Official publication of the Oklahoma Golf Association Official publication of the Oklahoma Golf Association W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
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TABLE OF CONTENTS APRIL/MAY 2017
Volume 7 Issue 2
The Goods 16
Bedell’s book reviews, Tommy’s Honour a hit on screen, Mike McGraw pens a winner
Chip Shots 22
• Aly Seng’s road back • Golf series filmed at Chickasaw Pointe • David Ross hangs out psychiatrist shingle • Daly debuts at Legends of Golf • New golf fitness guru • Golf Inc. looks to rebound • UCO quarterback joins golf team • Best of new clubs for 2017
Features 36
2017 Hall of Fame class: Tway, Tewell, Vossler, Walser, Hayes
40
Max McGreevy hits physical, emotional stride for OU.
42
State overflows with high school stars
46
Jason Baldwin overcoming the odds to help others
Gary Player course located in Branson, Missouri.
Travel 48 50 54
Lake Murray: new lodge, golf course are hits OSU grad opens dream course in Houston Escape to fantasy island at TPC Sawgrass
Departments 10 12 13 13 14 56 58 60 61
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Letter from the Publisher OGA ED Mark Felder Rules, Gene Mortensen WOGA ED Sheila Dills USGA by David Thompson Superintendent’s Perspective Instruction: Maggie Roller, Jim Young Fitness Schedules and results
On the cover Purcell’s ShaeBug Scarberry and other top high school talents will be gunning for their respective state championships in May, story page 42.
Support junior golf by contributing to the OGA Foundation Call 405-848-0042 for more information 6
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GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
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APRIL/MAY 2017 FROM THE PUBLISHER
KEN M ACLEOD
to your ball and stop, even taking it within a few yards of the green. Where Charles went up, over and around the greenside mounds, I picked out more level paths and basically tried to stay upright. I handled it well enough to get a sense of the freedom and fun this new mode of golf transportation can provide. Battle Creek has eight boards and groups that want There were a couple of skateboards in to rent them are advised to go to www. the family back in the early 1960s. My battlecreekgolf.net, view the instructional brothers and I rode them down the hill in video, sign the waiver and sign up. The front of the house a few times, after which boards are getting heavy use and have atthey began gathering dust in the garage tracted golfers from around the region, next to the pogo stick and the pair of giant Gibson said. The rental fee is $10 more springs you were supposed to strap to your than the fee for renting a cart at any particular time. feet and hop around in. “We’ve had golfers The footballs and basefrom Missouri, Kanballs, meanwhile, were sas, Nebraska, Texas worn slick. and various places in Fast forward 53 years Oklahoma come just to a windy late March because they heard afternoon at Battle about the boards and Creek Golf Club in Browanted to try them,” ken Arrow. I had been Gibson said. “They invited out by pros Dee have been really Roadman and Charles popular. Once you Gibson to personally get the hang of it, it’s try out the popular a really fast and fun new GolfBoards. Dee way to play. You and and Charles were very I could play the full reassuring about how 18 in just over two quickly I would get hours.” the hang of it and not The boards are plunge the board into faster than playing a pond or end up in a in carts because there body cast. is not the awkward Charles, my guide intervals of driving for the afternoon, kept Show off! Battle Creek’s Charles Gibson your partner to his whizzing around me, gives a Golf Board lesson to a neophyte. ball then going to find hanging 10 like Miki Dora, and telling me that golfers from 13 yours and back to pick him up. Or, as many to 91 were regular users and got the hang aggravating cart partners do, waiting for of it in no time, like maybe one or two your partner to hit then driving 40 yards straight across the fairway to hit your shot. holes. None of that with a GolfBoard, you venPut me down as a slow learner, because at the end of nine holes I was still feel- ture straight to your ball. The boards go ing a bit cautious. Even though they have about 10 mph, compared to 12 for a golf a handle you grasp with an accelerator cart, so you can really get around in good switch, the GolfBoards are maneuvered time. And watching Charles scooting fearnot by steering but by shifting your weight lessly over the mounds and hills, you can and leaning, how much depending on how tell how much fun they would be with a trusting you are and whether you set your bit of experience. I’m certainly game for trying a Golffeet straight ahead or sidesaddle. As time went on, I became less worried Board again, which is more than I can say about toppling over or driving into one of for the poor skateboard which is probably the many ponds and streams and began still in mom’s garage. to enjoy the experience. With your bag – Ken MacLeod perched at the front, you can whiz right up
GolfBoards: New trick for old dog
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GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
Volume 7, Number 2 Golf Oklahoma Offices Southern Hills Plaza 6218 S. Lewis Ave., Ste. 200 Tulsa, OK 74136 918-280-0787
LIKE US!
FACEBOOK.COM/ GOLFOKLAHOMAMAGAZINE
Oklahoma City Office 405-640-9996 Publisher Ken MacLeod ken@golfoklahoma.org
FOLLOW US! @GOLFOKMAGAZINE
COO/Marketing Director A.G. Meyers agm@golfoklahoma.org Art & Technology Director Chris Swafford chris@golfoklahoma.org Subscriptions to Golf Oklahoma are $15 for one year (five issues) or $25 for two years (10 issues). Call 918-280-0787 or go to www.golfoklahoma.org. Contributing photographers Rip Stell, Bill Powell Golf Oklahoma PGA Instructional Staff Jim Woodward Teaching Professional, Oak Tree National jwoodwardgolf@sbcglobal.net, 405-3482004 Jim Young Teaching Professional, River Oaks CC 405-630-8183 Pat McTigue Manager, GolfTec Tulsa pmctigue@golftec.com Tracy Phillips Director of Instruction, FlyingTee vt4u@yahoo.com, 918-352-1089 Maggie Roller Director of Instruction, Cedar Ridge CC maggie.roller@sbcglobal.net, 918-261-1441 Jerry Cozby PGA Professional jerrycozby@aol.com, 918-914-1784 Michael Boyd, PGA Professional Indian Springs Country Club 918-455-9515 Oklahoma Golf Association 2800 Coltrane Place, Suite 2 Edmond, OK 73034 405-848-0042 Executive Director Mark Felder mfelder@okgolf.org Director of Handicapping and Course Rating Jay Doudican jdoudican@okgolf.org Director of Junior Golf Morri Rose morose@okgolf.org Copyright 2017 by Golf Oklahoma Magazine. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from Golf Oklahoma. Golf Oklahoma is published by South Central Golf, Inc.
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MARK FELDER
FROM THE OGA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OGA Executive Director
OGA Foundation gives back to golf The Oklahoma Golf Association Foundation continues to be fortunate enough to be able to help golfers, courses and programs throughout Oklahoma. Since its first donation in 2011, the foundation has now given away $227,000 with a host of scholarships set for 2017. In 2017, the foundation will award four scholarships worth $5,000 each and five worth $2,500 each. The announcements of the winners will be made in June. Golfers who would like to apply for 2018 will need to check back on the OGA website at www.okgolf.org. Also each year the foundation has been supporting worthwhile programs such as the University of Central Oklahoma Professional Golf Management program administered by PGA professional Bob Phelps. Also receiving donations have been the PGA South Central Section junior programs, including their tournament program and attempts to put SNAG (Start New at Golf) programs into school systems. Another use for the money is the OGA has been fortunate to be able to help many of our junior golfers who qualify for national events with their travel expenses. All funds contributed to the Foundation go
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straight to the scholarships or programs, there is nothing deducted for administration. Anyone interested in helping with a contribution can call the OGA at 405-848-0042. One small way to help is just by establishing a GHIN handicap or playing in an OGA event, as the OGA is a large contributor to the foundation.
2017 OGA SCHEDULE
The 2017 tournament schedule is below. As you can see the State Amateur Championship will be contested July 17-19 at Southern Hills Country Club, a fantastic venue to help determine the best amateur players in the state. We thank all of our participating courses and look forward to seeing all of you on the tee box in 2017.
Visit www.okgolf.org for more information
Date Event
Location
May 15-16
Spring and Senior Four-Ball Championship Twin Hills G & CC, OKC
June 5-8
Junior Boys and Girls Championship
Kickingbird GC, Edmond
June 19-22
Senior State Amateur Championship
Oak Tree CC (East), Edmond
June 26-28
Stroke Play Championship
Muskogee CC, Muskogee
July 10-11
Senior Stroke Play Championship
Shawnee CC, Shawnee
July 5
State Amateur qualifying
Lincoln Park GC (West), OKC
July 7
State Amateur qualifying
Bailey Ranch GC, Owasso
July 17-19
State Amateur Championship
Southern Hills CC, Tulsa
July 31-Aug. 1 Mid Amateur Championship
Cedar Ridge CC, Broken Arrow
Aug. 17
Oklahoma Open Amateur qualifying
Oak Tree CC (West), Edmond
Aug. 24-26
Oklahoma Open
Oak Tree CC (East), Edmond
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
GENE MORTENSEN
OKLAHOMA GOLF ASSOCIATION NEWS
OGA Rules Director
It’s time to think about the new rules The USGA is undertaking a major revision of the Rules of Golf and it wants your help in order to end up with a document that can easily apply in various situations. A draft of the revision is available for your review on the USGA web site. Suggestions for improvement should be submitted by August 1. Then the final touches will be put on the revisions and they will ready to go in 2019. To all of you who attempted to apply the current Rules and got lost, you now have a chance to help come up with a set of Rules that everyone can use.. One of the revisions is available even now if the committee has adopted a suggested Local Rule. This Rule pertains to a ball on a green being moved accidentally. Remember the fiasco at the U.S. Open last June when Dustin Johnson incurred a penalty under
SHEILA DILLS
very “questionable” circumstances. The USGA heard the criticism and adopted a quick fix. With the revision (and the Local Rule in effect), the penalty for moving accidentally a ball on the green has been eliminated. If the ball is moved the player simply replaces it. If a ball on the green moves by natural causes (the Johnson incident) there is no penalty and the ball is played from the new location. Of note, under the revision, if a player lifts his ball on the green and replaces it, any movement thereafter is deemed to be caused by the player and the ball is replaced. Let me again stress the Rule is not in effect until 2019 so it must be specifically adopted to be in effect now. Read the Local Rules carefully to make sure it is included and you will avoid costly errors. One aspect of the revision which will be
welcomed is the attention to pace of play with the adoption of “ready to play” golf. If you can play without distraction to others and without creating a danger, you will be encouraged to do so. All players should play within 40 seconds of when it becomes their turn. And, the time to search for a lost ball will be shortened to 3 minutes. I think everyone will also appreciate that you can remove loose impediments from bunkers and water hazards. You will also notice a change in the vocabulary to language that is more often used in the clubhouse. The weather has been splendid this winter so all of you had the opportunity to get in extra practice. We all hope you have a safe and enjoyable year on the links. And remember, when you have questions about the Rules, contact the Oklahoma Golf Association.
WOMEN’S OKLAHOMA GOLF ASSOCIATION
President WOGA
Some changes in store for 2017 season Several changes are taking place in Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association events for the 2017 season. With the 99th State Amateur scheduled July 17-20 at Oak Tree National, the championship flight will be expanded from 16 to 32 provided 32 or more players declare for the championship flight. Any players declaring for the championship flight who do not qualify will no longer be bumped down to a lower flight. Players this year may declare for an open division, giving the opportunity for some of our better veteran players to compete from a shorter distance in flights other than championship flight. All other divisions will be seeded after the qualifying round July 17. Another change is that the previous WOGA Senior Championship has been consolidated with the Stroke Play and MidAmateur Championships. All three will be held this year on June 19-20 at Muskogee Golf Club. In place of the Senior event, WOGA has added a WOGA Stableford Partnership event May 16-17 at Lincoln Park Golf Course in Oklahoma City. The WOGA Partnership event at Shangri-La each fall has proven to be extremely popular and this gives an opportunity for more golfers from southern and western Oklahoma to compete in this fun and entertaining format. GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
Some changes are in store at the 67th WOGA Junior State Championship scheduled June 28-29 at Oak Tree Country Club. This year contestants may declare for a championship flight, which will be contested at a longer yardage (close to 6,000 yards) than the traditional age group flights. This reflects the diversified field for the junior, which brings in highly-competitive future collegiate players as well as some competitors just getting their feet wet. WOGA is happy to be helping the LPGA/ USGA girls golf group based in Tulsa with a special field trip this year. A charter bus will
2017 WOGA SCHEDULE
take the group to the LPGA Tour’s Walmart Northwest Arkansas Championship at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Ark. The bus will leave at 7 a.m. from the Jenks High School indoor golf facility and return at 7 p.m. It should be a great experience. For more information or to request a seat, contact Janet Miller at jmillertime@cox.net. For more information on WOGA and any of our events or undertakings, including scholarship programs and much more, please visit www.woga.us. We’d love to see you at one of the great events listed here in 2017. Visit www.woga.us for more information
Date
Event Location
January 24
WOGA Club Rep and Presidents Lunch
Tulsa CC, Tulsa
January 26
WOGA Club Rep and Presidents Lunch
Oak Tree CC, Edmond
May 16-17
WOGA Stableford Partnership (New Event)
Lincoln Park GC, OKC
June 19-20
WOGA Stroke Play/Mid Am/Sr. Championship
Muskogee CC, Muskogee
June 27
5th WOGA Fundraiser for WOGA Jr. Programs Oak Tree CC, Edmond
June 28-29
67th WOGA Girls’ Junior State Championship
July 17-20
99th Women’s OK State Amateur Championship Oak Tree National, Edmond
Oak Tree CC, Edmond
July 31-Aug 2 Fore State Championship
Twin Hills CC, Joplin, MO
August 14-15 WOGA Partnership
Shangri-La GC, Grand Lake
Sept. 18-19
WOGA Cup
The Territory G&CC, Duncan
Sept. 26-28
USGA Women’s State Team Championship The Club at Las Campanas, Sante Fe, NM W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG
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DAVID THOMPSON
USGA Regional Affairs Committee
UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION
No sacred cows Mark Twain is quoted as saying, “Sacred cows make the best hamburgers.” According to USGA CEO Mike Davis, there is nothing sacred in the USGA’s project for modernizing the Rules of Golf. The USGA and The R&A released a draft of the modernized Rules on March 1st for review and comments. The culmination of a five-year project, this release kicks off a six-month review and comment period after which those comments will be considered for a final version to be released in 2018 and go into effect Jan. 1, 2019. You are encouraged to learn about the proposed rules by visiting USGA.org/rules and provide feedback. At that site, you can learn about some of the key changes proposed to make golf even more enjoyable and pace of play shortened. A hint of some of the changes started off 2017 with the introduction of a new local rule that negates the penalty for a ball being moved “accidentally” on the putting green. Some believe that this local rule was directly attributable to the incident in the 2016 US Open involving Dustin Johnson. If that is so, the USGA extended its look much more
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must be remembered are that the current Rules of Golf say that if something else like broadly as the local rule covers more than wind or gravity causes the ball to move and the ball being moved at address by the play- it is not attributable to actions of the player, er. The local rule includes accidental move- the ball must be played from its new location. Therefore, even with the new ment of the ball or the ball marker local rule in place, it continues by the player, the player’s to be important to deterpartner, the player’s opmine what caused the ponent and any of their ball to move in order to caddies or equipment. know from where the A ball or ball marker next stroke should be moved accidentally played. Also, the lomust be replaced and cal does not negate the there is no penalty. penalty for a ball being Please take note moved or touched on that this local rule purpose. must be adopted by the PHOTO BY ED TRAVIS It is also important to golf course or the comunderstand that the new mittee overseeing play for proposed Rules are not yet it to be in effect. It is not presin effect and until that final ently a Rule of Golf. HowMike Davis/USGA CEO version is adopted, we conever, a telephone survey of 12 golf clubs in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa tinue to play under the current set of Rules. areas conducted in early February resulted Questions about either the current Rules or in all indicating that the local rule had been the proposed Rules are welcomed by the adopted or was intended to be adopted. Be USGA or you can send me an email at pdasure to check with the club or the committee vidthompson@gmail.com . I will be more than happy to respond or will call you back in charge to see if the local rule is in effect. A couple of other important points that if you leave your telephone number.
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
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The
APR|MAY
GOODS
Some things we like to do before and after the round
The Bookshelf Life Stories
by tom bedell
The 2017 Arnold Palmer Invitational just ended in an exciting and sweetly sentimental fashion. The nostalgic mood surrounding the tournament and a variety of preceding specials about Arnie suggest I’m not to be trusted when it comes to stories about the King. Cue up a good Palmer story, put a little emotive music behind it, and I start welling up in no time. That he’s gone suggests more that has vanished, or is vanishing. Losing one’s heroes is one of the curses of growing older. (My aching right knee appears to be another….) ARNIE: THE LIFE OF ARNOLD PALMER But to no one’s surprise, the first biographies of Arnold Palmer are rolling into bookstores. First in the queue is Tom Callahan’s “Arnie: The Life of Arnold Palmer” (Harper, $27.99), and it sets a high standard. A veteran with a small shelf of books to his credit, Callahan has hung his hat on a number of sportswriting posts. Golf Digest used to send him off every decade to Arnie’s home base in Latrobe, Pa., to write the stories “Arnie Turns 60,” “Arnie Turns 70,” “Arnie Turns 80.” Those visits, plus a lifetime of talking about Palmer with his playing contemporaries, left Callahan with a mountain of golden nuggets to choose for display. And he has chosen wisely, in a roughly chronological fashion that never ceases to be engaging and, frankly, more vivid than Arnie’s own recently released book, “A Life Well Played” (reviewed in the Aug-Sept 2016 issue). Where else are you going to hear so directly from his good friend Dow Finsterwald that Palmer was enraptured by cow16
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boy movies?: “Arnie will watch anything with manure in it.” Callahan touches on “Arnie’s well-known womanizing” but doesn’t beat it to death, in a chapter mainly dealing with the imperfections of sporting icons like him, Babe Ruth, Tiger Woods, Muhammad Ali. “Palmer was a perfectly imperfect man,” Callahan writes. “Not because he was good at his game, but for some other reason, he was easy to forgive.” Easy to forgive, to admire, to miss: by the end of Callahan’s book, which roams over the congregation of golf notables assembled at Palmer’s memorial service, it will be easy for anyone to well up, even without the music.
a reprieve soon thereafter when his father took him to Pinehurst, and the mere vision of that golfing mecca began to work its charms on him. “Live in Pinehurst” became item number 7 on a youthful list that Dodson came to call his Range Bucket List, or Things to Do in Golf. Number 1 was “Meet Arnold Palmer [check] and Mr. Bobby Jones [only spiritually].” It was his father who nudged Dodson in the direction of writing about golf, and then became the poignant subject himself in “Final Rounds,” the 1996 book that put Dodson on Palmer’s radar, with its compelling account of the father and son’s trip to Scotland shortly before Braxton Dodson’s death. There’s actually a fair amount of death clinging to this summing up of his career, as Dodson revisit subjects and friends he has met along the fairways, more than a few about to hang them up for the last time. And while this is certainly a bittersweet reckoning, it is evident that for this cast of characters golf has been a meaningful, essential, joyous part of their lives. And Dodson, clearly a born storyteller, brings their tales — and his — warmly to life. A couple of self-published volumes came my way by authors less imbued with Callahan’s and Dodson’s wellearned writing gifts, but with earnest tales to tell (both available through Amazon, $14.95).
THE RANGE BUCKET LIST Palmer is also a major presence, albeit not the subject, in James Dodson’s “The Range Bucket List” (Simon & Schuster, $27), which is really a memoir that roams over the author’s golf-writing life, now 11 books and countless articles deep. That certainly includes Palmer, as his 1999 biography “A Golfer’s Life” earned Dodson the coveted title credit “With James Dodson.” Dodson last saw Palmer shortly before the latter’s death, arriving in Latrobe while Palmer was watching a rerun of “Gunsmoke” (and presumably catching a whiff of manure). “What can I do for you, Shakespeare?” Palmer asked. Dodson answered, “Nothing…. You did everything when RAY BILLOWS, THE you asked me to collaborate on CINDERELLA KID your book. That changed my Tom Buggy has writlife.” ten a slim but admiring While it surely did, it was a tribute about one of putter that he buried in a green the great amateurs to in anger in his golfing youth that play the game in “Ray really began Dodson’s literary golf odyssey. Banned temporarily from the Billows, the Cinderella Kid.” Born Ray Bilcourse he had scarred, Dodson was given low in Wisconsin in 1914 (the ending “s”
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
became permanently attached thanks to sportswriters), the son of a machinist began playing — and winning — golf in his teens. A caddying loop led him to a shipping clerk job in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., where he burst onto the eastern golf scene with an improbable win in the 1935 New York State Amateur. New York Times sportswriter George Trevor pegged Ray as The Cinderella Kid, and the nickname stuck with him for life. Billows would go on to win the New York State Amateur a record seven times, compete in various Masters and U.S. Open tournaments, qualify for the U.S. Amateur title 15 times and wind up in both the Wisconsin and New York golf associations’ halls of
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
fame. Billows has the unfortunate record of being the only player to reach the U.S. Amateur finals three times, only to fall short in each. But by all accounts a personable and humble player, he said “I’d rather be remembered as someone who gave his best. Because I always did.” Sounds like a sentiment Palmer would have heartily endorsed. GOLFING THE U.S. Back in January 2012, Chuck Miller hopped in his 2004 Nissan Maxima with about 70,000 miles on it and headed from his home in California to Fountain Hills, Ariz., to tee it up at the SunRidge Canyon golf course. Fifty breakneck weeks, 21,000 miles and 140 courses later, Miller had accomplished his goal, and then some, to play golf in every U.S. State in a year’s time. A tip of the golf cap to Miller for pulling off what many of us only dream about, and managing to never shoot over
100 in the process, even if his handicap went from nine to 12. “Golfing the U.S.” is his account of the trip, but he scores a bogey there, committing the writerly sin of telling what a great time he has at each stop without ever showing it to readers. We do get frequent nods to the courses, resorts and visitor bureaus who helped Miller out with complementary rounds, stays and meals, information that would have best been put on acknowledgments pages. It’s certainly no substitute for anecdotes from his rounds or quotes from the players he meets up with, all missing in action here. I’ve taken more strokes on some par-3s than there are quotes in Miller’s entire report. But like any reader who might choose to travel with Miller vicariously, I immediately turned to my state to see where Miller played (at the Lake Morey Resort in Vermont), and I was a little startled to see how many of the same courses we’ve played around the country. It just took me a little longer, and I still have a few states to go. Tom Bedell’s favorite round in Florida was at Bay Hill, playing with a guy named Palmer.
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GOLF OKLAHOMA AT THE MOVIES
Young Tom Morris (Jack Lowden) and Old Tom (Peter Mullan).
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Far and sure Add “Tommy’s Honour” to that minuscule cinematic niche—golf movies that aren’t goofy comedies. Based on Kevin Cook’s book of the same name (if minus the ‘u’ in the U.S.) and with a screenplay by him and wife Pamela Marin, the film debuts in the U.S. in mid-April, and has already been picked up for subsequent showings on the Golf Channel. Even non-golf fans might be attracted to the story of the Old and Young Tom Morris boys, because at its heart this is really a drama about the loving but tense relationship between a father and son, and the antagonisms that arise when Young Tom falls in love with Margaret Drinnen, a woman the family initially views with disdain. The backdrop is Young Tom’s initial forays and successes in playing the game, both with and against his father, who is proud of his son’s triumphs but uneasy with his lack of deference to the golfing powers that be (such as Sam Neill of “Jurassic Park” fame, in the unlikable role as the unctuous head of the R&A). As Young Tom’s playing prowess grows he increases his resistance to the prevailing class inequities, furthering his father’s discomfiture. Golf fans need no spoiler alert to know that things don’t turn out well for Margaret or Young Tom, while Old Tom rolls on like a river. But the tale unfolds with a compelling poignancy and about as authentic a nod to golfing antiquity as one could hope for. Though made in Fife, Scotland, no golf turf was harmed in the making of the film. There’s probably not a fairway in Scotland with grass as coarse as the greens the actors are putting on in the film. How they ever sunk a putt is an open question. To American audiences Peter Mullan (Old Tom) is probably most recognizable from “War Horse,” “Trainspotting” and “Tyrannosaur.” Jack Lowden (Young Tom) also played a key role as the son in the English-French production of “The Tunnel” series. And Ophelia Lovibond, who plays Young Tom’s wife, shows up in a recurring role in the CBS series “Elementary” as Sherlock Holmes’ protege Kitty Winter. All credit to director Jason Connery (son of Sean, who squired Jason around more than a few golf courses) for encouraging fine performances from his cast, not to mention some time-appropriate golf swings. Neither Mullan nor Lowden had golfing backgrounds, a disgrace to their Scottish roots. Now either can fashion a sand tee with the best of them. – Tom Bedell GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
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GOLF OKLAHOMA BOOK REVIEW
In the book, McGraw said while OSU was narrowly missing national championships despite a superstar lineup from 2008-11, he became frustrated, tense, irritable and no fun to be around. “I tried hard to hide it, but I was churning on the inside,” he said. “I would bring it home every night and my wife saw it. I wasn’t the man or coach I was before. I was better as a 27-year-old asby ken macleod sistant high school coach Mike McGraw knew he had struck a than I was as a college nerve with kindred spirits in describing the coach in my early 50s.” McGraw was fired by frustrating end to his career at Oklahoma State and how he regrouped from that situ- OSU Athletic Director ation as he became a new man and a new Mike Holder in 2013 after two consecutive years coach. The calls, letters, texts and emails in re- of not making the NCAA sponse to his new book, “Better Than I Tournament field. His caFound It, My Life In Coaching,” began reer was rescued by Alaflooding in from coaches shortly after it was bama coach Jay Seawell and he served as an aspublished in February. “The common thread to a lot of the re- sistant to Seawell in 2014 action is, ‘we’ve been there,’ “ McGraw when the Crimson Tide said. “Coaches in high school, college, other edged OSU in the NCAA sports, nobody is immune to the dark place. championship match at Many of them were glad that somebody Prairie Dunes. McGraw was willing to talk about it and write about became Baylor’s head coach in 2015. it.” McGraw said some readers picked up the McGraw sold close to 500 of the selfpublished book’s 1,100 first-run copies by book just to see how hard he went after mid-March and sales were staying brisk at Holder, his former boss who achieved pheabout 15 per day. While his wide circle of nomenal success as OSU’s golf coach for 32 former players, coaching friends and others years. They will be disappointed. McGraw in college golf circles accounted for much of is nothing but respectful towards Holder in the initial surge, indications of wider rec- the book. “The book is not revolutionary,” Mcognition were circling in, including sales to Graw said. “It’s just that I’m one of the first school districts and universities. coaches to come out and acknowledge how you can get trapped in a downward spiral and just keep going deeper into the abyss. “I’ve been surprised by some of the coaches – big name coaches at important programs – that have reached out and just said, thank you.” McGraw credits his wife, Pam, with helping him cope as he was going through his coaching frustrations and with the new challenges of writing a book. A former English teacher, McGraw said she calls him “The Commanator” for his too Rickie Fowler and Coach McGraw at the 2008 Maxwell Collegiate. frequent use of the comma.
McGraw voiced what many coaches were feeling
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Lessons learned in escape from a dark chapter by ken macleod
In a two-year span, Mike McGraw went from being miserable in his dream job to a spiritual and emotional rebirth, and a key contributor to a national championship achieved against players he loved and recruited at his former school. Talk about an emotional wringer. Yet McGraw came out of the storm more confident, at peace and sure about his direction. Now the head coach at Baylor, McGraw has written a fascinating account of his journey that every coach, player, golfer and fan of golf will want to read. Better Than I Found It, My Life In Coaching is on sale at www.betterthanifoundit.com. McGraw, as most know, is one of the favorite sons of one of Oklahoma’s first families of golf. His father Gervis was a long-time head professional at Ponca City Country Club and later owner of Gerv’s Golf in Oklahoma City. His twin sister Patty was a nine-time state amateur champion and a member of the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame. Brother Tim was a talented golfer who played professionally. Mike was a fine player as well but has made his mark in coaching, first at Edmond where he coached Edmond North to three consecutive state championships (1994-96) and a runnerup finish in 1997 before becoming assistant coach to Mike Holder at Oklahoma State. He coached the OSU women’s team in 2005 and took over for Holder in 2006 when the latter accepted the position as director of athletics. McGraw immediately led the Cowboys to the 2006 NCAA Championship. He later stocked the roster with superstar talents such as Rickie Fowler, Kevin Tway, Peter Uihlein and Morgan Hoffman, but from 2008-11 the Cowboys suffered one heartbreak after the next at the NCAA Championship, culminating in the semifinal loss to Augusta State and Patrick Reed at the home course Karsten Creek in 2011. Walking off the course that day, McGOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
2017 Golf Pass is BIGGER AND BETTER! Visit scspgagolfpass.com to order yours today! Graw writes that he overheard some of the Cowboy faithful talking about how they just can’t win and maybe a new coach was needed. He looks back to that day as the beginning of the end of his OSU career. McGraw and the Cowboys could have easily won two or more NCAA titles in that span, and would have if the format had remained stroke play instead of match play. But having missed the prize when the window was wide open only made McGraw grasp harder as it began to shut. In the book, McGraw, who is one of the nicest men you’ll ever meet, admits he became anything but over the next few seasons as he tried to live up to Holder’s example and expectations. Driven by results instead of process, he became moody, tense and no fun to be around. His team, nowhere near as talented, missed qualifying for the NCAA Championship in 2012, the first OSU absence in a record 65 years. Following another desultory year in 2013, Holder fired him. McGraw takes the reader through those difficult times, and the rebound when Alabama coach Jay Seawell hired him as an assistant for 2014. As most know, the Tide and the Cowboys ended up in a spectacular match play finale in the 2014 NCAA Championship at Prairie Dunes, where McGraw’s new team (led by future pros Bobby Wyatt, Corey Whitsett and Robby Shelton) defeated a game Cowboy team led by his former assistant and current coach Alan Bratton. Riveting stuff, particularly McGraw’s honesty in assessing how he lost his way in his final years at OSU and what he has done since to become a better coach and person. McGraw was inducted in 2016 into the National Collegiate Golf Coaches Hall of Fame and much of this book is written as a self-help guide for fellow college or high school coaches, including best methods to reach players, how to conduct qualifiers, etc. Of much more interest to casual golf fans are the sections where he peels back the curtain and provides anecdotes on the recruiting of a Rickie Fowler, the upbringing and determination of a Trent Whitekiller, OSU’s first native American player; the internal struggles at OSU of talents such as Wyndham Clark or Uihlein. There are many more insider nuggets that golf fans throughout the state will find fascinating. McGraw is never anything but respectful toward his former boss, but one still gets the feeling McGraw may have angled off track by trying to live up to Holder’s legacy and standards and not create his own. GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
Punch Gran Puro Nicaraguan by laramie navrath
Spring is here! Time to dust off those clubs and hit the practice range. Time to hone one’s skills before venturing to the first tee. What dust? The lack of winter weather across the state this year left the sport open to playable conditions and little change on the course. The major changes come with the blooming of trees, grass developing from the first to second cut and of course the rise in temperatures. As a course changes from season to season, the same can be said for cigars. One such tried and true brand that has made a major leap this year is Punch with the introduction of Gran Puro Nicaraguan. Punch has a long history in the cigar industry dating back to the 1840s. The original blend was the product of Honduran tobaccos known to have smooth flavors and rich tastes, characteristics that continue to this day. The new Punch Gran Puro Nicaraguan is taking it up a notch and is quickly gaining popularity among seasoned cigar
enthusiast. The cigar is cloaked in a dark and oily Pennsylvania Broadleaf maduro wrapper with a unique bright color band. The Nicaraguan filler and binder tobacco’s add strength and complexity above and beyond traditional Punch cigars one might be familiar. The cigar starts off rich and warm with bold flavors of pepper, cedar and leather accompanying each draw. The burn is slow and even, producing an ample amount of smoke complementing the white flaky ash. The Punch Gran Puro Nicaragua approaches medium plus strength, has a friendly price point and the variety of sizes making this smoke ideal for a round of golf or relaxation on the patio. The Punch Gran Puro Nicaraguan will be a featured cigar at Smoklahoma, ZT Cigars annual multi-vender cigar event on Saturday May 6th 2017, in downtown Oklahoma City. For more information on tickets to this year’s event and a listing of all vendors, visit our website at www. okcsmoke.com.
Proudly serving Oklahoma with a fine selection of cigars and related products. Stop on by our current locations and share a smoke with us!
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1801 Cornwell Dr. Suite 301 Yukon, OK 2nd Location NOW Open 405-494-7188
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News around the state Sponsored by
Seng eager
ly functions. A second operation in February completed the transition back to a more normal life style, but brought its own set of issues. While in recovery, she turned out to be allergic to a drug that was designed to stimulate her bowels, which left her even weaker than anticipated. She has spent March recovering, eating healthy, walking and looking forward to getting back to work “I’m super excited about getting back and feeling more normal,” Seng said. “This second procedure was more painful than the first, just getting your system back up and going again. I can’t lift anything for eight weeks, so have been doing a lot of walking and resting and each day making some progress.” The former collegiate player for the University of Central Oklahoma will resume learning her craft under the tutelage of Oakwood head professional Tim Mendenhall, who is eager for her return. Mendenhall is so pleased with her progress as a professional that he has openly discussed the possibility that one day her future might
for return to health, work by ken macleod
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s winter warmed to spring, Aly Seng was looking forward to a renewal of her own body and spirit. Recovering slowly from a second procedure to deal with the genetic disorder FAP (Familial Adenomatous Polyposis). Seng was hoping to resume her duties as an assistant PGA professional at Oakwood Country Club in Enid sometime in early April. Seng was diagnosed after feeling strangely lethargic last summer and had a first procedure in December at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., during which doctors removed her rectum and colon and created a J-Sac out of a portion of her small intestine to XXXXXXX eventually allow her to resume normal bodi-
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include Oakwood assistant running the golf professionals David operations at OakRogers and Aly Seng wood, one of the state’s most presti- with head professional Tim Mendenhall. gious country clubs. There are 5,446 male head professionals in the PGA of America, 114 female. Closer to home, there are 156 male head professionals in the PGA South Central Section (Oklahoma, Arkansas and southern Kansas) and one female head professional, Dawn Darter at The Greens of North Hills, a public course near Little Rock. “I can’t guarantee her anything and she’s at least two years from getting her Class A card, but long term if I move into a Director of Golf position I can see her being the head professional at Oakwood,” Mendenhall said. Seng, the daughter of Enid high school teachers and coaches Tom and Julie Seng, thought coaching would be her future as well. She carried that goal of coaching through a year at the University of Oklahoma, a transfer to Arkansas State and then another move to UCO. “The last few years I realized my heart was not quite into coaching like I thought I would be,” she said. “Tim gave me a chance here and I really liked the job. Oakwood is full of great people. I can’t say enough amazing things about Tim and David (Rogers) and their support and the extra hours they’ve worked while I’ve been out. Tim has told me time and time again to take as much time as I need, and that has been extremely comforting to know my job is secure and they just want me to get better.” Once back at Oakwood, Seng will resume giving lessons, directing the junior program and expanding her work with clubfitting, tournament management and all the other duties of golf professionals. Her future includes regular tests to make sure the FAP is in check and a lifetime of eating healthy. Like all golfers, one of the things she’s most looking forward to is “getting a club back in my hand.” GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
RAUNCHY in the rough T.V. series filmed at Chickasaw Pointe by ken macleod
eral manager Chickasaw Pointe Golf Resort was the at Chickasetting for a large portion of a raunchy new saw Pointe, golf-based television series due out late this is a longPeace Pizzo, Jason Wiles and Ryan Merriman on the range time friend summer. Robison, The seven-episode saga is a Caddyshack- of style romp written and produced by Jeff whose entertainment media company has ter set out to make “In The Rough,” which Robison, owner of Oklahoma City-based produced three films and is working on a details the travails of a golf pro at a strugNo Coast Productions. Filming took place fourth, all filmed in Oklahoma. The most gling public course and his efforts to keep last August and the show will be aired notable to movie fans may be “Rudderless,” the club from being bought out while manon Rated Red, an internet-based platform which had a limited theatrical release and aging his staff of misfits. “These guys I’ve played with, they range available to anyone with a mobile device or starred Laurence Fishburne, Selena Gomez in age from 20 to 80, and they all have to and Billy Crudup. television with internet access. Robison, a Mustang native and Okla- have a little money on the line when they Golf Oklahoma will provide specific airtimes and more information about how to homa State graduate, is a self-described en- play,” Robison said. “You may play with view the episodes as they become avail- thusiastic golfer of limited skill who never- someone with cutoff jeans and mustard able. Be sure that you receive our weekly theless fell in with a crowd of sharps and stains, but he’ll be one of the greatest dudes newsletter updates by signing up at www. hustlers playing at various public courses you’ll ever know. A lot of them are really City. He had his crowd out there, but they’ll give you the shirt off golfoklahoma.org. Onward_Financing_MagAd_HalfPage.pdf 1 1/27/17around 12:43 Oklahoma PM Ryan Chapman, director of golf and gen- in mind when he and partner Casey Twen- their back.
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2017 Golf Pass is BIGGER AND BETTER! Visit scspgagolfpass.com to order yours today! Sunny Mabrey plays Holly Sanders, love interest of the lead character.
“I wrote the script about some young guys, single and playing golf every day. It was really a throwback to the late ‘70s, early ‘80s, paying respect to `Caddyshack,’ `Porky’s’ and those kind of movies.” Chickasaw Pointe worked out perfectly as a venue because it was closing three holes by Lake Texoma and the replacement holes were open. The crew took over the old holes and made itself at home. Chapman appears in scenes in four episodes and his son, Daxton, also was an ex-
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tra. “It was a blast,” Chapman said. “Jeff is an amazingly talented guy and a great writer. We’ve known each other forever, his mom and my mom were good friends in junior high school. So it was a great fit and a great experience for us.” Robison is currently working on a new movie called “The Swimming Lesson,” which begins filming in June, while “The Jogger” came out in 2013 and “The Scent of Rain and Lightning,” based on a novel by Nancy Pickard and set in Okarche, was to debut at the Atlanta Film Festival on March 24-April 2. Ryan Merriman, a 6-handicap from
Choctaw, plays the lead Jake Hamilton, running Morning Woods Golf Club. Another Oklahoman in the cast is Rett Terrell from Shawnee, who plays Bird the lifeguard. NOTES: The development at Chickasaw Pointe continues to move slowly along. The Chickasaw Nation announced in September it would build a hotel-casino resort on 50 acres it purchased from the state of Oklahoma. The land was once the site of the Texoma Lodge and cabins. Pointe Vista Development, which owns the golf course and about 1,400 acres in the area, is proceeding with plans for stay-and-play cabins, condos and single-family homesites on its undeveloped property as well as the land where the three holes were closed in 2015. Preliminary plans call for the Chickasaw Nation to construct a three-story hotel, restaurant and gift shop on the site, as well as a casino with up to 300 electronic games. The development also will include as many as 10 lakefront cottages for fishing and boating. The hotel will feature a lounge and meeting rooms, an outdoor pool and recreation area, a fitness center, restaurant and business center.
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Another nine holes at Surrey Hills The Golf Club at Surrey Hills in Yukon is adding an additional nine holes that have been routed through an existing neighborhood. Bermuda fairways and bent grass greens are included in the addition that is being built mostly by the course’s maintenance crew. General manager Mark Fuller said the course will play to about 3,400 yards with two par-3s and two par-5s. Greens are expected to be seeded by April and it is expected that the holes will be open for play in the fall. Surrey Hills is a semi-private club whose membership has grown by more than 150 members since improvements were undertaken in 2015. It was originally a Floyd Farley design that opened in 1962. Fuller said the plans for the additional nine holes have been around for a long time and ownership decided now was the proper time to expand based on the increasing membership.
David Ross ready to help golf head cases
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ogi Berra once said “Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical.” For golf, just double that. Unlike the futility we would feel trying to rap a 90-mph fastball into center field, most golfers have hit enough good shots to know they are physically capable of the feat. Why then is it so hard to repeat that success or deliver a solid swing under pressure? David Ross, a certified sports psychiatrist for Oklahoma State University’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences based in downtown Tulsa, is hanging out his shingle this spring to help us all figure out why. Ross, a former baseball player himself, graduated from Oklahoma State, then attended medical school at the University of Minnesota and finished at the University of Oklahoma, doing four years of residency at OU-Tulsa School of Community Medicine. David Ross Fascinated by the interaction of the physical and mental requisites of athletics, Ross is confident he can help any athlete in any sport raise his performance. So confident, he’ll offer the first session at no charge. “I want people confident in the process and with what we’re doing,” Ross said. “Golfers know how much of the game is mental. The key is finding what’s missing from someone’s mental game, to find the weaknesses that they can correct.” For some higher handicap players, improvement may come simply by adopting a solid mental pre-shot routine,” Ross said. For others, years of poor decision-making may need to be overcome. “Golfers go to the course with a plan and knowing what they want to do,” Ross said. “But when something goes not according to plan, how do they react?” Often, they react by getting angry, frustrated and tense, leading to more mistakes and high scores. If you see yourself in that assessment, Ross can be reached at david.ross@okstate.edu or at 918-561-8474. GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
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or the pros, it’s a week of hunting, fishing, dining and entertainment with a little golf mixed in. For the fans, it’s a chance to see certainly one of the most glamorous fields in golf. Where else can you still rub elbows with Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tom Watson and Lee Trevino while still admiring the skills of the younger champions such as Colin Montgomerie, Jose Maria Olazabal, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Rocco Mediate, Ryder Cup captain David Love III, Steve Stricker, Jerry Kelly, Fred Funk and many more -- only at the Bass Pro Legends of Golf. The Branson-area event this year will be April 21-23, with those 65-and-over playing two rounds at the par-3 Top of the Rock course and the rest mixing a round at Top of the Rock with one at Buffalo Ridge. The aforementioned golfers are popular. Then there is John Daly. Still a hero in the Ozarks as well as in his native Arkansas just a few miles south, Daly will draw a whole new set of fans to the event as he continues his second season on the senior circuit.
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For Sunday’s final round, the legends will be finished save for a skins game featuring Nicklaus, Player and Trevino, while the younger players will play at Top of the Rock as well. The Golf Channel will televise. Tickets for any day are just $25 or $100 for a weekly pass including a Tuesday practice round and pro-ams on Wednesday and Thursday. Anyone using a Mastercard gets a 20 percent discount. Tickets can be purchased at bassprolegends.com or by calling 1-888-347-4426. “You won’t find a field like this anywhere else in golf,” said tournament director Kirk Elmquist. “These guys all love the experience here that week and can’t wait to get here.” Saturday will be Family Fun Day and kids 17 and under are admitted free. The group of stunt devils, Dude Perfect, will be performing on the driving range at 3 p.m.
Debut
A concert by Hank Williams Jr. is also part of the festivities this year. It will be on Thursday, April 20, at the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Shooting Academy. Tickets are $50 in advance and $75 on the day of the show and can also be found at www. bassprolegends.com. Notes: Big Cedar personnel announced that the new Gary Player-designed 13-hole course will open this spring. It is partly on land formerly used by Murder Rock Golf Course, a course for which Daly was a design consultant and once famously showed up to promote barefoot and shirtless, all filmed by local media. Murder Rock is gone, replaced partly by the Player course and partly by the still developing Ozark Course designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore.
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2017 Golf Pass is BIGGER AND BETTER! Visit scspgagolfpass.com to order yours today! The new Gary Player course at Big Cedar.
Missouri ready to roll out
welcome mat Scott Hovis discusses what Johnny Morris’ burgeoning golf empire means to Missoui and the area. Being the Executive Director of the Missouri Golf Scott Hovis Missouri Golf Association I am very forAssociation tunate to be able to travel Executive this great state and see all of Director our first-class golf facilities. Thousands of golfers travel to Missouri each year to play at our golf courses at wonderful locations! What Bass Pro owner Johnny Morris is building in the southwest part of Missouri is only going to further put a stamp that golf in Missouri is second to none. Not very many states, let alone one location, can say that they have golf facilities built by Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tom Fazio and Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore. But Big Cedar Lodge, south of Branson, can say this now. Johnny Morris, owner of Big Cedar Lodge, has built a golf mecca of the Midwest that will rival Pinehurst and Bandon Dunes once all the facilities are up and running. The beauty and attention to detail of every single aspect of a golf course are second to none. From the amazing views at Top of the Rock to incredible rocks that are cut out of the side of a hill, Morris is leaving not one stone unturned or cave undiscovered for the golfer to see or experience. I have been very fortunate to play some of the best golf courses in America, and I would put these courses up against any of them. What makes it even more incredible is that this is right here in the Ozarks of Missouri. People can drive from many locations not far from Big Cedar to be playing golf at some of the top courses in America within six hours or less. We’re easy drives from Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, St. Louis, Wichita, Topeka, Little Rock, Northwest Arkansas, and even Dallas is less than eight hours. Every time I make the trip down to Big Cedar from Jefferson City to see all the amazing things that are going on, I feel like a kid on Christmas morning. Added to the already strong lineup of GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
courses in Branson, what Morris is doing is creating a new golf destination in an era when most states are trying to limit the damage of courses that are closing. The world-famous Top of the Rock par-3 course is picturesque with the views on each tee box. Then you head over to Tom Fazio’s Buffalo Ridge Springs Course and you get an 18-hole challenge with amazing views. The new Gary Player short course is 13 holes of fun for everyone and insiders insist it will exceed even Top of the Rock as one of the best short courses in the world. The new Ozark course designed by Crenshaw and Coore will take the entire project to a new level, adding a fourth course and
giving area golfers a chance to play a course that is certain to be highly regarded by the national course raters and media. Who knows if Morris will stop there, but this truly will be a game changer for how Branson is marketed and regarded in years to come. Combined with Lake of the Ozarks, the state now offers two incredible golf and outdoor destination areas. Branson for years was perceived as mostly a destination for those looking for the variety shows and maybe play a round of golf while in town. That has changed dramatically. We’ll be rightfully regarded as one of America’s premier golf destinations and I could not be more pleased.
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A Thorne on your side by ken mac leod
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horne Poorman looks like he could toss his students around like so many cabers at one of his beloved Scottish Games festivals. Yet the burly ex-wrestler, weight lifter and tree tosser has a degree in kinesiology from the University of Central Oklahoma, a background in rugby and judo and now is one of the most popular golf trainers in the state. Poorman works with many up-and-coming professionals and amateur prospects along with his partner Tyler Eckel at Human Movement Specialists in Oklahoma City. Poorman is trained in the Titleist Performance Institute fitness programs and has a good deal of his own knowledge and experience that he puts to use helping golfers stabilize their base, increase strength and flexibility, and watch that translate into longer shots and better scores. “Rotational strength and power and stability are what the golfer really needs,” Poorman said. “We hammer that home with those guys.” Those guys include young professionals Will Kropp, Taylor Gooch, Cameron Meyers and Corey Hale. But the customer who has Poorman fired up the most is 76-year-old Jim Wetzel. “He’s 76 and doing fantastic,” Poorman said. “He’s making huge strides. To see an older gentleman get after it is really inspiring for me.” Poorman doesn’t teach the golf swing, but works with various coaches and professionals on conditioning programs that help his students become stronger, faster and more stable. “When I was throwing the big weights in the Highland Games, the ending portion is much like the golf swing,” he said. “I started geeking out on the science side of the swing and read a lot of the TPI stuff. Much of it transfers over from the way I work out.” Poorman’s background in combat sports and as a weight lifter is a help in that he understands complex body movements and causes and results. His students enjoy working with him and have faith in his decisions. “He’s done so much and the way he trains you incorporates so many variations,” Gooch said. “He knows how the body works and moves and knows how to maximize the time you put into it.” Gooch, who was diagnosed with a herniated disc while in college at Oklahoma State, had it flare up on him at various inopportune intervals, including while he was competing at PGA Thorne Poorman and student Will Kropp. Tour qualifying school in 2015. He 28
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Tyler Eckel, Kropp and Poorman. have an easier speed, if that makes sense. The biggest thing with me is to stay injury Building strength and flexibility. free and deal with the stress golf puts on the back. soon began to work with Poorman. Poorman’s goal is not to make his stu“Ever since I’ve been working with him I’ve been injury free,” said Gooch, who is a dents bulky, but rather fit for the long haul. “The biggest thing we hammer is durabilrookie on the Web.com Tour. “He’s got my body in a good spot. We’re creating a lot ity,” he said. “You can be the best player in more flexibility, mobility and stability while the world, but if you’re not on top of your game in the final round it’s over. It takes me increasing my speed. “What it comes down to is he’s making a while to sell this, but it’s not how much me a better athlete. I have more gears. I you can lift, but can you control that lift? “
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Chip APR|MAY
SHOTS
Reviving Golf Inc's rich history, legacy by ken macleod
Once billed as the largest championship of its kind in the United States, the Oklahoma City Four-Ball Championship had as many as 24 flights with more than 2,700 golfers competing. Courses as far away as Seminole had to be recruited to handle the massive numbers. That was just one of several hugely successful tournaments hosted by Golf Incorporated, an Oklahoma City non-profit golf group that also ran a junior program boasting more than 1,000 students that was recognized by Golf Digest as the nation’s premier program for young golfers. The program began in 1959 and reached its zenith in the late 1970s. It remained a huge part of the Oklahoma City golf scene until, like many similar organizations across the country, huge participation declines took place leading up to and after the Great Recession in 2007. The Four-Ball Championship, once the pride of the city, had 19 teams compete in 2016. The junior program was essentially
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defunct in 2014, had 37 participants in 2015 and 49 last year. Meetings were held to determine whether Golf Inc.’s time as a viable entity had passed. The growth of an Oklahoma City First Tee chapter plus the addition of many camps at individual courses had absorbed many of the juniors who once participated. Oklahoma City attorney James Reid, one of the state’s finer amateur players, grew up competing in Golf Inc. events and participated Jade Staggs in the junior program. He was recently elected executive director of the Golf Inc. board, which includes the directors of golf at the OKC area public courses as well as long-time board member and golf advocate Leroy Richardson. Jade Staggs, a former state amateur champion who took a run at professional golf and is now an assistant coach at South-
moore High School, has volunteered her time to be the director of the junior program. She also benefited from Golf Inc. and The First Tee in her junior days when she spent thousands of hours at Oklahoma City courses. “I want to help revitalize the program and give something back to the game and to Oklahoma City public golf,” Staggs said. Reid is leading a team effort to reinvigorate the competitions, including the Big Six, a James Reid popular event in which two-man teams play six holes of scramble, six holes of best-ball and six holes of alternate shot,; the Four-Ball; and the Oklahoma City Amateur. Changes include an upgrade in digital outreach, more awareness through posters, more aggressively trying to reach out to the golfing public. Stricter time guidelines have been put in play to prevent long rounds. All the entry fee money will go back to the players in prizes, rather than using the tournaments as fund-raisers for junior golf scholarships. As for the junior program, Staggs will be overseeing a streamlined, but high-energy program that includes one-hour instructional clinics on Mondays in June, twoperson competitions in July and play days with parents and friends in August. Particulars of each are on the Golf Inc. website at www.golfincokc.com. Cost is just $60 for the eight clinics and the 10-12 playdays. “My goal is to make being a part of Golf Inc. as fun as I possibly can,” Staggs said. “I want the kids to go home and tell other kids they have to be here and the parents to do the same.” Stagg’s goal is to raise the participant level to at least 75 for the summer of 2017, but her dreams are much bigger. She would like to see hundreds of youngsters taking classes and playing in the future. For adults, the “new” Golf Inc. will also begin offering a weekly golf league that will rotate the city courses, beginning at Lincoln Park West. There will be plenty of prizes and a great social atmosphere. Signups can be made online or at any of the city courses, which also include Earlywine, the newly renamed Golf Club at Trosper Park and the James E. Stewart Golf Course. GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
T.J. Eckert.
Former QB brings leadership skills to UCO golf by ken macleod
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esides not getting crushed by 270-pound linemen, there was another immediate difference that T.J. Eckert noticed when transitioning from four-year quarterback to walk-on golfer at the University of Central Oklahoma this spring. The size of the team made for a real chance to know and connect with teammates, something that can just be lip service when more than 100 are involved. “On a football team, you try to be a family, but it’s more like cliques within a family,” Eckert said. “In golf, we have nine guys. We get along well. We can help pick each other
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up or provide motivation. “My role, as a senior and having had a leadership role in football, is to provide support on the emotional or mental side. I’m the oldest guy on the team and can provide a little experience in how to handle stress and adversity.” Eckert showed his leadership during the UCO-hosted Broncho Invitational this spring at Gaillardia Country Club in Oklahoma City. At 6 both mornings, he sent a rallying cry text message to his teammates that coach
Josh Fosdick said left him with chills. The gist of it was no one comes to our course and slaps us around, the only person that can limit our performance is the man in the mirror. “It was so good,” Fosdick said. “In an individual sport like golf, trying to generate a team mindset is one of the hardest things to do. His presence on the team has been a positive for everybody. He brings so many intangibles.”
See FORMER QB page 34
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Former QB, continued from 31 When it comes to the golf, however, Eckert is in awe of his teammates and well behind them in experience. A lefty, he has always enjoyed the game since playing as a kid with his father at White Hawk GC in Bixby. He kept after it in the summers and kept increasing his distance and power while lowering his handicap and playing in some amateur events. When football ended last fall, he decided to see if Fosdick would let him walk on for the Bronchos. Fosdick, who during a previous assistant’s role at Oklahoma State had seen a similar situation work out with Brandon Weeden joining the team after his senior year, welcomed Eckert, but let him know the realistic chances of him cracking the starting five were slim. Eckert played as an individual in the Brocho Invitational, shooting rounds of 82-85. “It’s just so tough,” Fosdick said. “He’s a great athlete and competitor, but at this point his physique is just so much different after four years of football. He’s had some good rounds in qualifying, but it’s hard to match the level of consistency of guys who have been practicing and competing year round. Some days he does everything well and shoots a 73, next day he’ll struggle and it will be an 81. I’ll tell you what though, I’d love to see the look on his face if he did make it through qualify-
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ing for a starting spot in a tournament.” Eckert said he hits it comparably long with his collegiate teammates, but they save shots around the greens that he can’t, as yet. “When I was practicing over the summer, I thought if I could commit my whole time to this, I could get pretty good,” Eckert said. “I’m using my time this spring as a gauge. When I get out of class, I try to stay five or six hours, hitting shots until the sun goes down.” Eckert finished his football career as the school’s all-time leader in total yards with 6,279 and owns the single-game record of 647. He also is second in passing yards for his career with 5,641. After a senior season in which he split time as the starter, he has no aspirations of playing professional football. However, he would like to continue a tradition of prominent Oklahoma collegiate quarterbacks who are also very good golfers, a line that includes Nate Hybl, Sam Brafford and Weeden. “So far I haven’t been playing all that well and these guys are really good,” Eckert said. “They can all go out and fire really low rounds at any time. It’s just a whole different ballgame playing with these guys who have been doing it their whole lives.” “But absolutely, if I can continue to progress I would like to pursue golf. It would be a dream come true.”
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EQUIPMENT
APR|MAY 2017
Top club picks for 2017 and a 338-dimple cast urethane cover. The four-piece Z-Star XV features a dual core with the inner core increased in size and Golf Oklahoma spent the entire week of the outer core firmer than the previous verJanuary’s PGA Merchandise Show getting sion. Both have Srixon’s Spin Skin coating the inside scoop on the wide selection of to increase friction for more spin control. new clubs, balls and accessories manufacIRONS: turers have ready for the coming season. The first Steelhead irons came out in 2000 With spring’s arrival, replacement of and Callaway has resurrected the name and our current driver added the XR designation. Reminiscent or irons or tryof the original’s shape, the new ing out the XRs have the latest 360 Face Cup latest in golf construction and higher launch balls could with better feel from a polywell be on the urethane layer that’s infused agenda. So, with steel. The price is $600 here are Golf Cobra King for 5-iron through pitching Ok l a hom a’s F7 Iron wedge with steel shafts. picks of the best Cobra makes the new of the new equipment that could King F7 irons in the benefit your game in those traditional variable three categories. length we are familAnd as we have often iar with and also in reminded you, the place the one length — to start the quest for a betapproximately ter game is a fitting by a that of a 7-ironPGA Professional, who can -popularized by analyze your swing and recPing staff member ommend the clubs with the i200 iron Bryson Detechnology which will be of Chambeau. Both have a thinner face the most help. push more The old saying is still true, the better you and polymer badge to weight towards the perimeter. Construcscore the more fun golf is. tion is full hollow in the long irons, half hollow in the mid-lifts and cavity back in the GOLF BALLS: In odd-numbered years Titleist introduc- scoring irons. The King F7s, either variable es new models of its bestselling Pro V1 and length or one length, with steel shafts are Pro V1x. For 2017, both have a reformulated $699 for 5-iron through gap wedge. Ping i200 irons have an aesthetically core and dimple designs, but with the differences in trajectory, feel and spin main- pleasing clean look with an exceptionally tained. The three-piece Pro V1, though, soft feel that matches the added forgiveness still produces a comparatively lower trajec- built into the design. A thinner face is comtory and relatively softer feel than the four- plemented by the elastomer insert and compiece Pro V1x which has more spin on iron bine for distance without vibration. Price: $810 for 5-iron through pitching wedge shots. Price: $48 per dozen We also liked the TaylorMade TP5 and with steel shafts TP5x, the only five-layer ball on the market. The inner core of each is very low DRIVERS: The Great Big Bertha Epic driver incorcompression with a progressively stiffer outer core and mantle. Under the outer cast porates what Callaway has tagged as “Jailurethane cover is a more rigid inner cover break Technology” in addition to a titanifor greenside control. The TP5x is slightly um clubhead frame with carbon composite firmer and launches higher than the mid- in the space between. Jailbreak Technology consists of two titanium rods inside the launch TP5. Price: $45 per dozen The new Z-Star and Z-Star XV from head running from the sole to the crown Srixon are targeted for use by better players that reduce crown deflection upon impact. and both are priced at $40 per dozen. The Forgiveness and shot-shape control are imthree-piece Z-Star has a new core formula proved with a sliding rear weight. Retail by ed travis
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is $500 with lots of optional shafts f r o m w h i c h to choose. Great Big A lower spinning Bertha Epic Epic Sub Zero is also available. A lightweight carbon fiber crown, three adjustable sole weights and Cobra’s titanium E9 variable thickness face are only part of the story for the King F7 ($350) and the slightly different head shape F7+ ($400) drivers. Both come with Cobra Connect powered by Cobra King Arccos at no F7 Driver extra charge. The Arccos sensor is already installed in the butt end of the grip and with a simple pairing of the sensor the Arccos Driver smartphone app performance data and GPS distances are recorded. In addition to new ball models, TaylorMade Titleist introduces new M1 2017 drivers every other year and for 2017 it’s the 917D2 and D3 (both $500). Each has an interchangeable sole weight to adjust spin and launch tendencies without reducing the amount of forgiveness. The D2 is 460cc and targeted towards recreational players while the D3 is 440cc and meant for use by better players. The success on Tour of the M1/M2 drivers in 2016 made it a tough act for TaylorMade to follow and the M1 2017 ($500) and M2 2017 ($400) have more carbon composite than the previous models to enhance control and ball speed. The sliding weight tracks of the M1 have been enlarged for more adjustability and to help allow more face flex. The M2 is also more forgiving and this year there is a M2 D-Type for those wanting a draw-bias design. W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG
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Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame announces the Class of 2017 Tway, Tewell, Hayes, Vosler, and Walser to be honored by steve rhode
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major champion, two Oklahoma City area club professionals who revolutionized golf course development and two long-time friends who together have competed in 1,433 events on the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions comprise the 2017 class of the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame. It’s a class heavy on Oak Tree National ties, as all five inductees have played crucial roles in the history of one of Oklahoma’s iconic clubs. Bob Tway, winner of the 1986 PGA Championship with one of the most famous shots in golf history, joins fellow long-time Oak Tree members Mark Hayes and Doug Tewell along with Oak Tree founders Joe Walser and Ernie Vossler in the class of 2017. The induction ceremony will be Oct. 1 at Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club and the Hall of Fame Classic fund-raising golf tournament will be held there Oct. 2. Tickets and sponsorships will go on sale in June with up-to-date information always available at www.oklahomagolfhof.org. “This is one of the strongest classes imaginable,” said Nick Sidorakis, chairman of the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame board. “You have a major champion. The founders of Landmark Golf, the premier golf development company in the history of the game. Then two extremely talented golfers in Mark and Doug who not only won at the highest levels (a combined seven PGA Tour and eight PGA Tour Champions victories) 36
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but were amazingly consistent throughout their long careers. “This class shows the depth of not just golfing talent that our state has produced but also shows that Oklahomans have been at the forefront of visionary business developments in the game.” Tway, whose greenside bunker shot on the 72nd hole to beat Greg Norman at Inverness in the 1986 PGA Championship is etched in golf lore, also won seven other PGA Tour titles and is still competing on the senior circuit. Along with Tewell and Hayes, he was a mainstay of the famous “Oak Tree Gang,” a group of pros proudly displaying the iconic Landmark logo on tour that also included at various times Gil Morgan, Scott Verplank, Willie Wood, David Edwards, Danny Edwards, Gil Morgan, Jim Woodward, Andy Dillard and others. “It’s very nice of Everett Dobson to start this deal,” Tway said, referring to the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame founder who also is the current co-owner of Oak Tree National. “There’s some great people in there already. It’s cool. We’ve been pretty fortunate in Oklahoma, haven’t we?” Hayes, who had a second career in golf as a designer following his playing days, was thrilled to be honored. “I’m humbled to be included,” Hayes said. “I’ve been lucky to have two careers that I loved (tournament golf and designing golf courses).“ Hayes also credited Vossler and Walser for their visionary work. “Joe and Ernie started it all for us. Oak
Tree is our home, a family to us all.” Tewell said he was particularly thrilled to be going in with Hayes, a long-time friend and competitor since junior golf. “From the time I took up the game of golf, it involved Mark Hayes because we lived around the corner from each other (in Stillwater). He really kind of talked me into playing when I was 12,” Tewell said. “He was already a scratch player. I just kind of hung out with him and went to the golf course and that got me playing a lot of golf.” Walser and Vossler, were both successful club pros and former tour players when they co-founded Unique Golf Concepts, which in 1974 became Landmark Land Co. Along with businessman and financier Jerry Barton, they built Oak Tree National in 1976, Oak Tree Country Club in 1980 and went on to transform California’s Coachella Valley with such landmark properties as LaQuinta and PGA West, not to mention Kiawah Island and many others nationally. “I’m really extremely proud of my dad, and I know he would be deeply honored with this award as well,” said Walser’s son Steve Walser. “It’s a real sign of respect for all the hard work he did over the course of his career in a sport that he loved so much.” Vossler’s son Andy Vossler, runs Landmark Golf today while his daughter Judy is a senior vice president of the Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau. Andy said the family was very pleased with the recognition. “Dad was a man who didn’t care much about what had happened but was always GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
looking ahead to the next thing,” Andy Vossler said. “He would be honored that many of his peers would honor him this way.” BOB TWAY Bob Tway’s greenside bunker shot on the 72nd hole at the Inverness Club to clinch the 1986 PGA Championship and beat Greg Norman (the world’s No. 1-ranked player at the time) will forever remain one of golf’s most memorable moments. Incredibly, 11 years earlier at the age of 16, Tway was playing a different sport on grass. He was a 5-foot-6, 135-pound option quarterback in Georgia. A broken arm his sophomore year in high school led to Tway’s early retirement from the sport and golf became his primary focus. By the time he arrived at Oklahoma State in 1978, Tway was a 6-foot freshman. Four years later as a senior, Tway stood 6-foot4 and towered over the competition as the 1981 Fred Haskins Award winner for collegiate player of the year. He also was a threetime, first-team All-American, the 1979 Big Eight medalist and helped lead the Cowboys to national championships in 1978 and 1980 with a runner-up finish in 1979. Though it took four years for Tway to
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earn playing privileges on the PGA Tour in 1985, he had an immediate impact upon arrival. His second season resulted in four victories, including the aforementioned PGA Championship, 13 Top-10 finishes, placing No. 2 finish on that year’s official money list (just $516 behind season leader Greg Norman) and concluded by being selected as the PGA of the America’s Player of the Year. DOUG TEWELL Doug Tewell started out as a caddy for his father at age 12 in Stillwater. Soon he began playing, excelled quickly and wound up playing for hometown Oklahoma State (1969-71). Tewell then became an assistant golf pro at Kickingbird Golf Course in Edmond, followed with a stint as an assistant pro at Camelback Country Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., and then became head pro at Pinetop (Ariz.) Country Club. That’s when Tewell came to a fork on his career road. His “Class A” rating with the PGA of America allowed Tewell an opportunity to join the PGA Tour in 1975. He tried to survive Monday qualifiers with other “tour rabbits.” Amazingly, Tewell was so proficient on Mondays he never had to endure Quali- Bob Tway, winner of the 1986 PGA Chamfying School, nor did he ever lose his PGA pionship and seven other tour titles.
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OKLAHOMA GOLF HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2017 Tewell promptly captured a second career Tour playing privileges. What followed were four major by winning the 2001 Countrywide PGA Tour victories in seven Tradition, where his 23-under-par total at years, capturing the 1980 Sea Pines Heritage The Tradition course was the lowest-scorClassic (still his biggest thrill in golf), 1980 ing total in PGA history for a major chamIVB-Golf Classic, 1986 Los Angeles Open pionship. and 1987 Pensacola Open. Other professional victories came at the 1978 South Central MARK HAYES Mark Hayes has been a prominent golf PGA Championship, the 1982 Oklahoma Open and the 1988 Acom Team Champion- fixture in Oklahoma for six decades. He excelled at an early age and ship (with Bob Gilder). just kept getting better Tewell won more and better. than $2.7 million and A native of Stillwater, had 60 Top-10 finHayes won multiple inishes on the PGA Tour state tournament tournaand eventually came ments while growing up to another fork in his and is considered to be career path with the one of the finest junior 50-and-older Champiplayers Oklahoma has ons Tour. ever produced. Granted golf’s ulHayes took up the timate mulligan, a game at age 6 in College rejuvenated Tewell Station, Texas, where his exploded onto the sefather was the freshman nior scene with eight basketball coach at Texas victories from 2000A&M. He idolized Ben 04. His first win as a Hogan, Arnold Palmer senior was a major, winning the 2000 PGA Mark Hayes on the cover of Golf and Gene Littler as a boy Seniors’ Champion- World after winning the 1977 Tour- and was for fortunate to caddie for Littler in a proship. Tewell won two nament Players Championship. fessional event at Quail more times that year and was voted 2000 Rookie of the Year on Creek Golf & Country Club. By 1965, Hayes was the Class A state the Champions Tour, beating out legends medalist playing at Northeast High School Tom Watson and Tom Kite.
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and later teamed with Tewell to win state titles at Stillwater (Donart) High School. Hayes was Oklahoma’s 1967 and 1971 State Amateur champion and in 1972 won both the prestigious Sunnehanna Amateur
Doug Tewell strides a fairway with Jack Nicklaus at this side. and the World Cup Amateur, helping the United States capture the Eisenhower Trophy. Hayes played collegiately at Oklahoma State (1968-71), where he was a two-time, first-team All-American his junior and senior seasons playing for Labron Harris Sr., who was among the 2016 inductees into the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame. After college, he served two years in the U.S. Army, working on a military course at Fort Jackson, South Carollina along with future PGA Tour competitor and friend Joe Inman. He competed for the army, winning the U.S. Military Inter-Service Golf Championship, and saved his off days for competing in amateur events, winning the Sunnehanna Amateur, finishing second in the U.S. Amateur and playing for the victorious U.S. side in the World Cup. Known for wearing his signature bucket cap, Hayes turned professional in 1973, won three times on PGA Tour in the 1970s and also finished runner-up six times. He placed no worse than 68th on the money list for eight straight seasons (1974-81). Hayes’ premier tour victory came at the 1977 Tournament Players Championship. He picked up his fourth and final PGA Tour victory at the 1986 Tallahassee Open. Hayes played on the victorious Ryder Cup team in 1979 and was teammates with Oak Tree neighbor Gil Morgan. Hayes, who won his Sunday singles match against Antonio Garrido, actually was first alternate GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
er was a member of state championship teams at Capitol Hill High School and received a full scholarship from Labron Harris Sr. to play at Oklahoma A&M, which later became Oklahoma State and was where his son, Jeff, would play 25 years later. After earning his bachelor’s degree in education, Joe Walser served as a first lietenant in the U.S. Army at Fort Benning, Ga., and Fort Riley, Kan. Walser began his golf career at age 14 while caddying for his father and turned pro in 1954, the same day his first son, Steve, was born. Walser would win 25 amateur/professional ERNIE VOSSLER (1928-2013) tournaments, including the OklaErnie Orville Vossler was widely homa State Amateur and the Oklaknown as one of golf’s premier develhoma Open. opers, but he also could swing a club. Walser left the tour and worked as a Vossler’s early victories came on club pro at Altus Country Club, Lake the Pascal High School golf team in Hefner Golf Course and Oklahoma Fort Worth, Texas, where he began a City Golf & Country Club. Two of friendship with teammate Dan Jenkins, his closest friends and golf partners who became one of the most revered were Ab Justice, a longtime golf congolf writers in history. After Vossler tributor and OSU’s first All-American, had made a name for himself as a loand Alsie Hyden, a 2008 inductee into cal amateur, fellow Texans Ben Hogan the Oklahoma Women’s Golf Hall and Byron Nelson wrote letters on his of Fame as a lifelong proponent for behalf for his admittance to the PGA women playing the game. Tour. Hyden, who has been director Vossler had three PGA Tour wins of golf at Lake Hefner Golf Course over a three-year span – 1958 Kansas for nearly a half-century, became City Open; 1959 Tijuana Open Invitaclose friends with Walser since their tional; 1960 Carling Open Invitational freshman year at OSU. Hyden came -- and also won the 1960 Panama Open. to Lake Hefner when Walser moved He tied for fifth in the 1959 U.S. Open to Oklahoma Golf & CC in 1968. and also competed at the 1956 Masters and 1961 PGA Championship. Joe Walser, Arnold Palmer and Ernie Vossler cut the “He dreamed big and what he got accomplished was big,” Hyden said of To provide stability for his family, ribbon at Palmer’s private course at PGA West. Walser. Vossler cut back on his full-time tour In 1970, Walser was presented the PGA schedule and became head golf professional Tree Country Club became home for the at Quail Creek Golf and Country Club while Oklahoma Open and several prestigious of America Horton Smith Award, which the golf course and residential community amateur events, including the 1989 NCAA recognized his contributions to the educawere still in design. He remained at Quail Championships, won by the Oklahoma tion of fellow golf professionals. In 1971, Walser formed Unique Golf Creek for more than a decade and estab- Sooners. Vossler, who passed away Feb. 16, 2013 in Concepts with fellow 2017 Oklahoma lished relationships the PGA of America and PGA Tour by hosting the annual Oklahoma La Quinta, Calif., at age 84, was no stranger Golf Hall of Fame inductee Ernie Vossler City Open from 1962-67. He pioneered the to Halls of Fame, being inducted in 2005 as and with three-time Ryder Cup member use of a logo to enhance sales while at Quail a member of the PGA of America Golf Pro- Johnny Pott alongside later founded LandCreek, something that paid huge dividends fessional Hall of Fame for his “dedication to mark Land Company, Inc., which in 1992 later with the famous Oak Tree logo at and passion for the game of golf … along became Landmark Golf LP. Walser served as vice president in charge with his service and accomplishments.” Landmark. Vossler transformed his far-reaching skills Vossler was married to a Hall of Fame wife of golf operations, golf course design and toward teaching and being a golf club op- in Marlene Hagge, a member of the World construction. Jerry Barton joined as the development expert and Walser worked erator. In 1967, he was named PGA Profes- Golf Hall of Fame. closely with Pete Dye on the construcsional of the Year and many of his students tion of both Oak Tree Golf Club (opened enjoyed success on the PGA, Champions JOE WALSER (1932-2012) Known as a friendly, trustworthy and in 1976) and later Oak Tree Country Club and LPGA tours. In 1971, Vossler and fellow 2017 Oklaho- insightful visionary, Joe Walser Jr. steadily (opened in 1981). Walser died on May 10, 2012, in Dallas, ma Golf Hall of Fame inductee Joe Walser Jr. built a stellar career as a player, PGA proTexas, with his family by his side, after a began their historic trek as golf pioneers in fessional and golf developer. Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Wals- valiant fight against Alzheimer’s Disease. land development. They co-founded Unique for the team and ended up replacing leading money winner Tom Watson, who withdrew to be with his wife, Linda, for the birth of their first child. From 1976-82, Hayes had Top-15 finishes in all four majors. His best finish was a tie for sixth at the 1980 U.S. Open at Baltusrol, where he began the final round just two strokes behind eventual winner Jack Nicklaus. Hayes shot a 63 in the second round of the Open Championship at Turnberry in 1977, tying the record for lowest round in any major championship.
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Golf Concepts, Inc., which in 1974 became Landmark Land Company, Inc., and quickly enjoyed monstrous growth both nationally and internationally. One of their earliest gems was Oak Tree Golf Club (now Oak Tree National) in Edmond, which opened in 1976. Five years later came the adjacent 36-hole Oak Tree Country Club across Kelly Avenue. Oak Tree National hosted four major events in the 1984 U.S. Amateur, 1988 PGA Championship, 2006 Senior PGA Championship and the 2014 U.S. Senior Open, while Oak
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To the
Max by scott wright
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ax McGreevy doesn’t know how this chapter of his golf career will end, but most of the previous four years have seemed to follow a familiar storyline. As a talented but inexperienced freshman, McGreevy fought his way into a lineup of more seasoned players, and had to grind to prove he belonged. As a sophomore, he appeared more at ease, and started to contend for tournament titles. As a junior and senior, he contended even more regularly, and won a couple of times. He showed that he was one of the best in the state, and experts around the nation began to take notice. That’s rough but accurate sketch of McGreevy’s high school career at Edmond Santa Fe. And his college career at Oklahoma, too. Now, as he’s closing in on the final weeks of his senior season at OU, McGreevy has turned himself into one of coach Ryan Hybl’s cornerstone pieces of a program that wasn’t sniffing the top-25 rankings four years ago, but has solidified itself in the top 15 this year. “His freshman year in high school, he was just an okay player,” Hybl said. “But by the time he was a senior, he was maybe the best player in the state. He’s done the same thing in college. “Coming into college, he was just an okay college player. He needed his body to improve, his strength to improve, his game to improve. Before you know it, coming into his senior year, he’s one of the better college players in the country. He continues to be consistent, which was one of my biggest goals for him as a player. “He puts himself in a spot to contend for a tournament every single week.” McGreevy blew out the field at the recent Lone Star Invitational, shooting a Sooner record 20-under to record his third career win and second of the 2016-17 season. 40
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Hybl calls McGreevy one of the most emotional and competitively driven players he’s ever coached. “When you have guys who genuinely want to go out and win every day, that’s a good thing,” Hybl said. “That’s one of the things we’ll miss with him moving on next year. It’s hard to replace that guy on your squad who is that fiery at all times. It doesn’t matter if it’s a practice round or qualifying back home or a tournament, he wants to shoot the lowest number that he possibly can every single day.” McGreevy, though, will admit that those emotions have drawn him too far out of his game at times. In high school, McGreevy first began to understand the need to control his emotions during a round, and he began to see more success when he managed it well. When he Max McGreevy has learned to control his emotions. got to college, he had to those necessary changes.” take his emotional control McGreevy’s impassioned approach to life to another level. And just like in high school, success has and golf was so distinctly apparent, former Oklahoma State coach Mike McGraw, now followed. “At an early age, I was a little more imma- at Baylor, wrote in his recently released ture than I should’ve been, for where my golf book, Better Than I Found It, about meeting game was,” McGreevy said. “I feel like my the young player during a recruiting visit to Stillwater. attitude got the best of me a lot of times. “You could say I wear my emotions on “Once I was able to start keeping those in check, it was a big boost to my golf game. my sleeve, probably more than anyone else,” But my dad (Brian) played college golf and McGreevy said with a laugh. “My parents a little bit of professional golf. You want to would probably say that, too.” Oddly enough, OSU is where McGreevy learn from a guy like that. I realized if I wanted to get to the next level, I needed to make had long wanted to play college golf. But it GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
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“We have a really, really young team,” said round for the first time since the format was didn’t happen. Instead, McGreevy became a building block for Hybl, who has stated his McGreevy, the Sooners’ only senior. “My adopted. McGreevy was named a third-team PING experience in what I’ve gone through in my mission of recruiting homegrown talent. When McGreevy was a freshman, he was college life, where I haven’t been a superstar All-American last year, and is on track for an one of two Oklahoma products on the OU since day one, I feel like I can relate to a lot of even better senior season. His stroke average roster along with then-junior Charlie Saxon these guys and get them started on the right is on pace to easily break the 72 mark. With his final run through the Big 12 and track.” of Tulsa’s Cascia Hall. On top of that, McGreevy leads splendidly NCAA Championships ahead, McGreevy The next year, the Sooners had three inisn’t getting ahead of himself too much. But state players. Last year and this year, the with his actions. “How he plays, and his competitive nature, he knows he’ll have to address his plans for number has been at five, with one high school senior — Yukon’s Lane Wallace — al- that’s how he leads us best,” Hybl said. “He’s a professional career in the coming months. He’s considering remaining an amateur for ready signed, and a junior — Logan McAl- iorvery effective with our golf team by showSen ageing these guys what it takes to be in every a couple months to see if he can earn a spot to t lister of Christian Heritage Academy indvDel n a A ardsingle round, to not give up shots, to go play play in the prestigious Walker Cup.. City — verbally committed. CAdvantage McGreevy has signed up for the Mackengreat golf even when things aren’t going well. It’s a trend that started with McGreevy. Card zie Tour, the Canadian branch of the PGA, “Going back to 2011 when we started re- That’s how he leads our golf team.” Of course, McGreevy’s impact on the pro- for the summer circuit. The Mackenzie Tour cruiting him, our program wasn’t in great LIST OFsignificant BENEFITS been even more with his has been a springboard to the Web.com Tour shape,” Hybl said. “Whenever he bought into gram hasFULL for several players with ties to Oklahoma. AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE: on the course. our program and what we had,$I thought it performance 59 Per Player “I’ve had the ability to play with some A two-time FREE Class Golf 6A state champion in was a really big deal for us. After Every 5 Rounds Played $39 Senior high school, McGreevy beenDay a mainstay “He’d had enough success and had Per estabIncludeshas Same Round good players in my college career, guys who PGA on campus. are playing really well lished himself as one of the better players in the OU lineup ofsince Golfhe atarrived Purchase TU Lon SAGthe O L F.O R GTour 8 0 0. 3 39. 2McGreevy 9 97 now,” Senior In four years,Advantage he’s missed& only one tour- and Web.com Tour right in the state, so for him to take that lead and Rates 55 & older. **Available for said. “It’s cool to*Seniors see must thatbeI’ve played with out the Big 12Card Championship understand what he was getting into was a nament, sitting Advantage non-Seniors ONLY. Card program subject to Accessoftoinjury. Twilight** these guys, maybe beaten a couple them his sophomore Early year because really big win for us.” change without notice. Visit theof website for rates, twilight times and complete program Range Punch Card ($35 Value)** at times. It’s reassuring every time you see As a junior, he dropped his stroke average Leadership isn’t always a quality that lines details. Expires 12.31.2017. up with McGreevy’s personality type. But to 72.13 and earned his first college victory, one of those guys do something like that, he’s seen so much in four years in Oklaho- at the Gopher Invitational. He and teammate to give you a little bit more confidence and ma’s top five that he has a lot to share with Brad Dalke tied for 26th in the NCAA Cham- makes you feel like you belong just a little pionships, leading OU to the match-play bit more.’’ younger players.
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41
H IGH SCHOOL PR EV I EW
Talent wave to crest at state finals by scott wright
OKLAHOMA CITY — Throughout Oklahoma high school golf history, underclassmen have won state championships and returned the next year to defend — or at least try to defend — their titles. To have a reigning champion in the field the following year is not rare by any stretch. But here’s what’s unique about the 2017 high school season. Out of 10 possible winners, six reigning champions, including three boys and three girls, are back to defend their titles. The 2016 season was a year owned by
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Laken Hinton
Austin Eckroat
Matt Braley
non-seniors. In the Class 6A boys field a year ago, eight of the top10 finishers were juniors or younger, including winner ShaeBug Scarberry Natalie Gough Kaitlin Milligan Laken Hinton and runner-up Austin Eckroat, both of Edmond North. The Champions The 5A girls tournament was won the last Boys four years by Durant’s Sydney Youngblood, Laken Hinton, Edmond North, Class 6A: who is now playing college golf at Oklaho- Hinton fired three straight 73s to win last ma. So the crown is open, and the field is full year’s title at Karsten Creek in Stillwater. of contenders, with only three of last year’s Bound for America’s holy land of golf, Autop-10 finishers graduating. gusta State in Augusta, Ga., Hinton has one By no means was the 2016 graduating more shot at an individual title. And the class weak in terms of golf talent or poten- Huskies will be looking for their 12th in the tial. Seven players signed with Division I last 13 years. schools, and several more received scholarship money to play at the next level. But the future of the state’s high school golf is even brighter. In-state schools are reaping the benefits. Of the state’s four Division I programs (Tulsa currently doesn’t field a men’s team), 21 players from Oklahoma high schools are on their rosters this spring. OU, Oklahoma State and Oral Roberts have signed local players to their men’s teams for next year, and the OU women added one as well. The state has grown stronger over the past decade or two in its production of college-level talent, and several such players will be on display when the state tournaments arrive. The girls tournaments are set for May 3-4, with the boys events being held May 8-9 at various locations around the state. Some will be defending titles, others will be trying to unseat reigning champions, or claim a vacant crown. Here’s a look at the state’s reigning champions, followed by a few Laken Hinton will look to defend Class 6A title. notable contenders: GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
Matt Braley, Cascia Hall, Class 4A: After conquering 4A as a sophomore and helping Cascia to the title, Braley and the Commandos are back for more this season. Logan McAllister, Christian Heritage Academy, Class 3A: A junior at the Del Citybased private school, McAllister might be the top talent below this year’s class of senior boys players. The OU commit was 15-under par in the 54-hole state tournament at Lake Hefner North in Oklahoma City last year.
Girls Yujeong Son, Norman, Class 6A: Son will not defend her title as she has returned to being home schooled and is playing a national schedule. She recently ShaeBug Scarberry seeks third consecu- won the Kathy Whitworth Invitational. tive Class 3A crown for Purcell. Chloe Black, Newcastle, Class 4A: Another sophomore champ last year, Black also had a runner-up finish as a freshman. Black once fancied herself a pretty good softball player, but gave it up to pursue golf. She can, in part, thank the next player on the list for helping her make that decision. ShaeBug Scarberry, Purcell, Class 3A: One of Black’s closest friends, Scarberry nudged Black toward golf, and celebrated with her when both won state titles last year. For Scarberry, now a junior, last year’s crown was her second.
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Dalton Daniel, Newcastle: Last fall’s winner of the OJGT Tour Championship, Daniel has contended in big events going back to his runner-up finish at the 4A state tournament as a sophomore. Austin Eckroat, Edmond North: Eckroat, who has signed with Oklahoma State, won Dalton Daniel the 6A title as a freshman and has been in contention every year. An expert at getting around Karsten Creek, he’ll be a frontrunner in his final campaign. Dustin Hasley, Piedmont: Bound for Oral Roberts, Hasley came up just short in his pursuit of the 5A championship last year, losing to McGuinness’ David Trimble. Zac Owens, Mooreland: Owens, who has signed with Wichita State, has never finished worse than eighth at the Class 2A state GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
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H IGH SCHOOL PR EV I EW tournament, and had top-three finishes each of the last two years while leading Mooreland to the team title. Jared Strathe, Owasso: After moving from Rejoice Christian, Strathe will try to help Zac Owens the Rams contend for another 6A team title, and he has shown that he can compete with the best in the state already. Lane Wallace, Yukon: Wallace signed with Oklahoma last November after a summer and fall that saw him compete at a high level locally and nationally.
Girls Faith Belmear, Owasso: After a topfive finish last season, Belmear will try to compete for an individual title while helping the Rams defend their team championship. Taylor Towers Natalie Gough, Bixby: A top-10 finish at state a year ago,
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and a couple strong performances on the OJGT schedule show she’s more than capable of contending with the top 6A players. Kaitlin Milligan, Norman North: The Oklahoma signee has the talent to shoot in the mid-60s, and now as a senior, she’ll be playing with a sense of urgency to go out on top. Addie Norton, Plainview: Runnerup to Scarberry as a freshman last season, Norton and junior team- Lane Wallace of Yukon will head for OU in the fall. mate Katie Finley lead a dangerous crowns in Class 2A, Towers is coming off and young Plainview team looking for a strong performance on the OJGT fall cirhardware. cuit where she was one of only three girls Taylor Towers, Rejoice Christian: The to play more than 10 rounds and post a runner-up for one of the few vacated stroke average below 76.
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
Golf helps Baldwin overcome life's physical, mental hurdles story and photos by jackson stuteville
ducing a small fade. His swing reflected a beautiful rotary Despite being born essentially without motion around his spine in textbook fashany arms, Jason Baldwin has shot a round as ion, and the strike was fully orchestrated by his lower body in an athletic fashion, just as low as 77 and recorded a hole-in-one. it should be. However, as my eyes Baldwin has overcome other affixed to the rising sun and the adversities in a story of redempglare escaped my vision, I noticed tion that has led him into a posithat he was different than the rest tion where he mentors patients at of the men on the range – he had Rob’s Ranch, a drug and rehabilino left arm, and only possessed a tation center in Purcell. small semblance of an arm that A tournament benefiting Rob’s protruded from his right shoulder. Ranch was responsible for my inBaldwin had a tennis elbow troduction to Baldwin. The first strap tucked underneath his arm, time I saw him was on the range to which the grip and shaft was at The Trails Golf Club in NorJason Baldwin firmly attached. To draw back the man. From afar, I could decipher the mechanics he was employing as if they golf club, he moved his torso in a collective were a microcosm of a great ball striker hid- and succinct fashion, the club merely gliding den deep within. The golf club was releas- along for the ride. I was scheduled to play ing to the left, he was pushing off with his with him that day and could not wait to see right foot gaining leverage as he descended what he could do on the course. I was somewhat nervous and appreinto impact, and his head stayed remarkably steady throughout the entire motion, pro- hensive about teeing it up with him, but it
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turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences of my life. After becoming friends with him, I have learned that Rob’s Ranch ended one portion of his life and gave him the new life he always wanted. Jason was born in 1979 in Hayti, Mo., into a family that was as “normal as one could imagine,” and was “thrown into the mix” as a congenital amputee. At 4, he was enrolled in a special school catering to children with physical disabilities. While Jason said his childhood was normal, it was around the age of 7 when he began to realize he couldn’t play in the same way as other children. While this temporarily impeded his physical and mental maturation, it would not slow him down for long. It was during these early years that his grandfather introduced him to golf. Jason was very limited in what he could do on the golf course at this time, so his grandfather would toss a handful of balls on the ground and allow Jason to putt while he was completing the hole. It was this small action that fostered a love for the game while also providing him a refuge to release the harbored frustration of not being able to keep up with his friends. As Jason grew up, further developing his awareness of the game and all its challenges, he also began to cultivate and improvise the
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
method he now uses to play. Jason views golf as a peaceful sanctuary and does not take his ability to play for granted. But while Jason was in his teens, he experimented with drugs and alcohol. He became addicted to pills, methamphetamine, and cocaine within three months of his first sampling. For years, he sought a safe-haven within the realm of substance sponsored ecstasy, all the while forgetting those around him, only seeking the place where he could locate his next fix. His yearning for drugs and alcohol culminated in 2010 when his practices were intercepted by law enforcement, resulting in a 10-month prison stint. “After I was released from prison, I had every intention to get my life back together, but the problem was, I still didn’t want to admit that I needed help,” Jason said. After his incarceration, the IRS sent Ja-
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
son a pre-paid card with nearly $19,000 that was owed to him in back taxes. Within two weeks, he spent $16,000 on drugs, and became so impaired that he entered a “drug induced form of psychosis.” On July 13, 2012, he entered the drug and alcohol rehabilitation center at Rob’s Ranch, ushering in his road to recovery, redemption and a new life. “I have never slept better than I do as sober man,” he said. Jason resides at the Ranch, working there in online marketing and admissions. He considers his work to be very fulfilling and relishes the opportunity to mentor others. He said, “To the men or women who are addicts, I always tell them to try treatment. … It is easy to get high, but it’s hard to get help,” and added, “Admittance is the most difficult step, but the most important. It’s never too late.”
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W H ER E TO PL AY
Lake Murray renewed by ken mac leod
G
olfers visiting Oklahoma oldest, largest and only wholly owned and managed state park will come away wowed this summer by two vastly different but equally key improvements. For stay-and-play visits, the $27 million new lodge offers 32 comfortable and tastefully decorated rooms, along with the Blue Heron restaurant right on the water, a fitness center, meeting rooms, ballrooms, a large lobby, gift shop and other amenities. The lodge opened in February and though landscaping remained to be finished on a recent visit, the care that went in to the design
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Huge windows overlook the clear waters of Lake Murray at the state’s brand new lodge at Oklahoma’s oldest state park. the new lodge kept with that theme, using and furnishings is evident. Lake Murray, named for Oklahoma’s muted colors that accent the lake views. “Everything in the lobby and rooms was ninth governor, Alfalfa Bill Murray (193135), was built in the late 1930s as a project custom designed and all the colors blend in of the Civilian Conservation Corps. As con- with the natural beautiful aqua color of the struction of the original cabins and other water, a life-giving source to this area,” said structures progressed through the comple- Keli Clark, marketing coordinator for Oklation of the first lodge in the 1950s, the theme homa Tourism. The walls are lined with a combination of was for sturdy rock structures that seemed to rise naturally from the landforms and not historical photos reflecting the history of the detract from the spectacular views of the park and nature paintings and photos from spring-fed and clear waters of Lake Murray. within the park. Artist Susan Dragoo proAll the interiors designers who worked on vided the photos that liven the rooms, while
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
other local and regional artists contributed key pieces that make the lodge a real collaborative effort reflecting a keen sense of the region’s history and heritage. Combined with the 56 cabins that Lake Murray has for rent and the Floating Cabins, an independent rental contractor within the park, golfers and families will find quality lodging, although the limited number of rooms in the initial phase of the lodge may mean you should call ahead now. At the golf course, head professional Wesley Chaney is hearing nothing but raves from golfers who have stayed at the new lodge. This summer, they will have a golf course to match. A state-of-the-art irrigation system installed last summer is making all the difference at Lake Murray. Instead of single-row irrigation resulting in only the center of the fairways remaining green during hot spells, with the outer edges, roughs and areas under the tree lines turning to withered hard pan, the new system can fully irrigate the entire fairway and give adequate moisture to the roughs as well. Combined with selective tree removal and an intensive amount of work to raise the canopy on the oak trees that line most holes, the result of more light and water will combine to provide dense turf coverage in areas that have been barren for years. “It’s making a huge difference already and it’s only going to become much more pronounced this s u m m e r, ” C h a n e y said. “An improvement like this has really helped improve the morale of our crew. We’re proud of the course and the how the hard work is payEvery tastefully-appointed room at Lake Murray ing off and it’s has a lake view and an outdoor patio. only going to get better.” Also underway on the course is planting of native areas to border some of the more open holes and continued work on tee boxes. The greens were converted to the Mini-Verde ultradwarf Bermuda five years back which has resulted in firm, fast conditions throughout the summers on the relatively flat greens. One area Chaney is hoping will be taken care of in the next round of improvements is the concrete cart paths, which are in poor shape and also could be moved into tree lines to be less obtrusive. The golf course is developing a strong local following and increased visitor play. Chaney said it drew more than 20,000 rounds in 2016 and as conditions continue to improve the hope is that number will rise by several thousand at least. In addition to golf, visitors to Lake Murray State Park will find a new nature center, miles of hiking trails, a stable for horseback riding, miniature golf with kayak and canoe rentals, a marina, campgrounds, ATV park and more. To reserve tee times, rooms or for more information on Lake Murray, go to www.travelok.com. GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
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W H ER E TO PL AY
OSU grad builds dream course New Chet Williams design The Clubs at Houston Oaks opens this spring. by art stricklin
HOUSTON – A golf visionary from Oklahoma State and his resourceful, talented and well-heeled friends have created a Houstonarea golf resort oasis. The par-71 championship design by Texas architect Chet Williams opens in May, bringing the Clubs at Houston Oaks to the forefront of Lone Star family resort living. The single private club with eight differ-
ent components ranging from golf to tennis to a hunt club, equestrian, wedding chapel and many others, will be finally be fully functional as a family retreat from the pressures of urban life. “The days of a man telling his wife he was going to play golf on Saturday and then cards and be gone eight hours are over,” said OSU graduate Chuck Watson, one of the owners at the Clubs at Houston Oaks, locat-
ed approximately 45 minutes northwest of downtown Houston, but in a much smaller, scenic and tranquil setting. “This is still golf, but it’s golf on steroids with family and togetherness in a way you wish you always had more time for,” he added. Watson, who graduated from OSU in 1972 with an economic and pre-law degree and built a large oil and gas company
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W H ER E TO PL AY in Houston, still maintains close ties to his university. He teamed with longtime friends Steve Alvis, Marci Avis and John Havens to build their own piece of Southeast Texas family perfection with enough to do to keep everyone active and relaxed for a weekend or much longer. “It’s just magical when you drive through the gates here,” Watson said. “There are just so many different things to do for young kids all the way to old folks like me. It’s just something very special. We’ve signed up about a dozen Oklahoma State and Oklahoma members, because it’s the right distance people can get here for the weekend or a longer stay.” While the Williams-designed championship golf layout, which takes liberal use of the club’s 2,500 Oaks and other sturdy hardwoods, some 200 years old, will grab the spotlight when it opens all 18 holes this May, there is much to do here without ever stepping foot on the golf course. Kids would like to start with the enclosed treehouse, capable of an overnight stay and complete with a rope bridge. Young adults will be wowed by the waterside wedding chapel, imported brick by brick from Bou-
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dreaux, France. Older adults will likely be attracted by the expansive hunting lodge and outdoor target areas. There are also massive big screen TVs inside the hunting lodge with cushy chairs, giving you the unique opportunity to blow off a few rounds of ammo after watching your favorite team lose on the TV. Should all the Houston Oaks activity make you tired, there is a small luxury hotel on property along with houses for members and their guests to stay overnight. Among the features introduced at the golf course this spring are the 80 course bunkers, some of which had been resized, reshaped and relocated with a mixture of a brighter California and more consistent Texas sand. Also unveiled was the Celebration Bermuda grasses, which originated in Florida, but are starting to be used more often on Texas courses. New signature holes at Houston Oaks will include the split fairway par-4 11th and the par-3 5th which will feature a watery island green on the far north end of the expansive tree-lined property. Also in a nod to the lack of time golfers may have to play Houston Oaks, Williams
designed the course so it can be played in 24- and 6-hole loops along with a 9-hole chipping area and a 9-hole family short course. Each hole at Houston Oaks features six teeing grounds, including one short teeing area exclusively for junior golfers. “Every course can be set up for championship golfers and that’s important. But for most courses, the play is going to come from double-figure handicap golfers and they want it challenging, but they also want it fun and that’s what I think we have done here,” Williams said. “You always want to do something different when designing a course, at least I do, and this course gave me a lot of possibilities. “We have more movement in the fairways, new bunkers and some different water features. I like courses which force you to think your way around the golf course and you’ll have to think your way a lot on this course; where to hit it and where to attack each hole.” For more information on the new Chet Williams-designed course along with the many other club activities at The Clubs at Houston Oaks, go to www.houstonoaks. com or call 713-888-0000.
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
AE Golf Challenge At Oak Tree National
Monday, May 8th, 2017
8:00 A.M. – Registration • 9:00 A.M. – Shotgun Start
To Register Online Visit: nie.newsok.com/event/aegolfchallenge/ (Registration Includes: Green Fee, Cart, Range Balls, Lunch, Beverages, Great Prizes for Hole-In-One, Closest to Pin, Longest Drive Contests and an Awards Ceremony)
Format
4-Person Scramble
Entry Deadline
Wednesday, May 3rd, 2017 ** Teams must register by Friday, April 21st, 2017 to be featured in the program.
Proceeds from this event will directly support Newspapers in Education.
DEST I NAT IONS
Landing on
Fantasy Island
The 16th hole of the PLAYERS Stadium Course at the TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
by tom bedell
Open for debate is whether it helps to have a look at the famous island green at the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course the day before one plays it. It all depends on just how much anticipation one’s mental faculties can handle. It’s probably enough to tee off on the course where the Player’s Championship is held annually and knowing that No. 17 is lingering about four hours away. But on a January trip to Ponte Vedra Beach and its Florida environs a few writers had a tour of the course and the fabulous clubhouse a day preceding our round there. So naturally we heard all about the some 140,000 balls that frogmen retrieve each year from the pond surrounding the course’s largest green, PGA Tour pros obviously not exempt. Since the Tour started counting in 2003 the pros have dunked 634 shots, and poor Bob Tway still holds the record for drown54
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ing four in one round in 2005, on his way to a 12 for the hole. (To add insult to injury, he three-putted.) This year’s tournament is May 11-14, and it’s a compelling draw. About 215,000 attended last year, and few tournaments are set up so fully with the fans in mind. “It’s a sixmonth project to put it up and take it down,” said Sawgrass general manager Bill Hughes. “We start building this city early in January.” Attendees this year will find easier entrance and exit routes, expanded food service areas, and a one-third sized replica of the 17th hole to try—a 33-yard shot surrounded by 80,000 gallons of water. They’ll also find sight lines on the course improved, as it underwent a major renovation following last year’s tilt, the newish course just opening in November. Can defending champion Jason Day become the first back-to-back winner of the tournament? The pros will contend on resurfaced TifEagle Ber-
(Photo by Chris Condon/PGA TOUR)
mudagrass greens and face reconfigurations of holes six, seven and 12. The latter has actually been shortened to 302 from 360 from the back tee, giving the pros a risky chance to drive the par-4 green. Designer Pete Dye always contended that the sixth hole was the most beautiful hole on the course, but that mounding between the sixth and seventh holes obscured it. So that mounding has now been removed.
Taking the Waters The only problem with attending the tournament is that one can’t then play at the Stadium course. But with 70 other tracks in the area (including Dye’s Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass), finding an open tee is not a problem. And as Gary Player once said about the World Golf Hall of Fame, “If you love golf, you’ve got to go,” and indeed one should, as it’s a half-hour south of Sawgrass. We had a short but in-depth tour of the GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
Hall from golf historian Dr. Tony Parker, and he pointed out that one could whiz through the 35,000 square feet of exhibit space in a half-hour. But even the mildly golf obsessed will be glad to hear that a ticket is good for two days, because there’s that much to soak in. Then there’s the chance to take a few swings at the Hall’s outdoor Challenge Hole, a 132-yard swipe over water to a green that bears more than a passing resemblance to 17 at Sawgrass. (I was 1 for 2 on this warm-up.) Non-golfing options are legion just a little further south in St. Augustine, sometimes called a small drinking town with a fishing problem. St. Augustine is virtually built for tourism, with 450 years of inhabited history to call upon, and historical sites ancient and modern criss-crossing with head-spinning regularity. Which is why one of the hop-on hop-off trolley tours that cruise around the town are a good way to start one’s investigation. Aside from the sprawling and fascinating Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, which the Spanish began constructing in 1672 to protect their interests in La Florida, one can always drop into the Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park for a sip from the fountain itself.
For a chaser one can head north to Jacksonville and set out on the JAX Ale Trail. For a craft beer fan like me (or beer snob, as my wife puts it), visiting Florida was The par-5 16th hole presents its share of watery peril. once more of a often swirling quality here. Obviously there’s penance than a pleasure. Those days are over, no Goodyear blimp view from the tee. The and the Sunshine State is now clearly adding landscaping is a riot of flowers, and the shot its share to the ever-expanding roster of arti- doesn’t look that tough. It’s not that tough, san breweries. I had no problem finding ter- really—but there’s a lot of water, and that rific beers at Green Room Brewing, Aardwolf gets into one’s head. I pulled out a nine iron, but hit it a little Brewing Company, Intuition Ale Works and thin. Still, I managed to plop one down into Zeta Brewing Company. I was clearly infused with sober wisdom the small pot bunker on the right front of the after all this, and chose the 6,086 yard white green, managed to blast out and still keep it tees at the Stadium course, still a fearsome dry, and had a routine two-putt for a bogey. 140 slope. The better golfers in my group No problem. Actually, while still on the tee, I took a moved back a tee, and yet I was the only player of the foursome to keep it under 100 second shot so the forecaddie for our group, doubling as a photographer, could take a mul(if barely). And on 17? I actually moved back to the ligan on figuring out my phone camera. So blue tee, a 128-yard shot this day. It was mild with no pressure I launched a second shot. and sunny, the wind light, as opposed to its Rinsed.
Memorial Day Weekend May 22-28
Colonial Country Club Fort Worth, Texas
Jordan Spieth, 2016 Champion
Tickets must be purchased in advance - buy online.
deananddelucainvitational.com GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
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SUPER I N T E N DE N T’S PER SPEC T I V E
present ed by
Creating best management practices for Oklahoma by eddie m. roach, jr golf course superintendent jimmie austin golf club at the university of oklahoma
As the great Bob Dylan said in a 1964 song, “The times, they are a-changin’.” This is very true today, as there has not been such a divide in the country since the Civil Rights Movement that inspired that Dylan song. So, how does the divisiveness of the country influence the golf course industry? People have very different opinions on what is good and what is bad for the environment. Golf is one of many industries that many misinformed people view as a bad thing. The golf industry has been on the offensive for many years with help from associations such as the PGA, USGA, NGF and GCSAA. They have been on an information campaign for the past decade, trying to show what great things the golf industry has done, is currently doing and continues to do. They have studied and published the numerous mental
and physical health benefits from playing the game of golf, its economic impact and its environmental stewardship efforts. Sustainability and stewardship are words that are showing up in all sorts of publications that pertain to the management of golf courses. One of the biggest undertakings recently has been GCSAA’s newest environmental initiative to develop and create Best Management Practices (BMP) for all 50 states by 2020. The ‘Best Management Practices’ term was coined nearly 35 years ago to describe acceptable practices that could be implemented to protect water quality, promote soil conservation and methods of protecting sensitive ecosystems. A BMP can be a structural “thing” or it can be part of the “process” that a business uses to plan and conduct an operation. A BMP means a practice or combination of practices, that is determined to be an effective and practicable (including technological, economic, and institutional considerations) means of preventing or reducing the amount of pollution generated by nonpoint sources to a level compatible with water quality goals.
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Sean Riley, DC Ryan Smith, DPT
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PGA Head Golf Professional
"This program has given me a road map to golf fitness." Cindy L.
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Futures Tour Player
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines the term “nonpoint source pollution” this way, cited from National Management Measures to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution from Forestry, April 2005: Nonpoint source pollution usually results from precipitation, atmospheric deposition, land runoff, infiltration, drainage, seepage or hydrologic modification. As runoff from rainfall or snowmelt moves, it picks up and carries natural pollutants and pollutants resulting from human activity, ultimately dumping them into rivers, lakes, wetlands, coastal waters and groundwater. The term “nonpoint source” is defined to mean any source of water pollution that does not meet the legal definition of point source in section 502(14) of the Clean Water Act of 1987. Nonpoint sources include return flow from irrigated agriculture, or other agriculture runoff and infiltration; urban runoff from small or nonsewered urban areas; flow from abandoned mines; hydrologic modification; and runoff from forestry activities. Nonpoint source pollution is a fancy term to describe polluted runoff that flows across the ground surface. By effectively using BMPs, you have a very high likelihood of preventing and controlling that polluted runoff, before it can reach a creek, pond, or wetland. And if you prevent or control nonpoint source pollution, you will most likely stay in compliance with the various water quality regulations for any given region. The Oklahoma chapter of the GCSAA is currently forming a committee, made up of golf course superintendents from across the state, academia and other industry experts to develop and create a BMP document for golf courses in Oklahoma. The need for state-level BMP programs and, ultimately, golf facility-written BMP plans for nutrient, drought, and water management and integrated pest management (IPM) is greater than ever. Golf courses, many of which are in urban environments under the watchful eye of concerned citizens, face heightened scrutiny from the public, media and environmental activist special-interest groups regarding the use of inputs (that is, water, pesticides, etc.) and commonly held misconceptions about golf course management. It is critical that the golf industry demonstrate sustainable methods of land management. “The times they are a-changin’ “ and it is up to us to make sure that we continue our efforts to change the negative reputation that the golf industry has been given. GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
I NST RUC T ION
No substitute for practice
want the lesson to make three rehearsal swings to every ball work, start work- you strike. Rehearsing the new motion ing on your own! slowly is critical. Hit fewer balls. • Change clubs and targets often. NevHere are a few strategies/tips for better er hit to the same target more than five quality practice and getting shots in a row unless you are working out the most out of all of those a technical change in your swing. Play dollars you spend weekly the course in your mind on the range, hit a driver then five minutes later hit your on good solid instruction. by maggie roller • Design your practice plan around your 7-iron. Hit shots on the range as if you Lessons are a key component of im- personal goals and availability. If it is a were playing the 18-hole course. Make up provement in golf, but only if coupled weekly lesson, plan on at least three times fairways on the range using trees, flags, bushes. Give yourself different with practice. Those who seek imlies. Don’t tee it up perfectly on provement only through lessons the grass, you seldom get a perfect without rehearsing and ingraining lie on the course. the new motions or swing chang• Use your alignment sticks ofes are likely to end up a mess of ten. Keep them in your golf bag jumbled swing thoughts. but don’t leave them there! Be creI teach 30-40 students each ative with them. These are valuweek and too often found that able for rehearsing proper motion, the last golf ball they hit was alignment, and swinging under, the final shot in our previous over and through. lesson. Although I make more • Whatever putting drills your money teaching with this type instructor hands out, do them of “no practice” habit, the stufrequently! Putting is almost dents do not improve at the pace half your score and the key to they should. One of the greatest better golf. I like the 3-4-5 foot thrills I have as a golf instructor drill: Place four tees around a hole is watching my students improve in cross formation from 3, 4 and their ball striking, their short 5 feet. Make 12 in a row from 3 game, and their scores. So, what feet, then eight in a row from 4 should you do after and in beRoller emphasizes the use of alignment sticks for practice. feet, then four in a row from 5 feet. tween lessons? PR ACTICE! Also, play nine holes (30 feet each) The dilemma is, many students, on the green and try for an 18, two young and old, do not know how putts per hole. Make goals and to properly practice what their keep your results each time. teacher imparts to them. • Hit wedges and know your Coach John Wooden said, distances to 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 “Nothing will work unless you yards. Lay buckets out for targets do.” I love inspirational coaches or use markers on the range. Hit and teachers. I grew up taking lesfive balls to each target and then sons infrequently and my parents repeat several times. had to drag me off of the course • If time, finish your practice at dark each night in Dallas. I was with putting again. My coach in practicing what my teacher said to college, Dale McNamara, made do and I only saw him every othus make 50 3-foot putts in sucer month or so. Once you find a cession before we could go back good LPGA or PGA instructor and to the dorm. Do the same with start the lessons, you should have 10 5-footers in a row as your last received drills, rehearsals, and modrill. tion work from them to do before Remember, find a good instructhe next lesson. Repetition is the key to puttting drills. tor and take lessons, but instrucThe lesson as it now stands is perfectly suited to short term learning. a week for practice. Not everyone is out to tion won’t magically improve your game, One 30-minute or an hour lesson can pro- play the tour, or play professionally at all, it is the practice in between lessons that vide a fix for some immediate problem but if a golfer is taking lessons they are se- will! Nothing will work unless you do. such as slicing, hooking or shanking the rious about improving and a solid practice And above all, have fun shooting lower scores! golf ball, but the corrections never last schedule is a must • Quality is always better than quanfor very long without practice. Golfers, Maggie Roller is the director of instruction at like anyone else, find the most familiar tity. Instead of hitting two jumbo baskets ways to do things, not new ways. If you the old way, take a medium bucket and Cedar Ridge Country Club in Broken Arrow. 58
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GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
Ignore that bad advice from helpful partners by jim young
Everyone who plays golf with a group on a regular basis has received solicited or unsolicited advice on technique from a friend, spouse or just someone they are paired with randomly. Most of the time the advisor has the best interest of the player at heart. The information may be helpful occasionally. More often than not, however, it’s a chunk of information that the advisor has found useful for himself or one of many misleading golf tip clichés that seem to make their way from generation to generation. Both of these sets 1 of advice can prove very harmful. Let’s talk about why. “Here’s what I do…” So you’ve hit the first few tee shots off to the right. Your buddy leans over to you on the No. 6 tee box and says: “Here’s what I do: I roll my hands over as a swing into the ball and that gets it going straight again.” Now it probably doesn’t help that No. 6 is a par-5 with OB right and ponds left. Desperate to fix the problem so you can at least get the ball in play, you heed your buddy’s counsel, trying to roll your hands hard through the ball. And it works. It works too well as a matter of fact. You proceed to hit a pull due left into the ponds on the left. Not wanting your friend to feel bad, you spend the rest of the day experimenting between one extreme and the other, nary a fairway to be found. Sound familiar? What your friend didn’t know to tell you is that he took a lesson two weeks ago and the professional told him to feel more rotation in his forearms to aid in squaring the clubface. Because his body doesn’t pivot aggressively back and through, rotating his forearms with his relatively neutral grip on the club was just the ticket. You, however, tend to start your downswing by throwing your trail arm and shoulder out and over the target line. When you rotated your hands and arms hard, it squared the clubface to the path of your swing, which as a slicer goes left of the target line, hence the pull. The moral to the story is that every golfer is unique. Your body, patterns of moveGOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
ment, injuries, athleticism, age, strength, etc., are all your own. What works for one player does not necessarily work for another player. That is where experienced teaching professionals come in. They can diagnose what is needed and work with you to find the solution that works best for you. “You looked up…keep your head down.” Keeping your head “down” throughout your swing makes it difficult to swing your arms and the club back and up, makes it difficult for your body to turn back and next to impossible for your body, arms and golf club to work in the right order on the way down and through the ball. 2 Keeping your head glued down can produce a restricted backswing with minimal turn of the body and awkward lifting of the arms. Photo 1 shows this, the body is barely moving and is actually beginning to lean 4 away from the tar- 3 get. In Photo 2, you can clearly see that the body is tilting away from the target and the head of the club is heading up quickly. You can see how this backward lean of the body could cause you to hit behind the ball and/or catch the top of the ball through impact. Notice the head is still “down.” At the finish, you can see things are off balance and you can almost feel the effort expended by the arms and hands. Eighteen holes of this would be exhausting. The second set of images paints a very different picture. Photo 3 is at the top of the backswing. Note the position of the head relative to the golf bag placed on the hill behind me as I swing. My head is basically centered on the bag. As the swing progresses, pressure shifts from my back foot to my front foot, giving the impression of a lateral shift toward the target. My head is already beginning to move in relation to the golf bag behind me. In Photo 4, the club is dropping into delivery position. By this time, you should notice that while my head is still in line
with the golf bag, it has moved upward, obstructing more of the bag than in the previous frame. This is because I am pushing up out of the ground with my left leg in particular, causing my leg to straighten, my left side to stretch up and my arms, shoulders, neck and head to go up with it. If this is happening, why don’t I top the ball? The answer is in Photo 5. The pressure has moved to my front foot, the handle of the club has worked in and up as my body unwinds, allowing the club head to fling down and out to the ball. As I move into my follow through (Photo 6) and finish, you can see all of the golf bag behind me as my head is now over my left leg and my torso is facing the target. Prove it to yourself. Take some slow practice swings with just your trail hand on the golf club (right hand for a righthanded player). Grip down to the end of the grip on something like a 7 iron. Swing the club back and up, keeping your face toward the ball but allowing your back to turn to the target. If this is difficult with your front foot on the ground, allow your front heel to rise. You’ll be almost forced to
5
6
plant your front foot to begin your downswing. You’ll feel the club head unload down toward the ball as you shift and turn through. I guarantee you if you try to keep your head “down”, this will not work. Allow your head to come up and look to the target as you swing through to the finish. Rinse and repeat and you’ll get a great feel for how your head should move with your body, not hold it back. Bottom line, next time you hear “left arm straight,” “keep your head down,” etc., allow them to go in one ear and out the other. Seek the advice of a qualified PGA Teaching Professional and let your playing partners battle their own demons. If I can help, let me know. Jim Young / PGA Teaching Professional River Oaks Golf Club, Edmond, OK 405-630-8183 jpygolf12@gmail.com YouTube: Jim Young Golf Facebook: Jim Young Golf Twitter: @jpygolf W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG
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GOL F FI TN E SS
Don't make these mistakes this golf season
Sean Riley SwingFit
Ryan Smith SwingFit
Spring is here and if you’re like us, you can’t wait to enjoy warm weather, growing greens, and good fun with friends on the course. Maybe you had a banner 2016 and hope to pick up where you left off. Or perhaps you are looking for a fresh start this year. Either way, it is important to make good decisions when getting back into the game after the off-season. Avoid these three mistakes and you will likely avoid injury, improve your score, and enjoy the game this year.
Golf Course Construction
Projects Golf Recent Course Construction Recent Projects Golf Golf Course Course Construction Construction Cedar Ridge Country Club Pinnacle Country Club
Broken Arrow • Misc. repairs, renovations Recent Projects Rogers, ARcourse • Bunker shaping • Full Course in front ofGolf bunker renovations TheRecent Woods Club Projects Forest Ridge Golf Club Recent Projects Projects Coweta •Recent 5-hole new construction The Patriot Golf Club • Owasso, OK • Cart Path Improvements CedarBroken Ridge Country Club ••Broken OK • Cart Path Improvements Arrow #4 &Arrow, #10 Improvements The Blessings Golf Club
Cedar Ridge Country Club • Broken Arrow, OK • Cart Path Improvements
Cedar Cedar Ridge Ridge Country Country • Broken • Broken Arrow, Arrow, OK OK• and Cart • Cart Path PathImprovements Improvements Silverhorn Golf Club • Edmond, OKClub •Club Creek Crossing Repairs Gabion Wall The Patriot Golf Club • Owasso, OK • Cart Path Improvements The The Patriot Patriot Golf GolfClub Club • Owasso, •OK Owasso, OK OK• Irrigation Cart • CartPath Path Improvements Improvements Cedar Creek Golf Course • Broken Bow, • 18 Hole Installation Silverhorn Golf Club • Edmond, OK • Creek Crossing Repairs and Gabion Wall Silverhorn GolfClub Club • Edmond, • Edmond, OK OK • Creek • Creek Crossing Crossing Repairs Repairs and andGabion GabionWall Wall Forest RidgeSilverhorn Golf Club •Golf Broken Arrow, OK • 18 Hole Bunker and Green Renovation Cedar Creek Golf Course • Broken Bow, OK • 18 Hole Irrigation Installation CedarCreek Creek GolfCourse • Broken • Broken Bow, Bow,OK OK• 18 • of 18Hole Irrigation IrrigationInstallation Installation BaileyCedar Ranch Golf Golf Club • Course Owasso, OK • Resurfacing 3Hole Greens Forest Ridge Golf Club • Broken Arrow, OK • 18 Hole Bunker and Green Renovation Forest Ridge Ridge GolfClub Club • Broken • Broken Arrow, Arrow, OK• 18 • Path 18Hole Hole Bunker Bunkerand andGreen GreenRenovation Renovation TheForest Golf Club at Golf Frisco Lakes • Frisco, TX OK • Cart Improvements Bailey Ranch Golf Club • Owasso, OK • Resurfacing of 3 Greens Bailey Bailey Ranch Ranch Golf Golf Club Club• Owasso, •TX Owasso, OK• Resurfacing •Improvements Resurfacingofof3 3Greens Greens Eastern Hills Country Club • Garland, • CartOK Path The Golf Club at Frisco Lakes • Frisco, TX • Cart Path Improvements The TheGolf GolfClub ClubatatFrisco FriscoLakes Lakes• Frisco, • Frisco,TX TX• Cart • CartPath PathImprovements Improvements Eastern Hills Country Club • Garland, TX • Cart Path Improvements Eastern EasternHills HillsCountry CountryClub Club• Garland, • Garland,TX TX• Cart • CartPath PathImprovements Improvements
BellaAR Vista Village Fayetteville, • Driving Range Tee Bella Vista, AR • Green surrounds Wichita Country Clubshaping
Creek GolfGreen ClubSurrounds Wichita, KSEagle • Grading/sodding Joplin, MO • Tee renovations, Drive Range Southern Hills Country Clubirrigation Country Tulsa •Pinnacle Wet well/Intake FlumeClub Installation Rogers, AR • Bunker shaping Cedar Ridge Country Club The Woods GolfImprovements Club Broken Arrow • Creek Bank Coweta construction • #17• 5-hole Fairwaynew Renovation The Blessings Golf Club Gaillardia Golf & Country Club
Us Range Tee Fayetteville, •Contact Driving Oklahoma CityAR • Bunker Improvements JONESPLAN Golf Club of Oklahoma Firelake Golf Course Us 2328 E. 13th Contact Street
Contact Contact Us Us Broken Arrow, OK • Cart Misc. course repairs/renovations Tulsa, OK Improvements 74104 Shawnee Path JONESPLAN t 918.832.5544 JONESPLAN JONESPLAN 2328 E. 13th Street • Irrigation Improvements Southern Hills Country Club Builder Member info@jonesplan.com 2328 2328E.OK E.13th 13th Street Street Tulsa, 74104 Tulsa • Wet Flume Installation, Thewell/Intake Patriot Golf Club Tulsa, OK OK 74104 74104 t Tulsa, 918.832.5544 t 918.832.5544 t 918.832.5544 Builder Member info@jonesplan.com Cart•Member Path Improvements Owasso Cart Path Improvements Builder BuilderMember info@jonesplan.com info@jonesplan.com
TulsaGolf Country Club Club Gaillardia & Country
Oklahoma Tulsa City • •Bunker Improvements Cart Paths
Southern Hills Country Firelake Golf CourseClub
Tulsa • Cart Path Improvements Shawnee • Cart Path Improvements Battle Creek Golf Club • Irrigation Improvements BrokenThe ArrowPatriot • Cart Path GolfImprovements Club • Bunker Renovation Owasso • Cart Path Improvements
Hardscrabble Country Club
Fort Smith, AR • Tee Improvements
Karsten Creek Creek Golf Karsten Golf Club Club
Stillwater •• Practice Practice Green Stillwater Green Construction Construction
Builder Member
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Contact Contact Us Us 2328 P.O. Box E. 13th 4845St.••Tulsa, Tulsa,OK OK74159 74104 t 918.832.5544; 918.832.7721 fax
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Ignore Using a Golf Instructor This is one is obvious, but so many of us go to the range or course first to see what the state of our game is. We start tinkering, trying something we learned on TV, or change equipment. In golf, as in business and life, it is always better to have a plan. Spend the money and have a session with your golf instructor. Discuss what your goals are for the coming year, review changes made to your swing last year, and let your pro take a look at you and your game. Your teacher will help you decide what steps you need to take for the upcoming year to improve your game. Often what you think you need, like a new driver, is often something completely different, like short game lessons. And by all means, if you don’t have a golf instructor, get one. It is the best money you will ever spend to improve your game. Hit Balls for Hours on the Range Your brain says you are 18. Your body says otherwise. The most common mistake we see (particularly with men) is an aggressive return to golf. That can include hitting 100 or more balls multiple days per week, lots of time bent over the putter on the practice green, playing multiple rounds and often walking since the weather is cooler. Let’s be real. You aren’t a teenager anymore. Your body likely doesn’t respond to activity like it used to. Winter months of working, sitting, and relaxing lead to a body that needs some time to get acclimated to the golf swing. Ease your way back into the game. Limit your practice sessions to no more than 45 minutes three days per week for the first several weeks. See how your body responds. Does your back get tight? Are your muscles sore? Do you feel tired after practicing? If so, don’t increase your golf schedule until your body gets into golf shape. Once you get back on the course, take it easy the first several rounds. Avoid a pressure-playing group, take an extra club, and ride if you have not been exercising. Skip the Warm-up We find most golfers do not take the time to prepare their body for golf. We step up onto the practice range, putting green or first tee and start swinging. Sooner or later this is going to catch up with you in the form of injury. Golf is a sport that requires significant body control and coordination. It also puts a large amount of stress on your spine, shoulders, hips and knees. As a result, it is important that you prepare by warming up your body.
During the season, we teach players to spend at least five full minutes taking their body through several specific movements to prepare their neuromuscular system for the sport of golf. However, at the beginning of each season, we recommend players double their warm-up time to at least 10 minutes for the first month of the season. Your warm-up should be dynamic, total body, golf specific, and golf range appropriate. At a minimum we recommend a player perform the following: 1. Leg Swings - Linear and Sideways Stand on your right leg and place your driver in your left hand. Use the driver as a balance aid. From this position, engage your core and swing your left leg from the front to back 10 times. Then swing your left leg side to side keeping your toes pointed to the sky 10 times. Switch your driver into your right hand and perform the same with your right leg. 2. Separation Swings Hold your driver out in front of you, parallel to the ground. Keep a light grip pressure. Stabilize your hips and turn your upper body side to side. You should feel a stretch through your abdomen while keeping your lower body still. Perform 10 times each direction. 3. Load and Fire This drill builds on Separation Swings and gets your body ready to fire through the ball. Turn to the right away from the ball by keeping your lower body stable and then fire your whole body through and finish on your left side. Make sure and perform 10 times both directions. This helps symmetry in your body. SwingFit specializes in golf specific fitness, performance, and training services for golfers of all ages. Founded by Titleist Performance Institute Certified Medical Professionals, Dr. Ryan Smith, DPT and Dr. Sean Riley, DC, SwingFit gives players access to the same proprietary testing and training systems used the by the best players in the world. The SwingFit system identifies the least amount of physical changes required in your body to produce the greatest results in your golf swing. The result is better practice with your swing coach and more enjoyment on the course. To schedule your SwingFit Golf Assessment and receive a comprehensive physical training program designed to unlock your full potential, contact SwingFit at (918) 743-3737 or visit us on the web at www.swingfittulsa.com. GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
SCH E DU L E S & R E SU LTS : More at w w w.gol fok la homa.org COLLEGE MEN BRONCHO INVITATIONAL AT GAILLARDIA CC, OKLA. CITY (PAR-72) MARCH 20-21 Team scores: 1, Central Missouri 299-294-282 – 875; 2, Henderson State 305-299-292 – 896; 3, Central Oklahoma 309-297-297 – 903; 4, Texas A&M International 307-301-298 – 9096; 5, Southwestern State 316-300-297 – 913; 6, Southern Nazarene 301-310-307 – 918; 7, Missouri Southern 307-315-298 – 920; 8, Arkansas-Fort Smith 310-314-298 – 922; 9, Washburn 309-305-309 – 923; 10, Missouri Western 320304-300 – 924; 11, Arkansas-Monticello 309313-310 – 932; 12 (tie), Okla. Christian 317-316301 – 934, SW Baptist 315-312-307 – 934 and Winona State 317-316-301 – 934; 15, Southern Arkansas 321-304-312 – 937; 16, Newman 332312-303 – 947; 17, Lincoln 320-325-304 – 949. Individual leaders: 1, Brandon Jelley (Oklahoma St.-ind.) 73-71-66 – 210; 2, Cole Dillon (CM) 77-71-68 – 216; 3 (tie), Nick Heinen (OSU-ind.) 70-74-74 – 218, Cody Troutman (UCO) 77-69-72 – 218 and Travis Simmons (CM) 70-75-73 – 218; 6 (tie), Sam Stevens (OSU-ind.) 73-75-71 – 219 and Tyson Reeder (OSU-ind.) 74-63-72 – 219; 8, Alex Springer (CM) 76-75-69 – 220; 9, Price Murphree (HS) 7674-71 – 221; 10 (tie), Stratton Nolen (OSU-ind.) 74-71-77 – 222 and Drew Greenwood (HS) 75-76-71 – 222; 12, Lee Maddox (Newman)( 77-76-70 – 223. Other scores: Alexander Hughes (UCO) 76-7872 – 226, Eli Armstrong (UCO) 77-74-75 – 226, Stefan Idstam (SWOSU) 80-74-72 – 226, Wesley Jackson (UCO) 76-75-75 – 226, Marques Gomez (SWOUS) 78-78-71 – 227, Ryan Trousdale (Okla. Chr.) 78-73-76 – 227, Rhett Bechtel (SN) 74-77-77 – 228. WOMEN HILLCAT CLASSIC AT BAILEY RANCH GC, OWASSO (PAR-72) MARCH 20-21 Team scores: 1, St. Edward’s 291-298-305 – 894; 2, Okla. City 304-303-302 – 909; 3, Okla. Christian 302-309-313 – 924; 4, Rogers State 312-311-302 – 925; 5, Newman 315-313-306 – 934; 6, Texas A&M-Commerce 316-316-314 – 946; 7, Redlands 336-322-328 – 986; 8, Texas A&M-Kingsville 326-338-339 – 1,003; 9, Texas A&M International 345-336-334 – 1,015; 10, Northwestern State 356-354-354 – 1,064; 11, Texas-Permian Basin 378-364-364 – 1,106. Individual leaders: 1, Ana Sofia Benavides (St. Edward’s) 71-73-76 – 220; 2, Jessica Tamen (St. Edward’s) 72-74-75 – 221; 3, Mica Eastin (RSU) 76-73-74 – 223; 4, Savannah Moody (OCU) 7374-77 – 224; 5 (tie), Anna Mikish (Okla. City) 7974-73 – 226 and Johany Rivera (St. Edward’s) 74-79-73 – 226; 7, Ximena Name (Newman) 77-77-74 – 228; 8 (tie), Caroline Goodin (Okla. City) 77-76-76 – 229, Ashton Nemechek (Okla. Chr.) 77-74-78 – 229 and Isabel Morales (St. Edward’s) 74-73-82 – 229; 11, Christina Boone (RSU) 79-78-74 – 231; 12, Abigail Rigsby (Okla. Chr.) 80-76-76 – 232; 13, Melissa Eldredge (Okla. City) 78-79-76 – 233; 14 (tie), Kate Goodwin (Okla. Chr.) 72-83-79 – 234, Mariana Flores (RSU) 78-78-78 – 234 and Raegan Barnes (Okla. City) 76-81-77 – 234. Other scores: Kailey Campbell (Okla. City) 7779-79 – 235, Regan McQuaid (Okla, City) 79-7878 – 235, Natalie Mattison (Oral Roberts-ind.) 80-78-78 – 236; Stirling Phillips (RSU) 79-82-76 – 237; Beatriz Garcia (ORU-ind.) 82-75-81 – 238. DIFFEE FORD LINCOLN INVITATIONAL AT KICKINGBIRD GC, EDMOND (PAR-70) MARCH 6-7 Team scores: 1, Central Oklahoma 314-291 – 605; 2, Southwestern State 308-300 – 608; 3, Henderson State 325-286 – 611; 4, Okla. Christian 316-297 – 613; 5, Arkansas Tech 316-301 – 617; 6, Northeastern State 326-295 – 621; 7, Redlands 320-313 – 633; 8, Arkansas-Monticello 326-311 – 637; 9, Southern Nazarene 328-321 – 649; 10, Okla. Baptist 330-322 – 652; 11, Southern Arkansas 345-314 – 659; 12, Northwestern State 348-335 – 683; 13, Southwest Baptist 374-346 – 720.
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Individual leaders: 1, Sydney Roberts (UCO) 76-68 – 144; 2, Gloria Choi (SWOUS) 69-76 – 145; 3 (tie)_Elin Wahlin (SWOSU) 74-72 – 146 and Anna Frandsen (Ark. Tech) 73-73 – 146; 5 (tie), Magda Kruger (Redlands) 74-75 – 149 and Sarah Wright (HS) 80-69 – 149; 7 (tie), Lauren Johnson (Ark.-Mont.) 77-74 – 151 and Makena Mucciaccio (UCO) 79-72 – 151; 9, Abigail Rigsby (Okla. Chr.) 77-75 – 152; 10 (tie), Ashton Nemecek (Okla. Chr.) 77-76 – 153, Ebba Moberg (NSU) 80-73 – 153 and Hanna Brauberger (HS) 82-71 – 153; 13 (tie), Baylee Price (NSU) 83-71 – 154 and Marla Souvannasing (UCO) 79-75 – 154. OKLA. JUNIOR GOLF TOUR MUSKOGEE SPRING BREAK CLASSIC AT MUSKOGEE GC (PAR-71) MARCH 14-15 BOYS 1, Carlos Gomez 71-77 – 148; 2 (tie), James Roller 76-74 – 150 and Jared Strathe 74-76 – 150; 4 (tie), Carson Griggs 82-72 – 154, Logan Brooks 74-80 – 154 and Matthew Braley 75-79 – 154; 7, Grant Sikes 78-77 – 155; 8, Isaac Bullen 78-78 – 156; 9, Max Roberts 79-78 – 157; 10, Andrew Skinner 84-78 – 162; 11 (tie), Jordan Wilson 8182 – 163 and Hayden Hall 80-83 – 163. GIRLS 1, Madison Smith 72-78 – 150; 2, Natalie Gough 77-75 – 152; 3, Faith Hopkins 79-78 – 257; 4, Alesia Gonzales 79-79 – 158; 5, Jenni Roller 7887 – 165; 6, Alyssa Wilson 83-83 – 166; 7, Nina Lee 84-83 – 167; 8, Emilie Jackson 88-80 – 168; 9, Shelby Phillips 86-84 – 170; 10, Maddi Kamas 91-80 – 171; 11, Lilly Whitley 91-84 – 175; 12, Summer Mashall 90-86 – 176. FOREST RIDGE SPRING CHAMPIONSHIP AT FOREST RIDGE GC, BROKEN ARROW (PAR-71) MARCH 4-5 BOYS 1, Fisher Vollendorf 77-74 – 151; 2, Andrew Goodman 77-77 – 154; 3, Matthew Braley 76-78 – 154; 4, Shad Wehrli Jr. 77-77 – 154; 5, Carson Griggs 78-79 – 157; 6, Logan Brooks 77-80 – 157; 7, Harrison Gearhart 79-80 – 159; 8, Trevor Brunson 84-76 – 160; 9, Grant Hynes 81-81 – 162; 10 (tie), Carlos Gomez 84-79 –163 and Jackson Cole 87-76 – 163. GIRLS 1, Taylor Towers 82-77 –159; 2, Adeline Norton 83-78 – 161; 3, Isabella Caamal 85-78 – 163; 4, Natalie Gough 83-85 – 168; 5, Catalina Ramos 90-79 – 169; 6, Abby Glynn 88-83 – 171; 7, Casey Ott 87-85 – 172; 8, Bailey Dunstan 94-79 – 173; 9, Madison Smith 93-80 – 173; Sydney Staton 85-88 – 173. LINCOLN PARK EAST SPRING CHALLENGE AT LINCOLN PARK GC (EAST), OKLA. CITY (PAR-70) FEB. 25-26 BOYS 1, Jared Strathe 74-66 – 140 (won playoff); 2, Jaxon Dowell 72-68 – 140; 3, Connor Wilson 76-67 – 143; 4, Cooper Wilguess 71-74 – 145; 5, Shayne Patel 71-74 – 145; 6, Blake Blaser 75-71 – 146; 7, Said Powers 73-74 – 147; 8, Trent Lutze 76-72 – 148; 9, Andrew Goodman 74-75 – 149; 10 (tie), Brock Polhill 72-77 – 149 and Tyler Thomason 77-72 – 149; 12, Carson Tewell 78-72 – 150. GIRLS 1, Yujeong Son 70-67—137 ; 2, Isabella Caamal 74-68 – 142; 3, Faith Belmear 71-76 – 147; 4 (tie), ShaeeBug Scarberry 79-77 – 156 and Taylor Towers 77-79 – 156; 6 (tie), Katie Finley 77-80 – 157 and Maddi Kamas 78-79 – 157; 8 (tie), Raychel Nelke 77-82 – 159 and Sydney Hermann 81-78 – 159; 10, Adeline Norton 81-79 – 160; 11, Alyssa Wilson 80-781—161; 12, Lilly Whitley 8181 – 162. FAIRWAY TOUR LINCOLN WEST AT LINCOLN PARK (WEST), OKLA. CITY MARCH 19 Net: 1, J. Doucettperry 70; 2, Corey Hale 71.7; 3, Dakota Green 73.8; 4, Jeremy Copeland 74.3; 5, Randy Sims 74.8.
Scratch: 1, Corey Hale 70; 2, Cameron Meyers 70. Senior Net 1, Randy Sims 74.8; 2, Burt Rieck 76.3. ROSE CREEK AT ROSE CREEK GC, EDMOND FEB. 18 Net: 1, Jackson Ogle 65; 2, William Belknap 74.7; 3, Bryan DonCarlos 74.8; 4, Cameron Meyers 75.6; 5, Ernie Harmon 76. Scratch: 1, Cameron Meyers 74; 2, Corey Hale 75; 3, Dustin Nelson 77. Senior Net: 1, William Belknap 74.7; 2, Ernie Harmon 76. GOLF CHANNEL TOUR FALCONHEAD SPRING KICKOFF AT FALCONHEAD RESORT & CC (PAR-72) MARCH 4 1, Goose Clark 76; 2, Michael Hodges 77; 3, Jared Taft 82; 4, Preston Standley 85; 5, Tanner Hodgkinson 87. SCHEDULES OKLAHOMA GOLF ASSOCIATION (WEBSITE: OKGOLF.ORG) May 15-16: Spring and Senior Four-Ball Championship, Twin Hills G & CC, OKC June 5-8: Junior Boys and Girls Championship, Kickingbird GC, Edmond June 19-22: Senior State Amateur, Oak Tree CC (East), Edmond June 26-28: Stroke Play Championship, Muskogee CC, Muskogee July 10-11: Senior Stroke Play Championship, Shawnee CC, Shawnee July 5: State Amateur qualifying, Lincoln Park GC (West), OKC July 7: State Amateur qualifying, Bailey Ranch GC, Owasso July 17-19: State Amateur Championship, Southern Hills CC, Tulsa July 31-Aug. 1: Mid Amateur Championship, Cedar Ridge CC, Broken Arr ow Aug. 17: Oklahoma Open amateur qualifying, Oak Tree CC (West), Edmond Aug. 24-26: Oklahoma Open, Oak Tree CC (East), Edmond WOMEN’S OKLAHOMA GOLF ASSOCIATION (WEBSITE: WOGA.US) May 16-17: WOGA Stableford Partnership, Lincoln Park GC, OKC June 19-20: WOGA Stroke Play/Mid Am /Senior Championship, Muskogee CC, Muskogee June 27: 5th WOGA Fundraiser benefitting WOGA Junior Programs, Oak Tree CC, Edmond June 28-29: 667h WOGA Girls Junior State Championship, Oak Tree CC, Edmond July 17-20: 99th Women’s Okla. State Amateur Championship, Oak Tree National, Edmond July 31-Aug. 2: Fore-State Championship, Twin Hills CC, Joplin, Missouri Aug. 14-15: WOGA Partnership, Shangri-la GC, Grand Lake Sept. 18-19: WOGA Cup, The Territory G&CC, Duncan Sept. 26-28: USGA WOGA Senior State Team Championship, The Club at Las Campanas, Santa Fe, New Mexico USGA LOCAL QUALIFIERS (WEBSITE: USGA.ORG) May 9: U.S. Open, Jimmie Austin OU GC, Norman June 22: U.S. Boys and Girls Amateur, Dornick Hills CC, Ardmore July 10: U.S. Amateur, Karsten Creek GC, Stillwater July 27: U.S. Senior Amateur, Quail Creek CC, OKC Aug. 23: U.S. Men’s and Women’s Mid-Amateur, Shangri-La GC, Monkey Island Sept. 14: U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball, Muskogee GC, Muskogee OKLAHOMA SENIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION (WEBSITE: OKSGA.COM) May 22-23: West Medal Play, Hidden Trails GC,
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SCH E DU L E S & R E SU LTS : More at w w w.gol fok la homa.org Oklahoma City July 17-18: Four-Ball, Oakwood CC, Enid Sept. 18-19: East Medal Play, Bailey Ranch GC, Owasso Oct. TBA: Fall Outing, TBA OKLAHOMA JUNIOR GOLF TOUR (WEBSITE: OKGOLF.ORG/JRGOLF) July 13-14: Kickoff Classic and Big I qualifier, Lincoln Park GC, OKC July 29-30: Battle for Broken Arrow, The Cub at Indian Springs, Broken Arrow Aug. 19-20: Forest Ridge Fall Challenge, Forest Ridge GC, Broken Arrow Aug. 26-27: Jo’s Famous Pizza Kickingbird Fall Classic, Kickingbird GC, Edmond Sept. 3-4: John Conrad Labor Day Classic, John Conrad GC, Midwest City Sept. 9-10: Muskogee Fall Classic, Muskogee CC, Muskogee Sept. 16-17: Lake Hefner Shootout, Lake Hefner GC, OKC Sept. 23-24: Bailey Ranch Bash, Bailey Ranch GC, Owasso Sept. 30-Oct. 1: Lincoln Park Best of the West Classic, Lincoln Park GC, OKC Oct. 7-8: Heritage Hills Falls Roundup, Heritage Hills CC, Claremore Oct 14-15: Tour Championship, Shawnee CC, Shawnee Oct. 28-29: OJGT/TJGT Red River Team Challenge, Dornick Hills G&CC, Ardmore GOLF INC (OKLAHOMA CITY) (WEBSITE: GOLFINOKC.COM) April 1-2: Big Six, Earlywine Park GC April 22-23, 29-30: Spring Four-Ball, Lake Hefner GC and Lincoln Park GC May 20-21: Two-Man Scramble, Trosper Park GC June 9-11: City Amateur, Lake Hefner GC, Lincoln Park GC and Earlywine Park GC July 7: OKC Pro-Am, Lincoln Park GC Aug. 26-27: OKC Parent-Child, James E. Stewart GC Sept. 9: OKC Interclub, Lake Hefner GC TULSA GOLF ASSOCIATION (WEBSITE: TULSAGOLFASSOCIATION.COM) April 22-23: Two-Man Challenge, South Lakes GC April 27: 3-Man Team Best Ball Shamble Net, Tulsa CC May 9-10: Spring Senior Stroke Play, LaFortune Park GC May 16: 3-Man Team Best Ball Shamble Net Individual Stroke Play, Oaks CC May 19-21 Four-Ball Match Play and Seniors, LaFortune Park GC June 15: 3-Man Team Best Ball Shamble Net, Forest Ridge GC June 24-25: Stroke Play and Seniors, LaFortune Park GC July 11: 3-Man Team Best Ball Shamble Net and Individual Stroke Play, Battle Creek GC Aug. 12-13: Two-Man Challenge II (Scramble and Shamble Best Ball), Mohawk Park GC Sept. 12: Par-3 Member/Guest or Member/Member (Scramble and Best-Ball), LaFortune Park Par-3 GC Oct. 3-4: Fall Senior Stroke Play, South Lakes GC SOUTH CENTRAL PGA EVENTS (WEBSITE: SOUTHCENTRAL.PGA.COM) April 18: Assistant Match Play, Hardscrabble CC, Fort Smith, Arkansas April 24 Yamaha Team/Senior Team, ShangriLa GC, Monkey Island May 1: NCR Facility Cup, Oaks CC, Tulsa May 8: Omega Stroke Play Series No. 1, Crestview CC (North), Wichita May 22-23: Senior Match Play, LaFortune Park GC, Tulsa June 5: Senior-Junior Championship, The Territory GC, Duncan June 6: Assistants Championship, Belmar GC, Norman June 12: Web.com Monday qualifier, Willowbend GC, Wichita June 19-20: Shangri-La Shoot Out, Shangri-La
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GC, Monkey Island June 26: Justice Golf Car Stroke Play Series No. 2, Te Territory GC, Duncan July 10-12: Match Play, Hot Springs CC (Arlington), Hot Springs, Arkansas July 17: National Car Rental Pro-Scratch, GC oF Edmond, Edmond July 31-Aug. 1: Senior Section/PC Championship, Stillwater Aug. 7: National Car Rental Assistants Championship, Club at Indian Springs, Broken Arrow Aug. 14-15: Pro Championship, OKC G&CC, Nichols Hills Aug. 21: Justice Stroke Play Series No. 3, The Patriot GC, Owasso Sept. 5: Pro-Assistant, Oak Tree CC (East), Edmond Sept. 18-19: Section Championship, Forest Ridge GC, Broken Arrow Sept. 25: Omega Senior Stroke Play Series No. 4, Diamante GC&CC, Hot Springs Village, Arkansas Sept. 25-26: Senior Hall of Fame, Diamante GC&CC, Hot Springs Village, Arkansas Oct. 9: Bob Philbriock Cup Matches, Firekeeper GC, Mayetta, Kansas Oct. 25: Justice Players Championship, Karsten Creek GC, Stillwater SOUTH CENTRAL PGA JUNIOR TOUR (WEBSITE: SCSPGAJRGOLF.COM) May 31: LaFortune Park Parent Child, Tulsa June 1: Canyons at Blackjack Ridge Junior, Sand Springs June 2: James E. Stewart Jr., OKC June 5: Winter Creek Junior, Blanchard June 6: Pryor Junior June 7: Bailey Ranch Junior, Owasso June 8: Lakeside Junior, Stillwater June 12: Broken Arrow Junior, Broken Arrow G&AC June 13: Westwood Junior, Norman June 14: Meadowlake Junior, Enid June 15: Heart of Oklahoma Junior, Purcell June 19: Ponca City Junior, Ponca City CC June 20: Lew Wentz Junior, Ponca City June 21: Bill Nicklas Junior, Kickingbird GC, Edmond June 22, Trosper Park Junior, OKC June 23: Riverside GC Junior, Clinton June 26: Edmond Junior Championship, GC of Edmond June 26-27: Junior PGA Qualifier, GC of Indian Springs, Broken Arrow June 27: LaFortune Park Junior, Tulsa June 28: George Phillips Junior: South Lakes GC, Jenks June 29: John Conrad Junior, Midwest City July 5: LW Clapp Junior, Wichita July 6: Lincoln Park Junior, OKC July 7: Auburn Hills Junior, Wichita July 10: Reflection Ridge Junior, Wichita July 10: The Trails CC Junior, Norman July 11: Hoedebeck Junior, Duncan July 12: Adams Junior, Bartlesville July 13: Lake Hefner Junior, OKC July 17: Hidden Trails Junior, OKC July 18: Owasso G&AC Junior, Owasso July 19: Lake Murray Junior, Ardmore July 20: Elk City Junior July 21: Fianna Hills Junior, Fort Smith, Ark. July 24: Battle Creek Junior, Broken Arrow July 25: Surrey Hills Junior, Yukon July 26: Shelby Ross Junior, Lakeview GC, Ardmore July 31-Aug. 1: Walter Hopper Championship, Muskogee GC SOUTH CENTRAL SECTION PLAYERS TOUR June 13-14: Players Tour #1, Willowbend CC, Wichita June 19-20: Players Tour #2, Stillwater CC June 26-27: Junior PGA Qualifier, GC at Indian Springs, Broken Arrow July 10-11, Players Tour #3, Maumelle (Ark.) CC July 17-18: Players Tour #4, Forest Ridge GC, Broken Arrow July 24-25: Players Tour #5, River Oaks GC, Edmond Aug. 5-6: The Oakley Cup, Shangri-La Resort, Monkey Island COLLEGE EVENTS IN OKLAHOMA April 3-4: Hillcat Classic (women), Hillcrest CC, Bartlesville April 3-4: St. Gregory’s Cavalier Classic (men and women), Shawnee CC April 10-11: Dale McNamara Invitational, Tulsa CC, Tulsa April 10-11: Oklahoma City Spring Classic (women), Lincoln Park GC, OKC
April 14-15: The Maxwell (men), Dornick Hills CC, Ardmore April 24-25: Sooner Athletic Conference Men’s and Women’s Championship, Gaillardia CC, OKC GOLF AM TOUR (WEBSITE: GCAMTOUR.COM) April 22: Chickasaw Pointe Texhoma Challenge, Chickasaw Pointe GC, Kingston May 6: Edmond Spring Classic, GC of Edmond, Edmond May 20: Cherokee Hills Catoosa Open, Cherokee Hills GC, Catoosa May 23: Sooner Challenge, Jimmie Austin GC, Norman June 4: Rose Creek Summer Classic, Rose Creek GC, Edmond June 10: Buffalo Rock Showdown, Buffalo Rock G&GC, Cushing June 17: Tulsa Open, Forest Ridge GC, Broken Arrow July 7: Maxwell Open, Dormick Hills G&CC, Ardmore July 8-9: Red River Shootout, WInStar GC (ES), Thackerville July 23: Oak Tree Open, Oak Tree CC (West), Edmond Aug. 1: Indian Springs Challenge, Club at Indian Springs, Broken Arrow Sept. 10-13: National Championship, Mission Hills CC (DS), Rancho Mirage, California Sept. 17-20: Senior National Championship, Mission Hills CC (DS), Rancho Mirage, California LONG SHOTS TOUR (WEBSITE: LONGSHOTSTOUR.COM) April 22-23: Players Major Championship, Shangri-La GC, Monkey Island May 6: Battle at the Ridge, Forest Ridge GC, Broken Arrow May 20: Edmond Shootout, Kickingbird GC, Edmond June 10-11: Match Championship, Lakeside GC, Stillwater June 24-25: Southern Major, The Territory CC, Duncan July 8: Battle in OKC, TBA, OKC July 29: Summer Championship, Dornick Hills CC, Ardmore Aug. 12-13: East Major Championship, Cherokee Hills GC, Tulsa Aug. 26: OKC Classic, Lincoln Park GC West, OKC Sept. 16-17: Tulsa Championship, Bailey Ranch GC, Tulsa Sept. 30-Oct. 1: Tour Championship, Cherokee Springs GC, Tahlequah Oct. 21-22: Bedlam Cup, GC of Edmond, Edmond U.S. KIDS TOUR (WEBSITE: USKIDSGOLF.COM) TULSA TOUR: April 23: White Hawk GC, Bixby April 30: Heritage Hills GC, Claremore May 7, LaFortune Park Tour Championship, Tulsa OKLAHOMA CITY TOUR APRIL 2, SILVERHORN GC April 23, Lincoln Park East April 30, Lake Hefner GC May 30: Westwood Park GC, Norman June 4: Earlywine GC June 11: Trosper Park GC June 19: Kickingbird GC, Edmond June 25: Lake Hefner GC, Tour Championship OKLAHOMA HIGH SCHOOLS (WEBSITE: OSSAA.COM) April 25: Girls Regionals May 1: Boys Regionals May 3-4: Girls State May 8-9: Boys State July 24: OCA All-State, Cherokee Hills GC, Catoosa LPGA (WEBSITE: LPGA.COM) June 23-25: Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, Pinnacle CC, Rogers, Ark.
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2017
Everything they say about us is true. Over the years many people have said many things about John Vance Auto Group. We’re proud of every one of them.
Exit 153 & I-35 Guthrie, OK 10 minutes north of Edmond (877) 475-6622 www.vanceautogroup.com
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