AZ Golf Insider - December 2019 by Arizona Golf Association

AZGOLFINSIDER Annual 2019

Play like a…

CLUB CHAMPION

ARIZONA GOLF HALL OF FAME’S CLASS OF 2019

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AZGOLFINSIDER Inside this issue

ANNUAL 2019

FEATURES

16 Cover Story

PLAY LIKE A CLUB CHAMPION | By Gary Van Sickle

New club-fitters set up shop in Valley and offer options from literally every major golf club manufacturer.

20 BRIDGER SAYS ADIOS TO WMPO | By John Davis

After 18 years as executive director of the Thunderbirds, John Bridger retires.

22 THE 18 COOLEST THINGS ABOUT TUCSON GOLF | By Greg Hansen

If you’re playing golf in the Old Pueblo soon, be sure to read this article.

26 CBD CRAZE | By Bill Huffman

Why is the golf world so interested in CBD pills, sprays and creams?

40 WONDERFUL OAHU | By Bill Huffman

It’s only the third largest Hawaiian island, but Oahu packs a big punch.

ARIZONA GOLF ASSOCIATION NEWS

28 2019 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

30 AWGA AND LPGA-USGA NEWS 31 JGAA AND FIRST TEE NEWS 32 MEMBER ZONE 33 RULES AND HANDICAPPING 36 ARIZONA SCOREBOARD

40 DEPARTMENTS

A LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | By Ed Gowan

A toast to a good year, and a great year to come.

10 MEMBERS ONLY

| By the AZGOLF Insider Staff Local products, places and things you need to know about for the holidays.

12 SPIRITS OF THE GAME

| By the AZGOLF Insider Staff Let’s pop the cork on seasonal bottles for home entertaining or as gift-giving ideas.

14 THE 19TH HOLE

34 MOVERS & SHAKEUPS

| By Bill Huffman Mary Pomroy gets ready to say goodbye to Arizona golf.

38 GOLF FITNESS | By Adam Swanson

Three exercises to tighten up your golf game.

44 OUT OF BOUNDS

6 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2019

| By the AZGOLF Insider Staff The Phoenician’s Tavern and 19th Hole Grill and Patio deliver pub grub on two levels.

| By Katharine Dyson What do women want out of golf?

ON THE COVER Club Champion is the latest entry into the universe of custom club fitting in Arizona. It began with PING and Van’s, and now includes HotStix, Cool Clubs, PXG, True Spec, PGA SuperStores, GolfTEC, Second Swing and a few others. Arizona is now the center for golf club fitting in the world.

To read AZ GOLF Insider online, visit azgolf.org. CORRECTION Desert Mirage Golf and Practice Center was incorrectly identified as El Mirage in the Fall Issue of AZGOLF Insider. The magazine apologizes for the error.

www.azgolf.org

A UNIVERSITY CHAMPIONSHIP Golf Course in the Heart of Phoenix

Grand Canyon University proudly presents the Grand Canyon University Golf Course masterfully redesigned by the renowned architect John Fought. The course is a plush parkland oasis of green fairways and mature trees nestled in the heart of Phoenix. GCU Golf Course invites local players and visitors of all levels to a one-of-a-kind affordable golfing experience. 5 9 0 2 W. I N D I A N S C H O O L R O A D | P H O E N I X , A Z 8 5 0 0 3 G C U G O L F. C O M | 6 2 3 - 8 4 6 - 4 0 2 2 18GLF0056

From the Executive Director

By Ed Gowan

AZGOLFINSIDER EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OFFICERS PRESIDENT...................................................................Mike McWilliams VICE PRESIDENT................................................................ Bill Burgesser EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OFFICERS VICE PRESIDENT .............................................................Bob McNichols PRESIDENT............................................................................. Mike McWilliams 1ST VICE PRESIDENT .................................................................Bill Burgesser SECRETARY.......................................................................Michelle Cross 2ND VICE PRESIDENT .....................................................................BillBrown Phipps TREASURER. ............................................................................Tim

A toast to a good year, and a great year to come!

e’re into the seasons — holiday and golf — in Arizona. If the great weather that began this Fall continues we may see one of the best golf seasons in recent memory, as more corporate groups are including golf again in their business plans. For Arizona golfers, snow birds or sun birds, course conditions couldn’t be better. Already! So much was new this past year with the completely rewritten Rules of Golf and the melding of the AWGA with the AGA into one organization. We’re now only a month from the new World Handicap System, which tees off in January. It will be delivered with a completely new GHIN reporting system. Should you expect visible change? No, not initially. But, you will see variations across the board over the first six months. In handicapping, you will notice more predictability as the new WHS uses only eight scores of the last 20, whether in competition or casual play. Each course’s scores each day will be evaluated against previous scores, with daily adjustments for weather and difficulty. Exceptional scores will trigger immediate changes with new indexes the day following every posted score. You will still see our twice-monthly emails with score records, but you can also get the daily updates either through your club, online or in the new AGA App that will have many 8 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2019

SECRETARY ................................................................................Bob McNichols TREASURER ........................................................................................Tim Brown

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Vera Ciancola, Barbara Fitzgerald, Ed Gowan, Mark Jeffery, Jerry Huff, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS TimBrown, Hulscher, Mike Kane,Vera LeslieCiancola, Kramer, Ann Martin, ScottBarbara McNevin, Tim Bill Burgesser, Michelle Cross, Fitzgerald, Ed Gowan, Mark Mary Jeffery, Jerry Huff, Hulscher, Mike Suzy O’Hara, Judi Polidori, Pomroy, John Tim Souza Kane, Leslie Kramer, Ann Martin, Scott McNevin, Bob McNichols, Mike McWilliams, Suzy O’Hara, Judi Polidori, Mary Pomroy, Juna Rowland, AGA STAFF John Souza EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR............................................................. Ed Gowan

more options including handicap searches for your friends and playing statistics — all on your smart phone. We have enjoyed a great championship season closing with the Players Cup in early November. See the tournament page for the yearlong champions. We also celebrated the greats of Arizona golf last month, inducting five more candidates into the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame. Looking forward, a highlight in 2020 will be several joint events for men and women, both for individuals and teams. A travel series is being offered for those wishing a special experience around the U.S., but also advance planning for two groups to Scotland for the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews in July of 2021. As you can imagine, the pageantry mandates early commitments. Shorter trips nearby will include our always popular Mayan Palace events in March and October. The others will be announced shortly on azgolf.org. Member events like “Just for Fun,” “Member Days” and “Senior Series,” and the Member Advantage discount days are all expanding. Download your AGA App today and you will have all the information you want right in your hand. n

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER................................................Mary Pomroy AGA STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.................................................................... EdFinger, Gowan STAFF............................................................ Anj Brown, Le Ann CHIEF OPERATING Michelle Evens, TimOFFICER Eberlein,..................................................Mary Brianna Gianiorio, Paris Garcia, Pomroy STAFF......................................................................Anj Brown, Ann Finger, Sharon Goldstone, Erin Groeneveld, Vivian Kelley, MikeLeMason, Michelle Evens, Jim Franko, Paris Garcia, Sharon Goldstone, Derek McKenzie, Robyn Noll, Alex Tsakiris, Susan Woods Erin Groeneveld, Vivian Kelley, Mike Mason, Derek McKenzie, PARTNERSHIP CONTACT...........................................Chris Montgomery Robyn Noll, Betty Saltzgiver, Alex Tsakiris, Susan Woods NATIONAL ADVERTISING ....................................Brian Foster PARTNERSHIP CONTACTCONTACT. ............................................. Chris Montgomery NATIONAL CONTACT .................................... Brian Foster USGA P.J. ADVERTISING BOATWRIGHT JR. INTERNS........................Kylie Shoemake .............................................................................................Gillian Vance

*Denotes independent contractor

THEAZGOLF AZGOLFINSIDER INSIDERSTAFF STAFF THE PUBLISHER..........................................................................Mark Nothaft PUBLISHER.....................................................................................Mark Nothaft EDITOR-IN-CHIEF................................................................Bill EDITOR-IN-CHIEF .........................................................................BillHuffman Huffman DESIGNER............................................................................Carl Bezuidenhout DESIGNER...................................................................Carl Bezuidenhout AGA Thies AGAEDITOR EDITOR..................................................................................Lorraine ............................................................................Anj Brown SENIOR EDITOR ................................................................................John Davis SENIOR EDITOR....................................................................... John Davis REAL ESTATE EDITOR ...................................... Gremlyn Bradley-Waddell REALEDITOR ESTATE EDITOR. ................................... Gremlyn Bradley-Waddell FOOD ................................................................................Carey Sweet FOOD EDITOR. ...................................................................... Sweet GENERAL ASSIGNMENTS ..........................................................Carey Jeff Heisner PHOTO EDITOR ......................................................................... Jane Zarzynski GENERAL ASSIGNMENTS. ....................................................Tom Mackin SENIOR .......................................................Dennis Scully PHOTOPHOTOGRAPHER EDITOR..................................................................Jane Zarzynski SENIOR ........................................................WadeScully Moran SENIORPHOTOGRAPHER PHOTOGRAPHER...................................................Dennis CONTRIBUTORS .......................... ......................Ed Gowan, Lorraine Thies, SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER................................................... Wade Moran Scott McNevin, Tom Mackin, Joe Passov, Cori Matheson CONTRIBUTORS...................................................Ed Gowan, Steve Anj Brown, ADVERTISING GRAPHIC DESIGNER ........................................ Copas ErinFor Groeneveld, McNevin, Tom Mackin, Joe Passov, magazineScott inquiries, backspinmediagroup@gmail.com Cori Matheson, Gary Van Sickle

BACKSPIN MEDIA GROUP ADVERTISING GRAPHIC DESIGNER......................................Steve Copas PRESIDENT.......................................................................................Bill Huffman For magazine inquiries, backspinmediagroup@gmail.com GENERAL MANAGER ................................................................Mark Nothaft BackspinMediaGroup@gmail.com

BACKSPIN MEDIA GROUP

AZGOLF Insider, is published four times a year by the Arizona PRESIDENT. ..........................................................................Bill Huffman Golf Association. It is supported by members’ dues,Nothaft utilizing GENERAL MANAGER..........................................................Mark $5 per member per year. We welcome all editorial submissions, BackspinMediaGroup@gmail.com including letters, but assume no responsibility for the loss or damage of unsolicited material. They will not be returned unless AZGOLF Insider, isbypublished four times a yearstamped by the Arizona Golf Association. accompanied a self-addressed, envelope. Views It is supported by members’ utilizing per member per year. We welcome expressed within these dues, pages do $5not necessarily reflect the all editorial letters, but assume no Arizona responsibility opinions of submissions, the editorsincluding or official policies of the Golffor the loss or damage of unsolicited They will be returned Association. No part of this material. magazine is not intended as unless an accompanied byofa self-addressed, stampedpublication, envelope. Views expressed within endorsement any equipment, videotape, golf these pages do not entity. necessarily of the editorsmay or official course or other Noreflect parttheofopinions this magazine be policies of thefor Arizona No part publicity of this magazine is intended as an reproduced use Golf as Association. an advertising, or endorsement endorsement equipment, publication, videotape, course orInsider other entity. item withoutof any written approval of the AGA.golf AZGOLF is No part on of thisa magazine may be basis reproduced use as an advertising, publicity or offered subscription for for $12.95 annually. Individual endorsement without written approval of$5thetoAGA. is offered copies may beitem obtained by forwarding the AZGOLF addressInsider below. on a subscription basis for $12.95 annually. Individual copies may be obtained by forwarding $5 to the address below.

Arizona Golf Association 7600 E. Redfield Rd., Suite 130 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 (602) 944-3035 www.AzGolf.org www.azgolf.org

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> Couples who play together …

The No. 1 shoe in golf has couples in mind this season with his and hers FootJoy Flex Spikeless footwear. Both feature proprietary Versa-Trax rubber outer soles that deliver traction on a variety of surfaces on and off the course. Each ground contact point maximizes traction during your swing and provides exceptional grip when walking the course. The ultra-soft and supportive EVA midsole and breathable premium performance mesh upper pamper your feet even if your score is climbing. Enjoy the 19th hole on a double date and don’t sweat changing shoes. Men’s models are available in white, navy, black and gray; and women’s are pink, gray, white and black.

$90 • FootJoy.com

> It’s in the bag

The Subtle Patriot Covert Cart bag is a coalition of protection, function and weight wrapped in a design to honor America. The exterior features a subtle stars-andstripes pattern while the interior is a custom pattern featuring iconic images from history. At 5.2 lbs. this bag is light yet functional with 15 tailored club openings providing no-snag use of regular and oversized grips. There are plenty of pockets for your golf and electronic gear and the removable patch is customizable. Best of all, a portion of all proceeds goes to NS2 Serves, an organization focused on helping military veterans transition to civilian careers.

> First class

You may not be flying private, but you and your clubs will travel like VIPs with this high-quality travel cover from Bentley Golf. Yes, the luxury automaker in July branched into golf clubs and accessories to celebrate the company’s centennial, but you don’t have to fork over $16,000 for a set of clubs to enjoy this spectacular bag. Designed in seductive Highland Hare gray and black from supple, waterresistant technical fabric and leather detailing, Bentley’s Flight Cover offers a spacious interior, logo-embossed buttons and closures, strategically placed quilted pockets and opulent feel.

$950 • BentleyGolf.com

$239.99 • www.subtlepatriot.com

> Iron out your swing

If TaylorMade clubs are good enough for Tour players Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm, ranked No. 2, 3 and 5, respectively, maybe the sticks are something to consider — either for yourself or as a gift for a lowhandicap loved one this holiday. The company’s newest line, P790 Ti, is being called “a triumph of engineering” based on 40 years of golf research and the most advanced materials, like the Speedfoam-filled titanium head, visible tungsten weighting and either a hollow graphite or steel shaft. Players should expect excellent ball speed and breakthrough distance. Pre-order the five irons and pitching and gap wedge sets now, and surprise later.

$2,500 • TaylorMadeGolf.com 10 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2019

> Laser focused

One of the best-selling laser range-finder brands of all time continues to prove its worth round after round. Bushnell’s new Pro XE model shoots down flags within feet at more than 500 yards away. Compensated distances also have been taken to the next level with “Elements,” an improvement to Bushnell’s patented Slope technology that adds temperature and altitude to the calculus. Your goal also comes into focus with the new Visual JOLT flashing red ring and vibration that gives players even greater feedback. Stay focused because Pro XE will be. Also take advantage of XE’s BITE Magnetic Mount, which allows for easy access attached right to the cart.

$550 • BushnellGolf.com

< Preying on birdies

Orders also are now being taken for Odyssey’s awesome new Stroke Lab Black Bird of Prey putter to complement your new irons. The super-high MOI mallet features a distinct new head shape, high-definition alignment, enhanced Microhinge Star insert and the company’s proprietary multi-material Stroke Lab shaft for better tempo and more consistency. Tour-proven White Hot burns even brighter as you go birdie hunting this season.

$300 • OdysseyGolf.com

> Roaring again

Best-selling author Curt Sampson chronicles the incredible true story of Tiger Woods’ dramatic return to glory at the 2019 Masters following a humbling series of agonizingly public personal, physical and professional setbacks in Roaring Back — The Fall and Rise of Tiger Woods. Who could rise again to that level after two car accidents, eight surgeries and a failed marriage seen around the world? If anyone could, it’s Tiger, who is legendary for his mental toughness as the greatest closer in golf history. Roaring Back traces Woods’ tireless march toward Augusta earlier this year and offers a rare glimpse into the life of the golf icon.

$27 for hardcover • ChangingHands.com

< Stay and play

Experience two 18-hole Tom Fazio championship courses and worldclass accommodations at Loews Ventana Canyon this season as part of the venerable Tucson property’s Stay & Play Package. Both courses seamlessly blend into the natural features of the Santa Catalina Mountains, weaving through lush desert and scenic canyons with a variety of desert fauna. Take a selfie at Esperero Canyon in front of Whaleback Rock. Package includes sumptuous resort accommodations, complimentary use of driving range, cart use and bag storage, and a daily round of golf for two people.

Rates vary • LoewsHotels.com www.azgolf.org

ANNUAL 2019 | AZ GOLF Insider | 11

SPIRITS OF THE GAME

By AZ Golf Insider Staff

< ‘World’s Best’ Whisky

Elevate your Scotch game to another level with Highland Park 18-YearOld Viking Pride Single Malt Whisky, twice named “Best Spirit in

the World” by trade publication Spirit Journal. This carefully crafted superpremium Scottish wonder literally was centuries in the making – from the Sherry-seasoned ancient European oak casks to slow-burning aromatic peat from Hobbister Moor to the unhurried cool Islay maturation process – there is nothing quite like Highland Park, a 43 percent alcohol flavor bomb of cherries, dark chocolate, toffeealmond and smoke. Celebrate your low score and pour four glasses neat.

$150 • HighlandParkWhisky.com

> Top bubbly

When World War I veteran Jean Cattier returned to the French vineyards where his family had produced grapes since the 1600s, little did he know that all the ingredients were in place to produce elite Champagnes. The parcels near Reims fit within the France’s finicky Premiere Cru designation, and the 2 million-bottle cellars, originally designed to protect the family and neighbors from German bombardment, are among the deepest in the area at nearly 90 feet – ideal for wine production. The family’s sublime Armand De Brignac represents all this magic coming together. Multiple years of 40 percent Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and 20 percent Pinot Meunier have earned 95 points from Decanter and 93 from The Tasting Panel. This stunning bubbly is soft and creamy yet loaded with citrus-peach toastiness. The dramatic packaging is ideal for gift-giving.

$290 • ArmandDeBrignac.com

< Aged to perfection

Taste the crisp freshness and unique styling of a domestic vodka that has spent 20 days in Oloroso sherry oak casks this season, and then raise a glass to Source One Single Estate Vodka from Nevada. Distilled from sustainably grown oats and wheat from the producer’s ranch in Minden, Nev., this darkercolored vodka is ideal on the rocks or even neat where the floral aromas, sweet, fruity notes of cherry and raspberry, and oat creaminess are fully appreciated. Great for gift-giving or as a showstopper at your own holiday soiree.

$40 • SourceOneVodka.com

Where to buy These selections and others are available at fine wine and spirits retailers like Total Wine & More, BevMo and AJ’s Fine Foods Valley-wide. 12 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2019

< Made you blush

We love Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label, one of the most iconic Champagnes. But Yellow Label’s sexy sister Brut Rosé also turns heads with its vibrant acidity, ripe strawberry and juicy ginger zestiness. The cuvee is based on Brut Yellow Label’s traditional blend of 50 to 55 percent Pinot Noir, 15 to 20 percent Pinot Meunier, and 28 to 33 percent Chardonnay. Grape skins are just left in contact with the juice to impart the subtle salmon hue. Wow your significant other or favorite foursome with this holiday charmer that Wine Spectator dropped 91 points on.

$70 • VeuveClicquot.com www.azgolf.org

THE 19TH HOLE

By AZ Golf Insider Staff

COURTESY THE PHOENICIAN

A Tavern Spritz is the perfect cocktail to enjoy in The Phoenician’s beautiful outdoor garden known as the 19th Hole Grill and Patio …

PHOENICIAN’S LATEST 1-2 PUNCH DELIVERS PUB GRUB ON 2 LEVELS

he late Arizona developer Charles Keating opened his grand “Eighth Wonder of the World” in 1988. It was called The Phoenician, replete with a 24-karat gold lobby dome, imported Carrera marble, 11 Steinway grand pianos and18 holes of golf that would shortly grow into 27 holes under the creative eye of architect Ted Robinson. Keating, infamous for his role in the savings and loan scandal of 1989, also created Mary Elaine’s — the illustrious, chandelier-covered, modern French restaurant named after his wife. We loved it: the foie gras, the grand cru Champagne and all the luxury that Mary Elaine’s offered.

Mary Elaine’s ruled the elite restaurant scene for nearly two decades, scooping up local and national honors with several James Beard Awardwinning chefs and nominees. The Phoenician recast the restaurant in 2008 as part of a $70 million makeover. In reality, the go-go appetite for ostentatious overindulgence of the 1990s had waned. But the legacy of Mary Elaine’s was firmly established, and The Phoenician’s reputation for fine cuisine was duly noted even among golfers. The food and beverage service, as well as the overall restaurant experience, still are quite elevated, whether grabbing a chargrilled hot dog at the turn or hanging out after a round at the resort’s second-floor dining venue overlooking the practice green. Most recently, Relish

14 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2019

COURTESY THE PHOENICIAN

HANGING AT THE TAVERN & 19TH HOLE … or if you prefer, enjoy this dazzling drink in the comfy confines of The Phoenician Tavern (above).

Burger Bistro (and before that Windows on the Green) gave way to The Phoenician Tavern, which opened in March and is now led by chef Patrick Karvis, a local fixture who worked with Mark Tarbell, Eddie Matney and most recently at the Taphouse Kitchen. Karvis also is chef for The Phoenician’s outdoor restaurant that’s directly below The Tavern, appropriately dubbed the 19th Hole Grill and Patio. “I’m definitely a modernAmerican comfort-food guy.

I call it pub grub,” said the easygoing Karvis. “And that kind of menu works out well, because we have a lot of golfers and families that dine with us.” There is a lot to like about both restaurants, which are part of another three-year restoration that took place recently. Besides both eateries, The Phoenician added a new spa, fitness center and reinvented its golf course, as Scottsdale architect Phil Smith gently pared this lovely links from 27 to 18 holes — all the www.azgolf.org

www.azgolf.org

COURTESY THE PHOENICIAN

Dueling pianos (top left) are one of the cool vibes of The Phoenician Tavern, where you can enjoy such pub grub as Everyday is Friday Fish N Chips (top right), Nashville Hot Fried Chicken Bites (above) and the Arizona Chicken Cobb Salad.

on the menu. Outstanding! With drinks squared away, we turn our attention to the Chicken Bites, which could work as a meal for one but we’re “sharers.” A whimsically presented wire basket of spicy, hand-dipped, crunchy white-meat chicken nuggets are sprinkled with diced homemade garlic dill pickle bits and slices along with triangles of white bread made on-site with the crusts cut off, AND a nest of Parmesandusted crunchy fries. We end up making Southern-styled mini Hot Fried sandwiches for the full experience. Rosa Cano, who manages both The Phoenician Tavern and 19th Hole, checks in to make sure we’re pleased with the drinks and apps. “We’ve been open since March, and both restaurants are doing wonderfully,” Cano

COURTESY THE PHOENICIAN

result of a multimillion-dollar facelift that was the largest in the resort’s 30-year history. Now the future is ready to roll at one of Arizona’s rock star resorts. The Phoenician Tavern is the kind of place where you could hang whether you just played 18 or not. The second-floor location provides excellent views of the palm tree-lined practice green, as well as fairway views. It is the perfect setting to knock back a strong cocktail or one of nearly 50 local, domestic or imported beers. The stylish interior exudes a sophisticated retro vibe with red Naugahyde booths, dark wood beams and sleek walls that optimize lighting. Dueling pianos and a stylish bar with coppercolored bar stools anchor the north side of the room. While you settle up scores, a round of drinks that include a Traditional Margarita ($12) and a Tavern Spritz ($11) hit the table, along with Nashville Hot Fried Chicken Bites ($13). The margarita is just as the classic should be, made with a generous pour of 100 percent agave El Jimador Blanco tequila, Cointreau, fresh lime juice and a few drops of agave nectar, shaken and poured over ice in a thick, salt-rimmed vessel. Aperol, the herbaceous Italian aperitif, is the hallmark of the Blood Orange Martini and the kicker of the aromatic and refreshing Gruet sparkling wine spritzer. We also want to order a beer but with so many local brews to choose from, our server suggests a Beer Flight ($10) that includes four 3-ounce pours. We try the hoppy Vienna-style Bar Dog Lager and Phoenician Pale Ale from Four Peaks, along with Scottsdale Blond from Huss and Dragoon Santa Cruz’r Golden Ale from Tucson. We counted 18 local brews

explained. “Believe it or not, we’ve already hosted as many as 500 people at once, which we can do when we put The Tavern, 19th Hole and Roundhouse (private party room) all together. It’s been amazing.” “Amazing” also describes the sizable entrees that arrive next. The Classic Tavern Burger ($18), a juicy, 80-20 prime beef grind cooked medium-rare, is topped with a thick cut of Cheddar and dressed with smoked mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, onion and more of those delicious dill chips. All that goodness piles onto a housemade brioche bun and is paired with Tavern fries, sweet potato fries or pub salad. We wipe the beef juice from our face and dig into the Every Day Is Friday Fish N Chips ($21), three colossal cuts of bright-white Alaskan cod that is beer-batter fried to golden greatness. The

creamy-yet-tangy tartar sauce and malt vinegar fries are the ideal accoutrements. With the fish and chips, we pass around the Arizona Chicken Cobb Salad ($16) and admire its roasted corn, red pepper ranch dressing, as well as Sonoran-style Cotija cheese. Outdoor dining, which is sensational this time of year, is much more limited at the 19th Hole. The menu reflects just a few items for breakfast or lunch or maybe a sandwich or wrap between nines at the Troon-managed facility that reopened in November 2018. Fortunately, all are big-time offerings, like the On-the-Go Breakfast Burrito that features three different meats ($12) or the Dog Leg, an all-beef hot dog on a brioche bun with all the fixings ($10). Yum! Another thing that’s cool about the 19th Hole is the fact that you can lean over the wall and almost touch the putting green. Yes, there’s lots of entertainment for free. Who knows? You might be part of it. Chef Karvis inherited both menus and said he plans to “keep 70 to 75 percent” of the current items, noting that The Tavern needs nachos of some sort. “It’s a little bit of a dilemma because some of the offerings right now are just too good to take off the menu,” he said with a laugh. “As for ‘no nachos,’ I’m thinking barbecue chicken would be a great topping. That’s real pub grub.” n DETAILS The Phoenician Tavern & 19th Hole Grill and Patio At The Phoenician Resort and Golf Club 6000 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale 480-423-2450 ThePhoenician.com

ANNUAL 2019 | AZ GOLF Insider | 15

COVER STORY

New club-fitters set up shop in Valley, offer options from literally every major golf club manufacturer

By Gary Van Sickle

PLAY LIKE A …

driver. I am officially nine yards longer off the tee. And straighter. I am also happier, more satisfied and more confident. Why wouldn’t I be? I just picked up nine yards, the whole nine yards. I bought myself a better golf game without having to practice. Ah, it’s great to be alive in America. This techno-moment was common during Golf’s Golden Age, and by that, I mean the golf age that was

golden for me — the late 1990s and early 2000s. That’s when a river of technological innovations in equipment allowed me to keep gaining distance through my 40s and into my 50s. It was a sweet, fantastic time. Deep down, sure, I knew the equipment was what made me better, but my scorecards believed it was my innate golfing skill finally coming to fruition. (Yeah, go ahead and laugh.)

There are 70 Club Champion fitting studios throughout the U.S., including a new facility that just opened in Scottsdale.

16 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2019

www.azgolf.org

COURTESY CLUB CHAMPION

o these neon pink shorts make me look fat? Wait, don’t answer that. Try this instead: Does this new driver make my tee shots look longer? The correct answer is, yes. I went through a comprehensive fitting at Club Champion’s national headquarters on Chicago’s west side in Willowbrook, Ill., and have a new

CLUB

CHAMPION Times have changed. I’m midway through my 60s and there’s nothing golden about this age. My knees are shot, my feet are worse and Elvis is still dead. Golf’s governing bodies have put up the equivalent of speed limits, slamming the brakes on equipment innovation that I need now more than ever. My handicap is rising like a hot-air balloon on a cold Arizona morning and I’m leaking distance on a monthly basis. That’s all past-tense stuff now. My recent visit to Club Champion, America’s premier golf club-fitting chain, tied a tourniquet on the problem and found me more distance and a little more accuracy by determining the best shaft and driver-head combination for me. I have been optimized and I feel good. If you haven’t heard of Club Champion, that’s on you. Club Champion has 70 stores nationwide, including a new one in the Phoenix area, and 25 more in the planning stages. The new store in the Valley is located at 9015 E. Via Linda, Suite 100, Scottsdale at Via Linda Crossroads. It is one of the rare www.azgolf.org

growth stories in the golf industry. Here’s how it works: You pay a fitting fee to walk through Club Champion’s doors ($350 for a whole set; $150 for a driver; full a la carte prices available at ClubChampion.com). Of course, you must pay for the heads and shafts you select — actually, they select you, in a way. So your fitting can get pricey, especially if optimizing your game means expensive custom shafts. Once you’re fit, however, you are under no obligation to purchase the clubs. Is it worth it? Well, how badly do you want to play your best golf? What you get at Club Champion is something you can’t get at many other places unless you’re a PGA Tour player. Sure, each major golf manufacturer has its own club-fitting sites and quality club-builders, but they’re limited to their own brand of clubs. Club Champion offers the option of every major brand all in one place, more than 35,000 combinations. It’s like going to a gigantic auto mall where you can test drive every brand of car.

PING, Titleist, TaylorMade, Callaway, PXG, Fujikura, Golf Pride, Honma — name a major brand and Club Champion probably has the parts. This is what the club-buying business looks like in the 21st century. No golf course shop can match what Club Champion does. No big-box golf store can match it, and even if they could, they don’t have the skilled club-fitters and club-builders or the quality control that I saw at Club Champion. Customers’ clubs, usually shipped out within 10 days, get tested and retested to make sure their specs are what the customer ordered. They’re good at that because they’ve got what Tiger Woods likes to call “reps.” Club Champion cranks out 1,500 clubs per week during peak times. I got a tour of Club Champion’s headquarters before my fitting. Club Champion has two buildings, across the street from each other. One is a 15,000-square-foot facility for building product, storing parts and shipping. It was a beehive of activity on my visit. ANNUAL 2019 | AZ GOLF Insider | 17

The other building is a 10,000-squarefoot storefront, where customers get fittings done. Club Champion uses a couple of simulators. Indoor fittings remove outdoor variables such as wind, temperature and humidity that could affect results. There also is an indoor putting green, where I got fitted for a putter. It’s a cool place, with a seating area and framed classic golf magazine covers on the walls and a few offices. “We want you to feel like you’re walking into your own club,” said Jay Hubbard, Club Champion’s vice president of marketing and public relations. “We want to be your golf place for life.” I was here for a driver fitting. My gamer for the last eight or so years was an Adams Speedline Fast 10, sporting a 46-inch, 60-gram, stiff custom Fujikura shaft installed when I attended a Long Drive Academy school hosted by the World Long Drivers Association. It’s been a long love affair with that club, but since my left knee blew out in 2015, barely six months after I competed in the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship, my clubhead speed has dropped and I’ve been increasingly disappointed in my significant other — that Adams driver. As I surveyed a wall of colorful shafts in Club Champion’s storefront, wondering which one might be my savior, Hubbard pointed to them and said, “This is where the magic comes from.” Yes, club-fitting is all about the right shaft and there are hundreds of options. That’s why club-fitter extraordinaire Kyle Morris was my MVP — Most Valuable Psychic. Kyle chased competitive golf

COURTESY CLUB CHAMPION

COVER STORY

Club Champion will break it all down for you -- launch angle, spin rate, ball speed, club head speed and smash factor.

until putting demons got him, then worked at several golf clubs before finding his calling — club-fitting. He knew from the experience of fitting hundreds of hacks like myself just where to look after watching my all-too-shabby swing and the launch monitor’s demoralizing data. It’s always humbling, if not humiliating, to see your swing on video or get a face full of your launch numbers. When I was last measured 10 years ago, my clubhead speed was between 99 and102 mph. Now, Kyle’s danged, lying launch monitor had me between 89 and 93 mph. I swallowed hard. Yikes. Numbers don’t lie (except when you make them). Well, no wonder I struggled with my old driver. Kyle started me in the hitting bay on a Titleist TS2 driver (because I happened to have a newly acquired Titleist TS2 fairway wood in my bag, he figured it

IF YOU GO Established in 2010, there are currently 70 Club Champion fitting studios in major markets across the country, including the new location in Scottsdale. More than 20 additional locations are slated to open in 2020. The studios carry all the top golf club, shaft and grip manufacturers in the industry, which allows for 35,000+ equipment combinations for customer trial. Studios are equipped with advanced analysis technology, along with highly trained certified fitters and builders

18 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2019

who must complete an extensive training program. Services include club fitting and building, repair services, personalization, and highly engaging corporate and personal entertainment events. For more information about Club Champion or to book a fitting call 888-335-6097 or visit www.clubchampiongolf.com.

would feel familiar for me) with a lighter 50-gram Fujikura Ventus shaft. His first guess was a dud. My clubhead speed and ball speed dipped significantly. We tried assorted Titleist TS3 drivers with different shafts and lofts of 9.5 and 10.5 degrees. The 10.5 degree TS3 scored a 93.5 mph clubhead speed and 138 mph ball speed — both strong upticks from my gamer. Ball speed is a more important number because it correlates directly to distance. After a dazzling display of mediocre swings, Kyle determined my best shaft was the Fujikura Ventus Blue, designed for mid-launch levels (vs. high-launch, low-launch or in my case, out-to-launch). With my shaft established, we moved on to different clubheads. I hit a series of shots with a PXG driver, Callaway’s Epic Flash, TaylorMade M3, Titleist TS3, PING G410 and TaylorMade M5. There was some variance in the data, just as there was definite variance in the quality of my swings after 30 to 50 shots. I was surprised that occasional shots that felt good didn’t always deliver good launch numbers. There were some brand-to-brand anomalies in my launch data that I won’t specify because they were unique to my swing. I don’t want to color your brand perceptions with my results. Your swing isn’t my swing — lucky you — so your results will differ. At the end, the numbers said it was a showdown between the Titleist TS3 and the TaylorMade M5. The dispersion pattern was the tiebreaker. The computer drew circles around where my M5 and TS3 shots landed. The M5 www.azgolf.org

COURTESY CLUB CHAMPION

shots, perhaps thanks to its Twist-Face technology, were closer to the target line. If I were 15 years younger, I would launch another 50 drives to get a more scientific reading. But my crap knees and aging back were out of good swings, using the term “good” loosely. So the M5 driver with a 45.25-inch Ventus Blue shaft was the winner of my Driver Derby. The book on Ventus, by the way, is that it’s designed to tighten shot dispersion while maximizing ball speed, especially on off-center hits. That sounds like what I need. My cost was $150 for the driver fitting, $529 for the driver, $350 for the shaft and $78 for a full-stat analysis (including SST PURE shaft analysis), gripping and installation. The latter is crucial because if the club isn’t built to the exact specs I tested, I may not get my whole nine yards. It was fun to leave Club Champion HQ with pages of data — columns of launch angle, spin rate and smash factor numbers (ball speed divided by clubhead speed, by the way) and more. My increase in carry distance with the M5 over my gamer was seven yards, the total after roll was nine-plus yards.

The new Club Champion fitting studio in Scottsdale is located at 9105 E. Via Linda, Suite 100.

The main thing I left with, though, was an assurance that I’m now as geared up as I can possibly be, driver-wise, and I can quit sampling other drivers to make sure I’m not missing something. At least until the next generation of drivers arrive. Hey, I’ve got nine more yards, courtesy of Club Champion. All I need to do now is practice the

important stuff. You know, stand in the fairway and say, “You’re away.” When it happens — OK, if it happens — I’ll do it. A guy who wears pink shorts has nothing to lose. n Gary Van Sickle is a well-known golf writer and equipment critic who lives in Pittsburgh and writes for morningread.com.

CHANGE OF COURSE Golf in Tucson means a break from the average links. Challenge your game on daring desert layouts or hit it long on fairways that host the champions. Whatever your style, Tucson has it in the bag. FIND YOUR COURSE AT

VisitTucson.org/Golf

Ventana Canyon Mountain Course #3

www.azgolf.org

ANNUAL 2019 | AZ GOLF Insider | 19

BRIDGER LEAVING T-BIRDS Calls his second career ‘unbelievably rewarding’

20 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2019

COURTESY OF THE THUNDERBIRDS

ohn Bridger always has preferred to keep a low profile, but anyone associated with the Phoenix Thunderbirds or Waste Management Phoenix Open knows full well that, away from the spotlight, he has had a tremendous impact on that event, the golf community and the PGA Tour. After 18 years as executive director of the Thunderbirds civic organization, Bridger will be stepping down and turning over the reins to former PING executive Chance Cozby this coming spring. “John is a leader in every sense of the word,” said Cozby, who moved into the Thunderbirds office Nov. 1 and will remain as Big Chief (president) of the organization until Bridger departs. “When you look at the success of our tournament over his 18 years, so much of the credit for that goes to John and his leadership. We lead the PGA Tour in many ways, and he has been at the helm for all of that growth.” “Bridge,” as he known in golf circles, came to the Thunderbirds from the banking industry in 2002, replacing longtime director Jim Frazier. It was under Bridger that the Open acquired its first title sponsor and began shattering records for both attendance and charitable giving. “I don’t think I could have imagined transitioning from a banking career to this, first of all for 18 years, but secondly to see how the event has grown and the charity donations,” Bridger said. “It’s been unbelievably rewarding. To have this as a second career and see what has been achieved, it is very special.” Under his leadership, the Open has been named the PGA Tour’s

COURTESY OF THE THUNDERBIRDS

By John Davis

John Bridger poses for a photo with wife Neita (top) and with the man who is replacing him after 18 years as the Thunderbirds’ executive director, Chance Cozby (above).

Tournament of the Year three of the past six years. It also has received awards for being most fan-friendly and for best sponsor integration. Bridger’s stature within the tour became obvious when he was added to its tournament advisory council and then named council chairman last year. “John has been a wonderful liaison between our event and the tour,” said Pete Kuehner, who served as the first tournament chairman during Bridger’s reign. “He has been a tremendous asset to our organization, not only a true gentleman but he has a solid professional demeanor and leadership skills. He was a superstar hire, as good as it gets.” Tom Altieri, the 2013 chairman, agrees wholeheartedly. “It’s not a question of what Bridge brought to the table,” Altieri said. “He actually brought the table. He shaped the position and became the architect of the organization and its current success. www.azgolf.org

“Just imagine that in your business you had a new partner every year, and each one had a different personality. That’s what he had and he adapted to every one of us, instead of making us adapt to him. That had to be hard and yet he made it look easy.” The Open already was a very successful event, drawing a halfmillion fans each year, when Bridger became executive director, but that figure has been obliterated, with the 2018 event drawing a record 719,179. In 2019, the event said it would no longer announce attendance figures. The increase in charity dollars has been equally impressive as the event has broken its own record eight consecutive years, including an alltime mark of $13.25 million in 2019. Over its history, which dates to 1932, the Open has raised nearly $148 million for charity, and $123 million of that has come under Bridger’s leadership. “At the end of the day, it’s all about the giving,” Bridger said. “I’m personally touched by it. In one way or another, we

HOW TO GET YOUR TICKET All children 17 and under are free all week with an accompanying adult. First responders and active, reserve and retired military — and a guest — are admitted free and are also welcome to enjoy complimentary food and beverages at the Patriots Outpost. General admission tickets are $45 for Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, while Friday and Saturday tickets are $60. All patrons are admitted free on Monday and Tuesday courtesy of Ford Free Days. For tickets and corporate/ hospitality information, visit www.wmphoenixopen.com/tickets. have touched a lot of people out there. “When you look at the organization and the volunteers who enable us to do those things, that’s really the flame that drives the engine. The big reward always comes from the give.”

Mike Haenel, who was the 2006 tournament chairman, describes Bridger as “a legend.” “In every setting and in every situation, he always does the right thing with the utmost professionalism and always has the vision of the Thunderbirds at the forefront,” Haenel said. “And he has done that with such grace, never wanting any credit for anything. He always wants to be at the back of the room and give credit to the chairmen or the sponsors or anybody else other than himself.” Cozby said he is “excited” to be taking over as Thunderbirds leader and that working under Bridger’s guidance for the 2020 Open will make the transition smoother. Cozby served as tournament chairman last year and quickly gained favor as Bridger’s successor. “Chance is the perfect guy to follow Bridge, but he has some awfully big shoes to fill,” Haenel said. “Following Bridge would be like following John Wooden. He has been that good.” n

DISCOVER Beautiful Scenery - Exceptional Golf

Two 18-hole Championship Golf Courses and State-of-the-Art Amenities Two distinctly different playing experiences Established Golf Programs Personal golf cart use with no trail fee Temporary Trial Membership available Practice facility renovation ﬁnished September 2019 Private access to 21,000 acre McDowell Mountain Park Fitness center featuring weekly classes 18-hole natural grass putting course Dine at the 4-Time Award Winning Mesquite Grill Experience the Tonto Verde golf lifestyle Call: (480) 689-9697 or Visit TontoVerde.org

www.azgolf.org

ANNUAL 2019 | AZ GOLF Insider | 21

The 18 coolest things about Tucson golf By Greg Hansen

Pusch Ridge at El Conquistador

ucson’s first all-grass golf course opened 90 years ago this fall, in November of 1929. The El Rio Country Club was greeted with hyperbole and open economic arms. “Somebody tried to farm the land to grain and vegetables, but the city fathers took exception to having a backyard of thrifty peasant farmers so they removed their sustenance by diverting the water supply,’’ wrote the Arizona Daily Star. “The new golf course shades our newest bank building and our latest hostelries, an advertising agency for the many activities and nature things we want to tell the world about.’’ Word got out. Jack Nicklaus built two golf courses in Tucson and Arnold Palmer built another. Today, there are 42 golf courses open for year-round play in the greater Tucson area, stretching 70 miles from SaddleBrooke in the northern Catalina Mountains to Tubac, a long par-5 from the Mexican border. There’s a lot to like about those 70 miles of golf heaven. Here are the 18 coolest things about golf in Tucson: 22 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2019

Skyline Country Club

Of the 42 golf courses in Tucson, the term “nestled in the mountains with spectacular views’’ applies and is widely used by most all of them. Certainly, all of the area’s public relations/ marketing firms covet the term, as do those residents who like to call a golf buddy in Iowa and say, “You should see the views from Skyline Country Club; you can see all the way to Mexico.’’ www.azgolf.org

TUCSON GOLF

Dell Urich

If you’re looking to shoot a career round — perhaps a 69 or a 79, or break 90 for the first time! — Tucson might be the place to get it done. Dell Urich Golf Course, a par-70 gem in the middle of downtown Tucson, has a slope rating of 67.8/116. Water? Only at No. 17. The Haven, a well-kept muni course in Green Valley that looks like something out of a 1960s, is a 67.2/117 slope. Water? None. Or how about the new SaddleBrooke Ranch near Oro Valley. It has spacious fairways, few shot-blocking trees and no elevated greens. The Ranch is 66.4/111 from the rust tees, the equivalent of the white tees at Dell Urich and Haven.

At the 36-hole El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Club compound on Tucson’s far northwest side (in other words, Oro Valley), architects built a large pond adjacent to the par-5 No. 16 hole. Developers bought 1,000 fish for the pond to encourage attendant wildlife growth. A year later, scores of sky-diving osprey had feasted on all 1,000 fish. Every last one. The pond remains, albeit with thousands of mishit golf balls joining frogs and turtles as its chief occupants. It certainly has earned its reputation.

El Conquistador

The Lodge at Ventana Canyon, built in 1984, contains one of the most photographed holes in the Southwest. The 107-yard No. 3 hole on the Mountain Course used to be

www.azgolf.org

the keystone to television coverage of the Merrill Lynch Shootout, played in the late ‘80s. It is a mini-Grand Canyon, requiring a trek up a spiral staircase of a cart path. The two-tier green, seriously sloped from back to front, is most known as the spot Tom Watson four-putted in the 1988 Shootout, eliminating him from play. The price tag to build the mini-Grand Canyon was $1 million to $5 million, depending on who is telling the story.

of downtown. The PGA Tour’s Tucson Open began at El Rio in 1945 and continued through 1960, playing host to Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead and all of the day’s leading names. El Rio has been beaten down and beaten up, but was revived with a touchup in the early 2000s by Tucson golf architect Ken Kavanaugh. The most talked-about piece of turf is the No. 3 tee, bordered by older homes. Many of those homes have chickens and rosters in the backyard. It almost never fails that early morning golfers are greeted by crowing roosters. Thus, it is known as “Cock-a-Doodle Corner.’’ You’ve got to love it!

The Lodge at Ventana Canyon

If you want to knock a PGA Tour course off your bucket list, Tucson has eight of them. Yes, ocho. From its beginning in 1945, the Tucson Open has been played at El Rio, Forty-Niner Country Club, Omni Tucson National, Starr Pass Golf Club, Randolph North, The Gallery Golf Club’s South and North courses, and the Golf Club at Dove Mountain. Tiger Woods fans should note Woods won the 2008 WGC-Accenture Match Play on the Gallery’s South Course, so that might be the one to start with.

Dove Mountain

The City of Tucson operates five municipal courses, the oldest, of course, being 90-year-old El Rio, which is located about three miles northwest

Star Pass Golf Club

Phil Mickelson won three Tucson Open championships, the first in 1989 as a 20-yearold amateur at the then-sparkling new Starr Pass Golf Club, an original part of the TPC group of glitzy golf facilities. He was a junior at Arizona State. Mickelson also won the 1995 and 1996 Tucson Opens at the Omni Tucson National. At the ’96 championship, he famously called his shot at the No. 10 hole, a sharp dogleg left around a pond, guarded by towering eucalyptus trees. Most golfers attempt to draw their tee shot around the pond, but Mickelson actually called his shot, declaring in a press conference that he could skip his tee shot low across the water and run it onto the fairway 125 yards from the green. And so he did, birdieing the hole, beating Scott Simpson by one stroke. A lot of people still like to try this shot — to no avail. ANNUAL 2019 | AZ GOLF Insider | 23

The Highlands at Dove Mountain has one of the ranking signature — and most feared — holes in Tucson. The No. 13 hole is just 340 yards from the middle tees, but it’s a blind tee shot up a mountain side. The second shot is totally blind, over the top of the hill to a green tucked in all sorts of danger. It’s a risk-reward shot that, when you get rewarded, makes you feel like you are Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson. Seriously, it’s that gratifying!

In 1995, Mickelson was on-site at the filming of “Tin Cup’’ at Tubac Golf Course, featuring movie stars Kevin Costner, Cheech Marin and Don Johnson. Remember that golf ball Don Johnson skips/bounces down the road to win a bet from Costner? That’s the road leading to the golf course. Tubac has since been redesigned and is now 27 holes. Its attraction is no longer Tin Cup as much as it is the “Tubac Triangle,’’ a string of three new holes that has a sign declaring those three holes to be “The Train Wreck.’’ It’s figurative and literal. The frequently used Southern Pacific route from Tucson to Mexico abuts the Tubac Triangle. The locals love it.

Six men have shot in the 50s in Tucson, from the private Phil Mickelson-owned Stone Canyon Club to the city muni Dell Urich Golf Club. In 2000, former PGA Tour regular Rich Barcelo shot a 59 at Arizona National. “I felt like I was in the U.S. Open,’’ Barcelo said about his birdie at the 18th hole. His 59 was bettered in 2003 by former Web.com Tour winner Chris Nallen, a two-time All-American at Arizona. Nallen shot 58, with a 20-foot eagle putt on his final hole. The late Willie Kane, a longtime pro at the Randolph North complex, also shot 58 at Dell Urich in 1989. “I had shot 60, 61 and 62 there,’’ he said. “I never thought I’d get it done.’’ The other three are not quite as famous. 24 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2019

Forty-Niner Country Club near the Rincon Mountains on Tucson’s far east side, played host to the PGA Tour’s Tucson Open in 1961. One year and one year only. That’s not a lot of time for memories, but the ‘61 Open was the only time Jack Nicklaus played as a pro in Tucson. Nicklaus hooked his tee shot at No. 1 into the homes down the left side of the fairway. He re-teed and hooked a second shot into the same backyard. He missed the cut and did not play in Tucson again. And that’s a fact, Jack.

The Views Golf Club

Most of Tucson’s golf courses are named after the habitat, geography or historical variables: Quarry Pines, Crooked Tree, Rolling Hills, Mountain View, Desert Hills, Quail Creek, Starr Pass. But in 2010, the Sun City Vistoso Golf Club held 17 public meetings trying to get a better identity in an area with a ton of competition. Finally, it emerged with “The Views Golf Club’’ as its new name and identity. It works. Views of Pusch Ridge dominate every hole on the Oro Valley course. Now it has a singular and positively cool identity.

The Highlands gets a strong “cool’’ rating for being one of the few courses to name its holes. Someone used a strong imagination: No. 10 is “Second Thoughts.’’ Stimulating and intimidating are No. 5, “Valley Forge,’’ and No. 13, “Quest.’’

Tucson Country Club

Although gaining access to Tucson Country Club is limited, it has a practice area second to none in Tucson. If you’ve got a 48-degree, 52-degree, 56-degree and 60-degree set of wedges, this is your place. The driving range is vast. The two putting greens are spacious. And the practice balls available in many golf bags near the driving range always look clean and new. There is sometimes a temptation to sneak one into your bag. But then you remember, this is a gentleman’s game.

The Golf Club at Dove Mountain, formerly the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, host to the WGC-Accenture Match Play championship, had the most creative thinking when naming its three nine-hole courses. The Wild Burro Nine is adjacent to the Wild Burro Wash. It’s set at the base of the Tortolita Mountains (Tortolita Nine). You’ll never mistake it for being in Minnesota or Alabama thanks to all those ubiquitous saguaros (Saguaro Nine). www.azgolf.org

TUCSON GOLF

Former PGA Tour player Notah Begay designed the Sewailo Golf Club for the Pascua Yaqui tribe, adjacent to the Casino Del Sol Resort. It soon became home of the University of Arizona’s nationally prominent golf teams, erecting world-class practice areas. It also used its imagination in naming the tees. No “blue’’ or “white’’ or “red’’ here. It’s “opal,’’ “ruby’’ and “jade,’’ but the best name was saved for the tips. They are called the “Bear Down’’ tees, the University of Arizona’s century-old athletic slogan.

Casino Del Sol Resort

Best place to feel like you’re living the high life after a round of golf? Sitting on the patio at the Preserve Golf Course in SaddleBrooke. It’s one of three courses in the mountain valley between Oro Valley and Oracle. You can watch the quail play while taking in the sunset. Another place to soak in a sunset is the Overlook Restaurant at El Conquistador Golf & Tennis. Then again, it’s Tucson with those “spectacular views” in every direction.

The most hallowed piece of ground in Tucson golf is the 18th hole at Omni Tucson National. Oldtimers estimate that more than 5,000 of Arnie’s Army marched up that fairway when Palmer won the 1967 Tucson Open. For a decade or two, the 18th hole was ranked among the five to 10 most difficult on the PGA Tour. Now it’s the finishing hole for the PGA Tour Champions’ Cologuard Classic, won last year by ex-Masters champ Mark O’Meara

Omni Tucson National

and a year earlier by Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker. But what a history, from Byron Nelson’s runner-up finish there at the very first Tucson Open in 1946 to Johnny Miller’s record-breaking 25-under-par winning score in 1975 to Scottsdale’s Kirk Triplett claiming the final PGA Tour event held there in 2006, the coolness continues for Tucson golf. n Greg Hansen, who estimates he plays 120 rounds of golf per year in Southern Arizona, has been the sports columnist at the Arizona Daily Star since 1984.

do you hear that?

THUNDERBIRD PHOTOS

THE SOUND OF SILENCE… Verrado Golf Club oﬀers 36 holes of championship golf between two alluring courses. Tucked in the foothills of the White Tank Mountains, with massive rock outcroppings, elevaXon changes, and views across the valley, the Founders Course and the newer Victory Course are the West Valley’s premiere desert golf desXnaXon. Golf here deﬁnes golf everywhere. LOCATED JUST 1/2 HOUR WEST OF SKY HARBOR AIRPORT!

VerradoGolfClub.com

www.azgolf.org

ANNUAL 2019 | AZ GOLF Insider | 25

WHAT’S NEW IN THE GAME

By Bill Huffman

Physician’s Choice CBD takes aim at golfers’ pains

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Dr. Julian Grove (left) and Dr. Peter Kubitz are the driving forces behind Physician’s Choice CBD.

cause addiction and abuse, even death, while anti-inflammatories tend to lose their potency when used over time. Grove and Kubitz, who have been involved in numerous CBD studies and research, are cautiously optimistic about the future of CBD. “What we know through our own experiences and education is that CBD is a natural medication with high-end levels of recovery and pain relief,” noted Grove, whose resume includes a residency in anesthesiology at Stanford University Medical Center. “It is still to be determined what all CBD can do, because there’s not a lot of world data. But for the weekendwarrior golfers, they are getting results that are very positive in regard to managing aches and pains.” Kubitz concurred. “Most of the feedback we’ve gotten so far on CBD has been very positive, but I want the consumer to draw his or her own conclusions,” said Kubitz, who practices as a physiatrist specializing in pain management after doing his residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. “In golfers, we have seen how CBD can provide relief for pain, which is important, especially for a sport you can play well into your 80s and 90s. But there’s still a long way to go in understanding CBD. “For instance, the FDA hasn’t come forward yet with the quality control standards that are definitive. At the moment, it’s being used chiefly for pain and anxiety, and as we all know, golfers www.azgolf.org

COURTESY PHYSICIAN’S CHOICE CBD

he latest craze sweeping and Physician’s Choice CBD has been through the golf world is not rolling quite successfully ever since.” a drug that will make you Grove and Kubitz, who originated fail a test. No, medical CBD, the formulas for Physician’s Choice or cannabidiol in its purest form, is a CBD products, have done a little bit cannabis extract from of everything when Physician’s Choice CBD the hemp plant — not the it comes to CBD. marijuana plant — that is Having treated chronic meant to soothe your aches and pains. It pain for 12 years at their clinic in also alleviates sleep deprivation, anxiety Scottsdale, both doctors knew the issues, health problems, weight gain and problems associated with opioids and just about anything else you might think anti-inflammatory drugs: Opioids needs help — including your dog and cat. Seriously! Yes, marijuana plants also produce CBD, but the THC in marijuana that creates the “high” is barely present in hemp-produced CBD, which registers at 0.3 percent or less in terms of THC. Last “In golfers, we have seen year, the floodgates opened on hempproduced CBD when Congress lifted a how CBD can provide longtime ban on growing the plant. relief for pain, which is Jeff Schaeffer knew all of this when he helped two Scottsdale doctors to important, especially for launch Physician’s Choice CBD, which a sport you can play well hit the market last year. Already familiar with the medical marijuana into your 80s and 90s.” industry through other business — Dr. Peter Kubitz endeavors, Schaeffer thought CBD had the potential to be something really big. “I got into the cannabis industry because I believe in pain management,” said Schaeffer, 57, a Cincinnati native who arrived at Arizona State in 1980 to get a business degree and never left the desert. “Then through a friend who was a patient of Dr. Julian Grove and Dr. Peter Kubitz and their clinic, Pain Consultants of Arizona, I used my business experience to help the doctors, who had been looking for an Muscle & Joint Cream is among Physician’s Choice alternative to opioids for their patients. CBD’s most popular products. “I put them together with a chemist,

What is CBD? Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a chemical compound that is found in both marijuana and hemp plants. CBD can be extracted from both, yet with the hemp plant, there is minimal THC found naturally, and THC is what creates the “high” associated with marijuana. CBD is becoming more understood as having potential benefits spanning multiple medical conditions. CBD binds receptors in what is called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). These receptors are highly concentrated in our nervous system, especially the brain, yet also found in the digestive tract, the skin and other major organ systems. Research — there has been more than 23,000 studies on CBD — has shown that CBD functions to regulate several aspects of the ECS and is responsible for many of the pain and anxiety relieving properties without the cognitive high associated with the larger THC molecule. Research also has shown that CBD has potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antipsychotic, anti-spasm and neuroprotective properties. CBD has demonstrated in numerous clinical studies that it can be therapeutic for chronic pain, cancer-related pain, wellness, anxiety, epilepsy, sleep disorders, degenerative neurologic conditions, diabetes, PTSD and autism, to name just a few.

have a lot of physical pain and mental anxiety,” Kubitz said with a chuckle. Ask any golf manufacturing company why they pay PGA Tour players big bucks to play their clubs and they’ll quickly tell you, “Because it works and we sell more clubs.” And, evidently, that’s the same reason well-known pros like Bubba Watson, Greg Norman and Scott McCarron, the recent winner of the Charles Schwab Cup, are touting CBD. “When you find out what’s really in it — what is not in it — that it’s natural and that the levels of THC are so minute, I think it’s going to take off,” McCarron told espn.com. McCarron, who used it originally to help with sleep issues (anxiety), made his comments before the 54-year-old pro completed the most successful season of his career. Did CBD have anything to do with it? Well, it is a fact that McCarron has used the product now successfully for over two years. McCarron also told espn.com that he feels that CBD could help the average golfer, too. As he pointed out, alcohol is the drug of choice for most hackers, and McCarron thinks its borderline www.azgolf.org

Wellness, Energy and Sleep CBD are among the many products offered by Physician’s Choice CBD.

abuse stemming from golfers thinking they need to drink while playing to loosen up or harness their anxiety. Interestingly, some of the other names in golf who endorse the product include David Toms, Kenny Perry and Tom Kite— all PGA Champions Tour pros, meaning they are 50 years or older. Their seasoned advice on CBD is like a drive right down the middle of the fairway, said Schaeffer. “When we’re young, the body produces cannabidiols to fight pain and anxiety on its own,” he said. “But as we get older, they disappear. “So that’s what you’re replenishing

Sprays make it easy for patients to use Physician’s Choice CBD. The company is located in Scottsdale.

when you use CBD pills, sprays or creams. And in the process, we reduce the use of opioids and addiction, and anti-inflammatories that no longer work.” According to Schaeffer, CBD products are ubiquitous at the moment. Just this year, the market has grown over 700 percent, according to marketwatch. com. But if you want to use the best product currently available, at least from Schaeffer’s point of view, you’ll want to use Physician’s Choice CBD. “I truly believe we offer the No. 1 product in the country when it comes to formulating premium, organic ingredients with healthy additives like turmeric, melatonin and ginger, as well as natural vitamins like C, D, B6 and B12,” he said. “We’re all about education, health, quality and doing what’s good for you. “In that regard, we’re a year or two ahead of everyone else in the CBD industry when it comes to the research and the product itself.” Physician’s Choice CBD ranges in price from $45-$65 for creams, $72$145 for capsules and $60 to $70 for medical mists (sprays). More information is available at www.pccbd.com. n ANNUAL 2019 | AZ GOLF Insider | 27

AGA NEWS

HALL OF FAME

AGA NEWS

Fivesome inducted into Hall of Fame Lehman, Hawken, Davis, Spangler, Kopplin honored

Tom Lehman Tom Lehman has amassed a long list of awards and honors in the golf world, including those named after the likes of Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Payne Stewart. He cherishes every one of them and says that also is the case with his Arizona Golf Hall of Fame induction. “Many years ago (in 2000) I was inducted to the Minnesota Golf Hall of Fame and it was a real highlight for me because that is my home state,” Lehman said. “I have lived in Arizona for 30 years now, which is half my life, and it is even more competitive here in terms of

induction because there are so many more great players and influential people who are part of Arizona golf. To be recognized in both places is certainly a tremendous honor and very humbling.” Lehman has 35 worldwide pro victories, with five coming on the PGA Tour, including the British Open. He is the only golfer to be named Player of the Year on the PGA, Champions and Buy.com (now Korn Ferry) tours. He has competed three times each in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup, and served as Ryder Cup captain once and assistant captain twice. He has held the No. 1 ranking in the world and has 12 victories on the Champions Tour, including three majors, but said one of his most significant wins came a few miles from his Scottsdale home when he captured the Waste Management Phoenix Open in 2000. “To me, it’s way more important to win one in your hometown than it would be in a lot of other events,” he said. “Outside of the majors and Players Championship, this one is right up there in the universe of tournaments I wanted to win.”

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Doug Hawken When someone goes from hauling trash and cleaning up after guard dogs to president and chief operating officer of one of Arizona’s most successful companies, it doesn’t quite seem adequate to say he “climbed the corporate ladder.” That was the journey traveled by Doug Hawken, who spent his entire career with PING and whose contributions to PING and to the game were recognized with his induction to the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame. “When I was first told, I thought the guys at PING were playing a joke on me,” he said of the induction news. “It was quite a surprise and I’m very humbled by it, partly because it is such a great group of men I am being inducted with. I’m not the face of the company, so to get recognized like this is pretty amazing.” Hawken, who is now retired but still serving on PING’s board of directors, was attending Arizona State, where he established himself as one of the top sprinters in school history, when a college friend helped him land a summer job on PING’s maintenance crew. As he prepared to graduate and pursue a career

as a probation officer, PING founder Karsten Solheim convinced him to stay on with the company, first as a plant manager and later as production manager. In that capacity he played a key role in PING becoming the first American equipment company to achieve ISO certification for manufacturing excellence. “It was such a rewarding career,” Hawken said. “I was provided so many opportunities to grow and have had a wonderful life as a result. To be associated with such a wonderful family as the Solheims and to see the company continue to grow and prosper as it is right now is really very gratifying.”

John Davis Known for his clear, colorful and precise writing, as well as his easygoing demeanor that has made him popular among his media peers, John Davis has devoted 45 years to sports coverage, most notably as a golf writer, and has been covering amateur and professional golf in Arizona since 1986. During this time, he has covered more than 40 men’s and women’s major championship and Ryder Cup www.azgolf.org

AGA NEWS

HALL OF FAME

events, along with several NCAA championships and many AGA championships. Still, if you ask him what his favorite stories over the years have been, he’ll surprise you. “Oh, I think the best stories I’ve written, at least from my perspective, are about people,” he said. “That’s really what I enjoy most is writing about the people who play and work in golf.” What you might not know about the Michigan native is that he was a highly decorated high school athlete in his hometown of Clayton. That he got started early in his journalism career by working for the local newspaper while still in high school. And that Davis served as a medical specialist in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, earning three promotions. After completing his tour of duty, he enrolled at Central Michigan University, where he wrote for the campus newspaper, graduating magna cum laude in just three years. Davis began his professional career at the Traverse City Record-Eagle in Traverse City, Mich., where he makes his summer home. It was during this time that he began covering golf, and covered his first major championship at the 1979 PGA Championship at Oakland Hills. His next assignment was at The Phoenix Gazette, where he continued golf coverage and was introduced to the Phoenix Open, which he has covered more than 30 times. He later served as golf beat writer for 12 years at The Arizona Republic. www.azgolf.org

Jeff Spangler When Dana Garmany founded Troon Golf, it was with the idea of providing a private golf experience for public golfers. That called for pristine course conditions and the man he chose to handle that half of the equation was Jeff Spangler. Spangler, who currently is senior vice president of science and agronomy for Troon, has been with the Scottsdale company “from Day 1” as it grew into the world’s largest golf management firm. But being recognized for his contributions to the game with induction to the Arizona Golf of Fame came as a surprise. “From the agronomy side of the business, you don’t really expect something like this to happen,” he said. “It’s more of a specialized field. From my perspective, knowing the roles superintendents play in the success of their facilities, it’s very nice to get this acknowledgement. It’s very much appreciated and almost feels like it’s for all of them who work in that part of the industry.” After attending Indiana University to run track and cross-country, Spangler enrolled in the agronomy program at Ohio State, which

included hands-on experience at such prestigious clubs as Scioto Country Club and Muirfield Village. After graduating he went to work at Pebble Beach, and then was hired at Troon in 1987 when he went to attend an event at Troon Country Club. Troon now manages more than 460 properties and more than 500 18-hole equivalents around the world, and has received numerous awards for course conditioning. “It has changed dramatically,” he said. “When I started is when it was becoming more sophisticated, and I think more people have come to realize the importance of agronomy. It was one of the foundations of Troon Golf and I think runs parallel to Troon’s success.”

Dick Kopplin Dick Kopplin was an English teacher with an eye on law school when his plans took a dramatic turn, putting him in the golf business and, he says, he has “never looked back.” Kopplin’s career has been spent in and around private clubs, and his commitment to their success has led him to induction into the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame.

“I was surprised, honored and flattered that I would be joining the Hall of Fame, considering some of the past inductees,” he said. “I really feel humbled and the class this year is very notable. “I work in kind of a narrow-niche side of the business that isn’t always recognized but is very important to the industry. It has been a lot of fun and this is certainly a tremendous honor.” Kopplin attended high school and college in Eau Claire, Wis., which is where he entered the golf business as a club manager at 24 years old. That led to management jobs at such prestigious facilities as Castle Pines in Denver; PGA West in La Quinta, Calif.; and Desert Mountain in Scottsdale. While at Desert Mountain, he created Kopplin Search Inc. with the objective of assisting clubs in their search for skilled, competent staff. That was 23 years ago. The firm now operates as Kopplin Kuebler & Wallace, with 15 employees and seven offices across the United States, and is the industry leader in providing those services. As a course operator and manager, Kopplin also has served on the executive committee for nine PGA and Champions tour events, including several Tradition events at Desert Mountain. “It has been an incredible business and a fun business to be a part of,” Kopplin said. “How can you not enjoy the environment and the atmosphere this game provides?” n

ANNUAL 2019 | AZ GOLF Insider | 29

ARIZONA NEWS The LPGA-USGA Girls Golf of Phoenix, of which a few of its members are shown here, has forged a new relationship with Pinnacle Peak Country Club, where the girls’ homemade bag tags will be on display in the next year.

GIRLS GOLF

COURTESY GIRLS GOLF PHOENIX

Bag tags will help empower Girls Golf n BY CORI MATHESON

o you want to be a part of an initiative that engages and empowers girls in the Phoenix area and maintains quality developmental opportunities in our golf community? LPGA-USGA Girls Golf of Phoenix is launching a new and enriching opportunity that is being

developed by leaders of the women’s group at Pinnacle Peak Country Club, LPGA pioneer Betsy King and our team at Girls Golf. “Empowering Girls Golf,” which takes flight in 2020, will allow the community to

AWGA’s campaign for giving tees off n BY SUZY O’HARA

he Arizona Women’s Golf Association has been promoting the engagement of women and girls in golf since 1924. This year, the support of its members has never been more important to the AWGA’s continued ability to impact our community through golf. As a nonprofit 501(c)3 public charity, whose only revenue is generated by the generous donations from its supporters, 30 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2019

join our “family” through an annual membership that will directly benefit the LPGAUSGA Girls Golf of Phoenix. A custom bag tag that includes a photo and hand-drawn golf image from one of our girls will represent 2020 in

the AWGA remains committed to furthering the many positive ways that golf impacts Arizona’s communities. In 2019, the AWGA provided direct support for 11 public high schools to develop girls’ golf teams. These teams would not exist and thrive if it weren’t for the AWGA’s support. The Build a TEAM program for high school girls golf is managed in partnership with the Arizona Golf Association. The AGA provides the staff support, the AWGA provides the funding directly to the schools and the volunteer advocates who provide encouragement, support, and connection to the community for the teams and the coaches, enabling them to learn and represent themselves and their schools through golf, the most impactful of sports. The student population at schools that get the AWGA’s support is predominantly young people whose parents do not play golf and who would likely never touch

a unique way that members can proudly display. Our hope is that supporters will collect a new tag every year. Girls Golf of Phoenix is thrilled to work with Drew Darrow, head professional at Pinnacle Peak, on all the facets of this initiative. King hopes that other groups from other Phoenix area clubs will jump on board and offer similar support. The ultimate goal is to engage and educate everyone on the impact they can make. We are so eager to see where this can go. For more information, visit girlsgolfofphoenix.org. n Cori Matheson is the director of LPGA-USGA Girls Golf of Phoenix.

a golf club if the AWGA did not provide this opportunity. Donations pay for equipment, uniforms, and golf lessons from PGA and LPGA professionals, giving these new players the ability to succeed on the golf course. Our goal for 2020 is to grow the number of girls’ golf teams supported from 11 to 20. The AWGA cannot do that without you. In addition, donations from the AWGA provide financial support to several other boys and girls golf programs, including the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf program, the Junior Golf Association of Arizona, the First Tee Program, the PGA Junior League, and the Arizona Silver Belle Championship. n Donate online at www.awga.org/donate. Thank you for your support! Suzy O’Hara is the president of the AWGA.

www.azgolf.org

ARIZONA NEWS

Menne, Lorenz top JGAA’s 2019 POYs

JGAA

he JGAA announced the 2019 Player of the Year awards and Sportsmanship awards across five age divisions at its annual event on Oct. 20 at Papago Golf Course. “The level of play and incredible performances Sportsmanship award winners — (Back row from left) Jayden throughout the season Janick, Nicholas Kling, Kylee Loewe, Owen Bolles, Cade Seymour. (Front row from left) Hannah Nguyen, Isabella Piazza, Zachary continue to improve and impress,” said Scott Schaefer and Elisabeth Axen. Missing Tyler Spielman. McNevin, executive director of the JGAA. “The points race, and all of the tournaments that make it up, give them longterm and short-term goals to reach for. And the Sportsmanship award is a great example of why golf is such a great sport for kids.” Ashley Menne, 17, has become a permanent fixture at the JGAA awards Players of the Year — (Back row from left) Ashley Menne, Brennan Korn, Adam Miller, banquet. She earned the POY in the Ashley Shaw, Vincent Cervantes, Marsa Waite. Girls Championship division for the (Front row from left) Natalia Lamadrid, Everett fourth consecutive year (2016-2019). Corwon and Annie Dawson. Missing Ben Lorenz. Moreover, Menne, who has verbally committed to Arizona State University, won the award in the Girls 13-14 Beljan (2002) and Philip Francis division in 2015 as well as Girls 11-12 (2006) as the third Arizona resident division in 2014 and 2013. All told, to win the tournament in recent years. she has been the Player of the Year JGAA membership registration is for an astonishing seven consecutive now open for the 2020 season for $90 years across four JGAA age divisions. (additional tournament fees apply), In the Boys Championship and families with more than one division, Ben Lorenz earned first JGAA member receive a $20 credit to place in the season-long use for future tournament race. Verbally committed fees. Tournament to play for the University of registration for spring Oklahoma, he climbed up events will open Jan. 8. the rankings quickly since entering JGAA membership also includes the division in 2016, when he finished enrollment in Youth on Course, tied for 127th for the season. In 2017, a money-saving program that Lorenz jumped to the 25th spot before allows JGAA members to play more another big leap in 2018 to fourth. than 20 local golf courses (1,200 The evening took a special detour nationwide) for as little as $5. n to recognize 2019 U.S. Junior Amateur To register or learn more, visit champ and JGAA member Preston Summerhays. Also verbally committed www.jgaa.org or contact Scott McNevin (smcnevin@jgaa.org), (602) 944-6168. to ASU, Summerhays joins Charlie www.azgolf.org

JUNIOR GOLF

Menne prevails at Pebble Ashley Menne, a First Tee of Phoenix member from Surprise, claimed the girls title at the PURE Insurance Championship, an official PGA Tour Champions tournament at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, Calif., in late September. Menne fired rounds of 64-68-65 to finish at 18-under 197 while playing alongside professional Tom Lehman, also a Valley resident. “The life skills I’ve learned through The First Tee helped me persevere this week, to keep playing one shot at a time,” Menne said. “I’m so thankful for the outcome and for a great experience playing with Tom Lehman.” Menne attends Xavier College Preparatory in Phoenix and has been a member of The First Tee of Phoenix for nearly five years. She was named the AZCentral.com Player of the Year from 2016 to 2019 and won the Arizona High School Division 1 State Championships in the same span. Menne is an ACE level First Tee participant and has verbally committed to play golf for Arizona State University. She is currently Ashley Menne ranked No. 51 on the Rolex American Junior Golf Association rankings and has been named Player of the Year for the Junior Golf Association of Arizona for the last three years. Cade Kilanowski, who played alongside professional Billy Mayfair, shot 63-67-76—206 to finish at 18-under, tied for fifth place. He attends Perry High School in Gilbert where he is a four-time letterman of the varsity golf team. An active supporter of The First Tee of Phoenix’s Lonetree Golf Course, Kilanowski volunteers his time by sharing his experiences with Par and Birdie members of the chapter. Scott Schalder, who played with professional Ken Tanigawa, shot 66-67-66—206 to finish tied for 12th place at 16-under. He attends Desert Vista High School in Ahwatukee where he is a member of the National Honor Society and captain of the varsity golf team. Schalder is a two-time Desert Vista Scholar Athlete of the year and was named his high school golf team’s MVP for the 2018-2019 season. Sam Sommerhauser from First Tee of Greater Sacramento was paired with Kirk Triplett. He finished at 23 under to win the male Pro-Junior title. n For more information about The First Tee of Phoenix, visit thefirstteephoenix.org. ANNUAL 2019 | AZ GOLF Insider | 31

For members…about members

12 Days of Holiday Give-a-Ways AGA HOLIDAYS MEMBER APPRECIATION December 13th December 14th December 15th December 16th December 17th December 18th December 19th December 20th December 21st December 22nd December 23rd December 24th

A December twosome to Mountain Brook Golf Club A dozen Pro VI golf balls A NX7 Precision Pro Slop Golf Rangefinder A dozen Oncore Elixr golf balls and towel A dozen Snell MTB-X golf balls and towel $50 Gift Certificate to Charleston’s restaurant A Ping Simga 2 Putter Hoofer14 Ping golf bag Vision 54 Golf Instruction package LPGA Tickets $100 Van’s gift card AGA prize package*

*Includes; 1 dozen Snell MTB-X, 1 dozen Oncore golf balls, Precision Pro range finder, Bently’s vodka and Starting US Open from Shinnecock to Pebble Beach book by Ron Read

32 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2019

The Arizona Golf Association would like to thank you for being a member with a “Dozen Days of Holiday Gift Give-a-ways” sweepstakes. For 12 days, we will give away great gifts, including a PING Putter, Range Finders, golf balls and more. The sweepstakes is free to enter starting on December 1st on azgolf.org. The gift give-a-ways will start on December 13th. All winners will be contacted by email and announced daily on Facebook, Twitter and weekly on the AGA website. Thank you for being an Arizona Golf Association Member and Happy Holidays!!

www.azgolf.org

RULES & HANDICAPPING

By Erin Groeneveld

he weather is turning and the holidays are approaching, which can only mean one thing — the Waste Management Phoenix Open is just around the corner. We all know that this is the greatest show on grass, and that is largely in part because of the countless number of hours that are spent by rules officials and tournament volunteers working to make sure it lives up to its name. While the AGA’s events are on a smaller scale than the Phoenix Open, our volunteers and staff go through a similar process in managing the events, and you are welcome to join with us! Volunteering at tournaments and/or becoming a rules official can be both enjoyable and rewarding. Our team manages Arizona’s championships, more than 16 collegiate events, USGA qualifiers for the national championships, and many other club and regional events. In a very short time, your new expertise can open many new doors to experience the best of golf without worrying about three-putting. As a rules official or tournament volunteer, you are at the grassroots of growing the game and maintaining some of the game’s oldest and purest www.azgolf.org

COURTESY WASTE MANAGEMENT PHOENIX OPEN

Calling all (future) rules officials, as well as tournament volunteers traditions. It is true that to become a rules official you need to know the Rules of Golf, but this is where the AGA’s Rules Committee (AzRC) can be your pathway. Not only will the AzRC provide educational opportunities on the Rules of Golf, but there is a strong focus on the practical side of officiating and course preparation. When preparing for an event, our officials design the competition, mark the courses for penalty areas, out of bounds and ground under repair with other free relief areas. You will learn how to select tee placements and hole locations that complement the design of each hole and the quality of the players in that event. Rules officials interact with players frequently during a round, providing assistance with many interesting situations. The AzRC provides opportunities for on-the-job training from AGA staff and some of the most experienced rules officials around the country. Other aspects of the team’s work include setting starting times, managing the starting tee, scoring both on-course and receiving score cards, administration and posting results. So, as you walk around this year’s Phoenix Open and you see the rules officials and tournament volunteers doing what they do best, remember, that could be you some day and the AGA can help you get there. With over 85 officiating opportunities locally, the AzRC is a great place to get started on your journey. Please contact Erin Groeneveld (erin@azgolf. org) at the Arizona Golf Association and join the team today. n Erin Groeneveld is the director of USGA programs — education and training — for the Arizona Golf Association.

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ANNUAL 2019 | AZ GOLF Insider | 33

MOVERS&SHAKEUPS

By Bill Huffman

Pomroy bids adieu to AGA Troon to Seven Canyons; Ahwatukee Lakes ruling

34 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2019

COURTESY SEVEN CANYONS

ne of the classy women in Arizona golf will retire at the end of the year from her job as chief operating Seven Canyons officer of the AGA. The retirement ends almost 25 years in the golf association business for Mary Pomroy. Pomroy certainly has had an Except Pomroy is not quite ready to interesting life. She grew up Mary call it quits — at least unofficially. Johnson, one of six children in Northern “I still have some things to do California, where she spent short involving the AWGA, but it will be from stints in Geyserville and Healdsburg a volunteer standpoint,” the 65-year-old before her father moved the family to Pomroy said. Arkansas, where the Johnsons had roots. Told she was too young to retire, According to Pomroy, her dad felt there Pomroy laughed. were too many hippies in California “I don’t think so. I have far and wanted to expose her to too many friends who haven’t a more proper upbringing. gotten this far in life (age-wise),” But the moment she she retorted. “So if it’s 30 days or graduated from high school in 30 years, I want to spend what the small town of Pocahontas, time I have left in retirement.” Ark., Pomroy made a beeline Chances are Mary and her back to Northern California, husband, Steve, will do that in where she took a job in the style. An extended vacation in Silicon Valley working on Mary Pomroy Rocky Point is planned next space exploration projects month, as is the Pomroys’ retirement trip and intercontinental ballistic to Italy later in 2020. Oh, yes, and “spend missiles. She started on the assembly more time with the kids,” who happen to line, but eventually was promoted be a pair of shih tzus named Mugsy and to the marketing division. Zsa Zsa. “Then one day I woke up and I knew And, of course, Pomroy will continue I didn’t want to do that anymore. I to play golf and be a member at her wanted to work in golf,” said Pomroy, beloved Alta Mesa Country Club, which who had become the unofficial is in her neighborhood and the perfect president of her work golf league, a place to enjoy her namesake “Mary sign of her tremendous organizational Pomroy” cocktail. But getting Mary skills. “I had learned to play golf, to slow down, well, that might be a loved running the work league and challenge. knew it was just a matter of time.” “I’ve always loved to work, to It took almost 10 years, but she contribute, to accomplish whatever I moved to Phoenix in the early 1990s, can,” she confessed. “But slowing down? and in 1996 was hired by former JGAA That will take a concentrated effort on executive director Tom Cunningham my part, and I plan to do it.” to modernize his organization.

“Mary is such a terrific lady, and we really needed her at that time,” Cunningham said. “She started out as a volunteer, but once we saw how good she was at organizing things, we offered her a job as managing director. “I still laugh about it, but I remember her once telling me, ‘You know, Tom, these computer programs, they really do work.’ ” After three years with the JGAA, Pomroy was hired by the AWGA to be its executive director and she flourished. “Mary was meant for the AWGA,” Cunningham conceded. “It wasn’t an easy job, but she overcame every challenge and really put the organization on its feet.” Pomroy successfully led the AWGA for 20 years, until last year’s integration with the AGA. Along the way she helped to found the Women’s Golf Alliance (2003) and helped the AWGA put together an elite team in 2007 that won the USGA State Team Championship. “I still have lots to do,” said Pomroy, who served as the president of the International Association of Golf Administrators this past year. “But I’m very proud of the AWGA staffs and boards of directors we’ve put together over the years, and I’m proud to have been part of the integration that brought the two associations together at last. “I’m leaving a great team, which will do good things, and that’s really what it’s all about.” www.azgolf.org

MOVERS Seven Canyons in Sedona is finally on solid ground with the announcement that Troon will manage the club through its Privé brand. Troon had previously managed the marketing end for Seven Canyons, but the new agreement means Troon will fully manage the club and have direct oversight of the golf operations, too. Seven Canyons arguably is the most beautiful golf course site in Arizona, being located throughout seven colorful canyons near Enchantment Resort, just to the southeast of Sedona. It has been deservedly called “the IMAX of golf” for its incredible panoramic views of the red rocks that surround the Tom Weiskopf-inspired layout. But since opening in 2002, the club has had financial problems, mostly through the various developers who have built there, which have resulted in constant changes at the club. Hiring Troon is a signal that all is well these days at the club owned by Specialty/Sedona Loan Holdings LLC. “Troon is the perfect partner,” said Dave Bisbee, the general manager and director of golf at Seven Canyons. “The resources and partnerships Troon brings will help us in all aspects of our club operations, and are unmatched in the industry.” This past summer, Weiskopf, the original architect, made a site visit and recommended numerous changes that will be implemented in the coming years. Additionally, the custom home sites offered by four luxury developers have started to boom again. Yet more signs that Seven Canyons is on a major roll.

SHAKEUPS A recent trip to the far southeast Valley revealed another golf course skeleton. The course formerly known as Club West Golf Club is rotting, as its massive parking lot and clubhouse sit abandoned at 14th Avenue and Chandler Boulevard. Evidently living www.azgolf.org

on a golf course can actually be a bad thing if financial and water issues strike home, as they did in this case. Club West meanders through some very nice neighborhoods, and no doubt the homeowners are upset about such blight. The fairways are dark brown, and the clubhouse is riddled with bullet holes to the point where several windows have caved in and coyotes and birds are now living inside. Carmen and Marnie Mattei have had a home on the Club West course for 18 years. They said no one has played golf there in almost two years even though all the directional signs pointing to the club are still in place. “At least the lake by the clubhouse has a little water in it now. It had been dry and a real eyesore,” Carmen Mattei said. “We’ve heard through a friend that it’s been sold again and they plan to reopen it next year with a new clubhouse. “But we’ve heard that story before.” Wilson Gee, the same guy who owned Ahwatukee Lakes at one point, is the current owner. According to The Arizona Republic, Gee thought he had a deal to sell the club in June but it fell through. . . . Speaking of Ahwatukee Lakes, there seems to be no end to the story. The Lakes closed in 2013 after the popular executive course was shuttered and allowed to deteriorate. It began with a chainlink fence encircling the fairways and greens, peaked with the clubhouse mysteriously burning down, and in more recent times it’s been in court, where somehow, some way, it made it all the way to the Arizona Court of Appeals. Believe it or not, the appeals court ruled that the current owner, True Life Companies of Scottsdale, must restore it. The ruling, which came in late September, was yet another victory for the neighborhood group known as Save the Lakes. And it confirmed that the zoning of the property can only be used for a golf course. n ANNUAL 2019 | AZ GOLF Insider | 35

ARIZONA NEWS

ARIZONA SCOREBOARD ARIZONA GOLF ASSOCIATION 2020 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

AGA MEN’S TOURNAMENTS

GOLDWATER CUP Phoenix CC September 16 OPEN DIVISION PGA 13.5, AGA 4.5 Individual Matches Matt Brook (PGA) def. Mike Wagner, 5 and 4; Derek Deminsky (PGA) def. Tony Baneschi, 3 and 1; Aa Four-ball Matches Bagneschi-Wagner (AGA) def. Meyers-Shelburne, 2 and 1; Mueller-Brooks (PGA) def. Howard-Wiemiller, 1-up; Deminsky-Jertson(PGA) def. Yoo-Holmes, 6 and 5; Hopper-Downs (AGA) halved with Hoops-Martin; Yurkiewicz-Dompier (PGA) def. Candelaria-Walicki, 2 and 1; Kim-Ramos (PGA) def. Kertson-Natarajan, 3 and 2. SENIOR DIVISION AGA 11.5, PGA 6.5 Individual Matches Jim Strickland (AGA) def. Greg Avant, 3 and 2; John Hernandez (AGA) def. Mark Spolarich, 1-up; Marc Apps (AGA) def. Mike Wright, 6 and 5; Tim Blau (AGA) def. Bob Mann, 1-up David Honerkamp (AGA) def. Dave Kluver, 1-up; Charlie Gibson (PGA) def. Frank Ellenburg, 2 and 1; Ken Kellaney (AGA) def. Kelly Olohan, 2 and 1; Greg Harmon (PGA) def. John Schaller, 2 and 1; Cal Wood (AGA) def. Tom Perkins, 4 and 2; Ralph West (PGA) def. Rusty Brown, 3 and 2; Randy Wittiig (PGA) def. Murph Mitchell, 3 and 2. Four-ball Matches Apps-Blau (AGA) def. Avant-Spolarich, 1-up; Strickland-Hernandez (AGA) def. Mueller-Brooks, 1-up; Deminsky-Jertson (PGA) def. Yoo-Holmes, 6 and 5; Hoops-Martin (AGA) halved with HopperDowns; Yurkiewicz-Dompier def. CandelariaWalicki, 2 and 1; Kertson-Natarajan, 3 and 2. ron Wiemliler (AGA) def. Jim Meyers, 1-up; Michael Hopper (PGA) def. Brett Howard, 1-up; Tim Ramos (PGA) def. Mitchell Holmes, 7 and 6; Jesse Mueller (PGA) def. Jimin Yoo, 3 and 2; Marty Jertson (PGA) def. Michael Martin, 5 and 3; Chris Dompier (PGA) def. Bryan Hoops, 2 and 1; Abe Cadelaria (AGA) def. Derek Shelburne, 4 and 3; Dennis Downs (PGA) def. Adam Walicki, 2-up; Jeff Yurkiewicz (PGA) def. Tyler Kertson, 2 and 1; DK Kim (PGA) def. Shakar Natarajan, 3 and 2.

DATE

COMPETITION

HOST SITE

TOURNAMENT TYPE

Jan. 4 - 5 Jan. 11 - 12 Jan. 29 Feb. 15 Feb. 22 - 23 Mar. 6 - 8 Apr. 12 - 18 Apr. 20 - 21 Apr. 23 - 26 Apr. 26 Apr. 27 May 4 May 4 May 6 May 7 May 11 May 11 May 15 - 16 May 18 May 18 May 23 May 30 - 31 Jun. 1 - 4 Jun. 6 - 7 Jun. 15 Jun. 12 - 14 Jun. 14 Jun. 20 Jun. 22 Jun. 25 - 28 Jun. 27 - 28 Jun. 28 Jul. 1 - 2

Arizona Short Course Women’s State Medallion Club Team U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Qualifier Women’s Season Opener San Tan Amateur AGA Championship Mayan Palace Member Day Peru Invitational Women’s Four-Ball Championship Arizona Stroke Play Championship AGA Scramble Day Senior Cup Series U.S. Women’s Open Qualifier U.S. Open Qualifier U.S. Open Qualifier U.S. Open Qualifier U.S. Open Qualifier Senior Cup Series Falcon Amateur / AZ Am Qualifier #1 Senior Cup Series U.S. Senior Open Qualifier AGA Scramble Day Western Am / AZ Am Qualifier #2 U.S. Senior Women’s Open Qualifier U.S. Girls Junior Qualifier Arizona Senior Stroke Play Championship Father & Son Senior Cup Series Arizona Mid-Am / AZ Am Qualifier #3 AGA Scramble Day Weekend Classic Senior Cup Series Women’s Match Play Championship Southern Am /AZ Am Qualifier #4 AGA Scramble Day U.S. Junior Amateur Qualifier U.S. Women’s Amateur Qualifier U.S. Amateur Qualifier

Oakwood Golf Club Oakwood Golf Club PebbleCreek - Tuscany Falls Briarwood Country Club Alta Mesa Golf Club Aguila Golf Club TBD Lima Golf Club - Lima, Peru Talking Stick Golf Club Lone Tree Golf Club Golf Club of Estrella Falcon Dunes Golf Course TBD The Country Club at DC Ranch Seville Golf and Country Club Sewailo Golf Club Phoenix Country Club The Legend at Arrowhead Falcon Dunes Golf Course Seville Golf and Country Club Arizona Country Club Talking Stick Golf Club Yuma Golf and Country Club TBD TBD TPC Scottsdale - Champions Course Antelope Hills Golf Club Las Sendas Golf Club Talking Stick Golf Club Briarwood Country Club Wickenburg Ranch Golf & Social Club The Golf Club at Dove Mountain Desert Mountain Golf Club The Golf Club at Dove Mountain Tatum Ranch Golf Club TBD TBD Ak Chin Southern Dunes

AGA TOUR Women’s USGA Qualifier Women’s AGA TOUR AGA Championship AGA Member Day AGA Team Women’s AGA Championship AGA Scramble Day Senior Cup Series USGA Qualifier USGA Qualifier USGA Qualifier USGA Qualifier USGA Qualifier Senior Cup Series AGA TOUR Senior Cup Series USGA Qualifier AGA Scramble Day AGA TOUR USGA Qualifier USGA Qualifier AGA Senior Championship AGA Member Day Senior Cup Series AGA Championship AGA Scramble Day Women’s Senior Cup Series Women’s AGA TOUR AGA Scramble Day USGA Qualifier USGA Qualifier USGA Qualifier

Northern Amateur Oakcreek CC October 5-6 Open Division Martin, Michael........................... -8 Walicki, Adam............................. -6 Walters, Jonathan........................ -4 Andrews, Matt............................. -4 Thomas, Chris.............................. -1 Natarajan, Shankar........................ E Demary, Dalen............................... E Weber, Caden................................. E Benton, Jeff....................................2 Jedrzejczyk, Michael.....................2 Berren, Scott..................................5 Cesarek, Grant................................5 Holmes, Mitchell...........................5 Gamblin, Chad...............................5 Johnson, Greg................................6 McIver, Rob....................................6 Harsha, Steve.................................7 Hopkins, Trevor..............................7 Candelaria, Abe.............................8

70 66 136 70 68 138 70 70 140 66 74 140 74 69 143 72 72 144 72 72 144 70 74 144 73 73 146 73 73 146 72 77 149 74 75 149 76 73 149 74 75 149 73 77 150 75 75 150 77 74 151 75 76 151 78 74 152

Reeves, Jack...................................9 Christianson, Blake......................12 Lenchner, Sean............................12 Ogrin, Bailey................................12 Salisbury, Samuel........................13 Knight, Joseph.............................13 Finney, Ryan.................................14 Yoo, Jimin.....................................14 Scheid, Cory.................................14 Wiemiller, Aaron..........................15 Archuleta, Scott...........................15 Duarte, Eric..................................15 Good, Johnse...............................15 Jiwa, Sadiq...................................16 Shugrue, Spencer........................17 Strang, Cooper.............................17 Sciacero, Michael.........................18 Shewan, Jeff................................18 Andersen, Erik..............................19 Johnson, Jack...............................19 Nierman, Camden.......................20 Canez, Carlos................................21 Evans, Kristopher.........................25 Cheung, David.............................27

74 79 153 78 78 156 75 81 156 79 77 156 77 80 157 80 77 157 76 82 158 81 77 158 80 78 158 85 74 159 84 75 159 79 80 159 80 79 159 81 79 160 82 79 161 84 77 161 83 79 162 84 78 162 85 78 163 87 76 163 84 80 164 83 82 165 83 86 169 94 77 171

Gibbons, Brad..............................27 91 80 171 Orrill, Nicholas.............................28 90 82 172 Master Division Harris, Neil.................................... -1 71 72 143 Davidson, Mike..............................5 73 76 149 Peterson, Paige..............................8 77 75 152 Weiss, eric....................................10 77 77 154 Atkinson, Andrew........................15 72 87 159 Jacobus, Randy............................15 77 82 159 Hoskins, Kevin..............................19 81 82 163 Hamby, Billy.................................34 90 88 178 Arehart, Scott...............................58 100 102 202 Senior Division Brown, Rusty............................... -6 Wood, Cal..................................... -3 New, Jeff...................................... -2 Stamey, ALEX............................... -2 Thompson, Al.............................. -1 Apps, Marc.....................................4 DelBrocco, John.............................5 Hernandez, John...........................5 Brown, Steven...............................8

69 69 138 73 68 141 70 72 142 76 66 142 73 70 143 78 70 148 77 72 149 74 75 149 79 73 152

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36 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2019

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ARIZONA NEWS

DATE

COMPETITION

HOST SITE

Jul. 7 Senior Cup Series Capital Canyon Jul. 8 - 9 U.S. Amateur Qualifier Trilogy at Power Ranch Jul. 11 - 12 Mixed Stix Tournament Seven Canyons Golf Club Jul. 11 AGA Scramble Day Gainey Ranch Golf Club Jul. 12 AZ Am Qualifier #5 Papago Golf Club Jul. 18 Net Stroke Play Championship Oakwood Golf Club Jul. 18 Net Stroke Play Championship Oakwood Golf Club Jul. 21 - 24 Pacific Coast Amateur Royal Colwood GC - Victoria, BC Jul. 27 - Aug. 1 96th Arizona Amateur Championship Desert Forest U.S. Women’s Mid-Am Qualifier TBD Aug. 3 Senior Cup Series Seven Canyons Golf Club Aug. 5 U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifier Tonto Verde Golf Club - Ranch Course Aug. 10 - 13 Arizona Senior Match Play Championship Ak Chin Southern Dunes Aug. 10 Senior Cup Series We-Ko-Pa Golf Club - Saguaro Aug. 15 AGA Scramble Day Las Sendas Golf Club August 17 - 19 Women’s State Stroke Play Championship Grayhawk Golf Club - Talon Course Aug. 17 U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifier Trilogy at Vistancia Aug. 31 Senior Cup Series Phoenix Country Club U.S. Senior Women’s Am Qualifier TBD Sept. 5 AGA Scramble Day Ocotillo Golf Club Sept. 9 - 11 Women’s State Senior Championship Trilogy at Power Ranch Sept. 12 - 13 Arizona Four-Ball Las Sendas Golf Club Sept. 14 - 15 Women’s Scotch Play Tournament Flagstaff Ranch Sept. 17 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Qualifier Las Sendas Golf Club Sept. 21 Bob Goldwater Cup Matches Phoenix Country Club Sept. 21 Senior Cup Series Championship Gainey Ranch Oct. 5 - 6 Arizona - Utah Shootout The Club at Prescott Lakes Oct. 10 - 11 Northern Amateur Oakcreek Country Club Mayan Palace TBD Nov. 15 - 16 Women’s Partners Tournament Ventana Canyon - Mountain Nov. 21 - 22 AGA Players Cup Championship Verrado Golf Club - Founders Nov. 21 - 22 AGA Women’s Players Cup Championship Verrado Golf Club - Founders Dec. 6 - 9 SW Team Challenge Rio Secco Golf Club - Las Vegas, NV Schedule Subject to Change

Tomita, Rodney............................10 Zieky, Jeffrey................................10 Irwin, Preston..............................11 Cabral, Carlos...............................12 Schaller, John...............................13 Chilton, Phil.................................16 Chilton, Mitch..............................19 Marten, Richard...........................24 McCormick, Mick.........................26 Greaves, Howard..........................36

76 78 154 79 75 154 83 72 155 78 78 156 78 79 157 82 78 160 80 83 163 87 81 168 88 82 170 90 90 180

Legends Division Ellenburg, Frank........................... -3 Blau, Tim...................................... -2 Morrison, Rich............................... E Mitchell, Murph.............................3 Janis, Anthony...............................5 Cohen, Warren.............................11 King, Bill.......................................13 Svanoe, Philip..............................13 Bailey, J.P......................................18 Miller, Ron....................................21

73 68 141 72 70 142 71 73 144 74 73 147 75 74 149 79 76 155 81 76 157 80 77 157 80 82 162 83 82 165

AZ-Utah Shootout Prescott Lakes GC October 21 ARIZONA 36, UTAH 36 Foursome Matches Madison Kerley-Sofia Anokhina (AGA) def. Annette Gaiotti-Nuny Khamken to win 3 points; Ken Kellaney-Marc Apps (AGA) halved with Randy Hickey-Kurt Jamison to each win 1.5 points; Reed Nielsen-Luke Crapo (Utah) def. Aaron WiemillerJimin Yoo to win 3 points; Derek Penman-Jeff Jolley (Utah) def. Abe Candelaria-Mitch Holmes to win 2 points to 1 point; Chris Thomas-Adam Walicki (AGA) def. David Jennings-Dan Horner to win 3 points; Denny Job-Kurt Owen (Utah) def. Sean O’Donnell-Mitch Lawson to win 2 points to 1 point. Four-ball Matches Kerley-Anokhina (AGA) def. Gaiott1-Khamken to win 3 points; Hickin-Jamison (Utah) def. Kellaney-Apps

WOMENS GOLF TOURNAMENTS

TOURNAMENT TYPE

2019 Women’s State Senior Championship Briarwood Country Club September 4-6

Senior Cup Series USGA Qualifier Women’s AGA Scramble Day AGA TOUR AGA TOUR Women’s AGA Team AGA Championship USGA Qualifier Senior Cup Series USGA Qualifier AGA Championship Senior Cup Series AGA Scramble Day Women’s USGA Qualifier Senior Cup Series USGA Qualifier AGA Scramble Day Women’s AGA TOUR Women’s USGA Qualifier AGA Team Senior Cup Series AGA Team AGA TOUR AGA Member Day Women’s AGA Championship AGA Championship AGA Team

Champion Susan Wooster.............................74 72 70 216 Overall Net Champion Mary Jo Slunder..........................87 88 99 274 Championship Flight Leigh Klasse.................................72 72 75 219 Kimberly Eaton............................75 74 75 224 Flight 1 Linda Jett.....................................84 77 78 239 Flight 2 Odette Rose.................................82 80 79 241 Layne Sheridan............................86 79 80 245 Flight 3w Paula Lambkin.............................85 86 84 255 Tami Harmon...............................92 89 90 271 Flight 4 Rhonda Hrdlicka..........................96 92 95 283 Super Senior Flight Bonnie Marsh..............................82 81 81 244 Mary Fink.....................................84 258 Arlys Kraft....................................85 83 90 258 Masters Flight Wendy Stone...............................85 82 88 255 Legends Flight Mary Falso..................................100 99 95 294

to win 2.5 points to .5 point; Owen-Nielsen (Utah) def. Candelaria-Yoo to win 3 points; Jennings-Jolley (Utah) def. O’Donnell-Thomas to win 2.5 points to .5 point; Wiemiller-Walicki (AGA) def. Penman-Crapo to win 2.5 points to .5 point; Holmes-Lawson (AGA) halved with Job-Horner to each win 1.5 points. Singles Matches Kerley (AGA) def. Khamken to win 3 points; Anokhina (AGA) def. Gaiotti to win 3 points; Apps (AGA) def. Jamison to win 2 points to 1 point; Kellaney (AGA) halved with Hicken to each win 1.5 points; Crapo (Utah) def. Yoo to win 2 points to 1 point; Job (Utah) def. Wiemiller to win 2.5 points to .5 point; Nielsen (Utah) def. O’Donnell to win 2 points to 1 point; Owen (Utah) def. Thomas to win 2 points to 1 point; Holmes (AGA) def. Penman to win 2 points to 1 point; Horner (Utah) def. Candelaria to win 3 points; Walicki (AGA) def. Jolley to win 3 points; Jennings (Utah) def. Lawson to win 2.5 points to .5 point.

NET RESULTS Championship Flight Karri Kinkead................................73 68 67 208 Sue OConnor................................76 71 72 219 Flight 1 Kelda Toliver.................................72 68 69 209 Flight 2 Patti Horobiowski........................70 68 73 211 Rebecca Rodie.............................72 75 73 220 Flight 3 Nancy Walter...............................73 70 215 Flight 4 Stacy Verkayk...............................70 76 71 217 Sue Markovich.............................73 77 74 224 Super Senior Flight Marilyn Miller..............................71 72 68 211 Frieda Gutshall.............................65 74 72 211 Barbara Lail..................................72 72 70 214 Masters Flight Gail Plimpton...............................77 68 71 216 Cindy Bryniarski...........................78 78 74 230

For complete Arizona Golf Association results and event schedules, visit www.azgolf.org

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ANNUAL 2019 | AZ GOLF Insider | 37

GOLFSTRETCH

By Adam Swanson

Improve posture for better rotation

s an amateur golfer who loves the game, watching the swings of the top players in the world on television or on YouTube can be mesmerizing and a source of endless wonder. Not only does the golf ball seem to explode off a pro’s clubface, but the golfers seemingly put forth little effort. How do they do it?

Most of us will never hit towering drives like Dustin Johnson or have the silky smooth swing and perfect posture of Adam Scott, but we all strive to improve regardless. While we may never hit a golf ball 320 yards or learn to hit Tiger’s stinger 2-iron, there is one part of the best professional swings we can all replicate. Every player can learn to have a good athletic setup. In fact, everyone should learn such a setup, because it’s key to taking stress off your body and to playing better, less physically taxing golf. Golfers who assume poor posture at address inevitably swing with poor rotation — which can lead to awful shots and lots of body stress. To hit a golf ball with maximum results, we need to set up with an athletic posture, one that

Here are three of my favorite exercises that help clients achieve stability, strength and power in an athletic golf posture.

Single-leg deadlift with a long bar behind the spine. This exercise

promotes hip stability and proper core engagement while maintaining an athletic posture. Make sure the long bar is touching the back of your head, your mid back, and your tailbone at all times as you move through this exercise. Make sure to hinge from the hip and lower yourself forward to about 45 degrees.

Athletic posture cable flys.

Keeping your posture from the last exercise, use a weight that’s appropriate for about 10 reps. Squeeze the shoulder blades together, keep a slight bend to your elbows and pull your arms out to your sides so the cable forms an X.

allows us to properly load and prepare the right muscle groups and joints for an athletic movement. The athletic swing I’m talking about requires three top priority physical elements:

1 2 3

STABILITY — Stable joints

generate power without losing your balance. STRENGTH — A strong body

allows you to keep your posture throughout the swing, taking torque off the joints and allowing you to deliver the best possible strike. POWER — Golf balls that are

struck powerfully travel with purpose and top speed.

Single-leg medicine ball toss.

Get into athletic golf posture on one leg while holding a medicine ball with your arms extended. Rotate your torso away from the leg you’re standing on and toss the ball to a partner or against a wall. Rotate through your mid back in a powerful, explosive movement. If you perform these exercises on a regular basis, you’ll have the body strength, stability and power you need to make your golf swing more athletic. Then step up, get into your athletic posture and — bombs away! You’ll be amazed at the results. n

For more exercises or to book a session, visit Adam Swanson’s website at www.golfstretchtherapies.com. 38 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2019

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ANNUAL 2019 | AZ GOLF Insider | 39

By Bill Huffman

COURTESY KO OLINA GOLF CLUB

GOLF GETAWAYS

Wonderful Oahu ISLAND DELIVERS SURPRISE AFTER SURPRISE, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOLF IS THE MAIN MISSION

40 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2019

COURTESY MAKAHA VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB

ahu will surprise you. Whether you’ve been there a dozen times or it’s your very first time on Hawaii’s third-largest island, your eyes will be wide open. For instance, despite its No. 3 status among the eight islands discovered by British explorer James Cook in 1778, Oahu has 80 percent of Hawaii’s total population. Some of that is due to Honolulu, by far the 50th state’s largest city with a population of nearly a million people. But another big reason Oahu is so alluring has to do with its pristine beaches, balmy climate, friendly people, exotic foods, outdoor pursuits and, yes, golf. With only 75 courses throughout the Hawaiian Islands, 37 of them are located on Oahu. That number of total courses is slightly inflated, too, because at least six of the 38 on other islands are highly private, meaning you can’t play them. It would not be a reach to say that Oahu has more than half of Hawaii’s public courses with approximately 35 (two highly private). Just as awesome, you can stay anywhere on Oahu and never be more than an hour away from whatever

Whether it’s a big-time course like Ko Olina Golf Club (above) or a hidden gem such as Makaha Valley Country Club (below), Oahu has got you covered golf-wise like no other Hawaiian island.

golf course you wish to play. Equally surprising, those trips to and from those lovely links always end up being an adventure unto themselves. Greg Nichols knows more about golf on Oahu than most. The general manager/director of golf for 17 years at Ko Olina Golf Club, the home of

the LPGA’s LOTTE Championship, Nichols also held the same positions for 16 years at Waialae Country Club, where the PGA Tour has held the SONY Hawaiian Open since 1965. “Waialae was a special place, but Ko Olina gave me an offer I couldn’t refuse, and it also is a very wonderful place to tee www.azgolf.org

WEST SHORE This is the leeward side of the island, meaning it’s a little more protected. www.azgolf.org

COURTESY FOUR SEASONS OAHU AT KO OLINA

it up,” Nichols reported. “Then again, we have lots of great golf courses on Oahu, and even the four or five that are private, you can play them if you have a reciprocal deal or stay at the right hotel or resort.” Asked what island in Hawaii has the best golf, Nichols had to stop and think. “Very tough question, because I love the golf in Maui and Kauai and the Big Island, too,” Nichols said. “But here on Oahu, it’s like: ‘What flavor would you like to play today?’ “We’ve got world-class resort courses like Ko Olina and Turtle Bay, as well as private clubs like Waialae and Oahu Country Club. We also have great military courses and some really good munis. I think when you add it all up — the great golf, beaches, outdoor stuff, as well as the amazing restaurants, hotels and resorts — Oahu is the place to be.” For the record, there are seven military courses in Oahu that are run by the various branches of the service. And, yes, you’ll need military status or a military connection to play a course like Navy Marine near Pearl Harbor, which is rated as one of the top 10 military courses in the world. But a trio of military courses allow public access, including the highly regarded Kaneohe Klipper with its ocean views on the windward side (east side) of the island. And the prices are amazing, running from $22 or less for military and $45 for nonmilitary. Oahu also boasts six municipal courses run by the state of Hawaii and they, too, are solid. That list starts with Ala Wai Golf Course located between Waikiki Beach and the landmark mountain known as Diamond Head. With a $50 green fee any day of the week and views in every direction, no wonder Ala Wai does a staggering 120,000 rounds of golf per year. Can’t get a tee time? Take the trip to the North Shore and Kahuku Golf Course, a nine-hole, links-like muni that runs smack dab along the ocean and costs just $22 for visitors even if you do have to walk (pull carts only). Our suggestion? Stay on the North Shore, West Shore or South Shore, where you’ll have the greatest access to lodging, activities, dining, nightlife and golf. Here is how it works:

Mina’s Fish House at Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina boasts a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean.

There are all types of hotels and resorts to choose from, but if you want the best there is none better than Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina. What is it that makes this resort so serene and relaxing, besides perhaps the best service on Earth? The panoramic views from the rooms and pools are breath-taking, especially at sunset. No wonder Ko Olina means “places of joy” in Hawaiian, even if your standard ocean-view room will cost somewhere between $500 and $800 per night. The Four Seasons also has three incredible restaurants including Mina’s Fish House, where celebrity chef Michael Mina actually catches the fish on his own boat and then serves them up like works of art. And the entire Four Seasons campus is open-air and classy Hawaiian, from the little lagoon where you can swim and snorkel to the fitness and tennis center, the courts being located on the top of the five-story building. Indeed, tennis with a view! Naturally, you’ll want to play golf at least one day at Ko Olina, where the green fee ranges from $85 to $225 depending on the season. The course was originally built by the late Ted Robinson, and includes all of his trademark architecture, from waterfalls and lakes around the greens to a Mickey Mouse-shaped bunker. The par-3 12th hole is the signature, where you literally drive through a waterfall on your way to the tee. Don’t be surprised if you see more than one bevy of black swans as you play your round.

“I would argue that we have four signature holes,” said Nichols, pointing out Nos. 8, 9, 12 and 18. “I especially love the 18th, a classic risk-reward where Robinson brought the waterfall right up snug against the green.” Another must-play on the West Shore that’s close to the Four Seasons is Makaha Valley Country Club, a hidden gem located near the small surfing town of Waianae. Built by legendary architect William Bell, the same Billy Bell who did Torrey Pines, Makaha Valley rolls gently between the gorgeously green, steep-faced Waianae Mountains with spectacular views of the ocean on nearly every hole. At $89, it might be the best golf deal on the island. Play it now, said head professional Stacy Amann, because Makaha Valley is about to go big-time, as noted architects Tiger Woods and Gil Hanse have been contracted to each build 18 holes on what is the current course site. “I appreciate what William Bell did for us, but Tiger and Gil are going to take it to a whole new level,” Amann predicted. “It’s probably four to six years away, but it’s going to be high roller and definitely change our valley.”

NORTH SHORE For those who want to see the rugged, natural side of Oahu, travel to the North Shore, where Mother Nature is truly a force. Known for its sensational surfing on beaches like Waimea, Sunset and Ehukai, home to the notorious Banzai ANNUAL 2019 | AZ GOLF Insider | 41

COURTESY TURTLE BAY RESORT

Turtle Bay Golf Resort brings everything into play on its Fazio and Palmer courses, including spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. The hotel (in the background) sits out in the ocean on a pristine peninsula, waves on both sides.

Pipeline, the North Shore also packs a pretty special golf punch, especially the two courses you can play at Turtle Bay. Of the two, the Palmer Course gets most of the attention after it hosted the Turtle Bay Championship for seven years, of which former Champions Tour superstar Hale Irwin won four of them. But the Fazio Course (George Fazio, not his nephew, Tom) is just as enjoyable. In fact, some say the Fazio Course is a walk in the park ($89-$119 for Fazio, $129-$169 for Palmer). “Palmer is challenging to the point that some think it’s too tough,” conceded Travis Joerger, the director of golf at Turtle Bay for Troon, the Scottsdale-based company that manages the property. “Personally, I think the Palmer Course was way ahead of its time, with five different sets of tees. And if you play the correct tee, you will have a tremendous time, because of the two courses, Palmer is truly the championship venue.” What’s cool about Turtle Bay, added Joerger, is that even the locals come to stay and play at Turtle Bay. And everyone loves Lei Lei’s, perhaps the best 19th hole in Oahu. “We are a great escape for the people of Oahu, who love that natural, comforting feeling that both the courses and the resort offer,” he said, noting that if the golf and lodging is booked together that guests can save up to 50 percent, which is significant considering rooms a Turtle Bay go for $400 to $500 per night or more. 42 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2019

There is so much to do on the North Shore, like playing golf at the aforementioned Kahuku Golf Course, the little nine-hole muni that is 15 minutes from the resort. Certainly Waimea Falls, which is about 20 minutes away, fits into that category with its cultural sites, world-class botanical gardens and idyllic, one-mile hike to the namesake falls. A little farther down the road, you can catch a wave in Haleiwa, an old school surfing town known for that Banzai Pipeline, as well as Banzai Sushi. Of the two, the sensational sashimi served up at the restaurant is much safer than “sitting on top of the world.”

SOUTH SHORE At the opposite end of the island, and really the opposite end of the golf/ tourist spectrum for Oahu, is the South Shore, which stretches from Honolulu to Waikiki Beach to Diamond Head. It is city life, and slightly crowded, but worthy of a stay and play. All the major hotels are represented here, as well as some great throwbacks to the past, such as the Royal Hawaiian and the Moana, the first hotel ever built on Oahu back in the late 19th Century. The critic’s choice at $500 to $800 a night, however, is the Halekulani Hotel that is known for its indulgent spa rituals, dream weddings and healing waters. Oh, yes, and its legendary restaurant known as the House Without a Key. That name was derived from a novel about Charlie

Chan, a fictitious Honolulu detective that spawned a series of mystery movies. From the Halekulani Hotel it’s a 15-minute drive to Ala Wai, the aforementioned course that just happens to be the most popular muni in the islands. Or if you have the connections, either reciprocal or through a certain hotel concierge, you might be able to land a tee time at Waialae CC ($300) or even Navy Marine GC, which does take friends of military personnel from time to time ($45). There is no downside to Honolulu other than the traffic. The city is vibrant and filled with tourists from all over the world, and you can go for a night cruise around Honolulu Bay for as little as $40. The South Shore also is a great starting point for a day trip and another surprising adventure. Staying on the South Shore also means great restaurants like The Pig and the Lady, Koko Head Café, Roy’s Hawaii Kai, Poke Bar, Hiking Hawaii, Tropical Tribe and on and on. Surprisingly, we enjoyed Wolfgang’s Steak House, which besides some of the best Kobe beef ever, featured awesome sushi and fish. The food and golf are just two of the many things to love and cherish about Oahu, said Kris Strauss, the senior vice president of sales and marketing for Troon. “I know Oahu can be expensive, but don’t be afraid to live like the locals do,” said Strauss, who was born and raised on Oahu and still packs a mighty mean surf board when he’s back home with his Ohana (Hawaiian for family). “The plate lunches — two scoops of rice, protein and a mac salad — are delicious and so are the poke bowls and local brews. And as far as the golf, which I played a lot of growing up and in high school, there really are a lot of options at all different price points.” Strauss, who resides in Chandler these days, knows his Oahu, and wants you to know it, too. He only has one small request. “Be sensitive to the environment when you visit,” he said. “Don’t pick up coral or shells or native stuff, and if you see a piece of litter that’s washed up on a beach, take the time to throw it away. “You’ll be surprised how good that will make you feel, because Oahu truly is a very special place.” n www.azgolf.org

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OUT OF BOUNDS

By Katharine Dyson

What women want When it comes to golf, some topics of interest

oo often I hear a course described as “womenfriendly” because it is ridiculously easy. They don’t get it. Just because a course is more open, flatter and with fewer bunkers doesn’t mean it’s the one women prefer to play. Women like a challenge as much as men but a well-designed layout gives us choices. Women like to play courses that are fun, not dumbed down. “Easy” can also be about as exciting as a mole sauce without anchos. Here are some other topics of interest from a woman’s perspective regarding the game we love:

First-tee jitters Your heart beats faster. Will you top the ball, shank it into the saguaro, dribble it off the mound? So embarrassing, especially if you’re playing with a new boyfriend or your boss. Forget that. Pull the club you feel most comfortable with (not necessarily your driver), take some relaxed practice swings, suck in a deep yoga breath and hum “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah.” Swing. Well you missed it? So what. Patience, grasshopper. You’ll soon learn no one cares. NO ONE CARES. Golfers focus on their own game, not yours. 44 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2019

Going shopping or getting a hot-rock massage on a corporate outing, instead of joining in on the golf, is a big-time nono. Not only do you lose the opportunity of spending several hours getting to better know your associates, your isolation can continue into the evening as players rehash their miraculous shots. Boring. You don’t play? Guess what, it’s time to learn. Then you, too, can share your birdies with the gang over a glass of Cab. Sweet!

What’s wrong with short skorts (or shorts) on the golf course? Nothing. Establishing length rules for golf attire is just plain stupid and not practically enforceable. Ever hear of a pro measuring the length of a player’s skort? You have tall players with long legs, and short … you get my point. I see nothing wrong with more glam on the links as long as we’re talking tasteful.

Tee sense When I asked the pro why the green and red tees were so close together on his course, he mumbled, “Uh, some guys don’t like to move up to the reds even if they can’t hit the ball farther than 150 yards.” Well that’s a quick fix, I thought. Don’t paint them red, don’t call them “ladies’ tees” and design tee pads at sensible increments. Then all golfers, men and women, can play from the tee that best suits his or her game.

How golf can help you break the glass ceiling

Hang in there

Tips for planning the perfect girls golf getaway

I’ve seen it a lot: good women athletes who excel in tennis or softball who try to take up golf only to give it up. Too hard they say. I say hang in there. It’s worth it. Take some lessons, learn the etiquette so you know where you should stand and how to drive the cart — things that make you feel comfortable. Then go out and play with forgiving friends. Take more lessons. Just don’t give up. It’s a tough game. If you find it’s not your warm and fuzzy place, well, there’s always mahjong. That, too, is a game that can last a lifetime. But remember, whereas mahjong is good for your mind, golf is good for your body and mind. n

A golf vacation with no men? What’s that all about? Kickback camaraderie naturally, on and off course. Find a place such as a condo or house where you can all be together, then delegate tasks —restaurant reservations, food, transportation, projected costs, daily tournaments, communications, other activities and itinerary. Bring comfy pajamas and games for late-evening fun. Trust me, you’ll want to do it again.

Katharine Dyson is an award-winning golf, travel and lifestyle writer and a regular contributor to a variety of regional and national publications. A resident of Skaneateles in the Finger Lakes region of N.Y., she is co-publisher/owner editor of CNY Golfer and author of the Finger Lakes Explorers Guide. Follow Katharine on Twitter at @kathiegolf.com.

The Rules Enforcer If you’re playing in a tournament, you better know the latest rules. If someone on your team abuses the rules, you need to “protect the field” and kindly explain the infraction. If you’re just playing for fun, you still need to know the rules, but keep your mouth shut unless asked. You’re out to have a great time. The important thing is to know the difference. Don’t turn into a Rules Enforcer.

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