May 2014
A 5 Star Golf Experience at the Reynolds Plantation, Georgia
TBDGA 2014 Tournaments Brett Shewchuk Wins Thunder Bay District Amateur in Playoff! Meet Devereux - A Contemporary New Line of Men's Apparel Two Brothers Who Love the Game and Proper Threads The AUR Spring 2014 Collection
PGA TOUR Canada announces Staal Open
Columbus, Ohio Great City To Visit
TBDGA 2014 Tournaments
Brett Shewchuk Wins Thunder Bay District Amateur in Playoff! BY SCOTT A. SUMNER
NW Ontario Golfing News 21 year old Brett Shewchuk was 6 shots back to Robbie Untinen with 9 homes to play on Labour Day at the Whitewater Golf Club in Thunder Bay competing for the Thunder Bay District Amateur crown. " I felt I was out of it but wanted to play aggressive and see where it went from there. I made two really good pars on 10 and 11 and after Robbie made bogies on those holes it felt closer. On 12 when Robbie had trouble ( he made a 9), it was rough to watch. Robbie hit the tee shot into the hazard. We all felt it cleared the hazard but it didn’t make it," said Brett Shewchuk. "I made a great bunker shot there. Robbie came back with some birdies after that and in the playoff I felt Robbie and I were just trying to have fun, make as many birdies and entertain as any
people as we could. In the playoff hole I had the same shot as I had in regulation, I just hit it a bit closer. I feel good about winning and happy about the way things went today.”
In competition for the Col. J. A. Little Memorial Trophy
On the schedule last fall for Brett is the men’s club championship at Northern Lights Golf Club where he works part time and then go away with the Lakehead University golf team, which he has been a member of for the last two years. Brett went to Sir Winston Churchill High School in Thunder Bay prior to attending Lakehead University.
5 - Ted Whalen (1928, 29, 35, 36, 46) 4 - Ken Britton (1952, 53, 57, 63) 4 - Sandy Sargent (1970, 77, 78, 86) 4 - Trevor Jones (1985, 89, 92, 94) 4 - Peter Lovis (1993, 96, 97, 99) 4 - Barry Caland (2002, 03, 08, 12) 3 - Johnny Henry (1927, 30, 32) 3 - Bob Arvelin (1966, 69, 72) 3 - Tony Stokaluk (1984, 95, 2000)
All Time Champions Leaderboard
Congratulation to Brett Shewchuk on wining your first District Amateur Championship!
Brett (218 total) won the 2013 Amateur Championship in a play-off over Robbie Untinen.
Fathers Day
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May 2014
www.golfingnews.ca PGA TOUR Canada announces Staal Open presented by Tbaytel BY SCOTT A. SUMNER
NW Ontario Golfing News PGA TOUR Canada will be launching a new event at Whitewater Golf Club in Thunder Bay this season, which was announced last fall. The three-year agreement will see the Staal Open presented by TBaytel take place at Whitewater Golf Club July 14-20
2014, and will feature some of Canada’s biggest names, up-and-coming stars, established veterans and international standouts. "We're delighted to be coming to Thunder Bay next season as we see it as a perfect fit to host a PGA TOUR Canada event," said PGA TOUR Canada President Jeff Monday. "We look forward to establishing this tournament as a major attraction in the city and developing a strong relationship with the community for next season and beyond. Fans coming out to this tournament can expect to see an extremely high level of play from some of the best young PGA TOUR prospects from around the world." Community members, city officials and local sponsors along with PGA TOUR
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Canada players Cory Renfrew and Riley Wheeldon gathered at Whitewater Golf Club Tuesday to announce the details of the event. “Bringing a PGA TOUR Canada event to Thunder Bay is tremendous news for the Thunder Bay community,” said Scott Smith, Executive Director of the Thunder Bay Golf Classic. “Along with the support of our founding partners, we’re excited about bringing some world class golf to
the region and making the Staal Open an excellent event.”
Jeff Monday, President PGA Tour Canada “ We had 9 events this year on PGA Tour Canada and Thunder Bay will a new event next year. My experience this year has been fantastic and it has honestly been better than we hoped for. We have high expectations but the reception we have received at each community has been something else. We are off to great start and can build a upon that. We have learned a lot this year so hopefully we will get that bicycle riding real smooth next season.”
it has been good for his current position at PGA Tour Canada. TBAYTEL FIRST QUALIFIER SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 22 AT STRATHCONA GOLF COURSE The Thunder Bay District Golf Association has received two invitations for the Staal Foundation Open as well as one Pro Am spot at this summer’s event slated for July 14-20 at Whitewater Golf Club. The Association will also be running the qualifier on July 14 of the week-long event. At a media conference recently the District Golf Association announced that three district qualifiers are scheduled with the first slated for Monday, June 22 at Strathcona Golf Course. One spot is available for all TBDGA members. June 28/29 are the dates for the next qualifier, where again one spot will be made available for members. Finally, July 14, as part of the Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel week, there are 10 spots open to district members with a 1.8 index or better. Qualifiers, combined with a raffle for the Pro Am spot, will see successful individuals the opportunity to play among Canada’s best.
PGA TOUR Canada launched its inaugural season in 2013 with nine events taking place across the country. The Thunder Bay Golf Classic is the first addition to the 2014 schedule, taking place July 14-20, the week before the RBC Canadian Open. The top five players on the Order of Merit each season earn Web.com Tour cards for the following season, the first step on the path to the PGA TOUR. Mackenzie Hughes, Riley Wheeldon, Mark Hubbard, Hugo Leon and Wil Collins finished in The Five in PGA TOUR Canada’s inaugural season and earned Web.com Tour cards for 2014. PGA TOUR Canada’s inaugural season wrapped up last fall at the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial. Riley Wheeldon “I think a new event in Thunder Bay is great for the tour. Every city we have gone to have embraced the tour and it gives more guys a chance to prove themselves to get to the next level. We look forward to a great event in Thunder Bay next year.” “ As a young guy I always wanted to be on the PGA Tour. Obviously you have to start at the bottom and work your way up. The PGA Tour has taken control of the Canadian Tour and added 5 web.com exemptions for the players. Luckily I was able to play well enough to get one of those cards and hopefully I will be able to play well enough again next year and realize my dream.” “ To get to the top level in golf you just have to play, play, play as much as you can competitively. Experience is everything. The more competitive rounds you play the more comfortable you are going to get when the heat is on and eventually you will play well under pressure. Play practice and compete is the way to get better.” Riley is from Comox BC and grew up playing the courses nearby including Storey Creek. Corey Renfrew is from Victoria BC and
May 2014
plays Cordova Bay as his home course. “ We had 9 events last year on the PGA Tour Canada schedule over 4 months. The last four were all in a row but we all want to play every week and compete. It is a stepping stone to get to the web.com tour and hopefully the PGA Tour.” “ The travel is part of playing. It is what we want to do to get used to the routine for the PGA Tour. It is tough road ahead. I was 15th on the PGA Tour Canada this season so am exempt next year.” Corey went to UBC in Vancouver, played on the golf team there and earned a psychology degree. This was his second full year on the PGA Tour Canada.
“ Whitewater is going to be a great test for the players. The practice facility is superb. We want the tournament to benefit the community.” “ The 5 exemptions on web.com for our top players is great and others have a nice benefit to help get on the web.com tour as well. We provide an outlet for the player to get to the next level. We had record entries in the Q school this last spring and the weekly qualifiers. Each Monday qualifier you get a mix of locals and others who travel to try and qualify. If you don’t have status you are always looking for it. We may get some Minnesota golfers. There will be 6 sponsor exemptions for the event as well.” “ Our first place prize is $27,000 from a purse of $150,000. The local golfer can pay his $250 entry fee and try to qualify for this event. We also have a qualifying tournament in the spring where you could get the full year exemption on the PGA Tour Canada.” Jeff Monday previously worked with the web.com tour and with those experiences
Walter Keating Jr., VP and Tournament Director of the Thunder Bay District Golf Association, made the announcement today emphasizing that their involvement is all about growing the sport. “Our mission statement to grow and promote the game in our district aligns exceptionally well with the PGA Tour Canada event hosted at Whitewater this year,” said Keating. “We hope to expand our offering of junior clinics as well as grow a junior golf league and provide for additional events through active fundraising. An event such as this provides a perfect model for those juniors who may wish to pursue the game of golf as a career.” Keating emphasizes that this opportunity is open to the entire region, looking to have participation beyond the City of Thunder Bay. We are hopeful that everyone who has an interest will have an equal opportunity to participate.
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A 5 Star Golf Experience at the Reynolds Plantation, Georgia BY SCOTT A. SUMNER
NW Ontario Golfing News Many Canadians turn their attention to a winter get away during the long winter months. This season in Thunder Bay has been especially harsh and it was a pleasure to go on a quick trip to the Reynolds Plantation, located about1 hour a way from Atlanta in Greensboro, Georgia. My adventure began with two 2 hour Air Canada flights to Atlanta through Toronto and then the 1-hour drive to the luxurious Ritz Carlton Lodge. You can take all the driving away and be picked up at the new International Terminal at the busy Atlanta airport for your drive to the Reynolds Plantation. This new terminal is much quicker to get in and out of and after clearing customs already in Toronto, makes for a quick ride up to Reynolds. The property is central in Georgia also within an hour of Augusta, Athens and Macon. The beautiful Ritz Carlton is a real treat to stay at and includes many great dining opportunities as well as an adjacent worldclass spa! It is a great compliment to the 6 excellent golf courses right on property. The Reynolds Plantation has had a long history with their first golf course opening in 1988- the Plantation course. They have added a course about every 5 years since then. A local Reynolds family started the development and ownership has transitioned over to the well known Met Life company in August 2012. Currently they have developed 2500 homes on 3700 lots on about 6000 acres, but have 11,000
acres in total so have completed about 60% of the development. Raymond Neil is the President of Reynolds Plantation and was previously with Georgia Power as an engineer, the company that built Lake Oconee. Lake Oconee forms a signifcant part of the Reynolds Plantation development. Mr. Neil bought his own property in his late 80’s and has lived on site for 25 years now. Neil started working at Reynolds in 2002 and has been President since 2006.
The Ritz Carlton Lodge on site is an expensive property with great dark rich woodwork throughout! It features 251
as the Midwest and Northeast US markets as well as traffic from Florida. 50% of our market is from Atlanta, 48% the rest of
rooms in the lodge that rent from in the $300’s and up during the prime season. There are also 60 cottages available in 2, 3 or 4 bedroom configurations. Right now there are 51 new homes under construction at an average size of 4500 square feet. Some have started recently in the 8000 square feet range.
the US with about 2% from the rest of the world including Canada.” said Neil. “ We have 6 golf courses here designed by different architects including Nicklaus, Rees Jones, Fazio, Engh and Bob Cupp. Each has it’s own feel. You could stay a week here and enjoy the courses and the weather. The weather is usually excellent here and we have members who play 280 or 290 rounds a year.” Continued Next Page
“ Met Life adds great stability to us and they are a great company. We are pleased to be owned by them. They have invested significant capital back into the property and we have a great future.” said Raymond Neil.
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A 5 Star Golf Experience at the Reynolds Plantation, Georgia BY SCOTT A. SUMNER
NW Ontario Golfing News The Spa at Reynolds Plantation is world class that offers a great opportunity to relax after you have played way too
$75,000 to over $1 million each. Construction cost to build your home at the Reynolds Plantation is very reasonable from $100 to $150 per square foot based on the finishes but can be much higher for elaborate homes.
sell a lifestyle and value. You can have unlimited play on 6 courses for less than $700 per month, so it's good value.” A great option for the golfer at the Reynolds Plantation is the Kingdom Taylor Made Fitting and Training facility. It is the
PGA tour trailer here that lets us build every club for you right away. You can get the fitting, hit the correct clubs for you and take them home with you that day,” said Alan Stone, Fitter at the Kingdom at Reynolds Plantation at Greensboro, Georgia. “ Today with you we were looking at launch angle, spin rates to maximize distance and control for the driver. By looking at your swing style we can get the correct loft for your attack angles to get the right launch angles so you can hit it further. Your shot dispersion was also little bit tighter.” “ The trend today is for more loft with the driver. You don’t spin the ball as much with the driver, so you need more loft to get the ball airborne and create more distance. You can really find out a lot about your golf game here. It even helps you know your tendencies to help you play towards or guard against on the golf course.”
many rounds of golf! “ We are doing well here. The real estate numbers are strong and we have hit all our of our targets last year and are well on target this year to increase. Properties are moving in all price ranges.” said Neil The properties range in size from 1/2 to 1 acre. There are also estate lots of 6 acres on the water. Lot prices range for
May 2014
“ We are continuing to move forward and have just completed golf course renovations on most of our courses and every room at the Ritz Carlton. We are about to start construction on a new National club house and developing new lots for growth,” said Neil. “ The US economy is very strong and we are seeing people move here after selling their homes elsewhere. This past year average pricing went up. We
main east coast center for Taylor Made and second only to their Carlsbad headquarters. You can be fitted for every club in the bag from driver to putter. It takes about 3 1/2 hours to complete and costs $350.00. “ We use the Trackman and our Motion Analysis System (MAS). You put the suit on and get looked at for full swing as well as in our putter lab. We also have a
It was fun to play golf the first day at Oconee and the second day at Great Waters. Both of these golf courses were excellent. Great Waters, designed by Jack Nicklaus, features every hole on the back nine adjacent to Lake Oconee and was one of the most picturesque setting I have ever been at on the golf course. The golf courses definitely matches the overall excellence of the Reynolds Plantation property and should be experienced by the avid golfer. It really is a great get away! For further information visit www.reynoldsplantation.com
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Meet Devereux - A Contemporary New Line of Men's Apparel Two Brothers Who Love the Game and Proper Threads Meet Devereux, a contemporary new line of men's apparel that gets golf. The brainchild of Robert and Will Brunner, brothers and avid golfers, the Devereux collection is premium-quality modern menswear that fits the avid golfer's lifestyle while keeping him in-style and authentic. Devereux is known for simple-yet-sophisticated pieces in contemporary colors and with superb attention to detail. Clean modern styles are designed to fit properly and inspire performance, both on and off the course. Specifically tailored to move seamlessly from workday to weekend and beyond, the Devereux line is all about modern sophistication, everyday elegance and simple versatility. These are the clothes you can wear confidently, comfortably and above all - they make the male golfer look as great
clothes that could bridge the gap between modern men's fashion and progressive golf styles, but we came back empty-handed. So we set out to create what we could not find the stuff legends are made of." The primary inspiration for this line was the great players and dressers of the game such as Hogan, Palmer, and Player. Through the years, you have seen golf fashion evolve into what it has become today. Devereux was inspired to introduce a more contemporary golf line, while touching on previous fashion statements made on the course years ago. Unique Blend For Super-Soft Feel Devereux uses a unique blend of Pima Cotton/Polyester. The natural (Pima Cotton) and synthetic (Polyester) fiber blend combines the best of both fiber characteristics and has easy care qualities. This is a blend that has a resilient look as well as a high performance functionality. Devereux sweater knits use a blend of Pima Cotton and Baby Alpaca. This is a wonderful blend that brings out the best qualities of both fibers. Baby Alpaca adds a nice luster, and perfect insulation qualities, to the already desirable Pima Cotton. Pique For Breath-ability and Resilience Devereux also offers a Pique, which is a Pima Cotton and Spandex blend. This fabrication has a great cooling effect due to the Pima Cotton, and with the addition of Spandex, the Pique retains its resiliency and shape.
as they make him feel. Robert Brunner, Co-Founder and Creative Director said, "We understand the fashion challenges faced by men today, because we feel them too. Whether out on the course or out on the town, you want proper threads." Brunner added, "We went looking for
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The Signature Pocket In tribute to some of the great golfers of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, Devereux has developed a signature pocket that offers a unique, abstract shape. This signature pocket can be found on the Brunner and Welch golf shirts from the Spring 2014 Collection. Essentials Collection
The Essentials Collection offers men a strong foundation to build their wardrobe upon. They are found in the Essential colors Caviar (black), Steel, White and Navy. Devereux is offering Steel as its primary base color. The Essential Golf Shirts come in two styles: the Brunner (left) and the Lindley (right). The Spring 2014 Collection The Spring 2014 Collection introduces the seasonal colors Sea Green and Coral. The Essential golf shirt, Brunner, as well as the Spring line golf shirts: Welch, Matthew, Oliver and Windsor (shown L to R) can be found in both seasonal colors. dvrxgolf.com About Devereux - Founded in 2013 in Los Angeles, CA, Devereux is a premium, contemporary line of men's golf wear. Offering men "Proper Threads", Devereux provides style and comfort on and off the course. The Devereux collection can be found at better clubs, resorts & specialty retailers abroad. To view the collection, visit dvrxgolf.com. Robert Brunner, Devereux “ We have one collection in the market and launched a second collection so far after starting the company in 2013. Golf is a great passion of mine, I love the sport and I also love fashion so took those two and fused them together. It was always something I wanted to do. I am a terrible golfer but it is fun to get out there. Sometimes my game all comes together.” “ I do all the design and inspiration for the brand. When I played golf I couldn’t find a garment I could play 18 holes in and then leave the course and go out at night in the same shirt. That is what started me thinking about a shirt that is functional for golf but also stylish and warm off course. That is all about Devereux.” “ The materials can be function for golf but look not so sporty off course. It is about the style as well as on course functionality. We do our own yarn knit, wash it and treat it is a way that gives it the lightweight luxury
and overall performance of the garment. You have to have the player get thought 18 holes and function well in hot or cold temperatures.” “ We manufacture our tops- shirt and sweaters in Peru. We use them because they are known for their luxury cotton for longer lasting and quality which we blend with high quality polyester. I like to say design is an
extension of ones personality so the collection was designed in what I was seeing a void. I like colour which is fun and inviting but I like to use it in a subtle nature. Some people can wear really bright colours but they better be able to play and I can’t play that well! It is an extension of the persons personality. The clothes you wear tell the story of who you are as a person.” “ We are doing well and the brand has been perceived well. It has been great so far. We recently hired a new Director of Sales and Mary Beth to help with PR, who has really helped us. The price point for polo for example are $80 to $90 to keep competitive pricing. We have our own web site which is helping as well. I’m just a dreamer but understand business.”
May 2014
The AUR Spring 2014 Collection Showcasing AUR's proprietary Active™ and Aware™ fabrics, the Spring 2014 Collection incorporates the brand's sophisticated and elevated design aesthetic with its' strong sense of golf authenticity. The AUR Spring
through new and enhanced fabric offerings, a refined designed aesthetic and a thoughtful merchandise assortment.” AUR is targeted towards the golfer who wants authentic golf apparel with a distinct look and feel. The Spring 2014
San Marino Collection, consisting of colors: Corsa Red, Fieldstone Grey and White and the Nordic Light Collection consisting of colors: Industry Grey, Citra Yellow, Black and White. Collection Highlights – Women’s The Lincoln Road Collection, consisting of colors: Burnt Coral, Kiss Pink and White, is a fun and feminine color story with strong sense of elegant design and richness inspired by the personality of South Beach, Miami. The additional women's collections include: the The High Line Collection, consisting of colors: Fireberry Red, Black and White and the Calabasas Collection consisting of colors: Spring Green, Bright Cobalt, Argento Silver and White.
ABOUT THE FABRICS:
AUR Aware™ fabrics are constructed using environmentally friendly yarns. These fabrics offer the ultimate in comfort and performance as their benefits include moisture wicking, anti-odor and easy care properties.
AUR Active™ fabrics are produced using the latest in fabric technology. These fabrics offer the ultimate in comfort and performance as their benefits include moisture wicking, fast drying and anti-odor properties.
2014 Collection includes a full offering of polo shirts, sweaters, thermal tops, shorts, pants, outerwear and accessories for both men and women.
Collection was inspired by the landscape, character and passion of some of the world’s most unique locations. Collection Highlights – Men’s:
“We are extremely excited to present our Spring 2014 collection and we are confident these season’s collection is the finest collection in the history of AUR,” says Mark Fletcher, President – Fletcher Leisure Group. “Our goal for this season was to elevate the brand
The Hanauma Bay Collection, consisting of colors: Neptune Blue, Twist Orange, Nightfall Blue and White, is a striking color story with clean and modern design details inspired by the ocean waters off the coast of Oahu. The additional men's collections include: the
May 2014
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Columbus, Ohio Great City To Visit BY SCOTT A. SUMNER
NW Ontario Golfing News
shorter flight to Columbus. This area has a quite stable diverse economy with medical,
Many people have a bucket list they want to achieve and on mine was visiting the hometown of my golf hero growing up, Jack Nicklaus. Nicklaus, the best golfer of all time with 18 major wins, designed and created Muirfield Village, Dublin, Ohio. Last October this venue played host to the Presidents Cup, a competition held every two years between the USA and the rest of the world, excluding Europe. They compete against Europe with the Ryder Cup. It is really quite easy to get to Columbus with a quick flight to Toronto and then even insurance, banking, health care, a great tech centre and Ohio State University which is one of the largest in the US. The Columbus economy has stayed ahead of the curve especially when it came to the recession.
ing it are mixed uses and called the Arena District. The arena was built in 2000. There used to be nothing here, just the gap between downtown and the Ohio State University site,” said Scott Peacock, Public Relations Manager for Experience Columbus. “We pride ourself on having a very clean and safe city. We recently tore down an old abandoned mall and made it green space in the downtown area. It is a family friendly community.” Dublin is a suburb to the north and west of Columbus where the Muirfield Village Golf Club is located. The Presidents Cup competition was a rainy one but fun to see up close and personal. Standing on the first hole tee box area meant you were a few feet away from former US President George W. Bush, Jack Nicklaus as well as Tiger Woods and others. As a Canadian it was fun to see Saskatchewan born PGA player Graham Delaet compete and do so well. The USA squad won the event fairly easily although not without a final holes surge from the
There is lots to do in the Columbus area and attending a hockey game between the NHL Columbus Bluejackets and Calgary Flames was fun at the Nationwide Arena. “ This area used to be the site of the old Ohio penitentiary. It was completely torn down and the arena and building surround-
Internationals.
gems. It is the number one zoo in the US and home to well known animal expert Jungle Jack Hanna, who is director emeritus. They are expanding to include an open air African Safari. The zoo itself has a waterpark attached and a golf course. Visiting the zoo is a whole day in itself. Ohio State University is located in Columbus and is the largest university in the country. They are a major employer and economic driver. Their stadium for football can hold over 105,000 people. People come in from all over the country to attend games. There are over 60,000 students every year attending Ohio State University. The Dublin area is great for golf and has many top ranked public courses you can play. “ Golf Magazine ranked us the second best golf market in the US a few years ago. We also have good hotel options where you can stay downtown or be in the suburbs. Our new Hilton is a model for them and feels like a boutique hotel but is very reasonably priced. We have good airlift and the drive is around 6 hours from Toronto,” said Scott Peacock. “ We have hockey here as well, the Columbus Blue Jackets. You can get in and see a game here as we always have tickets available. We have hotel booking , links to purchase to purchase tickets to the zoo or hockey games on our web site.” Just before the final awards ceremony of the Presidents Cup I had the opportunity to talk to Jack Nicklaus, one on one, for 5 to 10 minutes. That topped off the whole trip for me and as they say in the Mastercard commercials was “ Priceless”. www.experiencecolumbus.com
The Columbus Zoo is one of Columbus’s
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May 2014