PACK UP SOME WATERFRONT MEMORIES. ENJOY YOUR SEAPORT EXPERIENCE. Take time to explore the HarborWalk. Take time out for a massage. Take a few minutes to let our expansive harbor views rejuvenate you like a fresh sea breeze. And if you want to get in a round of golf, ask about our preferred Stay & Play rates at Granite Links, one of New England’s most spectacular golf courses. Just ten minutes from the Seaport Hotel. Enjoy your stay with us. Complimentary WiFi | 5,000 SF Fitness Center & Pool | Complimentary Bicycles
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4 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide
From the Editor Welcome Back Welcome to another year at New England Golf Monthly Magazine. In 2011 our magazine had its best year ever and 2012 looks to be more of the same. With each issue we strive to get better at bringing you all the best in regional, national and global golf news. At this years PGA Show 4 of our editorial staff received writing awards from The International Network of Golf in the categories of Apparel Writing , Equipment Writing and Profile Writing. Congratulations are in order to, Katharine Dyson, Laura Ebrecht (Elle Brec), Ed Travis and Robert DeCesare, we are very proud to have them on our team. At this time of year in a normal year we are dusting off the clubs and assessing ourgame for the new season. This year has been a little different. A warm winter and no snow or measurable ground frost has allowed us to play through. I can never remember in my life ever living in New England with such a mild winter. We all spent far less on heat so it leaves a little more in coffers for possibly some new sticks for the upcoming season, nice! At this years PGA Show, one thing was very evident, advances in technology, playability and forgiveness are now designed into all the major brands on the market today. Get out and test some of these at your local retailer, club fitter or pro shop, the new gear is amazing. In a few days the National Golf Expo at Seaport World Trade Center in Boston kicks off the New England golf season with the 3rd largest consumer golf show in the U.S. It is a great opportunity to try all the latest equipment and game improvement products in the game today. Come join Mike Breed from the Golf Fix on The Golf Channel all day Saturday at the event. There are some of the best deals of the season at this years show., go to www.paragon.com for tickets online. I will see you at this years show, all the best.
Timothy R. Branco Tim@NEpubinc.com
New England Golf Monthly Supporter of The Jimmy Fund
CONTENTS
The Perfect Life by Katherine Dyson
Good Looks on the Course
9 13
by Elle Brec
by Emily Kay
18
Couple of Travelers
22
Kay's Korner
by Alice and Danny Scott
Molori Unplugged
30
by John Molori
by Jack Ross
32
Celebrity Golfer
36
Ross' Rulings
by Leigh MacKay
Player’s Perspective
48
by Ed Travis
NEPGA Profile
52
by Bob DiCesare
Sampson’s Spotlight
56
by Greg Sampson
Palopoli's Picks
59
by Jeff Palopoli
New England Golf Monthly The New England Publishing Group, Inc.
P.O. Box 357 Swansea, MA 02777 800-736-9020
6 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide
The Perfect Life by Katherine Dyson
Golf Luxury & Style at the 2012 PGA Show
Red, white and blue clubs and “flagstickies”, ModaSilk TourEdge clubs for women in slick silver and black, a “Secret Grip” from Boccieri, and shirts handstiched in Italy by in fiamme whetted the appetite at the recent PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida where the golf industry gathered to share ideas, products and new technology. NEGM scoured the booths seeking out the best and the latest in equipment, apparel and fun stuff to create the “Perfect Golf Life.” Here are some of the things we discovered. ECCO gets the BIOM twist for the Perfect Golf Show When Fred Couples first wore ECCO’s “street-style” cool shoes, people took notice and sales soared. Now the next new hot thing is the BIOM (bio-mechanical) shoes from ECCO. It melds ECCO Natural Motion technology with its Golf Street outsole. According to David Helter, ECCO’s director of sales, in the next 12 to 18 months, 30 to 40% of all golf shoes worn will be hybrids like their BIOM model that allows the foot to move naturally. ECCOUSA.com
8 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide
Get the Grip: Sharing the Secret First came the Heavy Putter from Boccieri then riding the success of the putter, founder Steve Boccieri followed with a number of new products incorporating the “heavy” technology. One of his latest rollouts is the “Secret Grip” which is not actually a secret. It has a 16 g tungsten weight in the top end of the grip, thus raising the balance point of the club. is promotes better body mechanics giving you improved consistency, control and distance. You can buy Boccieri’s clubs with the weighted grip or just get the grips and put them on your own clubs. Bottom line, they make a lot of sense. So sure is Boccieri that this works, they are offering everyone a free grip to try out. Secretgrip.com
The Perfect Foursome Digs in Orlando Getting a good deal doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice quality, convenience or even luxury. When you’re travelling with your golf gang, instead of checking into the Tin Bag Motel, check out the huge number and configurations of condos and homes offered by All Star Vacation Homes. For example at Reunion Resort, one of Salamander’s Grand Florida Resorts, you can get a threebedroom, three bath condo overlooking one of their three golf courses with a fancy kitchen including granite countertops and snack bar, balcony and bedrooms with their own ——baths and flat screen tvs. ese units are simply beautiful and costs when divided by the number of golfers sharing can be as little as $50 per night per person. On site there is a pool, Spa, fitness center, restaurants and all the other perks you’d expect from a first rate resort. All Star has a large inventory of estate homes with their own pools, media rooms even game rooms as well as luxury condos. Doesn’t get much better than that. Allstarvacationhomes.com
Magnifico that Italian shirt In fiamme may have had one of the smaller booths at the show, but the quality of its golf shirts was immenso. Designed to go from fairway to boardroom, all you need to do is to feel the silky fine fabric, see the subtle classy patterns and then wear one. Hand-cut, hand-sewn and made-to order, in fiamme shirts are rendered in doublemercerized 100% Filoscozia cotton in small lots so nothing is compromised in the manufacturing process. We loved the fact the shirts were free of logos — perfect for purists — and appreciated details like mother-of-pearl buttons, the traditional men’s cut with a longer tail and patterns like the olive golf with subtle diamonds and the bolder mini windowpane design. Bello. Just wish they made them for women. infiamme.net
March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide | New England Golf Monthly | 9
Perfect Kids Golf Styles For those young golfers in your life, dress them in Quagmire Kids funky and fun golf fashions. Find shirts, shorts, dresses, skirts, hoodies and accessories for boys and girls including tie-dyed, character prints, threetiered bumble bee skirts and Quagmire’s signature heat-sensitive, color-changing ColorFusion technology with super-cool screen print t-shirts with sporty and girly themes that change hues in UV light. Quagmire really gets kids. www.QuagmireGolf.com
Go to the Head of the Class If you are the kind of golfer who loves tradition, check out the head covers from AB Golf Designs. ey are 100% leather, and designs come with retro, patriotic, and collegiate themes. Handmade in AZ, these were selected by Fred Couples and used by the US President’s Cup team at Royal Melbourne. Abgolfdesigns.com
The Perfect Program for Growing Golf SNAG (Starting New at Golf ), emerged as the best real new ides we saw to actually increase the game allowing beginners to learn the game properly and painlessly. Every element SNAGsters (golfers) need to learn the game is included in the SNAG system from the colorful modified score card with no stress simplified rules (for example no penalties for misses) to the golf equipment including two clubs (Launch Pad and Roller), three SNAG Balls, Flagsticky and cloth bag. e Launcher does the job of the driver and “irons” while the Roller is your putter. Essentially, SNAGsters hit the ball to a target or Flagsticky where a hook fabric causes the balls to stick on impact. How fun is that! SNAG is totally portable making it playable so you can play it in your backyard, on asphalt, in even in the snow. You name it. For this reason, parks and rec departments are finally able to add golf to their programs thereby building interest in the game at an early age. Snaggolf.com
The Perfect Wedge Recently I took TourEdge’s new Tour Pronto wedge for a few test runs on courses in Florida. Pronto consistently got me out of trouble around the greens, especially when I had to carry over a bunker to the dance floor. You can talk about a milledstainless steel face backed by a hollow core filled with a new thermal plastic elastomer gel, and all that, but the final word: it just feels great and delivers a remarkable, soft feel. It works. I’m even able to get a little spin from the club and a spinner I am not. Touredge.com
10 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide
Dogging the Sun Dogs Paula Creamer one of the few LPGA players who wears her sunglasses prominently on the course, loves her Sundog glasses and even has her own line. A big supporter of the AJGA (American Jr. Golf Association), Creamer said, “it’s so important to protect your eyes. e Mela-Lens not only reduces glare, but blocks out all the bad rays.” Creamer, who is involved in the design of her collection, features models like the wide-wrapping Aura, Iconic and classic Captiva. Hottest styles for men and women include Chop, Rogue, Entourage, Dialed, Dart and KP. Sundogeyewear.com
Another Glider Hit from Sun Mountain As a big fan of the original ClubGlider, the golf travel bag even a girl can pulled with one finger, Sun Mountain has done it again with the Journey. It’s a streamlined version of the larger bags (just 12.8 lbs.) but still supports 100% of the weight of the travel cover when the legs are extended eliminating the continuous bending and lifting typical when handling luggage. So far it’s only available in black, but hopefully more colors will be coming. Sunmountain.com
Swivel that action Bag Boy Bag rolled out its new three-wheel push cart with swivel-tech™ technology featuring a front wheel that swivels 360 degrees. at makes it so easy to push and maneuver. We tried it. For walking the straight and narrow, there is a way to lock the front wheel in place. Bagboy.com
March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide | New England Golf Monthly | 11
OFFICIAL EYEWEAR OF NEW ENGLAND GOLF MONTHLY
12 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide
Good Looks on the Course
2012 PGA Show Superlatives
by Elle Brec
Most Fashionable Men
Tommy Hilfiger
How exciting this year one of our favorite brands Tommy Hilfiger, is again available in the U.S. in both a men's and women's golf line, made possible through licensing agreement with the Fletcher Leisure and the Tommy Hilfiger Groups. Especially good news for New Englanders, as our hometown hero Keegan Bradley is serving as global ambassador for the Tommy Hilfiger golf line through 2014. Bradley, the 2011 PGA Championship winner and PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, is representing by wearing select pieces from the brands men's golf collection. "I am thrilled to have Keegan Bradley as the global ambassador for our golf collection," said Tommy Hilfiger. "His energy both on and off the course is inspiring and a wonderful fit for our brand. We wish Keegan the very best on his upcoming season." Bradley is very excited as well, "Tommy Hilfiger is an iconic American brand and I am extremely proud to be a part of its growth in golf going forward. e brand produces fantastic apparel for wear both on and off the golf course and in my opinion, if you look good, you play good!" Tommy inspired by a preppy, energetic spirit and has incorporated it into the Spring 2012 collection. Adding a twist to signature classic American sensibility, the collection's technical performance fabrics focus on style
and fit. e Cape Cod Collection influences from the Eastern seaboard’s Sandy beaches, to its rocky shores, and blue skies, take one to the world of this playground made famous by images of the Kennedy prep style on vintage on Hyannis port, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. Stamped with colors of lobster reds and classic navy, exploding with plaids, Shamrock Green seersucker stripes and sunshine grosgrain details, the Cape Cod Collection creates a nostalgic look perfect for today’s golf wardrobe. Other Collections include the St. Barth’s, a true island paradise, this inspiring location conjures up thoughts of white sandy beaches, billowing Palm Tree Green and pure blue waters inspired Aqua Haze and Cobalt Blue incorporated into the St Bart’s Collection. e colorful, exotic, Cape Town Collection brings the vibrancy of the city to life through golf attire suited for those looking for a little flare as this South African city could be described as one of the most multicultural in the world. Bright plaids are available for men in pops of bright colors with Midnight Navy with beautiful Mountain Green as a base. With prices ranging from $80 to 120, available at private and public golf clubs, golf specialty stores, sport specialty stores, resort accounts, and corporate accounts in the U.S., Canada and Europe or on tommy.com.
New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide | 13
Most Fashionable Women
Sport Haley
Sport Haley is out of this world this season with harmonious designs that are sure to make a big bang on the fairway. e celestial color stories from Galaxy, Starstruck, Cosmos, Aerocool, to Infinity and beyond! Luminescent outfits for the brilliant woman who wants to look like a glowing star not a crude comet. Sport Haley collections continue to evolve with an au courant, fresh new focus. Treat yourself this spring with the new 2012 Collection in S’mores, Key Lime, Blueberry Tart, and Peaches & Cream, these delectable batches are sure to stimulate the senses. e S’mores Collection includes graham cracker dark brown plaid polos, toasted marshmallow cream ruffle trim sweaters and diamond quilted vests with singes of charcoal, this fireside sweet has never looked so tastefully done. e scrumptious Key Lime Collection has Lemoncello plain or printed polos and shorts with hints of lime and foam greens, Bark plaid shorts, and leather snake patterned belts. e juicy Peaches and Cream Collection comprised of a waves design polo with hints of heather crust, paired with a
peach rouge skirt with gold buttons creates a luscious look. e Blueberry Tart Collection with navy, aurora, and clover purple in various stripe, circle, and contemporary patterns are tempting. Sport Haley based out of Denver, Colorado is designed to make sense to the modern woman. The pieces are smart buys for easy wardrobe incorporation, mix and match, and care. Sport Haley’s strength has always been value, excellent quality and elegance at a great price point. Their sporty silhouettes are feminine and flattering. The styling is active-wear inspired, form fitting yet body conscious, stylish, and comfortable. Entire Sport Haley collections can be viewed at sporthaley.com, their golf apparel and outerwear is marketed in the premium and mid-price golf markets through a network of independent sales representatives and distributors to golf professional shops at country clubs and resorts throughout the U.S. and internationally. Also available for purchase at pinksandgreens.com and golfforherstore.com.
14 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide
Best Design Women
AUR
For All You Are, A.U.R. has new color stories to inspire such as Black Tulip, Sky Light, Urban Garden, and Water Trace. For women, they created three distinct categories. Starting with the AUR Active Collection, which boasts performance driven designs, this category features polyester double-knit DriMax. ese polos feature the stretch of Spandex, a soft, supple feel and a lightweight drape that makes it ideal for golf. Synthetic fibers create a strong, crease resistant fabric that is quick drying and maintains its shape. Next we have the AUR Authentic category. is collection is the home for the more traditional golf inspired assortment of sweaters, vests, pants and shorts in a classic assortment of colors in Black, Taupe, Navy and Charcoal. Finally AUR Aware is a noble attempt to give a little back to our ailing planet. AUR is doing their part with fabrics that are eco-friendly, but also benefit you! CarboCool fabric contains a blend of Polyester and carbonized Bamboo Charcoal. e benefits of this fabric include Moisture Wicking and Fast Drying for comfort, as well as Anti-Odor and Added UV Protection for peace of mind. Carbonized Bamboo is environmentally responsible, and offers the same benefits that a chemical finish would without the unnecessary harm to the environment. S.Café uses a patented process that transforms the coffee grounds into yarn, which is then used to produce polos. Most coffee grounds end up in landfills, which contributes to our overall solid waste management problem. Producing a garment with S.Café fabrics helps in easing landfill concerns. EcoSmart is a fabric made from Recycled Polyester Yarn. Recycled polyester yarn is made from plastic post-consumer based products. It is environmentally friendly by reducing fossil fuel consumption and green house gases when compared to regular polyester production. e Combed Cotton/Recycled Polyester provides the durability and performance of polyester with the added comfort and breathability of cotton. AUR is available at aurgolf.com.
Best Design Men
Sligo
Sligo Wear, the Canada-based manufacturer and marketer of men's trend-setting golf apparel, is characterized by dazzling color schemes, new age moisture-wicking materials and never before seen eye-catching patterns. e designs from the Sligo 2012 Spring Collection feature bold combinations guaranteed to set you apart from other foursomes. Sligo will offer 9 signature color options – Vivid Light Green Melon, Dark Blue Gray Midnight, Pacific Ocean Reef Blue, Savannah Red, Pale Sea foam Blue, Ocean Green Surf, Pale Purple Wisteria, Bright Orange, and Electric Yellow. ese fashion-forward colors are complemented by Black, White and Light Grey options for an assortment unmatched in the golf industry. Shirt styles offer unmatched fit and flexibility and appeal to the wide array of style preferences of the modern male golfer, ranging from bold to a bit more conservative. Sligo offers 10 new short-sleeved shirt patterns in its Spring 2012 line with the new Blake, Braedyn, Downie, Esplanade, Ethan, Hudson, Linden, Preston, Richmond, and Wellesly. is season also marks the first collection in which Sligo will introduce a selection of Long-sleeved performance golf shirts with the unveiling of the trendy JP, Vibe, and Downie tops. Complementing the new shirts, Sligo will offer its fullest range of coordinating options in pants. is year their signature wild pants are available in a multitude of bright colors, daring new plaids, classy stripes, and the popular Digitile patterns. Digitile pants are influenced by Moroccan tile dating back 14th century, prevalent in Hispano architecture today. Shown here in Metal Silver paired with the Storm Purple Scriver shirt, the Digitile pattern is also available in Smoke Gray and Miami Black. e 2012 Sligo Wear Spring Collection will be available at select golf specialty stores, premium on-course retailers and through the Sligo Wear online store beginning in mid-February, sligowear.com.
16
Best Outerwear Women
Sunice
Sunice has once again stayed true to its promise to fusion of science and style in its most creative sense by providing comfort, breathability, aridity, and the ultimate freedom of movement. New styles, colors, cuts, and abstract prints are leaving an impression on 2012. Interesting contrasts and subtle detailing give the collection a clean, contemporary feel. Embossing details allow for a new take on traditional colors and add visual interest. With exciting new colors like regatta blue or charcoal, which is often viewed as a very masculine color has received the Sunice shimmering touch and is suddenly very feminine hue that is a pretty addition to any woman’s wardrobe. Colors such as Midnight and Platinum Mélange bring classic simplicity to a very cutting edge, technical fabrication. e ladies collection highlights the ever-popular pure White and joins the rainbow of color through a rich Diva Purple and a new take on pink with Petunia. e classic American combination of red, white and blue throughout the collection as to celebrate the involvement of Sunice as Official supplier of outerwear for the 2011 and 2013 Solheim Cup USA Team. Sunice is a supreme jacket, like no other on the market. Truly inspired by the active golfer to allow you to
perform at your best in even the toughest conditions. e collection has updated cutting and welding techniques combined with innovative fabrics for the ultimate ‘Freedom of Play’ in design, philosophy and practicality. Breathability, stretch, extra lightweight and ultra quiet products backed by a 4-year waterproof guarantee are what defines the Tornado Collection. e Typhoon Collection is now a full-stretch, waterproof category. Introduced in 2011, Zephal is a lightweight, quieter performing fabric with its unique soft feel and super quiet laminate, is the future in waterproof. At-firstglance leaves one thinking that there is no way this knit garment can offer a 4-year waterproof guarantee but the Sunice FlexVent, is a truly versatile, a full stretch, highly breathable fabric. Sunice is available at Golf Town.
Best Outerwear Men
Sunice
Bright new color combinations add interest to the Sunice Golf 2012 men’s line with a color palette offering updated blues and orange to brighten collections of basic black, charcoal, navy blue, and red. Completely new styles offer variety in pullover and full zip, short sleeve and long sleeve, solid and plaid and an assortment of different weights. It doesn’t get any better on a technical level than this. Sunice holds true to its commitment of being an industry leader as an authentic Gore-Tex supplier, a fabric requested by name around the globe. is proprietary fabric technology is lifetime guaranteed to keep you dry, when it comes to playing golf in heavy rain or varying temperatures. Extreme comfort is offered in their Hurricane, Tornado, and Typhoon models laser cut from highly breathable, waterproof, stretch fabrics. Added golf-enhancing features include the X-Static stretch lining, Pro-Trim waist cinching system, in-pocket ball cleaner, and full stretch back panel for the most swing capabilities. e Sunice style is represented in detailing of the silver lining, patented collar design, and waterproof welded pockets to keep your phone dry.
Adding layers to your golf wardrobe can enhance your overall physical performance and ultimately improve your golf game. Sunice ProSport and Sport Layering Collection is a true blend of science and style in soft shells, sweaters, lightweight layering, thermal layering and wind gear pieces such as the WindStopper. For early in the season or damp dawn cool mornings, when you need an extra layer without the extra bulk or weight, the Otaki SuperLite FX Pullover is back and remains the ultimate choice. Invisible chest pocket zipper and moisture wicking properties are details that make this piece stand out from the rest. Sunice is available at Golf Town.
New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide | 17
Kay’s Korner
Golf Industry Needs Women’s Economic Power
by Emily Kay
Orlando, Fla. — e message resonating from this year’s 2012 PGA Merchandise Show could not have been clearer: the golf industry must do far more to attract and retain the business of women or continue to suffer the financial consequences. With the theme of this year’s PGA of America exposition the Golf 2.0 initiative aimed at boosting participation, the game’s luminaries — from the iconic Jack Nicklaus to the LPGA Tour’s youngest and brightest new star Lexi ompson — preached the need to make golf more accessible and fun for women. "We've lost 23 percent of the women in the game [and] 36 percent of the kids in the game since 2006," Nicklaus said during a Golf 2.0 panel to kick off the 59th annual summit at which more than 40,000 retailers, industry leaders, and PGA pros gathered to boost the economics of golf. "at's not a good stat." Golf World Hall of Famer Nicklaus was all for ways to make golf "easier, more fun, and less expensive." e 18-time major champion even took part recently in a non-traditional, one-day event at his Bears Club in Jupiter, Fla. After he and his wife Barbara joined some 20 other husband-wife and father-daughter teams for a 12-hole, best-ball tourney that included putting to holes almost twice the size of the standard 4-1/4 inches, Nicklaus pronounced himself pleased with the response to the experiment. "Even the guys...all said..., ‘we ought to do this at least once a month, this would be a great event for us to have here, bring the people together and have fun, no pressure on them,’" he said. "It was fun. I enjoyed it and had a good time with it. I think it's something that we need to do." Perennial top golf instructor Suzy Whaley, sitting in on one of many assemblies dedicated to spreading the gospel that women hold the purse strings and the power to lift the golf industry from its financial doldrums,
echoed the Golden Bear. “Women like very much for you to give them small steps that are successful,” said Whaley, who plies her trade at New England’s TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn., and gained national renown in 2003 when she became the first woman in 58 years to qualify for a PGA Tour event. While men comprised the majority of show-goers cruising the 10 miles of aisles featuring snazzy new gear and gadgets from some 1,000 suppliers, LPGA Tour players were everywhere, shaking hands, signing autographs, and winning new fans for women’s golf. Taking turns smacking 300-yard tee shots with her new Cobra-Puma AMP driver, making the media rounds, and filming "get out and play" promos for the PGA, ompson made sure to make time to pose for photos and glad-hand her growing legion of followers. Fresh from a tie for third in a men’s minor league tourney earlier in the week, ompson held court Wednesday at Cobra-Puma’s annual Demo Day party on the spacious, sun-splashed practice range at Orange County National Golf Center. Men and women, boys and girls — all wanted a moment with the 16-year-old prodigy, and the one-time tour winner was more than happy to oblige. "I’m having a blast out there [on the LPGA Tour]," ompson, who noted she may enter as many as 25 events this year — up from some 20 she originally planned to play — told us. "It’s been my dream to just play against the best in the world on the LPGA so I’m just following my dreams and doing what I love to do." Lexi’s mother concurred. "She’s loving this," Judy ompson said as her daughter smashed shot after shot on the jam-packed driving range. "She loves being around her fans."
18 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide
When the exhibition moved indoors the next day, Thompson followed, popping up all over the convention center floor in fashion shows and meetand-greets. Just chip shots away were several of her LPGA mates, including world No. 10 Brittany Lincicome, who said she had top-ranked Yani Tseng in her sights as she set sky-high objectives for her upcoming season.
exciting"), superstitions (the "Pink Panther" always bounces her driver twice in the bag before hitting it), and objectives for 2012. "My No. 1 goal is always to be the No. 1 American [because that] means you’re right up there in the top three to be the best in the world," Creamer said. "My ultimate goal is to be the No. 1 player in the world but you have to take small steps and try to get there."
"It’s been my dream to just play against the best in the world on the LPGA so I’m just following my dreams and doing what I love to do." – Lexi ompson
"I never thought I would reach my goals in 2011 and I went above and beyond anything I thought I was going to do," said Lincicome, who earned two tour wins last year. "So I have to set some [targets] that are way out of this world of thinking that I could possibly reach." Her 2012 aims include becoming No. 1 in the world and winning three titles and a major. e show served as the backdrop for the naming of Meg Mallon as next year’s Solheim Cup captain, and Lincicome expressed her enthusiasm for playing for the four-time major champ. "She’s a wonderful lady and she’s going to do a fantastic job," said Lincicome, a three-time Solheim Cupper who added that she hoped to qualify for the team that will play their European counterparts at Colorado Golf Club in August 2013. "e Solheim Cup is always at the top of my list of events I would love to be a part of." An hour after speaking with us, Lincicome — currently one point behind leader Stacy Lewis (who called the new skipper her "mentor" after the Mallon announcement) in Solheim Cup eligibility — was still on the floor, pumping hands and greeting fans. Friday was Paula Creamer Day, as the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open winner did her thing at the enormous TaylorMade showroom and avidly sat through several Q&A sessions during which she dished about the 2013 Solheim Cup (Mallon is "a true American ambassador [and] to play under her is going to be very
Thompson’s emergence "really helps the tour" and Tseng’s dominating 2011 "raised the bar," which meant Creamer had work to do to "try and keep up with" the world’s best. "It shows how women’s golf is growing," she said. "The level of play right now is very high." With so much attention on the distaff side of golf during the show, advocates like long-time women’srights activist Arthur Little were heartened but guarded about the progress being made to pitch golf to women. e story Little and his wife Jann Leeming have been pitching for years — about the need for the game’s movers and shakers to recognize the economic power that women wield — may finally be reaching the ears of decision-makers who know they must make drastic changes to survive. "e bad news for the golf industry is the good news for us," said Little, who, with Leeming overhauled Maine’s Province Lakes Golf Course to make it one of the women-friendliest courses in the country. e time is now for women to "demand that golf courses do the right thing," which, he said, is as straightforward as it gets. "It’s basically so simple," Little said. "All the choices that men have — for tees, in the pro shop, with food — women ought to have." Emily Kay is a regular contributor to New England Golf Monthly. View all her articles here. You may also follow Kay on Twitter @golfexaminer
New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide | 19
Snazzy, Jazzy Golf Accessories for Ladies
by Pam Borges
Courting the often-ignored women’s market is a top priority in the Golf 2.0 Strategic Plan aimed at boosting participation. At 20% of the golfer population, women remain underrepresented in the game and to boost the economics of golf, the message was loud and clear…the industry needs to attract the business of women by making golf more accessible and fun. Many exhibitors at the 2012 PGA Merchandise Show followed suit. Aisles and aisles of unique, fun and whimsical golf accessories captured the interest of the ladies. Showcased below are some of the latest trends. If you like to express your animalistic side with leopard, zebra and giraffe prints, then you fashion-savvy golf enthusiasts, will love the new Python Signature Collection by Glove It. e 14-way golf bag, club covers, shoe bag, visor, glove, newly designed 3-zip carry-all bag and more, sports the python snake print. A more whimsical print dresses their new Nine & Wine Collection…including the Nine & Wine Woozie, a wine glass sleeve made from insulating neoprene. Great for tournaments! gloveit.com “Heroes and Villains” by Zesta Golf introduces the fun alternative golf accessories. e product line helps build confidence through imagination and attitude as you identify with one of the 12 characters. Identify with one of the female villains… “Black Widow” or “Madame Crush” and imagine crushing the ball as you would crush you competitors spirit in a match. Identify with one of the female heroes… “Nurse” or “Girlie Girl” and bring the attitude of the character to your game. Get all 12 characters in driver head covers, towels, umbrellas and stand bags. Head covers are made of high quality synthetic leather with embroidered characters and long “sock” to protect shaft. zestagolf.com Kiki Golf brings art to designer golf accessories. ey showcase exquisite uniquely created head covers, ball &
tee bags for women. eir signature and most elaborate design, Plaid for Show, features a basket-weave pattern. e sophisticated head cover has ruffled trim along the top, grommets and grosgrain ribbon at the base, and affixed to the front is embroidered artwork of a woman’s silhouette. Attached engraved coins identify your clubs. Inside the head cover is a label to accommodate your name. Truly a work of art! Other artistic designs are available. kikigolf.com Spotless Swing is a unique golf towel with “three towels in one” design! e outside, made of soft, durable micro fiber fabric, keeps your hands, face, gloves and grips clean/dry; the inside traps debris from dirty clubs; the micro brush fabric on the inside cleans club grooves. is towel is the greatest…and long-lasting! Handy carabiner attaches to golf bag and this versatile towel can either hang with opening facing down or up. **New for the ladies…Pink with embroidered breast cancer logo. Portion of towel sales are donated to breast cancer research. BrightSpotSolutions.com Finally, a divot repair tool designed exclusively for the lady golfer! Bella Crystal Collection introduces their patented Gator Clip Divot Tool featuring a unique gator clip on the backside that clips onto your visor, pocket or belt. Ladies, no more divot tool digging into your waist! Decorated with Swarovski crystals, it’s available in a variety of designs and colors. andmoreproducts.com Mark-your-spot with Navika Swarovski crystal ball markers. Interchangeable with their magnetic accessories, you can show off your “bling” in a variety of ways… wear it on your hat, your clothes, your neck, your ears, and now on your shoes. Lace up in your finest with “Kicks Candy”, a magnetic shoe ornament that slides onto your shoelace and securely showcases your ball marker for easy access. Bling your golf shoes with
20 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide
one of their new collection sets… heart, ladybug or flower…or choose a standard round shoe ornament and bling with your own marker. navika.com e Abigale Lynn collection is a contemporary line of interchangeable visor bands and fashion accessories. Eye-catching is their unique one-of-a-kind Interchangeable Ball Marker Bracelet, in colors red, ivory, black and gray leather assembled with a variety of crystallized ball markers. Gift sets are also available featuring assembled bracelet with additional ball marker and visor clip. abigalelynn.com I’ve been told that if you suffer with golf tendonitis (tennis elbow) a magnetic bracelet may help. However, most I’ve seen are unattractive and uncomfortable. Sabona makes link-style magnetic bracelets for ladies that are stylish, comfortable and feminine. New for 2012 is their Lady Executive Two-Tone Gem Magnetic and Matte Gem Magnetic. More impressive is the Lady Executive Pink Ribbon Magnetic Bracelet, which features pink cubic zirconia gems set in polished stainless steel with the familiar pink ribbon and a 1200 gauss magnet in each link. A portion of the sales of this bracelet is donated to the American Cancer Society. sabona.com We’ve seen the elasticized beaded bracelets that assist
in keeping score and we’ve seen the lightweight active wear silicone timepiece. e new product Score Band combines these features into a one-touch, multisport scorekeeping wristband. e 4-in-1 scorekeeping wristband tells time, records 2-player/team scoring, game/set scorekeeping for tennis, and hole/round scorekeeping for golf. e slim, lightweight silicone wristband is water resistant and is infused with negative ion-emitting materials. Available in a variety of colors and sizes, this product won the 2012 Best Product Concept Award in the Inventor’s Spotlight. ScoreBand.net TipTeeToe is the world’s first wedge sole golf shoe to help women achieve correct posture, better balance and stability when addressing and hitting the golf ball. e new low wedge design (1.5 inch heel) promotes proper positioning (weight on the balls of your feet), eliminating swinging from the heels and playing off balance. Cleatless and stylish, TipTeeToe shoes take women from the golf course to the concourse. ey come in an array of color combinations, jazzed up with colorful straps and built-in ball marker. tipteetoe.com Does your golf shop have eye-appeal and attract the #1 shopper…women? Jazz it up with unique, eye-catching accessories that can make apparel displays come to life and scream “Buy me”! Grow the game and boost sales through innovative accessories!
New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide | 21
Couple of Travelers by Alice and Danny Scott
Sweet Georgia for Star Weddings and Stellar Golf
Augusta isn’t the only famed course in Georgia. In fact, since one of us can’t even play there, we have two far better choices for golf vacations, starting with Cabin Bluff, just south of Savannah on the intra coastal waterways where PGA Pro Matt Kuchar was wed. Go with family, go with friends, but leave Dick Cheney behind. America’s oldest sportsman club, attended by President Calvin Coolidge, is updated with an exquisite rustic charm and open to the public. Mighty Oaks laced with Spanish moss, canopy the grounds from the main lodge, (home to more stuffed critters than Disney’s Country Bear Jamboree) to the large dock on the Cumberland River. This is where the brilliant sun rises to greet you, foreshadowing a day of fun surprises. Costs are never a surprise though as all are included up front. Golf whenever and however many holes you choose on the six hole course. Only six? Yes, designed by Davis Love III with multiple tee box and pin positions, the layout is intriguing enough to play again and again as deer prance through bunkers and storks light in trees, flapping wings and clapping beaks like a ballet show. If your golf swing isn’t there, grab a rod and reel. Fish the day away at the dock or hop on Captain Toby’s boat for historic rev-
elations, glimpses of the wild horses on Cumberland Island, the best fishing holes and techniques. We caught a bounty that the chef shared with guests, sending smiles our way at dinner. Over 27,000 acres are prime real estate for quail, wild boar, and whitetail deer. Custom wagons carry hunters and highly trained bird dogs to the protected woods. We told a quail to hide and chose the skeet stations for our shooting practice. Danny thrilled at Alice’s shotgun wielding, grateful not to be the target, while Alice took note of Danny’s pinpoint accuracy. Poolside seating and swings in the trees are perfect for simply relaxing. Trained chefs serve gourmet dishes such as wild venison tenderloin tamed by a bourbon sauce. If you don’t like down home hospitality, then stay home. If you do, then book Cabin Bluff for any corporate, buddy or family outing for a unique lifetime experience. If you would rather play six award winning courses, designed by the great Nicklaus, Jones, Cupp, Engh, Fazio and soon Pete Dye, then go to Reynolds Plantation, set around Lake Oconee with over 374 miles of shoreline. It is varietal golf at its finest. Start on the pretty and very playable Plantation Course. Advance to the Oconee with babbling brooks and the lake in play on many of the back
22 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | Golf Travel
nine holes. The Landing is a bit tougher layout. Every clubhouse has a great 19th hole site, suitable for lovely events, not the least of which was Carrie Underwood’s wedding. Camilo Villegas, Paula Creamer and Natalie Gulbis filmed their fun Taylormade commercial at the Golf Academy here. The Masters course has nothing over the Reynolds courses when the spring azaleas and dogwoods are in bloom. Visitors may stay in well equipped condos with maid service or indulge in ultimate luxury and pampering at the Ritz Carlton on property. Gaby’s poolside bar overlooking the lake there is an upscale place to see and be seen. The oysters are tasty treats for incoming boaters. Alternatively, the Infinity Pool adult bar has a more peaceful ambience at the Lake Club. Try the Infinity Sunset – a concoction of Captain Morgan Rum, Peach Schnapps, Orange juice
and a Splash of Grenadine and Sprite. It is a picture puzzle view with boats zigzagging across the water. The adjacent Nature Center avails all to paddling vessels while four full service marinas provide touring and sports fishing options. Dining options range from comfort foods to elegant cuisine. Dinner at the Landing Clubhouse features full lobster, corn, slaw and key lime pie for $35. It tastes like Maine until the dessert brings you back south. Close to the property, visit the local favorite – Silver Moon where you sign in on a blackboard and watch the oysters being shucked with great demand. If in a hurry, check out the bar or patio for first available seating. e parmesan crusted grouper is a signature dish rich in flavor. Eat, play and be happy at Reynolds Plantation or Cabin Bluff. Better yet, split your time between both. You will leave fulfilled, with Georgia forever on your mind.
Golf Travel| March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide | 23
Breezing Along the Outer Banks
From the time Orville and Wilbur Wright first took flight in the updrafts of Kitty Hawk, the Outer Banks of North Carolina have gained renown for far more than relaxing, wide sandy beaches, mild year-round temperatures and historical attractions. Today, an outstanding selection of fun and affordable yet quality golf courses are helping transform the Outer Banks into a mini-Mecca sportsman’s paradise. With a wide array of courses more closely tied to the ocean and interior waterways than what you'll find in other East Coast golf destinations, a trip to OBX is now also about tee times, shots along the sound, and an array of after-golf dining options that include selections pulled directly from nearby waters and then freshly prepared by local chefs. For larger groups headed for the barrier islands and their nearby inland activities, an ideal itinerary might include renting a spacious and well-appointed golf cottage like the one situated next to the clubhouse at Kilmarlic Golf Club, the newest offering along the upper Outer Banks. Featuring a fresh Tom Steele design that hosted the North Carolina Open in 2004 and 2009, Kilmarlic is centrally positioned among all the popular OBX golf venues including the two main ones – e Currituck Club and Nags Head Golf Links. Despite their similar locations in terms of oceanfront proximity, both provide in-
herently different experiences on any given day. Nags Head, crafted by Bob Moore, plays hard along the inner waterway. e front and back nine closing holes along the sound are particularly spectacular. Nags Head’s bar/restaurant, not surprisingly, is also home to the most dramatic sunsets in town, with views not only across the immediate Roanoke Sound, but towards three other sounds (Albemarle, Croatan and Pamlico). e grandest design along the coast is also the area’s most demanding, especially when the wind kicks up. e Currituck Club, routed by world-renowned architect Rees Jones, rolls across diverse coastal terrain with sound-side views distinctly its own. Two other courses also on the mainland but certainly worth leaving the island to go play include e Pointe Golf Club and e Carolina Club, a pair of the most immaculately manicured and impeccably conditioned golf courses you will find anywhere. Spring packages start at $229 per person (MarchMay) and include three rounds of golf selected from among the five aforementioned courses and two nights accommodations at one of many first-class options.
24 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | Golf Travel
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New England Private Clubs Must Innovate and Evolve to Survive and Thrive by Emily Kay
For years, e International catered to the rich and famous as an exclusive golf sanctuary in the heart of Massachusetts apple country. Its two championship 18-hole courses were must-plays among golfing connoisseurs. e Pines and Oaks courses remain the club’s crown jewels. But president/CEO Daniel Weadock intends to take his business to the next level. “We are...evolving from more than a just a private club to a world-class golf and culinary destination,” Weadock said. Private golf enclaves may be playgrounds of the wealthy, but the industry -- like most businesses -- continues to labor against a weak economy and changing mores. e New England market may be on the comeback trail, however. While some 400 of 4,400 private clubs in the U.S. went public between 2000 and 2009, private preserves in New England enjoyed a 3.6% uptick in rounds played last year, according to the National Golf Foundation. “Private clubs are absolutely not going away,” said Greg Nathan, NGF’s senior VP of membership. Even so, “Private clubs need to make aggressive changes to remain relevant,” observed Jon Last, president of Sports & Leisure Research Group. Even such high-end retreats as Golf Club at Turner Hill -- whose roster includes A-listers Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers and Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley -- have tweaked their dues structures. An equity member-sponsored prospect may play for two years without paying the $25,000 initiation fee, Turner Hill president Bob Talbot noted. Flexible plans, discounts, and outside play are ways clubs hope to boost membership and revenues, but family-oriented offerings are key. “You have to have strong social and fitness programs and recreational opportunities,” said Tablot. Turner Hill now offers comedy nights, bowling, and child care. For $20 per child, parents may leave their kids with an
educator on Saturday night or golf on ursday mornings. Flexible options. To commemorate its 50th anniversary, Hop Meadow CC (Simsbury, Conn.) will waive its initiation fee for the first 50 prospects who enlist for two years. e club will give three guest coupons to golfers who pay dues early and 3% discounts on annual rates to those who pay in full. Manchester, which boasted 390 dues-payers in 2001 and now has 250, will let individual and family prospects play for a year at 80% of the $4,000 (single) and $6,000 (family) annual dues. e club will waive the $2,500 initiation fee (down from $15,000 in 2001) for those who join by August 15. Outside play. If there’s one thing that gets noticed, it’s an empty tee sheet. Manchester employs the Boxgroove booking network to farm out unused times and receives 80% of each greens fee that Boxgroove sells. “It’s minimal cost to us [to bring] in incremental revenue. e International will also deploy Boxgroove, but Weadock’s vision extends beyond the golf course. In addition to a fitness center, spa, on-site TaylorMade Performance Center, and 50-room lodge, e International has added a Rick Smith Golf Academy and gourmet cuisine. “It’s a...holistic approach -- from the mental game, to nutrition, to the swing, the whole thing,” Weadock said. “We are trying to bring best-in-class golf products and services to our golf and culinary destination.” With its restaurant open to the public and 36 holes available to golfers who stay at the resort, e International has redefined the private course. “As the world and the private club industry changed and the economy went upside down,” Weadock said, “we...evolved out of necessity.” (Emily Kay is a regular contributor to New England Golf Monthly
28 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide
New Memberships Available at The International Golf Club & Resort A limited number of exclusive memberships will be made available this Spring to one of New England's most famous private golf clubs. The Pines premier membership provides access to both championship courses for $7,500. Available this Spring will also be a limited number of new weekend memberships on the Tom Fazio awarding winning semi-private luxury course, The Oaks for $2,800. For Membership Information:
978-779-1312 | TheInternational.com
New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide | 29
Molori Unplugged by John Molori
Hitting the Course with Bricks After a gritty 11-year NHL career with the Flyers, Penguins, Devils, Bruins and Jets, Andy Brickley knows a thing or two about hitting, but the man they call “Bricks” is about more than just hitting an opponent or the top corner. Brickley has been golfing since the age of 9, and hitting the little white ball is as much a part of his life as ever. “I grew up in Melrose, MA and lived less than a mile from Mount Hood Golf Club,” says Brickley, NESN’s Bruins’ analyst in his 16th year of broadcasting. “We would sneak into the ‘Hood and play 7 or 8 holes until we got caught.” Brickley says he is a “self-taught” golfer, and to this day, has never taken a formal lesson. “I learned the game by watching better players on the course and on TV,” says the former UNH hockey star. “Golf was just a summer activity that filled a gap when I wasn’t playing baseball. My brother Quintin took lessons from Lyman Doane at Mount Hood. I was just trying to pick up the basics of seeing the ball, hitting the ball and getting to the hole.” is rudimentary beginning led to a lifelong love of the game for the 50-year-old Brickley. He relates, “My passion for the game has changed since I retired from pro hockey in 1996. I wanted to get better, to learn more about the grip and swing. With golf, I don’t like to practice at all. I go right from the cart to the first tee. at is the competitor in me. I golf with a buddy, Mike Libby, who is a pro. It’s like getting a private lesson every time we play.” Brickley’s schedule lends itself nicely to the game. “I basically have summers off, so if I can help a cause by playing golf, that works. A lot of players and media play charity events. As a player, I always tried to give reporters ample time, win or lose. I tried to be a stand up guy, and felt that if I was good to them, they would be fair with me.” is human insight also applies to the golf course. “You can see a person’s level of integrity on the course,”
says Brickley, who counts Mario Lemieux, Rejean Lemelin, Dave Christian and Ray Bourque as teammates who excelled at golf. “You can see honesty and a sense of gentlemanship. It gives you a peek into what people are really like.” Brickley, a left-handed winger and center, does see some similarity between a hockey slap shot and a golf swing. He explains, “To generate power, you have to have that core strength in the middle of the body. Balance when addressing the ball or puck is crucial. It takes a tremendous grind to be the victor in both sports. You have to have a mental tenacity. In hockey, you can rely on teammates, and anger sometimes works. With golf, you are alone, and you can’t throw your bag into the crowd or knock down an opponent.” A proud member of Plymouth Country Club and Quincy’s Granite Links, Brickley explains the allure of both courses. “Plymouth is a classic Don Ross course. It is slow back to front, invites you in and beats you up. I love the design. e vistas at Granite Links are spectacular. It is a real risk-reward course.” Brickley lives in Hingham, MA with his wife and two daughters, but he is the only golfer in the house. He elaborates on where golf fits into his family and professional life. “I guess golf is my personal masculine domain. I play more than ever now, especially on the road with (WBZ Radio Bruins’ analyst and former Bruins teammate) Bob Beers. I would love to play e Peninsula in (San Mateo) California, and Pebble Beach. My wife used to be a hockey widow. Now, I joke that she is a golf widow.” A straight shooter on the ice and in the booth, Brickley does not see golf as a life and death struggle. He explains, “It appeals to my sense of competition. I know a lot of guys get frustrated with the game, but golf is different for me. Even my worst day on the course is a great day.” Columnist John Molori writes for numerous publications and appears regularly on AM 1110 WCCM. Email John at MoloriMedia@aol.com.
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Ross’ Rulings USGA Plans To Review Status Of Belly And Long Putters by Jack Ross
You might want to hold off buying that belly putter for the new season. When touring pros like Adam Scott, Webb Simpson, and Keegan Bradley started winning tournaments with long and belly putters last year, sales of unconventional putters skyrocketed. It grew hard to find them on the rack at many retailers. Odyssey Golf, which manufactures the White Hot XG Sabertooth belly putter used by Bradley, reported that sales increased more than 400% last year. But just when it seemed that the unconventional putter boom might resuscitate the stagnant golf equipment industry, the USGA and R&A are posturing to deliver a proverbial belly punch to club manufacturers. e USGA, at the urging of the R&A, plans to conduct an inquiry into the putting technique known as “anchoring,” in which the butt of the putter is secured against the body. In belly putting, the grip end of the putter is secured against the abdomen. In chest putting with a long putter, the grip end of the putter is secured against the chest. Ever since long and belly putters appeared on the market, concerns have been expressed that anchoring the putter departs from the traditional concept of the stroke. Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson have suggested bans on belly putters, as did Ernie Els several years ago -- prior to turning to the belly putter last year in a search for a cure to his putting woes. Tiger Woods, another critic of long putters, recently pro-
posed a solution: the putter should be no longer than your shortest club. ere is precedent for banning an unconventional putting technique. In 1968, the USGA prohibited Sam Snead’s croquet-style of putting, ruling that it is impermissible to straddle the line of putt. Some observers contend that Snead’s technique was actually less inimical to the traditional concept of a stroke than anchoring, since his arms and hands flowed freely. In 1989, the USGA condoned long putters, but has been silent on the issue since. At the USGA’s annual meeting, executive director Mike Davis indicated that the USGA and R&A have been discussing anchoring, and that the USGA intends to take “a fresh look” at the issue. “More players are using it, both on the elite level and the recreational level,” he commented. “We want to be sure that we are looking at all the angles and thinking about what is in the best interest both of the traditions of the game, the history of the game, and what we think would be good for the game.” e USGA has indicated no time frame for its study of anchoring, nor has it committed itself to taking any action. So, for now, you’re free to continue to use your belly or long putter. Stay tuned. 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.
32 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide
Two Good Rounds
by Elisa Gaudet
A Visit to Pebble Beach
One of the undisputed most beautiful golf courses is Pebble Beach. ere are a number of factors that contribute to this including the dramatic California coastline, pristine golf courses and rich history of legendary and diverse clientele from Teddy Roosevelt to Elizabeth Taylor, Bobby Jones and almost every golfer after him. Bing Crosby is the person most responsible for popularizing this location and arguably the game of golf. Started in 1937 the “Crosby Clambake” was perhaps the advent of the greatest 19th hole event. Crosby first took up the game at 12 as a caddy and although he made his name as a singer and performer, he would probably prefer to be remembered as a two handicap who competed in both the British and U.S. Amateur championships, a five-time club champion at Lakeside Golf Club in Hollywood, and as one of only a few players to have made a hole-in-one on the 16th at Cypress Point. In 1937 Bing came up with the idea of the pro-am golf tournament and the first “Crosby Clambake”, as Bing himself nicknamed it, was won by Sam Snead. e tournament moved to Pebble in 1947. Rotating among Pebble Beach Golf Links, the Cypress Point Club and Spyglass Hill with the climactic final round was always played at Pebble, helped to establish the course as a major championship venue and a track that every golfer dreams of playing. e tournament was a rollicking success and from the very beginning set the precedent that it was as much about partying as it was about golf. e Crosby golf tournament was part moving cocktail party, part sporting event. A fast favorite watering
hole for the Crosby crowd, and all year long, was e Tap Room. is legendary bar has been part of e Lodge at Pebble Beach since 1949 and has established itself as one of the greatest 19th holes. In Two Good Rounds- 19th Hole Stories from the World’s Greatest Golfers, many Pro Golfers listed the Tap Room as their favorite watering hole to this day. Graeme McDowell chose the Irish bar Brophy’s Tavern in Carmel to celebrate after his 2010 US Open win. is golf inspired Irish bar has been known to quench the thirst of many a golfer. McDowell celebrated with friends and family and said “I may have been the drunkest man on earth. e next day I woke up and saw the Trophy on the table in my room and thought, this is a really great hangover. I had to pinch myself ”. A visit to Pebble is not complete without having a happy hour drink at the Inn at Spanish Bay where every day in Scottish tradition a bagpiper comes out from the hills as the sun is setting over the water and plays. No better place to enjoy a great California Cabernet than the outdoor fire pit patio that overlooks the ocean and links course while the bagpiper plays until the sun sets. Elisa Gaudet, author of Two Good Rounds – 19th Hole Stories from the World’s Greatest Golfers, worked for the PGA Tour before founding Executive Golf International. Her syndicated “On the Lip” column has been running since 2003.
twogoodrounds.com | execgolfintl.com | onthelip.com
34 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide
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Celebrity Golfer: Bob Toski
by Leigh MacKay
A New England native son, Bob Toski, the man with the diminutive stature, has crafted a giant’s legacy in the annals of golf. An accomplished multi-win champion on the PGA Tour in the early 1950’s, Toski, born in Haydenville, MA, and educated at the local Northampton CC, was the Tour’s leading money winner in 1954 and won six tournaments between the Augusts of 1953-54. He also won the Mass Open at Hyannisport Club in 1958 and the Maine Open at Penobscot Valley in 1959. Choosing to spend more time with his wife Lynn and his three young boys, Toski left the Tour in 1955 at age 30 to become a club professional and to dedicate himself both to understanding the fundamentals of the golf swing and to communicating that information to players of all abilities. As accomplished as he was on Tour, Toski’s second career as an instructor brought him international renown, and this past January at the PGA Merchandise Show Demo Day, friend and colleague Jim Flick introduced Toski to a large TaylorMade clinic of club pros, media, and guests as “the best golf teacher on the planet.” From 1960 on, Toski’s name, face, and signature white cap became ubiquitous in the golf world. He composed instruction articles for myriad magazines, wrote or co-wrote a dozen books, made some of the first teaching videos, was a pioneer in bringing instruction to TV, was a regular on NBC tournament telecasts, developed his own line of eponymous clubs, and taught thousands of students. Touring pros such as Brad Adamonis, Jane Blalock, Pat Bradley, Bruce Crampton, Bruce Devlin, Birdie Kim, Tom Kite, Judy Rankin, and Lexi Thompson have sought his advice. After 2005 US Open champ Kim was asked how much the instruc-
tion of Toski had meant to her victory, she said, “Everything.” In 1971, he started the “Golf Digest” Schools, directing them for 20 years, and his system became the standard against which all other schools were judged. In 1990, he was inducted into the World Golf Teachers Hall of Fame. Currently living in Boca Raton, FL, Toski, at a young and agile 85, roots for the Boston teams and plays golf frequently at nearby Sherbrooke CC, where he persistently shoots in the mid-70’s. He still gives the personal instruction that has made him famous at the Toski-Battersby Golf Learning Center, ranked as one of the top schools in the nation. NEGM: Why was Northampton CC such an important part of your childhood? BT: I was next to the youngest of nine siblings, and when my mother died when I was six, I spent my summers and when I wasn’t in school at the club, where my brothers Jack and Benny were assistants. I learned to play there and worked there later on, too. NEGM: When did you join the Tour and what happened? BT: I joined the PGA Tour in 1950. I didn’t feel in-
36 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide
timidated by the great players of the day—Demaret, Dickinson, Ford, Heafner, Hogan, Kroll, Mangrum, Middlecoff, Nelson, Penna, Snead, Worsham—but I was certainly apprehensive. I was only 5’8” and 118 pounds, perhaps too small and too light to be successful. Yet, I was encouraged by many of these guys, and they became my friends. They called me “Mighty Mite” and “Mouse” and “Swifty” because I walked so fast and “The Whistler” because I whistled while I played. NEGM: What made you a champion on the Tour? BT: I finally believed in myself and my game. In 1953, I was playing well and felt that I was about to break through. My pro friends thought so, too. Jimmy Demaret knew that I worried about my size and performance, and he took me aside and said to me, “Bob, if you’re good enough, you’re big enough, and you have no idea how good you are.” Shortly after that, I won the Insurance City Open in Hartford. And then the next year I won four more, including George May’s World Championship of Golf at Tam O’Shanter in Illinois with its $50,000 first prize. NEGM: What has made you the most respected and foremost teacher of the day? BT: First of all, I learned from the best. I watched the great players, and I analyzed their swings. I noticed certain essential truths in their games and mine. The golf swing is muscle control through conscious effort. Distance does not depend upon brute strength. Swing speed is what creates power. And
speed is determined with a swinging motion that is created through the movement of the hands, wrists, and arms. An absolute is that the body turns and shifts weight to support the motion of the hands and arms. The swing creates a turn; the turn does not create a swing. As a result, the golfer will feel the force of his swing as he contacts the ball consistently. What I have been able to do throughout my career is to take these truths and apply them both to the individual’s needs and to the nature of his/her swing action. NEGM: A dynamic instructor and a showman at heart, you were also known for your Toski-isms. What are your three best? BT: (1) Golf is a non-violent game played violently from within. (2) Think effortless power versus powerless effort. (3) Feel the force; don’t force the feel. NEGM: How many holes-in-one have you had? BT: 12, with two of them coming within an hour at a hospital charity event in Rutland, VT. NEGM: What is something that most people wouldn’t know about you? BT: My last name is Algustoski. Because the first tee announcers, however, would mangle it, I just shortened it. NEGM: You’re 85, Bob. When are you going to retire? BT: I retire every night! But I’ve got to give lessons almost every day. That’s my passion. I was born to teach golf.
Come play one of New England’s Premier Golf Courses Voted #5 in MA, by Golf Magazine For more information about the Course & The Rockdale Grill Visit us at www.shiningrock.com SHINING ROCK GOLF CLUB 91 CLUBHOUSE LANE, NORTHBRIDGE, MA 01534 (508) 234-0400 WWW.SHININGROCK.COM
March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide | New England Golf Monthly | 37
Welcome to the
2012 National Golf Expo Boston Spring is just around the corner and as we begin the month of March we also look forward to the start of the new golf season. is year’s National Golf Expo in Boston brings tons of 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. Learn from some of the best at the Golf Expo! On Saturday meet Michael Breed from the Golf Channel’s “e Golf Fix”. Check the Amica Demonstration Stage schedule and stop by one of the informative presentations to pick up helpful tips. Don’t miss the 25 station indoor driving range where you can loosen up that swing, and while you’re at it get some personalized advice from the “NEPGA Tune Up With a Pro.” is is our fifth year at the Seaport World Trade Center and we’re thrilled to be back here. is spectacular location in South Boston with its variety of restaurants, shopping and entertainment provides the perfect atmosphere to get us all excited for the golf season ahead! anks for attending the National Golf Expo. Enjoy your visit!
Garry Edgar President Paragon Group gedgar@paragonexpo.com
2012 Demonstration Stage Schedule Friday March 2, 2012 1:45 pm 2:30 pm 3:15 pm 4:00 pm 4:45 pm 5:30 pm 6:15 pm
David “Ogie” Ogron “World’s Fastest Golfer” Gary Parker, CityGolf Boston “PGA Video Lessons: Live on Stage” Brent Amaral, PGA “Building Fundamentals & Efficient Practice Routine” Skip Guss, PGA “How To Be Competitive” Ed Weber, Fitting Specialist, GolfClub Tec “What Custom Club Fitting Will Do for Your Game” Gary Parker, PGA “PGA Video Lessons: Live on Stage” Skip Guss, PGA “Getting the Most Out of Your Practice Time”
Saturday March 3, 2012 11:00 am 12:00 pm 12:30 pm 1:15 pm 2:00 pm 2:45 pm 3:00 pm 4:15 pm
Michael Breed “The Golf Fix”, The Golf Channel David “Ogie” Ogron “World’s Fastest Golfer” Sue Kaffenburgh, PGA “Chronic Problems, New Approaches to Fix Them” Michael Breed “The Golf Fix”, The Golf Channel Drew Kayser, PGA Sue Kaffenburgh, PGA “Chronic Problems, New Approaches to Fix Them” Michael Breed, “e Golf Fix”, e Golf Channel Q & A Session with BoSox Legend Ed Weber, Fitting Specialist, GolfClub Tec “What Custom Club Fitting Will Do for Your Game”
Sunday March 4, 2012 11:00 am 11:45 am 12:30 pm 1:15 pm 2:00 pm 3:30 pm
Bob Beach, PGA “The Importance of a Pre-Shot Routine” David “Ogie” Ogron “World’s Fastest Golfer” Ed Weber, Fitting Specialist, GolfClub Tec “What Custom Club Fitting Will Do for Your Game” Kevin Walker, PGA “The ‘Real’ Fundamentals” Terry Felty, Director of Instruction at Big Sticks Golf “Stability in Your Golf Swing” Terry Felty, Director of Instruction at Big Sticks Golf “Stability in Your golf Swing”
March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide | New England Golf Monthly | 39
40 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide
March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide | New England Golf Monthly | 41
2012 National Golf Expo Exhibitor List 5-Hour Sample, LLC Adams Golf Aline Systems Amica Insurance Axis1 Golf Audi of America, Inc. Azores Golf Islands Bat-Caddy-Electric Golf Caddy Belly Putt Big Skinny Wallets Birdie G Media BirdieBall, Inc. Boston Cigar Factory Callaway Golf Company Cape Cod Chamber of Comm./CVB Casa de Campo Resort Centaurus Financial Central New York Golf Charleston & Resort Islands Golf Cleveland Golf/Srixon Country Club of New Bedford Cranwell Resort, Spa & Golf Course Cyprian Keyes Golf Club Deutsche Bank Championship Divoty Dunegrass Country Club Ecco Ernest Sports Florida Golf Gina Cigar Golf & Ski Warehouse Golf Ball Retrieval Golf Gruva Golf Holidays Golf Maine Golfing Magazine Golfnow.com Golfology Great Northern Catskills, NY -Golf Greater Ocean City Golf Assn. Green Mountain National Golf Course Happy Feet Harris Golf Jay Peak Golf Club Joe & Leigh's Discount Golf Shop King's Creek, Williamsburg, VA Lake Morey Resort LTS Leaderboard of Metro Boston South Lulas, Inc. Maine's Golf Trifecta Massachusetts Golf Association Maui Jim Musty Putters
528 842 413 349 611 245 509 517 405 318 646 652, 654 406 850 506, 508 322 440 434 635 818 638 446 633 621, 623 320 518 521, 523 328, 330 639 540 756 404, 645 530 436 510 612, 614 420 660 526 618 622 419, 538 610 620 803 428, 430 628 Man Cave 543 512 519 533 503
MWVCC Road to the Links N.E. Energy Armor, LLC New England Corvette New England Custom Putting Greens New England Golf Guide New England Golf Monthly New England PGA Nike Golf Nonesuch River Golf Club Northeast Auto Salon Ocean Annie's-Myrtle Beach, SC Omni Mount Washington Resort OptiGolf Middleton Orchards Golf Club Owl's Nest Resort & Golf Club Palmer's Global Magnetic Therapy Pawtucket Country Club Point Sebago Poland Spring Resort Power Home Remodeling Group Precision Sunglass Innovations Pure Energy Balance Bands RockBottomGolf.com Rolling Stogies Sandals & Beaches Resorts Saratoga National Golf Club Seasonal Specialty Stores Silverleaf Resorts, Inc. Smart Body Golf Smart Massage Softspikes/Black Widow Southern New England Golfer Stay and Play on Cape Cod Stowe Country Club Sugarloaf Golf Club Sunday River Resort T & S Golf TaylorMade Performance Labs The Bethel Inn Resort The First Tee of NH The Foot Saver The Ledges Golf Club The Links at Outlook The Net Return The Ultimate Coastal Golf Experience Touch of Purple Turning Stone Resort Unclaimed Money/State Treasury Wellzher Corp. World's Fastest Golfer X-Grass
42 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide
502 644 433 511, 513 544 607, 609 201, 203 844 518 433 629 626 854 539 613 427, 429 637 625 410 324 650 504 640 423 421 505 Man Cave 403 545 418 627 412, 414 630 624 524 520 608, 617, 619 820 522 422 642 634 636 527, 529 417 424 314 537 534, 536 438 422
March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide | New England Golf Monthly | 43
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Golf Fitness
Smart Body Golf's innovative and portable “Impact Performance” products are designed to offer golfers the most functional and dynamic routines in golf performance. Our goal is to maximize your ball striking skill by developing feel through enhanced body awareness and control, increasing flexibility and rotational strength, and maintaining a focus on transition and synchronization. At the same time our product line will help to prevent golf injuries. Our most effective routines utilize our patented Leverage Discs which, unlike other balance discs, offer a unique unstable platform designed specifically for rotational movements. ey are specially designed to improve the proper swing sequence, a powerful unwinding from the ground up, without conscious thought. Leverage Discs can be even more effective when used in combination with our other training products such as the Swing Ball Pro for core exercises
and the Inside 80 to improve synchronization and flexibility. e Swing Ball Pro is specially designed to improve core transition and rotational strength. e innovative handles allow for a variety of gripping options, including setups to practice draw or fade swings. Standing over the Leverage Discs, begin with half swings using the Swing Ball Pro. Slowly begin the backswing and finish halfway through, and hold the finish for a few seconds. We recommend 5 to 6 repetitions. Gradually build up to a full swing motion. e two-color design promotes a natural rotational movement from one color to the other through the impact area of the swing. We recommend 5 to 6 repetitions for up to 5 sets with a few moments of rest between each set. Gradually increase the speed of your full swings, as long as you can hold the finish over the Leverage Discs. You will begin to discover the potential power from the ground up.
SmartBodyGolf.com | Use code “NEGM10” for 10% discount 46 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide
PGA Show Equipment New for the 2012 golf season: By Ed Travis
Clubs and accessories you should know about
January’s PGA Merchandise Show as usual was filled with the latest and greatest from over a thousand exhibitors. NEGM has filtered through the technical specs, demonstrations and hyperbole to provide you with information concerning a few of the most significant equipment items.
Drivers and Fairways
e phenomenal success of TaylorMade Golf’s R11 driver has lead the company to make a bold decision keep things pretty much the same in 2012. Very understandable and the second edition, named the R11S, is still readily identifiable by the distinctive white club head. It continues to offer the same player-controlled adjustments; however the more interesting news from TMaG was the introduction of a new white-headed line carrying the snicker-evoking name of RocketBallz.
Positioned as a less expensive alternative to the R11S, RocketBallz drivers come in two flavors, regular and Tour, for the mid-market price of $299. ey don’t have all the adjustability of the R11S, only face angle, loft and lie are movable, but for players looking to get into the hottest selling brand of drivers without paying $399 for a R11S, an RBZ is a great solution. TMaG complements the RocketBallz drivers with a very “hot” group of RBZ fairways that have produced
48 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide
more than a little buzz among players. Callaway Golf is working to retake its number one spot in the driver and wood category from TaylorMade and at the top of the line up is the RAZR Fit driver. It uses Callaway’s OptiFit system to adjust face angle and has movable weights to modify ball flight bias from neutral to a draw. The RAZR Fit has a carbon composite crown and improved aerodynamics according to the company. Look for a street price of $399 with fairways at $249. Tour Edge Golf continues to receive great reviews for its fairways with the new Exotics XCG5 models as only the latest example of the company’s ability to use the latest technology to produce world class clubs that sell for prices well below the competition. ey are the only maker to use a titanium cup-shaped face with a tungsten sole plate and the XCG5’s club head pieces aren’t welded together. Crown, sole and cup-face are joined by a more expensive process called combo-brazing which produces a strong joint but with a significant weight saving. e company also guarantees the XCG5 fairway will
be longer than the fairway you now use or return it within 30 days for a full refund of the $299 price. e new Cleveland Golf Classic driver has a retro-look and though made of titanium, the finish looks like a persimmon wood with a brass sole plate. Combined with a more traditional appearing pear shape head it definitely brings back memories of when woods were actually made from wood. e Classic makes use of Cleveland’s RightWeight fitting meaning there are three models from which to choose, each having a different weight to maximize performance and different feel to suit players’ preferences. e Classic 270 weighs in at 270 grams and the Classic 290 at (you guessed it) 290 grams both for $299.99. e Classic Tour is 310 grams and a street price of $379.99.
Golf Balls
Titleist, the golf ball market leader, announced four new golf balls - the NXT Tour, NXT Tour S, Velocity and DT SoLo. e NXT Tour and NXT Tour S both have the proprietary non-urethane Fusablend cover with the S variant being a lower compression. e Velocity has a high speed core for added distance and a cover made from another Titleist-only compound,
NaZ2. e Surlyn covered DT Solo also comes in optic yellow. Street prices for the NXT Tour and Tour S are $32 a dozen, for the Velocity $27 and for the DT Solo $20. Callaway Golf is excited about their new ball; the five layer urethane-covered HEX Black Tour. e inner and outer mantles are Surlyn (of different hardness) while the inner of the two cores is designed to reduce spin off the continued on page 50
March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide | New England Golf Monthly | 49
driver. Suggested retail is $45.99 per dozen. Bridgestone Golf is working to capitalize on its success the past few years with modifications to the B330 series to fit a wider range of swing speeds. For higher swing speeds (over 105 mph) there are the four-piece Tour B330 and Tour B330-S featuring Bridgestone’s Dual Dimple Technology cover with a softer urethane cover compared to last year. And since most golfers do not swing any where near 105 mph Bridgestone has designed the three piece Tour B330-RX and Tour B330-RXS. ey have a reformulated mantle under the Urethane cover for less spin and more accuracy. TaylorMade has a new lower compression Penta, the
TP5 (SRP $45.99), that is finding acceptance on the professional tours and has added a three piece Penta TP3 ($34.99) with a urethane cover. e new RocketBallz ($26.99) is a three piece distance ball with a soft cover for better spin control around the green. Eight-year old Innovex Golf has an entry in the ball category named the V-Motion Tour with what the company calls “Tour Level performance”. The V-Motion is a three piece ball with a cast urethane 318-dimple cover to generate high spin rates with iron shots and a high speed core for distance with the driver. Innovex has aimed this ball at mid- to low-handicap players looking for a performance ball at a $30 price.
50 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide
Official Golf Ball & Putter of New England Golf Monthly
March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide | New England Golf Monthly | 51
PGA Merchandise Show – Retail Means Jobs by Bob DiCesare ere was plenty of positive energy flowing at this year's 59th PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, and a lot of it had to do with the retail sector of the golf industry. Many new products from all the major vendors and a feeling that the economy is beginning to improve have fueled a brighter outlook for 2012 than in recent years. Matthew Shay, CEO of the National Retail Federation, addressed hundreds of golf industry leaders at a forum where he detailed the retail industry's top priorities, including a campaign called "Retail Means Jobs", which seeks to emphasize the important role that the retail industry plays in powering economic growth and job creation. Overall, retailers operate more than 3.6 million U.S. establishments that support 1in 4 U.S. jobs, or 42 million working Americans, and retail generates almost onefifth of our nation's GDP. "It's true that golfers have been hitting the tees less because of economical challenges," said Shay, "but we believe there's a road map to a brighter future in the golf industry. It's a vision for spurring innovation, so we can speed the flow of business and improve service. And it's a vision for delivering value for consumers." "Spreadsheets have put pros behind the counters," said Retail Tribe's Ian James, a panelist at the Retail Means Jobs forum. "ere needs to be more PGA pros working with golfers, more playing time, and more spending money. at value has been lost. "e big retailers are looking for returns, profit on assets they already have. For the golf professional, what is the depth of their relationship with a golfer? You have to see it from the customers' perspective. e big retailers are nowhere near the independent retailer, who do a better job than the brand – that's the payoff." James also doesn't discount the value of social media in today's retail climate. "We've been losing the 20-to-30 year-olds," he said. "We haven't communicated with the way they communicate. Each generation communicates a different way. Use social media. It's low cost to communicate, and it can help in ways you never know." At the local level, there's one independent golf retailer that
leads the way in terms of sales and service. Joe Ricci and Leigh Bader, owners of Joe & Leigh's Discount Golf Pro Shop in Easton, MA, and their experienced staff members, have prided themselves on a simple motto: "Make a friend, not a sale". at philosophy has helped their business be named a 19-time Top 100 Golf Pro Shop in the country by Golf World and now also become a Top 100 Club Fitter. Bader also owns 3balls.com in conjunction with the PGA Trade-In Network and is a board member with Golf 20/20. Although he had to back out of the Retail Means Jobs forum at the last minute, he offered a careful viewpoint afterward. Bader likes to refer to figures from the Massachusetts Golf Economy Report, which was last published in 2008, and commissioned by Golf 20/20 for the Alliance of Massachusetts Golf Organizations (AMGO). Golf is a key industry that contributes to the vitality of the Massachusetts economy – home to 375 golf courses, golf ball manufacturing, and 31,685 golf-related jobs. "People have a different definition of (retail) value now than a decade ago," said Bader, an NEPGA Merchandiser of the Year award winner. "We value time and money differently as a society and place a different emphasis on tangible items. We're more pragmatic now in defining goods and services." Mark Petrucci, manager of Joe & Leigh's as well as their new Performance Center, conducts business annually at the PGA Merchandise Show and he walked away from this year's event with a feeling of optimism. "ings are starting to turn the corner," he said. "Virtually every major company was there with new products this year, and that's a good sign for the golf industry. ere are a lot of good products that will make a difference in people's golf games. I particularly like the Callaway RAZR Fit driver and TaylorMade RocketBallZ clubs. "With great new products and proper club-fitting, the benefits are immediate," added Petrucci. "e mild weather this winter has people getting an early jump on preparing for spring golf. ere's enough good little things going on to make it a big thing. We see a lot of excitement for 2012." Bob DiCesare is an award-winning golf writer for e Enterprise in Brockton, MA, and he is also a member of the International Network of Golf and Golf Travel Writers of America.
52 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide
March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide | New England Golf Monthly | 53
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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- Ernie Ells at 2011 Frys.com Open (Golf Magazine)
"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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"If it was cheating you'd see every single person using it, I don't think it is the cure-all. You still have to be good to use it. But there's no doubt, you give a good putter a long putter and he's only going to get better." - Spencer Levin
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National Golf Expo Boston at The Seaport World Trade Center
March 2-4 Booth # 405
BellyPutt.com
Sampson’s Spotlight
presented by GolfTraingAids.com
The Claim e Orange Whip Trainer was designed to empower golfers to discover their ideal swing plane, create “Tour Pro” lag, achieve perfect sequence of by Greg Sampson motion, and promote balance that is supported from the ground up. e Orange Peel was designed to enhance the golf swing learning process by altering static and dynamic balance positions. e Peel creates a slight inward pressure on the feet/legs, stabilizes the core region at address and allows you to maintain this athletic relationship of posture & balance during the full swing motion. The Test I have used the Orange Whip Trainer and Orange Peel for just five minutes a day, five days per week for about a two months thus far. Obviously, it was winter in New England so the short workout was performed indoors. e workout consisted of standing on the Peel focusing on a comfortable athletic posture before I even began to swing the Whip. Once a balanced posture was attained I slowly began to swing the Whip back and through without stopping for (5) one minute sets. The Verdict My strength and flexibility much improved over the winter with very little use of time in the comfort of my own home. I have had the opportunity to play a few times as the weather was mild in New England this year. I can honestly say that I no longer think of “hitting the ball” but rather “swinging the Whip.” As Rickie Fowler might put it, my suggestion is to, GO ORANGE!
To Purchase the Orange Whip Trainer or the Orange Peel Visit:
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myNEGM Lesson Tee Training Aids from Three Categories, and some advice It was great getting back to the PGA Merchandise Show after a 5 year hiatus and seeing all the innovations in golf by Steve Riggs training aids. Training aids that helps golfers develop feel for a balanced and fluid swing motion can be of benefit. is includes swing development, swing conditioning and physical conditioning tools. Some of the simplest products can have the most profound impact helping golfers improve an understanding of their golf swing. ere were three categories of training aids of interest to me at the PGA Show:
hands and arms. GolfStick positions weight high up in the grip area. us GolfStick helps golfers reproduce the hands positioning through the swing motion they covet. e GolfStick, set to release this spring at an MSRP of $139, comes in weights of 50, 60 70 and 80 ounces with lighter weights for juniors and women golfers. Go www.heavyswingto golf.com and stay posted on the release date.
Swing Improvement e PivotPro is a product designed to help golfers learn to effectively turn or coil against their right or trail side during the backswing, thus eliminating the swaying motion many players struggle with that can cause a myriad of swing faults and problems. e user straps their trail foot onto an angled piece of plastic that forces them to brace against the right or trail leg thus encouraging a coiling motion against that leg, hence encouraging the creation of torque or loading of the trail side during the backswing. A rod inserts into the PivotPro brace and extends vertically to the golfer’s right or trail hip, further discouraging swaying. e old teaching image of turning into the backswing like you are standing in a barrel is what the rod is designed to help the user accomplish. Working with the PivotPro, golfers will most certainly develop the feel for coiling or loading the trail side without swaying. MSRP for the PivotPro is $79.95. To order go to www.pivotpro.net
Swing Conditioning The GolfStick, while a simple weighted stick, has a very unique twist. Created by the inventors of the HeavySwing used by major league baseball players and teams, the company has turned its sights on the golf industry creating a stir among major teaching professionals and coaches. e majority of today’s weighted golf trainers focus weight on the end of the club or throughout the entire shaft, which can cause an unwanted “casting” of the
Golf Conditioning Super Flex Bands is the name of the product and overall swing conditioning is its mission. Thanks to the simplicity of the Super Flex Bands, golfers can simply attach them to the door of a closet, follow the recommended exercises and be on their way to building, stretching and conditioning the muscles needed for an effective and consistent golf swing. The Super Flex Bands are used by many to warm up and stretch before a round of golf as they are versatile enough to travel with and attach almost anywhere. While you can purchase individual Flex Bands individually, I would recommend the Super Flex Bands package that includes a golf conditioning DVD. The kit retails for $145 but can be purchased for $89.95 on the company website which is www.superflexbands.com
58 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide
Palopoli’s Picks Fantasy Golf Picks for the Honda Classic
by Jeff Palopoli
e 2012 PGA Tour season is well under way as they head in to the Florida swing for the Honda Classic at PGA National in Palm Beach. Also well under way is the NEGM Fantasy Golf League, where currently more than 50 players are competing for great prizes which include three seasonal segment prizes and one grand prize overall winner. At last year’s Honda Classic Rory Sabbatini held off a strong Sunday charge by Y.E. Yang to win by a stroke for his sixth career PGA Tour victory. is year’s field features a lot of big names such as Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Lee Westwood, all who committed to the Honda early.
The Picks: A Group: Luke Donald made his 2012 debut at the Northern Trust Open and it didn’t go as well as most people were anticipating. Neither did his follow up performance at the WGC Match Play event the next week, where he got smoked by Ernie Els 5&4 in the first round. I think Donald will turn it around on a track where he’s had success in the past. Donald finished T2 the Honda at PGA National in 2008 and T10 last year. Backing him is our fellow New Englander Keegan Bradley, who will be looking to get some redemption off of his playoff loss a few short weeks ago. B Group: It’s hard to avoid Tiger Woods in the B group this week. Tiger hasn’t played the Honda Classic since 1993 where he was a 17 year old amateur. Woods’ game seems to be coming around, where he looked strong early on at Pebble Beach a few weeks ago, but faded uncharacteristically on Sunday. Also to start in this group
will be Rory McIlroy. Don’t let his MC here last year fool you. He’s been tearing it up worldwide all winter and at the time of this writing, he was cruising right along at the WGC Match Play. C Group: Starting in the C group I like rookie John Huh. He hasn’t missed a cut all season, which is a great feat for a rookie, and he’s been in contention a number of times. Backing him up is Ricky Barnes, who’s season hasn’t been much to write home about so far despite a 3rd place finish at Pebble. Barnes also finished in solo 4th place here a year ago. Starting Foursome: Luke Donald, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, John Huh On e Bench: Keegan Bradley, D.A. Points, Jimmy Walker, Ricky Barnes. ere’s also still time to join the NEGM Fantasy Golf League through Yahoo! and be eligible for great segment prizes! If you’d like to join, send me an email at jeff@goodwalkgolf.com.
March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide | New England Golf Monthly | 59
The PGA Tour Golf Scene
by NEGM Photographer Ken Dennis Keegan Bradley At The Farmers Torrey Pines
Bubba Watson at The Farmers Torrey Pines
Keegan & Phil Celebrate after Putts at Northern Trust
James Driscoll At The Northern Trust Riviera CC
Scott Stalings at The Northern Trust Riviera CC
Always affable Bill Murray at Pebble Beach
60 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide
The PGA Tour Winners Scene
Week 1: Steve Stricker Event: Hyundai TOC
Week 3: Mark Wilson Event: Humana Challenge
Week 2: Johnson Wagner Event: Sony Open in Hawaii
Week 4: Brandt Snedeker Event: Farmers Insurance Open
Week 6: Phil Mickelson Week 7: Bill Haas Event: AT&T Pebble Beach Nat'l Pro-am Event: Northern Trust Open
Week 5: Kyle Stanley Event: WM Phoenix Open
Week 8: Hunter Mahan Event: WGC-Accenture Match Play
NEGM Staff Photographer Ken Dennis Comes Down To Earth After flying the friendly skies for 30+ years Captain Kid hung up his wings for the camera at the end of 2011. The eye in the sky Federal Express Captain has circled the globe more than many U.S. Satellites. We are proud to have Ken as part of our staff and know the FedEx will surely miss him at the controls of their 747’s. For the last 3 years Ken has provided NEGM will fantastic shots from the Tour, and now it just gets better. So much for retirement Captain Kid!
March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide | New England Golf Monthly | 61
Team New England On The Tours The PGA Tour 2012 season is well underway. The Champions Tour has completed 3 events, LPGA Tour has posted 2 events, the Nationwide Tour 1 tournament and the LPGA Symetra Futures Tour has yet to begin their season. That said, with standouts like Keegan Bradley and Scott Stallings along with our veteran and younger players TNE is well positioned to have a good season in 2012 so stay.
PGA TOUR Keegan Bradley, (VT) so far is on course for another good season after earning $3,758,600, winning the Byron Nelson and PGA Championship in his rookie year. Keegan has made 5 cuts in 5 starts, earning $941,217 and 457 Fedx points and a scoring average of 69.31. Keegan is well ahead of his earnings through this time last year with 1-2nd, 1-top 10 and 5-top 25 finishes. Scott Stallings, (MA) had a great 2011 earning $1,927,865 making his mark for TNE. Scott has made just 1 cut in 5 starts thus far in 2012 earning $74,500 and 49 Fedx points with a scoring average of 72.67 Tim Petrovic, (MA) earned just over $323,000 in 2011 and well off his normal pace. Tim made the cut in his solo start this year. Tim’s scoring average of 71.75 earned him $13.760 and 9 Fedx points thus far in 2012. James Driscoll, (MA) earning $597,935 was certainly a pretty good 2011 for James. So far, in 2012, he has made 3 cuts in 5 starts, earned $97, 095, 94 Fedx points with a scoring average of 70.47. J.J. Henry, (CT) is off to a slow start in 2012 missing the cut in his 5 starts this year. J.J.’s scoring average is 72. Henry’s earnings in 2011 were $837,097 a little below previous years. Brett Quigley, (RI) is playing select events this year after losing his regular playing privileges on the PGA Tour. Brett made the cut in his solo start as of this writing, earning $31,858, 37 Fedx points with a scoring average of 68.75 Fran Quinn, (MA) has yet to make a start on the PGA Tour for 2012. Fran splits his time between the PGA and Nationwide Tours as he did in 2011. Fran’s combined earnings in 2011 totaled $69,829. Patrick Sheehan, (MA) after earning back his card onto the PGA Tour for 2012 via the Nationwide Tour has made 3 starts missing the cut in all three so far. Patrick’s scoring average stands at 71.86.
CHAMPIONS TOUR Allen Doyle, earned $44,866 making all 11 cuts last year. Allan, competing in 2 events has made both cuts, has a scoring average of 73.5 earning $3,932 thus far on the Champions Tour. Dana Quigley, has made 2 cuts in his first 2 events starts earning $2,536. e Iron Man, whose scoring average is 74.5, has been preoccupied with his son Devon who was critically injured in an auto accident in early December and remains in a coma. Our prayers are with the entire Quigley family. Brad Faxon, Champions (RI) in his first full year on the Champions Tour has made 3 cuts in 3 starts and top 25 finishes. Brad has earned $57,090 with a scoring average of 70.0. We have a feeling big things are in store for Brad in his first full year on the Champions Tour. P.H. Horgan III, (RI) P.H. career earnings are over 1.5 Million since turning pro in 1984. After a great showing in Scottsdale last November at Q School P.H. has now join the Champions Tour in 2012. Horgan, from Newport, RI, has made 2 cuts thus far in 2 events earning $18,853 to date and had one top 25 finish. Welcome P.H. to Team New England on the Tours.
LPGA TOUR Anna Grzebien, (RI) made 5 cuts in 12 starts last year earning $29,403. She has yet to begin her 2012 LPGA Tour season. If she has worked on those course stats over the winter, 2012 could be a good one for Anna.
Alison Walshe, (MA) made 4 cuts in 11 starts in 2011 earning $60,772. 2012 Allison has competed in one event, making the cut at the Women’s Australian Open earning $6, 630. 2012 just could be her year.
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NATIONWIDE TOUR Jim Renner, (MA) lost his card on the PGA Tour last year and will be playing the Nationwide full time in 2012. Jim finished 2011 earning $395,251. Jim’s best finish was T4 at the Viking Classic.
Natalie Sheary, (CT) begins her 2nd year on the Futures circuit after posting 3 top 10 finishes and earning $15,011 starting in 11 starts her rookie season. Going to be fun watching this West Hartford youngster in 2012.
Trevor Murphy, (VT) earned $42,352 after making 11 cuts in 24 starts with 3 top 25 finishes and hopes to have a better 2012 on the Nationwide.
Chelsea Cutis (MA) starts her 3rd season on the Futures Tour. A stunning rookie season saw Chelsea stumble with her swing and game in 2011 earning only $4,416 last year in 15 event starts.
Rob Oppenheim, (MA) has been slated as ‘one to watch’ in 2012 on the Nationwide. Rob’s earnings in 2011 were $129, 594 with 3 top 10 and 11 top 25 finishes making 16 cuts in 26 starts.
Libby Smith (VT) struggled after earning $3,578 in the ailand Ladies Open Libby competed in just 4 events earning a combined total of $4,138.
Geoff Sisk, (MA) hopes to improve his lot in 2012 after earning just $38,665 making 12 cuts in 23 starts with just 1 top 25. Geoff ranks #1 in driving accuracy on the Nationwide Tour.
Julie Erekson (MA) completed three years on the Futures earning $3,789 in her 10 starts out there. With her new life in Texas things could improve for Julie in 2012.
Justin Peters, (MA) earned just $1,540 in 2011 making just one cut in 11 starts. Justin simply needs to improve is GIR % with was at 65% in 2011.
Kim Augusta (RI) is a veteran of competitive golf having played on the LPGA TOUR for several years. Kim has been working on her game and swing the past couple years earning $2,087 in 15 starts last year.
Brad Adamonis, (RI) finished the 2011 season with $39,724 in his quest to regain his form on the PGA Tour. Brad, once again, will be playing the Nationwide Tour in 2012.
Briana Vega (MA) had 16 starts in 2011 earning $5,238 for her efforts. Recall Briana was the 2006 Golf Channel’s Big Break Challenge winner with a lot of talent to get it done in 2012.
Jeff Curl, (CT) earned $11,691 making 5 cuts in 12 starts in 2011. Jeff’s driving accuracy is at just over 59% and GIR at 60%. Hopefully he’s ready to go in 21012 with better driving stats.
Haley Gidea (RI) did not compete in 2011 event though she’d been playing competitively since 2008. We hope to see Haley and the big stick in 2012.
Susan Choi, (MA) suited up for 3 events in 2011 missing the cut in all. We do hope to see her out there in 2012
Amber Richardson (RI) l) did not compete in 2011. e Alliance Bank Classic in 2010 was the last event she played on the Futures Tour.
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College Corner URI Rams Mens Golf Devon Quigley, URI Golf Alum, was in a near fatal car accident in late November and is recovering from severe brain injuries. If you are interested in
Old Dominion Monarchs Two Rhode Island natives, Jamison Randall & Samantha Morrell are sure making the most of their college golf careers at Old Dominion University. Jamison had a standout youth career on the junior/amateur circuit and guided his high school teammates to a state championship with an individual title, Randall is enjoying his time down south for the Monarchs, and adjusting to the often-tough transition as a college player. Samantha who has ruled the RI women’s golf scene for years has taken well to college golf. She has a winner and several CAA Awards including 2nd Team AllCAA and was the first ODU Women’s Golfer to be named Rookie of the year. Old Dominion is no stranger to RI Alum as both Greg Sampson and Robert Fourneir Jr. both had successfulcareers for the Monarchs as well. Follow Jamison and Samantha all season long at ODUSports.com.
helping the Quigley Family with medical bills and/or would like to support brain injured patients please visit caringbridge.org/visit/DEVONQUIGLEY. Finally please become a member of Devo’s Army on Facebook and remember to stay #DevoStrong!
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Wynnandwynn.com Like us on Facebook 64 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2011
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What’s News Veteran golfer Dana Quigley prays, watches for comatose son's recovery Champions Tour veteran watches son Devon, 27, take small steps back from coma Each day at 7:30 PGA Champions Tour veteran Dana Quigley makes his way onto the golf course as he has done for years. at part of Dana’s life is one of the few things not changed since son Devon car accident on December 1, 2011. Its may be just his way of passing time until visiting hours begins at noon each day. is family is strong and stands by their faith and belief that Devon will recover. Coming home from a friend’s birthday party late Dec. 1 in Southeast Florida, Devon Quigley, 27, his fa-
ther’s caddy on the Champions Tour, plowed his BMW three-quarters underneath the back of a semi. He is in a coma with severe brain trauma. “We totally all expect a miracle,” Dana Quigley said, “and we’re just waiting.” Devon Quigley’s eyes react to familiar voices, But otherwise, progress has been limited.“We just basically support him and hope he hears us and knows what’s going on,” Quigley said. “Only the Lord knows when he’s going to wake up.”Quigley and other family members have kept constant vigil at Devon’s bedside at a West Palm Beach hospital.
New England Green Section Seminar
New England area clubs prepare for the new season, the USGA Green Section, GCSANE and MGA have come together to host the 2012 New England Green Section Seminar. is seminar is targeted towards green committee chairpersons (and green committee members), superin-
tendents, club managers, golf professionals, presidents and owners. Club board members and interested members and staff are also welcome to attend. FOR MORE INFORMATION For more information about the New England Green Seminar, please contact us directly via email at info@mgalinks.org.
March 2011 | New England Golf Monthly | 65
What’s News Brad Faxon to Receive ASAP Sports / Jim Murry Award at The Masters Patriot Golf Day founder Major Dan Rooney, Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson and Brad Faxon have been honored with three prestigious awards given by the Golf Writers Association of America each year at the Masters. Rooney, who flew three combat tours in Iraq, was honored with the William D. Richardson Award, given annually to recognize individuals who have consistently made an outstanding contribution to golf. Gustafson, who battles a severe stuttering problem, won the Ben Hogan Award for remaining active in golf despite a physical handicap or serious illness. Faxon, a 28-year veteran on the PGA/Champions Tour, was honored with the ASAP Sports/Jim Murray Award, which recognizes a golfer for cooperation; quote ability and accommodation with the media. ey will be honored, along with GWAA Players of the Year Luke Donald, Yani Tseng and Tom Lehman at the Annual GWAA Awards Dinner, April 4 in Augusta, Ga.
National Women's Golf Alliance™ Launched To Bring A Better Golf Experience To Women Four of the nation's most highly respected women's golf organizations have joined forces to launch the National Women's Golf Alliance (NWGA), with the mission to increase the number of women playing golf, and improve engagement levels of existing women golfers. e EWGA, Golf for Cause LLC, Jan Bel Jan Golf Course Design, and Ladies Links Fore Golf, LLC (LL4G) will pool their years of expertise, data and observations.
66 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide
The PGA Of America And USGA Encourage Golfers To Tee It Forward In 2012 PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – e PGA of America (PGA) and United States Golf Association (USGA) want golfers to have more fun by “teeing it forward” all year long. Following the successful pilot launch of TEE IT FORWARD in July 2011, e PGA and USGA are encouraging golfers to continue to tee it forward and play from distances that match their playing skills. More than 1,900 facilities registered in 2011 with an average of 123 golfers per facility (nearly 237,000 nationwide) playing from forward tees during the promotional period. Additionally, a survey of more than 3,000 consumers who experienced the program showed that 70 percent found their round of golf more enjoyable and more than 90 percent said they would recommend TEE IT FORWARD to a friend. e survey also found nearly 50 percent of respondents saying the program helped them play faster.
Brian Bain Selected as PGA Player Development Regional Manager As a major component of the new Golf 2.0 initiative to grow the game of golf, e PGA of America has hired four new PGA Player Development Regional Managers in strategic markets across the country. e new Regional Managers, who will serve the New York, Chicago, Southern California, and Boston markets, are charged with implementing strategies, initiatives, and programs to expand the reach of golf among current and potential players. NEPGA Professional Brian Bain( PGA Professional at Robert T Lynch in Brookline, Ma) has accepted the PGA Player Development Regional Manager position serving the Boston region.
March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide | New England Golf Monthly | 67
What’s News Renowned Course Designer Geoffrey Cornish, ASGCA Fellow Dies at 97 Geoffrey Cornish, a Fellow of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA), died February 10, 2012 in Amherst, Mass. He was 97. Cornish, an ASGCA Past President and native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, designed more golf courses in New England than anyone. He and his associates designed 240 golf courses in the United States, Canada and Europe, including: the International Golf Club, Bolton, Mass.; the Center Valley Club, Center Valley, Pa.; and the New Ashburn Golf Club, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He continued to serve until his death with Mungeam Cornish Golf Design.
Roger Barry, Golf Writer and Friend of The Ouimet Fund Passes e Ouimet Fund is saddened by the news that Roger Barry, long-time golf editor of the Patriot Ledger Newspapers and a great friend to the Ouimet Fund, passed away recently after suffering from Alzheimer's disease for several years. Mr. Barry was one of the most respected golf writers in the country and a tremendous promoter of the game locally. He was one of the founders of the Golf Writers Association of America and a multi-term President and started several golf tournaments, including the Southeast Amateur Championship in 1960. His friends established a Ouimet endowed scholarship in his name 20 years ago from the proceeds of a testimonial dinner when he retired.
68 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide
In Honor of Peter Curran Keegan Bradley almost won the Northern Trust Open for his roommate and best friend Jon Curran who’s father Peter Curran passed on Wednesday February 15th just before the event after a long battle with melanoma cancer. Keegan wasn’t the only one honoring the late Peter Curran. About a dozen players, including @RickieFowlerPGA sharpied the initials “PC” on their hats and it found its way into many tweets. “A bunch of the guys put P.C. on their hats,” Bradley said. “I kind of feel like I’ve got good luck on my side. I’d love to go out there and play well for him and the Curran family tomorrow.” “Peter Curran was well known amongst the top golfers in the Challenge Cup for his mentoring. Dave Wilson (Cameron's dad) and Bill McLaughlin
(Nick's father) referred to Peter as the model golfing dad. He attained a wealth of knowledge to support his son and let him take care of his business on the golf course...barely ever watching Jon play. Peter was the consummate family man. His life revolved around his family. To me he was a model husband and father. He will be greatly missed, but never forgotten.” Dave Adamonis Jr. (Exectutive Director of the United States Junior Challenge Cup Foundation
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March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide | New England Golf Monthly | 69
Hannaford Supermarkets & The Legends Tour announce new tournament in Maine
Official Legends Tour of the
= :: LPGA Hall of Famer and Legends Tour star Nancy Lopez will tee it up at Falmouth CC in June for the Hannaford Community Challenge presented by Kraft Foods.
Falmouth Country Club to host Hannaford Community Challenge: A Golf Event to Benefit Local Charities PORTLAND, ME –Hannaford Supermarkets and The Legends Tour announced today they will bring a tour event featuring LPGA Legends to Maine for the first time this summer. The Hannaford Community Challenge presented by Kraft Foods will be held at Falmouth Country Club near Portland, Maine June 21-24, 2012 and will feature a field of 40 Legends playing 36 holes over two days for a $200,000 purse. Tournament week will also include a one day pro-am, women’s and junior clinics and special community events. e Legends Tour includes 10 LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame members and its players have combined for over 600 LPGA Tour victories and 65 major championships. e Legends Tour’s previous official event rosters have included Nancy Lopez, Beth Daniel, Meg Mallon, Rosie Jones and New England’s own Pat Bradley. An area native and 27-time winner on the LPGA Tour, Jane Blalock serves as CEO of The Legends Tour. “The LPGA Legends are thrilled to partner with Hannaford to bring the first world class LPGA tournament to the state of Maine,” said Blalock. “We are looking forward to enjoying the greater Portland area and the challenging Falmouth Country Club Course.”
In addition to bringing world class golf to Maine, Hannaford Supermarkets plans to parlay the excitement for this unique event into support for healthy communities and youth programs. “Hannaford is very proud of the many ways we support our communities, through food bank donations, free nutrition education in our stores, and the hundreds of hours our associates dedicate to volunteerism, especially through the United Way,” said Beth Newlands Campbell, president of Hannaford Supermarkets. “e Hannaford Community Challenge event will give us another great opportunity to give back to Maine communities.” Falmouth Country Club, a 6,879 yard par 72 built on 425 acres in 1986 is an ideal venue for e Legends Tour with its large, undulating greens and challenging, tree-lined fairways. “From the very start, Falmouth Country Club has upheld the highest standards with regards to competitive golf,” says Club founder and Director of Golf Dick Harris. “We couldn’t be more pleased partnering with Hannaford and e Legends Tour to bring an event like this— boasting players of this caliber—to Maine.” Tickets will be available via local charities as well as online at eLegendsTour.com and at the gate.
70 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide
March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide | New England Golf Monthly | 71
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ING Awards 4 NEGM Staff Writers at This Years PGA Show At the 2012 PGA Show e International Network of Golf presented writing awards to four members of New England Golf Monthly’s editorial staff. We would like to congratulate them on the dedication and professionalism to their craft. We are proud to have such a great editorial team that contributes all year long to our publication.
Equipment Writing
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March 2012 Vol V. Issue I
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CONTRIBUTORS Tom Gorman Greg Sampson Tim Geary John Molori John Lyon Alice Scott Pam Borges Laura Ebrecht Bob DiCesare Steve Riggs Robert Martin Jeff Palopoli Kathleen Dyson Emily Kay Matt Adams Jack Ross Jim Hammond Danny Scott Ed Travis Leigh McKay Elisa Gaudet
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March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide | New England Golf Monthly | 75
Gorman vs. Geary by Tom Gorman and Tim Geary
Is there too much golf on TV? by Tom Gorman
No. Only a white punk on dope would argue to an audience of golf lovers that there is too much golf on TV. Now, as we begin the fourth glorious year of debates, readers can finally understand the pathetic golf mind of what makes Timmy “tinybrain” Geary tick. Perhaps, the two main reasons “tiny-brain Tim” argues that there is too much golf on TV is that he’s a closet-loving NASCAR fan or he simply smoked too much herb in the 70s and 80s and it’s finally caught up to the narcistic, cranky baby boomer. On Sunday, February 12, 2012, during the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, the Golf Channel scored its most watched PGA Tour round ever in the 17-year history of the network, , beating the previously held mark by 25 percent. Golf Channel’s lead-in coverage on that Sunday (1–2:30 p.m. ET) hit a 2.1 market share, which translates into 2,337,000 viewers. Prior to the national telecast on NBC beginning at 3 p.m., which also had record viewership, the coverage peaked at 2.9 percent, making this snowless winter day one of the highest-rated in televised golf history. Tiger’s enemies surfaced that week claiming “choke” but Phil has 40 career wins (4 majors) compared to Tiger’s 71 (14 majors). Easy for me to figure who the better player is, not the more popular! So this raises some serious TV golf questions: Are you tuning in to watch golf or to watch Tiger vs. Phil? Do you watch golf even when the two biggest names over the last decade aren’t in the hunt? Who watched Kyle Stanley earn his first Tour victory by beating Ben Crane by one shot the weekend before in the Waste Management Phoenix Open? Did you also flip on the Golf Channel on January 9 when Steve Stricker won the Hyundai Tournament of Champions from Hawaii? If you answered yes, like I did, to any of the above questions, you may be addicted to TV golf! I love to watch the best players in the world do what they do best – shoot low scores – which is something I can’t do, no matter how many lessons or how often I try. My game may suck, but my desire to watch “live” golf on TV has never been higher.
Time to fess up a dirty little secret: for 17-years the Golf Channel has been my favorite channel. When the Golf Channel debuted in 1995, I remember harassing my local cable company weekly, asking when it would be available. Why did the Golf Channel ever get rid of Peter Kessler? Kessler was a walking encyclopedia of golf knowledge and he delivered golf history in a easy to understand style, with groundbreaking interviews. Dare we ask whatever happened to other talented TV golf journalists like Vince Cellini, Jim Kelly and Inga Hammond? Just around the corner “ladies & gentlemen, boys and girls” as Sherm Fuller, former Red Sox public address announcer used to say, is the Masters golf tournament April 5-8. With the U.S Open, held in July ranking a distant second in TV golf viewership, the Masters is an annual TV ratings magnet for golfers and non-golfers as well. Expect ESPN & CBS to offer “live” broadcast coverage from Augusta National Golf Club on ursday April 5 and Friday April 6 from 4 – 7:30 p.m. with replay from 8 – 11 p.m. Weekend coverage, including the infamous, unprecedented back 9 on Sunday from 2 – 7 p.m. Total viewing hours exceed 30 for four days! e Masters is TV golf ’s highest ratings program and two-years ago Phil Mickelson’s swashbuckling, emotional finish turned in viewers with 14.1 percent of TV households, an all-time high ratings bonanza fro CBS. In the 500-channel universe of TV choices, this is unquestionably the Super Bowl of Golf. Let’s unanimously conclude this debate once and for all, that “no” there is not too much golf on TV. Watching the Big Break is still a better choice than watching Dancing with the Stars, and Golf Central is far superior TV viewing than ESPN’s SportsCenter. And, that just maybe Tim Geary spends too much time watching those Genie Bra infomercials! 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 currently in rehab for an addiction to televised golf.
76 | New England Golf Monthly | March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide
Is there too much golf on TV? by Tim Geary
Let’s get this out of the way immediately. ere’s too much of everything on television nowadays except good programming. at’s harder to find than a Titleist Pro V in a mountain of dead leaves. Too much golf on the old tube? Well, yes, except as it is with everything else, we are free not to watch. So I guess I have to immediately grab a white flag, run it up the flagpole and turn my literary sword over to Gorman, who will undoubtedly cut himself, as he is so totally unaccustomed to winning these debates. Okay, enough of the concession speech. Golf on T.V. used to be a real treat because, like with most things, less is good. We were able to see the final few holes of Saturday and Sunday coverage and we had the absolute joy of viewing both the ‘CBS Golf Classic’ and ‘Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf ’, which were manufactured events that featured the world’s best players. ere was no Golf Channel, no ESPN, no 24 hour sports networks anywhere that saturated the market until everything just turned into white noise. One of golf ’s major drawbacks is that until Sunday there are no winners. And even Sunday doesn’t get interesting until the back nine commences among the leaders. So for the first three and a half days there is no drama and sports is all about drama. Maybe if Phil and Tiger were to strip off their golf gloves on the 11th tee box and duke it out we’d have something. Or maybe even better, Tiger and Stevie. ere’s only one hole on the entire PGA Tour where you can be entertained even if Joe Nobody is being shown putting from three feet – the par 3 16th hole at the Phoenix Open, where fans hoot and holler and act the same way they do at any other sporting event in the world. When networks used to only televise the final four or five holes the shots they showed were often very telling and we didn’t have to sit there for six hours to
get our fix. Of course, there’s no law that says you have to watch for six hours, but for golfers the coverage is like trying not to bite down on a tooth that has an emerging cavity. You know it’s not wise to do it, but you can’t help yourself. It’s available so you watch. Of course if you are one of the five people still left in this country who rely on free over-the-air T.V. you don’t get enough golf or anything else on the tube, except maybe watching fat people trying to lose weight or a bunch of idiots willingly being dumped into a tub of insects. Oh, yeah, Mario Lopez can tell you who the Kardashians are dating. Most golf coverage, as with most sporting events, has been swallowed up by the premium networks that proliferate cable and satellite T.V. And far too much of it is devoted to infomercials and how to shows. e old golf lessons, that used to be the staple of the magazines, have found their way to e Golf Channel. It’s actually a great vehicle for the business of golf. Golfers, perhaps more than any other consumer group, have the two greatest attributes that any sales person is looking for – money and gullibility. Golfers never learn that you can’t buy a golf game (unless you take lessons and even that has its limitations as Jack Lemmon proved). Yeah, there’s way too much golf on television these days, but Gorman wins this debate because it’s an undeniable fact. You don’t have to watch. Tim Geary is a R.I. based freelance writer. He only watches the final hour of the fourth round of golf tournaments, the only exceptions being the four majors and the Ryder Cup matches.
Have a Topic for Gorman vs. Geary in 2012? Email editor Tim Branco – tim@nepubinc.com or let us know on Facebook.com/NEGolfMonthly March 2012 | National Golf Expo Guide | New England Golf Monthly | 77
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IMPROVE YOUR SHORT GAME Introducing the incredibly effective 56º Wedge for mastering shots from 100 yards and in. This club will teach you to hit your wedges with tour quality spin and control. Combine your Tour Striker training iron with the 56º wedge for theUltimate Tour Striker Training Package!
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WHAT IF YOU COULD HIT A WEDGE THAT GAVE YOU A HUGE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANTAGE? WHO WOULDN’T DO IT? A couple of months ago, the guys from F2 Golf makers of the very popular F2 wedges-which have sold well over a hundred thousand clubs-called. They said, “Andy, we’d appreciate you taking a look at our new design, the new F2 wedges are really different.” That’s an understatement. They’ve incorporated a “dog-leg hosel” which gets the hosel out of the way of the ball…reducing drag through rough and sand, and giving you more surface area to the golf ball. You can’t shank it. But here’s the coolest thing about the new F2s. When you address the golf ball and look down, it looks like a great looking, traditional wedge. With its radical, yet beautiful club head, and maximum spin from legal grooves, the new F2 wedge is TRUE innovation in wedge design. I believe for most golfers, this new F2 wedge might just make every other wedge in golf, obsolete. F2 SS wedges come with our “hit it closer and score lower” Andy North–2 time US open Champion guarantee. With the new F2 wedges, you will hit your shots from 100 yards in and shoot lower scores, guaranteed! And eliminate the possibility of a shank. If you don’t, just send ‘em back for a full product refund within 30 days, no questions asked!
revolutionary dog-leg hosel
beautiful traditional looks
1-800-219-9342 now to get free video tips from Andy North and find out more about the incredible new F2 SS Wedges
LOVE NOW COMES WITH A MONEY BACK
GUARANTEE. THE NEW
LOVE ITS PERFORMANCE OR YOUR MONEY BACK.
Tune the new R11S to your swing, and if you don’t love its performance, we’ll give you your money back. The new R11S has been redesigned to deliver even more distance. Powered by an improved FCT sleeve to tune loft, a new 5-sided ASP plate to tune face angle, and a 10g and 1g movable weight to tune flight path, the new 460cc matte-white finish R11S is the only driver that can independently tune the three dimensions to distance. Learn more at taylormadegolf.com
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Justin Rose: ASP: N, MWT: 1g toe/10g heel, FCT: .75 higher
+23 DIMENSION 1
DIMENSION 2
DIMENSION 3 D
Tune loft
Tune face angle
Tune flight path
taylormadegolf.com
@taylormadegolf
/taylormadegolf
© 2012 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. #1 Driver in Golf claim based on combined 2011 wins and usage on the PGA, European, Japan Golf, Nationwide, Champions and LPGA Tours, as reported by the Darrell Survey Co. and Sports Marketing Surveys, Inc. Pro distances denoted within ad represent difference between neutral settings to tuned with the R11S. Offer valid only on purchase of the R11S driver made at authorized TaylorMade U.S. retailers only. Original receipt required for refund. Purchase must be made between February 3, 2012 and May 1, 2012. Return must occur within 30 days of purchase. If you purchased your driver online, TaylorMade will not reimburse original shipping and handling costs. Call 866-530-2582 or go to www.taylormadegolf.com for information on the return process. TaylorMade will send you a check within 12 weeks. REFUND LIMITED TO PURCHASE PRICE PAID AND EXCLUDES ALL TAXES. Only one return per U.S. mailing address.
Opening November 2011