A Supplement of Hilton Head Monthly
GOLFER’SGUIDE
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April 2012
hilton head island/lowcountry local edition
E XCLU S IVE WITH THE
GreatWhite
Shark Golf Champion, Entrepreneur and Global Icon
GREG NORMAN
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Jim Nantz p. 18
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Kyle Stanley p. 22
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p. 8 F E A T U R E S
Golfer’s Guide Local Edition Hilton Head Island/Lowcountry April 2012
D E P A R T M E N T S
8 Through the Eyes of the Shark Cover story: An exclusive interview with Greg Norman 16 Walking the Fairway with John Farrell Harbour Town head pro on the importance of community 18 A Word with Jim Nantz The CBS sports commentator on his Heritage experiences and more 22 Inside the Mind of Kyle Stanley The Berkeley Hall pro on his recent PGA win, goals and more
Glenn Klepchick | Editor-in-Chief
3 News & Events 14 Lowcountry Golf Map
Karen Rhodes | Managing Editor
26 Instruction Andrew Rice tells you how to get the most out of your driver, today.
Brad Kelley | Production Director Brad King | Editorial Contributor Ed Cherry | Editorial Assistance
30 What’s Hot & What’s Not
Golfer’s Guide, Inc. Marc Frey | CEO
Please see p. 62 of Hilton Head Monthly for an exclusive interview with 2011 RBC Heritage winner Brandt Snedeker.
Glenn Klepchick | President & COO Ashley Hamilton | Corporate Sales Coordinator
28 Local Knowledge A round-up of players with local ties
From the
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Tips
t’s another year for the RBC Heritage, and another important moment for Hilton Head Island and our golfing legacy. This year’s tournament is the 25th that I’ve experienced personally, and each year seems to set a new standard. My viewing perspective has certainly changed through the years. Memories from earlier years have begun to fade, and now, as a family man with young children, I see new meaning in the RBC Heritage. Now it is all about building memories with my son, daughter and wife. Golf has been at the center of my life since I was 7 years old, and I can honestly say that the sport has been associated with everything positive that has happened to me, from securing my education to finding my first job to meeting my wife. I can’t think of another game that has such power to shape a lifestyle. Take my advice: Play more golf, live the life, and savor the moments. While you’re at it, enjoy this issue of Golfer’s Guide. It is a celebration of golf, the sport of a lifetime. — Glenn Klepchick
Questions? Comments? E-mail feedback@golfersguide.com. Copyright ©2012 Golfer’s Guide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Golf course rates are subject to change at any time. Golfer’s Guide is not responsible or liable for any errors, omissions or changes in rates or information.
A Supplement of Hilton Head Monthly
About the Cover
GOLFER’SGUIDE The Great White
hiltonhead.golfersguide.com
April 2012
hilton head island/lowcountry local edition
Shark talks RBC Heritage, Oldfield, Hilton Head Island and more.
E XCLU S IVE WITH THE
GreatWhite
Shark Golf Champion, Entrepreneur and Global Icon
GREG NORMAN
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Jim Nantz p. 18
Kyle Stanley p. 22
Scan to visit our website
Cover Photo by John Loomis Photography
President & COO • Editor-in-Chief
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Local Happenings Big wins, upcoming tournaments and events, achievements and honors, and more
News & Events
Tournaments
USC Welcomes Competitors at Inaugural Intercollegiate
Suzie Lee, Amanda Sträng, Justine Dreher, Katie Burnett PHOTO BY WILLIE J. RICE PHOTOGRAPHY
Long Cove Club hosted the inaugural Darius Rucker Intercollegiate, a partnership between Darius Rucker, USC and Long Cove, on March 3-4. Despite rains that halted play on Saturday and Sunday and resulted in the cancellation of the third round, the University of Alabama women’s golf team was able to secure the team title. Crimson Tide sophomore Stephanie Meadow, a native of Northern Ireland whose parents own a home on Hilton Head, also earned her fifth career medal at the tournament, First FCA Golf breaking a record for the UA team.
eGolf Tour Opens Third Season on Hilton Head PHOTO COURTESY EGOLF PROFESSIONAL TOUR
The eGolf Professional Tour opened its season with back-to-back tournaments in February: The Palmetto Hall Championship Presented by Westin Hilton Head Island, Feb. 15-18, and the Oldfield Open, Feb. 22-25, co-hosted by Oldfield Country Club and Chechessee Creek Club. The events marked the third year in a row that the eGolf Tour has opened its season on Hilton Head Island. Greenville’s Brent Delahoussaye finished Chris Epperson first at the Palmetto Hall Championship and tied with Bluffton resident Nathan Stamey for 25th at Oldfield. Stamey tied for 14th at Palmetto Hall. USC Beaufort’s Jonathan Pannone was 49th at Palmetto Hall but missed the cut at Oldfield. Local favorite Chris Epperson of Hilton Head tied for 10th at Palmetto Hall and for 12th at Oldfield. Chris Naegel was the overall winner at Oldfield. The Palmetto Hall Championship and the Oldfield Open were the first and second of 24 events on the eGolf Tour schedule. HiltonHead.GolfersGuide.com
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Champions Tour Pro-Am
Champions Tour golfers Andy Bean, Fred Funk, Larry Mize, Larry Nelson, Loren Roberts and Scott Simpson, among others, will play in the first Fellowship of Christian Athletes Golf Champions Tour Pro-Am, April 22-23 at Wexford Plantation. The tournament’s timing takes advantage of the golfers’ presence in the area, as it comes on the heels of the Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf in Savannah, which concludes on April 22. Proceeds benefit the FCA Golf Ministry and the South Coastal FCA organization. 3
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Golfer’s Guide News & Events, continued
2012 Legends of Golf Tournament Marks a Decade in Savannah
Junior Golf Dongjin Park
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE JUNIOR SPORTS CORPORATION
New Discovery Tour for Kids 8-12
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The Hilton Head Island-based International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) and Junior Sports Corporation recently announced the creation of the Discovery Tour, a competitive circuit meant to give golfers ages 8-12 some tournament experience. The 9-hole, one-day events will be held in conjunction with the IJGT, making it convenient for families with golfers on both tours. The inaugural season runs through May 19, with five events in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Courses will average 2,2002,500 yards, and players are encouraged to have caddies, who can carry the players’ bags, assist with rules and offer advice. There will be a 10-stroke limit for each hole, and rulings resulting in disqualifications on other tours will be enforced only with stroke penalties. Discovery Tour membership costs $25, and the spring 2012 events are priced between $35 and $40 each.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SEA PINES JUNIOR HERITAGE/PAUL ROUILLARD 2012
When the RBC Heritage ends on April 15, pack up your folding chair and head to Savannah for the 35th year of the Champions Tour Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf, April 16-22, at the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa. This year marks the event’s 10th year on the par-72 championship course designed by Robert Cupp and Sam Snead. The event announced this year that it will stay in Savannah through 2013—good news for the city’s businesses and residents, of course, but also for local charitable organizations, which have benefited from the tournament to the tune of about $1.5 million. With a $2.7 million purse this year, the tournament has a unique team format with three division competitions during the week and a 54-hole better-ball competition starting on April 20. This year’s event will also feature an interactive Troon Family Golf Zone, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and a Military Appreciation Ceremony on Saturday at 5 p.m. The tournament will be broadcast on the Golf Channel on Friday and on CBS on Saturday and Sunday.
Chase Koepka and Ashlan Ramsey
Plenty of Excitement at the Sea Pines Junior Heritage The Sea Pines Junior Heritage, held at Sea Pines’ Heron Point and Harbour Town Golf Links in early February, provided plenty of excitement this year, with a three-way playoff on the men’s side and 12 golfers within 10 strokes of the leader on the ladies’ side. Chase Koepka won the men’s title, and Ashlan Ramsey won the ladies’. The two-day, 36-hole event featured 45 boys and 33 girls from around the world. The Sea Pines Junior Heritage is widely considered one of the top junior events in the nation.
JPGA Students Win in Florida Two Junior Players Golf Academy students won their age groups in February’s Hurricane Junior Golf Tour event in Fleming, Florida. Ewen Ferguson of Glasgow, Scotland, won the boys’ 15-18 division, and Anita Uwadia won the girls’ 11-14 division. The JPGA, located on Hilton Head Island, offers junior golf schools and camps for all skill levels.
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Other News
Hole-in-Ones
Awards and Recognitions • • • •
Mike Murphy received the Charles Drawdy Distinguished Service Award from the S.C. Golf Association. The Harbour Town Golf Links Golf Shop was named one of the “100 Best Golf Shops” for 2012 by Golf World magazine. Hilton Head Island resident Bill Sampson, director of golf at Old Tabby Links on Spring Island, was named the Carolinas PGA Golf Professional of the Year. Doug Weaver, director of golf instruction at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, was named one of U.S. Kids Golf ’s Top 50 Kids Teachers in the nation.
The following golfers made hole-in-ones at these local courses in January, February and March: Fatin Amin, 13th hole, Hilton Head National Golf Club, Jan. 6 Mike Anzivino, 5th hole, Moss Creek’s North Course, Jan. 6 Phil Dansdill, 8th hole, Palmetto Dunes’ Robert Trent Jones Course, Feb. 15 Bernie DiPasquale, 4th hole, Sanctuary Golf Club, Jan. 8
Keeping Golf Green Did you know that 67 percent of the average 150-acre, 18-hole golf course is maintained turf, and of that, 51 percent is the rough, which needs the least maintenance? Or that most courses on Hilton Head Island use effluent water, rather than potable water, for irrigation? These are just a couple of the lessons learned at Experience Green’s “RBC Greening Golf” workshop held March 19-20 in Bluffton and Hilton Head. Greg Lyman, environmental programs director for the Environmental Institute for Golf was the guest speaker, and Jim Cregan, Sea Pines Resort’s superintendent, provided a tour of one of its Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Certified courses in conjunction with the workshops.
Larry Green, 16th hole, Heron Point, Jan. 29 Randall Hershey, 8th hole, Bear Creek Golf Club, Jan. 24 Brigitte James, 3rd hole, Palmetto Hall Golf Club’s Arthur Hills Course, Feb. 6 Gene Kay, 14th hole, Bear Creek Golf Club, Jan. 8 Larry Lentz, 13th and 17th holes, Old Tabby Links, Jan. 19 George Oprita, 8th hole, Sun City’s Okatie Course, March 13
Course Updates • •
Pat Piercy, 17th hole, Moss Creek’s North Course, Jan. 15
Colleton River Plantation Club has named Derrick Garrou as the Dye Course’s head professional. Garrou’s predecessor, Matt Stewart, is now head professional at the Nicklaus Course. Spring Island’s Old Tabby Links will be closed for renovations until November while the Arnold Palmer Design Company and MacCurrach Golf Construction update the course with a new irrigation system, regrassed and (in some cases) repositioned greens, and rebuilt and repositioned bunkers.
Bonnie Sargent, 15th hole, Hilton Head National Golf Club, Jan. 29 Herb Sawyer, 17th hole, Moss Creek’s North Course, Jan. 13 Bob Schaller, 17th hole, Hidden Cypress Golf Club, Jan. 15 Dee Shannon, 4th hole, Sanctuary Golf Club, Jan. 6
“First in Golf” License Plate
Jack Stradwick, 15th hole, Moss Creek’s South Course, Feb. 18 PHOTO COURTESY OF SCDMV
Time for a new license plate? The S.C. Junior Golf Foundation is promoting South Carolina’s new “First in Golf” plate. The cost is $70 plus registration, and $40 of that goes to the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism’s fund for junior golf. Visit www.scdmvonline.com or your nearest S.C. Dept. of Motor Vehicles branch for details.
Dwayne Smith, 15th hole, Hilton Head National Golf Club, Feb. 27
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Art Thomasson, 12th hole, Hidden Cypress Golf Club, Jan. 31 Did we miss yours? Email us at feedback@golfersguide.com with the details!
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Golfer’s Guide News & Events, continued
Calendar
April 20: iReign Leaders & Legends Golf Tournament, Palmetto Hall Golf & Country Club. Play with a celebrity player, who might be a community leader or a pro sports legend. Registration: $250 per player. Shotgun start, 8:30 a.m. www.startreigning.org April 23-27: Healing Heroes Golf Week. Callawassie Island Club, April 23; The Golf Club at Hilton Head Lakes, April 24; Sanctuary Golf Course at Cat Island, April 26; Fripp Island Ocean Point Links, April 27. Help raise money to provide a severely injured veteran with a ParaMobile “stand up and play� device. On-course registration, 10:30 a.m. daily; shotgun start, noon daily. www.healingheroesgolfweek.com
April 28-29: The KENTWOOL Socks Open at Oyster Reef. Come out and watch upcoming talent at this International Junior Golf Tournament event. First round begins April 28, 8:30 a.m. http://bluegolf.ijgt.com/bluegolf/ijgt12/event/ijgt1232/course/ oysterreefgc/index.htm
April 30: Savannah Music Festival Golf Tournament, Berkeley Hall. Proceeds benefit the festival’s free music education events in Chatham, Effingham, Bryan, Beaufort and Jasper counties. Tee times at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Registration: $300 individual, $1,200 team; deadline is April 20. For more information or to register, contact Emily Rich, (912) 234-3378, Ext. 106, or emily@savannahmusicfestival.org. May 5-6: IJGT Sanctuary Shootout, Sanctuary Golf Club at Cat Island. First round begins at 9 a.m. on May 5. http://bluegolf.ijgt.com/bluegolf/ijgt12/event/ijgt1245/index.htm June 19-22: Women’s South Carolina Match Play Championship, Sanctuary Golf Club at Cat Island. www.wscga.org Aug. 31-Sept. 3: Hilton Head Island Celebrity Golf Tournament. Robert Trent Jones Course at Palmetto Dunes, Aug. 31; Pete Dye Course at Colleton River, Sept. 1; Harbour Town Golf Links at Sea Pines Resort, Sept. 2. Shotgun start, 9 a.m. daily. Benefits local children’s charities. Registration: $2,500 individual, $10,000 (4-person) team for golf only; $3,750 individual, $15,000 team for all-inclusive package. www.hhcelebritygolf.com
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Greg Norman shares his perspective on Hilton Head Island, wins and losses, golf course design and more.
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G o l f e r ’ s
G u i d e
E x cl u s i v e
I n ter v i ew
Eyes of the
Through the
Shark by Brad King
Brad King: As a player, you captured one of the most popular Heritage victories ever in 1988. As a golf course architect, you designed not only Oldfield, one of the most enjoyable and respected golf courses in the Hilton Head area, but also nearby Savannah Quarters and The Reserve Golf Club in Litchfield. What are some of your fondest memories from coming to Hilton Head and the Lowcountry all these years? Greg Norman: Well, I first got to know Hilton Head as a player, and from the very beginning I could tell it was a great destination, No. 1 because of the atmosphere. You knew you could get one of those townhomes by the golf course, and you never had to put a key in the ignition. You went to the golf course; you went back to the townhome. You cooked yourself a dinner. It was just easy and relaxing, like the Lowcountry should be. Obviously, it was the week right after Augusta. I loved driving from Augusta to Hilton Head and just enjoying the relaxing drive. And of course, the tournament gave us an opportunity to relax a bit more than the Masters because the atmosphere was totally different, and it was a totally different golf course. I’ve always loved Harbour Town. It is, and always has been, one of my favorite golf courses anywhere. Not only the aesthetic beauty, but from a strategic standpoint, what Pete Dye did there was pure genius. Pete was able to design the course and really position the trees like hazards, requiring the golfer to absolutely work on every tee shot, and every iron shot that you play. I also really enjoyed the times when I went to play at Harbour Town and was able to stay out there on my boat. I enjoyed the unique opportunity to do that. You can’t do that at every tournament. I think I was one of the first golfers to do that by bringing
my boat up there. And then over a period of time Curtis [Strange] brought his boat, and Davis Love brought his boat. BK: As a past Heritage champion, how important is it for you that RBC and Boeing are now sponsoring the Heritage, and that the tournament is returning to its longtime position on the PGA Tour calendar the week after the Masters? GN: I think it’s extremely important from a player’s perspective. Hilton Head is very highly regarded by the players on the PGA Tour. We typically enter golf tournaments that we love to play, and Hilton Head has always been a testament to that. Just look at the quality of the leaders and the winners that the Heritage has produced over the years. It’s a true testament to the greatness of the event. And now it’s fitting that they are securing their former date with this new sponsorship deal. You need to have a set date for certain tournaments, and now the Heritage goes back to its rightful position after Augusta, where it had always been. BK: One thing many golf fans remember about 1988 was that, through the Make-a-Wish Foundation, you befriended a young fan named Jamie Hutton, who had spent years fighting Crohn’s disease and was then diagnosed with leukemia. Jamie came to Hilton Head, walked inside the ropes with you—and you won and gave the trophy to Jamie. Was that one of the more special moments of your sporting career? GN: I think it was more a reflection of what we do as players on the PGA Tour—giving back from a charitable aspect, or just giving
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Golfer’s Guide Exclusive Interview by Brad King
back in general, in whatever capacity you can. I will never forget have won numerous prestigious awards for design, receiving the phone call from the Make-a-Wish Foundation. I said and many of the projects bearing your name have I would be happy to have Jamie come down and be with me for garnered awards for environmental stewardship. that week. I was all for it. I understood the circumstances of what Norman-designed golf courses have hosted sanche was going through with Crohn’s disease and his debilitation. tioned events on the PGA, Nationwide, European He had never been to that part of the world, he had never seen the and Australasian tours. What is your general design ocean, and he had never seen palm trees, coming from Wisconsin. philosophy? Is there a particular legacy you like to Obviously, Jamie and I got along extremely well. He was a very leave behind with every golf course you design? likable, personable, enjoyable kid to have around, not just playing GN: I am chairman of the advisory council for the Environmengolf, but even afterward, after the round and introducing him to tal Institute for Golf, and I have always taken a least-disturbance the players, giving him the feel of what golf on the PGA Tour is all approach to golf course design. I am a firm believer in using what about—and then having dinner with him as well. So at the end of Mother Nature has given me on a particular site. I try to move the day, as the tournament went by—you get into your own busi- the least amount of dirt, not only to keep costs down, but also to ness mode of performing out there as best you can, and that’s your keep the course as natural and as visually pleasing as possible. In goal anyway, to go win. Was the old days, the architects there a great stimulant in whom we now consider the back of my mind to the masters only had a I worked very hard to envision the perform well for Jamie? horse-drawn plow. They Maybe there was. I don’t didn’t have bulldozers golf course at Oldfield before we really know if I can answer to push dirt around, so even started building it, and at the that 100 percent. I do their approach sometimes know one thing: When I seems minimalist when end of the day it turned out to be was standing there at the we consider it today. But presentation, and I saw I love their philosophy, everything we expected it to be, the look in Jamie’s eyes, and I continue to put it and probably even a little bit more. I thought, “You know, into practice today. Histhere’s no greater moment torically, this approach has to give back than this, and I resulted in a course that blends gave him my trophy.” It was just spontaneous. The guy deserved seamlessly with its surroundings and appears as if it has been it. He had a tough battle with his health issues. It just felt like the part of the landscape for generations. Practical least-disturbance right thing for me to do at the time. design also helps to make the golf course more sustainable over time for the owners. I’m very proud of the fact we have about 38 BK: How do you reconcile a special win like that jobs under contract right now, even in this tough economic envione with a tough loss like the one you suffered to ronment. Not all of them are under construction, but we continue Nick Faldo at the 1996 Masters? to sign jobs. It’s a very, very tough environment, but for us to be GN: I’m very philosophical like that. I think life has a way of able to say that we have almost a dozen golf courses under conevening itself out. It doesn’t mean it’s going to even itself out on struction right now is fantastic in this environment. That’s what I the golf course—it evens itself out in a lot of other ways. You like. Your credentials speak for themselves. could look at life and say, “Boy, I got lucky here, but boy, I got unlucky there.” And the two may be unrelated. I’m very accepting BK: Your design here at Oldfield celebrates its of that. To me, looking at the balance of what golf has given me 10th anniversary this year. What do you rememhas been phenomenal, but looking at what golf has given me in ber about that design process? What is it about my life has been even more phenomenal. Oldfield that makes it so special? GN: When I walked the virgin site that became Oldfield, I knew BK: Greg Norman Golf Course Design has been in this place was special. It was also very important to me to get this business a quarter of a century now. You’ve designed one right, as it was my first golf course design in the Lowcountry. more than 70 golf courses on six continents that The property, which sits on the banks of the Okatie River, just 10
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BK: Sounds like you were pleased with the finished product? GN: Ten years later, I would say that Oldfield certainly turned out to be everything that I expected. My philosophy is always to start at the beginning with the end in mind, and I worked very hard to envision the golf course at Oldfield before we even started building it, and at the end of the day it turned out to be everything we expected it to be, and probably even a little bit more. It’s one of those courses where you just love to go back and tee it up time and time again because of all the different scenery this beautiful piece of property, with its Southern charm, has to offer.
PHOTO COURTESY OF OLDFIELD CLUB/HAMPTON GOLF CLUBS
BK: Your name was on the final list of eight architects being considered to design the 2016 Olympic golf course in Rio de Janeiro, a job that eventually was awarded to a relative unknown, Gil Hanse. What did you think of that selection, and what advice would you give Hanse? GN: Look, any one of the eight of us, there is no question, can design and build a great golf course for the Olympics. That was not a concern that I had. What I thought was the most important part was the legacy mode. We’ve got to remember that golf is only in the Olympics for 2016, so it’s important that we keep golf in the
PHOTO COURTESY OF OLDFIELD CLUB/HAMPTON GOLF CLUBS
oozed Southern charm. It’s not every day that you get a property this good to design a golf course on. This property had it all: canopies of moss-draped live oaks, broad savannahs and soaring pines, all adjacent to the majestic Okatie River. And when you saw the wetland area you just said, “Oh wow. This is so incredible.” The transition from the entrance up the road to where you get down to the water’s edge, there is just such a diverse contrast from one piece of the property to the next. I thought it wouldn’t be hard at all to design and build a really great golf course on such a beautiful piece of property.
Olympics in 2020 and beyond. To me, part of the responsibility in designing the golf course was to make sure that you were out there promoting and pushing the game of golf in the Olympics for the next four years until 2016. Beyond that, I would hate to see golf just disappear after one time in the Olympics, because I think if it does, it’s going to be another 100 years before you see it reappear in the Olympics, and that would be a crying shame. So to me there was a lot more criteria as far as I was concerned to the responsibilities of getting the design job, because like I said, any of the eight of us could have designed a great golf course for the Olympics. Gil uses the word “minimalistic.” Well, my design mantra for my entire design life has been “least-disturbance approach.” I’ve been saying that on every project I do. So that’s part of the responsibility of creating sustainable golf courses, not just for the environmental standpoint, but also just for the cost of construction. The less you disturb, the more natural it remains from an environmental standpoint, but also it looks mature the day you walk out on it for the first tee shot. BK: Finally, considering your immense breadth of business interests, do you ever plan on slowing down, or do you plan to continue working as hard as ever? GN: I just love doing what I’m doing. I think I’ve had a lot to do in my life, my business life. I enjoy doing what I’m doing. I’ve enjoyed the opportunity of building my enterprise to where it is today. I think the opportunity to grow my brand on a global basis is really in its infancy, and I think there are huge opportunities for my brand outside the United States as well. So I see a really good future for us, I really do. We’ve weathered the bad storm. We’ve adjusted our business model, like I said. It was painful at times, because it’s the first time I’ve ever laid off people in my life, and it hurt a lot of people. But at the same time, you’ve got to adapt to it, and we adapted extremely well. We survived it, and now we see the adjustments we made are going to be very beneficial toward the growth and development of the company. Please visit hiltonhead.golfersguide.com to read the full inverview.
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Golfer’s Guide Lowcountry Golf Map
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Crescent Pointe crescentpointegolf.com, (843) 706-2600 Record: Billy Palmer, 65
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Eagle’s Pointe eaglespointegolf.com, (843) 757-5900 Record: Roger Rowland, 65
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Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort frippislandresort.com, (888) 741-8974
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Golden Bear at Indigo Run clubcorp.com/Clubs/Golden-Bear-GolfClub-at-Indigo-Run, (843) 689-2200 Record: Brian Agee, 64
Island 204 West
Hilton Head National golfhiltonheadnational.com, (843) 842-5900 Island West islandwestgolf.net, (843) 815-6660
13
Palmetto Dunes – Robert Trent Jones Oceanfront Course palmettodunes.com, (843) 785-1138 Record: Joe Jasper, 67
10 Oyster Reef
palmettodunes.com, (843) 785-1138 Record: Bryce Molder, 60
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Map_HHI_12.2.indd 14
Pinecrest pinecrestsc.com, (843) 757-8960 Record: J.D. Hoft, 62 Port Royal Golf Club hiltonheadgolf.net, (843) 681-1700
17
Rose Hill Golf Club golfrosehill.com, (843) 757-9030
18
Sanctuary at Cat Island www.sanctuarygolfcatisland.com, (843) 524-0300 Record: Robb Simmons, 67
19 20
hiltonheadgolf.net, (843) 681-1764 Record: Eric Roudabush, 66
11 Palmetto Dunes – Arthur Hills Course
Palmetto Hall Golf Club hiltonheadgolf.net, (843) 342-2582 Records: Cupp Course – Charles Howe, 64; Hills Course – Billy Palmer & Chris Peters, 67
16
Old Carolina (843) 757-8311 Old South Golf Links oldsouthgolf.com, (843) 785-5353 Record: Rick Stallings & P.J. Cowan, 62
P R I V A T E
Palmetto Dunes – George Fazio Course palmettodunes.com, (843) 785-1138 Record: Mike Bright, 63
15
21
95
17
278
46
144
170
Hampton 33 Hall
12
14
16
23 17 8
BL
Bluf ft Pkw on y.
C O U R S E S
Country Club of Hilton Head hiltonheadclub.com, (843) 681-4653 Record: Matt Presnell, 63
Belfair
3
278
170
1
9
46
These overview maps are designed to give general locations of the region’s public courses (represented as ) and private clubs (represented as ). For more specific directions, call the phone numbers listed or use your GPS.
P U B L I C
8
204
95
GOLF MAP
7
278
278
17
6
17
16
LOWCOUNTRY 144
95
HARDEEVILLE
170
17
16
Shipyard Golf Club hiltonheadgolf.net, (843) 686-8802 Sea Pines – Harbour Town Golf Links seapines.com, (843) 363-8385 Record: David Frost, 61 Sea Pines – Ocean Course seapines.com, (843) 842-1477 Record: Eric Kennedy, 65
15 Pinecrest
16
95
204
46
C O U R S E S
22 Bear Creek Golf Club
34 Hilton Head Lakes
23 Belfair
35 Long Cove
bearcreekgolfclub.org, (843) 681-2667 Record: Jeff DeVincentis, 67 belfair1811.com, (843) 757-0700 Records: East – Mark Anderson, 60; West – Rickie Fowler, 64
24 Berkeley Hall
berkeleyhallclub.com, (843) 815-8494
25 Brays Island
braysisland.org, (843) 846-3170
26 Callawassie
callawassieisland.com, (843) 987-2125
27 Chechessee Creek Club
chechesseecreekclub.com, (843) 987-7000 Record: Todd Berringer, 63
28 Colleton River
colletonriverclub.com, (843) 836-4400
29 Dataw Island Golf
dataw.org, (843) 838-8250
30 Dolphin Head
dolphinheadgc.com, (843) 681-5550
31 Golf Club at Indigo Run
clubcorp.com/clubs/The-Golf-Club-atIndigo-Run, (843) 689-3500
hiltonheadlakes.com, (843) 208-5353 Record: Jordan Pomeranz, 67
2
17 144
Ch Bur u nt
204
278
17
95
OKATIE
Buc kw Pkw alter y.
16
37
longcoveclub.org, (843) 686-1020 Record: Blake Trimble, 65
36 Moss Creek
mosscreek-hiltonhead.com, (843) 837-2231 Records: Devil’s Elbow South – Ron Cerrudo, Mike Harmon, Ron Frisch & Eric Hogge, 66; Devil’s Elbow North – Terry Florence & Vic Lipscomb, 63
37 Oldfield
oldfield1732.com, (843) 379-5051 Record: Kyle Dobbs, 64
38 Sea Pines Country Club
seapinescountryclub.com, (843) 671-2345
39 Spanish Wells Golf Club
spanishwellsclub.com, (843) 681-2819
40 Old Tabby Links/Spring Island springisland.com, (843) 987-2200
41 Sun City
(843) 705-4999
42 Wexford
wexfordplantation.com, (843) 686-8810
32 Haig Point
haigpoint.com, (843) 341-8155
33 Hampton Hall
Dau Is 32
hamptonhallsc.com, (843) 815-8720
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16
95
17
278
46 204144 46 170 144
170
204
95 25
17
95
17
21
16 204
95 25
17 144
21 170
25
204
95 46
17 144
278
Cat 16
21
144
204
27
170
40
204
95
946
6
25
144
170
Fripp Island
A R E A 30 1 10
Moss Creek
144
18
21
4
36
17
Island 17 95
Spring Island
B E A U F O R T
28
16
170
Colleton River
170
Ch Bur urc nt hR d.
16
2
144
Dataw Island
29
OKATIE 26
BLUFFTON
BEAUFORT
16
204 16
95
25
204
fair
278
17
16
Hilton Head Plantation
278
14
22
170
Palmetto Hall
ity C
. Rd
ch a Port Royal Be Plantation
16
17
278
144
170
95
nd la ll) s204 I to 46 s os y. ( r 31 C kw P 39
5
16
Indigo Run
Spanish Wells 16 Long 95
17
278
144
170
Cove 35
204
46
to et . lm Rd Pa ay B
42
19
pe
20 H Th
24 Th Ch
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20 21
H I L T O N
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Palmetto Dunes
Av
32
11
Wexford
Po
Daufuskie Island
8 P Ex
12
38
Sea Pines
13
I S L A N D
A R E A
15
3/23/12 1:54:40 PM
Golfer’s Guide Exclusive Interview by Glenn Klepchick
Walking the Fairway with
John Farrell
Head pro at Harbour Town Golf Links, a true island asset and a friend to the entire golfing community Glenn Klepchick: This marks your 22nd Heritage. Were you ever concerned that your run was coming to an end? John Farrell: There was certainly nervousness when surrounded with the uncertainty of whether the tournament would continue, but I always felt that there was no chance it would come to an end. GK: What pulled you though that stressful time? JF: My faith in Steve Wilmot and the Heritage Classic Foundation to secure the tournament’s future.
RBC HERITAGE AT A GLANCE 2012 Dates
April 9-15
2012 Purse
$5.7 million
GK: You’ve worked with many title sponsors in the past. What makes RBC and Boeing so unique? JF: It is truly exciting to have title and presenting sponsors that have a genuine affinity for our local market. We have that in RBC and Boeing, and we as a market and a tournament are blessed to have them.
2012 Winner’s Share
$1,028,000
Annual Economic Impact to South Carolina
$82 million
Annual Economic Impact to Hilton Head Island
$72 million
GK: Blessed—as islanders, that is truly the case. You have raised an amazing family here and are beloved. I am sure you have had other opportunities that could have lured you away. What has kept you so solidly committed to our lovely little island? JF: You nailed it. We are blessed. Almost daily I am congratulated to still have the tournament and that the future is secured, but actually I should be congratulating the island, the residents and the loyal fans. The tournament benefits so many people, businesses and, above all, charities. We are all blessed in so many ways, and the reasons I have never considered pursuing other opportunities are many. The memories of watching my children grow into adulthood in such an amazing location, the wonderful friendships I have built over the years, the tournament memories, the opening ceremonies, watching friends and children return year after year, and being able to do all this in such a beautiful spot is simply icing on the cake. In our case, it is the golf ball on top of the tee!
Attendance
135,000
Average Spectator Age
55
Spectators with Income >$100,000/Year
55%
First Year of Heritage
1969
Oldest Winner
Hale Irwin, at age 48, 1994
Youngest Winner
Davis Love III, at age 23, 1987
Highest Winning Score
283, by Arnold Palmer, 1969
Lowest Winning Score
264, by Brian Gay, 2009
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For more information on the RBC Heritage, please visit www.rbcheritage.com. For more information on the Heritage Classic Foundation, including its charities, scholars, volunteers and tournaments, please visit www.heritageclassicfoundation.com.
HiltonHead.GolfersGuide.com
3/23/12 1:46:06 PM
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3/23/12 12:22:54 PM
Golfer’s Guide Exclusive Interview by Brad King
A Word with
Jim Nantz
CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz has covered more sports events than you can shake a golf club at. He talks with Golfer’s Guide about his Heritage experiences and more.
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Brad King: How important was it to you, personally, for RBC and Boeing to step in at the ninth hour and sponsor the Heritage, and how important do you consider it to have been for Hilton Head Island and the PGA Tour? Jim Nantz: Anyone who wants to know how important Hilton Head is to all of us at CBS Sports just has to pop in the tape from last year’s broadcast. I’ve never been part of a presentation like that. We tried our best to express how unique Hilton Head Island is and equally how special this tournament is to the community. We love the Heritage, we respect it, and it is important to the CBS golf team.
a couple of years later you have her strapped into one of those little baby seats on the back of your bike. Then a few years later you have the double bike, where your little child thinks they are actually maneuvering and pedaling the bike around the paths of Hilton Head. Then, one day you show up and they don’t want to ride the double bike anymore, they want their own bike. Some of my favorite lifetime memories with my daughter have taken place right there on Hilton Head.
BK: You once told me that coming to Hilton Head from your home in Connecticut with your daughter, Caroline, was her favorite annual trip. Does she still join you regularly, or has she gotten too busy doing other things? JN: Caroline was born in April 1994 just two weeks after the tournament. She has never missed a year since she was a baby. She is now a senior in high school. For us, Harbour Town is one of those places where you can measure the passing of time. You go from having this precious little baby in your arms, coming to Hilton Head Island for the first time two weeks shy of her first birthday and pushing her around in a baby carriage. To
BK: Tell us about your typical routine during your week on the island. What do you like to do during whatever downtime you might have? Ever make it out of Sea Pines? JN: I really know the area quite well. First off, we try to walk in the sand at the Sea Pines Beach Club every day. Then of course, we have our favorite restaurants as well as some serious miniature golf competitions! We really do pack a lot in during our week there—and by the way, we are there to broadcast a very important golf tournament too. Coming off the NCAA tournament and the Masters—I’ve had 27 years of that back-to-back combination—Hilton Head comes at a wonderful time every year.
HiltonHead.GolfersGuide.com
3/23/12 1:47:08 PM
Belfair
Bluffton, South Carolina
At Belfair, you are never just a visitor. We pride ourselves on providing our members with a seamless first class
experience, whether its playing our Fazio designed championship courses, dining in our superb restaurant, staying in our charming cottages, enjoying a private golf clinic or luxuriating at our spa and fitness center. We make it our precedence that all of your expectations are exceeded from the moment you arrive. We cordially invite you to Discover Belfair.
Discovery Package
2 night stay in one of our cottage junior suites, 2 rounds of golf on each of our championship courses, lunch for 2 at our Clubhouse and access to our world class golf learning center and fitness center. $550/couple
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL 843.757.0700 OR VISIT WWW.BELFAIR1811.COM
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3/23/12 12:23:54 PM
Golfer’s Guide Exclusive Interview, continued by Brad King
Nantz’s book, Always by My Side, is a tribute to his father, who suffered from Alzheimer’s.
BK: Tell us about your friendship with Gregg and Lindy Russell, and your work with their outstanding organization, Hilton Head Heroes, which provides resort vacations to the families of children with lifethreatening illnesses. JN: I first met Gregg Russell, really, because I was a fan of Gregg’s, and I remain a fan to this day. I am a fan of who he is, what he does and what he stands for. And through time I got to know Lindy, and I feel the exact same way about her. They are a special family, and I hope Sea Pines values them as a true asset. As a parent, I had the great pleasure of having my daughter sit under the big oak tree on the harbor and listen to Gregg entertain everyone and create this warm, family feeling around the golf tournament. One year, I walked up to him holding my daughter’s hand, and told him I wanted to make an introduction and tell him how much we appreciate him, because he does an exceptional job being an ambassador for Sea Pines and for the tournament. I just thanked him, as a parent and as someone who is on the road all the time, for creating this warm and loving environment for all of us to come down and tap into once a year. The friendship evolved and evolved. It’s been years and years now. Gregg and Lindy first told us about Hilton Head Heroes well over 10 years ago, and when I found out how important it was to them, it became important to me. I think it typifies the spirit of the people of Hilton Head, and it is such a perfect fit because the Island is about families. BK: In 2008 you wrote your first book, Always by My Side, which I read and thought was truly exceptional. I gave it to my father, and he loved it as well. What was that experience like for you? JN: Always by My Side has been such a gift in my life. I met with the publisher in 2007, two days after the Masters, and I was not really sure what direction we were going and what the interest level would be
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in the book. The book went through this transition from being a sports diary, day-by-day look at my life on the road to being a tribute book about my father. It was a cathartic experience for me, being able to write it with my friend, Eli Spielman. When I say we wrote it, I mean we worked on it together every day for nine months. We really didn’t miss a day without exchanging ideas, writing paragraphs, and trying to advance the book page by page. And when it came out in 2008, the next spring, I didn’t know what to expect. To this day, people will bring their book to the events I broadcast and ask me to sign it. They come up to me timidly at first, as if they hate to bother me—but what they don’t understand, they really are giving me this pause in my life, a moment of reflection, an opportunity to talk about my father and my family. I get to hear their stories about how the book affected them and often how Alzheimer’s afflicted their families more than I could have ever imagined. I never thought I would write a sequel, but now I’m thinking that someday I will for I am so overwhelmed by how it touched so many lives. BK: I also understand that writing the book led to something much more important in your life. Tell us about your work toward finding a cure for Alzheimer’s. JN: After I realized the book had in some measure rallied the Alzheimer’s community larger than I could have ever dreamt, I knew there had to be something else that I could do. The book resulted in—on January 19, 2011—our family opening the Nantz National Alzheimer Center at The Texas Medical Center in Houston [www.nantzfriends.org]. It is one of the greatest research centers in the world for neurological studies, and it is named for my father. The Nantz name on there is a tribute to my dad. Really, we wouldn’t have gotten there if it had not been for the book. It was not only for the Alzheimer’s community, but the entire neurology community, all the people who have seen their loved ones struggle. They needed a voice. Please visit hiltonhead.golfersguide.com to read the full inverview.
HiltonHead.GolfersGuide.com
3/23/12 1:47:31 PM
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3/23/12 12:25:02 PM
Golfer’s Guide Exclusive Interview by Karen Rhodes
Inside the Mind of
Kyle Stanley
PGA pro Kyle Stanley—the Berkeley Hall pro who is now a household name well beyond the local area— shares his thoughts with Golfer’s Guide Guide. Karen Rhodes: The beginning of this year got off to a bit of a rocky start, but then you had a big win that catapulted your popularity. What did you learn in that loss that helped you secure the big win? Kyle Stanley: I would characterize the start of my year as exciting, but certainly not rocky by any means. I started playing well in Hawaii and continued that good play into San Diego. While I didn’t win the event, I probably gained much more from what happened versus if I had actually won. I think that a lot more people came to know who I was, and those that do follow golf got a better understanding of who I am and my personality. During that stretch of losing in the playoff at Torrey Pines and coming back to win the following week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, I learned a lot about myself, and all of those experiences have made me not only a better player but a better person. I was pretty devastated Sunday night after San Diego, but I am not sure I would go back and change a thing. KR: What kind of impact did that win have on your scheduling and your time commitments, both professionally and personally? KS: My life has certainly gotten busier as a result of winning in Phoenix and finishing as a runner-up in San Diego. From a time standpoint, I have had a huge increase in media requests, and I am doing my best to honor as many as I can while trying to keep my routines the same so I can continue to improve and play well. Winning has many perks, some of which are getting into bigger events like the Masters and the World Golf Championships. As a result, I am able to set my schedule farther in advance and plan better. Having success certainly increases the demands on your time, so learning to be efficient and disciplined is definitely a priority of mine. KR: Who, if anyone, provided any advice after that loss that you took to heart and that has helped you learn from the experience? How do you expect to use that advice to help advance your growth in the game? KS: I don’t know if there was any one thing that was said to me or by a particular person. I had an outpouring of support 22
interview.Stanley.indd 22
from fans, and that made me feel great, to know so many people were out there pulling for me. I also have great family support and a terrific team that was by my side the entire time. They all provided great perspective that maybe wasn’t that clear to me at the time because my emotions were so raw. I played great golf in San Diego. What I chose to do and was encouraged to do was focus on all the good things I did that week, and that is absolutely something I did that allowed me to move on and carry a lot of confidence into Phoenix the following week. KR: Who is your idol? Which player have you shaped your career after, if any? KS: I don’t think there is anyone I have idolized per se. I mean, I certainly respect a lot of people and there are others who I would consider role models, but no one I really have considered an idol. Personally, I have always looked up to and respected my father, who instilled in me some very solid principles about hard work and passion for what you do. I have also always been a huge fan of Vijay Singh for how hard he works and the dedication he has on the practice range. KR: What are your plans and goals for this year? KS: My main goals are always process-related, as I see that as the best road to improvement. I also set more specific goals. At the beginning of the year I had as goals to make the Accenture World Golf Matchplay (the top 64 players in the world rankings qualify), win my first PGA Tour event, qualify for the Masters and make the Ryder Cup team. I have achieved three out of four so far, so I am very pleased to say the least. As I reach certain goals, I add others. But again, the main goal is to be processContinued on p. 30 driven and improve each year.
HiltonHead.GolfersGuide.com
3/23/12 1:49:56 PM
BERKELEY
HALL
mun lub Com e Golf C A Privat
THE
ity
discovery
PA C K A
GE
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3/23/12 12:25:51 PM
en
S P E C I A L
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Greenkeeping
on the Course and Beyond
by Karen Rhodes
The Hilton Head Island–Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and RBC are committed to caring for the environment and sustaining the Island’s green appeal.
G
olf and crowds aren’t always associated with environmental sensitivity. But this year’s RBC Heritage will help put that stereotype to rest, showcasing the many ways that the sport and its fans can “go green.” RBC’s corporate commitment to sustainability is taking the shape of many environmentally conscious measures at this year’s tournament, in partnership with the Heritage Classic Foundation and The Sea Pines Resort and in conjunction with several event suppliers. For starters, say goodbye to Styrofoam and single-use ketchup and mustard packages. Concessions will be served in recyclable or biodegradable packaging, and condiments will be served from bulk dispensers. Coca-Cola is making it easy for spectators to dispose of soda cans and other recyclables by placing more than 100 recycling bins along the course. Palmetto Electric Cooperative is purchasing approximately 150 megawatt hours of “green power”—enough to cover what is used by the Harbour Town Clubhouse, hospitality areas, scoreboards, skyboxes and broadcasting towers during tournament week. And the tournament is making it easy for
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spectators to use pedal power to get to the event. (See sidebar.) Andrew Craig, senior manager of environmental initiatives for RBC, attended the International Ecotourism and Sustainability Conference that the Hilton Head Island–Bluffton Chamber of Commerce brought to the island last fall, and is excited about the golf world’s green potential. “It is important for the golf industry to understand the business opportunities associated with environmental sustainability,” said Craig. “Newly emerging course design and maintenance techniques are helping golf courses reduce operating costs, provide habitats for wildlife, serve as natural filtration systems for water, and
raise awareness about the importance of protecting our natural resources—benefits that can help make your golf course more competitive. RBC has a longstanding commitment to environmental sustainability and is pleased to support efforts with this focus in the Lowcountry golf community.” The Chamber couldn’t be happier about RBC’s commitment to sustainability. It falls right in line with the Chamber’s own efforts to promote the “triple bottom line” of sustainability—making sure that new initiatives benefit people, places and profits. A few examples of the Chamber’s sustainability work: • Co-hosting and co-sponsoring sustain-
The Business Case for Sustainability workshop in February engaged a number of local professionals, including (from left to right) Robert Stenhammer of Hilton Head Accommodations; Kathy Winings, David Zunker and Susan Thomas of the Hilton Head Island–Bluffton Chamber of Commerce; Anushka Frey of Frey Media; and Mark Baker of Wood & Partners.
HiltonHead.GolfersGuide.com
3/23/12 1:41:59 PM
s p e c i a l
ability workshops for local businesses, such as Experience Green’s recent “Business Case for Sustainability” and “RBC Greening Golf ” workshops. • Working with Audubon International to help local golf courses meet the requirements of its Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary certification program. • Holding an internal sustainability workshop for Chamber staff, and establishing a Chamber Green Team to develop best practices and programs for staff. • Working to ensure that travel and culinary media outlets like Bon Appétit are aware of—and feature—the Certified SC Grown campaign’s “Fresh on the Menu” restaurants. • Developing a new sustainability certification and recognition program for local businesses, to launch later this year. Tournament organizers expect that spectators and the greater community will welcome the new initiatives, which will be implemented by the Heritage Classic Foundation. “Hilton Head Island is a beautiful community, and we want to do our part to keep it that way,” said Steve Wilmot, tournament director for the RBC Heritage. “I think the community appreciates what we do and are more than willing to do their part to make sure our programs work well.”
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
Pedal Power This year, try something new: Journey to the tourney via bike. Your bicycle is one of the greenest modes of transportation, no matter what color it’s painted. This year, Sea Pines, the RBC Heritage and the Hilton Head Island Bicycle Friendly Advisory Committee want to make sure that it’s also one of the easiest. Just show your RBC Heritage ticket or badge at the gate during the hours of play, and then follow the signs on the bike path to
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the designated bicycle parking area near the main tournament entrance. Hilton Head Island is a silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community, according to the League of American Bicyclists, and the island is known for its bikefriendly beaches and scenic bike paths. It’s the perfect opportunity to take in some of the island’s best offerings—natural beauty, a family-friendly vibe and amazing golf—and to help protect the environment while you’re at it.
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3/23/12 1:42:25 PM
Golfer’s Guide Instruction by Andrew Rice
Today
Get the Most Out of Your Driver
Y
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ANDREW RICE
ou know the out-of-shape guy or little old lady you play with all the time, who airmails the driver 20 yards by you off every tee box? Or the golfer with the antique driver from 1981 who routinely takes aerial shots of your tee balls? Keep reading, because you’re finally going to learn how they are getting the job done. We would all like to hit the ball longer. Straighter is nice, but longer is better. When it comes to more yards off the tee, golfers always seem to focus on new technology or on strength and fitness, but the greatest gains can be made in how the club head is delivered to the ball. There is a good chance you can gain 15 yards or more with the club head speed you have, simply by learning how to deliver the club head to the golf ball correctly. If you’ve watched enough golf on television, you may have heard a term called attack angle.
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Attack angle refers to the angle of approach the club head takes, relative to the ground, as it impacts the ball. It essentially measures whether the club head travels toward or away from the ground as it strikes the ball. When it comes to distance, attack angle is even more important than club head speed, and as it relates almost completely to your golf swing, it is something you, the golfer, can change. The second term we’re going to focus on is club path. This term refers to the direction the club head is travelling relative to the target—either to the right or left at impact. My experience shows that most golfers prefer a draw, and for that reason we will also work toward generating a slightly in-to-out club path. Research has shown that the most efficient way to smash the driver is to strike the ball with an upward/ascending hit, with the club head traveling away from the ground. This movement encourages a higher launch, and with a well-fitted club leads to more roll once Here, I have a broad the ball comes back to earth. Ever heard base with the ball teed of high launch, low spin? Using TrackMan high and just inside the technology, scientists have been able to lead heel. I am set up determine that a golfer swinging at 90 to hit up, and I can rip miles per hour—slightly faster than the it from here. average male—with an attack angle of +5 degrees (up) will carry the ball almost 30 yards longer than the exact same golfer with an attack angle of -5 degrees (down). Now that’s a tangible difference. If you gain 30 yards off each tee shot, you will have made every golf course you play more than 400 yards shorter. The vast majority of us will benefit greatly from an upward strike with the big stick. As you can see, almost all the changes take place at address. Tee the ball high, and make sure it is not too far forward in your stance, as the farther forward it goes, the more we encourage an out-to-in or over-the-top club path. At address, you should have a sense that you are behind the ball and are preparing to swing
HiltonHead.GolfersGuide.com
3/23/12 1:44:12 PM
b e d s s s t s ft s k
t h d t a e d n o 0 e 5 t e s e. u y t n
s h, d t n u d g
uphill. In order to encourage an in-to-out strike, adjust your stance by moving the back foot, hip and shoulder inside the target line. In the swing, you will need to feel that you are staying behind the ball with your upper body as you aggressively drive the hips and weight over onto the front foot. This is where the “uphill” sense comes from—as the hips drive, the head stays back, and you create the body motion that allows for the club head to move up into the golf ball. Believe it or not, when you deliver the club head to the ball 5 degrees from the inside with a 5-degree upward attack angle, the club head is traveling straight for the target at impact (assuming you’re aligned correctly). This is a fantastic recipe for long and efficient tee shots. If you cannot seem to get the sense or feel for hitting up on the ball, it could well be that you are working your body incorrectly through impact. It is very common for golfers with tight hips or general flexibility problems to overuse the upper body and try to muscle the hit with their arms. This practice will always result in a downward, and thus inefficient, strike on the ball. Our goal is simply to get out what we are putting in. We’re looking to be efficient, but remember: It can be overdone. We want the club head to be moving a few degrees from the inside and a few degrees up, so take it easy and go slowly. I have had startling results getting golfers to execute these two simple keys with the driver. One golfer actually gained more than 50 yards. I know we could all benefit from a few extra yards, not to mention 50. Andrew Rice is the director of instruction at Berkeley Hall in Bluffton. He runs www.andrewricegolf.com and has written a book titled, It’s All About Impact. For information concerning lessons, he can be reached at (843) 247-4688 or andrew@andrewricegolf.com.
In this photo, the target line is indicated by the string on the ground. Notice how my right foot, hip and shoulder are “quietly” moved inside their left-side counterparts. This positioning creates additional space inside the ball, and I can crush it from the inside here.
Here you can see how I am working toward staying behind the ball with my upper body, yet allowing the middle and lower body to drive aggressively to the target.
To see the video that goes along with this article, please visit http://youtu.be/JFW2Zw67L1U.
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Golfer’s Guide Local Round-Up
Local
Knowledge The Hilton Head Island area is a natural habitat for pro golfers. Here’s a round-up of pro players with local ties:
PHOTOS COURTESY OF PGA TOUR (MEN) AND LPGA (WOMEN) All rankings are as of press time.
Kyle Stanley
Local Connection: Bluffton resident; golf pro at Berkeley Hall Golf Club, Bluffton Birthdate: Nov. 19, 1987 Official World Golf Ranking: 49 2012 PGA Tour Live Projected Money List Ranking: 1 Victories: 2012 Waste Management Phoenix Open Scoring Average: 69.43 (PGA Tour) On the Web: www.pgatour.com/golfers/030110/kyle-stanley and www.twitter.com/kylestanleygolf
Mark Anderson
Local Connection: Beaufort resident; golf pro at Secession Golf Club, Beaufort Birthdate: Feb. 14, 1986 2012 PGA Tour Live Projected Money List Ranking: 140 Scoring Averages: 71 (PGA Tour), 72.25 (Nationwide Tour) Charities: The LeVeen-Roach Scholarship Fund On the Web: www.pgatour.com/golfers/033120/mark-anderson and www.twitter.com/mark_andersonsc
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Kris Blanks
Local Connection: Former Bluffton resident; wife, Tami, was golf pro at Sea Pines Country Club Birthdate: Nov. 3, 1972 Official World Golf Ranking: 195 2012 PGA Tour Live Projected Money List Ranking: 171 Victories: 2008 Bank of America Open Scoring Average: 71.06 (PGA Tour) Charities: Golf Pros Beating Cancer, Inc. On the Web: www.pgatour.com/golfers/028087/kris-blanks and www.twitter.com/krisblanks
Brian Harman
Local Connection: Born in Savannah; graduate of Savannah Christian Prepatory School; St. Simons Island, Ga., resident; golf pro at Sea Island Golf Club, Sea Island, Ga. Birthdate: Jan. 19, 1987 Official World Golf Ranking: 607 2012 PGA Tour Live Projected Money List Ranking: 80 Scoring Average: 70 (PGA Tour) On the Web: www.pgatour.com/golfers/027644/brian-harman and www.twitter.com/harmanbrian
HiltonHead.GolfersGuide.com
3/23/12 2:02:06 PM
D.J. Trahan
Local Connection: Former Hilton Head Island resident; attended Hilton Head Island High School Birthdate: Dec. 18, 1980 Official World Golf Ranking: 192 2012 PGA Tour Live Projected Money List Ranking: 60 Victories: 2008 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic; 2006 Southern Farm Bureau Classic; 2004 Miccosukee Championship Scoring Average: 71 (PGA Tour) On the Web: www.pgatour.com/golfers/023788/dj-trahan and www.facebook.com/DJTrahanGolf
Chris Epperson
Local Connection: Hilton Head Island resident; born in Savannah; graduate of Savannah Christian Preparatory School and attended Armstrong Atlantic State University Birthdate: Oct. 27, 1982 Scoring Average: 73.42 (PGA Tour, 2011), 70.96 (Nationwide Tour, 2011) Charities: March of Dimes On the Web: www.pgatour.com/golfers/035086/ chris-epperson
Shanshan Feng
Local Connection: Hilton Head Island resident; former Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy student Birthdate: Aug. 5, 1989 LPGA Official Money List Ranking: 6 Rolex Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s World Golf Ranking: 12 Victories: 2012 World Ladies Championship; 2011 Meiji Chocolate Cup Scoring Average: 69.5
Let the experts at Lancaster help you find the golf community which fits your game. Former PGA professionals who know the Low Country, our gated Communities and golf memberships.
Reilley Rankin
Local Connection: Hilton Head Island resident; born and raised on Hilton Head; graduate of Hilton Head Island High School Birthdate: April 17, 1979 Rolex Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s World Golf Ranking: 239 Victories: 2003 Northwest Indiana FUTURES Golf Classic; 2003 Betty Puskar FUTURES Golf Classic Scoring Average: 73.16 (2011) Charities: Golf Fore Africa On the Web: www.reilleyrankin.com, www.facebook.com/reilleyrankin and www.twitter.com/reilleyrankin
Call John McMahon Broker
843.785.9500
www.hiltonheadhomes.com 1032 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head
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Golfer’s Guide Trends
Continued from p. 22
KR: What strengths will help you get there? What challenges do you foresee? KS: Well, I think my passion to be the best I can be, my work ethic and my desire to keep getting better are truly my strengths as a golfer. I just need to stay focused, disciplined and keeping working hard, and we will see what happens. This game has many ups and downs, and it can take you to the greatest heights and the lowest depths. Maintaining a great attitude regardless of what the game brings you is probably the greatest challenge.
What’s Johnson Wagner’s moustache Bright colors ECCO Golf Street Premier Shoe Smartphone GPS Irish travel White drivers Pinning Orchid Paulmeier ZipLine Hilton Head Station 300 The new Harris “Taj Ma-Teeter” 6 lanes on Hwy. 278 Dunkin’ Donuts Magnetic balance belts RBC Bank E-books on tablet Bluffton’s Olive Garden
The visor wig Jean shorts Matching shoes to accessories Rangefinder Cruises to the Bahamas Belly putters Winning Paula Deen Kiteboarding Wii bowling Food Lion closing 4 lanes at the Hilton Head Island bridge Flamingo’s Doughnut Cafe Magnetic balance bracelets Bank of America Bookshelves Pasta Garden ruins on Hwy. 278
What’s 30
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KR: Your profile on the PGA Tour website says you would like to play Pine Valley in New Jersey. Have you gotten to play there yet? Do you have plans to play it anytime soon? KS: No, I haven’t played Pine Valley and have no immediate plans to play. Someday I will get up there and play, and I am sure it will a great experience. KR: We know you’d like to win all four majors, but does one of them stand out to you as the most desirable win? KS: You’re right, I’d like to win them all, but would be satisfied with winning any one of them. But if I had to choose one, it would be the Masters. There is such an unbelievable tradition, aura and history about the Masters, Augusta National and all of the great champions that have worn the Green Jacket. I remember every year how excited I would be when the TV ads started running, promoting the Masters, and I remember always sitting glued to the TV set watching every round with my dad. To win at Augusta and wear the Green Jacket would be a dream come true, for sure. KR: What brought you here? Do you have a tight circle of friends here? How does the Hilton Head/Bluffton area support your development as a golfer? KS: Going to school at Clemson brought me to the Southeast, and Hilton Head is a place we used to vacation when my grandparents lived here. During college, I would spend many weekends on the island visiting. When I turned professional, living down here was an easy choice. I was comfortable with the area, the weather is great, and I have grown to develop many close friendships. Playing out of Berkeley Hall has been fantastic because they have wonderful golf courses and a great practice facility that allows me to prepare my best for the challenges of the PGA TOUR. In addition, the support I get from the members of Berkeley Hall, and for that matter the rest of the community, has been great. It is really a special place. KR: What are your hobbies when you’re not on the course? KS: I am a pretty hard worker and very focused on my profession. When I have an off week, I don’t like to do a lot, honestly. I catch up on missed sleep and generally just hang out and recharge until I leave for the next tournament. KR: What other sports and teams do you follow? Tell us about your connection to Gonzaga University. Are you a huge basketball fan? KS: I am a big Clemson fan obviously, and because of growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I am a huge Gonzaga basketball fan. Ever since I can remember, I have been a Zags fan and have watched them religiously since I was a small kid. Doesn’t mean I have any less love for Clemson!
HiltonHead.GolfersGuide.com
3/23/12 1:51:59 PM
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3/23/12 12:27:44 PM
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