Golf Central Mag- Vol 23 Issue 8

wHat iT Takes?

Tee up along Florida’s Sports Coast to discover the best golf excursions. With a wide variety of courses, every round of golf here is both challenging and enjoyable.

naturally fLorida

After a round of golf, paddle through the peaceful Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park or unwind on the beach at Anclote Key Preserve State Park to experience the serenity of Mother Nature. flsportscoast.com

Fox Hollow Golf Club

Rolling fairways and five sets of tees offer new challenges every time you drive the ball.

Lexington Oaks Golf Club

With a multitude of lakes and wetlands adding challenge and character to the course, it’s hard to forget a round here.

Plantation Palms Golf Club

Challenging greens, rolling terrain and tight landings make this course a true golfer’s dream play.

Fox Hollow Golf Club

Saddlebrook Resort & Golf Club

Boasting two picturesque Arnold Palmerdesigned courses, it’s no surprise Saddlebrook is a well-known destination for world-class golf.

Beacon Woods Golf Club

Each hole is designed to bring out the best in both novice and pro golfers, with sporting fairways and well-guarded greens.

Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club

The rolling hills and elevation changes on Lake Jovita’s two courses will test your skills.

Seven Springs Golf & Country Club

With one course perfect for beginners and another that will challenge the pros, the whole family will have a great time playing here.

The Groves Golf & Country Club

Designed with nature’s best interests in mind, The Groves is known as The Longest Short Course in Florida.

Saddlebrook Resort & Golf Club

Lexington Oaks Golf Club

Highland Park Golf Course Birmingham, Alabama

Château Élan Golf Club Braselton, Georgia

Mystic Creek Golf Club El Dorado, Arkansas

Tiburón Golf Club Naples, Florida

Maggie Valley Club & Resort Maggie Valley, North Carolina

Knoxville Municipal Golf Course Knoxville, Tennessee Grand Bear Saucier, Mississippi

Appreciate Cha!

Greg Corbo, aka Jersey, who came on the scene 23 years ago as a graduate of the San Diego Golf Academy has matured into my business partner, super model, golf coach, fashion consultant, photojournalist, and lead generator extraordinaire. He instantly embraced the magazine’s fun and rebel attitude.

Back in the day we hosted soirées every month as a quasi “press release” party every time an issue of the magazine hit the streets and Greg was our photographer. It was a brilliant way to connect our advertisers with local and regional golf industry peeps and promote their products and services “on stage.” We had prizes and drawings, a few adult beverages, and a whole lot of fun. Let’s bring them back?

Among his many talents, Greg is also a high level, professional caddie who spends his time between Baltusrol in NJ in the Summer, and Streamsong in FL in the snowbird season. The perfect blend of work and play to feed his passion for the game. In 2008, Greg organized an annual “911 Be A Hero for Ground Zero” Memorial Caddie Walk where he and fellow caddies walked more than 20 miles with their golf bags from West Orange, NJ to Ground Zero in Manhattan.

Over the years, Greg and I traveled to courses and resorts all over the Southeast; photographing and writing stories along with Lynn Pelham, The Crusher, and my son Preston. Those were hardworking, memorable trips especially in the early days as we struggled to publish a high-quality magazine with little staff.

Greg’s influence has not only impacted the magazine’s success, but he has also been instrumental in growing the Turf Life brand saluting everyone involved with turf. We launched TL in 2013 and will celebrate our 10th anniversary next year.

His enthusiasm and talents helped us grow into golf’s longest running regional, golf, travel, and lifestyle magazine.

I always appreciate all of the positive vibes from the tribe and the encouragement, faith, and belief you’ve had in me and the magazine. You ALL know who you are!

My heartfelt gratitude with an attitude!

Always, TP (AKA, as Jersey would say, QB)

2009 North Florida PGA Amateur of the Year

Publisher: Terrie L. Purdum

Edi tor in Chief: Shannon Coates

Graphic Design: Melahn Cable, Golf The Wise Way: Greg and Beverly Wise, Photojournalists

Photojournalist: Greg Corbo

Photographers: Lynn Pelham, Brion Price, Peter Hakansson Mike Coonan, Becky Galloway, Madison Coates, Mac Carraway

Senior Correspondent: Rick Harris, Sr.

Contributing Writers: Jay Golden, PGA; Bob Bolton, Greg Corbo, Elisa Gaudet, Holly Geoghegan, Mike Jamison, Mike May, Anthony Williams

Editor Emeritus: Joel Jackson, CGCS Retired

Regional Partner: Doug Hollandsworth, Founder-Georgia Golf Trail Turf Pirate: Anthony Williams

Media Partners: John Gerber, DSP Media; Holly Georgheha, Golf Insiders, GMS; Tony Leodora, Traveling Golfer

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

©2022 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.

I want to express my deep gratitude and appreciation for a great man that has been behind this great and always wild, crazy, and resilient creative team at GCM..

Event Proceeds P roceeds to Benefit: to Cancer Institute Institute

OCCASION

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“Visit HiddenLinks.com and start planning the golf tour of your dreams,” -Sir Nick Faldo, Six-time Hall of Famer

Royal Portrush Golf Club

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Royal County Down Golf Club

Palmetto Hall Courses Join Heritage Golf

Now 117 Holes of Championship Fun

The ‘Golf Island’ hasn’t gotten any bigger, it’s still smaller than 50 square miles. But the number of great public courses on Hilton Head Island has grown to two dozen with the acquisition and multimillion-dollar renovation of the Palmetto Hall Golf and Country Club courses by Heritage Golf Group.

The two courses, one designed by Arthur Hills, the other by Robert Cupp, raise the bar for intriguing play on the Golf Island and add to Heritage Golf’s portfolio that can keep players busy for days playing its 117 holes that include 36 holes at Port Royal Golf & Racquet Club, 27 holes at Shipyard Golf

Club and 18 at Oyster Reef Golf Club.

“With the resurgence in golf travel and the number of choices golfers have for golf getaways, it’s crucial that we promote our region’s

amazing golf, lodging and culinary assets,” says Mark Burnett President and CEO of Heritage Golf Group.

Brad Marra, President of the Lowcountry Golf Course Owners Association, is thrilled about the additions. “It’s an exciting day when we can welcome one of the area’s iconic brands back to prominence on Hilton Head Island,” he says.

The Hills and Cupp Courses aren’t brand new, although they’re going to look like it with the renovated greens and new “Billy-bunkers” on the Arthur Hills course, slated to open in early October. Similar renovations are planned for the Cupp course soon, restoring the pair to their 1990’s

Palmetto Hall

glory as a delightful contrast of the more-traditional Hills layout with the ultra-modern shaping and geometric bunkers of the Cupp Course. Both will be even more highly praised for their ingenuity, shot values, playability and conditioning with the investments made by Heritage Golf Group.

And nobody offers more variety of stay-and-play packages, multipleround options and those special family and buddy trips that create lifetime memories than the folks at Heritage Golf. In fact, they’re already up with special trip packages for the spring of ’23 that can give you the jump on planning a special getaway considering the “resurgence in golf travel’ noted by CEO Burnett. You can find out more, and even book those trips online at www.hiltonheadgolf.net.

As for the golf itself, a Heritage Golf trip will challenge your game as much as you want, without

overwhelming you. A rainy summer and aggressive maintenance have golfers raving about the conditioning at all of Heritage Golf’s courses. Oyster Reef was just restored in 2018 by its original designer, Rees Jones, the renowned ‘Open Doctor’, closer to its

original design, exchanging six acres of bunkering for new water-saving TifEagle Bermuda sod to create challenging run-off areas around larger, elevated greens. Yes, there’s less sand, but now arguably the best bunkers anywhere on Hilton Head Island and a fresh, new test.

Port Royal’s two great layouts, Robber’s Row and Barony, have undergone extensive tree work and bunker renovation while still offering a fun challenge through the historic mossdraped oaks, with a dash of the Island’s legacy as a strategic outpost during both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.

Renovations have also taken place at lagoon-surrounded Shipyard Golf Club’s 27-holes that have also reduced bunker sizes. If you really want more sand, you’re welcome to visit the 12 miles of pristine Hilton Head

Port Royal

Palmetto Hall

beachfront easily accessible from all of the Heritage Collection courses.

And if you want more variety in activities away from the golf courses or the beaches, Port Royal has two pickleball courts and eight new Har-Tru tennis courts, offering extensive opportunities for all ranges of players. Hilton Head Island also offers nearly 100 miles of bicycle trails for the entire family to enjoy.

Once you’ve planned a golf itinerary, you need a place to stay. Nobody can help you navigate the accommodation landscape any better than the pros at Heritage Golf Group, who can help you decide between the hotel options on and off the island and have access to over 500 villa and home rental options to fit your price points.

And you gotta eat, right? The Heritage Golf Group’s popular-with-the-locals dining options fit right in with the upscale, bistro-like vibe that’s made Hilton Head Island a culinary getaway over the last few years. Whether

its indoors, on the patios, or even take-out, Oyster Reef’s LagerHead Tavern, Port Royal’s Robber’s Row Grille and Shipyard’s Brickyard Pub offer a variety of specialty delights.

If there’s one thing we’ve all come to appreciate during these very ‘different’ times, it’s the in-person relationships we can nourish through outside activities. No place knows that better than Heritage Golf Group on the Golf Island. It’s in our name, our outlook, our DNA.

Like very few vacation destinations, this one place can be your sanctuary, to escape the cities, the crowds, the ‘other’ world. Beaches beckon, bike trails entice, sailing, fishing, paddleboarding and other water sports are also available, even on days when you also enjoy a round of our favorite sport, golf!

For more resource information or to book tee times, visit www.hiltonheadgolf.net or call -1-800-2-FIND-18.

Shipyard

Oyster Reef

Displays of the world’s nest automobiles.

200+ EXOTIC, CLASSIC & MUSCLE CARS DISPLAYED IN THE GARDENS. LUXURY LIFESTYLE COCKTAIL RECEPTION.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH 8;00 PM-10:00 PM.

OPEN BAR, GREAT FOOD, MUSIC, SCOTCH & BOURBON TASTINGS, CHARITY AUCTION & MORE.

VINOY PARK, ST. PETERSBURG. JANUARY 22ND, 2023 AWARDS PRESENTATION

Olivia Podes

Where were you born? Did you grow up there? I was born and raised in Atlanta Georgia Is “acting your age” overrated? Very, but I have been told I am an old soul.

What do you do for a living? I am currently a college student at the University of Georgia majoring in Journalism and Sports Media and Reporting.

What would you like to do for a living? I would love to be a broadcaster for PGA Tour or MLB and to attend and interview celebrities on Red Carpet Events.

Aside from golf; what do you prefer for fun and relaxation? I love going out with friends and just having a good time, such as trying new restaurants, attending sporting & social events, and shopping. For relaxation, I either hit a bucket of balls at the range or go play a round, this has really helped with my stress and mental health.

What golf apparel do you like to wear? Lilly Pulitzer, RLX Ralph Lauren, and Lucky in Love

Whom do you most admire for their inner and outer beauty? Dolly Parton, one of the most-sweetest human beings and that to me makes her so beautiful.

Tell us about your first kiss? I was 18 on Spring Break at Panama City Beach, and there was a MTV Reality show being filmed called Floridabama shore, my first kiss was with one of the guys on the reality show. It was in Club la Vela and I didn’t realize my mom was right behind me and I kissed someone right when the camera was on us. So, my first kiss was on MTV. Steak, chicken, or seafood? Seafood! Lobster and oysters any day or night! Any seafood makes me smile.

Tell us something about yourself that only your closest friends know. They would tell you how kind my heart really is and how true of a person I am. I am always the most fun to go travel with too. If you want to have the best time of your life that felt like it was in a movie, just bring me along.

What three things would you need to survive on a deserted island? Air Condition, Coca Cola, and sunglasses.

Who would you like to have with you on the same deserted island; and why? Chris Hemsworth, he gorgeous to look at, looks great shirtless and in water, and he could totally make me laugh.

What do you find to be the most annoying habit people demonstrate on the golf course? Being Cocky.

Name the three most important things to you in this world. My Family. There’s nothing else that comes to mind besides my family.

Given the choice; would you select love, success, or money to keep yourself happy? All three! But picking one, I feel that I would have to say success. Because happiness, love, and money would come from you being successful. What do you fear the most? Living life with regret.

What three people would you most like to play with in your fantasy golf foursome? My Grandpa, John Daly, Adam Sandler What are some of your great accomplishments? I have been on the Deans List since entering College. I was accepted overnight into the University of Georgia, and staying true to myself. I taught myself my own rhythm with golf and how I do it in just my own little way.

Last time you spewed something through your nose from laughing so hard? I was at a nightclub once and this very out of place guy comes out of nowhere to flirt with me, and his flirting was singing the Devil Went Down to Georgia and did the solo of fiddle part.

Favorite comedian? Richard Pryor and Chris Farley

Movies:…comedy, drama, action, romance? Comedy forever. Laughter is great for the soul. I love a good thriller/scary movie as well. Favorite television channel? MTV or Bravo

Last book you read? Romancing Mister Bridgerton.

Favorite Music? I love old music. Anything from the 60s-90s is my favorite and only music I listen to.

Favorite charity to support? Meals on Wheels

What else would you like for us to know about you?

I am double-jointed just like Ben Hogan. I golf 3 times a week and it has helped me with my mental health and it is a great way I spend time with my grandpa and meeting new people. Being a young woman in golf, it feels empowering. Young women in sports is such a double-standard these days, but I love going out and showing off that I love golf and enjoy it at my age. I think playing golf is very sexy for women. I see myself being this young Bachelorette playing golf with a bunch of men as a fun game. Who doesn’t enjoy a game with surprising their competition? I thrive every time I go on the golf course to get better at mastering the game. I am a very positive and happy person, but I am not easily fooled. I see people for who they are. The only lasting beauty is the beauty of the heart.

My favorite conversations to have are the ones that happen on the golf course. I feel that you get to see someone and their thought process and how they will react to things if it doesn’t go their way. In my experience, this is one of my favorite ways to go on dates and get to know someone.

Get Away to the Great Outdoors

Beau Rivage Trifecta: Golf, Gaming and Fishing

Traveling golfers looking for more in a golf getaway than simply hitting the links are finding their way to Coastal Mississippi, a gorgeous stretch of beachfront running 26 continuous miles from Bay St. Louis to Biloxi to Ocean Springs. Home to championship golf, Las Vegas-style gaming and world-class fishing, this undiscovered gem offers the trifecta for those wanting the best of both worlds – outstanding outdoor

experiences by day and exciting nightlife and entertainment after dark. Spectacular sunsets, white sandy beaches, a dozen casino resorts, and more than two dozen golf courses dot the Coast. Its warm gulf waters offer up more than 200 species of fish including redfish, speckled trout and flounder making the Mississippi Gulf Coast one of the Southeast’s top fishing and vacation destinations.

By Logan Henry

The crown jewel of the region is Beau Rivage Resort & Casino. Named one of the “South’s Best Resorts” by Southern Living, MGM Resorts’ 1,740room beachfront showpiece recently completed a $55 million room remodel and is home to 10 restaurants and four bars and lounges where live music can be enjoyed nightly. Guests can also catch headline acts in the 1,550seat Beau Rivage Theatre, spend time by the tropical pool or be pampered in the spa and salon. The resort’s upscale promenade not only offers a dozen retail stores, but the swanky Black Clover Lounge and South Mississippi’s only Topgolf Swing Suite. Available exclusively to Beau Rivage guests is the Tom Fazio-designed Fallen Oak. The award-winning course served as home to a PGA TOUR Champions tournament for more than a decade and has attracted some of the biggest names in golf. The 510acre track sits 20 miles north of the beachfront resort and is adjacent to the De Soto National Forest, fitting in well with its natural surroundings.

Fallen Oak opened in 2006 to rave reviews and debuted at No. 19 on Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses. Golfweek ranks it the best golf course in Mississippi and for the 16th straight year, the second highestranked casino course in the world

Fallen Oak Hole No. 1

AAA Four Diamond Beau Rivage located on the beach in Biloxi, Mississippi

after sister-course Shadow Creek.

The course is characterized by a lush, rolling landscape covered in Spanish moss-draped oak and pine ridges, magnolias, pecan groves, large lakes, winding streams and wetlands. Deer, turkey, herons, egrets and other local flora and fauna can be found throughout the grounds.

Fallen Oak recently underwent $3.6 million in course renovations highlighted by aesthetic work to create a higher caliber experience for guests. Golfers can now relish in upgraded bunkers on each hole, nearly a mile of new cart paths, and climate controlled on-course rest areas.

After an unforgettable golf experience at Fallen Oak, spend a memorable day on Mississippi waters where the fishing opportunities are big and unlike anywhere else. Whether wade fishing off one of the barrier islands

or chartering one of the numerous fishing boats that offer packages and handle licenses, bait and tackle, the Coast’s mild climate make an outdoor getaway possible year-round.

No place in the country offers the unbeatable combination of outstanding golf, world-renowned fishing and world-class gaming, and no place does it better than Beau Rivage.

For reservations or more information, call 888.567.6667 or visit www.beaurivage.com.

Fallen Oak, consistently ranked the best course in Mississippi; and the second best casino resort course in the world

Beau Rivage’s 85,000-square-foot casino offers slots, table games, a poker room, Buffalo Zone and BetMGM Book Bar and Grill, Mississippi’s fullservice sports betting and entertainment destination.

The Gulf of Mexico is home to some of the best deep sea fishing in the world.

Beau Rivage recently completed a $55 million room remodel of its 1,740 rooms

leader on the links

Being “” by Bob Bolton to Play Golf

You may remember Bob as our Golf Bachelor (one hundred years ago), or perhaps you’ve read one of his articles in our magazine, or maybe you’ve seen him on TV as the Host of “Tee Time Florida”, or just maybe – you’ve seen him hosting specials on-air and online for the Valspar Championship. If none of the above seems familiar, that’s ok. It’s his new golf related gig we will share with you now.

Bob began playing golf more than 40 years ago in his hometown of Danville, Illinois. Little did he know back then he’d be blessed to play golf in; dozens of locations in the U.S. including Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, Aruba, Ireland, England and Germany, with plans to return to Ireland and jump the border to Scotland in 2023.

Bob has spent nearly as much time playing golf as he has in the media business. Most recently Bob was an account executive, then consultant for FOX Sports. He has enjoyed the evolution of the media industry from nearly every sales position, including V.P. of Sales at the corporate level. His on-air experience started in H.S. as a part-time disc jockey, and subsequently expanded to hosting his own golf program, and contributing to the Valspar Championship.

So, you may ask, “Why is Bob inviting me to play golf?” It’s his new position as Regional Tournament Sales Director for Invited Clubs (previously ClubCorp, which owns more than 200+ Clubs in the U.S.). He’s responsible for building relationships with charities, community organizations, and corporate/ local businesses, assisting them to enhance their relationships with their constituents, and raise money for their causes through golf outings.

Bob works directly with the 4 Tampa Clubs (Countryside, East Lake Woodlands, Tampa Palms and Hunter’s Green), Marsh Creek in St. Augustine, Queen’s Harbour in Jacksonville, and Hawkstone in Gainesville. He also has access to the more than 200+ Clubs around the U.S.

If you are interested in facilitating a golf outing/tournament to help raise the visibility of your charityembrace your relationships with your employees, vendors or customers –or create an engaging event for you community organization – call or email Bob. He’s likely to invite you to lunch and maybe even a round of golf to discuss your needs.

Bob’s contact information –bob.bolton@invitedclubs.com, 813-928-2887.

special events

Nothing Beats 4-Aces!

We attended the LIV Golf - The Team Championship held at Trump National Doral Golf Course in late October… It was the ultimate team event and the conclusion of the first year of the LIV Golf Tour.

This was truly our first LIV Golf event.

A little skeptical at first for myself because of listening to negative people and postings. Well… until you actually attend an event… you haven’t experi-

enced what this tour has to offer.

The energy is incredible.

The players seem to be much more relaxed while walking around getting ready to play. Practice putting was more like a greeting area for friends… that they hadn’t seen for a long time.

Sure it is a little louder than the “Normal” PGA Tour event. But they claim to the “Different.” Event the marketing claims… Golf – Just Louder!

Same activities for the attendees. Food Courts. Games to Play. But just more relaxed.

When it was time for the shot gun start. All the players were in their positions to start, and the 15-foot-wide screen started the count-down. 10-9-8okay… when it got to “0” – Music came up just a little loader to set the mode. Every marshal and rules officials must have had air horns because everyone was blowing them. But when the first tee was put into the ground, it was back to business. The business of golf!

The unique Scramble Format used by the LIV Golf tour, allows the entire field to be on the course at the same time. The focus on who is in the lead and who should finish last on 18 is out the window. You really don’t know where you are in the mix of the field, when you start at one time… and finish basically at the same time.

Now add it the Team Championship into the mix. No one knew the outcome until the last putt drops.

In the case of the 2022 Team Championship. It wasn’t over… until Dustin Johnson made the last putt. Yet, Patrick Reed was on hole number 2 making a birdie to move the team to one stroke over Cam Smith’s Team Punch. Within seconds Pat Perez was made a par to keep 4-A’s one stroke ahead.

The final putt and the champaign in the air… the music came up… and LIV Golf had won over this skeptic. For a final comment… if you haven’t experienced LIV Golf, yet you discount it and talk bad about it. Go experience it for yourself.

Long LIV Golf!

Okay… if you were playing actual poker, the royal flush would… but we are talking LIV Golf.

Where were you born? Did you grow there? Greensboro, NC. Yes, I did grow up there

Is “acting your age” overrated? Yes. You feel better if you act younger

What do you do for a living? I’m an event coordinator for a nonprofit organization that benefits disabled veterans. It’s called, 2 Vets OAM Inc. “On a Mission”

What would you like to do for a living? This is actually the best job I’ve ever had. We bring awareness and try to help end veteran suicide. We achieve this by working with professional musicians and golfers to gift service dogs to deserving disabled military veterans during events, tournaments and concerts.

Aside from golf; what do you prefer for fun and relaxation?

I love to fish and I spend a lot of time on my kayak.

What golf apparel do you like to wear? I like Ashworth for the quality.

Whom do you most admire for their inner and outer beauty?

Rosalyn Carter. I got to spend some time with her and the President Carter. She was a very nice lady with a lot of class.

Tell us about your first kiss?

It was in elementary school with a girl named Penny. Now every time I watch “The Big Bang Theory “ I think about her!

Tell us something about yourself that only your closest friends know.

I can play golf or shoot pool left or right-handed. I’m much better right-handed though. I need to practice more.

What three things would you need to survive on a deserted island?

A fortune, a yacht and a marina.

Who would you like to have with you on the same deserted island; and why?

A really good cook! My skills in the kitchen are not that great.

What do you find to be the most annoying habit people demonstrate on the golf course?

I hate it when people get mad at bad shots and throw a tantrum. I like what Arnie said, “Relax and enjoy your day!”

Name the three most important things to you in this world.

My Mom, my son and my sisters.

Given the choice; would you select love, success, or money to keep yourself happy? Love is the way!

What three people would you most like to play with in your fantasy golf foursome?

I’d have to go old school and choose Freddie Couples, Chip Beck ( great guy) and Paul Azinger.

What are some of your great accomplishments?

I would say working with special needs children doing missions with the Florida Methodist Conference to repair homes damaged by Hurricanes. We teach kids how to do construction jobs.

Last time you spewed something through your nose from laughing so hard?

It was at a Martin Lawrence show. He was picking on me from the stage and it was very funny.

Favorite comedian? Rodney Dangerfield

Last book you read? “The Fisherman’s Son”, by Chris Malloy

Favorite charity to support?

2 Vets OAM Inc. Check us out: fb @2vetsoam “on a mission”

What else would you like for us to know about you?

I used to play drums for a Florida Keys Band.

Sky Valley, Georgia A Second-Home Destination

Very few places in the world can claim to be ‘all things to all people at all times,’ but Sky Valley, Georgia is in the running to be one of those special places on the planet. The greater Sky Valley area -- the home of the Sky Valley Country Club, a member of the Georgia Golf Trail -- is truly as appealing for non-golfers as it is for golfers, especially if you like hiking, fishing, boating, camping, whitewater rafting, mountain

climbing, bird watching, and zip lining. Located in Rabun County, Georgia, Sky Valley (visitskyvalleyga.com) also has a strong reputation of producing locally grown food which is why this area is called the Farm-to-Table Capital of Georgia. A winery and vineyards are also in this area of North Georgia. So, when you visit Sky Valley, come with an appetite. You won’t be disappointed.

Many people who visit Sky Valley actually decide that they like the area

so much, they quickly realize they are better off actually buying a home rather than paying a rental or lodging fee every time they visit this area of North Georgia, which is a stone’s throw from the North Carolina border.

When a for sale sign appears in the front yard of somebody’s home at Sky Valley, it doesn’t stay there very long. “Many of our homes in Sky Valley are sold before listings are printed due to word-of-mouth and many people anxious to obtain homes quickly in Sky Valley,” said Ed Steil, President of Sky Valley’s Property Owners Association.

By being a part of the Georgia Golf Trail, the appeal of playing golf at the Sky Valley CC is what attracts many people to the area, but it’s the welcoming atmosphere at Sky Valley which keeps people coming back, often as permanent residents.

“Sky Valley is like ‘heaven on earth’ and we in Georgia are lucky to have such an outstanding destination for golfers in our state and for those visiting from the nearby surrounding states,” said Doug Hollandsworth, founder, Georgia Golf Trail. “Again, many people enjoy visiting this area so much that they realize it’s a better idea

to actually buy a home and become a member of the community.”

The Sky Valley Country Club’s (www.skyvalleycountryclub.com or 706-746-5302) tee-to-green course conditions are exemplary. Redesigned in 2007 by Bill Bergin, Sky Valley CC’s length from the back tees of this par-72 layout -- 6,900 yards from the tips – is tempered by the high elevation, which is 3,500 feet above sea level. The high elevation makes Sky Valley the highest and coolest city in Georgia, which makes it very appealing in the hot summer months.

And, when not playing golf, many Sky Valley residents are also playing croquet, tennis and bocce ball. Many members of the Sky Valley CC refer to their time spent at the club as like being at summer camp!

The Sky Valley Country Club sits in a valley which is totally surrounded by mountains. You can check out current conditions by accessing Sky Valley’s 24-hour webcam: https://www.resortcams. com/webcams/sky-valley-ga/.

It’s fair to say that however long you stay at Sky Valley, it’s never going to be long enough since there’s always something else to do. That’s why people return there often and are buying homes in the area.

For more information about Sky Valley, Georgia, access visitskyvalleyga. com. For more information about the Sky Valley CC and other courses along the Georgia Golf Trail, access www.GeorgiaGolfandTravel.com.

special events

By Greg and Beverly Wise

Honey… Our Friends are coming over for a Long Weekend!

The Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS presented by Circle K returned to Timuquana Country Club for second year in early October.

Quickly becoming one of the “must-play” events for most of the players on the PGA Tour Champions, taking on the classic 1923 Donald Ross-designed golf course. The Constellation Furyk and Friends is on track to surpass the 2021 Donation to charities in the Jacksonville area of $1.17 million dollars.

Add in 78 “Friends” coming into town for a “Long Weekend,” to compete for a $2 million purse, and Tabatha and Jim Furyk have created a premiere fund-raising event for all of Jacksonville and the First Coast of Golf to be proud of.

Jake Owen and Jordan Davis kicked off the tournament week with a special performance at Daily’s Place on Tuesday, October 4th.

Also featured were 3 Pro-Am days so the fans and sponsors could be involved in the action and excitement around this

PGA Tour Champions event.

And if you were a gambler… having a “Pair of Jacks” on the first tee would be quite a site. Jack Nicklaus and Wolfson Children’s Hospital patient Jack Jones hitting the ceremonially first tee shot to start the competition on Friday morning.

Steve Stricker became Champion of the 2022 FURYK & FRIENDS with an impressive 14-under par… 2 strokes ahead of Harrison Frazar finishing 2nd place and 3 stroke ahead of tournament host Jim Furyk finishing at 11-under par.

The Jim and Tabatha Furyk Foundation website says it best: We have created the foundation to help families and children in need, The Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation is dedicated to making our community a better place. The nonprofit charity is involved in many different projects across North Florida; collaborating with other organizations to help provide necessary funding to become healthier, stronger, and educationally enriched.

I can only imagine what is on the horizon for the 2023

ConstellationFURYK & FRIENDS presented by Circle K event. Make your plans early and get on their email list for updates.

golf travel PORCUPINE CREEK

The highly-anticipated Sensei Porcupine Creek opened Nov. 1, welcoming guests to the luxurious wellness retreat in Rancho Mirage, CA. As the first standalone retreat under the Sensei brand, the property boasts a boutique experience with 22 luxurious accommodations; evidence-based wellness programming designed to give guests the tools they need to live a longer, healthier lifestyle; a private Sensei by Nobu restaurant; and premier spa, fitness, golf and tennis facilities.

The crown jewel of Sensei Porcupine Creek is its 18-hole golf course, which is known for its nearly 75-acres of turf and sand bunkers, glimmering

water features and grand Santa Rosa Mountain views. The legendary golf destination has attracted some of the world’s top players and is now open exclusively to Sensei resort guests for individual tee times or customized private lessons with a golf professional.

In addition to playing a round on the course, true golf-enthusiasts can book the Golf Optimal Wellbeing Program, which is a five-night structured sports performance program designed to help guests hone their skills while improving their overall health, productivity and game. This package layers in oneon-one lessons and video analysis with a dedicated golf professional,

a complimentary WHOOP 4.0 band and six-month membership; ongoing access to the proprietary Sensei Portal; a thorough fitness assessment to measure V02 Max, gait analysis, and more to interpret performance metrics; a targeted spa treatment; private sessions focusing on mindset, nutrition and yoga or fitness; and more, for a robust wellness experience that will refine a guest’s golf skills.

In addition to its golf offerings, Sensei Porcupine Creek has curated an enriching menu of wellness experiences to bring the core paths of Move, Nourish and Rest throughout the guest experience. All resort guests have access to complimentary daily

Photo Credit Chris Simpson

small group classes, lectures and weekly activities – from guided hikes, to yoga and meditation, fitness, and more. To rejuvenate the body, guests can book one of the many spa treatments designed for ultimate relaxation, such as the Sports Recovery Experience or Thermal Body Mapping and Massage, an innovative treatment where a practitioner uses exclusive Sensei-developed thermographic technology to create a visual map of the body, revealing asymmetries, muscle tightness, and possible areas of inflammation.

To nourish the body, guests can enjoy peerless dining at Sensei by Nobu for breakfast, lunch and dinner, which is a collaboration between world-renowned Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa and Sensei co-founder Dr. David Agus. Additional dining options include a relaxed Sushi Bar in the evenings, allday poolside menu, in-room dining, and a dedicated menu for golf and tennis guests – where meals are delivered wherever they might be on the course.

For guests looking to continue

their pursuit of wellness and explore more of Sensei’s golf offerings, Sensei Porcupine Creek’s sister property and first retreat, Sensei Lāna’i, A Four Seasons Resort, is set within the

secluded Hawaiian island’s 90,000 acres in the spiritual uplands of Ko’ele, where guests can play the nearby award-winning Manele Golf Course that was designed by Jack Nicklaus.

Photo Credit Chris Simpson

Photo Credit Noah Webb

Belvedere

Crafted by Master Rye Distillers

Made With Nature - Made from Polish rye, purified water and a distillation process by fire, Belvedere contains zero additives, is certified kosher, and is produced in accordance with the legal regulations of Polish vodka that dictate nothing can be added.

Produced in one of the world’s longest operating polish distilleries that has been making vodka since 1910, Belvedere’s Master Rye Distillers draw from a 600-year polish vodka-making history to artfully craft Polish rye into an extraordinary vodka of distinct taste and character. Excellent Highly Recommended, 2020 Ultimate Spirits Challenge (90 Points)

Inaugural Golf Classic for Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation

The Golden Cub Ambassadors Club

hosted its inaugural Nine And Dine Golf Classic on October 8 in support of Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation. The heartfelt charity event took place in North Palm Beach, Florida, where current and future members enjoyed a round of golf and dinner. The granddaughter of Jack and Barbara Nicklaus, Christie Strunk,

and her husband, Todger, have cochaired the special initiative to further the legacy of the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation.

The Golden Cub Ambassadors Club is open to Friends of the Foundation, ages 21 to 45. The club’s proceeds will be distributed annually to a program or project in support of children’s health care as voted on by the membership. To become a member of the Golden Cub Ambassadors Club or to support future events, visit www.nchcf.org/goldencub.

Burr Johnson, Jack Nicklaus III, Joe Floyd, Jr.

Charlie Nicklaus

Todger and Christie Strunk

Ryan and Morgan Capolino, Mackenzie and Chris O’Leary, JeanPaul Azzi

Tyler Cameron

Nick O’Leary, Mallory O’Leary, Jack and Barbara Nicklaus, Tyler Cameron, Austin Burr, Phil Doumar

AJ and Calli Derby

Brian Rapp and Connor Esrick Colleen and Cody Parkey

Todger and Christie Strunk

Reggie Bush Joins Srixon/Cleveland Golf As Newest Ambassador

Srixon/Cleveland Golf is excited to introduce acclaimed football star Reggie Bush as an ambassador in a full equipment contract deal.

“We are thrilled to have Reggie join our Team Srixon ambassador program. His passion for golf made this partnership an easy choice, and we look forward to creating outstanding content with Reggie going forward,” said Noelle Zavaleta, Marketing Communications Director.

The Southern California native is widely regarded as one of the most electric college football players of all-time. During his college career, Bush earned All-American honors twice and was voted the best player in the nation in 2005. After college,

Bush was drafted to play professional football and went on to play 11 seasons at the highest level.

Bush now works as an on-air college football analyst for Fox Sports, with the program ‘Big Noon Kickoff’ gaining positive reviews. His media presence is very prominent with over 5.2 million followers across his social media channels.

When he’s not in the broadcast booth, Bush spends his time on a new passion – golf. “This is a dream come true for me,” he said. “I’m happy to be a part of Team Srixon and to promote this great sport to a new audience. Srixon/Cleveland Golf makes outstanding products and these clubs fit my game perfectly.”

Bush is a regular at PGA TOUR

Pro-Am’s and has participated in the Icons Series, helping Team USA to victory in the 2022 event. Through his 619 Charitable Fund, Bush has hosted his own golf fundraisers to support causes close to him.

Bush will be gaming the following Srixon/Cleveland Golf products:

Cleveland Golf Prototype Putter

Z-STAR XV DIVIDE

Cool weather, low humidity, and nine great courses from which to choose. Scan this code to plan your golf getaway today, or visit tnstateparks.com/golf

holiday gift guide

Chelsea Charles Golf Jewelry

Chelsea Charles is the leader in pretty, minimalist, golf-inspired jewelry including earrings, necklaces, and patented score counter bracelets that can be worn on and off the course. All styles compliment the wearer’s attire while making a sophisticated statement that she is passionate about golf. Materials include sterling silver, 14k gold and 18k rose gold plate. Golf Goddess score counter bracelets fit all wrist sizes and all of the jewelry is lightweight, hypoallergenic and comes in ready-to-gift packaging, making it a perfect choice for tournament gifting.

The Golf Collection by Chelsea Charles is available on chelseacharles.com as well as in choice retailers and pro shops throughout the US.

Sun Mountain Golf Bags

The new Mid-Stripe Stand Bag and collection of matching accessories from Sun Mountain is like a window back in time perfectly merged with modern features. MidStripe offers the classic looks of a vinyl golf bag paired with modern conveniences like a bag top with a built-in handle and dual shoulder straps. Mid-Stripe is available as a single or dual strap stand bag and offers matching accessories such as the Boston Bag weekend bag, alignment stick cover, golf towel, wooden tees, and more to come. Mid-Stripe Stand Bag comes in variety of awesome color combinations, each with the distinctive Mid-Stripe design. Mid-Stripe golf bags retails at $369.99.

For the retailer nearest you, visit www.sunmountain.com or call 800-227-9224.

Weatherman Golf Umbrella

Weatherman’s award-winning Golf Umbrella is the perfect companion on or off the course. Industrial-strength fiberglass prevents breaking and inverting, and vented canopies endure winds up to 55 mph while the waterrepellent fabric keeps you dry. An ergonomic handle provides a comfortable grip while reflective accents allow for added safety. Specific to the Golf umbrella, a large mesh pocket offers handy storage, a silicone-coated rib makes for a perfect place to hang your towel so it doesn’t slip off and its UPF 50+ barrier protects you from the sun, making Weatherman the perfect golf umbrella for rain – or shine.

&Weatherman has multiple collections to choose your next golf umbrella from. Inspired by Arnold Palmer’s charismatic personality, the Weatherman x Arnold Palmer collaboration brings his iconic umbrella logo to life, while Champion LPGA golfer Danielle Kang collaborated with Weatherman to create a design inspired by her focused and energetic style.

Zero Friction B-52 Distance Golf Ball

Like the great B-52 bomber plane, golfers can now experience the explosive power of the Zero Friction B-52 Distance Golf Ball.

Zero Friction, the company known for delivering cutting edge products to golf enthusiasts of all skill levels, designed the B-52 designed with a 392 dimple pattern to create less spin and dispersion than a traditional 496 dimple ball. This 20% reduction in dimple pattern generates greater ball velocity and reduces spin resulting in longer drives.

Combined with the Zero Friction 3-prong tee, which reduces 66% tee surface coverage, distance and accuracy will be your weapon. The 392 dimple pattern also rolls smoother on the green for more accurate putts. The B-52 Bomber’s 2-piece construction travels up to five yards longer 85 compression outer core shallow 392 dimple pattern allows for less friction in the air and on the green.

For more information, see the Zero Friction catalog, visit www.zerofriction.com, or call 630-317-7700.

HAVEN SOMERS

Where did you grow up? Magnolia, Texas

What is your favorite sport to play? Favorite to watch? I grew up riding horses and competing in local rodeos.

Do you enjoy playing golf? Are there any golfers in your family? I absolutely love to play golf! My sister and I started taking lessons at a young age leading her to go to college on a golf scholarship.

What do you feel makes this club special? Countryside Country Club is a beautiful course but what makes it so special to me is all of our members. Everyone here is so friendly and welcoming after a few years of working here I feel like they are truly a part of my family.

If you weren’t a cart girl, what would you be doing? I would be fishing and golfing every day.

What is your memorable moment working as a cart girl? Witnessing multiple hole-in-one’s on one of our par 3s.

Do you think the cart girls should be able to dress differently? How you prefer dress if you were given a choice? The standard for proper golf attire for women has evolved so much over the years. I love to wear my golf skirt and matching collared shirts to work every day!

What is the funniest thing you’ve ever seen on the golf course? I’ve witnessed a man throw his clubs in lake and then proceed to retrieve them for his car keys.

What type of music do you prefer? Country

What is your idea of “the perfect date”? Anytime my boyfriend takes me fishing.

Relaxed evening at home, or nightclub and cocktails? Relaxed evening at home with my dogs.

Favorite type of movie? Comedy

Favorite charity to support? Suncoast Animal Shelter and Captains for Clean Water

What else would you like for us to know about you? I am so grateful to have the opportunity to work at such a beautiful country club!

PGA Kentucky PGA Kentucky PGA Kentucky PGA Kentucky PGA Kentucky

Nine players receive Kentucky PGA Junior Tour’s 2022 Player of the Year honors

After 35 events on the Kentucky PGA Junior Tour stretching from March through October, nine young Kentuckians have been bestowed with the Tour’s Player of the Year titles. Each of these players

accumulated the most points in their respective division to claim these honors, and each of them will receive their choice of a commemorative golf bag or framed flag to celebrate their outstanding seasons.

For the second consecutive year, Zach Watterson of Beattyville is the Boys 16-18 Division’s Player of the Year. Entering the season, he stood as one of the top male players to have not won an overall title at one of the

Tour’s three major championships, but the narrative is much different now at the end of the season after claiming two of those titles in 2022. His victories at the Kentucky Boys Junior PGA Championship and the Lou Perry Tour Championship helped the senior at Lee County High School earn more than two times the number of points as the runner-up, Luke Coyle. In addition to the major triumphs, Watterson also posted impressive results at the Lexington Junior City Championship with a runner-up mark and a top-five finish in the Kentucky Boys Junior Amateur.

The Girls 16-18 Division was led from start to finish by Athena Singh of Morehead, who had one of the top years in the Tour’s history from the ladies’ premier division. In seven starts, the Lakeside Christian Academy student won six times with major titles at the Kentucky Girls Junior Amateur and the Lou Perry Tour Championship highlighting her performances. Making this campaign even more impressive was the fact she competed against players who are at least three years older than her. At 13 years of age, Singh still has several seasons of junior golf remaining and appears poised to continue adding to her list of accomplishments.

Will Judd of Louisville followed the footsteps of Watterson and Singh to decisively win the Boys 13-15 Division’s Player of the Year. Judd won all three major championships within his division and claimed victories in two of the Tour’s other top events with first place finishes at both the Spring Classic and the Junior Falls Cities. In eleven official tournament rounds throughout the year, Judd broke par in five of them.

Richmond’s Mackenzie Federspiel captured the Girls 13-15 title after batting 1.000 for the season with

five victories in five starts. All of those wins occurred in two-day tournaments, with two major titles included in that run of success. Throughout the year, the improvement in Federspiel’s game was evident based on her scores. After winning in the springtime with rounds in the 80s, her victories late in the summer and in the fall were all with rounds in the 70s, as a 72 (E)from Bardstown Country Club in the first round of the Kentucky Girls Junior Amateur highlighted her list of performances.

The Boys 11-12 Division was a tightly contested battle among several competitors throughout the season, but Grant Guetig of Louisville topped the standings at year’s end after picking up four victories throughout 2022. Guetig left with first place honors in the Kentucky Boys Junior PGA Championship, Junior Falls Cities, Fall Series Championship, and at the Kentucky Junior FourBall Championship alongside Griffin Jackson. Guetig also posted four other top-three finishes, and a runner-up in the Lou Perry Tour Championship was the final push needed to claim the top spot for the season after his rounds of 35 (-1) and 36 (E) at Cherry Blossom Golf Club.

Carol Ann Mendenhall won at a machine-like pace all year, securing the Nicholasville product the Girls 1012 Player of the Year title. Mendenhall competed in twelve tournaments and won eleven of them, with the three majors included, making her the only female from any division to achieve a Grand Slam this season. She posted under-par or even-par scores in six tournament rounds this year which bodes well her for promising future within the sport at just 11 years of age.

Bowling Green’s Paxton Fuqua claimed the Boys 10 & Under title in a

year that featured six wins in eleven starts. Fuqua walked away with first place at the Kentucky Boys Junior PGA Championship, Season Kickoff, Spring Classic, Northern Kentucky Junior PGA Championship, and the Series Tournaments at Indian Hills Country Club and Bowling Green Country Club. He also had three runner-up finishes that allowed him to clip Greyson Cloern by less than 200 points for the season-long title.

2022 had already been memorable for Mayfield’s Kylie Miller after she qualified for the 2023 Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals in September, but her autumn has gotten even more illustrative after snagging the Girls 9 & Under Player of the Year title. Kylie follows in the footsteps of her sister Emlie who had won this award in 2021 and 2020. Three victories in eight starts on Tour is what propelled Kylie to the top, while runner-up finishes in each of her other starts ensured her Player of the Year triumph.

The final Player of the Year is Redick Johnson of Elizabethtown who had a perfect 2022 to capture the Boys 8 & Under title. All nine of Johnson’s starts on Tour led to a win, including each of the three major championships. Johnson had multiple tournament rounds this season which yielded even-par scores or better and closed in style at the final round of the Lou Perry Tour Championship with a round of 35 (-1). Having just turned 9 years of age, Johnson will move up a division in 2023 and seek similar prowess in the Boys 10 & Under Division.

The Kentucky PGA Junior Tour offers its congratulations to each of these players and their families on these awards. The Tour also extends its thanks to them and all players who competed throughout the season for their participation and support of the program.

north florida PGA north florida PGA north florida PGA north florida PGA north fl

October ended with a bang for the North Florida Section, as Jennifer Borocz and Stephanie ConnellyEiswerth were victorious, alongside Team USA, at the Women’s PGA Cup!

The team, which consisted of Borocz, Connelly-Eiswerth, Sherry Andonian, Joanna Coe and Ashley Grier, competed at Twin Warriors Golf Club from October 27-29th. After three rounds of play, Team USA won against Canada by two strokes, finishing at -1 (656). Connelly-Eiswerth, who teaches at San Jose Country Club, was the team’s top performer during the second and third rounds. Connelly-Eiswerth (T2) and Borocz (7) individually placed within the top 10. Great Britain and Ireland placed third, Australia placed fourth and Sweden rounded out the top five. Borocz and Connelly-Eiswerth proudly represented the U.S., the NFPGA and the Jacksonville area!

In other news, Greg Koch, who recently competed in the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, will be taking to the Wanamaker Course at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie for the 46th National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship.

Koch, as well as Matthew Chen and Dalton Bartlett will compete from

November 17-20th after qualifying for the tournament following their top 3 finishes in this summer’s NFPGA

By

Assistant Professional Championship.

All month long, our veterans are in the swing of things with various PGA HOPE sessions underway throughout our section! And with Veterans Day this month, we are excited to take part in the PGA National Day of HOPE! We’re raising funds for our 5 PGA Hope programs until Veterans Day on November 11th. Our state has a large military population, and we are grateful to serve them with this program, all while focusing on expanding our sessions throughout the region.

Lastly, it is a big month of Section tournaments! 12 Professionals in our Section will strive to reclaim the cup as Team North Florida takes on the South Florida PGA at the Senior Challenge Cup on November 9-10th. One of the Section’s most anticipated events, the Pro-Scratch, will take place on November 17th at Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club, and the Porter Cup will be held just a few days later on November 21st!

Daniel Calderon

Team USA Win Women's PGA Cup

Borocz (L) and Connelly-Eiswerth (R) with PGA President and Women's PGA Cup Team Captain, Jim Richerson

north florida PGA north florida PGA north florida PGA north florida PGA north fl

south florida PGA south florida PGA south florida PGA south florida PGA south

Craig Dolch and Donna White Inducted into the South Florida PGA Hall of Fame

The South Florida PGA Hall of Fame has long stood for those who have been recognized for extraordinary leadership and commitment to the game of golf and service to the South Florida PGA and South Florida PGA Foundation.

Since 1982, Dolch has written about golf in south Florida and on the national level, covering 50 major championships as well as a series of Ryder Cups primarily for the Palm Beach Post and later, Sports Illustrated, New York Times, Golf World, Golf Digest and USA TODAY.

“I’ve covered every sport and I can say with certainty that PGA Professionals and golfers in general are the best athletes to deal with in sports,” explained Dolch. “Most of them have fabulous stories and I’ve been fortunate to tell these stories because the Section has so many great players. I just wish knowing them would make me a better golfer.”

Dolch is estimated to have written over 5,000 stories on golf, many of which have been published on the local level where he has found his niche in covering the unwritten stories of the sport. Committed to the local golf scene and PGA Professionals that work at the countless south Florida golf courses, Dolch has covered South Florida Section tournaments, events and the SFPGA Junior Tour for many years.

In addition to his storytelling, Dolch upholds the standards of the philanthropic efforts of the game, raising over $100,000 for the local community through his son Eric’s Foundation after he was diagnosed with encephalitis in 2005.

The Golf Writers’ of America Award winner, 2014 Golfweek Father of the Year and Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame Member, Dolch will

join his mentor Tim Rosaforte as the next sportswriter to be inducted into the SFPGA Hall of Fame.

“It means the world to me to be inducted into the South Florida PGA Hall of Fame,” said Dolch. “I’m very honored to become the first journalist to be inducted into the South Florida PGA Hall of Fame since our good friend, Tim Rosaforte. It’s an honor to be mentioned with Rosie.”

Like Dolch, White has made a tremendous impact on golf in south Florida since beginning her career as a golf professional in 1992, after a 14-year professional playing career. Driven by her desire to make golf more affordable and accessible, White took over the professional services for Okeeheelee Golf Course in 1995 and built one of the most successful player development programs in the country.

“I am elated and honored to learn of my acceptance into the SFPGA Hall of Fame,” exclaimed White. “There are so many wonderful PGA and LPGA members who have influenced my career and life over the years. I strived to simply pass what I have learned from others forward, both on the lesson tee, classroom and in my business.”

For the next 25 years, White and her company, Professional Golf

Services Inc., helped manage John Prince Golf Learning Center and Park Ridge Golf Course, expanding all programming in Palm Beach County. White’s Junior Golf Foundation of America, at its peak, had 6,000 junior golfers, including Lexi Thompson and Brooks Keopka as alumni.

“My golf journey has been one of great satisfaction and joy,” continued White. “This honor would not have been possible without the support of my family, business partners, mentors and a long list of wonderful staff.”

Since 2010, White has been a professor at the Keiser School of Golf and has focused on mentoring and teaching rising professionals in the sport and has helped to open the Keiser golf facilities to the public.

Committed to growing the game through all walks of life in the south Florida community, White also continues to play a key role in the South Florida PGA Foundation PGA HOPE program and was a part of the first program ever conducted in late 2015.

The South Florida PGA Hall of Fame inducts new members each year and will celebrate White and Dolch in separate ceremonies in front of their colleagues, family and friends.

Mistwood Awarded “FairWays Foundation” Grant for The Farm

Mistwood Golf Club is proud to announce that they have been awarded a $9,000 grant from The FairWays Foundation for their work towards The Farm – a new food production on property to grow biodynamically, meaning all organic inputs and no chemicals, IPM methods, crop rotation & companion planting. The Farm is Mistwood’s next chapter in sustainability and commitment to environmental social responsibility in golf course maintenance, food growth and food service.

The FairWays Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to safeguarding the environment, supporting conservation-based projects; big and small, as well as

educational events for professionals, newcomers to the field and for future minds. The foundation seeks to directly fund local and global projects that demonstrate an aspiration to protect our natural resources.

Angelica Carmen, Mistwood’s sustainability specialist, worked hard to get the application prepared for submission. “It’s an honor to be one of 12 recipients in the world to receive this grant. Going forward, The Farm will also benefit Mistwood in cultural, ecological, and socioeconomic ways that only domino into Romeoville and surrounding areas. Growing healthy food biodynamically in an unused plot on the course provides a living classroom for all who venture near it or enjoy the fruits of its labor.”

Mistwood constructed a solarpowered greenhouse to start seedlings to transition to The Farm. The 8,000 square foot farm is situated in a previously unused area of the golf course, where in the first year, over 100 varieties of plants including edible flowers, herbs,

and vegetables, were cultivated.

“The point of starting a farm, and growing our sustainability here on property, is to share the experience with our community, and to educate our guests on the process, and how we are able to accomplish everything,” said Carmen. “What we’re serving is much more than the physical product that is grown on The Farm. It’s serving as a model for awareness to our environment and how they can implement or use practices in their own life.”

In addition, the beehive project is a wonderful collaboration with Bee All About It, headquartered in Villa Park, bringing ten beehives to Mistwood. The hives are located in what was a previously unused area, which now has the potential to produce more than 500 pounds of honey a year. Bee All About It fully manages all aspects of

the beehives on the property, including honey collection. This partnership is beneficial to beekeepers looking for property to host their hives, facilities looking to add green programs and local honey production to their vision, and the ecological landscape by contributing to healthy biodiversity.

Carmen has also been recognized with several local and national awards. She was the dual winner for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago’s 2021 Sustainability Summit Awards in the categories of Biosolids Beneficial Reuse Award & Sustainable Landscaping Award for her major green infrastructure projects and for creating a washpad bioswale and establishing culinary farm using MWRD’s products. She was also Second Runner Up in the Innovative Conservation Award category offered through GCSAA’s [Golf Course Superintendents Association of America] Environmental Leaders in Golf awards.

Environmental stewardship is not an initiative. It is a long-term investment into our future and the future of our industry.

About Fairways Foundation

The FairWays Foundation directly funds local and global projects that advance the conservation of our natural resources. These projects will help to preserve the environment we live and work in whilst encouraging education and stewardship not only within our own industry but also within wider communities. For more information, visit www.thefairwaysfoundation.com

SunnilandSUPERSpotlight:

Scott Hullinger, CGCS – Twin Rivers, Oviedo, FL

Where were you born? Lima Ohio What was your major in school? Horticulture

Did you play any sports? Lettered in basketball and baseball What got you interested in turf grass? Started mowing my grandfather’s yard in elementary school and enjoyed it. How did golf come into play? Plated since I was young. My family played and I loved all sports.

How did you get your first job on the golf course? My brother was working at Heathrow Country Club, and I was offered a job while down visiting.

What makes the course of Twin Rivers Golf Club outstanding? The Joe Lee layout is great. There are all kinds of

wildlife around the course including deer, wild pigs, turkeys, sandhill cranes, bears, bobcats, and lots of big alligators. What do you enjoy most about your job here? We have a great group of employees that make coming to work enjoyable. We also get great support from the City of Oviedo who own the course.

When did you start working here? I started working here May 1st, 2017. How has the experience here helped

to develop your career? We have been able to improve the course each year with solid maintenance practices. In addition, we maintain the University of Central Florida’s Golf Team facility to a high level.

Who are your mentors and how do you consider them to be your mentors? Howard Anderson from Heathrow C.C. was the first Superintendent I worked for. He was very knowledgeable and provided a good working environment for his coworkers. Hal Richburg, also from Heathrow, was a good leader and he taught me a lot about spraying fert and chem. John Cunningham at Wedgefield Golf Club taught me how to get by with a smaller budget but still generate good results.

If you were to give advice to someone starting in the field what would that advice be? My advice to someone starting out is to ask questions because nobody knows it all. Be good to your crew and have patience because it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

How did you plan to pay it forward with others that work in golf course maintenance? I like to teach my crew members new skills at our facility and help them graduate within our facility and beyond.

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.

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%

A Golden Anniversary for Simpson Sod

Fifty years ago, Jim Simpson founded Simpson Sod Company. Jim, who’d grown up on a farm in Mississippi carried his love for agriculture and farming throughout his life. The farm he was raised on produced sweet potatoes and cotton, raised cattle and had a dairy operation. When he went to college at Mississippi State, Jim changed his major during his first year to agriculture and later was among the first turfgrass graduates from this college.

After he graduated, Jim met Martin Beck, a sod farming pioneer growing grass in Alabama. The two started a 50-acre farm together near the New Orleans area and called it Mid-South Turf. When they sold the farm a few years later, Jim was ready to have a farm of his own.

So, in 1972, Jim bought 100 acres of farmland in Covington, Louisiana

and founded Simpson Sod Company. Jim and his wife Bettye raised their two children, Andy and Jeff on the farm. While they’d spent their youth helping on the farm, by the 1990s both of their sons had started their careers in different places and were raising families. Jeff lived in Chicago with his wife and Andy was a pharmaceutical sales representative raising two children at the time with his wife, Shelly, in Texas.

“We were very happy in Texas and one night we were having dinner with Jim and Bettye discussing the future of his sod farming business. Jim told us about his different ideas, with a main one being that he was considering selling the company to his employees,” Shelly said. She remembered being in shock at dinner and couldn’t understand why Jim would want to sell Simpson Sod after all the years

he’d spent building the business.

“We went home and I told Andy I felt like we were supposed to take over and move to Louisiana and do this. My whole family was there in Texas and I knew that meant we’d have to leave them. But I think God put it on my heart that we were supposed to do this,” she said.

At the time, she was working as a Certified Public Accountant with no background in sod farming. But Andy and Shelly decided they were supposed to take over the business and so they moved to Louisiana with their four children to start their venture in turfgrass in 2000.

Growth

“The fact we’ve been here for 50 years and technically are a family, second-generation run company is huge. We talk about it all the time. Jim sacrificed for many years and nobody knew who he was when he first moved here, but he built a reputation of integrity and quality to

Jim Simpson cutting sod by hand in the early days of Simpson Sod Company.

create a name for Simpson Sod. People in this area know who we are because we’ve been here so long,” Shelly said.

She went on to explain the company grew as more machinery and harvesting equipment came about over the years. “The biggest change over the past 50 years is the machinery available now that we didn’t have when we first started,” Shelly said. When the business first started, Jim and his team harvested grass with a sod cutter and stacked each piece by hand onto the truck. Then they started using forklifts and gradually progressed to using the equipment they operate with today.

A vast majority of Simpson Sod’s grass ends up as a homeowner’s lawn, Shelly shared. “So, a lot of the way we conduct our business and our focus, or niche is for the homeowner market. There are very few farms that sell and deliver one pallet of grass like we do. We’ll do those orders all day long. We’re not like a normal farm in that regard. Our bread and butter is selling to homeowners in our market from pieces to a few pallets of sod.”

Their farm also utilizes Turf Logistics software to aid with invoicing and orders. Although they’ve been using it for a long time, this year they plan to add the truck routing and driver applications to streamline communication from harvesting to delivery to a customer. “Since we’re a little different, my truck driver might have one load with 13 drops. So, it can be a little more technical and we’re excited to see how it works for that.” Shelly added they like that Turf Logistics is geared specifically to help

the turfgrass industry and they find it helpful for their business operations.

Simpson Sod employs 30 people between the farm, office staff, sales and installation crews. When Jim started the business, Simpson Sod was spread among several locations but when Shelly and Andy bought the business, they spent the next six years moving all of the farming operations to one location in Poplarville, MS on one piece of property, removing all the leased properties. “We have had a little less than 900 acres that we’ve been farming there since about 2006-2007.”

Shelly explained that she could not run Simpson Sod without her business partner, Kirk Triplett who has held every role in their operations. She said coming into the business with no experience in farming or turfgrass operations, she relied heavily on Jim and Kirk’s expertise to be successful over the past 20 years.

“Jim poured his knowledge about farming, chemicals and management into Kirk. When he retired between 2000-2002, Kirk was in charge of all farming operations from planting, harvesting and everything in between. He’s worked on and off since high school for Jim so he’s done everything there is at Simpson Sod from farming, making sales calls for the grass, installing sod, running crews to driving an 18-wheeler for the transportation of sod,” Shelly said. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without Jim obviously putting in the time and effort and all that he did. And honestly Kirk too. This wouldn’t be what it is today without him,” she said.

Most of Simpson Sod’s employees

have been with the business anywhere from 5-37 years. Kirk has been with the company for over 30 years and Bobby has been there for 14 years. “This whole operation, even though we aren’t bloodrelated, it just feels like we’re a family. I can’t imagine doing this without them.”

“If I think about what 50 years mean to me, it means I get to come to work every day with awesome people and I truly couldn’t have done what I’ve done over the years without them. It’s truly been a team effort in everything that we’ve done.”

For more information about Simpson Sod: www.simpsonsod.com.

Kirk Triplett at TPC Louisiana after Simpson Sod supplied Celebration® Bermudagrass for the course in 2019.

Shelly Simpson

By Rich Katz Courtesy of Golf Course

Part 2 – ‘Thank a Golf Course Superintendent Day,’ According to Landscapes Golf Management

A foundation to every business is perfecting the product. If it looks and performs in ways which provide enjoyment, function and overall value, the Vegas odds of meaningful profitability are favorable.

Golf courses are no exception. We sometimes hear players denounce playing conditions and therefore visit layouts down the street. Yet the competition is stiff among those courses which live up to gold-star standards. Notwithstanding and impressively, we most often hear about stiff competition for the Almighty dollar.

That brings us to September 13 and “Thank a Golf Course Superintendent Day.” Promoted by GCSAA in conjunction with other superintendent groups globally, they collectively represent more than 31,000 golf course professionals across 78 countries. Indeed, let’s celebrate these often-overlooked heroes who awake in the wee morning hours to passionately present tracks golfers love.

Golf Course Industry took to a cadre of golf course superintendents from Landscapes Golf Management – operator of more than 50 golf courses, country clubs and resorts – to gather their insights as #ThankASuper day nears. Here’s Part 2 – the “back nine” – of our story:

Dylan Farber, River Run Country Club (NC)

·What it means to be a golf course superintendent – Being blessed enough to wake up and do what I love every day. It means being a leader of people to provide our members with the best conditions and experiences possible.

·What golf means to me – Golf is the greatest game ever played. It can frustrate you to no end but always leaves you wanting more. Full of tradition, every round is a masterpiece that I, as a course superintendent, get to help each player create every day.

Matt Gronke, Twin Lakes Country Club (WI)

·What it means to be a golf course superintendent – I have the best job I could have ever dreamed of. I get to share my day with an amazing maintenance staff, and sharing the breadth of their experiences, talents and passions for the game is inspiring. Being a superintendent truly means one thing – I haven’t worked a day in my life.

·What golf means to me – After growing up on a golf course, I got hooked on the game at an early age. Before long, it wasn’t a game – it was my passion. Friendships were made that will last a lifetime, lessons were learned, and challenges were presented. Golf truly is the game of a lifetime.

Joe Haskins, Renditions Golf Club (MD)

·What it means to be a golf course superintendent – It means feeding my passion to work with nature, keeping

my hands dirty and using my mind to create. It means knowing this career is of great responsibility that, in turn, allows me to thrive on the pressure of being the man who everyone knows and depends on to get the job done.

·What golf means to me – It’s a great way to connect with members, guests and colleagues who share the same interests of playing a sport and growing high-performance turfgrass.

Aaron Walding, Pacific Springs Golf Club (NE)

·What it means to be a golf course superintendent – It enables me to have a career that allows me to use my talents not only to do something I enjoy but to spend time outdoors and work with an amazing crew.

· What golf means to me – Golf is what allowed me to have this profession. I got into this profession at the height of golf – Tiger Woods, the golf course construction boom and more. There have been ups and down, but 25 years later I wouldn’t change a thing.

Joe Neumann, Dodge Riverside Golf Course (IA)

·What it means to be a golf course superintendent – It means someone out there recognizes the work we put into making the course a little better every day. It feels I have been doing this most of my life and, after counting all the years, it has been about half of it so far. It also means a lot to me personally since I have three uncles who are former / retired supers.

· What golf means to me – Playing golf was the last thing my dad and I did together before he passed away suddenly over 16 years ago. So, I feel a little closer to family when I’m there (at the golf course).

Bart Bullock, Winchester Country Club (VA)

·What it means to be a golf course superintendent – There’s a communion with oneself and nature on the golf course at sunrise. Serving as a steward of nature and the game is a beautiful thing!

·What golf means to me – It’s the reason I chose this profession – the love for the game and the love for the outdoors.

Tony Miranda, Pinecrest Golf Course (IL)

·What it means to be a golf course superintendent – It means I am fortunate to do something I like and provide a green place for many people to come and have fun. Besides, you are outside enjoying nature where every day is different, watching the sunrise and birds, and enjoying an office of 140 acres in size. I wouldn’t see myself doing something different because I don’t see it as job … I see it as a hobby

·What golf means to me – It means a lot because, thanks to golf, it’s given me the opportunity to provide my family with a different lifestyle.

Nick Youngers, Manhattan Country Club (KS)

·What it means to be a golf course superintendent – It’s being a person of many talents. We must be knowledgeable in the science behind growing turf, people skills to run a crew and interact with staff and membership, and the financial tools to operate within budget. Every day is an adventure in any or all of these aspects, and I love every minute of it!

·What golf means to me – Golf to me is more than a game. It is a true test of a person – honesty, self-drive and skill. It is a true mental test with every shot played. I owe this game because it has not only given me a hobby but a career I love.

Ben Timmons, Jeremy Ranch Golf & Country Club (UT)

·What it means to be a golf course superintendent – Being a superintendent gives me the opportunity to build a team that produces conditions where members and guest can have a place that brings them joy.

·What golf means to me – Golf is the conduit that brings friends, family and competitors together. Regardless of skill level, golf is a game that can be played and enjoyed by anyone.

On the PGA TOUR®,

Kenny Perry and Trevor Immelman have made Transitions® lenses part of their game.

Lake of the Woods Golf Club achieves certification as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary for Golf

Near the rolling hills and famed Civil War battlefields of Orange County, Virginia lies Lake of the Woods Golf Club, an 18-hole golf course. This semiprivate club set within Lake of the Woods community stretches across 151 acres of the 2,600-acre development. Since the club’s inception in 1967, Lake of the Woods has continued fostering environmental sustainability efforts, including achieving certification as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary for Golf (ACSP-G) this year as well as participating Audubon International’s Monarchs in the Rough Program.

Audubon International, the world leader in environmental certifications for golf courses, offers the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf which educates golf course managers on environmentally sound management techniques across 6 focus areas: Site Assessment & Environmental Planning, Wildlife Habitat Management, Water Conservation, Water Quality, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Outreach and Education. By becoming certified, courses receive 3rd party veri-

fication of their sustainability efforts; a win-win for the course and environment alike.

Lake of the Woods Golf Club began the certification process in 2021 and through the dedicated efforts of Superintendent, Mike Kuhn and Tyler Minamyer, Regional Manager of IGM, the course’s management company. As part of the certification process, courses submit documentation demonstrating their efforts in sustainable management and undergo a site visit by Audubon International staff to verify their efforts. Below are several examples of notable environmental initiatives that

Lake of the Woods continues implementing.

Outreach and Education:

Outreach and Education initiatives are a critical and necessary component of ACSP for Golf Certification; focusing on spreading the word about sustainable successes on your course to valued patrons and your surrounding community. Lake of the Woods continues accomplishing this goal in multiples ways including:

Digital Information Board - highlighting their mission and demonstrating their intent to…

o Balance the demands of golf with their responsibility to the natural environment

o Safeguard the quality of the quality of the environment and responsibly care for the land, water, wildlife, and natural resources upon which our course is sustained

o Implement management practices and projects to achieve the purposes and goals written in their Environmental Plan

Greens Committee - where shareholders and the agronomy team share their opinions and/or concerns while also encouraging additional shareholders to become involved in initiatives.

Chemical Use Reduction & Safety:

A focus area that’s becoming increasingly important is Chemical Use Reduction and Safety. Lake Woods Golf Club continues reducing their inputs in the following ways:

o Reducing fertilizer use by 1.5 tons in 2021

o Utilizing 95% organic and/or natural fertilizers

o Maintaining safe storage and safe application of inputs

“Through diligent efforts to improve the overall health of the turf by prudent pesticide usage, we have had great success. A better understanding of the influences that impact plant health and sustainability has had a very positive impact on the course’s maintenance operation, both economically and environmentally.” –Mike Kuhn, Golf Course Superintendent, Lake of the Woods Golf Club.

Conclusion

Lake of the Woods Golf Club is a unique property where golfers and history buffs alike can experience a sustainable operation rich in history. In a time where limiting your resource use is of utmost importance, learning how to expand on sustainable resource management is crucial. To learn more about how your local golf course, community or resort can gain recognition for your environmental efforts and learn how to expand your initiatives visit www.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.

By Anthony L. Williams, MG, CGCS,

Turf Pirate's Journal

$Gratitude and theAcorn Principle $

It’s time Turf Pirates for our annual discussion about gratitude and the many things that we are thankful for in our lives. I for one am grateful to Golf Central Magazine for bringing A Turf Pirate’s Journal to its pages, and to you for reading the content. It is a welldocumented fact that Turf Pirates as a whole are philanthropists and can find many ways to support the causes they care about. The lists of people and orga nizations that Turf Pirates have helped support is long and ever growing but for today’s chat we will focus on the roots of gratitude and the art of giving. I have been blessed to have earned my living in the greens industry since I was 15 years old. I have worked in many calm harbors and few stormy ports and in all my travels I have always been impressed with how turf folks give back to the things that matter. Every GCSAA chapter or local green group has a few charities or causes that they whole heartedly support. Turf Pirates raise money for research, recognition, education and scholarships with small and large efforts and should an illness

or tragedy strike someone in the tribe resources quietly and quickly arrive when needed most. It has been this way since the beginning. We do these things because we are a tribe and we are grateful to have been given so much and just want to help the greater good. Have you ever wondered how much money golf tournaments alone have raised for countless charities and causes? Giving is in our DNA and it rises from an ancient connection with gratitude. It comes from actually earning and growing our living from mother earth and working with a crew and the larger turf/green family. It is through our shared wisdom and the fact that this wisdom continually increases year after year and generation after generation that even in hard times we are still connected and joyfully share the wealth. It’s the blood, sweat, tears and a bit of piracy blended together for the benefit of all in times and plenty and in the lean years that give us inspiration and crafts the art of giving.

What are you truly grateful for Turf Pirates? Perhaps it’s faith, family, health, career, hobbies, service or perhaps a new driver. Have you given of your time, talents and resources to support the things you care about both

small and large? You see it’s often why we do the things we do that no one will ever know about that have the biggest impact. Opportunities present themselves all the time. You can support a local church, civic group or missionary family. Buy a secret lunch for a policeman or fireman. Mow the elderly neighbor’s lawn or blow their driveway. The list is endless and the need is real especially during these difficult times of hardship and loss. Just do something for someone or some cause and start a chain of good that just may start a galactic movement of positivity. Turf Pirates refer to this as the Acorn Principle. Just like an acorn can become a mighty oak tree, one small act of kindness can be the spark that lights the world. What say ye Turf Pirate’s, when the moment of choice comes will your generosity flow into action becoming the acorn that grows into a mighty oak? Take some time to measure the things you are grateful for and look for a way to pass on the positivity. Reflect and find your why and the giving is easy. Raise your glass Turf Pirates and drop a coin in the fountain. Wishing you green grass and high tides from the galactic headquarters of the Ancient and Honorable Tribe of Turf Pirates.

Anthony delivers a donation from the North Texas GCSA to the local Children’s hospital

A gathering of legendary Turf Pirates raising money for Environmental/ Turf Research (and playing a little golf), Left to Right Matt Corentin, Scott Griffith, Ken Mangum, Randy Mangum and Anthony Williams.

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