Tee TImes Aug 2012

Issue 6 • Volume 5 • August 2012

One Tank Trip

- Breezy Point Resort In Brainerd

3M Championship - $20 Million In 20 Years

Wedges - Loft, Bounce And Spin - Tools And Tips To Lower Your Score

Northwest Suburban Golf - Bunker Hills, Edinburgh USA, Majestic Oaks, The Refuge

Yamaha introduces Electronic Fuel Injection!

Quieter, more fuel efficient and no choke cable!

Whether you’re teeing off across O’Dowd Lake on the famous 8th hole of our championship course, or dining at our restaurant, lounge or on our open-air terrace, you’ll realize that Stonebrooke is the perfect choice.

• The Perfect Place for Your Golf Event • Full-Service Restaurant & Lounge • Banquet Rooms for up to 260 Guests

Perfect for the golf course, cabin, campground and hobby farm!

Mention this ad and receive a free windshield, a $175.00 value, with the purchase of a new or used golf car.

Huge Selection Of New & Used Cars

952-890-5541 • www.yamahagu.com

• Chef-Prepared Cuisine • Expansive Open-Air Terrace Views of Waterfall & Course for special offers send us a text message at stoneb 91011

visit www.stonebrooke.com to reserve your tee time.

952.496.3171 • 3 miles south of shakopee on county road 79

The Most Radical Golf Course in Minnesota!

Not Just A Golf Course...A Destination!

Majestic Oaks also offers:

Great Wedding Location Full Service Restaurant Corporate Golf Tournaments Small Group Golf Outings The Season’s Dinner Theatre at Majestic Oaks The Mystery Cafe Boot Hockey Leagues Snow Golf

Check Us Out On Facebook Or At www.majesticoaksgc.com 701 Bunker Lake Boulevard • Ham Lake, MN 55304 • Clubhouse – 763-755-2140 • Pro Shop – 763-755-2142

Fairways & Greens

August 2012

WE WANT YOUR OPINION!

3

We are asking you, our readers, to share your thoughts on Minnesota’s top golf courses.

Please email your choices to steve@teetimespress.com or go to www.teetimespress. com/readerschoice to submit your choices in the following categories.

All responses will have their name entered into a drawing for rounds of golf!

We will announce your Readers’ Choice in this October’s issue of Tee Times.

1. The Golf Course That Provides The Best Golf Experience 2. The Golf Course That Provides The Best Value 3. The Golf Course That Provides The Best Hospitality (Service) 4. The Golf Course In The Best Condition 5. The Golf Course With The Best Greens 6. Favorite Golf Course For A Wedding 7. Favorite Golf Course For A Tournament 8. Favorite Golf Course For A Holiday Party 9. Favorite Clubhouse

THANK YOU

10. Favorite Pro Shop 11. Favorite Restaurant 12. Best Food At The Turn 13. Favorite Par 3 14. Favorite Par 4 15. Favorite Par 5 16. Finest Private Club 17. Best Golf Resort 18. Best Public Course

FOR PARTICIPATING.

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2935 Parkview Drive Medina, MN 55340

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763-694-7670 Threeriversparks.org Steve Wetzler Kim Benjamin Jimmy Rockelman Kobie Conrath 121 Studios Larry Berle, Will Brogan, Tim Cotroneo, Chris Foley, Eric Hart, Michael Herzog, Aaron Jacobson, Mark Johnson, Matt Just, Steve Manthis, Jim McNaney, Brad Parrott, Steve Pease, Rick Shefchik, R.J. Smiley

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Tee Times Cup

4

August 2012

Mississippi Dunes

One Unique Track

PGA Championship Preview For the second year in a row, the PGA Championship will be hosted in the southeastern United States, this time at the fantastic “Ocean Course” at Kiawah Island Resort. As a matter of fact, the 2012 PGA Championship will be first men’s major ever contested in the state of South Carolina.

Designed by Pete Dye and initially built to host the 1991 Ryder Cup that became known as “The War on The Shore”, The Ocean Course can play nearly 7,700 yards if the PGA chooses to. Like a typical Pete Dye-designed track, difficult angles into greens come into play and the prevailing winds are utilized very well.

How well? According to the Kiawah Island Resort website, The Ocean Course can play up to an eight club difference in some spots on the course. Thus, expect the wind to be much more of a factor at the 94th edition of the PGA Championship than it was in The Open Championship in July!

As for the competitors, at The Open, Ernie Els broke the streak of nine consecutive first time major winners, but the streak of now sixteen different men winning the last sixteen majors remains intact. Thus, the field is wide open yet again for another major!

Kiawah Ocean Course

August Tee Times Cup Standings And The PGA Championship Picks

C.J. Meyer Jay Meyerhoff Jimmy Rockelman Tim Brovold Tom Abts Jim McNaney Steve Wetzler Will Brogan Matt Just Paul (P.K.) Kelley Eddie Wynne Michael Herzog Lori Money

Points 17 17 15 12 10 9 9 7 7 5 5 2 2

Pick 1

Pick 2

Matt Kuchar Graeme McDowell Hunter Mahan Dustin Johnson Jason Dufner Graeme McDowell Bubba Watson Graeme McDowell Adam Scott Hunter Mahan Jason Dufner Hunter Mahan Lee Westwood

Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Dustin Johnson Zach Johnson Tiger Woods Adam Scott Tiger Woods Matt Kuchar K.J. Choi Tiger Woods Tiger Woods

Keegan Bradley 2011 Winner PGA Championship

h w o l e e h t f a r mily! o f n u F 18 hole chamPionshiP course - featuring four hour pace of play - impeccably manicured course - Great greens

9 hole family course - Perfect for beginners - Best in family value • full service restaurant • Great place for tournaments & events

763.200.4268 • pebblecreekgolf.com

Tee Times Cup

August 2012

5

Mississippi Dunes

One Unique Track

3M Championship Preview This month, as a bonus for the Tee Times Cup, our favorite contributors will be predicting the 3M Championship at T.P.C. Twin Cities in addition to the PGA Championship!

Three of the last four tournaments contested on the Champions Tour were majors, with The Open Championship also being thrown into that mix. Thus, the 3M Championship, though a round shorter than all of those tournaments, still feels like a bit of a grind for the contestants.

Jay Haas won the 2011 edition with a bit of a “grinder” game plan, though he did have an “ace” during the first round to help him out!

2011 3M Championship co-runner up Tom Lehman is back to try to capture the title at the course in which he was the player consultant. As the defending champion of the Charles Schwab Cup – and leader in the 2012 standings in late July – expect Lehman to give another serious charge toward the trophy at the 3M Championship this year.

Other likely contenders include: Roger Chapman, winner of two Champions Tour majors this year; Michael Allen, another Champions Tour major winner this year who was the oldest contestant at the U.S. Open; Bernhard Langer, who won the 2009 3M Championship and followed that up by taking the 2010 Schwab Cup Title.

TPC Twin Cities #7 "Tom's Thumb"

August Tee Times Cup Standings And The 3M Championship Picks

C.J. Meyer Jay Meyerhoff Jimmy Rockelman Tim Brovold Tom Abts Jim McNaney Steve Wetzler Will Brogan Matt Just Paul (P.K.) Kelley Eddie Wynne Michael Herzog Lori Money

Points 17 17 15 12 10 9 9 7 7 5 5 2 2

Pick 1

Pick 2

Tom Lehman Tom Lehman Mark Calcavecchia Tom Lehman Tom Lehman Dave Tentis Tom Lehman Joey Sindelar Mark Calcavecchia Fred Funk Fred Funk Tom Lehman Tom Lehman

Bernhard Langer Mark Calcavecchia Bernhard Langer Bernhard Langer Bernhard Langer Bernhard Langer Bernhard Langer Olin Browne Michael Allen Roger Champman John Cook Michael Allen Bernhard Langer

Jay Haas 2011 3M Championship Winner

Where Great Golf & Great Events Begin A quality first-class facility, maintained to country club standards, on a daily fee basis open to the public.

Twighlight Rates Start 8/22! $24 walking - $36 with cart Starts at 1:00 - 7 Days a Week!

Crystal Lake Golf Course & Banquet Facility • Lakeville, MN

952.432.6566

www.crystallakegolfcourse.com

Fairways & Greens

6

August 2012

The Legends Club

A Legendary Golf Experience

By Eric Hart

Legends Club Clubhouse Photo Courtesy of Peter Wong Photography

Legends Club #13 Photo Courtesy of Peter Wong Photography

Let’s just say, hypothetically, that you’re standing somewhere at the 3M Championship in Blaine, Minnesota reading this article. Let’s take it a step further and say you’re looking out at the pros playing one of the Twin Cities’ best private courses and you’re thinking to yourself, “Boy do I wish I could golf a course today, with impressive playing conditions like this one. Somewhere near by. Somewhere with hole after beautiful hole, cool shot after cool shot.” Fortunately for you, whether you’re a local or a weekend visitor, the metro area has five or six such amazing public courses, and one of those elite few is most certainly the Legends Club in Prior Lake.

So, concede the tourney win to Fred Couples already, hop in your car and drive south to 8670 Credit River Boulevard where they await you with open carts.

The Legends Club, from sun up to sun down, will give any golfer the fix they need, and more. Year after year, this Audubon International Certified course is considered one of the ten best public golf courses in the state of Minnesota.

Legends Club #11 to #13 Photo Courtesy of Brandon Rowell

That’s one of the 10 best in the entire state! Built in 2001 by local designing legend Garrett Gill the course at the tips stretches to 7,063 yards and generously contracts to 5,095 yards from the Golds.

a short and cute (nearly too short for anyone’s sand wedge at 122 from the tips) design. It is followed by two more great holes, a par 4 and another par 3 and then you are gently led back into the clubhouse. Take a deep breath here, because the back takes your breath away and doesn’t give it back. We told you there were 11 fantastic holes here. There were three on the front. That should tell you what’s left. It’s not that the front nine isn’t special. You’ll think it’s cool but you can anticipate more…this is Gill’s design crescendo. Trust us. He doesn’t disappoint.

The panoramic view from the clubhouse adequately teases and prompts a slight drool. It’s all laid out before you.

Creatively weaving through wetlands and forest, hills and plains, it dabs you in each ecosystem on the front, and then dropkicks you in the face with their elements on the back.

Ask yourself this, “How many holes, at your favorite local course, would you consider to be creative, fun, excellent to The stretch of holes from 10 to15 has to be one of the top 3 the point of making you say wow designed holes?” Think best 6 hole runs in Minnesota, public or private. The approach about it. Go hole by hole. Got it? Okay. shots on 10 through 13 are unforgettable and require your undivided attention, each demanding you to deal with the The Legends Club has, in our opinion, 11 such holes. The first magnetic presence of water short and left. Twelve and fifteen four holes allow you to get your bad swings out of the way, are short par 4’s that you can drive with good aim and proper (and we all have them) to shake free the morning cobwebs or wind assistance. Sixteen would probably even be considered just-got-off work stress. The first super hole is the par 3 5th, a great hole, were it not placed in the middle of 8 other stunners. (Think 9th place in a Sports Illustrated swimsuit contest.) We can’t really criticize it, but it’s nothing like the other eight. To that point, seventeen and eighteen provide more magnetic liquid short and left again and more beauty, ending your round in absolute style. This course has so much style…so much substance…it’s almost unfair to the other courses in the area.

And then there’s the 13th hole. It has been lauded and applauded by national publications as one of the best par 3’s in the entire USA. An all-carry par 3, surrounded by lake, lined with a rock wall, and connected to the tee by a picturesque wooden bridge, #13 absolutely will not apologize for taking your breath (or your balls away). The back nine at Legends Club is an unrelenting assault on your senses and a test of your patience and skill. It is both beauty and beast. Short, tough, fair and frenetic.

Play it. Play the entire course. Think about it hole by hole and describe it to your friends. Appreciate it. Put it up against any public or private course in the city. Hole-forhole, is there a better one? If you can think of one with more (quantity) exhilarating holes, please let us know. Right or wrong, agree or disagree, this course is at least properly titled. Your experience here, given the settings, design and service (and the proper amount of appreciation) can always be “Legendary.”

Fairways & Greens

August 2012

7

The Wilds Golf Club If Tom Weiskopf were a vintner he would produce complex wines, appreciated by those with a fine palate.

By R.J. Smiley

The Wilds #10

The Wilds #16 Photo Courtesy of Peter Wong Photography

Trivia Question - Who designed the TPC Scottsdale (Home of the Waste Management from right to left. The right-side fairway is the easiest to hit, but the slope and mound in Phoenix Open)? Answer - Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish. the green make it impossible to stop an approach shot near the pin. By the third time you Question - Who designed The Wilds Golf Club in Prior Lake? Answer - Same. play this wonderful hole (Weiskopf’s favorite) you will not automatically grab your driver and smack it down the right-hand fairway. The second obvious example of studying and Years ago I had the pleasure of sharing several glasses of Scotch Whiskey and great planning a shot is the, par-4, ninth. Experienced Wild players will never hit their approach conversation with Tom Weiskopf. Dennis (an old college golf teammate, and friend of shot without first, traveling to the crest of the hill, taking a look at the exact pin position and Weiskopf) and I had stopped by The Downside Risk, a favorite watering hole for golfers in planning a miss on the correct side of the hole. On every Tom Weiskopf golf course, he Phoenix, to have a few before dinner. On any given day at the Downside Risk you could planned each pin position on every green! He wanted to make you think what area of the have a beer standing next to tour players, caddies or golf notables like Weiskopf. Prior to this fairway to attack that pin from. If your tee shot does not end up on that part of the fairway, meeting, I had a poor impression of Tom as a person. He seemed to pout when he played tour you will take your two-putt-par from 25‘ and go to the next hole. tournaments; never seemed to have fun.

Play The Wilds a few times as this season draws to a close while trying to visualize what In person, Tom is a different personality than you watched on TV. He is a perfectionist who Weiskopf had in mind. Then when you watch the Waste Management Phoenix Open next expected to win every tournament but many times ended up in the shadow of fellow Ohio February you will notice the many similarities in design.

State teammate, Jack Nicklaus. After winning The (British) Open and 13 other tour events, Tom joined Jay Morrish as a golf course designer where his need for perfection could be repeated on an endless variety of venues. The more glassy Tom’s eyes became, the more they twinkled as he told stories of the challenges and problems solved in golf course design.

Each time I return to The Wilds Golf Club I recall that conversation with Tom. Not for what he said but for the passion and energy he put into his work as a designer. Having played many Weiskopf courses, I find The Wilds incorporates the sibling design traits that have become his trademark. When you play a Tom Weiskopf golf course you will use every club in your bag, be exposed to the every changing elements and find something new about the golf course each time you play it. Tom creates an infinite variety of angles and views that change with wind and pin position. Play the same hole tomorrow from the exact position in the fairway and you have an entirely different shot. That is what Weiskopf intended.

As a whole, The Wilds Golf Club has become the perfect venue: For hosting a great golf outing, for magnificent weddings to be remembered, for the spectacular Sunday brunch, for players who want to work on their game at the exceptional practice facility. The Wilds has it all, beautiful natural setting, a big golf course with a big name designer, large banquet room able to host major parties and a chef and kitchen staff who continuously produces great food! But for (REAL) golfers who want to experience something special, The Wilds is the place to play!

By the third time you play The Wilds you will start to appreciate the supreme design; much like a great wine, that must breath to be fully appreciated. The most notable and obvious example is the, par-4, sixth hole with it’s duel fairways and the green that is severely canted

The Wilds #8 Photo Courtesy of Peter Wong Photography

8

Fairways & Greens

August 2012

By Steve Manthis

The Refuge Golf Club #5 Photo Courtesy of Photofinish Studios

One of the best parts about writing for Tee Times is the chance to play such a wide variety of golf courses. Sometimes I play a course I’ve never played, sometimes I get to review a course I know inside and out, and sometimes I get to return to a course I haven’t been to in a long time. Such was the case recently when I made my way to Oak Grove to play The Refuge Golf Club. On the way up, I tried to remember the last time I played the course; while I wasn’t positive what year it was that I was there, it had to be about 10 years ago. Whatever my first impressions were, I have to say that I found The Refuge to be an enjoyable round of golf.

Located 30 minutes or so from Minneapolis and just west of Highway 65, The Refuge Golf Club provides a challenging layout. While it’s not the longest course out there (around 6,200-6,500 yards for men, under 5,400 yards for women and juniors), it does have plenty of character and lots of hazards to gobble up wayward shots. In fact, you’ll see water or marshland on all 18 holes. While there are some carries over these hazards, it’s not like you have to do so on every hole.

The Refuge Golf Club Clubhouse Photo Courtesy of Photofinish Studios

FIND THE FAIRWAY: Hitting a straight drive is a good idea at any course, but there are some holes at The Refuge where it’s an absolute necessity. There’s water along the left of #1, so stay right. It’s not very long, so a 3 wood off the tee isn’t a bad idea. The 7th, the short 11th and the 17th (all par fours) are all holes where you’ll benefit greatly by finding the fairway with your tee shot. If you don’t, expect to make a big number.

STRAIGHTAWAY PAR 5? NOT HERE! Par fives are where players often have a chance to make a good score. The par fives at The Refuge (there are 5 of them) aren’t particularly long; in fact, from the green tees, none of them measure over 500 yards. However, that doesn’t mean they’re easy pickings. Not one of them is straight, and all of them ask that you play your ball to the right position. For example, the par five 5th hole is the first forced carry over marshland. If your tee shot finds the fairway, trees on the left side protect the green from any less-than-perfect attempts at reaching the green in two. I got a kick out of the scorecard at #12 – the description calls it a “straight forward dogleg left” as if a dogleg could be straight.

Nevertheless, it’s an accurate phrase as all the par fives have some significant bend to them.

TEE BOXES: A favorite characteristic for me are the many peninsula tee boxes built into the marsh. Number 9, another par 5, has another carry over marshland, and is reachable in two depending how much of the hole you dare to cut off with your tee shot. The cart path is built on a bridge through the marsh, and to the right of the path are four different tee boxes, each one separate from the others and created by making a small island up out of the marsh.

Carved from 350 acres of woods and wetlands, The Refuge creates an ‘up north’ feel just 30 minutes from Minneapolis.

• 18 Hole Championship Course • 4 1/2 Stars-GolfDigest • Top 5 “Places To Play”-Golf Week 2009 • The 13,000 Square Foot Clubhouse Makes The Refuge A Perfect Venue For Tournaments, Outings And Weddings

2012 Special

18 Hole Green Fee With 1/2 Cart Monday - Friday $35 Anytime Saturday – Sunday $45 Anytime Must Presented Coupon To Redeem

UP NORTH FEEL: By far the best part about The Refuge is the sense that you’re playing a golf course in northern Minnesota, when, in reality, you’re not too far from the northern suburbs. Once you get out of sight of the clubhouse, it looks like at any moment a bear may jump out of the woods while you’re waiting to tee off on #6, or that you’ll see a moose splashing in the marsh near the 13th green. I’m not sure what kind of wildlife there is in Oak Grove, but you’ll swear you’re farther north than you really are. General Manager Curt Jasper says, “There hasn’t been a conscious effort to remove trees but there has been a conscious effort to expand/widen the fairways and landing areas. We still plant about 50 trees yearly to make sure that the course can sustain the ‘Up North’ feel.”

Besides the golf course, The Refuge has a beautiful clubhouse that was built in 2004. The Golfer’s Grill has room for 60 people and the banquet room holds up to 280 people for bigger events like corporate outings, tournaments and weddings. Curt Jasper says they get several such events each year. On the day I was there, preparations were underway for a wedding and reception, and the banquet room looked wonderful. Check out the picture gallery on their website (www.refugegolfclub.com) to see how it looks and to find other info on rates and leagues. While they do have memberships (at a good price, too), The Refuge is not a private course. It’s a Twin Cities course with an up north feel.

Not Valid September 1-3, Expires 12/31/12

763-753-8383 • www.refugegolfclub.com 12150 Yellow Pine Street • Oak Grove, MN 55011

The Refuge Golf Club #9 Photo Courtesy of Photofinish Studio

August 2012

Fairways & Greens

9

Continues In A Tradition Of Excellence

By R.J. Smiley Bunker Hills #8 West

Bunker Hills Patio

Bunker Hills Golf Club, now 44 years old, continues to be comparable golf in the Twin Cities or in vacationland is a the standard by which other “Premium”, Public Access Golf rare treat. Bunker Hills is a country club experience priced Courses are judged. The greens, still the original; built to be so the working guy can afford to play. fast and firm, are the envy of many private golf clubs.

HARVEST GRILL: The Harvest Grill in the new In 1966, when the Coon Rapids City Council passed the clubhouse, opened in June of 2011, is not only stunningly resolution to get into the golf business, no one, not even Dick beautiful it is remarkably functional. It is not just a place Tollette, who was the shepherd of the project for 40 years, for a beer and a hotdog after a round of golf. You can could have envisioned what Bunker Hills Golf Club is today. get a hot dog. You can get a beer. But you can also To call it a community asset is an understatement. schedule a company party or sit-down banquet for over 400. You can take your wife for an anniversary dinner to Over the years Bunker Hills has added 9-holes of championship be remembered. You can host your daughter’s wedding golf, 9-holes of executive golf and an irrigation system that in an outdoor setting where every picture, with beautiful keeps the rough as green as the fairways. Bunker Hills has panoramic natural views, creates a unique signature on a new clubhouse and restaurant that is the envy of every that special day. Your daughter will love the attentive staff municipal golf course in the U.S. There is a reason why the and the impression left in the mind of the groom’s family clubhouse is the home of the Minnesota Section of the PGA will last forever. Truth is, the Harvest Grill is a fine dining of America and the Minnesota Golf Hall of Fame. (They restaurant and a well thought-out banquet facility that just want to be identified with the BEST!) happens to be located at a golf course. The menu is chuck full of traditional Minnesota foods, where locally grown Bunker Hills Golf Club was built to be a Championship Golf ingredients are used whenever possible.

Course; and has proven to be just that. In 1976 Bunker Hills was honored to be host of the USGA Amateur Public Links Championship. In 1993 Bunker Hills became nationally known when it hosted the Coldwell Banker-Burnett Senior Classic. Bunker Hills hosted the Champions Tour event for seven years before the tournament was moved to the TPC in Blaine, a course built to host the tournament. Bunker Hills has hosted the majority of the Minnesota State Open Tournaments in the past 40 years. High school golfers dream of qualifying for the State Tournament so they can match their skills against a course laden with tradition and history.

CHAMPIONSHIP CONDITIONS EVERYDAY: The goal of management is to give everyday golfers the same “championship conditions” that pros and top amateurs have come to expect. Course conditioning peaked for the recently completed Minnesota State Open. Now, for the balance of the season, golfers will enjoy the tight fairways, thick rough and slick greens that challenged those few tournament qualifiers.

For those who understand “good bunker sand”, Bunker Hills spared no expense bringing in sand, all the way from Ohio, by barge, to make playing conditions perfect in every detail. Even though the original 18-holes are blended in the current 27-hole the flavor of the golf course has not changed.

Bunker Hills is a big golf course with long demanding holes and especially large greens where touch with a putter is a must. For the golfing public to have the opportunity to play this golf course any day of the week for half the price of

As we look back to that momentous day in 1966 when Coon Rapids city fathers made that decision to move forward with Bunker Hills Golf Club, we thank those visionaries who saw the future.....But never like this!

Located in Coon Rapids, Bunker Hills provides comfortable luxury, state of the art technology, panoramic views, and world-class service!

Home of the 2012 Minnesota State Open!

763-755-4141 • www.bunkerhillsgolf.com

Harvest Grill Bar

Fairways & Greens

10

August 2012

By Larry Berle

Not Your Average Golf Course

Majestic Oaks The Signature Course #13

Majestic Oaks Spring Tournament

radical (rad-i-kuhl): thoroughgoing or extreme, especially as courses these days that can say that. They also hosted the regards change from accepted or traditional forms 2011 Women’s State Publinks Championship and recently hosted the ReMax Long Drive Qualifier. With 45 holes of Just a 25-mile drive north of downtown Minneapolis resides golf and three uniquely designed ballrooms and two beautiful an entertainment facility disguised as a golf course. Majestic outdoor ceremony sites, they can host multiple weddings and Oaks Golf Club in Ham Lake is not your traditional golf a golf tournament banquet simultaneously…radical! course, it is an entertainment destination wrapped in a golf course’s body. You might call Majestic Oaks radical. They I played The Signature Course, playing behind me were the do! Majestic Oaks provides a full service restaurant (the Mueller brothers. Between them they have combined to win 46th Hole), The Season’s Dinner Theatre at Majestic Oaks, the club championship 12 times. As it turns out, our fathers The Mystery Café, trail rides and bon fires, boot hockey had worked together for several years. What a small world! leagues, snow golf, a great wedding location, corporate golf tournaments, small group golf outings and much, much more. The Signature Course has four sets of tees, and at the tee And don’t forget, they also have 45 holes of golf for all levels boxes the distances from each tee box are clearly marked. of player; the Crossroads Course (designed by Garrett Gill) The course was in terrific shape save some divots on the playing to 6,396 yards, their executive course which is a par fairways, but with the amount of traffic they get that should 29 (two par 4’s and seven par 3s), and of course the18 hole be expected. The opening par five is a beautiful way to start.

Signature Course (designed by Charles Maddox), playing to It’s a dogleg left (there are 6 dogleg lefts on the front nine).

7,073 championship yards.

Like most of the holes here it is tree lined but rarely on this course do the trees pinch in the fairways; and if you miss While some golf courses are struggling during these economic the fairway, you may have a tree to contend with but they times, Majestic Oaks is holding it’s own. In fact, they are are sparse enough that you are rarely “in jail”. The rough holding more than their own. They are holding their own and is plenty penalty, so keep it in the fairway. The greens are a few others’ own. This place is busy! They have 28 leagues, large, making for plenty of pin placements and they are not host close to 150 golf events a year (twenty of them are large only in good shape but putt true and hold their line. The enough that they take up both courses), host “Glow Ball” golf sand is consistent and not hard to hit from (I know I was in events in the spring and fall, have snow golf in the winter, and it a few times). I had a thoroughly enjoyable round. The that is just the golf side of their business! They also hosted Signature and Crossroads courses are wonderful courses at a 115 weddings last year! General Manager, Dan Jacott told tremendous value, no wonder they get all this traffic. me, “We are having a terrific year.” There are not many golf

Boot Hockey Leagues

No need to head home after your round, Majestic Oaks also features a full locker room with six showers and towels. You need a convenient place to clean up before attending one of The Season’s Dinner Theatre shows, or a trail ride, or a bon fire…radical!

Need to satisfy you golf fix in the middle of winter? Majestic Oaks is your home for snow golf. The holes are 50-150 yards long and you play with yellow tennis balls. The fairways are groomed, but everything else is a hazard. The holes are six inches wide, the flags frozen in place, and if the golf isn’t challenging enough, playing in the freezing cold will be. Its cheap $7.00 and if you need it they will throw in a cup of hot chocolate. They expect to do over 3,000 rounds this winter.

But its seasonal, ya gotta wait till the snow flies…radical!

Don’t forget about boot hockey. Boot hockey leagues are forming soon so give Majestic Oaks a call to sign up. Calling a golf course for boot hockey leagues? You guessed it…radical!

Come for golf, have dinner at the 46th Hole restaurant, plan your wedding or event, enjoy the Seasons Dinner Theatre, or the Mystery Café, or take a trail ride, or enjoy a bon fire, snow golf or boot hockey anyone? Majestic Oaks has it all…radical!

Larry Berle is a travel writer who writes on many travel topics but specializes in golf travel. He is author of A Golfers Dream: How A Regular Guy Conquered The Golf Digest List Of America’s Top 100 Golf Courses. Learn more about his book at www.GolfersDreamBook.com

Majestic Oaks Outdoor Wedding

Snow Golf

Majestic Oaks The Signature Course

August 2012

Fairways & Greens

11

By Steve Manthis Edinburgh USA #17 Photo Courtesy of Tony Hellman Photography

Edinburgh USA #18

25 years ago, Nick Faldo won the Open Championship at Muirfield, and Larry Mize deflated Greg Norman with his long chip in to win the Masters in a playoff. Also that year a new course called Edinburgh opened in Brooklyn Park, MN. In those intervening 25 years, Edinburgh has been named one of the “Top 100 Courses You Can Play” by Golf Magazine, and has hosted big events like the 1992 USGA Public Links Championship as well as seven LPGA Tour events. Although the official 25th Anniversary celebration was this past June, you can still join in the festivities by playing what Brooklyn Park City Manager Jamie Verbrugge calls “the gem of our community.”

Berry has been the head pro at Edinburgh long enough to have a good sense of how others see the course. He says he gets lots of compliments from the public about the condition of the course. He goes on to say, “They like the price range and they love the Robert Trent Jones II design.” Edinburgh gets a lot of play over the summer because of the location. In fact, they hold about 40 corporate outings a year. The clubhouse has a great banquet facility so the course can accommodate all sizes of events. As the summer continues, so will the anniversary celebration. Once a month, the course rolls back prices to what they were in 1987: $17 for the green fee and $9 for a cart. The August 7th roll back date has mostly been filled, so your next chance to save a buck or two will be September 10th. As one of the best-known public courses in the Metro area, tee times will fill up quickly. “For 25 years, Edinburgh has provided a top-level golf experience for the public,” said Verbrugge. “The beauty of this course is that it is a different experience every time, and because of that I expect folks will keep coming back for the next 25 years.”

A quick check of the Edinburgh USA website (www.edinburghusa.org) notes that the course is a “Scottish design” (the namesake, Edinburgh, is a city in Scotland, in case you didn’t know), and has “nearly 70 bunkers.” One feature of the course that combines Scotland with our land of 10,000 lakes is the number of water hazards on the course. With water on 8 holes, Robert Trent Jones II created not a true links course, but one that drops links golf characteristics into a prime piece of Minnesota property. Don Berry has been the head golf professional since 1996 and says that Edinburgh is “a good course with a good price in a great location.” No wonder Golf Digest called it one of “America’s Top 75 Affordable Courses.”

Definitely the most talked about hole at Edinburgh is #17, so we might as well start there.

The 17th is a relatively short par four at around 350-375 yards. The length isn’t the problem, though. The tee shot aims you towards a peninsula fairway with water on three sides. Go right, left, or too long and you’ll find the water. If you manage to hit the fairway, the challenge isn’t over, as you have to hit your approach shot to an island green. Again, if your ball stays on land, you can breathe easier, relax and try to make a par. Because it’s not very long, the hole will yield some birdies, but the water makes for an intimidating hole.

While #17 is a hole you won’t find in Scotland, there are plenty of others that have that Scottish feel. The par four 10th hole has the open feel of a links course as does the long par four 13th. The greens at Edinburgh will provide a challenge for any golfer as there are lots of mounds and swales to make long putts a roller coaster ride. The long par three 14th hole has a tough green, especially if the pin is back right, but there’s no better example of this than the monster-sized putting surface that serves as the green for the 9th and 18th holes as well as the practice green. It measures at 40,000 square feet and is one of the world’s largest putting surfaces. Golfers can hit crooked approach shots at 9 or 18, still earn a green in regulation, but have putts of well over 100 feet. When I played there recently, I purposely hit a few putts from that distance because rarely do you get a chance to try it. The green really is a marvel to see.

Edinburgh USA Golf Course Robert Trent Jones II Designed Course One of Golf Digest’s & Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Public Courses In America Check Out Our Low Daily Specials At

www.edinburghusa.com

763-315-8550 8700 Edinbrook Crossing Brooklyn Park, MN 55443

Edinburgh USA Practice Range Photo Courtesy of Tony Hellman Photography

12

Fairways & Greens

August 2012

By Brad Parrott

Clifton Highlands Overlooking #1 & #9

Clifton Highlands Golf Club

Clifton Highlands #14

Picturesque Views, Incredible Conditions And All For A Great Value When thinking of Twin Cities Metro courses, some people wouldn’t consider Clifton hit the course. Clifton Highlands truly offers something for everyone. The low handicappers Highlands, (located between Hudson and Prescott, WI) as one of them. For those that don’t, can play the Blue tees giving a little more elevated view of the course, while the middle to they are missing what many consider one of the best values in local golf. high handicappers can play the White and Gold tees keeping the game reasonable and fair.

Clifton Highlands is conveniently located just 25 minutes from St. Paul. It is easily accessed from I94 on the north side, or for many, a closer and more scenic route taking Highway 61 to Highway 10 through Prescott. Going through Prescott gives you a glimpse of the River Valley and also a taste of some of the views you can enjoy while playing Clifton Highlands.

The front nine is situated on the lower part of the course playing with lighter elevation changes and fair doglegs. The first hole is straight forward with a generous landing area to ease the nerves and help get your game off on the right note. The first green is large and receptive, but don’t let down your guard, there is a small false front if you come up a little short on your approach. Once you hit the green, you will notice a good amount of give and The old adage “you get what you pay for” is not what you will find at Clifton Highlands. As take. It is in unbelievable condition, extremely receptive, although there is a good amount of you arrive you will see a full clubhouse including a stocked Pro Shop along with a full grill undulation to keep you on your toes. capable of hosting good sized outings or weddings.

The first four holes are pretty straight forward with mature trees and even some corn fields If you haven’t already changed your thinking to “I get all this for what I paid”, you will as you lining the fairways to make sure the “grip it and rip it” golfers don’t get too comfortable.

The 5th hole is the first dogleg and also the first opportunity to make sure your ego is in check for the rest of your round. Hole 5 is a dogleg right and you are presented with your first big choice.

The right side is lined with mature trees and a good size bunker located right at the corner. The left side is open, although a long tee shot can run through the fairway, while a short one will leave you with a long shot to what might be one of the smallest greens on the course.

Your round continues on the low side until you hit hole 14 where you start to hit some of the hills. Hole 14 is a shorter par 4, but don’t let that fool you. The fairway slopes right to left with a couple mature trees that can get in your way if you go a little too far right or carry your shot long. It is also recommended you leave a yardage you are very comfortable with for your approach shot to insure you hold the green. A little long and your ball will be in a rough, a little short and you will either roll off or end up in a bunker.

Clifton Highlands’ Superintendent, Dr. Todd Hauschildt (Doctor of Turfology), goes all out to rid the course of pesky critters.

An 18 Hole Championship Golf Course Rated 4.5 Stars By Golf Digest

“Truly the best, say readers about the value at Clifton Highlands. Be on guard at the finish though, as you can’t see the flag after your tee shots on 17 and 18.”

- Golf Digest

Perfect Greens And Fairways, The Conditions Are Always Excellent

715-262-5141 • 800-657-6845 • www.cliftonhighlands.com N6890 1230th Street • Prescott, WI 54021

The beautiful views and incredible conditions continue through your round as well as the challenges to keep you in check. Both the 17th and 18th holes offer the opportunity for blind approach shots. If you hug the left side of the fairway on 17 and the pin is back left, you will most likely be lining your shot up with a tree and not the flag. Hole 18 requires two solid shots favoring the left side of the fairway if you want any chance to see the green.

Continuing with the theme, something for everyone, Clifton Highlands also offers an incredibly scenic 9-hole, par three course located on the highest part of the course offering spectacular views of the River Valley. Whether you are looking to take the kids out for a round, or just wanting to fine-tune your game, you will find it hard to match the beauty and quality of the par 3 course.

Making sure they keep up with the “Value” focus, Superintendent Todd Hauschildt not only makes sure the fairways and greens are kept to a high standard; but is constantly making improvements to all parts of the course. They are trimming trees to make the experience fair for all, cleaning ponds, and adding and improving the cart paths. Their motto is “Perfect Greens And Fairways, The Conditions Are Always Excellent,” and they do live up to that claim.

Looking for one of the best values in Twin Cities Metro Golf that is closer than you might think? Try Clifton Highlands, you won’t be disappointed. Don’t just take my word for it, there is a reason Golf Digest gave it 4 ½ stars four years in a row.

August 2012

Fairways & Greens

13

By R.J. Smiley

Wild Marsh #17

Wild Marsh #1 Photo Courtesty of Patrick Siequeist

Wild Marsh Golf Club There are many reasons why the City Business Journal recognized Wild Marsh as “One of guards the green on three sides from 100 yards in. The green is large and multi-tiered making the top 25 courses in the Twin Cities.” and the Minnesota Golf Guide has ranked Wild Marsh a two-putt-par not a sure thing. The seventh at Wild Marsh looks like something you would as one of the “Top 5 Values” in the Twin Cities metro area. see on TV on Sunday afternoon.

Graham Marsh, designer of Wild Marsh, is not a name that most Minnesota golfers would recognize as a “world renowned” golf course designer. Graham Marsh has designed over 40 golf courses worldwide (many exclusive private courses), most in his native Australia and in Asia. Wild Marsh Golf Course, located in the City of Buffalo, just west of Plymouth, is one of only five Graham Marsh courses in the U.S. Marsh also designed both 18-hole courses at the, much heralded, Sutton Bay Resort, a private hunting, fishing and golf resort near Agar, ND, with breathtaking views of Lake Ohea.

The seventeen siblings at Wild Marsh belong in the same family with the seventh but are not as visually intimidating. Other holes that will definitely get your attention are the par-4, twelfth and the par-3 eighth. Both of these holes are designed to let your eyes capture the beauty that Mother Nature provides as your mind contemplates how to make par.

Wild Marsh is a great place for a wedding reception or group meetings large and small.

Leagues for men and women and an active junior program make Wild Marsh an easy place to make golfing friends. The goal of the City of Buffalo is to give all who play “their golf Owned and operated by the City of Buffalo, Wild Marsh Golf Course is one of the little course” a quality golf experience and a great value. city’s many recreational assets. Every citizen of Buffalo, including non-golfers, knows that “their golf course” located between Mink Lake and Buffalo Lake, is one of the prettiest golf courses in the western metro area. With the community strongly behind the course, it is no wonder that the management and staff of Wild Marsh work hard to make each golfer feel at home when they play this fine golf course. With the golfer in mind, the city is continually improving the quality and playability of this course that makes you feel that you are in the north woods.

Some courses you play, others you remember...

Graham Marsh did a wonderful job of routing Wild Marsh in a winding fashion through woodlands, natural cattail wetlands and along the rolling hilltops. With wide generous, bent grass fairways and quick putting, multi-tiered greens, Wild Marsh is really fun to play. With tees that range from 4,664 to 6,504 yards and a new set of junior tees, the course can be enjoyed by the entire family.

When asked about signature holes, regular golfers will argue that Wild Marsh contains many holes that could be called signature holes because of their natural beauty. But for first time players to Wild Marsh the par-5, seventh hole will stick in your mind all the way home as you plan, “how I will make a par the next time I challenge this beautiful monster?” From the back tee (though it really doesn’t make any difference which tee you play) the seventh plays 580 yards. The left sloping fairway is protected by a large bunker and steep bank on the right, but your eyes keep coming back to the lake on the left that runs the entire length of the hole.

With an intimidation factor of 10, a straight tee shot is a must, but length is also necessary.

If you find the fairway from the tee, you are now faced with an equally intimidating, lay-up, second shot because the lake that has been your nemesis on the left now cuts to the right and

Designed by Senior PGA Tour Player Graham Marsh, this championship golf course takes advantage of rolling terrain, beautiful wooded surroundings, and natural wetlands. With four sets of tees, the course measures from 4,664 to over 6,500 yards and features Bent grass tees, fairways, and greens.

Wild Marsh #6

763.682.4476

www.wildmarsh.com Buffalo, Minnesota

Influential People In MN Golf

14

August 2012

By R.J. Smiley

FRED BOOS “FORE”FATHER BRAINERD’S TENACIOUS

The Pines Lakes #7 Before

Fred Boos At Grand View Lodge

Fred (second from left) and the "Golf Boys"

Fred and Mary Boos cut the ribbon at the 21st Annual Fred-Mark Charity Invitational benefiting Bridges of Hope

The Pines Lakes #7 After

Golf people know that Fred Boos is the person responsible for GolfDigest ranking the Brainerd Lakes Area as one of the “Top 50 Golf Destinations in the world.” On any given summer day, the Brainerd Airport has a fleet of private jets parked along the runway. The owners of those jets are not there to catch a fish!

Fred, the marketing fox, showed his real genius, getting everyone talking about “The Pines”, with a huge kick-off. First, he invited PGA Professionals from MN, ND, SD and WI to a FREE (lodging, food and golf) GRAND OPENING. Then he invited the media to the FREE golf event where they could play with the pros on the new, best, golf course in Minnesota.

The event was a spectacular success. The media, parroting flattering adjectives learned from People who know Fred Boos understand his “bull dog” tenacity! That tenacity was developed the pros, wrote flowering reviews. The pros went back to their local courses raving about the when Fred was in high school in Orono where he earned 12 varsity letters. After winning the golf course and hospitality they received at Grand View Lodge with 19th century charm and high school tennis championship twice and excelling in football and hockey, Fred attended first class food and golf.

Colgate University on a hockey scholarship. Fred also possesses an uncanny feel for creative changes and innovative marketing strategies. Fred, in his humble manor, says, “It’s only Golf Digest selected The Pines as one of the top ten new resort courses in the U.S. and GOLF common sense.”

Magazine gave The Pines their Gold Medal Award, the only one in Minnesota. Fred says with a wry smile, “The phone started ringing and did not stop! We were sold-out day after day.”

For fifty years, Fred has used his tenacity, foresight and strategic marketing ideas to make Grand View Lodge the envy of resort owners across America. In 2008 Fred was inducted Since that wonderful summer of 1990, The Pines has added another 9-holes. Madden’s into the Minnesota Hospitality Hall of Fame (one of his fondest accomplishments). Fred is Resort added The Classic Golf Course to their other two resort courses. Dutch Cragun, owner credited for the “Modified” American plan, where lunch is not included with your lodging of Cragun’s Resort brought in Trent Jones Jr. to build 36 holes of championship golf and a package. “Everybody thought I was crazy,” he chuckles with a twinkle in his eye. He also reversible 9-hole executive course. Deacon’s Lodge, an Arnold Palmer design, was added near instituted the “service charge” to make it easier for guests to add a gratuity.

Breezy Point Resort. North Dakota native, Mike Morley designed and built The Preserve and worked closely with Olympic Hockey star, Bruce McIntosh to build Golden Eagle.

In 1960 Fred Boos married Mary Cote, the Grand View owner’s daughter. Before their marriage, Fred had never seen Grand View Lodge. He had no involvement with the lodge Each of these spectacular wilderness golf courses has directly benefitted the other by bringing during their first two years of married life. Fred, with experience working with builders and added notoriety to the area. All of the above golf courses have received national attention contractors, was asked to help with the completion of a remodeling project at Grand View from major golf publications. Each owe Fred Boos for having the foresight, tenacity and Lodge in 1962. Over the next few years, with Grand View responsibilities expanding, he sold marketing savvy to prove that quality golf will work in Brainerd. his business on Lake Minnetonka, and devoted full time to growing the resort business. He first bullied the resort Board of Directors into adding a swimming pool. “Overlooking our beautiful lake???” they questioned. Then he added four wonderfully landscaped tennis courts to the amenity package. “Guests loved lunching in the Nantucket atmosphere. And fellow resort owners thought we were far too extravagant,” states Boos.

Did you know that Harrison R. “Jimmy” Johnston – Minnesota’s greatest amateur golfer – came out of semiFred started dreaming about a first class golf course in the late 1960’s. Year after year the retirement after World War II to win the Minnesota Senior reluctant, non-golfer, Board of Directors balked at the idea of spending big money on golf Amateur in 1946 and 1949? Johnston, who won seven when the resort already had a “pitch and putt course” that was not really a money maker. The consecutive State Amateur titles from 1921-1927, had savvy and tenacious Fred, realizing he needed help to sell the Board on golf, convinced them played very little competitive golf after winning the 1929 that it needed to add a Director from outside the company. James Weaver, retired director U.S. Amateur. He also qualified for the 1947 and 1950 U.S. of finance at General Mills, was added to the Board the following year. With Jim Weaver Amateur Championships, the latter played at Minneapolis firmly in place overseeing cash flow, Fred presented the non-golfer, Weaver with a pro-forma Golf Club. Johnston, at age 54, made it to the match-play showing how a first class golf course in the best vacation area in Minnesota could add to rounds at MGC before losing in the second round to future Grand View’s bottom line. When Jim presented the idea of a quality golf course, as a “No 5-time Walker Cup team member Bill Hyndman.

Brainer”, to the Board at the 1987 annual meeting, the idea was passed unanimously.

Fred wanted to use a local architect to build the best golf course in Minnesota. Joel Goldstrand, the hottest golf course designer in the Midwest, was selected. Fred then proceeded to play every golf course Goldstrand had built; to learn what he liked and didn’t like. With a topography map and hiking boots Fred and Joel refined the design and construction begun.

To read more about this piece of Minnesota golf history as well as other events and people that shaped the Minnesota golf landscape, pick up a copy of Rick Shefchik’s book ‘From Fields to Fairways – Classic Golf Clubs of Minnesota’ at local bookstores or at www.Amazon.com.

August 2012

Minnesota Section PGA

15

Thrilling Finish to 95th State Open Championship Ryan Peterson of Cannon Golf Club birdied the final hole for a thrilling finish and win at the 95th Minnesota State Open Championship at Bunker Hills Golf Club in Coon Rapids.

Peterson finished the three-day tournament at 9-under par 207.

The clutch shot on Sunday, July 22nd, netted Peterson a $9,500 payday. He was tied with Ryan Helminen of Ridgeway Golf Club, Stephen Bidne of Monticello Country Club and Cameron White of University Golf Club at 8-under par on the final hole. Helminen, Bidne and White finished tied for second at 8-under par 208 while Ryan Conn of Alexandria Golf Club finished alone in fifth at 7-under par 209.

Peterson says getting ready for competition starts with his practice rounds. “I try to feel out the course on where I want to hit it, and have a solid game plan on what to hit off certain tees,” said Peterson. “The main reason for a practice round for me is to see the course and get a game plan.” Peterson said he’s “never been one to sit and grind after a round if I played well or poorly. I like to go home and take it easy and take my mind off of golf until my next tee time the next day.”

Peterson has been golfing since he was three years old and comes from a family of golfers.

In fact, his dad was his caddy during this year’s State Open. Peterson and his brother, mom and dad played a small par-3 course in Burnsville when they were growing up. He and his brother played on the golf team at Eagan High School and both played in college.

When asked which professionals he admires, Peterson said, “ I think everyone aspires to be like Tiger Woods for his success on the golf course. But I also really like how Jason Dufner, Adam Scott and Jason Day play, and most importantly, how they go around the golf course and plot their way around, making minimal mistakes. “ Matt Schneider of Pokegama Golf Club was the low amateur at the 95th State Open Championship. He finished in 6th at 5-under par 211. He tied for second in the Minnesota State Amateur earlier last week.

Staying Cool in Hot Weather This summer is set to go down as one of the hottest on record across the country and in Minnesota we’ve seen some serious heat and humidity with more than 20 days of 90 degree heat in 2012. But we hate to waste away the summer months inside – we want to golf!

lose sweating and keep you from feeling lightheaded while you’re walking the course. Many PGA professionals will drink a small cup of water at every tee on a hot day to make sure they get enough water.

DON’T FORGET TO EAT If you’re golfing in this heat there are some things to When it’s super hot outside you may not want to eat – but keep in mind to make sure you have a great round and you need to keep fueling your body. Pack snacks with you for feel good when you’re finished. your day on the course. Eat things like fruit, celery, granola bars and nuts to fuel your round of golf.

STAY HYDRATED It goes without saying that you need to stay hydrated GRAB A COOL TOWEL when you golf in hot and humid weather. Water and Pack some wet towels with your bottled water in your cooler. sports drinks are going to help replace the fluids you’ll Place the cold, wet towel on your neck between holes for an easy way to cool your body down.

HOT WEATHER GEAR Dressing for the heat is also a simple thing to do. Most gear designed for golf will be made of moisture-wicking fabric to help deal with sweat. Some clothing also has UV protection to help you keep from getting burned. But, don’t forget the sunscreen no matter what and apply it several times while you’re playing. Wearing a hat while you play in the heat is also a good idea – something with a wide brim will do the best job at protecting your scalp, face, ears and neck from getting too much sun.

One thing you might not have thought of is looking at your rain gear to beat the summer heat. One secret of the professionals is to wear a rain glove on hot and humid days. They’re usually not lined and will help you get a great grip on your club – even if you’re sweaty!

PICK THE RIGHT TIME TO PLAY Now, we’d argue there’s never a wrong time to golf – but in the heat you want to pick your tee time wisely. Try to tee off before 10 in the morning or after 5 at night.

You’ll avoid the hottest part of the day and when the sun is strongest.

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Tee Times Golf Academy

August 2012

Steps For Wedge Fitting

By Christopher M. Foley, PGA Master Professional Director of Instruction - The Legacy Courses at Craguns, Brainerd, MN U.S. Junior National Team Coach For most players, the driver, putter, and wedges make up the majority of shots in a round of golf. The driver is typically hit 12-14 times, the putter used for 28+ strokes and the wedges (pitching wedge, gap wedge, sand wedge, and lob wedge) are used 12+ times. With the wedges playing such an important role in scoring, it only makes sense that a player should be fit for those clubs.

The second step is to determine what the highest lofted club that will be the player’s preferred club for recovery shots around the green from both the sand and the turf. When the wedge performs optimally out of the sand is determined, it should be hit from the fairway and rough to insure that it interacts well in the fairway and ruff.

The next step is to find out how far a full swing will go with the highest lofted club and the To optimally fit your wedges, the process includes determining the number of wedges, the maximum distance with the pitching wedge. This will determine how many wedges the loft of those wedges, and the best bounce angles. player should carry. The gap between clubs should be between 10 and 15 yards. If the player has a gap of 25 yards or less between clubs, the player needs one additional wedge. If there The first step is to determine the optimal bounce. The optimal bounce is most important on is a gap of 30 yards or more, two additional wedges should be used. half and three quarter shots where a player may change the face angle at address to change trajectory. A player with a steeper swing will benefit from a higher bounce wedge while a Putting wedges in your bag that will optimize scoring opportunities is one of the easiest ways to lower your scores! Having the right numbers of wedges with correct bounce angles and player with a shallower angel of attach will perform best with less bounce. lofts goes a long way in optimizing your equipment.

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August 2012

Tee Times Golf Academy Spin It Like The Pros

By Aaron Jacobson, PGA Professional and Director of Instruction Rush Creek Golf Club, Maple Grove

One of the questions I get asked, as a teaching professional the correct ball for imparting more spin on your golf shots. is “How do I get backspin on my shots?” This is a very fun shot to watch on TV, but a tough one for most of us to pull off 4. Course conditions play a big role in giving you the when we are hitting it out on our local golf course. Follow opportunity to spin one back on the green. If the fairways the steps below and you will be able to look like a PGA Tour are firm and the greens are firm and fast it will give you player this weekend. the best conditions to have one spin back to the hole from 20 feet behind the pin. Note: If conditions are soft in the THE SIX STEPS TO BACKSPIN: fairways and on the greens you will have a very tough time 1. The strike of the golf ball: Position the golf ball slightly creating backspin on your ball. With conditions being soft back in your stance as you address your golf ball. Once the ball will just plug once it hits, not allowing the balls you have the ball positioned you MUST strike the ball first spin to catch and spin it back on the green. and take a divot after the ball in order to have any chance of spinning the ball back once it hits the green. Note: A 5. Other conditions that will help with spinning the ball back steeper angle into the golf ball will help you generate more are slope of the green. It’s much easier to back it up if you backspin than a shallow angle. (Picture 1) are hitting into a green that is sloping toward the fairway instead of running away. Wind is another big factor in the 2. The club you use should be a 9 iron, Pitching, Sand or Lob spin ratio. If you are hitting upwind your golf ball will spin wedge. If you use a club without loft you will not have much of a chance with spin. You want to make sure you have enough loft to create a good trajectory for the ball to fall out of the sky, then hit the green and take the spin.

3. By choosing a ball that is designed for spin you can maximize your chances for more spin on your golf ball.

A golf ball with a softer cover is better for spin than a ball that has a solid core or a hard cover. Check with your local professional and they will be able to lead you into

17

more and also be coming down to earth more vertically, giving you a better chance to pull the string on one back to the hole. (Picture 2) 6. The final step to the process is to make sure you have the club head speed to create enough backspin to get the ball moving backward once it hits the green. If you have a low club head speed you will have spin on your golf ball, but it may only be enough to stop the ball. With a low club head speed your ball may just hit and stop on the green or role out a bit with your wedges instead of backing up. Note: It is good for consistency if you can get your ball to hit and stop once it hits the green.

My overall thought on backspin is that its really fun to watch the tour professionals zip one back to the hole from 20 feet past the cup, leaving themselves with a gimmie putt. In reality for the amateur player you have to have perfect fairway and green conditions, the right club in your hand, play a spin ball and have enough club head speed to generate enough spin to actually have to the ball backup once it hits the green. Put all of that together and hit the perfect crisp wedge shot and you may have a chance to pull the string on one and really impress your buddies in the foursome next time you play.

Picture 1

Picture 2

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Tee Times Golf Academy

18

ON COURSE WITH

THE ASSISTANTS

August 2012

By Michael Herzog, PGA Professional, Bent Creek Golf Club, Eden Prairie, MN

PICKING A WEDGE - HOW MANY AND WHICH ONES? The scene is painted; Tiger Woods hits his second on the difficult par 3, 16th from just off the back side of the green at the Memorial with what would be an incredible and amazing chip in! No one in their right mind would have thought that he would have chipped it in, more or less, keep it on the green, but once again he proved us wrong with his talent and skill.

When it comes to Tiger he has many years of experience and skill to pull off the chip like he did. Is it luck, skill, or equipment? My belief is it has a lot to do with all three. Regardless, we would all like to see the ball drop in the cup.

Here are some tips to help you with how many wedges to carry in your bag, my recommendation on gap separation within your clubs and getting custom wedge fitted. Use your imagination and with the proper technique and some good tools (and there’s plenty of superb wedge weaponry at your disposal) you’ll know what’s out there and finding the right wedge for your game.

for low and mid-handicappers. These should be a pitching wedge, gap wedge, sand wedge and lob wedge. This’ll remove the guesswork from 100 yards in and allow you to make full swings on specific touch shots rather than gauging distances with half and three-quarter swings.

Higher handicappers should begin by mastering two wedges, the pitching wedge and the sand wedge. You’ll add a third, most-likely a gap wedge, as you gain experience.

bounce angle (again, determined by your swing and course conditions), spin (some models have traditional grooves, others have more aggressive ones) and finish (shiny chrome, satin, black oxide, un-chromed). Once you complete that you are all set!

Once you have the proper amount of wedges in your bag, next is to determine the lofts (using four-degree increments) from the pitching wedge (46˚ to 48˚). I highly recommend a gap wedge (50˚ to 52˚). Why a four-degree gap? We don’t want any distance duplication between two or more clubs.

Which means, in some cases, you may be better suited with larger (say, five-degree increments. (Another option is to build your set starting from the putting green and work back towards the tee.) I recommend 60-degree lob wedges for skilled players only. It will get you out of prickly situations, but it requires a lot of practice before hitting it on the course.

The 60˚ can be a difficult club to handle without the proper amount of expertise. If you’re a mid-handicapper and it’s a lob wedge you’re after, try the 58˚.

Now on to custom wedge fitting! You’re doing a form of So, first question is how many wedges should wedge fitting any time you select a specific loft for your I have in my bag? I’d recommend four wedges bag. Beyond that, you can get fit for shaft length, lie angle,

Tiger Woods' pitch-in at the Memorial Tournament

Lag Putting and Practice Methods to Lower Scores

By Mark Johnson PGA Professional Breezy Point Resort Brainerd, MN Lag putting is not necessarily trying to make a putt, but getting it close enough to make it in two putts. I usually try to putt the ball to a 3 - foot circle around the hole.

The ball should be played in the middle of your stance with your dominant eye over the ball. Your feet, hips and shoulders should be parallel to the target line. You should use a pendulum stroke with the shoulders, arms and hands moving together in unison. Try to keep the putter close to the ground and have the proper tempo matching the length of the swing back and forth.

The following are some good practice methods: 1. Throw down several balls at different distances on the putting green and putt each ball stopping it as close as possible to the fringe of the green.

2. Pace off your putts when you practice so you know how long of a stroke to make and what tempo it should be.

3. Place 36 inch pieces of string 36 inches apart on the green and practice stopping the ball in different sectors. This is a great drill that helps with distance control and your target line.

4. Practice putting with your eyes closed. This will teach you to feel your distances By practicing these methods and paying attention to the speed and contours of the green you can become a better lag putter, which will result in lower scores.

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Tee Times Golf Academy

August 2012

By Jim McNaney, golfTEC City Manager/Director of Instruction

19

IN PUTTING…SPEED KILLS

One of the great joys of Minnesota golf is playing many of the outstanding courses we have available.

Traveling around can create lasting memories but can also wreak havoc on your handicap. One of the most difficult aspects of playing a new course is learning the speed of the greens.

Most people will drop three balls on the practice green and hit a few putts in the hopes of gaining feel for that day. While trial and error can help on occasion, having a more systematic approach to learning the speed will help keep your handicap in check.

First…don’t use three balls. I know it’s very easy to open up a new sleeve and pour the contents out but you only get one ball on the course so use one ball on the practice green. Next, find two holes, one uphill and one downhill, that way you can practice both directions. Go through your entire pre-shot routine before you hit each putt. As on any putt, your objective is to make the putt. I realize most instructors preach trying to get a lag putt into a three foot circle. By trying to make the putt on the practice green you’ll learn how hard you need to hit the putt to get it to the hole. For this drill there is no consequence to hitting the ball too far past the hole. You are just learning.

Once you get a feel for uphill and downhill putts, take your one ball and work your way around the entire practice green. The objective is to go from hole to hole two-putting or less on each. If you three putt on one hole, start the entire rotation over. You will find that you are developing the feel for all types of putts (uphill, downhill, left-to-right, right-to-left, etc.).

The last thing you want to do before you leave the practice green is MAKE A PUTT! If your buddies call you to the first tee, make your last putt. I don’t care if it’s a two-footer. You want your last memory from the practice green to be a positive one for the first green.

Obviously there are occasions when the practice green is slower than those on the course, but with this method, you will at least get a general feel for the grass and how the ball will react. If you are still having problems learning the speed of new greens, go see your golfTEC Certified Personal Coach or local PGA Professional.

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Hitting the Golf Ball From the Rough

By Mark Johnson PGA Professional Breezy Point Resort Brainerd, MN Hitting the ball from the rough can be extremely challenging. The first thing that a person should do is evaluate the lie.

Is the ball sitting up so there is very little grass in between the ball and the club? (Picture 1) If this is the circumstance than you can basically hit a normal shot.

If you have grass above your ball and you are going to have grass catching between the club and ball (Picture 2) you should take a different approach. I would recommend taking a short iron and simply getting the ball back in play.

Picture 1

It is important to understand the way a club reacts in the long grass. Many times it may be easier to hit a hybrid or 5 or 7 wood than a long iron. This is because the hybrid and 5 or Picture 2 7 wood have a lower center of gravity and the club head is more compact, not as high as seen in picture 1. The iron will have the most resistance in the rough and the grass will grab the hosel and cause the clubface to shut down.

A technique that can help when hitting the ball out of the rough with a hybrid or fairway wood is to play the ball slightly back in your stance and grip the club more firmly. This will cause you to have a steeper angle of attack and the firmer grip pressure will help keep the clubface square.

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When playing from the long grass always choose a club that will put the ball back in play therefore avoiding the big number.

20

Tee Times Golf Academy

BenderStik The BenderStik was developed by 2009 National PGA Teacher of the Year Mike Bender to be “the most versatile training aid you’ll ever use.”

Much like having your own coach with you the BenderStik has a large yellow foam ball that can be positioned to monitor virtually any movement in the swing.

Check your backswing plane, see if you have a flying right elbow, watch for excess head movement, or see if you sway laterally.

With nothing more than your bag to hold the BenderStik, a club and some balls, you can ensure you are making the right moves every time you practice. Product includes an instructional DVD that walks you through the golf swing while detailing the benefits of the BenderStik. In the DVD, Mike teaches you how to check and analyze your: • Set-up • Alignment • Shoulder Turn • Hip Turn • Head Position • The Top of your Back Swing • Down Swing • Follow through The BenderStik is golf swing training aid that’s uniquely designed to help you build a consistent swing that will last for a lifetime. To improve at golf you must use either positive or negative feedback while training your swing. With the BenderStik golf swing training aid, no matter where or when you practice, it will provide this all-important feedback, which is imperative for improvement.

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August 2012

What's In The Bag

August 2012

21

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What's In The Bag

22

August 2012

LOFT The loft of the club is measured in degrees and is the angle of the clubface. You should choose wedge lofts that will help you hit it closer to the pin from your most common approach yardages.

Ensuring you have the proper wedges in your bag can lead to an immediate scoring improvement; having the right number and type will help you hit the ball closer more often.

BOUNCE Bounce is the angle of the sole to the ground. Wedges with a higher bounce angle perform better out of the fluffy sand or high grass. A lower bounce wedge will perform better on courses with tight lies and thin bunker beds.

FINISH Wedges come in a variety of finishes including polished chrome, satin, black/gunmetal and raw. All finishes wear slightly over time and you should choose the one that sets up best to your eye at address. The only finish with performance benefits is the raw finish which will rust over time and helps add spin.

LOFT ANGLE

BOUNCE ANGLE

Take a look at a couple of the best sellers you will find in your local pro shops and golf retailers and make the choice that best fits your game.

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• New ATV Sole lets you play all critical shots with one wedge: chip, pitch, flop, explosion from sand, out of the rough, off a tight lie • Bounce angle changes depending on how the head and face are positioned • New all-milled groove design and micro-texture across the face generates more spin within USGA rules • New Lamkin wedge grip extends farther down the shaft for improved traction when choking down MSRP $119.99

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The Cleveland 588 Forged wedge is made from 1025 carbon steel, this wedge offers you an incredibly soft yet solid feel with every single shot. The wedges Tour Zip Grooves and Laser Milled technology maximize spin within USGA regulations. A satin exterior adds a sophisticated finishing touch to a stable and durable wedge.

Choose from three different finishes – Black Pearl, Satin and Chrome – as well as low, standard and high bounce options. MSRP $139.99 Based on the shape of the tour proven CG14 wedge, the CG16 has a hint of offset and is slightly larger for added forgiveness. The face features the same spin maximizing technology featured on the 588 Forged. Using the precision accuracy of a laser, each face features four perfectly calibrated texture lines milled between each groove exactly to the conforming roughness limit. Available in Black Pearl and Chrome.

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BOUNCE ANGLE

August 2012

What's In The Bag

23

www.CallawayGolf.com

The Callaway Forged wedge is built to offer you control, spin and feel around the greens, so you can attack the pin.

• Tour CC Grooves: 21 tightly spaced, conforming grooves with sharper edges due to the superior Triple Net Forging process provides ideal trajectory and distance control. The maximum conforming groove capacity ensures moisture is swept away, ensuring more edges come in contact with the ball to maximize friction and increase spin • Tour Inspired Shape: these wedges are forged from 1020 Carbon Steel for soft feel.

• Blended C-Grind: a softer, more gradual ‘C’ shape enables you to lay the face open while effectively reducing the bounce angle, allowing for precise contact and optimum spin and control • Bounce Optimization: each wedge loft has been paired with the ideal bounce to provide optimal turf interaction and versatility • Copper and Dark Chrome finish options MSRP $119.99

www.Titleist.com

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Precise shots require precision technology, and the technologically advanced fourth generation Titleist Vokey Design Spin Milled (SM4) wedges from master craftsman Bob Vokey define the standard for wedge performance.

• Maximum Conforming Spin - through tour extreme grooves that feature 100% inspected, tight tolerance, aggressive groove edges at the limits allowed by the Rules of Golf • Superior Full Shot Control - from precise individually cut Spin Milled grooves • Maximum Partial Shot Spin - and control from the milled micro edge face texture that provides grip on less than full shots • Improved Turf & Sand Performance - through a neutral entry angle, progressive leading edge and tour validated sole designs taken straight from Bob’s tour grinds • More Choices - of models, lofts, bounce and sole grind options all designed to help you hit it close. With three distinct finish options: Tour Chrome, Black Nickel and Oil Can. MSRP $145

With improved feel and control that comes from a head forged out of soft 8620 steel, a thicker hitting area, and reinforced back cavity the ANSER wedges are a great addition to your short game.

• Trajectory Control - a dense tungsten tow weight increases the MOI and helps optimize the CG placement to produce higher-spinning, lowerlaunching shots for more control and workability • Solid Feel - forged out of 8620 steel, a thicker hitting area and hour-glass shaped reinforced back cavity provide solid feel and feedback. Machined grooves ensure maximum spin and control • Tapered Sole - the sole tapers narrower from toe to heel for exceptional performance from tight lies and bunkers • DG Spinner Shaft - the True Temper DG Spinner wedge shaft features a recessed portion that steepens the angle of the downswing to impact more spin and lower the initial launch to generate more stopping power on the green • Satin Nickel Chrome Finish MSRP $169.00 With machined face and grooves designed to optimize spin, the Tour-S wedge provides you versatility and creativity around the green and on short approach shots. The traditional shape of 8620 steel head features a tour-inspired sole geometry for enhanced shot making from all conditions.

Its vertical Custom Tuning Port angles toward the back surface to increase the perimeter weighting.

• Versatile - a traditional shape of the head offers creativity around the greens, so no angle is unexplored • Forgiveness - to provide added forgiveness and a solid feel at impact, a custom tuning port angles toward the back surface, expanding the perimeter weighting • Steel with Rustique or Chrome finish MSRP $99.00

Local Golf

24

August 2012

By Tim Cotroneo

A golf course superintendent’s day often begins when his or her alarm goes off at 3:30 in the morning. For many superintendents, working 11 to 12 hour days is “business as usual” during the hectic summer season. From a sheer time investment standpoint, there is no greater advocate for the game of golf than a superintendent.

The Minnesota Golf Course Superintendents Association is where our Superintendents turn when dealing with an individual course problem. It’s also a resource for learning about how our industry is doing economically and for providing superintendents a political voice, when necessary.

The MGCSA’s mission is to advance the art and science of golf course management and maintenance, as well as continually growing the superintendent role as a profession.

As part of our Caretakers of the Game series, Tee Times Press interviewed Jack MacKenzie, the Executive Director of the MGCSA, to learn more of how the organization strives to promote the game of golf.

“During the summer, our superintendents rarely have time to do anything other than work. At the end of each day they go home exhausted. The MGCSA is here to support the membership by providing educational information, current news, resources and opportunities to support turf grass research at the University of Minnesota. Basically everything individual superintendents would like to explore, if they had the time” MacKenzie said.

Jack MacKenzie

Some Like it Not-so Hot The number one issue facing today’s superintendents are the weather problems generated by the summer of 2012.

MacKenzie sounded like a modern day CSI while using terms like “pathology” and “heat stress” to describe the diseases and irrigation issues superintendents are facing during a summer in which temperatures in the mid-90s are commonplace.

Wayne “The Wee One” Otto in 2004. This event is a golf scramble with proceeds going to a golf management professional whose family has incurred overwhelming expenses due to a medical hardship. The MGCSA raised more than $15,000 over the past two years through participation in these events.

Partnerships beyond the golf community are necessary to achieve common goals. The MGCSA will be the first to tell you that they are not in the golf course preservation business alone. On any given day, the MGCSA combines efforts with state agencies like the DNR, the Department of Agriculture, and the Pollution Control Agency. These partnerships all tie in with the MGCSA’s mission to protect our natural resources.

Ironically, it’s during the stormy times that superintendents These environmental alignments make sense because golf step up to the plate for one another. It’s also a perfect scenario courses provide much, if not all, of the green space in many for the MGCSA to reach out during a time of need. “Earlier cities. this summer, James Bade, the Superintendent at Somerset Country Club, sent out an email notice declaring that his Protecting Our Turf club had been hit by straight-line winds. Bade’s club had no One way to make the most of a superintendent’s fragile budget electricity and he needed chippers and chain saws to help is through breakthroughs in turf research. The condition clean up his course. The response to help from neighboring of tee boxes, fairways, greens, and landscaping is what superintendents was immediate. Our superintendents really keeps superintendents up at night. Pinpoint turf research by look out for each other,” MacKenzie said. superintendents and our universities agronomy departments can help a forward-thinking superintendent choose the best We’ve Got Your Back options for nurturing a golf course’s living and breathing Another great example of the superintendents’ dedication to carpet. A well-targeted turf application today can help one’s each other is in their sponsorship of a Wee One Foundation budget tomorrow. Superintendents continually make deep event. The event was triggered by the death of Superintendent breath decisions that are budget friendly, environmentally MacKenzie believes that an experienced superintendent can stand toe-to-toe with a meteorologist in predicting weather patterns. This ability to prognosticate tomorrow’s weather is critical in a profession in which budget purse strings can be snapped by an extended drought or spontaneous storm.

MGCSA member cutting a hole at Mendakota CC Photo Courtesy of Peter Wong Photography

Dr. Brian Horgan presenting data on a rainy U of M Field Day

Local Golf

August 2012

25

Field trial to find the best performing turf for golf courses. Money from the MGCSA supports this research.

Repairing a ball mark

friendly, and always with an eye toward keeping one’s course of preserving water, our most precious resource. looking pristine.

Superintendents, like everyone else in the golf industry, have felt the belt tightening that occurred over the past decade.

Through research and education, a good superintendent can The good news is that during times of sacrifice, innovation stay one step ahead of tomorrow’s turf disease. “The MGCSA can occur. Sensor driven irrigation is one such innovation. annually provides over 100 hours of education opportunities. “Advances in irrigation management have come a long way.

In the winter season when Superintendents are just working Many golf courses are using water sensors to monitor how 40 hours per week, we learn about different diseases that much moisture is in the soil. “Optimum irrigation practices come from changing weather patterns. We also learn of are a key issue whenever superintendents get together. We best irrigation and drainage practices, and whether to apply take our role as stewards of the environment very seriously,” a particular chemical application. In the winter we discuss MacKenzie said. what works and what doesn’t,” MacKenzie said.

What Can the Golfing Public Do? MacKenzie was asked what the golfing public could do to Sensing the Future The MGCSA gazes into the future and sees new ways help superintendents preserve our golf courses. His answer

was a back-to-the-basics reply that spoke of golf etiquette and doing the little things that show pride in ownership.

“We can start by doing the simple things like repairing ball marks and divots. Raking a sand trap and driving your golf car at the 90-degree rule are also much appreciated. Perhaps allowing the groundskeeper to finish changing a golf cup or cutting a final path in the fairway, all are courtesies that go a long way toward making your Superintendent’s life easier,” MacKenzie said.

If we all start repairing our ball marks and raking after our sand shots, your favorite Superintendent just might be able to hit his or her snooze alarm. Who knew waking up at 4:30 a.m. is what a superintendent considers sleeping in.

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Local Golf

26

August 2012

August Book Review

By Tim Cotroneo

Jim Flick on Golf Before we knew of Butch Harmon, David Leadbetter, and Hank Haney, there was Jim Flick. The Scottsdale, AZ, instructor is best known for being Jack Nicklaus’ mentor. It’s quite a testimonial to say that the game’s greatest living player turned to you for help.

A dogged reader can retrieve a handful of teachings worth noting: The start of the pendulum-like swing should feel like the first foot or so of the forward swing.

At midpoint in the backswing, most really good golfers have their shafts pointing inside the target line or Jim Flick on Golf starts out like relatively upright. They allow their club to return back gangbusters, but then sputters like a back nine gone inside on the forward swing. bad. The reads like a novel first few chapters are merely a tease for a book that becomes repetitious and leans on one too many tired golf maxims.

In order to maintain consistent grip pressure, hover the club behind the ball at address, don’t sole it on the ground. Brush the grass in the second or so before you swing backward.

Prior to this book running out of gas, there are several morsels that reinforce Flick’s stellar Don’t let the space between your hands and legs increase during the backswing. reputation as a teacher. The book’s introduction is by Tom Lehman. This Minnesota native Focus on your target rather than the ball. Jack Nicklaus actually uses four intermediate recalls begging to meet with Flick in 1990. At the time, Lehman was still on the fledgling targets beginning with one just inches in front of the ball. Nicklaus also includes a target Hogan Tour and was desperate to make it to the next level. behind his ball to help groove his swing. Fall in love with your target, not your ball.

Tom’s a Believer Flick is a member of the World Golf Teachers Hall of Fame. His decades of success Lehman flat out believes that the instruction and encouragement Flick provided in 1990 and list of admirers are too long to mention. Unfortunately for this admittedly attentionhelped launch him on the PGA Tour and ultimately to his British Open major victory in deficit reader, his book writing ability comes up a club short.

1996. Lehman’s introduction really whetted this reader’s appetite in anticipation of tips I could savor and use out on the links.

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August 2012

Tech

27

By Steve Pease Ten years ago it was a website. Seven years ago it was a handheld golf GPS. Four years ago it was have a six- or seven-figure budget for the upkeep of the property. One use of our app is to a Facebook page for golf courses. Now it’s an app. A cavalcade of electronic golf apps are now show potential golfers the layout of the course.” available for under $10, making them the latest must-have digital item for the weekend hacker.

Even publications are giving amateur golfers a professional forum by encouraging social Can’t afford $1,000 an hour to ask Butch Harmon’s advice? Try Golf SwingPlane for $2.99. photographers to “tag” photos using the #golfdigest hashtag when uploading Instagrams to Don’t want to pony up $500 for the latest 3D swing analyzer? GolfSense 3D clips on your social sites. Those tagged photos are then aggregated and displayed on GolfDigest.com for glove, tracking your swing for a fraction of the price while syncing with your smartphone to all to see. Pretty cool stuff, this technology. generate accurate swing data.

CLOSE ENOUGH FOR COMFORT Granted, you still have to have a smartphone (and estimates say that nearly half the U.S. population While there’s no app yet available that will cut a hole on a green, does) to take advantage of golf apps, but thanks to a torrent of golf tech available for immediate trim rough or shorten a skirt on a pine tree, technological advances download, a fuller, richer golf experience is now available at a steeply discounted price. are forcing GPS reps selling dedicated devices to reconsider their prices. Why would someone fork over $249 for the latest USGA-OK: In 2006, the USGA and R&A gave golf GPS apps the thumbs up for Callaway UPro GPS when you can download GolfLogix GPS amateur use in competition. Since then thousands have become available for the iPhone for $20 (or Swing By Swing for free) directly to your phone? and Droid phones, and are just waiting for you to download on iTunes and Google “I just downloaded the Nike 360 golf app, which looks nice,” says Play, respectively. As long as the apps don’t register wind speed or direction, the slope Jeremy Wang, of St. Paul, an 8 handicapper and early adopter of the ground, the temperature (and as long as they don’t help you tweak your swing of golf technology. “And the TW MySwing app is pretty cool, or stroke in the middle of a round) they are legal to use in accordance with local rules. but you need to be with a buddy on the range to make that work.”

Local courses, meanwhile, have begun to take notice of the trends and are beating GPS giants at their own game. At last count, nearly a dozen local courses have custom GPS apps Wang once owned a dedicated golf GPS, but says he doesn’t play for their own 18 holes. Providing a customized course app gives golfers more bang for their enough rounds to make it worth buying another. “We’re not tour players, buck, course owners and operators say, and custom features make Minnesota course apps an it’s not like you’re going to be short-changed by a yard-or-two one way or another. I think that in terms of consistency, a phone GPS app is good enough to get an idea on a yardage.” enviable - and hopefully profitable - addition to a course’s entertainment options.

“Unlike many apps, we don’t need to super discount tee times and forfeit the income to a software company, or advertise every other course just to have a great phone app; this is ours. Our guests, just need to make their tee times with us at the time that works out best in their schedule - even if it’s 3 AM. And they can do this at any of our three championship courses, at any time of the day. One app, three courses - all convenience,” Frank Soukup, Director of Marketing, Grand View Lodge

In fact, the customized apps being rolled out at local courses are accurate to within 2 yards.

Not bad for a free digital yardage book.

THE FACEBOOK EFFECT Apps with Facebook integration (which many of the Minnesota course apps have) make a scorecard one touch away from being posted to the most popular social site on earth. Gallus Golf, which partners with courses to create personalized apps, says that if 200 golfers play on a Saturday, and 25 percent post to Facebook using the course app, those 50 golfers just told 3,250 friends about the course in one day. If that ever came to fruition, that’s some serious word of mouth.

“This doesn’t change the golf experience; it just makes it more convenient. These days when I get a chance to play, first I want to Stay tuned next month for a look at more on Minnesota golf social media. see if there is an opening, and book it if it works in my schedule.

It seems with every modern convenience and technology, we still have less time to do the things we want (personally I know this because I have four kids). So if we can close that gap so our guests can get in a quick 18, 12977 - 200th Street East then… let’s play. Cause there is nothing like a quick game with the boys when you can.”

Hastings, MN 55033

651-437-3085

Phone apps like Instagram have taken the (golf) photography world by storm. In less than a year after its launch in October 2010, 27 million Instagram users posted more than 150 million photos. Yes, many of those were pictures of their kids on the couch. However, Instagram pretty much makes even the most mundane view from a tee box look inviting with the right filter selection. And a normally picturesque view can become downright serene.

“Again, we use this to our advantage at the golf course,” says Brewton, whose Dunes course features stately oaks, a prime view of the Mississippi River and is often booked for weddings.

“Think about it; golf courses are some of the only businesses in the nation that most likely

Tee it Up for the Troops G O L F Weekend

Tee i

p for the T r tu

ps oo

“The best part is that pictures are very popular in social media and sometimes get people to come out to the golf course who have never been to the course from one picture alone,” says Tyler Brewton, General Manager at Mississippi Dunes.

Voted Best Public Golf Course by:

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PICTURE PERFECT Due to the seeming ubiquity of camera phones, nearly every golfer can quickly become a photographer.

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28

Profile

August 2012

Lighting Your Olympic Flame on the Golf Course

By Will Brogan

Rio Olympic Golf Course Drawing

Rio Olympic Golf Course Artist Rendering

Hanse’s most recognized work, to date, is Castle Stuart, host of the Scottish Open. He has been appointed by Donald Trump to renovate the Blue Monster at Doral, did fantastic work for the PGA TOUR in revamping TPC Boston, and is slated to add 27 holes to Bandon Dunes in the coming years.

However, all of those projects pale in comparison to the incredible undertaking that Hanse and Alcott have before them in Rio de Janeiro. The course will be a grand stage for golf for the world’s eyes, and is intended to be a launching pad (training center) for growing the game right there in Brazil. Considering that the city of Rio only has two golf courses to date, the Olympic course has the potential to completely transform the roots of the game not only in Rio, not only in Brazil, but entire continent of South America.

By now you’re probably fully invested in watching athletes like Michael Phelps or Allyson Felix dazzle the world in the 30th Olympic Games in London, and you should be. However, take note that this is also the last round of Summer Games that won’t include golf, as it returns for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Links-masters last played golf in the Olympics way back in 1904, so a 112-year absence will surely Hanse, however, is armed with the experience and tools to make the project successful through create excitement and captivation four years from now! the philosophy of “Caveman Construction.” Hanse shared the story behind the term with me recently: “We were working on a restoration project and we were not the favorite of the course SCHEDULING “ISSUES” AND POSSIBLE PERCEPTIONS: superintendent. We very often found ourselves lacking for manpower and equipment. One The Rio 2016 Games are slated for August 5th-21st, 2016. evening Jim Wagner, Bill Kittleman and I were surveying a bunker and Bill wanted to make Tentatively, golf will be involved for two weeks of that time, some edits to its shape. Everyone had gone home and Bill started looking for a tool to work on meaning that scheduling changes to the major championships will the bunker, but the crew had taken in all of the rakes and shovels. So, Bill grabbed a stick and most likely take place. started hacking away at the bunker edge. Pleased with the outcome, he turned to us and said ‘Look at us! We are like a bunch of ….ing cavemen out here building bunkers with sticks!’”

The PGA Championship, generally played during the second week in August, falls entirely under the Olympic schedule. It will likely be Hanse has already taken the spirit of “Caveman Construction” with him, as he and his family moved, but no definitive plan is currently in place. For those looking have re-located to Brazil to truly be “hands on” with the project. Hanse also shared a tip he ahead, the 2016 PGA Championship will be played at Baltusrol. learned from fellow architect Tom Doak, that Doak “…instilled in me the importance of The Open Championship (Royal Troon in 2016) may be moved to visiting and studying great golf courses, and trying to learn from these examples of how and accommodate Olympic preparations as well. why golf courses are considered great.” Look for Hanse’s work for the 2016 Games to be nothing short of spectacular!

Given the scheduling changes likely to be made to the majors, it will be interesting to see how players treat the Olympic tournament. No THE GOLF COURSE: One of the many unique aspects of the Rio 2016 golf course is that “official” format has been announced, though there are expectations the men and women’s tournaments will be occurring simultaneously. You never see a U.S. for a “typical” 72-hole event.

Open hosting both genders at the same time! This means that the course is truly “universal”, and must be laid out to accommodate all types of golfers.

Since the Olympics fall right between the world’s favorite major and the last one of the year, the players are likely to have mixed emotions. The men will likely play about 7,200 yards, while the women will tee it up from 6,400 yards.

Will some view it like American baseball players do for the World The course is not heavily bunkered, less than 100 in all. It has a “wide open” look to it on Baseball Classic: great if they win but otherwise a just a distraction? paper, but the bunkers are very strategically placed. Realistically, only two water hazards Will it feel like any other major? Or, is it far greater to compete in the come into play on a grand total of four holes. (Note: these statistics are subject to future Olympics than any other golf event to date? Only time will tell! changes in the design.)

GIL HANSE AND AMY ALCOTT: Who’s the hottest name in the world of golf right now? 2012 Open Champion Ernie Els? The omnipresent Tiger Woods? Maybe Rory McIlroy? All incorrect! The answer is Gil Hanse. The Pennsylvania native was selected this past spring as the architect for the golf course hosting the Rio 2016 Games, along with his “running mate”, World Golf Hall of Fame member and five-time major champion Amy Alcott.

Considering the course’s seaside location, golf enthusiasts will likely draw comparisons to the great links courses of the world. However, with four full years still left until the Games, it will be interesting to see how the final product compares to the original design seen with this article.

Either way, golf is back in the Olympics! So, enjoy the 2012 “golf-less” Olympic Games while Hanse and Alcott prepare one of the most important courses in the history of the game, and The Games!

August 2012

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The Construction of TPC Twin Cities

By Will Brogan Like offensive linemen that do the work in the trenches while the quarterback gets the recognition for throwing a touchdown pass, there are many people who worked with Arnold Palmer to design, construct, and complete TPC Twin Cities. Steve Wenzloff, Vice President of Design Services for the PGA TOUR, is one of those individuals. Wenzloff lent his memories and expertise to give you a look inside the experience of constructing the course that has hosted the 3M Championship since 2001.

The development of each of the over two dozen TPC’s in the network is unique due to their geographical diversity, and TPC Twin Cities is no different. Wenzloff explains: “It was a peat bog, which was used as a sod farm before the development of the golf course. Peat is very unstable, from the standpoint that it cannot support the weight of much equipment. The interesting piece about that land, and the history of that region, is that down below the peat is a lot of glacier sand that was deposited.”

“We ended up virtually inverting the entire property: we moved the peat, excavated below the peat to generate sand, and flipped the sand up on top while putting the peat in fill areas that didn’t need to have any stability for equipment.

That was a major exercise in earthwork! Enebak Construction Company was very familiar with how to deal with those soils, and they had the right equipment for it. They did a great job, and they gave us a platform to build the golf course on!”

The best place to get a good look at one of those areas filled with excess peat is the mound that supports the 92.5 KQRS corporate hospitality tent. But don’t worry: it’s plenty stable, thanks to a protective measure that Wenzloff and the PGA

TOUR used in construction. That area, situated behind the 14th tee and to the left of the 18th fairway, is supplemented with layers of textile fabrics to provide greater stability and erosion control, which is the same for all “peat bog” areas on the course that do support various forms of hospitality.

For anyone who has had or will have the opportunity to play TPC Twin Cities when all of the corporate hospitality tents aren’t erected, you’ll notice a few areas that look like miniature landfills, such as that area that houses the KQRS tent. Those are some of the excess peat areas, and when added to the “stadium style” mounding that is inherent to most TPC facilities, it gives the course even more character.

As far as having the opportunity to work with Palmer, his design team, and one of the hottest names in golf at the time (Tom Lehman), Wenzloff shared that, “It was good! Vicki Martz, their lead designer, was very open to the TOUR’s involvement. She benefitted greatly from Mr. Lehman’s thoughts on strategy and balancing everything together.

Mr. Palmer and Mr. Lehman had some conversations but in principle, it was more Vicki Martz, Tom Lehman, and I who made most of the site visits collectively to implement the design. At that time, it was only a couple of years removed from Tom Lehman winning The Open Championship [he won at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in 1996, where it was staged last month], so he was near the pinnacle of his career as well.”

the original name of the Burnet Senior Classic. Effectively, the tournament simply outgrew Bunker Hills. Tournament director Hollis Cavner contacted Enebak Construction to build a “purpose built” facility that became TPC Twin Cities.

In terms of the course’s design, the finish of holes 17 (par 3, 184 yards) and 18 (par 5, 582 yards) stands out most to Wenzloff. “With the drama of the tournament, a par 3 on water followed by a hole with water into play on potentially three shots, bringing the water into play heightens the drama element of those holes, especially since those surrounding areas were designed to have a stadium-like atmosphere.

“The tee shot on 18 didn’t originally have water coming into play, but [the course was designed] right in the era of huge technology growth in golf equipment. Little by little, those distance gains brought water into play on that tee shot. Plus, in the excavation process, the lakes were dug forty to fifty feet deep to generate the amount of sand that was needed on the property. So, there’s no way to extend the tee backwards on 18, and there’s no way to fill in the lake to increase the landing area. The long hitters shouldn’t have any issues going 3 wood/3 wood or less, so it is what it is!”

So, this year, as you make your way around the 3M Championship, hopefully holding this issue of Tee Times magazine in your hands, be sure to check out more than just the players hitting spectacular shots all over the golf course. Spend a few minutes to head over to the back nine, The project was always intended to be used for the see the construction elements of holes 14, 17, and 18, and Champions Tour (known then as the Senior PGA TOUR). take note of what makes TPC Twin Cities such a unique Bunker Hills hosted the inaugural tournament in 1993, with and storied facility!

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August 2012

This is a big year for the 3M Championship department visits and performing 60,000 surgical procedures per year. In addition, Abbott Northwestern Hospital garners national rankings in the top 1% for neurosurgery and heart surgery specialties.

Over the years the proceeds from the 3M Championship have supported many important health care programs at Allina. From building new operating rooms and rehabilitation centers to adding cutting edge surgical technology; the 3M Championship continues to help improve health care for Minnesotans. Last year’s tournament drew more than 125,000 spectators and provided $1.3 million to continue to support the programs of Allina Health..

UNITED HOSPITAL is a community-based non-profit hospital located in St. Paul. Proceeds from the 3M Championship will benefit a new surgical center at the hospital.

ABBOTT NORTHWESTERN HOSPITAL is the Twin Cities largest non-profit hospital. Each year, the hospital provides comprehensive heath care for more than 200,000 Minnesota’s largest professional sports-related charity celebrates reaching $20 million patients and their families from the Twin Cities area and throughout the Upper Midwest. in charitable proceeds over its’ 20 year history! The 3M Championship is set to achieve an unprecedented goal for a Champions Tour event. Charitable contributions will reach $20 million MERCY HOSPITAL, located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, is a 271-bed non-profit hospital in 2012, which also marks the tournament’s 20th anniversary. There are no other Champions that serves the northwestern Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Nationally recognized for clinical excellence and compassionate care, Mercy offers a wide range of specialty services.

Tour events that have attained this level of charitable contributions in this time frame.

Proceeds from this year’s tournament will help bring expanded cardiology and cardiovascular Proceeds from the 3M Championship have impacted lives, benefited communities and surgery capabilities to the hospital. raised the level of health care for Minnesotans. Allina Health’s facilities have become 4 out of the top 6 hospitals in Minneapolis/St Paul, while receiving over 190,000 emergency UNITY HOSPITAL is one of the Twin Cities’ premier community hospitals offering leading edge technology, equipment, procedures, modern facilities, highly skilled professionals and a sense of family and community. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit an acute inpatient rehabilitation unit to the hospital.

The Mother Baby Center will keep parents and newborns together.

Not only is the tournament an important golf event for Minnesota, but it also exemplifies Anna and Jeffrey Gram expected to attend and “All About Babies” the 3M Championship’s positive impact on the community. Proceeds have impacted lives, class one day in late 2010. But when Anna woke up not feeling well, benefited communities and raised the level of health care for Minnesotans. she went to Abbott Northwestern Hospital’s Maternal Assessment Center instead and quickly learned she would be delivering twins.

Josef and Harriet Gram were born 12 weeks early, weighing less than five pounds combined. The babies were whisked away to the neonatal intensive care unit at Children’s – Minneapolis across the street, where they stayed for more than two months.

Anna received excellent care as she recovered at Abbott Northwestern. She and her husband remember the great job the nurses did of keeping them informed on the health of their newborns. They also remember making the trek through a long underground tunnel back and forth between Anna’s room and Children’s – Minneapolis to see their babies. “It seemed like it was so far away,” she said.

This is why The Mother Baby Center at Abbott Northwestern and Children’s – Minneapolis is such a big deal. By collaborating to provide joint care, it will allow parents to stay closer to their newborn children and will make it easier for them to celebrate their babies with family and friends.

Proceeds from this year’s 3M Championship will benefit The Mother Baby Center, which is schedule to open in 2012. This new state-of-the-art birth and neonatal care center will be built on the Children’s – Minneapolis campus.

Not only will The Mother Baby Center keep families together, but it will also provide faster access to neonatal nurses, doctors and often-vital care. According to Mari Holt, director of nursing for WomenCare at Abbott Northwestern “This will be so beneficial to families.”

In addition, The Mother Baby Center is designed to enhance comfort and convenience for families. It will provide a range of services and amenities to support a mother’s needs and preferences during her birthing experience and to help families get off to a good start.

Now two years old, the Gram twins are healthy and happy. “By all accounts they are doing fine,” Jeffrey said. “They’re thriving.”

Abbott Northwestern is part of Allina Health.

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August 2012

3M Championship

31

The 20th Edition Of The 3M Championship Will Have A Distinct Minnesota Flavor!

By R.J.

DON BERRY - Don grew up in Roseville and played

Hollis Cavner, the enigmatic founder of Minnesota’s version of the Champions Tour, is a marketing genius. The fact that the 3M Championship is the first Champion Tour Tournament to raise over $20,000,000 for local charities is the ultimate result, and he does this with free admission! Hollis works tirelessly twelve months a year to bring the finest field of senior golfers to Minnesota for this annual celebration of golf. Hollis came up with “The Greats Of Golf”, a tournament within The Tournament for very famous golf legends. In golf world Hollis Cavner has more friends than Sid Hartman.

golf and worked at Gross National Golf Club. In addition to golf, Don played hockey and was a member of a Championship team at Augsburg College. He has one of the most successful playing careers in Minnesota golf history, winning over 200 tournaments nationwide including the Minnesota Section PGA Player of the Year 14 consecutive years. Don has played in a U.S. Open and four PGA Championships, making the cut at Hazeltine National in 2002, paired the last day with Tom Watson. Don has won 19 Minnesota professional “majors” during his long career. He is the Head PGA Professional at Edinburgh USA and is extremely proud of being selected as the National PGA Club Professional Player of the Year in 2002.

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Championship, Hollis has again proven his marketing savvy by giving an exemption into the Tournament to three local favorites. Thus guaranteeing that the 2012 version of the 3M Championship will have at least four (maybe more) players with Minnesota roots competing for the big prize money.

TOM LEHMAN - Tom, the most successful golfer in Minnesota history, grew up in Alexandria as a multi-sport athlete. He learned to beat you in football, basketball and golf, and was an All-American and Big 10 Champion Golfer at the U of M. Tom paid a tough price and spent years learning to compete at big time golf. He has the distinction of being the first professional golfer to post wins on the Nationwide Tour, the PGA TOUR and the Champions Tour. Tom was recently featured at The (British) Open Championship as previous “Golfer of The Year” (winner) at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, the site of his Open Championship 10 years ago. Now Tom comes home to compete on a golf course that he and Arnold Palmer designed and built, the TPC Twin Cities in Blaine.

DAVE TENTIS - Dave, Head PGA Professional and GM at Troy Burne Golf Club in Hudson, WI, grew up in White Bear Lake where his golf career began as a caddie at White Bear Yacht Club. “Those Monday rounds at WBYC were my springboard to professional golf,” says Dave who enjoyed most of his professional success playing abroad, winning on the Canadian Tour in 1987. He has won Minnesota State Amateur and State Open titles and was a member of a victorious U.S. Walker Cup team in 1983. He has qualified for four PGA Championships (2002-2005) and a U.S. Open (1984), as well as earning an invitation to the 1984 Masters Tournament. Injury ended his career on the PGA TOUR in 1989. Since that time Tentis has won the Tapemark Charity Pro-Am four times, the Minnesota Golf Champions three times, and a Minnesota Section PGA Championship. Dave also designed Tanners Brook Golf Club in Forest Lake.

JOHN HARRIS - John has made Minnesotan

sports fans proud for the past 40 years. As a member of the Golfing Harris Family from Roseau, John came to the U of M as a two-sport athlete. In 1974 John was a member of the Minnesota’s first NCAA Hockey Championship team and two months later won the Big 10 Golf Championship. After college John spent a few years on the PGA TOUR then came back to Minnesota and joined Bill Homeyer in the insurance business. With his amateur status reinstated, Harris won several MGA Championships. In 1993 John won the U.S. Amateur Championship and was a member of the Walker Cup team in 1995 and 1997. When he reached the age of 50 John returned to professional Golf as a regular on the Champions Tour winning one event.

Smiley

Bill “Izzy” Isrealson

Joe Stansberry

TUESDAY QUALIFIER - Two of Minnesota’s favorites golfers along with seven former PGA TOUR winners are scheduled to attempt to qualify for this years 3M Championship on Tuesday, July 31. Bill “Izzy” Isrealson, from Staples, and Joe “The Pro” Stansberry, from Minneapolis, will join U.S. Open winners, Steve Jones and Jerry Pate among others at Victory Links. Both Isrealson and Stansberry have impressive golf resumes and would be crowd pleasers if they can play their way into the Tournament. We wish them well. (This issue of Tee Times went to press before the qualifier results were in.) Good luck to all Minnesota players!

32

One Tank Trips

August 2012

Your Home Away From Home

By Eric Hart Writers want you to pay attention…to open a newspaper/ magazine and go directly to their column/review. We want to be Rick Reilly and cringe at any suggestive comparison to Chris Berman. Writers who care about their craft apply humor and clever wording freely to entertain their captioned audience. They make every word count, especially when they have the opportunity to write about something they deeply care about, like playing golf at great places. They want to share the experience as they experienced it so that you too can semi-experience it until the point comes that you actually do experience it.

The Brainerd Lakes area is the resort capital of Minnesota, home to the perennially lauded vacation destinations Madden’s, Grand View and Cragun’s. If you live within 500 miles of the Twin Cities, you’ve no doubt heard of them. In the land of Paul Bunyan (and 100 blue stone oxen) they loom just as large, as formidable industry giants. And then there’s docile, neighborly Breezy Point Resort on Pelican Lake, located in what essentially amounts to a Brainerd “suburb.”

no one else likes). Breezy Point isn’t part of a clique.

They don’t discriminate or show favoritism. They welcome the business traveler, the Brady Bunch, and the tank topped flip flopped golfer all the same. They take their responsibility of hosting you seriously, but seriously want you to just relax and have fun. It’s a great mélange for toi (Different than what you’re thinking… look it up.) They are an idyllic vacation melting pot, with something for everyone. And they’re not intimidated by their surroundings. Breezy Point is perfectly comfortable, relaxing in the shadows of their star studded “competitors”. As others ebb and flow from year to year in popularity, Breezy stays consistent… steady… the same… a comparable and phenomenal value. General Manager Dave Gravdahl says. “We have people who have been coming here for as many as 30 consecutive years.

They’ve been to the other places, but they come back here regularly. We’re okay with sharing our business. It helps the entire Brainerd area. Besides, we know they’ll come back here sooner and later.” (Not “or.”)

Breezy Point is not the new kid on the block (they’ve been here 80+ years). They’re not the rich kid (but have just as many amenities), not the poor kid (with lavish, lakeside, comfortable rooms in many different lodging environments) not the class clown (although extremely entertaining) and they’re not the bully…(they like you, whomever you are, even if you’re a giant stuffed purple singing dinosaur that

Breezy Point can, as a compliment, be compared to a campground, albeit with first class resort amenities and lodging. They are more “smores” than caviar (And who wouldn’t rather have chocolate than fish eggs on vacation?) Far easier on your pocketbook than many, and as a result…a lot more…well…“We’re fun!” GM Dave says with a giant friendly smile. “Just look around.”

White Birch #16

We looked around. There’s the lake with the beaches packed with activities and sunbathers. There’s the live music coming from Dockside, the popular tasteful tasty on-site restaurant, bar and grille. There are the multiple swimming pools packed with kids, the giant paddle-wheel boat “Breezy Belle” with both her decks emitting shrieks and laughter. There’s fishing, fireworks, food and fenomenal phrench phries. (Uhh, hmmm…) All of this and we haven’t even mentioned golf.

(Wait, there’s golf here too?) Yes. (Good golf?) Yes. (How good?) I was getting to that. Please, stop asking me questions in parentheses!

Breezy Point currently offers vacationing golfers two extremely different golfing opportunities. There’s the tight Traditional course, as short as it is tough. Wrap your head around that. And then there’s the wide open, forgiving, and thoroughly entertaining Whitebirch course. Beginning with the “Traditional,” I approached two men standing on the first tee swinging their drivers to loosen up. “Never played here before?” I asked. “No.” One responded. “How’d you know?”

I pointed at the driver. Guys are too proud to back off from another guy’s insinuation that their golf game is any less of anything than it should be. They stuck with their drivers. $10 says that was the last time they hit driver all day. Director of Golf Mark Johnson reveals a kind yet sinister smile when describing the Traditional course. “I love it. It makes you think. Every shot. And it makes you be precise. Every shot.

It’s a “gambler’s course”, and you need to leave your ego

Clubhouse at the Traditional course

One Tank Trips

August 2012

Marina II

33

Breezy Point Resort

Elvis Show at Dockside

behind. I’ve seen plenty of money change hands among you on a 6,700 yard ride from the tips (if you hit every shot many a humbled man. It’s short and sweet.” I heard. “With straight) and stakes its claim as the best golf value for miles. teeth.” He corrected. “It’s short with teeth.” Oh. I knew that. Interesting fact: Hole 7 is the narrowest par 5 in Minnesota.

Mark Johnson speaks fondly of Whitebirch, reflecting back To be precise, the Traditional course is 5,192 yards from the on his 28 years in the Brainerd region. “This is my home tips, as a par 68 for men (the longest hole 370 yards) and a par course. I’ve travelled many other places and had many other 72 for women. No par 5’s for men, although even single digit opportunities, but I keep coming back here and have less handicappers are likely to card several. Ask Walter Hagen… and less desire to look anywhere else. The people, residents yes, he’s played it, and probably even threw a few clubs. The and visitors alike, love it here. Breezy Point’s Stay & Play tree-lined fairways (or hallways) are like beautiful vampires. opportunities are such a phenomenal value in the state of They draw you in, then bite you. Over and over. But in the Minnesota that I’ve gotten to know so many people so well end, when the “vampire” is that pretty, you really don’t mind. from their many return visits.” Great marketer! I can finish it Or you’re dead. for him. “It’s like a home away from home.”

Manager Dave talk about the best mini-golf “Wildwedge”… and the best pure golf course in the area “Deacon’s Lodge”… and to know that none of those places are owned by Breezy Point…that’s refreshing. Of course they want you to eat at their restaurants and golf their courses, but they mostly want you to enjoy yourself (wherever that may be), and want you to feel at home when you stay with them. There’s no pressure.

All freedom.

Be sure to check out Breezy Point’s mid-week Stay & Play specials, Sunday night through Wednesday night for that matter. Be sure to check out their all-inclusive packages.

They’re pretty hard to beat and worth the drive from anywhere this issue is distributed. No matter your preference of outdoor Then there’s Whitebirch, “the first championship golf layout It’s always refreshing, as a writer or traveler, to go somewhere activity and/or size of family, your vacation dollar goes the in the Brainerd lakes area.” With plenty of design variety and and ask for local tips or entertainment advice and to get furthest at Breezy Point Resort. all the natural elements you can imagine, this course takes unbiased honest responses. To hear Mark and even General

Minnesota’s only golf resort with an all-inclusive option.

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34

GENE POOL

Characters on the Course

By R.J. Smiley

Dropping back to earth in super slow motion, my ball hit the flagstick about two feet above the hole and fell straight into the cup! Eagle! I won!

My senior year of college had been a dream come true! Our team won the conference championship and finished high in the national tournament. I was medalist in our conference championship and earned All-American honors. I had a new girlfriend, the Yearbook Queen, really hot. Now, just a few classes during summer school, I would graduate and move on to make my mark in golf.

During the mid-1960s the federal government made agricultural grant money available to small communities across the nation’s farm belt to build or improve rural golf courses. Every rural community with a lick of civic pride was taking advantage of this FREE MONEY to convert their shabby little 9-hole sand green golf course into a beautiful community asset. My girlfriend’s dad was superintendent of schools in one of these rural communities.

Gene Pool, from my girlfriend’s hometown, had tried out for our golf team for the past two years. He was a good player but never quite qualified for the ten-man team.

Gene would hang around the putting green and practice range and play an occasional round with us. We knew him as the kid who worked at his hometown golf course during the summer. Gene kept telling us about how the course he helped build would soon be one of western Kansas’ finest tracks. He kept talking about the big grand opening tournament scheduled for mid-June.

What a break, I could play in the tournament, spend a long weekend with my girlfriend’s parents....getting to know them you know. Her mother could show-off her oldest daughter’s new boyfriend. We arrived in her hometown in time for a quick practice round on Friday. Her younger sister’s boyfriend, who was a good high school golfer, and I played another practice round on Saturday with his high school golf buddies. Gene was really pissed that I had not played the practice round with him.

The (Grand Opening) shortstop was the typical 27-hole event, three trips around the 9-holer, with the leaders paired for the final 9-holes. I shot 36-33, 69 and was leading the tournament by three shots. Gene Pool, had played well, shooting 74, and was playing three groups ahead of the leaders. A sloppy three putt on the first and an OB on the fifth had me back at even par but still leading by two, I thought. While lining up my birdie putt on number six, I looked up to see Gene Pool grinning ear to ear. When I tapped in my par after a lip out, Gene said, “How do you stand for the tournament?” When I told him I had slipped a little and was back to even, his face lit up even more. He almost shouted, “You need a birdie on one of the last three holes to force a playoff, WITH ME! I just shot the round of my life, 33, one under for the tournament.”

Talk about pressure - my girlfriend, her sister, the boyfriend and his buddies, her mom, who had been milking this deal for all it was worth, my girlfriend’s dad who had walked every step, smiling. I could not let them all down. Gene Pool for Christ sake! I can’t lose to him! He couldn’t even make our team. A little hook into the rough on seven meant I could not spin my wedge over the bunker. A perfect flop shot left me 20 feet. Trying to make the first, I almost missed the

August 2012

4-footer, but got my par. I have got to make a birdie! Another par on number 8 meant I had to birdie the cute little ninth. Only 275 yards but the two-tiered green was elevated severely in the back half. The pin was cut in the back right corner. Easy, just hit that same little hooked tee shot, as round one, and run it up the front of the green - two putt - then kick his ass in the playoff. Perfect. NOT!! My ball did not hook!! Now I was left with an impossible shot - only ten yards from the downhill pin and elevated about eight feet above my ball. I can’t stop my ball near the pin, even with a perfect cut shot.

The more I looked the shot over, the more Gene, the asshole, Pool gloated. I hate that SOB! I selected the exact spot where my bump-and-run had to land. I needed a perfect bounce - to get close - to have the putt that would tie Gene, the asshole.

Every eye in the gallery, that now circled the green, watched as I took several practice swings. I wiped my, now sweaty, hands on my towel, and then hit the shot of my life… too hard!! My Titleist 3 hit the bank hard, missing my intended spot by two feet, and popped straight up into the air. Dropping back to earth in super slow motion, it hit the flagstick about two feet above the hole and fell straight into the cup! Eagle! I won!

I heard a scream from my girlfriend and a moan from Gene! I turned and watched the asshole fall to his knees, sobbing uncontrollably. He could not stop crying; he would not shake my hand. He was devastated!

The Championship trophy had an electric clock built in. For years I smiled every time I checked the time.

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August 2012

Critters on the Course

35

FROG ON THE BALL

By R.J. Smiley

Minnesota Courses hosting Tee it up for the Troops Events • • • • • • •

August 24 - Bunker Hills GC (Coon Rapids) August 27 - Mankato GC (Mankato) August 30 - Willow Creek GC (Rochester) September 7 - Mendakota CC (Mendota Heights) September 7 - Oak Marsh (Oakdale) September 7 - Afton Alps, Bellwood, Hidden Greens (Hastings) September 17 - Brackett’s Crossing (Lakeville)

The retired mail carrier, a graduate of Redwood Falls high school in the mid1960’s, makes the annual trip back home the weekend following the 4th of July for the Redwood Falls Invitational Golf Tournament. Never a tournament winner but a championship flight player for years, the mail carrier now competes in the Masters Flight - Championship Flight for golfers over 55.

The heat and drought were in evident long before the mail carrier’s 12:30 teetime, one group behind the leaders. Four solid holes behind him and moving up the leaderboard, the mail-carrier faced a tough, short iron approach shot to a far right pin cut high above the water hazard. The steep grassy bank, covered with thick fescue from the fringe of the green to the water, makes the flag seem to hang in mid air. The mail carrier selected an eight iron for his important approach to the elevated sliver of green above the hazard. Well struck, the mail carrier’s ball started directly at the flag that appeared to hang wilted in the humid heat.

“Carry, Carry, NO!” Shouted the mail carrier as his ball drifted slightly to the right landing one foot short kicking hard to the right into the hazard.

The mail carrier hurried to the green to survey his fate. Standing at green’s edge looking down he spotted a ball with a large black dot; his marking above the Titleist. The ball was hanging atop the long fescue about six inches from the water. “What a break, I can still make four, five at worst,” he thought as he grabbed his 60 degree wedge and started down the bank covered with long tangled grass. As he crossed the red line marking the hazard, large leopard frogs, seeking shelter from the blistering sun, started jumping in all directions. Another step, more frogs; then he watched in horror as a sleek black and green beauty landed directly on his ball. The mail carrier did not move and neither did the leopard frog. Silence!

The mail carrier, in a weak voice, said to his playing companions, “A frog is sitting on my ball. I am afraid that when he jumps off my ball will roll off the grass holding it up and into the water.” The know-it-all, country clubber, who had traveled from North Carolina, said, “You are in the hazard. If the ball rolls into the water it is just ‘the rub of the green‘.”

With all eyes now on the frog, the mail carrier tiptoed toward the ball, hanging precariously over the water. The frog leaped, the ball wiggled, but the ball with the large black dot, remained in place. With a practice swing a no-no in the hazard; the mail carrier studied this decisive play. Past the pin is better that remaining in the hazard so the mail carrier made a big swing. The ball came out clean and landed near the hole and rolled out about 20’ past the hole. “Nice shot!”

All echoed.

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Three putts and a double bogie, six, was the beginning of the end for the mail carrier in this year’s edition of the Redwood Falls Invitational.

No trophy, but a memory of the frog that sat for a moment on the ball with the large black dot.

Health & Fitness

36

August 2012

By Matt Just - PGA Golf Professional Titleist Performance Institute Certified Golf Fitness Instructor, Life Time Fitness, St. Louis Park

“Hey Pro,

My son is 15 years old and his goal is to play high-level competitive golf. What should his mom and I do to support his goals?

PRO:

This is a great question and very relevant in our current “over the top” and specialized sports-crazed society we live in. The short answer is: play all sports! Not just golf! I urge you to continue reading and pay attention to the shocking answer, as well as, the truth that will help you explain to your junior golfer the importance of balance.

Simply put, being an all-around athlete not just a golfer, will improve the likelihood of future success in golf and life.

was training in San Diego with Apollo Creed. In that part of the movie Apollo was teaching Rocky to move more swiftly and with more grace. You will not acquire grace by beating 200 balls a day at the range. Additionally, as a golf teacher, I even keep a football in my trunk to play catch with a high school kid so I can see what type of over all athlete he or she is. Make no mistake about it; the best over all athletes on the planet are PGA Tour Professionals. Well, I take that back, maybe hockey players are just a step above.

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand that kids are growing physically and maturing mentally/emotionally as they enter high school. On the physical level, golf is such a one-side dominate and dynamic movement that physical imbalances will undoubtedly start to nag as your son or daughter spend too much time focusing on golf. Practicing too much will lead to injury. I’m not suggesting that they don’t practice and play all summer, but there should be other activities mixed in that promote body balance. For instance, I teach lessons to an aspiring future star and our 1-hour “golf lesson” has consisted of racquetball, 1 on 1 basketball and even hitting golf balls left handed for fun. As homework I made him watch Rocky III and pay attention to when Rocky

We should all strive for greatness and that goes without saying.

However, on a mental/emotional level, my stance is that too much competitive golf at young ages is over the top. Kids will burn out, and never learn that golf is a life sport. Golf should be fun, and must always be explained to a 15 year old in that manner. In my professional opinion, high school kids shouldn’t be grinding and enamored with the leaderboard. I recently learned that there are two kinds of golf. Regular golf and tournament golf. This clicked for me when I shot 80 at the State Open but 72 during a playing lesson. So, yes, I get it, you need experience playing competitive golf but parents should expose their junior golfer to both situations.

I get passionate on this subject. There is too much specializing of sports in our society today. Kids are not growing up with a well rounding opportunity like we did in the past. There is no excuse for a junior golfer to be able to hit a 275 yard drive yet not know how to dribble a basketball with their left hand.

Please send comments, concerns or complaints to: Mjust@lifetimefitness.com

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August 2012

Entertainment

37

Shopping Day on Festival Friday, September 28 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets to the event include Festival admission, a free glass of wine, a gift bag and exclusive artisan discounts.

After shopping, check out the new Princess Court where only the most beautiful and enchanted princesses will be available for greetings and pictures.

Calling all patrons who love to drink, in 2012 we welcome a Pub Crawl! For just $20, each participant gets a guided tour, three beers and a commemorative mug. And with two tours every day, there is no excuse to miss one. Join in on the trivia, sing-a-longs and games from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Welcome patrons to the 2012 Minnesota Renaissance Festival! This year we have added a number of exciting events and attractions to look forward to and make this our best season yet! The Minnesota Renaissance Festival is a first-class experience whose 42nd season begins on Saturday, August 18 and runs till September 30, 2012.

Get rewarded for supporting your favorite shoppes the first two weekends of the Festival, Aug. 18 & 19 and Aug. 25 & 26. Spend $250 at any of the artisan booths during Artisan Appreciation Weekends and receive a free admission ticket to return any remaining weekends of the Festival!

On opening weekend, Pet Fest returns and is featuring new Wiener Dog Races! Those little legs will be testing their speed and the fastest pups will win prizes so register your dachshund today!

For the first time ever, crafters, gardeners and fairy fans can submit a house in the Fairy House Competition! Create and share your unique fairy house at the Festival on Sept. 1-3

After guzzling down some good beer, receive some medieval cooking tips from Alice the Cook! The Historic Cooking Demos inform guests about cooking techniques and Renaissance recipes during daily demonstrations. If you don’t feel up to the task of making your own Renaissance meal, Do you enjoy a nice cold pint of beer? Join us for Oktoberfest check out the Feast of Fantasy. In its 30th year anniversary and indulge in German culture on September 22 and 23. we’re offering a brand new menu and new Featured Feasts!

There will be German artisans, restaurants, musicians and fun Oktoberfest games such as Hammerschlagen, Bier Pong, This year the Renaissance Festival is offering a chance for a lucky patron to win a prize in the Photography Contest.

Keg Toss, and more!

Snap a shot of a great moment at the Festival and enter for Playing chess may not be for all but come watch Human your chance to win great prizes worth over $1,000!

Combat Chess Matches this year at the Festival. Live entertainers will fight to the death right in front of your The Festival is now partners with Sutter Home Wines and eyes until one is left standing as the victor. No longer only City of Hope to help fundraise for breast cancer research. known to lost sailors, visitors to the festival can now see Live Each glass of Sutter Home wine purchased will benefit City Mermaids up close! Watch as they dive, twirl, and swim of Hope. majestically through the water. If you’re lucky, they may More information on the new events for 2012 and a full list of share a piece of their magic with you. events and attractions can be found on the Festival’s website All the ladies get a chance to sip and shop at the Ladies www.renaissancefest.com. during the Silk Road Weekend. The cost is $15 per house and every patron that submits a fairy house will receive a free admission ticket. The top three houses for the adult and kids competition will be rewarded with prizes!

FREE PARKING!

38

Health & Fitness

August 2012

ROSIE ERICKSON Wild Marsh Golf Club Buffalo, MN Tell us what you do during the golf off-season. losing that bet. It was only funny because of the reactions from all the guys and the I graduated from Bethel University last spring, and am individual being able to laugh it off so well. now a sports broadcasting Intern through North Metro T.V. I am pursuing a long-term career in broadcast.

Q. What hobbies do you have away from the course? I love sports! Not only do I enjoy attending them, but also live to play. I play basketball and soccer on some fun leagues Q. Why did you decide to pursue a career in “beverage distribution” at your golf around the Twin Cities. course? Working from the age of fourteen at a nearby golf course sparked my love for working at a course. Now, I am finishing up my tenth summer working at a course and Q. What is your favorite drink? I love when I get the chance to stay after work and have it’s a plus that it happens to be a great one like Wild Marsh. a Bloody Mary.

Q. What is the best tip you have ever received from a golfer....monetarily or other? Q. Do you play golf? How well? My dad, boyfriend, and eight brothers are all really I once received an $80 tip from a golfer just for having a fun and energetic personality good and all attempt to teach me. My last round I shot a 95, which isn’t the greatest, but for the tournament they were having at Wild Marsh that day.

I just started and love it so I have high hopes for the future.

Q. What is the funniest thing you have ever seen on the golf course? One incident Q. When your career in beverage cart girl is over what are your goals in life. would be the time a golfer was competing for the longest drive with his buddies. He My lifelong goal has always been to have a successful career as a Sports Broadcaster. shanked the ball hitting a tree making the ball bounce back behind the tee box, clearly Now that I am out of school I will pursue my dream until it happens!

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39

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