FR
20 EE 15 c se o as p on y
NNY
G olf
* Plus
Golf cou rse director Tournam y. e guide. S nt kills clinic.
INSIDE ***
EXCLUSIVE Guest essay by PGA of America President Derek A. Sprague p. 8
The path to a
PGA PRO Many opportunities for a career in golf
2 | NNY Golf | 2015 Season
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9618 State Rte 26 Denmark, NY 13631 315-376-2111 2015 Season | NNY Golf
|3
W
TO OUR READERS
courses where the bucolic beauty of the elcome to NNY Golf Adirondacks shadows a pair of profession2015, your premier ally designed 18-hole courses.) guide to golf in Northern New York While Malone’s character presents published by the Wamany chances to enjoy challenging tertown Daily Times rounds of golf, one need only drive south and NNY Magazines. to St. Lawrence County where acclaimed What a start to the 2015 season. Despite courses like Cedar View, Fox Hill, Meadthe late arrival of spring, many owbrook and Partridge Run die-hard golfers have already are wide open for play. taken in more than a few Continue your journey to rounds of play, tackling some Jefferson County and cross of the best courses in the north the Thousand Islands Bridge country. As you’ll see in the to Wellesley Island and you’ll pages that follow, New York’s reach Thousand Islands north country is home to Country Club. Travel down some of the most prestigious Interstate 81 from Wellesley courses in the Northeast. to Watertown and the golf We are excited to have destinations multiply with two Ken Eysaman Derek Sprague, general amazing courses right in the manager and director of golf city — Ives Hill Country Club at Malone Golf Club — and and Watertown Golf Club. Lest president of The PGA of America — we forget Lewis County, which is home to contribute once again to this year’s issue. impressive courses like Turin Highlands, As you might recall, we featured Derek Carlowden and Brantingham. on the cover of NNY Golf in 2012, when Without question, golf in the north he was secretary of the PGA of America. country delivers adventure and fun for Since, he’s moved up the ranks at the every ability, age and budget. PGA and, last fall, was elected to the top And, as you’ll see again in our annual seat as president of the PGA of America. charity golf event directory on pages 26, This year’s cover story is a tale of 27, 28 and 29, the north country’s spirit two north country golf pros, Willowof neighbors helping neighbors conbrook Country Club's Doug McDavitt tinues to shine bright with 117 tournaand Massena Golf and Country Club's ments set to benefit worthwhile causes Thomas Siddon. Both men share a love and organizations. for the game of the golf and an affinity We hope you enjoy this year’s edition. for helping people. We extend our sincere appreciation to the many clubs and businesses advertised As Times sportswriter Josh St. Croix in this issue. Without their support, we writes, those passions drive McDavitt and couldn’t continue this effort. Siddon — two of the longest-tenured PGA We look forward to seeing you on the Professionals in the north country. links this summer. Our cover story begins on page 14. Have an epic season, The north country is lucky to have talented folks like Doug and Tom who choose to call it home. (Not to mention the fact that Derek’s club is home to two must-play
MARKETPLACE 6th Annual Dick Doe Memorial Golf Tournament ............................................... 7 Adams Country Club ........................................ 9 Alexandria Bay Municipal Golf Course ......... 20 Bedford Creek Golf Club .................................. 7 St. Lawrence University Golf Course .............. 22 C-Way Golf Club ............................................. 13 Carlowden Country Club ............................... 13 Cedars Golf Course ........................................ 20 Center for Sight ............................................... 12 Clayton Country Club ..................................... 31 D&D Power Sports .............................................. 3 Elms Golf Course ............................................. 21 Gouverneur Country Club .............................. 13 Highland Meadows Golf & Country Club ........ 6 Hospice of Jefferson County ............................ 6 Immaculate Heart Central Schools ............... 31
4 | NNY Golf | 2015 Season
Ives Hill Country Club ..................................... 32 Langbrook Meadows Golf Course & Country Club ............................. 12, 21 Malone Golf Club ............................................ 11 Massena Golf & Country Club ....................... 22 NNY Community Foundation ......................... 19 Partridge Run Golf & Country ......................... 22 St. Lawrence State Park Golf Course ............. 25 River Golf Adventures ..................................... 23 Summerheights Golf Links .............................. 23 Thousand Islands Country Club ..................... 11 Turin Highlands ................................................ 13 Turning Stone Resort & Casino ......................... 2 Wellesley Island Golf Course ......................... 23 Willowbrook Golf Club .............................. 12, 25 Women’s Council of Realtors ......................... 25 WWTI-TV50 ....................................................... 30
NNY
G olf Chairman of the Board John B. Johnson Jr.
Publishers
John B. Johnson Harold B. Johnson II
VP News Operations Timothy J. Farkas
Magazine Editor
Kenneth J. Eysaman
Contributing Writers Josh St. Croix Gabrielle Hovendon
Photography
Norm Johnston, Justin Sorensen, Amanda Morrison, Jason Hunter
Director of Advertising Michael Hanson
Magazine Advertising manager Beth Hornbarger
Circulation Director Mary Sawyer
Ad Graphics, Design
Rick Gaskin, Brian Mitchell, Heather O’Driscoll, Scott Smith, Todd Soules NNY Golf magazine is published annually by Northern New York Newspaper Corp., 260 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601, a Johnson Newspaper Corp. company. © 2010-2015. All material submitted to NNY Golf becomes property of Northern New York Newspaper Corp., publishers of the Watertown Daily Times, and will not be returned.
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Send all editorial correspondence to keysaman@wdt.net
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For advertising rates and information email bhornbarger@wdt.net or call (315) 661-2308 PRINTED WITH PRIDE IN U.S.A. at Vanguard Printing, LLC, Ithaca, NY Please recycle this magazine.
Contents
2015 Season C OV E R S TORY
14 The path to pro
26
Exactly what does it take to become a certified PGA Professional? C OM M E N TA RY
8 From atop the PGA PGA of America President Derek A. Sprague on his path to leadership.
C O U R SE S
6 Looking for golf? A directory of local golf courses far and wide in NNY and areas beyond.
SK I L L S C L I N I C
9 Back to basics A local golf pro shares some of his best tips to lower your score.
F E AT U R E S
12 Excellent etiquette Don’t let a few important pieces of protocol ruin a great day of play.
21 Top 18 in NNY Sizing up the top 18 holes at some of Northern New York’s best courses.
24 Get the right gear It’s easy to spend hundreds to gear up for golf. What’s hot and what’s not. TO U R NA M E N T R E W I N D
16 Cutthroat play A look back in photos at two of the region’s top amateur tournaments. TO U R NA M E N T G U I DE
26 Putt with purpose Looking for a local charity match? We list 117 opportunities for play.
ON T H E C OV E R
A high-pressure shot Amy Van Eenenaam tees off during the inaugural Ellie Van Golf Classic at Ives Hill Golf Course on July 18, 2014.
Graham Niles strikes the ball during the 2014 NNY 6-Man Golf Tournament.
AMANDA MORRISON | NNY Golf
2015 Season | NNY Golf
|5
course d i rector y JEFFERSON & LEWIS AREAS Adams Country Club 315-232-4842 adamscountryclub.com Alexandria Bay Municipal Golf Course 315-482-2127 Bay Breeze Golf Links 315-649-4653 baybreezegolflinks.com
LA Golf Club 315-686-3748 Rustic Golf and Country Club 315-639-6800 rusticgolf.com Thendara Golf Club 315-369-3136 thendaragolfclub.com Thousand Islands Golf Club Lake Course 315-482-9454 800-928-TICC ticountryclub.com
Bedford Creek Golf Club 315-646-3400 bedfordcreekgolf.com
Thousand Island Golf Club Old Course 315-482-9454/800-928-TICC ticountryclub.com
Brantingham Golf Club 315-348-8861 brantingham.com/html/golf.asp
Turin Highlands Golf Course 315-348-4327 turinhighlands.com
Carlowden Country Club 315-493-0624 carlowden.com
Watertown Golf Club 315-782-4040 watertowngolfclubinc.com
Cedars Country Club 315-376-6267 cedarsgolf-lewiscounty.com
Wellesley Island State Park Golf Course 315-482-9622 nysparks.state.ny.us/golf-courses/7/details.aspx
Clayton Country Club 315-686-4242 claytoncountryclub.com
Willowbrook Golf Club 315-782-8192 willowbrookgolfclubwatertown.com
C-Way Golf Course 315-686-4562 / 1-866-CWAYRST cwayresort.com
ST. LAWRENCE AREA
Elms Golf Course 315-387-5297 elmsgolfclub.com Highland Meadows Golf & Country Club 315-785-0108 / golf342.com Ives Hill Country Club 315-775-4653 / iveshill.com
Cedar View Golf Course 315-705-4566 cedarviewgolfclub.com Clifton Fine Country Club 315-848-3570 townoffine.org/content/Parks/View/1
HIGHLAND MEADOWS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
www.golf342.com
Emerald Greens 315-541-4854 emeraldgreensgolfny.com
St. Lawrence University Golf Course 315-386-4600 stlawu.edu/athletics/slgc
Fox Hill Golf Course 315-764-8633 foxhillgolfonline.com
Twin Brooks Golf Course 315-388-4480 c360.ca/ny/waddington/tb/hole6.html
Gilbert Greens Country Club 315-344-7620 facebook.com/Gilbert-Greens-Country_club
LAKE PLACID / SARANAC LAKE
Gouverneur Country Club 315-287-2130 gouverneurcountryclub.com
Adirondack Golf and Country Club 518-643-8403 adirondackgolfclub.com Bluff Point Country Club 518-563-3172 bluffpoint.com
Langbrook Meadows Country Club 315-375-6372 / langbrookmeadows.com
Cobble Hill Golf Club 518-873-9974 elizabethtown-ny.com/Local Activities.htm
Madrid Golf Course 315-322-0502 Malone Golf Club 518-483-2926 malonegolfclub.com
Craig Wood Golf and Country Club 518-523-9811 craigwoodgolfclub.com
Massena Country Club 315-769-2293 massenacountryclub.com
Harmony Golf Club 518-834-9785 harmonygolfclubandcommunity.com
Meadowbrook Golf Course 315-389-4562 meadowbrookgolfny.com
High Peaks Country Club 518-582-2300 highpeaksgolf.com
Partridge Run Golf & Country Club 315-386-4444 / partridgerun.com
Lake Placid Country Club 518-523-2556 lakeplacidcp.com
Potsdam Town and Country Club 315-265-2141 / potsdamgolf.com Raymondville Golf Course 315-769-2759
North Country Golf Course and Resort 518-297-5814 northcountrygolfclub.com
St. Lawrence State Park Golf Course 315-393-2286 nysparks.com/parks/70/details
Saranac Inn Country Club 518-891-1402 saranacinn.com
SAVE THIS DATE • FRIDAY SEPT. 18, 2015
SWING FOR
HOSPICE GOLF TOURNAMENT Watertown Golf Course at Thompson Park Proceeds to benefit Hospice of Jefferson County Captain and Crew Tournament Cost: $75 per person/$300 per team
COME JOIN US! EVERYONE WELCOME!
18 HOLES • RENTAL CLUBS • DRIVING RANGE Built in 1995, Highland Meadows is one of the best kept Golf Courses in the area. We have 18 holes, a driving range, a restaurant and a bar. A majority of the 18 holes can be seen from the deck which surrounds the clubhouse.
24201 NYS RT. 342 WATERTOWN, NY 13601 (315)785-0108
6 | NNY Golf | 2015 Season
Schedule of Events 8am-Registration / 9am-Shotgun Start Breakfast during registration-bagels, pastry & coffee
Burgers & Hot Dogs on the 9th hole (minimal cost)
Food after Tournament SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE
Golf Division Male Co Ed must be at least 2 women
course d i rector y Tupper Lake Golf Club 518-359-3701 tupperlakegolf.com
Liverpool Golf and Country Club 315-457-7170 lgpcc.com/course.htm
Skaneatelas Country Club 315-685-5759 skaneatelescc.com
Glen Lawrence Golf Club 613-545-1021 glenlawrence.com
Westport Country Club 518-962-4470 westportcountryclub.com
Pearl Lakes Golf Club 315-685-6799 pearllakesgolf.com
Trumansburg Golf Club 607-387-8844 trumansburggolf.com
Greene Acre Golf 613-382-4653 greeneacregolf.com
Whiteface Country Club 518-523-2551 whitefaceclubresort.com/club/golf.php
Pompey Club 315-677-3559 /pompeyclub.com
Tuscarora Golf Club 315-673-2679 tuscaroragolfclub.com
Lombard Glen Golf & Country Club 613-283-5318 / 800-554-0285 lombardglen.com
Watkins Glen Golf Course 607-535-2340 watkinsglengolfcourse.com
Morrisburg Golf Club 613-543-3282 morrisburggolf.ca
Willowcreek Golf Club 607-562-8898 willowcreekgolfclub.com
Nationview Golf Course 613-989-5633 ottawagolf.com/nationview
KINGSTON & ONTARIO, CANADA
Prescott Golf Club 613-925-5370 prescottgolfclub.ca
SYRACUSE AREA Bellevue Country Club 315-475-5151 bellevuecountryclub.com Burnet Golf Club 315-487-6285 syracuse.ny.us/parks/burnetGolfCourse.html
Skyridge Golf Course 315-687-6900 skyridgegolfcourse.com Sunnycrest City of Syracuse Golf Course 315-473-2674 syracuse.ny.us/parks/sunnycrest GolfCourse.html Tanner Valley Golf Course 315-492-8113
Cazenovia Golf Club 315-655-8573 caz-cc.com
Tecumseh Golf Club 315-445-0963 tecumsehclub.com
Drumlins Country Club 315-445-5580 drumlins.com
Turning Stone Casino and Golf Course 315-361-5140 / 877-748-4653 turningstone.com/golf
Erie Village Golf Course 315-656-4653 golferielinks.com Foxfire Golf Course 315-638-2930 / foxfire247.com Lafayette Hills Golf Club 315-469-3296 lafayettehillsgcc.com Links at Sunset Ridge Golf Course 315-673-2255 linksatsunsetridge.com
FINGER LAKES / ROCHESTER Canandaigua Country Club 585-394-4370 / canadaiguacountryclub.com Geneva Country Club 315-789-8786 / gccgenevany.com
Brockville Country Club 613-342-2468 brockvillecountryclub.com Brockville Highland Golf Ltd 613-342-7883 brockvillehighlandgolf.com Cedar Glen Golf Course 613-535-2323 / 888-861-0660 c360.ca/williamsburg/cg Cloverdale Links Golf Course 613-774-0076 cloverdalelinks.com
Sandy Row Restaurant and Golf Club 613-989-2588 sandyrowgolf.com Smuggler’s Glen Golf Course 613-659-4999 / 800-268-4536 smugglersglen.com Summerheights Golf Links 613-938-8009 summerheightsgolf.com Sunnidell Golf 613-498-0775 / sunnidell.com
Greystone Golf Club 585-234-4653 / rochestergolfcourses.com
Gananoque Golf & Country Club 613-382-1670 gangolfclub.com
Upper Canada Golf Course 800-437-2233 uppercanadagolf.com
Mark Twain Golf Course 607-737-5770 cityofelmira.net/mark-twain-golf-course
Glengarry Golf & Country Club 613-525-2912 / 888-499-4653 glengarrygolf.ca
Wolfe Island Riverfront Golf Course 613-385-9978 wolfeisland.com/riverfront
Bedford Creek Golf Course
12870 Route 3, Sackets Harbor, NY 13685 • 315-646-3400
6th ANNUAL DICK DOE MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT JULY 11, 2015 - Highland Meadows
WEEKDAY SPECIALS
MONDAY, TUESDAY OR THURSDAY: 9 Holes And Cart .....................................$15.00 WEDNESDAY OR FRIDAY: 18 Holes And Cart ...................................$25.00 Starting Play Before 1:00 PM. Other Offers Valid May 1 -September 15, 2015
9 HOLE CARDS AVAILABLE PAY FOR 5 GET 1 FREE
6 PLAY CARD..........................................$15.00 6 CART CARD.........................................$60.00
www.bedfordcreekgolf.com
Golf Club, Route 342 Watertown, NY 4-person Captain and Crew
$220.00 PER TEAM COVERS GOLF, CART AND DINNER Shotgun Start 10:00 am
TWO DIVISIONS
OPEN DIVISION & SENIOR DIVISION 60+
The tournament will provide a scholarship for a graduating IHC senior and will fully fund a NNY Junior Youth Golf Tour Call Highland Meadows at 315-785-0108 or Mike Doe at 315-783-4488. A car donated by FX Caprara Car Company will be awarded for a hole-in-one 2015 Season | NNY Golf
|7
g uest essay
Many routes to a career in golf
S
pring is here and golfers are headed to the region’s courses to try out their new clubs and maybe some new swings they learned from the Golf Channel during the long north country winter. While growing up in Malone, I learned to play golf at a very young age and took it more seriously when I was about 8 years old. Little did I know where I would end up in the world of golf. Of course, many young golfers, including me at the time, want to be the next star on the PGA Tour like Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler or Jordan Spieth. As most quickly learn, like many other professional sports, a very small percentage of great players actually make it to the “big leagues.” One of the neatest things about becoming a PGA Professional, is that you have many options to follow your passion of golf by working in the golf business. We have 24 “A” classifications of PGA Members in the PGA of America. Of course, you can follow the traditional route and become a Head Golf Professional (A-1), or Director of Golf (A-4), or an Instructor (A-6). However, we have many members in Retail (A-15) who work at a retail golf facility like a store, or you can even be a golf writer, which is classified as an A-18. However, as you will read in this publication, it’s not easy becoming a PGA Golf Professional and all classifications need to meet the minimum standards set forth by the PGA of America. There are a couple of routes to become a PGA Member. The average time it takes to become a PGA Member is about 42 months. There are more than 600 hours of required education to complete and test out of. Perhaps the most difficult test is the Playing Ability Test (PAT). The PAT is a shooting a 36-hole target score based on the course rating of the particular course where the playing test is taken. It is generally in the 150 to 155 score range for 36 holes. A PGA Member in the golf industry is recognized as the expert in the game and business of golf. So, how did I become the president of the PGA of America? First, I had to become a PGA Member. I earned my PGA Membership on Aug. 1, 1993. I quickly became involved in the governance of the Northeastern New
8 | NNY Golf | 2015 Season
York Section in Albany. There are 41 PGA Sections around the country and the NENY Section is the smallest. I served on committees within the section to start giving back to the game and Derek A. Sprague its members. I President was then asked The PGA of America to consider running for the national board of directors, which I did. I sat on the board for two years before being asked to run for secretary of the section. To make a long story shorter, I served in every officer seat at the section level. The PGA of America has 14 national directors from around the country. Each director oversees the governance of three sections, with the exception of one director who oversees only two sections, and those directors rotate between the three sections in each district. As they say, the stars lined up because as I was ending my eight years of service at the section level as an officer, it was our section’s turn to have the district director serve on the National Board of Directors of the PGA of America. I sat on the National Board of Directors as the District 1 director from 2008 to 2010. In spring 2009, I was asked to run for the national office. We have three officer positions — secretary, vice president and president. That entailed running a national campaign against other PGA Members. In my case, I ran against five other PGA Members. They were from Southern California, Colorado, Minnesota, Georgia and the New York City area, called the Metropolitan Section. I visited nine cities in early 2010 explaining my platform to the 41 section leaders of how I would serve the 28,000 PGA Members and represent the PGA of America. The election took place in November 2010 in Boston where I was successfully elected as the Secretary of the PGA of America. Each officer seat is for two years. I’m now in my first year as president of the PGA of America. The biggest surprise to many people is that all of these posi-
tions at the section level and national level are volunteer. It is a way to give back to the game and to my profession. Our mission at the PGA of America is to grow the game and serve our 28,000 members and apprentices. It is a lot of work and responsibility but the gratification I receive from helping PGA Professionals and golfers at facilities is worth the extra effort. When we talk about growing the game at the PGA of America, we are talking about getting people to play the game or to play the game more often. We have programs like Get Golf Ready, which had nearly 100,000 adults participate in last year. This program introduces the game to adults in a fun, friendly manner. Most programs around the country are only $99 which gives you 7.5 hours of instruction and includes on-course components as well to get you more comfortable playing the game. We also have youth development programs like our PGA Junior League and the very fun and exciting Drive, Chip and Putt. which you may have seen on the Golf Channel the Sunday before The Masters tournament. PGA Junior League is starting to take hold here in the north country as well as Drive, Chip and Putt, but each program has been very successful in more densely populated areas around the country. More than 50,000 children participate in these youth programs. Check with a PGA Professional to find a location near you for any of these programs. One of the most unique aspects about the game of golf is that as a parent or grandparent, you can actually participate with your child or grandchild. You don’t need to sit on the sidelines and watch. You can walk the fairways with your family and enjoy any amount of time you have with them. When do you get to spend two to four hours with someone you love? A neat program we just launched at Malone Golf Club is a parent/grandparent and child/grandchild league where parents and grandparents play as a team with one of the children or grandchildren. It has been a huge success so far and I can see this program growing in the future. It’s time to get off the couch and onto the course. Enjoy your golf this season! DEREK SPRAGUE is general manager and director of golf for the Malone Golf Club and president of the PGA of America.
sk i lls cl i n i c
Tips to boost your game n From proper aim
Maintain a balanced, athletic stance while hitting, similiar to that which is used in other sports.
Use parallel and perpendicular clubs to line up your stance with the ball and help guide your driver straight.
to a good grip, enjoy the next round now Watertown Golf Club pro Christopher A. Bigenhoe. JUSTIN SORENSEN PHOTOS | NNY GOLF
A wider view of how to use parallel and perpendicular clubs to line up your stance with the ball.
For a proper right-handed grip, the right hand should overlap the left thumb.
While putting, your arms and shoulders should form a triangle, with the ball in the middle of your feet.
Celebrating 56 years of operation, the Adams Country Club offers a challenging 9 hole course with plush greens and spectacular views. Full packages available per 18 holes. Stop in after the round in the Pro Shop and challenge Blake to a game of Ping Pong! ACC offers great meal specials & cold beer on tap daily, as well as full service Banquet and Tournament arrangements.
Wednesday: Wing Night
Friday: Beer Batter Fish Fry
Contact us by using our web-site:
Saturday: Clams
www.adamscountryclub.com or call 315-232-4842 10700 US RT 11 – Adams, NY 13605
2015 Season | NNY Golf
|9
sk i lls cl i n i c
A better game starts with basics
n Stance, posture, grip are crucial fundamentals for a lower score By GABRIELLE HOVENDON
L NNY Golf
ooking to lower your score this season? Trying to improve your technique? Instead of practicing esoteric skills or methods, professionals in Northern New York recommend a few simple tips. “It’s just getting back to the basics: your grip, your posture, your stance, and your alignment,” said Lanie M. Gerken, golf pro and shop manager at Ives Hill Country Club. “Keep it simple. Sometimes people get too many things in their head. Sometimes they think they’re professionals before they are.” According to Gerken, it’s important for all golfers to maintain an efficient, comfortable grip, whether it’s an interlock, overlap or even baseball grip. For proper posture, they should remember to bend at the waist with their arms hanging down from their shoulders and their shoulders over their toes. The correct stance — planting the feet shoulder-width apart — and alignment — squaring the body to the target — are also crucial to a strong game. “The most important thing is proper grip, proper setup and position,” agreed Kevin Murphy, golf professional at the McArthur Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Fla., and former pro at Thousand Islands Country Club in Alexandria Bay. “From there, the swing will work. If you don’t have a proper grip or proper posture, it’s very difficult to swing the golf club properly.” When it comes to the perfect golf swing, there is no one-size-fits-all-approach. Depending on a player’s
10 | NNY Golf | 2014 Season
height and body type, the mechanics of the swing can differ significantly. However, there are a few general tips to keep in mind. During an ideal backswing, the feet should move first, then the knees, hips, and right elbow. It is important to keep knees bent and to place the majority of weight on the forward foot. “If a player swings to an Progression of a swing part 1: Lining upright, balanced up your shot and starting the swing. finish, he probably made the most effective swing for his body type,” said Christopher A. Bigenho, the Watertown Golf Club’s shop manager and golf pro. “Players should strive to achieve good balance on the backswing and into the follow-through. They should try their hardest to keep their knees flexed in the backswing, particularly the trailing leg.” The shorter a player’s shot, the Progression of a swing part 2: Hitting shorter his or her the ball and the follow through. backswing should be. Regardless of the distance, players should still result in a bad shot. According to the PGA of make sure to shift their body America website, PGA.com, weight smoothly, accelerate which contains useful tips through the ball and control the direction of their clubs. If for golfers of all skill levels, their bodies are not aligned is also important to keep a correctly or their club faces fairly consistent approach are not square to the ball at to the swing. When condiimpact, the local pros caution, tions are windy, players the most powerful drive will should choose a club with
lower loft and swing lightly to avoid backspin; in the website’s words, “when it’s breezy, swing easy.” Once golfers feel confident with their basic technique and swing, the north country pros recommend focusing on the short game. With about fifty percent of shots falling into this category, a strong show on the putting green will make a big difference. “I think the most important and probably the easiest thing for people to improve their score is around the green with the short game: your chipping, your putting, your pitching, your bunker play,” Murphy said. “That might not be the most fun to practice, but it will improve your score.” Golf Digest gives several suggestions for practicing the short game, some of which can be implemented in the comfort of a player’s own home. Placing buckets at various distances in the backyard and trying to pitch balls in them allows players to work out their approach to both good and bad lies. Players with carpeted homes can even practice putting balls through doorways and furniture legs when they’re not on the course. According to Murphy, it’s especially important that children and beginners break up their practice with little games and contests. In his opinion, many golfers take the sport too seriously. “Create some drills, try to make it enjoyable for yourself,” he said. “You have to make it fun. When it becomes like work, you tend to stay away from it.” GABRIELLE HOVENDON is a former Watertown Daily Times reporter and freelance writer. Contact her at ghovendon@gmail.com.
sk i lls cl i n i c For a good drive, line up your hands with the toe of the driver before you swing.
On the upswing, keep the toe of the driver in line with your hands before you continue to swing.
AMANDA MORRISON
PHOTOS | NNY GOLF
The proper body positioning for a correct swing.
Properly position the club before hitting the ball.
Go through the motions of a swing while standing with your feet close together to practice proper arm positioning.
Make sure the club contacts the ball before the turf for the short game.
Thousand Islands Country Club 21496 Clubhouse Drive Wellesley Island, New York 13640
“One Island, a thousand reasons to visit...” Located in the middle of the St. Lawrence River, Wellesley Island is home to the Thousand Islands Country Club. With 36 holes of great golf, 20 luxury villas and suites, Hackers Pub & Grill Restaurant, a 100 slip marina, banquet accomodations, and coporate meeting facilities, TICC provides so many reasons to enjoy the grandur and beauty of the region. For golf getaways, family vacations or corporate outings, we provide exceptional service with personal attention. Corporate, charity and private outings from 12 to 200+ are hosted by our professional staff. We take care of all the details from cart signs to scoring so you and your group may enjoy the round on either or both of our 18 hole courses. Our chef will assist you with any of our standard food packages or work with any special requests. Rates and availability vary depending on the day of the week and time of the season.
Call For Info: 315-482-9454
Old Course Pro Shop ext:101 • Lake Course Pro Shop ext:201 • Hacker’s Pub & Grill ext:103 • Villa Reservations ext:207 • Business Office ext:203 • Marina 315-783-9179 (Jake)
2014 Season | NNY Golf
| 11
f eatures
Follow proper game etiquette
n Appropriate dress, courtesies part of ‘Gentleman’s sport’
By GABRIELLE HOVENDON
I
NNY Golf
f you’re new to the game of golf, the complicated rules and etiquette might seem overwhelming. To make sure you behave less like a character from “Caddyshack” and more like a seasoned pro, there are a few important things to keep in mind. According to Christopher A. Bigenho, pro and golf shop manager at Watertown Golf Club in Thompson Park, proper etiquette can begin even before players set foot on the golf course. “Number one, call the golf course and find out what’s going on that day,” Bigenho said. “Make a tee time whenever you possibly can. When you’ve made
your tee time, that’s when you’re supposed to be on the tee hitting your shot, not checking in.” In addition to being prompt and making reservations, it is recommended that golfers review courses’ scorecards for specific rules before they begin play. The “Golf Etiquette” page on the Professional Golfers’ Association of America website, which provides a comprehensive overview of etiquette on and around the golf course, also recommends that golfers use caddies whenever possible. Doing so helps employ the caddies, many of whom are young golf enthusiasts themselves, and might result in helpful hints and information about the course. The PGA page also empha-
sizes keeping courses in good shape, a courtesy that the north country golf pros are quick to echo.
“
fix one or two others.” In addition to replacing divots, players should be sure to rake the sand in bunkers and
The big thing is replacement of divots and fixing the ball marks. Golf is a gentleman’s sport, so think beyond yourself. Fix your ball mark, and fix one or two others. — Lanie M. Gerken, golf pro and golf shop manager, Ives Hill Country Club
“The big thing is the replacement of the divots and fixing the ball marks,” said Lanie M. Gerken, golf pro and pro shop manager at Ives. “Golf is a gentleman’s sport, so think beyond yourself. Fix your ball mark, and
obey rules and signs for golf carts, staying off the green and sticking to marked paths. On the green, they should avoid stepping on the hole as well as on other players’ putting lines (the invisible lines between their
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f eatures ball and the hole), and they should be careful not to stand where they might distract, impede, or be hit by other players. Another important consideration for golfers is their rate of play. To avoid delays on the course, the PGA’s webpage recommends that players take no more than 30 to 45 seconds between the time they select their club and the time they hit their shot. If a player isn’t ready to play a shot, he or she should have someone else in the group go first. According to Bigenho, the best way to let a faster group pass a slower one is with a rolling play-through. Ideal for parthree or -five holes, this strategy involves the first, slower group hitting their tee shot; waiting for the second, faster group to hit their tee shots as well; and then proceeding to the landing or green as a group, at which point the faster group takes the lead.
Last but not least, novice golfers should remember to dress appropriately. In Northern New York, that generally involves avoiding denim, crude or offensive T-shirts and sleeveless or muscle shirts. “In the north country, the dress codes are pretty relaxed compared to other places in the country,” Bigenho said. “We all request that you wear an appropriate collared shirt with sleeves. You shouldn’t show up in cut-off shorts, whether they’re cut-off khaki or jeans.” Gerken agreed, noting that dress codes for female golfers have loosened up only slightly over the years. Collared shirts are still expected, although dress skirts and skorts are becoming more popular. In the end, she gave one general rule of etiquette that might be said to apply to the entire game, from hemlines to putting lines. “Just be thoughtful out there,” she said.
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Thomas Siddon is the PGA Professional at the Massena Golf & Country Club. Siddon is one of the longest-tenured PGA Professionals in the north country. MELANIE KIMBLER-LAGO | NNY Golf
COVER STORY
Working for the
enjoyment of the game Elite ‘Pro’ title comes with training, discipline STORY BY JOSH ST. CROIX | PORTRAIT BY MELANIE KIMBLER-LAGO
D
oug McDavitt and Thomas Siddon love the game of the golf and they share an affinity for helping people. Those passions drive McDavitt and Siddon — two of the longest-tenured PGA Professionals in the north country — to work from sun up to sun down growing the game and providing ideal playing facilities for local golfers. McDavitt has plied his trade at the 27hole Willowbrook Golf Club in Watertown since 1986, moving to the area from Florida, where he grew up, after purchasing the course with two other investors. “I think to be a good pro, it first has to be a love of the game, then you got to love being around people,” said McDavitt, who earned his PGA accreditation in 1983. “I put in a lot of hours here and I do enjoy what I’m doing. A lot of people are counting down the time until they can retire, I don’t really have a desire to retire.
I’d like to keep doing this as long as I can.” Siddon, who grew up across the street from Massena Golf and Country Club, is in his 15th year as the Head PGA Professional at his home course, where his a former club champion. “I worked here in junior high, high school and college under the previous golf professional, John Marich, and that just gave me a love for golf,” Siddon said. “I loved playing and I wanted to help others get better and enjoy the game and have them want to play it for the rest of their lives.” McDavitt and Siddon are two of five Head PGA Professionals listed in the pga.org directory who work in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. Others holding that distinct title are Mark Benz of Thousand Islands Country Club, Kevin Maggin of Partridge Run in Canton, and Jason Polka of the Malone Golf Club.
PGA PRO VS. GOLF PRO
The PGA of America, led by President Derek Sprague of the Malone Golf Club,
was founded in 1916 and is comprised of 27,000 members, making it the largest sports organization in the world. It is a separate entity from the PGA Tour — the organizations split almost 50 years ago — although Tour players can apply for PGA membership. Any golfer who has played in a tournament for money, or accepted payment for lessons, can refer to himself or herself as a “golf professional.” But in order to be recognized by the PGA of America, individuals must complete a long and laborious training process. “I’m not saying we’re like doctors because obviously what we do isn’t as important,” McDavitt said. “But it’s similar in that, if you’re going to hang that ‘M.D.’ next to your name, you have to take the proper steps and put in the work and learn the right way of doing things.” There are 24 different classifications within the PGA of America (see info box, page 20), which are essentially 24 different career paths in the sport.
Please see PGA PROS, page 18
2015 Season | NNY Golf
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2014 tournament r
16 |
NNY Golf | 2015 Season
Photos by Jason Hunter, Amanda Morrison & Melanie Kimbler-Lago
rewind:
Watertown City Golf Championship Northern New York Golf Association 6-man
Clockwise from top left, Matt Laramie tees off at the third hole during the 2014 Northern New York Golf Association 6-Man Tournament at St. Lawrence University Golf Course. Tim Phillips watches his chipped ball curve toward the hole during the 2014 Watertown City Golf Championship Tournament finals. Bob Hughes chips the ball onto the green and into the hole during the 2014 Watertown City Golf Championship Tournament finals. Scott J. Wight tees off at the second hole during the 2014 Northern New York Golf Association 6-Man Tournament at St. Lawrence University Golf Course. Aaron Jones drives the ball during the 2014 Northern New York Golf Association 6-Man Tournament at St. Lawrence University Golf Course. Bob Hughes hits out of a rut during the 2014 Watertown City Golf Championship Tournament finals. 2015 Season | NNY Golf
| 17
COVER STORY
NORM JOHNSTON PHOTOS | NNY GOLF
Doug McDavitt, Head PGA Professional at Willowbrook Golf Club, Watertown, is one of the longest-tenured PGA Professionals in Northern New York.
PGA PROS, from page 15 Both McDavitt and Siddon are classified as A-1 PGA members, which is the title given to Head Golf Professionals at a PGA-recognized course. Other classifications include administrative positions within the sport, instructors, club repair experts, retail salespeople, architects, rules officials and media members, just to name a handful. Within each of those concentrations is contained a bevy of responsibilities, especially for A-1 members like Siddon or McDavitt. “We’re out there trying to get more people to the game and grow the game to make it better,” said Siddon, who earned his PGA card in 1998. “On a day-to-day basis, we’re here greeting people and trying to introduce them to this great game we love. We’re behind the counter taking money from people who need to pay for greens fees and cart fees, we’re helping members out with lessons, grabbing their bags, cleaning clubs, getting 18 | NNY Golf | 2015 Season
carts ready, selling merchandise. I can go on. … We do a little bit of everything” McDavitt said his primary responsibilities include bookkeeping and accounting, teaching lessons, running tournaments and overseeing both the maintenance and food and beverage operations.
BECOMING A PGA MEMBER
There are two avenues to travel in order to be considered for acceptance into the PGA of America — the PGA Professional Golf Management Program and the university option. There are 19 colleges in the country that offer the PGA Golf Management University Program, and upon completion, one would graduate in four and a half to five years with a bachelor’s degree in golf management and the ability to apply for PGA membership. McDavitt and Siddon each passed through the other path, PGA-PGM, which generally takes about five to eight years to complete. “The study material was intense and
the failure rate when I went through was 66 percent,” McDavitt said. “There was a lot of stuff, I mean we learned everything. For example, we even learned about well-sewn garments. There should be 12 stitches per inch. So you can look at a golf shirt and count the stitches and tell if it’s high quality.” The first step in that process is to work as a registered apprentice under an established PGA Professional. Following a six-month probationary period, apprentices acquire one point for each month on the job and need to accumulate 36 points to apply for membership. There are three levels of education, each more wide-ranging in material than the next. The first two phases must be completed within two years of each start date, and ‘Level 3’ must be finished within eight years of the ‘Level 1’ start date. Siddon said that during his schooling, he took exams on 23 different subjects and wrote 69 different research papers, three for each topic. At some point during the three stages
COVER STORY of education, potential PGA members must pass the ‘Player Ability Test,’ which entails playing 36 holes in one day and shooting 15 strokes over the course rating. “About 17 percent of the people who take that test actually pass it,” Siddon said. McDavitt added: “For most good players, it’s not extremely difficult. But when you add that pressure of having to shoot a particular score to keep your job, it can be a bit of a challenge.” The final step is the membership interview, which features a question-andanswer session with a panel of six PGA members, and an oral presentation on a particular subject to members that are considered experts in that field. McDavitt’s presentation was on club repair and he brought in several wooden club heads in various stages of refurbishment to illustrate the process. Siddon focused on customer service and gave a mock greeting and follow-up with golfers visiting the course. “That was definitely nerve-wracking because it’s the final thing you have to do, and you’re presenting in front of six experts who have the final say on whether I can proceed with my career or not,” Siddon said. Once all of those requirements are fulfilled, the PGA Executive Board votes on whether to grant membership, and publishes a blurb in PGA Magazine to give existing members the chance to voice any reasons for which the applicant should not be granted their PGA card. Then, if membership is granted, PGA pros are required to take various classes every three years to maintain their accreditation. “It’s a continuing learning experience,” McDavitt said. “When you stop learning, you might as well stop working because you’re not helping your members much.”
SEEING THE WORLD
The greatest reward of achieving PGA Professional status, according to Siddon and McDavitt, is working in their beloved sport and helping others learn to appreciate the game. But an added perk is the extensive travel that comes with the career. As one of 450 pros in the nation involved with the PGA Ambassador Program, Siddon has been sent to places in the Caribbean Islands and South America to research golf courses as “destination visits.” “We get to go and experience the whole thing, playing golf, staying at the hotel,
eating the food, extracurricular activities for golfers to go to,” Siddon said. “That’s a highlight of my career, there are only 450 of us, so I’m lucky enough to get to do a little bit of travel that way. … They treat us like we’re on the (PGA) Tour, basically. It’s fantastic.” Siddon also plays in tournaments for the top 300 PGA Professionals in the country at various courses in Portland and Atlanta. Through PGA-sponsored trips, he has brought members of the Massena Golf
and Country Club to national tournaments at Pinehurst in North Carolina, which has hosted several U.S. Opens, and courses in Las Vegas and Mississippi. “It’s fun taking people to different venues to play golf and see different ways things are done,” Siddon said. McDavitt, meanwhile, spends in his winters in Florida and lives near Willowbrook from April through October. He doesn’t travel much during the season these days, as a majority of his time is spent running the business and teaching
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2015 Season | NNY Golf
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COVER STORY lessons. But McDavitt said in past years, he has played courses that hosted major PGA Tour events, like Pinhurst, Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill in Orlando, and Doral in Miami. “I’ve hit about all of the major courses on the east coast,” McDavitt said. McDavitt spent much of his apprenticeship working at Greeley Golf and Racquet Club in Haines City, Fla., which he said was voted the best resort in the southeast for nine straight years in the late 1970s and early ’80s.
the inspiration
For many PGA Professionals, the desire to enter the industry begins at a very young age. McDavitt said he decided at the age of 12 that he wanted to join the PGA ranks, and said his childhood mentor, Adolph Popp, is still one of his closest friends. “I’ve been fortunate to, since I was 12 years-old, know what I wanted to and I was able to do it,” McDavitt said. “I just loved the game and I wanted to always be around it.” McDavitt said he also dreamed of playing on the PGA Tour, but learned early that he was best suited for his current career. “I found out rapidly I wasn’t good enough,” he said. “I was probably 19 (years-old) at a 36-hole tournament and I had a two-stroke lead with
nine holes to go. I played the last nine at two-under par, and I lost. The kid I was playing against made five straight birdies and I’m going: ‘Eh, that kid’s pretty good. I couldn’t do that.’” Siddon learned the game working under Marich at Massena Golf and Country Club from 1978-92, a period spanning from his junior high to post-college years. He seized an opportunity to work as an apprentice under Sprague, the president of the PGA of America, at Malone Golf Club in 1993 and spent the next five years working there while earning his accreditation. Siddon, who also volunteers as the head varsity golf coach at his alma mater, Massena Central School, said his dream was always to return to work at his home course in Massena. That’s because he, like McDavitt, loves the game and the people that play it. “I’ve been lucky enough to be in my hometown, to work here and see it grow and see it get better,” Siddon said. “To see people of all ages, from kids, to my high school players, to members in their ’90s who I’ve known for years who play every day, just see them play the game and love it.” Josh St. Croix is a Johnson
Newspapers sportswriter. Email him at jstcroix@wdt.net.
PGA of America / Employment classifications n To register for PGA membership or as an apprentice, individuals must be employed in the following classifications. Apprentices hold same classification numbers and description, but begin with ‘B’ Classification Description A-1 Head Professional at a PGA-recognized golf course A-2
Head Professional at a PGA-recognized golf range
A-3 Touring Professionals (Champions, LPGA, Nationwide, Futures) A-4
Director of Golf at PGA-recognized Golf Facilities
A-5
Past Presidents of the Association
A-6
Golf Instructor at a PGA-recognized facility
A-7 Head Professional at a PGA-recognized facility under construction A-8 Assistant Golf Professional at a PGA-recognized golf facility A-9
Employed in Professional positions in management, development, ownership operation, and / or financing of facilities
A-10
Golf Clinician
A-11
Golf Administrator
A-12
College or University golf coach
A-13
General Manager
A-14
Director of Instruction at a PGA-recognized facility
A-15
Ownership or management of a retail golf facility
A-16
Golf course architect
A-17
Golf course superintendent
A-18
Golf media
A-19
Golf manufacturer management
A-20
Golf manufacturer sales representative
A-21
Tournament coordinator, Director of organizations, businesses or associations
A-22
Rules official
A-23
Club fitting/club repair
A-24
Employed in golf industry and not eligible under another active classification SOURCE: PGA of America
If you are looking for a challenging golf course in the North Country then Cedars Golf Course is for you. You will be challenged by 15 out of 18 holes with water that comes into play. The ball will need to be placed on the correct side of the fairways and also on the correct side of the green to make it a bit easier for your score. So, keep your driver in the golf bag on a few tees to place it in the right spot to make par. Along with the challenge of the course you will admire several wildlife roaming around with a pleasant view of Tug Hill and the windmills.
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f eatures
From green to tee: NNY’s top 18 n A golfer’s quest: The most memorable from St. Lawrence River to the Adirondacks
A NNY Golf
vid golfers can perfectly describe their favorite hole. From the position of the trees that dot the fairways to the pitch of the greens, certain holes leave an indelible image in one’s mind. What follows is a roundup of unforgettable holes within the tri-county region, a Dream 18, the best that Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties have to offer. The top holes in the area is the result of travels to a number of courses, talks with many amateur, pro and retired pro golfers, and picking the brains of clubhouse attendants, owners, general managers and instructors to find. What makes a hole stand out among its peers? “It’s a combination of things,” said Dick Dunaway, former general manager and lead instructor of the Watertown Golf Club. “It’s generally a very scenic hole that has some challenges associated with it. If I were going to weigh it, I’d say 75 percent scenic and 25 percent difficult.” Given the area’s wide range of exotic locations, from the banks of the St. Lawrence River to the foothills of the Adirondacks, the region is blessed with exceptional canvases on which golf course architects have painted
phenomenal portraits. “When it’s real natural and all you have to do is just carve the golf course out of it,” former LPGA Tour member and St. Lawrence University women’s golf team coach Mary Lawrence said, “that’s something where it really becomes a (special) golf course.” Some holes made the list on account of their near-inspirational beauty, others because of the fraying effect they may have on the nerves of even the most accomplished golfer. All should be considered as required playing for golfers of any level.
“Off the tee you can hit a variety of clubs down to the creek,” Lawrence said. “From there, it’s a beautiful backdrop looking at the campus, kind of going downhill with the water on your left. Then the green actually, once you go and try to hit into that green you’ve got to stay below the hole because if you don’t, you’re going to have just a rapid putt coming down
the course a unique appearance. The signature hole at Partridge Run is the 415-yard par four No. 14, which features a hilly fairway that takes a dogleg right uphill. Even a deep drive will force a relatively long second shot. The green features a number of tricky, if not downright frustrating, pin placements, and a par here could be something a golfer brags about for years. The 137-yard No. 5 at the Watertown Golf Club is nestled in the relaxing atmosphere of Thompson Park. The din of the city is nonexistent and the view is invigorating as one stares down a row of trees from the tee. The well-protected green demands a pinpoint short-iron shot that dances in the wind as it passes above the tree line on its way to a saucershaped green. A trio of bunkers can sink any chance that one thought they had at birdie here. The Massena Country Club runs along the St. Lawrence River, which comes into play on a few holes. On the 17th, a 183yard par-three, a bay is set directly in front of the tee box and the river acts as a picturesque backdrop beyond the green. “A lot of times you get the ships in the background and they look like they’re right on the green when you’re hit
Some holes stand apart a little more and remain in your mind, floating just behind your eyes, like the flash of a camera.
THE BEAuties
To a golfer, just about any hole holds an aesthetically pleasing quality. But some holes stand apart a little more, and remain in your mind, floating just behind your eyes, like the flash of a camera. The 13th hole at the St. Lawrence University Golf Course in Canton is an exercise in intentional beauty. From the tee, one is afforded a spectacular view of Jencks Hall, and beyond that, the Gunnison Memorial Chapel, and the scenery improves with each step taken down the fairway.
that hill. It’s all about angles and understanding where you need to hit the ball.” No. 13 is one of the original nine holes built on the SLU course — which was sculpted from farmland — and it combines beauty with a trio of harsh hazards. The right side of the green is guarded by a lone sand trap. The sand and the water act in unison to funnel the fairway as it bottlenecks toward a narrow green. At the Partridge Run Golf and Country Club in Canton, the arboreal border of the fairways at Partridge Run Golf and Country Club is dominated by birch trees, and the fairways are lush Kentucky blue grass. The juxtaposition of these elements gives
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ting,” pro shop attendant Paul Bombard said. “It’s just a really good-looking hole.” The green is severely sloped from back to front and shielded on the left and right by bunkers, making anywhere but the green itself a bad lie. The view from the top of a 90foot rock cliff at C-Way Country Club’s par-five No. 6 offers golfers much to look at while they wait for their turn at the tee. This vista causes countless golfers to grip a little tighter, hoping to smash a ball deep into the slender fairway. Unfortunately, a poorly-hit ball will land in deep rough or a ditch, still yards from their target. The hole extends 491 yards, but plays longer than its official measurement. Hazards include a pond along the left side of the fairway and a creek down the middle, finishing at a left-right sloping green and numerous brutal putts. For those who appreciate seclusion, the 11th at the Turin Highlands Golf Course feels like it’s miles away from the rest of the course. This 310-yard
par-four affords a terrific view of the Tug Hill Plateau, as does much of the rest of the course. A slender fairway protected by trees on the right side progresses to a green set back into the woods. Shadows in concert with an eerie silence play mind games as one lines up to putt. Depending on the time of day, the green may be completely covered in shadow or spattered with the darkness of shade from the surrounding trees.
THE BEAsTS
Sometimes the signature hole at a golf course stands out among the others. Though no less picturesque than the ones described above, these holes are beastly because of the potential terror they pose to a golfer’s card. Potsdam Town and Country Club’s par four No. 12 is a 358yard climb to a slightly elevated green that continues to slope upward. A bunker on the left of the pencil-thin fairway should be avoided at all costs and makes golfers pay for attempt-
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ing to stay out of the forest to the left. The natural undulation of the fairway makes even shots from the short stuff frustrating. The green slopes back toward the tee and features a pair of bunkers at its foot. The green itself is difficult to read and offers no gimme putts. Merely making it to the green and looking back down at the tees, realizing you made it, offers a sense of accomplishment that one’s score here rarely does. At Winthrop’s Meadowbrook Golf Club, the par five No. 5 is a tricky double dogleg to the right. With a fairway shaped like a boomerang, tee shots first deal with a tight landing area on a slight right turn before the hole turns right again at a much sharper angle. The 510-yard hole is lined from tee to green with trees and has a bunker on the right-front corner of the elevated, 6,500-square foot green. Any shot over the green must be hit back over a steep slope, assuming it did not roll back into the woods. Hole No. 15 at the Thousand
Islands Country Club’s Old Course is longer than it seems at 418 yards with the wind constantly in your face. The fairway of this par four is framed by marsh on its right and long rough and trees to the left. A creek bisects the hole as the fairway narrows at 290 yards, which may force some to lay up, as the landing area bottlenecks as you approach the ditch. “I think that’s one of the best golf holes in this part of the state,” PGA professional Fred Dobbins said. “Just a tough golf hole; it’s pretty, but it’s just tough.” An elevated green awaits on one’s second shot, which for most is a long iron or wood. The ninth hole at the Gouverneur Country Club in Gouverneur is another example of what can happen when a course designer has a bit of a mean streak. Perched high above the hole from a Mayan pyramid-like elevated tee box, this 416-yard par four gives the illusion of a straightforward hole. After muscling a drive over the maintenance road
that slices through the middle of the fairway, another long approach shot is needed to hit the green, which is surrounded by sand. The green is where things can get really interesting. Shaped like a saddle, a rear pin placement here can turn any putting effort into an exercise in anger management. A 520-yard par five, No. 18 at the Brantingham Golf Course is marked by a pair of huge trees in the landing area from the tee. Trees border the left-hand side from tee to green and are joined on the right from 130 yards in. The fairway is narrow and the green is a sliver that slopes down on both sides.
THE GREMLINS
After contending with a particularly difficult section of the course, there is no respite quite like a comfortably small parthree. Seeing the green so close to the tee makes many mouths water in anticipation of a greenin-one. Don’t judge any of these holes by their size, though, because as any golfer knows:
Short usually means dangerous. Clifton-Fine Municipal Golf Course’s 176-yard par-three No. 4 is a downhill hole with pines closing in on both sides. A large pond sits at the foot of the green to sink short shots and No. 3’s fairway will be the future home of anything hit long. A true challenge for anyone who considers themselves an iron enthusiast. The ninth hole at the L.A. Golf Club, LaFargeville, is 150 yards over water onto a peninsula green. Anything but a flawless shot is likely to get wet and a hill runs down to another creek on the other side of the green. A heart-shaped green and 60-foot drop awaits at No. 16 at the Carlowden Country Club in Denmark. From the tee box you are afforded a majestic view of the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. The 170-yard par three’s green is bordered by sand on the left and right, and has a pond at its rear. If the pin is in the raised left-hand corner, expect to navigate a putt up a
severe slope. The shortest hole to make the list is No. 3 on the Yellow Course at the Willowbrook Golf Club. At just 95 yards, a wedge from the tee must find its way between a limestone wall and water on its way to an 1,800-square foot green.
THE gamblers
Some golfers perk up at the sight of a hole that can be attacked from limitless directions depending on the wind, their swing or their mood. The final three holes are sure to whet one’s appetite for analysis. Expansive water hazards and limitless options from the tee box are what separate the next two holes from the rest. With water 175 yards from the tee on the 270-yard par four No. 13 at the Twin Brooks Golf Course in Waddington, players are made to choose whether to go long or short. The water curls up along the right of the fairway and will devour a slicing drive. “You can play it straightaway or you can play it like a
dogleg,” course owner Larry Thomas said. “Depending on how the wind’s blowing you can play the hole a lot of different ways.” Though an eagle is possible here, a poor decision from the tee nearly guarantees a bogey. At the Adams Country Club, the 300-yard No. 16 required a booming drive to clear. It forced players to tee off over a large pond and the green sat behind a pair of bunkers begging for deposits. Unfortunately, the country club recently closed the back nine and continues to operate the original nine holes that were the former Tomacy’s Golf Course. No. 6 at Ives Hill Country Club in Watertown is another hole with myriad solutions. From the tee one might see golfers using any club, ranging from the driver to an eight iron, in order to avoid the monstrous water hazard. The slender green features a deep bunker in front, and water everywhere else, making the second shot even more potentially cringeinducing than the first.
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“Golf Services - Golf Done Right” 2015 Season | NNY Golf
| 23
g ol f g ear
Invest in the right equipment n Essential, optional high-tech gear can make big difference By GABRIELLE HOVENDON
I
NNY Golf
t’s summer in Northern New York, and you’re ready to become a golfer. There’s sunshine and rolling hills and birds in the trees, and the first thing you’re going to do is invest in a state-of-the-art set of clubs. Or maybe not. “The biggest mistake new golfers make is they go out and they buy expensive golf equipment that they don’t need,” said PGA pro Kevin Maginn, who teaches lessons at the Partridge Run Golf & Country Club in Canton. “I always tell everybody to take a series of lessons first and then start with an inexpensive set of golf clubs for a year. As you get better, you’ll become more familiar with different styles and types of clubs.” Lanie M. Gerken, golf pro and pro shop manager at the Ives Hill Country Club in Watertown, agreed. “The most important thing is that you don’t want to go out and spend a lot of money right away,” she cautioned. “You want to see if you like golf first.” This is important, because new clubs can be pricey. While a starter set may only cost $150 or $200, a mid-level golfer may spend anywhere from $300 to $600 on irons alone, with a high-end driver costing up to $500. That’s not to mention the professionals, who tend to pick and choose their clubs individually and who may easily have $2,500 to $3,000 worth of equipment in their bag at any given time. For people just taking up the game, a cheap set of clubs or even a partial set will usually do the trick. In the north country, a local golf pro can guide beginners toward an appropriate purchase and even let them try demo clubs to get a feel for the different types. “I’m always looking at their best interest, not my own,” Mr. Maginn said. “They’re saying, ‘I want a whole set of golf clubs’ and I’m saying, ‘you don’t need a whole set.’ Why spend $2,200 dollars when it won’t make you better right now?” Of course, some of the appeal of a certain club is its brand or its aesthetics. Although no one would discount the importance of a club that looks and feels good to the player, the local pros still recommend that new golfers spend for the level they’re at,
24 | NNY Golf | 2015 Season
not the level they want to be at. They also noted that it’s possible to get a reasonably priced set of used clubs from garage sales or Craiglist, although they warned against buying clubs from eBay. What’s more important than the cost of the new clubs is their fit. Novices don’t always know that they need to be fitted by a professional to ensure that clubs won’t be too heavy or big for them. “For beginning ladies or juniors, they want to be sure that the clubs they do select fit them reasonably for length, weight and shaft flex,” said Christopher A. Bigenho, golf pro and golf shop manager at Thomson Park’s Watertown Golf Club. “While a gentleman starting the game could go with just about anything that’s long enough for him to reach the ball, ladies and juniors need to be sure the club fits their build and their strength ability.” Mr. Maginn agreed. “If a person goes to a big box store, they often buy a golf club where maybe the shaft is too stiff or too long for them or the clubs are made for a better player and not a beginner,” he said. “What I’m finding now is that people are buying a golf club on eBay and then realizing they can’t use it because it’s too long, too stiff, or the loft is wrong. Then they come to me and ask, ‘why can’t I hit it?’” Of course, the clubs — and even the bags — that players bring onto the golf course speak volumes about their personalities. With accessories now customizable with favorite colors or sports team logos, it’s possible to guess a lot about a person just by the way they show up to the green. “Your bag is your statement on the golf course,” Mr. Bigenho said. “It says a lot about who you are as a player. For those of us who have been in and around the industry for a long time, in a lot of instances we
g ol f g ear Lesson packages / beginners n Ives Hill Country Club: five lessons, $160, 775-4837 n Partridge Run Golf & Country Club: five lessons, $130, 386-4444 n Watertown Golf Club: four lessons, $90, 782-4040
Optional gear for the serious golfer includes a range finder, top. New golf balls are essential for all levels of experience. A golf glove will aid players in maintaining a comfortable grip.
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St. Lawrence State Park Golf Course can profile a player by quickly looking at their bag and the clubs in their bag.” Today, nice-looking golf shirts and shoes can be found at discount clothing stores, outlet malls and even the Salvation Army, so a new golfing wardrobe doesn’t necessarily have to break the bank. But other costly accessories — anything from club-shaped drink dispensers to gloves with digital displays — may find their way into a golfer’s budget. For example, range finders and GPS units can speed up play and take the guesswork out of how far a player has hit the ball. However, they’re not always the best purchase for someone who’s new to the game. “Everybody’s into the gadgets now: the GPS, the range finders, the watches and smartphone apps,” Ms. Gerkin said, explaining that modern tracking tools can be distracting to new players. “They are good for that middle- to advanced-level golfer, but beginners don’t need to get that technical.” In the end, the local pros were unanimous on this point: All the gear in the world is no substitute for good instruction. The best investment for a beginner, they say, is practice and education. As Ms. Gerkin put it: “Take a lesson first.” GABRIELLE HOVENDON is a former Watertown Daily Times reporter and freelance writer. Contact her at ghovendon@gmail.com.
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| 25
NNY Charity golf events
CONFIRMED FOR 2015
June 5
Walmart Charity Network Tournament
Partridge Run Golf and Country Club
Partridge Run, 386-4444
June 5
Gary Ashe Memorial Tournament
Willowbrook Golf Club
Willowbrook Golf Club, 782-8192
June 6
Trooper David Lane Memorial Tournament
Highland Meadows Golf Club
Highland Meadows, 785-0108
June 6
Heuvelton Fire Department Auxiliary
Langbrook Meadows Golf Club
Angel Fenton, 869-8174
June 6
Stu Barkley Memorial Tournament
Twin Brooks Golf Course
Brenda Rupert, 445-7331
June 6
West Stockholm Auxiliary Tournament
Meadowbrook Golf Course
Meadowbrook Golf Course, 389-4562
June 12
Ryan Converse Memorial Tournament
Willowbrook Golf Club
Willowbrook Golf Club, 782-8192
June 13
Lewis County Chamber 12th Annual Tournament
Brantingham Golf Course
Lewis County Chamber, 376-2213
June 13
Glen Park Fire Department Charity Tournament
Highland Meadows Golf Club
Highland Meadows, 785-0108
June 13
Hammond Volunteer Fire Department Tournament
Langbrook Meadows Golf Club
Robyn Bickelhaupt, 771-8305
June 13
Sons of the Legion Tournament
Twin Brooks Golf Course
Rich Fairbridge, 250-1303
June 14
Boy Scouts of America Golf Tournament
Willowbrook Golf Club
Willowbrook Golf Club, 782-8192
June 15
Cavallario Memorial Golf Tournament
Ives Hill Country Club
Ives Hill, 775-4653
June 17
Sacred Heart Foundation Golf Tournament
Watertown Golf Club
Sacred Heart Foundation, 782-3344
June 18
Greater Massena Chamber of Commerce Tournament
Massena Country Club
Massena Chamber of Commerce, 769-3525
June 20
Millich Memorial Tournament
Carlowden Country Club
Carlowden Country Club, 493-0624
June 20
Akwesasne Lacrosse Fall of Fame Fundraiser
Cedar View Golf Course
Cedar View Golf Course, 705-4566
June 20
Lisbon Girls Basketball Golf Tournament
Langbrook Meadows Golf Club
Dicky Marcellus, 323-3389
June 20
South Lewis Booster Club Tournament
Turin Highlands Golf and Country Club Turin Highlands, 348-4327
June 20
History Links Us Golf Outing
Watertown Golf Club
Jefferson County Historical Society, 782-3491
June 20
11th Annual Mulligans for Kids Golf Tournament
Willowbrook Golf Club
Willowbrook Golf Club, 782-8192
June 20
Knights of Columbus Tournament
Meadowbrook Golf Course
Meadowbrook Golf Course, 389-4562
June 22
G.I. Go Fundraiser Tournament
Ives Hill Country Club
Ives Hill, 775-4653
June 22
Adirondack Bank Charity Open
Thendara Golf Club
Adirondack Bank, 272-2500
June 24
Elks Club Golf Tournament
Malone Golf Club
Malone Golf Club, 1 (518) 483-2926
June 26
Lewis County Hospital Foundation Tournament
Brantingham Golf Course
JoAnne Rhubart, 376-5110
June 26
Blankenbush Golf Tournament
Carlowden Country Club
Brian Peck, 605-8384
June 26
Hazelton Memorial Golf Tournament
Massena Country Club
Massena Country Club, 769-2293
June 26
Cerebral Palsy Tournament
The Elms Golf Club
The Elms Golf Club, 387-5297
June 27
Brook Haven House Tournament
Cedars Golf Course
Cedars Golf Course, 376-6267
June 27
Gouverneur American Legion Wounded Warriors benefit
Emerald Greens Golf Course
Emerald Greens Golf Course, 541-4854
June 27
DiStefano Golf Tournament
Ives Hill Country Club
Ives Hill, 775-4653
June 27
Ogdensburg PBA Law Enforcement Invitational
Twin Brooks Golf Course
Cory Maxner, 585-489-9386
July 1
Frank Davio Hospice Tournament
Malone Golf Club
Malone Golf Club, 1 (518) 483-2926
July 3
Harrisville High School Booster Club
Cedars Golf Course
Cedars Golf Course, 376-6267
Mike Laisdell Memorial Golf Tournament
Adams Country Club
Adams Country Club, 232-4842
July 4
26 | NNY Golf | 2015 Season
CONFIRMED FOR 2015
NNY Charity golf events
July 5
Regan Levinson Tournament
Meadowbrook Golf Course
Meadowbrook Golf Course, 389-4562
July 10
20th Annual Laurence H. Kissel Memorial Tournament
Highland Meadows Golf Club
Highland Meadows, 785-0108
July 11
American Legion Fundraiser Tournament
Cedar View Golf Course
Cedar View Golf Course, 705-4566
July 11
Lion's Club Tournament
Emerald Greens Golf Course
Emerald Greens Golf Course, 541-4854
July 11
Dick Doe Memorial Tournament
Highland Meadows Golf Club
Highland Meadows, 785-0108
July 11
Pepsi Tournament
Langbrook Meadows Golf Club
Langbrook Meadows, 375-6372
July 11
Canton-Potsdam Hospital Tournament
Partridge Run Golf and Country Club
Partridge Run, 386-4444
July 11
Laverty Memorial Tournament
Willowbrook Golf Club
Willowbrook Golf Club, 782-8192
July 12
Lyle Simser Memorial Tournament
Carlowden Country Club
Carlowden Country Club, 493-0624
July 16
Society of Military Engineers Scholarship Golf Outing
Ives Hill Country Club
Ives Hill, 775-4653
July 17
Dan Bero Memorial Tournament
Cedar View Golf Course
Cedar View Golf Course, 705-4566
July 17
Indian River Alumni Tournament
Highland Meadows Golf Club
Highland Meadows, 785-0108
July 17
Ellie Van Golf Classic
Ives Hill Country Club
Ives Hill, 775-4653
July 18
Carthage Elks Tournament
Carlowden Country Club
Carlowden Country Club, 493-0624
July 18
Lowville Booster Club Tournament
Cedars Golf Course
Cedars Golf Course, 376-6267
July 18
Law Enforcement Tournament
Langbrook Meadows Golf Club
Langbrook Meadows, 375-6372
July 18
Thousand Islands Young Leaders Organization
Clayton Country Club
Clayton Country Club, 686-4242
July 18
Helping Hands Golf Tournament
Potsdam Town & Country Club
Potsdam Town & Country Club, 265-1234
July 18
Heather Anderson Scholarship Tournament
Willowbrook Golf Club
Willowbrook Golf Club, 782-8192
July 18
Lake Effect Smash Volleyball Fundraiser
LA Golf Club
LA Golf Club, 686-3748
July 19
Community Bank Hospice
Partridge Run Golf and Country Club
David Peggs, Community Bank, 386-8319
July 19
Cure for Cancer Tournament
Willowbrook Golf Club
Willowbrook Golf Club, 782-8192
July 18 & 19
Highland Meadows Member Guest Tournament
Highland Meadows Golf Club
Highland Meadows, 785-0108
July 20
Junior Golf Tournament
Highland Meadows Golf Club
Highland Meadows, 785-0108
July 24
Carthage Savings Golf Classic Tournament
Carlowden Country Club
CAH Foundation, 493-0114
July 24
Women’s Council of Realtors Tournament
Highland Meadows Golf Club
Highland Meadows, 785-0108
July 25
Roger Fuller Golf Outing
Carlowden Country Club
Carlowden Country Club, 493-0624
July 25
Salmon River Hockey Fundraiser Tournament
Cedar View Golf Course
Cedar View Golf Course, 705-4566
July 25
Cystic Fibrosis Benefit
Cedars Golf Course
Cedars Golf Course, 376-6267
July 25
Antwerp American Legion Tournament
Emerald Greens Golf Course
Emerald Greens Golf Course, 541-4854
July 25
Gouverneur Hospital Tournament
Gouverneur Country Club
Gouverneur Country Club, 287-2130
July 25
Robbie Horton Memorial Tournament
Highland Meadows Golf Club
Highland Meadows, 785-0108
July 25
SPCA Tournament
Rustic Golf and Country Club
Ron McGregor, 639-3624
July 25
Pit Stop Tournament
Meadowbrook Golf Course
Meadowbrook Golf Course, 389-4562
July 26
Renewal Health Tournament
Potsdam Town & Country Club
Potsdam Town & Country Club, 265-1234
July 28
Heather A. Freeman Foundation Golf Tournament
Watertown Golf Club
Heather A. Freeman Foundation, 778-5482
2015 Season | NNY Golf
| 27
NNY Charity golf events
CONFIRMED FOR 2015
July 31
Andrew Wheeler Fundraiser
LA Golf Club
LA Golf Club, 686-3748
August 1
Dick Guyette Hospice Tournament
Cedars Golf Course
Cedars Golf Course, 376-6267
August 1
General Brown Football Tournament
Highland Meadows Golf Club
Highland Meadows, 785-0108
August 1
Brier Hill Fire Department Fundraiser Tournament
Langbrook Meadows Golf Club
Tammie Mace, 528-0166
August 1
Potsdam Elks Tournament
Potsdam Town & Country Club
Potsdam Town & Country Club, 265-1234
August 2
3G Fire Department Tournament
Brantingham Golf Course
Brantingham Golf Course, 348-8861
August 7
Samaritan Medical Center Tournament
Highland Meadows Golf Club
Highland Meadows, 785-0108
August 7
Dan Rose Memorial Scholarship Tournament
Massena Country Club
Massena Country Club, 769-2293
August 7
Community Action Planning Council Tournament
Watertown Golf Club
Watertown Golf Club, 782-4040
August 7
AUSA Tournament
Willowbrook Golf Club
Willowbrook Golf Club, 782-8192
August 8
County VFW Tournament
Adams Country Club
Adams Country Club, 232-4842
August 8
St. Regis Church Fundraising Tournament
Cedar View Golf Course
Cedar View Golf Course, 705-4566
August 8
Team Dominick Tournament
Emerald Greens Golf Course
Emerald Greens Golf Course, 541-4854
August 8
Ogdensburg Old Timers Hockey Tournament
Langbrook Meadows Golf Club
Kevin Oneil, 323-2751
August 8
Ted Vickery Memorial Golf Tournament
Thousand Islands Country Club
Thousand Islands Country Club, 482-9454
August 9
Twins Tournament
Cedars Golf Course
Cedars Golf Course, 376-6267
August 10
Children’s Home of Jefferson County Tournament
Ives Hill Country Club
Ives Hill, 775-4653
August 15
Akwesasne Boys & Girls Club Fundraiser
Cedar View Golf Course
Cedar View Golf Course, 705-4566
August 15
Towles & Eveleigh Memorial Tournament
Highland Meadows Golf Club
Highland Meadows, 785-0108
August 15
Zonta Wine & Nine Times Two Tournament
Langbrook Meadows Golf Club
Gail Bouchard, 323-5863
August 15
Trumble Open
Twin Brooks Golf Course
Mark Gagnon, 393-6402
August 16
Price Chopper Golf Tournament
Willowbrook Golf Club
Willowbrook Golf Club, 782-8192
August 20
Sam Agati Laborers Scholarship Tournament
Massena Country Club
Massena Country Club, 769-2293
August 21
Akwesasne Chamber of Commerce Fundraiser
Cedar View Golf Course
Cedar View Golf Course, 705-4566
August 21
Frederic Remington Art Museum Golf Classic
St. Lawrence University Golf Club
Frederic Remington Museum, 393-2425
August 22
Loomis Memorial Tournament
Highland Meadows Golf Club
Highland Meadows, 785-0108
August 22
Perry Road Invitational Tournament
Langbrook Meadows Golf Club
Langbrook Meadows, 375-6372
August 23
Pamelia Fire Department Tournament
Willowbrook Golf Club
Willowbrook Golf Club, 782-8192
August 27
Massena Memorial Hospital Foundation Tournament
Massena Country Club
Massena Country Club, 769-2293
August 29
Wounded Warriors Tournament
Twin Brooks Golf Course
Ben Gladding, 250-6969
September 5
Morristown Fire Department Fundraiser Tournament
Langbrook Meadows Golf Club
Kevin Crosby, 322-1424
September 11 Jefferson Rehabilitation Center Tournament
Ives Hill Country Club
Ives Hill, 775-4653
September 12 Clarence Keddy Memorial Tournament
Cedars Golf Course
Cedars Golf Course, 376-6267
September 12 Michelle Salisbury Memorial Golf Tournament
Watertown Golf Club
Kayla Schultz, 779-3158
September 13 Ryan's Wish Foundation Tournament
Emerald Greens Golf Course
Emerald Greens Golf Course, 541-4854
September 13 Breast Cancer Charity Tournament
Gouverneur Country Club
Gouverneur Country Club, 287-2130
28 | NNY Golf | 2015 Season
CONFIRMED FOR 2015
NNY Charity golf events
September 13 Miz Conducts Tournament
Highland Meadows Golf Club
Highland Meadows, 785-0108
September 18 Massena Central Athletic Hall of Fame Fundraiser
Massena Country Club
Massena Country Club, 769-2293
September 18 Hospice of Jefferson County Tournament
Watertown Golf Club
Hospice of Jefferson County, 788-7323
September 19 Faith Fellowship Tournament
Ives Hill Country Club
Ives Hill, 775-4653
September 19 The "Rough" Howland Pump Tournament
Langbrook Meadows Golf Club
Langbrook Meadows, 375-6372
September 19 Howland Pump "The Russ" Tournament
Langbrook Meadows Golf Club
Terry Axtell, 393-0424
September 19 Potsdam Junior Hockey Association Tournament
Potsdam Town & Country Club
Potsdam Town & Country Club, 265-1234
September 19 Friends of St. Lawrence University Hockey Tournament
St. Lawrence University Golf Club
SLU Golf Club, 386-4600
September 20 Linda Zehr Benefit Tournament
Highland Meadows Golf Club
Highland Meadows, 785-0108
Honoring Ellie Van Clockwise from left, Dr. David O. Van Eenenaam scopes out the flag prior to teeing off at the first hole at the kick-off of the inaugural Ellie Van Golf Classic at Ives Hill Golf Course on July 18, 2014. Kate Van Eenenaam tees off during the inaugural Ellie Van Golf Classic. Golf carts cut across the Ives Hill Golf Course at the start of the tournament. Ellie Van Eenenaam was an avid golfer. The 2nd Annual Ellie Van Golf Classic is set for Friday, July 17, at Ives Hill Golf Course, Watertown. More than 100 charity golf tournaments are set for the 2015 season across Northern New York. AMANDA MORRISON | NNY GOLF
2015 Season | NNY Golf
| 29
30 | NNY Golf | 2015 Season
This beautiful and challenging
9 Hole Golf Course located just off the shores of the St. Lawrence River in Clayton NY, is just what the doctor ordered for golfers of all skill levels.
Memberships Available
9 holes - $12.00 18 holes - $18.00
Rental Clubs & Pull Carts available Full Bar & Snacks Available
9 holes - $14.00 18 holes - $20.00
2015 Season | NNY Golf
| 31
IVES HILL COUNTRY CLUB Golf Course and Restaurant PUBLIC
THE COURSE 18 Championship Holes... From Tee To Green One of Northern New York’s Premier Golf Courses For Over 100 years
Enjoy, Reconnect with friends and get away to the best golf Northern New York has to offer.
Have Your Tournament at Ives! • Driving Range • • Golf Lessons Available • • Proper Golf Attire Required • • Military Discounts! • 1897
IVES HILL COUNTRY CLUB
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IVES HILL COUNTRY CLUB
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PRO SHOP 775-GOLF(4653)
RESTAURANT 315-775-IVES(4837)
Saturday & Sunday Twilight Special, After 2PM $25... 18 HOLES INCLUDES GREENS FEE AND CART
INCLUDES GREENS FEE AND CART
435 Flower Avenue West • Watertown, NY 13601 www.iveshill.com