2014 Golf Oklahoma October | November

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

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Contents OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2014 Vol. 4 Issue 5

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

Features

32

18 Golf Industry show signs of recovery 19 Top Golf coming to OKC in 2015 24 Mike Carter, an adventurous golf life 28 Dave Bryan looks back at fine career 29 Cary Cozby ready for Southern Hills move 32 RTJ Trail, calling golf super heroes 34 Cordillera Ranch, living the dream 38 The Oaks CC, Bergin does Tillinghast 40 Chickasaw Pointe, renovation under way

Departments

28

29

8 Letter from the publisher 10 OGA 1 1 Rules, Gene Mortensen 1 1 WOGA 1 2 USGA News 14 The Goods 1 8 Industry Analysis 20 Chip Shots 22 Architect Profile: Tom Doak 37 Where we play: Pawhuska CC reopens,

42 43 43

news on Cherokee Springs, Cherokee Hills, Scissortail, Silverado, Riverbend.

Fitness Instruction Results

On the cover

34

The 13th hole at Ross Bridge on the RTJ Trail.

Aerial photo on page 41 courtesy of Tyler Chapman.

Support junior golf by contributing to the OGA Foundation Call 405-848-0042 for more information 4 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

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October / November 2014 letter from the publisher

Oklahoma pros, courses in transition That Cary Cozby is one popular dude.

When Golf Oklahoma reported the story that he was returning to Southern Hills to replace Dave Bryan beginning in the new year, the story received hundreds of likes and thousands of page views in the first hours at www.golfoklahoma.org, bolstered by the fact we sent out a newsletter with the story.

All of which shows you that if you’re interested in news about golf in Oklahoma, you need to be getting our newsletters and checking the website and Facebook page in addition to reading the print issue. Each specializes in different areas of coverage and together they paint a complete picture.

All you have to do to make sure you stay informed is go to our website, click on the newsletter tab and let us know where you want it sent. It’s that simple.

As those of you who receive the newsletter already know, we’ve randomly given away hundreds of tickets to events such as the U.S. Senior Open, The Colonial, the Walmart LPGA Classic and more. Why? We get the tickets as part of promotional packages we have with the events and we’re happy to share them with you. Just our way of saying thanks for reading and supporting Golf Oklahoma.

We are very happy in this issue to welcome a new sponsor and a long-time supporter of Oklahoma golf. Lew Erickson of First Oklahoma Bank is sponsoring our USGA page, appropriately enough, as Lew has been an instrumental figure with the USGA for many years, volunteering countless hours and working USGA championships across the country. She has been instrumental in many USGA championships coming to Oklahoma, including the U.S. Girls Junior Championship next summer at Tulsa Country Club. Thank you Lew! As you will see in the pages of this issue, it’s been a rather tumultuous time for Oklahoma golf, including changes at the top of some of our finest clubs. We welcome Cozby on board at Southern Hills but also take time in this issue to salute Dave Bryan for the job he did there for 26 years. Other prominent clubs such as The Patriot and Gaillardia are also looking for new directors of golf at press time.

As for Oklahoma golf courses, the fallout from the blow real-estate courses 8 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

took in the 2007-08 recession continues.

Scissortail Golf Course in Verdigris faces an auction on Nov. 2. This is a real estate course designed by Randy Heckenkemper that has had several owners since opening in 2006 and fell back into the hands of a local bank in 2011.

Plans at the auction are to try to sell the course, clubhouse and maintenance buildings as a viable business, but if that fails it will be auctioned off in sections for real estate. General manager and superintendent Chad Weinrich said Scissortail has never been in better condition and actually experienced its biggest month in terms of rounds played in September.

A few miles away at Emerald Falls, golfers have noticed that the course, closed since last winter, has started to look grown over. Superintendent Tim Schaefer has been furloughed and the course will be unattended while waiting for the delayed financing for the planned $23 million resort to be finalized. Spokesman David Oberle said efforts at interim financing have proven frustrating but the long-term financing is on track to begin this winter and the project remains a go.

It is obviously still tough sledding out there, particularly for privately-owned public courses. Silverado in Durant closed in August and Riverbend Golf Course in Chickasha recently closed 18 of its 27 holes to use as a horse farm.

On the other hand, there is the heartwarming story of the reopening this summer of Pawhuska Country Club, a historic Perry Maxwell routing that had been closed since 2009. We wish them the best of luck.

As you’ll read inside, other courses are investing considerably in upgrades, including The Oaks Country Club in Tulsa, Chickasaw Pointe in Kingston, Cherokee Springs in Tahlequah and more.

We hope you enjoy the features this month on Doug Tewell, Dave Bryan, Mike Carter and Cozby along with the rest of the features, instruction, rules, fitness, results and more. We’ve enjoyed bringing you news from throughout the state throughout 2014 and look forward to another great year of golf in Oklahoma in 2015.

– Ken MacLeod

Volume 4, Number 5 Golf Oklahoma Offices Southern Hills Plaza 6218 S. Lewis Ave., Ste. 200 Tulsa, OK 74136 918-280-0787 Oklahoma City Office 405-640-9996 Publisher Ken MacLeod ken@golfoklahoma.org COO/Marketing Director A.G. Meyers agm@golfoklahoma.org Art & Technology Director Chris Swafford chris@golfoklahoma.org Subscriptions to Golf Oklahoma are $15 for one year (five issues) or $25 for two years (10 issues). Call 918-280-0787 or go to www.golfoklahoma.org.

Contributing photographers Rip Stell, Bill Powell Golf Oklahoma PGA Instructional Staff Jim Woodward Teaching Professional, Oak Tree National jwoodwardgolf@sbcglobal.net, 405-348-2004 E.J. Pfister Teaching Professional, Oak Tree National ejgolf@me.com Pat McTigue Owner, GolfTec Tulsa and Oklahoma City pmctigue@golftec.com Steve Ball Owner, Ball Golf Center, Oklahoma City www.ballgolf.com, 405-842-2626 Pat Bates Director of Instruction, Gaillardia Country Club pbates@gaillardia.com, 405-509-3611 Tracy Phillips Director of Instruction, Buddy Phillips Learning Center at Cedar Ridge vt4u@yahoo.com, 918-352-1089 Jerry Cozby PGA Professional jerrycozby@aol.com, 918-914-1784 Michael Boyd, PGA Professional Indian Springs Country Club 918-455-9515 Oklahoma Golf Association 2800 Coltrane Place, Suite 2 Edmond, OK 73034 405-848-0042 Executive Director Mark Felder mfelder@okgolf.org Director of Handicapping and Course Rating Jay Doudican jdoudican@okgolf.org Director of Junior Golf Morri Rose morose@okgolf.org Copyright 2014 by Golf Oklahoma Magazine. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from Golf Oklahoma.

Golf Oklahoma is published by South Central Golf, Inc.

ROAD TRIP No. 18

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From the Executive Director

OGA Foundation focuses on growth of game The Oklahoma Golf Association Foundation continues to work hard to ensure the growth of junior golf in our state and would welcome the support of each individual or Mark Felder business that would OGA like to join us in this Executive effort.

Director The OGA is the biggest supporter of the foundation. Any extra revenues raised through GHIN (Golf Handicap and Information Network) or tournaments are donated at the end of each year.

The Foundation began making initial disbursements in 2012 and since has contributed funds to 28 Oklahoma golf courses, most for the purchase of SNAG (Start New at Golf) equipment to bolster their junior programs. PGA professionals throughout Oklahoma have found that SNAG equipment works in teaching the fundamentals and making it fun for the youngsters to get involved.

10 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

Also, the Foundation is a presenting sponsor of the South Central PGA Junior Tour, giving it added funds to hire and train its staff and develop its program which runs dozens of tournaments for young golfers each summer. And we have contributed to the First Tee programs in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, as well as the Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association Junior Girls Championship. Also, the Foundation will help pay the expenses of Oklahoma qualifiers for the USGA or

PGA junior championships.

Since the Foundation’s inception in 2009, more than $150,000 has been awarded to these various groups and we hope with your help to be able to do much more in the future. Please help us invest in the future of the game. For more information or to donate, call 405848-0042.

For all of our competitors looking ahead to a fantastic schedule in 2015, here are the events, locations and dates.

2015 OGA Schedule May 19-20 : Four Ball Championship, Oak Tree CC East, Edmond June 1-4 : Junior Boys and Girls Championship, Kickingbird Golf Course, Edmond June 15-18 : Senior State Amateur, Hillcrest Country Club, Bartlesville June 29-30 : Mid-Amateur Championship, The Club at Indian Springs, Broken Arrow July 13-14 : Senior Stroke Play Championship, Quail Creek Golf & Country Club, OKC July 20-22 : State Amateur Championship, Oak Tree National, Edmond Aug. 3-5 : Stroke Play Championship, Chickasaw Pointe, Kingston Aug. 21-23 : Oklahoma Open, Oak Tree Country Club East Course, Edmond State Club Championship TBA

Oklahoma Golf Association News

Rules for dealing with the missing golf ball Most games (baseball, basketball, football, etc.) are played in an arena or on a field where the players, officials and spectators can follow Gene Mortensen all of the action by OGA Rules watching the ball -Director there is only one.

Golf, however, is played on 18 different “fields” that are linked together to form a course. Each player maneuvers a ball along fairways that are lined with trees, tall grass and randomly placed hazards. In the game of Golf, because of the terrain, it is possible for a player’s ball to go missing. If the ball is still missing after a five-minute search, it is lost.

The USGA must have concluded that the missing ball scenario would occur on a regular basis as they have given us Rule 12, for guidance in conducting a search.

I am going to discuss some of the important aspects of Rule 12 and suggest that you might be surprised to find out what is permitted.

If you are searching anywhere on the course, you can bend long grass and bushes with your hand or a club to the extent necessary to find your ball. You are not

permitted to improve the lie of the ball or place where you will take your stance so don’t use your club to chop down native vegetation. If the ball is moved in the process, Rule 18-2 is applicable; a one-stroke penalty is incurred and the ball must be replaced.

If the ball is believed to be in sand, you may use a club or rake to probe for the ball. If the ball is found, you must re-create the lie by replacing the sand. In re-creating the lie, the player is entitled to leave a small part of the ball visible. If the ball is moved in the process, there is no penalty and it must be replaced and the lie re-created.

If the ball is believed to be in a hazard and covered by loose impediments, without penalty the impediments may be moved. If the ball is found, the loose impediments over the ball must be replaced leaving only part of the ball visible. If the ball is moved while searching, Rule 18 applies. If the ball is accidentally moved in the process of replacing the loose impediments, there is no penalty and the ball is replaced.

When the ball is thought to be in a water hazard, the player may use a club or other device to probe for the ball. If the ball is in water and is accidentally moved, there is no penalty and the ball

must be replaced. If the ball is within the boundary of a water hazard but not in water, Rule 18-2 is applicable. In the case of a water hazard, the player should refer to Rule 26 to review the options for taking relief.

You will always want to make sure that the ball you find is your original ball in play and Rule 12-2 allows you to lift a ball to identify it. And this applies to a ball anywhere on the course. Refer to 12-2 for the proper procedure so you avoid a penalty.

During the autumn we hear about a “Leaf Rule” and taking free relief because, in all likelihood, the ball wouldn’t be lost if there were no leaves. A problem with that – there is no specific point of reference to take relief. If you study the Rules you will see a precise point of reference for every situation in which another ball is put into play.

Another problem – you will observe the player, in taking relief, always senses that the lost ball is in a very nice spot and takes his drop accordingly.

WOGA news and notes

WOGA announces 2015 schedule It has been a fantastic 2014 WOGA season that will end with LeeAnn Fairlie attempting to defend her Senior Championship title on Oct. 14-15 at River Oaks Golf Club Sheila Dills in Edmond.

President Applications are beWOGA ing accepted until Oct. 15 for the WOGA Grants Program. High school girls golf teams are encouraged to apply. The grants help underfunded programs afford items such as instruction, golf equipment and uniforms.

Applications can be found on the WOGA website at woga.us or by contacting Sheila Dills at President@woga.us .

Last year, WOGA awarded 13 grants for a total of $6,350.

A first-class schedule is planned for next season. The 2015 State Amateur Championship will be held July 26-29 at Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club, which was the site of the first championship in 1915. The State Amateur will kick off in grand style with the organization’s Centennial Celebration on July 26.

Volunteers are being sought to help promote the game of golf for women and junior girls in Oklahoma. If you would like to volunteer, please e-mail Sheila Dills.

Thank you to all members, tournament participants, volunteers and supporters of the 2014 season. We are looking forward to a special 2015, and thank you in advance for your continued support.

For more information about the Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association, please visit our website and “like us” on Facebook. www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 11

United States Golf Association News

presented by

Why host? Clubs look for ways to give back In 2015, the USGA will conduct 13 championships in 11 states. Oklahoma will host another national event when the U.S. Girls’ Junior David Thompson Championship comes USGA Regional Affairs Committee to Tulsa Country Club on July 20-25.

I was asked recently how the USGA chooses the courses for its Championships. It all starts with an invitation to the USGA from the course or club.

Without going into all of the details of the selection process, there is extensive review to ensure that the course and club can meet the high standards required to conduct a national championship.

With all of those invitations coming in, one might think there is be a lot of money to be made by conducting a national championship. Quite the contrary is true. Most championships require the

12 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

clubs or courses to raise funds from supporters to cover expenses. So why do so many clubs send those invitations?

There are several reasons, but far above all others is the philanthropic gesture of “giving back to the game.”

• Community awareness is increased when the town is highlighted because a national championship is in town and local businesses benefit from a championship being there.

• For a club, the exposure from TV and national media assists in attracting new members and players.

• Members get a sense of pride seeing how some of the world’s best players navigate their golf course and face some of the challenges those members have

faced.

• Clubs get agronomic support from the USGA for the year leading up to the championship with advice to help bring the course to its fullest potential which brings benefits to the club that will be enjoyed by the membership well beyond the championship.

• There is also the recognition. The selection to host a USGA championship ranks that golf course among the best in the country as it joins an elite list.

The USGA has not announced other championships for Oklahoma beyond the 2015 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship.

All championships are dependent upon volunteers from the community and as stated earlier, most are dependent upon local supporters for financial support.

These are ways that you can “give back to the game” that we all love so much. I urge you to get on board with both your time and your money.

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Goods the

Some things we like to do before and after the round

The Bookshelf

History lessons, and lessons by tom bedell

Maybe the hour has arrived to call a time out on golf books that put a particular tournament under the microscope.

In the June-July issue we reviewed a book about the 1996 Masters, this time we have the 1969 Ryder Cup under the lens in “Draw in the Dunes” (Thomas Dunne Books, $26.99).

Not to pick on author Neil Sagebiel, but the formula is getting a little tired. I imagine someone out there is already gathering clips about the 2014 Ryder Cup, and “the Finish That Shocked the World.” Oh, wait, that’s the subtitle for this one, referring to the 2-foot putt Jack Nicklaus conceded to Tony Jacklin at the close of the ‘69 contest that left the whole shooting match tied.

(For this year’s tilt, “The Press Conference That Shocked the World,” might do.)

Granted, the concession was a splendid moment that lives on as a great sporting gesture — not that all of Jack’s teammates or U.S. captain Sam Snead appreciated it as such at the time — but the world was hardly shocked by it. Indeed, one of the more engrossing aspects of the book is its depiction of the state of the Ryder Cup in 1969 — on life support — versus the freighted extravaganza it is today.

I marched off on the wrong foot with this one right from the overwritten prologue, which presents Jacklin dramatically waking up in the middle of the night in 2002 because he’s had a vision — a vision 14 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

of a golf real estate venture. Albeit it was one based upon the concession, but it’s not a promising start.

I don’t blame Sagebiel, whose “The Longest Shot” was about Jack Fleck’s 1955 U.S. Open upset over Ben Hogan. It’s just that he would have been better served with more rigorous editing in terms of both the prose and structure.

What’s good about the book is that Sagebiel has clearly done yeoman’s research in both primary and secondary sources, and much of the narrative comes directly from the players (particularly Nicklaus and Jacklin) and others closely involved in the competition. The concession itself comes off a bit anticlimactically on the page, but the modern perspectives shed upon it from the likes of Raymond Floyd, Billy Casper and some of the UK players are fresh and, if you’re interested, interesting.

chances to break the Nicklaus majors mark, Fields proves himself a master of the personality piece while spanning much of golf’s history. So he writes engagingly about the distant legends of the game (Harry Vardon, Willie Anderson), hall-offamers (Gene Sarazen, Mickey Wright, Snead), and those who were just a step outside of the full limelight (Jimmy Demaret, Bert Yancey, Bobby Clampett).

He intercuts the early brillance of Palmer’s career with the King’s tussle with advancing age, an affecting look at the lion in winter. And while he depicts the game of golf as great stage for the skilled, he poignantly points out it can’t necessarily cure all of life’s ills.

So we have pieces on the first nativeborn U.S. Open winner John McDermott, and his subsequent life in and out of mental institutions, and the brief careers and early deaths of John Schlee and Jim Simons.

But there’s also a celebratory piece about Homero Blancas, and the 55 he shot in 1962, albeit on a course in Longview, Texas, that barely exceeded

Arnie, Seve, and a Fleck of golf history Former long-time Golf World magazine senior writer Bill Fields also writes about Hogan’s 1955 nemesis in his collection “Arnie, Seve and a Fleck of Golf History” (University of Nebraska Press, $19.95) -and gives Sagebiel’s “The Longest Shot” a thumbs up along the way.

In 30 of his longer pieces from the magazine, and a new essay on Tiger Woods’

5,000 yards in length. Playing on an East Texas Tour known as “The Barbeque Circuit,” Blancas went lights out with a 27-28. He went on to have a respectable career, including four wins on the PGA Tour. And if his amazing round comes with an asterisk, it remains the lowest tournament round yet recorded.

ONLINE: Get the latest news on Oklahoma golf at

golfoklahoma.org

own your game Fields also writes about Francis Ouimet and notes the surprise 1913 U.S. Open winner liked to keep the game simple. He quotes from Ouimet’s autobiography: “I am the type who enjoys a word or two with a friend while walking from my tee to the ball, but I want the chatter to be short and sweet, so that when I come to think over my shot I have not got a dozen other things to think of.”

It sounds like advice Dave Stockton would heartily agree with. In his new book, “Own Your Game: How to Use Your Mind to Play Winning Golf” (Gotham Books, $25), the former tour player and teacher again spins out sound advice that seems as natural as it is simple.

I favorably reviewed Stockton’s “Un-

conscious Putting” in the April-May 2012 issue, and I’m not sure how or why I missed his “Unconscious Scoring” which followed. But I’m going to track that one down, too, because the man, in some Zen-like way, makes me feel better about my game just by reading his commonsensical advice.

(As with the other volumes, Stockton has help here with co-writer Matthew Rudy).

It’s probably like some of Stockton’s professional clients, who book three days with the guru and then are satisfied the job is done after 45 minutes or so. There’s nothing ground-breaking here that we haven’t seen before from the likes of Bob

Rotella. Mechanics are important, of course. But one’s mindset is more important, Stockton claims.

It all has to do with a calm and accepting attitude, a positive mind-set with an emphasis on enjoying the game (it is a game, don’t forget), a set routine and — if there’s a single key — envisioning one’s shot. When the shot doesn’t work and you wind up “out of position,” there’s no point in fuming about it and screwing up more shots. One merely needs “to get back in position.” After all, he writes, “...the best part about golf is that you’ll always get another chance.”

Follow Stockton’s advice and it should be possible to get to that magical place ”where you’re looking forward to hitting the next shot.” This is a slim volume of 117 pages, but it goes down like a cool drink of water during a hot round -- clear, refreshing, revitalizing.

Tom Bedell has been trying to keep his head straight on golf courses for many years. Sometimes with success.

Golf’s only acceptable water hazard.

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www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 15

The goods La Antiguedad The remarkable Robusto – My Pulido-Walker Father Cigars by greg horton

by laramie navrath

The game of golf is rich with tradition, heritage and honor, so it comes as no surprise that our feature cigar the La Antiguedad Robusto, is held in such high regards. La Antiguedad is the second project following the mega successful Flor de Las Antillas. It is safe to say this cigar is truly a hole-in-one! La Antiguedad is truly unique from its gorgeous band and art work to its name meaning “The Antiquity,” this cigar embraces the historic

value and authenticity of Cuban art.

A blend five years in the making, Don Pepin Garcia and Jaime Garcia have developed this super-premium cigar using the finest Cuban seed Nicaraguan-grown tobaccos. The La Antiguedad is a medium to full body smoke, available in five sizes. The cigar features a box-pressed Ecuadorian Habano Rosado Oscuro wrapper which is rich and oily, over a double binder of Nicaraguan Criollo and Corojo leaves. The filler tobacco undergoes a strict and rigorous curing process of no less than three and a half years which appears in this smooth, balanced blend.

One can expect terrific construction, aroma and draw. At light up there are rich and bold flavors with a blast of black pepper. You will notice the change in complexity as the pepper mellows and a sweetness develops with hints of cedar and leather. Deep undertones of cocoa and dark fruit are defined throughout the smoke. The La Antiguedad showcases the true meaning of hard work and determination which exemplifies a truly great cigar.

16 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

This has been a good year for wine in Oklahoma, and as the season changes bringing on cooler weather, it is time to enjoy some of the big reds that we avoided during summer’s heat. Wine lovers have their favorites, of course, but Cabernet is still king in Oklahoma, and this year brought us one of the best Napa Cabernets ever to be available in the state.

Pulido~Walker is a joint effort between Mark Pulido and Donna Walker. They eventually added Nancy Andrus Duckhorn (yes, those Duckhorns) and Thomas Rivers Brown to the team. Brown was selected as Food & Wine Magazine’s Best Winemaker of 2010. He began his career working for the amazing Ehren Jordan (Turley, 32 Winds, Failla) at Turley Wine Cellars, the legendary Zinfandel producer.

The Cabernet from Pulido~Walker is absolutely stunning. The wine is 100

percent Cabernet Sauvignon from St. Helena, and Brown’s hands-off style winemaking allows the terroir to come through in the wine. He practices nearly zero manipulation with the goal of allowing the fruit, soil, and climate to shine through. The wine is big and complex, but it is already surprisingly approachable given its weight and tannic structure. A couple hours in the decanter are definitely recommended.

Also available this year is Mole Hill Cabernet from Lail Vineyards. Already justly famous for their Georgia Sauvignon Blanc and the Blueprint wines (Cabernet and Sauvignon Blanc), Mole Hill is the most exclusive wine Lail produces. The grapes come from a dedicated, three-acre vineyard on Howell Mountain. The production is very small, approximately 1,650 bottles, and the price reflects that. Mole Hill is, however, one of those wines where the price is an indicator of quality.

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

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

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

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H S B R E S O R T. C O M

INDUSTRY ANALYSIS

Objective look finds balance

The unseen drag on getting people into the game — and keeping them -- is the ongoing shift in our culture towards ever more activity, business and family, with golf not fitting into the present idea of a “cool” pastime. Some thought that when Tiger Woods took his spot as a superstar in the minds of both golf fans and the general public, he would attract millions to play. That, outside of a momentary blip, obviously didn’t happen, but even now that number or about 6 percent during the there are some who believe the inclusion by ed travis of golf in the 2016 Olympics will create a same time period, a positive sign accordworldwide surge in golf numbers. Some ing to some analysts.

The woes of the golf industry are a faobservers are skeptical but keep in mind, To counter the golfer defection, there vorite topic of business and media pundits in spite of the negative growth of recent and even a large number of industry insid- are a host of programs aimed at bringing times, during the past 50 years golf has ers, most of whom seem to relish pointing new people (juniors and women parstill grown five times faster than the U.S. ticularly) into golf principally sponsored out golf is not enjoying a never ending population. upward trend.

In addition to the decline in The major problem with this apparticipation, golf course operaproach obviously is the lack of baltors have been really hurt by the ance, so let’s take an even-handed collapse in real estate values. look at some of the common There are far more courses closing “facts” cited as foretelling doom than opening and valuations have and gloom and even the demise of fallen precipitously – along with golf. greens fees. But some investors First, to give you a sense of the see significant opportunities now nonsense being written, here is a that prices appear to have botquote that appeared on Aug. 19 tomed out. Marcus & Millichap’s from Businessweek.com, by Kyle National Golf & Resort Properties Stock -- “Dick’s Sporting Goods Group says in 2013 the average golf (DKS) is disgusted with its golf Junior clinics, such as this one by Notah Begay and Scott course price was $4.25 million, a game. As duffers leave the links en Verplank in Ponca City, help the game grow. significant increase from the low of masse, the company is quitting as $2.7 million in 2012, but still well well. It will still sell some clubs here below the highest average sale price back and there, but it’s going to focus on serving by the PGA of America and the United in 2006 of $7.33 million. more rewarding activities such as baseball, States Golf Association. Get Golf Ready, Considering golf courses were certainly The First Tee, Sticks for Kids, PGA Junior football, and mini-trampoline use.” overvalued in the rush to provide for the League, Play Golf America and others are The Dick’s situation we will get to, but predicted boom in player numbers, this spending significant amounts to attract more to the point is this associate edireduction can only be considered a return tor’s opinion and innuendo masquerading participants and teach them how to play. to more normal pricing.

Everyone acknowledges golf is difficult as news is typical of the “bad press” the Dick’s Sporting Goods, the largest to learn, but the emphasis of these recruitindustry is facing. specialty sports retailer, announced it was ment efforts is on fun – the personal Also and it may not need saying, but reducing the floor space devoted to golf satisfaction of hitting a golf ball well (at let’s anyway — there’s nothing wrong accompanied by the firing of almost 500 least occasionally), the companionship with the golf business that a 1-2 percent PGA Professionals. That news shocked with others and the health benefits of annual growth in the number of players many and has received much of the negawouldn’t fix. Of course that’s not the situ- outdoor activity. Will they alone solve tive press. On closer analysis, the list of the participation problem? Perhaps not, ation. But what is? reasons provided by Dick’s, including poor Knowing your customer is basic for any but they are bringing golf to people who sales of golf equipment, lack of appreciabusiness, but golf seems to have a problem might otherwise not be exposed. tion by customers of new club technology There are also efforts such as Hack pinning down actually how many golfers and overly aggressive product introducGolf (funded by TaylorMade-adidas there are with the most recent estimates tions/marketing by manufacturers, seems Golf) meant to “think outside the box” being around 25 million, down from the to fall in the “It’s Not My Fault Things about the game, how it’s played and how high of about 30 million in 2008 before Messed Up” category. More likely manunconventional approaches may be used the recession. That’s a six-year decline of agement misread the increase in equipabout 15 percent, but golf is still one of the to attract those who may not usually ment sales from 2008-12 as a never-ending be thought of as potential players to the largest participation sports in this coungame. Footgolf, an amalgam of golf and try. Recent figures show the number of soccer, is probably the best example. rounds played are down less than half of See OBJECTIVE page 21

Trends in golf not all gloomy

18 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

Top Golf booming OKC one of many new venues The Oklahoma City Topgolf is slated to open in spring 2015.

Adrienne Chance, Topgolf’s seWhen HBO decides to do a nior communications manager, “Real Sports” feature on golf, said the company never releases you would think it would be specific dates until much closer about a human interest story to opening, primarily because like a rags to riches golfer or an changes in weather and conold veteran like Jack Nicklaus. struction schedule make specific Instead, Bryant Gumbel’s outstanding series chose to focus on dates hard to predict.

The company currently has the down turn in golf around the a location in 13 cities worldworld. One of the questions the producers asked was how to get wide—the closest being Dallas — and Browne said nine more locations, including Oklahoma City, are in construction or planning.

“We plan to build 10 facilities a year for the next three years,” Browne said. “By 2017, attendance at our facilities will exceed NFL attendance in a single season.”

With such outCan Top Golf bring new players to the standing growth, game? why focus on a relatively small market like Oklapeople interested in golf again, homa City, though? Browne especially younger golfers. said demand for Topgolf was the One of the interesting anprimary reason the company swers was the entertainment considered this market. chain Topgolf. Each Topgolf “Nearly every day we had facility features a 65,000-square people calling and asking when foot facility with bars, reswe were coming to Oklahoma taurants, golf bays, and seven City,” Browne said. “We had signature games to entertain never seen anything quite like everyone from beginners to experienced golfers. There is no 9- that. It was a smaller market than what we planned on exor 18-hole course, but there are enough skills games that experi- panding to, but the demand was very exciting.” enced golfers can compete with each other in chipping, accuracy, driving, and other games.

See TOP GOLF page 21 by greg horton

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News from around the state Sponsored by

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Mercy Golf Academy Science, fitness unlock potential hanced,” Piccolo said. “We want to get the limitations out of the way. TPI is just a way to diagnose. We want to go way beyond rom tour professionals to beginners to 25 handicappers with a body that that and work on your engine.”

Although Schultz is a scratch player, the vaguely remembers what it used to duo are not teaching golf per se. They do be able to accomplish, all can rapidly improve their capacity to play golf at a higher have packages that work in combination level with a boost from modern science and with teaching professional Jim Young at the latest in fitness and training techniques. nearby River Oaks Country Club, or you can continue to work with any PGA profesCentral Oklahoma golfers should defisional. What Schultz and Piccolo are doing nitely check out the Mercy Golf Academy, is making sure you can physically get the located at the new Mercy Sports Performost from your ability. mance Center just off Interstate 35 at 15th “If a player wants to gain three degrees Street in Edmond. of rotation, that translates into three mph Here you will be welcomed by Bradley of clubhouse Schultz and speed and Bradley Much more information about the Mercy about 15 Piccolo, two Brad Schultz, left, and Brad Piccolo, owners Golf Academy can be learned on the website at yards of avid golfers of the Mercy Golf Academy. www.mercy.net/mspi35 distance,” and longOr you can call Schultz at 405-245-3549 or Schultz said. knowledge, but I’m sure a lot of the young time physical ones out there who are serious about the If there therapists Piccolo at 405-209-3350. game sure will.” are no major who have Email addresses are The new Mercy I-35 Edmond is an impairments, been studyBradley.schultz@mercy.net and integrated wellness facility with both clinic the two will ing and Bradley.piccolo@mercy.net. steer the golf- and hospital services. Athletes specialresearching izing in all sports work out or are treated er through not just how at the Mercy Sports Performance Center. to identify and fix any physical restrictions Progressive Skill Training (PST).

One floor above is the post Mercy Fitness “We start with the balance in the feet. a golfer may have that are keeping them Center, in which anyone can get a memAre we generating the appropriate ground from reaching their full potential, but how bership to use the pools, walking track, reaction forces? Those translate to our to quickly begin to alleviate those issues. core, than our arms. It’s all pretty basic and spa, free weights, stair masters and weight The process begins with a thorough machines. simple. Not all golfers will want all that physical screening using methods developed by the Titleist Performance Institute (Piccolo is TPI certified) and Mechanical Diagnosis Therapy (Schultz is MDT certified). From there, a program specifically designed to meet their individual needs is developed.

“The system is custom built for each individual,” Schultz said. “If you’re an 18 handicapper who wants to get down to a 10, there’s a lot we can work on. If you’re a scratch player looking to win your club championship, there’s still a lot we can work on but the margins are smaller. If you’re an elite or tour player, this is where it becomes highly hands on.”

“We’re taking our therapy knowledge and skill set and figuring out how your body is limiting you and how it can be enPart of the fitness center available to golfers in the Mercy program.

by ken macleod

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20 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

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INDUSTRY ANALYSIS OBJECTIVE, cont. from page 18

Growth of club sales in the United States is still significant, rising from upward trend and overbought so when under $3 billion in 2009 to an estimated golfers purchased fewer drivers, etc., they $3.7 billion in 2014 though still not to the were forced to cut prices which cut their $3.722 billion peak of 2007. profits.

Also throw into the mix, according to Also, thousands of serious golfers still the PGA Tour, golf viewership has held feel more comfortable getting custom fit fairly constant and corporate sponsorship for clubs by the host professional at the is at an all-time high. course or club where they most often So is golf in trouble? The undeniable play. Those who don’t are just as likely answer is yes but the end is not near. Jon to buy discounted clubs from numerous Last, president of Sports & Leisure Marwebsites as they are to go to Dick’s. keting, put it succinctly at a recent golf Equipment manufacturers have had industry conference, “There are those in mixed results in recent years with mergers, consolidations and outright purchas- the media who look at the industry with gloom and doom. I see it as an opportues being a common occurrence. TaylorMade-adidas Golf, the largest equipment nity, but the approach by the industry company with worldwide sales last fiscal has to be adaptive. The market shift has to be identified.” year of $1.7 billion, saw profits the first Our media friends who predict golf six months this fiscal year fall 34 percent and has consolidated operations of its Ad- is doomed to retreat back to the days of being an elite pastime played only at exams Golf division, which was purchased clusive country clubs are wrong. Municiwhen Adams went bankrupt in 2012. pal and privately-owned public courses Of the big four equipment companies, Callaway Golf alone has seen an increase will continue to adapt in concert with all those concerned about the game’s health. and the company predicts 2014 will see approximately 5 percent higher sales than The main thing is to continue to introduce the game to youngsters and let them 2013 with earnings per share doubling discover its timeless appeal. that increase.

TOP GOLF, cont. from page 19 The Oklahoma City Topgolf will be at 13025 N. Western, the corner of Memorial and Western in Oklahoma City.

Access from the Broadway Extension or Kilpatrick Turnpike will be very convenient at that location. The entire facility including the game course occupies 12 acres. Topgolf has a full service restaurant, three bars, three levels, 102 hitting bays, a 3,000-square foot private event space, and a rooftop terrace with space for live entertainment.

The games are played in the bays, which open onto the 240-yard field. The field is peppered with targets on the ground that look like bullseyes. The games use microchipped balls programmed for specific players, and the membership card each customer buys keeps track of lifetime scores on all the games.

Browne said the facility is very family friendly, and beginners are as likely to have fun as experienced golfers.

All Topgolf facilities have clubs for rent. More information on the company is available at topgolf.com, and at topgolf. com/oklahoma-city for Oklahoma Cityspecific information.

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justicegolf.com www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 21

QUA I L CR EEK BA N K’S A RCH I T EC T PROFI L E

Tom Doak by chris lewis

With 30-plus years of experience, Tom Doak has designed some of the world’s most beloved golf courses, from Tasmania, Australia’s Barnbougle Dunes to Ballyneal Golf Club

ma, Doak discussed many topics, including his thoughts on the future of course architecture, his goals for a revolutionary “reversible” course and his advice for less experienced architects – don’t be afraid to get out on the course and get dirty.

From your perspective as a golf course designer, what are your thoughts on the state of the game today?

My only concern is that the gap between the professionals and amateurs has grown too large, to the point that it looks like we’re playing two different games. The average golfer can’t relate to 350-yard drives, and if courses are designed to challenge the pros, they’ll be brutally hard for everyone else.

It would be far less expensive to address that problem through equipment, rather than through architecture, but, to date, the manufacturers and the governing bodies have not come together for a solution.

in Holyoke, Colo. He has also worked with some of the industry’s most talented architects, including his mentor, Pete Dye. Yet, despite his accolades, he remains highly passionate about course architecture as a whole, traveling upwards of 150 to 200 days per year, digging in the dirt with his construction crews and negotiating deals to design new courses. When Golf Oklahoma spoke to him in late August, he was in the midst of a 10-day trip to Toronto, New Zealand and Utah to discuss possible new projects.

During his conversation with Golf Oklaho22 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

What do you believe the golf industry can do to increase participation?

Selling five-hour rounds has never been a good business, especially when time is such a challenge for modern families. We need to promote nine-hole rounds as a welcome alternative instead of “not a real round.” We need to promote match play and Stableford, and get away from everyone having to hole out on every hole so they can post their scores. And, of course, we need to get the price of golf down, but supply and demand will do that for us.

In these days of limited golf course de-

velopment, what is your outlook on the future of golf course architecture as a whole? Will it remain a stable industry?

Golf architecture is not the boom business it was 10 years ago, and won’t be again anytime soon. But that was all an aberration, anyway. There won’t be nearly as many new courses built in the years ahead, but there will still be tremendous incentive for clubs to improve on what they have, and for developers and architects who have faith they can create something special.

There has been considerable conversation within the golf industry lately about the reversible course you intend to design for Roscommon, Michigan’s Forest Dunes Golf Club. Could you please describe this innovative design concept?

A reversible course is a very old concept really – it was frequently done in the winter on links courses to spread out the wear and tear from play. My thought was, why not build a course where you could switch back and forth every other day? The goal is to have two very different courses over the same piece of ground, so people will want to stay over to play it both ways, and compare and contrast the two.

Why exactly has Forest Dunes been chosen as the initial site to transform your vision into reality?

The concept works best on a relatively gentle, relatively open piece of ground, where the topography doesn’t create problems if the course is played backwards. For example, if we set up a tee shot on a par-4 to play over a ravine, there’s a good chance the ravine would be right where your drive would land, playing the other way around. I’ve been looking for the right site for many years, and the Forest Dunes site seemed to be right for it. Then, when the client said his goal was to get people to stay on site for multiple days, I knew I had the right client to pitch the idea to.

You have been described as a “minimalist” designer by the media for years.

Do you believe that is an accurate description of your work?

I never like to be completely stereotyped into one style, because there are occasionally going to be sites where a certain approach won’t work, but you

Celebrating have a different idea you want to pursue. Generally, though, I’m a big believer that the natural topography of the earth is what gives golf such a great variety, and I don’t want to mess with it any more than I have to between the tee and the green.

If I can’t figure out an interesting routing without changing the site all around, I’m probably going to pass on designing a course on that ground.

What can architects do to help save golf from the twin pressures of limited resources for rising costs, especially for water, and the public perception that golf is too hard, time consuming and costly?

We’ve got to design courses more efficiently instead of stretching them out for real estate frontage. We also have to keep the tees right next to the previous green, instead of driving a cart all over the place. But the price of golf is a matter of supply and demand. If we are efficient at our work, our clients will profit more (or lose less!), but they will still charge the golfers pretty much whatever the market will bear.

With more than 30 years of experience in the industry, what advice do you have for up-and-coming golf course architects in particular?

I’ve had a small army of aspiring young architects work for me over the past 20 years, including a couple who compete with me for work now. And my current team of associates (Eric Iverson, Brian Slawnik, Brian Schneider and Don Placek) is entirely capable of designing courses on their own. The key to their success is they have all spent most of their time out on construction sites. It takes way more people to build a great course than to draw one on paper – and out in the dirt is where the cool features are added to the design. When architects are looking for their first jobs on their own, and tell clients they can build golf courses, rather than just design them, they always have a huge leg up on the competition.

Tom Doak with Bill Coore (white shirt), Ben Crenshaw (red) and unidentified man at Ballyneal Golf Club in Holyoke, Colo.

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MAHOGANY’S INDUSTRY PROFILE

The adventures of Mike Carter Passion for golf opens doors, sometimes to unforseen endings by ken mac leod

M

ike Carter can’t take the credit or the blame, depending on your perspective, for the NCAA Golf Championship’s switch from a stroke play to a match play format.

Even though it seems that Carter has been involved with the NCAA Golf Committee forever, he actually served a four-year term from 1999-2003 and is now entering the final year of a second four-year term from 2011-15. He was the chairman last year when the championship was played at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kan., and will be again this year when for the first time the men’s and women’s tournaments are held consecutively at the same site, the Concession Club in Bradenton, Fla. So while Carter was not officially on the committee when former Oklahoma State coach Mike Holder and others 24 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

pushed the change through – beginning in 2009 – he has become a believer. The event was telecast for the first time

by Golf Channel this year and it reported ratings comparable to its broadcasts of LPGA, Champions Tour and Web. Com Tour events.

In between his stints on the men’s golf committee, Carter served as a volunteer for the committee in charge of one of the six men’s regional championships. That makes 15 consecutive years of volunteering for Carter, who also has quite a full plate as director of athletics at Oral Roberts University.

Why would a man devote so much time, energy and commitment to making certain that collegiate golfers have the best experience possible?

Carter’s love of golf runs deep.

His background with the game includes some great personal triumphs, and some verging on the comedic.

Mike Carter in his ORU office filled with golf memorabilia.

Many know the tragic side of Carter’s background, losing 13-year-old son Scott to bone cancer in 1993, leading to the formation of the Scott Carter Foundation, which since has raised more than $1 million for cancer research, much of it through the annual Scott Carter Golf Classic and Scott Carter Heroes Dinner which follows.

Thanks to a recent excellent article by Jimmie Tramel of the Tulsa World, many now know the story of his daughter Lizz and her struggles and triumphs to make it as an actress in the ultra-competitive Hollywood scene.

Quite a few people know that Carter was the founder of the Maxwell Cup, an annual competition between Southern Hills, Prairie Dunes and Colonial, three clubs connected by their Perry Maxwell heritage.

Carter not only started the

competition, he is the only one to play in all 30.

And for a long time, many knew him as the best golfer at Southern Hills. He won the club championship five times, 1981, 1986, 1987, 1989 and 1990.

Not many know, however, that Mike Carter was responsible for personally raising the funds to help friend Bill Brogden become the University of Tulsa golf coach after ORU dropped its once-proud program temporarily in 1986.

Or that he nearly won the state high school championship in 1965, despite having played almost exclusively on sand greens at Pawhuska CC before going to the championship at Lincoln Park, where he lost to Mark Hayes, later of OSU and PGA Tour fame, and future OSU star Jim Andrews by a narrow margin.

And only his buddies know www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 25

Mike Carter, back row in black, has spent many a meeting with the NCAA Golf Committee, on which he has served two four-year terms.

that Carter once won the Oklahoma Indian Golf Championship completely by mistake, and nearly took a drubbing for it.

Let’s start with that one. In 1969, his junior year at Oklahoma State, Carter is driving from Stillwater to his home in Pawhuska. Going through Fairfax, he sees a big sign “Welcome Golfers.” Must be time for the Fairfax Open, an event he’s played in the past.

Carter stops, goes into the one-room building, is welcomed by name and told the entry fee is $10. A set of Wilson woods is there for the champion, a leather duffel bag for longest drive and a second leather bag for medalist the first day.

Carter shoots 72 the first day and is tied for low medalist, which gets pushed back.

Second day he comes with his brother, Pat, as caddy. He hits a “neck-high, rope hook down the middle on the first hole,

310 yards to the back of the green,” and wins the long drive contest. He shoots 33-33 to win medalist and the championship. He is standing with Snap Daniels, a full-blood Osage and tournament director, having a picture taken for the local paper, when he notices a crowd of his competitors gathering and by their gestures and attitude, not very happy.

“I asked Snap, ‘What’s going on?’ “ Carter said. “He said, they want to know where you’re enrolled. Enrolled! What do you mean?

“He said, ‘Well Mike, you just won the State Indian Championship.’ I thought I had won the Fairfax Open!”

Mike and Pat hightailed it to their car with all the prizes and were driving off when a loud rap on the window startled them. It was a local bank president, a friend of Carter’s dad, and he asked if Carter planned to play in any more tournaments that summer and then handed him a wad of cash, about $250 and told him to use it as entry fees.

“I asked him ‘what’s this for,’ and he said, ‘Well, I just won five grand on you in the Calcutta!’ “ Carter actually has a strong Indian heritage as his father’s grandmother was

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Carter’s office at ORU is filled with golf memorabilia, including this photo of a devilishly good looking young golfer.

a full blood Choctaw. At the time, Carter didn’t know that but did believe he had a Cherokee heritage. He went on to be invited to the All-American Indian Classic at Mohawk Park and another Indian event in Oklahoma City, played in both and made numerous friends.

His friendship with Brogden dates back to the 1977 OGA State Amateur at Cedar Ridge Country Club. Paired in the same group, the two waited a long rain delay out under Brogden’s umbrella and became fast friends in the process. Carter, then a practicing lawyer, would help Brogden with fund-raising at ORU and the two played a lot of golf and basketball together.

When ORU dropped golf, Carter did not want to see Brogden leave town, so he approached TU Athletic Director John Benn and asked what it would take to bring him a Hall of Fame coach and some outstanding players. TU basically had a part-time program at the time. Benn said if he could raise $110,000 for each of the first two years, the university would support it going forward.

Carter got together with Bill Heldmar from Cedar Ridge and they formed a committee with a key fundraiser at every major club in Tulsa and raised the money. Soon after, Brogden became TU’s head coach in 1986, bringing with him talented players Sean Collard, Andre Bossert and Darryl Court. Brogden is still there coaching competitive teams today.

Carter and Brogden teamed to win the OGA Four-Ball Championship at Dornick Hills in 1995. And even though they don’t agree on the NCAA championship format – Brogden would still prefer to see it decided by stroke play as that is the format used all season – it doesn’t affect their friendship.

Carter was convinced the first year when OSU and Georgia, the top two teams in the polls, met in the first round and it boiled down to the final match between Rickie Fowler and Brian Harmon, won by Harmon when he birdied the last four holes to win 1 up.

“They’re coming down 18 and it was nothing but electricity in the air,” Carter said. “They asked Ricky after he lipped out his putt on 18 what he thought and he said it was the most fun he ever had playing golf in his life.”

Carter has had a lifetime of fun with this extraordinary game.

And he’s helped Fowler and all of his contemporaries have a better experience as well. www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 27

Front row for history Bryan’s role crucial in many big events at Southern Hills by ken macleod

P

art of Dave Bryan’s professionalism and aura during his past 26 years as Southern Hills Country Club’s director of golf has always been his movie-star good looks and sharp, well-dressed and coiffed appearance. He looks the part of running one of the nation’s top clubs.

Long-time Southern Hills members and friends of Bryan may get a chuckle then, to learn how he showed up for his first job interview with legendary pro Joe Walser at Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club, fresh after graduating from the University of Oklahoma.

“Here comes this guy in an OU sweatshirt, ballcap, jeans and tennis shoes,” said Jack Haby, then an assistant to the late Walser and now a teaching pro at Cordillera Ranch near San Antonio. “I thought, ‘Jeez, he’s got no chance.’ But Joe said take him down to the range and see if he can hit a ball.

“He could really hit it. And he had a great smile. Joe gave him a chance and look what happened.”

Bryan will counter that an ice storm was responsible for his appearance on his first day in the business, but at any rate it didn’t take him long to learn how to dress for success. And his work ethic, people skills and business acumen became rapidly apparent in a meteoric career rise that saw him became a head professional at Milburn Country Club in Overland Park, Kan., at age 26 in 1975, then move on Oakwood CC in Enid in 1981 and Tulsa CC in 1985.

Although he loved Tulsa Country Club, Bryan had also put himself in an ideal spot when his dream job opened up just four years later when Jim Lucius went from Southern Hills to Olympic Club in San Francisco. He is not the only one to make 28 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

that migration.

Bryan estimates as many as 100 members of TCC in 1985 eventually became Southern Hills members.

“The first time I played at Southern Hills in 1972, I was coming up the 18th hole and I got a little sad, because I was going to have to leave,” Bryan said. “I said to myself, one of these days I’m going to be at a place like this and not have to leave.”

For 26 years, Photos by Rip Stell Bryan has not Dave Bryan with his favorite course in the background. had to leave, but for customer service have helped many that is changa young professional get established and ing at the end of 2014. The club board go on to great careers. Some of his former announced in late September that Cary Cozby from Wichita Country Club would assistants and the head professional jobs they went on to include John Phillips at be Bryan’s successor beginning in 2015.

Sherwood Country Club, Mark Meacham Bryan, 66, does not plan to retire, howat Hallbrook CC in Leawood, Kan., Jeff ever. He said he is mulling over several opportunities to share his wealth of expe- King at Mission Hills (Kan.) CC, Cary Cozby at Wichita CC, Johnathan Tips at riences in a new venture.

Country Club of Missouri, Ryan Johnson “If I do something, it’s going to be chalat Sunset CC in St. Louis, Bobby Jacks at lenging and fun and I’ll be involved in the Baton Rouge CC, Gideon Traub at Forest decision-making process,” Bryan said. “It Hills CC in St. Louis and his son David will be a position where I’ll be able to use Bryan, now director of golf at Cedar Ridge my wisdom and my experience and my CC in Broken Arrow. failures and successes. And I’ll work with “It’s an old saying, but I’ve tried to teach people that want the same things I want. If I can help somebody else be successful that these guys to treat people the way you would want to be treated,” Bryan said. will be very gratifying and rewarding.”

“These guys take that philosophy to their Bryan’s attention to detail and knack

new clubs and because of their skill set, service, friendliness and attitude of wanting to be the best, their new clubs really begin to flourish.”

The younger Bryan began to emulate his father as early as he can remember, spending entire summer days at Oakwood. He knew early on that he wanted to do what dad did.

“It’s definitely in my blood,” David said. “I went to college and got a degree, but never saw myself doing anything else and dad was a big part of that. I was destined to end up in this business.”

Nick Sidorakis, who has worked in tandem with Bryan for nearly two decades as general manager, said his partner will be missed.

“Dave has done an excellent, tremendous job in serving the membership over the last 26 years,” Sidorakis said. “He’s been a great ambassador for the club, and is well respected by the membership and the community. I’ve enjoyed working with Dave personally over these 19 years, trying to exceed the expectations of our membership. We wish him the best in all his future endeavors.”

Bryan has the respect of his contemporaries. Jerry Cozby, longtime head professional at Hillcrest Country Club in Bartlesville before retiring in 2009, sent his son, Cary, to train at Southern Hills while Bryan sent his son, David, to train under Cozby at Hillcrest. Cary and Dave have wound up at Southern Hills and Cedar Ridge, respectively.

“I’ve always regarded Dave as one of the best golf professionals I’ve known,” Jerry Cozby said. “If you look at all the club events and tournaments they have at Southern Hills, they are almost always full and with a waiting list. That is one way you really tell if a pro is doing a good job, by making those events fun and ones that the members want to play in.”

At Southern Hills, Bryan has had a front row seat – and often an instrumental role – in the history of the grand club. His tenure has included four major championships, including the 1994 PGA Championship, 2001 U.S. Open, 2007 PGA Championship and 2009 U.S. Amateur Championship, as well as the 1995 and 1996 PGA Tour Championships. He was there for major club renovations, including the addition of nine holes in 1991.

Many may not realize that it was a chance encounter Bryan had with Arnold Palmer at Bay Hill in 1993 that helped convince the legend to extend his run of PGA Championships one more year and make 1994 in Tulsa his final emotional appearance. Or that Bryan was the one assigned

by Bill Warren to convince Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore to design the “West Nine” even though they were initially Many pros benefitted from Bryan’s leadership reluctant after seeing how the and went on to great jobs.

Cary Cozby with wife Staci and son Banks.

Cozby credo: "Let's be the best at the fun stuff" by ken macleod

Who cares who the director of golf is at a private club that 99 percent of golfers will never play?

A lot of folks, apparently.

Shortly after Golf Oklahoma reported online that Cary Cozby had been named the successor to Dave Bryan at Southern Hills, the story was setting magazine records for number of page views and “likes.”

Cozby, meanwhile, was watching his cell phone explode with messages, emails and calls of contratulations.

“It’s just been overwhelming,” Cozby said of the reaction.

“I’ve heard from fellow pros in and out of the section, friends, family, guys I played with at OU, many members at both courses, golf company executives. It’s just been really cool.”

Cozby, 45, will begin in January, while Bryan, 66, will finish his 26-year stint as director of golf Dec. 31.

Cozby has resigned effective at the end of the year from his dual role as director of golf and chief executive officer of

See COZBY page 30 www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 29

land was not as spectacular as what Perry Maxwell used on the original 18.

“That has been a blessing,” Bryan said.

“It’s allowed our junior program to grow.

The beginning women, the seniors, they can all go over there and have an easier time of it. It’s just been unbelievable. I don’t know what it would be like anymore not to have it.”

It was Bryan that former PGA of America Executive Director Jim Awtrey called when it became apparent that Oak Tree National was going to be unable to host the 1994 PGA Championship due to the Landmark fiasco, starting the wheels toward Southern Hills taking the event eventually won by Nick Price, with whom Bryan became close friends.

One of the lasting pleasures of working the championships was the opportunity to mingle with legends of the game such as Bryon Nelson. Bryan gave him a ride around the course during a practice round in 1994 and watched as a trail of pros stopped him to pay their respects to Nelson. Then in 2001, Nelson was again fidgeting around in the clubhouse.

“You know he’s not going to ask for anything,” Bryan said. “So I asked him if he would like to go out and sit on the first tee. ‘Could we?’ he said. So we got some big wing-backed chairs and set he and Peggy up on the first tee. Again to watch everyone come up and shake his hand, it

COZBY, continued from 29 Wichita Country Club. The Bartlesville native who served as an assistant to Bryan from 1995-2000 before going to WCC is looking forward to beginning work at a club he has looked up to since childhood.

“It’s such a special place to me and to the game,” Cozby said of Southern Hills, site of four PGA Championships, three U.S. Open Championships, two U.S. Amateur Championships and two PGA Tour Championships, among other notable events. “When I was interviewing, it felt like the tee box on the 72nd hole of a major. I was excited and nervous. I wanted to earn the position and validate all the nice things being said on my behalf.”

Cozby will soon be able to implement the lessons he learned from both Bryan and his father Jerry Cozby, longtime head professional now retired from Hillcrest Country Club in Bartlesville.

“I know we’re not curing cancer or splitting atoms,” Cozby said. “This is fun stuff, but let’s be the best at the fun stuff.

We want to know the audience, have stan30 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

Bryan points out one of many mementoes he’s accumulated in 26 years at Southern Hills.

was just great.”

Bryan is a die-hard OU fan, loves to read (mostly non-fiction) and an avid watcher of all sports “except soccer.” His two children are both involved in sports as a livelihood, David at Cedar Ridge and daughter Paige Millspaugh, a former AllAmerica gymnast at Jenks and cheerleader at OU, now co-owner of Cross Fit T-Town.

He and his wife of 43 years, Cindy, will spend more time with their four grandchildren and do some traveling. A very talented golfer who has won several PGA section events in the rarity that he finds time to play, including the SCPGA proassistant this summer, he’ll look to get the clubs out more often as well.

“I’ve always been a guy that looked

through the front windshield,” Bryan said. “I’ve always looked ahead and never thought about what I’ve accomplished.

Now that there’s an end to it, I’m looking back a little more. And I can see that we’ve done very well and accomplished a lot here.

“Southern Hills is a top 15 club in the country. There’s no doubt about that. A lot of the neat things that have happened to me are because I am here at Southern Hills, not because of Dave Bryan. But I’ve earned that as well. I’ve got to meet and greet a lot of great people. But I worked hard to get to spend time at a great place like this.”

Soon he can break out that OU sweatshirt and tennis shoes again.

dards we measure against and compete.

As a team, I want us to be the best. When people go somewhere else, I want us to be the standard they measure against. Let’s be the best at whatever we can do today and try to get a little better each day.

“That’s my philosophy in a nutshell.”

The key to providing customer service at a place like Southern Hills is the same as at any course. Know your customer.

“One guy may have kids and want a great junior program, the next guy just

likes to play, the next guy is very in to golf fashion or lessons or tournaments. The important thing to me is that we wear all the hats that a PGA professional is supposed to wear and wear them well. We have to understand who the audience is and I look at that as one of my primary responsibilities.

“The nature of country clubs has changed.

It’s no longer a place where dad spends Saturday and Sunday. Now if you want to be in the conversation, you need to provide programs for everybody in the family.

Cary Cozby’s PGA South Central Section Awards and offices 2008-2010 South Central PGA Section President 2003, 2009, 2010 South Central PGA Golf Professional of the Year 2009, 2011, 2013 South Central PGA Bill Strausbaugh Award Winner 2003, 2004, 2005 South Central PGA Horton Smith Award Winner 2002, 2007, 2010, 2014 South Central PGA Private Merchandiser of the Year 2002 PGA of America Private Merchandiser of the Year 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 PGA President’s Council on Growing the Game 2006, 2009, 2012, 2014 Played in PGA Professional National Championship

Who knew?

Tewell huge hit in Belgium by john rohde

Since the early 1980s, Doug Tewell playfully has been tagged with the nickname “Monty” after former “Let’s Make A Deal” game-show host Monty Hall.

A longtime touring professional and Oklahoma State product, Tewell always seemed in the midst of making some kind of business deal, whether he was in the clubhouse or in the locker room, on the telephone or on the course.

Tewell always had a deal in mind – although a game of “Three-Card Monte” might be a more appropriate nickname for some of Tewell’s more “creative” deals.

It was Tewell who finagled an agreement with a local dealer that made Mercedes Benz the official car for the two Senior Tour Championships staged at Gaillardia Country Club.

Close friend and fellow touring pro Bob Gilder stayed at Tewell’s residence during those championships. When playfully asked how much a room cost at Tewell’s house, a straight-faced Gilder deadpanned, “Five hundred a night.”

Do you at least get Marriott points?

“No,” Gilder responded, “but he does offer Starwood Preferred.”

A few moments later, Tewell suddenly appeared, walked up to Gilder and said, “Sorry, the Tewell Hilton is booked solid this week.”

The Oak Tree Gang of touring pros Gil Morgan, Mark Hayes, David and Danny Edwards, Bob Tway, Willie Wood, Scott Verplank, Andy Dillard, et al, frequently reminded Tewell of his nickname.

Tewell took in all in stride … usually.

“Yeah, I get that grief all the time now, but that’s OK,” Tewell said.

To those who refer to Tewell as “Monty” these days, the 65-year-old Tewell can’t help but smile, because somewhat unwittingly, he has become part of a budding golf instruction video empire.

Tewell and four other local investors own roughly 20 percent of Golf Tailor, LLC, which sells various golf instructional videos, among them being Tewell’s “Square to Square” and “Tour 12” series,

Hank Haney’s “The Haney Blueprint,” Mike Bender’s “MEGSA Method,” James Seickmann’s “Phase5” short game system, plus former touring pro Pat Bates’ “Fusion 3 Swing.”

Tim Oyler is the chief executive officer of Golf Tailor, which is based in Edmond.

“It’s just kind of one of those Doug Tewell’s video sales still going strong. dumb-luck things,” Tewell said of the game, such as driving, chipping, midthe company’s success. “At first, I didn’t even want to do the video. Then they said, irons, et al.

“It’s been doing pretty good. I can’t com‘Come on, do it.’ ” plain,” Tewell said. “(Golf Tailor) has sold a Tewell won 12 tour events in his career couple hundred thousand videos altogether.

– four on the PGA Tour and eight on the We only sell over Google, not in stores, and Champions Tour. His first victory on the we’re still kind of growing.”

50-and-older circuit was a major, winNew instructors include Michael Breed ning the 2000 Senior PGA Championship. of the Golf Channel and Bryan Gathright Tewell also won two other tournaments of Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio. that season and was named Senior Tour Strategic website advertising on the Rookie of the Year.

Weather Channel and the front page Bates is the men’s golf coach at the of USA Today on-line undoubtedly has University of Central Oklahoma and is boosted sales. married to Tewell’s daughter, Kristi. Bates “I’ve had friends call and say, ‘I’m sick of wanted to take full advantage of his fatherhearing your voice every time I go to some in-law’s successful tour career and pleaded website,’ ” Tewell said. “I still think we’re with Tewell to do his “Square to Square” the largest golf advertiser on Google. That’s Masters Series, which was released in part of why I bought into the company.”

December 2012.

Tewell joked and added, “It’s nice when “Pat talked me into it,” Tewell said of doing a video. “It was just going to be a few you’re old and the Social Security check is club pros who did this. We would sell some coming in every month.”

In his spare time, Tewell tutors the videos and see what happens. I agreed, I games of three former UCO golfers: Taylor said, ‘Whatever helps you, Pat.’ Then the thing started selling. Gosh, we were selling Neidy, who is attempting to earn her LPGA Tour card; Aly Seng, an associate pro at 200 videos a day. I’m like, ‘What’s going Oakwood Country Club in Enid; and Dilon out there?’ Tim tells me I’m really big lon Rust, a talented young pro aiming for in Belgium. Do they speak English in Belhis Web.Com Tour card. gium? It’s just been unreal.”

In early October, Tewell caddied for NeiTewell said he can’t explain his video’s success, but thought its allure might have dy during the second stage of LPGA Tour Qualifying at Plantation Golf & Country been that it was intended for aging and Club in Venice, Fla. ailing golfers, of which there are many.

“I work on the mental side of the game “It’s a video mainly for people a little with her,” Tewell said. “I don’t charge older who are suffering from injuries,” anything. It’s fun for me. I wouldn’t do it Tewell said. “I just gave them some if it wasn’t a joy to work with her.” alternative ways to swing the golf club so they could play better golf without John Rohde is cohost on 107.7 The Franchise. continually hurting themselves.”

Steely, Lump and Rohde; 5:30-9 a.m. Monday Tewell later added his “Tour 12” video through Friday. series that packages multiple aspects of www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 31

DESTINATIONS

They still play heroic golf here Alabama a treat for travelers by ken macleod

I

n these days of faster, friendlier more minimalist golf courses, it’s worth a visit to the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail just to remember what created all the fuss.

Courses on the RTJ Trail are big, bold and beautiful. Heroic golf was the term Jones preferred, with that philosophy masterfully carried out on the trail by his design associate Roger Rulewich. The settings are incredible and so are the numbers.

In the past 10 years, the Trail has helped Alabama’s tourism dollars grow from $2.5 billion to $9.3 billion annually.

The new massive book on Jones and his family is titled “A Difficult Par” and that guiding principle of Jones’ design philosophy was certainly in evidence on the Trail.

In hindsight, they may have made the courses more playable and less exhausting for seniors who, as Baby Boomers age, are a larger and larger part of the golf traveler market. Instead, on a majority of the Trail’s 468 holes in 11 locations, with the exception of the magnificent Ross Bridge, you will find one elevated green guarded by deep bunkers or water after the next.

The Trail courses will test your game.

They will test your man or womanhood.

They are a challenge for the superintendents and their crews, which do such a great job of maintaining them.

Every hole you par on the RTJ Trail, give yourself a gold star. After a round, you can tally those up to compare with your

partners and forget about the few score-wrecking “others” you’re likely to have.

We tackled several of the RTJ Trail courses on a recent swing with other writers through Alabama, a trip which also uncovered some delightful courses not on the Trail but convenient to Trail resorts. With the combination of the Trail, the frequency of great Jerry Pate designs open to the public and the destinations near the beach in the Gulf Shores area, Alabama has developed The spectacular a well-deserved reputaFarmLinks. tion as a world-class golf destination that will only be enhanced by the new plans recently revealed by Purcell Farms to expand the stay and play opportunities at the top-ranked FarmLinks Course. More on that later.

The trip included a round at the Ridge Course at Oxmoor Valley in Birmingham.

Certainly one of the most dramatic courses on the RTJ Trail, the Ridge Course is a great introduction to how beautiful and sometimes severe golf on the Trail can be.

From there, it was 27 holes on the Lake Course at Grant National in Opelika, after which we toured Jordan-Hare Stadium and had a great meal at The Hound on the

fifth hole at

Auburn campus.

A word of warning. If in Oklahoma you need to be aware Work up an appetite before ordering the ribeye at Ross Bridge. of whether you’re talking to a Cowboy or Sooner backer, they have taken silliness over collegiate affiliations to new heights when it comes to Auburn and Alabama. They have only combined for four of the last five national championships in NCAA football

A panoramic shot of Ross Bridge.

32 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

Punishing mounds surround the fairway on the par-4 third hole at The Senator, which shares a green with the par-3 seventh.

and you would think they could share the awe of the rest of the country. Instead, the derision for each other can seem thicker than the ribeye steaks at Ross Bridge. Much of it is good natured ribbing, we hope.

We arrived at Capitol Hill in Prattville for nine holes on each of the Senator and the Judge courses. The Senator was getting ready to host a LPGA event the following week and the greens were firm and swift. It is the course where RTJ pushed up mounds on either side of most fairways to create a homage to Scottish links courses. The true beauty of the course is not on the artificial mounds, however, it is on some of the most interesting green designs and complexes on the Trail.

The Judge is the Trail course that is rated the most difficult and certainly has the most spectacular opening tee shot. Some say it could host a U.S. Open if it had room for all the spectators and amenities. From the appropriate tee box, however, we found the fairways wide and accommodating with most of the trouble beginning if you happen to miss the green.

It’s a short hike from Prattville over to Tuscaloosa, where we toured Bryant-Denny Stadium and enjoyed dinner at historic Dreamland Barbeque.

The final tour stop was at the colossal Ross Bridge Resort back near Birmingham.

This is the Trail course exceeding 8,000

yards and designed by Rulewich after the passing of the legendary architect. Despite its length, it is more playable with more shot options.

Picking the right tee box here is imperative. As our greeter told us, the back tees are the “stupid tees, nobody plays them.”

If you don’t feel bad driving past 150 yards of tee boxes every hole, you’ll find a beautiful, well-maintained and exceedingly fun course from whatever distance you pick.

A bagpiper circles the resort each evening. You may need his inspiration to waddle back to your room if you order the ribeye at Brock’s in the resort.

As mentioned, we managed to squeeze in some other golf on this trip. Ol’ Colony is a Jerry Pate course in Tuscaloosa that we would highly recommend. Pate created a series of really challenging golf holes with great variety and he had a full palette to work with, as the land has lakes streams, hardwoods, rising and falling terrain.

If you stay at the quaint Yellowhammer Inn in Tuscaloosa, you can play the North River Yacht Club and see the eclectic art collection of founder Jack Warner, which includes the world’s largest brass statue of an elephant. North River was originally a Gary Player design, redone by Bob Cupp.

The 18th hole is one of the more difficult you’ll find, and several of the holes require

you to work the ball in either direction from the tee. It rises and falls dramatically in places. The greens are bent, though the owners may eventually want to convert to a hybrid Bermuda as most of the courses in Alabama have.

Any trip down the RTJ Trail these days should include a side visit to Purcell Farms in Sylacauga, home to the top-ranked public course in state for three years running. FarmLinks made its reputation as a demonstration course for superintendents and it still features numerous types of turfgrasses. Owner and founder David Purcell is now nudging the course toward becoming more and more of a stay and play destination. It already boasts an eight-bedroom lodge for larger parties and seven luxurious cabins, each with four bedrooms, perfect for traveling foursomes.

More options are in the works.

The course was designed by Dr. Mike Hurdzan and Dana Fry and features more than 200 feet of elevation change, most of it evident on the par-3 fifth hole which features a tremendous view of the foothills of the Appalachians from the top tee with the green far below. With the great food available in the clubhouse, the cabins and the state’s top-ranked course, you may just want to stay here and never leave. Be sure to check out the Man Cave package on the website at www.purcellfarms.com.

The dramatic tee shot on the first hole of The Judge at Capitol Hill.

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 33

DESTINATIONS

Cordillera Ranch by ken macleod

Residents in Hill Country oasis enjoy unmatched amenities, 24-7 resort lifestyle

W

hile the pain of losing the Ryder Cup was surely acute, Jimmy Walker could take away several positives from the experience.

One, he played great and earned 2.5 points for the United States in his Ryder Cup debut.

Two, he gets to go home to Cordillera Ranch.

Walker is one of the fortunate residents of this oasis nestled in the rolling Texas Hill Country, north of San Antonio. There he can practice and play on the highlyacclaimed Jack Nicklaus signature design Cordillera Ranch Golf Course, ranked as high as No. 4 in the state by the Dallas Morning News. Yet even if Walker didn’t touch a club for a month, he would scarcely have time to experience all the lifestyle amenities offered at this unique gated community.

Cordillera Ranch is a testament to the vision and patience of developer David Hill, who didn’t panic when the economy crashed in 2008. He kept the lots, dues and initiation for the country club steady, realizing the market would reward him when, 34 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

as he says, “the light at the end of the tunnel was actually a light and not a train.”

Hill started developing 4,200 acres in 1997 at the request of a friend in spacious lots of 3-5 acres. As the project took off, a landowner of an adjacent 4,700 acres asked to be involved. Crucial developments were securing waterfront at the north end along the Guadalupe River, securing upstream water rights and an agreement to be able to use effluent water for irrigation on the golf course.

The golf course, stunning clubhouse and other amenities, including a pool, spa, tennis, equestrian center, shooting range, kayaking and water sports, jogging trails and fitness center, were not promised to the original residents, particularly before the water rights were all in place.

After 600 lots were sold, the decision was made to spend $40 million-plus to develop the course, pool, tennis and 40,000 square feet of clubhouse space which also houses the spa and fitness center. Nicklaus told Hill the parcel he had reserved for the course was perfect and would scarcely require moving dirt. In the end, only about 80,000 cubic yards of dirt were moved for

the course, which lies in a saddle in the center of the project.

Homes are well set back and scarcely noticeable. The native Hill Country vegetation meshes well with the Texas sage and other planted vegetation and the numerous live oaks on the property. It’s a very pleasant experience just to be on the course, regardless of how well you navigate one of Nicklaus’ gentler designs.

Inside the Cordillera clubhouse.

The dramatic par-3 16th hole, residents call it the “prettiest hole in Texas.”

The fairways are lush Zoysia and due to the unique microclimate in the Hill Country, the course has no problem maintaining firm and fast bent-grass greens. Southern Hills Country Club superintendent K.D. Davis was the grow-in and first superintendent at Cordillera Ranch and is still warmly thought of by the Hill family and residents.

Because they were able to build the clubhouse and course even in the face of

the downturn without extensive borrowing, Hill and his sons were in better shape to weather the storm than hundreds of less fortunate real estate golf projects around the country.

“There is probably a handful of courses in the country that were built in the 2000s that are to the point where they cash flow today,” Hill said. “Even better, we have no debt.”

Now the project is up to more than

1,200 lots sold with more than 50 new homes under construction. The residents are a unique mix of both retirees and working folks drawn to the Hill Country by the lifestyle. The booming of the Eagle Ford Shale fracking oil play south of San Antonio has drawn many oil company employees from Houston and really all across the country. Oklahomans would feel welcome.

As to the breadth of amenities offered,

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 35

DESTINATIONS Hill said he and his sons just offered what they would like if they were residents.

“A lot of the planning was, what do we like to do?” Hill said. “We love the outdoors, we love to hunt, we like to be on the river. We knew others like similar things. That’s when the concept evolved of calling it The Clubs at Cordillera Ranch.

We thought, why can’t you live in a resort 24-7?

“We came up with something that is totally unique in the Southwest. There’s nothing in Texas or anywhere in the Southwest that I’m aware of that is anything like it.”

Golf course membership is thriving and as the community continues to grow, Hill may be looking to build a second course.

The land is already reserved.

“We certainly sacrificed some profit by sticking with our philosophy of low density housing on large lots, but on balance it was the right thing to do,” Hill said.

HIll’s son, Charlie, vice president of the development company, said the transformation of San Antonio into an energy capital due to the Eagle Ford Shale, pro-

36 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

View of the clubhouse looming over the Jack Nicklaus signature design.

vided a huge impetus to the success of the development.

“It’s certainly one of the most ambitious in scale that has turned into a consistent success,” Charlie Hill said. “Having San Antonio become such a big energy market has been a blessing.”

An early morning tour of the ranch has to dodge numerous white-tailed deer in

order to get a look at the wide variety of unique homes, many perched on ridges with long views. Maintained yards only extend a few yards from the houses before blending back into native vegetation.

Anyone with interest in learning more about Cordillerra Ranch, the golf course and its amenities can go to www.cordilleraranch.com.

Where we play

Pawhuska CC is back

New owners reopen historic venue by ken macleod

The number of golf courses in the United States continues to contract, so it’s welcome news when we hear of an opening.

One historic Oklahoma course that had been shut down since 2009 has reopened.

Pawhuska Country Club, originally designed by Perry Maxwell in 1921, was purchased by John Long, a Pawhuska businessman with interests in oil, farming and other ventures.

Ben Martin, who was previously the superintendent at The Canyons at Blackjack Ridge in Sand Springs, had intended to retire back in his native Pawhuska before being persuaded by his son to take on this project. He’s been working diligently to bring the course back after it had turned into tall prairie.

Martin started trying to mow down the tall bluestem, crabgrass and goose grass on

May 26 and had the course back in operation on temporary greens by July 20. It will take a couple of playing seasons to get the Bermuda fairways fully reestablished.

The old greens were sprayed twice with Roundup, rototilled, fumigated and then planted with 007 bent grass. Five of them were already playable by early October and all nine are expected to be open by late November.

All the previous fixtures in the clubhouse had been sold and Martin said it has been remodeled and will have a bar, snacks and beverages.

The pool, once the longest continuously functioning pool in the state, had been filled up with the base of the tennis courts.

Plans are to fix both eventually.

Mike Lynn, a native Osage and art history teacher, has been sculpting some of the red oaks, white oaks and hickory trees on the property that had been lost to

Ben Martin bringing back Pawhuska CC.

disease, creating an oil derrick, bald eagle with a fish and an Indian chief signing a contract.

“Everybody is ecstatic to have the golf course back,” said Martin, who grew up playing at the course and whose father, also named Ben, was a former greenskeeper. Big Ben Martin perished of a heart attack on one of the greens in 1980. “We’re getting every golfer in the area and even some who just want to learn the game.”

Pawhuska had sand greens from its inception until late in the 1960s. Martin said he would like to build one sand green on the property as a memorial to the way it used to be.

For more information on the course, call 918-287-1695. The public is welcome.

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 37

Where we play

Improving the view Bergin adds Tillinghast touches in renovation of The Oaks Country Club The green on the par-5 seventh hole has been lowered to improve the long view. by ken macleod

I

t will be an anxious winter for members of The Oaks Country Club in west Tulsa, who are understandably eager to be able to experience the huge renovation their club has undertaken to its historic A.W. Tillinghast routing. The course is expected to reopen in May. Atlanta-based architect Bill Bergin, an avid historian of Tillinghast’s work, has provided The Oaks with a blueprint that should restore traditional design elements while solidifying greens, bunkers and tees for decades to come.

Bergin, a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects and a former PGA Tour golfer, studied original Tillinghast designs in books and gleaned all the information he could from old aerials and other plans and drawings available at the club. He has played and visited many a Tillinghast design. Still he said there’s an inherent challenge to restoring or renovating the work of the turn-of-thecentury architect who designed Bethpage, Baltusrol, Winged Foot and many other highly-respected courses.

“Almost no one has an original Tillinghast design, because they’ve all been altered over the years,” Bergin said. “We’re following his themes, but doing our own interpretation. I played the 1980 U.S. Open at Baltusrol and it was a Robert Trent Jones course. Now it’s a Rees Jones course.

“It’s hard to get the actual nuances of what his true design style was. We see three or four bunker styles that he used. He had great variety, unlike a Seth Raynor, whose bunkers all were similar.”

38 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

By early October the OO7 bent grass was popping up on all the new greens and several fairways had been resodded as well.

Bergin tried to add more shot options and strategic decisions to a course that was already a solid strategic test for the average golfer while offering enough rough and encroaching tree lines to keep the bombers from whaling away with impunity.

“I like to allow the members to really navigate their way around the golf course,” Bergin said. “The better players sometimes don’t do that, they just point and shoot. What we’ve done out here is offset bunkers and eliminate some bunkers to give a safer side and a more challenging side to the course.

“On all my courses, the course rating ends up hard but the slope ratings are more modest. The Oaks will be more manageable than it was for the average player but harder for the good player. We add more options to play the ball on the ground. We add green width. We add lots of chipping areas. You might be choosing between four clubs if you miss the green now instead of just grabbing your sand wedge.”

The superb Tillinghast routing on the hilltop tree-lined course won’t be changing much. Bergin has altered the par-4 10th hole by moving the tee box left and the green back so the angle of attack around the large pond has changed. The tee on the par-3 11th has also moved back while the green is now centered between two large specimen trees.

The course will now max out at 6,950 yards but is actually considerably longer

Bill Bergin and Rick Reed.

than it was previously as many of the old distances were measured from the back of the tee to the back of the green, while the new measurements are from the middle of the back tee to the middle of the green.

Cart paths will be moved and select trees removed to create wider, better angles of play.

“They talk about the Maxwell rolls at Southern Hills, but Tillinghast also used subtle rolls,” Bergin said. “He used gradual contours, which is right in the direction I think golf should be heading. We want subtle greens that take a lifetime to learn.

At a private club, members can play up to four days a week and you really want the type of design that has variety and subtlety. You really have to learn them. You may be two feet away from where you were the day before and the pin is in a similar place, but the putt breaks differently.”

The one aspect of the renovation that is open to members is a pitch and putt course with Bermuda greens. Director of golf Rick Reed said it has proven to be wildly popular with golfers of all ages.

Where we play

Chickasaw Pointe New holes to add drama to one of state’s top courses

Above, green sprouting and sand going in on new 14th hole at Chickasaw Pointe.

courses such as Chickasaw Pointe, Forest Ridge and many others, has been occupied with a major drainage overhaul of a he only new full size golf holes course in Las Vegas. No new courses are being built in Oklahoma this being built or planned in Oklahoma curyear are four dynamic holes rently and very few nationwide. recently sodded at Chickasaw Pointe in “We had some very dramatic land to Kingston. work with but it was tight in places,” The holes will replace holes 4-7, which Heckenkemper said. are scheduled to be used for lot sales for The first new hole is a par-5 that housing as the long-awaited Pointe Vista swoops from an elevated tee to a valley Resort breaks ground on Lake Texoma. far below. The second shot is semi-blind, Golf Oklahoma visited the new holes playing back up over a ridge to a large recently in the company of architect landing area in front of the green, which is Randy Heckenkemper, Chickasaw Pointe nestled back below another hillside. There general manager Ryan Chapman and is a waterfall left and deep woods right off superintendent Ron Gates. Also busy at the tee, while a ravine runs up the hillside the scene were numerous members of the on the left. You don’t want to be missing construction crew from Wadsworth Golf the fairway on this hole with either your Construction Company. tee shot or second shot.

The land on the holes taken away will The next hole is a relatively short par-4 be prime lake shore real estate for future home and condo owners at the resort. The playing downhill to a green guarded by a large pond right and behind. Then a level land used to build the new holes is to the south of the current 17th hole and features par-3 with a green that wraps around another natural depression. heavily wooded, dramatically rising and The 17th hole once completed will be falling terrain that will have numerous one of the more visually intimidating water features, both natural and man holes in the state. The tee shot is a long made. forced carry to a landing area that ends Golfers will now skip from the third abruptly when the fairway is crossed by a hole to the eighth and the front nine will conclude on what was previously the 13th stream bounded by large rocks. Due perhaps to the depth of the canyon, the carry hole. The back nine picks up at the old 14 with the four new holes being placed in as looks far longer than it is, but depending on your tee selection and the wind you holes 14-17 followed by the old 18th hole. will have to keep the tee shot airbourne “We lost some good holes with some for 200 yards or more, than be left with good views,” Chapman said. “But we’re an uphill shot of 160 yards or more to the adding four great holes. These are going green. to be much more dramatic golf holes and Combined with the long uphill 18th more demanding. The shot values on these hole, golfers who finish par-par will holes will be a lot higher.” feel well deserving of some post-round For Heckenkemper, it was a welcome refreshment. opportunity to design golf holes again.

The new holes are scheduled to open in The Tulsa-based architect who has had a late October, but watch www.golfoklamajor impact on Oklahoma golf through by ken macleod

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40 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

Architect Randy Heckenkemper, construction foreman Mario Martinez, superintendent Ron Gates and general manager Ryan Chapman.

homa.org for details.

Once the new holes are completed, work is scheduled to begin on putting in infrastructure for the building of a series of stay-and-play condos, some of which will be rented to the public and others which will be available for purchase by corporations.

Chapman said the four-bedroom cottages should be completed and ready for occupancy in 2016.

Although there is still much to be resolved – including a lawsuit – between the major players in the Lake Texoma area, including Oklahoma Tourism, the Commissioners of Land Office, Pointe Vista Resort owners led by Scott and Mark Fisher of Chaparral Energy, and the U.S. Corps of Engineers, it is encouraging to see work commence on the resort.

Chapman, who has managed both the golf course and a nearby marina, has taken considerable heat over the years as the onsite spokesman for the resort. He is glad to have tangible new construction to show the critics.

“We’re moving forward and it’s only going to pick up from here,” Chapman said. “There’s going to be a lot of exciting things going on. It is great to be able to show folks that we’re getting started.”

In the news

include rebuilding the Cherokee Casino Tahlequah nearby and expanding the Cherokee Springs, Cherokee Cherokee Springs clubhouse.

At the Cherokee Hills Golf Course Hills, Silverado, Scissortail at the Hard Rock Casino in Catoosa, golf Recent development announcements by course officials are waiting to see what the Cherokee Nation will mean changes at impact a new $80-million premium outlet shop project on the west side of the golf the tribe’s golf courses in Tahlequah and course near Interstate 44 will have on the Catoosa. current hole configuration.

Cherokee Springs in Tahlequah Nothing is firm yet, but the real possirecently completed the first phases of a bility exists the course could lose the area Master Plan renovation by architect Tripp where the 10th green, 11th hole and 12th Davis, who also does the design work at tee are currently, at the least.

Cherokee Hills.

“There is a master plan being developed The first phase included redesigning and and we’re probably at least nine months rebuilding most of the tees and bunkers, away from understanding what impact as well as selective tree removal to open the project will have on the golf course,” up tight corridors and add light to greens. said Cherokee Nation CEO Shawn Slaton.

“It made more of an impact to the “We have 90 acres of additional land and course visually and strategically than we Tripp standing by to do any redesign that could have hoped for,” Davis said. “The course has an interesting routing and uses we need to do.”

• Riverbend Golf Course in Chickathe land pretty well and the renovation highlighted the routing and made a signifi- sha has converted its 18-hole golf course into a horse farm while keeping a separate cant impact.” nine-hole course open for golf.

The second phase will include rebuildRiverbend was opened in 1995. ing some greens, but will wait to see • Silverado Golf Course in Durant has the impact of the $170-million dining, closed. Silverado was a privately-owned entertainment and retail development announced by the Cherokees. Those plans public course designed and owned by

Durant businessman Terry Reynolds. It opened in 2001.

• An auction of Scissortail Golf Course in Verdigris is scheduled Nov. 2 at the golf course clubhouse, 25474 Stonebridge Parkway.

The auction will be conducted by Bid Loud Auctions of Tulsa, owned by Jay Litchfield. More information is available at www.bidloud.com or by calling 918-6397653. If someone does not bid on the golf course, bidding will take place on eight individual tracts for real estate ranging from eight to 28 acres. Open houses will be held Sunday Oct. 19 and 26 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Scissortail, designed by Randy Heckenkemper, opened in 2006 as a real estate development course owned by Terry Dorsey. Spirit Bank eventually took over the course when Dorsey gave it up. Lynn Blevins headed a group that owned and operated it from 2008 to 2010 when it was sold to real estate developer Sitton Properties for $1.7 million. That group turned it back over to a Tulsa bank early in 2011 and the bank has unsuccessfully tried to find a new owner since.

Maintenance equipment will be auctioned as a package separately.

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 41

GOLF FITNESS

Got elbow pain?

Sean Riley SwingFit

Ryan Smith SwingFit

Do you struggle with elbow pain? Have you tried massage, creams, and braces with no luck. Well you are not alone. The most common injury next to back pain seen in amateur golfers is elbow pain, particularly on the outside of the lead arm.

So in a right handed golfer we most commonly see outside or lateral, left elbow pain. This is a particularly troublesome problem that can be caused by multiple factors, which if not addressed, will continue the pain.

So what is the source of pain? While there can be several causes, the most common reason is a strain of the muscletendon complex of the extensors of the wrist. The next question is what causes a strain of these muscles and tendons. Interestingly the problem can be from your golf swing, from deficits in your body or your sleeping position. This is why we strongly encourage to get physically screened by a TPI pro in your area. So let’s briefly talk about these causes and review some quick tips to improve your elbow pain and your golf game.

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42 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

The most commonly missed reason for persistent elbow pain is your sleeping position. If you tend to sleep on your arm or with your arm overhead, this can put excessive prolonged stress on those tissues and will really slow down the healing process. You can imagine it is hard to resolve if you are overloading it for 6-8 hours every night! So check your sleep position and make sure you aren’t irritating your elbow at night.

The most common swing fault that leads to elbow pain is the dreaded chicken wing. When a player chicken wings, you will see a breakdown of the upper body at impact leading to a bent left elbow (see Figure 1 - image courtesy of TPI). Chicken winging is a common swing fault seen in Figure 1 amateur golfers that have poor left shoulder external rotation range of motion. So you will need to check to see if you have enough left shoulder external rotation range of motion.

To test this position, assume a five iron position and place your arm in a 90/90 position with your forearm parallel with the floor (see Figure 2). Then try to rotate your forearm behind you keeping your elbow bent (see Figure 3). If you can’t rotate your arm back to where it is parallel with your spine or beyond, there is a good chance you will chicken wing at impact due to lack of motion.

To improve your shoulder external rotation motion along with your thoracic

4

mobility, we recommend the wall touchdown stretch. Sit on the floor against the wall with your low back, mid back and head against the wall. Bring your feet in to stretch your hips. Then place your arms in a 90-90 position and try to touch your forearms to the wall. (see Figure 4). If you can’t touch the wall due to tightness, don’t force it. Now try to slide your arms up the wall to where you feel tight and hold for 10 seconds (see Figure 5). Repeat 10 times and perform daily. If you have any pain, we recommend you get assessed by a TPI certified medical professional to determine the limitation in your shoulder.

Finally, after clearing any physical deficits, we recommend you work with an experienced PGA teaching professional to look at your swing mechanics.

They will be able to determine if you are in fact chicken winging at impact and recommend drills to help you better sequence your lower body at impact and learn how to release the club properly.

Persistent elbow pain is often caused by multiple factors. Take the time to check your sleep position and then check your shoulder range of motion. Finally spend the time and money to work with a PGA professional to improve your swing sequence and mechanics. The result will be less elbow pain, a better golf game and more fun.

SwingFit specializes in golf specific fitness, performance, and training services for golfers of all ages. Founded by Titleist Performance Institute Certified Medical Professionals, Ryan Smith, PT and Sean Riley, DC, SwingFit gives players access to the same proprietary testing and training systems used the by the best players in the world. The SwingFit system identifies the least amount of physical changes required in your body to produce the greatest results in your golf swing. The result is better practice with your swing coach and more enjoyment on the course. To schedule your SwingFit Golf Assessment and get fit for golf, contact SwingFit at (918) 7433737 or visit us on the web at www.swingfit5 tulsa.com.

INSTRUCTION

Learn different shots with each club

JERRY COZBY PRO EMERITUS HILLCREST COUNTRY CLUB

I am asked a lot if today’s tour professionals are better than tour professionals 40 or 50 years ago.

I am not sure I know the true answer or if there is an answer.

There have been so many changes in equipment and courses and the game

is different.

Here is what I feel strongly about.

The players of that era were taught and learned to play the game. Today the players are taught to hit the ball and not so much on playing the game and scoring. Playing the game means being able to use one club for several different shots. For example: A 9-iron or 8-iron can be used for a lot of different shots around the green (chipping, pitching, bunker, chip and run, etc.) plus any iron can be hit several differ-

ent distances if the player will practice and learn different shots with one club.

I used to play a lot of golf in San Antonio with a retired Colonel. He was one of the best shot-makers I have ever known. In match play he would sometimes use a 6-iron on a par-3 when it might be an 8-iron shot just to throw his opponent off. He could hit a 6-iron the distance of a 6-, 7-, 8- or 9-iron.

He knew how to play golf with a few clubs and he won several amateur tournaments across the countr y.

In today’s game, we think that we must have a club for ever y distance.

Before long we are going to have six woods, seven wedges and a putter in our bag.

In order to score on the course, you must learn to feel the shot to hit and the club to use. Don’t worr y so much about the maximum distance you hit each club. Ever y time you are 150 yards out, it is not automatically a 7-iron.

In my youth we did not have yard-

age markers on the course, pin sheets, range finders, etc.. You learned by feel and practice. As a result, you became a shot maker and learned to score.

When I was teaching our three sons to play golf (not hit the ball), I asked Ben Hogan what I should teach them.

He didn’t even hesitate.

“Teach them to work the ball – left to right and right to left. The odds on hitting it straight are a million to one.”

That is a quote from one of the best ball strikers to ever play the game.

It seems to me that today golfers are taught to hit the ball as hard as they can rather than hitting great shots.

You will lower your score if you learn different shots and feel. Tr y playing nine holes with six clubs and no range finder and see how you have to use your imagination.

I promise, if you learn to hit shots rather than telling someone how far you can hit a 5-iron, you will score better and have more fun.

SCHEDULES & RESULTS OKLAHOMA GOLF ASSOCIATION OKLAHOMA OPEN At Oak Tree CC (East), Edmond (par-70) Aug. 22-24 1, Robby Ormand 67-67-66 – 200; 2, Ian Davis 68-68-66 – 202; 3, Will Kropp 65-67-72 – 204; 4, Alex Moon 70-68-67 – 205; 5 (tie), Cameron Meyers 69-67-72 – 208 and Colby Shrum 6967-72 – 208; 7 (tie), Talor Gooch 70-71-68 – 209, Jackson Ogle 67-72-70 – 209 and Kyle Robbins 68-71-70 – 209; 10 (tie), Eli Armstrong 67-72-71 – 210, Tyler Sheppard 68-66-76 – 210, Brad Gehl 69-69-72 – 210 and Brian Dwyer 72-65-73 – 210; 14 (tie), Christopher Worrell 72-70-69 – 211, Shawn Jasper 74-68-69 – 211, Matthew Mabrey 70-72-69 – 211, Rocky Walcher 71-69-71 – 211 and Garrett Driver 70-70-71—211; 19 (tie), Andre Tourinho 73-68-71 – 212, Alex Carpenter 69-7172 – 212, James Marchesani 73-65-74 – 212 and Jordan Russell 69-72-71 – 212.

OGA STROKE PLAY At Shangri-La, Monkey Island (par-72) Aug. 4-6 1, Colton Staggs 70-69-71 – 210; 2 (tie), Garrison Mendoza 70-72-69 – 211 and Matthew Cheung 68-73-70 – 211; 4 (tie), Brad Hager 75-7365 – 213, Brendon Jelley 74-67-72 – 213 and Anthony Marchesani 71-69-73 – 213; 7 (tie), Scott Verplank 69-76-72 – 217 and Thomas Johnson 70-72-75 – 217; 9 (tie), Joel Driver 77-73-68 – 218 and Conrad Walcher 73-74-71 – 218; 11, Jackson Stuteville 73-72-74 – 219 and Eric Kline 70-7476 – 220; 13 (tie), Joby Gray 75-74-72 – 221 and Austen Fuller 74-75-72 – 221, Rustin Purser 74-

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 43

SCHEDULES & RESULTS 73-74 0- 221 and Tyler Hargue 73-68-80 – 221; 17 (tie), Turner Howe 73-73-76 – 222 and Trent Mewbourn 70-70-82 – 222.

WOMEN’S OKLA. GOLF ASSOCIATION PARTNERSHIP At Shangri-La, Monkey Island (par-72) Aug. 19-20 Championship Gross: 1, Teresa DeLarzelere/ LeeAnn Fairlie 69-68 – 137; 2, Janet Miller/Jill Johnson 70-74 – 144; 3, Marna Raburn/Jane Fouke 72-74 – 146; 4, Leigh Ann Fore/Cnnie Cope 73-74 – 147; 5, Rose Cassidy/Nan Dyer 74-75 – 149.

Championship Net: 1, Fore/Cope 66-66 --- 132; 2, Cassidy/Dyer 66-68 – 134.

A Flight Gross: 1, Letty Watt/Dawn Stork 78-78 – 156; 2, Ann Turner/Linda Ballard 80-78 – 158; 3, Janet Nelson/Gayle Allen 79-80 – 159.

A Flight Net: 1, Nelson/Allen 67-68 – 135; 2, Watt/Stork 68-68 – 136.

OJGT BATTLE FOR BIXBY At WhiteHawk GC, Bixby (par-72) Boys 15-18 1, Mike Biata 75-65 – 140; 2 (tie), Austin Enzbrenner 72-69 – 141 and John Bonaobra 78-63 – 141; 4, Cole Dillon 72-70 – 142; 6 (tie), Marc Kepka 75-69 – 144 and Garrett Jelley 75-69 – 144; 8 (tie), Cody Shore 78-67 – 145, Ty Stites 77-68 – 145, Nick Pierce 75-70 – 145, Fisher Vollendorf 73-72 – 145 and Jordan Anderson 69-76 – 145.

Boys 12-14

1, Janson Reeder 78-69 – 147; 2, Kyle Peterson 78075 – 153; 3, Carson Griggs 78-76 – 154; 5, Said Powers 81-74 – 155; 5, Logan McAllister 75-81 – 156.

Girls 12-18 1, Taylor Dobson 76-71 – 147; 2, Grace Shin 7874 – 152; 3, Mackenzie Medders 75-79 – 154; 4, Natalie Gough 79-77 – 156; 5, Melissa Eldredge 77-81 – 158; 6, Taylor Towers 80-79 – 159; 7, Shannen Stewart 84-78 – 162; 8, Jt Neuzil 8479—163; 9, Queen Marcela Pierre 87=80—167.

JOHN CONRAD LABOR DAY CLASSIC At John Conrad GC, Midwest City Aug. 31-Sept. 1 Boys 15-18 1, Lane Wallace 68-71 – 139 (won playoff); 2, Lance Gregory 71-68 – 139; 3, Cody Shore 6675 – 141; 4 (tie), Fisher Vollendorf 73-70 – 143, Mason Overstreet 71-72 – 143, Sam Jackson 70-73 – 143, Thomas Johnson 72-71 – 143 and Freddie Wilson 72-71 – 143; 9 (tie) Cody Burrows 70-74144 and Hunter Laughlin 71-73 – 144.

Boys 12-14 1 (tie), Matthew Braley 73-72 – 145 and Tyler Neher 75-70 – 145; 3, Logan McAllister 76-73 – 149; 4, Jun Kim 75-75 – 150; 5, Ryan Ward 80-73 – 153; 6, Matt Geurin 78-77 – 155; 7, Nick O’Donnell 75-83 – 158; 8 (tie), James Roller 81-81 – 162 and Jaxon Dowell 82-80 – 162; 10, Said Powers 8083 – 163.

Girls 12-18 1, Yujeong Son 70-70 – 140; 2, Sydney Young-

blood 72-71 – 143; 3, Kaitlin Milligan 76-71 – 147; 4, ShaeBug Scarberry 76-72 – 148; 5, Elizabeth Freeman 79-74 – 153; 6, Grace Shin 77-76 – 155; 7, Taylor Towers 76-79 – 155; 8, Liz Hargis 78-79 – 157; 9, Pauline Nguyen 82-80 – 162; 10, Bailey Blake 83-81 – 164.

PGA SOUTH CENTRAL SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP At Pleasant Valley CC, Little Rock (par-72) Sept. 15-16 1, Michael Boyd 67-72 – 139 (won playoff); 2, Tim Fleming 69-70 – 139; 3, Trent Rommann 6872 – 140; 4, Tracy Phillips 72-70 – 142; 5, Jarod Lundy 70-73—143; 6 (tie), Blake Bowman 74-74 – 148 and Mark Fuller 72-76 – 148; 8 (tie), Bob Ralston 73-76 – 149, Brian Soerensen 72-77 – 149 and Kyley Tetley 75-74 – 149.

COLLEGE MEN NSU CLASSIC, Sept 22-23 At Hillcrest GC, Bartlesville (par-71) Team leaders (18 teams): 1, Central Oklahoma 295-296-288 – 879; 2, West Texas A&M 304289-295 – 888; 3, Central Missouri 292-299-300 – 891; 4, Arkansas Tech 295-294-303 – 892; 5, Harding 306-300-290 – 896; 6, Henderson State 295-301-301 – 897; 7, Southwestern State 303-292-303 – 898; 8, Southeastern State 298298-306 – 902; 9, Northeastern State 307-292306 – 905; 10, Missouri Western 308-309-299 – 916; 11, Lindenwood 302-310-308 – 920; 12, Washburn 304-305-313 – 922.

Advertorial

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

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

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

Members enjoy free gifts; discounts on greens fees, apparel, equipment, wine and other products; golf and educational resources; contests; and forums. Other benefits include: • Enhancing golf skills and protocol 44 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

the first day and a shamble the second day. for new business connections and career To register, go to www.tulsagolfassociation. advancement com • Establishing lifelong friendships with like-minded women Best value in town still valid • Helping beginning golfers with fundaTulsa golfers, you can still order your playmentals and advanced players refine their ers cards for 2014 and experience tremengames dous savings and a great weekly value. For • Prompting families to spend time tomore information, call 918-446-1529 or go gether on and off the course to www.tulsagolf.org.

• Learning from dynamic guest speakers at events • Mixing and mingling with women from all age groups with diverse and interesting backgrounds.

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

Individual leaders: 1, Wesley Jackson (UCO) 70-74-70 – 214 (won playoff); 2, Oscar Spolander (WTAM) 74-67-73 – 214; 3, Alex Williamson (Harding) 69-74-73 – 216; 4 (tie), Travis Mays (CM) 67-74-76 – 217 and Sam Migdal (CM) 71-7472 – 217.

Other scores: Jake Duvall (SWOSU) 74-73-73 – 220, Logan Gray (UCO) 76-74-74 – 224, Manuel Arzuaga (SWOSU) 76-72-76 – 224, Mason Horner (SEOSU) 72-74-78 – 224, Marcos Sevilla (SEOSU) 73-77-75 – 225, Russ Purser (UCO) 80-74-71 – 225, Marc Johnson (NSU) 79-74-72 – 225, Stefan Idstam (SWOSU) 77-71-77 – 225, Sebastian Otoya (SEOSU) 76-73-76 – 225, Eric Kline (UCO) 76-77-73 – 226, Joby Gray (UCO) 73-74-80 – 227.

OBU FALL INVITE At Shawnee CC (par-71) Sept 22-23 Team scores: 1, Okla Baptist 298-286 – 584; 2, Bethany 300-293 – 593; 3, Okla. City 298-300 – 598; 4, Southwestern College 290-311 – 601; 5 (tie), Murray State CC 307-299 – 606 and Our Lady of the Lake 303-303 – 606; 7, St. Thomas 305-306 – 611; 8, St. Gregory’s 307-306 – 613; 9, Seminole State 309-313 – 622; 10, Bellevue 311313 – 624; 11, Northwestern State 322-317 – 639; 12, Panhandle State 352-357 – 709.

Individual leaders: 1, Zach Oliver (OBU) 72-64 – 136; 2 (tie), Ben Johnson (Bethany) 72-72 – 144 and Shane Gilbert (Southwestern( 70-74 – 144; 4 (tie), Mateo Gomez (OBU) 72-73 – 145, Jose Acevedo (Bethany) 71-74 – 145 and Seth Bryan

(Southwestern) 73-72 – 145; 7 (tie), Jay Cox (OCU) 71-75 – 146 and Ian Berrigan (OLL) 76-70 – 146.

Other scores: Jett Johnson (OCU) 74-74 – 148, Chad Smith (OBU-ind.) 79-70 – 149, Morgan Pettigrew (St. Gregory’s) 73-76 – 149, Drew Posada (OBU) 76-74 – 150.

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

Oklahoma City • Bunker Improvements RecentGolf Projects Firelake Course Recent Projects Shawnee • Cart Path Improvements

Cedar Ridge Country Club • Broken Arrow, OK • Cart Path Improvements

The Patriot Golf Club • Owasso, OK • Cart Path Improvements Cedar Ridge Country Club • Broken Arrow, OK • Cart Path Improvements Cedar Ridge Country • Broken Arrow, OK • and CartGabion Path Improvements Silverhorn Golf Club • Edmond, OKClub • Creek Crossing Repairs Wall The Patriot Golf Club • Owasso, OK • Cart Path Improvements The Patriot Golf Club • Owasso, OK • Irrigation Cart PathInstallation Improvements Cedar Creek Golf Course • Broken Bow, OK • 18 Hole Silverhorn Golf Club • Edmond, OK • Creek Crossing Repairs and Gabion Wall ClubArrow, • Edmond, OKHole • Creek Crossing Repairs and Gabion Wall Forest RidgeSilverhorn Golf Club •Golf Broken OK • 18 Bunker and Green Renovation Cedar Creek Golf Course • Broken Bow, OK • 18 Hole Irrigation Installation Creek • Broken Bow, OK • 18 Irrigation Installation BaileyCedar Ranch Golf Golf ClubCourse • Owasso, OK • Resurfacing of Hole 3 Greens Forest Ridge Golf Club • Broken Arrow, OK • 18 Hole Bunker and Green Renovation Ridge Club • Broken Arrow, • 18 Hole Bunker and Green Renovation TheForest Golf Club at Golf Frisco Lakes • Frisco, TX OK • Cart Path Improvements Bailey Ranch Golf Club • Owasso, OK • Resurfacing of 3 Greens Bailey Ranch Golf Club • Owasso, • Resurfacing of 3 Greens Eastern Hills Country Club • Garland, TX • CartOK Path Improvements The Golf Club at Frisco Lakes • Frisco, TX • Cart Path Improvements The Golf Club at Frisco Lakes • Frisco, TX • Cart Path Improvements Eastern Hills Country Club • Garland, TX • Cart Path Improvements Eastern Hills Country Club • Garland, TX • Cart Path Improvements

U.C. FERGUSON CLASSIC At Lincoln Park GC, Okla, City (par-71) Sept. 8-9 Team scores: Oklahoma City 277-272-275 – 824; 2, Okla. Baptist 270-282-287 – 839; 3, Bellevue 294-284-293 – 871; 4, The Master’s 296-291-290 – 877; 5, Okla. Wesleyan 293-292-294 – 879; 6, Central Baptist 296-288-299 – 883; 7, Murray State CC 297-294-302 – 893 8, Southwestern Christian 295-302-306 – 903; 9, Dakota Wesleyan 303-304-298 – 905; 10, Midland 296-307-306 – 909; 11, Mid-America Christian 315-310-318 – 943.

Individual leaders: 1 (tie), Anthony Marchesani (OCU) 68-70-66 – 204 and Jamie Warman (OCU) 71-65-68 – 204; 3, Mateo Gomez (OBU) 66-69-69 – 204 (lost in playoff); 4, Jay Cox (OCU-ind.) 66-67-74 – 207; 5, Issa Abu El Ella (OCU-ind.) 67-71-70 – 208; 6 (tie), Garrison Mendoza (OCU) 69-68-72 – 209 and Zach Oliver (OBU) 66-71-72 – 209; 8 (tie), Scott Verplank (OCU) 69-72-69 – 210 and Jose Vega (Bellevue) 71-69-70 – 210; 10, Austen Fuller (OCU-ind.) 70-71-71 – 212; 11 (tie) David Ryan (OW) 74-71-68 – 213 and Alexander Hall (OBU) 71-69-73 – 213.

Cedar Ridge Country Club

Broken Arrow • #17 Fairway Renovation

The Patriot Golf Club

Owasso • Cart Path Improvements

Firelake Golf Course

Shawnee • Irrigation Improvements

Tulsa Country Club

Tulsa • Creek Stabilization

Contact Us Southern Hills Country Club JONESPLAN Tulsa • Cart 2328 Path Improvements Us E. 13th Contact Street

Contact Us

Tulsa, OK 74104 Battle Creek Golf Club JONESPLAN t 918.832.5544

JONESPLAN 2328 E. 13th Street info@jonesplan.com 2328 13th Street Tulsa,E.OK 74104 Tulsa, OK 74104 t 918.832.5544 t 918.832.5544 Builder Member info@jonesplan.com Builder Member info@jonesplan.com

Broken Arrow • Cart Path Improvements • Bunker Renovation

Builder Member

Hardscrabble Country Club

Fort Smith, AR • Tee Improvements

Karsten Creek Golf Club

Stillwater • Practice Green Construction

Golf Club of Oklahoma

Broken Arrow • Emergency 10” Main Line Repairs

Sapulpa Golf Course Sapulpa • Green Repairs

South Lakes Golf Course

Jenks • Practice Green Construction

Builder Member

Contact Us 2328 E. 13th St. • Tulsa, OK 74104 t 918.832.5544; 918.832.7721 fax

www.jonesplan.com

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