Volume 3
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Issue 7 | November 2014
Nevada Golf
Re/Max World Long Drive Championship
By Joe Morris
1
Re/Max World Long Drive Championship Marks 20 Years
The sport of long drive is simply hitting a golf ball as far as possible, we’ve all done it with generally hilarious results, it’s fun. Put some savvy marketing, a set of universal rules of competition and deep-pocketed sponsors behind it and it becomes the worldwide phenomenon that it currently is. The annual Las Vegas gathering to crown an overall champion has just concluded its 20th year of Re/Max support with all of the drama and disappointment you would expect. The Vegas Eight, as the finals are called, must qualify through a series of local and regional events in order secure their spot in this live Golf Channel showdown for a $250,000 winner’s check and the heavyweight boxing style belt trophy. Long Drive differs from competitive golf in almost every way. One club is used, the driver, although you will often see competitors on the practice tee hitting irons from their full set out of a bag holding a dozen or more drivers of varying lengths, lofts and shafts. With a controlled driving range style tee-box platform and landing grid one would think that navigating course conditions would not be a variable but that would be an incorrect assumption. The other fallacy is that there need be no long-term consistency from the athletes, that hitting one perfect bomb is enough to win. While it’s true that the longest ball wins, there are head to head matches instead of accumulative distance measured, so being able to consistently hit it long and straight over the course of an entire season is valuable. Also, the Vegas Eight finals location has changed its venue three times in as many years, from the artificial turf of the Mesquite Sports Complex which still holds most of the other division finals and qualifying rounds, to the banked track of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, to the rolling grass of Paiute Golf Resort’s driving range. Part of this is due to the explosive growth and popularity of the event. A growth that has organizers searching for a bigger title sponsor, after twenty years of Re/Max support, rumor has it that they are out. That’s the nature of the game as witnessed by fans over the last few years, fresh faces always have a chance to be on top. Just as the finals left its Mesquite, Nevada venue for a Las Vegas home, it seems it has also outgrown the value proposition of a real estate company sponsorship. Former professional baseball player Jeff Flagg, the 2014 Champion, has only been competing for two years and was able to take home the belt in his first appearance in the finals. This year’s finals saw three former pro baseball players, a former hockey player, two golf instructors and a couple of blue-collar guys. Golf has always been the most democratic sport. All have ‘former’ endeavors because now they are Professsional Long Drive competitors. Sponsorships from big-boy companies such as Callaway recently started rolling in to insure competitors can continue pursuing the sport. We’ll have to wait to see if any of the big golf companies want to finally legitimize the sport’s popularity amongst everyday golfers with a title sponsorship. Photo Credit: SNGA
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Nevada Golf
UNLV
By Sage Sammons and Joe Morris
2
UNLV Senior Posts Career Low Round in Comeback Victory Senior Dana Finkelstein entered the final round of the last home tournament of her career disappointed. She had not played as well as she wanted to in the second round at Boulder Creek Golf Club and knew she had to play better. “The first round was good but the second day I couldn’t get into a grove,” Finkelstein said. “I escaped with a 73 and I thought I still might have a shot at a win, but I knew that I needed a career round and some help.” She entered the final round nine shots off the lead and used her disappointment in the second round as fuel for the final round. She shot a career-low 7-under-par 65 and turned in a career-best tournament score of 9-under 207 (69-73-65) en route to capturing her second win of the fall and the fourth of her career. “I was really feeling it after the front nine,” Finkelstein said. “San Diego State’s Haleigh Krause was still one shot ahead but then she bogeyed 10 and we were all tied. I knew I just needed a few more birdies and pars out of her and it happened.” She completed a 12-stroke turnaround and finished three-strokes ahead of Krause, who turned in 6-under 210 (65-68-77).
“Dana played fantastic today,” head coach Amy Bush-Herzer said. “She wasn’t happy with her second round and used that energy in the final round. She needed to play flawless to get the win and that’s what she did.” Finkelstein was also named the Mountain West Women’s Golfer of the Month for October, the conference office announced on Wednesday. In only the first half of this season Finkelstein has posted three top-two finishes to round out the fall season. She placed second at the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational after turning in a 54-hole total of 1-under-par 215 (67-76-72) and she followed up that performance by picking up her third and fourth career victories at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational and at the aforementioned Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown. The Chandler, Ariz. native currently ranks second in the country, according to the GolfStat Rankings, and fifth nationally in Golfweek rankings. This season she leads the conference with a 70.75 stroke average and has posted nine rounds of better-than-par in 12 total rounds played. Photo Credit: SNGA
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Nevada Golf
Las Vegas City Amateur
By Tanner Brown
3
Las Vegas City Amateur Decided by Playoff On a cold weekend in windy conditions, Taylor
round of 65 with a final round 74 to hold on for
Montgomery fired a final round 63 to post a136
victory. Carpendale shot a 36 Hole total of 139,
total in the clubhouse and waited while Kenny
3 shots better than in 2013, when he shot 73-69
Ebalo finished his round, playing in the final
for a 142.
group. Ebalo, the 2014 Player of the Year front-
Carpendale held off a charging Peter Dunlap
runner, made bogey on his 36th Hole of the
playing in the group ahead. Dunlap shot a
tournament to tie Montgomery.
final round 69 to post a 3 under total for the
Both players made birdie on each of the first two playoff holes as darkness was setting in.
championship, but Carpendale chipped in on the 18th Hole to win by 2 shots.
After a pair of pars on the 3rd hole, Montgomery
2012 Champion, Steven Fink, shot a first
made par on the 4th hole to close out the
round 69, but struggled down the stretch to post
Championship.
a final round 76.
First round leader, Samuel Mangiaterra from
The Senior Net Division was won by Greg
Victorville, California, finished in a tie for 3rd after
Marks who shot an impressive 2 day net total
shooting a first round 65. Also finishing in 3rd
of 134.
Place at 2 under par were Blair Bursey, Brayden Eriksen, and the legendary Todd Robert.
In the Super Senior Field, John Enright beat John Corbin in a sudden death playoff with a
In the Net Division, impressive play by Gabe
par on the first playoff hole. Battling head to
Shirley led to a runaway victory. Shirley shot a 67-
head all day, Enright shot a final round 71 while
68 net for a two-day total of 135 to win by 6 shots
Corbin finished at even par 72. Both players shot
over Eduardo Ramirez. The 2013 Net Player of the
6 under for the tournament.
Year, Rob Zoine, finished in third place. The senior edition of the City Championship took place on the two days before. The defending
John Corbin took 2nd in the Gross Division, but ended up winning the Net Championship by 1 shot over Jim Burger with an 8 under total of 136.
champion Gary Carpendale backed up his first
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Nevada Golf
WSNGA
By Brian Hurlburt
4
South Takes Back NSWGA Silver Cup
The Silver Cup Matches have been played for 22 years between members of the Northern Nevada Women’s Golf Association and the Women’s Southern Nevada Golf Association. On the course, the ladies from Northern Nevada hold a 12-10 advantage in the overall record, but the team from Southern Nevada won the 2014 Silver Cup Matches by the score of 22-18 in the three-day net tournament that many view as the most prestigious event in Nevada women’s amateur golf. Off the course, members of the two associations have formed longlasting bonds and the event has fostered better business relationships between the South and North. The tournament rotates between the North and South each year and was held in the South at Mountain Falls Golf Club in Pahrump, Nevada, this year. Laura Smith and Rane Zimmerli were undefeated (earning three total points) in the matches for the Southern Nevada team while rookie Chris Guetersloh won 2.5 points for the team from the South. The event is organized by the Nevada State Women’s Golf Association, which is jointly operated by the North and South. “This team worked really hard this year and spent a lot of time as a team practicing together and working together with their partners in the team events of the competition,” said Sherry Jackson, one of the Southern Nevada team captains. “We really focused on the alternate shot portion of the event because that has been a weakness for us in the past so winning 6.5 points on the first day in that format was huge. The Silver Cup Matches are always special because they were created to bring the North and South ladies closer together
5 • November 2014
and improve the communication of the two amateur organizations. The event has been successful over the years and this tournament has become the premier event of the year. Off the course we are very friendly, but the competition on the course is fierce.” Laura Smith was making her ninth appearance in the Silver Cup and has won 8.5 out of the 9 points available to her in singles. The other captains for the Southern Nevada team were Sue May, Doe Emes and Laurie Johnson. Captains for Northern Nevada were Darla Smith and Elaine Walker. About The Silver Cup: The Silver Cup is a team competition between Northern Nevada Women’s Golf Association and the Southern Nevada Women’s Golf association played over three days, a format similar to the Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup. The competition began in 1992. The tournament is played in odd years in the North and even years in the South. There are 20
team members and four alternates. Following 2014, the overall record is the North has won 12 times and the South 10 times. For more info, visit NevadaWomensGolf. org or either association website at WSNGA.org (South) or NNWGA.org (North). The matches have three formats which include: One foursome match (partners modified alternate shot), one four ball match (partners better ball), and one single’s match. All formats are played as NET only. The captain(s) determine the playing partners. The players are from both public and private courses throughout Northern Nevada. Qualifiers are selected based on either their low gross score or their low net score. Therefore, the team is comprised of both lower and higher handicap players. The competition is played on a net basis with the lowest handicap players playing in one pool and the higher handicap players playing in another pool.
Southern Nevada Team Biehl, Ruby Booth, Diane Bowman, Sarah Brown, Masako Byorick, Rita Chen, Rachel Dallas, Christy Fairbanks, Monica Guetersloh, Chris Henderson, Ronda Heo, Clara Herness, Karen Jackson, Sherry Killpack, Karen Knott, Brenda Montero, Christina Smith, Laura Starring, Tammy Weber, Janet Zimmerli, Rane
Northern Nevada Team Campbell, Janice Cassinelli, Jeannie Colwell, Carol Cooke, Patty Croom, Nancy Cudworth, Rayleen Day, Sandy Driver, Jean Dunn, Kathy Elliott, Lori Green, Marvis Greer, Lynn Hughes, Bonnie Jones, Laura Kozloski, Tamara Miller, Jane Pike, Valerie Smith, Sharon Smyth, Darla Walker, Elaine
Nevada Golf
High School
By Joe Morris
5
Coronado Cougars Rewarded with State Title for Team Effort The Coronado High School girls’ golf team won a Division-I State Championship golf title for their first time without standout individual player, they won as a team. Generally Golf teams at this level rely on one or two very good players to carry the team. It is rare to have the team depth of this Coronado team. Coronado’s two-day team total of 339 came in 13 strokes lower than the second place defending champion Spanish Springs. After pulling out to of the regional event feeling sick, one of Coronado’s best players Natalie Yamamoto managed to finish sixth individually at the state tournament held at Somersett Golf and Country Club in Reno, Nevada. Freshman Samantha Penor was 5th with a team low score of 166 over two rounds at the very difficult Somersett Club. Gabrielle DeNunzio placed 10th, Ashley Lung tied for 11th, Isabella Martinez at 15th and Hailey Moser tied for 23rd place in the 55 player field. The Coronado Cougars have won three region titles but until the victory this year had twice come in second to two-time defending champion Spanish Springs. This year the tables turned and Spanish Springs finished second despite their top player, Katrina Pendergast, winning the individual title by six strokes. Prendergast was medalist with a total score of 154 where Alice and Michelle Duan from Reno’s McQueen High School tied for second place a t160. Green Valley’s Mercedes Khumnark who won the southern Sunrise Regional tournament placed fourth at 165 in the state event.
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Nevada Golf
High School
By Joe Morris
6
Becker and the Crusaders March to Victory The Division I-A state girls golf tournament was probably a foregone conclusion before the first tee punctured the earth at Ruby View Golf Course in Elko, Nevada. With Julia Becker, who has already committed verbally to a college career for Sacramento State, leading the team with rounds of 72 and 71, nobody was standing in their way. This was the second individual state title for Becker, something that has never been done before in Nevada, and third in a row for the Faith Lutheran team. Becker and the Crusaders also won the regional titles at Boulder Creek Golf Club prior to the state event. Becker has been playing with incredible confidence since she winning two SNJGA events earlier in the year. Faith Lutheran also won the team title with a 697 two-day total. Becker’s teammate, freshman Syndey Smith was second, five strokes back of Julia with Kaily Beatty of Elko finishing third. Clark High School placed second in the team standings 13 strokes behind the Crusaders. Photo Credit: SNGA
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Products
Cleveland
7
Cleveland Golf Introduces New 588 RTX 2.0 Wedges Cleveland Golf, an industry leader in wedges and equipment innovation for more than 30 years, has introduced the new 588 RTX 2.0 wedges. As the latest addition to the 588 family of wedges, the 588 RTX 2.0 combines the performance of its highly-successful predecessor, the 588 RTX, with new spin technology and sole grinds. The new 588 RTX 2.0 wedges, designed with sharper grooves and a new micro-milled ROTEX face pattern, take spin and control to the next level. RTX 2.0 wedges are available in a traditional muscle-back head shape for the better player, as well as a more forgiving cavity-back design for the improving wedge player. With two head designs and three distinct grind options, the new RTX 2.0 wedge family provides golfers with a comprehensive system that makes
it easier than ever to build a wedge set that maximizes performance based on turf conditions, playing preference and skill level. By progressively varying the wedge’s sole design according to bounce, Cleveland Golf has created an unmatched array of scoring tools that players of all levels can simply and easily identify as the best options for their game. The new RTX 2.0 wedges are currently available in multiple lofts, bounces and finishes, and come standard with a True Temper Dynamic Gold shaft or Cleveland Golf’s new ROTEX graphite wedge shaft offering. The new RTX 2.0 wedges carry a minimum advertised price (MAP) of $129.99 (steel shaft) and $139.99 (graphite shaft).
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Nevada Golf
ParaLong Drive
By Brian Dangerfield
8
Mesquite NV ParaLong Drive nominated for “Best New Sports Event” Mesquite NV ParaLong Drive is one of five events
National Championships, Fort Wayne, Indiana; 2014
nominated as the “Best New Sports Event” by the readers
Mudderella Series, Various; 2014 NHL Coors Light
of SportsTravel Magazine. Winners will be announced at
Stadium Series, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles; 2014
the SportsTravel Awards Luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 13,
Rock ‘n’ Roll Raleigh Marathon and Half Marathon,
culminating the week-long TEAMS ‘14 Conference & Expo
Raleigh, NC.
held at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The keynote speaker is Roger Dow, president and
The Mesquite NV Sports & Event Complex has hosted
CEO of the U.S.Travel Association. The presentation
three ParaLong Drive events for disabled athletes at the
ceremony will be emceed by Matt Iseman, host of
World-Famous Long Drive Grid, including the recently
“American Ninja Warror,” when the best sporting
held Worlds event on Oct. 15-17. The World Champion
events of the past 12 months in amateur, collegiate and
is three-time ParaLong Drive winner Jared Brentz, of
professional levels will be honored.
Nashville, who is a double-leg amputee and world-
“Events such as this one are a prime example of
record holder with a 409-yard drive at the Nationals
the achievement of excellence in the organization
event in Mesquite on May 9. The ParaLong Drive Worlds
and management of sporting events,” said Timothy
featured 45 athletes from eight countries competing
Schneider, publisher of SportsTravel, which organizes
in an Open Division and Champions in leg amputee
the TEAMS Conference & Expo. “SportsTravel readers
(above-knee and below-knee), one-arm (assisted and
are the leaders of the sports-event industry and they
unassisted), paralyzed and vision impaired categories.
know what it takes to execute a high-quality event.
In addition to the sporting event, the Mesquite Innovation and Technology Summit featured inventor
The SportsTravel Awards program is an opportunity for them to honor their peers for a job well done.”
Easton LaChappelle demonstrating a brain-powered
Schneider said the criteria for nomination and voting
robotic arm and Anthony Netto showing the skills of
include “superior organization of and attendance at the
a paramobile cart for paralyzed golfers. The Summit
event; a superior experience for the competitors and/
also featured the latest prosthetic devices to improve
or spectators at the event; and how the site or venue
human performance.
served to enhance the event.”
Other nominees include; 2013 USA Curling Arena Photo Credit: SNGA
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Nevada Golf
Nevada Open
By Joe Morris
9
Nevada Open Won with First Hole Playoff Birdie The third and final round of the Mesquite Gaming sponsored
in the U.S. Air Force. Flanked by his wife, who is currently an Air Force
annual Nevada Open featured a crowded field of 192 aspiring PGA
captain, his caddy brother who is also an Air Force Captain at Creech Air
Tour professionals. To them, the result was no less dramatic than a
Force Base in Southern Nevada and his palpably proud parents.
Sunday finish at a major. Two diametrically different personalities with
Whitney played four years of college golf for the Air Force Academy
ascending golf careers exchanging birdies for three rounds culminating
before turning pro in 2010. He’s a three-time reigning champion of the
in a playoff at the pristine Casablanca golf course in Mesquite, Nevada.
Air Force Golf Championship and the reigning champion for the Military
The $20,000 winner’s check probably already spent on entry fees into
World Championship, a competition of various countries’ military
the next event.
athletes, organized by C.I.S.M. (Counseil International du Sport Militaire).
27 year-old Seann Harlington made the trip down from Vancouver, Canada where he’s spent the last ten years snowboarding and hiding
Being that the Nevada Open held it’s first round on Veteran’s Day, Whitney instantly became my odds-on favorite to win.
from his past golf career. In 2003, while still in high school in Southern
Both players hit driver on the short par four 18th hole at Casablanca
California Harlingten made the cut in his first Web.com event. With a
Resort Golf Club, a hole they both made birdie on less than half an
promising golf career imminent, he went to work on his game and tore
hour ago to secure their playoff spots over four other players who were
a tendon in his right wrist while hitting range balls. That was it.
tied one stroke back with a three round total of 200. As expected, the
“I moved to Vancouver to get away from golf’ reminisced Harlingten
cool Harlington split the fairway leaving only a pitching wedge into
with a hint of acknowledgement of the emotional impulsiveness of
the front pin location. Whitney’s slightly unconventional, crouching
youth. After rounds of 64-68-67 he’s in a sudden death playoff before
follow through golf swing resulted in a slight pull this time, bouncing
heading home to the second round of Canadian Tour Q-School.
two feet into the left rough. The thin, dormant Bermuda rough posed
Harlington is back, with his years ago healed wrist, long surfer blond
no problem however as he neatly placed his approach seven feet right
hair tied up under a plain grey cap, a few tattoos peeking out from
of the flagstick. Harlingten’s wedge shot ended up about ten feet to the
under his golf shirt and a jaded confidence revealing that he’s been here
left of the hole, advantage flips to Whitney.
before. Harlington drips the attitude that this trophy is just a necessary
Any resident of Nevada has learned the hard way not to bet with
step to get him where he should already be before his golf career so
emotions. Your favorite team will not always win, even less often if you
cruelly ended ten years ago.
put money on them. Harlingten putted first and drained it. Whitney left
But first he needs to outplay Tom Whitney, a decorated golfer from
his attempt on the high-side lip.
Colorado. Whitney’s path to this playoff is distinctly different in every way.
Harlingten wins, briefly thanks the sponsors and unconvincingly
Only a few months out of the Air Force where Whitney served, attached
vows to return. His caddy trades him the giant foamcore check for a can
to the 319th Missile Squadron at FE Warren AFB, Wyoming, as a Lieutenant
of beer as they load his golf bag into their rental car. Photo Credit: SNGA
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Nevada Golf
College Golf
By Joe Morris
10
Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown Wraps Up Fall Season
The UNLV women’s golf team reached the halfway point by finishing a mildly disappointing
third at their home event, the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown. The event ended with cochampions for the team trophy with the San Diego State Aztecs and the Minnesota Golden Gofers tying at 1-under. The Rebels were in third place after the first round of the three-day event, with a 1-over-par 289 on the par-72, 6,277-yard Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City. The team remained in third place at the end of each round despite a very strong individual showing where senior Dana Finkelstein came from nine strokes behind to win the individual medalist honor. The only home event of the season for the Rebels is also the final event of the fall season. They will sit through the winter break ranked 21st in the nation. The first half of the season saw UNLV winning the team championship at the Betsy Rawls Invitational and turning in consecutive runner-up finishes in its other three events. The Rebels finished their lone home tournament of the season strong however. Freshman Mackenzie Raim sank three consecutive birdies on the back nine, sophomore Vivian Hsuan Chen hit an eagle in her final hole and Finkelstein tied for a tournament-high 15 birdies, seven of which came in the final round. Also competing for the Rebels in the LVCS was freshman Harley Dubsky, who finished 14th at 2-over 218 (74-69-75), Chen tied for 30th at 6-over 222 (72-77-73) and senior Mayko Chwen Wang (74-77-76) and Raim (80-76-71) tied for 62nd at 11-over 227. Freshman Avery French and senior Marguerite Swearingen competed as individuals and French finished tied for 25th at 5-over 221 (75-74-72) and Swearingen tied for 53rd at 10-over 226 (75-80-71). Individually Finkelstein added this victory to make two this season and four for her career. In second place was San Diego State’s Haleigh Krause, who turned in 6-under 210 (65-68-77) Minnesota’s Celia Kuenster, who carded a 4-under 212 (76-68-68) finished in third. Fresno State’s Madchen Ly (71-75-67) and UC Riverside’s Brittani Ferraro tied for fifth at 3-under 213. Photo Credit: SNGA
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Nevada Golf
Virgin Valley Amatuer
By Tanner Brown
11
Virgin Valley Amatuer Former PGA Tour Player and UNLV golf star Ed Fryatt hasn’t had the itch to play competitive golf in quite some time, but after winning the Virgin Valley Amateur in Mesquite on Sunday, there is a feeling he is going to be around for awhile. Fryatt shot 147 to clip Darrell Lutey and Brigham Gibbs by two shots and got his first tournament win in over 10 years. Fryatt has an interest in amateur golf now and there is no better place to find your game in Nevada then with the SNGA. Fryatt is looking to make an impression with the best golfers in the area. In the Senior Division, John Garrett (154) parred the last hole to beat Kevin Parrish (155) by 1 shot. Parrish ended up winning the Senior Net Division, with the legendary Rick Bergen coming in second. In the Net Division, Manny Pattni won running away with a score of 153 Net. With the Super Seniors, we had more of the same with Frank Abbott showing moxie time and time again. Abbott shot 147 to win the Division by 3 shots over Jeffrey English (150). Ex-baseball player Ralph Durgin finished in third place with a score of 157. Jim Burger, the 2013 Super Senior Net Player of the Year, won his Division with a Net score of 140. Photo Credit: SNGA
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Nevada Golf
NSSGC
By Jack Meola
12
Celebrating 40 Years of Competitive Camaraderie in Vegas
Within the Las Vegas community there are still a few established traditions that don’t come and go like the weekly migration of convention tourists. One of these dependable social organizations is celebrating its 40th consecutive year of building camaraderie amongst local Southern Nevada golfers. In 1974, Leon Pounders, who was a golf professional at the old Black Mountain Golf Course in Henderson, helped form the first club specifically for senior golfers in the State of Nevada. The best thing about this golf club, besides the interesting personalities of the members, is that it holds its events at a different course every month, sometimes travelling out of town. The purpose of the club is to encourage friendly meetings and tournaments for senior male and female golfers residing in the State of Nevada and neighboring States, and to hold an annual Club Championship. The Club can proudly boast that a monthly event has been conducted without fail since April 1974. The Nevada State Seniors Golf Club, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation founded in 1974 when nine prominent Nevadans met for several months to develop a Charter and by-laws, which culminated in the establishment of the organization that is now simply referred to as NSSGC. There are currently 124 great people who consistently participate in the monthly events. Event formats vary each month and include, but are not limited to, individual stroke play, stableford, blind draw teams, better ball of partners and team scrambles as well as two-man team match play. Most of the in-town events are scheduled for two days and you can play one or both days based on your desire or ability to play. Each June, the Club Championship, consisting of a 36-hole medal play event, flighted by age, is held to determine the Overall Gross and Net Club Champs. They are appropriately honored at the Annual Banquet held later that month. The Club maintains a tournament handicap system to enhance the USGA index that has proven to promote honest, competitive golf for all participants. With the exception of the Club Championship, all events are flighted by handicap and prizes are awarded to the low scores in each flight. Membership is open to all males and females who have reached the ripe old age of 50. If you are interested in joining this unique organization, there is an application on this website. For more information, you can contact our President Earl McMullen at 702-982-2896. Come join us, you won’t believe the fun that you are missing. Photo Credit: SNGA
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Nevada Golf
Shriners Open
By Joe Morris
13
Shriners Open PGA Tour Stop Continues Success
56 tournaments into his professional career, 27 year-old PGA Tour player from South Carolina Ben Martin, won his first event in Las Vegas. Martin made a very long Eagle putt and long birdie putt to go 4-under in the final four holes on Sunday afternoon in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Martin finished at 20-under 264 for the event and maybe most importantly, secures a return to the Masters at Augusta National where he played in 2010 as an amateur. The Las Vegas PGA Tour stop, in any of its iterations over the decades, has been synonymous with first time winners and quick jumpstarts to a flourishing season or career. Think Tiger Woods or last season’s Champion Webb Simpson securing his spot in the FedEx Cup Championship and consequently the Ryder Cup Team in no small part due to his early season victory in Vegas. Although the time of year and venue of the event is not conducive to securing A-List players, Vegas has always found a away to keep the necessary support from its community and sponsors to endure the undulating fairway rolls of golf industry and regional economic fluctuations. This current partnership, who Tournament Director Adam Sperling has secured for several additional seasons, with Shriners Hospitals seems to be a nice fit for all parties involved. “The 2014 tournament exceeded our goals in terms of revenue generation and community initiatives,” said Sperling. “Support from community leaders and businesses have never been stronger and combining that support with a very talented staff and committed volunteer force has enabled us to reach new heights and grow locally as well as nationally.” Coming off of another successful year as tournament director, Sperling has been promoted to executive director of Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. With the promotion, Sperling will be responsible for not only long term vision and tactical planning, but also strategic title sponsor activation initiatives for the tournament and spearheading activation efforts of the hospitals themselves via the forum the event provides them across their local and international footprint. Photo Credit: SNGA
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Nevada Golf
Golfsmith
By Joe Morris
14
Golfsmith Enters Vegas Retail Market
Golfsmith International, along with the very successful GolfTec Learning Center inside, opened its first Southern Nevada retail location in the golffocused community of Summerlin in northwest Las Vegas. The newest Golfsmith store in the nation has occupied a 23,000 square-foot spot in the long awaited Howard Hughes Development Downtown Summerlin next to high-end shops, restaurants and the trendy grocery chain Trader Joe’s. They offer a unique retail store experience within an interactive setting staying true to Golfsmith’s “anything for golf” standard. “We are excited to have joined the Las Vegas golf community as a resource for everything golf,” said Golfsmith International Chief Marketing Officer, Lisa Zoellner. “As always, we strive to deliver the best specialty golf retail experience, services and products to our customers.” The new store features four indoor club fitting and teaching bays with golf simulators and launch monitors to complement the advice of their certified Golfsmith Master Club Fitters. It also has a large indoor putting green and a GolfTEC performance improvement center with PGA teaching professional Tim Sam moving over full-time from his other ongoing standalone teaching facility in Henderson as the Director of Instruction. Downtown Summerlin is becoming one of the premier regional mixeduse development sites in the U.S. as part of part of a planned urban center which serves the entire Las Vegas Valley with over 125 shops and restaurants in an open-air shopping environment. ‘Main Street’ incorporates cooling shade features, rich desert landscaping and outdoor dining to complement the local lifestyle. The 106-acre, 1.6 million square foot mixed-use development along the Clark County 215 Beltway is located only 15 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip and Airport. Photo Credit: SNGA
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Nevada Golf
Sue May Rules
By Sue May
15
Sue May Rules
Q: I played in my Club Championship last week and would like you to clarify a ruling for me. My fellow competitor lifted his ball to identify it without announcing his intention to anyone. He also failed to mark his ball when he lifted it and then cleaned the ball more than was necessary for it to be identified. He received a one-stroke penalty. I thought it should be one stroke for each violation of the Rules.
A: No. In this case the player incurs a penalty of one stroke for failing to act in accordance with Rule 12-2. An additional penalty under Rule 20-1 or Rule 21 is just not justified.
Q: Can you tell me when a ball is considered embedded in ground and I would receive embedded ball relief? A: A ball is deemed to be embedded in the ground only if: The impact of the ball landing has created a pitch-mark in the ground, the ball is in its own pitch mark, and part of the ball is below the level of the ground. Provided that these three requirements are met, a ball does not necessarily have to touch the soil to be considered embedded (e.g., grass, loose impediments or the like may intervene between the ball and the soil). Any doubt as to whether a ball is embedded should be resolved against the player.
Q: I hit my tee shot into a deep canyon. Was it proper for me to deem it unplayable and play another ball from the tee under the stroke- and-distance option or did I need to find my ball in order to declare it unplayable?
A: You may proceed under the stroke-and-distance option without finding your ball. However, if you were taking an unplayable and wanted to use either of your other two options under Rule 28, you would have to find your ball.
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Nevada Golf
Instruction
By Bob Byman
16
MASTERY
You can’t change effectively unless you fully understand what you are trying to do. I was 15 years old living in Boulder, Colorado. I had a budding junior golf career in the making. I absolutely loved the game and I wanted to know and understand everything necessary to become the best player that I could be. With this in mind, my brother Ed and I decided to attend the 1970 PGA Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma at Southern Hills Country Club. The anticipation of seeing the best players in the world, which would be the first time that I would be able to observe them in person, made the all night car ride pass quickly. We arrived about 8:30 on that Tuesday morning. I went directly to the range. The practice area at Southern Hills was expansive, gently downhill and the seating was configured on a little slanted hill behind the teeing ground. It was a perfect viewing area. The weather was clear, very warm and humid. The wind was left to right. I was thrilled to be there. I eagerly started looking around noticing various recognizable players warming up. Then, to my utter amazement, the Master of all Masters, Ben Hogan, walked up on the tee and found a spot right in front of me! He was no more than 40 feet away. It was like I was going to have a private performance. I was ready. My senses where heightened. I was front row center and totally engaged. He lit a cigarette, took a few practice swings and then started hitting wedges. He hit about every third club through the bag to the driver. I watched him hit about 50 balls or so that morning. It was the most remarkable exhibition of ball striking I have ever seen…to date. Firstly, the quality and consistency of the shots were extraordinary. Every shot with each individual club had a character that was beyond anything
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that I had ever seen and later would realize anything that I would ever see. Secondly, the sound, trajectory, shape and speed of the ball were awesome. (I do not use the word awesome lightly: I would recognize “awe as an experience of such perceptual vastness that it forces you to reconfigure your mental schema.” Jason Silva) The distinct solid thwack of impact produced a shot that zipped away from the clubface and tracked a slightly lower than medium height trajectory as the ball quivered in the air drawing to the left at the end of its flight a couple feet before the wind pushed it back to the right. Not only did his swing look absolutely repetitive, the ball went the same way, with each individual club, time after time. I discerned no variation. His swing was so fluid, so agile, so powerful, so efficient and so well balanced. My description at the time, I remember, was that he just twirled the club around his body in one continuous flow of motion. He marched to the first tee and I followed to watch him play. It was a beautiful thing to see…simply Mastery displayed through the medium of professional competitive golf. He played nine holes and called it a day. Hogan ended up not competing that year. He withdrew before the tournament started due to the heat, the hills and his deteriorating body. He was 58 years old and was still dealing with the effects of the car crash that he and his wife, Valerie, had endured 21 years before. To be able to swing in that manner, to move that well at the end of his competitive career only emphasized the greatest of the man in his prime. I would never see Hogan hit another ball in person. However, I have watched him hit thousands of balls on tape since that time. My quest had begun. That day had been so transformational. I had seen Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, I had
experienced Einstein’s E=MC2. What did this man do that allowed him to express himself with near perfect execution? I felt like it should be quantifiable. I wanted to know. I was determined to understand. What did he do that was so different from all the other players? The best ball strikers on the PGA Tour over the past 45 years have hit 80% of the fairways and 75% GIR. Hogan hit 90% + in each category for the 15 years of his prime. He was a singular shining light to which all golfers can look as a model from which to start to learn. So the search in earnest began that day. Ben Hogan, George Knudson, Sam Snead, Mickey Wright, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Annika Sorenstam and Tiger Woods...they were my teachers. After decades of study, 4 million practice shots, 500+ amateur and professional tournaments and 27 years of building champion golfers, to my students I am the Master of my trade...teaching and coaching golf. The circle has been closed. Although there have been a number a variations of style that have produced successful golf careers, the most direct pathway...the pathway of least resistance to your maximum expression has been established. I have synthesized the commonalities of all the players who have dominated the sport in their prime. I have organized a quantifiable number of time tested fundamentals that
have created a method of instruction that will allow you to optimize all of your golfing gifts and talents. No more guess work, no more trial and error. Simply feed the fundamentals into your game...one at a time. You will be able to achieve anything that your mind can conceive. You will be able to achieve all of your golfing goals, because you will fully understand what you are trying to do. The game is waiting for you. Let’s get to work. Bob Byman has been teaching and coaching golf for 27 years. He has competed in top junior, amateur, collegiate and professional golf tournaments during his competitive years. His career brought 90+ victories including a USGA Junior championship, two NCAA team championships, multiple major amateur tournaments and 6 worldwide wins on the major professional tours around the world. This included the 1979 Bayhill Classic, five national open championships and a 7th place finish in the British Open. He was ranked in the top twenty-five in the world for three consecutive years. He is a lifetime member of the PGA Tour, the Champions Tour, the European PGA Tour and the European Senior Tour. He is in the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame. Call 702-862-0708 or visit www. bobbymangolf.com for individual lessons, golf schools, golf camps, player evaluations for potential investors, corporate outings and speaking engagements.
Nevada Golf
UNLV Men’s Golf
By Joe Morris
17
UNLV Men’s Golf Team Slips out of Top 25 In an uncommon rotation of strength, UNLV coach Dwaine Knight’s men’s golf team is playing second fiddle to the Lady Rebels. After the fall half of the college golf season comes to a close, and after holding as high as the eleventh spot in the nation, the Rebels have slipped to 28th and 35th in the Golfweek and Golfstat rankings respectively. With no team tournament victories under their white belts, it seems the Rebels have a bit of winter season break confidence to gain. UNLV began the season strong enough leading wire-to-wire both the team and individual championships in Colorado at the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational. UNLV sophomore Taylor Montgomery won the first tournament of his career as his finalround 71 and -10 total put him one stroke ahead of teammate AJ McInerney capturing medalist honors. Rebel golfers then took third place at the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate, which helped them reach their highest national ranking of the season at eleven. Then as the quality of competition increased, so did scores. They finished in sixth place after shooting a final-round 12-over-par at the William H. Tucker Intercollegiate in New Mexico. The final event of the fall season was the Tavistock Collegiate Invitational was played at the semi-famous Lake Nona Golf and Country Club where the Rebels finished tied for eighth. The only bright spot being freshman John Oda turning in his second top-10 individual finish of the season. He finished tied for ninth. It’s an unusual position to see such a traditionally successful program be in. I’m as surprised as if UNLV Football were to ever field a team that broke into the national rankings. Golf is a very different animal than all other sports however. A little putting work, word of advice or simple perspective change by any one of these very talented kids and low scores could begin flooding the Vegas desert again. Their next event isn’t until February at TPC Sawgrass, where hopefully a rediscovered confidence will be rewarded. Photo Credit: SNGA
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Products
New Balance Golf Shoes
18
New Balance Golf Adds Lightwieght and Spikeless 574B to Fall Lineup Coming off the spring introduction of the classic 574 golf shoe, New Balance announces the addition of the men’s 574B spikeless golf shoe.
footwear, plus performance technologies designed to help enhance their golf game.
The new 574B is built on the same New Balance last used in its popular
“The 574 golf shoe has been one of our top selling shoes in the current
574 lifestyle running shoe and cleated golf shoe. The 574B is designed for
line,” said Bruce Schilling, General Manager of Golf and Tennis, New Balance.
golfers looking for a modern classic style with a spikeless outsole.
“This model has tremendous appeal to the younger golfer who is already
The 574B features a mesh upper with no-sew Fantom Fit technology
wearing our classic suede 574, and the mesh upper and spikeless outsole
for ultralight support and fit, an Ndurance® rubber outsole for maximum
of the 574B will increase the appeal of the shoe to even more players. We
durability in high-wear areas, and a REVLite® 10mm drop* midsole for
have also expanded our widths to 2E and 4E in select styles based on initial
lightweight cushioning and premium responsiveness. Golfers will enjoy
feedback we received on the 574.”
the same style, comfort, and fit they are accustomed to from New Balance
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