Golf Today NW-October 2010 Issue

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CELEBRATING 23 YEARS IN THE WEST, NOW IN THE NORTHWEST! • WWW.GOLFTODAYNW.COM • NUMBER 20 • OCTOBER 2010

Loews Lake Las Vegas Go! Stay! Play! See page 2 for details

Portland Area Muni’s—Par For The Pocketbook

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Northwest Fall Focus: Hawaii’s Kauai Island…& Others 5 Critical Elements You Need to ‘Zone In’ on the Mental Game!

And Much, Much More!

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OCTOBER 2010

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OCTOBER 2010

ON THE COVER • OCTOBER 2010: As we reluctantly head into the inevitable fall and winter seasons, many of us look to warmer and sunnier climes to satisfy our golf fix. Loews Lake Las Vegas fits the bill to a tee and offers a variety of amenities for golfers and non-golfers including a full-service salon and spa, four restaurants as well as two pools and lake activities. Oh, and then there is the golf. The AAA Four Diamond resort has an exclusive agreement with the neighboring award-winning par 71, 6,917-yard Jack Nicklaus Golf Club at South Shore. Golfers can now play the same course as Natalie Gulbis, LPGA tournament winning professional golfer and 10-year Lake Las Vegas resident and club member. Check out page 2 and 16 to learn more about Loews Lake Las Vegas incredible package deals for Northwest golfers! –Cameron Healey, Publisher/Editor

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

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HMM. WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OCTOBER? AHA, THE RYDER CUP…OF COURSE!

By Cameron Healey

GET SEPARATE TO GET IT TOGETHER…

By Diana Del Garbino

NORTHWEST FALL FOCUS: HAWAII’S KAUAI ISLAND…& OTHERS

By Tony Dear

FIVE CRITICAL ELEMENTS YOU NEED TO ‘ZONE IN’ ON THE MENTAL GAME!

By Bob Duncan

N OT E S F R O M T H E G O L F I N G N E W B I E PRESENTED BY GOLFTEC By Sydney Healey

PORTLAND AREA MUNI’SPAR FOR THE POCKETBOOK

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By Cliff Cowley

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By Cliff Cowley

THE ‘OTHER’ COURSE AT TPC SCOTTSDALE

OCTOBER 2010

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MALAYSIA: BECOMING A LEADING GOLF DESTINATION

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LOEWS LAKE LAS VEGAS - GO! STAY! PLAY!

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CARRY YOUR CLUBS IN STYLE WITH CADILLAC’S NEW CTS SPORT WAGON

By Cameron Healey

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CIRCLING RAVEN GOLF CLUB, DIRECTOR OF GOLF TOM DAVIDSON NAMED PGA MERCHANDISER OF THE YEAR

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SANTIAGO NAMED HP SCHOLASTIC JUNIOR ALLAMERICAN

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INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: COUNTRY CLUBS FACE ONGOING CHALLENGES IN THE NEW ECONOMY

By Mike Rosas

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CRIMP CAPTURES WSGA SENIOR MEN’S AMATEUR TITLE; RICHARDS SURVIVES 4MAN PLAYOFF TO WIN 2ND STRAIGHT SUPER SENIOR TITLE

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THE PRO’S CORNER BRENT SANTONI

GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

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Hmm. What is Happening In October? Aha, The Ryder Cup…Of Course! by CAMERON HEALEY

Yes, by the time you read this magazine, the 2010 Ryder Cup held at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales will have been decided; however, the excitement and anticipation of the event nevertheless has me bouncing off the walls. The Ryder Cup, in my mind, is special not because we are watching the world’s best golfers in their prime (not to mention the incredible golf resumes each player boasts) but rather the intense pride and patriotism that come with rep-

resenting your country. While golf is in many respects one of the most individual sports there is, the Ryder Cup personifies the fostering of respect, sportsmanship and team spirit. Personal egos are, for the most part, shelved and the players’ goals are to win for your team, not for yourself. You better believe, however, that each and every one of the players wants to win more than anything regardless of the opponent. Unlike the Tour, the pressure to perform on a Ryder Cup team is not manifested as you step onto the first tee, but rather staring down a 6 footer to win the match in front of thousands and many more millions watching at home precariously perched on the edge of their easy chairs! Ooh, I cannot wait! I’m also looking forward to the customary opening ceremony remarks, especially if they are anything like Team Europe Captain Nick Faldo’s challenge to the U.S. during his opening address at the Valhalla Golf Club in 2008, “…are you ready to rumble in the jungle.” I suspect both Montgomerie’s and Pavin’s address will be a little more circumspect. The Welsh have been planning for this event for years. The

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Twenty Ten Course at The Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, South Wales, opened in July 2007 and measures 7493 yards from the tips with a par of 71. Now will that help big-hitting rookies such as Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson? Maybe. According to some pundits, the way the course is designed with multiple doglegs, water coming into play on nine holes, and gnarly fescue rough, Celtic Manor should create some exciting riskand-reward opportunities; however, if the Welsh weather fails to cooperate, players will likely be rewarded by keeping the ball in play and down the middle. How will rookies Matt Kuchar, Bubba Watson, and Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Jeff Overton and Team Europe’s Ross Fisher, Peter Hanson, Martin Kaymer, Rory McIlroy, Edoardo Molinari, Francesco Molinari fare under the intense pressure and international spotlight? We’ll just have to wait and see. Oh, and let’s not forget about Captain’s Pick Tiger Woods presence either! WHAT’S NEW? Earlier this month, I learned about a

creative program that Carnation Golf Course in Snoqualmie, WA has made available to golfers and non-golfers alike. Yes, given the relative struggles that the golf industry has faced, I found it refreshing to learn about a golf course’s efforts to fully use and make their golf course available to the public. Have you hear about something similar in your area? Here are the nuts and bolts: Carnation Golf Course, a.k.a. “The Nation”, is opening their front nine to the public and canine friends for “Yappy-Hour”, beginning October 10th. Yep, you read it right. Yappy Hour will run Sunday afternoons at 4pm and Monday nights after 5:30pm. During Yappy Hours, the golf course’s back-9 and practice range will be open to all golfers and the restaurant, KAT’s Grill, will be open for dinner and offering lots of food and beverage specials…and dog treats! Throw in NFL football on Sunday and Monday Nights, play golf, or take a walk in the park with your best friend. What’s not to like? As owner Chad Tachell explains, he wants to expand Carnation Golf Course to be more than just a golf continued on page 31

OCTOBER 2010

OCTOBER 2010

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Get Separate To Get It Together…. by DIANA DEL GARBINO

Your fitness is your fast track to improving your swing! You, just like so many others, want to swing like a pro but are perhaps lacking strength and ease in you swing. When you swing the club there are three major areas of focus: 1. The upper body from the hips up through the hands. 2. The lower body from the hips on down to the feet. 3. The hips. Each of these areas are a separate components and all are contributing an equal amount of effort in your

swing. Think of a coil and how each piece is separated and yet they all work together as one fluid unit. As they unwind they are working together as one unit to release in a pre-determined sequence to give the desired outcome, speed, accuracy and power. This is no different than what your body is capable of doing to give you the optimum ball strike each time. Testing to see if you have separation is key to a more consistent golf swing. Remember if your not testing, it’s just a guess. This is your body and your swing, so don’t let anyone “guess” what you need. Those on the professional golf circuit never guess, so why would you? You deserve the best! Upper torso rotation: Stand in front of a mirror. Get into a 5 or 6 iron position and cross your arms over your chest. Rotate your upper body, from the hips up, without moving the lower body. See if you have movement in your lower body or if you notice that you are pulling more with one shoulder than the other. Turn as far as you can in each direction without the hips moving. Hip rotation: Stand in front of a mirror. Get into a 5 or 6 iron position and cross your arms over your chest. Rotate just your lower body. Do not allow movement from your upper body. Watch that your upper body does not pull as your hips rotate. Also

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make sure you are moving in a rotary movement and not from side to side. Let’s address how this is going to make you stronger for your swing. As you complete the tests above, you will be able to pinpoint the area of weakness. If your hips cannot move without the upper body rotating, then you are going to lose power because the sequence of the hips turning first will be lost. If you can not rotate the upper body without the lower body rotating then you can not get enough rotation in your backswing to create that lag time that is needed for more power and distance. The muscles in your body are like road over a bridge. The bridge’s road has to be strong from end to end otherwise if there is a weakness anywhere in the bridge, it will fall. By locating those weaknesses in your body and fixing them will allow you to keep your swing as strong as possible. Keep in mind the three separate areas we are looking at, upper body, lower body and hips. When the separate muscle groups are strong and come together in your swing the whole body will become stronger and then there is less room for compensation, overuse and injury. Abdominal muscles are only one group of muscles used in the golf swing. Most golfers think “Core” is the only group to work, but the body is a 3-dimensional,

layered structure. Do you know that your upper back is also used in your backswing? Did you know not using the back shoulder muscles can cause overuse of the muscles in the front of the shoulders? There are a lot of factors to think about in your swing, but start with the two tests above and build a workout around those. Remember the hip swing faults can be slide-and-sway, and when the hips are weak they will not lead the swing, creating less power and less distance. Work your hips, back and glutes for a better swing. These are just two of the 25 tests performed by a Titleist Performance Institute golf fitness instructor. Make sure you’re looking at all the different angles, muscle groups and positions that make up your golf swing. Find the weakness and then train hard to strengthen, stretch and perfect the sequence needed to get you more consistent, stronger and longer drives! Diana Del Garbino is a certified golf fitness instructor through the Titleist Performance Institute who coaches beginner through advanced golfers at Muscles in Motion-Professional training studio in Lake Oswego, Oregon. For more information about the program visit www.mymusclesinmotion. com.

OCTOBER 2010

Northwest Fall Focus: Hawaii’s Kauai Island…& Others By TONY DEAR Jack Nicklaus flew into Kauai’s Lihue International Airport on Friday August 20th. Scott Ashworth was there to meet him. “I really wasn’t too nervous even though he was my childhood idol and has always been my favorite golfer,” Ashworth says. “The only time I was nervous, in fact, was when I drove out on the runway to pick him up after he landed in his jet.” The Golden Bear was on the Garden

Kiele played through some fairly lush vegetation before heading for the airport and then the ocean at the start of the back nine. Its most invigorating hole was undoubtedly the old Par 3 13th which played from a high promontory to a slightly lower promontory, 200 yards away, and which was the subject of numerous calendars and promotional publications for both the resort and the island. As picturesque

Hole #16 Kauai Lagoons Golf Club Isle, the westernmost point of the Hawaiian archipelago, to inspect progress on work being carried out to renovate, remodel, reshape and reform the Kiele and Mokihana Courses at Kauai Lagoons, two 18-hole signature, but very different, layouts that originally opened in 1988. Ashworth, Kauai Lagoon’s Director of Golf, was on hand for the four-hour tour. “I was fortunate to be close to Mr. Nicklaus the whole way round and give him feedback when asked,” he says. “He was very engaging and excited about all the changes, and I was amazed at his energy and passion as he talked about them. It was really a great experience.” Those that played both courses before the transformation began a few years ago (and stopped and started again because of the faltering economy), know that Kiele was the star, Mokihana the humble sidekick. Strictly speaking, both were ‘Resort’ courses, but Kiele was definitely designed for the better resort golfer while Mokihana was by far the ‘resortier’ of the two, preferred by more casual practitioners. OCTOBER 2010

a hole as any in the world, Nicklaus maintains that pictures never do it justice. Unfortunately, the 18 holes that are currently in play (the former Kiele front nine and nine from the old Mokihana) do not include this hole, a regrettable but unavoidable part of the renovations.“Visitors are excited about the changes, but certainly disappointed they don’t get to play the Ocean Nine,” says Ashworth. “However, the Kiele Front Nine is in great shape as are the other nine from the Mokihana.” The three-phase redevelopment is a complex one involving the creation of four entirely new holes, much re-routing, a couple of shut-downs and re-openings, re-turfing, grow-ins, new greens, new drainage and new bunkers. In attempting to describe details of the changes, some publications have left their readers wondering what on Earth is going on at Kauai Lagoons and what the result of all this upheaval might be. And in speaking with various members of the course’s staff, it’s clear that even some of them are not entirely clear. What is certain, however,

is that by the end of 2013, Kauai Lagoons will have 27 immaculate, Jack Nicklausdesigned holes made up of three nines called - no, hang on, no one is certain yet what the names of the nines will be, but several possibilities have been mentioned - ‘Kiele Ocean’, ‘Kiele Lagoons’, ‘Kiele Mountain’, ‘Kiele Mauka’, ‘Kiele Kai’. The Ocean nine, formed primarily by Kiele’s old back nine, will open in May of next year and feature possibly the finest stretch of seaside holes in the Aloha State. The old 13th happily remains in tact (“no changes needed there,” says Nicklaus) but becomes the 14th, the 15th will be a new hole that sweeps round an anticlockwise curve in Kalapaki Bay, while the 16th will still be the glorious short Par 4 that has filled this position on the scorecard since the day Kauai Lagoons opened. “I honestly believe this will be one of the best, if not the best, nine holes of golf in Hawaii,” says Ashworth.“It will boast amazing views and a half-mile stretch of ocean holes. And though it’s been a tough few years, we know what we are going to have, ultimately, a spectacular Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course.” The man himself likes what he sees, saying a course that already ranked high will rank “just that much higher” when the work is complete. “Kiele always was one of my favorite courses,” he says.“And what they are doing to enhance it makes a lot of sense.” Kauai Lagoons may have lost some of its pulling power during the renovation, but denying it a place on your Kauai golf itinerary would be like landing VIP tickets to the Super Bowl but giving it a miss because Brett Favre, Drew Brees, Tom Brady or whoever your favorite player was had broken his finger in training and been told not to play. It’s still a wild, eyeopening experience for the winter northwest golfer accustomed to playing on wet fairways under heavy skies. In fact, even

Our feature story focuses on Kauai, but we couldn’t leave the Aloha State without mentioning one of our favorite golf destinations on the island of Maui. Wailea Golf Club, in the Valley Isle’s southwest corner, possesses three of Hawaii’s most popular courses – Blue, designed by Arthur Snyder, opened in 1971, and affectionately known as ‘Old Blue’, and two Robert Trent Jones Jr. beauties – Gold, which opened in 1994 and which hosted the Champions Tour Skins Game for seven years (2001-2007), and the most popular round of the three, Emerald. Opened a year earlier than Gold, Emerald enjoys views of the Pacific Ocean and 10,023ft Mt Haleakala from virtually every hole. Bougainvillea, birds-of-paradise and the red bell-like flowers of the firecracker plant abound, giving the course an exotic quality you’re unlikely to find in Tacoma, Seattle or Everett. At 6,825 yards, Emerald is noted for its women-friendly design (few forced carries, generous fairways), but, though not terribly long, its green complexes demand a quality short game, so it’s certainly no pushover. A new Bev Gannon restaurant – Gannon’s - just opened at the Gold and Emerald clubhouse (Blue has a separate clubhouse) which makes a visit to Wailea even more tempting.

Useful Web Sites waileagolf.com gannonsrestaurant.com

without its sublime oceanside Par 3, it still ranks as a Kauai must-play, and certainly not just because the island only possesses seven courses right now and you’ve come such a long way to play them. Kauai Lagoons is not the only course on the island that is, or has been, undergoing (or, indeed, has undergone) some major changes. The 27-hole Makai Course at Princeville on the island’s north coast always played second fiddle to the resort’s daunting Prince Course. But when Starwood, which manages the resort, decided with its owners Princeville Associates - a partnership that includes Morgan Stanley and Connecticut-based continued on page 31

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5 Critical Elements You Need to ‘Zone In’ on the Mental Game! by BOB DUNCAN

Have you heard about the ‘Zone’? It’s that abstract part of any sport that players are seeking in which ultimate proficiency is achieved – and they know it when they get into it. But, how do you find it, and what’s holding you back? Here are five critical elements you need to address to get closer to the ‘Zone’: 1) Attitude: A Beginner’s Mind! Remember when you or your kids were first learning to golf? Trademark bright eyes

and a cheerful desire to really become good at the game is what allowed you to fall in love with the game and learn. Beginners are open to almost anything, free from conventional habits, and often times don’t realize their own outstanding potential. On several occasions, I’ve seen beginners hit great shots, and because they have no reference they have no idea how good those shots were. One beginner lady golfer I worked with this summer was hitting a driver 180 - 200 yards dead straight after a mere 40 minutes of instruction. Without knowing what ‘good’ was, she was producing great shots but there was little recognition or angst because she was in learning mode, complimented by a good attitude. Without a good attitude you cannot be open-minded to possibilities. At Tetherow Golf Club, there are often multiple ways to play shots because of the tight lie conditions and slopes. To succeed as an experienced golfer, you need to see ‘beyond’ the straight shots and use the conditions to your advantage. In one case I took a very experienced group to

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a 100-yard shot that was downhill and downwind, and no one could get the ball to stop on the green – until we tried a putter! Then everyone easily hit it within 30 feet. Attitude: Beginner’s Mind = Open to Possibilities! 2) Equipment: You need clubs that fit for a good swing (that you can make! See #3) If the clubs don’t fit, you’re going to learn a bad swing. Combine clubs that fit, a bad swing, and good instruction and what do you have? Performance you can rely on! Poorly fitted equipment is the #1 reason people quit the game. They really don’t quit because they can’t make a good swing. They quit because they make a good swing and don’t get rewarded by the club! Attitude + Equipment = Potential. 3) Swing: Notice that swing is #3 on the list? A good, effective swing isn’t always perfect – take a look at Jim Furyk, Corey Pavin, John Daly, and even Arnold Palmer and Lee Trevino. They sure don’t look great in their movements, but they sure produced great results! Taking into account your strength,

flexibility, and experience, teaching you the exact positions that Tiger Woods uses might be futile. Learning what you do best and how to refine it is often the best way to proceed. Don’t get me wrong; we can learn from the movements of great players, but everyone has unique abilities and tendencies. Your instructor should work with your abilities, and not against them. This means that improvements should be effective rather than simply ‘textbook’. Attitude + Equipment + Swing = Minimal Proficiency. 4) Knowledge: An understanding of what makes a ball go off line. In Your Swing: Don’t focus solely on trying to make a perfect swing. Some people might say I’ve just committed golf blasphemy! Not so. You need to learn how to make the ball go to the right and to the left for a few reasons: 1. So you know how to do it. 2. So you know what to correct when you want to hit it straight. Everyone wants to know what causes the ball to curve so they can avoid it. But, continued on page 27

OCTOBER 2010

Presented by

by SYDNEY HEALEY Is it bad to admit that my four-year-old son can golf better than me? Well, he can and I apologize to my neighbors who frequently find golf balls in their backyard as a result of his effortless swing. While his swing may be due to the length of the long clubs he’s using, the wide arc of his swing is done without thought or reflection. He naturally seems to keep his lower body quiet and allow his upper body to bring the power to his connection with the ball. I wish I could say the same! But I’m learning, right? Brett Wilkinson provided another fantastic lesson at GolfTEC in Bellevue a few weeks ago, and while he had to remind me of some bad habits I was committing, we

object just beyond to the right of your golf ball. When bringing your club back, try to let the head of your club “follow” that stick straight back until it reaches the bottle before pivoting, or moving to the inside. This will promote more back swing width and a healthier swing arc. That may sound a little odd, but it truly improved the control of my swing and the resulting contact with the ball. We

were able to then focus on my lower body stance and movement. As a newbie, I am keenly aware that a million things must be right to make a stroke good. Balance, weight distribution on both feet, posture, clubface position, grip, hip alignment, shoulder tilt, focus…and these are just the factors we can control! I’m anxious to feel much more natural about my swing so I can move onto the things I won’t be

able to control out on the course. Thanks to Brett and his wonderful coaching, I’ll get there soon. And thanks to my son and the smile on his face when he sends yet another ball high over our fence line, I know it won’t be long before I find that level of enjoyment doing it myself! For more information about the GolfTEC experience, please visit page 34.

were able to focus in on what a sound swing should be. I was guilty of closing and curving my back swing too sharply to the inside. Add the over pivoting of my lower body and, as you can imagine, the result was a disaster. I rarely feel embarrassed, but I did a little in this situation. The ever-patient Brett didn’t give up on me and, with patience and enthusiasm, was able to provide me with a very simple exercise to help me understand when I should initiate my shoulder turn. End result was an improved swing that felt a little more natural. All you need to do is take a yard-stick and place it about 4 or 6 inches from the tee, perpendicular to your feet at address so that the length of the stick (for you right-handers) is to your right. Place a water bottle or another OCTOBER 2010

GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

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Portland Area Muni’s—Par For The Pocketbook by CLIFF COWLEY Portland is known for its variety. Portland, the “City of Roses,” is home to Blazers basketball, fine music halls, breweries, and trendy shops. It is also the place for great golf experiences at affordable prices. Let me let you in on some courses that not only offer fun and challenging golf, but also easy on the pocketbook. Lake Oswego Public Golf Course Yardage: 2538 Par 54 If you are traveling north to Portland, be sure to stop in at Lake Oswego Golf Course. Just minutes out of South Portland, Lake Oswego Golf Course promises fun for the whole family. The course has been called one of Lake Oswego’s little treasures. The course is a beautifully maintained, city owned, 18-hole, Par-3 facility with holes ranging from 74-179 yards. The hillside layout offers consistent, generous lay fairways, and postage stamp, contoured greens. Lost Dog Creek meanders among fir, cedar, and maple trees, offering a colorful challenge through the back nine. Better players can hone their

short game, while the short yardage provides a perfect learning environment for beginner and intermediate golfers. The golf course is comfortable for players of all ability levels to enjoy a challenging recreational experience. Where else can you get 18 opportunities for a hole-in-one in just one round? I like it because it is a quick play. I can get 18 holes in without my wife finding out (shhhh, don’t tell!). Tom Mueller and his staff are friendly and courteous. They make you feel like you are home. The rates are incredibly reasonable. Even during peak season, you can pick up 18 holes

GET YOUR SHORT GAME ON!

for $26.00. This is a beautiful course at an affordable price. The City of Portland owns five courses that will test the best, soothe the golf junkie, and cater to the golfing family without taking a chunk out of anyone’s pocket book. The courses are conveniently located around the metro area offering unparalleled access to the traveler and the local alike. Portland Public Golf has been meeting the recreation and golf needs of the Portland community since 1917. Every year, over 400,000 rounds are played on the city’s courses.

At Lake Oswego Public Golf Course Open Daily and throughout the winter

Twilight rates after 12pm, Great low winter play rates!

LAKE OSWEGO GOLF COURSE & PRACTICE RANGE •

“One of the finest par 3 courses I’ve ever seen” National Golf Foundation Consultant

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Play more holes in less time!

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Lighted covered practice range with heated spaces available

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Group & individual instruction

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Club rental & power cart rental

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Mens, Ladies and Junior Groups

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Blue Coyote Cafe

503-636-8228 For tee times & more information

visit www.lakeoswegogolf.org 12 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

Rose City Golf Course Yardage: Blues 6,520 Whites 6,133 Reds 5,582 Par 72/73 Built in 1923, Rose City Golf Course is the second oldest course in the city of Portland. With its majestic tree lined fairways, the course is both playable and challenging for players of all levels. Rose City has a rich history. It was the first landing field for airplanes in the vicinity. It has also been home to the Portland Country Club. The first nine holes were once a racetrack, where the American Legion featured a head-on collision between two locomotives. Today, instead of flights landing on the runway, and iron behemoths crashing on the raceway, it has Top Flites landing on greens and irons crashing in fairways. Home to the Iceberg Open since 1952,

and the Portland City Best Ball Tournament, this golf course is like walking in a park. The mature evergreen and deciduous trees that line the fairways add to the challenge of the course and its beauty. Notable holes are #’s 8 and 12, two “PGATour-long” par 3’s at 216 and 205 yards, respectively. The 17th and 18th holes are said to be the best finishing holes in Portland. You’ll love playing this “old” course that caters to the classic golf experience. The clubhouse, a beautiful brick building with steep pitched roofs, is stocked with everything you need for golf, from tees to clubs. Before or after your round, you can relax in the grill area where breakfast, lunch and snacks are available every day. Rates are affordable. Even in the peak season, you can play 18 holes with a cart for under $50.00. Rose City is a must play. Red Tail Golf Course Yardage: Blacks 7,107 Blues 6,682 Whites 6,267 Reds 5,601 Par 72 Red Tail opened for play in 1968, and was originally called Progress Downs. In 1999, the course was completely redesigned by Portland Public Golf Manager John Zoller into a 7,100 yard, championship 18-hole course complete with a covered, lighted driving range. It was renamed Red Tail Golf Course in honor continued on page 21

OCTOBER 2010

The best tee times, The best golf courses, The best prices. Visit today! Follow us on twitter: @golfnownw OCTOBER 2010

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The ‘Other’ Course at TPC Scottsdale by CLIFF COWLEY Everyone has heard about Tournament Players Club (TPC) courses. Like TPC Sawgrass, where the PGA Tour holds the Players’ Championship every year, and TPC Deere Run, site of the John Deere Classic, not to mention TPC Los Colinas, host to the Byron Nelson Championship, and then, of course, there’s TPC Scotts-

playability. From the tips, the par 71 course is a long 7,115 yards. The blue and the white are 6,653 and 6,127, respectively. The undulating fairways have fairly tight lies, but the ball stands up well on the expertly manicured Bermuda. The greens are smooth, fast and true. Bunkers are strategically placed, but not difficult to avoid if you

use good course management (and we all play smart--uh huh--yep, sure we do). Originally, the course was built and owned by the city of Scottsdale, then, TPC leased the property from the city, forming a lasting and profitable partnership. In 2007, the course was redesigned by Randy Heckenkemper. According to Heckenkemper, he designed the course to “fit in with the natural desert terrain.” Indeed, the course winds its way through myriad natural ravines, and low running foot hills offering five par-3’s, and a variety of par-4’s and par-5’s, allowing golfers of all skill levels a golf experience they will not soon forget. The literal variety of holes on the course, with no two being alike, make this golf gem a “must play” at prices commensurate with municipal golf facilities and comfortable on the regular golfer’s pocket book. Depending on how much risk/reward they choose to undertake, golfers can execute a variety of shots throughout the course, providing a different experience each time they play. “This is not your typical resort course,” Heckenkemper says. “Our vision was to provide public golfers with a TOURcaliber course that balances strategy with design, so as not to favor any one type of player.” The course lives up to its designer’s wish. Right off the bat, or box, the starter continued on page 32

dale, home of the PGA TOUR’s Waste Management Open. Yeah, you know the one, the Stadium Course. The one that has a stadium of bleachers on the 16th hole, where raucous fans gather in Scottsdale, Arizona to cheer, or jeer, the players depending on how well they execute their shot on the short par three. It’s “un”classic golf. A step away from the norm. A chance for fans to do more than the proverbial golf clap. If you’re like me, as you watch the events at the TPC courses, you’ve said to yourself, “I’d like to be there right now. In fact, I’d like to play that course, just so I can say I did.” Yeah, it would be nice, but true to form, by now you know I search out the gems. I find the courses you REALLY LIKE when you play them, not the ones you think you’d like to play. I’m not saying don’t play the Stadium Course. And, I don’t want to take anything away from its charm, or ability to provide you with a golf experience that will leave you breathless and satisfied after your round. But, right next door to the Stadium Course is “the other course,” the TPC Champions Course. Don’t pass it up when you travel to TPC Scottsdale. Nestled in the Sonoran Desert, and guarded by the McDowell mountains, the Champions Course rivals the more famous Stadium Course in both beauty and

14 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

OCTOBER 2010

Malaysia: Becoming a Leading Golf Destination Malaysia has long been recognized as a land full of ancient culture, alluring wonders, and amazing cuisine. Now, the nation is vying for one more compelling activity to add to its long list of reasons to visit: Golf. The country made history recently when both the PGA TOUR and LPGA announced tournaments would be held in Malaysia. “This is indeed very exciting for the PGA TOUR to be able to venture into Southeast Asia, an opportunity made possible through the commitment shown by the Malaysian government, the organizational capabilities of Carbon Worldwide and PGA Promotions of Malaysia, and access to a world-class golf facility in The Mines Resort & Golf Club,â€? said PGA TOUR Vice President of Business Development, Matthew Rapp. He added, “Southeast Asia has great potential for burgeoning growth in golf, and we are extremely pleased to take this signiďŹ cant ďŹ rst step into the marketplace.â€? Malaysia has an incredible array of golf courses spread throughout the country, from city landscapes surrounded with gleaming skyscrapers to lush jungles— monkeys and exotic birds included. Many

!

of these beautiful courses were created by world-renowned designers such as Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent-Jones, Max Wexler, and Ted Parslow. “Malaysia is rapidly emerging as Asia’s leading golf destination, with over 200 golf courses currently av a i l abl e a ro u n d the country,â€? said the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Y.A.B. Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak. He added, “It has bloomed as the ideal destination for combining a memorable vacation with an exciting game of golf; and the hosting of a PGA TOUR event is testimony to Malaysia’s strong golďŹ ng.â€? The PGA TOUR will introduce the Asia PaciďŹ c Golf Classic, Malaysia 2010 at The Mines Resort & Golf Club from October 28 - 31, 2010, the ďŹ rst multiyear agreement in Southeast Asia. The in-

augural event will feature 40 international players with a USD $6 million purse, with another USD $1 million going to the winner.

The LPGA inaugural Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia will be played at the impressive Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) from October 22 - 24, 2010. The three-year agreement tournament will feature the top 50 LPGA members from the OďŹƒcial Money List

and 10 sponsor exemptions in a 54-hole, no-cut tournament. “Sime Darby is honored to be associated with this prestigious world-class sporting event which we will have the privilege of hosting at our very own Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club,� said Tun Musa Hitam, Chairman of the Sime Darby Group, Malaysia’s leading multinational corporation. The Mines Resort & Golf Course is an 18-hole, par 71 championship golf course in Kuala Lumpur. It is a workof-art that has played host to several world-renowned golf tournaments, including the Men’s World Cup of Golf. The Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club is a 36-hole course that is as demanding as it is exciting. The West course features straight and tight holes requiring long shots with little room for error. The East course moves at a slower pace, allowing golfers to take in the surrounding serenity.

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15

Loews Lake Las Vegas - Go! Stay! Play! Exquisite design, superb conditioning and a reverence for nature are the hallmarks of a great golf course, and the experience at Loews Lake Las Vegas and The Golf Club at SouthShore are no exception. They say the grass is always greener on the other side, and now you can test that theory yourself by experiencing the Golf Club at SouthShore. Through an exclusive partnership between the AAA Four Diamond resort and what Golf Digest has called one of the “Top 10 Private Courses in America,” Loews guests can experience the award-winning par 71, 6,917-yard Jack Nicklaus Golf Club at South Shore championship course. Golfers can now play the same course as Natalie Gulbis, LPGAtournament winning professional golfer and 10-year Lake Las Vegas resident and club member. “The partnership with Loews is an amazing opportunity for visitors,” Gulbis said. “The experience at the resort actually supersedes every expectation.” Within a chip shot of the hotel, the course features generous Bermuda fairways that frame gently rolling Bentgrass greens, 88 strategically placed bunkers and numerous forced carries over canyons and water, creating both an exhilarating challenge and a visually stunning backdrop to your day. Blending seamlessly with its surroundings on the shores of Lake Las Vegas, the course is in perfect

harmony with nature and boasts unique opportunities to see wildlife, including the Desert Big Horn sheep. Loews Lake Las Vegas offers a variety of amenities, including a full-service salon and spa, four restaurants as well as two pools and lake activities. A homeaway-from home for Nevada locals, the golf packages make life easy and include club rentals, shoe rentals and transportation to the course. The award-winning Marssa restaurant, serving AAA Four Diamond sushi and Pacific Rim cuisine, is an unusual, yet tempting, 19th hole retreat. Master Sushi Chef Osamu “ Fuji” Fujita, the only Master Sushi Chef in Las Vegas, serves up the freshest fish with traditional discipline and expertise, as well as cutting-edge presentation. Award-winning golf. Exquisite accommodations. To p - n o t c h cuisine. No place else comes close.

16 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

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OCTOBER 2010

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Carry Your Clubs in Style with Cadillac’s New CTS Sport Wagon by CAMERON HEALEY If you attended the Boeing Classic Champions Tour Event at TPC Snoqualmie recently, you most likely had an opportunity to view Cadillac’s first-ever North American wagon on display near the driving range as well as the Cadillac SRX, CTS, and Escalade vehicles. The CTS Sports Wagon is a progressive take on the classic wagon body style that delivers significant functionality and fuel efficiency, including up to an estimated 28 mpg highway. According to the folks at Cadillac, it is a unique vehicle intended to connect with the changing priorities of luxury consumers and golfers are no exception. We don’t need a ton of room to throw the sticks in the back, right, but the new Sport Wagon offers ample carrying capacity, with 25 cubic feet (720 liters) of space behind the rear seats; and 53.4 cubic feet (1,523 liters) with the rear seat folded. Some of the design highlights include: • Power-opening lift gate (via key fob or in-vehicle button) •

CHMSL-integrated roof spoiler

•

Integrated roof load management system with cross bars for a seamless appearance •

Cargo management system with adjustable in-floor containment

•

New 19-inch wheels

•

Large available panoramic rear sunroof

•

Integrated iPod/MP3 capability

•

Hard drive audio system

•

Navigation system

•

Adaptive forward lighting system

•

Available Bluetooth connectivity

•

Keyless Access and Smart Remote Start

•

Bose 5.1 Cabin Surround™ audio system

•

Ultrasonic park assist and more

Available features include those of the well-appointed CTS Sport Sedan, including all-wheel drive, a 40-gigabyte internal hard drive, pop-up navigation screen and a hand-cut-and-sewn cabin. “It’s a taut, sleek design,” said Clay Dean, global design director for Cadillac. “The drama of the sedan is amplified in the wagon, as the centerline cue that is part of the exterior and interior is more prominent and plays a stronger role in defining the design at the rear of the vehicle.” The CTS Wagon comes with a 3.0L DI

18 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

V-6 is the standard engine and is rated at 270 horsepower (201 kW). Along with direct injection technology, the 3.0L engine employs variable valve timing to optimize power and fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. Estimated highway fuel economy on 3.0L-equipped models is 28 mpg. Not bad if you’re road trippin’ around the Northwest with two buddies, clubs, and pull carts! If you want a little more get up a go (not that you need it), the CTS Sport Wagon also offers an optional 3.6L DI V-6 engine producing 304 horsepower (227 kW) with a GM Hydra-Matic six-speed automatic transmission. The CTS Sport Wagon – like the CTS Sport Sedan – offers optional all-wheel drive. As with other Cadillac models, the 2010 CTS Sport Wagon comes standard with a full year of OnStar, featuring Turn-by-Turn Navigation, a factory-installed, fully integrated GPS navigation system. For more information about the CTS or to visit your local Northwest Cadillac Dealership, please visit www.mycadillacstoryNW.com/ boeingclassic.

OCTOBER 2010

OCTOBER 2010

GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

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LANGDON FARMS GOLF CLUB“#1 BEST PUBLIC COURSE IN OREGONâ€? – PORTLAND BUSINESS JOURNAL, 2010 Ranked as the #1 Course in Oregon and #1 Best course to hold a golf tournament or corporate event, by the Portland Business Journal in 2010, Langdon Farms Golf Club is home to 18 holes of stunning golf designed by John Fought and Bob Cupp. Originally opened to rave reviews in 1995, Langdon Farms Golf Club immediately became a favorite in the Portland area. Over the years, the local, regional and even national golf writers have consistently recognized it as a truly unique golf experience. Just recently Langdon Farms was rated four out of ďŹ ve stars by Golf Digest’s Best Places To Play for 2009 and ranked as one of the Top Ten Best Courses You Can Play in Oregon by Golfweek Magazine (State-ByState Ranking for 20092010). Langdon Farms was originally a working farm of the Langdon Family for over 63 years. The farming theme continues throughout the entire property accompanied by white picket fences and glorious ower displays. The award winning “Big Red Barnâ€? Clubhouse was modeled after the original barn on Mr. Langdon’s farm. The original barn, built in 1916, is still intact and actually comes into play down the left side of the 8th hole. Langdon Farms Golf Club is open, as displayed at the entrance, to the “PUBLIC ONLYâ€? and is truly a place to plant yourself and enjoy a great day of golf. For those looking to make Langdon Farms their home course, check out the 2011 Farm Card which is now on sale. Now on sale at the early bird price of just $99. Langdon Farm Cardholders receive preferred rates throughout the year, guest beneďŹ ts, travel beneďŹ ts, plus a ton of other exclusive beneďŹ ts. Farm Cardholders also receive (5) Complimentary Large Practice Balls ($45 value), (1) Complimentary Tournament! (October 2011), (1) Langdon Farms logo cap ($20 value) and more! Visit www.LangdonFarms.com where you can purchase the Farm Card online or call (503) 678-4653

OCTOBER 2010

continued from page 12

of the red-tailed hawks that nest in the surrounding trees. If you want to hone your skills, take advantage of Red Tail’s unique G.O.L.F.™ (Goal Oriented Learning Format) instructional program. Complete with learning stations and on-site teaching

Eastmoreland Golf Course is a great choice for all types of golfers. Oering 18 holes of championship golf, a covered & lighted driving range, a full-line Pro Shop, and dining at Eastmoreland Golf Course Bar & Grill, there is something for everyone.

Built in 1917, the course was laid out by National Amateur Champion, H. Chandlar Egan. Crystal Springs Lake, the Rhododendron Gardens, and Johnson Creek surround the course it. It has an endless variety of trees and shrubs in constant color change throughout the year. The natural environment provides a home for abundant wildlife including great blue herons, mallards, and wood ducks. The tree-lined fairways are beautiful year round and the natural hazards such as ravines, streams and lakes require the best from any golfer. No wonder Golf Digest ranks it among the top public courses in the country to play. Rates are a bargain at under $60.00 for 18 holes with a cart. Heron Lake’s Great Blue and Greenback Courses Yardage: Blue Course

Greenback Course

Black 6,902

Blues 6,615

Blues 6,491

Whites 5,952

Whites 6,030 Reds 5,240 Reds 5,258

Par 72

Par 72 Heron Lakes Golf Club, designed by renowned golf course architects Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and his son Robert continued on page 29

Langdon Farms Golf Course professionals, Red Tail’s teaching sta can tailor a results oriented learning program to meet any player’s speciďŹ c goals, whether it is more distance, lowering your score, or consistency in your swing. They also oer a Golf Academy, Junior Academy, and Corporate/Group Clinics. Facilities are state of the art. Amenities also include Bunker’s Bar and Grill, a great place to stop in between nines or at the end of your round. You must try their famous hot dogs. MMMMmmmm. Delicious. The course itself is long compared to other city courses, but is easily walkable. The #1 handicap hole, #7, is a 647-yard par 5. Can you say long? Bunkers guard every hole, and numerous dog legs, undulating tree lined fairways, six lakes, and fast greens help make the course a challenge, even from the forward tees. If you want to test your mettle, Red Tail is the one to play. Rates are the easiest part of the course--under $60.00 for 18 holes with a cart, even on weekends and holidays. Eastmoreland Golf Course Yardage: Blues 6,529 Whites 6,106 Reds 5,646 Par 72/74 (two split pars depending on the tee box)

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21

TaylorMade Golf Launches Newest Model in Ghost Series of Putters TaylorMade Golf is proud to announce the release ease of the putter that so many golfers have been asking for, the Rossa Daytona Ghost, a tour-proven blade that oers the he familiar calming white color and high-contrast alignmentt cues of the now-famous Corza Ghost mallet. Like the Corzaa Ghost, the Rossa Daytona Ghost was developed with signiďŹ niďŹ cant input from the world’s most sought-after putting instructor, uctor, TaylorMade Tour Sta professional Dave Stockton. Tour pros who have put a prototype similarr to the Rossa Daytona Ghost in play include Paula Creamer, who used it to win the U.S. Women’s Open, as well as Scott Verplank, erplank, Martin Laird, Jason Day, Peter Hanson, Darren Clarke, Andres Romero and Sean O’Hair. The ďŹ rst model in the Ghost Series, the Corza orza Ghost, has proven an instant success with consumers and Tour ur professionals worldwide, building massive momentum in the retail tail marketplace. In four months, the Corza Ghost’s key achievements vements already include two PGA Tour victories by TMaG Tour ur Sta professional Justin Rose, ďŹ rst at the Memorial and again n at the AT&T National. Corza Ghost has also fueled record-breaking aking growth for TaylorMade in the putter category; the brand’ and’s 13.1% putter dollar marketshare in July 2010 is the highest ghest total in company history.* The Rossa Daytona Ghost also has the advantage ge of Rossa’s renowned and tour-proven AGSIÂŽ+ (Anti-skid id Groove System Insert) Technology. The AGSI+ insert features 14 polymer-ďŹ lled grooves in the face that “holdâ€? the ball all briey at

impact to negate backspin and promote forwardspin for a smoo smoother roll and more accurate results. The AGSI+ insert also delivers superio superior consistency in forward roll on o-center hits, something not shown in tests t of other popular putters. The Rossa Daytona Ghost is available at the street pprice of $129. Learn more about TaylorMade-adidas Golf and its br brands at (866) 530-TMAG (8624) or www.taylormadegolf.com, www.adidasgolf.com, www.ashworthgolf.com, and www.tmag. www.tmag.com. *Source: Golf DataTech July 2010.

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OCTOBER 2010

Circling Raven Golf Club, Director of Golf Tom Davidson Named PGA Merchandiser of the Year The PGA of America recently announced that Circling Raven Director of Golf Tom Davidson has been named 2010 PGA “Merchandiser of the Year” for resort facilities. Circling Raven, a tribally owned and operated amenity of the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel in the Idaho panhandle near Spokane (WA), received the

components. “Our success starts with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and its great leadership, support and commitment to excellence,” said Davidson, 47. “We are honored to earn this award as it is a tribute to all members of our team at Circling Raven and the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel.” Davidson and Circling Raven will be

PGA Northwest Section “Merchandiser of the Year” Award four times in the last six years. Today’s honor marks the first time a PGA Professional from the Pacific Northwest has been named PGA “Merchandiser of the Year” nationally since the award was established in 1978. The Merchandiser of the Year Award was created in order to recognize PGA Professionals who excel as businesspersons/merchandisers in the promotion of golf. The PGA criteria are demanding, focusing on growing and servicing well the customer base, shop displays, financial details, ongoing training for staff, and many other mission critical

recognized Jan. 27, 2011, during the 58th PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla. “Our 2010 national award winners reflect the best values and qualities of our Association,” said PGA of America President Jim Remy. “Our recipients have made an impact among their Section peers, their respective communities and influenced others throughout the country. They have inspired both juniors and young professionals, which is a rite of passage in our profession. By their hard work, we are proud to declare that PGA Professionals are experts in the game and the business of golf.”

OCTOBER 2010

GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

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Santiago Named HP Scholastic Junior All-American LYNNWOOD NATIVE HONORED BY AJGA, HP FOR ACHIEVEMENTS ON THE GOLF COURSE, IN THE CLASSROOM Lynnwood native Kimberly Santiago has been named an HP Scholastic Junior All-American, the American Junior Golf Association and Hewlett Packard announced last month. Sponsored since 1988 by HP, the 2010 team consists of 12 young men and 12 young women who demonstrate the ability to excel both on the golf course and in the classroom. To be eligible for the HP Scholastic Junior All-America Team, boys must have placed in the top 10 of an AJGA Open or Invitational, while girls needed a top-five finish. The selections were then based on grade point average, class rank, SAT/ACT scores, leadership skills, community service and writing ability. Candidates were required to submit an essay no longer than 500 words on an original topic relating to golf.

These outstanding individuals will be honored at the Rolex Junior All-America Awards Banquet, Nov. 21, at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. By being named to this team, each player is also eligible to participate in the Polo Golf Junior Classic, one of

the most prestigious events in junior golf, which will take place on PGA National Resort & Spa’s Champion and Haig Courses, Nov. 20-26. Santiago is a junior at EdmondsWoodway High School where she is a member of the National Honor Society

and holds a 3.95 GPA. In 2010 AJGA competition, she tied for 12th at the AJGA Junior at Centennial and recorded her best finish at the Lessing’s AJGA Classic where she placed fifth. While talented on the golf course, Santiago is also a midnight blue belt at Seattle Taekwondo and plays the viola in the Cascade Youth Symphony. “HP is delighted once again to recognize academic excellence with the naming of the 2010 HP Scholastic Junior All-America Team,” said John Dayan, vice president of marketing, Personal Systems Group Americas, Hewlett Packard. “The AJGA works hard to prepare young adults for life after high school by instilling honor, perseverance and good sportsmanship. HP is proud to be associated with the AJGA and this great group of young adults.” For more information, please contact Kristi Bradley (kbradley@ ajga.org) in the AJGA Communications Department at (678) 425-1790, or visit the AJGA website at ajga.org.

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OCTOBER 2010

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Industry Outlook: Country Clubs Face Ongoing Challenges In the New Economy by MIKE ROSAS In difficult times, luxury items are the first to go. Add the insult of winter weather approaching and you will see that many country clubs are making changes to stay in the game. It’s a Tuesday afternoon and I am sitting in the parking lot of one of Seattle’s most posh and elite country clubs and yet there are only 12 cars in

the parking lot. I golf with an avid group and for these guys, it means nine holes at noon, and no one on the course. But for many, any holes at all have become a luxury. When people want to streamline their budgets, pay off debt, or take a conservative approach, country club memberships are one of the first things to go. As a golf

industry consultant, I have been hearing it from everyone. The market has changed and thus the golf industry has too. Many clubs have lost sizable portions of their memberships over the last two years. You could say the price of the exclusive “members-only” course wasn’t sitting well with its patrons. So country clubs across

the region have to find creative ways to get people out of the blues and onto the greens. And at exclusive courses, the answer seemed simple: reduce the initiation fees. So they thought. I worked with a client who had an $80,000 dollar initiation fee; he went down to 40,000, then 20,000, then 10,000 and then no initiation fee at all, keeping annual rates in unaltered. And yet no new members signed up. But trying to survive in an economy like this isn’t easy. Most private Golf Clubs are not alone with their struggles. According to research 51 % of the 4,400 private clubs across the country are experiencing financial stress. If you don’t believe it and you just happen to belong to a country club, go to Craigslist, for example, and on the left hand side type in “Golf Membership” under for sale category. COUNTRY CLUBS HAVE REAL FINANCIAL PROBLEMS To the General Managers and Pros at the Country Clubs, I tip my hat to you. Your efforts for reaching out to others for help will make a difference. This is a first step towards finding a solution. The collapse of private country clubs is a potentially serious problem for the entire golf industry as most golf is still played at private golf clubs. Even if a small number of private facilities are forced to fold, it would affect a large number of golfers. So, what are country clubs to do to stay afloat during this so-called ‘post-recession’ period? What do members of private golf clubs have to do to keep membership rates affordable? Since country clubs are on their own as far as the PGA helping them out, they have to rely on creativity to maintain and retain their membership numbers and a strong business plan to see them through the next few years. WILL RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS TO JOIN THE CLUB SOLVE THE PROBLEM? You would think that to keep things going at a private country club, opening the doors to more members would help. In different economic times and in most cases it does. However, adding more members only puts greater stress on an aging facility’s infrastructure. Adding more members to a club’s roster to generate more revenue could result in additional revenue being spent on temporary repairs resulting in no gain financially. The result

26 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

OCTOBER 2010

in this case would not improve matters, but only make matters worse financially. So how does a country club escape the Catch 22 of using conventional methods of increasing revenue? To break the vicious cycle where new members are added to cover for the old members leaving, some clubs will have to take drastic measures towards complete reconstruction of facilities in order to implement the conventional methods of revenue expansion. Of course, this will require significant funding which is more than likely the challenge most country clubs would prefer to avoid. I would suggest, however, that is probably a legitimate solution that will work. But that exact thinking is what put country clubs in the trouble they are in today. Let’s go back to late 1997. The Internet was “it”; the market was all hype, and if you invested in a Dotcom you could stand to make a lot of money, and if you listened to all of the economists, and so called Golf Course Industry debt-restructuring specialist; you were told the economy was strong and that research showed an increase in golf revenue. Well in between 1996 and 2003, some 3000 golf courses were overbuilt. To survive the competition of a newer course, most courses took on more debt, rebuilt clubhouses, maintenance facilities, continued from page 10

what causes the ball to go straight? A club that fits a perfect swing, a perfect grip, perfect balance, perfect impact, and, surprisingly, the golf course itself... The Course? What would the course have to do with making the ball go off line? Well, how about slopes? Not only side-hill lies, but uphill and downhill lies have tendencies to go off line. Grass conditions even have an effect. How about wind? And lastly, the landing zone – is it flat or sloped? As one of my students said, “When SHOULD the ball ever go straight?” Great question! Attitude + Equipment + Swing + Knowledge = Basis for Playing. 5) Experience: The first thing to know is that the game of golf cannot be mastered. You can ‘golf ’, and you can ‘play golf ’. There is a difference. Golfers are stuck trying to make a perfect swing and are sent scratching their heads (or worse, slamming their clubs down) when the ball travel is crooked. Players, on the other hand, continuously use a great attitude to their advantage. They give no energy to anything negative! Players have clubs that fit, giving way to an effective swing, and understand what causes a ball to go off line – and often they embrace the curve! Lee Trevino rarely hit the ball straight. He learned to curve it to the right and reproduced it. OCTOBER 2010

re-designed different memberships, all of which failed to work. TOUGH TIMES REQUIRE TOUGH DECISIONS Now is not the time for half measures. Clubs that choose to take drastic measures will first need to evaluate where the bottom line can be cut. The country club management that gets innovative and creative at the same time should be looking towards the future, complete with a plan of action. That’s the second step. The third step is to be pro-active and follow through with cost-cutting measures. Patches and temporary expedients waste time and money that could be spent on permanent solutions that would be good for the club, good for the economy and very good for the game of golf. That said, the tough decisions must be thoughtful and prudent but swift and intelligent. MY OBSERVATIONS For the most part, my experience comes from marketing solutions that affect the bottom line. As private clubs contend with the economy, healthy or not, as well as aging members and seasonal play, competition from public courses, and disgruntled members, they also have to keep in mind that members have their own list of issues including financial Players also use their attitude to understand the course. No two courses are exactly alike, and this is why we play the game. At Tetherow, the greens are very firm and the ball will hit and release. This means as a player you are accepting the challenge presented, and some shots you are used to playing elsewhere will work differently. This means you may have to alter your landing location. Which means it is even more important to know when you’re in position to ‘go for it’ or whether you must play safe. So, where is that ‘Zone’? It’s out there, waiting for you, lurking in the haze. You may get a glimpse of it occasionally when you hit a good shot, but put these elements together and you’ll experience it more often. Can you be in it every time you play? Ask the players on tour.... Attitude + Equipment + Swing + Knowledge + Experience = Progress toward the Zone! Bob Duncan is the Director of Instruction at Tetherow Golf Club in Bend, Oregon. He has 27 years as a PGA Golf Professional, has given over 8,000 hours of instruction and coaching, and has custom fit over $1.6 million in golf equipment. Look for his forthcoming program, the GolfeCoach: Techniques, Habits, and Mindset for High Performance Golf, available in November, 2010. Bob can be contacted at golfsavvy@msn.com.

problems, dues increases, assessments, and the rising cost of services paired with diminishing quality, too many members, and outdated facilities. So, country clubs have to be creative in finding solutions that will appease all parties with little burden being placed on the members. THE NUMBER ONE REASON As previously stated, there are many reasons country clubs are facing financial distress, but the number one reason, in my mind, is the single-minded focus on revenue, forgetting about the golf aspect or the satisfaction of its members. Second to keeping your facilities at an enviable state of perfection, a priority must be placed membership levels. Happy, active members. So let’s ask ourselves this. How much of my country club’s operational budget is appropriated for membership recruitment? This question should be on the top of your list. The second question you should ask? Is the membership director experienced in marketing? When one member leaves, clubs should take immediate action to replace the member who left. Don’t wait as many of you have, letting the number reach 100 members and then deciding to recruit. Analyze your club’s problems and how they came about and I’ll bet the answer is

losing members and not doing anything about it. Now you can ask yourself the next question: What is an actual member worth to your club? Using my research data I have come to the conclusion that the average member life in a private club is 14 years. I will be liberal here and assume that if the average dues are $7,000.00 per year, then that member’s worth is $98,000.00 to that club. Now the next question, though rarely asked, is very simple. How much do I invest in securing that investment of $98,000.00? The point that I am trying to make is that effective marketing only works when you create a need for your product or services. Admittedly, I have spent a king’s ransom in golf memberships. If I had to do it all over again, I would do it in a heartbeat. Next to my wife, golf is the most important thing in my life, and I have done a lot of things in my life. Now that’s value you can’t find. Golf needs to find that value and sell it like it’s the only thing that matters. Mike Rosas is the principal of AS Group Marketing/The Alternative Solutions, LLC. He can be reached at 425-742-3679, email: mike@thealternativesolutions, or visit www.thealternativesolutions.net for more information.

Laurel Hill Golf Course Senior Discounts, Snack Bar, Beer & Wine, Power Carts, and Driving Range. You can call ahead for a tee time, but it is not necessary. You can usually get right on with minimal wait.

Winter - 9 holes and 18 holes Weekdays - $11.00 All Day Everyday $7.00 After 2pm Juniors under 18 - $5.00 All Day Winter Rates are in place until February 15th:

Regular Rates - 9 holes and 18 holes Weekdays - $11.00 and $17.00 Seniors - $10.00 and $16.00 Juniors - $6.50 and $15.00 Weekend and holidays are just a couple dollars more. You may purchase a 10 game discount card for $100.00 Yearly memberships are available.

9450 Old Stage Rd., near Gold Hill at Exit 40

Pro Shop-(541) 855-7965 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

27

Crimp Captures WSGA Senior Men’s Amateur Title; Richards Survives 4-Man Playoff To Win 2nd Straight Super Senior Title Keith Crimp of Ellensburg shot a final round 3-over par 75 and held on to win the 24th Annual Washington State Senior Men’s Amateur Championship at Mill Creek Country Club. After a front nine 3-over 39 in the final round, Crimp’s lead of six dwindled to two as Dave Farnam of Kent fired a 1-under par 35 for his front nine. Farnam continued to gain ground on Crimp on the back nine as he birdied holes 12, 14 and 15. A double bogey on the 17th hole ended Farnam’s chances as Crimp used consistent play on the back nine and made nine straight pars to win the championship at 1-under par 215. Farnam finished in a tie for second place with Gudmund Lindbjerg of Port Moody, B.C. at 1-over par 217 overall. Lindbjerg shot a spectacular back nine 4-under 32 to move all the way up to second. Crimp, who recently turned 60, said “when I turned 55 I made it a goal to win a WSGA or PNGA Senior Championship. It took five years to accomplish it but it feels great.” In the 3rd Annual Washington State

Keith Crimp

Bruce Richards

Super Senior Men’s Amateur Championship, defending champion Bruce Richards of Seattle captured his second consecutive title in a four-man playoff. After struggling in the final round with an 8-over 80, Richards ended the day tied with Shelton Washburn of Chimacum, Ron Peterson of Coquitlam, B.C. and Jack Lamey of Bellevue who all

sat at 12-over 228 overall. Richards was able to make par on the first playoff hole which was good enough to top Lamey and Washburn who both made bogey and Peterson who made double bogey. In the short three year history of the WSGA Super Senior Championship, Richards has been victorious twice and finished 2nd in the inaugural event in 2008.

28 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

Amateur golfers who have reached their 55th birthday by September 28, 2010 and who have a USGA Handicap Index of 12.4 strokes or less at a WSGA member club are eligible to play in the WSGA Senior Men’s Amateur Championship. To be eligible for the Super Senior Amateur golfers must meet the same handicap requirements and have reached their 65th birthday by September 28, 2010. All contestants will play 54 holes of stroke play (gross scores only). The Senior Amateur and Super Senior Amateur are 2 of 15 state championships conducted annually by the WSGA. Other WSGA championships include the Women’s Best-Ball, Men’s and Senior Men’s Best-Ball, Women’s and Senior Women’s Amateur, Men’s Amateur, Men’s and Women’s Member Club Team, Parent/Child, Men’s and Women’s Champion of Champions, and the Men’s and Women’s Mid-Amateur. For more information, please visit www.wsga.org.

OCTOBER 2010

continued from page 21

Trent Jones II, offers two, distinct championship 18-hole golf courses, catering to multiple skill levels. The 6,615 yard Greenback course opened in 1971, featuring a milder and more flexible layout, and large and el-

evated greens. The parkland-style design incorporates trees, ponds and numerous bunkers. The more challenging Great Blue Course, which debuted in 1992, better suits the skilled golfer. At 6,902 yards,

the Great Blue Course is complete with narrow fairways that wind through Scottish-style mounds, small greens and riskreward opportunities. You’ll find yourself turning blue from holding your breath, as you wonder if you will carry a pond or the other ever-present water hazards.

The award-winning Great Blue Course at Heron Lakes has hosted the 2000 U. S. Amateur Public Links Championship, a USGA event won by current PGA TOUR professional D.J. Trahan, and the annual Portland Invitational Tourna-

ment. Both courses at Heron Lakes are carefully maintained and have the reputation of being in the best condition of any public golf course in the area. In addition, Heron Lakes is home of The First Tee of Portland, which has as its mission to impact the lives of young people by providing educational and mentoring programs that incorporate life skills, character development, family values and personal growth through the game of golf. As with all the Portland P u b l i c Pa r k s courses, the rates at Heron Lakes are affordable at under $60.00 for 18 holes with a cart. The municipal golf courses of the Portland area are quality courses at an affordable price, providing a wonderful experience for golfers of all levels and tastes. Next time you are in Portland, be sure to stay long enough to get them all in.

AT A GLANCE LAKE OSWEGO GOLF COURSE 17525 SW Stafford Rd. Lake Oswego, OR 97034 503.636.8228 www.lakeoswegogolf.org HERON LAKES GOLF COURSE 3500 N Victory Blvd Portland, OR 97217 ‘ 503.289.1818 heronlakesgolf.com EASTMORELAND GOLF COURSE 2425 SE Bybee Blvd Portland, OR 97202 503.775.2900 eastmorelandgolfcourse.com ROSE CITY GOLF COURSE 2200 NE 71st Ave Portland, OR 97213 503.253.4744 rosecitygc.com REDTAIL GOLF COURSE 8200 SW Scholls Ferry Rd Beaverton, OR 97008 503.646.5166 golfredtail.com

Portland’s Premium Golf Experience at a Value Price

Heron Lakes Golf Club & Golf Today - Northwest Edition present:

Fall Portland Prize Package Visit heronlakesgolf.com/golftoday and join our E-Club by November 15, 2010 to win a Portland Prize Package; including 2 Rounds of Golf at Heron Lakes Golf Club and two tickets to a Portland TrailBlazers Game! Limited Dates Available, No purchase necessary, Offer presented by Heron Lakes Golf Club, not in conjunction with Portland TrailBlazers

3500 N. Victory Blvd. Portland, OR 97217 | Ph: 503-289-1818 | heronlakesgolf.com/golftoday

OCTOBER 2010

GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

29

CLASSIFIEDS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

HOUSE OF KANGAROO GOLF SHOES

VIDEO NEWSLETTERS FOR CAR Dealerships Become a distributor for the only service and sales video newsletter in the automotive industry. See examples at www.iDriveNews.com. For more information, call 800-697-3806 Ext. 3.

HOUSE OF KANGAROO GOLF shoes are made from kangaroo leather which is one of the lightest & strongest leathers! Walking 18 holes feels like walking a few blocks. Try a pair today! Phone#: 1-800597-9091www.hoknorthamerica.com

LEARN TO TEACH GOLF. The Profession of a Lifetime. Call for a certification course near you. United States Golf Teachers Federation. Please call toll free 1 (888) 346-3290 for more information. Or log on to www.GolfTeachingPro.com OWN THE RIGHTS TO manufacture and market one of the most popular golf aids on the course, that has been growing in name and sight recognition in the retail golf an promotional industry for 3+ years. Steady and profitable growth. Interested parties, please call 830-896-1598, or send e-mail to raikman@ easiergolfing.com for more info. This may well be your opportunity of a lifetime.

GOLF ACCESSORIES

GOLF ACCESSORIES NEED THAT EDGE? OUTFIT your golf game, tournament or corporate outing with Lucky golf accessories. Custom logo program available Visit us online at www.luckystroke.com. Inquires - 408.313.0081.

GOLF PACKAGES STARTING AT ONLY $59, treat yourself to comfortable lodging and great golf (including cart!) at 10th Green Inn at La Contenta. Visit www.10thgreeninn.com for more information. Or, call 1 (888) 727-8705.

GOLF VACATION RENTALS WAILEA, MAUI - GRAND Champions Villas on Blue Course, 7th Fairway. 1 BR, 2 bath, Discounted golf and tennis fees to tenants. $805 per week. $3000 per month, plus tax. Call (916) 408-1049. Or, Grandc181@sbcglobal.net

LEFT HANDED GOLF CLUBS DEMOS AND NEW CLUBS, some good used ones, men’s and women’s. Many name brands and knock offs at 50% below retail. I’ll email you the list. Shipping at the true cost, not inflated: duferdon@sbcglobal.net.

LOOKING TO TRAVEL OR WINTER NEST? 2005 27’ TRAILBAY TRAVEL trailer. Barely used, and beautifully kept. Slide-out living room and bunk house floor plan. Sleeps eight comfortably. Fully equipped with awning, stabilizer tow bars, two 10 gallon propane tanks, great stereo, many other extras. Only $25,000. Call (530) 308-7482 or email kristineF@ttlco.com

REAL ESTATE AFFORDABLE GOLF COMMUNITY LOT in Cool Pacific Northwest Home lot for sale in Alderbrook Golf & Yacht Club on the Hood Canal in Union Washington. Walk to clubhouse & fairways. Dues only $170 per month & come w/ full privileges for 2 on beautiful 18 hole course consistently ranked among top 25 in the Pacific Northwest. See www.alderbrookgolf.com for community details. 1/3 wooded acre on cul-de-sac. Electric and water in street. Septic required. $85,000. Contact Sharon Roseme at sroseme@garlic.com or 916-663-3450.

New Golf Products! Do you have a new golf product? A new golf service? Give Cameron a call at Golf Today Magazine. Get results with us and grow. For more information, call 425-941-9946 or email cameron@golftodaynw.com.

LAKE LAS VEGAS GOLF RESORT: Live in this beautiful golf community with three golf courses, two major hotels with gaming, plus a wonderful 320-acre lake full of fish. Chose from custom homes or custom lots to build your own dream home. Play a round of golf free, this being our way of saying thanks to qualified people looking for the right location. Call Earl or Anne at 702-460-2192 for an appointment. (Re/Max Pros.) Check our virtual tour at wwww. yourvegashome.com.

STAFF PUBLISHER / EDITOR . . . . . . . Cameron Healey

cameron@golftodaynw.com OPERATIONS MANAGER. . . . Sydney Healey sydney@sydhealeyconsulting.com PRODUCTION DIRECTOR . . . Kris Hansen kris@golftodaynw.com ASSOCIATE EDITORS: . . . . . Kelly Handley

REGIONAL EDITORS . . . . . . . . Clifford Cowley

clifford@golftodaynw.com

Wayne Scott wayne@golftodaynw.com

CONTRIBUTORS . . . . . . . . . . . Clifford Cowley, Tony Dear, Diana Del Garbino, Bob Duncan,

Kelly Handley, Derek Mount, Rick Newell, Terry VanderHeiden, Dan Stark, Erin Szekely, Brett Wilkinson, Ina Zajac

Cameron Healey, Publisher/Editor • Golf Today Magazine Northwest Edition (425) 941-9946 phone • (425) 949-3090 fax www.GolfTodayNW.com • Cameron@GolfTodayNW.com

ISSN 1524-2854

Golf Today Magazine, The Best in the West for 22 Years, 12 issues per year, is published monthly. Golf Today Magazine Northwest Edition is published monthly and distributed within Washington and Oregon State. Subscriptions are available at $29 per year, $39 for two years, or $49 for three years. Golf Today is protected under the copyright law. Contents of this publication cannot be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. Unsolicited articles should be sent via e-mail and photos are welcome. Correspondence should be sent to Golf Today Magazine.

30 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

OCTOBER 2010

continued from page 9

Cornerstone Realty advisers – to give the 252-room hotel a $60 million makeover and rebrand it as a St Regis property (one of only 18 in the world), it was felt the golf course needed an upgrade of its own. While the Woods Nine remained open, the Lakes and Ocean Nines closed in October 2008 and got the full treatment from Trent Jones Jr, the course’s original architect. For starters it was lengthened some 300 yards with a fourth tee box being added to each hole. The reddishbrown bunker sand was replaced with white G3 Silica from Vietnam, a number of the holes were revamped – most notably the 14th (the old 5th on the Lakes Nine) which became a far more dramatic hole than the rather limp affair Jones Jr had built in 1971 - and the greens, tees, and fairways were reseeded with Seashore Paspalum which Jones had first used at Kiahuna GC in the south of the island in 1984. Not only is it a very attractive emerald green in color, Seashore Paspalum tolerates heavy traffic almost as well as the Bermuda it replaces but needs considerably less water. It can even been irrigated using salt-water. The Lakes and Ocean Courses reopened as the 18-hole, Troon Golf-managed Makai Course in January (the nine-hole Woods Course didn’t receive quite the same attention, but is still a pleasant game) and the response from those fortunate enough to play it has been almost entirely positive – something that no doubt pleased Jones Jr who apparently phoned the pro shop every day for a week immediately following its rebirth to find out what golfers had been saying about it. Writing on worldgolf.com, Brandon Tucker said; ‘With the design upgrades and installation of paspalum aspalum turf,

continued from page 6

course without commpromising playability or the sensibilities of patrons. Good for you Chad! You might also like their new fall specials: Weekdays: $1 per Hole, Monday-Friday; Weekekends: $15 for 9 / $25 for 18 holes; Weekendss before 8am: $18; and Weekends eekends after 2pm: $18. Come me out and enjoy the bald eagles, les, blue herons and 75 acres of space for you and your pup to roam. Check out www.carnationgolf. ationgolf. com for more information. rmation. OCTOBER 2010

Makai Golf Club now has what it takes to throw its name into the hat of the top plays in Hawaii’. He added that by March, the greens were already the firmest on the island. The course’s head professional Eric Belmonte is similarly enthused. “The course is fully bedded in now,” he says. “It looks wonderful, and the feedback we’ve had from visitors and residents has been great.” Eager for a similar response from its guests, Poipu Bay is joining the paspalum bandwagon. So long the venue for the PGA Grand Slam of Golf (1994-2006), it is another of Jones Jr’s Kauai creations and closed on April 1st. It is set to reopen on December 16th with its new paspalum greens ready for the winter invasion. The turf switch will only enhance Poipu Bay’s reputation. Though certainly one of Jones’s more celebrated designs, its greens never did quite match its fantastic location overlooking the Pacific on the southern tip of the island. But with smooth, quick, even-paced, even-toned surfaces, the course will be more or less complete. “We felt that this change would give our guests a better experience,” says Director of Golf Craig Sasada. “One of our goals is to provide a more consistent putting surface all year long. And we feel this grass will do that for us.” This trio of reworked, restored, and revamped courses will provide more than enough exhilarating golf during a Kauai vacation, but limiting your time to Kauai Lagoons, Makai, and Poipu Bay would mean missing out on the world-renowned Prince Course, exotic Puakea, classic Kiahuna and the wonderful municipal at Wailua. And that would be a dreadful shame, because they’re also well worthy of the 2,703.6-mile flight from Seattle to Lihue. Lih

As always always, I welcome your feedback, fee comments, hole-inments one stories, s golf photos ( keep pho ‘em clean) and content ideas con for our magazine. Feel free to drop me a line at Cameron@ ggolftodaynw. com or call me at 425 941 9946. Cheers! C

COURSE WEB SITES Kauailagoonsgolf.com Makaigolf.com Princeville.com Poipubaygolf.com Puakeagolf.com Kiahunagolf.com

WHEN TO GO Winter, obviously. Northwest golf in 35 degrees and rain or snow? Head to Hawaii for 80 degrees and blue sky.

GETTING THERE Alaska Airlines flies direct from Seattle to Lihue seven days a week. The flight departs at 4.45pm and arrives around 9pm.

WHERE TO STAY The Kauai Marriott Resort is perfect for Kauai Lagoons. The St Regis Princeville is perfect for the Makai and Prince Courses. The Grand Hyatt Kauai is perfect for Poipu Bay. Obviously, staying at these fine hotels can stretch the vacation budget rather, but doing so will mean discounted green fees. You’ll still probably save a ton of money, however, by staying in a significantly cheaper hotel elsewhere and paying the full visitor rate at the golf course. For instance, a guest staying at the Kauai Marriott Resort will pay $55 less for 18 holes at Kauai Lagoons than someone staying at the popular Kauai Inn in Lihue but, in January, pay $140 more for a room ($249 as opposed to $109). So by staying at the less expensive hotel and paying full fare at the golf course, you’ll have an extra $85 to spend on Mai Tais and Piña Coladas.

GREEN FEES Range from $48 during the week at Wailua (non-residents) to $220 at Poipu Bay.

... Index of Advertisers for October 2010 ... Bagshag ...................................... 10

Laurel Hill Golf Course ............ 27

BallKaddie ................................. 23

Lopaka Putters ............................ 4

Best Western University Inn .... 20

Loews Lake Las Vegas ........... 2,16

Carnation Golf Course ............. 15

Macrogolf ................................... 28

Chicks Golf, too ......................... 18 Clover Island Inn ...................... 11 Club Glider .................................. 6 Erin Szekely ................................. 8 GolfNOW.com ........................... 13 GolfTEC ..................................... 34 Heron Lakes Golf Club ............ 29

McCormick Woods ................... 35 Mulligan ..................................... 26 Nile Golf Course ........................ 10 Palouse Ridge ............................ 33 PowerChute ................................. 7 St George Red Rock Golf Trail.... 25

Hilton Golf Academy ................ 20

Tayleur Mayde Golf Tours ....... 33

Home Course ............................... 8

Tour Striker ................................. 3

Lake Oswego Public Golf Course ... 12

Wailea Golf Club ......................... 4

Langdon Farms Golf Course ... 21

Zipfizz ......................................... 33

GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

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will tell you you’re better off hitting a three wood instead of a driver on the 323 yard, 1st hole, to avoid the water on the left of the fairway. I still hit it in the drink, but I still made par, too. Hole #2 is easy enough at 373 yards. A good drive will make an easy distance on your approach shot. In fact, the course is not that difficult. The challenge is the width of the fairways, and on most holes, the greens are smaller than on most “bigger” courses. Unlike most desert resort courses, too, none of the holes have a large “must make it” situation over an expanse that can kill the average golfer’s score. There is always a spot you can bail out to, without ruining your chance to make par. Like Heckenkemper said, there are several ways you can play each hole, so you never have to play it the same way twice, thus improving on your total experience. One of my favorite holes is #5, a 350yard, dogleg left, par-4. An arroyo (desert area) guards the left side of the fairway all the way to the green. Depending on how much you want to cut off determines how well you do. A good 250 yard drive across the desert will land you within wedge distance of an elevated green. A safe 200-yard bail out leaves you with 180 yards to go. Did I mention the greens are

small? Number 5 has a wide green, but it is perpendicular to the fairway, making it a narrow landing area. Accuracy and consistency are key to this hole. Another fun hole is the par-3, #8. At 166 yards from the white tees, you can make it on with an accurate mid-iron, or you can stretch it out to the tips at 212 yards. I hit my ball from the black tees just for fun, made it to the green, and two-putted for par. My most favorite hole is the par-4 #15. The green is drivable across an arroyo at 260 yards to the front of the green. If you got the guts, take the shot. If you’re short, you end up in this huge arroyo that is the equivalent of a great big sand trap. Or, you can bail out to the right and attempt to play it safe, but if you do, your second shot has to go over a sand trap and mound at the edge of the green. I took the gutsy shot, bounced in front of the green, and was 10 yards away for an eagle. Yay! Never mind that I three putted. My least favorite, or rather the hole I had the most trouble on, was #18. It’s a fairly innocuous looking 385 yard par4. It’s guarded by a lake on the left with plenty of fairway. All I had to do was hit a 230 yard drive and I’d be home free with my 8 iron. Not to be. After one in the water, and one in the trap at the back of the green, I ended up with a 7. In spite

of my score, the hole remains one of the prettiest on the course. Even with the “TOUR” type set up, the course is very playable. Regular golfers can come away with a decent score. My partner (Cousin Cass) shot an 87. He’s a 20 handicap. Other amenities include an on sight grass driving range, chipping area and putting greens. Inside the pro shop, Greg Wolfe, the head pro, can help outfit all your golfing needs from clubs to clothes. He even has a slice fixer--ask one of the teaching pros for that perfect lesson. Next to the pro shop is the beautiful, new, modern clubhouse with opposing big screen TV’s, and a large outdoor patio overlooking the golf course, perfect for that 19th hole beverage while you add up your score. While you’re there, try one of their delicious hamburgers. Mike, in the clubhouse, swears by the Southwest Cobb Salad, or try one of their new Tortilla Wraps. Everyone wants to play the TPC Stadium Course. It’s the one that everyone sees (and hears), but do yourself a favor, play “the other course.” It’s not the little sister to the big one, it’s the champion, where champions play.

HOW TO GET THERE From Phoenix Sky Harbor Int’l Airport to CHAMPIONS COURSE START Go toward AIRPORT EXIT on E SKY HARBOR BLVD - go 1.2 miles Enter ramp onto I-10 WEST - go 0.8 miles Take exit #147 onto AZ-51 NORTH - go 16.0 miles Take exit #15A onto AZ-101-LOOP EAST - go 5.4 miles Take exit #35/HAYDEN RD - go 0.4 miles RIGHT N HAYDEN RD - go 0.9 miles Left onto E. BELL then immediate right at the next street and continue to the clubhouse.

ACCOMMODATIONS, TEE TIMES, RATES Viewed by accessing the TPC Scottsdale website at www.tpc.com/scottsdale If you want to make a tee time, just call the numbers below: Local # (480)585-4334 Long Distance# (888)400-4001

The Pro’s Corner by CLIFFORD COWLEY

Name:Brent Santoni Occupation: Assistant Pro Location:Quail Point Golf Course, Medford, Oregon

Brent Santoni is a self-made golfer. Growing up, Brent was involved in the normal sports activities like wrestling, baseball, and football. In high school, he and a buddy decided to try golf. As with all of us, it was instant addiction. They learned together, playing, going to the driving range, reading, and watching videos--trying everything. After high school, he secured a position at a local sports outlet with a golf simulator. “The simulator gave me a chance to watch and help others,” says Brent. “I realized that I could analyze a golfer’s swing and teach them the basics. I also realized I wanted to make a career out of golf.” His experience at the sports outlet landed him a job at Quail Point, where he continued to developed a teaching program, fashioned after Head Pro, Peggy Atwood’s, design, and worked his way up to Assistant Golf Professional. His natural “big Teddy Bear demeanor” made him a favorite with young golfers. “I love working with juniors. It’s really rewarding,” he says. “Young people are the future of golf, and it’s neat to think I may be producing a future PGA tour player.” Married with two boys, ages 9 and 12, Brent has had them out on the course since they were six months old. Having watched them grow and learn has added to his expertise with young people. Brent’s teaching technique focuses on a simple,

32 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

repeatable swing. “If you take out the extra movement, you are less likely to be off in your swing, thus promoting a swing that is more natural and consistent.” His teaching technique works with seniors as well. “I love that ‘aha’ moment,” he says. “With seniors, it’s mostly a matter of fixing what they’ve already been taught. Less movement in the swing saves their backs and reduces the likelihood of injuries,” he adds. It is evident Brent Santoni is in the career he is meant for. From his easy going personality, to his passion for golf and helping others succeed in the game, he has made himself an asset to the golfing industry.

OCTOBER 2010

Play the

Palouse

Pullman, WA • (509)335-4342 • palouseridge.com Stay & Play Packages (800)325-8765

Play Golf in Scotland & Ireland Golf Tours to Scotland and Ireland in 2010 to suit all budgets. Tayleur Mayde Golf Tours was established in 1999. Play St Andrews, Ballybunion, Turnberry, Muirfield, Carnoustie and many more.

Call Toll Free 1-800-847-8064 or see www.tayleurmayde.com OCTOBER 2010

GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

33

ADVANCED

TECHNOLOGY

+

TOP

CLUB

BRANDS

PERSONAL CLUB FITTING Find an advantage in your bag. Guaranteed. JUMBO

“HAVING THE

RIGHT TOOLS

MAKES THE JOB EASIER” - J. McBride Put technology to work. Gain yards and accuracy. Demo clubs that fit your swing before you buy. Find your equipment advantage—or your session is free.

60 MINUTE

LAUNCH MONITOR COMPARISON

TOUR-LEVEL

30

FITTING

*

20

10

LEADING CLUB

0

75

150 DISTANCE

225

300

BRANDS FOR SALE

! REMOVE ! PLACEHOLDER FOR LOGOS ! REMOVE !

8ajW =ZVY HeZZY 2 &%* BE=

' &)#

2 c\aZ

6 X] c j V A

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*See participating Improvement Center for details, including guarantee and club credit offer. Subject to terms and conditions.

PORTLAND LOCATIONS

Cascade Station 503 281-1842 Nyberg Wood 503-612-7807 SEATTLE LOCATIONS

Bellevue GolfTEC 425-454-7956 Improvement Center South Lake Union Center Address 206-357-6885

Center Phone

Fit My Clubs.com 34 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

OCTOBER 2010

Experience the Difference—Play The Best! Find Out Why McCormick Woods Is Truly The Northwest Golfer’s Choice

Immaculate greens. No adjoining fairways. Built in concert with the Audubon Society. Recipient of many awards including “Top Public Course”, “Most Beautiful Course” and “Best Golf Course Restaurant”.

5155 McCormick Woods Dr SW Port Orchard, WA 98367 Pro Shop 800.323.0130 / 360.895.0130 Clubhouse 800.279.7705 / 360.895.0142 www.mccormickwoodsgolf.com

OCTOBER 2010

GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

35

“Helping people receive more enjoyment from the game of golf” www.hiltongolfacademy.com

Hilton Golf Academy - Starting at $999* per person! “Playing Weekend” golf school for 2 people. Package includes: • Two days of personalized instruction with afternoon playing lessons • Three rounds of golf • Three nights' suite accommodations • Food and beverage: three breakfasts, two lunches • Adidas® golf shirt and a pair of Adidas Golf Shoes • Hilton Golf Experience Instructional Manual • Mention Special Code: GTNW • 1-800-945-6478 *Rates are per person based on double occupancy. Rates vary depending on location. Offer is valid through December 31, 2010 and based on availability. Minimum of 2 people must register together to receive this offer. Offer is not valid to groups of more than 8 people.

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