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July 2009
KEVIN JOHNSON Chasing NationwideTour History Story Page 10
Vol II Issue V
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July 2009
RIGolfMonthly.com - MassGolfMonthly.com - CTGolfMonthly.com - NHGolfMonthly.com - VermontGolfMonthly.com - MaineGolfMonthly.com
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NEW ENGLAND GOLF MONTHLY
Deutsche Bank Championship Charity Day
DEUTSCHE BANK PARTNERS FOR CHARITY TO SPONSOR AJGA TOURNAMENT Top junior golfers to play in Dedham, Mass., July 20-23
Eric Baldwin, Championship Director of the Deutsche Bank Championship (kneeling left) and Marketing and Client Services Manager Meg Counts (standing right of sign) join Deutsche Bank Champions volunteers Joe Monti, Joe Perry, Dick Forrester, Martha Forrester, Joe Collins, Brian Mulloy, Clotilda Flahive, Jean Blethen-Cody, and D.J. Kirby for a lunch break while spending the day assisting the Arc of Northern Bristol County with a spring cleanup.
Deutsche Bank Championship employees, volunteers and supporters participated in the Championship’s Charity Day, spending the day at three local organizations helping to plant flowers, do yard work, paint the facilities and participate in other general cleanup duties. All of the organizations involved are part of the Deutsche Bank Championship’s Birdies for Charity program, which raised more than $770,000 for local New England charities and the Tiger Woods Learning Center in 2008. The organizations served, and a description of each, are included below: The Arc of Northern Bristol County's (Attleboro, Mass.) mission is “to strive for the right of all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to be valued as individuals, to experience choice, and to be fully included in all aspects of community life.” Founded in 1959, The Arc provides services to more than 1,200 individuals with disabilities and their families in fourteen communities throughout northern Bristol County and Rhode Island. Agassiz Village (Saugus, Mass.), in its 73rd year of service, continues to offer life-changing experiences to children and teens through a variety of summer programs. This non-profit organization serves "Villagers" that come from racially, economically and socially diverse backgrounds, who live, learn, and play together in a positive and enriching environment. The Hockomock Area YMCA (Foxboro, Mass.) through its branches in Foxboro, Mansfield, North Attleboro and Franklin positively impacts the lives of almost 30,000 youth, adult and family members living in fifteen area communities, emphasizing values-based programs and activities that strive to meet current and emerging community needs.
Deutsche Bank Championship staff and volunteers take a break during their Charity Day work at the Hockomock Area YMCA in Mansfield, Mass. (L to R Kneeling) Dara Panasy, Meg Schulte, Deutsche Bank Championship Volunteer Coordinator Jenn Spicer, Deutsche Bank Championship Operations Manager Pat Hurley, Kelsey Smith; (standing in front of Bus L to R) Carl Young, Christy Drinka, Jane Peacitto; (in the bus L to R) Karen Orton, Jason Antonucci, Mark Margerum, Jason Magerum, Karl Smith, Brian Turbitt.
BRASELTON, Ga. – Deutsche Bank Partners for Charity, as part of Deutsche Bank’s long-standing commitment to social responsibility and community involvement, will lend support to the American Junior Golf Association this summer as it sponsors a northeastern event. The Deutsche Bank Partners for Charity Junior Shoot Out, July 20-23, will be held at the Dedham Country and Polo Club in Dedham, Mass. The 54hole stroke play event will feature 99 of the nation’s top male and female junior golfers, ages 12-18. Eric Baldwin from the The AJGA is dedicated to providing New Eng- Deutsche Bank Championship land with competitive junior golf, and for the past 10 years has hosted a tournament in the Boston area. Deutsche Bank Partners for Charity will help carry on the tradition. Deutsche Bank joined the AJGA in 2008 as an endowing partner of the Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program. The ACE Grant program was created by the AJGA in 2003 to ensure competitive golf opportunities are available to all young golfers regardless of their financial resources. Since the program’s inception, the AJGA has awarded 255 ACE Grants to 170 juniors totaling nearly $937,000. “Deutsche Bank’s partnership with the AJGA has benefited many worthy kids in New England and around the country, so we are proud to expand our involvement by supporting the Junior Shoot Out,” said Seth Waugh, CEO of Deutsche Bank Americas. “Through golf and the Deutsche Bank Championship, we have generated more than $14 million for children’s charities, and this sponsorship further unChris Melrin AJGA Player derscores our commitment.” Addresses Group in “We are very excited to work with the Dedham Golf & Polo Club Deutsche Bank Championship on this event,” said Jason Etzen, AJGA executive vice president of corporate partnerships. “Deutsche Bank has been a great supporter of the AJGA in the past, especially with their endowment to the AJGA’s ACE Grant.” The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The largest Association of its kind, the AJGA has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 30 foreign countries. Titleist, the AJGA’s National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association’s success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, which is in its third decade of AJGA support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004. In 2007, after 12 years of support, Polo Ralph Lauren became the AJGA’s second Premier Partner. AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. More than 200 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 350 wins. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, Cristie Kerr, Pat Hurst, Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel and Julieta Granada. Deutsche Bank also extends its golf relationship professionally with the Deutsche Bank Championship, the second event of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, which will be played Sept. 1-7 at TPC Boston in Norton, Mass. New England’s favorite Labor Day sporting tradition, the 2009 Deutsche Bank Championship features a record $7.5 million purse and a $1.35 million winner’s check. Reigning FedExCup champion Vijay Singh is the Deutsche Bank Championship’s defending champ and only two-time winner. For more information, please contact Chelsea McCullough (cmccullough@ajga.org) in the AJGA Sponsorship Department at (678) 425-1742 or visit the AJGA Web site at ajga.org.
newenglandgolfmonthly.com July 2009
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CONTENT
~ In This Issue ~ www.NewEnglandGolfMonthly.com
6
Woltman Wins Northeast Amateur
7
New England Golf News
Managing Editor: Timothy R. Branco
8
An Interview With Natalie Gulbis
Production: Sally Briere Robin Sampson/Greg Sampson
9
Price and Toms Win at CVS
11
Team New England on The Tours
14
New England Golf Scene Photos
15
Perry Wins Travelers Championship
20
New Englands First Tee Program
21
Jennifer Song Wins Women’s Amateur Public Links
22
New England Junior Golf
23
Molori Unplugged on John Daly
24
Good Looks on The Course by Elle Brec
34
Gorman vs. Geary
July 2009
Volume II Issue V
Publisher: Timothy R. Branco Assistant Publisher: David Adamonis
Administration: Mary L. Hullett Contributors Tom Gorman David Adamonis John Lyon Jay Nomakeo Richard Kelley Bill Geiring Matt Adams Burgess Houston Jeff Dantas John Molori Wayne Mills Brad Reading Hal Philips
Tim Geary Parker Smith Pam Borges Bob DiCesare Robert Martin Katherine Dyson Jim Hammond Greg Sampson Gary Trask John Magginis Derek Hooper Robert Skura Barry Palm
PGA Tour Photographer Ken Dennis kendennisphoto.com
Fashion Writer Elle Brec ellebrecgolf@yahoo.com
Sales & Marketing Greg Sampson - Manager gsampson@NewEnglandGolfMonthly.com Andrew Clark - Sales Associate AClark@NewEnglandGolfMonthly.com Corporate Sales Timothy Branco tbranco@NewEnglandGolfMonthly.com
Real Estate Sales Betsy Griffin betsy@NEHomefinder.com New England Golf Monthly is published 8 times yearly by The New England Publishing Group Inc. Reproduction of the contents, images and editorial is strictly prohibited without written permission from the publisher. Neither advertiser or publisher will be held liable for errors or omissions in any content of this publication. All rights reserved. For product marketing distribution and/or direct mail information contact us at info@NewEnglandGolfMonthly.com
From The Editor It is July and the best golf of the year is right ahead of in the next three months. It is a time in New England that we wait for every year, the long days and warm temperatures and great playing conditions. Having said that we really need a break in the weather with all the rain we have had in June. I for one have never been a good player in wet conditions but this month has taught me to sharpen my skills in wet weather and always be prepared with the right gear to stay dry. See Elle Brec’s column on rain gear and umbrella’s this month, being prepared for all conditions in golf is essential. On another note I had the opportunity to play golf in The Celebrity Pro Veteran tournament on June 29th at Granite Links in Quincy, Massachusetts. The pro on my team was Dustin Cone from Vermont. Our team had the opportunity to see golf perfection as Dustin shot a 12 under round 60 and crushed Granite Links course record of 65 and won the event, well done! It has been a very difficult year for so many in the golf community that we care so much about. My friend and business mentor David Adamonis one of the most prominent figures in New England golf is fighting once again for his life battling lung cancer. For the last 4 years David has shown us all how to keep up the fight. David has always said to his players, it’s not how you start but how you finish, PPO patience pays off, and PMA positive mental attitude. I believe David wins this battle, like he has with all the others, I look forward to playing golf again with him soon. Ken Green another in the New England golf community has suffered a tragic loss in June when in a car accident in Mississippi he lost his brother, girlfriend and dog in a horrific crash and days later lost his right leg as a result of the injuries he suffered. In yet another car accident PGA Tour Player Chris Smith lost his wife and both his children were critically injured in a crash in northern Indiana in June. It puts all things in perspective, golf after all is only a game. These events have brought much sadness and concern from New England golf fans and the golf community everywhere. Our hearts and prayers are with you all, all the best. All The Best, Timothy R. Branco Managing Editor/Publisher tbranco@newenglandgolfmonthly.com
New England Golf Monthly The New England Publishing Group, Inc. P.O. Box 357 Swansea, Ma 02777 A Division of The New England Publishing Group, Inc.
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Perry Wins Travelers Page 15
Price and Toms Win CVS Page 9
Dustin Cone Wins Celebrity Pro Veteran Shatters Course Record At Granite Links Page 21
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NEW ENGLAND GOLF MONTHLY
www.waverlyoaksgolfclub.com
Fore Thought You Can Never Return To Form! Kenny Perry had nine career wins under his belt by 2005 but going into May of 2008 he hadn’t won in 24 months. Then quite suddenly he won three tournaments. By Bob Skura Good for him, but what caused his renewed success? Some would say that Perry simply recaptured his old magic but winners never really return to form. They move forward. Golf fans will recall that captain Paul Azinger stated that he only wanted winners on his Ryder Cup team. Being high in the points rankings but without a recent win Perry set new goals in 2008 and achieved a new milestone in his career. Viewing those victories as unique is like viewing the 1000th mountain you climb as unique whether it be because of slope, height or conditions. Seeing differences prevents us from falling into a state of complacency because every challenge becomes a first time event rather than a repeat performance. I explained this concept recently to a golfer I’ve been coaching who said he always tries to keep moving forward. Then about a week later he told me he was trying to get his old putting stroke back. You’ve likely said similar things about your own driving, chipping or putting. What this golfer didn’t realize was that trying to recapture a previous form hinders progress. Every golf game is a new experience for your evolving body and mind so your physical performance must evolve with it if you are going to stay fresh. Also, trying to recapture your old form can be destructive because as soon as thoughts of past performance enter your mind you are no longer in the present. If you want to be in the present you can borrow images of previous successful shots but you have to play each shot now with the present challenges in mind instead of past glories. If you do you will have many more successes to look forward to and they’ll be as exhilarating as climbing a new mountain peak for the first time. Bob Skura is the author of the award-winning book, How Great Golfers Think – Perfecting Your Mental Game. For more information visit: www.howgreatgolfersthink.com
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NEW ENGLAND GOLF NEWS
Two Players Advance to 2009 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship Following Sectional Qualifying at Shaker Hills GC Harvard, MA —Two players earned the right to compete at the 2009 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship today following a sectional qualifier held today at Shaker Hills Golf Club in Harvard. Championship Proper is scheduled for July 13-18 at the Jimmy Austin/University of Oklahoma Golf Club in Norman, Oklahoma.
Here are results from the sectional qualifier 2009 U.S. Amateur Public Links Qualifying Shaker Hills Golf Club (Harvard, MA) Tuesday, June 23, 2009 Par 142 (71-71) Qualifiers 1) Peter Williamson (Hanover, N.H.) 70-68—138 2) Beon Yeong Lee (Montreal, QC) 71-72--143 Alternates 1st) Robert Bruso (Sutton, MA) 69-74--143 2nd) David Sampson (Swansea, MA) 74-70—144
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Woltman Wins Northeast Amateur By Tim Geary Knowing how golfers will try anything if they believe it will improve their game, it wouldn’t be surprising over the rest of the summer to find doctor’s offices filled with people wearing plaid pants and Ashworth shirts, hoping not to be inoculated against ‘Swine Flu’ but to be infected with the disease. For three weeks prior to the 48th Northeast Amateur golf tournament 22-year old Dan Defending champ Brendon Gielow (right) Woltman of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, was sufslips the champion’s jacket on 2009 fering from Swine Flu. Northeast Amateur champ Dan Woltman. The University of Wisconsin star not only shook off the disease, but came to newly renovated Wannamoisett Country Club in Rumford, R.I., and shattered the tournament record, set last year by defending champion Brendan Gielow, by two strokes, firing a four-day total of 11-under par. “It was really a weird deal,” said Woltman, who only played 27 holes of golf over weeks leading up to competing in one of amateur golf’s most prestigious events. “I’m all right now but I lost something like seven pounds. It was really tough. I wasn’t able to practice.” That seemed to be the ticket to his good play. “I came in fresh,” he said. “I didn’t have any bad thoughts in my head.” The $3 million renovation at Wannamoisett was not undertaken just to toughen up the Donald Ross-designed course for the best amateur players in the world, but certainly the membership was hoping it might slow down the ‘kids’, who have come to treat the historic piece of golfing heaven like a piñata, from which birdies cascade. Instead the top players ignored the new bunkering and mounding, the lengthened tees and bigger greens and overpowered the course. The top 21 in the field all ended up in red numbers. Instead of being miffed, the quality of the play thrilled the tournament committee. “We had the best amateur players here and they played like it,” tournament director Denny Glass told ‘The Providence Journal’. “The scores were amazing.” Especially Woltman, who charged from behind to the championship. After opening with a 1-over 70, he put together rounds of 64 and 67 and then finished it off with a sizzling 64 to pass Robert Rohanna and third round leader David Holmes (who shot 67 in the fourth round). Holmes (University of Tennessee) finished in a three-way tie for second along with Duke’s Adam Long and South Carolina’s Wesley Bryan (all at 8under). The top New Englander was Peter Uihlein of Mattapoisett, Mass, who finished in a 3-way tie for 13th place at 2-under. Uihlein, a sophomore to be at Oklahoma State University, was right in contention going into the final day, but carded a 3-over 72 after rounds of 71, 64 and 67. The top Rhode Islanders were Matt Broome of Barrington and two-time defending RIGA Player of the Year Charlie Blanchard of Tiverton, who tied for 57th at 9-over. Seven-time Mass Golf Association Player of the Year Frank Vana Jr. finished 48th at 6-over. The last Rhode Islander to win the tournament was Brett Quigley in 1988. Two years ago Woltman won the Wisconsin Open and plans on turning pro this fall after the Walker Cup matches are completed. Prior to the Northeast Woltman had not yet been selected to the team but his victory at Wannamoisett should have taken care of that. Glass pointed out prior to the tournament that while it is not a lock, “Whenever it has been a Walker Cup year our champion has been named to the team. The USGA looks highly on the event.” The Northeast has played host to some of the greatest players in the world before they became household names. Past champions include John Cook, David Duval, Scott Hoch, Allen Doyle, Luke Donald and Ben Crenshaw. Among those who have competed in the tournament are Curtis Strange, Tiger Woods, Jerry Pate, Justin Leonard, Ben Curtis, Todd Hamilton, Mark Calcavecchia, Corey Pavin, Trevor Immelman, Jim Furyk and Steve Jones, all of whom went on to win one or more major championships.
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NEW ENGLAND GOLF NEWS Rob Oppenheim Becomes the 5th Player in MGA History to Win Massachusetts Open & Amateur Championship Titles Belmont, MA — It's hard to believe that seven years ago, Rob Oppenheim (Orlando, FL) capped off his stellar amateur career by capturing the Massachusetts Amateur Championship down the road at Winchester Country Club. At the time, the Andover-resident had just completed an All-American, four-year career at Rollins College and was looking forward to embarking on a professional career later that summer. Fast forward in time and Oppenheim finds himself raising another MGA trophy‌ the prestigious Clarence G. Cochrane Memorial Trophy which is awarded to the winner of the Massachusetts Open Championship. Perhaps just as important, however, is the $15,000 winner's check which goes along with the victory. "It feels as good any," said Oppenheim, who finished with a fourday total of 5-under par 208 and a four-shot victory. "To win an event like this with family and friends here is really nice. Normally when you play in Canada or in Mexico you just have your golfing buddies around. It's nice to have my good friends and family here and I'm looking forward to having fun tonight." With his most recent win, Oppenheim becomes only the fifth player in the 100-year history of this event to capture both the Massachusetts Amateur and Massachusetts Open titles. Included in that impressive list of champions are Francis Ouimet, Jesse Guilford, Charles Volpone, Kevin Johnson and now Rob Oppenheim. 2009 Massachusetts Open Championship Belmont Country Club (Belmont, MA) Wednesday, June 24, 2009 Par 213 (71-71-71) a - indicates amateur player Pos 1 T2 T2 T4 T4 T6 T6 T6 T9 T9 T11
Player Rob Oppenheim Matt Parziale (a) Greg Pieczynski Jason Parajeckas Benjamin Spitz (a) Michael Welch Paul Dickinson Matthew Donovan Shawn Warren Jimmy Lytle Brian Lamberti
Club Name Orlando, FL Thorny Lea GC Kingston, PA Pleasant Valley CC The Harmon Club North Quincy, MA Montauk, NY CC of Pittsfield Windham, ME Ocean Ridge, FL Granite Spring, NY
Total -5 -1 -1 2 2 4 4 4 5 5 6
R1 71 73 73 73 70 73 75 68 74 73 72
R2 65 71 69 66 68 71 68 72 72 70 74
R3 72 68 70 76 77 73 74 77 72 75 73
Total 208 212 212 215 215 217 217 217 218 218 219
Paladino wins Vermont Open in playoff with Rutland's Larson ST. JOHNSBURY-- Rutland's Jesse Larson shot a third round 64 to jump into a tie for first with day two leader Brent Paladino. Larson, a professional, and Paladino, an amateur, both finished with three-round totals of 205 but it was the amateur from Kensington ConnectiBrent Paladino cut who edged Larson in a two-hole playoff. The win earned Paladino the title of Vermont Open champion while Larson became the top professional in the field. Paladino played solid golf all week as he was the only player to stay under 70 for all three rounds. Orleans Country Club's Jon Lussier finished best among NEK locals as the amateur shot a third round 71 to finish with a three day total of 218. Click on the Vermont Open button on the homepage for photos, videos and a complete results list.
VERMONT OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS St. Johnsbury CC June 8 - 10, 2009 Rank T1 T1 T3 T3 T3 T6 T6 T6 T9 T9
Player Brent Paladino Jesse Larson Benjamin Case Jhared Hack John Elliot Abbie Valentine Donnie Troy James Gilleon Eric Levin Steve Alminas
Club State Timberlin GC CT Rutland CC VT Sandford Springs NC The Legacy Club FL RI Unattached NY C. C. of Pittsfield MA Mojaki GC NH No. Shore GC FL Longmeadow GC MA
Rnd 1 68 69 71 74 71 68 69 71 71 73
Rnd 3 69 64 67 66 67 65 69 68 64 65
Total 205 205 207 207 207 208 208 208 209 209
2009 Charlie's Portland Maine Open Riverside Golf Club Top 10 Results
1 T2 T4 6 T7
10
Jim Renner John Elliott Rob Oppenheim Eric Egloff James Gilleon Steve Sokol Steve Alminas Rich Parker Michael Welch Jesse Larson
65-64--129 67-65--132 66-66--132 68-67--135 71-64--135 67-69--136 70-67--137 67-70--137 70-67--137 68-70--138
$10,000 $6,250 $6,250 $3,250 $3,250 $2,000 $1,267 $1,267 $1,267 $1,000 newenglandgolfmonthly.com July 2009
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NEW ENGLAND GOLF MONTHLY
An Interview With Natalie Gulbis by Jim Hammond
The 11th annual CVS Caremark Charity Classic took place on June 21-23 at the Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington Rhode Island. Among the co-ed teams at this years event were the pairing of Champion’s Tour player Peter Jacobsen and Natalie Gulbis. Gulbis began playing golf at the age of four and won the California State Amateur championship at the age of 14. During that same year Natalie qualified for her first LPGA tour event. In addition to her skills on the golf course, Natalie Gulbis with Steve Manley of Gulbis is the recipient of The William and CVS and Graham Walker Mousie Powell Award for demonstrating the values, spirit and ideals of the LPGA Tour. I was fortunate to obtain an exclusive interview with Natalie between rounds. New England Golf Monthly: Your father seems like an interesting man. I have met parents of professional athletes and some seem to be a bit extreme when it comes to developing the talent of their child. But your dad seems like somebody who encouraged you, but never forced golf on you. Is that an accurate assessment? Natalie Gulbis: Yes. My father and I have a great relationship. I am an only child and when my father got me involved in the sport we did it as a team. He never forced me to do it. We both loved golf and we both had the same dream. NEGM: I remember I spoke with Tiger Woods’ dad Earl once and he told me that he never asked Tiger to go to the golf course. Tiger always asked to go. NG:Yes, I was the same way. I would wake my dad up early and say “Dad get up. Let’s go play.” I was so competitive I wanted to get better. NEGM: The LPGA is a very diverse tour. When Tiger turned pro many thought that the PGA would finally have more people of color, but that has not happened. Why has the LPGA been more successful in including players from different cultures? NG: In my opinion the reason the European tour and the Asian tour is so strong is that there are so many places to play. The Japanese tour is also very strong. The players can have a great deal of success on the European and Asian tours and this helps develop great talent for the LPGA tour. NEGM: What changes do you see in the future for the LPGA tour? NG: I don’t know what is in store; it’s changed so much since I have been out here. It’s certainly more international now. It used to be that we played about 80% of our tournaments in the U.S.A. and 20 % in other countries. Now it’s almost a 50- 50 split. NEGM:You do so much international travel. What are some of your favorite destinations? NG: I love playing in France. I love playing in Japan. They are crazy about golf in Japan. NEGM: I remember a scene in your show on the Golf Channel where a person was lying in the bleaches and you hit a lob wedge in his direction and actually hit him. Who was that? NG: That was my producer. He was nursing a hangover so I wanted to wake him up. NEGM: There are a lot of young girls in the area who are interested in golf. If they have dreams of being a professional what kind of advice would you give them? NG: Short game, short game, short game. You can’t spend enough time putting and chipping. The other thing is to compete in a lot of tournaments. You learn a lot when every stroke counts. It’s not like playing with your dad or friends just having some laughs. Playing tournaments makes you focus on each shot and forces you to manufacture shots when you find trouble on the course.You learn a lot about your self when you are playing in a tournament. No matter how well you play you will learn a lot about what kind of player you are and what you need to do to improve your game.
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July 1-17:NEGM 9/11/09 3:40 PM Page 9
THE CVS CAREMARK CLASSIC
NICK PRICE & DAVID TOMS CAPTURE CVS CAREMARK CHARITY CLASSIC By Tim Geary Mother Nature took her best shot at ruining the 11th annual CVS/Caremark Charity Classic but all she managed was to set a soggy stage where there were more birdies than in a Hitchcock thriller. The rain, which plagued the northeast for almost all of June, had R.I. Country Club superintendent Peter Lund and his crew scrambling around the clock, to the point where perhaps they should have been handed the winners check on Tuesday afternoon. Conditions were so wet during Sunday’s pro am that at least one fan was overheard saying that she had spotted Michael Phelps doing the backstroke on the 15th fairway. Nobody made more birdies than Matt Kuchar, who had 11 on his own ball and shot an individual tournament record score of 60 on the final day of the event. Kuchar and his partner Laura Diaz (she admitted afterwards that she was Winners David Toms & Nick Price nothing more than a playing gallery) held the tournament lead for a scant while, but they were no match for old gray beard, Nick Price and his partner, David Toms. That duo also combined for a 60 on the second day and won the title and the $300,000 first place prize with a depth charge score of 16-under par. Price and Toms finished at 126, three shots clear of Kuchar and Diaz and four ahead of third place finishers Chad Campbell and Boo Weekley. It marked the third occasion that Hall of Famer Price has been on the winning team, each time with a different partner. He won in 2001 with Mark Calcavecchia and again in 2006 with fellow South African Tim Clark. This year Price was scheduled to play with another South African, Retief Goosen, but Goosen, along with AnBrittney Lincicome on the 18th hole. thony Kim, Todd Hamilton, and defending champions Carmilo Villegas and Bubba Watson, all were still at Bethpage Monday, playing the final round of the U.S. Open. Toms, a past competitor in the CVS, along with Cumberland native Brad Adamonis, Kuchar and LPGA players Diaz and Brittany Lincicome, all came riding to the rescue to fill out the field on a moment’s notice. Toms was the big gun on the winning team, as he birdied five holes in a six hole stretch on the back nine during the second round. Price then birdied the par 3 17th for frosting. So did Adamonis, the local who would have been confined to just the pro-am portion of the tournament had it not been for the extension of the Open. “It was great to have the opportunity to play before so many friends and family,” said Adamonis, whose father Dave Sr. is battling cancer and was unable to attend. Adamonis and Lincicome finished in a tie for eighth with the duo of MorDan Quigley takes a walk in the rain gan Pressel and Davis Love III. Team Quigley (Dana and Brett) were tied for fourth (131) with Zach Johnson and Nick Watney. The co-hosts (Billy Andrade, partnered with Helen Alfredsson and Brad Faxon/Juli Inkster) were tied for sixth (132). Peter Jacobsen (whose company operates the tournament) and Natalie Gulbis were 10th at 139. The mixed teams proved to be very popular and will continue to be a part Final Results of 2009 CVS Caremark Classic of the event according to CVS President Tom Ryan. T6 -10 (132) $117,500 1 -16 (126) $300,000 Brad Adamonis and Caddy Tim Duffy “People like it and we may even David Toms/Nick Price Brad Faxon/Juli Inkster have more (in the future),” said Ryan. T6 -10 (132) $117,500 “We want to continue what we have been doing, keep going and get 2 -13 (129) $200,000 Billy Andrade/Helen Alfredsson Laura Diaz/Matt Kuchar better,” said Andrade. The only negative, caused mostly by the weather, was poor attendance. T8 -9 (133) $107,500 Ryan admitted as much, but wasn’t disappointed. “We’ll be okay,” he 3 -12 (130) $170,000 Brad Adamonis/Brittany Lincicome Boo Weekley/Chad Campbell said. Over the first decade the tournament has raised more than $12 million T4 -11 (131) $140,000 T8 -9 (133) $107,500 for local charities. How much this year’s event generated won’t be known Zach Johnson/Nick Watney Davis Love III/Morgan Press for a couple of months, but it still figures to be somewhere in the neighborhood of seven figures. 10 – 139 (-3) T4 -11 (131) $140,000 Brett Quigley/Dana Quigley
Peter Jacobsen/Natalie Gulbis
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371 3 37 71 1 Uni U Union nion o n St St. S . Portsmouth Portsm Po r tsmouth sm mout u th h 401-847-9543 40 010 1-847-8 84 4 7--9 --9543 54 43 3 • www.greenvalleyccofri.com ww www www.g ww w.g g een green gr n alley nva alle a lleycco c cco ofri ofri.co fr com c m
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NATIONWIDE TOUR INTERVIEW
New England Golf Monthly’s Tour Player of the Month Congratulations to Kevin Johnson
Kevin Johnson: Chasing Nationwide Tour History By Greg Sampson
Kevin Johnson from Pembroke, MA is looking to become just the 9th player in history to receive the “three win promotion” to the PGA Tour. Any player who wins three times on the Nationwide Tour in a single year is promoted to the PGA Tour for the rest of the season and also for the following year. Kevin has had a memorable 2009 season winning both the Rex Hospital Open and the Knoxville Open in playoff fashion. Congratulations on the two wins in 2009. You are on pace to become just the 9th player to be promoted to the PGA Tour. What have you done this year to breed such success? Thanks, Greg. This year has been great and has given me much more confidence in my ability to win. I would say that two factors have contributed to my success this year. The first being my golf swing. I started seeing a new teacher here in Jupiter and we went back to the basics. His name is Jeff Leashman from Jupiter Dunes CC. The second is my new caddy Bob Kendall. We have been on the same page since he got on the bag 5 weeks ago. He caddied on the LPGA Tour last year and has won 5 times out there. Bob works harder than evey caddy I have ever been with. He has his yardage book set up perfectly for my game which helps me visualize/execute shots without second guessing myself. You grew up in Pembroke, MA and our readers always appreciate New England tour player’s opinions on course favorites. What are your favorite tracks in New England and why? I am a big Donald Ross fan. In fact I wish the tour played more courses with tight fairways and small greens. I grew up playing Pembroke Country Club, which is a great layout. I have heard that they are remodeling the whole place and the conditions have improved immensely. I can’t wait to play it when I make my way back to MA. I also like Halifax CC, Plymouth CC, New Seabury CC, and Duxbury Yacht & CC. What’s in your bag this year? I am playing mostly Taylor Made (Woods, irons & ball) but I play Vokey wedges and a Scotty Cameron putter. When you have time off what hobbies interest you? I have two daughters and a beautiful wife so I spend a great deal of time with them. In the mornings I love to fish. I live just off the Jupiter Inlet so it is very easy to fish in the morning and hang with the family in the afternoons. I actually just sold my boat and am in the market for a new one. I am also a huge Red Sox Fan! You turned professional in 1990. Do you have anyone you would like to thank for helping you along the way? When I first turned professional the members from Halifax CC, Marshfield CC and Hatherley CC were very supportive. Around 1993 Jim Arrigo from Arrigo Dodge Chrysler Jeep Palm Beach began sponsoring me and has ever since. Even with the economy these days Jim has been supportive and I can’t thank him enough. What is your schedule like for the rest of the year? My plan is to play as many Nationwide events as I can until I get in the winners circle again. I am playing with tons of confidence and support from my family, sponsors and caddy so I think it is realistic. My goal is to either win again or win the money title. Either will be just fine. Thank you for your time,Kevin. I am sure the NEGM readers are pulling for you. Keep up the confident play. Thanks, Greg. I appreciate the opportunity.
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TEAM NEW ENGLAND ON THE TOURS
Billy Andrade
Billy Andrade Bristol, RI Joined Tour 1988 Tour Victories 4 Billy has already played in 8 events this season on the tour. He has made two cuts at the Mayakoba in March and at the Valero Texas Open. In Texas Billy put together a great round of 67 on Friday to make the cut and finished off with a 71 on Saturday and 76 on Sunday. While he continues to get into most of the Tour events he has a very difficult time putting back to back good scoring rounds together. Current earnings are at $19,654.00
Brad Faxon
Brad Faxon Barrington, RI Joined Tour 1984 Tour Victories 8 Ending March Brad made his first cut of the season at the Arnold Palmer invitational in Orlando. It has been a slow road back for Brad but he continues to work on all the pieces of his game. His short game and putting is still one of the best out there At Quail Hollow Brad had a good round on Friday to make the cut but could not keep it going on the weekend. Current earnings are at $27,046.00
Brett Quigley
Brett Quigley Ft. Devens, MA Tour Victories 1 Brett is having a solid season and has been playing very steady. This week he had an injury and had to withdraw from one of his favorite events The Travelers. He has played in 17 events so far this season and made the cut in 9 events. In The Month of March he has gone 4 for 4 starting with the Mayakoba and ending with The Transitions where he went back-to-back 2nd place. He has also made the cut in his last two events in June. Earnings are at $972,664 and he is 55th on the money list.
Brad Adamonis
James Driscoll
J.J. Henry
Patrick Sheehan
Tim Petrovic
Tim Petrovic Northampton, MA Joined Tour 2002 Tour Victories 1 Tim has been a consistent player on the PGA Tour since 2002. In 2008 he finished 82nd on the money list with nearly 1 million in winnings. So far in 2009 Tim has played in 18 events and made 7 cuts but he has made them count. In 7 events Tim has earned over 600,000 in winnings and carded two top 10 finishes at Quail Hollow and the Verizon and 11th at the Zurich Classic. He sits at 101 on the money list.
Dana Quigley
Dana Quigley Lynfield, MA Joined Tour 1980 Tour Victories 3 Dana thus far in 2009 has played in 8 events; he does not show any signs of slowing down one bit. He still is the Iron man of the game and it will be some time before anyone even comes close to the amount of tournaments he has played. In June Dana finished 3rd in the Triton Financial Classic winning over $115,000. He has made $179,913 on the year and it’s still early for the Ever Ready Bunny.
James Driscoll Brookline, MA Joined Tour 2002 Tour Victories 1 Jim had a slow start to the 2009 season making only two cuts in his first six events. In May he busted out at the Valero Texas Open and lost in a playoff to Zack Johnson finishing 15 under par and earning over $650,000.00. A week later he also played well at the Byron Nelson and finished 35th, followed by a good showing at The Crowne Plaza Invitational at 27th. That same week Jim qualified for the British Open. He has it going and his confidence is high right now he has moved to 73rd on the money list at $757,068
J.J. Henry: Fairfield, CT Joined Tour 2001 Tour Victories 1 In 18 events played in 2009 J.J. has been sharp, making 13 cuts and posting two top ten finishes back to back. In March at the Mayakoba Classic J.J. placed 2nd and earned almost $4000,000 for the effort. In the last 6 events he has made 5 cuts and played well with a top 25 at the Travelers Championship. Currently he is 61st on the money list and at $815,948 in earning, he is having a solid year.
Allen Doyle, Woonsocket, RI Tour Victories 11 Allens lifetime career earnings is over $13,000,000 on all the tours. He came to the Champions Tour in 2005 and has won events in 2005 and 2006. He has played in 11 events in 2009 on the tour and sits at 70th on the money list with $81,866. He is a veteran and will add to his lifetime earnings and have a great year.
Alan Doyle
Brad Adamonis Cumberland, RI Joined Tour 2008 Tour Victories 1 Brad has had a pretty good start for 2009 in his second year on the tour. He has played in 17 events and made the cut in 10 so far this season. In his first event at the Hope Brad finished 9th and at the St. Jude Classic in Memphis this June he tied for 23rd. He needs to put a solid streak together, he has all the tools. Look for him to grind it out in the second half of this year. Current earnings are at $323,261.00 and he is at 126 on the money list.
Patrick Sheehan Providence, RI Joined Tour 2002 Tour Victories 2 Patrick has played in just 8 events so far in 2009 and made 3 cuts. He had a great finish in Puerto Rico in the second week of March with a 13th place finish and earned over $58,000. Patrick picked up a win in Athens Georgia in April on the Nationwide Tour and carried that momentum into the last 3 PGA tour events and earning over $114,000 putting him in a good position for the re-shuffle. Right now he is at $182.083 in 2009 earnings. Ken Green Danbury, CT Joined Tour 2008 Tour Victories 5 Tragically Ken Green was involved in a terrible auto accident in June and lost his brother, girlfriend and dog in the crash. Shortly after the accident Ken had his lower right leg amputated. The hearts of the entire golf community and fans are very saddened by this event, our prayers are with him. He has had a great career on the PGA Tour playing in 508 events and making 274 cuts and 93 top 25 finishes. He is also a 5 time winner on the PGA Tour. This is Kens second year on the Champions Tour and he has played
Ken Green
in11 events earning $123,906. We wish Ken the very best at this difficult time. Anna Grzebien Point Judith, RI Joined LPGA Tour 2008 In her rookie season Anna had only conditional status and played in a handful of events. In 2009 thus far she has played in 9 events in which she has made 7 cuts. She has been playing solid golf and made her last 4 cuts and placed 15th in The LPGA State Farm winning her over $23,000. Her earnings so far this year are at $65,939. And she sits at number 70 on the official LPGA Tour Money List.
Anna Grzebien
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GOLF TRAVEL CAPE COD
Cape Cod Cranks out Value Golf By Katharine Dyson & Bill Giering From the time you cross the Bourne or Sagamore Bridge and head east on Rt. 6, you can drive all the way to the tip and if you time it right — like midnight in the summer or better yet, off-season — it won’t take you very long either. But then even in peak periods, why should you feel any rush of angst? The sea breezes are tinged with the salty fresh air, the scent of scrub pine wafts through the air, gulls cry overhead, sand and sea are all around and along the way, you can play some really fine courses, stay at fun places and eat and drink well. Lobster, clams, fresh fish: you’re living the good life. With 43 courses in a relatively small area, you can stay in one place and play a different course each day — good courses with carries over salt marshes, elevations, and ponds not to mention magnificent vistas. From the well-groomed Cape Cod National, a private track in Chatham to historic Highland Golf Links in Truro to historic treasures like Sandwich Hollows, these courses incorporate wetlands, pine-covered hills, hills and grassy dunes which have been sculptured into an array of golf holes by architect greats like Donald Ross, William Mitchell, Brian Silva and Geoffrey Cornish. Additional factors — fog, wind, Nor’Easters— are controlled by the Golf Gods. Private clubs like the newest stunner, the private Golf Club at Cape Cod, a 7,005 yard Rees Jones design in Falmouth or the recently renovated Ocean Edge course in Brewster got the highest marks from us on a recent golf trip. Indeed more than $8 million was spent to upgrade Ocean Edge’s old Brian Silva design which incorporated some of the original Cape Cod National nine of Brewster Country Club designed by Donald Ross but over the years ( like all of us) had become scruffy around the edges. No longer. The track is now in top condition and the Linx Clubhouse has been revamped and includes a first-rate Grill Room. If you played the course before, you’ll probably notice there are a lot more bunkers than there were before Nicklaus Design Group was brought in to do the renovations. But that’s just for starters. Greens have been reshaped and challenge with tricky undulations and the course has been lengthened to 7,011 yards. But don’t worry the new bent grass fairways let your ball roll forever. Dog legs and carries over water can be dramatic like on the pretty Hole #8 and hole #14, a formidable test throwing everything at you from bunkers, wind, wetlands and water. Ocean Edge is a course you will want to play again and again and with five sets of tees provides an enjoyable game for all levels. All you have to do is be a member or be a guest at the high end Ocean Edge resort. Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club Still, you don’t have to join a club to get a super golf fix on the Cape where there are close to 30 excellent tracks accessible to the public. Owned by the Town of Brewster, the pair of Brian Silva’s Captain’s Golf Courses, Port and Starboard, have enjoyed high ratings on the New England scene. Fairway bunkers are well placed to catch errant shots and plenty of greenside bunkers and tree-lined fairways up the challenge. Each course has one sharp dogleg, but for the most part, the holes run straight out although Silva’s design allows for many risk and reward holes. Bayberry Hills GC in West Yarmouth designed by Silva and Geoffrey Cornish is a tough track for short hitters, but the course has four tee boxes to even out the odds in spite of lots of bunkers, rolling fairways and plenty of trees. Cranberry Valley in Harwich runs through — not surprisingly — cranberry bogs along with kettle holes, wetlands and woods. And what about Blue Rock? Just because it’s a par 3, doesn’t mean it isn’t worth a serious play. Designed by Cornish, this is a gem with water, elevations, and wetlands. Dennis Highlands GC is known for its no nonsense approach, generous undulating, multi-tiered greens and open fairways. Its back nine is longer by 400 yards and flatter than the front with some killer holes. Anyone who wonders what links golf is all about must play Highland Golf Links in Truro, one of America’s golf most historical courses. It is perched along the windswept bluffs on the eastern shores of the Atlantic and is the oldest track on the Cape (circa 1892). Defined by deep natural rough, Scotch broom, dunes, grasses, craggy rocks, and shots through narrow gorse-like protected openHighland Golf Links ings and impossible recoveries should you stray off course, you’ve got to love the change of pace, the history, the feeling that just over the hill, bagpipes may be playing. And do not overlook Olde Barnstable or Hyannis Golf Club. Both offer a great deal on well designed tracks. Where to Stay: Overlooking Cape Cod Bay, Ocean Edge is grand resort for golfers, families, honeymooners and just about anyone. Centerpiece of the resort, the 1912 Victorian-style Nickerson Mansion, occupies a hilltop setting in Brewster. Relaxed and thoroughly inviting,335 renovated rooms, suites and multi-bedroom villas rest comfortably on more than 429 naturally landscaped acres set along the Bay and fairways. Guests enjoy championship golf, tennis, fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, and a beautiful 700-foot slice of private beach that is the perfect setting for swimming, strolling and family gatherings. There are four restaurants located in the main hotel and in the Linx Clubhouse. Captains Golf Course It may sound like a funny name, but there are nothing but good things to discover at The Corsair and Cross Rip oceanfront resort in Dennisport. A small, friendly place with extra large rooms in two building and rental homes, all have sitting areas and efficiency kitchens while many have ocean views. Beds, linens and amenities are surprisingly luxurious for a motel-style hotel. All this and you are just steps away from the beach and the two pools. www.corsaircrossrip.com Bayside Resort, centrally located just off Rt. 6 in West Yarmouth makes a good base for golfers. It has an outdoor pool, the Moby Dick Poolside Pub, fitness center, beach and 128 comfortable well-appointed rooms with small fridge, cable tv and complimentary breakfast. Bayside offers a variety of Stay & Play packages. www.baysideresort.com Best Western Blue Rock Motor Inn in South Yarmouth is a cozy, comfortable place on the grounds of the Blue Rock Golf Course. Mini suites are arranged around a nice outdoor pool and come with small fridges and coffee makers. Breakfast and lunch is serving in the Grill Room restaurant. www.redjacketresorts.com And gentleman Howard Onik is always a perfect host at the Mariner Motor Lodge and always a cheerleader of the Cape. www.mariner-capecod.com Where to Dine: Clancy’s Beach Bar in Dennisport is a friendly family owned restaurant serving great appetizers as well as homemade soups and chowders, chili, hearty sandwiches and great seafood Bayberry Hills Golf Club and fish dinners along with pastas, burgers, chicken and beef. (508-394-6661) Yarmouth House in West Yarmouth has been a favorite among locals and visitors for more than 30 years serving classic good food. 508-771-5154. Also check dining section of: www.capecodtravelguide.com Green Fees Cape Cod golf rates are some of the best deals around with greens fees averaging around $40 with a cart. Packages: We suggest you purchase Stay and Play packages which typically average about $65 for golf, accommodations and Dennis Highland Golf Club breakfast. www.golfpackages-capecod.com ; www.golfcapecod.com; www.capecodgolfvacation.com; www.stayandplaycapecod.com For off course fun visit the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum which contains the Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame & Museum. www.capecodbaseball.com
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NEW ENGLAND GOLF MONTHLY Southworth Development Announces Construction Progress On New Clubhouse At Renaissance Golf
Haverhill, Massachusetts – Construction is now well underway at Renaissance Golf Club on a new 30,000 square-foot Clubhouse, befitting of the spectacular 18-hole Brian Silva signature golf course which has been hailed as one of New England's finest new golf courses. Southworth Development LLC retained the award-winning architectural firm CBT of Boston to design the Clubhouse; Construction Coordinators, Inc. (CCI) as General Contractor and Barnstable Land Design for site-planning, land design and landscaping. "We've long held that Renaissance is an extraordinary place and is sure to be one of the premier golf clubs in New England," said David Southworth, President and CEO of Southworth Development. "Brian Silva did a tremendous job designing his first ever Signature course, and we felt the addition of a world-class clubhouse, coupled with superior service and amenities, will complete the vision of Renaissance." The Clubhouse will feature some of the classic design elements of early 20th century American shingle-style architecture and will be appointed with an eye toward casual elegance. The main level of the Clubhouse includes a Grille Room and lounge, a spacious ballroom with indoor seating up to 250 guests, a private dining/boardroom, living room, billiards room and a threeseason veranda spanning the entire length of the Clubhouse overlooking the 18th green. The lower level of the facility includes the Men's & Ladies' Locker Rooms, each with separate lounges and steam rooms, a fitness facility, massage rooms, two state-of-the-art golf simulators for indoor practice and lessons, administrative offices and a business center for Renaissance members. The upper level will feature eight uniquely designed club rooms for Renaissance members and their guests. About Renaissance Golf Club Located on Boston's North Shore, Renaissance Golf Club is an 18-hole private golf club centered on honoring the traditions and spirit of the ancient game of golf and retro design and signature, for which course architect Brian Silva is renowned. The 7,161-yard, par-72 course also features extensive practice facilities, including a Short Game Area with multiple green complexes, Practice Fairway, Practice Green and Pool Facility. About Southworth Development LLC Southworth Development LLC (Southworth) is a privately held company based in Newton, Massachusetts, specializing in the development of residential resort and hospitality branded real estate communities. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Southworth Golf LLC, Southworth is very active in the national and international resort and golf community with current projects in the United States, Puerto Rico, The Dominican Republic, The Bahamas and Scotland.
Masters Giving Back Just weeks after presenting the Green Jacket to 2008 Masters Champion Angel Cabrera, one of the greatest traditions in sports, Billy Payne, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament, continued another masters practice today by announcing the Tournament’s chaitable contributions. In total, more than $3.4 million will be distributed as a result of the 2009 Masters. In the past 12 years, the Masters has now contributed more than $39 million to deserving local charities and the game of golf. “It has always been, and will continue to be, a priority of Augusta National and the masters to give back to the game and the local Augusta community,” Payne said. “In these difficult times, this obligation is more important than ever as we strive to positively affect the lives of people around the world.” The Community Foundation for the CSRA will receive a $1.5 million gift. Included in theis gift is the first $500,000 installment of a $3 million pledge to the Salvation Army’s Augusta area Kroc Center. A share of the total gift also includes $250,000 earmarked for charities selected by Augusta National’s employees. To date, The Community Foundation for the CSRA has received more than $15 million in contributions from the Masters. As a Founding Partner of The First Tee, the Masters continues to support this national youth development program with a $1 million gift, having provided more than $12 million to the organization since 1998. In addition, the Maters helps financially support The First Tee of Augusta and the major golf organizations around the world. For additional information contact Steve Ethun at 706-667-6705.
Rate articles, courses, authors and more! www.NewEnglandGolfMonthly.com Running a Golf Tournament? Contact the Golf Event Specialists SUL]H SDFNDJHV FRQWHVWV JROIHU JLIW LWHPV VSRQVRU VLJQV EDQQHUV HYHQW FRQVXOWLQJ HYHQW PDQDJHPHQW VRIWZDUH DQG PXFK PRUH Tournament Headquarters 781-444-9114 888.GOLF.640 www.tournamentheadquarters.com
July 30
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NEW ENGLAND GOLF MONTHLY
The U.S. Open
The CVS Classic
The Travelers
Mike Welch & Kevin Silva at 2009 U.S. Open
Brad Adamonis and Brittney Lincicome
Brad Faxon Fires Away
St. Jude Classic
The Travelers
The Travelers
Brian Gay Winner
James Driscoll Lines Up Putt
J.J. Henry on the 14th
The Travelers
U.S. Open
Knoxville Open
Tim Petrovic
Trevor Murphy
Kevin Johnson Wins
The CVS Classic
Red Tail WAPL
Athens Foundation Classic
Natalie Gulbis With Fans
Jennifer Song Winner
Patrick Sheehan Winner
NEW ENGLAND GOLF SCENE Tour photo’s provided by Ken Dennis N.E.G.M. official PGA Tour photographer 14
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GOLF TRAVEL
KENNY PERRY WINS TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP By Bruce Berlet CROMWELL, Conn. - Change permeated the third Travelers Championship this year. It began in March when the insurance giant extended its commitment four more years to 2014 despite the hard economic times and ended with Kenny Perry at least partially avenging his Masters meltdown with a record-setting first victory in 21 tries in the suburbs of the Nutmeg State’s capital. But in the end, Perry became the major story, and not like at Augusta National in April, when he bogeyed the last two holes and then lost a playoff to Angel Cabrera. This time, a birdie and par capped a bogey-free, 7-under-par 63 for a 72-hole total of 258, which tied the fourth-lowest score in PGA Tour history. Perry broke the tournament record 259 shot by Tim Norris in 1982 at the par-71 Wethersfield Country Club and the River Highlands record 260 carded by Notah Begay III in 2000. “Probably one of the greatest rounds of golf I ever played,” Perry said. Perry, 48, beat David Toms and Paul Goydos by three strokes for his 14th career victory, which was Ken with winners trophy worth $1,080,000 and his 11th since he turned 40. That moved Perry into fourth in that category, one ahead of Hall of Famer Julius Boros, a native of Fairfield. Perry’s five victories since the 2008 Memorial are the most on the PGA Tour in that stretch. Winning where he missed the cut in his first visit to Connecticut in 1987 had special meaning for Perry. He has stayed with the family of Steve and Martha Kirsche in nearby Wethersfield in his 21 tournament appearances and completed a trifecta of wins at events where he has foregone hotels and motels. “Unbelievable,” said Perry, whose major sponsors include The Hartford, headquartered in state’s capital city. “I mean to say you want to win something and then to actually achieve it is a great feeling. I just hate it took me so long to do it. Steve (Kirsche) would always get on me. I won in Phoenix (FBR Open) and at Muirfield (the Memorial). I never could win this one, so (Kirsche) always would get on my case about his cooking wasn’t good enough. It would always upset my stomach or something.” Finally a win at the Travelers Perry then chuckled and added, “I’m giving them a hard time, but it was just a special week where we played games, grilled out and hung out. I always look forward to coming here, so I’ve been fighting each year to try and do something special, and it finally showed.” Perry, who won the FBR Open on Feb. 1, kick-started his scoring assault in week-long soft conditions with seven birdies in his first 10 holes that had him thinking about “that magical number” -- 59. Perry settled for a bogey-free, 9-under-par 61 that tied his competitive low and the course record shared by Kirk Triplett, Scott Verplank and former winners Phil Mickelson and Brad Faxon. It also eventually set a record for lowest start by a winner since the tournament began in 1952 at Wethersfield Country Club as the Insurance City Open. Perry’s 68 beat a suspension of play and eventual stoppage in the second round because of a violent thunderstorm, and he finished 36 holes one shot ahead of Toms. Toms was among the 72 players to complete the second round Saturday morning and birdied two of the five holes he had left to shoot a second Perry and Goydos on the 18th consecutive 65. Perry called it “as good a win as I’ve ever had, the way I finished, on a Sunday. My golf was unbelievable. To shoot 22 under par, break the all-time record of all the great champions that are on this trophy is unbelievable.”Especially in trying times. “Everybody I hear talks about my energy after Augusta, how I handled the loss and how I talked about it,” said Perry, who got more than a thousand e-mails and 800 cards and letters after the Masters demise. “But there’s a lot more important things in life. My mother’s got multiple myeloma cancer. My sister’s got breast cancer. Sandy’s mom’s not doing very well (with a broken back). “So I’m just going to enjoy life right now. I’m going to try to help as many people as I can along the way, and I’m not going to worry too much about wins and losses.” Hunter Mahan, who finished tied for second, first and tied for second at River Highlands the previous Paul Goydos on the 18th three years, shared fourth place at 263 with 2003 British Open champion Ben Curtis and Ryan Moore, who tied for second as a tour rookie in 2006. Tag Ridings and Casey Wittenberg were also in the title hunt before finishing in a tie for seventh at 264. Lucas Glover, who won the U.S. Open the previous week and had a shaving cream pie smushed in his face by Johnson Wagner on the first tee of his pro-am round, tied for 11th at 266. Despite the adverse weather for two days, the extra amenities helped increase attendance from what tournament director Nathan Grube said was 250,000 to 260,000, a record since Travelers became the tournament sponsor, compared to 220,000 to 240,000 last year. Concessions and walk-up sales also increased, leading to a profit of $750,000, which matched the 2008 total. The Travelers Foundation added another $330,000 to the previous commitments from the company and its employees through the Birdies for Charity campaign so the Greater Hartford Jaycees Foundation and The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, the tournament’s beneficiaries, would receive the same amount as Perry won.
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GOLF INSTRUCTION
Personalize Your Plan Every golfer I have ever met has enjoyed their golf the most when they have played well. Thus they have all wanted to play well every time they tee up the ball. But very few have truly understood what is required to play Derek Hooper well consistently and thus keep improving. To them it is a PGA Professional lottery how they will play from day to day. What is reLake of Isles quired is your own Personal Performance Plan. First you must assess your current skills by completing some skills tests and tracking your play on the course, then set some goals as to what must improve if you are to play your best golf. This is the key initial step in forming your Performance Plan. Next you need to get some new information on exactly how you will improve the designated areas of weakness. You can do this through a variety of sources – books, videos, television or Internet. But the best way is to invest your time and money, in taking a lesson from a PGA Professional. They will listen to your goals, assess your game and then design a plan that is specific to your needs and focuses on the areas of your game that require the most attention. While the other sources mentioned are good, they are designed to help everyone, not you personally, and so it can be difficult to know for certain if you are working on the area of your technique that requires the most help. There are many good PGA Professionals, who spend a great deal of their time on the lesson tee, so do your research first. It is crucial that you find someone who has experience in helping players through a long-term plan for improvement. Someone whom you can relate to and is happy explaining things in a way you can easily understand. Talk to your golf buddies and see if they can recommend someone. Check the website of a number of instructors in your area and read their biographies to see if they have the background you are looking for. Then call them up and interview them. Ask them some questions, to see if you think they are the person with whom you want to invest your time and energy. Only then will you book a lesson. Book one lesson first and then if that lesson goes well covert it to a series while you are there. At your first lesson be clear with your coach exactly what your goals are and what it is you want from them and the lesson. If the lesson turns out to be not what you had hoped, start your process over again. Once you have your practice drills from your lesson, the next thing to decide is when you will do them. Set aside time in your day and week when you can focus on the drills without interruption. Some drills can be done at home and even indoors and thus do not require regular visits to the range. When you are practicing, be sure your focus is on quality and not quantity. This will afford you the fastest improvement. If you believe you have made the change you have been working on, test it on the range or in a skills test. You can also go back to your coach and get some feedback from them on how well you have done. If you have made the necessary improvement it is then time to tackle the next weakest aspect of your game and the process continues as you scores slowly get lower and lower.
Derek Hooper is the Director of Instruction at Lake of Isles Golf Academy. Derek has a college degree in teaching and over 14 years experience conducting lesson programs in Australia, Japan and Taiwan. Before moving to the United Sates Derek was the Director of Instruction at the David Duval Golf Academy in Miyazaki, Japan. Derek can be contacted at 1.888.475.3746 or dhooper@troongolf.com
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July 2009
newenglandgolfmonthly.com
How to Maintain a Positive Winning Attitude in the Wonderful Game of Golf by John A. Theo, PGA Professional For some, golf is a relaxing sport. It is a place where you can convene with nature and three other companions for four hours of glorious enjoyment. For others, the game of golf is frustrating, and for those people, the four hours feels like an eternity. There are many important factors to keep in mind when playing a round of golf, or playing in a tournament in order to reap the full benefits of the game. The main factor is to keep your focus. I have seen many players birdie and par the first eight holes, and play beautifully. However, I have seen those same players bogie the ninth, tenth, eleventh, and so on. In my forty years of professional golf, on many occasions I have witnessed deterioration of play, because of losing focus on just one hole. Many times, players have carried their frustration from doing badly on one hole, and continuing that frustration on to the next hole, then the next hole, and so on. It is important to remember that when you do badly on one hole, to accept it, and to tell yourself you will recover on the next hole. I have seen amateurs and professionals lose their temper because of allowing one hole to get to them. I have also seen club throwing and tantrums. This accomplishes nothing, and it not only ruins your potential to play well, it effects negatively on the other three players, whom you are playing with. So, if you focus positively on what you are doing, it will make the eighteen holes a good experience, and not torture. Another factor is the hazards on a golf course. The hazards were put there by the architects of the golf course to make the course more challenging. Many times, you will notice, that when you are hitting balls at a driving range, you are hitting them better and farther than you are on the golf course. The reason for this is because you are relaxed, because there are no hazards distracting you. Before striking the ball on the golf course, remember to strategically plan and focus on getting the ball past the water, trees, and sand traps. Think positively on that, and not on the fear of hitting it in the water, or at a tree, or in a sand trap. Competition is another factor that effects attitudes when playing. Golf is a gentleman’s sport, and it is important to remember to focus on the game you are playing, and not worry about how the other players are playing. Your goal should be to focus on beating “Mr. Par” and not to give in to the pressure of the other players, or the particular event. Also, if you are not playing up to your expectations, don’t start changing your swing or your putting stroke on the golf course. Not everyone, including golf professionals, plays well all of the time. Do not try to emulate other golf professionals strokes, or competitors you are playing with. Trust yourself and have confidence in your ability. If changes need to be made, deal with it at a later time. There is enough to contend with playing the game, let alone trying to make serious changes when playing with companions, or in a tournament. Confidence in yourself is extremely important. Remember these factors, and your game can only improve, and become a more pleasant experience for you and the people you play with. That is what golf was meant to do, and it can become one of the most satisfying and rewarding things you do. John has been a PGA Professional and Teaching Professional in Massachusetts since 1967. Also since 1967, John has been an active member of the New England Professional Golfers Association and the Professional Golfers Association of America. Since 1999, John has been an active member of the Senior PGA Tour. His home base is at Bill Flynn’s Far Corner Golf Course in West Boxford, MA.
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NEW ENGLAND GOLF MONTHLY
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NEW ENGLAND GOLF MONTHLY
An Update on New England’s First Tee Programs By Barry J. Palm When The First Tee was initiated in 1997, its founders envisioned a comprehensive program to help send a message to kids everywhere that golf is a game for life – but more importantly, it instills values that will sustain them forever. Thankfully, the original founding partners of The First Tee - The PGA TOUR, Augusta National Golf Club, The USGA, The LPGA, and The PGA of America, have continued their support of this worthwhile project. By using the game of golf as a metaphor for life lessons, The First Tee has enjoyed unparalleled success to date by helping thousands of youth better themselves through golf. But there is much work to be done. Who knew that The First Tee would become the benchmark for facilitating the promotion of golf to youth? Now more than 11 years after its inception, The First Tee is the standard by which all introductory golf programs are measured. To wit... The First Tee has introduced golf to more than 2.9 million participatants; its Life Skills Experience has reached out to nearly 700 program locations globally, and more than 1,100 affiliate courses now offer access and reduced rates for participants. In addition, through The First Tee program, more than 2,700 elementary schools across the USA now enjoy the benefits of The First Tee. By any assessment after more than 11 years, The First Tee is off and running as it continues its sprint to achieve its mission statement. In short, the program has come a long way since its infancy when President George H. W. Bush Academy Participants kick started the whole thing along with PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem in New York’s Central Park. It was fitting perhaps to launch The First Tee there, as New York City is arguably the melting pot of America, and The First Tee seeks to embrace as many divergent backgrounds of kids as it can successfully accommodate. But what is The First Tee exactly…and how can New England golfers get involved? Simply stated, The First Tee espouses Nine Core Values using golf as a vehicle to address those principles. The Nine Core Values are - honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy, and judgment. According to Judy Stout, the Northeast Regional Affairs Director of The First Tee, which covers TFT National School Program New England, she’s optimistic for the future of the program. “We have 53,000 kids from Connecticut alone involved in the program and 3,600 certified participants partaking in it as well. That’s huge. Thanks in large part to the support of The Travelers Championship [TPC River Highlands, June 22-28]; we can promote our message about all the good things The First Tee accomplishes.” As with anything in these unsettled economic times, The First Tee is not without its own set of economic challenges. “We are seeing a decrease in grants and funding, so we are looking for new ways to raise money and not rely on corporate contributions,” says Stout. “We’re reaching out to PGA Sections and individuals in the New England golf community,” she adds. Ian Baxter runs The First Tee program in Connecticut. He’s developed some innovative ways to grow the program using the PGA TOUR’s Travelers Championship as a platform to get The First Tee participants involved first-hand Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. through caddying, marshalling, and volunteerism at the June TOUR event. In addition, he is administering three tournaments specifically to raise awareness and funds for The First Tee in Connecticut. Fundraisers are set to be held at the New Haven Country Club, the TPC River Highlands, and Rockrimmon Country Club in North Stamford this summer. With Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. at the helm of The First Tee – who may have the best Rolodex in all of golf - and the unconditional support of golf’s major governing bodies, there’s no reason to think that The First Tee can’t do anything but succeed…even as the organization faces perhaps its most formidable monetary challenges in its relative infancy. On behalf of junior golfers everywhere – and all those who support the game – here’s hoping The First Tee is viable for years to come. The game of golf needs The First Tee as much as kids who want to play golf need The First Tee. For information on New England First Tee operations, contact Judy Stout, Director, and Northeast Regional Affairs at 302-945-4936 or email Judy at jstout@thefirsttee.org For complete information on the First Tee, visit www.thefirstee.org or contact The First Tee, World Golf Village, 425 South Legacy Trail, St. Augustine, FL 32092. Phone 904-940-4300.
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NEW ENGLAND GOLF MONTHLY
The Disabled Veterans of Massachusetts Benefit from the: 1st Annual Celebrity – Pro – Veteran Invitational At Granite Links GC June 29, 2009 Cone Fires - 12/60, sets new course record at Granite Links.
Jennifer Song Wins 2009 WAPL Title
At 1230 hours the helicopter made its rounds draping an American flag as the participants of the 1st annual Celebrity – Pro – Veteran Invitational at Granite Links Golf Club said the pledge of allegiance. An 11 shot howitzer salute followed in honor of the many Disabled Veterans of Massachusetts and those that have been lost protecting this great country. One final shot was fired to begin the event at 1000 hours signifying a whole form of the term “shot gun start.” “For the first year of the CPV Invitational I would say the event was a great success. As promised the celebrities kept everyone in stitches and the professionals impressed with low scores and stroke saving tips. The tournament raised over $35,000 to assist the Disabled Veterans of Massachusetts with health benefits and transportation. I can’t thank everyone enough who supported and participated in our first annual event,” said Dan Stack, Adjutant of the MA DAV. Granite Links Golf Club, although wet, was in great shape with true rolling greens, plush fairways, and beautiful views of the Boston skyline. In a unique 3-ball format the scores were nothing short of impressive. On the professional side the course record of 7-under 65 was tied by New Hampshire touring pro, Mark Baldwin only to be shattered by 5 shots via Vermont touring professional, Dustin Cone who fired a mind boggling 12-under par 60. The new course record may never be broken and it is only right that it was set in support of such a great cause. The Boston Cedar Team captured the “Dueling Pistols Trophy,” that will hang in the MA State House. The team featured celebrity, Bobby Orr and Quincy touring professional, Mike Welch who finished 3rd in the professional competition with a 5 -under, 67. Thank you to all of the celebrities, pros and veterans who participated this year but most of all thank you to all of the corporations that stepped up to the plate to support such a great cause. The Celebrity – Pro – Veteran Invitational is a tournament like no other in the country and will be a staple fit in the Massachusetts golf scene for years to come. For more information on this years tournament, more information on the DAV of MA or to request an invitation to play next year please visit www.CelebrityProVeteran.com
Devens, Mass. – Jennifer Song, 19, of La Cañada, Calif., defeated Kimberly Kim, 17, of Hilo, Hawaii, 7 and 6, on Saturday to win the 2009 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship at the 6,267-yard, par72 Red Tail Golf Club. With the usual match-play concessions, Song was nine under par for the 30 holes of the scheduled 36-hole match. Hitting tee shots in the 250-yard range, she never missed a fairway (23 of 23) and hit 25 of 30 Jennifer Song greens in regulation. Song, a sophomore business major at the University of Southern California, said it was the best golf she has played in competition. The margin of victory was the largest in the 33-year history of the WAPL. “Today I was super hot,” said Song. “I can’t believe I made a bunch of birdies, and some of the putts were really hard. The speed was really crucial and I didn’t expect to make them. I just said, ‘Jen, get the speed right, and I’ll be very happy.’ They just dropped in and I’m so grateful.” Song made 10 birdies and just two were conceded, an 18-foot birdie putt on the 13th hole and a tap-in on the 26th hole. She made only one bogey in the match (the ninth hole of the morning 18). Kim in 2006 became the youngest winner of the U.S. Women’s Amateur at the age of 14. In that final match she was five holes down after the morning 18 to Katharina Schallenberg, the same margin by which she was down after 18 holes in Saturday’s WAPL final. But this time, Kim could not rally. This was Song’s first national championship. She was runnerup in the 2009 NCAA Division I Women’s Championship and runner-up to Joh in this championship last year. She will next play at the U.S. Women’s Open, which begins July 9 at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa. The U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links is one of 13 national championships conducted by the United States Golf Association, of which 10 are strictly for amateurs.
newenglandgolfmonthly.com July 2009 baystategolfinc.com May 2008
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NEW ENGLAND JUNIOR GOLF
June 20th Swansea Country Club Spinal Technology Pro Junior
Brad Adamonis PGA Tour Player with Jeff Dantes from Elite Golf and Challenge Cup Players get ready to tee it up.
Walpole Country Club 2009 U.S. Junior Amateur Qualifying: Thursday, June 18, 2009 Par 142 (71-71) Qualifiers 1) Ryan McCormick (Middletown, NJ) 73-73— 146 2) Chris Houston (Gilford, NH) 75-73—148 T3) Joe Toland (White River Junction, VT) 74-75—149 T3) Alexandre Belmont (Concord, MA) 72-77—149 Alternates 1st) Codi Daudelin (Strafford, NH) 71-78— 149 2nd) Chelso Barrett (Keene, NH) 74-76—150
Submit Junior Golf News, Results & Pictures www.NewEnglandGolfMonthly.com ([ [ OL 5L ^ ,UNS HUK *V\U[ Y ` *S \I ^L Z \WWVY [ [ OL M \[ \Y L VM [ OP Z NY L H[ NHTL >L HY L WY V\UK [ V Z WVUZ VY 5L ^ ,UNS HUK 1 \UP VY .VS M
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NEW ENGLAND GOLF MONTHLY
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MOLORI UNPLUGGED By John Molori
Briggs takes a long drive to golfing glory The pants are loud, but the cry for help is even louder. His shots are long, but not nearly as long as the list of self-destructive moves that have ruined a potentially legendary career. John Daly, to some, is a loveable presence, a prodigal son who has strayed at times, but remains a sympathetic figure worthy of our care. To me, he is none of that. Daly is an utter disappointment, and at this point, a huge, and I mean HUGE black mark on professional golf. In truth, the word “professional” should never be in the same area code as Daly, let alone the same column. Watching the latest incarnation of the PGA Tour’s John Daly version of Amy Winehouse is more pathetic than professional. The banana yellow shirts, the 1967 psychedelic wallpaper pants, the cigarette butt clenched between two fingers, all of these are signs of a man who truly believes his own B.S. Moreover, and perhaps more sadly, they are the signs of a man who should have been reprimanded more sternly by the PGA years ago, instead of coddled into more mistakes and self-ruination. It is clear that the PGA views Daly as some sort of Babe Ruth, without the great statistics of course. Daly is a sloppy, slovenly soul. Alliteration aside, he is a walking cautionary tale, or as Ellen Page referred to herself as the title character in the film “Juno,” a cautionary whale. One problem, Juno was a movie character. Daly’s overstuffed behind is real life stuff. Some would make the point that Daly is, in fact, a character. To the movies we go once again in paraphrasing Harvey Keitel as Winston Wolfe in “Pulp Fiction.” Just because you are a character doesn’t mean you HAVE character. Those words apply perfectly to Daly. The PGA continues to enable Daly by allowing his sorry carcass to infect every tournament that he can crawl out of bed to attend. Many golf media types have actually wasted space in print and online wondering if Daly could ever win another Major championship. Sure he could, if Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating contest was ever sanctioned by the PGA. Until binge drinking and chain smoking become akin to long drives and sweet chips, Daly is out of luck. I know the history, but it doesn’t change the present. Daly turned pro in 1987, and in 1991, won the PGA Championship at Crooked Stick and PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. In 1995, he took home his second Major, winning the British Open at St. Andrews. In between, he warmed the hearts of hackers everywhere with his down-home style and biker mentality. He was a refreshing change from the sterile, clean cut, pink-panted, Izod-clad denizens of the game. Daly was one of us. He looked like us, talked like us. Hell, he was even shaped like us. He could hit that little white ball with authority from 1 through 18, then smile and tip back a six pack at the 19th hole. Daly was in the mold of other charismatic sports personalities. Men like William Perry, Dennis Rodman, Bill Lee and John Matuszak. Like all of these memorable figures, Daly possessed great skills, and like all of them, those skills were overshadowed by ego, showmanship, demons or addictions. Very few athletes have been able to successfully balance on-field success with off-field excess. The aforementioned Ruth comes to mind, but even he eventually paid for his misdeeds. Because of his self-aggrandizing manner, “The Babe” was never seen as managerial timber, and his wild ways led to health problems and an early death at the age of 53. I wish no such fate for Daly, and like many of the golf fandom, I do see the charm of the big guy, but lately, that charm has been replaced by a realization. It seems to me that Daly is quite happy with the rather obnoxious figure he cuts on the course these days. It’s like he is saying, ‘Hey, look at me, I’m a complete screw up and I’m still here!’ There are some who might say that reaching a level of self-satisfaction and acceptance is a good thing, in Daly’s case, not so much. We all have a John Daly in our lives, a person who trumps Morris the Cat and has about 90 lives, someone who falls into a pile of manure and emerges smelling like a rose. With these people, we forgive a lot because they are different, even special. John Daly disappoints us at every turn, and we like it because each disappointment gives him another shot at redemption, a pitiful cycle indeed. Daly’s charity work is well documented as is his blithe demeanor, but I’m done. I understand why we all care about John Daly. I just wonder if he cares about us. Syndicated columnist John Molori hosts the “J-Team Radio Show” at AM 1120 WBNW and jteamradio.com. Email John at MoloriMedia@aol.com.
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GOLF FASHION
Good Looks on the Course By Elle Brec
When it Rains it Pours, Stand under my Umbrella
The U.S. Open was a perfect combination of the two favorite topics of conversation for New Englanders: sports and weather. Yes it has been very rainy but build a bridge and get over it, except we almost needed an ark. Everyone appreciated all the hard work provided by the tournament directors, ground crews, and those involved in the planning, drying of the greens, and reorganization of the schedules. The rain delay did have a ripple effect on the CVS Charity Classic as Camilo Villegas, Bubba Watson, Todd Hamilton, Retief Goosen, and Anthony Kim were all scheduled to participate but could not as they remained at Bethpage Black. Their replacements included Brad Adamonis, Matt Kuchar, David Toms, Laura Diaz, and Brittany Lincicome. The results weren’t all bad, the tournament directors had enough water; all they needed to turn lemons into lemonade was to add some sugar and mix it up. Even though Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade made the decision prior to the forecasts, for the first time in the tournament’s history they featured co-ed teams. For starters, a quality, vented umbrella is a necessity. If you do not already own a vented umbrella, you do not have the same skills as Mary Poppins, a gust of wind will catch it and flip it inside out. To prevent this comedic frustration, invest in the best umbrella out there, the Gustbuster. It is made from 190-thread nylon and certified by the College of Aeronautics for their patented raindrop shaped wind release vents. The frame is made from lightning resistant fiberglass with flexor rods that spring back to their original shape and do not crimp. It also has an expansion cord system that goes with the flow to prevent tearing and leaking, a double canopy, easy carry straps, a pinchless open and close system, a comfortable handle, and is available in every color and combination imaginable as it can be custom designed with your own logo. It is the number one favorite of the PGA Tour. When it rains let’s face it, you are going to get dirty, or at least get the bottoms of your pants will muddy, so people tend to wear black. With the exception of Phil Mickelson, who was bold enough to wear very light khakis on Saturday and off-white pinstripe pants in the fourth round of the Open on Monday. Luckily for him, he did not get caught in the torrential downpours while wearing them. Other prevalent colors in the tournaments were red, gray, navy blue, and dark green. It was reported that Boo Weekley looked more like a hunter in Barrington R.I., with his camouflage green jacket and orange camouflage hat, but since he can wear his own camo clothing line called Boo by Firethorn, he has the freedom to set his own trends. The military inspired hat also has become a trend on the Tour. Ricky Barnes wore his white one throughout the Open, even with his funky blue and brown plaid pants. Players embraced practical golf rain gear such as vests and short sleeved jackets. It’s a personal preference, Lincicome wore a short sleeve jacket and Diaz a long sleeve jacket. Even though companies are doing their best to come out with a completely nonrestrictive golf jacket, it is obviously more comfortable to swing without sleeves than with them. Depending on the severity of the conditions, short sleeves may not even be an option. To avoid this problem, Adidas created the ClimaProof Storm 3 way convertible long sleeved jacket that converts to a short sleeved jacket as well as a vest. Other innovative characteristics such as its lightweight, stretchable material, extra elbow room, and a removable inner compression layer to allow for a full range of motion and prevent the jacket from interfering with the player’s swing. Adidas also stepped it up a notch by providing shielded vents, silicon shoulder grips, an extended collar, and waterproof zippers. To exhibit waterproof as well as breathable qualities, the pores in the fabric must be large enough to allow perspiration escape but small enough inhibit water molecules from permeating. Water resistance is measured the amount of millimeters of water can be suspended above the fabric before it seeps through. Breathability is measured by the rate at which grams of water vapor pass through per square meter in a 24 hour period. The Climaproof is top of the line at 20,000mm/15,000 g/m2. Comparable brands include the DryJoys Tour Collection and Performance Light Series by Footjoy along with Nike StormFIT. Matching waterproof pants are also available with most jackets so you can be prepared for the inclimate conditions. The order ranging from most to least expensive rain coats are waterproof/breathable, water resistant/breathable, and waterproof/non-breathable. If the jacket does not possess both qualities it is difficult to avoid the uncomfortable, unhealthy cold chill, felt when your garments underneath are completely soaked through or from the accumulation of perspiration. It has rained 27 out of 30 days this June, so it is what it is as Belichick says, this year we are playing in the rain. So get geared up and stay dry. Comments can be emailed to ellebrecgolf@yahoo.com
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WOMENS GOLF
Inter-City Matches for the Griscom Cup
Eleanor W. Allen Bowl
Thursday, May 28, 2009 - Black Rock Country Club, Hingham, MA May 27-28, 2009 - Black Rock Country Club, Hingham, MA
Patricia Savage & Norma Giannattasio and Pamela Rodrigue & Vanessa Barrett SINGLE MATCHES - FINAL RESULTS FINAL STANDINGS May 28, 2009 1st PLACE: 48 Massachusetts 2nd PLACE: 34 Philadelphia 3rd PLACE: 26 New York
Hannah D. Townshend Cup
Home Club: Wayland CC & Butter Brook GC Final Score: 87
M.I.A.A. Girls' Interscholastic High School Championship Stephanie Frankian Home Club: Watertown High School Final Score: 75
Pippy O'Connor Independent School Girls' Golf Tournament Issy Marley Home Club: School - Deerfield Final Score: 78
Tara Joy Connelly & Lisa Anderson Home Club: Cohasset GC/Ferncroft CC Final Score: 64
Submit Womens Golf News & Pictures www.NewEnglandGolfMonthly.com
Best Price Best Conditions Best Experience
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FROM THE CORNER OFFICE
COURSE REVIEWS
From the Corner Office
Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club By Bob DiCesare
By Rob Martin You're Kidding Me!
In its former heyday, Ocean Edge Golf Club in Brewster played host to the New England PGA Championship for several years in the mid-80's and challenged golfers with its tight, narrow layout. Times have certainly changed, and so has the golf course. The Nicklaus Design group came in and performed a remarkable $6 million makeover that has transformed Ocean Edge into a more user-friendly course. Last spring, it reopened as one of the few private courses on Cape Cod available exclusively for guest or member play that is adaptable for golfers of all skill levels. A par-72 layout with five sets of tees and a men's slope ranging from127 to 133, all of Ocean Edge's fairways and greens were reshaped and remodeled with the most significant changes being increased length and better playability. The course sports a brawnier, physical appearance with strategic bunkering, yet offers more shot-making opportunities befitting the lay of the land. The greens are large by New England standards, but play smaller because of the way they're shaped or sloped into sectors. "We are a more challenging course for our members, but Ocean Edge is still fun and enjoyable for resort guests," said head golf professional Michael Medeiros, who was recently chosen by the NEPGA as merchandiser of the year in the resort category. "The new golf course is strategically accurate for all levels of play." It's been my experience that the first hole of most golf courses I've played are either too easy or too hard. That's not the case at Ocean Edge as the 322-yard 1st hole is not too long, yet features plenty of rolling fairway and a sloped green.You definitely need to hit a good drive on the 376-yard 2nd hole to pass the dogleg right, making for a very manageable approach shot to the green. The fun begins on the third hole, a par-3 that is only 163 yards in distance, but features a compact, southwest-to-northeast diagonal green. The par-5, 496-yard fourth hole is a great test. It's almost a ninety-degree, dogleg left with a huge waste bunker cradling the turn. The other par-3 on the front side, the 8th hole (171 yards), offers another trickor-treat green, this one featuring raised and sunken tiers. No. 9 – a treacherous, 544yard, par-5 – that features all sorts of trouble. For starters, it's tight out of the tee box, and then there are two large bunkers in prime landing space on the right, leaving only narrow fairway on the left. The back side builds up excitement with each passing hole. The par-4 10th hole is similar to the 1st hole – not too hard, yet not too easy – at 383 yards. Clear the fairway bunker on the right side, and you've got just a little over 100 yards to tuck one in tight for a birdie try. The 11th hole is the longest par-4 on the course at 418 yards, but it's fair with a straightaway drive and no fairway bunkers. A good test for a long iron or hybrid on the approach to the green. No. 14 is only 316 yards, but it is quite difficult to navigate. From the tee, there is a very small landing area sandwiched between two large bunkers left/center and water on the right. Then it's a steep, uphill climb to an undulating green surrounded by thick rough. The view, however, is quite nice looking back toward the fairway. The 17th and 18th holes pack quite a solid, one-two punch to close out a round. No. 17 is the longest hole on the course at 559 yards and gradually turns its way from right-to-left like a semi-circle. Basically, you have to give it everything you've got from tee to green, avoiding a couple of fairway bunkers and positioning your way along the expansive, rolling terrain. The par-4, 18th hole is shorter at 347 yards, but from the tee you still have to carry an abundance of fescue and some fairway bunkers before you face a 145-130 yard, uphill approach shot to an elevated green. Whether it's during the heat of summer or the splendor of the fall foliage season, Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club offers something for everyone, with a special emphasis on Cape Cod's only Nicklaus Design golf course. For more information, visit www.oceanedge.com/golf or call 800-343-6074.
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You have the round of your life going; your swing is in perfect sync, your short game is magical and mentally you are in the moment. Then "IT" happens. The "IT" is a divot smack dab in the middle of the fairway that just so happens to encompass your ball at about 270 yards off the tee. The USGA makes no allowances for divots and in fact fall under "the rub of the green" or essentially "those are the breaks kid." This is in fact the 10th anniversary of Payne Stewart's improbable victory over Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods and VJ Singh to name a few on the leaderboard. The year prior Stewart lost the US Open to Lee Janzen by 1 shot in part to finding his ball in a sand filled divot on the 12th hole. Stewart had argued that sand filled divots should be deemed ground under repair and thus eligible for a penalty free drop. In fact at the Payne Stewart Golf Course in Branson Mo., any ball that finds a sand filled divot is allowed to drop no nearer the hole penalty free. Your first thought as you look at your ball in the divot is how can someone not replace a divot that looks the size of a 42 ounce steak. Your 2nd thought is how do I hit this shot. And your third thought is full of expletives as you are ready to kiss your career round goodbye. My question is this - how can a golfer not replace a divot, rake a trap or fix a ballmark? This inevitably will benefit them and others by improving the conditions on which they routinely play. I see this scenario play out time and time again as a player hits a shot poses - takes up a piece of turf and then walks over the clump of earth and continues his/her round. Or how about some of the moon craters that you find on the green as you mark your ball? Everyone I talk to tells me they fix their own ball mark and several others - if this was the case would there be any ball marks at all? So I will provide a quick to do for the following areas throughout the course: Traps - Make sure you enter from the low point of the bunker and have a rake ready for after the completion of your shot. Rake the trap smooth and make sure trap is raked to the outer edge of the bunker. Replace rake. Most courses ask that rakes are left on the outer edges of the bunker - however it is up to individual courses as to whether the rake is left in or out of the bunker as there is no rule from the USGA mandating such placement. Greens - Fix your ball mark and then two others you may encounter on the green. All players must have a Ball Mark Repair Tool in your pocket at all times on the golf course. In order to repair a ball mark simply put the repair tool at the outer edge of the mark and then push to the inner marks of the indentation. Repeat this process around the indentation and then tap down with the putter. A common mistake that I see players make (even experienced players) is that they put the repair tool at the indentation and then pry the middle of the pitch mark up. This is a big NO-NO! Divots - Very simply, replace that hairpiece that you just took out of the earth and step on it so that it is level with the rest of the playing surface. It will take you less than 30 seconds and the karma you will receive may keep you out of one of these the remainder of the round. If the course has seed mix on the carts then use the mix as it stands a better chance of taking. Tee Boxes - Always use the seed boxes! ALWAYS! There is no excuse but poor etiquette and laziness. If we took the time to do the little things in order to help our Superintendents think how great the course conditions would be. Continue your career round and eliminate the "IT" from happening.
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NEW ENGLAND GOLF MARKETPLACE
NEW ENGLAND GOLF MARKETPLACE GOLF PRODUCTS
RETAIL STORES & CLUB MAKERS Edwin Watts Golf Hanover, MA 781.871.0000 Hyannis, MA 508.771.4653 Attleboro, MA 508.399.8400 Mashpee, MA 508.539.7937 Weymouth, MA 781.335.8008 www.edwinwattsgolf.com Fran Johnson’s Women’s Golf W. Springfield, MA 413.306.6120 www.thewomensgolfshop.com Golfers’ Warehouse Burlington, MA 781.270.4653 Danvers, MA 978.777.4653 Natick, MA 508.651.2582 Braintree, MA 781.848.9777 www.golferswarehouse.com Joe & Leigh’s Discount Golf S. Easton, MA 508.238.2320 www.pineoaks.com Northeast Golf Sales Seekonk, MA 508.336.4058 www.negolfsales.com Precision Golf Works Pawtucket, RI 401.723.9998 www.spargogolf.com Spargo Golf Warwick, RI 401.828.2857 www.spargogolf.com
GOLF CARTS & ACCESSORIES New England Golf Cars Seekonk, MA 508.336.4285 www.newenglandgolfcars.com PortaPro Video Sales of NE Cranston, RI 757.621.7494 www.S4Innovations.com Fore Concepts 886.888.3667 www.foreconcepts.com
Cape Custom Green 508.994.7239 www.Cape Custom Green.com Conway Golf Products 866.468.3316 www.Conway Golf.com Digital Pro Golf 802.238.5355 www.digitalprogolf.com Dream Swing 866.910.4477 www.dreamswing.com Exclusive Links Passports 800.639.1941 www.linkpassport.com Global Golf Training Products 781.828.7747 www.thumbcaddy.net How Great Golfers Think 877.748.1135 www.howgreatgolfersthink.com N.E. Custom Putting Greens 800.618.9670 www.newenglandsyntheticturf.com Orange Whip 877.748.1135 www.orangewhiptrainer.com Perfect Release 800.860.0923 www.perfectrelease.com Plane Perfect Golf 866.468.3316 www.planeperfectgolf.com Real Feel Golf Mats 866.334.2115 www.RealFeelGolfMats.com Sonocaddie 800.336.6264 www.sonocaddie.com Swingroove 800.796.4416 www.swingroove.com Swing Rite 866.660.7387 www.swingrite.com The Golf Ring 937.299.0443 www.TheGolfRing.com Wedgewood 888.833.7371 www.wedgewoodgolf.com
BJ’s Charity Classic Championship Plymouth, MA Sept. 9, 2009 www.theledgendstour.com Celebrity Pro Veteran Invitational Boston, MA June 29, 2009 www.celebrityproveteran.com
GOLF SERVICES
CVS Charity Classic Barrington, RI June 21-23, 2009 www.cvscharityclassic.com
617.426.4501
Deutsche Bank Championship Norton, MA September 1-7, 2009 www.deutschebankchampionship.com
www.ginacigar.com Golf and Gamble 508.970.0066 www.golf-n-gamble.com Jet Blue Challenge 516.680.5986 www.Jetbluechallenge.com L.T.S. Leader Boards of N.E. 781.784.6508 www.ltsleaderboard.com Tournament Headquarters 508.734.2186 www.tournamentheadquarters.com Worldwide Golf Vacations 800.946.5318 www.worldwidegv.com
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July 2009
Anthony DeQuattro Swansea, MA
508.675.8767 www.colesrivergolf.com
Bill Kay Swansea, MA
508.675.8767 www.colesrivergolf.com
Chris Costa Middleton, MA
978.774.4075 www.middletongolf.com
DeLayne Pascal Sandwich, MA
508.428.5577 www.hollyridgegolf.com
Dennis Sales Cumberland, RI Ed Hanley Cranston, RI Jane Frost Sandwich, MA Jeff Dantas Seekonk, MA Keith Allcock Seekonk, MA Rick Holcomb Seekonk, MA
401.787.7040 www.DennisSalesGolf.com 401.826.1683 www.cranstoncc.com 508.888.3384 www.JaneFrostGolfSchool.net
508.336.EPRO www.elitegolfcenter.com 508.336.6622 www.FireFlyGolfCourse.com 401.862.4119 SeekonkDriving Range
Tom Wecal Smithfield, RI
401.766.1151 www. Iwgolf.com
Tony Lauro Warwick, RI
401.821.1115 www.valleycountryclub.net
GOLF SHOWS National Golf Expo Boston, MA March 6-8, 2009 www.paragonexpo.com
GOLF TOURNAMENTS
GPS Industries www.gpsindustries.com www.foreconcepts.com
Gina Cigars
Alex Kollar Total Training
GOLF INSTRUCTORS 401.230.0152
Monroe, CT
Joshua Bent Memorial June 20, 2009 www.JoshBent.com
Members’ Cup Sept. 2009 www.memberscup.com New England Senior Tour See Events Schedule www.newenglandseniortour.com Travelers Championship Cromwell, CT June 22-28, 2009 www.travelerschampionship.com Turning Stone Resort Championship Verona, NY October 1-4, 2009 www.turningstoneresortchampionship.com
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GOLF PRACTICE FACILITIES Atlantic Golf Center S. Attleboro, MA 508.761.5484 www.atlanticgolfcenter.com Coles River Driving Range Swansea, MA 508.675.8767 Elite Golf Center Seekonk, MA 508.336.EPRO www.elitegolfcenter.com Golf Country Easton, MA 508-238-6007 Middleton, MA 978-774-4476 Saugus, MA 781-231-0032 www.golfcountry.org Golf Shots Wareham, MA 508.295.8773 Harmon Golf & Fitness Rockland, MA 866.942.7666 www.harmongolf.com Mulligans Island Cranston, RI 401.464.8855 www.mulligansisland.com Seekonk Driving Range Seekonk, MA 508.336.8074 SNE Golf Academy Mapleville, RI 401.787.7040 www.snegolfacademy.com Sun ‘N Air Danvers, MA 978-774-8180 www.sunairgolf.com
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NEW ENGLAND GOLF MARKETPLACE
NEW ENGLAND GOLF MARKETPLACE Massachusetts Golf Courses BOSTON AREA Brookmeadow Canton 781.828.4444 www.brookmeadowgolf.com Chelmsford Country Club Chelmsford 978.256.1818 www.sterlinggolf.com Granite Links Quincy 617.689.1900 www.granitelinksgolfclub.com
Poquoy Brook Golf Course Lakeville 508.947.5261 www.poquoybrook.com Rehoboth Country Club Rehoboth 508.252.6259 www.rehobothcc.com River Bend Country Club W. Bridgewater 508.580.3673 www.riverbendcc.com Scituate Country Club Scituate 781.545.7666 www.scituatecc.com
NORTH SHORE Indian Ridge Country Club Andover 978.475.9484 www.indianridgecountryclub.us Meadow Golf Course Peabody 978.532.9390 www.peabodymeadowgolf.com
R. I. ISLAND GOLF COURSES Beaver River Golf Club Richmond 401.539.2100 www.beaverrivergolf.com Crystal Lake Golf Club Harrisville 401.567.4500 www.crystallakegolfclub.com
Middleton Golf Course Middleton 978.774.4075 www.middletongolf.com
Green Valley Golf Club Portsmouth 01.847.9543 www.greenvalleyccofri.com
Sterling Country Club Sterling 978.422.0275 www.sterlingcc.com
Laurel Lane Country Club W. Kingstown 401.783.3844 www.laurellanecountryclub.com
Newton Common Wealth Golf Club Newton 617.630.1971 www.sterlinggolf.com
Shadow Brook Golf Club S. Attleboro 508.339.8410
Norwood Country Club Norwood 781.769.5880 www.brookmeadowgolf.com
Southers Marsh Golf Club Plymouth 508.830.3535 www.southersmarsh.com
SOUTHEASTERN Acushnet River Valley Acushnet 508.998.7777 www.golfacushnet.com
The Back Nine Club Lakeville 508.947.9991 www.thebacknineclub.com
Allendale Country Club No. Dartmouth 508.992.8682 www.allendalecountryclub.com
Touisset Country Club Swansea 508.679.9577
Blackstone Valley Golf Club Sutton 08. 865.2111 www.bngc.net
Triggs Memorial Golf Club Providence 401.521.8460 www.triggs.us
Wampanoag Golf Club N. Swansea 508.379.9832 www.wampanoaggolf.com
Blissful Meadows Golf Course Uxbridge 508.278.6110 www.blissfulmeadows.com
Valley Country Club Warwick 401.821.1115 www.Valleycountryclub.net
Waverly Oaks Country Club Plymouth 508.224.6700 www.waverlyoaksgolfclub.com
Crumpin-Fox Club Bernardston 800.943.1901 www.golfthefox.com
Wentworth Hills Golf Club Plainville, MA 508.580.3673 www.wentworthhillsgolf.com
Cyprian Keyes Golf Club Boylston 508.869.9900 www.cypriankeyes.com
CAPE COD COURSES
Petersham Country Club Petersham 978.724.3388 www.petershamcc.com
Bungal Brook Golf Club Bellingham 508.883.1600 www.BungayBrook.com Chemawa Golf Course No. Attleboro 508.399.7330 www.chemawagolf.com Crestwood Country Club Rehoboth 508.336.8582 www.crestwoodcc.com Fall River Country Club Fall River 508.672.0280 www.fallrivercc.com Hawthorne Country Club No. Dartmouth 508.996.1766 www.hawthorencountryclub.com Hillside Country Club Rehoboth 508.252.9761 www.hillsidecountryclub.com Lakeville Country Club Lakeville 508.947.6630 www.lakevillecountryclub.com Maplegate Country Club Bellingham 508.996.4040 www.maplegate.com New England Country Club Bellingham 508.883.2300 www.newenglandcountryclub.com Olde Scotland Links Bridgewater 508.279.3344 www.oldescotlandlinks.com Pembroke Country Club Pembroke 781-829-2292 www.PembrokeGolf.com Pine Oaks Golf Club So. Easton 508.238.2320 www.pineoaks.com Pine Valley Golf Course Rehoboth 508.336.9815
Bayberry Hills Golf Course W. Yarmouth 508.394.5597 www.golfyarmouthcapecod.com Cranberry Valley Golf Club Harwich 508.430.5234 www.cranberrygolfcourse.com Holly Ridge Golf Club Sandwich 508.428.5577 www.hollyridgegolf.com Hyannis Country Club Hyannis 508.362.6936
Winchester Country Club Winchester 781.729.1181 www.winchestercc.org WESTERN MASS. BERKSHIRES Berkshire Hills Country Club Pittsfield 413-447-9429 www.berkshirehillscc.com
Quail Hollow Golf & C.C. Oakham 508.882.5516 www.quailhollowgolf.net Ayer
Red Tail Golf Club 978.772.3273 www.redtailgolf.net
Shaker Hills Golf Course Harvard 978.772.2227 www.shakerhills.com Stow Acres Country Club 978.568.1100 www.stowacres.com
Little Harbor Country Club Wareham 508.295.2617 www.littleharborcountryclubcom
Stow
Old Barnstable Country Club Marshen Mills 508.420.1141 www.obfgolf.com
The Ledges Golf Club S. Hadley 413.532.2307 www.ledgegc.com
Paul Harney Golf Course East Falmouth 508.563.3454 www.paulharneygolfcourse.com
The Ranch Golf Club Southwick 413.569.9333 www.theranchgolfclub.com
The Captains Course Brewster 508.896.1716 www.captainsgolfcourse.com
Wachusett Country Club West Boylston 508.835.4484 www.wachusettcc.com
Yarmouth Golf Courses 508.398.9079 www.golfyarmouthcapecod.com
Midville Golf Club West Warwick 401-828-9215 www.MidvilleGolfClub.com Montaup Country Club Portsmouth 401.683.0955 www.montaupcc.com Newport National Golf Club Middletown 401.846.1489 www.newportnational.com
West Warwick Country Club West Warwick 401.821.9789 www.westwarwickcc.com Woodland Greens Golf Club N. Kingstown 401.294.2872 www.woodlandgc.com
MAINE GOLF COURSES Point Sebago Resort Kennebunk 888-765-7030 www.pointsebago.com
N.H. GOLF COURSES Waumbek Country Club Jefferson 603.586.7777 www.playgolfne.com White Mountaines Country Club Ashland 603.536.7808 www.playgolfne.com Pheasant Ridge Country Club Gilford 603.524.9543 www.playgolfne.com Country Club New Hampshire North Sutton 603.927.4246 www.playgolfne.com Souhegan Woods Golf Club Amherst 603.673.0200 www.playgolfne.com The Shattuck Golf Club Jaffrey 603.532.4300 www.sterlinggolf.com Whip Poor Will Golf Club Hudson 603.889.9706 www.playandgolfne.com Green Meadow Hudson 603.889.1555 www.playandgolfne.com
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NEW ENGLAND GOLF MARKETPLACE
NEW ENGLAND GOLF MARKETPLACE TEE TIME DEALS & DISCOUNTS
GOLF RESORTS Camelback Inn & JWM Resort Scottsdale, AZ 800.242.2635 www.camelbackinn.com Xona Resorts Suites Scottsdale, AZ 888.222.1059 www.xonaresort.com Golf PEI Prince Edward Island, Canada www.golfpei.net Doral Golf Resort & Spa Miami, FL 800.713.6725 www.doralresort.com Ginn Reunion Resort Orlando, FL 888.418.9611 www.reunionresort.com
GAME IMPROVEMEN ACADEMY
Heritage House Hotel Cape Cod, MA 508.775.7000 www.stayandplaycapecodcom Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club Palm Harbor, FL 727.942.2000 www.innisbrookgolfresort.com Perfect Drive Golf Villas Port St. Lucie, FL 772.873.0515 www.PerfectDriveatPGAVillage.com Point Sebago Resort Kennebunk 888-765-7030 www.pointsebago.com The Mount Washington Resort Bretton Woods, NH 800.314.1752 www.mtwashington.com Gr. Atlantic City Golf Assoc. Atlantic City, NJ 800.GOLF.222 www.acgolfvacations.com The Sagamore Bolton Landing, NY 866.358.6112 www.thesagamore.com Turning Stone Resort & Casino Verona, NY 800.771.7711 www.turning-stone.com
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NEPGA
N.E.P.G.A. TOURNAMENT RESULT NEPGA Asst. Spring Series #3 May 21, 2009 Brae Burn Country Club 35-37-72
By Bob DiCesare
Individual Assistant Professional Stroke Play Results T1 T1 T3 T3
Bill Link John Askew Kevin Murphy Bret Gracey
Sterling National GC 37-35--72 E Boston GC 35-37--72 E Garrison Golf Center 35-40--75 +3 Concord 35-40--75 +3
NEPGA Hudson Cup Duxbury Yacht Club Duxbury, MA 36-36-72 Brian Smith Bill Link David Finethy Jim Salinetti
Oakley Country Club Sterling National GC Framingham CC Newport CC
35-33--68 -4 31-38--69 -3 35-35--70 -2 35-36--71 -1
NEPGA Pro-Pro Match Play Championship LeBaron Hills CC Lakeville, Ma 36-36-72 May 4-5, 2009 Finals Hester & Burke def Tobey & Barlow, 2 and 1 NEPGA Pro-Am - Portsmouth May 8, 2009 Portsmouth CC Portsmouth, NH Individual Professional Media Results (10 Places Paid) 1 Frank Dully 2 Marc Spencer T3 Allen Santos T3 Andy Fisher
Kernwood CC Atkinson Resort & CC Trull Brook GC The Country Club
35-35--70 -2 35-36--71 -1 37-35--72 E 35-37--72 E
Ahead Golf Stroke Play #1 Warwick CC May 11, 2009 34-35-69 Individual Professional 1 Jeffrey Martin 2 Frank Dully T3 Allan Menne T3 Todd Cook T3 Chip Johnson T3 James Burke
Point Judith CC Kernwood CC Hyannis Milton Hoosic Club Hatherly Leo J. Martin
THE N.E.P.G.A. PRO FILE
33-35--68 -1 35-34--69 E 36-34--70 +1 38-32--70 +1 36-34--70 +1 36-34--70 +1
Summer is here, and that means there are plenty of junior golfers out on the golf courses of New England. It also means it's the right time to recognize Mike Foster, head professional at Larry Gannon Municipal Golf Course in Lynn, MA, for this month's issue. Foster was selected the 2009 recipient of the Junior Golf Leader Award by the New England Section Mike Foster with Robert DeNiro of the PGA of America. It is given annually to the PGA professional for his or her outstanding leadership in junior golf, reflecting the ideals of working with youth while also providing opportunities for them to play the game of golf. A lifelong Lynn resident, Foster is celebrating his 40th anniversary working at his hometown course. He started as an assistant under Gannon for five years before embarking on his current 35-year run as head pro since 1975. "I'm a home boy," said the 61-year-old Foster, a Lynn English High graduate. "I've been privileged and fortunate to have the same job as long as I've had." Foster founded the Callaway NEPGA Junior Golf Tour (formerly Titleist Tour) with former director Eddie Carbone back in the early 80's, and the series has enjoyed progressive growth ever since. The Junior Tour has a current membership of over 700 participants with over 70 scheduled tournaments during summer and autumn in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont. Over the years, Foster has developed and promoted junior golf programs by offering free clinics along with junior golf tournaments at Gannon Municipal every July and August. He also visits the Lynn public schools during the school year to provide free golf clinics. Foster previously received the 2003 Junior Golfer Leader Award from the eastern Massachusetts chapter of the NEPGA. He has also served on the NEPGA Junior & Scholarship committee, Membership committee, and Substance Abuse committee. "Mike has untiringly devoted his time over the past 40 years to the golfers of tomorrow," said Craig McLean, president of the New England Section of the PGA of America. "His commitment to the development of junior golf programs and the hundreds of hours he has volunteered to thousands of junior Mike wtih Ben Affleck at golfers has certainly raised the bar." movie shoot at Gannon Foster's mentoring of junior golfers has helped produce nearly a dozen PGA professionals, most notably Tony Sessa, who is a golf professional at Augusta National Golf Club, site of The Masters golf tournament. Foster remains humbled by a letter written to him by Sessa a few years ago which states: "I am certain that your early influence helped to get me where I am today. You were truly a great role model and a key to my success." Sessa, a one-time junior member and pro shop worker at Gannon Municipal, showed his appreciation in a big way. He invited Foster to Augusta National in 2006 and they played 36 holes together on the same day. "It was a thrill of a lifetime," said Foster. "Invites are hard to come by at Augusta National." Bob DiCesare is the golf writer for The Enterprise in Brockton, MA and he is also a member of the International Network of Golf.
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GORMAN VS. GEARY
GORMAN VS. GEARY Who is the Greatest Golfer to Ever Come Out of New England? Julius Boros is top New England-native Pro 18 career wins includes two majors Compiling a list of native New Englanders who have risen to national prominence as a professional golfer is an easy assignment. In fact, since the game took roots here in the United States in 1885 By Tom Gorman at Franklin Park in Boston, the list is so embarrassingly short, that it only includes two foursomes. That’s right, only two scorecards needed. Eight players rise to the cream of the crop as far as being homebred-New Englanders who have carved out impressive careers in the sport of professional golf. Quite a weak, checkered history, indeed! Let’s start with the honorable mentions, some of whom are still employed on the PGA Tour, Champions Tour or Nationwide Tour. The list of nominees include: Kevin Johnson, Peter Teravainen, Jim Hallet, Fran Quinn, Andy Morse, Bruce Douglas, Dr. Bill Mallon, Tim Petrovic, J.J. Henry, Patrick Sheehan, Jay Williamson, Dana Quigley, Allen Doyle, Henry Picard, Billy Burke, Brett Quigley, Brad Adamonis and James Driscoll. All 18 players have achieved levels of distinguished performance in golf competitions rarely seen from home-bodies in the six-state New England region. Rhode Island-product Dana Quigley, has earned the nickname “Ironman” for playing in 278 consecutive starts on the Champions Tour, beginning at age 50 and ending at 58. With 11 senior tour wins, he has amassed career earnings in excess of $14 million. His nephew, Brett Quigley, has never won on the PGA Tour, has career earnings over $10 million. He’s a prime example of mediocrity in a sport that pays millions for just making the cut each week on the PGA Tour. Quigley is not great and never will be, but he is very, very rich because he excels in his chosen profession. Norwood, MA-favorite son Allen Doyle, now 60, turned pro at age 46 and has 11 Champions Tour victories totaling $11 million in his career. From 1990 – 1994, Doyle regularly played against a young Tiger Woods and “dusted” him often in national amateur competitions. Now, let’s look at the best of the best. For an area that boasts the most knowledgeable sports fans in the world, the golf pickings are slim for men. If this debate included women, the hands-down best-player-ever from these parts is Westford, MA-native Pat Bradley. Now, 58 and retired, Bradley recently moved to Cape Cod and plays The Hyannisport Club every day. Throughout her acclaimed World Golf Hall of Fame career, she won 31 times including six majors. Here is my ranking of players: (# 8) Bob Menne (# 7) Billy Andrade (# 6) Jerry Kelly (# 5) Ken Green (# 4) Brad Faxon (# 3) Bob Toski (# 2) Paul Harney. The history of these players performing successfully in big-time tournaments is sometimes erratic, but consistency and a lengthy golf resume are qualities that define greatness, at least if you’re from New England. Danbury, CT-native Ken Green turned pro in 1980 and has five wins on the PGA Tour. He played on the 1989 Ryder Cup. After turning 50 last July, Green joined the Champions Tour but was seriously injured in a car accident in June and had his lower right leg amputated. Bob Toski, born in Haydenville, MA turned pro in 1945, and joined the PGA Tour in 1949. Weighing only 127 pounds, he won four times in 1954 and went on to win 11 professional events. Toski rose to the top of the golfing world as a player when he was leading money-winner in 1954 and later as an instructor, course designer, club maker and TV commentator. Paul Harney, born and raised in Worcester, MA, spent part of his career as a full-time PGA Tour player, but mostly was a club pro. He played full-time on Tour from 1955-1965, winning six PGA events, including the ‘64 and ’65 Los Angeles Open. He had great success in major championships, placing in the top-10 six times. In September 2005, Harney was enshrined into the PGA Hall of Fame. He owns a family-run golf course on Cape Cod. Now, the No. 1 player of all time from New England – Julius Boros. Born & bred in Fairfield, CT, Julius Boros (1920-1994) personifies the combination of effortless ease, flawless technique and competitive fire. Boros did not turn professional until age 29, and despite suffering from various physical problems his entire life, he put together a career that was outstanding because of his consistency, longevity and brilliance. He won 18 times between 1952 and 1968, including three prestigious major championships. Boros was PGA Player of the Year in 1952 and 1963, led the money list in 1952 and 1955 and played on four Ryder Cup teams. At The Country Club in Brookline in 1963, Julius Boros beat Arnold Palmer and Jacky Cupit in a three-way playoff to win in the U.S. Open. If you play golf in our short, cool, unglamorous season, you are probably a New England PGA Tour aspirant. We produce many great athletes but few are worldclass golfers! 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.
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July 2009 newenglandgolfmonthly.com
No One Measures Up To Brad Faxon The first time I ever saw Brad Faxon he was vaulting over a hedge after defeating an opponent in the quarterfinals of the 1977 Rhode Island junior state amateur tournament. Faxon was on his way to the second of three straight junior titles. He would also later win back-to-back state (1981 - ’82) By Tim Geary and New England (’82-’83) amateur crowns before he began playing for bucks. A lot of water has gone under the bridge since Faxon’s amateur career (which included two first team All American awards while at Furman University) ended. I would submit that what he did in those early years is by itself enough to project Fax into this conversation. So just who is the greatest golfer to ever come out of New England? Tough question? Sure is. Some would argue Francis Ouimet, based solely on his staggering upset victory over Harry Vardon and Ted Ray at The Country Club back in 1913. Some might point toward Bob Toski, others to Dana Quigley and my worthy colleague is claiming that it’s Julius Boros. I have to admit, that Mr. Gorman may have the edge in this argument. When we agreed to debate this issue he had selected Paul Harney. At the time neither of us realized that Boros was originally a New Englander. So I will concede, but since this is a debate I will argue the merits of Brad Faxon, who remains my personal favorite. Another who would challenge Faxon for this title is LPGA Hall of Famer Pat Bradley. Ouimet might be ‘America’s Greatest Golf Hero’ but he certainly isn’t the greatest golfer that New England ever produced. It takes more than one great week to have that crown lowered on your noggin. Faxon has proven it over a span of three plus decades. He followed up his short, but highly decorated amateur career with a very impressive professional one. It includes eight ‘sanctioned’ victories on the PGA Tour, participation on two Ryder Cup teams, one international victory (the 1993 Australian Open), the 1986 Provident Classic (which later became a recognized PGA Tour stop) and a bunch of wins in those “silly season” events where pros are teamed together. No other New Englander can come close to this resume, with the possible exceptions of Boros, Bradley, who won 31 LPGA events, including six majors and Quigley, who won 11 times on the Senior Tour but would be the first to tell you that his accomplishments pale in comparison with Faxon’s. I am very impressed with Bradley and without a doubt Pat is the greatest female golfer in New England history, but at the risk of being labeled a male chauvinist pig, I would submit that the PGA Tour is the highest playing field there is in golf. Fax was long considered the best pure putter in golf and his short game is legendary, but he has been much more than just a great player. Faxon, along with fellow Rhode Islander Billy Andrade, has given back like few others. Their charitable foundation has raised millions for underprivileged children and together with CVS Pharmacy they have helped to raise over $12 million for many other charities in southern New England through the 11 year old CVS/Caremark Charity Classic. Faxon also can often be found at Buttonhole, the short course and learning center in Providence which introduces children of all backgrounds to the game and the valuable life lessons that it teaches. Injuries, specifically to his knees, have hampered Faxon since his last victory in 2005, but he has remained heavily involved in golf at all levels. A past member of the PGA Tour policy, Fax is also a golf course architect (working closely with Maine’s Brad Booth) and somebody who has always been accessible, be it to the media or for a wide variety of worthwhile causes. New England has produced many outstanding players over the years, remarkable when one considers the short season, but nobody else measures up to Brad Faxon. Boros has the major championship and more titles, but Fax has made a bigger impact overall. Tim Geary is a freelance writer with over 33 years of experience, the last 24 of which he served as a sports writer for the Fall River Herald News, before retiring last October. He contributes to several golf magazines on a regular basis.
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