August 2012 by New England Golf Monthly

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PLUS: #TeamNewEngland PGA Tour Tri-Fecta pages 10, 62 & 64 Cape & Islands Golf pages 46-51

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TIGER WOODS

PHIL MICKELSON

BUBBA WATSON

WEBB SIMPSON

RORY McILROY

LUKE DONALD

RICKIE FOWLER

LEE WESTWOOD

THE TOP 100. AT THE TOP OF THEIR GAME. SCORE PLAYOFF TICKETS FOR LABOR DAY WEEKEND AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 3. TICKETS ON SALE NOW! Go to dbchampionship.com, call 877.TIX.4DBC (877.849.4322), or visit any area Golf Town location.

Player appearance subject to qualification.

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Proud to be an official partner of The Deutsche Bank Championship In partnership with ALL of our 2012 charitable vendor partners, including our Founding and Platinum Partners:

S A L E S

M A R K E T I N G

In partnership with:

together

we can

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From the Editor What’s Your Golf Brand At this point in the golf season there is a great sense of optimism across the board in the golf industry. Rounds are up over past seasons, weather has been excellent, course conditions are fantastic and golf merchandize/equipment spending has also been great. TaylorMade-Adidas Golf announced a 25% increase in global sales in the first half of 2012, showing a record setting billion plus in sales which is the highest in the company’s 33year history. TaylorMade positioned themselves perfectly in a down market with 3 solids brands, TaylorMade, Adidas and Ashwoth and added another with the acquisition of Adams Golf. Every golf course, practice facility, resort, retailer and manufacture in the golf business is competing for a piece of the same economic pie. There is only one thing that sets each of them apart from the other, their brand. Establishing a message that creates your brand is not only vital, but also crucial to the overall survival of any business. Knowing what your customers want and creating a profitable way of delivering it to them is only part of surviving and thriving in today’s golf marketplace. Reaching out and conveying that message in a creative and effective way is even more important. In years past a golf course just hung a sign out and ran a print ad in the sports section of the local newspaper. Times have changed and today it takes more diverse strategies that reach across generational lines to reach new customers and grow your business. There is no secret why TaylorMade has been so successful in the golf business. On any given day you will find there products used by young and old, there brand is solid, but it wasn’t by accident or luck. Their marketing teams have reached out to the consumer at all levels, in print, online, digitally, through social mediums, contests and promotions. They have defined their message and their brand changing with the marketplace. How often have you played a great golf course and thought to yourself why aren’t more people here, this place is terrific. We all have secrets in life but our business should never be one of them.

CONTENTS

The Perfect Life by Katherine Dyson

Good Looks on the Course

8 15

by Elle Brec

by Paul Adams

Celebrity Golfer

Bermuda Fairways

by Leigh MacKay

by Jack Ross

Two Good Rounds

Sampson’s Spotlight

Ross' Rulings

by Elisa Gaudet

by Greg Sampson

Player’s Perspective

by Ed Travis

Kay’s Corner by Emily Kay

Palopoli’s Picks by Jeff Palopoli

Gorman vs. Geary

60 66 76

Timothy R. Branco, Editor / Publisher

New England Golf Monthly The New England Publishing Group, Inc.

P.O. Box 357 Swansea, MA 02777 800-736-9020

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by Katherine Dyson

The Perfect Life

Great Golf Things Bermuda for Golf & Fitness

In Bermuda, there’s not a bad view on the island and the beaches are indeed as pink as they say. Narrow roads wind between old limestone rock walls clad in clouds of red, pink and orange bougainvillea and pastel houses with gables, white roofs and balustrades nestle into the hillsides. Located 650 miles oﬀ the coast of South Carolina, Bermuda is one of the most squeaky-clean, least congested places on earth. Here cars are limited to one per family and with the speed limit set at 25 mph tops don’t plan on going anywhere in a hurry. Bermuda is no slacker when it comes to golf. It has more golf courses for its size than any other country. And for fitness addicts, you will never lack for things to do. One popular activity is hiking the 21 mile-long

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Railway Trail which hugs the northern coast from St. George’s Island to Somerset...almost from one end of the island to the other! You pass through tunnels of canary palms, brilliant poincianas, fan palms and Bermuda cypress as you follow the deserted railbed. You’ll also go over bridges and past historic sites such as Scaur Hill Fort & Park where a perch on the fortifications gives you an eagle’s eye view of Great Sound. One of the most scenic sections on the trail, which reveals nonstop water views, runs from Flatts Inlet to Palmetto Road. After your hike, cool oﬀ in Church Bay which is a super place to snorkel. Book into e Reefs, a coral-colored cottage resort featuring a super beach, infinity pool, Serena Spa, restaurants and cliﬀ-top bungalows. eReefs.com

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an American flag, paw print, raging bull, butterfly there are about 100 designs. You simply place the golf ball under the cup and color in with permanent Sharpies in the colors of your choice. If you want your own logo, initials or whatever they can customize too. Perfect for golfer gifts, that special golf outing and company promos. Just proves good things come in small packages! Available in pro shops and on line. $19.95 for in-stock designs. Tin-Cup.com

Smart Speak from GolfBuddy Voice

GolfBuddy tells you how far it is to the front, middle and back of the green from your fairway position; basic info 90% of golfers need. Courses are preloaded and include many small clubs - we checked and even courses most have never heard of (like Skaneateles CC in New York) were in the GB! GolfBuddy is about the size of the latest iPod or square watch face and it actually talks to you when you ask for distance to the pin. What a startling concept as long as it doesn’t remind you to walk the dog. Clip it on your hat, visor or belt and when you want your distance, simply press a button. e yardage will show up in big letters and when voice-activated, will tell you verbally. You can toggle between yards and meters and the unit comes with an 8-hour rechargeable lithium battery. Also there is a built-in clock and it’s preloaded with seven languages. It costs $179 and there is no annual fee. GPSGolfBuddy.com

Sneaky Ways to Play More in “The Married Man’s Guide to Golf”

Make Your Mark with Tin Cup

You won’t have trouble identifying your ball when you mark it with the Tin Cup system. You’ve got to wonder why no one came up with the idea sooner when you see how it works. Basically, it looks like a bowler hat made out of stainless steel that fits perfectly over half the golf ball. Cut into the metal is a small stencil - might be a martini glass, a stinger bee,

Kevin Keenan, president of KCG Keenan Communications Group, has utilized his fondness of golf, personal passions and business expertise to write a book designed to help men hold onto their marital bliss through playing more golf. It’s a fun read that includes a new Set of Rules such as “Keep your golf expenditures as secret as possible. Your job is to not to let her know how much you spend on golf.” He suggests instead to use “factual deception” and he gives examples. On her birthday, he writes, “No golf. Her birthday is for sushi and sex.” Keenan also inserts some clever ways to get out on the course more such as, “Ask for a gift that you have to use to play golf.” If all else fails, he suggests, “Encourage her to play the game.” And, oh yes...Keenan also suggests a golf “pre-Nup.” Published by All Square Media, the book will be available as an eBook through major outlets and priced less than $5. Contact Kevin Keenan: Kevin@KeenanCommunicationsGroup.com

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Keegan Bradley Wins Bridgestone Invitational by NEGM Staﬀ

The Cardiac Kid Does it Again 15 Months ago Keegan Bradley arrived on e PGA Tour with his first win in a playoﬀ against Ryan Palmer at the Byron Nelson. A nervous kid in the interview 9 days before his 25th birthday he wasn’t sure what just happened as he talked about aunt Pats Bradley’s Cowbell that her Mom use to ring in Vermont when she won on the LPGA Tour. e U.S. Challenge Cup Alumni is setting a new standard and inspiring youth all over New England. A little over 2 months later at the Atlanta Athletic Club Keegan pulled oﬀ another amazing shocker with clutch finish after a triple bogie to come from behind to beat Jason Dufner to win the PGA Championship. Again in Bermuda at the PGA Grand Slam it was a walk in the park for the Cardiac Kid as he walked away with the Grand Slam against the best in the world once again, a come from behind win. Every win with every New England golf fan glued to the TV in the final moments, the kid never lets us down, he is clutch! It’s no surprise that this week at Firestone again from behind Keegan overtook Jim Furyk on the 18th to win the Bridgestone Invitational with a clutch putt to finish with at 66 in the final round and capture his 4th crown in 15 months. ree PGA Titles and a

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Grand Slam would be the best any New Englander has posted on the tour in 50 years since Julius Boros won the Open in Brookline in 1963. Boros also won the PGA Championship in 1968 in Texas above all odds in a come from behind win. In his first win in 2011 Bradley lauded the new Srixon Z Star ball and again at the Firestone this week he gave condos to the brands new ball. Keegan virtually locked up a Rider Cup spot heading into his defense of the PGA Championship this week at Kiawah Island. e kid that loves the Red Sox, e Patriots, e Bruins and the Celtics is pure bread New England and he has taken the word clutch to a new level on the PGA Tour. As Jim Nantz said, “is kid could win anywhere, anytime in anyplace, he’s just got game and nerves of steel and ice.!” I for one have to say it is so much fun to watch Keegan play but I need to consult my cardiologist for the PGA Championship, my heart may not take it. Keegan could you give us all a break and win one going away with like a 10 stroke lead, please! For those of you that are on Twitter: @Keegan_Bradley! For all of you on Facebook: facebook.com/keegan.bradley.712

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Golf Course Homes on Cape Cod Bay | Plymouth, MA

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Peter Defusco NMLS# 756152

508-341-6141

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EVEN SLIPPERS WISH THEY WERE THIS

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Good Looks on the Course

Tech Styles & Textiles

Antigua e human spirit is about continuous improvement, to always get better, smarter, more advanced, and ultimately more eﬃcient. Building upon previous discovered solutions rather than discarding them, adding to the repertoire of man made technologies to make the best quality of life possible. If you are not growing, you are dying. Growing meaning learning, adapting, changing, and experiencing new moments. e weather is becoming more unpredictable, making it harder to dress each day. We have heard it millions of times; it is record breaking hot this year. Fashion gurus rely on designers to continue to advance, change, and

by Elle Brec

solve problems like these. When most New Englanders think of California, hot, sunny beaches come to mind however, the weather this year in San Francisco and Pebble Beach has been extremely cool and cloudy, while weather in New England has been extremely hot and humid. Antigua tested their shirts in these areas and conquered this fashion challenge with an even more advanced mentality for creating versatile garments. ere are so many days where the weather calls for extremely lightweight knit long-sleeve Desert Dry Xtra Light technological soft microfiber pieces. ey discovered lightweight long-sleeve shirts are what people are looking for, with demand increasing from about 5% to 20%. On hot days, the fabric blocks

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the sun to keep your skin cooler, is breathable to allow for a cool breeze, and wicks the sweat oﬀ you for ultimate comfort. If it's cool, it keeps you a warmer with the layer of fabric between the elements and your skin. What you can expect from Antigua this season is different fabric weights and blends using mostly what could be described as a soft running style material in place of traditional polo or cotton materials because it simply performs the best. New this season is Performance 72, the number symbolizing the standard par for the course, where

each piece of a color story has a matching hangtag. What sets it apart is it makes it easy to keep the collection together in pro shops and retailers so golfers can envision what the outfit looks like and figure out how many pieces they want to buy. Not separate performance items but an entire collection for men’s and women’s short sleeve, long sleeve, bottoms, outer pieces, accessories such hats newly designed hat to match, together with trimmed packaging. e whole collection has been extremely well received. Check all the apparel out at www.antigua.com.

IntelliSkin

Shoulders back, head up! Hopefully we’ve all had someone watch our back to let us know good posture improves respiration and oxygen flow to the brain and muscles. If not, IntelliSkin has got your back as their products help reduce back, neck and shoulder pain, support proper spinal alignment, minimize the risk of injury associated with poor posture and stimulate and tone muscles. e product line was developed through Dr. Tim Brown’s extensive sports medicine work with volleyball players, surfers and other elite athletes but is tailored for everyday individuals looking to improve their overall well being. Featuring a unique technical design that impacts key areas of the spine and shoulders, IntelliSkin conforms to the individual’s back as a second skin and gradually reshapes these areas for improved posture. Specific compression enhanced biomechanics help reduce fatigue to improve the way you look, feel, perform and live. e IntelliSkin PostureCue™ V-Tee ($95) is designed with the Executive in mind, whether in front of a computer at the oﬃce, on a plane, sitting on the freeway in traﬃc or at the gym. Featuring a light ma-

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terial creates a moderate pull on the shoulders that results in a more comfortable wear for longer periods of time. Sports mesh provides improved breathability, along with spine and scapular alignment. Its solid white design and v-neck collar allows the shirt to remain out of sight while wearing under a dress or collared shirt. e brand is worn by some of the biggest names in sports and fitness: PGA champion Mike Weir, newly crowned 11-time ASP world champion surfer Kelly Slater and Florida Marlins infielder Greg Dobbs. In addition, musicians such as former Guns n’ Roses guitarist Duﬀ McKagan and Glenn Frey from the Eagles need help with posture improvement from years of guitar back. Other product ambassadors include a range of fitness trainers from around the country, such as Andrea Orbeck, trainer to Heidi Klum and Usher among others. Win free brand gear from now through October 4th by liking IntelliSkin on Facebook. en submit your IntelliSkin experience, using the @IntelliSkin tag and the three best IntelliSkin stories will be selected. Or purchase gear at www.intelliskin.net.

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Pukka

Defining the future of headwear, Pukka enables everyone to make a unique style statement by becoming your own personal designer using the Pukka complete customization platform. e hardest part is going to be choosing one of the great styles and colors matching your personality and taste from the large selection. Pick from original contrasts, fit, type of stitching, shapes, colors, fabrics, patterns, appliqués, brim details, design graphics and location of logos. Perfect for golf tournaments, country clubs, the entourages of PGA players, college teams or even make it as personal as a wedding. e no hassle program features 30-day turn-around times, unparalleled embroidery quality and graphic capabilities, no shipping costs and no set-up charges or digitizing fees. Pukka means "original, first class quality." at’s not only their motto; it’s the core of the company culture and embodies every cap they produce. If you've ever worn a Pukka cap, you know the feeling of headwear perfection. With a passion for originality, design and fit, they have set the standard on customization for over a decade. e Air Mesh fabric is extremely comfortable...it feels like a light padding with wicking and quick dry capabilities. Pukka's Classic Collection uses unique patchwork and label combinations to give a traditional category of headwear a truly timeless touch. Other lines include Pukka's Executive Collection, a simple yet eye-catching headwear presentation combining clean lines, rich embellishments, with black,

white and gray tones. Other team sports are available such as baseball and football as well as winter hats. For women, it is hard to know which type of hat will look great with the shape of your head and face. ankfully, Pukka's Ladies Collection takes the guesswork out of looking stylish by combining unique embellishments, fabrics, color combinations and prints to give your headwear an original sense of style. Pukka has a group of LPGA professionals who have designed personalized hats with the help of leading product developers and designers to deliver original, high quality headwear solutions. Including Nicole Smith who choose her colors, designed her own cap, and logo! Logos are so meaningful they can be hard to create but with the help of the Pukka designers she was able to design one that represents her style and create a symbol that people can recognize her by. She gave them out to friends and family who loved them. “Simple, bold and incredible” is how she described the experience. Probably one of the hardest designs is creating a visor for a lady with a smaller head because the visors are prone to puckering, being too large and making ears look strange. Nicole Hage who is beautiful but has a smaller head has created her own custom visor with her sponsors logos using Pukka’s platform and it looks fantastic on her. Other LPGA professionals who have their own caps include Kathleen Ekey, Mallory Blackwelder, Brittany Johnston, Victoria Elizabeth, Annie Brophy & Briana Vega. Visit www.pukkainc.com.

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NexBelt

So you’ve decided to start walking 18 holes and carrying your bag to adopt a healthier lifestyle, only to have to worry about punching 18 holes in your belt for each pound lost. is incredible technology advancement from NexBelt (without holes) is ingeniously engineered to solve all the previous issues with belts. e clever ratcheting system makes it quick and easy to put on, take oﬀ and adjust. ey come in two sizes - one for a 28 to 40 inch waist and the other with a 38 to 50 inch waist with the ability to adjust more precisely in one quarter inch increments compared to the pin and buckle system which only allows one inch adjustments. is means that you will always find the perfect fit for ultimate comfort because our weight fluctuates daily between meals. Nexbelt encourages weight loss with a waist-measuring tool and solves the problem of constantly buying new belts. e Golf line oﬀers the same PreciseFit technology and stylish design but takes it one step further by having the buckle face flip down to reveal a hidden ball marker. Buckles come in three basic shapes: one that looks like the classic buckle/pin, a rectangle and an X. e rectangle ones can be customized to match color

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of the belt, a pattern or a customized logo. Customized NexBelts are excellent for country clubs, PGA entourages, business gifts, sports teams, your logo or work or school uniforms. You will find the golf belts so comfortable and stylish that you will wear it even when you're not golfing. With a variety of styles, versatile NexBelts can complete each outfit, from khakis on the course, denims for out on the town and even boardroom attire. Save time getting through security for airplane travels: the buckle has a quick release that allows you to remove it and put in the plastic bin while the rest of the belt can stay in the loops. A variety of versatile buckles and belts can be mixed and matched to make diﬀerent looks and outfits. NexBelts are packaged in clear boxes for clean display at golf pro shops and other retailers. An advance for retailers: they eliminate the need to carry belts in numerous sizes and styles which frees up more space and reduces inventory headaches.

Watch the video at www.NexBelt.com.

Bionic e StableGrip, formerly the Classic, is Bionic's most popular glove, featuring its patented pad technology to promote a lighter, more relaxed grip. Strategically placed pads even out the hand's natural peaks and valleys, creating more surface contact and ideal grip pressure for increased power, control and durability. A recent independent test showed Bionic gloves were two times more durable than a standard leather golf glove and retain gripping power for a far longer period of time. Visit BionicGloves.com.

Wolff Golf Gloves Wolff, born out of the love for the game, has continued for the love of good business and long customer relationships. A 22 year old Wolff family business, they are defined by custom cresting, packaging, superior custom service, and a willingness to work with their customers' needs. With a few different styles everyone can find what they are looking for, Wollf Premium gloves are top of the line made with snow-white Calbretta leather. e original DuraGrip glove is a machine washable synthetic glove for hot, humid playing conditions when your favorite leather pair will be ruined with sweat. Others include TrueGrip Custom stretch leather material gives a better fit and extends the life of the glove. Wollf also offers a complete line of personalization services to represent any organization. www.wolffgolfgloves.com.

Hirzl Swiss company Hirzl is focused exclusively on designing and producing performance gloves for golf and cycling. eir philosophy is based upon the firm belief that gloves are an essential part of sports as the link between the hands and the athlete’s equipment. 3 times more grip in dry conditions, and up to 5 times more grip in wet conditions. Features such as the breathable membrane on the back of the hand, the extremely light gel padding system. Hirzl developed the most advanced technology to create gloves that make the human hand perform even more eﬃciently. ey are designed specifically to enhance, protect and provide outstanding performance for golf. "HIRZL gloves, in my opinion, oﬀer the best glove technology on the market today and I am looking forward to working with HIRZL to further develop their innovative golf glove product line." said Dave Pelz, World Renowed Short Game Instructor. To purchase gloves or check out more details visit www.hirzl-web.com. August 2012 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 19

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Bermuda Fairways

by Paul Adams

The Redan

Modern architects often repeat themselves, yet Charles Blair MacDonald, Seth Raynor and Charles Banks repeated themselves continually. Raynor and Banks’ mentor, Charles Blair Macdonald, purposely replicated famous holes from cherished British layouts. ey did not build pure replicas, such as we find today at novelty courses, instead they were seizing on a concept and adapting it to the varying conditions and topographies of their sites.

Redan

While the word itself was coined to describe the 15th at North Berwick, UK Redan has come to mean a specific manner of green complex. Macdonald described it best: “Take a narrow tableland, tilt it a little from right to left, dig a deep bunker on the front side,

approach it diagonally and you have a Redan.” Raynor and Macdonald generally outfitted their Redans with an exaggerated “kick-back” slope in the approach and front section of the green. Part of the fun of a Redan is watching the ball kick onto the green and roll. You can try to fly a ball onto

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a Redan green, but they are usually quite shallow, framed by penal bunkers front and back. And because they can have a front-to-rear slope of up to five feet, best of luck playing dart-board golf on a Redan. e 17th at Mid Ocean is a wonderful example of the Redan. It’s important to remember a couple of things about this MacDonald standard: Classic Redans play right to left—but they can also be oriented left to right. In those cases Tucker’s Points 11th is an example of a reverse Redan adaptations. Second, vintage Redans were in the range of 190

yards (a strong par 3 in the early days of golf) and work best as long holes where the greens receive lengthy approaches. e lower trajectory of such shots means the ball rolls more readily when it hits the ground and therefore responds to the Redan’s kick-back grading that is a key element to these golf holes. In Bermuda we are very lucky to actually have two wonderful examples of this type of course in Mid Ocean and Tucker’s Point. (Castle Harbour as it was in those days, is Charles Banks last course he built in 1932!)

Repetition, in the right hands, can be a beautiful thing!

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Couple of Travelers by Alice and Danny Scott

Brunswick Islands

“More beach for your blanket” is the boast of Brunswick Islands in North Carolina, minutes from the Wilmington and Myrtle Beach airports. Enjoy laid-back quality time with family and friends without the distractions that major attractions can bring. ere’s more golf for your game as well with over 30 courses. Cape Fear National at Brunswick Forest has a superior layout, a bit reminiscent of TPC Sawgrass. Number 13 has a bunker running through the whole fairway. Far right drives may cross the unseen railroad tracks and hop a boxcar to Fayetteville. Left leaning drives hit the water for gator food. It turns out the waste bunker is a benign strategy since you can ground your club and chances are the lie will be as good as in the target fairway. is natural habitat for any living creature with tall pines, ponds with white

lilies and blue water iris begs for Monet to arise with his paintbrush. When you hear designer Tim Cate, think first rate. Designer Dan Maples’ 27 holes at Sandpiper Bay and Golf Club are graced with more mature, full towering pines. A Floridian style with nice routing of holes through the community, this is great gator land with lots of babies along the waterways and big daddy lounging right by the ladies’ tee box on number nine of the Bay course. e Magnolia and Dogwood Courses at Brunswick Plantation and Golf Resort are as pretty as their names. Azaleas and other floral lead to the waterside wedding arbor for photo ops. e layout is challenging with interesting use of water features including oyster shell shorelines on a couple ponds. Go during an “r month” to taste these live native treats.

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Enjoy libations after the round at the clubhouse bar or walk home to the Brunswick Plantation Villas, spacious and homey with a serene balcony. e Ocean Isle Inn is another great home base option for families or golf groups on a perfect beach setting. Simply supplied, this is about location, location, location – very relaxing. Also relaxing is a day at sea with the Hurricane Charter Fleet. Everyone should experience “the three hour tour” at least once in life for a very diﬀerent perspective. Sharkey and crew will take you out of sight of shore or other boats, where dolphins dance above and fish wait below. “Lower your reels” is the call of a shotgun start of derby fishing. e strikes come fast. Sea bass, lady fish, ring tail and a shark were hoisted aboard. Are you squeamish about baiting squid on the hook? Not to worry as the crew does it all for you, bait and release. Caution though if you catch too many, the arms might be sore later. In season, the catch can be cleaned and cooked or head to a local restaurant instead for their catch of the day. Seafood dining is the region’s obvious specialty. At Sharkey’s on Ocean Isle Beach, the conch

By morning the arms are ready for more golf and so is Farmstead Golf Links with a tough but fun run crossing North and South Carolina borders. Head Pro Jason assures that customers are top priority. Five sets of tees allow golfers of all abilities to enjoy this great layout. Finish with another Tim Cate design at Tiger’s Eye. e moment you enter the Ocean Ridge Plantation expectations accelerate. No kittens here; this is where the Big Cats play at Lion’s Paw, Panther’s Run, Jaguar’s Lair and Tiger’s Eye whose southern plantation veranda overlooks the stunning panorama of the closing nines. Wild and untamed, this family of fe-

appetizers are the big hit. Owner Ray has been in the area for generations, serving real estate needs as many tourists relocate here. When asked how the north and south population mingle, he said, “ere are Yankees and then there are Damn Yankees.” Touché for all sorts of people. At Captain John’s Seafood in Calabash the snow crabs platter is more than one can handle. At Twin Lakes Seafood in Sunset Beach, the whole flounder was blackened just right as recommended by tourism chairman Kemp and his wife Brenda whose dining company delivered old time Southern Charm, wisdom and humor.

lines provides its own unique style as represented in the clubhouse’s authentic display of cats in hats. Early day pirates missed the boat in the Brunswick Islands as the real treasure lies in the many miles of sandy beaches and beautiful forests. Spread your blanket in a great spot for vacation or retirement. See www.NCBrunswick.com.

Golf Travel | August 2012 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 23

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Northern Exposure

by Dave Irons

Jay Peak, Vermont Once just skiing...now a full family vacation with championship golf

Years before ski areas started opening up glades, Jay Peak skiers were skiing wherever they could find snow, on trail or off. Skiers new to Jay would look at the gnarly brush and ledge on the face below the tram as they approached 4000 feet elevation and stare in disbelief at the skiers picking their way down their favorite route. It was all part of Jay Peak, and when it was time to build a golf course, it was only fitting that the track would be through the wild terrain that surrounds this northern Vermont treasure. It was also fitting that the designer would be well known Canadian Graham Cooke. After all, being little more than an hour from Montreal, Jay's clientele was heavily from Quebec. e track Cooke laid out offers golfers the same level of challenge skiers find on the mountain. Looking down from the tram the course doesn't reveal its true nature. e fairways cut through the surrounding forest, appearing as strips of green fairways, but the elevation changes can't be seen from above. And it's those changes, especially the uphill holes that make Jay's layout play longer than the yardage listed on the scorecard. From the gold tees Jay is more than enough challenge, at 6908 yards and ratings of 73.1 and 138. Playing from back there calls for long and straight off the tee and moving up to the blues only shortens the track by 500 yards and the ratings to 71.6/133. Mere mortals find plenty off the whites, at 5720, 68.1/121. e red tees at 5094 are rated 64.5/114 and offer a good test. Playing Jay once is fun, but several days in a row would be more likely to produce good scores. e good news is that the new Jay Peak Resort has the new hotels and amenities to make it a great place to spend a week. To make extended vacations attractive summer and winter, Jay has invested heavily in the years since the golf course opened. Along with the new club house there are two new hotels, the Tram Haus Lodge and the Hotel Jay. e Tram Haus Lodge includes the resort's Taiga Spa. Previous visitors to the resort will remember the old Hotel Jay for its friendly service and fine dining. ose things remain but the new hotel and conference center is a modern hotel with

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all the amenities, and attached to it slope side is the Pump House indoor water park. is makes Jay the perfect place for a full family vacation. Sitting at the railing above the water park in the adjacent bar, (e Drink) guests can be entertained watching kids and adventurous adults attempt to ride a mini surf board on the Flow Rider. Others climb to near the retractable ceiling to ride tubes and chutes to land in a pool at the beginning of the Big River that flows around the perimeter of the entire park. e Mill Pond for kiddies has smaller slides for their play. In all there are 50,000 square feet of adventure in the Pump House, more than enough to keep big kids and little kids busy all day. If hanging out in a swim suit isn't your thing try frozen water when you lace up your skates in the NHL size rink. Jay hosts an extensive junior hockey program but time is set aside every day but Monday for public skating. If game improvement is your goal, Jay's Head Pro

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David Jankowski has a full program with the latest V1 Swing Analysis Technology to fine tune that swing. e system can be used for all aspects of the game from tee shots to putting. Naturally, food is an important part of any vacation and this resort has a wide variety of options. Golfers can enjoy something after the round, with a Tram Ale (Made by Long Trail) on the deck outside the Club House or inside by the bar with big screen TV. e Grille is also a popular spot for evening dining. Both hotels have restaurants, the Foundry and Mountain Dick's Pizza in the Hotel Jay and Alice's Table and the Tower bar in the Tram Haus Lodge. Other options are Buddy's Mug, the Aroma Coﬀee Shop and rink side, the Ice Haus Café. Menu's vary with full dining at some and light fare at others but all share good food, generous portions and friendly service. While most of experience at Jay has been in ski season, I did play the golf course the year after it opened and another five years of growing in and maturing has brought it into top condition. is was my first return since the construction of the new hotels, clubhouse, parking garage and attractions. Work continues on a number of projects. By the beginning of ski season a new 120 seat restaurant will be open at the top of the Tram and a new grocery store will occupy the first floor of the building adjacent to the base lodge that used to

house the administrative oﬃces. My skiing at Jay Peak dates back to the eighties and the mountain has always oﬀered plenty of challenge and the people who served at every level always made us want to return. Now with the new facilities, Jay Peak is among the finest resorts in the Northeast, summer or winter. www.JayPeakResort.com

GOLF+SPLASH+STAY

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jaypeakresort.com/summer 800.451.4449

August 2012 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 25

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Northern Exposure

by Dave Irons

The best deal in New England

The Maine Trifecta

Spring Meadows | Gray, ME On a recent golf outing, NEGM editor Tim Branco met another foursome on the course and they were raving about a golf vacation they called the best deal in New England. ey were especially taken by the food. e deal? e Maine Trifecta. ree golf courses teamed up for this one, Poland Spring with its hotel, inns and guest houses, Spring Meadows in Gray and Fox Ridge in Auburn. e package includes two nights lodging at Poland Spring, four all you can eat buﬀet meals, 18 holes with cart at Poland Springs, Fox Ridge and Spring Meadows and a bucket of range balls at each course. e price? $299 per person. e buﬀet meals not only have variety and quantity, they are also super convenient. You don’t have to wait for service when you have an early tee time and you won’t be hungry before lunchtime. After dinner, Rick’s Pub is only a few convenient steps across the lobby so you can sit back and enjoy some sports on the giant screen TV. NEGM readers of the April issue will remember that Poland Spring was the first resort golf course in the country, dating back to 1897, and expanded to 18 and redesigned by Donald Ross. Over the years it has played host to presidents and celebrities and for a long period was the layout of choice for many of Maine’s tournaments. In recent years the course has been restored to the original Ross drawings so be on the lookout for some tiny greens, a deceptive false

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front here and there and holes where yardage is tough to estimate. At 6178 yards it doesn’t appear long and the slope of 124 isn’t punishing but don’t be deceived. Poland Spring oﬀers plenty of diﬃcult challenges as the layout drops away from the clubhouse before returning uphill. Some fairways are generous but some demand a straight drive with thick woods on either side. After a round, relax on the veranda outside Mel’s Hilltop Restaurant and take in views of Mount Washington in the distance, all while watching action on the first tee and the 18th green. Overall, Poland Spring is a historic golf course with modern care and stellar lodging & dining which make it a perfect place to anchor a golf trip. While Poland Spring provides the history, Spring Meadows and Fox Ridge are among Maine’s best new courses. Spring Meadows in Gray is just a few miles from the Maine Turnpike exit used to reach the Trifecta HQ. Designed by Brad Booth, Maine’s own golf architect, this course was built over a family farm that included woods, hills and wetlands. e barn was been redesigned to house the pro shop, lounge and a banquet center. e wetlands and ponds add to the challenge on a number of holes and the hills provide interesting play on several more. e back nine is around the wetlands and is mostly flat. Risk reward is demonstrated by15, where a long drive will put a player in position to try to carry two hazards.

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Poland Springs | Poland, ME e third leg of the Trifecta, Fox Ridge is not far from the Auburn exit of the Maine Turnpike, an easy drive from Poland Spring. Once again this is another course laid out over a Maine farm, especially interesting for its routing through open fields of fescue. e front nine makes fairly a compact loop with the first few holes through farmland and then others with woods lining the fairways. e back nine is a trip out and back to the far reaches of the property and the elevations provide some great vistas, especially during foliage season. e 14th green and 15th tee mark the end of the old farm and the last four holes are headed home. After negotiating over or around the water on 18, hit the modern clubhouse and pub. at’s the Maine Trifecta: one old, two new. ree courses that further south would demand much higher green fees. ese meticulously maintained links have teamed up to form “New England’s best deal.”

Fox Ridge | Auburn, ME

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Thin to Win - Play Better, Live Better by Tim Branco

e game of golf, like life, is about the journey not the destination. We are all eventually going to complete a round and post a score first on paper and eventually in stone. In life it is one step at a time and in golf one shot at a time; each is a new opportunity to improve and get it right. It isn’t the last shot or the one ahead that that means the most, it’s the one that is now. Now is the only opportunity that we ever will have to change. Golf is a game that was designed for people to enjoy the outdoors, take in the beauty of the moment and feel the course beneath you feet. There is a reason why all competitive golfers walk while playing...it’s called feel. Lets face it, you can’t learn much about the amount of moisture in the grass, the slope of the course, the firmness of the fairways or much of anything else from the front seat of a golf cart. Some say walking actually speeds up the game because players have a better opportunity to visualize their next shot as they walk to their ball. This enables them to be better prepared and have a more efficient pace of play. While we all grow fatter from

shortcuts in eating, our health and our golf games suffer immensely. If you want to play better, live better, feel better and start walking the course like the pros, then its time to make a change, one step at a time. No, it’s not some “fad diet” you are looking for or running 12 miles a day like Tiger Woods...the new 50 isn’t 30 and you will hurt yourself. You need to put the right fuel in your body that will make it run better. Eating clean means eating well and often and also choosing the right foods that burn fat and provide energy. These are not magic foods; you can find them every day in every grocery store in America. At Thin Golfer you will learn to get your life and your game on track one step at a time and understand in life and in golf there will always be pars and bogies. In just 5 days you will understand the difference between eating stupid and eating smart and you will feel the difference. You will play better, feel better and have more energy from morning to night every day of your life. Do it like the pros and get a lesson in golf and LIFE (just like I did) from one of the best, Golf's Top Food and Weight Loss Coach Larry Jacobs. Go to ThinGolfer.com today!!

“I Can Show Any Golfer how to: Go From a Fat STORER to a Fat BURNER in 2 Weeks or Less, without Dieting, Counting Calories, or Starving…Guaranteed” Top Golfers Food and Weight Loss Coach Larry Jacobs Consistently Outperforms the Weight Loss “Experts” and Finally Reveals his Simple Proven Fat Loss

“Don’t get fooled by diet food crazes...eat to win in life and in golf! Call Larry today to learn the simple truth about eating well and playing well.” Tim Branco Editor / Publisher New England Golf Monthly

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Celebrity Golfer: Rico Petrocelli

by Leigh MacKay

“REE - CO! REE - CO! REE - CO!” e Green Monster reverberated with this chant from the Fenway faithful from 1965-1977. It implored #6, Rico Petrocelli, one of the most popular players ever to don a pair of red socks, to deliver for them. And deliver he did. A member of the Red Sox Hall of Fame, two-time All-Star, flawless fielder at short and third, potent batter and valued team leader, Rico helped propel the Red Sox from the nadir of the American League in ’65/’66 to the “Impossible Dream” of 1967, to seven more winning seasons. en to 1975 and one of the most exciting World Series ever. Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe put that 1967 season into perspective in 2006 when he wrote of the Red Sox’s 21st century successes, “Everything the Red Sox are today, all the sellouts, stems from 1967. at team can never be honored enough. 1967 is the great dividing line in Red Sox history.” Rico has written a superb chronicle that replays the historic magnitude of that season called “Tales from the Impossible Dream Red Sox.” He brings to life the diamond exploits of the “Cardiac Kids,” who won so many games in so many late innings and the “Cinderella Sox” who made the “Fall Ball” on the final day of the regular season. Rico also relates the problems of the “country club” Sox in the early 60’s and traces the team’s fortunes up to his retirement in 1977, but mainly he brings to life all the players who made Fenway Park a special place in that special year. His final line poignantly reminds us all: “It wasn’t just a dream.” Rico, who currently lives in Nashua, NH and runs the Petrocelli Marketing Group, has become an avid golfer and belongs to Sky Meadow in Nashua. NEGM: What was your reaction to the 100 year “Homecoming” at Fenway in April? RP: In one word - terrific! A real thrill. I talked to my old teammates and those from other eras. ere were 212 of us. I was really glad to have been a part of it. NEGM: With which teammates do you remain in touch? RP: Bill Lee, Jim Lonborg, Jim Rice, Bob Stanley,

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George omas, and Luis Tiant. NEGM: What will you always remember about that magical 1967 season? RP: (1) Yaz’s unbelievable Triple Crown year [.326, 44 HR, 121 RBI], (2) our 10-game win streak after the All-Star break that made us contenders and made us believe in ourselves and (3) when the Angels beat the Tigers to secure us the pennant. Absolute mayhem in the locker room...Tom Yawkey, a great man and owner, celebrated with us. He was so happy. Deservedly so. NEGM: The equally impressive 1975 season? RP: (1) The awesome rookie performances of Jim Rice and Fred Lynn, our excellent pitching staff, our clutch hitting, (2) sweeping Oakland in three for the pennant and (3) an incredible seven-game World Series. NEGM: What are some other great memories from your career? RP: (1) My first ML hit in my first game...a double oﬀ the wall, (2) my two homers in the 6th game of the ’67 World Series, (3) hitting 40 homers and batting .297 in ’69 and knocking in 103 RBI’s in ’70. and (4) playing in two All-Star games. NEGM: Who were the toughest pitchers and the best players you faced? RP: Pitchers: Sandy Koufax and Juan Marichal and that was in spring training! Jim Palmer, Nolan Ryan, and Luis Tiant with Cleveland. Best players: Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Harmon Killebrew, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Brooks and Frank Robinson. NEGM: Why did you write your book with Chaz Scoggins in 2007, “Tales from the Impossible Dream Red Sox”? RP: It was the 40th anniversary of the Impossible Dream and the Sox were now World Series champs when Chaz asked me if I wanted to record what had really happened for posterity and for Red Sox fans. I thought it was a good idea and I’m glad we did it. NEGM: Critique your golf game? RP: I am very serious about my game and am always working on my swing and short game. I haven’t taken any formal lessons but with my handicap at 15, I know that to take my game to the next level, I’ll

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have to. I’m a pretty consistent driver and can hit it oﬀ the tee around 250 yards. NEGM: What are your favorite courses in New England and elsewhere? RP: Ballymeade, International, Marlboro (where I had my first ace), New Seabury, Sky Meadow, Stowe, TPC at Sawgrass and Willowbend. NEGM: Who would be in your Dream Foursome today? Of any time period? RP: I’d need fivesomes: Jack, Tiger, Tom and Bubba Watson...Hogan, Jones, Sarazen, Snead. NEGM: Do you play in any celebrity events? RP: About 12 a year. A lot of Jimmy Fund tournaments...Children’s Hospital hospice events. I get to see teammates and other Red Sox players which is fun for me. NEGM: What is the “Links Fellowship”? RP: It’s a very popular nationwide Christian Fellowship group. I started the local chapter four years ago at Green Meadow GC in Hudson, NH. We meet for lunch, have a scripture reading, end with a prayer, and then play golf. I enjoy the spirituality and fellowship very much. NEGM: What goes on in your Petrocelli Marketing Group? RP: We are a full-service marketing team. We cover

any and every thing that needs promotion: advertising, branding, brochures, catalogs, consulting...much of my business comes from golf tournaments. NEGM: Do you have any final words for today’s Red Sox fans? RP: Yes, to be patient with this team. e organization is trying to rebuild while at the same time trying to win. e young players have to be brought up and played. e team has to rebuild through its farm teams, trades, and free agents. I think another Championship could be possible in the near future.

August 2012 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 31

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Sterling Country Club - Family Forward by Matt Hoeske

Sterling National Country Club (SNCC), Sterling, MA offers a championship-level, visually spectacular golf course along with a family-friendly, private golf club experience. With an unparalleled natural setting, beautiful pool complex, outstanding course and elegant dining, Sterling National has defined itself as the premier private golf and country club in Central Massachusetts.

Dr. Michael Hurdzan, one of the nation’s foremost environmental golf architects, crafted Sterling National. e course opened in 1991 and boasts a Par 71, 6,667 yard track that combines challenge with unparalleled beauty. SNCC is an Audubon International Certified Cooperative Sanctuary; one of only ten courses in the state to earn this honor. e 238 acres of nature preserve and wetlands features wildflowers, active plantings and colorful landscaping design. Sterling National’s 72.1 USGA rated championship layout (with five sets of tees on each hole) challenges every player. It is a supremely playable course in a natural woodland setting. Playing this extraordinary course is pure golf enjoyment. It is no surprise that Sterling National Country Club is among the most sought after private courses in Massachusetts. e signature hole at SNCC is the par 4 17th which can play as short as 257 yards and as long as 401 yards. From the back tee, this is truly one of the great championship holes in New England. e tee shot carry over the wetlands decreases significantly as the tees progress forward making it a playable hole for all levels. An uphill, second shot to the largest green on the course easily avoids the second wetland.

“Hitting the right side of the fairway from off the tee is half the battle,” said Head PGA Professional Billy Cunningham, “if you don’t hit the right side of the fairway you’re blocked out from trees on the left...this hole is definitely a shot makers hole. ” Another great hole at Sterling National is the Par 3, 7th. Two separate tee complexes give two completely different looks to this interesting hole. One angle crosses a wetland to a wide but shallow target, while the other is all land to a deep, narrow green. Bunkers protect two sides of the putting surface. e sixth hole is a little interesting: a great driving hole framed by two huge pines. You tee off in the town of Sterling and land in Lancaster! e second shot skirts a deceiving wetland area, with more room in the approach to the green than meets the eye. A deep, two-level green is guarded on the right by a towering oak. You don’t get back into Sterling until Hole #11 Sterling National has a beautiful practice facility. e facility features a full-length range with a grass tee. ey also have a short game practice area with a bunker, full length rough and tight cut fairway areas, creating the opportunity to hit to a real green. Also three putting greens will help to keep you sharp where

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it really counts. In 2010, Sterling National Country Club was bought by the Jan Companies, which currently owns two semi-private clubs: Norton CC in Norton, MA and Grassy Hill GC in Orange, CT. ey also own Quidenessett CC, another private club in Kingstown, RI. e simple, yet passionate, vision for the club is to create a visually spectacular championship-level golf course which offers a family-friendly private golf club experience at reasonable rates. With the inclusion of a beautiful pool complex, Sterling National is defining itself as the premier private golf, dining and recreation destination in central Massachusetts. “Course conditions are phenomenal,” says General Manager, Jeff Carroll. “e growth of the membership has exceeded our expectations,” he noted, “we are a family driven club and that’s where we are seeing most of our growth.” With the continuing additions of young, vibrant families joining SNCC, there is little doubt the club’s vision is coming to fruition. Sterling National also offers an ideal location to host corporate, charity and professional golf tournaments. In addition, the beautiful Sterling ballroom seats up to 225 guests and is complete with a cocktail room and an adjoining patio; perfect for outdoor receptions. Sterling is also the premier setting for year-

round social events such as Weddings, Celebrations, Showers, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Corporate Meetings, Holiday Parties and more. For more intimate celebrations, the Windsor Room can accommodate up to 40 guests and has floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the 1st fairway and 18th green. In 2008, Sterling National added an expansive swimming pool complex, complete with competition lanes and a separate children's pool. is state-ofthe-art pool facility is definitely one of the coolest spots! ere is a specially designed children’s pool, complete with fun-in-mind spray fountains, that will provide hours of cool, splashing entertainment for the little ones. Sterling National Country Club is also a part of a unique Reciprocal Golf program with four (4) other clubs: Quidnessett, Norton, Hopkinton CC and Shining Rock GC. “It’s great that a full member at Sterling can take advantage of playing other great clubs in the New England region,” said Carroll. For more information on membership, please check out SterlingCC.com. Also, starting this month there are brand new incentive programs. Please contact Jeff Carroll at 978-422-075 or JeffC@SterlingCC.com

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A Vermont Gem - Green Mountain National by Jim Buckley

Located oﬀ of Route 100 in Killington Vermont sits one of the nicest mountain courses that you can play in New England. GMN has everything that you head north for: mountain views on every hole. If you are looking for tight fairways, beautifully manicured greens, breath taking views and the sweet smell of tall pines look no further then Green Mountain National! While waiting to start on the first hole the starter goes through a description of what to do on every hole. If only I could have remembered what he said after the first hole? If you are a great driver of the golf ball you will not be intimidated by this course, but fairway location is of prime importance. You can’t play good golf from oﬀ the fairway. It took me 9 holes to leave the driver in the bag and start playing smart position golf. is course demands that!

Being a public course, they also want you and the group behind you to enjoy a round of golf that doesn’t take more than 4 -1/2 hours. ey have a unique feature that I have never seen before. On every tee there is a clock with your starting time on it. It should be the same time. If it is later, then your group is behind. What a great idea! Much better than a grumpy Ranger telling you to move it along! Green Mountain National is a course that requires a second round because trust me, the first time you play you’ll have a hard time not looking at the beautiful views on almost every hole. GMC simply has it all! For more information on teetimes, stay & play packages etc. please visit GMNGC.com. You can also like them at facebook.com/GMNGC.

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Afternoon play for a limited time only

Play Allendale, one of Southern New Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Finest Golf Courses

Call 508-992-8682

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Allendale Country Club 1047 Allen Street, North Dartmouth, MA 02747

508-992-8682 | www.allendalecc.net

August 2012 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 39

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Furnas Golf Course, located on the Ilha de S達o Miguel

Just fore hours from Boston With the winter season setting in, many golf fans begin looking for warm places to play. Golf fans needing a fresh new place to go should consider the Azores. Just four hours by plane from Boston, the Azores Islands are the closest point in Europe to the United States.

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Batalha Golf Course, where the green of the land meets the blue of the ocean. e Azores are nine Portuguese islands, traditionally known for a year-round Spring climate, sea cliﬀs, long beaches, fishing villages and ancient palaces. ese volcanic islands are mountainous inland, and partially forested. ere are also several hot springs and spas. Island areas range between 400 square miles on São Miguel to nine square miles on Corvo. With three courses, golf is special here. Azoresgolf on São Miguel operates two world-class courses, the 1939 Furnas course, and the new Batalha course. e golf course at Furnas on São

Miguel has been described by travel writer David Sayers as, “ one the world’s most intimate and exquisitely beautiful courses, given its mountain setting with sheltering forests and numerous elegant tree ferns.” Built in 1996 and refurbished with nine new holes in 2003, Golfe da Batalha has long fairways and large greens, with views over the sea on the first nine and superb landscapes on the second nine. Both courses take advantage of vistas and natural features to oﬀer a unique golfing experience. Terceira has an newly expanded 18 hole course that is near the sea on the North Coast.

For more information on Stay & Play Packages

Please Visit AzoresGolfIslands.com/en

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Ross’ Rulings Watch Your Step (and Stroke) When Your Ball is in a Hazard by Jack Ross

Watching your errant shots land in hazards (water hazards and bunkers) can make for a trying day on the links. Knowing what you may or may not do when your ball lies in a hazard can avoid compounding your misery with penalty strokes. Grounding your club in a hazard (other than during your stroke, which is the downward motion of the club) will cost you two strokes (or In Dustin Johnson’s case, the PGA championship). In a grassy area within a hazard, you are considered to have grounded your club if the grass is compressed to the point where it supports the weight of the club. Touching the surface of the water in a water hazard is prohibited. If your ball lies outside the hazard and your stance is in the hazard, you may ground your club in the hazard. While loose impediments (stones, twigs, leaves, branches, etc.) may be removed on other parts of the course, touching or moving a loose impediment in a hazard will cost you two strokes. An exception applies if it is necessary to move loose impediments to identify your ball but they must be replaced prior to making your stroke. Be careful: if your ball moves while moving the loose impediments, then you will incur a penalty stroke. You are not penalized if you accidentally move a loose impediment.

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It is also impermissible to “test the condition of a hazard.” is rule is intended to prevent any action by which a player might gain information about the hazard that would aid him in making his stroke, such as sticking an object into sand or soil, smoothing a bunker or kicking the ground. Digging into the sand with your feet while taking a normal stance is not considered testing the condition of the hazard. A new exception to this rule clarifies that a player may smooth sand or soil in a hazard at any time, even before making a stroke, provided it is for the sole purpose of caring for the course and such action does not improve the lie of the ball, the area of the player’s stance or the line of play. So, you may smooth footprints you make in a bunker while walking to your ball as long as they are not on your line of play. What if both your ball and your opponent’s ball lie in the same bunker and your opponent’s stroke splashes sand and alters your lie or stance? A rules decision explains that principles of equity entitle you to restore the bunker to its original condition by raking or other means. Jack Ross completed an intensive PGA/USGA rules workshop and has oﬃciated at state amateur competitions. Rules inquiries may be directed to RossGolf@charter.net.

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A True Cape Cod Classic

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Molori Unplugged by John Molori

The Renaissance Golfer

Kevin Walsh e Most Interesting Man in the World has nothing on Kevin Walsh. e 42-year old Comcast SportsNet personality and scratch golfer began his broadcasting career in Guam and Hawaii. He is the author of two books, owns a psychic dog and is a life-saving bone marrow donor. rough it all, golf has been the constant. “My dad was the first golfer in our family,” says Walsh who grew up in Philadelphia and moved to Wellesley in 2009 with wife Jean and daughters Samantha and Amanda. “I used to break the neighbors’ windows all the time but they were golfers so they understood. I was seriously competing by age 10, broke 80 for the first time when I was 13 and 70 when I was 14.” Walsh’s family hails from Massachusetts and he holds a great reverence for some terrific local courses. “I’m on the waiting list at Nehoiden in Wellesley. It’s a 9-hole gem...the best kept secret in golf. Marion and Pine Valley are all about golf with no frills. I like that.” Recruited by Temple, Villanova, La Salle, Penn State and Florida International, Walsh played golf at Purdue on a partial scholarship. “Every player was an amateur champion, scratch or better. We played PGA courses but in March and April. It was freezing. We all had colds and could barely swing the club.” With the talent to pursue a pro career, Walsh was faced with a diﬃcult decision. He explains, “You have to have a singular focus to be a professional golfer. I wanted to get an education, pursue a career and have a family. Like Robert Frost wrote, I’ve always taken the road less traveled. I’ve eaten some humble pie but feel very blessed.” Great golf leads to great golf stories. In 2000, Walsh was playing with ESPN’s Gene Wojciechowski at Pebble Beach Media Day. He relates, “Gene played probably the worst round of golf ever. He was so distraught that he didn’t even go to lunch with us. After lunch, a Lincoln Town Car pulled up and out comes none other than Arnold Palmer. At the time, I was working on a book about caddying. I knew that Palmer was a former caddy so I worked up the courage to ask for a brief interview. “I was fumbling with my tape recorder, but

44 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | August 2012

Palmer could not have been more thoughtful or gracious. I sent Gene a note telling him that he should have come to lunch because Arnie showed up. As it turns out, the joke was on me. Gene had gone to the range to practice and a familiar voice asked if he was struggling. It was Palmer and he ended up giving Gene a private lesson.” Walsh is a walking golf anecdote but his favorite story is more about life than links. He remarked, “I was working in Honolulu and was given the assignment to cover the story of Chris Pablo. Halfway through his basket at the driving range Chris found an odd, scuﬀed up ball among the bunch. On the side he saw the words BEAT LEUKEMIA. Here's the kicker: Chris had been diagnosed with leukemia three weeks earlier. After the story aired, Chris found a lifesaving bone marrow match. “e family of 2-year-old leukemia patient Alana Dung asked for similar media coverage to increase bone marrow donor registration. Of the 30,000 people who came out to help Alana, more than 86 went to transplant, including me. Four years later I got the call that I was the only match in the world for a 16year-old boy with cancer.” Walsh wrote a book about his transplant experience entitled “e Marrow in Me.” His other book, “Follow the Dog Home”, was written with his father Bob and daughter Samantha. is enlightening book celebrates his family’s generational links through family dogs. On one occasion, Walsh’s dog persistently led him to a house in Wellesley. As it turns out, Walsh’s father lived in the house as an infant. e ubiquitous Walsh is a multi-faceted golf everyman who plays, lives and works the game. He states, “being a caddy is the only other job I’ve ever had other than broadcasting. I still caddy at e Country Club in Brookline. It’s a great way for me to learn the course and it makes me feel young again. Golf is not just a game I play. It’s who I am. It scares me to think of my life without it.” John Molori is the co-author of e Cracker Jack Collection: Baseball’s Prized Players to be released in the fall of 2013. Email John at molorimedia@aol.com.

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Two Good Rounds IRELAND

40 Shades of Green by Elisa Gaudet "I just dress up what the Good Lord provides." Legendary Irish course designer Eddie Hackett Eddie Hackett’s words best sum up Ireland as a whole. e beauty is simple yet breathtaking; largely due to the Forty Shades of Green in Ireland as it is commonly referred to. e forty shades of green reference was further popularized by the well-known 1961 Johnny Cash song by the same title that he wrote while visiting Ireland. is small geographical region is currently experiencing a rebirth and once again establishing its place as a global golf mecca. e Land of Major Champions did not disappoint. e Irish Open, held at the Royal Portrush Golf Club, was a huge success on all accounts. It was the first time the Irish Open had been played in Northern Ireland since 1953 and this time they saw record breaking crowds of 130,785 for the week. e player turnout was spectacular and seemed to mirror the forty shades of green concept with almost forty types of Irish people. Northern Ireland was represented by Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, the Republic of Ireland was most notably represented by Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley as well as English, Welsh and Scottish players and Irish American Keegan Bradley. Fellow Celt and Welsh golfer Jamie Donaldson won the event in spectacular fashion. e Irish Open had the energy and buzz of a major. Given that they had the ultimate foursome of Irish players in the field (Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy...all major winners) the atmosphere felt more like a mix between a European football (soccer) match and a Justin Bieber concert than a golf tournament. In typical Two Good Rounds style the trip would not be complete without a visit to the world famous home of Irish whiskey, Bushmills Distillery. Tours are available and we were fortunate enough to have a private tour of the distillery which concluded with a tasting in the 1608 Bar. Irish whiskey diﬀerentiates itself from Scotch malt whisky with the absence of a smoky taste. In Scotland, the malted barley acquires a peat smoke character as it is being dried giving it a smoky flavor. In Bushmills the smoke is not introduced resulting in an absence of smoky taste and subsequently the more subtle malt hon-

eyed flavors are nicely pronounced. Another diﬀerence is that in Scotland most whiskies are generally distilled only two times, whereas in Bushmills the whiskey is distilled a third time thus achieving a greater smoothness.

e Bushmills Inn Hotel is right out of a novel. e beautifully restored hotel, restaurant and bar transports you back in time. e original coach house and stables are thought to date back to 1608, the same year that the Bushmills distillery was granted the first license to distill whiskey. e hotel’s Gas Bar is rich in history and is still lit by gas lights. Most nights you can enjoy your drink while listening to live traditional Irish music. Downtown Belfast is vibrant; combining old with new. e dining options in Belfast were outstanding and notable places included Browns, which serves a prefix 6 course dinner with a wine pairing that was so spectacular even the French would give a nod of approval. Other hot spots include Dean’s restaurant and McHugh’s Bar on Queens Square. McHugh’s is a popular traditional Irish bar that dates back to 1711 and is the oldest surviving building in Belfast. e golf did not disappoint. Ballyliﬀen Golf Club and Donegal Golf Club on the North West coast of Ireland was everything I dreamed Irish golf would be and more. Sometimes more rain than I dreamed but none the less spectacular. e views from the fairways and greens truly make you want to cry they are so stunning. Perhaps an Irish caddie’s comment after a shot into tall rough best described the notable diﬀerence between golf in Ireland and golf in the USA. "If the ball was wrapped in bacon, Lassie couldn’t find it."

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THE BROOKSIDE CLUB 11 Brigadoon Road Bourne, MA 02532 P: (508) 743-4653 www.thebrooksideclub.com Brookside's motto is a public golf course with a private club feel. Our goal is to make your golfing experience as enjoyable as possible. Service and a friendly atmosphere are our staff's first priorities. is picturesque course was originally designed by Michael Hurdzan in 1986, and later refined by John Sanford in 1996. Our golf course offers wonderful views, excellent conditions, and unbeatable rates. Our mat and grass driving range has the best views on Cape Cod and includes a large wedge and putting area to work on your short game. Our Cape Cod style clubhouse offers a fully stocked pro-shop offering the newest equipment and clothing. e Sunset Grill offers fantastic dining and the best sunset views on the Cape. Come and play a round of golf with us and enjoy a truly wonderful experience on the Cape.

CAPTAINS GOLF COURSE 1000 Freemans Way, Brewster, MA 02631 P: (508) 896-1716 www.captainsgolfcourse.com e Captains Golf Course features two 18-Hole championship layouts, the Port and Starboard courses. Both courses are par 72 with four sets of tees to accommodate all golfers. Our oﬀerings include a well stocked pro shop, large grass tee driving range with practice bunker, two practice greens, instruction by PGA professionals, on-line reservations, full service restaurant and lounge, and 200 seat banquet facility. e Captains was voted the Best Public Golf Course on Cape Cod for 2012 by both the Cape Cod A-List and Cape Cod Magazine. It’s a must play for any golfer visiting Cape Cod.

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CRANBERRY VALLEY GOLF COURSE 183 Oak St Harwich, MA 02645-1933 P: (508) 430-5234 www.cranberrygolfcourse.com A Cornish and Robinson gem! A wide variety of well designed holes to challenge players of every ability, while providing an enjoyable golfing experience at the same time. î &#x201C;e 18 Hole Championship Golf Course is owned and operated by the Town of Harwich. CV also features a large practice facility, including a putting green, and two chipping/pitching greens, as well as practice bunkers. A full service restaurant is one site. CV has hosted multiple state and national golf tournament qualifiers and championships. Private lessons and clinics are also available. Greens fees range from $34 - $67.

FARM NECK GOLF CLUB 1 Farm Neck Way Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts 02557 P: (508) 693-3057 www.farmneck.net Located 4 miles out to sea on the Island of Martha's Vineyard, Farm Neck Golf Club rests on a peninsula (or "neck") of rolling farmland on the eastern side of the Island, overlooking Nantucket Sound. Established as a semi private club in 1979, Farm Neck is open to the public for golf, tennis and dining from April until December. We welcome everyone to come and enjoy the serenity and breathtaking beauty of our classic New England seaside landscape while playing 18 holes of championship caliber golf - or game of tennis with friends - or perhaps just to stop by for a bite to eat at the CafĂŠ

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QUASHNET VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB 309 Old Barnstable Rd., Mashpee, MA P: (508) 477-4412 wwwquashnetValley.com Located in a beautiful natural setting, Quashnet Valley features rolling hills, tranquil ponds and streams as well as the Quashnet River. e club has hosted seven state and regional championships. Four sets of tee markers play from 6507 to 4903 yards. A memorable golf course is waiting for you to enjoy. We invite you to enjoy our beautiful and scenic course at aﬀordable prices. QVCC is oﬀering special promotional rates now through Sept. 16, 2012. Enjoy 18 holes with cart for $45 Monday thru ursday or $40 after 2 PM, 18 Holes riding on Fridays and weekends is $55 or $50 after 2 PM

HOLLY RIDGE GOLF CLUB 121 Country Club Road South Sandwich, MA 02563 P: 508.428.5577 www.hollyridgegolf.com

Holly Ridge Golf Club is known for being Fun, Friendly and Aﬀordable. We were most recently voted the Best Golf Course on the Upper Cape by readers of Cape Cod Life Magazine. Our family & women friendly course is a classic New England Par 54 golf course, designed by Geoﬀrey Cornish and nestled among the hollies and pines of Sandwich.

In addition to our golf course and practice facility, we oﬀer award-winning golf instruction, custom club fitting, women’s, men’s, mixed and junior leagues, a well-stocked pro shop, and a full-service restaurant and bar. Holly Ridge is a wonderful setting for parties, golf outings, charity events and more. Our friendly and knowledgeable staﬀ is here to help you enjoy an Exceptional Holly Ridge Experience !

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WAVERLY OAKS GOLF CLUB 444 Long Pond Road, Plymouth, MA 02360 P: (508) 224-6700 www.waverlyoaksgolfclub.com

Waverly Oaks Golf Club is known for its beautiful landscape and layout, outstanding course conditions, and excellent service. e ideal starting point for a Plymouth County or Cape Cod vacation, we oﬀer a 27 hole facility which showcases the 18 Hole Championship Course and the 9 hole “Challenger 9” as well as 2 practice greens, driving range and spectacular clubhouse which is home to e Waverly Grille. e Championship Course which opened in 1998 is rated 4 ½ Stars by Golf Digest. e Challenger 9 opened in 1999 and is a welcomed track for beginners and juniors as well as challenging for experienced players; simply ideal for a quick nine. Your outing, tournament, memorial, or benefit will be elevated to the next level when it is hosted at Waverly Oaks Golf Club. Small outings or full field multiple day events are welcome. Our Professional staﬀ will as-

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sist with extensive planning and exceptional delivery of services. e Championship Course and Challenger 9 are both available for booking. Waverly Oaks Golf Club is the perfect venue for all occasions. Whether you are planning a rehearsal dinner for 20, a meeting for 40, a bridal shower for 60, or a wedding for 200, we understand the attention to detail. Waverly Oaks offers an 80 person conference room and a 200 seat function room which is surrounded by an all seasons veranda. We also offer an outdoor ceremony site. We will help you create and plan a menu that suits your personal tastes and preferences and assist you in the planning stages of your event through the execution of your special day.

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BAYBERRY HILLS GOLF COURSE 635 West Yarmouth Cape Cod West Yarmouth, MA 02673 P: (508) 394-5597

BASS RIVER GOLF COURSE 62 Highbank Road South Yarmouth, MA 02664 P: (508) 398-9079 www.golfyarmouthcapecod.com

Yarmouth Cape Cod is the premiere golf destination in Massachusetts. Both Bass River and Bayberry Hills Golf Course are maintained with the utmost care. Both of these beautiful golf courses provide golfers with the ability to Register Online for Specials, Book an Outing and even sign up for a Membership. Come and visit us in Yarmouth Cape Cod today! Yarmouth’s Bass River Golf Course is one of Cape Cod’s best and oldest courses. Opened in 1900 as a private nine hole club, the course has grown and flourished over it’s 100 plus years. In 1914 the noted golf course architect Donald Ross was commissioned by the club to redesign the course. Wide fairways and traditionally small undulating greens make the course both a pleasure and a challenge to play. At Bass River the emphasis is on shot making as the player

contends with breezes off the water, as well as the subtleties of a classic turn of the century Ross design. Water views, superb conditioning and a friendly staff all make for a memorable day of golf. Bayberry Hills is a pristine golf course located in West Yarmouth, Massachusetts. is beautiful golf course was designed by Geoffrey Cornish and Brian Silva in 1986. e layout includes three 9-hole courses, e Red Course, White Course and Blue Course. e Red and White courses are tree lined with a private secluded feel as the holes are well guarded from one another. e course plays up to 7200 yards from the championship tees. e Blue course is a classic links style design with an emphasis on shot making rather than distance.

TENT SALE LABOR DAY WEEKEND! Friday, August 31 Saturday, Sept 1 Sunday, Sept 2 Monday, Sept 3

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HERITAGE HOUSE HOTEL & CHAUNCY'S BAR & GRILL 259 Main Street Hyannis, Cape Cod, MA 02601 P: (800) 352-7189 www.heritagehousehotel.com www.stayandplaycapecod.com

e Stay and Play Cape Cod at the Heritage House Hotel Is the only Cape Cod destination for custom golf packages. Oﬀering Stay and Play golf outings to over 40 golf courses on Cape Cod, Southeastern Massachusetts, and the Islands combined for every skill level, we guarantee the best possible outing for your group. Most courses are within a short 20 minute drive of the Hotel. Our premier location in the Hyannis Main Street Waterfront District Puts you in walking distance to local restaurants and attractions as well as Hyannis Harbor with its Sightseeing and fishing boats as well as Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Ferries. It’s no wonder why e Heritage House Hotel is the Capes number one choice for Stay and Play Golf Packages. We have recently completed our multi million dollar renovation project to every portion of our 143 room, AAA three diamond, full service hotel and are now the Cape’s FIRST and ONLY solar powered hotel. Our

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new façade really brings us into the new millennium with a bright cheerful color scheme. Chauncy’s Bar & Grille has also been redone inside and out with additional seating added on the exterior patio which will fit into our expanded operating schedule. Our room renovations have created different categories of rooms to offer our guests even more choice for their Cape Cod vacation needs. I have attached a link below for you to download pictures of the exterior, interior lobby, and sleeping rooms. Our setting is Simply the Best Location on Cape Cod settled in the Hyannis Main Street Waterfront District. We are a short walk to the JFK Hyannis Museum, Hyannis Harbor, (ferries to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket), Cape Cod Transportation Center (across the street), Railroad, Downtown Restaurants, and Shops. We are centrally located to everything Cape Cod has to offer from Buzzards Bay to Provincetown.

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Sampson’s Spotlight presented by GolfTrainingAids.com Tru Align – A Golf Swing Alignment Aid by Greg Sampson

The Claim: e Tru Align is a training aid designed

to correct swing alignment and ball position errors. e Tru Align is engineered to put repetition and muscle memory of practcing into competitive play. is breakthrough training aid features two small white rods on a swivel attached to a longer orange rod which is placed in front of the feet for body alignment. e combination of the two small rods can be used for ball position/club face alingnment and to align swing path in relation to body alignment for shaping shots left or right. Now let’s compare the Tru Align vs the standard driveway sticks you commonly see in golfers bags that can be purchased at your local hardware store

The Test: To attempt to create a body alignment rod, a ball position/clubface alignment rod and a swing path alignment rod I brought three driveway sticks

with me to the range with the Tru Align. I set them up side by side at the same target and hit a 7 iron with diﬀerent shapes, trajectories and distances switching back and forth periodically.

The Verdict: Te comparison of the Tru Align and the

“other rods” was not even close. First oﬀ I hit triple the amount of golf balls on the Tru Align because the other setup kept moving around and when I had to create a new divot patch, ball position or swing path I had to take the time to setup three rods again which is very frustrating. e Tru Align will be in my bag from now on as its light weight, easy to setup/put away, creates accurate alignments and allows me to spend my time practicing as opposed to playing around with alignment aids for the majority of my practice session. I am now Tru Aligned. Are You?

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August 2012 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 53

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TECHNO GOLF – The Best of 2012

by Ed Travis

Technology as it applies to golf is an almost boundless topic, very interesting and at times maybe a bit intimidating. After all, most golfers are primarily concerned only that bit of golf-tech that will help their own games. But new materials, advanced design and space age manufacturing have produced better performing products that aﬀect every part of the game so golfers owe it to themselves to have some knowledge of what is available. Since most golf-tech talk is about drivers so we feel it might be informative to look at a few selected products – not drivers – to see how this thing called golf-tech has made significant advances. For this first installment of our Golf-Tech feature we selected wedges, swing analyzers, apps and golf balls.

Wedge It Close |

SCOR4161 Wedges

e SCOR4161 line of wedges is really a departure compared to traditional wedges and designer Terry Koehler is a man on a mission to help golfers improve their scoring through the use of the proper short game equipment. He says lower scores are the key to retaining players in the game plus attracting new golfers. NEGM interviewed Koehler, president of Eidolon Brands the makers of ScorGolf wedges, to find out how his company’s products help golfers hit their short iron shots closer to the hole. Koehler’s knowledge and intensity made for a very interesting conversation. NEGM: What makes your wedges different? Koehler: Every other company builds wedges that are not much different from what they’ve offered for 2030 years, while SCOR4161 represents a radical change in the way scoring clubs are designed, matched up and crafted. NEGM: What is the idea behind ScorGolf-short game intelligence? Koehler: The idea was to tear down the entire scoring club concept and re-invent those clubs over 40 degrees of loft that are the key to scoring, no matter whether your goal is to break par or 90. You’re going to do it from short range. We created a sole that handles any kind of lie your ball can find, to break through the notion of low bounce/high bounce, trying to fit your wedges to a lie that can be anything and a swing path that will change, whether intentionally or not. Our package of technology does just that, and designs each scoring club specifically for the task at hand. ose with lofts in the high 50° range are weighted differently than those in the low 50s. We offer a wide range of our own wedge-specific shafts to allow any golfer to “fit feel”. NEGM: Did the new USGA rules for grooves on medium and short irons affect your thinking? Koehler: e rule change on grooves was actually the event that led to this entire re-invention of the scoring clubs. Like everyone else, we began experimenting with various configurations of grooves on our EIDOLON wedges, and found that the differences

54 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | August 2012

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from one geometry to another were miniscule. We found that the new grooves caused the ball to slide up the face of the club more, thereby compromising spin, regardless of minor alterations to spacing and size of the grooves. When I raised the center of mass on the wedge, it miti-

gated that measurably by launching the ball lower and retaining more spin. From there I learned that I could optimize launch angle for each loft by further managing the center of mass, which created the unique SGC3 Progressive Weighting design concept.

Fourteen Golf RM-11 wedges

e decision three years ago by the USGA to restrict the size of grooves led Fourteen Golf to rethink their popular MT-28 wedge series with the results being the introduction of the RM-11 wedges. RM11 (for ‘reverse muscle’ or alternatively ‘revolutions per minute’) models have a new trapezoidal groove design that’s 15% larger than the MT-28 wedges but still within the Rules of Golf. As significant, Fourteen also reengineered the clubhead by moving weight from the sole higher, to the upper part of the blade. is weight redistribution provides better stability when hitting shots from the

rough plus it has the added benefit of giving better results on oﬀ center hits. ese modifications also produced another feature that professionals and better players particularly like, the RM-11 can be hit as readily with an open face as square so flops, part shots and spin control have really been enhanced. Fourteen Golf products have gained acceptance on the LPGA Tour, Well.com Tour and PGA Tour. PGA Professional Ryuji Imada is in the first year of a three year endorsement deal joining PGA Professionals Chad Collins and Arjun Atwal. www.fourteengolf.com

August 2012 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 55

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Analyze Your Swing

Swingbyte Wireless 3D Golf Swing Analyzer As stated previously golf-tech is moving ahead at a furious pace and this is evidenced by the Swingbyte Wireless 3D Golf Swing Analyzer, which by anyone’s definition is “cool.” It’s tiny - 1” by 2” size – under 1 oz. in weight – and set up is a breeze for even non-golf-techies. Simply attach Swingbyte to the club shaft just below the grip and it’s already to capture data such as clubhead speed, clubface angle at impact, loft and lie angles, angle of attack, tempo and more all in 3-dimensions. Just imagine going to range and rather than guessing what you’re doing on the back swing or what the driver’s angle of attack

is, but knowing …in real time. e Swingbyte make measurements from each swing and wirelessly transmits the data to an app on Android or Apple smart-

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phones and tablets plus there’s a premium online service. “Swingbyte will tell golfers more about their swing in five minutes than many would know after five years of practice,” said Brian Payne, a former PGA professional who is vice president of business development for Chicago-based Swingbyte. “It’s the most objective, convenient and aﬀordable way golfers can learn about their swing and improve their game.” With the information Swingbyte makes available – club head speed; the club’s plane, from address to impact; club face angle relative to swing path; loft and lie at address and impact; angle of attack and tempo – golfers can pinpoint swing problems and work making corrections on their own or with an instructor. Swingbyte complements the personal instruction teachers provide, according to Dr. Jim Suttie, who owns the Jim Suttie Golf Academies at Cog Hill G&CC in Lemont, Ill., and e Club at TwinEagles in Naples, Fla. “Instructors can make a swing look as pretty as you want, but if you don’t know what’s happening at impact it doesn’t matter how good that swing looks,” said Dr. Suttie, who is ranked 15th among America's 50 Greatest Teachers by Golf Digest. “You need something to verify what the instructor believes needs to be corrected, and that’s what Swingbyte gives you.” Swingbyte is $149 and that includes the Swingbyte unit, the free Swingbyte app and access to premium online content and service for one year, a $49 value included at no charge during the introductory period. Premium options include historical data storage, upgraded instruction and the ability to send data to instructors for review. If you would like to purchase a Swingbyte visit SwingByte.com.

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Analyze Your Swing

3BaysGSA A company from HK has come up with a simple approach to swing analysis using a detector that fits into the hole on the end of a golf club grip and sends the data via a Bluetooth connection to both Android and Apple smartphones and tablets. e app to view swing results is available at the Apple Store or Google Play at no charge. e 3BaysGSA collects information from 10,000 data points during the swing and helps the user to analyze the consistency of his swing, clubhead speed, face angle at impact and tempo. A record of each swing is maintained and easily recaptured for viewing later, a very handy feature since it allows for swing to be compared as in, “this is what I did and hit the ball really well.” This device is especially nice when taking a lesson from a PGA Professional since he can see your swing from previous sessions to assist in his instruction and the user has a record of the proper swings always at hand. Using the 3BaysGSA is straightforward. First, after

the unit has been charged, plug it into the hole at the top of the grip on any club and align the arrow. Next assume your setup position, staying still after the club is in a squared position until the red led comes on. When the red led turns blue make your swing. After the swing is complete the blue led light will begin to flash, the signal that your swing’s data was recorded and has been sent via the Bluetooth connection to your mobile device. And it’s just as simple to view the swing, just press “View It Now.” e record of the swing may be deleted or saved to a “best swing” file with the option to see a comparison to other swings. Finally there’s a Help button in case you need it (for the app…not for your swing!). e 3BaysGSA has been checked against the best golf launch monitors and according to the company shown consistently high accuracy. Find out more at www.3bayslife.com.

Golf in a New Town

Golf Apps of America by Golf Minnesota Magazine Visiting a strange town golfers may have the desire to play but being strangers they lack even basic knowledge about local courses, much less knowing how to contact them. Golf Minnesota magazine has neatly solved this problem with a smartphone app (Android or Apple) covering golfing Meccas such as Florida, North Carolina, Arizona, Massachusetts, Texas and California plus of course Minnesota for a total of 15 states with more being added all the time. Using a smartphone’s GPS feature golfers simply tap “Find Courses Near Me” and a map pops up showing public courses within 20 miles or they can use the “Interactive Map” to scroll to any part of the state. ere’s also a “Search For Courses” function and “e 19th Hole” feature to find, well…a 19th hole. To entice you to call for a tee time, in addition to course address and phone, there are yardages and You Tube videos if a course has posted one. Tee times are easy too; just tap one button and the course number is dialed. Finally, the app supplies turn-by-turn directions so you’ll never miss a tee time due to getting lost on the

way to the course. e price of the Golf Apps of America from Golf Minnesota is $5.99 per state which may be oﬀset by special oﬀers from courses, shops and restaurants featured in the app. To download go to golfminnesota.com/golfapps

August 2012 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 57

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Innovex Golf Balls

Hi-Tech Performance Balls at a Great Price

Competing in the golf ball marketplace is diﬃcult with one company having roughly 60% of the business but a relatively unknown company based in Medina, Wash. named Innovex Golf is poised to make a strong challenge. ey are producing two golf balls aimed at recreational golfers wanting to play high performance balls with much lower prices than that of competitors. e first is a 3-piece “distance” ball called the E-Motion that features a ionomer Surlyn cover for durability and 392 dimples laid out with parallel dimple dividers which smoothes out the airflow over the ball that in turn helps to give more distance. e inner mantle is designed with Innovex’s Stopspin Technology and combined with the ionomer Surlyn cover are meant to oﬀer spin control. e E-Motion’s “Progressive Motion Dual Core” provides more air time with a faster spin rate and a nice soft feel. Street price is a very competitive $19.99. Innovex’s other ball is the V-Motion a professional-level model which some have said could be called the “latest Titleist killer” for its high performance characteristics in comparison the best selling Titleist Pro V1 ball from Acushnet. V-Motion has been targeted to be appealing to low handicap players wanting to play a “tour” ball that will aid in

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improving their game plus to mid-handicap golfers wanting to move up to a better ball. e cover is of cast urethane especially made for players looking for a soft feel ball with high spin for short iron shots and around the green while keeping aerodynamic drag to minimum. e cast urethane cover has a pattern of 318 dimples that was extensively tested in a wind tunnel by Innovex engineers to make sure they had exactly the right design to complement the cover composition. Innovex uses what is billed as a Compensating Speed Core that reacts diﬀerently to diﬀerent speed swings to produce top echelon distance with the driver or indeed with any club. When NEGM tried this ball and compared it to other premium category balls its performance (distance and feel) compared very well. However, the V-Motion has a major plus in its favor – the price – which definitely falls in the mid-market bracket at $32.95 making this high performing ball a great bargain. Both of the Innovex balls are very impressive, sure to gain a wider acceptance as they become better known. More information on the V-Motion and E-Motion golf balls may be found at www.InnovexGolf.com.

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+ up to 3x more grip in dry weather conditions + 100% sweat resistant palm + up to 5x more grip in wet weather conditions + with innovative, advanced GRIPPTM technology Dave Pelz, World Renowed Golf Instructor “For years I’ve been teaching golfers to play their short game shots with lighter grip pressure and more relaxed hands. When I heard about HIRZL gloves I needed to prove to myself that HIRZL gloves, did indeed, provide better traction with lower grip pressure, compared to the other leading glove brands in the market.”

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Kay’s Korner

July is Championship Golf Season in New England Golf by Emily Kay As the mercury soared throughout New England in July, so did the games of Kristen MacDonald, Mike Calef, and Joe Leavitt -- just a few of the golfers whose clubs caught fire on their way to grabbing the brass rings in the many amateur and open championships across the six-state region.

Mike Calef

Kristen MacDonald New England Women’s Amateur MacDonald, who lost a five-shot lead late into the New England Women’s Amateur at Natanis GC in Vassalboro, Maine, bounced back to take the title by a single stroke. "I didn't get nervous. I knew I wasn't down,” Macdonald, of Billerica, Mass., told the Kennebec Journal. “I knew if I played my game, stuck to my game, I would be OK." e 23-year-old who graduated from Fairfield University in 2011, scored a 4-over 76 and a three-day total of 222 to outlast runner-up Sam Morell, 21, of North Kingstown, R.I. Defending champ Pam Kuong, who plays out of Charles River CC in Newton, finished third on the 5,506-yard course.

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e Massachusetts Amateur Championship For Mike Calef, winning e Massachusetts Amateur Championship was a dream come true. e West Bridgewater native moved to Texas last year with his wife but retained his eligibility at Brockton CC, where he had been director of golf, just so he could compete in the event he cherishes most on his golf calendar. So when he beat Haverhill CC’s Mark Souliotis, 3 and 1, at Tedesco CC, Calef could not have been happier. “My No. 1,” Calef said of the Mass Am. “Every year you look at what tournaments you are going to play and everything surrounds the amateur.”

Matt Smith

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e Connecticut Amateur Orange, CT -- e fifth and final day of the 110th Connecticut Amateur played at Race Brook Country Club featured No. 3 seed and 2011 Amateur finalist Matt Smith of Quinnatisset versus No. 20 seed Ben Conroy of eCclub of River Valley. It was a family aﬀair, as both competitors had their fathers caddie for them throughout the week. Smith rode his hot putter until the very last hole, when he made a seven footer to win the 110th Connecticut Amateur 7&6. Smith is the first player since Steve Velardi to make back to back Amateur finals and win in his second opportunity.

Christopher Swift

John VanDerLaan Connecticut Junior Amateur Championship Watertown GC (July 9-July 12) -- Top seed John VanDerLaan of Southbury took advantage of Wethersfield’s Patrick Hallisey’s mishaps down the stretch to defeat his playing partner, 3 and 1, in the final round. VanDerLaan was also co-medalist, along with Eric Austin of Lyman Orchards, in the opening stroke-play round, as each shot an even-par 71. After missing putts he could have made on the first two holes, VanDerLaan posted pars on 13 of the next 15, including a streak of nine straight midway through the round, according to the Hartford Courant.

Joe Leavitt

New Hampshire State Amateur Championship Concord CC (July 9-July 14) -- Leavitt, of Atkinson Resort & CC romped to an 8 and 7 match-play rout of Lake Sunapee CC’s DJ Lantz. Leavitt carded the first of eight birdies on the second hole of the eventual 29- (of a possible 36-) hole contest to take a 1-up advantage and never looked back.

New England Amateur Championship Fa l m o u t h (Maine) CC (July 17-July 19) -Christopher Swift entered the final 36 holes of the threeday event with a one-shot lead and put the finishing touches on a fivestroke, 2-under-par victory by shooting

a 1-over 72 on day two. "It is my first amateur win, so I am pumped," said Swift, who attacked the challenging Falmouth CC track with his driver, which he can blast 300 yards. "I play aggressively and that is my style of play and that is what I am going to do." Swift, who finished five shots clear of his nearest competitors (Vermont’s Garren Poirer, Jake Nutter of New Hampshire, and Massachusetts’ Herbie Aikens, was the only golfer to close out his tourney under par. Swift will be a sophomore at Marquette University in the fall and plays out of Great River GC in Milford, Conn.

Dan McCarthy

New Hampshire Open Atkinson Resort & CC (July 25-July 26) -- Despite a bogey and a double in his final round, Dan McCarthy (Syracuse, N.Y.) posted a 2-under 70 to get to 10-under 206 for the tourney and cruised to the title by five strokes over runners-up Geoﬀrey Sisk of Marshfield, Mass., and Mike Furci (Sayville, N.Y.). e New England-heavy field featured several notables, including sometime-PGA Tour pro and current director of golf at Renaissance (Haverhill, Mass.) Kirk Hanefeld. Low-amateur honors went to Leavitt, who added to his 2012 winnings by taking advantage of local knowledge on his home course to post a 4under for the tournament. Former New York City mayor Rudy Guiliani’s son, Andrew, finished in 35th place at 8-over. Emily Kay is a regular contributor to New England Golf Monthly. You may follow Kay on Twitter @golfexaminer

August 2012 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 61

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JJ Henry Makes it a Tri-Fecta for Team New England

By NEGM Staﬀ

2012 PGA Tour Stapleford Champion

KenDennisPhoto.com | mynegm.com/photos

Team New England just completed it’s third win in less then a month thanks to JJ Henry’s win at the Reno Tahoe Open, one of the most unique formats on the PGA Tour schedule annually. With the win, the CT native also earns himself a birth to this weeks PGA Championship at Kiawah Island and a two year cushion on the PGA Tour. e Reno-Tahoe Open is a modified stableford event , which allows the pros to earn points for under par scores and penalizes them for bogies or worse with the winner being the champion with the highest point. is week JJ Henry ended his winless draught with a solid putting

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performance and stellar course management to make many scores in the red and few in the black finishing at +43 for the tournament. e long and short of his stapleford win? 1st in eagles for the tourney with three, 8th in driving accuracy while being 6th in distance, 3rd in putts per green and only 4 bogies in the entire event. JJ Henry has moved himself to 50th in the Fed Ex Cup standings and I am sure will carry his momentum into the PGA. Could we have a Captains Pick for this years Ryder Cup with a win this week? Good luck to Mr. Henry, Mr. Bradley and Mr. Stallings . Do #TeamNewEngland Proud!

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Team New England On The Tours TNE’s Scott Stallings, originally from Worcester, Mass., recorded his second victory in his second season on the PGA TOUR winning the True South Classic in Madison, MS. Scott’s earnings for the Greenbrier of $540,000 brings his 2012 earnings to $903,072 which include 1 top 10 and 2 top 25 finishes. Not too bad considering an injury to several ribs earlier in the season that sidelined Stallings for a few weeks.

PGA TOUR Keegan Bradley, (VT) has made 16 cuts in 19 starts with earnings of $1,822,158. Keegan’s world ranking is 27th and FedEx position is 23th. His scoring average is currently 70.33. Winner of the 2012 Bridgestone Invitational Brett Quigley, (RI) has not competed in a TOUR event since the last update. Brett’s earnings remain $31,858 with his scoring average remaining at 68.75. Brett is also competing on the Web.Com Tour. Tim Petrovic, (MA) earned $118,862 making 6 cuts in 13 starts with 1 top 25 finish. Tim’s scoring average sits at 71.12. His career earnings are $11,163,571.

James Driscoll, (MA) has earned $649,588 making 12 cuts in 21 starts with 2 top 10 and 4 top 25 finishes. James’ scoring average currently sits at 71.02.

J.J. Henry, (CT) has made 15 of 24 cuts with earnings of $714,692 and includes 1-3rd place finish, 2 top 10 and 4 top 25 finishes to date. Henry’s scoring average is 70.90. 2012 Reno-Tahoe Open Champion. Scott Stallings (MA) has made just 7 cut in 20 starts including a 1 win 1 top 10 and 2 top 25 finishes with earnings of $903,072 to date. Scott’s scoring average of 72.02.

Fran Quinn, (MA) playing both the PGA and Web.Com tours is 1 cut in 5 starts on the PGA and 3 cuts in 6 starts on the Web.Com. Total earnings are $18,819 thus far with a combined scoring average of 72.25. Patrick Sheehan, (MA) has made 4 cuts in 11 starts after regaining his PGA TOUR status via the Web.Com Tour. Patrick’s earnings are $90,678 with a scoring average of 71.81 indicating a turnaround in his play of late.

CHAMPIONS TOUR Brad Faxon, (RI) has 13 starts with 13rd, 1 top 10 and 4 top 25 finishes in his first full year on the Champions Tour. Brad’s earnings are $217,709 with a scoring average of 71.89.

P.H. Horgan III, (RI) has 11 starts with earnings of $143,884 with 5 top 25 finishes. Horgan’s scoring average is currently 71.6. P.H. is playing well as he continues his full time status on the Champions Tour. Dana Quigley, (MA) has started 10 times this season earning $49,358 with a scoring average of 73.46. e Ironman marches on as his son, Devon, continues to show steady improvement in his recovery from a traumatic brain injury suﬀered in an automobile accident in late 2011. Allen Doyle, (RI) has had 7 starts with earnings of $22,207. e Woonsocket native has combined career earnings of $13,789,217. Allen’s scoring average is 74.22.

LPGA TOUR Alison Walshe, (MA) has made 6 cuts in 10 starts earning $116,106 including a T8 in the Shop Rite LPGA Classic. Alison’s scoring average sits at 73.14. Anna Grzebien, (RI) has made 3 cuts in 6 starts earning $23,341 thus far in 2012. Anna’s scoring average is 73 for those 3 events she made cuts in.

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Deutsche Bank Championship

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Stallings’ rookie year, 2011, on TOUR saw earnings of $2,698,167 including a victory at the Greenbrier event where he won a three man play off with Bob Estes and Bill Haas. Stallings turned pro in 2007 playing the Hooters and Tarheels Mini Tours in 2008 & 2009. Scott attended Tennessee Tech and was a two-time Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year winning seven tournaments. He was named an All-American in 2006. Stallings lives in Knoxville, TN with his wife Jennifer.

WEB.COM TOUR Brad Adamonis, (RI) has made 10 cuts in 15 starts with 3 top 25 finishes thus far with earnings of $36,864. Brad’s scoring average is 71.08. Trevor Murphy, (VT) has made 2 cut in 2 starts with 1 top 10 finish this year with earnings of $23,280 and a scoring average of 68.88. At this writing, Trevor, had a 4 shot lead after two rounds of the Web.Com event in Ohio. Jim Renner, (MA) while suiting up for 14 events making 6 cuts including 1-3rd, 2 top 10 and 3 top 25 finishes earning $72,440 thus far. Renner’s scoring average is at 70.26. Rob Oppenheim, (MA) ) has made 8 cuts in 15 starts with 3 top 10 and 4 top 25 finishes on the Web.Com. Rob has earned $85,670 and currently has a scoring 70.22.

Geoﬀ Sisk, (MA) has yet to start in an event this year on the Web.Com Tour. Sisk’s earnings in 2011 were $38,665.

Justin Peters, (MA) has started in just 2 events making 1 cut and 1 top 25 finish earning $7,111. Justin’s scoring average for those 2 events is 70.67. Jeff Curl, (CT) made 6 cuts in 10 starts of 2012 with earnings of $35,623. Jeff’s scoring average sits at 70.59 Congratulations are also in order for Jeff as qualifying for the 2012 U.S. Open Championship and playing all four days.

LPGA SYMATRA FUTURES TOUR e Symetra Futures Tour has had 6 events at this writing. A few of our players have dropped from the Futures and LPGA player rosters. Natalie Sheary, (CT) begins her 2nd year on the Futures circuit. With 8 starts and includes 1 top 10 finish. Natalie’s earnings are $7,024. Sheary’s scoring average is 74.26. Chelsea Curtis, (MA) has yet to begin her 3rd season on the Futures Tour. In two seasons Chelsea has earned $31,135. We hope to see her out there soon.

Libby Smith, (VT) has earned $1,129 in 7 starts thus far in 2112. Libby has a scoring average of 77.18. Her career earnings are $50,049.

Briana Vega, (MA) has had 6 starts at this writing with earnings of $1,200 thus far. Briana’s scoring average sits at 75.6

Julie Erekson, (MA) completed three years on the Futures circuit earning $3,789 in her 10 starts. Her new life in Texas must be keeping her busy as she is not listed on the player roster. Kim Augusta (RI) is a veteran of competitive golf having played on the LPGA TOUR for several years is currently not listed on either the LPGA or Futures Tour rosters.

The Deutsche Bank Championship Is Going Social August 29 - September 3, 2012 | DeutscheBankChampionship.com Now that mobile devices are allowed on Chamionship Grounds, we invite you to LIKE US, FOLLOW US & CHECK IN for the most up to date information, ticket offers, photos, tips, incentives, games & more.

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Palopoli’s Picks The PGA Championship

by Jeﬀ Palopoli

The Picks:

e fourth and final Major of the year gets underway on August 9th on the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort on Kiawah Island, SC. e course is most remembered as the host site of the 1991 Ryder Cup where the US and European teams battled down the stretch until the final hole, where ultimately Bernard Langer missed a six foot putt to hand the Cup to the US. Plenty of bad blood ensued during that week, so much so that those matches are now forever known as “e War by the Shore”. e Pete Dye designed course is one of the most beautiful in the entire country, as well as one of the most diﬃcult. It was rated as the most diﬃcult in the United States by Golf Digest in 2010. Because of the unique topography of the course and all the natural sandy areas, the PGA has ruled that there will be no bunkers on the course and all of these areas will be treated as waste areas. Apparently they didn’t want another “Bunkergate” from 2010 at Whistling Straits on their hands.

A Group: Everybody likes a comeback story right? at’s why I’m picking Adam Scott to start in my A group this week. After his four stroke collapse at the British Open just a few shorts weeks ago, I think everyone will be looking to see what Scott is made of. He’s shown that he can play well in windy conditions, and expect the gusts to be blowing on Kiawah, where he’ll be looking for some redemption. Backing him up I like Zach Johnson who also had a great showing at the Open (T9). Johnson ranks high in many of the most important stats on TOUR: 1st in Strokes Gained Putting, 5th in Birdie Average, and 7th in Scoring Average B Group: Dustin Johnson has more wins (6) than any other player in their 20s on TOUR. Earlier this season he notched his sixth at the FedEx St. Jude Classic, and he also picked up a T9 at the British Open. Johnson gets the start for the PGA Championship, along with Tiger Woods. e last couple Majors Tiger seems to come out of the gates well, but fades on the weekends. However, he’s currently the only player on TOUR with three wins on the season, and he also ranks 1st in Scor-

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ing Average and 4th in the Total Driving category. We’re all waiting for when Tiger will get #15. He seems so close, and just needs to be able to put together a couple of good rounds on the weekend. C Group: McDowell’s name continues to pop up towards the top of the leaderboard at Major championships. A T2 at the US Open and a T5 at the British just goes to prove that McDowell will undoubtedly win multiple Majors during his career. McDowell also ranks 2nd on TOUR in Driving Accuracy, which will come in handy at the Ocean Course where keeping it in the fairway will be key. Starting Foursome: Adam Scott, Dustin Johnson, Tiger Woods, Graeme McDowell On the Bench: Zach Johnson, Ernie Els, Brandt Snedeker, Jason Dufner Jeff Palopoli is a frequent contributor to NEGM. His Fantasy Golf Picks can be found weekly on www.mynegm.com. He can be reached at jeff@goodwalkgolf.com.

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What the Pros are Saying About Belly Putters: "Right now I'm glad they haven't banned it. As long as it's legal, I'll keep cheating like the rest of them."

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"It's not just people looking for a cure for their bad putting, good putters are going to it too” - Jim Furyk

“It's clearly an easier, better way to putt." - James Driscoll

"It's like the two-handed backhand in tennis, twenty years ago, it was not the norm. Now it's the better way to go. The belly putter and the long putter are going to trend that way. Young kids are not going to be afraid to switch." - Brad Faxon

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What’s News

Six Bay State Golfers Punch Tickets to the 2012 U.S. Amateur Championship on August 13-17 at Cherry Hills Country Club (CO)

Norton, MA - One thing is for sure, the Bay State will be well represented at the 2012 U.S. Amateur Championship. Following a series of five qualifying rounds held at sites across New England this past month, a total of six local golfers managed to survive a grueling 36-hole qualifier and advance to Championship Proper, which will be held on August 13-17 at Cherry Hills Country Club (CO).

Chelso Barrett (Winchendon School) - the 2011 Christopher Cutler Rich MGA Junior Player of the Year secured his spot at what will be his third USGA Championship Proper of the 2012 season.

Ben Balter (Weston GC) – the 17 year old once again proved that he can play golf with the best of them.

Nick McLaughlin (Far Corner GC) the 18 year old who is coming oﬀ a stellar senior season at St. John’s Prep (Danvers) posted a medalist score of 4-over par 144 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut.

Matt Bianchini (Mount Pleasant CC) - after carding 11 birdies through 36 holes, it was only a matter of “by how many” strokes Bianchini would finish ahead of the rest of the field.

Ricky Stimets (Oyster Harbors) - after advancing to the quarterfinals of the 2012 Massachusetts Amateur Championship, Stimets qualified for the 2012 U.S. Amateur Championship.

Richy Werenski (e Orchards GC) home-course advantage never felt so good for this South Hadley resident. Werenski, who will be entering his junior year at Georgia Tech in the fall.

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S. ry

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What’s News - RIGA Tornaments Alpine's Jamison Randall is the 29th Stroke Play Championship In a classic battle at Alpine CC of two of the best players in Rhode Island Jamison Randall and Charlie Blanchard battled back and forth all day. Each player had the lead during the last nine holes until Charlie hit his second shot on the 54th hole over the green and didn't get up and down for par. Jamison hit his second shot on the green and two putted for the win. In the Senior division Quidnessett's George Donnell won by 8 strokes over Carnegie Abbey's Mike Schmidt.

Dickson wins 91st Junior Amateur Championship In impressive fashion Ledgemont's Will Dickson wins the 91st Junior Amateur Championship over Wannamoisett's Ethan Zexter 9 and 7. Will made 7 birdies and 1 conceded birdie in 11 holes to win going away. At 13 years old Mr. Dixon is the youngest player to win the RI Junior Amateur. 1st Division David Kraunelis def Corey Zegarzewski 5 and 4 2nd Division - Phil Caron def Joey Tucker 3 and 1 3rd Division - Sam Badeau def Eric Browne 5 and 3

112th U.S. Amateur Championship - Sectional Qualifying – Rehoboth Bobby Leopold shot 66-66-132 10 under par to claim the medalist spot at Crestwood CC. Australia's Ryan McCarthy was 1 behind at 9 under par after shooting 64 in the afternoon round. e third spot went to Brad Valois who birdied the first playoﬀ hole to beat out Brendan Lemp 1st Alternate and Charlie Blanchard 2nd Alternate. e 112th US Amateur will be played at Cherry Hills CC in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado August 13-19.

August 2012 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 69

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What’s News

John & Mary Mulcahy and Tom & Cora Bernier Capture Victories at the 2012 Massachusetts Father & Daughter Championship

Gloucester, MA - For the third straight year, the team of John Mulcahy (Hatherly CC) and Mary Mulcahy (Hatherly CC) can call themselves MGA Champions. On a perfect day at Bass Rocks Golf Club in Gloucester, the Mulcahy team posted a score of 2-over par 71 to claim the senior division title at the 2012 Massachusetts Father & Daughter Championship. Tom & Cora Bernier Capture Junior Division Title By One Stroke e smiles soon turned to tears for the team of Tom Bernier (Norton CC) and Cora Bernier (MGA Links) after they learned that they had captured the junior division title at the 2012 Massachusetts Father & Daughter Championship. It marked not only the first MGA Championship victory for the duo, but it also represented the first title they have won together as a team and the emotions were flowing over following the trophy ceremony.

Andy Drohen Captures the 2012 Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship; Marks His Fourth Career MGA Championship Title Hyde Park, MA — From start to finish, the 2012 Massachusetts Amateur Public Links. Under perfect conditions at George Wright Golf Course on Wednesday, Andy Drohen (Crestview CC) followed up his first-round score of 5-under par 65 with a dominating 3-under par 67 on Wednesday to capture the Ray C. Bump, Jr. Trophy by three strokes. It marks his fourth career MGA Championship title and his first since 2004.

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South Hadley's Richy Werenski Wins 56th Porter Cup at Niagara Falls Country Club; Earns Exemption Into the Masters of the Amateurs Tournament Norton, MA — Richy Werenski (Orchards GC) took his talents out of state earlier this month and captured one of the most prestigious titles in all of amateur golf. e 20 year old from South Hadley traveled to Niagara Falls Country Club, played incredible golf (he scored the second lowest score in tournament history) and collected the 54th Porter Cup. As a result of his victory, Werenski earned an exemption into the Masters of the Amateurs tournament at Royal Melbourne in Australia next January. e winner of the U.S. Amateur Championship, the Porter Cup and the Players Amateur each receive exemptions to Australia.

Please send your golf news to tim@nepubinc.com with pictures, links and / or videos.

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What’s News

Ali Prazak Captures Double Victory In RI Women’s Amateur

by Pam Borges

Divisional Winners Ali Prazak Championship Division Ashley Roggero 1st Division Geri Lisa

According to Trudy Dufault, founder of Ocean State Women’s Golf Association, “Seldom do you see a Medalist win the Championship Title.” Ali Prazak (Green Valley), a junior at Campbell University, NC, won both...Medalist in the qualifier and Championship Title Winner of the 2012 RI Women’s State Amateur, hosted by OSWGA and held at Cranston Country Club June 24-27. e tournament was open to all female golfers in RI, regardless of handicap. Participation was down compared to past years, because of scheduled conflict with other tournaments. Unfortunately, defending champion, Samantha Morrell, could not be there because she was competing in the Canadian Amateur. On the final day of match play Ali took the lead early with a birdie putt on the par 5, first hole. A little drama on the 3rd hole oﬀered Nancy a glimmer

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of hope to win the hole, as Ali’s second shot landed her in a hazard. While hitting her approach shot the head flew oﬀ her iron, but miraculously her ball landed on the green and she parred the hole for a tie. Another great recovery on the 6th ...after hitting her tee shot into trees, she hit a gorgeous 150-yd. recovery shot to the tiered green and 2 putted for par. Ali’s 225 yd. tee shots, precision on her approaches and great putting put her 5 up after nine holes. Advancing to the final round in the 1st Division was Ashley Roggero (Green Valley), a junior at Portsmouth H.S., and Kathy Mis (Weekapaug), a well respected long-time player in OSWGA. Kathy gave Ashley a run for her money playing through the 17th hole before Ashley defeated her 2/1. In the 2nd Division, Geri Lisa (Country View) defeated Deb Olsson (W. Warwick) 4/3.

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Jack Whelan Wins 45th Annual Francis Ouimet Memorial AUBURNDALE, MA— Jack Whelan held oﬀ a strong charge for a wire-towire victory in the 45th Francis Ouimet Memorial Tournament at Woodland Golf Club on Friday. e 19 year old St. Lawrence University sophomore from Myopia Hunt Club had a final round oneunder-par 71 for a five under par 211 and a one stroke margin over runner-up Colin Brennan of Indian Ridge. Whelan shared the lead at even par 72 after the first round at Ipswich CC on Wednesday, and had a two shot lead with a four under par 68 for the second round at the Golf Club at Turner Hill on ursday. e final round is always played at 6,721 yard Woodland Golf Club, Mr. Ouimet’s home course. Whelan came into the Ouimet Memorial ranked sixth in the MGA points system while Brennan was the points leader. Whelan said, “I wasn’t nervous coming into the final round and, at one point, was four under for the round.” He birdied the 1st, 6th and knocked it on the par five 11th and 12th holes in two to make birdie, but slipped back a little with bogeys at 15 and 16. Brennan,

a 23 year old senior at Johnson & Wales in Miami, was five strokes back at the start of the round and hit a hot steak with birdies on 10-13. He bogeyed 17, and sunk a 30 foot birdie putt at 18 to force Whelan to make par at 18 and hold on for the win. Jamison Randall of Alpine CC in Rhode Island had a 71 to finish third at 213. Dick King of Hyannis Golf Club, a 63 year old retired data consultant, came back from a tough start with a 220 total and a three shot victory in the Eddie Lowery Senior Division Megan Khang of South Shore CC, a 14 year old who is considered one of the top junior prospects in the US, shot a 69 to successfully defend her crown in the one-round women’s division. Julia Ford of Cyprian Keyes, who is also 14, was second at 71 while Kristin MacDonald of Thomson was third at 75. e Ouimet Memorial Tournament benefits the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund. www.ouimet.org

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EDITOR / PUBLISHER

Timothy R. Branco

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myNEGM.com August 2012 | Vol V. Issue VI

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Tom Gorman CONTRIBUTORS Tim Geary Greg Sampson John Lyon John Molori Pam Borges Alice Scott Bob DiCesare Laura Ebrecht Robert Martin Steve Riggs Kathleen Dyson Jeff Palopoli Matt Adams Emily Kay Jim Hammond Jack Ross Ed Travis Danny Scott Matt Hoeske Leigh McKay Jim Buckley Elisa Gaudet

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Gorman vs. Geary by Tom Gorman and Tim Geary

by Tom Gorman

Did the PGA Tour make a mistake changing Q school qualifying?

Even though the biggest pre-Labor Day buzz is who will make the top-100 Fed Ex Cup points and get to play in the Deutsche Bank Championship and possibly win a $10 million jackpot, Gorman vs Geary is stuck in neutral this month debating whether Q school is dead. at numbskull Geary came through with a brilliant revelation: getting through Q school is wicked, wicked hard! No wonder readers of his monthly drivel suggest changing the name from Gorman vs Geary to Dumb & Dumber! Before hyperventilating about Q school, which I don’t know or care anything about, let me vent about the nonstop chatter we hear every weekend from TV commentators. Shut the eff up! at means you Jim Nantz, Dan Hicks, Johnny Miller, Roger Maltbie, Nick Faldo, Brandel Chambly and all the talking heads on the tube, especially those who ruined coverage the U.S Open. Just zip it and let us watch golf….please! Am I the only one who thinks there are too many golf commentators with diarrhea of the mouth? With that said, I can now approach this Q school debate with a fresh bias. First, Q school is for losers! Does anyone really care whether the PGA Tour changed the requirements to earn a Tour card? Players having to go to Q school are not PGA Tour material. Most do not have the talent to be on the PGA Tour and it’s proven that the majority of players, who’ve earned their cards through Q school, will eventually lose it. Just take a peak at New Englanders who have been there, done that and now have floundering careers on the Nationwide a/ka Web.com Tour. Remember Geoff Sisk, Jim Renner, Brad Adamonis, Andy Morse, Tim Petrovic, Fran Quinn, Rob Oppenheim and Justin Peters? ese guys fell off the golf map and will never earn a PGA Tour card! In case you missed the July 10 PGA Tour announcement, the Web.com Tour Finals is a series of events that will debut in September 2013, pitting the developmental tour’s top earners against the bottom of the FedEx Cup

Tim Finchem points list. e top 25 money winners on the Web.com Tour entering the finals will receive Tour cards for the following season. e top 25 players who have the highest cumulative earnings in the finals will also receive PGA Tour cards. It’s written in English, but does anyone other than me need an interpreter? Is this the end of Q school as we once knew it? Yes. Is the change good? No. Is it impossible for a journeyman pro to find fame and fortune on the PGA Tour? Yes. Is the PGA Tour a billion dollar empire looking out for its own financial interests? Yes. Is the change noticeable to John Q Public golfer? No. Is the current crop of New England PGA Tour players in jeopardy? Yes. Is this a stupid topic to debate? Yes. Is Tim Geary still a dunce? Yes. Is the NEGM editor looking to hire two new writers? Yes. In conclusion, the Web.com Tour finals will stretch over several weeks, providing a more accurate assessment than Q-School's six days. e finals will lock out the outsiders who provide fresh blood to the PGA Tour. Players will have to earn FedEx Cup points or money on the Web.com Tour to make their way to the finals. is is unlike Q-School, at which an entry fee is the only requirement and denies good young players from making an immediate leap to the PGA Tour. Tim Finchem, the PGA Tour’s $5 million salary a year commissioner, has created a cluster mess. Finchem had a chance to make the system simple and clear but instead he consulted with advisors to Barack O’Bama. e new program is totally messed up, confusing and polarizing! Tom Gorman, a Boston-based freelance golf writer, has been known to have a messed up golf mind, especially concerning Q school, especially concerning Q school.

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Did the PGA Tour make a mistake changing Q school qualifying?

by Tim Geary

One of the most appealing aspects of the PGA Tour has always been rooted in “you get what you earn”. Play well and you get paid well. Play poorly and you go home with nothing in your pocket for that week except the expenses that you incurred,including having to pay your caddie. ere are no guarantees no matter who you are. e Tour card has always been similar to a driver’s license, which has to be renewed regularly. e PGA Tour’s version of this license has always been based, mainly on the money list. Finish in the top 125 (it used to be 60) and you keep your playing privileges for the next year. ere are exemptions (including thosefrom sponsors). Players who win a tournament get special consideration and those who win majors get major considerations. Of course anyone who wins even one tournament in a year usually earns enough money to finish in the top 125. When a young Tiger Woods turned pro, back in the mid-90s, sponsors were knocking each other over to give young Eldrick a spot in their event. Cash registers (you may be too young to remember what those were) rang like Big Ben. Tiger was an immediate success and earned enough money in a short season to finish in the top 125 and thus automatically be granted playing privileges for the next season. Had he not, and had the newly constructed system that Commissioner Tim Finchem and his minions have introduced been in place, Tiger would have had to ply his trade for a year in golf’s version of Triple A. Call it the Hogan, Nike, Nationwide, Web.com or whatever tour, it would have deprived fans of seeing the one player EVERYONE wanted to see. Had Tiger not made the top 125 back then he still likely would have earned his playing privileges for the next season because he would have gone to qualifying school. Now Q school is gone and while I’m not going to shed any tears, it just seems like a really stupid idea. Under these rules Rickie Fowler would have had to play a full year in the minors. So would Dustin Johnson and a bunch of other of the young guns who saved the

game while Tiger disappeared from the mountain top. ey earned their cards at Q school and thus did not have to slog along through a year on the Dot.com circuit (I know they need a sponsor, but they couldn’t get a better name?) e original idea of a minor league tour was a great one. ere are so many outstanding golfers coming out of junior programs these days that the PGA Tour needed another way for players to get to the big time, without having to circle the globe. A year or two on the Hogan/Nike/etc. Tour allowed those who, either had a bad week at Q School or needed to polish up a few things, a place to refine their skills and another avenue to the big time. It was also a place where those who lost their Tour playing privileges to retreat, regroup and have a shot at coming back, still able to earn a living and not forcingthem to return home and start trying to sell sweater vests in the pro shop. Options. Q School only came around once a year, so a PGA Tour sponsored minor league was a nice option. Why, oh why did Finchem decide to kill the Q School concept? How much money could it cost to run a tournament of this nature? How many hot shot All Americans are nowgoing to have to play on the obscure tour for a year despite the fact that they have the game and the nerves to play with the big boys? How many great young players are now going to follow Peter Uihlein and join the European Tour? Q School was tough. Somebody like Gorman would have shaken so badly that he would have stuck his tee in his ear before he got it into the ground. It was survival of the fittest and in many regards it wasn’t fair. Just like golf. Is its absence going to ruin golf? No, but it doesn’t make it any better either. Tim Geary is a R.I. based freelance writer. He once played a Q School course a few days after the tournament. e only card his score would have produced would have been the joker.

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