2016 Golf Oklahoma June | July

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

•••••• 1

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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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JUNE/JULY 2016

Contents Volume 6 Issue 3

w w w.golfokl ahoma .org

Features 26 28 32

FlyingTee opens at Riverwalk Crossing Patriot announces $9.5 million expansion Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame inductees 32 Tommy Bolt 36 Nancy Lopez

26

40 Jerry Cozby

48

Destinations: Escondido at Horseshoe Bay The Woodlands in Houston

52 59

A chat with Dan Rooney Dream round at Augusta

Departments 10 12 13 13 14 16

32

22 26 44 54 55,58 56 60 61

50

Letter from the publisher OGA Executive Director Mark Felder Rules, Gene Mortensen WOGA Executive Director Sheila Dills USGA by David Thompson The Goods, Local ladies start BarGray clothing line Equipment: Aerotech shafts, changing lofts.

Chip Shots Competition, High School championships, college championships On the links with Anya Alvarez Instruction Superintendent’s Perspective, renovation of Firelake Fitness Schedules and results

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

Healthcare for life.

For generations of families in this area, Saint Francis Health System has been a constant in their lives. Our facilities have been there when they needed care. Our medical professionals have kept them well, helped them recover from illnesses and provided comfort when it was needed most. Our technology has brought medical breakthroughs here.

The women and men of Saint Francis Health System are proud to be a part of the lives of the people we serve.

We are honored to provide healthcare for life.

saintfrancis.com Saint Francis Hospital | The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis | Warren Clinic | Heart Hospital at Saint Francis | Saint Francis Hospital South | Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital | Saint Francis Broken Arrow

“GETAWAYS” WORTH THE DRIVE Whether you choose the challenging canyons and mesas of Roman Nose or the signature lakeside views of Sequoyah, away from it all is closer than you think with a Stay and Play package at one of Oklahoma’s premier state park golf courses.

Visit TravelOK.com/SPDeals for package details. Package rates start at $75* per person and are available at Beavers Bend, Roman Nose, and Sequoyah.

Stay and Play packages available year-round based on availability. Rates may vary. *Double occupancy required.

June / July 2016 letter from the publisher Volume 6, Number 3 Golf Oklahoma Offices Southern Hills Plaza 6218 S. Lewis Ave., Ste. 200 Tulsa, OK 74136 918-280-0787 Oklahoma City Office 405-640-9996

Learning to be social Friends of mine, respected journalists, tweet every two to three minutes during a basketball or football game they are covering. They quickly run out of pithy or profound things to say and it becomes a series of play-by-play missives or repetitive commentary. Do people really use Twitter as a substitute for watching or listening to a game?

Apparently so. Just how behind-the-curve I am in social media was brought home at a recent gathering in Utah of members of the International Network of Golf. The focus of the three-day conference was social media and using it to connect with the elusive Millennial golfer, that 18- to- 35-year-old who will soon enough be the dominant economic force in the game.

Two mildly contradictory themes stood out. One, the new golfer prizes his or her time above all else and needs golf to be faster. Second, they want it to be social and to feel connected to their friends. Thus, new companies like 18 Birdies, Game Golf and many more, want golfers to use their phones constantly to record shots, shoot videos, talk trash, etc., none of which is going to speed up the game, although the speed at which younger people can input information on their phones is astounding.

Perhaps the most jarring comment to me in the three days of seminars and meetings was the one made that Millennials, with all the world at their fingertips, believe they do not have to look anywhere for news. If it is important, it will find them, either directly or through a share from their social network.

To a guy who spent his college days rummaging around in the Journalism School basement at Ohio State reading the great columnists from around the country, letting others decide what is important to you is a foreign and somewhat troubling concept.

Anyway, lest you get the idea that Golf Oklahoma is totally out-of-touch with the need to communicate swiftly on social me10 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

dia platforms, let me go over quickly what we’re doing on the digital side and how we’ll be looking to improve.

As many of you know, our website golfoklahoma.org is updated many times daily with the latest golf news from throughout the state. You can get current scores of OGA, WOGA, OJGT, South Central PGA Junior Tour and other organizations’ events there as well as a tremendous amount of diverse news. Almost every story is summarized in our weekly email to more than 40,000 Oklahoma golfers, a list that is the envy of many in the industry. And those same stories are shared on Facebook at Golf Oklahoma Magazine and Twitter at @GolfOKMagazine.

For anyone receiving our weekly communications and wondering why they should pick up the print magazine, thinking that it might be old news, let me assure you the two venues are completely different. Most everything going on the website and pushed through social media has an immediate time consideration. Golf Oklahoma Magazine, on the other hand, has content that is just as fresh and relevant in two weeks as it is today.

Book reviews, equipment anaysis, course renovations, travel, instruction, commentary, features, fitness, Q&As with pros, amateurs and celebrities, all of this is found only in the print and digital issues of the magazine.

So while we’ll be looking to do an even better job on social media, it’s easy now to make sure you are keeping up with the entirety of information we’re producing in addition to the magazine. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and make sure to go to the website and sign up for newsletters, many of which are almost mini-magazines bursting with breaking stories.

And you Millennials out there, be sure to let us old baby boomers know of any ways we can more effectively bring you the news.

– Ken MacLeod

Publisher Ken MacLeod ken@golfoklahoma.org 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 Jim Young Teaching Professional, River Oaks CC 405-630-8183 Pat McTigue Manager, GolfTec Tulsa 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 2016 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.

From the Executive Director

OGA Foundation finds deserving scholars The Oklahoma Golf Association Foundation has determined its annual scholarship winners. All of the applicants were impressive. Their academic Mark and athletic achieveFelder ments combined with OGA Executive their volunteer activiDirector ties are astounding. It makes you proud to see what wonderful young people there are across the state.

All of our scholarships are for one year to help these students get started in their college careers.

Winners are: $ 5,000 Bill Barrett Scholarship: Hunter Laughlin (Mangum), who plans to attend Oral Roberts University. $ 5,000 Roy Oxford Scholarship: Cody Wood (Edmond), who plans to attend Oklahoma State University. $2,500 Scholarship: Cody Brock Reed

12 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

(Elmore City), who plans to attend Southwestern Christian University. $2,500 Scholarship, Shelby Peters (Ardmore), who plans to attend Southwestern Oklahoma State University. $2,500 Scholarship: Brandon Strathe (Owasso), who plans to attend the University of Tulsa.

A grant also was made by the foundation to The Club at Indian Springs’ Hole It On The River event, which raises money to purchase SNAG golf equipment for schools in the Union School District.

The foundation is growing and intends to make further donations to

Hunter Laughlin

Cody Wood

courses or individuals who are sponsoring junior golf programs or grow-thegame initiatives. Send a letter with your request to Mark Felder at the Oklahoma Golf Association offices, 2800 Coltrane Place #2, Edmond, OK 73034. Requests should be for the 2017 season as the next board meeting to determine recipients is in October.

All Oklahoma golfers are encouraged to sign up for their GHIN handicaps at their local courses. Go to www.okgolf. org for information on GHIN and all OGA tournaments, services, scholarships and more.

Cody Brock Reed

Shelby Peters

Brandon Strathe

Oklahoma Golf Association News

Your guide through the slope, ratings jungle This article will depart slightly from the Rules so we can discuss those strange numbers you see on the scorecards.

Those numbers usuGene Mortensen ally appear in this forOGA Rules mat, “72.9/124” and Director there is a separate set for each tee. The first number (72.9) is the course rating and the second (124) is the slope rating. They provide helpful information if you know how to interpret them.

Each state golf association, under the auspices of the USGA, creates the course and slope ratings. A rating team of four individuals has made an on-course inspection and calculated how obstacles (water hazards, out of bounds, bunkers, etc.) will affect the play from each set of tees for a “Scratch” player and a “Bogey” player.

The Course Rating indicates what a Scratch player will likely score under nor-

mal conditions. A Scratch player is one who has a zero handicap. Look at the course ratings and select the tees that will match your ability level. In this respect, be honest and remember that the game your ego plays is usually much lower than what you will record.

The Slope Rating is the number which tells a Bogey Player (course handicaps of 21-plus) how much difficulty he should expect playing that respective set of tees.

Slope ratings range from 55 to 155 and the average is 113. While it applies to 70 percent of the players in Oklahoma, it is the most misunderstood aspect in the game of golf.

Do this little exercise to predict what you might shoot from any given set of tees – divide the Slope Rating by five and add that number to the Course Rating. That’s the “Bogey Rating” and when it gets too high, move to a shorter set of tees. And, when playing in a group, if the player with a 10 handicap plays from a certain set of

tees, the player with a 25 handicap should not feel compelled to also play from there.

Golf is a game to be enjoyed so don’t unintentionally add problems by playing from tees that do not match your ability level.

Now that we are in a new golf season and the weather can be questionable, consider your safety above all else and remember that if you can hear thunder, it is possible to be hit by lightning.

Adopt this adage, “When Thunder Roars; go Indoors!”

Sign up for our enewsletter at golfoklahoma.org for the chance to win tickets, rounds and other prizes as well as keep up with all the breaking news!

Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association

Support WOGA, scholarships at annual tournament The Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association will hold its annual fundraising golf tournament on July 11 at Muskogee Country Club.

It will be a four-person Sheila Dills shamble and everyone is President encouraged to get a fourWOGA person team together for $600 and help raise the funds necessary to effectively fund our junior golf programs.

The tournament will have an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start and the fee includes a round of golf, range balls, prizes and an awards luncheon. Go to www.woga.us to enter online.

In these days of dire financial outlooks for our state, WOGA continues to position itself to be strong and vibrant for the long term. We were granted our 501C3 status as a non-profit in 2012 and we intend to be here for the long term to service women’s and girls’ golf in Oklahoma.

Helping us in this endeavor is the Trust Company of Oklahoma, which has provided sound asset management and oversight of our funding to where we can

grow the game in the most responsible way possible.

This includes our support of high school golf. We currently have a grant program that has awarded $35,000 Shelby Lauren Peters Mia Ayslinn Solheim Melody Sanches since 2013. to major in Pharmacy.

We are offerSolheim (Oklahoma Christian School) ing $500 grants currently to underfunded girls high school golf programs that are is planning to attend Texas Christian to facing cutbacks due to the huge budget major in International Business.

Sanches (Epic Charter School) is planshortfall for 2017. Go to www.woga.us for more information or to apply for a grant ning to attend Oral Roberts University to major in Pre-Med. for your school.

Hope to see you all at our big championWOGA is also proud to announce the 2016 Scholarship Award Recipients are ships. The schedule includes the WOGA Shelby Lauren Peters, Mia Ayslinn Sol- Stroke Play on June 20-21 at Tulsa Counheim and Melody Sanches. We want to try Club; the WOGA Girls Championship thank all of our outstanding applicants on July 12-13 at Muskogee Country Club; and the 98th Women’s Oklahoma State this year.

Peters (Ardmore) is planning to attend Amateur Championship on July 26-29 at Southwestern Oklahoma State University The Patriot Golf Club in Owasso. www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 13

United States Golf Association News

presented by

State conducts eight national qualifiers Ninety-four players competed for five sectional spots in brisk and damp conditions during the first stage of U.S. Open qualifying on David Thompson May 16 at Oak Tree USGA Regional Affairs Committee National in Edmond.

That was the start of the 2016 season of USGA championships. This local qualifier. where the Oklahoma Golf Association staff provided assistance, was one of 110 held around the United States. A total of 9,397 players attempted to advance to a sectional where approximately 1,000 players will look to become one of the 156 competitors at Oakmont.

There are eight different USGA qualifiers that will be conducted in Oklahoma during 2016. These events are made possible by golf clubs around the state making their courses available to the USGA committee members and a big thank you goes

14 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

Oak Tree National was the site of local qualifying for the U.S. Open to those clubs and their members for making that possible.

In addition to Oak Tree National, the following clubs will host qualifiers during 2016: Dornick Hills, Ardmore; Trails Golf Club, Norman; Tulsa Country Club; The Territory Golf Club, Duncan; Gaillardia C.C., Oklahoma City and Oaks Country

Club in Tulsa.

As USGA committee members, we are very fortunate to have quality venues made accessible for the competitions.

As we are getting prepared for this year’s remaining qualifiers, we will be looking for clubs to host the 2017 qualifiers. One more thank you to all of our Oklahoma clubs.

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Goods the

Some things we like to do before and after the round

The Bookshelf Put me in, Coach by tom bedell

George Plimpton, the master of sports participatory journalism, no doubt remains best known for “Paper Lion,” his 1966 account of strapping on football gear and hanging out with the Detroit Lions.

It was not the first time Plimpton tried to play with the big boys; his 1961 “Out of My League” recounted his shaky stint on the mound in an all-star exhibition baseball game.

“Fish Out of Water” might have been as apt a title, but Plimpton’s self-deprecating reports of his various failures proved to be a winning formula and he repeated it in terms of boxing, hockey and, thankfully, golf. Just as fortunate is that Little, Brown and Company has seen fit to reissue seven of the sports books, including “The Bogey Man: A Month on the PGA Tour” ($20).

Each book has a new introduction by the likes of Bob Costas, Mike Lupica, Jane Leavy and in this case, Rick Reilly, but they all say the same thing in different ways — Plimpton may not have fared well on the fields of sports, but he sure knew what he was doing in literary terms.

Plimpton labored in the era of New Journalism, which in today’s terminology is called Creative Nonfiction. It’s not that he’s making it up. (Well, he is making it up in some clearly imaginary episodes.) He’s just embellishing the facts with literary touches. In short, he writes less as a journalist and more as a novelist.

He’s telling a story, and mostly a hilarious one.

The subtitle is slightly misleading.

Plimpton played in the two California tournament-length pro-ams of the day, 16 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

the Bing Crosby and the Bob Hope, and a single-day pro-am of the Lucky International tournament in San Francisco. That was the extent of his month, but he milks it for all it’s worth, relating tales about antique golf literature, stories of golf hustlers, golf superstitions, the yips, ripe talk from the caddie yard and the cocktail lounges and, in the end, having an audience with the King, Arnold Palmer.

The book first appeared in 1968, nearly a half-century ago, and part of the pleasure of the book now is its quaint references to the way things were then —before Palmer was even known as the King, when the PGA Tour still had 20 Monday qualifying spots and ridiculously low payouts — and cultural references that young readers will most likely find mystifying: Ogden Nash, Fred Gwynne, Marlboro Country.

Heck, even Bing Crosby may be a stretch. But that shouldn’t be a deterrent, since the good writing and humor here are timeless.

WORLD’S MOST EXCLUSIVE I suppose it could be said that John Sabino has offered up some participatory journalism as well in “How to Play the World’s Most Exclusive Golf Clubs” (Skyhorse Publishing, $17.99), an account of his successful attempt to play the world’s top 100 courses, based on Golf magazine’s 2003 ranking. In that sense the book earns its subtitle, “A Journey Through Pine Valley, Royal Melbourne, Augusta, Muirfield, and More.”

And the best parts of the book are its

anecdotal moments, when Sabino relates the tribulations of trying to get onto a particular course, or when he relates stories of other, earlier players who went all out in pursuit of a top-100 goal.

But Sabino’s actual accomplishment may be in producing the world’s first golf instruction book that doesn’t mention a word about how to play the game. It’s solely concerned with the where to play.

The author, clearly a success in the financial services industry, sort of gives it all away in the opening chapter: “All you need is the time, the resources, and the connections.” Well, yes, but Sabino then manages to elaborate for 234 pages, and never completely counters his own embedded quibble: “From those in the critic category, I can hear the howls rising. This spoiled prima donna is writing a book to show other fat cats how to do something elitist; how obnoxious. Maybe....” Maybe, especially when Sabino notes that only about 30 others have accomplished the feat, “roughly equivalent to the number of men who have been to the moon.”

It may ultimately be easier to get to the moon than play a round at Augusta National, the elusive holy grail for those pursuing such life lists. We know Sabino makes it, but how is the tease he withholds until late in the game, and then devotes two chapters to the experience.

I certainly recognize the desire to play some of the world’s great courses and the satisfaction that can be had in completing a quest, even one that may have no more

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consequence than fun. But I have to admit I never quite made it past the premise. Simply put, despite all the advice in the book, most people aren’t going to find the time, resources or connections to put any of it to use, unless in small doses.

That said, Sabino is a decent enough writer and an excellent photographer. His many course and clubhouse photos are splendid, if unlikely to cushion any sense of envy.

THE RYDER CUP Speaking of envy, how badly do you suppose the U.S. wants to get its hands

back on the Ryder Cup, hoisted in victory? That’s exactly what the U.S. teams have been unable to do since 2008, and the 2014 debacle is still remembered mostly in distaste. Well, on this side of the Atlantic, anyway.

Despite his best attempts to remain journalistically objective, London-based author Nick Callow has a somewhat more benign view of the last Ryder Cup. No matter, because in his “The Ryder Cup: The Complete History of Golf’s Greatest Competition” (Carlton Books, $39.95) you’ll learn that the trophy doesn’t actually take that much to hoist — it’s a mere 17 inches in length and weighs all of four pounds — all you have to do is win the biennial competition.

You’ll learn a lot more from this volume, too, now in its third edition and presumably evergreen, as long as it’s updated every two years. The book is chockablock with photos from every tilt, player profiles (called “Ryder Cup Legends”), sidebars and statistics galore. It’s particularly strong on the early history of the matches, though understandably more expansive on the 21st century clashes.

There have been some wonderful overviews of the Ryder Cup in the past. I was particular fond of the 2004 “David Feherty’s Totally Subjective History of The Ryder Cup,” suffused as it is with as much humor as history. But Callow is more cleverly up to date, and this should serve as an able textbook for Ryder Cup 2016.

Players for U.S. captain David Love III and European captain Darren Clarke will tee off in the opening round Sept. 30 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota. Later on Sunday, Oct. 2, someone will be pressing four pounds.

Tom Bedell does his heavy lifting in Vermont, though usually only 16 ounces at a time.

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www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 17

The goods

Finding your range by greg horton

The first laser rangefinders did pretty much one thing: tell you the distance to the pin. Since that first generation, though, companies have been adding proprietary technology to the devices, so that now, they can tell you distance, slope, and accuracy, and with Bushnell’s JOLT technology, even when you’ve locked onto the pin.

Based on pricing alone, the rangefinders are for the avid golfer— most good o n e s

Bushnell Tour v3

18 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

cost more than $200, and several are more than twice that. Bushnell leads the pack, both in terms of sales and critical praise. Trent Pope at Golf Galaxy in Oklahoma City said the Bushnell V3 was the top seller locally.

“I think the accuracy and range are good, and people also trust that Bushnell name,” Pope said.

Rangefinder technology actually works by sending out hundreds of beams in a split second, which is the only way to hit a target as small as a pin with any degree of accuracy. The beams travel literally at the speed of light (186,000 miles per second), which means the reading seems instantaneous to us.

The multiplicity of beams means that the rangefinder has to sort out the pin from trees or objects in the background.

That’s where companies like Nikon and Bushnell have worked

to create Bushnell Pro X7 technological solutions for the sorting process.

Bushnell created JOLT technology.

After isolating the pin from the other objects, the rangefinder vibrates in the golfer’s hand, an alert system indicating the device has locked onto the pin. Nikon developed the Target Priority Switch System, which allows the golfer to select the closest target, in this case the pin instead of the trees in the background.

Many of the rangefinders also come with slope technology, allowing the golfer to get an accurate picture of the course contours. Tournaments typically disallow rangefinders with slope technology activated, and the USGA has ruled that local rules regarding slope technology are al-

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lowable.

The Bushnell Pro X7 has JOLT and slope technology. It’s widely reviewed as one of the best devices on the market, but the $500600 price tag makes it a stretch for many golfers. The Pro X7 is really just the Pro 1M Slope with the JOLT technology added. For golfers who don’t need the vibration alert, the Pro 1M is still a solid choice.

The Bushnell Tour V3 remains one of the best available choices. The new model comes with JOLT and slope technology, but it is still priced near $400. The Tour V4 Slope is now available, including at Golf Galaxy, and the dev i c e is accurate to within one yard of the pin.

Leupold takes advantage of Leupold the prism GX-3i reflector technology that most golf courses have in the GX-3i. Using their own PinHunter technology, Leupold created a device that locks onto the pin in spite of trees or other clutter in the background.

The device is lightweight and much more compact than comparable models. This one is also priced close to $400.

On the more affordable end of the spectrum is the Nikon COOLSHOT 40, priced about $200. The Nikon has a range of more than

Macanudo Inspirado, aromatic by tyler young

The Byron Nelson PGA tournament was last weekend and I was there for the final round following my favorite golfer, Jordan Spieth. My time spent on the course Sunday was great, however, I can’t say the same for Jordan. He posted a two over on the day and Sergio took first place.

While Spieth may have not have come through for me last weekend, the cigar I brought with me certainly did.

Macanudo’s new Inspirado cigars are as inspiring as their name implies. The development process begins with a shadegrown Olancho San Augustin wrapper tobacco grown in Honduras. The climate and conditions contribute to the natural oils on the leaf and when processed lead

to the cigars appearance, a medium bodied strength and earthy flavor. The cigar is filled with a blend of Honduran, Nicaraguan and Dominican tobacco that give the cigar notes of spice when combined with the Jamastran binder.

The Inspirado was not what I expected from a traditional Macanudo! The churchill had a nice orange wrapper and the light up produced a ple asi n g ly sweet aroma. The Honduran tobaccos are well balanced and offer complexity as well as strength which is not as pronounced in their other blends.

The Inspirado is available in four traditional sizes to fit any occasion. Needless to say I enjoyed the new Macanudo Inspirado from start to finish. I challenge you, light one up; if you are in need of inspiration.

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The goods

BarGray adds local flair to apparel by anya alvarez

When Wendy Gray and Cassie Barkett became friends, they had no idea a golf clothing line would be part of their future.

Eight years ago, they met through Junior League of Tulsa and quickly bonded over their children who played junior golf.

“Soon we began playing together and we realized the golf clothing options for women were limited,” Gray said. “The lack of cute women’s golf clothing that was comfortable and functional was almost non-existent so the idea started to spawn over time about what we could do together to help fill that void.”

Both Southern Hills members knew they had to create a line that would fit the standard rules at most country clubs. What they wanted, though, was a contemporary athletic aesthetic that women and junior girl golfers would enjoy wearing.

In September 2014, they filed an LLC for BarGray golf and went to a textile show in Los Angeles.

20 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

Wendy Gray and Cassie Barkett show off the BarGray line at Southern Hills CC.

“We really were focused on making a line for serious women golfers,” Barkett said.

So what is their definition of a serious golfer? “Anyone who is around golf and loves the game. Plus, women want to look good no matter what anyway.”

During the beginning, they went through multiple sketches and designs before they settled on what they wanted their first line to look like.

“When we decided to actually explore this process, we truly became inspired by the textile industry,” Gray said. “The fabrics that provide wicking, UV sun protection, etc., are limitless. It was so difficult narrowing it down. And when it came to the designs, we had so much fun creating all of the important details that enhance the golfer’s experience.”

As they developed their line, Gray and Barkett knew that launching at the PGA Golf Show would be an important step in their business endeavor. This year, they launched their line there and were overwhelmed with the positive response. In Oklahoma, you can view the apparel at Southern Hills, Cedar Ridge and Tulsa

Country Club or at www.BarGray.com.

“We had gone in 2015, not as a vendor, but more to see what the show was about and what we needed to do make sure that when we participated the next year we would be ready to showcase our line,” Barkett said.

Their experience at the PGA Golf Show was inspiring for them to continue on this path with their clothing line as several pro shops, pros, and college teams expressed interest.

“We have so many exciting ideas for our line with new styles and colors in the works,” Gray said. “We hope to increase our name exposure and introduce every woman who loves to golf to our clothing line.”

Their love for golf has grown as they have continued developing their line.

“I became addicted to the sport for several reasons ... but mainly because it’s so versatile: it’s an individual sport or can be a team sport, it’s also competitive and social … all depending on what type of format you’re in the mood for,” Barkett said.

BarGray certainly exemplifies the versatility of golf with its fun, contemporary and flirty flare.

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 21

EQUIPMENT

Fiddling with lofts pened to iron lofts and it begins with the golf ball.

The solid-core multi-layer urethane-cover lub manufacturers are trying to pull the wool over our eyes by golf ball, the Titleist Pro V1 was introduced making iron lofts stronger or 15 years ago. It took over the game for a “jacked up” so we will think the new mod- simple reason – it went farther, in fact a lot farther, with a lower trajectory and much els produce more length than the old ones.

And, of course, they do. If a “new” 6-iron less spin. And just as club makers developed has the loft of an “old” 5-iron, you will get drivers over the past decade and a half into the titanium/carbon fiber/graphite marvels more yards than with an “old” 6-iron.

The truth is this idea of jacked-up lofts of today to take advantage of the ball’s perresides in that never-never land of conspir- formance, ways have been found to apply acy theorists populated by certain cable TV similar advancements in design, materials channels and grocery market checkout tab- and manufacturing to irons.

In the “good old days” the center of gravloids.

Some people who should know better per- ity of an iron’s head was fairly high on the petuate the conspiracy idea either through face and the face itself had virtually no flex ignorance or laziness or maybe both. It’s so when it came in contact with the ball the even possible a few who keep pumping iron’s loft was all there was to get the ball out these untruths have a private agenda to in the air. With the exception of the Ping irons designed by Karsten Solheim, virtumake the “big guys” the “bad guys.”

Irons today have 2-to-8 degrees less loft ally every iron was some variation on the than what used to be considered “standard” “muscle-back” design and, especially in the even though there never has been any such long irons, were difficult to launch at the thing as “standard” lofts. In other words, no proper angle. For the average golfer, mishits one said a 5-iron had to be 32 degrees as it were common with distance and direction was for years or a pitching wedge had to be sacrificed and many found long irons in the nightmare category.

52 degrees.

Fast forward to today when irons are Irons always have had the loft to produce the proper distance with the proper trajec- made from lighter, stronger alloys and have tory and trajectory is key because to achieve a face that flexes when it hits the ball plus a accuracy the ball must land and stop consis- cavity back that better preserves ball speed tently. A 5-iron used to have 32 degrees so when the impact is off-center. More importhe ball had the right height and carry to fit tantly, designers have been able to move a large amount of weight towards the sole so in with all the other clubs.

Modern irons have less loft. Five-irons even relatively low-swing speed players can are now 23-to-28 degrees, pitching wedges get the ball up in the air.

Being a bit flippant, the solid-core multi-layer urethane-cover golf ball (Titleist Pro V1, Bridgestone B330, Callaway Chrome Soft, TaylorMade Tour Preferred) along with new iron designs gave club makers two choices – either keep iron lofts the same or decrease them. Keeping them the same meant less distance, more spin and dissatisfied golfers while “jacking up” the lofts would help everyone hit longer more accurate shots.

Which would you do?

TaylorMade PSi iron Center Cut Cutaway As TaylorMade Golf’s Josh Dipert, 45-to-48 degrees and other irons are pro- Product Development Manager of Irons, exportionately stronger so that the gapping or plains it while talking about TMaG’s latest, distance difference between the next higher the M2 irons, “…at traditional loft, three deor lower is maintained. Looking at the facts grees weaker, that thing would go straight will help understand what really has hap- up in the air. It wouldn’t even be a playable by ed travis

C

22 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

iron. Because the CG [center of gravity] is so low, because the COR [coefficient of restitution] is so fast, because of the Speed Pocket [a channel in the sole allowing more face flex] so the loft number you can just get so hung up on it, but it’s not the only thing now that drives performance.”

Josh Kinchen, Bridgestone Golf’s Marketing Manager for clubs, framed it well,

Callaway XR OS irons loft angle illustration

“Golf ball covers have become softer and more durable, allowing spin increases and higher trajectories than in the past. There have also been huge improvements in club design. For instance, our new Bridgestone JGR Hybrid Forged irons feature an incredibly low and deep center of gravity that allows us to increase length and strengthen lofts while maintaining traditional launch angles, apex of height and spin rates. In other words, a new JGR 6i will still launch, land and stop just as fast as a traditional 6i, but will carry much farther in the air.”

Jeff Newton speaking for Callaway Golf told me, “It’s not necessarily that the solid core/urethane cover created this need.

With our 360 Face Cup technology we have pushed the COR of irons to the limits.

These hotter faces deliver not only more ball speed, but they also cause the ball to launch higher, the result is a higher flying shot. So in order to maintain the same apex height for a given iron you have to have a stronger loft in our irons that have the 360 Face Cup. The result is longer distance with a similar trajectory.”

Shaft length irons have also increased generally about one-half inch, contributing a slight distance benefit, though, if shafts are too long, accuracy is significantly decreased.

Once the facts are on the table, “jacked up” lofts aren’t a sinister plot by club makers but a realistic way to improve iron performance with longer and more accurate shots.

Aerotech — shafts do make a difference

by ed travis

Shafts make a difference.

The quickest one-club distance gain I’ve experienced wasn’t due to me mystically channeling Ben Hogan. Instead it came after a master fitter told me I didn’t need a new set of irons, but the steel shafts I had in my current irons didn’t match my swing as well as they could.

His recommendation was to replace them with ones made partly of steel and partly of graphite. I had an unpleasant experience with graphite iron shafts several years ago so the idea wasn’t especially welcome. However, having confidence in him and his recommendation, the switch was made from 90-gram steel shafts to a lighter 80-gram shaft, the Aerotech SteelFiber.

The new shafts better met the requirements of my swing.

Lighter? Right. So the club can be swung faster which in theory should mean more yards but the knock on graphite has always been lighter meant less control. This clearly wasn’t the case with the Aerotech SteelFiber shafts which are made with a hollow core of graphite wrapped with steel filaments giving them great properties.

Chris Hilleary, Aerotech Golf’s president, talked about those properties in an exclusive interview with Golf Oklahoma.

For the average golfer what are the principle benefits of SteelFiber versus steel and graphite shafts?

The advantage of the SteelFiber shaft vs. steel is that the average golfer can now play a lighter weight iron shaft that is as

Aerotech Steelfiber iron shafts come in five weights, 70, 80, 95, 110 and 125 grams. stable as or more stable than any steel shaft. Therefore they can potentially hit it further with more control. They will also benefit from the vibration dampening characteristics of this composite shaft which reduces risk of injury and fatigue during the round.

The advantage of the SteelFiber over a 100-percent graphite shaft is that our shaft is filament wound which is a seamless structure and more uniform flexing than a standard sheet wrapped shaft. In addition to that we can control the wall thickness of the shaft using the steel fiber material which results in a thinner walled shaft eliminating the “boardy” feel associated thicker walled graphite shafts. The steel fiber layer also adds stability that is not achievable with graphite alone.

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 23

Is it different for drivers, fairway woods, hybrids and irons?

While we originally developed the SteelFiber technology for irons it also works very well for hybrids and drivers.

They are all constructed the same with a graphite core and over 59 miles of steel fiber on the surface of each shaft.

fessional players are using the SteelFiber shafts in the irons.

Is most of your business from OEM or after-market club fitters?

While our network of Dealers/Clubfitters continue to be the largest portion of our business, the OEMs have been coming on strong How many and now players on the represent apPGA, LPGA pr ox i m at e l y and Cham35 percent of pions tours our overall play your Chris Hilleary, president of Aerotech Golf revenues. shafts?

We continue to get more players on all What does 2016 look like for Aerotech world tours from week to week. Our estimate would be about 50 players using the and what are your plans?

2016 is shaping up to be a very good SteelFiber shafts on all the world’s major tours at this time. We now have 32 profes- year. We’ve added a Tour Rep on the Web. sional victories worldwide with players us- com tour and we’re already getting a lot of interest from those players. We’ve experiing the SteelFiber shaft. enced some very rapid growth of the past few years and this year looks to be better Mostly irons?

Yes. Ninety-five percent of these pro- than ever.

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24 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

5/20/16 1:14 PM

Chip shots

News from around the state Sponsored by

FlyingTee takes off near Tulsa by ken macleod

After numerous tests of all systems during an extended “soft opening,” FlyingTee launched itself on a great adventure June 7 in Jenks. It will be interesting to watch its progress, not just in the Tulsa area, but as it strives to grow nationally.

As for Oklahoma, golfers in both Oklahoma City (TopGolf) and Tulsa now have a three-story “eatertainment” facility that can serve both the date night and sports bar crowds as well as golfers looking for a different practice venue.

It is the variety of practice data available, as well as the diversity of the games and particularly its ability to play virtual courses, that FlyingTee has striven to separate itself from comparisons to TopGolf, although the concepts are similar.

FlyingTee has a three-story, 60-bay center boasting three restaurants, a beer garden, outdoor patios, corporate meeting rooms and suites and the ability to host everything from a detailed practice session to a 400-person charity golf tournament.

The center went through extensive technology testing and hundreds of new employees in food and beverage were trained for opening day. Many corporate events have already been held or booked for the

Golfers eat, drink, party and play golf at FlyingTee in Jenks.

summer months.

Testing revealed some clubs needed to be changed to withstand the rigors of numerous bad swings -- many participants at these facilities are trying golf for the first time. Otherwise, co-owner, CEO and founder John Vollbrecht said everything went smoothly.

“The stress tests have been absolutely amazing,” Vollbrecht said. ‘”We had more than 300 people out the other night and wanted to see if they could break the system. Everything is working and we’ve been able to test which games people like, what they don’t like. We’ve had no major issues.”

The large sports bar and outdoor dining area on the ground level is called the FlyingTee Sports Bar, which should be a great place to watch a game with friends, whether or not golf is on the menu. The second level will be called the Ironwood Rotisserie, featuring rotisserie chicken and prime rib in a casual, comfortable atmosphere. The third level bar and restaurant is called Flite, which will service the parties and rented spaces as well as offer shared appetizer items and drinks.

A group coming out for an evening will rent a bay by the hour and take turns playing various golf games, all of which use real golf balls monitored by a sophisticated tracking system. Games include darts, blackjack, long drive, horse and the ability to play Members of Tulsa Young Professionals try FlyingTee. other famous courses.

26 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

Golfers can trace their ball flight and results on monitors using the sophisticated Pro Tracer technology seen on network golf telecasts. Each bay will have fans and misters for hot weather or heaters for colder times. Servers will take orders in the bays as well as in the bars and restaurants.

The facility will be open from 9 a.m. to midnight on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. on weekends. Golfers who want to use the system’s shot tracking and swing analysis capabilities can bring their own clubs out during the morning, then return at night with a group of friends and use the new Cobra equipment provided free of charge at the bays.

The opening culminates several years of research and development for Vollbrecht and his core group, including his brother, James, who is the director of technology, and Ryan Tawwater, who has an extensive food and beverage background ,including working for Levy Restaurants, a pioneer in serving private club suites at NFL, NBA, NHL and other sports venues such as the U.S. Open in tennis or NASCAR events.

Tawwater later became the director of food and beverage at The Yellowstone Club in Montana, a private ski and golf resort.

“We want to emphasize that FlyingTee is for everyone,” Vollbrecht said. “Anyone can play the games. The food is going to be very fresh and the quality will surprise folks used to typical bar fare. We’ll have craft beers and local beers. You’ll have people coming to eat and drink and watch a game that never touch a golf club.”

FlyingTee was constructed on land where the previous movie complex was

ONLINE: Get the latest news on Oklahoma golf at

golfoklahoma.org

in Riverwalk. The complex faces north up the Arkansas River towards the new Margaritaville Resort at the Creek Nation Casino just across the river with downtown Tulsa visible beyond. The Creeks also own Riverwalk Crossing now and have a big stake in FlyingTee, so much intermingling is expected between the facilities.

Other investors include prominent Oklahoma City area golf professionals and Thunder forward Serge Ibaka, who tweeted before Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals that he hoped everyone in Tulsa would be watching the game at the FlyingTee. FlyingTee has hired well-respected teaching professional Tracy Phillips, who also operates the Buddy Phillips Learning Center at Cedar Ridge Country Club.

Phillips will guide a team of professionals, including Regina Goodwin from Oaks Country Club, who will be on hand to help golfers learn the games and offer swing tips. He’ll also be trying to help many of the date-night crowd who try the game for the first time to take up the game.

HOF honors Walters, Trimble David Trimble of Oklahoma City Bishop McGuinness and Hadley Walters of Edmond Memorial have been announced as the first recipients of the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame Scholarships for the 2016-17 academic year. Each will receive a $5,000 scholarship.

Trimble, who will atHadley Walters tend the University of Oklahoma, won this year’s Class 5A individual state championship while leading his team to the state title. All those heroics, however, came after the selection committee had been impressed with his grades, references, community service and essay.

Walters, who will attend Oklahoma State, likewise made a strong impression with her overall community volunteer efforts and leadership within her school and extracurricular activities in addition to golf.

During her part-time work at Kickingbird

Golf Course, Walters came in with a PowerPoint presentation showing head professional Brian Soerensen how his operation could be improved to make more money and provide better service, showing a high level of ingenuity.

Lew Erickson, who chairs the scholarship committee, said both David Trimble choices were difficult due to the many extremely qualified applications the Hall of Fame received.

“David and Hadley are excellent examples of the type of excellent all-around students and golfers the Hall of Fame would like to help,” Erickson said. “It was heartwarming and very encouraging to read all the applications that came in and see the quality of young men and women that are in our high school golf programs. I want to congratulate all the applicants, they were all deserving.”

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 27

Chip shots Rooney: HOF ready for takeoff Fortunately, the funding does as well.

Adding to the support of corporations such as Budweiser, Bushnell, Coke and QuiDan Rooney spends four to five days a kTrip, the FOH is about to announce partmonth in the cockpit of a T-38 Talon, rep- nerships with Rite Aid ($6 million over licating the maneuvers of enemy fighter four years) and a military coin program jets while training our own young pilots with Outback and Carrabbas Italian Grills as an Air Force Reservist with the 301st in which a large keepsake coin can be purFighter Squadron at Tyndall Air Force chased at the restaurants for a $20 donation that goes to FOH, then used in the fuBase in Florida.

He can tell you who the next Maverick or ture for free Coca-Cola products.

Equally promising, Rooney said the FOH Iceman might be.

“It’s like when you’re in the NFL, every will soon announce a partnership with player is good,” Rooney said. “But there’s Sam’s Club.

“I still don’t think 10 percent of Ameridefinitely a discrepancy of talent. Some can knows who we are, but the guys you just say wow, they message is growing and it’s reare so good.” ally powerful,” Rooney said.

Rooney, 42, who previQuikTrip donating its title ously flew many stints for sponsorship of a NASCAR race the Oklahoma Air National to the Folds of Honor has been Guard, wanted to get back in invaluable in raising nationthe air while still remaining wide awareness. devoted to his other passion, “It’s just massive,” Rooney which is growing the Folds of said. “The power of live netHonor Foundation. A chat at work television, to be out there this year’s Patriot Cup revealed for four hours . . . Plus Fox that the mission is pushing its Sports has been running a PSA envelope.

Robert Streb for the last 18 months, thou“I feel like the Folds of Honor is a rocket ship on a launching pad, sands of times free of charge.”

NOTES: One of the PGA Tour golfers the booster rockets are firing and it’s sitting there shaking and ready to take off,” who came out to support the mission was Rooney said. “As far as we have come in a Robert Streb, Edmond North graduate who short amount of time, there are things on now lives in Kansas City. Streb, who had the horizon that show we’re prepared for a 16 top-25 and nine top-10 finishes in 2015 and played all the way through the Tour massive ascent.”

The Folds of Honor was able to provide Championship, has just two top-25 finish2,569 scholarships to the families of vet- es and is currently 115th in the Fed-Ex Cup erans wounded or killed in action in 2015. standings for 2016.

“It’s been a struggle with the putter,” There were 2,950 applications, however, Streb said. “Last year I had everything goand the need continues to grow. by ken macleod photos by rip stell

Tom Lehman shows he’s still got it. ing but this year I’ve been kind of beating my head against a wall.”

As a result of his first PGA Tour win last year, Streb will not lose his PGA Tour card even if he doesn’t make the top 125 and reach the Fed-Ex Cup playoffs. Making a summer-long run up the rankings is much more on his mind, however.

“That’s the emphasis at this point,” he said. “Just move up and make sure I’m in good position for the playoffs.”

Streb said he may have put too much pressure on himself this year to live up to his 2015 accomplishments.

“You kind of expect a little more out of yourself,” he said. “I’m trying to get rid of that a little bit and just go back to playing golf.”

Tom Lehman, who tied for 16th at 8-under, has been a strong supporter of the FOH since its inception. His daughter Rachel has worked for the FOH the past two years but is soon leaving to work for a rodeo in Dallas. Lehman said his own game is still solid, for the most part.

“You have days when you get out there and do what you know you can do and other days when you feel fine but you can’t play at all,” Lehman said. “It can be frustrating but it’s what happens as we get older.”

Patriot announces $9.5 million expansion plan The Patriot Golf Club has announced a $9.5-million expansion, including a new clubhouse, renovated and expanded golf house and pool complex addition. The expected completion date of the project is summer 2018.

Members were given details at a heavily attended meeting at the Hard Rock Casino.

Dave Bryan, director of golf for the club, said the reaction was overwhelmingly positive.

The new 20,000 square-foot clubhouse will be located behind the current facility and along the ridge toward the 18th green. The 28 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

current clubhouse and pro shop will remain open while it is completed, then a temporary pro shop will be in the clubhouse while the current buildings are incorporated into the second phase, a greatly expanded golf house to include 1,200 square-foot pro shop and locker rooms.

Phase one of the expansion will begin this fall and will include construction of the clubhouse featuring space for dining, socializing and entertaining and a state-of-the-art fitness center. The dining room will include a display kitchen with a wood fire oven. The

spacious fitness center will include men’s and women’s locker rooms, spa treatment room, cardio and free weights area and an elevated yoga loft.

David Charney of the Owasso Land Trust, which has a membership stake in The Patriot and is developing the surrounding Stone Canyon housing development, was one of the club’s original founders. He said he is thrilled to see where the club and community are today.

The success of Stone Canyon, which has now has more than 1,000 residents and is

Chip shots growing by more than 10 percent annually, has been instrumental in seeing The Patriot grow from fewer than 100 members to more than 300.

“It’s very gratifying to watch and see us on firm financial footing,” Charney said. “We’ve only developed half of the available land out here. The success is not due to our marketing brilliance, it’s just a unique product that doesn’t exist anywhere else. When people are looking for a homesite that is a little bit larger in a rural setting with trees and a world class golf course, this is it.”

Dan Rooney, founder of the Folds of Honor Foundation and one who has been instrumental in The Patriot’s creation from the beginning, also said the announcement of the new facilities was something he had been long awaiting.

“I spent four years of my life literally worrying every single day that we wouldn’t make it,” Rooney said, referring to tough early times that included cost overruns due to floods and weathering downturns in the economy. “To be able to look at this and say we’re going to build this incredible clubhouse and be way far along on the golf house and pool, it’s just awesome for Oklahoma golf.”

Events and small gatherings will be wel-

30 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

comed at the clubhouse with a banquet room and smaller private dining areas for meetings and parties. Other clubhouse amenities will include a men’s lounge and member’s lounge offering stunning views of Tulsa.

“We initially Architectural rendering of clubhouse exterior. opened The Patriot with a mission to support the Folds of Honor of the current clubhouse into a premier golf Foundation, by offering great golf for the house with an expanded golf shop offering greater good, we always intended to grow the views of downtown Tulsa. The golf house facility and amenities as we grew the mem- will also include a shoe and locker room atbership,” said Holly Neidel, General Manager tendant, men’s locker room featuring over of The Patriot. “With an average growth of 300 lockers and lounge spaces, and a wom15 percent in new members each year over en’s locker room with 75 lockers and lounge the past six years, we feel now is the time to spaces.

An announcement is expected soon that expand and truly make this campus a lifestyle will detail expansion plans for the adjacent club the entire family can enjoy.”

Neidel said the funding would come most- Folds of Honor headquarters. The current ly from the ownership group, but about 25 building is approximately 5,000 square feet and the new building will be roughly double percent from a membership fundraiser.

Phase one is scheduled for completion in that size. Rooney said he expects that should fall 2017 at which time phase two will begin. take care of the needs of the growing foundaThe second phase includes the renovation tion for at least the next 10 years.

Horseshoe Bay guests treated to Shootout by steve habel

With a quartet of Texas’ best golf courses and a luxurious, right-on-the-water hotel, there’s no better place to get away from it all and work on your game than the Horseshoe Bay Resort, just a conversation or two away from Austin and San Antonio on the south shores of Lake LBJ in the heart of the Texas Hill Country.

And you never know what you might get to enjoy on a visit. Recently the renewed challenge at Slick Rock was the site of the Shootout at Horseshoe Bay Resort on May 22, in which the pairing of PGA Tour pro Jason Kokrak and LPGA player Kathleen Ekey beat Stuart Appleby and Katie Burnett 1-up in a team match-play event to promote the facility.

Established in 1971 near the bustling town of Marble Falls, Horseshoe Bay Resort is home to the largest golf complex personally designed by Robert Trent Jones, whose hand has influenced the shape of 10 former U.S.

Open venues.

Kathleen Ekey, Stuart Appleby, Katie Burnett and The golf ante was upped in 2012 Jason Kokrak. with the opening of the resort’s fourth course, the Jack Nicklaus-fashioned Summit ners of trees, bushes and plants, Jones held Rock, which was named the Dallas Morning nothing back to challenge golfers on Ram Rock. This is a roller-coaster ride of a course News’ top new course upon its debut.

The resort’s Slick Rock course was the and sometimes just a survival of the 18 holes first built and opened for play in 1972 and is seems like an accomplishment.

A combination, challenge-wise, of the two considered the easiest and most forgiving of the Horseshoe Bay’s trio of Jones-designed other Jones-designed courses at Horseshoe tracks. It embodies the Jones philosophy of Bay is Apple Rock, situated in high, rocky “hard par, easy bogey,” and recently under- terrain with magnificent views of Lake LBJ went a regrassing of all its putting surfaces and the surrounding area. As Horseshoe Bay Resort’s newest sibling, Summit Rock offers a and renovations of its bunkers.

If Slick Rock is the sheep of the three mix of daring holes throughout its solid, chalcourses at Horseshoe Bay, then Ram Rock lenging routing, which uses about 200 acres is the cougar. The course, which opened in of the property. The course is marked by rock 1981, has earned respect for its toughness ledges and outcroppings and plays past, and and as one of the stoutest tests of champion- occasionally over, ravines and box canyons.

It moves from holes lined by mesquites, oaks ship golf in the United States.

With narrow fairways, natural streams, and native grasses up to a ridge that offers plenty of water and sand, rock gardens, gran- long-reaching vistas of the rolling Hill Counite outcroppings, blind tee shots and all man- try and Lake LBJ.

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Learn More Online BattleCreekGolf.net or call 918-355-4850 www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 31

2016 OKLAHOMA GOLF HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

Thunder Bolt

had soft side

to enshrine Bolt. He was also inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2002 and by the PGA of America in 2015.

It’s that last one that befuddled Thompson, who became close to Bolt in retirement in northeast Arkansas at Cherokee Village. Thompson was Bolt’s financial advisor. by clay henry “I was outspoken about why Steve Thompson has been to a bunch of the PGA of America waited so hall of fame ceremonies for Tommy Bolt. long,” Thompson said. “That He’s looking forward to another one and was surprising.”

Bolt was born in Haworth happy that it didn’t take Oklahoma long to in 1916 and moved from Oklainduct his friend.

Bolt is in the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame’s homa two years later, soon afsecond class. Oklahoma follows Arkansas, ter his mother died of the flu.

Texas and Louisiana as state organizations Bolt’s father packed up a covered wagon and they moved first to Paris, Texas, then to Shreveport. That’s where Bolt grew up, learning golf as a caddie.

Bolt perfected his game in World War II when he worked at the top course in Rome as part of his duty with the U.S. Army. Afterwards he was the most feared player on the amateur circuit around the Shreve- A sweet swing that resulted in 15 PGA Tour wins. port area, finally trying the Bolt teamed with Art Wall to win the 1980 PGA Tour at age 34.

There were conflicting stories of his age Legends of Golf event, but it was probably during his early pro career, partly because that duo’s second-place finish the year before Bolt lied about it. He cut off two years be- that sparked the PGA Tour to begin the senior events. Tour Commissioner Deane Because he thought 34 sounded old.

Bolt joked about his longevity late in life man was among the six million watching on when he routinely beat his age. He also TV as Bolt and Wall traded birdies with Julius played late in the day, even in the heat. There Boros and Roberto De Vicenzo in the epic six-hole playoff. was a famous Bolt line about that, too.

Bolt became a legend in 1958 when he “Tommy didn’t want to play until the afternoon,” Thompson said. “Tommy would say, won the U.S. Open at Southern Hills Coun‘That’s when the good players play.’ What a try Club in Tulsa. He was the hottest player gentleman, and he’d always be dressed to the on tour coming into the event and led all the way. He won by four shots over Gary Player nines.”

Bolt signs autographs for youngsters.

Tommy Bolt March 31, 1916 – August 30, 2008 1958 U.S. Open Champion, Southern Hills, Tulsa, Okla.

Born: Haworth, Okla.

Winner of 15 PGA Tour Events, 12 Seniors events

32 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

with 71-71-69-72 for 3-over 283.

There was little doubt in Bolt’s mind that he was going to win after opening the tournament with a birdie at the first hole. Bolt said he walked off the first green thinking, “I wonder who is going to be second.”

It was his play on the famed 12th at Southern Hills – called the All-American hole – that probably won the tournament. Bolt birdied the beautiful 458-yard dogleg left par-4 the first three rounds.

Bolt always played well at the classic courses. His first PGA Tour victory came at Pinehurst No. 2 in the 1951 North and South Open. He won 15 times on the PGA Tour, 12 senior events, including the 1969 PGA. Among other classic courses, Bolt won twice at the Colonial in Fort Worth and the Los Angeles Open at Riviera.

Interviewed by this reporter at Southern Hills in 1982 when Bolt was a guest at the PGA Championship, he said the ’58 U.S. Open was one of the rare times that his temper was never an issue. Bolt said he was “at peace with his game” for all 72 holes.

Of course, Bolt was always worth a quote.

There are countless great lines by the man fans and reporters dubbed Terrible Tommy,

the photographer seemed disappointed that I hadn’t thrown one. I grabbed him and took him back out on the course so he could get a picture of me throwing a club.”

Bolt said his temper was often in check when others thought it was not.

“I have a ruddy complexion,” he said. “My nose and even my face might be red. It’s just me. I wasn’t mad, but people saw that and thought that.”

Bolt told Jim Murray, the famed LA Times columnist, “write that I’m a nice guy, so people will like me. I don’t think they do.” Bolt was likeable and accommodating to the media. He produced some great one-liners.

“Never break your putter and your driver in the same round,” he said. “Or, you’re dead.”

Bolt, right, with his idol Ben Hogan.

Bolt once asked his caddie, “What club?”

Thunder Bolt or Tempestuous Tommy. He The caddie responded, “The 2-iron, it’s the earned all of that with his temper and club only one you have left.”

Bolt often traveled with Ben Hogan, the throwing. The PGA Tour instituted fines for man who helped fix his grip in 1955 that all club throwing, nicknamed the Bolt rule.

“I threw clubs and I broke them,” he said. but eliminated the hook that caused many of “But it got to where I did it just for show. Peo- the temper fits. Hogan turned Bolt’s left hand ple came to see me throw a club, so I threw to the point where only the last three fingers of that hand controlled the club. them.

The beauty of Bolt’s swing was a slow “Photographers followed me for 18 holes hoping I’d throw one. I remember one time tempo and most were in awe of his ability to

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Just off 1-35 at 4001 Fairfax Drive • Edmond, OK 73034 www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 33

2016 OKLAHOMA GOLF HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE hit all of the shots. He could move the ball either direction and had a wonderful ability with long irons. It was a dead stiff 2-iron shot on a par-3 in a playoff with Gene Littler and Hogan that won the 1960 Memphis Open.

Bolt thought Hogan was the game’s greatest all-time player, ahead of Jack Nicklaus.

“I saw Nicklaus watching Hogan practice,” Bolt said. “I never saw Hogan watching Nicklaus practice. When Hogan played a practice round, about half of the gallery was Tour pros.”

There was also clear respect for Bolt from Nicklaus. Bolt’s son went to Southern Hills for the 2001 U.S. Open. He had his son with him when they were introduced to Nicklaus and his son.

“Jack shook my son’s hand and said, ‘Your grandfather is the only player who ever intimidated me on the golf course,” said Tommy Bolt Jr. “That was a great moment.”

There continue to be great moments where Bolt’s name is concerned at Cherokee Village. The 13th Tommy Bolt Memorial, a charity event, has raised more than $80,000 through the years.

“Tommy worked to put it together and gave his name to it,” Thompson said. “His

34 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

family continues to support the tournament.

“Tommy did a lot for the community,” Thompson said. “He was a big advocate for junior golf in our area. He gave his time and financially. Our area owes a great deal to Tommy.”

David Webb, long-time pro at Cherokee Village, became good friends with Bolt. He said the number one thing to remember was the way he treated the junior golfers.

“He loved the kids,” Webb said. “And we had a lot of good kids. They so respected Tommy. He always had a tidbit of knowledge for them. And, he just loved to see them out here on our South course.”

One of those fine junior players was Aaron Circle, who would play at Arkansas State.

Circle met Bolt as a seventh grader. Soon they were best friends as Bolt mentored both Aaron and his younger brother Nathan.

“I guess I was a good listener,” Aaron said.

“I tried to soak everything up. It started out as just me hanging around and then he did become my mentor. He turned into my hero.

“I’d go to his house for Christmas. It was amazing to look through his things. You’d see Christmas cards from the game’s greats – Nicklaus, Trevino, and all of them.”

As far as instruction, it was always simple.

Bolt ready to drown a club.

“He was big on the grip,” Circle said.

“Tommy said the game starts with the grip and he was never mechanical. Keep the grip neutral and you could play. Learn to hit the driver and to putt.”

There were times great times watching 16mm film of Bolt and Hogan practicing side by side. Mary Lou, Tommy’s wife, did the filming.

“We’d sit in the living room and Tommy would set up the projector and watch those,” Circle said. “And, he’d talk about it. I don’t know where those reel to reel tapes are now.

“We’d sit and talk about the swing, but he wanted to explain the mental side to the game more than anything else. And there were just such great stories.”

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2016 OKLAHOMA GOLF HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

Conquering the world TU was launchpad for Lopez’ Hall of Fame ride of Oak Tree National and then an All-American at By the time she arrived on the Univer- Oklahoma State, was asked sity of Tulsa campus in 1976, Nancy Lo- by Dr. Bob Jones to play a pez was well on her way to being the best round with Lopez at Cedar Ridge, one of the most diffemale golfer on the planet.

Her grip was overly strong, but Cedar ficult golf courses in the Ridge professional Buddy Phillips fixed state. Doc Jones had flown that quickly. She drove it straight and far, his plane with TU’s firsthit accurate irons and was an amazing year coach Dale McNamara and Phillips to New Mexico putter. to recruit the Roswell sensation and was eager to show off Lopez to some of the area’s top players.

Tom Jones asked Lopez which tees she would like to play and was taken aback when she opted for the tips.

That surprise didn’t last long.

“I knew she was different early,” Jones said. “She really moved it out there. And she was so consistent. She hit a lot of greens, rolled the putts well and moved on. She shot 78 from the tips. I thought that was pretty impressive.”

If 78 doesn’t sound that impressive, consider the back tees at Cedar Ridge then were close to 700 yards On her way longer than what she would normally face in a college or pro event.

Lopez made a splash in Tulsa.

Ron Streck was a junior on the TU If it sounds simple and economical, it men’s team when Lopez made an early was. Lopez, trained by her father, Domin- visit to Tulsa. He was assigned to show go, since she was a toddler, was not look- Lopez and fellow recruit Cathy Reynolds ing for drama on the course, just victories. around on their trip, and the three wound She came to Tulsa having already won up at My Pi Pizza, which later became a the New Mexico Women’s State Amateur Lopez favorite and “one of the reasons three times and the U.S. Girls Champion- I gained about 14 pounds my freshman year.” ship twice.

Streck also played with Lopez from the Tom Jones, now the president and COO by ken mac leod

36 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

to one of 48 victories on the LPGA Tour. back tees at Cedar Ridge and said she shot about 75. What stood out to him was her putting.

“If you’re going to succeed on any tour, the thing I look for is what kind of putter are you,” Streck said. “She was very confident in her short putts and she turned out to be a great putter, one of the best on the LPGA Tour.”

Phillips, who retired in 2012 after 40 years as Cedar Ridge’s head professional,

was smitten with Lopez’ talent and personality. To this day, out of all the great future LPGA players who practiced and played at Cedar Ridge during their TU days, he said Lopez stands out.

“She had a lot of talent and didn’t need much help,” Phillips said. “She had a strong grip that we corrected, but otherwise you don’t make many changes with a talent like that. I watched her on the range and gave her a few pointers. She was such a nice girl and very receptive, but again, she didn’t need much help.”

McNamara, who had been hired in 1975 to start a women’s golf team at TU, had noticed a clipping in Golf World magazine about Lopez winning the New Mexico State Amateur at age 12. She remembered that five years later when she started the Tulsa program. And though she really wasn’t authorized to offer fullride scholarships, she found a way to convince the TU administration that this girl was worth it.

As it turned out, Lopez earned a Colgate Palmolive scholarship that paid for most of her schooling. McNamara said after watching Lopez finish second in the

U.S. Open in the summer prior to her enrolling at Tulsa, she felt fortunate that Lopez came at all.

“I watched her on television at The Broadmoor and thought, ‘oh my God, she’s fabulous,’ ” McNamara said.

“And then she came here with that milliondollar smile and personality. She was magical. “Magical,” is how former TU coach Dale McNamara describes Lopez’ two years in Tulsa.

She is magical.”

Ridge for practice and from there to her Lopez arrived driving a yellow Gran Torino that Do- favorite hangouts with friends and teammingo, who ran an auto body shop, had mates.

“I really did try hard at Tulsa,” Lopez purchased for her. She peeled out everywhere she went, earning the nickname said. “I was good with numbers and had Screech. She was in a hurry, if not to to study a lot. I didn’t have that natural get to class, to get from school to Cedar ability to make straight As. I had to work

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 37

2016 OKLAHOMA GOLF HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE hard for Cs. “Dale was great. I really missed my mom and dad and she was a mother fig-

Lopez enjoys a game of pool at one of her TU hangouts. ure. She kept us all under her wing and was very much the mom that we needed.”

Lopez’ economical practice habits made

an impression on McNamara, herself a seven-time state amateur champion who could have turned professional.

“She practiced as efficiently as you could ever find,” McNamara said. “She didn’t waste a minute. She was very long and a wonderful putter. Buddy helped her a lot with her short game. Hitting wedge shots in lush grass was not something you learned growing up in New Mexico.

“Nancy was a happy-go-lucky girl who had a good time anywhere she went. Life was good and she wanted to make sure she enjoyed every bit of it. She was kind and unselfish. But she was also very driven in what she wanted to do” Again, beyond having a good college experience, what Lopez wanted to do was hit fairways and greens and start winning tournaments, just as she had been used to doing regularly since before the age of 10 back home in Roswell.

When tournament play began her freshman year, all Lopez did was win her seven of nine tournaments, including the AIAW National Championship. TU won six of those tournaments and finished second in the national championship.

With father Domingo, who was justifiably proud of all her accomplishments.

Sophomore slump? Hardly. Lopez won four of the first five tournaments in the 1976-77 season and finished the year with five victories, two seconds and a third in 10 events. She placed second individually in the national championship while Tulsa won eight of nine events leading into the AIAW finals only to finish second again.

McNamara jokingly said she must not have been a very good coach to not win

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a national title with Lopez on the team.

That was hardly the case, as Lopez and McNamara kick-started a women’s golf dynasty in those two years that resulted in four national titles and 80 championships in 26 years. Dozens of her players went on to LPGA Tour careers, but there was only one Lopez.

Her rookie year on the LPGA Tour was cut short by the death of her mother, Marina Lopez, but history will never forget what she did the following two years. In her official rookie season of 1978 she won nine tournaments, including five consecutive. She followed that up with eight more victories in 1979, giving her a total of 28 wins in her two years of college and first full two years on tour.

Lopez went on to win 48 times on the LPGA Tour, including the LPGA Championship three times, and was inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame in 1987.

Like many rock stars, her creative flame burned hottest in young adulthood and she struggled later with balancing golf and raising a family. She won 32 of her 48 events by 1985 when she was 27 and she was the most popular player on tour by

a landslide. The victories were much rarer over the next decade, but she was competitive and won her final event in 1997.

Lopez retired from full-time playing at the age of 45 in 2002, but competes occasionally on the LPGA Legends Tour. She is very active in a company called Nancy Lopez Golf Adventures, in which she and a team of teaching professionals are hired by clubs or groups to come in and teach for two days, including stations for chipping, putting, short game and full shots.

She also teaches her clients to Taking time for an interview. “play happy.”

“That’s what my dad always said to sible. It prepared me for the tour. I loved me,” Lopez said. “You’ve got to play hap- collegiate golf, but I also thought I was py. I use a lot of the things he taught me ready for the next step after two years.

“We had a lot of good times, hanging on this venture today.”

Lopez has nothing but good thoughts out at The Library (not a place with many when she looks back at her time in Tulsa. books in it) or My Pi Pizza or the Tap “I really love Tulsa and the university,” Room with the guys from the boys team.

Lopez said. “It was a great city to be a part I had a lot of growing up to do, though of and to live in. I had a good time in col- I was still very disciplined when it came lege, but I also learned to be more respon- to golf.”

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 39

2016 OKLAHOMA GOLF HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

Dedication to his craft Cozby mentored young pros with tough love

Jerry Cozby in his element at Hillcrest CC by ken macleod

T

he PGA of America is celebrating its Centennial in 2016. For about half that century, Jerry Cozby was setting the example of what a PGA professional should be.

Cozby retired from Hillcrest Country Club in Bartlesville after 41 years at the helm of one of Oklahoma’s premier clubs.

From 1965-69, he was an assistant to a Texas Golf Hall of Fame professional, Harvey Loudermilk, at Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio.

Whether it was Loudermilk’s doing or just his personality, Cozby arrived at Hillcrest with a fully formed conception of the role of the PGA professional, a fierce work ethic and a near fanatical devotion to detail.

Those traits never waned or dimmed. He and wife Karole’s family grew to include three fine sons, each of whom has gone on to become a leader in the industry. Time and health issues took their toll as they will in 41 years. Yet Cozby always provided a level 40 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

of member service that set the standard for other pros to follow.

“He is wired like an eight-day clock,” said son Cary Cozby, who learned the business from his father well enough that he is now the head professional at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa and a fivetime winner of the PGA South Central Section Professional of the Year award.

“Anybody that’s ever worked for him, the members at Hillcrest, us in the family, we all understood that. He brought it every pro shop. single day. Professionally, I really appreciate that now in my career.”

Although a friendly and entertaining storyteller after work, the native of Breckenridge, Texas, was a no-nonsense taskmaster on the clock. If his idol Ben Hogan had shown up one day to take Cozby’s place, the only change may have been that the new boss was a little less intimidating.

David Bryan, now the head professional at Cedar Ridge Country Club in Tulsa, is another proud member of the Cozby-trained professional tree. The son of renowned professional Dave Bryan (formerly of Southern Hills, now at The Patriot in Owasso), the younger Bryan thought he understood the golf business when he took his first job as an assistant at Hillcrest.

“I found out there was a lot more to it than what I thought,” Bryan said laughing.

“Jerry wanted to make sure I knew what the golf business was all about and what being a good club professional meant. It was definitely an eye-opener working for him in that capacity.”

Bryan remembers going home to his one-

bedroom apartment so exhausted he would collapse and fall asleep wherever he first sat down and not move until morning. Still, he cherishes the experience.

“At the time I thought he was being hard on me and I didn’t understand it,” Bryan said. “But I look back now and I grew and learned and it helped make me the professional that I am today. I’m proud to be a part of his professional tree.”

Not only are Cozby protégés in charge of Southern Hills and Cedar Ridge, but former assistant Tim Johnson is the general manager at Pinnacle Country Club, site of the annual Walmart Northwest Arkansas LPGA Classic.

“He’s been the most influential person in my career,” Johnson said. “He taught me how to pay attention to detail, the importance of punctuality, that the underlying core of every club is service. He brought the same energy, drive and dedication every day he came to work.”

That commitment has led to a truck load of awards and honors in addition to his im-

Accepting an award from his hero Ben Hogan.

Info on induction ceremony, HOF Classic Anyone wishing to attend the Sept. 18 induction of Oklahoma Golf Hall of Famers Nancy Lopez, Jerry Cozby, Labron Harris Sr., Tommy Bolt, W.K. Warren Sr. and W.K. Warren Jr. at Southern Hills Country Club can purchase tickets on the Hall of Fame website at www.oklahomagolfhof.org. Individual seats are $150 and sponsorship tables are available. The dinner will include a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. followed by the induction ceremony.

Also, anyone wishing to sponsor a team for the Hall of Fame Classic Sept. 19 at Southern Hills can also obtain more information and register on the website. Sponsorships come with a foursome in the tournament and a table of 10 at the induction dinner as well as numerous other benefits. Any questions, please call 918-280-0787. The dinner and tournament are the main fundraisers for the non-profit Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame. Your support is greatly appreciated. pending induction into the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame. He was named national PGA of America Professional of the Year in 1985, which in 2005 brought with it an automatic induction into the PGA of America Hall of Fame. Cozby has at least a dozen honors at the section level and was inducted into both the National Junior College Athletics Association Hall of Fame and the Bartlesville Sports Hall of Fame.

Two stand out, however. Golfweek Magazine named him Father of the Year in 2012. And then there is the hat.

Inside a glass presentation case commanding a prominent perch amidst decades of awards, books and other golf memorabilia, is a faded Oklahoma hat. Cary got it from former Sooner sports information director Larry McAlister and wore it when the Sooners won the 1992 Big Eight Championship. He then worked out in it frequently and passed it on in all of its sweat-stained glory to brother Craig, who himself wore it during his All-American career then passed it on to youngest brother Chance, who did the same.

In 1999 as a Christmas present, the boys presented the hat to Jerry and Karole with this inscription.

“Eleven `O’ Letters, Six First Team All-Big Eight Awards, Two All-American Awards, One Big 8 Newcomer of the Year Award, One NCAA Team Championship, One Big Eight Team Championship, Three `O’ Rings and One Hat!” Family has always meant the world to Cozby and he considers The hat worn by all three anyone who has worked for him Sooner sons. as part of his extended family. The ability to turn off the gruff working boss persona after hours or when the person has moved on to his next job, and the genuine care and concern for his former assistants are part of his makeup.

Cozby took up the game when his father Steve partnered with Mike Holder’s father Speck to build a crude nine-hole course with sand greens on an old prairie dog town while the fathers were working for Gulf Oil in a west Texas camp.

The Cozby family moved shortly after to Odessa, where Jerry became a terrific high school player, a two-time national champion at Odessa Junior College and then a small college national champion at Lamar in Beaumont. He may have been a four-time national cham-

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2016 OKLAHOMA GOLF HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE the collegiate and amateur levels.

Jerry was on the job pretty much seven days a week and I was with the boys and loved every second of it.”

The Cozby family and what it has meant to golf was certainly a consideration by Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame selection committee members who were impressed by not only Cozby’s individual accomplishments and dedication, but by the family and its growGolfweek’s 2012 Father of the Year with his clan. ing legacy in golf. In addition to Cary’s position at Southern Hills, pion, but the senior-laden team elected to at- Chance and Craig both hold vital positions tend their graduation rather than compete in in Ping Golf.

“I can’t think of a better upbringing,” Cary the College Division championship.

He met Karole at Lamar and took her first said. “To be surrounded by a golf course to San Antonio, then out of her beloved with awesome parents who did everything Lone Star state when he got the job at Hill- in the world for us. We had everything we crest in 1969, promising her they would re- needed plus some.”

Although he more than earned all his turn after five years.

“Well, here it is 47 years later and we’re recognition, Cozby also knows he’s led a still here,” Karole said. “I couldn’t have blessed life.

“When I think back to those sand greens asked for a better life. Golf has been so good I grew up on, it’s been very flattering to reto us as a family.

“I still miss the days of being involved on ceive these type of awards,” Cozby said. “I

42 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

At home in the golf room surrounded by a lifetime of awards and memorabilia. just have to pinch myself. There are a lot of other good golf professionals, a lot better than I am.

“One thing I’ve always tried to do and believe in is to make sure all of the golfers at your facility are having a good time and enjoying the game. Hopefully we as golf professionals have done something to help them play to the best of their ability.”

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HIGH SCHOOL STATE TOURNAMENTS

Four-peat!!

“Being able to say that I’m a four-time the top female amastate champion is quite an honor,” Youngteur golfers in the blood said. “I’m just thrilled. I made some state at any age, and birdies, then just kept my cool and made her dominant first some steady pars. That really helped me in season in high school the end.” only added strength Dupree was watching some of his other to that argument. She players when Youngblood got her final shot back-to-back round started, but his assistant coach report72s to beat Broken ed that the senior started strong.

Arrow’s Taylor Dob“He told me Sydney was on cruise conson by three. Union’s by scott wright Yujeong Son trol,” Dupree said. “I just laughed. I’ve seen run at a sixth straight

it in three other state title was ended by Owasso, which defeated KINGSTON – Durant tournaments. She gets a Norman by 17 strokes for the championgirls golf coach Tanner lead, and she’s just a ma- ship.

Dupree first met Sydney chine.

Youngblood when she “To watch her grow was in sixth grade. He Class 5A boys as a young lady and as a can’t count how many Team champion: golfer, it’s been a fun ride. tournaments he’s seen McGuinness She’s a once-in-a-lifetime her win.

Individual medalplayer and person.”

But it’s easy to count ist: David Trimble, Youngblood’s individher state championships: McGuinness ual performance led Dufour.

The breakdown: rant to the team champiWhen she tapped in A playoff between onship as well. The Lions her final putt on the 18th Trimble and Piedtook a four-shot lead into hole at Chickasaw Pointe mont’s Dustin Hasthe final round and pulled Golf Club on May 5, ley went three holes David Trimble away to win by 16.

Youngblood became just before Trimble pulled Durant wasn’t the only it out with a short birdie putt at Shawnee the third Oklahoma high team to sweep the big Country Club. McGuinness led the team school golfer to win the hardware at a state tour- race wire to wire, winning by 11 shots. state tournament all four Sydney Youngblood nament this year. In six of years, joining Altus’ Me gan Blonien (2009-12) and Idabel’s Lacey the 10 tournaments, the individual medal- Class 5A girls ist’s school also won the team title.

Jones (2001-04).

Team champion: Durant Here’s a class-by-class breakdown of this With Blonien and Youngblood going Individual medalist: Sydney Youngblood, back-to-back in their four-peats, Class 5A year’s state tournaments: Durant has had only two girls win individual titles The breakdown: Youngblood’s four-peat the last eight years. was only part of the historic day for Durant, Class 6A boys When Dupree met Youngblood, neither playing on its home course of Chickasaw Team champion: Edmond North he nor anyone else could’ve predicted four Individual medalist: Laken Hinton, Ed- Pointe. The team title was the first team state championships. But the coach instantly mond North state championship in any girls sport in the noticed some unique qualities.

The breakdown: After a one-year absence, school’s history.

“She’s always been so goal-oriented and Edmond North returned to driven,” Dupree said. “And it’s not just the throne of 6A golf, winthings she says; it’s in her actions. Every day ning its 11th state champiof practice for four years has had a purpose, onship in the last 12 years. a specific task to work on her game and get Hinton led the way, postbetter. ing three straight rounds “If we’re doing a team drill, or something of 73 at Karsten Creek to that doesn’t fit with what she personally win the individual honors needs to work on that day, then she’ll stay by five shots. late and work on it after our team practice

is over.”

Class 6A girls Youngblood opened the 36-hole tournaTeam champion: ment with a 73 to lead by three shots, her Owasso smallest opening-round lead in any of her Individual medalist: Yufour state tournaments. Yet on the final day, jeong Son, Norman when most of her competitors saw their The breakdown: Son, scores rise, she fired a 2-under-par 70 to win a freshman, has already Edmond North’s Colter Baca, Connor Wilson, Laken Hinton, by 13. proven herself as one of Austin Eckroat, and Blake Blaser.

Youngblood is third to run the table in state

44 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

Christian Heritage’s Logan McAllister, Nic Rankin, Joseph Lemieux, Tyler Best, Drew Stark, coach Tony Merrell, assistant coach Chad Borin.

Class 4A boys

The breakdown: Scarberry capped her Team champion: stellar sophomore Cascia Hall year with her secIndividual medalond state champiist: Matthew Braley, onship, shooting Cascia Hall 1-under-par 71 on The breakdown: the final day for a Cascia Hall posted come-from-behind back-to-back unvictory. Purcell won der-par rounds as a its third straight team to pull away team crown, and for a 27-stroke vicsixth in the last 13 Matthew Braley tory over defending ShaeBug Scarberry years. champ Heritage Hall. Braley led the way

with a combined score of 10 under in the Class 2A boys final 36 holes to win by one shot over SalTeam champion: Mooreland lisaw’s Nick Pierce.

Individual medalist: Kason Cook, Hydro Eakly

Class 4A girls

Team champion: Fort Gibson Individual medalist: Chloe Black, Newcastle The breakdown: Black, only a sophomore, showed significant growth in her consistency this seaChloe Black son, after finishing as state runner-up a year ago. She defeated Fort Gibson’s Emilee Rigsby by two shots. The team championship was the first for Fort Gibson.

Class 3A boys

Team champion: Christian Heritage Individual medalist: Logan McAllister, Christian Heritage The breakdown: In its first year in 3A, Christian Heritage won its first state championship in boys golf, finishing 26 strokes ahead of Plainview. McAllister, a sophomore who is verbally committed to Oklahoma, shot rounds of 66-65-67 to win by 10 shots.

Class 2A girls

Team champion: Mooreland Individual medalist: Sierra Holden, Fletcher The breakdown: Holden’s first-round 71 set her up for a three-stroke victory.

However, the team race was much tighter. Mooreland cut 14 strokes off its firstday score, shooting 386 in the final round to defeat Tishomingo Sierra Holden by one shot.

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Class 3A girls Team champion: Purcell Individual medalist: ShaeBug Scarberry, Purcell

The breakdown: Cook opened with a 69, the tournament’s only sub-70 round, and held on for a seven-shot victory.

Mooreland repeated as team champ thanks to a three-round total of 966, good for a 12shot advantage over Haworth.

Kason Cook

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918-743-3737 www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 45

COLLEGE ROUNDUP

OCU Stars claim 10th NAIA crown since 2002 linois. Matthew Cheung, a junior from Australia, shot rounds of 71-70-72-71 to finish three shots behind winner David Ravetto of Texas Wesleyan.

OCU also won in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012 and 2013.

The Stars captured their 2010 title at TPC Deere Run. Kyle Blaser became NAIA coach of the year for the ninth time. Blaser notched tournament victory No. 99 in his 19th season as OCU coach.

Cheung, Anthony Marchesani and Rupert From left to right, Zac Oliver, Jett Johnson, Rupert Kaminski, Kyle Blaser, Anthony Marchesani, Kaminski of OCU finished Matthew Cheung and Garrison Mendoza. among the top 10 individuals to earn all-tournament honors.

Oklahoma City University’s NAIA title for state schools.

Marchesani tied for fourth as he fired a and the Oklahoma Sooners’ surprising run The Stars came up with a great final into the NCAA Championship’s match- round to win their 10th national cham- 72-72-73-72–289 -- his best national-tourplay portion highlighted postseason golf pionship at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Il- nament finish. Kaminski rose from tied

46 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

for 53rd after the second round to into the top 10.

“I knew we were going to be hard to catch after nine holes and then we tore it up on the back nine,” Blaser said. “The kids really stepped it up. When you’ve won 10 national titles, the first one is always the best, but coming back from a seven-stroke deficit, this one ranks right up there. This was probably the most exciting one of all.”

Ebba Moberg

Charter Lawson

Logan Gray

Sooners reach match play in NCAA hansson led the team with a tie for 27th.

OCU’s women team, with its all OklaAfter barely making the 15-team cut, the Sooners put together a scintillating fi- homa starting five, finished seventh in the nal round of 3-under to reach the final eight NAIA Championship.

In NCAA Division II, Northeastern State, led by Baylee Price, Emma Moberg and Charter Lawson, finished in eighth place in the national championship at CommonGround Golf Course Baylee Price in Aurora, Colorado.

On the men’s side, the University of Cen-

Eric Kline

Russ Purser

tral Oklahoma missed the match play final by a single shot while Oklahoma Christian finished 14th in the 20-team field.

Eric Kline and Russ Purser both shot 1-over-par 73s to pace the Bronchos in the final round, while Logan Gray had a 75 and Eli Armstrong and Cody Troutman each shot 76.

Kline finished in a tie for 16th in the final individual standings with a 3-underpar 213. The senior opened with rounds of 71-69 before closing with the 73, making three bogeys, two birdies and 13 pars on the day.

Purser had a front-nine 37 before making eight pars and one birdie coming in for a closing 36.

Max McGreevy match-play portion of the NCAA Championship at Eugene Country Club in Oregon.

Max McGreevy fired a 4-under 66 and Brad Dalke 68 to help OU claim the final spot.

The Sooners were eliminated 4-1 in the quarterfinals by No. 2 Texas.

Oklahoma State, after winning the Karsten Creek reJordan Niebrugge gional easily, finished 10th after 72 holes of stroke play, six shots out of match play. Senior Jordan Niebrugge led the Cowboys with a tie for 17th. Niebrugge was the only senior among the top 12 players.

The OSU women’s team also narrowly missed out on match play, finishing 11th the previous week in Eugene. Linnea Jo- Linnea Johansson www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 47

DESTINATIONS

The scenic 10th hole at Escondido Golf & Lake Club.

Escondido opens door to visitors by art stricklin

HORSESHOE BAY, Texas – Texas Hill Country combined with architect Tom Fazio in this most scenic part of the state has always proven to be golfing magic and the most recent proof of that, the Escondido Golf and Lake Club, now has a unique opening for out-of-state golfers.

Escondido, opened in 1996 in scenic and lake-filled Horseshoe Bay, is the latest bit of Fazio mastery in this region, 50 miles west of Austin, and has been steadily improving in statewide ranking, course conditions and prestigious events.

It will host the 2016 Texas Golf Association state amateur championship and in May was ranked as the No. 1 course in South and Central Texas, sixth overall in the state out of more than 800 by the prestigious Dallas Morning News rankings.

It was the highest-ever ranking for the course and confirmed the vision that the club members had when they recently purchased the course themselves with longtime Texas golf veteran Glenn Lee as general manager and CEO. “We’re not where we want to be as the No. 1 course in the state, but we’re certainly headed in the right direction with our combination of splendid Hill Country luxury and great Fazio design,” Lee said. “We feel it’s an unbeatable combination for those who want a part of a private lakeside golf preserve in a scenic enclave. It’s easy to get to, hard to forget.”

One of the recent changes at the member owned and controlled club is the addition of a new non-equity national membership option. It allows golfers to join Escondido provided their permanent residence is outside Texas’ boundaries and they don’t have a second residence within 200 miles of the club.

It’s targeted for people who want the 48 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

laid-back South Texas lifestyle for a long weekend, vacation or special family times together.

Less than five miles from the club is a modern private airstrip, which can handle the largest or smallest private aircraft, plus a variety of highways all leading to the small town with lots of big Fazio golf.

The par-71 layout plays at 7,165 yards from the back tees, but can be played from a variety of tee locations. Much of the year, the course, which winds gracefully through the adjoining community, is covered with wildflowers and dozens of hardwoods along with plenty of natural, spring-fed lakes.

It starts off gracefully with a pair of mainly straight par-4 holes, but gradually brings all kinds of shots and all kinds of challenge.

Fazio is a master of not repeating hole types and for not allowing cart paths or off-course homes to intrude into the golfers’ vantage points, There isn’t any hole which wows you with thundering waterfalls or awe-inspiring drops from tee to green, but that’s not the point at Escondido. It’s laid-back, friendly, welcoming and scenic with an occasional bite to it.

“It’s a good place to relax, have fun with your friends, tell some stories and play some golf,” said former longtime Texas Tech head football coach Spike Dykes, who is a member. “That’s what I think golf should be about.”

Lee added, “We never want to be in a position where we have to have tee times or people have to call way in advance to get on the course. We want it to be great golf where people can enjoy themselves.”

After nine holes of golfing challenges, players stop at the unique smokehouse next to the par-3 10th hole where native meats are grilled on a large outdoor grill and then served as a quick snack to hungry golfers at

the turn.

A quick spin by the popular snack house here will make the notion of a quick hot dog or candy bar seem downright old fashioned.

On the 10th, you have to thread your ball through a thicket of trees on either side of the fairway to a pear shaped green.

The par-5 11th requires you to hit a driver over water from the back tees to a wide fairway which narrows as you get closer to the green with more trees coming into play.

Among the most memorable holes are the Fazio closing stretches with the par 3 15th hole where a large lake takes up the entire left side of the fairway and curls dangerously all along the left side of the green.

The par-4 16th hole has its fairway bending right to left with a large stream running down the right side and then cutting through the fairway heading left which means your approach to the green will be over water at some point.

The finishing challenge comes on the par5 18th hole with water all the way down the left side with trees on both sides of the fairway and a green where putts break toward the water.

When golf is finished there is a full-service lakeside club with boats for rent along with swimming and sunning areas, a kids playground and plenty to eat and drink.

A particular attraction to out-of-state visitors are four, large, modern houses which are on the outskirts of the community offering four large bedrooms all with their own bath, flat screen TVs in every room, a kitchen, common area with more TVs and a putting green in the backyard -- all the comforts of home.

Hill Country Luxury never looked so good. For more information on Escondido Golf and Lake Club and its national membership, go to www.escondidotexas.com or call 830-598-7800.

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 49

DESTINATIONS

Price, proximity right at The Woodlands Center.

Opened in 1974 in one of the first masTHE WOODLANDS – Local travelers ter planned communities in Texas, the looking for a neighborly, tree shrouded, then-named Woodlands Inn recently went watery summer destination might try a through a total multi-million dollar renovation to its lodging options. Its three main seemingly unlikely place.

Just on the outskirts of Houston, is a units are located around the Forest Oasis most aptly named destination, The Wood- Waterscape, which includes a huge water lands, or more specifically, the recently entertainment facility, with slides, a lazy renovated Woodlands Inn and Conference river, hot tub and in-pool waterfalls. by art stricklin

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50 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

Panther Trail 18th hole Add the numerous shade trees, the natural wildlife, 36 holes of championship golf with miles of walking and biking trails and you have a cool, Texas-sized vacation spot which serves as a shady oasis on the edge of a major, urban city.

It’s a straight shot down Highway 75/ Interstate 45 from much of Oklahoma or a quick flight to the booming George Bush International Airport, 20 minutes south of The Woodlands.

The resort is located on the opening edges of the suburban retreat which was begun by Texas oilman George Mitchell in the ‘70s as a place to escape the sprawling urban neighbor of mega-city Houston.

One turn into the small tree-lined entrance to the hidden multi-story lodging and the huge, wood-beamed check-in lobby and you will consider it mission accomplished for Mitchell’s dream.

Of course, golf has always been at the core of the Woodlands experience, now with six public and private courses in a community. That includes the Woodlands Country Club, located across the street from the resort, which hosted the PGA Tour’s Shell Houston Open and now has the Champions Tour event.

The two public courses next to The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center are called Panther Trail and The Oaks, both outstanding golf options that begin and end near the main clubhouse and resort.

The Oaks is a stern and fair test for golfers of all skill levels, playing par-72, 7,044 yards from the back tees. The course was designed by Joe Lee and Robert Von Hagge in 1975, and it’s perhaps easy to understand how the course got its name when you look around at the towering oak trees.

The course features large undulating greens that average over 4,500 square feet of surface area, huge greenside bunkers, and generous fairways. There is water on nearly half of the holes highlighted by the par-4, 18th bordering Lake Harrison which adds to the natural beauty and challenge of The Oaks.

Panther Trails, also par-72 and 7,044 yards, is a 1997 Lee and Von Hagge design, which was totally renovated by Roy Case in 2002.

There are no reported panthers roaming the greens, but you’ll find all the ingredients for a superb game: deep woods, shining waters, and exceptional Bermuda fairways and greens.

The course, which begins just steps from many of the rooms here, delivers a sleek layout, new contours, and fairways framed with over 20 acres of Texas wildflowers. The par-4 18th features an island green where your resort round can often sink or swim on a final approach.

Panther Trails was recently ranked as one of the Houston area’s topfive courses by several Texas golf publications.

There is a huge practice area along with a chipping and putting green between the two courses while longtime PGA Tour teaching guru Kevin Kirk has his instructional headquarters nearby for any post- or pre-round tune-ups.

When golf is done for the day, there is the massive water facility with activities ranging from the bold to the balmy for sun worshipers, but The Woodlands made sure in a 21st century type of way much of the vacation took place in the room as well.

Each of the renovated rooms comes with its own I-pad, resting, fully charged, by the bedside with a personalized electronic greeting when the guest checks in. There is also a large, flat screen TV mounted to the wall and the latest movies and sports playing as soon as you can find the remote and press the proper button.

There is a new steakhouse here, Robards, in case you and the spouse need some adult time away from the family. And because The Woodlands Mall is less than a mile away, the entire vacation clan can enjoy numerous offerings of good to glam restaurants.

It’s good to fine a hidden vacation treasure this close to home and well within reach – both distance and pricewise. The Woodlands was a modest venture when opened by a Texas dreamer 40-plus years ago, but is a summertime find well worth seeking out now.

For more information, go to www.woodlandsresort.com or call 800.433.2624.

Woodlands Inn and Conference Center may be worth exploring for your group.

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M A H OG A N Y & C H A RL E ST ON ’S

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As usual, Major Dan Rooney doesn’t have much down time. As the founder and public face of the Folds of Honor Foundation – a non-profit organization that provides educational scholarships to family members of soldiers killed or disabled in combat, Rooney spends a lot of time away from home. Seeking donations for the Folds is not the only thing that keeps him busy. Among other things, he’s a husband and father of five girls, ages 14 to 2. Golf Oklahoma talked recently with Rooney for 30 minutes about a variety of topics.

think a healthy level of fear is required flying fighters. The day I walked out and didn’t have a little bit of fear would be the day I’d probably turn back Have you re-enlisted in the Air around, hang up my (flight) suit and be done.”

Force?

“I am flying fighters again. It will be a full year in June. It’s an What would you tell your unbelievably cool opportunity daughters if one of them wantthe Air Force reserves provided ed to join the military?

“That’s a tough question. ... me. I am an aggressor pilot (he simulates enemy tactics). … I You can tell your kids anything am flying out of Tyndall Air you want, but you do everyForce base from Panama City, thing in life by example. I think Florida. I spend about five days the Air Force’s core values really a month flying in the reserves summarize what I am passionthere. It’s awesome to be able to ate about: service before self, put the uniform back on and get integrity first and excellence in to fly supersonic jets.” (Editor’s all you do. From that perspecnote: A veteran of flying F-16s, tive, the military has been such a positive influence on my life Rooney is now flying a T-38). that you can translate those in anyone’s life.”

Why did you re-enlist?

“I really felt the calling from God in 2011. … The Air Force How beneficial has the relacreated a job description that tionship with the NASCAR allowed me to fly and keep race been to the Folds of Honor the priorities of Folds of Honor mission? The Folds of Honor out in front. (Flying fighters) I QuikTrip 500 is now 2-yearsthink is one of the most chal- old.

“It’s hard to put into words, lenging, rewarding, fun jobs on the planet. … It is special on so but I think one of the cool things about the NASCAR/ many levels.”

QuikTrip relationship is that it’s What’s the fastest you’ve ever one of those moments where reality exceeds your dreams. gone in a plane?

“Probably Mach 1.3.” (Edi- … It really has been a gametor’s note: That is about 1,000 changer for us as far as building brand awareness.” mph).

Are you ever scared when you Will the relationship with QuikTrip and NASCAR continue? fly?

“We have extended the con“Absolutely. Every time. I

CELEBRITY PROFILE tract with NASCAR for the foreseeable future. I know they just finished up those negotiations.”

(Editor’s note: The contract of the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 was for two years with an option for a third.)

What has the relationship meant in terms of donations for the Folds of Honor Foundation?

“I don’t have those numbers in front of me, but it’s been a massively positive impact donation-wise. One of the cool things that just happened (in May) was with AnheuserBusch in St. Louis. They have introduced the new ‘America’ can and bottle. They took the ‘Budweiser’ logo off and replaced it with ‘America.’ They will be donating, for the week leading up to July 4, 10 cents for every can and bottle sold in America to benefit Folds of Honor. That is approximately a $1.6-million donation just over that week.”

Are donations ahead of last year? You reported a record year in 2015.

“We continue to grow in very powerful ways. Last year we had record dollars to fund scholarships. All indications are that we will blow through that number this year. When you think, five years ago, sitting in my garage in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, it’s really amazing.” (Editor’s note: According to a Folds press release, in 2015, more than 2,500 scholarships were awarded valued at $5,000 each, and over 10,000 scholarships have been awarded since 2007, the year Folds was created.)

There will be some of the more traditional club amenities. The Patriot is super healthy and the membership is growing. Stone Canyon (the housing development around the Patriot) is growing in great ways which certainly helps fuel our success with membership.”

Are the funds all secured?

“We’re fundraising. … We know it will happen and right now we are hopeful that it would be sooner rather than later.”

THE BEST IN CASUAL DINING

You are so busy, what do you do to wind down?

“I sit in my driveway with my girls, just hang out with Jacqy (his wife) and the girls. It’s my favorite thing to do.”

What is your favorite kind of music?

“I’m a huge country music fan. We’re really fortunate.

We’re one of the three benefiting charities of the Academy of Country Music Awards …

We have some really good friendships. Dierks Bentley is a really close friend, Lee Brice, Craig Morgan, Darius Rucker and Rascal Flatts – all those guys have become really good friends along the way.”

If you take The Patriot out, what is your favorite golf course around town to play?

“I would say it’s Cedar Ridge.

I played a ton of golf out there before The Patriot. We’re fortunate to be golf rich in this town. Unfortunately, I have played one round of golf this year in Tulsa and that was an afternoon at The Patriot.”

What’s the lowest you have ever shot?

“I shot 61 in college.”

What can you say about renovations at the Patriot?

“There are plans in place and How many hours per week do we have a lot of momentum to you work?

“I have no idea. We’re doing begin Phase II of the campus, which would be a larger club- something seven days a week. . house and a swimming pool … . with balance in there, too.’

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QUA I L CR EEK BA N K’S ON T H E L I N K S W I T H A N YA

Nothing but the plane truth When Bryson DeChambeau made his Masters debut as an amateur this year, he wasn’t a household name in the golf community.

Yes, people who Anya Alvarez Kickingbird GC really pay attention Teacher to golf had heard of DeChambeau, who won the NCAA Individual Championship while playing for SMU and the U.S. Amateur title in 2015.

People began really paying attention when DeChambeau played in the Masters. He finished as low-amateur, tied for 21st, and a week later turned pro to play in the RBC Heritage on a sponsor’s invite.

After finishing tied for fourth, now everyone is talking about him.

Part of the focus has been due to his golf equipment: single plane clubs. All his irons are cut to the same length, including his wedges, approximately to

the standard length 7-iron. The purpose of this is to simplify the golf swing and make it more repeatable and consistent.

With DeChambeau’s success, several amateur golfers began exploring getting a single-plane set of their own. However, golf swing trends seem to be seasonal like tornado weather in Oklahoma. One year it’s the stack and tilt, some swear by Ben Hogan’s Five Golf Lessons, and then there’s the singleplane swing.

“I know Bryson is a wonderful golfer, but what he does isn’t for everyone,” said Tracy

Bryson DeChambeau

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INSTRUCTION Phillips, Cedar Ridge Country Club’s director of instruction. “He’s tall, strong and very intelligent. This isn’t the first time we have seen same length clubs. Yes, we have had a member want to cut off his clubs, but it’s not that simple. You have to weigh them up differently and lies have to be adjusted quite a bit. So, I would proceed with caution.”

Oak Tree National’s Jim Woodward said, “People are always looking for the Holy Grail. But most swing theories are brought to us by a tour player who hits balls everyday. Most amateurs hit balls once a week.”

Just like with any new theory, a golfer needs to practice the fundamentals.

“If someone sticks to the basics of grip, posture and alignment, they’ll set themselves up for much better success in the long-term,” Woodward said.

DeChambeau also utilizes very little wrist-hinge in his golf swing. Many amateur golfers start the swing with their hands, rather than their shoulders, so learning a proper shoulder turn is essential in properly executing the single-plane club theory.

Oak Tree National director of instruction E.J. Pfister points out that bodies are built differently and that new technology and the study of biodynamics are changing the way people learn golf.

“There is such great science available now that allows us to test on all golfers what set-up is best for them, etc. With the way someone is built, it could affect their posture tremendously, we’re able to set people up more efficiently now,” Pfister said.

All of these instructors caution people from falling into the trap of trends. Golf swings are not one-size fits all and we each need a little tailoring to find something that fits us individually.

Besides, who wants golf swings to all look the same? Now that would just be boring.

Anya Alvarez is a retired LPGA player who now teaches at Kickingbird Golf Club in Edmond. For more, visit www.anyagolf.com

Golf is an easy game

Golf is an easy game.

Well I bet that got your attention. We have all heard that golf is fun, enjoyable and relaxing.

Ask yourself is it?

Golf is hard enough; Johnny Johnson don’t make it harder Director of Golf than it needs to be. If Jimmie Austin it’s not fun, enjoyable OU Golf Club and relaxing then you might be working too hard at it.

If that’s the case then let’s step back and see if we can change your focus and start enjoying golf again. I am not in any way suggesting to stop practicing or seeing your local PGA instructor, but I am saying understand your swing, your body and make it simple. I feel many golfers over analyze everything in their swing, when most of them are not playing seven days a week, or trying to play professionally. With that in mind, things need to be simple so they can enjoy and have fun on the course.

I feel most golfers have four golf swings.

Let’s look at the four swings and see if this is true for you?

• The practice swing, it’s always good right, nice follow through, great balance, and good tempo.

• The range swing, it’s pretty good, you make solid contact most of the time.

It doesn’t look as good as the practice swing but close. You tend to be off balance sometimes, and the tempo is faster and when you do hit bad shots you just pull another ball over and try again.

• The course swing, where it counts, no do over’s or mulligans or in some cases maybe a couple of do over’s depending on the group you are with. Just not making contact like you did on the range, very frustrating.

• The competition swing, you know where you’re a 12 handicap but in the Club championship you seem to shoot well over your average score. Nothing felt right, didn’t know where the ball was OKLAHOMA GOLF HALL OF FAME going, just didn’t feel like your normal 2016 Oklahoma 6218 S. LEWIS AVE. swing.

Golf SUITE 200 Hall of Fame So what is your normal swing? Which TULSA, OK 74136 Banquet Inductee one should you practice more? I would Time: Sunday, September 18 @ 6 p.m. suggest the one that’s good, the practice Place: Southern Hills Country Club, Tulsa swing! Many of us don’t have the time to Reserve your seats online today at: put hours of practice in much less play 18 www.OklahomaGolfHOF.org holes that often. If this is you, take a few

minutes each day after work to go in the back yard and practice swing. Maybe, just maybe this good swing will carry over to the range. Swing memory is important we all want a good repetitive swing, so let’s practice what is good, not what is bad, so it will filter over to those other swings that we seem to have.

Suggestion for the junior golfers, use the alignment sticks you carry in your bag. Use them for what they are designed for, they are not to hold your head cover when you’re teeing off or putting. Bad habits can start with poor alignment. Aiming too far right (right hander) can cause a couple things to happen. Your brain steps in and starts telling your body we need to help this poor guy out if he wants to hit it at that target.

This puts you in a position where there’s only two ways to get the ball where you want it to go. These options include having to come over the top and pull it, or having to draw or hook the ball to get it close.

Aiming too far to the left (right hander) forces you to block the shot, fade or slice it. You can do these things unknowing be-

Alignment is a key to solid ballstriking.

cause you feel like you are lined up correctly. By using alignment sticks when practicing you can focus on your swing and create proper alignment habits. Golf is a game of feel, and over time working on this you can feel when you are lined up correctly on the course.

These are a few simple and easy tips’ that I hope can help you, Golf is easy, quit making it so hard!

Johnny Johnson Director of Golf Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 55

SUPERINTENDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

presented by

Firelake undergoes extensive renovation by ken macleod

Derron Day grew up not far from the Firelake Golf Course in Shawnee and remembers a time when it was rated as one of the top public courses in the state.

As the superintendent at Firelake, Day is overseeing a huge renovation that he says should again have the course rated near the top.

Firelake, owned by the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, which also owns the Firelake Casino, gained notoriety when it became one of the first courses in Oklahoma to install Champion Ultradwarf Bermuda greens more than 10 years ago.

Its success with the greens that far north persuaded many other courses to convert, including the city of Tulsa courses Page Belcher and Mohawk Park.

Except for the greens, the course, which opened in 1979, was becoming worn down and drainage issues were forcing lengthy shutdowns.

“I have never seen a course that drained as poorly as this one,” Day said. “Last

56 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

spring we had water 16 inches deep in the landing areas for 41 days. We actually had to go out and pump fairways. A half-inch rain and we were on the cart paths for two weeks.”

That has all changed. A complete reshaping of the back nine under the guidance of Heckenkemper Golf of Tulsa has

dramatically altered the drainage while adding much more movement and interest to the golf course.

“It’s a dramatic change,” Day said. “Even though we have left the greens alone, they look different because of all the changes to the contours and the green surrounds.”

The project started in December on the

The greens are all that remain of the old Firelake.

Golf Course Construction

back nine holes and Golf Recent Course Construction Projects Golf GolfCourse CourseConstruction Construction Pinnacle Country Club those were schedGolf Club of Oklahoma Recent Projects Rogers, AR • Bunker Broken Arrow, OK • Misc. course shaping repairs/renovations uled to be sprigged Cedar •• Broken Arrow, Path Improvements The Woods Golf Cedar Ridge Ridge Country Country Club Club Broken Arrow, OK OK •• Cart Cart Path Club Improvements Bella Vista Village Recent Projects in June. The front Projects Coweta •Recent 5-hole new construction Recent The Golf Club •• Cart Path Improvements The Patriot Patriot Golf Vista, Club •• Owasso, Owasso, OK Cart Projects Path Improvements shaping Bella AR •OK Green surrounds Cedar Cedar Ridge Ridge Country Country Club Club •• Broken Broken Arrow, Arrow, OK OK •• Cart Cart Path Path Improvements Improvements The Blessings Golf Club Cedar Ridge Country Club • Broken Arrow, OK Cart Path nine will be done Cedar Country • Broken Arrow, OK• and •Club Cart PathImprovements Improvements Silverhorn Club •• Edmond, OK Creek Crossing Repairs Gabion Wall Eagle Creek Golf Silverhorn Golf Golf Club Ridge Edmond, OK ••Club Creek Crossing Repairs and Gabion Wall The Patriot Owasso, OK Improvements TheFayetteville, Patriot Golf Golf Club Club ••AR Owasso, OK •• Cart Cart Path Path Improvements • Driving Range Tee The Patriot Golf • Owasso, OK • Irrigation Cart Improvements Joplin, MO • ••Tee renovations Patriot GolfClub Club •OK Owasso, OK • CartPath Path Improvements Cedar Course •• Broken Bow, 18 Installation this summer and Cedar Creek Creek Golf Golf The Course Broken Bow, OK 18 Hole Hole Irrigation Installation Silverhorn •• Edmond, •• Creek Repairs Silverhorn Golf Golf Club Club Edmond, OK OK Creek Crossing Crossing Repairs and and Gabion Gabion Wall Wall Wichita Country Club Pinnacle Club Silverhorn Golf • Edmond, OKCountry • Creek Crossing Repairs and Silverhorn GolfClub Club • Edmond, • Creek Crossing Repairs andGabion GabionWall Wall Forest Club Arrow, OK Hole Bunker and Renovation Forest Ridge Ridge Golf Golf Club •• Broken Broken OK •• 18 18OK Hole Bunker and Green Green Renovation sprigged in late Wichita, •Arrow, Grading/sodding Green Surrounds Cedar Golf Course •• AR Broken OK Hole Installation Cedar Creek CreekKS Golf Course Broken• Bow, Bow, OK •• 18 18shaping Hole Irrigation Irrigation Installation Rogers, Bunker Cedar Creek Golf Course • Broken Bow, OK • 18 Hole Irrigation Installation Cedar Creek Golf•• Course Broken Bow, OK • of 183 Irrigation Installation Bailey Golf Club Owasso, OK Greens Bailey Ranch Ranch Golf Club Owasso,•Hills OK •• Resurfacing Resurfacing of 3Hole Greens Southern Country Club Forest •• Broken Arrow, 18 and The Woods Club summer. Day is Forest Ridge Ridge Golf Golf Club Club Broken Arrow, OK OK •• Golf 18 Hole Hole Bunker Bunker and Green Green Renovation Renovation Forest Ridge Golf • Broken Arrow, OK Bunker and Forest Ridge Golf Club • Broken Arrow, OK• 18 •Flume 18Hole Hole Bunker andGreen GreenRenovation Renovation The Club at Lakes •• Frisco, TX Cart Path Improvements The Golf Golf Club at Frisco Frisco Lakes Frisco, TX •• new Cart Path Improvements Tulsa •Club Wet well/Intake Installation 5-hole Bailey Ranch Club •• Owasso, OK Resurfacing BaileyCoweta Ranch Golf Golf • Club Owasso, OK •• construction Resurfacing of of 3 3 Greens Greens hoping the back Bailey Ranch Golf Club • Owasso, OK • Resurfacing ofof3 3Greens Bailey Ranch Golf Club • Owasso, OK • Resurfacing Greens Eastern Hills Country Club • Garland, TX • Cart Path Improvements Cedar Ridge Country Club Eastern Hills Country Club •Blessings Garland, TX • Cart Path Improvements The Golf Club The Golf Club at Frisco Lakes • Frisco, TX • Cart Path Improvements The Golf Club at Frisco Lakes • Frisco, TX • Cart Path Improvements nine will reopen in The atatFrisco TX Broken Arrow • Lakes Creek Bank TheGolf GolfClub Club Frisco Lakes •Driving Frisco, TX• Cart •Improvements CartPath PathImprovements Improvements Fayetteville, AR •• Frisco, Range Tee Eastern •• Garland, Eastern Hills Hills Country Country Club Garland, TX TX •• Cart Cart Path Path Improvements Improvements •Country #17 Club Fairway Renovation Wichita Club Eastern Club Garland, TX Path EasternHills Hills Country Club•Country • Garland, TX• Cart • Cart PathImprovements Improvements September and the Gaillardia Golf & Country Wichita, KS • Grading/sodding GreenClub Surrounds Contact course will reopen Contact Us Us Oklahoma CityHills • Bunker Improvements Southern Country Club JONESPLAN JONESPLAN Firelake Golf Course Tulsa • Wet well/Intake Flume Installation, completely by July Contact Us Us 2328 Street 2328 E. E. 13th 13th Contact Street Contact ContactUs Us OK 74104 Shawnee CartTulsa, Path Cart•Path Improvements Tulsa, OK Improvements 74104 JONESPLAN 2017.

JONESPLAN tt 918.832.5544 918.832.5544 JONESPLAN Cedar Ridge Country Club 2328 E. 13th Street • Irrigation Improvements JONESPLAN Builder Member 2328 E. 13th Street info@jonesplan.com Builder Member info@jonesplan.com The renovations include much more movement and drainage.

2328 E.OK 13th Street Tulsa, 74104 2328 E. 13th Street Tulsa, OK 74104 The renovation Broken Arrow • Creek Bank Improvements The Patriot Golf Club Tulsa, OK tt Tulsa, 918.832.5544 OK74104 74104 918.832.5544 t 918.832.5544 Builder Member info@jonesplan.com t 918.832.5544 Builder Member info@jonesplan.com • #17 Fairway Renovation Owasso • Cart Path Improvements tions, the course will be more player includes a state-ofBuilder info@jonesplan.com BuilderMember Member info@jonesplan.com Gaillardia & Country TulsaGolf Country Club Club the-art new irrigation system, new cart friendly than it was previously, as some Oklahoma Tulsa City • •Bunker Improvements Cart Paths Firelake Golf CourseClub paths and a new clubhouse to replace the playing lanes have been widened. The Southern Hills Country Shawnee • Cart Path Improvements Tulsa • Cart Path Improvements one that was destroyed by a fire in 2011. third hole will be lengthened into a par-5 • Irrigation Improvements Battle Creek Golf Club “This is the only public golf facility while the fourth hole will convert from a GolfImprovements Club BrokenThe ArrowPatriot • Cart Path Owasso • Cart Path Improvements in the Shawnee area and we just want to par-5 to a par-4.

• Bunker Renovation Hardscrabble Club Hardscrabble Country Country Club “The course looks nothing like it did,” be able to service the public golf commuFort Improvements Fort Smith, Smith, AR AR •• Tee Tee Improvements Karsten Golf Club Club nity and the schools that use us for their said Day, who has been the superintenKarsten Creek Creek Golf Stillwater Green Construction Construction Stillwater •• Practice Practice Green practices,” Day said. “The course has a dent at Muskogee Country Club and was Contact Us lot of mature trees and interesting water a one-time assistant to Mike Wooten at 2328 P.O. Box E. 13th 4845St.••Tulsa, Tulsa,OK OK74159 74104 Builder features. It should be really good when Cedar Ridge. “It was time to upgrade. I’m Member t 918.832.5544; 918.832.7721 fax just very thankful to the tribe for the supwe’re done.” www.jonesplan.com Day said despite the added undula- port they are showing for this course.”

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www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 57

Manage your game Course management is developing a golfer’s ability to sort through the dozens of variables that are faced during a round of golf in order to reduce wasted Pat McTigue, PGA strokes.

GolfTEC Tulsa, When new clients Director of ask for help, by and Instruction large they feel that when they learn to swing the club correctly and hit the ball better, scores will improve.

While hitting better shots facilitates better scoring, it certainly doesn’t guarantee lower scores.

Learning and applying swing fundamentals helps ball striking, and most golfers spend the majority of their time trying to improve their swing, but allocate very little time learning how to manage their game to shoot lower scores. Below are two areas that will help in your tee game and strategy for approach shots.

Tee Game The first item to discuss is to work to develop a single direction miss, especially off the tee. If you miss fairways both right and left, work with your coach to develop a single direction miss. For right-handed players, I will normally look to eliminate left misses, due to their disastrous nature. Why is a left miss typically worse? Because left misses tend to be low and running. Right misses tend to be high and short, usually resulting in less penal results. It’s true that you can’t talk to a hook.

I typically hit my driver straight or with a fade, and my big miss tends to be right.

That really makes it pretty easy for me to aim. I get on the right side of the tee box and aim left-center. If I hit it straight, I’m in the left side of the fairway, and if it fades I’m right- center. That tendency with the driver is common, even when golfers hit draws with the other clubs in the bag. When I do need to hit a draw off the tee, I’ll drop down to a 3-metal because it’s easier to turn right to left, and I’m only giving up 10-15 yards.

Whether your dispersion pattern is big or small, it’s imperative on ALL shots to pick small targets. Aim for a branch on a tree, edge of a bunker or other small target that is easy to see. Don’t try to hit shots ‘between’ borders. In the movie “American Sniper,” the motto was “Aim Small, Miss Small.”

We’re not trying to kill terrorists, but the same principle applies.

58 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

Know your course. A great majority of golfers play a high percentage of their rounds on one course or at most two or three. Knowing at what distance from the tee the fairway is the widest on each hole will dictate what club to hit off the tee. If I know that I hit my driver 280, and the fairway narrows at 260, it would be logical to hit a fairway wood or hybrid to maximize my odds of keeping the ball in the fairway.

Finally, I subscribe to the idea that I’ve never gained a shot during a round with my driver. It doesn’t matter if I hit my drive 220 or 320, it just matters that it is in play and gives me an opportunity to get the ball on the green. In my view, hitting 14-of-14 fairways in a round isn’t a positive, it just isn’t a negative. The only other possible result with a driver is a negative. If I ‘only’ hit two bad drives, that will likely cost me 3-4 shots during a round. The problem is that the guy who wins that day will have likely not hit any bad drives. Pick small targets and work to get the ball in play rather than swinging all out and occasionally hitting home runs.

Approach Shots and Strategy Far and away the biggest error that I see when I play with players of all ability levels is that golfers don’t hit enough club a majority of the time. Just because you hit a 7-iron 175 yards once in your life, it doesn’t mean the 7-iron is now your 175 club. At the highest levels of golf, getting the right club out of the bag for a given shot is the most critical part of putting together a good round. I see too many players hit solid shots and end a full club short all day. Further, I rarely try to hit any shot as hard as I can, opting to swing at about 85 percent of my maximum.

I commonly see players pull up to their ball, whip out the laser, then have a club out and addressing the ball within a couple seconds. I know immediately the golfer hasn’t taken time to consider the variables on that shot. There are many factors in addition to yardage that affect club selection.

Start with the yardage, then factor in wind, elevation change, quality of the lie, how you’re striking the ball that day, and where obstacles are in relation to the hole location. For example, assume you have a 150-yard shot, then assess the other variables in a plus or minus fashion, then add them up. Into a 10-mph wind – plus-8; good lie -- minus-5; bunker in front with lots of room behind the pin – plus-5. So now, you really have a 158-yard shot, so if you’re hit-

ting your 150 club, it’s probably going to end up short.

Once we get better at hitting the ball the proper distance, it’s important to figure out where the “safe” zone is on the green. What we want to avoid is “short siding.” If the hole is cut on the right edge of the green, and we miss right of the hole, the up and down will be much harder than if we miss left of the hole.

Knowing your tendencies is critical. If you tend to fade or slice the ball, then you shouldn’t ever aim straight at a right pin.

Aim for the middle of the green and if you hit your typical shot or hit it straight you’re on the green. If the pin is all the way in the back of the green, choose a club and shot that has no chance of going long.

By nature, I am a bit of a risk taker on the course. That doesn’t mean that I go for every pin at any distance, but rather that I do try to be aggressive in attacking the hole.

That’s where birdies and eagles come from, but that’s also where doubles and triples come from.

The key in any risk/reward situation is that you be mentally prepared for the consequences if you don’t pull the shot off. If I’m trying to carry 250 yards over a pond to a par-5 in two, I can’t fear dumping the ball in the water. If my fear of splashing the shot is too great, then my odds of pulling the shot off are slim. If you’re not 100 percent committed to the shot, then lay up or hit a different shot.

A big factor in risk/reward situations is the type of round I’m playing. If I’m in a skin game or a match-play round, I’ll likely go with a more aggressive approach, because my overall score doesn’t matter. If I am playing a competitive medal round, my overall strategy will be more conservative as to reduce the risk of making a double bogey or worse.

Summary Whether off the tee, into the green, around the green or on the green, it is supremely important to attempt the shot that you can hit that day. Assess your tendencies, how you’re hitting the ball in the current round and how you feel about the shot. As Dr. Bob Rotella says in “Golf is Not a Game of Perfect,” choose the shot to which you can fully commit and be confident. It is much more important to be decisive than to be correct.

Decide what shot to hit, be committed, and try not to worry about potential negative results. Most bad shots are preceded by bad thoughts.

Pat McTigue, PGA GolfTEC Tulsa, Director of Instruction

A dream come true: Augusta National by michael ferguson

Like most golfers, playing Augusta National was at the top of my bucket list.

This spring, that dream came true for me.

On May 19, my tee time is 10:15 and it’s 7:45 a.m. As we arrived at the back gate (Magnolia Lane is for members only), there were 12 of us there that day as guests of EZ-GO. Thanks so much to Luke Benedict and Adam Harris for making this day happen!

We were met by a mix of security and valet attendants, who were the best service staff I’ve seen, all manners and smiles and helping us relax for the amazing journey ahead.

After shopping for memorabilia, a short stint on the driving range, and three quick holes to warm up on the par-3 course, away we were to the putting green. The anticipation while putting was getting to me and I kept asking for my grandfather U.C. Ferguson to help calm me down before I went and lived out a dream for not only me, but for him as well.

U.C., as many of you know was the

long-time head professional at Lincoln Park in Oklahoma City. He didn’t have many regrets in life, but one he did have was turning down an invitation to play Augusta National due to a work conflict.

When my invitation came, remembering his regret made it an easy decision for me.

I also wanted to play well in his honor.

After warming up and grabbing a beverage, I noticed it’s almost past my tee time. It would be ill-advised to miss your one tee time at Augusta National, and the familiar face of Claude Martin (long-time starter at Lincoln Park) would not be there to let me catch up.

I quickly grab my driver and hit a blast down the right fairway. David Dawley, a great friend, is on the tee watching and can see how pumped up I am. I went on to have one of the great ball striking rounds of my life and made four birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey.

While trying to take in as much as I could of the scenery, the layout, the historical memories of each hole, I take a ton of pictures. Highlights for me were hitting it within 10 feet on holes 6 through 9. I

The author on the Hogan Bridge. couldn’t get the speed right to make any of the birdie putts, but still a great stretch.

Then making birdie on 11 with a left pin position by the water, the same hole Ben Hogan said he would never go for that flag.

Without the pressure of the Masters championship in the balance, I went right at it from 137 yards and had a tap-in. It was so surreal as I tapped that in, looking over at the water hazard just four paces

See Augusta, page 62

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www.LaFortuneParkGolf.com www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 59

GOLF FITNESS

Get power back after hip surgery

Sean Riley SwingFit

Ryan Smith SwingFit

Joint replacements are on the rise and occurring in younger adults.

Many clients in their early 50s are undergoing these surgeries to allow them to stay active and enjoy recreational activities such as golf. A common procedure seen in golfers is a total hip replacement (THR).

This surgery has many different approaches and as a result the recovery for each golfer can be different. On average, most golfers return to the course within three to nine months after undergoing their surgery and post-op rehabilitation.

A common complaint we hear from golfers after a THR is a lack of power. While their deep hip ache and significant soreness from before surgery is usually gone, they tend to run out of energy before a round is over and don’t hit the ball as far as they would like. Most of the time this is due to a lack of hip motion and strength along with inadequate mid-back flexibility.

The tips below are designed to help you in your setup, improve your hip strength, and increase your mid back or thoracic mobility. The result is more speed and ultimately better distance off the tee. As with any medical procedure, it is important that you are cleared to perform the following

1 60 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

drills. Also, continue to follow any hip precautions prescribed by your surgeon and physical therapist.

Tips and Drills To Improve Distance After a Total Hip 1. Toe Out at Setup (Figure 1 and 2) Typically at setup a golfer will orient his feet to be at a right angle to the target line. However, after a THR the golfer will typically have a lack of rotation motion in the surgical hip. This can cause a lack of turn on the backswing or inadequate follow through on the downswing. A simple solution is toe out a few degrees the leg that had surgery to allow more rotation of the hip. As your motion improves over time, then you can progress back to a more classic setup. In Figure 2, the golfer’s right foot is toed out to allow more rotation in their backswing.

2. Step Downs (Figure 3 and 4) This drill will improve your ability to get in and out of bunkers, walk up and down hills, maintain balance, and generate more power off the tee. Start with a 4-to-6 inch step and a railing, chair or wall. Place your surgical leg on the step and keep your other leg straight and off the step. Working to keep your knee straight over your foot, slowly lower down until your nonsurgical heels lightly touches the ground. Come back up keeping the same control and repeat. Start with two sets of 8-to-10 reps increasing up to 20 reps as able.

You can also increase the step height as your strength improves.

3. Half Kneeling Long Turns (Figure 5 and 6) This is a great drill to help build greater flexibility between your upper and lower body. It also teaches you how to stabilize your lower body while rotating your upper body. Start by getting in a half kneeling position. Holding a golf

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club above your head, rotate your upper body toward the knee up side. Focus on keeping the club up while keeping a quiet lower body. Perform three sets of 10 reps on each side.

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, DPT 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.

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SCHEDULES & RESULTS: More at www.golfoklahoma.org COLLEGE MEN NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP At Eugene CC, Eugene, Oregon (par-70) May 27-30 Medal Team leaders (30 teams); 1, Texas 289-281-277287 – 1,134; 2, Illinois 290-280-289-276 – 1,135; 3, Louisiana State 286-282-283-285 – 1,136; 4 (tie), Southern Cal 283-282-285-287 – 1,137 and Vanderbilt 283-280-282-292 – 1,137; 6, Oregon 291-277-284-287 – 1,1389; 7, South Carolina 287-285-293-277 – 1,142; 8, Oklahoma 290-288289-277 – 1,144. Did not qualify for match play: 9, Arizona State 290-281-286-291 – 1,148; 10 (tie), Oklahoma State 285-289-285-291 – 1,150 and California 287-284-2897-292 – 1,150; 12, Arkansas 282-284-2897-292 – 1,153; 13, Kentucky 289-286288-294 – 1,157;14, Louisville 291-282-294-291 – 1,158; 15, Florida 286-287-293-297 – 1,163.

Individual leaders: 1, Aaron Wise (Oregon) 70-70-64-65 – 274; 2, Rico Hoey (USC) 7069-69-69 – 277; 3 (tie), Mathhias Schwab (Vandy) 71-68-67-73 – 279 and Jon Rahm (ASU) 71-68-69-69 – 279; 5, Beau Hossler (Texas) 70-70-67-73 – 280; 6 (tie), Lee McCoy (Georgia) 69-70-70-72 – 281 and Robby Shelton (Alabama) 70-66-72-73 – 281; 8 (tie), Antoine Rozner (UMKC) 70-72-70-70 – 282 and Charlie Danielson (Ill.) 72-69-70-71 – 282.

Other scores: Jordan Niebrugge (OSU) 71-7669-69 – 285, Max McGreevy (OU) 71-70-80-66 – 287. Brad Dalke (OU) 71-73-75-68 – 287, Stratton Noen (OSU) 71-71-72-73 – 287, Blaine Hale (OU) 78-72-70-71 – 291, Kristoffer Ventura (OU) 7270-73-76 – 291, Luke Kwon (OU) 73-73-73-73 – 292, Brendon Jelley (OSU) 71-76-73-73 – 293, Grant Hirschman (OU) 75-76-71-72 – 294, Sam Stevens (OSU) 72-72-71-79-- 294 Match Play Quarterfinals Texas 4, Oklahoma 1, Beau Hossler (UT) defeats Blaine Hale (OU), 1-up; Doug Ghim (UT) defeats Max McGreevy (OU), 7 and 6; Taylor Funk (UT) defeats Grant Hirschman (OU), 6 and 4; Gavin Hall (UT) defeats Brad Dalke (OU), 4 and 3; Luke Kwon (OU) defeats Scottie Scheffler (UT), 4 and 3 NAIA MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP At TPC Deere Run, Silvis, IL (par-71) May 24-27 Team leaders (30 teams): 1, Oklahoma City 292-297-289-286 – 1,164; 2, British Columbia 299-289-283-301 – 1,172; 3, William Woods 284-301-298-290 – 1,173; 4, Texas Wesleyan 298303-293-282 – 1,176; 5, Johnson & Wales 298292-301-291 – 1,182; 6, Wayland Baptist 294-299299-296 – 1,188; 7, Oregon Tech 301-300-283-313 – 1,197; 8, USC-Beaufort 301-308-298-291 – 1,198; 9 (tie), Victoria 299-292-308-302 – 1,201 and The Cumberlands 295-308-301-297 – 1,201; 16, Okla.

Wesleyan 301-319-288-301 – 1,209.

Individual leaders: 1, David Ravetto (TW) 72-7071-68 – 281; 2, Matthew Cheing (OCU) 71-70-7271 – 284; 3, Lawren Rowe (V) 73-67-73-74 – 287; 4(tie), Anthony Marchesani (OCU) 72-72-73-72 – 289, Evan Holmes (BC) 79-71-68-71 – 289, Gustavo Vaccaro (SoutheasternU) 73-71-72-73 -- 289 and Dylan McQueen (Stritch) 74-72-73-70 – 289; 8, Peter French (JW) 72-7-75-70 – 290; 9 (tie), Rupert Kaminski (OCU) 74-78-72-68 – 292 and Matt Wells (WW) 69-76-72-75 – 292.

Other scores: Brady Richardson (OW) 77-7970-70 – 296, Austin Fuller (OW) 74-76-72-76 – 298, Ewan Diston (OW) 72-78-72-77 – 299, Jett Johnson (OCU) 76-79-72-75 – 302, Zac Oliver (OCU) 75-77-73-80 – 305, Kyle Essary (OW) 78-86-74-78 – 316, Oliver Stephens (OW) 86-8690-79 – 341.

NCAA STILLWATER REGIONAL At Karsten GC, Stillwater (par-72) May 16-18 Team scores: 1, Oklahoma State 285-291-295 – 871; 2, Oklahoma 292-296-302 – 890; 3, Clemson 308-301-292 – 901; 4, Louisville 300-311-296 – 907; 5, Purdue 303-299-308 – 910; 6, Augusta 303309-300 – 912; 7. Northwestern 300-319-303 – 922; 8 (tie), Duke 321-310-293 – 924, McNeese State 307-306-311 – 924 and Michigan State 318-

313-293 – 924; 11, Tennessee 311-313-302 – 926; 12, UMKC 308-311-311 – 930; 13, Virginia Commonwealth 311-312-316 – 939; 14, Alabama State 330-331-316 – 977.

Individual leaders: 1, Kristoffer Ventura (OSU) 71-72-73 – 216; 2, Antoine Rozner (UMKC) 70-7176 – 217; 3,Stratton Nolen (OSU) 68-73-77 – 218; 4, Max McGreevy (OU) 73-71-75 – 219; 5, Jordan Niebrugge (OSU) 74-71-75 – 220; 6 (tie), Dylan Wu (Northwestern) 70-78-73 – 221 and Sam Stevens (OSU) 72-75-74 – 221; 8 (tie), Grant Hirschman (OU) 73-76-73 – 222 and Stephen Behr (Clemson) 75-76-71 – 222; 10 (tie), Keegan de Lange (Louisville) 72-76-75 – 223, Jake Marriott (Augusta) 71-77-75 – 223 , Luis Fernando Barco (Purdue) 75-75-73 – 223, Robin SciotSiegrist (Louisville) 73-78-72 – 223, and Lorenzo Scalise (Tenn.) 72-79-72 – 223; 15 (tie), Brad Dalke (OU) 72-72-81 – 225 and Austin Langdale (Clemson) 76-74-75 – 225.

Other scores: Brendon Jelley (OSU) 76-77-73 – 226, Blaine Hale (OU) 74-77-78 – 229, Luke Kwon (OU) 77-83-76 – 236.

WOMEN NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP At Eugene CC, Eugene, Oregon (par-72) Match play Quarterfinals: Stanford def. S. Carolina 3-2; Duke def. Southern Cal 4-1; UCLA def. Oregon 4-0-1; Washington def. Virginia 3-1-1.

Semifinals: Stanford def. Duke 3-2; Washington def. UCLA 3-1-1.

Final: Washington def. Stanford 3-2.

Medal Team leaders (24 teams): 1, UCLA 286-291-285282 – 1,144; 2, Stanford 295-283-290-279 – 1,147; 3, Southern Cal 289-280-291-290 – 1,150; 4, Washington 289-285-292-286 – 1,152; 5, Virginia 293-294-286-282 – 1,155; 6, Duke 299-283-280296 – 1,158; 7, South Carolina 293-289-290-290 – 1,162; 8, Oregon 297-282-291-296 – 1,166; 9 (tie), Arizona 291-289-293-294 – 1,167 and Northwestern 292-289-295-291 – 1,167; 11, Oklahoma State 284-295-297-292 – 1,168; 12 (tie), Arkansas 292291-298-292 – 1,173 and Alabama 300-292-290291 – 1,173; 14, North Carolina 298-292-291-294 1,175; 15, Florida state 295-290-298-293 – 1,176.

Individual leaders: 1, Virginia Elena (Duke) 6968-66-69 – 272; 2 (tie), Dewi Weber (Miami) 69-66-74-71 – 280 and Haley Moore (Arizona) 68-70-74-68 – 280; 4 (tie), Cheyenne Knight (Alabama) 69-69-71-73 – 282 and Anna Newell (Tenn.) 69-67-75-71 – 282; 6 (tie), Casey Danielson (Stanford) 71-70-74-68 – 283, Jennifer Kupcho (Wake Forest) 69-73-67-74 – 283 and Lilia Vu (UCLA) 73-72-71-67 – 283; 9, Bronte Law (UCLA) 71-72-69-72 – 284; 10, Tiffany Chan (USC) 71-71-74-70 – 286.

OSU scores: Linnea Johansson 73-71-71-75 -– 290, Kenzie Neisen 71-75-74-72 – 292; Chih-Min Chen 69-78-73-73 – 293, Maddie McCrary 72-7179-76 – 298, Emma Broze 72-79-79-72 – 302.

NCAA SHOAL CREEK REGIONAL USGA US OPEN LOCAL QUALIFYING At Oak Tree National, Edmond (par-71) May 16 Qualifiers: 1, Joshua Creel 69; 2 (tie), Hayden Wood and Terence Begnel 70; 4 (tie), William Kropp and Dillon Rust 71.

First alternate: McCain Schellhardt 71; Second alternate: Blake Trimble 71.

Other scores: Colton Stagg, Jake Istnick, Michael Lee and Tanner Owens 72.

OKLAHOMA GOLF ASSOCIATION SPRING FOUR-BALL At Twin Hills G&CC, Okla. City (par-72) May 9-10 1, Ben Klaus/Cooper Johnson 64-66 – 130 (won playoff); 2, Patrick Collogan/Craig Poet 67-63 – 130; 3, Sam Humphreys/Draegen Majors 66-65 – 131; 4, Trevor Stafford/Garrett Thomas 70-62 – 132; 5, Jeff Coffman/Brian Birchell 68-66 – 134; 6 (tie), Jordan Cook/Ben Blundell 69-66 – 135 and Bradley Durr/Jim Kemp 65-70 – 135; 8 (tie), Zach Tucker/Heath Webb 70-66 – 136 and Karsten Majors/Blake Brorman 70-66 – 136 and Max E. Showalter/Ryan Munson 68-68 – 136.

SENIOR SPRING FOUR-BALL At Twin Hills G&CC, Okla. City (par-72) May 9-10 1, Michael Hughett/Kirk Wright 64-67 – 131; 2, Blake Gibson/Brian McGreevy 69-65 – 134; 3, Don Cooke/Bob Sine 70-65 – 135; 4, Michael Alsup/Ken Kee 67-68 – 135; 5 (tie), Bill Brafford/ Michael Koljack 71-65 – 136 and Craig Collins/ Rob Stallings 69-67—136; 7, Terry Trimble/ Danny Barnett 73-65 – 138; 8 (tie), Mike Ford/ Drew Litsch 73-66 – 139 and Ronny Roberts/Rick Morales 71-68 – 139; 10, Neil Oxford/Rod Billings 74-66 – 140.

WOMEN’S OKLAHOMA GOLF ASSOCIATION WOGA CUP At Rose Creek GC, Edmond May 23-24 1, Lake Hefner (Lorie Harned, Joan Lawton, Denise Tillman, Nancy Ford) 10.5; 2, Shangri-La (Liz Paden, Candy Couch, Deidre Sparkman, Kaye Hansen) 10; 3 (tie), Hillcrest (Diane Daniels, Beth Heaton, Diane Doornbros, Mistuy Greeson) and Cedar Ridge (Rose Cassidy, Rebecca Davis, Dana Hurley, Tammy Fairchild) 9.5; 5 (tie), Southern Hills (Janet Nelson, Gayle Allen, Emily Brandt, Jill Johnson), Forest Ridge (Pat Richard, Janet Griffith, Patty Monroe, Joyce Washam), Lake Hefner (Cheryl Saxon, Deidre Myer, Carolyn Hyden, Emily Hunt) and Oklahoma City G&CC (Jill Dobbins, Susie Kraft, Melissa Coleman, Jill Brown) 8.

TULSA GOLF ASSOCIATION FOUR-BALL STROKE PLAY At Battle Creek GC (par-72) May 21-22 Championship flight: 1, Mike Gotcher/Max Gotcher 68-66 – 134; 2 (tie), Chris Karlovich/ Will Murphy 69-68 – 137 and Bryan Lunger/Terry Trimble 68-69 – 137; 4, Steve Hughes/Richard Hunt 71-69 – 140; 5, Trent Miller/Dell Wilson 6873 – 141; 6, Eric Moritz/Armin Rucker 71-72 – 143.

A flight: 1, Ed Cohlmia/Mike Lusnak 72-68 – 140; 2, Mike Fenner/Ken MacLeod 73-71 – 144.

HIGH SCHOOLS BOYS May 9-10 (54 holes) CLASS 6A At Karsten Creek GC, Stillwater (par-72) Team leaders: 1, Edmond North 923; 2, Owasso 927 (won playoff); 3, Edmond Memorial 927; 4, Broken Arrow 952; 5, Edmond Santa Fe 1,010; 6, Jenks 1,015; 7, Edmond Deer Creek 1,022; 8, Sapulpa 1,027.

Individual leaders: 1, Laken Hinton (EN) 219; 2 (tie), McCain Schellhardt (EM) and Austin Eckroat (EN) 224; 4, Aussie Enzbrenner (Owasso) 225; 5, Lane Wallace (Yukon) 229; 6, Matt Armstrong (EM) 230; 7, Noah Russell (Owasso) 234; 8, Harrison Gearhart (BA) 237.

CLASS 5A At Shawnee G&C, Shawnee (par-71) Team leaders; 1, McGuinness 936; 2, Shawnee 947 (won playoff); 3, Kelley 947; 4, Guymon 957; 5, Coweta 982; 6, Carl Albert 987.

Individual leaders: 1, David Trimble (McGuinness) 214 (won playoff); 2, Dustin Hasley (Piedmont) 214; 3, Blake Berry (Tahlequah) 222; 4, Conner Kauffman (Guymon) 225; 5, Grayson Wallace (Guymon) 227; 6, Chance Koon (CA) 228.

CLASS 4A At Lake Hefner GC (North), Okla. City (par-72) Team leaders: 1, Cascia Hall 874; 2, Heritage Hall 901; 3, Sallisaw 913; 4, Ada 927; 5, Metro Christian 965; 6, Tuttle 968.

Individual leaders: 1, Matt Braley (CH) 206; 2, Nick Pierce (Sallisaw) 207; 3, Ty Stiles (Sallisaw) 208; 4, Dalton Daniel (Newcastle) 210; 5, Tyler Wedding (CH) 219; 6, Cole Goekeler (CH) 222.

CLASS 3A At Lincoln Park GC (West), Okla. City (par-70) Team leaders: 1, Christian Heritage 870; 2, Pla-

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SCHEDULES & RESULTS: More at www.golfoklahoma.org inview 896; 3, Okla. Christian 905; 4, Kingfisher 913; 5, Rejoice Christian 933.

Individual leaders: 1, Logan McAllister (CH) 198; 2, Carson Seals (Plainview) 208; 3 (tie), Drew Stark (CH) and Mason Overstreet (Kingfisher) 217; 5 (tie), Freddie Wilson (RC) 218.

CLASS 2A At Arrowhead GC, Canadian (par-72) Team leaders: 1, Mooreland 966; 2, Haworth 978; 3, Laverne 989; 4, Velma0-Alma 1,012; 5, Pawnee 1,019.

Individual leaders: 1, Kason Cook (Hydro) 212; 2, Michael Robinson (Sayre) and Zac Owens (Mooreland) 219; 4, Blake Murray (Mooreland) 225; 5, Max Roberts (Latta) 226.

GIRLS May 4-5 (36 holes) CLASS 6A At The Club at Indian Springs, Broken Arrow (par-72) Team leaders: 1, Owasso 658; 2, Norman 675; 3, Edmond Deer Creek 682; 4, Broken Arrow 685; 5, Union 690; 6, Bixby 708, 7, Norman North 710; 8, Edmond North 711.

Individual leaders: 1, Yujeong Son (Norman) 144; 2, Taylor Dobson (BA) 147; 3, Kaitlin Milligan (NN) 150; 4, Bailey Blake (EDC) 152; 5, Faith Belmear (Owasso) 155; 6, Natalie Gough (Bixby) 156; 7 (tie), Taylor Boylan (B.T. Washington) and Isabelle Camaal (NN) 157.

CLASS 5A At Chickasaw Pointe GC, Kingston (par-72) Team leaders: 1, Durant 687; 2, Collinsville 703; 3, Duncan 704; 4, Ardmore 752; 5, Coweta 764; 6, Lawton MacArthur 778.

Individual leaders: 1, Sydney Youngblood (Durant) 143; (tie), Olivia Schmidt (McGuinness) and Madison O’Dell (Collinsville) 156; 4, Alexis Dake (Claremore) 158; 5, Bayleigh Johnson (LM) 161; 6, Jaelynn Unger (Noble) 162.

CLASS 4A At Lake Hefner GC, Okla. City (par-72) Team leaders: 1, Fort Gibson 650; 2, Hilldale 664; 3, Elk City 712; 4, Seminole 740; 5, Newcastle 743; 6, Broken Bow 749.

Individual leaders: 1, Chloe Black (Newcastle) 146; 2, Emilee Rigsby (FG) 148; 3, Kinsley Hall (EC) 153; 4, Shelby Phillips (FG_ 157; 5, Mollie Pruitt (BB) 159; 6, Hallie Ward (Tuttle) 161.

CLASS 3A At Cherokee Springs, Tahlequah (par-72) Team leaders: 1, Purcell 626; 2, Plainview 655; 3, Eufaula 700; 4, Marlow 730; 5, Pauls Valley 746.

Individual leaders: 1, Shaebug Scarberry (Purcell) 145; 2, Addie Norton (Plainview) 147; 3, Heidi Stafford (Eufaula) 76-78 – 154; 4, McKenzie McCoy (Beggs) 156; 5, Ashton Nemecek (Purcell) 157.

CLASS 2A At Aqua Canyon, Guthrie (par-72) Team leaders: 1, Mooreland 786; 2, Tishomingo 787; 3, Texhoma 788; 4, Pioneer-Pleasant Vale 799; 5, Latta 803.

Individual leaders: 1, Sierra Holden (Fletcher) 148; 2, Taylor Towers (Rejoice Christian) 151; 3, Megan Brown (Cordell) 155; 4, Tracy McGill (Turner) 161; 5, Brooklyn Bartling (Velma-Alma) 163.

GOLF CHANNEL TOUR TULSA OPEN At Forest Ridge GC, Broken Arrow (par-72) May 22 1, Jalil Daneshfar 81; 2, Kirby Rogers 85; 3 (tie), Art Green, Caleb Brown and Shawn Whitaker 90.

TEXHOMA CHALLENGE At Chickasaw Pointe GC, Kingston (par-72) May 7 1, Jalil Daenshfar 75; 2, Jay McKinsey 78; 3, John Barrick 79; 4, Melvin Wilson III 80; 5, John Kang

62 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

81; 6 (tie), Jeff Workman, Derek Loew and Goose Clark 82.

37 on the back nine at Augusta National.

Believe me, I was grinning ear to ear.

RED RIVER SHOOTOUT From the time my career began, workAt WinStar GC (East-South) (par-72) April 30-May 1 ing with the late Eric Bergquist at Lincoln 1, Rusty Lippert 74-73 – 147; 2, Terry Rice 76-73 Park, to the current role as general man– 149; 3, Tony Ham 73-77 – 150; 4, Curt Howard 74-77 – 151; 5 (tie), Gant Bills 76-79 – 155 and ager at WinStar, this journey wasn’t just Dave Davlin 74-81 – 155; 7. Marcus House 77-79 my journey. It was for U.C., who in 1957 – 156; 8 (tie), Devon Sauzek 79-79 – 158 and Joseph Roy 75-83 – 158; 10 (tie), Michael Hodges decided that a PGA national officers meet80-79 – 159 and Mike Harkins 81-78 – 159. ing was the right thing to do instead of MAXWELL OPEN taking Mr. Bobby Jones up on his invitaAt Dornick Hills G&CC, Ardmore (partion to play Augusta National with him.

70) April 29 Fergie said that his one regret in golf was 1, John Barrick 76; 2 (tie), Gant Bills and Traylor Sells 77; 4, Cory Montgomery 78; 5 (tie), Marcus that he passed up that round of golf with House, Sean Fenton and Tony Ham 80.

Mr. Jones. In some way, I feel like I made it right for him, because he was my caddy that day. I miss him every day.

Augusta cont. from page 59 After the round, we finished the day away, I said, “I CAN”T BELIEVE I JUST walking nine enjoyable holes at the par3 course. What an amazing experience. I BIRDIED 11 AT AUGUSTA!!!”

On 13, I hit my third shot from just above hope you enjoy this story about my trip, Rae’s Creek in the embankment grass, got and I hope that each of you one day get to up and down for my 4. I backed it up with experience one of the best golf courses in a 3 at 14, and committed the ultimate sin the world, whether it’s Augusta National at 16 – splash – but I did get up and down or another personal favorite of yours. for a great 4. I finished it off with my only Michael Ferguson missed fairway of the round at 18, doing Director of Golf/General Manager what Jim Nantz warns you not to do and WinStar Golf Resort flying it into the bunker. Still, I just shot

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