Golf Today NW - January 2010 Issue by Golf Today Magazine: Northwest Edition

CELEBRATING 23 YEARS IN THE WEST, NOW IN THE NORTHWEST! • WWW.GOLFTODAYNW.COM • NUMBER 11 • JANUARY 2010

Utah’s St. George Red Rock Golf Trail! See Inside for Great Fall Stay-N-Play Packages!

See page 16

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Into the Unknown: Swing Analysis 101 Moses Pointe Revealed! Golf Today’s “Guess the Courses” Answers Inside

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JANUARY 2010

GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

ON THE COVER • JANUARY 2010: Are you looking for a winter golfing destination? Is the Northwest winter just too much to bare as you stand on the tee box ready to hit into a bone-chilling Arctic breeze? St George, Utah’s Red Rock Golf Trail could well be the answer! With over nine spectacular courses, 10 hotels, and “hundreds of postcard settings” the Red Rock Golf Trail offers Northwest golfers amazing stay-and-play packages. Where else can you stay for four nights and golf for three rounds starting at $350 per person? Golf Today contributing writer Tony Dear sums it up best, “...daily temperatures hover around the 60 degree mark; there is very little rain; green fees are significantly cheaper than those in Scottsdale and Las Vegas; there are no bugs; the scenery is fantastic; and Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks are within easy range.” Yep, I’ll see you there! See pp 16,17,18,19 for details. –Cameron Healey, Publisher/Editor

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

5 6

MY TWO CENTS: COME PLAY THE 2010 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE HERON LAKES SPRING CLASSIC!

by Cameron Healey

NOTES FROM THE GOLFING “NEWBIE”

14 16

by Tony Dear

SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB IN ARIZONA ANNOUNCE NEW MEMBERSHIP PLAN

LET’S NOT FORGET ABOUT EASTERN WA! MOSES POINTE REVEALED!

U OF OREGON’S BRISTOW QUALIFIES FOR LPGA

NICKLAUS DESIGN REPEATS AS ASIA’S ARCHITECT OF THE YEAR

AMERICAN JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES 2010 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL FOR YOUR GOLF GAME IS…

by “Dan”

By Tony Dear

PGA TOUR LEGEND GREG NORMAN TO ENDORSE CYBEX GOLF FITNESS

2010 IS YOUR YEAR TO PLAY GOLF!

THE WORST ADVICE EVERYONE HAS RECEIVED

By Jordan Cooper

A HUSBAND HE IS, A GOLF INSTRUCTOR HE IS NOT!

INTO THE UNKNOWN: SWING ANALYSIS 101

By Bob Duncan

By Erin Szekely

4 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

A MINUTE TO SAY THANK YOU! RED ROCK ROMP

by Diana Del Garbino

JANUARY 2010

My Two Cents by CAMERON HEALEY Come Play the 2010 Golf Today Magazine Heron Lake Spring Classic April 26 at Heron Lakes (Great Blue course!) Want to have fun playing Golf and go home with a bunch of swag? You’ve been asking us for the last year “When is Golf Today Magazine going to put on a golf tournament?” Well, I’m pleased and excited to say we’ve listened and

responded. Yes, our 23 year old West Coast edition has been “putting on” their own golf “fun events” for over 15 years having held over 70 such events that are famous for providing California golfers with a great days golfing and going home with “goodys” and prizes that are matched by none other. Now it’s the Northwest Edition’s turn to provide Northwest golfers with the same combination of challenging golf, great prizes, and great food! Welcome to 2010 Heron Lakes Golf Classic, a one-day, play your own ball, “fun event” Monday, April 26 at Heron lakes Golf Course, Great Blue Course. You may be familiar with Portland’s popular “muni” including The Great Blue Course, which is a favorite challenge among low handicap golfers and high handicappers alike. The 6,902 yard Robert Trent Jones II course’s fairways typifies Scottish-style mounds and offers golfers a collection of risk/reward holes that will test your course management skills to the core! So what makes our events different? Golf Today Magazine’s “Fun TournaJANUARY 2010

ments” are open to men and women players of all abilities. Yes, you do not need to have a handicap and all players regardless of their score will take home more than $100 in their Tee Prize Package “goody” bags PLUS raffle gifts! Now throw

once and for all. It could turn out to be your best round of golf ever! Entry fee is $101 per player, $91 per player for a twosome and $81 per player for a foursome. Now be sure to act fast to secure your spot. In fact, if you book by Jan 31, we’ll knock 10% oﬀ ! Now, if you want to make a trip out of it, Golf Today has set up a special rate at the Portland North Harbour Courtyard, which is literally a stone’s throw from the course. All you need to do is ask for the Special Heron Lakes Classic Players Rate of only $89.00 plus taxes single or double occupancy. Oﬀer good 4/24-4/27. We’ll see you at the 2010 Golf Today Magazine Spring Classic on April 26…. oh, and for our Washingtonian readers… yes, we have not forgotten about you— Golf Today Magazine will be hosting a summer event in Seattle …stay tuned for next month’s issue where we’ll reveal how and when you can “get in on the fun.” For more information and entry forms, call 425-941-9946 or email Cameron@ golftodaynw.com. We will fax, send, or email entry forms to you!

Oh, and Oh d before b f we forget f t (how (h could we forget?) we’re excited to reveal the correct answers to last month’s “Guess the Northwest Courses” promotion. The response from our readers was beyond what we expected and conﬁrmed the fact that Northwest golfers really know their tracks—and not just their local haunts either! We invite you to visit page 35 to compare your picks and see how you fared! But stay tuned for next month’s issue where we announce the winning recipient of the free foursome to either the highly acclaimed Chambers Bay Links Golf Course or Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club. Hmm…tough choice, right?

in the $5000 in value raffle prizes where ALL golfers have a chance to win great prizes such as a two day, stay-and-play package at the Resort at the Mountain including dinner at the fabulous Altitude restaurant where you and a friend will first tee it up at the The Resort’s 27-hole golf course (The Courses), nestled in the Salmon River Valley of the Mt. Hood National Forest. In addition, we’re giving away other stay-and-play packages, tickets to the 2010 U.S. Senior Open, 2010 Boeing Classic, twosomes to the highly acclaimed Tetherow, Wine Valley, and Pumpkin Ridge Golf Clubs, and free or discounted golf certificates at other great Portland and Oregon courses! And if you are anxious to try out that new 2010 stick you’ve had your eye, we’ll have two major Clubmaker Demo of Clubs on site—Try them with no obligation! And it gets even better! FREE Swing Analysis by GolfTEC! Our good friends at GolfTEC are offering event golfers free swing analysis on site, so why not have your swing checked out before the round and tackle that persistent slice or hook GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

Could it be that I am on my way to becoming a fully-fledged ‘golfer’? Is it possible that I am getting the hang of it? Though I am still a student, I am becoming a golfer, indeed. Like most golfers, I want to be good. I want to avoid embarrassing future golf partners and myself. While I have yet to officially play a round of golf, my time at the driving range and GolfTec is priming me for the big day. This month I’ve been turning inward trying to take what I’ve learned so far and make it more automatic and fluid. If I’ve learned anything so far it is that setup makes the swing. Allowing myself to slowdown, I take the time on every swing to mentally check through my setup list. The results have been encouraging; I’m finding that I have fewer extreme mishits. In addition to identifying necessary changes to my setup and instituting best practices, I have been working hard to keep control of my legs and hips. At my last trip to GolfTEC, Brett had me focus on steadying my lower body. During the lesson he had me hold a ball between my knees to try to calm my lower body movements. I’ve found that if I just keep my left knee from caving in during the backswing it keeps my lower body more in check. I’ve also been experimenting with keeping the muscles in my legs a little more tensed to provide a more solid foundation for my upper body. Since air-swings and make believe hits in the living room don’t exactly give a clear picture, I made time and logged in some practice at the range. My choice of days could not have been worse, but I found myself nice and

cozy under the heated shelters. During this speciﬁc session I focused on getting setup properly, keeping my lower body in check and hitting oﬀ the ground. The latter has been a real struggle for me. I will usually produce an erratic line drive from topping the ball. At the beginning of my session I was true to form, topping every unimpressive

6 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

shot. I really tried to focus on my setup and run through my internal dialog that Brett, my GolfTEC Instructor, has helped me build in the past months. By the end of the session I had worked my way down the ball until I started to get underneath it. I was excited by my achievement continued on page 12 and started ex-

JANUARY 2010

Into The Unknown: Swing Analysis 101 by TONY DEAR DESPITE THE FACT IT’S A GAME AND SUPPOSED TO BE FUN, TAKING UP GOLF CAN BE STRESSFUL. TO REALLY BE ABLE TO ENJOY IT, YOU NEED TO ACHIEVE SOME LEVEL OF COMPETENCY. AND THAT MEANS TAKING LESSONS. Apart from the time it takes to get around a golf course and the cost of playing it, the biggest reason why nongolfers choose never to try the game is that it’s just too darn difficult. If you’re not swinging a club by the time you finish sixth grade, you’ll never develop the hand-eye coordination necessary to hit a stationary ball with a four-inch-wide clubhead traveling at close to 100mph… or so the theory goes. Granted, starting at a tender age is certainly advisable if you have hopes of training your body to excel at something so alien as a golf swing. In 1955, shortly before he won the PGA Championship and two years prior to his win at the Masters, Doug Ford introduced his book Start Golf Young in which he stated, “By starting at a young age, and with proper instructions, kids give themselves a good chance to become champions.” Texan Jackie Burke, who won the Masters and PGA Championship in 1956, told the New York Times in June of this year that starting young was imperative, adding that clubs needed to start having the patter of little feet around the greens.” But, says Gregg Rogers, owner of the Gregg Rogers Golf Performance Center in Bellevue, everyone has some potential no matter what age they are and, though most will obviously never become a tour pro, everyone who commits to a series of lessons and diligently practices what they learn should be able to break 90 within a few months of starting, certainly 100. “Most people who come here for their first ever lesson tell me their number one goal is to avoid embarrassing themselves,” says Rogers, a northwesterner by birth who coached a handful of players on the old Ben Hogan Tour before returning to the Seattle area and an assistant’s job at Overlake Country Club where he would eventually become the Director of Instruction. “They might have signed up for a summer charity event or be scheduled to play with their boss and just want to enjoy the game without whiffing or shanking the ball all day long.” Rogers, like every other golf pro worth his salt, endeavors to establish a good JANUARY 2010

relationship with his clients, starting the process by ‘interviewing’ the pupil to calm any nerves they will invariably be feeling and ascertain what exactly he/ she hopes to achieve. “It’s important at

the very beginning to establish what the client’s aspirations are, how much time he’ll have to practice, and also his capac-

ity to learn and implement.” Tom Sovay, Director of Instruction at the Golf Club at Redmond Ridge and a seven-time winner of the Washington PGA’s Teacher of the Year Award, agrees, saying a good teacher will try to identify how each pupil learns. “Everyone learns differently,” he adds. “So you have to be versatile and teach each person in a way that will enable them to realize their potential.” Or, as Joe Holdridge, owner of Joe’s Professional Golf Lab in Bellingham, says, every instructor must interpret a pupil’s learning style. “Geometry and numbers work for some people but others might learn better by developing a feel for the correct motion,” he says. “I wouldn’t want that type of player getting caught up with technique and all the numbers and angles. Instead, I tell them to give a name to the feeling that results in the desired shot, and then get friendly with it.” Before a new golfer becomes aware of what type of learner he is though, he should consider whether or not he wants to do this alone, with a friend or as part of a group. “Group lessons are actually a great way to start,” says Holdridge. “For many, the first lesson is a very intimidating experience, and not a very enjoyable one in many cases. It helps to be part of a group as you’re in the same boat as three, four or maybe five other people who are all equally as inexperienced as you. In that scenario, you tend not to be so nervous.” Ne x t , co m e s finding the right professional. Someone, says Holdridge, who not only has the skill and experience to deal with first-time golfers, but also someone you like. “You should have respect for the teacher for the relationship to work,” he adds. “After all, you’re paying him to help you get better at golf. But it also works out better to have a good rapport going. Then you actually start looking forward continued on page 32

GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

PGA Tour Legend Greg Norman to Endorse CYBEX Golf Fitness

Greg Norman and Larry Gulko, Cybex CMO Cybex International, Inc. (NASDAQ: CYBI), a leading manufacturer of premium, high-performance exercise equipment for the commercial and consumer markets, announced today that PGA

Tour legend Greg Norman will endorse its products as an official ambassador for the innovative CYBEX Golf Fitness platform. As part of this multi-year agreement, 54-year-old Norman will serve as a CYBEX spokesperson, participate in strategic marketing initiatives and appear on behalf of CYBEX at the Golf Industry Show, February 10-11, 2010 in San Diego, California. Norman's involvement with CYBEX will include his contribution to designing golf-specific exercises, forming a CYBEX Golf Advisory Council and facilitating partnerships for CYBEX with golf clubs, resorts and communities worldwide. "Staying fit has been a key to success throughout my career," says Norman. "I've worked out almost exclusively on CYBEX equipment for years, so this is a truly authentic relationship. I'm extremely impressed with CYBEX's design, focus on exercise science and commitment to innovation." One of the most notable early proponents of fitness in golf, Norman played a key role in development of the PGA Tour

strength and conditioning trailers. The two-time major winner and Hall of Fame golfer also has CYBEX fitness equipment installed in gyms at his home, office and country club. "Greg is among the world's most recognized athletes," says John Aglialoro, CYBEX Chairman and CEO. "He's a superb ambassador for the game and an incredibly astute businessman. We're thrilled to partner with him and know he'll play a key role further expanding market penetration of CYBEX Golf Fitness and our sought-after Sweet Spot platform." Developed specifically to meet the needs of the golf and country club market, the CYBEX Golf platform is designed to drive year-round revenue, enhance member retention and loyalty, increase fitness center usage and create a point of distinction to club prospects. This new, total fitness solution is based precisely on the equipment and exercises trusted by the world's best golfers, nearly all of whom work out on CYBEX equipment, the only brand used in the mobile fitness trailers that travel weekly with the PGA

and Champions Tours. The CYBEX Golf Spot platform is offered in pre-sized and custom plans to align with any club's square footage of fitness center and member demographics, with more information available at www.cybexgolf.com. "This is a unique opportunity to join forces with one of the sport's most recognizable fitness ambassadors," adds Larry Gulko, CYBEX Chief Marketing Officer. "Given Greg's longstanding devotion to CYBEX, it's tremendous to have him endorse our brand. The relationship will help fuel our growth globally, within and beyond the golf, country club and resort markets, while also enhancing brand equity for both enterprises." TPC Sawgrass, host of The Players Championship on the PGA Tour, is among hundreds of marquee clubs and resorts nationwide to have installed a CYBEX Golf Fitness center. For more information on CYBEX and its product lines, visit the Company's website at www.cybexintl.com.

Happy Holidays & Happy New Year from the team at

8 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

JANUARY 2010

2010 Is Your Year to PLAY Golf! By BOB DUNCAN your clubhead is above your feet—it is no longer aimed in the same direction as your body alignment. It is actually aimed left of your alignment. And that is where the ball should go. Beyond the golf swing #3:

so they can immediately begin to understand that the perfect golf swing must change in these situations on the golf course. After all, giving you a golf swing is not that hard (come and see me–I’ll show you), and with clubﬁtting you can

In golf, if you recognize the on-course inconsistencies and learn to play for them, you will be rewarded with success. You can learn to play the game and you should. In golf, winning really is about how you Play the Game.

“I have to ask—how do you plan to go from golfing to becoming a player of the game of golf?” Certain that golf made your 2010 New Years Resolution list, I will be cheering you on as you make it to the course to continue playing the greatest game. However, beyond taking those late winter lessons or committing to a regular Saturday game, I have to ask—how do you plan to go from golfing to becoming a player of the game of golf? There’s a big difference: golfers are wondering why they can’t hit it solid and straight around the golf course, while players understand that they have to adapt to each situation and play the shot. Too difficult, you say? You just want to learn to hit it straight? But—you should know this—it won’t always go straight on the course! It can be done on the range, but to truly progress you need to start learning what is actually happening on the golf course. And truly playing golf goes beyond hitting it solid and straight. So get ready and buckle up— this isn’t your conventional Sunday instruction. There must be something beyond the golf swing—something that allows players with unconventional swings to excel. Players like Lee Trevino, Corey Pavin, Jim Furyk, and even Arnold Palmer. And, how often does Tiger Woods change his swing to adapt to a given situation? Yes, there are things that influence your ball beyond your golf swing. Take note of the following points and consider how they might apply to your favorite course: Beyond the golf swing #1: When does your 7-iron go farther than normal? When it’s on a very ‘fluffy’ lie— called a flyer. When does your 7-iron go shorter than normal? When there is too much or too little grass to allow the club to strike the ball cleanly. Beyond the golf swing #2: Because the golf course is not flat, you cannot hit every ball solid and straight. If the ball is above your feet—and therefore JANUARY 2010

Tight lies are hard to hit solidly (and straight!). These are lies with little to no grass, so it’s difficult to get the ball to the sweet spot of the clubface. So, thinking outside the box: Which is more predictable, trying to hit it solidly, or understanding what the mis-hit will be and playing for that? Conventional instruction suggests that you should learn to hit every shot solidly. But, for example, if you’re only successful 30 to 40% of the time, perhaps embracing the mis-hit is the answer. (Told you this wasn’t conventional!) Actually, if you don’t have a perfect lie then the ball should not perform perfectly. It makes sense: How often are you able to take your performance on the practice range to the golf course? On the range, you are in control of the lie and the slope never changes. Of course it is easier to be consistent! Once you get on the course and every lie is different, your performance naturally suffers. Or, rather, it changes. These changes may seem chaotic, but they can actually be predictable. Instead of asking what you need to do to make the next shot solid and straight, ask what the next ball will do that is not solid and/ or straight. Your range performance is your baseline, or model, and should be considered more as a reference than as the on-course performance you aspire to. In other words, when you hit that 3-wood from a tight, fairway lie on that par 5 and it slices, that performance is actually predictable! Sure, you would rather hit it solid and straight, or perhaps you’re one of the many who would love to hit a consistent draw. But, will the tight lie allow either one consistently? Yes, but you’re a beginner, you say. As a teacher and coach, my goal is to get beginners on the course as fast as possible

be successful very quickly. But if I don’t prepare you for the changes you see on the golf course, you will fail out there and not know why. Letting you become a golfer rather than a player is like worrying about rolling the dice and moving your piece in Monopoly and never buying a property—you’re not playing Monopoly! And therefore you don’t have a chance to win.

Bob Duncan is the Teaching Professional at Tetherow Golf Club in Bend, Oregon, and has been teaching and coaching players since 1979. Bob is also the creator of the GolfeCoach, an interactive computerized golf coaching system. He can be reached at golfsavvy@msn.com.

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The Worst Advice Everyone Has Received by JORDAN COOPER

“Keep your head still”. These words are spoken so frequently that it is no longer advice but a mantra in the world of golf. There is little doubt the ﬁrst time you picked up a golf club someone was nearby oﬀering these words while teaching you how to swing the club. And so, just as quickly as you fell in love with golf, that mantra was instilled as ‘the way’. I will let you in on a little secret. This advice is keeping thousands of teaching profes-

sionals like me in business. If you keep your head completely still throughout your swing, it will be nearly impossible to make a proper weight shift into your right side and you will almost certainly have a reverse spine angle at the top of your swing. Let me clarify a few things. Any vertical movement of the head in the golf swing will undoubtedly lead to inconsistent ball-striking. If a player properly coils their weight into the inside of his or her right leg in the backswing, the head will move approximately one to six inches to the right, the club will make contact, and the ball will sail. Skeptical? Hundreds of PGA Tour players move their heads laterally in throughout their swing. They are on the PGA Tour for a reason. So how can we properly shift our weight in the backswing? One easy way to help get into a better position at the top of your swing is to start in a better position at address. The majority of golfers I see on a daily basis don’t get their head behind the golf ball at setup. Getting your head behind the ball at address will greatly improve your odds of achieving a

proper weight shift in the backswing. In testing over 150 Tour players, we have found that the average PGA Tour player’s shoulders tilt 10 degrees to the right at address. This allows them to easily turn

into their right side in the backswing. To help ﬁnd this position, try this drill: Get into your setup position. Take your club and place the grip ﬁrmly against your sternum so that the shaft runs down your chest and between your legs. Now simply

tilt your upper body to the right until the club hits the inside of your left leg. This is approximately how much your upper body should tilt to the right at address. Now that you have addressed the ball properly, you have the best chance of shifting your weight properly in your backswing. There are three important things that must happen at the top of the swing: your weight must be on the inside of your right foot, your right knee must remain ﬂexed, and your spine must be leaning away from the target. These three things will give you the greatest opportunity to make a powerful, on-plane swing. So forget about keeping your head still. Simply get into a better position at address and start hitting the ball longer and straighter. Nonetheless, feel free to tell all of your golﬁng buddies to keep their head still…I could always use the extra business. Dan 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.

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10 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

JANUARY 2010

A Husband He Is, A Golf Instructor He Is Not! by ERIN SZEKELY

Hope everyone is having a great winter and you have all made some New Year’s resolutions. I’m hoping that married women everywhere have resolved to stop listening to their husband’s golf instruction. “What?” you say? “That sounds mean.” If you had seen what I saw while teaching golf in a retirement community in Yuma this winter, you would be screaming the same thing. I know the gentlemen have good intentions, but they

are truly doing their wives a disservice by trying to teach them how to play golf. Just as sad as the frustration and confusion I witnessed was that a lot of the women just wanted to give up. This is the scenario that I saw over and over again this winter. The men, enjoying that well earned retirement, want to have their wives join them on the golf course. That part is great. However, most of them have been playing for years and have well-groomed swings while the wives are just getting started. With an abundance of politeness leading the way, too many women are reluctant to say “Stop! This isn’t working!” They think that because their husbands have played for years, they must know what they are doing. They tell them the standard but ineffective tips like “keep your head down,” or “bend your knees.” Here’s my favorite: “Keep your left arm straight.” These women are doomed from the get-go. Just think how much more fun you would have with your spouse if he or she left you alone and you could just enjoy each others company, foregoing a battle over technique. Here is advice from a pro: set up in

a comfortable position with just a light ﬂex in the knees, club in the middle of the stance with their arms hanging down. All clubs, including the driver and wedge, need to be placed in the center of your stance because that is where you are most balanced. How much easier is that? Your arms need to feel ﬂexible so they can swing freely and faster. Swing the club in a circle over your shoulder and to the target. Allow your body to respond to the motion of the club. I am going to keep saying these things because it is what happens in the swing and it is the easiest way to learn. I would just like the women I teach to enjoy the game and avoid the frustrations that accompany instruction and criticism from their husbands.

So what should they do? Seek out a qualiﬁed teacher. And by that I mean someone who is going to teach them what to do with the golf club and not how to move their body. You may have to look around a bit, but is so critical to have the right information. To the husbands out there, don’t you want to spend time with your wives having fun being together on the course? Ok, send them to a qualiﬁed instructor and just give them encouragement. I know we can do this together. Have fun out there and keep swinging. Erin Szekely is an LPGA teaching professional. For more information, please visit www.golfingwitherin.com or call 425-3980443.

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

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tending my focus to aiming. Despite the nasty weather and a discouraging start to my practice, I did have some success. It gets less embarrassing every time and I’m hopeful I’ll be able to get through a whole session without ever missing the ball sometime soon. The day after my solo trip to the range, I went with Golf Today’s editor,

left Cameron impressed by my progress since we last hit balls together. For our last thirty balls, Cameron and I engaged in a friendly competition. Choosing a pin a mere 50 yards out, we shot for closest to the pin. Aiming for something closer than my maximum range was a ﬁrst for me. I was more than a little perplexed at how to shorten my

it gave me another tool to break up my session at the range. Just going out and pounding balls as far as I can gets tiring and my back and mind need a break every now and then. On both trips to the range but especially the second day I had a resurgence of an old problem. My club head was coming unscrewed at some point during

has gone for me. My setup is improving, I am gaining control of my lower body, and topping the ball is becoming a thing of the past. That friendly challenge at the driving range has reminded me that I still have a lot to learn, but I am really on my way. I am proud to say I made these improvements on my own, having taken a month for independent practice,

“Could it be that I am on my way to becoming a fully-fledged ‘golfer’?” Cameron Healey. This was the first time in months that I’ve done two days in a row in months. A second day of practice was just the motivation I needed since things really seemed to come together. I was hitting some dead straight shots— shots that confirmed for me that I am getting somewhere. I even managed to land over half-a-dozen shots on a green that was 150 yards out. Even my shots off the ground were working out. I still topped a few balls but my good hits were indistinguishable from my tee shots and among my best hits of the day. I think I

shots. At ﬁrst I just tried to slow down my swing but still take it through the full range of motion. The resulting shots were constantly overshooting the target. Cameron suggested that I shorten my swing signiﬁcantly and move my hands back to be even with the ball during setup, armed with these tips I got my range dialed in. Neither of us hit the pin. But, by the time we wrapped up there was quite a cluster of balls right around it. This game was really useful for me for a couple reasons. One, it gave me a chance to really focus on aiming the ball. Two,

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my stroke. By the very end of my swing the club would feel as if it was broken. I’m certain that I’m not the strongest hitter to pick up a 6 iron so I ﬁgure that there is something wrong with either the club or my swing that is causing this. The strangest part is that it is hard to tell where in my swing the club head is loosening. I think that it is either happening at impact with the ball or during the rapid deceleration of my club at the end of the swing. In any case I tightened things up by hand as much as I could and kept on hitting. I’m really happy about how this month

but its time to head back in to GolfTEC to see how my solo experimentation truly measures up (and to get my club head ﬁxed). Hopefully the numbers from the computer and Brett’s observations will verify this! If you want help with your swing, please turn to page 2 to see this month’s specials from our friends at GolfTEC.

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A Minute to Say Thank You! The 2010 U.S. Senior Open would like to take a minute to say thank you to all the service men and women that protectt the freedoms we enjoy everyday. To show thanks the USGA invites all military personnel to the 2010 U.S. Senior Open on Wednesday, July 28 for Military Family Day. Alll members of the military (active, reserved, or retired)) and their families will receive free admission to the Chamhampionship on that day. In addition, Military personnel nnel will receive a 50% discount on tickets the remainder nder of the week. For more information on Military Family mily Day or to purchase discounted military tickets please lease call the Championship OďŹ&#x192;ce at 425-836-1870. The 31st U.S. Senior Open will be contestted at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, h, WA July 26-August 1, 2010. To keep up-dated on all championship information, please visit 2010ussenioropen.com.

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Red Rock Romp by TONY DEAR at Washington National where we had to cover the ground with sand to ensure good drainage, we imported nothing at Sand Hollow. The natural sand was perfect and the water ideal for growing good turf.” The course more or less designed itself, adds Fought, the only danger; relying too heavily on the back nine’s backdrop and building a series of kooky holes that might have looked a whole lot better than they played. But Fought is far too canny to have let that happen, building a sequence of holes that might be the talking point of your trip to Utah for many years to come. “If it wouldn’t have worked,

ST GEORGE WILL NEVER R I VA L S COT T S D A L E FOR NUMBERS OF VACATIONING GOLFERS (NOT UNTIL ITS SANDSTONE CLIFFS TURN BLUE ANYWAY). BUT IF THERE’S NOTHING LEFT I N S COT TS DA L E F O R YOU TO DISCOVER, THEN THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT DIVERTING TO UTAH. There are still places on our green and pleasant planet where a golfer can play his favorite game totally oblivious of the course architect’s talents or shortcomings, but ponder rather the spectacular landscape all about him. They are the sort of places where that golfer might forget a double-bogey as he boards the next tee and pauses to behold the panorama. We have numerous courses capable of arousing such feelings here in the Paciﬁc Northwest. Forests of evergreens and white-tipped mountains can take away a lot of the pain that follows a bad hole. Southern Utah may look very diﬀerent; the red rocks and crumbly desert terrain seemingly a million miles from Western Washington and the Oregon Coast, but

opened in August of last year to near universal acclaim. Northwest golfers are familiar with Fought’s many skills, of course. Washington National and Trophy Lake in Washington; and Crosswater, the Meadows, The Reserve and Pumpkin Ridge in Oregon, all form part of one of the most impressive portfolios in the business.

Time for a change of plans? the eﬀect is much the same. Here, centered on the town of St George, are nine courses, most of which can justiﬁably be described as ‘experiences’. A round of golf here tends to linger in the memory a little longer than 18 holes elsewhere. But, rather than how you played, it will be the view from the 15th tee at Sand Hollow or the feeling you got when standing on the tee at the 122-yard 6th hole at Coral Canyon that you remember most. Together, the nine courses make up the Red Rock Golf Trail which formed in 2004 and which attracts slightly more than 300,000 rounds a year. The newest addition is the aforementioned Sand Hollow, designed by John Fought and

Though not given nearly the credit his work deserves, Fought has become a master of creating attractive, challenging and strategic courses that appeal to pros and hackers, as well as old and newschool golfers. Actually located in the city of Hurricane about ten miles east of St George (Mayor Tom Hirschi is apparently very proud of his city’s second golf course and quick to correct anyone who unthinkingly says it’s in St George), Sand Hollow is fun from the start but becomes particularly exciting towards the end of the round with half a dozen holes that take you down into a canyon with mesmerizing views of the Virgin River. It’s not altogether surprising that Fought, who

16 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

loved the place so much he invested some of his own cash in the project, says Sand Hollow was the most beautiful site he’s ever worked with. “It really was. Not only were the vistas incredible but the soils were perfect too,” he says. “Unlike

we just wouldn’t have gone down there,” says Fought. “And really we had very little earth-moving to do to make it work. We needed to ﬁll in and ﬂatten the fairways at the 12th and 14th, but other than that continued on page 21

JANUARY 2010

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continued from page 16

there was remarkably little to do.” As you’d expect, Sand Hollow has the highest green fee on the Trail with Peak Season (October 1st to May 15th) rates topping out at $105 when booking thru RRGT– a princely sum for golf in these parts but considerably less than what you pay 400 miles south, on the other side of the Grand Canyon, in Scottsdale, AZ. Sand Hollow has another nine holes, known as the Links Course or St Andrews Nine, which the owners seem at pains to describe as Scottish. Sure enough, the ground is gently rippled, the bunkers numerous and deep. But the lack of an adjacent sea or ocean, the rocky sage-strewn desert, distant snow-capped peaks and those 500ft red rock cliﬀs, give this “links” a distinctly southwest Utah character. Hurricane’s ﬁrst course, Sky Mountain, was built by Jack Hardin and opened in 1994. A city-owned track located close to the entrance of awesome Zion National Park, the views are superb though the

JANUARY 2010

course itself is laid out on fairly level ground. A round here costs ($65) tops, making the ‘staggering view to dollar’ ratio one of the best in the world. A few miles east is Coral Canyon which, like Sky Mountain, beneﬁts from its proximity to Zion (delete) and the similarly humbling Bryce National Park.

Keith Foster, another designer that Seattle golfers know well—because of the wonderful course he built at Druids Glen in Covington in 1998—did a typically ﬁne job of weaving thought-provoking holes through the natural terrain and maintaining its natural ruggedness, rather than blowing it up and creating ‘Foster-

Land’. “The land was so beautiful,” he says. “I wanted the course to be playable for everybody which meant making it spacious off the tee. So we had to think long and hard about what to remove from the desert. But despite the sensitivity of the ground, building the course was surprisingly easy. The weather was perfect, the contractors very professional and the developer a pleasure to work with. We had a minor issue with the routing and beginning the round with two Par 5s, but after I explained the holes really did fit into the ground so well, he was very happy to go ahead with it.” The 7,029-yard Par 72 not only opens with two Par 5s, it finishes with three more in the last five holes. It’s certainly not the standard scorecard, but Foster has no problem with that. “I’m not going to bulldoze the place just to be conventional,” he says. “I think the course plays very well and that there are some truly wonderful continued on page 22

GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

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continued from page 21

holes. Really, what does it matter how they conďŹ gure?â&#x20AC;? With just 80 acres of turf, there is ample opportunity to visit the desert although, unless your ball dives down a ravine or into an arroyo, you should have no trouble ďŹ nding it. The tiny 6th hole is the courseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most photogenic and should generate cups of adrenaline. A crisp wedge or 9-iron across a deep gulch is all thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s required but, as with so many other dramatic Par 3s, the sight of so much trouble surrounding the green can often provoke the shakiest of swings. Moving west on Hwy 9, then I-15, toward the city of St George, founded as

a cotton mission by Mormon pioneers in 1861 under the direction of Brigham Young, you ďŹ nd half a dozen more courses with a red rock theme. The Ledges ($89 green fees thru RRGT), perhaps the reddest-rockiest of them all, is actually ten miles north of town on Hwy 18, but still very much part of this trail. Designed by Pete Dyeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nephew Matt who sadly lost his battle with colon cancer in August of last year, the Ledges opened in 2006 and has quickly become one of the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most popular rounds. As its name would imply, the nine-hole Dixie Red Hills ($27.50 for nine holes between now and May) also possesses its share of red rock glory. Municipallyowned since the mid â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;60s, Red Hills is a fun layout and extremely popular with the locals. On the west side of town is another city course; 27-hole Sunbrook ($70) which Golf Digest has twice named the best course in Utah. The Pointe, Woodbridge, and John Harbottledesigned Black Rock nines all make the most of their natural settings, with four of Harbottleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s holes playing through areas of black lava. The excellent SunRiver ($55) is probably the pick of a trio of layouts on the

south side of town although the 7,000+yard city-owned St George GC ($47) is always extremely popular. Southgate, the last of St Georgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s four publically-owned facilities is short at 6,100 yards and a haven for retired golfers who appreciate the laid-back feel and emphasis on accuracy over distance. With the Santa Clara River in play on several front nine holes, accuracy is indeed the order of the day. Southern Utah is not the ďŹ rst place you think of for a winter golf break. But consider this; daily temperatures hover around the 60 degree mark; there is very little rain (just over an inch in January, the wettest month of the year); green fees are signiďŹ cantly cheaper than those in Scottsdale and Las Vegas; there are no bugs; the

scenery is fantastic; and Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks are within easy range. Best of all, rounds at the Ledges, Sunbrook, Sky Mountain, Coral Canyon and Sand Hollow will make for as good a golf trip as youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ever take. Time for a change of plans? Getting there Alaska ďŹ&#x201A;ies from Seattle and Portland to Salt Lake City. Connect there for St George. Or why not drive the 1,221.44 miles between Seattle and St George (takes 19 hours and 17 minutes according to MapQuest) or 1,067.03 from Portland (just 16 hours)? You can also ďŹ&#x201A;y to Las Vegas then rent a car and drive the 120 miles or 90 minutes to St George on I-15. Lodging The Red Rock Golf Trail (operated by the countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tourism office) offers discounted rates for hotels and lodging, plus it allows players to book six months in advance with no added fees. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not to like? Useful web sites www.RedRockGolf.com JANUARY 2010

Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club in Arizona Announce New Membership Plan The award-winning, 36-hole Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club recently announced a new membership plan that allows for one golf course to be available for daily fee play each day. Until now the prestigious 11 year-old private club, located east of Phoenix at the base of the Superstition Mountains, has been exclusively available to members and their guests. Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club features two Nicklaus Design golf courses, The Prospector and Lost Gold. Prospector, created by Jack and Gary Nicklaus, was the first course to open in this 870-arce master planned community in 1998. This classic 18-hole layout is surrounded by extraordinary views of the Superstition Mountains. One of the most striking features of the 7,185-yard Prospector course is an oasislike water feature that extends the length of the 18th hole. This magnificent finishing hole is set in an amphitheater-type setting with the Superstition Mountains at your back and the beautiful clubhouse ahead. Prospector has been the host

course of the 2002 Countrywide Tradition tournament and the home of the LPGA Safeway International from 2004 to 2008. Lost Gold, created by Jack and Jackie Nicklaus, is a links-styled course that presents a diﬀerent set of challenges.

Open since 1999, Lost Gold completes the Superstition Mountain trail while weaving through magnificent desert terrain explored centuries ago by conquistadors in search of the Cities of Cibola. This 18-hole desert layout plays to a challenging 7,351-yards. The front

nine of Lost Gold is laid out with several parallel fairways separated by moderately bunkered corridors. The back nine opens out into the desert where the view of the ever present Superstition Mountains is even more commanding. “We’re excited to introduce Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club to both local and national golf enthusiasts that appreciate world class Arizona golf at its ﬁnest,” said Doc Belitz, Vice President of Operations for OB Sports Golf Management. “Golfers playing Superstition Mountain will experience the incredible conditions and ambiance of one of the nicest private clubs in the entire Southwest. Revising our membership plan provides the opportunity to showcase our incredible golf courses and clubhouse to prospective members. There has never been a better time to play or join Superstition Mountain.” continued on page 28

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Let’s Not Forget About Eastern WA! Moses Pointe Revealed! In the winter of 2003, Moses Pointe Director of Golf Bill Porter had been on the job less than a year when he stumbled across an unsolicited review of Moses Pointe that really caught his attention. The review was written by Seattlegolfguide.com and began with the words, “I love this course.” While the entire review was glowing with praise, it was the ﬁrst sentence that made the connection for Porter. “I had been at the golf course for one full season and I could not believe how many times people would come in either after or before a round and tell me that they loved the course or that it was their favorite golf course. After reading the review it just sort of clicked that this would be a great catch phrase and really does sum up what people think of Moses Pointe.” And what’s not to love? From the moment a person drives onto the Moses Pointe property, there is a sense that this is not going to be a run of the mill experience. With corn colored sand carved into rolling fairways to the east and the waters of Moses Lake to the west, the golf juices

are definitely flowing. g. After a friendly welco m e f ro m the golf shop staff, lunch at the award winning Steakhouse restaurant, and a few tips from Frank the outside service host, it is on to the first tee. The only challenges of the day are choosing which set of tees to play, how w much break to playy on the smooth an and d speedy putting sur surrfaces, and if there’s here’ss time for anotherr 188 holes. Since it’s openening in the summer mer of 1999, Moses ses Pointe has earned ed a reputation

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as a satisfying experience for players of all ability levels. While challenging the best players in the Northwest during the 2005 and 2008 Washington State Amateur, Moses Pointe plays a fast, ﬁrm, and friendly 6,300 yards from the white tees. “Even though the course has been very popular with players from all over the Northwest, we are always pushing to make improvements,” noted Head Golf Professional Joel Moberly. “We completed a major bunkering project in the spring of 2007 that added over 30 bunkers. The purpose was to add deﬁnition and visual interest to the golf course. At 7,600 yards from the tips, it wasn’t about making the course tougher,” added Moberly.

One area that Moses Pointe hopes to see improve in 2010 is their onsite Stay and Play program. “We are working hard to add additional units to the rental inventory. Once a person stays on site with us, they don’t want to stay anywhere else. We hope to make this a reality for more of our guests,” said Porter. Located in Moses Lake Washington, Moses Pointe is more than worth the scenic 2.5 hour drive from Seattle. For more information about this popular golf course visit them on the web at www.mosespointe.com or call 509-764-2275 to make reservations for your 2010 stay. JANUARY 2010

U of Oregonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bristow QualiďŹ es for LPGA Cathryn Bristow, a former member of the University of Oregon Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Golf team, has become just the third New Zealander to gain entry to the LPGA Tour. Bristow, who represented New Zealand at last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Espirito Santo world teams championship, ďŹ nished in a share of 22nd place in the ďŹ ve-round ďŹ nal stage of the LPGA Q-School tournament in Florida. She missed by one shot in gaining her full playing rights to the LPGA which will limit automatic entry to the biggest tournaments on the circuit next year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At ďŹ rst when I saw I had missed by one shot for the top-20 I was disappointed. But once I had time to take it in and realize what it meant and that I had got my card for next year I was overwhelmed,â&#x20AC;? Bristow said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty cool. I am very excited and to tell the truth itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not sunk in yet. This is exciting for me personally but when I found out that I am just the third New Zealander to do it is great. To represent New Zealand on the Tour next year is doubly exciting and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to think we will have a few more in the years to come.â&#x20AC;? Bristow, 25, ďŹ red a ďŹ nal round even-par 72 for a ďŹ ve round total of one-over par at Daytona Beach GC in Florida, and produced some consistent performances in the tough ďŹ ve-rounder. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I played really well this week. In the main I hit the ball well. The key was my putting

though. I really putted exceptionally and made some key putts that kept me in there.â&#x20AC;? The University of Oregon graduate said she had to keep calm during the vital ďŹ nal round. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I thought about a score that I had to make. Then I just told myself that I could not think about that and put any ideas of that out of my mind. I was nervous but also excited about today. I just tried to enjoy it and have fun.â&#x20AC;? The left hander returns home to Auckland next week to take some time out before preparing for a return to the United States next year, where she hopes to base herself in Houston, Texas. Bristow, who competed in the inaugural Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New Zealand Open this year as an amateur, is keen to compete in the event which could be her professional debut at the new Pegasus course near Christchurch in February. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been following progress and heard about it. I would love to be able to play in it again. It was fantastic to be part of it in Clearwater and I think that experience playing in that environment helped me today.â&#x20AC;? Bristow was New Zealandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading amateur last year, ďŹ nishing ďŹ fth individual in the Queen Sirikit Asia PaciďŹ c Teams and was the leading New Zealander in the Espirito Santo tournament. *Story provided by the Oregon Golf Association. Please visit www.oga.org for more information.

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GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE ď&#x161;ť NORTHWEST EDITION

Nicklaus Design Repeats As Asia’s Architect Of The Year Nicklaus takes top course honors in China, Korea, Taipei and Indonesia. For the second straight year and the third time in seven years, the readers of Asian Golf Monthly Magazine have named Nicklaus Design as “Golf Course Architect of the Year in Asia Pacific.” The honor was announced recent on the closing eve of the 2009 Asia Pacific Golf Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and capped a night during which Jack Nicklaus was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award before a record number of close to 500 delegates from around the world. As Asia is being celebrated as golf ’s new frontier and arguably the most important player in the game’s future, Nicklaus Design is being lauded for its impact on golf ’s past, present, and future there. The gala not only recognized the top course architect, but honored the top courses in different countries and regions throughout Asia. Among the winners was the 1997 Jack Nicklaus design of the Mountain Course at Spring City Resort in Kunming, which repeated as Best Golf Course in China. Nicklaus Design’s Shadow Creek, which opened just last year in Beijing and has already received acclaim not only for its design but impeccable playing conditions, was named second runner-up. For the second year in a row and just two years after opening, The Ocean Course at Sky 72 Golf Club was named Best Golf Course in Korea. Located in Incheon, this Nicklaus Design layout, which played host last week to the LPGA’s Hana Bank • KOLON Championship, was also voted No. 4 on the list of the Best Courses in the Asia Pacific Region. The Best Course in Chinese Taipei went to Miramar Linkou Golf & Country Club, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course that opened in 1994. The top honor in Indonesia went to Bumi Serpong Damai Course at Damai Indah Golf & Country Club in Tangerang. This 1992 design by Jack was also named No. 5 on the list of the Best Championship

Courses in Asia Pacific. “Nicklaus Design is pleased and honored to win Asia’s Golf Course Architect of the Year, and we want to thank everyone associated with Asian Golf Monthly, not the least of which are the readers, for recognizing us again,” said Paul Stringer, Executive Vice President for Nicklaus Design. “Having the support and confidence of the golfers in Asia is a tribute to Jack Nicklaus and to our designers in Asia. We are also very proud that countries that are growing the game the fastest, particularly Korea and China, have recognized Nicklaus Design by applauding our work in their respective countries. Nicklaus Design opened its first course in Asia 36 years ago in Japan, and now has no fewer than 75 spread throughout Asia and the Pacific Rim, including 14 courses in the vibrant and burgeoning golf market of China. Nicklaus Design’s first course in China was Chung Shan Hot Spring Golf Club in Zhongshan City, Guangdong, which opened in 1993. Jack’s groundbreaking design of the World Cup Course at Mission Hills then followed in 1994. The World Cup course and was named last year by LINKS Magazine as one of the 10 Most Influential Designs in Golf History, as it set the bar for golf in China and sparked a boom at Mission Hills, which now boasts a world-record 12 courses at the facility. Nicklaus Design Asia, with offices or representation in Hong Kong; Beijing; Seoul, Korea; and Manila, Philippines, has 10 courses under construction in Asia, including five in China, three in Korea and courses in Cambodia and India. The firm also has another 29 signed and active projects spread throughout Asia and the Pacific Rim, representing China, Korea, Vietnam, India, Jakarta, Papua New Guinea and Australia.

The Best Quotes in Golf From The Notebook Of Ron Salsig “I don’t think 300-yard par-3’s are exciting. The best par-3’s in the world are about 130-yards long” “It was hard to tell if that was a stroke or a heart attack” – Dave Feherty on a Vijay Singh 3-putt

26 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

JANUARY 2010

GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

continued from page 23

For more information on Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club, call 480-983-1411 or visit www.superstitionmtngc.com. Superstition Mountain Golf Club is professionally managed by OB Sports Golf Management, a diversiďŹ ed, golf-oriented company with a long history of success. OB Sports currently manages 30 premier golf courses and country clubs throughout the United States and Mexico. Known for its comprehensive and personalized services since 1972, OB Sports has become widely acclaimed as the leader in boutique-style golf course management. For more information about OB Sports Golf Management, visit www.obsports.com,call (480) 948-1300, become a Fan of OB Sports on Facebook at www. facebook.com/obsports or follow OB Sports on Twitter: www.twitter.com/OBSportsGolf SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB AT A GLANCE Prospector Course: 7,185 yards, designed by Jack Nicklaus and Gary Nicklaus Lost Gold Course: 7,351 yards, designed by Jack Nicklaus and Jackie Nicklaus Tee Times: 480-983-1411 Website: www.superstitionmtngc.com Club Guest/Daily Fee Green Fees: $120-$180 Membership Information: 480-983-3200 Professionally Managed by OB Sports Golf Management

WSGA Sets Winter Series Schedule Each winter, the Washington State Golf Association conducts a series of tournaments to keep your game from getting too rusty. Entries are open to amateur golfers who are in good standing of a WSGA member club and have a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 36.4 for men and 40.4 for women. Entry fee is $70 per player, per event; this includes greens fees, range balls, tee prizes, tournament prizes, and a merchand me rch ise payo payout. out.

January 22, 2010 Bellevue Municipal Golf Course Bellevue, Washington Stableford Format February 19, 2010 Oakbrook Golf & Country Club Lakewood, Washington 2-Person Scramble March 26, 2010 The Cedars at Dungeness Sequim, Washington Individual Stroke Play April 9, 2010 Apple Tree Resort Yakima, Washington Two-Person Best-Ball Entries open online at www.thewsga.org. Or call 800-643-6410 for more information.

28 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE ď&#x161;ť NORTHWEST EDITION

JANUARY 2010

American Junior Golf Association Announces 2010 Tournament Schedule With 2009 having come to an end, the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) is eager to move into 2010 with an exciting schedule of events for Junior Golfers. With the addition of a few new venues this year and the allegiance and dedication of coordinators and impressive golf facilities, the young golfers taking part will enjoy the season ahead. The Golf Academy of America will

weekend, April 1-4. Three other Open events in April and May will give juniors the chance to test their skills before summer comes and golf gets into full swing. The Country Club of the South and TPC Craig Ranch will both host events, April 23-25, while Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club’s Prospector Course will challenge juniors, May 7-9.

2. Blessings Golf Club, home to the Arkansas men’s and women’s golf programs, hosted AJGA Open events in 2008 and 2009. Labor Day weekend will once again highlight the best junior boys in the world when The Junior PLAYERS Championship returns to TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., Sept. 2-5. Where will you play in 2010?

tioned, the AJGA will be returning to some of the traditional stops, including Coosa Country Club, Grayhawk Golf Club, Moon Valley Country Club, Bellefonte Country Club, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Sedgeﬁeld Country Club and Mission Hills Country Club. Take advantage of the schedule release and start planning your year in Junior gGolf now. Membership sign-up for 2010

“The events...will give young golfers a chance to hone their skills on the greens in Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, and Pennsylvania.” once again sponsor the AJGA’s preseason series, though Junior Golfers are only allowed to participate in one event per calendar year. While there are eight preseason events from which to choose, Oak Valley Golf Club in Beaumont, California is the West Coast venue at this time. The events timing, scheduled for April 30May 2, should offer ideal weather not to mention a nice vacation spot for family in tow. Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series Events With nine events scheduled, the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior-All Star Series, specifically designed for AJGA members ages 12-15, gives Junior Golfers a chance to earn entry into open tournaments. The events, scheduled throughout the U.S., will give young golfers a chance to hone their skills on the greens in Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, and Pennsylvania. Again, though golfers may choose any five of the nine events, the Aldila Junior All-Star event will take place at Robinson Ranch Golf Club in Santa Clarita, California, July 12-15. Impressively, Penn State Golf Course and Hilton Head are also hosting All-Star events this summer. The Open Events schedule for 2010 has 56 events scheduled, ruling the calendar from April to September. Kicking off the season are three events April 1-4. Winn Grips joins the AJGA’s busy Easter weekend as title sponsor of the Winn Grips Heather Farr Classic hosted by Longbow Golf Club, being held at Longbow Golf Club in Mesa, Ariz., for the seventh year in a row. Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club and Traditions Club at Texas A&M also return as hosts for Open events Easter JANUARY 2010

Several new venues join the AJGA slate in 2010, with some hosting events for the ﬁrst time and others rejoining the AJGA schedule. The AJGA Huntsville Junior will take place at The Ledges in Huntsville, Ala., July 12-15. Florida also gets a new event as Ritz-Carlton Members Club in Sarasota, Fla., will host the AJGA Sarasota Junior, June 14-17. The Apawamis Club in Rye, N.Y., returns to the AJGA schedule after a long absence by hosting the AJGA Apawamis Junior, Aug. 9-12. The northeast gains another new Open event with the Erie Junior Golf Classic, which will be hosted at the Kahkwa Club, host of the 2006 U.S. Women's Amateur, in Erie, Pa., Aug. 16-19. For the fourth year in a row, the AJGA will return to El Camaleón Golf Club in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, for the Mayakoba Junior Golf Classic, Aug. 16-19. Mayakoba is home to the PGA TOUR’s only event in Mexico and provides a unique opportunity for junior golfers to play a professional tour course outside the United States. For the Junior Golfer who does exceedingly well, the opportunity may present itself by way of invitation to one of eleven events. The ANNIKA Invitational joins the HP Boys Championship at Carlton Woods on Presidents’ Day weekend in 2010. Reunion Resort in Reunion, Fla., will host the unique all-girls event, while The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas, will once again welcome 78 boys. Both events will take place Feb. 12-15. The 33rd annual Rolex Tournament of Champions moves to Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Ark., June 28 – July

No matter which level of junior golf you plan on playing during the 2010 season, the AJGA’s line-up of tournaments gives all its members the chance to play at some of the country’s greatest golf courses. In addition to all of the courses men-

is also available now – visit ajga.org for more information. As always, continue to check www.ajga.org for the latest information on where the AJGA will be headed in 2010.

... Index of Advertisers for January 2010 ... almostGOLF .............................. 20

St George Red Rock Golf Trail .... 18,19

4 Ball Pro.................................... 24

Palouse Ridge ............................ 14

Nile Golf Club............................ 10

Suncoast Golf Getaway............. 13

Birdie Ball .................................. 28 Camas Meadows Golf Club...... 12 Carnation Golf Course ............. 14 Club Glider .................................. 6 Club Maxx ................................. 22 Golf TEC ...................................... 3 Golfnow.com .............................. 31

TayleurMayde............................ 34 The Barn .................................... 15 Aim-mate ................................... 21 Jorgensen Golf........................ 5,20 Wedgewood Golf ....................... 25 Semiahmoo Resort Golf Spa .... 17

Mount Si Golf Course. ........... 9,23

Seattle Golf Show ...................... 17

MacroGolf .................................. 30

The Barn .................................... 15

BallKaddie ................................. 26

Eaglemont Golf Course ............ 12

GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

The Most Important Tool For Your Golf Game Is… by DIANA DEL GARBINO

How is it that golfers are willing to spend countless hours practicing their swing or spend hundreds of dollars on a new club or shoes, but ask them to spend 30 minutes in the gym to improve their biomechanical eﬃciency and they run away? The consistent factor in the execution of your swing is you. So with that in mind, wouldn’t you want to have a bio-mechanically eﬃcient golf swing that keeps you free from pain or injury? Most golfers will downplay the physical demands of a golf swing, but in reality it is

tough on the body. Any repetitive motion that puts a strain on joints or ligaments could have you reeling with pain after just a few holes or quick trip to the driving range. So are you taking care of your most important tool? I’m not talking about your treasured clubs or cart. I’m talking about your body and what you’re doing or not doing at the gym. In the instance that you have a physical limitation and you continue to swing away at the range, your body will become unbalanced, making you more prone to injury. By working the body with exercises designed for the best golfers, you will not only protect those joints from overuse, but will also prevent some of the common injuries. Once you begin a program that targets your imbalances, i.e. weak muscles, tight ligaments, etc., your game will begin to improve. Playing with pain often causes golfers to adjust their swing in order to avoid pain, which may result in swing faults, i.e. slide, sway, over-the-top, etc. If the golfer with shoulder pain would just ﬁnd the cause of the pain--something as simple as weakness in the upper back--this could save him from serious injury. Once you know the cause, then the work begins.

30 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

Working with an Authorized Titleist Performance Institute Instructor (Fitness, Medical or Golf Pro) will result in you being a healthy, pain free, better golfer. When your swing is in top biomechanical shape you cannot help but feel good when you play. The off-season is the best time to make those improvements to your best piece of equipment. Here in the Northwest, winter has come to visit but that doesn’t mean you need to sit around waiting for spring. By working on your body now, you will greatly benefit and have the edge on those who were waiting for the nice weather. To continue to neglect the physical aspect of golfing is like driving a car without the steering wheel. You have all the tools to

get the ball where you want it to go, but if your physical abilities are limiting you then you can’t maximize your eﬃcient golf swing potential. Diana Del Garbino is a golf fitness instructor and the first TPI-Certified Level 2 fitness pro in Oregon. She works out of Muscles in Motion-Professional Training Studio in Lake Oswego, where she works regularly with local LPGA & PGA Professionals. To learn more about Diana and her golf fitness program go to www. MyMusclesInMotion.com.

The Best Quotes in Golf From The Notebook Of Ron Salsig “This is the reason you don’t see older players win: They don’t get nervous in the morning. It’s not the skill level. You have to have those butterflies for the edge.” – Padraig

JANUARY 2010

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

JANUARY 2010

GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE ď&#x161;ť NORTHWEST EDITION

continued from page 7

to, and getting excited about, lessons and are more likely to feel comfortable asking questions.â&#x20AC;? Newbies should also think about the type of setting in which theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll feel most at ease. Before the 21st century arrived, the vast majority of lessons were conducted outside, at one end of the practice range. The pro might ght put a couple of clubs on the ground d to facilitate good alignment and possibly use an old VHS recorder that captured poor quality video which couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be manipulated at all, but theyy were all the propss heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d employ. Today, y, outside still works of course, (itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where the he game is played donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t onâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget), but increasingngly instruction is moving ving inside to high-tech golf performance centers, ters, such as those owned ed by Rogers and Holdridge, ridge, and the hugely popular opular GolfTEC which started tarted life in Denver, CO, O, 14 years ago and which ch now ises nahas over 140 franchises tionwide. With overr 1.7mili th lion lessons given since the company was founded and over 3 5 0 PGA professionals on the payroll, GolfTEC delivers an estimated 13% (GTE estimate) of all golf lessons in the United States. There are four GolfTEC locations in the Northwest region: two in Seattle and two in Portland, OR. Seattleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ rst is on Yale Avenue in downtown, the other on

108th Avenue in Bellevue. Laurie Hillyard, a fully certiďŹ ed LPGA member, works in the downtown Seattle store and estimates she has given close to 3,000 lessons since she started a couple of years ago. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The beauty of GolfTEC is that we can work on a clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game in any weather,â&#x20AC;? she says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and the technology we have (a patented system known as g-SWING) allows us to accumu-

time Tour winner, it was easy to see how loose, disconnected and untidy my swing was compared with one of the most compact and eďŹ&#x192;cient in the game. Hillyardd was then able to draw ones, angles screen lines, hics to iland graphics he lustrate the

late a great deal of data on each playerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s swing.â&#x20AC;? Hillyard can then compare the clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s swing in slow-motion with that of a Tour player and pinpoint areas that need attention. I visited GolfTEC in December and went up against Stuart Appleby; ironic as the Australianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s action has long been my favorite. Side-by-side with the eight-

es in our respective swingdifferences oulder and hip rotation planes, shoulder rotation, clubhead paths, and clubface angles. And after identifying the parts of my swing that needed to change if I was to strike the ball more solidly and thus hit straighter, more powerful shots, she listed a number of drills aimed at correcting my ďŹ&#x201A;aws. A few days later, I received an email with

STAFF

my WebLesson attached and I was able to review my data, my swing against Applebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Hillyardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commentary and the drills she had suggested.

No doubt about it, GolfTEC, and the other hi-tech indoor facilities are very, very impressive. The technology is extremely powerful and accurate, and the ability to see oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s swing on a monitor then compare it, with the aid of onscreen graphics, against a Tour playerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

REGIONAL EDITORS / AD REPS

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

CONTRIBUTORS . . . . . . . . . . . John Berkovich,

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cameron@golftodaynw.com PRODUCTION DIRECTOR . . . Kris Hansen kris@golftodaynw.com GOLF EXPLORER EDITOR. . . Hal Gevertz GCSA & NORCAL PGA . . . . . . Emmy Moore Minister ASSOCIATE EDITORS: . . . . . Bob Weisgerber, Bob Fagan CONTRIBUTING EDITOR . . . . Leith Anderson leith@calgolftech.com

Don Carlson, Dan Hruby, Tom Kubistant (PhD), Tom LaMarre, Bill Nestor, Rick Newell, Barry Salberg, Ron Salsig, Pat Simmons, Robert Strahan, Terry VanderHeiden â&#x20AC;&#x153;ACEâ&#x20AC;? EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Mc Colgan LMccol3525@aol.com CARTOONISTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . Randy Evert for Finkstromâ&#x20AC;Ś Jonny Hawkinsâ&#x20AC;ŚRich Newell for Life in The Trapâ&#x20AC;ŚFrank Roberson

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Cameron Healey 1VCMJTIFS &EJUPS t (Plf Today Magazine Northwest Edition QIPOF t fax www.GolfTodayNW.cPN t $BNFSPO!(PMG5odayNW.com

ISSN 1524-2854

Golf Today Magazine, The Best in the West for 23 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.

32 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE ď&#x161;ť NORTHWEST EDITION

JANUARY 2010

has the potential to realize tremendous results out on the course where it actually matters. But, and it’s a big but, all this technology is only as good as the person operating it. “An experienced teacher will take the data, determine what portion of it the student can digest, translate the facts for the student in a way that fits their learning style, and finally make the needed adjustments,” says Bill Porter, the Director of Golf at the Links at Moses Pointe in Moses Lake, and the teacher named Washington’s best in a 2007 edition of Golf Digest. Tom Sovay, who does use video, but only when necessary, has come to the conclusion that all the information gathered from swing analysis software is great, but that the key to improvement is the correction. “When you take your car to the mechanic, you do want to know and understand the problem, but more than that you want to know how to fix it, and how much it’s going to cost. Pupils want us to spend time working on the cure, not agonizing over the cause.” Everything

that helps facilitate the analysis is ﬁne, he continues, adding that he is all for whatever means instructors use to help their students see and understand the problem. “But I want to spend 20% of the time analyzing, and 80% ﬁxing. Video is useful certainly, but I sincerely like great instructors.” Holdridge puts it like this; “The hispeed video and swing analysis software is great for identifying problems, and being able to see your swing on a monitor is huge. But it’s all totally useless if the professional can’t interpret what he sees on the screen. Plus, all the graphics can be a bit overwhelming for some people, especially beginners who don’t really understand the concept of swingplane or weight shift. Most golfers do better learning by demonstration or developing a feeling than trying to replicate what a computer is telling them. The professional needs to be able to identify the initial problem that probably leads to all the others in a golfer’s swing, then focus on that. The technology is impressive, but in the wrong hands it can be very damaging.”

Fortunately, Porter, Hillyard, Rogers and Holdridge have nearly 70 years of experience between them, so the golfer thinking about approaching them for help need not be concerned about wasting big money on enjoyable, but ultimately unproductive, lessons. All this is completely redundant, of course, and the process of picking your pro a lot easier if a friend can simply recommend his or her teacher. “That’s how I get a lot of my business,” says Holdridge. “Word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool.” Having made your decision, it’s time to prepare for your ﬁrst lesson. No doubt you’ll be apprehensive and possibly even wonder if you’re ‘good enough’ to take lessons. However, you should rest assured the pro has likely seen a hundred or more swings worse than yours. “Listen very carefully to what he/she is saying, and make the most of your time by asking questions about parts of the game you don’t understand,” says Holdridge. “It’s not enough to be able to recite what the pro is telling you. You

have to know what it means if you are ever to reach that glorious moment in a golfer’s career when he can correctly diagnose his own faults and make the necessary alterations.” Ask the pro about fitness and flexibility and have him suggest a stretching program that will help you lengthen your swing, increase your stamina and hopefully limit the little pains many new golfers inevitably feel. Above all else, try to enjoy it safe in the knowledge that the standard you reach will have absolutely no bearing whatsoever on how your kids see you, or the Earth’s rotation. It’s only a game, remember! Useful Links Gregg Rogers – www.grgolfperformance.com Tom Sovay - www.sovaygolf.com Joe Holdridge - www.joeprogolflab.com GolfTEC - www.GolfTEC.com Bill Porter - http://www.mosespointe. com/instruction.html

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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. JANUARY 2010

GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

34 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE  NORTHWEST EDITION

JANUARY 2010

Think You Can Correctly Identify The Following Northwest golf courses?

Prove it. Correctly guess the names of the following Washington and Oregon private and public golf courses (no, you are not required to name the specific hole, although that would be impressive) your name will go into a drawing to win a free foursome from Golf Today Magazine! Yep, the green fees are on us. If your name is drawn, you and three of your friends, will win a free round of golf at either Chambers Bay Links Course, in Tacoma, WA or Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in Portland, OR from Golf Today!

1-425-949-3090 or email your guesses to info@golftodaynw.com

Get to it and good luck! Here are the courses, now match them with the photos! Aspen Lakes Golf Club Auburn Golf Course Camas Meadows Golf Club Eagle Crest Resort Heron Lakes Golf Club

JANUARY 2010

Chambers Bay Links Palouse Ridge Golf Club Riverside Golf Club Sahalee Country Club Sun Country Golf Course

Wine Valley Golf Club Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club Horn Rapids Golf Club Maplewood Golf Club

GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE ď&#x161;ť NORTHWEST EDITION

Golf Today Magazine & Heron Lakes Golf Club present the

HERON LAKES

Spring Classic in Portland

Monday, April 26 Ø Includes $5000 in free raffle prizes Ø $100 in Tee Prizes for every player Ø GolfTEC Free Swing Analysis Area Ø Win Tickets to 2010 U.S. Senior Open Ø Valuable prizes for longest drive competition Ø Free golf certificates &/or Discounted golf coupons at local golf courses Ø Two night Stay and Play Package including dinner for two at the Resort at the Mountain!

This fun golf event is for players of all skills, abilities, and ages. No handicap required. No y scorecards handed in! Everyone wins!

$101 per golfer $91 golfer in twosome $81 golfer in foursome

Ø 1 round at Heron Lakes Golf Club, Great Blue course Ø Free practice range balls--cart included Ø Valuable prizes for closest to the pin on all 3-par holes Ø Win a new $189 putter at one-shot putting contest Ø Two Major Clubmaker Demo of Clubs--Try them with no obligation! Ø Tournament open to men and women-no handicap required Ø Continental breakfast box before round.

For more information & entry forms, call

425-941-9946 or email cameron@golftodaynw.com y forms to yyou! We will fax, send, or email entry

Ø Awards presentation after round, including full hot appetizers and too much more to list Ø Shotgun Start! (Get home by 5pm!)

Portland North Harbour Courtyard 503 943-3716 Special Heron Lakes Classic Players Rate Only $89.00 plus taxes single or double occupancy. Offer good 4/24-4/27