Volume 22, Issue 8
Active Lifestyle Monitoring by:
W W W . G O L F C E N T R A L M A G . C O M
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Join us on our Swing, Sip & Sunshine Golf Experience in Greater Palm Springs! 4-nights in a private villa at Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa Golf instruction by an LPGA Golf Pro - 2 rounds of golf - lunch at the golf courses Daily breakfast - welcome reception - final night dinner Destination experience Airport transportation - golf course transfers - activity transfers $100 resort credit And many surprises along the way! Starting at $4,350 per person (does not include airfare) Follow us @womenonfairways
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from the publisher
Volume 22, Issue 8
Publisher: Terrie L. Purdum Editor in Chief: Shannon Coates Graphic Design: Melahn Cable, Photojournalists: Greg and Beverly Wise Photographers: Lynn Pelham, Brion Price, Peter Hakansson
Me, Greg Corbo, Mark Beattie, David, and Jim Fish at the Golf Marathon for Ovarian Cancer Research
Tees The Season “Tis the season to be jolly…Ball la la la la la la la la...Don we now our gay apparel…” the gayer the better because I love all the colors of the rainbow. When publishing a golf magazine and covering as many charity golf events as we do you have to don the apparel appropriately. You see teal for ovarian and other gynecological cancers which I was proud to wear at our Ovarian Cancer Research Marathon Tournament (see pg 12). The event was hosted at the stunning Bella Collina Country Club in Monteverde FL where we have raised over $100K the past five years for Advent Health and Dr Robert Holloway who has had amazing results in his OC clinical trials.
Golf is the number one sport that raises money for charities, period.
Of all the tournaments and all the charity events we have covered over the years I realize I have to wear the appropriate colors. It’s only right
Mike Coonan, Becky Galloway Senior Correspondent: Rick Harris, Sr. International Correspondent: Dove Jones Inflluencer/Ambassador: Chad Smith Contributing Writers: Jay Golden, PGA; Greg Wise, Bob Bolton, Greg Corbo, Dennis Dumler, Elisa Gaudet, Mike Jamison, Mike May, Ron Heller, Rich Styles, Fred Seely, Deb Shuck, JL Quebbeman, Linda Williams-Sieg Editor Emeritus: Joel Jackson, CGCS Retired Turf Tender: Rich Havyer Intern: Madison Forni Regional Partner: Doug Hollandsworth, Founder-Georgia Golf Trail
Golf Central Magazine is published monthly by: Sand Hill Publishing & Public Relations 4313 Berwick Dr, Lake Wales, FL 33859
NEW PHONE: 863.875.6863 E-mail: info@golfcentralmag.com ©2021 Golf Central Magazine. No portion of this publication may be reprinted without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Editorial contributions are welcome, but Golf Central Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited proposals, manuscripts and photographs. All materials submitted not accompanied by a selfaddressed stamped envelope will not be returned. Mailing, electronic mailing or faxing of contributions constitutes an expressed warrant on the part of the contributor that all material is original and does not infringe on the rights of others. Golf Central Magazine retains all reprint rights and reserves the right to edit any submitted material to meet our specifications for publishing and or use in advertising or promotion. The Publisher and staff are not responsible for any loss or grievance by any person or persons whatsoever, due in any way or in part to the content of this publication. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse to accept any material deemed inappropriate or in bad taste.
that I am “on fleek” and represent the ribbons appropriate to the charity event. I have red, white and blue for the active military, veterans, and others who served our country (check out our golf bachelor who served as a Marine). We’re all aware pink ribbons are for breast cancer awareness. While purple is the most widely used ribbon color representing over a dozen different diseases, on August 31st it represents International Overdose Awareness Day in memory of people who have been lost to drug and opioid overdose.
When shopping for your favorite “playas” make sure you gift them
something they can wear while they are gifting back. For me I dress from the bottom up starting with my Biions® (www.biion.com) and ending with a blazer, of course.
Don’t tees me, I’ve been a very good girl...”so follow me in merry mea-
sure…sing we joyous all together… heedless of the wind and weather” (and don’t forget the outerwear).
Cheers to the New Year!!
2009 North Florida PGA Amateur of the Year 6
Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
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Volume 22, Issue 8 FEATURE 30 Transcend Connect Florida Golf Central 40 Crystal River
Volume 22,
Issue 8
Golf Bachelor 34 Juston Keding
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Golf Bachelorette 24 Crystal Poe Active Life style Monitori ng by:
Golf Fore Charity 10 Golf Marathon for Ovarian Cancer Research 28 Folds of Honor at Cypresswood Special Events 18 PXG Woman’s Matchplay Championship Turf Life 14 Fallen Oak At Beau Rivage 48 Performance Nutrition 50 Super Spotlight: Tonya Anderson 52 Audubon International 54 Turf Pirate's Journal
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Departments 12 16 22 26 32 36 38 42 44 46
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Holiday Gift Guide Georgia Golf Trail LPGA Grip It & Sip It Tournament News Golf History Golf Business North Florida PGA South Florida PGA Freddy's Fairway Thoughts
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Legendary Lifestyle
There’s a reason Gary Player chose Boca Grove to be his first American home and it’s not just because he made history here.
Legends don’t make tee times and neither will you Located in the heart of Boca Raton, Florida | Limited Number of Non-Resident Memberships Available Contact Valerie at (561) 487-5300 ext 132 | vroca@bocagrove.org | www.bocagrove.org
Greg & Beverly Wise
Event Committee - Chris Moffitt, Dave Walker, Lindsee Bowen, Lisa Bowen, Andrew Painter, Beth Rosario, Courtney Staup with AdventHealth Foundation
Once again, a great time took place for the Playing for a Cause Golf Marathon event. This year’s host facility Bella Collina Golf Club did a tremendous job with the tournament set-up. The players enjoyed the course and the on-course contest for the event. Each team helped raise funds for the AdventHealth Cancer Institute – Gynecological Cancer Awareness and Research Programs. These funds have been a part of the research and clinical trials for Robert Holloway, MD – Medical Director of the Gynecologic Oncology Program at AdventHealth in Orlando. Courtney Staup from the AdventHealth Foundation was on hand to greet each golfer with their gifts. Our overall team winner was the group of Greg Wise, Beverly Wise, Jason Lenhart and Steve McMillan. They narrowly defeated the 2nd place team of Alexis Golf . The award for the most money raised goes to the Team Elyse from Vero Beach. A big thank you goes out to Golf Central Magazine for their partnership on this event. Vitas Healthcare had a representative our for the day to greet each golfer. As a nice treat Scotchie’s Custom Cakes provided some “Teal” cupcakes. Professional Golf Events provided some great prizes for the on-course contests. (Photo # 2 Jeff Piciacchia and Catherine Rhodes) Please contact Dave Walker for info on next years event. Professional Golf Events 321-277-9094 or auctionsbydesign02@gmail.com.
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Dave Walker and Lisa Bowen
Terrie, Reily Fitch, Alexis Sieg, Robin Michaels, Michael Sieg Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
Sly Terry, Kyle Ferris, Mike Nelson, Ron Sanchez
Jeff Piciacchia and Catherine Rhodes
Henry Daufeldt, Helen Letter, Megan Daufeldt, Bob Bissell Team Elyse - Don Abernathy Doug Anacreone, Elyse Slavin, Mike Slavin and Rich Militello
Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
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LEXI THOMPSON – BRINGING BEAUTY TO THE FORE-FRONT Lexi Thompson is no stranger to changing the golf game. At age 12, she was the youngest golfer to qualify for a spot at the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open. She turned pro at 15 and won the LGPA Tour at age 16. And now, at the age of 26, she has 11 career wins on the LGPA Tour and holds the 13th spot in Rolex World Women’s Golf Rankings. It’s clear Lexi has made a career of defying expectations. Lexi is bringing that same dedication, commitment to excellence, and game changing to the skincare industry. Lexi Thompson has launched Lexi Skin, a targeted skincare collection that works hard for the hardworking woman. What makes this skincare collection different? A breakthrough in microencapsulated copper peptide technology that is clinically proven to penetrate the skin and stimulate collagen. Copper has always been used for its antimicrobial properties, but it’s not popularly recognized for its age-defying benefits. Lexi Skin delivers a deeper level of skincare that safely and gently penetrates below the skin’s surface to the cellular level. Copper + skincare = a beau-tee-ful relationship! Lexi teamed up with world-renowned plastic surgeon, Dr. Arthur Swift, who guided the research, as well as scientists, chemists, and dermatologists to create skincare that is gentle for all skin types and women of all ages. Lexi Skin is also Leaping Bunny certified which means 100% cruelty free and annual proceeds are donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, supporting Lexi’s long term commitment to breast cancer awareness. Lexi Skin is definitely an Ace! www.lexiskinusa.com
RADMOR GOLF FALL + FALL & WINTER COLLECTION Saving the planet one piece of golf apparel at a time is an ambitious resolution. But that’s just what Radmor Golf has set out to do. The Seattle-based golf apparel company is the only brand in the golf industry to eliminate the use of “virgin” polyester at the garment level – a harmful material used in the vast majority of “stretch” and “moisture wicking” fabrics. In doing so, Radmor Golf has reduced the amount of recycled ocean polyester and recycled nylon to just 10%, almost unheard of in the apparel business. Instead, founders Scott Morrison and Bob Conrad rely primarily on BCI organic and extralong-staple Pima cotton, two of the softest, most durable cottons available. Radmor’s new fall and winter collection features a curated assortment of high-performance, refreshingly casual polo shirts, corduroy and knit pants and t-shirts in fall colors like sage and blue graphite. And as golfers battle the elements this winter, or just want to stay toasty, Radmor’s hoodies, sweatshirts are popular plays, and its weather-resistant Moscrip Jacket is perfect for rainy or blustery days. Shop: www.radmorgolf.com 12
Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
TRUE LINKSWEAR The walking-focused golf shoe brand headed up by Jason Moore and his brother / PGA TOUR player Ryan Moore debuted several new lines this year including its wildly popular TRUE Pebble and Dead Golfer collections. Rounding into the final stretch of 2021, these Pacific Northwest pioneers are bolstered by an $11.25 million investment from private equity firm KarpReilly. Recently, TRUE debuted the limited-edition Queen of Clubs Foray X True Knit II ($175), its first collaboration with the women’s golf apparel brand Foray Golf. The shoes come wrapped in a Foray-designed carry bag perfect for travel or just storing the shoes at home. Foray has also added several unique finishes to the shoe, including a translucent sole under which sits the Queen of Clubs artwork. The Moore brothers are all about comfort and performance, and TRUE’s Sport Series was just unveiled in November to rave reviews. Engineered for the eternal pursuit of par and the grinders and early risers, as the TRUE crew likes to say, the Sport’s adaptive upper is both breathable and waterproof, a one-two punch any diehard golfer would relish. It’s offered in two models, OG ($165) and Lux ($175). TRUE is planning a Black Friday sale with killer “final sale” deals on older models, big-time savings on top-selling collections and free gift cards with certain levels of spending. Shop: www.truelinkswear.com.
JUMBOMAX–– JUMBOFLAT 17 PUTTER GRIP The JMX JumboFlat™ 17 offers the widest profile of any Arm Lock Putter Grip on the market. Developed with 2020 U.S. Open Champion and 8-Time PGA Tour Winner, Bryson DeChambeau. The JumboFlat 17 is for golfers that use the ArmLock putting style. It has a super-wide, flat surface and a patent-pending shape that was designed to fit the contour of the forearm so golfers can really lock it in. Its patent-pending tapered shape allows it to rest flat against the forearm; the rounded section is formed to fit the golfer’s fingers; and the Poly-Tour™ outer provides optimal tackiness and texture. Available in four different color options at www.JumboMax.com
Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
TOWEL TAG The innovative Towel Tag utilizes “Pull-Thru Technology” to create an entirely new generation of functional bag tags. Towel Tag is designed to temporarily secure your golf towel without the use of grommets or hooks. Each tag is manufactured using two separate compounds to create a functional bag tag with exceptional durability. They are ideal for temporary storage of golf towels, head covers, rain gear, outdoor and layered clothing. Towel Tag uses the latest printing technology to create a customized Towel Tag suited for every golfer, team, organization, or golf event. Prior to the Towel Tag, most golf towels were secured to the golf bag by means of a standard grommet and hook like those used on a shower curtain. This traditional attachment made it very difficult to easily release the towel when you need to. “I decided to combine the simple features of the traditional bag tag and an accessible towel holder,” said Craig Holub, Founder of Towel Tag, “and then we figured out a way to personalize it and make it unique for the golfer and unlike anything else currently available on the market.” www.toweltag.com
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By Greg Wise
Surviving the Disaster
The Fallen Oak Story Being in the middle of the turf industry, we recently had the opportunity to attend the 2021 Deep South Turf Expo in Biloxi, Mississippi. We had heard incredible stories of Hurricane Zeta and the effects that it had on this area. This was the one year anniversary of the event and we had heard of some miraculous clean-up efforts from many of the golf courses in the area. Doing my research… Zeta was classified as a fast mover; low end Category 2 Hurricane, racing 20-30 mph through South Mississippi. Zeta was large. Tropical storm force winds extended about 140 miles away from the center. Large storms unravel slower as they travel across land. South Mississippi was on the right side of the center. Its trajectory through Slidell into Hancock and Pearl River counties uniquely positioned South Mississippi on the side of the storm where the winds
were blowing towards the same direction the storm was moving. One of the courses that sustained serious damage in the area was Fallen Oak, which is part of Beau Rivage Resort & Casino. We reached out to the Director of Grounds, Matt Hughes for a brief sit down interview. Golf Central: We have heard that you created a monumental task of recycling all of the damage caused by Hurricane Zeta? Matt: Just a year ago… we had been watching this storm and had a plan in place, if it truly stayed on track. October 28, when the storm hit, we were prepared, and just had to wait for the storm to clear and start cleaning our clean-up process. Reality had set in on first check, we had lost 1,000 trees and shrubs.
Director of Grounds, Matt Hughes
Golf Central: How long was the course closed for the clean-up? Matt: After the clean-up was complete and we felt comfortable with people playing, we were closed for 45-days. All of the final paperwork is still going on, yet we were ready to have our guests playing the course. Golf Central: We heard of the recycling effort to utilize the lost trees. Matt: We had utilized the same recycling effort that we went through with Hurricane Katrina during our construction in 2005. We were using mulching equipment on site to grind up the trees and limbs that came down and working with the mulch to decorate and define golf holes. We used as much as we could, but ultimately decided that wasn’t the greatest idea for long term maintenance. In more recent years we have reduced almost 40 acres of mulch and replaced with native grasses indigenous to the area to make it more sustainable. Now that we are having rainstorms and just natural attrition… we now just need to touch up smaller areas versus large acreage to replenish the beauty of the course. Golf Central: What does the future hold for Fallen Oak? Matt: Realizing that we have seen so many changes with the topography from storms over the years, we have created programs to re-forest the area. While it will obviously take time to mature, we feel that we are the stewards of this land and have to work to revitalize the area. Changes are always in the works to make Fallen Oak the most desirable golf course for our guests.
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Fallen Oak is a 510-acre, par-72 golf course offering five sets of tees and strategic play options to challenge golfers of all skill levels designed by Legendary golf course architect, Tom Fazio. An Acadian-style 12,000-square foot clubhouse features top-level dining and a panoramic view of the 18th hole, as well as the majestic live that gives Fallen Oak its name. Nestled on the edge of the De Soto National Forest, a short drive from Beau Rivage, Fallen Oak was designed to preserve the natural landscape of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The course has consistently ranked as the best course in Mississippi by Golf Digest and Golfweek and for more than a decade has held the No. 2 position on Golfweek’s Best Casino Course list, behind Shadow Creek, the only other course owned by MGM Resorts International.
Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
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georgia golf trail
By Mike May
Wood brifge to beach from Hampton Inn & Suites
Question: Where in the U.S. can you find ten miles of marvelous oceanside beaches, guided kayak tours, bicycle rides, bird watching, tennis, paddle boarding, horseback riding, fishing, boating, canoeing, croquet, world-class accommodations, and 63 holes of golf? Answer: Jekyll Island, Georgia, located roughly 90 miles north of Jacksonville, Florida and 65 miles south of Savannah, Georgia “Jekyll Island is one of the best places in the U.S. where you can go to unwind and relax while enjoying golf, fresh seafood, long walks along the beach, poolside siestas, and time off the grid,” said Doug Hollandsworth, Founder, the Georgia Golf Trail. “For golfers, the 63-hole Jekyll Island Golf Club features four courses at one location which makes it one of the most popular getaways on the Georgia Golf Trail. Clearly, Jekyll Island is one of Georgia’s most popular stay-and-play destinations for golfers.” When it comes to the ‘stay’ part of your Jekyll Island adventure, there are 16
three great overnight options -- The Westin Jekyll Island, the Hampton Inn & Suites Jekyll Island, and the Jekyll Island Club Resort. All three properties can claim to be the ultimate ‘rest & relaxation’ destination. The Westin Jekyll Island (110 Ocean Way; Jekyll Island; 912-635-4545) and the Hampton Inn & Suites Jekyll Island (200 South Beachview Drive, Jekyll Island; 800-HAMPTON) provide easy access to the beaches, wonderful poolside destinations, and tremendous views of the ocean, while the Jekyll Island Club Resort is one of the most historic structures on the island. Back in the late 1800s, the Jekyll
Island Club Resort (319 Riverview Drive, Jekyll Island; 912-319-4349) was built to provide overnight accommodations for rich and famous families such as the Rockefeller’s, Morgan’s, Vanderbilt’s, and Pulitzer’s, all of whom used to vacation frequently on Jekyll Island. The croquet courts located near the resort’s entrance are a popular outdoor recreation outlet, while The Wharf, the resort’s on-site restaurant provides fresh, tasty, and delicious seafood selections while overlooking the surrounding marshlands. The Pool House is another great outlet for a bite to eat while lounging poolside at the resort. When it comes to the ‘play’ part of
The Great Dunes Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
Jekyll Islsnd Club Hotel Pool your Jekyll Island adventure, the Jekyll Island Golf Club (322 Captain Willy Road, Jekyll Island; 912.635.2368) has three 18-hole golf courses and a nine-hole layout. In all, that’s 63 holes of golf in one location. The three 18-hole courses are Indian Mound, Oleander, and Pine Lakes. The nine-hole layout is Great Dunes. On Jekyll Island, golfers are truly spoiled for choice. Not surprisingly, the Jekyll Island Golf Club is Georgia’s largest public golf resort and one of the 20+ destinations on the Georgia Golf Trail. Indian Mound, constructed in 1975 by veteran golf course designer Joe Lee, is the shortest of the three 18-hole courses. Water impacts play on 11 of the 18 holes. The par fives are more difficult in reality than their yardage indicates. The many short par four holes represent the best birdie opportunities. Oleander, which measures just more than 6,500 yards from the tips, has been the host course for the Georgia Open
Jekyll Islsnd Hampton Inn on four occasions. Designed by golf course architect Dick Wilson, Oleander is known as the most ‘distinct’ of the three 18-hole golf courses on Jekyll Island. Pine Lakes was first opened for play in 1968 and it was renovated in 2002. Pine Lakes, designed by Clyde Johnson, is the longest golf course on Jekyll Island. The golf course meanders through ocean forests and natural marsh hammocks. Golfers agree that Pine Lakes is peaceful, quiet, and tranquil. Great Dunes was the first golf course on Jekyll Island. The architect of this coastal jewel is the great Walter “Old Man” Travis. Travis was asked to design and build the best golf course that money could buy. He did just that. Work on the Great Dunes Course began in 1926 and it opened for play in 1928. When the seaside breeze picks up, the degree of difficulty of Great Dunes gets higher. It’s worth noting that the United States Golf
Jekyll Islsnd Club Hotel The Pool House Food Association once used Great Dunes as a testing facility for clubs, shafts, and golf balls. After golf, enjoy a post-round drink or snack at McCormick’s Grill. It’s a welcome 19th hole! To book your visit to Jekyll Island, check out JekyllIsland.com or GeorgiaGolfandTravel.com. Those ten miles of Atlantic Ocean beaches and 63 holes of golf await your arrival.
The Wharf Restaurant
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special events
Mission Accomplished for PXG Women’s Match Play Championship The mission of the PXG Women’s Match
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Play Championship was fairly simple: shine a light on the developmental level of women’s professional golf and create playing opportunities for these women by extending their season with a new event. Players and organizers may have extended the season more than they expected as it took 224 holes - 36 holes in the rain-shortened
Sunset over the 9th green of the Slammer & Squire Golf Course, looking off the VIP Hospitality Deck of the Slammer & Squire.
54-hole stroke play seeding event and then 188 grueling match play holes the following week for Jessica Porvasnik to prevail as the its first champion. Held October 25 – November 4 at World Golf Village and using both courses, Porvasnik was the top seed in the match play event, having won the Stroke Play title at King & Bear. Porvasnik (Hinckley, OH) dominated at Slammer and Squire Golf Course in first-ever double round robin Pod Play Points format in which the 64 players were broken into 16 groups of four, each playing one another twice, with one point being awarded for each hole. She won her group by 8 points, showing why she was the #1 overall seed. Her consistent play, her ability to make big putts, and her steely resolve simply proved too much for her competition to handle. But it wasn't easy. In the final match she ran into New Zealander, Julianne Alvarez, the 14th overall seed. Alvarez pulled off the first upset in the matchplay bracket by defeating 2-seed, Sofia Garcia, fresh off of advancing to this month’s LPGA Q School Final Series. Alvarez is no stranger to the big stage, or to match play. The 2016 National Champion at the University of Washington has also won the New Zealand Amateur,
The very first shot at the Inaugural PXG Women’s Match Play Championship, hosted in the Slammer & Squire golf course at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, FL.
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Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
PXG Influencer Elise Lobb chats with Stroke Play winner and eventual Match Play Champion, Jessica Porvasnick. Porvasnik is from Hinckley, OH and starred at Ohio State University before turning pro in 2016.
PXGWMPC player Maddie Luitweiler, a three year WAPT veteran and University of Texas graduate, chats with a future star player at the Spooktacular Junior Clinic
both of which are match play events. She gave Porvasnik all she could handle, taking to 20 holes to decide a winner. The Championship match showed the type of player Porvasnik is, who went to the back nine four down. Alvarez’s lead down to one on the 18th, Porvasnik stuck her approach shot and made the routine par. Alvarez caught the lip on her 4-foot slider, and the Championship match went to extra holes. Back to the tee on 18, this time it was Alvarez who buried the long putt to keep the match going. Over to the 165-yard par three 13th they went for the second playoff hole. Porvasnik put her tee shot over
Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
the back left flag-stick to about 15 feet. Alvarez pushed her tee shot to about 20 feet from the stick on the opposite corner. With two humps to climb on the way to the hole, she left herself another 4-footer. Porvasnik nearly birdied the hole, and Alvarez conceded the 6-incher for par. It was all up to Alvarez. With four feet separating her from a third playoff hole, she burnt the edge, sealing an all-time comeback win for Porvasnik. With her dad on the bag for all 188 match play holes, Porvasnik was able to pull off the victory, banking the $8,000 Champions' check. With that and her $5,000 from the week before, Porvasnik
collected more than $40,000 during a calendar season, a developmental tour milestone. Porvasnik played the full season on the WAPT, one of only three US developmental tours for women, and the number-one money winner, earning the former Ohio State All-American a jump to the Second Stage of Q School. The PXGWMPC aligned with the WAPT and was included in their 2021 tournament schedule as an unofficial money event. While it took more than 200 holes for Porvasnik to win the PXGWMPC, it took nearly two years to build the tournament. Since its inception, its organizer, Mark Berman, Managing Partner of Ponte Vedra’s MediaShare Consulting Group, Inc, billed the two-week event as a celebration of women’s initiatives inside and outside the ropes. The entire two-week event was a collaboration with national women’s empowerment organization Generation W, which hosted as an equal part of the PXGWMPC the Generation W Links to Leadership Summit, during which a room full of professional women golfers, three full women’s college teams, high school female players and many other local business women being treated to a day of coaching, leadership and mentoring by a panel of high powered female C-suite executives, including President and founder of PXG Apparel, Rene Parsons, former LPGA interim Commissioner Marty Evans and Whitney Meyers, VP of Community Engagement for the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. The panel discussion was moderated by Donna Orender, former President of the WNBA, who founded Generation W ten years ago to inspire girls and women. Later in the 19
Along with PXG’s Jason “Willy” Williams, Match Play and wire to wire PXG Women’s Match Play Champion Jessica Porvasnik stands in front the “draw baord” with the champions’s trophy, a custom-designed manatee made by Ocean Sole Africa, a Ponte Vedra based non-profit that makes art from recycled flip flops washed up on the beaches of Kenya.
program, there were 10 equally amazing women acting as mentors for round table discussions with our players and guests about life outside of sports, because
what if they don’t make it to the LPGA? The INK! Charity Pro-am at the PXGWMPC raised more than $50,000 for local non-profit, Investing In Kids (INK!), and 100 kids came out on Halloween day for the free Spooktacular Junior Clinic, which was taught by the players. Said Berman, who came to realize the lack of women’s playing opportunities while helping his own daughter plan her developmental schedule, “The PXGWMPC has always been about demonstrating how good these players are, but at the same time showing how little opportunity there is, especially compared to men, to earn a living, let alone get to the LPGA.” He continued, “The story is about young women who since the earliest days of their golf journey have been made to feel less valuable by living in the shadows of boys at events small and big, and then seeing that same crush through amateur, high school, college and finally professional golf. The PXG Women’s Match Play Championship was created to elevate the playing experience for them, demonstrating what it means to feel valued as women athletes and at the same time giving them some much needed connection to life outside the ropes.” Berman points out the economics of
being a professional woman player simply don’t currently work. “It might seem like a decent living for a 25 year old player to make $40,000 in a season, but that means she still lost $10,000 during this year’s campaign. A guy in a similar position will earn six figures and be profitable.” Noting it’s not just the money, but the playing opportunities with there being more than 30 “mini-tours” in the US for men and only three for women. Berman added, “this is why we don’t see enough American flags on the LPGA leaderboard. It isn’t a lack of talent or work ethic. It’s just a financially impossible model for these women to get to the promised land. It’s a race against time and money less than it is against other players.” Thanks to events like the PXGWMPC and the corporate support from companies like Title Sponsor PXG and Founding Partners Murgado Automotive Group’s Bentley and Maserati of Jacksonville dealerships, SQAIRZ Golf, Baptist Health of Jacksonville and On Point Ball Markers, “that conversation will get louder and the change will happen.” In the meantime, these players, like the 64 who played in the PXGWMPC, will compete and grow and continue to aspire to the LPGA.
World Golf Village General Manager Lon Grundy offers an official "warm welcome" to the players of the PXGWMPC as well as a little “chalk talk” on how to play the King and Bear Golf Course.
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Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
adies orth florida Professional PGA north Golfflorida Association PGA north Ladiesflorida Professional PGA north Golfflorida Association PGAheader north Ladi
Story and Photos by Beverly Wise
Play Well…
Jin Young Ko successfully defends at CME Group Tour Championship, wins Rolex Player of the Year
Play Strong It’s was a true Cinderella story
at the start of the fourth round of the CME Group Championship in Naples, Florida. Four players arrived at the Triburon Golf Course on Sunday morning with a share of the 54-hole lead, but only one will came out on top with and claim the $1.5 million winner’s prize. After battling a wrist injury that kept her from practicing at the CME Group Tour Championship, Jin Young Ko proved nothing can hold her back. Ko tied her career-best score for 18 holes scorching the Tiburón Golf Club with a sizzling 63, and set the new tournament scoring record at -23. The win also secured Ko her second Rolex Player of the Year award, as she becomes the first Korean player to achieve the feat twice. It is her 12th career victory and fifth of the season, becoming the first player to record five wins in a season since Ariya Jutanugarn in 2016. She is the third Korean to win five or more times in an LPGA Tour season, along with Sei Re Pak and Inbee Park. “I don’t have pressure on the course. I just want to better play than the other players. So, I did it, and, yeah,” said Ko, who had more wins (five) than rounds in the 70s (four) in her last nine events. “Also, I’m happy to make like my best career score today, 63; 64 was my best score, record, but I crushed it and it’s so happy.” Hitting 63 straight greens in regulation to finish the week, Ko’s last missed green in regulation on No. 9 in the first round. She recorded only one bogey over her last 63 holes played with 24 birdies in that stretch. Nine of those came on Sunday, including six on her front nine, closing with a 30 as she made the turn. It is one of those Bucket List items that just have to be done. Arriving at the golf course, warming up and taking the first tee as an Amateur with a LPGA Professional during the Tuesday Pro-Am. For many it is just a dream, but for those playing Tuesday morning “It was Reality.” 22
LEADERBOARD 1
Jin Young Ko
-23
69-67-66-63–265
2
Nasa Hataoka
-22
69-69-64-64–266
T3
Mina Harigae
-18
65-69-69-67–270
T3
Celine Boutier
-18
65-65-72-68–270
The Martini Ladies… Mary Chamberlin, Cecelia Purvis, Neicey Moore, Katie Windlan and LPGA Professional Amy Olson
Richard Young with Junior Golfers, Sydney Young, Emmey Siek, Berkley Young, and LPGA Professional Yealimi Noh
Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
David Michie
Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
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golf bachelorette
Who would you have with you on the same deserted island; and why? James Bond so I can train to become an international superspy while we wait to be rescued. What is your biggest fear in life? Fear is irrelevant, playing small does not serve the world. What three people would you most like to play in your fantasy golf foursome? Johnny Manziel, Paige Spiranac, and my good friend Will Davidson (Lexi Thompson's new Caddy). Aside from golf, what do you prefer for fun and relaxation? Fly airplanes, paint (I’m an abstract artist}, and learning new things via reading and traveling. What do you love most about golf? Golf is both invigorating and peaceful at the same time. There’s so much more to golf than golf itself. Golf has changed my life. I’ve learned a lot about myself through the game. It might sound cliche, but golf truly is like life.
Where were you born? Greensboro, NC If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? New Zealand What’s your idea of a dream vacation? Heli-Skiing in the Swiss Alps and taking a private Jet from London to Paris. What do you do for a living? I’m the owner of STOGIES BIRDIES & FLIGHTS. I play golf, smoke cigars, and fly airplanes. What is STOGIES BIRDIES & FLIGHTS? It’s a lifestyle. I’m a walking billboard and social media influencer. Tune in for our #StogieHour Podcast and make sure to book your Private Jet Charter for your next golf outing. Message me if you have a product you want to promote, let’s get creative. What’s your favorite course you’ve played? Private Course: Erin Hills - Wisconsin Public Course: Prairie Dunes Country Club - Hutchinson KS What 3 things would you need to survive on a deserted Island? Box of Cigars, Bottle of Tequila, and my Bible.
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Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
grip it & sip it
Christie Kerr
Kerr Cellars is a boutique winery founded by Sommelier, and professional golf star, Cristie Kerr. Cristie is a 20-time LPGA champion and became the first American to reach #1 in the Official Rolex World Golf Rankings. Cristie fell in love with wine on a visit to Napa Valley in 2000 while competing in the Samsung World Championship. She was seduced by the tranquil hills, rustic old-world charm, and extraordinary ‘Old World’ wines. With her passion for wine ignited, Cristie began producing some of the world’s best and most highly rated wines, now available in limited quantities online. Our Napa Valley and Sonoma County wines are made in classic styles inspired by the great wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy, yet they are Californian in their balance of finesse and opulence. We source our grapes from the finest vineyards throughout the valleys
and obsess over every detail from the health of the vineyard soils to the grain structure of our oak barrels. We do this because it is our passion to craft extraordinary, terroir-focused wines. To celebrate the holiday season, we have curated a unique selection of wines for gifting and enjoying with friends and family. Please visit us at KerrCellars.com and use the code: GOLFCENTRAL21 for an exclusive discount to Golf Central readers. “Family is the most important thing in the world to me. I’m often so busy throughout the year. The holidays remind me to slow down and enjoy time with people I love. I crafted this trio with friends and family in mind. There’s something for everyone in this set and they pair perfectly with everything on your dinner table. You have enough on your plate during the holidays, let me help you with the wine selections!” Cristie Kerr
This package includes one of each wine below and shipping in the continental US. 2019 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay Striking notes of vanilla bean, sage, Asian pear, crushed white stones, and pastry flour, with a fantastic weight. The palate opens up to citrus blossom, honey, almond, fresh fruit, and flowers, with a lovely minerality on the long finish. Great freshness, eureka lemon, vibrant acidity, and a nice length.
2018 Manzanita Vineyard Pinot Noir - 94 points Boasting a perfumed nose of black and Bing cherries, orange oil, baking spices, white pepper, and just a hint of leather. The entry is incredibly silky and opens up to a seamless mouthfeel. Flavors of morello cherry, orange zest, sage, and cedar are prominent and persist through to a long finish. Drinking beautifully now.
2018 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - 93 points The effusive nose shows aromas of powdery white flowers, black cherry, cassis, flower stems, bittersweet chocolate, and crushed stones. On the palate, the silky entry opens to a plush, round, polished mid-palate and an effortlessly long finish. The back palate is fine-grained with exquisitely balanced alcohol-to-fruit weight and closes with subtle, cleansing acidity.
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Grip it and Sip it.
Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
By Dennis Dumler
Mission Accomplished!
In early November, Cypresswood Golf and Country Club in Winter Haven, Florida, hosted a Patriots Day Folds of Honor golf tournament that was a rousing success. Miss Winter Haven, Cassidy Goldman, sent the 33 teams out with a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem. She was joined by a Boy Scout troupe that presented the colors. This 3rd year event is very close to the heart of Cypresswood Owner/Operator Bob Shade. « We always look forward to events that help the community and people love to play in a scramble format. This outing has grown to where we were able to raise the entry fee this 28
year to help the Folds of Honor even more. Anything to help a military based organization is very rewarding and the whole effort is fulfilling to the players and the volunteers as well.» The Golf Central Magazine team had a great time despite not being anywhere close to the winning score of 56,16 under par. But it was still a great day which was culminated by a wonderful buffet supplied by Colorado Boxed Beef and an awards ceremony. The attitude by all was very positive as we all knew that Folds of Honor is a growing and very worthwhile organization. It is a 501(c)3 non-profit that helps to supply educational
scholarships to families of Military men and women who have fallen or been disabled while serving their country. Since its formation in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded 29,000 scholarships nationwide and Cypresswoood Director of Marketing and Social Media, Amy Fox announced that “with the help of local business sponsors, the players and the community volunteers, we are honored to send Folds of Honor a check for $7,500!” Mission Accomplished!
For more information, visit www.foldsofhonor.org Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
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feature
Active Lifestyle Monitoring is Here!
Your vitals are constantly monitored while you enjoy your active passions even in the summer heat. Our wearables cover symptoms of COVD, Heat Stroke, Heart Attack, and more! Our RNs have your back while you’re on the go. When your vitals exceed your Dr’s limits, our RNs are alerted and call you on a voice or video call.. Insurance and Medicare usually cover most of our 24/7 monitoring costs.
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Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
“TranscendConnect’s concept of active lifestyle monitoring is a game changer that will save lives. During my 15 years of volunteering at the Valspar Championship in the player’s medical tent, I have seen what happens when people don’t always listen and pay attention to what their body is telling them during heat and extreme elements. Having an RN monitoring your vitals, calling out to you and checking on your well-being, may give you the warning you need to avert a serious life changing event!”
Dr Robert McPhee, DO, ACOFP, CMD, Corporate Medical Director
TranscendConnect lets you consume Remote Patient Monitoring as you wish!
Your wearables– Our wearables– Your Drs or our Drs OUR WEARABLES MONITOR: • Blood Pressure • Heart Rate/ECG • Glucose Monitoring for Diabetes • Sleep Monitoring • Body Temperature • Blood Oxygenation • Fall Detection
We cover you 24/7 including at home!
Visit our website at:
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or call Jeff Hartson at Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
352-302-8048
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urnament news tournament news tournament news tournament news tourn
Photos By Caroline Maxcy
Landon Michelson Wins Inaugural 2021 Citrus Golf Trail Open
Landon Michelson from Miami, FL fired 203 (68-68-67) to win the 2021 Citrus Golf Trail Open on the Deer Run course at Sun ‘N Lake Golf Club. His win earned him $15,000, the biggest check in Minor League Golf Tour (MLGT) history. “The Minor League Golf Tour proudly partnered with the Citrus Golf Trail, Visit Sebring and Airstream Ventures on making the inaugural Citrus Golf Trail Open a big event in its first year,” said Scott Turner, MLGT Director of Tournament Operations. “Our commitment is to provide players a competitive platform to sharpen their game to excel in the career.” Held Nov. 30-Dec. 2 in Sebring, FL, the 54-hole event featured $25,000 in added
sponsor money to the prize purse for the event as the competitors also battled for the coveted ‘orange jacket.’ “A huge thank you to Sun ‘N Lake Golf Club and its members for hosting and to the Citrus Golf Trail for sponsoring the event,” Turner said. “This event was held on a PGA Tour qualifying school caliber course with a purse that made a big impact for the winner.” 32
Michelson started the final round tied at -8 with Maxwell Sear and Pete Kellermann. John VanDerLaan and Josh Hart posted final rounds of 64 and 66 to come from behind and post -11. Michelson was also -11 after a birdie on #15. He then made a 10-foot birdie putt on #16 and a 20-foot birdie putt on #17 (the hardest par-4 on the course) to get to -13 and take a two-shot lead to the last. He two putted for par from 25 feet to slide on the orange jacket and be crowned the inaugural Citrus Golf Trail Open champion. “It was great to host the first CGT Open. There were some very talented golf professionals competing and the course was in terrific shape for them, said Citrus Golf Trail Officer and Sun ‘N Lake Head Golf Professional Andy Kesling. “We hope to continue the event for years to come.” The Citrus Golf Trail (CGT) is comprised of seven golf courses at six golf clubs and a partner hotel to collectively promote the Sebring area’s quality golf courses that offer affordable golf with a unique play experience that visiting golfers cannot find in the typical golf resort atmosphere. For more information about the Citrus Golf Trail, visit CitrusGolfTrail.com and follow the CGT on social media @CitrusGolfTrail and #CitrusGolfTrail. Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
Combined winners of 21 major championships. Pre-order your copy today!
For two decades, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have captivated, bemused, inspired, frustrated, fascinated, and entertained us. Bob Harig’s TIGER & PHIL provides an in-depth chronicle of the decades-long rivalry that drove the success of golf’s two biggest stars. But it is so much more complicated than just a rivalry. An award-winning golf writer who has covered the PGA Tour for 25 years, Harig provides a front row account of how two of the most iconic rivals in sports pushed each other - for better and for worse.
Pre-order this insightful new book at Amazon.com!
golf bachelor
Justin Keding
Three most important things? Friends, family and warm weather. Love, success or money? I guess I’ll be sappy and go with love. Fantasy foursome? John Daly, Phil Mickelson and Jack Nicklaus. Greatest accomplishment? Honorable Discharge from the U.S.M.C. Relaxed evening at home or nightclub and cocktails? Well, I’m way passed the nightclub phase. I’ll take a beer and a bar but, I do relax at home most of the time. Favorite Comedian? Will Ferrell. Last book? John Daly: My Life In & Out of the Rough Favorite charity to support? Disabled Vets Foundation.
Where are you from? Armada, MI. Born and raised. What is special about where you grew up? My dad was born and raised there as well, plus, I still have a lot of friends that live there still. Also, my local course was only $10 for 18 on Mondays. What would your perfect room look like? A full bar, poker table, pool table, hitting bay and stage with an underground pool and hot tub right in the middle of it all. What’s the farthest you’ve been from home? Iraq and Afghanistan with the Marine Corps. What is something you think everyone should do at least once in their lives? Skydiving! I’m TERRIFIED of heights but skydiving was, by far, the coolest thing I’ve ever done. What do you do for a living? Assistant production manager/set carpenter/entertainment travel agent. When people come to you for help, what do they usually want help with? Fixing, installing or building something around the house. Most annoying golf habit? Slow play and FIX YOUR DIVOTS, PEOPLE! 34
Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
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PLENTY TO DO BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER GOLF Enjoy this 1,100 acre resort “oasis”. Relax, refresh and recharge with the resort amenities like golf, spa, on-site restaurants/bars, pickle-ball, boating rentals or fishing, or swim in the pool. Join us for Saturday Night Seafood/Sushi/Prime Rib Buffet and Sunday Brunch Buffet.
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F COU • S PA S T N A R S E S • F O U R R E S TA U R Near Orlando | MissionInnResort.com
Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida 800.874.9053
By Mike May
golf history
Orlando’s ‘Hat Trick’ of Historic Golf Courses In the greater Orlando area, it seems like there are more opportunities to play golf than there are rides at all the Orlando-area theme parks. But, that has not always been the case. While the greater Orlando area has truly become a mecca for golfers, three of the golf courses that paved the way, so to speak, for golf in central Florida are part of the Florida Historic Golf Trail, a group of more than 50 golf courses, mostly local municipal courses, that stretch from Key West to Pensacola. Those three courses in the greater Orlando area are the Dubsdread Golf Course, Mayfair Country Club, and the Winter Park Golf Course. If you want to make a pilgrimage and pay homage to the golf courses that are some of central Florida’s original forefathers of golf, go play each golf course. Since 1924, golf has been played at the Dubsdread Golf Course (549 West Par Street, Orlando, Florida; 407246-2551), an 18-hole, par-70 layout. Located five minutes from downtown Orlando, players of all skill levels are challenged with the narrow fairways and heavily bunkered “postage stamp”style greens. Dubsdread is promoted as, “A course everyone can play at a price anyone can pay.” Many of Dubsdread’s greens were patterned after other greens at famous golf courses. In fact, the 14th green was said to be a replica of the 13th green on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland. After golf, visit the historic Tap Room for a drink, meal, or a snack. In the late 1940s, while attending Rollins College in nearby Winter Park, future golf course architect Pete Dye was a regular at Dubsdread. “I wasn’t the greatest student there, but I met my bride there and played some good golf,” recalled Dye. Dye was the captain of the Rollins College golf team and met his future wife, Alice O’Neal, who played on the women’s golf team at Rollins, at Dubsdread. The Dubsdread GC awaits your arrival.
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Construction on what is now the Mayfair Country Club began in 1922. Later that year, the first nine holes were opened. Initially, this course was called the Sanford Country Club. Today, the Mayfair Country Club (3536 Country Club Road, Sanford, Florida; 407-322-2531) is an 18-hole, par-70 layout. “Our people who work here make visitors feel like this is their home course,” said Pete Sands, general manager, Mayfair Country Club. “The atmosphere here makes everybody feel welcome. Our greens are always PGA Tour quality. Area golfers love our greens.” By the early 1950s, this course hosted The Mayfair Inn Open, a PGA Tour event from 1955-1958. A number of wellknown pros, such as Gene Sarazen, Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, and Canada’s Moe Norman, played in this pro tourney. The Mayfair Inn Open is where Palmer won his first professional check for $528 in December 1956. The Mayfair CC awaits your arrival. A pristine piece of property where passionate players purposely pepper the pins in pursuit of par. That’s the best way to summarize the atmosphere for golf at the Winter Park Golf Course (761 Old England Avenue, Winter Park, Florida; 407-599-3419). This nine-hole golf course opened for play in 1914. This majestic municipal golf course is maintained like a private country club. The Winter Park Golf Course – aka, the Winter Park Nine -- is open to all golfers. The Winter Park Nine has an atmosphere which transports you to yesteryear Florida. It all starts with its many old oak trees which drip with Spanish moss. Those oak trees provide clearly defined fairway corridors for each hole. Here, walking is the preferred way to travel around this golf course. The Winter Park Nine awaits your arrival. In fact, the greater Orlando area – as well as all those rides at all the Orlando area theme parks -- awaits your arrival. And, don’t forget your golf clubs. Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
Winter Park Nine 1st Hole and Clubhouse Aerial
Mayfair Golf Course Clubhouse
Dubsdread Golf Course Clubhouse Aerial
Winter Park Nine 1st Hole Aerial
Dubsdread Golf course 9th Hole Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
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golf business
Bubba Watson Joins Team Troon®, the leader in club management, development, and marketing, welcomes 12-time PGA TOUR winner and two-time Masters Champion Bubba Watson to Team Troon – a collection of top international golf talent representing the Troon brand throughout professional golf. Watson joins PGA TOUR golfers Justin Thomas, Gary Woodland, and Matt Kuchar of the United States, Alex Noren of Sweden, Matthew Fitzpatrick of England, PGA TOUR Champions golfer and World Golf Hall of Famer Collin Montgomerie of Scotland, and LPGA Tour/Ladies European Tour player Cheyenne Woods as members of Team Troon. Watson, 43, from Bagdad, Fla. will unveil his Troon-branded golf bag at the QBE Shootout (Dec. 10 – 12), held at Troon-managed Tiburón Golf Club in Naples, Fla., and carry it throughout the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. As part of being on Team Troon, Watson will collaborate on social media campaigns in cooperation with Troon and Troon-managed facilities around the world and take
38
part in select Troon-sponsored events. “I feel like most golfers have heard the Troon name but not many realize how influential Troon is within the golf industry,” said Watson. “They are best-in-class at what they do and their reach and influence on the game of golf is beyond impressive. I look forward to collaborating with Troon to help grow the game that I love so much.” Currently 65th on the Official World Golf Ranking, Watson recorded five top-10 finishes during the 2020-21 PGA TOUR season, highlighted by a T4 at the ZOZO Championship and made 17 cuts in 22 starts. He is one of only six players to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs in each of the first 15 seasons of the FedExCup era. “We are proud to welcome Bubba to Team Troon,” said Tim Schantz, president and chief executive officer, Troon. “Bubba is a global ambassador for golf and, like Troon, is committed to growing the game through supporting junior and women’s golf. His philanthropic efforts through the Bubba Watson Foundation and openness
about mental health continue to help those in need and is to be applauded.” Watson’s new book, “Up & Down, Victories and Struggles in the Course of Life,” was released on November 2, 2021 and was written with 11-time New York Times bestselling author Don Yaeger. Copies of the book can be purchased at www.upanddownbook.com. Troon-managed or affiliated facilities host 17 professional golf events across 9 professional tours around the world. Including high-level amateur events and qualifying tournaments, Troon-managed facilities host more than 30 elite events. In addition to its global headquarters in Scottsdale, Ariz., Troon has offices in Reston, Va.; Newton, Mass.; Chicago, Ill.; Irvine, Calif.; Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Birmingham, Ala.; Seattle, Wash.; New Braunfels, Texas; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. For more information on Bubba Watson, visit www.BubbaWatson. com. For more information on Team Troon, visit www.Troon.com.
Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
• Colorful, convenient, functional accessory • Clips to your belt or waist • Durable, lightweight, comfortable to wear • Quick-release design for easy access • Custom logo available - makes a
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florida golf central
By David Theoret
Twisted Oaks Golf Club #18
Crystal River, Florida – Great Golf and So Much More The Crystal River area in Florida has been a vacation lover’s paradise for many years, and for a variety of reasons. Water lovers have their pick: scalloping, scuba diving, fishing kayaking, or taking a refreshing swim with the oh-so-adorable manatees. Outdoor enthusiasts can choose from activities such as hiking, biking, birding, and horseback riding. If you prefer to stay indoors, there are several art galleries, museums, as well as the performing Arts Center of Citrus County. So much to do. A popular outdoor sport that seems to be underrated in this part of the state is golf. That’s very surprising because the area offers several private, semiprivate, and daily fee facilities with distances ranging from executive length to PGA TOUR length. There is something here for all levels of golfer. Twisted Oaks Golf Club is a daily
fee facility that is a must-play if you are new to or visiting the area. Course owner Tommy Lyman has been in the golf business a long time and knows how important it is to live up to your clientele’s expectations. “Most of the golf courses in the area have given up on overseeding,” Lyman says, “to them, it’s become an unnecessary expense.” Lyman does not see it that way. “A good portion of our golfers in the winter are snowbirds and they expect to see green fairways, tee boxes, and lush greens when they come down here.” In addition to playing on green surfaces year-round, Twisted Oaks has a lot to offer daily fee golfers. With only a few exceptions the greens are visible from the tees and the course is in great shape. There is a fair amount of elevation change – especially for Florida – and the course is very playable for every level of golfer. Several risk/reward opportunities will most likely yield a
Skyview at Terra Vista #15 40
better score after you’ve played the course at least once. The 6th hole is one of those unseeable greens. Calling it a dogleg right just doesn’t do this hole justice; it’s more like a right turn. It’s also one of those holes that if you know how to play it you can score well. From the White tees, it’s a 431-yard par 5 and requires about a 200-yard tee shot to the corner of the dogleg. The next time I play it I will hit a driver off the tee over the trees on the corner which should leave a mid to long-iron into the green and a good score. As long as you can find the ball after your tee shot, you’ll have an opportunity to score well here. Black Diamond Ranch is the crème de la crème when it comes to golf in these parts and can rival just about any golf course in Florida for natural beauty. There are 45 holes of Tom Faziodesigned golf lying behind the guarded gates of BDR. Black Diamond Ranch used to be a “mandatory membership” community but in these ever-changing times in which we live, that has changed. While the Quarry Course may be the main attraction, the Highlands Course also has some stunning holes and will challenge any golfer. The Ranch Course takes advantage of the hilly terrain with less attention in manicured areas. The Quarry Course is not your typical Florida golf course. If you look around, it’s hard to tell you’re in Florida! The five holes on the back nine that play over, into, and around a natural limestone quarry are the main attraction and rival Pebble Beach as the country’s most beautiful golf holes. There Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
Twisted Oaks Golf Club #18 are a couple of ways to get on the course. One is to become a member; the other is as part of a stay and play package which includes accommodations in a luxurious Black Diamond Ranch residence and one or two rounds of golf. The other is to befriend a member! The Villages of Citrus Hill is home to around 8,000 residents who enjoy 54 holes of golf, 20 tennis and pickleball courts, a 50,000 square foot fitness/wellness center, and a full-service spa. There are several dining venues as well, all serving incredible food as well as a fullservice spa. Golf seems to be the main attraction here. There are three 18-hole golf courses; the Oaks and Meadows courses play a little shorter than Skyview at Terra Vista which is the community’s flagship course. These two shorter tracks are by no means pushovers; The Meadows is a par 70 that plays 5,885 yards with a course rating of 68.3 and a slope of 117, while the Oaks is also a par 70, measuring 5,863 yards (68.7/117). Head down the road and you can air it out. Skyview measures a whopping 7,090 yards from the Gold Tees. I found that the Blue/White Tees from 6,245 yards provided plenty of challenge yet allowed me to leave with a little bit of dignity still intact. Plantation Golf Resort is the perfect family vacation spot, especially if everyone in the family has different activities in mind. Here you can do everything the Crystal River area has to offer. Plantation offers a nine-hole executive course that is usually busy along with an 18-hole championship course that has hosted the likes of PGA professional Tommy Bolt, who was a frequent visitor back in the ’60s. You don’t have to be a great golfer to have a good time out here, in fact, if you take it too seriously, you might miss out on the beauty that Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
The Plantation at Crystal River #3 surrounds the course including over 50 species of birds, fish, and an occasional manatee sighting. The 11th hole is a memorable one. It’s a 546-yard par 5 that doglegs to the right around a pond and then slightly back left at the end. The pond isn’t reachable off the tee but you’ll need to contend with it and a large palm tree in the middle of the fairway just short of the pond. The layup shot is critical and you’ll have a choice to play between the palm and oak tree on the right or risk hitting it too far on the left and ending up in the pine trees. The green is slightly elevated with a pot bunker in the front middle and more sand behind and right of the green. A good drive followed by a good layup shot is still going to leave about a 100-yard pitch shot into the green. Par is a good score here. When you’re not on the course, there are a lot of things to do and the Plantation on Crystal River can hook you up with all of them. The Plantation Adventure Center can set you up with boating, paddleboarding, scuba diving, scalloping, and fishing. Each year they host the Plantation Classic Redfish Classic. Marketing Manage Rosemary White is one of the
top competitive anglers in the area and can provide you with some valuable local fishing knowledge! While you can certainly get a good meal at any one of these courses, Crystal River has a restaurant that can’t be missed, especially if you’re a seafood lover. The Seafood Seller is owned by Jimmie Stoltz and his wife, Sue Gerzel. Jimmy hails from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and has brought a little bit of that Cajun flair to the area. Sue is from Baltimore, MD, so she knows a little something about seafood too! You can order all types of seafood, everything from Louisiana crawfish to oysters, littleneck clams, and a variety of fresh fish. I went with the steamed king crab legs with Cajun seasoning, just the right amount of spice. If it swims in the water and you can eat it, the Seafood Seller has it. They also have a full liquor bar with several local and imported beers on tap. This is just a small snippet of some of the golf available in the Crystal River area. For a more comprehensive list of the golf courses in the area, visit their website at www.discoversrystalriverfl.com. 41
orth florida PGA north florida PGA north florida PGA north florida PGA north
By Daniel Calderon Veterans learning a proper swing at PGA HOPE Orlando
PGA HOPE is Giving Back PGA HOPE, the flagship military program of PGA Reach and Yours & One Other (the charitable affiliate of the North Florida PGA) has touched the lives of those who have participated all year long, as it has done since its conception. The program provides Veterans with the opportunity to learn golf from PGA Professionals who are trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency. The program spans six to eight weeks and strives to build community among the Veterans who participate and the PGA Professionals who lead them, as well as establish an immersive environment for them to learn the game at their own pace, evolve on a weekly basis and enhance their lives and outlook on undertaking a new challenge. Throughout the duration of each session, Veterans learn new skills and techniques from PGA Professionals, such as practicing and perfecting their swing to learning how to chip and putt. James Hazelton, a 2021 PGA HOPE graduate, recalls his experience: “The program brought me out of a funk,” James said. “It was very therapeutic to be outside learning the game of golf and moving my bones. I looked forward to getting up every Wednesday,
and I surprised myself at how fairly decent I was.” There were four PGA HOPE sessions held this year within the North Florida region: one in Jacksonville, one in Sarasota and two in Orlando. Following the completion of each session, a ceremony was held to celebrate the accomplishments of each Veteran who took part in the program. Enrique Jograj, a 2021 PGA HOPE graduate, was thrilled to have the opportunity to learn more about the game and be given a real chance to grow in the sport: “The coaching was exceptional,” Enrique said. “Before, my swing wasn’t proper and I wasn’t able to analyze my mistakes. Now, I know how to analyze
what I was doing wrong and have corrective ideas. What I enjoyed most was the atmosphere… it was like a family outing. And I walked away with a couple of friends because of this program. Yours & One Other is participating in Giving Tuesday on November 30th, the world’s biggest day of generosity. The day is recognized globally and celebrates philanthropy and empowers individuals to give back to communities and those within them. Funds raised will go toward programs like PGA HOPE, as well as programs that empower youth. And for Enrique and James, PGA HOPE has given them an invaluable experience that has left a lifelong imprint in the course of their lives.
Enrique Jograj at PGA HOPE Orlando 42
Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
Kenny Perry and Trevor Immelman have made Transitions® lenses part of their game.
www.TurfLife.club Come see us at the PGA Show booth #3516
On the PGA TOUR®, vision is a golfer’s most important equipment. Transitions lenses adapt to changing light to help golfers see more comfortably in all light conditions and help protect eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Visit your local Vision Source doctor, Dr. James Podschun, located at 2828 Casa Aloma Way, Suite 400 in Winter Park, FL 32792, to ask which Transitions lenses are right for you. 407-671-0960
P ER FORMANCE SUNW E A R
Transitions and the swirl are registered trademarks and Transitions Adaptive Lenses is a trademark of Transitions Optical, Inc. ©2012 Transitions Optical, Inc.
Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
transitions.com
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outh orth florida PGA north south florida florida PGA PGA north southflorida floridaPGA PGAnorth southflorida floridaPGA PGAnorth south
South Florida PGA Junior Tour Wraps 2021 Season with Tour Championships at Banyan Cay Resort & Golf The South Florida PGA Junior Tour season on December 5th at Banyan Cay Resort and Golf with the SFPGA Junior Tour Championship, presented by the Honda Classic. Raines Holmes of Vero Beach finished the two-day, 36-hole championship at 5-under 68-71–139, winning the boys 13-18 division title by one shot over runner-up Graham Boone of Naples. Holmes entered the final round with a two-shot deficit to Boone. After a 1-over front nine, Holmes quickly bounced back to a 2-under back, enough to steal the victory. Boone wrapped play at 4-under 66-74–140. Meanwhile, Paval Tsar of Palm Beach Gardens celebrated his 15th birthday with a third-place finish at 3-under 6873–141. Winning the girls 13-18 division championship, Ariana SIlva of Fort Lauderdale turned in a two-day total of 3-over 73-74–147. Silva found success on the par 5s as she went 2-under over the stretch of eight par 5s throughout the two rounds. Madison Moman of Palm Beach Gardens finished runner-up with a very consistent 2-round total of 4-over 74-74–148. After Sunday’s finishes, Moman and Silva successfully managed to finish in the top-10 in all events they played in this season. In the boys 11-12 division, Jude Desmond of Pompano Beach claimed first honors by one stroke over Alen Gurdogen of Palm Beach Gardens. Desmond wrapped play at 4-over 73-75–148 while Gurdogen finished at 73-76–149. With the win, Desmond concluded the 2021 season with three first place finishes and ten top-10 finishes. Brett White of Fort Lauderdale had the shot of the weekend with a hole in one at the 115-yard 11th hole with a 56-degree wedge. The 2021 South Florida PGA Junior Tour Championship was an invite-only event based on player of the year points of both Challenge and Champion Tour players. 44
Raines Holmes (red shirt) and Graham Boone
Jude Desmond
Ariana Silva Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
www.nonablue.com
freddy's fairway thoughts
By Fred Seely
The PGA Tour is freaked about over the possible competition from the Saudi-backed tour that has Greg Norman as its main shill. The new tour is waving money at a collection of international names — some big, some Fleetwood — and there are plenty of rumors that some have already accepted the cash. In response, the Tour is throwing money around, sending execs to Dubai and, of course, having meetings. Quit fretting, PGA Tour leaders. You’re looking in the wrong direction. The PGA Tour has had zero real competition since it pulled away from the PGA of America in the late 1960s. Little things pop up from time to time and quickly disappear. And, over the years, the Ponte Vedra boys slowly have nibbled away at minitours, the LPGA and the European Tour. They are now even into collegiate play, and its influence into junior golf is massive (see: AJGA.) The Saudis have money (very important, of course), the Asian Tour (important only as a vehicle), Norman (an aging blowhard) and not much else. A lot was made of rules official Slugger White and administrator Ron Cross joining the Norman crowd, but White was at the end of his PGA Tour career (whether he liked it or not) and Cross had been shown the gate several years ago. The PGA Tour’s main problem, as always, is from within, and the top-level players are using the Saudis to get what they want. Mainly, they want to get big money and prestige by playing fewer tournaments. The Saudis have a lovely model: 10 tournaments, $200 million. The PGA Tour’s success is enormous. It is easily the best run of all the major sports by any comparison. And that success has brought demand, so we have a Tour event almost every week. Great for TV, great for us. Not so great for the big names who want Ryder Cup points and the like, who now see middle-pack players picking the goodies in what used to be the off-season. What do the McIlroys want? Start with invitationals, like Bay Hill (Arnold Palmer) and Memorial (Jack Nicklaus) with limited fields. Expect more of those: fewer players, maybe bigger points, guaranteed entry for the stars. Keep adding goodies for the biggies. The purse for the Players will be $20 million. There is $40 million set aside in a pool to reward the good guys, and you can expect most of that going 46
to those who the PGA Tour needs, whether they are good guys are not. The players know they need to get it while they can. A top player has a shelf life of maybe 15 years. The alternatives may look lovely, but they can’t offer pension plan funding, access to the majors and the big sponsorships that come with playing on the PGA Tour. The PGA Tour is more worried about competition than it should be (c’mon, man, are you really going out of your way to watch Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson?) They need to look at their own organization, which is where the real pressure is coming from. And a look into the future: keep reading. Predictions File this one away for future reference: when major league baseball owners tire of the current commissioner’s missteps, they’ll get rid of him and go after PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan. And, he’ll take the phone call. Monahan? Lifelong baseball fan (Red Sox) who likes the big city lights (New York.) So who will be the next Tour commissioner? There has only been one who was a player: Deane Beman, who turned out to be maybe the best commissioner any sport has had. The players own the Tour but they have let the suits take it over, and they want to take it back. So: Monahan quits and Davis Love III is elected commissioner. Short stuff • Geez, the Houston Open used to be a real big deal, and now it seems to be so weak that it barely gets onto the off-season schedule. Wouldn’t you think that the nation’s fourth-biggest market in a golf-crazy state would have a big-time place on the PGA Tour’s schedule? • This sounds goofy but it’s getting consideration among those trying to get the length back to a realistic level: limit the size of golf tees. • Women’s college golf is producing a lot of very good American players but they disappear after graduation. Right now, it’s Lexi Thompson against the world on the LPGA Tour, and she can’t win an event. • Phil Mickelson was a terrific guest on the Monday Night Football sideshow last month, asking great questions of the Manning brothers and adding good comments. If he ever quits the Tour, he’ll be target No. 1 for the networks. • Satire is hard to keep going (see: demise of Saturday Night Live) but those behind Club Pro Guy are still sharp after a half-dozen years or so. And you don’t have to be a Southeastern Conference football fan to enjoy SEC Shorts, which pops up on You Tube. Comments? Lawsuits? fs4569@comcast.net.
Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
Lisa Pucillo SUPERSTAR Lisa Pucillo Assumes The Position Of President/CFO Of Lidochem®, Inc. Including The Performance Nutrition® Division products to specialty fertilizer and
Now in its 40th year, LidoChem will
industrial national accounts through
carry forth the “Partners in Growth”
its Performance Nutrition Fertilizers
philosophy with a quote from Don
and Chemical Raw Materials Divisions.
himself “We appreciate the trust
Despite the loss of one of Lido-
growers and turf managers place in
Chem, Inc.’s founding members, the
us when they buy our products, and
company will move forward with Lisa
we honor that trust by continuing
Pucillo acting as President/CFO. She
to offer the best products we can.”
shares the same vision and passion for
No words can adequately ex-
delivering value to customers and will
press our sadness over Don’s
honor Don’s memory by continuing
death, he was a true visionary and
with the work that he loved so much.
an amazing human being.
Lidochem, Inc. was formed by Don and Lisa Pucillo in 1981 and emerged as one of the leaders in the global identification and distribution of superior raw materials. In 1999, Don was one of the first in the industry to acknowledge a change in the needs of crop, turf and ornamental growers. Both regulations and environmental awareness was creating a desire for economical, effective and “greener” products and Don recognized the need to utilize natural resources to provide nutrition for plants and soil microbes. The Performance Nutrition division was created as a division of Lidochem to develop eco-friendly products for the agricultural and turf markets as well as always being open to investigating new and cutting-edge technologies. For Forty years, Lidochem has continued to source and distribute 48
Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
Introducing
A Foliar Calcium for Turf University Tested and Verified
Kelpene® Ca-T uses plant-based biochemistry to efficiently deliver calcium and support calcium absorption in both foliar and soil applications. It is designed to correct calcium deficiency and improve growth where additional calcium may be needed.
EffectsEffects of Kelpene® Application on Foliar Uptake of Calcium ofCa-T Kelpene Ca-T Application Effects of Kelpene® Ca-TUptake Application of on Foliar Uptake of Calcium on Foliar Calcium
9,000 8,000
7,000 8,000
5,000 6,000
ppm
ppm
6,000 7,000
4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 0
7,673
9,000
7,673
6,079 6,079
+26.2% +26.2%
5,907 5,907
6,410 6,410
+8.5%
+8.5%
5,000
• Corrects calcium deficiencies • Supports cell wall formation and root development • Utilizes calcium nitrate for a quickly available source of nitrogen • Satisfies turf’s need for calcium during critical stages of development, helping maintain turf quality and overall health
4,000 3,000 2,000
• Delivers plant-derived organic compounds that build more resilient turf that fights against all types of abiotic stress
1,000 0
• Improves calcium uptake through plant tissue for more efficient nutrient delivery
Week 1 1 Week Control Control
Week Week 22 Kelpene Ca-T Kelpene Ca-T
*Trial performed by Dr. Haibo Liu, Clemson University
Contact your Performance Nutrition representative for more information (732) 888-8000 | WWW.PNFERTILIZERS.COM Performance Nutrition and Kelpene are registered trademarks of LidoChem, Inc. ©2021 LidoChem, Inc.
R
TurfLifeSUPERSpotlight: Tonya Anderson
Golf Course Superintendent, Old Memorial Golf Club Tony: Where were you born, Tonya? Tonya:
I was born in Brooklyn, Ohio, which is a little town right outside of Cleveland. I lived there my entire life up until I moved away to college at 18 to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Tony:
What was your major in school and what was your motivation to go to Tennessee?
Tonya: I Majored in Plant Sciences with a concentration in Turfgrass Management. When growing up as a kid my family would always take vacations to Tennessee, and I had fallen in love with the Smokies and during my time visiting, I became a sports fan of the University of Tennessee, and I said to myself I’ve got to go down there. I’ve got to go be on that campus, immerse myself in the culture and be at all the sporting events. I was a huge, Pat Summitt and Lady Vols basketball fan.
Tony: Did you play any sports? Tonya: Yes, growing up. I had the same group of girlfriends since elementary school, we grew up playing sports together, we played basketball, soccer and softball all through middle school and high school, we played a sport every season year-round.
Tony:
What got you interested in turfgrass enough to go to university to study it, did you deal with any turfgrass where you were in Ohio?
Tonya: Growing up I was taught to have a job at a young age. So, I started with a paper route and then I went to mowing yards in the neighborhood, and I just enjoyed being outside, I didn’t even really know that you could major in turf grass. I thought that I was going to study business in college and during orientation I went to some business classes, and I said, I can’t do this, I was not comprehending the material all the way, or it wasn’t interesting to me. Therefore, I realized was that 50
By Tony Taylor, CGCS Noble Turf business wasn’t what I wanted to do. I went to our Career Services department on campus, and I was talking to one of the ladies there, did an aptitude test and just talking about my common interests, you know, sports, being outside, I enjoy physical labor, and she’s the one who brought to my attention that the agriculture campus had a degree of turfgrass science and management. And she gave me a brochure on it. I met with some of the professors, Dr. John Sorochan and Dr. Horvath, I thought that this sounds like something I’d enjoy doing and could make a career out of.
Tony: How did golf come into play? Tonya:
I did grow up playing a little bit of golf just casually, with my grandparents, golf was something we enjoyed doing together, they would take us to the driving ranges. We would get out and play golf here and there, golf was a big part of their life. And it was just something that kind of created that bond initially. I don’t watch golf every weekend, but I enjoy being out here and working on the golf course.
Tony:
How did you get your first job on the golf course?
Tonya: Throughout college, I had gone home the first two summers and worked at Avon Oaks CC and Chagrin Valley CC. I completed my final internship at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Pennsylvania. During my senior year of college, I worked at Cherokee Country Club in Knoxville part time while attending classes. Then after I graduated in May 2014, I was pretty much open to working anywhere. I knew that moving down here to Florida growing grass was a 365 day year-round operation and I was okay with that. So, my first job after college I applied for a second assistant superintendent position at Vasari Country Club in Bonita Springs, Florida, with the current director of agronomy here, Sam Mueller. And Sam gave me a shot and I am very, very appreciative that he did, and we’ve had a long history working together since then.
Tony
: What makes your course here at Old Memorial outstanding?
Tonya: Personally, I feel like you’d really have to see it in person, to really appreciate Old Memorial, as both the golf Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
and the landscaping here really makes it unique. All of our bunker designs, the contouring, the steep bunker faces, all of that. I love that when you’re out here, you’re just on a golf course. There are no homes, nobody’s pool in the backyard butting up against the fairway. I love that you’re out here, just in nature. You really do feel like you are kind of carved into the woods a little bit, you’ll see the oaks and pines, something besides Palm Trees. Also, we’re just a Golf Club, there’s no tennis courts or pool to maintain it’s kind of nice.
Tony: What do you enjoy most about your job here?
Tonya: What I enjoy maintaining most is the challenging greens here. And I feel like they are also challenging from a playability perspective, they do have movement. They’re not just flat circles out there, so I love the shapes of our greens. They are challenging maintenance wise too, but it’s nice to be challenged and it’s nice to find what works and what doesn’t work and just the feedback from the membership whenever we’ve got them dialed in, there’s just nothing better than getting compliments, you know, from the members, if they’re having fun that’s great and makes it all worthwhile.
Tony: When did you start working here? Tonya:
I worked for Sam in Bonita Springs for about four years, and I moved back to Knoxville and worked at Cherokee Country Club for a little over two years. And when Sam got the job here, he asked me to come back and work with him. So, I have been here since October 2019.
Tony:
How’s the experience here helped develop your career compared to the other courses?
Tonya: I’ve been fortunate to work at private Country Clubs, what I considered high end private Country Clubs but after coming here, kind of gives high end a different meaning. I’d like to use the word premiere. This is a premier club and everything we do from start to finish, I feel like is meant to exemplify that and provide the highest level of member experience, it’s top notch, nothing less and that’s what we’re out here to give the members. So whatever standards that I thought were high standards, Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
before, they’re even higher now.
Tony:
Who are your mentors? Why would you consider them to be a mentor?
Tonya:
Well, I guess I’ve got two, first and foremost the biggest role models in my life have been my parents. I was very fortunate to grow up and have two parents who love each other and have been together for over 30 years. And they’re the hardest working people that I know. From my mom, she exemplifies perseverance. She decided to go out and get a bachelor’s degree during her adult life and it took her 10 years to do so, working full time and going to school part time in the evenings, but she did it and didn’t stop and it was really cool to witness that. You know, being young and in school myself it was also motivation for me but she’s amazing. And then my dad is just without a doubt the hardest working person I know. Hands down. He’s somebody who just he teaches you right from wrong, and he is extremely dedicated to his family. He works every day all day, doesn’t complain. And he’s just taught us that if you want something, you go out and you get it. You work for it. I couldn’t ask for better parents and that’s why they are role models in my life. I could probably do a whole interview just rambling on about how appreciative and supportive they’ve been in my life and how thankful I am for them. I’m the only one of their kids who went away to college and while I’m sure that maybe made them sad, they were nothing but supportive. And even if it caused them a little hardship, they never they never let me know it, which I’m just thankful for. In a professional manner, I’d be foolish if I didn’t say my mentor was now the Director of Agronomy here at Old Memorial, Sam Mueller. We worked together at Vasari Country Club, took a little break, and we’re back together here and I just feel like we’re a dynamic duo, he and I complement each other very well. Sam sometimes isn’t a man of many words, but he lets his work speak for himself. I’ve worked for a lot of great Superintendents, all whom I have great admiration for, and no disrespect to any of them, but the product that Sam can produce and maintain, and as a team we are able to produce and maintain it’s just the best. I think he has a bit of a reputation for grinding and working hard all the time and it’s true, we do, but I feel like our work, time and effort all that we put in is worthwhile, as you
can see it when you’re out here on the course. We’re out here hustling, and I don’t know whether people know or not he’s a smart guy. Really smart when it comes to turfgrass and the science behind it and I consider myself very, very fortunate to be able to call Sam a mentor and lucky to have spent most of my career with him.
Tony: If you were to give advice to someone starting out in this field, both men and women what advice would that be?
Tonya: I think that in this profession, whether it’s turf, golf, or the green industry as a whole, there’s something for everybody. And it’ll be what you make of it, as successful as you want to be in this industry you can be, if you go out there and work for it. I also think the phrase “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” is extremely prevalent in this industry. So, I would encourage networking, putting yourself out there and just getting yourself and your work ethic known because you’re going to meet somebody, someday, somewhere who is going to help you.
Tony: So how do you plan to pay it forward with other people that you come into contact with that work for you in the golf course maintenance industry?
Tonya:
That’s a good question. I have an opportunity right now being recently promoted to Superintendent here, as we do have one individual who is a student on staff that keeps me on my toes. He’s in that learning mode, that textbook mode, he’s very turf involved, and he wants to talk about it all the time. And so as far as paying it forward goes, I hope to just be able to engage in those meaningful conversations with him not only about turf, but about leadership, because the people part of the job is almost more important than the turf part of the job. And the relationships you build with people is what they’re going to remember during their lifetime, you know, the relationships and the conversations and stuff like that. The grass, well that’s what we’re getting paid to maintain, but the grass is going to grow. So hopefully, the people that I encounter, I can just leave a lasting impression with my work ethic and my leadership abilities.
Tony:
So awesome. Thank you so much for the interview. It was such a pleasure. 51
Hammock Dunes Club Celebrates 20 years of Audubon International Membership Hammock Dunes Club in Palm Coast, Florida celebrates 20 years of membership with Audubon International (AI) this year. The Oceanfront Links Course, an 18-hole golf course with oceanfront views, joined AI’s Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf in 2001 and swiftly became certified within the year. The second course to achieve ACSP certification was their Creek Golf Course, a unique 7-hole course which achieved certification in 2004. Audubon International’s ACSP for Golf certification requires members to undergo recertification every 3 years. At this time, each member summarizes their efforts in 6 different environmental focal areas including outreach and education, wildlife habitat management, chemical use reduction and safety, water conservation, water quality monitoring, and a case study. Since Hammock Dunes most recent recertification, the Creek Course has established significant acreage of native vegetation, minimized maintenance to natural areas and continues protecting the habitat on course with environmentally sensitive area signage nearby. The Links’ course continues to focus on increasing water conservation and water quality by selectively irrigat-
52
ing, regularly testing water quality, and maintaining vegetative buffers around water bodies to reduce nutrient pollution. Located next to the golf club is Hammock Dunes oceanfront golf community, which includes 1,012 acres and 2.3 miles of beachfront on the Atlantic Ocean. The community is in one of the last maritime hammocks on the east
coast and the Hammock Dunes Owners Association (HDOA) took the initiative to pursue Audubon International’s Sustainable Communities certification to conserve and support this environment. The efforts of the HDOA Audubon International Committee are well received by their residents and Hammock Dunes achieved certification as an Audubon International Sustainable
Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
Community in 2018 - making Hammock Dunes the 1st certified private community in Florida and the 10th in the world. Through AI’s Sustainable Community certification process, the HDOA developed a long-term sustainability plan. This plan focuses on how the HDOA will achieve their goals in 15 different focal areas, some of which include resource use, public health, governance, and environmental issues. Hammock Dunes’ initiatives include projects like their Audubon trail, sea turtle patrol, and the dune restoration efforts – all of which showcase how the community prioritizes health, reduces environmental impacts, and creates a high quality of life. Audubon International’s Sustainable Communities certification serves as a catalyst for citizen-driven planning and community actions, and facilitates partnerships with governmental agencies, businesses, academic institutions, and other organizations to reach the goals envisioned in each community. If you are interested in learning more about Audubon International’s certifications, please visit: auduboninternational.org. Audubon International, an environmentally focused non-profit organization, offers members numerous certifications and conservation initiatives to protect the areas where we live, work, and play. Their certifications are designed to increase environmental awareness, encourage sustainable environmental efforts, and educate both their members and their communities.
Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
53
By Anthony L. Williams, MG, CGCS, CGM
A Turf Pirate’s Journal
What Are You Thankful For? Jim Stuart, Anthony Williams, Julie Towe pause for a photo at the Stone Mountain Golf Club by Marriott, the trio has over 90 years of Marriott service between them.
Turf Pirates are busy this time of year, recovering from an unprecedented golf season, planning for next year and of course enjoying the Holidays and a little football and smoke on the grill. Historically November (Thanksgiving) brings with it an extra dose of gratitude. In the spirit of deep thankfulness, I wanted to spotlight some of the other turf pirates that worked with me to make our work lives so spectacular. We sailed through calm and stormy seas and found that our biggest treasures were the relationships we forged. It is a well-known fact that I have an amazing team here at TPC Four Seasons Dallas and I am blessed to be part of the FSD Family. You will hear a lot about them in the future, but today is a TBTY (Throw Back Thank You). It is not as well-remembered that during my 30 years with Marriott I benefitted from great individuals making things happen. I wanted to say again publically (Turf Pirates rule #22) that I owe many of my staff (dearest friends in the world) a debt of gratitude. I would not be where I am today without them. 54
Two stand outs in this category are our Equipment Manager from back in the day Jim Stuart and our unflappable Administrative Assistant Julie Towe. We served two great destinations together PineIsle and Stone Mountain GC, where the dynamic duo of Jim and Julie still keep it green to this very day. More on Jim and Julie. Jim and I came up together from the lower decks to the penthouse (Remember the Paul McCartney Suite anyone? I still have a lamp from that legendary space). Jim is the only equipment manager to win the GCSAA/GCM Most Valuable Technician award and the TurfNet Golden Wrench award. He can fix anything and in 30 years together we never missed a budget. He kept us rolling literally and in those last year’s we certainly shared a mind on equipment, agronomy and life. Julie came over to Turf Piracy from the Hotel side after our long time Administrative Assistant Wanda Jones (who was also great BTW) left us to marry her high school sweet heart after reconnecting at a Class Reunion. Julie was the peace-
ful voice of a mother in a barn full of scallywags. She kept the books and office in order and did floriculture work on the side, we planted like a million flowers together over the years. Julie and my wife Phyllis share a birthday (November 21) so I never missed a birthday because the two made sure the other was taken care of (Perfect for a slightly overwhelmed Turf Pirate, Julie I owe you a trip to the Big Joy). I miss Jim and Julie every day and I always smile when I hear an update (they have grandchildren!) or reminisce on past adventures. Little did we know just how the turf industry would impact our lives but I know they made every day fun and they made me better, together we made a difference. This Thanksgiving when the turkey is eaten and the shadows grow long and lean to the east take a minute Turf Pirates to be grateful, not just for the good things in your life today but for the people who stood with you in life’s moments of struggle and achievement. The turf business is not a 9 to 5 thing so we spend an incredible amount of time with our work mates so hire well captains and row in time sailors, fore time will slip by quickly and the endless summer will yield to winter. Take a few minutes to call an old friend and say how grateful you are that your paths crossed!
Happy Holidays Turf Pirates, may your glass always be full, and your life be full of adventures. Anthony enjoying a Guiness at the Guiness factory bar overlooking Dublin, Ireland, it's good to be a Turf Pirate! Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 8
Sunn 28-0-0
Minors Blend
Sunn 6-0-0 Blend
Total Nitrogen ..........................28% 20.2% .......... Slow release Nitrogen 7.8% ......................... Urea Nitrogen
Total Magnesium (Mg) ..........0.50% Soluble Magnesium (Mg) ....0.050% Soluble Iron (Fe) ...................3.40% Chelated Iron (Fe) .................1.60% Total Manganese (Mn) ..........0.25% Soluble Manganese (Mn) ......0.25% Soluble Zinc (Zn) ..................0.10% Sulfur (S) combined ..............3.50%
Total Magnesium (Mg) ..........0.50% Soluble Magnesium (Mg) ......0.50% Soluble Iron (Fe) ...................3.40% Chelated Iron (Fe) .................1.60% Total Manganese (Mn) ..........0.25% Soluble Manganese (Mn) ......0.25% Soluble Zinc (Zn) ..................0.10% Sulfur (S) combined ..............3.50%
Derived from: Manganese Sulphate, Zinc Sulphate, Iron Glucoheptonate, Iron Sulphate, Magnesium Sulphate.
Derived from: Manganese Sulphate, Zinc Sulphate, Iron Glucoheptonate, Iron Sulphate, Magnesium Sulphate.
N-SURE ITEM #160031 GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
Sunn KTS
PRO LIQUID FERTILIZER Item# 160041 GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
Soluble Potash (K2O) ..............25% Total Sulfur (S) .........................17% 17% combined sulfur 0% free sulfur Derived from: potassium thiosulfate
LIQUID FERTILIZER ITEM #160000 GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
PRO LIQUID FERTILIZER Item# 160010 GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
Sunn 12-0-0 Blend PRO LIQUID FERTILIZER ITEM# 160021 GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
Total Nitrogen ..........................12% 12% Urea Nitrogen Chlorine not more than ..............2%
SECONDARY PLANT FOODS Iron as Fe ...................................6% Manganese as Mn .....................2% Derived from: Urea, Iron Glucoheptonate, Manganese Glucoheptonate
Manufactured by
SUNNILAND CORPORATION
PO Box 8001 Sanford, Florida 32773-8001
www.sunnilandcorp.com Share your photos & videos #sunnilandcorp Follow us @sunnilandcorp
www.sunnilandcorp.com • 800-432-1130
THERE ARE A MILLION THINGS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN FOR YOUR COURSE TO BE PLAYABLE.
AND YOUR GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT IS THINKING ABOUT THEM ALL.
The pH of this.
The growth of that.
Too much moisture.
Not enough moisture.
Looking out for the environment.
To learn more visit gcsaa.org/GC
Looking out for the health of the course. And that’s just over coffee.
So say thanks to your golf course superintendent. Or make that, thanks a million.