June 2009 Sierra Golfer by Sierra Golfer Magazine

Sierra Golfer Your Guide to Golf And Life in the Sierra

Timilick

Tahoe

Tahoeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Most Inviting Club

The Skinny on Golf Balls Why Color Matters in Golf Discover Golf in Germany Golf and Other Wonders in San Benito County June/July 2009

Great Motels

2 | Sierra Golfer â&#x20AC;˘ June/July 2009

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Message from The Publisher The June/July Issue of Sierra Golfer will mark our 7th Edition, including a Special E-edition for Greenhorn Creek Resort. The E-edition got me to thinking...I wonder if I am reaching enough viewers in this new digital age with the printed and digital issues we create, and with all the wonderful articles about all sorts of fun stuff we write about. Then I got to visiting with a network partner in Germany who plays golf all over the world, as well as in Germany, who expressed interest in the magazine. Well, next thing you know I’ve got him writing about golf in Germany and around the world. His name is Jens Bernitzky and he has a feature in this issue I think you will enjoy. To have the ability, though, to share Sierra Golfer to readers around the world is quite a privilege, and an honor. I am proud to showcase the writing talents in this magazine to the entire world! ‘How do I get more readership in California, especially the Bay Area’ is the question that keeps coming up in my mind, however. So after working on this magazine project for almost a year, concentrating mostly on how to create a nice product to read, I figured I’d put my marketing hat on for a few days and see how I can reach more Bay Area and Napa Valley golfers and well-heeled travellers. Low and behold I think I’ve figured out how to reach over 475,ooo golfers in the highest demographics with my digital magazine...in the Bay Area as well as Napa, Monterey, and even the Gold Country once a month. They will see the Magazine as you can see it on http:// issuu.com/sierra_golfer. Viewers can now download the entire magazine, send it to a friend, make comments and even print it out. The best feature yet, though, is the ability for me, as the publisher, to share the magazine view statistics with my advertisers. As an advertiser, I sure would like to know my ad is getting seen, and by the right clientele. I believe I’ve figured out how to get this done. Stay tuned. And for all our faithful readers, thank you all so much once again. Till next time...Rick Rider

Table of Contents

Feature Timilick Tahoe in North Lake Tahoe Page 4 Columns Cowgirl Golfer from Texas Page 7 What’s in a Color? Page 8 Psychology of Golf Page 12 Physiology of Golf Page 12 The Travelling Golfer Page 16 Articles What’s New In Equipment Page 13 Golf in Germany Page 14 A Summer Bucket List Page 15 Sierra Golfer Magazine Rick Rider, Publisher PO Box 11 San Andreas, CA 95249 rick@sierragolfer.com 209.327.8934

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The Timilick Club A Place for the Whole Family North Lake Tahoe, CA

itting on almost 500 acres, all of Timilick’s homes and Mountain Lodges are designed to reflect the historic Sierra Nevada Mountain Lodges that once were prevalent in the area. Local architect Dale Cox, of Cox and Kromydas, has set the tone for Timilick by designing the gatehouse, the Mountain Lodges and the clubhouse. “He incorporates the ‘Tahoe Mountain Lodge’ style into his designs very well,” Richardson says of Cox, who also had a hand in Montana’s The Yellowstone Club. “He has a rugged yet elegant feel to his buildings.” Owners can expect to see a lot of heavy timbers, wood siding and plenty of stone used throughout the structures”.

Those who choose to build a custom home on one of the 218 homesites at Timilick can look to the Mountain Lodges, which are akin to town homes, for inspiration. Richardson describes them as “mini-custom homes” that are available in eight turnkey floor plans, from 2,000–2,650 sq. feet, if desired. The four furnishing options are handpicked by award-winning local interior designer Terry Hurt. Packages include mountain elegant (a clean traditional look accented by earthy hues), mountain modern (more contemporary and similar to what you might see in places like Utah and Colorado), old Tahoe (a rustic yet refined style with a nautical bent) and classic Tahoe (a timeless cabin feel). Timilick is also home to a Johnny Miller/ John Harbottle-designed championship golf course, which weaves through the pines as if painted with an artist’s brush. For indeed they were, the masterstrokes of the celebrated design

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team of Johnny Miller – World Golf Hall of Famer and winner of 24 PGA Tour championships – and John Harbottle – renowned course architect and protégé of Pete Dye. The Timilick Tahoe course offers two distinct nine-hole experiences. The front nine is called the Meadow nine, rambling through firs, spruce and pine trees at the base of the ridge. The back nine is called the Mountain nine, with elevation changes of up to 400 feet, with magnificent views of the Martis Valley, Lookout Mountain and the Carson Range. “The course is a good combination of shotmaking challenges and natural beauty,” Miller said. “Golfers will enjoy how the course flows over the natural terrain and I hope they’ll take their time and take in the magnificent scenery. It’s definitely one of the prettiest

settings I’ve ever had the privilege to work with as a course designer. “I think people will leave the course remembering those last three holes,” Harbottle has said. “In fact, I’ll go so far as to say they just might be the best three finishing holes in the entire Lake Tahoe region.” The Timilick course debuted last summer and has already won many prestigious awards. 2008 Awards Golfweek Number 7 of Best New Private Courses 2008 Golf Inc. Top 5 Devlopment of the Year Golf Digest Nominated for Best New Course in 2009 Links Magazine Awarded Links Premier Courses and Best Value

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The Timilick Club... From the Moment You Join, You Belong

Sierra Golfer • June/July 2009 | 5

imilick is Tahoe’s most inviting private club, and the first place to offer membership without requiring a property purchase. Wherever you call home in North Lake Tahoe, membership at Timilick gives you access to incredible golf, endless activities, and luxurious amenities – all designed with families in mind. The future clubhouse, which will sit adjacent to the course, will offer golfers, members and residents a restaurant, fitness center, spa, pools and tennis courts. Annual and regular golf memberships are available for a limited time. Contact the Director of Golf, Matt Anderson, at (530) 263-7060, or matt@timilick.com today for more information. Golfers and non-golfers alike can also enjoy the neighboring thousands of acres of Tahoe National Forest—perfect for hiking, biking, snow shoeing and cross-country skiing. The miles of onproperty trails offer similar open-air opportunities (in fact, more than half the project is open space). Located minutes from the shores of Lake Tahoe, the slopes of Northstar and the shops of Truckee, it’s just the right spot for those who want it all.

The K James Companies Build Distinctive Golf Communities

imilick Tahoe is being developed by Martis Valley Associates, LLC, a subsidiary of Chicago-based K. James Companies. The K. James Companies have been committed to developing properties that add value to the surrounding communities for over 50 years. The Company’s development approach incorporates environmental sensitivity, careful site selection, sensitive land planning to preserve a property’s natural beauty, and imaginative architecture to compliment the surrounding areas. Consistent commitment to these qualities has earned The K. James Companies numerous awards for land use, architecture and landscape design, including a lifetime achievement award bestowed upon the company’s principals from the Urban Land Institute.

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Everything You Wanted to Know About (Golf) Balls But Were Afraid to Ask! By Kristi LaRue, The Cowgirl Golfer When I first took up the game of golf a couple of years ago, I used balls that I found in our back yard and used range balls (don’t tell the club manager) to get over the water holes. My reason for doing this was I didn’t want to spend our daughter’s entire college fund on new balls that I knew I’d lose in a few rounds of golf! One day, when my golf buddy and I got good enough for our husbands to join us, her hubby (the club manager!) said, “Kristi, you shouldn’t use bad (he used a different adjective) balls when hitting over the water. You could hit a great shot that won’t make it over simply because you used a bad ball.” Hmmm, I think he’s on to something there. At that point, I quit using range balls and only used the “better” balls I found in the back yard. Fast forward a couple of years to the Llano, TX Annual Crawfish Boil Golf Tournament. My girl team got to a hole where the Srixon reps were selling sleeves of balls and giving a free sleeve to anyone who was able to hit their tee shot onto the green. I decided to go for it and made the green, yay! But when I went to choose which balls I wanted, the only factor that influenced my choice was the color of the box…pink! I realized it was time to learn a little more about golf balls.

Sierra Golfer • June/July 2009 | 7 My research began with Google “History of Golf Balls”. Interesting but not helpful when choosing which ball is best for me. So I headed over to our club and interviewed our Club PGA Professional, Billy. Whoa, my pen was smoking I was writing so fast! Billy started off by telling me that you should ultimately use a ball that has a good “feel” around the green. Because I had no idea what he was talking about, he launched into a basic explanation of what’s out there on the market. Almost all companies have two high-end balls which cost about $50/box. For example: Titleist has Pro V1 and Pro V1x, Callaway has TOUR i and TOUR ix, Nike has the Nike One Black

end balls that run about $20/ box. Titleist’s mid-range balls (referred to by some as the “poor man’s Pro V1”) are the NXT Tour and the NXT Extreme. And their low-end balls are the DT Carry and the DT Roll. Titliest does not make a “lady’s” ball per se simply because a “lady’s” ball may not be right for you. Read on and you will understand why. Now that we have a breakdown of all the different choices when selecting a ball, how does one go about deciding which one is best for them? I was told that the best way to do this is to have your swing analyzed. This helps you determine if you need more distance, longer air time or more or less spin. Since women have an average swing rate of about

and Nike One Platinum and Taylor Made has the TP Black and TP Red. The specific use for each type of ball is on the box. For example: The Titleist Pro V is a 3 piece, multi-layer construction that maximizes distance, durability and performance. The Pro V1x is a 4 piece, dual core construction that lowers spin and maximizes distance. Almost all companies also have two mid-range balls that run about $30/box and 2 lower-

70 mph we want a ball that has a high spin rate because a high spin rate causes the ball to stay in the air longer. This determination narrows down the ball choices quite a bit. For instance, a beginner, female golfer would not want the Pro V1x because it has a low spin rate. And once you decide whether you want to pay $50, $30 or $20, your choices are narrowed down even more. So, just because a ball is $50, doesn’t mean it’s the best for you. (We’re

getting there!) The last step is to buy a sleeve of each of the balls you determined might be right for you and practice your short game with each type. This is how you get the “feel” around the green (which is what Billy told me right out of the shoot!). Distance and accuracy off the tee is what most people want so they look for a ball that is harder, like a rock coming off the club head. The problem occurs when they get close to the green to play the short game. That rock hard ball ain’t gonna cut it! You need a ball with more “feel” to it. (I bet all you men out there had no idea how in tune you were with your feelings on the golf course!). Alrighty then. Just when I thought I knew everything there was to know about golf balls but was afraid to ask, Billy threw in the marketing side of it all! He said when someone asks him, “What balls should I buy?” he asks, “What is more important to you, name brand, price or aesthetics?” Yup, pink, believe it or not, pink, aesthetics is important to people, pink! And marketers have figured that out, especially when it comes to women. They have used those pink balls and pink boxes to draw us in like bees to honey but in a helpful way. It just so happens that those pink balls are high spin and are therefore what we (beginners with a slow swing rate) should be buying anyway! I think we just came full circle and I am so happy! I actually made the right choice at the Llano, TX Crawfish Boil Tournament when I picked the pink box of Srixons! My girl team and I had to laugh when we realized that all 4 of us were playing with a different shade of pink ball. You can keep the science of it all. I’m a simple girl!

8 | Sierra Golfer • June/July 2009 Taddeo, “Tiger wears red on Sundays because the color means good luck in Thailand, his mother’s native country. By David Wood But there’s more to red than that. As the color of fire and With the 2009 U.S. Open blood, red is associated with Championship coming up in energy, war, strength and June at Bethpage State Park power. It’s also linked with (Black Course) in New York, energy, so it’s often used thoughts turn to the first U.S. to promote energy drinks Open held there in 2002, and sports products. Plus, when Tiger won his second says color expert Lietrice U.S. Open wearing his Eiseman, Tiger is partial to traditional Sunday red color. red because of its vibrancy, What color will the winner and people in vibrant colors, wear on Sunday this year? she says, come across as Will it be Tiger again in his powerful.” red or some other player in a In a February 2003 article different color? in Golf Today magazine, sports psychologist Gregg Tiger’s Sunday Red Steinberg is quoted as saying, “Tiger feels more aggressive It is doubtful that there when he wears his red colored exists any true golf fan who shirt. He knows he must play does not know that Tiger’s aggressively on Sunday if clothing color of choice he is to go ‘low’ and win…. in the final round of a golf Typically, red stands for tournament on Sunday is aggression and assertiveness. always red. As to why Tiger As a prototypical example, wears red, according to a the matador uses a red December 1, 2006 article cape to make the bull more in GOLF Magazine by Lisa aggressive and charge at him. Red also stands for fire and when you are fired up you are going to act more assertively….We infer our emotions from our actions. Our brain gets the message from our body how to feel…. In the case of Tiger Woods, the action of putting on a red shirt on Sunday makes him feel more aggressive and fired up to go low on Sunday.” According to the Wikipedia article on Tiger Woods, “He began his tradition

What’s in a Color?

of wearing a red shirt during the final round of tournaments, a link to his college days at Stanford and a color he believes symbolizes aggression and assertiveness.” (The official colors of Stanford University are cardinal red and white.) At the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont Tiger was asked about the red color and stated, “This is based on Thai superstition. Red, the color of blood, symbolizes aggressiveness. By Sunday, I need everything I can get.” Tiger won the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines wearing red both in Sunday’s final round and then again in the Monday playoff with Rocco Mediate. But this time there was a little twist to it: In the Monday playoff, Mediate showed up also wearing red, prompting Golf Magazine writer Cameron Morfit to comment, “Rocco Mediate’s decision to wear a red shirt, matching Tiger’s typical crunch-time color, is hardly coincidental. It’s a classic poker move by a guy who played in the 2005 World Series of Poker. Woods appeared to get a kick out of Mediate’s color choice when the two shook hands, laughing before starting his warm-up.” But it did not help Rocco, and Tiger won the playoff. At last year’s 2008 RBC Canadian Open Anthony Kim wore a red shirt on Sunday while shooting a 75. In the following week’s Golf World magazine, writer John Hawkins commented: “Hero worship has its limits. Sneaking into Superman’s closet and taking the crimson

www.sierragolfer.com cape for a test drive is like carjacking your old man’s Mercedes for a hot date. Stick with the Vegas belt buckle, A.K.” That brings to mind another player who attempted to steal Tiger’s power color; it was England’s Luke Donald wearing red in the final round of the 2006 PGA Championship at Medinah, while playing the final round with Tiger. He and Tiger started the day at -14. Donald found no magic that day. He shot +2 and Tiger shot -4 and won. Tiger has been wearing red on Sundays his entire career, but he was not the first to do it. Both Lee Trevino and Curtis Strange were known for wearing red on Sundays long before Tiger started doing it. According to John Hawkins in an August 1, 2008 Golf World article, “Woods actually scarfed the red-on-Sunday motif from Curtis Strange, one of the original Nike guys in the 1980s.” In a November 1, 2001 article in Golf Digest by John Hawkins (“Lucky Charms: Superstitions may not make any sense, but don’t try telling that to a player”) Curtis Strange is quoted as follows: “I never wore anything but the solid red. That was the only shirt Nike made that looked any good. Tiger wears stripes, different shades of red. He’s taken it places.” It is interesting to note that in that 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, Tiger’s Sunday red shirt matched the red shirt of the caddie in Bethpage’s official golf logo.

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term thing, Phil Mickelson has been wearing a lot of black and white this year, including frequently a white belt. Davis Love III, who went to the University of North Carolina, often wears “Carolina blue.” Ben Hogan was always known for wearing a white flat cap.

Other Colors Other players are or have been partial to some other colors. For instance, Gary Player is famously remembered for always wearing black. In fact, he adopted the nickname the “Black Knight.” It has been noted that since winning the 2008 Players Championship, Sergio Garcia has been wearing black on Sundays. In a Golf Digest magazine interview in the May 2009 issue, in response to a question about his choice of black clothing, he said, “It makes me feel good. I feel calmer. It gives me energy from the heat.” Although maybe not a long

Back in the 1980’s Ken Green was known for always wearing a green glove and green and white saddle shoes. This season Joe Ogilvy and Charlie Hoffman are both wearing bright green gloves as part of an endorsement deal for Waste Management which bills itself as an environmentally friendly (green) company. Seve Ballesteros favored navy blue when he was in contention on Sundays. One of the most famous photos of him shows him standing on the 18th green at the Old Course at St. Andrews, decked out entirely in navy blue, just after he sank what proved to be the winning birdie putt in the 1983 (British) Open Championship.

(known as el pato “the duck”) likes to wear a yellow shirt on Sundays, and we were most recently reminded of that when he won the 2009 Masters. And in 2007 he won the U.S. Open at Oakmont wearing a yellow shirt on Sunday. He also won his two biggest

Sierra Golfer • June/July 2009 | 9

at the U.S. Open on June 21, 2009? Bethpage State Park has five golf courses, all named for a color mentioned in this article: The Red, Blue, and Green Courses (opened in 1935), the famed Black Course where the U.S. Open will be played (opened in 1936), and the Yellow Course (opened in 1958). The Bethpage State Park golf logo encompasses these five colors: The logo consists of a caddie wearing black shoes, yellow socks, blue pants, a red shirt, and a green hat. What color will the 2009 U.S. Open Champion wear?

tournaments on the European Tour wearing yellow: The 2002 Benson and Hedges, and the 2005 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

On the LPGA, Paula Creamer always wears pink.

The Colors of Bethpage State Park And the 2009 U.S. Open

El Pato—the Duck— Cabrera Yellow Angel Cabrera

What color will the champion be wearing at the trophy presentation ceremony

David Wood is an avid golfer and golf historian with an astonishing record for attendance at Major Golf Tournaments and other events, including 14 Open Championships, 7 Masters Championships, 16 U.S. Opens, 2 PGA Championships and 5 Ryder Cups. He has played in numerous Pro-Ams (even the Mercedes in Maui, the lucky so & so!), and has been paired with tour pros Tom Watson, Fred Couples, Davis Love III, Scott McCarron, Scott Simpson, Bernhard Langer, Gary Player, Chip Beck, John Cook and David Graham among others. He was Leaderboard Chairman for the 1999 U.S. Senior Open and Senior Marshal at the 2006 Ryder Cup. The retired CEO of Wells Fargo Financial makes his primary residence in West Des Moines, Iowa, and plays to an 11.9 Index. David can be reached at davidwoodlaw@aol.com.

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Warm up tips From the Pro By Jamie Harper of Timilick Tahoe

After the snowy Winter we’ve had in Tahoe, we are thrilled to say...it’s finally time to get your clubs out and get ready for another spectacular season of golf. Most people want to get right out on to the driving range and start pounding balls. Don’t forget the short game! With extended time away from golf, your touch and feel for the game are going to be the hardest things to recover.

Touch and Feel

1. Spend at least the same

amount of time on your short game as you spend on the driving range. 60% of all your golf strokes are from 80 yards in. 2. Spend time on the putting green hitting putts from all different distances. Work on your short pitch and lob shots to improve your touch. A great way to practice chipping is to throw 40 balls around the green, from all different lies and angles, and aim to one pin. Work your way around the green, trying to get closer than the last chip as you move your way around the green. This will enhance your depth perception and work on your creativity from each lie. Please contact Matt Anderson or myself for more detailed instructional help.

Matt AndersonDirector of Golf

Sierra Golfer • June/July 2009 | 11

Matt started his golf career at New Mexico State University, with a major in Professional Golf Management. After college he worked as an assistant golf professional at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis, MN. Minikahda was opened in 1898 and after Chick Evans won the 1916 US Open, he dedicated his money to start the Evans Scholarship fund for caddies. From Minikahda, Matt moved west to Lahontan Golf Club in Truckee. Matt worked his way up from the First Assistant Professional to Head Professional. After Lahontan, he moved to The Tribute Golf Links & Resort in Dallas, TX as the Assistant General Manager. The Tribute is ranked in the Golf Digest top 75, and is a Scottish replica course with holes modeled after British Open courses in Scotland. After working in Dallas for a year, Matt was very happy to get out of the humidity and return to Tahoe. If you are looking for someone to fly fish with in the summer or ski with in the winter, give Matt a call!

Jamie Harper (left) and Matt Anderson (right) of Timilick Tahoe

Jamie Harper– Head Professional Jamie Harper, Timilick’s Head Golf Professional, is in his second season at Timilcik. Before Timilick, Jamie was the Head Golf Professional at Auburn Country Club. He is a second generation golf professional. His father, Ken Harper,was the Assistant Professional at Los Altos Golf & Country Club before taking the Head Professional position at Lake Wildwood Country Club for 15 years. Jamie attended the University of the Pacific where he was a member of the golf team. He has worked at a few different private clubs including Lake Wildwood Country Club, Lahontan Golf Club and Auburn Country Club.

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The Psychology Of Golf Equanimity Leads To Parfection By Ben Kline

Keep your cool and play better golf. Equanimity is the mind’s ability to just notice what happens without reacting. An equanimous golfer is resistant to anger, stress and distraction. Having a balanced mind is a great asset for playing and learning golf. Expressing anger after a shot creates tension that leaves an impression on your body, influencing the swings that follow. Anger also narrows your focus. When your focus is inside your head and negative, it is harder to connect to the target and more difficult to consider what is needed for successful golf swings. Bad shots can also result from getting excited after a great shot or hole. How many times, after making a birdie, does the next hole end in disaster? When some golfers experience success, their minds dart from focusing on one shot-at-a-time, to future thoughts. For example, “if I birdie, the next hole, I’ll have my best nine ever.“ A slight variation is the fear of success. You hit a great shot. Then you adopt the ridiculous belief that others will expect you to play well the rest of the round. Deep inside, you do not believe you are that good and you tense up. Other golfers don’t care about your game. They only worry about their own. In any case, your mind has strayed from what worked; focusing on executing good golf shots, to worrying about a future outcome or expectation. The result--- lack of attention to good shot making and higher scores.

Observe professional golfers on television. Look at their faces after they make a birdie or a bogey. Most of the time, their expressions don’t change. They have learned to manage their emotions. But just because professional golfers do not jump for joy after a great hole does not mean that they are not experiencing great satisfaction. Rather, they are staying focused on the present so that they can create opportunities for the next great shot. Just as practicing the right physical skills engrain good golfing habits, mental skills must also be practiced for growth to occur. How can you cultivate a sense of equanimity? Make it a conscious intention to keep emotions in check throughout your golf round. When you catch yourself getting upset or excited, just notice it like an outside observer. Over time, the upsets will occur less often and less intensely. Also, use your time at the practice range as an opportunity to improve the management of your emotions. If you are not wasting time and energy reacting, you pay better attention to your swing and may just discover what has been hampering your progress. Strive for equanimity. It may not show on your face, but the satisfaction will be there just the same. Ben Kline is a sport psychology consultant based in Mill Valley, Ca., and is passionate about helping people improve performance on and off the sporting field. A former collegiate track athlete, avid golfer, classically trained musician, and veteran of 23 years in the competitive high technology industry, Ben holds a Masters degree in Sport Psychology. He enjoys working with amateur and professional athletes who desire to overcome impediments to peak performance or just want to increase enjoyment of their sport. Ben believes that our bodies have their own genius and that our thought patterns, beliefs and personal histories can interfere with the manifestation of that brilliance on the sporting field. Information on Ben’s practice can be found at clarityperformance.com.

The Physiology Of Golf

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Fitness Programs By Ann Grassel, PT

Certified Titleist Golf Fitness Instructor

For golfers, it is essential to have a strong and flexible body to enjoy a great game. In the younger golfer, it is important to develop good biomechanics that they will carry with them through the rest of their golfing life. In older golfers, it is also important to have skills that will help them prevent injuries and stay in the game. The Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) has developed a Golf Fitness Program that is used to assess their touring professionals. TPI uses the results of video analysis and physical screening to design an exercise program specific for his or her needs. This program is now available to you. As a Certified Titleist Golf Fitness Instructor, I do an analysis of your golf swing from 2 angles— Face on and Down the Line—to identify 12 Common Golf Swing Faults: C-Posture, S-Posture, Overthe-Top, Early Extension, Loss of Posture, Flat Shoulder Plane, Sway, Slide, Casting or Early Release, Reverse Spine Angle, Chicken Winging, and Over the Top. I then perform a Physical Screening to identify the physical deficits that directly contribute to specific golf swing faults. I take the results of the video analysis and the physical screening and plug them into the Titleist Performance Institutes website to develop a golf specific exercise program for my clients. These exercises are designed to correct the deficits in strength, flexibility and balance. When these physical deficits are corrected, they will correct the golf swing faults. These exercise programs are sent directly to your e-mail address, with

videos of each exercise, on the days selected by you, to do the exercises at home or in the gym. In addition to this program, I use my expertise as a physical therapist to assess the way you walk, sit and work. I teach you how to engage your core muscles in your everyday activities so that you can use your new alignment as you do your exercises. This new skill, used constantly in your activities, will carry over into a great golf swing. You can contact me to schedule a Golf Fitness Assessment. If you are unable to come into my office, there is an Off Site Assessment option. On the TPI website, you follow a step by step format to do a self assessment. The results then produce a Golf Specific exercise program for you. For an additional fee, you can send me a video of your golf swing for assessment. You will find that as your fitness improves, so will your game Ann Grassel, PT is a Certified Titleist Golf Fitness Instructor and recently opened the Marin Golf Fitness Center in Mill Valley, CA. Ann has 30 years experience as a Physical Therapist specializing in Sportsmedicine, Movement Analysis and Re-education and Ergonomics. She works with athletes of all skill levels and was privileged to have been a Therapist/ Trainer at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Ann earned a degree in Physiology from the University of Illinois and in Physical Therapy from Northwestern University Medical School. Ann can be reached at 415-272-2264 or online atann@maringolffitness.com or www.maringolffitness.com

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What’s New in Golf Equipment By BrianVanderBeek

You always can find them on the pegboard rack to the side of the cash register at the local golf store or pro shop -all those wallet-tugging golf accessories all guaranteed to lower your score. I did the math recently while looking over such an array of brushes, towels, groove-cleaners and glovedriers. I could buy the entire selection for several hundred dollars, and at the end of the day the golf course would owe me strokes. This spring, the people at PrideSports came out with new and improved versions of some golf accessory stalwarts, and were kind enough to send some samples in the mail. Look for these the next time you’re checking out the latest accessories.

15 years ago. This year, they’ve added an adjustable version to the line. It incorporates a removable support ring easily adjusted to provide extra traction or a softer, more comfortable feel. My Take: This is a sexy idea, but I just don’t see the need. I’ve never slipped, even while playing the sidehill lies of the Mother Lode, while wearing Black Widow spikes, and their comfort already is unmatched in the soft spike market. Suggested retail: $16.99 per full replacement pack, includes a couple spares. SOFTSPIKES CLUB GRIP As a former tennis player who reformed his evil ways and switched to golf while

BLACK WIDOW TOUR SPIKES Does the Black Widow spike system really need improving? This line of soft spikes has been one of the best and most comfortable on the market since debuting

Sierra Golfer • June/July 2009 | 13 it was very easy to install. It with reduced tee friction – is very tacky and provides all the better to reduce driver extreme cushion, much like spin. the original Winn grip (You It comes in 2.75 and remember, the one that 3.25-inch lengths, allowing disintegrated and turned golfers to use every one of your hands black after three those 460cc’s in your driver rounds back in 1996.) head. My Take: If you need an My Take: I like the emergency, temporary repair way these set-up visually. of a grip and don’t have time They’re directional, so they to replace it, this is an ideal get you thinking about your product. But be warned, this target from the moment to tape will add significant size stick your tee in the ground. to your grip diameter, turning The backward angle of the that rock-hard five-year-old tee makes it appear as if the full cord velvet grip into ball is suspended in air, not something resembling and resting on a perch. I didn’t feeling like an arthritic grip. notice any difference in tee Suggested retail: $4.99 shot performance, but these for a three-pack, $1.50 each. tees are extremely sturdy and I haven’t yet broken one. One PROFESSIONAL TEE caveat: The angle of the PTS SYSTEM causes the tee to fly forward You’ve tried them all: longer than any tee I’ve ever standard wood tees, tall tees, used. You will lose these on a driving range because you won’t want to wander into the line of fire far enough to retrieve your flying tee. Suggested retail: A pack of 15 -- $3.49-3.99 (depending on length.) Brian Vanderbeek is a Sportswriter and is currently nursing his 5.9 handicap index at Stevinson Ranch, but Brian’s a Dutchman so don’t ask him to play for money .

in college, I recognize this product as similar to the gauze-type grip wrap still popular in net sports. The big difference with this product is that it’s a non-absorbing, tacky rubber tape intended to cover and improve a worn grip. I threw one of these on my sand wedge and found

brush tees, crown-pronged tees, and you either swear by them or don’t really notice the difference. Here’s another option worth checking out. PrideSports TPS system is a plastic tee that is the first to incorporate a 30degree offset. They claim it promotes an ascending blow

14 | Sierra Golfer • June/July 2009

Golf in Germany – Discover a Different golf Experience By Jens Bernitzky Germany and Golf? Most of your readers have probably never thought about a golf vacation in Germany. So far, Germany is known to Americans for its reliable and luxurious cars, beer, Oktoberfest, the Alps and perhaps recognized as a strong economy as it (still) is a member of the G8 states. Guess what: Germany offers the largest amount of golf courses in whole central Europe. More than 700 courses are waiting to be discovered by enthusiastic golf vacationers. Among those you can find real pearls, as there are quite a large number of courses which are ranking among the top courses in Europe. To mention some of them: The Hardenberg Resort Wildboar Hole at the Hardenberg Resort

in Noerten-Hardenberg (central Germany), St. Leon Rot – Course Red (former PGA European Tour Course) in Heidelberg and Gut Laerchenhof (Host of the Mercedes Benz Championships by Bernhard Langer) in Cologne. The big advantage with a golf trip to Germany is that you find so many diverse country sites only within a few hours’ drive: From the scenic Alps, to the BlackForrest or to the North- or Baltic Sea, it is just a matter of some hour’s drive. With Frankfurt/Main, Munich and Hamburg as the three main airports, it is very convenient and rather cheap to fly to Germany. Apropos cheap: Golf in Germany is in common very affordable. The average Green fee rate for a 18-hole round is approximately Euro 35- 45, (US$ 45.- to 58.). But once you plan to play golf in Germany, what will be the biggest difference for you as an American golfer? First of all, as in most European Countries, the service standard is not yet matching the American. So don´t expect someone to pick-up your golf bag from your car, to clean your clubs after the golf round and don´t even expect to find caddies. There are only a few courses in Spain and France that offer this service. Buggies are available at about

95% of all courses, but they have to be booked in advance (fee appr. US$ 32, per 18holes). Germans (similar to the Scandinavian Golfers) prefer to walk and use a trolley instead of a buggy. Golf in Germany is rather young (the German Golf Federation was founded in 1907) and it used to be for many centuries a sport for the upper society. This is changing rapidly for some years but you can be sure, that one of the first questions you´re asked on a Golf round is: “What is your profession” and even before that “What´s your handicap?” The social status of a German Golf player is very dependent upon his or her handicap. So once you plan to play golf in Germany, make sure you bring anything with you that proves your handicap, because the secretary in the office requires two cards from you: - Your credit card - Proof of the ability to play golf The proof of the ability to play golf is another “nice gimmick” you only find in the German speaking countries (Germany, Austria and Switzerland): It´s called “Platzreife”, which is a sort of “driving license” for golf. Every person in those three countries, which would like to start playing golf, has to do a practical and theoretical test under the supervision of a golf professional where they need to answer 30 questions regarding golf rules and, in addition to that, to play a 9-hole round with a minimum score of 12 Stableford points.

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710 yard par 5 hole at Green Eagle near Hamburg

If a person fails this test, it is not allowed to play on non-public courses or to become a member of a golf club. If you pass this test, you start with the official handicap of +54. Is that how you attract people for this great sport? Not in my opinion. There is quite a big discussion going on about this “license” but it will boost this article to write more about it. I will continue with more information about the difference between golf in US and Germany in one of the next issues of “Sierra Golfer”. About the author: Jens Bernitzky (40) is founder of “Golf Tourism Development & Services” (GTDS) (www. deutsche-golfstrasse.de) based near Hamburg. GTDS is specialized in the field of golf tourism consulting. His clients are major golf resorts and tourist boards which intend to promote their golf destination and/or resort in other golf markets. He is also publisher of the newsletter “GreenDiscoverer” related to golf travel and business issues (www. green-discoverer.de) and host of several golf related groups in different social networks.

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A Summer “Bucket” List By Laura Stewart I love the idea of trying new things, experiencing new places, the excitement and anticipation of exploring the unknown. In our heads we have all put together a bucket list at some point, places to visit or things we want to do before we die. But I am more of an instant gratification kind of gal and I thought it would be fun to put together a summer bucket list or alternatively, put some suggestions together for you, of some of my favorite things to do around town related to food and wine. So here is your bucket list, have fun! Summer Concerts at Piatti’s - The Piatti’s at the Pavillons hosts a free jazz concert series every Friday night from 3-6pm in their courtyard starting May 29th through September 25th. Another reason to check Piatti’s out again is they have just brought on a new executive chef. Ryan O’Malley, previously from the well rated Grange downtown and Hawks in Roseville, is launching a new menu to kick off the spring and summer seasons and they are very excited about what he will bring to the table, no pun intended. Happy Hour at Morton’s Steakhouse – Ever since I moved from San Diego eight years ago, I have gotten out of the Happy Hour rhythm. I pledge to get back into it this year, why don’t you join me? Especially to save money, happy hour is always a great alternative to eating dinner out and well no need to lie…it is fun to be able to have a glass of wine earlier in the day when the sun is still out. Typically Morton’s is not on my radar, but for Happy Hour it really is a good deal. Bar Bites (aka appetizers) for only $5 and drinks starting at $4. I recommend their jumbo lump crab cakes, probably one of the best I’ve ever had. And if

you haven’t heard, they recently moved to a site on Capitol Mall that is definitely more bright and vibrant than the previous location. Saturday wine tasting & dinner date – One of my favorite ways to spend a Saturday starts with heading to Roseville and going to Capitol Cellars for their weekly wine tasting from 3-6pm. Owner Marcus Graziano has one of the best wine selections in town and always is featuring highly acclaimed and interesting wines, sometimes even the winemaker will be there. After the tasting we walk next door to one of my absolute favorite restaurants, La Provance. For small plates, you have to try the Gnocchi Maison with truffles, every time I have them I think about it for days. And for dinner the Australian rack of lamb is by far the best lamb I have ever had in a restaurant. The Diver scallops with risotto are wonderful too. Great wines, romantic ambience and incredible food make this a perfect way to spend a Saturday with your favorite person. Inn at Spanish Bay Happy Hour – Inevitably the day will come that we are back in 100 degree plus weather and miserable. Escape the blistering heat and take a weekend trip to Carmel where it will likely be thirty degrees cooler and a great place for dining and wine tasting. One of my favorite places in the world is the outside patio at the Inn at Spanish Bay. Surrounded by fire pits, an ocean view, and a bag piper playing through sunset, happy hour here is truly happy. Enjoy a glass of wine or cocktail and peruse the appetizer menu. My recommendation is the Lakanilau Roll, a sushi roll wrapped in seared Kobe beef that melts in your mouth. If you head into Carmel Valley for wine tasting, make sure to visit the Parsonage winery located in an area art gallery, where they feature full bodied red wines at great prices. Far Niente wine tasting & tour – Many years ago I had

Sierra Golfer • June/July 2009 | 15

an enlightening experience that changed my life forever while wine tasting. I know it seems shallow that it was at a winery, but for an aspiring chef and foodie, the wine tour at Far Niente in Oakville was a truly unique and palate opening experience. After the scenic cave tour, we were taken into an intimate room with a long old world style dark wood dining room table. At each place setting lied five different wines poured in five different style wine glasses and five unique cheeses to be paired with the corresponding varietal. I had no idea before then just how versatile and sophisticated cheese and wine pairings could be and how your taste buds could be so magically awakened! Two years later I purchased a table very similar to that one for my wine room, and when I had my launch party for my new business, I also conducted a food and wine pairing similar to Far Niente for my guests and prospective new clients. And hopefully they were

inspired as well to think outside the box when it comes to wine and cheese pairings. If all else fails and these ideas don’t appeal to you, then make your bucket list very simple. Go get your favorite bottle of chardonnay, wine glasses, some ice and of course and ice bucket…. and VOILÀ! That’s a bucket list anyone can complete. Cheers!

Laura Stewart owns the personal chef business INDULGE Gourmet that operates in the greater Sacramento area. She provides many services including cooking classes, weekly meals, dinner parties with cooking demonstrations, wine pairings and catering special events. Born and raised in Northern California, she spends a lot of time in the Napa Valley and other wine regions throughout California and enjoys sharing her passion and knowledge of wine with her clients. To contact Laura, email chef@indulge-gourmet.com or call 916.288.5761.

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16 | Sierra Golfer • June/July 2009 is considered temperate; a perfect escape from the summer heat that hangs in the valley, and a great place to find the sun when the “June gloom” fog invades coastal communities. San Benito County is bordered by Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties to the By Lynn Nilsen north, Merced and Fresno counties to the east and an Benito County Monterey County to the west is a hidden gem, and south. As you cross the often thought of as county line, you enter a micro the Palm Desert of Monterey, climate perfect for a game of but with a more palatable golf, adventurous hikes and price. I drove to Hollister wine tasting, at one of the last week from the Sierras, many local vineyards and where it had been raining all wineries of the region. After day. Once I passed Tracy a day of activities, you can on I-5, the rain let up, and head to San Juan Bautista the weather shifted toward and enjoy a stroll downtown, a warmer, almost balmy, browsing antique stores, climate. The hills reflected vintage clothes, jewelry and colors of yellow and gold with cute boutiques, before dining patch work of green grape at one of the many restaurants My favorite vines and agricultural fields in town. sewn into the landscape. Restaurant is Jardines de San San Benito County’s climate Juan on Third Street, serving fabulous Mexican cuisine. I recommend sitting in the gardens and feasting on one of the many delectable items on the menu, with a margarita to top it off. If you’re looking for a weekend escape, Ridgemark Golf and Country Club offers 32 spacious Guest Cottages; the club house, just steps away, provides a menu sure to delight the epicurean

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The Travelling Golfer...

Golf, Hike and Explore San Benito County

within. There are two courses to enjoy: Gavilan and Diablo. These 18-hole, semi-private, championship courses are named after the Mountain Range they are nestled between. Parts of the Gavilan and Diablo courses are tucked away with nature, presenting players with spectacular views of the wine country and mountains. There are homes on some of the fairways, but they seem to be positioned so most shots do not end up in a swimming pool or barbeque. I found the Diablo Course to be the more challenging of the two; I felt like I was trying to place my ball up the mountain part of the time. This course was designed by Richard Bigler, a par 72, 6,582 yards with a 72.3 rating and a 126 slope. The Gavilan Course has its own challenges, but seems a bit tamer and friendlier. The course was designed also by Richard Bigler, a par 72, 6721 yards with a 72.7 rating and a 126 slope A must-play golf course, just down the road, is San

Juan Oaks, a beautifully laid out Fred Couples, award winning course, designed by architect Gene Bates. San Juan Oaks is located in a gorgeous, natural environment, snuggled in the hills – the views inspired me to want to return to paint the beautiful scenery or do some bird watching. This is a par 72, 7,133 yards with a 75.6 rating and a slope of 145. San Juan Oaks’ restaurant and bar is very inviting; you won’t be disappointed with the excellent cuisine paired with a glass of local wine. Be sure to check out the spacious 300 seat banquet room, patios and courtyards, while wondering around the clubhouse; this is a wonderful venue for a wedding or corporate event. If you have the time and energy, I recommend visiting the Old Mission San Juan Bautista to see some of our California history, dating all the way back to 1797. This was number fifteen, of twenty-one missions, built in California.

www.sierragolfer.com Continued Another enjoyable activity is the beautiful hike up to Fremont Peak, a famous land mark of the area. Once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the Monterey Bay, the dramatic peaks of the Gavilan Range, and the rolling hills of San Benito Valley, Salinas Valley and the Santa Lucia Mountains, east of Big Sur. This is an important piece of our California History. You can see why, in 1846, Captain John Fremont chose this location to help California gain its independence from Mexico. If you are up for more hiking, try a trek at the Pinnacles National Park, a spectacular natural wonder with fascinating rock formations. This national monument is a release point for endangered California Condors, which can sometimes be seen along the hiking trails. Bear Gulch Cave and Balconies Cave are two caves to check out in the Pinnacles National Park. Flashlights are required and the status of these caves should be checked out ahead of time. The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail runs 1200 miles from Arizona to Central California, passing close to Pinnacles National Monument at the town of San Juan Bautista. For more information check out this link: www.solideas.com/

Sierra Golfer • June/July 2009 | 17 DeAnza/TrailGuide After all the hiking, sightseeing and golf, wine tasting is a welcome activity. Leal Vineyards, located right down the road from Ridgemark offers a nice selection of wines to taste; we especially enjoyed the 2005 Estate Syrah, the 2006 Carnaval, a Meritage and their 2006 Cabernet Franc. There is a beautiful area in the middle of the vineyards for weddings and events. There are seven other area wineries to enjoy, all located on the San Benito County Wine Trail. I played golf at San Juan Oaks with Phyllis Blackburn (one of the owners of Pietra Santa Winery). We decided to finish our day with wine tasting at her winery, located toward the top of the wine trail, off Cienega Road. Pietra Santa Winery was absolutely beautiful, with mission style architecture that rivals any of the charming wineries in the Napa Valley. They also grow and press olive oil, so you may want to pick up a bottle along with some wonderful red wines. My favorite wine was the Pinot Noir 2007 and the Sangiovese 2005. Check the internet for golf specials and packages reasonably priced on the Ridgemark and San Juan Oaks websites. Also check www.golfnow.com for golf specials.

Splitting her time between Incline Village, Nevada and Santa Cruz, California, Lynn Nilsen is an avid amateur golfer with a 20 handicap. She is a member of several golf clubs throughout Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties, as well as golf clubs in the Lake

Lynn’s Picks for Golf Courses and Accommodations: Ridgemark Golf & Country Club 3800 Airline Highway Hollister, CA 95023 831-634-2207 www.Ridgemark.com San Juan Oaks Golf Club 3825 Union Road Hollister, CA 95023 831-636-6115 www.sanjuanoaks.com

Tahoe area. When she’s not out playing golf, Lynn spends her time mountain biking, skiing, hiking, scuba diving, kayaking and spending time with her family in Santa Cruz.

Restaurants: Jardines De San Juan 115 Third Street San Juan Bautista, CA 831-623-4466 www.jardinesrestaurant.com/ Inn at Tres Pinos 6991 Airline Highway Tres Pinos, CA 95065

Exploring, Missions, Hikes Mission San Juan Bautista 406 Second Street San Juan Bautista, CA 95045 831-623-4528 Fremont Peak State Park San Juan Canyon Rd. Off 156, 11 miles south of San Juan Bautista w w w. p a r k s . c a . g o v / ? p a g e _ id=564

Pinnacles National Monument Write to: 5000 Highway 146 Paicines, CA 95043-9762 831-389-4486 www.nps.gov/pinn/

18 | Sierra Golfer • June/July 2009

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Sierra Golf Course Directory... Course

Snowcreek Golf Resort Sierra Star GC River Creek GC Sierra Meadows CC Pine Mountain Lake GC Lake Don Pedro G&CC Phoenix Lake GC Mountain Springs GC Twain Harte GC Greenhorn Creek GC La Contenta GC Saddle Creek Resort Forest Meadows GC Meadowmont GC Sequoia Woods CC Castle Oaks GC Mace Meadow GCC Carson Valley GC Genoa Lakes GC Genoa Lakes GC & Resort Silver Oak GC Sunridge GC Empire Ranch GC Dayton Valley CC Eagle Valley GC Rosewood Lakes GC Lakeridge GC Washoe GC Wolf Run GC Sierra Sage GC Hidden Valley GC Thunder Canyon CC Red Hawk Golf Club Wildcreek GC Arrow Creek GC Incline Championship GC Incline Mountain Course Old Brockway GC Edgewood Tahoe GC Lake Tahoe GC Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort Tahoe City GC Timilick Club Coyote Moon GC Gray’s Crossing Old Greenwood GC Tahoe Donner GC Apple Mountain Resort Grizzly Ranch Resort

Location

Mammoth Lakes, CA Mammoth, CA Ahwahnee, CA Ahwahnee, CA Groveland, CA La Grange, CA Sonora, CA Sonora, CA Twain Harte, CA Angels Camp, CA Valley Springs, Ca Copperopolis, CA Murphys, CA Arnold, CA Arnold, CA Ione, CA Pioneer, CA Gardnerville, NV Genoa, NV Genoa, NV Carson City, NV Carson City, NV Carson City, NV Dayton, NV Carson City, NV Reno, NV Reno, NV Reno, NV Reno, NV Reno, NV Reno, NV Washoe Valley, NV Sparks, NV Sparks, NV Reno, NV Incline Village, NV Incline Village, NV Kings Beach, CA Stateline, NV Lake Tahoe, CA Truckee, CA Tahoe City, CA Truckee, CA Truckee, CA Truckee, CA Truckee, CA Truckee, CA Camino, CA Portola, CA

Web address

Phone

snowcreekresort.com 760.934.6633 mammothmountain.com 760.924.4653 rivercreekgolfcourse.com559.683.5600 sierrameadows.com 559.642.1343 pinemountainlake.com 209.962.8620 deerwoodcorp.com 209.852.0404 phoenixlakegolf.com 209.532.0111 mountainspringsgolf.com209.532.1000 twainhartevillage.com 209.586.3131 greenhorncreek.com 209.736.8111 lacontentagolf.com 209.772.1081 saddlecreek.com 888.852.5787 forestmeadowsgolf.com 209.728.3439 forestmeadowsgolf.com 209.795.1313 sequoiawoods.com 209.795.2141 castleoaksgolf.com 209.274.0167 macemeadow.com 209.295.7020 carsonvalleygolf.com 775.265.3181 genoalakes.com 866.795.2709 genoalakes.com 866.795.2709 silveroakgolf.com 775.841.7000 sunridgegolf.com 775.267.4448 empireranchgolf.com 888.227.1335 daytonvalleygolf.com 775.246.7888 eaglevalleygolf.com 775.887.2380 cityofreno.com 775.857.2892 lakeridgegolf.com 800.815.6966 washoegolf.org 775.828.6640 wolfrungolfclub.com 775.851.3301 sierrasagegolf.org 775.972.1564 hvccreno.com 775.857.4742 thundercanyon.com 775.882.0882 resortatredhawk.com 866-Go2Hawk visitrenotahoe.com 775.673.3100 www.arrowcreekcc.com 775.850.4653 golfincline.com 775.832.1146 golfincline.com 775.832.1150 oldbrockway.com 530.546.9909 edgewoodtahoe.com 775.588.3566 laketahoegc.com 530.577.0788 northstarattahoe.com 530.562.3887 golftahoe.com/tahoe-city 530.583.1516 timilick.com 877.Timilick coyotemoongolf.com 530.587.0886 grayscrossinggolf.com 530.550.5800 oldgreenwoodgolf.com 530.550.7010 tahoedonner.com 530.587.9443 applemountaingolfresort530.647.7400 grizzlyranch.com 866.901.1010

Head Pro/GM

Gary Paolino Dave Schacht Jim Monson Tim Huber Tony Murphy Bill Cloud Mike White Mike Cook Jeff Burmester Darryl Peif Phil Sponseller Geoffrey Podgorny Jim Dillashaw Jim Dillashaw Larry Babica Dominic Atlan Gregg Standridge Rob Harbottle Lou Eiguren Lou Eiguren Robert Mason Matt LaPorte Keith Stoll Rick Vaughn Dave Gebhardt Bob Forse Randy Beeghly Darin Menante Lacy Erickson Steve Bell Kelly Manos Dave La Fata Greg Enholm Eric Huzarski John Ross Brannigan McNulty Angie Rodriguez Garrett Good Randy Fox Amy McCormick Pete Smith Bob Bonino Matt Anderson Ed McGargill Shane Jones Bob Hickam, Director Ed Leinenkugel, Dir. Paul Shorts Rob Young

Sierra Golfer • June/July 2009 | 19

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Staff and Contributing Columnists To The Sierra Golfer Magazine David Wood is an avid golfer and golf historian with an

astonishing record for attendance at Major Golf Tournaments and other events, including 14 Open Championships, 7 Masters Championships, 16 U.S. Opens, 2 PGA Championships and 5 Ryder Cups. He has played in numerous Pro-Ams (even the Mercedes in Maui, the lucky so & so!), and has been paired with tour pros Tom Watson, Fred Couples, Davis Love III, Scott McCarron, Scott Simpson, Bernhard Langer, Gary Player, Chip Beck, John Cook and David Graham among others. He was Leaderboard Chairman for the 1999 U.S. Senior Open and Senior Marshal at the 2006 Ryder Cup. The retired CEO of Wells Fargo Financial makes his primary residence in West Des Moines, Iowa, and plays to an 11.9 Index. David can be reached at davidwoodlaw@aol.com.

Robert “Buck” Reed is responsible for Golf Marketing at Greenhorn Creek and has been a resident in the community since 2006. Buck has been involved with the printing industry for most of his career most recently selling to and creating labels for the wine industry. He enjoys using his degree in marketing and background in print design to create promotional materials and marketing programs for Greenhorn. His sports interests are varied: scuba, tennis, skiing, motorcycling and golf are among them. Since coming to Angels Camp he has become involved in the community as a Rotarian and member of the Angels Camp Branding Team.

Jon Leland is a pioneer in communications and media and

has helped companies grow their businesses for three decades. Articles about Jon and his work have been published in Business Week, Presentations, Electronic Media, MPC World, PC Today, and San Francisco Business Times magazines. Jon is now a keynote speaker on the subject of “Winning with Ease: The power of stress-free performance as illustrated by life lessons learned from golf.” He plays to a 15.1 index. Jon blogs at http:// www.TheJoyofGolﬁng.com. More info on his work and his speaking can be found at http://www.ComBridges.com

Kristi LaRue was born and raised in Corpus Christi, TX.

She attended Kilgore Junior College in Kilgore, TX and was a Kilgore Rangerette. She then moved to Austin, TX in 1980 to attend the University of Texas and received her B.S. in Geological Sciences. She stayed in Austin and began her career in Environmental Geology with a part time job as a certified aerobic instructor. She met and married her husband, Jim (architect/avid golfer), in 1986. They have one daughter who attends Auburn Univ. When Kristi isn’t playing golf, she’s teaching aerobics, volunteering on two boards, running a part time whole food nutritional business, helping at Jim’s office or going to live music venues.

Ben Kline is a sport psychology consultant based in Mill Splitting her time between Incline Village, Nevada and Santa Cruz, California, Lynn Nilsen is an avid amateur golfer with a 20 handicap. She is a member of several golf clubs throughout Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties, as well as golf clubs in the Lake Tahoe area. When she’s not out playing golf, Lynn spends her time mountain biking, skiing, hiking, scuba diving, kayaking and spending time with her family in Santa Cruz.

Valley, Ca., and is passionate about helping people improve performance on and off the sporting field. A former collegiate track athlete, avid golfer, classically trained musician, and veteran of 23 years in the competitive high technology industry, Ben holds a Masters degree in Sport Psychology. He enjoys working with amateur and professional athletes who desire to overcome impediments to peak performance or just want to increase enjoyment of their sport. Ben believes that our bodies have their own genius and that our thought patterns, beliefs and personal histories can interfere with the manifestation of that brilliance on the sporting field. Information on Ben’s practice can be found at clarityperformance.com.

Ann Grassel, PT is a Certified Titleist Golf Fitness Instructor and recently opened the Marin Golf Fitness Center in Mill Valley, CA. Ann has 30 years experience as a Physical Therapist specializing in Sportsmedicine, Movement Analysis and Reeducation and Ergonomics. She works with athletes of all skill levels and was privileged to have been a Therapist/ Trainer at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Ann earned a degree in Physiology from the University of Illinois and in Physical Therapy from Northwestern University Medical School. She has also been a golfer for over 40 years and has played courses in Scotland, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Hawaii. She has watched golf develop from a game where players used to only practice on the range and play to a game where fitness training is now essential. Ann can be reached at 415-272-2264 or online at ann@maringolffitness.com or www.maringolffitness.com

20 | Sierra Golfer â&#x20AC;˘ June/July 2009

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