September/October 2015 by New England Golf Monthly

Island Paradise:

The Abaco Club

There are two kinds of tropical getaways. The first involves checking into a 600-room hotel where sunburned vacationers jockey for position in the breakfast buffet line with pale casino-goers fresh from a night at the tables. These are the mega-resorts, where you can commune with dolphins, take cooking classes with celebrity chefs, relive the ‘90s in pulsating discotheques, and if you’re lucky, stake out your own, private lounge chair poolside and sip drinks with umbrellas in ‘em. 2 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | Sept. / Oct. 2015

The other kind of island vacation is a quieter, more self-indulgent affair, where the focus is on leaving the stress of the modern world behind, relaxing in the sun on an unspoiled beach, and interrupting your tanning schedule only long enough to play some golf or do a bit of snorkeling. The Abaco Club is most decidedly the latter kind of destination. Situated on a picturesque island in The Bahamas, The Abaco Club doesn’t even have a hotel. In fact, it’s not really even a resort. It’s a private, international sporting club, where members and residents from all over the world come to escape the rigors of everyday life and kick back in a setting of unmatched luxury and beauty. But even though it’s a very private place, you can visit it and enjoy the Club as a guest. The Abaco Club is situated on the most charming of The Bahamas’ Outer Islands—Great Abaco—and is graced by a 2-mile powder-soft beach that stretches as far as the eye can see. It’s easy to get to from New England, with connecting

flights into Abaco’s Marsh Harbour Airport from Miami, West Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale. The Club’s Scottish-style links golf course is a real stunner and is perennially ranked as the finest in The Bahamas. Water sports galore also vie for your time—from kayaking, sailing and snorkeling to bonefishing and deep-sea fishing. Visiting the spa, tennis courts or fitness center are other invigorating options. Cap it off all with an open-air lunch at Buster’s Beach Bar, or the exquisite local cuisine offered daily at The Cliff House, and you have a place no one ever wants to leave. Fortunately, if you decide to become a club member or homeowner there, you won’t have to. The island residences at The Abaco Club are magnificent, and range from cozy cabanas and charming cottages to grand oceanfront estates. It’s an atmosphere of quiet sophistication, where you, your family and friends can enjoy total relaxation when you want it—and a wealth of activities when the spirit moves you. In short, it’s Paradise with a capital P.

For more information or to book your Abaco Club vacation, visit theabacoclub.com

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FROM THE EDITOR

A Tribute to Golf Champions and Golf Families Jackie Kennedy once said,” If you bungle raising your kids, I don’t think anything else you do matters very much” The structure of the American family has changed so drastically in the last 50 years it’s hard to recognize the actual family unit anymore. With a world full of distractions and a society that preaches total individuality we have evolved into something almost none of us who are over 40 recognizes as a family today. This Issue is dedicated to Champions and is also our Women’s Golf Issue. It is fitting that they share the limelight because without one, there would not be the other. Golfing families throughout all levels of the game have sustained something that is rare in the world today, a commonality, a love and a passion for the game of golf that binds them together and keeps them connected. This year at The Deutsche Bank Championship the well-known New England Bradley family came together to cheer on Keegan, Hall of Fame golfer aunt Pat, golf pro and dad Mark, Keegan’s mom Kaye and upwards of 25 additional members of Keegan’s family made the trek to TPC Boston. Mark Bradley will tell you, “ golf, has been the glue that has held our family together through all the twists and turns of life”. So it is fitting that in this issue that we honor the champions of this great game. The mothers, fathers, sons and daughters that share this great game that is timeless and bigger than us all, they are all winners. For golf has found a way to do something that for decades has not been accomplished, unite the American family to one common cause, golf. Congratulations to all the champions and to all the families that play the game of golf. Golf is a game to be shared with others. Take the time to bring the game of golf to your family and instead of gathering around some electronic device indoors, hit the links and play a game that has united generations for decades. Families that play together, stay together. Pay it Forward / Pass it On / Share The Game

Timothy R. Branco Editor/ Publisher

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The Bradley Family

NEW ENGLAND GOLF MONTHLY

GOLF FASHION 19 GFW Staff / Female Fashion Guide

GOLF TRAVEL 26 Couple of Travelers / Top 10 Couples Destinations

PRIVATE GOLF 32 Greg Sampson / NEGM Pro-Am at Valley Country Club

WOMENS GOLF COURSES 40 Pam Borges / Best New England Women’s Courses 52 Schwesig & Ebrecht / Bostom Courses for Women

INTERVIEWS 60 Leigh McKay / Annika Sorenstam 64 Leigh McKay / Keegan Bradley

CHAMPIONS OF THE GAME 68 Tim Branco / Professionals from the Region 72 Steve Riggs / Amateur Players of the Year

TINKERS NEST 77 Ed Travis / Fairway Woods & Hybrids

GORMAN VS GEARY 92 Gorman & Geary / Women’s Masters at Augusta?

CONTENTS

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GOLF COURSE LIVING // BY KATHERINE DYSON

Fairways Lifestyle Top Places where Family Life & Golf is Great Let’s take the Grassmore family. Dad plays golf, mom plays golf, the two kids are into it too and even grandma, grandpa and Aunt Gert can swing a mean hybrid. The Grassmores gather around the tube on Sundays when they can to watch the tour players down the home stretch. They have their favorites of course — grandpa is always rooting for the “old guys” like Davis Love III and the kids are split between Tiger and Spieth while mom keeps reminding her hubby how much he can learn by watching the ladies. The Grassmores are your ultimate golfing family. Last year they vacationed in Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico where there are three courses plus a PGA TOURAcademy not to mention a super resort with a wonderful beach. Perfect for the Grassmores. Now the family is looking for a place they can live and not surprisingly, one of their criteria is good golf. Here are Ten Top Places where family life is good and golf is great. THE GREENBRIER SPORTING CLUB, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia Living | This private club with 15 neighborhoods is located on the grounds of The Greenbrier in the foothills of the Alleghenies. Each home has a lot of space, even the “cottages” have close to 3,000 square feet. An Ar-

chitectural Review Board oversees new home design so it’s an attractive neighborhood with a lot of character. Family-Friendly | Activities include all those offered by The Greenbrier resort such as skating, game room, hiking and biking trails, tennis, horseshoes, horseback riding, fly-fishing, hunting, naturalist programs, climbing and rappelling, basketball, volleyball, dining and childrens programs. Sport Club members have access to The Summit, a Sports Complex with

a 25-foot climbing wall, state-of-the-art Cybex equipment, personal trainers, ASB squash courts, yoga and fitness classes and heated outdoor infinity pool. Greenbrier Summit Village, the newest neighborhood has a miniature golf course, Activities Barn and infinity pool. Of the planned 500 residences, most sell close to $1 million and above. Lots start in the mid-$100,000s. Golf | There are three courses at The Greenbrier (The Greenbrier, The Old White TPC and The Meadows) plus there is the members’ Tom Fazio-designed Snead course, two lodges and spa. The Greenbrier Golf Academy has an extensive practice area—even an uneven lies ground—plus a building with six hitting bays, classrooms, putting areas and tech analysis tools. Thegreenbriersportingclub.com RIO SECCO GOLF CLUB: SEVEN HILLS, Nevada Living | Almost in sight of the high-rise glitz of Las Vegas, Seven Hills and the Rio Secco Golf Course in Henderson is a luxurious master-planned community where streets wind through avenues of trees and flowers. Tiletopped homes built at the base of the Black Mountain range, reveal spectacular views of the Las Vegas Valley and many of the Seven Hill’s neighborhoods are gated with prices

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GOLF COURSE LIVING Frederica, a community providing seclusion and the sporting life. You might just rub elbows with golfing greats who live here like Davis Love III, Brandt Snedeker, Zach Johnson and Matt Kuchar.

ranging from the low $200,000s to $6 million. Family | Amenities include hundreds of acres of open space, sprawling family parks, tennis courts and walking paths. Golf | The Rio Secco course designed by Rees Jones rolls out to a challenging 7,400 yards but with four tees, is attractive for golfers of all skill levels. Six holes run through steep canyons, six ride over a plateau overlooking the city and six are laid over a broad desert wash. There is also a 37,000 square foot clubhouse and a Butch Harmon teaching facility offering 1-3 day clinics. This area has many other excellent courses that are open to the public including the two tracks at Lake Las Vegas. Riosecco.net

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Sea Island, Georgia Living | You cross a couple of bridges to get to St. Simons Island where many of the PGA Tour pros live with their families. Sea Island Company has a 600 private home cottage colony on Sea Island, Ocean Club Residences and several exclusive communities on neighboring St. Simons Island, including offerings at

Family | Here there are pine forests, oaks, marshes and stunning vistas of the sea. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an easy, laid-back coastal lifestyle with boating, beach, good schools, a huge network of cycling and walking paths plus several restaurants, mom and pop stores and plenty of golf. In addition to Junior Golf Camps, the instruction at the Sea Island Golf Performance Center includes customized instruction for all ages. Golf | Golf year-round on three courses Plantation, Seaside and Retreat that have received

updates from Davis Love III and Tom Fazio and ramp up your game at the Sea Island Golf Performance Centerâ&#x20AC;¨ covering five core areas: long game, short game, fitness, club fitting, and mental game. There is also an excellent club-fitting facility and fitness evaluations. Seaislandpc.com

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GOLF COURSE LIVING // BY KATHERINE DYSON Ryder Courses and improve your game at The PGA Learning Center. It has all the learning tools and practice facilities you will ever need like high-tech virtual playing simulator, Sirgul 180, Trackman, more than 100 Full-Swing Practice Stations, nine practice bunkers, pitching and chipping practice areas, 7,000 square feet of practice putting greens and a three-hole Teaching Course as well as a 6-hole Short Course. For a dose of the past, browse the Historical

PORT ST. LUCIE: PGA VILLAGE, Florida Living | Residents of the estate homes in Verano, a private gated community near the PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance, receive a social membership in the PGA Golf Club and access to the three exceptional designer courses. Two bedroom single story villas in the Bella Vista Collection ranging from 1,416 to 1,809 square fee are priced from $159,00; larger Venezia single family homes start at $258,000; and the Palermo Collection with three bedrooms and den are from $352,900. Family | You live close to Florida’s east coast beaches while on site there is an indoor lap pool and outdoor pool, tennis courts, fitness center and the Club Talavera. Golf | Tee up at Pete Dye’s links-style track and Tom Fazio’s Wanamaker and

Center with its extensive golf reference library. MISSION INN, Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida Living | The charming enclave that is the Mission Inn resort about 20 miles northwest of Orlando, has long been a getaway for those who want a quiet escape to an old Florida landscape. Now you can live this life too away from the gridlock and tourism hype by mov-

ing into a Mission Inn home. There are condos and club homes with up to 2,600 square feet including golf cart garages and there

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are larger custom fairway and estate homes. Architecture is classic Spanish Colonial with red tiled roofs, courtyards and mellow stucco walls. Life here is serene, quiet while two grand golf courses are just out the door.

Family | Life here centers on golf but the beautiful natural areas invite residents to fish, boat, bike, hike and play tennis. If the kids want a “mouse fix” it only about a half hour to Disney. There are several schools in the Lake County system as well. Golf | Play El Campeon, one of the oldest courses in Florida (1917) and the newer Las Colinas (1992). El Campeon, named the “Florida Course of the Year by the National Golf Course Owners Association (2009), rolls over some unFlorida-like hilly terrain, going over water and around dog legs skirting old trees and ponds. Las Colinas is pretty, flatter and more open and at times is routed between houses.

Instruction ranges from clinics and lessons to multi-day schools and elite junior programs from the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy lead by world-renowned instructor Gary Gilchrist. NEMACOLIN WOODLANDS, Farmington, Pennsylvania Living | Situated in the rugged Laurel Highlands Mountains, Nemacolin Woodlands was once a vast private game reserve and summer playground for the wealthy from Pittsburgh. Today it’s still a classy retreat, but now you can play golf on two superb courses, ride horses, play miniature golf, enjoy the spa and explore the outdoors. Most of the homes and condos available are resales, some at less than $100,000. Family | Kids are sure to enjoy the resort’s Adventure Center where they can race the duel zip lines on the Fatbird Superflyer, take the thrilling 40 foot Fatbird Canopy Tour and be challenged by the elevated Ropes Course

and Climbing Wall. Older folks can hone their driving skills in the Jeep Off-Road Diving Academy and unwind in the Spa and the resort’s pools. There’s even a Little Tykes Rope

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Course, Target Paintball and acres of trails to hike and bike. Golf | Tee up on The Links, Nemacolin Woodlands’ recently renovated original golf course where rocks and water come into play along with deep woods and snaggly rough. Or play the newer Pete Dye-designed Mystic Rock punctuated by giant boulders, Saharalike bunkers and wickedly undulating greens. Both courses reveal stunning views of the Alleghenies. On site is the Nemacolin Golf Academy. 800-422-2736; nemacolin.com • PGA Experiences’ TourAcademy: Another way to find to a great place to live and play is to pick one of the TOURAcademy locations where you are sure to get a full menu of ways to learn and improve your golf skills. These academies are located at prestigious golf course destinations, many of them TPC courses like TPC Sawgrass, The Old White TPC at The Greenbrier, TPC Scottsdale, TPC Las Vegas, TPC San Antonio, TPC Dorado Beach plus Tiburon with two fine courses by Greg Norman in Naples, Florida and World Golf Village. Touracademy.com Other golf-rich destinations include Doral, Florida, home of the Jim McLean Golf School at Trump National Doral; Palm Springs, California where a Golf Made Simple school is found at the SilverRock Resort; The Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia in the Phoenix, Arizona area another Golf Made Simple school location; Reynolds Plantation where top instructor Charlie King heads up the Three Day Essentials of Golf School covering every aspect of the game, both physical and mental; and Kingsmill in Virginia offering three designer courses.

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For more information or to book your Abaco Club vacation, visit theabacoclub.com

Island Paradise:

The Abaco Club

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GOLF FASHION WEEKLY

’s Golf Fashion Guide n a m o W by Paul Mignosa

The Antigua Spring 2016 Women’s Performance Collection combines polyester and spandex incorporating beautiful jewel tones in the color palettes, unique prints and the continuation of successful silhouettes to highlight the ensembles. “Spring 2016″ is a full collection, with emphasis on light to mid-weight overtops and outerwear pieces. All fabrics and said silhouettes have been tour-tested by their staff of LPGA players, including Stacy Lewis. Check out www.antigua.com for more information.

Bermuda Sands strives for comfortable clothing that is styled so strongly that being fashionable is almost effortless. Bermuda Sands apparel are created from 100% Wick Away Micro Fiber Polyester and a Mini-Tex Knit Fabric to keep you dry and feel soft. Additionally, the tops use UPF 15+ in order to protect you from the sun. While wearing Bermuda Sands, you will always be 100% confident on the course as well as off of it feeling sophisticated and feminine. Visit www.bermudasandsapparel.com to pick your outfit out today!

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GOLF FASHION WEEKLY

Callaway With plenty of space for your tees and scorecard thanks to its three-pocket design, the Callaway Women’s Golf Performance Printed 18-Inch Knit Skort provides an Opti-Shield barrier against the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays and also has Opti-Dri fabric that aids in moisture evaporation. Set off by an attractive mock collar, the Callaway Women’s Golf Nordic Polo has an Opti-Shield barrier against the sun’s ultraviolet rays, as well as Opti-Dri that transfers moisture away from your body to aid in evaporation. The women’s adapt jacket is 100% polyester with detachable sleeves to make for your swings to never be interrupted by the jacket. Visit www.callawayapparel.com for more information.

Catherine Wingate Postcards from Paris is their Fall 2015 collection that is inspired by all things French. France is a leader in the fashion industry, so they thought it would be fun to put together a collection in honor of that. It is for the chic, stylish golfer who is maybe a little more fashion forward. The color pallet consists of cream, black, and a soft ballet pink. It includes three customized prints exclusive to this collection include abstract prints, but up close reveals the Eiffel Tower throughout. In the French Calligraphy print, fun sayings in French throughout, such as “Happy women play golf.” Check out www.catherinewingate-apparel.com to see for yourself.

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GOLF FASHION WEEKLY

Chase 54 is a brand known for pursuing perfection when incorporating both performance and style into their pieces. Chase 54â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new Fall 2015 collection does exactly this as seen in the Marta, a sleeveless shirt with a hidden snap placke and princess seams making it stretchy with a flattering fit. The Marta has UPF +40 protection and DRYFUZE technology ensuring you stay cool and dry both on and off the course. The Sucre will soon become one of you favorite items, this hooded jacket has soft DRYFUZE poly spandex with 4 way stretch mobility and perforated diamonds for ventilation. The Shamva skort is both practical, with hidden pockets at the waistband perfect for scorecards and yardage book, and stylish thanks to the inner knit short seam and gorgeous pattern.

Fairway Fox is perfectly labeled to mimic the way a female should feel when wearing the brand. Regardless of the season, each look is refreshingly glamorous. The dresses may easily be worn out on the town without anyone ever realizing that the back pocket is meant for a yardage book and a score card. The skirts, shorts, and cute, sleeveless polos could likewise pass as perfectly tailored attire for a Sunday luncheon. The entire line of Fairway Fox golf apparel in general exudes performance, style, and luxury in every way. There is an inner Fox in every female golfer just waiting for the right outfit to strut down the fairway. Unleash yours at www.fairwayfox.com . Certain outfits may also be found for online purchase at www.Zappos.com . (By Alicia Moon)

Need to Know What To Wear On and off The Golf Course in 2015?

GOLF FASHION WEEKLY

EP Pro is classics re-imagined: truly timeless styling that is modern in its sensibility, clean in its inspirations, and unique in detail. The Tour Tech Mesh Piped & Blocked Polo offers distinctive piping that makes this performance mesh polo flattering, sporty, and active! The Micro Texture Embossed Vest gives a subtle sheen. The contrast trims and angled seaming are both figure flattering and graphic! The Bargello Print Skort is just plain fun! The clean lines let the Print do all the talking! EP Pro offers styling that transcends from the course to the clubhouse and beyond. Follow EP Pro on the web www.eppro.com and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram “epprogolf”.

EP Sport is strong, confident, sporty and chic: dynamic active wear that’s inspired by golf.” For the modern woman and her spirited lifestyle, EP Sport represents the best in performance, style, function and comfort. The EP Sport Chromatic collection for Fall 2015 is all about high impact color and bold statement making confidence! Make sure to fill your closet with the bright colors of Brilliant Blue and Orange Crush. Follow EP Sport on the web www. eppro.com and on Facebook & Instagram “epsport” & Twitter at “ep_sport”.

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GOLF FASHION WEEKLY

SwingDish is the vision on Tricia Covel. Her love of golf inspired her to create a collection that is functions, feminine and fun. Classic elegance matches the trendiest shades for this creation. The Signature sleeveless polo has classic lines with hidden front pockets. Three jewels align the front and back of neck & will get attention on the green or out to lunch. Their Bermuda’s are cleaned lined with 2 front pockets & 2 back pockets. With a ball marker on the front belt loop, this is what you call style & convenience. Their signature skort is great for any sport & age. Hidden drawstrings at the hem create a flattering look. The jewels on the front will sparkle as much as your game. This is a classic look for every day wear. Make sure you visit www.swingdish.net to get your styles today!

If Tail Activewear isn’t already on your golf fashion radar, they should be. Tail features a mass array of cute collections for women with equally alluring titles, from Oceanside Jewel and Botanical Bliss to Royal Playoff and Heritage Champion. Celebrate the coming of cooler weather and turning leaves in Tail’s soon to be released Cosmic Allure! Tail understands the importance of “form meets function”. Tail’s designers are used to creating flattering, chic apparel that is also athletically designed. The durable stretch fabrics for golf bottoms especially are of superb quality and meant to shape a woman’s form perfectly. Visit www.tailactivewear.com to pick and choose various styles and colors that will make you stand out over the rest. (By Alicia Moon)

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COUPLE OF TRAVELERS

Ten Great

Couples Destinations By Alice & Danny Scott

Great golf destinations for couples include more than the links to share. Here we reflect on ten around the continent, starting up north. Prince Edward Island, PEI is Canada’s storybook island. The precocious Anne of Green Gables’ home borders one of over 30 fabulous courses all within half an hour of one another. The Delta Hotel on the marina of Charlottetown is a perfect place to stay with spacious rooms viewing the harbor full of yachts, sails, and activities. Entertainment, shops and restaurants are all in walking distance. Musicians serenade diners al fresco at the sidewalk cafes on Victoria Row. PEI mussels are world famous and available on

most 19th hole menus along with fresh oysters. The Top Notch Lobster Tour is a fun and tasty boat cruise. While the whole island is something to crow about, Crowbush Cove Golf Course stands out. Number 16 sprawls along the ocean leading to the 17th tee box where steps lead to a “crow’s nest” for a 360-degree bird’s eye view of the island. www.golfpei.com. Cape Cod is no slouch when it comes to Atlantic seafood. Just check out the oyster

farms, like in East Dennis after playing the Highlands and Pines Courses. Or head to “The Brewster Flats” whose beaches were just named #3 of America’s Most Beautiful

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COUPLE OF TRAVELERS

is seaside golf like no other with views of the Sinepuxent Bay and Assateague National Seashore. Whether the tide is in or out, no-

Coastal Views in Travel and Leisure. Stay and play at the Ocean Edge, then move on to Captains Golf for two 18-hole layouts, Port and Starboard. In South Yarmouth, the award winning par 3, Blue Rock Golf Club hones the short game. Harwich harbors Cranberry Bogs and Cranberry Valley Golf while Bass River Golf in Yarmouth is one of the oldest on the cape. Stop by the JFK museum in Hyannis or the Pirate Museum in eclectically cool Provincetown. Consider antiquing and stop to admire the deep blue hydrangeas along the way. Grab a beach pass and sail, fish or paddleboard all along the coast. Beware that ferries to Martha’s Vineyard are weather dependent. We needed a mulligan for that one. www. capecodchamber.org

Ocean City, Maryland is on our to go list. The Boardwalkers Club is in the news for daily raising flags to patriotic music. We want to raise our glasses to them and the 17 area championship courses. The architects are a who’s who of the golfing world. Jack Nicklaus’s Bayside Resort and Peninsula Golf and CC and Arthur Hills highly rated Links at Lighthouse Sound plus Dye, Gary Player, Jim Furyk, and Robert Trent Jones designs all hug the Eastern Seaboard. Eagle’s Landing

body’s crabby in OC and the crab houses are delightful. From the Kite Festival to the White Marlin Open, there is always something going on with the option of doing absolutely nothing on the beach. Conclude the day with breathtaking bay front dining, a stroll on the world famous Boardwalk, fireworks and a laser show. View the webcam at www.ococean.com Palmetto Dunes Ocean Front Resort is a village of homes away from home on Hilton Head Island. Biking is a big deal here for families, couples and singles, many who have not pedaled in years. If in a quandary over whether to bike or golf, you can do

both at the same time with the new Golf Bike. After playing all 3 courses, Arthur Hills, Jones and Fazio with the Golf Bike, it’s hard to go back to the cart or walking. Kayakers paddle by on the resort’s 11-mile inland salt-water lagoon system. Try it for a fish eye view of the courses. The fun factor perme-

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COUPLE OF TRAVELERS ates all 2,000 acres of Palmetto Dunes Resort with 25 USTA sanctioned tennis courts and three miles of sandy beachfront for strolling, bodysurfing and dolphin watching. Ela’s Blu Water Grille in Shelter Cove Harbour is perched with a balcony view of water activities including the water jet pack, ala Jetson’s cartoon style. Big Jim’s Restaurant and General Store make Palmetto Dunes a village. www.palmettodunes.com

PGA Village in St. Lucie, Florida is found on Perfect Drive, lined with pin oaks, palmettos and pines. The PGA Historical Center is a fantastic golf museum, displaying the Ryder Cup, Donald Ross’ 1900’s workbench and much more. Admission is free but the exhibits and trivia are priceless. Sam Snead

restaurant is a great tribute to the legendary namesake. A photo hangs of Sam with Andy Griffith, toting birds after a hunting expedition. Just 30 minutes from the beach, The PGA Village is a destination for every true golfer. Flat like Florida’s overall terrain, the wide fairways of the Ryder course are lined with nicely landscaped homes. The Pete Dye course is more challenging, with his expected fairway undulations. Everglades or marshland frame the course. Afternoon play on Wanamaker was a case of saving the best for last. A gorgeous, intriguing course, with natural water hazards, elevation and pot bunkers on steroids, Wanamaker resulted in higher scores and big-

ger thrills. We “wanna” go back for more. www.pgavillage.com In Lake County, Florida shines a gem, Mission Inn Resort & Club at Howey-in-the-Hills.

Yes, Central Florida really does have varied elevations where sand cranes reign and ospreys return to nest. El Campeon is the signature course at Mission Inn with surprises at every turn, like beautiful florals and a stone target on 17 that came into focus taking the shape of an actual alligator. He lifted his head, swinging his mighty tail. We hightailed it to the carts and he slid into the water with a toothy grin. The Gary Gilchrist academy creates champions on and off the course, implementing a holistic approach with mental and fitness training. Volleyball, basketball courts, bikes and even El Cazador (hunter in English) Trap & Skeet Range round out the sports. Water lovers can slip into the Marina del Rey. Five restaurants serve great food, the ultimate being La Hacienda’s seafood buffet. The second Las Colinas course and nearby Bella Colina with a setting that exudes Tuscan ambience complete the golf scene. www.missioninnresort.com In Point Clear, Alabama, a former confederate hospital is now the elegant Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa. A cannon firing ceremony salutes sailors of past and present every day. Boardwalks link a fishing wharf, stocked with bait and poles, to a marina, a soft sandy beach, an elaborate pool, an unsurpassed spa and The Robert Trent Jones Trail’s Lakewood Golf Club. Course excavation was delayed by the revelation of skeletons to be researched and documented. Perseverance prevailed. Spanish moss laces oak trees lining a triumphant design along spring fed lakes and streams. Conditions are outstanding. The Steak House at the Grand Hotel serves an exquisite dinner. Cuisine is not a sidebar to

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COUPLE OF TRAVELERS

Alabama golf, rather a main attraction. Fresh sea catches abandon the southern fried stigma. In Bubba Gump’s home territory, the shrimp stands tall. Oysters too are a specialty served cooked and raw on the half shell. www.marriottgrand.com

Arizona is our wintertime Home Sweet Home. Fly to Phoenix’ Sky Harbor International airport and join the fun in the valley of the sun with over 300 golf courses and much more to explore, from the Mexican border to the Grand Canyon. The luxurious Fairmont Scottsdale Princess’ Willow Stream spa features a Havasupai waterfalls al fresco, and rooftop pool facing Camelback Mountain. Next-door is the TPC Stadium Golf Course, home to the Phoenix Open, famous for its football stadium style, rowdy 16th hole. Javelinas (wild desert boars) graze on prickly pear cactus on the SunRidge Canyon course as well as at The Boulders in Carefree, an iconic desert resort with 36 holes and casitas. Tubac was a favorite of the Duke, John Wayne and now a favorite of ours, made famous by the movie Tin Cup. Notah Begay’s Sewailo is a stellar course in Tucson while Los Caballeros at Wickenburg Ranch combines golf with cowboy/girl horse rides and skeet shooting. Restaurants, nightclubs, and sports venues abound while desert serenity and scenery astound throughout the state. www.visitarizona.com Southern California has the perfect climate year round to enjoy golf, sand and surf. While Sea World and Disneyland draw millions of visitors, we like to escape the long lines. Oceanside’s Spring Hill Marriott

across the street from the longest pier in California is affordable and close to many courses. Stand up paddle boarding in the harbor works muscles you never knew you had while communing with sea lions and pelicans. The Resort at Pelican Hill Newport Beach has invented a new form of B&B – Bentleys and Butlers. Homey single bedrooms are plush with cushy balcony lounges to watch vessels sail the ocean blue or play 36 holes. www.pelicanhill.com At Monarch Beach a Waterman Caddy assists with golf and surf butlers take the hard part out of surfing, getting you up and riding in a short time. A Champagne Sabering ceremony is performed every evening by the St. Regis Butlers in preparation for dining at one of six restaurants all with a panorama of the Pacific. www.stregismb.com The Four Seasons Manele Bay in Lana’i, Hawaii is perhaps the most romantic golf destination. Bill and Melinda Gates wed on the 12th tee box where they recently renewed their 20-year vows. Jack Nicklaus’ Manele Bay delivers magical moments for everyone and all 18 holes view the Pacific

Ocean. The 19th hole is even named Views. One step into the Four Seasons changes your world with the exhilarating, open Ocean scene. An attendee guides you to your room along a path of lush gardens, streams and koi ponds. The Holo’poe Bay below is an archeological site and a marine preserve. Lounge chairs are padded with fresh towels and snorkel gear is available. Go on your own or let Tuma lead a snorkel safari. He dives and scouts for creatures of the deep, surfacing with an urchin or sea cucumber. Spinner dolphins dance and twirl, performing their own Cirque du Soleil. Poolside ukelele lessons bring out the Don Ho within each of us. Aloha! www.fourseasons.com/manelebay

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Golf Ocean Cit y, Maryland Ocean City Maryland

At OceanCityGolf.com, you can plan and book your next golf getaway to Ocean City, Maryland 24 hours a day, seven days a week. With 17 championship courses designed by the legends of the game, great golf is just the beginning. Add miles of beach and boardwalk, exciting nightlife and excellent dining, Ocean City, MD is the ultimate golf getaway. Book your golf trip today by visiting OceanCityGolf.com or call (800) 4-OC-GOLF.

2 Nights, 3 Rounds Starting: Spring / F Weekday all s$ Weekend 153 s $175

“Great Golf is Just the Beginning” Ocean City, Maryland www.OceanCityGolf.com 30 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | Sept. / Oct. 2015

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PRIVATE GOLF PRO-AMATEUR

FranQuinnWins4thAnnual New England Golf Monthly Pro-Amateur At Valley Country Club

Warwick, RI - The 4th annual Pro-Am Tournament hosted by New England Golf Monthly was held on Wednesday, September 2nd at the Valley Country Club in Warwick, Rhode Island. The tournament was presented by the Law offices of Ronald J. Resmini and Micro Tech Staffing benefited the John P. Burke Fund and featured one of the best professional fields in the region with current and past PGA, Champions & Web.com Tour Players as well as State Open Champions playing for a $10,000 purse. “Valley Country Club is honored to showcase our top rated private course each year to some of the best playing professionals in the region and provide such an enjoyable day for our members, President of Valley Country Club, Jeff Chase stated. “The tournament raised $1380 for the John P. Burke Scholarship Fund, which provides

financial aid to qualified candidates, who have worked in golf to assist them in receiving a college degree. We can’t wait for next years event.” The pristine conditions and tricky pin placements kept the winning low pro score to a 3 under par 69 shot by Fran Quinn who had a $4500 pay day. A score of 70 finished in a six way tie for 2nd which included RIGA legends/ VCC Members, Dr. George Pirie and Michael Soucy as the low amateurs. Team John Conelly shot minus 18 to take home the low net honors and Team Dana Quigley ran away with low gross carding a minus 9 score to win by 4 shots. Following the round the pros all went back to the 6th tee for the SwingOil Beer Closest to the Pin while the amateur participants watched and cheered them on. This was also won by Fran Quinn who graciously donated the prize money back to the Burke Fund. The event concluded with awards and hors d’oeuvres in the clubhouse followed by many laughs down at Valley’s beautiful tiki bar. Thank you again to the players, sponsors and executive board of Valley Country club for yet another wonderful event. For tournament scores and photos visit mynegm.com/ valleyproam. If you are interested in holding a NEGM pro-Am at your course please contact Greg Sampson at 800-736-9020 or greg@nepubinc.com.

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PRIVATE GOLF WOMENS GOLF COURSES

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FAMILY GOLF

A Family Who Plays Together, Stays Together Get your whole family involved in golf

If you are a keen golfer, it makes sense to think that you would want your family to share a love of the sport with you. There are many different benefits to getting involved in golf â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it might not be the most physically demanding activity out there, but it exercises the brain and sense of perception. It strengthens drive, focus, mental acuity, and the ability to make informed judgments. It is also a really fun sport to get involved with. It is a lot more social than a sport such as football or basketball because the nec-

essary breaks between bouts of activity are ideal for chatting and catching up with friends and fellow players. For a family, it can be an exciting and engaging way to spend time together. The question is, how do you go about getting your whole family involved in golf? This can be tricky at first, especially if your kids have never played before and are not familiar with the sport. It should not be too difficult to convince them to join you on a wonderfully vast and open expanse of green grass, however, so bundle the family into the car and get them down to the nearest course. Go locol for golf at a miniature course It should come as no surprise to find that the best way to foster an interest in golf among little ones is to take them down to a colorful and exciting miniature golf course. With spinning windmills, hungry dinosaurs, winding ramps, and challenging obstacles, mini golf is designed to turn the sport into something a little

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FAMILY GOLF

faster paced than usual. It is ideal for keeping young kids interested in playing golf. Invite their friends to play with you If your kids or your partner are having trouble understanding the rather charming social aspects of playing golf, you could always allow them to invite their pals over for a few rounds at the nearest course. You can hit some balls, teach them some putting techniques, and they can get into the swing of things – pun definitely intended. This is a good way to show your family that there

is a real sense of society and community associated with golf. Invest in the right equipment and clothing It can sometimes be the case that a negative encounter with sport occurs because a person simply does not have the right equipment, tools, or clothing. For example, if you tried to get into cross-country running without the right footwear, you could end up spraining an ankle and vowing never to try it again. This is why it is important to pick up the right stuff for golf, and this includes the right footwear and clothing. They do not have to be expensive or hi-tech. Watch a PGA Tour on the television If you are trying to instill a bit of interest for the sport in your kids and partner, why not sit down and watch a PGA Tour event with them? In fact, this is one of the simplest and fastest ways to get kids excited about playing for real. If they do develop a keen interest in watching the events on television, you can bring out the Nintendo Wii and challenge them to a game on Wii Sports. If they get good at that, it is time to take them out to play for real. The trick is to show your family (particularly your children) that golf does not have to be a dull activity. If you really do want to make golf a sport that you share with your family, you need to make sure that they always have a great time playing it. This means working towards their strengths, so resist the temptation to get overly competitive with a child – make it more about having fun than winning. You should relish the opportunity to celebrate when they do really well, but do not force too much structured play too soon or too fast – instead, make it clear that time spent out on the golf course means fun, excitement, interaction, open spaces, and a real sense of freedom. Pass it On / Pay it Forward

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GOLF TRAVEL

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WOMENS GOLF COURSES

TOPWOMEN-FRIENDLY GOLFCOURSES&RESORTS INNEWENGLAND By Pam Borges It’s a great feeling to arrive at a golf course and be greeted by a welcoming staff and see a plethora of women’s apparel and accessories in their pro-shop. A welcoming atmosphere and well-stocked pro-shop with women’s golf gear sends the message, “We want you here!” However, there are more encompassing features that determine if a course is lady-friendly. Golf Digest’s panel of 100 female course raters emphasize that course design/layout, and tee options are the most important consideration. “The ideal layout should challenge long hitters yet offer an enjoyable round for average players.” Ideal would be at least two sets of tees with USGA course/slope ratings for women; one set of

tees no longer than 5,200 yards; few or no forced carries from the forward tees; flexible playing options (9-hole loops/rates); and availability of ladies’ leagues, instructional clinics, family programs that include children, couples and tournaments are attractive ingredients. High ranks are also awarded to courses that offer exceptional ambience, quality course conditions and great on-course facilities. Besides the aforementioned features, highly desirable resorts offer abundant amenities, variety of activities and entertainment. In surveying the numerous public access courses and golf resorts in the New England area, those represented here have stood out as favorites among women:

CONNECTICUT

a few short forced water carries; the par 3’s offer reachable greens off the tee. Garnishing the course are 49 recently renovated sodsided bunkers, adding to its beauty. Tees Rated for Women: Red 5,114, 70.7/124 Amenities | Practice facility—putting/ chipping greens, practice bunker ; Locker facilities with showers; 2 restaurants & patio; well stocked pro-shop with lots of golf gear for women; ladies, couples and 9 & Dine league; individual/group instructional clinics; 1st Tee Instructional Program for kids; junior golf camps/tournaments.

Richter Park GC | This municipal, awardwinning 18-hole gem, located in Danbury, CT, ranked one of the top 10 courses in CT (Golf Magazine) and Top 50 Public Courses for Women (Golf Digest). This scenic par 72 layout meanders around a reservoir providing glistening water views. The wide-open, undulating, tree-lined fairways provide a breathtaking, kaleidoscopic backdrop in autumn and large, shapely green complexes provide plenty of challenging putts. Water appears on 14 holes but carefully placed shots can avoid trouble. Ladies are challenged with

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Connecticut National GC | Located in Putnam, CT, this 18 hole par-71course, rated the top 25 in NE, offers spectacular views overlooking acres of state forest with expansive

WOMENS GOLF COURSES

views of the rolling valley below. Immersed in nature, most holes feature noticeable elevation changes, some with carries over deep ravines. Gently rolling fairways are framed with fescue covered mounding, giving a links feel. Mounding and bunkers guard many of the challenging sloped, multi-tiered greens. Water comes into play on 5 holes but alternate routing can avoid trouble. Women’s Tee Ratings: Gold —5,002, 69.2/119 Amenities: Full driving range, 4 target greens/chipping area with multiple bunkers; massive stone clubhouse with front porch seating overlooking 18th green; full service restaurant/bars with indoor/outdoor seating areas with tiki torches and fire pit; fully stocked pro-shop; array of affordable golf specials with cart & food voucher; weekly leagues/tournaments. RHODE ISLAND

ting pro-shop.

Midville GC | A 9-hole favorite among women, conveniently located in W. Warwick, RI, offers a quick, easy scoring round. Noted for their impeccable course conditions, floral plantings, wide fairways, variety of sloped fairways, several elevated greens and few forced carries. Women’s Tee Ratings: Blue—2,l90, 64.4/106 Amenities: Clubhouse with beverage/food service; ladies leagues; multiple online round specials. MASSACHUSETTS

Crystal Lake GC | Nestled in the peaceful countryside of Burrillville, RI, this semi-private 18-hole par 71 course plays alongside the pristine Crystal Lake, offering desirable ambience for golfers, weddings and outings. Rated “One of N.E.’s Top 100 Must Play Courses”, it features a variety of holes offering a mixture of downhill/uphill shots, wide-open fairways dotted by stone walls, elevated undulating greens and few forced carries from the forward tees. Women’s Tee Ratings: Red—4,854, 67.7/114 Amenities: Gorgeous clubhouse with fullservice tavern and waterfront multifunction room, member’s lounge overlooking outside deck and lake; lockers/showers; open-air lake pavilion for outings with swimming, fishing, outdoor games; weekly ladies’ leagues/tournaments; Nine & Dine Fridays; flexible rates, PGA private instruction; stocked custom-fit-

Chemawa GC | Tucked away in a quiet enclave in N. Attleboro, this exquisitely detailed and maintained 18 hole course is a longtime favorite among ladies. Greeted with a welcoming atmosphere and incredible ambience created by the multitude of unique floral plantings, ponds with soothing water fountains, arched bridges, babbling brooks,

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WOMENS GOLF COURSES

and birdhouses for yardage markers. The front nine’s straightforward layout and flat terrain is easy to navigate but demands accuracy on its tight fairways. The more wide-open back nine fascinates with its drastic elevation changes, sloping, rolling fairways and water hazards. Women’s Tee Ratings: Red—4,368, 64.6/109 Amenities: Clubhouse with food service; unique on-course restrooms with toiletries; ladies leagues; monthly specials; complimentary Mother’s Day golf for ladies; free ride for seniors during select times/summer months; complimentary iced bottle water/cold treats on hot summer days.

Farm Neck GC | Located on Martha’s Vineyard, a short ferry ride from Cape Cod, Farm Neck GC is situated on a peninsula of rolling farmland, overlooking Nantucket Sound. This 18-hole, par 72 course, voted the “Best Places to Play” by Golf Digest, has been a longtime favorite among presidents. Situated on acres of conservation land, it features striking variations of topography and vegetation with play meandering through woodlands, open meadows and salt marshes with stunning views of Nantucket Sound on 15 holes. It’s wide-open layout presents few forced carries from the forward tees. Women’s Tee Ratings: Red—4,987, 64.3/118; White—5,859, 74.6/132 Amenities: Full-service pro-shop; restaurant/cafe; practice range, chipping/putting areas; private instruction, ladies & junior clinics; monthly tournaments and mixed events. Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds GC | Located in Marston Mills, on Cape Cod, the property was formerly home of the Barnstable County Fair. Bordered by a conservation area, this municipal course offers a private course feel with its secluded setting and detailed, wellmaintained grounds. The impressive N.E. style

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clubhouse overlooks the 9th and 18th holes with gorgeous sunset views. Coined as the best walking course on the Cape, it has a variety of holes with an attractive, challenging layout featuring wide, rolling, fairways, large, undulating, tiered greens, with deceptive approaches. There are some forced carries over vegetation, but no water carries. Women’s Tee Ratings: Red—5,072, 69.1/119; Gold—5,414, 71.6/121 Amenities: Full-serve restaurant, sports lounge; fully stocked golf shop; practice range, putting/chipping areas, practice bunkers; weekly ladies’ club; ladies & mixed tournaments.

Blue Rock Golf & Resort | A charming and secluded getaway located in the heart of S. Yarmouth, Cape Cod. The resort overlooks its award-winning 18-hole, par 54, course, one of the “Top 10 Par-3 Courses” in the country. Meticulously maintained, its unique layout features elevation changes with four picturesque and challenging water holes including the 9th signature hole playing over water to a kidney-shaped green, voted one of “Cape Cod’s 18 Best Holes”. From the forward tees distances range from 81-188 yards, allowing

WOMENS GOLF COURSES

golfers to use a variety of clubs off the tee. Women’s Tee Ratings: Gold/Red—2,219, 56.4/83; Red—2,154, 55.8/80 Amenities: Balconied guest rooms; Outdoor heated pool; restaurant & bar lounge; private beach access @ Red Jacket Beach Resort; full service pro shop specializing in ladies’ apparel and custom-fitting center; practice range, 2 putting/chipping greens; ladies’ golf clinics; golf school (all ages) with PGA Professional; tournaments/group events—including annual parent-child tournament; stay & play packages. NEW HAMPSHIRE

The Oaks Golf Links | This new exquisitely manicured course, located in Somersworth, repeatedly ranks “Top 10 in NH” (Golfweek/ Golf Digest). One of the best maintained courses in NH, the unique 18-hole, par 71 layout features rolling fairways bordered by hardwoods, double doglegs, split fairways, sculpted sod-sided, bunkers and fast, smooth, well protected greens, contributes to challenging play. The facility has an outstanding instructional program for all ages, provided by the two PGA instructors on site. Women’s Tee Ratings: Gold—4,955, 69.7/112; Green—5,351, 67.4/115 Amenities: One acre practice range with flagged target greens, 9,000 sq.ft. putting green, chipping green with bunker; private/ group instruction, “Get Golf Ready” program for beginners, ladies clinics, Jr. golf program; 9 hole rates; ladies’ 18 & 9 hole leagues, couples league, 55+ league; fully stocked pro-shop with club fitting; clubhouse with full service dining inside or outside deck. Owl’s Nest Resort & GC | Located in NH’s

spectacular White Mountains, this semi-private 18-hole, par 72 golf club soars above others with its dramatic mountainous views, meticulous landscape and exceptional staff. Ranked “Top 100 Must Play Courses in NE” and “Top 5 Best Courses in NH” (Golfweek), its layout offers a variety of interesting holes with impressive elevation changes, particularly on the tough back nine. A mixture of wide-open and target-golf style fairways and sloped, tiered greens add to the challenging course play. Be ready for the ultimate 19th hole experience while dining in their clubhouse’s Sunset Room & Tavern, voted “Best Place to See a Sunset While Dining” ( NH Magazine). Women’s Tee Rating: Green—5,174, 70.0/120; Gold—5,686, 72.2/125 Amenities: Fully-stocked golf shop with large selection of ladies’ apparel/equipment; practice range with target flags, putting green; private instruction with 2 PGA instructors; ladies’ leagues/tournaments, monthly member socials; full-service restaurant; onsite townhouses/vacation rentals; outdoor heated pool, indoor exercise pool; fitness and game room. Atkinson Resort & CC | Tucked within 420 acres of exquisitely landscaped grounds is a state-of-the-art golf facility, wedding/functions & convention venue. Home of the Willowcreek Golf Academy and best practice facility in NE, the 18-hole, par 72 course was awarded “2015 NGCOA National Golf Course of the Year”. Meticulously manicured, the course offers incredible ambience featuring tree buffered fairways, sparkling water features, eye-popping floral plantings, rock gardens, creative stonework and covered bridges. Surprises crop up along the way…

Sept. / Oct. 2015 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 45

water hazards crossing fairways, ponds fronting greens, all creating a challenging round. A 9-hole par 3 course also graces the property and has earned the PGA Family Course designation. Relax and play in their two 19th hole venues…Merrill’s Tavern, offers breathtaking course views and game room with golf simulators and billiards…Stagecoach Grille features wood-fired culinary choices. Outdoor dining is available on the Woodlawn Terrace. The resort’s trademark is their awardwinning Sunday Brunch from mid-autumn to late spring. If you’re looking for an all inclusive venue to hone your skills, take lessons, with playing and food options, this is your one-stop venue. Women’s Tee Rating: (18) 4,867, 68.6/117; (9 par-3) 2,236 Amenities: 15,000 grass tee practice range, 65 yd. short game practice hole with bunkers, 12,000 sq.ft. putting greens, heated hitting bays, winterized driving range, indoor 3D golf simulators; full-service pro shop; 2 dining options; Fieldstone Suites; Stay & Play pkgs. VERMONT Woodstock Inn & Resort | Nestled in the lush hillsides of Kedron Valley sits the oldest course in VT… Woodstock GC, Keegan Brad-

ley’s home town course. This 18-hole, par 70 masterpiece features panoramic views of Mt. Peg, twisting fairways and water hazards on 12 holes. There are 4 ponds and 12 bridges

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that cross Kedron Brook, which meanders throughout the course and fronts 10 greens. This luxury resort, named “Top 100 Golf Resorts (Golf Magazine), is on the Conde Nast Traveler gold list. Known for their “bed & breakfast” experience, the Inn offers guest rooms with wood-burning fireplaces and handcrafted furniture. Women’s Tee Rating: Red—4,924, 69.0/113 Amenities: Driving range, chipping green, 9-hole putting green, pro-shop, lockers/showers, clubhouse grill & bar, private lessons/ clinics; Fitness & Racket Club—tennis, racquetball, indoor pool, steam room, sauna, LEED-certified spa; Nordic Center—scenic trails; stay & play packages. Stowe Mountain Resort | The new Stowe Mountain GC, listed among the “Top 50 Women-Friendly Courses” (Golf Digest) and

“Top 10 New Courses in US” (Golf Magazine), has recently ranked #2 overall “10 Best Offseason Resorts for Summer Adventure” worldwide (USA Today). The resort offers 36 holes of golf—18 holes at the restored Stowe CC, located in the village and the 18-hole, par 72 mountain course, which meanders along the slopes of Mt. Mansfield and Spruce Peak. Aside from the dynamic views from elevations of more than 1800’, the course’s memorable layout of rolling, sloping, serpentine fairways, buffered by hardwoods and bordered by stone outcroppings leave little room for error. Although a challenging tight course, the 3 ladies’ tee options increase playability for all skill levels. Adding to the resort’s exceptional status is the variety of activities available. Women’s Tee Ratings: 4,350, 67.4/112; 4,974, 68.8/112; 5,450, 72.4/135 Amenties: Indoor golf studio with state-ofthe-art technology for instruction/club fitting, weekly clinics, weekly ladies leagues, ladies’ night, Jr. golf program, custom apparel shop; Spa & Wellness Ctr.—fitness room, tennis, hiking; Zip-lining; Treetop Adventure; Gondola

Skyride; Summer Adventure Camp for kids; Performing Arts Center; multiple restaurant options & lodging; Stay & Play pkgs. MAINE Lake Province GC | Ranked #1 in NE and #19 in US for Women’s golf since 2005 (Golf Digest), this 18-hole, par 71 gem travels along the ME and NH border with magnificent views of Province Lake on 14 holes. The rolling terrain, stately hardwoods and colorful floral plantings that grace the course, add to its ambience. The front 9 holes feature generous fairways; whereas the fairways on the more distinctive, challenging back 9 are tighter with smaller landing areas and water hazards. Noted for promoting family golf, the

facility has six sets of tees to accommodate every age and skill level, family and junior golf rates, Jr. golf academy, pro-shop with gear for all ages, on-site child care and leagues for everyone. Open year-round they offer indoor winter golf leagues using golf simulators. Women’s Tee Ratings: Maple—4,169, 64.9/111; Hemlock—4,900, 68.8/121; Birch— 5,586, 73.0/129; Balsam—6,004, 74.2/132 Amenities: Extensive practice facility; restaurant, bar, deli with ice cream window; tees for youngsters/beginners; SNAG program for beginners; daily AM & PM ladies’ leagues, co-ed leagues, Fri. couples 9&Dine league; stay & play pkgs, on-site lodging. Point Sebago Golf Resort | One of Maine’s most famous family vacation spots is located on the shores of Sebago Lake. Point Sebago’s 18-hole championship course, recognized as “Best Golf Course in southern Maine, is laid out among 500 acres of white birch forest. A demanding course with lush, rolling, sloping, tight fairways, dotted by wetlands, ponds and undulating, sloped greens, provide ample risk/reward shots. The 775 acre, resort offers numerous recreational opportunities, highlighted by their 5-star daily activities program

and award-winning children’s program. A mile long beach, marina and cruise boat grace the property. Women’s Tee Rating: Red—4,866, 68.4/117 Amenities: Full-service practice facility, golf schools, clinics, weekly ladies/couples leagues and fun tournaments; beach, boat rentals, water sports; fishing, tennis, basket-

ball, volleyball, horseshoes, shuffleboard; lake view restaurant/lounge; daily entertainment—live music, theatrical plays, karaoke, DJ’s, pirate cruises; lodging, stay & play pkgs. Poland Springs Golf Resort This 500 acre vacation destination, listed on the National Register of Historical Places, has the oldest resort course in America. A Donald Ross 18-hole, par 71 design features scenic vistas of the White Mountains and lakes on most holes. Few forced carries add to its lady-friendly status. Bordered by thick wooded areas, sloped fairways lead to severely sloped, tiered greens. The resort boasts amazing sunsets and numerous, affordable recreational activities and lodging choices. Women’s Tee Ratings: 5,128, 64.2/111 Amenities: Golf Park—range, learning cen-

ter, clinics, golf shop, 9-hole Disc golf course, mini-golf; tennis, shuffleboard, bocci, badminton, fishing, boating, hike/bike trails, exercise room; restaurants/lounges, gift shop, nightly entertainment, shuttle to Oxford Casino; stay & play pkgs.

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50 Golf Course Road, East Dennis, MA

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Blue Rock Golf Course, South Yarmouth

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WOMENS GOLF COURSES

Women’sGolf TrailBoston:TheBeginning By Evianne Netherwood-Schwesig and Laura Ebrecht

It’s hard to pinpoint the genesis of an interest in golf, but it had been a slow burn for many years, the desire to take up the sport did not manifest itself in an overnight decision. With an old reputation for exclusive clubs catering to wealthy, white men, the many people who don’t fit into that demographic might understandably feel that there is no place for them in the golf world. This was indeed one of my concerns when approaching the sport. Although the idea of breaking down gender barriers actually made it more attractive to me, I came from a family with no history of golf whatsoever, so the opportunity to play was clearly one I would have to pursue on my own. As a result, I spent a good many years thinking about how I’d like to try golf – instead of actually trying it. When I finally did, what I found surprised me. The appeal of golf is hardly mysterious at all. Golf courses include some of the most spectacular scenery developed by man, golfing involves a sense of camaraderie, and it is one of the few activities that consciously balances an athletic aspect with true relaxation. What other sport openly encourages leisurely strolling and drinking on the field?

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Furthermore, as anyone who has ever had one good shot can attest to, the feeling at the moment of the club’s impact, followed by watching the ball fly away in a perfect arc is overwhelmingly satisfying. Finally, this summer, after watching colleague upon colleague cheerfully exit the office for an afternoon of golfing with clients, I decided the time had come to take action. I signed up for a 5-pack of lessons, and started excitedly sharing my plans with the office – a strategy which I knew would help me stick to my word. This yielded an additional, unexpected positive result: there was another millennial female in the office who had started playing golf a few years ago and was always looking for a partner. With a new friend who was only too happy to take me along with her and show me the ropes, I finally began to feel a part of the culture. The best advice we can give to women thinking of taking up golf or in the beginning stages is to not be intimidated by a male dominated sport – or golfers behind you. Everyone was a beginner at one time and most people are enthusiastic about newbies of all demographics participating. Men enjoy hav-

WOMENS GOLF COURSES

ing “guy time,” yet are excited when females join a group to bring a new dynamic to the sport. Novices shouldn’t think for one moment that they’re holding anyone up, as most golfers don’t mind an extra minute to take in the scenery. Public, short 9 hole courses with par 3s are a great for all levels and aren’t as intimidating as longer courses. Links style courses make for quick, easy transitions between holes. The Wayland Country Club, for instance, is located close to Boston on the western side yet still offers striking natural beauty. A hawk was even spotted on right the course, fearlessly enjoying its dinner on the seventh hole. Everyone there is friendly, encouraging, and helpful. Ponkapoag is another gorgeous option, located in the Blue Hills State Reservation and surrounded by green rolling hills with views of Downtown Boston. Granite Links has renowned views of the entire city is perfect for intermediate golfers or beginners who want to reach to the next level. Other clubs we recommend are Wentworth, Heather Hill, and The Glen Ellen. Women comprise some 22.5% of all golfers but about 46% of new players, according to the National Golf Foundation. The Executive Women’s Golf Association (EWGA) is a 20,000-member national organization in its 19th year of promoting women’s golf. Cyprian Keyes Golf Club in Boylston, Mass. is a favorite with EWGA golfers. The course has seven sets of tees, three of which supply slopes and ratings for women. The Ranch in Southwick is also another great facility with womenfriendly tees. Stow (Mass) Acres Country Club provides six tee areas each on the North and South Courses. Course owners could use the income from the 1,200 members in seven New England chapters, as women represent a large growing golf economic sector. “Indeed, an aver-

age EWGA member spends $4,300 annually on golf-related activities and goods,” says EWGA President Pam Swenson. The following is a list of some of New England’s many women-friendly courses. New England Golf Monthly based the list (which is far from complete and does not include courses mentioned in the main story), on Executive Women’s Golf Association criteria. For more information, please contact: http:// www.ewgaboston.org/home

Blackstone National GC (Sutton) Brookmeadow CC (Canton) Butter Brook GC (Westford) George Wright GC Hyde Park) Granite Links GC (Quincy) Hillview CC (North Reading) Juniper Hill GC (Northborough) Lost Brook GC (Norwood) Millwood Farms GC (Framingham) Mount Hood GC (Melrose) Newton Commonwealth GC (Newton) Norwood CC Robert T. Lynch Municipal GC (Brookline) Sagamore Spring GC (Lynnfield) Shaker Hills GC (Harvard) Shining Rock GC (Northbridge) The Meadow at Peabody Widow’s Walk GC (Scituate) William J. Devine GC at Franklin Park (Dorchester)

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BY ELISA GAUDET

Women & Golf

Options Galore Never before have there been so many options for women who golf or want to try golf. The combination of grass roots events, technology and golf’s governing bodies developing programs to encourage new times to play, like Get Ready Golf, http://www.pga.com/playgolf-america/get-golf-ready has given rise to a plethora of opportunities. Interestingly the local community driven events that usually include a review of the basics, a lesson or some play on the course with a social setting after have proven to be popular and well received. The main issue is retention. Studies have shown women are willing and wanting to try golf but the industry was losing them. These events seem to be helping women feel more comfortable and accepted on the golf course playing and in their interaction with golf. The most powerful opportunity is when multiple organizations join together for the common goal. Namely the many other women networking organizations that exist in various cities no matter what their affiliation each group probably has at least a few members that would be interested in checking out golf. In New York City we launched a Demystifying Golf – An Evening of Golf for Ladies Only in conjunction with a local Golfsmith on 5th Avenue. The convenient location in midtown proved easy for women to stop by after work and just see what it is all about. Once there they have an opportunity to hit in the driving bays or putt on the putting green. All very casual with a table of information about the many options available in the area. In NYC there are golf specific gyms like Drive 495, driving ranges at Chelsea Piers and Randall’s Island and league play through EWGA as well as a number of options and resources for lessons. WISE (Women in Sports & Entertainment) Boston wanted to offer the opportunity to learn golf or get

involved in a network of women who golf to their members. The same group from NYC helped them create Demystifying Golf – An Evening of Golf for Ladies Only an after work event with the option of a clinic or nine hole play with a social component after. Held at Granite Links it was an opportunity for women to try a lesson or play golf, meet, mingle and learn more about various organizations and golfing options in their area. Well known teaching pro, Karen PalaciosJansen, 2008 LPGA National Teacher of the Year, and voted as one of America’s “Top 50 Female Instructors” by Golf Digest magazine for 15 years created and developed a golf-specific fitness system called Cardiogolf available on-line and on DVD. A former David Leadbetter trained instructor and Jim McLean Golf School master instructor, Karen has been teaching golf for 18 years. Realizing not everyone has time to get to a course this makes it easy for golfers to practice, get in shape and learn anytime. cardiogolf.com Another amazing resource is Christina Ricci’s Survival Guides to Golf Christina believes that the learning process should be fun, approachable and rewarding. In her golf instruction More Pars is More Fun and through her books, DVDs, and online programs, over 85,000 women are enjoying more pars. http://www.golfsurvivalguide.com/ In the Metropolitan golf area WE Golf is a new MGA Foundation initiative, in cooperation with the MetPGA, is designed to introduce young professional women to the basic fundamentals of the game through a series of four events, emphasizing the various enjoyment factors and social networking benefits of golf in a FUN, women-friendly, encouraging environment. www.mgagolf.org/ webforms/wegolf/registration What is encouraging is the many options and the bonding that is created with the potential to have more women participate in this game we love.

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Voted # 1 Clubhouse & 19th Hole in New England “Best in Golf Awards 2015”

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MOLORI UNPLUGGED | BY JOHN MOLORI

Alex Corddry is on the rise in media and golf Alex Corddry is a bright and talented presence on the Boston sports media scene. Before joining WHDH-TV 7 as a reporter/anchor two years ago, she cut her sports broadcasting teeth as a reporter in Birmingham and Washington, DC, but her golf game goes back to her Cabin John, Maryland childhood. “My mom would take me to the driving range with her and let me hit balls. I had a plastic learner set as my first set of clubs. I’m a lefty, so I’ve always been a fan of Phil Mickelson and have admired his career.” The 26 year-old Corddry, a University of Alabama grad, comes from an athletic family. Her dad, fellow lefty Phil Corddry, pitched at various levels in the Red Sox minor league system from 1969-72. The younger Corddry pursued golf with a similar zeal. She relates, “I took lessons at a local driving range in Rockville, Maryland. I also was in summer camps at Georgetown Prep when I was in 7th and 8th grade. “I was on the ladies’ golf team at Walt Whitman High School from my freshman to my junior year. There were about 20 girls on the team. We would play best ball against three different area schools. As with any sport, it’s wonderful to be on a team! Golf always gave me something to look forward to in the spring.” Corddry’s busy TV schedule does not leave much time for golf these days, but her competitive fire is still very much intact. “Believe me when I am out playing best ball, I want my foursome to

take advantage of my drive and putting! When I hit the ball well, I can definitely out-drive some of the men.” Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland is one of Corddry’s favorite courses and Pebble Beach tops her golf bucket list, but it was at a local course that she had her most memorable shot. She explains, “I remember playing a par 3 at Falls Road in Maryland. I hit a drive that was one of my best ever, and I could feel it as soon as I hit it. The ball landed at the edge of the green and kept rolling towards the pin.

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“I was jumping up and down believing for sure it was going in. It stopped about 2 feet from the pin. I was actually trying to blow it in from 120 yards away, but I was totally psyched!” Corddry reported from the White House covering the Crimson Tide’s visit with President Barack Obama. She has also covered Auburn, SEC and National Championships, and the NCAA hoops tournament. Most recently, she was a reporter for the Washington Redskins on Comcast SportsNet and a sideline reporter for ESPNU. Now a part of perhaps the most intense media market in the country, Corddry has immersed herself in all things Boston sports, but whenever possible, still pursues the game she loves. “I feel really blessed to have an opportunity to cover the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins, and Celtics, but it’s been difficult to find time for golf. “I played at the Boston Medical Center Kids Fund Golf Tournament at Belmont in July, which was an absolute blast. When I do play, I always just try to have fun and enjoy it. This is such a beau-

tiful time of year in New England. Getting out and playing this summer has been awesome.” John Molori is the co-author of “The Cracker Jack Collection: Baseball’s Prized Players.” Like him on Facebook at John Molori, Twitter @MoloriMedia. Email molorimedia@aol.com

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TOUR SNAPSHOT | BY JACK ROSS

Fed Ex Cup Playoffs Kick Off With Barclays And Deutsche Bank Championships With the notable exception of Tiger Woods, whose admirable run at the Wyndham Championship derailed with a triple bogey on the back nine, 125 players advanced to the 2015 Fed Ex Cup Playoffs with a shot at the $10,000,000 bonus that will be awarded to the winner at the conclusion of the TOUR Championship on September 24. Commenced in 2007 as a means to maintain interest in the Tour after the PGA Championship, the Fed Ex Cup has become a mainstay of the season. The four events -- the Barclays Championship, the Deutsche Bank Championship, the BMW Championship, and the TOUR Championship -- combine for a total payout of $67 million. However, only 30 players will survive to play in the TOUR Championship with a shot at the bonus money. This year, the points at stake for each playoff event have been reduced from 2.500 to 2,000 in order to place more emphasis on season-long excellence, while still maintaining volatility and movement through the playoffs. Unchanged is the points reset before the TOUR Championship, which ensures that each of the 30 competitors has a shot at winning the Cup. The top five points leaders are guaranteed a Cup victory if they win the tournament. The Barclays Championship replaced the longstanding Westchester Classic in the PGA Tour schedule. The venue is the historic Plainfield Country Club in Edison, N.J., where Donald Ross was hired to design a new course in 1916. Though relatively short at 7,012 yards, like all Donald Ross layouts the players are faced with subtle challenges around the greens, and must place tee shots into the proper portions of fairways to have optimum ap-

proaches to the greens. Over the past ten years, Gil Hanse directed an extensive restoration and renovation of the course. In the process of removing over 1,200 trees, lost bunkers were discovered. Most of the greens were expanded. New England golf fans welcome the influx of 100 touring pros (25 are cut after the Barclays) to TPC Boston for the Deutsche Bank Championship, which concludes on Labor Day. The 7,207-yard layout, which features numerous natural hazards and immense bunkers, was originally designed by Arnold Palmer and reworked by Hanse and Jim Wagner (with input from Brad Faxon) in 2007. TPC Boston presents many challenging holes, among them the 542-yard second hole. Although a short par-5, three wellplaced shots are required for a chance at birdie. The right side of the green feeds towards the water, placing a premium on accuracy with a wedge approach. The 298-yard fourth hole is an exciting risk/ reward par-4. The narrow green and the massive greenside bunker present challenges for players attempting to drive the green. The best play is to the right front corner of the green; a miss to the right still allows a good opportunity get up and down. The 530-yard par-5 18th hole creates drama down the stretch. The most difficult green on the course is guarded by an immense hazard in front; players attempting to reach the green in two are looking at bogey if they come up short. The layup is complicated by a pot bunker in the middle of the fairway about 110 yards from the green. While there is trouble on the right, missing left is no picnic here.

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Snell Golf

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CELEBRITY GOLFER // BY LEIGH MCKAY

Celebrity Golfer:

Annika Sorenstam

Annika—everyone in the golf-playing world is aware of the woman behind that one given name. For that name resonates with achievements and awards, and although her flawless, simple swing no longer graces the LPGA Tour, Annika Sorenstam has remained as popular and well known today as she was during her 15 year career from 1993-2008. To some, Annika is “Ms. 59” for her 2001 feat as the only woman to break 60 in tournament play. To others, she is the winner of 89 worldwide professional titles—72 on the LPGA Tour—and 10 majors. To still others, Annika is a World Golf Hall of Famer (2003), an eight-time Player of the Year, and the first woman to pass the $20 million mark in earnings. She has been honored with both the Francis Ouimet Award (2010) for “Lifelong contributions to golf” and the Bob Jones Award (2012) by the USGA for “Distinguished sportsmanship in golf.” This past February, Annika and six others were voted in as the first women members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club. Annika left the LPGA Tour with the intent of rais-

ing a family and establishing the ANNIKA brand of businesses. In January of 2009, she married Mike McGee, the managing director for the ANNIKA brand. They have two children, Ava, 6, and Will, 4. To all who know about the native from Bro, Sweden, she is not only a cultural icon for her era but also an inspiration for women athletes in general and for women golfers in particular. “Share My Passion” is her mantra, and Annika has been unconditionally sharing her love for the game with us for years.

NEGM: How has life been treating you since you left the LPGA Tour? AS: Life has been pretty good, and I would say a lot of things have changed for the better. Mike and I got married, and we have two children to raise. That’s certainly a lot different from life on the Tour! It’s been over six years now, and when I stepped away, I made the right choice at the right time. I just knew it in my heart. I was ready to experience a new chapter in my life, and I’m glad I did it.

NEGM: What is the focus of the ANNIKA Academy at Reunion Golf and Spa Resort in Orlando.

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CELEBRITY GOLFER AS: We like to say we teach the “Winning Approach.” It’s the approach that I used in my career. Besides the instruction, we do fitness, nutrition, course management, mental training, and club fitting. I like to say it takes more than just a good golf swing to be a good golfer. Charlotta, my sister, is one of the instructors and one of the club fitters in the Callaway Performance Center. Technology has become such a large part of the game, and we want to make sure people are playing with equipment that fits their needs. Also, we do offer different programs—the Soren-Slam Program is the most popular three-day school—where I conduct a clinic, have lunch with my students, and then play golf with them. From beginning to end, the Academy is a very customized golf experience.

NEGM: What are some of your other undertakings that have been keeping you busy?

AS: The ANNIKA Foundation takes a lot of my time because we host four junior golf tournaments around the world: one in Orlando, one at China’s Mission Hills, and two in Sweden. What’s exciting to me is that we’re working on becoming even more global and offering juniors more opportunities to pursue their dreams. The Foundation also hosts the ANNIKA Intercollegiate Presented by 3M, which last year had the strongest field in all of college golf, with 12 top Division I teams. Golf course design is another thing I really enjoy although it’s been a little slow for two years now. I do have two projects in the works, in Estonia and Vietnam. I have the ANNIKA Collection, my line of clothing with Cutter & Buck, which is growing very nicely and gaining market share every year. I also enjoy both the TV commentating work that I do at tournaments and my guest analyst

spots on Golf Channel’s Morning Drive. And the rest of my life is being a mom and a wife and being at home.

NEGM: How did you learn the game?

AS: From my parents, who still live very close to a golf course in Sweden. I would play with them and Charlotta as a child. Early on, I really didn’t think golf was fun. I thought it was too slow. I was very competitive in tennis and in soccer and in skiing. The more I played golf, however, the more I liked it. I competed a little bit on the regional level and then on the national level. Then I went to the University of Arizona to play golf there and turned professional in 1992. So, thanks to my parents, I became a golfer.

NEGM: What do you remember most about your LPGA experience? AS: First of all, it was my career for 15 years, and I wouldn’t be who I am if not for the LPGA. They gave me the platform to do what I enjoyed doing the most—to compete at the highest professional level and to make a great living while traveling around the world. Playing professional golf became my dream, and I was lucky enough to turn the dream into reality. I still keep in touch as I’m involved in the game with my TV commentating, and I work with some of the players. We created the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award, which goes to the LPGA player who performs the best in the year’s Major Championships. Another aspect of the Foundation, besides hosting the events, is that I’m involved in the ANNIKA Award Presented by 3M, given annually to the best Division I collegiate female golfer. The LPGA changed my life, and I lived my dream. Now one of the missions of my Foundation is to help other girls live their dreams.

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NEGM: Who were your toughest competitors?

AS: At first, they were Karrie Webb and Se Ri Pak. I’ll never forget the three of us battling back and forth in the majors from 1997 on. It was really a healthy rivalry because they pushed me to get better. Then it was Lorena Ochoa, and we went back and forth between number one and two.

NEGM: Are you pleased with the global direction of the LPGA under Commissioner Mike Whan? AS: Absolutely, yes! I think he’s done a tremendous job in all aspects—in securing tournaments, in building relationships, in marketing the competitions. He’s been a great asset to the LPGA Tour.

NEGM: Are you optimistic about the ongoing efforts to encourage girls and women to join the game?

AS: I think all the organizations are trying hard, from the USGA to the PGA to the LPGA. I try to do some initiatives from my end. This is something we have to continue to work on just because it’s tough to make sure the girls stay in the game. They need to take the game past the junior level, past the college level, and continue to play as adults with their families and friends. Get Golf Ready and First Tee and Girls Golf are all worthy programs. I am also involved with Wee Golf, which I think will make an impact.

The LPGA players are role models, and it’s great what they do every week and how they work with the communities and the sponsors.

NEGM: Who would be in your Dream Foursome of today? Of any time period?

AS: If you had asked me that question 10 years ago, I probably would have chosen movie stars or other celebrities. Today, life has changed for me, and I’m about to turn 45. I would really love to play with my family—Ava, Will, and Mike—reminding me of the times when my family played with me when I was a child. Playing with two LPGA Founders, Babe Zaharias and Mickey Wright, and with the LPGA’s career win leader, Kathy Whitworth, with all of us in our primes, would be fun.

NEGM: How would you like to be remembered by your peers, friends, and fans?

AS: As someone who enjoyed the game; as someone who was competitive; as someone who greatly respected her competition; as someone who loved sportsmanship and tried to show class in victory and defeat; as someone who was not afraid to step up to the challenge of trying to win and not afraid to step out of her comfort zone; as someone who gave back to the game that she loved. (All photographs courtesy of the Annika Foundation.)

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Fall In Love with the Game All Over Again

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CELEBRITY GOLFER

KeeganBradleyHosts4thAnnual CharityGolf ClassicinWoodstock,Vermont By Leigh MacKay

Woodstock, Vermont, native Keegan Bradley has earned international fame as a PGA Tour player, but he has not forgotten his roots. The 2011 PGA Champion returned to his old stomping grounds at the Woodstock Inn & Resort Golf Club on a lovely summer Monday before the Deutsche Bank Championship to host his fourth annual Charity Golf Classic. Joined by his two best friends on Tour, Brendan Steele and Jon Curran, Bradley continued his commitment to local charities that he started in 2012, shortly after Hurricane Irene had devastated his hometown and much of Vermont. The one-day event has raised several hundred thousand dollars to date, and this year the more than $100,000 will benefit the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF) in its support of the University of Vermont Can-

cer Center and Children’s Hospital to fund life saving research for children battling cancer. Also, in recognition of Governor Peter Shumlin’s commitment to fight opiate addiction in Vermont, a portion of the proceeds will benefit opiate addiction research and treatment programs at UVM. Keegan said, “I’m proud to be back in Vermont for our fourth year, raising money for childhood cancer and addiction research. These are issues that affect all of us, and I’m thankful for PGA Tour players and family, friends, researchers from the UVM Cancer Center and the public who’ve joined to raise awareness and funds for these causes. It means a lot to me that I can do a lot of good and help a lot of people.” With dad Mark Bradley as the MC, Keegan, Brendan, and Jon treated the field of 21 foursomes and many local residents to a clinic before the noon shotgun. Jon demonstrated the importance of precision wedge play “because he doesn’t hit the ball as far as we do,” needled Keegan. Then Keegan and “Steeley” put on their power display, rocketing shots almost out of sight and then arguing, without agreeing, on who hit the longest drive. Each one also answered questions from the spectators about their experiences on Tour. Once the shotgun scramble began, the three visited every foursome to meet each player, pose for pictures, and offer advice. Putnam Investments was again the present-

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CELEBRITY GOLFER

ing sponsor of the event. Leading additional underwriters included National Car Rental, Bearing, Srixon/Cleveland Golf, Zurich, Audemars Piguet and Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream. Robert L. Reynolds, President and CEO of Putnam, said, “The good work done by the PCRF in conducting critically important research for children is making its mark in Ver-

mont—and we are pleased to stand with Keegan in support of this great effort.” Jeri Wilson, executive director of PCRF, said, “We are grateful to Keegan for his incredible generosity and recognize his support of our families fighting cancer.” A reception followed play inside the clubhouse. Players and guests had the chance to bid on a number of exclusive items during the live and silent auctions: rare sports memorabilia and premium tickets from the Patriots, Bruins, Celtics, Red Sox, Jack Nicklaus, and the Masters and vacations to Puerto Rico, Aspen, St. Thomas, and Costa Rica. An 18-under par 52 from the scramble foursome of Josh Olsen, Dan Williamson, Chris Nichols, and Justin Maxham, the Woodstock Union High School Alumni team, won the tournament by four shots. Keegan’s father Mark Bradley put the event into perspective. He made the trip from Wyoming, where he is the Director of Instruction at Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis Club, because so much of his professional life was in the Woodstock area. He said, “This is really a special event for me, too. Woodstock was a great place to raise the kids, and this is where it all started for Keegan. That’s why after Irene hit, I called him and said, ‘Keegan, I think you need to go home and do something for the people there.’ He said, ‘Dad, it’s already in the works, and I’m going to organize an event that will raise money and really help out.’

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N E W E N G L A N D G O L F M O N T H LY

PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONS OF THE GAME NEGM’S TOP FIVE OF ALL TIME Pat Bradley 1974 – 1995

Pat became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1974 and won 31 tour events, including six major championships and is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. She is NEGM’s top golf professional from New England. Pat Bradley was the first LPGA player to cross the $2 million, $3 million and $4 million milestones in career earnings. Born in Westford, Massachusetts, Pat Bradley was the only daughter among six children of Richard and Kay Bradley. Her father was an avid golfer, and her brothers include Mark, a PGA club professional in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, whose son Keegan Bradley won the PGA Championship in 2011. The Bradley’s were named “Golf Family of the Year” in 1989 by the National Golf Foundation. There’s a cowbell in the World Golf Hall of Fame, and Pat Bradley is the reason why. When Bradley won her first LPGA Tour event in 1976, her mother, back home in New England, stepped out on the family’s back porch and celebrated by clanging a cowbell. And Mom did the same thing for every win Bradley had on the LPGA Tour.

Julius Boros 1949 – 1975

Born in Fairfield, Connecticut, Boros played varsity baseball in college. He worked as an accountant, played high-standard amateur golf, and did not turn professional until 1949, when he was already 29 years old. Boros had 25 professional wins including three major championships: the 1952 and 1963 U.S. Opens and the 1968 PGA Championship. In the windy 1963 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Boros defeated Arnold Palmer and Jacky Cupit in a playoff. Boros remains the oldest player ever to win a modern major in 1968, taking the PGA Championship in San Antonio by a stroke at the age of 48. One of the runners-up was again Arnold Palmer, who never won the PGA Championship to complete his career grand slam.

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N E W E N G L A N D G O L F M O N T H LY

Professional Champions of The Game

Brad Faxon 1981-2013

Brad Faxon was actually born in Oceanport, New Jersey in 1961 and moved to Rhode Island at a very young age. Faxon has won eight times on the PGA Tour and played on two Ryder Cup teams. While admittedly not a great driver of the golf ball or a great ball-striker, Faxon has built a reputation as one of the best pure putters in golf history. He led the PGA Tour in Putting Average in 1996, 1999, and 2000 (when he set the single-season record with only 1.704 putts/greens in regulation). Brad Faxon has played in over 700 events on the PGA Tour where he had 8 wins and earned over $18 million in earnings. In the last 5 years Brad has played in 82 events on The Champions Tour he has won 2 times and earned over 1.5 Million. His work with Billy Andrade on the CVS Charity Classic over the last 17 years has made a tremendous impact in the lives of so many through over $18 Million raised for charities since 1999.

Billy Andrade 1983-2014

Billy Andrade was born in Bristol, Rhode Island. He has four wins on the PGA Tour: the 1991 Kemper Open and Buick Classic, the 1998 Bell Canadian Open, and the 2000 Invensys Classic. He was the first golfer to win on the PGA Tour using the ProV1 golf ball at the 2000 Invensys Classic in Las Vegas. He played in 633 events on the PGA Tour with over $12 Million in earnings. For the last two years has played in 39 Champions Tour Events with 2 wins, 12 Top 10 finishes and over $1.75 million in tour earnings. Andrade is also an active contributor to charity. He and fellow PGA Tour professional Brad Faxon received the Golf Writers of America’s 1999 Charlie Bartlett Award for their “unselfish contributions to society”, and the American Heart Association’s 2002 Gold Heart Award in recognition of their charity efforts. Also in 2002, Andrade and Faxon were named winners of the 2002 Ambassadors of Golf Award. Together, they run Billy Andrade/Brad Faxon Charities for Children, Inc. and are together are the host for the CVS Charity Classic held in Rhode Island each year.

Keegan Bradley 2011-2015

Keegan Bradley the elder child of Mark Bradley, a head professional from New England. Keegan after a stint with ski racing in his teen years chose golf as his first love and became an accomplished high school player. Bradley attended St. John’s University and won nine collegiate events before graduating in 2008. Keegan Bradley burst on the scene in his rookie season on the PGA Tour with wins at the HP Byron Nelson Championship, which qualified him for the WGC Bridgestone Classic where he held onto the lead for three rounds and finished T15. One week later at the PGA Tour Championship Bradley became the first New Englander in nearly 45 years to win a Major Championship. In December of 2011 Keegan was named the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year for his amazing season. Bradley won his third PGA Tour event at the WGC Bridgestone in 2012 by one stroke over Jim Furyk, getting back the one that got away from him in 2011 and qualifying him for his first Ryder Cup that year. He has played in over 156 events in his professional career with nearly $16 Million in earnings.

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N E W E N G L A N D G O L F M O N T H LY

Professional Champions of The Game

OTHER NOTABLE NEW ENGLAND CHAMPIONS Dana Quigley 1971-2015 The Ironman

Dana Quigley was born in Lynnfield, Massachusetts. He graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 1969 and turned professional in 1971. His best finish on the PGA Tour was sixth at the 1980 Greater Milwaukee Open. In 1997, Quigley became eligible to play in senior golf tournaments, and he soon became a leading player at this level playing more events consecutively than any other player in history. Dana has played in over 550 professional events and has had nearly $15.5 million in earnings, almost all of it from the Senior and Champions Tours.

JJ Henry 1998-2015

Henry was born in Fairfield, Connecticut. While attending Texas Christian University, he was the individual runner up at the 1998 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships and turned pro later that year. JJ has played in over 500 events on tour and won three times on the PGA Tour and once on The Nationwide Tour. His first PGA Tour win came in 2006 at the Buick Championship followed by the 2012 Reno – Tahoe Open and in 2015 at the Barracuda Championship. He has earned over $15.5 million in earnings in 17 years in his professional career.

Allen Doyle 1995-2013

Allen Doyle was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island and raised in the Boston suburb of Norwood, Massachusetts. Allen did not turn professional until he was 46. In 1998 he joined the Senior Tour and won four official money events in 1999 including the Senior PGA Championship. In 2001 he won his second senior major, the Senior Players Championship, and led the tour on the money list. In 2005 he claimed a third major at the U.S. Senior Open. He successfully defended his U.S. Senior Open title in 2006 becoming the oldest U.S. Senior Open Champion at 57. In 450 events he earned over $13.8 million in his career.

Tim Petrovic 1989-2015

Tim Petrovic was born in Northampton, Massachusetts. He has won one PGA Tour tournament, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in 2005. He has found his way in 26 years to maintain some status on the Tours. He has played in 475 events and with only the one win and 5-second place finishes and has remarkably earned over $12.5 million in earnings in his career. To his credit he has made over 200 cuts out of 374 events on the PGA Tour

Brett Quigley 1999-2015

Quigley was born in Fort Devens, Massachusetts. He is the nephew of PGA Tour and Champions Tour golfer Dana Quigley. He won the 1987 U.S. Junior Amateur and attended the University of South Carolina, where he was twice an Academic All-American, before turning professional in 1991. He has had two wins on the Nationwide Tour in 1996 and 2001.In 470 events Bret has had over 100 top 25 finishes and 8 second place finishes and has over $11.6 million in career earnings.

Scott Stallings 2011-2015

Scott Stallings was born in Worcester, MA and has played in over 129 events on the PGA Tour and 32 events on the Web.Com Tour since 2007. Scott has won 3 times on the PGA Tour at The Greenbrier Classic in 2011, The True South Classic in 2012 and at The Farmers Insurance Open in 2014. His career earnings are over $7.3 million On July 7, 2015, Stallings was given a three-month suspension for violating the Tour’s drug policy. He took a supplement that was on the banned substances list and self-reported his violation to the PGA Tour.

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N E W E N G L A N D G O L F M O N T H LY

Professional Champions of The Game James Driscoll 2001 -2015

Driscoll was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the youngest of seven children. He grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts outside of Boston. He won his first and only professional event at the 2004 Nationwide Tour event the Virginia Beach Open. His runner up finish in the U.S. Amateur in 2000 getting him into the Maters in 2001 where he fired an great opening round of 68 while playing with Tom Watson. Brett has played in over 320 professional events earning $6.3 million in his career.

Patrick Sheehan 1992- 2014

Sheehan was born in Providence, Rhode Island. He played golf at University of Hartford with other future PGA Tour golfers Tim Petrovic and Jerry Kelly. Sheehan has two wins on the Nationwide Tour, most recently a playoff victory at the 2009 Athens Regional Foundation Classic over Michael Sim. In 23 years on both the Nationwide and PGA Tour Patrick and had 9 Top 10 finishes on the PGA Tour. Sheehan in that time has earned over $5 million in his career.

Brad Adamonis 1996-2015

Brad Adamonis was born in Cumberland, RI, he began his professional career after college at Miami of Ohio in 1996 and played in his first Nationwide Tour events beginning in 1999. In the last 18 years Brad has played on both the web.com & PGA Tours. His first Tour win came at the WNB Classic in Texas in 2007. In 2008 on The PGA Tour at The John Deere Classic Brad lost to Kenny Perry in a playoff for his best PGA Tour finish. In 270 + events over 18 years Brad has earned nearly $1.7 million in his career.

Jim Renner 2007-2015

Jim Renner was born in Boston, MA and lived in Plainville, MA. He was a standout college golfer at Johnson & Wales University where he won the NAIA College Championship in 2005. Jim started his professional career in 2007 and has played on both the Web.Com and PGA Tours for the last 8 years earning over $1.5 million for his career.

Fran Quinn 1988-2015

Fran Quinn was born in Worcester, Massachusetts and attended Northwestern University where he graduated in 1987. Quinn played his first full season on the Nationwide Tour, then Ben Hogan Tour, in 1991, where he made 13 of 25 cuts. He later in the year finished T8 at Q-School, obtaining his PGA Tour card for 1992. He has won 4 times on the Nationwide Tour in 1991,1999, 2000 and 2010. He has played on the Champions Tour in 2014 and 2015. Fran has earned over $1.4 million in career earnings.

Jon Curran 2010-2015

Jon Curran was born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Curran turned professional in 2009. He played on the NGA Pro Golf Tour in 2013, winning one event and topping the money list. He finished 12th on the 2014 Web.com Tour regular-season money list, earning a PGA Tour card for the 2014–15 season after a win at The Brazil Championship. Curran’s best PGA Tour finish is a playoff loss at the 2015 Puerto Rico Open. He has played 57 events on both tours with earnings of over $1.35 Million in his career.

Rob Oppenheim 2002-2015

Born in Salem, Massachusetts, Oppenheim played for the Andover High School golf team, where he made the all-scholastic team. Oppenheim turned professional in September 2002. Since then, he has played on the Canadian Tour, Cleveland Tour, Hooter’s Winter Series, and Moonlight Tour. This year Rob got his first professional win at the Web,com Air Capital Classic in Wichhita, Kansas. His career earnings are currently just under $700,000

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TEAM NEW ENGLAND AMATEUR CHAMPIONS BY STEVE RIGGS

NEGM’S Players of the Year

New England is steeped in golf history. While the professional golf tours occupy most golfers’ attention, it is worth noting most all of our Team New England tournament players started their competitive careers right here in the northeast. Names like Keegan Bradley, Jon Curran, Dana Quigley, Brad Faxon, Billy Andrade, Rob Oppenheim, Alison Walshe and World Golf Hall of Fame member Pat Bradley are some of those players who cut their teeth on amateur competition in the northeast. As the New England Amateur Championships season winds to a close for another year, NEGM offers our list of top amateurs of 2015.

New England Male Amateur Player of the Year

Nick McLaughlin, (MA), Far Corner GC has pocketed five victories in this 2015 season; Hornblower Memorial Invitational, The Invitational, New England Amateur, Massachusetts Amateur Championship, Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship and the New England Amateur. The Virginia senior appears to have made the right decision sitting out the spring UVA golf season to fully rehab from a back injury.

New England Women’s Amateur Player of the Year

Megan Khang, (MA), (2015), has gone from New England’s top junior player to becoming our top women’s player. Just weeks after finishing 2nd at Stage I LPGA Q School, Khang fired rounds of 65, 64 winning the 2015 Connecticut Women’s Open Championship by nine shots. She won the Women’s Eastern Amateur Championship, qualified for and finished T-58th at the LPGA Kings Mill Championship and was low amateur in the 2015 U.S Women’s Open Championship.

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TEAM NEW ENGLAND AMATEUR CHAMPIONS BY STEVE RIGGS Top New England Junior Player of the Year

Patrick Welch, (RI), Metacomet CC won the New England Junior Amateur Invitational. The 15 year old made history winning Rhode Island’s 110th Amateur Championship topping the 122- man field with a 36-hole total 5-under 135 with rounds of 67, 68. He finished third behind two collegiate golfers in the 2015 Hornblower Memorial Invitational with scores of 69, 72 for a +3/141. Welch just completed his freshman year at Classical High and has now become the first high school player to win the State Am since North Kingstown’s Scott Teller in 1973.

Top New England Girls Junior Player of the Year

Julia Kemmling, (CT), Timberline CC won the New England Women’s Amateur Championship-Junior Division this year posting scores of 79,77, 75 for a +9/231 total. The Berlin, CT native has signed to play her college golf at Quinnipiac University this fall. An incredible scholastic career saw Julia lead Berlin High School to three consecutive CIAC State Championships. Finishing as runner-up in her freshman year, Julia won back-to-back individual championship honors as a sophomore and junior.

New England Senior Amateur of the Year

With the New England Senior Amateur Championship scheduled for September 29-30 at the Oyster Harbors Club in Osterville, MA, golfers 55 to 64 are looking to dethrone the 2014 champion Jim Romaniello of Shorehaven GC. Romaniello of Shorehaven Country Club in Norwalk shot a 74 to win the 2014 New England Senior Amateur with a 36-hole score of 145 at Laconia (N.H.). It was a fitting end to the season for Romaniello, a Stamford native. He also won the Westchester Senior Amateur and the Danbury Amateur.

New England Women’s Amateur-Senior Player of the Year

Lisa Griffin McGill, (MA), The Misquamicut Club took the Senior Division in the NEWGA Championship-Senior Division after posting a three day score of 7 over par 229 over the Ledgemont Country Club layout this summer. McGill also pulled off an upset at the RI Women’s Amateur Championship at Potowomut Country Club in August beating defending champion Susie Cavanagh. It was McGill’s third championship, the others coming in 1995 and 2005. The last two women to win that many were the late Julie Greene and Nancy Chaffee, both now in the state Golf Hall of Fame.

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Ricky Fowler Deutsche Bank Champion By NEGM Staff

The 2015 Comeback Kid Strikes Again

The Deutsche Bank Championship final had a very international feel at TPC Boston in Norton, MA on Labor Day. The last group of the day of Henrik Stenson from Sweden was paired against fan favorite Ricky Fowler from the USA. The crowd at the first tee box was already chanting USA before either player hit there first shot. Savvy Boston sports fans were well aware of the 2014 Ryder Cup results. And one of the key players from the European winning team Stenson had the lead by one shot over Fowler heading into the final round. By the time the pair teed off at 1:50 PM they were separated from the field by 4-5 shots, this battle was going to be more like match play, then stroke play. Fowler is in the midst of his best year on the PGA Tour with a great comeback wins at the Players Championship and the Scottish Open. And Stenson the 2013 DBC Champion, Tour Championship win-

ner and FedEx Cup winner had just finished 2nd last week at the first event at the Barclays. Fowler who only hit 1 fairway on Sunday in his first 12 holes got off to a rough start when he hooked his first tee shot on the first into the woods. With a great recovery shot Fowler came away with a par but Stenson birdied the first to increase his lead by 2 shots. Fowler then pumped in a bomb on the par 5

second for an eagle but once again Stenson birdied the hole to hold Fowler at bay, From that point on Stenson (The Iceman) never flinched firing one 3 wood after another down the middle of every fairway as Fowler fought to close the gap which on the back 9 reached 3 shots. It appeared that the cool Swede would cruise to his second Deutsche Bank win in 3 years. On the 14th Fowler again dropped a 40 + foot bomb for a birdie that closed the gap to one with 5 to play. Two holes later on the par three 16th, Fowler hit a shot that barely cleared the hazard but rolled neatly under the hole to about 15 feet. Stenson then tried to muscle a high 7 iron into the green that a gust of wind knocked back and it came up just short and bounced back into the water. Stenson doubled the hole and Fowler made the put amidst a huge outburst from the Boston faithful and Ricky had a one shot lead. The rest was history as they both pared the final two holes and Ricky Fowler had his 3rd win of the 2015 season. Charlie Hoffman the 2010 winner once again had a strong showing at the event and finished -11 alone in third place. The weather at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event could not have been more perfect with no measurable rain for the week and seasonable tempertures. The Tour will be off this next week as the Playoffs resume in Chicago at the BMW Championship on September 17th â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 20th.

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Billy Andrade at Home on the PGA Champions Tour By NEGM Staff

In 2009 Billy Andrade called it quits on the PGA Tour and headed for the broadcast booth at the Golf Channel after 17 years on the Tour. His comment about his retirement at the time was that he was unable to compete at that level and had lost competitive edge with his game. Just 5 years latter Andrade has now found a home on the Champions Tour. I would say he is here to stay after his win the Boeing Classic a few weeks ago where he held off Fred Couples, Bernard Langer and Mark O’Meara to win his second Champions Tour event in 2015 and move into the 4th position in earning on the tour for the season. The affable Andrade known by players and close friends as ( Chachi) earned over $750,000 in his rookie year on the tour in 2014. After the Boeing Classic win he has shot to the top 5 in the Charles Schwab Cup race with over $1.5 million already in earning for 2015. In April Bristol Billy teamed up with Joe Durant to record his first Champions Tour victory at the Legends of Golf Big Cedar Lodge Championship in Missouri. It was the year 2000 in Las Vegas, NV at the Invensys Classic on the PGA Tour that

Andrade last had a tour victory, 15 years ago this October. This year once again Andrade has been fired up with strong play and a great enthusiasm for the game. The Rhode Island duo of Billy Andrade and Brad Faxon have now brought home 4 victories on the Champions Tour in the last 4 years. Andrade in June at The Constellation Senior Players Championship finished 7th and at the 2015 U.S. Senior Open in California 2 weeks later he nearly pulled off the greatest comeback in Senior Open history firing a 63 in the final round to finish T5. There are 4 events left in the Champions Tour regular season that finishes up with the Toshiba Classic on November 1st. The following week The Champions Tour will visit Scottsdale Arizona on November 5th – 8th for The Charles Schwab Cup Championship. This year’s championship will be contested at the Desert Mountain Club in Cochise, Arizona a short distance from where the Patriots won their 4th Super Bowl Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ last February after the “Deflate Gate Fiasco”. I will take Billy the Kid (Chachi) by 3 and the under.

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TINKERS NEST

Equipment for Women & Juniors By ED TRAVIS

The number of women playing golf is growing and many who already play are becoming more involved. Whether playing for years or just taking up the game, the correct equipment can make all the difference by providing the opportunity for better scoring from added distance and greater confidence. Long gone are the days when equipment selection came down to wives hearing their husbands say, “Here honey, play with these,” or of manufacturers sticking a pink shaft in a club designed for men and passing it off as a “ladies model.” A sometimes overlooked alternative to putting together a bag of clubs, usually of different brands, is purchasing a complete set of woods and irons or so-called boxed set and it has several advantages. In a boxed

set the shafts, lofts and performance are integrated from driver through wedge, potentially a major benefit for women who typically have slower swings—around 65 mph versus 90 mph for the average male—and is especially helpful to those just taking up the game. And there’s another favorable factor. Boxed sets are usually less expensive than buying individual woods and irons. Women on the course also creates an opportunity for family fun but that means the kids need clubs as well and boxed sets for juniors are a great solution, certainly preferable to handme-downs or cutoff clubs. Learning golf is not easy and everyone needs to play with clubs that fit. It is a large part of enjoying the game and building the desire to play more.

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TINKERS NEST

WOMEN’S EQUIPMENT

Adams Golf stresses the Lady New Idea set is easy to hit from the high launch driver through the irons with the fairway woods, hybrids and irons featuring the sole slot design they pioneered for added distance and forgiveness. The set, priced at $700, has a driver, three fairway woods, two hybrids, two hybrid irons, three irons and a Yes! Putter with a choice of three colors for the bag and head covers.

Callaway Lady Solaire Gems offer a 13-piece set with bag for $900 that includes a thin-faced ultralight weight driver with a 40-gram shaft, three fairway woods, two hybrids and 7-iron through sand wedge game-improvement design irons. There’s even an Odyssey putter as part of the bag and club package.

Cobra Golf’s Fly-Z XL brand is available in 12-club sets for women using the same Fly-Z technology as clubs played by Lexi Thompson and Blair O’Neal on the LPGA Tour. The 15 degree 450cc driver is accompanied by two fairway woods, three hybrids, five irons and a putter. Players have a choice for the matching bag and head covers of white accented with pink or blue. Retail is $999.

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TINKERS NEST

Tour Edge Golf is having a lot of success with their Hot Launch driver for men and brings the same design features to the Lady Hot Launch Set priced at $800. The titanium driver using Tour Edgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s VFT technology produces a high trajectory launch for more distance. The set includes two fairway woods, three hybrids, five irons and putter. The cart bag and matching head covers come in a choice of blue and purple.

The Lady Profile XLS 15-piece set from Wilson Staff is customized based on length, shaft and grip size to fit the playerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s height. Higher lofted distance gapping, lightweight, ladies flex graphite shafts and soft grips made this a strong set and the $300 price includes a lightweight cart bag with lots of pockets.

Powerbilt introduced the Countess brand for ladies almost 50 years ago and since then the clubs have had a reputation for playability and high quality making the current models a good choice. Though several customization options are offered a typical 10 club Countess set has a 14 degree 460 cc driver, two fairway woods, one hybrid, five cavity-back irons and putter. The price tag of $350 includes a multi-pocketed cart bag and head covers with a choice of four colors.

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TINKERS NEST

JUNIOR GOLF EQUIPMENT

If your youngster is an advanced player the US Kids Junior TS60 10-piece set for $490 is a good choice. Made for a juniors from 58 ½ to 61 ½ inches in height the set includes a Release 460 driver, 3-wood, 4-hybrid and seven irons. Each club is made with a special lightweight construction so they are 5 percent lighter than the equivalent adult club. A dual strap stand bag is included.

For youngsters wanting to play the same brand as Tiger Woods, Nike has the Junior VR_S set for $200 and there’s a driver, 4-hybrid, 7- and 9- irons plus sand wedge and putter in a carry bag. Both the driver and hybrid Nike says are built with hi-tech and high launch characteristics to help juniors get the most from their swing.

Wilson’s Profile XLS Teen Golf Package Set is $300 and made especially for teens from 5’3” to 5’9” in height. The stand bag comes with 11 clubs: a 460cc driver, a fairway wood, one hybrid, five game-improvement irons, pitching wedge and sand wedge along with a putter.

HT Max-J Juniors from Tour Edge Golf are first quality and if your child is just starting out and between the ages of 3 and 5 the 2x1 set for the rock bottom price of $90 should be considered. For boys and girls, the design of the fairway wood and iron helps little golfers get the ball in the air easily and make hitting the ball fun. A putter and either pink or red stand bag completes the set.

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AROUND THE GAME Vicky Hurst wins 5th career Symetra Tour title At W. B. Mason Championship at Thorny Lea GC. BROCKTON, Mass. -- Vicky Hurst won the W.B. Mason Championship for her fifth career Symetra Tour title and first since 2008. Hurt closed with a 3-under 68 at Thorny Lea Golf Club to finish at 13-under 200, three shots ahead of Brittany Benvenuto and Mexico’s Alejandra Llaneza. The 25-year-old Hurst, from Melbourne, Florida, earned $16,500 to jump from 25th to 14th on the money list with $37,409. The final top 10 will earn 2016 LPGA Tour cards.

Nick McLaughlin Captures 2015 Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship; Wins Fifth Major Championship of the Season Devens, MA — It wasn’t his easiest win, but it was no doubt the sweetest. In front of a gallery looking on from above at Red Tail Golf Club, Nick McLaughlin (Far Corner GC) tapped in his par putt on the 18th green, congratulated his playing partners and then enjoyed a special hug with his father Bill. He had just won the 2015 Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship. He also became the first golfer in Bay State history to win that title

as well as the Massachusetts Amateur and New England Amateur Championships... all in the same calendar year. Dating back to May, McLaughlin has won a total of five major events – Hornblower Memorial Invitational (May), The Invitational (June), Massachusetts Amateur Championship (July), New England Amateur Championship (July) and Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship (August). It is a mark that has never been equaled.

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AROUND THE GAME Jimmy Hervol Captures 2015 Massachusetts Junior Amateur Championship Title at His Home Course of Hopkinton Country Club Hopkinton, MA — It all seemed to fall into perfect place for Jimmy Hervol (Hopkinton CC) o this year at the Mass Junior Amateur. After all, it was his course, In front of a gallery of friends, family and club members the 17-year-old Hopkinton native captured the 2015 Massachusetts Junior Amateur Championship at his home course of Hopkinton Country Club.

Nicholas Hampoian Wins the Pre-Junior Division Title Evan Grenus of TPC River Highlands put on a spectacular display of golf en-route to capturing the 113th Connecticut Amateur Championship, defeating Greg Reily of CC of Darien, 5 and 4. The state’s most prestigious amateur championship was conducted June 15th - 19th at Black Hall Club in Old Lyme, Conn.

Grenus, a rising sophomore at Wofford College, entered the finals of the Connecticut Amateur hoping to capture his second CSGA major championship in as many years, having won the Connecticut Junior Amateur last year. At just eighteen years of age, Grenus played a “golf marathon” of sorts, needing 10 extra holes to win his first three matches

Michael Thorbjornsen Wins the 1st Annual Massachusetts Boys Junior Amateur Championship Westwood, MA — Norfolk Golf Club, Even though Michael Thorbjornsen (George Wright GC) has had his fair share of wins but this one marked the first time that the 13 year old from Wellesley could call himself an inaugural MGA Champion. Thorbjornsen

fired a 1-under par 69 at Norfolk Golf Club to capture the 1st Massachusetts Boys Junior Amateur Championship. This event – which was announced last fall – featured competitors who are under the age of 14.

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AROUND THE GAME Joe & Mike Walker Fire a 2-under par 68 at Fall River CC to Capture the Senior Division Title at the 2015 Massachusetts Father & Son Championship Fall River, MA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; They had to wait two hours to claim their trophy at Fall River Country Club, but the team of Joe Walker (Dennis Pines GC) and Mike Walker (Dennis Pines GC) savored every moment of their senior division victory at the 2015 Massachusetts Father & Son Championship. Playing a historic layout at Fall River CC was certainly something that this field did not want to miss. After all, the course was established in 1895 and has been played by golf legends such as Harry Vardon, Francis Ouimet and Bobby Jones.

Steve & Steve Tasho Card 3-under par 67 to Capture Junior Division Title at the 2015 Massachusetts Father & Son Championship Fall River, MA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; It was their last chance to win this title, and the team of Steve Tasho (Thorny Lea GC) and Steve Tasho (Thorny Lea GC) made sure it would be a memorable one. The Tasho duo posted a score of 3-under par 67 at Fall River Country Club to capture the junior division title at the 2015 Massachusetts Father & Son Championship.

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AROUND THE GAME Third Time is the Charm for Bill & Katie Nelson; Duo Wins Championship Division Title at the 2015 Massachusetts Father & Daughter Championship Lakeville, MA — Bill Nelson (Blackstone GC) and Katie Nelson (Blackstone GC) enjoyed a moment together after posting an even par 72 at LeBaron Hill Country Club. It was their best score in three years at the Massachusetts Father & Daughter Championship and – as it turned out – it was the winning score in the Championship Division.

Phil & Morgan Smith Post Even Par 72 to Capture the Forward Division at the 2015 Massachusetts Father & Daughter Championship Lakeville, MA — Phil Smith (Vesper CC) has won this title before, but nothing was the same about his victory today at LeBaron Hills CC with his 11-year-old daughter Morgan Smith (Mount Pleasant GC). The Smith duo teamed up to capture the Forward Division title at the 2015 Massachusetts Father & Daughter Championship. One year ago, Phil Smith was victorious at this event with Molly, who was 9 years old at the time. Since tournament policy allows a father to play one round with one daughter, Morgan was given her chance to play with her father this time around.

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AROUND THE GAME Rhode Island Captures 2015 New England Junior Amateur Championship at The Purpoodock Club in Maine Cape Elizabeth, ME â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Patrick Welch was the low medalist at 2-under 211. His teammate Davis Chatfield was runner up at 212. And the Rhode Island Junior team walked away from the 2015 New England Junior Amateur Invitational with all the silver as they combined for a best-five-of-seven three-round total of 1,085, winning over defending champs Massachusetts by a commanding 19 shots.

Patrick Pelletier Wins 84th RIGA Open at Agawam Hunt CC EAST PROVIDENCE _ Patrick Pelletier scored the biggest victory of his young pro golf career when he birdied the next-to-last hole to pull out a one-stroke decision in the 84th RIGA Open at Agawam Hunt. Even as he was still being congratulated, Pelletier began thinking of ways to spend some of the $5,000 first-place check. Charlie Blanchard had a closing 65 to finish at 4-under 206, eight behind Pelletier, and earned low amateur honors. Cumberlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jamison Randall, who turned pro last month, closed with a 68 to tie for fifth at 7-under.

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AROUND THE GAME Davis Chatfield Wins RIGA Junior Championship The 94th RIGA Junior Championship turned into one big coming out party. Well, actually two big coming out parties. Davis Chatfield and Alexis Florio, two teenagers who have been hailed by golf insiders as future stars, used the event to post their first major victories. Wannamoisett’s Chatfield won the boys’ championship with a 2-up victory over Sam Knowlton of The Misquamicut Club. Alpine’s Florio took the girls’ crown with a 5-and-3 triumph over Allison Paik of The Wheeler School.

Oyster Harbors Club Again Leads Ouimet STOW, MA—Nick Wiseman, an assistant pro at Oyster Harbors Club, played 204 holes to bring his club again to the top fundraising position in the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund’s 23rd Golf Marathon in mid-August. The event raised a total of $282,000. The 2015 Ouimet Marathon, which is believed to be the highest fundraising Marathon in the United States this year, brought the total raised since the event’s inception in 1993 to $5.3 Million. Oyster Harbors Club has won the fundraising competition for seven of the past eight years. It was Weisman’s initial foray in the Marathon.

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AROUND THE GAME Peter French Finishes Strong to Win 2015 Ouimet Memorial AUBURNDALE, Mass. –Maplegate’s Peter French fired a final-round 66 to come from five behind and claim the title at the 48th Annual Francis Ouimet Memorial Tournament, The final round of the 54-hole event was contested at the only venue that’s ever hosted it, Woodland GC. The first two days took the venerable event to North Shore venues Essex County Club and Myopia Hunt Club. French, a rising senior at Johnson & Wales-Miami, shared the first round lead with Bretwood’s (N.H.) Damon Salo after producing a 68.

Cody Paladino Wins 81st Connecticut Open Cody Paladino of Wethersfield Country Club held a one stroke lead heading into the final day and never looked back, posting a one under-par round of 70 for a two stroke victory at the 81st Connecticut Open Championship at The Patterson Club. The state’s most prestigious open championship was held July 27th – 29th at the 6,824-yard par-71 course in Fairfield, Connecticut.

Megan Khang Wins 17th Connecticut Women’s Open Megan Khang, 17, of Rockland, Massachusetts began the day with a three shot lead at seven under-par and never looked back, capturing her third Women’s Open title in record fashion with rounds of 65-64—129. She finished the day nine strokes clear of Ashlan Ramsey of Greenvile, South Carolina, who took home low professional honors.

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September / Ooctober 2015 Vol 8 | Issue 7

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Whole Foods Marke t Annual Golf Classic Gabriella Gracef fa-B Tournament Direct or unker and Commit tee Member Rich Laurendeau are pro ud to suppor t Jim my Fund Golf.

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GORMAN VS GEARY

has five majors. The LPGA Tour needs more than another major or a female Masters Tournament to turn it around. What the LPGA needs is for more American women like Creamer (10), Lexi Thompson (5), Michelle Wie (4), Christie Kerr (17), Stacey Lewis (11) and Morgan Pressel (2) to win more. Combined this group of US players has a total of 49 career wins. After 22 events on the 2015 LPGA Tour, Korean’s have won 13 times and US ladies have only 3 wins. The message to US female players is to get a better game because foreigners, especially Korean women, are dominating the sport, and a women’s Masters Golf tournament is not going to change that fact. You may have noticed that through the When Billy Payne speaks people listen! So years The Masters has not changed its hugely when Tim Geary writes a column suggesting that successful and lucrative formula, so why bother women’s golf needs a Masters, readers should with an LPGA event? According to Golf Digest, grab a vomit bag! The Masters will generate about $115 million in Tim Geary is the Rodney Dangerfield of golf revenue this year, more than a five-fold increase writing. He “gets no respect” mainly because from the $22 million from 1997. And the profit to he spends 10 minutes each month the club could be $30 million, up typing trash, trying to be politifrom $7 million from 1997. cally correct and otherwise As with everything done sounding like an idiot. at Augusta National, the Trust me, if you meet him club has grown its revin-person, he’s a jerk! enue with patience and I tolerate a feathdiscipline and has never erweight like Geary beby Tom Gorman lost sight of the mission that cause he’s been my human the enjoyment of the player punching bag for seven years. Like and the patron is the top priority. From the Eveready bunny he takes the hits and keeps its beginning in 1934, the focus of the tournaon ticking, and, his golf gibberish actually makes ment has been to provide the best experience my stuff look good! He thinks women’s profespossible for the players and spectators. From the sional golf should have a Masters Golf tournaabsence of corporate logos to limiting the numment. Have you ever heard of such a bizarre ber of people inside the ropes (40,000), The Masidea? ters is the last major sporting event where the After Jordan Spieth won the Masters on April emphasis is solely on the game. That means that 14, this idea popped up from Paula Creamer, IBM, AT & T and Mercedes-Benz pay about $6 one of the most prominent figures in American million each in exchange for four minutes of adwomen’s golf, when she tweeted “I hope The vertising per hour, or about one-third of the comMasters will consider a Women’s Masters soon. mercial interruptions of other sporting events. They do so much to grow the game. Fastest I believe Billy Payne when he says the LPGA area of golf growth is women! #6 majors?” will never host an event at Augusta National. Masters chairman Billy Payne promptly rePaula Creamer and Tim Geary are dreaming sponded, “I don’t think so. I believe I had that since there are two types of people on the comquestion last year, or the year before. We have mercial side of golf. Those who do business with a very short member season at Augusta NaAugusta National and The Masters, and those tional. It’s only seven months. The time that we who want to do business with the most valuable, dedicate to the preparation and conduct of lucrative and ultra-private property in the game! the tournament is already extensive. I don’t think that we would ever host another tournament.” (Tom Gorman is a dreamer thinking that he Over the past decade women’s professional will someday play 18 holes at Augusta National.) golf has been on a slippery slope and already

Should women’s professional golf have a Masters?

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GORMAN VS GEARY

This is 2015 and not 1915, correct? Just checking because if this is really 2015 we should not even be having a debate over whether or not there should be a ladies’ Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. I understand that Augusta National’s social progress moves at a glacial pace. I know it took forever before the membership allowed its first non-Caucasian male member and then longer than forever to have its first female member, but it just makes too much sense not on television a female tournament at The to invite the ladies to the party for their own National would be. The golf course itself Masters (I don’t think it’d sit too well to call it attracts viewership. the Mistress). I would suggest that the tournament be Now, my noted colleague, who you will held in early May, a couple of weeks after the recognize by the bandages that adorn his men’s Masters. It might seem more prudent to hairy knuckles (from their constant dragging have it in the fall, but then you are going up on the ground), is opposed to this. against football and the baseball playoffs. Not surprising, considering Naturally the ladies would not that Tom Gorman is someplay the lengthy course that one who believes that we see in April, but more the only females who the normal member’s should ever be on a course. It would be great golf course be limtheatre, great golf and ited to driving bevereveryone would benefit. age carts. by Tim Geary There’s a United States If you look up “NeanWomen’s Open. There’s a derthal” in the dictionary you Women’s British Open. There’s the will see Mr. Gorman’s visage staring back LPGA Championship. The only thing missat you. ing is a Women’s Masters. A ladies Masters would be good for evThe thing that the LPGA needs is more eryone involved; the game of golf, the LPGA meaningful tournaments. This would be just Tour, some television network that gained the the shot in the arm that ladies golf needs. Virrights and the Augusta National Golf Club. ginia Slims without the nicotine. Especially the National. Golf, as an industry, is fading. There are What better way to show that the old, numerous reasons, from the expense to the stuffy, elitist traditions have been replaced or length of rounds. Getting more women interat least modified. No more threats from Marested in the game only helps the sport and tha Burke. More prestige, more exposure in a those who make their living from golf. positive light. There is no tournament in this country Heck, the place in hardly ever open for that garners as much attention as the Masplay anyway. It’s closed all summer because ters. Its a combination of factors, first major of the heat. It’s closed in the dead of winter of the year, a sign that winter is ending and because there is cold weather in Georgia in the golf course itself. Doubling up on that January, February and the first half of March. just seems to make sense..................... and And a ladies Masters would knock out one its time. of those phony LPGA majors, like the Nabisco There is no earthly reason why we canor the Dinah Shore. Better for golf as a whole. not have a ladies Masters tournament, And while viewership for women’s other than 18th century thinking. Again, professional golf is not a ratings bonanza just what year is this?

Should women’s professional golf have a Masters?

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