July 2010

TOPICS NEWSLETTER

VOLUME 15, NO. 4 - JULY 2010

Global Golf Sales Series #2 - Page 6

Junior PGA Championship - Page 10

E-Z-GO South Florida Open - Page 7

Scratch Pro - Am - Page 7

WHAT’S INSIDE: Upcoming Challenge Cup Patriot Day 2010 Junior PGA Championship Pro’s On The Go SFPGA Foundation Board ...And More!

2010 Challenge Cup - Page 8

chip shots

NEW MEMBERS

The South Florida PGA would like to welcome the following new members to the Section: Christopher Glover, PGA William Junk, PGA Kenneth Mason II, PGA Matthew Roop, PGA Steven Russell, PGA Andrew Wieczorek, PGA

A-8 A-4 A-8 A-8 IN A-8

Calusa Pines Golf Club Martin Downs Country Club Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club Eagle Creek Golf & CC Unattached The Rookery at Marco GC

NEW APPRENTICES

The South Florida PGA would like to welcome the following new apprentices to the Section: Mark Contentor B-8 Stonebridge Golf & CC Mark Drenga B-8 PGA Center for Golf Learn&Perf Christopher Green B-8 Jim McLean G School-Doral Evan Holewinski B-8 Island Country Club Harlan Kaplan B-8 Glen Eagle Golf and CC John King B-8 Raptor Bay Golf Club Allison Lepping B-8 Palm Cove Golf Club Thomas Regan B-8 Town of Palm Beach GC Manny Zerman B-8 La Gorce Country Club

PGA CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM

The South Florida PGA would like to congratulate Meghan Spero, PGA on earning her certification in Golf Operations and Valerie Osborn, PGA in Retail through The PGA Certified Professional Program.

QUARTER CENTURY CLUB

Congratulations to PGA members Thomas Roberts, Dennis Meyer, and Russ Holden on their induction into the Quarter Century Club, joining an outstanding group of individuals who have been PGA members for over 25 years.

2010 SFPGA LAS VEGAS TRAVEL PRO-AM - ONLY A FEW SPOTS LEFT

Join the SFPGA for its Las Vegas Travel Pro-Am! PGA Professionals stay and play for free (airfare not included) and the amateur contestant fee is $1,875 per person, single occupancy, and does not include airfare (accompanying guest fee is $299). The Pro-Am runs Sunday-Thursday, October 3-7 and golf will be played on Paiute Golf Resort’s Wolf Course, at Arroyo Golf Club and at Bear’s Best, with accommodations at Caesar’s Palace. Contact Meredith at 561-624-7657 for additional information. Spots are going fast, so get your team together today!

MSR REQUIREMENTS

The current MSR cycle ends June 15, 2011 and the requirements for the three year cycle is 54 credits. Please be aware that there are two required fields. The Education requirement is 12 credits and the Meeting requirement is 12 credits. The remaining credits can be earned under several different categories. See MSR requirements at PGAlinks.com. If you have any questions regarding your MSR credits, contact the Section office at 561-624-7676.

JUNIOR TOUR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The South Florida PGA is in the midst of another successful year of junior golf. To continue our successful trend, we need volunteers to come out and act as Pace of Play/Rules Officials during the events. Each volunteer will receive 1 MSR Credit per hour worked. If you would like to help, please click here to view the tournament dates and site, and then contact Meredith at 561-624-7657 with your availability.

PAT

Congratulations to all who passed the Player Ability Test (PAT) held at PGA Golf Club - Ryder Course on Monday, May 24, 2010.

Chris Andrakakos Ryan Bainer Ryan Beech Louie Benjamin Michael Bove Jordan Burke Richard Burke Jermaine Cooper

Mark Drenga Fredrick Gansz Marvin Gonzalez Peter Haupt David Huebsch Mark Jacosbon Ryan LaVoie Matthew Metaxas

Kevin Morton Peter Murphy Andy Oldham Preston Roberts Sean Schwartz David Suarez Mark Sutherland Joseph Trombetti

Kenneth Williams David Worrall

contact information SOUTH FLORIDA SECTION, PGA OF AMERICA 100 Avenue of the Champions Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418 PHONE / FAX 561-624-7676 / 561-624-8576 EMAIL sflorida@pgahq.com WEBSITE www.sflorida.pga.com PRESIDENT Stephen A. Cox, PGA VICE PRESIDENT Brian Peaper, PGA SECRETARY Warren Bottke, PGA IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Jeff Raimer, PGA SOUTHERN CHAPTER PRESIDENT Dick McNeill, PGA SOUTHEAST CHAPTER PRESIDENT Rick Heard, PGA SOUTHWEST CHAPTER PRESIDENT Bill Constantine, PGA ISLAND CHAPTER PRESIDENT Aaron West, PGA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Geoff Lofstead ADVISORY BOARD Paul Anderson Dean Baker Rick Bayliss Ed D’Alessandro, PGA Ira Kaplan Jim Maitland Jim O’Connor Craig Perna Steve Sponder Harry Tempkins Roger Woonton

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chip shots section news

APPRENTICE LEVELS Robert Alderman Michael Carper Christopher Green Evan Holewinski Toni Jobes Michael Johnson Harlan Kaplan John King Christopher Ryan Christopher Shultis Tommy Spampinato Renee Trudeau Manny Zerman Erik Zinn

PASSED

PGA Golf Club R1 Grande Oaks Golf Club R2 Jim McLean G School N0 Island Country Club N0 Paradise Instructional GS R1 St Andrews CC R1 Glen Eagle Golf and CC N0 Raptor Bay Golf Club N0 Naples Heritage Golf & CC R2 Bay Colony Golf Club R1 Colonial Country Club R1 Riviera Country Club R1 La Gorce Country Club N0 Sombrero Country Club R1

JULY IS FAMILY GOLF MONTH

This July, golf facili ties across the country will host fun and affordable activities as part of Family Golf Month. During Family Golf Month, golf courses will offer a series of programs for families to learn and play golf. Golf courses will offer Family Golf Clinics, Family Golf Play Days, Kids Play Free Days, Bring Your Kids to the Golf Range Take Your Daughter to the Course Week, July 5-11, Sticks for Kids, PGA Family Course, and other special programs. Visit www.Playgolfamerica.com to learn more and sign up your course today!

GOLF LICENSE PLATE PROGRAM

This year the South Florida PGA has partnered with the Golf License Plate Program to help promote the plate to Florida residents. For every Golf License Plate sold in the state of Florida $25 goes to the Florida Junior Golf Council in support of junior golf throughout the state. Every facility in South Florida should have received promotional information about the Golf License Plate Program, and we encourage you to display it at your facility.

Please note that grants are available for PGA professionals conducting junior golf camps, clinics, etc. and more information can be found by visiting http:// www.fjgc.org/.

MORE POINTS OFFERED IN 2010 FOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR & SENIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS RACE

Regular Player of the Year points are now awarded for qualifiers, exempt players, and those making the cut at the Florida Open. Senior Player of the Year points are awarded in the Section and South Florida Open for Seniors missing the cut. For a printout of the compete Player of the Year Points Policy, visit sflorida. pga.com. The Player of the Year and Senior Player of the Year points races are supported by Sterling Cut Glass. Here is the current top ten list for 2010 Player of the Year points and 2010 Senior Player of the Year points.

2010 PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS LIST Top Ten (as of July 1): Lee Rinker Ryan Garrity Paul Scaletta Mike San Filippo Jerry Tucker JD Murray Christopher Toulson Christopher Kaufman Alan Morin Jeff Waber

462.5 391.5 360 322.5 310 225 210 201.4 197.5 130

2010 SENIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS LIST Top Ten (as of June 20): Jerry Tucker Mike San Filippo Ken Martin Billy Ziobro Brian Peaper Dennis Meyer Joseph Bostic Paul Daniels Steve Waugh Marion Heck

755 666.25 517.05 452.5 345.8 330 277.5 277.5 277.5 270

To view the rest of the list for player of the year points and senior player of the year points, please visit the website at www.sflorida. pga.com.

quote of the month

“When God wants to play through, you let him play through.”

Lee Trevino Professional golfer, after being struck by lightning

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chip shots section news

PRO

Scott Newhouse Vic Carder Lance McAllister Cory Paul Head Sherry Zimet Toby Schmidt Steven Loomis Michael Rochford Jeffrey Willenberg

PRO’S ON THE GO

TO

FROM

Unattached Unattached A-1 – Mizner CC, Delray Bch A-1 – Doral Golf Resort – Doral A-1 – The Polo Club of Boca Raton unattached A-13 – Southern Texas Section A-4 – Mizner CC, Delray Bch A-13 – Bahia Beach Resort, PR

A-4 – Naples National GC, Naples A-4 – Pelican’s Nest GC, Bonita Spgs A-8 – Mizner CC, Delray Beach A-8 – Doral Golf Resort – Doral A-14 – The Polo Club of Boca Raton A-4 – Mizner Country Club, Delray Bch A-13 Dorado Beach Resort, Dorado Bch A-6 – Mizner CC, Delray Beach A-13-Palmas del Mar, Humacao PR

education Spring Seminar a Success Forty South Florida PGA Professionals attended the awesome Spring Education Seminar held Thursday, June 10th at The Vineyards Country Club. The seminar featured Oncor Solutions, a marketing solutions company, and a panel of PGA Professionals discussing the employment issues facing the golf industry today.

Oncor Solutions shocked the audience with how simple it can be to find customers/members, engage them all while tracking your ROI on monies spent. They used real examples of golf courses in the section that they have already worked with to prove that the methods they teach really work! They also proved that you could do get 1000% return on marketing dollars without having to spend massive amounts of money in order to generate business. Free information on resources that could bring in new customers right away was Oncor Solutions was present to help kick off their FREE webinar series beginning July 19th. This series will feature information on how to re-think your marketing tactics, how to use what they call the ‘new social media’, all while keeping your budgets in check, and drive in customers. This webinar series will show simple solutions, and ways of tracking the ROI of your marketing. More information regarding the webinar series will be available soon.

Immediately following Oncor’s presentation a panel discussion was conducted, featuring a diverse group of PGA Professional from all different aspects of the golf industry, including private and public facilities, hospitality corporations and the PGA of America. The panel consisted of SFPGA Professionals Tom Wildenhaus, Rich Lamb and Doug Reed, along PGA Career Consultant Phil Berry. All were asked questions regarding the current employment situation and how they have remained successful at their facilities for an extended period of time. The biggest piece of advice that they offered was to show your passion for golf, make yourself visible at all times, and be hungry to take on multiple job roles.

Again, the information shared during the seminar was tremendous. Thank you to all those who attended and our speakers for their time.

Earn More MSR Credits UPCOMING EDUCATION SEMINAR: November 8 Atlantis Country Club 8 AM - 12 PM, $40 registration fee

SFPGA TOWN HALL SERIES PRESENTED BY BOXGROOVE 2 MSR credits will be awarded per town hall meeting attended.

August 10 - Grey Oaks CC, Naples September 3 - Coral Springs CC October 1 - Fountains CC, Lake Worth

WEBINAR SERIES WITH ONCORE SOLUTIONS NEW webinar series with Oncor Solutions kicks off July 19th. This free series will run throughout the year, offering information to facilities on how to better market themselves and target the right people.

Look for more details coming soon. Information and registration for education seminar and Town Hall Series may be found on the website at sflorida.pga.com.

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SFPGA Foundation Board Meeting Update contact information SFPGA FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 100 Avenue of the Champions Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418

Below are some highlights of the spring South Florida PGA Foundation Board meeting June 9, 2010.

PRESIDENT

Foundation Board Structure Review Geoff Lofstead reported that the section board approved a change to the Foundation Board structure to now include the Section Honorary President, Tom Wildenhaus, Kevin Murphy, Michael O’Brien, Craig Perna, the three mainland chapter presidents, and three members at large chosen by the Section President.

Tom Wildenhaus, PGA VICE PRESIDENT Michael O’Brien, PGA

Election of Officers Jeff Raimer recommended that the Foundation make Tom Wildenhaus President, Michael O’Brien Vice President, and Kevin Murphy Treasurer and the current section Honorary President as the Secretary.

TREASURER Kevin Murphy, PGA

Motion to approve the new Foundation Board Officers. Seconded. Motion Passed.

SECRETARY Jeff Raimer, PGA

Charitable Requesting Meredith Schuler presented twelve applications for charitable gifting.

OTHER BOARD MEMBERS

Motion to grant $1,000 to each the following eight charities: The First Tee Naples/Collier-Gulf Coast Junior Tour, Junior Golf Association of Broward County, Special Olympics Florida/Martin County, Indian River Golf Foundation, Southwest Florida Junior Golf Association, Junior Golf Foundation of America, Here’s Help, Gold Coast Junior Golf Foundation, and $2000 granted to Nicholas R. Chiera Dinner/Auction and Golf Classic. Seconded. Motion Passed.

Bill Constantine, PGA Rick Heard, PGA Dick McNeil, PGA Craig Perna, PGA

Motion to grant a maximum of $1,000 to The First Tee of the Palm Beaches upon the submission of PGA Professional time sheets. Seconded.

Motion Passed.

CHARITABLE GIFTING: $1,000

$1,000 $1,000 $1,000

The First Tee Naples/Collier-Gulf Coast Junior Tour Junior Golf Association of Broward Cty Special Olympics Florida/Martin County Indian River Golf Foundation

$1,000 $2,000

$1,000 $1,000

Gold Coast Junior Golf Foundation Nicholas R. Chiera Dinner/Auction & Golf Classic Here’s Help The First Tee of the Palm Beaches

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tournament news Scratch Pro-Am

Matt Stein, PGA and Ryan Abbate, representing Adios Golf Club in Coconut Creek, combined for a 10 under par 62 Monday to win the 31st annual South Florida Pro Scratch Amateur Championship at the TPC at Eagle Trace.

A special thanks to supporting sponsors Golf GameBook and Mobile ProShop.

Also, thanks to TPC at Eagle Trace Head Professional Bryan Stone and Assistant Professionals John Gerber, Derek Fox, and Bradley Sliauter for hosting a great event. Full field results may be found at sflorida.pga.com.

Article written by Larry Bush.

From L to R: Dean Baker, Mobile ProShop; Ryan Abbate; Matt Stein, PGA, Adios Golf Club; David Rossi, Golf GameBook; Mikko Rantanen, Golf GameBook

Global Golf Series #2 Teammates Rafael Floriani, Instructor at the PGA Center for Golf Learning & Performance, and Ken Martin, Teaching Professional at Village Golf Club, won the Global Golf Sales Tournament Series #2 June 15, 2010. Floriani and Martin combined for a final score of 62 during the 18-hole best ball event, with each player taking home $1,036.47.

The Global Golf Sales Tournament Series is sponsored by Steve Sponder of Global Golf Sales and features 3 tournaments with different playing formats open to all SFPGA members and apprentices. The series long champion wins a cruise for two to the Bahamas with places 2nd through 10th winning cash prizes.

L-R: Rafael Floriani and Ken Martin

Thanks to host Tiburon Golf Club and Steve Sponder of Global Golf Sales for sponsoring this event. Full field results may be found at sflorida.pga.com.

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tournament news E-Z-GO South Florida Open

L-R: Kevin Boocock, E-Z-GO, Champion: Chris Trout, Amateur Senior Division Champion, L-R: Roger Kennedy, Mike San Filippo, Jeff Barrett, E-Z-GO. Champion, Olin Browne Jr., Jeff Barrett, E-Z-GO.

Chris Trout earned his first South Florida Section victory Friday, the 26th annual E-Z-GO South Florida PGA Open, by winning when the seventh playoff hole against Mike San Filippo of Hobe Sound.

Special thanks to title sponsor E-Z-GO, as well as supporting sponsors KBS Shafts by FST, GolfBuddy and Antigua. South Florida Section appreciates Tiburon Golf Club and its professionals Gary Wilcox, James Feipel, Chad Nigro, and Brien Charter. Full field results may be found at sflorida.pga.com.

Other Tournament News South Florida PGA Professional Championship Quail Valley Golf Club September 28-29, 2010 Photo Below L-R: Arlen Bento, Kevin Bucock, Chris Trout, Entry deadline is 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 7th via telephone Olin Browne Jr., Jeff Barrett, Kevin Holt and on-line at www.pgalinks.com or www.pgatournaments.com.

South Florida Senior PGA Professional Championship Sailfish Point Golf Club August 12-13, 2010 Entry deadline is 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 14th via telephone and on-line at www.pgalinks.com or www.pgatournaments. com.

South Florida Callaway Golf PGA Assistant Championship Frenchman’s Reserve August 2-3, 2010 Entry deadline is 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 21st via telephone and on-line at www.pgalinks.com or www.pgatournaments. com.

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challenge cup - north v. south Wes Smith Selected as Honorary Captain of the 2010 SFPGA Challenge Cup Team A prestigious rivalry between the South Florida and North Florida PGA Sections, the annual Challenge Cup Matches pits the top ten regular division players and top two senior division players from each respective North and South Florida PGA Player of the year Point Races against one another over the course of 2 days and 3 different formats for coveted Section bragging rights.

The Challenge Cup Matches began in 1981 at Grenelefe Golf & Tennis Resort in Haines City, FL, where the North Florida PGA team claimed the first Cup victory over the South Florida PGA team by a slim margin of 9 ½ to 8 ½ points. Since then, the South Florida PGA Challenge Cup team has dominated the matches, winning 19 out of 29 competitions (2 matches halved, 8 won by the North Florida Section), and have managed to keep the Cup in the South Florida PGA Section for the past 10 consecutive years.

Captaining last year’s squad was PGA Professional Gary Baker, who joined an impressive list of honorary captains including Ed Ficker, Burl Dale, Mickie Gallagher, Dub Pagan, Sandy Robertson, Mike Krak, Chuck Woodward, Buddy Cook, Jack Carney, Dale Brady, Marion Heck, Fred Harkness, Roger Kennedy, Sr., and most recently, Johnny LaPonzina. Gary’s been a part of the South Florida Section since 1971, and enjoyed the Challenge Cup every year.

“I played in the very first Challenge Cup we ever held, and being captain was something I looked forward to for a long time.”

Gary helped lead the 2009 South Florida Challenge Cup team to it’s tenth victory in a row. “It’s easy to captain when you have a lot of great players,” Gary said.

Close friend of Gary’s, Wes Smith of Grey Oaks Country Club, was selected as this year’s Challenge Captain.

Wes says, “I’ve played several times in our Challenge Cup and am looking forward to leading the South Florida Section to complete and total victory! We have the best section.”

The 30th Annual Challenge Cup Matches will be held in the South Florida Section at the Bay Colony Golf Club October 12-13, 2010.

The South Florida PGA Challenge Cup team roster will be announced after the SFPGA Section Championship and will be supported and outfitted by Jack Nicklaus Sportswear.

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junior news

SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic Event #4 Presented by:

Supported by:

The Fox Club hosted their first South Florida PGA Junior Tour Event June 17-18, 2010. The field featured approximately 100 junior golfers from throughout South Florida. Placing at the top of the leader board in the Boys Overall Age Division, with a 149 was Christian Tepley of Palm City. Tepley finished one shot ahead of Derron Peyton of Boynton Beach, and four shots ahead of Dane Cianelli of Plantation and Ethan Marcus of Boca Raton.

The heat was a true test of endurance for all the juniors walking The Fox Club. Ashley Burke of Boynton Beach proved she could with stand the heat firing a 72 during the second round, claiming the Girls Overall Age Division. Alexa Hammer of Boynton Beach finished second three shots behind Burke, and one shot ahead of Samantha Smolen of Lake Worth who took home third.

In the Boys 12-13 Age Division Stefano Gabriel Butti of Palm City finished first with at 153, two shots ahead of Zachary Bariso of Boca Raton and three ahead of Nicholas Cammarene of Vero Beach.

Emily Faulkner of Palm City finished first in the Girls 12-13 Age Division with a total of 168, in second was Zora Gittens of Parkland followed by Kaely Krayeski of Wellington.

L-R: Christian Tepley, Overall Boys Winner; Hugh Matthis, Head Golf Professional, Fox Club; and Ashley Burke (Overall Girls Winner)

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junior news continued...

Junior PGA Championship Ryan Celano of Naples and Shelby Coyle of Pembroke Pines were the 2010 South Florida PGA Junior PGA Champions. The event was held at Boca West Country Club in Boca Raton on Course II, June 22nd and 23rd.

Celano began round 2 one shot ahead of the 2009 Champion, Chase Koepka of Lake Worth, and was able to build upon his lead, claiming victory by five shots. Coyle entered the day tied for the lead to Annie Dulman of North Palm Beach, and was able to creep two shots ahead to earn her spot into the Championship.

Both Celano and Coyle qualified for the 35th Junior PGA Championship, Aug. 2-5, 2010, at Sycamore Hills Golf Club in Fort Wayne, Ind. The Junior PGA Championship is open to one boy and one girl champion from each of the 41 PGA Sections, winners of the nine PGA Junior Series events and a few other national junior tournaments conducted throughout the year and special invitees who have yet not reached their 19th birthdays and who have not started college.

The Junior PGA Championship has traditionally a stepping-stone for many of today’s PGA and LPGA Tour professionals as well as current collegiate stars. Past Junior PGA Championship competitors who have gone on to successful professional careers include: Stewart Cink, In-Bee Park, Jim Furyk, Trevor Immelman, Cristie Kerr, Anthony Kim, Dottie Pepper, Justin Leonard, Michelle McGann, Phil Mickelson, Sean O’Hair, Grace Park, Scott Verplank, David Toms, Michelle Wie and Tiger Woods.

L-R: Ryan Celano and Shelby Coyle - Overall Champions ofbeen the 2010 SFPGA Jr. PGA Championship

Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold; to establish and elevate the standards of the Below, L-R: Boca West Country Club Staff JR Friend, Brad profession and to grow interest and participation in Luken, Director of Golf and Steve Wright, Superintendent the game of golf.

By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the $76 billion golf industry.

By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere.

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patriot golf day

register your golf course today!

Memorial Day weekend, South Florida PGA members Karl Bublitz, Tom Metzger, Bob Baldassari represented the South Florida PGA at The Patriot Cup on May 30th & 31st. The Patriot Cup was a Pro-Am event to open The Patriot Golf Club which is the home course of the Folds of Honor Foundation.

The three professionals played on the 30th with members of the Patriot Golf Club and amateurs that were brought to help support the efforts of the foundation. On the 31st, tour professionals representing the PGA Tour, the Champions Tour, the LPGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour played with the amateur guests, military representatives from every arm of the military and some Patriot members. Following golf, a black tie gala was held to celebrate the foundation and all of the work and scholarships that have been generated to this point, and to bring focus back to the foundation’s efforts.

“Tom, Bob and I left Tulsa more energized than ever to make certain we are doing all we can to assist with the Foundation’s efforts! We look forward to our continued efforts to get our fellow Professionals involved in the fund raising efforts during Labor Day weekend with Patriot Golf Day.” said Karl Bublitz.

Last year, the South Florida section raised over $79,000 with over 192 participating courses.

Patriot Golf Day is the flagship fundraiser for the Folds of Honor Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides postsecondary educational scholarships for the children and spouses of military men and women disabled or killed while serving our great nation. On Labor Day weekend, golfers across the country are asked to add an extra dollar to their greens fees to fund Folds of Honor scholarships. The Patriot Golf Day campaign is jointly supported by The PGA of America and the United States Golf Association.

The inaugural Patriot Golf Day in 2007 was started by Major Dan Rooney, Founder of the Folds of Honor Foundation, F-16 Pilot, PGA Professional, and USGA member. On Labor Day 2007 Rooney asked golfers to add $1 to their greens fees. His request resulted in donations of more than $1.1 million from more than 3,200 golf facilities. In the last three years, golfers nationwide have been instrumental in raising more than $5.3 million through Patriot Golf Day events.

Patriot Golf Day 2010 will again be held during the Labor Day weekend, September 3-6. If you are interested in joining the mission to empower the lives of deserving military families with educational opportunities, then please become a participating facility in 2010! PGA Professionals who host an event

and submit funds to the Folds of Honor Foundation will receive TWO MSR Credits.

The 2010 Patriot Golf Day kits will be mailed the mid-July to all registered facilities. Kit contents include a poster, flyer, tent cards, suggested guidelines for hosting the event as well as Best Practices. Registration is available at www.PatriotGolfDay.com.

L-R: PGA members Karl Bublitz, Bob Baldassari and Tom Metzger attend the Patriot Cup gala for the Folds of Honor Foundation

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education rules with drew

Double Rules Dilemma

SFPGA TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR ANDREW MILLER

Some interesting rulings came up during last month’s Championships. The first happened during the ProScratch Championship played at TPC Eagle Trace and the second at the E-Z-GO South Florida Open at Tiburon and Pelican Marsh.

The Pro-Scratch Championship is four-ball stroke play event in which a PGA Professional partners with an Amateur competing under a better ball format. During the Championship a player hit his partner’s ball. The partner realized the error right away, retrieved his ball and dropped it from where his partner had played. What is the penalty?

Well, let’s start with the most obvious penalty first.

Rule 31-5 tells us, “If a competitor is in breach of Rule 15-3b for making a stroke at a wrong ball, he incurs a penalty of two strokes and must correct his mistake by playing the correct ball or by proceeding under the Rules. His partner incurs no penalty even if the wrong ball belongs to him.”

It is important to note that when the player played the wrong ball, he took a divot with the swing. He also took a divot with his practice swing. In short, this means that the spot from which the wrong ball was played was determinable and the partner should have placed the ball instead of dropping it from which it was previously played. Decision 20-6/1 states, “A player placed a ball when he should have dropped it or dropped it when he should have placed it.”

Before playing a stroke, may the player lift the ball, without penalty, under Rule 20-6 and proceed correctly? Yes. Otherwise the player would lose the hole in match play or incur a penalty of two strokes in stroke play for a breach of the applicable Rule.

Some of you might be saying, “Wait a minute Drew.

You’re telling us the partner needed to place the ball from where it was just played even though that exact spot is now a sand filled divot?” The answer is yes, well, sort of. Rule 20-3b tells us, “If the original lie of a ball to be placed or replaced has been altered: except in a hazard, the ball must be placed in the nearest lie most similar to the original lie that is not more than one club-length from the original lie, not nearer the hole and not in a hazard.” So, to recap, the player got a two-stroke penalty for playing a wrong ball and the partner got a two stroke penalty for dropping a ball when he should have placed it.

The second situation I wanted to share happened during the E-Z-GO South Florida Open on the 18th hole at Tiburon. A player hit his second shot into the later water hazard which runs parallel with the left side of the hole. The player measured his two club lengths, dropped his ball, which rolled into the water, re-dropped under Rule 20-2c with the same result and then finally placed the ball on the spot from which it was re-dropped. At that moment the ball rolled into the hazard. The player looked up, noticed I was sitting behind the 18th green and motioned me over.

How should the player have proceeded? The first question we need to determine is if the ball was in play after the player placed it on the spot from where it was re-dropped? Rule 20-4 states, “If the player’s ball in play has been lifted, it is again in play when dropped or placed.” This rule implies that the ball comes to rest when dropped or placed.

Decision 20-2c/3.5 can help clarify when a ball is in play. It states, “A player’s ball comes to rest against a boundary stake. He deems the ball unplayable and drops it within two clublengths of where the ball originally lay, as prescribed by Rule 28c. After the ball has been at rest, it rolls and comes to rest out of bounds.”

What is the ruling? If a dropped ball comes to rest but subsequently moves, the ball must be played as it lies. In this case the ball is out of bounds and the player must proceed under Rule 27-1. Since the ball was at rest before moving, Rule 20-2c is not applicable. The same is true for a ball which is placed.

Once you place the ball and remains still without moving, that ball is then is play. If it subsequently moves, you then must play it from its new position. Another example is Decision 20-3d/1 which states, “A player replaces his ball on the putting green three feet from the hole.” As he is about to address the ball, it rolls into the hole. Should the ball be replaced or is he deemed to have holed out with his previous stroke?

The answer depends on whether the ball, when replaced, came to rest on the spot on which it was placed before is started rolling. If it did, the player is deemed to have holed out with his previous stroke.

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education rules with drew

Double Rules Dilemma

If not, he is required to replace the ball. However, if the ball had been overhanging the hole when it was lifted, the provisions of Rule 16-2 would override those of Rule 20-3d.” So back to the initial ruling, we determined that the ball had not come to rest when he placed it and Rule 20-3d tells us, “If a ball when placed fails to come to rest on the spot on which it was placed, there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced. If it still fails to come to rest on that spot: except in a hazard, it must be placed at the nearest spot where it can be placed at rest that is not nearer the hole and not in a hazard.” Had the player’s ball subsequently come to rest when placed and then it rolled into the hazard, the player would then have to proceed again under Rule 26-1.

For arguments sake, let’s say the player’s ball came to rest after he placed it and then it rolled into the hazard and the player had to again take relief under Rule 26-1, do you think he would be permitted to change his relief option? Meaning instead of dropping two club lengths from where it entered the hazard, could he now drop on the opposite margin, go back to the tee or even take the spot from which it enter the hazard and then line that up spot with the flagstick and go back as far as he wished?

Decision 20-2c.5 says, “A player deems his ball unplayable. Of the three options available under Rule 28, he elects Rule 28c and drops the ball within two club-lengths of the spot where it lay. The ball rolls and comes to rest nearer the hole than its original position, so the player is required by Rule 20-2c to re-drop. May the player now proceed under a different option? No. If the player did so, he would be in breach of Rule 20-2c. The same principle would apply when proceeding under Rule 26-1.”

Although this Decision would seem to infer that the player would not be permitted from changing his relief option, he is in fact able to change his relief option.

Under this particular situation, the player is taking relief “again” from the hazard. It’s almost as if he never took relief the first time. Therefore he is permitted to select any option under Rule 26-1 for taking relief.

Well, I hope you’ve enjoyed this month’s segment of Rules with Drew and I hope to see you at the upcoming Pro-Pro Championship in Miami Beach and the Statewide Pro-Assistant Championship in Naples.

upcoming events July 6-7 Pro-Pro Championship Supported by Global Golf Sales, & GolfBuddy Held at LaGorce Country Club & Miami Beach Golf Club

July 8-9 Junior Tour #5 Presented by the Honda Classic Supported by Titlelist, Allianz Championship, Don Law Golf Improvement Center & Mirasol Men’s Group Held at Normandy Shores Golf Club

July 12 Player Ability Test Held at Palm Aire Country Club - Oaks

July 20 Senior-Super Senior Event Held at Frenchman’s Reserve

July 22-23 Statewide Pro-Assistant Supported by Global Golf Sales, Cutter & Buck, GolfBuddy & Mizuno Held at Grey Oaks Country Club

July 22-23 Junior Tour #6 Presented by the Honda Classic Supported by Titlelist, Allianz Championship, Don Law Golf Improvement Center & Mirasol Men’s Group Held at Old Corkscrew

August 2-3 South Florida Callaway Golf PGA Assistant Championship Held at Frenchman’s Reserve

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chapter news southeast chapter

With the same score on the same golf course, Ed Sabo of Tequesta has won the Titleist Vero Beach Shootout for the second year in a row.

Sabo earned 44 Stableford points Tuesday (June 1) at Hawk's Nest Golf Club, edging Alan Morin of Royal Palm Beach and Jerry Tucker of Stuart, who tied for second with 43 points. A year ago, Sabo beat Morin with par-4 on the first playoff hole.

"But don't ask me to compare the two," Sabo, 61, said with a grin. "I may not remember much about this round by the time I get home today."

Let the record show he shot two under par 70 on his own ball with six birdies, four on the back nine after beginning in the 12th hole in a shotgun start.

All four of his bogeys were on the front side.

It was Sabo's 10th Southeast Chapter victory since 1988, his second this year. He won the Jupiter Classic at The Dye Preserve on May 10. He earned $1,123 from the $11,310 purse here, including an optional bonus pool, shootout and skins game.

Traditionally, a shootout among the top eight finishers follows the 18-hole main event. Tuesday, play was suspended by lightning after the first round and the $400 purse was distributed among the participants. Less than 20 minutes later the all-clear horn was sounded but by then nearly everyone had left.

"That's too bad," Sabo said as he packed up. "The shootout last year was a lot of fun."

Stableford points were awarded the 74 starters on the basis of one for bogey, two for par, four for birdie and six for eagle.

There were no skins and the money in that pool was redistributed in the general prize fund.

southern chapter

The Southern Chapter tournament schedule is in full swing. Thank you very much to Dave Carse and Mark Vandyck ffor all their efforts this season.

On June 4, 2010 we held a pro only stroke play tournament at Grande Oaks Golf Club, home of Caddyshack. Thanks to Scott Rolan and his staff for a fun day and congratulations to Jared Isaacs, 2009 Chapter Champion, for taking top honors with a fine 66. John Gerber was runner up with an excellent 69 followed by Jay Zina with a 2 under par 70. We are looking better for next years Nelson Cup. On Monday, June 28, 2010 we had a pro stableford tournament and seminar at the Jim Mclain Signature Course at Doral. Larry Blanchard took top honors with 40 points followed by Lou Bartoleti with 39 points and Chris Toulson with 36 points.

The Seminar was outstanding with 2 outstanding speakers in John Webster from the John Webster Golf Academy at the Breakers in Palm Beach who introduced us to his "Total Package Golf" concept. The next speaker was our own Dan McCarthy, Director of Instruction at Grande Oaks Golf Club, explaining what science is now telling us about how the golf ball "really" flies. It was amazing how these 2 gentlemen complimented each other in their teaching philosophies.

Our next event is the Junior Senior Tournament on July 16 at Fort Lauderdale Country Club.

Please make every effort to attend since this event always has a surprise ending with our great hosts, Mike O'Brien and Mark Vandyck and their staff.

Thanks for reading.

Dick McNeill

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