SUPPLEMENT OF HILTON HEAD MONTHLY
DECEMBER 2012
Start of a Former IJGA student Shanshan Feng could spark a Chinese golf boom | p 124 www.golfersguide.com/hilton-head-island
Old Tabby Links | p 126
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Brown Golf Management | p 130
What’s Hot, What’s Not | p 131
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SHANSHAN FENG
A Trail FENG MAY SIGNAL DAWN OF CHINESE GOLF ERA by Lance Hanlin
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HEN SE RI PAK WON TWO MAJORS AS A ROOKIE IN 1998, IT SPARKED A GOLF REVOLUTION IN SOUTH KOREA. TODAY, WOMEN’S GOLF IS DOMINATED BY PLAYERS FROM THE SMALL MOUNTAINOUS COUNTRY.
South Korea’s much larger neighbor to the west is primed to have a similar type of explosion, with 23-yearold professional Shanshan Feng leading the charge. By winning the LPGA Championship in June, Feng became the first golfer from mainland China to win a major championship. She finished fifth in the Women’s World Golf Rankings. “I think I’m just lucky, you know?” Feng said. “There are good players from China now. I became the first one, but I’m sure there will be more people winning in the States and in the majors. I would say if Koreans can, Chinese can.” The sport is relatively new to the People’s Republic but is experiencing tremendous growth, swelling from just 50,000 golfers to more than three million in less than a decade. That number of golfers is projected to grow by another 20 percent over the next 10 years. Feng could do for golf what Yao Ming did for basketball in the world’s most populous country (around 1.3 billion). “The thing about the Asian culture, if they see something that works and is successful, they copy it,” 124
Feng’s coach Gary Gilchrist said. “They see somebody that has come to America, gone to an academy and had great success. They want to do the same thing.” Feng took up the sport at age 10 and came to the United States to train when she was 17, attending the Hilton Head Island-based International Junior Golf Academy, before it became the Hank Haney IJGA. She was considered one of the top junior prospects in China but wanted to improve her English and improve her game against the best players in the world. “Shanshan, or Jenny as we called her, was very focused on being the first person from China to be fully exempt on the LPGA Tour,” said Matt Fields, the current director of golf at the HHIJGA. “She had 100 percent belief it was going to happen and it would only be a matter of time.” After less than a year at the academy, Feng’s goal became a reality when she made it through qualifying school on her first attempt, becoming the first Chinese player on the LPGA Tour in 2007. She followed Gilchrist when he left the IJGA to open his own academy just outside of Orlando, Fla. She still
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INTERNATIONAL CONNECTION Since 1995, more than 2,000 junior golfers have trained at the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy. Many have gone on to play collegiate and professional golf. Here are a few notable alumni:
lives and trains there. “Her putting and chipping wasn’t all that strong back then,” Gilchrist said. “She had to develop a lot more variety around the greens. Watching her grow and mature as a person and as a golfer has been amazing.” After initially struggling to break through on the LPGA Tour, Feng headed back east to play on the LPGA of Japan Tour. “That pretty much turned her whole mental game around,” Gilchrist said. “In Japan, it’s pretty windy and it rains a lot. She’s good in that weather because she’s such a good ballstriker.” Feng won two Japan Tour events in 2011 and added another this May before returning to the United States for the LPGA Championship at Locust Hill Country Club in Pittsford, N.Y. In the final round, she fired a bogey-free 67 to win the tournament by two strokes. Her best finish in 16 previous majors was a tie for 22nd. “Earlier this year, I set two goals,” Feng said. “One was to win a tournament and the second was to finish top 10 in a major. I got two in one that week. I had never played well at Locust Hill but everything just came together. I found I actually like that course. It fits me.” Feng had eight top 10 finishes on the LPGA Tour this year, including a tie for fourth in the U.S. Women’s Open. Her season earnings were $1,101,147. She has continued to dominate the Japan Tour, posting three more wins including the Japan Women’s Open. She also won a Ladies European Tour event this year. Her future goals are to continue her success on the LPGA Tour and possibly play for her country in the 2016 Olympics. “She’s got an opportunity to win at least two or three more majors in her career,” said Gilchrist, who also trains several other top professionals. “I think she’s a person that could really relish the fact that she can be a light to the rest of Chinese golf in the near future.” Around 1.3 billion are watching. G
SHANSHAN FENG Class of 2007 Hometown: Guangzhou, China Highlights: Currently on the LPGA Tour. Won the 2012 LPGA Championship, becoming the first golfer from mainland China to earn a major. First and only Chinese player on the LPGA Tour. Ranked No. 5 in the Women’s World Golf Rankings. Earned $1,101,147 this season.
STEPHANIE MEADOW Class of 2010 Hometown: Jordanstown, Northern Ireland Highlights: Junior at the University of Alabama. Over the summer she clinched a Curtis Cup victory for Great Britain and Ireland and won the Ladies British Open Amateur Championship. Holds Alabama’s school record for tournament wins with five.
STAN GAUTIER Class of 2011 Hometown: Paris, France Highlights: Freshman at Arizona State University. Played for the European team in the 2008 Junior Ryder Cup and the 2001 Jacques Leglise. Was the youngest winner of the French National Amateur Championship in 2008 at age 15.
RIKA PARK Class of 2010 Hometown: Fujieda Shi-Shizouka, Japan Highlights: Sophomore at the University of Miami. Recorded a team-high seven top 20 finishes as a freshman and placed in the top 10 four times. Had the second-lowest stroke average on the team with a 75.91. Rolex Junior All-American.
MORGAN HOFFMAN Class of 2011 Born: Wyckoff, New Jersey Highlights: Currently on the Web.com Tour. Before turning professional, he held the No. 1 spot in the World Amateur Golf Rankings for a time in 2009 and played in that year’s Walker Cup. Played in 2010 and 2012 U.S. Opens.
MARIAJO URIBE Class of 2007 Hometown: Giron, Columbia Highlights: Currently on the LPGA Tour. Won the 2011 HSBC Brazil Cup. Tied for 10th in the 2008 U.S. Women's Open. Won 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur at age 17. Played college golf at UCLA and was an All-American first team selection in 2008 and 2009.
I.K. KIM Class of 2006 Hometown: Seoul, South Korea Highlights: Currently on LPGA Tour. Has won three LPGA Tour events – the 2008 Longs Drugs Challenge, the 2009 LPGA State Farm Classic and the 2010 Lorena Ochoa Invitational. She also won the 2009 Dubai Ladies Masters on the Ladies European Tour.
RICHARD WERENSKI Class of 2010 Hometown: South Hadley, Mass. Highlights: Junior at Georgia Tech. Over the summer, he won the Porter Cup at 17-under, the second-lowest score ever posted in the event. Two days later he finished 2nd in a U.S. Amateur qualifer in South Hadley. Qualified for every event in the spring and earned his best finish at the ACC Championship (T7).
SONG-HEE KIM Class of 2006 Hometown: Seoul, South Korea Highlights: Currently on the LPGA Tour. She has $3,661,520 in career earnings. Finished second in the 2010 LPGA Championship and third in the 2010 Kraft Nabisco Championship. Posted five wins on the Futures Tour.
MARTA SILVA ZAMORA Class of 2008 Hometown: Santiago de Compostela, Spain Highlights: Tabbed 2011 National Player of the Year by the National Golf Coaches Association after her senior year at the University of Georgia. Named 2011 SEC Golfer of the Year and 2009 SEC Freshman of the Year.
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SPRING ISLAND
RESTORED and
Refreshed
ARNOLD PALMER APPROVES RENOVATION OF OLD TABBY LINKS
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RNOLD PALMER WALKED OFF THE 18TH GREEN AT OLD TABBY LINKS AND PUT BOTH THUMBS IN THE AIR, SIGNALING HIS APPROVAL. “The Tabby Links live on, and it will live on for a long time,” Palmer proclaimed. The Arnold Palmer Design Company first opened the private, marsh-framed layout on Spring Island to much acclaim in 1992. The goal of this most recent renovation was to refresh the original design and restore its natural character, which had faded over the past two decades. The King felt his team, led by senior architect Brandon Johnson, accomplished that goal. “I think it’s a fantastic job,” Palmer said. “I know how hard ( Johnson) worked because every time I called him, he was here. I think everyone should be extremely proud. It has 126
always been great but it’s even greater now.” The seven-month, $4.5 million makeover began March 12. More than $2 million was spent on a new state-of-the-art irrigation system featuring high-density polyethylene pipe and 1,719 more sprinkler heads. “Before, we could probably water everything in about eight to 10 hours,” course superintendent Jay Gratton said. “Now, we’re looking at three to four hours. We’re putting water where we want to put the water. … It saves a lot more water and saves a lot more electricity.” The new system is expected to last 20 to 30 years. Will Palmer return for the next restoration? “I’m thinking about it,” he laughed. “Actually, I would love to be anywhere in 20 years.” The restoration plan also included upgrades to greens, areas around the greens, bunkers, fairways and roughs. All 18 greens were re-grassed with a new strain of Bermuda,
PHOTO COURTESY OF SPRING ISLAND
by Lance Hanlin
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A CALL TO NATURE: Old Tabby Links epitomizes Spring Island's nature-first philosophy. Neither a home nor another fairway can be seen from many of its stunning 18 holes.
eliminating the need for annual over-seeding. The MiniVerde also decreases the impact of the course on the surrounding ecosystem and adds to the lifespan of the greens. Some greens were repositioned to full sun areas, escaping the shade of growing trees. “For 20 years, we’ve looked at this golf course as a finished product,” Palmer said. “We had an opportunity to look at things to enhance the golf course – make it a little better. That’s what Brandon has done. The few things that weren’t perfect, he’s made perfect.” From a playability perspective, the course has renewed strategic value. Width off the tee now incorporates alternative angles of attack as a way to navigate towards the variety of new pin locations. As a result, the trees that surround the course may come into play if you find yourself on the wrong side of the fairway. Classic risk-reward decisions will also be encountered.
Heroic shots will entice the player and a myriad of recovery options around the greens will challenge one’s decision making. “Our intent is that all of this adds up to a fun and interesting golf course full of variety and shot options that will present new challenges and rewards in every round,” Johnson said. The course is part of a 3,000-acre nature preserve and residential community located midway between Hilton Head Island and Beaufort. Only 400 families live on the island, which also features a 30-acre equestrian facility with 35 miles of riding trails, tennis and fitness facilities, community boat docks and 33 fresh and saltwater lakes. “I think one of the big things that separates us in essence is a call to nature,” head golf professional Nathan Broyles said. “It’s a very warm membership and they love being outside. One of the things I noticed about this club in particular, if you see someone, they’re going to introduce themselves to you and say hello. There are no egos here.” G November December 2012
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The
KING
speaks
ARNOLD PALMER GIVES HIS TAKE ON CURRENT ISSUES By Lance Hanlin
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hen Arnold Palmer wants to order the half-tea, half-lemonade beverage named in his honor, does he ask for a me? Turns out, that’s exactly what he does. The 83-year-old golf icon was asked that and several other questions recently after giving final approval to his design company’s restoration of Old Tabby Links on Spring Island. On the future of belly putters on the PGA Tour: Palmer: My feeling and my opinion right now is that the anchored putter to the body will go. I can’t tell you that positively. I can tell you that I’ve talked to a lot of people in golf associations around the world and they are indicating the rules committee will come back and say you are not able to anchor your putter on the body. When will that come? Probably around the first of the year. Is he against the anchored putter? Palmer: I am. Having said that, if I putted better with an anchored putter when I was playing the tour, I would have used one. As long as it’s within the rules. I’m giving you my opinion on that, and in my opinion, there is not a place in golf for anchored putters. Has he tried using one? Palmer: Do you know how old I am? I’ve tried everything there is to try. I don’t feel an anchored putter is the way the game should be played. If you remember, Sam Sneed putted between his legs. They voted that out and he stopped doing it. It didn’t ruin his life and it didn’t stop his good golf. I feel the same about golfers that use an anchored putter. On the future of golf course architecture: Palmer: I think we’ll see shorter golf courses. An emphasis has been put on length because of the people hitting the ball so far. I think we’ll see shorter holes with more challenges. There for a while it got to four, six, eight sand traps on every hole. I think we’re going to see that diminish in coordination with more runoffs, similar to what (senior architect Brandon Johnson) has done here. I think that’s going to be the trend. On slowing the ball down for professionals: Palmer: We have got to slow the golf ball down. Other than maybe a few manufacturers, there aren’t many people that do not agree we need to slow it down. I would look for some news from the United States Golf Association, the PGA Tour and the PGA about that in the next few years. I think it’s inevitable. Should there be different rules for professionals and amateurs? Palmer: There has been talk about that. I don’t think it’s out of the question. My personal feeling is it’s something we shouldn’t do. The game is complicated enough right now with the rules as they are. Everything goes a lot better and smoother when there is one set of rules that everybody plays by. How is his golf game? Palmer: (Looks to his right and left) Who are you talking to? I’m warming up (laughs). Actually, other than what you see on television with the occasional charity event or something like that, I really haven’t played any this year. I am going to play in the father/son in Orlando in December with my second grandson, who hits it 10 miles. It’s unbelievable how far he hits it. After he hits that long drive, he puts his driver down, picks me up and carries me (laughs).
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BROWN GOLF MANAGEMENT
Membership has its privileges FREE, UNLIMITED PRIVATE GOLF LESSONS FOR MEMBERS AT ISLAND WEST, PINECREST by Lance Hanlin
COURSE: Island West Golf Club LOCATION: 49 Island West Drive, Bluffton ARCHITECTS: Fuzzy Zoeller, Clyde Johnson PAR: 72 • RATING/SLOPE: 67.0/115 to 73.2/140 YARDAGE: 4856 to 6803 CURRENT LOCAL RATE: $35 morning, $25 afternoon CONTACT: 843-815-6660, www.browngolfmanagement.com THE SKINNY: “Playability” is the password at Island West. The course is very tight from the championship tees and a bit more generous as you move forward. All players have the chance to make risk-reward choices with a wide variety of wetland carries and challenging approaches. The course winds through a peaceful neighborhood with vibrant wildlife. Wild turkey and deer are frequently seen. If you haven’t played the course since Brown Golf Management took over in August of 2011 give it a try. Conditions will surprise you, in a good way. It’s a good course at a great price.
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T ISLAND WEST AND PINECREST, MEMBERSHIP DEFINITELY HAS ITS PRIVILEGES. IN THE SPRING AND FALL OF 2011, BROWN GOLF MANAGEMENT PURCHASED THE TWO POPULAR BLUFFTON GOLF COURSES. Owner John Brown immediately implemented an alluring enrollment program, offering members access to both courses, all practice facilities and complimentary golf lessons. To head up the golf lesson program, Brown Golf hired teaching professional Terry Miskolczi. Better known as Canada’s Golf Doctor, Miskolczi is an accomplished tour player with more than 500 published instructional articles. He is a Kinesiology graduate of Bowling Green State University of Ohio and has more than 40 years of experience developing golf and fitness programs for professional athletes, business executives and recreational golfers. “If you want to learn the game of golf or have ‘The Doc’ keep an eye on your game year-round this is a great opportunity,” Miskolczi said. Brown Golf is offering single memberships at $150 per month and family memberships for $175 a month. Along with instructing Brown Golf members, Miskolczi is also providing his “Prescriptions for Success” free of charge to the general public. Programs start in 2013. More information is available online at www.browngolfmanagement.com or by calling 843-815-6660. “Brown Golf is dedicated to growing the game of golf through their ‘Golf is Everyone’s Game’ initiative,” Miskolczi said. 130
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COURSE: Pinecrest Golf Club LOCATION: 1 Pinecrest Way, Bluffton ARCHITECT: Rocky Roquemore PAR: 72 • RATING/SLOPE: 65.4/116 to 74.7/139 YARDAGE: 5163 to 7089 CURRENT LOCAL RATE: $35 morning, $25 afternoon CONTACT: 843-757-8960, www.browngolfmanagement.com THE SKINNY: Home course for the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy and the Professional Golfers Career College, Pinecrest is a busy place. The course winds through oaks, pines and well-placed lagoons. The course offers both the average and accomplished player a well thought out and challenging layout with multiple sets of tees. The 9th and 18th holes are the centerpiece of the layout, doglegging around a large lake. Located directly off Bluffton Parkway, Pinecrest also offers one of the best practice facilities in the area with a double-ended grass driving range, a chipping and bunker area and two putting greens.
11/23/12 3:00 PM
| HOT | Pinnacle releases colorful Bling golf balls. Orange, yellow, pink and violet. OH BEHAVE!
| NOT | WHAT’S
HOT WHAT’S
A Christmas Story
Tiger Woods begins construction on Diamante (diamond) course in Mexico
The Kooler Club, a device that lets golfers sneak drinks on the links
NOT
Champions Tour player Mark Wiebe’s colorful language captured by Golf Channel mics. OH $%#@!
Silent Night, Deadly Night
Purchasing a “Kobe Special” (diamond, aka House on a Finger)
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF GOLF
<< >>
The Uro Club, a device that lets sneaky golfers pee at the tee
November 2012
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