September 2013

The 2013 Deutsche Bank Championship

HENRIK STENSON

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From the Editor contents

The Perfect Life

by Katherine Dyson

Fedex Cup is Full of Money

It is hard to fathom the staggering amount of money each week PGA Tour Players compete for on tour events. The idea of winning over 1 million dollars for a weekends work seems almost unimaginable to most of us. In 1934 Horton Smith won the first Masters at Augusta National and received $1500.00 out of a $5000.00 purse. That same year Paul Runyan earned $6,767.00 and was the leading money winner in the “Playing Pros” Tour, which was formed in 1932. In 1980 Jack Nicklaus’s U.S. Open win at Pebble Beach earned him $55,000.00, a far cry from the 2013 win by Justin Rose at Merion which paid $1.4 million.

It was 1968 when the PGA Tour was formed from the Association of Professional Golfers. The FedEx Cup and PGA Tour Playoffs began in 2007 when Tiger Woods sweep the last two events, The BMW Championship and The Tour Championship, he was golf’s first 10 million dollar man.

The FedEx Cup arrived at the Deutsche Bank Championship this week, the second of four season ending playoff events in the race for the cup.

And in 2013 this cup is truly a king’s ransom.

In four events the Tour will have a purse of 8 million in each event over a five-week period that the top 125 players will compete for. After 3 weeks only the top 30 players will remain at the final event, The Tour Championship. In the final event the top 30 players will compete for a share of the weekly purse of 8 million as well as the FedEx Cup purse of 35 million, that puts 43 million dollars on the table for the final weekend of the year. In a lifetime the average American earns 1.6 million dollars, the same amount paid out for 5th place in the FedEx Cup, incredible!

Timothy Branco Editor / Publisher

9

The Fashion Leaderboard

15

Two Good Rounds

22

Couple of Travelers

24

Ward’s Words

26

Celebrity Golfer

28

Ross’ Rulings

34

Player’s Perspective

43

Gorman vs. Geary

60

by Elle Brec

by Elisa Gaudet

by Alice and Danny Scott

by M. James Ward

by Leigh MacKay

by Jack Ross

by Ed Travis

by Tom Gorman & Tim Geary

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The Perfect Life

by Katharine Dyson

Fall Golf Flings at theTurn

Donald, one of my favorite golfing buddies does not believe in “doahead” tee times. Not Donald. He waits until the weather is a prefect “10”, then makes the call. “Ready for golf? See you in 45 minutes.” Donald doesn’t do rain, or sleet or hurricane-force winds. He doesn’t do “so hot that the dog is chasing the cat and they’re both dragging their tails” either.

But I can guarantee Donald will call on one of those brilliant fall days, when the leaves are just beginning to flutter to the ground, the sky set deep blue with drifts of white wispy clouds and temperatures hovering between sweater and vest.

Can golf on our doorstep get any better than here in the fall? Colors explode in a cacophony of oranges, reds, and yellows pillowing over hillsides and luring tree peepers north to take it all in.

When you stand on the first tee at The Sagamore Golf Course in Bolton Landing, New York, you’ll understand why Donald Ross broke his own rule never to design a starting hole facing east. Teeing off into the early morning sun can be a blinding experience, but Ross was so taken by the view of tall pines and

Lake George straight ahead, he made an exception.

Can you just imagine this view in autumn? Then later on other holes, the tall white spire of a church pokes up through the blaze of maples.

To be part of the fall pilgrimage, book a two night golf package at The Sagamore Resort with two nights accommodations, unlimited golf for two after 12pm, use of the practice range, use of cart and 15% discount in pro shop from $199. Thesagamore.com Get to the Adirondacks before the snow flies and rates start at $99 at the Northwoods Inn for accommodations, breakfast and golf with a cart. Course choices include Craig Wood Golf Course, the Whiteface Club Course or the Saranac Inn Golf Course. Choose from the Whiteface Club, Mirror Lake Inn, Resort & Spa

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and Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort as well as home rentals at the Whiteface Club. Whitefaceclubresort.

Saratoga Springs named by Golf Digest as one of the top two “Best Golf Towns in America”, may be the “in” place to be in August when the thoroughbreds race and early risers sit in wicker chairs on wide porches of fine old homes sipping coffee and nibbling pastries while checking out their racing forms.

But after the horses head south, you will find this lovely area holds great promise for golfers. Certainly when Mark Twain called golf “a good walk spoiled”, he couldn’t hadn’t teed off here – but then it’s possible he didn’t even own a set of clubs. If he had played in Saratoga, he certainly he would have found great pleasure in both the walk and the golf.

One of the best courses in the state, Saratoga National designed by Roger Rulewich, is the centerpiece of a golf package starting at $349 offering two rounds, one night at the Saratoga Hilton, breakfast, a sleeve of Pro V1 balls, use of the practice facility and a gift pack. Other packages includes courses like Saratoga Spa Championship Course and McGregor Links Golf Club. golfsaratoga.com Close to New York City, Pound Ridge Golf Club and the boutique hotel Delamar Greenwich Harbor just over the border in Connecticut, have teamed up for their autumn Stay-and-Play Package. Priced from $515, you get a $20 food and beverage credit at the

course, 10% discount in the pro shop, continental breakfast in the hotel, bottle of wine or champagne and golf at Pound Ridge. The course, a high-end beauty by Pete Dye featuring dramatic rock formations and spectacular settings, is a coveted must-play for Westchester County golfers and visitors. Poundridgegolf.com

Maine

Within a wedge shot of the National Historic District in Bethel, the gracious old Bethel Inn, hosts many golfing guests who come to play the classic Geoffrey Cornish-designed course. Here where there are no

Bethel Inn traffic lights, the population is but 2300 and the nearest MacDonalds is 22 miles away, you can savor the turn of the seasons while playing on a lovely old course. You can also bone up on your angling skills at

Saratoga National GC

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Wild Dunes Resort

Ocean Edge Resort the Orvis fly fishing school.

A three day/two night getaway from $399 includes accommodations in the inn, golf, four course dinner in the Dining Room or Tavern, country breakfast and use of other facilities like the tennis courts, whirlpool, saunas, fitness center, canoes and kayaks. Also ask about a group plan that can include things like a lakeside lobster bake, discounts on logoed items, prizes and meals. Bethelinn.com

Massachusetts

Looking for culture and fun in the country along with your color fix? You’ll hit the jackpot in the gently rolling Berkshires in western Massachusetts where art, theater, dance, music, and history along with hiking

8th Hole, Cranwell

trails, lakes and streams are everywhere.

Cranwell Resort, Spa & Golf Club in Lenox, a 19th century hilltop brick mansion with accommodations in cottages, townhouses and a carriage house has an expansive full- service spa, an indoor and outdoor pool, tennis courts, three restaurants and a classic onsite18-hole golf course. Cranwell’s Unlimited Golf Package from $183 per person, includes one night’s lodging, unlimited golf one day with cart, free bucket of range balls, $20 dining credit, and use of the spa. www.cranwell.com Fall on Cape Cod could not be more idyllic for golf and things like beach combing, shopping, and exploring the vast dunes and walking along streets lines by historic homes. Cape Cod’s climate is more moderate than the other parts of New England so typically you can play year-round.

Stay at the Ocean Edge Resort in Brewster this fall and purchase a round of golf on Cape Cod’s only Nicklaus Design course and they’ll throw in a free round of golf or bike rental. Stay in a one bedroom villa or newly renovated rooms in the Mansion Wing.

If you’re over 50 years of age, you can take 20% off the rate. Oceanedge.com If islands are on your mind start your golf trip with an overnight stay at the Bayside Resort in West Yarmouth, then wake the next morning and hop the ferry to the island of Nantucket. Your package includes two nights lodging, roundtrip ferry transportation, golf at Miacomet Golf Club with carts and continental breakfast from $269. Bayside also features a number of other golf packages with golf on Cape Cod;s many courses. Baysideresort-hotel.com

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Omni Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods Sandestin

New Hamphire

The White Mountains are spectacular in the fall so why not combine a stay at the White Mountain Hotel & Resort in North Conway with golf on Hale’s Location Golf Course, a nine-hole mountain track designed

by Albert Zikorus. A two night weekend package includes two nights’ accommodations, at the White Mountain Resort, 18 holes of golf with cart and country breakfast from $229. Whitemountainhotel.com Named in the Top Ten New Hampshire golf courses by Golf Digest, Owl’s Nest Golf Course in Campton rides over hills flanked by breathtaking hardwoods in full color and tall pines. A Golf & Stay package geared to three or more people, is priced from $99 giving you accommdations in a townhome or condo, golf and use of a cart. The resort has a pool, Activities Center, and restaurant. Owlsnestresort.com For the big resort experience check into the Omni Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods where your balcony in this stately grand dame overlooks the Presidential Range and Mt Washington. A Stay Here, Play Free package from $229 per night, rolls out deluxe accommodations and a voucher for your choice of activity — could be golf with cart, a 3-hour Canopy Tour or a 50 minute spa treatment. Accommodations in The Lodge or Townhomes are great for golfing groups with prices starting at $119 per person with unlimited golf. Brettonwoods.com

Vermont

Shifting from white mountains to green to blazing color, Vermont’s mountains provide drama on and off the course. Take the Woodstock Inn & Resort where golfers are invited to play two courses including the ultra private The Quechee Club’s tracks designed by Geoffrey Cornish and Woodstock’s own Robert Trent Jones-designed Golf Course. This is perfect for couples looking for highly romantic digs — some rooms have fireplaces.

Included are two nights accommodations in the Woodstock Inn named one of the “world’s top 100 golf resorts” by Golf Magazine, two rounds of golf with cart, continental breakfasts and use of the practice facility. Woodstockinn.com At Mt Snow, well known for its excellent golf school, two night golf packages from $189 per person, include 36 holes of golf with a cart, accommocations and breakfasts. Golf School Packages are also available.

Mountsnow.com

Prince Edward Island

If you’re hurry you can grab some end-of-the-year golf in one of the most interesting places in our hemisphere, Prince Edward Island (PEI), the smallest province in Canada just off the coast of New Brunswick.

With 33 courses, long sandy beaches where the only footprints you see may be your own and seafood you

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The Links at Crowbush Cove - PEI will relish, PEI is a great fall golf destination.

Among the money-saving fall deals is a stay at the waterside Inn At The Pier on Cavendish Beach. For $229 you enjoy two nights’ accommodations, two rounds of golf per person, breakfasts, two hour kayak rental and confirmed tee times. Or opt for the Couples Golf Escape with two nights’ lodging at the quaint Cavandish Maples Cottages, a round of golf, bottle of wine and luxury bath robes for two from $174.

Geared to golf fanatics, at the Rodd Brudenell River Resort, the 72 Hour Challenge from $299 includes 72 holes in 72 hours. You get two nights’ accommodatins with rounds Annikka The Academy at Dundarave, Links at Crowbush Cove and Brudenell River. tourismpei.com P.S. Don’t forget your passport.

Tennessee

For a change of pace, think south to Sevierville, Tennesssee in the Great Smoky Mountains where fall golf getaways start at $95 for golf, room and breakfast.

Sevierville’s Fall Golf Getaways put golfers up in one of the Hampton Inn & Suites and Comfort Suites properties and you can play one or both courses at the Sevierville Golf Club, The River and The Highlands where you get a mix of mountain and meadow. Fallgolfgetaway.com And did we mention that in autumn, more is falling than the leaves? Prices too come down from summer rates.

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The Deutsche Bank Championship

Fashion Leaderboard

by Elle Brec

It was so fun to have all the best golfers from around the world right here in Norton, MA for the Deutsche Bank Championship and we proudly bring you the Fashion Leaderboard for the fourth year in a row. For all tournaments, the golfer’s sponsor suggests four outfits complete with hats, belts, shoes, pants, shirts, vests, sweaters, rain jackets, and socks, but ultimately it is up to the player to decide what they will be wearing. Most of the time, the layering pieces or back up outfits do not see much attention. When golfers showed up on the greens early Thursday morning, it was cool and some even needed sweaters, like winner Henrik Stenson in this Hugo Boss. Then subsequently they got a taste of the variety of New England weather as their apparel was required to withstand fog, light rain, heavy rain, humidity, hot sun, and cool breezes. Does the clothes make the man or the man make the clothes?

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2.Rickie Fowler

1.Keegan Bradley No loafers for Keegan Bradley as the playoffs for the FedEx Cup are here, just like black and red wore by Jordan in the playoffs, Keegan stunts in his BRED and white brand Jordan golf cleats. He limits his slices down the fairway, not needing to chase the winners dough, just adding an accomplishment to the fold as this star continues to rise.

Bradley has had the chance to pick Jordan’s brain on mental toughness as the two hit the links together sometimes since they both live in pro golfer heaven, Jupiter FL With cool Tommy apparels, we especially loved the light blue striped shirt for the first round and the plaid pants for the third round. Everyone loves his quirkiness, and we give him unique style points for stamping his favorite phrase “Baba Booey” on his clubs.

Rickie Fowler is constantly cracking up his fans with his character, Dick Fowler made an appear-

3.Hunter Mahan

ance at the TPC Boston as he lit up the web like wildfire this week, a 70s throwback alter-ego with aviator sunglasses and handlebar mustache appears in two hilarious new Farmers Insurance commercials, view them here. Playing the whole tournament in this persona may have given him an extra edge on the competition, as no one would be able to stop laughing long enough to hit the ball. Everything Rickie wears is cutting edge style, we just like it better when Sunday orange has a pattern rather than solid on solid.

Hunter Mahan in Under Armor turned up their style with great seasonal transition colors, bright bold shades that work for both the summer and fall. A guy has to have some serious confidence to wear dark lilac purple pants with a coordinated dark purple plum striped polo, the ladies love it but other guys may jokingly tease him about it.

4.Ian Poulter

5.Graeme McDowell

September 2013 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 15

6.Graeme DeLaet The third day he was eye-catching with orange pants and a gray and orange polo.

Mr. Style Ian Poulter always makes our list as he pays attention to every detail of his apparel. The red, white, and blue wasn’t the favorite but we loved the third round shade of blue pants, like the Mediterranean Sea, paired with a black polo with stripes. Wearing perfectly coordinated PUMA cleats, the IJP M.O. Somehow he is the only one that can pull off the visor look, we are bigger fans of hats but he makes his signature style work.

Graeme McDowell wearing his own G-MAC by Kartel line, we loved the salmon and navy blue basket weave (zoom in) with classy, small, with matching navy blue pants worn for the first round and on the last day, pieces from his brand new collection, his polo a sunshine shade to brighten

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the overcast day with exquisitely matched subtle, yellow and navy blue plaid slacks, as they say in Ireland.

The rain could be described as pineapple mist as the rain drops were small but prickly on the skin.

Pineapple Mist is also how the first round Sligo outfit worn by Graeme DeLaet could be described as his cool gray polo contrasts well with the trendy pineapple almost faded lime green colored pants paired well with the piping on the polo. For round two he wore our favorite summer plaid pants, most likely one of the last time we’ll see this collection as it is that time to switch it up. Blue must be his power color, a better choice than red as blue has a higher energy than red, and random piece of advice, touch screens are blue lights so try to limit use before going to sleep.

7.Adam Scott 8.Tiger Woods

The hot reining Masters champion Adam Scott makes his first leaderboard appearance as we normally see him in plain white Uniqlo polo, finally switched it up with perfect colors to tie the summer and fall seasons together, a dark salmon shade of red on the first day and olive for the entertaining second round played with Tiger and Phil. Bonus points for the Uniqlo mesh belt adding color and texture to matching looks on each day, it can be buckled anywhere for the perfect fit and the stretch fabric adds further comfort. Other attention

to detail are his Oakley shades in Auburn to brighten the cloud shade and Allen Edmunds shoes.

Tiger Woods makes our leaderboard for the sheer reason that he makes the tucked in Nike polo look real good with his six pack. Golf shirts do not flatter the belly, especially if a camera snaps a side angle of the follow through. These pro golfers have sweet lives, and their sport itself does not keep them in the best physical condition. It is up to them to stay in shape in their down time, requiring incredible discipline. Tiger

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9.Jason Dufner

doesn’t always keep his urges under control but when it comes to his health, it shows.

Jason Dufner sets trends with his personality not his appearance, like Dufnering and his hilarious goofy manner capturing the attention of fans, but even more so, his hot, fashionable wife Amanda. Wearing classic Perry Ellis salmon polo and navy blue pants the first day, and the second day a classic New England red and his white pants held up in the rain. For the third round

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we liked the white washed look, a stylish asymmetrical subtle silver argyle design on the polo was necessary so the look wasn’t too plain.

Charlie Hoffman turned up his style for this weekend, cut off his long blonde locks switched to a straight line up, with a sleek Travis Mathew polo. He is a chill guy to represent their brand, check out their new ice-cream truck, on the awesome tour, it looks like Pharrell’s shop in NYC. Charlie tied his whole GQ look together with

10.Charlie Hoffman one the best Footjoy shoes from the collection. When Charlie smiles, so does everyone else, just like he did after his awesome chip right in from the sand hazard.

Honorable mention on the Leaderboard is Bruins forward Shawn Thornton, who is from Canada but represents Boston so well. It is evident in his outfit for Thursdays Pro-Am, as he and well known Boston sports fan, Keegan, had a great time together.

Our fan fashion from the tournament is awarded to this lady, as long sun dresses were so pretty this summer. When there is 100% humidity, there is nothing better than a long cotton dress as it doesn’t stick to the body and the fabric is breathable. Add a cool pattern and a flirty ruffle at the bottom for style. Thanks Emily Kay for the photo of Rick Fowler, and special thanks to our amazing Tour photographer Ken Dennis.

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Molori Unplugged

by John Molori

Rico Petrocelli: A Legend on the Links Rico Petrocelli is as much a part of Boston baseball lore as the Green Monster and a bloody sock. Since his debut with the Red Sox in 1963, he has been a fixture as a player, coach, broadcaster, and ambassador. Baseball, however, is not Petrocelli’s only game.

“I got my first set of golf clubs when I signed with the Red Sox,” explains the 70-year-old Petrocelli, who hit 210 homers in his 13-year Red Sox career.

“Our bat makers, Hillerich and Bradsby, gave us a deal. You could either get $200 cash or set of golf clubs. I chose the clubs.

Petrocelli, a Brooklyn native and president of the Petrocelli Marketing Group, played his first round of golf with his brothers. “I was absolutely awful,” says the man who caught the pennant winning pop up for the 1967 Red Sox. “I thought I would be a scratch golfer right away. That’s not how it happens.”

In 1969, Petrocelli hit a then-AL record 40 home runs as a shortstop, a mark that stood until 1998 when Alex Rodriguez hit 42. As Petrocelli’s playing career progressed, so did his golf game. “I began to play more charity tournaments and I really wanted to learn the fundamentals of the game. I read magazines and watched videos, and my game improved.”

Petrocelli ranks eighth all-time in games played for the Red Sox, but in retirement, golf took center stage.

“I got really serious about the game and I worked on my swing. I just loved being on the course. If you play more, you will get better, but if you practice the wrong way. You’ll actually get worse.”

Among the Nashua, NH resident and Red Sox Hall of Famer’s favorite courses are The International, Worcester Country Club, Sky Meadow and Vesper. TPC Norton and Sawgrass are other local favorites, and his bucket list includes Pebble Beach and playing in Scotland and Ireland.

Participating in the 1967 and 1975 World Series was exciting, but Petrocelli recalls a similarly satisfying golf moment. “It was two years ago at Marlborough Country Club on the 161 yard, par 3 seventh hole. I got my first hole-in-one! The pin was a bit up front, and I did not see the ball go in. As we got closer, someone asked if I shot a Titleist. It was in the hole!”

The game of golf has also taken on a higher mean-

ing for Petrocelli. He explains, “Links Players International is a Christian ministry where people come from all different churches and play golf. We started one up locally about four years ago. We meet at a course, have lunch, do a short Bible study with some discussion, and then we play golf. It’s non-denominational and everybody is welcome. Basically we use golf to promote our faith and lead to a stronger church life.”

Petrocelli, who authored the book “Tales from the Impossible Dream Red Sox” and writes a regular column for “Boston Baseball Magazine,” had his right hip replaced three years ago and will have his left hip replaced in October. Despite this, he hopes to continue to enjoy the game of golf. “I get out and play at least two times a week and go to the range a couple of times a week.

“I’ve always been a competitive person, but for me, the real thrill is trying to get the ball to the hole. It’s like coming up to bat with a man on base. Your approach is important. That’s what keeps me excited about playing.”

John Molori is the co-author of “The Cracker Jack Collection: Baseball’s Prized Players.” Email John at molorimedia@aol.com.

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Destination Golf Is Closer Than You Think 30 Minutes from Providence...

40 Minutes from Worcester...

50 Minutes from Boston...

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Two Good Rounds

by Elisa Gaudet

Liberty...

More than freedom, a vision

It warms my Boston heart when I hear Paul Fireman say the word “harbor” which he often does given the spectacular location of his visionary creation, Liberty National Golf Course. The course is perfectly situated in New York Harbor with breathtaking views of Manhattan and Lady Liberty standing watch in center stage.

Hole number 14, a 150 yard par 3, and hole number 18, a 490 yard par 4, have such astounding views and are so beautiful that you are left in awe of the magnitude, beauty and vision to create such a work of art. This 7,353 yard Tom Kite and Bob Cupp designed course combines both beauty and challenge. Liberty National has played host to the Barclays tournament two times; first in 2009 and now in 2013. Some changes were made after the 2009 event and this time around the course appeared to have won the approval of the players and critics as the reviews were positive, especially from one Australian, Adam Scott.

Liberty National is one of those layouts that effortlessly appear as if it was sculpted into the surrounding environment and that it has been there all along. Given that not so long ago this property was a landfill and industrial wasteland it is immediately evident that no expense was spared for its transformation. From a location which blends seamlessly with the marsh enclosed waterfront to

a surprisingly challenging layout as well as the $60 million dollar club house that looks like a glass ship about to set sail into the harbor. The club house was inspired by the Sydney Opera House and is 57,000 square feet of glass and steel. Inside is pure pampering from the locker rooms to the library, bar, formal dining and fitness center.

Paul Fireman is no stranger to visionary ideas. He took Reebok from a $65,000 investment, buying the North American distribution rights for the sneaker company in 1979, to a public company before selling it to rival company Adidas in 2006 for $3.8 billion. His take away from the deal was close to $700 million. Besides building companies he has had experience building and rebuilding various golf courses and owned Willowbend on Cape Cod in Mashpee, Massachusetts from 1991 to 2012.

Liberty is the result of Paul’s cumulative experiences and the perfecting of his dream.

After playing a round and spending time at this amazing facility you realize it is well worth every cent of the $250 million it cost to build. And much like after visiting a historic building, or a great monument you appreciate that Paul Fireman’s vision and desire to leave a legacy has been achieved. Not bad for a former Thorny Lea caddy from Brockton, Massachusetts.

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Couple of Travelers

by Alice and Danny Scott

Oak Hill Hub and Spoke Travel

Who didn’t drool over the weekend conditions at Oak Hill’s PGA Championship? Though a private course, it is representative of the many gorgeous layouts for public play in New York. Rochester’s airport serves as the hub to spoke out near and far. Rather than taking a vacation, let the vacation take you as road signs may lead spontaneously to over 100 wineries, golf clubs and historic sites. At Ventosa Winery and Café couples sip samples on the veranda by the vineyard watching sailboats dotting Seneca Lake while waiting their turn to discuss wedding arrangements – a most romantic setting. Second only to Napa Valley for US wine production, the region is known more for white wines, but we were delighted by the Red Voss.

Three Brothers Winery has distinctively fun settings

to suit dry, sweet and brewery fans. Every vineyard tells a different story.

Regional accommodations are abundant with B and Bs, houseboats, hotels and lodges like Bristol Harbour Resort, perched in a clearing above Lake Canandaigua. The golf course is a mountain walk with a few glimpses of the lake and wine barrels for distance markers on the range. This is a quiet retreat with dining and spa. If you prefer action, stay at the Inn at the Lake. Rooms have balcony waterside views in walking distance to downtown. Rent any sort of vessel – paddleboards, sailboats, kayaks, you name it.

Local boaters dock at night for dinner and live music, enjoying the impromptu fireworks that often light the sky, reflecting on the lake. Close by Ravenwood Golf

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Club is a fresh new favorite course, and a big dare for players from the tips. Greystone and Mill Creek Golf Clubs round out the official Finger Lakes Golf Trail.

Thousand Islands Country Club is a three-hour scenic northern spoke, along the St. Lawrence Seaway, designed in the early 1900s for tycoons such as Rockefeller and Pullman. George Boldt of Waldorf Astoria fame is the main character of history. The German built the Boldt Castle for his wife who died during construction, so he halted the project. $45m of restorations later, it is a memorable boat tour of castles and mansions, saving a trip across the pond.

Just two hours west of Rochester is one of the world’s greatest wonders - Niagara Falls. Maiden of the Mist is a thrilling voyage to experience, cruising close to the thunderous falls, getting sprayed but remaining relatively dry by a souvenir poncho.

Summer is chronicled by harvests from spring strawberries to autumn apples. The Historic Byway, Route 20 links farm stands, tag sales, sites and festivals. Main street shops, memorials, canon parks and folks still humming on front porch swings are featured in every hamlet. The river, locks and lake converge at the Ludovico Sculpture Trail in Seneca Falls, next to the Women’s Rights National Historic Park. Play Indian Head Golf in Cayuga and watch Ospreys perform aerial stunts above their nests. Dutch Hollow Country Club and Highland Golf Course are very

pretty and affordable tracks in Auburn. In Skaneateles, Mirbeau Spa is a Monet styled magnet for the rich and famous. Apple orchards lead east to Cazenovia where the Lorenzo Driving competition is a horse and carriage scene of the past. Brewster’s Inn serves Veal Atlantis on the lakeshore patio while the Scottish owners at Brae Loch dish out legal haggis and crab feasts.

Bouckville hosts the largest antique show in the east in August. Around the corner, owners Mike and Sally Intartaglia of Barker Brook Golf Club in Oriskany Falls treat golfers as friends. The front nine is tight, heavily wooded with waterways and well-groomed greens, often slick and slanted. The back nine delivers more wide-open views of rolling hills and gigantic white windmills. It is minutes from Turning Stone Resort Casino where Tiger and others will have just played in his college roommate’s, Notah Begay III Foundation Challenge. Stay and play the Atunyote, Shenendoah and Kaluhyat courses or practice indoors.

Big name entertainment, world-class spas, gaming room and restaurants complete the package. Hop right on the 90 throughway to zip back to Rochester or easterly home to New England. A fall foliage bonanza calls for a trip to the Finger Lakes Region and beyond. See www.newyorksgolf.com for golf course listings, www.fingerlakestravelny.com for regional info or www.iloveny.com for hub and spoke travel options in the state next door.

September 2013 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 25

Ward’s Words

by M. James Ward

Does Your Driving Range Have What It Takes?

McGolf Driving Range - Dedham, MA

How often are balls rotated?

Given what one pays to hit golf balls today -- large buckets containing 150 balls can run in the $14-16 range it behooves any driving range facility to respect their customers and provide balls that don’t have the paint falling off their round shapes or the letter writing so faded to be nearly invisible. Ball flight is a critical component when practicing and hitting balls beaten up so badly only serves to greatly hamper that element.

sadly many others move on to other pursuits. Why? Many facilities fail to reach those coming out. How many locations actively solicit e-mail address introducing prospective players to teachers at the range or other amenities? Unfortunately, even when teachers are available the quality of the instruction is a mixed bag. The best driving ranges make the connection and build a beginning interest in golf to a life-long passion with certified teachers who can improve the games of those wanting to learn.

Mats upgraded?

Is turf provided for irons ?

In conjunction to the quality of the golf balls is the quality of the mats. Nearly all facilities use rubber mats with a strip of artificial turf attached. Good facilities should upgrade when it becomes obvious the mats and the artificial turf have worn away to nearly nothing from heavy usage.

How well lighted and accurately marked is the facility?

Many driving ranges stay open when the sunsets -although a number provide lighting equivalent to a solitary flashlight. Players want to see ball flight for a good portion the ball.

Is there an effective teaching component included?

Most driving ranges are often the place where beginners get exposed to golf. Some will continue with the game --

A real draw for players is having natural grass to hit irons and fairway metals, hybrids, etc, etc. Some ranges do not have natural grass because it’s not doable for space reasons.

For those that do have it -- the question is how well prepared is the area and does the management rotate the space so that constant play doesn’t mean a complete dirt outcomes with only limited grass coverage.

Does facility have practice green, bunker(s), etc, etc.

Better ranges provide a practice green to work on one’s stroke -- often it may not be natural grass but artificial turf.

That’s fine so long as the quality of the product is maintained. The same applies for practice bunkers -- many facilities often leave the used portion with little or no sand -- the net result a hole in the ground that serves no purpose.

Sun N’ Air Golf Center - Danvers, MA 26 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | September 2013

September 2013 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 27

Celebrity Golfer: Steve Mona, CEO of the World

by Leigh MacKay Golf Foundation

Steve Mona has undoubtedly remained well below your radar as a “Celebrity Golfer,” but the CEO of the World Golf Foundation doesn’t mind in the least. Inside his office at St. Augustine’s World Golf Village—a golf mecca/resort with the World Golf Hall of Fame and the two championship courses, Slammer & Squire and King & Bear—his work is behind the scenes as he fulfills the mission of the WGF to focus “on a variety of initiatives to grow and celebrate the game of golf around the world.”

To the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors to whom he reports, Mona is, without question, one of the “Most Powerful People in Golf,” an accolade he has received every year since 1999. The long-term direction and policies of the WGF are determined by these seven men and Steve Mona.

Imagine sitting around the boardroom table with these commissioners, executive directors, and CEO’s of golf’s most influential governing bodies: Pete Bevacqua, PGA of America; Mike Davis, USGA; Peter Dawson, The R&A; Tim Finchem, PGA TOUR; Will Jones, The Masters; George O’Grady, European Tour; and Michael Whan, LPGA. Imagine also discussing these initiatives with these men that, as Steve Mona quoted, “positively impact lives through the game of golf and its traditional values.” Several of these initiatives are the World Golf Hall of Fame, The First Tee, and Golf 20/20.

Mona is well qualified for his significant responsibilities. His first golf industry job was as tournament director of the Northern California Golf Association and then as the assistant manager of press relations for the USGA. In 1983, he was named the executive director of the Georgia State Golf Association. In 1993, he became the CEO of the Golf Course Superintendents

Association of America, a position he held until 2008 when he assumed the role as CEO of the WGF. So, learn a little more about Steve Mona and the World Golf Foundation to see if you don’t agree that he deserves “Celebrity Golfer” status, even if he is reluctant to accept it.

NEGM: What is the purpose of the World Golf Foundation?

SM: PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman, in the early 1990’s, had a vision to create an organization that would bring the golf industry together to collaborate on initiatives that no one organization could take on by itself. The World Golf Foundation takes on the biggest, broadest issues confronting the game of golf.

In 1997, the first initiative was The First Tee program. The second initiative was the World Golf Hall of Fame, opening in 1998. Third was Golf 20/20 in 2000.

In early 2007, Tim Finchem reorganized the board to get all the people who could influence golf decisions on a world-wide basis in the same room.

NEGM: Why isn’t the WGF as well-known as the USGA or the PGA of America?

SM: WGF is a trade brand, meaning we’re not a consumer brand. We’re not trying to create a high profile in golf along the lines of a PGA of America, the USGA, or PGA TOUR. Our work is done at the trade level, so essentially we serve to bring the industry together on a number of issues. Our individual brands are more important than the umbrella organization of the WGF. The First Tee is a consumer brand. We spend a lot of time promoting The First Tee, and it has become a remarkable program. Same thing with the WGHOF, a consumer brand that celebrates the history and personalities that have made the game unique. Golf 20/20 is also a trade brand, and the US golf industry helps to

28 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | September 2013

support its mission of growing interest and participation in the game.

NEGM: How often do you meet with the Board?

What do you discuss with these men?

SM: We have three meetings a year. Our only in person meeting is the Wednesday afternoon of the Masters. Our second and third meetings are confer-

ence calls. In the late summer we finalize the inductees for the WGHOF. In early December we review our annual performance for the year and propose the budget and strategic plans for the following year. I meet and talk to individual board members all year long.

We discuss broad issues that affect the game. For example, we discussed how to get golf into the Olympics, which became a reality for 2016. We also formulated golf’s anti-doping policy that each tour now administers.

And we informally discussed the anchoring ban outside the board room.

NEGM: The success of The First Tee and the legacy of the World Golf Hall of Fame are well known, but what is Golf 20/20 and how does it work?

SM: It is golf’s trade organization in that it is the public information

office of the golf industry. It oversees areas that formulate research for our initiatives, improves public and media relations through our Image of the Game initiative, and contacts government agencies through our We Are Golf lobby.

Image of the Game and We Are Golf publicize four major points: (1) the golf industry makes a substantial contribution to the economic well being of the country with its $69 billion a year impact and two million jobs; (2) the charitable impact of golf is around $4 billion a year, most of it from one-day events at the country’s 15,000 golf courses. (3) properly sited, designed, constructed, and maintained, a golf course can be an environmental asset; (4) golf has important health and wellness benefits to complement one’s physical fitness routine.

Golf 20/20’s most important initiative is Get Golf Ready, a huge success in introducing people to golf.

By the end of 2013, it will be in 4,000 facilities with 100,000 people “graduating.”

NEGM: What should golfers remember about the purpose of the World Golf Foundation?

SM: One, that player development and growing the game are our biggest concerns, with diversity a major component of each. Two, that we are the starting point of a very vital three-step process: we facilitate conversation that leads to action that generates increased interest and participation in the game worldwide. I like to say that the World Golf Foundation sets the stage upon which other golf organizations and associations walk.

For more information about the World Golf Foundation, World Golf Hall of Fame, and World Golf Village access their respective websites: www.worldgolffoundation.org; www.worldgolfhalloffame.org; www.worldgolfvillage.com.

September 2013 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 29

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Private Golf Clubs In New England Are Getting Creative.

Segregansett Country Club offers innovating 2013-2015 membership special and continues its “Member for a Day” Program through fall season.

Taunton, MA September, 1st 2013 As private country club struggle to acquire new members Segregansett Country Club located in Taunton, Massachusetts has launched a series of programs to allow golfers value based membership at their club for new members to play from September 2013 to July in 2015 at one fixed member rate. Beginning September 1st new members can join the club for $2950.00 that would cover their membership fee for fall of 2013, the full year in 2014 and to July 1st in 2015.

Aside from being the best deal in golf in the region for a private club member the new members on this program are exempt from monthly assessment fees of $40.00 and only are required to pay monthly food minimum of $55.00, the MGA handicap fee of $35.00 yearly and Locker Fee of $35.00 yearly. For those joining in September this program will provide 20 months of golf for less than $150.00 average monthly

cost. In addition there is no mandatory cart fees and players can walk /carry with no restrictions. There are no playing restrictions as part of this program, it is for a regular single full membership.

Segregansett is also offering great deals on full family memberships and new levels of Young Adult Memberships in 21-25 / 25-30/ 30-35 that are also great values.

Segregansett will continue to offer its “ Member for a Day” program, which will allow single players, groups and families to enjoy the club for a day and meet some of the members and the staff. Weekday tee times are available for only $40.00 with a cart and $50.00 weekends. The program will be extended for the fall season.

For more information or a tee time contact Rob Baxter at 508-824-9144 or the main office at the club at 508-824-9110. http://www.segregansett.com

A Member Friendly Golf Facility for All Handicap Levels

New Membership Drive September 2013 to July 1st, 2015 Full Membership $2950.00 Contact Tom Pinkerton at (508) 245-8287 Member For a Day Program Bring Your Favorite 4Some to our Club and be a member for a day.

Weekdays $40.00 w/ cart Weekends $50.00 w/cart Call the Pro Shop for Tee Times at (508) 824-9144

Segregansett Country Club

Call (508) 824-9110 ext. 11 or email segregansett@comcast.net

Young Adult Membership New Categories Now Available

September 2013 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 31

Ross’ Rulings How Many Clubs Are In Your Bag?

by Jack Ross

Woody Austin missed the cut at the PGA Championship at Oak Hill by one stroke because he inadvertently left a hybrid club in his bag. Austin had considered replacing his 3-iron with the hybrid, and discovered the extra club when he removed the rain cover from his bag on his fourth hole of the day.

He was penalized four strokes under Rule 4-4 for carrying more than fourteen clubs (two strokes per hole up to a maximum of four). In match play, the penalty is one hole for each hole the extra club was carried, up to a maximum of two holes.

Prior to 1938, there was no limit on the number of clubs, and some players carried two dozen or more.

It is not certain how the USGA arrived at the 14club limit, but no doubt caddies must have been happy with the new rule.

If one of your playing partners accidentally puts one of his clubs in your bag, you are not penalized if you don’t use the club. Similarly, there is no penalty if you find a lost club on the course, put in your bag, and turn it in to the pro shop at the end of your round, as long as you don’t use it. However, you cannot escape the penalty if, at the start of your round, you place an extra club on the floor of your golf cart and declare it out of play.

If you start a round with less than fourteen clubs, you are permitted to add a club (or clubs) during the round, provided that this does not unduly delay play and you do not add a club that was selected for

use by anyone else on the course. If you start with fourteen clubs and lose a club during a round, you may not replace the club. You may, however, replace a club that becomes damaged in the normal course of play if this does not unduly delay play. (Rule 4-3) A club damaged by throwing it in anger, slamming it into a bag, or intentionally striking the ground or a tree (other than during a stroke or practice swing) is not considered to be damaged in the normal course of play (even if temper tantrums are the norm for the player) and may not be replaced. So, when Charl Schwartzel’s 6-iron shattered when he slammed it into the ground in disgust during the first round of the British Open at Muirfield, he could not replace it. If, however, he had started the round with only thirteen clubs, he could have added another 6-iron.

A separate rule (4-2) prohibits a player from purposely changing the playing characteristics of a club during a round, or applying a foreign substance to the club face for the purpose of influencing the movement of the ball. While it is permissible to add lead tape to a clubhead or shaft before the start of a round, such tape may not be added or removed during a round. If you have an adjustable driver, you may not adjust the club during the round.

Jack Ross completed an intensive PGA/USGA rules workshop and has officiated at state amateur competitions. Rules inquiries may be addressed to rossgolf@charter.net.

34 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | September 2013

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8/29/13 3:28 PM

Perfect Fall Conditions on Cape Cod

by NEGM Staff

Hyannis GC & Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds Greens Roll True to Form We all know that Cape Cod is the ultimate Fall Golf destination as the weather is warmer than other parts of New England and the tourist traffic has virtually disappeared. Groups of golfers tend to spend long weekends enjoying their last rounds of the season playing the many great tracks on the island. Our staff has recently learned why the Barnstable Golf courses located in the Mid-Cape region should be prime targets for our readers and subscribers. Perfect Greens!

“Here at Barnstable Golf we pride ourselves on consistently providing our golfers with outstanding putting greens throughout the season. As a career turf manager one of the most difficult decisions I have made was to change the way we look at our greens aeration and topdressing practices and how they affect golfing opportunities during prime golfing weather, said Bruce McIntyre, Director of Golf for the Town of Barnstable. Without question, aerifying and topdressing greens are probably the most important practices employed by golf maintenance staffs to maintain and improve golf putting green performance and turf conditions.”

So how did they change their aeration and topdressing practices? Keep reading what Mr. McIntyre had to say!

“There are many ways to accomplish these yearly tasks, but timing is never on the golfer’s side. We continue to perform our greens aeration and topdressing in the spring in late April – early May but have moved our summer schedule from late August to after Columbus Day. We lightly top dress our greens in late August to dilute thatch and firm up the putting surface. We can do this in hours and most golfers don’t even notice. This has allowed us the ability to keep our greens and courses open for uninterrupted play through some of the best golfing weather the Cape has to offer. Both Olde Barnstable and Hyannis are in great shape headed into fall so why not come on down and enjoy the season.”

So there you have it folks. These two golf courses have decided to put your enjoyment of great conditions as their top priority. Our suggestion is to thank them for it by playing as often as possible at the Mid-Capes Fall Destination’s of Hyannis GC (508.362.2606) and Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds (508.420.1142).

36 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | September 2013

September 2013 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 37

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Discounted golf rates available Saturday and Sunday.

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Sampson’s Spotlight - presented by GolfTrainingAids.com

by Greg Sampson

The Putting Stick The Claim: The Putting Stick is designed to practice and improve from the key distance that plagues every golfer including the tour player we all look up to, the three-footer. The “yard stick” is designed to provide every golfer with the confidence they need to make consistent strokes by utilizing a 1-inch wide surface with a slotted line for feedback on how square your club face is at impact, how long your back stroke is utilizing a stop bumper and an eye alignment mirror built in as well. These three checkpoints are the keys to immediate improvement in your overall score and the reason the Putting Stick was invented.

The Test: I have tested the putting stick claim more than once since the original Putting Stick was invented and the very popular pro model came to market earlier this year. I have also watched nu-

merous videos and read countless interviews on how to use the device to improve your putting. Every golfer including myself seems to use the aid to practice three-footers and then longer putts of various lengths and breaks to improve their alignment and stroke. The bubble level at the end of the stick allows you to move the device up and down and/or side-to-side so that the stick is level to the putting surface which I also found to be a wonderful feature.

The Verdict: The Putting Stick is a simple tool that most defiantly improves any golfers putting stroke and completed fulfills its claim. Not only is it affordable, but also it proves that a simple aid can improve your confidence and lower your scores. I am deeming it, The Scoring Stick!

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Affordable Golf

by Ed Travis

Packaged Sets & Trading In

A very reasonable alternative when purchasing new clubs, especially for beginners and juniors or even ladies and seniors, are the packaged sets offered by many manufacturers. Packaged or boxed sets are usually 14 clubs, from driver to putter, and most include a bag.

The clubs in a boxed set fall in the game-improvement or super game-improvement category making them ideal for beginners to intermediate players.

Their design helps the ball get in the air easily and they all have shafts that provide an appropriate amount of flex for slower swing speeds.

New England Golf Monthly surveyed the packaged sets on the market and found some examples we can recommend should you be a new golfer or have one in the family.

Tour Edge Golf’s HT Max-D package set has a selection of clubs to fit the user starting with the driver which is an ultra light model so it can be swung faster, the key to more distance off the tee.

Combined with the set’s light weight fairways, this package set is an excellent option. The hybrids have a classic pear-shaped head and resist twisting at impact

with the weight distribution placed to give a high launch to the ball. HT Max-D irons are a progressive design with each a different blade length, face height, top line, offset and bounce. A Backdraft GT+ putter with a high-contrast head and jumbo grip completes the set. Prices with your choice of either a cart or stand bag start at $900 with all graphite shafts and $800 with steel and graphite shafts.

The Tight Lies name from Adams Golf has always meant great golf clubs and if you are looking for clubs built just for seniors the Tight Lies boxed set is certainly worth considering. The clubs have lots of premium features plus the latest technology in a complete gameimprovement designed set headed up by an aerodynamic-shaped driver and easy to hit 3- and 5-fairways.

There’s a large headed 5 Super Hybrid to give more distance to slower swingers along with both forgiveness and playability. The 6 irons and pitching wedge are of a cavity back design so the center of gravity is lower to get the ball up and they have a confidence inducing wide sole. Included in the $500 price is a Tom Watson Signature Sand Wedge, a putter and a carry or cart bag.

September 2013 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 43

Linksman Golf, based in Hartford, Conn., has a very nice line of junior sets, six different ones for all ages of children up to teenagers. Want to get your youngster started in golf? The Kids X7 Junior Golf Set is just the one for ages two through four. The set includes a titanium high lofted fairway driver, a 7-iron and a putter plus a carry bag with tees and practice balls for $60. If your junior is older there’s the X9 Teen DLX set.

This is a full 14 club set including a carry bag and has a 460 cc titanium driver, a 5-wood, 4 and 5 hybrids, wide sole stainless steel irons and putter all with graphite

shafts. Price for this set is $230.

Ladies, particularly beginner and intermediate players, may like the Bloom Max Set from Cleveland Golf. This is traditional set of 10 clubs with a cart bag sells in golf shops and online for $700. Every club is of lightweight construction and has Cleveland’s ‘distancedriven technology’ similar to their other successful club lines. The Bloom driver has a generous loft and is engineered to be easy to hit. There is a 3-fairway plus 5- and 6-hybrids and irons from 7- through sand wedge which are also light in weight in a cavityback design with a responsive face for more distance.

The Bloom Putter is a traditional mallet that is easy to line up and confidence-inspiring with weighting that promotes a consistent stroke.

Our eye was caught by Wilson Golf’s Profile Junior package set with pastel blue accents on the clubs and bag sure to attract a young lady’s imagination.

Designed for girls in height from 56 inches to 63 inches with floor to fingertip measurement from 20 ½ inches to 23 ⅛ inches the set includes a driver, hybrid, 2 cavity back irons, a bladestyle wedge and a putter. The lightweight carry bag has large pockets and a dual strap. The price for the complete package set is $130.

44 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | September 2013

Powerbilt Golf justifiably has a reputation for offering top quality package sets and Grand Slam, a legendary name in golf clubs, is a great example. The men’s set is a great value with the driver either a Forged 7072 model or the 6-4alv Titanium. Fairway woods and hybrids are made of 17-4 stainless steel and the irons are cast in a 431 stainless steel for more feel.

Apollo steel shafts are offered in the irons and Apollo graphite in the woods and hybrids. The Grand Slam makes a great upgrade at a reasonable price of $500 which includes a Powerbilt Hybrid bag, four head covers and even a rain hood.

Callaway Golf makes a series of junior sets and the Xj Series for boys from the age of 9 through 12 is a good example. The driver has a 6-4 titanium clubhead with 16 degrees of loft while the fairway has a stainless steel clubhead and 24 degree loft. Included in the set are a 5-hybrid and 7- and 9-irons plus a sand wedge. An XJ Blade Putter and Callaway logo stand bag finish off this set priced at $239.

Clubs Growing Dust In The Garage? Trade Them In Rather than hanging on to old clubs, (you know, those previously loved ones that no longer work) computer technology, the Internet and the PGA of America have a solution that will put money in your pocket.

Trade-in those oldies but goodies through the online PGA Value Guide with the most reliable club valuations in the industry, ones based on sales made on eBay. It’s easy. It’s simple. And best of all you will get paid because the PGA of America is behind this online service.

The first step is to visit valueguide. pga.com find the exact year and model of your clubs and determine what they are worth. There are something in the range of 7,000 club models listed from dozens of manufacturers so it’s almost sure you will find your particular trade-ins. The PGA. com Value Guide is the national standard for club values meaning the prices are an accurate reflection of fair market value.

Shipping is free for batches of clubs totaling more than $50. Once you have completed the simple tradein process, print the Fed Ex shipping label the system generates and take them to a FedEx store. Alternatively you take them to a nearby PGA Trade-In Network Facility in person.

But here’s the best part…you get paid fast.

Once your clubs are received and inspected a check is sent the next Friday and there’s even a 10% bonus if you choose to get paid via PGA Credit Certificate valid at 7,000 PGA Trade-in Network facilities nationwide. The PGA Credit Certificates are emailed to you the same day your trades are received and processed. Why wait. This really does work.

September 2013 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 45

Sliding By All Other Drivers on the Market

by Greg Sampson

The TaylorMade

SLDR

The new TaylorMade SLDR features a 20-gram sliding weight located near the front of the sole that can be locked into 21 different positions from toe to heel to produce a draw or fade. TaylorMade is calling this, Movable Weight Reinvention, as they are not the first to do so. “Our expertise at positioning the center of gravity low and forward sets us apart,” said TaylorMade’s chief technical officer Benoit Vincent. I must agree. The result of the center of gravity being lower and more forward in the clubhead is amazing. I tested a 10.5-degree TP version and the SLDR is the highest launch lowest spin driver I have ever played. Because I can have a higher loft on my driver as opposed to my traditional 8 degree, my ball flight is more of a slight draw as well. It is a winner in my book. The SLDR is a fairway finding machine and is permanently in my bag!

The loft can also be adjusted 1.5 degrees in either direction from one of the four stock lofts: 12, 10.5,

9.5 and 8 degree. As always adding more loft will close the face and vice versa. My suggestion is to be properly fit on a launch monitor, as you will most likely need a higher loft than normal due to TaylorMade’s breakthrough SLDR technology.

The SLDR also features a 460 cc deep faced head in a deep grey finish providing a much more traditional look with an aim line in silver that I found to be very useful. The stock shaft is TaylorMade’s proprietary version of the redeveloped Fujikura Speeder 57, while the TP version comes with a Speeder Tour Spec 6.3. As always both are available in various flexes and custom shafts are also available.

The SLDR hit pros shops and retail stores on August 9th. The suggested retail is $399 and $499 for the TP version. My suggestion is to trade in and trade up to SLDR Technology. Your driving distance and fairways in regulation stats will thank you for it!

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On the Road Again

by Jim Hammond The life of a PGA tour player has to be the best job in the world. But there is one position where you can experience the travel and stroll down the finest fairways on the planet plus have a front row seat for all the action. That would be the life of a PGA Tour caddy.

It was two days before the start of the 2013 Deutsche Bank Tournament when I was given permission to accompany Graham DeLaet and his caddy Julien Trudeau on a practice round at the TPC Boston course. It took a number of requests by the PGA Tour media liaison to find a player and caddy that would feel comfortable with a reporter peering over their shoulders and taking notes on their conversation. Plus they were making notes to help them prepare for the tournament and get a shot at winning the $1,440,000.00 first prize.

Graham decided to start his practice round on the back nine which is a fairly easy 425 yard par 4. De Laet is one of the longer hitters on the tour so he went with a three wood that hung in the air forever and came to rest in the middle of the fairway. It was 164 yards to the middle of the green, so his caddy handed him an 8 iron, telling him it was a 158 yard carry over the front bunker. “I told him that the wind was in his face and he needed to carry the bunker by at least five yards,” said his caddy. “I know what the wind tendencies are because I walk the course in the morning and make notes,” said Julien.

When caddy and player get to the green, the caddy will check his notes to see where the hole locations were cut on the green each day at the 2012 tournament. Julien paces off yardages and places empty tobacco tins at the future hole locations and watches as Graham checks the breaks of the green ( Most caddies use plastic discs but Julien chews tobacco so he thought he would recycle them for putting drills.)

Julien spends 3 to 4 hours walking the course before his player starts his practice round. For lunch Graham gets a window seat in the clubhouse, while Julien wolfs down his sandwich by the caddy trailer which is located in the parking lot.

The most important tool for the caddy is “The Book.”

About one month prior to the start of the tournament, an enterprising man named Mark Long walks the course and

makes a detailed drawing of each hole. I was allowed to look at the book, (but not photograph it). Every yardage marker, sprinkler head, boulder and tree is noted so the caddy can give exact yardage from any one point.

When you are standing 3 feet from a pro golfer it gives you a whole new prospective on the game. On the 18th hole, a 530 yard par 5, Graham asked the distance on a fairway bunker guarding the corner of the dogleg. “290 to the bunker,” said his caddy.” DeLaet took a deep breath and nailed his driver over the bunker leaving himself a middle iron to the green. But the most remarkable thing was the sound of the driver striking the ball. It sounded like a sledgehammer slamming into a concrete sidewalk. Or the click of a well struck iron that seems to hang in the air for an eternity before it lands on the green like a butterfly with sore feet.

As is often the case the caddy is also a very accomplished golfer. Julien mentioned that he had played on the Nationwide Tour and tried to qualify for the big tour twice. “Both times I missed qualifying by a single stroke. So I could not stand trying to qualify again. Luckily I teamed with Graham and we are having a great run.” DeLaet tied for second at the Barclays and is 7th on the FedEx point list.

With that kind of stellar play, I am sure Julien and Graham are at just the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

September 2013 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 49

Palopoli’s Picks

by Jeff Palopoli

Palopoli’s Picks – FedEx Cup Playoffs

Two FedEx Cup Playoff events are now in the books and the top 70 players in the points standings look onward to Chicago for the BMW Championship taking place at Conway Farms GC on September 12th.

It was another exciting finish in Boston this year, as Sweden’s Henrik Stenson tied the Deutsche Bank Championship tournament record of -22 (262) to solidify a two shot victory over Steve Stricker and supplant himself atop of the FedEx Cup standings heading in to the last two events. Stenson had been one of the hottest players on TOUR all season, notching seven top 10 finishes, which included four runner-up finishes, before finally picking up a victory in the second Playoff event. He’ll have a week to rest before heading to Chicago, where he’ll try to retain that number one ranking.

BMW Championship

Last year Rory McIlroy went back-to-back with victories at the DBC and then at the BMW Championship. This year it’s a completely different story for McIlroy, who’s been struggling with his game and will enter the BMW ranked 39th in FedEx Cup points. He’ll have some work to do to get inside of the top 30 to be able to advance to the TOUR Championship in Atlanta. After the BMW the points are reset, and players will want to be within that magic number of the top five in the rankings.

Being within the top five allows you to hold your own fate, as with a victory at the TOUR Championship, you are assured the FedEx Cup title.

The Picks

A Group: The A group poses a lot of difficult decisions, but I’ll bypass Tiger for the BMW and opt to instead start Jason Dufner. Dufner is still basking in

his PGA Championship victory but it hasn’t slowed him down. He posted three 66’s at the DBC and finished at -15 (T9). Dufner also has a T6 at the BMW in 2011.

B Group: Matt Kuchar and Keegan Bradley get the starts in the B group. Kuchar has two victories on the season, as well as six top 10 finishes, including a T4 at the DBC. He also ranks 6th in Scoring Average on TOUR. Bradley posted three rounds in the 60’s at the DBC and finished T16. He also ranks 3rd in the All-Around Ranking as well as 6th in Total Driving on TOUR. C Group: Adam Scott will start in the C group with youngster Jordan Spieth on the bench. Scott looked sharp in the second and third rounds of the DBC, but it was the bookend rounds that cost him. Spieth continues to impress everybody, especially after shooting a final round 62 at the DBC to finish T4.

FedEx Cup Top 5 Finishers

As in any sport, teams or players get hot in the playoffs and it’s difficult to predict what could happen. Below are my top five finishers for this year’s FedEx Cup race. Adam Scott has been the most consistent player on TOUR all season and has a solid track record at each of the next two events in the Playoffs. Tiger Woods’ game has been anything but consistent as of late, and unless he can get the putter to cooperate, I just don’t see him winning the Cup.

1. Adam Scott 2. Matt Kuchar 3. Tiger Woods 4. Henrik Stenson 5. Phil Mickelson

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Henrik Stenson Wins 2013 Deutsche Bank Championship 22 Under ties Record for Tournament

by NEGM Staff

The final round of the Deutsche Bank Championship was plagued by rain delays and very soggy conditions at TPC Boston on Labor Day. What turned out to be ideal scoring conditions with lift clean and place and soft greens pushed the final scores to record levels. In the end 2009 winner Steve Stricker birdied 18 to get to -20 which was followed by leader Henrik Stenson holing out from the trap after missing the green on 17 to get to -22 and after a par on 18 he had his first PGA win since 1999.

The tall Swede had started the year outside the top 200 and has fought back from a 3-year slump that had his world golf ranking well over 500 during the spell.

But Labor Day was the charm for Henrik at the TPC Boston, Henrik Stenson shot a 5-under 66 on Monday to win, vaulting him to first place in the FedEx Cup standings.

He was runner-up to Phil Mickelson at a major and Tiger Woods at a World Golf Championship, and he tied for third at the PGA Championship to keep climbing in the FedEx Cup standings. Stenson was doing just about everything right this summer except winning, usually because someone simply played better.

Not this time, Stenson surged past a fast-fading Sergio Garcia with three straight birdies, seized control with a 5-iron into 15 feet for another birdie right before the rain delay, and then put away Steve Stricker by holing out from the bunker for birdie late in the final round at the TPC Boston.

“Pretty perfect timing, I guess,” Stenson said.

“There’s never a bad time to win a golf tournament, I know that much.”

The 37-year-old Swede moved to the top of the standings after two Playoffs events, assuring him his first trip to the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola and a clear shot at golf’s biggest prize.

“I’m just pleased I won here,” said Stenson, who tied the tournament record at 22-under 262. “This was a big goal of mine to win a golf tournament after all those nice finishes. My family is here. I’m going to see my kids in a little bit. It’s all good.”

Stenson’s win was only part of the high drama Monday, so much that Woods became an afterthought. He closed with a 73 and tied for 65th. The best image of him all day was walking back out to the course after a rain delay with he and his 6-yearold daughter dressed in matching red.

Ernie Ells found the last spot to move on to the next event. The Big Easy was given a big reprieve.

K.J. Choi made a bogey on the par-5 18th. Charley Hoffman made bogey on the 17th. Kevin Chappell missed an 8-foot birdie putt on the last hole. That combination was enough for Ells to grab the 70th spot by a fraction of a point.

Stricker’s third runner-up finish this year allowed him to move into the top 10 and qualify for the Presidents Cup team, despite playing a part-time schedule. That put the 10th spot up for grabs between Webb Simpson and Zach Johnson, who were playing together on the other side of the course.

The FedEx Cup field has been trimmed to 70 and those players will tee it up at Conway Farms in two weeks at the BMW Championship in Chicago.

September 2013 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 51

Team New England Update Tracking the progress of all our players on all the Tours. By: Steve Riggs The PGA TOUR regular season is over and the FedEx PlayOffs have begun. Team New England had four players qualify for the FedEx Playoffs with Keegan Bradley and Scott Stallings the two players advancing beyond the Barclays’ Championship. The Champions, LPGA, Web.Com and Symetra Futures tours remain in action as their seasons wind to a close. With Bradley and Stallings advancing in the FedEx Cup race, Jim Renner on the Web.Com Tour is fighting to regain his PGA TOUR playing privileges as he is in the top 25 of the Web.Com Money List.

Overall I am reasonably certain most players that make up Team New England would agree 2013 has been a long up and down year. Total earnings of all players for Team New England at this writing is a very respectable $8,088,226.

PGA TOUR

CHAMPIONS TOUR

Brad Faxon (RI) has earned $332,678 over 13 events this season including his victory at the Legends of Golf with Jeff Sluman. Brad has 1 top 10 and 2 top 25 finishes with a scoring average that is down over last month to 73.

Keegan Bradley (VT) has made 15 cuts in 19 starts with 2 seconds, 1 third, 7 top 10 and 10 top 25 finishes and earnings of $3,180,813. Keegan entered the PlayOffs ranked 10th and is our solo TNE player to make the cut at the Barclays’. A scoring average of 70.23 has improved over last month.

Dana Quigley (MA) has been focused on son Devon’s rehabilitation from a Traumatic Brain Injury, (TBI). Devon continues to improve. While not able to keep the schedule that earned Quigley the title of ‘Iron Man’, Dana as played in 8 events this season earning $10,950 with a scoring average of 75.08.

Allen Doyle (RI) 65, has earnings are $17,449 with a scoring average of 76.43 after 6 events this season. A Woonsocket, RI native, Allen Doyle has career earnings of $13,400,284 make him a respected member of the Champions Tour.

Scott Stallings (MA) has earnings of $1,567,967 making 11 cuts in 24 starts with 1 second, 4 top 10 and 6 top 25 finishes. Advancing in the PlayOffs, I’m sure Scott would agree that it has been a long but respectable year with a final scoring average of 71.32.

J.J. Henry (CT) has made 16 cuts in 25 starts with 2 top 10 and 3 top 25 finishes. Earnings of $761,861 and a scoring average of 70.06 is a reminder that J.J. has been consistently one of TNE’s steady players year over year.

Henry’s season ended after finishing out of the top 100 in the FedEx race.

LPGA TOUR

James Driscoll (MA) missed the cut by 3 spots in the first round of FedEx PlayOffs.

Ending the season, James made 15 cuts in 22 starts with 2 top 10 and 5 top 25 finishes and earnings of $821,101. Driscoll ended the season with an improved scoring average of 70.89.

Tim Petrovic (MA) is playing on both the PGA and Web.Com tours. Tim got a huge boost to his motivation and desire to rejoin the PGA Tour when he finished T-9th at the Greenbrier recently. That finish increased Tim’s combined earnings to $210,988. Petrovic’s combined scoring average is currently 71.70.

Billy Andrade (RI) finished T-5th at the Sanderson Farms Championship on the PGA Tour this year. It was only his second start of the year on the PGA Tour after being away from the tour for a few years. Billy’s combined PGA and Web.Com tour earnings sits at $116,085 with an improved combined scoring average that is down to 72.33.

Brett Quigley (RI) missed the cut in his solo PGA Tour start. Having been one of our best players with combined career earnings of $11,453,897, we certainly hope to see Brett playing in 2014.

52 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | September 2013

Alison Walshe (MA) has made 13 cuts in 17 starts with earnings to date of $139,777 and a scoring average of 71.43.

Alison, our only TNE active competitor on the LPGA TOUR, continues to grind having a respectable 2013 season.

Anna Grzebien (RI) remains on the LPGA TOUR roster but has not competed on the LPGA TOUR this year as she devotes her time to her family.

LPGA SYMETRA FUTURES TOUR

European PGA TOUR Peter Uihlein (MA) has had a respectable first full season on the European PGA TOUR with earnings well over half a million dollars. Peter is currently ranked 50th overall and 9th in the stroke average category at 70.5. We are anxious to see if Peter will join the rest of Team New England next year here in America.

WEB.COM TOUR

Jim Renner (MA) has earnings of $159,165 making 10 cuts in 19 starts.

Jim has 1 second, 4 top 10 and 6 top 25 finishes. A scoring average of 70.08 places Renner in 17th position on the all important Web.Com’s Money List. A top 25 finish will return Renner to the PGA TOUR next year.

Patrick Sheehan (MA) has earned $34,868 making 8 cuts in 21 starts with 1 top 10 and 3 top 25 finishes. Sheehan’s scoring is up from the last issue sitting at 71.44. Patrick, 43, remains resolute as he continues to compete on the Web.Com Tour.

Brad Adamonis (RI) has made 4 cuts in 12 starts this season with 1 top 25 finish. Brad has posted earnings of $13,550 with a scoring average of 70.94 that continues to improve. This writer remains optimistic Brad’s talent and resolve will keep him focused going forward.

Rob Oppenheim (MA) has earnings of $23,105 making 5 cuts in 20 starts with 1 top 25 finish. A scoring average of 72.20 shows a little improvement over last month. We hope Rob finds the right combination to bring his ability to the top as the Web.Com winds down for 2013.

Natalie Sheary (CT) has made 9 cuts in 13 starts this year earning $12,267 and 1 top 10 being a T-3 at the Guardian Retirement Championship. Sheary continues to improve her scoring average of 73.12 at this writing. Natalie needs a good event to break into the top 25 money list.

Molly Aronsson (VT) has made 4 cuts in 11 starts with earnings of $4,765. Molly has 1 top 10 finish being the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic. Her scoring average sits at 74.0. Aronsson needs work on her putting to improve her scoring average, thus her ranking on the Symetra Futures Tour.

Briana Vega (MA) has made 2 cuts in 13 starts this year. A very talented Briana is struggling with her game and needs work on her driving accuracy and putting as her 75.46 scoring average indicates. Disappointing earnings of $1,868 makes the mental side of the game Vega’s biggest hurdle to overcome.

Libby Smith ­(VT), a Futures veteran steadily competing since 2004 has yet to make a start on this year’s Symetra Tour.

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What’s News Matthew Fitzpatrick Wins 2013 U.S. Amateur Championship At The Country Club BROOKLINE, Mass. – Matthew Fitzpatrick, 18, of England,

curled in a par putt on the 33rd hole to clinch a 4-and-3 decision over Oliver Goss, 19, of Australia, on Sunday and win the 2013 U.S. Amateur Championship at 7,310-yard, par-70 The Country Club.

Fitzpatrick became the first Englishman since 1911 to hoist the Havemeyer Trophy as U.S. Amateur champion. Harold Hilton won the championship 102 years ago at The Apawamis Club in Rye, N.Y. Fitzpatrick also joins a group of English players who have won recent USGA championships, including current U.S. Open champion Justin Rose.

The U.S. Amateur is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.

By reaching the U.S. Amateur Championship final, Fitzpatrick and Goss have each earned an exemption into the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C. – provided they remain amateurs – and a likely invitation to next year’s Masters Tournament. Fitzpatrick is also exempt from qualifying for the 2014 British Open.

PGA TOUR Players Freddie Jacobson and Erik Compton Highlight 3rd Annual The First Tee Skills Challenge Norton, MA — On a picture perfect August day, The First Tee of Massachusetts and the Deutsche Bank Championship teamed up for the 3rd annual The First Tee Skills Challenge.

This year’s event, held for the first time ever at MGA Links (www.mgalinksgolf.com), was attended by more than 100 participants and proved to be a great kickoff to the week of Championship events at TPC Boston.

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What’s News Jim & Bill Drohen Capture Their Second Career Senior Division Title at the 2013 Massachusetts Father & Son Championship Kingston, MA — It took one extra playoff hole, but the team of James Drohen (Bradford CC) and Bill Drohen (Brookmeadow CC) captured the senior division title at the 2013 Massachusetts Father & Son Championship at Indian Pond Country Club.

It marks the second time in four years that the Drohens have won this title. “It is my favorite tournament of the year,” said Jim. “If I could only play one tournament during the year it would be the father and son. We had a good time, win or lose, but it’s nice to win.”

James and Sean Ryan Post 1-under par 71 to Capture Junior Division Title at the 2013 Massachusetts Father & Son Championship Kingston, MA — One year ago, the team of James Ryan (Berkshire Hills CC) and Sean Ryan (Worthington GC) came one stroke from forcing a playoff. This time around, they made sure that first place would be their own.

On Wednesday under hot and dry conditions at Indian Pond Country Club, the Ryan team captured the junior division title at the 2013 Massachusetts Father & Son Championship by a two-stroke margin. They finished with a score of 1-under par 71.

September 2013 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 55

What’s News Massachusetts Captures 2013 New England Junior Amateur Championship; Brian Carlson Wins Individual Stroke Play Title Putnam, CT – The seven-person team from Massachusetts took a major step towards re-capturing the New England Junior Amateur Championship title on Thursday at Connecticut National Golf Club.

The seven-member team from Massachusetts entered the final round of the 2013 New England Junior Amateur Championship knowing that they would have to come through with a strong performance on day two to take home the title.

John & Mary Mulcahy and Paul & Danielle Lapierre Claim Victories at the 2013 Massachusetts Father & Daughter Championship East Falmouth, MA — For the fourth straight year, the team of John Mulcahy (Hatherly CC) and Mary Mulcahy (Hatherly CC) can call themselves MGA Champions.

The dynamic – and seemingly unbeatable – duo came together at the Golf Club of Cape Cod on Thursday and claimed their fourth consecutive title at the Massachusetts Father & Daughter Championship.

The Mulcahy team posted a score of 3-over par 75 to capture the senior division by three strokes over the teams of Ken Hughes (Vesper CC) and Caroline Hughes (Vesper CC) and Chris Harney (Unicorn GC) and Maxine Harney (Unicorn GC).

Paul Lapierre (Wahconah CC) and Danielle Lapierre (Wahconah CC) entered the 2013 Massachusetts Father & Daughter Championship hoping to spend some quality time together on the golf course. They probably didn’t expect to walk away with a divisional title. They made the turn at 4-over par 40 and made a key birdie on the 412-yard, par 5 11th hole en route to a winning score of 5-over par 77.

56 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | September 2013

What’s News Ryan Clancy Fires Course Record at Glen Ellen Country Club to Capture 2013 Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship Title Millis, MA — There was not a place on the Glen Ellen Country Club property where one could not hear the hoots and hollers on Tuesday.

The cheering came to a crescendo on the 18th green when Ryan Clancy (Glen Ellen CC) tapped in his par putt and celebrated his victory at the 2013 Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship.

Not only was it Clancy’s first-ever MGA Championship title, but it was made extra special given that he tied the competitive course record – a 7-under par 65 – and won on a course that has been his home since he was a young boy.

Van Fleet takes Maine Senior Championship with only under par round Jim Van Fleet, the eight-time consecutive Great Chebeague Golf Club Champion, has captured the 2013 Maine Senior Championship, sealing his victory with the only below-par round in the 36-hole championship at the challenging Dunegrass Golf Club in Old Orchard Beach.

Van Fleet birdied the eighth and ninth holes to shoot 38 on the front, then added four more birdies on the back en route to a 33 for a one-under 71 total. He finished the two day event at one-over 145 after shooting 74 Tuesday.

September 2013 | Subscribe at myNEGM.com | 57

What’s News Jackson Lang, Katie Barrand win Golfweek New England Junior Jackson Lang’s back-to-back rounds of 71 at Mohegan Sun Country Club were set up by his short game.

The 16-year-old set the pace in the opening round of the Golfweek New England Junior in Baltic, Conn., and the rest of the field never could catch up. Lang, a native of Lexington, Mass., said his rounds were similar in that there was a lot of scrambling and a lot of putts dropping.

He finished at 2-under 132.

In the girls’ division, Katie Barrand also did the wireto-wire trick, opening with 4-over 76 then holding off a charge by Sophie DePetrillo. Barrand closed in 80 for a 12-over 156 total and a one-shot victory. Barrand, 17, is a two-sport athlete at The Governor’s Academy in Beverly, Mass.

Ben Tuthill Named Northeast Amateur Chairman The Northeast Amateur Invitational, one of the top-10 amateur events in the world, has a new chairman. Ben Tuthill, a former R.I Amateur Champion himself, has taken over the roll of chairman after the former; Joe Sprague accepted a position with the USGA, in Far Hills NJ. Tuthill has participated in the tournament 4 times, and has been involved in the Northeast Amateur invitational in every way- from a caddie to a sponsor throughout the years. A long time member of the Wannamoisett Club, the 32 year old states “My goal will be to attract the strongest field in amateur golf.”

The tournament has been taking place at the Wannamoisett Country Club since 1962. Contestants are selected on the basis of their competitive record in major tournaments. The tournament is set to take place June 18-21 2014 at The Wannamoisett Country Club in Rumford, RI.

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myNEGM.com

September 2013 Vol VI Issue VII

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Reach Over 400,000 New England Golfers Monthly

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

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New England Golf Monthly is published 10 times yearly by The New England Publishing Group Inc. Reproduction of the contents, images and editorial is strictly prohibited without written permission from the publisher. Neither advertiser or publisher will be held liable for errors or omissions in any content of this publication. All rights reserved.

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Gorman vs. Geary

by Tom Gorman and Tim Geary

Is Phil Mickelson one of the 10 best golfers ever?

by Tom Gorman

NO. There’s a huge difference between the top 10 golfers who ever played and the top 10 most popular golfers of all time. While Phil Mickelson projects an engaging, likable personality, his career does not make my top 10 list as best players that ever lived, and, he barely makes my top 20.

What I find nauseating about Phil Mickelson’s career is the way the golf media and fans fall over him no matter how many times he chokes. The guy wins the US Amateur in 1990 and for fourteen long years carries the moniker as “Bear-apparent” and “best player to never win a major” until the 2004 Masters. The talking heads at The Golf Channel, Jim Nantz (CBS) and Dan Hicks (NBC) can’t find enough beautiful words to describe the 42-year old known as “Lefty,” but he should be known as “Choke.”

Golf maggots like Tim Geary fawn all over Phil Mickelson for reasons I will never understand. Phil Mickelson is a supreme choker, and perhaps, no one since Seve Ballesteros drove the ball so poorly, but had such a magical short game to save his game from complete embarrassment. Remember the US Open at Winged Foot in 2006? Mickelson was standing on the tee at the last hole needing par to win. Under intense pressure he hit a drive 150 yards dead left that was last seen enjoying corporate hospitality. He lost because he choked in one of the most pivotal shots in a golfer’s career!

When Jim Furyk choked at the US Open at Olympic Club in 2012 that’s what the media talks about when Furyk’s name is brought up, even though he’s third in all-time career earnings, behind Tiger and Phil. Never is said a discouraging word when Phil’s name is mentioned even by noted golf critics such as Johnny Miller and Brandel Chamblee, who both tell it like it is. With his goofy, gawky smile, there seems to be a genuine love for Mickelson among American golf fans, while even at the height of his golf prowess there was only respect for Tiger Woods. A real rivalry between Woods and Mickelson never developed because Phil was never good enough!

Mickelson’s winning formula combines a great golf game with a telegenic personality, including carefully choreographed family hugging ceremonies after winning the 2010

Masters, and most recently, the British Open at Muirfield in July. He projects family man first, golfer second, which has proven wildly profitable with off-course endorsements estimated at about $40 million annually. Smiling and signing autographs in front of TV cameras has paid big dividends in Phil’s popularity with fans.

From my view on the Lazy-Boy recliner, Phil Mickelson is over-rated and over-hyped, but to his credit his final-round comeback (66) at Muirfield at this year’s British Open was an historic win, and means he’s in the mix with some of the greatest names to play the game. Even with five majors, nine European Tour wins and 42 PGA Tour titles, which is the ninth-most ever, my tabulation shows 19 better all-time golf careers than Mickelson’s.

First, we have the two best players of all time (1)Tiger Woods and (2) Jack Nicklaus. Then in descending order: (3) Ben Hogan (4) Sam Snead (5) Arnold Palmer (6) Tom Watson (7) Byron Nelson (8) Walter Hagen (9) Gene Sarazen (10) Greg Norman (11) Bobby Jones (12) Nick Faldo (13) Seve Ballesteros (14) Gary Player (15) Lee Trevino (16) Payne Stewart (17) Harry Vardon (18) Francis Ouimet (19) Ted Ray (20) Phil Mickelson.

Although noteworthy in many ways, no one should confuse the careers of Chi Chi Rodriquez or Fuzzy Zoeller with greatness. Those two players featured personality and a genuine likeability factor that translated into tons of good press, which probably inflated their actual golf talent. Has Mickelson’s career been inflated by an adoring press? Can you even remember when someone actually publically criticized the almighty Phil Mickelson? What’s strange about Mickelson’s 23-year career is that we are having this conversation and he has never been ranked the No. 1 player in the world at any time.

Whether or not Phil Mickelson is one of the 10 best players who has ever lived was probably not a conversation before this year’s British Open, but it’s definitely a conversation now!

Tom Gorman, a hack golf writer, has been associated with nauseating golf writing for more than 20 years.

Is Phil Mickelson one of the 10 best golfers ever?

by Tim Geary

Yes! There, I’ve finally done it. I’ve lowered my be considered more a measure of the man’s greatness standards all the way down to Gorman’s. than an albatross on his resume.

I’ve used a one word lead to open my debate, And let’s examine this resume. After winning which this month is: “Is Phil Mickelson one of the his lone U.S. Amateur championship (he is the top 10 players of all time?” only player ever to win an NCAA and U.S. Am in Usually I try to come up with a more insightful, the same year), Mickelson has won 42 PGA Tour thought provoking lead to this column, but for once events, five international titles and five majors (three I’ll use the simple, Gormanesqe approach because it’s Masters, one British, this year, and one PGA). Not so appropriate. many others can match that record. Certainly no We don’t really need to delve very deeply into left-handed playing person can. this subject matter because the answer is so damn So who might we rank ahead of Phil and not necsimple. YES! essarily in order? Jack, Arnie, Tiger, Sam Snead, Ben The other part of the debate was supposed to ask, Hogan, Walter Hagen, Lee Trevino, Byron Nelson, “Is Phil Mickelson the greatest left-handed golfer of Bobby Jones, Gary Player, Gene Sarazen? all time?” But that’s like asking if Alan Shepard was That’s 11 all-time greats, which if you rank them the best golfer to ever play on the moon? ahead of Mickelson, gives Gorman a victory in this I mean, who is the competition? Bob Charles debate. This just reinforces my case, because Gorman (who for years was called the best left-handed golfer is ALWAYS wrong! of all time), Steve Flesch, Russ Cochran? Okay, Mike But the only players on that list who are absoWeir and Bubba Watson at least have some pedigree lutely ahead of Phil are Jack, Arnie, Tiger, Snead, but they only get to be honorable mention.

Hogan and perhaps Player and Nelson. The others The only way that Mickelson doesn’t own that are great but greater than Phil? How? Equal or just a title is if you disqualify him because he really isn’t cut below in my opinion. Consider the competition. left-handed at all. Phil does everything else right- Mickelson has done it in a time where the fields are handed. He only learned to swing a golf club from deeper and more talented than ever before. Hell, he’s the other side because his father had the little guy done it in the era of Tiger Woods. That alone should mirror daddy’s swing and mirrors tend to be dyslexic. put him in the top 10.

As to whether Phil is one of the top 10 players of It certainly would have helped if Phil had just all time? I think that answer is obvious, but at least closed the deal on one of those U.S. Opens, but even there’s a little meat on which to chomp. with that hole left gaping in his record, he has been Wouldn’t be if he had just bagged that stupid one of this game’s all-timers. And the fact that he driver at Winged Foot and not put his 72nd hole tee has done it in a swashbuckling, Arnold Palmer style shot onto the top of a tent. Wouldn’t be if he had should add, not subtract points. won all four of golf’s majors instead of three. But his Phil, top 10? Absolutely. six second place finishes in the U.S. Open Danny (seconddisplays Timhis Geary is a R.I.trophy based after freelance writer.aHis only first-place shooting finalin that regard only to Jack Nicklaus’ seven)round should64 on top 10 came in Red 10-player tournament.

Bethpage at the U.S. Challenge Cup Northeast Junior Classic on Oct. 7.

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