2015 Golf Oklahoma October | November by Golf Oklahoma Magazine

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

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www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 5

Contents OCT/NOV 2015 Vol. 5 Issue 5

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

Features

32 48

18 26 30 36 44 48 54

What’s hot for the Holidays? The FlyingTee team, Oklahoma proud Power display at WinStar Golf Resort State college teams have high hopes Mike Holder reflects on career Charlie Coe: legendary amateur Dave Stockton’s keys to putting

Departments

10 12 13 14 16 22 24

Letter from the publisher

Where we play: Buffalo Rock, Henryetta, and Arrowhead State Park

40 52 53 55 56 58 60 61

Destinations: Old Kinderhook, Destin

OGA Rules, Gene Mortensen WOGA The Goods Equipment: Great Big Bertha returns Chip Shots: Ed Dudley, Page Belcher clubhouse, Hall of Fame tickets

Pro Profile: Talor Gooch Amateur Profile: Jordan Niebrugge Instruction: Steve Ball Fitness: SwingFit On the links with Anya: Kelli Masters Superintendent’s Perspective Results

On the cover 2015 Golf Hall of Fame inductees, Mike Holder and Charlie Coe. Holder is pictured with the 1980 OSU championship team of, left to right, Willie Wood, Bob Tway, Holder and Eric Evans in the back row, with Jeff Walser and Rafael Alarcon kneeling.

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

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October / November 2015 letter from the publisher Volume 5, Number 5

PGA Tour outlook rosy, strong year for local players, so-so for courses A few thoughts on the state of golf both who shot 69-64 on the weekend. That just wouldn’t have happened in Tiger’s prime. locally and beyond as we wind up the He’s going to have to earn everything 2015 season and look ahead to 2016. from here out with exceptional, consistent It’s obvious that the Tiger Woods and golf and he has given very few indications Phil Mickelson era is over, but unlike he’s up to that. five years ago, there is no Meanwhile, the state of longer any angst over that competitive golf in Oklainevitability. Sure, Tiger homa is tremendous. From Woods still has legions of Robert Streb’s amazing followers who think he season on the PGA Tour, to alone is of interest among the number of young pros golfers, but that’s getting battling their way up, to harder to fathom. The rise the bevy of Oklahomans of Jordan Spieth and Jason earning college scholarDay to nearly overshadow ships and filling up the Rory McIlroy’s incredible rosters even at Oklahoma accomplishments means State and Oklahoma, it’s golf has a new Big Three, quite a renaissance. Read with Rickie Fowler, Bubba OGA Executive Director Watson, Dustin Johnson Jordan Spieth Mark Felder’s column in and several even younger this issue for more on how players from budding stars hoping to someday demonstrate the consistency needed to break into the Oklahoma Junior Golf Tour are faring. From a course health standpoint, 2015 that circle. was just okay. A rainy spring bogged Phil is done contending regularly, though he could still surprise at The Mas- down revenues at many courses, particularly resorts that depend on Memorial ters or another major. Tiger is going into the offseason recovering from yet another Day traffic. Many country clubs in smaller back surgery that casts doubt over wheth- towns and cities are still transitioning from a time when they were the social er he’ll ever be much of a factor again. hub of the town to the new reality that The pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors is over. Tiger would be fortunate America spends Saturdays at the soccer to win one or two more even if he regains fields. Public and private courses continue as much of his form as his damaged body to adjust their marketing, pricing and will allow. The world has changed and conditioning to be the most attractive to Spieth, McIlroy and Day would relish handing his hat to him. There is no longer their customers in a competitive market. As golfers, we’ve got to do our best to any shred of his former intimidation facsupport them by enjoying the game when tor, in which he could seemingly coast possible, and being a good customer when home in any tournament just by shooting we do. Don’t be the guy who gripes when in the 60s the first two rounds. our underpriced courses raise their rates In the Quicken Loans National this a dollar or two. Play fast, be courteous to year, Tiger opened with rounds of 68-66 other golfers and encourage others to take and was close to the lead. So intimidated up the game. was eventual winner Troy Merritt that To keep up with everything going on he fired a 61 in the third round. Bill Haas with golf in Oklahoma on a daily basis, and Carl Pettersson shot 64, Justin Rose 65. In the Wyndham Championship, Tiger make sure to subscribe to our newsletter, which you can do on our website at www. opened 64-65 only to watch Jason Gore golfoklahoma.org. roar past with a 62 in the third round and all the top-10 finishers shot 67 or better – Ken MacLeod except for eventual winner Davis Love III, 10 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

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 Jim Young Teaching Professional, River Oaks CC 405-630-8183 Pat McTigue Manager, GolfTec Tulsa pmctigue@golftec.com Steve Ball Owner, Ball Golf Center, Oklahoma City www.ballgolf.com, 405-842-2626 Pat Bates Director of Instruction, Gaillardia Country Club pbates@gaillardia.com, 405-509-3611 Tracy Phillips Director of Instruction, Buddy Phillips Learning Center at Cedar Ridge vt4u@yahoo.com, 918-352-1089 Jerry Cozby PGA Professional jerrycozby@aol.com, 918-914-1784 Michael Boyd, PGA Professional Indian Springs Country Club 918-455-9515 Oklahoma Golf Association 2800 Coltrane Place, Suite 2 Edmond, OK 73034 405-848-0042 Executive Director Mark Felder mfelder@okgolf.org Director of Handicapping and Course Rating Jay Doudican jdoudican@okgolf.org Director of Junior Golf Morri Rose morose@okgolf.org Copyright 2015 by Golf Oklahoma Magazine. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from Golf Oklahoma. Golf Oklahoma is published by South Central Golf, Inc.

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From the Executive Director

Rose builds Oklahoma into a golf powerhouse It’s time to brag about the job Morri Rose is doing with the Oklahoma Junior Golf Tour and the state’s talented young men and women who are filling up the rosters at colleges throughout Mark Felder the region, including OGA Oklahoma and OklaExecutive homa State. Director Since Rose began providing a competitive golf tour in the fall to go with their high school experience and summer schedules, the number of Oklahoma youngsters signing college scholarships has taken a drastic leap. If you haven’t been following the results on www.golfoklahoma.org, get on there and check them out. These kids are playing good golf courses from the tips and posting ridiculous numbers. How low? Logan McAllister of Oklahoma City shot 69-63 in a recent event at Kickingbird, and didn’t win. The winner, Wells Padgett of Wichita, shot a 61 in the second round. Brian Soerensen, the director of golf at Kickingbird, called us to assure he had set the hole locations himself and they were not easy. These young players no longer talk themselves out of shooting low numbers. They get to 3- or 4-under par and want to double that instead of getting nervous and going back the other way. There are at least OJGT alumni who began their college careers this fall. At OSU, Tyson Reeder joined previous graduates Brendon Jelley, Hayden Wood and Nick Heinen. At OU, Thomas Johnson and

Morri Rose, far left, with some of his star players.

Quade Cummins joined Max McGreevy and Nick Pierce. At least two high school stars have already verbally committed to OU for next year, while Mason Overstreet of Kingfisher has committed to Arkansas. Preston Crawford joined Sam Humphreys at the University of Tulsa On the girls’ side, Alexis Sadeghy is starting at OSU, Mackenzie Medders has joined Nadia Majidi at TU, the entire starting five at Oklahoma City (Emma Allen, Caroline Goodin, Katie-Lee Wilson, Kailey Campbell and Anna Mikish) are OJGT grads, as are key players at the University of Central Oklahoma (Marla Souvannasing, Grace Shin, Allyson Wilcox, J.T. Neuzil) and Oklahoma Christian (Kate Goodwin, Elizabeth Freeman, Allison Sell, Mindy Stafford). Many more are playing at other colleges and universities throughout the state. Rose estimates at least 10 boys and girls from the OJGT will sign Division I scholarships this year while at least as many will sign with Division II or NAIA schools.

Winners at a recent event in Pryor include, from left, Dakota Clark, Michael Biatta, Tyler Shelnutt, and Matthew Braley. At right, Melissa Eldredge and Taylor Towers tee off.

12 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

Some national tours hinted to our kids that unless they played a national summer schedule, with all the attendant costs, their chances of gaining college scholarships were slim and none. How untrue that has proven to be. Although many Oklahoma youngsters do well in select national events, they have proven that between high school, OGA, OJGT and the section junior events, they can become battle tested and college ready staying close to home and saving thousands of dollars. Rose’s kids won the Red River Team Challenge against their talented Texas counterparts last fall, just the second time in 10 years Oklahoma has won. Then, they soundly defeated teams from Mississippi, Missouri and Arkansas in the Southern Cup. Oklahomans are having a major impact on college golf throughout the region and many former OJGT players are now out on the mini-tours with a chance of playing on the PGA Tour. It’s been an amazing success story.

Oklahoma Golf Association News

Tired of the same old thing? Try a Foursome! I’m going to challenge you to try a different format for your next golf outing and I know that you will find it enjoyable. In the Rules of Golf Gene Mortensen it is called the “FourOGA Rules some” (Rule 29); in Director your clubhouse it is called “alternate-shot.” The format is used in the President’s Cup and Ryder Cup, and it adds to the excitement. In golf, when we use the term “some” it tells us that some of the players are playing some of the time. In Foursomes, Player A hits the tee ball on all oddnumbered holes. The other member of the side, Player B, hits the second shot and they alternate from there until the hole is completed. Player B hits the tee shots on all even-numbered holes; Player A hits the second shot and the players alternate until the hole is completed. If a player hits a shot out of turn, the side loses the hole in match play. In stroke play, the side incurs a two-stroke

penalty and they must correct the error by playing a ball in correct order at the spot from where the mistake was made. If the error is not corrected, the side is disqualified. In Foursomes, penalty strokes do not affect the order of play. By way of example, if a player accidentally moves the ball after addressing it, the side incurs a penalty of one stroke and the ball must be replaced under Rule 18-22b. In this case, does the player or his partner play the next shot? The player must play the shot as the penalty did not change the fact that the player has yet to play a “stroke.” If A and B are partners and A hits a drive that may be lost or out of bounds, B plays the provisional. If the original ball is found in bounds, B plays the next shot with it as the provisional does not come into play. If the original is out of bounds, A plays the next stroke with the provisional. In a Mixed Foursome, in which the men play from the back tees and the women play from the forward tees, if

the man drives and the ball comes to rest out of bounds, the lady plays the next stroke – also from the back tees. This is one reason married couples shouldn’t play as a team unless their marriage is strong – and their senses of humor even stronger. Let me remind you that while we have come into the season in which football seems to occupy most of our spare time, autumn is a great time for golf. So, go try a Foursome.

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

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 13

Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association

Erickson enjoys being Captain America for a week

Lew Erickson USGA

USGA women’s committee member Lew Erickson of Tulsa recently served as captain of the United States team at the World Junior Girls Championship. She filed this report.

Fall golf is filled with international team golf events at every level. The Walker Cup, the Solheim Cup, the Junior Solheim Cup, the President’s Cup, to name a few. This year I was honored to be a part of it as the Captain of the USA team at the World Junior Girls. As a member of the USGA Women’s Committee, I was selected to be the Captain. The World Junior Girls Championship was held Sept. 20-25 at The Marshes Golf Club near Ottawa, Ontario. The three USA players selected by the United States Golf Association were Alyaa Abdulghany, 16, of Newport Beach, Calif., Courtney Dow, 17, of Frisco, Texas and Elizabeth Wang, 15, of San Marino, Calif. All three of the girls were in Tulsa earlier this year for the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship at Tulsa Country Club. The 72-hole, stroke play event included three-player teams from 14 countries, Canada the host country fielded two teams. The players were 18 or younger, members in good standing of their respective golf federation and not yet playing college golf. Women’s Committee Member

The players competed for team and individual honors. The field was based on performance in the 2014 World Junior Girls and the 2014 World Amateur Team Championship. The girls, as well as myself, were proud to represent the United States. We all flew to Ottawa on Saturday, each of us comLeft to right, team manager Liz Carl, Alyaa Abdulghany, ing from our hometowns. Elizabeth Wang, Courtney Dow and coach Lew Erickson. On Sunday, we started our each hole that were used by the commitdaily routine that began at 6:20 a.m. each tee. The listed length was 6,225 yards, but day. The girls’ would practice for an hour players had to deal with rain the first day and a half before play each day. and wind each day. The wind created chalThe opening ceremony was held on lenges from the tee and on the greens. The Tuesday, with all teams in dress uniform. Marshes features a somewhat unusual balPlay began on Wednesday and concluded ance of six par 3’s, six par 4’s and six par 5’s. on Friday. Team USA was tied for second The championship provides a great after the first day with Sweden at even par, Korea stepped out with a 2-under par. opportunity for junior players to play After four days of play, we finished in fifth alongside other top players on the World place while Korea ran away from the field. Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) from around the world. The strong field draws The Marshes Golf Club was a design the attendance of many U.S. college collaboration between Robert Trent Jones Senior and his son RTJ II. It is named “The coaches. They embrace the event and are glad to see it being held in Canada. The Marshes” for a reason; the course has event is conducted by Golf Canada. Golf many natural features including wetCanada is part of the R&A. lands, meadows and forests. The players I was honored and proud to serve as navigate multiple water hazards. The ninth and eighteenth holes share a 30,000 coach of the USA team and only hope they learned as much from me as I did square-foot putting green. from them. The course had multiple teeing areas on

Southern Hills loses key promoter Al Bush, one of the most instrumental figures in Southern Hills Country Club landing and successfully hosting its last two major golf championships, died Aug. 22. Bush, who served as general chairman of both the 2001 U.S. Open and the 2007 PGA Championship, was 84. He had been in declining health for the past several months. Bush, a Southern Hills member for 44 years, also served as marketing chairman for the 1977 U.S. Open, the 1982 PGA Championship and the 1994 PGA Championship, as well as the 1995 and 1996 Tour Championship, all at Southern Hills. “This was his second home and he loved to be involved in everything,” said Nick Sidorakis, Southern Hills general manager and a close friend. “Not only has he been 14 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

involved in every major championship since 1977, he’s been a past president and served on many different committees and boards, not just here but in civic and charitable organizations and his church.” Bush was a natural salesman who enjoyed meeting and networking with businessmen and women throughout the country, which helped him lead the corporate sales efforts at Tulsa’s major championships even while he was in charge of so many other aspects of the tournaments. Both Mike Davis, executive director of the USGA, and Kerry Haigh, the chief championships officer of the PGA of America, paid their respects. “He had a larger than life personality and was a born leader,” Davis said. “He loved

Al Bush on the job at Southern Hills. the game of golf and Southern Hills. He was just such a delight. There is unanimity of every single person here at the USGA that the U.S. Open wouldn’t have been the same without Al Bush.”

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Goods the

Some things we like to do before and after the round

The Bookshelf Of Time and Tide by tom bedell

It’s a minor annoyance to me when traveling to distant courses that few of the hosts seem to know what kind of trees we’re playing alongside of (or into). Once past coniferous or deciduous I don’t know what I’m looking at or bouncing balls off of, but I’d like to. So to give credit where it’s due, Shane Ryan really knows his trees. One of the many virtues of his “Slaying the Tiger: A Year Inside the Ropes on the New PGA Tour,” (Ballantine Books, $29) is a painterly use of arboreal description to set his scenes. And scenes are what we have here in his report of chasing Tour players around for an entire season, adding up to a compellingly readable narrative of the stars most of us know only from television or golf magazines, and then usually in a hagiographic way. Ryan takes a no-holds-barred approach. He strips away the veneer that often clings to players in an age when agents keep the media at arm’s length. He even beards the agents, such as Sam MacNaughton, so stingy in giving away time to talk to players like R ickie Fowler that the press calls him “Dr. No.” Along the way Ryan characterizes Bubba Watson as a religious hypo16 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

crite “and a prickly narcissist.” Keegan Bradley is a player who “catalogs insults” and “uses his resentment as fuel.” Even Jordan Spieth, in 2014, is observed having petulant meltdowns. Most of the portraits are even-handed and admiring, of players such as Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Martin Kaymer, Adam Scott and Matt Every. And Ryan has clearly dug deep for some of his revelations. The book really catches fire with incendiary material about the mysterious Frenchman Victor Dubuisson, the combative Patrick Reed (in a chapter called “The Villain”), and more dirty linen surrounding the troubled (for the U.S. team, anyway) 2014 Ryder Cup. Some of the Reed material — going back to his college days and accusations of cheating — made its way onto the Internet before the book’s publication. Threats of lawsuits quickly followed but, interestingly enough, seem to have died away even while the accusations have not. That the 2014 season fulfilled the book’s premise perfectly — new young stars like Spieth, Day, Dustin Johnson, and particularly McIlroy taking the stage

as a fading Tiger Woods drifts to the wings — was great good luck for Ryan. Lest it sound like he’s merely pushing nouns against adverbs to blow things up, rest assured that the book is loaded with good humor, an abundance of terrific behindthe-curtains anecdotes, and suitable momentum. With his less-than-laudable comments about Augusta National and the Masters, Ryan has also probably insured he will never receive credentials to that event again. But readers are the richer for his audacity. Especially those who like trees.

GOLF IN FIFTY HOLES Tony Dear’s “The Story of Golf in Fifty Holes” (Firefly Books, $29.95) shows how a book with almost no narrative momentum can still be a good read. The trick is to take it in smaller doses, so packed as it is with a profusion of detail. Dear has run with a notion that 600 years of golf history can be packed into the description of 50 specific golf holes. He starts with the 11th hole at the Old Course in St. Andrews, where golf purportedly began over 600 years ago, and ends with a handful of more modern tracks. The chronology is straightforward, and therefore a thread of architectural

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history can be discerned. More often certain holes are used as a springboard to consider the careers of some designers — Charles Blair McDonald via the 15th (Redan) hole at North Berwick, or Donald Ross via the 17th at Pinehurst No. 2. Many of the events that really put the holes on the golfing map —dramatic competitive ones — are random in a calendar sense. So what we basically have is a series of 50 articles looking at the holes from a variety of angles, most at least two pages long but some as many as six (the 18th at Turnberry’s Ailsa Course, for example) or eight (the 15th at Augusta National) or 10 (the 13th at Pine Valley). It must have been a devil of a thing to write, but caps off to Dear for making each entr y so diverting. There’s a template including the year the hole was created, the original course designer (in St. Andrews’ case, “The Good Lord”), subsequent alterations, a hole diagram and its vital statistics. There are various callouts with telling quotes, ample illustrations, and the essential thing, or things, that make the hole so special. There’s the 1st at Cherry Hills, which the 30-year-old Arnold Palmer drove (340 yards) in the fourth round of the 1960 U.S. Open; the 15th at Augusta, when Gene Sarazen hit his Shot Heard Round the World — a double eagle at the 1935 Masters; the island green 17th at TPC Sawgrass; the 10th at Colonial in Fort Worth, where Annika Sörenstram first teed it up with the men at a 2003 PGA Tour event, or the 18th at Royal Birkdale, where Jack Nicklaus famously conceded a putt to Tony Jacklin in the 1969 Ryder Cup. In an introduction Dear rightly acknowledges that his selection of the 50 holes is, “...a personal, albeit carefully considered list...,” that will naturally exercise some over what he included or those holes he left out. But he then opens the floor for genial debate at any 19th hole that happens to be on hand. A wise move, since in the history of golf, that’s always been a part of the fun. Tom Bedell often works on his still-evolving personal history of golf, in as many holes as possible.

Aging Room Quattro F59 Concerto A seasoned golfer will tell you that they didn’t start out with a low handicap. It takes practice, hard work, and some adjustments here and there to improve one’s score. The same thing can be said of a torcedor (cigar roller) who takes tobacco leaves from various regions around the world and creates a cigar they feel worthy of mass production and distribution. Rafael Nodal brand owner of Boutique Blends had one such cigar, the Aging Room Quattro F55. This blend stood out with its’ aged Sumatra wrapper from Indonesia, garnering the No. 2 Cigar of the Year from Cigar Aficionado a few months later. From time to time, the same cigar cannot be reproduced for various reasons, in this case the lack of the Sumatra Wrapper. So Rafael went to work to alter his existing blend and produced the new Dominican Puro Quattro F59 which features a Dominican Habano wrapper.

At first glance, the Quattro F59 Concerto is box pressed and double capped with a nice leathery feel to the tobacco. The cold draw is clean with little to no resistance. There is a nice balance of medium strength and flavor at light up. The Dominican Habano fillers and binder contribute to the earthy notes that linger on the back of the palette while subtle spices, black pepper, and a mild sweetness round out the middle. The cigar produces a fair amount of thick white smoke with a nice zebra colored ash. Like its’ predecessor the F59 remains consistent throughout the rest of the smoke with only a slight mellowing of pepper notes and the addition of strength. The cigar finished just on the upper side of medium. So next time you’re out working on your short game or driving for distance and find yourself making minor adjustments to improve your game, enjoy an Aging Room Quattro F59 and know that you have something in common.

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Holiday Guide Keep your golfer cool with a Yeti under the tree by greg horton

Holiday gift buying is easier when someone is passionate about a hobby or sport like golf. The state’s pro shops stock up for the holidays like any other retail store, and with golf professionals on site, you can get good advice and recommendations about what to buy for the golfer(s) in your life. Gift cards are easy, and if you are in a hurry, the golf shops are happy to sell you one. Who, after all, would be sad about a few prepaid rounds? However, if you’re looking for something a little more personal, some of the pros gave us their input for a gift-giving guide that included recommendations for technology, Yeti 20 oz. Rambler clubs, clothing and

18 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

sundries. Pat McCrate at LaFortune Park said Yeti tumblers are selling so fast they’re hard to keep in stock. The company is best known for producing durable, trendy outdoor gear, so while not exactly a golf company, the brand is remarkably reliable for tumblers and coolers. The tumblers cost around $30 for the 20-ounce and $40 for the 30-ounce, and if that seems expensive for a glorified water bottle, listen to McCrate’s experience. “I have a 20-ounce Yeti,” McCrate said. “I put ice water in it one day about 1:00 p.m. It was a 94-degree day, so I refilled it with water two times while playing, and again before I went to bed that night. I woke the next mornBlack Clover ing, and there putter cover was still ice in

it.” The coolers are selling well, too. Rodney Young at Jimmie Austin said they finally got enough in stock that they stopped selling through them almost immediately. “We couldn’t keep them in stock,” Young said, “so we upped our order. We have a really nice selection now.” Fall and winter mean a change in outerwear, and pro shops are stocking up on a few brands, including one super trendy name. Straight Down is one of the hottest Straight Down brands in outerOuterwear wear right now. The San Luis Obispo-based company

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Club said Nexbelt has makes putters, too, but their clothing line is designed for comfort and durabil- been a very popular brand in their shop. The ity, making them an excellent choice next generation belt has for golf. The line includes hats, shirts, been trending for men jackets, and pants and women, and for men and not just because women. of the nov“We are elty—it has no selling a lot holes. The belts of Straight come in leather or canvas and fit Down clothsizes up to a 50-inch waist. All you ing right now,” Nexbelt have to do is follow the directions to cut Young said. “We the belt to your size. will have plenty in stock for the holiOne of the most popular selling days, too. We even have OU licensed features for Nexbelt is the customizable clothing from them.” buckle. The company’s website allows Live Lucky from Black Clover is ancustomers to order additional buckles, other company that produces clothing which can be etched with logos or and outerwear for a number of different names. Options range from outdoor hobbies, includdressy to fun, and the ing golf. McCrate said the holes-free design brand has been very popumakes for a sleeker lar with younger golfers, look. and in addition to their Kickingbird will clothing, golf bags and FootJoy OU licensed golf shoe also have licensed towels are also available in Oklahoma City Thunder and OU the Live Lucky line. merchandise. In addition to the Straight Brian Soerensen at Kickingbird Golf

Bushnell Tour V3 Patriot Pack Rangefinder

Down merchandise, Jimmie Austin will also have OU licensed merchandise in the FootJoy line—a perennial favorite of golfers. McCrate said the new Under Armour and Nike lines have great looking choices for fall and winter, too. Range finders are a popular gift, and many of the states shops agree on one name: Bushnell. “The Bushnell Patriot Pack is all we carry,” Soerensen said. Because range finders tend to be expensive--$200 to $300 typically—it’s difficult for shops to carry several different brands and models. Like Kickingbird, Jimmie Austin stocks Bushnell Patriots almost exclusively.

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The goods McCrate said LaFortune carries a bigger line of range finders, but they’re all Bushnell. “They have years of experience, and they hit every price point, too,” McCrate said. “Also, like clockwork they’ll

TaylorMade M1 driver

20 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

have their $50-off sale every Christmas. Makes it easier to buy one.” The holidays are a great time for a little self-indulgence, and what is more self-indulgent than new clubs. Sure, you could keep the ones you have, but how many times have you picked up a new driver or iron and knew it was the key to unlocking a better game? That may not be an exaggeration this year, as TaylorMade, Ping, and Titleist are releasing new clubs, some of which will have what Young calls “dramatic changes.” First on the list is probably TaylorMade’s M1 driver. The buzz about this “multi-materials” driver, which includes carbon fiber, has been building all year, and pros around the tour have been gushing about the speed and distance obtained with this customizable club. Pro shops around the state started getting the demo M1s in September, so there should be plenty available for the holidays after they are

officially released in mid-October. They will retail for $ 399. Titleist has upgraded their AP1 and AP2 irons for this season, and they range in price from $800 to $1,300 depending on whether you want steel or graphite. These are available right now in pro shops in Oklahoma, so you can buy now or save up for a holiday surprise. For the new Ping irons, a gift card (or several) might be the best option, as they won’t officially release until January.

Titleist AP1 and AP2 irons

EQUIPMENT

Big Bertha battles back, thanks to new Callaway CEO discounting since late spring – months in advance of the 2016 models. In addition, Callaway’s 2015 iron lineup, the XR, Big “The Times They Are a-Changin’ “… Bertha and Apex models, is outselling or so sang Bob Dylan and the business of everyone else, including TaylorMade. selling golf equipment may also be seeing From Callaway’s standsignificant changes as well. point, analysts may argue The largest equipment whether their resurgence is a company, TaylorMade-adidas story about rapidly changing Golf (a division of adidas AG technology or market trends OTCMKTS:ADDYY), has or good old-fashion business been hemorrhaging sales and management acumen. But one profits to the benefit of other fact is undeniable, Callaway club makers, particularly Caldid not reverse the downward laway Golf (NYSE: ELY) and slide and years of losses until privately-held PING. Things Chip Brewer took over as CEO have gotten so bad, adidas in 2012. Back then, TMaG’s may sell TaylorMade, having Callaway CEO metalwoods had 52 percent of hired an investment bank to Chip Brewer the market and their irons had find a buyer for TMaG’s stablebeen the best selling for 15 months in a row. mate brands Adams Golf and Ashworth. Brewer’s former job had been president TaylorMade could be next. of TaylorMade’s Adams brand. As he is PING’s G30 driver is in the number one quick to say, a lot has changed at Callaway sales spot for 2015, taking over from Taywith key people making the difference but lorMade, whose iconic white-headed R15 Brewer’s management style pushed them and AeroBurner models have not sold well to do more and be better, which of course and which the company has been steeply by ed travis

is also known as leadership. As Brewer pointed out in an interview on the Golf Channel, “The fundamental change we made was putting the passion back in and just the undying commitment to making the world’s best golf clubs and golf balls.” A good example of Callaway’s aggressiveness is in golf balls. They are having success with the Chrome Soft in a market where Acushnet’s Titleist brand is the 600-pound gorilla. As with clubs, distance sells golf balls and the Chrome Soft takes a different approach to going long. It has a very soft core that springs back quickly after impact but a soft core ball that is also very resilient is against the way we have been told to think about golf balls. In the past, the explanation goes, if a core was made soft for improved spin, control and feel, it lost resiliency which cut down on the distance. Callaway changed that with the Chrome Soft’s highly resilient but soft core and sales have taken off. Another indicator of Callaway’s push to regain the top spot from TaylorMade

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are the two new drivers for 2016, the Big Bertha Alpha 816 Double Black Diamond priced at $500 and the Great Big Bertha at $450. Callaway targeted the GBB for use by the majority of golfers, building in some impressive technology and performance. After spending extensive time with a 10.5 degree Great Big Bertha with a stiff-flex Fujikura Evolution 665 Tour Spec shaft on the range and playing with it for 10 rounds under various weather conditions, it’s easy to make a recommendation. Put this one on your short list. Even though we are supposed to be sophisticated and talk about a driver’s tight dispersion and accuracy, everybody knows, “it’s all about distance.” Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson, these are the guys we want to see bomb it out there 340 yards, sometimes more. The Great Big Bertha, matched head to head against the previously longest driver I had tested, didn’t gave up a yard. Laser distance measurements of 10 drives with each showed the Great Big Bertha averaged just over one yard longer. I’m not claiming this is statistically significant, but it is an indica-

tion Callaway got the Great Big Bertha right, since using the same procedure I have found drivers as much as 25 yards shorter. The design of the Great Big Bertha includes a 10-gram sliding weight in a track along the rear of the clubhead similar to the one on the Big Bertha of two years ago. This placement for controlling side spin (fade or draw) combined with the carbon fiber crown and overall shape of the clubhead gives a solid feel and sound at impact. To achieve added distance by increasing ball speed and realizing the coefficient of restitution of virtually every driver on the market bumps up against the USGA limits; Callaway took the route by reducing side spin and turning a fade into a draw that would produce added yards. This means with the sliding weight placed properly and the OptiFit hosel set for the best launch conditions, every golfer regardless of swing speed, has the opportunity to get the most distance out of his swing. For players with slower swing speeds, the Great Big Bertha can play as a very lightweight driver (under 300 grams) or for higher swing speeds, up to 30 grams may be added using a heavier shaft chosen from

the 17 shaft options offered at no extra cost. So, will the Great Big Bertha take the lead to push Callaway to the top slot in the equipment business or will TaylorMade recover from its stumbles of the past two years? TMaG is still the largest equipment company and has an enviable history of technological innovation and marketing prowess that led it to achieve a record $1.4 Great Big Bertha billion in sales in 2013 and dominate the club business as no one ever has. There is also no denying, however, that Callaway Golf is on a roll both with their products, but more importantly in the minds of golfers.

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 23

Chip shots

News from around the state Sponsored by

New clubhouse? Tulsa examines Page proposal

Oklahoma Tulsa Toll Fr

hold banquets, meetings and especially golf tournaments. “We could double our golf events because that demand is there,” Wolff said. “We’ve lost a lot of business because of the facility.” Neither Page Belcher or Mohawk Park are currently emphasizing merchandise sales so huge pro shops such as the one at Mohawk Park are not needed. Mohawk has very limited room for a tournament or group to meet, while the restaurant at Page Belcher comfortably holds fewer than 35. Tulsa County recently opened a vastly improved clubhouse at LaFortune Park Golf Course, while the Oklahoma City public course system celebrated the opening of a deluxe new clubhouse at Lincoln Park. Wolff compared the potential at Page Belcher to Texas Star Golf Course in Euless, Texas, which built a 325-seat conference center at its course and last year did more than more than $785,000 in food and beverage sales.

justicegolf.com

The Page Belcher clubhouse is ill-suited to host tournaments. by ken macleod

A proposal to fund a new clubhouse at Page Belcher Golf Course in west Tulsa and improvements to the clubhouse at Mohawk Park Golf Course in north Tulsa will be discussed in a special meeting of the Tulsa City Council Oct. 22 and possi-

bly put forward as part of the next Vision funding package for capital improvements. The proposal as crafted by Tom Wolff, manager of the city courses, asks for $6 to $12 million to fund the improvements. The intent is to make the outmoded clubhouse at Page Belcher better able to

Dudley began famous career in Bartlesville by ken macleod

The first golf pro to bend a club or give a lesson in Bartlesville was not Jerry Cozby. It may seem like the popular former head pro at Hillcrest Country Club was there at statehood, but Cozby has helped shine the light on another legend of the game who predates his career by decades. Ed Dudley Ed Dudley was the first professional at Oak Hill Club, which opened in 1918 on the west side of Bartlesville and was around before both current courses Hillcrest (1926) and Adams Golf Course (1963). The strapping 6-4 Dudley came to Bartlesville in 1920 and stayed until 1923, when Oak Hill Club suddenly went belly up. Dudley went on to a long and colorful career in the game. When Oak Hill closed, he went north to Pawhuska Country Club for a year, then to Joplin and on to Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club in 1926. He went to The Broadmoor in 1929 and 24 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

Perry Maxwell. Also on the wall in a shadfrom there to Augusta National in 1934, where he served as professional until 1957. owbox is a set of Dudley’s clubs, which Cozby was given by a niece of Dudley He taught the game to President Dwight who emailed him in 2014 to inquire if the Eisenhower, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope, among other luminaries, while competing club would like to display the clubs. Cozby, who was the head pro at Hillat a high level himself. crest for 41 Dudley years until rehad seven tiring in 2009, top-10 finwas actually ishes in The the third pro at Masters Hillcrest, being from 1934preceded by 41, recorded Jimmy Gullany 15 victories and Dwight on the PGA Travis. He still Tour and has a keen played on Golf Clubs of Ed Dudley, Bartlesville’s first PGA pro. interest in the the U.S. club and its heritage. In addition to helping Ryder Cup side in 1929, 1933 and 1937. spotlight Dudley, he led an effort recently He was president of the PGA of America from 1942-48. He finished in the top 10 in to restore one of two small log cabins on the property that served as shelters from 24 majors without winning one, the most wind or rain. top-10s by any golfer without a victory. The new building has been named the Hillcrest CC and Cozby have helped H.V. Foster Cabin in honor of the club’s honor Dudley’s Bartlesville roots with first president in 1926 and also lists the a large framed picture of Dudley and board of directors from that year. HopeEisenhower hanging in Perry’s, the sports fully it will stand for another century. lounge named after Hillcrest designer

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Act fast to attend Hall of Fame banquet

Charlie Coe

Bob Dickson

The deadline to buy tickets or sponsor tables for the first Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is Oct. 15. Limited seating is still available, go now to www.oklahomagolfhof.org. The banquet is Oct. 25 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. The first class consists of Gil Morgan, Mike Holder, Bob Dickson, Charlie Coe, Perry Maxwell and Bill Spiller. Also recog-

Mike Holder

Perry Maxwell

nized will be the members of the Women’s Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame who are being moved into the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame following a successful merger . Sponsor tables are $2,000 and include seating for eight guests, recognition in the program, recognition on www.oklahomagolfhof.org, recognition on video and signage at the event and priority seating. Individual seating can be purchased for $150 per seat while available. Both

Gil Morgan

Bill Spiller

sponsor tables and individual seats can be purchased through www.oklahomagolfhof.org. For those who prefer to pay by check, please print out the reservation form on the website and mail the form and check to: Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame 6218 S. Lewis Ave., Ste. 200 Tulsa, OK 74136. The Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame was formed in 2014. For more information, call 918-280-0787.

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 25

Off to flying start

Oklahoma-based team ready to launch concept in Jenks by ken macleod

he whole concept of “eatertainment” as it relates to golf is about to go from a virtual monopoly to a competitive playing field in which the better mousetrap will have to be reinvented constantly. Topgolf, now open and thriving in Oklahoma City, was the obvious forerunner in this field both internationally and domestically. Its success was bound to create others who wanted to duplicate or exceed the

The FlyingTee team: James Vollbrecht, Ryan Tawwater and John Vollbrecht. intends to build in other markets, it has already licensed its game technology to Howard Milstein, co-chairman of The Nicklaus Companies. Milstein is now an investor in FlyingTee domestically and holds the license to build facilities in Asia and has already publicly announced his intention to do so in short order. “We are constantly looking for interesting opportunities in the golf segment, and FlyingTee has created a highly compelling golf-themed entertainment experience,”

What FlyingTee will look like upon completion. experience of a Topgolf. Among those, three Oklahoma entrepreneurs will soon offer their version and vision of a dining, entertainment and golf experience that they believe will far exceed anything else in the market. The first facility will be FlyingTee at the Riverwalk in Jenks, with a projected opening in the first quarter of 2016. Although the group behind FlyingTee 26 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

said Milstein, who is also Chairman, President, and CEO of New York Private Bank & Trust and its operating bank, Emigrant Bank. “We are excited to invest to help the FlyingTee team grow their business domestically and to partner to grow the concept internationally.” What’s the difference? Golf Oklahoma recently got its first look at the technology that so excited the

Milstein family and also caused prominent Oklahoma professionals such as Bob Tway, Gil Morgan and Scott Verplank to become early investors in the company. Each of the 60 hitting bays in the tristory range is equipped with a sophisticated tracking system that offers all pertinent statistics for every shot struck. Golfers will learn, probably to their dismay, how far they hit each 7-iron, driver and wedge, as well as all the stats available to help with game improvement, such as launch angle, spin rate, clubhead speed, launch speed, etc. Not only that, but golfers can watch their ball flight and dispersal patterns through Protracer technology. All this data is stored and available each time you visit or anytime on the FlyingTee website and soon by an app. Considering that the bays will be open virtually all year in any weather as they can be heated or cooled, it will be a very inexpensive way for golfers to learn more about their numbers and track their improvement. The only caveat being that sometimes distances and ball flights hit off mats can vary a bit from those hit on grass. With the tracking technology in use, Flying Tee can track every ball hit without imbedding chips in the balls, thus it says it can offer a quality of golf ball similar or superior to any driving range. The initial screen will ask golfers if they want to practice, play games or play virtual courses. The system can set you up to play famous courses around the world on a simulator in which the course comes up on the monitors superimposed with the flags in the target area so you know where and how far to hit your shots. Putting is not al-

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The FlyingTee team FlyingTee is the brainchild of John Vollbrecht, 34, an Oklahoma City businessman and golf enthusiast. He returned from a career in Texas, where he worked in corporate finance at Wachovia Bank while earning a Masters from the University of Texas, and then in corporate restructuring at a consulting firm before returning to Oklahoma to Construction as of late September. start his own business. Vollbrecht’s first call was to Ryan Tawlowed, so once on the green a random shortwater, a high school classmate of older game wheel lets you know if you made a brother James at Bishop McGuinness in birdie or took three putts to get down. Oklahoma City. The games offered mimic popular pub Tawwater was in the midst of an impresgames and are designed to reward serious sive career in food and beverage services, golfers and first-timers. Although Flyingincluding working at Levy Restaurants, Tee will offer four games at launch, they a pioneer in serving private club suites at are keeping the details quiet on all but one NFL, NBA, NHL and other sports venues game: Darts. Just as you might imagine, in such as the U.S. Open in tennis or NASdarts, golfers score points for getting their CAR events. He later became the director ball on on concentric rings that surround of food and beverage at Yellowstone Club each pin on the range. Each shot can be watched on a large screen through Protracer in Montana, the World’s only private ski and golf community. right after it is hit, and players will see exTawwater said his varied experiences actly how close their ball gets to the target. To make the game more competitive, target will be reflected at FlyingTee, which will

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have a huge sports bar and beer garden on the ground level and higher-end offerings on the second and third levels. “It’s an opportunity to take a lot of the different concepts I’ve been involved in and create something unique,” Tawwater said. “At the heart of it, it’s simple: Great food and great service. The technology that James has created will get people in the door and we want to make sure we create an experience that even surpasses the golf experience.” With the food and beverage operation in good hands, Vollbrecht turned to his brother to help him develop the crucial technology side which would give FlyingTee its own identity. James Vollbrecht, 40, is a self-described technology geek who was tearing apart and rebuilding computers at his father’s office while in grade school while John could more often be found playing golf and other sports. James left a post as director of strategic marketing for Intellectual Ventures, a technology company in Bellevue, Washington, to embark on this project. He earned an MBA from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia in 2003 and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Washington and Lee University in 1998. Blending the combination of existing technologies into something unique and different has been his passion and mission since returning to Oklahoma. The affirmation of numerous pros and visitors, as well as that of Milstein’s investment, has James and the team convinced that golfers will be enthralled. He and Tawwater even tease each other about whether the golf or food and beverage will be the better performer on the revenue side. Pricing for both is reasonable. Groups renting the bays will combine to pay approximately $40 per hour although rates will vary somewhat depending on peak times. Expect $10 to $15 entrees in the ground-level bays, with pricier options available upstairs. FlyingTee will offer meeting space and private suites as well and the entire facility will be available to be rented by corporations or groups looking to have a unique and fun environment for their next corporate meeting. The FlyingTee at Riverwalk is being built on land owned by the Creek Nation, which owns Riverwalk and is building a “Margaritaville” resort within a mile at its River Spirit Casino on the east side of the Arkansas River. The Creeks are also investors in the company’s future projects.

The origins of Origin

on the company website at www.flyingto make sure everything works, then we teegolf.com. can get pretty choosy. The founders first began discussions and As for a precise opening date, that is “Right now, we’re concentrating on the formed a company, Origin LLC, in 2011. The dependent on weather and construction creation and extensive testing of the technol- first one and it’s a very Oklahoma centric issues. The extremely rainy spring ogy platform has been ongoing since. pushed construction back, but much of “We spent a long time figuring out the that lost time has been made up since. games,” John Vollbrecht said. “We wantProjections are still for the first quarter ed to use a real golf ball and we wanted of 2016. to be able to measure club head speed, Both FlyingTee and Topgolf are side spin, back spin, all the stats you capitalizing on the national trend of would get with a lesson with a more combining eating with sports, games or sophisticated tracking system. That’s a entertainment. The Tulsa area already key part of our system and it’s not cheap has the Main Event, which combines or easy to develop. But we wanted electronic games, ropes courses and this place to appeal to high school golf bowling with bars and restaurants, as teams, The First Tee, groups like that. well as The Dust Bowl, a more adultWe’re trying to grow the game as well oriented bowling alley/bar, in addition as appeal to the night life crowd.” to a Dave & Busters Restaurant and All of the systems, games, food and Protracer technology will be in use at FlyingTee. Incredible Pizza. beverage options and more will get a What may set the FlyingTee apart, at stress test the first six months after opening project. You have three Oklahoma guys least from a golfer’s perspective, is the opin Jenks. Once any kinks are smoothed out, who have returned here, the majority of portunity not only for a great hangout to our equity partners are Oklahomans, the the company will look to announce future watch and talk sports, but a true practice Creek Nation, the contractor (Timberlake sites. environment with more sophisticated Construction). It’s truly an Oklahoma “The great thing is we’ll learn from the feedback than is commonly available exproject.” consumer what works and what doesn’t,” cept during paid lessons at several teaching To that end, Tawwater said that he John Vollbrecht said. “Everything about facilities in the area. And FlyingTee hopes expects FlyingTee to employ close to 300 this concept is very flexible. We can do a people in the equivalent of 150 or more full- to work with instructors from all the main 30-bay facility in a college town or 300 in teaching centers in northeast Oklahoma. a big market like Los Angeles. We just have time positions. Applications can be found

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 29

OKLAHOMA COURSE SPOTLIGHT

LDA championship , nine-hole addition at busy resort by ken macleod

he exciting times continue at WinStar Golf Course in Thackerville. When a resort has near 100-percent occupancy in the world’s largest casino, it provides the opportunity to do some things that most courses find beyond their means, and the folks at WinStar are taking full advantage. A new nine holes is under construction and scheduled to open in 2016, which will give the resort 36 holes, all designed by D.A. Weibring and Steve Wolfard of Dallas. This nine is on land east and north of the existing 27 with some interesting terrain, including more trees and elevation changes than on some of the existing holes. “The 17th hole will be a gorgeous par-3 that goes back to 227 yards,” said Michael Ferguson, who oversees the golf operations and the WinStar Golf Academy. “The 18th will be a 465-yard finishing hole. This nine will be a challenge from the back tees and help allow us to host an event of talented players, such as a Web.com Tour or similar.” While the course is being sprigged and sodded with anticipation of a summer opening in 2016, the big news this fall is the arrival of the longest ball mashers in the world. The World Long Drive Championships are taking place Oct. 14-21 at WinStar, in30 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

cluding live coverage on The Golf Channel ers are in the field. In all, four champions will be crowned from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20, -- open men and ladies, senior men’s (45and the finals on Wednesday, Oct. 21. plus), and super senior men’s (50-plus). WinStar is building a grid that stretches The match-play format for the open to 455 yards. division will run from the second round “We hosted one of the regionals earlier of qualifying (round of 64) through the and there was a guy that hit it 402 yards championship final. For the first time, Golf with no roll,” Ferguson said. “We’ve got to Channel will carry live coverage of the get it out to 455 yards just to accommodate these guys. It’s amazing how far they hit it.” final two nights in prime time. The resort is offering stay and play packages that include prime tickets to the LDA Championship, but viewing is also free to the public. Being on the Golf Channel will help expose WinStar and all it offers to a national audience. Those offerings include one of the most sophisticated and technology rich golf academies in the country. “We want to continue to prosper and grow and one of the first steps is to get our brand known to the world,” Ferguson said. “The Golf Channel now owns the LDA and this is a great opportunity for us to gain a tremendous amount of exposure.” Jeff Flagg, a 29-year-old former New York Mets minor league and Mississippi State first baseman, captured the 2014 World Long Drive Championship title over professional golfer Jeff Crittenden, 43. When both competitors hit drives that measured 365 yards, Flagg’s 13 extra inches proved to be the shortest winning margin in WLD Championship history. Both golfDefending champ Jeff Flagg will compete.

LE S S CA LO RI E S M OR E O F W H AT M A T T ER S 99 C A L OR I E C O R ON A L I G H T. THE L IG HT C E RV EZ A. Drink Responsibly. Corona Light速 Beer. Imported by Crown Imports, Chicago, IL. Corona Light has fewer calories compared to Corona Extra. Per 12 oz. serving of Corona Light: Calories: 99, ABV: 3.9%, Fat: 0 g, Carbohydrates: 5.0 g, Protein: 0.8 g. Per 12 oz. serving of Corona Extra: Calories: 149, ABV: 4.6%, Fat: 0 g, Carbohydrates: 14.0 g, Protein: 1.2 g

WHERE WE PLAY

Big changes at Buffalo Rock Course, restaurant, pro shop all light years better at former Cushing Country Club and restaurant a comfortable Western motif. tournaments. At the same time, he wants When maintained properly as it is curto tap into the large numbers of transient rently, Buffalo Rock has a good mix of workers who are in Cushing at any one klahoma has huge contingents challenging and easier holes but does reof outdoor shooting and archery time, folks who were not allowed to play enthusiasts and an equally dedi- when it was a private club and also had no quire golfers to control their ball flight and move the ball in either direction to have place to get a good steak. cated golf community. ideal access to the greens. Many of the Interest from archery and gun clubs in Merging the two successfully is the holes bend and some require forced carries. what Hough is doing has also been high. ambitious dream of David Hough at the “It’s got some excellent holes,” said MiMany of their members golf and all of Buffalo Rock Golf & Gun Club. chael Henderson, whose Henderson Golf them eat. Often they have had to have A recent visit showed just how far the Company has consulted on the renovation. their tournaments or events in fields far former Cushing Country Club has come “Perry Maxwell and Labron Harris both since Hough purchased the club and began from any services. did an excellent job. It’s not long, but has Hough also wants extensive renovations some real movement and will test you.” Buffalo Rock also to in 2014. The clubWarren Cunningham is the new head be a getaway destinahouse has been comprofessional, having served previously tion for golfers and pletely transformed sportsmen from Tulsa as an assistant at both Coffee Creek and and now boasts a full Kickingbird in Edmond. True to the and Oklahoma City. service steakhouse hunting and golf combined theme, CunHe will be adding perched overlookstay-and-play options ningham has all manner of camouflage ing the spruced-up merchandise available. The cart fleet, going forward, but golf course. With a provided by Justice Golf Cars of Oklahoma for now the attracfull bar, rustic pro City, boasts a camouflage design. tion will be to play shop, board room and The former club once had a thriving the renovated course, other amenities, it is Camoflage motif on Hough’s custom car. membership but it’s been years. Henderson with nine holes now the best place said the course will follow the trend he designed by Perry Maxwell and nine by in Cushing for the many oil executives started at Lakeside Golf Course in Stillwawho are frequently in town to gather, hold Labron Harris Sr., set in rolling country southeast of the town, about 56 miles from ter of offering free golf to juniors during meetings and relax. the summer months to help build activity. Tulsa and 70 from Oklahoma City. The greens, many of which were dead a One challenge is getting the word out to Sean Jensen, whose United Design year ago, have been regrassed and are doing everyone about the scope of the improveConstruction team did the renovation of well, though work continues. An archery ments made and the steakhouse. range is completed, with the sheet shooting the old, supposedly haunted clubhouse, was not a golfer when the range expected to be finished in 2017. For those who don’t know, approximate- project began. “Now I’m completely ly 85 million barrels of oil are stored in hooked,” he said. “I can’t Cushing at any one time. That number is believe I never played this growing as the huge tanks keep multiplyuntil I was in my 30s.” ing. Hough’s background is in the oil serJensen added some vices industry and, as a long-time member fantastic touches, such as of the club, he was saddened to see it fall huge sliding barn doors into a state of neglect and disrepair. that serve as a partition if Hough wanted members of the Oklaneeded in the restaurant. homa Independent Petroleum Association He added a playroom for (OIPA) and other oil-related associations children and gave the bar to have an ideal setting to meet and hold The new bar and restaurant at Buffalo Gun Club.

by ken macleod

32 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

Taking the long view New Bermuda greens brighten outlook at Henryetta CC by ken macleod

enryetta Golf Club enjoys a pastoral setting just outside the city limits. The par-5 fourth hole climbs to a perch that affords a peaceful, scenic view for miles around. Out of sight and sound, but not far away, Interstate 40 and Highway 62/75 intersect, meaning tens of thousands of folks are whizzing by on a daily basis. Getting some of those to stop by for a round would help ease the strain put on the club by a rainy spring and the financial burden of completely rebuilding its greens with the ultradwarf Champion Bermuda. Actually, the club only had to take out a small loan for the conversion of its nine greens, thanks to a community effort that included donations by businesses and individuals and not a few fundraising Friday Steak Nights in which folks gathered at the club for grilled steaks and baked potatoes done up right by club secretary Gayle Marchada. Labor costs were also held down by hundreds of volunteer hours logged by members who took turns drenching the new sprigs and nurturing them along. All told the price tag for the greens and equipment required to maintain them was close to $75,000. The new greens went in during the summer of 2014, as the club closed in early June and reopened in August. Now a year old, they have matured nicely. Relatively small with subtle breaks, the greens are firm and fast and take some time to learn. “Every break you knew before went right out the window,” said outgoing general

well as serving the needs of the membermanager Kyle Hefner while giving Golf ship. Oklahoma a tour of the course. “These can So next time you’re passing Henryetta, be tough. A lot of golfers who play here for pull off those busy highways and enjoy a the first time have an interesting time.” small-town classic. Considering the price, The club has picked up a few rounds the setting, the clubhouse, some very interthanks to the closings of courses further esting holes and those firm, fast new greens, north on Highway 75 in Glenpool and Okyou can’t go wrong. mulgee and it is making strides with locals as well. The course is semi-private, with annual memberships at less than $700 and daily fee rates as low as $13.50 on weekends and $11 daily. Golf Course Construction Once robust numbers of members and Golf Recent Course Construction Projects Golf Course Construction daily fee play had dipped considerably The Woods Golf Club Recent Projects Coweta • 5-hole new construction as the former bent grass greens struggled Cedar Ridge Country Club • Broken Arrow, OK • Cart Path Improvements The Blessings Golf Club Recent Projects every July and August, requiring massive Recent Projects The Patriot Golf Club • Owasso, OK • Cart Path Improvements Tee Fayetteville, • Driving Cedar Ridge Country Club •AR Broken Arrow, OK • Range Cart Path Improvements repairs that ruined much of the ideal fall Cedar Ridge Country Club • Broken Arrow, OK • and CartGabion Path Improvements Silverhorn Golf Club • Edmond, OK • Creek Crossing Repairs Wall Country Club The PatriotWichita Golf Club • Owasso, OK • Cart Path Improvements The Patriot Golf Club • Owasso, OK • Cart PathInstallation Improvements season as well. The decision to go with Cedar Creek Golf Course • Broken Bow, OK • 18 Hole Irrigation Wichita, KS • Grading/sodding Green Surrounds Silverhorn Golf Club • Edmond, OK • Creek Crossing Repairs and Gabion Wall ClubArrow, • Edmond, OKHole • Creek Crossing Repairs and Gabion Wall Golf Club Southern •Golf Broken OK Hills • 18 Bunker and Green Renovation Country Club Bermuda was easy, but the hard part was Forest RidgeSilverhorn Cedar Creek Golf Course • Broken Bow, OK • 18 Hole Irrigation Installation Creek Course • Broken Bow, OK • 18 Irrigation Installation Tulsa • Wet well/Intake Flume Installation BaileyCedar Ranch Golf Golf Club • Owasso, OK • Resurfacing of Hole 3 Greens raising the funds and the manpower. Forest Ridge Golf Club • Broken Arrow, OK • 18 Hole Bunker and Green Renovation Ridge Club • Broken Arrow, • 18 Hole Bunker and Green Renovation Cedar Club TheForest Golf Club at Golf Frisco Lakes •Ridge Frisco, TX OK • Country Cart Path Improvements Bailey Ranch Golf Club • Owasso, OK • Resurfacing of 3 Greens To the credit of everyone involved, Broken Arrow • Creek Bank Improvements 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 Fairway Renovation including superintendent Jimmy CunningThe Golf Club•at#17 Frisco Lakes • Frisco, TX • Cart Path Improvements Eastern Hills Country Club • Garland, TX • Cart Path Improvements Gaillardia Golf & Country Club Eastern Hills Country Club • Garland, TX • Cart Path Improvements ham, the greens are in and doing well. The Oklahoma City • Bunker Improvements fairways, tee boxes and intermediate rough Contact Us Firelake Golf Course JONESPLAN are in good shape as well. Shawnee • Cart Path Improvements Us 2328 E. 13th Contact Street Contact Us OK 74104 • IrrigationTulsa, Improvements The nine holes each have tees that are set JONESPLAN t 918.832.5544 JONESPLAN 2328 E.Club 13th Street Builder Member info@jonesplan.com The Patriot Golf 2328 13th Street Tulsa,E.OK 74104 at different distances and angles, allowing Tulsa, OK 74104 t 918.832.5544 Owasso • Cart Path Improvements t 918.832.5544 Builder Member info@jonesplan.com golfers to go around twice and essentially Builder Member info@jonesplan.com Tulsa Country Club Tulsa • Cart Paths be playing different holes. No. 8 is a 190Southern Hills Country Club yard par-3 the first time around and plays to Tulsa • Cart Path Improvements a more friendly 150 yards as hole 17. The Battle Creek Golf Club Broken Arrow • Cart Path Improvements driving angle on 9/18 changes completely. • Bunker Renovation You will find Henryetta native Troy AikHardscrabble Country Club man trying to drive that 18th green from Fort Smith, AR • Tee Improvements the shorter tees every summer during an Karsten Creek Golf Club Stillwater • Practice Green Construction annual tournament. Aikman has also been Contact Us a key donor to help with the greens and a 2328 E. 13th St. • Tulsa, OK 74104 Builder few years back with the clubhouse, which Member t 918.832.5544; 918.832.7721 fax is a large, airy building suitable for wedwww.jonesplan.com dings, class reunions and other events as www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 33

WHERE WE PLAY

A Labor of Love Vast improvements move Arrowhead into the elite Oklahoma’s largest lake with 600 miles of shoreline. The best lake views are on the back nine, though the terrain is interestFor Jim Ramsey, Arrowhead State Park ing throughout, boasting about every tree Golf Course is a labor of love. native to Oklahoma. Many of those in Put an emphasis on the labor. strategic areas Ramsey planted himself. For more than 20 years, Ramsey has The place teems with given his all to help the 1966 wildlife, including deer that Floyd Farley design become couldn’t be bothered by the one of the premier courses in sight of golfers, wild turkey Oklahoma. and about anything else These days, with double that goes on four legs or two and triple duty as not only wings in Oklahoma. the head professional, but As they are at all state also the manager of the entire park facilities, the prices are state park, that may mean friendly as well. Golfers can pulling weeds or planting play 18 holes in a cart for $32. trees at sunset after returning A second 18 only costs the from a full day of managing cart fee. events elsewhere in the park. “You can play 36 holes and But with new Champion have drinks and food for under ultradwarf Bermuda greens, $50,” Ramsey said. “That’s a new bunkers by Tripp Davis pretty good deal.” on the front nine, a new Ramsey grew up nearby in double row irrigation system a modest house with no runthat brought water to the ning water and he’s never been rough for the first time, plus afraid of work. He spent the soon a new clubhouse and a morning of our visit laying sod back-nine bunker renovation, Jim Ramsey does it all. on the golf course, then dealt Ramsey is seeing his dream with parking lot issues at the take shape. marina before returning to the course. “Right now, there’s no finer golf course, “It has been a labor of love,” he said. “We public or private, in the southeast part of have a really good course, a shot-maker’s Oklahoma,” Ramsey says with pride. “I course, and we’ve been trying to make it think we stack up pretty well with golf better for a long time. The new greens will courses throughout the state.” really help. We were starting to lose the What Arrowhead has to offer is a great battle with the bent grass.” mix of golf holes Farley laid out on rollRamsey is glad he and superintendent ing terrain nestled alongside Lake Eufaula, by ken macleod

34 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

Rocky Murdaugh won’t have to teach another summer helper how to properly syringe bent grass greens without overwatering and creating more problems than they are solving. The bunker renovation is a brilliant touch. Davis eliminated unnecessary bunkers while giving the course natural looking bunkers which fit its rugged character. “We were trying to minimize maintenance while providing a style that gave the course more interest visually and strategically,” Davis said. The new clubhouse is set to begin within 12 months. That plus completing the bunker work on the back nine will put Arrowhead on par with most public courses in the state and certainly above the pack when it comes to scenery. “The rough is kept short so you can find your ball and play it, although there are areas all over where you won’t find your ball if you hit it there,” Ramsey said, indicating the deep wood borders. “But the course is friendly to high handicappers. However, there are some holes that require good placement and if you want to really score, you’ve got to keep it in the short grass.” With no houses or roads visible from the course, it’s a peaceful environment. Ramsey likes to go out to the lake side on the back nine in the evening just to watch the moon rise over the lake. “It’s a beautiful place,” he said. “You come play here in the evening and you won’t believe the wildlife you’ll see. Sounds like a good plan for adventurous Oklahoma golfers.

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 35

COLLEGE PREVIEW

Sights set on top for area college teams by scott wright

The Oklahoma State men’s golf team was already gathering hardware before the calendar even turned to October. The Cowboys — competing without Jordan Niebrugge, who was in England participating with the U.S. team at the Walker Cup — won their first tournament of the year over Labor Day weekend at Pebble Beach. They followed that up with a secondplace finish at the Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational in Chicago, three shots behind Florida State. Regarded as a top-20 team, the Cowboys are looking to return to national prominence, and they’re off to a good start on the fall schedule. Here’s a look at the Cowboys and other men’s and women’s college teams as they embark on the 2015-16 season:

Men Oklahoma State Coach: Alan Bratton, third season Finish in 2014-15: Took fifth in the Big 12 Championship, third at their NCAA Regional and 19th at the NCAA Championship. Returning starters: Jordan Niebrugge, Zachary Olsen, Kristoffer Ventura, Brendon Jelley, Wyndham Clark, Sam Stevens. Key newcomer: Zach Bauchou. Outlook: A roster loaded with experience and talented freshmen, the Cowboys’ hopes are high this season. The Cowboys’ victory at Pebble Beach only heightened expectaBrendon Jelley tions.

Oklahoma Coach: Ryan Hybl, seventh season Finish in 2014-15: Won NCAA Regional in San Diego. Tied for 28th at NCAA Championship. Returning starters: Grant Hirschman, Max McGreevy, Rylee Reinertson, Luke Kwon. Key newcomers: Brad Dalke, Aaron Terrazas. Outlook: Must replace Michael Gellerman, who graduated as a third-team 36 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

All-American in the spring, but an experienced group of returners and a strong recruiting class have expectations high in Norman coming off one of the Sooners’ best seasons in recent years.

Tulsa Coach: Bill Brogden, 30th season Finish in 2014-15: Eighth at American Athletic Conference Championship. Returning starters: Matthew Marquez, Sebastian Smith, Francisco Yanez. Key newcomer: Marc Kepka. Outlook: The Golden Hurricane will turn to Kepka and redshirt freshman Sam Humphreys to fill a couple of holes on the roster, with hopes that the young playMarc Kepka ers will energize the lineup. The program will need to take a step forward to have a shot at qualifying for the NCAA Championship.

Oral Roberts Coach: Lance Watson, eighth season Finish in 2014-15: Second at the Summit League Championship. Returning starters: Trevor Torgerson, Dennis Andersen, Ollie Penn. Key newcomers: Cody Burrows, Will Starkey. Outlook: ORU has to replace its top three scorers from a year ago, but has a large senior class and some talented freshmen in Burrows and Starkey ready to step into the lineup as they try to compete for the Summit League title.

Central Oklahoma Coach: Pat Bates, fifth season Finish in 2014-15: Second in MIAA, won Central/Midwest Regional and finished 10th in the Division II National Tournament. Returning starters: Logan Gray, Eric Kline, Russ Purser, Eli Armstrong, Wesley Jackson. Key newcomers: None. Outlook: The Bronchos will be looking to contend every time they take the course this season, including the MIAA championship and NCAA D-II Regional. Kline and Purser were honorable mention

All-Americans last year, with Kline winning individual titles at the MIAA Conference and NCAA Regional.

Northeastern State Coach: Scott Varner, 18th season Finish in 2014-15: Third in MIAA, 18th at the NCAA Division-II Central/Midwest Regional. Returning starters: Brent Williamson, Marc Johnson, Tate Williamson, Tyler Green. Key newcomers: Garrett McDaniel, Casey Paul, Zach Pitcher. Outlook: Having qualified for NCAA D-II postseason play in 15 of the last 16 years, the RiverHawks have their sights set on an improved finish this season. With a strong class of newcomers joining an established lineup, NSU will be a contender for the MIAA title.

Oklahoma City Coach: Kyle Blaser, 20th season Finish in 2014-15: Sooner Athletic Conference champions; eighth at the NAIA Championship. Returning starters: Matthew Cheung, Anthony Marchesani, Garrison Mendoza, Scott Verplank, Jamie Warman. Key newcomers: Ruper Kaminski, Zach Oliver. Outlook: Already considered Garrison Mendoza one of the top NAIA teams, OCU brought in a stout class of newcomers to provide the depth to make the Stars a contender for the SAC and NAIA championships.

Oklahoma Christian Coach: David Lynn, sixth season Finish in 2014-15: NCCAA runner-up, following a sixth-place finish in the Heartland Conference Championship. Returning starters: Sam Johnston, Zac Schaefer, Kevin Workman, Chase Esparza. Key newcomers: Manuel Hernandez, Casey Rebmann, Ryan Trousdale, Alajandro Valenzuela. Outlook: Though OC hasn’t been eligible for postseason play in NCAA Division II prior to this year, Johnson

is already a two-time All-American in D-II, and leads the Eagles into full NCAA membership with high hopes. With a large class of newcomers pushing a stout lineup, OC isn’t expecting any growing pains at the D-II level.

Oklahoma Baptist Coach: Bobby Canty, first season Finish in 2014-15: Fourth in the Sooner Athletic Conference. Zachary Oliver qualified for the NAIA Championship as an individual. Returning starters: Drew Posada, Alexander Hall. Key newcomer: Hudson Hoover. Outlook: Under their third coach in less than a year, Posada and Hall will need to provide stability at the top of the lineup. The Bison have the talent to be among the contenders in the Great American Conference.

Southern Nazarene Coach: Derrick Taylor, fourth season Finish in 2014-15: Ninth at NCAA D-II Central/Midwest Regional. Mike Hearne placed fourth at the NCAA D-II Champi-

onship as an individual. Returning starters: Cristian Valderrama, Dylan Igo Key newcomers: Ryan Roberts, Jacob Prentice. Outlook: The Crimson Storm has a lot of experience and talent to replace, but their ceiling is high, with a strong incoming class that includes Prentice, Oklahoma’s Class 6A individual state champion at Edmond Memorial last year.

Cameron Coach: Jerry Hrnciar, 41st season Finish in 2014-15: Won the Lone Star Conference Championship for the 10th time. Seventh at the NCAA D-II South Central/West Regional. Returning starters: Zander Winston, Justin Jang, Cullen Stahl. Key newcomers: Devin Whipple, Daniel Nielsen. Outlook: Though the Aggies have some new faces in the lineup, they still expect to contend for the Lone Star Conference title, and should have a shot at another NCAA regional berth.

Rogers State Coach: Josh Fosdick, second season Finish in 2014-15: RSU wasn’t eligible for the Heartland Conference Championship as a team, but won two tournaments and finished in the top 10 in every event they entered. Returning starter: Alex Marsh. Key newcomers: Patrick Bart, Owen Bates, Evan Norlie. Outlook: Three true freshmen and one redshirt freshman will jump right into the starting lineup to fill holes this season, so the new starters will need to develop some consistency quickly.

Women Oklahoma State Coach: Courtney Jones, third season Finish in 2014-15: Fifth at the Big 12 Championship and 11th at the NCAA South Bend Regional. Returning starters: Kenzie Neisen, Linnea Johansson, Maddie McCrary, Alexis Sadeghy. Key newcomer: Chih-Men Chen. Outlook: Neisen won the Big 12 individual title last year, and Chen has provided

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 37

COLLEGE ROUNDUP an instant boost, shooting 65 in one of her first rounds as a Cowgirl, the third-lowest score in school history. Golfweek ranked OSU No. 9 in the preseason and the young team is looking to compete for championships every time it takes the course.

Oklahoma Coach: Veronique Drouin-Luttrell, seventh season Finish in 2014-15: Seventh at the Big 12 Championship and tied for 10th at the NCAA San Antonio Regional. Returning starters: Hannah Wood, Valerie Tanguay, Rylee Pedigo, Maggie Neece. Key newcomer: Julienne Soo. Outlook: With only one junior and no seniors in the expected lineup, the Sooners are young, but experienced. Soo could provide a boost in her freshman season. OU will need consistent play throughout the lineup to improve on last year’s finish.

Tulsa Coach: Emilee Klein-Gille, second season Finish in 2014-15: Ninth at the American Athletic Conference Championship. Returning starters: Nadia Majidizadeh, Alex Haun, Antonio Von Wnuck. Key newcomers: Mackenzie Medders, Brydie Hodge, Johanna Samuelsson. Outlook: Tulsa could be in line for some growing pains, with three freshmen jumping straight into the starting lineup. Majidizadeh provides strong leadership at the top of the lineup.

Oral Roberts Coach: Lance Watson, 13th season Finish in 2014-15: Second in the Summit League Championship. Returning starters: Alejandra Acosta, Kennedy Ishee, Paola Aviles, Paty Torres, Shinwoo Lee. Key newcomers: None. Outlook: All five starters return from a team that won two tournaments and finished in the top five at seven other events. Acosta’s 74.7 stroke average earned her Summit League Golfer of the Year honors, and she’ll lead the team’s pursuit of a conference title.

Central Oklahoma Coach: Michael Bond, eighth season Finish in 2014-15: Won the MIAA title for the third straight year, finished third in the NCAA D-II Central Regional and seventh at the national tournament. 38 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

Returning starters: Marla Souvannasing, Daniela Martinez. Key newcomers: Maken Mucciaccio, J.T. Neuzil, Camilla Schou, Grace Shin. Outlook: UCO needs to develop depth to be able to replicate last year’s success, but Souvannasing, the reigning MIAA Player of the Marla Year and a secondSouvannasing team All-American, is one of the top D-II players in the country.

Northeastern State Coach: Scott Varner, 18th season Finish in 2014-15: Third in the MIAA and fourth at the NCAA D-II Central Regional. Returning starters: Charter Lawson, Kayla Schroeder, Baylee Price, Alexis Armon. Key newcomers: Halie Wright, Kelsey Limpkin, Ebba Moberg. Outlook: NSU returns its top four players from a team that narrowly missed an NCAA D-II Championship berth. Price, a junior, has advanced to the NCAA D-II Championship as an individual each of her first two years.

NCAA Division II, the Eagles won three of their six tournaments last spring and added two of the state’s top high school prospects. Meisch was among Division II’s leaders in stroke average last year with two career victories.

Oklahoma Baptist Coach: Mike Manlapig, sixth season Finish in 2014-15: Fourth in the Sooner Athletic Conference. Returning starters: Emma Williams, Madison Herron, Ashton Gores. Key newcomer: Shannen Stewart. Outlook: Moving to the Great American Conference will provide a big test for the Bison, who are hoping Stewart provides a spark to the lineup. With consistent play from the returning starters, OBU could be in the top half of the GAC by the end of the year.

Southern Nazarene Coach: Derrick Taylor, fourth season Finish in 2014-15: Fifth at Great American Conference Championship. Returning starters: Mario Broedys, Cassidy Herbster, Emilee White, Ashley Moore. Key newcomers: Jordan Patterson, Rachel Donaldson. Outlook: With the newcomers infused in the lineup, the Crimson Storm should be able to match or improve on last year’s finish.

Oklahoma City

Cameron

Coach: Marty McCauley, sixth season Finish in 2014-15: Won fourth consecutive Sooner Athletic Conference title, finished sixth in NAIA Championship. Returning starters: Emma Allen, Kailey Campbell, Caroline Goodin, Anna Mikish, Katie-Lee Wilson. Key newcomers: None. Outlook: All five returners were firstteam, second-team or honorable mention All-Americans last year. The Stars have high expectations this season, which include contending for the SAC and NAIA national titles.

Coach: Christi Williams, first season Finish in 2014-15: Sixth in the Lone Star Conference Championship. Returning starters: Erin Hess, Lexi Thompson, Katie Johnston. Key newcomer: Kennedy Wheeler. Outlook: With a new coach for the first time in a decade, Cameron must replace the top golfer in program history, Jaqueline Strickland. The Aggies will need their returning starters to take the next step in the progression of their careers.

Oklahoma Christian Coach: Greg Lynn, fifth season Finish in 2014-15: Third at the NCCAA national tournament. Returning starters: Audrey Meisch, India Matthews, Allison Sell, Dana Todd. Key newcomers: Elizabeth Freeman, Kate Goodwin. Outlook: Now a full-fledged member of

Rogers State Coach: Josh Fosdick, second season Finish in 2014-15: Not eligible for postseason, but won one regular-season tournament. Returning starters: Kina Boone, Chelsea Burney, Mica Eastin, Raquel Trevino. Key newcomer: Stirling Phillips. Outlook: With four of last year’s top five returning, the Hillcats have high hopes to improve.

ROAD TRIP No. 18

M�e golf �an you can shake a 9-iron at. When it comes to championship public golf, there’s no better destination than Alabama, where we’re proud to claim three of America’s 50 Toughest Courses as selected by Golf Digest. For starters, there are the 468 holes along the world-renowned Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Stretching from the mountains in the north to the Gulf Coast in the south, these 26 courses will test your golfing skills as well as your intestinal fortitude. Then there are the many other impressive courses scattered across the state, designed by the likes of Arnold Palmer and Jerry Pate. Each with its own set of challenges, each with its own set of rewards. And each along an epic road trip to the state of Alabama.

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www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 39

DESTINATIONS

Charming lake lodge Old Kinderhook ups ante with new digs by ken macleod

If you’re looking for spectacular fall scenery combined with great golf on courses designed by master architects, Lake of the Ozarks is well worth considering. Two significant improvements have only added to the overall quality of this Ozark wonderland where signature courses by Tom Weiskopf, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold

40 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

Palmer and Robert Trent Jones Sr., await, along with a bevy of others. The area is 270 miles from Tulsa and 370 from Oklahoma City. A morning drive from either gets you there. All of the courses in this area share some similar characteristics. Tree-lined rolling fairways, plenty of elevation change, scenic views of the lake and the Ozarks. The differences, reflected in the fees, are mostly

in the level of maintenance afforded, but even some of the less expensive courses are tremendous bargains. And hammers and saws have been busy in this area as well. We’ve outlined in the past that Old Kinderhook, the Weiskopf creation that occupies a valley on the opposite side of the lake from most of the other courses in the area, is one of the most enjoyable courses in Missouri. Now it has a lodging option to match. The Lodge at Old Kinderhook, featuring 84 rooms, indoor and outdoor pool, workout facilities, 11,000 square feet of meeting space, a coffee and cocktail bar, a pleasant lounge with huge fireplace and more, opened early in 2015 and has been a huge hit. A huge hit has been the four sand volleyball courts, which in the fall are converted to a large ice skating rink. “That has been a big hit,” said General Manager Jeff Carroll, who gave Golf Oklahoma a tour of the new facility on a recent visit. “The entire lodge has been received really well. We’ve been packed on weekends and the feedback has been great. Fall is a fantastic time of year to come out and play if you haven’t seen it yet.”

The par-5 16th hole at Porto Cima juts out into the Lake of the Ozarks. The club has a full-service spa and a great bar and restaurant. With 40 existing private condos that can also be rented and access to the lake through docks and marinas, Old Kinderhook can be a vacation unto itself. Then, however, you would miss out on the rest of the lake delights, including old favorites such as The Cove at Four Seasons (Jones Sr.), Osage National (27 holes by Palmer), The Oaks and Hidden Lakes at Tan-Tar-A Resort, Rolling Hills Country Club and Sycamore Creek Golf Club, among others. This particular trip, however, included our first look at Porto Cima, the renowned Jack Nicklaus design that is a private club but is selling national and corporate mem-

berships and is also open on a limited basis to guests at The Lodge of Four Seasons. Unfortunately, we played on a cart-path only day right after a tremendous downpour. Many of the paths are elevated well above the fairways, so we lost a bit of the rhythm of the course hiking laterally, but it is stunning. The closing holes, with the par-5 16th falling down to the lake, the narrow par-3 17th jutting into an inlet and the tight par-4 18th with a slippery two-level green, are all excellent. But it is the long, bending, rising and falling series of par-4s, all closely treelined though the landing areas are generous, which gives this course its real character. The aforementioned Lodge of Four

Seasons, which is also home to The Coves by Robert Trent Jones Sr., and The Ridge by Ken Kavanaugh, is finishing work on a major renovation as well. Renovations include remodeling of the 358 guest rooms, all public areas including entry, lobby, restaurants, meeting rooms, hallways and exterior enhancements to the swimming pool, roadways, and heat and cooling systems. Tom Baker, chief executive officer of Access Hotels & Resorts, said the multimillion dollar renovation which began in March is more than 75 percent complete. For more information on all the Lake of the Ozark courses, go to www.golfingmissouri.com.

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 41

DESTINATIONS

Destination Destin by derek duncan

Great golf joins beaches, food as reasons for visit It’s no secret why Destin has become one of the Gulf Coast’s most favored vacation and recreation destinations. Snuggled between the stunning emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the expansive Choctawhatchee Bay to the north, Destin is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Nicknamed the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village,” Destin attracts families from throughout the Southeast to boat and fish,

Indian Bayou Golf Club to enjoy the region’s delectable seafood, and to relax on some of the brightest sugar sand beaches in the country. They also come for golf – lots and lots of golf. The region boasts numerous courses, but four in particular showcase the true character and scenery of this section of Northwest Florida: Indian Bayou, Kelly Plantation, Regatta Bay and Emerald Bay. These neighboring courses, each central to Destin’s resorts, hotels and entertainment establishments, play along the south shore 42 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

of Choctawhatchee Bay and explore in different ways the area’s rich environment of forest, water and wetlands. Let us explore it, too.

INDIAN BAYOU GOLF CLUB The southern shore of Choctawhatchee Bay was once a vast lowland area of dense flat pine forests cut by small inlets and swaths of murky wetlands. While populated now with residential developments, homes with bayside docks and golf courses, the shadowy interior landscape that once was can still be discerned at places like the 27-hole Indian Bayou Golf Club. Because it’s one of the oldest courses in the area — the original 18 holes opened in 1978, designed by Alabama-based architect Earl Stone — Indian Bayou is like a Polaroid from the past. The Seminole nine is spacious and balanced with a classic Florida parkland feel. Things tighten up on the Choctaw nine as the holes begin to slink through narrowing old growth corridors and sidle up next to ponds. Stone returned in 1991 to build the third nine, Creek, out in a marshy reserve near Destin’s executive airport. Creek’s middle holes stretch out into what feels like primordial jungle, leaping over the wetlands to islands of fairway and playing into small, irregularly shaped greens. With such degrees of variety, interest and challenge, Indian Bayou is both nostalgic and exhilarating.

KELLY PLANTATION GOLF CLUB The pine forests lining the bay’s southern edge were not purely wilderness — the section that Kelly Plantation occupies was formerly harvested for turpentine and resin (the “Kelly” name is taken from the family that owned the plantation). Today the land has been transformed into an upscale master planned community and one of the most acclaimed golf courses in the region.

Shalimar Point, hole 13 Opened in 1998, this Gene Bates/Fred Couples collaboration is a lush spectacle of strongly individual golf holes that blend smoothly into the wooded surrounds. The routing roams freely across the 900-acre property, alternating between private sections of environmentally protected forest and comparatively open spaces near the heart of the development where the bunkering is more assertive. Both nines offer robust finishing holes that converge on opposite sides of a lake, their greens protruding into the water inviting players to take on added risk. It’s the opening quartet of holes, however, that really capture the spirit of Kelly Plantation, beginning with three holes playing through the isolated forest before breaking open along the bank of Choctawhatchee Bay at the memorable par-4 fourth.

REGATTA BAY GOLF & YACHT CLUB For those that like to live dangerously, there’s Regatta Bay. From afar, Regatta Bay looks very much like its neighbors, set in an attractive residential development with holes framed by pines and magnolia and photogenic water features. Once out on the course however, the mood changes. Golf here is like a journey into the heart of darkness, where the scenic woods, water, marsh and bunkering glimpsed at Indian Bayou and Kelly Plantation have suddenly turned ominous and crept perceptibly closer. Regatta Bay’s holes are cut relatively tight and relentlessly bordered by hazards (including water, wetlands or both on 14 holes). There’s rarely the sense you’re on sure footing or solid land. Forced carries are common, including marsh hopscotching and all-carry shots at the lovely bulk-headed 8th and 18th greens where coming up short is not an option. Florida-based architect Robert Walker de-

Emerald Bayou, hole 16 signed the course (it also opened in 1998), and he must have been licking his chops because it seems nothing was left on the drafting table. From his evocative flashed bunkering to the perpetual adventures of simply getting from tee to green, Regatta Bay is an exercise in pure excitement. Just remember to bring a few extra golf balls.

EMERALD BAY GOLF CLUB There’s much to be said for good pacing. Like a suspenseful movie or irresistible crime novel that builds toward a satisfying conclusion, Emerald Bay withholds its most exciting parts until the end.

Architect Bob Cupp, who designed the course in 1991 (and completed a greens, bunker and tee renovation in 2014), used the more constricted sections of the property first, including the principal housing loop and series of canals near Highway 98 at the development’s entrance. These holes, working in tight quarters, slowly ratchet the tension and lay clues to what’s ahead. The foreshadowing begins pay off at the par-4 11th, a fascinating hole that requires a drive down the right because the green is hooked to the left behind trees and three bunkers. From this point we’re off on a race to the shore, a free-for-all chase across obstacles

like the par-4 14th that plays at a 90-degree angle across a marshy inlet. Finally, when we’ve made it to the open air of the bay at the 16th green and 17th tee, we think we can relax, but Emerald Bay has one more plot twist: the daunting par-5 18th with villainous water running hard down the final third of the hole. Like all great entertainment, Emerald Bay leaves you at once satisfied and wanting more. The same is true throughout Destin and at each of these unique golf courses. So much so, that you’ll soon be planning a return trip to see what other mysteries and surprises the golf there has in store.

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OKLAHOMA GOLF HALL OF FAME 2015 INDUCTEE

Rough rider Holder is his own harshest critic, many players appreciated the tough-love approach by john rohde Left to right, the 2000 NCAA Championship team, front row Landry Mahan, Anders Hultman, Charles Howell, J.C. DeLeon, Mike Holder. Back Row: assistant coach Mike McGraw, Edward Loar

Young Mike Holder wanted to play on the PGA Tour, not coach at OSU.

ince his arrival at Oklahoma State University nearly 50 years ago, Mike Holder has had some pretty harsh critics spanning his time there as a student, a coach and now as the school’s athletic director. No critic has been quite as severe as, well, Mike Holder. “I’ve always been a harsh critic of myself 44 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

first-team All-Americans; 25 conference and I haven’t changed much through the championships; 22 conference medalists; years,” Holder said. “I’m always smarter when I look in the rearview mirror. I think and five NCAA medalists. The Cowboys won 39.7 percent of the my overall philosophy made things a little tournaments they entered (178 of 448) and bit more difficult than they needed to be. had 99 runner-up finishes, which means “During the course of a season, the dethey finished no mands I made on worse than second my players, some His achievements as the 61.8 percent of the of the workouts OSU men’s coach shine even time under Holder. we had, some of brighter as time passes. In 32 And yet, Holder the punishment wanted more. I dealt out, was seasons (1973-2005), Holder “I always look a little bit on the collected eight NCAA chamback and lament the extreme side. If I pionships; 10 runner-up championships we could change, I’d NCAA finishes; 19 top-three should have won probably do that and didn’t rather all over again.” NCAA finishes; 26 top-five than the ones we Despite his NCAA finishes; 38 first-team did win,” Holder self-evaluation, All-Americans; 25 confersaid. “Those are Holder’s selection ence championships; 22 most vivid memointo the inaugural ries. Winning is class of the Oklaconference medalists; and wonderful and I homa Golf Hall of five NCAA medalists. cherish that, but the Fame was a tap-in things that haunt decision. you are the things you felt you should have His achievements as the OSU men’s won. What did you do wrong? Why didn’t coach shine even brighter as time passes. In 32 seasons (1973-2005), Holder collected you win?” Bob Tway, who was the 1979 Big Eight eight NCAA championships; 10 runnermedalist and a first-team All-American up NCAA finishes; 19 top-three NCAA three times, was stunned at Holder’s revfinishes; 26 top-five NCAA finishes; 38

Holder with Bob Tway, one of his stanchest allies. elation of being too strict. “He really said that?” Tway asked, his voice rising an octave. “He wasn’t too tough on us. He just expects you to show up, work hard and go to class. As long as you did those things, you never had a problem with him. But if you were slacking off, he let you know about it right away.” Scott Verplank, who was the 1984 Big Eight medalist, 1986 NCAA medalist and another who was selected three times as a first-team All-American, laughed off Holder’s admission. “He’s mellowed a lot,” said Verplank, who won the 1984 U.S. Amateur at Oak Tree Golf Club (now Oak Tree National). “I think as we get older, we gain perspective. Then again, if everybody still did the stuff coach Holder did, we wouldn’t have as many (disciplinary) problems as we have today. I’ve got no problem with going Old School. Nobody’s perfect, but if you look at his record, he didn’t make a whole bunch of mistakes.” OSU’s proud tradition in wrestling has resulted in 34 NCAA team titles and 138 NCAA individual champions, which explains

Scott Verplank, left, and Holder puzzle out the next shot. why Holder became enthralled with the discipline and individual commitment associated with the sport. Holder occasionally inserted wrestling into his practices to incorporate mental toughness. During his sophomore season in 1968, a 20-year-old Holder grappled with OSU coach Labron Harris Sr., near the water fountain in the old clubhouse at Lakeside Memorial Golf Course, the Cowboys’ first home. “I kind of grabbed hold of coach Harris,” Holder said. “Next thing you know, we were in a wrestling match. He had me pinned

CL ASSEN CURVE: 5860 N. CL ASSEN CURVE | EDMOND: 1205 N.W. 178TH S T. TUL S A: 9110 S. YALE AVE.

WWW.EHSRG.COM/UPPER-CRUS T www.golfoklahoma.org ••••••

OKLAHOMA GOLF HALL OF FAME 2015 INDUCTEE under the water cooler. The match didn’t last very long.” Several examples of Holder’s disciplinary tactics have gone public. “We could tell stories for days about incidents that happened with different guys,” Tway said. “They’re hilarious stories now, but at the time they weren’t so hilarious.” An unscheduled wrestling match between Holder and Tway at the 1978 Wheatshocker Classic in Wichita has reached legendary status. Tway was giving Holder a hard time about the quality of golf balls Holder had brought so his team could warm up at a course that had no driving range. “It kind of started irritating me,” Holder said. “I just said, ‘Hey, that’s not the way you should be acting.’ And we got to wrestling.” Ten minutes later, a shaken Tway teed off and double-bogeyed the first hole, but still wound up finishing second. “We got into some tussles about different things, but he never asked us to do anything that he wasn’t willing to do,” said Tway, who in 1986 won the PGA Championship and was voted PGA Tour Player of the Year. “It was the era we were in back then. I don’t think the kids today would be real receptive to that, but I didn’t really have a problem with it.” Three-time collegiate winner Andy Dillard (1980-84) and Holder also had their moments. “We rumbled one time on the 10th tee at the (Stillwater) Country Club,” Dillard said. “We had, um, ‘a disagreement.’ He kicked my ass, and it could have been worse. He’s mentally tough and the strongest-willed person that I’ve ever been around, and I mean that in a good way. Stillwater’s a small place when you’ve got Mike Holder on your ass. I don’t know why he didn’t get his hands on me more than he did and beat the hell out of me for four years. I owe him a lot of apologies.” Perhaps no one under Holder’s reign as coach endured more “corrective measures” than Dillard, but it’s difficult to find anyone who endorses Holder more strongly today. “Looking back, I thought he was too much of a hard-ass and I didn’t understand him doing the things he did,” Dillard said. “Now that I’m 54, not only do I understand it. I appreciate it. Believe it or not, he and I were always on great terms. We had our moments, but the next day, things were good. I’ve run into him a couple of 46 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

times at the Cowboy Pro-Am and, shoot, I could sit down and listen to that man talk all day. The older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve been humbled that he asked me to play there and I appreciate everything he did for me.” A man who never worried much about being liked, Holder is genuinely grateful for his selection into Oklahoma’s Golf Hall of Fame. “He never thinks about stuff like going into a Hall of Fame,” Dillard said. “Every morning he wakes up, sticks his nose in the dirt and works his tail off. 1976 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM – Coach Mike Then he goes home, eats Holder’s first NCAA team championship came in 1976 at some chicken and goes the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Kneeling to bed.” is Holder whiile the team consisted of (left to right): Lindy Holder is responsible Miller, Ft. Worth, Texas, Tom Jones, Tulsa; Britt Harrison, for creating Karsten Beaumont, Texas; Jaime Gonzalez, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Creek Golf Club, the and David Edwards, Edmond, Oklahoma. school’s state-of-theanybody. You couldn’t read the number on art facility that opened in 1994 and was selected by Links Magazine as the nation’s the bottom of his 5-, 6- and 7-irons. He hit the ball really well, but he couldn’t putt. top college course. He didn’t have a short game.” “He was ahead of his time,” Tway said Having known Holder as long as anyone of Holder. “For coach to do what he did in Stillwater, Jones has seen him evolve as in Stillwater, Oklahoma, playing on a a person and a coach, and has always been municipal course (prior to Karsten Creek). amazed at his ability to go from demandBack then, we didn’t have the facility, we ing coach to charming fundraiser. didn’t have the weather and we pretty “He can turn the charm on any time much dominated. It was amazing, actually. he wants to,” Jones said. “Mike can flip a He was on the forefront of everything. switch. It’s really impressive.” We were always in the best tournaments; While discussing his coaching philosowe’d eat the best food; he was the first phy, Holder unwittingly explained why one to get a private (team) plane. He he’s worthy of being in the inaugural class tried to do everything as first-class as he when he said: “You get what you earn. possibly could. Of course, Karsten Creek There’s nothing greater than to have the changed the whole dynamic.” respect that’s been earned and never given. Tom Jones was a freshman on Holder’s I never put myself above other players. first team in 1973-74, was the first OSU “I prided myself that if they had to be All-American under Holder, the 1975 on time that I was on time. They couldn’t Big Eight medalist, won six tournaments smoke, I didn’t smoke. They didn’t drink, at OSU and later served as head pro at Karsten Creek. He also roomed with Hold- I didn’t drink. No profanity, I couldn’t use er at the 1977 PGA Tour Qualifying School profanity. If you’re going to be at the golf in Pinehurst, N.C., which was Holder’s last course early, then I should be there with you. For the most part, I think that’s the attempt at becoming a tour player. way it was.” “That was kind of his last hurrah about John Rohde is cohost on 107.7 The Franchise. playing, then he got serious about coachSteely, Lump and Rohde; 5:30-9 a.m. Monday ing,” Jones said. “He wore his clubs out through Friday. practicing golf. He hit more balls than

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OKLAHOMA GOLF HALL OF FAME 2015 INDUCTEE

A Sooner legend Coe receives the U.S. Amateur trophy from USGA President Fielding Wallace following his 1949 victory. He won the title again in 1958.

Lanky Oklahoma City businessman crafted one of top amateur careers in history of the game by ken mac leod

Early in his career, Charlie Coe made the sound decision that a varied business career was a more reliable and lucrative pursuit than the PGA Tour, which in the late 1940s was paying about $2,500 to the winner of an event, far less to the rest. Thus, one of the most decorated amateur careers in history took place. How the convivial but ultra-competitive Coe would have fared as a full-time professional is anyone’s guess. Not as well, according to golf legends Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. “Charlie was hysterical,” Nicklaus said alongside Player at a press conference. “1961 Masters. He finished second. He went out to the practice tee and his breakfast was one or two cokes, three cigarettes and go play. He hit three 7-irons and said, ‘that’s enough,’ and walked to the first tee.’ “And he had a putt on the last hole to tie me,” Player said. “I think around 30 48 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

Coe nearly as well in their first high-profile encounter, but it was one of the most important days of Nicklaus’ career. Coe had been a fixture on the national amateur scene for more than a decade and was a two-time U.S. Amateur champion (1949 and 1958) before meeting the feet and it just missed. He was a hell of a strapping 19-year-old Nicklaus in the player.” championship match of the U.S. Amateur “I said to Charlie a thousand times, at The Broadmoor in 1959. why in the world would you want a “We were all even Coca-Cola, caffeine, coming to the last stimulus?” Nicklaus hole and we both said. “He said that’s hit 3-woods off the just the way he altee,” Nicklaus reways did it.” called. “Charlie hit Nicklaus was an 8-iron, and it just speaking from the excrept over the back perience many years side of the green. of competing against So I played a 9-iron, Coe at The Masters, hit it in there 8 feet where Coe was a fixshort of the hole. ture, recording nearly Charlie chipped the every amateur record, ball about like that including most cuts (holding his fingers made, top-24 finishes a half-inch apart), (nine) and most times right down the hill. low amateur (six) in “So here I am 19 appearances. a 19-year-old kid Although they had and I had this played on a Walker Charlie Coe gracing the cover of Sports 8-foot putt to win Cup team together, the tournament, Nicklaus didn’t know Illustrated, circa 1959.

AUGUSTA, GA - MAY 1952: Bobby Jones, third from left, talks with low amateur Charles Coe during the 1952 Masters Tournament Presentation Ceremony at Augusta National Golf Club in April 1952 in Augusta, Georgia. Charlie Coe with a young Tiger Woods. which I knocked in the hole. That was probably the most important putt I ever made because all of a sudden I knew and I believed that I could make a putt to win something significant. It put it in my head that I could make a putt when I needed to make it.” So in addition to all of his own accomplishments, Coe can take credit for having helped kick-start arguably the greatest golf career of all. Charles Robert Coe was born in 1923.

His father, Ross Wallace Coe, was already in the oil business in Ardmore, and that is still the family business today, though Charlie also worked in insurance and was a licensed broker for Stephens Inc., out of Little Rock for most of his professional life. Coe was an accomplished player by high school. After serving as a pilot during World War II, he was a three-time champion of the Big Seven Conference at the University of Oklahoma, already

demonstrating a remarkable ability to hit pure long iron shots that gave him a huge advantage over his competitors. He made the decision quickly not to pursue a professional career, but to instead to put his focus on several prestigious amateur events, including the U.S. Amateur, the Trans-Miss (won in 1947, 1949, 1952 and 1956) and the Walker Cup. He played on six teams, including serving as captain in 1959 and non-playing captain in 1957.

www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 49

OKLAHOMA GOLF HALL OF FAME 2015 INDUCTEE He only tried his hand at the U.S. Open a few times, finishing as high as 13th in

Charlie Coe, left, was runnerup to Jack Nicklaus in the 1959 U.S. Amateur Championship at The Broadmoor. 1958 at Southern Hills. He did not play in the British Open or PGA Champion-

50 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

ship, nor did he seek exemptions to other professional events. “Dad was in some ways an introvert and was perfectly happy staying at home,” said son Rick Coe, who witnessed all manner of golf royalty dropping in their Oklahoma City home during his early years. “He liked the competition, but what he really liked about his schedule was the opportunities to meet people from around the world, people who became his lifelong friends. Coe was a member of Augusta National and played with President Dwight Eisenhower on more than one occasion. He rubbed shoulders with Michael Bonallack, secretary of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, though he was more comfortable in cutthroat games at Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club with the likes of Bo Wininger, Sig Hartman, Jack Malloy and Dee Replogle. “It was pretty hard core,” Rick Coe said. “The day dad shot 59, Bo came off the course and said, ‘Well, I shot 65, only got beat by six.” Although he earned special distinction

for his long-iron play, Coe had a wellrounded game. “For a long part of his career, he was a really solid ball striker,” Rick Coe said. “If he would hit it 10 feet, he wouldn’t like it. He was a really good chipper and had the confidence putting that he could roll it by 3 or 4 feet and not worry about making it coming back.

Charlie Coe and his wife Elizabeth, circa 1957.

Charlie Coe, fourth from left, joined Jack Nicklaus, USGA president John Winters, fellow Oklahoma Golf Hall of Famer Bob Dickson and, far right, Gary Player for a special exhibition at Southern Hills Country Club on May 18, 1966. “From what I know, at The Masters he would take on all comers in practice round chisel matches and never lost. He had that great long-iron game but also a phenomenal short game.” To escape the Oklahoma heat, Coe began spending his summers at Castle Pines, Colorado., where he became fast friends with owner Jack Vickers. Twenty-six years ago, Vickers began the major two-man amateur event, The Charlie Coe Invitational. “Every player in the field would come by to talk to him,” Rick Coe said. “He would ride around and watch some or just visit with everyone in the clubhouse.” A series of small strokes began to rob Coe of his ability to compete at a high level in the 1980s and he died on May 16, 2001, at the age of 77. In addition to the tournament, the Charlie Coe Learning Center at the Jimmie Austin University of Oklahoma Golf Course bears his name, and Nicklaus has prominent pictures of him at the Ohio State team facility at the Scarlet and Gray Courses at Ohio State.

Charlie Coe was captain of the U.S. Team in the Americas Cup which defeated teams from Canada and Mexico in 1952. www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 51

MAHOGANY’S PRO PROFILE

Talor Gooch Talor Gooch of Midwest City is one of the many young Oklahoma pros trying to scratch and claw their way onto the PGA Tour. He spent the summer of 2015 in Canada on the MacKenzie Tour, which the PGA Tour has taken over and uses as one of its feeder tours for the Web.com Tour. Gooch started as a freshman at Oklahoma State on a team with Kevin Tway, Peter Uihlein, and Morgan Hoffmann. That team won eight events, but was upset in NCAA match play by Patrick Reed and Augusta State at Karsten Creek. He was a mainstay for the Cowboys over the next four years, and his senior team made it to the NCAA championship finals of match play before bowing to Alabama at Prairie Dunes CC in Hutchinson, Kansas. After recovering from a bad back early, Gooch had a strong summer in Canada, finishing with three top-10 finishes and four top-25s. He made seven cuts in 12 events and finished second in one event in a five-hole playoff. He had plenty of Oklahomans around to keep him company as well, including Logan McCracken, Dillon Rust, Will Kropp, Steven Carney and Chris Worrell, as well as former OSU teammate Kevin Dougherty. The top-five finishers on the MacKenzie Tour earn coveted fully exempt spots on the Web.com Tour in 2016. Gooch finished in the top 20, which means he is fully exempt to the second stage of Web.com Tour qualifying, which for him will take place Nov. 8-13 at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas. What was the competition like on the MacKenzie Tour? I was shocked at how good the competition was. If you go from the PGA Tour to the Web. com Tour to the MacKenzie Tour, there’s not that much difference in the quality of play. Obviously, the guys at the top are a little bit better, but it was a heck of a summer for getting in good competition, learning 52 •••••• www.golfoklahoma.org

and growing as a player. I missed a few cuts, but at the end of the day, I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t have the complete belief that I can be one of the better players in the world. Tell us about the venues and how the tournaments were run? One of the great things about Canada was with the PGA Tour owning the tour, all the events were run just like a PGA Tour event. There was a pro-am Tuesday or Wednesday, four rounds of competition, travel day on Monday. The courses were a bit shorter so the scores were usually pretty bunched together. I was 17th on the money list and came out just about even on expenses for the time I was there. So you’re definitely not playing up there for the money. You’re doing it for the experience and the dream of reaching the PGA Tour. Do you have sponsors to help out? Big Red Sports in Norman helps out, but other than that it’s on me. You’re very conscious about expenses. At the same time, if that’s what you’re thinking about, it can be distracting. There’s no doubt that the climb to the PGA Tour can be a lot harder than staying up there once you’ve made it.

See GOOCH page 57

CHARLESTON’S AMATEUR PROFILE

Jordan Niebrugge Oklahoma State senior Jordan Niebrugge’s career has been on a wild ride the last two months. In late July, playing in the British Open on the Old Course at St. Andrews, he surged up the leaderboard during Monday’s final round to win the silver medal as the low amateur in the field, tied for sixth overall. In September, he ventured back across the pond to represent the United States in the Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. Great Britain and Ireland won the event. As soon as Niebrugge returned from England, he hopped back on a plane to Chicago with his OSU teammates for the Olympia Fields/ Fighting Illini Invitational, where the Cowboys finished second. Now, with his individual schedule slowing down for a while, Niebrugge can settle back in and focus on his senior season at OSU, where the Cowboys have high expectations. What was the British Open experience like for you? It was amazing. I was out there a lot of the summer, so I got used to how to play links golf. I was really prepared for the way I wanted to play the courses, and it made me that much comfortable. It was interesting, because I was hitting it really well at the beginning of the week in all the practice rounds, so I felt if I could keep doing that, keep my rhythm, I’d have a lot of opportunities out on the course. It helped that the front nine, or really the first 11 holes, were fairly easy if you could place it in the fairway. So all four days, I got off to a really good start, and that helped me to get calm and stay patient out there. I think that was part of the reason I was so successful there.

next year’s Open as an amateur. Do you plan to return? The low amateur gets in automatically, but since I finished top 10, it’s my understanding that if I turn pro next summer, I’ll be able to come back and play in the tournament as a professional. So either way, I get back into the British Open. That’s awesome to think about, and it’s at Royal Troon next year, which is another awesome course. I really like going over there, and the courses. Obviously I’m excited to go see what I can do again. The Walker Cup was held at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. What was it like competing on some of Europe’s most famous courses? It was great. At Royal Lytham & St. Annes, all the members there were saying that they’ve hosted pretty much everything you could possibly host, so it was a really big deal to them. And they showed it that week. There were a lot of people out there watching, and you could tell it really means a lot to them. The Walker Cup is team competition, but it’s different than the team aspect of college golf. What did you learn from that experience? I love playing for a team. I grew up playing baseball,

Since you were the low amateur, you get invited back to See NIEBRUGGE page 59 www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 53

INSTRUCTION

Taking away the stress on the greens Stockton’s advice: Relax and let it roll by steve habel

So much is written about and so many techniques are taught promising to make golfers better on the greens, it’s sometimes hard to tell the forest from the trees. Two-time PGA champion Dave Stockton, one of the best putters in tour history, wants you to take all those head-numbing methods to the sidewalk with the garbage and just trust in a much simpler method. He wants golfers to consider putting a mental art, not a physical science with a bunch of ridged steps leading to getting in the hole. “Most people try way too hard to make putts and almost everyone gets stuck being too technical when they are on the greens,” Stockton said. “Putting is so much easier than getting to the green, yet most players grind over putts the way they do over drives and approach shots. “Putting should be very simple because

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is fresh in your mind, before conscious thoughts can interfere. “The longer you stand over a putt, or a the stroke is so much shorter than the drive or an iron shot, the more mechaniswing,” he added. “I like players to have cal it becomes,” Stockton said. “As soon as a good and established mental routine so you start trying to do anything, it’s not in when they get to the green they are confithe subconscious anymore. dent enough to just step up Rolling a putt properly – and to the ball and let it go.” especially getting the speed Stockton knows his right – isn’t easy when you’re stuff. His storied playing trying too hard.” career was highlighted by One of Stockton’s favorite two major wins on the teaching tools is to ask the regular tour (PGA Champiplayer/pupil to sign his name onships in 1970 and 1976), on a piece of paper. three on the Champions “A signature is quick and Tour (including the 1996 easy because you don’t really U.S. Senior Open) and as think about it,” Stockton the non-playing captain of said. “But if you try to slowly the victorious Ryder Cup duplicate that signature, it’s team at Kiawah Island in more difficult because you’re 1991. thinking about it and not Stockton’s emphasis is Dave Stockton tapping into your subconon seeing the line of the putt, visualize the ball falling into the hole scious, the way you did when you signed the first time. and putting right away, while that vision

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“Putting is no different,” he added. “The best putters see their target line and roll the ball on that line. Just keep it simple and natural – don’t get bogged down by anything.” Stockton does have a few things he wants golfers to work into a routine. He likes to read putts from the “low” side, likes golfers to focus more on the hole and less on the ball and he advocates the use of the top hand (the right hand for right-handed putters) as the “feel” hand and left for direction. He also eschews practice strokes, believing they build tension and dull the golfers’ “feel” for his line and speed. “The back of the left hand should move down the target line toward after impact, without breaking down or bending,” Stockton said. “There is no flipping of the wrist. That’s the key to accuracy.” Stockton thinks many players waste their routine by staring down at the ball before making the stroke. “You want to keep concentrating on your target,” he said. “Once you set the putter behind the ball, take one last look and go. Look at a spot an inch or two in front of the ball and try to roll it over that spot.”

Drive, and the rest will follow by steve ball

There are two aspects to your game, that if developed, will ensure you become a good player. No. 1 – Learn to draw your driver. Use the same swing for irons, but get good with your driver, the irons will follow. A swing that draws the ball is: 1) more powerful 2) consistent 3) draws play better in the wind 4) it gives you a chance to improve. Poor driving of the ball costs amateurs more strokes than anything else. Here’s a true life example. Tom (real name) charted his rounds for me. And came up with these results. For every six fairways he hit, he averaged 1-under par. Tom is about a 7- handicap. For each fairway he missed, he averaged 1.8 strokes over par. No. 2 – Learn to hit solid partial sand wedge shots from the fairway – from green side up to 80 yards. You must take a divot after impact and have a low driv-

ing trajectory. The impact position that creates this will hold true for every shot you hit. And, if you are a 15 handicap you will have this shot at least that many times in a round. This shot will feel like a punch shot – firm lead wrist, shaft leaning forward. And practice like this – scratch a line on the ground with a tee. Place the ball on the line and then make sure the divot is on the target side of the line. Bonus – If you want to be a low singledigit handicap, then combine these two moves with all your full swings hit from the fairway, irons, hybrids, fairway metals. The result will be a solid shot with a divot after impact and the ball will draw. If you don’t believe me on these things just notice the next time you play with a good player that they will hit these two shots – good drives (that do not slice) and solid consistent wedge play. Steve Ball is the owner of the Ball Golf Center in Oklahoma City, 405-842-2626.

Advertorial

Mohawk Park, Page Belcher remain best values in Tulsa area One of Oklahoma’s most historic public golf courses is also now one of its most versatile. Whether you swing with your arms or your legs, Mohawk Park has a game for you. Foot Golf, the exciting new golf/ soccer combo game, has been set up on nine holes on the Pecan Valley course, the same nine used by the wildly popular First Tee of Tulsa program. Meanwhile, 27 other great holes of golf await all levels of golfers on the Woodbine Course and the second nine of Pecan Valley. Now with fully mature Champion Bermuda greens, Mohawk Park offers golfers a traditional golf experience on winding terrain lined by massive trees and interspersed with streams with no encroaching housing, only the wild animals you may hear calling from the nearby Tulsa Zoo. The best way to enjoy the courses at both Mohawk Park and the classic Olde Page and Stone Creek layouts at Page

Belcher on Tulsa’s west side is through Best value in town still valid the return of the popular Advantage Card Tulsa golfers, you can still order your program. Advantage cards for 2015 and experience The card is $59 and just $39 for seniors tremendous savings and a great weekly age 55 and above. With the card, you’ll value. For more information, call 918-446enjoy special rates on weekdays and 1529 or go to www.tulsagolf.org. weekends, as well as rewards points for each round leading to free green fees and other special offers. This offer includes a free round of golf with cart the day you sign up. Non seniors also receive a range card and special weekday pricing. The card is valid at Stone Creek and Olde Page at Page Belcher For more complete details on the program or to have your and Pecan Valley and questions answered, check out the website at www.tulsagolf. Woodbine Park at Moorg or call 918-446-1529 for Page Belcher or 918-425-6871 hawk Park. for Mohawk Park. www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 55

GOLF FITNESS

This one activity is ruining your golf swing

Sean Riley SwingFit

Ryan Smith SwingFit

Are you losing power and having a difficult time maintaining your balance during your swing? The problem may not be your strength or balance, but rather your hips. As we age and sit more at work, we tend to get tighter in our hip joint and the surrounding tissues. In particular, this can lead to a lack of hip internal and external rotation which allows you to rotate your pelvis with your feet fixed on the ground. This motion is required in your backswing and at impact and follow-through. A lack of hip internal and external rotation can lead to lateral motion swing faults such as Sway and Slide that sap power. A Sway is defined as any excessive lower body lateral movement away from the target during the backswing which forces the weight to the outside of the trail foot. This makes it very difficult to develop a proper weight shift during transition and the downswing, leading to a loss of power. It’s important to create a coil around the back leg similar to a batter digging in at the plate with the back foot creating a solid base to drive the weight off of during transition. A Slide is defined as any excessive lower

body lateral movement toward the target during the downswing. This fault makes it very difficult to stabilize the lower body during the downswing, which can translate to loss of speed and power from the upper body through impact. The upper body needs a stable base to rotate around during the downswing, otherwise players will lose power and try to manufacture speed in an inefficient sequence. Golfers are suffering from an increasing risk of hip injury arising from the greater rotation favored by the more modern golf swing. This evolved to reduce the risk of lower-back injury caused by the more classic swing of the 1970s and ‘80s. However, an increasing number of hip limitations due to computer and desk work put more of the rotational burden in your back and arms, creating force imbalances that lead to injury. If you are looking for more power and to avoid future injury, you need to make sure your hips are mobile. Here are a few stretches to help you begin the process of improving your hip rotation: Stork Turns This drill is designed to help your brain disassociate your upper body from your lower body and improve your hip rotation. Stand on one foot while holding your driver in front of you for stability. Lock your other foot behind your stance leg knee. Now while keeping your upper body very still, rotate your lower body back and forth moving only through your stance leg hip and pelvis (see Figure 1 and 2). Repeat back and forth 15 times on both sides. Hip Drops This gentle, beginner stretch is used to

safely begin the process of improving your hip mobility. Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet slightly flared (see Figure 3). From this position, tighten your core and rock your knees side to side while keeping your low back on the ground (see Figure 4). If you have tight hips and done properly, you will feel a nice stretch in your pelvis and hips. Hold for 3-5 seconds at end range motion. Perform 15 reps each direction daily. Windshield Wipers This is a drill that both stretches and strengthens your hip. Lie on your back with your hip and knees bent to 90 degrees and feet off the floor (see Figure 5). Place your fists between your knees and then rotate your feet out while keeping your thigh in contact with your fists (see Figure 6). Hold for 3-5 seconds and perform 15 daily. 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 by the best players in the world. The SwingFit system identifies the least amount of physical changes required in your body to produce the greatest results in your golf swing. The result is better practice with your swing coach and more enjoyment on the course. To schedule your SwingFit Golf Assessment and receive a comprehensive physical training program designed to unlock your full potential, contact SwingFit at (918) 743-3737 or visit us on the web at www.swingfittulsa.com.

3 5 4

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Gooch, continued from 52 Making it on to the Web.com Tour is the obvious next step. As I said, the difference in ability between a lot of guys out here is very slim. It’s more about opportunities and taking advantage of them when they come along. You’ve known and played against Jordan Spieth since you were young. What sets his game apart? I’ve told everyone growing up since we were 10 years old, he is the greatest putter I’ve ever seen. He always had that uncanny ability to make 20-footers like most people make a 6-footer. I first met him when I was 11 and he was 10 at the Starburst Junior Golf Classic. He was making them even then. How is your game going into the qualifiers this fall? My length has always been a strength, and I just have to get the driver back to being more consistent, which I lost a bit with the back injury. I worked hard on my putting this last year and it’s been the best part of my game this summer. Hopefully that’s not just a fluke and it will remain so.

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www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 57

QUAIL CREEK BANK’S ON THE LINKS WITH ANYA

Mastering a new sport by anya alvarez

While standing in front of the Lincoln Park Golf Course clubhouse, my phone rang. When I answered, Kelli Masters was on the other line and said, “I’m in my car right now and really nervous! Look at all the people here!” I reassured her that the large group of people going out would be on the West side of the course and that we were on the East course. “No one will see you so don’t worry,” I said. This statement calmed her down slightly. Golf is not Masters’ first sport. Nor her second. Since the age of three, she wanted to be a twirler for the University of Oklahoma football team. She and her twin sister Kim accomplished that goal, and from 1991-1994, they would take center field, flipping around and catching the baton. Masters is accomplished on many fronts:

given the chance, I felt like I had to prove myself and work harder,” she said. Recently, Masters decided to pick up she won international titles as a twirler, golf because of her work won Miss Oklahoma in with the NFL and feels as 1997, graduated from the a woman, it’s an asset to OU College of Law in 1999, her job. and is a partner with Feller “A lot of times, with Sniders Attorneys at Law. rookies, they are required Her greatest accomplishto go to charity golf tournament some would say, ments, where I’ll join, but though, is breaking into never participate,” Masters the NFL as a sports agent said. “Even with my law with her agency KMM firm, many of my colSports. leagues play, but I miss out As of now, she is one of on those opportunities.” three active female sports Ten years ago, Masters agents in the NFL. took a couple lessons, but She has learned to navifelt slightly intimidated gate what many consider by the atmosphere of the as a man’s world,giving her course and the fact that an edge. Kelli Masters and she did not have a female “Most people saw being Anya Alvarez instructor at the time. a woman in the NFL as a Now though, she’s less intimidated as weakness, but it actually opened up a more and more women continue to pick lot of doors for me because many were up the game. curious why a woman would want to “I’ve always worked with men but work as an agent in the NFL. Once I was

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initially it would have been nice to know that golf wasn’t just a boys’ club.” Her goal with golf is to be good enough that she doesn’t feel self-conscious on the course and to be able to get around. When we started with our lesson, I focused on the fundamentals with her: posture, grip, alignment, and ball position. Then, I asked her to just make a motion and feel the club whip around her, having the club feel like it was going in a circle around her. After a couple swings she started to feel more comfortable. A couple more hits and her ball flew 75 yards in the air with a pitching wedge. The main swing thought given was to feel centered over the ball, instead of making a lateral movement with her legs. She hit a few more and was amazed at her own ability. “This is fun!” she said excitedly. Her background with twirling certainly played a part in her excellent hand-eye coordination. Her desire to play golf will hopefully inspire other female friends to take up the game. As of now, 20 percent of women make up the population of people who play golf. Since 57 percent of women now work, compared to 69 percent of men, learning to play is an overall advantage when a woman can take clients out to the course. Women are becoming more powerful and influential in the workforce as well. Nearly 9.1 million women own businesses in the United States, generating over $1.4 trillion in revenue. “I really do feel like more women need to get involved in golf. I think it definitely would have helped me early on in my career, but even now, I do believe that it will open more doors for me,” Masters said. So if you’re a woman interested in learning to play, contact your local courses and book a lesson with a friend who also wants to learn. Most courses also have women’s leagues that play each week. You don’t have to learn alone and you’ll be surprised at how many women will want to tee it up with you! Anya Alvarez is a retired LPGA player who now teaches at Kickingbird Golf Club in Edmond. For more, visit www.anyagolf.com

Jordan Niebrugge at the Walker Cup.

Niebrugge, continued from 53 basketball and football. I’ve always loved playing on a team, and I feel like it motivates me to play that much better. When we were over there, we had a really close team. Our chemistry was really good throughout the week. We had an awesome time from day one. It’s a joy and a privilege to play and represent your country. Basically as soon as you returned from the Walker Cup, you headed to Chicago for the tournament at Olympia Fields. Was it difficult adjusting to the dramatic time-zone change so quickly? Yeah, I think the time change is more difficult coming back here. I was waking up around 4:30 or 5 in the morning — just wide-awake every day. So it was easy to get myself going in the morning, but I was a little worn out. I felt like I played pretty well out there, just had a few things not go my way. We had a good chance to win the tournament coming down the stretch, but couldn’t get it done.

and the good start the team has had in the fall season, how high is the excitement level for this team? We have a lot of really good players on the team who can make the lineup, and I know Coach (Alan Bratton) had to make some tough decisions on bringing some people or leaving some people at home. But I think that’s a good thing, because that much competition between us drives us to get better. I think we’re all excited with how the year has started off. We only graduated one last year, so we’re a pretty young team as well. I think we’re all excited to keep this momentum going.

Does your game need time to adjust when you return, after playing links-style golf for a while? Not really. I learned some new shots while I was over there that might translate into my game over here. But I’ve always been a high ball-flight guy, and some of the shots I learned over there were a lower flight. When I want to, I can hit it pretty high, so coming back here, it was easy to get back into my rhythm. When it’s windy over there, you get so focused on hitting down on the ball, so it maybe changes your swing a little bit. But I hit it well at Olympia Fields, so I didn’t find it to be a problem coming back here and getting back in the swing of things, so to speak. With the returning players you’ve got, www.golfoklahoma.org •••••• 59

SUPERINTENDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

Myers back at Southern Hills Cedar Ridge assistant takes post at Golf Club by ken macleod

Russ Myers will return to Southern Hills Country Club for a second stint as superintendent early in 2016, Southern Hills General Manager Nick Sidorakis said. Myers, who guided Southern Hills through the 2007 PGA Championship and the 2009 U.S. Amateur Championship, will replace K.D. Davis, who resigned in midSeptember. Myers left Southern Russ Myers Hills in late 2009 to become the superintendent at Los Angeles Country Club. He has been overseeing renovations of both the north and south courses there. Los Angeles Country Club has the 2023 U.S. Open on its slate of future events as well as the 2017 Walker Cup. “Russ did a fantastic job here previously

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and had the golf course at an extremely high level of conditioning,” Sidorakis said. “When K.D. resigned, we reached out to Russ to see if he had any interest and it’s a great fit and time for him to come back. His wife Lindsey was born and raised here and he has two young children. He thought it was a great fit to come back. “Russ is a proven superintendent who did excellent work here for three and a half years, taking us to a level of excellent agronomic conditioning of the golf course.” Myers will remain at Los Angeles Country Club through December. Davis had been the superintendent since 2010 and will be remembered for leading the successful conversion to Champion ultradwarf Bermuda greens on the West Nine holes. The Golf Club of Oklahoma also changed superintendents recently, bringing on former Cedar Ridge assistant David Camuso to replace Gary Hallett.

presented by Golf Club of Oklahoma General Manager Jamie Levine, who took the reigns in June, said his club’s greens have improved significantly and expects to be back in top shape following aggressive aerification this fall. Camuso trained under Mike Wooten at Cedar Ridge, recognized as one of the top superintendents in the country. The Territory near Duncan in southwest Oklahoma experienced one of the best weather years with more significant rainfall than at any time since its opening in 2003. However, the course did suffer a significant loss when General Manager Tim Johnson accepted a similar post at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Ark. Johnson had been with The Territory as director Tim Johnson of golf and GM since it opened in 2003. “Tim had been with us since Day One and was the face of the club and part of the family,” said Terrirtory co-owner Rick Braught. “We’ll miss him but we wish him the best going forward.”

SCHEDULES & RESULTS COLLEGE MEN TEXOMA CHAMPIONSHIP At Chickasaw Pointe Golf Club, Kingston (par-72) Sept. 28-29 Team scores: 1, Southeastern State 310-291290 – 891; 2, Paris 298-299-304 – 901; 3, Missouri Southern 299-313-299 – 911; 4 (tie), Rogers State 303-307-303 – 913 and Southern Arkansas 306-302-305 – 913; 6, East Central 312-297-310 – 919; 7, Northwestern State 322307-308 – 937. Individual leaders: 1, Mason Horner (SEOSU) 78-67-69 – 214; 2, Blake Elliott (Paris) 68-73-74 – 215; 3, Taylor Lansford (MS) 73-75-72 – 220; 4, Brandon Pittman (RSU) 72-79-71 – 222; 5, Marcos Sevilla (SEOSU) 74-76-73 – 223; Evan Buchalsiki (SAU) 77-71-76—224; 7 (tie), Jordan Bates (EC) 74-74-77 – 225 and Kevin Elder (SAU) 74-77-74 – 225; 9 (tie), Patrick Bart (RSU) 74-73-79 – 226 and Alex Marsh (RSU) 79-72-75 – 226; 11, Taylor Nichols (ECU) 76-7477 – 227. SGU CAVALIER CLASSIC At Shawnee CC, Shawnee (par-71) Sept. 28-29 Team scores: 1, St. Gregory’s 289-290 – 579; 2, Murray State 295-293 – 588; 3, Seminole State 297-307 – 604; 4, Mid-America Christian 319305 – 624; 5, Panhandle State 322-317 – 639; 6, Jarvis Christian 421-419 – 840. Individual leaders: 1, Joshua Shelley (MS-ind.) 67-72 – 139; 2 (tie), Reece Blair (MS) 72-71 – 143 and George Whitbread (MS) 70-73 – 143; 4, Carter Towey (Seminole) 73-71 – 144; 5, Brett Kennedy (StG) 73-72 – 145; 6 (tie), Bobby Stone (StG) 78-68 – 146 and Danny De Los Santos (StG) 71-75 – 146; 8, Morgen Pettigrew (StG) 71-76 – 147. NSU CLASSIC At Hillcrest GC, Bartlesville (par-71) Sept. 21-22 Team leaders (16 teams): 1, Henderson State 296-293-285 – 874; 2, Southwestern State 296-298-285 – 879; 3, Arkansas Tech 299-292290 – 881; 4, Washburn 302-302-292 – 896; 5, Northeastern State 298-299-301 – 898; 6, Harding 307-290-302 – 899; 7, Minnesota State 29-307-301 – 900; 8, Southern Nazarene 306299-302 – 907; 9, Missouri Southern 301-302308 – 911; 10, Arkansas-Fort Smith 300-310309 – 919; 11, Missouri Western 304-310-308 – 922; 12, East Central 307-317-308 – 932. Individual leaders 1, Bryce Burke (AT) 72-70-68 – 210; 2 (tie), Drew Greenwood (HS) 66-71-78 – 215 and Mason Banger (Harding) 74-68-73 – 215; 4, Corey Knight (MW) 70-73-73 – 146; 5 (tie), Austin Smith (AT) 75-70-72 – 217. Ron McHenry (Washburn) 72-72-73 – 217 and Price Murphee (HS) 77-72-68 – 217;; 8 (tie), Stefan Idstam (SWOSU) 76-71-72 – 219 and Brent Williamson (NSU) 74-73-72 – 219; 10 (tie), Jake Duvall (SWOSU) 72-79-69 – 220, Joby Gray (SWOSU) 71-74-75 – 220 and Wess Webb (Henderson) 76-76-68 – 220; 13 (tie), Tate Williamson (NSU) 72-73-76 – 221 and Kelton Schmitz (Minn. St.) 70-76-75 – 221. GREAT AMERICAN CONFERENCE PREVIEW At Lake Hefner GC (North) (par-72) Sept. 14-15 Team scores: 1, Southwestern State 295-287278 – 860; 2, Okla. Baptist 289-295-283 – 867; 3, Arkansas Tec 298-299-283 – 880; 4, Southeastern State 293-308-286 – 887; 5, ArkansasMonticello 296-305-291 – 892; 6, Henderson State 305-307-285 – 897; 7, Southern Arkansas 302-303-301 – 906; 8, Harding 306-318-288 – 912; 9, Southern Nazarene 312-314-291 – 917;

10 (tie), East Central 306-305-317 – 928 and Northwestern State 318-309-301 – 928. Individual leaders: 1, Drew Posada (OBU) 69-75-68 – 212; 2 (tie), Kyle Perdew (OBU) 73-70-71 – 214, Alexander Hall (OBU) 74-71-69 – 214 and Bryce Burke (AT) 69-73-72 – 214; 5 (tie), Stefan Idstam (SWOSU) 77-70-69 – 216 and Marques Gomez (SWOSU) 77-72-67 – 216; 7 (tie), Masom Horner (SEOSU) 72-78-67 – 217 and Marcos Sevilla (SEOSU) 71-75-71 – 217; 9 (tie), Nicolas Cornu (SWOSU) 70-71-77 – 218, Jake Duvall (SEOSU) 75-74-69 – 218 and Cameron Murry (Harding-ind.) 73-73-72 – 218. U.C. FERGUSON CLASSIC At Lincoln Park GC, Okla. City (par-71) Sept. 14-15 Team scores: 1, Oklahoma City 284-291-284 – 859; 2, Odessa CC 287-288-294 – 869; 3, Grand View 296-291-288 – 875; 4 Bellevue 300-286298 – 884; 5, Western Texas 298-295-296 – 889; 6, The Master’s 301-303-286 – 890; 7, Okla. Wesleyan 301-302-299 – 902; 8, Southwestern College 311-301-297 – 909; 9, Murray State 308-309-301 – 918; 10, Bethany 305-313301 – 919; 11, John Brown 310-309-309 – 98; 12, Mid-America Christian 310-309-312 – 931; 13, Southwestern Christian 318-311-312 – 941. Individual leaders: 1, Adam Blomme (Odessa) 68-73-70 – 211; 2, Fernando Arzate (Bellevue) 71-69-73 – 213; 3, Matthew Cheung (OCU) 7074-70 – 214; 4 (tie), Garrison Mendoza (OCU) 71-72-72 – 215, Rupert Kaminski (OCU-ind.) 74-71-70 – 215 and Elliott Fullalove (WT) 73-7270 – 215; 7 (tie), Anthony Marchesani (OCU) 7572-69 – 216 and Myles Pfingsten (GV) 74-70-72 – 216; 9, Hunter Van Veen (GV) 74-71-72 – 217. SCU INTERCOLLEGIATE At Lake Hefner GC, Okla. City (par-72) Sept 8-9 Team scores: 1, Okla. Wesleyan 285-283 00 568; 2, Okla. Baptist 290-285 – 575; 3, Central Baptist 286-290 – 576; 4, Murray State 294289 – 583; 5, Sterling 306-291 – 597; 6, MidAmerica Christian 306-297 – 603; 7 (tie), Seminole State 301-305 – 606 and Southwestern Christian 301-305 – 606; 9, Kansas Wesleyan 307-309 – 616. Individual leaders: 1, Austin Harmon (CB) 66-71 – 137; 2, Alexander Hall (OBU) 71-68 – 139; 3, Drew Posada (OBU 71-69 – 140, Luke Cornett (CB) 70-70 – 140 and Ewan Diston (OW) 71-69 – 140; 6, Reece Blair (MS) 71-70 – 141; 7, Austin Fuller (OW) 71-71 – 142. WOMEN BOB HURLEY AUTO SHOOTOUT At MeadowBrook CC, Tulsa (par-72) Sept. 28-29 Team scores: 1, Sam Houston State 292-302313 – 907; 2, South Dakota 306-308-295 – 909; 3, Stephen F. Austin 303-295-316 – 914; 4, Oral Roberts 302-305-308 – 915; 5 (tie), Lamar 318-303-297 – 918 and McNeese State 289311-318 – 918; 7 (tie), North Texas 308-301-314 - 923 and UTEP 312-298-313 – 923; 9, McLennan 306-313-309 – 928; 10, Texas A&M-CC 304-314-313 – 931; 11, Northern Iowa 314-311310 – 935; 12, Oklahoma City 311-313-314 – 938; 13, Okla. Christian 316-314-314 – 944; 14, Drake 319-315-317 – 951; 15, Omaha 330-324-340 – 994. Individual leaders: 1, Heather Shake (SHS) 6774-74 – 215; 2, Brenna Lervick (SD) 72-76-70 – 218; 3 (tie), Antonia Von Wnuck (Tulsa-ind.) 74-71-75 – 220, Vanessa Johnson (TAMCC) 73-72-75 -- 220 and Wenny Chang (Lamar) 8067-73 – 220; 6 (tie), Audrey Meisch (Okla. Chr.) 72-78-71 – 221 and Eji Kwon (NT) 73-71-77 – 221; 8 (tie), Taylor Stockton (Lamar) 74-76-72 – 222

and Alisa Rodriguez (UTEP) 76-70-76 – 222; 10, Sofia Castiello (UTEP) 75-74-74 – 223. Other scores: Kennedy Ishee (ORU) 74-76-74 – 224, Alejandra Acosta (ORU) 74-76-76 – 226, Nikki Marquardt (Tulsa-ind.) 75-78-78 – 231, Kailey Campbell (Okla City) 76-75-81 – 232, Paola Aviles (ORU) 75-76-82 – 233, Emma Allen (Okla. City) 81-75-77 – 233, Paty Torres (ORU) 79-77-79 – 235, Kate Goodwin (Okla. Chr.) 78-76-82 – 236, Caroline Goodin (Okla, City) 85-78-76 – 239. OBU FALL INVITATIONAL At John Conrad GC, Midwest City (par72) Sept. 28-29 Team scores: 1, Cameron 307-303 – 610; 2, Okla. Baptist 307-309 – 616; 3, Southern Arkansas 320-321 – 641; 4, Southwestern Christian 330-332 – 662; 5, Seminole State 341-339 – 680; 6, Harding 340-344 – 684; 7, Northwestern State 352-340 – 692; 8, Panhandle State 355-340 – 695. Individual leaders: 1, Taylor Hildebrand (OBU) 76-764 – 150; 2, Alexis Thompson (Cameron) 77-74 – 151; 3 (tie), Madison Herron (OBU) 7676 – 152 and Andi McGill (SWC) 73-79 – 152; 5, Kennedy Wheeler (Cameron) 75-78 – 153; 6, Robyn Moore (Cameron) 79-75 – 154; 7 (tie), Erin Hess (Cameron) 79-75 – 154 and Helle Leed (SAU) 81-74 – 155; 9 (tie), Katlyn Johnston (Cameron) 76-81 – 157, Kadrian Shelton (OBU-ind.) 80-77 – 157 and Olivia Prutt (SS) 77-80 – 157. MIAA PREVIEW At Jefferson City (Mo.) CC (par-72) Sept. 28-29 Team leaders (12): 1, Northeastern State 305307 – 612; 2, Central Oklahoma 308-307 – 615 3, William Woods 316-305 – 621; 4, Missouri Western 307-317 – 624; 5, Lindenwood 318-322 – 640; 6, NW Missouri State 325-332 – 657. Individual leaders: 1, Maria Souvannasing (UCO) 74-74 – 148 (won playoff); 2, Ebba Moberg (NSU) 73-75 – 148; 3, Andrea Sgniel (WW) 76-75 – 151; 4 (tie), Grace Shin (UCO) 7775 – 152 and Shi Quing Ong (MS) 78-74 – 152; 6, Halie Wright (NSU) 76-77 -- 153. SCHOONER FALL CLASSIC At Belmar GC, Norman (par-71) Sept. 19-21 Team scores: 1, Oklahoma State 276-278 – 554; 2, Texas A&M 287-274 – 561; 3, Mississippi State 283-282 – 565; 4, Kansas 285-281 – 566; 5, Notre Dame 286-281 – 567; 6, Oklahoma 291283 – 574; 7 (tie), Kansas State 294-287 – 581 and Florida State 300-281 – 581; 9, Texas State 297-285 – 582; 10, UTSA 295-294 – 589; 11, Troy 305-297 – 602; 12, Tulsa 311-301 – 612. Individual leaders: 1, Yupaporn Kawinpakorn (KU) 63-68 – 141; 2, Chih-Mn Chen (OSU) 6568 – 133; 3, Madison Talley (KSU) 70-66 – 136; 4 (tie), Hannah Wood (OU) 71-66 – 137 and Ariadna Fonseca (KU) 69-68 – 137; 6 (tie), Rylee Pedigo (OU) 67-71 – 138, Linnea Johansson (OSU) 71-67 – 138, Matilda Castren (FSU) 71-67 – 138, Chieh Jessica Peng (MSU) 69-69 – 138, Andrea Jonama (Texas A&M) 67-71 – 138 and Thanya Pattamakijsak (Texas A&M) 71-67 – 138. Other scores: Alexis Sadeghy (OSU) 74-69 – 143, Valerie Tanguay (OU) 72-71 – 143, Ana Ruiz (OU-ind.) 72-71 – 143, Kenzie Neisen (OSU) 68-75 – 143, Maddie McCrary (OSU) 72-74 – 146, Karen Arimoto (OU-ind.) 75-74 – 149, Alex Haun (TU) 79-72 – 151, Haley Hill (OU-ind.) 7675 – 151, Nadia Majidizadeh (TU) 75-77 – 152, Brydie Hodges (TU) 79-75 – 154, Mackenzie Medders (TU) 78-77 – 155, Johanna Samuelsson (TU) 79-77 – 156, Julienne Soo (OU) 81-75

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SCHEDULES & RESULTS – 156, Maggie Neece (OU) 82-75 – 157. NSU CLASSIC At Cherokee Springs GC, Tahlequah (par-72) Sept. 14-15 Team scores: 1, Okla. Christian 301-314 – 615; 2, Rogers State 307-310 – 617; 3, Northeastern State 314-305 – 619; 4, Southwestern State 310-314 – 624; 5, Newman 315-314 – 629; 6, Henderson State 321-318 – 639; 7, ArkansasFort Smith 327-317 – 644; 8, Missouri Western 323-324 – 647; 9, Northwest Missouri 321-335 – 656; 10, Central Missouri 335-326 – 661; 11, Nebraska-Kearney 329-336 – 665; 12, East Central 329-339 – 668; 13, Okla. Baptist 334-336 – 670; 14, Southern Nazarene 330-341 – 671; 15, Fort Hays State 339-348 – 687; 16, Southwest Baptist 353-368 – 721; 17, Northwestern State 361-370 – 731; 18, Lincoln 391-377 – 768. Individual leaders: 1, Baylee Price (NSU) 74-74 – 148 (won playoff); 2, Audrey Meisch (Okla. Chr.) 73-75 – 148; 3, Emily Folsom (SWOSU) 75-75 – 1550; 4, Christina Boon (RSU) 76-75 – 151; 5 (tie), Mica Eastin (RSU) 78-74 – 152 and Kate Goodwin (Okla. Chr.) 74-78 – 152; 7, Halie Wright (NSU) 76-77 – 153; 8 (tie), Kayla Schroeder (NSU-ind.) 75-79 – 154, Fiona Hakanen (NSU-ind.) 74-80 – 154 and Ximena Name (Newman) 78-76 – 154. SCU INTERCOLLEGIATE At Lake Hefner GC, Okla. City (par-72) Sept. 8-9 Team scores: 1, Murray State 307-314 – 621; 2, Southwestern Christian 318-330 – 648; 3, St. Gregory’s 335-330 – 665; 4, Kansas Wesleyan 345-333 – 678; 5, Seminole State 349-340 – 689; 6, Oklahoma Wesleyan 370-358 – 728; 7, Sterling 378-374 – 752. Individual leaders: 1, Elodie-Jane Yates (MS) 72-75 – 147; 2, Bethany Accy (MS) 75-78 – 153; 3, Andi McGill (SWC) 77-77 – 154; 4,Taylor Greteman (St. Gregory’s) 78-77 – 155; 5, Kayla Witt (MS) 82-76 – 158; 6,Nicole Lenaburg (SWC) 78-81 – 159; 7, AlexixTallant (St. Gregory’s) 78-83 – 161. OKLAHOMA GOLF ASSOCIATION OKLAHOMA OPEN At Oak Tree CC (East), Edmond (par-70) Aug. 21-23 1, Josh Creel 68-68-65 – 201; 2, Chris Gilbert 67-67-70 – 204; 3 (tie), Nathan Hughes 67-6870 – 205 and Kyle Robbins 67-69-69 – 205; 5, Ryan Grider 68-68-70 – 206; 6 (tie), Austin Eckroat 67-73-68 – 208, Matt Mabrey 69-7069 – 208 and Blake Trimble 63-74-71 – 208; 9, Colton Staggs 69-72-68 – 209, Wesley McClain 69-69-71 – 209 and Scott Kelly 64-73-72 – 209; 12 (tie), Ty Stites 66-68-76 – 210, Mike Hearne 70-69-71 – 210, Jason Meece 69-70-71—210, Joe Migdal 70-70-70 – 210, Michael Gellerman 67-72-71 – 210 and Preston Stanley 70-71-69 – 210. OGA STROKE PLAY At Chickasaw Pointe GC. Kingston (par-72) Aug. 4-5 1, Colton Staggs 71-68-70 – 209; 2, Sam Johnston 70-69-73 – 212; 3 (tie), Garrison Mendoza 70-75-76 – 220 and Conrad Walcher 70-71-79 – 220 ; 5 (tie), Mason Horner 76-68-77 – 221 and Eli Armstrong 68-74-79 – 221; 7, Anthony Marchesani 76-71-75 – 222; 8, Quade Cummins 71-76-76 – 223; 9, Michael Upp 74-74-76 – 224; 10 (tie), Scott Verplank 76-74-75 – 225 and Cody Burrows 71-76-78 – 225; 12 (tie), Dalton Rhoden 77-78-71 – 226 and Brody King 75-76-75 – 226; 14 (tie), Sam Humphreys 75-

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76-78 – 229, Cory Montgomery 73-77-79 – 229 and Jacob Bishop 74-81-74 – 229; 17, Brandon Strathe 77-79-74 – 230; 18, Brandion Stephenson 77-79-75 – 231. WOMEN’S OKLA. GOLF ASSOCIATION SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP At Shawnee CC Sept. 21-22 A flight: 1, Janet Miller 151; 2, LeeAnn Fairlie 155; 3, Marna Raburn 167; 4, Chrissy Bagwell 168; 5, Teresa DeLarzelere 169; 6, Ann Pitts Turner 171. TULSA GOLF ASSOCIATION TWO-MAN CHALLENGE II At LaFortune Park GC (par-72) Aug. 8-9 A flight: 1, Matthew Crawley/Brandon Jackson 63-62 --- 125; 2, Steve Hughes/Shawn Kitchen 63-63—126; 3, Tate Williamson/Ted Williamson 65-62 – 127; 4, Bob Karlovich/Chris Karlovich 60-67 – 127; 5, Lloyd Gilliam/Dave Wing 61-68 – 129; 6, Mike Foster/Paul Stanton 65-65 – 130; 7, Zach Garner/Kyle Lane 64-68 – 132; 8, Bill Heldmar/Eric Mueller 64-69 – 133. B flight: 1,Eric Moritz/Armin Rucker 67-67 – 134; 2, Michael Gotcher/Patrick Gotcher 70-66 – 136; 3, Richard Townley/TerryTrimble 70-66 – 136. TULSA COUNTY AMATEUR FOUR-BALL At LaFortune Park GC (par-72) Sept. 19-20 Championship flight: 1, Matt Ramage/Jack Kasting 63-63 – 126; 2, Don Cochran/Bryan Reed 66-64 – 130; 3, Mike Ward/Doug Haddock 65-66 – 131; 4, Terry White/Jackson White 65-68 – 133; 5, Ed Heffern/Terry Collier 68-66 – 134; 6, Nicholas Sidorakis/Bruce Lisooey 68-67 – 135; 7, Mike Parham/Mark Kauffman 67-69 – 136; 8 (tie), Armin Rucker/ Eric Moritz 70-68 – 138, Shawn Kitchen/Steve Hughes 67-71 – 138 and Paul Stanton/Mike Foster 69-69 – 138. TULSA GOLF ASSOCIATION TWO-MAN CHALLENGE II At LaFortune Park GC (par-72) Aug. 8-9 A flight: 1, Matthew Crawley/Brandon Jackson 63-62 – 125; 2, Steve Hughes/Shawn Kitchen 6363—126; 3, Tate Williamson/Ted Williamson 6562 – 127; 4, Bob Karlovich/Chris Karlovich 60-67 – 127; 5, Lloyd Gilliam/Dave Wing 61-68 – 129; 6, Mike Foster/Paul Stanton 65-65 – 130; 7, Zach Garner/Kyle Lane 64-68 – 132; 8, Bill Heldmar/ Eric Mueller 64-69 – 133. B flight: 1, Eric Moritz/Armin Rucker 67-67 – 134; 2, Michael Gotcher/Patrick Gotcher 70-66 – 136; 3, Richard Townley/Terry Trimble 7-66 –136. OJGT PRYOR CREEK FALL CHALLENGE At Pryor Creek, Pryor (par-72) Sept. 26-27 Boys 15-18 1, Michael Biata 66-74 – 140 (won playoff); 2, Tyler Shelnutt 72-68 – 140; 3, Matthew Braley 69-74 – 143; 4, Michael Robinson 75-70 – 145; 5, Garrett Jelley 73-74 – 147; 6 (tie) Austin Eckroat 76-72 – 148, Dakota Clark 73-75 – 148 and Dalton Daniel 73-75 – 148; 9 (tie), Andrew Loseke 78-71 – 149, Jared Strathe 76-73 – 149 and Colter Baca 73-76 – 149. Boys 12-14 1, Jun Kim 77-71 – 148; 2, Said Powers 73-77 – 150; 3, Christian McAllister 80-72 – 152; 4 (tie), Davis Woodliff 73-79 – 152 and Kyle Peterson 78-74 – 152. Girls 1, Taylor Towers 75-76 – 151; 2, Melissa Eldredge

83-75 – 158; 3, Faith Hopkins 84-77 – 161; 4 (tie), Alesia Gonzales 80-83 – 163 and Emilee Jackson 84-79 – 163; 6, Faith Belmear 79-85 – 164; 7, Adeline Norton 86-81 – 167; 8, Mika Ramos 85-83 – 168; 9, Madison Smith 86-83 – 169; 10, Natalie Gough 87-85 – 172. LAKE HEFNER SHOOTOUT At Lake Hefner GC (North) (par-72) Sept 19-20 (rain-shortened) Boys 15-18 1, Wells Padgett 65; 2, Logan McAllister 67; 3, Lane Wallace 68; 4 (tie), Dalton Daniel, Palmer Hays and Freddie Wilson 69; 7 (tie), Blake Blaser, Navid Majidi, Rey Ferreyro, Zac Owens and Tyler Neher 70. Boys 12-14 1 (tie), Christian McAllister and Jaxon Dowell 68; 3, Garrett Starkey 71; 4, Jun Kim 73; 5, Jack Glenn 75; 6 (tie), Carson Francis, Jordan Wilson and Said Powers 76. Girls 1, Yujeong Son 66; 2, Kaitlin Milligan 68; 3, Emilee Rigsby 74; 4, ShaeBug Scarberry 75; 5, Ashton Nemecek 77; 6, Madison Smith 78; 7 (tie), Corey Black and Lauren Barnes 80; 9, Natalie Igo 82; 10, Alyssa Wilson 83. BATTLE FOR BIXBY At WhiteHawk GC, Bixby (par-72) Sept. 12-13 Boys 15-18 1, Michael Biata 73-70 – 143; 2, Justin Moore 78-66 – 144; 3 (tie), Dalton Daniel 74-71 – 145, Matthew Braley 75-70 – 145 and Navid Majidi 77-68 - -145; 6 (tie), Dustin Hasley 77-72 – 149 and Jared Strathe 75-74 – 149; 8, (tie) Brandon Stephenson 75-76 – 151 and Nick Pierce 73-78 – 151; 10 (tie), Austin Enzbrenner 79-73 – 152, Jason Ohman 77-75 – 152 and Noah Russell 80-72 – 152. Boys 12-14 1, Kyle Peterson 71-73 – 144 (won playoff); 2, James Roller 75-70 – 144; 3, Parker Rose 7076 – 146; 4, Said Powers 71-79 – 150; 5, Davis Woodliff 80-72 – 152. Girls 1, Taylor Dobson 73-73 – 146; 2, Taylor Towers 78-75 – 153; 3, Melissa Eldredge 83-71 – 154; 4, Alesia Gonzales 79-79 – 158; 5, Natalie Gough 77-83 – 160; 6, Sydner Hermann 80-81 – 161; 7, McKenzie McCoy 88-81 – 169; 8, Lauren Sloan 81-90 – 171; 9, Lauren Barnes 84-88 – 172; 10, Shelby McGlothlin 85-97 – 182. PGA SOUTH CENTRAL SENIOR At The Trails GC, Norman (par-70) Sept. 28 1, Jim Woodward 66-70 – 136; 2, Vince Bizik 7171 – 142; 3 (tie), George Glenn 72-73 – 145 and Tracy Phillips 68-77 – 145; 5, Andy Schaben 72-74 – 146; 6, Darren Watts 73-74 – 147; 7 (tie), Mike Stewart 71-77 – 148 and Jeff Tucker 73-75 – 148; 9, Art Romero 73-78 – 151; 10, Troy Hendricks 73-79 – 152. GOLF CHANNEL TOUR OKLAHOMA TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP At Jimmie Austin OU GC, Norman (par-72) Aug. 16 1, Jared Taylor 72; 2, Kevin Wright 73; 3, Ryan Cummings 78; 4, Chad Schuchmann 79; 5 (tie), Cory Montgomery and Dallas Webster 80; 7 (tie), Brad Cooper, Caleb Brown, Carter Green and Burnie Rodgers 81. RIVER OAKS CHAMPIONSHIP At River Oaks GC, Edmond (par-71) Aug. 8 1, Cory Montgomery 70; 2, Calvin Carr 74; 3, Kevin Wright 75; 4 (tie), Richard Cordis and Zoey Daneshfar 77; 6, Mason Holliday 78.

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