November In Review
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November Tourn Frigid Temperatures at Olde Homestead GC 19 - Players showed strength and determination as they took to the course on Sunday, November 2, 2014. The day began with temperatures around 40 degrees, and steady winds at 18 mph. Olde Homestead is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Mountains and proudly offers an award-winning 18-Hole Championship Course, that played at a Par 72, 6,060/5,838/5,506 yards long for the juniors.
Andrew Lombardo (Lansdale, PA), Nickolas Mokay (Moscow, PA), and Ron Robinson (Hatfield, PA) posted the low rounds of the tournament in the Boys 16-18 Division. Lombardo took the 1st place honors with his back nine score of 42 (+6) to win the match of cards playoff. Lombardo posted 6 pars in his round, a good amount for the blustery day. Mokay took second place honors with his back nine score of 43 (+7). Finishing up in 3rd place was Robinson with his back nine score of 44 (+8).
Buddy Hansen IV (Blue Bell, PA) and Timothy Chaykosky (Ambler, PA) both shot rounds of 90 (+18) in the Boys 13-15 Division. Hansen won this match of cards playoff with his back nine score of 41 (+5). Hansen had a tough start but strong back, which included a birdie on the par 5, 12th hole. One stroke off the leaders was Caleb Clement (Lancaster, PA) to wrap up the division with a score of 91 (+19). Emily Gilbert (Gilbertsville, PA) posted the low round of the girls to place 1st in the Girls 16-18 Division One highlight to make note of on Gilbert’s round was her lone birdie of the day that came on the par 4, 7th hole as she recorded a 98 (+26). Alexandra Voight-Shelley (State College, PA) posted a 103 (+31) to place 1st in the Girls 13-15 Division. This was Voight-Shelley’s first event, and win on the Philadelphia Junior Tour. Rounding out the division was Lily Byrne (Downingtown, PA) with a 115 (+43).
Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots - but you have to play the ball where it lies. - Bobby Jones
nament Results 72's for Drysdale and Isztwan at Seaview Galloway, NJ - The last event on the Philadelphia Junior Tour’s 2014 season took place at Seaview Hotel and Golf Club on Sunday, November 9th. The 45 player field were greeted with warmer than expected temperatures for this time of the year with little to no winds. The course played to a par 71 at a yardage of 6,202/5,842/5,361 yards. Christopher Drysdale (Yorktown Heights, NJ) earned his first career PJT victory in the Boys 16-18 Division with an 18-hole score of 72 (+1). Drysdale rolled in 4 birdies on his afternoon including one on his final hole. William Mitchell (Moorestown, NJ) finished in 2nd place with a 75 (+4). Ian Langendoerfer (Honesdale, PA) rounded out the division in 3rd with an 80 (+9). Brian Isztwan (Huntingdon Valley, PA) shot a 1-over-par round of 72 to finish in 1st place in the Boys 13-15 Division. On top of 3 birdies on his day, Isztwan also earned a $50 gift card to Golf Galaxy for closest-to-the-flag honors on hole 15. Ryan O’Neill (Lansdale, PA) was runner-up after posting a round of 78 (+7). 1 -shot behind O’Neill in 3rd place was Andrew Gallagher (Mount Laurel, NJ). Hometown hero, Marybelle Daclan (Galloway, NJ) finished in 1st place in the Girls 16-18 Division with a score of 86 (+15). With a 98 (+27) was Gianna Ward (Collegeville, PA) in 2nd place. Melissa Landis (Philadelphia, PA) shot a 101 (+30) to finish in 3rd place. Camille O’Halloran (Northfield, NJ) won the Girls 13-15 Division by the narrowest margins over Rylie Heflin (Avondale, PA) with a round of 82 (+11). One highlight to make note of on O’Halloran’s day was her birdie on the par 3, 7th. Liddie McCook (Chester Springs, PA) placed in 3rd with a round of 92 (+21). In addition to her bronze medal, McCook received $50 in store credit to Golf Galaxy for her closest-to-the-flag shot on hole 17. Alex Mulrooney (Wilmington, DE) birdied the par 5, 3rd which helped him to victory in the 12 & Under Division (Boys & Girls) with a front nine score of 39 (+2). Mulrooney’s scorecard did not have one “6” on his front nine. In a tie for 2nd place were Patrick Isztwan (Huntingdon Valley, PA) and Franklin Zhu (Warren, NJ) with front nine scores of 44 (+7).
PJT Notables Women's Golf Signs Four In 2015 Recruiting Class Jackie Rogowicz, Lauren Waller, Kamerine Taylor and Cara Basso make-up class of 2015.
Nov. 20, 2014 UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - The Penn State women's golf team adde firepower to its arsenal this week, signing four golfers for the 2015 class. Head coach Denise St. Pierre announced the addition of Jackie Rogowicz, Lauren Waller, Kamerine Taylor and Cara Basso. Unlike last year when international player Ariana Coyle Diez was signed (Mount Merrion, Ireland), Penn State opted for homegrown talent by adding three Pennsylvanians. "This entire class collectively is one of our best classes," Denise St. Pierre said as she is very pleased with the incoming class. "They are all great athletes, as well as students and are the type of people we want to have in our program."
Jackie Rogowicz (Yardley, Pa.), a senior at Pennsbury High School, has excelled as a junior golfer. Rogowicz won the 2011 AJGA Junior at Basking Ridge with a 10-over and managed another victory at the 2014 AJGA Junior hosted by Morgan Hoffman with a six-over. St. Pierre is excited with the players impending arrival saying, "Jackie is a top-100 ranked player, so its exciting to have a player like that come to our program."
Cara Basso (Downingtown, Pa.) spent 2014 traveling to play in AJGA, IJGT and PGA Junior Series events. Basso was very successful in junior events, earning four top-five finishes in 2014. Basso was also a force in her time at Villa Maria Academy, winning the 2014 AACA Golf Championship as an individual. St. Pierre rated Basso's ability highly pointing out, "Cara is a diamond in the rough because she is very strong and has a lot of distance in her game, which should help with the difficult weather."
Emma Albrecht, Isabella DiLisio and Maddie Rose Hamilton Join University of Notre Dame Women's Golf Program Irish one of only two teams nationally with three signees in Golfweek Power 50 rankings
Nov. 13, 2014
After a promising fall season that included a tournament win, four top-10 finishes and a No. 30 national ranking, the University of Notre Dame women's golf team already has its eyes set on the next group of Fighting Irish standouts. Three of the nation's elite high school and junior golf student-athletes -- Emma Albrecht (Ormond Beach, Florida/Father Lopez High School), Isabella DiLisio (Hatfield, Pennsylvania/Mount Saint Joseph Academy) and Maddie Rose Hamilton (Louisville, Kentucky/Sacred Heart Academy) -- each signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Notre Dame beginning in the fall of 2015, Fighting Irish head coach Susan Holt announced today. The trio made their official commitments to Notre Dame during the early signing period that began Wednesday and continues through Nov. 19. All three student-athletes are rated among the top 40 players in the nation according to the Golfweek Power 50 rankings, which combines the Golfweek/Sagarin junior rankings, American Junior Golf Association (AJGA)/Polo rankings, World Amateur Golf Ranking and other input. DiLisio stands at No. 21 in the Golfweek Power 50, with Hamilton (No. 32) and Albrecht (No. 36) not far behind. Notre Dame is one of only two schools in the country (along with Georgia) to have three signees appearing in the Golfweek Power 50 rankings. In fact, besides Notre Dame and Georgia, just five other schools in the nation had multiple Golfweek Power 50 signees -Arizona State, Florida, Northwestern, UCLA and USC. "We are really excited about the addition of these three outstanding student-athletes to our women's golf family," Holt said. "It's a great day for our program, as we bring this group of talented players into the fold, along with the solid foundation we have with our returning players. The future is bright and we are looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead.
ISABELLA DiLISIO (Hatfield, Pa./Mount Saint Joseph Academy) High School: Presently enrolled at Mount Saint Joseph Academy in Flourtown, Pennsylvania ... part of Mount Saint Joseph squad that won 2013 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Class 3A championship, along with four Athletic Association of Catholic Academies (AACA) league titles (2011-14) ... won 2013 PIAA Class 3A individual title (148, +4) with eagle on final hole ... won 2012 PIAA District I championship.
Awards/Honors: 2014 Rolex/AJGA Junior All-America Honorable Mention selection ... 2014 HewlettPackard Scholastic Junior All-America Team pick (chosen by AJGA) ... earned 2014 Essay Award as part of HP Scholastic Junior All-America Team selection (wrote feature on great-grandfather who was caddie for Ben Hogan at 1950 United States Open) ... 2013 Norristown Times-Herald Golfer of the Year ... 2011 Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy (GGGA) Junior AllStar Team selection ... ranked No. 21 in Class of 2015 according to Golfweek Power 50 ... ranked No. 25 in Golfweek/Sagarin junior rankings ... ranked No. 47 by Junior Golf Scoreboard and AJGA/Polo rankings.
Rule 3-2; Failure to Hole Out The Rules of Golf are best learned early in life Written by: Tom Carpus, PGA
When it comes to the Rules of Golf and junior golfers, no matter how difficult it may be, it’s best to learn early in life. A ruling that goes against a junior golfer may appear harsh at the time, but the life lesson it may teach the child is far more important. PGA professionals not only teach young people how to play the game, but also how to play the game the right way. Rules, etiquette, integrity and honesty, are just a few of the principles that are part of the learning process of this great game.
A high school stroke play event was recently played at Kennett Square Golf & CC, in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. A freshman on one of the teams came into the golf shop before teeing off, and asked if he could borrow a jacket because it was cool and breezy. With a wind vest in hand, off he went. After the round, he came back into the golf shop to return the wind vest. When asked how he played, he said that he was disqualified. At the second hole, he putted his ball within inches of the hole. Thinking his next stroke was “good”; he reached down and picked up his ball. The group then teed off on the next hole, and finished the round. When they turned in their scorecards, a fellow competitor mentioned the incident at the second hole to his coach. After a short coaches’ meeting, the freshman’s coach explained to him that he was disqualified under Rule 3-2 (Failure to Hole Out).
One could tell the freshman was very upset, and he was having trouble understanding what happened. This was a “teaching moment”… an opportunity to break out the Rule Book and review Rule 3-2. This Rule states: “If a competitor fails to hole out at any hole, and he does not correct his mistake before he makes a stroke on the next teeing ground, or, in the case of the last hole of the round, before he leaves the putting green, he is disqualified”. If he had realized his mistake before teeing off on the third hole, he could have rectified his mistake by replacing the ball
and holing out. In this case, he would have just incurred a one stroke penalty (for lifting his ball without making it), instead of the disqualification penalty. For a young player, it’s better to learn these lessons now, than when he is playing at a higher level, where there is more at stake. After our conversation, he was still upset, but he realized the importance of knowing and understanding the Rules of Golf.
On the more humorous side, the wind vest that I loaned him had “PGA Rules Committee” on the left chest. We both laughed, and went home for dinner. Yes, this young man was my son, TJ. He just turned fifteen years old, and he is a wonderful son. Since that day, we have talked at length about the Rules of Golf and their importance. In fact, last fall we were watching the President’s Cup, and saw a player pick his ball up near the hole. TJ immediately asked: Why was that player allowed to lift his ball? This was another “teaching moment”, an opportunity to explain the difference between Rule 2 (Match Play) and Rule 3 (Stroke Play).
As a PGA member and parent, this was quite a learning experience for me too. As golf professionals, we have to be aware of the additional pressure this puts on our children. The best thing we can do for our children, as well as our junior golfers, is to use these “teaching moments” to help them play the game of golf the right way. The life lessons that can be learned through the game of golf are priceless! Tom Carpus is the Head Golf Professional at Kennett Square Golf & CC and a member of the PGA of America Rules Committee.
A Quick Nine: Best Golf Training Aids
Photo: Courtesy The Orange Whip The Orange Whip (and Orange Peel) have quickly become a hit with golfers of all levels.
By John Kim PGA.com Ever feel like you're not doing enough to help your game? That there might be a better, easier way to improve than countless hours beating bucket after bucket on the range? Well, of course there is. And right now, while much of the country is still gripped in the throes of winter, we asked our Facebook Nation what instruction/training aids they thought were the best to help their respective games. The answers poured in. We eagerly acknowledge that nothing takes the place of great instruction from a PGA Professional (and some quality time on the range) but you did provide a great look at some of the best learning tools that are accessible and affordable to the everyday golfer. So without further ado, here's their top answers on what you need to get your swing or stroke fine tuned for the best golf of your life.
9.) Mirror (ex: here) - Something so simple can provide a large amount of feedback. Most players have no idea how they look at various points in their set up and/or swing. This most common aid can help you see and improve a wide variety of flaws in your setup and technique. Tyler Sweet A $10 mirror from Walmart Eric W. Russell - Use the mirror for a reverse look at position/swing/stroke etc....most popular is in putting, to see how the blade/hands/arms take the club away and through impact...you can spot out flaws more easily. 8.) Greg Norman secret - This tool forces your hand to stay in the correct positions throughout the swing. The idea being that enough repitition will train your hands to repeat those positions when you take the swing out onto the course. Alan Koontz In honor of his birthday today, the Greg Norman Secret. That thing helped me a bunch. 7.) Impact bags (Ex: here) - A pretty simple concept that has helped so many golfers. You swing your club (irons) at the large bag which will teach you to hit the bag with a square clubface, solidifying your impact position with your irons. There are several manufacturers with their own versions, but the concept is pretty much
the same. Brian Moreland Old school impact bag 6.) Tour Striker - A special club that has a small face that is higher up than any regular/normal golf club. What does it do? It forces you to swing down on the ball and creates a smaller impact area (so when you use your actual clubs, the sweet spot seems HUGE.) I've seen these on a number of ranges and tradeshows - the golfers who have them do love them. Donovan Janus Tour striker is the only aid that made a big difference to my game https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XFJ02NwKDO4 5.) Benderstik - Developed by famed instructor Mike Bender, this aid provides instant feedback on your swing. The large rod and foam ball can be positioned in a variety of ways that allow you to take your normal swing and will immediately tell you if your swing is on plane, your hands are in a proper position or if your head or body are tilting incorrectly. Frank Remmes Bender stick Daniel Gomez Bender stick 4.) Medicus - The famed dual hinging golf club has enjoyed a long run of success. The club breaks down on it's dual hinges when not positioned correctly at various points throughout the swing. Jim Furyk will probably never benefit from it - but tens of thousands of amatuer golfers have. Clinton Boyd Marburger Medicus Wes Kramer-Jr Dual hinge driver actually cured my slice and added 12 yards to my drives 3.) Putter Wheel - Perhaps the "hottest" aid at the 2014 PGA Show, the Putter Wheel is so simple and yet, so effective. The wheel looks like a the middle third of a golf ball, but with special color codings on the side to improve your eye positioning and the weighting will let you know if your stroke is making flush, flat contact with the ball. Michael Benzie - Putter Wheel https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AeWZGS9rJwE 2.) Alingment Rods - It's straight sticks, right? But it provides a world of information about your swing. Check out virtually any top instructor or Tour pro. They'll have some in there. Chris Curnutt Alignment rods. There are so many things you can do with them. Tye Smith Definitely the orange alignment aid sticks .... They have multiple great uses . Andrew S Fiori Alignment sticks. You can have all this other crap strapped to you, but doesn't do crap for you if your not aiming the right way. Even "The Pros" use them. Worst? Anything that says "guaranteed" or "90 minutes or less". Do yourself a favor and see a PGA Instructor if your game is crap. 1.) The Orange Whip - I've heard from PGA Professionals, Tour players and many amateur golfers that this is their favorite. It improves your swing, your fitness and your strength. And it fits easily into your golf bag. Hard to beat that. Jay MacMaster The orange whip. If you don't have one get one. Barry J C Meyer Orange whip! Cedric Anderson Orange whip
10 Rules for Good Golf Etiquette
I. Don't be the slowest player In my casual games at Bay Hill, we get around in under four hours -- and that's in fivesomes. Evaluate your pace of play honestly and often, and if you're consistently the slowest one in your group, you're a slow player, period. Encourage everyone to move quickly enough so you find yourself right behind the group in front several times, both early and late in the round. Remember the old staples of getting around in good time: Play "ready golf" (hit when ready, even if you aren't away) until you reach the green, be prepared to play when it's your turn on the tee and green, and never search for a lost ball for more than five minutes. II. Keep your temper under control In the final of the Western Pennsylvania Junior when I was 17, I let my putter fly over the gallery after missing a short putt. I won the match, but when I got in the car with my parents for the ride home, there were no congratulations, just dead silence. Eventually my father said, "If I ever see you throw a club again, you will never play in another golf tournament." That wake-up call stayed with me. I haven't thrown a club since. Throwing clubs, sulking and barking profanity make everyone uneasy. We all have our moments of frustration, but the trick is to vent in an inoffensive way. For example, I often follow a bad hole by hitting the next tee shot a little harder -- for better or worse. III. Respect other people's time Because time is our most valuable commodity, there are few good reasons for breaking a golf date. Deciding last-minute to clean the garage on Saturday, or getting a call that the auto-repair shop can move up your appointment by a day, just doesn't cut it. Always make your tee times, and show up for your lesson with the pro a little early. Social functions are no exception. IV. Repair the ground you play on I have a penknife that's my pet tool for fixing ball marks, but a tee or one of those two-pronged devices is fine. As for divots, replace them or use the seed mix packed on the side of your cart. Rake bunkers like you mean it. Ever notice that the worse the bunker shot, the poorer the job a guy does raking the sand? Make the area nice and smooth -- don't leave deep furrows from the rake. Before you exit the bunker, ask yourself, Would I be upset if I had to play from that spot?
V. Be a silent partner During one of my last tour events as a player, I noticed another pro making practice swings in my field of vision as I was getting ready to hit a shot. I stopped, walked over and reminded him (maybe too sternly) that it was my turn to play. The point is, stand still from the time a player sets himself until the ball has left the club. Even with the advent of spikeless shoes, the etiquette rule of never walking in someone's line of play on the putting green is an absolute. The area around the hole in particular is sacred ground. The first thing to note when you walk onto a green is the location of every ball in your group, then steer clear of their lines to the hole. Know where to stand and when to keep quiet. Position yourself directly across or at a diagonal from a player setting up. Never stand on the line of play, either beyond the hole or directly behind the ball. When a player is about to hit a shot, think of the fairway as a cathedral, the green a library. VI. Make your golf cart 'invisible' Carts are very much a part of the modern game. Think about it: They're mentioned on the backs of scorecards, discussed in the Decisions on the Rules of Golf, bags and other items are designed specifically for them, and they're used at most courses. The sheer pervasiveness of them makes cart etiquette vitally important. Your goal when driving a cart should be to leave no trace you were there. Because we tend to look where we're going and not where we've been, it's easy to damage the turf and not realize it. Avoid wet areas and spots that are getting beaten up from traffic. Golfers tend to play "follow the leader" and drive in single file out to the fairway before branching off. It's usually better to "scatter" -- everyone take a different route -- so cart traffic is spread out. VII. Always look your best From Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen to Ben Hogan and Sam Snead to Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, the best players have been meticulous about their appearance. Their clothing has been sharp, and not one of them has shown up on the first tee with his cap backward, mud caked on his shoes, or his shirttail hanging out. (My shirt often came untucked, but it was my swing that did it. I started with it tucked in!) Your appearance speaks volumes about you as a person, and the neatly appointed golfer, like a businessman or someone headed to church, gives the impression he thinks the golf course and the people there are special. VIII. Turn off the cell phone Nobody knows less about technology than I do. But I know enough to recognize a cell phone when it rings in my backswing. If I had my way, cell phones would be turned off at all times on the course, but most clubs have given in to the fact that people are going to use them. I don't know all the gadgets and settings on those phones, but do whatever you have to do to keep it quiet. And if you absolutely have to make a call, move away from the other players. And keep the call so brief that they don't even know you made it. IX. Lend a hand when you can It's easy to help out your fellow players, if you just pay attention. One obvious way is looking for lost balls -- better yet, watching errant shots so they don't turn into lost balls. Pick up that extra club left on the fringe or the headcover dropped next to the tee, and return it to its owner after saying, "Nice shot!" And if you see a cart out of position or a provisional ball that needs picking up, don't just walk by. X. Learn the little things There are a hundred bits of etiquette I haven't mentioned, like laying the flagstick down carefully, tamping down spike marks when you're walking off a green, letting faster groups play through, and so on. All of these things are learned by observing, with a sharp eye and a considerate heart. Just know that golf has a way of returning favors, and every piece of etiquette you practice will be repaid tenfold.
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