ARIZONA GOLF INSIDER
ARIZONAGOLF INSIDER
April/May 2022
On the Home Hole
Ed Gowan Reflects on 37 Years with the AGA
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contents AZ Golf News
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52.
SWEET HOME ALABAMA - GOLF EDITION | By Alice and Danny Scott ‘America’s Golfing Couple’ continues to give us an in-depth look at fantastic golf trip destinations - this issue focuses on the site of October’s AGA Member Trip: Alabama. THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP AT ST ANDREWS | By Joshua C. Evenson Traveling to St Andrews for the first time is unlike any other experience for a golfer, so we enlisted an expert to detail everything needed to ensure an amazing trip to the 150th Open. CHANGING THE FACE OF THE GAME | By Cori Matheson We check in on the LPGA*USGA Girls Golf of Phoenix, which has grown to its biggest membership ever with more than with 1,100 girls engaged in events in 2021.
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Departments
ARIZONAGOLF INSIDER
57.
RULES By Logan Rasmussen The Rules of Golf don’t always have to penalize a player and ruin a round. Knowing the Rules in-depth can actually help your score.
60.
OUT OF BOUNDS By Ed Gowan Quotes from the past can help open one’s mind. Applying those same quotes to the game of golf can change your viewpoint.
April/May 2022
32.
A FOND FAREWELL | By Joe Passov As retiring Executive Director Ed Gowan steps away, he reflects on a remarkable legacy in Golf.
ARIZONA GOLF INSIDER
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8. SIGNATURE HOLE 10. MEMBERS ONLY 40. AGA NEWS 64. 19TH HOLE
On the Home Hole
Ed Gowan Reflects on 37 Years with the AGA
ON THE COVER
Ed Gowan is retiring after 37 years at the helm of the Arizona Golf Association, turning over the reins to Joe Foley. Under Gowan’s direction, the AGA has increased in size from 23,000 Members to more than 90,000.
ARIZONAGOLF INSIDER
7600 E. Redfield Rd., Suite 130, Scottsdale, AZ 85260 (602) 944-3035 | www.azgolf.org
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OFFICERS
From the Executive Director BY ED GOWAN
PRESIDENT ........................................... Bob McNichols VICE PRESIDENT .......................................... Tim Brown VICE PRESIDENT ...................................... Michelle Cross SECRETARY ...............................................John Souza TREASURER ............................................ Tim Hulscher GENERAL COUNSEL ......................................... Greg Mast
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Jackie Bertsch, Vera Ciancola, Barbara Fitzgerald, Ed Gowan, Bryan Hoops, Jerry Huff, Mark Jeffery, Leslie Kramer, Ann Martin, Scott McNevin, Victoria Totlis
AGA STAFF
T
his will be my last Lead for Arizona Golf Insider, and it’s an “insider’s” perspective about golf in general and Arizona in particular. Joe Foley, your new Executive Director, comes to us from the USGA where he has been involved both with associations in the Midwest and managing a team in the re-writing of the Rules of Golf for 2019. You’ll be hearing much more from him about the future of the AGA in the October issue. For now, it’s my turn to reflect on the growth of the AGA and golf here since 1985 when the privilege of becoming the Executive Director came my way. There is a timelessness to golf yet it is ever-changing. The clubs, balls, course conditions, competitions, Rules, handicapping and attitudes have changed, but there are more golfers who have the same struggles and triumphs, hole by hole, throughout the world. Desert Forest was the first real desert course, and is still to me displays the essence of desert golf. In the recent Arizona Amateur, the average qualifying score was over 79 while the average handicap of the 168 players was zero. What changed Arizona golf was the first Skins Games at Desert Highlands, bringing the world to the beauty of Arizona. Forest Highlands then demonstrated the variety possible in the State, and it’s kept expanding from there.
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The Phoenix Open has changed from a cozy golf party to the most remarkable golf party possible, becoming a “bucket-list” experience for golfers and non-golfers alike. In many ways this final chapter in the run-up to the 150th Open at St Andrews reflects all of these elements in different fashion… everything is changing yet the essence remains the same. Enjoy the perspectives of Josh Evenson, a person who has experienced all of them and is a parttime Arizonan as well. Joe Foley will bring clarity to the changes coming in equipment, continue to educate in the Rules, and lead the AGA into a bright future, changing to serve all golfers and their changing interests. Just think that the Father-Son Championship at Antelope Hills, now over sixty years old, has grown to five hundred players while another one hundred can’t be accommodated. Women’s golf is growing in tune, and will play a much larger role in the AGA future. I have been blessed in my 37 years here supported and molded by hundreds of staff, board members and volunteers. It will only get better, but it won’t be the same.
Ed Gowan, David Bataller, Anj Brown, Alexa Cerra, Tim Eberlein, Alex Gelman, Joe Foley, Le Ann Finger, Amy Fruhwirth, Ryan Hyland, Sharon Goldstone, Vivian Kelley, Kathy Laux, Mike Mason, Meagan McEnery, Derek McKenzie, Chris Montgomery, Robyn Noll, Logan Rasmussen, Peg Tanner, Paige Timberlake, Alex Tsakiris, Susan Woods Partnership Contact ................................Chris Montgomery cmontgomery@azgolf.org - (602) 872-7011 National Advertising Contact ........................... Brian Foster bfoster@azgolf.org - (602) 909-7799
AZ GOLF INSIDER STAFF
EDITOR IN CHIEF ..................................... David Bataller AGA GRAPHIC DESIGN .................................... Alexa Cerra CONTRIBUTORS ................Ed Gowan, David Bataller, Anj Brown, Alexa Cerra, Joshua C. Evenson, Jeff Locke, Cori Matheson, Joe Passov, Logan Rasmussen, Alice Scott, Danny Scott
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
LISA GRANNIS, ROBYN LAMBERT, MORGAN MCCLELLAN MICHELLE SCHNEIDER, DEIDRA VIBERG PRODUCTION MANAGER .................................Deidra Viberg CREATIVE DIRECTION ............................. Haines Wilkerson, Hither & Wander Inc. ART DIRECTION ......................................... Michael Min FOR PRINT ADVERTISING SALES CONTACT: SALES@ONMEDIAAZ.COM Arizona Golf Insider (ISSN 2765-9054) is published four times per year by the Arizona Golf Association. It is supported by members’ dues, utilizing $5 per member per year. We welcome all editorial submissions, including letters, but assume no responsibility for the loss or damage of unsolicited material. They will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Views expressed within these pages do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or official policies of the Arizona Golf Association. No part of this magazine is intended as an endorsement of any equipment, publication, videotape, golf course, or other entity. No part of this magazine may be reproduced for use as an advertising, publicity or endorsement item without written approval of the AGA. Arizona Golf Insider is offered on a subscription basis for $12.95 annually. Individual copies may be obtained by forwarding $5 to the address above. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Arizona Golf Association, 7600 E. Redfield Road, Suite 130, Scottsdale, AZ 85260-1101
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A
Fond
Farewell
As AGA Executive Director Ed Gowan steps away after 37 years, he reflects on a remarkable legacy
BY JOE PASSOV
Ed Gowan on the world-famous Swilcan Bridge. The Home Hole – looking back.
In
early November of 2021, a thunderous announcement rumbled through the Arizona golf community. After 37 years as Executive Director of the Arizona Golf Association, Ed Gowan had decided to call it a day. Given Gowan’s exceptional longevity, the news shouldn’t have come as a surprise. Given his seemingly boundless energy and eminent stature, however, the news came as a shock. It was hard to imagine anyone other than Ed Gowan leading the Arizona Golf Association. Gowan put the reality of the situation into concise perspective. “I’ve spent exactly one half of my life in this position,” he said. He was quick to credit his long, successful run at the top to the people around him. “I’m very proud of what Arizona Golf has become, thanks to many, many outstanding employees and board members,” he said. “Someone in this position is only as good as those supporting him, and I thank the members of Arizona Golf for the privilege.” Forming a tribute to Ed Gowan’s Arizona golf contributions was somewhat daunting, in that he doesn’t crave any recognition for his efforts. He is less than enthusiastic about being the center of attention. Yet, it’s impossible to ignore the achievements of the most influential administrator in Arizona golf history. Since he began his tenure in June 1985, the AGA has grown from 120 clubs and 23,000 members to more than 600 clubs and 90,000 members. A two-person staff now numbers 23. On his watch, dozens of events debuted on the Association’s calendar. He was the catalyst for modernizing handicapping and course rating in Arizona. He was the driving force behind both the Arizona Golf Foundation, the charitable arm of the AGA and the prestigious Patriot All-America Invitational college tournament that honors fallen military members. There is more—much more. “The Arizona Golf Association would not be what it is today without the leadership, expertise, and guidance by Ed Gowan over the past 36 years, more than one-third of its existence,” said Bob McNichols, AGA Executive Committee President. “Ed’s accomplishments and dedication to the game of golf in ‘The State of Golf’ is unparalleled elsewhere.”
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Ed Gowan was a superb golfer, reaching a low handicap of +4. He was operations manager of the LPGA Tour for four years. He is one of the most respected Rules of Golf experts in the game, having officiated at 35 U.S. Opens and at the 1995 Masters among countless other national and regional events. He has toiled as a golf writer, a golf course development, construction, design and management consultant and a world traveler in all of those capacities. This Renaissance man has experienced untold triumphs in his illustrious career, and also his share of frustrations. He is candid in his assessments, clear-eyed about the journey. Ed truly believes that everything good that happened on his watch was attributable to the team around him. For things that went wrong, he points the finger at his own chest. And while he generally enjoys the spotlight the way most of us enjoy tax audits, he was gracious enough to share his thoughts about his more than six decades in golf. Here is the golf life of Ed Gowan, in his own words. EARLY DAYS
I grew up in the inner city of Cleveland, Ohio. I was a street kid. I really didn’t see grass until I was nine years old when we moved from the center of the city to a neighborhood on the near west side. My dad introduced me to golf when I was five years old. We lived in the upper half of a double house that sat behind another house. I can remember standing at the window like it was yesterday, watching my dad with the clubs over his shoulder, going to play golf with friends. When he got back, he took a club and cut it down for me. It didn’t have a grip on it. He just cut the end off. A couple times a month, he would take me to a driving range and would tell me stories. He didn’t play a lot of golf, but he was a decent player. For Christmas, when I was nine or ten, he gave me a book called The Education of a Golfer by Sam Snead. Obviously, it wasn’t Snead writing, but these were rollicking stories about golf and I was hooked. I took the wedge to a public school that had a baseball diamond, and hit shot after shot to different targets for hours. We didn’t have any extra money. There was a public course called Little Met that was probably $2 or $3 for nine holes. Once I was 11, my dad would drop me off and I’d go hunt balls and hit them out in the field and try to find them. Inn He was an amazing person, extremely bright, My fatherHassayampa is my #1 hero.
COVER STORY
Gowan (second left) in Acapulco, Mexico in 1974, where he organized a charter travel group out of Cleveland.
extremely kind, great memory. A couple times a week, he’d have a glass of beer at a local German restaurant. I’d go sit with him, have a Coke, a bag of chips and we’d talk philosophy. He always encouraged me to get as much learning as I could, read as much as I could. So I started reading books and going to the library and soon I’d become an inveterate reader. I still knock out a book a week. A COMPETITIVE YOUNG GOLFER
“Jerry” was the pro at a Trent Jones course southeast of Tampa called Apollo Beach. I was a low 80s shooter when I took off a semester from college in Cleveland and went down to Florida. He took me under his wing, asked me if I’d like to really learn to play the game. Every Friday at 3 o’clock, for about 12 weeks he would put me in a bunker and show me different shots. That’s all I did was hit bunker shots for a couple of hours. There was a number of traveling circus folks that would winter in the area. On the weekends, Jerry would play the circus people for money. I would be his partner. My job was to get in as many bunkers as I could. Then he would make bets with the circus people on whether I could get it up and down. I am still to this day a pretty darn good bunker player. I was 20. By the spring, I was breaking par. By the next summer, I was a plus 4. I started playing the North and South, the Dixie Amateur and the Eastern Amateur. I never won one, but I was never outside the top 20. I wasn’t a good enough ball-striker to win, but I was good enough to compete. At that point, however, I knew I loved golf. I was changing colleges, which made me eligible for the draft (for the Vietnam War). I was given a 1-Y deferment for physical issues which meant I could be called up anytime in the next two years. So I found a job in northeastern Ohio with Silvio Monday, who ran The Golfer newspaper in Cleveland, a 64-page monthly tabloid for public golf. I went to work with him and created golf tournaments. During the winters, we put charters together and took people out of snowy Cleveland to play golf in Puerto Rico and The Bahamas and Bermuda and Acapulco and Florida. Here I was, waiting to be re-drafted, and I had a couple-year run just doing golf and writing stories and selling advertising and learning the newspaper business. I joined the Golf Writers Association of America, found out they had a championship AZGOLF.ORG
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and went down to Myrtle Beach for their Annual Meeting and won that a few times. That took me up until 1976 and the Babe Zaharias Invitational on the LPGA Tour in northern Ohio, where I produced the event magazine and met the LPGA staff. I thought about playing professionally, but an incident at the North and South Amateur at Pinehurst encouraged me to do something else. Boots Widener (who Ed later hired to work for him on the LPGA Tour) and I traveled together to the North and South. I lost my own match and so I caddied for him against Bill Hyndman (one of the country’s top amateurs). He beat Hyndman. In his next match, he played Allan Strange, Curtis’ brother. Allan Strange could hit golf shots that I could not possibly hit. I could score with him, but I couldn’t hit the ball like he could. And obviously, Curtis was better. That convinced me. I was 25 and although people were telling me they wanted to sponsor me, I was smart enough to understand that I would have been a journeyman at best. I probably would have won a tournament or two Elote Café because I was a really good putter and had a great short game, but I didn’t want to be a golf bum and I didn’t want to be somebody who chased something like that. I didn’t have any money, and I didn’t want to be beholden to other people. Then Marshall Dann, who was running the Western Golf Association and Nick Popa, who was running the Ohio Golf Association encouraged me to stay in the golf business. That’s just about when the LPGA option came long. So, perfect timing.
An accomplished player, Gowan won multiple club championships at Desert Forest Golf Club.
TRAVELING 280 DAYS A YEAR WITH THE LPGA TOUR
The LPGA Tour was in transition. They were just coming out of the lawsuit involving Jane Blalock, who had been accused of mis-marking her ball. They needed to hire an outside commissioner for the first time, who turned out to be Ray Volpe. That same year, I had put together the tournament magazine for the Lawson’s LPGA Classic in Medina, Ohio. I got to know those people pretty well. The next year they were looking for Rules people. I had run and created tournaments in Ohio and knew the rules reasonably well. So Betsy Rawls hired me to be a Rules Official on the LPGA Tour in 1977. I was used to working 90 hours a week at the newspaper. Moving over to the LPGA Tour, when there were only three of us running tournaments, we’d also work 90-hour weeks. One time I worked 13 weeks in a row, all seven days. I enjoyed every second of it. It was great fun for a young guy. 16 | ARIZONA GOLF INSIDER |
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For the first four years on the LPGA Tour, we were either doing advance work at the tournament or coming in and doing rules and setup as a Rules Official. My last four years, after Betsy Rawls left, Ray Volpe put me in charge of event staff. I was responsible for tournament operations outside of headquarters, which meant anything to do with the golf course site, business contracts, interaction with the PGA Tour and USGA. Ray Volpe left in 1981, John Laupheimer replaced him and I moved to Houston, Texas, when the LPGA Tour relocated there, in 1982. ARIZONA BECKONS
I had tendered my resignation to the LPGA Tour in August of 1984. Marshall Dann and Nick Popa encouraged me to look into association
“Ed always had the wonderful ability to get himself educated about the issues of the day. Whether it was handicapping or water issues, he was always in the forefront of understanding how the golf world worked. He also understood what was going on in the community and on a national scope, so that he could keep us informed on a local level. Part of his extraordinary administrative abilities was in keeping communication lines open with people in the country who he recognized would be vital to our efforts in Arizona. He happens to be employed as a golf administrator, but he could administer anything, whether golf or something else, because he’s a thinker. He soaks things up like a sponge. He understands, he absorbs and then he goes out and builds and creates.” --Fred Hickle, past AGA President, longtime AGA and USGA Executive Committee member
COVER STORY
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“Ed came into his role at a time when golf associations weren’t very savvy. We did handicaps, we did tournaments, some communication with members. Ed was instrumental at trying to bring Arizona Golf into the modern era. He was not afraid of a new idea, which isn’t exactly standard fare for golf. He was always looking for ways to improve the opportunities for the Association and for the members…He was always very interested in the history of golf. The traditions of the game were very important to Ed. At the same time, the interesting part about Ed is that he balanced the traditions, yet also tried to modernize things. He also had a big interest in disabled veterans and using golf as a platform, a tool to further their lives after they finished with their service. That’s still important to Ed. That really goes straight to who Ed is as a person.” --Kevin Heaney is in his 38th year with the Southern California Golf Association (SCGA), the past 16 as Executive Director
golf when my daughter was one year old and I needed to be home more. Nick Popa knew a fellow in Arizona from the Cincinnati/Dayton area named Tim Kloenne. He was a Thunderbird and he (eventually) was responsible for the First Tee here. He was president of the Arizona Golf Association at the time. My predecessor, John Riggle, had announced his retirement in 1984. I was given the opportunity to interview for the job beginning June of 1985. Arizona seemed like a good fit. I had been coming here for a number of years because there were LPGA events in Sun City. Then the event moved to the Biltmore and then to Moon Valley. My daughter Meghan was a year and a half old. I talked with my wife. She thought she’d be willing to come to Arizona to get me off the road, because I was doing 280 days away every year. So that was a good thing to do to come out here. I interviewed with Tim Kloenne, Al Birmingham and Fred Hickle. I also worked with Bob Laubach, who was part of the USGA Green Section for 35 years, and with Bob Warren, a brilliant computer guy back when computers were 50-pound suitcases. The first two big volunteers we had were Al Potts and Doc Graves. It was a great group. My job was to come in and create a tournament program. The State Amateur was the only championship the Association owned. John (Riggle) assisted with several others, but didn’t own them or run them. Then I ran into Warren Simmons in Colorado who was taking over the Colorado Golf Association. We became great friends and competitors and he was working with Dean Knuth to develop the GHIN system and course rating. The first thing I did was to adopt that here, which brought credibility to the handicap system. We also expanded our tournament program, which now probably has 50 events. Right after that, we had another slew of talented people that came to the table. Bill Rodie helped re-write the bylaws and Gerry Smith, the attorney for the Association who worked with Fred Hickle and Tim Kloenne on the water law with another Director, Phil Edlund, who is still involved at Paradise Valley CC. We’ve lost a few of them, but they were good friends. The amazing thing about Arizona is that people here are uniquely great. Most of us have come from somewhere else. There’s this willingness to make friends and share stories that probably doesn’t exist where people have longstanding family relationships or club affiliations.
GROWING THE ASSOCIATION
Many people are indebted to John Riggle for what he did in the development of junior golf. He was also instrumental in creating the Pacific Coast Golf Association in 1967, and was a huge supporter of the USGA and other national events. John was a larger than life character. The board asked me to serve under him for awhile, but I said no. I told them I would be in his way and then when he retired, I would be glad to take over. John left me with a lot to do, which I am thankful for, because at that point (in 1985), there were very few associations that did much more than exactly what John did. Northern Cal had just built a golf course. They were expanding and becoming more of a business. Southern California was right there with them led by Newell Pinch. The Metropolitan Association in New York was that way. Chicago District was one of the leaders. Other than that, golf associations were built around the state amateurs and private clubs, and had just begun to provide handicapping. It was more like a men’s or women’s golf group at the country club. At the beginning, we didn’t have much money. Few members, less money. But, we were in the right place at the right time. The USGA course rating system was just being unveiled, along with the GHIN system — a national handicap system, as opposed to everybody making their own local arrangements. Most associations were private clubs-only at the time, with handicapping services available only to the private club players. What the new system allowed us to do was to reach out to all of the public men’s clubs – the Papago Men’s Club, the Encanto Men’s Club, the Randolph Men’s Club were the leaders – and bring them into the handicap system. That fostered a growth profile that continues to this day. And that’s been the heart blood of the Association, that Arizona is for all golfers. Fortunately, we’ve grown beyond that. Almost everybody who wants a handicap has one. It’s part of our core mission to encourage more people to get them and use other USGA services. But now, golf in Arizona is about the whole the golf community, and having something for every person’s golf interests. Which takes us to our magazine and our newsletters. Golf is about communications and opportunity, and less about tournaments and handicaps. They are still very important, but that’s the transition that’s taken us 35 years to today. The first event we added was the Stroke Play. It was played at Pinnacle Peak Country Club in 1987 and Billy Mayfair won. That’s why we have our Mayfair Award, which is for low stroke average for the year. Billy and ex-Tour AZGOLF.ORG
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Gowan with mentor, Hall of Famer and Rules expert Betsy Rawls.
player Joe Porter, another larger-than-life figure, by the way, were tied in the last round. Joe made the comment to a sportswriter, “This little college kid can’t beat an ex-Tour player.” They got to the 18th green and Billy makes about a 40-footer to win. I don’t think Joe ever got over it. By the time we reached the late 1990s, we had a full tournament schedule with at least two events per month, including the Publinx. Our Public Links was open to all public course members, as opposed to the USGA’s which excluded private club members. We had private club members that could play in our Publinx if they joined a public club. So we were encouraging crossover. Some people took real offense to that. The Father/Son Championship in Prescott is an Antelope Hills event, started by the Men’s Club with AGA support. By the late 80’s we joined with them, expanding the event through advertising. It’s grown from one course where we’d be done at 5 o’clock to two courses where we can’t accommodate a hundred teams that want to enter. We’re looking at a four-day event next year to include the other 120 teams in. This year’s event filled in the first hour it was open for entries. For the first State Amateur I was involved with here, we had about 95 entries. Now we will have 350 to 400 people try to qualify. That isn’t a lot compared to other associations, but the price of competition here is much higher than it is for any of the Northern tier associations. They have primarily private clubs; and, the private clubs in the Northern tier give their courses for championships. The private clubs in the Southern tier are more exclusive, less willing to give up their courses, and more expensive. For instance, in Michigan, they’ll have 800+ people try to qualify for the Amateur. They have five or six qualifying sites, they pay few fees and so one can enter the tournament for $100. And they mostly play for trophies. That’s not the case in the Southern states. The struggle for my successor will be to manage championship events that are excellent tournaments at affordable prices. That may not be possible. RULES AND RULINGS
My fascination with the Rules of Golf came from Betsy Rawls. Betsy had the most brilliant mind about the Rules. She was very private. She won four U.S. Women’s Opens, but she was extremely humble. She mentored me, and also Mike Waldron and Jeff Rivard, both of whom would go on to lead State Golf Associations. She mandated that before we could do rules on the golf 18 | ARIZONA GOLF INSIDER |
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“I’ve known Ed for more than 30 years. I’ve always viewed him as one of the brightest and most innovative minds in golf administration. He had the advantage of being a really good player, so he understood the game at a competitive level… In terms of governance, Ed was always one of the best Rules minds in the country. He officiated for decades at the U.S. Open. He was great at course rating, the handicap system and knew a lot about clubs. He could have absolutely stepped into a bunch of roles at the USGA. I looked at him and thought that he was as well-rounded as any golf administrator I know. He definitely left the game of golf—and the Arizona Golf Association—better than he found it.” --Mike Davis enjoyed a 32year career with the USGA through 2021, the last ten as Executive Director and then Chief Executive Officer
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“I don’t think there’s been an administrator I’ve known that’s been more entrepreneurial than Ed. He was always thinking about a new business opportunity for the Association… And he was very involved in our NGF women’s golf summits. He was an early and strong advocate for women’s golf... Ed’s a great guy. He’s left a trail of friends and admirers in his wake. I’m proud to be one of them.” --Joe Beditz, President and CEO of the National Golf Foundation; with the NGF for 38 years
course that we’d be able to basically quote the Decisions book, which was a bible at the time. So we all quickly learned. One of the reasons we learned is that she knew the history of all the rules, why it was there and she would educate us on that. Her contention that players deserve expert answers still rings true. We’ve probably had 40 people here—maybe more—who have achieved expert status on the Rules of Golf exam. I’ll take a little credit for some of them. The key is learning the history of the rule. Then you understand how it impacts situations on the golf course. There are many people who know the Rules of Golf verbatim, and there are people who are really good on the golf course who can’t pass the test. Those that can do both are the people that work U.S. Opens. (Gowan was one of those people. He officiated at 35 U.S. Opens.) My time at the LPGA Tour introduced me to people. I was invited to officiate at the Japan Open, at South American championships and others. I
made connections with the USGA and the PGA Tour that way. And at the time, there weren’t that many of us that would do a 100 on the rules test. As crazy as that is, that number gets attention. Now there are hundreds of people that have done it, which I think is so important for the game. Back then, there weren’t that many people that knew the rules well. At the Tour and U.S. Open level, the rules are black and white. There are no difficult rulings. There are just some that are uncomfortable for the player and some that are uncomfortable for you. When you know you’re going to give a player a two-stroke penalty that will cost them a tournament or significant check, that’s tough. You have to do it, but it’s not easy. At the PGA Tour’s Tournament of Champions at La Costa, there was this guy in the trees with his ball in mud by the name of Nicklaus. Somehow, he knew Gowan with grandmy name. He asked, “So where’s my relief from this daughter Ella at Pebble Beach Golf muddy area?” I responded, “I’m sorry, Mr. Nicklaus, Links during the but the rules don’t allow relief from mud—only 2019 U.S. Open. from casual water.’ And he said, “Are you sure of that?” I said, “Yes, sir, I am. Would you care to have a second opinion?” And Nicklaus said, “No need. I just wasn’t sure you knew the rules that well.” AMATEUR GREATS
Ed Updegraff was the best amateur ever in Arizona. Billy Mayfair probably had as impressive a record, but Updegraff was the person for 15 years. He was captain of the Walker Cup team, winner of the first Pacific Coast Amateur in 1967 while he was in his 40s, beating Johnny Miller and Hale Irwin and a bunch of Tour players at Seattle Golf Club. He’s the Bobby Jones of Arizona. He won the USGA’s Bob Jones Award (in 1999), and if you look at all the things that Bob Jones had done in his life, Dr. Ed was very similar. He was a full-time, 50-hour-a-week doctor, yet he accomplished one of the greatest amateur records in history, while playing occasional golf. His 2800+ times beating his age is unmatched; and we have the scoring records! The most memorable AGA tournament moment for me was in the AZGOLF.ORG
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2012 Amateur final. During our first Patriot All-American event in 2011, our players were invited onto Luke Air Force Base for a tour. We met a fighter pilot named Andy Aduddell, who had been a two-time All-American at Texas. He was a fledgling professional and saw the Twin Towers go down. So he quit golf, joined the Air Force, became a fighter pilot and was one of the lead instructors at Luke. He spoke to our group of Patriot players, then played in the Am-Am on behalf of the base and shot 68 or 69 at the Wigwam. Andy said he played three or four times a year, in scrambles, but that’s all he did for ten years. We said, “Andy, you must play in one of our tournaments.” We finally convinced him to enter the Amateur, but because of his flying time, he couldn’t qualify. So we gave him an exemption, which antagonized our tournament committee. Our rationale was, “Well, he’s a two-time All-American. He’s an Air Force pilot. He’s a good player. He’s going to make the cut. Let’s let him play.” We were not surprised when he reached the final match against a current Tour player. As they’re coming off the ninth green, the Tour player’s father had arrived. He asked his son, “How are you playing?” His son answered, “Well.” Dad then asked, “What did you shoot on the front nine?” “32.” “Oh, how many are you up?” “I’m 3 down.” Andy then makes two more birdies to go 5 up after 11. Then the kid birdies four in a row and a par wins him a fifth hole. They come to the last hole at The Gallery’s North course all square. They both hit the fairway. Aduddell played first. The flag’s in the back-left of the green and he puts it 12 feet above the hole. The kid plays his shot, and it looks like it’s right online. But that par-4 18th green is blind from the fairway with a ridge in it. You couldn’t see where the balls actually landed. They get up on the green and the kid is there first. He accidentally marks Andy’s ball, thinking it was his. It wasn’t. That was a one-stroke penalty at the time. He places Andy’s ball back down and now he has a 50-foot putt coming over the ridge with about a 15-foot break. He putts it to 15 feet below the hole, then misses that one. Aduddell two putts and wins. It was a horrible ending to a wonderful match. WOMEN AND JUNIORS TO THE FORE
Before we blended with the AWGA a few years ago, we ran many women’s collegiate events that came to Arizona. Lorraine Thies was in charge of those for the most part. It was important to me to do as much for women’s golf as we could. I hired the first woman rules official for a professional tour 20 | ARIZONA GOLF INSIDER |
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in Suzanne Jackson on the LPGA Tour, who unfortunately lost her life to cancer in the late 1990s. And working with the ladies’ tour, I’ve always had growing women’s golf as part of my thinking, including being an original board member for the Executive Women’s Golf Association. The integration of the AGA and the AWGA was dictated by the USGA. We had been talking to the women for a number of years and were cooperative on course rating and sharing data. The USGA came along and said “We’re dealing with 93 associations. That’s far too many. There is too much overlap. The first reorganization will be to 59. That means that women’s and men’s organizations in any given area are going to have to merge.” It was very difficult for both of us here, a four-year process from 2015 to 2019, but we were given an absolute deadline. There were four years of negotiations and discussions with some hard feelings resulting, as the AWGA was the largest women’s group in the U.S. It wasn’t about a loss of jobs because we agreed to take everyone at their current compensation level. The primary issue was about the loss of autonomy and control. It was a legitimate issue. After the 2019 integration, AGA membership went from 54,000 to 77,000, and likely as a result of joining to over 90,000 a few years later. Junior golf is thriving. I give Scott McNevin (JGAA Executive Director) and Tom Cunningham and Tim Greenwell, who started it, all the credit, by bringing other people in: Karsten, the Thunderbirds, putting together volunteer groups and outreach. Arizona junior golf is in a great place. The change in clubs and the ball has helped that, because the kids hit it farther than ever and now they can play golf courses more effectively than they could at first. So it’s more fun for them. With the school programs and the First Tee reaching hundreds of thousands of kids (3.4 million nationally), it’s fantastic. We still sponsor the Boys and Girls Championships in the state. We help out where we can, but they have other sources of revenue. As we evolve into the future, I think you’ll see some consolidation just because of the overlap and the cost of business. I would imagine that a few years from now that we’ll be much more closely aligned than we are now, creating outreach programs. HANDICAPPING
Prior to my time in Arizona, handicaps were handled by the Continental Bank. When we brought in the USGA’s GHIN system (in 1985), it followed
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“Ed is a guy with a twinkle in his eye, always engaging and productive. He was very helpful to me when we were building CordeValle (site of the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open). He had a keen, critical eye for design and was very encouraging in the field. I consider him a genuine friend.” --Robert Trent Jones Jr. is one of the most prolific architects in history, with more than 270 completed courses in 40 countries
COVER STORY
have to be willing to turn in every score they play. If they don’t, their handicap isn’t accurate. The second part is when a person is out of compliance. If his best friend is the handicap chairman who hides it, that’s a problem. What we really need to do in my opinion is have the golf associations regionally become the benevolent dictators for handicapping using scoring data. Often club committees are reluctant to take action against a member, even when clearly needed. We have the data software, we have the sophisticated computers, so that if somebody shoots a score that is not reasonable, it’ll show up immediately. At that point, we’d have an automatic reduction or increase in the handicap. GOLF COURSES
Gowan on the famous 16th hole at Cypress Point Club – in his mind the second-best Par 3 on the course (#15).
the rules of handicapping, which Continental Bank didn’t. The bank simply created scoring averages. The USGA handicap system (now the World-wide System) estimates your best play. Many were upset because their handicaps went down. It was a matter of educating people about what a handicap is. We still haven’t achieved that universally. Handicaps have always been intended to estimate your best scores. Colorado was using the GHIN system. Metropolitan New York was using it. Our system was not based on the rules and was not efficient. There was no database. It took us two months to implement the GHIN system. The new WHS handicapping system could use a tweak or two, but it is an effective solution, creating equity for most players, and it eliminates almost all inaccurate handicaps. The issues are two-fold. One is that players
My favorite tournament golf course in Arizona is Desert Forest. (Gowan is a longtime member.) No question. It’s so hard. It’s not unfair, but there’s not one shot on the golf course that’s easy. Not one. As an example, in qualifying for the Arizona Amateur two years ago, the median score for 168 players with an average handicap index of “0” was over 79. Desert golf is challenging and difficult for the average player. Yet, several of the most beautiful courses in the world are right around the corner. I still love the traditional layouts where shaping balls around trees into narrow fairways is the principal challenge. I’ve played over 1600 courses now, and most of my favorites are elsewhere. PATRIOT GAMES
One of my proudest achievements on behalf of the AGA was the creation of the Patriot All-America. We had wanted to create an elite amateur event for Arizona. After figuring out the timing, we also knew we wanted to honor the military because our AGA Foundation for a good 15 years had raised money for military charities. I was talking to Gregg Grost, executive director of the Golf Coaches Association of America, and he said, “We work with one charity, the Folds of Honor.” I told it him it would be great if we could work with them. He said, “Dan Rooney’s sitting at the next table (Lt. Colonel Dan Rooney is the founder of Folds of Honor). Let’s go talk to him.” So in a matter of 15 minutes, we had the concept for the Patriot. And it just exploded. CRYSTAL BALL
My words of advice to my successor, Joe Foley? Dream and chase it. The only time you won’t make mistakes is when you’re not doing anything. AZGOLF.ORG
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Sweet Home Alabama //Golf Edition 22 | ARIZONA GOLF INSIDER |
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WORDS BY ALICE AND DANNY SCOTT
TRAVEL
RTJ Golf Trail - Cambrian Ridge AZGOLF.ORG
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TRAVEL
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Players will love the challenge and views of both layouts through the woods.
RTJ Golf Trail - Cambrian Ridge
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TRAVEL
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ho isn’t ready to escape to a serene, friendly setting filled with natural beauty, crazy good cuisine, and well-designed golf? Well, Alabama fits that bill with more than 120 diverse courses from the hilly forests of the north to the white sandy beaches in the south. Twenty-six of the Alabama golf courses, including 468 holes, are mapped out on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, winding 342 miles through the state at 11 venues, six with onsite luxury accommodation options. Three of these venues will host the lucky Arizona Golf Association members who sign up for the September trip with Outreach Director Anj Brown, so let’s get started there: Grand National, Ross Bridge and Oxmoor Valley.
GRAND NATIONAL in Opelika, home to Auburn University, is centered around
Lake Saugahatchee. Participating AGA members will play 36 of the 54 holes: The Links and The Lakes courses, rated in the top ten affordable courses by Golf Digest. Half of the holes skillfully skirt the 600-acre lake. Players will love the challenge and views of both layouts through the woods. The Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa at Grand National will be called home for three nights ‒ where all may indulge in the luxury of marble bathrooms and private balconies. If ready for more activity, the three-story fitness center is amazing as are the three swimming pools, one outdoors with a waterfall. A welcome reception will be held al fresco at the Splash Bar to eat, drink, mingle and be merry! is one of the finest on Alabama’s RTJ Trail and a favorite of ours. Surrounded by hills, trees, and lakes, the balcony views from the Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa – where the AGA crew will spend the next two nights – are nothing short of inspiring. Robert Trent Jones Sr. converted the sprawling acreage into a majestic course with a replica of a gristmill serving as the focal point, and in view from many holes while playing. The gristmill’s water wheel cascades a steady stream connecting the two lakes. Antique details are authentic, the roar of the high falls is soothing and the built-in restrooms a relief. Currently the longest course in the country, fairways are generous but so are the bunkers and slopes to make a challenging run. The starter might advise, “Don’t short the par 3’s.”
ROSS BRIDGE
Evan Schiller Bay Harbor Golf Club Bay Harbor, Mich.
RTJ Golf Trail - Ross Bridge
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Montgomery Marriott Prattville Hotel
OXMOOR VALLEY is three miles from the Renaissance Ross Bridge in Birmingham, and features two more spectacular RTJ courses. AGA players will enjoy a treat of nature on the Valley Course. The first tee starts high with a launched drive down to the magnificent valley below. Arizonans will appreciate how green this valley is through the forested wetlands. The final hole ascends back up the ridge to the grand clubhouse with a wraparound veranda for panoramic viewing. Once you taste the trail, you’ll want to savor more and planning is easy with the Trail’s comprehensive website. RTJgolf. com includes a map and distance chart between venues, course tours and packages – here’s a glimpse of the other eight venues on the trail.
Robert Kelsey U.S. Space & Rocket Center - Huntsville
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THE SHOALS refers to Muscle Shoals, famous as the hit recording capital of the world. School Master and Fighting Joe are two of the top-rated courses in the state. Finishing holes on both, Christian Hafer as well as the clubhouse veranda, deliver sweeping views of the Silvies Valley Ranch Tennessee River, known as the “singing river.” Seneca, Ore.
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Off the trail, Gulf Shores & Orange Beach on the east side has miles of sugar white beaches and boating and fishing options galore.
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Robert Kelsey
The Wharf - Orange Beach AZGOLF.ORG
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Kiva Dunes Resort and Golf Course
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TRAVEL
HAMPTON COVE’S 54 holes reside in Huntsville, where Dr. Von Braun (revered in October Sky) launched the Alabama space industry with the moon rocket responsible for one giant leap for mankind. The first giant step for golfers might be The River Course at Hampton Cove, uniquely bunker-less. After golf, visit the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. SILVER LAKES in Glencoe was renovated after a tornado’s dev-
astation in 2011. Three gorgeous nines are named Heartbreaker, Backbreaker and Mindbreaker – but if you play well while taking in the scenery and fresh air of the Appalachian foothills, you might just catch a break. CAPITOL HILL courses in Prattville, named The Senator, The Leg-
islator, and The Judge run along the Alabama River and are rated among the top 50 courses in America. Cambrian Ridge has four nines in Greenwood on former hunting grounds, therefore wildlife and hardwood scenery are abundant along canyon ridges. HIGHLAND OAKS in Dothan delivers variety in four more nines, while Magnolia Grove in Mobile is hot on the RTJ trail with its parkland style Crossings Course, the host of LPGA events. Pull up a rocking chair on the clubhouse porch to breathe in the blossoms of Magnolia and Azaleas. LAKEWOOD CLUB at The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa in
Point Clear is rich with history. It is hard to believe that this elegant, waterfront Marriott Resort was a former confederate hospital. As a reminder, a cannon firing ceremony salutes sailors of past and present every day. Boardwalks link a fishing wharf, stocked with bait and poles, to a marina, a soft sandy beach, an elaborate pool and the Azaleas and Dogwoods courses – which are lined with 200-year-old oaks.
The Kiva Beach Club
The gulf coast of Alabama is a fins and skins game to thrill. Off the trail, Gulf Shores & Orange Beach on the east side has miles of sugar white beaches and boating and fishing options galore. Premium golf includes Troon-managed Peninsula and Craft Farms as well as Kiva Dunes. Any trip to Alabama is a culinary journey. From fresh oysters to crispy stuffed quail or burgers at craft breweries and speakeasys, everyone becomes a foodie in Alabama. Alabama’s landscape is so stunning that it might be difficult to leave the trees and hills behind. No doubt AGA members joining Anj will be singing “Sweet Home Alabama” before their trip ends, and will want to book more vacations there as Alabamans will encourage, “Y’all come back now!”
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RTJgolf.com includes a map and distance chart between venues, course tours and packages...
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A L A B A M A AGA Member Golf Experience Join the AGA on the
Auburn Marriott - Opelika, AL
sugary sands of Alabama for an unforgettable member golf experience.
$1300 Per Person Double Occupancy $1900 Per Person Single Occupancy Grand National - Lake Course 30 | ARIZONA GOLF INSIDER |
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Grand National - Links Course
Deadline: May 31
Trip Includes:
Oxmoor Valley - Valley Course
TRAVEL
• Three Nights Lodging at the Auburn Marriott, Opelika, AL • Two Nights Lodging at Ross Bridge Resort & Spa • Four Rounds of Golf • • • •
Grand National - Lake Course Grand National - Links Course Oxmoor Valley - Valley Course Ross Bridge
• Hosted Welcome Reception • Bus Transportation
Ross Bridge Ross Bridge Bagpiper
• • •
Hotel to golf course each day Hotel to downtown each evening Round trip from and to airport*
Don’t miss out...register today!
azgolf.org/travel AZGOLF.ORG
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A good tale never tires in the telling.
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-Scottish Proverb
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THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
ONE OF A KIND A Day at The Open Championship at St Andrews WORDS BY JOSHUA C. EVENSON
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raveling to St Andrews for the first time is unlike any other experience for a golfer. The anticipation causes many of us to become giddy at any thought of it — from the moment your flight is booked to the moment one steps foot on Scottish soil. When you arrive in St Andrews and therefore happen to be close to the Old, you’ll know it because you feel it. Our sixth sense as a golfer is on high alert for the first glimpse. The drive will take you through a variety of twists and turns through the beautiful countryside before reaching the Old Course Hotel. From there, you’re moments away from your first introduction to a new found love, as though one is about to meet a new best friend or even the love of their golfing life. Upon arrival, there are two routes that can be taken, either the first across Granny Clark’s Wynd or the second past Dunvegan closest to The Royal & Ancient Golf Club and the first tee. Both AZGOLF.ORG
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routes are suggested as each of them is sure to leave one in awe. Once you step foot on the hallowed ground, simply take in the beauty of one of the most special places on earth. Smell the air. Listen to all the sounds. Touch the sand, soil and grass. Welcome to St Andrews and now pinch yourself because you’re HOME. May you sleep well the night before your visit to The Open because the excitement of it all is sure to overwhelm. We all know that many of the players that day are equal parts excited and nervous, too. They must show up to perform at the highest level to have any chance of getting closer to the Claret Jug. The anticipation the night before is akin to our version of practicing our putting as a kid saying ‘This putt is to win the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews’ or for one of us when we step foot on the first tee of the Old Course to hit our first tee shot, when it seems the world of golf has its eyes on you - the quietness, romanticism and beauty is felt to your core. We just hope to make contact with the ball, whereas they begin their mission to become never-forgotten within the game’s history. As you wake (when the seagulls do), peak outside to see what the weather has in store. You’ll likely feel it before your eyes even see it, either a breezy salty air with sunshine or a cold Scottish mist that one can sometimes taste…and then feel deep to the bone. I pray for the former, most days. Now that one knows what to expect, 34 | ARIZONA GOLF INSIDER |
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THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
take a hot shower and enjoy the heat, as it may be the warmest you’ll feel all day. Turn the thermostat up before you jump in so that it’s nice and warm. Trust me on this one, you’ll be happy you did. I would suggest having skiing handwarmer packets for gloves, pockets and such. And quick dry or wool socks/ pants if weather blowing a gale. Should you have been lucky enough to have slept the night before, one must be the first person up to be prepared for a full Scottish breakfast, better known as ‘brekkie’. No questions asked. This is non-negotiable. You’ll enjoy some quiet time as though in a museum. If you happen to make it outside, you’ll see a few fellow pilgrims wandering the streets, taking in everything they can. Be the first person up because you’re about to enjoy a ‘cracking day.’ Now comes breakfast: say ‘Yes!’ to absolutely everything — even the hot tomatoes. For me, I prefer the crispy bacon. If there is an option for a scone, do not miss it if it is homemade or from the nearby baker, along with homemade jam and butter. A resounding yes to oatcakes, fried eggs and mushrooms. And if you’re lucky, give the haggis a go, but forget to ask what it actually is. Coffee in copious amounts is advised. You’ll be amped enough for what is to come as you set eyes on the 18th hole amphitheater, The St Andrews Golf Club, St Regulus Ladies Golf Club, New Club, Rusacks, Old Course Hotel, The Royal & Ancient and Hamilton Grand, along with the famous yellow and
blue scoreboard above the first fairway. Do it for the heat if not for the caffeine. While there only is so much space for one’s breakfast, trying everything on the menu is the surest way to find a new treat that you may love and will guide you in the coming days, weeks and years as you return to your favorite B&B to see folks that are sure to become lifelong friends. Once the course is open, GO! Don’t run. Walk. It’s the fashionable, local way of doing things. Unlike other events, this is a proper affair. That said, there’s a time and a place for all things, and new, different approaches are (albeit sometimes) welcome. As you view the first tee shots of the day, take it all in. From here, the choice is yours. You’ve made it to the 150th Open Championship. Walking all 18 holes of the Old Course ought to be mandatory, however. Walk with the players, cheer them on, and try to identify the soon-to-be winner. You’ll gain a more-informed appreciation for what it takes to succeed on the Old Course over four days of competition. After you’ve seen and done everything, it will be time for dinner. As I’ve mentioned, there are countless world-class options, from Michelin-starred restaurants around Fife to fine local fare, or even quick burger and beer before hitting your pillow to ensure you’re ready for the next day, when it’s your turn to try the Game, this time at nearby Kingsbarns, some think the best course in St Andrews. AZGOLF.ORG
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Tips to Successfully Attend The Open at St Andrews 1 >> Prior to planning the journey, read every book possible about St Andrews. 2 >> Before you get to St Andrews, play other courses in Fife and East Lothian. One will quickly gain an appreciation for all that links golf is, and more. 3 >> Always have a waterproof bucket hat ready, because four seasons in a day is not uncommon. 4 >> If you don’t have a brolly, you better have a world-class rain jacket. Better yet, both. 5 >> Waterproof shoes…the most underrated piece that is too often overlooked. Unlike the Waste Management Phoenix where ladies’ stilettos are the norm, we strongly suggest wellies for almost every occasion - at least as a back-up plan. 6 >> No need to worry about tan lines or sunblock, or ‘sun cream’ as it is known over there. Once early in 2011, I remember not seeing the sun for more than 40 days. I was just waiting for the proverbial flood to begin. The tannest person you’ll see just might be a fellow-Arizonan. 7 >> The safe bet always is fish and chips. I suggest going with the local custom of agreeing to salt and vinegar. 8 >> If you have food and see a seagull or rook, RUN. Or hide. Even then, they’ll proba36 | ARIZONA GOLF INSIDER |
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bly find you. I often hear of Stumpy’s siblings making an appearance around The Old to steal the occasional crisp or bacon roll. 9 >> Tea time is all the time. Whenever you choose to have a biscuit and something hot, go for it! I suggest Tunnock’s Tea Cakes (dark chocolate!), they are delightful; or the Caramel Wafer Biscuit. 10 >> The week before or after, be sure to walk Swilcan Bridge. Take it all in and imagine what it would have been like to say farewell to the game from there, just as Jack did. I assure you, it’s vastly different from the 16th hole at the WM Phoenix Open. 11 >> Should you make the mistake of not layering properly, go straight to The Open Shop or Old Course Shop. Either one will be wonderfully stocked with whatever you will inevitably need. 12 >> Should you make the journey to the end of the Old Course loop, be prepared for everything. Holes seven through twelve are remarkable, all for different reasons. Sitting high atop the bleachers behind the par three eleventh, you may witness drama akin to that of Bobby Jones in 1921. It is known for being a treacherous green, especially if one goes long. Along the way, be mindful of Hell Bunker, The Coffins, etc. as they dot the fairways from beginning to end, and you do not want to accidentally fall in one. The bunkers have names and with good reason.
13 >> For your pre-round coffee or tea, there is but one choice if you want the very best: Taste on North Street. For your post-round bevvie, there are dozens of worthy options, but a few of my favorites include The Dunvegan, Jigger Inn, The Russell Hotel, Cross Keys, and Whey Patt Tavern and Aikman’s. Local favorites include Tennent’s Lager (or better yet Tennent’s ‘tops’ which includes a splash of Schweppes Lemonade), Belhaven’s Best and a variety of whiskies that can be found at many local pubs. 14 >> One evening after the golf as the sun sets and the light fades, take a stroll away from the sun down to the cathedral ruins, to visit Old Tom Morris’s grave. Leave a golf ball, say a prayer and thank the legend for what he did for our game. While there, continue on down the hill to the pier to enjoy the freshest air you’ll ever breathe.. As you wander back, you’ll hear the bells toll on the hour, every hour, and you’ll be as alive as you’ve ever been. 15 >> If you want to learn all you can about the ancient game’s origins in club making, look no further than St Andrews Golf Co. Hamish will take good care of you while teaching you about the process of making hickory clubs. 16 >> Don’t forget to take all the photos of you can with your family and friends. You’ll cherish these mementos forever.
Alternative Options F Whether you attend The Open one day or many, it is suggested that you shop early in order to ensure you get the items you want. Hats will definitely sell out. The 150th Open will cause everything to sell out, so be quick! F If you take time off The Open Championship, one good option is to play one of the many local courses. A few comparatively hidden gems include the courses at Crail, The Golf House Club at Elie, Leven, London Links, The Dukes, Ansruther, Panmure, Kittocks or Torrance at The Fairmont. All offer a delightful day, swinging away at the little while ball. F For the foodies, Scotland has improved immensely in the fare on offer. Not only in St Andrews, but around and outside Fife. A coastal trip around Fife with food in mind is well worth the journey to find a variety of hidden gems. Without further ado, go book your flight, make your plans, and buy all the books about St Andrews you can to get started. If you require advice, please feel free to send me an email and I’ll happily be your guide, at joshuacevenson@gmail.com.
THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Why The Open Championship at St Andrews is the Rarest of All Golf’s Majors When receiving the Freedom of the City of St Andrews in 1958, Bobby Jones shared “I could take out of my life everything except my experiences at St Andrews and I would still have a rich, full life.” Those of us who know the town in this way surely would agree with the sentiment. I do. The Open Championship is our game’s oldest competitive test, to determine the ‘Champion Golfer’ of the year. Every few years this contest is held on the most ancient and fabled land of all: The Old Course. The finest golfers from all around the world come to compete over four days and 72 holes of stroke play to determine the year’s champion. Among all major tests, this is the one golfers dream of most. Jack Nicklaus (winner of The Open Championship at St Andrews) said “If you’re going to be a player people will remember, you have to win the Open at
St Andrews.” Such sentiments have been echoed by nearly all the greats. In order to win here, you must master every shot, be creative and patient, be able to play in wind and rain that can be rougher than the North Sea in winter. You must have the nerves and absolute focus required to not get ahead of yourself if you have the lead coming into the final round. The leader standing over his ball on the 16th tee will be praying to themselves not to block the tee shot on to the range and therefore may hit a hook into the tall grass on the left. Coming on to 17, they must hit over a part of the famed Old Course Hotel (a blind tee shot) to a tight fairway and what can be a seemingly impossible green. This hole makes one hit over a building, a road, a pub, tall grass, Road Hole Bunker and more features, all of which have caused more ruined rounds than the Bushwood Country Club gopher from Caddyshack who harassed Carl Spackler (played by Bill Murray, of course). The golfer leading the pack come his first shot the final morning is not one to be envied, unless he is one to play with a chip on his shoulder. Of course, this must be done while maintaining respect for their opponents, as well as for the land, history and rules of the game. Of all the places to play and win, surely there is no place more coveted than where it all began: The Home of Golf.
WHAT TO READ: Preparation will make your visit to The Open Championship the best it can be. In order to know what to expect, research is not only helpful, it is essential. There are many wonderful books written about Scotland, St Andrews, The Enlightenment, golf, and more. Here are a few suggestions: For the historian, there are dozens of good options. Simply Google ‘St Andrews + golf books’ and a plethora of choices will become available. A few timeless books that ought to be considered are: (1) The Spirit of St Andrews by Alister Mackenzie (2) Scotland’s Gift: Golf by Charles Blair Macdonald (3) all three volumes of The Royal & Ancient Golf Club history are superb. Contemporary books: (1) Tom Morris of St Andrews: The Colossus of Golf 1821-1908 by David Malcolm and Peter Crabtree (2) St Andrews: In the Footsteps of Old Tom Morris by Roger McStravick (3) Tommy’s Honor by Kevin Cook (4) all books by local St Andrews legend David Joy. For the prospective student, there is no better book that George Peper’s St Andrews Sojourn: Two Years at Home on the Old Course. For the golf course architecture enthusiast: (1) Why Are There Eighteen Holes? St Andrews and the Evolution of Golf Courses 17641890 by Peter N. Lewis (2) Tom Doak’s Little Red Book of Golf Course Architecture Edited by Bob Crosby (3) The Anatomy of a Golf Course: The Art of Golf Architecture by Tom Doak. While I recommend these books time and time again, they’ll always be new to the majority of the readers. AZGOLF.ORG
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What To Bring To The Open Championship The idea of four seasons in a day in St Andrews is not uncommon. Waking up to the brightest sunrise on a calm morning can surely be contrasted by a cold, winter harr that afternoon. Be prepared for everything, as well as that in between. To simplify the process while ensuring you have everything you need, here is the list of items every attendee ought to have: 1 >> Waterproof coat — Kjus, Galvin Green or FootJoy are excellent options. At all costs, you want to be dry. 2 >> Umbrella — If you don’t have one, The Open Shop will be selling them. Be careful if it rains because there will be a rush on umbrellas and they may quickly sell out. 3 >> Water-resistant golf shoes, hiking shoes or even rubber boots. There’s nothing worse than a day of cold, wet feet. A trail-runner shoe often is best because they are water-repellent, sturdier, and have the best traction for all conditions. Suggestion: Hoka Speedgoat 4. 4 >> Warm gloves and a waterproof/winter hat. Just in case. You’ll want them if you need them, even if only for one day! 5 >> Binoculars are always helpful for spectating, especially since the Old Course is rather flat and you can see great distances across fairways, dunes and from small hilltops around the course, such as holes 7, 8 and 11. 38 | ARIZONA GOLF INSIDER |
6 >> One brightly colored garment so you’re more easily identified if you lose your fellow attendee. Scottish attendees tend to wear neutral colors. As such, we Americans are quite easily identifiable in a crowd. If you didn’t see us first, you probably heard us. Those of us that know and understand local norms tend to be comparatively quiet and therefore fit in a bit more. 7 >> Having cash, a credit/debit card (with chip) and your ID is recommended. You never know which one you may need. If you go into The Open Shop definitely have them ready, because it always is beautifully stocked with all sorts of things you are sure to want, from hats to polos, bears to golf balls, posters and more. Don’t forget to visit Arizona-based artist Lee Wybranski to say hello and have him sign his Official Open Championship poster. 8 >> Remember your phone so you can text, follow the scoreboard and even take a few photos with family and friends. I recommend WhatsApp or Signal for messaging. Remember, PLEASE have your phone on SILENT at all times. 9 >> A course map, yardage guide and pairing sheet will be helpful as you navigate the course, watch your favorite competitor, find a loo, etc. Getting back to town is relatively easy because it can be seen from everywhere on the course, but finding the most efficient path will require a map. And, again, watch out for the hidden bunkers. To stay up to date and be informed, look up Spectator Advice from the R&A at theopen.com. Remember to review this checklist prior attending the 150th anniversary of The Open Championship this summer at St Andrews on the famed Old Course.
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Food & Drinks Scotland has not long been known to have excellent food, or at least that was the opinion of most Americans I’ve spoken to whom have frequented the land. But, in recent years this has begun to evolve and is continually improving, at every level. Before passing judgment, visit any of the eateries on the lists below. You’ll be pleasantly surprised. For the foodies in attendance, this is your list. MICHELIN STAR The Peat Inn - One of only two restaurants in Fife with a Michelin Star, The Peat Inn is one of the most quaint restaurants in Fife, near to St Andrews, in Cupar. (15 minutes) The Cellar - One of the finest, The Peat Inn also boasts a fame Michelin Star. Located 15 minutes south of St Andrews in Anstruther, it is worth the short journey. Before or after your meal, be sure to take in a harbor walk in Anstruther or Pittenweem. (15 minutes)
Highly-Noted Fine Restaurants (short drive from St Andrews) >> The Newport — Newport-on-Tay (20 minutes) >> The Wee Restaurant — North Queensferry (55 minutes) >> Craig Millar at 16 West End — St Monans (25 minutes) >> Kinneuchar Inn — Kilconconquhar (20 minutes) Best of the Best in St Andrews >> Seafood Ristorante (walkable, just off The Scores) >> Haar (walkable, Pilmour Links) >> The Grange Inn (short cab ride) Wonderful Options in St Andrews >> The Jigger Inn — my favorite place to eat and relax in St Andrews >> The Dunvegan — the best place to make new friends and enjoy caddie conversations >> Sands Grill at The Old Course Hotel — elegant restaurant with exceptional local ingredients >> Road Hole Restaurant at Old Course Hotel — best place for wine or whisky, best view >> The Adamson — outstanding cocktail program >> Rogue — a steakhouse that is meant to be first-class
THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
St Andrews Classics >> Little Italy — a local favorite, especially after the Town Match >> Ziggy’s — one of the best burgers in town, alongside Dunvegan >> Forgan’s — great experience, great food, great staff, great setting >> Tailend — best fish and chips in town >> The Saint — heard great things, on North Street >> Doll’s House — a St Andrews institution >> The Russell — an all-time favorite, especially the sticky toffee pudding 19th Hole >> Aikman’s — a favorite place of the students, say hello to Malcolm >> St Andrews Brewing Company — great variety of beers >> Whey Pat Tavern — traditional Scottish pub >> The Criterion — uniquely St Andrews in every way, local music >> Ma Bells — the after-party place to go >> The Rule — good place to watch football games >> The Vic — any-time-of-day spot, another local favorite >> Central Bar — traditional, upscale feel, Scottish wooden pub, place for the professors
OTHER THINGS TO SEE + DO F R&A World Golf Museum F Himalayas Putting Course at The St Andrews Ladies Putting Club F Bookshop: Topping & Company F Fraser Gallery of St Andrews F Janetta’s Ice Cream — the very best F Visit St Salvators Chapel + Quadrangle F MUSA — Museum of the University of St Andrews F Visit local St Andrews legend David Joy’s collection of art in Dunvegan F Sit in ‘Tip’s Seat’ at Dunvegan, while conversing with friends about the best shot of the day
BEST SPECTATING
CONCLUSION
The Old Course is flat. Just as people thought the world was flat, many learned over time through history that quite the opposite is true. Many golfers initially have the same relationship with the Old Course. They do not understand the beauty of the Old. They see it as a plain, old, flat piece of land. Robert With time, the Old reveals itselfKelsey as the architectural, timeless thing that it is. The best course of them all, many believe. And I agree. Given the nature of the land itself, grandstands are crucial. Be sure to use them to your advantage in order to see as many shots as possible. The best place for viewing is anywhere on the first or eighteenth holes. Literally, almost anywhere. From there, I suggest making the journey to seven/eleven where ‘the loop’ is located — where the tee shot from seven all the way to the tee shot on thirteen may be seen. The tee shots on these two holes cross over one another, a surprise to first-time players.
The 150th Open Championship at St Andrews, played on the famed and ancient Old Course from July 14th-17th, will be the highlight of the golfing season. Who will be the crowned Champion Golfer of the Year? Will it be a young up-and-comer? A seasoned, deserving veteran? A repeat winner? A first-timer? What will the odds say? In addition to this question, many people are wondering whether or not Tiger Woods will be present. As the 2000 and 2005 Open Champion at St Andrews, it is his best opportunity for a three-peat. Other past St Andrews winners will include South African Louis Oosthuizen (2010) and recently-named 2023 Ryder Cup Captain Zach Johnson (2015). Maybe Colin Morikawa will respond with a follow-up to victory to his win at Royal St Georges. The only certainty at this time is that The Open Championship at St Andrews will prove to be one of the most special to date…after all, It’s the 150th. AZGOLF.ORG
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Tournament Schedule DATE
COMPETITION SITE
HOST SITE
TOURNAMENT
JANUARY Jan. 14 - 16 Women’s State Medallion Oakwood Country Club Women’s Tournament Jan. 14 - 17 Latin America Amateur Lima Golf Club - Lima, Peru USGA Championship Jan. 16 - 17 Copper Cup (ASU Men) Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club Collegiate Jan. 22 - 23 Arizona Short Course Augusta Ranch Golf Club Men’s Tournament Jan. 24 - 25 U of A Men Tucson Country Club Collegiate Jan. 24 - 25 ASU Women Superstition Mountain Golf and CC Collegiate FEBRUARY Feb. 20 - 22 Loyola Collegiate Palm Valley Golf Club Collegiate Feb. 21 Women’s Season Opener Longbow Golf Club Women’s Tournament Feb. 26 - 27 San Tan Amateur Oakwood Country Club Men’s Tournament Feb. 28 - Mar 1 GCU Women Grand Canyon University Golf Course Collegiate MARCH Mar. 12 - 14 Clover Cup (Notre Dame Women) Longbow Golf Club Collegiate Mar. 14 - 15 GCU Men Grand Canyon University Golf Course Collegiate Mar. 17 - 20 AGA Championship Aguila Golf Course AGA Championship Mar. 18 - 19 NIT - U of A Men Omni Tucson National Golf Club Collegiate Mar. 25 - 27 PING ASU Invitational - ASU Women Papago Golf Club Collegiate Mar. 22 - 23 Mayan Palace Vidanta Golf Course AGA Member Day APRIL April 15 - 16 ASU Thunderbird Invitational - ASU Men Papago Golf Club Collegiate April 17 - 19 RMAC Championship Whirlwind Golf Club Collegiate April 18 - 19 Women’s Four-Ball Championship Briarwood Country Club Women’s Championship April 21 - 24 Arizona Stroke Play Championship Lone Tree Golf Club AGA Championship April 26 U.S. Women’s Open Qualifier Gainey Ranch Golf Club USGA Qualifier April 30 - May 4 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Grand Reserve GC-Rio Grande, Puerto Rico USGA Championship MAY May 5 U.S. Open Qualifier #1 Sewailo Golf Club USGA Qualifier May 9 U.S. Open Qualifier #2 Phoenix Golf Club USGA Qualifier May 12 U.S. Open Qualifier #3 Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club USGA Qualifier May 14 - 15 Mayan Palace Vidanta Golf Course AGA Member Day May 14 - 18 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball CC of Birmingham, AL USGA Championship May 16 U.S. Open Qualifier #4 Mesa Country Club USGA Qualifier May 20 - 21 Falcon Amateur / AZ Amateur Qualifier #1 Falcon Dunes Golf Course Men’s Tournament May 24 U.S. Senior Open Qualifier Papago Golf Club USGA Qualifier JUNE June 1 - 2 Arizona Divisional Stroke Play Championship TPC Scottsdale - Champions Men’s Tournament June 2 - 5 U.S. Women’s Open Pine Needles, Southern Pines, NC USGA Championship June 4 - 5 Father & Son Antelope Hills Golf Courses AGA Member Day June 9 - 12 Arizona Mid-Amateur Championship Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club AGA Championship June 16 - 19 U.S. Open The Country Club, Brookline, MA USGA Championship June 6 AZ Amateur Qualifier #2 Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club Men’s Tournament June 20 U.S. Junior Amateur Qualifier The Country Club at DC Ranch USGA Qualifier June 20 U.S. Girls’ Junior Qualifier Mesa Country Club USGA Qualifier June 22 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Qualifier TBD USGA Qualifier 40 | ARIZONA GOLF INSIDER |
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AGA TOUR Events
Women’s Championships and Tournaments
USGA Qualifier
AGA Team Events
AGA Scramble/Member Days
Senior Cup Series
Collegiate Events
USGA Championship
Men’s Tournament
DATE
COMPETITION SITE
June 23 - 26 June 25 - 26 JULY July 6 July 10 July 11 - 12 July 18 - 23 July 18 - 19 July 20 July 23 - 24 July 25 - 30 July 30 - Aug. 4
U.S. Senior Open Saucon Valley CC, Bethlehem, PA Southern Amateur / AZ Amateur Qualifier #4 Omni Tucson National Golf Club
USGA Championship Men’s Tournament
U.S. Women’s Amateur Qualifier AZ Amateur Qualifier #5 U.S. Amateur Qualifier #1 U.S. Girls’ Junior U.S. Amateur Qualifier #2 U.S. Senior Women’s Open Qualifier Mixed Stix Tournament U.S. Junior Amateur U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur
TBD Longbow Golf Club Longbow Golf Club Club at Olde Stone, Bowling Green, KY TBD Pinnacle Peak CC Oakcreek Country Club Bandon Dunes, Bandon, OR Anchorage GC, Anchorage, AK
USGA Qualifier Men’s Tournament USGA Qualifier USGA Championship USGA Qualifier USGA Qualifier Women’s Tournament USGA Championship USGA Championship
U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifier U.S. Women’s Amateur 97th Arizona Amateur Championship Women’s State Stroke Play Championship U.S. Amateur U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Qualifier U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifier Arizona Divisional Match Play Championship U.S. Senior Women’s Open U.S. Senior Amateur
Blackstone Country Club Chambers Bay, University Place, WA Desert Mountain Golf Club - Outlaw TBD Ridgewood Country Club - Paramus, NJ TBD Alta Mesa Golf Club Talking Stick Golf Club NCR Country Club, Kettering, OH Kittansett Club, Marion, MA
USGA Qualifier USGA Championship AGA Championship Women’s Championship USGA Championship USGA Qualifier USGA Qualifier Men’s Tournament USGA Championship USGA Championship
AUGUST Aug. 1 Aug. 8 - 14 Aug. 8 - 13 Aug. 15 - 17 August 15 - 21 Aug. 19 August 22 Aug. 22 - 26 Aug. 25 - 28 Aug. 27 - Sept. 1
HOST SITE
TOURNAMENT
SEPTEMBER Sept. 7 - 9 Women’s State Senior Championship Tonto Verde Golf Club Sept. 10 - 15 U.S. Mid-Amateur Erin Hills, Erin, WI Sept. 15 - 18 Arizona Four-Ball Championship Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club Sept. 15 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Qualifier TBD Sept. 19 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Qualifier Arizona Country Club Sept. 25 - 30 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Fiddlesticks Country Club, Fort Myers, FL Sept. 12 Goldwater Cup Matches Phoenix Country Club
Women’s Championship USGA Championship AGA Championship USGA Qualifier USGA Qualifier USGA Championship AGA Team
OCTOBER Oct. 2 - 3 Oct. 9 - 11 Oct. 22 - 23 Oct. 29 - 30
Women’s Tournament AGA Team AGA Member Day Men’s Tournament
Women’s Scotch Play Tournament Arizona vs. Utah Shootout Mayan Palace Northern Amateur
Flagstaff Ranch Golf Club Riverside Country Club, Provo, UT Vidanta Golf Course Oakcreek Country Club
NOVEMBER Nov. 6 - 7 Women’s Partners Tournament Tubac Golf Club Nov. 12 - 13 AGA Players Cup Championship TBD Nov. 12 - 13 AGA Women’s Players Cup Championship TBD DECEMBER Dec. 29 - 31 Patriot All-America
Women’s Tournament AGA Championship AGA Championship
Wigwam Golf Resort - Gold/Blue Courses Collegiate
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
2022 ARIZONA GOLF ASSOCIATION
f l o G t r o s e R | t r o f m o C t r Reso
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Take A Swing! Golf Clinics for Adults
Need a refresher on the fundamentals of the swing, trying to lower your score or just starting the game? Take A Swing! Golf Clinics are the perfect program for you. The AGA is hosting Take A Swing! Golf Clinics at two City of Phoenix Golf Facilities, Cave Creek Golf Course and Aguila Golf Course. The clinics offer six levels of instruction so you can jump into the session that is right for you. Have fun learning golf and lowering your scores by joining the Reid West Golf Academy instructors John Wasson at Cave Creek Golf Course and Spencer Sweitzer at Aguila Golf Course at the Take A Swing golf clinics. Sessions: Session 1: Session 2: Session 3: Session 4: Session 5: Session 6:
Get a Grip The Golf Club and How to Swing it G.P.A. (Grip, Posture, Alignment) Ball Flight and Direction Short Game Secrets Time to Play
Fees range from $10 for session 1 to $40 for session 6. Clinics start the week of April 16, so sign up today!
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azgolf.org/take-a-swing-clinics
make your story to tell. T H E P R E S E R V E & M O U N TA I N V I E W G O L F C L U B S
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AWGA Legacy Scholarship: Winners Announced WORDS BY ANJ BROWN
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AWGA SCHOLARSHIP
T
he purpose of the AWGA Scholarship is to encourage and promote the attainment of higher education goals for female golfers who have participated in junior golf programs and/or the AWGA Build A Team program and who have demonstrated a high level of academic achievement during high school or college and who have a financial need. The Legacy Scholarship Class of 2022 is comprised of the outstanding individuals listed below. Each recipient was asked how golf has made a difference in her life, and a portion of each winner’s answer is quoted.
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RECIPIENTS
AWGA SCHOLARSHIP
ARIANA BARAJAS
Residence: Gilbert High School: Gilbert High School College/University: Benedictine University – Mesa Campus Major: Undecided Ariana has been playing golf since she was 10 years old. She plays golf for Gilbert High School Girls Golf Team, in Junior Golf Association of Arizona (JGAA) events, and is a member of the First Tee of Phoenix. Ariana’s high school golf team has also been a recipient of an AWGA High School Build A Team Program grant. “A great deal of my success as a golfer and as a person can be contributed through being in the ‘First Tee” program. Not only through their weekly classes, organized tournaments, and amazing coaches, but they have also helped me to grow so much as a person as well.”
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RYLEE KOEBNICK
Residence: Sahuarita High School: Sahuarita High School College/University: Grand Canyon University Major: Elementary Education Rylee has been playing golf since she was seven years old. She plays golf for Sahuarita High School Girls Golf Team with an average score of 82. Rylee’s high school golf team has also been a recipient of an AWGA High School Build A Team Program grant. “I instantly felt empowered by the LPGA*USGA Girls Golf community and couldn’t wait to continue my participation in future events. I was able to make long lasting friendships with this group of people who had similar interests to me. I always saw golf as an individual sport but as I got older, I looked forward to the team aspect that high school golf provided.”
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AARYANNA MORRIS
Residence: Avondale High School: St. John Paul II Catholic High School College/University: Seattle University Major: Business Aaryanna has been playing golf since she was 10 years old. She plays golf in JGAA events as well as on the North Coast Junior Tour, and plans to play in college at Seattle University. In 2021, Aaryanna was a member of the Girls Junior Americas Cup Team contested in Boise, Idaho and qualified to play at the IMG Junior World Championships contested in San Diego, California. When asked how golf has made a difference in her life, Aaryanna replied: “Through the game of golf, I have matured as a person, developed many long-lasting friendships, and most importantly gained an unbreakable bond with my brother. Once Covid impacted the whole world, the only thing I could do was play golf. My brother and I would spend every day of summer from sunup to sundown at the golf course because that was our source of entertainment.”
KENDELL YOUNG
Residence: Chandler High School: Seton Catholic Preparatory High School College/University: University of Arizona, Hampton University Major: Political Science Kendell has been playing golf since she was six years old. She plays golf for Seton Catholic Preparatory High School Girls Golf Team and has participated in the PING Father/ Daughter Tournament. “With my family, golf has afforded us the opportunity to spend quality time together, near home or on vacation. It has kept my family close knit, allowed for plenty of open conversations, and healthy competition. Within my community, I have been able to utilize golf as a way to start conversations. During these conversations, I am able to share my experience and relate to others on course management, club selection on challenging holes, defeats and victories comfortably with adults and teens.”
RAYA SCHULZ
Residence: Avondale High School: Millennium High School College/University: Colorado Christian University Major: Elementary Education Raya has played golf for three years. She plays golf for Millennium High School Girls Golf Team and in JGAA events, and plans to play at Colorado Christian University. “Since I began playing in 2017, golf has made me set higher goals for myself, work harder in not just golf, but academically in school. It has taught me the strive and dedication I need to have if I really want something and it has created so many relationships in my life for which I am extremely grateful.”
CHANGE OF COURSE Golf in Tucson means a break from the average links. Challenge your game on daring desert layouts or hit it long on fairways that host the champions. Whatever your style, Tucson has it in the bag. FIND YOUR COURSE AT
VisitTucson.org/Golf
Ventana Canyon
JUNIOR GOLF
Mahanth Chirravuri
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JUNIOR GOLF
L
Grace Summerhays
Arizona Juniors Sign National Letters of Intent to Play College Golf WORDS BY JEFF LOCKE
ast fall junior golfers from around the country began signing National Letters of Intent to play college golf, including more than 30 from Arizona. Bound for USC, Chandler’s Mahanth Chirravuri was one of them. On the heels of his first AJGA win in February, Chirravuri had been working his way up the leaderboard since entering his first JGAA event in 2010 at age 8. He’s played in more than 150 JGAA tournaments, including as a member of the winning 2018 Hogan Cup team that notched Arizona’s second victory in the tournament’s 50-year history. Across the Valley in Peoria, Mattison Frick – set to play for Illinois – began her JGAA career at the Thunderbird Junior Classic in 2016 at age 12. Now, after 78 starts, she picked up six wins in the Girls Championship division alone, and most recently finished runner-up at a coveted PING Jr Masters Series tournament. With a five-win season, Rylan Johnson took 2021 JGAA Player of the Year award in the Boys Championship division. The Gilbert resident bound for Oregon State first teed it up in the JGAA’s 10 and Under division, and 77 appearances later, recently notched his seventh overall victory in the Boys Championship division. Already teeing it up for the Sun Devils, Grace Summerhays made the most of a modest number of overall JGAA starts by winning two of three events she entered in 2021, runner-up for the third. In all 16 JGAA career starts, she rolled up five wins, eight runner-ups, two fourth place and one fifth place finish.
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JUNIOR GOLF
JGAA College Golf Class of 2022
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Player
College
Evan Averyt Lauren Bayse Brayden Bozak Ashlyn Carpenter Mahanth Chirravuri Makenzie Cooper Jack Dozer Mattie Frick Susie Gietl Talia Gutman Kendall Hayward Baylee Hodgman Rylan Johnson Alexandra Klemke Carter Loli Mackenzie McRee Marley Moncada Aaryanna Morris Abigale Morris Elizabeth Nowaczyk Hannah Ports Raina Ports George Rubelsky Brett Sawaia Celia Schrecker Raya Schulz Mason Shaffer Roycee Southerland Grace Summerhays Chloe Tarkany Kyle Wandel Jake Webb
Lewis-Clark State Montana State UNLV Sonoma State Southern California Colorado Denver Illinois Ferris State Sonoma State Montana Oregon Institute of Tech. Oregon State Western New Mexico St. Colo. School of Mines Ohio New Mexico State Seattle Biola Valparaiso Montana Montana Columbia UNLV Palm Beach Atlantic Colo. Christian Menlo College Winona State Arizona State Belmont University Mary Hardin-Baylor Colorado Mesa
…STAY AN EXTRA DAY AND PLAY
Call for tee times: 928-645-2023 Page, AZ Lakepowellnationalgolfcourse.com
GIRLS GOLF
Changing the Face of the Game WORDS BY CORI MATHESON
T
he LPGA*USGA Girls Golf of Phoenix is booming! Following the trend of an enriched golf community, the participation from girls aged 3-18 is at an all-time high. The LPGA Girls Golf program started in Phoenix in 1989, and the strong Phoenix program continues to serve as an industry leader – paving the way for more than 520 Girls Golf sites in the world. Local membership has increased 30% from the program’s most active year in 2019, with over 1,100 girls engaged in
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events in 2021 – the highest ever! Based in Florida ,the LPGA Foundation published a national annual review of Girls Golf and shared, “Golf has become more appealing to girls and there is a direct correlation to the current industry focus on providing a more girl-friendly and supportive environment.” This review also stated that in 2000 only 15% of junior golfers were female, but in 2021, one in every three of junior golfers is female – the highest percentage in history! The Phoenix site is a strong
player in that national growth and is staying true to their mission of “Changing the Face of the Game.” LPGA*USGA Girls Golf of Phoenix is a program of the Junior Golf Association of Arizona (JGAA) and the LPGA Foundation. Girls Golf of Phoenix is independently managed, run, and funded on sponsorships, grants, and program partners that are directly impacting girls in the entire Valley of the Sun. A special sponsorship from Scottsdale-based Carlisle Companies through
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Acclaimed golf courses with breathtaking views. Step out from your back door onto a Jack Nicklaus designed fairway. Golf course homes and homesites are currently available with views of the 27-hole course at The Golf Club at Dove Mountain and the two 18-hole courses at The Gallery Golf Club.
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GIRLS GOLF
“
With this enrichment and financial support, Girls Golf of Phoenix can provide more affordable access and more opportunities to girls in Phoenix.
MEMBERSHIP 3 0 % IN CR EAS E FROM 2019 (BIGGEST YEAR) 306 paid members in 2021
”
ENGAGEMENT In 2021, #1,100 Girls Participated in 30 events!
HIGHEST EVER IN GIRLS GOLF HISTORY!
the EPSON Tour’s Carlisle Arizona Women’s Golf Classic, which was held last month at Longbow Golf Club in Mesa, is one of the many ways partnerships impact programs and create possibilities. This event specifically contributes $25,000 to enhance the Phoenix chapter directly. Girls Golf of Phoenix is also supported through empowering business partnerships with Phoenix-based industry leaders like Daphne’s Headcovers and PING, which contribute to the program’s financial growth multiple times during the year. With
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this enrichment and financial support, Girls Golf of Phoenix can provide more affordable access and more opportunities to girls in Phoenix. With more opportunity, participation is elevated. As a result of this elevated participation, the entire Arizona golf family is reinforced and thriving. The LPGA*USGA Girls Golf of Phoenix offered 30 events for local members in 2021, with some events opened to the brand-new golfer. Eleven of last year’s events were tournaments that got girls on-course and offered
APRIL/MAY 2022
them their first swing at competitive play. The tournament atmosphere that Girls Golf of Phoenix provides is welcoming, engaging, fun, and truly celebrates athletic development. Other events included an indoor practice at the PGA Superstore, meet-ups with professional golfers, an annual clothing/equipment swap, and some larger gatherings that set out to expand Arizona’s golf family for all those involved. Many families see the LPGA*USGA Girls Golf program as a steppingstone to navigating the junior golf world and a chance for
their daughters to really learn to love golf. 2022 is shaping up to continue last year’s momentum while supporting its empowering growth. After completing the first handful of events for 2022, participation is already up 20% from last year! With help from the community, support from businesses, and families getting their girls engaged with Girls Golf, the face of the game truly is changing. For more information on how to get involved, contact Director Cori Matheson at cori@girlsgolfofphoenix.org.
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TIMELESS DESIGNS AT TWO ARIZONA CLASSICS The Wigwam Golf Club is home to three incredible golf courses including the challenging Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed Gold Course. The historical Arizona Biltmore Golf Club boasts two exceptional tracks. The Adobe Course, touted as the grand forefather of modern design, and the Links Course – a smart and fresh layout which weaves through some of the most stunning homes in Phoenix.
623.935.9414 WIGWAMGOLF.COM 451 N. OLD LITCHFIELD RD LITCHFIELD PARK, AZ 85340
Award-winning dining, a booming craft beer scene, luxurious resorts, and exceptional year-round golf on courses along the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail await you in Alabama. Plus, with Jerry Pate’s Kiva Dunes and Arnold Palmer’s Craft Farms in Gulf Shores, from the mountain lakes to the Gulf Coast, you can take it all in.
www.GolfAlabama.org
602.955.9655 AZBILTMOREGC.COM 2400 E. MISSOURI AVE PHOENIX, AZ 85016
Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Birmingham
Get Your Golf On Nine & Wine Golf Mentoring Series
Have you been invited to play in a golf outing, but turned it down because you do not know how to play golf? Have you thought about taking up golf but found it intimidating? Nine & Wine is an adult golf mentoring program offering a casual golf experience, designed for the new or returning golfer to help them feel at ease on the golf course. Participants will play up to nine holes of golf with a mentor, then gather in the clubhouse after golf for a beverage, hosted appetizers, golf talk and networking. If you have been hesitant about getting into the game, Nine & Wine is the ideal event! Entry fee includes up to 9 holes of golf, help and guidance from an experienced golfer (mentor), appetizers, an adult beverage, and a lot of fun!
Location: Bear Creek Golf Complex, Cub Course, Chandler Cost: $36 per person per event Dates: • April 24, 4:30 p.m. • May 22, 4:30 p.m.
For more information and to register:
azgolf.org/adult-mentoring-series
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RULES OF GOLF
Five ways to better your score using the Rules of Golf to your advantage WORDS BY LOGAN RASMUSSEN
A
common initial misconception about the Rules of Golf is that they can only hurt your round through penalty strokes. But something not as wellknown is that PGA Tour players and strong amateur players have been using the Rules to their advantage for years – and you can to with these simple tips! >> If you struggle to get your ball out of the sand when you are in a bunker, you don’t necessarily have to play from the bunker. In the 2019 modernization to the Rules of Golf, the USGA implemented an additional option to taking an unplayable ball and dropping your ball into play outside of a bunker. Although this option will cost you an additional penalty stroke, a player is entitled to taking ‘Back-online’ relief creating an imaginary line between the ball itself at rest in the bunker and the flagstick on the hole being played, then dropping a ball as far back on that line as you would like, including outside of the bunker.
>> Most golfers know that if their ball ends up on a sprinkler head, cart path, drain or other immovable obstruction they will be entitled to a free drop. But it is important to know that when dropping a ball back into play you don’t need to drop it in the same condition, just the same area of the course (General Area, Bunker). There is a special exception for the Putting Green relief. For example, if
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RULES OF GOLF
the option to play the ball as it lies, and that means even in a penalty area. You can even ground your club, move loose impediments, and movable obstructions in that penalty area before you play!
your ball just comes to rest on a sprinkler head positioned just in the rough your drop just needs to be within one club-length of the nearest point of complete relief, no closer to the hole, but doesn’t have to be in the rough. It could be in the fairway if that is within the one club-length!
>> Have you ever been looking for your
ball and just can’t seem to find it within the thick rough? You then start kicking around in the grass and accidentally hit the ball with your foot, causing it to fly forward a few feet. Devastated that you believe you have incurred a penalty, you are not sure what to do – do I play it from that new spot or put it back? Another relaxation to the Rules of Golf makes this scenario not a penalty. Since
your intention was to simply find your ball and the movement was done accidentally, you will pick up your ball and place back where it was at rest before you kicked it.
>> You can play your ball from a penalty area (formerly known as a hazard) for no penalty. If you are able to find your ball anywhere on the course, you always have
>> Imagine this: You schedule a tee time at your favorite course, and are looking forward to this day for months. The day finally comes, and you open your window expecting it to be sunshine and rainbows and instead: rain and clouds scattered across the sky. Determined to enjoy yourself you head to the course and get a full warm up session in. You get to the first tee and pipe a drive right up the righthand side of the hole. You stroll up to your ball and see that it plugged deep into the soil just off the fairway in the rough. You think this is a bad break – but then you remember that a player is entitled to take embedded ball relief when their ball is embedded in its own pitch mark anywhere in the general area (except naturally sandy areas such as the desert)! Take a moment to become more familiar with the Rules of Golf, especially after the 2019 modernization. You never know when a better knowledge of certain scenarios will help your score – or help you come out on top of the match you’re desperate to win!
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I
have always loved quotes from the past which, I believe, open our minds. We all know golf reflects life. Understanding simple wisdoms can open windows into the future, for certainly golf takes us beyond a simple examination of what is written on our souls.
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The most difficult thing in life is to know yourself.
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-Thales
The most difficult thing in golf is to know one’s own swing. Tiger gave up on Butch Harmon so he could “own” his swing rather than need outside input. Supposedly only Bobby Jones and Moe Norman have succeeded in that quest.
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It is better to make a mistake with full force of your being than to carefully avoid mistakes with a trembling spirit. -Socrates
How many times have we heard, “Commit to the shot!” Perhaps there is no better advice than doing your best with intention.
Thoughts about
the Game of Golf
from the Wise 62 | ARIZONA GOLF INSIDER |
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”
WORDS BY ED GOWAN
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Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently. -Henry Ford
”
This if good advice for almost every stroke we make if done with the idea that the next effort will be better.
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Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. -Thomas A. Edison
This applies universally in the listeners as one espouses the resent successes of his just-completed round, stroke after stroke.
“
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-Immanuel Kant
Bunkers more than any other challenge bring out the weakness in our games. If we put these other thoughts into our next swing, even bunkers can become our friends.
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If there is no struggle, there is no progress.
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-Frederick Douglass
I’m not sure this thought has value in a golf game. On the other hand, for most of us, struggle inevitably leads to more struggle because of the angst it creates.
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The higher we soar the smaller we appear to those who cannot fly. -Friedrich Nietzsche
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Thinking in pictures precedes thinking in words.
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The easiest way to produce a good golf shot, given one’s abilities, is to see the movie in advance and allowing the body to act without the mind interfering.
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Think as the wise men think but talk like the simple people do. -Aristotle
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This one applies to Rules Officials. No matter how much knowledge one has, having golfers understand the Rules means conversing as they would in common language, which leads to understanding. One last thought…A slave whispered into the ears of victorious Roman generals when they received their deserved reward that “Fame is fleeting.” Nothing more profound can be said following a great shot.
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CM CM
MY MY
CY CY
CMY CMY
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19TH HOLE
The Coronet Tucson
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Tucson’s “crown jewel,” nestled between the Temple of Music & Art and the Tucson Convention Center, delivers a wonderful 19th hole dining experience. Housed in the former Cushing Street Restaurant, a 160-year-old territorial adobe building, The Coronet is an ideal setting for an intimate evening. Owner Sally Kane is all about the details, whether it’s locally fabricated lighting fixtures, vintage glassware, or slight complexities of flavor in their many varied dishes. And don’t forget to check out The Coronet’s significant others, Meyer Avenue Café & Mercantile featuring house made goods and Nightjar, a pub with full bar and pub menu. 198 West Cushing Street, Tucson, AZ 85701 // coronettucson.com
