TeeTimes OCT2022

Page 1

since 2007 OCtober 2022 WINS THE AIG WOMEN’S BRITISH OPEN PALM BEACH GARDENS’ ASHLEIGH BUHAI

Marathon Golf 100 Hole Challenge, First Tee of Broward

Messina Siblings Get First Ace on the Same Hole 14-years Apart

ON THE COVER

Palm Beach Gardens’ Ashleigh Buhai Wins the AIG Women’s British Open Championship

Mountain Golf Escape: Rumbling Bald on North Carolina’s Lake Lure

Tim Cantwell Wins South Florida PGA Professional Golf Tournament, Heather Angell Wins Women’s Section Championship

Course Spotlight – Westchester Country Club

South Florida Loves Professional Golf

VOLUME 15, NO. 9

CONTACT US www.teetimesnews.com P. O. Box 670351 Coral Springs 33067-0351 Fax 954.602.0447

GENERAL MANAGER

Jeff Ward jeff@teetimesnews.com 954.648.2727

MEDIA COORDINATOR Alma Pieczynski alma@teetimesnews.com 786.933.4818

SALES

Scot Zaitschek 954.673.0692

Bruce Bard bruce@teetimesnews.com 954.658.7660

The Tee Times prints magazines 12 months a year and distributes them at more than 425 golf businesses and professional locations from Homestead to Fort Pierce on the east coast of Florida. Our digital version is distributed monthly to over 25,000 readers via email.

Cover: Ashleigh Buhai wins the AIG Women’s British Open provided by the LPGA, Marathon Golf photos provided courtesy of Eileen Gruenberg and Sean Kicker, Messina siblings first ace story pictures courtesy of the Messina family, Ashleigh Buhai wins the AIG Women’s British Open pictures courtesy of the LPGA, flag photo by Craig Dolch. Mountain Golf Escape story pictures provided by Rumbling Bald, Tim Cantwell wins photos courtesy of the South Florida PGA, South Florida Loves Golf page 16 photo Trump National Doral courtesy of Trump National Doral, page 22 photo of range by Chris Trotman, LIV Golf, Getty Images. Westchester Course Spotlight photos provided by Westchester Country Club.

PHOTO
2 OCTOBER 2022 The Tee Times
CREDITS 4
october 2022 contents 16 8 Socialize with us facebook.com/TeeTimesNews/ twitter.com/theteetimesnews instagram.com/ theteetimesnews/ 10
4 6 8 10 12 14 16
For Tee Times: (954) 752-4500 Ext. #1 www.ccofcs.com Putter Around at CC of CS: (754) 701-5946 PutterAroundClubRepair.com 10800 WEST SAMPLE ROAD | CORAL SPRINGS, FL THE COUNTRY CLUB OF CORAL SPRINGS A NEW TRADITION We are truly excited to be the new home of Putter Around. A South Florida tradition for over 39 years. DAILY LUNCH SPECIALS DAILY HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE GREAT BANQUET FACILITIES • Custom club fitting done outside with Flight Scope Technology. The latest in swing analysis • Science and Motion Putting Analysis NOW with High Speed Cameras SAM Ball Tracker We match all advertised golf club prices Titleist | Ping | Taylor Made | Callaway | PXG | Mizuno | Srixon | Cleveland | Cobra FULLREPAIRLINE SHOP WE ARE HONORED TO SELL AND ACCEPT THE SOUTH FLORIDA PGA GOLF PASS! 3:00PMCLOSE 12:00PM3:00PM 7:30AM12:00PM 7:30AM11:59AM 7:30AM11:52AM 12:00PM1:59PM 12:00PM2:52PM 2:00PMON 3:00PM5:00PM (All Rates +Tax) $5499 $8499 $4499 $7499 $3499 $4999 WEEKDAY RATES (JUNE - SEPT.) WEEKEND/HOLIDAY RATES

Marathon Golf fundraiser tops $66K for First Tee –BROWARD

Once again Stan Schachne deliv ered both on and off the golf course. For the third straight year, Schachne was the leading fund raiser for First Tee –Broward’s 100-Hole Golf Challenge event as the Davie resi dent raised another $12,655 to bring his three-year total to more than $36,000 for First Tee –Broward.

During that span he’s played 272 holes –100-holes twice, including the past two year and 72 holes when it was shortened due to inclement weather in his first year.

“A lot of my clients, family and friends contributed again this year,” said Schachne, a local architect/general contractor, who topped the fundraising leaderboard ahead of Pembroke Pines’ Shelby Coyle, an assistant golf pro at The

Club at Weston Hills, who finished second for the second consecutive year raising $5,852. “I was very fortunate. There were 87 people who donated to me this year. I think it is a really nice group of people that did that.”

Schachne said he was surprised that they went from 66 golfers last year to 54 this year but understands that these are difficult times.

4 OCTOBER 2022 The Tee Times (Continued on page 18)
The Tee Times OCTOBER 2022 5

MESSANA SIBLINGS GET FIRST ACES

On the Same Hole 14 years Apart

Marissa Messana and her older brother C.J. have long enjoyed playing golf.

C.J. Messana is three years older, but his sister beat him to getting family bragging rights when she got the first of her three hole-in-ones at the Plantation Preserve Golf Course. Marissa, who was 12 at the time, used a

7-iron on hole No. 2 on April 7, 2008, at the age of 12. It covered 120-yards.

Those “rights” ended 14 years later as 29-year-old C.J. got his first ace on the same hole on July 7, 2022, when he hit an 8-iron 177 yards. In both instances, they were out enjoying a casual round with friends.

6 OCTOBER 2022 The Tee Times
(Continued on page 28)

Come build the new future with us.

We’re Citrix. We create digital work space technology that helps millions of people around the world to do their best work from anywhere.

Being part of the communities where our employees live and work is a big tenent of our culture. We’re proud and excited to be a sponsor of First Tee Broward.

citrix.com

The Tee Times OCTOBER 2022 7

wins

The latest name in a long list of South Florida major champions didn’t grow up here or dream of moving to this golf-crazy area for tax reasons. Ashleigh Buhai was content to keep living in her homeland of South Africa and making the occasional four-month commute to America to play on the LPGA Tour. Her hus band, Dave, her former caddie, had family in Chicago, so there was a place for them to use as a U.S. base. Just not a warm U.S. base, suitable for professional golfer to practice year-round.

In mid-2020, when COVD-19 started closing borders such as South Africa’s, Ashleigh knew she had to consider other options such as moving to America permanently. Fortunately, they had stayed with a family during an LPGA event in New York that owned a second home in South Florida. That family allowed Ashleigh and David to use that

home during the pandemic. They loved the area so much, they decided to move to Palm Beach Gardens in early 2021.

Wise move, on several accounts.

Eighteen months after Ashleigh moved almost 8,000 miles from her homeland, she moved into the record books with a scintillating victory at the recent AIG Women’s British Open championship at hallowed Muirfield.

They have established roots faster than Bermuda grass on a 100-degree day. “We consider this our home now,” Buhai said of Palm Beach Gardens. “There are a lot of South African golfers in the area, so we feel very comfortable here.”

The list of top South African golfers who live or have lived in South Florida is longer than John Daly’s beard. Among the notables: Hall of Famers Ernie Els – Buhai’s childhood idol – and Gary Player; major champions Louis Oosthuizen (who recently relocated to Ocala) and Charl Schwartzel;

AIG Women’s British Open Championship

as well as Branden Grace, who five years ago shot the lowest round (62) in a major.

But the 33-year-old Buhai (pronounced BYOU-high) didn’t win the Women’s British Open simply because she was resid ing in a new zip code. It was the culmination of a quarter century of hard work and perseverance. She relied espe cially on the latter in the final round of the Women’s British Open, the first women’s major championship held at historic Muirfield in Scotland.

Buhai entered the final round with a five-shot lead and despite a so-so day, was still leading by three with four holes to play. That’s when things got interesting. She made a triplebogey on the par-5 15th hole – without a penalty shot – and, just like that, Buhai was tied for the lead.

“I’m sure there are many people in South Africa with gray hairs after watching me play the 15th,” she said. “It would have been easy (for her) to come home in an ambulance.” Instead, Buhai parred the last three holes to make it into a playoff with three-time major champion In Gee Chun. With Chun’s pedigree and her late wobble, it wasn’t looking good for Buhai. But she kept her composure – and her name at the top of the leaderboard.

“I knew even though I had lost the lead, I still had a chance,” Buhai said. “I was still tied for the lead. I adn’t lost it yet.”

The playoff is when things really got interesting. Just ask Dave, who had a chance to join his wife’s gallery after his player, Jeongeun Lee6, finisher her final round, for what turned out to be four pressure-packed holes. “I’m not doing well at all,” said her husband Dave, who screamed encouragement to his wife throughout the playoff. Dave caddied for his wife for eight years before making a switch about the time they got married.

Buhai and Chun remained tied through the first three playoff holes. The fourth time proved to be a charm for Buhai. She faced a difficult shot from a greenside bunker as she tried to save par while Chun also was strug gling for par. The good news? Buhai led the LPGA Tour in sand-save per centage. “My caddie told me to show everybody why I was No. 1 from the sand,” Buhai said. She hit a brilliant shot to 2 feet. When Chun missed her par putt from the fringe, Buhai won it with her clutch par.

She was a major champion – some thing it took a few days to hit home

once she got to her new home, which with the $1.095 million first prize, could easily be remodelded.

“I’m the AIG Women’s Open champion. I get emotional when I say it because it’s a lifelong dream come true,” Buhai said when returning to Palm Beach Gardens.

She truly had found a new home. The day after she returned, Buhai took her trophy to a friend’s birthday party at North Palm Beach Country Club to let everyone touch a piece of history.

A week later, I spotted a 2022 AIG Women’s Open flag signed by Ashleigh at the Paddy Macs Irish Restaurant in Palm Beach Gardens. “What a lovely couple,” said Paddy Macs owner Hugh Jackson.

If Buhai’s victory happened a decade ago, it wouldn’t have been surprising. Buhai (playing under the surname Simon) was a star amateur growing up in South Africa, winning her national open at 14. That was one of her four victories in professional events as an amateur. But for some reason she struggled since turning professional in 2007. She won three times on the Ladies European Tour, but that success didn’t translate to the bigger stage of the LPGA Tour.

Before arriving at Muirfield, she had yet to win on the LPGA Tour and had just one top-10 in 42 major championship starts (a T-5 three years ago in the Women’s Open). But everything came together at a place which hadn’t even allowed female members until 2017. It had taken Buhai more than 15 years to become an overnight success story.

Not only was Buhai the first player to win a women’s champi onship at Muirfield, she became the first South African women to win a major since Sally Little in 1988.

“Our lives are changing!” her hus band David, who caddies for major champion Jeongeun Lee, screamed after she won. “Our lives are chang ing; I’ll tell you that.”

The last South African to win a British Open? That would be Els. At Muirfield in 2002. Another connec tion: Els won the ’02 Open with a fabulous bunker shot in a playoff to defeat Thomas Levet -- yet another Palm Beach Gardens resident -after two other players had been eliminated.

Buhai and Els will have plenty to talk about when they play a practice round together at her home club, Turtle Creek Golf Club in Tequesta. ter all, they are neighbors now.

The Tee Times OCTOBER 2022 9

Mountain Golf Escape:

When it comes to Carolinas’ golf destinations, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, and Pinehurst are the “big three” that are top of mind of most Florida golfers. But there’s something pleasantly out of the ordinary about packing the car full of golf gear and heading north from the flat lands of the Sunshine State into North Carolina’s stunning section of Blue Ridge Mountains.

For many golfers, the peace and tranquility of mountain golf is a way to escape the pace and stress of today’s fastpaced world. Rumbling Bald on North Carolina’s stunning Lake Lure offers golfers a refuge from the daily grind.

“We want golfers to get here, unplug, play 18 or 36 holes, and shed the stress of the hurry-up, always-on lifestyle we lead,” says Jeff Geisler, General Manager at Rumbling Bald. “Post round, they can relax over a hearty meal and a cold beverage, then retreat to the deck of their vacation rental with cigar or nightcap.”

The Golf Courses

Adam Bowles, Head of Golf Operations at Rumbling Bald, is quick to point out that the property’s two moun tain courses, Apple Valley and Bald Mountain, offer

decidedly different yet complementary experiences.

Bowles says the key to playing Bald Mountain is under standing the effects of uphill and downhill slopes. Longtime Laurel of Asheville golf writer Chuck Werle once said Bald Mountain designer W.B. Lewis was “part man, part moun tain goat.” One trip around this unique layout and golfers tend to understand what Werle means.

“Bald Mountain is what most golfers would refer to as a classic mountain course,” says Bowles. “The back nine especially offers a mix of uphill and downhill holes that require adjustments in club selection, trajectory, and spin.”

One case in point is the par-4 11 hole. The uphill approach shot is the most extreme on the course and can easily call for an extra club or two, depending on the wind speed and direction. However, the 383-yard par-4 10th hole preceding 11 is one of Bowles’ favorites.

An elevated tee shot offers a harrowing glimpse of a creek on the left and a thick row of trees on the right that appears to extend into the fairway. The approach shot is to an elevated green with the putting surface completely hidden from sight. Most golfers under-club, according to Bowles, leaving a chip shot into a slanted green.

Rumbling Bald on North Carolina’s Lake Lure
10 OCTOBER 2022 The Tee Times
(Continued on page 26)
The Tee Times OCTOBER 2022 11 Must present coupon. Exp. 10/31/22 Must present coupon. Exp. 10/31/22. Must present coupon. Exp. 10/31/22 Must present coupon. Exp. 10/31/22. Golf Bags Cabretta Gloves, 3 for $ 25 00 10/31/2022 Serving the students and veterans of Palm Beach County (561) 842-0066 Register online for programs at: FirstTeePalmBeaches.org Keiser University Golf Coaching Center • Commons Park Golf Learning Center Drive Shack • John Prince Golf Learning Center • The Golf Club of Jupiter Madison Green Country Club • Dyer Park • North Palm Beach Country Club Okeeheelee Golf Course • Park Ridge Golf Course • Southwinds Golf Course PGA TOUR Superstore – Palm Beach Gardens • Wellington National Golf Club Westchester Country Club • The Village Golf Club

Tim Cantwell Wins South Florida

PGA Professional Championship; Heather Angell Wins

Women’s Section Championship

Tim Cantwell, PGA, of Jupiter birdied the first playoff hole to defeat Justin Hicks, PGA, and win the South Florida PGA Professional Championship at Imperial Golf Club.

Cantwell eagled the first hole on Imperial’s East course with a chip-in from behind the green and rode that momentum to a 3-under 69 that got him into the playoff with Hicks at 9-under 207. Cantwell finished the job with a twoputt birdie from 15 feet on the par-5 10th hole after he hit the green with a 3-wood from 248 yards to win the South Florida PGA’s pre mier championship.

“I’ve had the privilege of winning more than 25 minitour events, but this victory ranks way up there,” said Cantwell, a PGA Instructor at PGA National Resort who also caddies at Seminole Golf Club. “Thanks to (former Seminole PGA Head Professional) Bob Ford and (PGA National’s PGA Director of Golf) Jane

on page 30)

12 OCTOBER 2022 The Tee Times
(Continued

Looking for a course in Palm Beach County in great condition at a reasonable price? Westchester Country Club located in the heart of Boynton Beach is open to the public for a true South Florida golfing experience.

For more than three decades, Westchester Country Club is still, quite simply, one of a kind. Inspired by Karl Litten it is one of the top public golf courses in South Florida. Westchester fea tures 27-holes spread out on three 9-hole courses. Westchester Country Club will test your creativity

off the tee and accuracy on the approach, it is your classic “risk and reward” design that will challenge you from start to finish. The course boasts lush fairways and manicured greens with a serene setting that includes beautiful tropical vegetation along with a wide array of wildlife.

Westchester Country Club is located at 12250 Westchester Club Drive, Boynton Beach, FL 33437. Pro Shop phone number is (561) 369-1000. You can book tee times on their website http://www.westchestercc.com

14 OCTOBER 2022 The Tee Times
The Tee Times OCTOBER 2022 15

SOUTH FLORIDA

LOVES PROFESSIONAL GOLF

For the first time in six years, professional golf returns to Trump National Doral in Miami. It won’t be the PGA Tour, however. It will be the Tour’s nemesis – LIV Golf.

The PGA Tour’s 55-year run in Miami ended in 2016 when the WGC-Cadillac Championship left Doral for Mexico City – in large part because Donald Trump bought the resort four years earlier.

Trump readily accepted an oppor tunity to host LIV’s final tournament of its inaugural season Oct. 27-30. No surprise there: Trump already hosted a LIV event at his course in Bedminster, N.J. in July and his courses will host several LIV’s events next year.

All of LIV’s top golfers will be at Doral to play for $50 million on the famed Blue Monster, but the competition will feature only the 12 four-man team component. The season-long individual competition will be decided two weeks earlier at the event in Saudi Arabia.

There will still be plenty on the line at Doral: The players on the winning team will each receive $4 million –more than Lee Trevino and Johnny Miller made in their careers. Heck, members of the last-place team each earn $250,000.

Talk about a participation trophy. Details for the tournament are still being worked out by LIV officials, but it’s expected the format at Doral will be single-elimination match play, with the top teams entering the week receiving byes.

16 OCTOBER 2022 The Tee Times
(Continued on page 22)

FEBRUARY 23-26

The Honda Classic returns to PGA National Resort on February 23-26, 2023 offering entertainment for everyone to enjoy as the PGA TOUR pros take-on the infamous Bear Trap.

For the latest updates and information on charity registration, volunteer opportunities, ticket and hospitality offerings & more visit, www.thehondaclassic.com

SEPP STRAKA
2022 CHAMPION

“I guess the economy had a little bit to do with it,” he said. “I am very appreciative of the fact that they have the trust and con fidence in me, and it is a great organization to contribute to and people are really willing to donate.

“A lot of people who contributed to me will do their own fundraisers during the year, so I will try and contribute in kind,” Schachne added. “I had a lot of $100 donors. I had $20 to $1,000.”

With one more date to go at the Parkland Golf and Country Club in early October, the 100-Hole Golf Challenge has raised $66,303 of its $120,000 goal and there have been 670 donors. For every $100 donation, donors are entered into a raffle to play and stay at Pebble Beach.

Last year, they raised a record $97,856 for the organization’s programming as 66 golfers were able to reach 951 donors.

First Tee Broward Director of Operations Sean Kicker is hoping they can at least match last year’s record number.

“It supports between 60 and 70 percent of all of our programming,” Kicker said. “This year was a little bit more of a challenge than in years past. I think the economy had some thing to do with it, with everyone kind of feeling the punch.

“It is an ongoing thing,” Kicker added. “At every event we do, we are talking about the 100-hole challenge. We rely on our Ambassador’s group to do most of the recruiting for that. We have about 30 Ambassadors and we hope that they will reach out and let someone know what we do and how we do it. We have these fun draisers and the 100-hole challenge and can you help us out. You get to play 5-plus rounds of golf at really nice places.”

The goal is for each player to play a mini mum of 100 holes of golf on a single day. Each player commits to raising funds to support the mission of First Tee – Broward, which is to impact the lives of young people, including those with special needs, and vet erans, by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through golf.

Parkland’s Ryan Shimony, a Stoneman Douglas junior, is third with $4,888 col lected, while Fort Lauderdale’s Adam Spiegel, a tax partner, has raised $3,933 and Weston’s Drew DiAlberto, the chair of the event, has raised $3,682. Former First Tee – Broward Director of Operations Jack Bloomfield, a Coral Springs resident, stands fifth with $3,369.

“The golf marathon is tough,” said Shimony, 16, who played 100 holes and has raised nearly $1,800 during his three years of participating in the event. “It’s the equivalent of playing 5-1/2 rounds of golf in one day in 95-degree heat. It takes over 10 hours to complete, but, over the years, I have learned to keep my mindset focused on the goal of playing 100 holes to support The First Tee.

“It’s always a little awkward to ask others for money,” he added, “but, when I know I’m raising money for a good cause like The First Tee, it makes it a lot easier.”

The money raised helps many First Tee programs including golf course programs with more than 600 students at 13 different courses: Life Skills/Outreach Programs con sisting of 400-plus students at 11 locations including Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward, Children’s Harbor, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Deerfield Beach Park’s & Rec. and more.

There are also in-school PE Programs, consisting of 16,000 students at 32 elemen tary/middle schools throughout Broward County; Special Needs Programs with 200 students at 7 locations and a Veterans Programs with more than 60 vets at four locations.

STAN SCHACHNE PICTURE: Stan Schachne, Leading Fundraiser for 100-hole challenge ERIC, NICOLE & MATTHEW PICTURE: Pictured above are Erik Chafin, Chief Development Officer – Children’s Harbor, Nicole Golemi – Business Development – Alison South Marketing Agency and Matthew Kaplan, Financial Advisor – Myriad Capital RYAN & BOBBY PICTURE: Pictured above are Ryan Shimony and Bobby Tru.
18 OCTOBER 2022 The Tee Times (Continued from page 4)

and handle logistical tasks for

charity golf

the big picture and the small details. Then

focus on building lasting connections with

supporters and

event.

19 (561) 223-3960 Planning a golf tournament? A successful golf fund-raiser demands precision planning, efficient project management, and demonstrated joy for the game. Sought-after Doris Muscarella, Golf Charity Tournament Consultant has an advocate’s heart and will embrace your philanthropic cause. Golf Charity Tournaments services provide solutions to facilitate, plan, manage, market, administrate
your
tournament. We will handle
you can
your
enjoying the
PLANNING A GOLF TOURNAMENT? You need a driver GOLF CHARITY TOURNAMENTS We welcome the opportunity to discuss your unique golf event in more detail. Call today for a Complimentary Consultation at: (954) 240-4853 - Ft. Lauderdale - (561) 299-4946 Palm Beach
WHY ADVERTISE TO GOLFERS? IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS About half of all golfers will ... hire a financial planner play golf at a resort course purchase a new automobile buy health, auto or life insurance 91% of golfers are home owners 18% own at least one vacation home. One out of four golfers will buy real estate One out of four will buy fine jewelry IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS three out of four will dine out a minimum of twice a week Call Alma Pieczynski at 786.933.4818 or send her e-mail at alma@teetimesnews.com

(Continued from page 16)

To be sure, this is not the kind of golf we’re used to seeing at Doral. There will be music played during the tournament, a shotgun start, only 48 players and no cut.

Doral had a storied history on the PGA Tour, beginning when Billy Casper rallied from four strokes back with eight holes left to win the inaugural event in 1962.

Doral’s winners from 1962-2006 included 12 Hall of Famers: Tiger Woods (twice), Jack Nicklaus (twice), Raymond Floyd (thrice), Casper (twice), Lee Trevino, Hubert Green, Tom Kite, Ben Crenshaw, Nick Faldo, Ernie Els, Lanny Wadkins and Greg Norman, the CEO and commissioner of LIV Golf.

The Doral tournament became a World Golf Championship event in 2007 and was held there for a decade. Among its 10 winners were Hall of Famers Phil Mickelson (twice), Ernie Els, Woods (twice), cinch Hall of Famer Dustin Johnson (thrice) and former Masters champion Patrick Reed (twice)

LIV members Mickelson, Johnson and Reed are expected to be at Doral, along with reigning British Open/

Players champion Cameron Smith and former major champions Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Brooks Koepka of West Palm Beach, Graeme McDowell, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Henrik Stenson.

“There could not be a more perfect location to host our biggest event of the year at a course with such a long history with professional golfers, and we are excited to add another piece of history to this famed destination,” Norman said in a statement. “I am very much looking forward to watch these teams go head-to-head to com pete for the largest prize purse in tournament history. “As we continue to select locations for our events in world-class cities, we knew Miami had to be included in the rotation, and the Blue Monster is a fan favorite and a perfect place to end our inaugural season.”

Times have changed plenty since Doris and Alfred Kaskel purchased 2,500 acres of swampland in the late1950s that eventually became Doral Country Club. The name came from combining their first names.

One final thought: Miami golf fans

didn’t lose their precious golf tourna ment strictly because of Trump and politics. It was Trump’s craving for the spotlight during tournament week. Before Trump successfully ran for president in 2016, the tournament’s current sponsor, Cadillac, informed the PGA Tour it would not be renewing its sponsorship.

Trump played into the decision, but not just because of his politics, said former commissioner Tim Finchem. “I know everybody’s talking about politics, but it’s actually not that, in my view,” Finchem said. “I think it’s more Donald Trump is a brand, a big brand, and when you’re asking a company to invest millions of dollars in branding a tournament and they’re going to share that brand with the host, it’s a difficult conversation.

In addition, golf-loving South Florida lost an LPGA Tour event when it was recently announced the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio won’t be held early next year.

The LPGA Tour event is moving to the Tampa area, where Annika Sorenstam will serve as the official host. The tournament will be called THE ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican.

South Florida was one of the few areas in the country that hosted a PGA Tour event (Honda Classic at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens), PGA Tour Champions event (TimberTech Championship at Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club) and an LPGA Tour event in the same year.

The TimberTech is usually held at Broken Sound in Boca Raton but was shifted across the city to Royal Palm this year because the Old Course is being renovated by Hall of Fame archi tect Rees Jones. It will be held Nov. 4-7 and serve as the second event in the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs.

22 OCTOBER 2022 The Tee Times

from page 10)

A manageable 6,300 yards from the back tees, Bald Mountain is renowned for its rare configuration of five par 5s and five par 3s. Movie buffs and children of the 80s will appreciate the 16th green, the backdrop of a scene from the famed 1987 rom-con Dirty Dancing starring Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze.

Rumbling Bald’s marquee course, Apple Valley stretches to nearly 6,800 yards and features expansive views of Bald Mountain and the surrounding Lake Lure area. The course was designed by North Carolina-based architect Dan Maples, whose father Ellis was a prolific golf course designer and accomplished superintendent who apprenticed under Donald Ross.

Maples estimated 75% of shots at Apple Valley are either level or downhill, virtually unheard for a mountain course. Glistening mountain lakes adorn 12 holes, but water only occa sionally comes into play. Apple Valley is as playable a track as you’ll find around these parts, yet it still packs plenty of punch from its respectably long back tees.

“You get the best of both worlds at Apple Valley – the scenery and views of a mountain course without the quirky holes,” Bowles says. “That keeps longtime golfers coming back and new golfers coming in for the first time.”

Bowles is particularly fond of Apple Valley’s finishing stretch, capped by the 564-yard par-5 18th. A true three-shotter, a pond runs along the right side of the fairway, starting about 300 yards out, and extends beyond the green. The second shot needs to be long enough to set up a short approach to a green guarded by bunkers on both sides.

The Lodging Lineup

The retreat’s 150 vacation rental homes, condos and studios feature golf course and mountain views. Post round, golfers can relax at Legends on the Lake, casual dining on the shores of Lake Lure, or grab-and-go with sandwich and cold drink at the Eagle’s Nest at the Apple Valley clubhouse.

Rumbling Bald is rich with amenities and activities, includ ing scenic Lake Lure boat tours, boat rentals, tennis, pickleball and hiking trails. It’s the perfect basecamp for exploring the natural wonders of western North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Getting There

Rumbling Bald is an hour east of Asheville and 1.5 hours north of the Greenville-Spartanburg metro area in Upstate South Carolina. There are numerous direct flights from Florida air ports to/from GSP and flying into Charlotte and making the 1.5-hour drive west is also an option.

Golfers can expect high temperatures in the 70s in October, the 60s in November and the 50s from mid-December through March. Spring comes early to this part of the state, as daytime highs climb back toward the 70s in late March and early April. Rumbling Bald’s Blue Ridge Mountain location means lower humidity and cooler nights than most the Southeastern U.S. in the summer.

26 OCTOBER 2022 The Tee Times (Continued
The Tee Times OCTOBER 2022 27 Serving the students and veterans of the Treasure Coast (772) 221-2381 Register online for programs at: FirstTeeTreasureCoast.org Crane Watch Club • The Saints at Port St. Lucie Golf Course The Champions Club • Trident Golf Club • Jensen Beach Golf Club Fairwinds Golf Course • Sailfish Sands Golf Course Greenspoon Marder LLP is a full service law firm with over 225 attorneys and more than 20 office locations across the United States With operations from Fort Lauderdale to New York and from Denver to Los Angeles, our firm attracts some of the nation’s top talent in key markets and innovation hubs Our goal is to provide exceptional client service by developing a thorough understanding of each client s business needs and objectives in order to provide strategic, cost effective solutions Locally Grown, National Reach 5 0 0 a n d B e y o n d A m e r i c a n L a w y e r 2 0 0 F u l l S e r v i c e F i r m M o r e t h a n 225 A t t o r n e y s S e r v i n g F o r t u n e (888) 491 1120 www.gmlaw.com Local Offices in Miami Fort Lauderdale and the Palm Beaches EMPORIUM THE Golf • We buy and sell used golf carts • We offer reconditioned cart batteries • Competitive pricing • Great customer service 561.448.4250 | 3gsgolf@gmail.com We buy out entire golf pro shops!

from page 6)

“We grew up playing Plantation Preserve like six or seven days a week,” said C.J., who lives in Plantation. “Our parents would pick us up after school and drop us off over there, and we would play until it got dark. “We would practice there through middle school and high school, and back then, Marisa had her hole-in-one during a casual 9-hole round,” he continued. “Here it is like 14 years later, and I am playing a casual round with some of my buddies I grew up playing golf with and I got mine.”

C.J, a 2011 St. Thomas Aquinas grad who played D2 golf at Anderson University, said it was a Friday afternoon, and he left work early. He is playing in some FSGA events and holds a 1.9 index. “We sprinted out to the first tee box,” CJ said, “and with no range balls, we just started playing. The first hole was average and on the second hole, I started at the flag and there is a little bunker in front, and I checked in there and didn’t see it. There was no ball on the green, so I knew it was in the hole. It was a gut feeling that the ball was in the cup…I know the golf course like a factory since I have been play ing it all my life.

“I remember she got a plaque with a scorecard and the ball, and I think it is at my parents’ house,” he continued. “I thought ‘holy crap; it was the same hole. ‘That was the biggest joke of all because I have been playing competitive golf since I was 13, and it took 14 years longer before it finally happened. She has three and throwing darts regularly, so I have to catch up.”

The clubhouse was closed by the time they finished the round, so CJ escaped picking up the traditional drink tab for the golfers.

“Me and my friends just had a couple of drinks and dinner at my house,” he quipped. “I just had to provide at my house which was better. I sent a group text to my parents and sister.”

Marisa Messana, 26, who lives in Fort Lauderdale played professionally for three years before starting her own business, which includes doing one-minute instruc tional videos for Sports illustrated and golf outings for corporations. She has two additional hole-in-ones – her second came at Jacaranda’s East Course on No. 8 with an 8-iron and the other at Pinehurst’s No. 2 Course in No. 9 with a 5-iron.

“For my first hole-in-one, I was playing with one of my brother’s older friends and remember the ball going into the hole,” she said. “This one was so funny because I was down in Miami the day my brother got his and he said it was on the exact same hole I got mine. It was so funny.”

After a stellar career at American Heritage School in Plantation where she was a three-time captain for the Stallions and helped the team to four state titles, she went on to become the first four-year starter at Clemson University. Messana gradu ated in 2014 from American Heritage and in 2017 from Clemson.

Marissa recently began doing a series called “Marisa’s Minute” where she shares a one-minute golf tip.

Here is a link to Marisa’s Minute episodes: https://www.si.com/golf/videos/marisa-minute.

You can also follow her on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/marisamessana/.

“As great as an achievement as this is, there are too many variables for us to be able to keep track of some thing like that,” said Connor J. Huck, a spokesman for the National Hole-In-One Registry. ”Although, I can say that the odds of this are well over 100 million to one!”

“I REMEMBER SHE GOT A PLAQUE WITH A SCORECARD AND THE BALL, AND I THINK IT IS AT MY PARENTS’ HOUSE,” HE CONTINUED. “I THOUGHT ‘HOLY CRAP; IT WAS THE SAME HOLE. ‘THAT WAS THE BIGGEST JOKE OF ALL BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN PLAYING COMPETITIVE GOLF SINCE I WAS 13, AND IT TOOK 14 YEARS LONGER BEFORE IT FINALLY HAPPENED. SHE HAS THREE AND THROWING DARTS REGULARLY, SO I HAVE TO CATCH UP.”
28 OCTOBER 2022 The Tee Times (Continued
Prepare for power outages today WITH A HOME STANDBY GENERATOR $0 MONEY DOWN + LOW MONTHLY PAYMENT OPTIONS Contact a Generac dealer for full terms and conditions *To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and activate the generator with a participating dealer. Call for a full list of terms and conditions. REQUEST A FREE QUOTE CALL NOW BEFORE THE NEXT POWER OUTAGE (866) 953-0128 FREE 7-Year Extended Warranty* – A $695 Value!

Broderick, because they encouraged me to get my A-1 PGA status. I got elected at the start of last year and for a 50-year-old this is a great step in my career.”

The victory earned Cantwell a spot in next year’s Puerto Rico Open on the PGA Tour. Tyler Collet (67-211), PGA Assistant Professional at John’s Island Club in Vero Beach, finished tied for ninth to clinch section Player of the Year honors, earning him a spot in next year’s Honda Classic.

Wellington resident Hicks, 47, birdied the 18th hole to force the playoff after a 70. Hicks, PGA Instructor at Don Law Academy, earned almost $3.8 million combined on the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour before he stopped playing profes sionally. His career highlight was sharing the 18-hole lead at the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines that Tiger Woods eventually won in a 19-hole playoff.

Finishing a shot out of the playoff were Justin Bertsch (69-208), PGA Head Professional Club Pelican Bay, and secondround leader Jeremy Wells (72-208), PGA Director of Instruction at Cypress Lake Golf Club. Bertsch won the championship in 2019.

The top 11 finish ers advanced to next year’s PGA Professional

Championship presented by Cadillac. In addition to Cantwell, Hicks, Bertsch and Wells, also qualifying were: fifth-place finishers Jon Balyeat (69-209) PGA at Quail Creek Country Club PGA Director of Golf; Justin McCarrahar (72-209) PGA at Heritage Ridge Golf & Country Club; seventhplace finishers Gene Fieger (70-210), Club Pelican Bay PGA Director of Golf, and Paul Scaletta (71-210), the Bear’s Club PGA Assistant Professional; and ninthplace finishers Christopher Finke (70-211), Dye Preserve Golf Club PGA Assistant Professional; Mike Berger (72-211) PGA at Hammock Creek Golf Club and Matt

Cahill (71-211), Seminole Golf Club PGA Head Professional.

Greenacres resident Alan Morin (70-211), The Club at Ibis PGA Assistant Professional, lost a four-way playoff for the final quali fying spot and is the first alternate. Morin has been named Player of the Year in the Section a record 11 times.

Collet and Ron Philo (72-219), PGA Professional Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club, already were qualified for the PGA Professional Championship.

Insert picture of Heather Angell

Heather Angell, the PGA Director of Instruction at

Heritage Palms Golf and Country Club, won the PGA Women’s Section Championship with a pair of 72s on the West Course. It was the first time the Women’s Section Championship was combined with the South Florida PGA Professional Championship. Angell shot 74 Thursday and finished 38th overall.

The South Florida PGA Professional Championship, run by the South Florida PGA, is Presented by Club Car, Cadillac and Rolex. Supporting partners are Titleist/FootJoy, Callaway Golf, Nike, TaylorMade, Stache Cups, Whistling Straits, PGA Tour and Winner’s Award Group.

30 OCTOBER 2022 The Tee Times
(Continued from page 12)
The Tee Times OCTOBER 2022 31

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.