Golf Guide 2015

Golf Guide 2015 SOUTHSIDE

How has

Daylight Saving Time affected courses, golfers?

What’s new in golf bags?

The biggest innovations of the past 25 years Amber Pasel one of state’s few female head pros Youth program promotes sportsmanship, more DAILY JOURNAL

Contents

Also inside The First Tee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Continual equipment updates . . . . 12 PGA Tour schedule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 LPGA Tour schedule. . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Daylight Saving Time page 4

hickory Stick pro page 6

What’s new in bags? page 8

Golf’s top innovations page 10

©2015 by Home News Enterprises All rights reserved. Reproduction of stories, photographs and advertisements without permission is prohibited. Stock images provided by Thinkstock. Comments should be sent to Paul Hoffman, Daily Journal, 30 S. Water St., Second Floor, Suite A, Franklin, IN 46131 or call 317-736-2721 or phoffman@dailyjournal.net. Advertising information: call 317-7362730.

The First Tee helps kids develop life skills Mike David, executive director, Indiana Golf Office

H

onesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment. Individually, these are all positive traits you would hope people possess.

Together, they make up the nine core values of The First Tee, a national youth development program that provides participants with skills they can carry with them throughout their lives.

The First Tee has reached more than 9 million participants since its inception in 1997. There are 17,000 volunteers actively engaged in delivering First Tee programming, and The First Tee’s National Schools Program is offered in 6,000 elementary schools nationwide.

Locally, The First Tee is a relatively new endeavor, but thanks to the efforts of volunteers throughout Indiana more youths are being given the opportunity to participate in The First Tee and to develop its values.

Some 18 years ago a movement was underfoot

2 GOLF, DAILY JOURNAL, ApRIL 2015

to bring The First Tee to Indianapolis. Meetings were held, committees were formed, a home site was selected. But talks eventually stalled, and the quest to have The First Tee influence in Indianapolis was put on hold.

Fast forward to 2009. A First Tee chapter was finally formed in Indianapolis, becoming the third First Tee Chapter in Indiana. The First Tee of Indianapolis did an excellent job getting its National Schools Program into Indianapolis area schools. Through the NSP program, The First Tee of Indianapolis was reaching more than 8,000 children in 22 Indianapolis elementary schools.

The future of The First Tee of Indianapolis, however, was very much in doubt. Due to limited sources of funding and an uncertain financial future, an effort was spearheaded by then First Tee board member Alice Dye to have the Indianapolis First Tee Chapter placed under the Indiana Golf Foundation umbrella.

Formed in 1994 with an annual operating budget of $800,000, the foundation was viewed as the orga-

nization that could provide long-term sustainability to The First Tee and offer growth opportunities that could potentially reach tens of thousands of children in Indiana.

That process was completed in late 2011. The name and geographic scope of the chapter were changed to The First Tee of Central Indiana, and a new plan was developed. Within months of this transition, a movement was underway to once again expand the reach and scope of The First Tee in Indiana. It was now on the fast track to not only reach central Indiana youths, but those interested in golf throughout the state.

Today, The First Tee of Indiana has 11 locations throughout the state with almost 1,000 kids in the certifying program. Locations are Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Michiana (South Bend/Elkhart), South Central (Crawford, Dubois and Harrison counties), French Lick, Bloomington, Evansville, Southeastern (Decatur, Ripley and Dearborn counties), Richmond, see DAVID on page 15

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Daylight Saving Time offers mixed bag

“

for courses, players

When it was first implemented, I’d hoped players would go home, have dinner and come back and play nine or 18 holes.

That hasn’t happened.

— Ted Bishop, The legends Golf Club

”

4 GOLF, DAILY JOURNAL, ApRIL 2015

BY BARNEY QUICK

I

n a world full of pressing issues and raging controversies, it might seem unlikely that Daylight Saving Time would assume a central place among our societal conversations. Not so.

Pundits and ordinary citizens alike have much to say about the “spring forward” experienced by most Hoosiers every March.

Local golfers and golf pros certainly exhibit an array of assessments.

Keith Clark, pro at Harrison Lake Country Club, west of Columbus, is unequivocal in his enthusiasm for it.

“I find it to be wonderful for the golfers,” he said. “From a work and staffing standpoint, we’re happy to see the activity.

It allows us to provide some programs with a start time after 5:30 (p.m.). This enables more members to make it in time after work.

Some players use the extra time to have dinner at home first and then come out and play with family. I don’t think I’ve had any who want less evening daylight except on fireworks night.”

Ted Bishop, the general manager at The Legends Golf Club in Franklin, has a somewhat different take.

“It’s not produced the number of players after work I’d hoped it would,” the former president of the PGA said. “When it was first implemented, I’d hoped players would go home, have dinner and come back and play nine or 18 holes. That hasn’t happened.”

“

We see not just more green fees, but shop sales and drink sales. The driving range gets busy then, too.

— Kurt Blaser, Timbergate Golf Course

He also says that the increased overhead, including the staff required to keep the shop open later, has not been offset with more activity, and suspects that it’s an industry-wide trend. “I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a course where revenues have increased.”

Chad Cockerham, the pro at Otter Creek Golf Course to the east of Columbus, concurs with the observation about increased overhead. He points to training for the grounds crew to mow closer to dark, and adding lights to vehicles.

Cockerham says that those taking advantage of longer evenings tend to only play nine holes. He attributes this in part to the fact that ours is an increasingly busy society generally.

“In our industry, lack of free time is a bigger issue than the amount of daylight,” he says.

He does note that “we’re a bit unique. A lot of our traffic comes from out of town. Cincinnati players gain an hour when they come here.”

Overall, though, he doesn’t see DST as a money-maker. “We’d like to say that it’s increased income, but I haven’t seen any studies to indicate that.”

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Amber Pasel, the pro at Greenwood’s Hickory Stick Golf Club, says her course has had a different experience.

“Most of our evening golfers want to get in a full 18 holes,” she said.

Hickory Stick offers a discounted Late Twilight rate that members find appealing, she said.

Timbergate Golf Course pro Kurt Balser tends to see things Clark’s and Pasel’s way.

“We already had an increase in traffic in March this year,” he noted, adding that his players generally try to get in 18 holes.

Blaser even sees it as a plus from a revenue standpoint.

“The whole things is about dollars,” he said. “We see not just more green fees, but shop sales and drink sales.

The driving range gets busy then, too.

Guys take buckets of balls out there and swing away much more than at any other time of day.”

Golfers who must keep a close watch on their budget for the sport seek out the discounts DST creates.

Sam Baker, who self-deprecatingly describes himself as “young and broke,” said, “I rely on the twilight specials, typically at Legends or at Salt Creek.”

He generally goes for 18 holes, noting that the sun has nearly set “by the time we come in on 17.”

Ted Schuler says, “As a golfer who primarily plays at Otter Creek, I love DST. It allows me to get in plenty of golf and still have some daylight for grilling out while the sun sets.”

Allen Goltra, who plays frequently at Otter Creek, says that one sees more league activity in the evening. He also noted that it’s “kind of men time,” as opposed to days, when women and families turn out in greater numbers.

Avid golfer Mark Ketchum definitely takes a seize-the-day approach

”

during the DST time of year.

“After 2 p.m., you can usually save about $10 a round,” he said. “Most courses, especially Timbergate, where I play the most, aren’t very busy. I play till dark most times. I play a lot of 36hole rounds and even some 45-hole rounds on my day off. I played 135 18hole rounds last year.”

It would seem, then, that while course pros have a considerable array of viewpoints on the benefits of Daylight Saving Time to their clubs, the players form a broad but clear consensus: The sun’s still up, so let’s play some golf.

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GOLF, DAILY JOURNAL, April 2015 5

She’s in charge Hickory Stick has one of the three female head pros in Indiana

STORY BY GREG SEITER n PHOTOS BY DON MEYER

Y

oung athletes often dream of a professional career in their sport of choice but statistically speaking, very few ever see those dreams become reality.

Amber Pasel, head pro at Hickory Stick Golf Club in Greenwood, is one of those rare exceptions.

Pasel, the daughter of longtime Northwestern High School golf coach Randy Lindgren, practically grew up on Kokomo-area golf courses and it was that early and frequent exposure to the game that helped inspire her to pursue a career in the sport.

“I learned to play when I was about 4 and even then, I think I knew that I wanted to do something in golf for the rest of my life,” she said. “At first, I’m sure being a pro player was an aspiration of mine but in high school and college, reality kicked in.”

Regardless of her modesty, Pasel found success as a player while helping lead Western High School in Russiaville to a state golf title in 2001 and runner-up finishes in 2002 and 2004.

While playing at Indiana University, the Academic All Big 10 selection was also named the Hoosiers’ team captain her senior year.

“I was lucky enough to be part of a very talented high school team,” she said. “At IU, I met a lot of wonderful people in the industry and had the opportunity to play at several cool places.”

Following graduation, Pasel worked at Wood Wind Golf Course in Westfield and as the top assistant for the women’s golf team at IUPUI prior to becoming an assistant pro at Hickory Stick in January 2010.

Taking over at Hickory Stick She spent a little more than 2½ years working as an assistant to former Hickory Stick head pro Keith Clark and transitioned into the top spot there when Clark was named head professional at Harrison Lake Country Club in Columbus in 2012.

“I learned a lot about marketing and customer service from Keith,” Pasel said. “Being a pro is not all about play and giving lessons. It’s basically like running a business.

“You have to know about the financial side as well as inventory and marketing,” she continued. “I have food and beverage responsibilities at the banquet facility here and some maintenance responsibilities, too.

“Even if something goes wrong in the clubhouse, I have to address it.”

Pasel’s positive attitude and strong work ethic made her an easy choice as a replacement for Clark.

“The year before we hired her for that job, she came to us and wanted to interview for another head pro position but we told her she wasn’t quite ready and needed to work on a few things,” said Chip Essig, senior vice president/owner of Essig Golf Management, the company that oversees day-to-day operations at Hickory Stick.

“So throughout the next year, she took charge of and worked on everything we talked about.

6 GOLF, DAILY JOURNAL, April 2015

“

I guess I’m sort of blind to the lack of women in these positions because I’ve never really given it any thought. It’s shocking.

— Amber Pasel

”

“When Keith left and we interviewed her, we basically had only one question.

We asked her why we shouldn’t hire her.”

While becoming a head pro certainly fulfilled a longtime goal of Pasel’s, it also established her as a potential role model for other women to follow.

According to Indiana Golf Executive Director Mike David, of 165 head professional positions in Indiana, only three are held by women.

Statewide numbers are very reflective of the national trend as well.

In fact, David said only 114 women fill the 5,856 head pro jobs throughout the country.

Pasel was surprised to hear those numbers.

“I guess I’m sort of blind to the lack of women in these positions because I’ve never really given it any thought,” she said. “It’s shocking.

“There should definitely be more women.”

However, while thinking of role models in her own life who have included her parents, high school and college coaches, fellow pros and Chip and his father, Don Essig, Pasel continues to picture herself as a typical professional more so than a potential trend setter.

“Just like other golf pros, I enjoy coming to work every day and interacting with members,” she said. “The atmosphere here is great and I’m glad that I don’t have to just sit in an office for eight hours a day.

“In a job like this, you never know what the day will bring. Things certainly never get boring.”

Though head pro-related responsibilities have limited Pasel’s ability to fine-tune her own golf game recently, a friendly rivalry with her husband, Jeremy, keeps the competitive juices flowing.

Above: Hickory Stick Golf Club head professional Amber Pasel uses rods to help Dick “We met in middle school on a co-ed golf team when we were paired together,” Garris of Greenwood line up properly for a shot. Opposite page: Pasel in the Hickory

see AMBER on page 15

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GOLF, DAILY JOURNAL, April 2015 7

Innovation is in the bag

By PAUL HOFFMAN

C

ount golf bags among the sport’s items that have gotten a serious innovative makeover in recent years. Features introduced to the bag world include new materials and designs, which can make your round more enjoyable.

Some of these changes are: • Lightweight stand bags.

• Cart bags, designed expressly for the back of golf carts.

• A revolving top that allows golfers to rotate the clubs without moving the bag.

• Insulated cooler pouches.

• Pockets, or even entire sections, that can be removed to streamline and lighten the bag.

• Bags with speakers and connections to your music device.

• Non-skid bottoms to prevent or reduce sliding.

• Angled stands to make life easier on hills.

And there are so many more.

When it comes to lightweight stand bags, many companies offer models about 4 pounds or lighter. The use of lightweight nylons for the bag and metal alloys for the stand have allowed manufacturers to produce full-featured bags that hold 14 clubs, have plenty of pockets and weigh less than 4 pounds.

The Datrek Lite Rider is one of the new cart bags. At 5.7 pounds, it’s a little light for a cart bag. But it also features an oversize cooler pocket.

The top of the TaylorMade Performance Hybrid is set at an ascending angle, so when it’s on a cart, your wedges are set lower than the woods for easy access.

There’s a lot of pocket space on the front of the Ping Traverse cart bag. That makes sense since the front is the easiest part of the bag to access.

A new feature for cart bags comes courtesy of Bag Boy. The Revolver cart bag allows golfers to access any club by simply rotating the top 360 degrees. Clubs also can be locked into place for added protection. The Revolver LTD offers a 14-way top featuring a boomerang design to separate woods from irons and full-length individual dividers. This bag has eight pockets, including an oversized removable cooler pocket and two external putter tubes.

Orlimar’s line of Ojam bags allows you to take your tunes with you on the course. The company offers three bags — Vibe and Pulse carry bags and the Rhythm cart bag. Each features a wireless speaker that plays out of a pocket that can also hold your smartphone, iPod or music device. An auxiliary cord is included to connect with your device. The speaker’s battery will last at least one round and can be charged from an outlet or computer. And of course, the bags have cooler pockets.

The Wellzher 0.9 Sunday Golf is a collapsible bag made from a Hydro X weather and dirt resistant fabric.

Another bag that promotes materials among its positives is the Nike Performance Hybrid Carry. It is very comfortable to carry on your shoulder due to the curved Nike EquaFlex Max Air dual strap system. It also features a die-cut air mesh pad with ventilation on the back.

Several bags on Golf Digest’s 2014 Hot List featured some of

8 GOLF, DAILY JOURNAL, April 2015

The Maxfli U/Series 3.0 Stand has a guiding piece of plastic on the right strap that allows the left strap to slide as you put it on and take it off, creating an automatically adjusting strap system.

today’s cutting-edge (and notas-cutting-edge) technology.

Here are some examples: • The Callaway Hyper-Lite 3 has extra traction on the base and foot pads to ensure it won’t slide.

• The Ogio Gotham’s zippers are set at an angle for speedy access.

• The rain hood of the Ping Hoofer is stored and attached under the hip pad for extra cushioning.

• All the seams of the Sun Mountain H2NO Lite are sealed with waterproof tape. Even the zippers keep water out.

• The TaylorMade Microlite’s top is square instead of round, making it easier to get your clubs in and out.

• The right-shoulder strap of the Titleist Lightweight slides

From left: The Ogio has a silencer feature that keeps clubs from rattling around as you traverse the course. The TaylorMade Microlite’s top is square, making it easier to get your clubs in and out. The Revolver cart bag by Bag Boy allows golfers to access any club by rotating the top. Clubs also can be locked into place.

along a circular pad on the back, making it a breeze to slip on and off.

• If you play hilly courses, you’ll like how the Wilson Staff Nexus bag’s base stays flat with the ground when the legs are pushed out.

• The Callaway Org.15 has 13 pockets. The pockets on both sides are set in a stacked pattern, from smallest at the top to biggest at the bottom.

• The Maxfli U/Series 3.0 Stand has a guiding piece of plastic on the right strap that allows the left strap to slide as you put it on and take it off, creating an automatically adjusting strap system.

• The Mizuno AeroLite SPR II is a hybrid. For walking: Both straps slide together on another strap

that’s anchored to the bag for a natural and adjusting balance point. For riding: The 14-way divider and cart cuff make this function easily on a cart.

• The pocket at the top/center of the Nike Performance Cart II is sewed on at the top, but the rest is magnetized. Flip it up, wrap the cart strap around, then flip it down: No pocket space lost by attaching your bag to a cart.

• The Ogio Chamber has pieces of rubber at the top of each separator that keep the clubs from moving, eliminating iron clanging as you drive around the course.

• The minimalist Ping L8 is built for the avid walker. There are two built-in pockets inside the garment

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• The top of the Sun Mountain Front 9 flares slightly outward, creating more space to slide clubs in and out.

• The compact Titleist Ultra Lightweight Stand has broad feet, making it very stable.

Of course, if you want to go old school (and have money to burn), you can always go for the Eagle Golf Bag No. 91. For $6,500, you get a chestnut leather bag that is handcrafted using the same techniques used to create the finest leather golf bags since the early 1900s. Completely constructed of hand-sewn leather, the Eagle is supported by metal stays and uses no plastic tubing or plastic base.

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GOLF, DAILY JOURNAL, April 2015 9

Equipment, technology change the game

By JAY HEATER

S

o this is the year that you’ve promised yourself that golf will be a priority. It’s been 10 long years since you’ve made time for your favorite sport because you have been driven to succeed at your job, whatever that might be. What’s life, though, without some fun?

You pick up your golf bag, head to the driving range and pull out your original Big Bertha driver. The guy hitting balls alongside you snickers as he looks over at your 20-year-old club.

He is roaring through the ball with a HarleyDavidson-strength driver that sends shock waves through the range when he connects. You look back down at your once proud driver, which is now a puttputt golf moped, half the size of his monster.

Yes, equipment and technology change quickly in the golf world. Fortunately, local golf pros and sporting goods shops can get all golfers up to date in a hurry if they want to spend the money.

So what’s one of the biggest changes in golf equipment the past 10 years?

10 GOLF, DAILY JOURNAL, April 2015

“

The benefit for golfers is that back in the day, you paid $400 for a driver, and if it didn’t fit your swing well, you were stuck with it. Now you can pull out a tool and change it.

— Wayne Gibbs Timbergate Golf Course

“I would say the adjustability of driver heads,” said Keith Clark, the head pro at Harrison Lake Country Club in Columbus. “You can adjust things that dramatically affect your distance, such as moving the weight toward the heel or the toe, opening or closing the club face or moving the weight forward or backward. You can get a higher launch or fix it so you won’t have as much spin.”

Ted Bishop, the general manager of The Legends Golf Club of Franklin, agrees with Clark.

“The adjustable driver would be No. 1,” Bishop said

”

of the biggest change in technology over the past decade. “And it’s good for every (level) golfer.”

Adjustable drivers are designed with an adjustable hosel that when shifted with the proper tool can change the club’s loft, lie or face angle. Of course, if you are the recreational golfer who gets a little confused by moving around the face of his club, a little assistance is necessary.

“It is important to get a fitting,” Bishop said. “People will spend $400 on a driver, and high handicappers will spend that, as well. You might as well get the right

fit. What we do is to credit half the fitting fee if you buy the club from us. That way we try to encourage everyone to get a fitting that ties into the adjustable component.”

Timbergate General Manager Wayne Gibbs said the adjustable driver has been a great benefit to not just golfers, but those selling the clubs.

“Back in the day, we had four lofts, and you had to carry those four different lofts in stock,” Gibbs said.

“You also had regular flex, stiff flex, senior flex and ladies. You had to have so many different kinds. Now you can carry regular and stiff flex, and then adjust.

“The benefit for golfers is that back in the day, you paid $400 for a driver, and if it didn’t fit your swing well, you were stuck with it. Now you can pull out a tool and change it. If you start hitting a slice, toe it in. I would recommend that people who buy (an adjustable driver) get themselves on a launch monitor and see what’s best for them.”

Chad Cockerham, the head pro at Otter Creek of Columbus, said that a professional could spend 15 minutes with a golfer, trying out a new adjustable driver, at the range and increase distance by 10 to 15 yards with a quick adjustment.

“And if you put that golfer’s swing on a launch monitor, then you really can start adjusting.”

All four club pros and general managers noted that golf companies have made huge strides in increasing the “trampoline effect” of the iron faces as well.

“It’s when the ball compresses against the club face,

Kurt Balser shows off a TaylorMade adjustable-head driver at Timbergate Golf Course in Edinburgh. Opposite page: Adjustable-head drivers represent one of the game’s biggest innovations of the past 25 years.

then springs back,” Clark said. “Thus it gives the ball a little higher ball speed. You see people pick up 15 yards with an iron. The (United States Golf Association) put a limit to what they could do with a driver, and now

they are starting to do it with irons as well.”

Cockerham said the USGA has put a cap on the coefficient restitution limit of a golf ball coming off a club

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Constantly updated equipment presents problems for players, shops

By JAY HEATER

I

magine unwrapping your Callaway XR irons, the best, new thing on the market, and heading to the course, only to see an advertisement in the pro shop that something newer and better will hit the market in the coming weeks. You might feel like you just bought an 8-track in the world of cassette players.

It’s common, though, in the golf industry, to fall behind the newest technology in a hurry.

“There is no question that there is a tremendous amount of frustration from consumers and salesmen,” said Ted Bishop, the general manager of The Legends Golf Club in Franklin. “I don’t have a problem saying that TaylorMade has hurt the industry because they’ve done that.”

“That” is rapid-fire releasing of new equipment when the previous generation has just hit golf shops. It makes consumers wary about buying new equipment, and it devalues previous generation equipment that many pro shops

12 GOLF, DAILY JOURNAL, April 2015

“

might have in stock.

Bishop said TaylorMade has gone so far as to open 15 TaylorMade retail outlets around the country When golfers hit something and it gives them that can unload second-generation equipment. It makes pro shop opa few yards, they are going to buy it. erators consider going with compa— Keith Clark, Harrison Lake Country Club nies that don’t introduce as much new product in short periods of time. Bishop said such a practice causes customer service issues and inventory problems.

Keith Clark, the head pro at Harrison Lake in Columbus, said those who manufacture golf clubs and equipment are starting to take most people know it’s not us (golf shops). I mean notice and have adopted more of a two-year cycle.

TaylorMade has come out with two or three drivers “Say Titleist will release a new driver,” Clark said. during a season. They flooded the market so much “It will be two years before you see a different that some people say, ‘I will wait until next year.” one. But then you have someone like Callaway, However, Gibbs said the move in the industry is and as soon as they make something better, they more toward slowing down the release of new golf make it available. technology. “I think they’ve already done it,” he “I do think the vendors work with golf said. “Ping and Titleist only release new technolshops to find out what they want to do ogy every couple of years now.” in such a case. They might mark Chad Cockerham, the head pro at Otter Creek down clubs or take (the previin Columbus, said Titleist has a two-year cycle ous generation) clubs back. with its driver but in the off-year will release new Then those clubs hit irons. But TaylorMade does release new clubs evthe secondary market, ery four to six months. and you start see“Most of that is company-driven, and a lot of ing them online.” it depends on how a company wants to market itWhile the preself,” he said. “Callaway is starting to release stuff vious generation much faster. Some of it is equipment-driven, but clubs might go most is driven by marketing. back to the “The difficult thing for us is that we certainly manufacturer want to have the latest equipment. But it’s a little and not be difficult when a guy buys something, and three the pro shop’s months later, something new comes out.” problem, they Cockerham said that consumers might keep still end up on in mind that much of the equipment coming out the market, is great stuff, even if it isn’t the newest thing. “I and as some suggest to people, if they are looking to get a new area club pros driver, that they can go back a generation and noted, add even more competition. there is nothing wrong with it. Some older equipment tests out even better, depending on your Timbergate swing. That’s why we tend to have a lot of demos, General Manager and we do get a lot of trade-ins.”

Wayne Gibbs said If equipment is rushed out at too fast a pace, the golf club industry is there is one underlying reason. beginning to look like the “When golfers hit something and it gives them “computer industry or the a few yards, they are going to buy it,” Clark said. cellphone industry.”

“You buy one, and next year it Nike’s Speedlock RZN core technology uses DuPont isn’t up to date,” Gibbs said. “But I think HPF advanced ionomer resin technology, shown in red.

”

TECHNOLOGY continued from page 11 face. The USGA started testing drivers and placed the coefficient restitution limit at 0.83. A coefficient restitution of 1.0 would mean that if you dropped a ball, it would hit the floor and spring back the same height every time. It would never stop bouncing. A coefficient restitution limit of 0.00 means you would drop the ball to the floor and it would splat with no bounce at all.

With golf equipment companies having access to the materials to make similar club faces, the USGA figured it had to come up with a limit. To the recreational golfer, it means that you might think about updating your irons if you don’t want to lose distance to your neighbor.

Once you get the right club, it becomes time to pick out a ball. There are dozens to choose from.

“The golf ball changes more than anything else equipment-wise,” Cockerham said. “So much of that is aerodynamics and chemistry. When they come up with new cover material, it changes the golf ball. The clubs have to change as the golf ball changes. If you look at the (Titleist) Pro V1, the ball would leave the face

“

with a lot of spin. We have seen a lot of tour players go with a 6-degree or 7-degree loft. Now the new golf balls are coming off like knuckleballs. The driver lofts have to go up a lot. The ball changes all the time, only in smaller increments.

“A great way to explain it is to think of it as a hose.

If you spray the water too high or too low, it won’t go that far. You are trying to hit that perfect curve.”

Bishop said the Callaway Chrome Soft 65 compression ball is the hottest thing on the market.

“The golf balls continue to improve, and the biggest improvement has been this new Callaway Chrome ball. That means that any player with any club head speed can compress the ball and gain distance. Early indications are that this is going to be the No. 1 ball on the market. And the beauty of the Callaway Chrome is that a dozen cost $37.99 so it becomes an extremely affordable ball. It has a soft cover and performs well around the greens. It is a great multipurpose ball.”

Although high handicap golfers might go to the department store and buy the cheapest ball available, Clark said it is an important piece of the equipment pie for both low and high handicap golfers.

“If you are an 18 handicapper, out of those 90 strokes a round, 14 will be with the driver,” Clark said.

“But those other 76 strokes make it important the kind of ball you play. A higher handicap golfer will miss more greens, and that makes spin and touch even more important.”

Some of the newer equipment isn’t related to balls or clubs. Golfers who find their way back to the course after a decade absence might notice that everyone seems to have some sort of electronic device that gives yardage to the green or pin.

“I use a laser, and I really like it,” Gibbs said. “It gives better yardage to the pin. I got it three years ago.

And the last couple of years, I’ve sold a lot of GPS units because they are easier to use.”

Cockerham said golf apps for phones can be free and other GPS units can cost less than $100. “The thing about yardage (tools) is that they are so inexpensive,” he said. “There are the two different schools, the laser and the GPS. The GPS doesn’t give you the exact yardage that the laser does, but it is so easy to use. You just look at the screen, and it tells you.”

The golf balls continue to improve, and the biggest improvement has been this new Callaway Chrome ball. That means that any player with any club head speed can compress the ball and gain distance.

—Ted Bishop, The Legends Golf Club

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PGA Tour schedule Remaining PGA Tour schedule Apr 2-5 — Shell Houston Open, Golf Club of Houston, Humble, Texas. Purse: $6.6 million, GOLF, NBC, SIRIUS-XM

May 28-31 — AT&T Byron Nelson Championship, TPC Four Seasons Resort, Irving, Texas. Purse: $7.1 million, CBS, DIRECTV, GOLF

April 9-12 — Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC, Augusta, Ga. Purse: $9 million, CBS, ESPN

June 4-7 — the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide, Muirfield Village GC, Dublin, Ohio. Purse: $6.2 million, CBS, DIRECTV, GOLF

April 16-19 — RBC Heritage, Harbour Town GL, Hilton Head, S.C. Purse: $5.9 million, CBS, GOLF, SIRIUS-XM

June 11-14 — FedEx St. Jude Classic, TPC Southwind, Memphis, Tenn. Purse: $6 million, CBS, GOLF

April 23-26 — Zurich Classic of New Orleans, TPC Louisiana, Avondale, La. Purse: $6.9 million, CBS, GOLF, SIRIUS-XM

June 18-21 — U.S. Open, Chambers Bay GC, University Place, Wash. Purse: $9 million, FOX, FS1

April 29-May 3 —World Golf Championships – Cadillac Match Play, TPC Harding Park, San Francisco. Purse: $9.25 million, GOLF, NBC

June 25-28 — Travelers Championship, TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Conn. Purse: $6.4 million, CBS, GOLF

May 7-10 — The Players Championship, TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Purse: $10 million, GOLF, NBC May 14-17 — Wells Fargo Championship, Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, N.C. Purse: $7.1 million, CBS, GOLF May 21-24 — Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, Colonial CC, Fort Worth, Texas.

Purse: $6.5 million, CBS, GOLF

June 29-30 — CVS Caremark Charity Classic, Rhode Island CC, Barrington, R.I. Purse: $1.3 million.

July 2-5 — The Greenbrier Classic, The Old White TPC, White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. Purse: $6.7 million, CBS, GOLF July 9-12 — John Deere Classic, TPC Deere Run, Silvis, Ill. Purse: $4.7 million, CBS, GOLF

July 16-19 — Barbasol Championship, RTJ Trail (Grand National), Auburn/Opelika, Ala. Purse: $3.5 million, GOLF July 16-19 — The Open Championship, St. Andrews GC (Old Course), Fife, Scotland.

Purse: $9.2 million, ESPN July 23-26 — RBC Canadian Open, Glen Abbey GC, Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Purse: $5.8 million, CBS, GOLF July 30-Aug. 2 — Quicken Loans National, Robert Trent Jones GC, Gainesville, Va. Purse: $6.7 million, CBS, GOLF Aug. 6-9 — Barracuda Championship, Montreux G&CC, Reno, Nev. Purse: $3.1 million, GOLF

Rory McIlroy

Aug. 6-9 — World Golf ChampionshipsBridgestone Invitational, Firestone CC (South), Akron, Ohio. Purse: $9.25 million, CBS, GOLF

Sept. 4-7 — Deutsche Bank Championship, TPC Boston, Norton, Mass. Purse: $8.25 million, GOLF, NBC

Aug. 13-16 — PGA Championship, Whistling Straits, Sheboygan, Wis. Purse: $10 million, CBS, TNT

Sept. 17-20 — BMW Championship, Conway Farms GC, Lake Forest, Ill. Purse: $8.25 million, GOLF, NBC

Aug. 20-23 — Wyndham Championship, Sedgefield CC, Greensboro, N.C. Purse: $5.4 million, CBS, GOLF

Sept. 24-27 — TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, East Lake GC, Atlanta. Purse: $8.25 million, GOLF, NBC

Aug. 27-30 — The Barclays, Plainfield CC, Edison, N.J. Purse: $8.25 million, CBS, GOLF

Oct. 8-11 — The Presidents Cup, Jack Nicklaus GC Korea, Songdo IBD, Incheon City, Korea.

Jul 16-Jul 19 — Marathon Classic, Sylvania, Ohio. Purse: $1,500,000 Jul 23-Jul 26 — Meijer LPGA Classic, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Purse: $1,800,000

Oct 8-Oct 11 — Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Purse: $2,000,000

LPGA Tour schedule Remaining LPGA Tour schedule Apr 2-Apr 5 — ANA Inspiration, Rancho Mirage, California. Purse: $2,500,000

Jul 30-Aug 2 — Ricoh Women’s British Open, Turnberry, Scotland. Purse: $3,000,000

Apr 15-Apr 18 — Lotte Championship, Ko Olina, Oahu, Hawaii. Purse: $1,800,000 Apr 23-Apr 26 — Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic, San Francisco. Purse: $2,000,000

Aug 13-Aug 16 — Cambia Portland Classic, Portland, Oregon. Purse: $1,300,000

Apr 30-May 3 — Volunteers of America North Texas Shootout, Irving, Texas. Purse: $1,300,000 May 14-May 17 — Kingsmill Championship, Williamsburg, Virginia. Purse: $1,300,000 May 29-May 31 — ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer, Galloway, New Jersey.

Purse: $1,500,000 Jun 4-Jun 7 — Manulife LPGA Classic, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. Purse: $1,500,000

14 GOLF, DAILY JOURNAL, April 2015

Aug 20-Aug 23 — Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, Vancouver, Canada. Purse: $2,250,000

Michelle Wie Jun 11-Jun 14 — KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Westchester, New York.

Purse: $3,500,000 Jun 26-Jun 28 — Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G, Rogers, Arkansas. Purse: $2,000,000 Jul 9-Jul 12 — U.S. Women’s Open, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Purse: $4,000,000

Aug 27-Aug 30 — Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic, Prattville, Alabama. Purse: $1,300,000 Sep 10-Sep 13 — The Evian Championship, Evian-les-Bains, France. Purse: $3,250,000 Sep 18-Sep 20 — The Solheim Cup, Sankt Leon-Rot, Germany Oct 1-Oct 4 — Reignwood Pine Valley LPGA Classic, Nankou, Beijing, China. Purse: $2,100,000

Oct 15-Oct 18 — LPGA KEB-Hana Bank Championship, Incheon, South Korea. Purse: $2,000,000 Oct 22-Oct 25 — Blue Bay LPGA, Hainan Island, China. Purse: $2,000,000 Oct 29-Nov 1 — Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship, Taipei, Taiwan. Purse: $2,000,000 Nov 6-Nov 8 — Mizuno Classic, Shima-Shi, Mie, Japan. Purse: $1,300,000 Nov 12-Nov 15 — Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex, Mexico City, Mexico. Purse: $1,000,000 Nov 19-Nov 22 — CME Group Tour Championship, Naples, Florida. Purse: $2,000,000

DAVID continued from page 2 Columbus and Franklin. In addition, The First Tee’s National School Program is offered in more than 200 Indiana elementary schools and is reaching 90,000 children in those locations.

The First Tee’s certifying program is not just another junior golf program. It focuses on the nine core values and requires participants to progress through a five-level process: • Player (required minimum age 7) — Introduces playing the game of golf with special emphasis on learning golf and The First Tee code of conduct, appreciating the rules and etiquette of the game and developing a game plan for golf and life.

• Par (recommended minimum age 9) — Focuses on interpersonal communications and selfmanagement skills.

• Birdie (recommended minimum age 11) — Emphasizes goal setting.

• Eagle (recommended minimum age 13) — Emphasizes resilience skills, conflict resolution and planning for the future.

• Ace (required minimum age 14 or entering ninth grade) — Once a young person has progressed through all program levels, he or she can become Ace-certified, focusing on setting goals for golf, career education and giving back to the community.

Participants advance through the different life skill levels through a certification process with five general requirements: • Core lesson exposure.

• Life skills application.

• Golf skills application.

• Life skills knowledge.

• Golf knowledge.

Each participant seeking to move to a higher level must demonstrate understanding of the core golf and life skills. They have to show their ability to apply the lessons learned on and off the golf course.

The mission of The First Tee is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf.

That mission fits perfectly into the foundation’s mission of “Teaching Life Lessons Through the Game of Golf,” making the decision to put The First Tee under the foundation’s administration an easy one.

The First Tee (www.thefirsttee.org) is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit AMBER continued from page 7 she recalls. “I was a shy kid and he made me talk.

“We played some against each other and are still trying to determine who is better today,” she added with a laugh.

“But I do really want to get back into being more competitive and maybe even play in some tournaments.

“I just need to get my game back to where it should be.”

Essig believes the strength of Pasel’s game,

organization based in St. Augustine, Florida, at World Golf Village, home of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

More specifically, it is an international youth development organization introducing the game of golf and its inherent values to young people. Through after-school and in-school programs, it helps to shape the lives of young people from all walks of life by reinforcing values like integrity, respect and perseverance through golf.

And it’s making a difference. Research-proven programs are having a positive impact on participants, their families and their communities. Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has introduced the game of golf and its values to 4.7 million participants and students in 50 states and five international locations – Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Singapore. There are currently 196 First Tee chapters.

The First Tee was founded and is supported by

golf’s major organizations, including: • Masters Tournament.

• The PGA of America.

• PGA Tour.

• United States Golf Association.

• Ladies Professional Golf Association.

The nine core values are ingrained in the curriculum, making First Tee programs more about turning out well-rounded individuals than accomplished golfers.

The opportunities for reaching an even larger number of Indiana youths are numerous. Moving forward, The First Tee of Indiana will look to expand the number of youths it reaches by adding additional programming sites around the state.

While it took some time for The First Tee to land in Indianapolis and eventually to become a statewide program, it is now making up for lost time.

whether it’s currently at the level she wants it to be or not, has helped her transition smoothly into the role of head pro.

“Her golf game speaks a great deal,” he said. “She can hit the ball a long way and that gives her credibility with members.

“She teaches a great deal of men to play and does the majority of our club fittings, too.

“Amber is a very well-rounded golf professional.”

Above it all, Pasel believes a strong work ethic has contributed to her success in the golf industry and she

encourages others, especially women, to consider following her path.

“I’ve never been the most athletic person but I’ve always been taught to work hard for what I want,” she said. “You also need to have strong time management and organizational skills to work in this industry.

“The hours associated with being a head pro can be a little tough but it’s a great career and very rewarding.

It’s also not gender specific.

“We need more ladies out there,” she continued.

“That could benefit golf in so many ways.”

GOLF, DAILY JOURNAL, April 2015 15

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