestwood will prove fertile ground for Moniz, who determined the best way to protect his loan was to make the purchase, which he did for $3.2-million, taking possession of the property Jan. 26.

But he wasn’t satisfied waiting until January to get started with renovations at the private club. The sellers had no problem allowing Moniz to get started in September. He was able to put the Moniz work ethic to good use. The clubhouse has gone through a major renovation and the course remains in excellent shape, thanks to superintendent Nick Burchard.

“Since September I’ve taken three days off. I want to turn it around in 9 months, not 2 years. To me, business is business,” said Moniz, who applies the same business

principles to the golf industry as he did to the machine shop and the winery. The results have already been startling.

“From September to now the membership has doubled from 138 to a little more than 260,” said Moniz. “The clubhouse is beautiful but they weren’t going after things to make money. In 2011 we did two weddings. For 2012 I already have 29 weddings. Everybody is very happy right now, especially if they’ve walked into the clubhouse and walked upstairs. It’s really stunning.”

He is also thrilled with the condition of the course. “You would never have known that the course was financially troubled over the last few years. It was really always in tip-top shape. We just took down 260 trees that had been damaged or dying,” said Moniz.

One terrific piece of luck was the extraordinarily mild winter. “We didn’t shut down. Last year from December through February we had 28 rounds played. This year we had more than 1,000 rounds played in December, 500 in January and 500 in February. I allowed guest play and charged only for the cart.

We picked up 10-12 members from that,” Moniz said.

He wants between 290-300 members and has come up with an aggressive plan which should put the membership drive over the top. He’s offering a trial membership for 2012. The cost is $3,180 dollars with no assessment fees or dining minimums at the par-71, 6650-yard, 18hole course built on 180 rolling acres with a 39,000 square foot clubhouse.

During his 18 years as a Crestwood member, Moniz never served as an officer or committee member. “I don’t like committees,” said Moniz. ”I have to run it like a business. What I see is most of the

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

courses that are run by boards just can’t make decisions. Today you have to make decisions right on the spot and that’s what can’t be done when you have a board.”

Moniz is planning many innovative clubhouse functions in addition to the weddings. He has arranged for several popular restaurants to allow their chefs to take a night off from their home base and cook at Crestwood.

“We wound up doing a Portuguese night Dec. 7. I only advertised it a week before. It was a restaurant from Fall River called Cinderellas. We had 138 members come on a week night in December. Stuff like that brings in a lot of income.”

Moniz said that when the old board sought him out as a potential buyer, he felt forced to take over the club to make sure he got his loan back.

“At first I was looking to not lose the money I had let them borrow. Once I started looking at it I said I can make this thing work. It’s going to take me a while to do it. It’s going according to plan, but as you get older the long days get tougher,” said Moniz, who appears to be aging like fine wine.

Joe Gordon is the retired golf writer for the Boston Herald and a long-time member of the Golf Writers Assn. of America.

17

PGA SHOW PICTORIAL Matt Adams of Newport National with Noel Cronin of Waterville Golf Links in Kerry, Ireland.

Lexi Thompson, who was a guest on our radio show last year, signing autographs at the Cobra/Puma booth.

During the first day of the Show there about 25,000 people.

To walk the whole floor at the Orange County Convention Center is about 10 miles.

Fashion Shows are held a few times each day as the clothing industry makes up a huge part of the Show.

Gary Rencurrel of Connecticut, a regional TaylorMade representative, was very busy during Demo Day. Paula Creamer was very gracious and sweet as she talked to members of the International Network of Golf.

(Photos Courtesy of PGA Golf Shows) 18

Grow The Game was the main theme of the entire Show. The PGA is trying to get more interested and playing golf.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

MASTERS PICTORIAL

Keegan Bradley with his mother as caddie during the Par 3.

Louis Oosthuizen, right, played a practice round with 2011 champ Charl Swartzel, his best friend.

They almost met at Butler Cabin.

Do they know what that flag is going to be worth?

Whose your caddie?

Bubba Watson’s shot on #10 to clinch the title. This was shown from Google Earth.

Padraig Harrington was leading the Par 3 before the rains came and canceled it. Thomas Bjorn thrilled the crowd with an ace on 9.

Henrik Stenson’s son was the smallest caddie.

He almost fell in the pond.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

Fred Couples shoots 67 to tie for lead after two rounds.

19

SNE GOLF LOCATOR MAP Rhode Island Courses 1. BEAVER RIVER G.C. (18) P 343 Kingstown Rd. Richmond, RI 401-539-2100 www.beaverrivergolf.com PS,CR,CH,SB,O 2. BUTTON HOLE SHORTCOURSE (9) P,X Button Hole Dr. Providence, RI 401-421-1664 www.buttonhole.org CL,CH,DR,PS, Lessons.

3. COUNTRY VIEW G.C. (18) P 49 Club Lane Burrillville, RI 401-568-7157 www.countryviewgolf.net CR,CL,PS,CH,O 4. COVENTRYPINES G.C. (9) P Harkney Hill Rd. Coventry, RI CR,CH,CH,SB, Senior Rates 5. CRANSTON CC (18) P 69 Burlingame Rd. Cranston, RI 401-826-1683 www.cranstoncc.com CR,CL,PS,CH,O 6. CRYSTAL LAKE G.C. (18) SP 100 Broncos Hwy, Mapleville, RI 401-567-4500 www.crystallakegolfclub.com CL,CR,PS,CH,O,SB 7. EAST GREENWICH G.C. (9) SP 1646 Division Rd. E. Greenwich, RI 401-884-5656 www.eastgreenwichgc.com CR,CL,CH,O, Rest.

8. EXETER COUNTRYCLUB (18) SP 320 Victory Hwy. (Rt. 102) Exeter, RI 401-295-8212 www.exetercc.com CR,CL,PS,CH.O 9. FAIRLAWN GOLF COURSE (9) P,X Sherman Ave. Lincoln, RI 401-334-3937 www.fairlawngolfcourse.com CR,CL,CH,SB,O 10. FENNER HILLG.C. (18) P 33 Wheeler Ln. Hope Valley, RI 401-539-8000 www.fennerhill.com CR,CL,DR,PS,CH,O 11, FOSTER COUNTRYCLUB (18) P 67 Johnson Rd. Foster, RI 401-397-7750 www.fostercountryclub.com CR,CL,PS,CH,O 12. HARBOR LIGHT MARINA & CC (9) P 200 Gray St. Warwick, RI 401-737-6353 www.harborlightsri.com CR,CL,PS,CH,O 13. JAMESTOWN G.C. (9) P 245 Conanicus Ave. Jamestown, RI 401-423-9930 www.jamestowngolf.com CR,CL,CH 14. LAUREL LANE COUNTRYCLUB (18) P Laurel Lane, off Rt.138 W. Kingston, RI 401-783-3844 www.laurellanecountryclub.com CR,CL,PS,CH,O 15. LINDBROOK GC (18) X CR, CH,O 299 Woodville Alton Rd. Hope Valley, RI 539-8700 16. MEADOW BROOK G.C. (18) P 163 Kingstown Rd.(Rt.138) Richmond, RI 401-539-8491 www.meadowbrookgolfri.com CR,CL,CH,PS,O, PGApro 17. MELODYHILLCOUNTRYCLUB (18) P 55 Melody Hill Ln. Harmony, RI CR,PS,CH 18. MIDVILLE COUNTRYCLUB (9) P 100 Lombardi Ln. W. Warwick, RI 401-828-9215 www.midvillegolfclub.com CR,CL,PS,CH 19. NEWPORT NATIONAL GOLF CLUB (18) SP 324 Mitchell’s Ln. Middletown, RI 401-848-9690 www.newportnational.com CR,CL,PS,SB,O 20. NORTH KINGSTOWN G.C. (18) P 615 Callahan Rd. No. Kingstown, RI www.nkgc.com DR,PS,CR,CL,CH,O 21. PINE CRESTGOLF CLUB (9) P 25 Pinehurst Dr. Richmond, RI 401-364-8600 www.pinecrestri.com CR,CL,CH,SB,O Leagues 22. RICHMOND C.C. (18) SP Sandy Pond Rd. Richmond, RI 401-364-9200 www.richmondcountry club.net CR,CL,PS.CH,O 23. ROSE HILLGOLF CLUB (9) P, X 222 Rose Hill Rd. So. Kingstown, RI 401-788-1088 www.rosehillri.com CR,CL,CH,SB, Leagues

20

24. TIN CUPGOLF & DRIVING RANGE (6) P 2 Fairway Dr. Coventry, RI 401-823-4653 www.tincupgc.com CR,CL,CH,O,DR 25. TRIGGS MEMORIALGOLF COURSE (18) P Chalkstone Ave. Providence, RI www.triggs.us CR,CL,PS,CH,O 26. WINDMILLHILL G.C. (9) X 35 Schoolhouse Rd. (off Rt 136) 401-245-1463 www.windmillgolfri.com CR,CL,CH,O, Restaurant 27. WOOD RIVER GOLF (18) P 78 Woodville-Alton Rd. Hope Valley, RI 401-364-0700 www.woodrivergolf.com CR,CH,SB,O 28. WOODLAND GREENS GOLF COURSE (9) P 655 Old Baptist Rd. N. Kingstown, RI 401-294-2872 www.woodlandgc.com CR,PS,CH,O DRIVING RANGES A. BUTTON HOLE LEARNING CENTER (9)

40. CHEMAWAGOLF COURSE (18) P 350 Cushman Rd. N. Attleboro, MA 508-399-7330 http://chemawagolf.com CR,CH,O,CL, 41. COUNTRYCLUB OF GREENFIELD (18) SP 224 Country Club Ln. Greenfield, MA 413-773-7530 www.countryclubofgreenfield.net 42. COUNTRYCLUB OF WILBRAHAM (18) SP 859 Stony Hill Rd. Wilbraham, MA 413-596-8897 www.countryclubofwilbraham.com 43. CHICOPEE CC (18) P 1290 Burnett Rd. Chicopee, MA 413-594-9295 44. COLD SPRING CC (18) SP 336 Chauncey Walker, Belchertown, MA www.coldspringcc.com CR,CL,PS,CH,O 45. CRESTVIEW (18) SP 281 Shoemaker Ln. Agawam, MA 413-786-2593 www.crestviewcc.org

46. CROSSWINDS (27) P 424 Long Pond Rd. Plymouth, MA 508-830-1199 www.golfcrosswinds.com CR,CL,PS,CH,DR,O 47. CRUMPIN-FOX (18) P 87 Parmenter Rd. Bernardston, MA 508-413-648-9101 www.golfthefox.com CR,CL,CH,PS,DR,O 48. EASTON CC (18) SP 265 Purchase St. Easton, MA 508-238-2500 www.eastoncountryclub.com CR,CL,PS,CH,DR,O 49. ELLINWOOD CC (18) SP 1928 Pleasant St. Athol, MA 978-249-7460 www.ellinwoodcc.com CR,CH,PS,O 50. ELMCREST CC (18) Private 105 Somersville Rd. E. Longmeadow, MA 413-575-7477 www.golfelmcrest.cc.com

PAR 3 target greens, two putting greens, lessons 1 Button Hole Dr. Providence, RI www.buttonhole.org

B. IRON WOODS GOLF PRACTICE CENTER

1081 Iron Hill Mine Rd. (off Rt. 146) N. Smithfield, RI putting greens, grass tees, covered area, bunker, lessons, repairs www.iwgolf.com

C. MULLIGAN’S ISLAND GOLF & ENTERTAINMENT (9) X

1000 New London Ave. (Rt 2) Cranston, RI www.mulligansisland.com 60 stall driving range, covered area, batting cages, mini-golf, par 3 course, 18-hole pitch and putt, PGAGolf Academy, SB Spargo Golf on premises, club fitting and repairs

D. PAVILION RESTAURANT & DRIVING RANGE 15 Frontier Rd. Exit 1 at Rt. 95, Ashaway, RI 401-3779900 www.thepavilionrestaurant.com grass tees, mini golf, Rest. Sports Bar

Massachusetts Courses 29. AMHERST GC (9) P 365 S. Pleasant St. Amherst, MA 413-256-6894 www.amherstgolfclub.org CR,CL,PS,CH,O 30. ATLANTIC CC (18) P 450 Little Sandy Pond Rd Plymouth,MA 508-759-6644 www.atlanticcountryclub.com CR,CL,PS,CH,DR,O 31. BALLYMEADE CC (18) SP 125 Falmouth Woods Rd.N. Falmouth, MA 508-540-4005

www.ballymeade.com CR,CL,PS,CH,DR,O 32. BASS RIVER GC (18) P 62 Highbank Rd. So. Yarmouth, MA 508-398-9079 www.golfyarmouthcapecod.com CR,CL,PS,CHO 33. BAYBERRYHILLS (27) 18 FULL9 X 631 W. Yarmouth Rd, So. Yarmouth, MA508-394-5597 www.golfyarmouthcapecod.com CR, CL,PS,CH,DR,O 34. BEAVER BROOK GC (9) P 183 Main St. Haydenville, MA 413-268-7229 35 BLACKSTONE NATIONAL G.C. (18) SP 227 Putnam Hill Rd. Sutton, MA www.bngc.net CR,CL,CH,PS,O,DR 36 BLISSFUL MEADOWS G.C. (18) SP 801 Chocalog Rd. Uxbridge, MA 508-278-6110 www.blissfulmeadows.com CR,CL,CH,DR,PS,O 37. BRATTLEBORO CC (18) SP 345 Upper Dummerston Rd, Brattleboro,VERMONT www.brattleborocountryclub.com 802-257-7380 38. BUNGAYBROOK G.C. (9) P 30 Locust St. Bellingham, MA 508-883-1600 www.bungaybrook.com CR,CL,DR,PS,CH,O 39. CAPTAINS COURSE (36) P 1000 Freemans Way, Brewster, MA 508-896-1716 www.captainsgolfcourse.com CR,CL,CH,PS,O

Northampton

Blandford

Southwick

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

5 1 w 5 3 w 5 9 w C 5 1 w 5 4 w

SNE GOLF LOCATOR MAP

51. FENWAYGOLF RANGE & PITCH & PUTT (DR) 112 Allen St. E. Longmeadow, MA 413-525-4444 www.fenwaygolf.com 52. FOXBOROUGH CC (18) SP 33 Walnut St. Foxborough, MA 508-543-4661X4 www.foxboroughcc.com CR,CL,PS,CH,DR,O 53. GARDNER MUNICIPAL (18) P 95 Pleasant St. Gardner, MA 978-632-9703 www.gardnergolfcourse.com CR,CL,CH,PS,DR,O 54. HICKORYRIDGE CC (18) SP 191 W. Pomeroy Ln. Amherst, MA 413-253-9320 www.hickoryridgecc.com CR,CL,PS,CH,O 55. HIGHFIELDS G &CC (18) P 42 Magill Dr. Grafton, MA 508-839-1945 www.highfieldsgolfcc.com CR,CL,PS,CH,O Scituate

Northboro

Westboro Grafton

56. HILLSIDE COUNTRYCLUB (18) SP 82 Hillside Ave. Rehoboth, MA 508-252-9761 www.hillsidecountryclub.com. CR,CL,PS,CH,O 57. HOLDEN HILLS GC (18) P 1800 Main St. Jefferson (Holden), MA508-829-3129 www.holdenhillssgolf.com CR,CL,CH,PS,O 58. INDIAN MEADOWS (9) P 275 Turnpike Rd. Westboro, MA 508-836-5460 www.indianmeadowsgolf.com CR,CL,PS,SB,O 59. JOHN E. PARKER MUNICIPAL G.C. (9) P 17 Fisher St. Taunton, MA 508-822-1797 CR,DR.CH,SB, Skins Thurs. at 3:45 60. JUNIPER HILLG.C. (36) P 202 Brigham St. Northboro, MA 508-393-2444 www.juniperhillgc.com CR,CL,PS,CH,SB,O

61. LAKEVILLE CC (18) P 44 Clear Pond Rd. Lakeville, MA 508-947-6630 www.lakevillecountryclub.com CR,CL,CH,PS,O 62. LEICESTER CC (18) P 1430 Main St. Leicester, MA 508-892-1390 www.leicestercc.com CR,CL,PS,CH,O 63. LOCUST VALLEY G.C. (9) P 106 Locust St. Attleboro, MA 508-222-1500 CR,CH,SB,O. new low rates 64. MAPLEGATE COUNTRYCLUB (18) SP 160 Maple St. Bellingham, MA 508-966-4040 www.maplegate.com CR,CL,PS,CH 65. MGALINKS AT MAMANTAPETT (18) P,X 300 W. Maine Rd. (Rt 123) Norton, MA508-222-0555 www.mamantapett.com CL,PS,CH,SB,O 66. MIDDLEBROOK C.C. (9) P 149 Pleasant St. Rehoboth, MA 508-252-9393 CR,PS,CH,SB 67. NEW ENGLAND COUNTRYCLUB (18) SP 180 Paine St. Bellingham, MA 508-883-2300 www.newenglandcountryclub.com CR,CL,DR,PS,CH,O 68. NORTON COUNTRYCLUB (18) SP 188 Oak St. Norton, MA 508-285-2400 www.nortoncountryclub.com CR,CL,CH,SB,O 69. OAK RIDGE GC (18) P 850 S. Westfield St. Feeding Hills, MA 413-789-7307 www.oakridgegc.com 70. OLDE SCOTLAND LINKS (18) P 695 Pine St. Bridgewater, MA 508-279-3344 www.oldescotlandlinks.com CR,CL,SB,DR,O 71. PETERSHAM CC (9) P 240 No. Main St. Petersham, MA 978-724-3388 www.petershamcc.com CR,CL,PS,CH,O 72. PINE RIDGE GC (18) P 28 Pleasant St. No. Oxford, MA 508-892-9188 www.pineridgegolf.net CR,CL,CH,PS.O 73. REHOBOTH CC (18) P 155 Perryville Rd Rehoboth, MA 508-252-6259 www.rehobothcountryclub.com CR,CH,PS,O 74. RIDDER GC (18) P 389 Oak St. E. Bridgewater, MA 781-447-9003 www.ridderfarm.com CR,CL,PS,SB,O 75. SHAKER FARMS CC (18) P 866 Shaker Rd. Westfield, MA 413-568-4087 www.shakerfarmscc.com CR,CL,CH,PS,O 76. SHINING ROCK GC (18) SP 91 Clubhouse Way Northbridge, MA508-234-0400 www.shiningrock.com CR,CL,CH,PS,O 77. SOUTHAMPTON CC (18) P 329 College Hwy. Southampton, MA 413-527-9815 www.partnersrestaurant.com CR,SB,CH,PS,O 78. ST. ANNE CC (18) P 781 Shoemaker Ln. Feeding Hills, MA 413-786-2088 www.stannecc.com CR,CL,CH,PS,O 79 TEKOA CC (18) P 459 Russell Rd. Westfield, MA 413-568-1064 www.tekoacc.com CR,CL,CH,PS,O 80 TEMPLEWOOD GC (18) P 160 Brooks Rd. Templeton, MA 978-939-5031 www.templewoodgolfcourse.com CR,CL,CH,PS,O 81. THE BLANDFORD CLUB (9) P 17 North St. Blandford, MA 413-848-2443 www.massgolftennis.com CR,SB,CH,PS,O 82. THE RANCH GC (18) P 65 Sunnyside Rd. Southwick, MA 413-569-9333 www.theranchgolfclub.com CR,CL,CH,PS,DR,O

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

83. THOMAS MEMORIALGC ( ) P 29 Country Club Ln. Turners Falls, MA 413-863-8003 84. WAMPANOAG GC (9) P 168 Old Providence Rd. Swansea, MA 508-379-9832 www.wampanoaggolf.com CR,CL,CH,PS 86. WENTWORTH HILLS GC (18) SP 27 Bow St. Plainville, MA 508-316-0240 www.wntworthhillsgc.com CR,CL,CH,PS,O 87. WIDOWS WALK GC (18) P 250 The Driftway Scituate, MA 781-544-0032 www.widowswalkgolf.com CR,CL,CH,PS,O 88. WINCHENDON SCHOOLGOLF CLUB (18) P 435 Spring St. Winchendon, MA 978-297-9897 www.winchgolf.com CR,CL,CH,PS,O 89. WORTHINGTON GC (9) P 113 Ridge Rd. Worthington, MA 413-238-4464 www.worthingtongolfclub.net CR,CL,CH,PS,O 85. Pine Grove GC (18 ) P 254 Old Wilson Rd.. Northampton, MA413-584-4570 DRIVING RANGES E. ATLANTIC DRIVING RANGE/ SHADOW BROOK (9) X 754 Newport Ave. So. Attleboro, MA www.atlanticgolfcenter.com heated tees, retail shop,, mini golf, chip and putt

F. GOLF LEARNING CENTER OF NEWENGLAND 19 Leonard St. Norton, MA(Exit 10 off Rt.495) 508-285-4500 www.golflearningcenter.com 1,000 ft. grass teeline, heated bays, putting, chipping, bunkers

G. SEEKONK DRIVING RANGE

1977 Fall River Ave. (Rt. 6) Seekonk, MA covered heated tees, batting cages, mini golf, lessons, available, grass hitting area www.seekonkdrivingrange.com

Connecticut Golf Courses 90. CEDAR KNOB GC (18) P 446 Billings Rd. Somers, CT 860-749-3550 www.cedarknobgolfcourse.com CR,CL,CH,PS,O 91. CONNECTICUTNATIONAL (18) P 136 Chase Rd. Putnam, CT 860-928-7748 www.ctnationalgolf.com CR,CL.PS,CH,SB,O 92. ELMRIDGE GOLF CLUB (27) P 229 Elmridge Rd. Pawcatuck, CT 860-599-2248 www.elmridgegolf.com CR,CL,DR,PS,CH,O 93. FOX HOPYARD (18) SP 1 Hopyard Rd. East Haddam, CT 860-434-6644 www.golfthefox.com CR,CL,CH,PS,DR,O 94. LAKE OF ISLES C.C. (18) P Foxwoods Casino, Mashantucket, CT 860-312-3636 www.lakeofisles.com CR,CL,PS,SB,Rest., O, Golf School 95. MINNECHAUG GC (9) P 16 Fairway Crossing Glastonbury, CT 860-643-9914 www.minnechauggolf.com CR,CL,Ch.PS 96. RACEWAYGOLF COURSE (18) SP 205 E. Thompson Rd. Thompson, CT 860-923-9591 www.racewaygolf.com CR,CL,CH,PS,DR,O 97. RIVER RIDGE GOLF CLUB (18) P 259 Preston Rd. Griswold, CT 860-376-3268 www.riverridgegolf.com CR,CL,PS,CH,O 98. ROLLING MEADOWS CC (18) P 76 Sadds Mill Rd. Ellington, CT 860-870-5328 www.rollingmeadowsgolfcourse.com CR,CL,CH,PS,O 99. SHENNECOSSETT G.C. (18) P 93 Plant St. Groton, CT860-445-0262 (PS 448-1867) www.shennygolf.com CR,CL,CH,PS,Rest.,O 100 TOWER RIDGE CC (18) SP 140 Nod Rd. Simsbury, CT 860-658-9767 www.towerridgecc.com CR,CL,CH,PS,O

21

By LEONARD FINKEL & DR BARRY LOTZ

T

he excitement was back in the air at the 2012 PGA Merchandise Show.

Here are some of the top new products.

SkyGolf unveiled its Wi-Fi enabled SkyCaddie SGXw. The SGXw provides the convenience of “on the go” access to the most accurate and up-to-date course maps, eliminating inaccuracy issues so common with preloaded courses in other rangefinders. The SGXw connects wirelessly to SkyGolf ’s vast library of precision courses via Wi-Fi at home, office, golf course or hotspot for fast, easy course downloads of the same complete and reliable course information professional golfers receive from their caddies and their yardage books. The SGXw delivers stroke saving features, including Dynamic RangeVue, designed for smarter and easier club selection. PinPoint Technology allows golfers to measure to the hole by adding pin positions. Combined with its IntelliGreen feature, golfers have yardages they need to the front carry, back, center and hole locations automatically, from any angle of approach. The powerful combination of PinPoint and Intelligreen helps golfers avoid greenside bunkers, hit more greens and sink more birdie putts.

Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 fairway wood, featuring an innovative beta titanium cup face is the only fairway wood on the market to use a titanium cupped face and tungsten sole. Titanium offers exceptional distance while tungsten allows for a smaller, more traditional-sized head with a lower center of gravity. This high-octane combination delivers driver-like distance and remarkable forgiveness. Brazing is utilized when the highest quality joint is required, greatly reducing stress through slower heating and cooling cycles. This significantly improves the thermal and mechanical properties of the material for

22

PGA MERCHANDISE SHOW

2012 Hot New Products longer, better feeling shots. A Boomerang face design offers multiple levels of variable face thickness that maximize the rebound effect from more points on the face that produce a hotter launch, even on off center hits. The Exotics XCG5 driver’s special beta titanium crown material is ultra-thin and lighter than the previous carbon crown found in the XCG4. This material dramatically improves sound while allowing weight to be added to the rear of the sole. The Six-Point Perimeter Weighting System lowers the center of gravity and moves it deeper and further back for longer, more forgiving drives. To maximize spring-like effect, Tour Edge increased the XCG5’s face size by 12%.

By thinning and thickening the face, the v-shaped boomerangs allow for the maximum elongation of the titanium for enhanced feel and hotter launch.

TaylorMade’s R11s driver is 20cc bigger, faster, more tunable and yards longer than the original. You can independently tune loft, face angle and flight path your swing. The 460cc matte-white finish head features a ±3° flight control technology sleeve, 5-way adjustable sole plate and movable weight technology, allowing for 80 different launch settings. Changing the weights alters the center of gravity by 4mm from heel to toe promoting up to 20 yards of side-to-side bias. The driver is further enhanced by TaylorMade’s Inverted Cone Technology that expands the COR zone, or the portion of the club that delivers faster ball speeds. The trampoline effect of TaylorMade RocketBallz woods is at the legal USGA limit. As a result, these clubs are some of the hottest in golf, featuring a carved-out Speed Pocket which increases ball velocity and yardage by promoting more flex in the club’s face and sole at impact. According to TaylorMade’s

research, most golfers hit woods and hybrids low on the face, so it decided to position the weight plug low and forward, where it would help players hit a higher, faster ball with less spin and more carry.

The larger, trapezoidal grooves on the RM-11 wedge from FOURTEEN GOLF have been enlarged by 15% compared to its predecessor. This increase in overall groove volume enhances spin retention, particularly on partial shots and provides extraordinary control, spin and accuracy.

To ensure optimal spin and tighter tolerances, FOURTEEN mirror mills each groove. The wedges utilize nickel chrome molybdenum steel because of its durability and resistance to wear. This specialized material allows the grooves to stay in perfect condition. It’s available in a non-glare nickel chrome plated half matte finish and a dramatic non-glare black finish that gives the club head a distinctive appearance.

ClubGlider from Sun Mountain is the next evolution in golf travel bags offering extendable legs and wheels to support 100% of the weight while eliminating repeated bending and lifting. ClubGlider literally glides from parking lot to luggage counter and back with retractable legs that easily extend then tuck away securely. The new Journey offers the same benefits as the other models but is lighter; offering ample space in a more compact design.

ClubGlider includes heavy-duty two-way zippers, thick foam padding extending down the travel bag to protect heads and shafts, internal storage pockets, internal cinch straps and a lift-assist handle.

Antigua’s spring collection is fresh and bright, introducing shades like bright berry, sharp melon, rich azalea and a wash of turquoise. Paired with shades of grey, the bright colors compliment subtle neutrals in an unexpectedly pleasing palette. Features including textured drop needle horizontal and vertical fabrics, subtle piping details and incorporating a block of fabric complimenting a soft contrast stripe highlight the collection.

Making Tommy Hilfiger appeal to the golf consumer meant designing a line that that can be worn on and off the golf course, delivering “Preppy with a Twist” to the fairways. A signature grosgrain tape was developed to help distinguish the line and is evident in its classic navy, white and green detailing on all core items for both men and women. An assortment of fits accommodates the freedom of movement required in the back swing.

Sundog Eyewear’s 2012 LASER offers a sleek suspended lens open frame design in three choices of frames, temple tips and nose pads with smoke or brown lenses.

It’s available in Mela-Lens, Mela-Lens Polarized and Mela-Lens Photochromic models. Sundog utilizes synthetic melanin to produce state-of-the-art technology, absorbing light seamlessly over a broad spectral range while providing superior blue light filtration with minimal color distortion and 100 per cent UVA/B protection. Introduced in 1950, the original adidas SAMBA was created to enable soccer players to train on hard, icy ground. Golfers can experience the legendary footwear on the golf course with the introduction of the SAMBA golf shoe.

It maintains the shoe’s classic silhouette and features a durable, suede toe-guard and the distinctive tan gum sole equipped with six cleats and THINTECH low-profile technology for improved traction, stability and support. The textile, synthetic-leather upper is water-resistant and provides lightweight, durable performance.

Golf Apps of America had a successful introduction of their Smartphone apps.

Versions are live on the iPhone app store and Android Market in 16 states with more on the way. The apps function as course locators and directories with some unique functions that include opening websites, photos, and for some of the top courses, a brief video overview of the course. Video instruction tips from top PGA pros including Tom Watson are included for the iPhone users. It’s terrific for the traveling golfer.

To read the expanded product reviews go to our website at www.snegolfer.com/ golfstories.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

GOLF BUSINESS

T

By TOM GORMAN

Golf Courses Spring to Life Early

hat nasty “thwack” sound you hear on local fairways when hosel (not club face) greets golf ball, is producing happy, smiling faces instead of a few choice cuss words because the 2012 golf season has been fully engaged for several weeks due to unseasonably warm temperatures.

Who is not pumped up to play after watching Bubba Watson win the Masters in a sudden death playoff? Am I the only one who is dying to try to copy Bubba’s heroic wedge shot the next time I have a blind 150-yards to the green from deep in the woods?

“I can’t ever remember posting 20 rounds before May 1 and I love it,” said Bob McCarthy, a 16-handicaper from White Cliffs Country Club in Plymouth. “Since the spring weather has been cooperating, I could be looking at a 100-plus round season.”

McCarthy is not the only one who is thrilled with the early start to the golf season. Pros, course owners, superintendents and hackers everywhere are busting out for the joyful experience of hitting 150-yard grounders, yipping twofoot putts and making swings that qualify for America’s Funniest Videos. But who cares, the golf gods have allowed us to play almost daily and that’s what counts!

“We never closed during the winter,” said Triggs Memorial Golf Course Superintendent Karl Augenstein in Providence. “Rounds are way up from last year and weekends are packed with the sights and sounds of happy public players playing their favorite municipal course.

This spring has seen a drastic improvement over last year, when we had snow and cold weather that kept people indoors.”

According to Augenstein, whose career at Triggs spans 20 years and who puts in 10 to 12 hours daily at the Donald Ross-

designed course, January – March rounds and revenue is up. He had 500 players in January and 600 in February compared to zero in 2011. In March Triggs pushed out 1,500 golfers against 500 in 2011. He forecasts about 44,000 rounds for the year, reflecting a rebound to the glory days of 2002.

One of the Bay State’s most popular upscale, daily fee courses is Pinehills Golf Club in Plymouth. The Jones and Nicklaus courses’ both opened on March 23 and the tee sheet is being filled daily. Over Patriots Day weekend Pinehills had its best-ever four-day stretch of play. In April, Pinehills offered a free app to IPhone and Android users that produced a swell of positive feedback.

“We are up well over 20 percent in rounds so far,” said John Tuffin, Director of Golf, since its unheralded opening in 2001. “Obviously, the weather has been the biggest factor but we also see signs that the economy is getting better and people are playing more golf again. Our free app has received tremendous praise from customers because it offers a GPS based yardage book and a very easy interface for booking tee times. I think anytime you merge new technology to make a golfers experience more enjoyable, it will be a success.”

According to Greg Nathan, senior vice president of the National Golf Foundation, the mild winter and modest recovery of the economy has produced five straight months that the number of rounds played on American golf courses has climbed. Golf in the U.S. is growing for the first time in five years if you measure the volume of clubs, greens fees, cleats and plaid shorts that fuel the sport’s $25 billion dollar consumer market.

“We were bouncing along the bottom and expect we’ll see a modest recovery in 2012,” said Nathan. “The signs since the beginning of the year have all been positive. We estimate that golf ’s consumer market draws about $4 billion from equipment, $1 billion from apparel sales and $20 billion from green fees.”

Despite one of the earliest starts ever to the New England golf season, business on Cape Cod is stagnant and, surprisingly, in some places, down. The Heritage House in Hyannis, which typically in February and March is full of golf travelers, has seen a slight decrease in traffic from previous seasons. Falmouth Country Club reported rounds played through April is disappointing, since golfers are playing home games, and not needing to travel to find the milder Cape Cod weather conditions.

“Our January through March numbers have been good,” said Mark O’Brien, Director of Golf at The Captains Golf Course in Brewster, which offers 36 holes.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

“Typically, when the mainland has a rough winter, Cape Cod golf courses see a spike in traffic, but this year it’s like a reverse golf factor is in place. The mild weather allowed many golfers to play their home courses all winter, so we do not see the benefits.”

O’Brien, an Ambassador of Cape Cod Golf and www.golfcapecod.com, shared some interesting statistics from January – March concerning who is playing and how often. At Captain’s, guest rounds are down 14% but member rounds are up 111% resulting in 57% more tee times than 2011. Guest revenue is down 26% and cart revenue is down 20%. Over Patriots Day weekend, guest revenue was only up 4%, yet member revenue increased 31% for a total increase of 18%.

Whether you are hitting duck hooks or big slices with that new Taylor Made Burner Bubble driver, it’s been a season of all good news for golfers so far!

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By BRUCE BERLET

CT NOTEBOOK

Moraghan Busy as New Director of Connecticut Golf Assn.

M

ike Moraghan has been going almost non-stop since the first of the year getting acclimated to his new job as Connecticut State Golf Association executive director.

Mike Moraghan

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From visiting member clubs to helping with course ratings and setups for tournaments to trying to recruit new clubs into the CSGA fold, the Litchfield native and former University of Virginia golf coach has been visiting all corners of the state in an effort to promote the game.

Moraghan, the son of longtime CSGA tournament director and state and national rules official Marty Moraghan who succeeded Ron Drapeau, and several other golf movers and shakers in the state made an especially major impression on “Golf Industry Day at the Capitol” in Hartford on March 28. Three state legislators hosted representatives of the CSGA, Connecticut Section PGA, Connecticut Women’s Golf Association, Southern New England Golf Association, First Tee of Connecticut, Golf Course Superintendents Association, Callaway and Cleveland Golf, along with Suzy Whaley, spokesperson for the Cobra Puma Golf Girls Fair presented by PGA Tour Charities May 19 at TPC River

Highlands in Cromwell, were among those who spent time meeting and greeting local politicians, golf fans and the media in an effort to promote the game.

“It was a great day to present most of the players in the golf industry in Connecticut, promote golf and remind people of how important the golf industry is to the state,” said Moraghan, who is trying to enhance the work started by Drapeau’s environmental impact study several years ago. “Golf is a $1.1 billion industry in the state and employs more than 11,000 people, so whether people are enjoying the game recreationally or that’s how they make their living, it’s important.

Moraghan hopes to have similar success with another of his new projects, the CSGA Junior All-Star Program designed to help the top 20-30 junior golfers in the state get even better. The as-yet undetermined youngsters who have already proven they have the ability to play in college will be invited to join the program in the next few weeks. Those who decide to join will be helped by top state players such as Whaley, a former LPGA Tour player, PGA Tour player and Fairfield native J.J. Henry, former PGA Tour player Tom Gleeton, the head pro at the Country Club of Waterbury, Dave Szewczul and Bill Hermanson.

“We want to recognize what they’ve already done and then give them a boost to get even better,” Moraghan said. To be eligible, the youngsters have to be a Connecticut resident and a member of a CSGA club (private, public or e-club), have a CSGA handicap and not reached his/her 18th birthday. Those are the same qualifications for anyone who wants to enter the CSGA Junior Championship, and Moraghan has established a criteria of achievements such as anyone who reaches the CSGA Junior quarterfinals or a youngster who finished in the top 3 in the Connecticut Section PGA rankings or qualified for a U.S. Golf Association event. There also will be an “at-large” category in case a youngster doesn’t quite reach that threshold or plays a lot of his/her tournament golf out of state but is obviously among the top players in Connecticut.

An advisory board that will make the selections includes Moraghan, Henry,

Whaley, Gleeton, Szewczul, Hermanson, Sally Sohn, the section’s player development program director, CSGA president Jeff Witherwax, CSGA vice president of competitions Nick Pahoulis, a major advocate for junior golf who has worked with the CSGA team for years, and Dr. Bob Winters, a sports psychologist, former assistant to Moraghan at Virginia and sports psychologist of the David Ledbetter Golf Academy who works with several tour players and is an expert on putting and the short game.

“Right now I’m putting together the program of exactly what we’re going to be offering the players,” Moraghan said.

“I’m going to do at least one seminar on college golf where I’ll get the group and their parents together and talk to them about the recruiting process, the scholarship situation and other things that they can do as far as researching colleges, what college coaches are looking for when they’re out there recruiting and the type of tournaments to play. I’m going to pack in all I can into a seminar for kids 15 to 17 and might do the same lecture in different locations because there’s going to be kids scattered all around the state. I’ve got 15 years experience coaching college golf at Virginia, and I want to share that with our state’s better players and their parents.

And we’re going to get Bob to come to the state at least twice during the summer to do sports psychology sessions for the kids. And J.J. has agreed to do a clinic, possibly when he’s here for the Travelers Championship (June 18-24).”

Dave Szewczul

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

CT NOTEBOOK Moraghan also wants to set up playing lessons with Gleeton, Szewczul, Hermanson and others on their strategy, thought process and course management.

“I think any 16-year-old who is already a good player gains tremendous benefit from playing a round of golf with good players and see how they think and what they’re trying to do on the course,” Moraghan said.

At the other end of the spectrum, Moraghan and CSGA director of operations Ryan Hoffman visited The Orchards, a 1,700-yard, nine-hole public course in Milford, on Wednesday afternoon. That came after a morning visit to Hartford Golf Club in West Hartford for a USGA handicap seminar attended by about 80 people who heard about the GHIN system and other issues that can arise related to handicaps.

“We say it all the time in the office that the CSGA is all about member services, and that was really fun because it was like two ends of the spectrum in terms of golf in Connecticut,” Moraghan said. “In the morning, we’re at a club with this prestige and history and a private club known as one of the great courses in New England, and then Ryan and I drove to The Orchards to do a course rating and get them involved in the CSGA. It’s a beautifully manicured course, and what a great place for a kid or a beginner to learn the game on a short course. Those people obviously take a lot of pride in their facility, so we’re thrilled to do a course rating and help them out any way we can.

“And they’re going to try to get as many people as they can get handicaps and get into the (CSGA) system, which will enable their members to come play some of our one-day events and have a handicap. So it was fun going from Hartford and all its tradition to a great place to learn the game. The common theme was it involved people who love golf and take pride in their place.”

FIRST GIRLS GOLF FAIR SCHEDULED To try to enhance girls’ participation in golf, Whaley is spearheading the girls’ golf fair at the First Tee of Connecticut learning facility at the home of the Travelers Championship. A wide range of fun activities are geared to energize young

female golfers aged 5 to 17 to learn the skills and enjoyment of the game. The event was developed by Whaley, the PGA of America District 1 director and TPC teaching pro, in collaboration with the club and First Tee of Connecticut. Activities will include instruction from PGA and LPGA pros, SNAG golf stations, bounce houses, short game and mini-golf/exercise stations, a hole-in-one contest, golf equipment demos, PGA Sports Academy and the Dennis Walters Golf Show.

Registration is $10 per junior, including lunch, with Session 1 from 7:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Session 2 from 11:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. Participants can bring their own golf equipment or use equipment provided on site. To register, visit www.cobragolf.com/ girlsgolffair.

“I’m extremely passionate about junior golf and the fair,” said Whaley, who qualified for the 2003 Greater Hartford Open when she became the first woman to win the Connecticut Section PGA Championship a year earlier. “This program opens the door to give young women the chance to learn golf skills in a fun atmosphere. Thanks to the sponsor, partners and teamwork of the LPGA and PGA professionals, we believe we are a series of fun, healthy activities to rival any similar event in the country. We encourage girls and their families to discover all the benefits that golf offers. We are so excited to encourage them to continue to play for a lifetime.”

“It’s so important to get juniors involved in golf and help grow their love for the game,” said Tom Manthe, marketing manager for Puma Golf. “Cobra Puma Golf ’s participation allows us to bring our golf platform to life for these junior girls and provide them with top quality golf equipment, apparel and footwear.”

Moraghan fully supports the efforts of Whaley, Cobra Puma Golf and others involved with the fair. Two of the state’s top young players are Whaley’s daughters, Jenn and Kelly, who are teammates on the Farmington High team. Jenn, 17, will be attending Quinnipiac University in the fall, and Kelly, a 14-year-old freshman, won the 2011 Connecticut State Women’s Amateur Golf Championship, becoming the second-youngest champion in the event’s 46-year history. Former LPGA and Futures Tour player Liz Janangelo, a West Hartford native who is now a teaching pro at Rockrimmon C.C. in Stamford, won

her first of a record five straight titles at 13.

“I feel Connecticut has great potential to be a real hub for junior girls and women’s golf,” said Moraghan.

COMPETITION DEPARTMENT The Connecticut’s major competitive schedule kicks off May 3 at New Haven C.C. with the Julius Boros Challenge Cup between the 12-man teams from the CSGA and Connecticut Section PGA. The amateurs have won the bestball/team-individual, Nassau-style event the past three years, but the pros lead the series 28-12. Four days later, the CSGA’s Two-Man Championship will be at the

By BRUCE BERLET Black Hall Club in Old Lyme. The event is played in honor of Bill Hermanson, a 23-time club champion at Black Hall and five-time CSGA Mid-Amateur winner.

The section’s Junior Golf Association registration runs through June 3 and entitles members to then register for the Junior Tour events. The JGA is in its 15th season and serves more than 500 boys and girls aged 10 to 18. For more information, visit CTPGA.com/JuniorGolf.

The 30th Connecticut Senior Open will be at Shennecossett G.C. in Groton for the 15th consecutive year on July 9-10.

The event is open to pros and amateurs 50 and over, with the field limited to 144 players on a first-come, first-serve basis. To register, visit CTPGA.com.

FOR BREAKING LOCAL GOLF STORIES VISIT WWW.SNEGOLFER.COM AND CLICK “BREAKING STORIES.”

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

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TOURNAMENT GOLF

CVS CAREMARK CHARITY CLASSIC: A WINNING COMBINATION

W

hen twenty of the world’s elite golfers take to the greens at Rhode Island Country Club June 17-19 for the 2012 CVS Caremark Charity Classic, they’re teeing up for more than great golf. Together, along with fans and sponsors, they’re teeing up for charity.

A winning combination from the course to the community, the driving force behind the CVS Caremark Charity Classic is its unwavering commitment to supporting the vital work of hundreds of nonprofit organizations throughout southern New England. Since its inception in 1999, the CVS Caremark Charity Classic has raised more than $15 million, making it one of Rhode Island’s most successful fundraising events. What’s more, because of the tournament’s impressive philanthropic achievements, it has become one of the most popular tournaments with the pros.

The monies raised by the CVS Caremark Charity Classic touch the lives of people of

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all ages and abilities. A wide cross-section of organizations – both big and small – benefit from the tournament fundraising efforts including, among others: American Red Cross, Autism Project of Rhode Island, Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence, Bradley Children’s Hospital, City Year Rhode Island, March of Dimes -- Rhode Island Chapter, Meeting Street, Rhode Island Breast Cancer Coalition, Rhode Island Family Shelter, Save the Bay, San Miguel School and Special Olympics Rhode Island.

The CVS Caremark Charity Classic’s dual focus makes the tournament a winwin for fans and charities alike. Golf fans enjoy the excitement of high-caliber tournament play while organizations that are providing critical services to those in need benefit from the tournament’s fundraising focus.

“Being a part of the CVS Caremark Charity Classic and witnessing first hand its contributions to the community has

been extremely rewarding,” said tournament co-host Brad Faxon. “As a native of Rhode Island it is an honor to be part of an event that has such a positive effect and farreaching impact on the area,” added co-host Billy Andrade.

The Charity Classic continues to be an important community event with far reaching impact.

CVS Caremark is proud to be part of something so meaningful.

Beginning May 6th, tickets for the CVS Caremark Charity Classic will be available through a special offer at CVS/ pharmacy stores in Rhode Island as well as select CVS/pharmacy locations in Southeastern Massachusetts. Fans can purchase select products to receive a voucher good for one good-any-day ticket.

Visit cvscharityclassic.com for details.

2011 winners Matt Kuchar and Zach Johnson In addition, fans can purchase a threeday pass ($60) or single, good-any-day tickets ($25) by calling 866-CVS-9441 or visiting cvscharityclassic.com for a mail-in application. Children 17 and under are free with a ticketed adult.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

GOLF COMMENTARY

By SHANE DRURY

GOLF 2.0 - Worthwhile Endeavour or Hyped Dog and Pony Show?

W

hile attending the 2012 edition of the PGA Merchandise Show it was obvious that the main goal of the PGA of America hierarchy was to introduce and roll out a new initiative called Golf 2.0. The PGA of America has had many strategies to try to grow the game of golf recently, including The Growth of the Game Grant program and now Golf 2.0. We, as an organization, are positioned to take the lead in attempting to make golf a more vibrant sport. The PGA of America in 2011 took in $138 million in revenue from such activities as the PGA Championship, Ryder Cup, and membership dues. We are a not-for-profit organization and try to utilize any positive funds to give tools and resources to our membership to strengthen the game of golf and enhance the golf industry. The 2012 Golf 2.0 budget contains $5 million to spend to provide Regional Player Development managers and social media marketing campaigns.

What is Golf 2.0? Golf 2.0 is a targeted, focused, long-range strategic plan for the

golf industry to substantially increase the number of golfers, the rounds of golf played, and the revenue generated from golf over the next decade among current and potential consumers of the game.

The goal of Golf 2.0 is to increase the number of golfers from the current level of 26 million to 40 million by the year 2020. Golf 2.0 incorporates three prime strategies: Retain and strengthen the core of current golfers, engage lapsed golfers who no longer play and drive new players to the game After a week of attending seminars and meetings at the PGA show concerning Golf 2.0, I must admit some of my fellow golf professionals’ eyes were glossed over.

Each PGA professional’s work situation is unique — some are at high-end exclusive country clubs, some at municipal golf courses, others work in golf retail super stores, and others earn a living providing golf instruction at a driving range or course. The question each of my peers has is: How can I implement Golf 2.0 initiatives that their boss (maybe a course

owner, golf chairperson, or club manager) will support and demonstrate to them the tangible benefit of focusing on some of the programs? Personally, I think that some of Golf 2.0 programs are the most comprehensive plan that have ever been put together. The plan is not just a PGA of America initiative, it’s something the whole industry needs to be involved in.

One of Golf 2.0 biggest supporters has been Jack Nicklaus. Nicklaus stated “Golf has given me everything I have and I care about the game — I have always been a traditionalist, but I’ve realized Golf 2.0 is a major step and needed plans to help golf prosper.”

The mission of Golf 2.0 is to create more demand. The game on the professional tours is in fabulous shape, creating much interest with record television ratings and PGA Tour attendance records. This has been one the most exciting starts to the PGA tour ever and has created much interest even among non-golfers which is a big positive. Will Golf 2.0’s impact with all this fantastic hype from the worlds

Jack Nicklaus

best golfers be felt, or will it get lost in translation?

Time will tell, but it won’t be for lack of the PGA of America committing a great deal of money for the

plan to reverse the fortunes of the industry.

I am sure that in time with so many high quality and passionate PGA professionals with the proper resources and support, Golf 2.0 will be a success and is a needed and worthwhile endeavor. As the greatest golfer that I ever had a pint of beer with — the great Byron Nelson — once told me, “The game never changes, just the players do.”

Shane Drury is the PGA Head Golf Professional at Swansea C.C. and is the Golf Coach at The Wheeler School.

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Pool & Social Memberships are available!

Crestwood also hosts special events of up to 250 guests—whether you’re planning your wedding, shower or any other event, Crestwood will treat you and your guests to a gorgeous landscape, delicious cuisine and excellent service.

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facebook.com/crestwoodcc 27

CENTRAL MASS NOTEBOOK

By BILL DOYLE

S

Shaker Hills Has New Owner

haker Hills Golf Club in Harvard became the third golf course in Central Massachusetts to be sold at a foreclosure auction in less than two years.

On April 12, Frederick J. “Skip” Curtis of Princeton purchased Shaker Hills for $3.4 million at a foreclosure auction in the parking lot outside the clubhouse. The Worcester Country Club member with a 3 handicap said he planned to reopen Shaker Hills as a golf course this year.

The course closed in February when the previous owners defaulted on their $2.13 million mortgage with Middlesex Savings Bank. The sale is scheduled to close in 45 days. “A dream come true I think,” Curtis said. “I think it’s a spectacular property and I think it has potential.”

Curtis wouldn’t say whether Shaker Hills would remain open to the public or become a private course. Shaker Hills, a Brian Silva design, opened in 1991 and was soon rated by Golf Digest as the No.

1 public course in the state and No. 4 among private and public courses in Massachusetts, but fell on hard times after the economy soured and such other golf courses as Red Tail Golf Club in Devens and Butter Brook Golf Club opened nearby.

In other foreclosure auctions, Sterling National Country Club sold for $4.2 million in May of 2010 and Pleasant Valley Country Club in Sutton sold for $5 million in November of 2010.

Scottish Meadow Golf Club in Warren will close soon and become a solar farm.

A Florida solar company purchased the course and is awaiting a permit from National Grid to begin converting it to a solar farm, according to general manager Mike Opalenik.

The Mark Mungeam design never generated the amount of business it hoped. Opalenik blamed the course’s remote location and the fact that the

club didn’t expand from nine to 18 holes as promised. Opalenik will joined Quail Hollow Golf and C.C. in Oakham as clubhouse manager.

Mike Herrick, the head pro at Shaker Hills for 11 years, has become the head pro at Wedgewood Pines C.C., a private club in Stow. Brian Lynch has left the International in Bolton to become general manager at Mount Pleasant Country Club in Boylston.

Lynch began caddying at the International at age 10 and spent all of his adult life working at the club, most recently as executive vice president and general manager. After Regan Remillard purchased Mount Pleasant from his fellow members late last year, he quickly hired Lynch.

Jim Bombard has left Blackstone National Golf Club in Sutton. Bombard had been with the club since it opened in 1999, first as head pro, then director of golf, general manager and more recently as director of instruction.

Bombard and Steve Scott will co-host “The Wicked Good Golf Show” from 11 a.m. to noon on Sundays on WCRN (830 AM). Bombard also plans to teach on his own, but he’s yet sure where. He can be reached at facebook.com/wickedgoodgolf.

Green Hill Municipal Golf Course plans to build a new hole and rework another to make way for a driving range that could open as soon as next year. If approved by the Green Hill Park Coalition and the Greater Worcester Land Trust, a driving range will be built in place of the dogleg on the par-5 16th hole and the entire 389yard, par-4 17th hole. A chipping area and practice bunker are also planned.

The goal is to clear trees to the left of the par-5 13th hole to build a 300-yard, uphill risk-reward par-4 to replace the current 17th hole. Head pro Matt Moison said the new holes could open as soon as the summer of 2013 and the range of 285-300 yards could open with grass and synthetic tees later that year. The 16th hole will be extended to the 17th green, making it a straight, uphill par-5 of nearly 580 yards.

Heritage Country Club in Charlton purchased $100,000 of maintenance equipment, including fairway, rough and greens mowers, with the money it earned during the mild winter. Heritage hosted golfers two to three days each week throughout the winter and on each of two Saturdays in January more than 120 golfers played. “This certainly makes up for a couple of bad years due to the economy and the weather,” Heritage owner Bill Plante said.

Even though many golf courses have struggled in this down economy, Plante plans to begin construction of a second nine holes at his Quaboag C.C. in Monson. The course is located only 21/2 miles from a proposed casino sight in Palmer so Plante would like to expand to 18 holes as soon as possible.

Shawn Spear has taken over for Pat Lange as superintendent at Red Tail Golf Club in Devens. Spear was the superintendent of the International’s Oaks Course last year. Lange left Red Tail after four years to become superintendent at Oakley C.C. in Watertown.

Bill Doyle is a sportswriter for the Worcester Telegram and writes a Central Mass. column in each issue of Southern New England Golfer.

Target Your Audience in SNE Golfer!

Call Mark O’Connor at 413-348-2779 or email markjoc@aol.com.

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SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

CAPE COD NOTEBOOK

By GEOFF CONVERSE

Bradley Would Like to See a USGA Senior Women’s Open

H

ey, you cover a local amateur golf tournament and you are talking to some of the contestants and when you turn around, Whoa. Is that who I think it is?

That was the fortunate situation that led to bumping into Pat Bradley during the Seagulls Fourball Championship – Cape Cod’s biggest annual amateur tournament.

Since hanging up her competitive spikes on the LPGA Tour, Bradley has been spending a lot of time on Cape Cod at the seaside Hyannisport Club, where she is a member. It seems strange to say, but right now she may not be as recognizable as her PGA Tour member nephew Keegan, but she is still as gracious as ever.

As someone that many golfers envy for having the ability to be “Livin’ the Dream,” Bradley also has the caveat of playing one of the most fun, yet challenging golf courses in New England. And she does that a lot.

Starting a conversation with Pat Bradley is relatively easy. Something like “Hi,” generally gets it started and it goes from there. Not a shrinking violet in any sense, Bradley can slide from one topic to another without losing a beat.

Wanna talk about her red-hot nephew?

She’s all over that.

How about the LPGA Tour and its disappearance from the New England Landscape? She has tons to say on that topic. Reminisce about past events? She has a memory like a steel trap. Nothing has escaped it.

But, if you really want to get her going, just mention the USGA and strap yourself in for a ride that does nothing but pick up speed as she goes through a passion she hopes to see come to fruition. And, she has a valid argument for this passion.

Of all the events the USGA holds throughout a year – U.S. Open, Women’s Open, Senior Men’s Open, Junior Championships, Mid-Am, Public Links, etc.

– there appears to be one glaring omission – a U.S. Senior Women’s Open.

Right now the only event on the USGA docket for senior women is the Women’s Senior Amateur Championship in Hershey, PA in September and the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship in October in San Antonio.

Notice anything? How about nothing for senior women who are professional golfers!

“It seems a bit unfair that there is nothing for the lady pros who would love to win a national championship,” Bradley said.

“Don’t you think people like Nancy Lopez, Carol Mann, Jane Blaylock, myself, Sandra Palmer deserve that opportunity?

“I think it would be a huge hit and draw a lot of interest,” she added. “I know it sounds like I’m complaining, but there are a ton of

tournaments for the men, but it is somewhat limited when it comes to women.”

She has a valid point and I’m sure it is something the USGA has discussed. Why it has not happened yet is one of those things that make you go, Huh? It’s not like they can’t play well. If what Pat Bradley has shown on the seaside links of Hyannisport this season, then this would be a special yearly event with some very talented golfers competing for a national crown.

Things are changing on the golf scene across Cape Cod with some new faces and new owners. At the exclusive Willowbend Club, there is something new as founder Paul Fireman has again sold the club, this time to Newton-based Southworth Development, LLC. After reacquiring Willowbend in 2010 from the members, to whom he had sold the club in 2007, Fireman has sold the 27-hole exclusive club to Southworth Development.

Southworth is a leading developer of residential resort-styled communities, with properties in the U.S., Scotland and The Bahamas. Southworth is a privately held firm owned by David Southworth of Boston and Joseph Deitch of West Palm Beach, Fla. David Southworth began his residential development career as Fireman’s business partner, serving as President and CEO of Willowbend Development from 1992 to 2005. During that span, the two combined to develop close to $1 billion in resort and/or residential communities in the United States and Puerto Rico.

“I’m very pleased to have the opportunity to acquire Willowbend. As someone who was there at the very beginning of Willowbend, being given the chance to take over the stewardship of the club and community is something that’s very gratifying,” Southworth said. “Willowbend has always been a second home for my family and me – literally, as I maintain a residence and membership there. To have the opportunity to guide this exquisite club community into the future is one that I value dearly. It just shows that you can go home again.”

There have been some personnel changes at Willowbend, but head pro Rick Johnson has been retained. Johnson, who moved to Willowbend last fall after 30+ years at Hyannisport, has been a hit with the membership. His easy style and desire to make the members feel special is something the Willowbend community is thankful for.

Generally when one mentions Willowbend, The Ridge Club, another gated community with a quality golf course, gets mentioned because they both came into existence around the same time.

Well, it appears a group of 12 members at The Ridge Club has stepped up to the

plate and bought that property. Among the investors is Boston Bruins great Bobby Orr, who owns a home in the Ridge Club community.

Already things are picking up at the club as close to 30 new members have joined since the ownership change in January. With that ownership, there has been a change on the golf side of things as Jay Askew has been named the new head pro.

Askew is another one who can come home again. He was a standout player at Barnstable High School on the Cape in 2000. He went to Methodist College and eventually ended up as an assistant at Boston Golf Club after a stint at Sankaty Head on Nantucket. He was chosen from a large group of applicants to assume the post. Joining Askew in the shop is Bob Travers and Chris Gagnon. Mike Dube continues as the course superintendent and Bob Higgins is the new club general manager.

Ordinarily, results of the Seagulls Fourball Championship would be included in this issue, but, the Championship Flight finals had to come back after the two teams – both

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

newcomers to this honor – were even after darkness forced postponement of the match after 18 holes of regulation and three extra holes.

The teams – Whitney Trimble (Oyster Harbors) and his partner, two-time MGA Player of the year Brian Higgins (Franklin) and the other twosome made up of two members of the senior set – 62-year-old Ray Richard (Willowbend) and 67-year-old Dave Houghton (Captains). Were slated to resume on another weekend when all parties were available.

Trimble and Higgins set a tournament record in qualifying shooting a 9-under-par 62. That round included 11 birdies and two bogies by the pair.

Four-time defending champions Kevin Carey and Joe Walker of Dennis Pines lost in the opening round of match play in 20 holes to the team of Ken Bianco (Olde Barnstable) and his partner, a clubmate of Higgins at Franklin, Brad Stewart.

Geoff Converse has covered golf on the Cape for over 30 years.

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By JAY NOMAKEO

G

Tour Pros Highlight Golf Shows on WEEI

uests such as Lexi Thompson, Billy Andrade, Jim Renner, Brad Adamonis, P.H. Horgan, Golfweek’s Jim McCabe, PGA.com’s T.J. Auclair and Keegan Bradley have had golfers tuning in to WEEI on Saturday mornings across Southern New England.

This is the second year SNEGolfer.com has been on golf radio shows in Worcester and Providence to augment the number one rated show in Springfield, Mass., all on New England’s Sports Radio Leader WEEI. The Springfield and Worcester shows can be heard at Saturday’s at 7:00 a.m. with formats geared toward golf information in each market. The Providence Show is 6-7 a.m. on Saturday and repeats on 8-9 a.m. on Sunday for those who rise a little later.

The shows are hosted by this reporter, also known as “the golf ball wacker guy” and we rely on local golf experts Steve Magargal ‘the mayor of golf ” and Russ Held of the Republican for the Western

30

PEOPLE IN GOLF

Mass Golf Show on WEEI affiliate 105.5FM. In Worcester on WEEI 1440 AM Steve and I are joined by Bill Doyle of the Worcester Telegram and Gazette, who is the golf go-to-guy in Central Mass. Bill also covers the Celtics for the Telegram and Gazette.

In Providence I’m joined by Bruce Vittner, editor of SNE Golfer Magazine and Dave Adamonis, Jr., the executive Director of the Challenge Cup where many of today’s Tour players have had their start. You can hear the Providence show on WEEI 103.7FM. All three shows can also be heard 24/7 at www.snegolfer. com.

Last year sixteen-year-old golf prodigy Alexis Thompson was gracious enough to come on the show and explain how she had to wait her turn, and now she is a part of the LPGA Tour. Also last year’s PGA Tour rookie Jim Renner, 10 years removed from his stunning second place finish in the Mass State Amateur at The

Orchards Golf Club, credits Providence host Dave Adamonis, Jr. and his late dad Dave Sr. with his much of his success on the golf course. Renner told the Golf Show “that tournament (Mass Amateur at The Orchards) jump started my career.”

Renner lost his card last year, but has already called this year and plans to make it back on Tour next year.

Keegan Bradley, who also raised his game while playing in U.S. Challenge Cup events when he lived in Hopkinton during his high school years and went to St. John’s University after been seen in junior events was on the show three times last year, and has already called this year to talk about The Masters.

The Golf Radio Show is lively, entertaining and provides the listeners with an entertaining hour of golf news and comments.

Jay Nomakeo, The Golf Ball Whacker Guy, is also associate editor of Southern New England Golfer and can be reached at jayn@snegolfer.com.

Guests such as Keegan Bradley have had golfers across Southern New England tuning in to WEEI on Saturday mornings.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

EASTERN MASS NOTEBOOK Lanzetta U.S. Kids Top 50 Teacher

Charlie Lanzetta, director of golf at Rockland Golf Course, is a longtime rules official with the PGA of America and was inducted into the New England PGA Hall of Fame in 2010. However, his most recent recognition is one of his most heartfelt.

Lanzetta was named a Top 50 Teacher by U.S. Kids Golf and received the award with his fellow peers at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla. For the last eight years, U.S. Kids Golf has annually recognized 50 elite golf professionals who have focused their careers on developing youth golf in their communities and are known for their overall excellence and commitment to serving youth.

At the national level, Lanzetta has achieved notoriety serving as a rules official for every PGA Championship since 1987, every Senior PGA Championship since 1985 (except for 2000), every Ryder Cup on U.S. soil since 1991, and 12 Masters.

In southeastern Massachusetts, however, Lanzetta’s name is synonymous with junior golf. Since 1978, his junior golf program at Rockland G.C. has been a long-running success every summer and he has also provided local high school golf teams with a place to play. His dedication to junior golf earned him the PGA of America Junior Golf Leader Award in 2001.

“I’m quite proud of receiving this U.S. Kids Golf award, and having the opportunity to meet such an elite group of junior golf instructors,” said Lanzetta.

“It was an opening of doors to some really talented people in the expertise of junior golf. It helps elevate myself to become a better teacher, instructor, and coach. It defines me.”

“Charlie touches a lot of different bases with the game of golf,” said Tony Morosco, a friend and fellow NEPGA Hall of Famer. “He’s gone above and beyond with the way he promotes the game.” “I have a passion for this aspect of the game of golf, plain and simple,” added Lanzetta. “I’ve always enjoyed working with youth, and mentoring them for life down the road.”

Bain Named PGA Regional Player Development Manager

Brian Bain’s relationship with the PGA of America has been twice as nice in recent months. Bain earned national recognition by receiving the prestigious President’s Plaque for 2011 following his implementation of creative player development programs as the head golf professional at the Robert T. Lynch Municipal Golf Course in Brookline.

The 39-year-old Bain is the first member of the New England PGA Section to be named recipient of the national President’s Plaque, which comes after receiving the NEPGA President’s Plaque in 2006, 2009, and 2010.

Earlier this year, the PGA of America named Bain its PGA Player Development Manager for the Boston-area market. Part of Bain’s duties include carrying out the PGA’s new Golf 2.0 initiative to grow the game of golf over the next decade.

In his new position, Bain will be working with Boston-area PGA professionals to promote initiatives such as Get Golf Ready and Tee It Forward, as well as the continuation of Play Golf America. The goal of Golf 2.0 is to increase the U.S. golf population to around 40 million golfers by 2020.

“That goal is aggressive, but that’s OK,” said Bain. “Any movement of the needle forward would be successful.”

Holly Taylor Blazing a Trail for Women

When Holly Taylor walked into the grill room on a late January day at PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Fla., she felt like she was at a Cape Cod Pro-Am League event.

The New England PGA was having its annual kickoff event of the season at PGA Village, and it felt like a reunion for Taylor to see so many of her former New England colleagues again.

Taylor, a 47-year-old Scituate native, was once a golf professional in southeastern Massachusetts before moving with her family to Florida to work at PGA Village four years ago. Coming to Florida was actually a trail blazing mission for Taylor.

She became the first female professional to teach at the golf club and, this year, was named the first female director of the PGA Center for Learning and Performance.

“It’s been a wonderful journey. I spent nine seasonal winters in the Fort Lauderdale area, so my husband, Richard, didn’t mind moving to where it was warm.

And my sons, Edward and Richie, like baseball, so it has worked out well,” said Taylor.

Taylor worked all over southeastern Massachusetts, starting as an assistant professional at the Country Club of Halifax, Plymouth C.C., and Thorny Lea, before landing her first head pro job at Rockland G.C. She moved on to become head pro at Waverly Oaks G.C., Olde Scotland Links, and South Shore C.C., which was the course she grew up on playing golf.

Four years ago, she saw an advertisement about an opening at PGA Village, and decided it was time to make the move down South. It’s a move she hasn’t regretted, and some of her former colleagues on the South Shore couldn’t be happier for her.

“Holly taught more (lessons) than any assistant I’ve had,” said Norton. “She was also very well-rounded in terms of the whole aspect of golf operations. I know she’s done a great job with the various programs down there.”

“With Holly, I take gender right out of the equation,” said Lanzetta. “She is a great example of a golf professional and a great example of a lady. She’s an amazing person.

Sometimes she flies under the radar with how she grows the game of golf. She did a lot for the game in Massachusetts, and now she’s doing it in Florida. In my eyes, the sky’s the limit for that lady.

Thus far, Taylor has been adjusting to the increased administrative duties of the job and says one of her biggest challenges is trying to fill up the golf school in a tough economy. The Center is considered one of the most advanced golf practice facilities in the world, complete with every amenity imaginable in terms of technology, fitness, and instruction.

A favorite program of Taylor’s is TEMPO, which is an abbreviation for packaging together: Technical-Equipment-MentalPhysical-On course playing lessons.

“The secret is you have to make it fun for the ladies,” said Taylor. “Right now, it’s a busy time with the Olympics coming up. We’ve got many of the national teams, a lot of Europeans and South Americans, coming in for extended stays.

These countries are energized, and they’re creating a lot of contracts to send their

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

By BOB DICESARE

Charlie Lanzetta golfers here to train.

One of the biggest contracts was for a three-month stay by the Russian national team, which even brought their own chef and nutritionist.

“It’s all as a result of the Olympics,” said Taylor. “We’ve got the weather and the facilities. It’s geared toward golf ’s future.”

Bob DiCesare is the golf columnist for The Patriot Ledger of Quincy and The Enterprise of Brockton.

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By BRUCE HUTCHINSON

Bionic Band

PRODUCT REVIEWS

As you watch professional golf you notice that just about every golfer is wearing some type of wristband. At every golf show vendors are touting their products. The Bionic Band promises to boost energy and increase balance and strength.

How does it do this? According to the company’s studies, the body’s natural frequency is 7-9Hz and the band keeps your cells at this frequency instead of the thousands of different frequencies you get from cell phones, wireless networks, power lines and more. The imprinted frequency in this band promotes increased concentration, muscle memory and flexibility. Scientists have stated, “In the whole universe, there is only energy and information.” Bionic Resonance TechnologyTM (BRTTM) is based on this fundamental principle Does it work? Doesn’t hurt, and it sure gives more flexibility.

For more information hear a recorded message at 800-549-0105 Ext 5678 or visit www.bionicbandgolf.com. A local distributor, Gary Palmer, can be reached at 401-397-1010 or email him at garybionicband@aol.com to find out more.

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Herbie’s One-Putt Wedge

One of the most unique products at last year’s ING Conference was a newly designed wedge called Herbie’s One-Putt Wedge. “It was years in the making and took two years to get USGA approval because of it’s revolutionary design,” said Kit Mungo, managing partner of The Putting Wedge Company.

The whole idea evolved when Mundo, a club designer for over 20 years working with many Tour players, was asked to design a wedge that was easier to hit by Herb Hyman, the originator of the automatic coffee machine. “One of the hardest things of hitting a chip shot is that it requires the arms and wrists to open and close the clubface at the precise moment of contact,” Mungo said. “With this design, players use a pendulum stroke which makes it simple to get the clubface on the ball squarely every time.”

The club’s ingenious design, which integrates the mass and weight associated with mallet putters along with the flange and sharp leading edge of the traditional sand wedge, allows you to effortlessly hit a variety of shots: from the fairway, the fringe, the deep rough, the not-so-deep rough and the sand. The find out more about the wedge go to www.oneputtwedge.com. See ad on page 23.

I’M CADDIE

A unique new GPS product, I’MCADDIE, will be available to the public by late Spring. Unlike any other, being as round as a silver dollar and twice as thick — visualize an Oreo cookie. You can clip it on the bill of your cap or just about anywhere else, and it is easy to browse the information. With one touch of a button I’MCADDIE will tell you everything you need to know to make the correct shot. The following is just a few of the features you get for $149.95: 1. Unlimited Golf courses 2. Remaining distance 3. Shot distance guide 4. Volume control 5. Manual hole change 6. Six languages (available in English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Japanese and French) 7. User map function for up to 200 courses 8. Battery life of 13 hours 9. Storage size up to 40,000 courses 10. Customized ball marker 11. Carrying pouch 12. Lifetime free download. For more information visit www.iamcaddie.com.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

GOLF COMMENTARY

M

By TIM GERRISH

Geoffrey Cornish, The Gentlemen Architect

any of you are probably unaware of the recent passing of Geoffrey S. Cornish. If you are a golfer in New England, there is a good chance he has impacted your game. So who was Mr. Cornish? He was an architect, educator, historian, author, mentor and gentlemen.

Please let me explain.

Mr. Cornish started in the golf design business for renowned architect Stanley Thompson in 1935. He thought his first project, evaluating soils for the new

Capilano Golf Club just outside Vancover, BC, was going to be brief. Seventy-five years later he was still active in the golf industry.

This made him immensely valuable to golf writers, architects, and superintendents.

There wasn’t a person he met with whom he didn’t have a connection. I often heard him say, “I knew your father,” with the recipient then saying “No, that was my grandfather!” He was one of the last direct connections to the golden age of golf design having met Donald Ross, A.W. Tillinghaust and Alister Mackenzie among others.

Being a Canadian, the outbreak of hostilities for World War II sent him to the British Isles. He often credited this experience as his baptism in walking.

He walked from Normandy to northern Germany and didn’t stop when he returned. His reputation for walking a course and winding those accompanying him forty years his younger is legendary.

After the war he worked with turf pioneer, Lawrence Dickerson at the Massachusetts Agricultural College, later known as the University of Massachusetts. In 1953 he started his own firm designing golf courses.

At this time he also became instructor for the Stockbridge School’s certificate course for Golf Course Managers. The number of superintendents who have graduated from this program and who are now at top-flight clubs is staggering. He also taught classes at the national level for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and at Harvard.

His interest in the history of course design lead to publication of the first of many texts on golf. The Golf Course initiated a philosophical change in how the industry viewed courses and their architects. The game’s recent emphasis on acknowledging past architects and historical restoration can be directly tied

to this book. It is ironic that much of the recent restoration is eliminating work previously completed by Mr. Cornish.

Mr. Cornish was a mentor for so many in the industry. Besides members of his firm, Bill Robinson, Brian Silva, Mark Mungeam, Howie Maurer, Kevin Rich, Brian Johnson and myself, he mentored and/or influenced many, many other architects through his letter writing.

His passion for designing facilities for all players to enjoy is thoroughly demonstrated in his built works. Does he have five courses listed in the top modern golf courses in the country? No. He does have courses that are enormously popular with golfers of all abilities in every state in the Northeast. Without his efforts to create fun, pleasing to the eye facilities for less than mediocre budgets, there would be thousands of people who may not have taken up the game.

Last, but not least, Mr. Cornish was a gentleman. He only had kind words to say.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

Even his criticism, which I was a recipient of as he was one of my thesis advisors and employer, was supportive, uplifting and energizing. He was a leader, whether fighting the Germans, educating a young superintendent or modifying a green with a golf course shaper. He spoke and people listened.

In August of this year, The Geoffrey Cornish Invitational Golf Tournament will be held at the International Golf Club in Bolton, Massachusetts. Mr. Cornish designed the Pines Course at the International. It is the world’s longest golf course with the original “Tiger” tees named well before a player of the same name was even born! Rest in peace, Mr. Cornish. You did much to make the game of golf better.

Tim Gerrish, RLA is a golf course architect and landscape architect. He will be writing an occasional article about golf course architecture in Southern New England Golfer and can be reached at tim@gardnergerrish.com.

33

By BRUCE VITTNER

F

PGA Village - Something for Everyone

or the third year in a row this reporter was part of a golf group that visited the PGA Village in Port St. Lucie after the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando. It just keeps getting better. Rated one of the Top 50 Best Golf Resorts in North America in 2009, all of the other golfing amenities the place has, it’s definitely one of the top 10 in America for golfers to visit.

Imagine three championship golf courses, two designed by Tom Fazio, and the other designed by Pete Dye. Add to that the PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance, rated Number 10 best practice area by Golf Digest in 2010, the PGA Historical Center that has wonderful memorabilia from the PGA and an incredibly helpful and knowledgeable staff, you have a place that every golfer should make plans to see.

We’ve had a chance to play all three golf courses, spend many hours at the Golf Learning facility and hours at the

34

GOLF TRAVEL Historical Center. It doesn’t get much better!

PGA Village was the first public facility owned and operated by The PGA of America and its 26,000 members. It serves as the winter home to PGA professionals.

While we were there this year the NEPGA was conducting a tournament and we saw teams from Russia and Holland preparing for the 2016 Olympics. The PGA Education Center located on the property is home to the PGA of America Golf Schools and serves as a training forum for PGA apprentice professionals.

Back to the golf. Tom Fazio built the first two courses in 1996, then called the North and South courses. Pete Dye’s course opened in 2000. All three made the Top New Courses in America list when opened. All three courses went through major renovation in 2006 and 2007 and Fazio’s courses were renamed to the Wanamaker and Ryder Courses.

The Ryder Course reminds players of a

Carolina layout with tall pines and even some hills. It was named after Samuel Ryder who founded the Ryder Cup matches. There is plenty of water, especially on the par 5 fourth hole. It’s a dogleg right that winds around a long pond along the right side.

Cut the corner on your tee shot and go over the water on your second and you might reach the 521-yard hole in two. Probably better to make it a threeshot hole, but fun to give it a try. It’s the number one handicap hole for a reason.

Number 10 has an elevated narrow green and numbers 17 and 18 are very difficult pars.

Fazio’s other course, Wanamaker, is named after Rodman Wanamaker who organized a meeting of top golf professionals and amateurs that led to The PGA’s founding in 1916. This is a true Florida layout with a great deal of wetland and plenty of vegetation and palm and palmetto trees. In typical Fazio fashion, there are bunkers everywhere and of every design. Accuracy will definitely help you on this course which most rate the most difficult of the three with two par 3’s well over 200 yards. The seventh seemed the most difficult and the 18th is a long par 4 bending around a lake to a tiered green.

The Dye course is a links-style design with plenty of water, but not much that should come into play. There are five sets of tees, and it is important to select the one for your game. The championship tees tip out at 7,215 yards with a rating of 74.7 and a slope of 139. Move up!! We played the standard tees at 6,105 and it was just right. Champion Ultra Dwarf Bermuda grass makes the greens roll perfectly true.

All three courses have earned the Audubon International Signature Status award. Each is distinctive and memorable.

The conditioning on all three, the practice tee and the fine clubhouse where the sandwiches and meals are excellent and reasonably priced make you smile when reliving your rounds. There is also a family fun course that is great for children and wives who might not want to venture onto the championship course. There are two putting greens, one almost the size

PGA Learning Center of Rhode Island, chipping areas, bunker areas with dozens of different kinds of sand and a three-hole course used for oncourse instruction. Many of the touring pros visited the center to practice hitting sand from the bunkers like they would play in Hawaii in January. There are more than 100 hitting stations on this 35-acre site that is really a golf park. You do not pay for a bucket of balls. Your fee is for the whole day, very reasonable, and you get as many balls as you want to use. “Millions of balls are hit every year on this site,” said Bob Baldassari, general manager of PGA Village.

What sets the PGA Village apart from other resorts is the PGA Historical Center.

We saw the Ryder Cup and the four major Championship trophies in golf, the first program ever for The Masters, a picture of the first Masters players, Donald Ross’ workbench from 1900, a new section paying tribute to African-American golf pioneers and enough pictures and plaques to keep you busy for hours. The PGA Historical Center also houses the Probst Library, considered one of the world’s foremost golf reference libraries.

The PGA Village is 45 minutes north of West Palm Beach and two hours from Orlando. There is an excellent Hilton Garden Inn with over 300 rooms adjacent to the property and the PGA Village also has condos to rent for groups of golfers.

You can find out more about the resort at www.pgavillage.com or by calling 1-800609-9067 for tee times and golf packages.

If you are a golfer you need to go.

Bruce Vittner is a member of the Golf Writers Assn. of America and the Golf Travel Writers of America. You can reach him at bruce@snegolfer.com.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

MYRTLE BEACH HAPPENINGS World Amateur Handicap Championship Set for Aug. 27-31 Golfers have until Monday, August 1 to register for the 2010 GOLF.com World Amateur Handicap Championship, the “World’s Largest Single-Site Golf Tournament.” The 27th annual World Am will be held August 30 through September 2 with more than 3,000 golfers from 50 states and 20 countries converging on more than 50 Myrtle Beach area courses for the week.

Registration for the 72-hole tournament is $550, but can be obtained for $475 if you register soon. Entry into the tournament includes four rounds of golf, a gift bag upon arrival, and daily continental breakfast at the golf course each day, four evenings of food, drink, golf expo and games.

The entry fee also includes admission for the golfer, and guest, into the “World’s Largest 19th Hole” at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center each evening after tournament play. The 19th Hole features an extensive golf exposition, equipment demos, entertainment, open bars, concerts, celebrity guests, prize drawings and food from many of Myrtle Beach’s best restaurants.

Hosted by Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, GOLF.com World Amateur Handicap Championship is a 72-hole tournament with participants competing for the right to be crowned “World Amateur Golf Champion.” Players are flighted according to their handicap and at the conclusion of the four rounds; flight winners and ties advance to the 18-hole world championship playoff at the renowned Dunes Golf & Beach Club.

The World Am features five competitive divisions, ranging from men and women 49 and under to the super seniors (70+).

The event’s inclusiveness is apparent in its past champions. Players with handicaps as low as three and as high as 34 have won the World Championship and three women have earned the distinction including 2009 winner Linda Fuller from Richmond, TX. Bobby Perkinson of Tennessee has won the last two championships.

The International Pairs Championship returns in 2012 and once again, a World Am duo has the opportunity to become the United States Qualifier and win an allexpense paid trip to Scotland to represent the United States in the 2012 International Pairs World Finals.

The more than 60 Grand Strand golf courses comprising this year’s World Am are some of the finest in the area including all four Barefoot Resort & Golf courses, Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, True Blue Golf Plantation, The Dunes Beach & Golf Club, Grande Dunes, TPC Myrtle Beach and all three courses at Myrtle Beach National.

“The GOLF.com World Amateur Handicap Championship is considered the ‘Every Day Golfers’ U.S. Open,’” said Jeff Monday, tournament director of the GOLF.com World Amateur Handicap Championship. “Any amateur golfer with a United States Golf Association handicap index, or foreign equivalent, can register for the World Am and has a legitimate chance to be crowned as the ‘World Golf Champion.’ We’ve added a few special events in 2012 and look forward to the 29th year of the World Am, added Monday.”

For more information on the event, host golf courses, or to register, call 1-800-8338798 or visit WorldAmGolf.com.

Legends Golf Group Hosted SNE Golfer Prize Winners Todd LaRiviere of Woonsocket, R.I. was the grand prizewinner of the Myrtle Beach Vacation package that was run

by Southern New England Golfer at six golf shows this winter and sponsored by Legends Golf Group in Myrtle Beach.

Golf Show Winners

Unfortunately Direct Air, who was a sponsor and provided airline tickets declared bankruptcy a few days before the winners were to leave for Myrtle Beach.

Being intrepid young men, the hopped in their car and drove the 13 hours to Myrtle Beach. “The Legends was great to us,” said LaRiviere who stayed at the Legends condos and played Oyster Bay and Heritage, the two properties offsite also owed by the Arnold Palmer Management Company who purchased the Legends Group three years ago.

Business has been exceptional. “We have been almost completely sold out every day on all three courses on property and the

two other that we manage, but were able to fit the winners in after not hearing from Direct Air,” said Keith Devos, director of sales. No wonder. They are running golf packages that truly offer great value.

The three courses on site (Heathland, Moorland and Parkland) plus the two other courses in their group (Heritage and Oyster Bay) are all rated at least 4 1⁄2 stars

by Golf Digest. “We offer a great valueadded package that comes with tickets for breakfast, lunch and two drink tickets. It’s been a homerun for us,” added Devos.

You can contact the Legends Group at 1-888-246-9797 or visit their website at www.legendsgolf.com.

Caledonia Golf & Fish Club Wins Award The South Carolina Golf Course Ratings Panel rated Caledonia Golf & Fish Club’s 18th hole the fifth “Most Memorable Golf Hole” in the state for 2012. “Our 18th hole is clearly a great way to conclude your round,” said Todd Welden, director of golf at the Mike Strantz-designed course since its opening in the late 1980’s.

Golfweek recently ranked Caledonia the third “Best Course You Can Play” in South Carolina for 2012. It is this reporter’s favorite course on the Grand Strand, but, alas, I dumped a ball in the pond at the famous 18th on a recent visit.

Golfweek Ranks 9 MB Courses in Top 15 You Can Play in S.C. Golfweek’s Top 15 Courses you can play in South Carolina included nine courses in the Myrtle Beach area. Caledonia topped the list at number 3, and their sister course was sixth.

The Dunes Club, host of many former Champions Tour events was voted fifth and Tidewater was seventh. TPC Myrtle Beach was eighth, Legends’ Heathland Course was 12th and the Resort Club at Grande Dunes was 14th.

Barefoot Resorts in North Myrtle Beach placed two in the top 15 with the Love Course voted ninth and the Fazio Course in the eleventh spot.

Barefoot Resorts Four Courses Continue to Shine We had the pleasure of playing two of the four courses at the Barefoot Resort last month. The Dye course was our first foray.

Pete Dye’s design is gentler than many of

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

By BRUCE VITTNER

The 18th hole at Caledonia his courses. There is a great deal of waste bunkers, some angles that make you think a great deal and large contoured greens that can result in many putts. Pick the correct tee box and you will have a great day. We chose the Members tees at 6,005 yards and had a wonderful time. Water comes into play on 8, 9, 10, and 18. The par 3’s on the course are excellent.

Our second day we played the Fazio Course. There is not as much water, the fairways are wide, but the deep bunkering makes this course very difficult to score well. Stay out of the sand and you’ll have a wonderful day.

McConnell Golf ’s Reserve Course is a Gem Not many travelers get to play The Reserve Club of Pawleys Island. That is unless you are a member of McConnell Golf (www.mcconnellgolf.com). A few years ago McConnell Golf purchased The Reserve, built as a private course for members only, designed by Greg Norman and opened in 1998 twenty miles south of Myrtle Beach.

“The purchase of our golf course by McConnell Golf provided a needed influx of capital improvements to our fine course, and our members are thrilled,” said director of golf, Donald Clement.

“Our members are thrilled with the conditioning of the course and being part of McConnell Golf,” he added.

The course is very flat (low-country, right?), and Norman’s minimalist style is displayed throughout the 7,206-yard layout. It is a fun layout with five sets of tees. The last hole, a 600-yard par 5 plays over a pond in front of the green. Make par and you can certainly enjoy your libation at the stately clubhouse.

McConnell Golf owns eight private golf courses in the Carolinas—six in North Carolina and two in South Carolina. Visit there website to inquire about corporate and national memberships.

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GOLF SCORES SCORES FROM PAGE 12-13 Team Results Team Hogan

Travelers Championship to be held June 18-24 The 60th anniversary of the Travelers Championship will be held at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn. from June 18-24.

As usual, the Travelers committee has provided many fun things to do in addition to the great golf with the six-million dollar purse. Entertainment will be provided by Javier Colon on Wed. June 20 and KC and the Sunshine Band on Saturday evening, June 23.

June 19 is Family Fun Day and the PGA Play Golf America program will provide free ten-minute lessons throughout the day and their will be a Junior Pro-Am. On Wednesday, June 20 the Celebrity Pro-Am will include a number of celebrities including Ray Allen, Michael Bolton, Doug Flutie, Rob Gronkowski and Joe Pesci.

Many top players have already committed to the tournament including defending champion Fredik Jacobson, Masters champ Bubba Watson, Keegan Bradley, Padraig Harrington, Hunter Mahan and Webb Simpson.

Volunteers are still needed and to volunteer or purchase tickets go to the Travelers’ website at www.travelerschampionship.com.

Captain Dave Adamonis Jr. Steve Desantis Team Palmer Steve Feinstein Team Ouimet Alex Daley Team Watson Chris Simmons Individual Results City/State 1.Chris Houston 2012 Gilford, NH 1.Connor Greenleaf 2014 Windham, NH 3.Chris Gentle 2012 Lowell, MA 4.Nick Drago 2013 Duxbury, MA 4.Eric Marchetti 2013 N. Attleboro, MA 6.Billy Walthouse 2013 Longmeadow, MA 6.John Flaherty 2012 Glastonbury, CT 8.Patrick Frodigh 2013 Westwood, MA 8.Makenzie Denver 2012 Manchester, NH 10.Jake Bauer 2014 Portsmouth, RI 10.Adam Goldstein 2012 Newton, MA 10.Tim Carroll 2012 Portsmouth, RI

SCORES FROM PAGE 12-13 Dave Adamonis Players’ Championship Final Results Round 1 @ Point Judith CC – Par 71 Round 2 @ Warwick CC – Par 69 1.Doug Clapp (MA) Walpole, MA 72 68 2.Ben Spitz (MA) South Boston, MA 72 74 2.Brian Higgins (MA) Franklin, MA 73 73 4.Brian O’Leary (MA) Norfolk, MA 72 75 5.Geoff Vartelas (J) Cromwell, CT 74 74 5.Nick Maccario Bradford, MA 80 68 7.Ben Warner (J) Weston, MA 77 72 8.Matt Montt Hanover, MA 77 73 8.Douglas Ebe Ljunghusen, Sweden 79 71 8.Herbie Aikens (MA) Kingston, MA 77 73 8.Chris Congdon (MA) N. Attleboro, MA 75 75 8.Chris Anderson Culver City, CA 75 75 8.Nick Fairweather (J) Windham, NH 76 74 8.McKinley Slade (J) Wakefield, RI 75 75

Score 255-253-508 260-259-519 265-262-527 267-263-530 Team Hogan Hogan Hogan Palmer Watson Palmer Ouimet Palmer Ouimet Watson Hogan Watson

Par 71 33-36-69 35-34-69 35-35-70 36-36-72 38-34-72 36-37-73 35-38-73 34-40-74 38-36-74 36-39-75 39-36-75 38-37-75

SCORES FROM PAGE 3

140 146 146 147 148 148 149 150 150 150 150 150 150 150

Team Results 1. LaSalle Academy 2. Barrington HS 3. Thayer Academy 4. Mount St. Charles 5. Lincoln HS 6. North Kingstown HS 7. Bishop Hendricken HS 8. Norton HS 9. Portsmouth HS 10. South Kingstown HS

308-319-627 316-318-634 320-315-635 320-331-651 330-323-653 332-331-663 331-336-667 330-344-674 338-340-678 337-342-679

Individual Results - Boys HS Division 1. Nicholas Pandelena St. John’s Prep (Danvers) 69-71-140 2. Charlie Anthony LaSalle Academy 71-75-146 3. Brian Carlson Daniel Hand HS (CT) 72-74-146 4. Matt Corio LaSalle Academy 73-76-149 5. Brad Auclair Mount St. Charles 72-78-150 6. Jeffrey Durkin Thayer Academy 75-77-152 Individual Results – Girls Division 1. Megan Khang Rockland HS 77-74-151 2. Vinh-Hop Ngo Newton South HS 75-79-154 3. Vinh-Hoa Ngo Newton South HS 83-78-161 4. Lina Kim Weston HS 84-81-165 5. Julia Ford Oak MS 80-86-166 6. Susie Cavanagh Pilgrim HS 81-87-168 Individual Results – Middle School Division 1. Jason Liu St. Gabriel MS 74-74-148 2. Patrick Welch Nathan Bishop MS 79-77-156 2. Jeffrey Arnold Gibbons MS 82-74-156 4. Andrew Flynn Nauset MS 76-81-157 5. Andrew McInerney Natick MS 83-76-159 6. Noah Peterson East Longmeadow HS 83-85-168

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SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

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SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

Photo by Dan Hendrickson, Amica employee

A new season. Great expectations.

Discover Amica.

AmicaConnections.com 866-51-Amica (26422) Amica Mutual Insurance Company. Lincoln, Rhode Island.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / May 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

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