AZ Golf Insider - December 2018

AZGOLFINSIDER Annual 2018

GOLF PLAYS CRUCIAL ROLE IN TUCSON’S SPORTS SCENE

Q&A WITH JOHN HOOK 2018 HALL INDUCTEES LOOKING AHEAD TO ‘19

– Serving Arizona Golfers Since 1963 –

SUN CITY

SCOTTSDALE - FLW SUPERSTORE

EAST MESA

ORACLE - TUCSON

10001 West Bell Road, Ste #118 623-972-0171

8720 E. Frank Lloyd Wright 480-483-1800

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GILBERT - SAN TAN

PHOENIX - CAMELBACK

CROSSROADS - TUCSON

2716 S. Market Street 480-963-9441

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SCOTTSDALE - FLW SUPERSTORE 8720 E. Frank Lloyd Wright 480-483-1800

GILBERT - SAN TAN 2716 S. Market Street 480-963-9441

PHOENIX - CAMELBACK 3217 E. Camelback 602-957-0001

ORACLE - TUCSON 4230 N. Oracle Rd., Ste #180 520-293-1381

SUN CITY 10001 West Bell Road, Ste #118 623-972-0171

CROSSROADS - TUCSON 4861 E. Grant Rd #161 520-721-2111

EAST MESA 801 S. Power Road, Ste.#115 480-985-0601

Visit us online: worldwidegolfshops.com

– Serving Arizona Golfers Since 1963 –

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– Serving Arizona Golfers Since 1963 –

SUN CITY

SCOTTSDALE - FLW SUPERSTORE

EAST MESA

ORACLE - TUCSON

10001 West Bell Road, Ste #118 623-972-0171

8720 E. Frank Lloyd Wright 480-483-1800

801 S. Power Road, Ste.#115 480-985-0601

4230 N. Oracle Rd., Ste #180 520-293-1381

GILBERT - SAN TAN

PHOENIX - CAMELBACK

CROSSROADS - TUCSON

2716 S. Market Street 480-963-9441

3217 E. Camelback 602-957-0001

4861 E. Grant Rd #161 520-721-2111

Visit us online: worldwidegolfshops.com

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SUN CITY

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EAST MESA

ORACLE - TUCSON

10001 West Bell Road, Ste #118 623-972-0171

8720 E. Frank Lloyd Wright 480-483-1800

801 S. Power Road, Ste.#115 480-985-0601

4230 N. Oracle Rd., Ste #180 520-293-1381

GILBERT - SAN TAN

PHOENIX - CAMELBACK

CROSSROADS - TUCSON

2716 S. Market Street 480-963-9441

3217 E. Camelback 602-957-0001

4861 E. Grant Rd #161 520-721-2111

Visit us online: worldwidegolfshops.com

– Serving Arizona Golfers Since 1963 –

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Official Ball of The Arizona Golf Association.

MTB

Snell Golf’s 3-piece, tour caliber golf ball engineered to provide outstanding tee to green performance, with a mission to enhance scoring for golfers of all skill levels.

LOW COMPRESSION CORE

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WHY NOT

TONIGHT?

You don’t need an excuse or an occasion to come to The Keg. Whether you join us for after-work drinks or a spontaneous date night, we’ll always make you feel celebrated.

DESERT RIDGE | CHANDLER | GILBERT | TEMPE | ORO VALLEY

AZGOLFINSIDER Inside this issue

ANNUAL 2018

FEATURES

18 Cover Story

TUCSON REBRANDS LOCAL SPORTS SCENE | By Greg Hansen Golf remains the only constant in city’s sports recovery, led by the Cologuard Classic.

16 19th HOLE: THREE AMIGOS | By AZGOLF Insider Staff

The Old Pueblo dazzles golfers as an honored food destination.

22 FIRST TEE OF TUCSON REACHES 50,000 KIDS | By John Davis

‘It takes a village’ mentality nurtures kids who pick up the game.

24 FRONT NINE WITH JOHN HOOK | By Mark Nothaft

Fox 10 News anchorman John Hook has a love for the game.

22

26 GOLF GENES

| By John Davis New WMPO chairman Chance Cozby has golf in his DNA.

ARIZONA GOLF ASSOCIATION NEWS

28

FAB FIVE ENTER HALL OF FAME

30

TOP JUNIOR PLAYERS HONORED

31

ASU LEGEND BOUTELL PASSES

32

LPGA GIRLS GOLF ROCKS

34

RULES OF GOLF | By Lorraine Thies

36

ARIZONA SCOREBOARD

18 DEPARTMENTS

10 A LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | By Ed Gowan

12 MEMBERS ONLY

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

12 38 MOVERS & SHAKEUPS

40 GOLF GETAWAYS

14 SPIRITS OF THE GAME

| By AZGOLF Insider Staff AZ Golf Insider pops the cork on the season’s best pours.

| By Danny and Alice Scott Silvies Valley Ranch between Bend and Boise is all about golf, goat caddies, great food and good times.

44 OUT OF BOUNDS

8 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2018

| By Bill Huffman Architect Phil Smith had a hand in three new projects, including his own version of The Phoenician.

| By Gary Van Sickle Everything you wanted to know about golf (and more) in 2019.

ON THE COVER Pictured are (top, clockwise) El Conquistador Golf & Tennis, The First Tee of Tucson, Sewailo at Casino del Sol and 2018 Cologuard Classic champ Steve Stricker.

To read AZ GOLF Insider online, visit azgolf.org.

TALK TO US! Send a letter to the editorial staff of AZ GOLF Insider and we may publish it in the next edition. E-mail letters to BackspinMediaGroup@gmail.com. www.azgolf.org

REIMAGINED ALL FOR YOU Welcome to the pres�gious Desert Mountain Club in Sco�sdale — a golf and outdoor club that has been reimagined to provide a lifestyle that rises above the rest. Within our expansive 8,000 acres of pris�ne Sonoran desert beauty, members enjoy an outdoor playground unlike any other in the world. Jack Nicklaus golf all year long. Technology­based golf instruc�on, 5­star dining for every palate. Tennis on three surfaces. Fitness fit for an athlete. Spa indulgences to pamper the soul. Pickleball, par�es, moonlight hikes and mountain biking. Making a move? Move up to the Mountain and receive a $5,000 ini�a�on credit or 3 months no dues.*

Introducing Seven Desert Mountain, a new residen�al golf community opening in Spring 2019.

DESERTMOUNTAIN.COM SCOTTSDALE, AZ *Restric�ons apply. Membership is by invita�on only.

MEMBERSHIP DESERTMOUNTAIN.COM 480 428 1415

From the Executive Director

By Ed Gowan

AZGOLFINSIDER

Excitement is brewing for 2019

T

he end of the year in Arizona is more like Spring for the rest of the golf world. While there still are several events left including the Patriot All-America Invitational, this year we’re looking forward to the new year even more than other years.

The new Rules of Golf go into effect Jan. 1, and will impact every golfer’s play immediately. The AWGA and AGA combining into one association will create many new opportunities for all members while the new play days open to everyone should help our golf family grow. Our trip this summer to Scotland is starting to fill, with five of the world’s best courses on the schedule.

If I may make a suggestion, every golfer should find the time to attend one of our rules seminars. We have already held more than 30 club seminars for over 2,000 golfers, and distributed nearly 18,000 Players’ Guide Rule books. The books are free for AGA members through your favorite course or club, or you can visit our office in the Scottsdale Airpark to pick one up.

Lorraine Thies has a short quiz this month to get you started (Page 34). The major changes include the ability to drop out of a bunker; hazards expanded into penalty areas that can include areas of desert or heavy vegetation; dropping from knee height into specific relief areas; and the elimination of any penalty for accidentally moving a ball on the putting green. If you won’t be attending one of our classes, please do look at the videos on USGA.org. I’m certain you will find the rules videos both interesting and entertaining.

10 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2018

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OFFICERS PRESIDENT............................................................................. Mike McWilliams 1ST VICE PRESIDENT..................................................................Bill Burgesser 2ND VICE PRESIDENT......................................................................Bill Phipps SECRETARY.................................................................................Bob McNichols TREASURER.........................................................................................Tim Brown EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS Lee Decof, Mark Jeffery, Joe Hickle, Jerry Huff, Tim Hulscher, Ryan Johnson, Mike Kane, Scott McNevin, Judi Polidori, John Souza

If Scotland is on your bucket list, then you don’t want to miss our late June AGA-sponsored trip next year. We even have scheduled “off days” for the group, where people can add other courses, sightseeing or distillery visits. With a focus on St. Andrews, golf just doesn’t get much better.

The Patriot All-America on Dec. 28-31 will again showcase the amazing collegiate amateurs at The Wigwam.

At the same time these great players will be carrying PING golf bags honoring fallen heroes. The West Valley Mavericks are hosting with hospitality tents, food and beverages to make the fan experience memorable. The Patriot alumni include PGA Tour winners like Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau and bomber Cameron Champ — and those are only a few of the Tour stars who have played in the last few years.

Finally, we’re also excited to see what the Waste Management Phoenix Open has in store for us early next year under the leadership of PING’s Chance Cozby (Page 26), who is the 2019 tournament chairman for the Greatest Show on Grass. You’ll want to make plans now to join 150,000 of your closest friends for at least one day. n

AGA STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.................................................................... Ed Gowan ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.....................................Lorraine Thies DIRECTOR OF USGA SERVICES.......................................Derek McKenzie CLUB PROGRAMS MANAGER.............................................Michelle Evens DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING/SPONSORSHIPS...............Brian Foster* DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING PARTNERSHIPS.......................... Chris Montgomery DIRECTOR OF RULES AND COMPETITIONS............Andrew Polonec MANAGER TOURNAMENT OPERATIONS........................... Mike Mason CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER....................................................... .Jim Franko DIRECTOR OF MEMBER AND CLUB RELATIONS..............Alex Tsakiris COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR.....................................Paris Garcia ACCOUNTING.......................................................................... Betty Saltzgiver P. J. BOATWRIGHT INTERNS.................... Brianna Gianiorio, Matt Dally *Denotes independent contractor THE AZ GOLF INSIDER STAFF PUBLISHER.....................................................................................Mark Nothaft EDITOR-IN-CHIEF..........................................................................Bill Huffman DESIGNER............................................................................Carl Bezuidenhout AGA EDITOR..................................................................................Lorraine Thies SENIOR EDITOR.................................................................................John Davis REAL ESTATE EDITOR....................................... Gremlyn Bradley-Waddell FOOD EDITOR.................................................................................Carey Sweet GENERAL ASSIGNMENTS........................................................... Jeff Heisner PHOTO EDITOR.......................................................................... Jane Zarzynski SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER........................................................Dennis Scully SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER.........................................................Wade Moran CONTRIBUTORS........................... Ed Gowan, Lorraine Thies, Julie Fenn Scott McNevin, Robyn Noll, Tom Mackin, Joe Passov, Cori Matheson ADVERTISING GRAPHIC DESIGNER......................................... Steve Copas For magazine inquiries, backspinmediagroup@gmail.com BACKSPIN MEDIA GROUP PRESIDENT.......................................................................................Bill Huffman GENERAL MANAGER.................................................................Mark Nothaft BackspinMediaGroup@gmail.com AZ GOLF Insider, is published four times a year by the Arizona Golf Association. It is supported by members’ dues, utilizing $3 per member per year. We welcome all editorial submissions, including letters, but assume no responsibility for the loss or damage of unsolicited material. They will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Views expressed within these pages do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or official policies of the Arizona Golf Association. No part of this magazine is intended as an endorsement of any equipment, publication, videotape, golf course or other entity. No part of this magazine may be reproduced for use as an advertising, publicity or endorsement item without written approval of the AGA. AZ GOLF Insider is offered 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 (800) 458-8484 In-State Line www.azgolf.org 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

Members Only < PING in the season

The 10-model Sigma 2 family is designed for the golfer who prefers a putter on the softer side of the spectrum with a lively response of a firm face. Sounds impossible, but then again, you know those rocket scientists who work for PING, right?

Plus, a newly designed adjustable-length shaft comes standard on every putter in the line. PING studies show that eight out of every 10 golfers are playing the wronglength putter, and that consistency improves when you can customize the length for your stroke and posture. With the new adjustable-length shaft, putters range from 32 inches to 36 inches. It’s a win-win and very revolutionary, too. Putter can be fitted at all Van’s Golf Shops in Phoenix and Tucson.

$219 • ping.com

> Santa would love it!

The golf course community of Tonto Verde, which is nestled in the history- and vegetation-rich area of Rio Verde in the northeast Valley, invites you to sample its award-winning lifestyle and experience the club’s 2018-19 Discover Package.

Each couple enjoys three nights in a luxury townhome, plays both the Peaks and Ranch courses along with Tonto Verde’s 18-hole natural grass putting course. Adding to the package is a $100 gift certificate to the club’s sumptuous Mesquite Grill, as well as unlimited use of the fitness and pool facilities. You’ll also get tours of the community and property, and meet with the membership team. Share a beverage with members and discover life at Tonto Verde.

$995 per couple • tontoverde.org

< Perfect present for her

Surprise the woman in your life this season with a golf hybrid shoe that looks as good as it performs. Ecco’s Classic Hybrid combines a hip yet traditional wingtip-look with superior comfort and technology made in the legendary Danish quality and design you’ve come to expect.

These spikeless golf shoes offer outstanding underfoot traction and stability through each stroke, and she will no doubt appreciate the rich, Hydromax-treated leather finished in glitter. The full leather lining is both durable and breathable. What are you waiting for?

$160 • ecco.com

12 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2018

< Holiday vacation gift

Planning a golf getaway this season? Travel tip No. 1: Don’t carry or rent your clubs, say the experts at Prosets Premium Golf Club Rentals. The company carries all the top brands – Callaway, PING, TaylorMade, Titleist, Cobra and others – as low as $99 per week. No more hefty baggage fees, airport hassle or risk of the airlines damaging or “losing” your own clubs. Treat a loved one to high-end demo this season. Make a Prosets reservation through Van’s Golf Shops.

Rates vary • prosetsgolf.com

> Stocking stuffer

The golfer who has it all needs Callaway’s amazing new GPSy Sports Watch. Preloaded with 30,000-plus golf courses worldwide with no subscription or download fees, GPSy looks as good as it performs. It’s like a caddie for your wrist with accurate distances to front, center and back of green, as well as accurate layups and carry distances to hazards and doglegs. If that’s not enough, the digital scorecard tracks scores, greens in regulation and putts per round. GPSy even features auto course recognition, hole advance and shot distance measurement capabilities. Available at all Van’s Golf Shops in Phoenix and Tucson.

$180 • callawaygolf.com

< Curl up with a book

Both casual fans and ardent chasers of golf history appreciate the details found within Robert Hunter’s 1926 architectural masterpiece “The Links,” in what is thought to be the first book that fully addresses the complexities of the golf course in terms of design, construction and definition of the game.

Although not a golf course architect by trade, or even a golfing professional, Hunter’s background as a dedicated sociologist led to his unique understanding of the relationship between golf and its greater contribution to society. Supported by more than 50 photos and original drawings, the book provides insight into the strategies and methods used to design the world’s most renowned courses. Drop it in Dad’s stocking.

$14 • barnesandnoble.com

> Left under the tree

Playing well and looking good on and off the course are, of course, the name of the game. And if you’re donning apparel from local manufacturer Antigua, you’re winning on both counts. The smartly styled, high-performance Nassau polo features moisture wicking and 100 percent polyester DesertDry material. A sleek-fabric collar and three-button placket round it out. The woven trim detail and Antigua “A” logo on the right sleeve is a nice touch. Bedrock is combined with white, black, jade, peach, chardonnay, frost and rosewood for color options for nearly any golfer.

$70 • www.antigua.com

www.azgolf.org

ANNUAL 2018 | AZ GOLF Insider | 13

SPIRITS OF THE GAME

By AZ Golf Insider Staff

> Once-in-a-lifetime

<

Wine with pedigree

World renowned winemaker Jean Claude Berrouet, who previously presided over 44 vintages at the revered Bordeaux winery Petrus, brings his expertise to Black Tears Malbec by Tapiz Winery in the Mendoza region of Argentina. Malbec has been high in our minds for a number of years, but the inaugural 2013 vintage of Black Tears stands as a quantum leap, a single-estate vineyard at 4,400 feet in the Uco Valley. The Malbec is marked by aromas of vine-ripened dark fruits and a bright, linear palate.

$65 • bodega-tapiz.com.ar

< A taste of AZ

After years of producing fine, hand-crafted furniture in Tucson, the Scotch-loving father-daughter team of Stephen and Amanda Hamilton began dabbling in distilling and whiskey. But of course everything had to be top-shelf and hyper-local, like using Arizona mesquite for smoking malt prior to fermentation and distilling. By 2013, three distinctly different Whiskeys Del Bac hit the local market, including 90 proof and award-winning Dorado, an aged single-malt Scotch-style whiskey with sweet tobacco and dark chocolate aromas, as well as woody, campfire-spice flavors. Perfect as a gift or conversation piece this season.

$45 • hamiltondistillers.com 14 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2018

Experts have called the pending 2018 vintage of Champagne, the iconic bubbly stuff from the region of France of the same name, once-in-a-lifetime, the best harvest and grape quality of the past century. While we wait for delivery, pop the cork on this outstanding non-vintage Brut Grande Cuvee from Champagne Krug, an elite Champagne house with a 175-year history. Fullbodied and drier in style, this sparkling wine offers amazing micro bubbles and subtle appletoast impressions. After a round, present this bottle as a parting gift to your best customer.

$175 • krug.com

< Swirl, sniff, sip!

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon continues to morph as tastes and trends pull and push wine fans in multiple directions – and it’s a good thing. Pine Ridge steps up to the challenge as a leader among superiorquality producers, and the 2017 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon impresses with every swirl, sniff and sip. The Cab (91 percent), Cab Franc and Petit Verdot blend from the winery’s premiere vineyards at Rutherford and Oakville show cherryraspberry fruit with finely woven tannins, as well as creamy, silky spice that comes from 17 months in 36 percent new American oak. Start a fire, grill steaks and serve this.

$64 • pineridgevineyards.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. www.azgolf.org

TIMELESS DESIGNS

AT TWO ARIZONA CL ASSICS The Arizona Biltmore and The Wigwam are two of Arizona’s most iconic and historic resorts. With rich histories dating back to the 1920s, these storied properties are part of Arizona’s golf fabric. Legendary golf course architects William Bell, Robert Trent Jones, Sr., and Robert “Red” Lawrence created enduring courses that have stood the test of time and technology.

THE BLUE COURSE

THE LINKS COURSE

THE RED COURSE

THE ADOBE COURSE

EXPLORE ARIZONA’S GOLF HISTORY. ENJOY FIVE OF THE STATE’S BEST. GOLF COURSES. THE A R IZONA BILTMOR E GO LF CLU B The Adobe Course circa 1928, a William Bell design The Links Course circa 1978, a Bill Johnston design

602.955.9656 AZBiltmoreGC.com 2400 EAST MISSOURI AVE. | PHOENIX, AZ 85016

THE GOLD COURSE

T H E W I G WA M G O L F C L U B The Blue Course circa 1965, a Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design The Red Course circa 1974, a Robert “Red” Lawrence design The Gold Course circa 1965, a Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design

623.935.3811 WigwamGolf.com 300 EAST WIGWAM BLVD. | LITCHFIELD PARK, AZ 85340

THE 19TH HOLE

By AZ Golf Insider Staff

EL CONQUISTADOR

Delicious El Con Pulled Pork sliders (left) tempt players at the Overlook Restaurant at El Conquistador Golf & Tennis, as do the Shiracha-infused Fire Cracker Shrimp (below). Relax with craft cocktails and regional cuisine at the expansive terrace at Legend’s Bar and Grill overlooking the Catalina Course’s 18thgreen at Omni Tucson National Resort.

AMIGOS THE OLD PUEBLO DAZZLES GOLFERS AS AN HONORED FOOD DESTINATION

OMNI TUCSON NATIONAL

THREE

EL CONQUISTADOR

B

eyond the obvious ideal weather, raw natural beauty and world-class resorts, the Southwest desert city of Tucson remains one of golf’s great food destinations, rivaling its big brother, Phoenix, to the north.

In fact, the Old Pueblo is just one of six U.S. “Cities of Gastronomy,” according to UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Just as impressive, Tucson was one of the first in the country in 2015 to receive the distinction. This, in addition to two James Beard Awardwinning chefs and what is widely considered the best Mexican food restaurant in the nation make Tucson a “must” among golfers and foodies.

“What’s interesting is that crops that were cultivated more than 4,000 years ago and wild desert foods that have been foraged for many more millennia back in time are all still part of (Tucson’s)

contemporary cuisine,” said Jonathan Mabry, lead author of the UNESCO application and president of the nonprofit Tucson City of Gastronomy.

The city even features its renown “23 Miles of Mexican Food” culinary tour that features wondrous moles, grilled and stewed meats and all the chile and regional fresh vegetables the Southwest is famous for. And fortunate for us, the trail includes a few our favorite 19th holes.

Try these three amigos out during your next Tucson golf outing or when

16 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2018

you visit the upcoming Cologuard Classic on Feb. 25-March 3 at the Omni Tucson National Resort.

The Overlook Restaurant El Conquistador Golf & Tennis With the restaurant located on La Canada Drive near the El Conquistador Resort in Oro Valley, plan your tee time later in the afternoon to enjoy a remarkable sunset and the twinkling lights of downtown Tucson while sampling the Sonoran-inspired fare of Chef de Cuisine Tory Fitch.

Treat your foursome right and start the post-play festivities with crunchy and savory Southwest Egg Rolls ($11). The delicacy features generous amounts of whitemeat chicken, fresh corn and black beans stuffed into a tortilla rather than traditional egg roll skin, then deep-fried to a golden brown and paired with a zesty chipotle ranch sauce. Another “must have” is the Fire Cracker Shrimp ($12), five butterflied and breaded large shrimp accompanied by mandarin orange slaw and Sriracha aioli that are bound to please everyone.

For the main attraction, it’s hard to beat the El Con Sliders ($11) or Shrimp Po-Boy ($12). The previous includes a duo of either hot pastrami, Swiss, mustard and crunchy pickle slices, or sweet and tangy barbecued pulled pork with creamy coleslaw and fried onions on brioche slider buns. The latter offers five salty-crunchy fried jumbo shrimp on a fresh hoagie www.azgolf.org

Legend’s Bar & Grill Omni Tucson National Resort From the thoughtfully developed bar service with an emphasis on local spirits and beers, to the expansive patio overlooking the picturesque 18th green, to the “legendary” cuisine from executive chef Jonathan Stutzman (who studied under celeb chef Emeril Lagasse at his restaurant Delmonico in New Orleans), you may never leave this dream 19th hole, which is widely considered one of the best in the state. The only problem you’ll have is deciding between Legend’s and another on-site Tucson institution – Bob’s Steak and Chop House, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Play both the Catalina and Sonoran courses and problem solved!

After settling scores, treat your playing partners to a round of Arizona Martinis ($10) made with awardwinning Arizona Distilling’s Desert Dry Gin, Thumb Butte Prickly Pear Grapefruit Vodka, a splash of sweet French wine Lillet (think vermouth) and a lemon twist. The aromatic, tasty drink is like Arizona in a glass. Perfect.

While sipping on those martinis, pass around a www.azgolf.org

GOLF SPECIAL SEWAILO

roll, topped with tomatoes, tartar sauce and inspiring chipotle coleslaw. Delicious.

Add traditional or sweet potato fries, coleslaw or fresh fruit to either entree and the triple bogey on No. 18 doesn’t sting as much.

If you’re playing Sunday morning, start play off right with a substantial breakfast buffet ($12.95) that includes all the usual goodies like an omelet station, fresh cut fruit, bacon-sausage, pastries, good strong coffee and a full bar.

Before or after a round at Sewailo Golf Club at Casino del Sol, duck into UAinspired Wildcats Grille for a satisfying local twist on a Breakfast Burrito or juicy Angus burger with all the fixings.

Flight of Hummus ($9) and Spicy Crab Fritters ($14).

The creamy, tangy hummus flavors include smokey, Tahini Lime chipotle and seductive roasted red pepper. Totally vibrant! The trio is joined by fresh and crispy pita chips and fried garbanzo snaps. As your crew relaxes, whole lump crab meat fritters hit the table. The warm, golden brown treats are gently accompanied by an exotic curry remoulade.

A return to local flavor comes in the form of the Tucson Cobb Salad ($13).

A bed of high-quality local greens lays a foundation for warm chopped grilled chicken, salty-smokey bacon lardons, fresh pico de gallo, chopped hard-boiled egg, crunchysweet corn, spicy Green Valley pecans, blue cheese crumbles and amazing blue cheese dressing. Who says man can’t live off salad alone?

The taste of Tucson continues with what should be called the (Legendary) Chorizo Burger ($16), a ridiculous proprietary blend of ground chuck, short rib, brisket and, yes, chorizo sausage served on a grilled challah roll and topped with blue cheese and applewood smoked bacon. Add other topping like caramelized or fried onions, jalapenos, avocado or sauteed mushroom

to elevate this burger to its mind-bending extreme. The Chorizo Burger and a variety of other sandwiches and burgers comes with house kettle chips, oregano lemon slaw or fresh fruit or local greens.

Wildcats Grille Sewailo Golf Club, Casino del Sol Resort As its name implies, Sewailo Golf Club’s 19th hole also is home to the University of Arizona’s men’s and women’s golf teams, so you may see the occasional student-athlete refueling after honing their skills at the red, white and blue Wildcat-inspired venue.

The Notah Begay IIIdesigned golf course is south of Tucson at Casino del Sol Resort and has garnered most of headlines since its 2014 opening. But the food as much as the golf keeps fans of this Pacua Yaqui Tribe property returning time and again.

Executive chef Ryan Clark, a Tucson native and one of Food and Wine Magazine’s “Best New Chefs in the Southwest,” brings decided Sonoran influences to the Wildcats Grille menu including the flavor- and protein-packed Breakfast Burrito ($8). This hearty handful includes fluffy scrambled eggs, Oaxaca-style

Mexican cheese, bright pico de gallo salsa and choice of chorizo, bacon, ham or breakfast sausage. Opt for the chorizo for the full experience and pair with a zesty Bloody Mary ($7) before heading to the first tee.

If your group is playing later in the day, stop in apres 18 for the Southwest Grilled Chicken Sandwich ($10), which again receives nice regional touches like more of that wondrous pico de gallo, chipotle-infused mayonnaise, Pepper Jack cheese and caramelized onions over a plump and flavorful chicken breast. Choose between chips, hot French fries or tater tots for a side.

While settling scores and devouring the sandwich, you’ll want to wash it down with a Modelo Chilada ($7), an oddly satisfying beer hybrid of Clamato tomato-clam juice and refreshing Modelo Especial American-style lager. You’ll swear you can see Puerto Penasco in the distance. n DETAILS The Overlook Restaurant at El Conquistador Golf and Tennis Club 10555 N. La Canada Drive, Oro Valley (520) 229-5355 www.elcongolfandtennis.com Legends Bar and Grill at Omni Tucson National Resort 2727 W. Club Drive, Tucson (520) 297-2271 www.tucsonnational.com Wildcats Grille at Sewailo Golf Club 5655 W. Valencia Road, Tucson (520) 838-6623 www.casinodelsol.com

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COVER STORY

TUCSON

REBRANDS LOCAL SPORTS SCENE

COLOGUARD CLASSIC, DIVERSE COURSES, FIRST TEE HELP OLD PUEBLO GET BACK ON THE FAST TRACK

Greg Hansen

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n a 10-year period beginning in 2005, the foundation of Tucson’s sports community was rocked like never before.

The Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies and Chicago White Sox abandoned their Tucson spring training headquarters, soon joined by two Pacific Coast League baseball franchises, the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championships, the LPGA Tour and even the men’s NCAA basketball tournament, which had staged 11 regionals at the University of Arizona since 1975.

It was a sports exodus of such force that it required Tucson to reinvent its sports identity. Would UA Wildcats sports become the only game in town, or would the city of about 1.2 million residents find other pursuits to fill the void?

The one constant in Tucson’s on-going sports recovery -— and in the history of Tucson sports -— has been golf.

The Conquistadores, a civic organization that raises charitable funds much like the Thunderbirds do for the Waste Management Phoenix Open, quickly realigned with the PGA Tour and now stage the Champions Tour’s Cologuard Classic in late February.

When Steve Stricker won the 2018 event, the 18th fairway and loge boxes at the Omni Tucson National Resort overflowed with golf fans, almost as if Tiger 18 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2018

Tucson National Resort, Catalina Course, 18th hole

Woods, Phil Mickelson and the Match Play Championships had not departed in 2014.

Tucson’s golf revival created momentum for a rebranding of Tucson sports, soon followed by the Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl, a college football bowl game that in its third year drew 39,142 fans, and by the Tucson Roadrunners, a Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Coyotes, who won the American Hockey League Western Conference regular season championship last year, drawing almost 200,000 fans.

Recreational sports opportunities in Tucson also have become robust yearround. The Loop is a 131-mile, shared-use path that circles Pima County and is available for walkers, runners, cyclists, skaters and horseback riders. Atop nearby Mount Lemon, the 19-mile Honeybee Canyon Loop is one of seven mountain-biking

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trails that stretch 84 miles at altitudes from 3,000 to 7,000 feet. The 36th annual El Tour de Tucson, which annually draws 9,000 cyclists in November, circles Tucson in competitions from 10 to 100 miles.

Tucson’s running community also has ignited and features 24 annual events, from the socially-festive Meet Me Downtown 5K Night Run to the 50th annual Saguaro National Park Labor Day 8-mile run/walk. Visitors also are drawn to the Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf and Tennis Resort, which offers a USTA-ranked tennis facility, 45 holes of golf on three courses with up-close views of remarkable Pusch Ridge, as well as five swimming pools and the 143-foot Sliderock.

But it’s golf that continues to swing Tucson’s sports economy. During a dark period in which five pro baseball www.azgolf.org

GOLF SPECIAL

Whether it’s (top to bottom) walking the Loop, high-fiving a great shot, celebrating a big win with Steve Stricker, biking through downtown or breaking attendance records at the Cologuard Classic, Tucson rocks these days.

VISIT TUCSON

teams left Tucson, three resort golf courses were built – the Jack Nicklausdesigned, 27-hole Dove Mountain Golf Course at the Ritz-Carlton, the Notay Begay-inspired Sewailo Golf Course at Casino del Sol and the Stone Canyon Club, which has become part of Phil Mickelson’s M Club properties.

The greater Tucson area now has 31 golf courses, which doesn’t include eight golf facilities along the Interstate 19 corridor near Green Valley, and four more courses in the Saddlebrooke communities immediately north of Tucson.

It’s not Scottsdale, and it doesn’t attempt to be.

In 2016, Visit Tucson conducted a survey of 335 people who spent vacation time playing golf in Tucson. It determined that those visitors spend an average of six days in Tucson and spent close to $3,000 per visit. The majority of those surveyed had also played golf on vacations to Phoenix and Scottsdale.

The survey concluded: “Scottsdale is more expensive, more crowded, busier and a big city with more wellknown golf courses. Tucson, by comparison, is rustic, more simple, not as manicured or sculpted. It’s quieter and more remote in a positive way.

There’s more of a community feel, it’s more of an enclave, less discovered, and more naturally beautiful.’’

Brent DeRaad, president and CEO of Visit Tucson and also a member of the Conquistadores, said golf in Tucson is usually accompanied by other destination activities.

“We’ve found that our visitors are also into outdoor adventures, they visit the astronomies at the UA and at Kitt Peak,’’ he said. “They are hikers and cyclists. Golf is just another aspect of our product strength. They golf at the high-end courses and on the many municipal courses available to the public.’’

Tucson’s five municipal courses include the midtown Randolph Golf Complex, a 36-hole facility that has played host to the PGA and LPGA Tours. From 1970-2000, the Randolph North and Dell Urich courses were often ranked as high as No. 2 nationally in rounds-per-year.

In Oro Valley, The Views Golf Club is an open-to-the-public course that has prospered even as golf numbers

COVER STORY

Tucson

diminish nationally. Rick Price, the director of golf at The Views and a mover and shaker in the Tucson golf community, said the game’s future in the Old Pueblo appears bright.

“We anticipate going over 50,000 rounds this year,’’ said Price, who doubles up as the women’s golf coach at Pima Community College and is a longtime advocate of youth golf programs in southern Arizona.

“I think golf in Tucson is more affordable than in Phoenix and Scottsdale.

From a tourist standpoint, we’re not as crowded as the Phoenix metro area. One real positive is that the greater Tucson area has such a variety of courses. Our high-end courses – Ventana Canyon, Starr Pass, LaPaloma, Sewailo, Tucson National – are a mix of designs and challenges. There’s very little ‘sameness.’ ’’ The average greens-fees rate at Tucson’s upscale golf courses in peak season is generally from $90 to $150. Some of Scottsdale’s properties exceed $200 – even $300!

Tucson certainly has a group of courses that rival Scottsdale’s finest.

The Marriott Starr Pass, with a new nine designed by Arnold Palmer, is the home of Phil Mickelson’s first PGA Tour victory. The Omni Tucson National was the site of three Johnny Miller victories in the 1970s and those by Arnold Palmer and Lee Trevino in the 1960s. The Dove

Mountain Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton, played host to the WGC-Accenture Match Play, as did the Gallery Golf Club, a 36-hole facility at which Tiger Woods won the 2008 championship.

“I think the No. 3 hole on the Mountain Course at Loews Ventana Canyon is the most photographed hole in all of Tucson golf and maybe in Arizona,’’ said DeRaad of Visit Tucson. “It’s a short par-3, off of a cliff, to a small green in the mountains.

It’s famous for the old Merrill Lynch Shootout, at which Tom Watson fourputted in a made-for-TV competition.’’

In addition to the resort courses, the First Tee of Tucson has thrived in partnership with the PGA Tour and the Conquistadores.

“We’ve survived the recession, which affected golf all over America,’’ said Judy McDermott, executive director of the Conquistadores, who have operated PGA Tour championships in Tucson since 1965. “We’re growing the game. Our numbers of new golfers, especially the kids in the First Tee program, has been greater than we hoped. We have events all over the city. ‘’ The Conquistadores recently completed construction of a $1 million clubhouse at the historic El Rio Golf Course, which played host to the first PGA Tour events in Tucson from 194559. Now more than 300 young golfers, 24

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Marana

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2. Crooked Tree Golf Club 9101 N. Thornydale Road 3. Del Lago Golf Club 14155 E. Via Rancho del Lago (Vail) 4. Dell Urich Golf Course 600 S. Alvernon Way 5. Dorado Golf Course 66011 E. Speedway Blvd.

6. Dove Mountain Golf Club 6501 Boulder Bridge Pass 7. El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Club 10555 N. La Canada Drive 8. El Rio-Trini Alvarez Golf Course 1400 W. Speedway Road 9. Forty Niner Country Club 1200 E. Tanque Verde Road 10. Fred Enke Golf Course 8251 E. Irvington Road 11. The Gallery Golf Club 14000 N. Dove Mountain Blvd.

12. The Highlands Golf Club 4949 W. Heritage Club Blvd.

13. Westin La Paloma Country Club 3800 E. Sunrise Drive 14. Omni Tucson National Golf Club 2727 W. Club Drive 15. Quarry Pines Golf Course 8480 Continental Links Drive

18. Saddlebrooke Golf Clubs 59642 E. Robson Circle

Santa Catalina Natural Area

Oro Valley

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1. Arizona National Golf Club 9777 E. Sabino Greens Drive

17. Rolling Hills Golf Course 8900 E. 29th St.

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Tortolita

(Public Access)

16. Randolph North Golf Course 600 S. Alvernon Way

Tortolita Mountain Park

19. Sewailo Golf Club 5655 W. Valencia Road

14 Casa Adobes

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20. Silverbell Golf Course 3600 N. Silverbell Road

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21. Starr Pass Golf Club 3645 W. Starr Pass Blvd.

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22. Ventana Canyon Golf Club 6200 N. Club House Lane

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23. Views @ Oro Valley Golf Course 1565 E. Rancho Vistoso Blvd.

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24. Golf Club at Vistoso 955 W. Vistoso Highlands Drive

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www.azgolf.org

GOLF SPECIAL

VISIT TUCSON

from 5-17 learn golf, golf etiquette and hold day-to-day study sessions based on the First Tee’s nine core values on the same turf that Ben Hogan and Sam Snead used to play golf.

Golf in Tucson has overcome some challenges.

In May, a Canadian mortgage firm, Rompsen, planned to shut down the Golf Club of Vistoso and Arizona National.

But the homeowners association at Arizona National rallied and reached a financial agreement with Rompsen and remain opened under the Billy Casper Golf organization. The homeowners association at Vistoso, designed by Tom Weiskopf in 1995, is currently in negotiations to reopen this winter.

Troon Golf manages the Sewailo Golf Club at the Casino del Sol resort.

Sewailo has been the home of the University of Arizona golf programs for six years. Last spring, the UA women’s golf team paid the course a dividend by winning the NCAA championship.

The next step in Tucson’s golf market is likely to be a makeover at Randolph

North. City officials are currently in discussions with the Conquistadores and the University of Arizona about moving the UA’s men’s and women’s golf programs to Randolph, and also relocating the Champions Tour event to downtown Tucson, redesigning Randolph and building a new practice facility.

It is an ambitious project that could cost in excess of $12 million, and be Tucson’s most profound message yet that it is a diverse sports market that won’t take “no” for an answer.

Greg Hansen, who estimates he plays 120 rounds of golf per year in southern Arizona, has been the sports columnist of Tucson’s Arizona Daily Star since 1984.

There are lots of recreational options in Tucson, like big-time tennis at El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort. But golf remains the driving force behind the city’s sports scene, especially the Cologuard Classic of Tucson, which funds its First Tee of Tucson program for kids.

F O E G N CHA

E S R COU 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

www.azgolf.org

ANNUAL 2018 | AZ GOLF Insider | 21

First Tee of Tucson reaches 50,000 kids in southern Arizona

By John Davis

Kids fill the range at Randolph Park (shown here), one of seven First Tee of Tucson sites. The First Tee of Tucson has exposed the game to as many as 50,000 kids in southern Arizona.

FIRST TEE OF TUCSON

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f it takes a village to raise a child, the Tucson First Tee program stands as evidence that a major city can nurture a whole generation through a simple, yet educational, game.

From humble beginnings in 2006 and through the support of nearly every facet of the Tucson community, its First Tee program has touched the lives of thousands of kids, who learn life skills through golf.

The program recently expanded to its seventh green-grass facility and, through its outreach efforts, is exposing as many as 50,000 kids a year to the game.

“This program has been a big step because, while we support all youth sports in Tucson and southern Arizona,

it makes perfect sense that we do our part to support the game of golf,” said Judy McDermott, executive director of the Tucson Conquistadores, the civic organization that has run numerous PGA

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Tour-sanctioned events.

“So much of what First Tee does is development in all phases of life. There are many good junior golf programs that do a great job of teaching kids the game.

Teaching life skills along with that is what sets this program apart, and we see the results in the kids we work with.”

The Conquistadores are the driving force and funding source behind the program.

In 2008, they partnered with First Tee and the city of Tucson in a $2.9 million renovation effort at Trini Alvarez-El Rio Golf Course, creating a 4,000-squarefoot clubhouse and learning center for the program.

There, kids can spend as much time on a computer as on the driving range.

El Rio, now owned by the city, began as a private club in the 1930s and was www.azgolf.org

www.azgolf.org

GOLF SPECIAL

decision I’ve ever made,” said Lewis, a Tucson native who played at Pima College.

“Anytime I think I might be having a tough day, I just start interacting with the kids, taking them out on the course and trying to make it known that I am there for them, and for more than just to learn about golf. It has been so rewarding.

“We’re not trying to build the next Tiger Woods or Annika Sorenstam. We’re more focused on trying to build the next great citizen.

Golf just happens to be the vehicle for doing that, and we are getting support from all corners of the Tucson area.”

The program has absorbed the longstanding Ricki Rarick summer junior golf program, Southern Arizona Junior Golf and the PGA Junior League. It also works closely with the JGAA and the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf, and touches many more kids through its public schools outreach and Boys & Girls

FIRST TEE OF TUCSON

FIRST TEE OF TUCSON

the original site of the former Tucson Open, and the site where the legendary Babe Didrikson Zaharias qualified for that tournament and tied for 42nd place.

Well-regarded course architect Ken Kavanagh handled the course renovation, also creating a three-hole course within the driving range for First Tee, and is among many notables in the golf community who have supported the program.

Among them are tour pro Don Pooley and Laura Ianello, coach of the Arizona Wildcats’ reigning national championship women’s team, who serve on the First Tee board of directors.

“We have a wonderful board, and when you have people like Don and Laura supporting you and doing whatever they can to help, it makes a huge difference,” McDermott said. “It’s all about the kids and they embrace that. It means so much to us.”

Landyn Lewis, a PGAsanctioned pro and former assistant at Tucson National, is nearing the end of his second year as program director. He and participant and volunteer services director Vicky Gonzalez form the two-person team that keeps the program running and expanding.

The Forty Niner Club recently became the seventh First Tee site, joining a list that includes El Rio, Sewailo, Rolling Hills, Country Club of Green Valley, Crooked Tree and Randolph Park.

At just 26, Lewis says he can relate well to the youngsters in the program and is all-in with his job as director after serving as a volunteer coach while he was working at Tucson National.

“When this position became available, I jumped at it and it has been the best

No one is prouder of these kids participating in The First Tee of Tucson than the driving force behind the program, the Tucson Conquistadores.

That includes Judy McDermott (shown here), the executive director of Conquistadores, a civic organization that also funds the program through its involvement with the PGA Tour and, ultimately, its Cologuard Classic of Tucson, which is part of the Champions Tour.

Clubs, and receives support from the UofA golf teams.

There are about 1,000 kids registered as part of the First Tee full-time curriculum, but McDermott estimates that about 50,000 are exposed to golf through other efforts.

The expansion has created a need for more volunteer coaches and, McDermott

pointed out, that includes people with limited or no knowledge of golf.

“What we’re really doing is mentoring,” she said. “It might even be just teaching in our computer lab, which has nothing to do with the golf swing. It has to do with learning life skills, and that’s what we’re all about.” n

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THE

FRONT NINE

JOHN HOOK

TO HOOK OR TO SLICE? When on the course with Fox 10 News anchorman there is only one answer!

By Mark Nothaft

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FOX 10 NEWS

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n a world filled with daily doses of crime, nasty politics and varying degrees of current-events chaos, longtime FOX 10 News anchorman John Hook of Phoenix takes solace with a 7-iron on the verdant fairways of the Valley.

“When I’m playing golf, very little else enters my mind,” Hook tells AZ Golf Insider while preparing for his nightly newscast with co-host Kari Lake. “It’s the ultimate escape.”

Yes, the Emmy Award-winning, fivetime Associated Press Anchor of the Year and author of Who Killed Bob Crane? recently celebrated his 25th anniversary with FOX 10. He’s seen it all, including the fall of Gov. Fife Symington and Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the Arizona Cardinals making the Super Bowl, UFOs buzzing the Valley and Tiger Woods dropping an ace at No. 16 at TPC Scottsdale.

When Hook isn’t chasing a story or his twin boys and daughter with wife Gina, you might find him working the greens at Ancala Country Club in Scottsdale and other favorite haunts. And Hook has had some big moments in the game, too, like a few years back when he was treated to a round at Augusta National, where he celebrated his dad’s 90th birthday.

John Hook

AZ GOLF INSIDER: Are there parallels between your golf game and being a newscaster?

JOHN HOOK: Both require focus. To play well and to do this job well, you have to be in the “moment.” The minute your mind wonders to something ahead in the round or a shot you mishit, you’ll invariably lose a shot here and there.

It adds up quickly as all golfers know.

The same in broadcasting. You have to be fully present in the moment.

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How old were you when you picked up your first golf club, and who was instrumental in that decision?

I was 9. My dad introduced me to the game. We would go to the

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Stanford driving range, where I later worked in high school. He’s 94 and still playing. He’s a lefty, so on the range, he would face me and it was a mirror image. I just wish I had his tempo! Smooth. He’s an athlete.

Tell us about John Hook’s golf bag — the brands, the clubs, what ball you play and what is your go-to club when you need a really good shot?

I’m playing Callaway Apex irons, Titleist 56- and 60-degree wedges, driver is a Ping G-300, 3-wood is a TaylorMade, hybrid is a 19-degree Callaway. I play a Bridgestone golf ball. The best club in my bag is without a doubt the putter.

Putting is really my thing and by far

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www.azgolf.org

COURTESY JOHN HOOK

Clockwise from top left: John Hook hits his tee shot on the infamous par-3 12th hole at Augusta National; NBC announcer Dan Hicks, Oliver Hook, John Hook and NBC golf analyst Johnny Miller pose for a photo; the Hooks celebrating Oliver Hook’s 90th birthday on the iconic Hogan Bridge; and Hook with Hicks, whom John worked with in Tucson at KVOA.

the strongest part of my game. And the putter I love is an old, beat-up MacGregor Response that many have disparaged. It was a demo at Golfsmith that I tried one day. But it’s the best putter I’ve ever owned and the first where left-to-right breaking putts seem as comfortable as right-to-left breaking putts (usually easier for a right-hander).

What’s your best score, and have you ever had a hole in one?

One or two under several times. Two holes in one. The first on No. 3 Ventana Canyon Mountain Course. The second one comes with an asterisk. It was during a scramble in Tucson at La Paloma (Hill No. 8).

Me, (sportscaster) Brad Steinke and (NBC golf announcer) Dan Hicks did not have a fourth. The rules committee allowed us to alternate a fourth tee ball.

I jarred my second shot. They gave me a plaque, but it’s certainly tainted.

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www.azgolf.org

Being a well-known local figure, you have probably played with other notables. Do you have a favorite golf celebrity experience?

Charles Barkley at Gainey Ranch.

This was ’94 during the great run with the Suns. Charles’ stories were hilarious. The needle was always out.

And he’s just a pleasure to play with.

His short game and touch were really impressive. We had a match that came down to the final hole. I got him by one shot. I think I earned his respect.

But I never got paid. However, Charles always picked up drinks whenever I ran into him. He is an incredibly generous guy. So, no complaints.

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What do you like about the game, and what do you really not like about the game?

I love the challenge of trying to get better. And golf is a blast when you’re playing well and striking the ball well. It can be a grind when you’re not. It’s the bane of every golfer.

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Where do you play most of your golf in Arizona?

Ancala Country Club. This may relate to the above question.

Ancala is really, really tight. Every miss costs you two shots. That makes scoring really difficult at times.

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Have you ever played in the Waste Management Phoenix Open events?

If not, would you like to?

I have not. I would love to. I played twice in the Pro-Am in the Tucson Open. We won it one year with Scott Verplank as our pro. The next year we were paired with Robert Gamez. Both guys were really, really nice and helpful. I got lucky with the pros I ended up with.

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What’s the best part about a day on the links?

Being outdoors, hanging with friends and hopefully hitting a few good shots. When I’m playing golf, very little else enters my mind.

It’s the ultimate escape. n

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ANNUAL 2018 | AZ GOLF Insider | 25

Golf genes WMPO chairman Cozby has the game in his DNA WASTE MANAGEMENT PHOENIX OPEN

By John Davis

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ver the years, Waste Management Phoenix Open chairmen have been a diverse group, representing a wide variety of talents and achievements, but probably none has come from a richer golf background than Chance Cozby, who is filling that role for the 2019 tournament.

Cozby, 43, comes from a family that is synonymous with golf in Oklahoma, where his father laid the groundwork for a life in the sport for virtually all of his family.

“I grew up around the game and have been very fortunate to have that my whole life,” he said. “Golf has been so good to me in so many ways. I love being part of it.”

Cozby’s father, Jerry, was head pro at Hillcrest Country Club in his hometown of Bartlesville, Okla., for 42 years,

26 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2018

The 2018 leaderboard at the Phoenix Open paid tribute to upcoming tournament chairman Chance Cozby. Joining Cozby on the leaderboard walkway were his wife, Erica, and sons, Catcher (left) and Campbell. In bottom photo, Cozby joins his assistant tournament chairman, Tim Woods, for a photo op.

earning numerous state and national awards, including National PGA Pro of the Year in 1985. He has been inducted into the National PGA Golf Pro Hall of Fame and National Junior College Golf Hall of Fame, and in 2012 was named Golfweek magazine’s Father of the Year.

“Just about anyone who knows anything about golf in Oklahoma knows who my dad is,” Cozby said.

“He’s pretty much a golf icon there.”

All three of Jerry’s sons followed in his golf spikes, excelling at the University of Oklahoma. One brother now is a longtime PGA club pro, another is a sales representative for PING, and Chance is vice president of sports development for PING, where he is responsible for dealings with the 130 tour pros in the company stable.

It was during his college career that Cozby had his first contact with www.azgolf.org

www.azgolf.org

PING

PING, conducting a job interview after he played in the ASU Thunderbird Invitational. Six months after graduating from college, where he was an All-American, Cozby started his PING career in 1999.

“It has been an incredible experience, starting with the Solheim family, which has been so great to me and my family,” Cozby said. “I am so impressed with how PING does business and what it stands for.”

Although his two teenage sons are not diehard golfers, Cozby has been very active in junior golf circles over the years, both in his role with PING and in representing the Phoenix Thunderbirds, the civic group that conducts the Phoenix Open. Among other things, he has served for the past four years on the Junior Golf Association of Arizona’s board of directors.

“We have a great group of people who are dedicated to supporting junior golf and promoting the future of the game,” Cozby said. “It has been a pleasure to be involved with that, but also working the tournaments and interacting with kids, seeing their emotions come out and being able to offer them advice and support.

“Golf has been so good to me, it’s

From left, Chance Cozby, Bubba Watson, Christian Pena and Louie Oosthuizen share a moment at this year’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock. Cozby is the vice president of player development for PING, while Pena is the company’s PGA Tour manager.

Watson and Ooshuizen are two of PINGs top pros on the PGA Tour.

really easy for me to give some of my time back and do something to help junior golf. That’s the least I can do.”

Cozby has made some subtle pitches to PING-sponsored pros that could help bring some new faces to TPC Scottsdale for the 2019 Open.

“I’ve known for a couple years that I would be in this role, so I have been working on that and telling their agents what a wonderful event we have here and why it would be a great place to play,” Cozby said. “But I am also respectful in that I don’t want to put players in an

uncomfortable position, so I will ask until it’s not appropriate to ask anymore.

“We have so many great PING players around the world, but no matter how many of them commit to playing here, I’m sure that our field is going to be very strong.”

Cozby said he is excited about changes to the fan experience for this event, which will include 11 new suites in the “Cove” area of the 17th hole, a new double-deck structure along the right side of the 18th hole with 60 suites and a greatly expanded area for general admission fans at “El Rancho” on the 12th hole.

“I’m sure attendance will take care of itself, especially if the weather is good,” Cozby said. “My goals have to do with charities and fan experience. I want to make the experience the best it has ever been for fans and see if we can raise even more money for charity than the record $12.2 million we gave last year, which is an incredible number.

“I think for all of the past chairmen, and all of the Thunderbirds for that matter, the goal is to take what is there and try to make it better, and that certainly is what I hope to see happen.” n

ANNUAL 2018 | AZ GOLF Insider | 27

AGA NEWS

HALL OF FAME

AGA NEWS

Make it a five-some!

Class of 2018 includes Farran, Johnston, Marriott, Nilsson, Rowe

Lynn Marriott

“The everyday golfers are the ones who bring a lot of joy to my heart. When somebody comes to you as a last resort and is ready to quit golf and we work with them and they fall in love with the game all over again, and we go, ‘Yes, we saved another one,’ that is the most rewarding thing about what we do.”

Marriott, who grew up in central New York and went to Penn State on a golf scholarship, has received numerous accolades, including induction to the LPGA Teaching and Coaching division of the Hall of Fame. She has been named National Teacher of

Pia Nilsson

Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott created Vision 54 with a vision of how to teach golf but never envisioned what it would become.

“Not even close,” Nilsson

VISION 54

Through their Vision 54 golf program, Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson have worked with golfers who have won well over 100 tour titles, nine major champions and four No. 1 rankings in the world.

They also have authored four best-selling books.

But they haven’t lost sight of why they created the Phoenixbased program in 1997.

“All of those tour wins are great, but tour players are more like our laboratory,” said Marriott, who joins Nilsson in the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame class for 2018.

the Year and has received the First Tee Founder’s Award, LPGA Ellen Griffin Rolex Award, Executive Women’s Golf Association Leadership Award and the LPGA’s Nancy Lopez Award for contributions to the game.

“That is all nice, but we didn’t start Vision 54 to accomplish those kinds of awards or recognition,” said Marriott, who moved to Arizona in 1988. “We did it for the joy of teaching the game. I have lived in Arizona longer than anyplace in my life so this is special to me. I am humbled and honored.”

Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson have taken Vision 54 to the top of golf instruction.

28 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2018

said. “We totally believed in the concepts and that it would be good for golfers but I don’t think we could have imagined all of the things that have happened with it, so that obviously is a good feeling in the heart.”

In the early years, they once offered a three-day school that only drew two students.

Now, Vision 54, which is based at Talking Stick Golf Club, is widely recognized as one of the top teaching programs in the world and has been named the best golf school in the United States by Golf magazine. Nilsson is ranked No. 1 and Marriott No. 2 among female instructors in America.

Nilsson’s achievements are many: She won numerous junior titles in her native Sweden, starred at Arizona State, captured several European titles, coached the men’s and women’s Swedish national teams, captained the European Solheim Cup team and received the LPGA Ellen Griffin Rolex Award for major contributions to teaching.

But induction to the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame has its own special meaning to Nilsson, who began her ASU career as a walk-on golfer after hearing about the program from a high school track and field coach.

“This was a total surprise and, with Arizona being my home now, it means a lot to me,” she said. “So much of what is happening now in my career started here in Arizona.

I am very proud that I was able to get a scholarship and play and study at ASU, and very thankful for all that has followed as a result of that.” www.azgolf.org

AGA NEWS

HALL OF FAME

Robin Farran

If you have read the Rules of Golf in recent years, there’s a good chance that you have seen some of Robin Farran’s handiwork.

Farran, 79, is one of the foremost experts on USGA rules and has participated in editing several Rules of Golf revisions, including the 2019 rules modernization project.

What makes that all the more interesting, he said, is that “when I started, I didn’t even have a rule book. Before I went to my first workshop, I thought I probably should buy one.

“Now, I guess I am afflicted by the rules, but I realize that if I don’t stay up with it, I’m not going to know what I’m doing out on the golf course.”

To that end, he said, he is involved “virtually every day” in some aspect of rules administration and that devotion earned him induction to the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame for 2018.

He spends more than 100 days a year on Arizona golf courses, as a rules official or in course preparation, and has officiated at more than 80 USGA national championships, including 14 www.azgolf.org

U.S. Opens, since 1999. He has served on the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship Committee since 1998.

“It is totally unexpected, because I just do what I do,” he said of his induction. “The only people I really want to care about what I do are the people involved in the tournaments so that it is good experience for them. Any honors that might come along with that are not as important as knowing I have done a good job for them.”

Bill Johnston

Bill Johnston has filled many prominent roles during his extensive golf career but says that of club pro might be the most fulfilling, even though his first such experience was lacking one very important thing: a golf course.

Johnston, 93, started by accepting a position as a head pro in Vernal, Utah, but when he got to the site, instead of a course, he was shown a big farm.

“I actually had to help build the course first,” he said, “but it was very rewarding. I learned an awful lot in a short time and it was the start of an incredible life in golf.”

Johnston also found

success as a player, tournament director and architect, leading to his induction into the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame.

During 43 years as a club pro, he managed to play in nearly 200 PGA Tour events and nearly 200 on the Champions Tour.

He won 15 titles, including the Arizona Open three times, and captured two PGA Tour victories.

He revived the Arizona Open when he became head pro at Arizona Country Club, co-founded the annual Goldwater Cup matches with Al Mengert and designed nine courses, including Lookout Mountain, Rancho Manana and the Adobe Course at Arizona Biltmore.

Previously, he was named to the Utah Golf Hall of Fame and University of Utah Sports Hall of Fame.

“This is a great reward for all of the hard work I’ve done here in Arizona, and I have loved every bit of it, at every stop,” he said. “I have had so much help from so many people. I was thrilled to be able to do what I have done.

What more could I want?”

Dr. Paul Rowe

Sometimes, it seems, the seeds of passion can be found even in an empty seed bag.

That was the case for Dr. Paul Rowe, a retired oral surgeon with a passion for golf agronomy, who was chosen for induction to the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame for 2018.

Rowe, 79, was just 13 and out picking up practice balls he had hit into an open field

when a course superintendent drove up in a tractor and gave him an empty seed bag.

“My pockets were full, so he handed me a bright orange bag with a drawstring and said, ‘Here you go, son, this will help you pick up those balls,’” Rowe said. “It was a simple gesture but I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for superintendents.”

Rowe, who received the AGA’s Champion of Golf Award in 2015, has been a member of Arizona Country Club since 1969, winning the club championship twice and serving for many years as volunteer green chairman.

He has been a valued member of the USGA Green Section Committee for more than 15 years and written several articles on the role of the greens committee.

“I’ve always wanted to be a champion of the superintendent and help him in his role,” Rowe said. “I think we in Arizona can be very proud of what we have done in terms of agronomy and water conservation. I am very humbled by this (induction), but I am proud to be a part of what we have done with our green section in this state.” n

ANNUAL 2018 | AZ GOLF Insider | 29

ARIZONA NEWS

JUNIOR GOLF

AWESOME! Ashley Menne notches third consecutive title; Hayden Sayre earns second in three years

T

he JGAA announced its 2018 Sportsmanship and Player of the Year Awards across five age divisions at its annual awards banquet held in late October at Moon Valley Country Club.

“As we look forward to the 2019 season, it’s important to take a moment to honor our shining stars of 2018,” said Scott McNevin, executive director of the JGAA. “Ashley and Hayden certainly played

well all season long, and we also saw a bunch of new faces making the list.

“Congratulations to the players, and thank you to all of the sponsors, parents, volunteers, golf clubs and supporters of the JGAA for making the 2018 season a successful and rewarding experience for the juniors.”

By earning POY honors in the Girls Championship division for the third consecutive year (2016-2018), Ashley Menne, 16, has become a permanent fixture at the awards banquet. Moreover, the Surprise resident won the points race in the Girls 13-14 division in 2015 as well as Girls 11-12 division in 2014 and 2013.

All told, she has been the player of the

2018 Player of the Year Season Recaps

of the Girls Junior America’s Cup team this year, and she finished the year with a scoring average of 69.6.

BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP – Hayden Sayre Sayre played in 10 events this year and finished in the top 3 five times.

He went on to win three of those events. His victories include the Northern AZ Jr Championship, Willie Low Invitational and the AM&E Classic.

Sayre was also part of the Junior America’s Cup team and finished the year with a scoring average of 70.4.

BOYS 15-18 – Alan Quezada Quezada finished with nine top-3 finishes this year, winning two of them along the way. His victories include the PING AZ Jr Masters and the Tucson City Jr Championship. He also finished the year with five rounds in the 60s.

GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP – Ashley Menne Menne posted 10 top-3 finishes this year in JGAA events. She went on to win seven of those events. Her victories include the Scottsdale City Jr, Willie Low Invitational, IMG Jr World, State Junior Championship, Thunderbird Jr Classic, Spring Stableford and the New Year’s Classic. She was also part

GIRLS 15-18 – Meghan Singh Singh played in nine events this season and finished in the top 3 six times. She went on to win three of those events. Her wins include the PING AZ Jr Masters, Phoenix City Jr and the IMG Academy Jr World Qualifier.

Her consistent play over the entire year was a big factor in her success.

BOYS 13-14 – Charlie Palmer Palmer finished the year with 12 top-3

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JGAA

JGAA honors standouts at annual awards banquet Back row: Charlie Palmer, Alan Quezada, Meghan Singh Middle row: Ashley Menne, Alexis Vakasiuola, Mattison Frick Front row: Ryan Sefrioui, Gavin Ly, Alexis Lamadrid

year for an astonishing six consecutive years across four JGAA age divisions.

Hayden Sayre, 17, of Phoenix, is the 2018 JGAA Player of the Year in Boys Championship division, an achievement he also accomplished in 2016, before finishing in fifth place for 2017. In his five years playing JGAA tournaments, Sayre placed 21st on the list in 2013 in the Boys 11-12 division, and ninth in 2014 and second in 2015 in the Boys 13-14 division. n

finishes. He went on to win four of those events. His victories include the SWS Antigua Tour Championship, Maricopa Jr Championship, Antigua Milt Coggins and the Tucson City Jr Championship. He finished the year with a total scoring average of 72.2.

GIRLS 13-14 – Mattison Frick Frick finished with nine top-3 finishes this year, including three victories at the Antigua Milt Coggins, Bruce Brown Yuma City Jr and the Spring Stableford.

BOYS 11-12 – Ryan Sefrioui Sefrioui played in nine events this season and finished in the top 3 seven times. He went on to win four of those events with victories at the Mesa City Jr, Tucson City Jr, Spring Stableford and the Phoenix Metro Jr Championship.

GIRLS 11-12 – Alexis Vakasiuola Vakasiuola notched 11 top-3 finishes

this year including six wins at the Maricopa Jr Championship, Mesa City Jr, IMG Jr World Qualifier, Spring Stableford, Desert Mashie and the Phoenix Metro Jr Championship.

BOYS 10 & UNDER – Gavin Ly Ly finished in the top 3 in 10 of 11 events entered this year with seven wins at the PING AZ Jr Masters, Phoenix City Jr, Mesa City Jr, Antigua Milt Coggins, Tucson Spring Classic, Desert Mashie Spring Championship and the Phoenix Metro Jr Championship.

GIRLS 10 & UNDER – Alexis Lamadrid Lamadrid finished with nine top-3 finishes and eight wins at the Chandler City Jr, Scottsdale City Jr, Mesa City Jr, Antigua Milt Coggins, Tucson City Jr, Tucson Spring Classic, Spring Stableford and the Desert Mashie Spring Championship. www.azgolf.org

ARIZONA NEWS A young George Boutell

F

ormer Arizona State men’s golf head coach head George Boutell, who also played golf for the Sun Devils as a student athlete and was a longtime PGA Tour rules official, has passed away. He was 74.

Boutell, who died Sept. 16 in Scottsdale, was a 1981 inductee into the ASU Hall of Fame. He was named the No. 1 amateur golfer in the country by Golf Digest in 1962 and coached ASU to its first Pac-10 Championship in any sport in 1979.

Boutell was born Nov. 13, 1943, and was a resident of the Phoenix and Scottsdale areas since the 1950s. He attended Central Phoenix High School where he was the youngest golfer to qualify for the U.S. Amateur Championship at age 14.

ASU

Ex-ASU coach Boutell passes He played on the PGA Tour from 1968-1973 and returned to ASU in 1975 as the men’s coach. In a 10-year period, his teams won the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Championship and two Pac-10 championships, and finished third in the NCAA Championship in 1977, ’78 and ’82. He was named the Pac-10 Coach of the Year in 1979 and ’81.

Boutell moved to the PGA Tour in 1986, and spent 20 years there working as a rules official.

Billy Mayfair, a former All-American for the Sun Devils, tweeted this about his former coach: “It is a very sad day for ASU golf. We have lost a dear member of our ASU golf family. Even though I only

OBITUARY got to play for George for two and a half years, I have known him my entire life.

While I was growing up at Papago Park, and for 13 years while I played on the PGA Tour, George was a very good friend and mentor. However, I want people to remember how good of a golfer George Boutell was. In the mid-60s he was the best amateur golfer in the entire country.

He was the one who woke up the USGA that there are good players on the West Coast. Even though a lot of people thought George was very laid-back and did not worry about things, there was no one who wanted to win more, and was more of a competitor, than George.

We will all miss him very much.”

Boutell is survived by his brother Bill (Lynn) and two nieces.

A celebration of his life was held in early October at Camelback Golf Club.

Boutell had suggested that memorial contributions be made to the Mayo Clinic, Department of Development, 13400 E. Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ. n

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Valid through 01/31/2019 - New Troon Cardholders only ANNUAL 2018 | AZ GOLF Insider | 31

ARIZONA NEWS

LPGA-USGA GIRLS GOLF

GIRLS GOLF

Girls Golf changing the face of the game n BY CORI MATHESON

E

mpower, Engage, Energize, Enrich and Exercise. . . . These values, referred to as the “Five E’s,” are the backbone of the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf national curriculum. The meaning behind these words drives the programming focus for all the events held in the Phoenix area by the Girls Golf of Phoenix.

There are 230 active girls in our market and we have the largest Girls Golf site in the world. Not only do we have opportunity for year-round play, we also have access to hundreds of facilities that enrich our golf industry.

With opportunity and access, we can provide girls (ages 3 to 18) a place to grow their athletic abilities while also learning about the Five E’s and other character traits that are inherent to the game of golf to energize their worlds.

The Phoenix site hosts about 40 annual events, where we have created a special family, a safe place for

32 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2018

Here are the swings and portraits of the members from the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Phoenix program that are featured in the accompanying article. They include the first two photos (upper left, clockwise) of Lorel Hayward, followed by Madalyn Gubernick, Christina Seder (lower left), Brooke McGlasson and Alexis Vakasiuola.

us all to build friendships and learn about one another.

We have some outstanding girls that stand high above the rest due to full embodiment of the Girls Golf Five E’s. I would love to mention five girls and make sure that all of us are keeping a close radar on these names as they mature and grow in our golf community.

Our EMPOWER Spotlight will be shined on Lorel Hayward.

Hayward is as senior at Highland High School in Mesa and just finished in the top 10 at the AIA Girls State Championships.

Hayward just signed with Northern Arizona University and is a future Lumberjack who truly paves the way for the younger members by being a positive role model, leader and volunteer to the program. For the last seven years, Hayward has been a valued member of Girls Golf of Phoenix. She empowers us all!

The EXERCISE value isn’t just about actually working out, it is about balance. Exercise is the ability to provide us all with awareness of our minds and bodies on and off the golf www.azgolf.org

ARIZONA NEWS

GIRLS GOLF course. Ten-year-old, Madalyn Gubernick is the epitome of this description. Over this last year, Gubernick did a complete overhaul of her nutritional intake to accommodate her body’s needs, and it has enhanced her athletic abilities.

I can remember a few summers ago, Gubernick would get sick at almost every event, and she couldn’t maintain stability to play more holes of golf to progress through the program. Gubernick has exercised her life to include healthy habits that are truly impacting her athletic growth and influencing all of us to make better choices. She isn’t shy about sharing her journey and she has learned at an early age the importance of a balanced life.

ENRGIZE is best described as the life of the party.

Giggles, friendship, increased competition, motivation and determination are the things we see from Christina Seder, an 8-year-old from east Mesa. Seder brings a unique energy to events that she holds in silently as she observes but it always seems to leak out. Seder has the determination and drive of a highly competitive golfer that pushes others around her to rise up. Seder has progressed though play levels quicker than other girls her age and is lucky to have the continues support from her big sister — the Seder girls have professional golf aspirations and we should all be on the lookout in the future.

Brooke McGlasson a 13-year-old from Peoria, is a competitive player who also travels outside of Arizona to represent our state in other junior events. She is very active in local state tournaments, and I am proud to have her as a Girls Golf ambassador. McGlasson fits the ENGAGE characteristics to a T as she builds relationships on and off the course. We all have positive things to say about her, and her friends are always asking to be paired with her. She brings an engaging energy to our program that leads far beyond her years.

Lastly, a member that truly ENRICHes our program in ability, competitive nature and kindness is Alexis Vakasiuola. Vakasiuola is only 11 years old yet has been enhancing her golf development for many years. As the overall champion for girls 10-11 at the Drive, Chip and Putt Championships, Vakasiuola will be representing our region as one of only 80 (boys and girls) to play in the DCP Finals at Augusta. It is such a privilege to witness her competitive success and have her still want to participate in our local Girls Golf program. Having players like Vakasiuola around enriches our program for everyone involved.

The girls mentioned above are a glimpse into our strong local membership and they play a special role in our Girls Golf Family. I am thrilled to have them and their families involved. Our AZ golf community needs to keep an eye on these names/faces because they are changing the face of the game! n Cori Matheson is the director of the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Phoenix program. www.azgolf.org

ANNUAL 2018 | AZ GOLF Insider | 33

RULES & HANDICAPPING

By Lorraine Thies

Ready, set, go!

A

re you ready for the new year? The way you play the game is ready to change dramatically. We’ve been keeping you up to date over the past year and have been hosting many rules workshops over the past several weeks.

Let’s see where you stand with the changes. Here’s a short quiz that illustrates the most significant changes that you will experience.

1. According to the Rules of Golf, what are the areas of the golf course? a. Through the green, teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played, all hazards on the course. b. Through the green, penalty areas, rough, teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played. c. General areas, penalty areas, bunkers, teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played. d. Water hazards, bunkers, teeing grounds, putting greens and general areas.

2. In stroke play, on the putting green, a player lifts, marks and replaces his ball. He then steps away from the ball.

Before he moves back into position to make his stroke, a gust of wind causes the ball to move. The ball comes to rest in the water. What penalty, if any, does the player get and what should he do? a. No penalty and he must play the ball as it lies. b. No penalty and he must replace the ball. c. One stroke and he must play the ball as it lies. d. One stroke and he must replace the ball.

34 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2018

3. During play of the 18th hole, when a player is playing from the white tees, which of the following areas is the general area? a. The red teeing area of the 18th hole and ground under repair on the 18th fairway. b. Bunkers next to the putting greens on hole #1. c. A penalty area to the right of the 18th fairway. d. The white teeing area of the 18th hole and putting green of the 18th hole.

4. A player accidentally moves his ball while searching for it in the general area.

He did not know its original location.

The correct ruling is that the player: a. gets no penalty and must estimate the ball’s location and replace it at that spot. b. gets no penalty and must drop the ball as near as possible to where it is estimated to have been. c. gets one penalty stroke and must estimate the ball’s location and replace it at that spot. d. gets one penalty stroke and must drop the ball as near as possible to where it is estimated to have been.

5. In four-ball stroke play, players A and B are partners. A started the round with 14 clubs. He damages his putter in anger after missing a short putt, bending the shaft. Without penalty … a. may share B’s putter for the remainder of the round. b. may, without unreasonably delaying play, have a new shaft installed on the club and then continue to use it. c. must not use the putter for the rest of the round. d. may use it for the remainder of that round.

6. In stroke play, a player’s ball comes to rest in a bunker He removes several leaves that are around his ball. The player gets… a. no penalties. b. a one-stroke penalty. c. a two-stroke penalty. d. two two-stroke penalties.

7. When dropping a ball, it first hit the course in the relief area. When is a player NOT required to re-drop his ball when taking relief from a penalty area? a. The ball rolls just under two club lengths, no nearer the hole, from where if first hit the course. The ball comes to rest outside the relief area. b. The ball rolls closer to the hole than where it hit the course but is still in the relief area. c. The ball comes to rest outside the relief area. d. The player drops the ball from shoulder height and it comes to rest in the relief area.

8. In which of the following situations is a player NOT permitted to substitute another ball? a. In searching for her ball, the player accidentally kicks her ball in play. She lifts her ball and, for no apparent reason, substitutes another ball. b. When taking relief from a cart path. c. When taking relief from a penalty area. d. When resuming play after a suspension.

Answers: 1-c; 2-b; 3-a; 4-a; 5-d; 6-a; 7-b; 8-a

www.azgolf.org

For the Arizona Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Golf Association, the golf club and golf ball represent more than equipment used to play the game.

They represent the hardwork and dedication needed to compete at the highest levels in national and international competition.

They represent the passion behind the 300 volunteers that give back 20,000 hours to the game every year.

They represent the skills learned as part of the Build a TEAM and Golf 101Programs that have positive impacts on all aspects of home, school, work, and social life.

They represent important tools for networking and growing a business.

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You will represent the appreciation felt for the game and all its lessons when you make a tax deductible donation to the Arizona Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Golf Association today at awga.org/donate!

ARIZONA NEWS

ARIZONA SCOREBOARD

AGA TOURNAMENTS 2018 Northern Amateur Oak Creek CC September 29-30, 2018

Open Division Walters, Jonathan.....................70 71 141 Walicki, Adam...........................72 70 142 Candelaria, Abe.........................70 72 142 Hoops, Bryan.............................74 68 142 Davidson, Mike.........................70 74 144 Hernandez, Tristan....................73 71 144 Wagner, Mike............................72 73 145 Wiemiller, Aaron.......................72 73 145 Berren, Scott.............................76 72 148 Salisbury, Samuel.....................76 72 148 Gerard, Jacob.............................72 78 150 Powell, Matt..............................76 74 150 Johnson, Jack............................82 69 151 Cesarek, Grant...........................70 82 152 Lawson Jr., Michael..................76 76 152 Hopkins, Trevor..........................75 77 152 Howard, Brett............................78 74 152 Johnson, Greg...........................75 79 154 Apps, Tyler.................................77 77 154 Domecq, Mason........................78 76 154 Nierman, Camden.....................79 75 154 Gamblin, Chad..........................81 73 154 Conrad, Logan...........................83 71 154 Cesarek, Greg............................76 79 155 Haberern, Michael....................81 74 155 Gutierrez, Caleb.........................83 74 157 Good, Johnse............................77 81 158 Golba, Shawn............................81 77 158 Lenchner, Sean..........................82 76 158 Hayfield, Riley...........................77 82 159 Kemp, Carson............................79 80 159 Bowers, Adam...........................78 82 160 Hirsch, Eric.................................82 79 161 Hansen, Eric..............................82 79 161 Shaw, Phelan............................82 80 162 Sciacero, Michael......................85 81 166 Curry, Kevin...............................84 83 167 Ho, Stadler.................................82 86 168 Russell, Ryan.............................90 78 168 Evans, Kristopher......................89 80 169 Munden, Bill.............................84 86 170 Cheung, David...........................90 82 172 McRae, Joshua..........................84 89 173 Brearley, Ty................................87 86 173 Orrill, Nicholas...........................92 82 174 Abbey, Grant.............................89 89 178 Galloway, John..........................86 94 180

Senior Division Benton, Jeff...............................70 72 142 Apps, Marc................................73 71 144 Wood, Cal..................................70 75 145 Honerkamp, David....................75 76 151 Paz, Don....................................74 77 151 Hornsby, Dan.............................74 77 151 Four-Ball Matches Reza, Jorge................................73 78 151 OPEN DIVISION Hernandez, John.......................76 76 152 7:30:00 AM #10 Thompson, Al............................78 74 152 7:40:00 AMMatches #10 Four-Ball 7:50:00 AM #10 OPEN DIVISION Tomita, Rodney.........................78 76 154 8:00:00 AM #10 7:30:00 AM #10 Smith, Scott..............................80 74 154 8:10:00 #10 7:40:00 AM AMMatches #10 Four-Ball 8:20:00 AM Galbraith, David........................79 77 156 7:50:00 AM #10 #10 OPEN DIVISION FOUR-BALL TOTAL 8:00:00 AM #10 7:30:00 Hoskins, Kevin...........................81 75 156 8:10:00 AMMatches #10 7:40:00 Four-Ball Chilton, Phil...............................79 80 159 Four-Ball Matches 8:20:00 AM #10 7:50:00 OPEN DIVISION SENIOR DIVISION DelBrocco, John.........................83 81 164 FOUR-BALL TOTAL 8:00:00 AM 7:30:00 AM #10 #10 7:30:00 AM #10 #1 8:10:00 AM Cortez, Joe.................................87 79 166 7:40:00 AM #10 7:40:00 AMMatches #1 Four-Ball 8:20:00 AM 7:50:00 AM #10 #10 Kryger, Brad...............................80 87 167 7:50:00 AM #1TOTAL SENIOR DIVISION FOUR-BALL 8:00:00 AM #10 8:00:00 AM #1 7:30:00 AM #10 #1 Kryger, Bill.................................92 77 169 8:10:00 AM 8:10:00 AM #1 7:40:00 AM #1 Four-Ball 8:20:00 AMMatches #10 Blasdel, Brett.............................83 96 179 8:20:00 AM #1 7:50:00 AM #1TOTAL SENIOR DIVISION FOUR-BALL FOUR-BALL McCormick, Mick......................84 96 180 8:00:00 7:30:00 AM #1TOTAL 8:10:00 7:40:00 AMMatches #1 Rodriguez Aleman, Ernesto......94 88 182 Four-Ball Individual Matches 8:20:00 AM 7:50:00 #1 SENIOR DIVISION OPEN DIVISION FOUR-BALL 8:00:00 AM #1TOTAL 7:30:00 AM #1 12:00:00AM PM#1#1 8:10:00 Super Senior Division 7:40:00 AM #1 12:07:00AM PM#1#1 Individual 8:20:00 7:50:00 AMMatches #1 Brown, Rusty.............................72 74 146 12:14:00 PM #1 OPEN DIVISION FOUR-BALL 8:00:00 AM #1TOTAL 12:21:00 PM #1 #1 Reycroft, Don.............................73 74 147 12:00:00 PM 8:10:00 AM #1 12:28:00 PM #1 12:07:00 PM Individual Matches Martin, Paul..............................73 75 148 8:20:00 AM #1#1 12:35:00 PM 12:14:00 PM #1 #1 OPEN DIVISION FOUR-BALL TOTAL Blau, Tim...................................76 74 150 12:42:00 PM #1 #1 12:21:00 12:00:00 PM 12:49:00 PM #1 12:28:00 PM #1 12:07:00 Ellenburg, Frank........................70 81 151 Individual Matches 12:56:00 PM PM #1 #1 12:35:00 12:14:00 OPEN DIVISION Jorgenson, Melvin....................80 75 155 1:03:00 PM #1 12:42:00 12:21:00 PM 12:00:00 PM #1 #1 1:10:00 PM #1#1 Enright, John.............................78 77 155 12:49:00 12:28:00 12:07:00 PM PM #1 1:17:00 PM #1 12:56:00 12:35:00 PM Bailey, J.P...................................78 77 155 12:14:00 PM #1 #1 INDIVIDUAL TOTAL 1:03:00 PM 12:42:00 PM#1#1 #1 12:21:00 PM New, Jeff...................................79 77 156 1:10:00 PM #1 12:49:00 PM PM #1 #1 12:28:00 Individual Matches Evans, Rob.................................79 77 156 1:17:00 PM 12:56:00 PM 12:35:00 PM#1#1 #1 SENIOR DIVISION INDIVIDUAL TOTAL 1:03:00 PM Turyn, John...............................80 78 158 12:42:00 PM#1#1 12:00:00 PM 1:10:00 PM #1#10 12:49:00 PM #1 Cohen, Warren...........................84 77 161 12:07:00 PM #10 Individual Matches 1:17:00 #1#1 12:56:00PM PM 12:14:00 PM #10 SENIOR DIVISION Blair, Jack...................................78 84 162 INDIVIDUAL 1:03:00 PM #1TOTAL 12:21:00 PM #10 12:00:00 PM 1:10:00 PM #1#10 Juengst, Carl..............................84 79 163 12:28:00 PM #10 12:07:00 PM Individual Matches 1:17:00 PM #1#10 12:35:00 PM #10 Chilton, Mitch...........................82 81 163 12:14:00 PM #10 SENIOR DIVISION INDIVIDUAL TOTAL 12:42:00 PM 12:21:00 PM #10 #10 12:00:00 Russell, Steve............................87 81 168 12:49:00 PM #10 12:28:00 12:07:00 PM #10 Individual Matches Eveland, Jerry............................84 86 170 12:56:00 PM #10 #10 12:35:00 12:14:00 PM SENIOR DIVISION 1:03:00 PM #10 Taylor, Eric.................................89 86 175 12:42:00 12:21:00 12:00:00 PM PM #10 #10 1:10:00 PM #10 12:49:00 12:28:00 12:07:00 PM PM #10 #10 1:17:00 12:56:00PM PM#10 #10 12:35:00 12:14:00 PM #10 Legends Division INDIVIDUAL TOTAL 1:03:00 PM #10 12:42:00 PM #10 12:21:00 PM #10 1:10:00 PM Eastlack, Tom.............................80 74 154 12:49:00 PM #10 12:28:00 PM#10 #10 FINAL TOTAL 1:17:00 PM 12:56:00 PM #10 12:35:00 PM#10 #10 Preston, Tom..............................79 75 154 FINAL TOTAL INDIVIDUAL TOTAL 1:03:00 PM 12:42:00 PM#10 #10 Petronis, Anthony.....................76 80 156 1:10:00 PM #10 12:49:00 PM #10 FINAL TOTAL 1:17:00 PM #10 Miller, Ron.................................82 80 162 12:56:00 PM #10 FINAL TOTAL INDIVIDUAL TOTAL 1:03:00 PM #10

Hatfield, Russell........................81 84 165 1:10:00 PM #10 Huntley, Dave............................83 84 167 FINAL 1:17:00TOTAL PM #10

FINAL TOTALTOTAL INDIVIDUAL

Masters Division FINAL TOTAL Peterson, Paige.........................76 FINAL74 150 TOTAL Watton, Jason...........................80 72 152 Jorgenson, Thomas...................83 86 169 Webster, Donald.......................88 84 172

58Th Bob Goldwater Cup Matches Phoenix Country Club September 2018 GOLDWATER CUP MATCHES 58th17,BOB

Hosted by Phoenix Country Club

FOUR-BALL MATCHES 58th BOB GOLDWATER CUP MATCHES September 17, 2018 Open Division

Hosted by Phoenix Country Club Score Points CUP MATCHES AGA 58th BOB GOLDWATER September 17, 2018 Michael Hopper / Chris Dompierby Phoenix 2&1 Shankar Natarajan / Aaron Wiemiller 1 Hosted Country Club Milo Lines / Alex Gaugert AS Ted Neville AGA / Michael Martin 1/2 SWPGA Score Points 58th BOB GOLDWATER CUP MATCHES September 17, 2018 Craig Hocknull / Derek Shelburne 2 up Eric Rustand / Greg Cesarek 1 3&1 Abe Candelaria Marty Jertson / Jesse Mueller 1 Michael Hopper / Chris Dompierby Phoenix 2&1 Shankar Natarajan // Adam AaronWalicki Wiemiller 1 Hosted Country Club AS Drew StoltzAGA Bryan Hoops JeffMilo Yurkiewicz / Dennis Downs 1/2 Lines / Alex Gaugert AS Ted Neville / /Michael Martin 1/2 SWPGA Score Points Matt VanCleave / PhilipShelburne Cardwell Wagner // Grant Cesarek September 17, Craig Hocknull / Derek 25&4 up Eric Rustand Greg Cesarek 11 2018Mike SWPGA

SWPGA Marty Jertson / /Jesse Michael Hopper Chris Mueller Dompier JeffMilo Yurkiewicz / Dennis Downs Lines / Alex Gaugert SWPGA SWPGA Matt VanCleave / PhilipShelburne Cardwell Craig Hocknull / Derek SWPGA Marty Jertson Michael Hopper/ /Jesse Chris Mueller Dompier Franko // Dennis Mike Wright JeffMike Yurkiewicz Downs Milo Lines / Alex Gaugert Blayne Hobbs // Chris Endres SWPGA Matt VanCleave Philip Cardwell Craig Hocknull / Derek Shelburne Randy Wittig / Bob Jennings SWPGA Marty Jertson / Jesse Mueller Jon Chaffee / William Dodd Jr Franko Mike Wright JeffMike Yurkiewicz // Dennis Downs RalphHobbs West Bob Mann Blayne /// Chris SWPGA Matt VanCleave Philip Endres Cardwell Dave Kluver // Greg Harmon Randy Wittig Bob Jennings SWPGA SWPGA Jon Chaffee / William Dodd Jr Mike Franko / Mike Wright RalphHobbs West Bob Mann Blayne // Chris Endres SWPGA SWPGA Dave Kluver // Greg Harmon Randy Wittig Bob Jennings SWPGA Jon Chaffee / William Dodd Jr Mike Franko / Mike Wright Michael Ralph West /Hopper / Chris Bob Mann Blayne Hobbs Endres Milo Lines SWPGA Dave Kluver / Greg Harmon Randy Wittig / Bob Jennings Chris Dompier SWPGA Jon Chaffee / William Dodd Jr Alex Gaugert Michael Ralph West Hopper / Bob Mann Jesse Mueller Milo SWPGA Dave Kluver / Lines Greg Harmon Craig Hocknull Chris Dompier SWPGA Marty Jertson Alex Gaugert Michael Hopper Derek Shelburne Jesse Mueller Milo Lines SWPGA Dennis Downs Craig Hocknull Chris Dompier Philip Cardwell Marty Jertson Alex Gaugert Michael Hopper Matt VanCleave Derek Jesse Mueller MiloShelburne Lines Jeff Yurkiewicz Dennis Downs Craig Hocknull Chris Dompier SWPGA Philip Cardwell Marty Jertson Alex Gaugert Matt VanCleave Derek Shelburne Jesse Mueller SWPGA Jeff Yurkiewicz Dennis Downs Craig Hocknull SWPGA Philip Cardwell Marty Jertson Mike Franko Matt VanCleave Derek Shelburne Blayne Hobbs SWPGA Jeff Yurkiewicz Dennis Downs Mike Wright SWPGA Philip Cardwell Chris Endres Mike Franko Matt VanCleave Randy Wittig Blayne Hobbs SWPGA Jeff Yurkiewicz Bob Mann Mike Wright SWPGA Bob Chris Endres MikeJennings Franko William Dodd Randy WittigJr Blayne Hobbs SWPGA Dave Kluver Bob Wright Mann Mike Jon Chaffee Bob Chris Endres MikeJennings Franko Greg William Dodd RandyHarmon WittigJr Blayne Hobbs Ralph West Dave Kluver Bob Wright Mann Mike SWPGA Jon Chaffee Bob Jennings Chris Endres Greg William Dodd RandyHarmon WittigJr SWPGA-OPEN DIVISION Ralph West Dave Kluver Bob Mann SWPGA-SENIOR DIVISION SWPGA Jon Chaffee Bob Jennings Greg Harmon William Dodd Jr SWPGA-OPEN DIVISION RalphKluver West Dave SWPGA-SENIOR DIVISION SWPGA Jon Chaffee Greg Harmon SWPGA-OPEN DIVISION Ralph West SWPGA-SENIOR SWPGADIVISION

SWPGA-OPEN DIVISION SWPGA-SENIOR DIVISION

AGA 51 3&1 Abe Candelaria // Adam 2&1 Shankar Natarajan AaronWalicki Wiemiller Drew StoltzAGA Bryan Hoops AS Ted Neville / /Michael Martin 1/2 Score Points AGA Score Points FOUR-BALL MATCHES Mike Wagner / Grant Cesarek 25&4 up Eric Rustand Greg Cesarek 1 AGA 3&1 Abe Candelaria // Adam 2&1 Shankar Natarajan AaronWalicki Wiemiller 115 Senior Division AS Jeff Benton // Ken Kellaney 1/2 AS Drew Stoltz Bryan 1/2 AS Ted Neville / MichaelHoops Martin 1/2 Paige Peterson / Jim Strickland Score Points AGA 5&4 Mike Wagner / Grant Cesarek 1 2 up Eric Rustand / Greg Cesarek 1 5&4 John Hernandez / John Turyn 15 AGA 3&1 Abe Candelaria / Adam Walicki 1 2&1 Bruce Pape // Mark Pancrazi 1 AS Jeff Kellaney 1/2 AS DrewBenton Stoltz / Ken Bryan Hoops 1/2 1 up Bob Burton /AGA Frank 1 Paige Peterson / JimEllenburg Strickland Score Points 5&4 Mike Wagner / Grant Cesarek 1 3&2 Ron Wood / Arthur/ John Krasniewicz 11 5&4 John Hernandez Turyn AGA 5 41/2 1/2 2&1 Bruce PapeAGA / Mark Pancrazi 1 AS Jeff Benton Ken Kellaney 1 up Bob Burton /AGA Frank 1 Paige Peterson / JimEllenburg Strickland Score Points AGA/ John Score Points 3&2 Ron / Arthur Krasniewicz 5&4 JohnWood Hernandez Turyn 1 AGA 4 1/2 2&1 Bruce Pape // Mark Pancrazi 1 AS Jeff Benton Ken Kellaney 1/2 Ted/ Frank NevilleEllenburg 15&4 up Bob Burton 11 Paige Peterson / Jim Strickland 3&2 1 Shankar Natarajan AGA Score Points MATCHES 3&2INDIVIDUAL Ron / Arthur Krasniewicz 5&4 JohnWood Hernandez / John Turyn 111 2&1 Aaron Wiemiller 4 1/2 2&1 Bruce PapeAGA / Mark Pancrazi 1 Open Division 3&1 11 Michael Martin 5&4 Ted Neville 1 up Bob Burton / Frank Ellenburg 1 13&2 up GregAGA Cesarek 111 Shankar Natarajan Score Points 3&2 Ron Wood / Arthur Krasniewicz 6&4 Eric Rustand 2&1 11 Aaron Wiemiller AGA 4 1/2 Abe Candelaria 5&4 1 3&1 1 Michael Martin 5&4 Ted Neville AdamCesarek Walicki 13&2 up Greg 1 Shankar Natarajan AGA Score Points Bryan Hoops 6&4 1 Eric Rustand 2&1 Aaron Wiemiller 5&4 Grant Cesarek Abe Candelaria 5&4 111 3&1 Michael Martin 5&4 Ted Neville up 1 Mike Cesarek Wagner Adam Walicki 113&2 up Greg 11 Shankar Natarajan 4&3 1 Drew Stoltz Bryan Hoops 6&4 Eric Rustand 2&1 11 Aaron Wiemiller AGA 10 Grant Cesarek Abe Candelaria 5&4 3&1 11 Michael Martin 11 up up 11 Mike Wagner AdamCesarek Walicki Greg AGA Score Points 4&3 1 Drew Stoltz Bryan Hoops 6&4 1 Eric Rustand AGA 10 5&4 Grant Cesarek Abe Candelaria 5&4 11 Ken 1 up 1 MikeKellaney Wagner Adam Walicki 1 up 1 Jeff Benton AGA Score Points 4&3 1 Drew Stoltz Bryan Hoops 3&2 1 Paige Peterson AGA 10 5&4 1 Grant Cesarek Jim Strickland Ken Kellaney 1 up 1 Mike Wagner 11 John 15&4 upINDIVIDUAL JeffHernandez Benton AGA Score Points MATCHES 4&3 1 Drew Stoltz 2&1 11 JohnPeterson Turyn 3&2 Paige AGA 10 Senior Division Jim 3&2 1 Bruce Pape Strickland Ken Kellaney Mark Pancrazi 1 John 15&4 up JeffHernandez Benton Score Points AGA 8&7 Frank 2&1 11 JohnEllenburg Turyn 3&2 Paige Peterson 2&1 BobStrickland Burton 3&2 11 Bruce Pape Jim Ken Kellaney Arthur Krasniewicz 2&1 1 Mark Pancrazi 11 John 15&4 up JeffHernandez Benton 5&4 1 Ron Wood 8&7 1 Frank Ellenburg 2&1 JohnPeterson Turyn 3&2 1 Paige AGA 2&1 BobStrickland Burton 3&2 19 Bruce Pape Jim Arthur Krasniewicz 2&1 1 Mark Pancrazi 5&4 1 John Hernandez AGA-OPEN DIVISION 15 5&4 RonEllenburg Wood 8&7 Frank 2&1 11 John Turyn AGA-SENIOR DIVISION 13191/2 2&1 BobAGA Burton 3&2 1 Bruce Pape Arthur 2&1 1 MarkKrasniewicz Pancrazi AGA-OPEN DIVISION 15 5&4 RonEllenburg Wood 8&7 11 Frank AGA-SENIOR DIVISION 13191/2 2&1 BobAGA Burton 2&1 5&4

Score

Points

AS Score

1/2 Points

AS AS Score

1/2 1/2 Points

AS Score Score

1/2 Points Points

1

AS AS 3&1 Score

1 1/2 1/2 1/2 1 Points 1 1/2 1/2 1 Points

AS 3&1 Score Score

1 11/2 1/2 1 Points Points

AS 3&1 Score

11/2 1/2 1 Points 1 1/2

Score

Points

4&3 Score 2&1

1 Points 1

4&3 2&1

1 1 2

4&3 Score 2&1

4&3 3&2 Score

1 Points 1 2 1 1 Points 1 2 11 Points

4&3 3&2 1 up Score

2 1 1 Points

4&3 3&2 1 up

11 1

AS AS AS 3&1 Score

1 1/2

3&2 4&3 Score 2&1

4&3 1 up

1 up

Arthur Krasniewicz AGA-OPEN DIVISION Ron Wood AGA-SENIOR AGADIVISION

3 4 1/2 3

15 13 1/2

AGA-OPEN DIVISION AGA-SENIOR DIVISION

3 4 1/2

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36 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2018

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ARIZONA NEWS 2018 AZ vs UT Matches Flagstaff Ranch Golf Club October 8-9, 2018

JGAA TOURNAMENTS

Foursomes Matches

AZ UT Beau Bremer 2.5 vs 0.5 Kelsey Chugg Robin Walton Kareen Larsen Bruce Pape 0 vs 3 Ron Davis Brad Wayment Randy Hicken Sean O’Donnell 0 vs 3 Caden Hamill Eric Rustand Denny Job Mitch Holmes 1.5 vs 1.5 Tyler Labrum Shankar Natarajan Blake Murray Adam Walicki 2 vs 1 Darrin Overson Bryan Hoops Kurt Owen Abe Candelaria III 1 vs 2 Jeff Jolley Grant Cesarek Reed Nielson ARIZONA 7 TOTAL 11 UTAH Four-Ball Matches Beau Bremer 1.5 vs 1.5 Robin Walton Bruce Pape 2.5 vs 0.5 Brad Wayment Shankar Natarajan 1.5 vs 1.5 Sean O’Donnell Eric Rustand 1 vs 2 Mitch Holmes Bryan Hoops 2.5 vs 0.5 Grant Cesarek Adam Walicki 1 vs 2 Abe Candelaria III ARIZONA 10 TOTAL 8

Kelsey Chugg Kareen Larsen Ron Davis Randy Hicken Denny Job Blake Murray Tyler Labrum Caden Hamill Darrin Overson Jeff Jolley Kurt Owen Reed Nielson UTAH

Singles Matches Beau Bremer Robin Walton Bruce Pape Brad Wayment Mitch Holmes Grant Cesarek Eric Rustand Sean O’Donnell Adam Walicki Abe Candelaria III Shankar Natarajan Bryan Hoops ARIZONA

Kelsey Chugg Kareen Larsen Ron Davis Randy Hicken Denny Job Blake Murray Tyler Labrum Caden Hamill Darrin Overson Jeff Jolley Kurt Owen Reed Nielsen UTAH

1.5 vs 3 vs 0.5 vs 0.5 vs 2 vs 0 vs 1 vs 3 vs 3 vs 0.5 vs 2 vs 1 vs 18 TOTAL

1.5 0 2.5 2.5 1 3 2 0 0 2.5 1 2 18

ARIZONA OVERALL RESULTS 7 FOURSOMES 10 FOUR-BALL 18 SINGLES 35 TOTALS

UTAH 11 8 18 37

2018 JGAA Fall Classic Western Skies & Lone Tree November 3-4, 2018 Boys Championship, Lone Tree Mahanth Chirravuri...................63 69 132 Alexander Yu.............................71 67 138 Max Lyons.................................69 69 138 Ethan Dezzani...........................72 68 140 Kobe Valociek............................67 73 140 Rylan Johnson...........................72 70 142 Kohl Kuebler..............................72 70 142 James Mackie............................68 74 142 Carl Miltun................................75 69 144 Ethan Adam..............................73 72 145 Brady Wilson.............................73 72 145 Charles Van Slyck......................72 73 145 Tanner Pixley.............................75 71 146 Dalton Marsh............................73 73 146 Douglas Kelham........................76 71 147 Charles Fleury...........................71 76 147 Jack Breidenbach......................78 70 148 Rio Newcombe.........................70 78 148 Carter Forrest.............................74 75 149 Michael Cosgrove......................76 74 150 Boys 13-14, Western Skies Carlos Astiazaran......................71 66 137 Charlie Palmer...........................68 71 139 Camden Braidech......................69 73 142 Dallin Delgado..........................75 69 144 Bryan Beyer...............................75 70 145 Wyatt Chapman........................72 75 147 Cooper Humphreys...................70 78 148 Andrew Cosgrove......................78 71 149 Riley Wortman..........................77 75 152 Eli Asolas...................................76 76 152 Boys 15-18, Lone Tree Anawin Pikulthong...................69 69 138 Rajveer Sethi.............................72 74 146 Kai Heiner..................................72 76 148 Blake Hammarstrom.................78 73 151 George Rubelsky.......................75 76 151 Jordan Campbell.......................76 76 152 Nick Jackson..............................79 75 154 Trevor Grenier............................76 78 154

Cade Seymour...........................75 79 154 Daniel Rosztoczy.......................76 81 157 Girls 13-14, Western Skies Paige Hammarstrom.................74 74 148 Carolyn Fuller............................78 74 152 Ailis Tribolet...............................83 73 156 Alexis Vakasiuola.......................82 75 157 Talia Gutman.............................79 78 157 Kate Hauptman.........................81 79 160 Annika Miyata...........................88 84 172 Anissa Matkin...........................90 84 174 Elizabeth Nowaczyk..................87 88 175 Sydney-Reese Harris.................95 90 185 Girls 15-18, Lone Tree Malia Uyeshiro..........................76 73 149 Taylor Naumann........................73 77 150 Joy Callinan...............................72 80 152 Stephanie Chelack....................78 76 154 Shanna Schuckman..................80 78 158 Elisabeth Axen..........................78 80 158 Lucy Hansen..............................80 79 159 Olivia Serpa...............................78 81 159 Kalie Llewellyn..........................79 84 163 Madison OSullivan....................79 84 163 Girls Championship, .Lone Tree Kailani Deedon..........................69 68 137 Grace Summerhays...................69 70 139 Reyna Hernandez......................74 68 142 Maya Benita..............................73 70 143 Bailey Anderson........................77 67 144 Carly Carter................................73 71 144 Breyana Matthews....................75 70 145 Katie Stinchcomb......................72 73 145 Leah Skaar.................................75 72 147 Madeline Adam........................75 72 147 Carly Strole................................73 74 147 Lauren Garcia............................71 76 147 Makenna Cabardo.....................73 75 148 Sneha Yadav..............................71 77 148 Marley Moncada.......................78 71 149 Lorel Hayward...........................74 75 149 Kyla Wilde.................................73 76 149 Brooke Beyer.............................71 78 149 Alexandria Schmunk................78 72 150 Alyzzah Vakasiuola....................74 77 151 Millburn Ho...............................75 77 152 Ainsley Snyder..........................77 77 154 Alyza Flores...............................77 77 154 Michelle Koo.............................76 78 154

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

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ANNUAL 2018 | AZ GOLF Insider | 37

By Bill Huffman

Redesigning the future of Arizona golf The Phoenician, DM Renegade, Troon North Pinnacle reworked, updated

Y

Renegade at Desert Mountain

built in the 1980s and 1990s, meaning they are now 20 to 30-plus years old.

The other reason, apparently, is golfers’ wants and needs, as trends tend to change over time even in the tradition-laden game of golf. That is especially true when it comes to the difficulty factor, which leads to the time factor. There were quite a few really challenging courses built in Arizona during its boom that today are kinder and gentler thanks to a renovation.

Architect Phil Smith of Scottsdale knows a thing or two about this. Smith recently completed his renovation of The Phoenician, scaling it down from 27 holes to 18 new holes. He must have done a lot to his new course that opened in early November because

THE PHOENICIAN

ou can count on one hand the number of golf courses that have been built in Arizona over the past decade.

On the other hand, redesign projects seem to be in full swing, especially lately, with The Phoenician, Renegade at Desert Mountain and Troon North Pinnacle all boasting grand reopening projects in the past three months.

There are two reasons why redesigns are outnumbering original designs 10 to 1. Like people, golf courses get old and need a facelift from time to time, even if they are a multimilliondollar expense. That is especially true in Arizona, where most courses were

DESERT MOUNTAIN

MOVERS&SHAKEUPS

The Phoenician

38 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2018

his name as the official architect of record is now on the scorecard.

“That’s my first official course as an architect,” said Smith, 55, an easygoing Scottsdale resident. “We changed pretty much everything out there, so I’d call it a ‘new course’ more than a renovation.”

It’s a game of semantics sometimes.

While Smith kept 16 of the 18 original corridors, he realigned all the tees so the new holes all have different elevations and yardages, as well as a lot of “new ideas and new golf experiences.”

“I played it the other day, because it always feels differently playing it versus designing it,” Smith said. “What I liked was it had ample room to play golf, whereas it was a little tight originally.

“Plus, it had a nice crescendo to the holes, meaning it got more dramatic as you get to the end of it.”

Smith said the reaction he’s heard from head pro Erik Broka has been “very positive.”

“It feels like a country club, like a course you could play every day,” Smith said. “The ladies particularly like it, because there are no longer any forced carries.”

Smith also had a hand in Renegade, the original course done by Jack Nicklaus at Desert Mountain way back in 1987. If you remember, Renegade has always featured two greens with two options for tees/pins: the Gold (difficult) and White (easier).

“We’re still shaping, sand capping and growing grass out there,” Smith said of the course that is supposed to open in December. “Jack is restrategizing the course, and it’s a complete redo.” www.azgolf.org

TROON GOLF

Year in the Sponsors Award category by the Arizona Chapter of Financial Executives International. Engle received the honor in November at the awards gala held at Chateau Luxe in Phoenix.

“Ruth is an incredible asset to our growing company and a leader in the financial world,” said Dana Garmany, chairman and CEO of Troon. “It is well deserved.”

Engle joined Troon after serving as vice president and controller of the aerospace division of Honeywell International. She also worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers and was a professor at Lafayette College before joining Troon. Among her many achievements, she co-authored the book “Small Business Survival Guide to Debits, Credits and Cash.”

Troon North Pinnacle

SHAKEUPS Smith, a former Nicklaus protégé who is mainly keeping an eye on the project for Nicklaus and senior associate Chris Cochran, said the new course will have nine holes with two greens, six holes with double greens (meaning they share the same putting surface but are divided) and one hole (the par-3 14th) with three greens. And with longer tee boxes and more options, it will play from a mere 4,500 yards up to a behemoth 8,100 yards-plus.

“What they found was that 75 to 80 percent of the members were playing the White option; the Gold was just too tough,” Smith reported. “This renovation should make it more like 50-50.

“But either way, it’s the longest AND shortest course in Arizona.”

Another big deal at Renegade is the grass on the golf course, Smith said. Along those lines, they’ve added “cool-season seed,” which means bentgrass fairways, tees and greens, with a mix of rye, bluegrass and fescue in the rough. Another thing that means is no overseeding. Eventually, Smith said, Renegade will be joined

by Outlaw and Chiricahua as courses that will feature year-round grass.

The other project Smith’s been overseeing is Troon North Pinnacle, where he did approvals for the course’s www.azgolf.org

original architect, Tom Weiskopf. That course opened in late October. Smith said that was less extensive than the other two, with greens and bunkers being restored to their original specs.

“Tom and I are working together again,” said Smith, who was an associate architect for Weiskopf following his apprenticeship with Nicklaus.

“Next up is Troon Country Club.”

Yes, the renovation trend continues full bore, although Smith is seeing more golf course projects these days. Like the one he is working on in Colorado Springs’ Black Forest called the Club at Flying Horse North, which will be the second “Phil Smith design.”

“Tom and I also are working on a new project in St. George that will be built on lava,” Smith said. “In fact, I’m looking at 13 projects right now, three new ones and 10 renovations.”

Who knows? Maybe the golf world is trending in new and different ways, like back to the future.

MOVERS Ruth Engle, the

executive vice president and chief financial officer of Troon, has been named Ruth Engle Arizona CFO of the

For those who frequent the friendly confines of Gold Canyon Golf Resort there’s a bit of a surprise these days.

According to longtime director of golf Scott Scherger, “the pro shop and restaurant have never looked better.”

“We basically tripled the size of the pro shop by adding 2,000 square feet,” said Scherger, who is celebrating his 20th anniversary this year at the resort and its two courses, Dinosaur Mountain and Sidewinder.

“It was a pretty small pro shop before, and it had a lot of funky angles in it that made it feel even smaller. Now, it’s cool and clean with a modern-industrial flair that exposes ceilings, steel girders and wood beams. Plus, we’ve installed this very rich-looking Italian tile, as well as quartz on the countertop.

“But best of all? Well, every inch of space is now useable.”

According to Scherger, the last remodel came in 1997, the year before he showed up. And not only did the pro shop get a very modern look this time around, so did the Bar & Grill.

“Yes, our 19th hole has new flooring, tile, lighting, countertops, fixtures tables and chairs,” Scherger added.

“It’s like an entirely new place, and our members and guests love it.” n ANNUAL 2018 | AZ GOLF Insider | 39

GOLF GETAWAYS

By Danny and Alice Scott

BETWEEN BEND AND BOISE SILVIES VALLEY RANCH IS ALL ABOUT GOLF, GOAT CADDIES, GREAT FOOD, GOOD TIMES Photos by Alice Scott

F

orget the notion of a dude ranch, folks. Midway between Bend, Oregon, and Boise, Idaho, Silvies Valley Ranch and Retreat is a serious business with a “mission and promise of caring for our environment, livestock, family and friends.” Dr. Scott Campbell and his wife, Sandy, returned to their Oregon ranch roots after opening over 900 Banfield vet clinics with PetSmart. They sold their shares and wheeled their fortune into a land venture with new goals — to create jobs, improve habitat and build tourism by sharing the American West lifestyle.

The upshot is a fun-filled, 140,000-acre working ranch and golf retreat on deeded and leased National Forest and BLM lands in and surrounding Silvies Valley Oregon. .

The key to your cart

At check-in, guests saddle up in their own golf carts for transport around the ranch during their stay. Special lithium batteries and heightened suspension 40 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2018

The clubhouse (above) includes a pro shop, bar, restaurant and open patio with panoramic views.

Tours of John Hopper’s homestead (below) reflect the simple life of long ago.

propel a fast (really fast) ride over the terrain where cattle graze. Elk and pronghorn antelope herds also appear, safari style, on general manager Colby Marshall’s eco-tour. Also a native rancher and former D.C. environmentalist, Colby knows where the wildlife roam.

He unravels yarns of history along the way, like how, long ago, the French paid fur trappers to eradicate 200,000 beavers to deter settlements. Beavers’ damming is pretty darn important for creating a spongy environment for vegetation growth. Dams washed out and the water table dropped, making it difficult for homesteaders. When the Campbells bought the property, they instituted a wetlands restoration project. Culvert systems fixed the water flow and the spongy meadow returned, along with deer, elk and birds. Now international foresters flock here to learn how to solve water issues.

Remnants of seven homesteads reflect the 1800s heritage. The seven www.azgolf.org

Clockwise from top left: A clubhouse patio table overlooks the Chief Egan course; aerial view of the ranch (courtesy of Silvies); elegant table setting at the Chefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sevencourse dinner in the lodge; the antique spreader; a curious herd of American Range goats; the practice green in front of the courseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opening hole.

Western motif welcomes guests in the lobby (left) and throughout the ranch.

A lake (right) and executive course is named after Chief Egan, the last war chief of the Paiute tribe. Goat caddies (bottom, courtesy of Silvies) work for peanuts.

theme permeates ranch life in honor of those early settlers. On Friday nights, everyone looks forward to the chef’s seven-course meal in the ranch house bar and restaurant. Rustic décor punctuates an elegant table setting where the chef introduces each creation.

A tray with various knives is passed for meat cutting. Guests’ personalities are jokingly defined by their cutlery choice.

Before and after dinner, cowboys/girls and golfers belly-up to the well-stocked bar. The evening is consummated lakeside by the patio’s flaming fire pit with storytelling and stargazing.

The golf games

Though the Campbells do not golf, their friends do. Through their fantasy of a course on the beautiful landscape, they realized the potential for tourism. Enter Dan Hixson, who created a reversible loop of Craddock and Hankins 18-hole courses, named after settlers. The isolated tracts traverse the rolling hills and pine forests without encroachment 42 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2018

of houses or civilization. The links-style routing provides open-range fairways with elevation diversity between tees and greens. Land in any bunker and get razzed by the metal rake, which son Tygh Campbell has etched with sayings such as “Better get lessons.”

Fun is the name of any Silvies game.

The 18th hole of the Hankins side is a grip-it, rip-it downhill, downwind opportunity where mere mortals are challenged to hit the longest drives of their lives. Achievers who “nail it” are awarded a special drink, the Horseshoe Nail, and an album in the clubhouse records the drives for posterity.

The Chief Egan executive nine plays out by the lake below the clubhouse, where breakfast and lunch are served.

Antique implements dot the courses and ranch. Dr. Campbell believes the manure spreader was appropriately positioned next to the clubhouse for golfers’ BS. It could also serve the adjacent caddy shack where goat caddies hang out until hired for the recently opened

McVeigh’s Gauntlet course, a seven-hole treat on top of a razorback mountain.

Get your goat

Silvies’ novel goat caddies are garnering much attention, having appeared on Good Morning America. They are fitted with a custom Seamus saddlebag to hold six clubs, six beverages and peanuts for tips.

B-a-a-a-d jokes abound. Besides the few goat caddies, the ranch hosts the largest organic meat goat herd in the world. Over 2,000 American Range goats are tended

by Peruvians from a long lineage of shepherding with the help of their Great Pyrenees dogs, an entertaining sight.

Sandy Campbell has a quest to deliver the best, healthiest goat meat, or chevon, served in the ranch’s gourmet restaurant and sold to others. Ranch guests depart with a new meaning for “get your goat.”

Straight shooters

If your golf shots are lacking, take a shot at the Rifleman, Sharpshooter or Pistolero gun ranges. Colby or one of his www.azgolf.org

THE

BEST

CASUAL

IN

DINING

Shelly Marshall pauses on her trusted horse, Sadie. She never tires of the valley’s panoramic vistas.

retreat team members sits down with each participant to study a litany of safety rules before anyone touches a firearm. Not only is safety more paramount here than on any other range we have experienced, but the instruction on how to accurately aim and hit a target was, well, spot on!

All three shooters were hitting the bull’s-eyes, punctuated with laughter and “wahoos!” Colby advanced us to a Smith & Wesson 500, a hefty .50-caliber handgun. Scary and intimidating, it sounded like a portable cannon. Shooting can be a bonding experience with bragging rights, just like golf. And Colby might send you away with your holey paper target scrawled with a nickname like “Dead Eye” or “Annie Oakley.”

Horseback is a verb

Do not expect single-file trail rides.

Steer your own steed on the open prairie with Colby’s wife, Shelly, the stable’s ring leader. Safety again was ensured by a test of skills in the arena before heading out on the range.

The only sign of life was a small herd of cattle huddled under trees by the pond, a red tail hawk circling overhead and a small striped snake slithering across the stream. There is no greater feeling of solitude than out on the range, riding with Shelly.

Meanwhile, back at the corral, Colby was hanging on a rail monitoring the herding of 100 cattle as the brand www.azgolf.org

inspector checked them off before loading for market. It is indeed a working ranch where creativity and fun are always worked in.

Under consideration is a machinery experience in the sandpit. Picture big boys with their John Deere Tonka toys. And almost completed is the spa and fitness center with a climbing wall, full-size pool and Jacuzzis.

Getting there

Fly into Boise and drive three hours west, or fly into Bend/Redmond and drive three hours east, or personally wing it to the private airstrip on the Ranch. Lodge rooms and luxury cabins are all artistically decorated with western motif. Cabins have two master bedrooms and full kitchens. Amenities include plaid wool robes and a private Jacuzzi on the deck overlooking Otter Lake.

Binoculars are on hand for spotting fauna and fowl. Before you go, check out the comprehensive website for pricing and packages. It tells the whole ranch and goat stories with a humorous style giving a true flavor of Silvies Valley Ranch and Retreat.

Live chat is available to customize your vacation or conference. Give it a go at www.silvies.us. n Danny and Alice Scott are America’s Golfing Couple. They live in Gilbert and travel the world in search of great golf retreats.

MESA, AZ CHANDLER, AZ SCOTTSDALE, AZ CHARLESTONS.COM

ANNUAL 2018 | AZ GOLF Insider | 43 Charlstons AZ-Golf 2.75x10.5.indd 1

7/31/18 10:27 AM

OUT OF BOUNDS

By Gary Van Sickle

Everything you wanted to know (and more) about golf in 2019

O

ne old Frank Sinatra song title tells you all you need to know about golf in 2018: It was a very good year.

Yes, 2018 had everything, including a well-known fellow nicknamed for a ferocious jungle beast. That will be a tough act to follow. Can 2019 even come close? Here’s the view from my ol’ blue eyes.

Three’s company: Brooks Koepka won two majors and still feels like he gets no respect? He somehow reminds me of Marvel’s always-angry character The Hulk — “Hulk want food! ... Hulk not like tanks!” His back-toback U.S. Open titles at Erin Hills and Shinnecock Hills were marvels, but Koepka probably won’t be the favorite at Pebble Beach, the 2019 Open host, either, because it’s supposedly a tract for straight shooters and cunning putters, not big hitters. So nobody’s won a third straight Open since Willie Anderson in 1905? That’s just the motivation that will push Koepka to pull off an historic three-peat. “Hulk not like losing!”

Seven days in May: Spring was so late arriving in Pittsburgh, where I live, that I didn’t take the snow tires off my car until mid-May. So what will a PGA Championship at Bethpage State Park’s Black Course look like when it moves to May, barely a month behind the Masters?

Ski hats, ice scrapers and hand warmers may be required. That said, a flurry of excitement and prestige for the new date will make up for any actual, um, flurries.

Of course, conditions could be warm and green but that’s up to Weather Channel, which controls our weather, as we all know. Early cold call on the winner: former PGA champion Justin Thomas, who’s stronger than a nor’easter.

Back, back, back: Yes, a gent named Tiger Woods won for the 80th time 44 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2018

last fall and the scene at Atlanta’s Tour Championship was one for the ages.

Many believed Woods was done making history, including Woods, who was at rock bottom with a debilitating back problem until a fusion procedure turned his life around. I correctly predicted Woods would play all four majors, an unlikely call a year ago. Now I see Tiger getting to 82 and beyond in ’19,

Last year, I correctly forecast a big year for Bubba Watson, who scored three wins and made the Ryder Cup team. This year, it’s Jordan Spieth’s turn.

maybe even to major championship No. 15 if his back holds together and he retains some of his putting magic at age 43. Will it happen at the Masters?

Nope — at the British Open when it returns to Northern Ireland’s Royal Portrush for the first time since 1951.

The rise of pointlessness: I’m glad the FedEx Cup playoffs were downsized from four weeks to three. Even better, the finale won’t batter us with those mystical FedEx Cup points that TV couldn’t keep pace with and we couldn’t understand. Instead, the leaders’ points

will be converted to head-start strokes at the Tour Championship. Call it handicapping for tour pros. I predict a wave of golf purist outrage in Atlanta before the event but resigned relief after the first run-through in August as viewers (and huffy media) discover how much easier life is without those danged points. The Tour Championship will be a better product with this new format. Will it be a significant championship? Whoa, I didn’t say that.

All the Presidents men: I see the International team upsetting the U.S. when the Presidents Cup goes to Melbourne later this year. I also see you yawning about it, if you even notice.

It happens every year: I always get this prediction correct — the Waste Management Phoenix Open will set another attendance record.

The big comeback: Last year, I correctly forecast a big year for Bubba Watson, who scored three wins and made the Ryder Cup team. This year, it’s Jordan Spieth’s turn. Spieth, winless in 2018, was slowed by mononucleosis at the end of ’17 that undercut his off-season preparation and long-term results. Congrats if you remember Spieth’s stirring final-round 64 and third-place finish at the Masters — that was the last time the three-time major champ was relevant. I see Spieth solving his driving accuracy issues and fixing his biggest problem, the putter. Spieth ranked 136th in strokes gained putting, 184th in putting from three feet — shocking numbers for a player considered one of the best putters of all time. It won’t take much to completely forget his dismal 2018.

Winning the Masters for a second time will do it. Mark it down. n

Gary Van Sickle writes about golf from his office in Pittsburgh. He is a frequent visitor to the Arizona golf scene.

www.azgolf.org

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