Golf Today NW - October 2009 Edition

Page 1


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Call free on 800-847-8064 or see www.tayleurmayde.com 2 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

NOVEMBER 2009





Last month, I ventured out to the range quite a few times and really zeroed in on a few of my weaknesses. I wasn’t driving well and I was having trouble hitting the ball off the ground. While I had worked on these issues at the range, it was pretty clear that I needed a little more professional help from GolfTEC. I am happy to say that another hour with Brett at GolfTEC has solved the first issue and really helped the second. Once I arrived at GolfTEC, I took a few warm up shots before Brett came in and turned on the monitors. Immediately, I noticed that parts of my setup were wrong. It is amazing how quickly you can identify, correct, or enhance your skills with this technology. By taking a look at your setup or whole swing on the monitors-just as the analytical commentators do on the Golf Channel- you notice parts of your swing, problematic or not, that you might not otherwise notice. Stepping away from the monitors and using the video camera and mirrors, I noticed that my club handle was pointed to my sternum rather than my belt buckle. Brett and I had addressed this issue a couple of lessons ago so I was a little disappointed that I had forgotten to check this during my setup. Of course, Brett noticed more than my club angle issue. He took a snapshot

and walked me through his hit list. First, I was too far from the ball causing me to put the club way out in front of my body (Brett said he could fly an airplane through the gap). My stance was also too wide (probably easier to fly the airplane

6 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

through there) and my butt was too far back. My left knee was caving in way too much during my backswing, thus providing a weak platform for my upper body. Lastly, my grip was a little off; my right hand had to be rotated a little so it cov-

ered my left thumb. All in all, my setup was quite a mess. During the next 10 minutes, Brett quickly addressed these setup issues and had my swing totally dialed in. It just concontinued on page 12

NOVEMBER 2009


Have Clubs, Will Travel (very far if it’s snowing hard enough) by TONY DEAR THE WEATHER IS TURNING FROM GLORIOUS TO GRISLY AND IT’S NOT LONG UNTIL YOU’RE STARING OUT OF THE WINDOW HOPING FOR A BREAK IN THE RAIN/SLEET/SNOW SO YOU CAN AT LEAST GO OUT IN THE GARDEN TO SWING A GOLF CLUB. IT’S TIME TO GET OUT OF DODGE. BUT WHERE WILL YOU GO?

24.58 of Seattle’s 37.07 inches of annual rainfall cover the Emerald City’s streets between the start of November and the end of March. 7.7 of its 11.7 inches of snow fall in January and December when the average temperature is an ungolfable 35.9˚. Now is the time to head south or south-west for as long as your budget will allow. And thanks to a universal recession you may have heard about, prices from Hawaii to Las Vegas and Phoenix have dropped quickly, like lead-covered stones in some cases, over the last year as airlines, hotels, cruise companies, and golf courses desperately seek to fill their seats, rooms, berths and tee-sheets. Hawaii Perhaps the first destination Puget Sounders think of when the sunshine disappears and the nimbostratus start rolling in is Hawaii. Seattle and Tacoma have long been the 50th State’s third largest travel market after Los Angeles and San Francisco and, according to state government statistics, sent 204,172 sun-seekers south-west across the Pacific between January and August this year. With all those rain shadows hiding behind volcanoes, the climate on each of the islands and on various parts of each island varies quite a bit. According to the Hawaiian Visitors and Convention Bureau, however, the official average sealevel temperature in January is 78.6˚. And January precipitation is roughly half that of Seattle. With numbers like that, any of the six populated islands - islands with golf courses - will do although Maui is probably at the top of the pile with a profusion of quality layouts on its west and south-west coasts. The standard method of travel is with Alaska and/or Hawaiian Airlines. The cheapest seats come with a two-hour stopover in Honolulu but for a little extra Hawaiian will get you there non-stop. After arriving at Kahului Airport on the island’s north coast, you’re only a few minutes from the Dunes at Maui Lani, designed by Robin Nelson who has spent much of his career in Hawaii. The island’s newest course, the Dunes is said to have a ‘Scottish feel’ which is a bit of a stretch given the 20˚-30˚ difference in temperatures, absence of fescue turf, and NOVEMBER 2009

occasional man-made water hazard, but it is as close to the genuine article as you’ll get here. But why would you come here for links golf? You’re on Maui for views of the mountains, beaches and whales breaching in the blue Pacific. You certainly get all that at your next stop, Kahili Golf Course on the Honoapiilani Highway, assuming you have time for it. Another Nelson design, Kahili opened as Sandalwood in 1991 and benefitted enormously from a major upgrade a couple of years ago. Kahili is positioned on the slopes of the West Maui Mountains but looks east towards 10,023ft Haleakala, a shield volcano that forms over 75% of the entire island. The Dunes and Kahili are grand openers (or closers, or one opener, one closer… you get the idea) to a Maui vacation which continues with a stay at one of the island’s four great resorts; Kapalua, Wailea, Makena and Ka’anapali. 22,000-acre Kapalua on the northwest coast is home to three courses; the Arnold Palmer & Francis Duane-designed Bay Course which opened in 1975; the Village, also laid out by Palmer and Duane and which winds inland through stands of Cook Pines with some severe changes in elevation; and the Plantation which Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore created in 1991 and which hosts the SBS

Championship (formerly Mercedes Benz Championship) at the start of every PGA Tour season. Ka’anapali, three miles south of Kapalua on the Honoapiilani Highway, pos-

began life as an executive course a few yeas after ‘Royal’ opened but which Jack Snyder expanded in 1976. It was revamped again in 2005, this time by Robin Nelson, who renovated a few holes to make the

sesses two fine tracks; Royal Ka’anapali, a Robert Trent Jones Senior original which opened in 1962, and Ka’anapali Kai which

most of views across the water to Lanai and Molokai and introduced forward continued on page 10

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Don’t Dismiss Golf During the Northwest Winter! by JORDAN COOPER

Growing up in Wenatchee, Washington, my idea of winter golf consisted of sitting on the couch and watching Freddy clean up at the Skins Game each year. It was usually around Halloween when I bid farewell to my clubs and hello to my snowboard. This went on for ten years until I moved to San Diego and I had my next experience with winter golf: watching the Skins Game…in person… in short sleeves. I had heard so many people complain about winter golf, even in San Diego. I didn’t exactly see their point-of-view: highs in the 60’s, lows in

the 40’s; perfect golf weather for someone accustomed to seeing the local course hidden by a few feet of snow every January. In 2007, I moved to back to the Great Northwest and began to catch a glimpse of the true nature of winter golf. I have always been able to handle playing in the cold, even in the wind. But throw in a steady downpour and temperatures in the 40’s, and I began to rethink my choice of location…and maybe even my choice of profession. Who in their right mind would voluntarily subject themselves to the torture of four hours on the course mid January when there are plenty of warm living rooms inviting them to enjoy a football-induced coma? I think I played two and one-quarter rounds of golf that first winter. Well, it is that time of year again. The leaves are changing, the temperatures are dropping, and it has been at least two weeks since I last saw blue sky. After serious internal debate, I have made a life changing decision: I will no longer be just a fair-weather golfer! Bring on the winter! Winter is one of the most affordable times to be a golfer. Greens fees are lower, range balls are cheaper and indoor facilities are offering special deals. Tee times are rarely a challenge to obtain. Pace of

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play is never over four hours and the clubhouse is still a welcoming place. When approached correctly, winter golf in the Northwest can be one of the most enjoyable and exciting rounds of the year. If you plan to join in on this madness, there are a few things that must be done. First and foremost, invest in rain gear. As much as I convinced myself that I could tough it out with a pair of longjohns an extra shirt or two, nothing can compete with the comfort of being dry. Good rain gear can be purchased starting at just over one hundred dollars and will last for years. I have always believed that the winter is the best time to work on your game at an indoor facility. I have also found that it can be the best time to work on your game outdoors as well. Plugged lies, mud balls, thick wet rough, slippery grips and slow greens provide challenges not usually encountered in your typical August round.

In a winter round, there is no pressure to shoot a champion’s score. Although, once you mentally and physically acclimate to the weather change and focus on your shots, you may be surprised to find that some of your best rounds can be shot in February. I likely played fifty rounds this summer. I plan on playing close to fifty more by March. Of course, if it is a clear day, you will find me in the mountains enjoying the snow. However, give me grey-skies and gusty winds and you will find me with a smile on my face and a club in my hand, enjoying the wonders of winter golf in the Pacific Northwest. Jordan Cooper, is a PGA Apprentice Teaching Professional and Club Fitter for GolfTEC in Bellevue, WA. He can be reached at 425.454.7956 or visit www. golftec.com/seattle for more information.

The Best Quotes in Golf From The Notebook Of Ron Salsig “Golf is a truly global sport and should have been in the Olympics a long time ago” – Tiger

continued from page 7

tees to enable the less than experienced golfer to get round. Snyder, who first trained as a superintendent under his father at Oakmont Golf Course in Pennsylvania, worked mainly in New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada and also Hawaii where he had established his reputation at Wailea’s wonderful Old Blue Course which, 37 years after opening, is still one of Hawaii’s most popular tee-times. On Maui’s south-west coast, the incredible Wailea Resort boasts six world-class hotels and, as well as the Blue, the lovely Emerald and challenging Gold Courses, both of which are the handiwork of Robert Trent Jones Jr. A little further south is Makena whose North Course many visitors rate as their favorite on the island. The South, though a little less entertaining than its neighbor, is still a great resort course nonetheless but, alas, currently closed for maintenance and renovation by Trent Jones Jr. There’s a lot of great golf in a small space on Maui, and Kauai on the west-

ern end of the Hawaiian chain, comes close to matching its great course/ surface area ratio. The oldest and perhaps most beautiful of the islands, Kauai is also known as the Garden Isle and bookended at its top and bottom (can you have bookends at the top and bottom?) by two of the most insanely luxurious resorts you can imagine; Princeville to the north and the Grand Hyatt at Poipu Bay to the South. Princeville, which recently became a St. Regis Resort – one of just 18 in the world – was voted by readers of Golf World as the 11th best golf resort in America this year. Its Trent Jones Jr.-designed Prince Course was ranked 67th in the US by Golf Digest, while the 27-hole Makai Course, another Jones Jr. design, is undergoing extensive remodeling with Seashore Paspalum replacing Bermuda 328 on the greens and bunkers being remodeled. Moving clockwise around the island in the direction of Poipu, we first come to a pretty decent municipal at Wailua which, if you’re looking to save some continued on page 14

10 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

NOVEMBER 2009


The Recipe to Achieving Golfing Success—And Enjoyment! by ERIN SZEKELY

Have you ever stood on the first tee and felt like you couldn’t pull the trigger because your thoughts were all over the place? I think we all have. A common scenario is that you come from the driving range where you are swinging freely

and everything feels great and you get to the first tee and can barely swing the club backward. What the heck happened? I ask my students this question: “Did you lose your talent from the range to the first tee?” Sometimes they say yes, but of course you haven’t. You’ve just changed your purpose and your thoughts. The journey in golf is to discover what your recipe or thoughts are going to be before and during your swing so you will be your most successful. There are so many distractions, that it takes time and patience to move towards mastery of your thoughts. No matter how you have learned the game, you have been successful at some point, and the trick is to remember what those successful thoughts were, and not dwell on the mistakes. Does this sound familiar on the range: “Boy, I’m really striking the ball well. I think I’ve got it! Should be a great day. I can feel the club and I feel flexible and ready.” Then you get to the first tee and these are your thoughts are, “Oh no, there’s that OB

stake”, or “There’s that lake,” or “Wait till my buddies see my swing, I wonder what they will think? Sure hope I swing like I did on the range.” Those are obviously not great thoughts. But I think they are pretty common. You have to develop a plan so you know what you are going to think about before you step on the tee box or before any shot. You are responsible for your thoughts and you can choose what you are going to think. That’s right, you can chose, and you have to make yourself do it. How many of you go to the range, grab your driver and try to hit the ball as far as you can? That’s not what you do on the golf course when you are playing a round of golf. You have to tee off, figure out your distance to the green or your target and then maybe chip and putt. That’s what you should be practicing, not how far can I hit this driver. Having a pre-shot routine will help you organize your thoughts so you will know exactly what to think about. Here’s a better scenario than the one previously men-

tioned: Stand behind the ball and pick out your target. That’s what you will hold in your mind as you approach the ball and set up. Take a breath or two to get oxygen to your muscles, look at your target and start the club head backwards, brush the grass and swing the club to the target. That’s it, that’s all. It is so easy to let other thoughts interfere, so you have to be diligent about staying with the thoughts that work for you and do it over and over. If you find your mind wandering, come back to the target. Practice your pre-shot routine on the range, and pretend you are on the golf course and visualize what you want to do. It’s more fun and productive than pounding balls and repeating your mistakes. Make a goal now to be stronger mentally next year and develop a sound preshot routine. Have fun out there and keep swinging. Erin Szekely is an LPGA teaching professional. For more information, please visit www. golfingwitherin.com or call 425-398-0443.

Li Named HP Scholastic Junior All-American KENT NATIVE HONORED BY AJGA, HP FOR ACHIEVEMENTS ON THE GOLF COURSE, IN THE CLASSROOM Kent native Rui Li has been named an HP Scholastic Junior All-American, the American Junior Golf Association and HP announced Wednesday. Sponsored for the 15th consecutive year by HP, the 2009 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. 22, at PGA National Resort NOVEMBER 2009

& Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. By being named to this team, each player is also eligible to participate in the Polo Golf

on PGA National Resort & Spa’s Champion and Haig Courses, Nov. 21-27. Li is a senior at Kentwood High School

where she is ranked 11 of 487 in her class with a 3.963 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 continued on page 28

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Myrmo and Edwards-Powell Crowned Oregon Senior Amateur Champions Epic battles to extra holes marked the finals matches at the 26th Oregon Senior Amateur at The Oregon Golf Club in West Linn, Ore. The Men’s championship was contested between Erik Myrmo, 60, of Eugene, Ore and Jack Schnieder, 52. of Oregon City, Ore. and neither player was able to take command of the match. Schneider went up on the first hole, but while he never was down in the match, at no time was he able to extend his lead to more than 1up. For the most part, Myrmo was hitting shots. It was a steady day fairways and greens. But his nemesis was putting. On the other side, Schneider was struggling all day with his driver, regularly pushing his shots. But he was able to maintain control over the match with stellar putting. “I probably had 4 to 5 lipouts,” said Schneider. Myrmo added, “He almost made about 8 putts.” Both agreed that the pivotal hole of the match was the 400-yard. par 4, 11th which Myrmo finally birdied to bring the match all square. Slow and steady was Mymo’s mantra, and when it counted most, he was able to take the match. “It was a tough course,” said Myrmo. The greens were perfect, but if you didn’t hit it perfectly, you could put yourself in a position for lots of 3-putts.”

The match was all sqaure through 16 holes, then on the par-3 17th, Myrmo missed the green and his chip left him 10feet from the hole. Schnedier was on in regulation and easily made his two putts to par and go 1-up with 1 to play. “I had been pushing all my drives,” said Schneider. “All I wanted to do was hit it hard and not push it again.” Unfortunately, he did it again, sending his drive to the trees. A fortunate richochet put his ball in the fairway just 170-yards from the tee. He hooked his next shot into the hazard on the left. By the time he was on the green, he was laying four to Myrmo who was just off the green in two resulting in the match going extra holes. “I was determined not to push it again,” said Schneider. This time it was another hook into the left rough on the par-5, 560yard hole. Myrmo was just on the right side of the fairway, hitting his second shot 50-yards short of the green. His approach hit the green about 10-feet short of the green, but his ball spun back leaving him 30-feet short of the hole. Schneider unfortunately sent his approach into the right greenside bunker and the daunting task of getting up and down from a fried-egg lie. “I thought I hit a great bunker shot,” said Schneider, who saw his ball run through the green. He left

his come back shot short, then missed the putt to give Myrmo the title. It was the first and only time in the match that Myrmo was up despite playing his round at only 2-over par. In the Women’s Championship finals, Oregon Golf Club Women’s Champion Penny Saenguraiporn, 56, of Lake Oswego, ore. was taking on her second Pacific Northwest Golf Hall of Famer of the week after dispatching of 1972 U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion the day earlier. This time she was taking on Joan Edwards-Powell who had won this event five previous times out of the six times she played the event. Like the Men’s match, no one took command of the match, but this time it was back and forth with Saenguraiporn going 1up for the first time on the 7th hole. “She was putting well all day,” said Edwards-Powell. “If it was a 5-footer, 10-footer, 12-footer, it was in.” Saenguraiporn retorted,“She’d say she cannot putt on these greens, but she was good enought to beat me!” “Whatever happened today was a bonus. I didn’t decide to play until last week. I just wanted to represent the club. If you play well but don’t win, that’s ok. It’s just an honor to have been able to compete well against this true champions,” she added. Edwards-Powell added, “anytime you go to

continued from page 6

Pro Golf Discount’s North Seattle Manager (right) stands with Mike Davis, the recipient of a brand new Adams Driver. Mike correctly guessed how many pink tees were in the container at Golf Today Magazine's Golf Fest booth.

12 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

tinues to amaze me how critical setup is to the rest of the swing. Once these items were addressed, I immediately felt the difference. Not only can I strike the ball more solidly, I even managed to hit the ball into GolfTEC’s net which has a target strap in the middle that produces a gratifying noise, making the shot seem even better. After Brett coached me through setup, he had me switch to the driver. I have had very little success so far with my driver. Typically, when I manage to hit the ball, I tend to hit the top and shoot a worm burning line drive that won’t even go as far as my 6 iron shot. Clearly, it all comes down to setup. Brett had me line up in a different position with the ball. When I started with my driver I tried to apply the things that I had learned with the 6 iron. I had the handle of my club pointed slightly forward. Brett explained that with the driver this shuts down the already minimal loft that the driver provides. Brett had me move my hands back so that the club was straight up or

sudden death, anything can happen. Every shot is critical. I focused hard to make sure I hit the shots I needed. I had a 6-footer left to win, and it was the first putt I hit well all day!” The Oregon Senior Amateur is for amateur golfers 50 years of age and older with a USGA Handicap Index limit of 10.0 or less for Men and 22.4 or less for Women. The event began in 1984 when contests for Senior Women wre separated from the Oregon Amateur due to the popularity of the event. Three years later the inaugural Men’s Senior Amateur was created. ABOUT THE OREGON GOLF ASSOCIATION The Oregon Golf Association (OGA) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit membership association. Founded in 1924, the OGA was originally established with the sole purpose of conducting the Oregon Amateur Championship. Since its founding 85 years ago, the OGA has evolved to now provide a multitude of benefits and services to approximately 50,000 individual men, women, senior, and junior members at over 270 member golf clubs and 190 golf courses throughout the Oregon and SW Washington.

even slightly tilted back. A few shots with this new setup and things were going well. Though I was consistently hitting it over 200 yards, the ball would find its way to the left or right rather than the preferred straight path. I still wasn’t keeping up with the swing well. During the rest of my lesson we worked to straighten out my drive. This work also helped Brett identify the cause of another problem that has been getting worse for me lately—the dreaded lower back pain. After independent trips to the range, the pain and tightness would typically continue for a couple of days. I convinced myself that this was just part of the game of golf, not considering that it was a symptom of poor form. I had been hearing guys complain at the range about their backs, chiropractors, inversion chairs, etc. Turns out that I was building up a lot of torque and not giving it a way to release. My constant battle against vertical bounce had caused a bit of a dilemma at the end of my swing. At the begincontinued on page 24

NOVEMBER 2009



continued from page 10

dollars ($60 for non-residents compared with $200 at the Prince Course), is just as good a place as any to set up shop for a few days before splashing the cash at a big-name resort course on your final day before you head home. Wailua, which became an 18-holer in 1961, has a couple of hard holes by the ocean, and though not nearly as well maintained as its Kauai brethren, still gives a pretty good approximation of what you’d expect to find in Hawaii. Moving down the Kuhio Freeway towards Lihue and the island’s airport, you soon find two courses that make playing golf in Hawaii such a seminal experience; the Kiele Course at Kauai Lagoons and Puakea. Acquired by the GolfBC Group in 2003 and sold to Marriott Vacation Club International in August 2007, Kiele at Kauai Lagoons is, like the Makai, being given a facelift that will eventually give it more oceanfront holes than any course in Hawaii. The current, playable 18 is made up of 12 holes from the original Kiele Course and six from the old Mokihana Course. When all the work is completed, there will be 27 Jack Nicklaus-designed holes consisting of 11 new and 16 renovated holes. There will also be a new practice facility as well as a new clubhouse. As with most major building projects just now, the timeline for the work has not been determined, though it is likely to extend into 2011. The Director of Golf is Scott Ashworth, who grew up in Spokane but attended the University of Washington, and came to Lihue via the UW driving range, McCormick Woods, Ko’Olina on Oahu, a course in Florida, and Ka’anapali on Maui where he oversaw the renovations Robin Nelson made to the South Course. ”Then about two years ago, I found out Marriott was taking over at Kauai Lagoons, “ says Ashworth. ”I was ready for a new challenge with all the work and renovation that was going to be happening here. Since I already knew all the Marriott guys, it was a natural fit and they hired me in August of 2007. I’m still excited about the future here at Kauai Lagoons. It’s a spectacular resort that just got hit at the wrong time with the economy.” Ah, yes, the economy, the one that caused visitor numbers from Seattle to drop 35.2% in November last year, compared with the same month a year before, and 35.3% in December despite the fact Alaska Airlines began its non-stop service from Seattle to Lihue in October 2007. Despite those rather depressing figures, the Director of Golf at Puakea, Paul Ito, another UW grad who worked at McCormick Woods early in his career, still sees a goodly number of Seattle golfers

in his pro shop. ”Actually, I’d estimate 15%-20% of our visitors are from Seattle,“ he says. One of the most popular courses on Kauai, Puakea was designed by you-know-who (no, not Jones Jr, but Robin Nelson) and located adjacent to the property on which Steven Spielberg filmed parts of Jurassic Park. A third golfer from Seattle, actually Bellevue, employed on Kauai is Matt Torrey, the Head Professional at Kiahuna, a mile from the Grand Hyatt on the island’s south coast. Designed by Nel…sorry, Jones Jr. Kiahuna was the first course on the island to seed its greens with salt-tolerant Paspalum, a move that has not only saved it a lot of water but also guaranteed it some of the greenest and smoothest putting surfaces (virtually no grain) in the state. Visitors to Kiahuna got a great deal on green fees this summer paying the usual $95 for their first round but being charged the Kamaaina (locals) rate of $65 for the rest of their stay. A round at Poipu Bay is somewhat more expensive at $220 ($150 for guests of the Grand Hyatt) but so full of drama and excitement, especially on the back nine, it may be worth a little extra spend. The venue for the PGA Grand Slam of Golf from 1994 to 2006 during which Tiger Woods won seven times, Poipu has Jones Jr.’s name above the door and was opened in 1991. It too will replace it Bermuda grass greens with Paspalum this coming April when the course will close for six months. Also on Hawaii’s list of treasures are

14 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

a handful of courses on the Big Island, namely Mauna Kea, the North and South Courses at Mauna Lani, the Beach and King’s Courses at Waikoloa and Hapuna; a pair of eye-poppers on the tiny island of Lanai – Jack Nicklaus’s Challenge at Manele which overlooks Hulopo’e Bay, and the Experience at Koele whose front nine Greg Norman cut from a koa, pine and eucalyptus forest and which features the impossibly dramatic 390-yard 17th with its 200ft drop from the tee; and, on Oahu, a number of memorable courses such as Makaha, Ko’Olina which has long been regarded as one of the hardest courses in the US, the extravagant Pete Dye-designed Luana Hills and Arnold Palmer’s course at the Turtle Bay Resort on the far northwest coast which has hosted the LPGA Tour’s SBS Championship and Champions Tour’s Turtle Bay Championship. Hawaii, you really have got to love it. Phoenix/Scottsdale You’re probably also rather fond of Scottsdale, AZ, despite the absence of a large, blue ocean crashing against the rocks below you and the sight of humpback whales breaching in said ocean. Scottsdale and Phoenix make up for their lack ocean views with some equally cool desert scenery and a mind-boggling number of courses – roughly 250 in the Greater Phoenix area. The accommodations, dining, nightlife and extra curricular activities are pretty good too, although the Valley of the Sun can’t quite compete with Hawaii for Platinum, Gold or Silver-rated resorts in Golf Magazine’s

biennial rankings. Seattleites, who make up Scottsdale’s tenth largest market, come here not only for all that golf but also the weather, of course. In January, the thermometer needle points towards 70 most days and between November and March the area will receive very close to one quarter the amount of rain that Seattle gets. Scottsdale is the main attraction in the Valley, but you’re just as likely to find yourself wandering off into any of Phoenix’s other suburbs; Tempe, Mesa, Apache Junction, Chandler, Glendale, Peoria, Avondale, Goodyear and Fountain Hills, all of which possess those quintessential target golf courses with patches of emerald green (typically a total of 90 acres) meandering through the sandy, rocky, cactus-covered wasteland. There are so many great public-access courses to choose from down here, your ten favorite layouts might differ considerably from your buddy’s, but a handful of really special venues do creep onto most visitors’ lists. The Boulders, Troon North, Sunridge Canyon, Gold Canyon, Desert Canyon, Ocotillo, Talking Stick and We-Ko-Pa invariably crop up in conversation and are always spoken of in glowing terms. Of all the courses that feature on golfers’ must-play lists, however, We-Ko-Pa is probably the mustiest must-play of them all. Located on land owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation a few miles east of Fountain Hills, both the Scott Miller-designed Cholla Course and Crenshaw/Coore-designed Saguaro Course play through the unsulcontinued on page 26

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18 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

NOVEMBER 2009


Golf Today Magazine Northwest Edition’s New Website • Read about the best places to stay • Travel tips and golf package ideas • Best Articles On Golf • Monthly features, pro tour talk, local tournaments, junior golf, and women's golf coverage • Special golf columns, course profiles, golf trivia, golf antiquities, resort features, newest courses, and PGA updates • Upcoming golf events in your area • Instructional tips, rules information, tournament results, and a whole lot more golf news and views!

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A Magazine For Everything Golf, And Everything Northwest! www.GolfTodayNW.com NOVEMBER 2009

GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

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Avoid Hibernation And Play Winter Golf! by INA ZAJAC

Many northwest golfers are content spending the winter comfortably at home -- their clubs tucked away, clean and dry, resting in hibernation mode until springtime. Then there are winter golfers. Some say they are enthusiasts while others swear they must be masochists. Eager to get their clubs muddy, they are ready and

continued from page 14

lied Sonoran Desert, with fantastic views across the Tonto National Forest where not a single faux-stucco vacation home comes into play. While We-Ko-Pa’s open aspect makes it truly memorable, it would be wrong to suggest those courses with homes bordering the fairways are all bad. How could you ever say that about Troon North for example, Legend Trail, Sunridge Canyon, Las Sendas or Eagle Mountain? Green fees can get a little out-of-hand in the winter months when tens of thousands of folk escape the bleak conditions back home in Canada, the Northwest, Midwest and Northeast, so look for twilight rates and web specials. And don’t ignore a couple of municipal tracks; Papago in Phoenix and Dobson Ranch in Mesa, which may not look all that compared with the immaculate Troon North for example, but which are certainly worth a game. Papago is actually one of the country’s best city-owned courses and hosted the LPGA Tour’s J Golf Phoenix LPGA International in March when Karrie Webb won her 36th tour event. The classic William Bell Jr. design profited greatly from a 2008 remodel by architect Billy Fuller who spent $6million of the Parks Department’s money adding tees, building new bunkers and putting in an

willing to put their bodies, their pride and their beloved handicaps on the line. Northwest native Jake Iwen plays golf year-round in his role as a tournament sales rep for Oki Golf, and says he is proud to be a winter golfer. “You must be willing to accept higher scores and a wounded ego for the love of the game,” Iwen says. “My most memorable rounds were cold-weather outings I was just happy to survive, let alone shoot a good score.” Iwen says he will always remember the round from arctic hell he played a few Januarys ago. “It was just above freezing and it started hailing halfway through the round,” he says. “It was a miserable day in terms of comfort, but every time I see those two buddies we always talk about it and laugh.” Iwen says it all comes down to expectations. “Your hands are cold and all feeling has gone out the window, so you have to just relax and take what comes.” Rikki Rothenberg-Klein is president

of the Northwest Ladies Golf Association and says she is just one of the many women golfers undeterred by rain, wind and even snow. She played about 90 rounds in 2008 and says less forgiving conditions force winter golfers to step up and adapt their game, which ultimately makes them better ball strikers. “With damp conditions, you need to bump and run with 7 and 8 irons rather than chip and pitch with wedges,” she says. “The greens are slower which means you really have to strike the putt.” There are some perks that take the sting out of those frigid, high-scoring rounds.

irrigation system. The upgrades continued earlier this year when several dozen native desert trees were added. You might also consider Tucson which can’t compete with Phoenix’s mass of courses but which has its share of great golf – Omni Tucson National home of the highly acclaimed Catalina and Sonoran Courses, Loews Ventana Canyon with its two Tom Fazio courses, Tom Wesikopf ’s Golf Club at Vistoso and 27hole La Paloma Cc. We strongly suggest you also take a day, at least, to visit Sedona, 100 miles north of Phoenix, and the exceptional Sedona Golf Resort designed by Scottsdale-based architect Gary Panks and featuring amazing views of the surrounding red rocks. Allegiant Air flies direct to Phoenix from Bellingham and Pasco, while Alaska, United and US Airways also serve Sky Harbor Intl. non-stop from Seattle. Las Vegas Even for the most hopelessly obsessed fanatic, Las Vegas is not really about the golf. Sure, a handful of the city’s near 50 courses are justifiably ranked among the nation’s best, but the person who comes here just to tee it up is missing the point. Perhaps more than anywhere, Vegas has slashed vacation deals with rooms in the top hotels going for as little as $29. A quick look on Luxor’s web site reveals a Pyramid Deluxe room goes for $50 a

night just now and that’s without all the haggling and negotiating seasoned travelers do to push it down even lower. As for the golf, Travelgolf.com’s 2007 exposé of the poor conditions at courses owned by Walters Golf (Desert Pines, Bali Hai, Royal Links) did the city’s reputation no favors, but the issue has faded from most golfers’ conscience lately and though Walters, a former poker great who also made a fortune on sports betting, is still clearly bent on selling the land in order to put up condos, the courses survive for the time being. And, if recent reviews on tripadvisor.com and other sites are anything to go by conditions have improved greatly. ”We spent $3million at Desert Pines getting it back in shape,“ says Alex Canetti, a Walters Golf employee. ”The greens were totally rebuilt and seeded with bent grass. They roll really well now. I’m aware of the bad reviews from two years ago, but when I arrived here last year, the course was beginning to improve and now it’s in superb condition. I’m not at all surprised by all the positive reviews.” Walters’s courses each have a theme; Desert Pines has a look of the Carolinas apparently although it’s not entirely clear which one, Royal Links has 18 replicas of holes found at Open Championship courses (some better than others but the end result is certainly entertaining), and

26 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

Local courses offer lower winter rates. Oki Golf offers off-season packages and reduced daily rates at its eight northwest courses. Winter golfers are also rewarded with fewer crowds and less waiting. Rothenberg-Klein says playing winter golf also puts ideal summer weather into perspective. “Our winter scores may be higher, but it truly makes us really appreciate summer play,” she says. Ina Zajac is an experienced Northwest golf writer and principal of Tactual Communications. She can be reached at ina@ tactualcom.com or call 206-819-8835.

The Best Quotes in Golf From The Notebook Of Ron Salsig “I’m not happy unless I’m working on something. You try to improve. This is something that annoyed me over three years. So I decided to change it. There’d be no point in standing still. You have to try to get better.” – Padraig on why he changed his swing after winning three majors

Bali Hai at the southern end of the Strip, resembles something you might find on a south-Pacific island with seven acres of water hazards, 2,500 stands of palm trees, white sand transition zones with black lava rock outcroppings and over 100,000 tropical plants. Recently ranked 47th best public course in Golf World’s Readers’ Choice Awards, Bali Hai measures just over 7,000 yards from the back tees and was designed by Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley in 2000. Other courses a whole lot more enjoyable to play than rain-soaked, mudcovered, Jackson Park in 40˚ weather include Angel Park, Bear’s Best, the two great Tom Fazio courses at Primm Valley south of Las Vegas on I-15 and just over the California/Nevada state line, three Pete Dye-designed courses at the Paiute Golf Resort ten miles northwest of town on Hwy 95, the ever-popular Painted Desert and Bert Stamps’s Las Vegas National, which opened as Sahara Country Club in 1961. And if you happen to be a multibillionaire high-roller then forget all the above and just head straight for Shadow Creek which Golf Digest ranks as the 41st best course in the country. Actually, you don’t have to be mega-rich to play here. Just stay at an MGM Mirage continued on page 30

NOVEMBER 2009


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GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE ďšť NORTHWEST EDITION

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This Fall: 5 Steps to 2010 Performance by BOB DUNCAN

Don’t mothball those golf clubs yet! Your performance in 2010 may depend more on what you do this fall than next spring, since you’ll also be yard trimming, garage cleaning, and watching your kids play spring sports. And there’s still some great weather to come, and perhaps you’re heading south for the winter. There are 5 things you should do by January 1 to help you with your golf game next year... 1) Take a golf lesson. What, now? Absolutely. But, don’t just go to your local pro and get a stock lesson in how to make your swing perfect and hit the ball solid

and straight. Learn what it takes to hit a slice or hook on command! There are 4 things you should consider to help change the curve: balance, swing plane, ball position, and face position. Ask your pro how changing each of these affects the ball and learn what to do with each to perform them on command. Then, you not only can do so on command, you also have the knowledge of what to correct when you’re trying to hit the ball straight and it curves. If you don’t know what causes the ball to go to the right and to the left, how do you know what to fix? Head into 2010 armed with new knowledge. 2) Try a driver with a higher loft and a heavier and more flexible shaft. Notice that I didn’t say stiffer? Low lofts are the #1 contributor to a slice. Stiff shafts are the #2 contributor to a slice. Shafts that are too light are the #3 contributor to major inconsistency. If the shaft is too stiff, too light, and the loft too low you will hit those major bananas. If the loft is too low to square up, much less hit a draw, players will normally add loft by leaving the face open at impact. The stiffer the shaft, the more right the ball will go since the shaft never got a chance to flex, and therefore will not kick the head through impact. And, a higher loft might go farther! One company even makes a 16- and 19-degree

driver for slower swing speeds. Ever really wonder why you hit your 3-wood better than your driver? Maybe you or your wife needs a 3-wood loft in a driver head size and length. 3) Make a commitment that any club you buy – or someone buys for you (Christmas is coming) – is a custom fitted club, and one that you verify is better than what you have. Don’t buy a golf club unless you know you can hit it. If you are given a gift, just return to the store and go through a fitting to determine if it is right for you. Chances are they’ll be happy to exchange it, especially if you hit the one you walk away with the best. 4) Take some time to learn how to hit that 50-yard wedge shot. How long should your swing be to hit your sand or lob wedge 50 yards? Should you be shifting your weight? Should you be on the balls – or heels? – of your feet? Why do players skull or chunk this shot so often (it’s not because they lifted their head or didn’t hit down on it...)? Here’s a tip: try it with the clubhead in a toe-down position. 5) Think about what you need to do to play better besides learning a better swing. Short game and putting practice? Sure. But there’s more to playing golf than just having a great swing. Realizing that not every shot will be solid and straight is step

1. For example, the ball usually goes to the left when it is above your feet and to the right when it is below. Even slight slopes can take your ball off line. If you play for it to curve off these slopes by aiming left or right (which you should), you need to make sure you’re not doing something to cause it to go the other way. We play on courses that are not flat, so why would the ball always go straight? If you’re trying to hit the ball solid and straight all the time then you’re just golfing and not playing the game of golf. If you make a perfect swing from an imperfect lie you’re bound to fail. The lie of the ball can influence your performance just as much as your swing. With all the emphasis on correcting your swing the teaching industry has actually pushed how to play the game into the background. Consider that guy on tour with the funky swing – like Arnold Palmer, Jim Furyk, Corey Pavin, Lee Trevino – and ask how he has been able to play the game so successfully. Bob Duncan is a 25-year+ PGA Golf Professional, Master Clubfitter, and author of the GolfeCoach Personal Interactive Coaching Program. Bob is the Teaching Professional at Tetherow Golf Club in Bend, OR, and you can reach him through his website at www.golfecoach.com, or email bduncan@tetherow.com.

continued from page 11

scale). She is active in Kentwood Associated Student Body where she helped raise more than $10,000 worth of food for a local shelter. She also helped organize a Relay for Life team of 50 people to raise money for cancer research. On the golf course, Li has finished in the top 10 in three AJGA events in 2009, including a fourth place finish at the AJGA Junior at Wenatchee. “HP is delighted once again to recognize academic excellence with the naming of the 2009 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.” The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college

28 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The largest Association of its kind, the AJGA has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of more than 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and more than 30 foreign countries. Titleist, the AJGA’s National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association’s success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, which is in its third decade of AJGA support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004. In 2007, after 12 years of support, Polo Ralph Lauren became the AJGA’s second Premier Partner. AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. More than 200 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 350 wins. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, Cristie Kerr, Pat Hurst, Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel and Julieta Granada.

NOVEMBER 2009




NOVEMBER 2009

GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

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Should I Take My Golf Vacation To Cabo Or Puerto Vallarta? by MARK KNUDSON

As the well known winds of fall blew a blanket of red maple leaves all over the green on the sixth hole at Carnation Golf Course, I knew that my days of perfect Seattle weather were coming to a close. I cleared a path with my putter, lined up the birdie putt, and pushed the Titleist 2 toward the hole. Before the ball could complete its anointed course a gust of wind blew a fresh layer of leaves in its path. I settled for par. As I drove home with my wipers on delay mode I realized that now was the time to start planning my next golf vacation where it’s always sunny. To Mexico! I have had the great fortune of visiting Mexico many times over the past 20 years, mostly on business trips. Whenever I had a few extra hours I found myself exploring the seaside golf courses south of the border. I probably spent more time reading the stories and details of the many high-end golf courses in these areas than I did actually playing on those courses.

Now I had to make a big time golf decision: Do I take my golf vacation in Cabo or Puerto Vallarta. Over the years I have own Alaska Airlines out of Seattle more than any other carrier. They have several ights per day to both Cabo and Puerto Vallarta, and it turns out that I have just enough frequent ier miles to get me a ticket to either place. So, I have begun my annual golf analysis to help me and you make the best Mexican golf decision. Obviously both destinations can give you the golf vacation of a lifetime. Both have great courses designed by the likes of Nicklaus, Weiskopf, Van Hagge, Dye, and Jones. Both oer a vast array of resort hotels and sandy beaches. These days there are lots of bargains for airfare and hotels to most resort destinations in Mexico. Before I lay out the pros and cons of both coastal golf meccas, let me report that Mexico is as safe and sound as it has ever been. The tourism industry in Mexico has suered more than most, and in my mind it has been the victim of a lot of unfair publicity. Yes, there have been reports of gang violence... but not in Puerto Vallarta or Cabo. Those unfortunate events happened in the Northern Mexican desert border towns. Yes, there have been reports of swine u outbreaks. After the spike in fear last spring, the experts have found that Mexico (and especially the coastal resort areas) had no more incidence of swine u than the US or Canada. I never let a onein-a-million chance of getting sick interrupt my golf plans. So, let’s agree that both places are safe, closer than Hawaii, and oer some of the best travel bargains anywhere. So, what’s the dierence? There are distinct differences between Cabo and PV. Here are the basics:

CLIMATE CABO: Dry and arid with low precipitation. Lots of cactus, fewer palms. Think Phoenix with an ocean. PUERTO VALLARTA: Warm year round, late summer rainy season. Lots of mountains, palm trees, waterfalls, and greenery. Think Hawaii with cobblestone streets. GETTING AROUND CABO: Most of the hotels and golf courses are more than an hour from the airport. Things are spread out, so you probably should rent a car. PUERTO VALLARTA: The hotel zone and three golf courses are within 10 minutes from the airport. Taking a taxi to hotel and golf is easy. COST AND QUALITY CABO: There are more high-end resorts and golf courses in Cabo. You will pay more in green fees, shopping, and restaurants...but not that much more. PUERTO VALLARTA: A broader spectrum of hotels, restaurants, and romantic settings. You’ll save some money at hotels and restaurants and most things are closer together. TOP 5 COURSES CABO: Palmilla, El Dorado, Cabo Real, Cabo del Sol, Cabo San Lucas Country Club PUERTO VALLARTA: Vista Vallarta, Flamingos, El Tigre, Marina Vallarta, Punta Mita Frequently asked questions: Do I need to speak Spanish? No. Almost everyone in the hotels, restaurants, and golf courses speak great English. A few words like gracias, and por favor may help

STAFF

Do they accept US Dollars or do I need to get some pesos? Dollars and major credit cards are accepted. You may want to exchange some dollars for pesos when you arrive for tips and taxis Can I rent clubs? You can rent clubs and carts at all the good golf courses Packages, discounts Most of the hotels near the golf courses oer discounts to their guests. Check for details before you arrive Reservations? You can make tee times from your hotel when you arrive, or ďŹ nd the toll-free numbers on-line and call for details before you depart. Do I rent a car or take a taxi? I would rent a car in Cabo. Most major brands like Hertz, Avis, National, Dollar, etc., have oďŹƒces at the airports. Taxis are more feasible in Puerto Vallarta where the courses are closer. Can I drink the water? Yes. Both cities have invested billions of dollars to install some of the best and cleanest water in North America. Most sickness in Mexican resort areas originates from street vendors and alcohol poisoning from over consumption of liquor. Will someone try to scam me? With over 50 trips to Cabo and Puerto Vallarta I have never been scammed or hurt, that I know of. I have heard a few stories of policemen stopping speeders and asking for a bribe. That happens, and the way to avoid this problem is to not speed....and wear your seat belt. Above all else, enjoy your Mexico trip Mark Knudson is the owner of Fifty Best and MexicoInsideOut. He can be reached at fiftybest@hotmail.com or call 425-681-1627

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NOVEMBER 2009


continued from page 16

Mid-fairway bunkers lurk left and right ready to swallow your wayward tee shot; however, long hitters can take them out of play with a 280 plus yard drive. For the conservative, a 3 wood off the tee will ensure a good position for your next shot, but beware the large water hazard located to the left of the green that comes into play 100+ yards down the left fairway. I opted to be conservative and used a midiron for my second shot leaving me dry with an 80 yard pitch into a moderately sloped and smallish kidney shaped green and a two putt for par. A birdie or even eagle is attainable if you opt for the classic risk-reward approach, but either way, Trail Creek’s opening hole sets the stage for an enjoyable and memorable round. You can’t help but play relaxed when surrounded by such beauty and pristine elements, including the never too distant sound of trickling water from Trail Creek or the cries of the ever present magpies. As the round evolved, it became clear that Trail Creek plays with a balanced mix of

playable holes, but there were a few that stood out for me. The one that gave me the most fits, and not surprisingly the number one handicap on the course, was hole #3, a 434 yard par 4 that plays from an elevated tee offering golfers a hard dogleg left into a smallish green back and to the right, which is partially obscured from the turn by pine trees and a narrowing fairway. Watch out for the ever-present Trail Creek that runs left to right towards the front of the green and the meandering cart path can come into play. As I would find out, the key to a good score on this hole is to stay in the fairway with either a 5 wood or low hybrid and not hit past the turn and into the cart path. Why? Too much length results in a second shot that requires a Tiger-esque blind cut from 180 yards out around the pine trees on the right guarding the approach and into the green. Or, alternatively a short tee shot leaves a blind second shot with the creek remaining in play. Me? Well, a short chip back into the fairway did the trick leaving a much more manageable third shot into the green. Boy, I can’t wait to play that dif-

ferently next time! Trail Creek quickly developed into one of those courses that you wish you had more time to go play again and again. Not one hole is the same and each hole arguably could be Trail Creek’s signature hole, like the 133 yard par-3 #4 with the creek and wetland lurking at the base of a green that severely drops off left to right ready to roll your errant tee shot back down the green to an unhappy place or the mid-length 352 yard #13 that requires smart play to avoid the Trail Creek that borders the left fairway and runs the entire length into a well-bunkered green running North South. But if you ask Jeffrey Petersen which hole is Trail Creek’s signature, you’ll receive his vote for the 164 yard par-3 10th. Why? Off the tee, you are confronted by a relatively shallow two-tiered green that markedly narrows front left and right and slopes front to back. If the bunkers that lurk back left and right don’t haunt you the large, looming pine trees just might. But what makes #10 special is that your tee shot must carry water most of the way to make the green; however, if you do miss, short and

left is ideal. Anything right spells wet and lost for your ball so be aggressive off the tee, especially if you facing a stiff breeze off Baldy. Admittedly, I had my concerns about the playability of the course as Mother Nature had dumped 17 inches of snow not seven days prior, but with an afternoon tee time, there was only a scant reminder of the white stuff. In fact, the fairways were relatively dry and well manicured; the greens firm and ball rolling true. Aside from clearing off the errant fall leaf, Trail Creek’s greens were in great shape. Superintendent Ken Zimmerman and his team kept the course playable before the season ended late last month; however, if you want to experience Trail Creek or White Clouds for yourself, you’ll just have to wait until late April 2010 when the snow finally gives way to blue skies, white clouds, and the start of Sun Valley’s spring. For more information about Sun Valley Resort, Trail Creek or White Clouds Golf Courses, please visit www.sunvalley.com.

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COME AND PLAY THE BEST COURSES IN UTAH 14TH ANNUAL ST GEORGE Golf Getaway. April 18-24, 2010. 6 day golf excursion in St. George, Utah includes: 6 nights excellent accommodations, which includes swimming pool, Jacuzzi, 1 hosted party Tuesday.Tuesday Party: (cocktails, beer, wine and real good food provided) and a great auction of WA, Golf

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. 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.

Courses. 6 rounds of golf with cart at 6 terrific golf courses that include Coral Canyon, Sand Hollow, Sky Mountain, Sun Brook, and The Ledges Golf Club. Mens and Ladies Tournament. Over $10,000 in cash prizes for weekly and daily cash competition for gross and net. For more information, please email cnastos@comcast.net or visit www. stgeorgegolfgetaway.com.

RV GOLFERS Sun Country golf & RV. Located 4 miles west of cle elum on I90. Take exit 78 and go south 1/2 mile on Golf Course RD. Enjoy affordable, newly opened and remodeled 18 holes, wifi, cable, new showers and bathroom. Accommodates oversized RV’s. Once you experience it, you will come back. Please call 509-674-2226 for reservations.

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. NOVEMBER 2009

GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

33



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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

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


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