Tickets on sale June 18th through July 4th » New England’s premier golf tournament is a great place to be with family, friends, or to entertain clients. » Tickets will be available by logging on to dbchampionship.com or by calling 877-TIX-4DBC.
TPC Boston | Labor Day Weekend
2 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2010
The Passion. The Performance. The Playoffs.
The Road To The LPGA TOUR Starts Here.
The power and grace of women's professional golf hits Hartford. July 12-18, 2010 Wintonbury Hills Golf Course, Bloomfield, CT For Sponsorship & Tournament info visit: ingnewenglandgolfclassic.com
March 2010 | New England Golf Monthly | 3
Turner Hill. A priceless investment unlike any other!
A guaranteed return of dividends in treasured family memories, new friends, fun and entertainment. Turner Hill’s dynamic legacy and deep roots in the majestic history of the Rice Estate is just the beginning of what’s to come. Whether it is enjoying a round of golf on one of the finest golf courses in New England, admiring our historic mansion clubhouse or enjoying the ambiance and flavor of our upscale restaurants, we are enthusiastically committed to providing our members with the highest quality service. In 1898, noted turn of the century architect, William Rantoul was commissioned by Charles Goodnough and Ann Proctor Rice of Boston to build a grand home. ere they would raise their children and entertain their family and friends. An extensive tour of Europe's historic castles and manors provided the Rices and Mr. Rantoul with the exquisite vision and inspiration that you will find while visiting Turner Hill. Completed in 1903, the mansion boasts plaster hand-molded ceilings, vivid wall friezes, gleaming oak hardwood floors, hand-carved paneling, doors and stairways. As e Mansion sits humbly on its pedestal, please join us in remembering the past, by honoring the future. rough the always friendly environment, open doors, and limitless opportunities that Turner Hill creates, we can be assured that the honorable legacy started by the Rice family is being carried out and continued on a daily basis by the member owned Golf Club at Turner Hill.
Contact Information
e Golf Club at Turner Hill 3 Manor House Lane Ipswich, MA 01938 978.356.7070 www.turnerhill.com
Membership Information Reggie Lemelin 978-356-7070, x104 rlemelin@turnerhill.com
Spectacular views. Historic setting.
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In this issue MyNEGM.com March 2010 | Vol III. Issue I Publisher Timothy R. Branco Managing Editor Timothy R. Branco Design & Production CollectiveThoughtMedia.com
New England Golf Life Home on the Course Couple of Travelers Skins Game National Golf Expo Team New England on the Tours myNEGM Lesson Tee New England Golf Scene Gorman vs. Geary
8 12 14 18 27 32 34 40 52
Administration Mary L. Hullett FROM THE EDITOR
Contributors Tom Gorman Katherine Tim Geary Dyson Parker Smith Matt Adams John Lyon Jim Hammond Pam Borges Greg Sampson Jay Nomakeo Jeff Dantas Bob DiCesare John Molori Robert Martin Robert Skura Bill Geiring Barry Palm PGA TOUR PHOTOGRAPHER
Ken Dennis kendennisphoto.com
FASHION WRITER
Elle Brec ellebrecgolf@yahoo.com
SALES & MARKETING
Greg Sampson - Manager gsampson@NewEnglandGolfMonthly.com
CORPORATE SALES
Timothy Branco tbranco@NewEnglandGolfMonthly.com
Welcome Once Again to New England Golf Monthly We look forward once again to bringing you all the best in New England golf at the start of our third year. This year our editorial focus will be directed toward the “New England Golf Life” and all the things that surround the game. We will still provide the same great coverage at all levels of the game and just a bit more. Our new feature “New England Golf Life” will provide our readers with a monthly look each month at some of New England’s best places to live, work, and play the game. We will offer a bit of history and a profile from a golf prospective of what life is like in different regions throughout New England. Thank you for reading and please let us know your thoughts as always. Lets make it a great year, and one to remember in 2010. So dust off those clubs, get out to your local practice facility and prepare for a great season. The greatest thing about golf is also true about life, you get back what you put into it. Let the games begin.
REAL ESTATE SALES
Betsy Griffin betsy@NEHomefinder.com
New England Golf Monthly The New England Publishing Group, Inc. P.O. Box 357 Swansea, Ma 02777 800-736-9020
Timothy R. Branco Tbranco@newenglandgolfmonthly.com New England Golf Monthly is published 8 times yearly by The New England Publishing Group Inc. Reproduction of the contents, images and editorial is strictly prohibited without written permission from the publisher. Neither advertiser or publisher will be held liable for errors or omissions in any content of this publication. All rights reserved.
For product marketing distribution and/or direct mail information contact us at info@NewEnglandGolfMonthly.com
6 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2010
18 Hole SemiPrivate Course Pro Shop open to Public Golf Outings Available Starter: (401)842-0126
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Corporate Golf Events & Outings
Photos of the Most Dramatic Golf Venues
A complete Gallery of Golf Tournaments Browse and enjoy the images available at
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Ken Dennis
Veteran PGA Tour Photographer
March 2010 | New England Golf Monthly | 7
New England Golf Life
by the Bay By NEGM Staff
narragansett Bay is new england’s largest estuary with over 400 miles of coastline. there are over 30 islands throughout the bay, the largest being aquidneck island. the east side of the bay is home to some of the finest golf courses in new england with a rich history dating back to the very beginning of golf in america. back to the original colonies. Communities like Newport, Bristol and Providence are at the heart of this beautiful region. In a 20-mile stretch you can play 15 great golf courses designed by the best of the best, Donald Ross, Geoffrey Cornish, Arthur Hill, Drew Rogers, Donald Steel, A.W.Tillinghast, Willie Park Jr. e East Bay oozes golf history with some of the most challenging courses you will find anywhere. So lets start out at the mouth of the bay at e Newport C.C. Surrounded by the mansions of the 12mile drive. e club sits as a stately reminder of a time in history that marked opulence and style. Newport is a private club with a very rich history. e Club has hosted numerous U.S. Amateur Championships as well as U.S. Opens. Just minutes away is Newport National G.C. one of the finest public golf facilities in New Eng-
photo: Chris Hunter
e first U.S. Amateur Championship and the first U.S. Open held in 1895 at Newport C.C. got it all started in the City By e Sea, Newport. Over the next 115 years the East Bay of Rhode Island became home to some of the greatest private and public golf courses in the world. If you love golf then living in the East Bay is as close to golf heaven as you can ever get in New England. Mild winters offer playing conditions that stretch out to nearly 9 months of the year with plenty of winter golf at many facilities year round. e region offers an unmatched quality of life with some of the finest seaside homes, fantastic beaches and unlimited choices to some of the world’s best dining and entertainment. e East Bay is home to 10 small cities and towns that capture the essence of history and charm that dates
land. Arthur Hills and Drew Rogers designed this masterpiece along the Sakonnet Passage of Narragansett Bay overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It offers breathtaking views of the bay and feels like the coast of Ireland instead of Rhode Island. As you make your way north on Aquidneck Island you will find another exquisite private course in Wanumentonomy G.C. which looks to the bay. West and less than a driver away Green Valley Country Club is a semi private gem in Middletown. Just minutes up the road is e Carnegie Abbey Club, one of the most exclusive private golf course communities built anywhere in the northeast. e course, residences and amenities of this waterfront mecca spare no expense in creating the perfect oasis of unprecedented luxury. Just a few miles as the crow flies in Portsmouth is Montaup C.C. this bayside semi private course offers some of the most spectacular views in the region. Across the bay in a very small and rural location sits Sakonnet G.C. a great seaside Donald Ross design just minutes from Ross’ summer retreat home in Little Compton. On the north end of the Bay in Barrington, R.I. you will find Rhode Island C.C. a great and historic private club that played host to 4 USGA Championships and is home to the CVS Caremark Charity
Classic each year hosted by PGA Tour Players Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade. is course is a Donald Ross creation built in 1911 with its final 4 finishing holes alongside Narragansett Bay. As you travel up the bay the courses are just as magnificent with another great Donald Ross design built in 1901, Metacomet C.C., one of the East Bays finest private courses. Just over the R.I. line Swansea C.C., one of the regions best Cornish designs, is a great facility as well. As we venture closer to the city of Providence there is Agawam Hunt in Rumford, another great private club built in 1897, and e Wannamoisett C.C. still another Ross design in 1914 where the 1931 PGA Championship was played and yearly host the prestigious Northeast Amateur each year. e East Bay of Rhode island will offer you some of the best golf choices in the country. Living here with all the region has to offer is truly very special. From million dollar estates and country club homes to moderately priced residences from $200,000 and less fit a very broad range of lifestyles. e Bay, ocean beaches, great parks, the golf, restaurants and cultural attractions make this region a New England gem.
the View newport c.c. newport national g.c. wanmentonomy g.c. green Valley c.c. montaup c.c. carnegie abbey c. c. rhode island c.c. metacomet c.c. agawam hunt c.c. wannamoisett c.c. sakonnet c.c. swansea c.c.
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March 2010 | New England Golf Monthly | 9
Barrington
A Wedge Away Newport C.C. After playing Newport Country Club you just have to do it up right. In downtown, I recommend Bowen’s Wharf, e Mooring, Black Pearl or maybe the Clarke Cook House on Bannister’s Warf. It’s waterfront dining at its best in the City By e Sea after a great round at one of New England’s most enjoyable tracks. Newport National G.C. You can enjoy a great drink on the deck overlooking the course at Newport National, but for great eats and libations take a short ride to K.J’s Pub for fantastic food and drinks and watch some golf on the tube. Wanumetonomy, Green Valley, both courses have great food and excellent facilities but if you’re in the mood for a little Tex/ Mex and margarita’s then a sure bet is Tito's Cantina Mexican Grill just minutes away. Carnegie Abbey Club If you got to play on this spectacular Donald Steel designed masterpiece then by all means enjoy one the best drinking and dinning experiences you will ever have. e food, the views, the atmosphere is incredible. Montaup C.C. or Sakonnet e Boathouse Restaurant is located just a short distance from both courses and offers excellent drinks and waterfront dining in a casual setting along the Sakonnet River. Rhode Island Country Club If you are lucky enough to get to play here then enjoy the entire experience and eat drink and be merry. Just a stones throw away is the Tyler Point Grill, which is a local favorite that offers fantastic seafood and pasta dishes. Metacomet, Wannamoisett, Agawam Hunt All their courses offer great food and drinks but let’s be real here. You are just minutes from Federal Hill the capitol of the world when it comes to the best Italian food anywhere. It’s time for some carb loading, take your pick they’re all great. Swansea C.C. After a great round at Swansea on one of my favorite Cornish designs you can take a two minute ride to e Cornerstone Pub for some of the best in local eats. If you’re looking for waterfront dining and great seafood then the Wharf Tavern in Warren R.I. is a great choice.
10 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2010
Enjoy beauty and tranquility in this timeless, classic Dutch Colonial situated in the heart of Rumstick Point. Private two acres with seaside gardens, sweeping lawns and deep water dock.Only two miles from one of Rhode Island’s finest golf courses. $3,900,000
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Enjoy all Carnegie Abbey has to offer - marina, world-class golf, tennis, and exclusive bayside members club house.
Featured as the 2006 Coastal Living Magazine’s “Idea House,” this beautiful and timeless Cape Cod design home with Narragansett Bay views is a turn-key purchase. Also available is an abutting 1-acre lot. $6,990,000
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Live like you are on vacation, play golf, tennis swim or workout in the health club or walk on the beach and have a gourmet or casual dinner in the club house.
Enjoy spectacular Golf & ocean views from this 2 BR, 2 bath, first floor condo. Spacious living/dining room with fireplace, plantation shutters, Large Master bedroom features many built-ins & bath with jetted bathtub,2 decks 1 car garage. Now asking $324,500
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Home on the Course by Larry Gavrich
Play where you live: Golf buffet at your doorstep in Myrtle Beach When New England golfing buddies think about the best places to pig out on golf for a week, Myrtle Beach, SC, is top of mind. As the east coast’s grandest golf smorgasbord, the Grand Strand, as it’s known, features 100 good to excellent courses within just 45-minutes of the beach. Because of an iffy economy and brutal competition among golf clubs in Myrtle Beach, vacationing golfers can now live where they play, and at pension-friendly prices. Home prices along the Grand Strand are at their lowest in nearly a decade and golf clubs have cut their initiation fees, or dropped them altogether. Beyond golf, most communities in the Myrtle Beach area offer the full range of amenities, including pools, fitness centers, tennis and one of the east coast’s best beaches just minutes away. If you are considering a vacation home or retirement home with excellent golf almost literally at your doorstep, consider these two winners in Myrtle Beach.
e Legends Golf Resort offers a wide range of real estate options, from condominiums to private, single-family enclaves, and with prices ranging from the high $200s for homes and from under $90,000 for a lot. Golf variety is also second to none on the Grand Strand, with three courses on site and another two good ones -– Heritage Plantation and Oyster Bay -– an easy drive away. Among the most popular with visiting golfers, e Legends’ Heathland, Moorland and Parkland courses present different panoramas and challenges, but share great conditions, one of the best practice facilities on the east coast (some areas are lighted for nighttime practice), and professional service that some fully private clubs should envy. Real Estate: (800) 503-9901 Golf: (800) 299-6187
e Barefoot Resort boasts an eclectic assemblage of courses by some of the game’s best modern designers -- Davis Love III, Pete Dye, Tom Fazio and Greg Norman. e layouts are true to the design styles of each. e Norman course’s large fairways dare you to grip it and rip, but well-protected green complexes require extra effort on the approach shots. Fazio’s cloverleaf fairway bunkers stand ready to gobble up slightly errant tee shots, and Pete Dye’s fairway moguls threaten to send even a good tee shot bounding off to the rough. e Love Course is notable for its sleek design and ruins of a plantation home behind the 4th green that actually come into play and can salvage shots played beyond the green. Barefoot’s 2,300 acres encompasses all styles of homes, with high-rise condominiums that begin in the $200s, home sites from the mid $100s and single-family homes generally from the high $300s. Real Estate: (866) 901-1698. Golf: (866) 638-4818
12 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2010
Couple of Travelers by Alice and Danny Scott
Florida is for the birds!
To enter e PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, turn left on Perfect Drive, lined with pin oaks, palmettos and pines. In danger of extinction, tall sand cranes abound as bald eagles soar, along with magnificent blue herons, white cranes, and egrets. Snowbirds contribute to the state economy, hoping as all golfers for the grand birdies on the course. Golfers, not in danger of extinction, flock to e PGA Village. e onsite PGA Historical Center is a fantastic golf museum, displaying the Ryder Cup, Donald Ross’ 1900’s workbench and much more. Admission is free but the exhibits and trivia are priceless. A good reminder for all is displayed as Walter Hagen’s testimony of ’67: “You’re only here for a short visit. Don’t hurry, don’t worry, and be sure to smell the flowers along the way.” All three courses at e PGA Village are truly wonderful, starting with the easy Ryder course. Flat like
14 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2010
Florida’s overall terrain, the wide fairways are lined with nicely landscaped homes. e Pete Dye course is more challenging, with his expected fairway undulations. Everglades or marshland blend with natural cart paths to frame the course. Depth perception is distorted. Difficulty in determining the best shot placement is a cornerstone of Pete Dye designs. Afternoon play on Wanamaker was a case of saving the best for last. A gorgeous, intriguing course, with natural water hazards, elevation and pot bunkers on steroids, Wanamaker resulted in higher scores and bigger thrills. We “wanna” go back for more. e learning facility is a wonderland of golf. It features 2 driving ranges with 110 tee boxes, multiple greens from various time periods, 9 practice bunkers with distinct varieties of sand, a fine restaurant and great golf shop. A morning till 9pm day pass for $25 makes this the utopia for golf practice. Training options are unmatched from a technological and personal experience viewpoint. ey say consistency is more important than the putting score. So maybe consistent golf isn’t an oxymoron? e focus is on individual physical capabilities. One goal is to make hips act like whips. Golfers come from near and far to earn a degree or tweak their game. Several international golf teams have attended the program to prepare for the 2012 Olympics. e Hilton Garden Inn serves hot morning beverages in the lobby. eir Sam Snead restaurant is a great tribute to the legendary namesake, including a photo of Sam with Andy Griffith, toting birds after a hunting expedition. Just 30 minutes from the beach, e PGA Village is a destination for every true golfer. To vacation, live or to winter, if you ever thought about Florida, now is the time to join the birds.
2010 PEI
International Couples Festival July 8th-12th 2010 by Alice and Danny Scott
Where can you take your soul mate for a fun and unique experience? PEI - Prince Edward Island’s International Couples Golf Festival! Celebrate your passion for golf, great food and entertainment with couples from all over the world. PEI is one of the top golfing destinations, recently seen on Golf Channel’s ”Big Break.” e island is unmatched in scenery and unrivaled in lobster, mussel, and oyster dining. Nike is the title sponsor for 2010, giving away his and her golf shoes to the first 100 couples who register. (A $300 value) is is a festival more than a competition with many activities available besides golf. It begins with a wonderful reception on ursday, July 8th where you meet participating couples from around the globe.
Enjoy three rounds of golf on your choice of host courses and four nights of luxury accommodations in one of 3 hotel choices. Shuttle service is included to the courses and 19th hole parties where entertainment, smiles and great service define “Island Hospitality.” e grand finale includes a Lobster feast, golf prizes, wooden spoons, music and friendships that will last a lifetime. As spring arrives, so does the anticipation of summer. e PEI Couples Festival will be a highlight of ours. Join us in this truly wonderful vacation experience and sign up now, as there will be no mulligan on the free shoes. Golf PEI will arrange all details of your island experience, or you can customize the trip yourself. Check out the Festival at www.golfpei.ca/couples.
March 2010 | New England Golf Monthly | 15
Good Looks on the Course
by Elle Brec
e 2010 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, FL had great energy and remains the world’s most influential golf trade show and the global summit for the golf industry. It is survival of the fittest, those companies that best adapt to the changing conditions, have survived the market, and in turn, come out with better, more innovative products. e clothing from years past is no longer going to cut it in this new day and age. We are bored of wearing the same golf clothing that we have for years. We want new looks and feels that use cutting edge technology and don’t necessarily scream, “golf course only.” Playing golf is part of a lifestyle and apparel needs to create synergies with this lifestyle. Highlights of the show included leaders such as Ron McPherson, President and CEO of Antigua of Peoria, AZ, who explained to me the innovations of his company. He elaborated on their popular Desert-Dry and Desert Dry-Xtra Lite technologies. SunIce, a longtime expert and leader in the technical outerwear industry has a great leader, Mark Fletcher. As president of the Fletcher Leisure Group of Quebec, Canada, Fletcher is dedicated to creating innovative designs. Heidi, an expert on three of SunIce’s marketleading fabrics that utilize the technology of GORE-TEX®, X-Static® and FlexVent®, demonstrated to me the new 2010 Sunice® Outerwear Collection, which showcases golf wear that embodies the perfect fusion of science and fashion-forward style.
16 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2010
Iconic Sport, of San Francisco, CA, founded and designed by former NASA engineer, Leslie Chow, is positioned for upscale golfers, emphasizing sophisticated style along with performance enhancement. With degrees from both MIT and Stanford, Chow is an avid multi-sport athlete with a passion for luxury performance wear. Fairway & Greene, EP Pro and Zero Restriction make up Summit Golf Brands, and President and CEO Andy Bell is another great leader in the industry. Fairway & Greene is widely acknowledged as the best in the high-end green-grass apparel market. The company tastefully blends classic looks with modern trends in order to capture a feeling that is as new as it is wearable. In numerous interviews, many of the Presidents, CEOs, and Founders had the most extensive knowledge of their products and what differentiates their companies from others. ey are not on some pedestal, they roll up their sleeves and significantly contribute to the success of the company. 2010 is going to be very exciting year for golf fashion. e new innovations and quality of products on the market are sure to enhance the golf lifestyle. It was a special experience to get a sneak peak of the apparel and accessories that will invigorate and inspire everyone to get on the course as much as possible this spring.
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March 2010 | New England Golf Monthly | 17
The Skins Game by Katharine Dyson
Cranwell Resort, Spa and Golf Club For a grand resort experience where the golf course and spa are within a wedge shot from the front entrance try Cranwell Resort, Spa and Golf Club. Sitting atop a crest in the Berkshire Mountains in western Massachusetts, the imposing brick mansion is an elegant, refined grand dame from the gilded age (circa 1884). Such an imposing hotel might hint at being a tad pretentious. It isn't. From the reservations clerk to the wait staff in the Wyndhurst and Music Room restaurants, they could not be more friendly or helpful. Gotta love that. Much of the food served is grown locally on family farms and their wine list is extensive from the expensive to an Adelsheim Pinot Gris from Oregon ($33) or Cranwell's Private Label Cab ($28). Be sure to save room for their Classic Crème Brulee. It's sinful. At Sloane's Tavern adjacent to the Pro Shop, build your own sandwich or go big with a Sloane Cowboy Steak accompanied by a micro-brewed beer or a glass of wine (from $7 a glass). Book one of the 114 rooms or suites in the hotel, restored cottages, duplex townhouses or the carriage house, all are very different, some with fireplaces, some with whirlpool. Rates from $205 per room including use of the spa.
Golf Course
A Chip Away
Spreading out below the mansion is the pretty parkland-style 18-hole golf course. When I first played it a few years ago, it was pretty rough. Today it's a course of a different color. Designed in 1926 by Wayne Stiles and John Van Kleek, the course received a major $1 million renovation in 1993 vastly improving the conditions and layout. Easily walkable with gentle ups and downs, it's not a long track at 6,204 yards, but several elevated greens may require adding a club or two to reach them. e 60-acre Cranwell Golf School with its indoor learning center, the largest in the northeast, offers the latest in instructional facilities and equipment.
Minutes away is the Tanglewood Music Center, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra since 1937. After golf, as the sun sets over the Berkshire Hills, bring a picnic and some folding chair, find a piece of real estate on the lawn, and relax as music of Beethoven, Strauss, Mozart and other classic composers fills the night air. Seats also available in "e Shed." Lawn tickets $9 to $21; Shed from $20. www.bso.org
Spa at Cranwell e 35,000 square foot Spa at Cranwell is a wow with 16 treatment rooms, Spa Café, Spa Suites with fireplaces and saunas along with a 5,000-square-foot Fitness Center with a 60-foot indoor lap pool. Fifty spa services range from soothing massages to exotic "body envelopment experiences" using seaweed and thermal clay. e Hot Stone Massage delivers a double whammy combining deep penetrating heat of warmed smooth stones with warm oil and aromatherapy. Also popular is the Deep Tissue Massage with Moist Heat, perfect to sooth sore muscles.
18 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2010
Golf Package Unlimited Golf Package from $190 per person includes accommodations, one day unlimited golf with cart, range balls, $20 dining credit and full use of Spa.
Insider Knowledge Upon looking up at the carved cherry wood ceiling in Cranwell's circular dining room , President William McKinley was so impressed he had it replicated in the Oval Office of the White House.
Information: www.cranwell.com
March 2010 | New England Golf Monthly | 19
-Granite Links Named-
Course of the Year On Thursday, February 11, 2010, at the National Golf Course Owners Association Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA, Granite Links Golf Club was recognized as winner of the organization’s “2010 Course of the Year” for the New England region.
The Course of the Year Award honors member clubs that demonstrate excellence across four criteria:
• Exceptional quality of the course, • Exceptional management, • Outstanding contribution to its community, and • Significant contribution to the game.
GRANITE LINKS GOLF CLUB AT QUARRY HILLS THE TAVERN AT GRANITE LINKS GOLF CLUB
(617) 689-1900 | www.granitelinksgolfclub.com
A Good Read by William Mathews Tempo by John Michael Saraceno
Local New England teaching pro, JOHN MICHAEL SARACENO has written a new book entitled Tempo, Heartbeat of the Golf swing. In his book, the author draws from years of teaching experience to provide the reader with a formula to enable him to add the "missing link" of tempo to their respective swings. Any golfer who has ever flailed at a golf ball can appreciate the need for better timing in his or her swing. In fact tempo seems to be the one common denominator of all the touring pros. Fred Couples, for example, is a human metronome, who despite turning fifty, still bombs the ball with the best.
ere is Something About Munie by Bobby Steiner Steiner's book Munie is about the author's experiences at a North Carolina Municipal course somewhere along "tobacco road." Despite a lack of background in the game of golf, Bobby has determined much in his search to learn the game. Reading between the lines, Bobby's mission is not generously endowed with financial backing. He's not Playing Pinehurst No. 2 and getting lessons from Butch Harmon and David Ledbetter. Instead, his path to excellence involves playing the local municipal course and getting his instruction from whatever sources are available.
How Great Golfers ink by Bob Skura e book is actually quite unique. Instead of boring you with a typical instruction manual filled with golf psychology jargon, author Bob Skura has literally taken a 'novel' approach to explaining the mental golf skills that can lower your scores by writing How Great Golfers ink as a fictional story. e book merges the performances of the world's greatest golfers with the findings of the world's premier psychologists in such a way that you, as a reader, feel like one of the participating characters.
- One of Southern New England’s most Pristine Private Golf Clubs -
Now taking applications for 2010 Golf Membership
- Private 18 hole- Par 72 championship layout - Driving Range and complete Practice Area - Clubhouse, Locker room , Dining facilities - Only 15 minutes from Providence - Single, Family and Corporate memberships
Initiation Fee for 2010 is waived! (w/ advance payment)
For membership details 508-824-9110 ext 11 or Segregansett@comcast.net
Segregansett
country club
85 Gulliver Street Taunton, MA 02780
508-824-9110
www.segregansett.com Since 1893
March 2010 | New England Golf Monthly | 21
22 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2010
Liberty Mutual Invitational to Benefit the DAV of MA JUNE 4, 2010 AT BLUE HILL CC IN CANTON, MA Beginning in 2010, Liberty Mutual has assumed title sponsorship of the nationwide golf tournament program previously known as the Cadillac Invitational, the largest corporately sponsored amateur charity golf event in the world. e program, now called e Liberty Mutual Invitational, consists of 72 local events, each benefiting a charitable organization. In addition to Liberty Mutual, the event is sponsored nationally by: TaylorMade/Adidas, Polaroid, Sports Vision Eyewear, Golf Digest and Pinehurst Resort.
Entering its 23rd season, the Liberty Mutual Invitational program has raised over $130 million for charity. e winning team from each local event earns an invitation to the Liberty Mutual Invitational National Finals at Pinehurst, March 10-14, 2011, to compete for the national championship.
June 4, 2010 at Blue Hill CC Please contact us for Sponsorship Opportunities or to sign up for this event. Limited to the first 32 teams who sign up. Last year’s event was a complete sell out.
Contact Dan Stack | 508-735-7543 | dstack@davma.org March 2010 | New England Golf Monthly | 23
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Welcome to the 2010 National Golf Expo! is has been a long winter for us, so we are extremely excited that spring is just around the corner. As we begin the month of March we also look forward to the start of the new golf season. This year’s Expo brings many opportunities for New England’s golfers to get ready to hit the course. Shop a selection of your favorite retailers. Sample the newest products. Plan a golf vacation to a new destination or an old favorite. e Golf Expo is your resource to try the newest equipment, shop the best bargains, learn the latest tips, and simply enjoy an entertaining day out. Be sure to stop by our all new Fitness Pavilion to learn fitness tips and try some training aids that will help get you in the best shape for the season! Don’t miss the indoor driving range where you can loosen up that swing, and while you’re at it get some personalized tips from the “NEPGA Tune Up With a Pro”. We’ve also brought back three of your favorite golf prosKaren Palacios-Jansen, Frank omas, and Eric Lastowka. Check the seminar schedule and stop by one of their presentations to learn from the best. is is just our third year at the Seaport World Trade Center and we’re thrilled to be back. is spectacular location in South Boston provides the perfect atmosphere to get us all is the mood for warmer weather and the exciting golf season ahead! ank you for attending the National Golf Expo. Enjoy your visit and please feel free to send your comments and thoughts about the show!
Jim Smith Show Director jsmith@paragonexpo.com
26 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2010
National Golf Expo 2010 Seminar Schedule Demonstration Stage
Friday, March 5, 2010 1:30 – 2:00 2:30 – 3:00 3:30 – 4:00 4:30 – 5:00 5:30 – 6:00
Karen Palacios-Jansen Cleveland Golf Frank omas Karen Palacios Jansen Cleveland Golf
"Cure Your Slice" “Scoring Clinic – Understanding Loft and Bounce” “Technology, Club Selection and Putting” "Increase Flexibility: Increase Distance-Golf Specific Stretches” "Scoring Clinic – Which Loft Should You Use”
Saturday, March 6, 2010 10:30 – 11:00 11:15 – 11:45 12:00 – 12:30 12:45 – 1:15 1:30 – 2:00 2:15 – 2:45 3:00 – 3:30 3:45 – 4:15 4:30 – 5:00 5:00 – 5:15
Cleveland Golf Eric Lastowka Karen Palacios-Jansen Frank omas Eric Lastowka Karen Palacios-Jansen Cleveland Golf Frank omas Karen Palacios-Jansen Eric Lastowka
“Scoring Clinic – Make the Club Work for You” “Improve Balance – Improve Power” “e New Golf Swing for Women” “How Technology Can Help Your Game” “Build a Bigger Swing” “Shape Up Your Body – Improve Your Golf Game-Golf Specific Exercises” "Scoring Clinic – How Many Wedges Should You Carry” “How to Improve Your Putting” “How to Practice to Groove a Consistent Swing” “How to Hit a Driver Better”
Sunday, March 7, 2010 11:00 – 11:30 11:45 – 12:15 12:30 – 1:00 1:15 – 1:45 2:00 – 2:30 2:45 – 3:15 3:30 – 4:00
Karen Palacios Jansen Frank omas Cleveland Golf Karen Palacios Jansen Frank omas Cleveland Golf Karen Palacios Jansen
"Cure Your Slice" “How Technology Can Help Your Game” “Scoring Clinic - Which Wedge is Right for You" "e New Golf Swing for Women" "How to Improve Your Putting " "Scoring Clinic - e Wedge is Your Friend" "Increase Flexibility: Increase Distance – Golf Specific Stretches"
March 2010 | New England Golf Monthly | 27
28 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2010
March 2010 | New England Golf Monthly | 29
National Golf Expo Exhibitors 2010 Exhibitor e Ankle Caddy A & A Services Adams Golf Adirondack Golf Aline Systems AMICA Audi & Audi Quattro Cup Big Skinny Sport Wallets Birdie G Media Blackstone National Golf Club PGA Preferred Golf Course Insurance Bridgestone Golf Callaway Golf Company Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce/CVB Classic Golf Gifts Cleveland Golf e Ultimate Coastal Golf Experience Jet Blue Challenge Cutting Edge Promotional Products Cyprian Keyes Golf Club Deutsche Bank Championship Precision Sport Eyewear Owl's Head Ecco Florida Golf Glen Ellen Country Club umb Caddy Golf Ball Retrieval Golf ME Golf Scotland of New England Golf 'n Gamble Golf Vermont Tourism Assoc. GolfDiscount.com GolfNow.com Golfology Golftec Boston Greater Ocean City Golf Assoc. Greene County, NY -Golf Haystack Golf Club Inn Season Resorts Jay Peak Golf Club Jekyll Island, Georgia Joe & Leigh's Discount Golf Pro Shop Juniper Hill Golf Course Killington G. C./Green Mountain Kings Creek Lake Morey Resort Lawrence Boys and Girls Club Magnetic Connections Rochester, NY Maine's Golf Trifecta Massachusetts Golf Association Meadow Creek Golf Club Musty Putters My Brother's Keeper $1 Million Hole-in-One Myrtle Beach Golf and Resort Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday New England Custom Putting Greens New England Golf Guide New England Picture.com Nike Golf Nonesuch River Golf Club Ocean State Golf/Parmor Orchards Golf Club Owens Corning Owl's Nest Resort & Golf Club Palmers Global Magnetic erapy
Booth 646 307 852 627 537 327 218 644 657 909 527 952 834 506 618 818 433 609 611 930 403 518 411 428 712 636 303 304, 645 812 517 904 626 306 334 934 204 633 520 627 514 622 530 333 405 625 436 624 803 649 813 519 413 412 651 533 608 511 338 521 858 814 534 437 708 613 417
30 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2010
Exhibitor Pembroke Country Club Penguin Windows Point Sebago Resort Pound Ridge Golf Club Exclusive Links Cards EZ Ball Stamp Province Lake Golf MWVCC/Road to the Links Robert T. Lynch Municipal Golf Course Sands Ocean Club Sandy Burr Country Club Saratoga National Golf Club Softspikes/Pride Golf Tee Bat Caddy-Electric Golf Caddy Sports Auctions for Charity Stowe Country Club Sugarloaf Sunday River Resort Stay & Play on Cape Cod T & S Golf TaylorMade Performance Labs Jgolf Texas Bound For Golf e Bethel Inn Resort e Golf Zone e Ledges Golf Club e Links at Outlook e Net Return T-Mobile Town & Country Motor Inn Vacation Village Resorts Wellzher Corp. Worldwide Golf Vacations Golf Pride Grips International Clubmakers Guild Barbados Tourism Authority Silverleaf Resorts Maui Jim e Eye Care Center Historic Golf Photo's Pro Play Sports New England PGA New England Amateur Tour Fairway Franks e Orange Whip Trainer 92 Percent San Buenas Golf Resort Massage Inc. Travel for Golf Frankly Golf Direct Air Golf Fitness Magazine Golfing Magazine Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts ASAP Signs Hog Wild Shades New York Life Position Stick Golf Traing Aide P3Pro Swing Par Fore the Cure/e Golf Ball Tournament Headquarters Golf Channel Amateur Tour Metro Mini Links of Sharon, MA e First Tee of New Hampshire New England Golf Monthly
Booth 635 529 810 621 336 643 418 504 308 629 434 414 641 634 421 623 811 809 630 704, 617 538 324 620 808 918 807 805 312 322 407 804 424 907 212 214 311 313 318 318 328 350 356 356 422 427 435 449 510 522 524 536 550 612 628 638 638 650 652 661 706 911 911 342 420 607
March 2010 | New England Golf Monthly | 31
Team New England On The Tours Billy Andrade, PGA (RI) Billy has had a few difficult years and has traded the driver for a microphone and taken a position with the Golf Channel in broadcasting for 10 PGA Tour Events and 5 Champions Tour events in the tower and out on the course at 2010 events. Brad Faxon, PGA (RI) Brad has played in 5 events already this season the Sony, Bob Hope, Northern Trust, AT&T and e Mayakoba . He made his first cut last week in Mexico at the Mayakoba and finished tied for 55th. He will be working hard to get his game to the next level. Brett Quigley, PGA (RI) Brett has had a solid start to his 2010 season making 4 0f 5 cuts right out of the gate. He finished 71 on the money list in 2009 with $1,412,780 in earnings. Count on more of the same Brett has been a consistent performer with a solid game. Kevin Johnson, PGA (MA) After a great year on the Nationwide tour with victories at the Rex Hospital Open and e Knoxville Open Kevin finished up 2009 at 13th on the Nationwide Tour Money list earning over $250,000. 2010 is his rookie year on the PGA Tour and 5 events he has made 2 cuts and over $35,000.
Anna Grzebien, LPGA (RI) In 2009 Anna played in 20 events in her rookie season and made 14 cuts. She had a career best 13th place finish at the CVS Pharmacy/ LPGA Challenge and finished the season 64th on the money list. Look for a strong year from Anna in 2010 Liz Janangelo, LPGA (CT) After a year on the Duramed Futures Tour finishing 18th on the money list Liz is back on the LPGA Tour. She shot 1 over in the final round of Q school at the LPGA International Club carding a 16th place tie in the LPGA Q School final. Good luck this year Liz.
32 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2010
Fran Quinn, PGA (MA) Fran had a great season on the Nationwide Tour in 2009 with a win at the Albertsons Boise Open. He finished the year 25th on the Nationwide Tour Money list and moved up to the PGA Tour. In 2010 he has already had a top 25 finish at the Mayakoba with a tie for 23rd. Tim Petrovic, PGA (MA) Tim has had a slow start this year not making a cut in the 5 events. In 2009 he had a great year with 6 top 10 finishes and 10 in the top 25 earning him over $1,5000.000 in tour earnings for the year finishing 89th on the Tour Money List. James Driscoll, PGA (MA) Jim has full status on the PGA Tour after a great year in 2009 that earned him over $800,000. Finishing 112 on the money list. He has played in 3 events thus far in the 2010 season and has made 1 cut in the Farmers Insurance Open. J.J. Henry, PGA (CT) In 28 events played in 2009 J.J. was sharp, making 22 cuts and posting 3 top ten finishes, and 7 in the top 25 for $1,161,641 finishing 83rd on the money list. He has played 4 events this year and made 2 cuts. Look for J.J. to have another great year. Dana Quigley, Champions (MA) In 2009 Dana played in 12 events. His 8-year streak came to a halt at the Senior British Open when a nagging hip injury forced him out. His streak of 264 in a row may be hard to ever reach again for anyone in the game. He has played in just 2 events in 2010 thus far Allen Doyle, Champions (RI) Allen played in 21 events on the Champion Tour in 2009, he had 4 top 25 finishes and his best for the year was t20 at the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf. He has played in three events thus far in 2010.
SPONSORED BY Trevor Murphy, Nationwide (VT) Trevor is a rookie on the Nationwide Tour in 2010 after a t78 finish in QSchool. He has played 2 events in 2010 thus far with his best finish being t10 at the Moonah Classic. He ranks 16th in Money Leaders on the Nationwide Tour. Rob Oppenheim, Nationwide (MA) Rob is a rookie with full status on the Nationwide Tour in 2010 after a t64 finish in Q-School. He has played in 2 events thus far in 2010 with his best finish of t23 coming at the Michael Hill New Zealand Open. Rob is currently 37th on the money list. Geoff Sisk, Nationwide (MA) Geoff has held status on both the PGA Tour and Nationwide Tours throughout his career. In 2009 he made 16 of 26 cuts finishing 66th on the money list with $93,899 in official earnings. His first event in 2010 is the Panama Claro Championship, which was in progress when this issue went to press. Justin Peters, Nationwide (MA) Justin is a rookie on the Nationwide Tour in 2010 with partial status via the 2009 Q-School tournament. He has not played in an event thus far in 2010 but look for him to take advantage of every opportunity he gets. Most notably he won the first ever Big Break on the Golf Channel. Brad Adamonis, Nationwide (RI) Brad has a few events in 2010 that he has a medical exemption for on e PGA Tour from 2009. If in any of these events he finished close to the top he could regain his card for this year. He has played into both e Farmers and AT&T but missed the cut in both. He will be playing limited PGA Events but has full status on Nationwide Tour. Patrick Sheehan, Nationwide (RI) Patrick played 15 events of e PGA Tour and 13 on e Nationwide Tour with a win in Athens Georgia and total winnings on the year of over $440,000. Patrick has full status on the Nationwide Tour and missed the cut in his first two events.
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It’s FREE. visit Booth #607 or myNEGM.com March 2010 | New England Golf Monthly | 33
myNEGM Lesson Tee by Steve Riggs
Just because they can play doesn’t mean they can teach.
Take your time finding the right teaching pro by Steve Riggs Students typically seek out a Golf Professional who is an excellent player, thinking they can teach them how to swing the club. Or, conversely, a professional who is a good player will hold themselves out as a teaching professional. Oh if it were that simple. Over the past 30 years, I have had the good fortune to meet with and pick the brains of some of the best and most well-known teaching professionals and TOUR players in the game. Whenever I’ve gotten them to talk about the swing, they’ve generally agreed that teaching is about communication and not necessarily the ability to play the game itself. In order to be an effective teacher of the golf swing, there are issues far more important that need to be addressed by a teaching pro than being able to shoot lights out every time he or she picks up a club and hits it 3000 miles (a bit of an over exaggeration here). As I often say to clients, “It’s up to me to understand the dynamics of the different swing methods. en help you the way you process.” In short, a good teaching professional needs to know how you think in order to help you with your swing. Why? Well, the way you approach the golf swing is generally a reflection of the way you approach sports and life in general. Here are some things you might consider when searching for that perfect teaching professional: Going in, know that you are probably going to take 2 or 3 lessons from as many instructors before you can make an informed decision on which one can benefit you most. Generally speaking and as a rule of thumb, I tell clients to take a lesson from a person a friend thinks is “THE BEST,” one that you’ve seen at the local
34 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2010
driving range, and one from someone you’ve never heard of. If an instructor tells you, “my rate is “X”, the sessions last 30 minutes but I have packages, (or series of several sessions), for “Y” my suggestion is to move on and check with someone else. Don’t fall into the “money trap.” When a teaching pro starts talking about or trying to “sell” multiple sessions or tells you how good you’re going to be, chances are the motives here have less to do with you and more to do with their wallets. If, on the other hand, an instructor says something like; “Well, I have time to take a look at you on ursday at 4pm, my rate for one lesson is “X” and my sessions run between 30-45 minutes", OR, “I don’t wear a watch when I teach, my rates are flat and based on an hour. You’d need to plan on spending at least 45 minutes to an hour. I’ve got time ursday at 4pm. I don’t discuss series or packages unless we both feel we have synergy.” is is someone you might take a serious look at. If you want to play better golf, you need to understand your golf swing. An effective communicator of swing dynamics that talks the way you understand or process is your greatest golf ally. Take your time. Steve Riggs has been a teaching professional for over 30 years working with clients as well as consulting around the U.S. and Caribbean. He hosts the myNEGM Lesson Tee radio show every Wednesday at 12:05pm on WNRI 1380 AM and on www.mynegm.com at 12:05pm. Steve also writes about the golf swing as well as records Podcasts for www.mynegm.com
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March 2010 | New England Golf Monthly | 35
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508-678-9374 36 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2010
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www.hawthornecountryclub.com March 2010 | New England Golf Monthly | 37
Molori Unplugged by John Molori
“Going Downhill Fast” Having spent most of February watching the Winter Olympics, I am more ready than ever for a trip to the links. Here then, are a few reasons why golf completely trumps the Winter Games. - If you hear, “Ohno!” at the Olympics, you are watching an odd skater/ballroom dancer. If you hear, “Ohno!” in golf, you are about to get hit by my opening tee shot. - U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn could compete in a short skirt. - ere are no plaid shirts like the ones worn by the U.S. snowboarders. In golf, plaid is where it’s supposed to be, on Jack Nicklaus’s pants at the ’86 Masters. - ere is no one named Apolo, unless you count Carl Weathers (aka Apollo Creed) as ex-PGA pro Chubbs Peterson in “Happy Gilmore.” - When you say, “Wie!” in golf, you are applauding a skilled and sexy golfer. When you say, “Wie!” in the Olympics, you probably just leaped off a cliff from which most people would need a rescue helicopter. - Good shooting in golf means you won the tournament. Good shooting at the Olympics means you won the Biathlon … and killed an innocent Canadian elk. - U.S. skier Lacy Schnoor could compete in a short skirt.
38 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2010
- A Golf Pro-Am has Bill Murray and George Lopez in Izod. An Olympics Pro-Am has Charles Barkley in Spandex. Ouch! - ere are no blizzards in golf, unless of course, Dairy Queen decides to become a sponsor. en, we’ll all be knee-deep in Dilly Bars, and what’s wrong with that? - I can think of maybe three things I’d rather do than play golf. I can think of maybe 3000 things I’d rather do than the Winter Olympics, including: root canal, a colonoscopy, and doing the lambada with the male contestants on “e Biggest Loser.” - In golf, Lefty is the nickname for the second best player in the world, not the nickname of some Norwegian skier who had his right arm severed by the branch of a Canadian blue spruce. - U.S. figure skater Tanith Belbin could compete in a short skirt. - Wait a minute, Belbin already does compete in a short skirt. How about this one. U.S. figure skater Tanith Belbin could compete in a short skirt alongside Natalie Gulbis. Syndicated columnist John Molori writes for numerous publications and websites. Email John at MoloriMedia@aol.com.
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JOIN NOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PRE-SEASON DISCOUNTED MEMBERSHIP RATES. SAVE EVEN MORE BY JOINING WITH A FRIEND. Please check our website for current membership promotions." Massachusetts & New Hampshire Division - Steve Ritter
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March 2010 | New England Golf Monthly | 39
The Golf Scene granite links golf club — honored as the 2010 course of the Year for the new england region By the ngcoa
As part of the 2010 National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) Annual Conference in San Diego this February, Granite Links Golf Club was honored as the winner of the organization’s "2010 Course of the Year" for the New England region. e Quincy-based club was recognized for demonstrating excellence across four criteria — exceptional quality of the course, exceptional management, outstanding contribution to its community and significant contribution to the game.
annika sorenstam announced as 2010 annual Banquet honoree Annika Sorenstam, winner of 10 LPGA major championships, will be the guest speaker and honored with the 15th Francis Ouimet Award for Lifelong Contributions to Golf at the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund’s 61st Annual Banquet. LPGA Commissioner Emeritus Charles S. “Charlie” Mechem, Jr. will serve as Master of Ceremonies. e banquet will be held Monday, May 10, 2010 at the Boston Marriott Copley Place Hotel.
segregansett country club's rich gagnon receives the 2010 excellence in government relations (egr) awards from the gcsaa Congratulations to Richard Gagnon, head superintendent at Segregansett Country Club, who was recently awarded the 2010 Excellence in Government Relations (EGR) Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).
40 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2010
wednesday, march 31, 2010 andover country club (andover, ma)
e New England Golf Summit is a one-day event that will feature a keynote address and informative breakout sessions that will address current challenges surrounding the game and help club personnel and club officials better prepare for the upcoming golf season. Highlighting the program of events will be dynamic keynote speaker Henry DeLozier from Global Golf Advisors. Where: Andover Country Club (Andover, Massachusetts) When: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (including the Networking Reception)
Jim fitzroy of Presidents golf course named the 74th President of the golf course superintendents association of america (gcsaa) e Bay State's own Jim Fitzroy (shown right) was recognized for his outstanding and long-time service to the game of golf by being elected as 74th president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).
connecticut golf news/march 2010
a total of 10 mga member clubs will be opening their doors to competitors and will be hosting a Usga qualifier in 2010 Here is a complete list of USGA qualifying sites. U.S. Open Local Qualifying: May 10 – Twin Hills Country Club, Longmeadow; May 11 – Metacomet Country Club, E. Providence, RI; May 12 – Pinehills Golf Club, Plymouth U.S. Amateur Public Links Qualifying: June 22 – Juniper Hill Golf Course, Northboro; June 23 – Bretwood Golf Course, Keene, NH U.S. Junior Amateur Qualifying: June 23 – Atkinson Resort & Country Club, Atkinson, NH U.S. Senior Open Qualifying: June 30 – orny Lea Golf Club, Brockton U.S. Amateur Qualifying: July 27 – Boston Golf Club, Hingham: July 27 – Potowomut Golf Club, Warwick, RI; August 10 – Andover Country Club. Andover; August 10 – Crestview Country Club, Agawam U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifying: August 23 – Framingham Country Club, Framingham; September 7 – Longmeadow Country Club, Longmeadow U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifying: September 7 – e International, Bolton Massachusetts Four-Ball Championship: Ipswich Country Club & Golf Club at Turner Hill, Ipswich; May 10-11, 2010 Eligibility: Combined 6.0 Handicap Index; Entry Close Date: April 8, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. Massachusetts Open Championship: Wellesley Country Club, Wellesley; June 21-23, 2010 Eligibility: 2.4 Handicap Index; Entry Close Date: April 22, 2010 at 5:00 p.m.
As they scramble to generate income in a brutal economy, private golf clubs in the state are announcing deals to attract new members. One of the most aggressive offers is at Farmington Woods in Farmington, where the club is waiving initiation fees for 2010. Dues for full-family golf (a couple plus any children under 23) are $5,382 for the year for a non-resident of the surrounding community, and $4,682 for residents. e short, but tricky, course was designed by Desmond Muirhead and opened in 1970. A two-man championship at Black Hall Golf Club is the first event of the 2010 golf season on the Connecticut State Golf Association’s calendar. e event honors longtime state amateur player Bill Hermanson, a member of Black Hall. More information at http://www.csgalinks.org/tournaments/2010/TwoMan_Championship/Two-Man_Team_Championship.asp In the teeth of winter, local golfers can play the heralded Pete Dye classic Teeth of the Dog in the Dominican Republic, without the hassle of airport wait times or peak season prices. Bethany’s Fore Seasons Golf Club offers 17 “virtual” golf courses for play year round at $15 for 18 holes. e 25,000-square-foot indoor facility includes a putting green, chipping area, two sand traps and a driving range. e club is at 28 Old Amity Road, Bethany. For information and reservations, call 203-393-0800 or go to www.foreseasonsgolfclub.com. Bruce Wilson has retired as president and executive director of First Tee of Connecticut. David Polk, former VP of marketing and community relations for Hartford Hospital, will succeed Wilson. e Fairchild-Wheeler Golf Course in Fairfield is among a group of six sites being considered for a new state facility for juvenile girls. e state originally proposed locating the new facility in a residential area of Bridgeport. After complaints from local property owners, Bridgeport city officials suggested the alternatives. A decision is pending.
Stupid golf tricks According to the Hartford Courant, a 68-year old Orange man hung onto a tree on a cliff above the Housatonic River, waiting for rescuers after he slipped while looking for golf balls at Great River Golf Course. He had a cellphone and was able to phone a friend, who in turn called rescuers. After the man was saved, Orange police issued him a ticket for trespassing in an amount equal to a few dozen brand new Titleist Pro Vs.
March 2010 | New England Golf Monthly | 41
42 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2010
NEPGA Profile Bob D's NEPGA Pro File
Tom Cavicchi by Bob DiCesare
e reason the Harmon Club is prospering is twofold. Cavicchi and his staff are top-notch instructors, and the club has evolved into one of the premier local golf facilities – both indoors and outdoors – as a prototype for golfers who are intent on taking their skills to a higher level. e 100-acre facility has it all: a par-35, nine-hole regulation course, a nine-hole short course for chips and wedges, an 18-hole putting course, a bunker complex with different types of sand, a grass driving range cut to two fairways with target greens, a 12-station heated driving range with synthetic turf for the winter months, plus a private lesson area. It also features a learning center for video swing analysis and launch-monitor equipment technology for superior club fitting, as well as a 5,500 square-foot fitness center staffed by trained professionals who have developed golf-specific training exercises. A well-stocked pro shop and restaurant completes the package. When it comes to golf instruction, there's nowhere else Cavicchi would rather be than the Harmon Club. "I'm in a good place,"said Cavicchi. "Having the facilities to work on various aspects of the game allows me to do what I want to do." "People always have questions, and I'm their eyes and ears," added Cavicchi. "We're trying to understand where they're at and get a sense of what's happening with their game. ey're trying to improve and trying to retool. e lessons most golfers are striving for are: (1.) scoring better and lowering their handicap, (2.) striking the ball and working the ball around the course better, and (3.) improving their short game and putting." Cavicchi says that golf lessons are for every player of every age. He likes to compare the instructor-golfer scenario with that of a doctor-patient relationship (you may feel fine, but you should still get a physical exam each year to determine your health status). "e Harmon Club is a very non-threatening environment," said Cavicchi. "Juniors, seniors, women – everyone shares the same objective and common interest. ey all want to get better." Bob DiCesare is the golf writer for e Enterprise in Brockton, MA, and he is also a member of the International Network of Golf.
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March 2010 | New England Golf Monthly | 43
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golfology hanover, ma 781.871.1000 hyannis, ma 508.771.4653 attleboro, ma 508.399.8400 www.golfologyusa.com
golfers’ warehouse cranston, ri401.467.8740 Burlington, ma781.270.4653 danvers, ma978.777.4653 natick, ma 508.651.2582 Braintree, ma 781.848.9777 www.golferswarehouse.com
Joe & leigh’s discount golf s. easton, ma 508.238.2320 www.pineoaks.com
Precision golf works Pawtucket, ri 401.723.9998
golf serVices ken dennis Photography webstore www.kendennisphoto.com
leaderboard Boston golf around the world web store 800.824.4279 www.golfaroundtheworld.com
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Boston, ma 781.784.6508 www.ltsevent.com/bostonsouth
golf real estate coleman realtors rhode island 401.245.3050 www.colemanrealtors.com
gorman associates massachusetts 781.329.6111 www.gormanassociates.com
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44 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2010
myNEGM Marketplace Jay mchugh homes
sne golf expo
massachusetts 617.699.7442 www.jaymchughhomes.com
Providence, ri www.snegolfexpo.com
John weld realtor
golf Practice & instrUction
massachusetts 508.280.4414 johnweld@coldwellbankerjmw.com
atlantic golf center
kinlin grover real estate massachusetts 617.201.5782 www.kinlingrover.com
golf toUrnaments Boston amateur golf society (B.a.g.s)
s. attleboro, ma 508.761.5484 www.atlanticgolfcenter.com
Barrie Bruce golf schools Billerica, ma 978.670.5396 www.barriebrucegolfschools.com
elite golf center seekonk, ma 508-336.3776 www.elitegolfcenter.com
massachusetts division 617.327.3698 www.bagsgolf.com rhode island division 617.697.1784 www.bagsri.com connecticutt division 860.779.2167 www.bagsct.com
easton, ma 508.238.6007 middleton, ma 978.774.4476 saugus, ma 781.231.0032 www.golfcountry.org
liberty mutual invitational
golf shots
golf country
canton, ma 508.735.7543 ltsevent.com/bostonsouth/lmdav
wareham, ma 508.295.8773
cVs charity classic
rockland, ma 866.942.7666 www.harmongolf.com
Barrington, ri www.cvscharityclassic.com
harmon golf & fitness club
deutsche Bank championship norton, ma www.deutschebankchampionship.com
ing new england golf classic Bloomfield, ct www.newenglandgolfclassic.com
golf shows national golf expo Boston, ma www.golfespoboston.com
Portland golf expo
seekonk driving range seekonk, ma 508.336.8074 www.seekonkminigolf.com
Portland, me www.portlandgolfexpo.com
March 2010 | New England Golf Monthly | 45
myNEGM Marketplace P - Public | SP - Semi-Private | PR - Private sne golf academy mapleville, ri 401.787.7040 www.snegolfacademy.com
{sP} granite links Quincy 617.689.1900 www.granitelinksgolfclub.com
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danvers, ma 978.774.8180 www.sunairgolf.com
golf ProdUcts & training aids thumb caddy 781.828.7747 www.thumbcaddy.net
real feel golf mats 800-344-2115 www.realfeelgolfmats.com
how great golfers think 877.748.1135 www.howgreatgolfersthink.com
{sP} Blissful meadows golf club Uxbridge 508.278.6110 www.blissfulmeadows.com
s3 golf training system 800.796.4416 web store www.s3golf.com
wedgewood golf 888.833.7371 web store www.wedgewoodgolf.com
axis one Putters 617.323.3273 web store www.axis1golf.com
Just Jackets required 888.500.5254 web store www.jacketsrequired.com
{P} maplegate country club Bellingham 508.996.4040 www.maplegate.com
golf traVel direct air 877.432.direct www.visitdirectair.com
massachUsetts golf coUrses greater Boston {P} Brookmeadow country club canton 781.828.4444 www.brookmeadowgolf.com
46 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2010
{P} new england country club Bellingham 508.883.2300 www.newenglandcountryclub.com
myNEGM Marketplace Boston north {Pr} indian ridge country club andover 978.475.9484 www.indianridgecountryclub.us
{P} Bungay Brook golf club Bellingham 508.883.1600 www.BungayBrook.com {P} chemawa golf course no. attleboro 508.399.7330 www.chemawagolf.com {Pr} fall river country club fall river 508-678-9374 www.fallrivercc.com {Pr} hawthorne country club no. dartmouth 800-997-3370 www.hawthornecountryclub.com
{sP} Petersham country club Petersham 978.724.3388 www.petershamcc.com {Pr) turner hill ipswich 978.356.7070 www.turnerhill.com
soUtheastern, ma {P} hillside country club rehoboth 508.252.9761 www.hillsidecountryclub.com {Pr} ledgemont country club seekonk 508-761-6600 www.ledgemontcc.com
{P} acushnet river Valley g. c. acushnet 508.998.7777 www.golfacushnet.com {Pr} allendale country club no. dartmouth 508.992.8682 www.allendalecountryclub.com {P} Broken tee Virtual gc lakeville 508.923.4653 www.thebrokentee.com
{P} olde scotland links Bridgewater 508.279.3344 www.oldescotlandlinks.com
March 2010 | New England Golf Monthly | 47
myNEGM Marketplace P - Public | SP - Semi-Private | PR - Private {P} Pine oaks golf club so. easton 508.238.2320 www.pineoaks.com
{p} Poquoy Brook golf club lakeville 508.947.5261 www.poquoybrook.com {P} rehoboth country club rehoboth 508.252.6259 www.rehobothcc.com
{p} wampanoag golf course no. swansea 508.379.9832 www.wampanoaggolf.com {sP} wentworth hills golf club Plainville 508-699-9406 www.wentworthhillsgolf.com
caPe cod region
{p} shadow Brook golf club so. attleboro 508.339.8410
{P} the Back nine club lakeville 508.947.9991 www.thebacknineclub.com
{p} touisset country club swansea 508.678.7991 www.touissetcc.com
48 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2010
{P} Bay Pointe country club onset 508.759.8802 www.baypointecc.net
{P} the captains golf course Brewster 508.896.1716 www.captainsgolfcourse.com
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myNEGM Marketplace P - Public | SP - Semi-Private | PR - Private the heritage house hotel cape cod, ma 800.242.7829 www.stayandplaycapecod.com innisbrook resort & golf club innisbrook, fl 727.942.2000 www.innisbrookgolfresort.com mount washington resort Bretton woods, nh 800.314.1752 www.mtwashington.com {sP} woodland greens golf club n. kingstown 401.294.2872 www.woodlandgc.com
greater atlantic city golf assoc. atlantic city, nJ 800.golf.222 www.acgolfvacations.com
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{p} the links at outlook s. Berwick 207.384.2109 | 207.384.2110 www.outlookgolf.com
new hamPshire golf coUrses {P} Brookstone Park derry (603) 894-7336 www.brookstone-park.com
golf resorts clarion inn, cape cod s. Yarmouth, ma 800-527-0359 www.clarioncapecod.com Xona resorts suites scottsdale, aZ 888.222.1059 www.xonaresort.com
50 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2010
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NEW ENGLAND G O L F C A R S Yamaha Golf Cars and Utility Vehicle
by Bob Skura
62 Industrial Way, Seekonk, Ma 02771 (508) 336-4285
Mental Tips For Better Golf
Hallberg Park, No. Reading, MA 01864 (978) 664-90005 email negc40@aol.com
Have you ever considered playing cross-handed? If you could instantly develop the mechanics to drive the ball 293.7 yards, hit 70.13% of the greens and morph from the handicapper you are into number 551 on the World Golf Ranking would you do it? If your answer is yes then you’re about to start playing cross-handed because those are the 2009 statistics for 31 year-old Nationwide Tour player, Josh Broadaway. That’s right. On full shots, right-handed Josh Broadaway swings with his left hand low. Were it not for being ranked 172 in putting, which is the one thing he does with a conventional grip, he would have secured a spot on the 2010 PGA Tour by being one of the top 25 Nationwide players. For decades scientists have argued the role of nature versus nurture. Josh’s nature is to swing cross-handed while any instructor worth his salt would have nurtured him into a classic grip. Given Josh’s relative success who’s right? Well, that depends. If an instructor had caught Josh on his first day of golf he could have set his hands on the club properly and let him play away. But because Josh put his hands on cross-handed he gained feedback and made progress from that unique starting point instead. In fact, Josh progressed so quickly that by the time he was 14 he was unable to hit the ball decently with a conventional grip. So the moral of the story is this. If your natural tendency is unconventional but gives you good results don’t just change because someone says you should. Assess where you are in your career and decide if you would be better off staying with what you already have or rebuilding from scratch. Remember that Broadaway was only 14 when he reached his point of no return. For more information on the subject of exercising the brain and the references for this article the author, Bob Skura, may be contacted at doc@howgreatgolfersthink.com
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March 2010 | New England Golf Monthly | 51
Gorman vs. Geary by Tom Gorman and Tim Geary
q. Can Tiger recover? by Tom Gorman
Yes, but Tiger’s brand loses some of its stripe e face of Golf ’s Patron Saint is everywhere, yet he has only one public appearance since crashing his SUV outside his Windemere, Fla. mansion on anksgiving night after an explosive argument with wife, Elin Nordegren, the gold-digging Swedish nanny who came to the US in search of fortune and fame, and now has both beyond her wildest dreams. From nanny to trophy wife, Elin Nordegren’s life goal is complete. On October 5, 2004, she captured and married Tiger Woods, the global legend and the most revered athlete on the planet. Let’s set the record straight: Mrs. Woods has had nothing to do with Mr. Woods’ 64 worldwide wins, 56 PGA Tour victories, 14 major championships, 10-time Player of the Year and AP Athlete of the Decade honors. And that’s from just 2000-2009! It appears Elin Nordegren, Team Tiger and the media are especially focused on the $99 million he earned in 2008, and the estimated $90 million he pulled down in 2009. If Tiger Woods was a public company on Wall Street, he would rank in the Fortune 100, since so many rely on his unprecedented ability to generate huge wealth, and profit, for himself and those who do business with him. Since that fateful dust-up with Elin on November 26 Tiger has been ripped, trashed, lampooned and harassed in all sectors of life. e greatest rainmaker in sports history is getting lambasted harshly by slackers who don’t know a bogey from a Kettle One martini. When you’re the most recognizable athlete on the planet, what’s wrong with having a girlfriend or two or three? It’s lonely when you’re on the road 25 weeks. When curvy, silicone-chested beauties throw themselves at you at every turn, who could resist the temptation? History shows that powerful politicians and athletics have extramarital affairs: from John F Kennedy to Bill Clinton, from Carl Yastrzemski to Michael Jordan. So what’s the big deal with Tiger having a few post-golf rendezvous’ from an outstanding selection of bimbos? All, I’m sure, with fine intentions of helping Tiger break Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors. Makes me wonder if Tiger is on his way to break another (unofficial) record held by basketball’s Wilt Chamberlain, who
52 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2010
claims to have slept with 10,000 women! Impressive, but probably unattainable, even by Tiger standards! Tiger’s only 34, and in his prime, but will have to step it up a bit; only 19 bimbos have public claims to sleeping with the golf icon, all who have been paid to say “I slept with Tiger.” Will Tiger recover? Yes, Tiger will recover nicely. Tiger might have to scrape by on $40 million this year, instead of $90 million. I predict Tiger will be in the final pairing at Augusta on Sunday afternoon April 11; that he will be wearing a fifth Green Jacket later that day; and that a record worldwide TV audience will be watching the Masters golf tournament. Reminder, Tiger is in his prime! Life, as Tiger Woods used to know it, has changed over the past few months. Woods’ was once the consummate salesman; smiling from ear to ear, hawking everything from razor blades to SUVs. ese days his face conjures up images of late-night spins and spinouts, hurtling golf clubs, wives scorned and mistresses coming out of the woodwork. Given the soap operalike publicity, Woods’ brand is significantly tarnished among advertisers. A public figure of his magnitude can’t portray himself in an impeccable, squeaky-clean way for so long, only to plunge into sordid, sleazy affairs. December was a bad month for Team Tiger, who won six times last year, and earned $10.5 million coming back from major reconstructive knee surgery. Consulting firm Accenture, Buick, AT & T and Gatorade dropped Tiger Woods – and Tag Heuer, Nike and EA Sports have put him on ice because of his tarnished reputation. Tiger, despite his indiscretions, is not the only sports institution suddenly starving for sponsorship dollars. Corporate marketers are antagonistic toward sports endorsements since drug cheating, thuggery and sleaze have taken their toll in all pro sports. We are talking about the greatest golf talent ever! is much, at least, hasn’t changed!
Tom Gorman, a member of the Golf Writers Association of America, International Network of Golf and Golf Travel Writers of America, is a Boston-based freelance golf writer.
q. Can Tiger recover? by Tim Geary
Now there will always be the "what if" for Tiger Arnold Palmer remains the most beloved golfer of all time, Jack Nicklaus the most revered and it would be hard to argue against Ben Hogan being regarded as the most respected player of his time. It’s also a safe bet that while Tiger Woods may still gain the title of “Greatest Golfer of All Time” he will never again be beloved, revered or respected. e “aura” that Tiger Woods projected since he first burst upon the scene back in 1994, when he rallied from six-down to beat Trip Kuehne and win the first of his three consecutive U.S. Amateur championships, has vanished and is gone forever. In fact there’s a better chance of Elin returning from her island than Tiger recovering his good name, the one that so many corporations coveted and were willing to dole out millions to be linked to their products. e old saying that you only get one chance to make a good first impression is certainly true, but it’s just as much a fact that you have an entire lifetime to screw up badly enough to wipe out all the good things you may have accomplished, at least in the court of public opinion. at’s Tiger x 7 or how many other former lovers had come storming out of the Woods since this column was filed. My grandfather once told me that the only thing a man takes with him from this earth is his reputation. So while Woods’ obituary may well include his having won more major golf tournaments than anyone else in history, it will also prominently include his sordid sexual escapades, his fall from public grace and who knows what else? He will be remembered in a similar way as Richard Nixon in that no matter how many tournaments he wins in the future, how many records he sets, there’s always going to be the “yeah, but” factor hanging around his neck. is debate revolves around the question: Can Tiger come back? Depends on what you expect. As a golfer? Certainly. His physical gifts didn’t vanish, although since golf is as much a mental endeavor as it is proper swing me-
chanics, he could lose that special intangible that seemed to ooze from his very pores whenever the pressure was at its greatest. We know from history that athletes have been able to put less-than-acceptable behavior behind them and once again have been embraced by their sport’s fan base. Koby Bryant is a very recent example of a forgiving public. Magic Johnson admitted he cheated on his wife for years when he announced being HIV positive and today is very visible promoting causes and products. Closer to home fans still cheered Wade Boggs after it was disclosed that he had a seven-plus year dalliance with Margo Adams. But we expected more from Tiger, because he promoted that clean cut All American image. He was strong, athletic, good looking and the perfect role model. Why, it has been argued, hasn’t fellow golfer John Daly been crucified for his sins? Why the double standard? Well maybe it’s that Daly never pretended to be anything more than a red necked slob with the moral fiber of a skid row bum. Tiger’s image as ‘Mr. Perfect’ was carefully cultivated, groomed and then refined and last anksgiving we found out it was all the human equivalent of fool’s gold. His entire public life had been one lengthy April Fools joke. Fans will still applaud Tiger if he entertains them on the course, if he wins tournaments and more importantly if he wins majors. Some will still bellow ‘You da man!’, but they will never again love, revere or respect him as a person. at is as gone as the hickory shaft. e ‘yeah but’ will always be there.
Tim Geary is a Rhode Island based freelance writer with over 35 years of experience. He contributes regularly to several publications.
March 2010 | New England Golf Monthly | 53
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It’s All About Golfology A Transition Without Compromise For a Great Company In 2010 the Edwin Watts stores in Attleboro, Hyannis, and Hanover took on a new name Golfology. If I had to guess at the definition of the new name it would be people that know all about golf. is company has always been about the customer and making sure they get the right equipment to improve their game. e company was founded in 1986 by Philips W. Upham, II, our retail golf history began as an Edwin Watts Golf, LLC Franchise location. en, in 2010, we rebranded as Golfology but retained our staff, time-tested service model and way of doing business. Our initial store in Hanover, MA has grown from a cramped 1,100 square feet to over 9,500 square feet with two extensive warehouses and complete in-house purchasing, accounting, shipping, receiving, and distribution departments. s At Golfology, we are committed to delivering all of what you have come to expect and experience from shopping with us since being founded in 1986. Golfology is run by the same people ("golfologists") and owner you’re accustomed to dealing with. However, as Golfology, our new company has no present affiliation with Edwin Watts Golf, although we continue to be very proud of our history and successful past affiliation with Edwin Watts Golf, LLC. “Visit one of our stores today and see why Golfology makes sense.”
formally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
At golfology, we are committed to delivering all of what you have come to expect and experience from shopping with us. t $PNQVUFSJ[FE -BVODI .POJUPS 7FDUPS 1SP
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