2014 Golf Oklahoma August | September

Official publication of the Oklahoma Golf Association www.golfoklahoma.org

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Contents AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 Vol. 4 Issue 4

w w w . go l f o k l a h o m a . o r g

Features

30

30 What’s next for Oak Tree National?

3 1 Welcome to America, Colin Montgomerie 34 Over the Top of the Rock in Branson 38 Upgrades at Golf Club at Surrey Hills 40 Jimmie Austin, big plans for future 44 Best view in state? Try Wolf Ridge 46 Unmatched practice facilities getting better at The Blessings, you can join!

48 Old Kinderhook adds hotel, conference center

50 Patience key to opening of Mystic Creek

Departments

28

48

10 12 1 3 1 3 14 16 20 22 28 34 52 53 54 55 58 60 6 1

Letter from the publisher OGA Rules, Gene Mortensen USGA News WOGA The Goods Equipment Chip Shots, Oklahoma news Competition Where we play: Top of the Rock Pro Profile: Dillon Rust Amateur Profile: Luke Phillips Fitness Instruction Industry Profile: Emilee Klein-Gille Superintendent’s Perspective Results

On the cover This infinity green is one of sixteen practice greens at the Arnold Palmer-designed practice facility at Top of the Rock

Support junior golf by contributing to the OGA Foundation Call 405-848-0042 for more information 6 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 7

8 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

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August / September 2014 letter from the publisher Volume 4, Number 4 Golf Oklahoma Offices Southern Hills Plaza 6218 S. Lewis Ave., Ste. 200 Tulsa, OK 74136 918-280-0787 Oklahoma City Office 405-640-9996 Publisher Ken MacLeod ken@golfoklahoma.org

The 18th hole at Stone Creek at Page Belcher.

Municipal dilemma, how much support?

For a city, deciding whether a golf course is an expected profit center or an amenity for citizens that needs to be subsidized like any other park, zoo, theater, etc., is an old question that has as many answers as people you ask.

Still, it seems there should be some consensus about the matter. Either you support the courses you own through good times and bad, or you make their condition and ability to generate revenue susceptible to grandstanding by folks who wouldn’t know a Stimpmeter from a speedometer.

Sadly, that’s the case this year at the City of Tulsa, where the golf courses owned by the city at Page Belcher and Mohawk Park, after urging by two city councilors who are not golfers, were told they were basically on their own after the city had previously paid water and utility bills, with the water bill alone reaching nearly $400,000 in at least one fiscal year.

The subsidy is not in the contract the city has with Billy Casper Golf, which manages the facilities. It was given because city officials realized that the courses were being charged the highest rates for water by the Tulsa Metropolitan Utility Authority.

We fully realize the city has gone through a wrenching budget process in which all departments except police have seen budgets slashed and people laid off. In that economic climate, it’s hard to support golf courses, even though they are used by thousands and generate a lot of tax dollars that go back to city coffers.

It was the city’s decision to supplement BCG outside the terms of its contract. The problem with starting something like that is, what happens when you take it away?

After years of BCG outlining budgets based on various subsidy amounts that were available, things are dramatically different.

10 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

The response by BCG is to do whatever it takes to keep the doors open. That means reduced irrigation and maintenance and possibly staff. It means outrage by area landowners such as happened during a recent public meeting at Page Belcher. Worse, it could mean lost revenue due to word of mouth, however misguided, that the city isn’t taking care of its courses.

The truth is that the greens, tees and fairways and primary rough areas at Page Belcher and Mohawk Park are being maintained just as before and, thanks to a low-stress growing season, are in excellent condition. Areas out of play are being allowed to “go native” to save money. So don’t be scared away by the hype.

Long-term, there needs to be a strategy that demands the courses are well-run and financially responsible, using as little water as possible and embracing somewhat the USGA mantra that brown is the new green.

Good, solid conditions that continue to attract golfers and give the courses a chance to succeed financially should never be put in jeopardy for political expedience.

Without at least some outside support, many municipal courses would not be able to operate. If there were no municipal courses, there would be precious little public golf in Oklahoma. In the Tulsa area alone you would say good bye to Page Belcher, Mohawk Park, South Lakes, LaFortune Park, Bailey Ranch, Battle Creek, Sapulpa Golf Course, the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge and more. All of these courses are supported to some degree. Let’s come up with a consistent plan that allows the courses to attract as much play as possible, which in turn will make the amount needed to be invested ever smaller.

– Ken MacLeod

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, 405-348-2004 E.J. Pfister Teaching Professional, Oak Tree National ejgolf@me.com Pat McTigue Owner, GolfTec Tulsa and Oklahoma City pmctigue@golftec.com Steve Ball Owner, Ball Golf Center, Oklahoma City www.ballgolf.com, 405-842-2626 Pat Bates Director of Instruction, Gaillardia Country Club pbates@gaillardia.com, 405-509-3611 Tracy Phillips Director of Instruction, Buddy Phillips Learning Center at Cedar Ridge vt4u@yahoo.com, 918-352-1089 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 2014 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.

ROAD TRIP No. 18

M�e golf �an you can shake a 9-iron at.

When it comes to championship public golf, there’s no better destination than Alabama, where we’re proud to claim three of America’s 50 Toughest Courses as selected by Golf Digest. For starters, there are the 468 holes along the world-renowned Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Stretching from the mountains in the north to the Gulf Coast in the south, these 26 courses will test your golfing skills as well as your intestinal fortitude. Then there are the many other impressive courses scattered across the state, designed by the likes of Arnold Palmer and Jerry Pate. Each with its own set of challenges, each with its own set of rewards. And each along an epic road trip to the state of Alabama.

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www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 11

From the Executive Director

It’s been a joy ride for 2014 OGA contestants A combination of a freakishly good growing season for all types of grasses and plants along with the inherently outstanding nature of the courses on our tournament rotation has made Mark Felder it a joy for contestants OGA in any of our Oklahoma Executive Golf Association 2014 Director championship events.

Starting with the most recent, The Patriot Golf Club in Owasso was in magnificent condition for the OGA State Amateur Championship won by Brendon Jelley of Jenks and Oklahoma State. Superintendent Jeremy Dobson and his crew made it a special experience for the state’s best amateur golfers as they toured the canyons and high prairies of this Robert Trent Jones Jr. design.

We want to give a special thanks to Justice Golf Car for providing some extra carts for the opening round at The Patriot.

We started the year at Twin Hills Country Club in Oklahoma City, which does a

12 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

winter over seed, so it was perfect for the spring Four-Ball. Jerry Broughton (superintendent) does a marvelous job there.

We visited The Territory for The Senior Amateur and it actually rained three inches, which they’ve been needing, so the course greened up and was in great shape. The staff there is second to none. We had the Senior Stroke Play at The Trails in Norman and they had it perfect for us, with a first and second cut of rough.

The state junior is held at Kickingbird Golf Course in Edmond ever year, and for a municipal course, it bows to no one. The condition of that course is so good. I had a board member stand on the No. 1 tee with me and say he couldn’t believe how much better shape it was in than many country clubs.

We had the Mid-Amateur at Gaillardia Country Club and it was perfect. I have never heard so many comments about how the condition of a course was just absolutely perfect.

The Stroke Play is at Shangri-La and I have heard nothing but amazing things

about it, so the joy ride continues.

Next year’s schedule is shaping up to be a blockbuster as well. We have now established a rotation for the State Amateur with Oak Tree National, Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club, Southern Hills and The Patriot. Oak Tree National, coming off of hosting the U.S. Senior Open, will provide a tremendous venue for the 2015 State Amateur. Come in sharp, because as Oak Tree proved to the top senior golfers, it is still one of the most demanding venues in the nation.

The face of the State Amateur has certainly become dramatically younger over the years. The constant practice and competitive play of the top high school and college players has made it harder for the talented business golfer to compete. We did have five qualify for match play, and kudos to Heath Myers, Jeff Coffman, Mike Hughett, Danny Funk and Mike Alsup.

None of them made it as far as 15-year-old Class 6A champion Austin Eckroat, which tells you something about where the game is headed.

Oklahoma Golf Association News

Play the course as you find it... and the ball as it lies One of the Rules of Golf is applicable to every stroke you take from anywhere on the course.

As a consequence, Rule 13 is most often Gene Mortensen breached.

OGA Rules The Rule starts with Director the basic locations for the playing of the game -- the spot where the ball lies; the place where you will take your stance; the space you occupy to complete a stroke; and the flight path the ball should take as a result of the stroke.

The essence of Rule 13 is that you do nothing to alter or better those locations.

Specific acts that are prohibited include pressing a club on the ground; moving and breaking anything fixed or growing; creating or eliminating irregularities of the surface; and pressing down sand, loose soil or replaced divots.

The Rule sets certain exemptions due

to the practicality of the game. For example, you may take your regular stance even if it bends grass and presses down a replaced divot. You are permitted to make a back swing and stroke in one continuous motion even if a branch is knocked down.

Read the Rule to learn about the other exemptions.

Section 13-4 applies to a ball in a hazard.

Remember that term includes both a bunker and a water hazard. Prohibited acts include touching or moving a loose impediment, and touching the ground with a club or your hand. While it is now acceptable to smooth footprints left by previous groups if your line of play is not improved, since the Rule still prohibits “testing,” you will avoid a potential problem if you play your stroke first and then tend to repairing the bunker.

As a Rules Official, I have called several players on a violation of Rule 13 (two strokes). One example is players who have stepped down “with authority” behind their ball in the rough so as to create an

alley for the club to make better contact with the ball. Another common breach is the player taking numerous practice strokes and in doing so, shredding the tree limb that would have interfered with his back swing.

One condition I am asked about on a regular basis pertains to a player in a previous group filling a divot with sand and creating a small “mountain.” Based on Rule 13 you may not smooth that area prior to making your stroke. Make sure the divots you fill are flat.

I would also caution the player to take the time to locate the boundary of a hazard if his ball might be in it. At times, Committees have been known to paint the line away from what looks like the natural hazard and this can be deceptive. The player should be aware of where that line is before he starts kicking twigs, etc., away from his ball.

The Rules of Golf are your friend . . . get to know them.

United States Golf Association News

USGA continues strong Oklahoma ties The USGA is comprised primarily of volunteers who serve on its committees.

Some committees are focused on a specific championship David Thompson such as the Mid-AmaUSGA Regional teur or Women’s MidAffairs Committee Amateur Committee; Junior Amateur or Girls’ Junior Amateur Committee; or the Senior Amateur or Senior Women’s Amateur.

Committee members are responsible for conducting local qualifying for their Pat McKamey championships.

There are 17 USGA members serving various committees in Oklahoma.

The USGA leadership includes the 15-member Executive Committee and the 14 member Women’s Committee.

Oklahoma has two members on the Women’s Committee – Lew Erickson and Pat McKamey.

USGA Championship qualifying While qualifying for 2014 USGA Championships has wrapped up, 2015 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball qualifying will be conducted on Sept. 25, 2014, at Tulsa Country Club. That championship will be conducted in early May 2015 at Olympic Club in San Francisco.

Because golf courses (and players) in some states such as Oklahoma will not be in condition for early spring qualifying, the window for qualifying dates has been broadened to allow fall qualifying.

Tulsa Country Club volunteered to host the first Men’s FourLew Erickson Ball Championship qualifying.

The Men’s Four-Ball Championship qualifying is open to teams whose individual members have a USGA handicap index of 5.4 or less. Entries are made through the USGA website.

Oklahoma and Arkansas will alternate as host states for this region. For the 2015

Four-Ball Championships, Oklahoma will host the men’s championship qualifying and Arkansas will host the women’s championship qualifying.

Chenal Country Club in Little Rock will host the 2015 Women’s Four-Ball Championship qualifying on Oct. 14, 2014. This championship will be conducted in May 2015 at Oregon’s Bandon Dunes Resort.

Teams whose individual members have a USGA handicap index of 14.4 or less may enter. Entries are made through the USGA website.

Teams in either the men’s or women’s championships may consist of players from different states.

USGA Championships in Oklahoma The U.S. Senior Open, conducted at Oak Tree National during July was the 21st USGA Championship to be conducted in Oklahoma dating back to 1946 when Babe Zaharias won the U.S Women’s Amateur at Southern Hills Country Club.

The USGA will return to Oklahoma for the third consecutive year in July 2015 when the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship will be hosted by Tulsa Country Club. www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 13

WOGA news and notes

Son takes state by storm with sweep

I

t has been a jewel of a summer for the Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association as it winds down its season with two remaining tournaments.

Sheila Dills President First, the youngest WOGA state amateur champion, Yujeong Son, at the age of 13, was crowned in July and the Oklahoma Fore State Team brought home the trophy under the newly revised format incorporating a mid-amateur division.

A lot of excitement has been created with the emergence of Yujeong. Her physical talent, intelligence and emotional maLeft to right. WOGA Junior winners Kaitlin Milligan third place, champion Yujeong turity give her a package that will take her Son and runnerup Sydney Youngblood.

Photo by Bill Powell a long way. She is a bright star in women’s very appreciative of the many generous were Patty French and Dena Nowotny. and girls’ junior golf in Oklahoma.

The WOGA Grants Application process donors who gave to this year’s Fundraiser Son will be the defending champion at for Junior Programs. We just couldn’t do it the State Amateur next year at Oklahoma will open August 15. Any Oklahoma without their support.

High School Girls program may apply.

City Golf and Country Club July 26-29.

WOGA has two remaining tournaments Coaches need to submit the applications It was a very special Fore State Chamby October 15. Applications can be found this year including the popular partnerpionship for the Oklahoma team as long ship event that will be back at Shangrion the WOGA Website. Last year WOGA time WOGA member Patty French who La August 19-20 and the WOGA Senior gave 11 grants to Oklahoma Girl’s High suffered a debilitating stroke several Championship will conclude the season School Golf Programs and two grants to years ago was able to join the team for October 14-15 at River Oaks in Edmond.

Oklahoma First Tee Chapters. WOGA is the awards ceremony. Patty is such an inspiration to all of us and really gave us a lot of determination to do our best. Patty has taught us many things but one in particular is that golf is a game and when it comes right down to it, life is precious and it doesn’t really matter whether your shots are good or bad.

Members of this year’s victorious Fore State Team included Yujeong Son, Caroline Goodin, Nadia Majidi, Kendra Mann, Charter Lawson, Megan Blonien, Lee Ann Fairlie, Janet Nelson, Kathy West, Rebecca Davis, Leigh Ann Fore and Laurie MakesCry. Team Captain was Front Row from left: Yujeong Son, Sheila Dills, Patty French, Leigh Ann Fore, Nadia Majidi.

Sheila Dills and HonBack Row from left: Dena Nowotny, Laurie MakesCry, LeeAnn Fairlie, Janet Miller, Caroline Goodin, orary Team Captains Kathy West, Megan Blonien, Rebecca Davis, Charter Lawson, Kendra Mann.

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Goods the

Some things we like to do before and after the round

The Bookshelf The Pros speak by tom bedell

Tom Watson has added more than 20 new lessons in a revision of a two-disc instructional set he released in 2010, now called “Lessons of a Lifetime II.” The lessons are biased toward the short game, with the new disc available at $24.95 or the complete three-DVD set for $49.95 at Amazon, TomWatson.com or select golf and sporting goods shops.

Among Watson’s suggestions -- “The 40-yard wedge shot puts fear into a lot of players, because they can’t take a full swing. I actually suggest trying to hit the shot with your right foot off the ground.

Most players don’t start with enough weight on the left, so they hit it fat or blade it.

So it’s a simple concept: More weight on the left foot, right heel off the ground.”

Is Lessons of a Lifetime II worth it?

Well, consider that as I write this the old warrior has just made the cut at the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool. Watson continues to amaze, and the DVDs cement his niche as an unimpeachable source. More than 70,000 copies of the first iteration were sold, and learning how to hit a half-wedge might be worth the price alone. But there’s plenty more here that is as pleasing to watch as it is useful, thanks to the participation of producer Terry Jastrow.

Watson said he’s not likely to put the discs into the hands of his players when he steps into the captain’s role in Septem16 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

ber at the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, although it surely couldn’t hurt them.

“The majority of our customers are beginners and high handicappers for obvious reasons,” said Watson, “but I think the discs could service the experienced player as well.”

A Game For Life One of the most experienced and surely the most traveled player in the history of the game has his own three-DVD set out, one clad smartly in black naturally, “Gary Player: A Game for Life.”

This one’s available for $59.95 at www. agameforlife.com, and it makes for a nice contrast with the Watson series. Watson focuses on technique, although keeping it fairly straightforward.

Player suggests thinking a little outside the box. There is, to be sure, ample technique, but the Black Knight puts greater emphasis on on-course play — tips more on how to score than how to swing.

One of the most fascinating segments is when Player starts dissecting the swings of players past and present — Hogan, Trevino, Palmer, Nicklaus, Woods, John Daly and the player he thinks has one of the game’s soundest swings — Tom Watson.

Thanks to the participation of Peter Kessler, the “Voice of Golf,” the production has as much an interview as tutorial feel (and actually ends with a sit-down interview with the career Grand Slam

winner). True, it can be said that Player is one of the easiest interviews in the world. Kessler can pose one question and Player is off and running for 20 minutes.

The byplay becomes downright entertaining, and is particularly effective and almost comic in the section on Player’s physical fitness routines. As the 75-yearold goes through eye-opening exercises, Kessler looks almost alarmed.

Player isn’t expecting viewers to do 1,000 sit-ups each morning, luckily, but he makes a strong case for at least modest efforts toward fitness and good nutrition.

The forbidden game I had the pleasure of playing at the 12-course Mission Hills Resort in China a few years back.

The golf was of a consistently high order, almost as high as my level of amazement. The sheer scale of the place might have been dazzling enough, but it was also a little surreal imagining golf in China at all, since the government had apparently condemned it at the same time courses were spreading like wildfire. And, in Mission Hills’ case, surrounded by multi-million dollar homes as well.

Although there’s nothing instructional about Dan Washburn’s “The Forbidden Game: Golf and the Chinese Dream” (Oneworld Publications, $18.99), it’s plenty instructive in explaining the seemingly inherent contradiction of such

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a perceived capitalistic game as golf blooming in communist China.

If it sounds like a dour subject, Washburn has managed to turn it into a ripping good yarn by spotlighting three main characters: Zhou Xunshu, struggling to succeed as that rarest of entities, a Chinese tour golf professional; Martin Moore, a shaper from Florida who becomes the go-to man to construct a golf course in China; and Wang Libo, a lychee farmer on Hainan island whose life changes when golf comes to Hainan island in a big way.

The three stories are expertly intertwined. Since Washburn has returned to the United States after a decade of living and working in China, Chinese players such as Feng Shanshan and Guan Tianlang crashed into western golf headlines, suggesting many more such stories are on the horizon.

The greatest golf courses For “The Greatest Golf Courses and How They Are Played: North America”

(Hamlyn, $19.99) general editor Mark Rowlinson has rounded up impressive contributors -- the likes of Tom Doak, ex-pro and golf historian Daniel Wexler, and Ben Cowan-Dewar, the main man behind Cabot Links in

Nova Scotia.

The team has selected 35 of the best and then jam-packed this handsome little volume with photos, aerial shots, diagrams, hole information and other fascinating minutiae about each track, including the all-important suggestions on how to play them.

The major drawback of the book is that there aren’t any suggestions about how to get tee times on most of these courses. They may be great, indeed, but they’re also exceedingly private. Of the 10 courses selected from the Northeast, only one is public — Bethpage Black. The percentage increases slightly for other areas, but fewer than half of the chosen courses are open to the public.

It’s good golf architecture junkie stuff, and one presumes that’s the main audience niche. The general player, who wouldn’t know a reciprocal if he tripped over it, may want to pass on it.

Tom Bedell has been known to do about 15 sit-ups some mornings. Every now and again.

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 17

The goods

As summer wanes, think light red by greg horton

When summer starts to fade into fall, many wine drinkers start moving back toward red wines. While it is true that many people won’t abandon their favorite reds in the summer, Oklahoma heat has an amazingly efficient way of making Cabernet or Syrah or Merlot seem very uninviting, and so many of us switch to whites, rosés, and sparkling wines to help beat the heat.

Fall means that we can turn our focus back to reds, but lighter reds still work better in the heat of fall. Pinot Noir is the perfect choice for this time of year. Not only does it work very well with food, it can also be served a little chilled to take some of the suffering out of the hot days and evenings.

In addition to the amazing Burgundies available in Oklahoma, we also have some of the best domestic Pinot Noir available anywhere. Oregon and California produce the best domestic Pinot, but their styles are very different. Oregon is more Old World, with a focus on restraint, acid, and balance, while California tends to lean toward bold fruit and a lighter style.

Anne Amie Estate Vineyard Pinot

comes from the winery’s own vineyard in the Willamette Valley. Oregon’s cool climate leads to a longer growing season and less ripeness. The Anne Amie has great fruit, but it also shows noticeable tartness, spice, and structure. It’s elegant, and the good acid makes it fantastic with food.

Lynn Penner-Ash is one of the best known names in winemaking, and that’s because she makes stellar wines in several varietals. She started with Stag’s Leap fresh out of UC Davis, but eventually ended up in the Oregon winemaking business. She’s a genius with Riesling and other Alsatian grapes, but she really excels with Pinot Noir.

The Penner-Ash Dussin Pinot Noir is made from the estate vineyard and is a remarkable Pinot by any standard. Made with Old World sensibility and restraint, Penner-Ash still allows the fruit to express itself, so that what comes through is a seamless blend of spice, tar, cola, and red and black fruit.

From California’s Sonoma Coast comes Eric Kent wines, most noticeably the Small Town Pinot Noir. The coastal climate keeps the ripeness down, so the Small Town is not a typical California fruit bomb. It does showcase Pinot’s classic cola

and candied fruit flavor profile, but it has layers of complexity and excellent balance. Each Eric Kent wine features a different label commissioned from local artists, so that the winery can help support the arts while providing outstanding wines.

The Sonoma Coast is an underappreciated growing region, primarily because for Oklahoma wine drinkers, Napa and Sonoma Valley are much better known.

But when looking for outstanding Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast should be in the discussion. In addition to the Eric Kent wines, the region is associated with some of the country’s best domestic Pinot Noir, including Failla, Flowers, and Williams Selyem.

A selfie that might help your swing by ed travis

Swing Catalyst first attracts attention because of its free smartphone app that brings to swing analysis an easy-to-use tool helpful to golfers wanting to improve.

The app, which runs on Facebook, records swings in high definition, then plays them back at regular speed, in slow motion or even frame-by-frame allowing the use of multiple tools to draw lines and analyze angles. It provides an opportunity for comparison on the course or practice.

Swings can be shared with your instructor or your friends at the 19th hole.

There are several other features putting this app in a class by itself, but this is only the tip of the Swing Catalyst iceberg because they offer something in their professional systems called a Balance Plate which adds an instructional tool of great importance.

Used in conjunction with the Swing 18 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

Catalyst Studio Software, the Balance Plate gives what could be called a “peek behind the curtain” of the student’s golf swing. Gathering data from 2,000 sensors, it shows what happens to the player’s center of pressure during the swing. This can’t be seen, even by high speed cameras, and the proper center of pressure is a major factor Swing Catalyst, for those who can stand to watch their swing. in building a powerful, I won’t try to explain the difference repeatable swing. between center of pressure and center Data reading from the Balance Plate is gravity, but having tried the Balance Plate fed into ball and club tracking systems mated with a FlightScope, the informasuch as FlightScope, Foresight Sports (GC2), TrackMan and Full Swing Golf and tion about foot pressure at various points in the swing was very revealing. then synchronized with the swing video.

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Unique Scotch H. Upmann - The Banker selections abound by laramie navrath

by greg horton

Scotch has always been one of the more exclusive spirits, and those who love it, really love it. The distinct flavors and aromas attract different types of drinkers, but Scotch drinkers, irrespective of their preferences (sweet, briny, smoky, peaty), are a fiercely loyal fraternity, or sorority.

Signatory is one of three independent bottlers in Scotland, and the company seeks out the best casks for individual bottlings. The Scotch they produce is extremely limited in quantity, and collectors everywhere are buying them up as soon as they hit the market.

Oklahoma received a limited selection of Signatory Scotches, including Glenlivet, Bowmore, Glen Elgin, and a 26-year Glenburgie. All are single malts, and all are made with an “unchill filtering” process that preserves some of the fats and oils, and therefore flavors and aromas. The largest bottling of any of the selections received in Oklahoma was 600 bottles, so the inventory is small and very exclusive. To try these remarkable, rare selections, try WSKY Lounge (228 NE 2nd St.) in Oklahoma City or check with your favorite wine and spirit shop.

For the regular drinker as opposed to the collector, the Balvenie “Doublewood” 12 year is an excellent choice. The name comes from the two types of barrel used in the maturation process. After maturing in a traditional oak cask, the Balvenie is transferred to a European oak sherry cask.

The different woods after different characteristics, but most prominent is spice, toasted nuts, and sherry.

One of the underappreciated Scotch whiskeys in Oklahoma is the Glenfarclas 21. This Highland single malt showcases the smoky characteristic that the hardiest of Scotch drinkers appreciate.

The rich history of golf dating back to the Middle Ages and Scotland, and the development of cigars and tobacco go hand in hand. So it seems fitting to write a review on The Banker by H. Upmann.

Prior to the golf gaining international in the late 19th century, German bankers Carl and Herman Upmann traveled to Cuba in 1844, where they created a unique cigar. They securely locked this award winning blend away in their vaults only to be gifted to their most important clients.

Now, in the 21st century, this exceptional Dominican cigar has been recreated in The Banker by H. Upmann. The Banker comes in three vitola’s or sizes, Annuity (toro), Currency (corona), and Arbitrage (grand churchill). Connoisseurs

and novices alike will notice the attractive dark-brown, oily Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. The Ecuadorian Habano wrappers provide a sweet aroma with old world island spices, highlighting the rich and robust nutty taste and profile. The Banker produces a light gray ash and thick white smoke for terrific room presence.

Tobacco fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic help round out the rich, full-flavor character of the cigar with a robust body and aroma notes of spice, coffee and leather. The Banker has a smooth and cool burn and effortless draw of smoke that lingers on the palate. The secret is out on H. Upmann’s Banker, and once you light-up, you will be enjoying a part of history. While playing your next round, share The Banker, it will leave nothing to be desired, except maybe a lower score on the course.

Proudly serving Oklahoma with a fine selection of cigars and related products.

Stop on by our current location and share a smoke with us!

www.ztcigars.com 2726 W Britton Rd (800) 340-3007 Oklahoma City, OK 73120 www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 19

EQUIPMENT

SLDR irons put to test Yes, they are long by ed travis

There has been a buzz concerning the SLDR irons from TaylorMade Golf and in essence the word was the SLDRs were LONG. TaylorMade intends the SLDRs for a spectrum of players from accomplished golfers to higher-handicaps, the idea being each could benefit from the added performance.

Though better golfers aren’t necessarily looking for extra distance, being more concerned with control and the proper trajectory, a few extra yards is a definite plus. That’s why anecdotal stories of distance gains from the new SLDR irons accompanied by higher ball flight started us thinking it might be a good idea to see if there was substance to the buzz.

The plan was to do the investigation in a somewhat different manner by comparing TaylorMade’s popular SpeedBlade irons with the SLDRs since both have similar design technology—namely the slot in the sole that TMaG calls a Speed Pocket. This slot allows the face to have additional flex at impact meaning more rebound or trampoline-effect and should produce more distance…in theory.

So why use models of similar design?

A good question but the answer is simply because of the stories that players gained as much as two clubs from switching to the SLDRs. The design employed by TaylorMade in both models boosts the rebound effect of the iron face so more energy is transferred to the ball. In the 3-iron through 7-iron the SpeedBlades have slot (in TMaGspeak a Speed Pocket) extending upward behind the cavity in the clubhead but the SLDR slot is different. In the SLDRs this 20 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

slot goes all the way through, creating in effect a floating clubface to generate more ball speed.

The idea of the Speed Pocket was developed by TMaG’s Adams Golf and used by TaylorMade in the successful RocketBladez models of two years ago before being enlarged for the SpeedBlades and redesigned for the SLDRs. Not to be overlooked though is the added effect of thinner and thinner face thickness as the company moved from the RocketBladez

to SLDRs since this could be a big part of the added distance story.

We thought about a testing program using launch monitors but in spite of all the data on clubhead speed, launch angle, spin rate, etc., it’s still just data…not reflective of what happens on the course. Any golfer knows there’s a world of difference between the practice range and actual course conditions. On the range, the lie is perfect, the stance is level, the wind is always from the same direction, there’s no “results anticipation anxiety” and on and on.

So, there’s no way range time is just like playing. I used that fact-attitudereality during my experience (brief to be sure) as a professional caddy as the final thought I gave to my player as he lined

SLDR irons by TaylorMade up his shot was, “Just make a driving range swing.”

The “testing” program was subjective and started with two other players and myself—handicaps of 2, 8 and 12. The idea was to play a round with the SpeedBlades, then one with the SLDRs and one with our own current irons as kind of a base line.

There was no effort to fit either the SpeedBlade or SLDR sets to our individual specifications but each of us is of average height and about the same swing speed so we felt that was probably not critical.

The SpeedBlades had the stock 85 Steel shafts and the SLDRs the very nice KBS Tour C-Taper 90 shaft, also stock.

From the first round, it was clear both sets of irons hit the ball high—higher than our own clubs which meant they stopped when they hit the green, even out of the rough…most of the time.

It was also clear the SLDRs were on the order of at least one-half to, in most cases, a full club longer than the SpeedBlades.

Also, given the subjective test method and certainly taking into account the inherent inadequacies of our swings we all felt the SLDR hit the ball further iron for iron than our own sets, in one case almost the two clubs of the buzz.

Two of the sets of irons used for comparison rounds were from other major manufacturers but in my case they were TaylorMade RocketBladez which the SLDRs outperformed hands down.

What we experienced supports the anecdotal evidence of more distance from the SLDRs versus other irons, particularly the SpeedBlades. SLDRs have to be on anyone’s short list if auditioning new irons.

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Game Golf pins down your distances the end of the grip on each club and make sure the belt unit is charged.

That’s all.

Before hitting a shot, tap the grip-end sensor on the belt unit which tells it, “This is a 4-iron and its being hit from here.”

Hit the shot and when you get to where the ball landed, tap the belt unit again with the sensor of the club being used before making the next swing. When the round is over, plug the belt unit into your computer via the proObserve your entire game on web and mobile devices. vided USB cable and the data is ways were hit, the number of greens in uploaded allowing you to see an regulation, number of putts, scrambling image of each hole with a graphic depictand several others. Also, the Game Golf ing each shot. For example, it will show web site lets you connect with other that 4-iron going 160 yards to the right of golfers plus being the place you can the green just missing the bunker. show off your progress to your swing Game Golf calculates your coach. round’s stats, revealing a lot The USGA even allows Game Golf for of important things such as use during competitions since data canthe actual distances you hit not be accessed in real-time. each club, how many fairGame Golf GPS

If you’re serious about improving your game, Game Golf is a great way to start.

The system records every swing and putt during a round for viewing later with hole-by-hole images generated that show where and how far each shot traveled.

Also, based on the data gathered during a round, several different stats are calculated which are a big help in pinpointing the weak parts of your game.

So how does it work? It’s very simple and since it uses GPS technology you don’t even have to input which course is being played. Before starting, download the Game Golf software to your computer, screw the Game Golf sensors into

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 21

Chip shots

News from around the state Sponsored by

Oklahoma Tulsa Toll Fr

Adkisson still honing his craft “I love people. I love golf. And I love to teach.” by ken macleod

Dean Adkisson has a simple philosophy that makes every day a fresh adventure for the 87-year-old PGA golf professional.

“I love people. I love golf. And I love to teach,” Adkisson said.

“That’s what keeps me going.”

Adkisson can be found at Page Belcher Golf Course inTulsa, giving lessons to folks from 8-to-80. He still gives about 12 lessons weekly and as many Dean Adkisson as five daily.

The Wichita native was a fine player who competed in two PGA Championships, including the last match-play version in 1957. He also played in 1970 at Southern Hills Country Club, where he served as head professional from 1964-76.

Adkisson got his start in the business working for legendary Wichita pro Tex Consolver at Sim Park Golf Course. He later taught at McDonald Park, then L.W. Clapp Golf Course, and then on to Riverview GC, which is now called Hidden Lakes, in Derby.

After leaving Southern Hills, Adkisson returned to Kansas to help open and run and build junior programs at Hesston Golf Course. The central Kansas course thought so much of Adkisson it named its

justicegolf.com

Bo Van Pelt with an admirer at the Patriot Cup. Patriot Golf Day is fast approaching.

teaching center, built after he had retired in 1991, the Dean Adkisson Learning Center.

Retired is not the right word. Adkisson returned to Tulsa where he started giving a few lessons with Jack Higgins at the Higgins Golf Academy. A year or so later, George Glenn, then the head professional at Page Belcher Golf Course, called with an offer to teach at Page Belcher. Twenty-two years later, his second career is still going strong.

“I’ve seen a lot of changes in the game,” Adkisson said, referring to technology and swing speed. “But the things that always stuck out to me as the most important are a good grip and good posture.

You’ve got to have a good grip and good posture before you can learn the rest of the golf swing.”

The Dean Adkisson Learning Center in Hesston.

22 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

Patriot Golf Day coming up Labor Day Weekend Although the Folds of Honor Foundation has branched into many different activities, still the core fundraiser that allows the organization to help many military families is Patriot Golf Day. On Labor Day weekend, Aug. 30-Sept. 1, golfers are asked to donate an extra dollar or more per round at participating courses.

In 2013, nearly 5,000 golf facilities participated, raising a record of more than $5 million.

You can check for participating facilities on the PGA of America website.

The FOH Foundation recently got a huge boost when new sponsor Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches agreed to donate $1 million.

“Through the stars aligning and a gentleman’s handshake, we are honored to support Folds of Honor,” said Jimmy John Liautaud, CEO and founder of Jimmy John’s. “Jimmy John’s is proud to be an

ONLINE: Get the latest news on Oklahoma golf at

golfoklahoma.org

Hills Club Charitable Foundation is the main sponsor of the First Tee of Tulsa, located at Mohawk Park Golf Course in north

American company and is privileged to aid families of veterans through this American charity.”

The Jimmy John’s donation will result in an estimated 200 additional scholarships awarded in $2015 at $5,000 per scholarship.

“We are pleased to be aligned with such a great organization like Jimmy John’s that recognizes the importance of supporting the one percent who protect our freedoms every single day,” said Major Dan Rooney, founder of Folds of Honor.

“Jimmy John’s and its customers will be providing much needed educational assistance to the families of our heroes. What a great American company.”

First Tee of Tulsa celebrates scoreboard The First Tee of Tulsa celebrated the dedication of a new scoreboard recently, complete with lights, cable for being able to screen video, landscaping and made to withstand the often severe Oklahoma elements.

First Tee of Tulsa participants with their new scoreboard.

Funds for the scoreboard were donated

by Southern Hills member Norm Fisher and his son Chris Fisher, who work for the Fisher-Silberg Group at UBS. The Southern

Tulsa. Norm Fisher said he approached First Tee Executive Director Janice Gibson about what would be high on her wish list and an outdoor scoreboard was the quick

Oklahoma City (405) 634-0571 Tulsa (918) 663-0571 Toll Free (800) 276-0571

justicegolf.com www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 23

Chip shots response.

“I wanted to give something back to golf and this was a great opportunity,” Fisher said. “We also gave a bit more so Janice can add a few other touches.”

The scoreboard was designed from blueprints used at Southern Hills CC to construct a scoreboard during the 2009 U.S. Amateur Championship held there.

Results of a First Tee tournament held Thursday morning were posted at the dedication.

Also present at the dedication were representatives of the companies that constructed the scoreboard, including David Phelps of Cyntergy AEC, which did the planning and design; Richie Wagner of RAW Remodels, LLC, which constructed the scoreboard; and Kyle Sage of Horizon Lawn and Landscape, which did the landscaping. All did work at or below costs and donated time to the project.

Nick Sidorakis, general manager at Southern Hills, introduced all at the dedication. Gibson said it was a wonderful addition to the First Tee. “All we had was a small one inside,” Gibson said. “This is absolutely gorgeous.

They were out here in January and February starting this and we are so excited.”

human’s best line of defense.”

Teen Recovery Solutions, an Oklahoma City based non-profit, began in 2001 as a foundation providing financial aid to parents unable to afford the high cost of treatment.

“It’s essential that others know where I’ve been ...it helps me survive and hopefully helps others suffering with the same issues to know that they’re not alone,” Feherty said.

For ticket information, go online at www.teenrecoverysolutions.org or call 405-843-2402.

Emerald Falls Update: Although there has been no building activity yet, plans are still a go for the resort planned on and around the site of the former Emerald Falls Golf Club in Broken Arrow.

David Eberle, lead developer for the project, said a change in SEC regulations in March forced a restructuring of their financing documents and is leading to a six-month delay. He said that his group has now finalized plans with a brokerage firm which is guaranteeing financing and interim financing should commence in November at the latest.

As for the planned renovation of EmerFeherty plans OKC visit for ald Falls, Eberle said he is still discussing recovering teens proposals with representatives of the design firms of Ernie Els, Greg Norman and Jack CBS commentator David Feherty will Nicklaus. share his personal The planned journey on Oct. 14 at Oklahoma-histoTeen Recovery Solury themed resort tions’ Evening of Courwill include a age and Inspiration at 140-room resort, the National Cowboy cabins, luxury and Western Heritage teepees, game Museum in Oklahoma bird hunting, City. fishing ponds, Feherty, who also pools, a spa, tenis the host of the Golf nis courts and Channel show bearother amenities. ing his name, has been Oberle said he with CBS since 1997 has been thrilled and was a member with the positive of the 1991 European reaction from Ryder Cup team. the resort and He has battled alcohotel commuholism and depression nity even though while still charming his many locals audiences with his satseem puzzled by ire and self-deprecating the idea. humor.

David Feherty “The only thing that has kept me alive is a sense of humor,” Gaillardia hosts SCPGA Pro-AM Feherty said. “ I really believe that it’s a In an event that will showcase the best 24 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

of golf for children, junior golfers and experienced players, Gaillardia Country Club will host the South Central Professional Golfers Association Pro-Am on Aug. 16-17.

And in the process, it hopes to “SNAG” new golfers with entertainment from trick shot artist Kevin Compare and magician Kevin Dawson, “The Jolly Jester.”

The tournament, which features pro and amateur rounds, is designed to showcase the sport at all levels of play and raise funds for SNAG (Starting New at Golf), an innovative and fun learning system designed to teach young children the basic skills and joys of golf.

In partnership Kevin Compare with the Greater Oklahoma City YMCA, the South Central PGA is building financial support to install SNAG systems in all nine Oklahoma City YMCA locations.

“Both of my children participate in YMCA youth Kevin Dawson sports, and I am always amazed at the number of parents and kids at the soccer fields, gymnasiums, and baseball fields on weeknights and weekends,” said Peter Vitali, president of the South Central PGA and vice president of business development at Gaillardia CC. “It can be difficult to bring kids to a course when they are unfamiliar with golf, but a SNAG program in every YMCA outlet would bring the game of golf directly to them.”

The event begins at 7 p.m. Aug.16 with an open house featuring performances by Compare and Dawson, a cocktail reception, silent and live auctions and a keynote speech from Paul Levy, secretary of the PGA of America.

The shotgun start for the Pro-Am is at 9 a.m. Aug. 17 with one SCPGA and three amateur rounds, with lunch at the Turn Club and SNAG demonstrations and awards following play.

Registration is $750 for teams, $250 for

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Chip shots individuals or $50 for the Aug. 16 event only. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

TGA Premier Junior Golf arrives in state TGA Premier Junior Golf is establishing its first franchise territory in Oklahoma.

Jacob Bell, a former assistant golf professional at Ponca City Country Club, has acquired Work is under way on the new 18th hole at Fairfax Golf Club in Edmond. the geographic rights to at elementary and middle schools, child years, he worked at Ponca City Country TGA Premier Junior Golf care centers and community organizations Club. in Northwest Oklahoma through a multi-level enrichment program.

“Golf has always been my passion, and I County. could not think of a better career opportuni- TGA will then transition students and “Jacob brings a strong ty then to be able teach the game to as many families from schools to local partner golf passion for youth sports courses through camps and parent-child youth as possible in schools,” Bell said. and teaching youth the Jacob Bell TGA’s five-level golf enrichment program events. game of golf, which will “I am excited and honored to grow the enables children to advance from one stage allow him to develop a successful self-susnumber of golfers in Central Oklahoma to the next while building confidence and taining business that will grow the game while impacting our youth,” Bell said. self-esteem. The curriculum is designed while impacting and enriching the lives of to enrich students’ lives through physical youth,” said Steve Tanner, chief operating activity, health and nutrition and character Fairfax gets new 18th hole, officer of TGA. improves range and clubhouse building. The program also incorporates Bell, a Ponca City native, attended the Golf Academy of America in Myrtle Beach academic lessons in math, science, social Like any good book or symphony, Fairstudies and language. where he began learning the golf industry fax Golf Club wants to go out strong.

TGA plans to introduce golf to children and teaching the game. For the past two The course is currently building a new

26 UNI_14-RP-109_Group_Sales.indd •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org 1

6/5/14 9:11 AM

18th hole, a 520-yard par-5 with a solid risk-reward option on the second shot and a green guarded by bunkers and a false front that is perched with the clubhouse on a hill behind.

Edmond designer Mark Hayes is overseeing the design and construction. As the hole used part of the previous driving range, Hayes is also redesigning the range.

The current 18th hole is on land that will be acquired for commercial development and is expected to eventually be the site of a grocery store. Until the new hole is completed, likely in late September, the old hole will remain open.

“We really want this to be a range and golf course where the guy who is dead serious about improving his game thinks of Fairfax first,” said Director of Golf Davis Drury. “We couldn’t be happier with the vision and design from Mark.”

Other improvements going on at Fairfax include a new cart barn, a new 7,000-square foot putting green, a new bar in the restaurant with the club being granted a liquor license that will be active this fall.

The semi-private course has 76 members

with 80 more on the way from an agreement with a adjoining neighborhood.

Memberships, tee times and more information available at www.Fairfaxgolf.com.

Gibson enjoys first major Rhein Gibson ended his first major championship with a birdie and many great memories.

The Oklahoma Christian Alum who lives in Edmond earned his way into the British Open through the Australian PGA Championship. He made the cut and even through a fourth-round 78 left him in 72nd place overall, he enjoyed his experience.

Gibson shot 10-over-par 298, earning himself a paycheck of about $20,840. The 29-year-old Australian, who was inducted into the OC Athletic Hall of Fame in January, had a memorable tournament. He made the cut with a dramatic 15-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to end the second round on Friday, then received worldwide media attention while playing in a Saturday grouping with Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth.

“Well, it wasn’t the weekend I wanted, but I’m happy I made the cut in my first major,” Gibson said. “What a treat to play

with Tiger and Spieth on Saturday. I wish my game was in a better place overall, but playing four days is better than two. It will be an event I will never forget.”

Paired with Koumei Oda of Japan on Sunday, Gibson started slow, bogeying No. 1 after hitting his tee shot into the left rough, then three-putting for bogey at No. 4. After another bogey at No. 6, disaster struck at No. 7, as Gibson hit into the gorse and took a triple bogey, putting him at 6-over for the round on the 7,312-yard Royal Liverpool course.

But the four-time NAIA All-American – who gained fame in May 2012 for a worldrecord round of 55 at River Oaks Golf Club in Oklahoma City – kept his composure, even after bogeys on No. 10 and No. 12 put him at 8-over for the round and 12-over for the tournament.

At the par-3 No. 13, Gibson hit his tee shot within five feet, prompting a roar from the crowd gathered around the green.

He made the birdie putt. He bogeyed No. 15, but quickly rebounded, getting up and down out of a greenside bunker for a birdie at the par-5 No. 16. He closed his round with another birdie on the par-5 No. 18.

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Just off 1-35 at 4001 Fairfax Drive • Edmond, OK 73034 www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 27

Brendon Jelley, left, and Preston Crawford dueled for the 2014 OGA State Amateur Championship.

Photos by Rip Stell

Jelley wins battle of close friends Son becomes youngest WOGA Amateur winner by ken mac leod

B

rendon Jelley made a double bogey on the 14th hole and fell behind for the first time in his match with former Jenks teammate Preston Crawford. Both players were a bit shaky after a three-hour lightning delay, and it was easy to see Jelley needed desperately to regain some confidence quickly.

He certainly did that. Playing both the par-5s 15 and 16 flawlessly with birdies, Jelley regained the advantage and preserved it with pars on 17 and 18 to win the Oklahoma Golf Association State Amateur Championship at the spectacular Patriot Golf Club.

Jelley, now a redshirt freshman at Oklahoma State, was the player Crawford looked up to during Jelley’s junior 28 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

and senior years at Jenks while Crawford was a raw talent in the starting lineup as a freshman and sophomore.

Now, going in to his senior season , Crawford’s game is advancing rapidly and he stunned the field with his run to the finals.

“This week was a big learning experience and a huge confidence builder,” Crawford said. “Playing Brendon, I was relaxed. He’s so good and you learn so much from him every time you play against him. His mental game is so strong.”

Jelley had a 1 up lead after nine holes, but it could have been much larger.

“I was one up but it felt like I was four down,” Jelley said. “I had missed some short putts which was really frustrating.

So I felt good going into the back nine.

I was a little shaky coming in, but I hit

enough good shots to get me through.”

Jelley had shorter chances for birdies on holes 10, 11 and 12, but none would go down. He then pulled his tee shot left into a ravine on the par-3 13th and lost 14 with a double bogey, giving Crawford, who had driven left into the trees but saved bogey, his first lead of the match. Jelley responded with one of his best shots of the tournament, a 5-iron from 225 yards to about 5 feet above the hole on 15. With Crawford in deep grass right of the green, it was the shot that changed the momentum of the match.

“That was one of my better shots of the tournament for sure, and a shot I really needed,” Jelley said of his approach on 15. “I had lost quite a bit of momentum on 14. It definitely kept my head in the game and got me back in the match.”

Crawford, who plays fast and aggres-

sive but has had to battle a tendency to be hard on himself for mistakes, was given a copy of sports psychologist Bob Rotella’s book Golf is Not a Game of Perfect last week by his instructor Michael Boyd, director of golf at Indian Springs Country Club.

“It helped,” Crawford said. “It was just telling me to stay positive, stay with every shot and never give up. I’m just going to keep grinding and keep working on my game and on getting better.”

Jelley won his semifinal match Wednesday morning 2 up over Eric Kline of Ponca City and the University of Central Oklahoma. Crawford defeated Casey Fernandez of McAlester, a senior on the Southern Miss golf team.

Son holds off rain, Price It was quite a month of July for 13-year-old Yujeong Son of Norman.

First she rolled to a 7-shot victory in the WOGA Junior Championship. She followed that by becoming the youngest

Taylor Dobson competes in WOGA Junior.

winner of the Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association State Amateur Championship with a 4 and 3 victory over Baylee Price of Broken Arrow To cap that, she led the Oklahoma contingent to victory in the Four-State Cup Matches by winning all three of her matches against veteran players at ShangriLa Resort.

Son, 13, is two years younger than the previous youngest winner of the State Amateur. Teresa Weinshelbaum of Ponce City won in 1970 at age 15. Son is the third player to win the WOGA Junior and WOGA State Amateur in the same year. The others were LPGA great Betsy Cullen in 1954 and Linda Brown in 1978.

The young champion practices at least six hours daily in the summer at the Jimmie Austin University of Oklahoma Golf Course in Norman. During the school season, she can often be found on the putting greens at sunrise before school before returning for a few hours in the evening.

“I’m really excited, really proud of myself,” Son said. “Baylee played great too. On the back nine, she was hitting perfect iron shots.

I just told myself to keep making Photo by Bill Powell pars. Just to play one shot at a time Yujeong Son of Norman. like I do every day in practice.” chances. I could have tied it up early on Son reminded veteran observers such the back nine if I could have made any as WOGA President Sheila Dills of the putts.” way Stacy Prammanasudh dominated Jimmie Austin PGA Professional Johnbefore she went on to become an Allny Johnson works with Son, although American at the University of Tulsa and she gets most of her instruction from her enjoy a long career on the LPGA Tour. father. Johnson said her dedication to the Son has big goals for herself as well. game is tremendous and the long hours “I want to play on the LPGA Tour and she puts in are of her choosing. win majors, but it’s too soon to worry “It’s what she wants to do,” Johnson about that,” Son said. said. “I originally thought she might get Price is coming off a sterling freshburned out but now she’s doing a lot man season at Northeastern State of it on her own. It’s not like mom and University in Tahlequah. She won the dad are out there making her do it. She Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic doesn’t want to do anything different.

Association championship, finished She’s a very smart girl and doesn’t seem fourth in regional play and advanced to the NAIA National Championship as an to get upset very much. As she’s getting bigger, she started to hit it a lot farther.” individual, where she finished tied for “She’s very dedicated and works 23rd. She finished top-10 in the majority hard,” said her mother Mija Son, who is of her tournaments. taking classes at the University of Okla“It was frustrating today,” Price said. homa. “She wants to do this.” The Son’s “Her short game was on point and my moved from South Korea to Oklahoma putting was just not on. I knew the in 2006 and Yujeong took up the game at greens were gong to be slow and I just age nine in 2010. kept leaving them short anyway. I had

Photo by Bill Powell

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 29

Colin Montgomerie makes the winning putt in the U.S. Senior Open at Oak Tree National.

Photos courtesy USGA

After hosting successful U.S. Senior Open, Oak Tree National leaders look ahead by ken macleod

It takes years to prepare for a major golf championship.

After the championship, it takes about a month to tear everything down, ship it off and get back to a semblance of normalcy.

That’s been the scene at Oak Tree National in Edmond since the conclusion of a very successful U.S. Senior Open Championship, won in a playoff July 13 by Colin Montgomerie over Gene Sauers.

Once the playoff was set, Oak Tree National really couldn’t go wrong. It was either going to have as its champion the feel-good story of Sauers, who has overcome a debilitating skin disease, or the formerly irascible but now mostly lovable Montgomerie, the Scot who fell in love with Oak Tree at first blush and promised to sing its praises to all of Great Britain.

Oak Tree National co-owner Everett Dobson and President and Chief Operating Officer Tom Jones both said the club 30 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

stands to do reasonably well financially thanks to strong corporate sales.

It also helped that good crowds turned out despite daily temperatures near 100 and the fact that the local contingent didn’t fare well and some key stars such as Tom Watson and Fred Couples did not play.

The Senior Open held in Omaha in 2013 set records for attendance with more than 140,000 spectators Everett Dobson Tom Jones and corporate support. better with all the nice things the players Oak Tree did not match those numbers, were saying about the course.” but when final numbers are tallied it will Montgomerie, Vijay Singh, Sauers and likely wind up second or third all-time. many others were unanimous that Oak “Omaha was a tough act to follow, but Tree National was fully capable of hosting from our standpoint, we accomplished a U.S. Open. From a course standpoint, what we wanted to accomplish,” Jones there’s no doubt. The Pete Dye creation said. “We put Oak Tree National back on is hard enough and fair. There were few the map. We couldn’t have scripted it any

Gene Sauers almost pulled off monumental upset.

complaints even from players who were overwhelmed.

From an infrastructure standpoint, the U.S. Open would push Oak Tree National to its limits. It’s just much bigger in terms of corporate areas, media, parking, hospitality, television, spectator traffic areas, concessions, driving range needs, etc.

The biggest reason it may be difficult to land that particular event, as Jones readily admits, is the competition from 100 miles up the road. Southern Hills Country Club has been working intensively to land its fourth U.S. Open since the day the third concluded in June 2001. It hosted the U.S. Amateur in 2009 as a favor to the USGA and has been diligently courting the USGA for 13 years. Because of how few events come west of the Mississippi River that don’t land on the West Coast, it’s unlikely both would be able to land an Open. There is no guarantee for either.

“We’re going to make sure the USGA knows we want the U.S. Open,” Jones said. “We’ll also be contacting the PGA of America to talk about the PGA Championship. Something like the BMW Championship in the Fed-Ex Cup Playoffs would be a great event, and of course we’re not ruling out the Ryder Cup. “The course has shown it can stand up to a major championship. We put on a great event and got nothing but praise from all the USGA guys. Now Southern Hills is Southern Hills and we’re not kidding ourselves that if Southern Hills wants something that they’re not going to get a better look.”

Dobson said from an ownership standpoint he and co-owner Ed Evans were “absolutely, unbelievably thrilled with how it went off. It’s going to be in the top echelon of Senior Opens in

Two major wins on U.S. soil have pundits reevaluating.

Monty's major binge cause for reevaluation by bill fields

Since at least the prime of Jack Nicklaus, who cared about them as if they were his sixth child, major championships increasingly have been viewed as the main dishes of professional golf.

Everything else — except to the players who deposit the ballooning first-prize checks offered weekly, of course — has been an appetizer. Colin Montgomerie did very, very well with starters, winning 31 times on the European Tour and playing Superman every two years for his continent in the Ryder Cup. It is hard to pinpoint exactly why Montgomerie, who possesses a flowing, old-school swing better suited to emptying a shag bag than performing for TrackMan, never won a major.

But whether it was the 1994 U.S. Open at Oakmont, the 1995 PGA Championship at Riviera, the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot or a couple of other heartbreak hills, the Scot lacked something when shadows lengthen and collars tighten.

There are only a handful of golfers as accomplished as Montgomerie who were similarly thwarted in the big ones. Harry Cooper (31 victories) and Macdonald Smith (24) stand out in major frustration from the first half of the 20th century. Cooper was a major runner-up four times and Smith three times to Monty’s five second-places.

See Oak Tree National, page 33 www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 31

A beaming Colin Montgomery with the U.S. Senior Open trophy.

Cooper and Smith each won at least one Western Open, though, a championship that before the establishment of the Masters carried major weight. Post-World War II, Masashi “Jumbo” Ozaki (94 triumphs on the Japan Golf Tour) and Australia’s Graham Marsh, who won 46 official tour victories in his globetrotting career before becoming a senior, came up empty in majors despite their considerable skills.

Because he led the European Tour Order of Merit eight times (including seven straight from 1993-99) and was so clutch in the superheated Ryder Cup in addition to winning so many tournaments, the Montgomerie conundrum was more puzzling.

That same adjective came to mind to many last year when, despite the big gap on his competitive résumé, Montgomerie was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame shortly before he turned 50 years old.

Regardless of the controversy surrounding his entrance into the Hall of Fame despite his 0-for-71 major mark, the enshrinement and his joining the Champions Tour appeared to lighten Montgomerie even as he set out on his next act as heavy as he had ever been. From his first senior tournament in June 2013 in Pittsburgh, 32 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

Montgomerie felt welcomed by peers and fans. He doesn’t seem to take himself quite as seriously as he did in his heyday, when he often came off more peevish than pleasant and seemed to be able to hear a gnat sneeze two fairways over.

The “new” Monty jokes about his “finely tuned” physique and can be a media-interview charmer. He is an amiable and fast companion for fellow players who get a kick out of him. A nervous flyer, he enjoys driving from tournament to tournament to see the country that hadn’t been competitively kind to him.

That changed in late May at the Senior PGA Championship in Benton Harbor, Mich. In the face of a remarkable finalround charge by 64-year-old Tom Watson, who narrowed a four-shot deficit to one on the 14th hole at Harbor Shores, Montgomerie didn’t crack. He birdied three of the last six holes to match Watson’s closing 65 and win by four.

“More relief than anything,” said Montgomerie, who had won two unofficial events on U.S. soil in the late 1990s. In a touching coincidence, Montgomerie lifted the Alfred S. Bourne Trophy, biggest in the game, on May 25, the birthday of his late

mother, Elizabeth.

Less than two months later at Oak Tree National, Montgomerie again proved his fresh ability to close the deal, this time in searing heat on an unrelenting course. In regular majors, Montgomerie didn’t know, or threw away, the combination for winning. By rallying to catch Gene Sauers and then defeat him in a three-hole aggregate playoff, Montgomerie, as red-faced as a cherry in the sweltering conditions, displayed the precision of a champion. When only four golfers have previously won the Senior PGA-U.S. Senior Open double in the same year and three of them are named Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Hale Irwin, you know you’re not slumming.

There is still one asterisk on Montgomerie’s career record for what he didn’t achieve, and it isn’t going away. Yet a new one should be placed on it for what he has achieved in 2014. He thinks more of himself, and we should think more of him. By winning two senior majors in succession, particularly the one at Oak Tree where the weather was so taxing, Montgomerie demonstrated an admirable grit and reaffirmed that it is never too late for a golfer to improve.

Oak Tree National, from Page 31

together and Jones adds a level of professionalism and attention to detail that can benefit any club. The club has already history in every category.” gained a few members from the publicity Dobson echoed Jones that the club and should be an even better value for the proved it can present a demanding and members going forward. challenging venue without unduly stress“As a team, we made really good ing either the greens or turf grass. Greens strides,” Jones said. “We’ve were fairly firm and rolling at got the golf course where it is about the same speed as the presentable. I think we’re still members play, which is in the on the way up and there’s a lot range of 10.5 to 11. With the of things we can do to make it week of unseasonably cool better. weather that followed the “Now I can focus on the golf event, they were able to reoperation and work to try and cover magnificently from the get every area to a level where tournament.

I think it needs to be instead of “We were surprised they just worrying about bent grass were able to carry as much greens. We all lost a lot of sleep moisture as they did,” DobJosh Cook over that.” son said. “You’ve got to give It may be a while before Oak Tree Nacredit to our superintendent Josh Cook. tional announces its next national event, The USGA was able to achieve the speed or the turnaround could come quickly. they wanted with a level of firmness and still keep enough moisture in the greens to One thing seems certain. Unless an influx of younger professionals joins, the keep them vibrant.” emphasis on the local members will not be It’s no secret that Oak Tree National as great. made tremendous strides with its greens Gil Morgan is wrapping up his amazing and overall appearance and conditioning career, while Bob Tway and Willie Wood in the months leading up the tournaand perhaps even Scott Verplank are likely ment. The USGA and Cook worked well

to be largely ceremonial golfers by the time another event is held at Oak Tree National.

The fact that none of them were in contention in the U.S. Senior Open was disappointing to fans, but probably to be expected, Jones said.

“It was a tough week for those guys,” he said. “As they have all said, you have to be playing well to compete on this golf course and none of them were playing exceptionally well coming in. It’s not like something magical happens because you’re at home. You can’t just flip the switch at Oak Tree.”

The Oak Tree Gang, while disappointed in their own performances, were proud of the event and what it meant to Edmond and Oklahoma golf and excited by the feedback they got from their friends on Tour. Wood admitted that nerves played a role.

“It’s different playing at home than it is -- we’re used to playing on the road, and we have our routines of going back to the hotel and going to our little restaurant and having our seclusion times, but there was none of that this week,” Wood said. “Had lots of family and friends here and lots of passes distributed and so it was just different. I was a little bit out of my comfort zone, for sure.”

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Where we play

Over the rainbow Morris reshapes Branson golf with spectacular Top of the Rock by ken macleod

E

ach time Golf Oklahoma reported on developments with Branson golf, a call was placed to learn when we might expect to see the reopening of Top of the Rock, the Jack Nicklausdesigned par-3 course looming above Big Cedar Lodge.

For seven years, no one would say a meaningful word about it. Now there are scarcely words to describe it.

Johnny Morris, outdoor lover supreme and owner of Bass Pro Shops, unveiled a staggering golf wonderland this spring when the Champions Tour’s Legends of Golf was played at both Top of the Rock and Buffalo Ridge, the former Branson

Creek, which Morris has also purchased and on which improvements are ongoing.

If you missed it this year, all the legends will return to what will now be called the Bass Pro Shop Legends at Big Cedar in 2015 when the tournament moves to April 22-26. Get your tickets beginning Nov. 3 at bigcedarlegends.com. Having nearly a year to work on the event will seem a breeze after cramming the normal preparation time for a tour event into just a few months in 2014.

Even better than watching others, however, is planning your own trip to the Ozarks. The landscape of Branson Golf has changed considerably in the last year with Morris’ forceful entry into the market. Here’s a primer.

Top of the Rock:

Yes, Jack Nicklaus has designed a new nine-hole par-3 course. It is spectacular and a lot of fun. It costs $175 for 18 holes and is open to the public as well as guests at the outstanding Big Cedar Lodge. That, however, is just the beginning of the story.

Perched on a bluff overlooking Table Rock Lake and the Ozarks, Top of the Rock is now a massive rustic stone building hosting two fine restaurants, pro shop, wine cellar and an Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum.

One restaurant is housed in Arnie’s Barn, a barn from Arnold Palmer’s hometown of Latrobe, Pa., taken down and reconstructed by Amish workers. Amish craftsmanship is deeply appreciated by

The Himalayan putting green designed by Tom Watson.

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Morris and in addition to their work at Top of the Rock they have constructed many of the bridges on both courses.

The Osage Restaurant offers spectacular views of the lake, golf course and the Ozarks. Make your way down the circular stone staircase to the All-American Wine Cellar, a cool, cozy area to unwind. Take time to appreciate the detail and craftsmanship in every corner. Every detail, down to the vents, was custom made.

Some of the exhibits from the museum, which was not yet open on our visit, are in the lobby, including a massive wooly mammoth, a bear and a lion, all of which at one time roamed the area.

Warmups for your round have never been like this. Palmer has created a

16-green driving range in which all the greens and bunkers are made with artificial turf designed to react like the real thing. There is a green perched out on an infinity ledge. Just to your left is a one-acre “Himalaya” putting green designed by Tom Watson. You could spend all day on the green and range and never make it to the course.

That is, if you make it to the course.

Many will be distracted by the 2.5-mile cart ride on the Lost Canyon Nature Trail that takes visitors through the towering Lost Canyon Cave. Morris must be a spelunker at heart, because opening up and providing cave and rock views is a passion at Buffalo Ridge as well.

“It’s out of this world,” said Kirk El-

mquist, the tournament director for the Legends of Golf. “It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever been to. I can’t believe what John has put together with his passion and his vision and his love for nature.”

Buffalo Ridge

Long rated one of Missouri’s best public courses, Buffalo Ridge will only improve.

The name change came from Morris’ desire to introduce buffalo herds onto the property. Three range areas now have buffalo, two of them 12 acres and one 30 acres. There were a total of 91, including five newborns as of mid-July.

On the course, workers are excavating a cave below the tee box on the second hole.

On the back nine, other rock formations

The Arnold Palmer-designed practice area at Top of the Rock, featuring 16 greens and numerous bunkers, all made of artificial turf.

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 35

The patio overlooking the par-3 course is not a bad place to wind up an evening. are being cleaned up or spruced up to be much more visible. The cave on the 17th hole now has a fast-running stream issuing from its mouth.

In addition to the buffalo roaming around, golfers will notice other significant changes. The expansion of a lake on the front side will impact several holes.

Other water features have been added.

The bunkers throughout the course have been redesigned and expanded.

“Johnny wanted big, sweeping sand,”

said David Hardesty, who oversees maintenance operations at both facilities. “We went from 85,000-square footage of bunkers to 140,000. The great thing is the way they are constructed, they don’t wash out.

It rained all five days of the tournament and they held up phenomenally.”

The bunkers are filled with Premier White, a blinding white sand from Sheridan, Ark., while the grass around the bunkers was changed to a dark fescue to make them stand out even more.

New bunker complexes highlighted at Buffalo Ridge.

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Original architect Tom Fazio came back for much of the bunker work and Hardesty is overseeing all the other changes. The course now has a permanent cart barn and a club house, two items missing since it opened. The clubhouse took 53 days to construct and the barn even fewer.

Another clubhouse that had some quick work performed on it is located on a hill above Buffalo Ridge. Morris has already turned the former Murder

Sunset round room at Top of the Rock.

Rock clubhouse into a special place with 360-degree viewing access. The building saw some use during tournament week, but otherwise has been sitting idle as plans for the former Murder Rock course are finalized. The former driving range has been turned into a parking lot for the public during tournament week.

What will those plans be? It’s obvious Morris has decided that Murder Rock was

A ride through the cave is part of the experience. not up to his standards, but no one is saying what will take its place until go time.

“There are a lot of options, but all I can say is there will be some exciting stuff,” Hardesty said. “I can tell you that Johnny has walked that entire property and spent days and days on foot looking it over.

He’s very interested and excited. There will be some cool things coming.”

As a golf destination, it seems certain

the end result will be that Branson becomes even more of an attractive destination for Oklahoma golfers. Payne Stewart and Ledgestone, two other two championship destination courses in Branson, are both having strong summers, particularly with Murder Rock closed. Thousand Hills and Pointe Royale are two more entertaining options for traveling golfers looking to put together a golf trip.

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A commitment to improve Surrey Hills hires Fuller, Tucker and begins needed projects by ken macleod

When Mark Fuller was a young lad growing up playing and practicing daily at Surrey Hills Country Club in Yukon, the place was vibrant with young families and fueled by oil money. As the new general manager of the long-troubled course, he hopes to see the good times return.

Fuller, former director of golf at Oak Tree Country Club and more recently employed at Gaillardia Country Club, has been hired by owners Claud Cypert and Michael Love to reinvigorate Surrey Hills. To help him in this large task, he has brought on Jeff Tucker, long-time Oklahoma City PGA pro who previously worked at Fairfax Golf Course in Edmond after a long stint at Lake Hefner GC in Oklahoma City.

Cypert and Love first bought the course in 2000 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court after an ownership group called Surrey Hills Eagles Nest failed and the course closed for a time that summer. They sold it in 2006 to CCC Golf, a group whose majority owner was Steve Chandler, who also previously owned Riverbend Golf Course in Chickasha. Chandler has since sold Riverbend and Cypert and Love stepped in to reacquire Surrey Hills in 2013.

The course winds its way through a mixed economic strata of housing developments, from plain townhouses to 38 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

men’s and women’s locker rooms are both large estates with manicured yards. There in the midst of complete renovations. Caris plenty of room in the 1,179 acres the pet has been added in some areas and new owners originally purchased for further development. Now that the housing market is showing life again, prospective homeowners and members around the semi-private course are going to want to see an updated and spruced up golf course.

Fuller said he was assured that a laundry list of improvements would be made upon taking the job and just the fact that two respected professionals such as Fuller and Tucker are seated side by side in the administrative office is an indication of commitment.

“The fact that Jeff and I are both here shows their commitment to turning it around and also gives the place credibility,” Fuller said. “I mean Jeff has been doing this for about 30 years and I’ve been in the business for 26 years.

We have a lot of experience and I would put our staff up there with anyone for experience and golf knowledge Inside the clubhouse, changes are under way. The Mark Fuller and Jeff Tucker ready to make improvements

carpet and paint will be added throughout.

Fuller has hired a building maintenance supervised to work on numerous needed projects and repairs.

On the course, superintendent Erick Chandler, son of former owner Steve Chandler, has done a good job with tees, fairways and greens. What’s needed is a plan and funds to limit the amount of weeds in the roughs, clean up overgrown ponds and lakes and fix or replace dilapidated bridges and cart paths.

The overall impression of Surrey Hills is that it’s tired. Tired of being neglected.

“The potential here is great,” Fuller said.

“It just needs some people in here that know how to get that potential out of it.”

The course has a wealth of interesting holes and demands accuracy.

“It’s a great place to play if you hit it straight,” said Fuller, who has used his own laser like accuracy to win numerous PGA South Central Section titles. “You’ve got out of bounds left and right on many holes. That’s part of the reason I can hit the ball straight, because I grew up playing here.”

All of the repair items mentioned are on the list Fuller has discussed and received approval for, in time.

Fairways and greens are in excellent condition at Surrey Hills.

“There’s a lot to do,” Fuller said. “We also want to work on the driving range.

Our outdoor pavilion is going to be turned into a fitness center. We’ve got a lot of ideas, but have to prioritize. We can’t do it all at once, but one at a time until it gets back to where it needs to be.”

Tucker held the club’s first junior clinic in years this summer and plans to follow up with a number of grow-the-game

initiatives. He wants to host an event on the Oklahoma Junior Golf Tour and possibly an Oklahoma Golf Association event as soon as the bridges and cart paths are repaired or replaced.

“I think we’ve already seen a change in the morale of the members,” Tucker said.

“They are excited about what we’re doing and going to do. It’s just a process of turning it around.”

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On the move!

Huge events, major improvements at Jimmie Austin OU Golf Course by murray evans

I

n today’s golf world – as in so many areas of business – staying still really means falling behind, which is one reason there’s so much change taking place at Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club in Norman.

From an elite maintenance facility that’s nearing completion, to a planned replacement of bunkers on the Perry Maxwelldesigned course, to the construction of a four-hole par-3 course, a lot of things are happening at the 7,371-yard layout on the southeast corner of the University of Oklahoma campus.

Most of the changes are part of a socalled “master plan” that OU officials developed in 2012 while working with golf architect Tripp Davis. Oklahoma Citybased firm LWPB Architecture was hired to assist with the plan’s execution.

“This is one of the best golf courses in the state, as far as design goes,” said Rodney Young, the course’s general manager. “Being the University of Oklahoma, there’s no reason for it not be excellent.

That’s the idea behind the university.

We want to strive for excellence. So we started talking about what we needed to do to improve (the course). We ended getting with Tripp Davis … and we decided to do a master plan to figure this out.”

Young likens the course’s current setup 40 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

as a “five-star restaurant (with) a parking lot for a barbecue joint.”

“Our golf course, we feel, is very, very good. … We’re a 4½-star type-golf course, but our clubhouse, our maintenance facility, our parking lot, our entrance drive, our curb appeal – everything else is lacking,” he said. “You’ve either got to bring the golf course down to where everything else is or bring the golf amenities, clubhouse, etc. up to be consistent with the golf course, which is obviously what we want to do.

That’s the idea behind the master plan.”

Near the top of the course’s to-do list was the new maintenance facility, which should be fully operational by this fall.

Dubbed the “Turf Care Research Facility,” it’s unlike anything in Oklahoma and is among the “top one percent in the country,” Young said. At more than 10,000

square feet, the facility includes four buildings. There’s a main building, which includes offices, a meeting room that can double as a safe room/storm shelter, an employee lounge, locker rooms, a laundry room and a storage area for utility vehicles, irrigation equipment, tools and other items.

Large mowers, tractors, topdressers, sweepers and other major items are in a three-sided storage building. A third building will serve as the storage for chemicals and fertilizers and has a spill containment system in the floor. Applications for the course can be mixed and loaded in this building. The fourth building houses a water-recycling system that will help keep the course environmentally friendly, said Cody Elwood, the course’s senior superintendent of golf and grounds maintenance.

The new world class maintenance facility under construction.

The goal, Young said, was to construct a facility that would last for “generations,” not one that would need to be replaced any time soon.

Planning for the construction took two years.

“If we were going to build it, we wanted to do it right,” Young said. “As a team, we got together and decided what we needed. … We wanted to do things right and think long-term.”

With the new maintenance facility almost online, demolition soon can begin on the old maintenance building, which will clear space for the construction of the four-hole par-3 course. That course’s primary function will be to serve as a training area for OU golfers.

The USGA Public Links Championship, one of several major events held recently.

While the par-3 course is being will have the new look, Elwood said, as The course already renovated all its tee built, a new entry road to the main the course makes an effort to have a more boxes a couple of years ago – work that course and a rework of Jimmie Austin’s “natural feel,” something that includes a has drawn rave reviews, Young said – and No. 9 hole also will be ongoing – which greater focus on the use of native grass in bunkers on No. 4 and No. 5 have been will take advantage of a nearby creek – out-of-play areas. Work on the bunkers redone. Instead of saucer-style bunkers, with hopes that will be finished by next those holes now have more “native prairie should also be finished by summer 2016, summer 2016.

Young said. style” bunkers, Elwood said, similar to Next on the plan is work on the driving Meanwhile, the Heatly Tee House – those found at Prairie Dunes Golf Club in range and practice tees, as well as connamed for donors Danny and Dana Heatly Hutchinson, Kan. struction on three other holes – No. 10, – should be open by September. Located Eventually, all of the course’s bunkers No. 11 and No. 12.

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 41

Conditions this summer have reached an all-time high for the course which once went years without an irrigation system. between the No. 5 and No. 15 tees, the Tee House will be a refreshment spot for golfers during their rounds. A new turf nursery/training center also is nearing completion.

Young estimates that there’s at least $3 million work of construction that’s getting ready to wrap up, with the completion of the maintenance facility, Tee House and turf nursery.

“The whole look of the golf course has changed dramatically in the last three years,” said Eddie Roach Jr., Jimmie Austin’s golf course superintendent.

Eventually, there will be expanded parking and a new clubhouse – perhaps three to five years from now, Young said – as the final phase of the master plan.

The course already is a favorite for major tournaments. Within the past five years, it’s hosted both the men’s (2009) and women’s (2013) USGA Amateur Public Links Championships, as well as an NCAA women’s regional in 2013, an NCAA men’s regional in 2012 and the Big 12 women’s tournament in 2010.

Young said the course will bid to host the NCAA Championship, hoping to land

that event sometime between 2016 and 2018. He’d like to see other USGA events, or even a PGA Tour event, come to the course, too. After all, if you’ve got a jewel, why not show it off?

“Now that we’re hosting these national championships, it almost demands improving the quality of the facility,” he said. “Excellence for the university is our ultimate goal. The whole university uses this facility to make their programs better. By us making (the facility) better, it’s supporting the university. It’s supporting everybody.”

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www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 43

OKLAHOMA COURSE SPOTLIGHT

Community effort saves a state scenic treasure The view from the 18th green at Wolf Ridge, in person you get a better perspective of the depth to the valley below. by ken macleod

What’s the best view from any golf hole in Oklahoma?

Well, No. 1 at Southern Hills and No. 1 at The Patriot, two towering tee boxes with the fairway stretching out below and downtown Tulsa in the distance, are both mighty impressive.

There are some special views at courses in natural settings such as Roman Nose, Chickasaw Pointe, Cedar Creek and Shangri-La. But one unheralded course that nearly became a rock quarry last year may have them all beat.

Before you scoff, stand on the 18th green at Wolf Ridge Golf Course in Wister in the evening and then come make your argument. For that matter, the second best view may be on the tee of the par-3 sixth hole with Cavanal Mountain looming behind.

The 18th hole provides a long view off to the Ouachita National Forest and the Talimena Scenic Byway, one of the greatest drives you’ll ever make.

The golf course beneath your feet has an interesting history, one that includes neardeath experiences and hopefully a happy ending thanks to a group of determined owners and volunteers.

44 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

The course opened in 2005 and, like many courses that were dependent on real estate sales to succeed, has had some ownership changes and restructuring since.

Although there are some beautiful homes on the ridge, as sales slowed the course was not watered or cared for properly. The most recent owner threatened to turn it into a pig farm, a quarry or to run cattle.

That riled the homeowners who had built on the assumption of having a golf course adjacent to their property and not swine. Marc Bovos, an attorney in Poteau, helped put together a group that discovered case law that disallowed any of those uses and eventually purchased the course.

The group of 32 chipped in from $1,000 to $50,000 of their own money to secure the property.

What the ownership

group has now is a course that has at least 15 strong holes but needs a year or two of care by a certified golf course superintendent armed with the budget he needs to eradicate some grassy fairway weeds and to make sure the newly planted 007 bent grass greens develop the root depth they need to make the greens firm and fast.

Taking diligent care of the course has been Mike Hahn, a retired vice president of transportation for Kansas City Southern Railroad. Hahn, a member of the ownership group and a board member, has

The par-3 sixth hole at Wolf Ridge Golf Course. done a great job, but is the first to admit the course would benefit from a superintendent. Bovos and Hahn both said they expect to have one hired in the coming weeks.

The biggest issue is that in years that only the greens were being watered, an aggressive pasture grass called Bahia took over many of the fairways from the com-

mon Bermuda. Since the new group took over and is watering fairways, the Bermuda is spreading back out and is firmly established on many holes.

The course has an interesting and solid layout and vast potential. We recommend your support with a round now and we think you’ll agree that it could become a destination course in short order. That’s

what Poteau mayor Jeff Shockley is counting on, as he uses it to help attract new business or industry.

“I think the sky is the limit as they get going,” Shockley said. “This year we’ve got plenty of water so the fairways are excellent. It helps with tourism, with local events, with bringing in a new doctor, just about anything.”

Where Tulsa plays golf!

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www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 45

Practice makes perfect The Blessings offers best facilities to get better by ken macleod

S

ome of the best practice facilities in the nation are being enhanced dramatically this summer.

The Blessings Golf Club near Fayetteville is adding an outdoor short-game pitching area by Dave Pelz and has begun construction on an 11,000-square foot indoor complex that will boast

greens for putting and chipping as well as a 2,000-square foot fitness center and the coach’s offices for the University of Arkansas men’s and women’s golf teams.

Outside, a large Champion Bermuda grass putting green has been built to complement the two bent grass greens and the practice bunkers. The driving range circles around numerous target

Below, the Dave Pelz-designed wedge target greens.

46 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

The new indoor practice facility under construction at The Blessings.

greens with tee boxes built in both Zoysia and Bermuda. The practice balls are Titleist Pro-V1s. The Razorback Center has six heated indoor stations as well as all the latest in electronic teaching wizardry.

Quite simply, says General Manager Richard Cromwell, those are the best practice facilities he’s seen. As a former competitive golfer who has played on

The par-5 12th hole at The Blessings can give golfers vertigo. the PGA Tour, in Asia and on U.S. minitours, he’s seen a lot.

“It’s not even close,” said Cromwell, who came to The Blessings from The Country Club of Virginia and has also worked at Kingsmill Resort and The Woodlands. “I can’t imagine a better place to work on your game and get better.”

Of course, the Blessings has always been about providing the opportunity to work on your skills. Owner John Tyson, in conjunction with Robert Trent Jones Jr., created a golf course that requires solid thinking, strategy and the ability to pull of shots you devise. The Blessings is a beautiful course, but like Oak Tree National in Edmond, not one that will reward let alone forgive any errant shots.

Still, it’s softer than it was and in spectacular shape. The reason Oklahoma golfers may be interested in both the wide range of practice facilities and the course condition is the Blessings is actively seeking to enhance its “national” membership. For golfers in Tulsa or east, that means a drive of less than two hours to play one of the most challenging and beautiful courses in the Southwest and work on their games for a few hours before returning.

“What’s caught me by surprise since moving here is how many people want to join just for the practice facilities,” Cromwell said. “Also people come from a club where it’s hard to get a tee time.

Here you just show up and play. We have no tee times any day of the week.

“We don’t do as many rounds as other clubs, but we’re focused on the best service of any club. The culture of this club is we’re always going to get better. We’re striving for the best.”

National memberships pay an all in-

clusive price for golf, golf carts, access to the range and fitness center, lockerrooms and bag storage. The only extras are for food and beverages.

For more information on the program, call Cromwell at 479-444-6330.

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 47

New home at Old Kinderhook 84-room lodge, conference center to open in 2015 The new lodge and conference center at Old Kinderhook. by bill harper

O

ld Kinderhook is widely regarded as one of Missouri’s finest golfing experiences, but some critics didnt regard the facility in the Lake of the Ozarks as a complete resort.

To address that perception, Old Kinderhook’s owners are expanding the facility that is located in Camdenton.

In Jan. 2015, there will be the addition of an 84-room hotel and a 250-person conference center, along with an indoor and third outdoor pool.

“How do we get more people on prop-

48 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

erty and how do we get more people to stay at Old Kinderhook,?” director of business development Jeff Carroll said. “The answer to both was a new lodge.”

Executive director Bob Renken added, “Our goal is to capture a true lodge feel.”

The new lodge will have a cabin-type environment. It will be located adjacent to the pro shop and its two top-drawer restaurants — The Hook Café and The Trophy Room — and overlook Tom Weiskopf’s “signature” course that has drawn rave reviews around the country. In a recent Golf Magazine reader survey, the

course was named the No. 2 course among public courses in Missouri. Old Kinderhook golfers are currently maneuvering around some of the construction. Hole No. 15 has been shortened temporarily to a par-3, giving the course consecutive par-3 holes.

The complex will have an ice rink, with a tentative opening date around Thanksgiving 2015.

Carroll said, “If you look at the big picture, what we are doing makes sense.

We are not only a golf resort but also a lake resort located between the 11- and

12- mile marker of the big Niangua arm of the lake.

“We are giving visitors new amenities to enjoy.”

There’s more. Future plans include building a public marina offering boat, wave runner and other water-related rentals plus bike trails and walking/jogging paths.

“This all leads to what we feel will be an all-inclusive resort experience,” Carroll said.

Visitors now will have the option of staying on the property.

“The big misconception is that we are a private facility and when people find out we are gated but public they seem to understand,” Carroll said. Internally we have had the need for additional lodging for years.”

While the complex has private units or cabins for rent, most are privately owned and Old Kinderhook only serves as the agent.

But an ice rink, at a blue-ribbon golf complex?

“It has so many possibilities,” Carroll said. “First and foremost would be giving our guests an activity to do here during the winter. Winter at the lake is beautiful and the more we can increase winter traffic the better the entire business community will be.”

Carroll means winter weddings, pond hockey leagues and events focused on ice skating.

“I think the possibilities are endless,” he said.

What about during the summer? They’ve got that figured out too with sand volleyball courts and even beach type weddings.

Old Kinderhook won’t compete with Tan-Tar-A or The Lodge of Four Seasons for large groups on the lake, but should be able to establish its own niche.

“They are very large facilities and we will not be able to handle the large groups they currently have,” Carroll said.

“Competition is good. It not only adds to what the lake area has to offer but also forces businesses to step up their game which adds quality to the industry whether it is golf, lodging, dining, etc.”

OTHER INFO: Getting there: Head east on I-44. Take Lebanon exit. Head to Camdenton, via Missouri 64/Missouri 5. From Camdenton, go west three miles on US-54, then right on Lake Road 54-80, about a half mile to the gated entrance.

Web sites: oldkinderhook.com, funlake.com Phone: 573-317-3500

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 49

Mystic Creek was worth the wait Ten-year construction results in near-flawless course Architect Ken Dye says Mystic Creek reflects his best work. by steve habel

Taking 10 years from initial site visit to the first tee in the ground might not be the ideal way to construct a golf course but when such a protracted deadline results in a track of the quality, playability and fun-factor of Mystic Creek Golf Club in El Dorado, Ark. a decade of doubt is easily erased.

Born from the perceived need for a toptier facility in southwest Arkansas by local businessman Pete Parks, Mystic Creek might be the best course you’ve never heard about in one of the most unlikely locales – the rolling timberlands surrounding a town most recognized as the home base for the Murphy Oil Co., provider of fuels for thousands of the country’s Walmart gas stations.

The timeline was a result of a no-choice, piecemeal plan to, first, acquire the 512 acres for the course and the surrounding neighborhood, then to finding the money for the project, then bow to Mother Nature and, finally, deal with the whims of the local power company.

Parks, an El Dorado native and former defensive back at the University of New Mexico, returned to the area to build his life and career as a CPA. He played a lot of golf on some great courses and eventually forged a plan to bring an elite-type course to El Dorado as a way to aid economic development.

50 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

Parks was enamored with the golfcourse design work of Ken Dye, a Houston-based architect who fashioned some of the best courses in New Mexico, including Black Mesa GC north of Santa Fe and Paa-Ko Ridge in Sandia Park, and brought him to southwest Arkansas with a grand plan.

“I knew of an area of land that had over 1,500 acres between four landowners that I believed would be a good piece of property for the course,” Parks said. “Ken visited the site and agreed. I asked Ken to ‘find’ the best course on the property without concern for any other parts of the overall development. Once Ken completed the routing plan in late 2003, I began acquiring the land.”

It took almost five years to complete the purchases.

“My plan was to combine elements of the top-rated courses and resorts in the United States to develop a strategy that would work economically in our area,” Parks said. “I’m convinced that an elite golf course, with onsite lodging, would be an attraction for avid golfers who travel to play with the added bonus of having a great course for our area.”

While Parks doggedly chased avenues to purchase the land for the golf course, Dye worked on routing when he could. There would be months of effort to prepare one parcel, then a cessation of activity until more money – and more land – could be

obtained.

“When we would come back to work on the next part of the course, we would have to backtrack and clean up some of the stuff we had already done,” Dye said.

“It was frustrating for us all because we wanted to get the course finished, but Pete was so patient and focused on getting the project done however long it took and he never wavered.”

The actual construction of the course began in 2008 with a target of 2011-12 as an opening date. The project lost most of 2009 to rainy weather and was delayed again in 2010 waiting on the power company to extend service to the course’s pump station. Grassing was finally completed in September 2012, and the course opened for play on May 12, 2013.

“In hindsight, the delay gave us the chance to go back and tweak aspects of the course that made the course more playable and a better overall experience – most notably building some larger greens that can provide seven or eight hole locations,” Dye said. “I don’t know if I would have the stamina to have this kind of timeline again on a course, but I’m extremely pleased at the end result.”

A combination of styles Mystic Creek showcases Dye’s flair for the dramatic and also reflects the work of other famous golf course architects.

Parks has played many of the nation’s best public courses – and quite a few great

privates as well – and wanted his course to play from tee to green with the backdrop of cathedral pines like Augusta National (as designed by Alister MacKenzie).

“We don’t have the elevation changes that they have at Augusta, but the land at Mystic Creek has a constant up-and-down roll,” Dye said.

Dye and Parks added the high-flashing bunker styles of A.W. Tillinghast and the domed putting surfaces and roll-off green surrounds favored by Donald Ross at Pinehurst No. 2.

“Pete wanted a course that is traditional and friendly, one where players can recognize certain aspects of the design, while creating a challenging track that can be played by all levels of golfer,” Dye explained. “I like what we were able to do up there.”

Unlike scads of projects built during the golf course boom that are routed around and through upscale housing developments, Mystic Creek’s owners took the opposite approach. A round at here is all about core golf and splendid isolation and will remain so even as the neighborhood’s 194 residential lots are turned into homes.

“We have very nice housing areas on the outer edges of the property, but we put the priority on finding the best golf course first,” Parks said. “By doing that you don’t cross any roads with the golf course design.”

The club’s course maintenance staff continues to clear areas on the perimeter of the golf course to make it more playable. “But from tee to green I don’t think we could ask for anything more,” Parks said.

Parks said Mystic Creek was the third most expensive course ever built in Arkansas, but did not divulge the actual cost of construction.

Mystic Creek plays to a par of 72 and at 7,492 yards from its back set of six tee boxes. Its greens are grassed with Champion Bermuda greens and the tees and fairways are of Celebration Bermuda. Elevation changes range from 15-45 feet, and the course plays downhill from tee to green on 17 of its 18 holes.

“The course is completely laid out in front of you – there are no blind shots,” Parks said.

A clubhouse and three overnight cottages (each with four separate rooms for a total of 12 rooms on site) are in the works, with construction on the latter The 12th hole at Mystic Creek planned to begin this fall. Parks California and northwest Arkansas. Parks hopes to have both projects completed expects that role to grow once the clubwithin a year. house and cottages are in place.

Mystic Creek is termed semi-private in “We believe that the combination of that memberships are available, but the the course and the lodging will provide public is welcome and will make up the as good of an overall golfing experience majority of play on the track. With some as you can find in the South,” Parks said. rounds available for under $75, the course “We’ve attracted those who love golf and may be the best for the price anywhere. want to play a quality golf course and a “To me, the most appealing aspect of challenging golf course. the course is an opportunity to play a “We’ve had a lot of favorable reviews course that is visually similar to Augusta National with Pinehurst-style greens at an comparing us to elite golf courses in the country,” he added. “We wanted to build affordable price,” Parks opined. something that people would really love, Mystic Creek has already attracted and I think we have.” members from North Texas, as well as

Housing will not be allowed to intrude on Mystic Creek. www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 51

MAHOGANY’S PRO PROFILE

Dillon Rust A host of young professionals are once again playing out of Oak Tree National.

Kevin Tway, son of original Oak Tree member Bob Tway, is already on the PGA Tour. Now he just needs a posse.

Rhein Gibson, fresh off making the cut in the British Open, is one candidate. Blake Trimble, Will Kropp and Cameron Meyers are other talented gunslingers who are having degrees of success on minitours with eyes on the PGA Tour.

No one of the group, however, is having a better summer than Dillon Rust, who joined Oak Tree in July.

In a three-week span, Rust celebrated his one-year anniversary of turning professional by winning back-to-back events on the Adams Tour followed by a victory in the inaugural Oklahoma Golf Association Pro Series event.

He won the Buffalo Ridge Prairie Sun and Moon Casinos Classic at Peoria Ridge in Miami by shooting a 68 in the final round for a onestroke victory, then followed that by shooting 64-64 in the final two rounds to overtake Andrew Yun in the OK Kids Korral Classic at Belmar Golf Club in Norman.

Rust then blitzed a talented field in the OGA Pro Series event at Gaillardia in Oklahoma City by shooting 6-under on the front nine and then holding on for a one-shot victory over Gibson.

Rust, a native of Arlington, Texas, grew up in Edmond and attended Edmond Santa Fe and later the University of Central Oklahoma. He is getting married in August to Brandy Brakhage, whom he met at age 17 when both had a summer job at Abercrombie.

He chatted recently with Golf Oklahoma.

He’s been where I want to go and has the knowledge and experience to teach me.

Also, Doug Tewell is mentoring me. He basically just encourages me and lets me know that I have the ability to make it where I want to go.

Getting married, working on your game and trying to prepare for PGA Tour qualifying school makes for quite a summer.

It’s been eventful. I’ve put in some hard work and seen some really good results. I qualified for my first Web.com event last week and though I didn’t make the cut, it was a really good experience. It’s a lot better than the mini-tours. I feel like I belong out there and my coaches do as well. Now that I’ve seen it and know what it feels like, I know I can compete at that level.

Mini-tour life can be draining, especially financially. Did you line up sponsors when you began your professional career in 2013?

No. I saved some money while I was in college because I was on a full ride. Dax JohnYou not only played for Pat ston (former UCO coach) gave Bates at UCO, but you work me a great opportunity and I with him as your swing coach? would not have gotten to this point without him. Anyway, My dad taught me the game but I’ve been working with Pat I wanted to see if I could do it on my own. I was about to go for a while now. He played 17 years of professional golf and See RUST page 57 made it to the highest level.

52 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

CHARLESTON’S AMATEUR PROFILE

Luke Phillips Luke Phillips qualified for his first United States Golf Association national championship when he led qualifying for the 2014 USGA Mid-Amateur Championship by shooting a 2-under 70 at Shangri-La Resort.

The 28-year-old former Southwestern Oklahoma State golfer grew up in Sayre, learning how to play by watching the pros on television and reading Golf Digest instruction pieces. After earning his undergraduate, graduate and MBA in accounting from Southwestern, Phillips accepted a job as an accountant at American Foods Group in Edmond.

Phillips, his wife and parents will pack their bags for Bethlehem, Pa., home of the Old Course at Saucon Valley Country Club, where the tournament will be held Sept. 6-11.

Have you ever been to that part of the country?

Never been near it. It’s going to be a whole new experience for all of us. Saucon Valley looks like it’s tree-lined and tight, which is good for me because I hit the ball fairly straight. I see it has hosted a lot of big events in the past, including a couple of Senior Opens.

Note: This will actually be the seventh USGA event to be held on the Old Course. The U.S. Senior Open was held there in 1992 and 2000 and the U.S. Women’s Open was held there in 2009, won by Eun-Hee Ji.

the wind and I hit a 3-iron in there to 30 feet and made the putt. Playing those well was definitely the key to the round.

Where do you play and how often do you get to work on your game?

I play at Fairfax (in Edmond).

The course is doing well, they’ve sold a lot of lots around the course and the former 18th hole has been moved because they sold the land where the former hole was for lots. They are putting in a new 18th hole, a putting green, driving range and new short game facility. So it’s nice.

I play and practice quite a bit. We don’t have any kids yet.

That’s when my playing time will get curtailed.

How do you feel about your chances?

I feel good about it. I still play enough to compete. You don’t hit your prime until you’rw 30 to 35 and I know That’s a strong round at I’m a better golfer now than I Shangri-La. You must have was five years ago. As long as you find the time to practice been hitting it well? and play, you can continue to Shangri-La was really nice. get better.

The fairways and greens are A lot depends on if I can putt in good shape and the rough well. The putter has given me is grown up. You had to hit a lot of trouble in the past but it well off the tee. The par-3s it’s been pretty good lately. were the key. They had three Again it looks like it’s narof them playing more than row and I usually do better at 200 yards and I went 1-under courses that are narrow. That’s on the four par-3s. No. 11 if I keep putting well. was playing 225 yards into www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 53

GOLF FITNESS

Get back in the game

Sean Riley SwingFit

Ryan Smith SwingFit

I

n our last article, we discussed when to shut down your golf game after a back injury. We reviewed common warning signs and few simple tests to help you determine if you should continue playing.

Now we will cover when it’s appropriate to return to action.

Many times, players are in a hurry to get back on the range and start hitting balls.

However, it’s important to take your time and properly re-introduce yourself to play.

Many factors should be considered before getting back on the course including age, medical history, golf history, severity of injury and your prior level of play. The most common areas of injury are the spine, wrist, shoulder, knee, hip, and ankle. Remember, the most common injury for amateurs is low back pain typically associated with faulty biomechanics whereas the most common injury for touring professionals is the left wrist due to overuse.

Improper setup and alignment positions may predispose you to injury and are often influenced by your normal daily activities -

1A

1B

54 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

sitting, driving, and using a computer. The repetition of these day to day activities becomes your new normal. Unfortunately, your new normal follows you to the course and could potentially be one of the reasons you got injured in the first place. That’s why we recommend you work with a PGA professional to assess your setup and alignment as part of your return to the game after injury.

It’s important to remember pain is a symptom and not the cause. Pain should not be the only factor determining the severity of your complaint or injury. The most effective way to expose the truth is to work with a TPI Certified Medical Provider who will assess your functional movement patterns to identify any injury inducing faulty movement patterns. More importantly, it provides you and your clinician with a proper road map to treat your injury.

Since the most common complaint for amateur players is low back pain, here are a few simple rules for return to play after a back injury: 1. Under the guidance of a TPI pro, perform the following movements screens pain free before swinging a club: a. Pelvic Tilt Test (Figure 1a, 1b) b. Multisegmental Extension (Figure 2a, 2b) c. Toe Touch (Figure 3) 2. You must able to assume and hold for several seconds all four key positions of the golf

2A

2B

swing (setup, top of the backswing, impact and follow through) as well as perform very slow swings without pain.

3. You must be able to chip and putt for sets of thirty seconds multiple times without pain.

If you are able to pass the above tests without pain, you can now resume chipping. If you wake without pain the following day, you can then move to full shots with a mid-iron. Subsequently, if you have no pain, you can start working your way slowly through your bag over the course of a week. It is important to resume golf in a slow and steady manner and to pay attention to any symptoms. Let your body fully recover before practicing again. Additionally, make sure to properly stretch and cool down after each round or practice session.

Golf is a physical game and most amateur players will sustain an injury at some point. It is important to implement a sound plan to return to play. The above advice is meant be a general guideline for a player with low back. Always make sure to consult your healthcare or TPI Medical Professional for an accurate diagnosis and customized plan. Remember, deal with the cause not the symptom.

SwingFit specializes in golf specific fitness, performance, and training services for golfers of all ages. Founded by Titleist Performance Institute Certified Medical Professionals, Ryan Smith, PT and 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 get fit for golf, contact SwingFit at (918) 743-3737 or visit us on the web at www.swingfittulsa.com.

3

INSTRUCTION

Pop it with a putter Get out of jail free with this tip by tracy phillips

There’s nothing more maddening than to be close to the hole just off the green and not give yourself an easy putt for your next shot.

So, what do you do when you’re in that situation and your ball has come to rest sitting down in Bermuda grass?

Instead of doing your best with a lofted club and barely getting the ball on the green, here is a way to hit this shot the next time you find yourself with this unpredictable lie.

We are going to use our putter and pop down on the ball.

Play the ball behind your back foot (picture 1). You can see that because the ball is back and my hands are in front, this puts me into a position to drive the ball into the ground.

I place the ball on the toe so when I execute the shot, the ball doesn’t pop up and hit the shaft. The stroke itself is made not with swinging the arms, but just hinging the wrist (picture 2). You are actually driving the ball down into the ground and it pops up and out of the grass.

It might take a little practice to get used to the speed of which it comes out and how far it travels. I have found this to be a much easier way to control the ball than making a swing with a wedge.

With the wedge, you catch so much grass between the ball and the clubface it’s hard to be as consistent.

So, the next time you barely miss the green and the ball sits down with no chance of hitting it first, try the putter and pop down on the ball. I think you will be happy with the results.

Start with the ball back in your stance.

Hinge the wrists and drive down.

Tracy is the Director of Instruction at the uddy Phillips Learning Center at Cedar B Ridge Country Club and a co-host of the Swing Fit Golf Show on the Tulsa Sports Animal. www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 55

INSTRUCTION

Stop rolling it aimlessly and use these drills by michael boyd

Putting is the simplest motor skill in all of golf.

Rather than fill your head with yet more ideas about technique and which putter to use, I want to share with you some ways to practice to help you putt better.

First, let’s think of putting as simply as we can. There are two important things when dealing with putting -- distance (or speed) and direction. Direction is controlled by where the clubface points at impact, and distance is controlled by the length and speed of the stroke (of course if you miss hit a putt, both distance and direction suffer).

I also want you to understand some putting data. On the PGA Tour, the percentage of putts made from 3 feet is 95, from 8 feet it dips below 50 and from 10 feet it is below 40. These figures are for the best players in the world; what do you think your stats look like? Most golfers I talk with think they should be making more putts that are 6-12 feet, where the best players in the world are around 50 percent in this range. By not understanding what good is, your expectations can be too high, and confidence suffers.

We all know that confidence, when playing golf and especially putting, is very important. As I sit and watch golfers of all levels practice, I do not think many, if any of them, practice in a way to be more confident with their putts. Also, play-

56 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

ers are not prepared for the speed of the greens, nor are they prepared to make the putts that matter (the ones they should make, statistically speaking).

I see most players practicing putts from 6-12 feet, and as I have mentioned already, the probability of making these putts is low, so as you miss more putts, your confidence suffers. Also, by practicing mostly putts in this range you will not get the feel of the speed on longer putts. I also use the term “practice” loosely.

Most of what I see I would not consider practice. I would consider it rolling balls fairly aimlessly. Even the players that are rolling longer putts are not doing so to practice “good speed.” True practice should prepare you for performance. This requires systems and measurement. So, here are three drills you can do to improve.

First, you will need a standard metal yardstick. Place it in line with the hole on a straight 3-foot putt (see picture). Place your ball at the end, and begin hitting putts. This will help you see what straight is, it will also help you sole your putter squarely to the ball and the line of the putt (traits that all instructors would say is important in putting). Set a goal to make 10 of them and see how many attempts it takes to make 10. Keep a record and track your progress over time. The eventual goal would be to make 10 in a row.

Now that you have an idea of what straight is, and how to get square to that

line, let’s move on to working on speed.

Place tees around half of the hole at 3 feet away, making half of a circle in what will be to the side and behind the hole. Then place tees (or ball markers) at 15, 20, 25, and 30 feet from the hole. Hit putts until you can get three balls in a row inside the half circle from 15 feet, then continue from each distance (see picture). This drill teaches you to hit putts with “good” speed, hard enough to make them, but with the right speed to keep them within 3 feet. See how many attempts it takes from each distance, keep a record and track your progress. This is also a great way to get the feel of the greens when you are at a new course or before an important round.

Go back to the hole and place tees or ball markers at 12, 9, 6, and 3 o’clock -- 3 feet from the hole (see picture). Try making four in a row (one from each tee), then eight or 12 in a row. Over time try it from 4 feet and even 5 feet for the more advanced.

These drills teach you to see straight lines, set up squarely, roll putts with the right speed, and most importantly to hole short putts. Just imagine if you could roll all of your putts from 15-30 feet with speed to make but to stay within 3 feet, and make all of your putts inside of 3 feet.

You might just be a great putter.

Pro Tip: When doing these drills do

See BOYD page 59

Rust, continued from 52 back and see about sponsors when I won those three tournaments in a row. That gave me a little cushion.

Golf Course Construction

of those rounds where you just enjoy it.

Golf Recent Course Construction Projects Golf Course Construction Gaillardia Golf & Country Club Recent Projects

Oklahoma City • Bunker Improvements How does your schedule look leading up Cedar Ridge Country Club • Broken Arrow, OK • Cart Path Improvements RecentGolf Projects Firelake Course to PGA Tour Qualifying School?

Recent Projects The Patriot Golf Club • Owasso, OK • Cart Path Improvements Cedar Ridge Country Club • Broken Arrow,Improvements OK • Cart Path Improvements Shawnee • Cart Path Cedar Ridge Country • Broken Arrow, OK • and CartGabion Path Improvements Silverhorn Golf Club • Edmond, OKClub • Creek Crossing Repairs Wall I’m playing in the Texas Open, then a Take us through the win at Peoria Ridge.

The Patriot Golf Club • Owasso,Country OK • Cart Path Improvements Cedar Ridge Club The Patriot Golf Club • Owasso, OK • Cart PathInstallation Improvements Cedar Creek Golf Course • Broken Bow, OK • 18 Hole Irrigation You got off to a great start the first two Monday qualifier for the Web.com event Silverhorn Golf ClubArrow • Edmond, • Creek Crossing Renovation Repairs and Gabion Wall Broken • OK #17 Fairway Silverhorn ClubArrow, • Edmond, OKHole • Creek Crossing Repairs and Gabion Wall Club •Golf Broken OK • 18 Bunker and Green Renovation Cedar Creek GolfThe CoursePatriot • Broken Bow,Golf OK • 18 Club Hole Irrigation Installation days, but had to come up with a great final in Springfield, Mo. Then get married, and Forest Ridge Golf Creek • Broken Bow, OK • 18 Irrigation Installation BaileyCedar Ranch Golf Golf ClubCourse • Owasso, OK • Resurfacing of Hole 3 Greens Forest Ridge Golf Club • Broken Arrow, OK • 18 Hole Bunker and Green Renovation Owasso • Cart Path• 18Improvements after that the Oklahoma Open. After that, TheForest round as well?

Ridge Club • Broken Arrow, Hole Bunker and Green Renovation Golf Club at Golf Frisco Lakes • Frisco, TX OK • Cart Path Improvements Bailey RanchFirelake Golf Club • Owasso, OK Course • Resurfacing of 3 Greens Golf I would like to play enough Adams Tour I was leading by three shots after 36 Bailey Ranch Golf Club • Owasso, • Resurfacing of 3 Greens Eastern Hills Country Club • Garland, TX • CartOK Path Improvements The Golf Club at Frisco•Lakes • Frisco, TX • Cart Path Improvements Shawnee Irrigation Improvements The Golf Club at Frisco Lakes • Frisco, TX • Cart Path Improvements events to keep my position as No. 1 on the holes and playing some really solid golf.

Eastern Hills Country Club • Garland, TX • Cart Path Improvements Tulsa Country Club Eastern Hills Country Club • Garland, TX • Cart Path Improvements My short game was exceptional that week. money list and points list, because there Tulsa • Creek Stabilization Contact Us are some added bonuses from Southwest The third round, I played poorly, but that Southern Hills Country Club JONESPLAN Tulsa • Cart 2328 Path Improvements Airlines. might have been a blessing in disguise. In Us E. 13th Contact Street Contact Us Tulsa, OK 74104 Battle Creek Golf Club JONESPLAN t 918.832.5544 I go to pre-qualifying for Q School in the final round I was chasing the entire JONESPLAN 2328 E. 13th Street Builder Member info@jonesplan.com Broken Arrow • Cart Path Improvements 2328 E.OK 13th Street Tulsa, 74104 late September. After that, I’ll have to time, so I played loose and aggressive. I Tulsa, OK 74104 t 918.832.5544 Bunker Renovation t 918.832.5544 Builder• Member info@jonesplan.com Builder Member info@jonesplan.com make it through the first, second and final knew what I needed to do and I managed Hardscrabble Country Club stage to be one of the 50 who gets their to do it. It was very gratifying to know Fort Smith, AR • Tee Improvements Karsten Creek Golf Club that the hard work was paying off and my card on the Web.com tour. There’s a lot of Stillwater • Practice Green Construction good golf that has to be played. prayers were being answered.

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Then after the great finish at Belmar, you were unconscious the first nine holes of the OGA event.

I was 4- or 5 -under, then I made a 60foot putt. I was playing with Rhein and Cameron and they just all started laughing. Everything was going right. It was one

Feel like your game is ready?

Golf is a game where you never stop working at it. There are things I need to sharpen up. But it’s in good shape and I’m looking forward to the challenge. Hopefully with God’s blessing, I’ll be successful.

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Women on Course now at Tulsa Golf Women On Course, the nation’s premier golf-lifestyle networking program, has tripled in membership since being acquired

by Billy Casper Golf in 2013, and now has arrived at Page Belcher Golf Course in Tulsa.

Women on Course removes intimidating barriers causing females to overlook the game. It provides fun, supportive and interactive settings for business and stay-athome women to experience the golf lifestyle without primary focus on competition and score: • A “Play Your Own Way” mantra means beginners and course-ready golfers learn fundamentals and etiquette • A “Score 5 to Survive” rule – tee shot, fairway approach, chip, two putts – promotes practice without slow play Fashion, fitness, travel and luxury components surrounding the world of golf are incorporated into Women on Course programming.

Members enjoy free gifts; discounts on greens fees, apparel, equipment, wine and other products; golf and educational resources; contests; and forums. Other benefits include: • Enhancing golf skills and protocol

the first day and a shamble the second day. for new business connections and career To register, go to www.tulsagolfassociation. advancement com • Establishing lifelong friendships with Best value in town still valid like-minded women Tulsa golfers, you can still order your play• Helping beginning golfers with fundaers cards for 2014 and experience tremenmentals and advanced players refine their dous savings and a great weekly value. For games more information, call 918-446-1529 or go • Prompting families to spend time toto www.tulsagolf.org. gether on and off the course • Learning from dynamic guest speakers at events • Mixing and mingling with women from all age groups with diverse and interesting backgrounds.

Sign up Now for TGA Two-Man Challenge One of the most fun events of the summer is the Tulsa Golf Association Two-Man Challenge which will For more complete details on the program or to have your be held at Page Belcher questions answered, check out the website at www.tulsagolf.org Aug. 16-17. Two-man or call 918-446-1529 for Page Belcher or 918-425-6871 for teams play a scramble Mohawk Park. www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 57

QUAIL CREEK BANK’S INDUSTRY PROFILE

Emilee Klein-Gille by ken m ac leod

Emilee Klein-Gille knows all about the great history of the Tulsa women’s golf program. TU was the only other school she

visited before deciding to stay close to her California home and go to Arizona State. It was hard to turn down legendary TU coach Dale McNamara then and she would like to make her proud now.

Klein also wanted to stay close to her instructor, then a little-known pro (and TU grad) named Hank Haney, who had just started working with Mark O’Meara, and was based at PGA West. He had started working with Klein when she was 11.

Klein-Gille went on to be an All-American at Arizona State and from there competed in more than 300 events during an 11-year LPGA career. She won the Women’s British 58 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

Open in 1996 and played for the U.S. Solheim Cup team in 2002.

Klein-Gille brings six years of experience as a collegiate head coach to the Tulsa position with stints at Central Florida and San Diego State. She returns to the coaching ranks after spending the past two-plus years in private business. She has a 10-month-old child and is expecting her second in September.

Knowing that Tulsa used to be one of the elite programs in the nation and last year was not invited to regionals in a year when the university and city were hosting the national championship, any trepidation in taking the job?

I wasn’t going to just jump into anything. I really wanted an opportunity where I could win a national championship. I wondered what was going on with the program, so I called Melissa (Luellen, McNamara’s daughter and former TU All-American, national champion and coach). She knew what it had been in the past, what it was capable of being and after I talked to her, I was so excited.

You feel like the commitment is still there from the university and community to bring it back?

I really see this as a program with unlimited opportunities. You have incredible backing from the university and community. There’s been an incredible outpouring of people wanting to be involved. I truly believe this is a program that can win a national championship.

It’s going to take lots of practice and hard work and a lot of fundraising. But we can definitely get back to the top.

You’ve been left with a pretty full roster including some incoming juco transfers. Obviously you’ll be recruiting for the future, but how do you get more out of kids that haven’t experienced much college success?

A lot of it will be changing attitudes and making sure our attitudes are good.

A lot will be short-game practice. In doing that, we can definitely shave some strokes off.

I need girls that are motivated to get better. If they are and want to improve, they can shave strokes off this year.

Enough to be competitive and get to regionals.”

Have you met with the players yet?

Not many. Only Nadia (Majidi) and Sana (Tufall) are around for the summer. But I’ve been watching the TU team when I was coaching at Central Florida (2005-2009). It kept going down even after that and I was shocked because there are so many great resources here.

I think the talent that we have on this team is strong. It will be a matter of getting girls to play to their potential.

What were you doing the last few years?

When I first got out of coaching I went into my dad’s insurance business, but it wasn’t for me. I joined Steve Loy’s sports agency on the LPGA side and loved that job except I was traveling 80 percent of the time. That became too much so I resigned and worked as a commercial underwriter for Chubb Insurance until I took this position.

I quit playing in 2005 because I didn’t want to travel 40 weeks a year anymore.

In coaching, you’re on the road about 75 days a year and that’s about right.

We’re sorry we couldn’t get you to Tulsa as a player in 1990 when you took your recruiting visit, but glad to have you now.

This is the first time since we’ve been moving around that I’ve called some place home. It just feels like home to me. I’ve only been here three weeks, but it’s just been a great experience.

Boyd, continued from 56 your best to hit every putt as if it were an important putt on the course by sticking to your routine; make each shot you hit (in practice or on the course) have purpose.

If you are struggling with completing these drills, go see a local PGA pro to check your set-up and stroke, but remember the ball will go where your clubface points at impact, and the speed is affected by the length and speed of your stroke.

Effective practice uses systems and measurement. It tracks progress and shows your strength and weaknesses. Effective practice prepares you for performance.

A personal story: Many people ask me how I became a great putter when I was younger, and I cannot say emphatically enough how much effort goes into it. I would do the last drill, making 12 in a row from 4 and 5 feet, 2-3 times a day.

If you want to be a better putter you need to spend some time on it. If you are a high school or college player trying to get to the next level, do them daily. These drills will only take 30 minutes to an hour, but do wonders for your game.

Boyd is the Director of Golf at The Club at Indian Springs in Broken Arrow.

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 59

SUPERINTENDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

presented by

West Nine at Southern Hills converts to Champion Bermuda by ken m ac leod

More and more Oklahoma golf courses are trying ultradwarf Bermuda greens, even though the harsh winter of 2013-14 left some who had recently switched with a lot of repair work to do.

Some courses did not cover their greens when necessary. Others did it improperly. All paid the price.

That likely won’t be the case at the latest course to convert. Southern Hills Country Club has more manpower on its maintenance staff than about any half dozen public courses in the state.

Southern Hills has had a practice green in Champion Bermuda for the past several years and it has come through each winter in spectacular shape.

That helped the board at the club to go along with superintendent K.D. Davis’ suggestion to convert all nine greens on the West Nine to Champion, beginning in July with Superintendent a planned K.D. Davis. re-opening in September or October.

The West Nine at Southern Hills opened in 1992 and was designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore. It is used mainly by juniors and women or during times of high traffic on the championship course, site of seven major championships.

“It was a no-brainer,” Davis said. “The cost was a fraction of the cost of reseeding bent grass. The greens were 24 years old and due to be redone anyway. This will give us a great surface in July and August when the heat is at its worst, and will be good the rest of the year as well.

Our practice green was perfect in early spring this year, as good or better than 60 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

One of the new Bermuda greens behind an approach area that is being redone. the bent greens on the Champ.”

To be clear, Southern Hills is not considering now or likely in the future a switch to Bermuda greens on the original Perry Maxwell 18 holes. Still, when a course such as Southern Hills makes the switch, even on its West Nine, it will likely further speed the conversion rate

across the state.

Arrowhead Golf Course in the state park system will be next with a planned conversion this fall. There are about 15 courses in the state with ultradwarf Bermuda greens where there were none a decade ago. It will be interesting to watch and see how far this trend goes.

SCHEDULES & RESULTS U.S. SENIOR OPEN At Oak Tree National GC, Edmond (par-71) July 10-13 1, Colin Montgomerie 65-71-74-69 – 279 ($630,000; won 3-hole playoff); 2, Gene Sauers 69-69-68-73 – 279 ($378,000); 3 (tie), Woody Austin 72-70-71-70 – 283 and David Frost 7171-71-70 – 283 ($200,762); 5 (tie), Jeff Sluman 70-69-72-73 – 284, Marco Dawson 66-76-6973 – 284 and Vijay Singh 69-71-71-73 – 284 ($122,988); 8, Kirk Triplett 69-72-75-69 – 285 ($97,907); 9 (tie), Bernhard Langer 69-6971-77 – 286, Scott Dunlap 69-68-72-77 – 286, Peter Senior 73-73-68-72 – 286 and Joe Durant 71-73-75-67 – 286 ($79,080); 13, Mark Brooks 68-71-76-72 – 287 ($64,789); 14 (tie), Tom Byrum 71-75-72-70 – 288, Tom Kite 73-70-73-72 – 288, Kenny Perry 75-74-72-67 – 288, Esteban Toledo 73-70-72-73 – 288, Lance Ten Broeck 70-69-7970 – 288 and Russ Cochran 70-74-71-73 – 288 ($51,796); 20 (tie), Steve Pate 72-72-75-70 – 289, Loren Roberts 73-72-71-74 – 289, Roger Chapman 79-70-71-69 – 289 and Duffy Waldorf 75-73-72-69 – 289 ($38,339).

24 (tie), John Cook 79-69-76-66 – 290 and Tom Lehman 72-69-77-72 – 290 ($31,752). 26 (tie), Corey Pavin 72-73-75-71 – 291, Rocco Mediate 70-74-71-76 – 291, Michael Allen 73-73-72-73 –291, Bart Bryant 71-73-81-66 – 291, Brad Bryant 73-72-73-73 – 291 and Sonny Skinner 73-70-7573 – 291 ($25,830), and a-Michael McCoy 74-7472-71 – 291; 33 (tie), Bill Glasson 73-73-76-70 – 292, Fred Funk 70-77-73-72 – 292, Scott Hoch

75-71-72-74 – 292, Barry Lane 74-69-79-75 – 292 and Jerry Haas 78-71-74-69 – 292 ($20,443); 38 (tie), Doug Garwood 70-69-79-75 – 293, Mark O’Meara 75-74-73-71 – 293, Joey Sindelar 72-71-74-76 – 293, Kevin Sutherland 73-72-7672 – 293 and Christopher Williams 72-72-75-74 – 293 ($16,704); 43 (tie), Bob Tway 74-73-75-72 – 294, John Riegger 77-71-74-72 – 294 and Steve Tinning 72-75-73-74 – 294 ($13,961), and a-Jeff Wilson 70-76-73-75 – 294.

47 (tie), Olin Browne 70-72-76-77 -295 and Mike Goodes 73-76-74-72 – 295 ($12,275); 49 (tie), Willie Wood 74-73-77-73 – 297, Steve Elkington 74-73-78-72 – 297 and Rod Spittle 71-78-73-75 – 297 ($10,780); 52 (tie), Gil Morgan 72-76-7377 – 298, Brad Faxon 74-75-77-72 – 298 and Sam Randolph 75-74-77-72 – 298 ($9,620); 55 (tie), Jeff Maggert 76-72-76-75 – 299 and Bruce Vaughan 75-74-73-77 – 299 ($9,131); 57 (tie), Jose Caceres 75-74-7-81 – 301, Robin Byrd 77-67-76-81 – 301 and Hendrick Buhrmann 71-7778-75 – 301 ($8,787); 60, Philip Golding 72-7483-75 – 304 ($8,570); 61 (tie), Hal Sutton 77-7179-78 – 305, Lonnie Nielsen 77-72-79-77 – 305 and Damon Green 74-75-76-80 – 305 ($8,366); 64, Billy Andrade 71-77-80-78 – 306 ($8,162); 65, Ronnie Black 71-77-78-81 – 307 ($8,059); 66, Wes Short Jr. 73-68-76-WD ($2,000).

AMATEUR TRANS-MISS At Southern Hills CC, Tulsa (par-70) July 8-10 (rain-shortened) 1, Will Zalatoris 67-68 – 135; 2, Alex Franklin 67-

69 – 136; 3, Matt Gilchrest 69-69 – 138; 4 (tie), Jonathan Sanders 69-70 – 139, Brian Campbell 72-67 – 139 and Kyle Weldon 71-68 – 139; 7, Taylor Moore 70-70 – 140; 8 (tie), Brendon Jelley 72-69 – 141, Max McGreevy 70-71 – 141, Curtis Reed 71-70- 141, Cameron Harrell 72-69 – 141, Michael Gellerman 67-74 – 141, A.J. McInerney 69-72 – 141 and Taylor Funk 69-72 – 141; 15 (tie), Walker Huddy 69-73 – 142, Justin Kelley 74-68 – 142, Joe Parkinson 71-71 – 142, Matt Mabrey 7270 – 142, Carl Jonson 69-73 – 142, Chelso Barrett 74-68 – 142 and Benjamin Baxter 69-73 – 142.

OKLAHOMA GOLF ASSOCIATION STATE AMATEUR At The Patriot, GC Owasso July 21-23 Round of 16 Zachary Oliver def. Rustin Purser 2 and 1; Nick Pierce def. Kyle Story, 1-up (19 holes); Preston Crawford def. Daniel Stigler 1-up, (19); Casey Fernandez def. Heath Myers 4 and 3; Sam Johnston def. Austin Eckroat 1-up (19); Eric Kline def. Connor Houston 2-up; Quade Cummins def.

Cullen Stahl 4 and 3; Brendon Jelley def. Tyson Reeder 3 and 1.

Quarterfinals Crawford def. Oliver 2 and 1; Fernandez def.

Pierce 2 and 1; Kline def. Johnston 3 and 1; Jelley def. Cummins 7 and 5.

Semifinals Crawford def. Fernandez 2 and 1; Jelley def.

Kline 2-up.

Final Jelley def. Crawford 1-up.

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 61

SCHEDULES & RESULTS WOMEN’S OKLA. GOLF ASSOCIATION STATE AMATEUR At Cedar Ridge G&CC, Broken Arrow July 15-17 Round of 16 Rebecca Davis def. Grace Shin 3 and 1; Lexi Armon def. Megan Blonien 4 and 3; Shannon Dobson def. Nadia Majidzadeh 3 and 2; Yujeong Son def. Mackenzie Medders 4 and 3; Shannen Stewart def. Kailey Collier 4 and 3; Alexis Sadeghy def. Courtney Epps 5 and 4; Kendra Mann def. Lauren Michael 4 and 2; Baylee Price def.

Jaime Branch 4 and 3.

Quarterfinals Davis def. Armon 2 and 1; Son def. Dobson 3 and 2; Stewart def, Sadeghy 1-up (19); Price def.

Mann 1-up.

Semifinals Son def. Davis 6 and 5; Price def. Stewart 2-up.

Final Son def. Price 4 and 3.

Championship Consolation final: Michael def.

Majidzadeh 4 and 3.

President’s final: Laurie MakesCry def. Kathy West 3 and 2.

President’s Consolation final: Kaylee Brooke Neff def. Julia Dierker 2 and 1.

JUNIOR At Quail Creek, Okla. City (par-72) July 8-9 1, Yujeong Son 69-70 – 139; 2 Sydney Youngblood 74-72 – 146; 3, Kaitlin Milligan 73-74 – 147; 4, Brinn Rees Fariss 79-72 – 151; 5, Grace Shin 76-76 – 152; 6, Taylor Dobson 76-78 – 154; 7 (tie), Mackenzie Medders 80-75 – 155 and Shaebug Scarberry 76-79 – 155; 9, Liz Hargis 78-78 –156; 10, Shannen Stewart 74-83 – 157; 11 (tie), Natalie Gough 78-82 – 160 and Ashton Nemecek 8278 – 160; 13, M.C. Eldredge 81-80 – 161; 14 (tie), Kathryn Goodwin 80-82 – 162 and Heidi Stafford 81-81 – 162.

11-under: 1, Jordan Clayborn 38-36 – 74; 2 (tie), Sarah Sherrard 41-42 – 83 and Hannah Nimmo 43-40 – 83.

TULSA GOLF ASSOCIATION FOUR-BALL STROKE PLAY At Forest Ridge GC, Broken Arrow (par-72) July 26-27 Championship: 1, Brent Williamson/Tate Williamson 67-68 – 135; 2, Steve Hughes/Shawn Kitchen 68-71 – 139; 3, Cameron Hamilton/Matt Willingham 70-77 – 147; 4 (tie), Randy Phillips/ Brady Wood 75-76 – 151 and Blaine Bacon/Ben Denton 76-75 – 151.

A flight: 1, Bruce Lisooey/Nick Sidorakis 69-74 – 143; 2, Mike Fenner/Ken MacLeod 75-74 – 149; 3, Mike Foster/Paul Stanton 73-80 –153.

B flight: 1, Scott Crane/Scott Dorney 77-72 – 149; 2, Richard Townley/terry Trimble 80-72 – 152.

STROKE PLAY At Stone Creek GC (par-71) June 28-29 Championship: 1, Jared Taylor 70-69 – 139; 2, Brady Richardson 70-70 – 140; 3, Brandon Strathe 72-71 – 143; 4, Brent Williamson 75-68 – 143; 5, Tate Williamson 69-74 – 143; 6, Patrick West 72-73 – 145; 7, Matt Willingham 71-77 – 148; 8, Casey Paul 74-75 – 149; 9, Cameron Hamilton 77-73 – 150; 10 (tie), Shawn Kitchen 76-75 – 151 and Quinton Tews 76-75 – 151.

62 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

Senior: 1, Richard Hunt 73-72 – 145; 2, Dave Wing 75-71 – 146; 3, Nick Sidorakis 71-75 – 146; 4, Steve Hughes 76-74 – 150; 5, Ron Kise 79-76 – 155.

PLAYERS SERIES At Golf Club of Oklahoma, Broken Arrow (par-72) July 8 Gross: 1, Dave Wing 69; 2, Kevin Joyce 70; 3, Lloyd Gilliam 71; 4, Matt Campbell 72; 5 (tie), Steve Gidley, Steve Hughes, Lee Inman and Billy Ray Young 74.

Net: 1, Dale Phelps 67; 2, Kevin Joyce 67; 3, Kyle Lowery and Dave Wing 68.

Team: 1, Terry Trimble, Ron Humphries and Dale Phelps 126; 2, Kevin Joyce, Matt Campbell and Kyle Lowery 127.

PLAYERS SERIES At Forest Ridge GC, Broken Arrow (par-71) June 12 Gross: 1, Tate Williamson 66; 2 (tie), Steve Hughes and Jeremiah Swezey 70; 4, Dave Wing 71; 5 (tie), Brent Williamson and Richard Hunt 72.

Net: 1, Bruce Riddle 66; 2 (tie), Jeremiah Swezey, Ted Williamson, Steve Hughes and Terry Trimble 67.

Team: 1, Brent Williamson, Ted Williamson and Tate Williamson 57; 2, Steve Hughes, Mike Foster and Paul Stanton 58; 3 Mark McKee, Dave Phelps and Mark Redman 59.

GOLF INC (OKLAHOMA CITY) CITY AMATEUR At Earlywine and Lake Hefner June 7-8 Championship: 1, Neil Metz 71-68 – 139; 2, Matt Charlson 76-66 – 142; 3, Joel Driver 7370 – 143; 4, Jared Taylor 73-73 – 146; 5, Cory Montgomery 76-71 – 147; 6, Colton Cowan 8069 – 149; 7 (tie), Brent Gregg 77-74 – 151 and Kyle Knierim 78-73 – 151; 9 (tie), Quinton Tews 78-78 – 156 and Kelly McBreen 80-76 – 156.

Presidents Flight: 1, Zach Stephens 83-72 – 155 (won playoff); 2, Bill Steenburgh 83-72 – 155; 3, Steven Barnett 85-70 – 155.

Senior: 1 Kirk Wright 75-69 – 144 (won playoff); 2, Scott Adams 74-70 – 144; 3, Mike Stolz 74-73 – 147; 4, Duane Chenoweth 76-75 – 151; 5, Ralph Cissne 77-75 – 152.

SOUTH CENTRAL PGA TEAM At Dornick Hills GC, Ardmore (par-71) July 21 1, Tracy Phillips and Kyley Tetley 61-70 – 131; 2, Shannon Friday and Tim Graves 64-69 – 133; 3, Brent Wilcoxen and Jason Hines 63-71 – 134; 4, Mark Fuller and Jeff Tucker 66-69 – 135; 5, Daniel Byrd and Derrick Vest 67-71 – 138.

HIGH SCHOOLS ALL-STATE At Cherokee Hills GC, Catoosa July 28 BOYS East 15 ½, West 8 ½ East wins: Spencer Smythe (Muskogee)/Casey Paul (Owasso) def. Trent Evans (Edmond Memorial)/Jacob Bishop (EM) 68-70, 3-1; Jake Johnson (Tahlequah)/Brody King (Bishop Kelley) def.

Blake Graham (Duncan)/Trent Meisel (Lawton MacArthur) 66-79; 4-0; Austin Hamilton (Stroud)/Blake Herring (Kiefer) def. Adam Eaton (Okla. Bible)/Clay Dobbins (Christian Heritage) 71-76, 3 ½-1/2.; Alek Cunningham (Bethel)/ Preston Lovett (Tishomingo) def. Isaac Griffis (Bethany)/Tyler Price (Harrah) 68-76, 4-0.

West wins: Sam Humphreys (Edmond North)/ Zachary Schaefer (Okla. Christian) def. Conner Wheat (Poteau)/Kody Whitehead (Cameron) 70-75, 4-0; Matt Henry (Pauls Valley)/Daniel Whitehorse (PV) def. Wesley Jackson (Fort Gibson)/Dalton Rhoden (FG) 68-70, 3-1.

GIRLS East 17 ½, West 6 ½ East wins: Anna Kim (Union)/Marla Souvannasing (Union) def. Emily Folsom (Edmond Deer Creek)/Emma Conrad (El Reno) 72-74, 3 ½-1/2; Kaylee Collier (Broken Arrow)/Hannah Ward (Poteau) def. Madison Herron (Edmond Santa Fe)/Ami Adkisson (Timberlake) 68-75, 3 ½-1/2; Shelby Humbyrd (Bixby)/Kennedy Hudson (Bixby) def. Kaylee Neff (Mustang)/Mary Ellen Jensen (El Reno) 81-82, 2 ½-1 ½; Addison Losornio (Claremore Christian)/Joley Vance (Henryetta) def. Katelyn Walker (Plainview)/ Perri McGill (Turner) 73-80, 3-1; Kadrian Shelton (Fort Gibson)/Sydni McKaughan (Durant) def.

Lynn Lamkin (Purcell)/Hunter Giwens (Ourcell) 80-81, 3-1.

Tie: (East listed first): Madelyn Lehr (Idabel)/Ali White (Idabel) tied Paige Neidy (Clinton)/Kelsi Wilson (Elk City) 81-82, 2-2.

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