Texas Golfer

Charitable Inspiration from: NFL Legend Jim Brown • Madison Pressel • Erik Compton • Our Troops

FALL 2012 VOLUME 29 NUMBER 2

THE

THE STATE OF YOUR GAME

GOLF GIVES BACK ISSUE

Beyond Friday Night

NBC’s acclaimed series Friday Night Lights wrapped last year, but its stars and crew remain very connected to Texas

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VOLUME 29, NUMBER 2 - FALL 2012

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DEPARTMENTS

35:

Golf Gives Back The golf community has a passion for giving. We couldn’t share stories on every worthy cause, but we caught up with some big names, including NFL legend Jim Brown and the former stars of TV’s Friday Nights Lights, who use their status to help do miraculous work for people and causes in need.

16: Regional News: Dallas Some prominent courses in North Texas have gotten recent facelifts.

James McAfee explores the changes to some familiar properties.

23: Regional News: Hill Country The upscale, private Summit Rock Golf Club, designed by the legendary Jack Nicklaus, signals the start of a new generation in the golf-rich Horseshoe Bay community.

28: Checking In: Horseshoe Bay Resort Discover, or rediscover, what is perhaps the most “complete” golf resort in the state.

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Fall 2012 TexasGolfer 1

VOLUME 29, NUMBER 2 - FALL 2012

FEATURES

34: Swinging Threads Your Fall Guide to Looking Good On and Off the Course

46: Travel: Get inspired to take your next golf trip. Our staff shares insider’s guides to Scottsdale, San Diego’s indulgent Grand Del Mar (pictured) and perma-sunny Sandestin.

E w 11: Know Your Pros Respected club professionals weigh in on current issues from around the world of golf.

43: Tina Bradley-Mayers 43: Instruction Staff: 43: Tina Bradley-Mayers helps you escape sand traps with ease.

44: Bill Moretti warns of “The Tell-Tale Foot” 45: Dave Pelz shares one of his classic bits of putting advice

10: Read about a breakthrough junior golf initiative that’s growing the game.

52: The Architect’s Digest: Houston-based golf course architect Mike Nuzzo reveals why he hates the number “401” and why most female golfers should, too.

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Many Reasons to Feel Thankful

T

he last few weeks we have had the kind of weather that golfers all over the great State of Texas really enjoy. As I mentioned in the last issue, the magazine was going through a few changes and we have worked to really revamp our website, so if you haven’t visited it, please do (www.texasgolfermagazine.com).

A couple of weeks ago I was headed to College Station for my 25 Year Class Reunion. I reached out to one of our contributing writers, great golfer, and the Director of Golf at Miramont, Brad Lardon. Brad kindly invited me and my guest (old buddy) out to play a round while in town. I have to say Miramont is just flat out special. I now understand why it is consistently ranked as one of the top courses in the State of Texas and Brad is so proud of it. It is just a wonderful golf experience and its design is not only different, but refreshing.

Last weekend, I played in “Point the Way” Foundation Golf Tournament honoring Chris Siaz, a young man that had his life taken too soon in a tragic car accident.

Chris was a star point guard at Cinco Ranch High School and had started since his freshman year. My daughter became friends with Chris when he was in Jr. High, so his loss not only hit our community hard, but my home as well. Although, Chris will be greatly missed, his memory lives on. Over 150 golfers turned out to River Ridge Golf Course to play in 4 Man Shamble. It was a beautiful day and a great event. The Point the Way Foundation was able to raise over $50,000 to be used for scholarships for young people that exemplify the same characteristics as Chris, which was a love of sports and a love of life. It was a great event and one I hope to be a part of for years to come.

This issue was slightly delayed due to some internal issues going on that have now been resolved. We are getting back on track now. Our next issue is already in the works and will be out this winter. Enjoy the weather and hit them straight.

VOLUME 29, NUMBER 2 - FALL 2012

Chief Executive Officer/ Publisher Zane Russell zane@texasgolfermagazine.com

COO/CFO Mike Moore mike@texasgolfermagazine.com

Editor-in-Chief Carl Mickelson carl@texasgolfermagazine.com

Art Director Chet Polo chet@austindigital.biz

Contributing Writers Steve Bliman, Tina Bradley-Mayers, Brad Lardon, James McAfee, Brian Mickelson, Bill Moretti, Mike Nuzzo, Dave Pelz

Contributing Photographer Eric Draper

Distribution Jennifer Holbrook jennifer@texasgolfermagazine.com

Assistant Publisher C. Scott Talley stalley@texasgolfermagazine.com

Advertising Sales Representatives

See you on the links!

Zane Russell zane@texasgolfermagazine.com

Christina Peissel | 832.335.1804 christina@texasgolfermagazine.com Steve Bliman | 480.473.7663 bliman@cox.net Shawn K. Lively | 512.825.1303 slively@texasgolfermagazine.com

Copyright 2012 by Texas Golfer Magazine.

All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from Texas Golfer. Texas Golfer Magazine is published by Texas Golfer Magazine, Inc., 15721 Park Row, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77084. ISSN #0889-4825 4 TexasGolfer Fall 2012

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B

lack Jack’s Crossing Golf Course at Lajitas Golf Resort & Spa is a golf experience unlike anything else in the state. The 7,400-yard, par-72 layout is desert golf in a mountain setting, evoking images of John Wayne movies and presenting exhilarating shot values at every turn.

When the resort’s original course (the Ambush at Lajitas) was washed out by a flood in 2008, the next set of plans called for holes to climb higher into the bordering Chisos Mountains. The results are a striking series of holes with plunging elevation changes and vistas that go on for miles and miles.

The star-attraction at the Lajitas Golf Resort & Spa, Black

Jack’s Crossing is an 18-hole Lanny Wadkins design where shots must carry rugged native desert and even the Rio Grande River makes an appearance (first in view from tee at the drivable par-4 14th and forming an imposing border left of the four closing holes).

“People come off the 18th green blown away at the scenery and the quality of the golf,” says general manager Ruffin Moore.

“A lot of people can’t get over there’s course in Texas set in the mountains where you have views of the Rio Grande and for miles into Mexico.”

The course is named in honor of U.S. Army General John

"Black Jack" Pershing who chased Pancho Villa around these parts a century ago. Lined in lush Platinum Paspalum grass, Black Jack’s Crossing’s fairways are generous but the generosity runs out should you spray a shot into the native desert scrub or the rocky mountain edges that frame the property.

Lajitas Golf Resort & Spa is remote (10 hours by car from Houston or a flight to Midland plus a 3 ½-hour drive) but worth the trouble getting to. The 27,000-acre resort is a one-of-a-kind hideout, showcasing the ruggedness of the outdoors as well as the worldclass Agave Spa and a variety of attractive accommodations. www.lajitasgolfresort.com

TEXASGOLFERMAGAZINE.COM

Fall 2012 TexasGolfer 7

STACY LEWIS

LEAD’S LPGA’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR RACE

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tacy Lewis of The Woodlands recently won her third LPGA title of the year at the Navistar LPGA Classic (Prattville, Ala.), soaring to a two stroke-victory over defending champion Lexi Thompson.

With the Navistar title, Lewis regained the No. 2 spot in the Rolex world rankings. She also padded the lead in her bid to become the first American to win the Rolex Player of the Year award since Beth Daniel in 1994. At press time, Lewis the POY point’s race with 184.

Her peers were quick to point out she’d captured the “Alabama Slam” with this win accompanying April’s Mobile Bay LPGA Classic. Lewis also won the Shoprite LPGA Classic in June. “I don’t know what it is (about her success ay Alabama venues). I don’t know if it’s the Bermuda grass,” Lewis said. “It’s kind of what I grew up with in Texas. I love playing these kind of courses where you have to hit good shots. If you don’t hit good shots you’re not rewarded. I like that.”

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Krafting a Career

At the start of summer 2011, no one could have faulted Kelly Kraft for wondering “What’s next?”

H

e had just played out the last bit of his eligibility at SMU, closing the season as the 31st-ranked collegiate player in the country after finishing no higher than fourth in any of the events he played. He was putting in good worked but wasn’t seeing results. His senior campaign was his only collegiate season without a win.

Then lightning struck. Kraft got hot.

Really hot. He won the Texas Amateur by two shots in June and the coveted TransMississippi Amateur by four strokes in July, but those wins were only a prelude to his “shock the world” moment at August’s U.S. Amateur Championship. At Erin Hills Golf Course in Wisconsin, Kraft faced top-ranked amateur Patrick Cantlay in the final match and took control early, taking his lead to 4-up after 16 holes and eventually winning 2-up.

Without college golf in the fall, Kraft had some time to plot his course and chose to turn pro right after playing in the 2012 Masters. He hired and agent and signed with Callaway in April then made his debut as a pro at the Valero Texas Open. It’s been a rocky start for the rookie, with five missed cuts and a T-57 at The Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. With the Fall Series and a few tournaments left to end 2012 on a high note, Kraft is hanging in there. He took a breather recently to talk about his plans for the rest of 2012:

From the outside looking in, it seems like it’s been a bit of a whirlwind since you won U.S. Amateur at Erin Hills last August. Have you been able to stay focused on just the golf?

It really has been a whirlwind. I’ve probably played less golf, definitely less TEXASGOLFERMAGAZINE.COM

tournament golf, in the past year than I have in years’ past. It’s been an adjustment being a new professional golfer but the nice thing is that when I’m playing golf, the game is the same and I can just focus on playing well. The distractions or the “newness” don’t really matter on the course.

Did it feel any different, teeing it up as a professional for the first time at the Valero Texas Open?

Not really. Maybe some of those “first day of school” jitters, but the golf itself felt the same. I would have like to have played better but I got in that tough part of the draw where the weather and wind kicked up and I didn’t play as well as I would have wanted.

How’s your game? Anything you’re working on harder than anything else?

It’s just a matter of keeping everything in tune. I’m looking forward to taking the things I’m working on with my coach Pat O’Brien to tournaments. I feel like I’m playing well, I just want to do what I can to play consistently in tournaments.

How meaningful was it to cap your amateur career with wins in the Texas Amateur, the Trans-Mississippi and, obviously, the U.S. Amateur?

What has that done for your confidence?

It’s always great when you see the work you’re putting into to your game is paying off. I really worked hard in 2011 and didn’t win during the collegiate season. I really started playing well last summer and felt like I turned the corner with my putting. I really got confident putting and starting make a lot of those putts that I needed to make. In past year, it’s been great to come out to Lakewood and see Pat O’Brien as often as I need to here or there to stay sharp.

What would be an ideal outcome for you as far as what you want to accomplish on the PGA Tour this year?

I just want to be consistent out there.

You can make a living on the Tour just keeping it together the first two rounds, going a couple under and position-

ing yourself to possibly go low on the weekend. I really want to keep away from those high scores, especially in the early rounds. Consistency is really the goal.

What sticks with you the most about your first Masters experience?

It really was as special as I could have imagined. I’ll take the experience with me my whole life. What stands out is how much Augusta National and the tournament mean to guys who have been there year after year. I played a practice round with Matt Kuchar and he’s still excited to talk about when he stayed in the Crow’s Nest and what it was like.

Do you feel connected to Masters history now, having stayed in the Crow’s Nest and playing with the defending champion, hearing the roars?

It’s an unbelievable feeling when the roars are for you. The patrons there really get it and they seem to root for the amateurs in a special way. I birdied 12, 13, 14 and 15 in a row and it really seemed like the roars got louder with each birdie. The crowd really gets behind you and you can’t forget the excitement.

I don’t know if you know this, but when you Google “Kelly Kraft Golf” the Google “auto-complete” tool adds “hot girlfriend” and that’s the top related search.

I didn’t know that. That’s funny, but I guess I can give them an update. She’s now my fiancée. We’re going to get married next April. She’s been amazing. She played golf at SMU, too, so it’s great having someone in your life who understands the ups and downs of golf and how much work it takes to play well.

We’re really happy and excited.

How important is it to have that support structure of your coach, fiancée and your parents who all understand the game and can be there for you?

It’s awesome to have people who understand the things I have to do to get better. They know my game and what I need to focus on to play well on Tour. So, coming home brings a great energy and it’s easy to stay positive.

Fall 2012 TexasGolfer 9

TGA Premier Junior Golf: Growing the Future of the Game

A

t a time when every “Grow the Game” initiative warrants a listen, TGA Premier Junior Golf has what is arguably the most dynamic approach to involving entire families in learning and playing golf. With franchise programs across the country, (including Houston, Austin and the D/FW Metroplex), TGA is focused not only on “introducing” kids to the game, but also fostering their development into lifelong golfers who stay in the game and play with their families.

The TGA franchise model is simple: instead of relying on getting kids to the golf course, directors conduct the golf education sessions in schools, on school days. TGA programs are geared for afterschool groups and elementary and middle school P.E. classes and utilize a groundbreaking lesson plan developed by a team of PhDs and educators to help kids learn golf in a fun, constructive setting.

“Taking golf into schools breaks down so many barriers that you commonly associate with learning golf,” says Dave Bergeron, owner/director of multiple TGA franchises in Texas. “You don’t have to go to a golf course or belong to a private club and the curriculum is structured so that kids learn at an easy, organized pace and they all know they can take this golf education as far as they like.”

TGA employs a five-level lesson plan that teaches juniors the physical as well as intellectual disciplines of the game.

Along with grip, alignment stance and posture, kids learn to use, math, science, history and English skills to gain a deeper understanding of the game. While

10 TexasGolfer Fall 2012

there’s ample hands-on swing instruction, the academic approach to teaching golf keeps the program organized and motivates kids to learn the game in clear progressions.

“It’s not always all about conquering the ball,” says Julie Monzingo, co-owner/ director of the Northwest Houston TGA chapter. “It’s a complete approach to learning golf that equips students not just to swing the club, but to really understand the game.”

And once the kids develop that understanding, TGA has ways to seamlessly transition students from learning golf in schools to taking their knowledge to the golf course for “enhanced skill development” with PGA Professionals. The Northern Texas PGA recently partnered with TGA to institute “Player Pathways” that allow kids affordable accessibility to partnering golf courses in the region. The ultimate goal of these summer camps and parent-child clinics is to create new and lasting customers for these courses.

“TGA’s partnership with the Northern Texas PGA begins to culminate our vision to help grow the game and get more juniors and adults to the golf course.

By reaching the general public through school based enrichment programs, it makes golf accessible and affordable,” says Joshua Jacobs, chief executive officer of TGA. “The Northern Texas PGA is a perfect partner to create a pathway for growing the game and creating avid golfers for the future.”

One of the key programs that the new partnership will support is the popular

NTPGA Team Golf program. Team Golf is for children ages 7-14 with beginning level golf experience. It offers an introduction to tournament play through nine-hole team stroke play competition.

Team Golf is a fun, social, less stressful approach to tournament golf. Teams are coached by PGA professionals and provide junior golfers with the knowledge and skills that set the stage for a lifetime of golf enjoyment.

“We are very excited to partner with TGA and believe their school model along with the newly created player pathway will be a key ingredient to not only growing programs like Team Golf and Junior Tournaments, but also serve as a model for other Sections to grow the game nationwide,” says Mark Harrison, executive director of the Northern Texas PGA. Recently, Bergeron, a former PGA Professional and owner of the TGA Premier Junior Golf franchises in west and north Houston, acquired a third franchise in Austin and looks to aggressively spread the TGA gospel to schools and families around the city.

“Roughly 90 percent of our students have never played golf before, so TGA is truly bringing new golfers into the game.

I envision, over the next 10 years as we see golf starting to grow again, that the unique TGA model will be a large part of that story with how we are impacting young children and families through schools nationwide,” Bergeron says.

For more information on a TGA program in Austin, Houston or the Metroplex, visit www.playtga.com.

TEXASGOLFERMAGAZINE.COM

KNOW YOUR PROS

You’d do well to listen to the wisdom of your local PGA professional.

When it comes to golf, they’ve seen it all and they genuinely care about the good of the game. Three pros from around the state tee off on this issue’s round of five questions:

Robert Wood, director of golf Butterfield Trail Golf Club, El Paso

Will Borowski, director of golf The Club at Cimarron, Mission, TX

Mike McCabe, director of golf Old American Golf Club, The Colony, TX

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SHORT PAR 4 IN TEXAS? #5 at Butterfield Trail

#16 at Falconhead in Austin

#16 at Old American

WHAT’S YOUR “GO-TO” CLUB OR SHOT? 3-wood off the tee. Automatic.

The stinger 3-wood with a little draw

19-degree hybrid. You can hit off the tee or fairway and even chip with it.

WHAT’S ONE THING GOLFERS CAN DO TO GET MORE ENJOYMENT OUT OF THE GAME? Remember that golf is a leisure activity.

It’s supposed to be fun. Be sure to enjoy the environment and the scenery.

Practice more. Take instruction.

Practice their weaknesses. Practice creatively. Turn in all their rounds to keep a current handicap.

Spend time working on the short game. 15 minutes chipping and putting can do wonders.

WHAT HAS YOUR PROPERTY DONE TO ADAPT TO THE ECONOMY AND THE CHANGING HABITS OF GOLFERS? We’re committed to outstanding service. We’re never satisfied and we want every guest’s experience to exceed his expectations.

When the Winter Texans come to the Valley, we open the doors to the public on Mondays. We’ve gained some members doing that. We’ll host some outside events, also.

We offer some exclusive opportunities like the Marius Filmalter golf clinics.

We’ll let golfers play three-hole loops when it’s feasible. That keeps things fast and fun.

WHERE WILL YOU GO ON YOUR NEXT GOLF TRIP OR VACATION? New England. It’s always beautiful.

TEXASGOLFERMAGAZINE.COM

Los Angeles, Calif. No golf though.

The wife doesn’t play.

I need to get to Whistling Straits and Whispering Pines.

Fall 2012 TexasGolfer 11

OLD AMERICAN: The Newest Happenin’ Scene

W

and Crystal Downs, courses conceived and built in the ‘Golden Age’ of golf course architecture.

“Old American is a tough, but fair test of golf and I look forward to playing it again soon,” says Green.

Also popular with the name-on-the-bag fraternity is the well-appointed practice area on the back of the super-deep driving range, complete with Tour-caliber putting, chipping sand features. Putting aficionado Marius Filmalter runs schools back there and players can hit any shot imaginable from the secluded tee line.

ith a well-pedigreed list of frequent players, Old American Golf Club in The Colony is beginning to resemble a PGA Tour venue—or at least a popular home away from the PGA Tour. Australian-born pro Nathan Green fired a course-record 67 earlier this year, nipping the old mark held by K.J. Choi and Old American’s co-designer Justin Leonard.

Australian PGA Tour veteran Rod Pampling signed an agreement with Old American this summer to use the golf course and its practice facilities while at home, as well as display Old American’s logo on his bag during events. “The conditioning and emphasis on shot-making at Old American are very similar to what we experience on TOUR,” says the two-time PGA Tour winner. “It’s the perfect place for me to work on my game while in the DFW-area.”

Players seem to enjoy the “classic” sensibility and straightforward shot values architect Tripp Davis and Leonard brought out in this design. Davis says Old American’s natural contours, hazard styles, native grasses and green shapes were influenced by such legendary layouts like Shinnecock Hills

12 TexasGolfer Fall 2012

“We’re excited to see Old American’s reputation growing among Tour players,” says Mike McCabe, general manager.

“We’ve hosted several Tour stars this year including Y.E. Yang, Pampling, John Senden and Paul Stankowski, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.”

Old American Golf Club was recently ranked No. 5 in GOLF Magazine’s list of “Best Public Courses” in Texas, making it the highest ranked course in the Metroplex. “Our staff works tirelessly to provide elite service and TOUR-quality conditions,” says Mike McCabe, general manager. “We are proud to have a magazine of GOLF’s caliber recognize Old American as the best public course in the region and one of the best in a golf-rich state.”

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Fall 2012 TexasGolfer 3

ProSpective Sponsored by

To Anchor or Not to Anchor

By BRAD LARDON

W

e have all been hearing that the USGA and the R&A are in serious discussions about whether to allow golfers to anchor their putters to their bodies. Personally, I think this is ridiculous. First of all, if there was a great advantage every player would be doing it. Going into the Tour Championship, the entire top ten on the Fed Ex Cup Points list were all using standard-length putters. Where’s the epidemic?

Simply put, I say let them anchor if they want to.

14 TexasGolfer Fall 2012

TEXASGOLFERMAGAZINE.COM

During the last several decades, the governing bodies of golf have allowed technology to take over the game. First came metal drivers. This made a huge difference (approximately 20 yards). Every player switched to them. In the late 1990s, the Pro V 1 was introduced.

This added another 20 yards for each player. Again, every player switched to the new ball and balata was left in the dust. My rookie year on the PGA Tour in 1991 at age 25 I averaged 257 yards off the tee.

My last year on the PGA Tour, in 2005, I turned 40. I also averaged 292 yards in driving distance. I got older, slightly weaker and hit the ball much farther than I had ever before.

Long and anchored (belly) putters have been around just as long is this other technology, so, seriously… why now? Why this?

It’s true some people will be hurt if this rule change happens on Tour.

The younger players who anchor such as Webb Simpson and Keegan Bradley, I don’t think will be hurt.

These youngsters are so talented that they will adjust and be fine.

The players who play on the Champions Tour will be the ones who will feel this the most if the rule is changed. Fred Couples, Tom Kite, Bernhard Langer and Michael Allen, to name a few, would be greatly affected. But I don’t think these players are the target.

Also, the question will arise if the rule is changed, how this will affect the amateur? In my opinion, it would be crazy to force amateurs to change. The largest player development initiative ever introduced by the PGA of America is Golf 2.0. I happen to chair the committee put together by the Southern

Texas PGA. The purpose for the initiative is to grow a declining game by making the game more fun. If anchoring a putter allows an individual to have more fun, by all means, let him anchor.

Brad Lardon is the well-respected Director of Golf at Miramont Country Club. His ongoing series of articles, "From the Pro," will appear in each issue of TEXAS GOLFER. Brad can be reached at: Lardon@miramont.cc

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A R I Z O N A Fall 2012 TexasGolfer 15

L LOCA D E GE

KNOWL

G

DALLAS/FORT WORTH News & Notes

GOLF 2.0 ALL ABOUT GROWTH FOR THE FUTURE

olf in the United States is declining.

That’s obvious from looking at the participation numbers provided by the National Golf Foundation, showing 26.1 million golfers in 2011 as compared to 28.8 back in 2000.

Led by the PGA of America, the golf industry has started Golf 2.0 in an effort to reverse this trend. The PGA enticed Darrell Crall, executive director of the Northern Texas PGA for 16 years, to head this effort as Senior Director of Golf 2.0 and earmarked $5 million for the program.

Long-time PGA member Rich Richeson, who had a background in player development programs most recently with the Carolinas Trail Learning Center in Charlotte, NC, was approached first about being one of the nine regional directors based in Dallas, but then instead became the national manager for player development. His responsibilities are to support nine regional managers in key locations with high latent demand, including Chuck Higgins in Dallas, and to assist multi-course facilities with the effort.

During his heavy travel schedule, Richeson took time out to provide Texas Golfer with more details about Golf 2.0.

TG: Describe Golf 2.0 and how it is different from other initiatives that have been tried by golf leaders in the past? Are you getting support from other organizations?

RR: It’s an industry-wide initiative to grow the game from 26 million golfers to 40 million in the next 10 years. It’s not just a vision of the PGA. We are taking the lead, but other golf groups are jumping on the band wagon because all of them see that we need to grow the game.

TG: Is the goal realistic?

RR: Yes, it’s an aggressive goal, but I think it can be achieved. There were 4.5 million who left the game last year and 3.5 million who took it up. If we flip flop the numbers, it can be done, but we have to really turn things around, too.

16 TexasGolfer Fall 2012

TG: People seem to have the same basic objections with golf: it’s too hard; it costs too much: it takes too much time; it can be intimidating to beak into. How do you effectively implement programs that combat these barriers?

RR: We’ve got to get golf professionals and facilities to think outside the box and come up with playing opportunities that are shorter and more player-friendly.

There’s nothing wrong with allowing golfers to play 9 holes or even shorter loops in non-peak times. Architects now offer grant programs to help facilities with design changes for shorter opportunities.

TG: How much harm has the lengthening of golf courses to match standards for the pros hurt the participation (and enjoyment) of average players who can’t relate or keep up with the modern power game?

RR: It’s definitely hurt the game. While the equipment and ball are better, players need to play from the proper set of tees matched to their skill levels instead of going to the tips.

TG: What is the most “sought after” demographic in the golf industry? What segment of the population could do the most for the game if they came to it in droves?

RR: We’ve got to ensure our core golfers are engaged through the right types of programs. It takes a lot to develop junior golfers, but it’s critical for the game because when they learn the game, statistics show they are much more likely to continue playing as an adult. But getting women engaged in a fun social environment is also critical. Diversity is also huge especially with the growth of the Hispanic population in this country.

TG: What are the PGA’s strategies for Golf 2.0? How do you fit in the effort?

RR: There are three. First, we need to retain and strengthen the core players, our most valuable asset. Then we need to engage the lapsed golfers, who have played the game but don’t anymore.

Finally, and maybe more importantly, we have to drive new players to the game.

One of my roles is to coordinate our efforts with our Player Development Regional Managers. We have a Player Development Playbook that details the steps to take: communication, analysis, planning, marketing, execution and tracking. Some of the programs aimed at helping us expose more players to the game include: Get Golf Ready, Tee It Forward, Family Golf Month and the PGA Junior Golf League.

TG: How can our Texas Golfer readers assist in assuring the future vitality of the game?

RR: I see it similar to the movie “Pay it Forward.” I would like to challenge everyone who has a passion for the game to introduce just ONE new golfer to the game… that singular effort would have a huge impact on the growth of this great game! Be welcoming and patient as you encounter new players out on the golf course. We need to be ambassadors to the game and keep it viable by making these new golfers comfortable.

– James McAfee TEXASGOLFERMAGAZINE.COM

Renovations Change Golf Scenery in Metroplex

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he combination of a down economy and the overbuilding of golf courses throughout the United States more than a decade ago has reduced the number of new course openings dramatically. It’s no different here in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area, but golfers are already seeing different looks at their favorite courses thanks to major renovations.

The latest developments will find that Hidden Creek Golf Course in Burleson and Luna Vista Golf Course in Dallas, formerly L.B. Houston, opening in October. Architects John Colligan and Trey Kemp handled the facelifts. The Courses at Watters Creek in Plano, formerly the Chase Oaks Golf Club, will open 18 holes plus a 6-hole short course in November. D.A. Weibring and Steve Wolfard handled the make over.

Two other city-owned municipal courses, Stevens Parks Golf Course in Kessler Park in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas and Pecan Hollow Golf Course in eastern Plano just completed first years with new looks.

Jim Henderson called the changes at Stevens as a “reconstruction” since 12 holes were completely changed. “It was sheer genius what they did, “added Henderson. Taking advantage of existing bluffs, creeks, trees and vistas ignored in the original routing and design by Jack Burke Sr., Kemp took out what Henderson called “some of the quirkiness” and stretched the par 70 layout to 6,300 yards with six par 3s. New turf was added– Premier Bermuda for fairways and tees, Tifton 19 Bermuda for the rough and Miniverde for the greens, which will have a variety of square, rectangular, diamond and triangular shapes, likes the ones in the original design. More than 800 trees were added along with 38 sand bunkers.

Spectacular views of the Dallas skyline and some beautiful landscaping by Henderson add to the fresh new look for the historic course.

Pecan Hollow features a different routing with 11 new holes, including a beautiful par 4 10th hole that was carved out of the woods to expand the course. New tees have pushed the tips to 7,026 yards, but four other sets ranging from 6,567 to 4.848 will allow players to play from tees TEXASGOLFERMAGAZINE.COM

that better suit their playing skills. The greens were enlarged and now feature Miniverde. Thirty-eight new bunkers, including some that will challenge the second shots on the par 5s, were added with new white sand. A five-hole short game practice area was also added and the range was moved to between the No. 1 and No., 18 holes. “We’ve got a lot better drainage (100s of underground drains added) now and shouldn’t have problems with flooding and having to shut down the course-as we have in the past,” said pro Steve Heidelberg.

The Shores Country Club got a new name, the Rockwall Golf & Athletic Club, and underwent major renovations when it reopened this past summer. Kit Thompson says the routing will remain basically the same except the opening hole has been reduced to a long par 4 and No. 7 extended to a 600-yard par 5.

All the greens were rebuilt with Miniverde–the new grass of choice for North Texas. Some bunkers were eliminated and new ones added. New tees were also added. The renovated clubhouse at the semi-private club opened also.

The greens at the Traditions 9, part of the 27-hole Bridges at Firewheel Golf Park in Garland that was formerly part of the original Lakes course, were rebuilt and replanted with bent grass. The bunkers were also renovated with new white sand added. “We did a lot of landscaping, including tree trimming and added rock bed outcroppings that will remind some of Horseshoe Bay” said superintendent Gary Chambers.

With a new owner Bright Realty and new name, The Lakes at Castle Hills in Lewisville now features a modern fresh look as three lakes were renovated and five new ones added, the greens were rebuilt to their original designs with MiniVerde and white crushed quartz was added in the bunkers. In addition, Hank Haney moved his world headquarters for the Hank Haney Golf Schools to the practice facility that features tees on both end of a 500-yard range and three practice holes.

Up north at Lake Texoma, the private Rock Creek Resort, managed by Double Diamond, opened the second 9 to its Fall 2012 TexasGolfer 17

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Jack Nicklaus design, a more user friendly offering than the original 9 that winds through oaks and rolling hills along Rock Creek.

The WinStar golf course, just north of the Red River in Thackerville, opened an additional 9 holes. The front 9 remains the same and will become the East. The West starts on old No. 10, crosses the street for six new holes and finishes with old Nos. 11-13. The South starts on old No. 13, crosses the street for three new holes and finishes with old 14-18.

Eastern Hills Country Club used temporary greens this past summer as it changed to MiniVerde while Brook Hollow Golf Club in Dallas and The Vaquero Club in Westlake got face lifts, too. The Honors Golf Club of Dallas in Carrollton re-opened its clubhouse and now has a new entrance off of Kelly Road. The Las Colinas Country Club in Irving underwent a transformation of its clubhouse last year and the Stonebridge Ranch Country Club in McKinney renovated its Twenty-8 Grille.

Renovations of the clubhouses were also planned at the

18 18 TexasGolfer TexasGolfer Fall Fall 2012 2012

Timarron Country Club in Southlake and Vaquero.

Petro Golf Management, which includes director of golf Philip Bleakney, president of the Northern Texas PGA, along with head professional Perry Arthur, purchased The Golf Club of Dallas and will operate it as a semi-private, open to the public.

Young Han, who also owns Tour 18 and the Trails of Frisco Golf Club, purchased the Golf Club at Frisco Lakes from Pulte and the public course is no longer managed by Century Golf.

Centurion American, which also owns The Golf Club at The Resort in Fort Worth, purchased The Bridges Golf Club in Gunter. Some small tweaks will be started and future plans call for the rebuilding of the bunkers and the addition of pool at the semi-private facility.

On a sad note, the Z Boaz Golf Course in Fort Worth was closed Sept. 30 and Canyon West Golf Course in Weatherford was scheduled to be sold at an auction. – James McAfee

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Texas-Based HIRZL Taking a Grip on the Glove Market gloves retail for $24.99). HIRZL CEO Gary Sheppard found the Swiss brand at a European golf expo in 2009 and immediately knew he had to bring the product to the U.S. “Since we launched our brand to North America in the summer of 2010, the response from consumers, golf professionals and retailers has been incredible,” said Sheppard

A

Granbury-based golf glove company is starting to make major waves in the industry. Using high-quality, insanely-durable kangaroo leather, HIRZL gloves are soft to the touch, but resist wear over long periods of times and perform consistently, even in wet conditions.

During the summer, HIRZL debuted its first-ever TV commercial on the Golf Channel with Austin’s own Dave Pelz speaking for the brand. Pelz, the short game guru and former NASA physicist explains his newfound passion for the glove: “For years, I've been teaching golfers to play their short game shots with lighter grip pressure and more relaxed hands. When I heard about HIRZL gloves I needed to prove to myself that HIRZL gloves, did indeed, provide better traction with lower grip pressure, compared to the other leading glove brands in the market," added Pelz "I then submerged my HIRZL gloved hand in a bucket of water for a good 12 seconds and hit some full shots. I was amazed that I still had the same grip control as when the glove was dry! There was no slippage whatsoever. This proved to me that HIRZL has far and away the most exciting glove technology available today.”

Kangaroos have one of the most durable hides available, but that leather tends to run on the expensive side (HIRZL TT EE XX AA SS GG O O LL FF EE RR M M AA GG AA ZZ II NN EE .. CC O OM M

To affirm the glove’s durability, Sheppard convinced Nigel Mangan– an Irishman preparing to break the Guinness World Record for most consecutive golf balls hit over a 12-hour span– to use a HIRZL glove on each hand. Mangan broke the record, hitting more than 8,500.

That’s the equivalent of more than 100 18-hole rounds.

“The gloves were amazing and I used the same glove throughout the 12-hour duration,” Mangan said in a release.

Before using HIRZL gloves, Mangan was going through a glove an hour, Sheppard states. After those 12 hours, Mangan’s HIRZL gloves had no wear.

In September, Tim Burke took home the top prize of $10,000 at the 2012 LDA Tour Championship at WinStart World Casino in Thackerville, OK using a HIRZL TRUST Control glove. The second and third place contestants also wore HIRZL gloves. Art Sellinger, CEO of Long Drivers of America says, “With so much riding on every single drive, a grip-enhancing golf glove is now one of the most trusted and valuable pieces of equipment used to help achieve longer and straighter drives and that is why the world's longest drivers use HIRZL gloves.”

Sheppard says seeing is believing and thinks there’s a place in the market for a glove that performs “like a valued piece of golf equipment” and lasts much longer than a typical glove. www.hirzl-web.com.

FIRST TEXAS JUNIOR CUP COMES TO NORTHWOOD Congratulations to the top six boys and top six girls who qualified to represent their respective Northern and Southern Texas PGA Junior Tours in the first-ever Ryder Cup-style Texas Junior Cup Matches that were contested Oct. 20-21 at Northwood Club in Dallas.

Cameron McCormick, director of instruction at Brook Hollow Golf Club in Dallas, and Alan Wooley, director of golf at Lady Bird Johnson Golf Course in Fredericksburg, served as the captains.

“This is such a unique experience for these top quality young golfers,” said Mike Ray, executive director of the STPGA. “This gives our better players something to shoot for during the summer and also opens their eyes to different styles of competition.”

The format features a 9-hole scramble and 9-hole best-ball matches the first day, and 9-hole singles matches the second day.

NTPGA executive director, Mark Harrison stated, “Being able to conduct the Texas Junior Cup Matches at such a prestigious club as Northwood is a treat for the kids!”

North Texas Team: Jake Benanti (McKinney), Wade Langley (Winnsboro), Minas Manias (Frisco), Hailey Jones (Dallas), Gabbi Bentancourt (Lubbock), Haili Moore (Prosper), Sam Jenkins (Garland), Robert Larhman (Dallas), Alyssa Kurji (Plano), Bianca Cunningham (Garland), Phoebe Yuan (Allen) and Dawson Ovard (Frisco).

Southern Texas Team: Jacqueline Nguyen (Houston), Morgan Miller (Cedar Park), Grace Ni (Houston), Tiffany Nguyen (Houston), Hailee Cooper (Montgomery), Leah Alberto (Kingwood), Shaheen Momin (Sugar Land), Treed Huang (Katy), Zakary Jones (Spring), Jason Bryant (Baytown), Sam Bennett (Madisonville) and Jake Wittschiebe (Fair Oaks Ranch).

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HOUSTON News & Notes

RAVENEAUX DEBUTS NEW MEMBER AMENITIES AND PRACTICE AREA

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aveneaux Country Club in Northwest Houston recently unveiled a host of improvements to the private club’s practice, dining and recreational amenities.

An expanded practice tee, along with new greens and a dedicated short game area have been a big hit with serious players. Meanwhile, the newest addition to the 60,000-square-foot European-style club house is the “Old Course Pub” (renovated from the club’s once-simple casual dining lounge) and it has become the center attraction for pre- and post-round gatherings as well as game-watching functions. A family-friendly “sports pub”, the Old Course offers home-style American cuisine in a relaxed setting.

“It’s great to be able to make improvements that fit the lifestyle and culture of the membership,” says head golf profes-

20 TexasGolfer Fall 2012

"More families and members with active lifestyles are coming to the club and taking advantage of amenities" THOMAS BRINSON, HEAD GOLF PRO

sional Thomas Brinson. “We’re excited that more families and members with active lifestyles are coming to the club and taking advantage of amenities that fit their needs.”

Soon, the club will add a state-of-theart fitness center, complete with the latest in fitness equipment (machine and free weights), a group-exercise class room, flat screen TVs, personal training

service and a view overlooking the 18th green.

“There’s an awesome energy at the club since Sage Golf Group Worldwide took over in 2010,” says Brinson. “The members are really proud of the club and are really excited to tell friends what a fantastic place this and is becoming. We had some repairs and restoration after floods earlier this year, but the golf course is consistently in outstanding condition and many say it’s the best it’s been in years. We’re having fun.”

After rumors in the previous decade the property would be sold and possibly repurposed for non-golf real estate development, Sage has the property on solid footing and membership is growing at an impressive clip, according to club staff.

Visit www.raveneaux.com TEXASGOLFERMAGAZINE.COM

COUPLES TO ENTER WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME T

exans have known him as “Former Houston Cougar”, “1992 Masters Champion” and “Fan Favorite” for years, but now you can call him “World Golf Hall of Fame member, Fred Couples”. Couples will enter the shrine in May of 2013 after squeaking through the election process ahead of Mark O’Meara, Davis Love III and Ken Venturi.

Couples amassed 15 wins on the PGA Tour, including the 1992 Masters and two PLAYERS Championships. A three-time Presidents Cup captain and a five-time team member of the Ryder and Presidents Cups, a consistent hallmark of Couples’ career has been his longevity.

“I've won 15 times and a major and all that, but I think one of the things I've done well is played for a long time. Sometimes that is meaningless. I think when

you get in the Hall of Fame, it's more about the finishes you've had,” Couples says. “For me, at my age of 52, I think it's certainly a great honor and great timing, because it will push me to play a couple more years and see how I can play.”

Couples held the number-one sport on the World Golf Rankings for four months in 1992, when had perhaps his best season on the PGA Tour. He made the cut in 23 consecutive Masters tournaments, tying Gary playing for the most ever in a row.

In just three seasons, Couples has won eight times on the Champions Tour, including the 2012 Insperity Championship at the Tournament course at The Woodlands Country Club. He’s currently fifth on the Champions Tour season money list.

MIRAMONT’S CLAYTON WONNELL WINS STPGA CHAMPIONSHIP C

layton Wonnell captured the 2012 Southern Texas PGA Professional Championship after a hotly-contested final round at his home course at Miramont Country Club. Wonnell won the championship with a 54-hole total of 70-73-69—212, 4-under-par. At 24 years old, the Miramont assistant professional is one of the youngest winners in the 44-year history of STPGA Professional Championship.

“Brad (Lardon, the director of golf at Miramont) told me to do three things— hit it where you can find it, get your first chip on the green and don’t three-putt— and you’ll have a chance to win this thing,” said Wonnell, “and that was my mantra for the tournament.”

Wonnell started the final round two strokes off the pace set by second-round leader Scott Johnson, with a handful

TEXASGOLFERMAGAZINE.COM

of golfers remaining within striking distance of the lead. By the time the leaders passed the 15th hole, however, the tournament had become a three-man battle between Wonnell, John Gibson and first-round leader Carl Cooper.

Wonnell parred 16 and 17 then put his third shot within five feet of the hole on the par-5 18th and calmly sank his birdie putt and got his name on the Tommy Aycock Trophy.

Wonnell, Gibson, Cooper, Johnson and Wes Skaggs all qualified for the 2013 PGA Professional Championship, which will take place June 23-26, 2013 at Oregon’s Sunriver Resort. Other STPGA members qualifying for the national event are: Mike Kullberg, Robert Thompson, Brad Lardon, Lonny Alexander, Troy Schleicher, and Tim Hobby.

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LOCAL PROFILE- BOB ALLEN:

A FRONT ROW SEAT TO SPORTS HISTORY

B

ob Allen has been reporting sports in the Houston area for 40 years.

He joined the Channel 13 news team in 1974 and has had a front row seat to the highest highs and the lowest lows in the city’s tumultuous sports history. From the Nolan Ryan/Jose Cruz-powered Astros teams of the 70s and 80s to the World Champion Rockets squads of the mid-90s to the nascent and, at times, baffling rise of the Texans, Allen has been telling Houstonians the sports stories they’ve had to see to believe since before Earl Campbell was a household name.

Allen has the longest tenure of any major-market sports anchor in the country. In an industry almost defined by changing faces, Allen has been a constant and has used his influence to help two charitable causes through the years.

He has served on the Board of Directors of both the Special Olympics and The Sunshine Kids (a foundation dedicated to helping children who have cancer).

Every spring, he takes part in a fundraising golf tournament to support Special Olympics. While he’s not exactly a scratch player, Allen understands that golf is a great way to bond relationships and reach people who can help impact change for worthy causes. “We’ve had some really rewarding times raising money and letting people know that their donations really do go to a very cool and deserving cause,” he says.

Allen took time recently to recall his career and the city that has embraced 22 TexasGolfer Fall 2012

his insights on its sports scene since the Nixon administration: There are two knocks Houston gets when it’s compared to other sports towns. 1) It’s a hard luck sports town and 2) the fans can be a little fair-weather when the team’s aren’t winning. Are those opinions fair?

I think the fans here are terrific. I don’t think they’ve always been given a consistent product by the teams. In cities where the fans are considered die-hard, like Boston, Philadelphia or Chicago, you have to remember those teams have been there for generations. Our oldest professional team is the Astros who started playing in 1962. It’s a relatively young sports town with not much history of winning. The Texans have great fans.

They’ve sold out every game since the team has been here. It’s that footballcrazy here.

I don’t want you to feel old, but you’re the only lead sports anchor I’ve ever known on Channel 13. You’ve had the job for as long as I’ve been aware of sports. Longevity at one desk is a rare thing in broadcasting.

I’ve been lucky to be at a station that’s been number one in the market since shortly after I got here. I feel really blessed. The cool part of me is that Houston is my hometown. I’ve never had to leave. I graduated from Westbury High School and then went to Stephen F. Austin to get my degree.

I understand you were honored as a Stephen F. Austin’s Distinguished Alumnus in 2011.

It’s really amazing, because they wanted throw me out the whole time I was there and now I’m a distinguished alumnus. Class of ’71.

What’s your golf handicap?

It’s in the low 20s. I don’t get to play as much as I like, but I really enjoy it.

Where do you like to play golf in Houston?

Houston has a great collection of golf courses. I don’t belong to club because I don’t have a lot of time to play, but I enjoy Meadowbook Farms, The Traditions at Cypresswood and Greatwood to name a few. I just enjoy playing with friends a lot.

You’ve been able to use golf to impact lives through your work with the Sunshine Kids and the Special Olympics?

It’s been really rewarding. For the past several years, I’ve partnered with Mike Munchak and Bruce Matthews on a tournament that raises money for Special Olympics. We do that every March and that’s a really special time. Everyone let’s their hair down and has fun. One thing we’ve done is have the Special Olympics athletes come out and do the putting for the groups on the 10th hole. It makes the athletes feel very special and it gives the golfer who has donated his time and his money a better understanding of why here’s there. It’s not just a round of golf. It really impacts the lives of young people.

Will you follow in the footsteps of your former colleague Marvin Zindler and work at Channel 13 until you’re six feet under?

I may look at things in another year or two and consider starting to wind things down a little. I’ve got a grandkids now.

I’m still young enough where I can enjoy things. I might want to branch out and do some writing, some speaking, some marketing… I’d still like to be involved with the Texans and the station in some way for years to come. What I do is a lot of fun, though. I couldn’t have written a better script.

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HILL COUNTRY News & Notes The Next Frontier in Horseshoe Bay

SUMMIT ROCK USHERS IN A NEW ERA

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t’s nice when things turn out better than expected. The new Summit Rock Golf Club at Horseshoe Bay sits on a towering bluff overlooking a sprawling expanse of Hill Country, yet it’s not just the location that’s breathtaking. The natural settings of several of the holes on this Jack Nicklaus Signature design, showcasing natural creek beds and washes, rocky hillsides and rolling fields of native flowers, are something special.

Every designer will bend your ear about how well his course “blends” into the land, but here, it’s seamless. The natural features are revealed, not exploited.

TEXASGOLFERMAGAZINE.COM

“This property has significantly more elevation change than any other course I’ve done in Texas, even the other ones on the Hill Country,” Nicklaus says. “We were fortunate that the land had that gentle climb up to the upper areas of the course. The views are just exceptional.”

Recently-departed director of golf, Glen Lee says this 7,258-yard, par-72 layout shows a kinder, gentler Nicklaus than some of the Golden Bear’s previous designs. “Mr. Nicklaus was intent on making Summit Rock playable. There’s bailout on every hole and not really too

many forced carries,” says Lee. “What I love about this course is that no two holes that even remotely look alike.

There’s so much character out here.”

Summit Rock features lush Bentgrass greens, a treat for players accustomed to Bermuda and an adjustment for those not familiar with the subtleties of Bent.

“We’re really proud of the greens,” says director of resort experience Mike Abbott. “The members love putting on Bentgrass and they’re big surfaces so we’re able to move the pins around enough to keep them very healthy.

Fall 2012 TexasGolfer 23

The “upper section” Nicklaus and members refer to is holes 3 through 12 and, on a clear day, you’ll see 40-mile views from that section’s highest points.

Beautifully framed golf holes like the 448-yard eighth (with an elevated green well guarded by a deep-faced sand trap short and right) and the lengthy par-3 12th (flanked by hillsides and colorful native areas). “The course has tremendous par 3s (like the 17th where a carry over a small lake leads to a green adjacent to an interesting cave-like rock outcropping),” says Lee. “And I love the drivable par 4s (the 323-yard 7th and the tempting, dogleg 13th) on each nine.”

Another fine touch at Summit Rock are the elegant comfort stations on holes 4 and 13, offering an assortment of snack food, beverages and chef-prepared delicacies to help keep your energy up during the round.

Only members and guest of members can play Summit Rock, however golf course is fantastic lure for potential real estate clients. “The Summit Rock enclave is a real find. To have easy access to a thriving, ever-evolving lake community is awesome, but having a view that looks down on it all is definitely rare,”says Abbott.

Membership is thriving at the course through what Lee calls “the softest soft opening in history.” At press time, Nicklaus is preparing to attend an Oct. 30 Grand Opening event and construction is well underway on the expansive Smokehouse, 19th hole of sorts with full kitchen and lounge amenities that promise to combine the charms of “a German biergarten, a Provencal open-air dining pergola, and a big screened-in porch.”

For more information on Summit Rock, visit www.summitrockhsb.com.

– Carl Mickelson

J U S T A S H O R T P U T T A W AY.

Our public championship course at Arkansas’s golf and water sports resort on DeGray Lake

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offers gently rolling hills lined with tall pines. With new TifEagle greens and improved fairways, this grand old course is better than ever. And, it’s just a few hours from Texas.

DeGray Lake Resort State Park Lodge 24 24 TexasGolfer TexasGolfer Fall Fall 2012 2012

1-800-737-8355 • DeGray.com • I-30 at Arkadelphia TT EE XX AA SS GG O O LL FF EE RR M M AA GG AA ZZ II NN EE .. CC O OM M

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HILL COUNTRY

Progress on Morris Williams Renovations Going Well

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ne of Austin’s beloved municipal courses has been closed since February for extensive renovations and improvements. Morris Williams Golf Course is taking on a restoration not unlike the one happening in the community that surrounds the property. As the neighboring former site of the MuellerMunicipal Airport transforms into new residential communities with handy retail and entertainment amenities, Morris Williams will also look like an all-together new golf property.

The driving range and practice greens are being expanded and completely rebuilt. The clubhouse that will open in 2013 (along with the renovated 18-hole golf course) is being constructed from the ground up and will feature a modern design and conveniences its predecessor lacked. On the golf course, fairways are being re-grassed and recountoured while greens and tee boxes are also being completely re-worked. Some holes will play longer with greens being moved from their original locations and new tee boxes being added.

Austin native Jep Wille is the architect taking the lead on the reconstruction and says more than half the holes will be lengthened but the added length will come into play mostly from the back tees. The forward tees will play to roughly the same yardages. Much of the work has focused on making the golf course more “playable” than it’s been in recent years. All new 419 bermuda fairways and TifDwarf greens will bring a playability and polish to the design as will the rerouting some angles of holes and landing areas (for both aesthetics and safety).

“We’ve had a few setbacks with random rainfall, but the project has stayed on schedule and the results are looking great,” says city golf director Kevin Gomillion. “The course will play longer from the back tees but from the forward sets, the biggest changes you’ll see are the enlarged greens better angles on approach shots.”

For information on how the progress is going, check www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/morriswilliams.htm and

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Gain Up to

34 Yards per drive

Independent Laboratory tested AvAiL Ab Le in Th r e e cOLOrs

pInk

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WhIte

From the Lab • Up to 34 yards gained on drive.

• Level tees consistently outdistanced those even slightly askew.

• Just a 1/4 inch variant in level resulted in more than 20 yards less distance.

• Competitive data showed that as little as a two-degree tilt resulted in 14 fewer yards. w w w. O n T h e L e v e L G O L f. c O m

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HILL COUNTRY

STASI CLAIMS HER FOURTH U.S. WOMENʼS MID-AM AT BRIGGS RANCH B

riggs Ranch Golf Club in San Antonio hosted its first-ever USGA national event, the 26th U.S. Women’s Mid- Amateur Oct. 6-11. With the acclaimed Tom Fazio design playing 6,142 yards (par 72) for the championship, Long-hitting Meghan Stasi (Overland Park, FL) closed out Liz Waynick (Scottsdale, AZ) 6-and-5 in the final match. The win was the fourth U.S. Women’s Mid-Am victory of Stasi’s career. She also claimed the title in 2006, 2007 and 2010 and is now the 16th golfer to win the same USGA championship at least four times.

The 6-and-5 margin of victory also ties for the largest in the event’s history. In her second-round match, Stasi was five holes down to Lynne Cowan with six to play, but miraculously rallied to win in 21 holes. Her win in the semi-final match was also a 6-and-5 route over 2009 runner-up Laura Coble, of Augusta, GA. “Never in my life did I think I would be here right now,” said Stasi. “So I’m so appreciative to everybody… It’s a very long week for all involved, and you really just have to stay men-

tally and physically prepared. A few matches were very grueling, but I just stayed on top of my game and hoped for the best.”

Briggs Ranch was a worthy venue for an exciting week of golf and did much to place the course on a national stage. “We’re trying to build the best product we can build,” said Gil Hodge, owner of Briggs Ranch. “You need some events to showcase it, as we’ve done in the past with the NCAA (regionals]) and a couple of other tournaments we’ve had here.

We’re excited to be involved with the USGA.” On her chances to possibly catch Glenna Collett Vare’s record of six Women’s Mid Ams, she politely deflected. “Sure, but there’s still so many players out there,” Stasi said. “There are other great players that have a chance to do the same thing. It was great to see a lot of younger players out there this week for the first time and a lot of younger players. It’s certainly an accomplishment for the MidAm. It will be exciting for years to come.”

See full results at usga.org.

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L LOCA EDGE

KNOWL

NEW MEXICO

News & Notes

HYATT TAMAYA, TWIN WARRIORS OFFER “GOLF-TENNIAL” PACKAGE

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onoring 100 years of New Mexico statehood, Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa offers the “Golf-Tennial” package for a high desert golf experience at the award-winning Twin Warriors Golf Club. The “Golf-Tennial” package includes overnight accommodations at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya, daily breakfast for two and a $200 golf credit at the Twin Warriors Golf Club or Santa Ana Golf Club.

“As the Twin Warriors Golf Club honors the ancient land on which it rests, the ‘Golf-Tennial’ package is an opportunity to honor New Mexico’s Centennial celebration by showcasing New Mexico as a great golf destination,” says Jena Marquez, public relations and marketing manager at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa. Twin Warriors is an exhilarating 7,736yard Gary Panks design noted for pristine conditioning and the rugged desert terrain the golf course winds through.

Nestled in the foothills of the towering

Sandia Mountains, the golf course also routes through historical, cultural sites including an ancient cave dwelling and an abandoned horse corral.

adjacent to the Sandia Mountains along the Rio Grande River.

Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa is located on 500 acres on the Pueblo of Santa Ana, situated between Santa Fe and Albuquerque New Mexico and is

The “Golf-Tennial” package at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa can be booked by using the special offer code: GOLFNM at www.tamaya.hyatt.com.

SUN COUNTRY GOLF HOUSE: SYMBOL OF “STRENGTH IN NUMBERS”

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he Sun Country Golf House is a quality example of golf organizations joining forces to promote the game in useful and meaningful ways. The entities under the “Golf House” umbrella include the Sun Country PGA, the Sun Country Amateur Golf Association, the Rio Grande Golf Course Superintendents Association, the New Mexico Golf Tourism Alliance, the Sun Country Jr. Golf Foundation and the Sun Country Junior Golf Tour. It took from 2006 to 2010 to coordinate the formation,

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but members say it’s been a great advantage to “combine staffs and resources to share in the responsibility of bettering, building and improving golf as a whole.”

Dana Lehner, who had served as the Golf House’s Director of Development was recently promoted to Executive Director.

“Being on the ground floor over the past six years and watching the birth of the Golf House has been a privilege. It also provides me with a unique understanding of where to guide it. Our mission will be to get better every day at growing the game of golf and fostering the Sun Country golf cycle of life,” Lehner says.

For more information on professional, amateur and junior events in the Sun Country section, visit: www.suncountrygolfhouse.com.

Fall 2012 TexasGolfer 27

THE ROUNDUP: Checking In

Horseshoe Bay: A BOUNTY OF FUN IN THE HEART OF THE HILL COUNTRY

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see him digging his feet confidently into the sand as he aligns his body left of his target and ghosts a breezy-but-committed little practice swing. His two young sons-- slathered in an icing of SPF-400 that would make a pastry chef proud– look up at him quizzically. To be fair, he has no chance of clearing the hazard. It’s Lake LBJ. It’s massive. He’s got no golf club. No ball. Just all afternoon to daydream and frolic on this generous strip of manmade beach with the foursome that matters most. His wife peers up from her Kindle as the younger of the Ganache Brothers leaps into his arms and shrieks “You’re silly, Daddy!” They go back to building sand castles.

Such is the ebb and flow at Horseshoe Bay Resort’s Yacht Club, a posh and cozy lakefront retreat with a large pool, artistic granite accents everywhere, ample cabanas, tropical flora and birds and soul-soothing views of the serene, constant-level Lake LBJ. I’d call it the heart and soul of the 7,000-acre luxury resort community near Marble Falls, but it’s just one of many uncommonly cool attractions at this unexpected Hill Country hideaway.

Home to three acclaimed (and each very different) Robert Trent Jones golf courses, Horseshoe Bay has been drawing a distinguished golf crowd for close to 40 years, but when the resort added The Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott Hotel (with 249 hotel rooms and suites) in 2004, the picture became complete. There’s no other property in Texas that captures the raw beauty of the Hill Country with lake views and access like you’ll find in this secluded community 45 minutes northwest of Austin.

“The day never ends here,” says director of resort experience Mike Abbott. “You can play a round of golf in the morning and still have a full day on the lake; and after a great meal, you can go play the (all Bermudagrass and magnificently landscaped) Whitewater putting course or the kids can go to the arcade while Mom and Dad unwind.”

The 6,500-acre, constant level Lake LBJ is incorporated well into the resort’s slew of amenities. Whether guests hop on a boat or jet ski or just admire the fetching views from the golf courses, LBJ is everywhere you turn. “Members and guests have such incredible lake access here,” recentlydeparted director golf Glenn Lee says.

“Between the yacht club and the marina and the up close views you get on the 10th, 11th and 12th on Apple Rock course, you really do get that the

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sense that Horseshoe Bay is surrounded by Lake LBJ. It makes a serene Hill Country escape all the more serene.

And fun.”

With 54 holes of golf (plus the newly-opened private Jack Nicklaus signature design ,Summit Rock) tumbling through the Central Texas hills, Horseshoe Bay has a healthy percentage of guests who stay multiple days to be sure they play them all. The Ram Rock Course is the best known of the three, having earned a reputation as one of the most difficult layouts in the state. There just isn’t much margin for error on Ram. Not on the island-green 4th hole or the short but extremely narrow 10th hole, a 344-yard par 4 that can yield either a “stolen” birdie or a disaster score.

“All the golf courses are very playable,” says Lee. “Ram Rock is definitely challenging form the back tees but if you’re in the fairway, it’s very playable and it’s such a beautiful Hill Country setting. It’s not just a ‘tough’ course.

It’s a truly great one.”

Slick Rock, a pleasant parkland layout that stretches across 170 acres, is the property’s original 18-hole design (built in 1971) and features the “$1 Million Dollar Hole”, the par-4 14th adorned with a labyrinthine, waterfall-walled bridge. Apple Rock is the only course of the three that touches the shores of Lake LBJ. The short, par3 12th plays across an inlet of shimmering lake. Bring your camera, maybe even a fishing pole!

After a round, unwind in style at the Yacht Club dining room where executive chef Gilbert Moore elevates seafood and chops with fresh seasonings and side pairings and the ambience elegant but relaxing. In the hotel, the Lantana Grill & Bar is there for you breakfast, lunch and dinner with broad variety and casual setting.

“Even off the golf course, there are still some exhilarating things to do for every member of the family,” Lee says.

“With three pool areas, the lake, spa, Kid’s Club, Yacht Club and world-class tennis amenities, two families can each have their dream vacation here and they can have two completely different agendas.”

With nearby Marble Falls (a classic small town strewn with family-owned shops and restaurants) and a host of nearby wineries, Horseshoe Bay brings the best of Hill Country together for your next weekend getaway, business trip or special occasion. To plan your next trip to Horseshoe Bay, visit www.hsbresort.com.

Fall 2012 TexasGolfer 29

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TEST DRIVES

e know you don’t have time to test and demo every club gadget and piece of trendy golf gear, so we commissioned some staffers to take one for the team and test some popular equipment as well as some under-the-radar products you might want to add to your arsenal.

RockBallz Fairway Woods Transcend the Hype I recently added TaylorMade’s RocketBallz 3-wood to the bag and it’s completely changed my perspective on the “power game.” TaylorMade must have had the same issue that Pfizer had when trying to name Viagra. How does one name something that will come to imply extra power or youthfulness?

Like most golfers, I know that with a 3-wood off the tee, I can be more consistent and in the fairway more often, but sacrificing the distance hasn’t always been something I was willing to do. I decided one evening to put the RocketBallz 3 Wood to the test. I hit two balls off each tee at my home course and the one thing that was very apparent is that I found the fairway more often with my newly-acquired 3-wood. The other thing that was clear was that I didn’t give up much distance, if any at all. In fact, my 3-wood traveled farther on a number of occasions. This is the first time in my 35 years of playing golf that I have ever considered not carrying a driver.

I live on a golf course, so testing clubs in the evening easy and about 100 yards from the gate in my backyard is the #1 handicap hole on the course. It plays 458 yards from the Championship Tees and 431 yards from the back tees-- a par 5 for ladies, but a long par-4 from the men’s tees. The fairway climbs straight up a small hill, then slopes down and too the left. The hole then doglegs left over Buffalo Bayou and gradually slopes up to an elevated green. A lot of members play this hole like a par 5 laying up to leave a 100 to 150 yard third shot in to the green.

On this day, I had hit my new 3-wood to the right-hand side of the fairway and had about 219 yards to the elevated pin. In the past, the wind determined if I would try this shot or not, but not on this day. With a slight breeze blowing in my face, I decided to hit my new found “friend”. Next, I did something that I had never done in my 20 years as a member at this club. I put it over the green and in a pond on the backside of the green. Yes, it was a penalty shot, but it felt great. After dropping, chipping up on the green and two-putting, I left the hole with a double bogey, but it was different than any double bogey I had ever taken on that hole before. I was long again and I smiled all the way to the next hole. – Zane Russell

Join the SEAMUS Clan A husband and wife team finds the perfect marriage of style, quality and performance in the boutique-brand SEAMUS headcovers. Akbar Chisti (a lover of traditional seaside links courses) and his wife, Megan (who has a background in fine apparel) share their creativity and craftsmanship with their lines of classically-shaped and patterned, hand-sewn wool headcovers. Akbar loves to walk when he plays golf, so the elastic band that keeps the cover on is strategicallyplaced and more durable than typical headcovers. I’ve walked 54 holes with a nifty “Clan McKellar” plaid SEAMUS cover and it’s kept a snug grip on the club head.

Each fine wool cover is cut and sewn to order and the selection on www.seamusgolf.com is vast.

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Fall 2012 TexasGolfer 31

Explosive Power From Adams Speedline Fast 12 LS Driver

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Sometimes the way you connect with a new driver fills you with that “boy and his dog” bliss that you can’t really explain. It just fits. Adams touts the Fast 12 LS as the “lowest spinning aerodynamic driver ever” and I’ve seen an unexpected benefit from the club’s design. Low spin means stability and straighter shots and, that affords me the confidence to really “swing away” when I feel the need.

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I m y h d y t y

The head of this driver features three grooves on the crown designed to reduce drag. The club head’s performance combines a light, “fast” feel when swinging with a satisfying pop at impact. I’m seeing a solid 10 yards of improve distance over my last driver. I’m confidently cutting corners on some par 4s and getting into position to reach par 5s in two more often. Off-center hits still carry comparable distance to pure strikes with a very forgiving shot dispersion.

The matte gray finish and sleek head set up great at address. You can adjust loft, face angle, lie, and even the length (from 45 to 45.5 inches) on the Speedline LS. The local Adams rep says adding that half inch of length can bring increased ball speed, higher launch angle and more carry distance.The standard shaft is the super-stable Fubuki Alpha. If you prefer a lower launching and lower spinning option, the Matrix Ozik 6M3 Black Tie is availble as a custom option with no up-charge. – Brian Mickelson

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Whip Your Swing Into Shape WARNING: If you carry the Orange Whip in your bag, strangers will ask you about it. After a few uses, though, you’ll be more than happy to spread the gospel of this innovative training aid. The orange ball on the club head end of the trainer is weighted similar to a heavy Momentus club, so the Orange Whip acts as an excellent stretching and warm up tool during practice or before a round. By making the shaft somewhat flexible and including a counter weight in the butt end of the grip, PGA professional Jim Hackenberg created a training club that helps your control your tempo and gives instant feedback when your swing goes off-plane.

You immediately feel a jerk or unbalanced tilt when you make a jerky or misshapen swing. It’s pretty cool how a few warm up swings with the Orange Whip can help you swing smoothly and rhythmically. Hackenberg even says proper and repeated use of the Orange Whip can help you improve your core strength and flexibility while helping you “coordinate” a more powerful golf swing with “Tour Pro lag”. More than 50 PGA Tour professionals use the trainer and you should definitely give it a try, too. www.orangewhiptrainer.com 32 32 TexasGolfer TexasGolfer Fall Fall 2012 2012

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GolfLogix GPS: A Tool for Our Times It’s impressive how far GPS device technology has come and the marketplace is certainly full of great devices that pinpoint accurate yardages. But the last thing the typical American needs is one more handheld device to keep track of. That GolfLogix runs reliably on a mobiledevice app platform is reason enough to like it. What you’ll discover as you use it that it has one of the most dynamic game-tracking platforms that allows you to track stats, club distances and any performance figures you want to track from a given round.

Touch screen controllability and bold color graphics (including realistic hole fly-overs) make the use interface stylish and easy to use. The system hasn’t drained the battery nearly as badly as I thought it might. Regular e-mail support and a clever pipeline into instruction, news and offers give users some cool added value and a unique sense of community. The mobile GolfLogix service costs $19.99 per year, making it an affordable option over most handheld devices. www.golflogix.com

Get to Know Whitlam Putters Fans of premium custom putters will want to check out Whitlam Golf and their line of individually-crafted flatsticks. Each putter is CNC milled from a solid piece of 303 stainless steel. The result is an extremely solid, yet fluid feel on putts and uncanny forgiveness on mishits. Putts kiss off the intricately-milled faces with ease. Each order is built to the customer’s custom specs, so no two Whitlam or Gauge (Whitlam’s sister company) putters are exactly alike.

The finishes on these putters can be intricate almost to the point of looking like jewelry. The design options seem endless. Check out www.whitlam golf.com to see Dave Whitlam’s high-performing and creative designs like the Joseph Flag Series, available with the flag of your choice (including the Texas flag) featured in the sole of the putter.

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Fall Fall 2012 2012 TexasGolfer TexasGolfer 33 33

Swinging Threads

1: FILA

Your Fall Guide to Looking Good On and Off the Course:

Many people think they look more attractive in winter clothes. In FILA Golf’s Jasper Textured-Bonded Fleece Jacket, those folks will have no worries. The polyester-microfleece blend jacket has an elegant sheen that makes it stand apart from the average fleece top and effortlessly wicks away moisture. www.shopfilagolf.com

2: ADIDAS

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Most courses wont’ let you play barefoot, but the puremotion golf shoe from adidas is the next best thing. Weighing just 11.5 ounces and inspired by the concept of barefoot training, puremotion is a new spikeless shoe that promotes freedom of movement and control through your foot’s natural “bermuda-hugging” stability. www.taylormadegolf.com

3: TOMMY HILFIGER

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Tommy Hilfiger brings its “Classic American Cool” and “Preppy With a Twist” design concepts to golf along with technical fabrics that fare well in the heat. Hilfiger’s latest line features a number of “classic” tops that will fit well in both your on- and offcourse wardrobes. www.tommy.com

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4: ANTIGUA

After years under the radar, Antigua is making a surprising splash back into a growing number of pro shops and retail stores. The brand’s latest shirts are incredibly fashionforward and marry a “country club” look with a high-performance, moisture-wicking properties. Look for sharp shirt designs from Antigua like the Surge, Torrent and Pulse in a shop near you. www.antigua.com

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5: LINKSOUL He’s probably got the most balanced chi of any golf apparel designer. John Ashworth has a rare genius for paying homage the game’s “mystical allure” while appealing to golfers who feel as at home on a surf board as they do on the tee box. Ashworth’s LINKSOUL lines feature silky comfort in hip apparel, like the Arist Series polo and wale cord shorts. wwwlinksoul.com

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6: ASHWORTH

Meanwhile, at Ashworth’s former brand (that still bears his name), retro designs are front and center. This blocked polo with a buttondown collar, a self-fabric cuff, and 4-button placket salutes the 70s while keeping classic lines and modern fit in mind. www.taylormadegolf.com/ashworth TEXASGOLFERMAGAZINE.COM

Golf Gives Back

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he generosity of the golfing public is inspiring. The PGA Tour, Nationwide and Champions Tours combined to raise $124 million for their various partner charities in 2011. Add that to the ocean of funds raised by local and regional initiatives that use golf to unite and raise awareness for thousands of causes each year and you can quickly surmise golf leads the way in charitable giving.

“Man’s humanity to man is our calling in life. Most of us are the beneficiaries of assistance that was critical to our suc-

cesses in life. If we reach back and do things to help others, the chain goes on in a positive way,” says NFL legend Jim Brown during a recent tournament he hosted. “We never get too big or too famous to say, along the way, without the help of some people, I might not be where I am today.”

Here in Texas, golfers give big and never stop dreaming of being able to give even bigger. Texas Golfer is proud to share, over these next few pages, the stories of a handful of well-known folks who use golf in their efforts to support worthy causes. We think you’ll be touches and motivated to find a cause to support.

Photo by Eric Draper

Often, the motivation that drives people to give of their time, money and support is simply gratitude. The more you talk to people about why they care and why they give, thankfulness remains a common thread.

Unstoppable J

im Brown approaches life the same way he ran the football during his legendary NFL career, with relentless determination. While many retired athletes are content to hug grandbabies and sneak in 18 holes before an afternoon nap, the man many call the greatest running back of all time remains dedicated to impacting “true change” in lives and communities across the country.

Brown himself is deeply involved in the foundation’s work, having personally helped negotiate truces between rival gangs Brown’s Amer-I-Can Foundation faces some of society’s toughest challenges— gang violence, absentee fathers, rampant crime and shortcomings in the education system—head-on with its working plan and life-skills curriculum that has helped many prison inmates, gang members and “at-risk” youth turn their lives around. Brown himself is deeply involved in the foundation’s work, having personally helped negotiate truces between rival gangs and, at times, inviting gang members into his home to discuss street-level issues and conflicts. Armed only with “good will”, Brown says he typically finds strong character traits in these individuals.

“The task becomes educating them and equipping them with the proper life skills they need to become responsible and productive people,” he adds.

running in schools, prisons and community centers across the U.S., Brown says he takes pride in seeing the “ownership” his facilitators and graduates take in paying forward the life-altering impact of the program’s curriculum, training and outreach.

Amer-I-Can’s renowned “curriculum” is a 15-lesson program Brown developed with educators and sociologists to help students manage decisions, family relationships, emotions and day-to-day challenges like maintaining work and managing finances.

“A great example is the I-Can basketball program started by one of the first young men I ever worked with, Rudolph “Rockhead” Johnson. Rock was a Santana Block Crip. He spent more than 10 years incarcerated, seven years in the hole, but he took what Amer-I-Can did in his life and he’s helping young men learn key life skills and also helping them earn college scholarships,” Brown says. “When you see the work we do stretch across generations, the feeling is humbling and gratifying.”

With hundreds of Amer-I-Can programs

Brown visited La Torretta Lake Resort &

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Spa in Montgomery last year to raise funds and awareness for Amer-I-Can. NBA legend Bill Russell and host of other celebrities joined Brown for the golf tournament and gala. Brown can still pop the ball out there a good distance and he’s short game is lethal.

“I love any golf course with 18 holes,” jokes Brown, whose career-best round is a 67. “I got hooked on the game in the 60s and it’s always remarkable to see new courses.”

Brown stresses that Amer-I-Can isn’t tailored to a specific race or demographic.

“All humans can benefit from learning life skills. Amer-I-Can will live on because humans will always need assistance in some manner. The key is being there help,” Brown says.

Visit www.amer-i-can.org to learn more about Brown’s inspiring work.

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Texas Forever?

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rdinarily, the rule of the thumb is “Welcome to Austin. Don’t Forget to Leave.” In the case of the cast and crew of NBC’s dearly-departed nighttime drama Friday Night Lights, the locals seem to have made an exception. At this past spring’s fifth annual Beyond the Lights Celebrity Golf Classic at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort in Bastrop, we ran into one FNL staffer after the other who was either keeping a house in Austin or hatching a plan to move to the city where the high school football-themed show filmed from 2006 to 2011.

Series lead Kyle Chandler (who won an Emmy last year for his portrayal of small-town Texas high school football coach Eric Taylor) even moved his family full-time from California to a rural spread a few miles outside the capital city. “We love it here. The Hill Country really fits our family. We love the sense of community,” says the star of feature films Argo, Super 8 and the upcoming Martin Scorcese’s upcoming The Wolf of Wall Street.

Now that production has wrapped, the Beyond the Lights tournament and gala lives on, a testament to the belief and support locals have put into co-hosts Chandler and fellow FNL star Brad Leland (who played the larger-than-life football booster Buddy Garrity). The Beyond the Lights program benefits two charities that help victims of severe spinal cord injuries, Gridiron Heroes Spinal Cord Injury Foundation and the Buoniconti Fund (which funds The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, large-scale research effort committed to finding a cure for paralysis).

The duo says that meeting the beneficiaries of the fundraising is humbling but reinforces their belief in the effort. “To see the expression on a young man’s face and his mother’s face when a TT EE XX AA SS GG O O LL FF EE RR M M AA GG AA ZZ II NN EE .. CC O OM M

completely donated and paid-for van drove into that room. It just floors you,” says Leland. “Instead of riding home on the bus, they rode home in a wheelchair equipped van that was really going to change the quality of their lives.”

Leland and Chandler work tirelessly at the golf tournament, giving personal time with each group and welcoming attendees with an easy charisma that belies preconceived notions of how a celebrity should act. “These guys are real and down-to-earth and they’re dedicated to making this event bigger and better every year,” says tournament co-host Heather Page. “The way Austin embraces this event is incredible. They all have a part in the miraculous work being done by the Miami Project.”

The Miami Project’s team of over 200 scientists and clinicians take innovative approaches to the challenge of spinal cord injury. “The Miami project is the greatest research facility in the world,” Leland says. “They’re doing stem cell research and some people are actually getting up out of wheelchairs and walking now. Miracles are actually occurring.”

At the event, former FNL stars like Scott Porter (whose character Jason Street suffered a spinal cord injury in the first episode) and Adrianne Palicki (pictured above) make time to appear and help the cause. “It’s really cool that this once in a lifetime experience of working on this quality show with quality people can live on,” Chandler says. “This event means a lot to us because we get to reunite but the work it helps fund is powerful and being a part of this teaches you the joy of giving.”

For more information, visit www.beyondthelights.org.

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Pressels Make Big Impact in Fight Against Breast Cancer checked and, in a few minutes, they either have peace of mind that they don’t have it or they have a starting point for treatment and discovering the next step.”

Pressel says she never plays a round without something pink, either on her clothes or on her golf bag to keep breast cancer awareness front and center. “When you’ve seen the kind of impact you can have, you only want to bring more awareness to the issue,” she says. “Any conversation piece could lead to someone supporting the cause, so I keep my Morgan & Friends bag tag displayed pretty prominently. If we can help people avoid what our family went through, that means s lot.”

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organ and Madison Pressel lost their mother to breast cancer at painfully young ages. Morgan was 15 and well on her way to becoming one of the youngest winners on the LPGA Tour. Madison, the 2011 Big 12 individual champion for the University of Texas, was 12 and already following in her sister’s footprints. The strength they each found to press on and not crumble is amazing and a testament to a strong family structure.

2010, providing affordable breast exams and health care to women who might not otherwise receive it. So far, more than 2,500 mammograms have been conducted in the Mammovan.

“If they can detect even one case of breast cancer with this mobile van, it is incredible,” says Pressel. “It goes to so many businesses where women wouldn’t have ever taken the time for themselves to get

The Morgan & Friends tournament is played every January at St. Andrews Country Club in Boca Raton, FL. Past attendees who lent their celebrity to the cause include Paula Creamer, Christina Kim, Cristie Kerr, Lexi Thompson and Britanny Lincicome. “The groundswell of support we experience during those tournament days is incredible. People who’ve watched us grow up and really feel like part of our extended family contribute in ways that are just humbling. It gives you a lot of hope,” Pressel says.

For more information, visit morganpresselfoundation.com

“We are very lucky to have our grandparents as such big influences in our lives,” Madison Pressel says. “They really helped Morgan with her golf career after my mom passed away. Without them, none of what either of us has achieved would be possible.” In addition to on-course success, the Pressels are leaving their mark with an appropriate and powerful tribute to the mother. The work of the Morgan Pressel Foundation and the Morgan & Friends Golf Tournament has raised more than $2 million for breast cancer research while spreading an impactful message of awareness and advocacy.

The symbol of the charity’s innovation and impact is the Kathryn Krickstein Pressel Mammovan. Under the direction of the Boca Raton Regional Hospital, this “miracle” vehicle has been traveling throughout Palm Beach County, FL since 38 38 TexasGolfer TexasGolfer Fall Fall 2012 2012

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as Colinas Country Club played host to a very unique event recently, the second annual Warrior Open hosted by The George W. Bush Presidential Center. The participants in the tournament are all wounded veterans from across the U.S. who competed in two rounds of stroke play in a tournament environment you definitely don’t see every day.

Warrior Open

This year’s second annual Warrior Open saw 22 servicemen compete with all the trappings of a PGA Tour event. Their names were announced on the first tee, they had caddies, official scorers, leaderboards and galleries outside the ropes. Former president George W. Bush was there to host the event and was joined by eight-time major winner Tom Watson, who spent time encouraging the contestants and meeting their families.

For the second-straight year, Corporal Chad Pfeifer, U.S. Army (Ret.), took home the title. His rounds of 72-73 for a threeover total were good enough for a 15-shot victory. The highlight of Pfeifer’s two days?

The ace he made on the par-3 fourth hole while President Bush looked on. “It really does mean a lot to us to have such great support here in America," said Pfeifer.

“And I'm thankful President Bush saw my hole in one. To win the tournament again is really special.”

Army Sergeant First Class John Faulkenberry of San Antonio was one of a handful of Texans who competed in the Warrior Open and says golf is the salvation of many returning troops who have a need to pour their physical and mental energy into an activity that has purpose. Faulkenberry had his leg amputated below the knee after sustaining a massive wound during an ambush in Afghanistan and fighting to salvage the limb for three years once he returned to the States. “Having something like golf is critical for guys trying to get back and regain their confidence and improve their physical abilities,” he says. “A PGA pro named Jim Estes encourage me to try golf when I met him at Walter Reed and I learned some excellent exercises from him that helped me strengthen my core and improve my stability and overall strength.”

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Faulkenberry was fit for a prosthetic from Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio a few years ago and now shows his gratitude by working in the very department at Brooke where the same kinds of prosthetics for wounded warriors are built and shipped. “I definitely feel a connection to those brothers, the military guys who are getting these prosthetics because I know we’re giving a lot of these guys their lives back,” he says. “To go from not walking to walking is an incredible thing and I can’t tell you what it means to be a part of this.”

Faulkenberry’s story is just one of dozens shared at the Warrior Open, a powerfully moving event full of laughter, some tears and a deep-seeded purpose President Bush described as a “celebration of patriotism, courage and sacrifice.”

For more information, visit www.warrioropen.com.

Photo by Eric Draper

Honors the Brave

Fall Fall 2012 2012 TexasGolfer TexasGolfer 39 39

From the Heart

E

rik Compton is the definition of an “easy to root for” athlete. The recipient of two lifesaving-heart transplants, 33-year-old PGA Tour rookie has persevered through things in this life that would make quitters of most of us. What’s most impressive is the positive attitude Compton brings to a medical reality where the average lifespan of a donated heart is 10 to 12 years and being in line (and a proper match) for a transplant-- let alone three, or more-- is akin to wining the lotto.

“My whole life has been a gift,” says Compton. “I’m a result two people who donated their hearts, their lives so I could live on. I meet people every week who have had or need transplants. I heard recently, there are 113,000 people in the U.S. awaiting transplants and in the time it takes to play a round of golf, another 28 names go on the list.”

One of Compton’s greatest passions is counseling others who are in need of transplants, especially children, who are unaware, and often frightened, about the process. “Since I was nine years old, my mom and I have been involved raising funds and awareness for the transplant foundation down in South Florida,” Compton says. “I would visit schools when I was 12 or 13 and talk about the importance of transplants and signing up to be a donor.”

Compton was 12 when his first heart 40 TexasGolfer Fall 2012

failed, a result of viral cardiomyopathy, a disease that causes dangerous enlargement of the heart. Once he received his transplant and recovered, he dove fullsteam into golf and stayed diligent and healthy enough that he earned a scholarship to the University of Georgia and starred there as an All-American, leading the Bulldogs to two SEC golf titles.

A journeyman on the mini tours from 2004 to 2010, Compton won three times on the Canadian Tour but never found firm footing on the Web.com Tour until last year.

He earned his PGA Tour for 2012 mostly on the strength of his victory at the 2011 Mexico Open. His biggest setback in that span was the failure of his first transplanted heart. It lasted him 16 years, but it in 2008, he received a second transplant. Compton was born again. Again.

encourages people to sign the “donor” option on the backs of their driver’s licenses or to visit donatelife.net to learn other ways to help. Compton also routinely visits hospitals like Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, where he visited juvenile patients awaiting transplants during the week of the Byron Nelson.

“There’s a bigger picture than me playing golf,” says Compton. “I love encouraging people to be optimistic and have a dream to look toward once they get their transplant. Being positive is very healing.

The more we make people aware how easy and impactful it is to donate, the more lives we can save.”

Visit www.donatelife.net

Today, Compton is happily married with a young daughter, a status many would take for granted, he says, but one that he uses to inspire people in similar medical straits. “The fact that I’m able to play the Tour and I’m married with a daughter shows people that you can have a great quality of life after a transplant. I just try to educate them and help them in the right direction,” he says. “A lot of people fear the unknown and look at cardiomyopathy as a death sentence. It doesn’t have to be.”

Compton works tirelessly in support of Donate Life America, an initiative that TEXASGOLFERMAGAZINE.COM

SPECIAL INTEREST FEATURE

A Hidden Gem

in Arizona E

mbracing the local culture and energy, independent hotels offer a unique and intimate vacation experience. Tucked away in North Scottsdale, Zona Hotel & Suites Scottsdale is no exception to this rule, especially throughout Arizona’s beautiful sunny days.

Located in the coveted North Scottsdale corridor, Zona is minutes away from championship golf courses, fine dining, exquisite shopping and a multitude of activities.

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Fall 2012 TexasGolfer 41

SPECIAL INTEREST FEATURE But the pristine location is only the first of many reasons why Zona is a must experience southwest getaway. Known for their expansive 1, 2, 3, and 4 bedroom suites, visitors are able to truly feel at home with a living room, full kitchen, and dining area en suite. The multibedroom set up is perfect for group golf vacations. Each group member can enjoy their own space and private bath.

If swimming and lounging by the pool are high on the to-do list during Arizona’s sunny days and warm evenings, there are four pools on property to indulge. With towel service and plush lounge chairs, the only thing missing is the sunscreen and a good book.

A true destination for golf lovers, the expertly staffed Zona Golf Department has intimate knowledge of more than 50 of the Valley’s championship golf courses, including elite private courses. A service exclusively for Zona guests, the Golf Specialists seamlessly plan any type and size of golf outing, including scheduling preferred early morning tee times, arranging private lessons with golf professionals, providing equipment assistance, offering course recommendations based on desired type of play, and providing up-to-the-minute course condition information. Don’t forget to pack your clubs and invite your friends.

Having just completed Phase I of a multi-million dollar comprehensive renovation, the hotel is comfortably modern. Highly visible elements like new carpeting, natural lighting, contemporary furniture, and stainless steel kitchen appliances are all added to the main living spaces of each suite. Softer touches include new kitchen wares for cooking convenience, supple bedding, updated artwork and freshly painted accent walls. Technologically, guests will notice significantly faster connection speeds as the hotel’s Wi-Fi system has received a sizable upgrade. Property-wide, all flat screen televisions are HD capable, so every Diamondbacks game has a crisp, clear picture.

Adding to the upgrades, a newly reinvented on-property restaurant, Graze Desert Grille, has a delectable new menu. Infusing locally purveyed organic ingredients, Graze offers inspired American cuisine with flavorful Southwestern influences. The restaurant has exceptional menus available for breakfast, lunch, dinner and happy hour. That Arizona flavor carries through from the kitchen to the bar, where craft cocktails are infused with local and organic spirits, including a selection of Arizona-produced wines. While the bar can craft any traditional drink request, inventive Graze cocktails mixed with Arizona-produced spirits and organic tequila are local favorites.

Visit www.ZonaScottsdale.com and www.zonascottsdalegolf.com for property and accommodation information, photo galleries, information on upcoming events, and a full list of Golf Specialist services and capabilities.

42 TexasGolfer Fall 2012

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TEXAS GOLFER

INSTRUCTION

Bunkers Made Easy

By TINA BRADLEY MAYERS, PGA

F

or many golfers, seeing your ball heading for a bunker causes anxi-

ety… Don’t worry, once you have a basic understanding of the proper set-up and technique, you will quickly learn that this much dreaded shot is easier than you think.

It starts with using and under-

standing the proper equipment. Wedges come in various degrees of loft and bounce. The leading edge will dig and the skidding edge will slide and produce a shallow divot. Choosing the right tool for the job will make this shot easier.

Here are the basics for the set-up: • For a greenside bunker, you will probably need at least a 56 degree wedge. Even with this much loft, you will still need to open the clubface and then take your grip.

Use light grip pressure and keep elbows soft.

• Open your stance – for a right handed player, this means aiming your feet to the left of the target.

• Position the ball slightly forward in your stance – off your left ear or chest area.

• Anchor your lower body with a slightly wider stance. Dig in for stability - your weight should favor your forward foot.

Anchor your lower body with a slightly wider stance. Dig in for stability - your weight should favor your forward foot. If you’re set up correctly, this should allow the club to strike the sand about 2 inches behind the ball. Remember, since the ball is riding out on a pillow of sand so you will need a longer swing than normal. Make sure your body is in harmony with your arms, accelerating without stopping the follow through.

The next time you’re in a practice bunker, draw a line along your toes and another line from “out to in”. You want to get the sense that you’re cutting across the ball. A backswing that is more up and down will keep the club on a better plane for this shot. Hitting it with your turn while keeping the scoring lines pointing upward will ensure the skidding edge/ bounce of the club is what’s hitting the sand. The thumping or splatting sound you hear will be music to your ears.

Tina Bradley Mayers is the Director of Instruction at Grey Rock Golf Academy in Austin, Texas. She can be reached via

email

at

tina.mayers@gmail.com

or 512-413-0574.

TEXASGOLFERMAGAZINE.COM

Fall 2012 TexasGolfer 43

TEXAS GOLFER

INSTRUCTION

The Tell-Tale Foot

By BILL MORETTI

M

ovement in the left foot can be an indicator of swing issues. George Knudson, a great Tour player and ball striker during the late 60s and early 70,s was the first player I know who emphasized keeping his left foot solid.

Note: Knudson was one of the few players to take lessons from Ben Hogan and Hogan was quoted as saying Knudson had the best swing on the Tour.

3) Rolling on the outside of the left foot: When a golfer rolls outside the left foot, it usually indicates they are sliding forward with their hips. Sometimes this is not too bad of a sign if rolling out a little on the left foot was caused by the golfer turning their hips slightly to the left of the target on the finish. Lateral movement of the hips causes the upper body to hang back, the posture of the body to straighten up and the swing path moving too much from in to out.

To help keep the left foot solid, Knudson promoted a wide stance. He wanted the stance wide enough so the left foot was outside the width of the body. Two players that have worked on this since kids are Justin Leonard and Harrison Frazar. Tiger Woods has also worked on keeping his left foot solid during the swing.

There are four main movements that the left foot can make to be an indicator something is wrong or the left foot is compensating for a swing fault.

Note: Plenty of great players have been very successful with movement in their front foot.

1) The whole left foot backing away from the target line on the downswing: Johnny Miller always moved his left foot away from the target line in his downswing. I believe it was the reason he won most of his tournaments in the desert and on wet courses. Players who move the left foot away from the target line do this because their transition on their downswing is fast and the club is swinging too much from in to out. The movement of the left foot away from the target line occurs to get the hips out of the way and to give clearance for the arms coming down too much from the inside.

44 44 TexasGolfer TexasGolfer Fall Fall 2012 2012

2) Up on the left toe at impact: A lot of top players are prone to being on the toe of the left foot at contact. It occurs a lot with lady professionals, long hitters and golfers who hook the ball.

With lady professionals, it occurs when they lack of upper body strength. On the downswing, they release the club early (which would ordinarily cause a fat shot), but in order to not hit it fat, they go up on the toe of the left foot. Long hitter Bubba Watson’s upper body hangs back a lot through impact. Again, not to hit it fat, he gets up on his left toe. Players who hook the ball, swing too much from in to out, often causing contact to be behind the ball. Again, so not to hit it fat, they get up on the left toe.

4) Left heel getting closer to the target line on the downswing: This occurs when the golfer’s swing path comes down from the outside. It is also natural, but not desirable, for the left foot to move in this direction. You will notice if you throw a ball or hit a baseball you will always make a stride with the heel moving more towards the target line than the initial position. In a golf magazine 30 years ago, I remember that they had the opposite as Jack Nicklaus’s “secret”. They said that Nicklaus planted his foot back on the ground by turning the heel away from the target line. They had swing pictures to prove it. This would allow Nicklaus to swing the club down to the inside on the downswing. As you can see, a lot of great players have moved the left foot. Keeping it stable would be ideal. Paying attention to the movement of the left foot can help us find fixable flaws in our swings. Next time you take a lesson, have your pro keep an eye on that left front.

For more wisdom from the founder of the Academy of Golf Dynamics and three-time Southern Texas PGA Teacher of the Year Bill Moretti, visit www.morettigolf.com

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TEXAS GOLFER

INSTRUCTION

Hold Your Finish to Improve Your Putting

By DAVE PELZ

E

arly in my career, I had the chance to play several rounds with Jack Nicklaus. On these occasions I studied his putting intently, because he was killing me on the greens. One thing that consistently caught my eye was how he held his finish and watched his putts roll out. It didn’t take me long to realize something: Good putters learn from both their makes and their misses. You can watch Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson on today’s Tour do the same thing: they store information in their memory banks about how their putts roll versus how well and in what direction they stroke them.

The main benefit from holding your finish comes from internalizing the feel of the stroke you just made, and then correlating that feel with its result, good or bad. This system works because the feel of your stroke is still strong in your system. Once you stand up or move your feet, the feelings of your stroke disappear.

Holding your finish will also help keep your body still and improve the consistency of your stroke. I’m sure you’ve been told to not move your head until you hear the putt drop, but I don’t like that advice. Instead, rotate your head while keeping the rest of your body still, so you can watch the ball roll and get a feel for

TEXASGOLFERMAGAZINE.COM

your stroke. You’ll learn how solid your stroke was, if your ball speed was good or bad, and whether your line allowed for the proper amount of break.

Holding your finish is such a good idea, I can’t believe more golfers don’t do it. I’m sure it will improve your putting over the coming years.

Dave Pelz is the founder of the Dave Pelz Scoring Game Schools and a best-selling author. Ten of his professional students have won a total of 19 majors. pelzgolf.com

Spring 2012 TexasGolfer 45

★ TEXAS GOLFER ★

TRAVEL GUIDE

Great Scott!

Arizona’s Valley of the Sun: A Can’t – Miss Destination

WE KO PA SAGUARO

I

f you haven’t played golf in Scottsdale, sorry but your resume’ is incomplete. Golf in Scottsdale is like saying “wine in Napa” or “luxury cars in Germany” or “sailing in Newport.” It’s an iron-clad brand, a way of life.

Maybe it’s just me, but something about being in the Valley of the Sun propels me to want to move fast. Probably because there’s something fun to do on virtually every corner and enough high-quality golf, you’d need to stay a month to make a dent in the list of the 170-plus public and private courses in the area. You feel like an underachiever if you don’t play 36 at least one day on a Scottsdale trip.

“As far as having a broad selection of golf courses, there’s no place like this. It’s a buffet, but it’s a buffet catered by Ruth’s Chris. It’s all good stuff,” says former PGA Tour player and current 46 TexasGolfer Fall 2012

Golf Channel analyst who now serves as golf ambassador for the Scottsdale Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

It feels like home again when checking in to the Zona Hotel & Suites in the heart of North Scottsdale’s restaurant row, nightlife and shopping and just a stone’s throw from the iconic TPC at Scottsdale, host to the biggest four-day party on the PGA Tour’s rotation, the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Zona combines the best of luxury hotel with the convenience of an extended-stay-suite operation, featuring tasting multi-bedroom units with modern kitchens and fashionable living rooms. More importantly, they cater heavily to their golfing guests, offering packages, shuttle and concierge services that leave golfers to focus simply on playing and enjoying the bounty of “small ball” the area offers.

Driving around the Valley, you feel connected to that explorer’s notion that beckoned early settlers to “Go West.” The natural rocky, mountainous, high desert features are humbling. Locals are quick to tell you a Saguaro cactus lives 75 years before growing one “arm”, so seeing one as tall as a shopping mall with several arms makes you feel you’re in the midst of something wondrous and ancient.

Troon North’s Monument and Pinnacle courses, in the shadows of McDowell Mountain, set the original standard for what upscale daily-fee could be and the property still continues to exceed expectations with insanely good conditions and service. The Monument Course pays homage to links golf with generous driving corridors, naturally contoured fairways and greens that give you many options on your approach shots.

The long par-3 16th drops 50 feet downhill from TEXASGOLFERMAGAZINE.COM

★ TEXAS GOLFER ★

TRAVEL GUIDE

GRAY HAWK TALON tee to green while a giant boulder in the middle of the fairway on the 564-yard, par-5 third hole awes and confounds. The Pinnacle is a beautiful layout with a lot of fight in its massive, wildly undulating greens.

We Ko Pa is another outstanding 36-hole complex where luxury meets awesome shot values and possibly the best condition of any complex in the desert. Both the Coore-Crenshaw-designed Saguaro and the Scott Miller gem, the Cholla, are perfect. The contrast of lush fairways and rugged desert evokes pure beauty. Saguaro follows Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw’s design philosophy to follow the lay of the gently-rolling land and keep the challenges right in front of the golfers. The 7,225-yard Cholla feels “big” with its expansive views and exhilarating climbs through the rocky foothills. Some forced carries and uphill shots mean you’ll need to strike it solidly here, but you’ll We Ko Pa in love with the Sonora Desert and spoiled by the conditions.

Taking a short cut to Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in neighboring Maricopa, our group dis-

covered just how close we were to nature as five wild horses in full sprint crossed the road in front of our car. As they threw their chests out and took those high, powerful strides, they looked freer than any creatures we’d ever seen. Don’t see that every day…

Southern Dunes is pure golf (no homes) on a 300-acre stretch of farm-adjacent land that Brian Curley, and Fred Couples shaped into a wild linksstyle treat, reminiscent of the golf you’d see in Scotland or Ireland. Native grass and bulging contours pinch fairways along with more than 100 bunkers. The visual contrast sets Southern Dunes apart from typical desert courses. It’s well worth the drive to tackle this 7,500-yard bold offering.

Gray Hawk’s Talon and Raptor courses, the heart of the exclusive enclave adored by local Tour pros as semi-official home away from the grind, provide a potent one-two punch. Talon plays under 7,000 yards from the tips but required solid shots. The 126-yard island green 17th “Devil’s Drink” tests your fortitude and focus. The Tom Fazio-designed Raptor is one of

the most beloved tracks in the area and played host to the Frys.com Open. Knockout views of the McDowell Mountains and a satisfying routing makes Raptor one of Fazio’s definitive desert offerings. The Gray Hawk experience, from the golf to the enormous and superb practice area to the casually elegant clubhouse and top 19th hole “Phil’s Grill”, is top shelp.

“Diversity is the biggest thing that defines this market,” says Zona golf expert specialist Steve Nicodemus. “You’ll see high-end Tour-caliber courses and tremendous value courses as well.

Also, you’ll see parkland style courses, links designs, great elevation changes. It’s not all ‘target’ golf. It’s exceptional here.”

Leaving Scottsdale is bittersweet, but having played an incredible rotation of courses just means you’ll have the chance to play a whole new set on the next visit.

Visit www.ilovescottsdalegolf.com to see trip-planning guides and to learn more about this unparalleled golf destination.

TROON NORTH PINNACLE TEXASGOLFERMAGAZINE.COM

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★ TEXAS GOLFER ★

TRAVEL GUIDE

A Slice of Heaven Grand Designs on a Dream Vacation

By Steve Bliman

M

aybe it’s the weather or the knockout scenery, but I don’t think I’ve ever spent a bad day in San Diego. I don’t think it’s possible. On a recent trip to the transcendent Grand Del Mar resort, I discovered just how splendid San Diego can get. There are no wasted moments at The Grand Del Mar and, if I didn’t get the most out my three days there, it wasn’t for lack of trying!

You absolutely get the feel of a gentler, more calming and sophisticated time as you make enter the resort’s tasteful opulence. There’s rich marble and fine décor everywhere and the service is uncommonly good. If this is the way resort guests were treated in the golden era, get me a time machine!

The vision of owner Papa Doug Manchester was to build a first-class golf resort in a luxury “quality over quantity” residential community overlooking the majestic Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve. The resort was designed to resemble an old-world Mediterranean country manor.

San Francisco-based interior design firm Warren Sheets masterminded the interiors and exteriors,

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paying homage to visionary developer Addison Mizner, who designed renowned resort communities in Southern Florida in the 1920s.

Condé Nast Traveler calls The Grand Del Mar one of the “World’s Best Places To Stay.” The property is also the only Forbes triple Five-Star Award winner in Southern California and a AAA Five-Diamond Award recipient for four consecutive years.

The Grand Del Mar opened just five years ago but its allure, awe-inspiring design and natural fit into the surrounding landscape are timeless.

All the food found on the property is outstanding. Amaya and Club M are great choices, but if you are up for an unforgettable dining experience , make reservations at the star-studded Addison and prepare to be wowed. This exquisite 5-star award winning restaurant is quite impressively run under the direction of Chef William Bradley, formerly of Mary Elaine’s in Scottsdale. Addison has garnered Wine Spectator’s 2011 Grand Award in California for best wine list. Jesse Rodriguez is Wine Director, and he will guide you through an unbelievable night of pairing food & wine. This restaurant is on the order of the famed French Laundry in Napa Valley, but here you can still get a reservation. Ah, what a night you will have!

As for the best reason to visit The Grand Del Mar, it’s the golf. I am a huge fan of Tom Fazio-designed courses. The Grand is the only Fazio layout in all of San Diego but it upholds the acclaimed architect’s reputation well. This 18-hole, par-72 gem measures 7,170 yards from the tips, and winds its way through 380 acres, bordering the Los Penasqitos Preserve. If you like breathtaking views, refreshing breezes, and awesome TT EE XX AA SS GG O O LL FF EE RR M M AA GG AA ZZ II NN EE .. CC O OM M

★ TEXAS GOLFER ★

TRAVEL GUIDE shot values, this is your spot. I have a friend lucky enough to own a home on the 12th hole and as he says, “Why would I play anywhere else?” He makes a fair point.

I especially like the final four holes .You work your way back up the canyons with some good chances for pars and some dynamite scenery. The last hole, a 421-yard par 4, closes with a spectacular waterfall by the eighteenth green. An inspiring finish, for sure. All guests are accompanied by forecaddies. They offer great advice as to where to place your shots and how to read those beautiful Bentgrass greens.

Shawn Cox is director of golf at The Grand and a quick study. It only took him about two minutes to pinpoint about 15 of my most pressing swing flaws which he deftly explained to me as we reviewed my video.

Also on property, you can find short game help from Dave Stockton Jr. of the Dave Stockton Golf Academy. The Grand is also home to seasonal offerings of the Dave Pelz Scoring Game School and the Junior Titleist Performance Center.

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I hesitated at first, but the “Stony Silence” warm stone massage at The Spa at The Grand Del Mar turned out to be one the highlights of the trip. The amazing spa measures 21,000 square feet and has 11 treatment rooms. I can’t tell you how refreshed I felt after my 90-minute hot stone treatment. My only regret? Not booking more treatments.

Other than world-class golf, food and spa amenities, what more is there? Plenty. Bring the family to The Grand Del Mar. There are equestrian trails, kids-only pools (with underground music), tennis, & a “Kids Club”.

I asked my friend, who is a Grand member, if he feels like he is on a perpetual vacation. His response, “When I am on vacation, I can`t wait to get back home.” We should all be so lucky!

The Grand Del Mar a 20-minute drive from the San Diego International Airport and worlds away from any resort experience you’ve ever had. Check out www.thegranddelmar.com and see for yourself.

Fall Fall 2012 2012 TexasGolfer TexasGolfer 49 49

★ TEXAS GOLFER ★

TRAVEL GUIDE

Sandestin Beckons S

andestin is an extraordinary case of a resort name overshadowing its postal code-appropriate hometown, the fishing capital of Destin. Its enormity – Sandestin stretches from the Gulf of Mexico to the massive Choctawhatchee Bay – is best digested from the seat of an airplane thousands of feet above the coast.

As for golf, Sandestin’s four-course lineup presents an enticing mix of forgiving and fun resort courses and tournament caliber tracks. The nationally-ranked Raven and semi-private Burnt Pine stand-out as must-plays. For golf course design aficionados, Sandestin is the only resort with Robert Trent Jones II (Raven) and Rees Jones (Burnt Pine) courses under the same flag.

Raven, opened in 2000, is a brawny, modern circuit that bobs and weaves through marshes, wetlands, pine trees and carefullyplaced water hazards. Holes are framed by a contrasting blend of softly shaped mounds and stark hazards. Large, irregular shaped bunkers serve as guides points (and pitfalls) throughout Raven’s 6,931 yards.

Travelers craving the member for a day treatment can settle in at exclusive Burnt Pine. A limited number of tee times are available to resort guests, and the overall private club vibe resonates with highly-skilled players. At just over 7,000 yards, Burnt Pine is a tad bit longer than Raven. The front nine takes golfers on a ride through pine forest and coastal wetlands, while the back nine plays hard along the Choctawhatchee Bay. Baytowne Golf Club, opened in 1986, was extensively renovated in 2005 by Tom Jackson. It holds the unique distinction of being the only course in the region that plays from the ocean to the bay. Wide fairways, gently sloping greens and a clear sense of where to land the ball make it the ideal warm-up or arrival day option.

The Links Course is Sandestin’s original venue, having opened in 1973. Also designed by Jackson, it is a sporty shot-makers layout with five holes routed along the bay. Links is a favorite with local golfers and residents, and approaching its 40th birthday has managed to stand the test of time.

Post-round, golfers flock to the Village of Baytowne Wharf. Located inside the resort and walking distance from the Grand Sandestin hotel, the Village is a Myrtle Beach-caliber mash-up of casual and fine-dining restaurants, bars and nightlife.

The new Northwest Florida Beach International Airport (ECP) offers direct flights from Houston Hobby on golferfriendly Southwest Airlines. Direct flights are also available from Houston Bush on United to Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS), and from DFW on American.

For more information on Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort’s numerous packages tailored to specifically to golfers, visit www.sandestin.com or call (877) 852-6318

50 TexasGolfer Fall 2012

TEXASGOLFERMAGAZINE.COM

A Shot From the Past This century-old photo of the original Houston Country Club (now the location of Gus Wortham Municipal Golf Course) gives us a peek into what club life was like before the ubiquity of commercial air travel, even before balata balls and WAY before SoftSpikes. The stately clubhouse behind the group of golfers, staff and caddies was demolished in 1976 and replaced with the more modest structure (inset) that exists today. Houston Country Club moved to its current location in the Tanglewood section of town in 1957. What do you think you’d shoot playing in a jacket and tie? In August. (Photo courtesy of the University of Houston Library archives)

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Fall 2012 TexasGolfer 51

The Architect’s Digest

401 A Women’s Three-Shot Hole?

By MIKE NUZZO

The first purpose of any golf course should be to give pleasure. - Bobby Jones ’ve stumbled across a number I’m not sure I like. 401. The USGA recommends that a par 5 for women measure between 401 and 590 yards and I think it’s time for players to relax that practice for the sake of fun and the good of the game.

Clubs must establish par within the USGA guidelines if they want to use the USGA’s Handicap system. If a course doesn’t meet the guidelines (defined by Rules Decision 16/1 “Failure of Club to Establish Par in Accordance with USGA Guidelines”), the USGA will send letters to the local golf association and, eventually, to the club requesting a change be made.

For the past year, my firm has been consulting at a nice municipal golf course. Our current phase of the project involves improving the teeing areas, including the women’s tees which play to less than 4,800 yards. This course is common for its era in that it wasn’t built with women’s tees originally. They added them as afterthoughts by mowing patches of rough that are too small, not flat and tend to create puddles. We see no reason to increase the overall length. The current length is going to be more enjoyable for the average woman than the usual modern range of about 5,500 yards. We’re simply adding variety, providing a level start and helping maintain the areas attractively.

When we started, the three-shot holes on this course varied from 401 to 417 yards and didn’t possess enough variety. The 401-yard hole is what jumped out at me. I know from experience that a 401-yard hole is often a contrived way to force in a threeshot hole (because of the USGA guidance). The odds of seeing a 399 yard hole are slim by comparison.

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The merit of any hole is not judged by its length but rather by its interest and its variety. It isn’t how far but how good. - A.W. Tillinghast ’ve been taking hints from The Old Course at St. Andrews for many years, and here is where I’ll take another. The Old Course has six three-shot holes for the ladies that play from 375 to 487 yards long – that’s the epitome of variety, even if some are under 401 yards. That is the kind of originality that helped our team make our private Wolf Point design as fun as

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possible. At Wolf Point, there deliberately are no formal tees anywhere, but the fairways are so generous, I see tees everywhere.

Match play is the normal game at Wolf Point and the winner of the hole chooses where to start the next. There are informal locations for women’s tees at 4,350 yards, with three shot holes of 350, 360 and 395 yards.

Par is whatever I say it is. I’ve got one hole that’s a par 23 and yesterday I damn near birdied the sucker.

- Willie Nelson get that handicaps are important to a lot of golfers. According to the USGA, scores in both match play and stroke play must be posted for handicap purposes. In match play, if you concede a hole or the match, the USGA asks that you input a likely score based on your handicap.

There is also a solution to playing where you want and maintaining a handicap. There are charts and directions on the USGA website, but here is an approximation of how you should calculate your handicap if you play a configuration other than what is printed on the scorecard. Women: add or subtract 1 stroke and 2 slope points for every 180 yards difference from the nearest rated tees, 220 yards for men. This method may also be used if a player plays a combination of tees, even for competitions.

The rules of golf are already in place to ensure fun. You don’t need to have a giant hole to have more fun, and you don’t have to have a national initiative to move up one set of tees. Don’t just tee it forward, play wherever you want to have the most fun and still calculate a handicap if you desire. If you believe golf should be a test, play the course how it suits your style. And if you prefer fun with a spirit of adventure, play the tees with as much variety as possible.

So, I guess the USGA may be sending me a letter next.

Seems they should send one to Bobby Jones too. I assume this was meant for the retail golfer:

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Don’t worry about par. The practice of printing par figures is literally a mental hazard. - Bobby Jones TEXASGOLFERMAGAZINE.COM

Slick Rock No. 14, Par-4, 361 yds.

“The Million-dollar Hole”