FEB – APRIL 2015 VOL 2 ISSUE 2
Why Pro Golf is Gold for Tucson The Conquistadores Classic of Tucson is set to continue Southern Arizona’s tradition (page 30)
ALSO INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Paul Purtzer lesson (pg 23) Oro Valley acquired by ClubCorp (pg 54) PGA awards (pg 10) The Official Publication of the
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contents Golf Arizona | February – April 2015
on the cover 30 Why Pro Golf is Gold for Tucson: The Conquistadores Classic of Tucson is Set to Continue Southern Arizona’s Tradition
course reviews 8 Changing Dunes: Ak-Chin Southern Dunes 16 Tegavah: A “Gathering Place” for AZ’s Golf Lifestyle 48 Arizona National: Tucson’s Sonoran Desert Superstar
features 10 24 35 53 54
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SWSPGA 2013 Award Winners LPGA Founders Cup Product Review: Antigua’s 2015 Men’s Collection PGA Professionals Recapture Gibson Cup Oro Valley Country Club Acquired by ClubCorp
instruction
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6 15 23 26
Tips on Hitting Your Best Tee Shot “They Never Told Me This on the Lesson Tee!” Hit the High Lob Shot with Confidence Under Pressure Improve Your Game at Home
community 20 Tee to Green: Community Golf News 29 Making the Most of Tucson’s Golf Experience 50 AWGA Announces Arizona’s 2105 GEM Clubs
pro-files 38 A Niche in Golf: Fitness Expert Trains Golfers 42 Medina Takes Over with New Role at Tucson National 30
youth spotlight 57 Phoenix Valley: Mikayla Fitzpatrick & Brock Goyen 58 Southern Arizona: Desiree Hong & Chris Meyers
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Published by Golf Arizona, LLC PUBLISHING EDITOR
Rick Price, PGA Kevin Duke Associate Editor GRAPHIC DESIGN
AB Graphic Design, Inc. ADVISORY BOARD
CONTRIBUTORS
EAGLE SPONSORS
Phoenix Valley Frank Calvin, PGA Bob Doyle, PGA Tim Eberlein, PGA Curt Hudek, PGA Scott McNevin Dale Moseke Pat O’Hara, PGA Adam Packard, PGA Mary Pomroy, AWGA Debra Thompson Roedl Hugh Smith Kris Strauss Southern Arizona Corey Baehman, PGA Brent DeRadd Wade Dunagan Lance Eldridge Al Fischer Adam Lazarus Judy McDermott Mark Oswald, PGA Dan Wickman, PGA
Rick Price, PGA Derek Deminsky Brent DeRadd Kevin Duke Andrew Fodge George Fuller Mary Beth Lacy Joan Liess Jeff Locke Mike Malaska Scott McNevin Robyn Noll Pat O’Hara, PGA Paul Purtzer Kris Strauss Ryan Woodcock
The Antigua Group Arizona National Arizona Women’s Golf Association Casino Del Sol Resort The Gallery Golf Club OB Sports Oro Valley Country Club Poston Butte Golf Club San Pedro Golf Course Scoreboardwhiz Southwest Section PGA Troon Golf Tucson City Golf Tucson Conquistadores BIRDIE SPONSORS
Fitness by Andrew Forty Niner Country Club Gaslight Theatre Omni Tucson National Sun City West GOLF ARIZONA MAGAZINE
phone
P.O. Box 69190, Oro Valley, AZ 85737 520-314-5611 e m a i l rickprice@gogolfarizona.com www.GoGolfArizona.com
SOUTHWEST SECTION PGA
10685 North 69th Street Scottsdale, AZ 85254 p h o n e 480-443-9002 fa x 480-443-9006 e m a i l mburhans@pgahg.com www.southwest.pga.com
SOUTHWEST SECTION PGA SOUTHERN CHAPTER
600 S. Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85711 520-290-1742 fa x 520-326-8772 e m a i l rick@southrnchapterpga.com www.southernchapterpga.com
phone
ABOUT THE PGA
The Southwest Section PGA is one of 41 Sections of the PGA of America consisting of more than 1,300 members in the state of Arizona and Southern Nevada. The Southern Chapter PGA is the six southern counties of Arizona. The PGA of America is the world’s largest working sports organization, comprised of 28,000 men and women golf Professionals, who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and managing the game of golf. Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has enhanced its leadership position by growing the game of golf through it premier spectator events, world-class education and training programs, significant philanthropic outreach initiatives, and award-winning golf promotions. Your PGA Professionals are the “Expert in the Game and Business of Golf.” ABOUT GOLF ARIZONA MAGAZINE
Golf Arizona magazine is the official publication of the Southwest Section PGA, is published quarterly by Golf Arizona, LLC. This is Arizona’s number one multi-media resource for golf, designed as a unique and compelling benefit for all golfers in Arizona that cannot be found in other publications. We offer more content beyond the printed version of the magazine with updated current events on the website at www.GoGolfArizona.com. We showcase the game of golf, courses and businesses within Arizona, while celebrating the people and entities that make golf such a spectacular attraction. The magazine is available free to the public; this full color glossy magazine is distributed to all golf courses, resorts and concierges – as well as other golf-related and high-traffic locations throughout all of the Phoenix Valley and Southern Arizona. “Our mission is all about promoting the game of golf, individuals and businesses within our community.” All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. The opinions expressed by contributors and advertisers do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or the Southwest Section PGA. Distributed throughout the state of Arizona with 30,000 bulk /on demand print circulation. Copyright ©2013.
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From the Editor
Honoring one of the great mentors, whose legacy lives on through his principles and philosophies on life.
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he Tucson Conquistadores, along with the community of Southern Arizona, are very excited about hosting a Champions Tour event March 16-22, 2015 at the Omni Tucson National Golf Resort & Spa. After eight successful years with the Accenture Match Play, the Champions Tour will be a good fit for the Southern Arizona golf market. The tradition of hosting a professional tour event in Tucson stems back to the 1945 Tucson Open held at the El Rio Golf Club making Tucson one of the longest running locations for professional golf events. On March 17-22, 2015, the LPGA Founders Cup is coming to Phoenix again and teeing it up at Wildfire Golf Club, this will be the fifth year in a row the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort has been host of this world-class golf event show casing the best women golfers in professional golf. One of the most satisfying and exciting things from a personal standpoint is the announcement of the new book that I am co-authoring with Zig Ziglar, coming out later this spring. It was a distinct pleasure having the opportunity to meet and play golf on August 7, 1997 with one of the greatest motivators, teachers, and success mentors in history. It is a true blessing and I feel very fortunate to be good friends with his son Tom Ziglar. A few years ago, Tom came across an old audio speech that Zig did on how to improve your golf game. To honor Zig and his legacy, we have decided to take the principles of his speech and create the book called, “Winning at Golf and Life.” If you know anything about Zig, you knew he loved life, and how much he particularly loved that “red head,” as he referred to his wife Jean, and how he really loved golf for the comradery and the competition of the game. However, as many of you may know, Zig passed away a couple of years ago, although his legacy lives on through his principles and philosophies on life.
Ziglar formed a philosophy that underlies all of his teaching, writing, conMy promise and sulting, and speaking. “You can have our mission at Golf everything in life you want if you will Arizona Magazine is just help enough other people get what they want.” He believed you could apto, “Promote the game ply this philosophy to all aspects of of golf, businesses, life, whether you were at work, playing and associations in golf, or especially in your personal life to achieve success. He was not only a our community, while great mentor, motivator, but he was celebrating the people also a great teacher. He never promthat play the game.” ised anything without giving a plan of action to make it happen. The book will be a fun lighthearted message of hope and encouragement on the “how-to” of changing your attitude, creating a plan, improving your self-talk to visualizing success! Zig’s promise in the book is, “I do believe this… I believe with all of my heart, that if you will listen and take to heart, what my message is about, that it will dramatically improve your game.” Thank you for your support of Golf Arizona Magazine the official publication for the Southwest Section PGA and soon our new Golf Arizona TV Show. We value your input and thank you for your support in assisting us in promoting the game of golf. We will be offering some special promo give-away tickets for both the LPGA and Champions Tour events for our on-line subscribers. To be eligible to win you must receive our digital FREE on-line version of Golf Arizona Magazine. We encourage you to invite a friend and share our passion by visiting our website to sign up for our FREE online newsletter and subscription for Golf Arizona magazine at www.gogolfarizona.com.
Rick Price, PGA Rick is the Director of Operations for the Southwest Section PGA Southern Chapter and is founder and Publishing Editor for Golf Arizona magazine and GoGolfArizona.com. He is a member of the Professional Golfers Association of America has over 30 years of expertise in the golf profession, member of the Golf Writers Association of America and Sports Photographers Association of America.
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Instruction
by Mike Malaska, PGA
Tips on hitting your best tee shot T
HE DRIVE IS ALWAYS THE CLUB that everyone wants to hit. It is the “sexy” one, which impresses the group. I’d agree, there is nothing better than a well hit drive to make you feel good about yourself. The problem, however, is in the way most of us approach the driver when we want to hit the “long one.” Our approach almost guarantees we will not be successful. So what helps us ensure we’ll hit our best tee shot? I have been fortunate to work with Jack Nicklaus for the past 26 years. He has become a good friend, so we have shared some more personal ideas about the golf swing. Here’s a couple of his thoughts that you can bring into your game.
Favorite Club and Driver. When Jack wants to hit the ball far, he says he “swings slower.” Well – that was a bit confusing to me. If you swing slower, how would you hit farther? What he meant was, when he wanted a longer drive, he made sure he swung more softly – and by that, he meant more relaxed. Most of us tighten up when we try to hit far. This slows us down. Tension kills speed, and consistency. Here’s a good drill for this. Take a few swings with your favorite club. (My favorite club is my 7 iron.) Feel your tempo. Now, maintain this tempo when you go to swing the driver, and hit your longer drive. Maintain your tempo, and you’ll be surprised how far you hit the ball. Every one of us has made an easy swing, and been impressed with how far the shot traveled. The reason is that you square the clubface to the ball with little effort, and with almost no tension – allowing the club to do more of the work for you. That is why Jack in his mind pictured “swing easy” – as it let him keep his tempo, and deliver a solid hit. Another common concept is that putting your body into the shot will add power and distance. Most of us misuse our body, which actually gets in the way of an efficient, solid hit. Jack use to when he hit the ball, he felt his chest was still to the right of the ball. This allows him to deliver the club to the ball, and time the rotation of his body with the swinging of the club. Most of us unwind their shoulders and their body too soon, leaving the club behind them, with the face open – hurting both direction and distance. Righ Foot Back Drill. Here’s a great drill to help train your body and arms to work together through the ball. This is the “Right Foot Back Drill.” Take a look at the pictures, and you’ll see I take my normal stance, and then drop my right foot back until my right toe is in line with my left heel. As you make a swing, do not let your right heel come off the ground, until after you’ve hit the ball.
Mike Malask, PGA Director of Instruction @ Superstition Mountain Golf & CC,Superstition Mtn., AZ & Las Sendas Golf Club, Mesa, AZ 2011 National PGA Teacher of the Year, Southwest Section Senior Player of the Year. Worldwide Director of Instruction for Nicklaus Golf Academies, a consultant for TaylorMade, and one of the world’s most innovative golf instructors. His decades of study of the golf swing and his outstanding playing credentials have made him a leader in the golf industry. 1 480.369.4628 • malaskagolf@gmail.com • http://www.malaskagolf.com
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Course Review
by Kris Strauss
Changing Dunes Ak-Chin Southern Dunes enhancements delivers on all fronts
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lready ranked #5 in Golf Magazine’s Best Courses Near You ranking, one would think that this Troon Golf-managed facility would rest on its laurels. But status quo isn’t the norm for the Ak-Chin Community, Troon and the Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Team. In the spring of last year the AkChin Indian Community gave the green light on a multi-million dollar enhancement project at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes. Under the watchful eye of Troon and the golf courses original architects (Schmidt-Curley Design and Fred Couples), the club recently completed this significant renovation project aimed at improving the course’s playability for leisure players while maintaining the challenges and shot-values enjoyed by experienced golfers. The enhancements included a complete bunker renovation, additional tee boxes, expanded landing areas, and other design improvements on several holes. Specifically, 83,000-square-feet of bunkers were removed from the course’s original total of 480,000-square-feet. Major improvements also include significant turf expansion between many of the forward tees to eliminate unnecessary forced carries for those choosing to
“tee it forward” or are still learning how to consistently hit shots in the air. Additional enhancements included re-vegetation of native grasses and many transitions between bunker edges and native desert. A new back tee was added on No. 1 (a change made with the experienced golfer in mind) while new forward tees were added on holes 5, 8, 12, 15 and 17. Improvements on No. 17 also include a nearly full-redesign with an expansion of the green, reshaping of a large dune to open sightlines to the hole, and changes to the bunker complex around the green. “We really wanted to ‘improve upon perfection’ at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes,” stated Brady Wilson, general manager at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes. “We already were well known for providing a championship, ‘Top 100’ experience, but these enhancements focused on continuing to set us up for success for improved playing conditions, better playability for core golfers, more challenge for accomplished players and creating a venue conducive to contribute further to the growth of the game,” added Wilson. For those wondering how the results have been received, golfer feedback has been off the charts, Freddy Couples himself paid a visit to the club in
December to welcome golfers to the new look (and while there took the time to teach the game to children of the Ak-Chin Community. But most look to ‘data’ to substantiates results. With that in mind the AGA recently re-rated the golf course and the rating/ slope from the “Tips” received a more difficult rating and slope, the “Black tees” stayed the same and “Gold, Blue and White tees” received a lower course rating/slope. “These new ratings confirmed what we set out to do at the onset of the project: to make the golf course more playable for the average player, while maintaining and increasing our championship pedigree,” stated Wilson. One of the most interesting elements of the enhancements is not on the golf course…it’s on the practice range! The driving range was completely renovated and within the “floor” of the practice area, now sits six tees and six target greens built to USGA specifications. Thus creating what is virtually a “convertible” driving range, whereby the facility can serve as a traditional driving range during the day, but once the twilight hours hit, the range will convert into a six-hole par three short course. The club named the course #MiniDunes and in a keeping
Much like sand dunes along the coast are ever changing with winds and tides, the sea of change is rising at Ak Chin Southern Dunes in Maricopa, Arizona. 8
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with the theme to appeal to a younger audience, might just be the first golf course in the country to incorporate a hashtag in its name. “#Mini Dunes offers up a great way for golfers to settle bets and extend their day at AkChin Southern Dunes,” stated Wilson. “Plus it will be our laboratory to grow the game. We are going to be using this facility to introduce new golfers to the game young and old.” Golf wasn’t the only thing enhanced. Troon Golf and the Ak-Chin Community took opportunity to spruce up the entryway to the club and even refresh and rebrand the popular dining venue which was rebranded and re-launched as the new Arroyo Grille. The name was inspired from the AkChin translation meaning, “where the water loses itself in the sand,” or “the mouth of the arroyo.”
“Part of our commitment here is to perpetuate the legacy of the Ak-Chin community and honor their history and traditions,” stated Wilson. “The naming and rebranding of Arroyo Grille is just one of the many ways we are helping to tell the story of Ak-Chin and honor the legacy of the community.” The Ak-Chin Indian Community, which owns the nearby Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino and the UltraStar Multi-tainment Center at Ak-Chin Circle, has brought together championship-style golf and world-class gaming and entertainment. Gaming and golf packages are now available through Ak-Chin Southern Dunes and Troon Golf Vacations creating a truly exciting
and multi-faceted destination, pleasing to a wide range of visitors. If you have been to Ak-Chin Southern Dunes before you may ask… is change good? You like those whom have seen the recent changes will reply with a resounding YES! And the changing dunes at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes clearly deliver…make this one of the state’s best for sure! Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club is located at 48456 West Highway 238, Maricopa, AZ 85139. You can contact the golf shop at 480-367-8949 or visit their website www.GolfSouthernDunes.com
Fred Couples paid a visit to the club in December to welcome golfers to the new look
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2014 Award Winners
Southwest Section PGA 2014 Annual Award Winners PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Dick Hyland | The Country Club at DC Ranch Hyland has distinguished himself as one of the leaders of PGA professionals in terms of club operation management and professionals placed throughout the industry. His teams have operated many professional and amateur tournaments, including The Tradition, the Barclay’s Scottish Open, the USGA Women’s Senior Amateur and others, in addition to numerous Arizona Open, AGA and AWGA Championships. In his more than 30 years as a Class A PGA professional, Hyland has worked at clubs in Hawaii, Scotland, New Mexico and Arizona and is a past president of Lyle Anderson Golf. This award is another in a long list he’s received throughout his career, including twice being recognized as the National PGA Golf Professional of the year and as the National PGA Merchandiser of the Year for private clubs in 2001. In Arizona, he was also recognized by the SWSPGA as Merchandiser of the Year and was the recipient of the Bill Strasbaugh award, along with being named the 21st recipient of the Dr. Ed Updegraff award by the AGA.
TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND PLAYER DEVELOPMENT AWARD – SW SECTION
Craig Hocknull Director of Instruction at Western Skies Golf Club Hocknulll is one of two professionals to win two awards in the section. In his career, Craig’s teaching positions in the Southwest Section have included Yuma Golf and Country Club, The Nike Golf Learning Center at Kokopelli, The Golf Academy of America and many others. His current teaching programs at Western Skies Golf Club and Desert Forest Golf Club include a junior development program that earned him the Southwest Section PGA Junior Leader award in 2013. Hocknull’s other teaching programs include the Tiny Golfer Program, the Kids Golf League, the Outback Junior Academy, the Outback Golf University, Ladies Only Get Golf Ready, Ladies Golf Night and the Patriot Golf Academy.
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HORTON SMITH AWARD – SW SECTION
Tim Eberlein Golf Academy of America Campus Director Originally from Australia, Craig has acclimated well into the Arizona Desert. While continuing to pursue his dreams of playing professionally, Craig has also developed a nice teaching academy to go along with his golf show. Craig won the Arizona Open this year along with the Section Match Play on his way to claiming his player of the year honors. Craig has also done a fantastic job of promoting golf to Juniors and is equally proud of both awards.
Gary Pearce | Seven Canyons Golf Club The Bill Strausbaugh Award recognizes members who have distinguished themselves in the field of community and club relations. A 26-year PGA Professional, Pearce is heavily involved with golf in the community of Sedona, including the Sedona High School golf team for the past 23 years. He is a past president and board member of the Sedona Youth Golf Foundation. His charitable work in Sedona includes introducing golf to more than 1,400 youths with life-threatening diseases at Camp Soaring Eagle in 2014, and raising more than $90,000 for kids to attend the camp as Co-Chair of their annual golf event.
2014 Award Winners
BILL STRASBAUGH AWARD – SOUTHWEST SECTION
MERCHANDISER OF THE YEAR, PRIVATE – SOUTHWEST SECTION
Kallie Micklos | Pinnacle Peak Country Club Originally from Wisconsin, Micklos moved to Arizona in 2004 and is in her 10th year as an employee at Pinnacle Peak Country Club and in her second year as their Merchandiser. Kallie is a graduate of the Methodist College Professional Golf Management Program. Her main goal is to provide the members at PPCC with a variety of products. In order to provide that, she travels to many different markets and fashion shows to stay abreast of the ever-changing fashion environment. She looks forward to working with the membership and providing exceptional customer service.
MERCHANDISER OF THE YEAR, PUBLIC – SOUTHWEST SECTION
Tom Fischer | Head Golf Professional at Palute Resort A Class A PGA Professional since 1986, Fischer purchased and ran his first golf shop at Royal Palm Beach CC in 1987 and is a Quarter Century Club member. He owned three shops in Florida and earned Merchandiser of the Year for Private Clubs in that state in 2003 and 2004. He has served on the board of the Las Vegas Chapter of the PGA since 2007, where he was the chapter’s Senior Player of the Year in 2008 and 2009. He most recently won Merchandiser of the Year with both the Las Vegas Chapter and the Southwest Section in 2011, after taking the job at Palute the same year.
MERCHANDISER OF THE YEAR, RESORT – SOUTHWEST SECTION
Rob Bartley | Director of Golf at Camelback Golf Club Bartley has been a PGA member since 1991 and has served as Director of Golf at Camelback Golf Club since 2005. A 26-year veteran of Marriott, he was previously the Director of Golf at the Seaview Marriott Resort in Atlantic City, Ipswich CC, and the Head Golf Professional at Wind Watch Golf Club in Long Island. The renovation of the Camelback’s Ambiente course was anticipated to bring in a younger crowd, so Bartley and the staff at the club brought in lines such as Puma, Travis Mathew and Under Armour to help merchandise sales per round exceed anticipated levels.
JUNIOR GOLF LEADER – SOUTHWEST SECTION
Nolan Halterman | Director of Golf at Anthem Country Club Prior to Las Vegas, Halterman was the Head Professional at Pronghorn in Bend, Oregon for five seasons. He has worked at other facilities such as TPC Las Vegas, The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs and Promontory the Ranch Club in Park City. Halterman also serves as an Ambassador for PGA Magazine and is currently on the Southern Nevada Chapter Board of Directors. He was heavily involved in starting the PGA Junior League golf in Southern Nevada in 2014 and continuing off of that success, helped form a Junior Committee within the chapter to help facilitate future development among juniors. Paul Trittler
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Rob Stofflet | Independent Sales Rep Stofflet started as a sales rep for Mizuno and LaMode in Florida in 1989, continuing to work with LaMode through the mid-90s. He picked up Jack Nicklaus apparel and Zero Restriction in 1997, representing each of those lines for more than 15 years. He opened his first showroom in 2000 with partner Kirk Leazier, building the business up to 10 different lines. Closing the showroom in 2011, he now focuses on his headwear and accessory lines - and spending more time with his family.
2014 Award Winners
REP OF THE YEAR – SOUTHWEST SECTION
ASSISTANT PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR – SOUTHWEST SECTION AND SOUTHERN CHAPTER
Andy Higgins | First Assistant at SaddleBrooke Golf Club Higgins won the award for both the Southwest Section and the Southern Chapter. Well-traveled, Higgins has worked at clubs in Florida, Ohio, Michigan and Illinois prior to taking the job at SaddleBrooke in 2011. Higgins served as the Chairman for the SaddleBrooke Cares Golf Tournament in 2012 and 2014, raising more than $80,000 for the University of Arizona Cancer Center. His Get Golf Ready classes at the club have brought more than 75 new players to the game and he averages around 350 individual lessons a year. He has also served the chapter on the Education Committee and as a board member.
PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR - SOUTHERN CHAPTER
Danny Medina | Director of Golf at Omni Tucson National Resort Medina has made continuing efforts to promote the game and contribute to the profession, the Chapter, and all facets of the game, from junior golf to attracting and retaining golfers. Medina possesses influential leadership skills and the ability to inspire fellow golf professionals, either at their facility or at other venues. He has been at Tucson National for 10 years, and took the Director of Golf position in 2014. (See Medina’s Pro-file in this issue.)
JUNIOR GOLF LEADER – SOUTHERN CHAPTER
Brent Newcomb | Head Golf Professional at Stone Canyon Newcomb’s involvement with the Ricki Rarick Junior Program in Tucson has continued since he was the Director of Operations for the Southern Chapter from 2006-2008. While in that position, he helped to run the program and he still volunteers his time and support to it today. The Stone Canyon Club hosted the Swinging for Juniors fundraiser in 2014, with thousands of dollars raised for Tucson’s largest junior program. He’s previously served on the Southern Chapter PGA Junior Golf Committee for two years and this is his second award in the category, winning previously in 2010.
TEACHER OF THE YEAR – SOUTHERN CHAPTER
Jim Kirwan | Instructor at Canyon Ranch and Silverbell KIrwan has been nominated before for Teacher of the Year, but this is his first win in the category. A 26-year PGA member, Kirwan teaches at Canyon Ranch in Tucson - conducting his lessons indoors in four hitting bays on the property – and also teaches at Silverbell. The indoor facility features the V1 video system for comprehensive swing analysis. Starting his golf career in Iowa, he moved on to Nevada before coming to Tucson, where he worked as Director of Golf Operations at SaddleBrooke. He has also served on the PGA Board of Directors in Iowa, Nevada and Arizona for more than two decades. www.GoGolfArizona.com
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“
Instruction
by Pat O’Hara, PGA
They never told me this on the lesson tee!”
If you live in a 3-D world, shouldn’t you have a 3-D golf swing?
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HE GOLF SWING is a three dimensional motion from start to finish. By three dimensional I mean the club path has height, width and depth. So, in the backswing, the club goes back, up and in from the plane baseline (target line for a straight shot) and when it starts its return path back to the ball it goes down, out and forward. Once it passes low point on the ground (usually below left shoulder for a right handed golfer), it travels up, in and forward. The “angle or pitch” of this 3-D motion varies from player to player and from club to club. That is because of the different physical sizes of golfers and different lengths of golf clubs. The important thing to realize is that there is a relationship to the plane line with the club head, club face and club shaft and the sooner the these three entities align themselves with the plane baseline the better your shot will be from a distance and direction standpoint. Try this exercise with a chip or pitch length motion in mind: Place a club or alignment rod down on the ground to represent the direction you want to hit the ball. Address the club/stick in the middle of its length and act as if a ball was on the ground. If you will notice, a proper backswing will lift the club off the ground in a fluid motion but the club will also move to the inside of the line on the ground. The sweet spot of the golf club, at the angle of the shaft, will continue to point to the stick/club on the ground (or the extension of the stick/club) during this backswing. The club is moving back, up and in from the baseline of the plane. Once you get waist high with the golf club, your shaft should be parallel with the stick/club on the ground. Start the club down with the sweet spot of the club visually realigning itself with the stick/club on the ground and swinging out to the imaginary ball. Once past the ball the swinging club returns to a position where the club is visually inside the stick/club on the ground but the sweet spot is pointing to the alignment aid.
If you practice this concept with your pitching game I am confident you will see a vast improvement in both your long and short game.
Pat O’Hara, PGA Manager of Golf Operations at Sun City West. Twenty-six year member of the PGA of America. Certified Instructor for SeeMore Putters and Lynn Blake Golf (The Golfing Machine). Has worked with golfers of all levels of ability, from beginner to the PGA Tour. 623.544.6499 | patrick.ohara@rcscw.com
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Course Review
by George Fuller
Tegavah:
A “Gathering Place” for Arizona’s Golf Lifestyle The particular slice of Sonoran Desert where Tegavah Golf Club now sits has been a gathering place for the Yavapai people long before the first Scottish shepherd broke up the boredom by whacking a little ball with a stick.
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ith quail scurrying among the Mesquites, the nearby Verde River and mountain views in all directions, it’s easy to see why this location still serves as a place to enjoy life. Inspired by the Yavapai word for “gathering place,” Tegavah first hit the Scottsdale golf scene in 2006 as Vista Verde. A few years ago it went through a bit of a branding makeover and emerged as Tegavah. “Tegavah is a special place surrounded by Tonto National Forest and McDowell Mountain Regional Park,” said Phil Green, President and COO of OB Sports, management firm for Tegavah. “The golf course and community really complement this one-of-a-kind location.” Stretching to 7,229 from the Tournament tees, golfers should try to resist the urge to bite off more than they can chew, and given the course’s six teeing areas, it’s easy to find a suitable length. Golf course designer, Ken Kavanaugh, crafted Tegavah as a traditional desert-golf experience with modern elements baked in that provide a genuine test which doesn’t forget to have a little fun along the way.
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During their round, golfers must rely on the grey matter between their ears to successfully navigate the diverse collection of golf holes ranging from full-throttle par 4s to three-shot par 5s. Indeed, the tone is set by the par 5s. All are ranked in the top five in terms of men’s handicap with the 17th playing to a roomy 626 yards from the Tournament tees. On a handful of occasions, when standing on the tee surveying the challenge ahead, sweeping contours obscure the true breadth of the landing areas. This tends to sow tiny seeds of doubt in the golfer’s mind. But after a few holes, observant players will begin to see the pattern. Golf certainly lies at the foundation of the development, but there’s much more to Tegavah than the game. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2015 on the community’s amenity center, a hub for social and fitness activities. Designed by award-winning architect, Mark Tate, of Tate Studio Architects in Scottsdale, the gathering place will embrace the stunning terrain and mountain views in a way that invites residents to “live in the view,” as
Tate likes to describe it. Amenities are planned to include a demonstration kitchen for cooking classes, weight room, fitness center, movement studio, social and multi-purpose areas, outdoor pool, hot tub and more. As one arrives, it becomes clear that Tegavah stands apart not only for what it offers but where it is. The 850-acre, master-planned community is located in 172nd Street and Rio Verde Drive (a.k.a. Dynamite). This is some of the most scenic Sonoran Desert that the Valley of the Sun has to offer, and it’s been that way for centuries. In fact, early in the repositioning process the Ft. McDowell Indian Reservation cultural director, Karen Ray, explained that “Tribal leaders used to gather on this very spot and families hunted on this land.� The property borders Tonto National Forest, with captivating views of the nearby Mazatzal Mountain range and iconic Four Peaks to the east. The Verde River flows along the properties eastern border attracting a menagerie of wildlife looking for a cool drink including wild mustangs, eagles, road runners, javelin, coyotes, to name a
few of the locals. For local humans, additional new home offerings are anticipated to come in 2015, complementing the custom home site opportunities presently available. By the time of the invention of the air conditioner, Tegavah had already been serving as a place for people to gather to hunt, fish and celebrate life. The blooming desert, spectacular mountain views and myriad wildlife found at this gathering place are every bit as enchanting now as they were then.
The Verde River flows along the properties eastern border attracting a menagerie of wildlife looking for a cool drink including wild mustangs, eagles, road runners, javelin, coyotes, to name a few of the locals.
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G R E AT E R P H O E N I X & T U C S O N A R E A
The First Tee of Phoenix announced that Executive Director Hugh Smith accepted a new position as Director, Pacific Region Affairs for The First Tee. In his new position, Smith will oversee chapters in Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California. “Hugh certainly deserves the recognition,” said Tom King, Big Chief of The Thunderbirds, the civic group that established the First Tee of Phoenix in 2003. “His positive impact over the past eight years to our local chapter is greatly appreciated. In large part due to his hard work and dedication, countless Valley youngsters learned the type of life lessons and values that will serve them well on the golf course as well as in the classroom. We wish him all the best at the regional level.”
Lookout Mountain Golf Club, the Troon golf experience at Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort in Phoenix, has appointed Jon C. “JC” Wright as director of golf. Wright brings more than 15 years of experience in golf course management, operations, sales and player services to the position. Previously serving as Head Golf Professional at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Wright’s background also includes positions with Continental Country Club in Flagstaff, We-Ko-Pa Golf Club at Fort McDowell, and Whirlwind Golf Club in Chandler. Wright is taking the reins of Lookout Mountain Golf Club on the tails of the course becoming a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses. The course also maintains an active local membership and serves as the flagship location for Hilton Golf Academy. “Lookout Mountain Golf Club has such a wonderful, longstanding reputation not only in Phoenix but across the state,” said Wright. “I want to continue that tradition, but also evolve the Lookout Mountain experience to provide an exceptional experience on all levels – whether you are a resort guest golfing on vacation or a local player.”
Arrowhead Country Club in Glendale, Tatum Ranch Golf Club in Cave Creek and Raven Golf Club at South Mountain were among the Phoenix area golf properties sold by Orlando-based CNL Lifestyle Properties to an entity called CF Arcis XLLC. CF Arcis is an arm of New York-based Fortress Investment Group LLC (NYSE:FIG). The equity firm bought 11 Arizona golf courses and country clubs as part of a $307 million deal involving golf properties in 13 states. The $2.8 billion private equity firm helped finance last year’s purchase of the Arizona Coyotes hockey team. Nine Valley golf course properties were sold in the CNL-Fortress deal for just under $76 million. Ancala Country Club and Continental Golf Course in Scottsdale, Stonecreek Golf Club in Phoenix, Superstition Springs Golf Club in Mesa, Kokopelli Golf Club in Gilbert and Legend at Arrowhead Golf Resort in Glendale also were part of the sale. The London Bridge Golf Club in Lake Havasu City and Mesa del Sol Golf Club in Yuma were also sold to Fortress.
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Community Golf News & Playing Opportunities Sean Walsh Wins 2015 Saguaro Amateur
Stone Canyon Golf Club in Oro Valley celebrated the acquisition of the club by Phil Mickelson’s golf group (the M Club) with a seasonal grand opening in November. Mickelson was in Oro Valley for the opening, giving a brief clinic before playing 18 holes with Oro Valley mayor, Satish Hiremath, Stone Canyon Director of Golf Mike Russell, M Club partner Steve Loy and the Golf Channel’s Dennis Paulson. About 110 members and guests attended the clinic and played in the tournament.
Texan Shoots 65-69-67=201 (-15) under par to go Wire-to-Wire at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club Sean Walsh of Keller, Texas, and Gonzaga University dominated the field here at the Saguaro Amateur. Walsh’s final round 67 contained 4 birdies and an eagle on 16 with the lone bogey a four on 17 to win by 5 shots over Rico Hoey from Rancho Cucamonga, California and Shotaro Ban from San Jose, California. “It was a great tournament and a great way to start 2015 and it gives me a lot of confidence. I was able to keep the ball in play and hit some good iron shots coming down the stretch I knew I had a little wiggle-room but also knew I needed to stay aggressive. The difference was when I hit a 4-iron to 20 feet in two on 16 and made the putt for eagle. Winning gives me the confidence I can go low against a great field. I was fortunate to make a couple more putts than the other guys”, said Walsh.
The private club in Oro Valley is the fifth property purchased by the group in Arizona, the others being McDowell Mountain in Scottsdale, Palm Valley in Goodyear and the Rim Club and Chaparral Pines in Payson. The group brought in a new fleet of golf carts for the course and started construction on a new 25,000 square foot clubhouse in January. The new clubhouse will sit just behind the 18th green, higher than the current one, and offer views of the course, the Catalina Mountains, and downtown Tucson. “The transition has gone extremely smoothly,” said Mike Russell, Director of Club Operations. “The staff and membership are excited to be working with them. They bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the golf industry and that only bodes well for us moving forward.”
Colton Yates was the low amateur from Arizona firing a final round 32-32-64 to finish in a tie for 11th.
OPEN TO ALL COURSES, CLUBS & PLAYERS: Submit events, tournament or community news, staff promotions and recognition, special accomplishments, or junior golf related announcements to Rick Price at rickprice@gogolfarizona.com.
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Joanne Winter Arizona Silver Belle Championship Hawaiian teen-ager Mariel Galdiano didn’t feel she was playing great golf coming into this week’s prestigious Joanne Winter Arizona Silver Belle Championship presented by the AB Farrington Foundation.
The Sewailo Golf Club hosted the PING Southern Arizona Junior Invitational. Monet Flores from Litchfield Park, AZ won the Girls Championship shooting 7072=142. In the Boys Championship local Tucson standout Trevor Werbylo fired a -3 under par 69 for a two day total of 141 to capture the win.
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She put those fears to rest after shooting a 5-under-par 67 on Tuesday to win the 44th annual tournament in a record 16-under 200 at the Whirlwind Golf Club in Chandler, Ariz. Galdiano, 16, of Pearl City, Hawaii, led all three rounds and finished seven strokes ahead of Haley Moore of Escondido, Calif. to take the championship with a score topping Krystal Quihuis of Tucson, Ariz., who totaled 14-under 202 in winning the 2013 Silver Belle tourney.
by Paul Purtzer, PGA
Instruction
Hit the High Lob Shot with Confidence Under Pressure W
hen we do our short game schools and our regular golf schools, we start with putting, then chipping and finally to hitting the basic pitch shot. I would highly recommend becoming proficient with the basic chip and pitch shots before you spend a lot of time hitting the lob shots. Occasionally, in a round of golf you have a shot where you need to hit the ball high and land it soft – for example over a bunker to a pin that is close the edge of the green or to a pin that is on the front of an elevated green. The first thing you need to do is survey the shot you have and determine where you want to land the ball-a good lie is a must for all but the top amateurs and professionals. I will usually use my highest lofted club – usually a sand wedge or lob wedge. This tip is for right-handers – lefties please turn left and right around. OTHER KEYS FOR PLAYING THE LOB SHOT: • Open the face and then grip the club depending on the shot the clubface may need to be a lot open. • Play the ball forward in your stance (for right-handers more toward the left heel). • The more you open your clubface the more you will need to open your stance or your shot will to too far to the right (aiming more to the left for right-handers). • Swing the club up more quickly than usual (cocking your wrist as soon as the club starts back) and along the line of your stance – not to the target (if the club is 15-20% open at address my stance will be aimed 15-20% to the left). • Keep the backswing compact as you usually want to keep the club accelerating thru the shot & into your finish. Keeping the backswing shorter will help you hit great lob shots under pressure. • Finally, feel like you are keeping your left hand (rt. handers) a bit firmer than usual and the face of the club open well into your finish – knuckles on left hand facing toward the sky. The more you practice this shot the better you will get at it. At first, you might try opening the face of the club only slightly until you get more comfortable with it. As I mentioned at the beginning, I would make sure you are hitting the basic pitch shots well before hitting a lot of lob shots. Finally, experiment with different lies, ball positions, distances, etc. If your club does not have a good practice area, go out early in the morning off the back side or late in day and practice these shots on the course. Hope this tip helps you play your high pitch shots better and have more fun on the “links.” If you have trouble with lob shots or other parts of your game, contact us at the Purtzer Golf Academy or get some good help from your local PGA professional (so we/they can help you make sure your technique is correct) and then PRACTICE THIS SHOT A LOT to become proficient at it – all of the PGA Tour players have.
Paul Purtzer, PGA President and CEO of Purtzer Golf Academy & Outings in Phoenix, AZ, January 1995 to Present, As Director of Instruction for the Academy, Paul provides world-class golf instruction from junior and beginning golfers to collegiate champions, LPGA, Champions and PGA Tour players. Purtzer Golf Academy specializes in Short Game Schools, Playing Schools, Junior Golf programs, and conduct outstanding Corporate events. Purtzer Golf corporate clients include many Fortune 500 companies. Contact Paul at (602) 314-5950 or www.purtzergolf.com
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Community
by Ryan Woodcock
LPGA Founders Cup in March Golf season is in full swing in the Valley of the Sun and the action heats up in March as the LPGA Founders Cup tees it up once again at Wildfire Golf Club at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort, March 17–22, 2015.
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his family-friendly event is in its fifth year in Phoenix and offers the chance to watch world-class golf in a fabulous setting while enjoying the opportunity to interact with the best women golfers in the world. Strong Foundation, Bright Future is the mantra of the LPGA Founders Cup, and that is evident in the champions it has crowned in its fouryear history. That star-studded list starts with LPGA Hall of Famer Karrie Webb, who came back from a sixshot deficit in the final round to win last year’s Founders Cup, while also winning the inaugural tournament in 2011. Yani Tseng, the World No. 1 golfer at the time won the 2012 event, while American-born Stacy Lewis won in 2013 to become the No. 1 ranked player in the world. While the list of champions is impressive, what really sets the LPGA Founders Cup apart is its familyfriendly and kid-friendly atmosphere, and its devotion to the history of the past while helping to grow the future of the game of golf among children. The LPGA Founders Cup was established to honor the 13 original Founders of the LPGA Tour, but it also helps to provide a future for
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the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Program, which has received more than $2 million from tournament proceeds in the last four years. “The Founders Cup is a celebration that has been the highlight of our year at the LPGA Foundation,” said Kiernan Schindler, Director of the LPGA Foundation. “The current, past and future of the LPGA interact in ways that impact and directly affect not only the Girls Golf program on a national level but leave an indelible impression on the Girls Golf of Phoenix members who are involved in every aspect of the event. We look forward to returning to the area where Girls Golf began back in 1989 and celebrating just how far we have come!” The greats of the game today understand the history of the LPGA Tour and how important it is to pay it forward, so it is not uncommon to see them interacting with the crowd and graciously signing autographs with fans young and old throughout the entire tournament. Whether it’s Stacy Lewis hosting a youth golf clinic on the driving range, or players like Paula Creamer and Lexi Thompson taking selfies with young girls in the crowd, the LPGA Founders
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Cup offers a unique opportunity for fans to get close to the action and interact with their favorite LPGA Tour players. “The players are awesome when it comes to promoting the LPGA Tour and the Founders Cup, and we are thankful they are so supportive of our tournament and our fans,” said Tournament Director Drew Blass. The playing field will start to solidify in mid-February, but tournament officials expect another star-studded turnout in 2015 that should include top American golfers like Paula Creamer and Michelle Wie, along with international standouts including ASU alumnae Anna Nordqvist and Azahara Muñoz and defending champ Webb. Whether you are a diehard golfer, a casual sports fan, or a parent looking for a fun way to entertain the entire family, there really is something for everyone at the LPGA Founders Cup. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.LPGAFoundersCup. com or by phone at 1-(888)-LPGATIX.
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Instruction
by Derek Deminsky, PGA
Improve your game at home
Want to improve your golf game, but your schedule doesn’t allow you to practice at the course? Here are three of my favorite drills to improve your game from the comfort of your own home. 1. Short putting. Consistently making five-foot putts boosts confidence and keeps scores down. If you have carpet that rolls fairly well, you can improve your short putting at home. First, you’ll want to get two alignment sticks or clubs and build a track (about six inches wide) that leads to a target ball five feet away. Line up your ball at the end of the track, and go through your routine as you work to consistently roll your ball into your target ball. 2. Chipping technique. The best way to improve your chipping at home is to learn the correct technique, even without the ball. Grab your Pitching Wedge, and stand in front of a mirror. Keep your weight on your front foot as you use your shoulders to move the club back and through. Hold the finish of each stroke, and use the mirror to check and see that handle points straight up to the sky and not back towards your body. 3. Improve your contact. You’ll need some space to swing, a cheap welcome mat, and two long tees. Use the two long tees to outline the clubhead’s width on the mat. Your goal is to swing and make a smooth brush between the tees without moving them. This will help eliminate toe, heel and shank hits. Spending a few minutes on these drills each day will shave strokes off your score.
Derek Deminsky, PGA Derek Deminsky is a Class A PGA Instructor based out of the Forty Niner Country Club in Tucson. To learn more about Derek or book a lesson, you can visit his website at www.golfbettertucson.com. To play or learn more about the newly renovated Forty Niner Country Club, visit www.fortyninercc.com.
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by Brent DeRadd
Community
Making the Most of Tucson’s Golf Experience A
VID GOLFERS from throughout the world travel annually to Tucson and Southern Arizona to experience our wide array of courses. While the quality of Tucson’s courses and our warm winter weather are often the primary reasons why these golfers visit, it is important to note that these customers eat in our restaurants, shop, visit attractions, hike and cycle on our roads, paths and trails, and experience why we choose to live here. Here are five top activities in which visiting avid golfers engage to round out their trips to Southern Arizona:
Local Attractions
We are very fortunate to have a diverse array of Southern Arizona attractions. Visiting Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is at the top of many travelers’ lists, along with aerospace attractions, such as Pima Air and Space Museum and Titan Missile Museum. Tohono Chul Park features nature, art and culture in an oasis within our metro area, while many seek Old West experiences at Old Tucson and area guest ranches. Science and astronomy are also popBest 23 Miles of Mexican Food ular due to world-class attractions, such Tucson offers in- as Biosphere 2, Kitt Peak National Obcredible Mexican servatory and Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter. cuisine prepared by locally-owned Outdoor Adventure and operat- Visitors consistently tell us that hiking, ed eateries. We cycling and experiencing Southern Artake pride in the izona’s beautiful Sonoran Desert and authentic food served by these restau- surrounding mountains are the primarants, many of which are family run. ry reasons why they visit. More than 50 of these restaurants, “Free Yourself ” is the message we which can be traversed along 23 miles deliver to potential visitors encouraging of Tucson roads, are featured at best- them to escape their daily realities and 23milesofmexicanfood.com. rejuvenate in Tucson. Perhaps the best
way to do so is by exploring our surreal Sonoran Desert landscape.
Downtown/Nightlife
Downtown Tucson is quickly becoming a “must visit” locale for visitors. A plethora of restaurants and nightclubs have emerged along the new downtown streetcar route. They add life to an already-vibrant area that includes arts and cultural offerings, live music and a growing number of special events.
Day Trips
By driving one hour, Tucson visitors can travel to Mt. Lemmon, at an elevation of more than 9,000 feet above sea level, for cool summer getaways and winter skiing. Our visitors also enjoy Southern Arizona wineries, trips to nearby Tombstone and to places like Madera Canyon for hiking and bird watching, and Kartchner Caverns to explore a live cave. If you have friends coming in to Tucson on a golf trip, please let them know about all there is to see and do in our region. The more they experience our offerings, the more likely it is that they will return. For more information, go to visittucson.org.
Brent DeRadd Brent DeRaad serves as the President & CEO of Visit Tucson. The organization markets, promotes and sells Tucson and southern Arizona as a leisure and meetings destination to potential visitors and meeting planners. Metro Tucson attracts more than 4 million overnight visitors who spend $2 billion annually.
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Why Pro Golf is GOLD for Tucson The Conquistadores Classic of Tucson is set to continue Southern Arizona’s tradition
Pro golf was introduced to Tucson on January 19,1945 at El Rio Golf Club. Byron Nelson and Sam Snead each shot an opening round 67, and amateur Babe Zaharias posted a respectable 74. About 3,500 Tucsonans and winter “snowbirds” were there to witness the occasion. Thanks to the Tucson Conquistadores, a PGA TOUR event has been on Tucson’s calendar every year since.
by Joan Liess
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H I G H R E T U R N S Outside a hefty number of man-hours expended by the Conquistadores and their band of volunteers, Tucson’s public investment to keep PGA TOUR golf on the calendar has been virtually zilch. Yet, the annual return has been as much as $75 million in economic impact and over a $1 million in for local kids’ charities. Unlike some other high-profile professional sports, golf tournaments typically require little or no new construction— the golf course is already there and tournaments seldom require public monies or bonds for roads or other construction projects to accommodate professional golf events.
F I N A N C E S The financial side of PGA TOUR golf tournaments, including the Champions Tour Conquistadores Classic of Tucson, is logical and transparent. The nonprofit Tucson Conquistadores civic group raises capital for operating and promoting the tournament through partnerships with sponsors, and by selling pro-am and hospitality packages and spectator tickets. The net profit goes directly to Tucson Conquistadores’ youth charities. E CO N O M I C B O N U S A major economic bonus to the Tucson region, thanks to the Conquistadores Classic of Tucson, is the $8 million worth of television exposure in the U.S., Latin America and Canada via NBC’s Golf Channel. VisitTucson’s President & CEO Brent DeRaad thinks Tucson could become an even bigger player on the golf stage with the continued media exposure generated by professional golf. “Arizona is well positioned in the national and international golf travel markets and the Classic of Tucson will continue to help the Tucson region stand out among golf destinations throughout the state,” DeRaad said. Incidentally, the U.S. was the fastest-growing destination for golf tour operators in 2013 according to data released by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators.
SUNSHINE SELLS The 1968 and 1969 Tucson Open was billed as “A Place in the Sun” in order to boost tourism. Talk about tempting fate. During the first three rounds of the 1969 event, golfers were greeted with snow and rain, and buffeted by wind gusts of up to 45 miles per hour. But the weather didn’t deter “Lee’s Fleas,” as the gallery of admirers that Lee Trevino had acquired was known. Nor did it slow down Trevino himself. More than 14,000 fans witnessed him shoot 6 under on Sunday, closing out the field with a 7-stroke win. “I never forget my friends,” said Trevino. “Last year when I came here, I was nobody and they treated me like a king. I had to come back this year.”
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MAKING A DIFFERENCE As for the benefits to sponsors and advertisers, Dennis Criswell, former vice president of marketing and strategic ventures for the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives said golf was the game that best connected with the company’s audience. “We shared the common goals of making a difference in the lives of children and building stronger communities,” said Criswell. “The Touchstone Energy Tucson Open (1999-2002) fit our lineup of signature, people-oriented events and venues that demonstrated the alliance’s theme, ‘The Power of Human Connections.’” While the departed World Golf Championships match play event generated upwards of $75 million in economic impact each of its eight years for the Tucson region - much of it due to the title sponsor’s businessrelated activities - and netted over a $1 million for Conquistadores’ youth programs, this year’s results are tough to predict. “Right now it’s a dubious figure since we’re absent a title sponsor,” said tournament chairman Joe Brossart. “Our guys have been working overtime to secure support from other sponsors, and sell hospitality and pro-am packages. One way or another, we’ll make sure fans have a great experience and Southern Arizona kids are the real winners.”
CO N Q U I S TA D O R E S C L A S S I C O F T U C S O N
Schedule of Events All events at Omni Tucson National Golf Resort, 2727 W. Club Drive, unless otherwise noted. Note: Spectator parking will be offsite with shuttle service to Tucson National; lot locations will be published in February.
monday |
MARCH 16
• Professional Practice Rounds • Special Olympics three-hole Tournament and Putting Clinic, 10:00 a.m. • Gates open at 7:30 a.m.
tuesday |
MARCH 17
• Professional Practice Rounds • Gates open at 7:30 a.m.
wednesday |
MARCH 18
• Tucson Conquistadores Classic Official Pro-Am, 7 a.m. • Conquistador Club College Basketball Tournament Viewing Party
thursday |
MARCH 19
• Tucson Conquistadores Classic Official Pro-Am, 7 a.m. • Conquistador Club College Basketball Tournament Viewing Party
friday |
MARCH 20
• First round of Champions Tour play • Flashback Friday, Spectators and Professionals dress in your favorite “Flashback” attire • Conquistador Club College Basketball Tournament Viewing Party • Conquistador Club Friday Night Party after the last putt drops • Gates open at 8 a.m. • Televised on Golf Channel 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. EST
saturday | • • • •
Second round of Champions Tour play Conquistador Club College Basketball Tournament Viewing Party Gates open at 8 a.m. Televised on Golf Channel 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. EST
sunday | • • • •
MARCH 21
MARCH 22
Final round of Champions Tour play Gates open at 8 a.m. Awards ceremony on 18th green Televised on Golf Channel 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. EST
INFORMATION AND TICKETS (520) 571-0400 or (800) 882-7660; TucsonConquistadores.com; ChampionsTour.com. Ticket and hospitality packages include admission for practice rounds, Pro-Am tournaments and Pro competition days.
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by Mary Beth Lacy
Product Review
Antigua Debuts Its Spring 2015 Men’s Collection T
HE ANTIGUA GROUP, INC., one of the nation’s leading designers and marketers of lifestyle and golf apparel under the distinguished Antigua brand, has introduced its Antigua Spring 2015 Men’s Golf Collection. Antigua’s Spring 2015 Men’s Golf collection is loaded with technology. For example, our exclusive Desert Dry™ technology absorbs and wicks moisture quickly and evenly, achieving the most-efficient evaporation possible to keep golfers comfortable and dry. Meanwhile, Desert Dry™ Xtra-Lite combines the Desert Dry™ moisture-wicking feature with specially constructed ultra-light fabrics for maximum wicking performance and optimum comfort. New additions to this category are 100% poly fabrics that feel and look like cotton. The garments feel like cozy cotton, but handle perspiration like poly. These new cotton-like poly fabrics open up a whole new world to our consumers, who can have the comfort of their favorite tee while maintaining the ease of poly’s wear and wicking power. This season’s collection is complemented by the addition of prints. In addition to the fashion inspired linear cut-and-sew body details and in keeping with the linear inspiration, proprietary prints have been created to incorporate the palette and maintain the theme. From thin symmetrically balanced ‘pin-striping’ on a style like Linear, which emulates the look of rhythm and speed with angular dark contrasting side chest print to the asymmetric silicone multi-color, geometric-stepped chest print in tonal and neutral, complementing print shades as used on style Image. Additionally this season, Antigua has reintroduced some fashion Performance 72 classics – updated in performance fabrics and offered in new colors representing the seasonal palette. Style Major has been a popular performance spin on the classic 50-50, color-to-white horizontal feed stripe with a matching flat knit collar. Style Rush has carried forward in new colors and represents fashion newness with its self-fabric collar and dress shirt-inspired collar band, and updates the classic narrow pin stripe with added flexibility and a soft-touch fabric hand that includes spandex. Less classic and more staple, style Titan is a derivative of Antigua’s own essential style This season’s newly developed color palette also contributes to the collections fashion appeal. After seasons of color building to a crescendo which piqued with the cleanest of bright shades, this season’s inspired palette has transcended to a softer range with less flare and vibrancy. The shades are not muted, though they lack the intensity of seasons past. The color names similarly reflect their inspired depth of saturation. In addition to maintaining optic white as the base around which this Spring ‘15 collection’s colors revolve, colors Papaya, Pistachio, Purple Haze, Chambray and Electric are a new balance of scaled-back brights that retain the sportswear appeal while being cleverly fashion friendly. For details on Antigua’s Spring 2015 Men’s Golf Collection, visit www.antigua.com.
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Pro-File
by Kevin Duke, Associate Editor
A N I C H E I N G O L F:
Fitness expert trains golfers to be their best A
FTER MOVING TO ARIZONA and falling in love with golf 10 years ago, fitness trainer Andrew Fodge saw a need. “There were all kinds of programs and camps for other sports, but I never really saw anything for golf,” said the 36-year-old owner of Fitness by Andrew in Scottsdale. “As I got into it I saw a way I could apply my education and training into the sport that I had grown to love.” “How could I help a golfer by not necessarily teaching them to ‘swing’, but by getting them to move their body better?” That question has led to working with professional and amateur golfers alike. Using the latest golf fitness protocols and golf specific technology to analyze an individual golfer’s swing and find areas of weakness, Fodge works with the client to correct them.
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How could I help a golfer by not necessarily teaching them to ‘swing’, but by getting them to move their body better?” — ANDREW FODGE
TRAINING GOLFERS Fodge is highly qualified, earning his Bachelor’s degree in athletic training and a Master’s degree in physical education in the Northwest. He has also held certifications with the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the National Academy of Sports Medicine. On the golf side, he is recognized as a Titleist Performance Institute Fitness Level 2 professional and as K-Vest Level 2 Biomechanics Specialist. It was his newfound passion for golf that led him to develop his training skills and expertise specifically for the game. “I didn’t really get into golf until moving to Arizona 10 years ago, basically just goofing around with my buddies,” he said. But the goofing around became more serious as he attempted to improve his own game. “I tried to start managing golf more than it managing me.” He began training other golfers and that led to his first big client, former PGA Tour player and current Champions Tour player Michael Allen. “He was the kind of person I wanted to work with and
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train. How could I serve him better as a trainer and how could I help golfers as opposed to other athletes?” His client base has grown since then, with several Minitour players and amateurs as current clients. “Golfers are about 30-50 percent of my clientele depending on the time of year,” Fodge said. “They are predominantly young golfers that are on the Symetra, Gateway and Pepsi tours.” “The amateurs are golfers that get to play pretty much every day, but they’re stuck. Their bodies are not able to do what they want them to do. I can improve their posture, swing and stamina, so they see that fitness can be an integral part of improving their game.” THE SPECIFICS Fodge uses a K-Vest, which is worn by the golfer and equipped with sensors to determine what parts of the body are being used – and which are not – in a golf swing.
After comparing an individual’s swing data to the optimal norms of an efficient and effective golf swing, Fodge is able to determine what needs to be worked on to improve functionality in the swing. The data can indicate if the golfer is under or over rotating, if they are early extending, checks their spine angle and more. “I can print off my analysis and share that information with the clients’ golf pro,” Fodge explained. “I can work with the golfer, then as they train, I am basically sending their golf pro what is a ‘new’ golfer…one who can move their body efficiently and effectively to do what the pro wants them to do.” “Golfers don’t always want to do the boring stuff to fix poor posture, to improve flexibility, to have better core strength, balance and range of motion. If they have those things great, we can move on to the strength building phase. But if we don’t fix those things first, then when they do strength training they could get hurt.”
“We test the upper body, core and lower body to see if they have equal distribution of strength and power. We might spend two or three months working on this… we’re always looking for that weak link. We’re picking out what to work on and within a short time, it’s insane how much people are improving their distance.” It doesn’t take long for his golfers to see improvement. “Within two or three weeks avid golfers will begin to feel that their golf performance is improving,” Fodge said. “They can feel an improvement at impact and a lot of them say they are becoming more consistent with hitting the ball where they want, with less effort.” “In a month I’ve had golfers hitting it 20 to 30 yards further and we’re not doing anything different other than improving their fitness.” GOLFERS WANTING TO IMPROVE THEIR FITNESS FOR GOLF CAN CONTACT FODGE AT 602-638-3000 OR BY EMAIL AT ANDREW@FITNESSBYANDREW.COM.
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Pro-File
by Kevin Duke, Associate Editor
Medina takes over with new role at Tucson National O
MNI TUCSON NATIONAL Director of Golf Danny Medina will be a busy guy in February, as he prepares the club for the Champions Tour Tucson Classic in March. The tournament marks a return to the Catalina course at the club, which last hosted the PGA Tour for the Chrysler Classic in 2006. “We’re thrilled to have the Champions Tour event,” Medina said. “With the demographics here in Southern Arizona and all these legendary golfers returning who have walked these fairways, it’s going to be exciting to continue to enrich the tradition that Tucson National has established since 1962.” NEW POSITION Medina, 33, has been at the resort for more than 10 years now, starting as an assistant in his early 20’s, working as the Head Golf Professional for five years and named to his new position last year. As the Director of Golf at the club, Medina’s duties differ from his previous role as the head pro. “I’m responsible for the department’s fiscal budgets, overseeing the golf club’s membership, maintaining a fully operational retail golf shop and working alongside a professional golf staff to provide a wonderful golf experience, which is the number one goal,” he said. “Communication and training are key elements – we want to continue to evolve Tucson National into one of the best resort courses destinations in Southern Arizona.” Closely working with the maintenance crew at the course is another key to his new position. “Ensuring that we maintain a close relationship with our golf course maintenance team is very important,” Medina said. “They’re providing the product – we’re selling the product. Keeping good synergy with them is a main focus.” But even with the new responsibilities, Medina still makes time to get out on the range with members and resort guests to help them with their games. “Teaching the game of golf is what really got me going in the business – passing on the knowledge of the game and building a relationship with my students,” he said. “I still do clinics and individual lessons due to the passion I have for growing the game – it’s also a great avenue to get me out of the office and away from the busy day-to-day operations this business brings.”
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He’s also got the opportunity to pass that knowledge on to his eight-year-old son, Jacob, who has taken to the game at an early age. Very sports-minded, Jacob has tried many of the team sports, but has already narrowed it down to baseball and golf. “He has really gravitated to baseball and golf and is active in the Ricki Rarick and US Kids Tour programs here in Tucson as well as playing in Phoenix events up in the valley,” Medina said. “It’s rewarding to see him have the passion for the sports he plays and that it comes from him. He may be competitive at times, but at the end of the day the attributes these sports bring are life-long skills.” ONCE A GOLFER… The Tucson native got serious about the game at 13, and made varsity all four years at Tucson Magnet High School. He showed his talent as a freshman, qualifying for state as an individual and qualifying with the team his sophomore through senior years. “That was great, I definitely had the bug,” he said. His good play led to a scholarship at Pima Community College while he continued to work at courses in Tucson. “I actually started at 15, working in the cart barn at Tucson Country Club,” Medina said. After being there a couple of years, he moved on to work at Starr Pass and then with Tucson City Golf at Silverbell and El Rio. “I knew there were three avenues in the golf course business – resort courses, private clubs and public courses – I wanted to dabble in each one of them before settling on the direction I wanted to go.” By the time he was 23, he had worked in all three – and settled in at the Omni Tucson resort. Working in the industry since he was 15, he never considered doing anything else and wouldn’t have it any other way. “I can honestly say that I’ve never woken up in the morning and said ‘Dang, I have to go to work today.’ On the contrary, I get to come out to a beautiful resort with a great team and a strong membership base. It helps keep that desire going and is my motivation to grow the game.” “Our job as golf professionals is to promote the game and grow the game of golf in a professional manner. You can touch so many people’s lives in some small way through golf.”
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I get to come out to a beautiful resort with a great team and a strong membership base every day. It helps keep that desire going and is my motivation to grow the game.” — DANNY MEDINA, PGA
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Course Review
by Dale Moseke
Arizona National
Tucson’s Sonoran Desert Superstar
From the windswept dunes of Bandon to the Blue Monster of Doral, the look and feel of golf across the United States varies to suit its surroundings. At Arizona National, the surroundings happen to be some of the most spectacular Sonoran Desert on the planet. 48
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ince the days of the first Skins Games, Arizona golf triggers images of stately Saguaro cactus and glowing sunsets. Although not all golf courses in the Grand Canyon State boast these features, there’s a special place in the golf world for those that do – Arizona National Golf Club is certainly one of them. The 18-hole, par-71 golf course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. in 1996 along the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains and Coronado National Forest. Jones took full advantage of this one-of-a-kind location by following the property’s rugged natural terrain loaded with mesquite-lined arroyos, Saguaro cactus, rock outcroppings, and uniquely, nine natural springs. Along the way, the diverse 6,785-yard layout presents classic desert-golf challenges. “Arizona National really has a lot going for it,” said Dennis Palmer, General Manager of the club. “It’s located on one of the most scenic and vibrant pieces of property in the area. And Robert Trent Jones Jr. did a great job of accentuating the natural beauty of the place while still providing a solid test of golf.” CO U R S E H I G H L I G H T S The golf course starts out with a manageable “gentlemen’s” hole before reaching the par-5 second where golfers are called on to make a risk-reward decision off the tee as well as an accurate iron approach to a wide but shallow green. Interestingly, three of the four par 5s turn up the heat with handicap rankings of 1, 2 and 4. The golf experience ambles along amiably on the front side until running headlong into an ornery trio of holes from No. 9 to No. 11. The par-3 9th stretches to 223 yards from the back tees and plays uphill. Good news is the green is large and there’s no bunkers. Although the 10th is the number-3-handicapped hole on the golf course, many think of it as the most difficult. At 433 yards from the back tees, solid ball striking is a must. A fairway bunker pinches in on the left, and a tee shot to the right will likely find a gnarly cactus-filled arroyo. Careful consideration of the pin sheet is also important on the approach shot, as the green is roughly 40 yards deep. Playing a whopping 625 yards from the back tees, the par-5 11th hole is the longest on the course. It calls for as much as a 240-yard carry from the tee, a downhill second and an accurate approach to a green surrounded by gaping bunkers. After taking on 9 through 11, golfers can breathe a sigh of relief on the 12th tee box. And just to the right of it, they’ll be amazed to find a reservoir which was constructed by the ancient Hohokam people more than 1000 years ago. Indeed, nine springs are found on property that have been bubbling with fresh water for eons. They’re truly amazing, especially for the parched Southwest.
CO S T E F F E C T I V E With such a rewarding golf experience, one might assume the greens fees would be on the high side. They’re not. In fact, the highest rate during the season is right around $100 with summer rates at a fraction of that. Plus, there’s a handful of ways to save a buck. The club’s annual membership program – Mountain Club – offers unlimited green fees year-round. The program comes in two flavors, Platinum and Gold, and Mountain Club members also receive a 20 percent merchandise discount, 10 percent food discount, no food and beverage minimums, complimentary handicap service, locker and practice balls, traveling privileges at other OB Sports-managed clubs and a host of other benefits. “The Mountain Club is a great way to enjoy our spectacular golf course year-round,” said Phil Green, President and COO of OB Sports, the management firm for Arizona National. “Many of the locals only come out in the warmer months when it’s a bit more cost effective but a lot hotter. The Mountain Club provides more opportunity to enjoy the golf experience anytime of the year.” Another frequent-player program – The Sonoran Card – comes in at a lower annual cost, but still offers unlimited rounds of golf year-round at preferred Sonoran Card rates. Up to three guests of the Sonoran Card holder per day may play for the same reduced rate, and they also receive discounts in the golf shop and grill. S C E N I C B E AU T Y From the windswept dunes of Bandon to the Blue Monster of Doral, the look and feel of golf across the United States varies to suit its surroundings. At Arizona National, the surroundings happen to be some of the most spectacular Sonoran Desert on the planet. To experience Arizona National Golf Club, make a tee time at ArizonaNationalGolfClub.com or call 520-749-4089.
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Spotlight
by Robyn Noll
AWGA Announces Arizona’s 2105 GEM Clubs
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HE RESULTS ARE IN! Arizona’s most avid female golfers have spoken and the results speak for themselves. By participating in this electronic survey program, members of the Arizona Women’s Golf Association across the state have evaluated their playing experiences through the GEM (Golf Endorsed by Members) program over the past year. This has allowed the AWGA to collect and compile data in their quest to find the most appealing golf courses in Arizona, from a woman’s perspective. The AWGA GEM program is truly a program that is endorsed by members. Women members. The multitude of surveys completed, provides personal opinions and golf course evaluations on experiences playing a course, enabling the AWGA to objectively calculate direct data and select only the most highly graded courses which provided a great golf experience for women. These courses include private, semi-private, and public facilities. They represent those who had the most number of surveys submitted, and those that had the highest scores on those surveys. They represent the best experiences for women in the northern, central, and southern part of the state. In order to be included in a GEM survey, a golf course must have a current USGA women’s Course Rating for at least one tee. The survey evaluates the golf course experience in the following areas: • Customer Service: outside player assistance, golf shop, food and beverage • Golf shop merchandise available for women; availability of various sizes and styles • Club house facilities • Menu selection in food and beverage outlets • Practice facilities • Availability and accessibility of restrooms, on and off the course • Beauty of design and landscaping • The golf course itself, course conditions included • Playability, challenge and enjoyment of the golf course • Overall value of the experience The GEM program is a unique, one of a kind, member endorsed initiative, consistent with the goals and objectives of the AWGA - To preserve, promote, and enhance the best interests and true spirit of the game of golf among women in Arizona. What this means to the golf course and the golf professionals who operate them is an opportunity to attract the ever-growing market of women golfers… and their spouses, friends and children who may accompany them. It is a service provided by their existing female customer base to offer valuable feedback about what they like and what they think can be done to enhance women’s playing experience at the golf course; feedback that can consequently improve their product for all players.
Robyn Noll, PGA
Congratulations to the 2015 AWGA GEM Award winners! (In alphabetical order) Alta Mesa Golf Club – Mesa Deer Valley Golf Course – Sun City West Desert Highlands Golf Club – Scottsdale Desert Hills Golf Club – Green Valley Desert Mountain Club – Scottsdale Desert Springs Golf Club – Surprise Encanterra Country Club – Queen Creek Falcone Dunes Golf Course – Waddell Forest Highlands – Flagstaff Gallery Golf Club, The – Marana Gold Canyon Golf Resort – Gold Canyon Highlands at Dove Mountain – Marana Lone Tree Golf Club – Chandler Los Caballeros Golf Club – Wickenburg Oak Creek Country Club – Sedona Omni Tucson National Golf Club – Tucson Oro Valley Country Club – Oro Valley Pebblebrook Golf Course Sun City West Pinetop Country Club – Pinetop Poston Butte Golf Club – Florence The Raven Golf Club at South Mountain – Phoenix Rio Verde Country Club – Rio Verde SaddleBrooke Country Club – Tucson Superstition Mountain Golf Club – Superstition Mountain Tonto Verde Golf Club – Rio Verde Troon North Golf Club – Scottsdale Ventana Canyon Golf Club – Tucson The Views Golf Club – Tucson We-Ko-Pa Golf Course – Fountain Hills
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As the Executive Assistant for the Arizona Women’s Golf Association, Robyn performs a variety of communication and program administration tasks. She has a background in non-profit management, project management, and marketing. She is also a writer, photographer, website administrator, and loving mother of three girls.
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PGA Professionals Recapture Gibson Cup
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he 20th annual Gibson Cup matches came down to just one shot – one swing – after two days of competition between Southern Arizona’s top professionals and amateurs, December 13 and 14 at Sewailo Golf Club in Tucson. The professionals overcame a big deficit while winning the cup by one point, 27 ½ - 26 ½ after trailing the amateurs by three points on the first day of Four Ball matches on a cold, wet and windy day at the course, 10 ½ - 7 ½. “Saturday’s weather was a little rough with the groups playing in a cold rain, making for challenging conditions, but we got it in,” said PGA Director of Operations Rick Price at the awards ceremony Sunday at Casino Del Sol. Day two consisted of singles matches with the scoring based on a point system; one point for the front nine, one point for the back nine and one point for the eighteen. And when amateurs Tom Beach and Tom Sweigart won the first two matches of the day with a three-point sweep, the deficit swelled to nine, 16 ½ - 7 ½. But the professionals came roaring back, outscoring the amateurs 20-10 over the last 10 matches to regain the cup won by the amateurs in 2013. Stone Canyon’s Mike Russell, Forty Niner CC professional Derek Deminsky and El Rio and Silverbell pro Robert Moreno led the charge with three-point wins, while J.D. Lindberg and Chris Dompier collected 2 ½ points each on the day. With the cup on the line, the last three matches came in as ties between the amateurs and pros, securing the professional’s win. Price started the event 20 years ago while working as the head pro at Rio Rico CC, south of Tucson. The top 12 professionals in Southern Arizona, based on their points from tournament play throughout the year, and the top 12 amateurs from the Arizona Golf Association made up the teams. “We take the top eight professionals and four senior pros and AGA picks their team,” he said. “It was obviously very close and amazingly came down to just one shot, one hole to determine the winning team.” The amateurs will get their chance for revenge in 2015 for the 21st consecutive year of the tournament. The professionals now lead the amateurs 12-8 over the 20 years of competition. — By Kevin Duke
Arizona Golf Association team: (top row) Blaine Staggs, Grant Cesarek,Ted Neville, Andrew Gunn, Erik Nielsen, Cyrus Whitney, Pat Geare, Greg Cesarek, Tom Sweigart, Tracy Goss; (bottom row) Tom Beach and Scott Smith
PGA Professional team: (top row) Derek Deminsky, JD Lindberg, Glen Griffith, Chris Dompier, Brent Newcomb, Jeff Brandt, Mike Russell, Scott Schultz; (bottom row) John Basden, Dave Simm, Paul Nolen, Jim Kirwan & Robert Moreno
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Oro Valley Country Club Acquired by ClubCorp ClubCorp plans a million-dollar reinvention project that will include improvements to the golf course, clubhouse and outdoor patio.
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his is ClubCorp’s first acquisition of a Tucson-Area Club, featuring a traditional 18-Hole Country Club, Oro Valley CC is a Parkland-Style golf course in the desert, a previously member-owned private club located in northwest Tucson at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Since its founding in 1957, Dallas-based ClubCorp has operated with the central purpose of Building Relationships and Enriching Lives. ClubCorp is a leading owner-operator of private golf and country clubs and private business clubs in North America. With its recent acquisition of Sequoia Golf, ClubCorp now owns or operates a portfolio of over 200 golf and country clubs, business clubs, sports clubs, and alumni clubs in 26 states, the District of Columbia and two foreign countries that serve over 430,000 members, with approximately 20,000 peak-season employees. The addition of Oro Valley continues the rapid expansion of ClubCorp’s overall portfolio of owned and operated clubs, which has increased by 35 percent since the company’s IPO in September 2013. ClubCorp’s portfolio of owned and operated clubs now stands at over 200 clubs in 26 states, the District of Columbia, Mexico and China. “We are very excited to reinforce our commitment to external growth by adding Oro Valley Country Club – and the Tucson market – to the ClubCorp Network,” said Eric Affeldt, ClubCorp’s president and CEO. “The club features an outstanding course that is not only beautiful but very playable. I think our members from throughout the country will enjoy visiting Oro Valley and the beautiful Tucson area.” ClubCorp clubs in Arizona include Anthem Golf & Country Club and Seville Golf & Country Club, both outside of Phoenix, and Gainey Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale. “Oro Valley members are very enthusiastic about ClubCorp – the value to membership that the ClubCorp Network brings, the company’s commitment to capital improvements and their history of success and leadership in
the industry,” said Susan Wright, president of Oro Valley board of directors. The site of various high-profile tournaments through the years, including the Ladies Pac10, Southwest Amateurs and qualifying rounds for the U.S. Open and Arizona Open, the Oro Valley parkland-style 18-hole golf course boasts Bentgrass greens and overseeded Bermuda fairways and roughs during the winter months. The course’s signature 18th hole – shaded by Pusch Ridge and featuring a lake and waterfall – is widely known as one of the best finishing holes in Arizona. Oro Valley’s 28,000-square-foot clubhouse features a grill, men’s and women’s card room, state-of-the-art fitness center, a 3,200-square-foot ballroom offering stunning views of the mountains and golf course and an additional 6,000 feet of outdoor covered space. Oro Valley members will be able to enjoy ClubCorp’s unique O.N.E. program, which provides value-oriented benefits at the member’s home club, in their Community and Worldwide. Benefits include complimentary green fees and complimentary dining when traveling throughout the ClubCorp Network, which now includes more than 300 private clubs and access to special offerings at more than 1,000 hotels, resorts and entertainment venues. “The membership is very excited to welcome ClubCorp aboard. The O.N.E. reciprocal program is really a great addition to the club. ClubCorp will be spending a million dollars in capital improvements to the club such as complete bunker renovations, expanded dining facility and expanded fitness center, said General Manager, Mark Oswald.
Oro Valley Country Club is located at 300 W. Greenock Drive, Oro Valley, AZ 85737 and contacted at 520-297-1121 or www.orovalleycountryclub.com
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Junior Spotlight Phoenix Valley Mikayla FITZPATRICK
Brock GOYEN
MIKAYLA FITZPATRICK. Remember that name because you will hear it again and again. It seems young Ms. Fitzpatrick has a habit of attaining goals. Get into Xavier High School, done. Make the golf team, done. Win Junior Golf Association of Arizona’s Player of the year, done. Not all of this came easy to Mikayla, it was hard work, determination and good-old fashioned grit that got Fitzpatrick to where she is today.
AFTER SIX SECOND PLACE and four third place finishes in Junior Golf Association of Arizona tournaments, JGAA’s Player of the Year Brock Goyen rounded off his 2014 season with a victory at the 2014 Winter Classic at Maryvale Golf Course. Yes, you read that right, Goyen finished in the top-three eleven times out of seventeen events. The sophomore hails from Gilbert, Arizona and attends Highland High School where his golf game soars high for the Hawks.
Mikayla was almost 13 when she first started playing in 18-hole tournaments and just like most beginner golfers, her scores were in the hundreds. It didn’t come naturally as it took hard work. Through her hard work, she has attained many of her goals. She fought tirelessly to get her golf game to this point, playing in every tournament she could find. Mikayla’s mom talked about another side of her daughter, “…one of this year’s highlights that most people don’t know is her accomplishments with Birdies for Charity. She loves to help people and to give back. This year she made 149 birdies and raised $4,000. Half of which benefitted the local TGen Foundation and half went to the AJGA’s Ace Grant Foundation to help less fortunate, talented junior golfers compete nationally.” Mikayla, who is now a junior at Xavier College Prep, has also put forth over one-hundred community service hours this year while maintaining a 4.0 grade point average. If you were worried about her social life, don’t fret, Mikayla still finds time for school dances, trips to the mall, concerts and movies…teenager stuff. It seems no barrier will stand in the way of success for this capable and clever Phoenix junior golfer.
It is no surprise that Brock took quickly to the game of golf being the Grandson of retired Class-A PGA member, Hub Goyen. His dad, Keith informed me that Brock picked up his first golf club at about 2 years-old and began “beating balls” around the backyard. “He was blessed with natural athletic ability and has great hand-eye coordination,” said Keith. This kid’s swing is better than most but according to his dad, Brock’s favorite part of the game is being able to golf with new people and getting to know them better on the course. Golf was not the only sport Brock enjoyed while growing up; he excelled in baseball, soccer, and even skateboarding. Four years have passed since the 16-year old Goyen dedicated himself fulltime to game of golf and it certainly shows. With two junior golf seasons left before college begins, the sky is the limit for this talented young man.
by Zac Strohfus, Communications Manager, Junior Golf Association of Arizona
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Junior Spotlight Southern Arizona Desiree HONG A SENIOR AT SAHUARO HIGH SCHOOL, Hong has had many successes on the golf course, including leading the team to a state championship last year and a win at the Junior Golf Association State Championship in July. But it’s the tournaments and rounds she struggles with that stand out to her. “My most memorable moments of the game seem to be my worst tournaments,” she said. “It’s the worst days of golf that motivates me to work harder and show up to the next tournament better and stronger. Bad days of golf will make me upset for days, but I know that they are made to be lessons for me.” The battle against the mind on the course makes the game challenging for her. “I like how tough the mental aspect of the game can be, and how this game can expose your true character. It’s always a challenge every time you step out onto the course, because the biggest opponent is not your competitors, but yourself.” While she knows she’ll be playing college golf, she isn’t sure where just yet. “I would like to play college golf, but I have not officially committed to anywhere yet. I haven’t made a decision on a college, because I want to make sure that I find a perfect fit.”
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Chris MEYERS THE CANYON DEL ORO SENIOR hit the shot of his life on the biggest stage of his career at the Nature Valley First Tee Open last September. Meyers holed out from the fairway for a doubleeagle on the famed 18th hole at Pebble Beach and made national news in the process, winning the tourney with the shot. “That’s my most memorable golf moment,” he said. “The week was an incredible experience and I learned so much in my golf game and as a person.” The game gets his competitive juices going. “I’m a very competitive person and because of this, I enjoy golf tournaments and work really hard to always keep improving.” “I play golf because I love it. I love the relationships that I have made with people through golf, the opportunities that I’ve had, and the successes and failures that I’ve experienced.” He’ll be taking his skills to the next level with one of the premier programs in the country, having earned a scholarship to play at Stanford in the fall.
by Rick Price, PGA
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